The announcement has been made that the ACC unanimously voted to accept the two new members. No word yet on when they will officially join the conference. Big East by-laws state that teams have to give 27 month notice. If that's the case they could possibly get them in for the 2013-2014 basketball season.
It'll also be interesting to see what else the ACC does, and how they arrange their divisions. It makes sense to have an ACC North division with Pitt, Syracuse, BC, Maryland, Virginia, and Virginia Tech. It would make sense to group NC State, Duke, UNC, and Wake into an ACC South, though they're already broken apart. State and Duke already don't play each other in football every year. UNC is their annual crossover football rivalry. I'd also like to see State play home and home with Duke in basketball again every year.
Showing posts with label college football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label college football. Show all posts
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
sudden rumors of ACC expansion
All the talk of conference expansion lately has been the SEC, the Big 12, and "What are Texas and Oklahoma going to do?"
Apparently under the radar the ACC has been doing some work. Rumors have heated up over the last couple days of Pitt and Syracuse being interested in the ACC and vice-versa.
CBSSportsline is reporting that sources say that both teams have submitted applications to join the ACC.
It would be a perfect match for the athletics of the conference. Both teams have strong basketball teams. Syracuse is a big time basketball program obviously and brings another legendary coach to the ACC in Jim Boeheim. I doubt that Coach K, Roy Williams, and Jim Boeheim would be forming a Big 3 of coaches for very long. At their ages I'd say the end has to be visible on the horizon for Boeheim especially and for Coach K.
Jamie Dixon is another hot coaching commodity right now for Pitt and he has them as a national force for the last several years. They've achieved 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament, though they haven't broken through to cut down the nets.
In football, Syracuse has struggled the last few years but they're rebuilding. Both they and Pitt bring in 7-8 win programs that can be frequent participants in non-BCS bowls. The ACC has had more teams in bowls than any other conference a couple times the last few years. They're not a BCS power player like the SEC but they have to be popular with non-BCS bowls because they put together a bunch of second tier football teams every year. That may not be the reputation that the ACC dreams of as they look down south at the SEC, but the Chick-Fil-A Bowl, Meineke Bowl, Papa Johns.com Bowl, etc. have to love it. The ACC will live with it too as long as the basketball is elite.
This addition certainly furthers that. If there is any truth that the ACC has been a Duke and UNC then nothing conference over the last couple years this would help. I agree that's true over the last couple years but it's more of a natural ebb and flow than anything long term. Duke and UNC don't rebuild. They re-load. But Georgia Tech, Maryland, and Wake have taken major losses to their rosters and coaching staffs the last few years. NC State has put talent together but underachieved. Maybe a coaching change can be an infusion there.
We'll see if this happens, but it seems like the kind of match the ACC is looking for.
Apparently under the radar the ACC has been doing some work. Rumors have heated up over the last couple days of Pitt and Syracuse being interested in the ACC and vice-versa.
CBSSportsline is reporting that sources say that both teams have submitted applications to join the ACC.
It would be a perfect match for the athletics of the conference. Both teams have strong basketball teams. Syracuse is a big time basketball program obviously and brings another legendary coach to the ACC in Jim Boeheim. I doubt that Coach K, Roy Williams, and Jim Boeheim would be forming a Big 3 of coaches for very long. At their ages I'd say the end has to be visible on the horizon for Boeheim especially and for Coach K.
Jamie Dixon is another hot coaching commodity right now for Pitt and he has them as a national force for the last several years. They've achieved 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament, though they haven't broken through to cut down the nets.
In football, Syracuse has struggled the last few years but they're rebuilding. Both they and Pitt bring in 7-8 win programs that can be frequent participants in non-BCS bowls. The ACC has had more teams in bowls than any other conference a couple times the last few years. They're not a BCS power player like the SEC but they have to be popular with non-BCS bowls because they put together a bunch of second tier football teams every year. That may not be the reputation that the ACC dreams of as they look down south at the SEC, but the Chick-Fil-A Bowl, Meineke Bowl, Papa Johns.com Bowl, etc. have to love it. The ACC will live with it too as long as the basketball is elite.
This addition certainly furthers that. If there is any truth that the ACC has been a Duke and UNC then nothing conference over the last couple years this would help. I agree that's true over the last couple years but it's more of a natural ebb and flow than anything long term. Duke and UNC don't rebuild. They re-load. But Georgia Tech, Maryland, and Wake have taken major losses to their rosters and coaching staffs the last few years. NC State has put talent together but underachieved. Maybe a coaching change can be an infusion there.
We'll see if this happens, but it seems like the kind of match the ACC is looking for.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
In game observation: Oregon State at Wisconsin
I just witnessed a football first for me. Never before the punt that Oregon State's punter just shanked off the side of his foot on a rugby style punt have I seen a punt for negative yardage.
I can mark that one off the list. That punt sliced off the side of his foot out of bounds for a -4 yard punt.
Even worse Oregon State was punting from about their own 20, so that set up Russell Wilson's third TD pass as a Badger.
I can mark that one off the list. That punt sliced off the side of his foot out of bounds for a -4 yard punt.
Even worse Oregon State was punting from about their own 20, so that set up Russell Wilson's third TD pass as a Badger.
Monday, September 5, 2011
my first WTF of the new college football season
I just tuned into the Miami-Maryland game. Maryland is wearing some ugly ass helmet that is a fusion of two paint schemes on each side. It looks like fugly on one side, diarrhea spatter pattern on the other. I'm trying to find a picture of this abomination.
Friday, September 2, 2011
One college football Cinderella gets her glass slipper shattered in week 1
Over the past couple seasons the two BCS Busters have been Boise State and TCU. Last year it was TCU going undefeated but not getting invited to the BCS Championship Game. Their consolation prize was the Rose Bowl, and they beat Wisconsin.
This season if there will be a BCS Buster it will be Boise State. We'll see how they do against Georgia tomorrow in the Kickoff Classic in the Georgia Dome. TCU went down 50-58 at Baylor. Baylor gets a huge upset over the #14 team in the country. Even if TCU had completed a comeback from a 21 point deficit to win, and they did have a lead late until Baylor kicked the game winning field goal with about a minute to play, giving up almost 50 points to Baylor wouldn't have impressed the BCS. That probably would have ended their BCS aspirations for this year, undefeated or not. Last year TCU was able to tout their #1 statistically ranked defense as part of their BCS resume.
One Cinderella down. Boise State to go. The other thorn in the BCS's side in recent years, Utah, is now a member of the Pac-10...err...12. If you can't beat the BCS, join 'em. Next season TCU joins the Big East. The Big East may be the Detroit Lions of the BCS, but they're in the BCS nonetheless.
This season if there will be a BCS Buster it will be Boise State. We'll see how they do against Georgia tomorrow in the Kickoff Classic in the Georgia Dome. TCU went down 50-58 at Baylor. Baylor gets a huge upset over the #14 team in the country. Even if TCU had completed a comeback from a 21 point deficit to win, and they did have a lead late until Baylor kicked the game winning field goal with about a minute to play, giving up almost 50 points to Baylor wouldn't have impressed the BCS. That probably would have ended their BCS aspirations for this year, undefeated or not. Last year TCU was able to tout their #1 statistically ranked defense as part of their BCS resume.
One Cinderella down. Boise State to go. The other thorn in the BCS's side in recent years, Utah, is now a member of the Pac-10...err...12. If you can't beat the BCS, join 'em. Next season TCU joins the Big East. The Big East may be the Detroit Lions of the BCS, but they're in the BCS nonetheless.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
In game observation: UNLV at Wisconsin
This is Russell Wilson's debut for Wisconsin. He's got alot more weapons available to him than he had at State, particularly in the running game. Wisconsin running for 100 yards in a game is a given. It's only a question of whether or not they'll rush for 200. 200 for Wisconsin is what 100 is for NC State. Wilson can just play off that and doesn't have to carry everything.
The end result tonight so far: 9-12 for 214 yards and 2 TDs. He's completed a 63 and a 39 yard pass to running backs out of the backfield. Wilson has rushed twice for 62 yards, including a career long 46 yard run for a TD.
The end result he's been a dual threat. He's picked apart UNLV's defense as they've brought 8 guys into the box to stop the run. Obviously the defenses will get better than UNLV's. But Wilson's got alot of tools and he's got alot of weapons that he can lead. Maybe his stats won't be as gaudy as the last couple years at State, but he's going to lead a very good team.
The end result tonight so far: 9-12 for 214 yards and 2 TDs. He's completed a 63 and a 39 yard pass to running backs out of the backfield. Wilson has rushed twice for 62 yards, including a career long 46 yard run for a TD.
The end result he's been a dual threat. He's picked apart UNLV's defense as they've brought 8 guys into the box to stop the run. Obviously the defenses will get better than UNLV's. But Wilson's got alot of tools and he's got alot of weapons that he can lead. Maybe his stats won't be as gaudy as the last couple years at State, but he's going to lead a very good team.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
How does Matt Millen get jobs again?
From http://awfulannouncing.com/2011-articles/august/matt-millen-jarrett-lee-miami-qb-lsu-espn-sportscenter.html
I see that Matt Millen is going to be as good as a college football analyst as he was an NFL GM for the Lions....
I see that Matt Millen is going to be as good as a college football analyst as he was an NFL GM for the Lions....
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Russell Wilson will be a Wisconsin Badger
Russell Wilson has decided to use is one year of football eligibility at Wisconsin. He left the Asheville Tourists on Monday, meaning that is baseball career is on hold for sure for at least a year. Colorado is keeping his draft rights however.
I wish Wilson the best. He's going to add a dynamic element to an already talented Wisconsin team. I'll be sad to see him torment Michigan next year.
I'd say with the fall of Ohio State, Wisconsin is probably the favorite in the Big Ten now, and this may elevate them to a national championship contender.
I wish Wilson the best. He's going to add a dynamic element to an already talented Wisconsin team. I'll be sad to see him torment Michigan next year.
I'd say with the fall of Ohio State, Wisconsin is probably the favorite in the Big Ten now, and this may elevate them to a national championship contender.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
From the NCAA X-Files
The NCAA went to Los Angeles yesterday and took USC's 2006 National Championship in football back with them, and stored it away in the same room with Memphis's recent Final Four and national championship game appearance, Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy from 2006, and other trophies and awards from events that didn't really happen. As a result of Bush playing while he should have been ineligible USC's BCS Championship was vacated.
I feel that's pretty much a pointless gesture. It takes away the hard work and the reward that many innocent players achieved. For some backups, maybe a 3rd string punter, or 3rd string long snapper who was a walk-on maybe that was the highlight of their athletic career with that ring they earned. I'll grant a football superpower like USC likely isn't bringing in the walk-ons like Duke or someone, but there are still players who had no NFL aspirations, who's sports highlight was their contribution in practice or on special teams for a National Champion. Now they don't have that.
But I think it's likely that the NCAA dusted off a spot on the shelf next to that championship to stick some Ohio State Big Ten titles and bowl victories in the very near future.
Between USC and Ohio State keeping the NCAA busy there is no telling what John Calipari is getting away with at Kentucky right now while the NCAA has its back turned.
I feel that's pretty much a pointless gesture. It takes away the hard work and the reward that many innocent players achieved. For some backups, maybe a 3rd string punter, or 3rd string long snapper who was a walk-on maybe that was the highlight of their athletic career with that ring they earned. I'll grant a football superpower like USC likely isn't bringing in the walk-ons like Duke or someone, but there are still players who had no NFL aspirations, who's sports highlight was their contribution in practice or on special teams for a National Champion. Now they don't have that.
But I think it's likely that the NCAA dusted off a spot on the shelf next to that championship to stick some Ohio State Big Ten titles and bowl victories in the very near future.
Between USC and Ohio State keeping the NCAA busy there is no telling what John Calipari is getting away with at Kentucky right now while the NCAA has its back turned.
from the Files of the Incredibly Expected...
In the least unexpected news since I had to make a Run for the Toilet shortly after making a late night Run for the Border, Terrelle Pryor announced that he is not going to return for his senior season at Ohio State.
His plan is to try for the NFL Supplemental Draft or perhaps the Canadian Football League depending on how the lockout progresses. Pryor can take his trail of destruction to its next destination after leaving Columbus, Ohio in ruins.
I'm not sure what his NFL prospects are really. I think the Arena Football League can start printing out those Terrelle Pryor: Coming to an Arena Football Arena Near You! banners.
His plan is to try for the NFL Supplemental Draft or perhaps the Canadian Football League depending on how the lockout progresses. Pryor can take his trail of destruction to its next destination after leaving Columbus, Ohio in ruins.
I'm not sure what his NFL prospects are really. I think the Arena Football League can start printing out those Terrelle Pryor: Coming to an Arena Football Arena Near You! banners.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Surprise in Columbus
Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel resigned this morning amid the allegations of improper benefits that have rippled outwards like a stone in a pond after the players were found to have sold mementos or traded them for free tattoos late last year. That matter is still not closed and seems to be broadening in scope, beyond just a couple players committing an isolated violation outside of the knowledge of the coaching staff.
Some people thought that Tressel might be out after this season as that investigation progressed. Urban Meyer is an Ohio native with an outstanding resume and without a coaching job. He's also shown an inability in the past to stay retired. So the whispers started. Instead Tressel isn't even going to make it through the 5 game suspension.
He was a good coach. I can't deny. I have to admit too that he owned Michigan. 9-1 in his 10 seasons. He famously came in promising he was going to turn around Ohio State's previously dreadful record against Michigan (a big reason why the job opened up for him) and dominate them. He did just then. But I wonder how much he did turn a blind eye too as he built them into a regular national championship contender.
I also wonder how Pryor and the others who accepted the 5 game suspension as part of their promise to come back for this season in exchange for playing in the Sugar Bowl in January feel now. They came back for their coach. Now their coach is gone and they'll be out for the first 5 games. It is possible though that the 7-8 games they do still play this coming season are 7-8 more than they'd have played if they'd have gone to the NFL Draft, if the NFL owners and players' union don't get that lockout resolved.
As a result of this, when Michigan and Ohio State lock horns this season it will be with 2 first year coaches. I wonder when the last time that happened, if at all? Lots of legendary and longtime coaches on either side. Bo. Woody Hayes. Lloyd Carr. Tressel.
It will definitely be a whole new phase in THE rivalry in college football. Michigan can definitely use a clean slate.
Some people thought that Tressel might be out after this season as that investigation progressed. Urban Meyer is an Ohio native with an outstanding resume and without a coaching job. He's also shown an inability in the past to stay retired. So the whispers started. Instead Tressel isn't even going to make it through the 5 game suspension.
He was a good coach. I can't deny. I have to admit too that he owned Michigan. 9-1 in his 10 seasons. He famously came in promising he was going to turn around Ohio State's previously dreadful record against Michigan (a big reason why the job opened up for him) and dominate them. He did just then. But I wonder how much he did turn a blind eye too as he built them into a regular national championship contender.
I also wonder how Pryor and the others who accepted the 5 game suspension as part of their promise to come back for this season in exchange for playing in the Sugar Bowl in January feel now. They came back for their coach. Now their coach is gone and they'll be out for the first 5 games. It is possible though that the 7-8 games they do still play this coming season are 7-8 more than they'd have played if they'd have gone to the NFL Draft, if the NFL owners and players' union don't get that lockout resolved.
As a result of this, when Michigan and Ohio State lock horns this season it will be with 2 first year coaches. I wonder when the last time that happened, if at all? Lots of legendary and longtime coaches on either side. Bo. Woody Hayes. Lloyd Carr. Tressel.
It will definitely be a whole new phase in THE rivalry in college football. Michigan can definitely use a clean slate.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Russell Wilson is visiting Auburn
Wilson is considering transferring to Auburn for his remaining year of football eligibility. That would be a win-win for both parties I would say. Auburn has a lot of offensive pieces back for an offense that was build around Cam Newton, who was a similar style quarterback. Newton is significantly bigger and more physical than Wilson, so he can run through as well as around people. Wilson also is not going to absorb some of those big hits the way Newton could. On the other hand, Auburn almost certainly has a much better offensive line than NC State, giving Wilson more time to make big plays with either his legs or arms.
Auburn, being Auburn and the reigning national champion, almost certainly has another big time QB recruit coming. They need a high quality veteran to bridge that gap with the loss of Newton to the NFL (though I'm sure that didn't coming as a stunning outcome). Wilson has one year left. Hell, he's a good kid. He deserves a shot at being in a national title hunt, something that's not happening next year for NC State for sure, if it ever does at all.
Auburn, being Auburn and the reigning national champion, almost certainly has another big time QB recruit coming. They need a high quality veteran to bridge that gap with the loss of Newton to the NFL (though I'm sure that didn't coming as a stunning outcome). Wilson has one year left. Hell, he's a good kid. He deserves a shot at being in a national title hunt, something that's not happening next year for NC State for sure, if it ever does at all.
Monday, April 18, 2011
College Recruiting Visit Fail
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6381701
When you steal stuff from the locker room of the football program you are visiting on a recruiting visit, they're probably not going to recruit you ;)
This limits his college options in general, to those schools where clean criminal records are historically optional, such as Florida State and Miami, or schools that look the other way while stuff is going on, such as Ohio State.
Maybe Ohio State can recruit this kid and he can steal back all the stuff that Tyrelle Pryor pawned off.
When you steal stuff from the locker room of the football program you are visiting on a recruiting visit, they're probably not going to recruit you ;)
This limits his college options in general, to those schools where clean criminal records are historically optional, such as Florida State and Miami, or schools that look the other way while stuff is going on, such as Ohio State.
Maybe Ohio State can recruit this kid and he can steal back all the stuff that Tyrelle Pryor pawned off.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Assholery In Alabama
Auburn University learned that the 150 year old oak trees at their landmark Toomer's Corner were poisoned. The perpetrator called in to an Alabama area sports radio to brag about it.
Authorities conducted tests and confirmed that the trees were poisoned with a potent herbicide, in a larger than lethal dose.
Agriculture experts have said it's not likely the trees can be saved, but they're going to try.
Today they arrested the person who did it. I was expecting some young kid, maybe a drunk fratboy from Alabama. But no. It turned out to be a 62 year old guy. A retired state trooper. Yes he's an Alabama fan.
You'd have thought that a retired law enforcement person would have better sense than that. When you find out that he has a son named Bear and a daughter named Crimson you start to wonder though.
Pretty much because some dipshit fan is upset that his rival won a National Championship, and probably offended by the whole Cam Newton situation, a couple 150 year old trees, not to mention a university landmark, likely have to die.
Authorities conducted tests and confirmed that the trees were poisoned with a potent herbicide, in a larger than lethal dose.
Agriculture experts have said it's not likely the trees can be saved, but they're going to try.
Today they arrested the person who did it. I was expecting some young kid, maybe a drunk fratboy from Alabama. But no. It turned out to be a 62 year old guy. A retired state trooper. Yes he's an Alabama fan.
You'd have thought that a retired law enforcement person would have better sense than that. When you find out that he has a son named Bear and a daughter named Crimson you start to wonder though.
Pretty much because some dipshit fan is upset that his rival won a National Championship, and probably offended by the whole Cam Newton situation, a couple 150 year old trees, not to mention a university landmark, likely have to die.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Robert Burton decided to not be an Indian Giving Douche After All
If you missed it, Robert Burton is the CEO of Greenwich, CT based Burton Capital Management. He and his family have donated $7 million to UConn over the years. He's received an honorary degree (I'm sure he has...). He recently gave a $3 million gift to the football program and his name is on the football complex.
UConn is not a poor, booster poor school by any means. But they're making the transition from the FCS level to the FBS level. That's not easy, but they've done very well with it, having already played in 2 bowls, and one BCS Bowl, in just 4 years or so of FBS play.
Burton was pissed that his "advice was ignored" when UConn hired a new coach to replace Randy Edsell, who bailed on the team to take the Maryland job. One of his sons had played for new coach Paul Pasqualon at Syracuse. Maybe that was not a plus.
So Burton made a move that will be a Jackass Of the Year nominee and wrote a bitchy, incendiary letter to the university. He demanded that his $3 million gift be returned and his name removed from the football complex. He also said he was canceling the $500,000 year lease on a football luxury box, and sending his company executives to Syracuse for their business training rather than to UConn. All ties between him, his family, his company, and UConn were severed forever.
As I recall he also ripped into the AD, saying he was "fed up" with him and would have fired him a long time ago if he had the authority, and said that both mens' and womens' basketball coaches Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma had a poor working relationship. I don't recall if Calhoun had any response but Auriemma said that Burton's statement was false, and that not only did he not know what the basketball coaches relationship was with the AD at all, that it was none of his business. Auriemma is right on that count.
My opinions are simple:
You're certainly welcome to not donate any more money. Burton doesn't owe UConn anything. If you even want to be a dick and take your name off the sports complex, or even vacate a $500,000 per year luxury box, taking significant money away from a still new FBC program, that's your douchey prerogative. If you're that much of a petty jackass to probably set the football program back a decade with facility shortcomings that hurt recruiting, and maybe even affect scholarships, that's your choice.
But if you have given a $3 million gift, that's a GIFT. There's no taking it back. That money has been spent already. Does he honestly expect the university to start taking away some kids' financial aid, scholarships, technology upgrades, etc. to find the money from elsewhere to give back $3 million. It's not like you can just tear down the sports complex and call it even.
Giving a lot of money to a university or a sports program makes you a booster. It doesn't make you a Co-Athletic Director or a Co-Head Football coach. You have no say and no input in how the university and team conducts its business. Apparently his contribution to the school wasn't meant as a gift. It was meant to buy into a Sports Team General Manager Fantasy. If you want to own a sports team go buy one, period. The Buffalo Bills are probably on clearance sale.
Burton's main beef was that he wanted UConn to hire the University of Florida's former offensive coordinator and they didn't. As it turned out UConn hadn't offered the guy the job because he had already just taken the head coaching job at Temple. Trying to hire the brand new head coach immediately away from another school is in extremely poor taste, especially given that UConn and Temple are pretty close together they probably have an institutional working relationship. UConn didn't pull the dick move, so Burton apparently did, and was planning on crushing the football program back to the Stone Age I guess.
ESPN reported today that the UConn Board of Trustees and its new university president came to pay Burton a visit. I guess he got enough ass kissing to sooth his massive ego and decided that he was backing off all of his demands. I wonder if the university powers said "Yessa Mastah, we'll sho' listen to ya nex' time!" or if they said "Your money is welcome, but you're directives are not. Go be CEO of your company and let the people qualified to run a university athletics program run theirs."
I wonder if the guy even has a clue that he overstepped himself there.
UConn is not a poor, booster poor school by any means. But they're making the transition from the FCS level to the FBS level. That's not easy, but they've done very well with it, having already played in 2 bowls, and one BCS Bowl, in just 4 years or so of FBS play.
Burton was pissed that his "advice was ignored" when UConn hired a new coach to replace Randy Edsell, who bailed on the team to take the Maryland job. One of his sons had played for new coach Paul Pasqualon at Syracuse. Maybe that was not a plus.
So Burton made a move that will be a Jackass Of the Year nominee and wrote a bitchy, incendiary letter to the university. He demanded that his $3 million gift be returned and his name removed from the football complex. He also said he was canceling the $500,000 year lease on a football luxury box, and sending his company executives to Syracuse for their business training rather than to UConn. All ties between him, his family, his company, and UConn were severed forever.
As I recall he also ripped into the AD, saying he was "fed up" with him and would have fired him a long time ago if he had the authority, and said that both mens' and womens' basketball coaches Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma had a poor working relationship. I don't recall if Calhoun had any response but Auriemma said that Burton's statement was false, and that not only did he not know what the basketball coaches relationship was with the AD at all, that it was none of his business. Auriemma is right on that count.
My opinions are simple:
You're certainly welcome to not donate any more money. Burton doesn't owe UConn anything. If you even want to be a dick and take your name off the sports complex, or even vacate a $500,000 per year luxury box, taking significant money away from a still new FBC program, that's your douchey prerogative. If you're that much of a petty jackass to probably set the football program back a decade with facility shortcomings that hurt recruiting, and maybe even affect scholarships, that's your choice.
But if you have given a $3 million gift, that's a GIFT. There's no taking it back. That money has been spent already. Does he honestly expect the university to start taking away some kids' financial aid, scholarships, technology upgrades, etc. to find the money from elsewhere to give back $3 million. It's not like you can just tear down the sports complex and call it even.
Giving a lot of money to a university or a sports program makes you a booster. It doesn't make you a Co-Athletic Director or a Co-Head Football coach. You have no say and no input in how the university and team conducts its business. Apparently his contribution to the school wasn't meant as a gift. It was meant to buy into a Sports Team General Manager Fantasy. If you want to own a sports team go buy one, period. The Buffalo Bills are probably on clearance sale.
Burton's main beef was that he wanted UConn to hire the University of Florida's former offensive coordinator and they didn't. As it turned out UConn hadn't offered the guy the job because he had already just taken the head coaching job at Temple. Trying to hire the brand new head coach immediately away from another school is in extremely poor taste, especially given that UConn and Temple are pretty close together they probably have an institutional working relationship. UConn didn't pull the dick move, so Burton apparently did, and was planning on crushing the football program back to the Stone Age I guess.
ESPN reported today that the UConn Board of Trustees and its new university president came to pay Burton a visit. I guess he got enough ass kissing to sooth his massive ego and decided that he was backing off all of his demands. I wonder if the university powers said "Yessa Mastah, we'll sho' listen to ya nex' time!" or if they said "Your money is welcome, but you're directives are not. Go be CEO of your company and let the people qualified to run a university athletics program run theirs."
I wonder if the guy even has a clue that he overstepped himself there.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Auburn is the 2010 National Champion
Auburn beat Oregon 22-19 on a 19 yard field goal as time expired. Oregon had capitalized on a Cam Newton fumble to score and converted a 2 point conversion to tie it. But Auburn got a 37 yard run on a play where the running back's landed atop the defender's body on a tackle. He got back up and took off at the direction of his sideline. Auburn then went for a quick hitter on a play when Oregon was expecting a save 2 yard and a pile of dust run to center the ball for a field goal. Instead they got the quick burst up the middle that was first ruled a touchdown with 10 seconds left, but later ruled down at the half-yard line.
Auburn's defense stopped Oregon's running game. The Ducks averaged 302 on the ground all year and were held to 76. Auburn's pass rush and speed bothered Oregon and they were physically overpowered by that size and speed. Auburn had a good plan in place. They made a 4th down goal line stand that was pivotal and also delivered a safety.
Auburn has won its 2nd ever National Championship. The SEC has now claimed the last 5 in a row.
That was a good game!
Auburn's defense stopped Oregon's running game. The Ducks averaged 302 on the ground all year and were held to 76. Auburn's pass rush and speed bothered Oregon and they were physically overpowered by that size and speed. Auburn had a good plan in place. They made a 4th down goal line stand that was pivotal and also delivered a safety.
Auburn has won its 2nd ever National Championship. The SEC has now claimed the last 5 in a row.
That was a good game!
Monday, January 3, 2011
ESPN is reporting that Jim Harbaugh "is not expected to return to Stanford"
No word on where he is expected to go. If he's going elsewhere I would be very surprised if it was somewhere other than Michigan. The Michigan job would return him to his alma mater, where he would be greeted as the savior arriving to resurrect the glory of the Michigan program. In addition to the frustration and embarrassment created during the Rich Rodriguez tenure, Harbaugh's return would bring back one of Michigan's most popular former players, and re-establish a direct link to the Bo Schembechler era.
If he goes to the NFL he's just another NFL coach trying to juggle some high draft picks into a more successful team. The NFL is littered with former coaches who were very successful NFL coaches. Look at Pete Carroll. Sure he took the Seahawks to the playoffs. But that's more a tribute to how crappy the NFC West was. Seattle finished 7-9 and are the first division champion with a losing record in NFL history. Sure when they fly that flag atop the stadium next season it will say "NFC West Champions" and the record won't be mentioned. But still, they finished one game better than the Lions.
If Harbaugh does come to Michigan I sure hope he handles his Stanford departure better than Rick Edsell handled his exit at UConn to head to Maryland. Edsell didn't take the team flight home after the bowl game. Players started getting texts that he was jumping ship around the time they got off the plane in Connecticut. Apparently only a few players got the courtesy of a personal phone call. That's pretty douchey. Especially for a unit that had bonded tightly in the aftermath of having a player get murdered last year.
I'm not saying there's no problem with leaving for another job. UConn wouldn't hesitate to fire him. Look at how Maryland handled Ralph Friedgen. He won 6 more games than last year. Earned a bowl game and won it. Won ACC Coach of the Year, not for the first time in his run at Maryland I believe. Had the ACC Offensive Freshman of the Year in his QB, so he had some weapons to continue solid success. And got fired anyway.
Universities don't show loyalty to coaches either, but Edsell owed his players better than a few text messages, then letting the news get spread around word of mouth. Especially after he made a player announce in front of the whole team that he was leaving for the NFL.
If he goes to the NFL he's just another NFL coach trying to juggle some high draft picks into a more successful team. The NFL is littered with former coaches who were very successful NFL coaches. Look at Pete Carroll. Sure he took the Seahawks to the playoffs. But that's more a tribute to how crappy the NFC West was. Seattle finished 7-9 and are the first division champion with a losing record in NFL history. Sure when they fly that flag atop the stadium next season it will say "NFC West Champions" and the record won't be mentioned. But still, they finished one game better than the Lions.
If Harbaugh does come to Michigan I sure hope he handles his Stanford departure better than Rick Edsell handled his exit at UConn to head to Maryland. Edsell didn't take the team flight home after the bowl game. Players started getting texts that he was jumping ship around the time they got off the plane in Connecticut. Apparently only a few players got the courtesy of a personal phone call. That's pretty douchey. Especially for a unit that had bonded tightly in the aftermath of having a player get murdered last year.
I'm not saying there's no problem with leaving for another job. UConn wouldn't hesitate to fire him. Look at how Maryland handled Ralph Friedgen. He won 6 more games than last year. Earned a bowl game and won it. Won ACC Coach of the Year, not for the first time in his run at Maryland I believe. Had the ACC Offensive Freshman of the Year in his QB, so he had some weapons to continue solid success. And got fired anyway.
Universities don't show loyalty to coaches either, but Edsell owed his players better than a few text messages, then letting the news get spread around word of mouth. Especially after he made a player announce in front of the whole team that he was leaving for the NFL.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
TCU does it
TCU beat Wisconsin 21-19 to win the Rose Bowl. It's not an upset on paper since TCU was actually ranked 3rd to Wisconsin's 5th. But in reality most people expected TCU to run them over.
I love seeing games like this with a contrast in style, where there can be plenty of assumption of who is going to do what, but you still have to play the game.
TCU star linebacker Tank Cardner knocked down a 2 point conversion pass attempt that would have tied the game with 2 minutes to play. Had he not there was a guy wide open behind him, where the pass was going.
TCU recovered an onside kick, and with Wisconsin down to only 1 timeout they got the one first down they needed to run out the clock.
As a result the Big Ten falls to 0-5 in today's bowl games. "Black Saturday" for Big Ten football. When Ohio State plays Arkansas in a few days they're going to have their hands full there too, so it might not get any better.
I love seeing games like this with a contrast in style, where there can be plenty of assumption of who is going to do what, but you still have to play the game.
TCU star linebacker Tank Cardner knocked down a 2 point conversion pass attempt that would have tied the game with 2 minutes to play. Had he not there was a guy wide open behind him, where the pass was going.
TCU recovered an onside kick, and with Wisconsin down to only 1 timeout they got the one first down they needed to run out the clock.
As a result the Big Ten falls to 0-5 in today's bowl games. "Black Saturday" for Big Ten football. When Ohio State plays Arkansas in a few days they're going to have their hands full there too, so it might not get any better.
TCU is for real (if there was any doubt before)
So much for that TCU trouble. They've been able to use speed and penetration to disrupt Wisconsin's running game, and have gotten pressure to the quarterback. They came into the game with the nation's #1 ranked defense, and actually held that title last year too. Obviously that ranking is not a total mirage.
TCU is up 21-13 with the ball as he head to the 4th quarter. One quarter away from a Rose Bowl win, which would be made all the more impressive by how well Wisconsin had been playing leading up to the game. That's the problem with a month layoff though. Wisconsin got their momentum derailed by a layoff.
TCU is up 21-13 with the ball as he head to the 4th quarter. One quarter away from a Rose Bowl win, which would be made all the more impressive by how well Wisconsin had been playing leading up to the game. That's the problem with a month layoff though. Wisconsin got their momentum derailed by a layoff.
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