I want to wish everyone a blessed Christmas and for my international readers a great Boxing Day tomorrow. I appreciate you reading All About College Sports.
Best,
Paul
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Don't Answer Your Cell Phone or the Front Door
The Christmas season is officially upon us and athletic directors at major universities are searching for the perfect Christmas gift—a new football coach.
Well, not every athletic director, but if you are a head coach that had a losing season or seasons, my advice is don’t pick up your cell phone or listen to the knock at your door. Your Christmas gift might be a lump of coal.
The lumps of coal were numerous Sunday and it didn’t matter if you were in the East, Midwest, South or West. The following coaches were fired yesterday: Frank Spaziani at Boston College, Tom O’Brien at NC State, Gene Chizik at Auburn, Danny Hope at Purdue and Jon Embree at Colorado.
You would think the firings would slow down now, but like I said earlier, if I was a losing-record coach, I would lay low like a turkey one week before Thanksgiving.
Chizik had the biggest fall. Two years ago, he was hoisting the silver football as Auburn won the national championship. Embree received the shortest stick. He led Colorado for just two seasons and won four games. O’Brien was never the flashy hire at NC State and his teams won--just not enough. Spaziani was a loyal Boston College guy, but people care more about the New England Patriots than the Eagles. Plus, Spaziani had trouble getting wins. Hope lost hope at Purdue. Hope was the only college coach I have ever seen who wore a whistle around his neck on gameday.
The athletic directors who created these coaching openings Sunday will be selling hope. Unfortunately, none of the openings seem hopeful in terms of great success at the particular schools.
Well, not every athletic director, but if you are a head coach that had a losing season or seasons, my advice is don’t pick up your cell phone or listen to the knock at your door. Your Christmas gift might be a lump of coal.
The lumps of coal were numerous Sunday and it didn’t matter if you were in the East, Midwest, South or West. The following coaches were fired yesterday: Frank Spaziani at Boston College, Tom O’Brien at NC State, Gene Chizik at Auburn, Danny Hope at Purdue and Jon Embree at Colorado.
You would think the firings would slow down now, but like I said earlier, if I was a losing-record coach, I would lay low like a turkey one week before Thanksgiving.
Chizik had the biggest fall. Two years ago, he was hoisting the silver football as Auburn won the national championship. Embree received the shortest stick. He led Colorado for just two seasons and won four games. O’Brien was never the flashy hire at NC State and his teams won--just not enough. Spaziani was a loyal Boston College guy, but people care more about the New England Patriots than the Eagles. Plus, Spaziani had trouble getting wins. Hope lost hope at Purdue. Hope was the only college coach I have ever seen who wore a whistle around his neck on gameday.
The athletic directors who created these coaching openings Sunday will be selling hope. Unfortunately, none of the openings seem hopeful in terms of great success at the particular schools.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to all of my readers. It is a blessed time of year when we celebrate Jesus coming as a baby. This is the true meaning of Christmas.
Thank you for reading my blog and even commenting on my posts. I am blessed to have readers here in the United States and across the seas.
I plan to take a break for the holidays but will return with words and comments about the wonderful world of college athletics.
Blessings,
Paul
Thank you for reading my blog and even commenting on my posts. I am blessed to have readers here in the United States and across the seas.
I plan to take a break for the holidays but will return with words and comments about the wonderful world of college athletics.
Blessings,
Paul
Thursday, December 22, 2011
My Christmas List--College Style
With my apologies to the song, “All I want for Christmas,” I present my top 10 wishes college style in no particular order.
•I want LSU and Alabama to play a 3-0 game in the BCS football title game. That baseball score would cause another great outcry about teams playing twice in a season including for the national championship.
•Baylor’s Robert Griffin III to return to school for another season. That seems highly unlikely so I hope he gets drafted by a team that will display his many talents.
•That the University of Louisiana-Lafayette receives more television time. How can you not fall in love with its nickname—the Ragin’ Cajuns?
•That the so called expects will quit picking on the Independence Bowl. I have been to Shreveport, Louisiana. It isn’t that bad. There are worst places.
•Please tone down the hype on the Rose Bowl game. It isn’t that special anymore even though people still call it the “Granddaddy” of the bowls. I think Granddaddy passed away a few years back.
•That the Big Ten Conference will truly change the football divisions named “Leaders” and “Legends.” Sorry, but it still sounds strange.
•That people will really believe Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz when he says he will remain the Hawkeye coach after another series of rumors. Why would a guy that has big time control of his program and makes $3.8 million per year really think about departing for another job?
Smaller schools complaining about the lack of love compared to the larger ones. Show it on the football field or basketball court and then get back to me.
•Teams like North Carolina, Kentucky, Syracuse or other traditional basketball powers not making the NCAA Final Four basketball. We need a couple new teams in that party to make it interesting.
•More Dick Vitale. The guy is a showman and has a great gig. He is good entertainment.
•I want LSU and Alabama to play a 3-0 game in the BCS football title game. That baseball score would cause another great outcry about teams playing twice in a season including for the national championship.
•Baylor’s Robert Griffin III to return to school for another season. That seems highly unlikely so I hope he gets drafted by a team that will display his many talents.
•That the University of Louisiana-Lafayette receives more television time. How can you not fall in love with its nickname—the Ragin’ Cajuns?
•That the so called expects will quit picking on the Independence Bowl. I have been to Shreveport, Louisiana. It isn’t that bad. There are worst places.
•Please tone down the hype on the Rose Bowl game. It isn’t that special anymore even though people still call it the “Granddaddy” of the bowls. I think Granddaddy passed away a few years back.
•That the Big Ten Conference will truly change the football divisions named “Leaders” and “Legends.” Sorry, but it still sounds strange.
•That people will really believe Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz when he says he will remain the Hawkeye coach after another series of rumors. Why would a guy that has big time control of his program and makes $3.8 million per year really think about departing for another job?
Smaller schools complaining about the lack of love compared to the larger ones. Show it on the football field or basketball court and then get back to me.
•Teams like North Carolina, Kentucky, Syracuse or other traditional basketball powers not making the NCAA Final Four basketball. We need a couple new teams in that party to make it interesting.
•More Dick Vitale. The guy is a showman and has a great gig. He is good entertainment.
Monday, December 5, 2011
No Thanks BCS
The BCS (Bowl Championship Series) is flawed. The BCS is flawed. How else can you explain LSU-Alabama for the national championship?
This game should never happen. Maybe the outcries will force a system change. Please, please no more conference members playing each other in the national championship game. Bowls try to escape matching up teams that have played in the regular season, why not use the same philosophy in the title game?
LSU and Alabama played a boring first game—all field goals. Why do you expect anything different in the sequel? Is anybody really going to watch this game other than the LSU and Alabama fans?
You should also feel sorry for LSU. Why should a team have to defeat an opponent twice in one season for the title?
The polls and computers say Alabama is the second best team. Well, the Tide isn’t even technically the best team in the SEC. That honor belongs to Georgia that lost to LSU in the SEC championship game.
College football is an entertainment business. I cannot imagine even advertisers embracing this national championship game.
Please, please and please, change the system otherwise will have more teams like Oklahoma State receive a lump of coal in its Christmas socking.
This game should never happen. Maybe the outcries will force a system change. Please, please no more conference members playing each other in the national championship game. Bowls try to escape matching up teams that have played in the regular season, why not use the same philosophy in the title game?
LSU and Alabama played a boring first game—all field goals. Why do you expect anything different in the sequel? Is anybody really going to watch this game other than the LSU and Alabama fans?
You should also feel sorry for LSU. Why should a team have to defeat an opponent twice in one season for the title?
The polls and computers say Alabama is the second best team. Well, the Tide isn’t even technically the best team in the SEC. That honor belongs to Georgia that lost to LSU in the SEC championship game.
College football is an entertainment business. I cannot imagine even advertisers embracing this national championship game.
Please, please and please, change the system otherwise will have more teams like Oklahoma State receive a lump of coal in its Christmas socking.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Wisconsin Lands Russell Wilson
Christmas came to Badgerland yesterday and fans were plain ‘ole giddy. Former North Carolina State quarterback Russell Wilson announced that he would play for Wisconsin this fall.
It’s rare for a college team to have a former all-conference player in another league land in its lap. Wisconsin beat out Auburn for Wilson’s services.
Badger fans believe Wilson could the missing piece of a well-stock puzzle in 2011. They weren’t happy with the other prospects at quarterback so now fans could look forward to a special season.
I have mentioned frequently in this space about Wilson’s talents. I watched the guy closely at NC State. As I have often said, he is a special player. Wilson is simply a talented athlete. He can make plays with his feet and also throw a good ball when necessary. He often willed NC State to a victory.
The rub with the NC State football program was basically his desire to play two sports. Then he signed a professional contract with the Colorado Rockies baseball team. Finally, NC State coach Tom O’Brien told him to choose baseball or football. But Wilson continued with the Rockies this summer.
Wilson apparently has had second thoughts about a baseball career. Struggling with a .200 average will do that to a guy.
It will be interesting to see how Wisconsin uses Wilson. Normally, the Badgers run a conservative offense with a large portion of running plays. If they only have Wilson generally hand the ball off his talents will go wasted. The guy needs plenty of freedom to make plays.
I predict Wilson will star at Wisconsin. He will just be performing for a different red-and-white team (school colors).
It’s rare for a college team to have a former all-conference player in another league land in its lap. Wisconsin beat out Auburn for Wilson’s services.
Badger fans believe Wilson could the missing piece of a well-stock puzzle in 2011. They weren’t happy with the other prospects at quarterback so now fans could look forward to a special season.
I have mentioned frequently in this space about Wilson’s talents. I watched the guy closely at NC State. As I have often said, he is a special player. Wilson is simply a talented athlete. He can make plays with his feet and also throw a good ball when necessary. He often willed NC State to a victory.
The rub with the NC State football program was basically his desire to play two sports. Then he signed a professional contract with the Colorado Rockies baseball team. Finally, NC State coach Tom O’Brien told him to choose baseball or football. But Wilson continued with the Rockies this summer.
Wilson apparently has had second thoughts about a baseball career. Struggling with a .200 average will do that to a guy.
It will be interesting to see how Wisconsin uses Wilson. Normally, the Badgers run a conservative offense with a large portion of running plays. If they only have Wilson generally hand the ball off his talents will go wasted. The guy needs plenty of freedom to make plays.
I predict Wilson will star at Wisconsin. He will just be performing for a different red-and-white team (school colors).
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Bobby Knight and One and Done
ESPN’s Bobby Knight is in the news again.
Knight went after the University of Kentucky during a speech over the weekend. Knight lamented the “one and done” scenario in college basketball saying that the Kentucky freshman players in 2009-2010 weren’t going to class the spring term in anticipation of the NBA draft. Kentucky denied the charge and Knight later apologized.
You can bet Knight and Kentucky Coach John Calipari won’t be exchanging Christmas cards anytime soon. It’s safe to say, Knight has not been a fan of Calipari for a long time.
But on the premise that the “one and done” scenario is hurting college basketball, I’m in Knight’s corner on this one. When the rule was changed to force players to attend college for at least one year before turning professional, did this really help anything?
Colleges are basically renting players under this system. And there are plenty of schools willing to take the one-timers and live in the moment. But we have seen in recent years, success coming to the mid-major schools that feature juniors and seniors. I say great.
I have said for a long time if a player goes to college he should be required to participate for at least two full seasons. This would allow the player to develop his basketball and social skills in a less competitive environment. Make no mistake about it the NBA is a job full of big money and big temptations.
It was encouraging to learn that a number of freshman players are coming back for their sophomore season next year. College basketball needs some stability in this vein.
Are you comfortable with the “one and done” rule?
Knight went after the University of Kentucky during a speech over the weekend. Knight lamented the “one and done” scenario in college basketball saying that the Kentucky freshman players in 2009-2010 weren’t going to class the spring term in anticipation of the NBA draft. Kentucky denied the charge and Knight later apologized.
You can bet Knight and Kentucky Coach John Calipari won’t be exchanging Christmas cards anytime soon. It’s safe to say, Knight has not been a fan of Calipari for a long time.
But on the premise that the “one and done” scenario is hurting college basketball, I’m in Knight’s corner on this one. When the rule was changed to force players to attend college for at least one year before turning professional, did this really help anything?
Colleges are basically renting players under this system. And there are plenty of schools willing to take the one-timers and live in the moment. But we have seen in recent years, success coming to the mid-major schools that feature juniors and seniors. I say great.
I have said for a long time if a player goes to college he should be required to participate for at least two full seasons. This would allow the player to develop his basketball and social skills in a less competitive environment. Make no mistake about it the NBA is a job full of big money and big temptations.
It was encouraging to learn that a number of freshman players are coming back for their sophomore season next year. College basketball needs some stability in this vein.
Are you comfortable with the “one and done” rule?
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas Everyone
I wish everyone a blessed Christmas as we celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ who changed the future of this world. Glory to God.
Thank you for your readership.
Paul
Thank you for your readership.
Paul
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