Rick Majerus was a Colorful Guy

Former college basketball coach Rick Majerus died over the weekend from heart complications. He was 64.

Majerus coached St. Louis University in his last stop. The heart condition forced him to walk away from the 2012-13 season. He also coached Utah, Ball State and Marquette, but his health always seemed to be a major factor.

But Majerus was a college basketball gift. He displayed humor, crustiness and frankness. Sportswriters and broadcasters loved the guy because he was very quotable. The guy knew basketball and he knew how to coach it.

Majerus didn’t seem to find peace in one particular coaching job. I don’t know if the press or Majerus himself would start rumors about his potential candidacy at another school. His name kept popping up for openings.

I will always remember Majerus for his competitive nature. I saw it first hand one night in Ames, Iowa when Majerus brought his Marquette team to play Iowa State in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The coach became agitated with a call or calls that went against Marquette. The official gave Majerus one technical, then two technicals and then three technicals in a span of about 30 seconds. Majerus was kicked out of the game, but refused to leave. Police then escorted him off the floor, but not before he wanted to charge the referee who gave him the three technicals. Majerus was restrained and Marquette went on to win the game without its coach.

The Open Door

The Iowa State basketball program continues to place the welcoming mat outside the front door. Yet another transfer is joining the Cyclones.

Former Utah player Will Clyburn announced he is transferring to Iowa State. The Detroit native led the Utes in scoring and rebounding last season at 17.1 points per game and 7.8 rebounds. He won’t play until the 2012-13 and have just one season remaining.

Clyburn is familiar with the Iowa winters. He played two seasons at Marshalltown Junior College.

Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg is getting a reputation for taking in transfers. Maybe they should call the basketball program Transfer U. Anyway, fans need a scorecard to know what players are eligible and when.

But rumor has it Iowa State had an awesome scout team this past season. Some of those guys are eligible next fall.

If it seems like the basketball roster is always changing, that’s correct. Hoiberg has to go out and recruit a couple coaches for his staff now. The key hire will be landing someone to take the place of departed Bobby Lutz. He was a key cog on the staff last season.

So keep those scorecards handy Cyclone fans. And don’t leave home without them.

Alabama: Still in Title Talk?

The college football TV people still thinks Alabama has a shot at the national championship.

Really? Wow.

The Tide is ranked sixth in the BCS. TCU, Boise State, Utah and Auburn are all ahead of them for the second spot. TCU plays Utah this week, so one team will drop out. And Alabama has its annual showdown with Auburn at the regular season end, so it can make up ground there.

But Alabama still has the TCU/Utah winner and Boise State to leap frog. And this assumes the Tide remain undefeated in their remaining games. That won’t be easy.

Alabama travels to Baton Rouge this week to take on the 7-1 LSU Tigers. LSU has surprised some folks this season and it isn’t out of the question that it could pull out a win Saturday.

Still if Alabama makes it to the Auburn game with all its T’s crossed and I’s dotted, Auburn will make it difficult. Cam Newton and the Tigers will be ready.

So for all you Alabama supporters, go ahead and hope. If the Tide can survive all those landmines, they deserve it.

But I wouldn’t bet on it.

Iowa State Shocks Texas

I didn’t see this one coming. No way, no how.

Iowa State came into today’s contest a wounded football team. Utah destroyed the Cyclones two weeks ago and then Oklahoma chewed them up and spit them out last week in Norman.

I read the quotes about them leaving that all behind and focusing on Texas. This time, maybe the talk wasn’t so cheap.

Iowa State looked like giant killers today. Texas looked like the old Iowa State team.
Both teams played definite roles but not the usual ones.

Texas continues its split personality. They go into Lincoln and pop the Nebraska Huskers. They then lose in front of the home crowd and look confused in the process. The Longhorns are now an ordinary 4-3.

Iowa State had never beaten Texas before today. The Cyclones looked confident and determined. Gaining their fourth win never felt so good.

Last year, Iowa State dumped Nebraska in Lincoln. This is starting to become a pattern with Paul Rhoad’s bunch. The Cyclones are suddenly in the hunt for a bowl game.

Texas still wonders what hit them. Instead of a tornado, it was a Cyclone.

What are your thoughts on today’s upset?

Can we Please Take a Rest?

Hopefully Utah accepting a bid from the Pac-10 will end this expansion talk for a while. That moves the number to four schools who are taking up residency in other leagues. Nebraska went to the Big 10, Colorado went to the Pac-10 and Boise State went to the Mountain West. The summer needs to quiet down on this expansion movement and for that matter, the talk.

Summer for college football is usually a slow season. But not these year. I figure there were about 444 rumors going around where schools might end up. The biggest news didn't happen. The Texas schools and Oklahoma didn't dump the Big 12. On another note, Missouri didn't get an invitation to the Big 10. It sounds like Missouri wanted it a lot more than the Big 10 wanted to give it. So, memo to Missouri: suck it up boys and win consistently in the Big 12. Go ahead, take your frustration out on the field or court.

Now, can we please get back to reading football preseason magazines and talking fall match ups? Can we just get back to some familiarity and not worry about these so called super conferences?

But on further review, please don't wake me up until that kicker approaches the ball for the first time this fall.

Thoughts on Conference Expansion

Just like the outdoor grilling season, talk of conference expansion is heating up.

In recent years, we have had some sizzle but little steak on this never-ending expansion talk. Not since the ACC and Big East provided some movement a few years ago has there been realignment.

But this time the talk seems centered on the PAC-10 and Big 10. I know, the Big 10 expansion talk is really old news. It sounds like it might happen however in the near future. This from a conference that calls itself the Big 10 with 11 teams. Change must be hard. And they are talking major change with expansion in this black spikes league?

So maybe Rutgers or Missouri might be interested? Notre Dame might reconsider its stance on football conference membership. The Irish are hardly a national power these days and might appreciate some security in the Big 10.

The PAC-10 might go calling on some Mountain West schools. I heard Utah is one target. But this is one conference that needs a splash. Right now, it has Phil Knight, Nike and the University of Oregon. And they might also consider moving the conference. Starting times make it difficult for anyone east of the Rock Mountains to keep trace of this league.

Being old school, I don't have much problem with the way the leagues (across America) are presently aligned. But it's the sign of times. People think bigger is better. I say, be careful what you wish for?

What are you opinions on college expansion?