With all of the excitement of the FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament going on, I haven't been paying attention to the NCAA College world Series in Omaha, Nebraska. There was quite a finish for the national championship in the finals of the CWS.
As most of you know by now, South Carolina won the National Title when they beat UCLA by the score of 2-1 in 11 innings. I believe this may be the Gamecocks' first national title in Baseball. I might be wrong. It certainly was their first national title in any sport in a long, long time.
Whit Merrifield, a Junior Infielder from Advance, NC, singled home teammate Scott Wingo in the bottom of the 11th inning to win it for the Cocks. Wingo led off the inning with a walk, then advanced to second base via a passed ball. Freshman Outfielder Evan Marzilli, a native of Cranston, RI, bunted Wingo over to third base to set up the magical moment for Merrifield. The fine pitching of Sophomore Michael Roth kept the Cocks in the game. The Greer, SC and Riverside HS product allowed 1 run on six hits over 5.0 innings.
Head Coach Ray Tanner was named National Coach of the Year. What a tremendous moment for South Carolina. Though their Men's Soccer program is still strong, they have not done much in Football or Basketball as far as coming close to competing for a title. It's nice that the Gamecocks can finally celebrate a national championship in Columbia and throughout the state.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Texas Holds Big 12-2 Together
Well, it didn't happen as I was afraid it would. The Big Xll, minus Colorado and Nebraska, is still in tact thanks to commissioner Dan Bebe and to Texas for deciding to stay.
Texas would not be able to have its own TV network if they had joined the PAC 10. They will be able to do that by staying. It makes sense also for parents of the student-athletes not having to travel to Oregon or Washington to watch their kids play. Texas and Oklahoma will still have their "Red River War" rivalry, one of the fiercest rivalries in all of College Football. To me , their are more positives for keeping the Big Xll in tact than not. A 16 team conference just doesn't make sense.
Texas would not be able to have its own TV network if they had joined the PAC 10. They will be able to do that by staying. It makes sense also for parents of the student-athletes not having to travel to Oregon or Washington to watch their kids play. Texas and Oklahoma will still have their "Red River War" rivalry, one of the fiercest rivalries in all of College Football. To me , their are more positives for keeping the Big Xll in tact than not. A 16 team conference just doesn't make sense.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Dismantling of Big Xll Has Begun
About 14 years ago, the old Southwest Conference, which included Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Texas Tech, SMU and TCU was broken up. Just about every school in that league had been cheating by breaking NCAA rules left and right. SMU and TCU went there separate ways, eventually ending up in the WAC and Mountain West respectively.
The old Big Vlll Conference which included Kansas, Oklahoma, OK St., Iowa St., Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas St. and Colorado merged with Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Baylor to form the current Big Xll back in 1996. Now, the Big Xll is headed to join the Southwest Conference as ancient relics of college athletics. Nebraska has decided to join the Big 10, making it the Big 10 + 3. Colorado is joining the PAC 10, which is poised to add Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, OK St. and Baylor making it the NCAA's first ever 16 team conference.
So what does Kansas, Kansas St., Iowa St. and Missouri do? Texas A&M is considering joining the SEC. The Mountain West Conference, who added Boise St to the fold over the weekend, is also courting the Jayhawks, Wildcats, Cyclones and, perhaps, the Missouri Tigers. This will certainly improve the MWC as a basketball conference. The addition of Kansas and K St. along with New Mexico, BYU and Utah. The MWC is a better football conference for Boise St. It gives them more legitimacy in the eyes of the BCS, as if they really needed more legitimacy. The new PAC 10 as a basketball conference would certainly be improved on with the arrival of the Longhorns, Bears, Cowboys and Sooners to go along with the traditions of UCLA and Arizona, and a solid Washington program.
But here is my question. Why won't the Big Xll fight for its survival? It has been a very successful conference. In football, its members, such as Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas have played for the National Championship numerous times and have won the trophy at least twice in the decade. They've also had tremendous success as a basketball conference reaching the Final Four and winning a national title (Kansas) in 2008. If its about money and the large television markets, they have the Dallas / Fort Worth area, Houston, which is the fourth largest market in the country, St. Louis, Kansas City, San Antonio and Denver. I guess that's not enough.
I would like to see the Big Xll fight to survive. Why not try to grab TCU away from the MWC, or UTEP from the WAC, or Tulsa from Conference USA. They could at least be a decent basketball conference if not football. It seems as if this came on so sudden and out of nowhere. That's impossible, however. This has been talked about for a long time, probably at least 5 to 10 years. The Big Xll is doomed, but it was a tremendously successful conference. I hate to see it go.
The old Big Vlll Conference which included Kansas, Oklahoma, OK St., Iowa St., Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas St. and Colorado merged with Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Baylor to form the current Big Xll back in 1996. Now, the Big Xll is headed to join the Southwest Conference as ancient relics of college athletics. Nebraska has decided to join the Big 10, making it the Big 10 + 3. Colorado is joining the PAC 10, which is poised to add Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, OK St. and Baylor making it the NCAA's first ever 16 team conference.
So what does Kansas, Kansas St., Iowa St. and Missouri do? Texas A&M is considering joining the SEC. The Mountain West Conference, who added Boise St to the fold over the weekend, is also courting the Jayhawks, Wildcats, Cyclones and, perhaps, the Missouri Tigers. This will certainly improve the MWC as a basketball conference. The addition of Kansas and K St. along with New Mexico, BYU and Utah. The MWC is a better football conference for Boise St. It gives them more legitimacy in the eyes of the BCS, as if they really needed more legitimacy. The new PAC 10 as a basketball conference would certainly be improved on with the arrival of the Longhorns, Bears, Cowboys and Sooners to go along with the traditions of UCLA and Arizona, and a solid Washington program.
But here is my question. Why won't the Big Xll fight for its survival? It has been a very successful conference. In football, its members, such as Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas have played for the National Championship numerous times and have won the trophy at least twice in the decade. They've also had tremendous success as a basketball conference reaching the Final Four and winning a national title (Kansas) in 2008. If its about money and the large television markets, they have the Dallas / Fort Worth area, Houston, which is the fourth largest market in the country, St. Louis, Kansas City, San Antonio and Denver. I guess that's not enough.
I would like to see the Big Xll fight to survive. Why not try to grab TCU away from the MWC, or UTEP from the WAC, or Tulsa from Conference USA. They could at least be a decent basketball conference if not football. It seems as if this came on so sudden and out of nowhere. That's impossible, however. This has been talked about for a long time, probably at least 5 to 10 years. The Big Xll is doomed, but it was a tremendously successful conference. I hate to see it go.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wooden Among Greatest Coaches / Managers Ever
Well, what can I say that hasn't already been said. Last Saturday, the sports world, yea the world in general, lost perhaps one of the greatest men to ever live. John Wooden, who won 10 NCAA National Championships while coaching at UCLA, died at the age of 99.
Perhaps even more important than his success on the court was the success in the lives of his players. Ask anyone of them; Bill Walton, Marcus Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabar and the Rev. Doug Mcintosh, a member of Wooden's first championship team. Rev. Mcintosh happens to be the Father of a friend of mine, Tim Mcintosh. They will all tell you of the profound, positive influence that he made on their lives far beyond Basketball.
The success that Wooden achieved on the court was staggering. Not only did he win 10 national titles at UCLA, he went through a period where his teams won 88 straight games. He is right up there with the great coaches and managers at any level, any sport and on any continent.
Name all of the great coaches at the armature or pro level: Don Shula in the NFL, Phil Jackson and Red Aurbach in the NBA, Joe Torre of the Yankees, Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno in College Football., Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United. Wooden is right up there with all of them. In fact, several college and professional coaches from other sports, such as New York Giants Head Coach Tom Caughlin, sought his advice.
John Wooden is famous for his proverbs such as "Be quick, but don't hurry", "You play like you practice", "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail", and several more. He is known for his famed "Pyramid of Success".
We just didn't lose a legendary coach, we lost a legendary human being.
Perhaps even more important than his success on the court was the success in the lives of his players. Ask anyone of them; Bill Walton, Marcus Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabar and the Rev. Doug Mcintosh, a member of Wooden's first championship team. Rev. Mcintosh happens to be the Father of a friend of mine, Tim Mcintosh. They will all tell you of the profound, positive influence that he made on their lives far beyond Basketball.
The success that Wooden achieved on the court was staggering. Not only did he win 10 national titles at UCLA, he went through a period where his teams won 88 straight games. He is right up there with the great coaches and managers at any level, any sport and on any continent.
Name all of the great coaches at the armature or pro level: Don Shula in the NFL, Phil Jackson and Red Aurbach in the NBA, Joe Torre of the Yankees, Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno in College Football., Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United. Wooden is right up there with all of them. In fact, several college and professional coaches from other sports, such as New York Giants Head Coach Tom Caughlin, sought his advice.
John Wooden is famous for his proverbs such as "Be quick, but don't hurry", "You play like you practice", "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail", and several more. He is known for his famed "Pyramid of Success".
We just didn't lose a legendary coach, we lost a legendary human being.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Expansion: College Football Musical Chairs
I never thought it would come to this. The PAC-10 wants Texas, Oklahoma, OK. St., Texas Tech, Colorado and , I believe, Baylor to all join their conference. The big 10 wants Nebraska and Missouri, and Kansas, Kansas St. and Iowa St. may be "homeless".
This 21st Century version of "Land Grabbing" is ridiculous! Isn't college football fine as it is? Except for the fact that we don't have a playoff, Div. 1-A Football is fine as it is. It's exciting. You have the top conferences like the SEC, Big Xll and Big 10 rise to the top every year. You have non-BCS schools like Boise St. and TCU who go toe to toe with and even beat those schools in the BCS. Do you need a 16 team conference. It's all for money just like everything else in life. All 16 teams won't even be able to play each other, so you may still not get an accurate assessment of how good the conference's top team is. The PAC-10 and Big 10 are trying to loot the Bi9g Xll because they cant deal with the fact that, in football at least, they are both mediocre. You don't have what you want so, instead of working for it like the other guy did, you try to steal it from him. this sounds like what our current government is trying to do.
From what I hear from the "experts", it all depends on what Texas and Nebraska do. Supposedly, the Big 10 has given Big Red until 5 pm this Friday to decide whether or not to join the Big 10. If Texas decides to jump to the PAC 10, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, OK St. will follow, so they say. Creating 16 team conferences is a bad idea. Many corporations in the past tried to monopolize an industry such as the Aircraft industry. In the past, the government broke up the monopolies for the sake of fair competition. Would the government try to do this again if the PAC 10 and Big 10 are able to loot and destroy the Big Xll by taking their teams? I'm not in favor of expansion. Twelve teams in one conference is enough. That's my opinion and I welcome yours.
This 21st Century version of "Land Grabbing" is ridiculous! Isn't college football fine as it is? Except for the fact that we don't have a playoff, Div. 1-A Football is fine as it is. It's exciting. You have the top conferences like the SEC, Big Xll and Big 10 rise to the top every year. You have non-BCS schools like Boise St. and TCU who go toe to toe with and even beat those schools in the BCS. Do you need a 16 team conference. It's all for money just like everything else in life. All 16 teams won't even be able to play each other, so you may still not get an accurate assessment of how good the conference's top team is. The PAC-10 and Big 10 are trying to loot the Bi9g Xll because they cant deal with the fact that, in football at least, they are both mediocre. You don't have what you want so, instead of working for it like the other guy did, you try to steal it from him. this sounds like what our current government is trying to do.
From what I hear from the "experts", it all depends on what Texas and Nebraska do. Supposedly, the Big 10 has given Big Red until 5 pm this Friday to decide whether or not to join the Big 10. If Texas decides to jump to the PAC 10, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, OK St. will follow, so they say. Creating 16 team conferences is a bad idea. Many corporations in the past tried to monopolize an industry such as the Aircraft industry. In the past, the government broke up the monopolies for the sake of fair competition. Would the government try to do this again if the PAC 10 and Big 10 are able to loot and destroy the Big Xll by taking their teams? I'm not in favor of expansion. Twelve teams in one conference is enough. That's my opinion and I welcome yours.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Chick Fillet Kickoff Classic Should Try a "Doubleheader"
A few years ago, Chick Fillet, the ACC and the SEC got together to start a tradition at the beginning of the College Football season, the chick Fillet Kickoff Classic. The game, like the Chick Fillet Bowl at the end of the season, features teams from the SEC and the ACC.
The first Kickoff Classic game was two years ago and featured Alabama against Clemson, in which Alabama won. A year ago, Alabama appeared in the game again. This time, it was against Virginia Tech. The Tide won that game as well, and it was the beginning of what would culminate in a National Title for the Crimson Tide. The 2010 Chick Fillet Kickoff Classic will feature LSU against North Carolina.
However, there are rumors of bringing in teams from outside the ACC and SEC. There was talk yesterday on an Atlanta sports station, 680 The Fan, to have Georgia play teams like Texas, Oklahoma or USC in the Kickoff Classic. I like the idea. I would love to see the Bulldogs play someone like Texas or Ohio St.. It doesn't matter to me if they lose. They took the risk. Georgia is also capable of wining games like these.
But I have an even better idea. How about a doubleheader? Georgia Tech could play Texas at 2 pm that afternoon followed By Georgia against USC at 8pm. There should be enough time after the completion of the first game to get ready for the second game. They could sell the "cheap" tickets for $50. The ticket would be good for both games. Lower level prices would go for as high as $150. This might be feasible. Georgia and Georgia Tech competing against the top teams in the country. The Atlanta Sports Council could bring even more money into the city with 4 teams involved. That's my opinion, and I would welcome yours.
The first Kickoff Classic game was two years ago and featured Alabama against Clemson, in which Alabama won. A year ago, Alabama appeared in the game again. This time, it was against Virginia Tech. The Tide won that game as well, and it was the beginning of what would culminate in a National Title for the Crimson Tide. The 2010 Chick Fillet Kickoff Classic will feature LSU against North Carolina.
However, there are rumors of bringing in teams from outside the ACC and SEC. There was talk yesterday on an Atlanta sports station, 680 The Fan, to have Georgia play teams like Texas, Oklahoma or USC in the Kickoff Classic. I like the idea. I would love to see the Bulldogs play someone like Texas or Ohio St.. It doesn't matter to me if they lose. They took the risk. Georgia is also capable of wining games like these.
But I have an even better idea. How about a doubleheader? Georgia Tech could play Texas at 2 pm that afternoon followed By Georgia against USC at 8pm. There should be enough time after the completion of the first game to get ready for the second game. They could sell the "cheap" tickets for $50. The ticket would be good for both games. Lower level prices would go for as high as $150. This might be feasible. Georgia and Georgia Tech competing against the top teams in the country. The Atlanta Sports Council could bring even more money into the city with 4 teams involved. That's my opinion, and I would welcome yours.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Big Ten Becoming "Big 10 x 10"
What is this I'm hearing that the Big Ten Conference wants to expand even more and steal schools from other conferences, like the Bitg Xll and the Big East? Is the big Ten trying to absorb almost all of major college sports?
On a local Atlanta sports talk show earlier today, one of the hosts stated that the Big Ten is trying to entice the University of Missouri, a Big Xll member, to join the Big Ten. Also according to this host, the Big Ten is trying to pull Notre Dame and a few Big East schools into its conference. They are looking to have at least 16 teams in their conference.
If this is true, it's ridiculous! Big Ten schools most certainly won't be able to or won't try to play everyone in the conference during the regular season. In College Football, they've got to play some of those "Cup Cake" schools to guarantee wins. Are they doing this because of the mediocre reputation they have because of their mediocre football teams? Are they trying to guarantee the conference a national champion? We will never get a true idea of what team in the Big Ten is the best team because with 15 or 16 teams in the conference, no Big Ten team will play everyone in the conference.
Also, what about the other conferences like the Big Xll, SEC and ACC? They will be at a disadvantage. The NCAA should put a limit on how many schools a conference can have. Twelve is plenty. We already have exciting conference championships like the SEC, Big Xll and ACC Championship Games. The Big Ten has taken a hit (and rightly so) because it did not do well in bowl games last season and their basketball teams met early exits in the NCAA Tournament. Big Ten, if you want to compete for or win a National Championship, your schools need to step up their game on the field and court. You don't do it by stealing teams from other top notch conferences.
On a local Atlanta sports talk show earlier today, one of the hosts stated that the Big Ten is trying to entice the University of Missouri, a Big Xll member, to join the Big Ten. Also according to this host, the Big Ten is trying to pull Notre Dame and a few Big East schools into its conference. They are looking to have at least 16 teams in their conference.
If this is true, it's ridiculous! Big Ten schools most certainly won't be able to or won't try to play everyone in the conference during the regular season. In College Football, they've got to play some of those "Cup Cake" schools to guarantee wins. Are they doing this because of the mediocre reputation they have because of their mediocre football teams? Are they trying to guarantee the conference a national champion? We will never get a true idea of what team in the Big Ten is the best team because with 15 or 16 teams in the conference, no Big Ten team will play everyone in the conference.
Also, what about the other conferences like the Big Xll, SEC and ACC? They will be at a disadvantage. The NCAA should put a limit on how many schools a conference can have. Twelve is plenty. We already have exciting conference championships like the SEC, Big Xll and ACC Championship Games. The Big Ten has taken a hit (and rightly so) because it did not do well in bowl games last season and their basketball teams met early exits in the NCAA Tournament. Big Ten, if you want to compete for or win a National Championship, your schools need to step up their game on the field and court. You don't do it by stealing teams from other top notch conferences.
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