What could be better than OU being subpar this year? How about them losing Bob Stoops to Notre Dame? While Stoops says the idea is ridiculous, the idea may not be that far fetched. What more can Stoops accomplish at Oklahoma? He's got bloggers and fans berating his inability to win big games over the past few years, he's lost 4 of 5 versus rival Texas, and his team may be headed for the Sun Bowl of all places this year.
As a fan of Texas, I'm torn. Part of me wants him gone so the inevitable drop in Norman will ensure Texas superiority over the next few years. Personally, the idea that OU would have fans talking about removing Stoops is as ludicrous as it was for Texas fans to call for Mack Brown's head before the 2005 season. Stoops has his Sooners in National Championship contention in most years (in fact, aside from 2005 and this year, OU has been considered a Champion contender late in every season since 2000). Why would you want someone else? Speaking as a UT fan, I'd be pretty happy with 6 Big 12 Titles (and the corresponding BCS berths) and a winning record over Texas.
Further - Stoops is the one guy I really really hate in college football. Sure, I rag on Charlie Weiss - but I don't hate the guy. He's so inept, you kind of feel a bit of sympathy for the round mound of failure in South Bend. And I like watching Notre Dame fail. And therein lies the rub. I don't know if I want my Longhorns to lose their arch-nemesis to Notre Dame. Beating OU is a great feeling because of how much I hate Stoops. If he goes to Notre Dame, we'd have to watch not only the decline of OU under whatever new coach they brought in (you think Bob's coach Mike at Arizona wouldn't be angling for that job if Bob left?), but we'd also be exposed to the rebuilding of the most annoying program in college football - Notre Dame.
Here's hoping it never happens - unless Texas and Notre Dame can make a 10 year agreement to play each year in Dallas at JerryWorld as part of the process....
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
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Trouble for the Texas basketball team
A high ranking this year for the UT basketball team may set the Horns up for some early returns to earth. Sure, they have the nations #1 recruit in the freshman class with Avery Bradley, and the #8 recruit in Jordan Hamilton as well as 4 of 5 starters returning. In theory everything looks great for a team most agree is the deepest in the country. So what are they missing? The same thing they missed last year - a perimeter game.
Unless the freshman coming into this year's team can light it up from 3 point range, the Longhorns will have many of the same troubles that plagued them during last years sub-par (for Austin standards) performance. Texas loses its best 3 point shooter in AJ Abrams from last year, he of the 39% 3 point shooting performance. The next highest rater deep ball threat returning to this year's squad? Try Damion James (32.6%). When your starting power forward is your best returning 3 point shooter, you might leave something to be desired on the wing.
Last year teams were able to neutralize the Texas offense because the Horns were unable to stretch the D with the long ball. Historically, Rick Barnes has allowed his offense to run through the point guard or a quick perimeter player (and why wouldn't he - with DJ Augustin, Kevin Durant and TJ Ford among his recent players), the idea being to force the defense to collapse on the player penetration and free up shooters on the wings or find the big man down low. Last year, the big man down low, Dexter Pittman, did his part. It was the curious performance of the Texas 3 point shooters that let the Horns falter down the stretch. Once defenses also figured out that the man running the Texas offense couldn't shoot either (be it Justin Mason or Dogus Balbay), teams were content to back off the Longhorn shooters and let them fire away. The strategy worked to perfection, especially when teams locked down Abrams.
This year, expect more of the same until Texas can prove it either 1) recruited some players with long range touch or 2) brought in Reggie Miller to run shooting clinics all summer for our returning players. Of the UT players returning this year, each of the following hoisted at least one 3-pointer in the 2008-2009 campaign: Damion James, Varez Ward, Justin Mason, Dogus Balbay, Gary Johnson, and Clint Chapman. Their combined 3 point shooting percentage: 24.8%.
If this can't improve for the 09-10 campaign, teams will once again match up the Horns in a zone, daring them to shoot, and taking away the deep and powerful Texas frontline.
My guess? The backcourt and wing players from last year's team will lose playing time to the hyped freshman as the young guns find their deep ball range, leaving the post an easier place for James, Pittman, and Johnson to roam. While I might miss Dogus Balbay's ferocity, or Justin Mason's lock down D, or Varez Ward's ability to get to the rim, it will be nice to see a few jumpers fall this winter. The fact is, the veterans have proven over the course of their careers that their games are not predicated on the long ball - if Texas hopes to compete for a Final Four birth, Barnes will need to turn the ball over to the freshman and let it fly.
Unless the freshman coming into this year's team can light it up from 3 point range, the Longhorns will have many of the same troubles that plagued them during last years sub-par (for Austin standards) performance. Texas loses its best 3 point shooter in AJ Abrams from last year, he of the 39% 3 point shooting performance. The next highest rater deep ball threat returning to this year's squad? Try Damion James (32.6%). When your starting power forward is your best returning 3 point shooter, you might leave something to be desired on the wing.
Last year teams were able to neutralize the Texas offense because the Horns were unable to stretch the D with the long ball. Historically, Rick Barnes has allowed his offense to run through the point guard or a quick perimeter player (and why wouldn't he - with DJ Augustin, Kevin Durant and TJ Ford among his recent players), the idea being to force the defense to collapse on the player penetration and free up shooters on the wings or find the big man down low. Last year, the big man down low, Dexter Pittman, did his part. It was the curious performance of the Texas 3 point shooters that let the Horns falter down the stretch. Once defenses also figured out that the man running the Texas offense couldn't shoot either (be it Justin Mason or Dogus Balbay), teams were content to back off the Longhorn shooters and let them fire away. The strategy worked to perfection, especially when teams locked down Abrams.
This year, expect more of the same until Texas can prove it either 1) recruited some players with long range touch or 2) brought in Reggie Miller to run shooting clinics all summer for our returning players. Of the UT players returning this year, each of the following hoisted at least one 3-pointer in the 2008-2009 campaign: Damion James, Varez Ward, Justin Mason, Dogus Balbay, Gary Johnson, and Clint Chapman. Their combined 3 point shooting percentage: 24.8%.
If this can't improve for the 09-10 campaign, teams will once again match up the Horns in a zone, daring them to shoot, and taking away the deep and powerful Texas frontline.
My guess? The backcourt and wing players from last year's team will lose playing time to the hyped freshman as the young guns find their deep ball range, leaving the post an easier place for James, Pittman, and Johnson to roam. While I might miss Dogus Balbay's ferocity, or Justin Mason's lock down D, or Varez Ward's ability to get to the rim, it will be nice to see a few jumpers fall this winter. The fact is, the veterans have proven over the course of their careers that their games are not predicated on the long ball - if Texas hopes to compete for a Final Four birth, Barnes will need to turn the ball over to the freshman and let it fly.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Time for a new coach Rudy
It's over. You knew it was coming eventually, but now it's finally here. There cannot be any reasonable way Notre Dame head football coach Charlie Weiss makes it through the this offseason with his job intact. Two home losses to Navy to his credit, Weiss has proved himself to be incapable of fielding a relevant team on the collegiate level. These last 3 - 4 years have been miserable in South Bend, especially by their (unrealistic) standards. After arriving and using Ty Willingham's recruits to make back to back BCS bowl berths, Weiss has struggled mightily developing his own players into consistent contenders. Perhaps its the fact that Notre Dame has its own set of rules that don't hinder other powerhouse programs (i.e. - at Notre Dame, academic standards are not lowered for athletes. Also, redshirting players is a practice for those other schools, not the Irish) has hurt Weiss's ability to win. I think he just sucks. His teams don't play with any passion or discipline, both traits that can stem from your head coach. His best moment as Notre Dame's head coach? A game he lost (the infamous Bush Push USC game in 2005. And that was 4 years ago!)
His replacement? If Urban Meyer is still interested, do it. If not - Cincinatti's Brian Kelly or Houston's Kevin Sumlin both look intriguing.
His replacement? If Urban Meyer is still interested, do it. If not - Cincinatti's Brian Kelly or Houston's Kevin Sumlin both look intriguing.
Friday, November 6, 2009
YAWN
There are a couple of "big" games this weekend for college football which could affect the outcome of conference championships. In the SEC, Alabama hosts LSU, while Ohio State travels to Happy Valley to take on Penn State. The bad news? I have tons of yard work to get completed this weekend. The good news? I won't miss anything in these two games.
The SEC has long owned the reputation of being the home of the best athletes in the country, with faster players on offense and harder hitters than any conference across the nation. However, this is a down year for the conference. You've got 3 teams (LSU, Alabama, and Florida) with the the same number of combined victories against Top 25 teams (2) as Texas, and one less than Iowa. The fact is, the conference isn't as good as folks have assumed they were over the past 3 years. Alabama's near implosion against Tennessee a few weeks back vindicates this. Florida struggled with Arkansas. And this Saturday? Good grief - I guess we'll have to watch the game or the highlights and hear another long story about physical and hard hitting the Tigers and Tide defenses are, instead of legitimate criticism about how pathetic their offenses are. Even with the benefit of the doubt - should a top 3 team (Alabama) only score 12 points at home against Tennessee, a team coming off its worse season in years and under the direction of a new coach? While CBS wants us to acknowledge the Alabama / LSU battle as a clash of the Titans, I'll simply take it for what it is - a couple of inept offenses making some good defenses look great.
The game pitting Ohio State and Penn State scares me. To death. As in a snooze-fest so intense that viewers could announced clinically dead by any reasonable medical professional. If you thought last year's 10-6 Penn State win was yawner, wait until Saturday's doozy. I heard ESPN spouting about two top 6 defenses playing each other. You want to watch a great defense like the kind they play in the Big 10? Go to Lowe's and get a lawn weed/pest defender and spread it around your lawn. Then grab a beer, sit on your porch, and watch your grass be "defended" while it grows. Trust me, I've tried to watch Big 10 football, and this will be more exciting. Seriously - if you best team is Iowa, are you really expecting me to tune in to your other teams????
The SEC has long owned the reputation of being the home of the best athletes in the country, with faster players on offense and harder hitters than any conference across the nation. However, this is a down year for the conference. You've got 3 teams (LSU, Alabama, and Florida) with the the same number of combined victories against Top 25 teams (2) as Texas, and one less than Iowa. The fact is, the conference isn't as good as folks have assumed they were over the past 3 years. Alabama's near implosion against Tennessee a few weeks back vindicates this. Florida struggled with Arkansas. And this Saturday? Good grief - I guess we'll have to watch the game or the highlights and hear another long story about physical and hard hitting the Tigers and Tide defenses are, instead of legitimate criticism about how pathetic their offenses are. Even with the benefit of the doubt - should a top 3 team (Alabama) only score 12 points at home against Tennessee, a team coming off its worse season in years and under the direction of a new coach? While CBS wants us to acknowledge the Alabama / LSU battle as a clash of the Titans, I'll simply take it for what it is - a couple of inept offenses making some good defenses look great.
The game pitting Ohio State and Penn State scares me. To death. As in a snooze-fest so intense that viewers could announced clinically dead by any reasonable medical professional. If you thought last year's 10-6 Penn State win was yawner, wait until Saturday's doozy. I heard ESPN spouting about two top 6 defenses playing each other. You want to watch a great defense like the kind they play in the Big 10? Go to Lowe's and get a lawn weed/pest defender and spread it around your lawn. Then grab a beer, sit on your porch, and watch your grass be "defended" while it grows. Trust me, I've tried to watch Big 10 football, and this will be more exciting. Seriously - if you best team is Iowa, are you really expecting me to tune in to your other teams????
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Brandon Spikes - a Pillar of the Florida Community
So, with the attention "weighing heavily" on his mind, Florida star linebacker Brandon Spikes requested, and was granted, a full game suspension for his recent eye gouging of a Georgia running back during the Gators 41-17 trouncing of the Bulldogs last Saturday. Congrats, Brandon. Props for doing what your coach and your conference failed to do - hold a student athlete responsible for his deplorable actions.
Coach Urban Meyer suspended Spikes for the first half of the Gators laugher this Saturday against Vanderbilt. The SEC, in all their wisdom, agreed that Meyer's light punishment fit the crime. For those who haven't seen it, the eye gouge can be seen here.
Now, many pundits have argued that the only reason this behavior has come to light is because of the numerous cameras that CBS uses in broadcasting its weekly SEC game of the week. Most regional coverage wouldn't have had 7 different cameras on a single play - the networks simply can't afford to distribute that much equipment. However, because of the huge deal recently re-upped by the SEC and CBS, the folks at CBS treat each big SEC game as if it were an NFL broadcast, deploying many times the normal number of broadcast equipment vs. say a regional ABC or ESPN game. As such, the Gators LB got caught. And, they contend, this kind of stuff happens all the time, and the punishment was only handed down because of the extra coverage - the theory being Spikes shouldn't be treated any different than any other player who behaves this way in the "pile".
Rubbish. You want the extra coverage and the benefits that come with it (revenue, coverage, recruiting) then you take the drawbacks. Florida and the SEC embarrassed themselves with the original punishment.
Furthermore, I doubt the request from Spikes came from him. There is little doubt in my mind that the Florida coaching staff recommended Spikes request the extra punishment in order to save face both for the player as well as the school.
I find it hard to believe that Spikes, who continues to show his true character through actions, would be the driving force behind this publicity stint. Remember, this is the same player who complained after the BCS Championship that the Oklahoma Sooners were dirty players, and spend the game mistreating his precious Gators.
Google Brandon Spikes and see what kind of person we're really talking about and then tell me this apology was his idea, and has any sense of genuiness to it.
Coach Urban Meyer suspended Spikes for the first half of the Gators laugher this Saturday against Vanderbilt. The SEC, in all their wisdom, agreed that Meyer's light punishment fit the crime. For those who haven't seen it, the eye gouge can be seen here.
Now, many pundits have argued that the only reason this behavior has come to light is because of the numerous cameras that CBS uses in broadcasting its weekly SEC game of the week. Most regional coverage wouldn't have had 7 different cameras on a single play - the networks simply can't afford to distribute that much equipment. However, because of the huge deal recently re-upped by the SEC and CBS, the folks at CBS treat each big SEC game as if it were an NFL broadcast, deploying many times the normal number of broadcast equipment vs. say a regional ABC or ESPN game. As such, the Gators LB got caught. And, they contend, this kind of stuff happens all the time, and the punishment was only handed down because of the extra coverage - the theory being Spikes shouldn't be treated any different than any other player who behaves this way in the "pile".
Rubbish. You want the extra coverage and the benefits that come with it (revenue, coverage, recruiting) then you take the drawbacks. Florida and the SEC embarrassed themselves with the original punishment.
Furthermore, I doubt the request from Spikes came from him. There is little doubt in my mind that the Florida coaching staff recommended Spikes request the extra punishment in order to save face both for the player as well as the school.
I find it hard to believe that Spikes, who continues to show his true character through actions, would be the driving force behind this publicity stint. Remember, this is the same player who complained after the BCS Championship that the Oklahoma Sooners were dirty players, and spend the game mistreating his precious Gators.
Google Brandon Spikes and see what kind of person we're really talking about and then tell me this apology was his idea, and has any sense of genuiness to it.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The biggest difference between a defense recognized as great and a defense lamented as being soft? Forcing turnovers. Last year, in the high octane Big 12, Texas's D gave up a 13.6 points per game. Big 12 offenses averaged 32.7 ppg as teams routinely piled up points in the 40s and 50s. This season, the Texas defense is once again giving up just 13.8 points per game through 8 games. However, ESPN, CNNSI, and FOXsports are all clamoring to call the UT D one of the best in the country, whereas last year's group was criticized for subpar play.
The difference? The 2008 team forced 10 turnovers ALL season, one of the worse rates for Texas football's history. In 2009, Texas's D leads the country with 26 through 8 games. 3 of those turnovers have resulted in TDs for the D on INT's returned for touchdowns. I argued last year that Texas was an underrated defense, but the Longhorns inability to make the big plays on the defensive end made the point fall on deaf ears. Not so this year.
A note - the '08 squad had 10 turnovers all year? Against the Horns two biggest opponents thus far in 2009, Texas has...you guessed it - 10 turnovers (5 each for OU and Oklahoma State)
If they continue to dominate this side of the ball and force mistakes by offenses, there isn't a team out there (Alabama and Florida included, especially with those two offenses) who can beat the Horns.
The difference? The 2008 team forced 10 turnovers ALL season, one of the worse rates for Texas football's history. In 2009, Texas's D leads the country with 26 through 8 games. 3 of those turnovers have resulted in TDs for the D on INT's returned for touchdowns. I argued last year that Texas was an underrated defense, but the Longhorns inability to make the big plays on the defensive end made the point fall on deaf ears. Not so this year.
A note - the '08 squad had 10 turnovers all year? Against the Horns two biggest opponents thus far in 2009, Texas has...you guessed it - 10 turnovers (5 each for OU and Oklahoma State)
If they continue to dominate this side of the ball and force mistakes by offenses, there isn't a team out there (Alabama and Florida included, especially with those two offenses) who can beat the Horns.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Brad Lidge
I keep hearing about how surprising the fact that Phillies closer Brad Lidge blew game 4 of the World Series is. Not that surprising for us Astros fan. What was more stunning to LIdge's old team's fans was his amazing run in 2008 (48 saves in 48 chances), not the fact that he's struggled mightily in 2009. The Yanks should close the series tonight, save Cliff Lee bringing another stunning pitching performance. Honestly? I'm more interested in the Monday Night Football game.
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