It seems, well at least to me, that every year the media has a season long love affair with Pete Carroll and Nick Saban. Well now that Saban has, to date, won all of the games against the mighty Clemson Tigers, the awesome Tulane Green Wave, dynamic Western Kentucky what-eva ya-call-em, the power house Arkansas Razorbacks and the Media Miracle Georgia Bulldogs we can all hop on board cause the train has left the station.

 

I will give Bama credit for the dismantling of Georgia between the hedges but Clemson the paper tigers, WKU or as they are known WPU and the razorbacks pahleeeze. Tulane frankly was the second toughest team on the schedule to date and they are still learning a new system.

 

I like coach Saban I believe that he is an exceptional coach and probably the best recruiting coach in college football hands down. I say this because before he came to LSU our program and faculties were not the best by any stretch of the imagination and when Saban walked onto the Tide campus. Those facilities were in worse condition than when he arrived in Baton Rouge. So what he has been able to accomplish in such a short period is remarkable and should be recognized.

 

But for the media to proclaim that Bama is primed for a title shot this year when technically they have faced one serious contender that frankly laid the biggest egg in conference play since Tennessee was number 2 in the nation and primed for a title shot only to be dismantled by Saban’s LSU tiger squad in the SEC championship game. The Georgia dome was not only littered with roses but the heart and souls of the Vols faithful.

 

What Bama has ahead of them is not only the mounting pressure to win but to win at death valley in Baton Rouge on November 8th in the most hostile crowd they will ever face. It does not mean certain victory for the LSU tigers but it does not mean that the Tiger nation is going to allow Saban and his crimson tide to just waltz in a proclaim victory without a fight.

 

While Bama's schedule is fairly easy since the remaining five of its seven games are at home does not necessarily mean automatic wins.  Kentucky, more than likely, does not pose a huge threat to Bama but the games that Bama needs to be very wary of, besides LSU, are the Ole Miss and Mississippi State contest.

 

Saban teams have generally struggled against those two teams and he has since he has been at Bama albeit Ole Miss has been the exception. But Saban has had his greatest challenge with State for whatever reason.  I suspect Bama will lose on October 18th and then struggle the rest of the year. This Tide team while it is learning to win still does not know how to accept defeat and move forward.

 

If Saban does sneak by they still have the Iron Bowl at the end of the year and Auburn will be primed and ready with a whole season of a new system under their belts and I suspect Bama will be limping come this game. Then they still have an SEC championship game and if you lose that contest the BCS NC game is gone with the wind. Unless of course you are the Big 12 champion loser.

 

Now if the media could be more objective it would be nice but then again when have they ever been right lately about anything?

 

 

 

Every season there comes a team that turns out to be a giant killer and recent history has shown these teams come from the most unusual suspects such as East Carolina, South Florida, Troy and a host of others. But this giant killer took on the form of a 5’6” running back named Jacquizz Rodgers. Sure 5’6” riding a on a Horse a horse named Traveler, a horse that was beaten to death by a Beaver that has been renamed running little beaver aka Jacquizz Rodgers.

The amazing part of all this is that the national media proclaimed USC as one team that was already penciled in for the BCS NC game in January. They also proclaimed that this USC defense was the best defense at USC  since the arrival of Pete Carroll. Well the reality is the little Beaver ran right at the heart of this so called vaunted defense at peeled 186 yards off of them. Again, so you understand the little beaver ran right up the gut and into the heart of the pride of USC defense and made their defensive front four and linebackers look like a bunch of freshman players that just got off the bus and held their first scrimmage.

Every team from here on out will be studying that film and they will notice what I said at the very beginning of the year. And that is USC’s defense is not as good as people advertised.  USC has won its games by outscoring its opponents and holding on with a defense that bends then breaks. The facts are there for everyone to see in every loss they have had.

USC’s next Hollywood quarterback, as it is proclaimed every year, looks hurt to me. While Pete Carroll states the brace is a precaution just as when you wear a seat belt in a car. But as I watched this kid I noticed he has mobility issues with that knee. So it is not healed and he is not 100% by any stretch of the imagination which shows USC’s hand at QB. They have no one outside of Sanchez to effectively lead this team. If you put in Mustain you might as well suit up his momma and give her a head set and frankly she is a pain in the #### and her son is not the second coming as she and others believe.

For a team that everyone, beside a few that I know, that had USC penciled in for the BCS NC game better begin to rethink their scripts today and frankly apologize to the nation and in particular to USC fans. I will guarantee you every USC fan and player believed the hype that they were destined this year to hoist the crystal football but they forgot about a running little beaver from Houston, Texas that had other ideas.

One over paid head college football coach with a flatliner of a football team. Make offer we will throw in stadium in slightly used condition.

 

 

 

 

Well its official Chris “Beanie” Wells is now known as Chris “big ####” Wells. Let’s face it no one has gotten a straight answer out of Columbus yet on the injury or the extent of the injury to “Big ####” to date.  Is it the foot, the toe or just another case of super ego knowing that this was an out for “Big ####” when OSU traveled to USC? This way no one can blame “Big ####” if he does not play because of his “injury.”

But what is this injury exactly? Seriously!

During the game the announcer proclaimed the “big ####” was such a team player that he was leading his team on the sidelines cheering them on and giving them pep talks. Pep talks? As a former player and one that played with a torn mcl, displaced hip, high ankle sprain and numerous other injuries throughout my career as did many of my other team-mates and others I have played against the best “big ####” can muster are pep talks?

I say suit your #### up and play “big ####.” No one knows what your injury is or even if one exists. I had a former team mate that played with a broken jaw in a game against Ohio State. You have a sore toe you sit out the biggest game of the year and give your team pep talks. Great leadership skills “big ####.” I can tell you every NFL scout has marked down in their little books your pep talk skills. You may be a stellar running back against inferior opponents but when the chips are down and it is on the line you are AWOL.

Yes “Big ####” you are the number 1 fraud of all time.

We all can agree, if you are of sound mind, that USC is the best team in the nation to this point. While I believed that Ohio State was better than they played I have come to realize that OSU has lingering doubts about their own ability as a team. That is evident in their play on the field. They looked sloppy and frankly I do not see any enthusiasm in their play. They have no emotion period.

 

Oklahoma I will agree is a solid number two and as the season moves forward and they keep doing it like they are they should leap to number 1 in all polls based on their schedule versus USC. Frankly USC conferences schedule can be debated now with ASU's loss to Nevada the performance of UCLA against BYU, Oregon state and Washington. This year the PAC looks to be in a down cycle versus the Big 12 which is in an up cycle.

 

Otherwise you see the usual suspects that round out the top 10. Georgia at number 3 did struggle against the Gamecocks and frankly the score should not have been that close. I see a Bulldogs team that is playing tight and not relaxed. I suspect they feel Florida and LSU games approaching and any loss to one of those teams more than likely knocks them out of any BCS NC contention talk. So we will see what happens to Georgia over the next few weeks.

 

Florida at 4 is a sound vote but I still have questions about this Gator team. I like them but there is something about their play that has me thinking they will have a meltdown game filled with mental errors. It is a young team with loads of talent and frankly I believe one of the most talented teams in college football.

 

Missouri at 5 is another sound vote. They have all the hype going for them and they have talent that is for sure. They have a quarterback that is spunky a fast defense and a coach that is for sure riding the wave this year. Can Missouri finish the season out this year? Can they take the next step and prove they belong with the big dogs or do they need to stay on the porch?

 

LSU at 6 I have to just scratch my head. This is not near the same team as last years. The defense while still the same in regards to scheme they do not blitz. None, zero, nada, fini. LSU has loads of talent and may just have more talent than any other club in the nation when it comes to depth. But you can have all the talent in the world but if you fail to utilize the talent then what good is it? I am not convinced that LSU deserves the 6 spot. We will see what happens over the next three weeks.

 

Texas at 7. Okay. Again this is a team with talent but often struggles against inferior opponents as of late. I like the QB and the offense but it does not seem to click like the Hook em horns teams of the past. They seem like they are just going through motions. The defense will get better but I do not see this team as a BCS NC contender this year. They will more than likely lose 2 maybe three games this year if they keep on playing like they are.

 

Wisconsin at 8. Why? Because PJ Hill is beating up little teams? I bleed Badger red that is for sure. It is my team. But their defense is not that great. Small, yet fast, they will suffer from some ball pounding later on. I do believe they beat Ohio State at camp Randall and they may be the best team this year in the Big 10 but the Big 10, in my opinion, is going to have a down year. They are not as strong as the Big 12, SEC and another yet un-named conference that does not start with PAC.

 

Alabama at 9. While it is nice to see as many SEC team in the top 10 but let’s be real if Saban was not the coach would they get the 9 slot? I doubt it. This team has a long way to go to be once again as an elite power in the SEC. They have struggled this year and the players are making many sophomore mistakes that must be driving Saban nuts. I am waiting for that vein in his neck to burst. His hair dresser must be running out of his color because he's getting a little light on top. For the Tide this year they have to beat Auburn, Ole Miss and Miss State. A loss to any of them or any close game brings on an "I told you so" from everyone else.

 

Auburn at 10. So the pitcher duel between Auburn and Mississippi State is in the books. We know that Auburn was looking ahead to LSU without a doubt. Look at their history prior to the LSU game. This game is always the hardest hitting game of the year for each of these teams. Frankly, they just do not like each other. Never have, never will. But does Auburn deserve the 10 slot? I am not convinced.

 

I can think of teams that should be considered higher than they are such as Wake Forest, Penn, and Oregon. Heck even East Carolina has showed more skill, emotion than some in the top 10.

 

The season is still new and very young and there is lots of ball to be played.

One more thing. Notre Dame still stinks.

 

 

Like my high school prom date this will be easy.

Troy Trojans visit the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. This game kicks off the Sunbelt. That pesky little league that has had its share of memories in beating Bama and slapping others around enough to make some teams look out the corner of their eye at these gnats. I lean toward Troy in this one but the Blue raiders have been known to surprise. I will take Troy.

Wake Forest visits Baylor Bears. I like Wake Forest this year and the bears are just a team that has the hardest time getting things together for a complete season let alone a complete game. Demon Deacons should skin the bears.

Oregon State Beavers visits Stanford. I like the Oregon State but I am sitting on the fence with them this year. They should handle the wingless cardinal easily.

Bowling Green visits Pittsburgh. Pitt has lots to prove this year and they have to get the voters and other to believe they are more than just a quick press clipping. If they come in with 7 or 8 wins it may not be enough for the ugliest mustache in college football to keep his job. He panthers should slap bowling green around but I would not bet my house on it.

Akron Zips visit Wisconsin Badgers. Okay they are on my list because I played ball at Wisconsin and I can do what I want. My mom said so. The zippers pahleeeze. Badgers better win big.

Hawaii visits Florida. Okay do you think the Hawaii warriors might be saying “oh #### not again.” They should. Gators will destroy the “warriors” to make a point to the voters and the nation.

Utah visits Michigan. Utes Win!!! Utes Win!!!

USC visits Virginia. Okay Virginia will get ####ed slapped and succeed from the nation.

Oklahoma State visits Washington Cougars. Tough game to call. The cowboys have the best receivers in the nations with no defense to protect a water bottle. The problem the cougars will have is stopping the aerial attack of the cowboys. I pick the cowboys by 10.

Appalachian State visits LSU. His will not be déjà vue all over again for the Mountaineers. LSU will win and will not allow an embarrassing loss like Michigan did.

Alabama visits Clemson. Okay Saban heads to death valley and I choke saying it because it ain’t so. The only thing deadly at Clemson is the coaching style and that is not a compliment. Saban has to show why he is being paid what he is being paid and turn the Tide program around faster than he has. Last year was not much to applaud in reality. I see it like this. If Clemson wins or is losing and comes back and beats Bama then it will bring up many questions about Saban and the program. If Clemson loses at home to an average Bama team then Bowden will be finished at Clemson. 

 

 

Illinois visits Missouri. Okay the fighting Illini have lots to prove and need this win to kick start the year. Zook is a fine coach that knows how to lose a game. Missouri had the brass ring in its hand and let it go last year. All they had to do was win one more game and they are BCS national championship bound. They fell flatter than a super model out a high rise.  If Zook loses its okay, if Mizzou loses everyone will be saying “I told you so.” I like the Fighting Illini in this one but it will be real close.

Washington visits the Ducks. Last year was a disappointing end to such a promising year for the ducks and the Huskies have something to prove. Washington and Ty need the win to save his job but this game is not the only game he needs but it is a must win. The ducks are tough at home. Frankly I do not know much about the players this year because I have been overseas with no contact what-so-ever with anything human. So I will flip a coin and hand the game to the Huskies.

Tennessee visits UCLA. UCLA has promise but I do not believe tub of butter will help them in this one. The Vols win.

I know I passed over a lot of games and if I missed your team well get over it.

 

 

 

Lofty expectations

 

 

Every year at the start of every college football camp the fans and media pile on lofty expectations for their respective teams and conferences. Many just cannot look into mirror and see that there team in all probability does not have what it takes to get to the next level of play. We all know of the perennial power house in college football and that even changes from time-to-time. Most would agree that Miami or Florida State would not implode like they did and be pushed to the level of a mid-major which essential means they may upset someone once in a while and make it interesting but they are not going to challenge nor be in any real talk or consideration of a national title anytime soon.

 

We hear it every year and we it about the same teams that it is there year to collect the crystal football because they all the “components” in place to win. The usual suspects in this lineup are the Penn State, Michigan, Notre Dame, and the king of all talk the Clemson Tigers. Since Bowden was named head coach all you have head is the “fact” that they are in the title mix.

 

This is the same team that has only been able to finish each season not with disappointment but rather with the actual expectation from most of the college football world. Even some of my Clemson Tigers friends realize what the outcome will be year-in-year-out that the expectation is far beyond the realities. We all want to cheer for a Bowden to do well because it is a family that is steep in college football tradition but the reality is the fruit of this generation is not the same as pop Bowden that built the Bowden brand.

 

We constantly hear, year after year, how the pieces of the puzzle are now in place for success and an ordained path to greatness and immortality. I will say this and that is the following coaches will never win a national championship unless the voters keep them at number one because of bias and we all know bias exists with the voters.

 

Tommy Bowden head coach Clemson. The only way he gets a BCS national Championship trophy is if he steals one. While I do not believe he is a bad coach the reality is he is not a winning coach.

 

Charlie Weiss head coach Notre Dame. A man that was labeled a genius by the NFL media and college media when hired at Notre Dame in which they said he will have a BCS title in 4-years. All those that proclaimed the second coming should resign and cover the Jamaican bob-sledding team. Weiss has proven he is inept at best as a head coach of a major or should I say former major college program.

 

Rich Rodriguez head coach Michigan. His time in the sun is pretty much over. His biggest problem is going to be finding and keeping any quality assistant because of his proven ability of being deceitful. If you can’t tell the truth who is going to believe you in the future.

 

Nick Saban head coach Alabama. All of Alabama was head over heels when Saban was hired and many LSU fans and faithful cringed when this happened. Will lightening strike twice for Nick Saban? No it will not for same reason as Bowden, Rodriguez and a host of others. He lacks quality assistants and does not have the talent necessary nor will he. Saban is damaged goods and I suspect he will persona non gratis in two years.

 

Mark Richt head Coach Georgia. I will get loads of flak for this one but I will stand buy it and challenge those that disagree to a death match. I like him as a head coach and believe him to be a class act with a great understanding of the game. He is a player’s coach and with that should answer everyone’s question on why he will not win. Any player that says” I love my coach” during his playing years is either a major liar or the coach is soft. I hated my coaches. The head coaches, position coaches, strength and conditioning coaches every single one of them. Today I believe them to all be a great bunch-o-guys for the most part but then they sucked balls.

 

Bret Bielema head coach Wisconsin. What can I say my team, my school, where I played but the reality is after Alvarez you get Bret and this one is not Favre. He fits right into the mold of a player’s coach. He is fun, nice guy that has talent but he does not have the killer instinct to crush his opponent’s throat when they are down. He will have winning seasons he will get press but the reality is the boosters and fans will demand more than just 8 or 9 wins a season. They want big 10 titles and the rose bowl at a minimum and Bret is not the man and it pains me to say it.

 

So frankly I grow tired of hearing the pundits pontificate about the same teams every year. Some say it all adds to the excitement of college football and brings forth the conversation that is so needed. I guarantee you this if there were no polls no talking heads to spew their expertise on the subject because they have watched or played football the conversation will continue.

 

I doubt Lisa, Marty Walker, RevRythm and many others on here would sit quietly by because Krik Herbstreit or some other sports wonk has not made a “serious comment” about who will win the BCS National Championship. Every year, according to these sport wonks, USC, OU, Texas, Ohio State, Florida, Clemson are going to “win it all” and no one else stands a chance. Right!!!

 

Last year they had USC and LSU in the big game. While one team made it the other faded. This happens every year so I will tell you who will not be in the BCS national championship game this year.

 

USC – not the same team from a couple years ago. They lack any killer instinct have no proven leader at QB and the team does not have the depth it did 3-years ago. If the faithful believe that mark Sanchez is going to get it done then I have some prime sea front real estate in Laughlin.

 

Texas – rebuilding on defense and they will lose at least three games.

 

Florida – will lose games they should win and people will begin to question Urban Myer.

 

Georgia – has one of the toughest schedule and they will lose two games and be out of it.

 

LSU – Yes they will have an impact defense again this year but it will grow tired as the year wears on and the offense is suspect at the QB position. LSU fans expect 3 maybe 4 loses this year.

 

Ohio State – one of the most talented teams in the nation that will lose to Wisconsin and another team that we can list as an “unidentified co-conspirator.”

 

Michigan – You lose five games this year and deserve it because you ran a good coach out the door and replaced him with a coach with very little back-bone.

 

Wisconsin – Seriously who brought this one up? In two years they will be looking for a new head coach.

 

Clemson – Not even close. The cycle will continue because of coaching

 

Penn State – Joe Pa is a legend but sometimes legends need to be just that.

 

While I am at it let me put on the list that all the Notre Dame Fans will shout in jubilation when they beat the following teams.

 

San Diego State – seriously they should bring in dozer and dump trucks and bury the stadium and deny they ever had a football program. The only program that imploded faster is well… Notre Dame.

 

Michigan – They will beat Michigan because Michigan is dysfunctional at best and everyone will hoot and holler we beat Michigan. If they lose to Michigan exactly how bad is Notre Dame?

 

Navy – ha ha ha.

 

 

 

First of all I want to thank all my brothern in arms around the world and the many friends I made and the ones I lost. My heart goes out to their family and friends.

So with the many sport stories, blogs that I have missed during my brief stint overseas I will quote Vince Lombardi...

"What the hell is going on out there."

 

 

Okay sport fans this is my last Blog until I return from the Middle East. Duty calls and when it does I answer. I want to give a shout out to some people I will be seeing up close and personal.

I want to congratulate the New England Patriots and the New York football Giants for winning their respective conference championship and facing off in the upcoming super bowl. I won’t get into detailed breakdown of who, what and when in this game because we all know the Patriots are a very good team and the Giants seemed to come from nowhere to make a point about how good they can be. Even Ely Manning found his oats in the previous Patriot game with an almost come from behind victory. What that game showed is that the Patriots, while talented and well coached, they are beatable and not as great as many want to believe.

 

I equate this Super Bowl to the San Diego and San Francisco 49 super bowl of years past. That was a west coast super bowl that did not garner the national attention that many tried to hype and hope for. It was a very low TV rating and this “super” bowl may break that record. Lets face it the fans have Patriot fatigue unless of course you’re a Patriot fan and from what I have seen on television they are fat #### ####s and not very pleasant to look at. Fat and ugly is not a way to go through ones life. But I guess it’s all the inbreeding and everyone wanting to look like Uncle Ted.

Another fat #### that should have given up the game (political) years ago.

But I digress it’s about football or is it?

 

What is more important is that NASA has discovered life on Mars and they have  pictorial evidence.

Not only is there some sort of human type being on mars but after careful review of the pictures sent back by the Mars rover it is evident there are also massive turtles that roam the planet as seen is the picture below.

 

This is what we need to be focusing on. How can we as Americans create a colony on this planet and exploit it? If these beings are large enough I am sure Belichick, or Pete Carroll are currently talking with NASA to bring these beings to earth to play some ball.

It appears that this Martian Man has just thrown a pass by the looks of his poise in the picture. College and NFL coaches obviously will not be far behind in getting them signed.

 

Another picture reviewed a giant phallus (above)and when Paris Hilton learned of this she was uttered to say “that’s hot.”

But when Pamela Anderson heard the news she immediately called a judge to have the penile object betrothed to her and rushed to the airport.

While Carmen Electra posed in anticipation.

 

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have already sent staffers to mars to get Martian man registered for the eventual Martian electoral showdown.

Barack was quoted as saying “Martians are people too and we are the same and should be treated as such and I am the only candidate that can bring Martian and Earthlings together in these trying universal times.”

Not to be outdone Hillary immediately issued a press release that stated “as a bi-sexual Martian myself I understand the plight of Martians and how the republicans and the Bush administration have neglected Martian economic funding. Funding which I will make available to all Martians.”

 

Al Gore was overheard saying he invented Martians. “I can prove I left a Gore Angel on Mars” he was quoted as saying.

 

Not to be outdone John McCain immediately wants to #### a space fence.

Mitt Romney said he did not believe in Martians then said he did.

Huckabee prayed they were friendly and said he would find a way to get them the medical services they desperately need.

Fred Thompson just looked old and confused and asked for a script writer.

Anybody that has taken this seriously really needs lots of help. Peace out!!!

In college athletics there are universities around the nation that understand college athletics generate funds not only for the athletic department but for the general fund of the university as a whole. Those universities have developed a sound tradition not only on the field of play beyond that. If you look at fundraising for the top ten universities in the nation they have won championships in ever major and sub-major and minor sporting activity. They have developed the necessary facilities both in sport and academics that translates into attracting highly competitive athletes to their respective campuses.

 

We all live within or grew up with a college in our hometown or to the place we now call home. In my case I grew up in a small college town that was a power house of division III athletics. We were such a powerhouse that the school shuttered its football program even though it produced over 20 NFL players and one of the nations premier head coaches (Bud Grant). Even more so this college and city was known for its hot bed of hockey talent and today that tradition continues. For such a small town it even produced 5 of the nations top major league baseball players to ever set foot on diamond. For the most part I grew up with most of these kids. We all played together as kids or my older brother were their friends during a time in our country when things were simpler.

 

Today’s college athletics is different and far more competitive than in those “glory days.” With it has come more restrictions on scholarships and minority athletics which translate into more opportunities at more colleges throughout the country and the development of minor sports. These are all good things that help promote competition and fairness.

 

With that in the town that I now live and a university I do support with the purchasing of season tickets and with donations to the athletic department to help promote and support not only the local university but today’s student athletes and the coaches whom I have come to know over the many years. This local university is known as University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) the home of the Ragin Cajuns that has produced many a fine athlete such as Bo Lamar, Brian Mitchell, Jake Delhomme, Ike Taylor, Charles Tillman, Orlando Thomas and a host of others.

 

Since the arrival of Ricky Bustle as the head coach of ULL football program from Virginia Tech the program and athletics in general has seen more investment into athletics. This is through the collective effort of Ricky Bustle and Tony Robichaux (ULL men’s baseball). The inherit problems with ULL athletics is at the top with the soon to be retired president Ray Authement. Since Mr. Authement’s arrival back in 1975 athletics have not been properly funded and Mr. Authement publicly stated on more than one occasion that athletics were not a primary concern to his administration.

 

ULL primary funding mechanism is through the State of Louisiana general education fund for higher education. It is a formula that is in it’s self is poorly funded and managed. But this in itself is no excuse and not an excuse Mr. Authement tends to use as crutch or try to subvert attention toward instead of looking in the mirror to see where the failure actually lies. All Louisiana colleges have this funding available to them and only LSU does not take any funding from the state for athletics or building maintenance or construction. So those funds are split between the other colleges. ULL funding from the state is approximately 4.2 million and with private donations and ticket sales etc the total budget comes in at under $9 million. ULL ranks lower in private donations than most Division II schools and probably any Texas High School and at least three High schools in Louisiana (John Curtis, West Monroe and Evangel). ULL does not have an athletic fund raising arm like many of its counterparts in the Sunbelt. Such schools as Central Florida, Florida Atlantic and even UL- Monroe have such foundations and raise more in private donations than ULL could imagine.

 

One of the primary obstacles in fund raising around here is the mind set of many in the community. The tired and obsolete chants of “well if they won I would give them money.” Or “I don’t like coach Bustle.” In which that argument translates into “he is not from here” and hence I don’t like him so I won’t give money to the program. But the reality in the end with this is that those with that mindset have entrenched athletics into mediocrity and under achievement by their low brow thinking. But then again they are just following the lead of the man at the top in Mr. Authement.

 

I keep hearing how ULL has to be competitive within the Sunbelt and that is when I say they have to be competitive in the NCAA Division 1 athletics in which the Sunbelt is part. It’s a mindset of low expectations by the fans that have doomed athletics. It is brought on by those that do most of the finger pointing and fail to open their pocket books to help promote athletics around the country. Because of this diminished foresight by the University President and the community they are not able to attract quality coaches, albeit Bustle and Robichaux and Lotief. The baseball and softball programs were good before the arrival of those coaches but they had some magic acts they had to perform to maintain talent and competitiveness. This region of the country is loaded with talent but the university lacks the funding to expand its facilities and make real improvements in athletics and academics to help support and attract those athletes necessary to be competitive. It takes money, lots of money every year to develop and implement a successful program within athletics and $9 million a year just does not cut it.

 

Recently the university added on to is training facilities and finally have an indoor practice facility. While the training room is a dramatic improvement over what it was once the indoor practice facility was done on the cheap from the get go. Soon after it was built toxic mold was found which made the facility useless. Instead of dipping into the building fund which sits at tens of  millions dollars for the university general fund Mr. Authement took the cheap way out and built a facility that in the end is already obsolete and not practical for today’s college athletics. The university has tried to eradicate the mold twice with no success. Maybe a proper building contractor, design, and funding should have been considered before hand.

 

My dissatisfaction with this administration is obvious but it’s not just me within the community of real supporters of athletics. The people with the money in the community want to see serious efforts and change in the mindset of those charged with the advancement of athletics. Things as simple as proper funding for assistant coaches. As an example ULL needs a new offensive coordinator since the old when to Southern Miss for more money. Its not just a few dollars its $40,000 more dollars than what ULL considers. While Bustle understands what is needed since he came from a successful program at VaTech he has hit nothing short of a brick wall while at ULL.

 

His recruiting budget is non –existent as with the other programs. He and others take money out of their pocket to go on recruiting trips. A couple years ago when the team had to travel to the Northwest for a game coach Bustle paid for the vehicles to transport the equipment because the University refused to do so. To make matters worse which has continued to strangle hold athletics when ULL gets the “pay for play” games with LSU, Texas, Washington, etc those funds have not gone back into athletics but instead to other departments such as Engineering, etc.

How much of a joke is funding at ULL there are coaches such as Lotief that they refuse to pay her a respectable salary but allow her husband to be co-head coach and give him a matching salary to make up for such a poor pay scale that they should be paying her in the first place. This also happened to the former head ladies basketball coach. "We can't pay you that but we can pay you and your wife half of that to reach that amount." How stupid are they? Sad part is no one in the community even questions it. Needless to say the ladies coach bolted after last year for a more sound and properly funded athletic program at Cincinnati. So ULL loses its first and only successful ladies basketball coach because it will not give him a salary in which he can support his family.

 

Such a stellar commitment should not go unrecognized.

 

But that is nothing. A booster, whom I know very well, pays for the secretary to the baseball program because the university refuses to fund that along with some of the others mentioned above.

 

It is beyond sad it is almost criminal that a University that wants to classify itself as “major” treats departments as third world countries and generally abuses them as if punishing them because they dare to try to be successful.

 

I personally have no hope for the future since the successor to Mr. Savoie is a former ULL employee and system employee. Mr. Savoie has already publicly stated that football needs to win but fails to state how he is going too properly fund athletics so winning can become the standard. It appears to be some-ole-same-ole good boy mental fatigue when it comes to athletics at ULL.

 

I like the coach’s at ULL, Bustle, Robichaux, Loteif, and the others do the best they can with what they are given and that is nothing compared to other universities. In his 32-years at the helm of ULL Mr. Authement can be commended for improving academics at the school and getting all the federal funding he can find and help raise tens of millions for academics. I just wish he would have put one-tenth that effort towards athletics. If he did it would be in better financial shape than it is.

 

So I lay the entire fault with athletics at his feet. Since he is the one that made many a bad hire because he fails to fully understand what it takes to be a winner on a competitive field of play. Maybe he should have years ago put down the bottle and instead took on another cause which is in his area of responsibility toward athletics. But before he decided to retire he felt a propaganda campaign and the continued under funding of athletics would help his reputation in that area. Sadly no since many understand where the fault lies. It lies in his inability to fully comprehend what a successful athletic program can mean to a community and for that he gets an F.

 

I fully expect some to instead of stepping up to the plate and start taking ownership and pride and put their money on the table to help make ULL athletics what it can be they will attack the messenger and this will just further prove my point that this community is apathetic towards success and fail to understand what is really is transpiring before them and want to blame the coaches when all along they are just playing the cards they have been dealt by Mr. Authement.

 

 

What can you say about the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre? For the past few years almost everyone was wanting to run him out of town and force his retirement but Favre hung in there. The Packer hung in their and began rebuilding the team after the failures of Mike Sherman the former head and General Manager. A position that was given to him by Ron Wolfe with his retirement. The last Packers head coach and General Manager was Vince Lombardi and Mike Sherman is no Vince Lombardi. But then again who is?

 

Not long ago many wanted the head of the Packers Ted Thompson for his obvious poor draft selections that they proclaimed was going to ruin the Packers. Some become downright vocally hostile because he would not draft Brady Quinn out of Notre Dame. The same Brady Quinn that has more TV time with endorsements that playing.

 

Now the Packers are 14-3 with an impressive dismantling of Mike Holmgren’s Seattle Seahawks even after Green Bays Grant coughed up the ball twice to hand the Seahawks a 14-0 lead. The Packers did not panic while many of the Packer faithful just watched in disbelief at what was unfolding before their own very eyes.

 

Lets face it the Packers are a very young team but they are also extremely talented and athletic. More so than even the Super Bowl teams in 96 and 97.  You could call this the no name Packers because frankly the only player that is recognizable is Favre. Favre is a true player and student of the game like Montana, Unitas, and a host of others before him. He not only shows his determination to win but he has also been ignited by the youth movement on this Packers team that has made him appear to be youthful. Reality is it is still the same Brett Favre that many have always seen just with a much better supporting cast that wants to prove to Favre that they are worthy to be wearing the Packer green and gold. For many it’s just not a uniform it is a symbolic meaning of the history of the NFL.

 

This game did not rest on Favre arm or his ability to make the come back it was simply Favre is now part of a team a team that wants to win. A team that has the pieces of the puzzle to win and a coach that has proven he can overcome some of the frantic fans that when things go not as planned suddenly are bouncing off the walls demanding change.

 

The Packers this year have been a team that has been resilient and at times showing they are capable of showing their youth as they did in the last Bears games. A team that did not want to play in the game because of the cold and felt they had nothing to lose at that juncture anyway since they had the #2 seed safely secured.

 

For the Packers the media spot light with grow brighter if they win next week against the surging Giants and put Favre front and center and the old field general that has lead his team by just being himself.

 

Why anyone would call the Giants beating the Dallas Cowboys a shocker is beyond me. Dallas is a good team and they played well throughout the year. But they also had their share of struggles and media hype which seemed to be at warp 5 speed. The problems with the Cowboys starts at its front office with Jerry "my way" Jones who honestly believes that anyone can coach the cowboys with the talent he acquires. He has even said he could coach the team to super bowl victory. Jerry just does not get it. He is in his 11th year experiment since his last super bowl victory with a rotating coaching staff and front office staff.

 

 

With his hiring of Wade Phillips as head coach was another tell tale sign of the control that Jerry Jones has and wants over the Cowboys. Phillips is a very good defensive coordinator and has shown success as a head coach but has not been able to translate that success into winning championships. He does not know how to ratchet his team up come the playoffs. Some coaches have and some do not and he is the perfect fit for Jerry Jones.

 

 

The Cowboys are now 0-2 in the playoffs in the past two seasons and last year was the one the caused the Tuna to bolt from the Cowboys. Nary a word was said when he left the stadium for the last time. It was almost as if he never existed in Cowboy lore. But the fanfare of bringing on Phillips as head coach and Jason Garrett as the offensive coordinator and heir apparent to the Cowboys mythic dynasty has been endlessly written about and spoken of since the end of last season. With suddenly the evaporation of front office staff from the Cowboy organization not only with its player personnel guy and most of his staff leaving the Cowboys as they entered into their bye week does not raise the question that most would think. But it does answer those questions of Jerry Jones and his management ability in the NFL. Jones had a great thing going with Jimmy Johnson and the management team at the time but when success reared its ugly head Jerry Jones jumped up proclaimed his genius and pushed out the door those that created that success. He then hired his good friend Barry Switzer who in part coached Jimmy Johnson team to another super bowl victory and then Jerry Jones began to put his stamp on the team and has since been fodder for many around the league and nation. Jones has come dangerously close to being the heir apparent to Al Davis. Al Davis the crazy curmudgeon that will not let failure slip his grasp.

 

 

So with this comes another inevitable slide that the Cowboys are certainly going to endure. Jones just cannot help himself but to start to dismantle success and that is evident with the vanishing act his front office took over the past two weeks.

Jones would have better luck just telling the children of America he killed Santa instead of the slow killing of the self made name of America's team.

 

Seatle @ Green Bay - Green Bay wins because Seattle already has had their best playoff game.

Giants @ Dallas - Tony Romos 15-minutes are up Giants pull the upset.

Chargers @ Colts - a close game that the Colts make comeback and win.

Jaguars @ New England - Moss and company score but the Jags offense rises to the occasion and New England cannot stop Garrard. Jags pull the upset of the year.

 

This was sen to me from friend of mine that was produced the Times Picayune. Take a look if you like. Its well done

 

 

http://www.nola.com/photos/t-p/index.ssf?2008B
CSshow/

Everyone and their brother made a big deal out of the speed that the SEC posses and the lack of it at Ohio State. Another slap that people took was the fact that Ohio State was 0-8 against the SEC going back to games that were played when many a sports writer and average Joe were just kid’s still squeezing zits. This game was not about those things or where the game was being played or the other chants of playoffs, plus one, or which teams were deserving or not deserving.

 

 

 

This game came down to talent. Which team had more talent and were able to execute the best or when it mattered most. Ohio State has speed and they have athletes and they have one of the best coaches in college football with the vested one. They are a sound team that won their conference with just one loss to a surging Illinois at the time. LSU did not beat them with the long run. The long run of the night belong to OSU and Beanie Wells when he peeled off a 65 yard game burner through the LSU  defensive front and got passed the linebacker it was over. That is when speed was a factor and he ran faster than any LSU player on the field. So the speed was equal, the coaching was titled toward OSU.

 

 

 

But the athletes, the depth, the skill players tilted toward LSU that is what won this game. LSU we could argue probably has the most depth of any college football team in the nation and with another very sound recruiting class coming in that will continue for the foreseeable future until the shinny foil comes off the wrapper and it usually does at one time or another.