For a few years, I had this vision of Joe Paterno's final moments.
He would be on the sideline and taken out by a play, and then taken out of the stadium on a stretcher. At his age, the complications from any surgery to fix anything were likely. At 85, one could easily see him getting rolled - as he had been before - and then piled on by 600 pounds of humanity, and going down hard.
It doesn't take much physical adversity to take a massive and often fatal toll on the elderly. And yes, Paterno was elderly.
As it was, lung cancer ended Paterno's life, with millions of amateur pathologists offering that the child abuse scandal killed him, that he died of a broken heart, and all that.
He was 85 and had lung cancer as well as stress. That does it to anybody.
We should be celebrating his life and career, and those attending services - especially former players - should be telling stories, sharing a laugh and a memory.
Instead ...
I grew up in Pa., about two hours from Penn State. The North is more about pro sports, and my younger days were about the Orioles and Colts, a little bit of the Phillies. Notre Dame was probably my team because my high school was the Fighting Irish, I was Catholic, and I knew a guy who was the starting center on the 1973 national championship team.
But I knew many who breathed Penn State football. I didn't get the college sports bug until college, and I've become a fan of the games rather than having a team.
So I have an objective view of college sports, and I'll tell ya, those are some lonely meetings. And the job allows for a little more access, and thus, a little more insight.
I've never been enamored with Paterno, and that only grew. The respect was certainly there for the consistency and standards, the non-football standards, but there was just something about Paterno that seemed a little shaky.
And in recent years, it was the arrogance that still rankles, the "I'll leave when I want."
Nobody gets, or should get, a blank check in this life, and Paterno is no exception. To think you're bigger than a school? Height of arrogance, and arrogance is not a positive or admirable trait.
Notre Dame continued without Rockne. Alabama survived without Bear Bryant. Michigan kept the doors open after Bo, Ohio State after Woody.
Not sure what Joe expected to happen, since he wasn't going to live or coach forever. Then again, he was pretty damn stubborn.
Bear Bryant sure did set a precedent, a baffling one yet an instructional one for those who didn't know that being multifaceted is a good thing, that being obsessed isn't.
The speculation with Bobby Bowden was that he was afraid he'd pull a Bear after retiring. But Bowden always seemed a little more varied, and he certainly did the right thing after leaving.
He wrote a book, so that meant a book tour, which meant staying busy yet still being close to the game. Throw in his kids and grandkids, and Bowden's plate is anything but empty.
I've always thought coaches should take advantage of the time after retiring by traveling to, well, other places and see what makes us all love the fall.
What coach wouldn't like to go to the Rose Bowl for a game, or Georgia-Florida, Oklahoma-Texas, a game at Texas A&M or LSU?
Go somewhere on a Wednesday and have dinner with the head coach and/or staff, and relax. Thursday, go to a local school and visit, or pop in on a local high school practice. Friday, visit the college team for a few minutes and give a little speech.
And Saturday, go to the game.
Bowden is perfect for that kind of schedule. He's been involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, so he could add an appearance to a local FCA group.
Of course, that wouldn't work for Paterno. We're not exactly sure who Paterno was or what he liked to do. As far as we know, it was football and a level of philanthropy that is certainly admirable and fairly rare.
He was around seemingly forever, and yet here we are, not really sure how much we knew him. We know he couldn't let go.
Paterno was grumpy and arrogant, had a little paranoia, had high standards regarding the expectations off the field of his players, and was quality old school.
And, of course, he didn't do enough at the end.
The past few months have been sad to watch, and his death and now complex legacy will be of lasting debate.
Imagine if he'd have had the humility to retire when he probably should have. It doesn't change what his assistant coach did, nor what Paterno didn't do.
The disgusting secret would have remained, and the glowing tributes to Paterno wouldn't be complete deserved.
LOUGHDMOUTHINGS
The Atlanta Falcons aren't napping this offseason.
There is skepticism on some of their moves, and none are really going to light up the ticket office lines.
But Dirk Koetter as offensive coordinator isn't as bad as people think.
No, the numbers at Jacksonville weren't astounding. But how much talent did he have to work with? How much cohesiveness was there on the staff? Shoot, Jag coaches were on the hotseat for about three years, and it finally burned up Jack Del Rio.
Koetter was one of the architects of Boise State's rise to national prominence. He had a winning record at Arizona State, for criminy sakes.
Let's see what he does with the likes of Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White, Julio Jones, et al.
Of course, the Falcons need desperately to bolster the offensive line, which was hamstrung at times by clearly predictable playcalling.
I'm guessing the air breathed by the offense these days is fresher.
Hiring Mike Nolan on defense was a nifty step up, with less quantifying and wishful thinking than Koetter's hire.
Now, look at the general restructuring of the staff, and you see that the Falcons apparently saw that they had reached a ceiling with who they had.
This is a good thing. ...
Prince Fielder is getting $214 million for nine years.
And daddy Cecil Fielder is getting all the Oreos and pizza he can eat. ..
Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times notes that "Hot-headed Rasheed Wallace says he'd like to come out of retirement and sign with an NBA team.
"Now it's just a matter of dotting some Is and whistling some Ts." ...
Fielder went for the money, leaving Milwaukee, but at least he went to another non-NY/Boston/LA market, Detroit. That city needs every good thing to happen to it possible.
Unfortunately, now the Tigers have to deal with agent Scott Boras, so it's not completely win-win. ...
Mr. Perry has been reading the wedding announcements in foreign papers:
"Hear about the elderly Italian couple — he's 99, she's 96 — that's divorcing after 77 years of marriage?
"Apparently their wedding vows included a '... till an Oregon Rose Bowl win do us part' clause."
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Let's kick this BCS puppy off
Here’s how big the Alabama-LSU game is.
The buildup has been as annoying as Super Bowl hype.
Thank God Dickie V doesn’t do college football. The more time you give TV people, the worse it gets.
LSU-Bama isn’t all that complicated, not at all.
It has nothing to do with emotion. They’ll be fired up.
It has nothing to do with Saban vs. Miles. They’re not playing, and they’re not changing much.
It has nothing to do with revenge. The first meeting was seemingly eight months ago. In fact, it was all of 66 days ago – more than two months ago - ago that they battled in the 3-point Bowl. A lifetime has passed.
It has nothing to do with being played 85 miles from LSU. The field measurement is the same, ticket distribution will be even, though it’s safe bet that a few more LSU fans will find tickets than Alabama fans.
It has nothing to do with playing somebody twice. A team makes adjustments and plays better than it did the first time, it wins. Or not.
There’s simply not that much to analyze, so fortunately, we have two months of redundancy.
The championship game will bear little resemblance to the first game. Well, the second half won’t. The first half probably will.
The teams are very evenly matched: great running games, unflashy quarterbacking, mesmerizingly good defenses (for those with the noggin to handle that) and playmakers.
They both have a Heisman finalist, and both programs have players on the roster who have a national championship ring.
One key is the passing game, and thus pass defense. Neither team passes for a boatload of yards, but both teams are efficient. The Tigers’ rating is 151.95, 18th, and the Tide’s rating is 144.35, 28th.
LSU’s Jordan Jefferson is more likely to make a decision blunder than Alabama’s A.J. McCarron, but he also gives defenses more to work on.
Alabama gets that edge.
The running game is really a draw. Trent Richardson is phenomenal, but LSU has depth with Spencer Ware, Michael Ford and Alfred Blue. They team for 161.33 yards, while Richardson is good for 131.92.
Ware is a brutal runner, not all that flashy. LSU can run a variety of stuff and a little more power, and wear down a defense a bit more.
LSU gets that edge.
And there are special teams contradictions.
LSU is only 54 on kickoff returns, and 10th in punt returns. Alabama is 24th on kickoff returns, 62nd in net punting. So Alabama returns kickoffs well, LSU covers punts much better.
Alabama has no counter to Tyrann Mathieu on special teams, and he can sucker McCarron into a mistake or two from the secondary, as can Morris Claiborne.
The Tide can do the same to Jefferson with Mark Barron, DeMarcus Milliner and Robert Lester.
A draw.
All this stuff, it comes down two things: fundamental tackling, and which offensive coordinator pulls the trigger and goes for the jugular.
If Alabama misses clear shots at Matthieu on returns, problem. If LSU has cracks at Richardson and whiffs, problem.
It will come in the second half, after a first half just like the whole first meeting. This one is different. There’s not another game until September. This is for a ring, not a division lead.
Sure, a mistake will be big, but mistakes mean nothing if not capitalized on. And LSU is first nationally in turnover margin, Alabama tied for 25th.
The Tigers are a little more athletic, and will certainly be looser. Not loose, since it’s the national championship game, it’s in New Orleans, and they’re playing Alabama.
But it just feels like the Tide can tighten up a bit more, courtesy of the genius raging on the sidelines.
The SEC championship game was an example. LSU trailed early, had no offensive success early, and didn’t blink. They waited for the big play, got the momentum, and threw the knockout punch in the second half. They knew what to expect, and had great confidence.
I don’t think that’s changed.
All this isn’t to say that they’re not even, not great teams, not elite defense, well-coached and powerful. They are. They’re just about even. And whoever loses is still a great team.
But the hunch here says the winner will score more than 20 points, will win by six, and wears purple and gold, with a 28-23 win.
CH-CH-CH-CHANGES
Has anybody seen Mark Richt and Mike Mularkey in the same stadium?
Atlanta, like Georgia, won’t reach the next level until there is a drastic change in the offensive philosophy.
We don’t know how good Matt Ryan is. They don’t let him throw deep. They have a basic passing game, wasting so many weapons.
And that is why you shouldn’t be surprised if Tony Gonzalez retires. He’ll see no changes coming, and no changes means no progress, which means no sniffing of a trophy.
Some offensive line changes are in order, but more than anything, 40 percent of the playbook – including all the current fourth-dowjn plays – need torching.
That it might be a season of change is indicated by defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder taking off for Auburn.
He tied his longevity mark of four years at a job, and Auburn will be his ninth employer.
Yeah, it does say something. And moves are needed on defense, too, like admitting some personnel moves of the past few years haven’t worked out.
A THOUGHT
Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel is one who didn’t mind the 9-6 first meeting.
“Don't get me wrong, I like seeing touchdowns as much as the next guy, but not when they become more common than Urban Meyer saying, "This is my dream job."
The buildup has been as annoying as Super Bowl hype.
Thank God Dickie V doesn’t do college football. The more time you give TV people, the worse it gets.
LSU-Bama isn’t all that complicated, not at all.
It has nothing to do with emotion. They’ll be fired up.
It has nothing to do with Saban vs. Miles. They’re not playing, and they’re not changing much.
It has nothing to do with revenge. The first meeting was seemingly eight months ago. In fact, it was all of 66 days ago – more than two months ago - ago that they battled in the 3-point Bowl. A lifetime has passed.
It has nothing to do with being played 85 miles from LSU. The field measurement is the same, ticket distribution will be even, though it’s safe bet that a few more LSU fans will find tickets than Alabama fans.
It has nothing to do with playing somebody twice. A team makes adjustments and plays better than it did the first time, it wins. Or not.
There’s simply not that much to analyze, so fortunately, we have two months of redundancy.
The championship game will bear little resemblance to the first game. Well, the second half won’t. The first half probably will.
The teams are very evenly matched: great running games, unflashy quarterbacking, mesmerizingly good defenses (for those with the noggin to handle that) and playmakers.
They both have a Heisman finalist, and both programs have players on the roster who have a national championship ring.
One key is the passing game, and thus pass defense. Neither team passes for a boatload of yards, but both teams are efficient. The Tigers’ rating is 151.95, 18th, and the Tide’s rating is 144.35, 28th.
LSU’s Jordan Jefferson is more likely to make a decision blunder than Alabama’s A.J. McCarron, but he also gives defenses more to work on.
Alabama gets that edge.
The running game is really a draw. Trent Richardson is phenomenal, but LSU has depth with Spencer Ware, Michael Ford and Alfred Blue. They team for 161.33 yards, while Richardson is good for 131.92.
Ware is a brutal runner, not all that flashy. LSU can run a variety of stuff and a little more power, and wear down a defense a bit more.
LSU gets that edge.
And there are special teams contradictions.
LSU is only 54 on kickoff returns, and 10th in punt returns. Alabama is 24th on kickoff returns, 62nd in net punting. So Alabama returns kickoffs well, LSU covers punts much better.
Alabama has no counter to Tyrann Mathieu on special teams, and he can sucker McCarron into a mistake or two from the secondary, as can Morris Claiborne.
The Tide can do the same to Jefferson with Mark Barron, DeMarcus Milliner and Robert Lester.
A draw.
All this stuff, it comes down two things: fundamental tackling, and which offensive coordinator pulls the trigger and goes for the jugular.
If Alabama misses clear shots at Matthieu on returns, problem. If LSU has cracks at Richardson and whiffs, problem.
It will come in the second half, after a first half just like the whole first meeting. This one is different. There’s not another game until September. This is for a ring, not a division lead.
Sure, a mistake will be big, but mistakes mean nothing if not capitalized on. And LSU is first nationally in turnover margin, Alabama tied for 25th.
The Tigers are a little more athletic, and will certainly be looser. Not loose, since it’s the national championship game, it’s in New Orleans, and they’re playing Alabama.
But it just feels like the Tide can tighten up a bit more, courtesy of the genius raging on the sidelines.
The SEC championship game was an example. LSU trailed early, had no offensive success early, and didn’t blink. They waited for the big play, got the momentum, and threw the knockout punch in the second half. They knew what to expect, and had great confidence.
I don’t think that’s changed.
All this isn’t to say that they’re not even, not great teams, not elite defense, well-coached and powerful. They are. They’re just about even. And whoever loses is still a great team.
But the hunch here says the winner will score more than 20 points, will win by six, and wears purple and gold, with a 28-23 win.
CH-CH-CH-CHANGES
Has anybody seen Mark Richt and Mike Mularkey in the same stadium?
Atlanta, like Georgia, won’t reach the next level until there is a drastic change in the offensive philosophy.
We don’t know how good Matt Ryan is. They don’t let him throw deep. They have a basic passing game, wasting so many weapons.
And that is why you shouldn’t be surprised if Tony Gonzalez retires. He’ll see no changes coming, and no changes means no progress, which means no sniffing of a trophy.
Some offensive line changes are in order, but more than anything, 40 percent of the playbook – including all the current fourth-dowjn plays – need torching.
That it might be a season of change is indicated by defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder taking off for Auburn.
He tied his longevity mark of four years at a job, and Auburn will be his ninth employer.
Yeah, it does say something. And moves are needed on defense, too, like admitting some personnel moves of the past few years haven’t worked out.
A THOUGHT
Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel is one who didn’t mind the 9-6 first meeting.
“Don't get me wrong, I like seeing touchdowns as much as the next guy, but not when they become more common than Urban Meyer saying, "This is my dream job."
Friday, January 6, 2012
New year, old brilliance
OK, well, we're a few days into 2012, and the plan for the year is more efficiency and organization.
A good thing, since we haven't been together here since late November.
As soon-to-be-former-presidential-wannabe Rick Perry says: Oops.
A good thing, since we haven't been together here since late November.
As soon-to-be-former-presidential-wannabe Rick Perry says: Oops.
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