Sure, they don't have as much impact as Kevin Durant, Greg Oden, and Michael Beasley. But still, college football freshmen have become more and more important to the success of their teams in recent years. 2008 saw major impacts from true freshmen like AJ Green (Georgia), Julio Jones (Alabama), Michael Floyd (Notre Dame), and the Florida defensive back combination of Will Hill and Janoris Jenkins. Typically, impact freshmen come in the form of running backs and wide receivers. 2009 could be different, however.
Matt Barkley (Southern Cal)
With Mark Sanchez gone, USC looked to their other ten 5 star QB recruits to replace him. Aaron Corp looked to be the heir apparent, but Barkley has impressed people to the point where those within the USC program believe he could start from Day One in Los Angeles. I have a feeling that Corp will get the starting job at least until after the Ohio State game. But, look for Barkley to play significant minutes in 2009 for the Trojans.
Tate Forcier (Michigan)
Tate may not be the second or even fifth ranked quarterback coming out of high school, but he's certainly one of the most polished. And, considering the turmoil surrounding the Michigan football program and, in particular, the QB position, Forcier will be expected to come in and start right away. Luckily for Forcier, he does not have very large shoes to fill, as Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan did nothing but suck last year. Still, Forcier may be the most scrutinized true freshman in college football next year. With his accuracy and football IQ, I expect Tate to exceed expectations.
Bryce Brown (Tennessee)
With Arian Foster leaving, Tennessee is razor thin at the running back position. Luckily, they landed what some recruiting sites (including Rivals.com) believe is the best incoming freshman in the country. At 6 foot 215, Brown has plenty of size to go with his blazing speed. When you find a running back with Brown's size/power and speed combination, you hold onto him. Brown should see the majority of carries for Lane Kiffin this year. I would expect some productive numbers along with a few runs that make their way onto ESPN's Top 10 plays. Fellow true freshman David Oku should also give Tennessee a decent back-up option to Brown.
Rueben Randle (LSU)
With speedsters Trindon Holliday and Chris Mitchell and a maturing quarterback in Jordan Jefferson, LSU needs that impact, outside wide receiver that can take over games. At 6'3 Rueben Randle can be that guy. While his size is excellent, Randle is also pretty fast and has the ability to make defenders miss in the open field. Randle was made in the same mold as the aforementioned Green, Floyd, and Jones. There is nothing to suggest that Randle's impact won't be similar to these guys. LSU was looking for an outside WR... and they found one.
D.J. Fluker (Alabama)
Generally, offensive linemen are not found among the impact freshmen in college football. Well, D.J. Fluker is not your typical true freshman offensive lineman. Most offensive linemen don't end their high school careers at 6'7, 350. Combine Fluker's amazing size with the departure of offensive tackle and anchor Andre Smith, Fluker has the chance to be an impact player right away. Look for a lot of pancake blocks on the left end of the Alabama offensive linemen from Fluker.
Manti Te'o (Notre Dame)
When Te'o committed to Notre Dame, relief came to South Bend like a truck load of Rolaids. For the first time in Charlie Weis's tenure at Notre Dame, he landed a big-time, impact defensive recruit. Offensive talent has been plentiful. The defense has been putrid. Te'o gives defensive coordinator Corwin Brown and defensive genius Jon Tenuta a linebacker who has the ability to both rush the passer and drop back in coverage at an elite level. The commitment of Te'o to Notre Dame surprised everyone. So will the sight of a talented defensive player on the football field in South Bend in the fall.
Jacobbi McDaniel (Florida State)
Jacobbi McDaniel looks to join a long list of talented Florida State defensive linemen that includes names such as Warren Sapp, Corey Simon, Darnell Dockett, and recently drafted Everette Brown. McDaniel isn't huge and only stands six foot tall. So, while he may not be ready to be an every-down defensive tackle, expect McDaniel to see the field a lot. McDaniel plays extremely fast from the DT position, an asset that could prove very valuable. Opposing ACC quarterbacks will see a lot of Jacobbi McDaniel this year... while on their backs.
Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama)
If you follow football closely enough, you will notice that there is a sort of height threshold when it comes to cornerbacks. Rarely do you see cornerbacks much taller than 6 foot. At 6'2 with extreme quickness, Kirkpatrick has many believing that he can be one of those rare tall cornerbacks. If so, his height can provide a huge benefit when it comes to defending jump balls. And, if the cornerback thing doesn't work out, Kirkpatrick could prove to be a stud safety. With his athleticism and versatility, Alabama will find a spot somewhere for him in the defensive backfield.
Others to Watch:
Will Campbell, DT, Michigan
Ray Ray Armstrong, S, Miami (FL)
Craig Loston, S, LSU
Greg Reid, DB, Florida State
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Are Detroit Sports Fans the best? Tiger answers!
This Sunday marked the final round of the final Buick Open that will occur at Warwick Hills. After thirty-two consecutive years, Grand Blanc's annual late July/early August prominent golf tournament next year will likely be the Warwick Hill Country Club Member/Guest Invitational. The Buick Open is just the latest thing to be leaving the state of Michigan.
It has become the cool thing to do... the jobs are doing it, the money's doing it, now the golf tournament is also. Despite just another thing leaving the state, the people of the state of Michigan came out to support the Buick Open because... well, that's what Detroit sports fans do. When I say Detroit sports fans, I'm referring to more than just the city of the Detroit. In the case of Detroit sports teams, the immediate fan base extends to the entire state of Michigan.
I have always contended that Detroit sports fans are among the most loyal in the country. They don't just support one sport. The Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, and Pistons are all strongly supported to the point that I couldn't begin to tell you whether Detroit is basketball, football, hockey, or baseball town (despite the Hockeytown nickname). They don't abandon a losing franchise. The Lions have continued to sell out games despite their pathetic existence.
Even in this terrible economy, where the state of Michigan is affected moreso than any other state, Michigan fans came out to support a tournament that was leaving them. Fans did not have to spend the money for gas, tickets, and concessions. No one would have blamed them. House payments are much more important. But, the support remained strong. And, it did not go unnoticed. Tiger Woods commented on the amazing fan support in his post-tournament press conference.
http://www.pgatour.com/2009/tournaments/r035/08/02/sunday.transcripts.woods/index.html
Tiger was certainly under no obligation to make such comments. In fact, comments like this are by no means commonplace for Tiger. But, he noticed. So, be proud Detroit fans... your efforts were appreciated.
It has become the cool thing to do... the jobs are doing it, the money's doing it, now the golf tournament is also. Despite just another thing leaving the state, the people of the state of Michigan came out to support the Buick Open because... well, that's what Detroit sports fans do. When I say Detroit sports fans, I'm referring to more than just the city of the Detroit. In the case of Detroit sports teams, the immediate fan base extends to the entire state of Michigan.
I have always contended that Detroit sports fans are among the most loyal in the country. They don't just support one sport. The Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, and Pistons are all strongly supported to the point that I couldn't begin to tell you whether Detroit is basketball, football, hockey, or baseball town (despite the Hockeytown nickname). They don't abandon a losing franchise. The Lions have continued to sell out games despite their pathetic existence.
Even in this terrible economy, where the state of Michigan is affected moreso than any other state, Michigan fans came out to support a tournament that was leaving them. Fans did not have to spend the money for gas, tickets, and concessions. No one would have blamed them. House payments are much more important. But, the support remained strong. And, it did not go unnoticed. Tiger Woods commented on the amazing fan support in his post-tournament press conference.
http://www.pgatour.com/2009/tournaments/r035/08/02/sunday.transcripts.woods/index.html
Q. Tiger, from Wednesday through Sunday, seemed like every five seconds, somebody said "thanks for coming, Tiger. Thanks for coming." Do you recall ever being in a tournament where so many people thanked you? And just kind of talk about what that means to you, and this tournament.
TIGER WOODS: No. I've never played, as I said, in front of fans like this. This has been incredible, especially what's going on here in the area, for everyone to come out, it just makes it that much more special for all of us.
And as I said, I've been here since '99, and I've always enjoyed coming here. Only two years I haven't played here is because of the birth of my child, and my knee wasn't very good last year. So that's the only two times I haven't played here.
Q. Tiger, with the future of this event in doubt, combined with the fact there's no Majors scheduled in and around round Michigan or Oakland Hills in the next several years, do you have any thoughts of this potentially being your final competitive round playing in the state of Michigan?
TIGER WOODS: Well, it's unfortunate. But that's the case. As I said, the people here have always been excited for us to come out and play, and they've always supported this event.
All the years they've always come out in droves, and I'm very appreciative of that. Hopefully we do get to come back here in this area, this region soon, because the fans here are so excited about golf. They're pretty much sports nuts anyways, and for us to come out here and play, you know, it's always been special.
Tiger was certainly under no obligation to make such comments. In fact, comments like this are by no means commonplace for Tiger. But, he noticed. So, be proud Detroit fans... your efforts were appreciated.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Ranking College Football Coaches
A recent article by Rivals.com ranks the top 30 current college football coaches. Their rankings are interesting, but it’s difficult to take any ranking system too seriously that has Kirk Ferentz at #5, ahead of Big Ten coaches Jim Tressel and Rich Rodriguez. So, we made our own rankings. Now, these may not be your typical list of “Who is the best coach?” Instead, we ranked 26 of Rivals top 30 in five categories: Age/Longevity, Recruiting, Game Prep/Schemes, In-Game Coaching, and the “It” Factor. The categories (all scored on a 0-10 scale) break down as follows…
Age/Longevity: Completely objective. Ranked according to 5 year intervals.
(Scores of 10: Urban Meyer, Rich Rodriguez, Chris Petersen, Greg Schiano)
Recruiting: Pretty self-explanatory. Who is getting the most talent?
(Scores of 10: Pete Carroll—in a class of his own)
Game Prep/Schemes: Special credit to guys like Mike Leach, Rich Rodriguez, and Gary Patterson who have developed their own offensive/defensive schemes that have become popular.
(Scores of 10: Rich Rodriguez, Brian Kelly, Mike Leach, Gary Patterson, Paul Johnson)
In-Game Coaching: Who makes good halftime adjustments? “Second half” teams get priority here.
(Scores of 10: Frank Beamer, Jim Grobe)
“It” Factor: Some guys have “it,” most don’t. “It” is why JoePa still gets 5-star 18 year olds, why Nick Saban is able to fill Alabama’s spring game after a miserable season.
(Scores of 10: Nick Saban, Pete Carroll, Joe Paterno)
After assessing all of these categories for all 26 coaches, the official rankings are below. Keep in mind, these are not necessarily the best coaches or the best recruiters. Rather, they reflect who I would choose as my coach if I were allowed to pick anyone, based on the 5 categories mentioned previously.
1. Urban Meyer (47.5)
T2. Nick Saban (46)
T2. Mark Richt (46)
T2. Rich Rodriguez (46)
T5. Bob Stoops (45.5)
T5. Brian Kelly (45.5)
T5. Chris Petersen (45.5)
T8. Pete Carroll (45)
T8. Frank Beamer (45)
T8. Mike Leach (45)
T11. Jim Tressel (44.5)
T11. Greg Schiano (44.5)
T13. Mack Brown (44)
T13. Jeff Tedford (44)
T15. Kirk Ferentz (43.5)
T15. Gary Patterson (43.5)
T15. Randy Edsall (43.5)
T15. Paul Johnson (43.5)
T19. Jim Grobe (43)
T19. Les Miles (43)
21. Steve Spurrier (42.5)
22. Mark Mangino (42)
23. Gary Pinkel (41.5)
T24. Joe Paterno (40)
T24. Houston Nutt (40)
T24. Dennis Erickson (40)
Age/Longevity: Completely objective. Ranked according to 5 year intervals.
(Scores of 10: Urban Meyer, Rich Rodriguez, Chris Petersen, Greg Schiano)
Recruiting: Pretty self-explanatory. Who is getting the most talent?
(Scores of 10: Pete Carroll—in a class of his own)
Game Prep/Schemes: Special credit to guys like Mike Leach, Rich Rodriguez, and Gary Patterson who have developed their own offensive/defensive schemes that have become popular.
(Scores of 10: Rich Rodriguez, Brian Kelly, Mike Leach, Gary Patterson, Paul Johnson)
In-Game Coaching: Who makes good halftime adjustments? “Second half” teams get priority here.
(Scores of 10: Frank Beamer, Jim Grobe)
“It” Factor: Some guys have “it,” most don’t. “It” is why JoePa still gets 5-star 18 year olds, why Nick Saban is able to fill Alabama’s spring game after a miserable season.
(Scores of 10: Nick Saban, Pete Carroll, Joe Paterno)
After assessing all of these categories for all 26 coaches, the official rankings are below. Keep in mind, these are not necessarily the best coaches or the best recruiters. Rather, they reflect who I would choose as my coach if I were allowed to pick anyone, based on the 5 categories mentioned previously.
1. Urban Meyer (47.5)
T2. Nick Saban (46)
T2. Mark Richt (46)
T2. Rich Rodriguez (46)
T5. Bob Stoops (45.5)
T5. Brian Kelly (45.5)
T5. Chris Petersen (45.5)
T8. Pete Carroll (45)
T8. Frank Beamer (45)
T8. Mike Leach (45)
T11. Jim Tressel (44.5)
T11. Greg Schiano (44.5)
T13. Mack Brown (44)
T13. Jeff Tedford (44)
T15. Kirk Ferentz (43.5)
T15. Gary Patterson (43.5)
T15. Randy Edsall (43.5)
T15. Paul Johnson (43.5)
T19. Jim Grobe (43)
T19. Les Miles (43)
21. Steve Spurrier (42.5)
22. Mark Mangino (42)
23. Gary Pinkel (41.5)
T24. Joe Paterno (40)
T24. Houston Nutt (40)
T24. Dennis Erickson (40)
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Michigan Basketball is Back
It was 1998. Stu Douglass was seven years old. Richmond pulled of an upset over 3rd seeded South Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. John Beilein coached Richmond. Michigan lost a heartbreaker to UCLA in the second round. Michigan has not been in the tournament since. Eleven years later, John Beilein and Michigan are both in the tournament again—together.
Growing up a Michigan fan, words can’t truly express my excitement upon hearing Greg Gumbel’s words: “Coming out of Ann Arbor…the seventh Big Ten team… the Michigan Wolverines!” My initial reaction was disbelief. Sure, I felt like Michigan was a lock to get into the tournament. But, after eleven years of absence and at least two years of heartbreak, Michigan fans had to be anxious. Especially after being skipped over in the first three regions. But, once Michigan’s name was called the anxiety, the heartbreak, and the dispair was all replaced with joy.
After last year’s 10-22 showing, no one expected Michigan to make the NCAA Tournament. I, for one, was hoping for above .500 basketball. As a result, John Beilein, Manny Harris, and DeShawn Sims are going to get all of the credit. They deserve a lot of it. They coached and played inspired basketball all year. But, this tournament bid is about so much more than three people.
The long and winding road began on February 17, 1996. Prized recruit Mateen Cleaves was on his official visit to Michigan when the car he was riding in crashed… and changed everything. Upon investigation, it was found that Cleaves and his host players had made it to Michigan booster Ed Martin’s house that night. Cleaves went to Michigan State, Michigan went on probation, and Michigan’s basketball program went into a downward spiral.
The on-the-court trouble all started with Brian Ellerbe. Taking over for Steve Fisher, Ellerbe stepped into an impossible situation. Still, watching Brian Ellerbe coach basketball is something that no one should have to endure. Despite a terrible coaches and impending sanctions, Michigan brought in a great recruiting class for the 1999-2000 basketball season. Jamal Crawford stayed for a year and went to the NBA. Kevin Gaines played for a year and was eventually kicked off the team. Only LaVell Blanchard lasted all four years. He didn’t take Michigan to the tournament, but LaVell proved himself to be a true Michigan Man when Michigan needed it the most. Other players in the Ellerbe era that Michigan fans will remember include Avery Queen, Bernard Robinson Jr., Gavin Groninger, and Josh Asselin.
In 2001, many thought that Michigan was ready to go to the next level. Up-and-coming Seton Hall coach Tommy Amaker was hired. Like Ellerbe, the start of Amaker’s time at Michigan was sparked by a great recruiting class. Daniel Horton, Lester Abram, and Chris Hunter gave Michigan fans something to get excited about. The following year, Dion Harris became the first Mr. Basketball in the state of Michigan to choose Michigan in nine years. Tommy Amaker’s teams consistently got close, but never close enough to get into the tournament. In fact, the one year that Michigan was likely “in,” they were serving their one year self-imposed probation for the actions of Ed Martin. Names that Michigan fans may remember from the TA era include Graham Brown, Amadou Ba, Ron Coleman, Courtney Sims, Brent Petway, Reed Baker, and Jerret Smith.
And, as much as I hated Tommy Amaker as a coach, I must say… he deserves a lot of credit for what happened yesterday. Amaker walked into Michigan the year before they went on probation. The Michigan basketball program desperately needed stability as well as a clean-run program. Tommy Amaker provided that. He brought Michigan back into respectability. He wasn’t a great coach. He probably would not have this year’s team into the tournament. But, he served the University of Michigan to the best of his ability for six years. He loved the players, the school, the fans. Tommy Amaker is a true Michigan Man. His efforts will not be forgotten anytime soon. Thanks TA, hope you were cheering along yesterday, you deserve a lot of credit for what has happened.
Thanks to Amaker’s efforts, Michigan was able to get a high-profile coach like John Beilein. Beilein has done more in less time than can possibly be expected of him. And, to his credit, he has not lost sight of the significance of yesterday’s events. Before and after the selection show, Beilein was consistent in his appreciation of one group—the fans. More than anything, Greg Gumbel’s words yesterday justified the actions of those of us Michigan Basketball fans who have been with the team for the last eleven years. We have seen bad and worse. Yet, we have stuck with the team, the program, the school. It wasn’t always easy, but it was necessary. I, for one, had chills yesterday following the announcement. It’s a feeling that I will never forget. Finally, the time has come. The last eleven years have been worth it. Michigan Basketball is back.
Hitting the Lottery
If you missed it, an Ohio University offensive lineman won the lottery for $250,000 earlier this week. Michael Eynon is hardly the first person in sports to hit the jackpot. The following teams and players hit the proverbial jackpot, and it changed some of their careers. In other cases, it brought championships.
10. 2007 Seattle Supersonics
Reminiscent of the draft 23 years before it. A center injured in college taken ahead of a "do everything" guard/forward. In the case of the 2007 NBA Draft, there were two players clearly better than the rest. Picking first could prove a huge blunder. Picking seconds, like the Sonics did, is a no-brainer.
9. Eric Gagne
Traded at the 2007 trade deadline, Gagne pitched poorly in the twenty games he saw the mound in a Red Sox uniform. But, he managed to win a World Series in the process.
8. Jim Sorgi
Jim Sorgi's 2007 salary: $850,000. Jim Sorgi's career touchdown passes: 6. Sorgi has been fortunate enough to be Peyton Manning's backup for his entire four year career. And, he has yet to play in a meaningful game. Instead, he's getting paid nearly a million dollars to stay in shape and play the last two games of the year after the Colts have clinched the division title. I'd take it.
7. Steve Fisher
The day before the 1989 NCAA Tournament, Bill Frieder was fired as Michigan basketball coach. Steve Fisher was named interim coach and most assumed that he would be replaced following the tournament. Glen Rice scored a record 184 points in the tournament, making Fisher's job pretty easy. Fisher signed a contract following the tournament and hit the jackpot again two years later with the Fab Five.
6. Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell signed with the Celtics in March to provide them with a veteran point guard to help the young Celtic players not named Pierce, Allen, and Garnett. Instead, he averaged 12 minutes per game in the playoffs, proving to be a great, veteran cheerleader.
5. Christian Laettner
Christian Laettner was a wonderful college basketball player. His basketball IQ was through the roof. But, he wasn't a Dream Teamer. Except he was. He sat the bench in the 1992 Olympics and watched the greatest basketball team ever dominate like no one has ever seen before. And he gets to call himself a part of that team. Not a bad distinction.
4. Phil Jackson
One of the most successful coaches in NBA history sure has run into some great help. If Michael and Scottie weren't enough, Kobe and Shaq should have been. Sure, nine championships as a coach is tough to argue with. But, I'm pretty sure I could've had at least six with those four playing for me.
3. 2005 Illinois basketball
The only list member not to take full advantage of hitting the jackpot. Illinois played in Indianapolis, Rosemont, and St. Louis in their six tournament games. These three cities: a combined 1062 miles from Champaign. Rumor has it they walked to all three sites as a warm-up. Unfortunately, home court advantage at a neutral site tournament wasn't enough. Illinois lost to UNC in the Finals.
2. Larry Coker
The 2001 Miami team that Larry Coker inherited consisted of the following: Willis McGahee, Andre Johnson, Antrel Rolle, Ken Dorsey, Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Jon Vilma, Bryant McKinnie, Kellen Winslow, Jeremy Shockey. That's not even all of the NFL talent on the roster at the time. Maybe the most talented college football team of all-time, Coker would have had to try not to win a National Championship. Apparently he did in 2002. Following the loss to Ohio State in the National Championship game, the talent left along with Coker's career.
1. 1984 Chicago Bulls
The Blazers picked Sam Bowie with the #2 pick. The Bulls had a no-brainer for a pick at #3. After establishing himself as the greatest player of all-time, Michael Jordan seems like even more of a no-brainer 24 years later.
10. 2007 Seattle Supersonics
Reminiscent of the draft 23 years before it. A center injured in college taken ahead of a "do everything" guard/forward. In the case of the 2007 NBA Draft, there were two players clearly better than the rest. Picking first could prove a huge blunder. Picking seconds, like the Sonics did, is a no-brainer.
9. Eric Gagne
Traded at the 2007 trade deadline, Gagne pitched poorly in the twenty games he saw the mound in a Red Sox uniform. But, he managed to win a World Series in the process.
8. Jim Sorgi
Jim Sorgi's 2007 salary: $850,000. Jim Sorgi's career touchdown passes: 6. Sorgi has been fortunate enough to be Peyton Manning's backup for his entire four year career. And, he has yet to play in a meaningful game. Instead, he's getting paid nearly a million dollars to stay in shape and play the last two games of the year after the Colts have clinched the division title. I'd take it.
7. Steve Fisher
The day before the 1989 NCAA Tournament, Bill Frieder was fired as Michigan basketball coach. Steve Fisher was named interim coach and most assumed that he would be replaced following the tournament. Glen Rice scored a record 184 points in the tournament, making Fisher's job pretty easy. Fisher signed a contract following the tournament and hit the jackpot again two years later with the Fab Five.
6. Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell signed with the Celtics in March to provide them with a veteran point guard to help the young Celtic players not named Pierce, Allen, and Garnett. Instead, he averaged 12 minutes per game in the playoffs, proving to be a great, veteran cheerleader.
5. Christian Laettner
Christian Laettner was a wonderful college basketball player. His basketball IQ was through the roof. But, he wasn't a Dream Teamer. Except he was. He sat the bench in the 1992 Olympics and watched the greatest basketball team ever dominate like no one has ever seen before. And he gets to call himself a part of that team. Not a bad distinction.
4. Phil Jackson
One of the most successful coaches in NBA history sure has run into some great help. If Michael and Scottie weren't enough, Kobe and Shaq should have been. Sure, nine championships as a coach is tough to argue with. But, I'm pretty sure I could've had at least six with those four playing for me.
3. 2005 Illinois basketball
The only list member not to take full advantage of hitting the jackpot. Illinois played in Indianapolis, Rosemont, and St. Louis in their six tournament games. These three cities: a combined 1062 miles from Champaign. Rumor has it they walked to all three sites as a warm-up. Unfortunately, home court advantage at a neutral site tournament wasn't enough. Illinois lost to UNC in the Finals.
2. Larry Coker
The 2001 Miami team that Larry Coker inherited consisted of the following: Willis McGahee, Andre Johnson, Antrel Rolle, Ken Dorsey, Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Jon Vilma, Bryant McKinnie, Kellen Winslow, Jeremy Shockey. That's not even all of the NFL talent on the roster at the time. Maybe the most talented college football team of all-time, Coker would have had to try not to win a National Championship. Apparently he did in 2002. Following the loss to Ohio State in the National Championship game, the talent left along with Coker's career.
1. 1984 Chicago Bulls
The Blazers picked Sam Bowie with the #2 pick. The Bulls had a no-brainer for a pick at #3. After establishing himself as the greatest player of all-time, Michael Jordan seems like even more of a no-brainer 24 years later.
The Return- SEC Academics
For the past year or so, I've been writing for one of my friends at theangryt.com. I recommend reading it daily. He's really got some great stuff there, and it gets a ton of traffic. In the past few weeks, I've decided to start writing in here again, and I'm going to start by posting some of my favorite articles that I've written for The Angry T.
This is probably my favorite-- talking about how poor academics actually helps SEC in recruiting.
Bigger... Faster... Dumber?
The SEC is the dominant conference. We've heard it for years. The last 2-3 years it is very possibly true. But why? They're faster, people say. Apparently the deep South breeds differently than the rest of the country.
Is it possible, though, that SEC schools are just able to take more athletes than other schools? Lower academic standards certainly make it a possibility. When looking at the academic reputations of the four major college football conferences (SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac Ten), it is clear that the SEC fails miserably.
Of the SEC's twelve schools, only Vanderbilt (18) and Florida (49) make the top 50 of US News and World's 2009 rankings. Only Georgia (58), Alabama (83), and Auburn (96) join them in the top 100. Two schools, Mississippi and Mississippi State, fall under the Tier 3 category. Even when those two sub-par schools are excluded, the average ranking among the other 10 SEC schools is a below-average 89.1.
By comparison, the two worst Big Ten schools (Michigan State and Indiana) are both ranked 71st. That's right, the worst Big Ten schools are ranked significantly ahead of the SEC's average. In perhaps the most staggering statistic, the SEC only has three schools that rank ahead of the two worst Big Ten schools. The Big Ten ranks at the top of the four conferences with a 50.1 average ranking and all eleven of their schools in the top 100.
The Pac Ten ranks second with an average ranking of 62.1 and only one Tier 3 school (Oregon State). The Big 12 falls slightly ahead of the SEC with an average ranking of 86.4 and two Tier 3 schools (Oklahoma State, Texas Tech).
So what does all of this mean? In short, the SEC has a recruiting advantage. Anyone who follows recruiting even a little bit realizes that there are a lot of kids coming out of high school with poor grades, test scores, etc, that are extremely talented athletes. It's not a stereotype. Different kids have different reasons for their academic shortcomings, many of which are beyond their control. When a school has lower academic standards, they can (in general) accept more recruits than schools with higher standards. Even if their entrance standards are decent, an easy trip to college appeals more to kids that are dead set on going to the NFL. Let's face it, student-athletes are not student-athletes anymore. If that were the case, kids would be flocking to the Big Ten. Or, recruits would be lining up to go to Vanderbilt, by far the best school in the SEC. Oh... but there's this little thing called reality. So are SEC players faster? Maybe. But it sure sounds like they're getting an easier ride.
This might not be as humorous as you expect from an article on the Angry T. But, well... the truth is funny enough.
This is probably my favorite-- talking about how poor academics actually helps SEC in recruiting.
Bigger... Faster... Dumber?
The SEC is the dominant conference. We've heard it for years. The last 2-3 years it is very possibly true. But why? They're faster, people say. Apparently the deep South breeds differently than the rest of the country.
Is it possible, though, that SEC schools are just able to take more athletes than other schools? Lower academic standards certainly make it a possibility. When looking at the academic reputations of the four major college football conferences (SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac Ten), it is clear that the SEC fails miserably.
Of the SEC's twelve schools, only Vanderbilt (18) and Florida (49) make the top 50 of US News and World's 2009 rankings. Only Georgia (58), Alabama (83), and Auburn (96) join them in the top 100. Two schools, Mississippi and Mississippi State, fall under the Tier 3 category. Even when those two sub-par schools are excluded, the average ranking among the other 10 SEC schools is a below-average 89.1.
By comparison, the two worst Big Ten schools (Michigan State and Indiana) are both ranked 71st. That's right, the worst Big Ten schools are ranked significantly ahead of the SEC's average. In perhaps the most staggering statistic, the SEC only has three schools that rank ahead of the two worst Big Ten schools. The Big Ten ranks at the top of the four conferences with a 50.1 average ranking and all eleven of their schools in the top 100.
The Pac Ten ranks second with an average ranking of 62.1 and only one Tier 3 school (Oregon State). The Big 12 falls slightly ahead of the SEC with an average ranking of 86.4 and two Tier 3 schools (Oklahoma State, Texas Tech).
So what does all of this mean? In short, the SEC has a recruiting advantage. Anyone who follows recruiting even a little bit realizes that there are a lot of kids coming out of high school with poor grades, test scores, etc, that are extremely talented athletes. It's not a stereotype. Different kids have different reasons for their academic shortcomings, many of which are beyond their control. When a school has lower academic standards, they can (in general) accept more recruits than schools with higher standards. Even if their entrance standards are decent, an easy trip to college appeals more to kids that are dead set on going to the NFL. Let's face it, student-athletes are not student-athletes anymore. If that were the case, kids would be flocking to the Big Ten. Or, recruits would be lining up to go to Vanderbilt, by far the best school in the SEC. Oh... but there's this little thing called reality. So are SEC players faster? Maybe. But it sure sounds like they're getting an easier ride.
This might not be as humorous as you expect from an article on the Angry T. But, well... the truth is funny enough.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Farewell Lloyd
1995 Virginia—Scott Dreisbach to Mercury Hayes. 1995 Ohio State—313. 1997. 2000 Orange Bowl—Brady, Terrell, Thomas. 2003 Ohio State—100th game. 2004 Michigan State—Braylon. 2005 Penn State—Henne to Manningham. Woodson, Jackson, Hall. Glen Steele. Foote, Irons, Jones, Sword. Hutchinson, Long, Baas. Terrell, Edwards, Streets, Toomer, Walker, Avant. Thomas, Perry, Hart. Griese, Brady, Henson, Navarre, Henne. 5 Big Ten Championships. One National Championship.
Only one man is directly responsible for all of this. Yet, even in the days after his retirement, Lloyd Carr still can’t get the respect he has earned. I guess it shouldn’t really surprise me… Michigan quarterbacks have encountered the same problem dating back to Elvis Grbac (yes, even Tom Brady). I guess I’m just an eternal optimist.
Growing up a Michigan fan, I have grown to expect two things—winning football games and winning football games with integrity. During his tenure, Lloyd Carr has done both. Has he been outcoached at times? Sure. So has Pete Carroll. But, there is so much more that goes into being a head coach than X’s and O’s. Joe Roberson, the man that hired him, recognized this. "I said to myself, 'I really want a coach who can be a role model to these young men in the educational sense,' " Roberson said. "Somebody who knows there are more letters in the alphabet than X and O. I felt Lloyd was that." On top of educating players, you have to get the right ones in the first place. Heck, Pete Carroll’s probably outcoached more than any of us will know.. . but his players just outexecute other teams. They’re just that much more talented. For thirteen years, Lloyd has gotten the right players. Sure, there’s a Kelly Baraka and a Johnny Sears every once in a while. More importantly, he’s found guys like Braylon Edwards, David Harris, and Mike Hart. Guys that others thought were too slow, too small, etc. Guys that, ultimately, make your program. And, when they step out of line, it is up to the coach to correct it. The stories of Lloyd handing guys like Braylon, Chris Perry, and Shawn Crable their transfer papers are told countless times. Meanwhile, Jim Tressel sits those same guys out for a play. Maybe I’m screwed up in the head, but I have no problem sacrificing a win here or there if it means running a clean program. Plenty of programs have taken a different approach—Miami, Florida State, Nebraska. They allow guys to play except in cases of murder. And look at where those programs are right now. Think that’s a coincidence? Michigan won’t see that sort of decline, and Lloyd Carr is directly responsible for that.
Lloyd didn’t have the impact of Bo, the fire of Moeller, or the charisma of either… but he produced better results. And, he’s done so much more. Adam Kraus described Carr at Lloyd’s last football bust as “not just a coach, but a maker of men.” Never have I seen a person command more respect from his inferiors than Lloyd Carr. His players thought so much of him that they gave him the Michigan ring that is given to each senior at the end of the year. The only other non-player to ever receive the ring? Bo.
Words can’t truly express how much I will miss Lloyd Carr. He has meant so much to the Michigan football family for so long. He was one hell of a coach. That, and most importantly to me, he represented the University of Michigan as well as it has ever been represented—something all Michigan fans, should be eternally grateful for. Goodbye Lloyd, you will be missed.
Only one man is directly responsible for all of this. Yet, even in the days after his retirement, Lloyd Carr still can’t get the respect he has earned. I guess it shouldn’t really surprise me… Michigan quarterbacks have encountered the same problem dating back to Elvis Grbac (yes, even Tom Brady). I guess I’m just an eternal optimist.
Growing up a Michigan fan, I have grown to expect two things—winning football games and winning football games with integrity. During his tenure, Lloyd Carr has done both. Has he been outcoached at times? Sure. So has Pete Carroll. But, there is so much more that goes into being a head coach than X’s and O’s. Joe Roberson, the man that hired him, recognized this. "I said to myself, 'I really want a coach who can be a role model to these young men in the educational sense,' " Roberson said. "Somebody who knows there are more letters in the alphabet than X and O. I felt Lloyd was that." On top of educating players, you have to get the right ones in the first place. Heck, Pete Carroll’s probably outcoached more than any of us will know.. . but his players just outexecute other teams. They’re just that much more talented. For thirteen years, Lloyd has gotten the right players. Sure, there’s a Kelly Baraka and a Johnny Sears every once in a while. More importantly, he’s found guys like Braylon Edwards, David Harris, and Mike Hart. Guys that others thought were too slow, too small, etc. Guys that, ultimately, make your program. And, when they step out of line, it is up to the coach to correct it. The stories of Lloyd handing guys like Braylon, Chris Perry, and Shawn Crable their transfer papers are told countless times. Meanwhile, Jim Tressel sits those same guys out for a play. Maybe I’m screwed up in the head, but I have no problem sacrificing a win here or there if it means running a clean program. Plenty of programs have taken a different approach—Miami, Florida State, Nebraska. They allow guys to play except in cases of murder. And look at where those programs are right now. Think that’s a coincidence? Michigan won’t see that sort of decline, and Lloyd Carr is directly responsible for that.
Lloyd didn’t have the impact of Bo, the fire of Moeller, or the charisma of either… but he produced better results. And, he’s done so much more. Adam Kraus described Carr at Lloyd’s last football bust as “not just a coach, but a maker of men.” Never have I seen a person command more respect from his inferiors than Lloyd Carr. His players thought so much of him that they gave him the Michigan ring that is given to each senior at the end of the year. The only other non-player to ever receive the ring? Bo.
Words can’t truly express how much I will miss Lloyd Carr. He has meant so much to the Michigan football family for so long. He was one hell of a coach. That, and most importantly to me, he represented the University of Michigan as well as it has ever been represented—something all Michigan fans, should be eternally grateful for. Goodbye Lloyd, you will be missed.
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