Being an avid follower of then NFL since the age of 7, of all the things that make it great to me, number one is tradition. If your reading this, you're likey a football fan too. Being one, you know that the NFL and it's glorious past is shrowded in such images of those black and white footage reels from NFL films. From George Halas, co-founder of the league and long time owner/coach of the Chicago Bears pacing the sidelines in black frame glasses, trenchcoat and fedora to Vince Lombardi chastizing his players, "justabunch of grabbowskies out dare... grabbin...no tacklin!...grabbin!" Gale Sayers gliding past the outstrectched arms of sliding defensive players on a snow muddied field to Tracey Porter slamming the door on the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. Tradition has been the glue holding it all together.
An important traditon in the NFL is the hierachy of veterans to rookies. Inside that traditon is the hazing of rookies durinig training camp. Every rookie who has played the game has experienced some kind of hazing at least once. It's a right of passage. The stories are legendary. Taping to the goalposts, wild goose chases. "Hey rook, sing your college fightsong". "Hey rook, bring donuts to the meeting" "Hey rook, carry my shoulder pads"...(cut to the sound of screeching brakes).
Until now.
Uh-oh!
Dallas Cowboys number one draft pick, WR Dez Bryant from Oklahoma St. refused to participate. Asked to carry his shoulder pads by fellow WR Roy Williams, Bryant refused, saying, "I came here to play football, not carry someone's shoulder pads."
That sound you just heard were the collective horrified gasps of Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips and the entire Cowboys nation like George Cosatanza in the "shrinkage" episode.
Uh-oh.
Now, for any rookie this would be a red flag. But for Bryant, this is a red banner. A red strobe light of blinding brilliance.
For this is THE Dez Bryant who followed two highly productive seasons in Stillwater by being stripped of his eligibilty the second half of his junior year for improper associations with former NFL player Deion Sanders. A move that cost him millions due to his drop in draft stock. Under Armour has dropped what was going to be a big time endorsement deal negotiated by his marketing reps.
Now every sports media oulet has converged on this story like Lindsey Lohan's perp walk to prison.
Uh-oh.
Bryant's reputation for being a troubled and arrogant college player has now slivered it's way into his NFL image. In one practice he has sealed all of the doubt skeptics had about his maturity and demeanor.
His new teammate's suspicion about this potential prima-donna has been solidified. "We just got rid of T.O. now here comes D.B?!"
Uh-oh.
Guys like Ole Dez just can't help it.
His type come along every so often (Chad Ochocinco anyone?). They think THEY are bigger then the game. They can't understand how the game has prospered so long without them.
They have no sense of tradition.
Ironic, because Bryant was given the hallowed number 88. A Cowboys tradition, the number of WR greatness passed down from legends Drew Pearson and Michael Irvin.
The funny thing is, all this could have been avoided...
Just carry the damn shoulder pads!
Curse, rant, bitch all the way, but JUST carry the friggin pads!
Cowboys fans...
Uh-oh, indeed.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Carrolling Past the Graveyard.
The recent events that occurred at the University of Southern California got me thinking. The same USC that was handed some of the stiffest penaties a big time football progam has receiced in years. Probation for 4 years, 20 lost scholarships, no bowl games for 2 years and the forfeiting of wins from the 2004 season. Plus, USC returned to the Downtown Athletic Club the Hesiman Trophy won by running back phenom Reggie Bush. AND , they also disassociated themselves from Bush as a public purging of their soul to the college football gods. It is also expected that the DAC will request that Bush return his Heisman.(we used to call that "indian giving" back in the old politically incorrect days of my youth).
Why all the fuss?
Because Reggie Bush allegedly received illegal cash payments from an agent. An agent whose feelings were hurt deeply when Bush dumped him for a more savvy agent upon his departure from USC.
What got me thinking was former USC head coach Pete Carroll. He was the man in charge of the USC football program when all of this took place. The one whose responsibilty it was to protect the young men who signed with the program while under his watch (at least I'm told that's what the coaches tell the parents of these players). The same Pete Carroll that bolted from the program when it looked like such events were about to unfold. Did he get a heads up from someone in the know at the NCAA? We'll never know. But we do know this.
While USC received those stiff penalties, Reggie Bush was publicly humiliated , stripped of his Heisman, and Athletics Director Mike Garett was fired, Pete Carroll was long gone to the NFL. Rewarded to the tune of 5 years at $33 million. Thats $33,000,000 and control over football operatoins of the Seattle Seahawks.
Huh?!
Wait! Surely, this is a joke! How can this be?
I'll tell you how.
You see, in the NCAA, coaches are allowed to leave for greener pastures. It doesn't matter if that coach was in charge of a program who now must pick up the pieces of the mess he left. He is free to pursue other opportunities, including the NFL and even another college job. All this without the penalty that his departed school received, which he caused or had a hand in causing.
Players, on the other hand ,are restricted to stay at the college they signed or face sitting out one year as a penalty for transferring. They are allowed to transfer without sitting out only if that program goes on probation. It's like in the movie "Good Fellas".
If a player has a change of heart? Tough. Sit out! Gets beat out and prefers to go to a school he feels gives him a better chance to play? Oh well. Sit out! Maybe a family member is sick or even dies,.Too f**ing bad! Sit!
But Carroll gets to start over with no penalty, in fact, rewarded ,as his former program fries.
My dad had a saying when someone "skates" by out of trouble. "He's just whistling past the graveyard". As in, "he just got away with murder when everyone else involved fried"
Or in this case, Pete is just Carrolling past the graveyard.
Why all the fuss?
Because Reggie Bush allegedly received illegal cash payments from an agent. An agent whose feelings were hurt deeply when Bush dumped him for a more savvy agent upon his departure from USC.
What got me thinking was former USC head coach Pete Carroll. He was the man in charge of the USC football program when all of this took place. The one whose responsibilty it was to protect the young men who signed with the program while under his watch (at least I'm told that's what the coaches tell the parents of these players). The same Pete Carroll that bolted from the program when it looked like such events were about to unfold. Did he get a heads up from someone in the know at the NCAA? We'll never know. But we do know this.
While USC received those stiff penalties, Reggie Bush was publicly humiliated , stripped of his Heisman, and Athletics Director Mike Garett was fired, Pete Carroll was long gone to the NFL. Rewarded to the tune of 5 years at $33 million. Thats $33,000,000 and control over football operatoins of the Seattle Seahawks.
Huh?!
Wait! Surely, this is a joke! How can this be?
I'll tell you how.
You see, in the NCAA, coaches are allowed to leave for greener pastures. It doesn't matter if that coach was in charge of a program who now must pick up the pieces of the mess he left. He is free to pursue other opportunities, including the NFL and even another college job. All this without the penalty that his departed school received, which he caused or had a hand in causing.
Players, on the other hand ,are restricted to stay at the college they signed or face sitting out one year as a penalty for transferring. They are allowed to transfer without sitting out only if that program goes on probation. It's like in the movie "Good Fellas".
If a player has a change of heart? Tough. Sit out! Gets beat out and prefers to go to a school he feels gives him a better chance to play? Oh well. Sit out! Maybe a family member is sick or even dies,.Too f**ing bad! Sit!
But Carroll gets to start over with no penalty, in fact, rewarded ,as his former program fries.
My dad had a saying when someone "skates" by out of trouble. "He's just whistling past the graveyard". As in, "he just got away with murder when everyone else involved fried"
Or in this case, Pete is just Carrolling past the graveyard.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Miles' trends like Coker's
Trends.
In 2001 Larry Coker was in his first year as the head coach of the University of Miami, FL, football team. He was celebrating their first National Championship since 1991 and their 5th overall. In 2002, the head coach of the same team this time mourned the loss of their 6th title try, this after winning 23 consecutive games as head coach of the Canes. Coker's first loss in two seasons as head coach was the 2002 BCS title game...With previous coach Butch Davis' recruits.
In 2006 Larry Coker was fired as head coach of the Canes.
Why?
How could this be?
This coach was fired after posting a 60-15 record?! He was 2-1 in BCS bowl games! 4-2 overall in bowl games! Yet, he was canned?!
Why?...
Trends.
Larry Coker's Canes were trending downard.
Consider. After winning 35 of his first 38 games, going 12-0,12-1, and 11-2. Coker was 33-12 over the next three seasons, posting records of 9-3, 9-3 and 6-6. More importantly, under his watch, Miami had gone from regaining the powerful image of "The U". Brash, intimidating and cockey. Back, simply, to Miami of Florida. Thus he was fired.
What does this have to do with LSU?
Trends.
On January 2, 2005, Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles was tagged to fill the unenviable void of the departed Nick Saban as LSU head football coach. He was charged with the caretaking of a program that had been rebuilt into a national power unlike any time in the previous 50 years of it's gloriuos history. A program reborn from one that had gone through a decade and a half of blundering coaches, unprecendented losing seasons, heartbreaking losses and oh too few flashes of brilliance.
Miles would inherited an embarassment of rich football talent, worthy of 5 number 1 draft choices, including 3 top 10 picks. QB's,RB's,WR's, DL's and OL's. You name it and not one position had a vacuum of 4-5 star recruits.
Miles' first season produced a 10-1 record and winners of the Western Division of the SEC. Losing only to Tennessee on a Monday night just weeks after Katrina. The season ended with a Chic Fil-A Bowl 40-3 thrashing of the Miami Hurricanes (coached by Coker). A # 5 ranking in the final polls.
Year 2 was 10-2 and a Sugar Bowl victory. A #3 ranking in the final polls.
Year three produced one of the most memorable seasons in NCAA history. Highlighted by 5 fourth down conversions in route to an epic 28-24 win over defending BCS champion University of Florida and their electric Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.
However, LSU wasn't the same team after that game. The next week saw LSU lose an overtime game to Kentucky, blowing a two score lead in the 4th quarter. A close call to Auburn followed by a season ending defeat at the hands of the infamous "AR-Kansas" Razorbacks in overtime, at home,with a chance to clinch a BCS title game birth.
After wishng to the nation "have a GREAT day!", then winning the SEC Championship game without starting QB Matt Flynn, the football gods smiled gracefully on Miles and the Tigers as the stars aligned and hell froze over. LSU claimed the title birth that seemed all but lost the week before. The Ohio State University fell to another SEC team and LSU was crowned BCS champions.
Les Miles had compiled a 34-6 record, 19-5 in SEC play in his first three seasons at LSU...with Nick Saban's talent.
In the two season's since Saban's recruited players have moved on and Miles' coaching stamp has been put on the program, LSU is 17-9, 8-8 in conference play. Including 1-7 record against Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Florida. Oh, by the way, Nick Saban has sinced returned to the SEC, at F***ing ALABAMA!
Trends.
One can certainly say that LSU is trending downward under Les Miles. Well I certainly am.
As you loook at the paralles of coaches Coker and Miles, I have one question. When would you have fired Coker? At 60-15 , certainly the critics were all over Miami for doing it. Well, it's been 3 season's since Coker has been fired and Miami is still trying to recover from his ineptitude. Still haven't regained "The U "status.
Les Miles' overall record at LSU is impressive at 51-15 on the surface, but the trending of last two seasons show no signs for optomism. This is year 6 of the Les Miles era at LSU. Trending downward in the SEC is not where you want to be in year 6 of your program. One more season trending down and Miles will join Coker in the ex coaches fraternity who possess "unfireable" records. Why?...
TRENDS!!
Especially since Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide, coming off their first title since 1992 is trending upward...like a bullet!
In 2001 Larry Coker was in his first year as the head coach of the University of Miami, FL, football team. He was celebrating their first National Championship since 1991 and their 5th overall. In 2002, the head coach of the same team this time mourned the loss of their 6th title try, this after winning 23 consecutive games as head coach of the Canes. Coker's first loss in two seasons as head coach was the 2002 BCS title game...With previous coach Butch Davis' recruits.
In 2006 Larry Coker was fired as head coach of the Canes.
Why?
How could this be?
This coach was fired after posting a 60-15 record?! He was 2-1 in BCS bowl games! 4-2 overall in bowl games! Yet, he was canned?!
Why?...
Trends.
Larry Coker's Canes were trending downard.
Consider. After winning 35 of his first 38 games, going 12-0,12-1, and 11-2. Coker was 33-12 over the next three seasons, posting records of 9-3, 9-3 and 6-6. More importantly, under his watch, Miami had gone from regaining the powerful image of "The U". Brash, intimidating and cockey. Back, simply, to Miami of Florida. Thus he was fired.
What does this have to do with LSU?
Trends.
On January 2, 2005, Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles was tagged to fill the unenviable void of the departed Nick Saban as LSU head football coach. He was charged with the caretaking of a program that had been rebuilt into a national power unlike any time in the previous 50 years of it's gloriuos history. A program reborn from one that had gone through a decade and a half of blundering coaches, unprecendented losing seasons, heartbreaking losses and oh too few flashes of brilliance.
Miles would inherited an embarassment of rich football talent, worthy of 5 number 1 draft choices, including 3 top 10 picks. QB's,RB's,WR's, DL's and OL's. You name it and not one position had a vacuum of 4-5 star recruits.
Miles' first season produced a 10-1 record and winners of the Western Division of the SEC. Losing only to Tennessee on a Monday night just weeks after Katrina. The season ended with a Chic Fil-A Bowl 40-3 thrashing of the Miami Hurricanes (coached by Coker). A # 5 ranking in the final polls.
Year 2 was 10-2 and a Sugar Bowl victory. A #3 ranking in the final polls.
Year three produced one of the most memorable seasons in NCAA history. Highlighted by 5 fourth down conversions in route to an epic 28-24 win over defending BCS champion University of Florida and their electric Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.
However, LSU wasn't the same team after that game. The next week saw LSU lose an overtime game to Kentucky, blowing a two score lead in the 4th quarter. A close call to Auburn followed by a season ending defeat at the hands of the infamous "AR-Kansas" Razorbacks in overtime, at home,with a chance to clinch a BCS title game birth.
After wishng to the nation "have a GREAT day!", then winning the SEC Championship game without starting QB Matt Flynn, the football gods smiled gracefully on Miles and the Tigers as the stars aligned and hell froze over. LSU claimed the title birth that seemed all but lost the week before. The Ohio State University fell to another SEC team and LSU was crowned BCS champions.
Les Miles had compiled a 34-6 record, 19-5 in SEC play in his first three seasons at LSU...with Nick Saban's talent.
In the two season's since Saban's recruited players have moved on and Miles' coaching stamp has been put on the program, LSU is 17-9, 8-8 in conference play. Including 1-7 record against Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Florida. Oh, by the way, Nick Saban has sinced returned to the SEC, at F***ing ALABAMA!
Trends.
One can certainly say that LSU is trending downward under Les Miles. Well I certainly am.
As you loook at the paralles of coaches Coker and Miles, I have one question. When would you have fired Coker? At 60-15 , certainly the critics were all over Miami for doing it. Well, it's been 3 season's since Coker has been fired and Miami is still trying to recover from his ineptitude. Still haven't regained "The U "status.
Les Miles' overall record at LSU is impressive at 51-15 on the surface, but the trending of last two seasons show no signs for optomism. This is year 6 of the Les Miles era at LSU. Trending downward in the SEC is not where you want to be in year 6 of your program. One more season trending down and Miles will join Coker in the ex coaches fraternity who possess "unfireable" records. Why?...
TRENDS!!
Especially since Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide, coming off their first title since 1992 is trending upward...like a bullet!
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