tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12503781122283333702024-03-04T20:36:31.290-08:00STEIN ON THE SIDELINESAt Least There's ShadeDan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.comBlogger207125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-65737192070839281872017-11-14T15:17:00.001-08:002017-11-14T15:17:02.847-08:00"Back"It is 4:30 in the morning and I cannot sleep in London…I think it is mostly jet lag, but if we are being completely honest the Miami Hurricanes have more to do with it than they should.<br />
<br />
It’s been a long road friends.<br />
<br />
Al Golden. Randy Shannon.<br />
<br />
Kirby Freeman. Jacory Harris.<br />
<br />
Nevis Shapiro. Mark Emmert.<br />
<br />
I spent a lot of it writing in this space. I wrote about moral victories. I wrote about the promise of next year. I bought in to every shitty slogan, every false positive.<br />
<br />
The ‘Canes would start 3-0, including a win over a bad Nebraska team (or something) and the announcers would inevitably ask “is The U back?”<br />
<br />
And every single time I convinced myself the answer was “yes,” blinded by the sort of optimism that can only be born into someone as a 13 year old ‘Canes fan in 2001.<br />
<br />
I watched a pretty terrible set of Miami teams in the late 90s, and then one day, we were the best team the world had ever seen. It happened almost overnight.<br />
<br />
And if it happened then, why couldn’t it happen now?<br />
<br />
It turns out, there are a lot of reasons.<br />
<br />
Bad coaching. Lazy administrators. NCAA malice.<br />
<br />
And after however many Novembers in a row of watching crappy games between Georgia Tech and Duke and PRAYING that the outcomes bounced the exact right way for whatever ridiculous scenario Miami needed to get into a winnable tie break for the right to go and get slaughtered by FSU or Clemson in the ACC Championship game, and hearing that same damn “is Miami back” conversation, I just ran out of gas.<br />
<br />
Once you’ve written every angle there is for every possible version of the same mediocrity over ten years, what else is there to say?<br />
<br />
I was optimistic about Richt, but I had been optimistic about Shannon and Golden too. Might as well wait and see.<br />
<br />
Well I waited, and I saw, and I am here this morning because for the first time since before I went off to college, the ‘Canes are back. Truly, legitimately “Back.” So why shouldn’t I be?<br />
<br />
What they did the last two weekends to the 2 toughest opponents on the schedule was reminiscent of the good old days, when Syracuse and Washington came down to Miami for back to back revenge games in primetime and took hellacious beatings for their efforts.<br />
<br />
And it feels fucking GREAT.<br />
<br />
I watched ESPN’s Gameday in Coral Gables (!) on Saturday morning and teared up half a dozen times…not because of the images (although they were great) but because of the meaning behind this spectacle.<br />
<br />
After 10 years of shit, we mattered again, and everyone had to recognize it.<br />
<br />
And yet, the disrespect.<br />
<br />
Undefeated and atop the best conference in college football, yet ranked 7th. Close wins written off as ‘lucky’ rather than ‘earned’, as they are for the Old Money.<br />
<br />
Picked to lose by every single pundit (except my boy Des).<br />
<br />
There is one inescapable fact about this team, though; they don’t rattle easy. The longer the odds, the better they play. There is no occasion they cannot rise to.<br />
<br />
A real, actual hurricane shut down campus and their season for 2 weeks. They spent one of those weeks huddled in Orlando. They won 4 straight games against ACC teams by a total of 18 points, including a walk off win on the road against FSU just when they thought they had beaten us for an eighth straight year.<br />
<br />
Those struggles paved the way for a team which is now, it can truly be said, perhaps the best in the country, with a resume second to none and truly EXCITING PLAYERS, that have been in close games and learned how to win, with new heroes emerging every week.<br />
<br />
Braxton Berrios. JaQuan Johnson. Chad Thomas. Malik Rosier. RJ McIntosh and Kendrick Norton. Chris Herndon. Trent Harris. Mark Walton. McDermott and Darling. Those guys were all here for the bad years with Golden. They know what that looked like, and it has molded them. In many ways, there are the fans facsimile on the field…they made it through, and now they are basking in the glory of playing up to their abilities.<br />
<br />
Ahmmon Richards. Joe Jackson. Trajan Bandy. Jon Garvin. Shaq Quarterman. Mike Pinckney. Jeff Thomas. Deejay Dallas. Travis Homer. Malek Young. Zach McCloud.Those guys came in expecting to win, without the baggage of the Golden Era, and they are already setting the tone for the next era of dominance upon which we are embarking.<br />
<br />
Darrell Langham. Michael Jackson. Hayden Mahoney. Malik Rosier. These guys were all transfer candidates, written off as dead weight. Each has come through with legendary moments this season, to the point that we can’t imagine this team without them.<br />
<br />
This is quickly becoming my favorite ‘Canes team of all time. They are good, and they know it, and they aren’t afraid to clap back at their critics in this age of social media.<br />
<br />
They are sick of old, dumb stereotypes being applied…but if you insist, they will play into them on the field, where it matters.<br />
<br />
And the fans are more than happy to reward excellence, making a stadium an hour from campus feel almost as electric as the Orange Bowl at its peak.<br />
<br />
Most of the students there don’t get it. But there are a ton of people from that Saturday night crowd that remember the Orange Bowl. They were there for every minute of the 58-0 loss to Clemson two years ago.<br />
<br />
And I guarantee you they feel exactly the same way I do…cathartic. There have almost certainly been a lot of grown man ugly tears shed the past few days. And who can blame them?<br />
<br />
One final thing: I was afraid writing this would be a jinx, but my friend said it best: “I think we’re beyond that at this point.”<br />
<br />
He's right.<br />
<br />
We're BACK.Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-88858272940385237592016-12-23T09:44:00.001-08:002016-12-23T09:44:32.591-08:00College Football Relegation - 2016<div class="Body">
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the final entry in my series on relegation in college football, bringing us up to current.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In
the first season of the Mark Richt Era, the Hurricanes were a Top 25 team based
on F/+ but the success on the field was open to interpretation. One the one
hand, the ‘Canes outscored their opponent by double digits in all 8 wins and
were within a score of winning in 3 of the 4 losses. Read that way, this team
was unlucky and could easily have been 11-1 heading into the conference
championship game.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On
the other hand, before the season started everyone on the planet circled the 4
games stretch of FSU-UNC- Virginia Tech- Notre Dame as the most important of
the season, and Miami lost all 4 games.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My
personal read is that Richt struggled with something we see a lot of English
Premiere League coaches…even the great ones, like Jose Mourinho and Pep
Guardiola currently…struggle with in their first year at a club: how do you
find the proper on-field alignment to accommodate the prior coach’s players
while at the same time implementing your future system?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s
all well and good, and an optimistic read on the situation, but I don’t think
Miami would have been any better off in the Big 10 this season. Ohio State,
Michigan, Ped State and Wisconsin were all kickass teams this season, and Iowa, Pitt, Arkansas and Nebraska were tough in their own right. On top of that, mediocre teams like
Michigan State and Northwestern are always well coached, and when you are in a
transition period…as Miami was…coaching matters. To wit: there were only 4
coaches on the ‘Canes schedule this year I would put at or near the level of
Mark Richt, and Miami lost to all 4 of them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elsewhere
in FBS, this was the first time we saw a true tire fire at the bottom of the
SEC, while the ACC saw Ohio and Cincinnati battle to the death. Arizona was relegated
for the first time, while Bowling Green and Marshall saw their way out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On
the other hand, Colorado had a massive resurgence and finished the regular
season ranked in the Top 10, which would have been enough to easily win them
promotion out of the Mountain West. Western Michigan dominated the MAC and finished
undefeated, with wins over Big 10 schools Northwesten and Illinois confirming
their ability to play with the big boys. Memphis won a surprisingly tough
competition against Tulsa, Louisiana Tech, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest to win
our version of Conference USA, and Appalachian State won promotion roughly 5
years after joining FBS. Washington State came out of the at-large playoff,
knocking off Troy and then Minnesota.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
the expansion draft, the SEC grabs Memphis, the Big 10 gets a big win by
replacing Bowling Green with Colorado, the ACC gets Appalachian State, the Pac
12 reclaims Washington State and the Big 12 gets a surprisingly still-PJ
Fleck-coached Western Michigan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">---<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And
that, my friends, brings us to the end of this experiment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Going
back to our original questions, how different does college football look? A LOT
is pretty much the same. The core of these conferences didn’t really change; no
surprise. Sure, you get your big names here and there that drop off, but
whether through a flaw in this experiment or personal bias or the reality of
the conference setup, most of them end up back home. The biggest points of
controversy would have been the fluky promotions, which again, are completely
on-brand for college football, the silliest sport ever created.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did
this system help the little guys that earned it? In the EPL, about 40% of teams
that are promoted stay up for more than one season. In this experiment, it was
actually more like 55%....these numbers don't square up, but then again, the
gap between the teams at the bottom of the BCS conferences and the teams at the
top of the lesser tier is probably not as big as the gap between Premiere
League and Championship squads.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
little guys ended up being big winners here, and not just the usual suspects
like TCU, Boise, Utah and BYU, but also teams like Navy, Troy, Central Michigan
and Hawaii that had extended runs among the big timers. That is a lot of money
coming into their Athletic Department coffers, which ostensibly would add on
benefits to their Olympic sports programs in addition to the football teams.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Were
the big boys held accountable for losing? One thing the EPL does have in common
with my experiment is the following: it is REALLY hard to drop down a level and
immediacy come back up. In the EPL, 80% of the time a relegated team stays down
for multiple seasons, similar to our numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miami,
Tennessee, Ole Miss, Arkansas, UCLA, Stanford, Texas A&M, Washington...those are BIG
names, and they all spent at least one season at the lower level. For the fan
bases of those schools, I would argue that relegation would have been a great
thing (in theory). Almost every one of these schools held on to a coach for one or two
seasons too long. Whether it is Al Golden, Houston Nutt, Derek Dooley, Rick
Neuheisel or Mike Sherman, this system seems likely to have weeded those
coaches out in a hurry.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally,
how did Miami end up? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would argue playing in the Big 10 is probably more interesting than playing
in the ACC in terms of conference play. Assuming the FSU rivalry would continue
uninterrupted, which in this day and age is not a strong assumption, I see no
downside other than travel for fans. Bloomington, Indiana in November is no one's idea of fun.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It
would have sucked to have to watch Miami play in the Sun Belt for a year. BUT
Miami fans spent the last decade ranting and raving about mediocrity, an
unsupportive administration, mis-allocation of talent and resources...and were
mostly ignored.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying
to fill Landshark Stadium against Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State?
That might have gotten Donna Shalala's attention. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Losing
recruits because no one wants to play for a Sun Belt team? That might have
convinced Randy Shannon or Al Golden to change tactics. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or
maybe, it would have convinced the administration to pony up for Gary Patterson
in 2007, or Brett Bielema in 2011. And think where we might be now if THAT had
happened.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No
Al Golden. We all win.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-83984997393773606392016-12-22T09:03:00.002-08:002016-12-22T09:03:52.208-08:00College Football Relegation - 2015<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the tenth and penultimate entry in my series on relegation in college football.</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The year Al Golden met his
maker. Deliverance.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Relegations:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ACC-
UCF<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Big
10- Syracuse<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Big
12 - Kansas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">PAC
12- Oregon State<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">SEC
- Louisiana Tech<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Some
interesting names here, including UCF, winless and statistically one of the
worst teams in the history of college football. Syracuse and Kansas, 2 great
basketball powers, find themselves back in the Suck, and Louisiana Tech finds
its stay in the SEC to be a short one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Promotions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Conference
USA - Western Kentucky<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">MAC
- Bowling Green<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mountain
West - San Diego State<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sun
Belt - USF<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At-large
- Cal (also in the mix: Memphis, Minnesota, Appalachian State)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Big
time to be a football fan in Northern Kentucky / Southern Ohio. Big ups! Also a
warm welcome back to USF and the Tampa market, or as we like to call it in my
household, America's UTI.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
SEC gets Tampa into its footprint, while the dregs are divvied up as follows:
Western Kentucky to the ACC, Cal to the PAC 12, Bowling Green to the Big 10 and
San Diego State to the Big 12. Hard luck for both SDSU and the Big 12...in any
other year SDSU would have gotten its dream birth in the PAC 12, while the Big
12 is spread even further out, adding a small media market when the preference
would have been USF.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-21509816653769703732016-12-21T09:23:00.000-08:002016-12-22T08:44:16.549-08:00College Football Relegation - 2014<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the ninth entry in my series on relegation in college football (you should read the preceding posts first).</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
first year of the College Football Playoff...think it is safe to say Miami, who
finished 6-7 in the ACC, would not have qualified.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SMU
continues our realignment by bailing on the ACC for Big 12, a natural fit for
the conference, along with Houston and a newly pursued Kansas, giving the Big
12 further presence in the Dallas and Houston markets after the departure of
Texas A&M as the conference looks to expand to the 12 it needs for a
championship game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As
for the relegations:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ACC
- UConn<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big
10 - Bowling Green<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big
12 - SMU<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PAC
12 - Washington State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SEC
- Vanderbilt<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Karma
swings around on the Mustangs, who bailed on the ACC for the more competitive
Big 12, leaving behind a conference that included bottom-feeders UConn and
Virginia, both of whom could have provided a buffer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Promotions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Conference
USA- Louisiana Tech<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MAC-
Toledo<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mountain
West- Colorado State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sun
Belt- Arkansas <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At-large-
Temple (also in the mix: Air Force, Memphis, Georgia Southern)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This
was the most boring year for promotions and relegations, with no big names (or
quite frankly even any other interesting names) other than Arkansas going
either way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
Big 10 grabs Arkansas to expand south and slap the SEC after celebrating Ohio
State's title, the PAC 12 takes in Colorado State, the SEC stays regional with
Louisiana Tech, the ACC grabs another Northeastern school in a big market with
Temple, and the Big 12 is (regrettably) left with Toledo, a school that makes
no sense for them despite a solid program.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This
year wasn't fun, so while we're here, let's do the Top 12 TV shows of 2016 (in no order):<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Atlanta (FX)</b> - Absolutely brilliant</span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson (FX)</b> - Travolta's hairline alone...</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>OJ Simpson: Made in America (ESPN)</b> - One of the best commentaries on race relations in America ever done</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Quarry (Cinemax)</b> - Feels like you are actually in 1972 Memphis, and the last episode might be the best 90 minutes of TV made this year</span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Veep (HBO)</b> - The Queen stays The Queen</span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Americans (FX) </b>- Habitually underrated</span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Black Mirror (Netflix)</b> - Starting to feel like a documentary</span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Game of Thrones (HBO)</b> - The best movie of the year</span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Full Frontal w/ Samantha Bee (TBS) </b>- Stepped up and took Jon Stewart's throne as a biting critic during this election season</span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Last Week Tonight w/ John Oliver (HBO)</b> - Sam Bee was the most biting voice but Oliver was perhaps the hardest hitting, with an extra 8 minutes per night due to HBO's lack of ads</span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Stranger Things (Netflix) </b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">- Pure fun</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>The Night Of (HBO) </b>- A true crime mini-series in which the "whodunnit" is the least interesting aspect</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BONUS 8:</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">You're The Worst (FXX)</b></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>High
Maintenance (HBO)</b></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Better
Things (FX)</b> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Fleabag (Amazon Prime)</b> </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Catastrophe (Amazon Prime)</b> </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Night Manager (AMC)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Insecure (HBO)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Broad City (Comedy Central)</b></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-24927386425522417042016-12-21T09:03:00.000-08:002016-12-21T09:03:07.779-08:00College Football Relegation - 2013<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the eighth entry in my series on relegation in college football (I recommend reading the preceding posts first).</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We start the year with some more conference realignment moves.</span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
order to keep up the numbers, The Big East (henceforth known as the American
Athletic Conference, no longer to retain its status as a "Power"
conference starting next season) courts Memphis and Temple to join for its
final season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile,
Louisville, UConn and Cincinnati reach agreement to join the ACC for the 2014
season...although all 3 would have been in play for the Big 12 as well. Who ever would have though these three schools would have so many suitors?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As
for the actual play on the field, the ACC stands out for FSU winning the
championship, and the bottom of the conference being a remarkable shit show, as
SMU, FIU, Ohio, Troy and UCF bring up the rear of the conference in a
relegation battle that could only be described as very ‘ACC Coastal’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
the end, FIU loses. They finished as statistically the worst team in all of
college football.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
ACC, ladies and gentlemen!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
was the season when Miami started off 7-0 and then fell apart. Or as I know it,
"when I began to realize Al Golden was not worth a contract
extension and learned to love the bomb." </span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think Miami would have been roughly as good as Nebraska that
season, so they probably would have finished with something like a 9-3 or 8-4
record, depending on whether they were in the Legends or Leaders division.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Those
were actual division names. No one does pomposity like the Big 10.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway,
here are the relegations:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ACC
- FIU<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AAC
(fka Big East) - Temple (San Diego State, Memphis and Arkansas
State are following them out the door with no conference to join)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big
10 - Rutgers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big
12 - Tulsa<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PAC
12 - Cal<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SEC
- Arkansas<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arkansas
and Cal are brand name programs, while Rutgers is in the biggest TV market.
Meanwhile, Tulsa ends an 8 year run among the big boys. Not bad. Not bad at
all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Promotions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Conference
USA - Washington State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MAC-
Bowling Green<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mountain
West- Texas Tech<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sun
Belt- Tennessee<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At-large
- Marshall (also in the mix: Fresno State, East Carolina, Minnesota)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some
big names here, as well as Marshall, with Rakeem Cato at quarterback.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
the expansion draft, a major shakeup occurs: the ACC gets first dibs! They
don't waste it, nabbing Tennessee to become a bedrock program for a league
desperately in need of one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Well,
in theory. I would hope in this scenario Tennessee would hire someone more
inspiring than Butch Jones, aka SEC Golden.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
double whammy for the SEC turns out ok, as they scoop up Texas Tech with the
next selection, but it is pretty obvious that anyone would prefer the Vols. The
PAC 12 ends up with Washington State, the Big 10 gets Bowling Green and the Big
12 ends up with Marshall.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-90096234498855890122016-12-19T10:41:00.001-08:002016-12-19T10:41:16.642-08:00College Football Relegation - 2012<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the seventh entry in my series on relegation in college football (I recommend reading the preceding posts first).</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">More
shakeups before the season.</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Utah
and Colorado to the PAC 10. The goal here is pretty clear: these leagues want
to get to at least 12 teams in order to establish a conference championship
game, which is another property for the league to license to sponsors like Dr.
Pepper and TV networks like FOX. And, more teams means more games to air on PAC
12 Network (your home for early season Washington State vs. Idaho action!) and
to stream on their website. Amateurism! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maryland
moves to the Big 10, and the Big 12 does some looting of its own, stealing
Tulsa from the SEC and lassoing an ascendant Houston from the Group of 5.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's
the new reality. The PAC 12, Big 10 and SEC are all very secure, while the Big
12, ACC and Big East are fighting for 2 spots. They all know it, and they are
going to start acting accordingly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile,
Miami plays its second season under Al Golden as a member of the Big 10.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There
was one good team in the Big 10 this season, Ohio State. They went undefeated
but were banned from the postseason. The rest of the conference was largely
mediocre, as evidenced by the conference championship game, a Wisconsin blowout
of Nebraska. Wisconsin, by the way, was 7-5 going into that game. Not exactly a
dominant conference champion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
hate to say it, but if Miami had been in the Big 10, Al Golden might have actually
looked decent, especially this season. I can't even imagine the contract
extension we would have thrown at Al if he had somehow managed to emerge from
this shit show and made the conference championship game. Has anyone ever
signed a 40 year extension? We could have been trendsetters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Relegations:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ACC
- Southern Miss<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big
East - USF<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big
10 - Miami (OH)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big
12 - Iowa State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PAC
10 - Colorado<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SEC
- Kentucky<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iowa
State gets 1 year of respite and then is immediately sent back packing. THAT is the law of the jungle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Southern
Miss has the worst year to year decline I saw in all of the research I did for
this project, falling almost 100 spots in F/+. They were bad in Conference
USA...I imagine they would have been worse in the ACC, although to be fair,
their competition would have included Troy, Ohio, FIU, Duke and Wake Forest,
none of which were among the Top 70 teams in the country in F/+.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
found a picture of this competition:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4wV6vKXYk7OO3k481NUe1AQF_jidU5KQSEmhSkqzrdnR4z_gtq4K0matDxf5PQKO77aVeTOEpbbw50CLuYg6oiWfwe4OqNhlrJ3NlMyKJT220P99VdOLesMgLLDraFuMrer_q-bzaZP7/s1600/TireFire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4wV6vKXYk7OO3k481NUe1AQF_jidU5KQSEmhSkqzrdnR4z_gtq4K0matDxf5PQKO77aVeTOEpbbw50CLuYg6oiWfwe4OqNhlrJ3NlMyKJT220P99VdOLesMgLLDraFuMrer_q-bzaZP7/s1600/TireFire.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Promotions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Conference
USA - SMU<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MAC
- Syracuse<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mountain
West - Utah State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sun
Belt - Ole Miss<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WAC
- UCLA<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At-large
- Arkansas State (also in the mix: San Jose State, Kent State, Texas Tech)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ole
Miss fights their way back again, and once again they are in the SEC. UCLA and
Syracuse, representing Los Angeles and New York, end up in the PAC 10 and Big
10, respectively, as the Big 10 corners the market in the Northeast with
Syracuse, Rutgers and Penn State, as well as Navy and Maryland. The Big 12 goes
into the Rocky Mountains with Utah State, while the ACC gets into the Houston
market with SMU. Arkansas State is left to the Big East, a conference which
later in the offseason announces the end of its run as a football conference
starting in 2014. The 2 events are ‘unrelated’.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-44718405625773740012016-12-16T13:54:00.001-08:002016-12-19T10:42:51.791-08:00College Football Relegation - 2011<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the sixth entry in my series on relegation in college football (I recommend reading the preceding posts first).</span></b><br />
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
year of conference realignment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This
was a year of major changes to the fundamental landscape of college football,
almost entirely driven by TV. I was torn on how to handle. On the one hand, it
seems like expansion would be a death blow to the relegation/promotion
system...if a team gets booted but a conference is able to immediately bring
them back, then what's the point?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On
the other hand, more teams getting a shot at the top level is ultimately the
point of this process, so as long as 6 teams continue to get promoted, then
what does it matter? As long as the schools and the NCAA are alright with
diluting the talent pool, then why shouldn't I be?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here
are the moves that were agreed to, all to take effect for the 2012 season:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nebraska
to the Big 10<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pitt
to the ACC <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">West
Virginia to the Big 12<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mizzou
and Texas A&M to the SEC <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mountain
West and WAC consolidate to one conference<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Syracuse
would have ordinarily agreed to move to the ACC, but given the fact that the
school was in the middle of its own sexual assault scandal at the time and is
currently a middling MAC team in this scenario, I have them being left alone.
Remember, the more people in the conference, the more teams split the TV money.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile,
I have the following hypothetical moves occurring:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Illinois
agrees to re-join the Big 10 immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
ACC, in a state of desperation as rivals expand and its bottom third fills with
undesirable markets and teams, steals UCF, a move that serves to potentially
cripple the Big 12 when combined with Illinois' departure and...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Miami
agrees to move to the Big 10.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Look,
Miami never would fit in with a bunch of state schools in the Great Plains.
Meanwhile, the Big 10 features high caliber, historic athletics programs, its
own TV network, and schools like Northwestern, Michigan, Wisconsin, Navy and
Indiana that would appeal to Donna Shalala's academic sensibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pitt,
in light of the shake ups, pulls out of its agreement to join the ACC and
instead opts for the more natural geographic and ideological fit, the Big 10, to
re-establish old rivalries with Miami and Penn State.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And
just like that, the Big 10 establishes itself as the SEC's main rival and the
ACC and Big 12 are left in dire situations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
also have the ACC agreeing to terms to get Duke and Wake Forest back on board,
to at least lock down its "Tobacco Road" legacy and identity. If
you’re trying to start a channel, that’s a good pitch to distributors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As
for the relegations:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ACC
- Troy<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big
East - East Carolina<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big
10 - Purdue<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big
12- Texas Tech<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PAC
10 - Nevada<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SEC
- Tennessee<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tennessee
and Texas Tech are big programs...the rest is the embodiment of mediocre.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Promotions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Conference
USA - Southern Miss<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MAC
- Rutgers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mountain
West - Iowa State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sun
Belt - Vanderbilt<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WAC
- Arizona State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At-large
- NIU (also in the mix: Louisiana Tech, Houston, Arkansas State)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some
prestige programs available here for the expansion draft. Arizona State had a
team of goons this season, coached by Dennis Erickson and lead by Vontaze
Burfict. They struggled to win games in the PAC 10 but with that talent in a
weaker conference, their F/+ ranking suggests an easier path to promotion. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile,
people will forget this, but Vanderbilt was really good under James Franklin,
and Southern Miss was good enough that Larry Fedora ended up getting hired to
coach UNC.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
the expansion draft the SEC kicks off by picking Vanderbilt. The Big 12
welcomes back Iowa State, as does the PAC 10 with Arizona State. The Big 10
gets a big school from a major media market in Rutgers, while once again the
Big East and ACC pick up the scraps...NIU and Southern Miss, respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
Big 12 might have gone for Rutgers in an attempt to claw back some TV
negotiating leverage, but I imagine that after getting looted before the
season, the conference would have required a prospective member to agree to
sign a non-exit agreement before agreeing to bring them aboard. Kind of like
when an NFL team refuses to draft someone first if they don't agree to contract
terms before the draft. And, given the Big12's weakness, I could see Rutgers
going full Jersey and refusing...they were holding out for the Big 10 the whole
time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And
therefore, the Big 12 goes for the weaker program in Iowa State, although
publicly they would spin it as being glad to add an original member back into
the fold.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This
shit's chess, it ain't checkers.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-45223776202177412922016-12-15T15:16:00.001-08:002016-12-16T13:48:32.949-08:00College football Relegation - 2010<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the fifth entry in my series on relegation in college football (I recommend reading the preceding posts first).</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2010, I remember it (mostly) fondly. My
first year in Los Angeles! 18 hour work days selling ladies' shoes!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
'Canes massively underachieved this year (shocker, I know), resulting in a 7-6
record and the firing of Randy Shannon despite a F/+ that was 24th in the
country. Knowing what we know about that team's inability to win games against
big time opponents (blown out by Ohio State and Florida State) and weakness at
the QB position (freshman Stephen Morris and Jacory Harris), it is hard to
imagine them doing much better in a Big 12 that had 5 teams ranked in the Top
25 at season's end.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
Big 12 also included one of the most fascinating relegation battles, not
because of the team that ended up losing (Colorado) but because of the team
that narrowly escaped the jaws of death: a 5-7 overall, 2-6 in-conference Texas
Longhorn team.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
same Texas that the next season would launch its own TV network. Arguably the
most important, certainly the most influential program in college football. THAT Texas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Relegations:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ACC
- Wake Forest<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big
East - Rutgers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big
10 - Central Michigan<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big
12 - Colorado<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PAC
10 - UCLA<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SEC
- Ole Miss<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At
this point, Ole Miss getting relegated seems cruel and unusual. Interestingly,
this was the timeframe when TV cemented its place at the center of the college
football universe...and teams from the 2 biggest media markets both find
themselves knocked down a level. Central Michigan ends a 4 year run in the Big
10, while Colorado and Wake Forest finally fall after years on the bubble.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Promotions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Conference
USA - UCF<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MAC
- Miami (OH)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mountain
West - San Diego State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sun
Belt - FIU<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WAC
- Nevada<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At-large
- Baylor<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This
is a pretty terrible group outside of Baylor. Miami (OH) is our latest example
of chaos reigning in college football, getting in by virtue of a conference
championship game upset of a far superior Northern Illinois team despite an F/+
ranking so low (94th) that it seems impossible they would have even qualified
for a conference championship game. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
the expansion draft, a Baylor program lead by emerging star Robert Griffin III
is nabbed first by the SEC, a move to expand into Texas that would
foreshadow their eventual IRL move to poach Texas A&M from the Big 12.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
PAC-10 nabs Nevada, coming off an impressive season with Colin Kaepernick at
quarterback. The Big 12 takes UCF to pair with Miami, the Big 10 opts for the
regional doormat Miami (OH), the ACC gets back in to the Miami market with FIU
and the Big East stretches as far West as possible with San Diego State. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-68944879841194604482016-12-07T15:29:00.001-08:002016-12-07T15:29:50.937-08:00College Football Relegation - 2009<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the fourth entry in my series on relegation in college football (read the rest in order if you want this to actually make any sense).</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miami
had a talented, yet (unsurprisingly) underachieving squad in Randy Shannon's
3rd season, headlined by a season opening win over Florida State (which I wrote
about in this very blog, I have no idea why I am still doing this, this is
depressing). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now
in the Big 12, it would have been interesting to see how the Jacory Harris-led
offense did in this wide open conference. Miami beat Oklahoma that year after
Sam Bradford's injury, and we know that Texas was a bear of a team that made
the national title game behind Colt McCoy. Other than that, it would have been
fascinating to watch, as there were a lot of wide open offenses in the
conference…Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kansas,
checking in at a mediocre but respectable 54th in F/+ under the leadership of
human bean bag chair Mark Mangino, ended up losing the relegation battle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Relegations:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ACC
- Buffalo<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big
East - Rice<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big
10 - Air Force<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big
12 - Kansas<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PAC
10 - Arizona State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SEC
- Vanderbilt<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally,
the team that started this craziness goes down, as Vanderbilt breaks the state
of Mississippi's vice grip on the bottom of the SEC, finishing slightly behind a
Tulsa team in decline.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
ACC finally gets a break, when the team it is hoping to expunge actually sucks
as Buffalo goes down, giving a bad Maryland team a break. Don't look now but
this also guarantees a 3rd season of ACC football for Troy. Effing Troy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rice
comes plummeting back to Earth and proves their at-large bid was a fluke,
finishing nearly dead last in F/+, while Michigan narrowly holds off Air Force.
Arizona State is the latest established power to fall victim to the PAC 10's
remarkably adept job of bringing in new teams, as they are unable to beat out
promoted sides Boise, BYU and Stanford to stay in the upper flight despite an
F/+ of 66th...good enough for survival in most years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Promotions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Conference
USA - East Carolina<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MAC
- Ohio<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mountain
West - Texas A&M<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sun
Belt - Mississippi State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WAC
- Washington<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At-large:
Navy (also in the mix: Houston, Nevada, Minnesota)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While
no one is going to be elated about getting East Carolina or Ohio to join their
conference, there are no true dogs in this year's group of promoted teams;
maybe some cannon fodder, but no true crap. Washington is an historic program,
and Mississippi State and Texas A&M bring much to the table. Meanwhile
Navy, despite their gimmick offense and recruiting disadvantages, has played
good football for years and is located close enough to the Baltimore and DC
markets / recruiting grounds to make them a nice little add on at the bottom of
a conference.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
SEC gets Mississippi State back, the PAC 10 nabs Washington and the Big 12
reclaims the Aggies. The Big 10 goes for Navy to replace Air Force, the Big
East gets East Carolina, and the ACC as always has to settle for the leftovers,
this year being Ohio. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If
you want to maintain your prestige as a conference in this system, you need 2
things to happen. First, the teams that are supposed to win need to actually
win. Losing a marquee program is very difficult to make up for, because the
pool of teams coming up is usually pretty thin. Second, you need a dominant
team to emerge every season. When your teams cluster together in the second
tier of the national rankings, you end up back filling your conference with
teams like Ohio, Buffalo and Troy. Weak teams in weak markets that generate weak ratings and weak affiliate fees; if you have more than one of those teams
at a time, it creates a generational problem for your league.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think
about it like the Republican Party. If you continue to fill your base with
morons, eventually those morons become integral to your party. And then, even
if you want them gone, it's too late.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We
are 5 years into this thing, and the ACC isn't dead, but it is teetering over
the abyss.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1EvIMb1XvP7dQSWIkSlUkev2mEZ1f8bta57y9qxU5DIDAd7UGwZXfXEMg3vq0wXu63AtghMvupgvxw1yOR70jzkRWlyLJPUnuNsL6muiIWo5ecF8GG5V-VoGv-VV8yzECLj0NqX9JYTT/s1600/2009+Data.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1EvIMb1XvP7dQSWIkSlUkev2mEZ1f8bta57y9qxU5DIDAd7UGwZXfXEMg3vq0wXu63AtghMvupgvxw1yOR70jzkRWlyLJPUnuNsL6muiIWo5ecF8GG5V-VoGv-VV8yzECLj0NqX9JYTT/s1600/2009+Data.png" /></a></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-60830578234095577702016-12-06T16:15:00.001-08:002016-12-06T16:18:12.075-08:00College Football Relegation - 2008<div class="Body" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the fourth entry in my series on relegation in college football (for all you completionists out there).</span></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Miami won a national championship in 2001. They won another in 2002, only for the refs to steal it from them and award it to Ohio State. Following the 2003 season, Miami set a record with 6 first round draft picks. In 2004, Miami played in a BCS bowl. In 2005, Miami was ranked #3 in the nation with 2 games left to play.</span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now it is 2008 and they are in the middle of a heated race with Louisiana-Lafayette for the Sun Belt title.</span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Life comes at you fast.</span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's start with the relegations:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ACC
- Hawaii<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big
East - UCF<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big
10 - Indiana<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big
12 - Texas A&M<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PAC
10 - Fresno State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SEC
- Mississippi State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Texas
A&M was a shockingly bad 97th in F/+ under Mike Sherman. That is
AGGRESSIVELY bad. So bad that Miami beat them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile,
Mississippi State makes it 4 for 4 for the state of Mississippi. Tulsa
continues to roll in the SEC, while Central Michigan and Air Force stay up in
the Big 10. A few really bad teams that
told death "not today": Louisville, Michigan and UCLA.</span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As for the promotions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Conference
USA: Ole Miss<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MAC
- Buffalo<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mountain
West - Utah<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WAC
- Stanford<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Aaaaaannnnnddddd....</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Sun Belt - Miami</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hooray! Si se puede!! </span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At-large:
Rice (also in the mix: Nevada, East Carolina, Ball State)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was the strongest promotion class yet. Miami, Ole Miss and
Stanford are major programs, and Utah was knocking on the door for 2 years
before finally breaking through.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Miami actually came up pretty easily out of the Sun Belt (the fact I even have to type that is sad), and Ole Miss convincingly won
Conference USA as a borderline Top 10 program in F/+ while playing in the SEC.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On
the the other hand, Buffalo is a true minnow of a program, and Rice...despite
running a fun offense during this era...barely got in to the at-large
tournament over intra-city rival Houston, a bigger program that would have been
much more appealing to the big boys during their next round of rights negotiations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the expansion draft the SEC grabs Ole Miss, the PAC 10 is excited to reel
Stanford back in...and then the Big 12 pulls off another coup, taking Miami
in front of the conferences that might make more sense in terms of geography or
institutional fit.</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This
now positions the Big 12 as a league with marquee name programs in Texas,
Oklahoma, Nebraska and Miami, as well as a footprint in the Dallas, Houston,
Chicago, Denver, St. Louis and Miami markets. Not a bad position to be in...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once
again just missing out on the team they really wanted, the Big 10 grabs Utah
and begins to expand west. The Big East, with no big fish left, opts for a
private school in a major market and grabs Rice...kind of a homeless man's
Miami. And the ACC, once again left to hold the bag, is left with Buffalo, a
big state school with mediocre academics in a declining market outside of their
geographic footprint. It's like they wanted Syracuse, but the store was sold
out, so they bought Buffalo on discount instead, only they did it at gunpoint.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-87009407275311719952016-11-30T13:40:00.000-08:002016-11-30T13:40:07.572-08:00College Football Relegation - 2007<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the next entry in my series on relegation in college football.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ahhhh
yes, the Year of the Upset. The Autumn Uprising.</span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kansas
vs Mizzou still played every year, and people actually cared this time, as it was
#1 vs #2 in the last week of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">USF,
Rutgers and Boston College spent extended stretches in the Top 10.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LSU
won the national championship with 2 losses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Annnnnd
Miami went 5-7 and got blown out by Virginia in the final game in the Orange
Bowl.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
guess it's comforting to know that after years of making the "Miami to the
Sun Belt" joke, this year it actually would have happened. This was the
year of the Kirnobyl meltdown against NC State, so I guess it should surprise
no one that Miami ended up on the wrong side of a relegation fight with the
Pack.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fuck
this season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Relegations:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ACC
- Miami<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big
East - Houston<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big
10 - Minnesota<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big
12 - Baylor<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pac
10 - Washington State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SEC
- Ole Miss<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So
much to process there. Miami is obviously a huge deal. Ole Miss becomes the
first team to get relegated twice. Bad year for the Stein Brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile,
Hawaii and Central Michigan surprisingly stay put, and another current
powerhouse, Baylor, shuffles off this mortal coil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Promotions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Conference
USA - UCF<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MAC
- Illinois<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mountain
West - Air Force<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sun
Belt - Mississippi State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WAC
- Fresno State<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At
Large - Troy (also in the mix: Nevada, Navy, Utah)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big
boys Mississippi State and Illinois claw their way back from the abyss, while
Air Force becomes our first service academy to make it up. UCF and Fresno,
mid-majors long classified as "dangerous", make it up, while Troy
springs 2 consecutive upsets to make it out of the tournament. Utah was a Top
40 team in terms of F/+, and yet doesn't make it out of a field of 3 teams
ranked 60th or higher. Go figure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
SEC, on the heels of a national title, take Mississippi State back in, while
the Pac 10 stays local and takes Fresno State over Air Force, despite the
latter being a better academic fit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then
comes the Big 12, who pull the first major shock of this experiment. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With
their pick, the Big 12 opts for the big media market and the more prestigious
program, taking Illinois over Air Force. To this point, perhaps through a bit
of luck, these proceedings have had a bit of a congenial vibe in which the
conferences try to respect each other's turf. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It
may not seem it, but this would have been a BIG deal in this hypothetical
world, a sort of canary in the coal mine. Everyone wanted to screw each other,
but no one wanted to make the first move. Consider that no longer an issue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Big 10, in a state of shock, takes Air Force, while the ACC has UCF fall into
their laps as a big school in Florida to take the place of Miami.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
just got a shiver down my spine thinking about the shit that UCF's fan base,
mostly made up of Trump conspiracy theorists claiming the system is rigged,
would have talked after this moment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stephen
Ross probably would have let UCF play their home games in Dolphins Stadium.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
hated this season then, and I hate it even more in retrospect.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-82249707388648019042016-11-21T16:34:00.000-08:002016-11-21T16:55:17.566-08:00College Football Relegation - 2006<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This is the second entry in my series on relegation in college football.</b></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today, we look at 2006. </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A simpler time. A time of Pooka shell necklaces. Sideburns. Hollister. Old Spice body spray. Coors Light.</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Miami
took a big step back this year, going 6-6 in the regular season and then
narrowly defeating Nevada in the Micron PC Bowl in Boise on a Chavez Grant interception.
Chavez Grant. A name I hoped to never type again. </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I watched that game
on one of the last nights I ever spent in Wisconsin, spending half the night
with my recently un-casted left ankle soaking in a hot Epsom salt bath while it was
-15 degrees outside. I would soon thereafter have a full on 80s movie level
meltdown at a party on a farm (wish I was kidding) in which I told everyone they wouldn't see me until I moved
back and bought the factory they all inevitably would end up working in just to
shut it down, Bain Capital style.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Something about Coastal Elitism probably fits in here ___________.</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyway,
here's how the relegation would have gone:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ACC
- Arkansas State<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Big
East - Akron<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Big
10 - Toledo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Big
12 - Iowa State<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pac
10 - Stanford<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">SEC
- Mississippi State<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mississippi
State a long time member of the SEC makes it 2 years and 2 relegations for the
state of Mississippi. Tulsa stays in the SEC, while Boise and TCU keep their
spots in the Pac 10 and Big 12.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">One
of the things that was most interesting about this project was taking a look
back at how bad some of these teams were. Stanford, probably the 2nd or 3rd
best program of the last 5 years, was EASILY the worst team in the Pac 12 in
2006. There's a reason they eventually had to hire Jim Harbaugh, whose previous
head coaching experience was at the University of San Diego...and that's it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Meanwhile,
Akron, Toledo and Arkansas State all go immediately back down. Remember how I
said Arkansas State was a product of its environment and earned a fluky
promotion? I was right. Even playing in the Sun Belt in real life in 2006, they
ranked 113th in the nation in F/+. They were bad in real life and I projected
them as winless in the ACC.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
the promotions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Conference
USA- Houston<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MAC
- Central Michigan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mountain
West - BYU<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sun
Belt - Ole Miss<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">WAC
- Hawaii<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At
Large - Oklahoma State (also in the mix: Southern Miss, Ohio, Utah)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the Expansion Draft, the SEC strikes first and brings Ole Miss back. The Big 10
stays true to its footprint and takes Central Michigan. The Big 12 reclaims
Oklahoma State, while the Big East...a conference that had been cognizant of
the impact of TV markets since it expanded to include Miami and Pitt in the
nineties...expands to Houston, a Top 10 TV market. The Pac 10 takes BYU, and
the ACC, bringing up the rear, is saddled with Hawaii. Woof. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Imagine
THOSE road trips. It's early, but I think it is safe to say that we are already
beginning to see the ACC as the Greater Fool in these relegation transactions.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Body">
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Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-57693028505837391222016-11-15T13:08:00.003-08:002016-11-16T15:14:47.631-08:00College Football Relegation<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
following is the first in a series of posts I plan to put up, which constitute
the entirety of my answer to “why don’t you post anymore?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
all started with my Dad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">'I
can't believe the SEC hasn’t just kicked Vanderbilt out at this point," I said
(hilariously) as the Commodores blew their opener against South Carolina in a
race to the bottom that would have made Sean Hannity blush.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
Dad said "maybe we need relegation."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
making the requisite "that would be awesome, except Miami would be in the
Sun Belt," joke, I hung up the phone, ordered a pizza, and started
researching. See you later, Labor Day Weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let
me give you a little background. In my day job --- I have a day job --- I work
as the Director of International TV Research at a Hollywood movie studio. I
love my job, mostly because I love TV. And, obviously I love college football,
the greatest soap opera of all time and itself nothing more than this country’s
longest running TV show.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lately,
I have been struggling to come up with ways to pair both in this space.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
can only write the same "Georgia Tech is a bunch of nerds" joke so
many times, and I don't think anyone cares about reading my opinion of <i>You're The Worst</i> (although I am more
than happy to give it).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
when I got an idea to combine the worlds of research and college football I was
immediately consumed by it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
idea: what if, starting in 2005---the year my buddies and I cursed the Miami
football team by enrolling at the university---the NCAA FBS football conferences
had adopted a system of <b>relegation and
promotion</b>? What if the worst team in each of the (then) 6 major conferences
got kicked out at the end of every season, and the 5 'lesser' conferences sent
their champions upward?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">How
different would college football look? Would it be good or bad for the product?
And, most importantly to everyone here, how badly would Miami have fared?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
those unfamiliar, Relegation comes to us from the world of European Football.
At the end of every season in the English Premiere League, Germany's Bundesliga,
Spain's La Liga, et al, the three worst teams get relegated to the next level
down. Meanwhile, the 3 best teams from the level below earn a spot in the top
flight for the next season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let's
look at the EPL, because it is easiest to type the names of those teams, it is
the richest league in the world, and it is where my team, Liverpool, plays. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(That’s
right, I picked Liverpool. A fan of the Dolphins and the Orioles willingly
signed up to root for Liverpool.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At
the end of the 2015-16 season, Leicester City...a Cinderella that BARELY
avoided relegation itself the prior season during a run that has since been
labeled "The Great(est) Escape"...were crowned champions. Meanwhile,
legendary clubs Newcastle FC and Aston Villa were demoted to the lesser
Championship Division. It was one of the greatest sports dramas to every play
out, and I watched every second of it, from the opening weekend to the finale,
at rapt attention. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
a fan, even if your team isn’t good, every game has meaning. The object of
sport is to win, but barring that, the goal becomes not to lose. It is hard to
put this all into American context, but I'll try.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Since
there is no minor league in football, and because the NBA D-League is still in
its infancy, let's look to baseball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Imagine
if all the Triple-A teams were run independently and the minor league squads
bought and sold players without any exclusive relationship to a parent team.
And then imagine that the Toledo Mud Hens not only were given a shot in the
major leagues, but won the World Series. And at the end of that same season,
two historic teams...maybe not the Yankees and Red Sox, but certainly the
Braves and Orioles...were banished to Triple A.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pretty
amazing, right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
story like Leicester is rare....the winner of the EPL has been a team not named
Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, or Arsenal only <b>twice</b> in 25 years of competition. But
Leicester City is the poster child for a system that gives hope to every team
in England, no matter how small. And it isn’t just about the team that finished
first; if you scan the Premiere League, it is full of stories of clubs on the
verge of bankruptcy saving themselves by winning promotion and the associated
riches. Bournemouth, Swansea City, Leicester....the examples are many. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Relegation/Promotion system gives hope to every pub team in the country. If you
play hard enough, for long enough, one day you might work your way up. The odds
are stacked heavily against you, but it is possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
Sunday night beer league softball team could, in theory, win the World Series
one day.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
American college football, The BCS Era lasted from 1998 - 2013. We all remember
it. We all hated it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
15 years, 11 <i>Group of 5</i> teams
finished undefeated. Utah, TCU and Boise State all played in multiple BCS games.
Utah and Boise swept their BCS bowl appearances (totaling to 5 wins), and TCU
won the Rose Bowl...meaning they were all good enough to get close to the
mountaintop on more than one occasion, and often good enough to take down a big
boy, like Oklahoma or Florida. Those are the facts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here’s
another: none of them played for a National Championship. They were locked out
by the argument that they didn't play a difficult enough schedule to warrant a
seat at the table. And that's fine...except, we don't know. Maybe they WERE
good enough. After all, if they made it that close to the top of the sport that
many times, can we really say it was a fluke? If you keep beating the big guys,
doesn't that eventually mean that you ARE a big guy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If
they were in a big conference, we DEFINITELY would have found out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
not only does every little guy get new hope, but we also would crown one
indisputable national champion every year. And beyond hope...which is as
American as it gets...we get accountability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let's go back to MLB. I am a lifelong
devotee of the Baltimore Orioles, and for the majority of my life they have
been terrible. For years, they never got better, ownership never changed
course...and there was no downside. At the end of every season, no matter how
bad they were, they still got the gate receipts from 81 home games against
Major League opponents, and they still got their revenue sharing check.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(This is the part where we laugh at
Americans that call European Football “socialist” even though they brutally
exile the 3 worst teams at the end of every season while the American Pastime
literally redistributes the wealth from the rich teams to the poor teams to try
and balance everyone out.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Same
thing with the Miami Dolphins. Sure, they might go 8-8 every year, but other
than the fans, who suffers? They still have a massive TV deal, they still get
their cut of league revenues, and they still get access to the draft, where
they get monopolized, exclusive access to premium talent in inverse relation to
their performance on the field. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Who
suffers? Me. My dad. You. The FANS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do
I think relegation would solve all these issues? No.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do
I think that owners might be willing to be more creative and invest more money
in the correct places if they knew their access to the cushy life and multiple
revenue streams of the big leagues could be taken away from them? Yes.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
how would this work?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Back
in 2005, there were 6 BCS conferences: ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 10
and SEC.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
were 5 lesser leagues: Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt and WAC.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
obviously the relegation part was simple. Each of the Big 6 would kick out the
worst team in their league, as dictated by conference W-L records. And
obviously, the winner of each of the 5 smaller conferences (the Group of 5)
would achieve promotion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
then we ran into our first numbers problem. And, again, the EPL helped lend a
hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the EPL, the Top 2 teams in the Championship Division gain promotion to the
Prem automatically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Straightforward
enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Then
it gets interesting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
3rd promotion spot is the winner of a 4 team tournament comprised of the teams
that finish 3rd - 6th in the Championship Division table. It culminates in the
"richest match in the world", where the winner of each semi-final
plays a winner take all match at Wembley Stadium, the winner of which secures
promotion and the loser of which...doesn't. And the stakes are VERY high...the
difference between a spot in the EPL and a spot in the Championship is valued
between $200 - $250 million when TV money and ticket / merchandise sales are
taken into account.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now
THAT is great TV!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
in order to find a 6th team for promotion, we would have a 4 team playoff, made
up of the losers of the MAC and Conference USA Championship games and 2 at-large
teams, drawn from the remaining Group of 5 teams and any non-Notre Dame independents.
And the final game could be the Saturday before the BCS National Championship
Game!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
what conferences do these promoted and relegated teams go to?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
demoted teams, I tried to just get them into a conference that made sense in
terms of geography...I wasn't very worried about numbers, because quite
frankly, it wasn't that important to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
promoted teams, I came up with the following system: at the end of every
season, once the champions had been determined, the 6 BCS Conference commissioners
would get together in a room (probably the SPECTRE / FIFA headquarters) and
draft the 6 promoted squads, with the draft order determined by the rank of the
top team in each conference in the final BCS standings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
another scenario, I like the idea of determining draft order on APR scores and
rewarding conferences for academic success....but then again, I think those
scores are complete crap, so I'm not sure if it is worth going through the
charade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Allow
me to anticipate an obvious, fair question that I am certain all 4 people that
have made it to this point in the post must be asking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">"How
do you compare teams in different conferences, or at different levels, if they
never played each other?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
major system that I used to put all teams on a level playing field was Football
Outsiders' F/+, which measures drive by drive and game by game efficiencies. It
isn't perfect, but it is the best I have come across. To wit: I compared the
Top 5 F/+ rankings off of the final AP Top 10 in each season from 2005-2015 and
found that in an average season they usually had about 3.5 teams in common, and
the top team in common 9 times out of 11. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
takeaway: if your team was efficient, as determined by F/+, then you probably
won a lot of football games. Additionally, the stat weights good performance
against good teams (even in a loss) more than middling performance against bad
teams (even in a win). Which is exactly what I was after. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">That
doesn’t remove the obvious: this is all a projection, and of course once you
make one change, everything moving forward changes. It’s like a promo for that
crappy new show on NBC.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If
I move Tulsa from Conference USA to the SEC...would their efficiency numbers
have changed a lot based on level of competition week in and week out? Of
course, but probably not as much as you’d think. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
tried to err on the side of status quo...unless there was a LARGE gap in
efficiency numbers between Tulsa and Ole Miss, as an example, I would err on
the side of Ole Miss and their SEC-level recruiting and facilities. But, this
IS college football, a sport we love in large part because of the chaos and
silliness it produces on a weekly basis. So yes, some of these assumptions are
flawed, but ironically that makes them (possibly more) realistic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And,
let's not forget, this is a giant "what if?" Once one outcome is
recorded, EVERYTHING afterward is changed. If, in 2008, I project a move based
on data that isn't convincingly past the bar in either direction, it changes
everything moving forward. This is a fun scenario and I did the best I could,
but it is just ONE outcome of hundreds of thousands of potential outcomes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
doubt this will cause any of you fine readers any outrage, but if it does, a
couple of things: I’m all ears, and also, you should re-evaluate some things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let's look at 2005.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Miami went 9-2 in the regular season and we were DEVASTATED. We
were ranked 3rd in the country before we blew our penultimate night game to
Georgia Tech. We still thought Larry Coker was awesome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Simpler
times. The Halcyon Days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Excuse
me while I pour myself a martini.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here's
how the relegations would have gone:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ACC
- Duke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Big
East - Syracuse<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Big
10 - Illinois <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Big
12 - Oklahoma State<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">SEC
- Ole Miss <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">3
big basketball schools go down right away in Duke, Syracuse, and Illinois...a
good time for a reminder that this experiment has to happen in a football-only vacuum,
because these all happen to be schools considered part of the core of their
conferences and you can imagine the conferences would NEVER go for a scenario
in which they might lose the Duke or Syracuse basketball programs from their
ranks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Additionally,
Oklahoma State and Ole Miss...now perennial Top 25 teams...would be banished in
this scenario. Which leaves us time to bring up another good point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the EPL, there are coaches known for their ability to manufacture a late season
rally to avoid relegation, such as Sam Allardyce. They are not men you bring in
to build a program, but short term solutions you pull in to the boat mid-stream
to get everyone rowing in the same direction (boom, metaphor). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Would
a school like Ole Miss or Oklahoma State have the patience to hire a Mike Gundy
or Hugh Freeze, young program builders, if they knew that taking their lumps
for a year or 2 of rebuilding might mean saying goodbye to the SEC or Big 12
and the revenues that come with it? Tough to say, but I imagine a world in
which guys like Houston Nutt and Ty Willingham go to a new school every October
to try and spring a turnaround. Chaos!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Unfortunately,
this is an impossible scenario to control for. So here's another operating
principle of this project: I don't assume that any team would have seen
REMARKABLE variance. IF a team went 7-6 despite their F/+ ranking in the Top 25
*cough* Miami *cough* then they get treated like a 7-6 team. A relegation may
have gotten a coach fired or hired, but I haven't figured out how to model
that. Another imperfection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Looking
back at this, Ole Miss was the hard luck team this year. They were actually much
better than Mississippi State in F/+ over the course of the season, but they
also lost their head to head matchup with Mississippi State at the end of the
season. That would be a particularly bitter pill to swallow...not only losing
bragging rights, but also getting kicked out of the conference by your in-state
rival. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Luckily
for my brother, Ole Miss would have their revenge in later years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">With
these relegations, that means it is time to bring up 6 new squads to replace
them:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sun
Belt - Arkansas State<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mountain
West - TCU<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Conference
USA - Tulsa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MAC
- Akron<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">WAC
- Boise State (This was the year of their Fiesta Bowl upset of Oklahoma)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At-Large
- Toledo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Akron
was remarkably worse than NIU and Toledo in the MAC this year, but they had the
benefit of being in the opposing, weaker division and then sprung an upset on
NIU in the conference championship game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
Similarly, Arkansas State was a bad team. They went 6-6 but won a bad
conference despite a F/+ rank of 104. Pretty brutal. Like I said, this is a sport
that thrives BECAUSE of the irrational, so who are we to argue?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tulsa
was actually a really good team this year. This was back when Steve Kragthorpe
was their young hotshot coach, before he went to Louisville and nearly killed
their program. TCU and Boise were awesome teams that would have been great to
watch in the Pac 10 and Big 12, respectively, that season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the at large tournament, the seeding would have worked as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1.)
NIU (MAC runner-up)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">2.)
Toledo <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">3.)
Nevada<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">4.)
UCF (Conference USA runner-up)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
way I constructed this tournament was to have 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3 in head to
head semi-finals before a winner-take-all final. Games would be played at the
higher seed's home stadium.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
determined the results by plugging each matchup into an Internet Randomizer
(because head to head match ups of Group of 5 teams are pretty random) and
taking whoever got 2 out of 3 results their way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyway,
NIU and Toledo, both teams that could rightfully claim to be the best team in
the MAC, ended up in the final, with Toledo pulling an upset on the road to
win.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here's
how the "expansion draft" would have gone:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Big
12 - TCU<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pac
10 - Boise State<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">SEC
- Tulsa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Big
10 - Toledo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Big
East - Akron<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ACC
- Arkansas State<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
one worked out, with all conferences selecting teams that made sense (more or
less) for them geographically, minus the ACC, which got Arkansas State, the
ugly duckling of the bunch. Tulsa would have been a natural fit in the Big 12,
with Oklahoma needing a new in-state rival to replace Oklahoma State, but they
never would have passed on TCU...and the SEC works out pretty well. Boise finds
a natural home, as does Toledo. Akron and Arkansas State are considered cannon
fodder for their new conferences, bad teams that won't threaten established
members or result in an outrageous increase in travel expense, although I can't
imagine airfare from Boston to Jonesboro, Arkansas, is cheap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Important
to remember here: this was before conferences had their own TV networks, and
before they really made TV their top priority when it came to expansion. Everyone
operated within a sort of Gentleman’s Agreement. They stuck to regional
footprints and tried to do right by the schools already in the conference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
LOT has changed in 10 years. There was no internet streaming of games back
then, no ESPNU, no Fox Sports 1...most coverage was still regional, and the
revenues reflected that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
will come in to play later, I just figured I would take a moment now to talk
about TV. By the way, have you guys watched 'Atlanta' yet? It's not good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It's
freakin' GREAT.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZ93rJ0ZAOtIJgPnscjPHuURlVQRKclUxGHrzkTh-PUHpI8vJI-xxHlFOOe6QytiIOTJr0Sq__3uCKGzSVrXREcDUIwbKHb_fbdXZ5ntUwIT0xOza645nWtUhQMLxQgWRYkB2xXjC9MlY/s1600/2005+Standings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZ93rJ0ZAOtIJgPnscjPHuURlVQRKclUxGHrzkTh-PUHpI8vJI-xxHlFOOe6QytiIOTJr0Sq__3uCKGzSVrXREcDUIwbKHb_fbdXZ5ntUwIT0xOza645nWtUhQMLxQgWRYkB2xXjC9MlY/s1600/2005+Standings.png" /></span></a></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Next time, we look at 2006.</span></span></div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-53691702709739415532016-11-07T18:33:00.000-08:002016-11-08T13:50:25.494-08:00Why I Quit the Republican PartyAt one point during this election cycle from hell (I can't remember which point, it has all blurred together), someone I am very close with and whom I love and respect called me "smug."<br />
<br />
For some reason, that choice of phrase really stuck with me. Actually, it really pissed me off.<br />
<br />
I have spent 6 months fuming about it silently, not really understanding how such a stupid choice of word could have such a great impact.<br />
<br />
It is one thing to joke about being a "smug West Coast lib," a funny stereotype I gladly embrace as I sip my latte in the morning or eat my kale stir fry for dinner.<br />
<br />
It is another thing to have someone you love and respect say it to you without a hint of humor present in a "let me help you see the error of your ways" tone.<br />
<br />
The fact that it was after I answered a question about why I thought Brexit was a bad idea made it even more galling.<br />
<br />
A little background.<br />
<br />
I was brought up Republican, taught to worship at the altar of St. Ronnie Reagan and his "trickle down economics."<br />
<br />
A lot of the lessons I was taught about why I should be a Republican are good ones and have made me into the put-together, successful young adult that I am today.<br />
<br />
Being the adult in the room. Individualism. Fairness. Working hard for your keep. Personal responsibility. Free markets, free speech...pretty much anything that had to do with freedom. Standing up for yourself because no one else was going to do it. Respect for authority; Law and Order.<br />
<br />
These are all ideals I hold closely. They are the ideals I was taught the Party of Lincoln stood for, and because I trusted the people telling me, and it all sounded like it should be right, I bought it.<br />
<br />
The last few years have gone a long way to disabusing me of the notion that any of these things is true, however. The Republican Party I was promised may not have ever existed, but if it did, it certainly went away for good somewhere between the time they identified Sarah Palin as a leader of the party and allowed Ted fucking Cruz to shut down the Federal Government.<br />
<br />
And that is why this election, for the first time ever, I voted Democrat. And the reasons why can all be found in those lessons I learned as a kid.<br />
<br />
Look at that list of attributes above.<br />
<br />
The Republican Party does not care about your individualism, unless you happen to be a white guy trying to dodge the estate tax or a Fortune 500 company trying to give them money.<br />
<br />
Gay? Lesbian? Transsexual? Black? Hispanic? Female? Tough shit.<br />
<br />
You see, many Republicans tell you that what they fear the most about Democrats is 'Paternalism.' I don't think that most Republicans actually know what Paternalism means, because if they did, they would know that there is no institution more Paternalistic than The Church (which the Republicans inextricably and voluntarily linked itself to during the Culture Wars) and no notion more Paternalistic than the government telling a woman what she can do with her body or any individual whom he/she should be able to marry.<br />
<br />
The Republicans stopped being the adults in the room---the ones that keep their head on straight and make rational decisions and arguments--- a long time ago. Some would point to the Lewinsky hearings. Some would point to Sarah Palin. Some would point to Ted Cruz and the Freedom Caucus. Whenever it started, what it has lead to is a war on intellectualism reminiscent of a playground and best captured by Donald Trump's lawyer on TV in August, who replied to an anchor's question about bad poll numbers with "says who?"<br />
<br />
We all laughed, but that actually summed up a major Republican platform plank.<br />
<br />
Whether it is James Inhofe holding up a snowball on the floor of Congress to educate us all on why Global Warming doesn't exist or the party continuing to trot out spokespeople to tell us that the legalization of marijuana would have disastrous effects on the health of this nation or the Party's presidential nomination talking during the 3rd Presidential Debate about 9th Month Abortions (whatever that means), this is a group of people who refuse to deal in any sort of fact-based reality. If that's what the adults in the room are doing, I weep for the children.<br />
<br />
By the way, if we're talking smug, is there ANYTHING more smug than people who reject the facts of scientists and economists, instead favoring their gut opinions? "Gee, that PhD you have is nice, but I work in HR and I feel very qualified to tell you that global warming is a myth created by the Left."<br />
<br />
And while we're talking about children, let's not forget about Lindsey Graham's insistence that Sharia Law is crossing the borders from Canada and Mexico to be imposed in South Carolina. Or Sam Brownback's Bleeding Kansas. Or (Lying Ted) Cruz and (Little Marco) Rubio phone-banking this week for Donald Trump. The Republicans have turned the keys to their party over to religious zealots, know-nothings, shit heels and bed-wetters who view compromise as weakness. Nothing Adult about that.<br />
<br />
Another favorite of Republicans is that they are the "Party of Lincoln". While technically true, only someone who slept through U.S. History in high school doesn't understand that it is ONLY true in technical terms after the 2 parties essentially traded platforms during the 1960s. And even if that weren't true enough for you, the Republican dominated Supreme Court gutting the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the discriminatory Voter ID laws passed in Republican Statehouses as a result should end any thought otherwise.<br />
<br />
Republicans are supposed to be the party of Law and Order, which they like to remind you any time a black kid gets shot by a white cop and there are riots when the white cop gets exonerated. However, the Republicans are also remarkably silent when a group of armed white thugs take over a Federal Compound (to hilarious result) in Oregon. Or when a white guy ambushed 2 cops in Des Moines. Or when Trump rally-goers beat the crap out of a REPUBLICAN protester. I guess Law and Order only applies toward "them."<br />
<br />
(UPDATE: 6 cops shot by 3 white men in 5 days; none of them being talked about on Fox News-- I checked-- and all 3 guys are still alive, not shot in the streets.)<br />
<br />
Free trade? Free markets? The Republicans voted overwhelmingly in their primaries for Donald Trump, who wants to build a wall on the southern border, repeal NAFTA and impose trade tariffs.<br />
<br />
Responsibility? Republicans willingly identify businesses as people (which is insane) and yet refuse to hold businesses, or the people running them, accountable for the catastrophic fraud on Wall Street that collapsed the global economy. In fact, the mere suggestion of reform on Wall Street is a non-starter for Republicans. It wasn't the billionaires on Wall Street that committed these frauds which paralyzed the system, their thinking goes. It was poor people and immigrants.<br />
<br />
I could go on and on. The party of Reagan and Eisenhower is now lead by a man who openly pines to be BFFs with Vladimir Putin. This was always the party of the smart guys, but instead it has turned into the party fighting a war on intellect and "experts," much like the "out" movement in the United Kingdom. How is that sentiment working out for them?<br />
<br />
John Quincy Adams once said of America that "She does not go abroad in search of Monsters to destroy," and that served us well for a long time. See the second Bush Administration for a good example of when we don't heed that advice, and the views of men like Tom Cotton for why Republican foreign policy is now something along the lines of "we got the bombs, in need of Monsters."<br />
<br />
Look, the Democrats are FAR from perfect. There is a wing of the party that thinks Government is the best answer for every problem, which I fundamentally disagree with. But all in all, the party under the leadership of Barack Obama and, yes, Hilary Clinton, has been one of middle-of-the-road governing, incremental reform, restrained foreign policy and a true attempt to level the playing field for people that can't level it for themselves. It doesn't always work and oftentimes it is toothless, but at the end of the day I know that Barack Obama isn't going to nuke Russia because Putin said he had a small dick. Is Hilary Clinton a professional politician who sucks at email? Sure. But I also am not so arrogant as to think that a "normal guy like me" would have any fucking clue what to do as President of the United States, so I don't hold "experience in the field" against her.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, the Republicans have become a party of fact deniers and fear mongers whose base is jealous and spiteful of the people who have bettered themselves through education or are members of an ascendant demographic group. What used to be the party of emulating success is now the party of "if you're more successful than me, fuck you."<br />
<br />
I have read all the sympathetic pieces out there about the Trump base and the "white working class" and quite frankly I find them to be lacking. Because even if we understand that not all people who vote for Trump are bad people, we ALL understand that Trump is an awful person who sees himself a King and everyone else as stupid enough to actually vote him into the job. You might not be a racist if you vote for Trump. You might not be a white-nationalist. But if you vote for him, you KNOW you are voting for a racist white-nationalist. And at that point, what's the difference?<br />
<br />
The old Republican Party, the legend of which I was raised on, wouldn't have stood for this. It might have taken Ted Cruz and Sarah Palin and Donald Trump and the rest of the modern GOP clown car to make me realize all this, but this party has nothing for me. They care about low income tax rates and low capital gains taxes and yet want a massive military and to enjoy 100% of their expected entitlements, a hypocrisy I cannot fully wrap my head around.<br />
<br />
(By the way, they don't hate entitlements, they just hate YOUR entitlements)<br />
<br />
Conversely, they hate all the things I care about. Equal rights for my friends, no matter their background or sexual orientation. Rational decisions based on science and facts. Complete separation of church and state. The First Amendment (in its entirety). Gun Control. But, hey, maybe if I'm ever a Wall Street CEO or really, really amped up about the Estate Tax I will change my tune.<br />
<br />
Once this election is over, the smart thing for the Republicans to do would be to cut bait with the crazies, take it on the chin for a few years and re-formulate their platform. Drop the 90/10 and 80/20 issues that are serving to lock them out with millennials, figure out a way to communicate smart immigration reform to get Hispanics in the fold, make in-roads to minority communities, etc. Just like in 2008. And 2012.<br />
<br />
But my suspicion is that they won't do that. They won't be able to win the mid-terms without the crazies, so they will double down. A new wave of mini-Trumps will crop up as the party makes excuses for why they lost. It won't be because they cravenly supported the worst American candidate in half a century. It will be because his data game wasn't on point.<br />
<br />
They've already lost me. I will never vote for someone in any way tied to this Trump mess. But they also are going to lose a lot of people like me in the coming years. Millennials whose formative experiences as young adults were during the Great Recession and don't like being tied to big institutions. We like our freedom to move, because we remember what systemic failure looked like. We don't sign blood oaths with our political parties. And you can bet that a lot of us will be doing the same analysis I just did and the GOP isn't going to look good on the other end of it.<br />
<br />
And so in conclusion, my message to the person that called me smug, and any other Republican that would call me 'smug' for what I wrote about above (and really, to anyone who voted for Donald Trump)...nothing but love, but kindly, blow it out your ass. It's people like me that will decide the future.<br />
<br />
Also, Donald Trump wants to bang his daughter.Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-82886878694099290812016-10-07T10:10:00.001-07:002016-10-07T13:53:36.965-07:00Here We Go Again: FSU Week<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On Tuesday
night I watched the Orioles lose in heartbreaking fashion to the Blue Jays in
the AL Wild Card game. After it was all over, and my Dad and I got our 15
minutes of bellyaching out of the way --- I mean SERIOUSLY, how do you not put
Britton in the god damned game?!?!?!---we were able to take a step back and
appreciate the season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For 15
years, the Orioles were not only bad, but historically bad. A once-proud
franchise had been swept into the dustbin of history, replaced by a team that
year in and year out disappointed us. There were high priced free agents that
underperformed (looking at you, Javy Lopez), horrible managers (Lee freakin’
Mazzili), an ownership group that didn’t seem to care, failed prospects (Adam
Loewen, Hayden Penn)….you name it, the Orioles had it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And then one
day, The Orioles got smart and leapt at the opportunity to hire Buck Showalter,
an (almost) universally recognized brilliant baseball mind who had been run out
of his last job because he consistently got his team to the doorstep but never
could quite seem to kick the door down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fast forward
and the Orioles, despite one of the consistently worst rotations in baseball
and a farm system incapable of developing replacements, have made the playoffs
3 times in 5 years by turning back the clock and returning to the Halycon Days
of the Oriole Way. The strategy is simple…get a bunch of big dudes in the
middle of the lineup and hit 3-run homers. You don’t win baseball games by
VORP-ing the other team to death, you win by scoring more runs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, despite
being picked to finish last in the AL East every pre-season, the Orioles keep
winning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> And, while that brings me great joy, it stresses
me out. Being the fan of a good team turns every game…especially the important
ones…into 3 hours of torture. <b>I don’t
feel happy when the Orioles win a big game as much as I feel relieved that they
didn’t lose it.</b> It’s ridiculous. I EXPECT to win, but
I spend the entire game pounding a ball into my baseball glove on the couch. I
spent 15 years hoping this day would come, wandering the Marty Cordova desert
waiting to find the Promised Land…and now that it’s here, I'm crippled by anxiety.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Everyone
sees where I’m going with this, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I expect
Miami to win by 2 scores. FSU is a mess, Matthew did them no favors in terms of
travel, and the Hurricanes are due. On the other hand, the ‘Canes look
great.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sure, the ‘Canes
have some clear weaknesses that have started to creep up over the last couple
of weeks; for instance, the tackling hasn’t been consistent and the linebackers
have gotten out-flanked more than you’d like to see going into a game against
Dalvin Cook. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Additionally,
Brad Kaaya still hasn’t really caught up to his hype in terms of on-field
production, and the offensive line has at times been very shaky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And let’s be
real, Miami’s schedule hasn’t exactly been Murderer’s Row, no matter how we
want to spin it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, those
weaknesses pale in comparison to the following fact: Miami should have won this
thing two years in a row, despite a talent gap and the country’s worst coach
calling the shots. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If they were
able to play FSU straight up despite a young QB and terrible coaching,
what happens with a veteran, hungry, first-round prospect at QB in the huddle and
one of the 12 best coaches in the country on the sideline? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Miami is winning by going old-school. Keep it simple. Punch them in the mouth on defense, and get the ball to your speed on offense. This approach is being orchestrated by a coach run out of town at his last stop, despite having a brilliant football mind, because he never could get them past the doorstep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the FSU side, everyone is
starting to remember that Jimbo Fisher is a 2-3 loss/year coach unless he has
a generational talent at QB that he is allowed to shield from a rape charge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And oh by
the way, FSU’s defense is ranked 112<sup>th</sup> in the country, so if nothing
else Miami should move the ball on offense. That's a pretty amazing stat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I work in
research, so the stats matter to me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Objectively, the ‘Canes are the better
team. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And if the
stats and recent history don’t convince you---if you still think that “FSU’s 5
stars backing up 5 stars” are just too overwhelming, that Jimbo is just too
lucky--- read the following words from my favorite non-blood related Orioles fan, David Simon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anything that can happen, will. And
in an infinite universe, it will happen repeatedly. The full implications of
the second law of thermodynamics apply to the American League East (read: ACC) just
as soundly as to a million monkeys at a million typewriters.</span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eventually, and
regardless of all prior history, the Baltimore Orioles (read: Miami Hurricanes)
are going to type the complete works of Shakespeare.</span></i> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How do we know this?</span></i></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, for one thing, there is no God.
There is only science. If there were a God, he would be—as evidenced by all of
modern baseball (read:football) history—a devoted fan of the Yankees (read: Seminoles).
And God, at least the Judeo-Christian version of Him rather than the
Aristotelian unmoved mover, is said to be good. Ergo, there is no God.</span></i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And thus you all see how I have talked myself into this, yet again. Stats, history, chaos...take your pick, they all lead to the same conclusion. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And yet, the anxiety clings like a cloak. Again, I leave you with Simon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a1529; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.25px; line-height: 28px; margin: 1em auto;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>In 2003, at the University of Plymouth in England, researchers experimented with a half-dozen Sulawesi crested -macaques in a Devon zoo, and discovered there were more unexpected variables than mere simian typing. After a month the monkeys had produced only five pages of work, heavily invoking the letter <span style="box-sizing: inherit;">s</span> throughout. And the lead male eventually took to smashing his machine with a rock, after which the other monkeys urinated and defecated on the keyboard.</i></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>So if Chris Davis could start hitting the baseball, that’d be nice too.</i></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Come on Miami. If you can't win now, when the hell can you?</span></div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-78704005671862758062016-09-01T17:24:00.000-07:002016-09-07T17:16:39.730-07:00At Least There's Shade<div class="MsoNormal">
*Blows some dust off the keyboard*<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been a while.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Honestly, I’m not sure what I’m still doing here.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Time for another season of college football, and here I am,
writing a blog about a bunch of teenagers I have never met playing for a
university that probably forgets I exist (still waiting on a shout out in that alumni magazine, WHAT'S A GUY GOTTA DO?!?!?!), all for about 11.7 loyal readers of
whatever interminable dross I can come up with.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look, let’s call it straight: it is WEIRD that I am still
writing about this crap. Are my takes in any way unique? Are my angles
interesting anymore? Probably not.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is an addiction to a ridiculous sport that, in a
vacuum, stands for everything I hate.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Management shutting
out labor from billions in profits, and actively vilifying any poor soul who
seeks to improve their lot.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A violent sport played by poor kids legally bound to one
boss, who almost always happens to be old and white and has the freedom to move
as he sees fit without repercussion.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A governing body that turns the other cheek when it comes to
abuse of women (sexual, physical or mental), off-the-field violence toward
fellow men and animals, or possession of battlefield weapons technology…and yet
sees a kid receiving a free washing machine as an affront to civilization.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Call me soft. Maybe I possess a weak constitution. Maybe I'm just a smug West Coast Lib, as *ahem* a family member who shall remain unnamed alluded to in a Facebook post earlier this summer. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whatever it is, as much as every single
piece of college football offends me on an intellectual level…<br />
<br />
I love this dang sport.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I'm not part of the solution, so I'm part of the problem. This will take years of therapy to work out at some point down the road, and I'm at peace with that. So in the meantime, I am just going to ignore the issue and embrace the symptoms!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
So, what’s new this season?<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything!<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A new coaching staff! A good quarterback! New uniforms that
don’t suck (eventually)!<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year we have a stadium that everyone is glowing about
because of renovations!<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guess what, people. It’s
still a miserable suckhole of a stadium experience. It is a shopping mall with
a football field inside of it, an excuse for the giant chinstrap beard that is
Fort Lauderdale to make their way out to the offsite LIV location for a few
hours of getting so drunk that they vomit in the backseat of their XTerra as
they leave.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, and they renamed it after Hard Rock Casino. A shady
casino / restaurant chain that peaked in the 90s. Couldn’t be more South
Florida if it tried. Be careful or this stadium will try and defraud you out of
your Medicare check.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The best part about our program (anyone under ten might not
believe this, but we used to be good) used to be that the West End Zone was
filled with people from the inner city. Oftentimes, even wearing Miami gear, it
was scary walking around in that section for a moron college kid like me.
Imagine being an opponent! <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The team represented the city, not just the enrollment of
10,000 Northeasterners and private school South Floridians. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In return, the city showed up to support the team and made
it the most unique home field advantage in all of sports.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what did we do? We committed the football equivalent of
White Flight, taking our team up to the suburbs and completely stripping away
anything that made it cool, unique or edgy. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So yes, you still have to drive an hour away from Miami to
enjoy a game at a crappy stadium that only ever fills to half-capacity…but at
least now there is some shade. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the defense is going to be fast and aggressive and play
with “unrelenting effort and unwavering violence!”<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First of all, that quote came from our new defensive
coordinator, the son of a former crooked mayor of Miami who got fired from
Texas for, essentially, installing so many crazy blitzes that his players had
no clue what was going on. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, our best defensive end and our best linebacker both
got kicked off the team a week before the season starts. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For what, you ask? Free rental cars from a business
allegedly attached to a sports agency. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The more things change, the more they stay the same.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, we might still be mediocre, but at least we are
going to be fun to watch again!<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have a coaching staff that plans to lean in this whole
concept of “team speed”. Go figure.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The quarterback is awesome, and this year we should get to
see him in position to win some big games for us, rather than the typical Al
Golden “let’s try to run 8 minutes off the clock and then punt” system of
football. Pillars, you know?<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The defense will probably suck against good teams but also
might put some opposing quarterbacks in the hospital---this is the school of
thought that says it is better to die on your feet than live on your knees. And
die on our feet we shall!<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Long story short, the coaches have said ALL of the right
things in the offseason as far as I’m concerned. Fast break offense, aggressive
defense, freshmen playing early…all of it.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s gotten to the point that I think these coaches are
reading my message board and then spouting off whatever they think will placate
the masses. I’m smarter than most fans, I know exactly what is going on, and I
am all in on it. Screw it. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This sport is simple. I want to watch my team win a trophy
and then get to be smug to everyone I work with / talk to for the next decade. <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Barring that, I just want to have fun watching the team. If
we can’t be dominant, let’s just create chaos on a regular basis. Chaos is fun,
if imperfect. Chaos is what this team seems to be built for.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*****</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is usually the part of my first post of the season where I say
if everything breaks right, “why not us?”<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been burned too many times. I don’t have a prediction
for the season. I just want to beat FSU. <br />
<br />
We could be really good, or we could
really suck. Both are VERY MUCH in play.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll be watching, and I’ll be emotionally invested, and I
will probably write about it in this space.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because even if I wanted to stop, I don’t know if I could. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So let's get through this together. <o:p></o:p></div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-54048138754678506782015-12-04T15:45:00.001-08:002015-12-04T15:45:49.411-08:00A New Sheriff in Town<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been trying to come up with some sort of impassioned
response to Miami hiring Mark Richt.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About how he is going to bring the swag back. About how this is the grand slam, savage hire
we have been waiting for.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The truth is, I can’t get there. I remember being super
excited for Randy Shannon and again for Al Golden after their introductory
press conferences, and we all know how that turned out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I am a bit more reserved this time around.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/5f/f8/48/5ff8489361631c55d0e5d1aba885dc59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/5f/f8/48/5ff8489361631c55d0e5d1aba885dc59.jpg" width="281" /></a>But, that doesn’t mean that I’m not positive about it. In
fact, this is the most positive I have been in a long time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a great hire. In fact, it is hard to find a more
solid collegiate football coach than Richt. I would even call it a home run.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Georgia got sick of winning 10 games a year for 15 years or,
frustrated with a seeming inability to win their weakened division for the past
3 seasons…or maybe even just bored with being married to the same guy for so
long. They made a move to replace Richt with a young hotshot, and Miami benefited.
One man’s trash can be another man’s treasure.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Truth be told, when it was first reported that Richt was a
candidate, I was not happy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First of all, I can’t stand the Bible thumper crap.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second of all, I saw a man who was burnt out and seeing
diminishing returns. The fans at Georgia had a point…how, in the increasingly
crappy SEC East, had the guy failed to make the SEC Championship game for 3
straight years?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And here’s a stone cold fact: over the past 7 seasons,
Richt’s record against top ranked teams wasn’t just bad, it was borderline Al
Golden-esque.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, being the researcher I am, I did some digging.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I remember the 2007 Dawgs as the best team in the
country. They didn’t win the SEC. They didn’t go undefeated. But they were the
best team in a wacky season that featured long runs for Boston College, Kansas
and USF in the Top 5, and LSU winning the national championship with 2 losses. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After that season, Richt seemed to take a step back. He
stopped calling plays, delegating the duties to Mike Bobo. He still had good
teams, and he developed Aaron Murray into one of the most productive SEC
quarterbacks of all time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact, Murray lead the Dawgs within one tipped pass of the
SEC Title in 2012, which would have locked up a date with Notre Dame for the
national title, a game every person on this planet knows Georgia would have won
in a rout.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another thing that stood out: almost every single year,
Georgia lost a major contributor to injury. Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb, Keith
Marshall…pretty much every year there was someone. The year where everyone
stayed healthy? The aforementioned 2012.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what does all this mean?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, the injuries thing means that Richt seemed to get
extraordinarily unlucky at Georgia.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, I know there are some who would say that a real man
makes his own luck, or some corny crap like that from a frat dude’s Facebook
profile.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But we all know that is bullshit. Every team in college
football has 2 or 3 key players that have a disproportionate effect on the
season.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For instance, a QB like Brad Kaaya. Or a running back like
Duke Johnson. Or a linebacker like Sean Spence of Denzel Perryman. We have seen
firsthand what happens when guys like that get hurt. Now imagine that happening
every single year. You get the point.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, we come back to my initial concern: the motivation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why would a guy who took a step back into a CEO role be the
guy we are looking for? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is Miami. I want an angry, testy, chip-on-their
shoulder up and comer, godammit. More Jimmy Johnson, less Larry Coker.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, here’s where Richt won me over. In his farewell press
conference at Georgia, he specifically talked about wanting to be hands on and
calling plays again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This man wants back in the trenches. He wants to get his
hands dirty. He has regret. He has fire in his belly…otherwise known as a chip
on his shoulder.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People forget some things about Mark Richt.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For instance, he coached 2 players to Heisman Trophies at
FSU: Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke. Hard to find two guys more different in
their skillset, but he made both of them in to the best player in the country.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Players, not plays. That's what Al Golden promised, and it's what Mark Richt delivers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back before he lost whatever power struggle he lost at
Georgia and abdicated his play calling role, he used to run a fast paced,
smash-mouth , Pro-Style offense.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mark Richt’s best Georgia teams played attacking, fast,
physical defense. They took safeties and made them linebackers (Thomas Davis
and Alex Ogletree come to mind…both still play on Sundays).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They took linebackers and made them pass rushers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sound familiar? That’s what all the best ‘Canes teams were
built on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If that’s the guy we just hired, and he brings in the type
of staff he’s shown himself capable of, and his message continues to resonate
with recruits, and he hits the ground running with a Top 5 quarterback and a ton
of talent returning off an 8/9 win team, then maybe he is the grand slam we
were looking for after all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe he’s Butch Davis, but better on the X’s and O’s side.
I guess we won’t know until we see the product on the field, and that is a long
off-season away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I do know this. Positive Dan is back, after a 2 year
hiatus.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I won’t miss the constant grumbling during games, or being
afraid of blowing a 21 point lead in the 4<sup>th</sup> quarter against
Virginia or Pitt.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I won’t miss National Signing Day being a massive
disappointment every year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I won’t miss getting embarrassed 5 times a season.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I CERTAINLY won’t miss watching us get beat the same way
week after week after week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our new floor is Dabo Swinney’s Clemson or Mack Brown’s
Texas…a team loaded with pros that wins between 9-11 games per year and, every
few years with the right QB, makes a run at a title.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s a hell of a floor, and the ceiling is much higher.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mark Richt, with something left to prove? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sign me up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-65678414637514731612015-10-26T14:01:00.001-07:002015-10-26T18:10:05.382-07:00End of A....Golden....Era<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“The football program,
it’s time we put it all together. We’ve had great success in the community,
great success academically the past couple of years…there’s a tremendous
tradition here. A tradition of winning championships. There is no other
standard.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those were the words of Al Golden during his introductory
press conference in December of 2010. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If Al needs any proof of exactly why he was fired, he needs
merely to look at the quotation above as justification.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s start from the beginning. For those, like me, who were
skeptical of hiring the head coach of Temple for one of the most potentially
lucrative jobs in college football and yet so desperate for hope following the
Larry Coker and Randy Shannon regimes, Al Golden’s introductory press
conference was one for the ages.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here was a young guy, a well spoken guy, who just GOT IT. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He talked of players, not plays. He talked of inviting the
alumni back to be a larger presence within the program. He talked about
re-invigorating the strength and conditioning program. He talked about the end
of entitlement. He had 200 pages of blueprint and “pillars”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus, I would make that guy the GOP nominee for president.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He won the hell out of press conferences. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He opened the program back up to the fans through the Raising
Canes video series, which was a breath of fresh air after the media-averse
Shannon. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was the beginning of a Golden Era.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sure, there was the fact that he never beat anyone good at
Temple. And the fact that he came from the boring coaching tradition of Penn
State and Joe Paterno…the type of program that Miami OPENLY rejected during the
glory days. Listening to that press conference was enough to make us all forget
that. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We wanted him to win.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Golden was barely on campus for half a year when the program got slammed with an NCAA Investigation he had nothing to do with---a scandal
the university knew was coming before they hired him and did not disclose.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And while I am past the point of this being used as an
excuse for poor on-field performance, it is easy to forget the uncertainty of
those two years. After all, this was the NCAA, and we are Miami, and in a world
that has no real rules one has to assume the worst. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If nothing else, Al deserves credit for weathering a storm
that he stumbled into with class and dignity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al did indeed revamp the strength program...there is
no doubt our guys look the part. Al re-strengthened a lot of ties in the local
community that Shannon messed up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He recruited pretty
well; sure, he missed on a lot of guys, but he also re-stocked the roster to
the point that it is now a turnkey operation for the right coach. We are one of
15 programs that has finished with a Top 25 recruiting class in each of the
past 4 years. Most coaches spend years trying to find a QB and defensive line;
whoever takes this team over next has an NFL level QB and a young and talented
stable of defensive linemen from the very beginning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But here’s the thing…after a while, it comes back to the
winning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al was ultimately undone by an inability to adapt. He
stubbornly hung on to his system which did not fit the players he had on the
roster, nor the local recruiting base.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His system required too much thinking, even for advanced
South Florida kids. It is frustrating as a fan; I can’t imagine how frustrating
it must be to be a player struggling to pick up a system in your third year
running it, while watching your buddies from high school dominate elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the end, he was more beholden to his pillars and his
plays than to the players; the words of his press conference rang hollow. And
so it became time to move on. In fact, the university gave him a bonus 10
months out of loyalty or guilt over the NCAA mess. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And those are the types of things that get you fired. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If Al Golden has followed through on the promises he made
during that inspiring first press conference, we might not be here today. We
might not have gone 0-5 against FSU, or failed to beat a Top 25 team---we
certainly would not have lost 58-0 to Clemson on Saturday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But you can’t hide from results, and eventually everyone
gets judged on their resume.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I remember the Al Golden Error, I will not remember the
early days of hope. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will remember him consistently putting a slow, boring,
horrible product on the field. They call this a 2-gap defense, similar to what
the Cowboys run, except even the shitty Cowboys make plays every now and then.
Our guys just stand around confused and then get too caught up in overthinking
it to make a play on the ball. How anti-Miami is that?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will remember him running off legends.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will remember him
throwing players under the bus and calling them “me guys” like a coward trying
to cover his own ass.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will remember his
unintentionally hilarious catch phrases, like “be a McDonald’s hamburger” and
“don’t rise to the occasion”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will remember him going dark for a week as he tried to
bail on us for the open Penn State job, and then how distraught he was when he
realized he was stuck at Miami, the best recruiting ground in the country. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most of all I will remember the losing. So. Much. Losing.
For scale, our basketball team has more wins against Duke than our football
team since Al took over. Excuse me while I wade into traffic.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Later Al. Hope you catch on somewhere. And I hope we
schedule whatever team you catch on with, because guaranteed wins are hard to
come by.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-----<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And now, since everyone is making their coaching candidate
list, here’s the dozen candidates I want to see interviewed to be the next
Miami Hurricanes head coach, in no particular order. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note: This list assumes that pie-in-the-sky candidates like
Jim Harbaugh, Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Mark Danotnio, David Shaw and Gary
Patterson say no.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://cbssports.com/images/collegefootball/Spurrier-Swag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cbssports.com/images/collegefootball/Spurrier-Swag.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Steve Spurrier – Spurrier is like Ahab if Ahab
had not only caught Moby Dick but beat the ever loving piss out of him repeatedly,
and then made a mockery of him in the national media.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Butch Davis – Dude is literally in the parking
lot waiting on a phone call; he might work for Keystone Light and grilled
cheese.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Mark Richt – What can I say, the man rocks a
nice pair of church Dockers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Justin Fuente – Most accomplished thing out of
Memphis since 36 Mafia.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Tom Herman – Won a national championship with a
3<sup>rd</sup> string QB.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Rob Chudzinski – I imagine he would tell at
least one local reporter to “fuck off” during a press conference.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Uncle Luke – Trick Daddy as defensive
coordinator, Pitbull as offensive coordinator, Ricky Rozay coaching O-Line---we
need Miami Guys, right? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I71rp8ZyUxo">DALE!</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Dana Hologram – Miami needs---nay, DEMANDS--- a
4Loko bootlegger.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->9.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Winston Moss – “I ain’t scared of you, bitch”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->10.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Mike Gundy – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjF93E4LjlA">He’s a MAN!</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->11.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Dan Campbell – “Listen men, you want to win?
Look at the guy next to you and RIP HIS HEART OUT OF HIS CHEST!!!! Losses are
punishable by water boarding.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->12.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Dwayne Johnson – FINALLY….THE ROCK HAS COME
BACCCCCCCCK TO CORAL GABLES. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Daddy's gotta go to work.<br />
<br /></div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-36778333979281436072015-10-08T08:55:00.000-07:002015-10-08T11:08:01.216-07:00FSU Hate Week<div class="MsoNormal">
What can I say about Tallahassee that hasn’t already been
said about Downtown Baghdad?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look, we get to a certain point with these things where all
the hatred starts to blur together. I get it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I could keep going on and on about how FSU players beat the
hell out of women and get caught on videotape, or beat the hell out of women
and don’t get caught on videotape, or shoot up apartment complexes with BB
guns, or flee the scene of a car accident, or steal crab legs from a Publix, or
sexually assault a woman and then get covering fire from the university and the
local police department, or….ya know what, like I said, you guys get it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve done that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To get mad about FSU players getting away with crimes is
like getting mad at Donald Trump for making finger guns when talking about a
school shooting. Sure, it is THE WORST, but who can we really blame except for
ourselves? Stuff happens, ya know?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Sidenote: you know who probably loves Donald Trump?
#FSUTwitter)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really hate that Al Golden is such a dipshit, and our team
is so constantly mediocre, that FSU…the Fox News of fan-bases (humorless,
self-important, delusional, artificially enhanced)…actually has out-funnied us
with this in their on-campus bookstore:<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IZjOlB3fz6K8DDR8zKGA9AubxoEQ3BQQBD8Jmbh6WVeCsqoDZrfhS-aCRJgRysfjeuKHWzwdx6b3DEigjqKZb2zUBWXEuXVCAhDigEp4nHKR4hAxsJtYi_WzE1jLw6MgyuyOCKUeUJD8/s1600/FSU+T+Shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IZjOlB3fz6K8DDR8zKGA9AubxoEQ3BQQBD8Jmbh6WVeCsqoDZrfhS-aCRJgRysfjeuKHWzwdx6b3DEigjqKZb2zUBWXEuXVCAhDigEp4nHKR4hAxsJtYi_WzE1jLw6MgyuyOCKUeUJD8/s1600/FSU+T+Shirt.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gotta hand it to
them. Never let a good crisis go to waste.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anytime college football’s equivalent of Larry the Cable Guy
makes an objectively funny joke at your expense, it might be time to reconsider
your program’s future.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But not Al Golden. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this point, this dude seemingly wants to get fired.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Per the Miami Herald’s Manny Navarro, the players have been
flat at practice this week and seem “unbothered” by last week’s loss to Cincy.
Effing Cincy. The team that was being quarterbacked by a freshman making his
first career start, coming off a loss to Memphis.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, per Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post, came news that
the staff isn’t playing the War Chant at practice this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In years past, coaches would play FSU’s horrific fight song
all week long. It got the players ready for the noise that 50,000
mouth-breathers can create when the team that represents everything they hate
---urban intelligence, people that aren’t white, etc.---comes to town.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It ALSO got them pissed off, because anyone forced to listen to that crap for 7 days would be ready to gnaw their own leg off to make it
stop. Honestly I think this was on the Gitmo playlist.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, not Al Golden! Not this year!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year is about everyone being, and I quote, a
“McDonald’s Hamburger”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Consistent. Predictable. Filled with poisonous preservatives
that will kill you over time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can almost hear Al’s excuse cannon getting fired up now:
“Well, it was a hostile environment on the road, really louder than any place
we’ve played this year Joe. Had a lot of adversity and we just couldn’t
overcome all of it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Someone posted a video on my message board this week of our
old strength coach from the 90s, Tommy Moffitt (currently at LSU), putting the
players through a summer workout.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few things stood out to me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One, Tommy was a crazy person. Like, actually crazy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two, our players were really big and really fast. No wonder
Leonard Fournette is the second coming of Herschel Walker.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three, at one point he said “the pride and tradition of the
University of Miami Hurricanes will not be entrusted to the timid or weak.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, aside from the fact that this is Meathead 101 and
sounds like the type of thing that the douchebag on your high school’s football
team--the one that shouldered people into lockers and made gay jokes-- would have said, it is pretty interesting to contrast it with Al Golden’s
pre-game speech from last week against Cincy, which essentially consisted of
“don’t rise to the occasion”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al Golden thinks you win big games by telling players NOT to
rise to the occasion.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last time we played a team with Everett Golson at quarterback
was in 2012 against Notre Dame, and we lost that game 41-3 and gave up 561
yards of offense. Last thing we would want is someone stepping up on defense. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can tell this team has already effectively given up
hope. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins is lashing out at high school
sophomores on Instagram.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linebacker Tyriq McCord is threatening fans in Facebook
comments. Knowing Facebook it was probably someone’s uncle that has some *
interesting* views on gun control, but still, that isn’t what you want during
rivalry week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cornerback Tracy Howard, the first big recruiting win of Al
Golden’s tenure, actually was quoted in a newspaper this week with the
following: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“At the end of the
day, it is what it is. That’s life. People are going to criticize you. When
you’re doing good, people are going to love you. When you’re doing bad, people
are going to be down on you. At the end of the day, you have to stay
levelheaded, be the same person. It is what it is. It’s life,” corner Tracy
Howard said. “I’m sure my coaches, I’m sure they’re tough. They can handle it.
And we can handle it. I know everybody doesn’t like our coaches, but at the end
of the day, it is what it is. We still have to go out there and perform and
they still have to go out there and call plays. <b>We still have to play for them, so, I mean…we can’t do much about it.</b>”</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That reads like a ransom note sent by the hostage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the beginning of the season, players talked about the FSU
game playing too central a role in the team’s psyche and thus creating the post-loss
collapses we witnessed the past 2 years. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They said that they were intent on net letting the game
define their season this year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The thing is, absent of larger goals, all your fans can hope
for is a win against the rival.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
And for a guy like Al Golden, whose response to that is to
try to eliminate the idea of a rivalry at all, that win is just never going to
happen.<o:p></o:p></div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-82875624428971521852015-10-01T09:00:00.002-07:002015-10-01T09:01:30.045-07:00Cincy Hate Week<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Note from the editor:
I am only going to refer to Cincinnati as “Cincy” from this point forward in
this post, because truth be told I have never really figured out how to spell
Cincinnati and I get sick of having to right click on the word every time Word
tells me I screwed up again. As if anyone ever needed MORE reason to hate this
Meth den.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s start off with a quick recap of things I hated 2
weekends ago (and that you should hate
too!).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hated, of course, that we blew a 23 point lead with 8
minutes left…but more than that I hated how PREDICTABLE it was. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>‘How predictable was
it, Dan?’<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So predictable that in the 3<sup>rd</sup>Quarter I turned to
my girlfriend and said “this is going to overtime”.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guys, I am NOT that smart and even I saw this trainwreck
coming.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hate that Al Golden has turned this into such a crap
program that in any game I am unable to celebrate the good stuff that happens
because I KNOW the other shoe will inevitably fall. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dominating FSU through 3 quarters? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Doesn’t matter, as soon
as we go 3 and out one time the panic sets in.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Put up 17 in the first quarter against Nebraska? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Doesn’t matter, we all know we are going to go soft and
surrender the lead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hate it. It has literally sucked the joy out of this team.
We could be up by 70 against FSU in the 4<sup>th</sup> Quarter and I wouldn’t
be happy until the game was over. It’s gotten to the point that I’d be happy
going up 10-0 and then fast forwarding through the rest of the game. Thanks,
Al.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also hate that Deon Bush is going to be out the first half
of this game because of a bad targeting call. Know what I hate even worse? A.)
He is so important to the defense that as soon as he was ejected against
Nebraska we gave up 23 points in 8 minutes and B.) That he is CLEARLY our best
player on defense and Al Golden insists on rotating him with this year’s SOTS
whipping boy, Dallas Crawford, AKA the worst safety to play here since, like,
Willie Cooper.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also hate that afterward the team celebrated like they just won the Super Bowl, because as Al Golden said, Nebraska had won 9 games every year for the past decade.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First of all that was false.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second of all, you know who 9 wins isn't good enough for? NEBRASKA. They just fired their coach despite winning 9 games 5 years in a row.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, to sum up, at Nebraska 9 wins gets you fired.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At Al Golden's Miami, 9 wins gets you a dance party.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Awesome stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that we’ve got that off our chest… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why should you hate the Cincy Bearcats?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good question. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the surface, the football program seems to have
everything I would like.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cool all black uniforms. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A weird nickname; no one knows what a Bearcat is but it
sounds badass. Kind of like a Jackelope. Or one of those crazy whales with the big
unicorn horn. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Spread offense. History of upsets. Tommy Tuberville.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Check, check, check.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ga_JMuY-kaO_slFTy2nFeph-ZhM=/45x244:1178x999/730x487/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47264872/usa-today-8821333.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ga_JMuY-kaO_slFTy2nFeph-ZhM=/45x244:1178x999/730x487/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47264872/usa-today-8821333.0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I felt bad last week when Gunner Kiel almost died on the
field against Memphis.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Truth be told…and this might be me going soft with age… I
can’t muster up any hate for this team.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a team playing three straight non-Saturday games.
That’s literally the most interesting thing I could find about them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They’re co-favorites, along with Memphis, in something
called the AAC, which is what I think you get relegated to if you finish last
in the ACC. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Just kidding, we know that doesn’t happen, because Miami is
still in the ACC after last season)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Bearcats are essentially the college football knockoff
of the Cincy Bengals, the NFL team that shares both a color scheme and an
overall sense of “who gives a shit?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They both fall in to the realm of “good enough for me” which
is fitting in this city. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, I can never say this enough, but Skyline Chili sucks.
A lot.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reason I think everything has settled in at “mediocre”
in this hellscape is that the city has a huge sense of identity crisis. You
see, most of the residents feel a sense of commonality with all the worst parts
of the Deep South and yet geographically this place features all the worst
parts of the north. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not often that you find this combo, but when you do,
boy is it nasty. And that is how you get a place like Cincinnati, full of awful
people but an admittedly awesome airport (which is technically across the river
in Kentucky). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, all of this doesn’t take away from the fact that this
perfectly mediocre team from this crap town is going to drive us all crazy on
Thursday night.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For starters, winning on the road against a home underdog on
Thursday night is never easy. Thursday
night football was designed specifically to create chaos, and often succeeds. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second of all, Mark D’Onofrio and Al Golden will be facing
their worst nightmare now the Gunner Kiel, potential NFL draft pick, is out: a
second string, mobile QB.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Get ready for a lot of cursing on converted 3<sup>rd</sup>
and Longs. Heaven only help us if they have a tight end on the roster. Not a
“good” tight end even…just someone that plays the position. That’s just too
many wrinkles for the former Temple staff to handle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I honestly don’t think we win this one. Everyone is talking
about an undefeated matchup in primetime against FSU in two weekends…and I just
can’t help but remind everyone that this NEVER works out for us. This is a
total trap, similar to the trip to UNC a couple of years ago, and you can bet
these acne-ridden, Keystone swilling, couch burning, intelligence-hating
hillbillies will be out in full force.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The best case scenario is that D’Onofrio manages to take away
something that this backup QB likes to do, force him to be one dimensional, and
that our offense actually has some form of consistency and indentity for the entire
game.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While you wipe the tears of laughter out of your eyes, I
will wrap this up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cincy is an awful city with an awful name filled with a lot
of awful people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let the hate coarse through your veins. <o:p></o:p></div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-7577984383324713552015-09-18T11:59:00.001-07:002015-09-18T13:33:00.046-07:00Nebraska Hate Week<div class="MsoNormal">
This week the ‘Canes play their first real opponent of the
season as the Nebraska Cornhuskers come to town. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like I said last
year, this is the Green Bay of college football. Small town, big crowds, the
beauty of rural America, “doing things the right way”, etc. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of which is really just code for “this place is a frozen
shithole, no one lives here unless they are trapped by circumstances or Warren
Buffett, might as well go to the football game”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Much like Miami, this program is coasting on accomplishments
from over a decade ago and being a name brand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If Miami wins this game, which it should, a bunch of people
are going to call it a signature win for Al Golden. Which actually makes me
angrier than anything about Nebraska itself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s get one thing straight: Nebraska sucks. They lost
their 2 best players to the draft in Ameer Abdullah and Randy Gregory. They
lost their most explosive player to a season ending injury in August. Their QB,
Tommy Armstrong, is a runner that the Huskers coaching staff is trying to make
into a pocket passer, because that always works.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Speaking of the coaching staff…Nebraska has a new coach this
season. Despite going 9-4 pretty every year for like 157 straight years,
Nebraska fired Bo Pelini.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of Pelini’s 9 wins last season was an absolute
demolition of the ‘Canes in which Nebraska ran on 33 of their final 36 plays,
finishing with 343 yards on the ground for the evening (averaging 6.5 yards per
carry, no less). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nebraska essentially too out a megaphone and announced to
the world before every play “we’re running it up the middle”….and you know what
Miami did? This is probably shocking, but Al Golden didn’t adapt. He kept
playing his defense deep because he was, and I’m paraphrasing here, “afraid of
getting beat deep”. By the team that ran the ball on 90+% of its plays.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can’t make this stuff up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the season, Nebraska fired the Real Bo Pelini (not to
be confused with @FauxBoPelini, who has also taken his legendary performance to
Youngstown State) and hired Mike Riley, the Webster definition of a generic
football coach.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s right, Nebraska finished 9-4 but determined that they
weren’t happy with the forward progress being shown, so they shitcanned the
coach. Wouldn’t that be nice?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nebraska enters the game 1-1, with a loss on a Hail Mary to
BYU and a win against some crappy team whose name I forget and I’m too lazy to
look up right now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can already see how this game is going to play out.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nebraska WILL run the ball a gazillion times, while Miami
stays in its shell.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Miami WILL blow this game in the second half.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Al Golden WILL say that it’s early, and we are still
recovering from the guys we lost to the NFL last year--which will be ironic
given the game in question—and that the injuries to Darrion Owens and Braxton
Berrios have really made an impact.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If this post feels “blah”, it’s because that’s how I feel
about this game. I don’t hate Nebraska, but I do hate what they represent: a
paper tiger, a straw man, a windmill that Al Golden will tilt at and lose.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
They are a smoldering mediocrity, and yet they are a
smoldering mediocrity that still expects greatness, unlike our administration.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was talking to my brother earlier and asked him "why should I hate Nebraska?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His answer: "the self loathing stemming from the inevitability of them winning."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nailed it.</div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-14288339494655239012015-09-09T16:44:00.000-07:002015-09-09T16:44:00.123-07:00Hate Week - FAU<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week the ‘Canes take their show on the road to face the FAU Owls.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
FAU is a commuter school a short drive from the University
of Miami. Their head coach is Ron Turner, the younger, dumber brother of
professional tomato can Norv Turner, good for your Fantasy Team but poison for
an actual NFL team. Last week they kicked off their season by taking out UCF, a
victory which was significant but also lead to quotes like this from Turner:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"I literally
pulled out my contract and looked to see if I had an out clause with all the
off-the-field issues, and I didn't," recalled Turner, a former Bears
offensive coordinator and Illinois coach. "I'd come home and vent, and my
wife (Wendy) would be like, 'Stay the course, you're here for a reason, just
keep going.' I knew that, but she kept saying it so I did. And I'm glad I did
because right now I love this team."</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good stuff right there. Uplifting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The most famous game between Miami and FAU was in 2006, a
35-0 Miami win that was marred by an ugly benches-clearing brawl.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other than that, FAU does not matter. They really, really
don’t matter. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Know how I know they don’t matter?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because all that stuff I just wrote was actually true of F<b>I</b>U, <i>not</i>
FAU. Took you a second, didn’t it?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Boom…John Oliver’d.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
FAU is actually in Boca Raton, a lovely place if you happen to be an 85 year old Jewish man from Massapequa.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are anything less, Boca Raton is a hellscape of old
people who stopped being able to see 10 years ago and yet are still allowed to
drive 60 miles an hour down Military Trail. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s like a f*cking demolition
derby filled with late model Lincoln Town Cars – only you have no idea you’re
competing until it is too late.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.myteespot.com/images/Images_d/DSCF8141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://www.myteespot.com/images/Images_d/DSCF8141.jpg" width="320" /></a>FAU had no football program until Howard Schnellenberger,
the man famous for turning the University of Miami into the most dominant
program in college football history, decided he would like to build something
from scratch. He made the Owls competitive in the Sun Belt Conference and got
an on-campus stadium built, which is both impressive and at the same time the
most Boca thing that could possibly happen. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Schnells essentially retired to a town filled with people
who made him feel young, tried to recreate a piece of “home”…in this case a
football program instead of a TooJay’s Deli…and then threw it in cruise control
after creating something 40% as good.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can just see
Schnells sitting in a rocker at his McMansion in Bocaire Country Club, puffing
on his pipe, listening to the TV turned up to volume 80, pretending not to hear
his pain in the ass daughter-in-law hassling him about the mustard in the
fridge being expired.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the field, FAU is pretty much as non-descript as they are
off of it. They have an energetic young coach named Charlie Partridge, who was
hired to replace Carl Pelini (of the Flying Pelini Brothers).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carl was shit canned at mid-season a couple of years ago
because of “admitted illegal drug use, the drugs in question being cocaine and
marijuana”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
See? This is what being a young-ish man living in Boca does
to people! You get so bored that you end up trying to recreate the final scene
from Scarface at a split-level with a screened in pool off of Glades Road!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Realistically, FAU’s brass is lucky that’s all that
happened. This is the same Carl Pelini that apparently got run out of Nebraska
because of rumors that he was sleeping with the daughter of a prominent
booster.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, FAU was the only team in Week 1 to score 40+ points
and still lose. That’s a special kind of suck right there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This should be a blowout for the ‘Canes, but similar to
Bethune Cookman, if the expectation is blowout and we actually do it, does that
tell us anything about the team? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Probably not. We will have to wait until Nebraska for that.<o:p></o:p></div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-48312051535231164382015-08-31T09:08:00.005-07:002015-08-31T09:09:29.543-07:002015 Miami Hurricanes Season Preview<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Aristotle
said that “happiness depends upon ourselves.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">The end of
the last Miami Hurricanes football season ended as a disaster somewhere between
Donald Trump’s hair choice and a Donald Trump political rally filled with
people who actually think Donald Trump has something intelligent to say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Since then,
I have tried to take Aristotle’s words to heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Here is a
list of activities I have filled the past 9 months with:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I have
thrown myself into the world of soccer, as a Liverpool supporter. Which is to
say that I have begun rooting for the soccer equivalent of the Miami Dolphins
or Baltimore Orioles --- glory days long since past, still an “historic power”
whose ceiling at this point is probably 4<sup>th</sup> place. I am nothing if
not consistent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I have read
SO many books, ranging from historical mysticism, to “Guns, Germs and Steel”,
to the poetry of Charles Bukowski. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I travelled
to London, Paris and Barcelona, as well as to Austin, Charleston and Baltimore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I took up a
consistent Yoga practice as part of a fairly OCD recovery from shoulder surgery
(left labial tear, I think they said it was).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I began to
journal every night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">As part of
this whole campaign for happiness, you know what I DIDN’T do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I haven’t
spent one red second looking forward to the upcoming college football season. I
didn’t really talk to my Dad about the ‘Canes. I didn’t get in any message
board dust-ups with “mopes”. Nothing. I haven’t even posted on this blog since
before the freakin’ bowl game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I
essentially developed my own f*cking Eat-Pray-Love routine as a way to cope
with the psychological trauma caused by the past decade of utter, total crap. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Earlier
today, my friend Trent and I were texting about the possibility of the Miami
Hurricanes partnering with David Beckham on his new stadium.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">We concluded
the conversation, as we are wont to do, with the following: “Is this situation
good for us? Yes? Then it will not happen”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Ladies and
gents, THE MIAMI HURRICANES!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">So here I am
today, a week from kickoff, writing a season preview for a team that I know
will underachieve and waste yet another fall of my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">This is my
Sisyphean burden. I have to keep following the team, because the only thing
that makes me less happy than following them is NOT following them. Call it
Stockholm Syndrome, call it sad and lonely…call it whatever you want, but I
have come to realize that this is my lot in life, for better or worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">The great
David Simon wrote perfectly last summer in Sports Illustrated about the
Baltimore Orioles. I have included it below (with slight tweaks) because I
think it captures why we follow sports, even when we know we are doomed to
fail, on a higher level than I am capable of articulating myself. And why I am
back for, as Simon would put it, yet
another season of being the beaten dog, to whom at this point even the
slightest motion induces a “simpering cower”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anything that can happen, will. And in an
infinite universe, it will happen repeatedly. The full implications of the second
law of thermodynamics apply to the American League East (ACC Coastal) just as
soundly as to a million monkeys at a million typewriters. Eventually, and
regardless of all prior history, the Baltimore Orioles (Miami Hurricanes) are
going to type the complete works of Shakespeare.</span></i></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i></i><i>How do we know this?</i></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i></i><i>Well, for one thing, there</i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><i style="line-height: 19.5pt;">is no God. There is
only science. If there were a God, he would be—as evidenced by all of modern
baseball history—a devoted fan of the </i><a href="http://www.si.com/mlb/team/new-york-yankees" style="line-height: 19.5pt;"><i><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Yankees</span></i></a><i style="line-height: 19.5pt;">
(Florida State). And God, at least the Judeo-Christian version of Him rather
than the Aristotelian unmoved mover, is said to be good. Ergo, there is no God.</i></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><o:p></o:p></i><i>So, alone in this cold and expanding universe,
we are left to consider the random motion of atoms, of protons and electrons
and quarks, as these elemental essences dance and glance their way through the
hollow space of, say, a Camden Yards (Joe Robbie), a Fenway(Lane Stadium), a
Yankee Stadium (Doak Campbell). There is no romance to the matter, no theology,
no purposed narrative even—if by narrative you mean a tale with a moral, with
cause and effect, fate or redemption, hubris or vindication. No one is making a
point here; the monkeys just keep typing.</i></span></blockquote>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In other words, Chaos Theory states that at
some point the Miami Hurricanes have to win, if for no other reason than sheer,
cold science dictating it. And maybe, just maybe, this will be the year. After
all, Jameis Winston is gone, Clemson is Clemson, and Virginia Tech is still
quarterbacked by Michael Brewer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">THE COACHES<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Essentially the same cast of dipshits as last
season, with only a few tweaks. Because hey, 6-7 was an upward trend! They made
changes you can’t see on the field! We were a better team at the end of the
season than at the beginning, it just wasn’t reflected in the W-L columns! We
have faith in the scheme! EVERYONE GETS AN ORANGE SLICE!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But, hey, at least they made an attempt to fix
some stuff. They spent part of the off-season embedded with the Dallas Cowboys!
And, I mean, what could be more fitting? The Cowboys used to be awesome when
they had Jimmy Johnson, won one more championship with a baby sitter head
coach, and have since faded in to a nice, comfortable mediocrity. This, by the way,
happened when Brennan Carroll….son of Pete Carroll, head coach of the Seattle
Seahawks… was still on the staff. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Can’t make it up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What happened last season:</b>
Well, we lost the last 4 games by double digits with a roster that had 7 NFL
draft picks, including 5 in the first 3 rounds. These are the “me” guys that Al
Golden has thrown under the bus as the reason we sucked last year, by the way.
They dominated too much, you know? Too concerned with their own personal
excellence to be a good team player. Can’t display that sort of talent, not on
this team. That isn’t one of the pillars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Never forget the genius that was this playcall:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfYvAkffPhwWjlp66-OIkuFmdmRLNiHInSYwU5raoCXikk4j8SmEC2JKdhswYDGAtwtl4SYxKJ2tFscOQg_4ix6_VwrKKoqQyFuYJpdSlkfmghdwpgETDEQnkSIKD2NSxWAym3F8ELrRb/s1600/GT+Goal+Line.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfYvAkffPhwWjlp66-OIkuFmdmRLNiHInSYwU5raoCXikk4j8SmEC2JKdhswYDGAtwtl4SYxKJ2tFscOQg_4ix6_VwrKKoqQyFuYJpdSlkfmghdwpgETDEQnkSIKD2NSxWAym3F8ELrRb/s640/GT+Goal+Line.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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</v:imagedata></v:shape><b>What
will probably happen this season:</b> Knowing what I know, 8 wins, a claim of
incremental improvement, and a contract extension for everyone involved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">THE QUARTERBACKS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brad Kaaya is a stud, no doubt about it. It has
been a long time since our best player was at the most important position on
the field. Malik Rosier is his athletic backup who also plays on the baseball
team…he is apparently being used in some Read-Option packages. Which would be
great news if it didn’t mean that, by definition, our best player is sitting
out the play. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What happened last season:</b>
Kaaya set all sorts of freshman records on his way to the type of season that
made him the frontrunner to be the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
And yet, despite this, in big games the coaching staff refused to let him try
and win, opting instead for a super conservative, “play not to lose” approach
that unsurprisingly backfired EVERY SINGLE TIME.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What will probably happen this
season:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Like I said,
this is the same staff, and they haven’t been too quick on the uptake. Kaaya
will probably continue to show streak of brilliance, and then this staff will
take him out of his rhythm for seemingly no reason, and then he will find
himself down 14 points to a good team, and then he will overthrow to try and
make a play and….you can almost smell the Sophomore Slump from here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">THE RUNNING BACKS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Gus Edwards
seemed to be the frontrunner for starter duties, right up until he was declared
out for the season yesterday. Of course. The talented next-in-line is Joe
Yearby, who decided “f*ck this team” during the offseason and spent the summer
training on his own. Smart move. Rumor is he will be suspended for the first
few games for a dreaded “violation of team rules”. Next in line is Trayone
Gray, who has the annoying habit of breaking way too many long runs for Al
Golden’s liking. That is the kind of play that gets you benched around here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">You see,
long runs have the habit of leading to quick scores, and quick scores mean the
shitty defense has to go back on the field and that exposes the head coach’s
best friend. Can’t have that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">The wild
card is freshman Mark Walton, who everyone has convinced themselves is a can’t
miss prospect because he is the one running back we signed last year after 3
high school All Americans at the position decided “on second thought, I’d
rather go pretty much anywhere else than Miami”. I’ll believe he’s good when I
see it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">The good
news here is that we have 3 talented running backs on the roster. The bad news
is that we ONLY have 3 talented running backs on the roster, which would be concerning
even if this university wasn’t located in South Florida, where high school
running backs grow on trees. But, as they say, running back is a low churn
position so depth is really more of a luxury than anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What happened last season:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Duke Johnson set pretty much every
school record imaginable. Selfish, right?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What will happen this season:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Literally nobody knows. Gus Edwards
has apparently looked good all offseason, but I’m not falling for that
particular banana in the tailpipe again. The reality is the team lost one of
the best players in program history, and replacing him with one guy is pretty
much impossible. I’d be shocked if the committee replicates his production from
last season. Which means even more pressure on Kaaya. Which is concerning
because of…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">THE OFFENSIVE LINE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">This could
get ugly pretty quickly. There is some good topline talent, but it is all young
(Trevor Darling, Kc Mcdemott –who might actually suck but he was a highly rated
recruit, Nick Linder, Tyree St. Louis). Over the past 2 years this unit has
lost the following: Brandon Linder, Seantrel Henderson, Shane McDermott, Jared
Wheeler, Jon Feliciano and most importantly, Ereck Flowers. They now play for
the Jaguars, Bills, Cowboys, Eagles, Raiders and Giants, respectively, and
Flowers was a Top 10 pick in this past draft.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What happened last season:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> This was the team’s best unit. And
yet, again, 3 starters are gone and in their wake are a bunch of unprovens. Art
Kehoe is the best coach on this staff --- this will be the ultimate test of how
quickly good coaching can bring a unit together, especially when you know Fat
Al will insist on running some complex zone blocking scheme instead of adapting
and letting the youngsters get comfortable by just lining up and hitting the
guy across from them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What will happen this season:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Get used to hearing this phrase
often: “It looks like the right tackle Sonny Odogwu jumped early there.” Hey,
on a bright note, at least we are putting our big uglies through ball security
drills that seem to be made out of sex toys! Never know when you’re going to
have to throw a bubble screen to a 6’7”, 300 pound man!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb7imH-sfcjRWDFpsoBhJgzdEZDCRIjlazq9Re0BX2W5bolw-CFdlhmnBRPsq0GI4bd29e8M6arlZ28VclRNP9Ebr0jWGS2HCXWdCLzVQhaeAnzNluwexXekPa4GzO9vCnzL-mN27MHuc/s1600/DD+Gauntlet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb7imH-sfcjRWDFpsoBhJgzdEZDCRIjlazq9Re0BX2W5bolw-CFdlhmnBRPsq0GI4bd29e8M6arlZ28VclRNP9Ebr0jWGS2HCXWdCLzVQhaeAnzNluwexXekPa4GzO9vCnzL-mN27MHuc/s640/DD+Gauntlet.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">THE RECEIVERS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Unsurprisingly,
this is a talented group. Stacey Coley has allegedly checked out of witness
protection, Rashawn Scott is back from whatever caused him to miss last season
(either injury or suspension…you never can quite tell with good ol’ Rashawn!),
Braxton Berrios, Herb Waters, Malcolm Lewis and freshman Lawrence Cager are a
nice mix of weapons for Kaaya to work with. At tight end, the group of Stan
Dobard, Chris Herndon, Jerome Washington and David Njoku will try to replace
the production of another record setting player in Clive Walford, now of the
Oakland Raiders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What happened last season:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Phillip Dorsett was the key
receiver, as his speed and downfield routes forced defenses to leave much of the
middle of the field vulnerable, which paved the way for Duke Johnson and Clive
Walford to enjoy a ton of success and for Kaaya to develop confidence working
this key area early in his career. Dorsett is now gone to the Colts as a first
round pick. So is Walford, the safety blanket.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What will happen this season:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> This could go a million different
ways, but it seems inarguable that the key to it all is Coley. If he can fill
the Dorsett role, this offense will have a much easier go of it. If he can’t,
defenses are going to blitz our inexperienced o-line and make Kaaya’s life
hell. So I guess following the theme of the last decade we can expect the
latter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">THE DEFENSIVE LINE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">So. Much.
Talent. Al-Quaddin Muhammad is back from his bullshit suspension, Chad Thomas
is a year stronger and wiser, we actually have 4 defensive tackles with a
pulse, Demetrius Jackson might be the next basketball to football player to
become a pass rushing nightmare…you know what Fat Al just heard?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">“I bet these
guys will look great trying to cover 5’8” slot receivers in the Red Zone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What happened last season:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> If every time you saw a defensive
end trying to cover the equivalent of Wes Welker during a Miami game you had to
drink, I would have actually died last season. I know people say that a lot,
and typically it’s just a euphemism for “oh man I’d have had to drink a lot”,
but I literally would have died last season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Oh, and
Anthony Chickillo, the guy the coaching staff forced to gain weight like a
piece of foie gras so that he could be used out of position in their stupid
scheme, lost the weight, publicly called out Fat Al and Mark Doritos, lit up the
college all-star game circuit, got drafted as an outside linebacker by the
Pittsburgh effing Steelers (they have had a few decent outside linebackers over
the years, and they also happen to be the team that made the EXACT SAME 3-4
that Fat Al uses famous) and is apparently on track to start for them as a
rookie. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Let the
failure just cascade over you, ‘Canes fans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What will happen this season:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> “Back from that commercial break and
we’ll see if the Canes defense can come up with a big hold here in the Red Zone
on 3<sup>rd</sup> and 8, late in the game here at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Everett Golson takes the snap…has all day in the pocket to throw…lofts one in
to the end zone….touchdown Seminoles! Ermon Lane, the sophomore receiver from
South Dade, went up and over Chad Thomas. You can just see from the snap that
Golson saw the mismatch, and the Noles exploit it for the TD. And just like
that, it looks like FSU will extend their winning streak over Miami to 6 years.
You’ve got to really question the defensive play call. You come out of the
extended timeout and the best you can come up with is a defensive end covering
a wide receiver? Going to be a tough flight home for Al Golden, and you’ve got
to imagine his seat is starting to get even warmer.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Has a player ever murdered a coach on the sideline before? Just curious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">THE LINEBACKERS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Raphael
Kirby and Jermaine Grace lead the unit that has to replace Denzel Perryman and
Thurston Armbrister. Tyriq McCord, who has been completely wasted at linebacker
instead of rush end, and Darrion Owens are both gifted and are competing for
another starting spot. After that the depth gets SCARY. Would be nice to have
pre-season first team All ACC member / Cane legacy James Burgess, wouldn’t it?
Too bad. Al stopped recruiting him because he was too small.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What happened last season:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Denzel Perryman finished second in
Butkus Award voting and was an absolute stud. Finishing that high in any
individual awards voting is very selfish. Addition by subtraction if you ask
me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What will happen this season:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> We better pray nobody gets hurt,
because running a scheme that requires 4 linebackers at a time –and having a
coaching staff that refuses to have any less than 4 linebackers on the field,
even if the other team were to trot out a lineup for 11 wide receivers—with
only 4 decent linebackers on the roster is a bit of a sticky wicket. At least
Grace is awesome and essentially told the coaches to f*ck off when they tried
to make him gain weight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">THE SECONDARY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Lots of good
names: Deon Bush, Corn Elder, Tracy Howard, Artie Burns, Jaquan Johnson,
Reyshawn Jenkins, Jamal Carter…all are potential impact guys. This is the
position group least effected by NFL departures, losing only the undrafted Ladarius
Gunter, who has *SHOCKINGLY* been getting first team reps with the Green Bay
Packers despite underperforming in college. The guy across from him? Pro Bowler
Sam Shields, an undrafted Miami Hurricane who underperformed in college. Sigh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What happened last season:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> The absolute lack of a pass rush
left the secondary out to dry. IT also didn’t help that apparently our
defensive backs are not taught to, ya know, turn their head around and look for
the ball in the air. Which you’d think would be something that they would be
taught. But who am I to judge, ya know?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What will happen this season:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> If all goes well, Bush is an All
American, Howard finally lives up to the 5 star status, Burns becomes a first
round corner and Jaquan is the Duke Johnson of the defense, as hyped. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I’ll pause
while you laugh it out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">And so
concludes the preview. I’d like to say that I am going to try and take a step
back this season, but we all know that isn’t true. I’ve already informed the
girlfriend that our Labor Day weekend trip to San Francisco will be paused for
the Canes game vs Bethune Cookman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ll always
be there, pushing my particular boulder up the hill, filled with hatred (both
internal and external), hoping that this is the year I finally make it to the
top.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-10124976168652448942014-12-18T10:26:00.000-08:002015-08-31T08:52:21.018-07:00How I Got to Memphis...I Mean ShreveportSo, let's get this out of the way...I lifted the title for this post from the series finale of The Newsroom that aired over this past weekend.<br />
<br />
"How I Got to Memphis" is the name of a country western tune by Tom T. Hall. 'Memphis', it is pointed out to Jeff Daniels' character, doesn't actually mean Memphis the city. It could be any place. The name of the song really is just a way of saying "how I got to where I am right now".<br />
<br />
I enjoyed that part of the episode. As an aside, Aaron Sorkin is completely self indulgent, has zero idea how to write women (probably because he has no idea how to maintain a relationship with one) and has, at best, a flawed understanding of the 1st Amendment...which in light of the Sony hack, I have realized a lot of people on my Facebook share with him.<br />
<br />
However, he does know how to turn a phrase (kind of like Al Golden, right?)<br />
<br />
So, how did we get to Shreveport for the fucking Duck Commander Bowl?<br />
<br />
How did we take a roster with the ACC's top rated QB, a finalist for the John Mackey Award, the runner up for the Dick Butkus Award, and the program's all time leader in rushing yardsand all purpose yards and go 6-6. In other words, how did we take a roster with a lot of elite talent and turn in a perfectly mediocre result?<br />
<br />
The reason is systemic failure, starting with the Board of Trustees and trickling all the way down to the locker room.<br />
<br />
In the weeks since the season ended, I have thought about that. I have read all the quality analyses by dudes on my message board and at Sebatian's Pub (Vish ain't never lied).<br />
<br />
I have hoped for Al Golden to be fired, and then to resign, and then when it became clear neither of those two things were happening, to get snatched away by Nebraska or Wisconsin.<br />
<br />
I have watched The U Part 2 and gotten fired up about the possibility of the unemployed, readily available for pennies on the dollar Butch Davis returning.<br />
<br />
Turns out none of those things are happening.<br />
<br />
So now it is time to square with some facts before the bowl game.<br />
<br />
This program is in a dangerous limbo right now.<br />
<br />
Al Golden does not deserve to be the coach any longer if the information is based on football. However, the administration has clearly decided to keep him for non-football reasons...which means that any conversation about his failings on the football field or in a recruit's living room are completely fruitless.<br />
<br />
We will probably lose to South Carolina, but even if we win, what does that mean? We went 7-6, with our biggest wins being an October victory over a decent, albeit unranked Duke team and a bowl win over an equally mediocre, disinterested South Carolina team that plays no semblance of defense? Whoopty fuckin doo.<br />
<br />
The reality is, and I have written this before, that we the fans are hostages at this point. We have no say so...the administration has made that abundantly clear. This is a money game, and quite frankly even pooled together we don't have the money to make our voice heard.<br />
<br />
So instead, I am going to watch one more Canes game on the 27th, nursing my recently surgerized shoulder.<br />
<br />
I am going to savor one last look at Duke Johnson and Denzel Perryman and Phil Dorsett and all those guys.<br />
<br />
I am going to think about how awesome next season might be with an older Brad Kaaya, a rejuvenated Stacey Coley, a faster defense, etc.<br />
<br />
I will try my best to block out my frustration with the coaching staff for a few hours, because at the end of the day football is supposed to be fun.<br />
<br />
And then after the game, I am going to actively try to take a step back for a few months. Not check the message boards so much, not get so hung up on recruiting, etc.<br />
<br />
I know that I will probably fail, but hey, I am going to try. I need to refresh. This has been a frustrating season, and the reality is that my college football team shouldn't cause me this much stress, especially when there isn't an actual game to watch.<br />
<br />
Maybe I will take my dad's approach and just wait until August to pick the team back up. Not worry about practice standouts...wait until the games come on and trust my eyes.<br />
<br />
Either way, cheers to you few folks who read this. Despite the crappiness of our team, college football season is always fun because of the people it brings together. And even a crappy college football Saturday is one of the 15 or so best days of the year.<br />
<br />
-- -- --<br />
<br />
Finally, there will be no South Carolina Hate. Know why? I don't really hate them. Fact is, I LOVE Steve Spurrier. The Ol Ball Coach is one of the few dudes who embraces the absurdity of college football as just that: absurd.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1912357/8bmk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1912357/8bmk.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>This man is the king of the trolls. Take this seemingly innocuous quote immediately following his team accepting their bowl bid:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Roboto, 'Segoe UI', Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>"Miami is another team that almost beat FSU this year. Gotta be what? Seven or eight of those that almost beat FSU."</b></span></blockquote>
<br />
Take in the beauty. In one line, Spurrier not only jabs FSU, but also belittles the accomplishments of Clemson (his arch rival for in state recruits) and Miami (whom he hates going back to his days as a QB at UiF).<br />
<br />
Playa hatin' at its finest, y'all. And THAT is the beauty of Steve Spurrier, national treasure.<br />
<br />
With that in mind, instead of manufacturing some shit to make fun of them for (I mean...their nickname is the Cocks...), I leave y'all with this tribute to Ball Coach, the King of Throwin' Shade, Master of the College Football Universe.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2013/10/18/4852572/steve-spurrier-quotes-georgia-tennessee-fsu-clemson">Repurposed from SBNation.</a><br />
<br />
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/JoshatTheState/statuses/389113501135798272" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #c52126;" target="_blank">On South Carolina's 52-7 win over the Razorbacks</a>: "I do feel badly for Arkansas. That's no fun getting your butt beat at home, homecoming and all that."</div>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/JoshatTheState/statuses/390982043149950977" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #c52126;" target="_blank">On the Gamecocks' matchup at Tennessee</a> "Will be the 14th time I've coached in Neyland Stadium. ... I've coached there more than some of their head coaches."</div>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/TexAgs/statuses/357282488063758337" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #c52126;" target="_blank">On his age</a>: "The Pope is 77 years old and he's in charge of a billion people. All I have to do is put 11 on the field."</div>
<h4 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 28px; margin: 0.75em 0px;">
Georgia</h4>
<h3 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 36px; margin: 0.75em 0px;">
<a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/41850/no-turning-back-for-spurrier-gamecocks" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #c52126; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;" target="_blank">On playing Georgia early</a><span style="font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;">: "I don't know. I sort of always liked playing them that second game because you could always count on them having two or three key players suspended."</span></h3>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">On Georgia recruiting</span>: "Why is it that during recruiting season they sign all the great players, but when it comes time to play the game, we have all the great players? I don't understand that. What happens to them?"</div>
<h4 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 28px; margin: 0.75em 0px;">
Tennessee</h4>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">On the Vols missing out on the Sugar Bowl during his Florida years</span>: "You can't spell Citrus without U-T."</div>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<a href="http://si.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1010919/index.htm" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #c52126;" target="_blank">On Peyton Manning</a>: "I know why Peyton came back for his senior year. He wanted to be a three-time star of the Citrus Bowl."</div>
<h4 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 28px; margin: 0.75em 0px;">
Alabama</h4>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<a href="http://www.ajc.com/gallery/sports/college/steve-spurrier-quibs/g986/#3494500" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #c52126;" target="_blank">On recruiting</a>: "In 12 years at Florida, I don't think we ever signed a kid from the state of Alabama ... Of course, we found out later that the scholarships they were giving out at Alabama were worth a whole lot more than ours."</div>
<h4 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 28px; margin: 0.75em 0px;">
Florida State</h4>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<a href="http://www.ajc.com/gallery/sports/college/steve-spurrier-quibs/g986/#3494544" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #c52126;" target="_blank">On scandal in Tallahassee</a>: "You know what FSU stands for, don't you? Free Shoes University."</div>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<a href="http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1996/12/29/oth_201889.shtml" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #c52126;" target="_blank">On illegal hits against Danny Wuerffel</a>: "He's like a New Testament person. He gets slapped up side the face, and turns the other cheek and says, 'Lord, forgive them for they know not what they're doing.' I'm probably more of an Old Testament guy. You spear our guy in the earhole, we think we're supposed to spear you in the earhole. That's kind of where we're a little different."</div>
<h4 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 28px; margin: 0.75em 0px;">
Auburn</h4>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<a href="http://si.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1140066/index.htm" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #c52126;" target="_blank">On a fire at the football dorm that destroyed 20 books</a>: "But the real tragedy was that 15 hadn't been colored yet."</div>
<h4 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 28px; margin: 0.75em 0px;">
Clemson</h4>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph13" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<a href="http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20121010/PC20/121019887" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #c52126;" target="_blank">On the Death Valley nickname</a>: "Most of our guys have never been to Death Valley. (LSU's stadium) is the Death Valley, isn't it? Or is there another one? There's two of them. That's right. There's two Death Valleys."</div>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph14" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<a href="http://footballscoop.com/news/5187-steve-spurrier-with-the-quote-of-the-night" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #c52126;" target="_blank">On the state of the South Carolina program</a> (widely attributed, but probably not an original): "We aren't LSU and we aren't Alabama. But we sure ain't Clemson."</div>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph15" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<a href="http://www.gogamecocks.com/2011/12/02/180300/ggf-spurrier-responds-to-swinneys.html" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #c52126;" target="_blank">On Dabo Swinney's anger over the above quote</a>: "I said, ‘Well, what do you want me to do? I didn't say it.' Smart people don't believe everything they read, and they don't believe hearsay. ... I guess Dabo believed it."</div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250378112228333370.post-7302655804833432882014-11-24T10:30:00.000-08:002014-11-24T10:30:14.294-08:00Pitt Hate Week<div class="MsoNormal">
Former GE CEO Jack Welch once said “change before you have
to”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Welp, too late for that shit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What we saw last Saturday night was the culmination of
everything we the fans have come to resent about the Miami Hurricanes and all
saw coming as soon as Al Golden failed to get the open Penn State job last
winter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://imgick.pennlive.com/home/penn-media/width620/img/sports_impact/photo/13624906-mmmain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://imgick.pennlive.com/home/penn-media/width620/img/sports_impact/photo/13624906-mmmain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All the classic elements of an Al Golden game were there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Team improperly motivated? Check.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Completely out-schemed by a half-wit coach? Check.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Team quitting when the adversity mounted? Check.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lack of quality depth glaring through at the worst possible
moments? Check.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look, every loss this season up to this point had some sort
of believable mitigating circumstance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This one had nothing. We thought this program had turned the
corner. We thought that the days of the bend-but-don’t-break, passive mentality
were gone. We thought the young studs had finally been let off the leash.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wrong, wrong, wrong.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I post on a Canes message board A LOT. It is my own
little corner of the internet. It is one of the funniest places in the world,
and alternatively one of the most frustrating. But ultimately I keep going back
in times like this because there is a select handful of fans that post there
that I consider to be like me: smart, passionate fans of the TEAM. One of my
favorite posters wrote this after the loss, and it should be read by all.
Forgive me, because this is a little long, but do yourself a favor and stick
with it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background: rgb(250, 250, 250);">In early 2012,
I had a conversation with a former Miami staffer who landed at Alabama. I
congratulated him on Alabama's championship and told him that it must be nice
to coach so many studs. He looked at me and said, <b>"Miami's good players
are better than Alabama's good players."</b></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">I couldn't believe
it. Alabama was the national champion. Miami was 6-6 and coming off an
embarrassing home loss to BC. Alabama had multiple projected first round picks.
Miami had a few mid and late-round guys. But he was insistent.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">"Lamar Miller
is better than Trent Richardson. Olivier Vernon is better than Courtney Upshaw.
And<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="boplink"><b><a href="http://www.canesinsight.com/recruits/showentry.php?e=134" target="_self"><span style="color: #075c41; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Seantrel
Henderson</span></a></b></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> is better than any lineman we've got. Watch them
in the pros."</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">Now that we've seen
those guys in the NFL, we know he was dead-on. Why were the programs so far
apart on the field? The coach said it came down to football infrastructure
(training table, strength and conditioning, medical staff) and depth. He left
out coaching, for obvious reasons, but you can assume that's another factor.
Once those guys get to the NFL, he said, all the external things will become
equal and raw talent will prevail.</span><br /><span style="background: #FAFAFA;">Golden has done a
better job than Shannon in terms of player development; specifically, strength
and conditioning. Perryman, Dorsett, Walford and Duke all got bigger and
stronger without losing their speed. But why is a team with so many elite
players struggling in a talentless Coastal division?</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">Coaching is an
obvious factor that is being addressed in every other thread on this board. The
other factor is depth. In my view, there are three reasons depth is not where
it needs to be:</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">1- We cannot
identify undervalued South Florida talent. We are the anti-Louisville in this
regard. These South Florida three-stars should be the main source of depth for
this team, along with blue-chip young players.</span><br /><span style="background: #FAFAFA;">2- The camp has
produced nothing. I've discussed this before, but it bears repeating: the camp
is the biggest indictment of the Temple crew's talent evaluation skills. If
Paul "Delaware" Williams offers a kid at the camp, I just assume it's
a wasted scholarship.</span><br /><span style="background: #FAFAFA;">3- <b>The Temple
coaches have a Northeastern, Parcells approach that does not work here.</b> This
relates to numbers 1 and 2. Golden says that you support the star players with
"coal shovelers." His idea of a coal shoveler is a low-rated,
low-maintenance guy who has ideal measurables to develop. That's crap.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #fafafa;">The meat
of this program should be South Florida ballers who may lack a measurable or
two. The guys that go to Louisville and talk **** to our five-stars. Football
players, not projects with good attitudes. If we had been stacking these guys
for four years, this team would look much, much different.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #fafafa;">Right now, our best
players are better than anybody's best players.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>Anybody</u><span style="background-color: #fafafa;">. Watch Perryman, Dorsett, Flowers, Duke and Walford in the
pros. No other Power Five school can match those upperclassmen. <b>Four years
later, Miami is still undefeated on Sunday and .500 on Saturday</b>.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is nothing I could write that sums it all up better
than that. And so, it is time to make a change. Miami had a chance to do this
before they had to, and passed, and now it is time to pick up the pieces again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
__ __</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is by far the fastest I can ever remember a season
going by. Seems like literally yesterday that I was having people over for a Labor
Day BBQ and kicking them all out at 4 so I could be left alone for an hour
before the game started.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Think about where this team was at the beginning of the
season.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had no clue if Brad Kaaya would be any good or not. Turns
out he is the most promising thing to happen to this program in YEARS.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We thought Clive Walford was an inconsistent head case. We
thought Phillip Dorsett was a one trick pony. We thought Stacey Coley was going
to be the next big thing. We thought Duke Johnson was a really good back that
couldn’t quiiittteee carry the full time load. We thought Denzel Perryman was a
Butkus Award Contender.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, Walford is now statistically the best tight end in the
history of “Tight End U”. Dorsett is all of a sudden one of the more intriguing
prospects in the draft. Stacey Coley had an AWFUL sophomore slump. Duke Johnson
became arguably the greatest player in the history of the program. And Denzel
Perryman…well, we were right on that one.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am going to, for the first time in a long time,
legitimately miss this year’s senior class.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do not feel like these guys were talent blockers…and it
isn’t just the ones above.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anthony Chickillo, Thurston Armbrister, LaDarius Gunter, Jon
Feliciano, Shane McDermott…these are all guys that made major contributions to
this team. They weren’t just the oldest guy at their position; they made shit
happen, and more often than not were a credit to the program.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Senior Night sees them face off with Pitt. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hate Pitt. Ever since I was young I remember playing them
with their ugly ass uniforms and “historic legacy”. The most vocal part of that
legacy is Mark May, so to that I say *armpit fart*.\</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Really the most memorable Pitt moment of my lifetime is when
they had Larry Fitzgerald, one of the all time greatest wide receivers, coming
into the game with a twenty-something game streak having caught a touchdown.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Miami stuck their attack dog, Antrel Rolle, on him, and he
didn’t register so much as a peep until late in the 4<sup>th</sup> quarter.
Miami had pulled most of their starters and Fitz predictably caught a touchdown…and
Pitt celebrated like they had just won the Super Bowl and the Stanley Cup at
the same time.</div>
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F Pitt and f their “historic legacy”.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Here is how this game is gonna go. Their stud running back,
James Conner, is going to run like 50 times for like 4.5 yard per carry. That
doesn’t sound effective, but it means they will get a 1<sup>st</sup> down every
3<sup>rd</sup> time he touches the ball.</div>
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<br /></div>
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They will occasionally throw to their stud receiver, Tyler
Boyd, and he is going to catch a couple of balls over our defensive backs who
have not been trained to turn their head around and look for the ball. I know
this is counter-intuitive, but that actually makes it harder to get an
interception. Who knew?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Anyway, Pitt will probably win because Miami looks checked
out for the season. Maybe Miami wins to preserve a 7-5 record and the Yankee
Pinstripe Bowl instead of the Beef-a-roni Bowl. Either way Al Golden will say
it was a tough game because…oh horror of horrors…the game was played at night.
And we just played the always physically toll-taking Virginia Cavaliers. And blah
blah blah blah.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I hope that the seniors get sent off with a win. And then I
hope the administration does the thing that anyone with balls would surely do.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Fire Al Golden. He is a good dude, and I think he legitimately cares. I wish he would have worked out, because there are a lot of things about him I really enjoy.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But it has become clear that we have to change.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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It is the only way to make sure that the NEXT group of
seniors doesn’t get wasted like this one did.</div>
Dan Steinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623305038871697629noreply@blogger.com0