Brian McCann’s 24 homers in 2006 were the fourth-most in a season by a catcher younger than 23. The other three were two seasons by Bench and one by Earl Williams. Interestingly (or perhaps not) those occurred in consecutive seasons:
HOMERUNS YEAR HR
1 Johnny Bench 1970 45
2 Earl Williams 1971 33
3 Johnny Bench 1969 26
No other catcher that young has hit more than 18. Open thread.
Hooray, I’m first!
Although I didn’t really have anything productive to say. Go Gators!
I think that you called it early. At some point in time you called McCann potentially the best of the Baby Braves. He has been. Did you see the blog by DOB on AJC on KJ? Here is hoping that we are right about him too.
One Auburn message board has changed a filter – whenever the word Saban is typed on the site, it is immediately changed to $aban.
LSU rolls tomorrow night…..Buckeyes roll on Monday
One of the many theories from Dolphin Land: The egomaniac that is Nick Saban delayed his announcement to accept the Bama job just to upstage LSU on the very day they play in the Sugar Bowl.
Quite the coinkydink, indeed.
January 3, 2007
Report: Saban was set to take ‘Bama job
Miami Dolphins coach will make final decision today
BY ARMANDO SALGUERO
THE MIAMI HERALD ADVERTISEMENT
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Nick Saban. He will make a coaching decision at 10 a.m. today. AP
Worst Dolphins coach ever….or was it Jimmy Johnson..or Wannsetedt
MIAMI — Nick Saban had decided to leave the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday morning. Then he met with club owner Wayne Huizenga and backed away from that decision, asking instead for more time to talk to his wife and mull his options before finally announcing his intentions to the owner at a 10 a.m. meeting today.
Saban sucks. Let him go take his money and go to Alabama. Coaches like him are a dime a dozen in the NFL. Great call on Daunte Culpepper over Drew Brees.
You know, I admit that I think Saban will be a good coach for Alabama and that it’s better for the SEC and college football when Alabama is a quality program, but at this point I think I’d like to see a little more anguish in Tuscaloosa. I want a little more suffering before they right the ship.
Also I’m a little surprised that the conspiracy fringe in Alabama hasn’t made more over the fact that Spurrier’s and Saban’s agent (and Jumbo Fisher’s???) is also Fulmer’s and is a UT grad and owns a box at Neyland. I’m just saying. I find this very amusing.
Should I feel bad that when a big time job opens up no one ever talks about Fulmer being interested?
Probably Smitty.
You can watch the press confrence at
http://media.myfoxal.com/live/index.html
news just reported saban took job as alabama’s head coach over the phone instead of in person.
The this whole thing played out has made Saban look pretty shitty. I mean, he breaks the news over the phone? C’mon! Can’t blame him for taking the ‘bama job, but he could have had a little more (ok, a lot more) class.
Congrats, Bama people.
Now everyone can take bets on how long Saban stays (or is allowed to stay). If he goes 8-5, don’t fire him, OK?
Saban will own the SEC
This is the worst day ever! Fulmer and Tubberville will both be fired in the next five years because of this.
Meyer will own the SEC.
How many days till pitchers and catchers report?
football talk is driving me nuts!
Zips has McCann at 315/382/542
I think he can beat that, and I know, I am going to lay off the Prozac.
Smitty,
He’ll be good, very good, but let’s not go crazy. Saban’s career record is 83-40. In 10 seasons of college coaching, he’s won 10 games exactly three times.
I am just worried that he is going to dominate a mentally infeirior Fulmer.
Fulmer’s Record Since 1998
Years without SEC title: 8
Years without BCS bowl: 7
Years without top 10 ranking: 5
Years without AP Top 25 ranking: 2000, 2002, 2005, *probably* 2006
Years with 3 or more losses: 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 (5 straight years and 7 out of 8 )
Years with 4 or more losses: 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006
Years with 5 or more losses: 2002, 2005
Years with 6 losses: 2005
Years with multiple losses to unranked teams: 2003, 2005
Years with loss within last 2 games of season: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 (EIGHT straight years and counting)
4-8 (.333) vs. Spurrier: (2-3 since 1998)
2-4 (.333) vs. Richt
1-3 (.250) vs. Tuberville
1-2 (.333) vs. Saban
0-2 (.000) vs. Meyer
9-16 (.360) 1999 – present vs. FL, GA, LSU, AUB (thank God for Zook!)
7-15 (.318 ) 2000 – present vs. FL, GA, LSU, AUB
5-14 (.263) 2000 – present vs. FL, GA, LSU, AUB excluding games vs. Zook
5-12 (.294) 2000 – present vs. FL, GA, AUB
3-11 (.214) 2000 – present vs. FL, GA, AUB excluding games vs. Zook
5-9 (.357) 2000 – present vs. FL, GA
3-8 (.272) 2000 – present vs. FL, GA excluding games vs. Zook
2-5 (.286) 2000 – present vs. GA
8-14 (.363) vs. Top 10 teams 1999 – present
1-6 (.142) vs. Top 10 teams at home 2000 – present
6-12 (.333) vs. Top 10 teams 2000 – present
17-19 (.472) vs. Ranked Teams 1999 – present
2-5 (.285) Bowl games since 1998 (all double digit losses)
2-7 (.222) Postseason record since 1998 including SECCG (all double digit losses)
Losses To Unranked Teams:
2006 PSU 20 TN 10
2005 Van 28 TN 24
2005 SC 16 TN 15
2004 ND 17 TN 13
2003 Clem 27 TN 14
2003 Aub 28 TN 21
2001 GA 26 TN 24
2000 LSU 38 TN 31
1999 Ark 28 TN 24
Footnote: only AP polls were used for ranking purposes
Smitty,
As a UGA grad, please tell ol’ Phil: Keep up the good work!
Holy shit Smitty. Way to ruin my morning. Maybe Phil HAS been standing on 1998 for a little too long. I’m normally a big defender of Phil, but you make a good case.
A part of me is very sad to see Saban go…
But on the other hand, if a guy firmly denies he’s taking the job, and just two weeks later he decides to bolt…I’m not sure I want him as my coach then anyways…
If only Mike Mularkey could leave now…
Bye bye Nick – I think this is a very good move for Tide fans. Nick’s two main strengths are recruiting (pick up Michael Lewis’ The Blind Side for a brief window into it) and preparation over all aspects of a program including coaches, handling the media, etc. Neither of these skills served him well in S. Fla., but I imagine they will in Tusc. As a Dolphin fan, I only wonder which shitty coach we’ll get next. By the way, I am posting this here because there has been some talk on the board about it over the last couple of days and the Dolphins blog is like a Bizarro-world of this site – a bunch of 14 year olds living in Palm Beach County posting things along the lines of “We should go out and hire Pete Carroll, then trade our 7th rounder for Randy Moss!!!”
Well CJ…I frequently post about the Dolphins on my blog. You can drop by and state ur opinions there if ya want as well…
Boy the South Florida media is gonna have a field day with the Nicktator.
Dan LeBatard’s new column in the Miami Herald:
Saban leaves as a loser, weasel
LeBetard refers to Saban as, among other things, “greasy”, greedy”, “a failure”, “a loser”, “a gasbag”, “one of the worse investments Wayne Huizenga has ever made”, “a weasel”, “an utter amateur”, “a liar and a quiter”, “a fraud”, and my personal fav “infomercial sermonizer”.
Smitty’s SEC Coaches Rankings
Scare the hell out of me:
1 Spurrier
2 Saban
3 Richt
4 Myer
5 Johnson
Doing something right, but can mess it up somehow:
6 Tubberville
7 Nutt
8 Fulmer
Average, if that:
9 Miles
10 Brooks
Oh my God, really?
11 Orgeron
12 Croom
Funny how all of those things can be said about LeBetard as well
Urban Meyer the 4th best coach in the SEC, huh?
Whatever you say, Smitty.
I’d say that’s too high for Meyer and Richt and too low for Fulmer.
Mine would go like this:
Spurrier
Saban
Tuberville
Johnson
Fulmer
Richt
Meyer
Nutt
Brooks
Miles
Croom
Orgeron
Not that anyone cares, but I think I gave Bobby J too much love there, so my revised list would be:
Spurrier
Saban
Tuberville
Fulmer
Richt
Meyer
Johnson
Nutt
Brooks
Miles
Croom
Orgeron
If you’re ranking them overall I would agree more with Stu, at least until Meyer has won with his own recruits. If you’re just talking about in-game coaching I’d have to move Fulmer a lot lower (but recruiting is more important in college ball).
I’d rank ’em:
Spurrier
Saban (These are the only two I’d trade Fulmer for).
Fulmer
Tuberville
Richt
Meyer
Johnson
Brooks
Nutt
Miles
Croom
Orgeron
He’s a great get for Bama, but Saban is way overrated. We’ll see how he does.
My report from the Rose Bowl: Beautiful day, lousy game – despite the obviously pleasing result.
Lloyd Carr + Big Game = Michigan Loss
Urban Meyer does has a career coaching record of 60-12 (.833) and is 12-4 in his first 2 years of SEC play.
If you told me to pick one coach from the SEC to coach my team, Meyer would most certainly make the top 3.
Fellas, Richt is 4-2 vs. Fullmer. And he’s won 2 league titles since he showed up. He’s been better than Fullmer since he’s arrived in Athens. That’s not disputable.
Spurrier
Saban
Richt
Meyer
Tuberville
Fulmer – I would like to have Miles ahead of Fulmer, but Miles has no NC
Miles
Johnson
Brooks
Nutt
Croom
Orgeron
So, I’m happy.
Spurrier
Saban
Tuberville
Meyer
Richt
Johnson
Miles
Phil the Creep
Brooks
Nutt
Orgeron
Croom
Jeremy,
Meyer’s non-Gator record is completely irrelevant, in my opinion. And I’m going to need to see more than one year of success in the SEC (with the talent he has, 5-3 last year can’t be called successful) before I put him ahead of coaches who have demonstrated an ability to have success in this conference over a longer period of time.
ububba,
How many national titles has Richt won? Have you seen Fulmer’s winning percentage over his more-than-a-decade-of-service? It’s laughable to place Richt ahead of Fulmer, in my opinion.
Wow, we REALLY love SEC football around here. Other people must really hate us.
OK, so I’m a little “young” as far as being able to enjoy college football, so this may be a decent enough question to ask: why so much love for Saban? I know 2003, but has he been that incredible?
Stu,
In the only sport that’s never crowned a legit champion, I wouldn’t point to “national championships” as a measure to differentiate Richt from Fullmer. FWIW, I would’ve loved to have had the opportunity to play Ohio State or Miami in ’02.
All Richt has done is beat Fullmer 4 out of 6 times and pile up a 61-17 record at Georgia, while Fullmer has gone 52-23. What Fullmer did before Richt arrived has nothing to do with Richt. When, during your term, you beat a guy 2 out of every 3 times (and win 2 SEC titles to the other guy’s zero), I’d say you get the nod.
Rob,
bama needs something to cling til another coach leaves them…please give them their moment.
Richt is a better coach and recriuter than Fulmer, I say this a a Tennessee fan. Richt also surrounds himself with better coaches, something Fulmer has been hesitant about (until this season.) I don’t think Tennessee would have come from behind against Virgina Tech the way UGA did. The attitude and toughness of Tennessee football is very much in question right now, that all goes back to Fulmer. Plus, when was the last time Fulmer came out with a great game plan? 2001 at Florida?
I have Myer lower on my list because he hasn’t won with his own talent yet.
Davey –
Not so sure about Mularkey leaving, but wouldnt it be nice to see Whisenut (sp?) from the Steelers calling the shots next year?
Meyer didn’t win with his own talent at Bowling Green or Utah, either.
He won with other people’s talent that suddenly turned into good talent once he showed up. What a coincidence.
True Jeremy, but in college football you have to be able to get and mold your own tatlent. He can mold and I am sure he can get, but he has to porve that he can do both. We will find out for sure in the next two years. We are going to find out if the spread offense can work in the SEC, seeing as how he hasn’t used it very much with Leak in the game.
Remember this – Nick $aban has yet to win a football game at Jordan-Hare.
Just a thought.
I don’t think he has won in Knoxvile either, but that will change in a few years
I’d love to see Whisenhunt there Lance…
Right now the Cards want to talk to him and the Falcons are also expected to make him an offer.
Plenty of interesting names out there though. Petrino, Ferentz (probably not happening), Ron Rivera(Bears D.C.)…maybe even Norm Chow. I wonder if Dom Capers is being considered…
But damn, Mularkey needs to go.
Huizenga always goes after the big name so I wouldn’t be surprised if they make a run at Charlie Weis. There’s already rumors of Cowher being a possibility.
I’d prefer to go with a young upstart coordinator like Cameron, Whisenhunt, Rivera, or Chow.
I hope Capers isn’t being considered.
Hopefully Saban takes Mularkey with him.
I heard Norm Chow interviews like Matt Diaz plays left field or what driving in Afganistan must be like.
Chow is not young, infact I think he is older than Lou Holtz
Ha. I’ve heard that, too, Smitty.
You’d think he’d have been a HC by now with his resume.
I believe he was last passed over by Stanford, which isn’t exactly a premier job.
Very odd.
Not that it really matters, but anyone who didn’t put Orgeron last needs to have their head examined. Just like he does.
According to Wiki, he turns 61 in May. So yeah.
When Alabama posts another mediocre season in 2007, will their fans admit that Mike Shula was a scapegoat for a subpar team and that the expectations should be toned down to realistic standards?
What is Bama going to do when Saban and a booster get inot it, or when Saban and Bryant Jr get in to it?
Saban doesn’t take to criticism very well.
Which makes for a dicey situation because he treats the media like garbage regardless of how things are going. Well, he treats everybody like shit but especially the media.
You won’t be hearing anything from assistant coaches, BTW. He doesn’t allow the media access to them.
Just sayin’.
It’s yet to be proven to my satisfaction that Florida can score on the SEC’s elite defenses. They move the ball (they were the only team in the top five of the SEC in both rushing and passing) but have trouble getting into the end zone. Maybe I’m too harsh, but I don’t think that Spurrier ever had a year where he failed to score 30 in an SEC game — which Florida hadn’t until the championship.
I would imagine Saban will have a 3-year grace period. But if he loses to Auburn every year or fails to win 10 games in any of them, it’ll be the same ol’ thing at Bama. It’s different there—it just is.
What’s going to be interesting—in an X-and-O way—is how Florida intends to stop Ohio State’s version of the spread.
I think their defensive quickness will give OSU trouble; but if OSU can block that rush at all, it’ll be a different story. Their receivers are great & their QB is mobile.
BTW, Let’s Geaux LSU Tigers.
ububba,
You can’t seriously challenge the legitimacy of UT’s ’98. The system is flawed for sure, but that year, only one team had a rightful claim to the crown and that was the team coached by Fulmer.
And if Richt wins 2 out of 3 for a 20-year period, yeah, I’ll give him the nod. He’s been at UGA six years, though (Fulmer already had his championship after that long), and I’m sorry, that ain’t enough to convince me he’s the better coach. Who’s won 2 of the last 3 meetings? Richt lucked into David Greene when Fulmer made the Casey Clausen mistake, and that accounted for most of his success during that time.
Smitty,
Richt surrounds himself with better coaches? Really? Like Callaway and Martinez? Yikes. Sanders was bad and there have been some mistakes, but give me Johnny Chavis and David Cutcliffe over anyone that Richt has had working for him.
I think you suffer from being too close to the program to understand just how good Fulmer’s been. You’re one of the first to mock people on this board for criticizing JS and Bobby with respect to the Braves–to me, Fulmer is in the same type of situation. He’s been at UT for a long time, so we know very well his faults and we see them on a yearly basis. Still, the guy’s done one heck of a job, and it’s silly to put guys like Richt ahead of him. (By the way, who was the offensive coordinator for FSU when UT beat them in ’98?)
ububba,
I agree with you about Florida’s D giving OSU some trouble. How healthy are the Gators, though? Is McDonald gonna play? What about Joyner? My concern for Florida — and I honestly believe they are going to beat Ohio State — is that they aren’t going to be at full strength.
Stu,
I never said he wasn’t successful or good, but you can have Fulmer. I’m all too happy to have the guy who’s beaten him and has, to some degree, taken his spot in the pecking order. In his time at UGA, the Dogs have accomplished more than UT. I’m just fine with that.
The only thing Richt hasn’t done is beat Florida with any consistency (1-5, and no, those close losses don’t count).
BTW, I’ll never challenge the legitimacy of a great team and that UT team was great, perhaps the best team in the country. But without a playoff, how do you know they were the best?
I can’t even say that about the ’80 Dawgs. They were great, but would they have beaten Pittsburgh with Dan Marino, Hugh Greene & Ricky Jackson? I have no idea.
If you’re interested, Chuck Klosterman actually gives a pretty good argument in favor of the status quo in college football on espn.com today. (Note that I’m generally a playoff proponent, but Klosterman’s article, as usual, is a good read.)
The BoSox are about to get Joel Piniero for $4 million. Nice little risk to take, if you ask me. If we still had Leo, he’d make Piniero into a Cy Young contender. I still wouldn’t mind if JS would chuck that kind of dough at a guy like that.
Stu,
Thanks. I’ll check it out. He’s a good writer, even though I find him sort of reflexively contrarian.
I loved his book “Fargo Rock City” (didn’t read the other ones) and it’s interesting for a minute when someone tries to argue that Motley Crue or Ratt are actually good bands (personally, I think Motley Crue might be the worst band in the history of rock music with the worst singer in the history of the world—that’s just me & again I enjoy the conversation.)
But when he asks why the obits on the guy from Ratt aren’t as big as the ones for Dee Dee Ramone because the Ratt guy sold more records, it occurs to me that he’s serious. It’s like asking why a Lou Reed obit isn’t as big as an obit for Toni Tennille or for the singer from Blood, Sweat & Tears. At that point, I’m no longer entertained by the notion.
Met him at a Super Bowl party a couple years ago–we watched Janet’s titty fall out together.
Yeah, I didn’t say I tend to agree with Klosterman. In fact, it’s generally quite the opposite. But I do enjoy reading what he writes.
Just read it.
A fun read & he hits all the arguments, pro & con; I just don’t buy them, especially the bit about the “minor bowls” becoming the NIT of football.
Ahem, no disrespect to the Shreveport Bowl or the Swifty Car Rental Bowl or the Mr. Shitty Pizza Bowl, but they’re the NIT of football now.
If there’s an 8-team playoff bracket in addition to those lesser bowls, I’ll watch those lesser games based on the merits of the matchups, just like I do now. My emotional attachment will remain the same.
If I were a Florida fan my biggest concern would be the ongoing tragedy of their kicking game. The 30 points stat Mac cited would seem to indicate problems moving the ball, but that’s not a problem for the Gators. If you can’t kick a field goal – ever – it’s hard to pile up the points.
I’m still on the no playoff side of things. If there were a eight team playoff this year, USC would (ok could) win it, which doesn’t seem fair to the teams that didn’t crap the bed twice this season. Let’s keep every game meaningful.
One of the rumored names for an assistant’s job under Saban is Freddie Kitchens. If you had asked me ten years ago which current Alabama player was most likely to become a coveted NFL assistant coach, you could have given me fifty guesses before I chose Kitchens. Shows what I know.
Are you kidding me? Freddie Kitchens?!
Does he know now not to throw a screen pass to your fullback when you’re up 2 with 1:00 left on the road?
There’s an assistant coach in charge of the Training Tables?!!
Wow, Saban really does take control of everything!
(okay, i kid)
If there’s no real champ—and it’s the only sport that doesn’t have one—how are these games “meaningful” in the first place. With a real playoff that determines these ideas on the field, like every other sport, I don’t understand how these games, especially the big rivalries, become any less interesting for fans.
I quit caring about the “national championship” years ago, but I never lose interest in my school’s games, whether we’re playing Auburn, Clemson or Boise St. I’ll never understand how a playoff will somehow make me quit caring if we win the Georgia Tech game—it’ll never happen.
I swear, Kitchens is the Cowboys’ TE coach (and spent a year coaching for Saban at LSU) and is apparently very well thought of.
To put this in a Braves perspective for non Alabama people… Imagine if Dan Kolb were hired as the Braves’ bullpen coach. No, better yet, imagine that DANNY was hired as the bullpen coach.
Sorry. “Fat Freddie” used to just absolutely kill us to watch guide the Tide… but that moniker is probably/certainly unfair. The dude tried his best and apparently has made himself a heckuva coach, so… I’ll just shut up.
If Saban thinks he’s good enough, welcome back Mr. Kitchens!
Kitchens had a great arm — I thought it was the best of any Alabama quarterback I’d seen, and probably the best since Namath. And he never could play, so I figured he was just dumb. As my brother pointed out to me, he had three OCs in his career at Alabama, and as I thought about it he also spent a large amount of time running for his life — something he was not physically suited for, as Cary indicates. So he’s probably not dumb.
By the way, this is great… Fox 6 had a reporter harassing Saban entering the football complex while he was talking on his cell. He turns to her and says, “I’m working, I’m working”. Just hired, and he’s working. Sometimes Shula didn’t seem to be working during actual games.
Hey everyone,
I know it’s extremely late, but happy new year to everyone…
And Ububba,
Thanks to your team(I’m not willing to mention their name right now ;)…still hurts a little ) I had a shitty little vacation. But kudos to your defense, that was a helluva comeback, I knew we were in trouble when that onside kick happened…but better luck next year, I guess…
Freddie used to play for one of my high schools big rivals in AL. It was a little bit after my time. Not sure if they were any good when he went there but they would be really bad for many years(didn’t win a game for 5 years one time in the early-mid 80’s) and then be really good. We always seemed to beat them pretty handily. I also saw where his middle name is “Cartman” WTF? Not sure if that’s true.
Mac,
You might recognize these names: I went to school with Larry Rose and Gene Jelks who both played at Bama. Jelks was great(had NFL potential except for injuries) and played RB for a while but got hurt and switched to DB and got hurt again(knees I think). Rose was a good OL.
Let us not discuss Gene Jelks. We still haven’t recovered fully from his mischief.
I’m certain that “Cartman” is a joke. And he’s not that fat.
Mac, one of the biggest complaints I heard from high school coaches I have been around the last few years who were up in Tuscaloosa or Auburn were the accessibility of the offices.
They repeatedly told me Alabama was not an accessible place, while at Auburn, coaches would take hunks of time out of their schedule to meet with you, even if you didn’t ave a big-time prospect, just if you had a question about a play or formation, AU coaches would diagram it for you, show it to you versus different defenses, etc.
At Alabama, they said you would have to wait several hours before you could talk to a coach, and they were not friendly at all – which lead these coaches to try and convince local recruits (such as Wadley’s Terrell Zachary) to sign with AU.
Saban’s got to start coming across better or he’ll be dead in recruiting.
Jay,
I’m not going to cluck about it, but the onside kick was definitely the turning point. If that doesn’t work, I’m not sure we get the same result.
Yeah,
Probably not, but I guess ya never know…
Oh and Sean Glennon sucks, I hate him, here’s to seeing Ike Whitaker or maybe even Tyrod Taylor starting at QB next year…
LSU’s band – best I’ve ever seen. See ’em in Baton Rouge sometime. To see that pregame thing in Tiger Stadium is amazing.
Wryn,
Have you ever seen Tennessee’s Pride of the Southland marching band? Or, if Louisiana school bands tickle your fancy, Grambling’s and Southern’s? Those are all much, much better than LSU’s.
Also, Saban won a national championship 3 years ago, right? I seriously doubt he’s in any danger of being “dead in recruiting.”
Yes I have seen Tennessee’s band in Knoxville. No comparison Stu. None.
If I had to rank the best SEC bands..
1) LSU
2) Florida
3) Auburn
4) Tennessee
5) Georgia
..and let’s be honest, black college bands are different than other schools. They are given more style points than dance and movement than points for style or execution in music play.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Philip_Sousa_Foundation#The_Sudler_Trophy
Where are Tennessee, Grambling, and Southern?
Well, I’m much more entertained by Grambling and Southern than I am by LSU, that’s for sure. And that’s what I mean when I say “best” — apparently, that’s not what you mean, though, so we’ll have to agree to disagree.
And the fact that you’re putting Florida and Auburn above Tennessee on that list — really, LSU’s is the only band in the conference that can even compete — shows me we’re just on a different wavelength here.
And Eric Crouch and Gino Toretta both have Heisman Trophies…I couldn’t care less what subjective collegiate awards have been handed out; I prefer my own subjectivity to someone else’s.
I heard an “expert” on the radio call Saban the best evaluator of talent and recruiter that the SEC has seen in 20+ years.
I think Shula came across very well when visiting recruits (humble and genuinely caring), but as was mentioned above, he really closed the football facilities to the media, former players, high school coaches and just about everyone else. This definitely had a negative impact on recruiting.
I have friends who have been in UGA’s Redcoat Marching Band and all, but comparing any SEC school’s band to Grambling or Southern is like comparing the Red Hot Chili Peppers to James Brown—different universes.
A good point, ububba. Apples to oranges, I suppose.
LSU’s football team is so freaking talented. If I were an LSU fan, I would really, really dislike Les Miles.
Yeah, I’m glad we didn’t play ’em this year. But, I’m really enjoying this game.
And that last play…Russell steps up in the pocket, throws it 60 yards hitting a WR in stride, an ND DE hits him, bounces off, his helmet flying. TD, 34-14, Russell still standing. What a stud.
Did y’all know that the Nintendo Wii has a web browser? I may never leave my couch again. Now if there were only some baseball to follow… (though I gotta say some of these bowl games – especially OU-Boise St – have been riveting)
Yeah, I know it has a web browser, but why use it? My computer’s just across the room. lol
I still haven’t figured out how a team as talented as LSU lost 2 games and Alabama was even able to keep it close. I believe they match up against Ohio State extremely well when it comes to talent. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a faster defense in college.
Here’s an interesting little thing about MLB balls being juiced in 1998.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2719191
The only team that can beat LSU is LSU.
Notre Dame is what we thought they were…
Notre Dame is consistently the most overhyped team in the country.
You think that Notre Dame losing nine consecutive bowl games might have something to do with them being consistently overrated and playing in bowls they don’t belong in? You think?
But…But…But…
They travel so WELL!
I like Jamarcus Russell in the NFL. His skills will translate well because he is a passer that can run rather than a runner that passes. I was enormously impressed–what an arm!
As for the Dolphins–when will the NFL learn–NO COLLEGE COACHES. Other than Jimmy Johnson, they invariably prefer and are better at the college game. Stick to NFL coordinators or ex-coaches. I heard Don Shula on the radio–he is really pissed at Saban and, of course, he has no love for Alabama.
Notre Dame is in big bowl games for the same reason that all teams get in–they bring lots of people and get big TV ratings. That’s what bowls are all about. It’s not about how good deserving the teams are. If there isn’t going to be a playoff, I would rather do away with the BCS and go back to the way it used to be, when you didn’t have matchups like Louisville and Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl. I know I’ve been critical of some of the SEC boosterism here, but it’s a joke that Wake Forest was in the Orange Bowl instead of Auburn. If you aren’t going to do a playoff, at least get the best matchups. (But Notre Dame will always go because they are the one true national team–overhyped or not. What other college team has their own national TV network?)
If there’s no real champ—and it’s the only sport that doesn’t have one—how are these games “meaningful” in the first place.
Doesn’t understand what a meaningful game is…ah so many jokes. Anyway let me spell it out for you. Under this system the USC-UCLA game was extremely meaningful (as were many others). A win and we are playing the best team in the land for another big crystal football with the word ‘championship’ on it for Heritage Hall in the last game of the year in primetime, a loss and we are playing a second rate conference runner up in an afternoon game in an environment with all the intensity of the old NCAA tournament third place games. That’s a meaningful game – glad I could help. In an eight team playoff a win or loss changes our seeding, BFD.
I’ll never understand how a playoff will somehow make me quit caring if we win the Georgia Tech game—it’ll never happen.
And here’s where you change the argument into the strawman “people will quit caring about the regular season” argument that no one actually ever makes. People will care about certain games whether they are meaningful or not. It’s just the degree. People would care about the SC-UCLA game no matter the stakes, but the difference between simply winning the game and winning the game and knocking your rivals out of the championship game is enourmous. I mean, it basically made these people’s lives. Plus the number of people who care go up. Florida and Michigan fans no doubt watched the game and had a strong rooting interest. This is good for the sport and would not happen if all that were at stake was SC’s seeding. I closely watched many games this year for their effect on SC’s NC chances that I wouldn’t have if there were some automatic bid to a tournament for winning the Pac 10.
I quit caring about the “national championship” years ago, but I never lose interest in my school’s games,
I strongly suspect that has more to do with your school than anything else. Those of us with a dog in the NC hunt care a great deal. It’s really the only thing of importance.
Robert,
I was referring to an ESPN.com column you might not have read.
And my school does just fine, thanks.
BTW, you can be a smart-ass, but it doesn’t make your argument smart.
So the second round of the playoffs this year are:
LSU v. Boise St.
Southern Cal. v. Louisville
Ohio St. v. Florida
Too many teams, so lets have the winners of the first two games play the winner of Ohio St./Florida.
So, this question is pretty off-topic, but I was wondering if anyone here could tell me (or direct me to a website) that could tell me how to differentiate between pitches by watching them (like on TV). Because I have no idea how to do it. I guess when I first started watching baseball that I had no idea which pitch was which and so I never tried to figure it out. I mean, I can tell Zito’s curve from his fastball, but when it comes to differentiating between a FB and a change? Not a chance. (Or is this just done by looking at the speed?) I can’t tell a slider from a FB with a lot of movement, for that matter.
So anyhow, does anyone have any idea about how this is done? I figure I can get some at-game experience at some Gator Baseball games once they start playing, but I’m not sure if I’ll have any way to verify that I’m correct….
Anyhow, I appreciate any help. 🙂
mraver, when in doubt, just pick something and be defiant enough about it. Nobody will call you out. I do sports broadcasting for football, basketball, (and probably some minor league baseball games starting in ’08) and that’s what you do.
——————-
Just watched the Saban press conference – smug. He just comes across as smug. One question though – Saban said “We will work 365 days to dominate our rival across the state.” Since we have won the last 5, was he referencing UAB or Troy?
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070104/NEWS/701040342/1007
Colette Connell, one of the more exuberant fans at the airport, even had her own Saban cheer: “Praise the Lord, God is so good, Nick is now in the Bama hood.”
Later that day, Connell was arrested for driving under the influence.
That’s great Wryn!
Hey, LSU just scored again!
http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070103/NEWS/70103003/-1/TOPADS02
Picture of Colette Connell – This is too danged funny
Yeah maybe everyone will notice that Notre Dame sucks and arent very good now. Bowl record for the last 9 years speaks for itself. The announcers last night were talking about the QB’s all night long, but all of them were saying how great Quinn is going to be. Is is just me or do some others think that Russell may be a better NFL QB.
Poll who is the better QB:
1. Quinn
2. Russell
Wyrn, you should be happy he acknowledged you guys. As a traditionalist, I would have called out Tennessee.
Russell may or may not be an NFL quarterback, but if not a future as a tight end awaits. The man is freaking huge.
Mac,
He sure looks like Brett Favre’s heir apparent in that photo.
And thanks for acknowledging the real rivalry.
Kevin Steele new Bama def. coord.
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070104/FSU0301/70104012/1026/FSU03
He should have gone after Tennessee and said something like, “Well, we have a really soft schedual in October so we should be ready to coast into the Iron Bowl.” or “Tennessee is only 6 games behind us all time? Well don’t worry we will have to pad that stat.”
I was referring to an ESPN.com column you might not have read.
Really? Since you quoted the last word from my post, I assumed you were responding to my post.
And my school does just fine, thanks.
They do ok. With the talent in state they should do better, although the Stafford era could be exciting.
It won’t be long now!!
The Atlanta Braves have announced that single game tickets for the 2007 Spring Training season will go on sale Saturday, January 6 at 10:00 a.m. EST.
The Braves will play 16 games at The Ballpark at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex, the team’s spring training facility in Lake Buena Vista, FL.
Looks like Bama has named Kevin Steele as Def. Coord. and Lance Thompson as LB or Dline coach
http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=DS&Dato=20070103&Kategori=SPORTS&Lopenr=103002&Ref=PH&Item=1&MaxW=600&MaxH=600&border=0
Actual picture from yesterday – courtesy of Montgomery Advertiser
Wryn, just wondering…what are your thoughts on Tuberville. I have a lot of Auburn fans and some like him and some hate him. Your thoughts?
Robert,
You worry about your team & I’ll worry about mine.
And “the argument that nobody ever makes,” which you mentioned, was the one made on ESPN. com.
Robert,
While the talent in Georgia indicates that UGA could do better, I don’t think it’s fair to say they should do better.
You’ve got Auburn, Florida State and Clemson — not to mention Georgia Teck — all closer to many talent-rich areas of the state than UGA is, and those are all darn good programs that do a good job of recruiting. Add in the proximity of schools like South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida — all of whom, again, get some of the best athletes in the country — and it’s simply infeasible for UGA to just seal the border and keep all the high school talent in state.
It’s not like Georgia’s the size of California, and it’s not like UGA is fortunate enough to be competing against only Pac 10 and Mountain West schools with no tradition to speak of.
*Georgia Tech, obviously.
csg,
I love the guy. I’ve talked to him personally on multiple occasions and he’s a really classy guy. He takes time out of his schedule to talk to you – every morning when he gets to his office, he’ll normally sign hats, shirts, whatever you want for 15 minutes – just leave it with his secretary, he’ll sign stuff every morning. He has rock star image in the town, yet he’s not big-headed. He comes across as very humble – after the Florida game where AU looked awful in the first half, rallied and won, Tuberville was quoted on ESPN with a sheepish grin as saying “Well, I guess that’s the first time one of my halftime speeches worked.”
When you look at the people that have graduated from the program – Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown, Carnell Williams, Carlos Rogers, Karlos Dansby, Rudi Johnson .. do any of them come across as having any questionable character or anything of the like? The guys that stick with the program turn out to be incredible people off the field, and that’s really the goal of sport.
Now, are there things he does schematically that bother me? Yes. I wish we’d watch more for the QB draw – I wish we were more solid up front with the defensive tackles – I wish we didn’t take so many gambles offensively. But I have things I’d do differently than any coach in any sport – I’ll defer to Tuberville on that side of things.
Let’s face it – when you think of a university, if you had one face you could instantly put with it, it’s their football coach – not the President. Tuberville’s a class act, a great guy, and that’s the guy I want as the figurehead of my university – not Saban, not Fulmer, not .. Orgeron.
I’ll take Bobby Johnson. 🙂
But I generally agree with you on Tuberville, Wryn. Pretty classy guy. Didn’t Rudi Johnson have some issues, though? Or am I just guilt-by-association’ing him with the Bengals?
..oh, and Tuberville’s son plays on a JV basketball team that I played on and won a state championship. Already this year, his team has lost more games than I did in a 4-year career .. and Tucker hears me gripe about it.
His son, coincidentally, is a good kid – he routinely comes up to me before area high school football games I’m covering to shoot the breeze – he knows what he’s talking about and I’ve never seen the kid act up.
I didn’t see anything on wiki bad about Rudi Johnson – maybe trial by association. I don’t specifically remember anything, but I may be wrong there.
Heath Evans, Rob Bironas (Titans kicker), Marcus McNeill also outstanding people to come out of Tuberville’s AU program.
Speaking of Ed Orgeron…
Wryn, well your probably the only one I’ve asked that has actually met the guy. So I guess your opinion is better than someone who’s just a fan and watched games on TV. Most of the people who say they dont like him have probably never met him.
I dont remember any problems with Rudi Johnson, but basically the whole Bengals team has been arrested more than once. I’ll say its just the association aspect of it. Anyways whats the word on Jimbo Fisher is he off to Tuscaloosa or FSU. I think Miles is losing a great recruiter and it will be interesting to see what LSU will look like in 2-3 years!
Stu, seen that many times and its hilarious. I bet Kines could do something like that also. His halftime interview was hilarious
Under no circumstances should Coach O be ripping his shirt off.
Hotty totty gosh almighty, when’s Ole Miss gonna beat somebody?
If they beat us again next year, I might be on a suicide watch.
THere is more talent at LSU today than there ever has been. I think they are the most talented team in America
By the way, Nick Saban’s first conference game as Bama’s head coach will be a loss.
God Stu, I hope so. Let’s go to that game
Auburn OOC schedule appears to be Kansas State, South Florida, New Mexico State, Tulane .. in conference, we host Alabama, Vandy, Ole Miss, Miss State, and visit Arkansas, LSU, Georgia, and Florida.
Maybe a 10-3 best case scenario – tough games there, kids.
It is about time Auburn started playing decent OOC teams. Enough of the Citidel and Buffalo
What does it say when the ‘Lane is an upgrade to your nonconference schedule? I think it says “Your schedule really sucked.” Not that ‘Bama’s was any good other than Hawaii… Alabama added Florida State next year in Jacksonville in what I’m going to call the Jimbo Fisher Bowl. The rest of the nonconference is the usual dregs, West Carolina, Houston and La-Monroe, AKA Idle University. Georgia replaces Florida — Alex R. has already announced that he will attend.
Bama Schedules.
Which begs the question: Where the heck is Alex R?
I’m a Citadel grad – for some reason our athletic department has decided to play teams from all of the BCS conferences. Auburn a few years ago. Last year was Florida St. and Ole Miss. This year, Texas A & M and Pitt. Coming up in the next few years are Wisconsin, Clemson, Florida, UNC, Carolina, and Arizona. We generally get crushed, and have 0-2 built into our record. Though we did beat Arkansas when I was there, and Carolina the year before I went.
Stu,
I’m here and have been thoroughly entertained reading the arguing back n forth over the SEC coaches and programs.
And normally I think this man is a blithering idiot, but Colin Cowherd made one really excellent point about Saban going to Bama…the SEC, top to bottom (and however we all choose to rank them) has so many good teams and excellent coaches and it’s now even tougher with Saban back…Saban, Fulmer, Richt, Meyer, Tuberville, etc.
He made the point that basically, if you look at some of the other big conferences, Jim Tressel has a free ride now in the Big 10 because even if Michigan is the one team to challenge the Buckeyes, Lloyd Carr is a below average coach; Pete Carroll OWNS the Pac Ten until he chooses to not own it; and Mack Brown basically has complete control of the Big 12 though he still has one legit challenger with Bob Stoops and Oklahoma.
The point being…is that in some way or another, you are all right. The SEC has the best group of coaches and programs in America and that’s why our unranked teams (like Georgia this year and Kentucky) beat RANKED ACC teams like Va. Tech and Clemson.
The one thing I cannot explain is how Fulmer doesn’t get his far more talented Vols squad to beat the hell out of slow & plodding Notre Dame clones like Penn State, the supposed “4th best team in the Big 10” which is sorta like being the “4th most talented member of New Kids on the Block”.
Speaking of Notre Dame…if I were Charlie Weis, I would grab whatever huge paycheck the Giants may throw at him. Most of America is finally figuring out he’s the most overhyped without results coach there is.
And yes…I plan on attending the UGA/Bama game on 9/22/07! (I was just at the Peach/Chicken Bowl which was a fantastic time…in the 2nd half).
Alex R, nice to see you back here…..Old JS and the Braves crew have been very quiet recently, I wonder what they are doing?
As if the Dolphins situation isnt bad enough:
At WQAM, Dino from Hollywood said Saban was an ”average, overpaid coach,” and then implored the Dolphins to hire fired Alabama coach Mike Shula, Don’s son.
”Thank God he’s still available,” Dino said of the younger Shula.
Responded Mandich: “Now that would be a storybook ending.”
Yeah…I guess I got burnt out and found last Braves season rather depressing enough that I mostly went into a shell/hiding/hybernation (though I did post here or there), but I do always enjoy reading my old friends on here even if I have been missing. Thanks.
Alex,
Good to hear from you!
About UT’s loss to Penn State — yeah, that was clearly uninspired. Still, bowl games, IMO, just don’t mean anything, unless you’re playing for a championship. They get the school/conference some money, and they give players and fans a chance to go somewhere “new” to play, but seriously, unless you’re Vanderbilt and haven’t been to a bowl since 1982, or you’re a team for whom a bowl game is the only national exposure you’ll get and your recruiting therefore depends heavily on your performance, who cares about whether you win or lose? It’s pretty clear that the players for schools like Tennessee and Michigan don’t, anyway. The games mean nothing at that point.
As for Notre Dame, logic says the country should be figuring out that they’re overhyped, but what makes you think it’s the 9th consecutive bowl loss that’s going to do it? Shouldn’t the 7th or 8th have done the same thing? I’ll believe that Notre Dame is given their rightful position among college football teams when I see it. I sure hope this one does it, but I’m highly doubtful.
over at tide sports there are some Bama fans complaining that Saban hasnt said Roll Tide yet. Someone posted this and its pretty funny
http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=1cb3e74fbb748c639a53848G07010412
Thanks, Stu.
Frankly, as much as I don’t love the Big Ten, Wisconsin certainly deserved that 2nd Sugar Bowl spot (as a 1 loss team in a BCS Conference) more then 2 loss Notre Dame. And Wisconsin, went out and beat a solid Arkansas team so kudos to them.
If the Irish were in a conference and didn’t have that overhyped name, they would be ignored like every other average Texas Tech or Washington State type middling team.
I also agree about all these games being meaningless…save for whatever Bowl games Georgia and Bama are in (and Oregon for the purposes of my wife) I really don’t care too much about watching most of them (except for the championship next Monday) because you’re right…they are all meaningless. It’s further why we need a tournament.
The Boise State game was fantastic but I didn’t stay up for it (I’m getting old now and only stay up late if it’s a team of mine) mainly because the game was meaningless—but how much better would the Boise game have been if that was part of an 8 or 16 team BCS Tournament? Then you get the exciting, Cinderalla win and like George Mason in hoops, Cinderella gets to move on.
But what do we know…we’re all just dumb fans. 🙂
Alex,
Welcome back, and how ’bout them Dawgs?
From a WFAN conversation between host Mike Francesa & ex-Tide coach Bill Curry.
WFAN: Can a coach ever live up to the expectations at Alabama?
Curry: Sure…if you win every game—and look good doing it!
WFAN: And beat Auburn…
Curry: And definitely beat Auburn, which is something we didn’t do when I was there & I’ll regret it all my life.
Great to see you back, Alex R. We’re all just dumb fans spending way too much of our time on sports–and as Tiny Tim Cratchit would say, “God bless us, every one.”
Thanks ububba and YES…how bout them Dawgs! I am stoked about Stafford’s sophomore season and now that Mike Bobo rather then Neil Calloway will be handling the offense…loved what I saw at the Georgia Dome last Saturday. (and if not for dropped TD’s, Georgia would have blown Virginia Tech out big).
Bill Curry is a bitter, bitter man. And yes….you should win at least 50% (or more) of your games with Auburn if you coach at Alabama, Bill. Curry deserved to be fired when he was.
No offense to Wryn, but what does it say when the “face of the school” is the football coach and not the president? That’s the problem with the SEC, no matter how good the teams are. I mean, no one would say that about Stanford? Frankly, even though I grew up in the South, that’s one of the things that attracts me about the Big Ten, Pac 10,and, to some extent, the ACC. They aren’t just sports factories. And, before anyone tries to say the SEC schools aren’t sports factories, I know from my experience at UGA (admittedly a long time ago) that you don’t have to have much more than a drivers license to play sports at an SEC school.
Those dropped balls were brutal. Suppposedly, there’s a great WR coming in next year, so…we’ll see. But yes, I loved Stafford’s improvement. Lord knows, he had room for it.
On the radio, Curry was actually very upbeat & kind of funny. He was asked how he rated coaching in the NFL with coaching in college. He said: “I loved working with young people & seeing them grow up in four years. In the NFL, I just hated cutting people. You’d call in a fine young man & tell him he couldn’t play for you because this other guy was just bigger or could run faster, even though you knew that other guy might be headed to Leavenworth.”
Marc,
What’s the face of Duke? Can you name its president?
#151 – did anyone hear Stallings ripping Curry on Finebaum yesterday. Pretty good stuff, Stallings still has some fire in him
One of his better quotes yesterday. “Curry went from Alabama to Kentucky. Apparently he wasnt good enough to go anywhere else. If this was Basketball that would be one thing, but this is Football.”
The president of Duke is Richard Brodhead, but I only know that because he used to be our dean. He was sent up in the little-seen Comedy Central movie “Porn ‘n Chicken,” by a character named Dean Widehead.
Brodhead’s a nice guy but was mainly famous for “having a voice like Kermit the Frog,” as my freshman RA used to say.
College presidents (other than at Harvard) are a pretty faceless lot. Robert Witt at Alabama is actually pretty prominent by their standards. I expect that the face of most major state schools is in athletics.
Alex, there’s a rule that no more than two schools from one conference can be in the BCS, or Wisconsin likely would have been in somewhere. Maybe not — there isn’t a clear spot for them since the ridiculous Irish are all-but-guaranteed a spot for their annual nine wins against service academies and the dregs of the Big Ten.
Yes, but Brodhead isn’t as iconic as Coach K.
Brodhead isn’t doing AMEX ads, though he did gain some recent notoriety on “60 Minutes” for other athletic-related developments you might’ve heard about.
Fact is, I actually was kinda joking about that. On the whole, I don’t really contest Marc’s general sentiments.
As a UGA grad, I found university’s conduct during the Jan Kemp episode extremely distasteful. Though it did put UGA into a different (self-imposed) academic category for admitting athletes (just below Vandy, actually), Pres. Adams has changed that back to the old days and that approach is being reflected in UGA’s lower and lower athletic graduation rates (for football & men’s basketball, the latter mostly due to the Harrick era).
But that’s the culture of the South. Like the 92,000+ in Athens & the rest of the Bulldog Nation tuning in each week, I like my football.
Yanks traded Johnson to the Diamondbacks
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6308886
Braves sign Fernando Lunar.
http://braves.scout.com/2/606665.html
With Lunar and Corky Miller, it looks almost like the Braves are just looking for a reason not to give the back-up job to Brayan Pena. The official site says the back-up role will be fought for between Miller and Pena, but that was before this. I don’t know how seriously the Braves are taking Luna.
If Ferdie the Moon gets anywhere near the 25-man roster, I may take hostages.
Fernando Lunar? That’s great! I can finally take down my Hanukkah bush, because Christmas is officially over.
wasn’t Pratt bad enough? what gives
People may already be done w/ this thread but I just wanted to comment earlier to also thank AAR for his kind words and also to add that maybe the Big Ten or any BCS conference shouldn’t have more then 2 teams in a BCS game…that being said, Notre Dame being ‘weasly’ and not being in a conference gives them this sickening free pass to BCS games ahead of 1 or 2 loss teams that are superior.
I would rather see Wisconsin or Auburn or Cal or some other 2 loss team that I can take more seriously as opposed to the Irish.
I’d rather see a playoff, where teams determine who’s best, not voters or computers.
Ububba,
You got me. I don’t know many college presidents, other than onna Shalala.
As for Nick Saban (again), good riddance and I hope he enjoys having to win every game. But Mac and other Bama fans, don’t beieve a word Saban ever says.