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(01/15/10 5:39pm)
The Indianapolis Colts have had homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, and the No. 1 seed accompanying it, locked up for over a month. Not only do they have the tangible playoff advantages, but they have experience of being the NFL’s hunted come January.That said, Indianapolis has no room for error.Zilch. Not this time.Not when they haven’t played four quarters of meaningful football in over month and again have the target on their chest. Add that to the fact the clock is ticking on the possibility of another Lombardi Trophy for a franchise still looking to cement itself as dynasty during its decade of dominance. The setting should be all too familiar to fans closely following the NFL. The 2005 Colts, arguably the best team President Bill Polian assembled in Indianapolis, had homefield throughout and dropped their first playoff game to the then-No. 6 seeded Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh came in having won at rival Cincinnati the week before. This time around, it’s the Baltimore Ravens who possess the silent, but deadly six seed in search of a berth in next week’s AFC Championship Game.There are too many similarities to be ignored here. The Ravens are led by second year quarterback Joe Flacco, who last year helped lead the Ravens to the conference championship game. The connection? Back in 2005, it was second year Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who led his team to its fifth championship after coming up short in the AFC Championship in his rookie season the year before.And what about the team makeup? The Ravens and Steelers share a similar type of style the Colts have struggled putting points on over the years. Both have physical defenses with ball-hawking safeties in Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu, respectively.Historically, the Colts have had trouble putting points up against the Ravens in particular. In this year’s contest, the Indianapolis managed just 17 points, nine lower than their per-game average. The last time the Colts faced Baltimore in the playoffs, it was Adam Vinatieri’s five field goals that pushed the Colts to the conference championship in the 2006 season.History set aside, some things jump out in my mind as to what the difference will be.1. The ability of Ravens running backs Willis McGahee and Ray Rice to run the ball on the Colts’ defense. The two have combined for over 1800 yards on the ground this year, and Rice totaled 159 last week at Gillette Stadium. Should Baltimore be able to run, melting the clock and moving the chains, Peyton Manning won’t have as much time on the field. It’s as simple as that.2. Baltimore’s defense and Manning’s timing. The Ravens have the reputation as being the most in-your-face, physical defense in the league. Manning and his receivers have not had a full game’s worth of experience since playing in Jacksonville on December 17. Should their timing be off or the offensive line rusty, the disciplined Ravens could exploit the Colts’ holes. The 2005 Steelers baffled Indianapolis’ offensive line and got to Peyton Manning almost at will.3. Field position. Lucas Oil Stadium is one of the most raucous environments in the league. If Ravens get pinned down inside their own territory early, it could be a long day for the young offense. But give Flacco a short field and a not-so-hostile environment, a balanced rushing attack from McGahee and Rice could make Indianapolis’ offense be the one playing catch up. Right now it’s do-or-die for Indianapolis. The possibility of 19-0 and football divinity was vacated when the Colts’ starters were controversially rested in the second half of the Jets game, which, by the way, could set up a rematch between the two teams in the AFC Championship. But the Colts still have their place in history to play for.It’s all in place. Now, are the Colts? See you next week
(01/12/10 3:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Alabama football coach Nick Saban is known as arrogant, snobby, short-spoken and, after his appearance in “The Blind Side,” even as a movie star.But the fiery coach’s Belichick-like demeanor, succinct responses to the media, and track record suggest one thing above all others.The guy is a winner. And, really, that’s all that should matter. Thursday’s BCS Championship game produced football’s first coach to win a title at two schools since the Associated Press poll era began in 1936. Saban, who took on the rebuilding task at Alabama after departing from the Miami Dolphins, had championship experience during his time in Baton Rouge when his LSU Tigers won the glass football in 2003. It also brought the meeting of two polar opposite football minds in Saban and Mack Brown.. Texas, which won the championship four years ago on the same field, saw a coaching demeanor similar to that of Alabama and college football great Bear Bryant. This was a program-changing game for the Crimson Tide. It was just the team’s second BCS game, but it was also a second chance; a chance for a program classified by mediocrity, scandal and coaching instability during the better part of 17 years.Hindsight is 20/20, but who better could Alabama have chosen than Saban to spearhead the rebuilding in 2007?Possibly a better question is, why did Saban even give the NFL a chance? It only took two years for him to find his desire to win was too strong for everything the NFL presents.A 53-man NFL roster has too many prima donnas and its front office has too many monetary concerns for a guy like Saban. He’s the optimal type of college coach, one who has no aspirations of coaching on Sunday or dealing with free agency and the salary cap. That’s because, to Saban, the only thing that matters is winning. Nothing else. And Tide fans shouldn’t worry about him leaving anytime soon. The win made Alabama a destination job again in college football, and a job where Saban’s image fits perfectly. He’s a true southern football man whose style calls for no nonsense or glitzy acts, just winning. So far, it’s worked pretty well. Just look at his near meltdown after defensive end Marcel Dareus intercepted Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert’s shovel pass and sprinted his way to the end zone before throwing the ball into the crowd in celebration in the first half’s final minutes for a score. Saban ran down the sideline in anger and berated his team for acting like the game was over with the 24-6 lead heading into the half. “It was like we’d won the game,” Saban said. “You can’t accept being average when you’re playing in the National Championship against a team that knows how to win.”Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, prior to the Tide’s win against Florida in the SEC Championship Game, heard how playing his position was a cakewalk thanks to Heisman-winning running back Mark Ingram in his backfield and wideout Julio Jones alongside him.Although McElroy threw just 11 times Thursday, he didn’t force anything into an interception or fumble. He did what he was coached to do. That’s what makes Saban one of the best. He keeps his team grounded when, in reality, one would be hard-pressed to find a more solid team. Perhaps more impressive is that his players buy into it. It was Saban who told his team during practice leading up to the championship that their No. 1 ranking was a “setup” for an upset because Texas was believed to be a better team. Genius or wit? Whatever it is, to Saban, it’s doing what is necessary to win, nothing else.
(12/29/09 6:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The New Year is on the horizon, which means the Big Ten begins its ruthless, grueling two-and-a-half month season in the coming days. For IU, it presents another catch in what seems like the longest two years in program history.The Hoosiers will be without the heart and soul of their offense, freshman guard Maurice Creek, for the remainder of the season because of a fractured left knee suffered in the second half of the Hoosiers’ 90-42 win against Bryant on Monday night at Assembly Hall. Creek will have surgery tomorrow in Indianapolis.“He is a very special young man, special family,” IU coach Tom Crean said after the game. “Our No. 1 concern is that the surgery goes well.” Coincidentally, the injury to one of the nation’s leading freshman scorers came on a day where resting starters before a string of marquee games was a hot topic in the state of Indiana. Just a day earlier, the Indianapolis Colts and team President Bill Polian elected to sit the majority of their starting players to prepare for the playoffs and ensure health. If there’s anything this team has learned during the last year, it’s finding a way to compete at a disadvantage in one of college basketball’s most physical conferences.And many times over the course of last year’s conference season, the Hoosiers were able to do so without a player of Creek’s statistical and physical caliber. The Oxon Hill, Md., native - who was offered a scholarship by Crean as a sophomore - totaled 60 points in two straight contests this month. One of those games was a 31-point performance against now-No. 3 Kentucky. With Big Ten play approaching, it’s time to measure the progress with yet another handicap. But there has been progress; how could there not be?The hole into which former coach Kelvin Sampson dug the program after committing major violations from 2006 to 2008 made "up" the only place to go. Now it’s time to see just how far up the hill the program has climbed since the tumultuous and disheartening spring of 2008. There have been bright spots, like the inspiring and energetic performances against NCAA runner-up Michigan State last year and Kentucky already this year. And there have been dull spots, such as a loss to Lipscomb last season. Monday night gave the Hoosiers some much-needed confidence after dropping a home game to Loyola (Md.) last Tuesday. It also gave some reasons the outcome of Thursday’s conference opener against Michigan could realistically fall in favor of IU despite Creek’s absence. Any blowout victory is enough to motivate a player having gone through what this IU team has over the last year, as is the devastating loss of a teammate. The Wolverines’ 20-point comeback last year in Bloomington is enough in itself to get the Hoosiers up for a fight. There’s no doubt IU is physically prepared for the months ahead, as they’ve had about as tough a pre-conference season as any team could schedule. There’s no question the determination is there after the one-win conference campaign a year ago and always-lofty expectations at one of college basketball’s premier programs. One thing is for sure: Even if Creek is sidelined for the year, there is a certain amount of experience present in terms of finishing games IU didn’t have a year ago.Last season, the likes of Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State had an advantage on the Hoosiers in their ability to find ways to win close games down the stretch. “It’s a big win and going to serve well in the long run,” said freshman forward Christian Watford after his 15-point performance. The difference in the team that took Branch McCracken Court on Monday compared to last Tuesday was night and day. Save the fact Bryant had just two players measuring over 6-foot-6 compared to IU’s six and was physically outmatched. There’s nothing the opposition can do to counter a team’s quality statistical play. IU shot an exceptional 55.2 percent from the field and almost 41 percent from 3-point land against the Bulldogs. The Hoosiers came out and looked like they wanted to play on this night. The energy that Crean said was necessary was there for the entire 40 minutes. Where IU will be tested is in how it handles Creek’s absence. “They’re not down because 18 points a game is crushed, they’re down in there because their teammate is crushed,” Crean said. The coach also emphasized the need for a full team contribution.“Everyone has to do more; that’s the bottom line,” Crean said.As for the coach with a vision of restoring IU back to prominence, it’s about keeping spirits high and the energy present. Because now, the hole seems to be a little deeper for a team that has always responded to the challenge at hand.
(12/28/09 5:53pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For IU, tonight’s game against Bryant will give Hoosier fans a glimpse of what to expect in the Big Ten opener against Michigan on New Year's Eve. Tom Crean gave his players the better part of last week off for the Christmas holiday after their underachieving performance against Loyola (Md.). The Bulldogs, meanwhile, come in well prepared, having already gone up against the likes of Providence, Boston College and St. John’s this year. Bryant put up 50-plus points just once in these three games. Should IU come in with the energy that was missing almost all of Tuesday night, the Hoosiers could get some much needed momentum heading into conference play.December woes crept back in the corridors of Assembly Hall after the 72-67 loss to the Greyhounds last week. However, IU is rested and knows this is their final chance to fine-tune their play in preparation for the grueling schedule ahead. Look for a focused, energetic IU team to take the floor tonight.Therber’s Prediction: IU 75 - Bryant 53
(12/23/09 4:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The December woes crept back into the corridors of Assembly Hall on a night where IU’s 18-point, somewhat-inspiring win over North Carolina Central on Saturday seemed like it occurred years ago.End of semester circumstances made IU’s underachieving first half performance on Saturday understandable; especially because it related to a team consisting of many players who experienced that type of scheduling transition for the first time.After Saturday’s win, IU coach Tom Crean spoke of the constant, up-tempo energy a team competing at this level needs in order to be successful.Needless to say, the message didn’t become reality as the Hoosiers fell 72-67 to Loyola (Md.) in front of a crowd of 11,321 at Assembly Hall Tuesday night.The reasoning?That’s the type of question where there’s no wrong answer.Blame it on fatigue; a second game in four days and the end to stressed-packed examination week (a week in which, however, at least 10 men’s basketball players achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher).Blame it on the missing energy factor.Blame it on the absence of a true home-game environment for 40 minutes at Assembly Hall.But whatever you blame it on, it doesn’t change the fact that while IU cannot continue to drop these types of games for its image’s sake, the loss to the Greyhounds cannot serve as an indicator towards what the Hoosiers can or will do in conference play and the Big Ten Tournament.Basketball has possibly the most theories of any sport in terms of what the difference in a game can be.It’s a game of runs, and Loyola made their spurts at the right time against an IU team who will finally have almost a full week off before playing Bryant in its final non-conference game. The Greyhounds jumped on IU from the start. The 24-7 gap they built in the first 9:30 was enough to make their final 10-2 run just enough to secure their first win against a Big Ten team in program history.“It just didn’t go our way tonight,” freshman guard Maurice Creek said following his 9-point performance. “The ball fell into their hands at the crucial times and our shots didn’t fall.”Games are won and lost at the foul line. Although Loyola didn’t make a great amount of their freebies, their 61.5% sufficed as IU shot just 68.8% from the line.In short, Loyola found a way to win and a way to respond anytime IU thought it may have found its spark.Two 4-point plays, successful loose-ball bouts and defending IU well in the post were enough to send the Hoosiers home for the holidays with a chip on their shoulders.Too many times, Greyhounds senior Brett Harvey put the dagger in the Hoosiers’ hearts. Harvey tallied 25 points and four rebounds.“He just kept his composure,” Loyola coach Jimmy Pastos said of his sole senior. “He can make shots.”While the December woes have again made their mark on the 2009-’10 IU season, who is to say this IU team can’t bounce back and compete against the likes of Ohio State, Illinois and NCAA Runner-up Michigan State, just as they did last year under the same circumstances?Bottom line: No way Crean accepts his team’s 21-7 run and taking the lead in the second half in and of itself. That was utterly clear in his post-game press conference.“In no way am I going moral victory here,” he said. “We learned a hard lesson tonight, and they earned the victory.” What this team needs now is a break heading into their final non-conference matchup and the Big Ten season. Getting away will physically and mentally serve IU well for the conference road that lies ahead; a road in which success is paved by energy, passion and fundamentals.
(12/20/09 5:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Non-conference games in leagues like the Big Ten can serve as a measuring stick or wake-up call in the form of an unexpected loss.IU saw this happen twice last year at the hands of Northeastern and Lipscomb, with both losses coming at Assembly Hall in December.The first half of the Hoosiers’ performance against North Carolina Central on Saturday night hinted more December woes could be on the horizon if they didn’t adjust their style and energy of play in the final twenty minutes of the game.After his team’s 81-58 win over the Eagles, IU coach Tom Crean summarized how essential it is to play with a high level of intensity from tipoff to the game’s end.“You’re only as good as your energy and ability to cover one another on the defensive end,” Crean said.IU entered the locker room with only a 36-33 lead over North Carolina Central, whose early ability to penetrate the Hoosiers’ man-to-man defense helped the Eagles’ C.J. Wilkerson score 12 of his 22 points in the first half, making the margin a little too close for comfort. IU, which has lived beyond the 3-point arc at times this season, found only five open looks from deep in the first half and capitalized on just one.North Carolina Central coach Levelle Moton felt his team played well early in the matchup.“I thought in the first half we dictated how we wanted to play,” Moton said. “But when they hit some shots, I thought the 17,000 people started dictating how we were going to play; it really got to us.”A game of this nature could not have come at a better time for the Hoosiers.With expectations even higher than last year for the Big Ten, IU had to see its weaknesses in the mirror prior to the physically grueling conference season. That is, if it hopes to see drastic change from last year’s single-win campaign.Although it took 20 second-half points from Maurice Creek and the inspiring, hard-nosed play of Jordan Hulls in the final minutes, the Hoosiers could not have asked for this wake-up call at a better time.With the conference opener against Michigan just 12 days away, IU needed a reminder they wouldn’t be going up against the likes of Howard and Northwestern State much longer.What makes the timing of this game even better for the Hoosiers is they still have two non-conference games and almost two weeks of practice to work before their date with the Wolverines on December 31.The talent, the energy and the desire is there. Now it’s consistency; now it’s using these two weeks and two remaining games to fine-tune it.As Crean has stressed since April 2008 when he assumed the coaching position at IU, there are always positives that come with the bad.From IU’s standpoint, their ability to adjust to the Eagles’ high-tempo, half-court offense helped the Hoosiers surrender only 25 second-half points.Offensively, good ball movement helped them find the looks it often had against Maryland and, at times, against Kentucky. IU found 13 more looks from 3-point land and hit six of them in the second period.“We just started moving the ball and finding those open looks,” Hulls said after the game.While it is tempting for IU to look at their performance Saturday night as it relates to the Big Ten season and the opener on New Year’s Eve, the Hoosiers will need to focus every bit of their concentration toward Loyola and Bryant.If not, the December woes could suddenly creep back into Assembly Hall.
(12/08/09 2:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The bitter temperatures and frigid December weather tell us it’s time to start judging who is for real in the NFL.However, the nature and reality of the most competitive professional sporting league tell us it’s anything but.This time of year, records are not indicative of what team has the potential to do come January.Just look at the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers, who returned almost all of the key personnel who secured their sixth Lombardi Trophy a year ago.At 6-6, the Steelers are still in the hunt for a wild-card spot. That means, should they make the cut, they would play three road games before the Super Bowl.Sounds eerily familiar to the 2005 Steelers, who finished the regular season 11-5 and reeled off three straight road wins in January before winning the world championship in Jerome Bettis’ hometown of Detroit.How about the 12-0 Indianapolis Colts?I remember a Colts team, the most talented one from position to position in franchise history, which started 13-0 and went on to fumble their Super Bowl hopes in a home loss to those Steelers; the same Steelers they beat in double digit fashion with a 26-7 win earlier that year.Take the 7-5 New England Patriots.If forced to slot a team for South Beach and the Super Bowl right now, I’d have a hard time not putting my money on Brady & Co.Call me crazy, but it’s the NFL. It’s “any given Sunday,” as the cliche states.New England coach Bill Belichick’s track record said he usually has his team playing their best football come January.After the Steelers’ 27-24 loss to the lowly Oakland Raiders on Sunday, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said his team would “unleash hell” the rest of this month.Message to Jim Caldwell, Sean Payton, Belichick and other coaches looking to make noise in January: Watch out.This is a team that finally has former first-round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall healthy at running back, with the ever-dangerous Troy Polamalu and behemoth Casey Hampton on the defensive side.Running the ball in January is a must. We hear it every year after a team, often Indianapolis, gives up an obnoxious amount of yards on the ground en route to an early playoff exit.So, why not keep the 5-7 Tennessee Titans in the conversation? Titans running back Chris Johnson is having an MVP-caliber season with 1,509 yards with four games to play. The team could grab a lingering hope for a wildcard spot if it goes 9-7. Should Tennessee make it, they have the personnel and experience of playing in January after last year’s 13-3 run, although Kerry Collins, the quarterback who led that team, has been benched for the season in favor of Vince Young. A common misconception in professional football is the Bill Parcells prophecy, stating “you are what your record says you are.” Sure, that’s true at the end of the year. The fog lies in the fact that in the NFL, there aren’t teams whose players are slower or whose offensive line isn’t as strong as those on the clubs tallying higher numbers in the win column.Look at the 12-0 Saints, who Sunday remained unbeaten only after Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham missed a 23-yard field goal in overtime.It’s going to be an exciting two months, as it should. Stay tuned.
(12/03/09 5:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When it comes to college football, there are coaching positions, and then there is the position.Or so it used to be.At Alabama or Florida, you are king of the SEC.At Texas or Oklahoma, you are king of the Big 12.At Notre Dame, you were king of the college football world – with an emphasis on were.And until Notre Dame Athletics Director Jack Swarbrick and his search committee can finally, after three tries thus far, find the guy for Notre Dame, nothing will change the latter.Fired Monday morning, former Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis echoed the words of his coaching mentor, Bill Parcells, while simultaneously putting the state of Notre Dame football into one sentence: “You are what your record says you are.”And right now, the Golden Domers are a .500 football program.Nothing against previous Irish coaches like Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham or Weis, but it goes without saying that they weren’t right for the job.Davie helped deliver Notre Dame to its first Bowl Championship Series appearance. Willingham prioritized character and integrity. Weis recruited well enough, on paper, to compete for a BCS National Championship.But at Notre Dame, it’s all or nothing.If one were to look at the factors determining if Notre Dame can win (but not monopolize) again, there’s no question the Irish can still hold equal expectations with the likes of Ohio State, Florida and Texas.Take their $25 million practice facility equipped with a state of the art weight room, player lounges and hallmark rooms dedicated to showing the program’s prestige.A home NBC television contract allows the coastal and southern parents of top prospects to watch their son play every week.A plethora of national championship banners do some talking, also.But, without someone to instill all of that and more into a recruit’s decision, Notre Dame doesn’t stand a chance of landing a deep enough recruiting class when warm climates and current success come knocking at the door.Who can blame them? Blue-chippers don’t care what happened back in the leather helmet ages of Notre Dame’s heyday. Playing under the shadows of a basilica is no longer a competitive pitch.And warm weather and the beach as opposed to a frigid November?I’ll take Miami or Los Angeles.But what makes me think the Irish can get back to their past level is the hire this time around. Notre Dame’s athletic administration has been haunted over the last 15 years by pushy boosters and alumni who want an unrealistic change in one year.Now, after three coaching hires that showed them what they cannot have, the Irish know what they must have.First and foremost, they need a salesman – an Urban Meyer, for instance.They need a proven coach at a perennial powerhouse – a Bob Stoops, for example.And finally, they need the guy. Brian Kelly might be the guy at Cincinnati, but is he the guy that can make players interested in a small Catholic school in Indiana again?Whoever it is that Notre Dame chooses, winning in the classroom and not on the field won’t do. After all, at Notre Dame you’re king of the football world.
(12/01/09 3:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This was supposed to be the year of Notre Dame football’s return after its previous 15 of mediocre and-at times laughable nature.It was the year the echoes were to be awakened once again, and the year that Notre Dame could once again solidify itself as a premier program in college football.There was coach Charlie Weis, an offensive mastermind who had three-year starting quarterback Jimmy Clausen and a core of some of the most talented receivers in the country.There was the favoring schedule that included the likes of Navy, a down Michigan program and Stanford. All the makings for a trip to the Bowl Championship Series were in line.This was the year.But in the end, this was Notre Dame.Not Notre Dame of the 1920s, ‘70s or even ‘90s. But the Notre Dame of the 2000s and the post-Lou Holtz era.It was the Notre Dame that dropped annual contests to service academies, unranked teams and the annual one-sided bouts with USC.Blame it on the Irish defense, which in recent years has been softer than the other side of the pillow.Blame it on Weis’ questionable, aggressive play calling at times.Blame it on the right, but controversial, decision to can Tyrone Willingham after three years.Whatever you blame it on, it doesn’t change the fact that Notre Dame is and has been a .500 program for the better part of the decade.When Weis left the New England Patriots back in December 2004, he said 6-5 wasn’t good enough; not for him, not for Notre Dame and not for its fans.And here Notre Dame is at 6-6 – a record tallied by some of the top recruiting classes in the country during the last three years, I might add.What the Irish are now faced with is finding the right guy to lead the program back to college football’s elite, the same problem they’ve had three times in less than 15 years.Two problems have contributed to Notre Dame’s inability to do this its last few tries.The first is convincing the right guy.Picture yourself in the shoes of Florida coach Urban Meyer, who has been on Notre Dame’s hotlist since 2004. Why would he give up his legacy, his lifestyle and possibly his credibility to try and transform mediocrity back to greatness in frigid South Bend?Sure, it’s Notre Dame. It’s the Golden Dome. It’s Touchdown Jesus and 11 national championships.But if you’re a guy like Bob Stoops at Oklahoma, it’s also risking your coaching legacy by trying to lead a team heavily restricted by academic standards and character expectations. It’s done, or in this case, attempted to be done, under scrutiny that led to what Weis labeled as “irreparable damage” to his family.Doesn’t sound like the glory days of Rockne and the “Four Horsemen” that made coaches gush about the position.The second problem is the Domers’ expectations. Notre Dame alumni and boosters don’t seem to get it.With the emergence of the spread offense and the nation-wide approach more and more schools take towards recruiting, programs aren’t built overnight. One school cannot and will not monopolize college football like Notre Dame did for decades.Can they compete for and win a national championship?Sure. But with the right guy and the right amount of time.I can’t question the firing of Weis. Given five years and the caliber of the recruiting classes he has brought in, there had to be substantial progress made. Maybe a couple of BCS wins or an appearance in the national championship.Instead, things like the loss to Navy and fumbling a double-digit lead to Stanford doomed Weis, and the once-storied program, for now.So now, as it’s been every few years in recent history, it’s back to the drawing board. Back to the drawing board in hopes of leading Notre Dame out of mediocrity.And, just like before, the biggest question is who will be doing the drawing.
(11/17/09 5:56am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>INDIANAPOLIS – After 18 consecutive regular-season wins and the latest one coming in dramatic, or possibly implausible, fashion, the 9-0 Indianapolis Colts found a way to pull out another win by beating the New England Patriots 35-34 in front of a sold-out crowd.They found a way to win a game that they had no business winning – on paper.This is a young team that has lost three starting defensive backs since the season’s start. Those same three key players in the secondary helped bring Indianapolis to its first Super Bowl win three seasons ago.What reason was there to believe that a team with virtually unheard-of players like rookies Jacob Lacey and Jerraud Powers in its starting lineup could compete with the likes of Wes Welker and future Hall-of-Famers Tom Brady and Randy Moss?These were the Patriots, who were led by the three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Brady and arguably the best coach in all of football Bill Belichick.Sunday Night Football’s matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium was a measuring stick for both teams. For the Colts, it would begin to indicate whether or not they could remain Super Bowl contenders while riding the ailing secondary.For the Patriots, it would prove if they were in fact back in tune after Brady missed all of 2008 with a knee injury and two closeroad losses at the beginning of this year.Down by 17 in the fourth quarter, most, including myself, counted the Colts out. The lead was too big. There was Moss facing defenders with half his size and athleticism. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who threw two interceptions in the win, wasn’t having his typical 300-yard, three-touchdown night.But most importantly – as has been true during the Manning era – the Colts didn’t count themselves out.What made this Colts comeback different from all the rest was that when the time called, there was a defense to bail Manning out. For the last 10 years or so, it’s been Mannning putting up numbers to out-score the opponent.The first half of Sunday night’s contest hinted that the Colts would for once live up to the outside perceptions of why they couldn’t win. Mismatches with New England’s receivers and the strength of Patriot running backs Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk boosted them to a 24-14 halftime advantage.With just more than four minutes remaining, Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski hit a 36-yard field goal to put the Patriots up by 13 with a score of 34-21.Two series after Colts running back Joseph Addai’s second touchdown of the night, a game-changing play epitomized Belichick’s infamous lack of respect for defenses.Facing 4th- and-2 inside their own 30-yard line with a 34-28 lead, New England failed to convert their only fourth-down attempt. The Colts did what was previously unthinkable and came up with a stop. The play would eventually lead to wide receiver Reggie Wayne’s game-winning touchdown pass reception from Manning.The talk within the Lucas Oil Stadium press room centered around Belichick’s controversial decision to go for it on fourth down. Don’t forget this was a Colts defense that previously allowed New England to convert 7 of 14 third downs.And it was the same Colts defense that previously had no control of the line of scrimmage and, as is common with young players, lacked the intensity up front as the game progressed.In addition, and possibly more pressing, is the fact that punting would have guaranteed Manning a chance to win the game with two minutes remaining, an area in which his reputation is second to none.For that, I’m not questioning Belichick’s decision. Let’s face it: Had New England converted, Belichick would have been praised back in Foxboro, Mass., instead of scrutinized.Known for his rather blunt and quick press conferences, Belichick was barely audible after the game.“I thought we could have gotten that yard,” Belichick said. “We just placed our trust in our team.”Manning, whose offense totaled more than 400 yards in the contest, said it best.“You just never know what to expect against New England,” the 12-year veteran said. “It’s just great for our young guys to get this win.”What has been so successful for the Patriots organization in the past eight years – that sense of controlled arrogance – came back to bite them in a game they had no business losing. It caught up to them in a game that looked strikingly similar to the 2006 AFC Championship matchup between the two teams.On this night, it was the Colts who lived up to Bear Bryant’s saying, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of fight in the dog,” silencing constant New England claims that they were soft.And it was an added milestone that only fueled the possibility of another storybook matchup down the road this coming January.
(11/10/09 4:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It’s not a matter of if or when, but who.The Bowl Championship Series is going to do it again, and this time there is a possibility that the damage might extend to multiple schools.That “it” I’m referring to is the snubbing of yet another deserving team at the end of the college football season.That “it” is what left the undefeated 2004 Auburn Tigers out of the national championship picture, and it’s what forced the 2003 LSU team to split what should have been an outright national championship with the USC Trojans.So who is going to be the annual victim of unquestionably the most flawed system in sports today?Should Boise State finish unbeaten and miss the title game, they could argue their undefeated record and their win against the possible PAC 10 champion Oregon Ducks validates their championship bid.If Alabama and Florida, who are both 9-0, win out, the two will battle for an undefeated season at the Georgia Dome in the 2009 SEC Championship Game. The loser would claim they deserved a spot in Pasadena for playing at the highest level of competition each week, and losing only to the other team playing for the national championship.In other words, it will be the same controversial – and now annual – argument fans must listen to at the conclusion of each college football season.The problem with the BCS isn’t necessarily who is left out, but why a team is left out. Unlike the 64-team field of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, the BCS doesn’t give each deserving team a chance to play for the crystal football.Fans of teams on the bubble that didn’t make it into March Madness might have their complaints, but programs legitimately competing for a trip to the Final Four in a respective year are represented.The bottom line regarding the BCS is that – albeit vague and general – it doesn’t make sense.Why should the college football world allow computer calculations to ultimately decide who will contend for a trip to the BCS National Championship Game in January?Before the cries for an absurdly long playoff system begin, let’s face it –a 64-team football playoff isn’t possible. Even a 32-team field isn’t realistic.With the increasing violent and physical nature of today’s football game, playing two or three games a week in a large playoff system would simply fail to place teams in games at full strength, and more importantly, might pose as a health risk.That’s not to say all of the aspects of the BCS should be thrown out the window. Take the system’s standings, for example. Why not use the current BCS rankings to rank teams from 1 to 16, and use it as the basis for a 16-team playoff? Starting at the beginning of December, a 16-team field could crown a champion around the same time the BCS does.Teams legitimately deserving and possessing the ability to compete for the collegiate football championship would be included, along with the Cinderellas common on the hardwood.While no system will ever completely silence critics and solve every problem present with college football’s postseason, there has to be change.The BCS is more about money and finance than competition. If it weren’t, why would a mediocre, 2-loss Notre Dame team with one of the largest fan bases and highest revenue possibilities almost always make a major bowl instead of a one-loss Oregon, as was the case in 2005? It’s a question the BCS Selection Committee and conference athletic directors must ask themselves, with the game’s integrity in mind.
(11/03/09 3:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Indiana Pacers have faced what in my opinion is one of the most turbulent downfalls in professional sports over the last five years, beginning with the infamous in-game brawl in Detroit during the 2004-05 season.Sure, it’s a bold statement. The Detroit Lions have lost 22 games in the past two seasons, Chicago Cubs fans in their 90s have yet to see their team win a World Series and the Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t seen October since the stone age.What separates these franchises from the Pacers is that the damage done to the accounting department of Pacers Sports and Entertainment has been the least of the organization’s worries.Since that dooming night back in November 2004 at the Palace of Auburn Hills, the Pacers have stolen the “bad boys” title from the Pistons of the 1990s.Previously the blame fell on character issues, such as their equipment manager being shot outside a hotel in Indianapolis while out on the town with former Pacer Jamaal Tinsley.It was placing the blame on showclub regulars Stephen Jackson and Marquis Daniels and the management decisions made regarding Tinsley’s refusal to play out his ill-advised contract extension.But now, there is new light on the troubles inside Conseco Fieldhouse.Two weeks ago former Pacer and then-director of player personnel Mel Daniels was fired from his front-office position. Daniels, whose number, 34, is retired and hangs from the rafters of Conseco Fieldhouse, also served as a scout and assistant coach for the Pacers in addition to his playing career.They’ve missed the playoff for three straight years, but every franchise has its rebuilding phase when it loses players like Reggie Miller and Ron Artest in the Pacers’ case.I understand cleaning house. It’s a must when it comes to fixing problems of the magnitude the Pacers are facing.But why an icon? Why someone whose face is painted along the Conseco Fieldhouse walls next to the likes of Reggie Miller and George McGinnis? Why someone who had a hand in composing an NBA Finals team that consisted of great character?The in-house feuding that led to this messy departure shows the instability and the divide existing among the basketball side of the Pacers.At the same time, Pacers coach Jim O’Brien received a contract extension in September after accomplishing essentially nothing in his first three seasons. Sure, Danny Granger evolved into the leader of the team en route to the NBA All-Star Game this past season, but the Pacers as a team have seen far less progression.Come on, in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, missing the eight-team playoff to the finals is almost harder than making it.While it’s been rumored O’Brien and newly hired general manager David Morway shared a rocky relationship with Daniels, my guess is Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird was put in an impossible position, with loyalties reaching to all parties.Right now, it’s all about taking the necessary steps toward making the Pacers contenders again no matter how small or time-consuming they may be.This is a team whose image sunk to an almost unprecedented level, as the records of recent attendance at Conseco Fieldhouse and the past Marion County legal records prove it.In-house division would only add to the distractions preventing the Pacers from going forward. Ridding the organization of one side of the problem was necessary, which is why other positions should have been shaken up at last season’s end. Steps should have been taken prior to hiring O’Brien and Morway to ensure front-office cooperation, whether that was moving in a different direction or not.Until the Pacers can accept this reality, more of the same should be expected on Pennsylvania Avenue.
(10/27/09 1:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It was a season in which baseball followers across the country became Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim fans.Even the die-hard Wrigleyville frequenter in me found myself rooting for the team in search of the storybook ending that might have given some closure from the unimaginable circumstances it faced during the last six months.After pitching six scoreless innings against the Red Sox in April, Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others were killed in a hit-and-run car accident caused by a suspected drunk driver. The driver will face second-degree murder charges at a trial date set for next April.The Angels, forced to play almost an entire season without their fallen teammate, looked to complete a sports story for the ages in honor of Adenhart. Coming to the new Yankee Stadium for the American League Championship Series was the only thing that stood in the Angels’ way.Facing elimination on Sunday night, hundreds of thousands across the country hoped an Angel in the Outfield would force a Game Seven and cap the Angels’ pennant aspirations. Down to their last out and facing arguably the greatest closer of all time in New York’s Mariano Rivera, Angels’ outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. struck out, ending the dream of a title run.As the sports world has seen on numerous occasions in the past couple years with the tragic deaths of athletes such as former Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman and former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair, the image of sports is mistakenly made out to be a life-and-death matter.Sports are undoubtedly a huge part of society and, in today’s rough economic times, play an invaluable role in city and state’s revenue sources. Last year, a city like Detroit hosting the Final Four brought hope and diversion to a place in dire need of something to counter the trying times.And there are the feel-good stories like the Adenhart situation, where a team bonds over someone in order to accomplish something outside the game.But this isn’t always the case.As the sporting industry has become a billion-dollar business, it has also altered society for the worse.The fist fight I witnessed just rows above me three years ago at a Colts-Bengals Monday Night Football game in 2006 sticks out in my mind as the epitome of the negative effect sports has had on society.The game’s outcome is prioritized before people and personal issues. Just last week, a USC football fan thought the prominence of the Trojans’ rivalry with Notre Dame required him to send a note to Irish coach Charlie Weis mocking his daughter’s autistic condition.Here in America, we have been spoiled with things like sports. The social amenities available to us are so common we often forget about the more pressing issues. We are more concerned with how many games remain in the divisional race and Tiger’s potential spot on Sunday’s leaderboard at Augusta.These side effects of sports are what the mass media, a massive budget and the business side of the industry have brought on. As is true with your typical sporting contest, the industry has its ups and downs. But there is also something more important than the game, something the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim portrayed in a season all about a fallen teammate and not a bat and ball.
(10/20/09 1:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Last week marked not only the official return of college basketball, but the 99th birthday of one of college basketball’s greatest ambassadors.John Wooden is a rare exception to most coaches, who are simply remembered for their on-court achievements. Despite coaching UCLA to all but one of its 11 national championships, many would argue Wooden’s mark on the lives of others outnumber the Indiana native’s hoops accolades.Wooden grew up 20 miles north of Bloomington in Martinsville, Ind., and has seen life, as well as athletics, from just about every possible angle. Wooden, who played at Purdue and led the Boilermakers to the 1932 national championship, left his mark in the United States Navy, the high school classroom and on the basketball court.As an English teacher and coach of basketball, baseball and tennis at South Bend Central High School, Wooden began a career that would continue for more than 25 years.The first team Wooden coached tallied a 6-11 record at Dayton High School, the first and only losing season Wooden would ever oversee from the bench.The word “achievement” is used rather loosely when it comes to today’s athletic world. Academic shortcuts, lax behavioral standards and a lack of values were things for which Wooden had no patience.This was epitomized in 1947, when Wooden turned down an invite to play in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics tournament after his Indiana State team won the Indiana Collegiate Conference Championship. His reasoning? The NAIA had a policy banning African-American players.After leaving Terre Haute, Wooden embarked on unquestionably the most successful coaching tenure in the history of sports as he began his 27-year career as the head coach at UCLA.Wooden has been named Basketball Coach Emeritus at UCLA, where he compiled a win percentage of .823. His .813 all-time win percentage is unparalleled in college basketball.Wooden, who remains the only person inducted to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame as both a player and coach, led teams regarded as some of the best ever in college basketball. The Bruins went undefeated four times, won a record 10 championships from 1963-75 and recorded 19 conference championships. In spite of those national championships,“The Wizard of Westwood” takes the most pride in his teams’ dominating performance within the Pac-10. It’s not surprising considering the coach’s constant emphasis on little things.One can argue whether or not someone has or will ever etch their name in both sports and society to the extent which Wooden did. ESPN’s “Greatest Coach of the 20th Century” has received a multitude of service accolades and authored books for adults and children alike.The innovative “Pyramid of Success,” which details a five-step procedure to succeed in any aspect of life, has become a nationally renowned leadership model. The Bruins named their home hardwood “Nell and John Wooden Court,” something Wooden would not allow unless his wife’s name was included and listed before his.Wooden’s coaching style has taken a back seat to the profane-filled, win-at-all-costs philosophy. Nonetheless, Wooden has yet to be dethroned from the top, as it relates to hoops and life. Rarely was there a person or factor that could prevent his teams from reaching the competitive pinnacle. And, after 99 years, the “The Wizard of Westwood” is yet to be proven wrong.
(10/13/09 1:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Whoever said too much of anything can be bad obviously never foresaw the Brett Favre saga coming. The unpredictable situation has taken over the NFL for the last year and a half.Favre, who has retired and un-retired twice since the end of the 2007 season, is now playing for his second team in two seasons after spending 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Favre led the Packers to the Super Bowl in 1997 and 1998, with his sole Super Bowl win in 1997.Favre showed interest in returning to Green Bay in 2008 after his announced retirement. But general manager Ted Thompson and Packers coach Mike McCarthy believed staying with the game plan and moving on with Aaron Rodgers was best.What kept the graying 18-year veteran in the league even though he would not have the opportunity to end his career as a cheese-head?Love of the game and competitiveness are what drive Favre, as shown by the quarterback’s signature, arms-raised pose after throwing a touchdown and feet-happy antics after a big play.Sometimes in life you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. For Favre, who amazingly still has arm strength and consistency to compete at the highest level, playing golf in the fall and watching the game on television wasn’t going to be good enough.For those claiming Favre owed it to the fans of Green Bay and the Packers organization to end his career within the walls of Lambeau Field, think of what it would be like living without your most-prized hobby.To this day, I’m not sure I have ever seen the genuine excitement from a football player matching Favre’s two weeks ago after throwing the game-winning touchdown of a 27-24 win against the San Francisco 49ers with two seconds remaining.So far, the Favre signing has worked out well for the 5-0 and first place Minnesota Vikings, who signed their former rival after the beginning of training camp. The juggernaut rushing attack led by Adrian Peterson is complemented by Favre’s ageless poise and precision in the pocket.Since his move to an NFC-North foe, it might seem that revenge is keeping Favre around.If vengeance were the thing Favre stayed in the league for, what motive would the quarterback have to sign with the mediocre AFC New York Jets last season? Unfortunately, in today’s world, claims that selfishness and the need for attention are side effects of Favre continuing to live his dream. That doesn’t matter to Favre, who will stop at nothing to continue playing football. Favre knows he’s still got it. For Favre, sporting a Nike golf hat has been put on hold for something greater, something that cannot be classified by age or outside talk: love of the game.
(10/06/09 3:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The leaves are changing, and so is the temperature. In other words, we are starting to find out who is for real and who is not in the college football world, and who could or will not contend for the National Championship. Surprises, disappointments and new expectations for the plethora of teams still competing for a shot at the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game are what make this time of year special for football fans across the country.Here are some thoughts about the first five weeks of the season, as the midway point of the season inches near.Most Surprising Team Miami Hurricanes – “The U swagger,” as they say, is back. Current coach and former Miami linebacker Randy Shannon has brought much-needed discipline and attitude to a program which, for years, has had enough athleticism to compete. Sophomore quarterback Jacory Harris’ outstanding play and quarterback rating of 151.85 have led to wins at then-No. 18 Florida State and against then-No. 8 Oklahoma.Most Complete Team Alabama Crimson Tide – The Tide is rolling behind sophomore running back Mark Ingram and junior quarterback Greg McElroy. Ingram has totaled six touchdowns in five games, and McElroy is completing 65.5 percent of his passes to a young receiving core, which has accounted for nine touchdowns. The Tide defense has allowed fewer than fifteen points in three of their first five games.Darkhorse ContenderAuburn Tigers – Critics bad-mouthing the hiring of former Iowa State coach Gene Chizik have been silenced. The Tigers won on the road at Tennessee and have an explosive offense that has put up at least 35 points in three games and 54 points once. The early win on the road against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium gives Auburn momentum as rigorous Southeastern Conference play continues.The Jury is Out on Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Notre Dame took a hit in Week 3 after losing star wide receiver Michael Floyd for the remainder of the season. However, Notre Dame’s schedule after USC is favorable with opponents including Connecticut, Navy and Stanford. One thing is for sure: The Irish secondary has to play better and cannot rely on another late-game drive from quarterback Jimmy Clausen to bail him out. Should Notre Dame somehow beat USC, the Irish have no excuse to end up worse than 11-1. Misfortune Continues forFlorida State Seminoles – Home losses to Miami and South Florida have already plagued Florida State coach Bobby Bowden’s conference title hopes. The ’Noles haven’t been to the BCS since 2005, and the inconsistency synonymous with Florida State for the past couple years hints they won’t be back anytime soon. Heisman HopefulTexas quarterback Colt McCoy – McCoy has completed more than 70 percent of his passes while leading “Hook ’Em” to an undefeated season thus far. The senior has a quarterback rating of 150 and has thrown nine touchdowns to an offense that averages more than 500 yards of offense per game.Team With Everything to LoseFlorida Gators – While much was lost when Florida quarterback Tim Tebow went down with a concussion against Kentucky, the two-time national champion and Heisman-winning field general is expected to play next week against LSU. Should the Gators go undefeated through the gauntlet that is the SEC and win the conference championship game, Florida would be a near-lock for the national championship due to their exceptional BCS track record during the last three years. If Florida loses in the SEC Championship Game to a one-loss team, the Gators might have reason to worry. With Alabama, LSU and Auburn still undefeated, it’s not an unlikely scenario.
(09/29/09 2:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“You understand why they haven’t won in 100 years here.” These were cancerous words spoken by Chicago Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley during an interview with the Daily Herald of Illinois two weeks ago.Bradley was burning off steam from his removal from the lineup during a recent game because of a sore knee. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry suspended Bradley for the rest of the season the day after the interview.All I can say is: It’s about time.With the Cubs going ice cold in October after having the second-best record in baseball a year ago, they were in need of a hitter, and possibly in more need of a leader.Last year was the second time in a row the Cubs were swept in the divisional round of the playoffs after winning the National League Central. Figuring Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano would again carry the Cubs pitching and outfielder Alfonso Soriano would come through in the lead-off spot, Bradley was signed to a three-year, $30 million contract. The hope – and I emphasize hope – was an increase in the RBI column.Hendry and manager Lou Piniella, who has never been a saint himself, must have forgotten about the leadership vacancy.Zambrano, who has been known for his inconsistent play and frequent temper flares over the years, has never been all about the team. Half-hearted efforts after slow starts and the demolition of Gatorade machines were all too common for the Big Z.The Cubs have had more than enough talent to contend with the likes of the Yankees, Red Sox and the interdivisional rival Cardinals in the post-Sosa years. What they haven’t had is the combination of a vocal player insisting to play through the bumps and bruises.After more than 100 years of going without a ring, you would figure that Hendry and the rest of the Cubs’ front office would realize the magnitude of the risk, and ultimately how bad of a move this would turn out to be, before Bradley signed on the dotted line.When I hear the words “Milton Bradley,” I don’t think of the board game. I think of the head case that tore his ACL while arguing with an umpire. I think of an arrogant outfielder who threw the ball into the stands, thinking he made the third out when it was actually the second.Last week in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Bradley’s mother said that there have been things taking his mind off of baseball since his arrival in Chicago, like his young son facing racism at school.While that’s unacceptable and inhumane no matter the situation, Bradley has no room to go off on the organization that gave him a chance, and a heavy paycheck – after seven other teams had enough. As good of a hitter as Bradley might be, the question is whether or not the organization and, possibly more important, the yearning Cubs nation will have him back.He’s the new Dennis Rodman of Chicago, minus the wedding dress and few world championship rings. The only difference is the players that surrounded Rodman had the class of which the Cubs are in dire need, and one was a guy named Michael Jordan.Should Hendry do what seems inevitable and bid Bradley farewell on the north side of Chicago, the hunt will again begin for the missing piece to the 102-year puzzle.
(09/22/09 2:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Calls for Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis’ head are done – at least for now.Prior to the start of the season, expectations for the program were as consistent as Weis’ tenure thus far in South Bend. A national title, a Bowl Championship Series bid and another seven-win season were all tossed around.After an expected 35-0 home blowout against Nevada in Week 1, the Irish began to show signs of previous years’ woes against Michigan. Fumbles inside their own red zone, dropped passes in the end zone and dead-ball penalties continued to plague Notre Dame.The inconsistency synonymous with Notre Dame football again showed itself Saturday.In its 33-30 win, Notre Dame beat Michigan State at home for the first time since 1993.Unlike some Notre Dame teams during the past decade or so, this group did not quit when the “breaks were beating the boys,” echoing the speech of legendary Notre Dame running back George Gipp. At the same time, this season and ending a 15-year bowl drought with a 2008 December game should send the message to irrational Notre Dame fans and boosters around the country. It should show them that the environment of college football has changed. No one program can or will monopolize the game like the Irish of the 1940s or Oklahoma of the 1950s.Weis’ post-game comments said it all. “It’s really nice to see how genuinely excited they are, and I feel great for them,” he said of his players.Twenty years ago, Notre Dame winning a shoot-out against a down Michigan State team would have been viewed as a moral loss.But Weis, a member of the Bill Parcells coaching tree, has been put in an impossible situation in one of the most scrutinized jobs in America. During the last three years, his staff has never looked for anyone else to blame but themselves. As if dealing with the pushy trustees, boosters and everything else that comes with being the head football coach at Notre Dame wasn’t enough, Weis has dealt with intense criticism after each of the last two seasons. That said, Saturday’s contest wasn’t won by Notre Dame – it was lost by Michigan State. Even though Notre Dame didn’t fold, Michigan State handed the game to “Touchdown Jesus” overlooking Notre Dame Stadium in the distance.Despite an uncharacteristic fumbled exchange in the second quarter on the Spartan goal line, star wide receiver Golden Tate dropping a would-be touchdown and continuous penalties, Michigan State found ways to lose.Spartan quarterback Kirk Cousins overthrew an absurdly wide open Larry Caper in the end zone with just more than a minute to go. Spartan cornerback Chris Rucker dropped a ball that was essentially thrown directly to him from Notre Dame junior quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who has yet to be intercepted in 2009.So, with games against Washington – who downed USC – and rival Boston College looming, where does the program go from here?A high-caliber bowl game is not out of the question for Notre Dame, who has never lost less than two games en route to a major bowl in the BCS era. There is no question the Irish offense has the firepower to put major points on the board from here on out. Their fate depends upon the Irish defense, who on Saturday looked downright confused with too-many-men-on-the-field penalties and failing to correctly align before the snap.The all-too-common blitzes from defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta have more often than not been exploited by a successful intermediate passing game.Should the Irish fall to less than 10 wins for the sixth time in seven years with a struggling defense, the calls for a new coach by the name of Urban Meyer or Jon Gruden will ring again. And talk of instability will go right along with it.
(09/15/09 12:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Just three years ago, the Indianapolis Colts were looking to build on the winningest season in franchise history, while also looking to bounce back from one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.The 2005 Colts, heavily regarded as a better team than the eventual 2006 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis team, won its first 13 games and finished the year 14-2. With home field advantage throughout the playoffs and the league’s most potent offense that included to-be Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne, the Colts were an easy favorite for the Super Bowl.And then there was the Cinderella Pittsburgh Steelers, who won three consecutive road games in January before completing their magical run in Jerome Bettis’ hometown of Detroit in the 2005 Super Bowl. Pittsburgh defeated the Colts 21-18 at the RCA Dome in the divisional round of the AFC Playoffs thanks to the larger-than-life play of second-year quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, making a game-saving tackle with 21 seconds to go. One could also possibly thank Nick Harper’s knife-happy wife.The echoes that Manning could never win the big game began to ring again. The jeers that the Colts’ play was too finesse returned to Indianapolis media.And still, with just one Super Bowl ring in the six-year span of at least 12 victories, the Colts have yet to earn the label of a dynasty.Even after the departures of wideout Marvin Harrison, defensive tackle Montae Reagor and cornerback Jason David, the Colts still have a shot at ranking among pro football’s greatest of all time.While the hope remains, the clock is ticking. It’s ticking on Manning’s ability to play at the level for which he is so known, the already questionable durability of former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders and up-and-coming teams around the AFC South.First-year coach Jim Caldwell, who replaced Tony Dungy, one of the most honorable and respected coaches in history, has the potency on offense to lead the Colts back to South Beach. But if the run defense continues to falter in the playoffs, if Sanders is only able to go 10 games a year and if the Colts’ special teams play (particularly kick coverage) doesn’t improve, then Indianapolis does not go down with the 49ers of the 1980s, the Cowboys of the 1990s or the Patriots of the 2000s.Despite the absence of retired offensive lineman and Pro Bowler Tarik Glenn and shipping guard Jake Scott to Tennessee, there’s still talent on a young Colts offensive line, to which a friend of mine referred as having only Canadian Football League quality players. Plus, with Manning under center, it’s not like nine seconds of protection are needed.As rookie running back Donald Brown gains experience, it’s likely the Colts will be able to go two deep at running back to keep fresh legs active in an offense that relies heavily on backfield pass protection.The offensive firepower can only take Indianapolis so far if the defense doesn’t begin to put on a 2006 playoff-esque performance. There’s no question the face and reputation of the defense changes when Sanders can go. His ability to play run in the box and the acrobatic pass coverage he brings make the Pro Bowler an invaluable strong safety.One game down and 15 to play. One game at a time. The situation is no stranger to a team who has seen multiple shots at multiple Super Bowls dwindle during the years.
(09/08/09 3:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This weekend is why you go through two-a-days. It’s why 20 hours a week (or possibly more in Ann Arbor) are dedicated to the gridiron. It’s why countless amounts of sweat are put forth in the weight room during the winter. In general, it’s why you lace up your cleats.Saturday, No. 4 USC travels to Columbus, Ohio to take on No. 6 Ohio State. The Buckeyes, led by sophomore quarterback sensation Terrelle Pryor, are looking for redemption dating back to January, when the Buckeyes lost yet another Bowl Championship Series game – the third in a row for coach Jim Tressel. This redemption also dates from last year’s curb-stomping in Los Angeles, where Ohio State fell to the Trojans 35-3 in a regular-season game.However, what may be most at stake for the Buckeyes is an end to the negative talk that has surrounded the program for almost three years. Ever since the 2006 BCS National Championship Game which pitted the Buckeyes against Florida, Ohio State has heard nothing except for why they don’t belong with the nation’s elite.The 41-14 defeat at the hands of Urban Meyer, Chris Leak & Co. was followed by a 38-24 loss to LSU in the following year’s BCS title game.With last year’s embarrassment in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Buckeyes’ inability to seal the deal against Texas in the final minutes of last year’s Fiesta Bowl, the talk hasn’t stopped.And for good reason. Anyone can argue that despite Ohio State outright winning or sharing the Big Ten title each year since 2005, there has been something missing in January. Maybe the month-long layoff Ohio State has been plagued with, because of the Big Ten’s lack of a conference championship game, is to blame. Maybe Ohio State being an outright inferior team is where the fault lies.This Saturday, Pryor and the Buckeyes have a chance to show they’re back at the level that they were when Ohio State won the Fiesta Bowl by defeating defending champion and then-No. 1 Miami in the 2002 season. The game, designated as the national championship, ended in double-overtime and controversy but brought the glass football back to Columbus in Tressel’s second season.For Tressel and the rest of the Buckeyes, the matchup couldn’t come at a better time. USC cornerback Shareece Wright is out for the year and wideout Ronald Johnson, the third leading receiver from last year, is sidelined.For the loser, the good news is the loss comes early. The BCS Selection Committee and computers (yes, for some reason still pertinent to college football) often favor teams who get hot near the end of the season. For the winner, an inexplicable amount of momentum will be built.Not even Woody Hayes could ask for a better environment than there will be this weekend. It’s ABC’s marquee, prime-time matchup, which means former Buckeye Kirk Herbstreit and the rest of ESPN’s College Gameday crew will be in the house.The storied Ohio Stadium is home to some of the most raucous, loud and passionate fans in the country. There’s probably enough history between the two legendary programs to write a book as thick as the College Football Encyclopedia itself.Even the present decades’ accolades are enough to tell the story of the two programs’ prominence.Dating back to 2002 and extending to just 2005, three national championship teams and four Heisman Trophy winners call either Columbus or Los Angeles the city of their alma mater. Don’t forget three additional runner-up years between the two (2005, 2006, 2007) and four Rose Bowl victories since the 2003 season.Saturday is about more than your average college game day. It’s about lore. It’s about pageantry. It’s about pride. It’s a celebration of two of the greatest programs in the land, and a testament to see if Ohio State can rise above the talk and establish itself again as one of college football’s elite.