January 30th, 2008 Keith Godfrey
This guy is everywhere! And with a week left until Signing Day I am sure the news on Terrelle Pryor is only going to grow exponentially. Now, we hear that he may wait until after Signing Day to make a decision. Oi vey!
Want to make things more confusing … from the same newspaper I read that news is a link to a story that says he is leaning towards being a Buckeye.
If you’re wondering what in the world the big deal is with this guy … well …. click here and observe.
What makes the sweepstakes even higher is this is the first head-to-head match up between Rich Rodriguez and Jim Tressel.
The question in my head is … if somehow Mike Belotti lures this kid off to Oregon is it a draw between Rich and Jim? Or, is it a victory for Jim because it really puts Rich up a creek?
What?! If I am going to be subjected to reading numerous stories about this for a week or more I might as well create one of my own.
Posted in Recruiting | No Comments »
January 30th, 2008 Keith Godfrey
Big Ten basketball is in full swing. It seems like I was mostly spot on regarding my other blog with perhaps the only change I would make would be switching Minnesota and Purdue after the Boilermakers grabbed their first big win of the year by beating the Badgers (their win against the Buckeyes also looks good but both of those wins are at home). It appears that the NCAA tournament will see five teams - Indiana, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Purdue.
After watching the Ohio State-Penn State game last night I started to think about who should be up for player of the year in the Big Ten. There are three obvious choices in my opinion … I would say that Raymar Morgan and DJ White just miss the cut. The following three players are, in my opinion, up for the award.
Jamar Butler of Ohio State means more to his team than any other player in the league. Without Butler the Buckeyes are potentially not even an NIT squad. His maturity and leadership have pushed the Buckeyes through some tough wins.
Drew Neitzel provides senior leadership to the Spartans who very well may be the class of the Big Ten. Recently Neitzel overcame a scoring slump and has returned to the form we saw at the end of last season.
Eric Gordon of Indiana …. holy freshmen sensation. Gordon and teammate DJ White have the Hoosiers battling the Spartans for the top of the Big Ten. Gordon is the difference between this years Hoosier squad and last years and is the reason that the Hoosiers could return to the Final Four.
Eric Gordon is averaging nearly 22 points per game is probably the more popular choice out of the three candidates mentioned. However in the grander scheme of things Neitzel and Butler are more important to their teams and make a bigger contribution. Right now I think it is a crime if the award goes to any but Jamar Butler. However, I’ll be surprised if Gordon doesn’t take the award home and move on to the NBA next year.
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January 27th, 2008 Keith Godfrey
Earlier in the football season the ever so infamous Mike Hart of Michigan eluded to the Spartans of Michigan State as being the University of Michigan’s little brother. Hart will long be remembered for his mouth but what he said in this instance actually made sense to me; albeit in an entirely different context. If MSU is the younger brother of Michigan well then the mid major schools are the step children of the top dogs. What is the relevancy of a mid major program anyway?
Before I move on let me preface the argument with this. It is entirely understandable if” you played your sport at that school, a family member plays a sport there, you hold a degree from there (although this ranks much lower on the scale). Moving on …..
Sure, schools like Boise State, Toledo, Hawaii, George Mason, etcetera have all served a purporse. Typically it is the role of whipping boy, however, lately the mid major has made some in roads to the top. The 2006 football Broncos of Boise State being the most recent (no we won’t debate one-loss Hawaii from 2007).
To me though, their relevancy ends there … right there. It’s fun to have an underdog to cheer for and by golly its fun when it’s not Northwestern all the time. Outside of their underdog role though I see no reason to be a huge fan of a mid major school. Sorry, just can’t.
This past football season I attended the Toledo - Iowa State football game at The Glass Bowl in Toledo with my wife and some friends of ours. I had picked this game out due to the fact that a Big 12 team was coming into the Glass Bowl and I find Gene Chizik to be one heck of a coach. That was the extent of my interest. I did not take the game very seriously nor had I ever taken a Toledo game very seriously; its Toledo for crying out loud!!
So as we’re sitting there (mostly bored by the terrible play mind you) I couldn’t help but be astonished at the fandom sitting in front of me. These three men were absolutely holding on to every play like it would be the deciding factor if their oxygen machines ceased working and therefore they ceased ….. oh, you get it. I don’t understand, its Toledo!
We’re talking mid majors here … not a game …. but mid majors … not the game I have grown to love and die for but mid majors. Oh, nevermind, Allen Iverson’s ‘we’re talking ’bout practice’ bit will always be better than any parody I can attempt. But seriously … mid major. They’re never going to win a national title and I am not just talking football.
So what’s the point … why get all worked up over a mid major if you’re not bringing home NCAA hardware? Who cares if you can make the dance if you don’t stand a chance!
What was the last mid major school to win an NCAA football title? Good God, I can’t think of that off the top of my head either (it was 1984 BYU). Over the past six years the highest average ranking of a mid major school is 9.8 in the AP poll with 2004 Utah being the highest rated in that period at fourth.
Surely, it must be different in other sports … right? Nope. March Madness is no different. Sure, George Mason (whoever he is) made a Final Four run in 2006 but no mid major has won the dance since UNLV in 1990 and in the last ten years the Madness has been conquered by a team from either the SEC, ACC, Big East, or Big Ten.
Hockey … nope. Wrestling, forget about it. Did you know since 1989 either Minnesota, Iowa, or Oklahoma State has won the NCAA Wrestling title. Yeah, three schools. Suck on that parity.
Well surely, women’s sports must be different. Forget about it. Women’s basketball hasn’t seen a mid major win it since 1985 with Old Dominion. Heck, UConn tore off the threepeat from 2002-2004.
I even went looking for oddball champions, baseball and softball because of the perceived advantage by southern and western schools due to weather being nicer and getting better practice time. Not even there do you find a lot of success for the mid major. In baseball only twice in the last ten years has a school not represented by one of the big six conferences won the title. Softball over that same time period …. once.
So clearly, yes, there is that flash in the pan chance that a school might pull a 1984 BGSU NCAA Hockey Championship like season but it’s nothing more than that. When was the last time BGSU was relevant in the CCHA let alone the NCAA?
Point to budgets, point to TV access, point to whatever it is you want. I am pointing to championships and pride. I will always take pride in reaching the summit, the NCAA title. While the view from the plateau is always nice the view from the top is always finest.
Posted in Mid Majors, NCAA | 8 Comments »
January 25th, 2008 Keith Godfrey
I was going to start out on something else and then I stumbled across this little number about attractive, young, female co-eds who will be paid $25-$50 per hour to attend Super Bowl parties around Glendale, AZ and … well …. look pretty.
Now, don’t get me wrong … I enjoy good looking women as much as any other guy (please God don’t let my wife read this!) but how incredibly vapid is this? How overwhelmingly shallow! Perhaps I am just frustrated by my years of inability to achieve financial success by showing off my good looks. I mean, there is a market for slightly overweight married guys is there not?!? Could it be the fact that I have two daughters who, in spite of their father’s looks, very well may grow up to be beautiful young girls who could make a significant amount of money attending parties? Although that is admittedly much better than appearing in a Girls Gone Wild video. So girls if you ever happen across this blog please go with the former … attend the parties.
Sometimes even I am surprised at what some people are capable of. Like …..
Urban Meyer who is being investigated by the University of Florida and potentially the NCAA for a recruiting violation. Furthermore, the rumor is that Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow, could also be connected to this mess. It seems Meyer was interested in bringing a junior college wideout to Gainesville and when he discovered there was no chance of bringing this guy in unless his girlfriend came along too Meyer devised a plan. Said girlfriend just happened to be a star gymnast … and … well … UF has a women’s gymnastics team (I’m certain if they didn’t at the time they would have created one … anything for football after all). Well Mr. Meyer decided he’d also contact the young man’s girlfriend which is a potential recruiting violation because a coach of one sport cannot recruit for another team as the NCAA limits the number of coaches who can recruit for a sport and some other rules I admit I don’t know. It’s long been rumored that Urban Meyer is shady and I always chalked it up to jealousy but if this story holds any validity at all .. and I mean any .. I think there needs to be some consequences up to and including the loss of scholarship(s) and potentially suspensions.
Speaking of messes … this whole Rich Rod and West Virginia thing just won’t stop. I feel pity for Bill Stewart as he has to feel like the red-headed step child here. Roddy finally responded in a letter to WVU Athletics Director, Ed Pastilong and what a doozy it is. I don’t practice contract law but I still think anyone with half a brain understands that written agreements stand up in court; oral and handshake agreements don’t necessarily stand on their own. Good luck Rich but even I am tiring of this back and forth.
Finally, should we feel sorry for Terrelle Pryor at all? After all, we’re talking about an 18 year old kid who is presumably about to make the biggest decision of his life and people are hanging on his every word. I can’t fathom the pressure. Supposedly, according to Pryor, newspapers, representatives from Rivals, etc. are calling him daily saying things like, “you know where you’re going … just tell us.” Apparently people are screaming at school officials because they won’t give up access to Terrelle during school hours. I understand … we all love our college football and yes, I would love to see him a Buckeye. However, my life doesn’t hang in the balance because of his decision. Terrelle, I at least feel for you and wish you the best whether you’re in Columbus, Ann Arbor, Eugene, or Baton Rouge come next year.
Posted in NCAA | 1 Comment »
January 22nd, 2008 Keith Godfrey
I find myself going around to message boards on college football quite often. Well, I should state that more accurately; I enjoy reading articles and then reading what the biased and misinformed have to say regarding that particular topic. I also enjoy reading the dribble spewed back and forth between supporters of conferences and supporters of schools. It really does lighten the day up some. I like to think I am more objective than most.
Clearly, as has been made evident on this blog, I am a Buckeye to the core. Nothing is going to change that - my two years at Michigan State couldn’t even find a way to do that. That just made it so I bleed green and white when they aren’t facing the scarlet and gray.
I am just really curious about something though. As LSU wrapped up their defeat of Ohio State in the most recent BCS Championship Game chants of, “SEC, SEC, SEC,” were heard resonating throughout the Superdome. Sure, this game was played in SEC Country but do you ever imagine had this game been played in Cleveland that near the end of the game had the Buckeyes wrapped up the victory you would have heard chants of Big Ten? Or perhaps if Oklahmoa was wrapping up a championship in Arlington, Texas you would have heard chants of Big 12?
I understand rivalries and that on a given Saturday when your team is facing it’s rival you spew your vengeance towards that team but by the time the clock strikes 0:00 that vengeance should cease.
How long is it before the rest of the country understands what the fans of the SEC have long understood? That being the strongest top to bottom and cheering for each time like they’re your own when it’s not Rivalry Day is the best thing for your team and their conference.
I was on the Sporting News‘ website earlier today and the chorus of unpleasantries being exchanged between Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan fans was positively nauseating. Sure, I like to poke at my Michigan friends from time to time but you’d be hard pressed to find me on a Message Board completely berating the program, its tradition, where the program may be heading, etc. Yes, I might write blogs being critical of Rich Rodriguez and the ‘end of the Michigan Man’ but those entries shouldn’t be viewed as biased, angry, vile, opinions. They were in fact real and true thoughts on the matters at hand; the view may have come from a Buckeye but that still doesn’t make it incorrect, or biased, angry, or vile.
I hope there comes a time when fans of Michigan and fans of Ohio State can all be proud of each other’s accomplishments. Instead of hearing how Ohio State embarassed the conference again, I’d love to hear someone say … “Hey, at least they got there. Four other BCS conference champions can’t say the same.” There was a genuine smile on my face watching Lloyd Carr being carried off the field in Orlando, FL. I couldn’t have been happier for him, for Michigan, and for his seniors. Maybe someday other fans will achieve this same level of understanding; that while I am a fan of Ohio State there are 10 other schools competing in the Big Ten and their successes/failures will only increase or decrease the value of Ohio State’s successes/failures.
Posted in Big Ten | 2 Comments »
January 17th, 2008 Keith Godfrey
Big Ten basketball appears to be in a cyclical downturn much like the football teams found themselves this past season. Typical powers like Iowa and Illinois find themselves on the short side of winning records and surprises Penn State and Minnesota are showing signs of life. Let’s examine who is where and where they may be come year’s end.
Premiere Level
Indiana - Kelvin Sampson is a cheater .. make no mistakes about it. But super studs Eric Gordon and DJ White are the real deal. Indiana could wind up a #1 seed come March.
Michigan State - Neitzel needs to find his touch and Raymar Morgan showed his value to the team by being in foul trouble against the Buckeyes. Morgan’s bench time allowed the Bucks to crawl back into the game after being down 21 early. A probable 3 or 4 seed.
Wisconsin - Never any let down from a Bo Ryan squad. Don’t know much about the Badgers but they keep on winning. Can they go deep in March?
Upper Level
Ohio State - Had Conley Jr. or Oden stuck around they’d be the #1 team in all the land. Too bad for Thad though as these young Buckeyes need to mature quick. They’ve got the talent to be as high as a 4 or 5 seed if they get hot or sink to as low as a 10-12 if they fade.
Minnesota - Left for dead after last season Tubby has trimmed the fat from this program and has them playing ball! Could they finally make the dance for the first time in a while?
Mid Level
Purdue - Soooooo close to being upper level but Matt Painter’s squad has some proving left to do and lack of depth could come back to hurt them.
Illinois - Who thought Bruce Webber would have a squad at 9-9! They’re very close to being in the bottom level and may miss the NIT.
Penn State - Who?! Perennial bottom feeder at 10-6! Conference play ought to remind them that this isn’t the women’s squad.
Bottom Level
Iowa - Steve Alford left and Lickliter is in. Give it a year or two, this guy can coach.
Michigan - John Beilein has a lot of work to do. Michigan basketball doesn’t return to prominence just yet but in all fairness the cupboard was bare.
Northwestern - Exactly.
Posted in Big Ten | No Comments »
January 16th, 2008 Keith Godfrey
Do you have a breath mint? Perhaps some Binaca? I kid, I kid. Here’s the real question.
Is it time to be embarassed? Explain.
I’d love to pose this question to a series of - Michigan fans, Michigan State fans, Ohio State fans, and then sports fans in general specifically regarding Rich Rodriguez.
I realize I have been harping on Michigan quite a bit lately and I promise I’ll get away from that …. just as soon as Fraudriguez Rodriguez allows me. And with that I must say, it’s not so much Michigan …. it is Rich.
There had to be doubts surrounding this guy prior to his arrival didn’t there? Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones, Chris Henry, and God only knows what other felons he’s allowed through his program at WVU. His flirtations with Alabama which on the outside appeared to have been done solely to extort more from the West Virginia administration and boosters. Then comes the whole Michigan debacle.
Where do I begin with that last one?
First he’s flown into Toledo to meet with Michigan AD Bill Martin and University President Mary Sue Coleman. Upon his arrival back in Morgantown he states that he’s focused on getting his team prepared for the Fiesta Bowl. Behind the scenes he’s again trying to extort more money from West Virginia to stay.
When West Virginia decides that they cannot (or will not) come through Richie decides he’ll accept the Michigan job and thanks West Virginia for seven years of employment by having a graduate assistant hand in his resignation.
On Tuesday, January 15, we learn that there are missing documents from West Virginia’s football facility and Rodriguez is suspected of making documents disappear. This is way too early in the stages of investigation and may wind up being nothing but still ….. not a good story and certainly not something you ever want your name tied to.
On Wednesday, January 16th, we find out that West Virginia University’s lawsuit against Rodriguez for his $4 million lawsuit has been moved to Federal Court.
Now, Michigan hasn’t been apart of any of this so this is nothing against the University. It is everything against the man they have hired. It comes down to how many question marks a person is allowed to have before they’re an embarassment.
I recall 2003 very well … it was the first time in my lifetime it was embarassing to be a Buckeye. Maurice Clarett, the unmentionable, was a stain on the football program, there were questions surrounding the men’s and women’s basketball programs as well. You never want these issues to effect your university or your team. Yet there it was right in front of me.
Michigan State fans I probably don’t have to say much more than Bobby Williams to make you quiver.
Oklahoma how about Rhett Bomar? SMU should I mention the death penalty? USC … Reggie Bush?
Right now I really feel for Michigan and their fans. I’ve already heard many defending Rodriguez adamantly. Is it blind devotion or do people fully support the man they know very little about? His character was one of a few reasons why I was convinced he was a bad hire for Michigan. I just didn’t think that he’d start to prove me right so fast.
Posted in Michigan | 8 Comments »
January 14th, 2008 Keith Godfrey
Dear Terrelle,
I am sure by now that you have about had it with people’s opinions on where you should attend college. Seeing your name everywhere from SI.com to Parade magazine while exciting must be getting old. Unless your ego is truly relative to the size of Alaska then this all just be another day in the life. Of course I have never been as overwhelmingly desired by anyone or any entity like you are by Division I football coaches so perhaps what I am saying is completely off base and wrong. I doubt it though.
So are you really going to wait until February 6th to announce your choice? Because the drama is killing me. No, not in the ‘I wonder where he is going to go to school’ kind of way. It’s killing me in the ‘I am tired of seeing the speculation anywhere and everywhere’ kind of way. So as the old cliche goes, if you can’t beat them, join them.
What is your expectation for college ball? Have a blast for four seasons putting up ridiculous stats and winning 2 or 3 Heisman Trophies as football’s flashiest player? By next year Tim Tebow will be wearing Terrelle Pryor pajamas. Right? Right?
Or, do you want to build towards an NFL career? Wait a year getting accustomed, learning a playbook, and be ready to take the world by storm? I’m not saying redshirt, I am saying shared time, change of pace kinda of guy in year one and take over in year two.
Which paragraph sounds more appealing? Because in all honesty its the answer to where you should attend. We all know you’re visiting Penn State and Duke but none of us can believe you’ll go to either. Reportedly Florida is in the mix but Tebow is just a junior next year and something tells me he’s not leaving any time soon. So really, it’s Ohio State and Michigan.
So which paragraph is it? The first one and you should go to Michigan. The second and you should go to Ohio State.
Terrelle you’ve been quoted as saying, that you want to be your own person and that while being compared to others is nice you want to be known as Terrelle. That makes me think you should choose Duke but that’s not realistic and you’ve said as much. If that is truly the case then you need to go to Ohio State. Sure, Roddy isn’t at West Virginia anymore but the comparisons to White and Slaton will be endless if you’re teamed up with McGuffie. Sure, Ohio State had Troy Smith and all but they never implemented zone-read with him and you know Tressel will open up an offense that has you doing more then just running or handing off 60-70 times a game.
If you want to play QB at the NFL level then Ohio State is the place for you to go. Otherwise you could wind up like Eric Crouch or any other strictly option quarterback of recent history. So what’s it going to be?
Posted in Michigan, Ohio State | 2 Comments »
January 12th, 2008 Keith Godfrey
Vernon Gholston is leaving Ohio State one season early to enter the NFL draft. Third-year junior starting cornerback Malcolm Jenkins has stated he will return. It is said that linebackers James Lauranaitis and Marcus Freeman as well as left tackle Alex Boone are still debating their options. Also, early yesterday leading receiver, junior Brian Robiskie, has stated he will also return for his senior season.
So far so good in my opinion. Gholston’s departure doesn’t worry me as much as some are indicating it should. Lawrence Wilson was allegedly the stud of this line before he went down with a broken leg in the first game. Cameron Heyward and Robert Rose will also step up on the end. I wish Vernon the best of luck.
Jenkins return was going to be paramount to the success of this defense next season as there is some depth issues in the secondary. Jenkins has proven to be one of the nation’s best at corner and his return assures the entire secondary will be back together for another season.
As far as the others … Boone can go. I’d like him to come back and anchor a very young offensive line, however, there is tremendous depth and some of the best OL recruits in the country are heading to Ohio State. If Lauranaitis and Freeman return at linebacker then the Buckeyes will have to be the prohibitive favorites to win the Big Ten. Oddly enough, I think Freeman is leaving and Lauranaitis is staying. Gut feeling is all.
In regards to Michigan … are we seeing a lot of turnover due to Roddy’s arrival. Adrian Arrington is leaving for the NFL, you have to believe Manningham is probably right behind him. Mallett is transfering, forced out in hopes of bringing in super recruit Terrelle Pryor is my guess, and some others have hinted at departing for the NFL.
With the losses of seniors Hart, Henne, and Long as well as these departures what is in store for the Wolverines? Right now it doesn’t look so good … but signing day, February 6th, could change their fortunes quickly.
Posted in Michigan, Ohio State | No Comments »
January 11th, 2008 Keith Godfrey
Ever heard the song, The End, by The Doors? Minus the Oedipus Complex and homicide it’s a great song … slightly vulgar … nevertheless great. I digress.
The song popped into my head earlier today and I got to thinking …. you know what?!? The hiring of Richie Rich Rodriguez symbolized the collapse of ‘Michigan Man.’ You know Michigan Man …. he was given a public face and personality in March 1989 when Bo decided he had to fire then men’s basketball coach Bill Frieder who had accepted the head coaching position at Arizona State just before March Madness kicked off. Schembechler stated that, “A Michigan man is going to coach Michigan.” Whoa.
Fairly, the men’s basketball program has largely gone by the wayside in both terms of talent and competitiveness since those days. One could say since Tommy Amaker was brought in Michigan basketball was no longer run by a Michigan Man.
Football, however, was a whole different story. Michigan has not effectively had a coaching regime change since 1969, the first season of legendary Bo Schembechler with the Wolverines. Things changed when Coach Lllllloyd Carr announced his retirement this past November. Sure AD Ed Bill Martin could have went the easy route and hire Mike DeBord or Ron English (which would have been perfectly appealing to us Buckeye faithful) but he chose to go a different route.
After running what was probably the most embarassing coaching search in the history of modern day big-time college football Martin settled on Rich Rodriguez of West Virginia fame. Wait, there is such a thing as West Virginia fame? Sure, ask Bobby Bowden. Plus, my mother was born there and albeit she is only famous to us Godfrey’s I’d like to believe that makes her pretty special.
I’ll say this one more time becuase I want to make sure it settles in …. the hiring of Rich Rodriguez ends the mystique of Michigan Man. Michigan Man is no more.
This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end
The song fittingly continues on to say ….
Can you picture what will be
So limitless and free
Desperately in need…of some…strangers hand
In a…desperate land
Face it, and this shouldn’t be anything hard to swallow Michigan fan, Michigan made a dangerous hire because they were desperate. It was a desperate time in a desperate land. With the exception of 2006 the Wolverines have been mired in mediocrity since 1997. It was time for a change and that meant meandering away from Michigan Man.
I understand that players and folks associated with the university and it’s athletics will always be Michigan (wo)Men but that isn’t the point I am trying to make. No longer is a Michigan Man the face of the two largest revenue generating sports for the university. So be it, that’s fine. I don’t see a problem with it.
Quite frankly, it’s about time Michigan attempts to become relevant on a routine basis and walks away from a tradition of hiring that was holding them down.
Posted in Michigan | No Comments »