Just what makes that little old ant think he’ll move that rubber tree plant?  Anyone knows an ant, can’t…move a rubber tree plant.  But he’s got high hopes.  He’s got high hopes.  He’s got high apple pie, in the sky hopes.  -Frank Sinatra

Ok, here we go!  I hate to sound like the oldest guy in the barbershop, but lately, when I hear all the criticism flying Tim Tebow’s way, all I could think of were those nasty little naysayers a few years back.  All I could think of were those nasty little not today sayers a few years back.  Those nasty little no way Jose sayers a few years back.  I thought of them and I thought of Doug Flutie.          

You probably remember Flutie because of this:

That’s how it all started.  That’s how we all fell in love.  That’s how our hero was born.  Not really.   Before that game was even played, Flutie had already won the Heisman.   Before that game was even played, Flutie had already stolen a big one from Alabama in bahn burnah on National TV.  Before that game was even played, Flutie had already broken Jim McMahon’s NCAA career passing record.  Then that.  Yowza, yowza, yowza!

Like Tim Tebow, everybody said Doug Flutie was the greatest college quarterback to have ever played the game.  Like Tim Tebow, those same folks also said Doug Flutie would never make it in the NFL.  Doug Flutie was never given a fair shake.  He was forced to toil in the USFL and Canada.  Flutie racked up records in the CFL.  He racked up MVP’s in the CFL.  He racked up Championships.  He racked up Championship MVP’s.  When he left Canada, he left a legend.

Finally, Flutie was given a shot in the NFL.  He took over an awful Buffalo Bills team.  In his first start as a Bill, Flutie passed for two TDs and led a fourth-quarter comeback against the Indianapolis Colts.  He didn’t stop there.  He took that dreadful team and led them all the way to the playoffs.  He earned himself Comeback Player of the Year.  His reward?  That summabitch Wade Phillips named Rob Johnson the starter the following season.

The NFL then wasn’t so much different than the NFL of today.  Then, Wade Phillips wanted a protypical quarterback not a Midget Moses.  Winning didn’t matter.  Today, NFL masterminds have concerns about Tebow’s  footwork and elongated delivery.  They want a protypical quarterback.  Winning doesn’t matter.

When Flutie was benched in favor of Johnson, he said, “Anyone who would be content to be a number two doesn’t deserve to be on the field.”  That’s why we loved him in the first place.  Tim Tebow just said, “Those who say I won’t make it are wrong.  They don’t know what I’m capable of and what’s inside me.”  That’s why we love Tebow.

Ultimately, Rob Johnson went down due to injury.  Flutie scrambled and bootlegged  and wheeled and dealed and positioned the Bills for another winter of playoff football.  But when Rob Johnson got healthy, Phiilips sat Flutie for the last game of the season.  When Rob Johnson got healthy, Phiilips sat Flutie for the Playoffs.  The Music City Miracle playoffs.

Flutie still made the Pro Bowl that year yet he was named backup to Rob Johnson the following one.  It was inevitable he would be moved.  But know this sports fans, the Bills have not appeared in a single playoff game since Phillips replaced Flutie with Johnson.

The moral of this story?  Sometimes conventional wisdom is not wisdom at all.  Sometimes, you have to think like Al Davis.  Sometimes you have to say, just win baby!  Doug Flutie was a winner.  I believe in my heart of hearts that Tebow is that same type of winner.  Last season, if you saw Tim Tebow become only the third  rookie quarterback in forty years to score a game-winning TD in the final five minutes of the fourth-quarter you should believe it too.   Jabar Gaffney does:  “It takes a special guy to do that.  And that’s what we have.”

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!

Sheesh. These kids and their baggy pants. When will it ever end? It ended for University of New Mexico football player Deshon Marman. Albuquerque’s KRQE reports that Marman was boarding a U.S. Airways flight Wednesday at San Francisco International Airport when an airline employee asked him to pull up his pants, “because she said, they were ‘below his butt and his boxer shorts were showing.’” Next thing you know, he was asked to leave the plane. Next thing you know, he was arrested and cited for trespassing. A US Airways spokesperson said the airline’s dress code forbids “indecent exposure or inappropriate” attire. Who was that spokesperson? David Stern?

Peace out homies. Six two and even!

Peace out Tractor. Six two and even!

Football Coach

After a disappointing 2010 football season the University of Miami fired head coach Randy Shannon, who managed a 28-22 record in his 4 seasons as head football coach.  Almost immediately many big names surfaced as possible replacements.  There was an alleged flirtation with former NFL coach Jon Gruden.  There were alleged turndowns by Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen, UCONN’s (now Maryland coach) Randy Edsell, and Rutgers coach Greg Schiano.  Miami finally got its man when they lured Al Golden away from Temple.  Wait, Al Golden?  The same Al Golden who won 1 Mid American Conference title, and had a 27-34 record in his Temple tenure?  Is that the best they could do?  Apparantly.  AD Kirby Hocutt went as far as to say that Golden was their target all along.  No knock on Golden, but 10 years ago an opening at Miami would have attracted numerous candidates – big names, with big resumes.

Athletic Director

Shortly after naming Al Golden as Randy Shannon’s successor, rumors started to fly about Miami’s AD Kirby Hocutt’s time at the U.  Seems he was getting some overtures from Texas Tech for their open AD spot.  Surely Hocutt wouldn’t bolt sunny and vibrant Miami for Lubbock, right?  Wrong.  On February 26, 2011 Hocutt resigned from the U, and his hand picked football coach, to head to Texas Tech.  Now granted, Hocutt is from Texas, so perhaps this is an opportunity to go home, but it would have seemed absurd to think that Miami’s AD would ever leave for Texas Tech.

Undaunted, the braintrust at the U began their search for a new AD.  Names were bantied about, but nobody terribly exciting or relevant.  In the end, Miami chose former University of Wisconsin Associate Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst.  Apparantly he was Barry Alvarez’s right hand man.  Score!

Basketball Coach

New AD Shawn Eichorst will have to get to work quickly finding a new head men’s basketball coach, which became open when coach Frank Haith left for Missouri.  While Haith’s departure is no loss for the U, finding his replacement has been quite an ordeal.  Now admittedly, the U’s basketball program hasn’t exactly been a powerhouse, but it is in talent rich South Florida, and a stone’s throw away from where the Miami Heat have become a basketball’s new center of attention.  Miami must not have had the same confidence, particularly since they paid about $100,000 to hire a search firm to help identify the right candidate.  The choice?  Havard’s Tommy Amaker.  His response?  No thanks.  Through all of this it should be pointed out that Kansas State’s Frank Martin, a Miami native, has practically begged for the job.  With Eichorst now offically on board, Martin may get a serious look now.  If so, he would actually be an upgrade for the program, at least based on his tenure with Kansas State.

Seems like it might not really be all about the U.  So how did it go so wrong so quickly?  How did Miami fall off the map in seemingly unceremonious fashion?  Many say that it is due to the budget for athletics, while others blame an uninterested fan base.  Still others claim that Miami’s facilities, or the fact that they don’t have any, are to blame.  Whatever the reason, it seems obvious that Miami is not a top destination, as it used to be, and therefore won’t attract talent on name alone.  It’s time for Miami to realize they won’t win by looking back on the past 25 years, but rather by looking ahead to the next 25, and hopefully Golden, Eichorst, and whoever else, have the vision, and support, to get to that level.

Let’s get pumped

When: Monday, April 4, 2011

Where: Reliant Stadium – Houston,TX

Who: Butler Bulldogs vs Connecticut Huskies

How: CBS Sports – 9:23 eastern tip

The college basketball season will come to an exciting (hopefully) close tonight with Butler and UConn squaring off in the title game.  Both teams have probably overachieved in getting to this game, however there may not be two hotter teams in the country right now.      

Our keys to the game: can Ronald Norad of Butler, widely considered one of the best defenders in the country, shut down UConn’s dynamo guard Kemba Walker.  You should also pay close attention to Butler’s ability to snatch offensive rebounds, specifically when UConn goes small with Shabazz Napier in the game.  If Butler can get some easy second chance points, along with a solid offensive output from either Shelvin Mack or Matt Howard, they just may be able to ride there defense to a championship.

Prediction:  Butler 57, UConn 51

MOP: Shelvin Mack

Here’s the 2010 version of One Shining Moment (non Jennifer Hudson version) to get you in the mood

Follow me on twitter during the game @virtucon21 for thoughts and analysis

Stay Thirsty my Friends

First, it should be pointed out that the 2011 NCAA tournament enjoyed its highest overall television ratings in the past 17 years.  This is obviously due to the combination of games broadcast across all of the Turner cable partners.

Now, for some specificsWhat worked

• Broadcasting every game – This seems like a no-brainer, but for any sports fan the ability to pick and choose is a must, and CBS/Turner delivered that this year, at no additional cost (Bye, Bye Directv March Madness package) to the viewer
• Staggered Start Times – Allowed the viewer to catch the exciting conclusion to any game without having to make a tough viewing choice.
• Notifications  – The network added a blinking button feature to the in game scoreboard of any close game airing on another network.  This made it almost idiot proof for viewers, and lets face it, we are all kind of idiots
• Charles and Kenny – While it was obvious that Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith had not followed college basketball all year, they were still entertaining and a must watch.  Granted, Barkley did rail against the 1-and-done rule about 50 times a game, but he did so colorfully and honestly.  Smith, beside being a UNC homer and apologist, wasn’t as insightful as he is on NBA games, but he was markedly better than whatever else CBS/Turner would have rolled out
• Gus Johnson – The guy just brings it every game.  He brings an air of excitement to every game he calls, and somehow he always seems to be on a close game that comes down to the final shot.  Yes, he did ask a somewhat boneheaded question at the end of the BYU-Florida game, but that is more of an aberration than an habit.  In our opinion, and based on the almost cult following he receives, Gus is the best play by play guy out there right now

What didn’t work/Needs Changes

• Reggie Miller – For some reason he seemed really out of place in the tournament.  His NBA counterparts (Barkley, Smith, and Kerr) were able to fit in somewhat easily, but Reggie seemed like he dropped in from a strange plant and had never seen a college basketball game before.  His chemistry with Len Elmore was awful, and even play by play guru Gus Johnson couldn’t make him sound interested.
• The Three Man Booth – First, to be consistent, this isn’t a gripe solely with college basketball or CBS.  However, the three man booth is generally a bad idea, especially when it isn’t the normal configuration.  The final four trio of Nantz, Kellogg, and Kerr just did not seem to mesh, and in our opinion, Kerr outshined Kellogg in his analysis of the game.  If this group had worked 15 games together all year, it might be a different story, but to throw these guys together for 7 games a year and expect greatness just doesn’t seem realistic.  CBS needs to choose one analyst, and in our opinion, it should probably be Kerr.
• Jim Nantz – Much in the same way Billy Packer dragged on past his years, Nantz seems to be hanging on like that piece of gum stuck to your shoe.  The reality is that he is not a strong basketball play by play guy, but he is the lead voice of CBS Sports.  This is kind of like ABC using Al Michaels to call NBA basketball simply because he was Al Michaels.  Don’t get us wrong, Nantz is serviceable, but an upgrade, say to Gus Johnson, might inject some new life into the broadcast.
• Seth Davis’ demotion – CBS/Turner decided to bump Seth from the lead pre-game/halftime set with Greg Gumbel, Kenny Smith, Greg Anthony, and Charles Barkley to the secondary (cable) set with Ernie Johnson, Steve Smith, and a revolving door of coaches and guests.  We generally liked Davis on the CBS set in the past and were surprised to see him moved, however it did seem like he and Barkley had the chemistry of a drunken one night stand couple the morning after.  Davis is insightful and knowledgeable, and he should have had as big a role this year as he has it past years.
• Championship Game Start Time – The finale on Monday night tips at 9:21 eastern.  This is later than the World Series, Super Bowl, BCS Championship game, and NBA finals (barring West Coast teams).  In our opinion the NCAA puts on a great four week tournament, and then squibbs the biggest game.  Not to play the whole “what about the kids” card, but the reality is that a 9:21 start time will alienate and preclude some fans from being able to watch and enjoy the game.  CBS needs to bump the start time up to 8:00pm eastern.  They should also use one of there Turner cable partners (TruTV?) to provide alternate camera angles/positions and announcers for the game.

Overall, the majority of the 2011 NCAA Tournament has been a joy to watch, but as with all things, it could always be better.

Here are some 2011 Tournament Highlights

Stay Thirsty my Friends

Early in 2010 Smith verbally committed to his hometown Louisville Cardinals and all was well.  He went out and had a solid season at Seneca, and even left school after football season in an attempt to enroll early at U of L.  However things took an interesting turn for DeMarcus when Louisville announced in January that they had signed 5 star quartback prospect Teddy Bridgewater out of Miami’s Northwestern High School.  Smith then re-opened his recruiting and took several official visits, including to the University of Central Florida in Orlando.  As the deadline neared, Smith was apparently torn about his decision, so much so that he did not sign on the actual National Signing Day, but needed an extra 48 hours of reflection.  Now fully prepared, Smith stepped to a podium somewhere in Louisville and donned a UCF cap.  UCF head coach George O’Leary (yes, that George O’Leary) was thrilled that his program landed a top flight QB prospect, so much so that he converted his backup QB to tight end during spring practice.  All was well again. Then things got weird.  Rumors began to fly about Smith’s commitment to UCF, with speculation running that he was getting a lot of hometown pressure to attend Louisville.  UCF and O’Leary seemed undaunted, and even commented that Smith had been to campus recently and had re-affirmed that he was 100% a UCF Knight.  So imagine the surprise UCF got when Smith released this statement on March 28th:

Today I have filed a release request with the University of Central Florida, asking to be released from my national letter-of-intent I signed in February, due to extenuating circumstances. I send my apologies to the University of Louisville and the University of Central Florida for this issue. And I would also like to apologize to the Louisville fans and community who have supported me since the day I originally committed to the Cardinal family. I view this as a private matter and will have no further comment until a later date.”

With the ball firmly in their court, and probably still somewhat surprised, UCF was, and still is, faced with 3 options.  Option 1: they could grant Smith a release from his letter and allow him to enroll wherever he saw fit.  Option 2: they could release Smith from his letter, but place restrictions on where he could enroll, say Louisville for example.  Option 3: they can deny any release and force Smith to enroll at UCF, or face sitting out a year before transferring. As of now, according to UCF coach George O’Leary, they have decided on option 3:

“To me, you spend a lot of money, a lot of time, a lot of hours recruiting a kid.  I think the big thing is you sign a legal document and that’s what it is – a legal document. I’ve never in all my coaching given a release to an NLI and I’m not about to start. And he knew that. I told him that. Again, that’s why they have such a stiff penalty for people that don’t fulfill the NLI.”

It should be pointed out that Smith can appeal to the NCAA for a release, but anyway you look at it this is a tough spot for UCF:  should they continue to play hardball with an 18 year old kid, or should they let him walk and move forward? Feel free to debate amongst yourselves in the comments. In case you are wondering what all the fuss is about, here are some highlights from Smith’s high school career:

In December, 5 Buckeye players were suspended 5 games apiece for receiving improper benefits.  The players admitted they sold rings, trophies, and other memorabilia in exchange for money, and some free ink from a local tattoo shop.  At the time Coach Tressel stood by his players, but insisted that he had no knowledge of the situation.  However when OSU was planning its appeal of the suspensions in March it discovered evidence that Tressel was indeed made aware of the issue as far back as April via an email he received informing him of the players activities.  Of course Tressel failed to inform anybody at OSU of the situation, which causes him to come off looking a little smarmy.  He gave some cockamamie excuse and OSU gave him a 2 game suspension.  Tressel then played the high and mighty card and self-increased the penalty to 5 games in order to match his players.  End of story right?

Not according to the Columbus Post-Dispatch, who is now reporting that Tressel actually forwarded the email he received back in April to a close associate of QB Terrelle Pryor.  This means that instead of informing his bosses at OSU, or anybody in the OSU compliance department, or even the NCAA, Tressel decided to tell Pryor’s people.  Oops.  Looks like Tressel not only failed to release the information to the right people, but he perhaps even tried to cover it up, or at the very least give his players a free pass?

So what happens next?  Our guess is that OSU does nothing and upholds the 5 game penalty currently imposed against Tressel.  They’ll claim that forwarding the email doesn’t have any impact on the situation, and therefore the current punishment is sufficient.

What should they do?  Probably fire Tressel, which they won’t do.  Instead they will probably wait out the year and kick the tires on Urban Meyer.  If Urban is interested, Tressel and OSU could “mutually” decide to part ways.

What should the NCAA do?  We say ban OSU from postseason play for a season.  Tressel clearly promoted an atmosphere of tolerance and failed to hold his players accountable.  For that, he, and the University that employs him, needs to be held accountable.

Peace out homies!  Six Two and Even!

Peace out homies!  Six Two and Even!