Tuesday, July 31, 2007

The Growing Ink Stain That is Mike Vick




Remember in those old black-n-white TV shows or movies, there would be someone who wanted to be smooth and sophisticated only to have a fountain pen explode in the pocket of his nice white dress shirt? And so something rather small, pretty much stained the whole shirt-making its the wearer the object of embarrassment.

Michael Vick is that ink spot. Yes, he was able to do great things in his time in Blacksburg--the exciting potential of a mobile QB that could change the course of games with his legs (ala Vince Young) and at the same time unleash a howitzer for a left arm. He single handedly elevated the Hokies from a team with potential to the powerhouse elites. To the Hokie faithful he was somewhat of a Football Moses, leading them out of the wilderness.

Yet now Vick, who has been deified with a retired jersey, Michael Vick Hall on campus, the #1 pick of the Falcons in the NFL Draft, Nike designed apparel/footwear line continues to stain those that come close to him. His indictment tied to the dogfighting ring on his property caused Nike to drop him like a hot potato, the NFL has politely asked him to leave (at least for the season) and Virginia Tech's once biggest asset is now only adding to his poor legacy once he left the campus.

Think about it---Vick's little brother, Marcus, and all his troubles that were highlighted during his time in Blacksburg; the Ron Mexico fiasco; his injuries and lack of production in the NFL; the charge of Vick knowingly infecting a woman with Herpes; the 'mysterious container' at the airport-- Vick's adventures away from the quiet little town in Southwest Virginia haven't
exactly been the stuff of a role model. The Hampton Roads, Va. paper says it best in its article of how the Hokies have been dealing with the problem...

The Obsession Continues! More Irish Talk!




Apparently, the talk of the Irish and Michigan taking a little time off was premature. The AP has reported that Notre Dame and Michigan have signed an extension running the series out for another 20 years, all the way to 2031.

While I have been quick to throw the Irish under the bus, the original reasons for the talk of a break in the series made economic sense to both schools (Michigan wanted ND and Ohio State to alternate years in Ann Arbor; the Golden Domers wanted the same type of deal with Michigan and USC on alternate years in South Bend). Better season ticket packages to take care of the loyal masses--in some ways, this actually was the right thing for the fan.

However, the idea of no Michigan-Notre Dame game for 2 years seemed unthinkable to many (and I'm sure TV executives raised some noise). As much as we'd like to consider this an annual rite of fall, the matchup doesn't quite have the history of others. Case in point, Michigan is the school that introduced football to Notre Dame, yet they only played 2 times from 1909-1977. Now, in the last 30 years, it's been seemingly every year--with some fantastic results and moments. However--reality says it's been played 23 of the past 30 years. The Irish have played Air Force for 27 of the past 42 years, but no one clamors for the Falcons like a time honored tradition.....

But objectively its history is limited compared to other relationships that the Irish have. For example--the USC game has been an annual event since 1926 (with a brief hiatus during WWII). The series with the Naval Academy is the second longest continuous series in college football at 80 years ('continuous' is not to be confuses with 'competitive'). Heck, the discontinued series with Northwestern gave the Irish their nickname.

Out in the West Texas Town of El Paso......

UTEP Coach Mike Price is recovering from angioplasty this week. It has been almost 5 years since Price was elevated to the non-official High Priest of Alabama Football only to tumble before ever coaching a game for the Tide with the Pensacola incident.

Yet, Price simply proved that the past repeats itself. His track record at Wassu showed him creating value for the Coogs- 5 bowl games, 3 10-win seasons, a National Coach of the Year Award in '97. Now, in another isolated outpost, Price has breathed life into a moribund Miners program.

Case in point--Price's record at UTEP over the past 3 years is 21-15. He's notched back-to-back bowl games in 2004 & 2005 as well as the school's first ever AP ranking in 2004, climbing to #23.

Prior to his arrival, the Miners needed 6 seasons to reach the 21 win mark. The Miners' last back to back winning seasons were in 1987 & 1988.

Get well soon, Coach.

Monday, July 30, 2007

We're Number Zero!


Remember back a few months when the Big Ten (Eleven) was trying to cram its regional TV down the throat of Midwesterners and complaining that an exec had called it second class programming for which the Big Ten (Eleven) wanted premium prices?

Well, in an attempt to stoke the fires, it seems that the Conference Commissioner, Jim Delaney, mentioned that the Big Ten (Eleven) may possibly add a Twelfth member,
further earning the confederation of academic institutions the curses of basic math teachers everywhere. Yes, currently, the Big Ten includes 11 schools, which must be rationalized by counting one of the institutions in the standings as college #0 and then proceeding to #10--thus, the champion is ironically never "#1" as so many players, fans and their foam fingers proclaim, but more accurately, "#0" (which is tough to merchandise).

However, Delaney's talk of adding a new school would ruin even that logical explaination in nomenclature. In reality, the additional team produces yet another product of which the conference controls the rights (available games in not only women's tennis, but most importantly, FOOTBALL); possibly adds a new state or at minimum, an expanded base of viewers; and creates the 12 team league necessary to create a conference championship game that has been profitable for the SEC and Big 12 for the past decade (and picked up by the ACC and MAC as well).

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Bring It!!!



Is it football season yet? Welcome to the final stretch of agony as we await the bliss that is college football. Already we are planning road trips. Fantasy teams are forming. There's real news about NFL camps and college strength and conditioning programs. Preseason polls have been released along with award watchlists. But it can't come soon enough. Luckily, I have a wedding to distract me leading up to the final days before the inaugural kickoff.


But, if you can't possibly wait any longer, here are a few tips for dealing with the endless days until college football begins:


  • Research fantasy football stats - there are already publications and websites loaded with information. Drown yourself in it until the season arrives.

  • Start a blog - Like me and my cohorts here on "Returns to Sender", you can dump your thoughts into the abysmal internet.

  • Get married - Like me, you can have something to keep your focus instead of yawn inspiring baseball.

  • Watch ESPN Classic - When they can manage to forgo replays of "Gladiator" (a tribute to roid induced, mullet wearing "athletes") ESPNC sometimes has good games of past to appease your CFB thirst.

  • Bet on something - Whether it is rock/scissors/paper or the flip of a coin, nothing beats boredom like ridiculous gambling.

  • Join a message board - For $10 per month you can join thousands of other fans of your team and share in your misery. As "they" say, "misery loves company". If you really want to have fun, pick a spare school and try to become the most dedicated fan, convincing the masses of a legitimate shot at the BCS. University of Buffalo would be a great challenge.

That's all I have for now. Feel free to comment with your own.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Jayhawks Tell Magino This Season = His Job



No, Mark Mangino doesn't play hockey in the offseason, this picture was taken after he ATE the goaltender.


According to the Kansas City Star, this season is a year long audition for Head Coach Mike Mangino.

Mangino's squads have been 'bowl eligible' for 3 of the past 4 years--although the Jayhawks have never been to back to back bowls in their program's existence-- and Kansas AD Lew Perkins doesn't believe that a second straight 6-6 season is acceptable.

Of course, some folks are quick to point out that Perkins wants to bring in his own coach since he inherited The Thing That Ate Wichita (Mangino came to Lawrence in 2001). Others simply point out that Kansas football is a warm up act until Midnight Madness kicks off basketball season in Lawrence and .500 football ain't that bad.

Perkins will point out that Kansas plays in the weaker Big XII North and this is Mangino's second full recruiting class to pass through. Tie in some of the embarrassing compliance issues that popped up a few years ago, a schedule that ESPN called the 'easiest in the nation' for 2007, 16 returning starters and construction on new football facilities on campus--and suddenly the heat has been turned up on Mr Mangino. Let's hope for Topeka's sake, he's not a stress induced eater.

Why All The Hate for "The System QB"?


Just another cog in the machine---but a machine that works!

Mike Leach has always been a fantastic interview--whether it's telling folks to 'have a happy halftime' or telling folks that in order to win, he'll have to 'score more points than the other team scores' or doing the local weather.


In this month's Texas Monthly sports blog (who would have thought that publication had a sports blog? One day, it's stories on touristy spots and the Top 40 lawyers, the next is the intricacies of the Veer), Leach uses his usual dry wit to poke a little fun at the fact that no one seems to respect his incumbent QB Graham Harrell:

"Graham had one of the best years of anyone in the nation, and as you look at it, I guess most people are rating him as one of the top six quarterbacks in the Big XII. I guess those two thousand more yards he threw more than anyone else don't count as much as they used to. I guess he just did it accidentally. He lucked into those, but the other quarterbacks worked really, really hard for their yards. I don't buy any of that."

While most critics will point out that Harrell benefits from a system that throws the ball often and uses screens and shovel passes to take the place of runs (and thus, increasing the passing yards)--the simple fact is that Leach's QBs DO PUT UP THE NUMBERS. Much like no one complained that Ron Dayne won the Heisman because he ended up as the career rushing leader in college football as the focus of a ground bound Wisconsin under Barry Alvarez or that Earl Campbell ran up totals in a Wishbone set for Darrell Royal, the 'System QB' argument for passing stats is somewhat flimsy.

Yes, typically the throw first quarterback has not done well in the NFL--people are quick to throw out busts like David Klinger and Andre Ware from their days at Houston in the Run and Shoot or the parade of Leach disciples Tim Couch, Kliff Kingsbury, B.J. Symons, Sonny Cumbie or the fact that much of Florida's signal callers under Steve Spurrier have had less than steller NFL careers. However, no one points out that Akili Smith, Ryan Leaf, Trent Dilfer, Todd Marinovich, Cade McNown, Rick Meier were all also busts from more balanced offenses.

Even on the flip side-- running all the time at Nebraska and Oklahoma didn't help the NFL careers of Scott Frost, Eric Crouch, Turner Gill, Charles Thompson, Jamielle Holloway---and not many folks were super excited to step up and draft wide receivers from offensive systems that used them as little more than couriers to run plays or downfield blocks.

Either way, Leach does have a point--his QB had to stand in there and throw the ball and take the hits just as much as the next guy, heck, some would argue that he had to do it even more than the next guy-- yet here he is being told that his player's just not as good as the next. He may not be throwing Molotov cocktails at the opposition to fire up the media, but his darts are right on target.

Yet Another Bowl?

There comes a point of excess, and it looks like we might just be there. The Big East is looking into putting a bowl game in Tampa--less than 2 hours away from oh, say, The Outback Bowl, The Citrus Bowl and the Gator Bowl--and to park it in what has regularly been proclaimed as the worst stadium in all of Major League Baseball: Tropicana Field. Why does the Big East want this? Because Pitt didn't make it to a bowl game last year despite wallowing in a 6-6 record. Looking at the Panthers' schedule last year--they won only 1 game against D-IA opponents with winning records (8-5 Cincy) and finished even stronger by losing their last 5 games--Pitt didn't deserve to go to a bowl last year.

A quick breakdown of the stadium's history---it was built to lure the Chicago White Sox (didn't happen) and then the San Francisco Giants (didn't happen) until Tampa got it's own Major League Team. It has hosted the Devil Rays, Tampa Bay Storm (Arena Football) and Lightening (NHL)--the last two of which have moved on to a new building. It has played under 3 names (the Suncoast Dome, the ThunderDome and now Tropicana Field).

Monday, July 23, 2007

Continuing the Obsession: Irish Give the Entire Mitten State the Middle Finger!

Yes, it is Notre Dame Obsession Day and more mocking of the Fighting Irish's schedule.

Actually, it's more of just wondering the true motivation behind the Irish wanting to duck traditional rivals Michigan and Michigan State in its defacto Big Ten conference schedule. According to the Detroit Free Press, the Notre Dame-Michigan series contract expires in 2011 and the Irish wish to take the game off---and a few years later, the same thing will happen for Michigan State. They plan to replace the Wolverines with Oklahoma and the Spartans with Arizona State.

Looking at Notre Dame historically, the Michigan game has been huge. UM introduced the game to Notre Dame, and quickly throttled them before both developed into the traditional powerhouses that they are today. But one of the main items that this boils down to is money.

Yes, just like signing sneaker deals or having the Notre Dame Broadcasting Company--both schools are trying to squeeze more bucks out of the money presses known as their football programs. The Irish are trying to set their schedule so that they play either Michigan or USC (their two largest draws) every year at home instead of getting them both at home or on the road the same year. The Wolverines have the same problem, except that the home Notre Dame game usually falls on the same year Ohio State comes to Ann Arbor. USC could fix half of this problem, but the Pac 10 schedule has been set for almost 10 years in advance, so that threw the monkey wrench in the deal.

So it appears that the easiest way to fix this is to not play at all--almost the 'cutting off the nose to spite the face' theory, except these two programs are the equivalent of Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston--they would cut off their noses to spite their face and instantly get rhinoplasty for a better nose--in this case, it's Oklahoma and Arizona State for the Irish, and rumored to be Georgia for the Blue. Michigan State gets the consolation prize of not getting smacked around by the Irish, but in reality, the Sparties get the short end of the stick.

One does have to wonder--why did Notre Dame chose to drop Michigan and Michigan State instead of some of their other traditional rivals--like Purdue, Navy, Army, Air Force, Pitt, Stanford, Northwestern or Boston College? The pure cynic would say that it's to drop a squad that have either beaten the Irish regularly (see the Wolverines) or a squad that scares the Irish consistently (see Michigan State of late with a few wins and last year's close call). With their presence in the heart of the Big Ten geography and their schedules with other Big Ten schools, exposure won't be a problem.

But exposure to the Irish is a big deal these days with plans to return to prominence by barnstorming and taking even more of a national schedule than they traditionally have. The Irish will be playing in San Antonio and Orlando (see below) and with the addition of Arizona State and Oklahoma--they will be putting even more product in front of the Sun Belt's growing masses (read also, growing and already strong high school talent') instead of the 10,000,000 souls that are sentenced to a Michigan winter annually.

It's a great idea--taken from the adage of 'history repeats itself', since Rockne did it by scheduling Army, Texas, Penn State, USC, Nebraska in his day--and also to the fact that 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery' since Michigan AD Bill Martin is considering the same thing on scheduling 'away' home games like the Irish.......

Barnstorming Notre Dame!

It looks like Notre Dame will return to its glory day roots when they barnstormed around the country to make 'the Irish more accessible to their fans' ala the days of Knute Rockne (who made the wise decision of an annual game with USC instead of Nebraska--somehow finishing the season in Lincoln just doesn't warm the heart like a November weekend in Hollywood).

First, the Irish have selected Washington State to play a 'home' game in San Antonio in 2009 as well as 'home games' in Orlando for 2011 and 2014. Part of the reason given was 'to help fans who have difficulty traveling to South Bend' or obtaining traditional home game tickets--yet, one has to ask some questions (most of which don't have answers yet):

First, just how many Notre Dame 'fans' live in San Antonio and Orlando? And with the idea that these will be Irish home games--how is that going to impact those loyal purchasing customers that buy season tickets in South Bend? Obviously, they will have 'travel issues' themselves moving games 5 states away from their traditional fall haunt and exactly, who will fill the bleachers?

Filling the bleachers may answer another one of those questions---why San Antonio and why Orlando? The AlamoDome seats a 65,000 and the Citrus Bowl holds 70,000-- a good 10,000-15,000 less than Notre Dame stadium. You've got to figure that although both Orlando and San Antonio are good 'vacation destinations' with strong airport/hotel infrastructures, there will be a limited number of Wazzu fans making the trek, so demand is down on that front. Their had been rumors of the Irish playing Baylor at an expanded and refurbished Cotton Bowl- but that stadium would hold 92,000--more than 12,000 above Notre Dame stadium and 27,000 more than the AlamoDome. Even Notre Dame, who had traditionally drawn well in Dallas for Cotton Bowls, apparently has limits to what they can draw-- so they chose smaller stadiums in towns with no professional team competition to eat up corporate money and we will have to wait to see if the Irish's long held belief that "Notre Dame is a national team" is proven correct.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

A Long Time Disdain


If you know anything about my sports opinions, you probably know about my disdain for Michael Vick. It all started when Vick was introduced to the league. The media (another source of repugnance for me) immediately crowned him as the revolution of the quarterback position. They touted his ability to scramble as an "X" factor that would become a juggernaut for opposing defenses. I disagreed. I realized early on that if you look beyond his running ability as a QB, he he was mediocre at best as an NFL QB. Nevertheless, the media continued to pump him up. And, as a result, the NFL sold Vick jerseys and ratings for Falcons games. And, Vick managed a trio of All-Star appearances.

So, basically, Vick has thrived based on the attention that the media chooses to pay to obscure "records" like when he and RB Jerious Norwood both ran for over 100 yards in Week 4 of the 2006 season. Is that really a big deal? Does this not indicate that maybe your receivers are not getting open? Or, maybe your quarterback can't find the open receivers? I have an idea, how about we line LaDanian Tomlinson up under center? I am willing to bet he can have just as good of a game. Hell, why don't they just run Arkansas' Darren McFadden/wildcat offense? Do you want to know why this wouldn't work? It's because this is the National Football League. And, NFL coaches are not successful if they can't handle gimmick players making gimmick plays. That's right, I said it: Vick is a gimmick player. Sure, he is one hellacious fast QB, but that is all he is. He does not have the ability to be a successful QB in the NFL without the media there to blow the proverbial smoke up the third points of contact of ESPN viewers.


So, forgive me if I am relieved to see him become exposed as the thug he has always been. I am all for an underprivilaged kid "making it", but it shouldn't be at the cost of the integrity of the NFL. Vick is a criminal and has no place in a professional position of any sort. I will allow justice and due process to take its course, but I cannot promise I won't be cheering silently for the feds to throw the book at him better than Vick has been able to throw to his receivers.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Monday, July 16, 2007

The Nail Defeats The Hammer!

One of my favorite quips is that "Tennessee and Memphis have a rivalry much like the Hammer and the Nail--you always know which one's gonna take the beatin'." Ever since the University of Tennessee started playing the former Memphis State University in 1968, they have won 95% of the games. Oh sure, there have been a couple of squeakers- a one point game or maybe a margin of 4 points, but for the most part, the Vols have beaten their little brother on the western end of the state by at least 2 touchdowns on average.

Of course, their is that old axiom of the 'exception to the rule'. That exception would be the Nov. 9, 1996 game--one that Volunteer fans still cry foul over to this day. Trailing 14-7 against a Peyton Manning led Tennessee team, Memphis WR Kevin Cobb took a kickoff back 95 yards, with a slight interruption. Cobb gets hit, flips and catches himself with his elbow, which SHOULD HAVE BEEN (but wasn't) called down. His knee never touches the ground, which is disputed by many Big Orange fans, no whistle is ever blown-- and Cobb runs his way to the endzone and into the hearts of every Memphis fan to ever live. The final score is 21-17, the Tigers' ONLY win over Tennessee and finish 4-7 for the year.

Even worse, the Tiger faithful tear down the goalposts in front of what had became a defacto UT home crowd at the Liberty Bowl after so many years. #6 Tennessee finishes 10-2, gets spun to the Citrus Bowl with a team that included four 1st Round Picks in that year's NFL draft. Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer still calls it one of his worst defeats.

Cobb spent a few years in the CFL, Arena League and even played for the XLF's Memphis Maniax before he started his coaching career in metro Atlanta.


Which Way Will the Wind Blow Gordon Gee?


Only one of these men has the courage to stand up to Jim Tressel or a gun-toting Maurice Clarett--and I'm afraid it's not the one on the right (but I hope I'm wrong)

Who says you can't go home again? Yes, Gordon Gee, the former chancellor at Vanderbilt, Ohio State, Brown, West Virginia and Colorado is returning to the Banks of the Olentangy River and The Ohio State University to serve as its head dog once again.

Gee is an interesting man for Academia, literally a man that has lived a role out of National Lampoon's Animal House (his ex-wife, Constance Gee, was accused of smoking a little herb in the president's mansion at Vandy by a little known publication called The Wall Street Journal---much like Dean Wormer's wife, Marion, and her slight drinking/infidelity issues at Faber College).

Of course, most in the sporting world associate Gee with the controversial sweeping of Vandy's Athletic Department into what amounts to basically the Intramural Department. This move, despite the fact that the Commodores' football prowess has been suspect since Watergate (1974-75 was the last time they posted back to back winning seasons), has actually produced a consistent program in the NCAA's Director's Cup. Of course, the Director's Cup is slanted toward those schools that either dominated the so-called "Olympic Sports" or derided "Country Club Sports" that seem to be in the wheelhouse of Vandy and its elitist demographics or those schools with mega-budgets (see UCLA, Texas, Florida, Ohio State, Michiga, Stanford). Yet, make no mistake, the Commodores have punch in men's and women's hoops as well as baseball in the competitive SEC (and they won a national title in Women's Bowling for 2007, too!). Of course, some of that comes from being the punching bag of the football schedule (that provides a large bowl payment annually, despite the Black and Gold rarely seeing the postseason on the gridiron).

Yet, Gee, who was at Colorado when Gary Barnett was an assistant coach to Bill McCartney including the national title years, knows the value of a good football program. He was at the helm when Eddie George won the Heisman in 1996. And yet, he knows full well of the less-than-stellar record for both CU and The Ohio State University's athletic programs of late-- the scandals of both Rick Neuheisel and Gary Barnett in Boulder; the Maurice Clarett saga, the Troy Smith suspension for accepting monies, the Jim O'Brien era basketball fiasco.

So here comes the great experiment itself: Does Gee, the 'affable bow-tie sporting' president
bring credibility to the Buckeyes by reigning in their reported $97.5 Million budget (the largest in D-I)? Or does he fold on his 2004 stance that University presidents needed to reign in their athletic departments and the spending?

As Gee was quoted in USA Today in 2004-- he pushed for a spending cap, despite its legal challenges-- all the while being the consummate reformer at traditional Athletic Have-Not Vandy. It will be interesting to see if Mr. Gee puts his money where his mouth is as the head man of one of college athletics' biggest "Haves"......

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Charles Woodson Wins the Heisman

The Swiss Army Knife

While Switzerland's military hasn't taken a stand in almost 1,000 years, somehow they produced the world's best multi-functioning tool, the Swiss Army Knife. In that same school of thought- the Michigan Wolverines hadn't won a national title in almost 50 years until the 1998 season rolled around. Yes, Big Blue had won numerous Big Ten(Eleven) Titles, they held onto the title of The Winningest Program in the NCAA and even had a Heisman Trophy winner in Desmond Howard--but they didn't have that one star that could do everything, including leading them to the promised land.

Charles Woodson changed all of this. Greatness was expected from the kid who was tabbed as "Mr. Football " in Ohio. His freshman year, he was named Freshman of the year and notced All Conference honors all 3 years in Ann Arbor. As a junior, Woodson was named All American with his 8 interceptions that year at cornerback, his primary position. He then proceeded to scare the living bejeezums out of special team coaches as a fantastic kick returner. And just to make sure no one had it easy, Woodson jumped over and played a little wide receiver for the Wolverines.

One of his most dynamic days came against the hated rival, The Ohio State University Buckeyes. He had an interception in the end zone, a 37 yard catch on offense and a dynamic punt return on a national stage. That game propelled him to win the Heisman Trophy over the preseason favorite, Tennessee SR QB Peyton Manning. Woodson was the first predominately defensive player to ever win the award and starred in the Wolverine's Rose Bowl win over the Washington State Cougars--helping Michigan claim a share of its 11th National Title-- the first since 1948. He soon declared for the NFL draft.

In the NFL, Woodson was drafted 4th by the Oakland Raiders and performed well--earning Al Pro and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and helping the Raiders reach Super Bowl XXXVII. Although hobbled by injuries later in his days with Oakland, he was still dubbed the 'franchise player' in 2004. He signed with the Green Bay Packers in 2006

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

The Tide Turns

Ya Gotta Love Hootie

I don't have much to tell you about Cecil "Hootie" Ingram, except as Keith Jackson notes-- he lead the nation in interceptions and posted a game record punt return against Syracuse in the 1953 Orange Bowl. he was also All SEC in both Football and Basketball

Ingram did go on to be the AD at Alabama in 1989 (previously he had been the AD at Florida State from 1980-88, when the 'Noles went to 8 bowl games), serve as a college football announcer and was the head coach at Clemson from 1970-1972. The biggest thing he did for the Tigers? He introduced the 'Tiger Paw" logo, but at the same time he went 12-21 following the Clemson coaching legend, Frank Howard.

Monday, July 9, 2007

Little Big Red

Big Thing in a Little Package

Bobby Newcomb stood a6'0'' when he first came to Lincoln, but the Seirra Leone native was known for pure speed. He had set the world on fire at Highlands High School, rewriting the New Mexico record book and looked to be the next great Nebraska Option QB in the mold of Turner Gill and Tommie Frasier. He got a shot at it his sophomore year, but never quite put a choke hold on the position with Omaha native and later Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch.

Newcombe had played as a returner and wingback as a freshman and moved back to wide receiver full time as a junior. Of course, moving to WR during the Osborne/Solich Cornhusker era was much akin to a football Siberia, where it seemed his talent would wither on the vine( save a few quality catches and the opportunity to return kicks and punts). One such moment was finishing the 1999 season with a punt return vs. Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl. He notched four return scores as a Husker, including this one against Kansas in '99, a 94 yard romp against Mizzou (setting the record for the longest Husker Punt Return) and another against Iowa State as a freshman.

Newcombe was drafted in the 6th round of the NFL draft in '01 after a senior season where he only totaled 26 offensive touches for a total of 237 yards. He logged one year in the NFL with the Cardinals and also had received his BBA in Management after only 3 years.

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Rocket Man

The Greatest That Wasn't

"The Rocket"--Notre Dame's Raghib Ismail may have been the most exciting player in the past 25 years. Although he was just 5'11", Ismail was lightening quick and had breakaway speed and received the bonus of playing in the national spotlight known as Notre Dame. During his stay in South Bend, the Irish played for 2 National Titles (winning in 1988) for Coach Lou Holtz. Ismail was a 2 time All American, twice a Top 10 finalist for the Heisman (although the closest he came was #2, losing to Ty Detmer of BYU), and a Walter Camp Award Winner.

Rocket splashed on the national scene in 1989 with his two kickoff returns against Michigan--both of which went for scores. However, the most infamous play of his career took place in the 1991 Orange Bowl against the University of Colorado. Late in the game, the Buffs were leading the Irish who had just made a defensive stand. Ironically, you can hear the announcer state the obvious:" Surely, he'll just punt the ball out of bounds." Of course, he doesn't and Ismail takes the ball on the 9 yard line and gives one of the greatest punt returns ever. However, no box score will ever reflect that as a clipping call nullifies the punt return and Colorado goes on to claim the National Title.

After college, Ismail continued to shock the football world as he took the the-n largest football contract in North America with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL (owned at that time by Bruce McNall, Wayne Gretzky and John Candy). The LA Raiders quietly took his NFL rights at pick #100 in the draft while Rocket won the Grey Cup in the CFL. After 2 years in the frozen North, Ismail returned to the NFL and sunny LA putting together a solid, if unspectacular career with the Raiders, Panthers and Cowboys.

While it is well know that Raghib's younger brother, Quadry (nicknamed "The Missile" to Raghib's "The Rocket") who starred at Syracuse and had a career in the NFL with the Ravens, few talk about his youngest brother, Sulaiman "The Bomb" Ismail. The Bomb walked on at UTEP in 1995 and played with the New York Dragons of the Arena League.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

The REAL Nick Eddy Stands Up

One in a long list.....

Notre Dame certainly has a great list of punt and kickoff return moments of recent years, but the greatest part of the Fighting Irish is their history. Yes, some folks may hate the Irish, and the present day versions of the team can be haunted by it as well, but there is a respect for the greatness of days gone by.

Nick Eddy came in 3rd in the 1966 Heisman Trophy balloting and was a consensus All American halfback that year. Eddy lead the Irish to the 1966 National Championship and left to play for the Detroit Lions of the NFL. He was never quite the star that he was in college as knee injuries hampered his career. After pro football, Eddy returned home to California, even garnering a cameo in the film, The Paper Lion and is now an insurance executive.

This 1966 kickoff return was the Irish's answer to Boilermaker touchdown on an interception return. Take time to watch the slow motion replay and see the blocking schemes for the return set up just perfect to allow Eddy to follow the wedge and then break a tackle for the open field.


In 1999, a substitute teacher by the name of William McMullen in Rochester, Mass, passed himself off a Nick Eddy and was an assistant football coasch for Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School. Despite being only 5'7 (the real Eddy was 6'1"), McMullen denied his identity right up until school officials had him speak with the real Eddy on the telephone, after which he resigned.

Monday, July 2, 2007

A Firm Grasp on The Obvious



The Miami Hurricanes Special Teams Coach Joe Panunzio (scroll all the way down on the link) expects to see an improvement in their punt return game after a drastic slip between 2005 & 2006, when the Hurricanes punt return averaged 7.1 yards per punt return (good for 91st in D-1) vs. 2005's team average of 11.0 yards/ return. This is the equivalent of driving up to the restaurant in your Ferrari lookin' real good and then having the valet bring you that 1982 Yugo after dinner & drinks.

Of course, 2005 was helped by the fact that the Hurricanes had the Human Bullet himself, Devin Hester, who decided he was bored scaring other collegiate teams and went on to wreck havoc on the NFL and unsuspecting Fantasy Football League players galore. In his last year at The U, Hester averaged 14.2 yards per punt return and had a TD against Duke in 2005--all while nursing a bad hammy.

"Where'd he go?" "Where'd who go?"

The Big Bang of Antonio Perkins

On a hot September Day in 2003, Antonio Perkins exploded into the NCAA record books. Yes, Perkins had already tallied 3 punt returns for touchdowns as a freshman in 2001-- but those were shorter, less exciting types of scores. His game against UCLA would make a much bigger statement.

Perkins had grown up in Lawton, where he starred as a cornerback and special teams player and continued that role in Norman. He turned into another one of the shutdown corners that Bob Stoops' staff had produced, but he was on a different level as a returner this afternoon.

Against UCLA, Perkins amassed 277 punt return yards (NCAA record) and scored on three punt returns (again NCAA record). The three scores were all 60+ yard returns and show his ability to change direction, break tackles and pure, unadulterated speed.

By the time he was finished in Norman, he was the school's all time punt return yardage leader and had tied Wes Welker of Texas Tech with the career number of punt return scores ( 8 ), while also amassing All Conference and All American honors.

Perkins was hampered by a knee injury in his final collegiate season and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 4th round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He spent 2 seasons in northern Ohio before being released and signing with the Indianapolis Colts.