Merry Christmas Sports Fans!

Well, it's Christmas Eve as I sit here writing this brief piece about the Yule Tide sports season. I have been watching a lot of football today, and I must say that I am ready for some playoff football. Despite the fact the neither the Broncos nor Panthers will likely be in the the playoffs, it should make for an exciting January.

College basketball is starting to heat up and the conference season will be in full swing after the first of the year. Carolina, Florida and UCLA have pulled out ahead of everyone and look to be the top-3 national championship contenders. Ohio State, a sexy pick in the preseason, is off to a hot start; however, they have lost to both Carolina and Florida in convincing fashion.

College football's bowl season is off and running. The BCS gets cranked up next Monday, January 1st. The BCS Championship game will played the following Monday, Jan. 8. Look for there to be little excitment in the four games. Here is how I see them playing out.

The Rose Bowl Game: Michigan vs. USC
Michigan is a really good football team and is looking to make a statement after being left out of the title game. Also, preseason #1 for 2007 could be on the line. USC has lost their last 2 games in the Rose Bowl stadium (to UCLA and Texas), so they want to break that streak. Michigan is the nation's second best team; too bad they lost to #1. Therefore, Michigan wins 34-17.

The Sugar Bowl: LSU vs. Notre Dame
Notre Dame is only a name. That is why they are in New Orleans. They will bring fans and viewers. They took up a spot that a much more deserving Va. Tech or Wisconsin team deserved. The game is in LSU's backyard, so look for the Bayou Bengals to roll to victory 28-10.

The Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Boise State
This is Boise's first BCS go round and Bob Stoops' 9287300th. Boise has not had to play a team the caliber of the Sooners thus far this season. They are a non-BCS school in the BCS. The last time that happened Utah beat Pitt. But, Boise is not Utah and Oklahoma is definitely not Pitt. Adrien Petersen is back for the Sooners, so that means Oklahoma wins 31-14.

The Orange Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Louisville
Wake has been riding a wave of momentum all season, but it may have been broken with the long lay off. The Demon Deacons are the feel good story of the year. The feel good story wil play the Cardinals of Louisville in what sounds like a clash of Christian sects. Lousiville has one of the highest powered offense in the nation, but Wake brings a games defense. Wake will hang in there for a while and make a second half push, but Louisville will just be too much for the 'Deacs. The final score will be 45-31.

BCS Championship Game: Florida vs. Ohio State... COMING THURSDAY! (as well as a more in depth look at the four games above)...

Grobe Insists He's Staying

Week after week Jim Grobe's name pops up as a candidate for coaching jobs across America. His name has been most associated with the Alabama job. The Crimson Tide was Beamered late last week by West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez. Their other top candidates (Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban) have also saud "No Thank You."

The list seems to have dwindled to 2 names, Paul Johnson of Navy and Wake Forest's Jim Grobe. Johnson recently agreed to a new contract that will make him one of the highest paid coached in the country, plus he gets a car and a house on top of that. So, paying an astronomical buy out to Navy seems unlikely. The Tide faithful seem less than impressed with Johnson and probably aren't willing to pay a hefty amount to bring him to town.

So, that leaves Grobe. He has taken a football program best known for telling Vince Lombardi that he was not goof enough to be their coach all the way to the Orange Bowl. The Demon Deacons are 10-2 and will play the Lousville Cardinals on January 2. It is the first time, and quite possibly last, in school history that the football team has won that many games. Grobe has taken two programs, Ohio and Wake, from the depths to success. It is about time for him to get a chance to see what he can do with a constant stream of talent.

At Alabama he would have the support and the recruiting base to win and win big. At Wake Forest, the Orange Bowl is a once in a century thing. While at 'Bama it's expected every year.

I can understand why he would want to stay at Wake. He has awesome job security now, he is loved by the 10 to 12 fans and he likes the area. But, in Alabama football is a way of life. They even have an MTV show about their high school football. Alabama has been down over the past few years as they are coming off numerous NCAA sanctions. But, the next guy is inheriting a time bomb of college football success. They are slowing gaining lost scholarships and rebuilding their reputation. A guy like Grobe is just the guy to finish the job. There is no one who says clean program better than Grobe.

He's not 'Bear' Bryant, but he is a bear of a football coach. He should at least listen to the Tide if they call. By going to Alabama, Grobe would improve the lives of himself and his staff. If Alabama can throw $12 million at Rodriguez, then they can come up with a package that would make Grobe and his staff much better off than they are now. They have the most wins in the ACC, but are the lowest paid.

A little note to Alabama. The worst thing he can do is say no. You have already been told no a million times, so what is one more goign to hurt. If you can lure him away, and I am sure you can, then you will start winning games again. And, you will beat Auburn. Because when it matters most Grobe's guys are ready to play.

Photos:
1.http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2006/12/02/PH2006120201216.jpg

Was O'Brien's Hiring Unethical?

Last week N.C. State hired Boston College head football coach, Tom O'Brien. It came as a shock to BC players, fans and administration alike. Lee Fowler, N.C. State AD, sought the permission of BC to speak with O'Brien. That permission was granted. Then on Wednesday of last week word came down that O'Brien has accepted the position and that it was the first time the conference (ACC) had learned the two parties were talking. That made the talk of the moral code, or some unwritten rule, being broken.

Was N.C. State out of line by hiring O'Brien? The answer is simply...NO! If O'Brien felt like he was getting a fair shake and was happy at BC, then he wouldn't have wanted to leave. State was informed of his interest last Sunday and then contacted him. There is a lot BC is justified in complaining about since joining the ACC in 2005, but being raided for a coach isn't one of them

It is true that while BC has been in teh top 3-4 teams in the ACC since joining the league in '05. They have finished no worse than 3rd in their 2 seasons, but have not played in better bowl game than the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte. That bowl game is 6th on the list as far as payouts associated with the ACC.

However, is that really the fault of the conference? Partly, yes. But a lot of the blame must fall on BC. They are notorious poor travelers. Maybe if they sold out their share of tickets for their subpar bowl game, then next year they would step up to the next level. When there are teams like Clemson, State, FSU, Va. Tech, Ga. Tech and UNC (they travel when they do make a bowl game) that bring fans by the bus loads, it isn't hard to see why BC gets sent to Boise or Charlotte. The Peach Bowl, Gator Bowl, Music City and Champs games are going to be reserved for teams that wil sale tickets.

It's sour grapes in 'Bean Town.' And, I would be the same way if someone did it to us. O'Brien's name was swirling around in connection with every job. It was just a matter of where, not if and when. It just so happens that it was State that O'Brien hooked up with. State wanted him and he wanted State; while, BC didn't appear to eager to pull a West Virginia and do something to keep him there.

There is no rule, anywhere, that says that one school within the ACC cannot hire another ACC school's coach. Had State hired Skip Holtz, ECU head coach, then would everyone be screaming that we couldn't take a little-sister school's coach? No, ECU would have laughed that we were admitting that their coach was better than our former coach.

Simply put, if O'Brien was happy at BC, then he would not have left. He wouldn't have let his name get floated around at Arizona State, Stanford and even Alabama. It has been said that many at BC wanted to see him gone, that he could jog through campus without being recognized and that he wasn't the guy for BC. While he had only been on campus for 5 or 6 hours at State and received multiple standing ovations at a basketball game.

State did not do anything unethical when they hired O'Brien last week. The only point that I will concede to those who believe the contrary is that I do think it was a low blow for there to be a no-compete clause in his contract. Thus, he cannot leave State for another ACC school during the duration of his contract. That detail should have probably been left out. Hopefully, Mark Whipple will work out for BC and all of this will be forgotten.

Photos:
1. http://images.news14.com/media/2006/12/7/images/01obrien2.jpg

Tom O'Brien to be New Leader of the Pack

"Innovator. Motivator. Disciplinarian. Program rebuilder." Those are the first words on Boston College's website that describe the departing Eagles' head coach, Tom O'Brien. Barring any last minute hiccups, O'Brien is set to become the next head coach at N.C. State. News came late Wednesday night that Athletics Directoe Lee Fowler and NCSU had reached a deal that would make O'Brien the leader of teh Wolfpack football program.




Chuck Amato elevated the program to national relevancy. And, that was just about as far as he could get it. Amato was great for State. He did a lot of great things and has placed the program on solid footing for the future. The ceiling for Amato had been reached, but the ceiling for State football has not. Thus, it was time for a change.

O'Brien is just what State needs right now. The program doesn't need to be rebuilt, it needs to be tweaked. There is a definite need for innovation (offensively), motivation (State can't beat UNC or Wake right now) and discipline (the Pack have been seriously hendered by stupid penalties and other issues possitively realted to a lack of discipline). So, if there a College Football M.D., then O'Brien would be the prescription to what ails State.

O'Brien went 75-45 in 10 seasons at BC. Under his direction the program was lifted from the depths of the Big East to perennially top-20 program. The Eagles have made 8 straight bowl games (including this season's bowl), winning 6 straight. However, the bowl games have been lack luster in terms of prestige because of the notorious poor travelers known as BC Eagles "SuperFans." At State a 7-5 season warranted a trip to the "Muffler Bowl" in Charlotte, N.C. At BC that's all a 9-3 season can get.

O'Brien's record against the upper echelon of the Big East and rest of the nation has been called into question. It is not a big deal, because it was at BC. It is a lot harder to win at BC. No one cares about BC football in New England. I mean they have a limit of how many night home games that they are allowed to play because of the people who live near the stadium. The fan support at State is much better than it is in Boston and the monetary support for the program is probably greater as well.

He is 0-4 against former Miami and current UNC head coach, Butch Davis. It was a little different situation then though. Davis had a dynasty in the making in Coral Gables, and O'Brien had a fledgling BC program lucky to be in the top-25.

Three of the things that the Pack lacked on the field this year are 3 of the 4 things that O'Brien brings to the table. Innovation, motivation and discipline kept the Pack from a successful season this year. Had Chuck been able to supply those things, then he would still be roaming the sidelines for State. And I, more than anybody, wished that was the case. It's not the case. The case is that TOB is the new man. And he deserves all the support in the world.

You want to see what a personality such as O'Brien's can do for a team? Then just watch the Orange Bowl on January 2, 2007. Jim Grobe, of Wake Forest, has done a miraculous job at Wake. His strengtths? Innovation, motivation and discipline.

Thank you, Boston College. Three simple words on your web-site have given us the reasons for hiring away your football coach. We need those things here in Raleigh,a nd now we have it. I can't wait for an official press conference. Word is beginning to surface that a introductory press conference could come this Saturday. Could there be an appearance at the heritage basketball game? What better way to be introduced to N.C. State, than to attend a basketball game on the hallowed floor of Reynolds' Coliseum? That would be awesome.

Photos:
1.http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2006/football/ncaa/12/07/ncstate.obrien.ap/p1.obrien.getty.jpg
2.http://thedirtroad.net/jeff/images/upload3.jpg

Rich Rodrigues to Alabama. _______ to West Virginia.

It became apparent last night that Alabama had offered it's vacant head coaching position to West Virginia's head coach, Rich Rodriguez. The offer is worth a reported $12 million over 6 years, plus to $2million buy out of Rodriguez's current contract.

WVU seemed like the perfect place for Rodriguez, and I would have never thought of him leaving. He grew up about 30 minutes from the Morgantown campus and then played football for the Mountaineers in the 1980s. It seemed like a perfect match. Most college football players wo go on to coach have their alma mater as their dream job. However when money is involved, nothing else matters.

Plain and simple, if this goes through as expected, then it will be nothing more than a cash grab for Rodriguez. The $2 million is obviously worth mroe to him than the opportunity to further his legend in teh community in which he has spent a majority of his life.

There is nothing wrong with someone wanting to take a step up in the world and make a little more money. However, right now the Alabama job is a step down from the West Virginia job. At WVU, Rodriguez can realistically compete for a BCS spot year in and year out. At Alabama, he will find himself competing in the middle of the pack; and that just doesn''t cut it at Alabama. The man can do no wrong in Morgantown, and it is hard to understand why he would want to go somewhere like the looney-bin that is Tuscaloosa.

Seeing how this is all but a done deal, the focus should shift to who will replace Rodriguez at WVU. I am in no way close to the situation; however, I like to speculate. There are three names that I think will be at the top of West Virginia's list as soon as the Rodriguez news is made official.

The first name on the list is a name that has been linked to every job under the sun. And, to each and every one of those links he has said "no." However, if there was ever a job that made perfect sense for this particular guy, then it would be WVU. Morgantown is a blue-collar town, with a blue-collar school and this guy is definitely a hard nosed blue-collar guy. His no non-sense demeanor would fit perfeclty. His offense would definitely work like a charm with the current athlete at WVU. He is a native of Huntington, W.V. Was a one-time assistant at Huntington's Marshall University. Has a great deal of head coaching experience and has never had the opportunity to take a over a program in good standing. This year he pulled off one of the greatest miracles ever. He won a conference championship and a trip to the BCS at Wake Forest. Of course, I am talking about Jim Grobe. He has to be the top-candidate for this job. WVU should be prepared and willing to throw 1.5-1.75 million reasons why on top of the fact that he is a home town boy to come. I know he has said that he is perfectly happy at Wake, and who wouldn't be there. He is the first football coach in school history to outshine the school's basketbal coach. I doubt he pays for a meal in Reynolda Village. If he were to goto WVU, then he wouldn't have to pay for a meal anywhere in West "By God" Virginia. His personality fits better at WVU, he's from the area, has coached in the area, would have a legitimate shot to reach the BCS every year, would get paid more, would be THE top dawg on campus and would have the supposrt he lacks at Wake Forest. He has to be the logicalfirst choice for the Mountaineers.

The second name on the list should be Navy's Paul Johnson. The man has done an excellent job at Navy and has them in yet another bowl game. Once considered a top candidate for the N.C. State job, Johnson has been heavily scrutinized for his wish-bone triple-option offense. Well, with the athletes that they have at West Virginia that offense would work. Being the head coach at NAvy takes a tough personality and WVU is associated with tough personalities. Johnson wouldn't have worked at N.C. State. But, he would work at WVU. He could still run his offense and teh fan base would probably be perfectly fine with it so long as he won football games. That is completely opposite to the situation in Raleigh, just ask Herb Sendek. Johnson has taken Navy back into the respectable category and has beaten his biggest rival, Army, 4 consecutive times. I know it's Army, but with a rivalry like that you throw the records out the window. Johnson is not a W.V. native, in fact he is from North Carolina. But, he has all the characteristics required to be the head football coach for the Mountaineers. I think at this point he seems like the most realistic choice to succeed Rodriguez, because Grobe seems content on staying. But, this job will probably pry at Grobe's heart strings. So, that is why I am listing him as the top candidate. Plus, I would like to see him else where so that I wouldn't have to worry about him every year.

The third name is a West VIrginia grad, former player and former assistant coach. Florida's associate head coach and and safeties coach, "Doc" Holliday. He began his coaching carreer in 1979 as a graduate assistant at WVU. He would spend the next 20 years as an assistant for the Mountaineers before leaving to become the Assoc. HC/wide receivers coach under Chuck Amato at N.C. State in 2000. He then left NCSU in 2004 to join Urban Meyer at Florida for his current position. Holliday has a litany of NFL players that have played for him. He is considered one of the top assistants in the country that is not currently a coordinator. However, that is the one down fall of his resume. He doesn't have any head coaching or coordinating experience. He is probably their "go to" guy in the event that the aforementioned candidates were to say no. I don't know the man, nor do I claim to. But, I think he would take any offer sent his way.

So, how will this all turn out? That I don't know. There is one thing for sure, and that is that this season has been crazy. Countless caoching changes have overshadowed much of what has went on this year. Whoever takes that job will inherit a program in much better standing than Alabama's program. Rich Rodriguez is a fool to leave West Virginia for Alabama. Don't count on him being there too long. He must beat Auburn and the team that I saw play Auburn is far from being able to accomplish that.

Photos:
1.http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060321/060321_rodriguez_vmed_9p.widec.jpg 2.http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/wake/sports/m-footbl/auto_action/-grobe-orlebar-091303.jpg
3.http://starbulletin.com/2005/12/01/sports/art9.jpg
4.http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/31/319975.jpg

Tom O'Brien to Replace Amato

Tom O'Brien to Replace Amato

Since Chuck Amato was let go on November 26 I have refrained from writing anything. So, I have a lot to cover and I will back track a bit. However, I will start with the news that is most pertinent to me. And that is that N.C. State has all but hired Boston College's Tom O'Brien as the new head football coach.

I think it is a great hire and I know a lot of Wolfpack fans will disagree with me. That is because Wolfpack nation, for the most part, is ignorant when it comes to building programs. Tom O'Brien is the complete antithesis (that's opposite for my Wolfpack brethren who did not attend the University) of Chuck Amato. Amato did a lot for this program and he has left an indelible mark on the program.

What does O'Brien bring to the program? He brings discipline to start with. Under Amato the Wolfpack was routinely one of the most penalized team in the country. The football program was known more for personal fouls than just about anything else.

O'Brien brings a fresh perspective as well. Chuck Amato had his way of doing things, and that didn't include an offensive identity. The offense progressively got worse as the post-Rivers era progressed. The defense, however, was always good. Even this year, the defense played well enough to win ball games. The offense struggles to score points, in fact they even struggled to make a first down. O'Brien is sure to bring an identity.

Continuity amongst the coaching staff was something that definitely lacked under Amato. It became apparent that Amato wasn't the easiest person to work for. The carousel of assistant coaches led to a carousel of philosophies, especially on the offensive side of the ball. It's hard for 19-22 year olds to win ball games when every year they are adjusting to a new system. O'Brien had most of his staff for at least 4 years while at BC. It also looks as if BC will be heading in a new direction, so much of O'Brien's staff will be available to make their way to Raleigh.'

O'Brien is just what the Dr. ordered. He brings in discipline, an identity and continuity. All of these things will help elevate the Wolfpack program to the next level. There is not a person out there that Lee Fowler could have hired that everyone would be hapy about. So, I know that there will be plenty of O'Brien haters out there. I must say, that when Lee Fowler talks of N.C. State fans, he hits the nail on the head. There is a reason that he and the rest of the athletic department get paid to work there. And there is also a reason why State fans are just that, fans.

Give the man a chance. He is a proven winner. I know his record against the top-25 was no so outstanding. However, that was at BC. He received far less support while in Chestnutt Hill, with a smaller fan base and far less monetary support from the boosters. He was ready to leave there and he wanted to come to Raleigh. There were plenty of jobs out there that he could have been able to get, but he wanted this one. He will take this University to the next level of college football. He is an ACC guy (from his days at Virginia and BC) with head coaching expierence and success. So, just wait until he has coached a game before you pass judgement. And send Lee Fowler a Christmas card, because he just made a great move.

Wake Forest is Flying South for the Winter

As I sat in the stands at Alltel Stadium this past weekend and watched teh Wake Forest Demon Deacons take the ACC Championship I couldn't help but pull for them. This was the third time that I had the opportunity to see the mighty Swiss play in person, and I must say that I have never seen a college football team play that hard.

I never thought that I would see the day that Wake Forest would represent the ACC in the Orange Bowl. The BCS and Wake Forest are two things that I didn't think mixed very well. However, everytime that I picked against them, they proved me wrong. And they did it again Saturday by beating Georgia Tech.

The 'Deacs are an excellent football team. And they deserve all the credit in the world for accomplishing what they did. However, the 'Deac fans need to 'Wake Themselves' and enjoy this for what it is. Yes, the team will be good again next year. Yes, they will play just as hard next year as they did this year. But, no, the conference will not have the same landscape next season as it did this season.

As great of an accomplishment winning the ACC Championship was, it still involved a lot of luck. If you would have told me at the beginning of the year that FSU and Miami would be 6-6, that Va. Tech and Clemson would stumble mid-season, that N.C. State and UNC would be 3-9 and that Ga. Tech would fall flat in the biggest game of the season; then, I would have laughed in your face. And then you told me that Wake Forest would be the only team left standing, then you probably would have had to take me to the hospital.

However, you cannot take it away from them. The title, and $17 million, is theirs to keep. They played better than anyone else this season and found a way to win when the odds seemed stacked against them.

I must say that I am tired of hearing the Wake faithful calling into the radio stations talking about nest year. Next year is next year and another 11-2 season will be tougher to come by than this one. Enjoy it. You still have the Orange Bowl left to play. Next season doesn't matter right now. Go to Miami and watch the Deacons and the Cardinals (sounds like a holy war) play for the Oranges. It should be a great game. And yet another game that the 'Deacs will be 20+ point underdogs. Louisville feels they have something to prove and the 'Deacs should feel no pressure. No one expected them to be there. Everyone expected Louisville to be there. So, my money is on Jim Grobe (if he is still the coach there come January 2, which he probably will be) and his Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Just remember 'Deac fans, don't get ahead of yourselves. We here at N.C. State made that mistake and we just underwent a coaching change.

Florida to Play Ohio State in BCS Championship

Florida passed Michigan in the final BCS pole of the regular season Sunday and earned the right to play for the National Championship. It was a controversial pass, but the right one in my opinion. And here is why.

Michigan lost to Ohio State. Granted it was at OSU and only by 3 points; however, they still lost. Ohio State has already proven that they can beat Michigan. They shouldn't have to do it again. If it were anybody but the holy Michigan or Notre Dame then no one would care.

Michigan is the number 2 team, but unfortunately they are the #2 team in their conference as well. If you don't win your conference championship, then under the current system you shouldn't be allowed to play for the title. Florida won their conference (SEC), the toughest conference in the country.

Florida played high profile games in the last 2 weeks, while Michigan sat at home licking their wounds from the OSU game. Florida beat FSU in a nationally broadcast game and then beat top-10 Arkansas in the SEC Championship this past Saturday.

All that means that Florida deserved it over the Big Blue of Michigan. So, stop your crying Wolverine Nation and go play in the Rose Bowl and prove something. I don't think you will beat USC. So, your claim to a title shot is pretty much a moot point.

I'm calling it right now...Ohio State will be upset by Florida, just like Ohio State upset Miami when everyone said that there was no way that they would. The final score will be Florida 34, Ohio State 31. Happy Bowl Season!!

Photos:
1. http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/35/358628.jpg
2. http://www.fsu.com/media/2003/12/05/oran_bowl_logo_02.jpg
3. http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/12/04/sports/04colleges1.span.jpg