The NFL Draft is set for Thursday night and some things are shaping up pretty obvious.
With the number one pick in the NFL Draft, The St. Louis Rams select, Ron Jaworski, no wait, I mean Sam Bradford. Sorry, 1970's flashbacks happening there.
Detroit can monkey wrench some teams by taking Russell Okung. They need protection for Matt Stafford and Okung may be the man. That means Tampa and Washington's phone starts to ring off the hook from people interested in Gerald McCoy and Mr. Suh how do u do, please come to Washington. This could give the Skins prime reason though to vacate the four, trade down and still get a lineman and maybe a round two or three pick they don't have.
Raiders fans, early mock drafts had you maybe taking Bruce Campbell the lineman from Maryland. However, I'd be stunned if the Raiders got duped two seasons in a row by a combine star from Maryland.
In the questions without answers category.
What would possess an opposing coach to put his hands on a kid from another team? Why do some coaches allow their players to talk and taunt on the field? My players don't do it, and I certainly wouldn't touch a kid.
NBA PLAYOFFS
Kevin Durant did better in game two in the Western conference playoffs against L.A., but the stats that give the Lakers the edge? Rebounding and Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar were a combined + 21 when they were in the game, thats good bench play.
The Miami Heat sure gave Dwayne Wade a great reason to want to come back to Miami in free agency in game two? Is that another Miami brick, yes.
The more I watch Cleveland, the more I really do think they will win this thing this year. Shaq, looks like a contributor, not a statue, and its supporting cast is playing with LeBron as opposed to standing and watching.
NHL PLAYOFFS
Nothing better in sports, except maybe an NFL playoff game going to overtime. The best series so far, L.A. and Vancouver for exciting play. How about Philly making life miserable for New Jersey. Looks like Washington-Pittsburgh may happen inthe Eastern Conference Finals after all.
The Caps star players have awaken and a new star is rising in John Carlson. He is doing what Mike Green is supposed to be doing, being Washington's best all-around defensemen.
MLB
For those of us who have waited to have a Washington Baseball team to root for, thanks to Stan Kasten, Mike Rizzo and the Nationals. 7-7 is better than many expected at this point and the team is very competitive. Ivan Rodriquez hitting over .400, and is Mr. Morgan at the top of the lineup Mickey Rivers, 2010?
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Gaudio a victim of win now attitude in college hoops
Dino Gaudio was 61-31 at Wake Forest in three seasons of coaching after taking over for his mentor, the late Skip Prosser. It netted him a contract extension last year. This year, his team was bounced in the first round of the ACC Tournament, then even after a gutsy first round NCAA win against Texas, Gaudio was given the boot today.
The win now culture of basketball has gobbled up another victim. Gaudio, nearly flawless as a recruiter, didn't win enough in the post season and its as simple as that.
Two ACC jobs are now open. Im sure we will hear the name of Richmond's Chris Mooney and Dayton's Brian Gregory and Im Sure someone will make a call to Brad Stevens of Butler.
61-31 and out of work. Ouch....
The win now culture of basketball has gobbled up another victim. Gaudio, nearly flawless as a recruiter, didn't win enough in the post season and its as simple as that.
Two ACC jobs are now open. Im sure we will hear the name of Richmond's Chris Mooney and Dayton's Brian Gregory and Im Sure someone will make a call to Brad Stevens of Butler.
61-31 and out of work. Ouch....
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Thank you Geno!
Through UCONN's 78-game wininng streak and now back-to-back NCAA Championships, people, mainly ESPN, have referenced UCLA's mens winning streak. Rebecca Lobo, the former UCONN player who worked the sidelines for ESPN asked Huskies Coach Geno Auriema about being in John Wooden's company.
The coach hit it right on the head. "He has no company."
Thank you Geno for bringing some common sense to this accomplishment. yes, it is noteworthy and tremendous to do what UCONN has done. Stanford gave a great try, but the Huskies came from behind and won it all again.
I will see Geno during the summer as I did last year at the US Junior Nationals when I ref and simply give him a handshake and say congratulations. He wins, because he beats the hedges and gets out and sees the talent. He doesn't rest on his laurels and gets out and does the work. For those of you keeping score, thats seven titles now. Maybe DePaul's mens program should have hired him.
Speaking of which, Oliver Purnell are you serious? Did you get so frustrated that you couldn't knock off Duke and North Carolina, that you now want to climb the mountain of 16 teams in the BIG EAST? Hope the checks clear, the Rosemont Horizon will seem like a morgue compared to the great atmosphere in the land of orange.
The Orioles gave fans hope that change was in the air on opening night. A power surge of three long balls gave the O's a 3-2 lead into the ninth inning. Then last year's demons came calling.
Runners on first and third in the ninth with nobody out, and Garrett Atkins heads home on a ball to third and of course gets thrown out by a mile. For ten years I coached the kids of Shady Side and likely called for a runner to go home on a ball to left side with less than two outs, zippy times. Maybe Dave Trembley wants to lose? Of course thats not the case but this team had major base running mistakes last year and this year it cost them what proved to be valuable insurance in the ninth. Why?
Mike Gonzalez gave up the game in the bottom of the inning as the Rays scored twice to beat the O's 4-3. Kevin Millwood deserved better. Will Ohman, and Jim Johnson deserved better. Adam Jones and Matt Wieters deserved better. The lefty couldn't get out Crawford, a lefty or the slugging pinch hitter Kell Shoppach who nearly went yard the batter before. Ugh.
Finally, a man of true class met the media in Ashburn, Virginia. Donovan McNabb is the new quarterback of the Washington Redskins.
He could have taken shots at the Eagles his former team, but the closest he came was when he endorsed Andy Reid in a quote about being a future Hall of Fame Coach. He may not win 10 or 11 games for this team, but he and Mike Shanahan have already improved the class of this franchise which was in serious doubt this decade. Hopefully he wont suffer the fate of the last two quarterbacks to wear number five in Washington, Heath Shuler and Colt Brennan.
The coach hit it right on the head. "He has no company."
Thank you Geno for bringing some common sense to this accomplishment. yes, it is noteworthy and tremendous to do what UCONN has done. Stanford gave a great try, but the Huskies came from behind and won it all again.
I will see Geno during the summer as I did last year at the US Junior Nationals when I ref and simply give him a handshake and say congratulations. He wins, because he beats the hedges and gets out and sees the talent. He doesn't rest on his laurels and gets out and does the work. For those of you keeping score, thats seven titles now. Maybe DePaul's mens program should have hired him.
Speaking of which, Oliver Purnell are you serious? Did you get so frustrated that you couldn't knock off Duke and North Carolina, that you now want to climb the mountain of 16 teams in the BIG EAST? Hope the checks clear, the Rosemont Horizon will seem like a morgue compared to the great atmosphere in the land of orange.
The Orioles gave fans hope that change was in the air on opening night. A power surge of three long balls gave the O's a 3-2 lead into the ninth inning. Then last year's demons came calling.
Runners on first and third in the ninth with nobody out, and Garrett Atkins heads home on a ball to third and of course gets thrown out by a mile. For ten years I coached the kids of Shady Side and likely called for a runner to go home on a ball to left side with less than two outs, zippy times. Maybe Dave Trembley wants to lose? Of course thats not the case but this team had major base running mistakes last year and this year it cost them what proved to be valuable insurance in the ninth. Why?
Mike Gonzalez gave up the game in the bottom of the inning as the Rays scored twice to beat the O's 4-3. Kevin Millwood deserved better. Will Ohman, and Jim Johnson deserved better. Adam Jones and Matt Wieters deserved better. The lefty couldn't get out Crawford, a lefty or the slugging pinch hitter Kell Shoppach who nearly went yard the batter before. Ugh.
Finally, a man of true class met the media in Ashburn, Virginia. Donovan McNabb is the new quarterback of the Washington Redskins.
He could have taken shots at the Eagles his former team, but the closest he came was when he endorsed Andy Reid in a quote about being a future Hall of Fame Coach. He may not win 10 or 11 games for this team, but he and Mike Shanahan have already improved the class of this franchise which was in serious doubt this decade. Hopefully he wont suffer the fate of the last two quarterbacks to wear number five in Washington, Heath Shuler and Colt Brennan.
Whacky weekend
As a member of the media in many of its forms as a play-by-play man, talk show host, Horse Racing track announcer, I pay attention to a lot of things.
Nothing however, could prepare me for what happened on Friday night when I arrived at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Upon arriving, I set up my radio equipment like normal to do the Radio Broadcast on the Navy Radio Network. Fifteen minutes later, "we need you to do TV, the TV guy is laying in the press box surrounded by medical people."
Luckily, CBS College Sports Network had an extra golf shirt, I only wished I had shaved, luckily we were on camera only once. Props to the entire staff at Navy and CBS since you can go some places and never have medical people around that fast and the fact that color man Matt Danowski and I went on as if nothing happened and made the broadcast happen.
Saturday we saw one good game at the final four, and you saw Duke put on a show.
Sunday, became a wild day. Joe Miller, my co-host on Playmakers on 105.7 in Baltimore (when there is no Orioles) and me hosted a 5-hour Easter Sunday marathon. We dismissed the rumors as impossible that the Eagles would trade Donovan McNabb in the division, yet three hours later they did. The move keeps the Redskins legit for a season or two depending on what they surround him with. His presser at Noon Tuesday should have some inetresting nugget potential, but as he has done almost all the time, DM will likely take the high road.
Last night, our first caller Brian, said it was a racial thing why he was moved. Phones blew up. While the caller in this instance was incorrectly applying the race card, its still a polarizing topic on talk shows.
Duke and Butler gave us an exciting game to watch for 40 minutes. Duke's ability to defend, often overlooked this year, was the difference in this game. Yeah the big three of Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith did their thing, but Brian Zoubek's rebounding in this tournament on defense on Gordon Hayward's shot with :05 second left was a difference making play. Congrats to Coach K on title number four.
Today is a day to breathe. Update coming later after the McNabb presser.
Nothing however, could prepare me for what happened on Friday night when I arrived at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Upon arriving, I set up my radio equipment like normal to do the Radio Broadcast on the Navy Radio Network. Fifteen minutes later, "we need you to do TV, the TV guy is laying in the press box surrounded by medical people."
Luckily, CBS College Sports Network had an extra golf shirt, I only wished I had shaved, luckily we were on camera only once. Props to the entire staff at Navy and CBS since you can go some places and never have medical people around that fast and the fact that color man Matt Danowski and I went on as if nothing happened and made the broadcast happen.
Saturday we saw one good game at the final four, and you saw Duke put on a show.
Sunday, became a wild day. Joe Miller, my co-host on Playmakers on 105.7 in Baltimore (when there is no Orioles) and me hosted a 5-hour Easter Sunday marathon. We dismissed the rumors as impossible that the Eagles would trade Donovan McNabb in the division, yet three hours later they did. The move keeps the Redskins legit for a season or two depending on what they surround him with. His presser at Noon Tuesday should have some inetresting nugget potential, but as he has done almost all the time, DM will likely take the high road.
Last night, our first caller Brian, said it was a racial thing why he was moved. Phones blew up. While the caller in this instance was incorrectly applying the race card, its still a polarizing topic on talk shows.
Duke and Butler gave us an exciting game to watch for 40 minutes. Duke's ability to defend, often overlooked this year, was the difference in this game. Yeah the big three of Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith did their thing, but Brian Zoubek's rebounding in this tournament on defense on Gordon Hayward's shot with :05 second left was a difference making play. Congrats to Coach K on title number four.
Today is a day to breathe. Update coming later after the McNabb presser.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Thursday Sweet 16 game thoughts...
It is amazing as a sports talk host what some people interpret about some programs and what some hosts actually don't know about some of the teams playing.
Of course everyone is waiting for the Cornell and Kentucky. The great things is people assume that Cornell plays like Princeton.
Outside of the games against the Tigers, Cornell scored 60 or more in EVERY GAME. They also scored 90 twice and 104 once. They threw down 87 against Wisconsin and won at Alabama and UMASS.
This is not your typical IVY League team. They can play. They can shoot and they have a big man. They also have a coach who certainly knows what he is doing.
I think everyone outside of Lexington, Kentucky is rooting for Cornell. DeMarcus Cousins, not John Wall is the key to this game. He will have to guard Jeff Foote all over the frontcourt and Ryan Wittman at 6-7 will shoot over some of Kentucky's defenders. George Mason once made the final four, Cornell can too. They are coached well, while I wonder if Wall and company are listening to Calipari at all. CORNELL 84 Kentucky 82
Truck Bryant's injury will hurt West Virginia but not until they play Kentucky or Cornell. I think West Virginia will defend Washington well. Bob Huggins always seems to have the darndest luck when he looks like he could win it all. Mr. Butler will do enough to get the Mountaineers through this one. West Virginia 68 Washington 61.
Butler has shot lights out recently, and done it against mainly man to man defensive teams. Anyone think Brad Stevens looks not even old enough to drink? I think Syracuse is resembling the team we all thought in early February was going to win this thing. Wesley Johnson coming on a 31-14 effort is enough to sell me here, and Butler having to deal with zone and one shot and done possessions. SYRACUSE 88 BUTLER 69
Xavier is one of the nations most underappreciated programs over the past ten years. Another good team in the sweet 16 even though Sean Miller moved on to coach Arizona. Kansas State has watched its nemesis, Kansas, get eliminated. The Wildcats are confident and shooting the ball very well. Kansas State 73 Xavier 66
Dont forget to Catch me and Joe Miller along with Jeremy Conn of the Scott Garceau Show Friday night at Buffalo Wild Wings in Westminster, Maryland starting at 6pm-10 on 105.7fm and www.1057thefan.com
Of course everyone is waiting for the Cornell and Kentucky. The great things is people assume that Cornell plays like Princeton.
Outside of the games against the Tigers, Cornell scored 60 or more in EVERY GAME. They also scored 90 twice and 104 once. They threw down 87 against Wisconsin and won at Alabama and UMASS.
This is not your typical IVY League team. They can play. They can shoot and they have a big man. They also have a coach who certainly knows what he is doing.
I think everyone outside of Lexington, Kentucky is rooting for Cornell. DeMarcus Cousins, not John Wall is the key to this game. He will have to guard Jeff Foote all over the frontcourt and Ryan Wittman at 6-7 will shoot over some of Kentucky's defenders. George Mason once made the final four, Cornell can too. They are coached well, while I wonder if Wall and company are listening to Calipari at all. CORNELL 84 Kentucky 82
Truck Bryant's injury will hurt West Virginia but not until they play Kentucky or Cornell. I think West Virginia will defend Washington well. Bob Huggins always seems to have the darndest luck when he looks like he could win it all. Mr. Butler will do enough to get the Mountaineers through this one. West Virginia 68 Washington 61.
Butler has shot lights out recently, and done it against mainly man to man defensive teams. Anyone think Brad Stevens looks not even old enough to drink? I think Syracuse is resembling the team we all thought in early February was going to win this thing. Wesley Johnson coming on a 31-14 effort is enough to sell me here, and Butler having to deal with zone and one shot and done possessions. SYRACUSE 88 BUTLER 69
Xavier is one of the nations most underappreciated programs over the past ten years. Another good team in the sweet 16 even though Sean Miller moved on to coach Arizona. Kansas State has watched its nemesis, Kansas, get eliminated. The Wildcats are confident and shooting the ball very well. Kansas State 73 Xavier 66
Dont forget to Catch me and Joe Miller along with Jeremy Conn of the Scott Garceau Show Friday night at Buffalo Wild Wings in Westminster, Maryland starting at 6pm-10 on 105.7fm and www.1057thefan.com
Friday, March 19, 2010
Poor at-large field, you bet!
Many of us who watch college hoops have said this was a mediocre at-large group and you know what? We're finding out thats right on the money. Little did we know though that it was as mediocre as three and four seeds!
Number-three seed Georgetown my childhood team, gone. Patrick where were you when we needed you, hell Micahel Graham would have planted D.J. Cooper and Armon Bassett after their first trip into the paint and they never would have ventured there again.
Vanderbilt of the SEC, see you, you were a victim of more March Madness. Temple of the rejuvinated A-10, joinh Richmond on the sidelines, those non-scholarship guys from Cornell smoked you. Pretty soon, they will want to ban non-scholarship teams from the tourney for making scholarship teams look bad.
Wofford, which has as many kids as my son Division III school, nearly shocked Wisconsin. By the way thats around 1400+ at last check.
If the NCAA expands t0 96 will that raise the cost of most pools for accounting fees?
Which coach will parlay this years tourney to more $$$ next year. Mike Rice, Robert Morris. Someone should offer a job to Blaine Taylor at ODU too. Are you listening DePaul? Seton Hall, St. John's? Whichever job Tom Pecora doesn't get offered, Taylor should get it.
Perhaps the next announcement made at a WAL-MART will be "Number-seven seeds, please exit the tournament now."
When will people realize that with only 12 scholarships per school, that someone not named Kansas, Calipari, or Duke has good players too.
How many times did Tim Brando mention Bentley's in College Park during the Maryland-Houston broadcast? Perhaps as many rebounds as Jordan Williams had, 213. Shocker this game wasnt over til 12:45 eastern time. Could someone have put Cal-Gonzaga as an 8-9 game or something in this late time slot?
My champion looked good as did my picks of ODU, Ga. Tech, and Purdue. Why do u mention Purdue Pete they are a four-seed right? No one picked them but me it seemed. Siena was very average over the past six games heading in.
The two coaches I thought needed wins coming in were Dino gaudio and Oliver Purnell. Dino did, Oliver, not so much.
I walked into an Outback Steakhouse for dinner tonight and would you believe on the TV monitors, an NIT game and a Caps-Hurricanes game from last night. Hello?
Thank god the number-one seeds restored order in day two of the tourney, but there still is nothing like the little guy flexing his bicep once in a while too.......
Number-three seed Georgetown my childhood team, gone. Patrick where were you when we needed you, hell Micahel Graham would have planted D.J. Cooper and Armon Bassett after their first trip into the paint and they never would have ventured there again.
Vanderbilt of the SEC, see you, you were a victim of more March Madness. Temple of the rejuvinated A-10, joinh Richmond on the sidelines, those non-scholarship guys from Cornell smoked you. Pretty soon, they will want to ban non-scholarship teams from the tourney for making scholarship teams look bad.
Wofford, which has as many kids as my son Division III school, nearly shocked Wisconsin. By the way thats around 1400+ at last check.
If the NCAA expands t0 96 will that raise the cost of most pools for accounting fees?
Which coach will parlay this years tourney to more $$$ next year. Mike Rice, Robert Morris. Someone should offer a job to Blaine Taylor at ODU too. Are you listening DePaul? Seton Hall, St. John's? Whichever job Tom Pecora doesn't get offered, Taylor should get it.
Perhaps the next announcement made at a WAL-MART will be "Number-seven seeds, please exit the tournament now."
When will people realize that with only 12 scholarships per school, that someone not named Kansas, Calipari, or Duke has good players too.
How many times did Tim Brando mention Bentley's in College Park during the Maryland-Houston broadcast? Perhaps as many rebounds as Jordan Williams had, 213. Shocker this game wasnt over til 12:45 eastern time. Could someone have put Cal-Gonzaga as an 8-9 game or something in this late time slot?
My champion looked good as did my picks of ODU, Ga. Tech, and Purdue. Why do u mention Purdue Pete they are a four-seed right? No one picked them but me it seemed. Siena was very average over the past six games heading in.
The two coaches I thought needed wins coming in were Dino gaudio and Oliver Purnell. Dino did, Oliver, not so much.
I walked into an Outback Steakhouse for dinner tonight and would you believe on the TV monitors, an NIT game and a Caps-Hurricanes game from last night. Hello?
Thank god the number-one seeds restored order in day two of the tourney, but there still is nothing like the little guy flexing his bicep once in a while too.......
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Southwest Airlines should thank NAVY fans
Surprised, a little. Of course, then again, these were Navy Football fans.
As I boarded the plane, it was quite apparent, Navy Football fans were once again ready to represent in high numbers at Reliant Stadium on Thursday for the Texas Bowl against Big 12 foe Missouri.
In fact, if not for Navy fans, this flight would have been say, 25% full. Southwest Airlines quietly Im sure sends its best to the Mids for qualifying again for a bowl game.
What an experience it is to be involved with one of the classiest programs in all of sports. We're reminded just how good we have it when we show up and oh by the way President George Herbert Walker Bush is wearing a Navy Football hat on our sidelines before the game shaking hands with anyone who asked and taking pictures. I merely was satisfied with the handshake since I dont have a fancy camera phone foe someone to take it for me.
Houston overall, was exceptional, for a second time this year to Navy as the Mids routed Rice earlier this year, 63-14. This time the Mids were a couple of red zone miscues from a similar rout. In a repeat of the Rice game, it was apparent there were many more here for the blue and gold then the black and gold, and thats a school with 30,200 students!
Navy's coaches were incredible in the little time time to prepare for a talented Missouri team. Navy's offense came out up tempo with no-huddle. Navy's defense came out with two down lineman. All week long we heard how big Missouri was, but, they never really used it to their advantage. Navy's defense made life miserable for quarterback Blaine Gabbert, he could have been picked four maybe even five times. Ricky Dobbs was well, Ricky Dobbs. Despite some careless ball handling in the red zone, his reads were right on, as the Mids rushed for 385 yards, two guys over 100-yards (Dobbs and Marcus Curry) and slot backs Bobby Doyle, Gee Gee Greene and Cory Finnerty all had productive days. Brady DeMell had to step up at center as he did a great job.
But the real winners besides Navy, were the fans, as Houston does an exceptional job of hosting, despite chilly weather, and the food in the southwest is awesome. Our hotel, the J.W. Marriott was first rate, though, lesser hotels down the street, had free wi-fi, JW makes you pay. But, if thats the only thing you can find wrong with the place, thats not bad, overall a 98% for me. Beds were comfortable, room service timely, and you know your in a great hotel when there is a phone in the BATHROOM!
Southwest was on time as usual for me on the way down. Also engaged in great conversation with Navy Grad GREG Olson on the way down and got a ride to the hotel.
HOUSTON overall was a great place, the Galleria rocks, the people were hospitable, a joy to socialize with and Navy Football again proves why its a great business partner now in College Football.
On one final note, Im a sap when it comes to stuff like this. As someone who gets to work closely with these people during the season, seeing the work they put in week-to-week to acheive goals that many college football fans would never think a team of this physical makeup could attain.Its about the respect the program has for everyone in it. The doctors and trainers whose work goes unnoticed on the surface, the support staff of Greg Morgethaler and his group, the marketing people who sell this program and the administrators who support it to the best of its abilities. AD Chet Gladchuck, Superintendent Jeff Fowler, as well as O-reps, and academic advisors who help keep the kids on task.
Navy's sports information department makes broadcasting Navy Football one of the easiest tasks a broadcaster could ask for. There isnt a request that goes denied, (just ask me and Bill Wagner as we have a worse on-time record then some airlines) and there isnt a piece of information not uncovered.
I for one will miss current Commandant of the brigade, Capt. Matt Klunder. I will miss his enthusiasm for the student athletes. Not just football players either. He went off the high dive too when Navy swept Army in Swimming too! I will miss he 63 pushups we did at Rice. I will miss his conversations during games, but I will miss the always respectful handshake he always offered when ever he saw you. There isnt a finer guy you could pick for Admiral Select.
Watching kids like Ross Pospisil, Curtis Bass, Osei Asante, and many of the other Texas kids, and the other selfless seniors, like Doyle and Finnerty, and how about Jack Hatcher, finally getting in for his first ever play in a Navy uniform and now he can tell his family years from now he was tackled , actually lifted up in the air with a perfect from tackle by future pro Sean Witherspoon from Missouri. Seeing their satisfaction and celebration, the hugs between the coaches, in a win-now mentality of sports, its all worth it and I dont think your human if you didn't share a tear of joy for the boys in blue and gold, who for seven straight years have given Navy fans the best that this program and institution have to offer. Classy on the field and off, Navy football 2009 will go down as one the best in Academy History. Thanks to the men and women who make Navy Football what it is.
As I boarded the plane, it was quite apparent, Navy Football fans were once again ready to represent in high numbers at Reliant Stadium on Thursday for the Texas Bowl against Big 12 foe Missouri.
In fact, if not for Navy fans, this flight would have been say, 25% full. Southwest Airlines quietly Im sure sends its best to the Mids for qualifying again for a bowl game.
What an experience it is to be involved with one of the classiest programs in all of sports. We're reminded just how good we have it when we show up and oh by the way President George Herbert Walker Bush is wearing a Navy Football hat on our sidelines before the game shaking hands with anyone who asked and taking pictures. I merely was satisfied with the handshake since I dont have a fancy camera phone foe someone to take it for me.
Houston overall, was exceptional, for a second time this year to Navy as the Mids routed Rice earlier this year, 63-14. This time the Mids were a couple of red zone miscues from a similar rout. In a repeat of the Rice game, it was apparent there were many more here for the blue and gold then the black and gold, and thats a school with 30,200 students!
Navy's coaches were incredible in the little time time to prepare for a talented Missouri team. Navy's offense came out up tempo with no-huddle. Navy's defense came out with two down lineman. All week long we heard how big Missouri was, but, they never really used it to their advantage. Navy's defense made life miserable for quarterback Blaine Gabbert, he could have been picked four maybe even five times. Ricky Dobbs was well, Ricky Dobbs. Despite some careless ball handling in the red zone, his reads were right on, as the Mids rushed for 385 yards, two guys over 100-yards (Dobbs and Marcus Curry) and slot backs Bobby Doyle, Gee Gee Greene and Cory Finnerty all had productive days. Brady DeMell had to step up at center as he did a great job.
But the real winners besides Navy, were the fans, as Houston does an exceptional job of hosting, despite chilly weather, and the food in the southwest is awesome. Our hotel, the J.W. Marriott was first rate, though, lesser hotels down the street, had free wi-fi, JW makes you pay. But, if thats the only thing you can find wrong with the place, thats not bad, overall a 98% for me. Beds were comfortable, room service timely, and you know your in a great hotel when there is a phone in the BATHROOM!
Southwest was on time as usual for me on the way down. Also engaged in great conversation with Navy Grad GREG Olson on the way down and got a ride to the hotel.
HOUSTON overall was a great place, the Galleria rocks, the people were hospitable, a joy to socialize with and Navy Football again proves why its a great business partner now in College Football.
On one final note, Im a sap when it comes to stuff like this. As someone who gets to work closely with these people during the season, seeing the work they put in week-to-week to acheive goals that many college football fans would never think a team of this physical makeup could attain.Its about the respect the program has for everyone in it. The doctors and trainers whose work goes unnoticed on the surface, the support staff of Greg Morgethaler and his group, the marketing people who sell this program and the administrators who support it to the best of its abilities. AD Chet Gladchuck, Superintendent Jeff Fowler, as well as O-reps, and academic advisors who help keep the kids on task.
Navy's sports information department makes broadcasting Navy Football one of the easiest tasks a broadcaster could ask for. There isnt a request that goes denied, (just ask me and Bill Wagner as we have a worse on-time record then some airlines) and there isnt a piece of information not uncovered.
I for one will miss current Commandant of the brigade, Capt. Matt Klunder. I will miss his enthusiasm for the student athletes. Not just football players either. He went off the high dive too when Navy swept Army in Swimming too! I will miss he 63 pushups we did at Rice. I will miss his conversations during games, but I will miss the always respectful handshake he always offered when ever he saw you. There isnt a finer guy you could pick for Admiral Select.
Watching kids like Ross Pospisil, Curtis Bass, Osei Asante, and many of the other Texas kids, and the other selfless seniors, like Doyle and Finnerty, and how about Jack Hatcher, finally getting in for his first ever play in a Navy uniform and now he can tell his family years from now he was tackled , actually lifted up in the air with a perfect from tackle by future pro Sean Witherspoon from Missouri. Seeing their satisfaction and celebration, the hugs between the coaches, in a win-now mentality of sports, its all worth it and I dont think your human if you didn't share a tear of joy for the boys in blue and gold, who for seven straight years have given Navy fans the best that this program and institution have to offer. Classy on the field and off, Navy football 2009 will go down as one the best in Academy History. Thanks to the men and women who make Navy Football what it is.
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