Spartans Need A Good Showing vs.Duke

I know Tom Izzo doesn't really put a premium on early season games, such as the one against Duke tonight. Well Mr. Izzo, this team has to acquit itself well or win tonight. There's one reason and one reason only I feel this way. They gte blown out in these early season showdowns. Think about the North Carolina games the last two years.

There are people that will say "Izzo always wins in March so it doesn't matter". To me it does matter. I understand wanting to measure yourself against the best in the nation. There just has to be a point that you actually start winning some of these early season games. There are some that want to be there in March. I want to be there and win all year. I want to set a tone of dominance. I want my team to feel they can't be beat. Michigan State doesn't have that confidence to be a dominant team. They're good, but they're not as good as they can be. I don't want State to win just because I hate Duke. I want them to tell the rest of America that they are a force to be reckoned with. 

Shannon Was The Fall Guy For The Losses

My personal opinion. Randy Shannon was fired unjustly by Miami. I know there are lots of folks who will disagree, especially fans and supporters of The U. 

Shannon simply didn't win enough to satisfy the appetite of school president Donna Shalala and I would guess numerous boosters. This was after he got the dreaded vote of confidence that seems to doom every coach that gets it. Here's the problem with college athletics, especially football. The president wants to win big. He or she will have boosters and regents in their ear telling them how much the school needs to win. All the while they don't want too much off field controversy and want a decent graduation rate. Shannon fulfilled the last two ( 1 arrest and 3rd best graduation rate), but couldn't win when it mattered most. I'm no great game planner or x's and o's master, but the players were just as responsible for the losses as he was. I know the coach is ultimately the fall guy for what happens on the field. Think about it, the players have admitted they were at fault for Shannon being fired. It wasn't Shannon who threw the game away at Ohio State. I know there was an embarassing loss to Virginia, but if Jacory Harris doesn't get hurt they win that game. The only game I question is the Florida State game where it looked like they didn't show up.

Shannon will get another oppurtunity he will definitely get a look as a defensive coordinator. I think he deserved one more year at Miami. 

Wolverines Notch Good Road Win

After two tough early season losses, the Michigan Wolverines went on the road and beat a pretty good Clemson team 69-61. The game was reminiscent of the NCAA tournament game they played two years ago. Michigan jumped on them early and withstood a second half Clemson surge to get an eight point win in their first true road game of the season.

Freshman Evan Smotrycz and Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Wolverines with 18 and 15 points respectively. Smotrycz also chipped in with six rebounds. Jordan Morgan had eight points and six rebounds, but six of those points came when Clemson mounted a serious charge.

This was the first win for the Wolverines after four straight losses in the Big Ten/ACC challenge. This was a game I had expected them to lose and a game that last year they probably would've lost. Hopefully they can build some momentum off this win and put together a solid season. No one expects them to challenge the upper echelon of the Big Ten, but they also shouldn't be a bottom feeder.

What I Saw In College Football

Out of all the craziness in college football that happened over the weekend, I'll start with the obvious. Auburn. The Tigers staged the comeback of comebacks this season against Alabama. They took Bama's hardest shot, withstood it and pulled out a great win over the Tide. This game reminded me of Drago/Balboa, how Bama started out and rode the home crowd to a 21-0 lead. Then the Tigers came back and stunned all of Tuscaloosa by stealing the win. I don't care what the circumstances are, just give Cam Newton the Heisman already. I'm telling you, this is what Terrelle Pryor should've been. My only concern is that Auburn does show signs of a suspect defense, but somehow gets it together long enough to get some key stops and let the offense takeover.

It'll be strange to not see the Texas longhorns going to a bowl game. Texas A&M was more than happy to drive home that point on Thanksgiving. The Aggies were somehow were relegated to the Cotton Bowl even though they did thump Oklahoma.

Speaking of the Big 12, it'll seem like old times when Nebraska faces Oklahoma in the championship game. The Sooners topped Oklahoma State 47-41 to win the South, which ended in a three way tie. Nebraska drilled Colorado to claim the North. This rivalry has been on the back burner since the Big 12's inception and now we get to see both go into it highly ranked like those great games in the 80's.

Oregon once again overcame early defensive trouble to beat Arizona 48-29. All the Ducks have to do is win the Civil War game against Oregon State to roll into the national championship game undefeated.

UConn, yes UConn is in position to claim the Big East's BCS bid. Thsi is bad business. If they had a rule that a team with more than 3 losses can't participate in a BCS game or rotated the automatic bid to someone with the best record or highest ranking, we wouldn't have this bulljive like TCU going to kick around the Big East for the next five years. No disrespect to UConn, but they got beat by Michigan. Does this mean Michigan is BCS quality? Insert laughs.

Virginia Tech will face Florida State in the ACC title game. All will be right in this conference when Florida State and Miami start kicking everyone around. Viriginia Tech isn't bad, but if you lose to James Madison, you shouldn't be in a BCS game either.

The Big Ten ended in a three way tie only to see Michigan State, get pimped by the system. Under the old rules they'd be going to Pasadena. Under the current set up they get the Texas A&M treatment. Hello Florida. I can understand why Mark Dantonio is upset.     

Michigan get two more weeks of practice. They need all they can get. That game against Ohio State was an embarrasment. In the last three games under Rich Rod's watch they've been outscored 100-24. I believe Rodriguez could've turned this around,but he's too stubborn to realize his own mistakes. If Lloyd Carr left the cupboard bare, he's gonna leave the whole damn house empty.

Nevada picked off Boise State 34-31. I said this would be a difficult game for Boise and I was proven right. I just didn't think their defense would collapse or that kicker Kyle Brotzman would channel his inner Neil O'Donoghue and shank two field goals that would eventually cost the Broncos the game. I guess they'll get an extra home game on the smurf turf.

Notre Dame beat USC for it's first win in 8 tries after Trojans' receiver Ron Johnson dropped a sure touchdown that would've  won the game. Oh well.

A loss to South Florida earned Randy Shannon the axe in Miami. The Canes finished a disappointing 7-5 after starting the season with championship aspirations.  

Quote Of The Week: Phil Jackson

You know Phil Jackson is known for a lot of slick talk. Here's what he said about the team's rookies. And you know he never plays rookies.

"We like them as people, it's just that they're inexperienced...and have no purpose on earth".

Nice way to build confidence in your young players Phil.

The Big East, Where Geography Doesn't Matter

TCU, welcome to the Big East. The conference of crappy football and lousy geography. The Horned Frogs will be joining the conference in all sports in 2012-2013. The league also invited Villanova to move up from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and be their 10th team in football.

Ok, I'm not Columbus, but geographically this is a bad fit. Last time i looked Texas was in the southwest. I understand the Big Ten has twelve teams and the Big 12 has ten, but this is ridiculous. This might start a trend where conferences will extend invites location be damned. Football wise it works since TCU was looking to join an AQ conference and the Big East was looking to get some credibility from a football standpoint. Credibility has been lacking since Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College hauled ass with it to the ACC. Don't forget that when Bobby Petrino and Rich Rodriguez (yes, that guy) left their teams, they also hit the skids.Pittsburgh don't start asking for credit, because anytime someone gives you a little you guys blow. TCU should come in and be kings of a conference that is so bad they'll be putting a four or five loss team into a BCS game. I just can't buy a UConn team that was belted by Michigan as the representing as the conference champ. That's akin to Marty Jannetty being the Intercontinental Champion. This is the most fraudulent conference in college football and the ACC isn't far behind. Think about what will ahppen when Gary Patterson leaves for greener pastures. The move won't look so great then.

Looking at how weak the Big East is, the Horned Frogs are primed to be title contenders in the near future. They've knocked on the door and are now primed to kick it in. I can't wait for the Frogs to go all hopping mad on Big East football.          

How's This For Some Pre-Fight Hype

Boxing doesn't get as much hype as it used to due to a lack of megafights, great American fighters, and seemingly every champion being based overseas. In the Showtime sponsored Super Six tournament Carl Froch will be taking on Arthur Abraham in Helsinki. Two European fighters having a championship fight in Europe. Something long time boxing fans aren't used to.

At least we get a bit of hype from Froch's girlfriend, British model Rachael Cordingley. Cordingley must have a strong dislike for Abraham based on what she said.

"Carl's always confident and he knows he can bring the WBA championship belt back to its rightful place," Cordingley said. "Abraham is only a midget — Carl's going to dethrone the Midget King!"


Well she probably hasn't seen Abraham's resume. The man can do damage in the ring. It's pretty clear Froch knows that and he acknowledged it.

"Abraham and I are fighting for a world title and we both believe we're going to win," Froch said. "Nothing will be left outside the ring and everything will be thrown inside it. I've got to stick and move — keep out of his way and out-box him. But you know what I'm like, there will come a stage when I decide to have a good old scrap on the cobbles instead!"


It should make for an entertaining fight, but there are very few that know this fight is happening. These fights should be happening over here in the States, but since MMA seems to be taking over and the best fighters are ducking certain opponents (Floyd Mayweather), we don't get the championship fights of the past.