tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60918902865289416082024-03-13T05:35:09.907-07:00Sunday Morning QuarterbacksAn in-depth discussion of college football.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.comBlogger707125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-76043270463055315572017-08-02T11:51:00.001-07:002017-08-02T11:51:37.082-07:00Ara Parseghian Dies at Age 94I was born in 1964 during the first season of Ara Parseghian's magnificent run at the helm of Notre Dame. The day after I was born the Irish dispatched Navy 40-0 to improve to 6-0. It was a glorious season as Parseghian had returned the Irish to its former glory. That season would end in a disappointing 20-17 loss to Southern Cal but the Era of Ara had begun with aplomb.
Two years later they finished the job with a national championship. I was two and therefore have no memories of that season other than what I have read and researched. But after three seasons at Notre Dame, during which he won a national championship and nearly won another, Parseghian was king.
He remained respected for his coaching acumen and his gentlemanly manner but that start established expectations that no coach could meet. My earliest memories are vaguely of stars like quarterback Joe Thiesmann and wide receiver Tom Gatewood and clearly of the pressure of a job where the faithful demanded more and more titles.
Right about the time some foolish fans began to think that the game had passed him by, Ara won a second championship in 1973. To do so he had to travel to New Orleans to beat Bear Bryant's undefeated Crimson Tide. That epic New Year's Eve clash remains a favorite for me and any Notre Dame fan who watched it. Quarterback Tom Clements was one of my first sports heroes but it was Ara who was the one coach that I had hoped I would play for.
He was at his pinnacle when he stepped down two years later citing medical reasons. The job in South Bend is a difficult one. He remained in town and stayed in the game by becoming a broadcaster. His real mission though was to raise awareness and money to help combat Niemann-Pick Type C disease, a rare disorder that claimed the lives of three of his grandchildren.
Ara Parseghian died today at age 94. I regret not dropping off one of my books at his South Bend home. He was a college football figure who in his intelligence and grace established in me a life-long love not just for the game but for finding in it a higher purpose.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-13680000311583040922016-12-04T11:10:00.000-08:002016-12-04T11:10:56.218-08:00Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Washington Make PlayoffsIt is finally over. As predicted a while ago the four selections for the 2016 season's playoffs are in and everyone is happy except for those who are not. Only one Big Ten team made it but it was not a team that won its division let alone the league title. No one is unhappy with Alabama and Clemson but the selections of OSU and Washington are the more controversial. Penn State beat OSU, won their division and won the conference title and, while happy with the Rose Bowl berth, have to be disappointed that they are on the outside looking in. Michigan is pissed too but they did not have enough good wins. As for the Washington Huskies they are being hammered for their out-of-conference schedule but that just kept others in the running because they are champs of the second or third best conference and only had one loss. They also pass the dreaded eye test as they excel in each facet of the game. Without specific rules this type of controversy will continue to flourish. I am okay with the four teams selected, although would have been okay with PSU getting OSU's spot, and am hoping for some good playoff football.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-89920627721143391082016-09-12T12:38:00.001-07:002016-09-12T12:38:48.569-07:00Sadness at West PointI had intended to write a post celebrating the fantastic start enjoyed by the Cadets of West Point, who are 2-0 for the first time in 20 years.
Instead I write with the news that sophomore starting cornerback Brandon Jackson, an up-and-coming player for Army from queens, NY, died yesterday in a single-car accident. He was 20 years old.
"Words cannot describe the grief that our team is feeling over the loss of our brother and friend, Brandon" said head coach Jeff Monken. "He was a beloved teammate and our hearts are with his family at this time of tragedy."Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-85551037496602990552016-07-07T15:14:00.001-07:002016-07-07T15:14:49.644-07:00Gutting of Baylor Roster ContinuesThe long-term prognosis for the Baylor football program continues to weaken as an 11th recruit to be released from his national letter of intent, highly-recruited DE Brandon Bowen, jumped to TCU and, most importantly, talented soph QB Jarrett Stidham announced that he will transfer. Assuming that the current upperclassmen rally around the situation, Baylor should have a solid season in 2016 under acting head coach Jim Grobe. The future? There is no way they will not slip and we still have not learned about any possible NCAA sanctions. The situation is murky and not getting any better.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-7998029022304278262016-06-06T05:37:00.003-07:002016-06-06T05:37:56.941-07:00Ohio State to Honor 1916 Team With Throwback JerseysAlthough we still await official confirmation, Ohio State has picked a replica of the school's 1916 jersey, complete with vertical gray stripes, as their alternate for this year. The game in which they will be worn has not been named. Coach John Wilce led that squad to a 7-0 record and Western Conference championship, riding star back Chic Harley. Ohio State football would look very different without the success that team had as Harley a local athlete, became hugely popular. The three time All American led the Buckeyes to the first-ever win over Michigan (they did not play annually back then) and when he left, having lost only his final game, the Buckeyes were so popular that Ohio Stadium was built and dedicated to him.
Harley's story is an important one to always remember as soon after he graduated he began dealing with mental illness. Harley, and it is not known definitively today whether his illness was as a result of a sports wound, war injury or genetic, would spend the rest of his 50+ years suffering from the debilitating effects of mental illness. He died in 1974 and some members of the contemporary Buckeyes squad, including Archie Griffin, were pallbearers.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-77041490806757995922016-05-26T09:46:00.000-07:002016-05-26T09:46:08.100-07:00Baylor fires Art BrilesBaylor has fired head coach Art Briles as the investigation by an outside agency has gathered together facts concerning the allegations that several Baylor players not only committed sexual assaults against fellow students but were allowed to continue playing football and remaining on campus while their alleged victims received no help. While I am unsure whether the suddenness of Briles's canning is due to bad publicity or additional revelations, the reality is that the original allegations were deserving of this result. Briles deserved to be fired and while Baylor football fans may well be worried about the program's future the reality is that does not outweigh justice for the victims of assault, especially in light of the role the program played in the situation (recruiting players accused of assault prior to arriving in Waco and not investigating or punishing those players accused of assault on the Baylor campus who then continued to victimize other students. The firing of Briles came as Baylor will begin play in a new, expensive stadium that now has a bit of a taint along with its new paint.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-44007363325831647122016-05-24T10:36:00.001-07:002016-05-24T10:36:35.583-07:00Baylor President Ken Starr Removed From PostAs Ken Starr knows all too well, when a scandal reaches the courts it becomes too big to cover up. Lawsuits against Baylor University's handling of accusations by students of sexual assaults committed by other students, including members of the football team, are now bringing what were at times whispered accusations to the light of day. Starr, who himself first became nationally famous for his independent counsel investigation of President Bill Clinton that eventually led to Clinton's impeachment, is the first Baylor figure to fall and as the president he was the man in charge. Others should follow as it is clear that many people knew about the charges of rape and did nothing about them. It is especially awful to hear that football coach Art Briles knew about accusations against his players and did not act to remove these guys from the campus--many guys continued to play as if nothing was going on. One former player can only be described as a serial rapist and to allow him to not only continue to play football but to do so on a campus with thousands of potential victims is unconscionable. Briles, who seems to have followed a blueprint of building his team by adding players with character concerns, needs to go soon. With a new $300 million stadium to fill, however, it remains to be seen if that will happen. Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-282221100065338962016-05-10T10:07:00.000-07:002016-05-10T10:07:36.869-07:00Satellite CampsHave you seen Jim Harbaugh's schedule of summer camps? Who are the poor people coordinating this craziness? The Wolverines will hold 26 camps throughout the country in June, beginning June 2nd in Atlanta. On June 8th alone they have camps taking place in Mississippi, Ohio and New Jersey (right here in Paramus). The Paramus Catholic location is extra special--and I am not counting my sister being part of their sports hall of fame--as Harbaugh is even scheduled to be the school's commencement speaker at this year's graduation on June 9.
Too much? Probably. There are only so many recruits Michigan can get and without doing these camps they would be unhappy with any ranking outside the nation's top ten. So this will marginally improve on that. Meanwhile Harbaugh's competition is busy trying to negate some of that new-found advantage. Ohio State, for example, just agreed to come to Jersey too on the same day the Michigan camp is in Paramus to run their own camp in conjunction with Temple and Rutgers. So now think of our favorite rivalries as 365-day realities. Wait, we did already. Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-77575769933774402942016-04-11T10:44:00.001-07:002016-04-11T10:44:29.634-07:00NCAA Bans Creation of New Bowls Until 2019Finally. The embarrassment of having three programs with 5-7 records make bowl games last year finally slapped some sense into the NCAA. Unfortunately they are not proposing to dump a few of the current games which means the image of teams with losing records making post-season appearances remains possible. But at least the hemorrhaging has been addressed. Having 41 bowl games diluted a great product and the number of games needs to be reduced. Now let's move the national semi final games off of New Year's Eve.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-25815290068348900892016-02-17T07:11:00.002-08:002016-02-17T07:11:55.334-08:00Steve Elmer Leaves Football for Better OpportunityNotre Dame starting guard Steve Elmer is moving on with one year of eligibility remaining to pursue a job he could not pass up in Washington DC. This will occur after graduation this May. Elmer is typical of the special kind of student athlete produced today, who, well, has other options beyond the gridiron. He has experienced a great deal on the football field and will now move on with his life. Too much has been focused on the negative side of the sport but there are plenty of Elmers around who do not "need" football to get ahead but enjoy playing and enjoy the benefits that come along while putting in the extra work. He will bring discipline, hard work and a team approach to Washington--attributes greatly needed in these times.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-80692649620771924962016-02-14T11:06:00.001-08:002016-02-14T11:06:24.208-08:00Return of James ConnerSuperstar back James Conner has returned to the Pittsburgh team after a nightmarish fall of 2015. After rushing for 1,765y and a whopping 26 TDs in 2014 (and beating out Jameis Winston for ACC player of the year), Conner entered camp last summer as one of the very best running backs in the country. But a torn MCL in week one knocked Conner out for the season and then in December he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Conner was not afraid of work and rehabbed the knee while battling the lymphoma to the point that Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi announced that not only was his star returning to the team but that he would play in 2016. It is easy rooting for this kid.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-47272910178526751432016-01-29T13:09:00.000-08:002016-01-29T13:09:27.063-08:00NFL's Gambling HypocrisySo I would love to bet on football in my lovely state of New Jersey. I can already bet on horseracing here and we have had casinos in AC for most of my life, but no sports gambling. The story is that if we could bet on sports then shady guys would appear--imagine cigar smoke swirling for atmosphere--with bags of money and these lowlifes would buy players thus making sports less legitimate than they already are now. Oh my god, not fixing games.
Of course, players have been bought in every time zone of the country and as the current tennis scandal proves anyone can be bought, if willing,anywhere in the world.
the sports entity that has been the loudest against sports betting in Jersey, with the NBA becoming more vocal in recent years, has been the NFL. The same NFL which has not said a word publicly about the Raiders recent interest in Las Vegas. The city that invented the sports book in this country will soon have a shiny and expensive football stadium and the NFL loves shiny and expensive toys. As for the cigar-smoking gamblers who may be tempted to buy some NFL players--you know the ones who will now live down the block from the athletes--well, we no longer have to worry about them. Everything is on the up and up in Las Vegas.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-23497172585707581742016-01-28T07:18:00.003-08:002016-01-28T07:18:48.842-08:00Michigan Recruiting UpdateThe controversy swirling around the Michigan football program is fascinating for a number of reasons. To update you, Michigan locked up a bunch of solid prospects awhile ago--at least one was even signed by the previous staff years--and is now pulling those scholarship offers from some players (eight at my last count) to give them to higher-ranked guys.
This has been unfolding for a few weeks as the Wolverines continue to attract top talent. There is nothing technically illegal here as nothing is binding until an official letter is signed and the players are free to jump programs themselves. In fact this behavior has been going on for years with some schools not even pulling the scholarships until signing day or, in some awful instances, in the summer (or they will take the scholarship from an older sub if too many players remain on the roster by August). What is fascinating is that the players can now go on twitter and complain about the situation and Michigan immediately gets bad publicity. Let's be frank here. There is nothing positive for the kid to have his offer pulled this late in the game. Sure, most land on their feet but at situations that may not be as positive for them as it would have with the time to fully seek offers. Others get screwed totally. So twitter giving these kids one recourse for some sort of justice is compelling but I also find it interesting that head coach Jim Harbaugh did this at Stanford but received little bad press for it as Stanford receives very little of the coverage that Michigan gets and he could hide there behind Stanford's more rigid acceptance standards (of course he pulled a scholarship from at least one player who could have gotten in without football but I digress).
What is also funny is that when this type of behavior happened elsewhere, especially in the SEC, some Michigan fans were incensed. Now that their coach is doing it? They have become the biggest apologists. Do whatever it takes to win. It is the attitude that has dragged college football through the mud for years.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-4709481945137800852016-01-14T10:17:00.003-08:002016-01-14T10:17:52.125-08:00Alabama Does it AgainCongratulations are in store for the Tide, who have now won four national titles in seven years. The game was exciting, if not always fundamentally sound (but we cannot have it all). Clemson had a great year and should be able to hold their heads up. And props to Nick Saban for another fine coaching effort, although pretending that this team was able to overcome adversary like they were some underdog team was a bit much.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-10445357142608898222016-01-11T17:12:00.003-08:002016-01-11T17:12:48.327-08:00Title Game PickGoing with Clemson tonight. Watson is the difference maker although I do not trust Dabo. Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-85501439345741401952016-01-08T11:29:00.002-08:002016-01-08T11:29:31.939-08:002016 College Football Hall of Fame Class AnnouncedAs always an excellent group of former college football stars has been elected to the college football hall of fame, with the announcement today from Arizona. Stars like Derrick Brooks of Florida State and Rod Woodson of Purdue finally received the call while there was plenty of representation for schools outside the spotlight as Randall Cunningham became UNLV's first enshrinee and highly-effective running back Troy Davis added to Iowa State's list. Also earning the nod were QB Marlin Briscoe of Nebraska Omaha, who was briefly a trendsetter as a QB for Denver before they moved him to receiver, Tom Cousineau, the linebacker and one of Woody Hayes's last great layers at OSU, William Fuller, who dominated as a defensive linemen for some loaded UNC teams in the early 80s, Bert Jones, the LSU QB who helped knock off my Irish when I was 8, Tim Krumrie, one of my favorite Badgers as a monstrous DT 35 years ago, Pat McInally, who may be the last Harvard guy to get in, Herb Orvis, the ferocious Buffs DE, Bill Royce, a backer for Ashland, Ohio, Mike Utley, who needs to be remembered for his play at guard at WSU and Scott Woerner, the ball-hawking DB for Georgia who will prove to be a popular enshrinee for the now Atlanta-based museum. Also making the cut were coaches Bill Bowes of New Hampshire and Frank Girardi of Lycomming, Penn.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-29586724454687866042016-01-03T18:59:00.000-08:002016-01-03T18:59:15.896-08:002015-16 Bowl SeasonI have enjoyed attending and viewing bowl games for years. This year, not so much. The bowl match-ups were dreadful. Game after game were clunkers and the few competitive games played turned out that way due to atrocious defense. I enjoyed taking my family to see Duke edge Indiana in the Bronx but I certainly would not watch the tape of that game if I wanted to learn football. Obviously there were too many games but we need a bowl selection process that will ensure better games to help the sport continue to grow. Hopefully the title game will help wipe out the memory of this dreadful bowl season.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-54555022429084600112015-12-26T06:07:00.000-08:002015-12-26T06:07:16.605-08:00Today's Picks62-62. Ugh.
Today I iike Marshall laying 5 against UConn, am passing on the Sun Bowl, Washington -8 against Southern Miss, Duke +3 versus IU and, in a late switch, Tulse plus 14 in Frank Beamer's finale with Va Tech.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-81821213057671156922015-12-18T12:52:00.001-08:002015-12-18T12:52:49.020-08:00Saturday's PicksWell I teeter on the .500 fence at 60-59. Hopefully I will not face plant ala Humpty Dumpty.
The opening game pits Arizona and New Mexico playing in Albuquerque and I like the Lobos getting 7.5. Arizona has injuries, a poor bowl record and will not be into this game or opponent. I would take New Mexico on the money line.
I am taking BYU +2.5 against Utah in Las Vegas but I disagree that the Cougars have a motivational edge. Both teams hate the other and will get fired up for a rivalry. I just think the teams are even.
I like Appy State -7.5 in Montgomery, Alabama against Ohio. I think they win by double digits.
I am taking 6-6 Georgia State +1 against 5-7 San Jose State in the cure Bol but do not want to talk about it much less see it.
Finally ilike Louisiana Tech -2 against Arkansas State in New Orleans in what promises to be a shootout.
EnjoyPaul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-24561078107922282522015-12-11T06:26:00.000-08:002015-12-11T06:26:07.270-08:00Heisman Trophy PredictionWell the player I would have voted for, Florida State back Dalvin Cook, did not even make the cut for New York City. Oh well. Of the remaining three, Stanford's Christian McCaffrey, Clemson's Deshaun Watson and Alabama's Derrick Henry, I would pick Watson as he elevates that team to championship contender. My prediction on who will win is different, however, as I believe Henry will take home the trophy as he did the Maxwell.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-3849330866296822332015-12-05T06:51:00.002-08:002015-12-05T06:51:25.826-08:00Today's PicksThe major intrigue today is whether I can remain over .500. Oh and some conference championships and bowl playoff spots are up for grabs. I stand at 57-55. I like Baylor -21.5, Conference USA Title Game over 74.5, Houston -5.5, Alabama -17.5, KSU +5.5, UNC +4.5 and Iowa +3.5. Good luck.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-25263878093160418242015-12-04T09:17:00.004-08:002015-12-04T09:17:59.937-08:00MAC Title GameOnce again the MAC title game will feature Northern Illinois and Bowling Green and hopefully we will get the nail-biter us fans of the conference deserve. Last year Northern won this same match-up 51-17, while Bowling Green won by 20 the year before. Unfortunately Huskies QB Drew Hare was lost for the season with a leg injury and frosh Tommy Fielder will start. He has only appeared in one game,completing 9-17 for 113y in last week's loss to Ohio. The Falcons counter with stud QB Matt Johnson, who threw for 4465y this year with 41 TDs.
Northern will not keep up, unfortunately, against a Bowling Green attack that can score. The Falcons will also will be inspired by last year's big loss. Pick: Bowling Green -13.5Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-3162336401143589472015-12-01T06:45:00.000-08:002015-12-01T06:45:24.555-08:00Coaching Changes Part OneI am glad that Frank Beamer is leaving Virginia Tech with another bowl game. No one knew where that campus was when he was hired and now it is a premium job. Great hire with Fuente and staff retentions. Now he needs to find and develop a QB as good as Paxton Lynch. Meanwhile I am not a big fan of USC retaining Clay Helton. What has he done to deserve that job? He has had loads of talent there as an offensive coordinator and the Trojans never sniff the top ten in statistics. Nobody knows him nationally and while there is plenty of talent in California it helps to pull the occasional stud from New Jersey or Florida or wherever. There will be plenty of other moves this week.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-26304437647801194682015-11-28T07:47:00.002-08:002015-11-28T07:47:41.141-08:00Today's PicksMy season record is 54-49. I need to improve on that.
Today I like Michigan even, Penn State +11, ECU even, Temple -12, South Carolina +17, UCLA +3.5, Oklahoma State +7, Minnesota +2.5. Good luck.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091890286528941608.post-89441126694737820232015-11-24T06:45:00.001-08:002015-11-24T06:45:11.969-08:00Remaining Contenders for College Football PlayoffsWell here we go. If Thanksgiving shopping is done then college football's regular season must be winding down. Yet there are still so many crucial battles to be played, both this weekend and next, that we have quite a few teams with a realistic shot at making the playoffs.
All of the non power five conference teams are out since none of them ar undefeated. Notre Dame is still alive but must win at Stanford Saturday night. Of the power five conferences, the Pac 12 has been eliminated as its champion, either Stanford, UCLA or USC, would have too many losses.
The ACC has the current front runner in Clemson and if they beat South Carolina and then North Carolina in the ACC championship game then they will sew up the number one seed. Should they lose this weekend then that would probably, but not definitely, set up a showdown with the Tar Heels for one spot.
The Big Ten seems to have a spot sewn up too unless Iowa, Michigan State and Ohio State all lose this weekend. That's not impossible but unlikely. Realistically those teams are playing for one spot in the final four.
Alabama seems to have a spot but must win over mismatched rival Auburn and then underwhelming SEC East champ Florida. If florida sweeps FSU and then Alabama they'll probably grab a spot.
The Big 12 is the mystery conference as they could be out again this year if OU loses to Okie State. I feel that the Big 12 is fighting Notre Dame for one spot as the committee will not want two teams in the final four that did not have to play a conference championship game.
Let's play some ball.Paul Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518825812659704956noreply@blogger.com0