Big East Update

The announcement that TCU will join the Big East conference for all sports is the big news of the day for the beleaguered conference. With four-loss Connecticut one win from a BCS spot, the rest of the country would prefer that the Horned Frogs join the Big East immediately. But the future, if not the present, is not so bleak for the continuously disrespected group.
For one thing, the improvement this year of Louisville and Syracuse made the conference more competitive from top to bottom. Of course, that is bad for the overall impression of the group as the conference lacks a couple of pushovers to help pad the record of the top boys. But for the conference's future, the return of Syracuse and Louisville to the living will be a boon to a conference needing publicity. The Cardinals, and Cincinnati, need to earn the Big East respect in the Midwest while establishing a football rivalry on par with the one they have in basketball, and Syracuse needs to be good to garner media attention for the conference as a whole in New York City, which feeds the huge number of Orange fans living in the metropolitan area information when the team is good. West Virginia, which is ranked and still alive for the BCS berth, and Pittsburgh are close to be ready for higher rankings but may need coaching changes to achieve that level of success. South Florida (which added the Miami pelt to the one they earned over FSU last year), Rutgers and UConn just have to continue doing what they are doing.
The conference is not as bad off as people think. We will find out in two years when TCU begins play. If they struggle they could prove that the level of play was good. But of they succeed the conference can enjoy a program worthy of the BCS title game. It is a win-win for all.

Book Review

The Gipper

by Jack Cavanaugh

Skyhorse Publishing

Fall 2010

Quick now, what does the name Stan Keck mean to you? Ralph Scott? Tom Woods? Iolas Huffman, Herb Stein, Don Lourie? The wonderfully named Gaylord Stinchcomb? Charles Way? These gentleman were consensus football All Americans in 1920 and the last two were good enough halfbacks to bump a third star player to the fullback spot for the All American team despite his never playing that position. That player was George Gipp of Notre Dame and to say he outshone his teammates on this squad or his own undefeated Notre Dame team is an understatement.

But why do we know the name George Gipp but not Don Lourie, who quarterbacked Princeton to a 6-0-1 record before becoming a success businessman (president of Quaker Oats) and public servant (Under Secretary of State for Administration under Eisenhower, himself a near contemporary from the collegiate gridiron)? As Jack Cavanaugh makes clear in his insightful biography, Gipp became one of the most famous athletes in 20 century sports for a perfect storm of factors that swirled together over the decades to produce an almost mythical embodiment of the ultimate athlete.

But as Cavanaugh makes clear, Gipp was an all-too-real person. Filling out some of the humanity behind the myth, Cavanaugh makes clear that Gipp had his share of foibles but then, as now, the celebrity status he enjoyed first locally and then nationwide helped swipe a lot of the negative away. Draft dodger? Gipp somehow was given a military salute at his funeral. Indifferent student who rarely attended classes? Gipp was commended for his studies at his funeral. Of course the true irony was that a pool hustling, class avoiding jock was a key figure in bringing national glory to Notre Dame, a school that truly represents the values of Catholic higher education.

But as Cavanaugh points out there really was not anything anyone could do to stop Gipp's development as a football player nor his local celebrity. He was an immensely gifted athlete who proved himself to be a team player. Sure he was coached by the great Knute Rockne, becoming his first star player. But Rock really just had to point Gipp toward the playing field. That is no knock on "Rock" as some players are just that good and he was smart enough to get out of his star back's way. Plus the great coaches need to coach up the lesser talents to help their stars succeed. The role Rockne played in giving Gipp legendary status came later. And Rockne did help establish Notre Dame as the type of football power that could produce a star like Gipp with his pass catching skills while a player for Notre Dame, specifically in the upset of Army in 1913 that elevated a solid but little known nationally program from Indiana into a team to be reckoned with on the national stage. Then Rockne the head coach built the Irish--or Westerners or Hibernians or one of a few nicknames that were thrust on the team then--into a national power.

So Gipp had the skills, Rockne the genius and the two together the results to elevate a regional power into a national power. Another factor in the elevation of Gipp into a legendary figure was the year, 1920, that he became consensus All American. The nation was emerging from a horrific war and was looking to relax and have some fun. The Gipp who could stay up late playing cards and shooting pool and then dominate games ten hours later was just the kind of guy we were looking to emulate. He was handsome, intelligent, charming and possessed a confidence that proved irresistible. The possibilities were endless for Gipp, as the country.

Which, of course, made his death--just a couple of weeks after his final playing appearance against Indiana--all the more tragic. Gipp died from a severe, unchecked-until-it-was-too-late case of strep throat in the era before antibiotics. That he went from starring on the field that fall to dying before the year ended was stunning to the public, even one grown used to death after the war and recent flu epidemic. Gipp had transformed from star athlete to tragic hero.

The Gipp story through the end of his life explains why he became a national figure. But despite his good looks, immense athletic talent (baseball was probably his best sport and he would have pursued major league baseball opportunities in the spring of 1921) and then tragic death, George Gipp probably would not have remained a household name today, 90 years since his death, without other factors. For one thing, Notre Dame had to remain a national power. Thanks to Rockne's successful coaching the small college from Indiana did remain a great team through his coaching run and then stuck with the demands of the sport, even through some difficult times. The Notre Dame football story, with Gipp as one of the key figures, gets repeated like no other program's. The Irish past, thanks to a host of top writers who helped promote the team, became the college football history for a huge segment of the nation. And so millions more people have heard of Gipp, Rockne and the Four Horsemen but could not place end Brick Muller, who led Cal to the 1920 national championship. And a key element of that history is a speech, pep talk if you will, that Rockne gave to his team nearly eight years after Gipp died. The "win one for the Gipper" speech and subsequent upset over Army in 1928 not only did wonders for the status of Rockne, but reinforced Gipp as a mystical figure to be called upon when times were difficult. As much as this is a biography of Gipp the man, and Cavanaugh has plenty of stories about his home life in Laurium, Michigan and his days as a pool hustler in South Bend plus a bit of a doomed love life for our hero, this book is also a telling of how Gipp's story became larger than his own life. And that speech is a crucial element of Gipp the legend.

But of course there was one more card to be played. Ronald Reagan had to beat out a host of promising young actors to play Gipp in the movie Knute Rockne All American, a movie that stamped Gipp as a doomed hero for a new generation, and then had to eventually become president of the United States, where he continued to use the "win one for the Gipper" line he said in the film 40 years earlier.

And so the real Gipper (rarely, if ever, called that when alive) lives on. He has joined the pantheon of greats of American sport. Not bad for a 25-year-old with a skill at toting the leather. And this book, despite some repetitions, gives justice to that celebrated hero. Being able to use old interviews he conducted years ago, when former teammates and friends of Gipp still lived, Cavanaugh gives us a glimpse into not only Gipp's life but the power of fame. It is well worth reading for anyone interested in not only the history of college football but the role of celebrity in American life.

View From Bennett Avenue

Overall I believe the games played at Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium were successful, although Northwestern and Army may beg to differ. The only obvious complication was the end zone near the ivy at Wrigley, although the game played in the Bronx in November at night could easily have been a lot colder and more miserable for those in attendance. Unfortunately neither game proved to be competitive, which was really a shame for the battle of Illinois as that game is always under the radar even if the teams are decent. It will never be mistaken for Ohio State versus Michigan, or even Wisconsin versus Minnesota, but the instate rivalry should become a better one. And after witnessing the incredible lack of interest in the Army-Notre Dame rivalry from the mid 1970s until recent times, it was good to see that some of that excitement was back. It will never be 1946 again (and didn't Lujack look great yesterday? And yes I am gushing), but at least people should care about a slice of college football history.

And so these games are good for the sport. I don't know if we will see Wrigley again thanks to the end zone problem (how did the Bears once play there?), but Yankee Stadium will remain a venue and others will follow suit.

Picks

Ahhh. I am running out of time to give you my picks.
So here goes (please excuse the brevity):
Wisconsin -4.5 against Michigan
Oklahoma State -24 vs KU
Iowa +3 against OSU
Northwestern +8 against Illinois
Cal +7 vs Stanford
BYU -30 against NM
Arkansas -3 vs Miss State
Tennessee -9 vs Vandy
Rutgers +13.5 at Cincy
SD State +3 against Utah
My best bets are Wisconsin, Okie State, Cal, BYU, Tenn and RU
Enjoy the slate

Remember When

It was only a few short years ago that the Big East was riding high, having rebounded nicely from the departures of Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College to still produce quality football and elite teams. In 2006, in fact, Big East members West Virginia and Louisville were ranked no. 3 and no. 5 nationwide respectively in early November thanks to being both 7-0 as the season wound down. The two programs were matched up on a Thursday night on November 2nd and both teams sparkled under the lights--at least when they were on. Here is the recap, as found in The USA TODAY College Football Encyclopedia:

LOUISVILLE 44 West Virginia 34: Big East battle of unbeatens was O parade as both Ds were nearly invisible. West Virginia (7-1) won hollow triumph: 540y to 468y in O stat battle. Leading 16-14 at H but frustrated in its inability to cash TDs instead of K Art Carmody's 3 FGs, Louisville (8-0) seemed to come alive at same moment half of lights went out in Papa John Stadium. After exchange of TOs in semi-darkness of early 3rd Q, West Virginia started series at its 13YL, and on 1st play, star RB Steve Slaton (18/156y, TD) lost FUM. Cardinals LB Malik Jackson scooped it up for TD RET and 23-14 lead. Slaton went to sideline with limp left arm, and Mountaineers soon were forced to punt from own 6YL. Short punt was returned by streaking Cards WR Trent Guy for 40y TD. QB Pat White (13-20/222y and 23/145y, 4 TDs rushing) marshaled WVU for gutsy 92y TD march, mostly using his own runs, to 30-21 deficit. On 1st snap of 4th Q, however, Louisville QB Brian Brohm (19-26/354y, TD) tossed TD fade pass to 6'6 WR Mario Urrutia (6/113y). Slaton was back for WVU's next series that resulted in White's power-run TD that resembled 1950s Single Wing play. Cards quickly negated that score with another one of their own. It came on 5y run by big frosh RB Anthony Allen (12/47y, 2 TDs) and provided 44-27 lead with 10:19 left.

With victory Louisville moved up to no. 3 in BCS ranking. But there was yet another undefeated Big East team lurking, Rutgers, and the Scarlet Knights bounced the Cardinals from the top ten with a 28-25 win one week later. But Rutgers would lose twice more before season ended and Louisville ended up the Big East champion with 6-1 mark. They went on to beat fellow upstart Wake Forest in Orange Bowl to close out glorious season with final 12-1 record.

Big East Update

I find it funny that the Big East bashing that annually occurs this time of the year is no different than any other year. Of course, this year the conference has not impressed while in the past it was not nearly as bad as national pundits and fans would lead you to believe. Yet the silly bashing done in the past has not worsened, proving that the bashing was done without any pretense to fact or an actual viewing of Big East game. They disliked the Big East whether the conference was good or bad.

Either way, the very competitive league does have to crown a champion and that program will secure a BCS spot. Pittsburgh is currently the leader at 3-1, but the Panthers have to play two of their remaining three games on the road against South Florida tomorrow and Cincinnati in December. Pitt is 1-3 on the road this year. With their one remaining home game being rival West Virginia, the Panthers are not even close to wrapping up the league title.

Syracuse is currently in second place in the conference at 4-2, which is stunning. The revival of the Orange program under head coach Doug Marrone is crucial to the conference as they have a legitimate presence in New York City--thanks to a strong alumni group there--and have the tradition needed to attract national interest. They only have one remaining game in conference, tomorrow night's clash with UConn in the Carrier Dome, and need to win it and then get some help. For one thing they need Pitt to lose twice as the Panthers have already beaten Syracuse or a three-way tie that could eliminate head-to-head as a factor. Either way they need to win and while they are at it beat former conference rival Boston College next week. The conference needs as many wins against members of other BCS conferences as possible. Win both and then the bowl game and Syracuse will have won ten games. Unbelievable. But let's not get too ahead of ourselves.

Of the remaining contenders, South Florida, at 3-2 in the conference, is the most intriguing as they are not only on a three-game win streak but play their remaining two Big East games at home against Pitt and Connecticut. They also have a crucial non-conference game remaining at Miami on November 27. The always talented Mountaineers of West Virginia cannot be counted out, sitting at 2-2, although they have road games against improved Louisville and Pitt next up on their schedule. After beating West Virginia and Pitt in back-to-back weeks, UConn cannot be completely dismissed either. They are a long shot however due to the fact that they still have to play both Syracuse and South Florida on the road. In four road games this season the Huskies are 0-4 and have been outscored by a combined 113-50.

The remaining schools are all hoping to become bowl eligible. Everyone has something to play for and there should be some compelling action--not that anyone outside the conference will tune in.

Cam Newton-Again

The stakes are certainly high regarding the eligibility of Cam Newton. Auburn is undefeated and would not be undefeated without Newton. They still have to play Alabama in the Iron Bowl, South Carolina in a rematch for the SEC title and X in a bowl game, possibly the BCS championship game. Newton is also a favorite for the Heisman Trophy.
The NCAA is supposedly putting this issue on the front burner. But based on what we have seen in the past, it will be hard to expect any resolution to this controversy before the Alabama game. And, let's be clear, if the NCAA had punished Southern Cal in a more timely fashion for the benefits received by Reggie Bush, it is very possible that the Newtons would not have tried to sell Cam's services (if in fact they did) nor would Auburn or its boosters paid cash for a player (if in fact they did).
Remember if the Newtons did try to sell Cam to Mississippi State, he can be ruled ineligible for Auburn even if they did not pay him. And, of course, if there is proof that Auburn has paid the guy then this whole season goes up in smoke. And if e was paid then the NCAA must act swiftly to punish the Tigers. Severely.