SINCE WE LAST SPOKE: 4-10-14
WHERE’S DIPIETRO AND WHY DIDN’T CHEEK THINK OF THAT? I pulled the following quotes by new Marquette President Michael Lovell from the
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story concerning the Steve Wojciechowski hiring that Tony linked in his April 3rd blog.
"He's committed to be here long-term," Lovell said. "We talked about how we're going to stay here 10 years and build this thing together. I told him how important, particularly at Marquette, basketball is to the university.
That’s the President of the University actively involved in the hiring of a basketball coach. What a concept right? We’ve got a President –whose name is Joe DiPietro in case you were wondering- with fewer sightings than D.B. Cooper and the Loch Ness Monster. Wouldn’t it be nice to return to the Andy Holt/Ed Boling/Joe Johnson days when our President at least acknowledged the fact that success in athletics is actually a good thing in the overall educational process?
"If we're going to have a great university, having an elite basketball program is really going to help us do that. It goes hand in hand.”
Say whaaaaaat? You mean you can actually excel in athletics AND have a great university? I can just hear the grumblings of our Drake Group wannabes that have somehow hooked their life-sucking tentacles into our entire men’s athletic program; “Why that’s preposterous! We’ll not tolerate such blasphemy in our presence. Athletics
indeed, THIS is an institution of higher learning with no room for such frivolous pursuits.”
HILARIOUS HYPOCRICY: Is NCAA President Mark Emmert serious or does he think college football (and all other sports) fans are imbeciles? Speaking of the potential unionization issues facing college athletics Emmert alleged (unionization)
"would blow up everything about the collegiate model of athletics." The collegiate model of athletics? Are you flippin kidding me? Let’s see, at last count there were 50 CFB coaches making over 2 million dollars/year (Emmert himself makes 1.7) and 8 –I said 8- making more than 4 million. ESPN signed a contract two seasons ago that runs through 2023 to televise CFB for a paltry 500 million dollars per season while several conferences, Notre Dame and Texas have their own networks as well. Games are now commonly played on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights with little or no consideration for the players or fans. Syracuse and Pitt are in the ACC; West Virginia is in the Big-12; Maryland and Rutgers are in the Big-10; Colorado and Utah are in the PAC-12; Texas A&M and Missouri are in the SEC; the Big-12 has 10 teams and the Big-10 has 14. Now I ask you Mr. Emmert what the hell is
“the collegiate model of athletics" and what’s left to be
“blown up” that you morons haven’t already detonated?
MORE LINEUP SCRUTINY: Last week in this spot we looked at the Vols projected 2014/15 basketball lineup/roster and how Jarnell Stokes’ decision will go a long way in determining the way Tennessee fans view the season to-come. Today we’ll look at just how fine the line is between Dreams of the Sweet-16, NIT, CBI or NWA (as in Not Wanted Anywhere):
SWEET REPEAT LINEUP: If Stokes chooses to return and M.J Rhett transfers from Tennessee State to assume the role vacated by Jeronne Maymon I see no reason the Vols couldn’t make another deep NCAA Tournament run. Jarnell’s return will provide a shot of hope regardless of Rhett’s decision. A.J Davis could slip into the 4-position or the Vols could insert Armani Moore or Derek Reese and go with four smalls.
PG- Darius Thompson; Larry Austin
2G- Josh Richardson
SF- Robert Hubbs
PF- M.J. Rhett
C- Jarnell Stokes
Key Reserves: Armani Moore, Derek Reese, A.J Davis
Rest of Roster: Pops Ndiaye, Phillip Cofer, C.J. Turman
NIT-PICKIN LINEUP: If Stokes chooses to forego his senior campaign? “Coach Martin this is Committee Chair Ron Wellman and we’re pleased to invite you to the 2015 National Invitational Tournament”
PG- Darius Thompson; Larry Austin
2G- Josh Richardson
SF- Robert Hubbs
PF- A.J Davis
C- M.J Rhett, C.J. Turman
Key Reserves: Armani Moore, Derek Reese
Rest of Roster: Pops Ndiaye, Phillip Cofer
Note: According to CBSSPORTSLINE's Gary Parrish posted at 9:39 PM Thursday April 10th Jarnell Stokes will announce on Friday that he will make himself available for the NBA Draft.
WHERE DID I PUT THAT LIST? LINEUP: I’m sure it is unnecessary for me to re-list the usual suspects as above. In the event Stokes leaves, Rhett signs elsewhere, Davis doesn’t progress as hoped, neither Turman or Cofer are ready to play key roles and there are no unexpected post-presence spring signees the only call forthcoming could be Dave Hart with “Coach Martin, can you come to my office please, it’s important”.
SPRING CLEANING: As much as I love College Football I can take or leave it in the spring. I realize it gives coaches an opportunity to teach, evaluate and personally recalibrate the focus of the roster but other than an appetizer for the football starved there is very little of substance that can be drawn from a fan’s standpoint. Veterans are held back, position battles are seldom decided and changes in approach or game-plans are never revealed. In essence it’s like drawing conclusions on your favorite baseball team’s hopes after seeing a couple of guys hit in the cage in their basement on Christmas Eve. That being said I do enjoy the Orange and White game if for no other reasons than to attempt to gauge the physical maturity of last season’s youngsters and to say “how you doin and I’ll see you soon” to venerable Neyland Stadium. With that off my chest here are some things I’ll be watching with at least one eye Saturday:
WHO BE THE QB? I will be anxious to see if there is a marked difference in the physical/mental maturity evident in both Riley Ferguson and Josh Dobbs from last season and if both have made significant arm strength advances.
SEE WHAT I’VE HURD Since Montario Hardesty took his act to the NFL the Vols have handed the football to one serviceable RB after another. The SEC regardless of the style of attack implemented requires that you be able to run the football to extend and punctuate possessions. That requires a combination of speed, power and innate ability missing in orange for a number of years. Jalen Hurd is supposed to possess those qualities. An underwhelming and undermanned offensive line may distort the view but I think I’ll recognize a stud RB if I see one.
POP EM and DROP EM The Vols simply must tackle better than they have in past seasons to make any ascension in the SEC standings. Getting more bodies around the ball would certainly help but modern spread-you-out offenses make it even more essential to be proficient in one-on-one tackling.
ALIVE-n-KICKIN: I never thought I would type these words but I sure hope George Bullock and Matt Darr can be as solid in the PK and P duties as Michael Palardy was last season.
2014 MLB STORYLINES I know that many of you feel like my old namesake Beano Cook who after then Commissioner of Baseball Bowie Kuhn offered the returning hostages from the Iran hostage crisis lifetime passes to Major League Baseball games, quipped,
"Haven't they suffered enough?" I however love the game and it’s my blog so (insert Basilio’s voice) “you can peace out”. Here are just a few of the storylines that my baseball loving cohorts and I will be following:
Jeter’s Last Season: There are many who despise the Yankees but few if any have anything but the utmost respect for Derek Jeter and how he has comported himself as a Major League Baseball player. The game will continue trudging forward but will be poorer without him.
Can the Dodger’s Mega-Payroll Produce a Pennant? Yasiel Puig’s emergence energized the Dodgers last season and probably saved Dom Mattingly’s job. Now the question is will his erratic behavior and play tear down the team just as quickly? Also will the real Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp, Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier please stand up? Their pitching will be fine as long as Clayton Kershaw isn’t injured more seriously than we think.
Replay: Will it work as efficiently as in the NFL or be the abject failure and waste of time it has proven to be in every other sports use?
Young Guns: Suddenly Clayton Kershaw, Yu Darvish, Adam Wainwright and Stephen Strasburg seem like the old guys. Last season Miami’s Jose Fernandez, Pittsburgh’s Gerrit Cole and the Cardinal’s Shelby Miller and Michael Wacha burst onto the scene, most making major contributions for contending teams. This season promises at some point to introduce baseball fans to more live arms with seemingly glowing futures. The Yankees Masahiro Tanaka probably won’t be the next Darvish but he won’t be Hideki Irabu either. The Diamondbacks Archie Bradley may be the best newcomer and Arizona’s struggles will almost certainly hasten his arrival. Others to watch for are Seattle’s Taijuan Walker, and the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard
IN A PERFECT WORLD: Bobby Denton's voice would never be silenced.
