ON MY MONDAY MIND:
RAMBLIN FEVER: I’m still lamenting -and honoring- the passing of my favorite country artist of all-time; Merle Haggard. I guess my mind is too because I couldn’t formulate a single in-depth topic to cover in this Monday edition of the blog so we’ll just brain storm -or in this case more of a mist- our way through with multi-sport quick hits. Here’s Merle with the intro
LINK.
DONNIE TYNDALL:
-Getting to know Donnie through the
Tony Basilio Show I’m heartbroken for him over the extremely harsh penalty he was handed by the NCAA for his tenure at Southern Miss. Because I like the heck out of the guy and know how much the profession means to him I am also not the most objective guy when it comes to analyzing his plight.
-Without question Donnie was reckless at best and obviously did not alter his course of ignoring NCAA guidelines in his quest to rebuild a program after running afoul of the NCAA while at Morehead State
-Helping Prop-48 -and other- recruits with expenses not covered by their grant and aide is not uncommon. As a matter of fact, not covering these type expenses is the rarity in college basketball today. Usually however it is done in a way much harder to track than what occurred in Hattiesburg. Tyndall and crew would be candidates for an NCAA recruiting reality show World’s Dumbest Rule Breakers.
-If the academic fraud was as wide spread and orchestrated as the NCAA infractions report indicates -which Tyndall denied vehemently- then we are probably fortunate that Donnie’s tenure here was a very short one.
-Even if everything occurred exactly as charged in the NCAA’s investigative report a 10 year show cause is excessive. That is the equivalent of a college coaching career death penalty. The same penalty handed down to Dave Bliss who might as well have been charged with obstruction of justice in a murder investigation.
-The academic fraud charges alone are probably enough to rule Donnie out as a candidate at the high school or small college level leaving him with the NBA or Europe as possible opportunities to coach the game he loves.
TYLER SUMMITT:
-No matter how often it happens a stunning fall from grace is always shocking
-It seems as if those given a lift to the high platform without actually ascending the ladder are the ones who swan dive into destruction
-Tyler’s name had naturally been linked as a candidate to replace Holly Warlick if -or when- the time came that a change was deemed necessary. There was enough rumored opposition to that however from both the fans and UT administration’s perspective that I feel positive some -while not happy with his plight- actually are breathing a sigh of relief that it’s no longer a possibility.
-While shaking my head at the foolishness of philandering -especially with a player you're trusted to groom and protect- I also understand the downfall of man and am cognizant of the fact that we all are capable of the same type indiscretions. I am incapable and unwilling to cast the first stone.
RICK BARNES-BURNER:
-Don’t know what to make of Chris Ogden’s abrupt departure from Rick Barnes’ staff after spending the last 17 seasons with his mentor as both a player and coach. On one hand it could be that falling short of landing the Texas-San Antonio or Stephen F Austin jobs he was a candidate for gave the impression he needed to diversify his resume. I would hope that is the case rather than a determination after one season that Knoxville is not the place for he or Rick Barnes.
-Whatever the impetus for Ogden’s departure Barnes already had the hammer cocked to pull the trigger on a replacement. Michael Schwartz who was working for Rick in Ogden’s playing days will apparently have to leave his belongings boxed up waiting for his predecessor to clear an office space. Maybe Barnes should take Hart’s place as the AD and name his own replacement if -and when- the time comes to make a move.
VOL BASEBALL:
-As has seemingly been the case since his arrival Dave Serrano’s program does whatever it takes to lose a ball game. After dreadful bullpen performances for most of the SEC slate Vol relievers (Will Neely .1; Eric Freeman 2.1; Andy Cox .1) pitched three innings of one-hit, scoreless relief allowing Tennessee to erase all but one run of a 5-run South Carolina lead Friday night. The Gamecocks had such an advantage because on this night it was the starter (Aaron Soto) who faltered.
-The Vols also were the victim of an old bugaboo Friday evening and Sunday afternoon. Can anyone get a clutch late-game hit? After trimming the lead to 7-6 with a four-run seventh in Game One they proceeded to strand 5 baserunners in the next two innings missing opportunities to tie or take the lead. Sunday saw the Gamecocks take the lead for the first time in the 8th with the one millionth surrendered late game two-out hit of the last 5 seasons then the Vols failed to tie the game after loading the bases with no one out in the top of the ninth.
-Brother Freddie drops this gem that says it all about the last decade of Tennessee Baseball:
The last time the Baseball Vols were better than .500 in the SEC was 2005. In the 10+ seasons since Tennessee is 108-198 (35%). Todd Raleigh was 42-78 (35%) in his four seasons. Dave Serrano is 42-87 (33%) in his 4+ years. 35% over a 10+ year period is the equivalent of a MLB team averaging 105 losses a year for over a decade.
MLB
-Babe (Trevor) Story continued the remarkable beginning to his Rockies career with three more homers giving him an MLBV record 7 in his first six major league games. He hit 20 all last season in the minors
-The Tommy John pitch count reared its ugly head once again when the Dodgers’ Ross Stripling was removed with one out in the 8th inning of a no hitter. I’m not sure whether to congratulate LA Manager Dave Roberts for protecting the kid knowing the criticism that would come or to pile on along with others decrying the denial of a possible once-in-a-career opportunity.
-The season-ending ACL-LCL injury to Cub sensation Kyle Schwarber is a loss for baseball fans regardless of affiliation.
MONDAY MUSING: The Master’s Golf Tournament is riveting due to its unforgiving nature. Even the world’s best like Jordan Spieth are not immune to four days of constant pressure to be precise.