Pre-Christmas Happenings, While Decking the Halls

College Football Week 17 – Is Mike Leach headed to Maryland?

Pre-Christmas Happenings,
While Decking the Halls

Leaders and Legends? Sounds like the name of a PGA golf tournament or an ESPN special.

Leaders and Legends are the names the Big Ten Conference came up with recently for its two divisions. The Leaders are Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin. The Legends are Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern.

Now Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany says the conference is thinking about scrubbing those names. There has been considerable negative reaction to them. It appears a number of folks have rebuked the names.

I couldn’t agree more. To me it says that the teams in the Leaders Division are the “top dogs” in the conference – the marquee teams; while the teams in the Legends Division are history – the “has beens.”

At the beginning of the season, I wrote that the Big Ten divisions should be called the Brats and the Wursts. While clever, I suppose that isn’t good either. The teams in the Wurst Division might feel a bit inferior.

How about the Sauers and Krauts? No, the Kraut Division kinda has a bad connotation. Then I thought the Leders and the Hosens. But Leders would make the teams in the Leder Division sound too much like Leaders. And Hosens would make the teams in the Hosen Division sound like they got hosed. And that brings us back to where we started with Leaders and Legends.

Oh there are lots of potential names for the Big Ten. The divisions could be the Jaegers and the Meisters, or the Wieners and the Schnitzels. Those are two good possibilities. But after poring over the matter and giving it lots of thought, I have finally decided what the names of the Big Ten divisions should be – the Noodles and the Strudels.

Speaking of the Big Ten, Nebraska’s conference games for its inaugural season in the Big Ten were announced last week. And believe me, the Huskers will have one heck of an initiation in 2011. They were not given any breaks. Along with Iowa, Michigan and Michigan State from their own division, the Huskers are slated to play the three toughest teams from the other division – Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin. It can’t get any wurst….I mean….worse than that. Nebraska also plays Minnesota and Northwestern from its own division. For the first two seasons, the Huskers will not play Illinois, Indiana and Purdue.

Three days after Urban Meyer resigned, Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley announced Meyer’s replacement – Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. The announcement of Muschamp drew mixed reviews from Gator fans. But most were upbeat, supportive and excited about the selection. A few believe that Muschamp is just another Ron Zook hire. Only time will tell, but I think Muschamp was a good choice.

With the selection of Muschamp coming at this time of the year I couldn’t help but think of some lyrics from John and Yoko’s “Happy Christmas” for Gator fans.

“A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear”

In addition to being the defensive coordinator at Texas, Muschamp was also the designated head-coach-in-waiting. But for Muschamp, I think that head-coach-in-waiting at Texas was in-waiting long enough – like Prince Charles waiting to be King. When will the Queen step down? Who knows when Mack Brown will retire? He may become another Paterno.

Another head-coach-in-waiting got tired of waiting too. Maryland offensive coordinator and head-coach-in-waiting James Franklin was named the new coach at Vanderbilt. And what a relief it was for Vanderbilt. The previous week, Vanderbilt thought it had secured Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn as its new coach. Some media outlets went so far to announce it as a done deal. But Malzahn backed out at the last minute.

When Franklin surfaced as the likely coach at Vanderbilt, the media outlets were more reticent about announcing it. And, indeed, Franklin appeared to linger on the decision for a few days. But then it became official – Franklin was the new coach at Vanderbilt.

Meanwhile, back in College Park, some interesting things were going on at Maryland. A few weeks ago, Maryland announced that “hot-seat” coach Ralph Friedgen would return for the 2011 season. That announcement was most certainly an influence on Franklin’s decision to leave.

But, after Franklin resigned to take the Vanderbilt job, Maryland reneged on its commitment to Friedgen for next year. Instead, Maryland decided to force Friedgen out. This after Friedgen finished 8-4 this season, is taking the Terps to a bowl game and was named the ACC Coach of the Year.

Speculation is that Maryland will name former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach as the new head coach of the Terrapins. Wonder if Donald Trump had a hand in this decision? The Donald couldn’t convince Miami to hire Leach, but, who knows, maybe he used his persuasive tactics on Maryland. Stay tuned!

Speaking of Miami, the Hurricanes hired Temple coach Al Golden as their new head coach. Golden was 27-34 in five seasons at Temple, but is credited with turning around the program. The Owls had winning seasons each of the past two years. Still, in five years, Golden never won the MAC East Division title.

And speaking of Temple, Florida offensive coordinator Steve Addazio is a candidate to become the Owls new coach. Hopefully, Temple isn’t that dumb. Along with Addazio, a lot of offensive coordinators were under attack this year. Texas coach Mack Brown fired his offensive coordinator Greg Davis. By season’s end, Alabama, Georgia, Nebraska and West Virginia fans were complaining about their offensive coordinators.

Obviously, Auburn and Oregon are happy with their offensive coordinators – Gus Malzahn and Mark Helfrich respectively. Oklahoma State was happy with its offensive coordinator too – Dana Holgorsen. The Pokes had the No. 1 offense in the country this season.

Holgorsen’s work at Okie State and previously at Houston (as offensive coordinator) obviously made an impression on West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck. Last week, Luck named Holgrosen the new offensive coordinator at WVU and the head-coach-in-waiting.

But unlike Will Muschamp and James Franklin, Holgorsen won’t have to wait long to become head coach. He is guaranteed to have the top coaching job at West Virginia in 2012. Current WVU coach Bill Stewart has one more year to coach and then Stewart will move to the front door at Wal-Mart. No, no, no – just kidding. Stewart will take another position in the WVU athletic department.

Had West Virginia not moved and grabbed Holgorsen when it did, the Okie State offensive coordinator would most likely be the new coach at Pitt. Pitt was on the verge of hiring Holgorsen to replace the fired Dave Wannstedt when WVU made its move. Mountaineers beat Pitt again.

Since then, Pitt named Miami (Ohio) coach Mike Haywood as its new coach. Haywood, in his second year with the RedHawks, went from 1-11 last season to 9-4 this year and the Mid-American Conference championship. Miami plays Middle Tennessee in the Go Daddy Bowl on January 6.

Colorado named former Buffalo Jon Embree as its new coach. Embree is currently the tight ends coach for the Washington Redskins. The last time a team hired a tight ends coach from the NFL to be a head coach was Minnesota in 2007. The Gophers hired Denver Broncos tight ends coach Tim Brewster. Brewster was fired this season. I hope Colorado has better luck.

Northern Illinois hired Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doeren as its new coach. Elon coach Pete Lembo is the new head coach at Ball State. So, as I have it, 12 schools – Arkansas State, Ball State, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana-Lafayette, Miami (Florida), Minnesota, North Texas, Northern Illinois, Pitt and Vanderbilt – have named their new coaches. Four schools – Kent State, Maryland, Miami (Ohio) and Temple – are still looking. Jeff Mullen, the current offensive coordinator at West Virginia, is a candidate at Kent State. But word has it that the Golden Flashes will name Ohio State assistant coach Darrell Hazell as their new coach later today.

Texas coach Mack Brown hired Florida defensive coordinator Teryl Austin as his new defensive coordinator, replacing the departed Will Muschamp. Conversely, UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel fired his defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough. Neuheisel also fired his receivers coach. Neuheisel will enter the 2011 season on a very hot seat.

I’m surprised that New Mexico, UAB and Washington State did not fire their coaches. Maybe those schools need to fire their athletic directors. Word has it that Georgia coach Mark Richt must win the SEC East Division next year or he is a goner.

Massachusetts gave notice that it may elevate its football program from Division I-AA to Division I-A. And, if it does, UMass may join the Mid-American Conference as a football only member like Temple. UMass is expected to announce its decision by the end of the year. And, we’re still waiting for Villanova’s decision on a possible move to Division I-A. That decision is also expected by January 1.

You may have read where Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wants to take the lead and bankroll a playoff for Division I-A college football. There are pros and cons to a playoff. But believe me, Cuban would be a con.

One thing was apparent from the first three bowl games played Saturday. UTEP’s Mike Price, Fresno State’s Pat Hill and Ohio’s Frank Solich should think about retiring soon. All three are past their prime. Certainly Price and Solich know its Miller time.

Much has been written and said about Auburn quarterback Cam Newton. Newton was definitely the best player in college football this season. As long as he was cleared by the NCAA, he deserved the Heisman Trophy. I only have three questions and three comments to the questions:

1. Why would Cecil Newton only sell his son Cam to Mississippi State and not to the other school or schools? Common sense tells me that the senior Newton would have been selling Cam’s services to all schools involved.

2. Why would Cam Newton not know what his father Cecil was doing? After all, didn’t one of the Mississippi State coaches say that when Cam called to notify them he wasn’t coming to Starkville, it was because the money was better at Auburn? Common sense tells me Cam knew what his father was doing.

3. And then there is still the question about Cecil Newton’s church in Newnan, Georgia. But I won’t go there.


A former acquaintance of my family – Sally Kirk Adkins – sent me a book – “The Wisdom of Southern Football.” It’s full of humorous and clever quotes and advice from former players, coaches, sportswriters and broadcasters – all from the South. It’s a dandy. I will provide some of the quotes in my last three blogs of the season. Sally, by the way, is married to a former West Virginia football player.

I don’t know why he is doing it, but I am convinced Rockledge Gator is trying to make me fat. He gave me three large Italian salami sausages (peppered, dry and sopressata), a brick of dark chocolate and a can of olives stuffed with anchovies for Christmas. The only thing missing was a partridge in a pear tree. But I will have lots to snack on during the bowl games.

And, I changed my mind again about the Big Ten divisions. I finally decided that the teams in the Big Ten Conference should be divided up geographically and that the divisions should be called the Corn Belt and the Rust Belt. Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern and Wisconsin would be in the Corn Belt. Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Purdue would be in the Rust Belt.

Merry Christmas!
Touchdown Tom

December 20, 2010


Review of the Bowls (so far)

The Price is not right (in the New Mexico Bowl) – BYU 52, UTEP 24 (Touchdown Tom said: BYU 30, UTEP 17). It’s hard to believe that Mike Price once coached Washington State to the Rose Bowl and was briefly the coach at Alabama. Price ain’t what he used to be. Granted the UTEP team is young, but so is BYU. The Cougars may have an up-and-coming quarterback in Jake Heaps. BYU totaled 514 yards of offense and held UTEP to -12 yards rushing. BYU played its last football game as a member of the Mountain West Conference. A crowd of 32,424 attended the game in Albuquerque.

Harnish harnesses the Bulldogs (in the Humanitarian Bowl) – Northern Illinois 40, Fresno State 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Fresno State 35, Northern Illinois 32). Northern Illinois wasn’t bad considering it was playing under an interim coach. The Huskies are a young team and should be strong again next season, especially with the return of quarterback Chandler Harnish. Harnish threw for 300 yards, completing 66 percent of his passes. NIU amassed 503 yards of offense and held Fresno State to 74 yards rushing. A crowd of 25,449 attended the game in Boise.

Bobcat gumbo (in the New Orleans Bowl) – Troy 48, Ohio 21 (Touchdown Tom said: Troy 27, Ohio 21). Troy quarterback Corey Robinson, a redshirt freshman, is an amazing player. He’s downright exciting to watch. Robinson threw for 387 yards, completing 76 percent of his lobs. Troy racked up 602 yards of offense. A crowd of 29,159 attended the game in New Orleans.

Comment: So, I’m off to a 2-1 start in my bowl picks. Thirty-two to go. Stay tuned!


Superlatives

Impressive Passers: Troy’s Corey Robinson – 32-42-0 for 387 yards; Northern Illinois’ Chandler Harnish – 17-26-0 for 300; Fresno State’s Ryan Colburn – 28-38-0 for 288, and BYU’s Jake Heaps – 25-34-1 for 264.


Weekend Review

Division I-AA Semifinals

Eastern Washington 41, Villanova 31
Delaware 27, Georgia Southern 10


Division II Championship

UM-Duluth 20, Delta State 17


Division III Championship

UW-Whitewater 31, Mount Union 21


Quotes of the Week

“Anyone with the word ‘Champ’ in their name has to be a winner, right?,” former Florida and current Buffalo Bill wide receiver David Nelson, on Will Muschamp, the Gators’ new coach.

“This is sort of a strange set up, don’t you think? The new coach (Will Muschamp) takes over and makes it sound like his highly successful predecessor (Urban Meyer) is still going to be a major part of the program,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi, wondering if Muschamp and Meyer are going to be the co-head coaches of Florida.


In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn turned down Vanderbilt’s offer to become the new coach of the Commodores…. The Big Ten Conference has named its two divisions – the Leaders and the Legends. Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin will be in the Leaders Division. Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern will be in the Legends Division. Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doeren is the new coach of Northern Illinois.

Fresno State and California will play their scheduled game next season in San Francisco’s Candlestick Park…. Arizona State and San Diego State have scheduled a two-game home-and-home series for 2017 and 2018.


Extra Points

On the Internet – College Football Week now has a Website and can be found at www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com.

On the Radio – Listen live to Touchdown Tom every Friday morning from 8:05 to 8:40 ET on the Bill Mick Live show, talking college football with Bill Mick on NEWS TALK 1240 and 1350 WMMB AM. The show streams on http://www.wmmbam.com/. To listen, go to the Web site and click on “Listen Live.”


Touchdown Tom will take next week off for the Holidays. CFW will return on the morning of January 3, 2010.

“And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
Another year over
A new one just begun
A Very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year!”

Touchdown Tom


P.S.

Not directly college football related, but during the pre-Christmas days of December as college football fans were drinking eggnog and eating fruitcake with visions of what ifs, bowl games and Santa Claus dancing in their heads, the number one song in the country…

…75 years ago this week in 1935 was “On Treasure Island” by Tommy Dorsey

…70 years ago this week in 1940 was “Frenesi” by Artie Shaw

…65 years ago this week in 1945 was “It’s Been a Long, Long Time” by Harry James

…60 years ago this week in 1950 was “The Thing” by Phil Harris

…55 years ago this week in 1955 was “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford

…50 years ago this week in 1960 was “Are You Lonesome Tonight” by Elvis Presley

…45 years ago this week in 1965 was “Over and Over” by The Dave Clark Five

…40 years ago this week in 1970 was “My Sweet Lord”/”Isn’t It a Pity” by George Harrison

…35 years ago this week in 1975 was “That’s the Way (I Like It) by K.C. & The Sunshine Band

…30 years ago this week in 1980 was “Lady” by Kenny Rogers

…25 years ago this week in 1985 was “Say You, Say Me” by Lionel Ritchie

…20 years ago this week in 1990 was “Because I Love You (The Postman Song) by Stevie B


Not directly college football related, but on a sad note, there were six passings of mention last week – Richard Holbrooke, Bob Feller, Blake Edwards, Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart), Walt Dropo and Phil Cavarretta.

Richard C. Holbrooke, the Obama administration’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan since 2009 and a diplomatic troubleshooter who worked for every Democratic president since the late 1960s and oversaw the negotiations that ended the war in Bosnia, died last week in Washington, DC. He was 69. Richard Charles Albert Holbrooke was born in New York City on April 24, 1941. At Brown University, he majored in history and was editor of the student newspaper.

Bob Feller, who came off an Iowa farm with a dazzling fastball that made him a national celebrity at 17 and propelled him to the Hall of Fame as one of baseball’s greatest pitchers, died last week in Cleveland, where he had played for the Indians for 18 years. He was 92. Joining the Indians in 1936, Feller became baseball’s biggest draw since Babe Ruth, throwing pitches that batters could barely see. Robert William Feller was born on November 3, 1918, in Van Meter, Iowa – population 300 – and grew up nearby on a farm. Two days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy. Feller retired after the 1956 season with a career record of 266-162.

Blake Edwards, a writer and director who became a Hollywood master of movies like “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “The Days of Wine and Roses,” “Victor/Victoria” and the “Pink Panther” movies, died last week in Santa Monica, California. He was 88. Edwards’ wife Julie Andrews was at his side when he died. Blake Edwards was born William Blake Crump on July 26, 1922, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Having joined the Coast Guard after high school, Edwards was seriously injured when, after a night of alcohol-fueled partying, he drunkenly dived into a shallow swimming pool. He spent five months in traction at the Long Beach Naval Hospital.

Don Van Vliet, an artist who was known as Captain Beefheart during his days as an influential rock musician and who later led a reclusive life as a painter, died last week. He was 69 and lived in Trinidad, California. Captain Beefheart’s music career stretched from 1966 to 1982. The band’s music ranged from straight rhythm and blues by way of the early Rolling Stones to music that sounded like post-punk. Captain Beefheart is probably best known for “Trout Mask Replica,” a double album from 1969 with his Magic Band. He was born on Jan. 15, 1941, in Glendale, California, as Don Vliet. He added the “Van” in 1965. His family moved to the Mojave Desert town of Lancaster, California, where one of Don’s best high school friends was Frank Zappa. By 1965 a quintet called Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band (the “his” was later changed to “the”) was born and included Zappa and well-known guitarist Ry Cooder. Zappa and Cooder later left the band.

Walt Dropo, one of the University of Connecticut’s greatest athletes, who broke into the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox, won the American League rookie of the year award in 1950 and became a reliable hitter and first baseman for 13 years, died last week. He was 87 and lived in Peabody, Massachusetts. At Connecticut, Dropo, at 6 feet 5 and 220 pounds, was the first baseman in baseball, the center in basketball and an offensive and defensive end in football. After he graduated in 1947, the Providence Steamrollers of the Basketball Association of America tried to sign him. So did the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. The Red Sox won out. A right-handed slugger, Dropo played for the Red Sox from 1949 to 1952, then the Detroit Tigers (1952-1954), the Chicago White Sox (1955-1958), the Cincinnati Reds (1958-59) and the Baltimore Orioles (1959-61).

Phil Cavarretta, who played 20 seasons for the Chicago Cubs and won the National League’s most valuable player award and batting championship in 1945, the last time the Cubs captured a pennant, died last week in Lilburn, Georgia. He was 94. Playing first base and outfield at Wrigley Field from 1934 to 1953, and serving as the Cubs’ player-manager for two and a half seasons, Cavarretta was one of the most popular figures in the team’s history. His Cubs teams never won a World Series – they lost to the Detroit Tigers in 1935, the New York Yankees in 1938 and the Tigers again in 1945 – but Cavarretta was usually a star at the plate. He batted .462 in the 1938 World Series and .423 in the 1945 Series. After Cavarretta was let go from the Cubs organization, he was signed by the Chicago White Sox and played the 1955 season for the White Sox. Cavarretta was a native of Chicago’s North Side and grew up not far from Wrigley Field.