Monday, September 30, 2013

Legendary Longhorn James Street Dies



In my mind's eye, I can see quarterback James Street scrambling and passing for the University of Texas during his college football career in the 1960s.

Street died today at the age of 65.

Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News recalled Street's role in executing "the best play [coach] Darrell Royal ever called" — the fourth–and–three play action pass that set up the winning touchdown against Arkansas in the "Great Shootout" in Fayetteville, Ark., on Dec. 6, 1969.

The Shootout was a rarity in college football at that time — a game between the top two ranked teams in the nation.

"Street made [the play] work, his pass falling six inches behind two sets of Arkansas hands and into Randy Peschel's," Sherrington writes, "setting up the winning touchdown in a 15–14 game that won Texas a national title. In the process, Street made believers out of every teammate, coach, Longhorn and Razorback."

I guess that was true. I grew up in Razorback country. Ever since I was old enough to follow football, I pulled for the Razorbacks on autumn Saturdays, and the Shootout broke my young heart.

But I guess Sherrington is right. Street made a believer out of me — or, at least, his 20–0 record as Texas' quarterback coupled with Texas' victory in December 1969 convinced me.

(The memory still hurts even after all this time. I truly believed Arkansas would win that game.)

As much as I admired Bill Montgomery, Arkansas' quarterback in those days, I have to admit that I wished the Razorbacks had Street — in much the way that fans today wish their team had Peyton Manning.

When the game was over, Street joined Royal to accept the plaque from President Nixon proclaiming the Longhorns national champions.

But Street and Royal knew they still had to defeat Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day — which proved to be a formidable task.

I watched that game — and wished again that it could be Arkansas playing for a national title against Notre Dame.

Instead, the Razorbacks lost the Sugar Bowl to Archie Manning and Ole Miss that day. The loss was meaningless, of course, compared to what the Razorbacks had lost a few weeks earlier — and what they could have won on that New Year's Day if they had beaten the Longhorns.

But it was Street who left the Cotton Bowl as the unblemished quarterback of the national champion.



Saturday, September 28, 2013

Shootouts Kick Off Conference Slates


LSU and Georgia meet today for the first time since playing for the SEC crown in 2011.


Last week's predictions were simply too easy, but I expect that to change. We've had some conference games in September — we always do — but nearly every game will be a conference game from here on out.

And that is when things become really competitive.

Most of the Top 25 games last week were ridiculous mismatches, and the final scores proved it. Four teams in the Top 25 hung 70 points or more on the opposition.

There was only one head–to–head clash between ranked schools, and it wound being lopsided, too.

In fact, lopsided is a pretty good description of most of the games in last week's Top 25. Notre Dame did survive a close call against Michigan State — but that is a rivalry game, and they belong in a different category.

The only really close game was between Michigan and Connecticut. Who'da thunk it?

This week's schedule is much more challenging.

I suppose the marquee matchup is between LSU and Georgia. It is CBS' SEC game of the week. But Oklahoma will be traveling to South Bend, Ind., to face Notre Dame at the same time, Alabama will host Ole Miss a few hours later, and Wisconsin will visit Ohio State in prime time.

And there are several good old rivalries on the schedule in which one of the teams is ranked and the other is not.

As September comes to its conclusion, college football season becomes more intriguing with the arrival of conference contests.

Idle: #7 Louisville, #13 UCLA, #17 Northwestern, #18 Michigan, #19 Baylor, #24 Texas Tech

Today
  • #21 Ole Miss at #1 Alabama, 5:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: Over the years, Ole Miss has only beaten Alabama seven times, and this will be the 57th time the teams have played.

    'Bama has won nine straight against Ole Miss and 20 of the last 22. The Rebels have won at Alabama only once (1988); they come into today's contest having lost 11 in a row in Tuscaloosa. Thoughts of an Ole Miss triumph there qualify as The Impossible Dream.

    But so, too, did thoughts of Ole Miss being undefeated when the Rebels faced Alabama. That hasn't happened since 1982 (granted, Ole Miss was only 2–0 on that occasion, but the Rebs are coming into this game only one win better at 3–0).

    History says to expect a Crimson Tide triumph, but hold the phone. Ole Miss has a pretty good running game (#21 in the nation; Alabama's ground game is ranked 90th), and rushing has always been a big part of SEC football, even with the increased influence of the passing game. The teams are about the same in that category.

    Still, solid quarterback play was the thing that teams that have beaten Alabama in recent years have had in common, and Bo Wallace gives that to Ole Miss. Wallace is ranked 45th in the nation with a completion percentage of better than 64%, four TDs and no interceptions.

    And he's been doing the kind of thing that can drive a coach to the brink of madness. He's been bragging about his receivers, saying that he thinks they're better than the bunch from Texas A&M that torched Alabama for more than 400 yards.

    I've heard people say the Crimson Tide is overrated, and perhaps that is true. But, if that is so, I expect it to be proven on another occasion. I think Alabama will put away Ole Miss tonight.
  • California at #2 Oregon, 9:30 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12: California leads this series, but Oregon has been gaining ground with wins in the last four meetings.

    I expect Oregon to win. The Ducks have a potent offense (currently ranked second in the land), and the defense (ranked 30th) isn't too bad, either.
  • Wake Forest at #3 Clemson, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPNU: I guess Clemson doesn't really need many advantages against Wake Forest.

    After all, the Tigers have won nearly 80% of the games played between the schools, including 15 of the last 19, and their offense, while not in the Top 25, has done pretty well, given the fact that they have already faced and beaten ninth–ranked Georgia.

    At home, Clemson has beaten Wake Forest more than 83% of the time. Wake Forest hasn't won there since 1998.

    I don't think the Demon Deacons will win this time, either. I pick Clemson.
  • #23 Wisconsin at #4 Ohio State, 7 p.m. (Central) on ABC: The Buckeyes have dominated the Badgers both at home and on the road, and it really looks like Ohio State holds all the cards again this time.

    Backup quarterback Kenny Guiton, who was thrust into the starting role the last few weeks, is 13th in the nation. He has completed more than two–thirds of his passes, 13 of them for touchdowns. But Wisconsin has the sixth–ranked defense in the nation.

    Ohio State starting quarterback Braxton Miller is expected to return to the lineup after missing most of the last three weeks with an injured knee. He's likely to be a bit slow out of the gate, and playing the 23rd–ranked team is not the most ideal warmup for him. It could be shaky at times.

    I think Ohio State will win, but Wisconsin will keep it close.
  • #5 Stanford at Washington State, 9:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: At first glance, I guess it is tempting to dismiss this as a mismatch.

    Historically, Stanford leads the series — although not by as much as some of the Top 25 teams who are playing familiar foes today. As a matter of fact, Stanford has been more successful at Washington State than at home.

    But, since neither team has been especially strong on offense, my guess is that this game might be decided by the defenses — and that is where Washington State has a distinct advantage. The Cougars are ranked 10th in the nation while Stanford is 36th.

    Does that mean 3–1 Washington State will win the game? No. I pick Stanford to win, but I think it will be a lot closer than it usually tends to be.
  • #6 LSU at #9 Georgia, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on CBS: I think this might be the best game of the weekend, in no small part because expectations for LSU are always through the roof.

    People tend to forget that Georgia has been good enough to play for the SEC championship the last couple of years. The Bulldogs lost both, but expectations were pretty high for them going into this season, too — until they lost their season–opening showdown with Clemson.

    People also tend to overlook the fact that LSU gave up more than 200 rushing yards to Auburn last week, and that suggests a problem for the LSU defense.

    Auburn hasn't been the same since Cam Newton left for the NFL. For many SEC schools, playing Auburn these days means a likely win. Georgia will be significantly more challenging.

    The pregame spotlight has been on LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger's return to his home turf, but that might just keep the pressure down on running back Jeremy Hill, who ran for 183 yards and three touchdowns in last weekend's game with Auburn.

    Hill and Georgia's Todd Gurley share many similarities, observes Jim Kleinpeter in the New Orleans Times–Picayune. In fact, in many ways, the two programs share many similarities as well.

    They both have Top 10 quarterbacks. As impressive as Mettenberger has been, Georgia's Aaron Murray has been even more impressive, I think. He has completed nearly 72% of his passes and certainly bears watching in this game. It's going to be a challenge for both schools.

    And I predict LSU will not rise to this challenge. I pick Georgia.
  • #8 Florida State at Boston College, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC: These schools had an admittedly abbreviated history with each other before they became conference rivals.

    But they've been playing each other every year since 2005, and Florida State holds a slim (5–3) lead in that time.

    Most of the time, FSU blows out Boston College. The Seminoles won last year's game, 51–7, and I'm inclined to think the same sort of thing will happen this year. FSU's defense is ranked seventh; I don't think it will be seriously challenged by the 114th–ranked Boston College offense.

    Things might be a bit more competitive when FSU has the ball — but not much. The Seminoles, behind quarterback Jameis Winston and running back Devonta Freeman, are 13th in the land in offense, and they will be facing the 66th–ranked defense.

    I feel confident picking Florida State.

  • Arkansas' Brandon Allen has been cleared to play Texas A&M.


  • #10 Texas A&M at Arkansas, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: The Razorbacks have dominated this series, even when it was revived four years ago after nearly two decades of dormancy.

    In fact, had it not been for eventual Heisman winner Johnny Manziel last year, the Aggies could be looking for their first win over the Razorbacks since both were members of the Southwest Conference.

    A big key for Arkansas could be quarterback Brandon Allen, who injured his shoulder in the Samford game, forcing him to miss last week's game with Rutgers. First–year Arkansas coach Bret Bielema was cagy about Allen's status early in the week, but last night it was announced that Allen has been cleared to play.

    It probably won't make much difference if he does. Bielema has the program moving in the right direction, but it's going to take a season or two for it to be back at the level the fans expect. The Aggies already are at that level, and I think Texas A&M will win.
  • #11 Oklahoma State at West Virginia, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPN: This series goes back to 1928, but the teams have only played four times — and only once in the last 25 years.

    That was last season, when West Virginia joined the Big 12. OSU, the home team, won by three touchdowns.

    West Virginia won the only game the teams have played on the Mountaineers' field — but that was 85 years ago.

    It is clear that we can't learn much about this game based on the history of the series.

    Statistically, Oklahoma State has had the better offense (by far), and West Virginia has had the better defense.

    I think it will be close, but I'll go with Oklahoma State.
  • #12 South Carolina at Central Florida, 11 a.m. (Central) on ABC: Hey, did you know UCF is unbeaten? Don't feel too bad. Unless you're a student at UCF, there really isn't much reason for you to know that.

    But UCF won't be unbeaten for long. I'm sure that South Carolina will win this contest.

    But that isn't the question for me. I think the guy to watch is South Carolina's all–everything defensive star Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney has had a rocky start, but I really think he might have a big game against UCF.

  • Oklahoma is 1–9 against Notre Dame.


  • #14 Oklahoma at #22 Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on NBC: I used to teach at OU, and I know from experience that the people there always believe their team is superior to any other.

    And I was there during arguably the worst time in the history of the modern Sooner football program. They were 25–18–3 in the four years I was there and lost the only bowl in which they played.

    The fans still believed they were superior to any other team, though.

    I guess they've mostly run out of excuses for their series with Notre Dame. Their only victory over the Irish came in 1956; Notre Dame has beaten the Sooners seven straight times since then — including a 30–13 win in Norman, Okla., last year.

    So far, the stats seem to favor OU. The Sooners' offense and defense both rank in the Top 25; Notre Dame's defense is ranked 41st, and the offense is a miserable 71st. That would suggest a solid OU advantage, but it can be argued that Oklahoma hasn't really been tested (that will change soon enough), and Notre Dame has — and Notre Dame will have the considerable advantage of the support of the home crowd.

    Nevertheless, I think Oklahoma will pull off a narrow victory.
  • #15 Miami (Fla.) at South Florida, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPNU: Miami is 2–0 at South Florida, with wins in 2009 and 2011.

    Just on the surface, it looks bad for South Florida, which is 0–3 coming into this game. The 3–0 Hurricanes scored 77 points last week — and still rank only only 52nd in offense. Can USF's #23 defense handle Miami's offense?

    The Miami defense is 14th and should be well equipped for USF's 119th–ranked offense. I pick Miami to win by a comfortable margin.
  • Arizona at #16 Washington, 6 p.m. (Central) on Fox: This may be the most interesting game on today's schedule.

    Arizona has been largely untested in its 3–0 start, but that ends tonight. I would be inclined to think that Washington has been untested as well — except that the Huskies manhandled a well–regarded Boise State team in the first weekend.

    The Huskies (also 3–0) are ranked third in offense (Arizona is 58th) and 12th in defense (Arizona is 26th).

    The recent history of this series is that the home team wins. In my mind, that adds up to a Washington victory — by a slim margin.

  • The Gators' Dominique Easley is out for the rest of the season.


  • #20 Florida at Kentucky, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPNU: Florida came into the season as one of the top contenders for the SEC championship.

    Through the first four weeks of the season, Florida's defense is ranked second in the land. But earlier this week, we learned that the Gators' top defensive player will miss the remainder of the season — and that could change things for Florida. The Gators' defense is the strength of the team. The offense is only ranked 66th.

    Historically, the Gators have dominated Kentucky. They've been far more successful at home than on the road — but they have won 12 straight at Kentucky. They come into the game with a 26–game overall winning streak against Wildcats.

    The sentimental favorite will be Kentucky, but the betting line will favor Florida. I'm inclined to pick Florida, but my guess is that Kentucky will play Florida closer than most folks thought just a few days ago. The Wildcats do, after all, have the 25th–best offense in the country.

    I expect Florida to win, though.
  • #25 Fresno State at Hawaii: Hawaii leads the all–time series, but Fresno State has been gaining ground with wins in three of the last four meetings.

    But the odd thing about this series is that the visiting team holds the edge on both campuses. At Hawaii, Fresno holds a commanding 11–4 lead, but three of Hawaii's victories have come in the last six homestands.

    Neither defense has been impressive so far, and Hawaii has one of the worst offenses in the nation, which leads me to conclude that Fresno's 37th–ranked offense might have a pretty good day. I pick Fresno State.
Last week: 20–0

Season: 71–8

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Happy 75th Birthday to Razorback Stadium



Today is the 75th anniversary of the opening of the football stadium on the campus of my alma mater, and a season–long celebration is planned.

I am speaking of Razorback Stadium at the University of Arkansas. Actually, since 2001, it has been known as Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. (Reynolds was a philanthropist who studied journalism at the University of Missouri and went on to own newspapers in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Reynolds' newspapers launched the Donrey Media Group, which was active in both journalism scholarships and internships when I was in school.)

The Razorbacks only won twice in 1938, but one of those victories came in Razorback Stadium's opener. The victory came against Oklahoma State, 27–7.

It's been expanded twice since I was in school there. They've added all sorts of bells and whistles — as well as seats — since the last time I was there. When I was a student, the only lights in the stadium were designed to allow players to practice, not to illuminate a night game for television. But Razorback Stadium has lights now — along with one of those huge screens at one end of the field.

Even so, I'm sure it would feel much the same to be there — even after all these years.

There have been lots of changes starting with the conference affiliation. When I was growing up, the Hogs competed in the Southwest Conference, but they've been in the Southeastern Conference since 1992. And today, the Hogs are 3–1 to start a season for the eighth time in the last 25 years (they started 4–0 four other times).

This Saturday, they will come home to face Texas A&M, an old Southwest Conference nemesis.

Back in the summer, I saw an online contest to pick the most significant game ever played in Razorback Stadium. I didn't participate in the contest — I meant to, but I was short of time when I saw it, and I told myself I would go back and cast a vote, but I never did — but I've been thinking a lot about the question it posed.

If the question had been asked about War Memorial Stadium, the Hogs' home in central Arkansas (and much closer to the town — now small city — where I grew up), I think it would be pretty easy. In 1975, Texas A&M was ranked second in the nation when the Aggies came to Little Rock to face the Razorbacks in the season finale.

Teddy Barnes' TD reception just before halftime sparked Arkansas to a 31–6 victory over the previously unbeaten Aggies and a berth in the Cotton Bowl against Georgia.

But the question was not asked about War Memorial Stadium. It was asked about Razorback Stadium.

I went to some significant games at Razorback Stadium when I was a student there, and I know of some significant games that have been played there since I graduated, but only one game came to mind when I read that question. It was played long before I went to a game in Fayetteville.

It's "The Great Shootout" between top–ranked Texas and second–ranked Arkansas in 1969.

I have written of that game before. The Texas game was always the most important game on the schedule when I was growing up, no matter what the records were. The fans in Arkansas would have worked themselves into a frenzy even if both teams came into the game winless.

But the 1969 game was unique.

It was a rare meeting between the top two teams in the nation, and network folks were so certain that Arkansas and Texas would beat all of their other opponents that year — and be #1 and #2 in the polls — that they persuaded the schools to move their game from its traditional slot in mid–October to the first weekend in December, when no one else was scheduled to be in action, and the Hogs and the Longhorns could have the spotlight all to themselves.

In the days before conference championship games — and even national championship games — it was a fitting capper for college football's 100th season.

It may have been the greatest disappointment of my then–brief life when Texas edged Arkansas, 15–14, and was given a plaque proclaiming the Longhorns the national champions by President Nixon, who was, I believe, the first sitting president ever to visit Fayetteville. Texas coach Darrell Royal accepted the plaque from the president — even though he knew the Longhorns still had to overcome Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day.

And I watched it all on my parents' black–and–white TV. I don't remember how old I was when I first saw a Razorback game in color. All my early memories are in black and white.

Most of my memories of Razorback Stadium also involve Frank Broyles because he was Arkansas' coach when I was growing up. He was always there, always on the sideline, always doing his weekly TV show on Sundays (which, in those pre–cable days when teams were limited to one or two in–season telecasts per year, was usually the only way I could see footage of the Razorbacks in action).

Once, when I was a student at the University of Arkansas, I did a brief phone interview with Broyles. I must confess, I was a bit starstruck. I mean, here I was talking to the man I had watched roam sidelines since I was a child. I can't really say I idolized him. But he was a familiar figure to everyone in Arkansas, and I felt like one might if speaking to a movie star.

Broyles was no longer the coach by the time I interviewed him. He was the full–time athletic director, but he patiently answered my questions (which I realized, at the time, could have been more professional — but what the heck? I was a student), and I wrote up a story for the school newspaper.

Interestingly, while the stadium is known, officially, as Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, the playing surface is known as Frank Broyles Field. That is something I have encountered at other schools, too — including the University of Oklahoma, where I taught journalism for four years. I never attended a football game at OU, but I was well aware of the fact that the football facility was known as Memorial Stadium at Owen Field.

It isn't new to me. It just seems kind of unnecessary, like hyphenated surnames.

But I guess both serve a purpose.

Anyway, it's been 75 years since Razorback Stadium opened its doors. I'm proud to have played my modest role in its development. I witnessed some great moments in Razorback history — and I saw a few Southwest Conference greats from other schools play there. Most of the people who read or hear of those games and players will not know I was there, but I was. I cherish the memories.

Happy birthday, Razorback Stadium — and many more.

Friday, September 20, 2013

The Battle of the Sexes


Forty years ago today, Billie Jean King struck a blow for women's liberation by beating notorious male chauvnist Bobby Riggs in a tennis match in Houston's Astrodome.

Or did she?

Just in time for this milestone anniversary came the revival of a longstanding urban myth — that Riggs deliberately lost the match, which was known as the "Battle of the Sexes." The story goes that he threw the match to settle a six–figure gambling debt with the mob.

ESPN wryly suggested that the match should have an asterisk next to it in the sports history books.

"We are always refighting old battles," wrote Gail Collins in the New York Times. "But I honestly did not expect to be spending any time in 2013 arguing about whether Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs."

There really are bigger fish to fry.

Such rumors have been around virtually since the match ended. I must admit that, as a child, I was baffled. Riggs (who died in 1995) was 55 years old and had been retired for many years; King was 29 and had just won both the singles and doubles championships at Wimbledon. In 1973, she was one of the best women's tennis players in the world.

The fact that she won raised no red flags for me. I expected her to win.

Howard Cosell, who was better known for calling professional fights and Monday Night Football, provided the commentary for ABC. That made the event more legitimate in my eyes.

Legitimacy was the issue, it seemed to me then — because it seemed that way to a lot of people. As Gerald Eskenazi, a veteran tennis writer, observes in the Wall Street Journal, "It wasn't until [this day] that I fully understood that a seismic change was under way." That's probably an apt description of my mindset at the time.

King responded to the allegations in the way that people, famous and not famous, tend to address things these days — via Twitter — and she insisted that Riggs wanted to win, that he tried to win.

"I just beat his butt and that's it," she said.

Seems to me that ought to be the final word on it.

But I'm certain that won't be enough for some people.

Ken Norton: The Often-Forgotten 'Giant'



Ken Norton, who died Wednesday at the age of 70, was good enough to win the heavyweight championship in the conventional way.

Instead he was awarded the title when the champion, Leon Spinks, refused to fight Norton, the top contender, in his first title defense as mandated by the World Boxing Council after he beat Muhammad Ali in February 1978. Spinks was stripped of the WBC title, and Norton was given the title retroactively — on the basis of a fight he won the previous year.

I'm sure Norton would have preferred to win the title the old–fashioned way — in the ring. He came so close at times. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Ali, Norton's most noteworthy contemporary, did it three times.

Norton fought Ali three times and won the first one — when Ali was in his prime. The only other fighter to do that was Joe Frazier.

Like Frazier, Norton lost his next two bouts with Ali, but Ali's victories against each fighter were different. In each succeeding fight with Frazier, Ali seemed to get better but Frazier did not. Norton — competing "in what can now be viewed as a golden era of heavyweights," writes The Telegraph — maintained his level of excellence.

Norton came into his third fight with Ali supremely confident, and he was confident he had outfought Ali when the final bell rang. There were even those who thought Norton won that final bout with Ali. A victory would have given Norton the title, but he came up short, just as he did against George Foreman.

As I say, he eventually won the title, anyway — but not in the ring. I guess, for some fight fans, that diminishes the accomplishment, even though the WBC insisted it was based on a real victory in the ring. It just wasn't recognized at the time as a title fight.

Perhaps that is, to a degree, why the only Ken Norton who is recognized by many modern–day sports fans is Norton's son and namesake.

There was an embarrassment of riches in the heavyweight division in those days.

Or, as Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports writes, that was when boxing was "the most amazing sport around."

I read Doyel's piece on Norton a couple of times, and, both times, I found myself nodding in agreement when I read this: "[O]nce upon a time boxing was full of true sporting giants," one of whom was Norton.

It must have been hard to stand out among all those other giants.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Clemson Seeks Redemption at North Carolina State


Alabama QB A.J. McCarron had a lot to celebrate against Texas A&M last weekend.


Sportswriters were heaping praise on top–ranked Alabama last weekend after the Crimson Tide knocked off #6 Texas A&M in College Station.

Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel was magical, wrote Kevin Armstrong for the New York Daily News, but Alabama simply was better. Some got a little carried away. Matt Hayes of Sporting News, for example, asserted that the rest of Alabama's season will be "anticlimactic."

Please. Alabama plays in the Southeastern Conference. Heading into Week 4 of the season, there are half a dozen other SEC teams in the Top 25, three of them in the Top 10 — and the Tide have played only one (A&M) so far this season. They're guaranteed to play two more in their division (LSU and Ole Miss) — and, if they get to the SEC Championship game, they are likely to play one of the other three (Georgia, South Carolina or Florida).

Besides, the competition in the SEC really can be so fierce that literally anyone can beat anyone on any Saturday. I'll grant you, it isn't likely that Alabama will lose more than one game before the SEC Championship game — but the games aren't played on paper. A lot can happen in the next couple of months.

Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated had some encouraging words for the Aggies and their fans: "Given what they showed ... against a veteran defense that has been among the nation's best for the past five seasons, the Aggies should feel confident that they can obliterate any normal defense."

I missed as many of my picks in Week #3 (four) as I missed in Weeks #1 and #2 combined.

It started with TCU's loss a week ago tonight to Texas Tech. In the old Southwest Conference days, that wouldn't have raised an eyebrow. Today it was enough to catapult the Red Raiders into the Top 25.

I also missed the UCLA–Nebraska game. As I mentioned last week, the outcomes of games in this series have often been harbingers of things to come. Based on the fact that UCLA won the game, historically speaking, that should mean a mediocre campaign for Nebraska. We shall see.

I wasn't sold on Ole Miss last week, and I picked Texas to win their game. Obviously, that was a mistake. I have more respect for the Rebels now.

And the other one I missed was the Wisconsin–Arizona State game. That was simply a case of mismanaging the clock, as you can see in the video I have attached below.

Idle: #2 Oregon, #11 Oklahoma State, #12 South Carolina, #14 Oklahoma, #21 Ole Miss

Today
  • #3 Clemson at North Carolina State, 6:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: These schools have faced off every year since 1971 — and 80 times in all since 1902.

    Clemson has dominated the series, 51–28–1, and has won eight of the last nine.

    But that single loss came the last time these teams played in Raleigh, N.C., and the similarities between those teams and the ones who will play tonight are striking. Then, as now, Clemson was ranked in the Top 10 in the nation, and everyone assumed the Tigers would win.

    N.C. State cruised to a 37–13 victory.

    I think Clemson has what it takes to win convincingly this time.
Saturday
  • Colorado State at #1 Alabama, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2 or ESPNU: I suppose it is always possible that Alabama will have some kind of emotional letdown after defeating Texas A&M last Saturday.

    Possible ... but not very probable. Colorado has had four straight losing seasons. In that same time span, Alabama has won three national championships.

    It is possible that Alabama will lose a game, maybe two, this season. But this won't be one of them. Alabama will win.
  • Florida A&M at #4 Ohio State, 11 a.m. (Central) on Big Ten: Since the dawn of the 21st century, only two schools outside the Big Ten (Texas and Southern Cal) have visited Ohio State and emerged victorious.

    I can't see Florida A&M joining that exclusive club. I pick Ohio State.


  • #23 Arizona State at #5 Stanford, 6 p.m. (Central) on Fox: I've been wondering if Arizona State's strange victory over Wisconsin last Saturday night will have any effect on this week's game with #5 Stanford.

    Arizona State leads this Pac–12 series, thanks to a winning record at home, but this year's game is being played at Stanford — and Stanford has won five of the last six against ASU at home.

    The Sun Devils need to be wary of tumbling into the delusional trap that beating Wisconsin set for them. Had the Badgers been better at clock management, they could have kicked a field goal and beaten ASU.

    But that is part of the game, and I'm thinking this could be a close one. If this one goes down to the wire, I'm inclined to think Stanford can handle the challenge. I'll take Stanford to win.
  • Auburn at #6 LSU, 6:45 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: By any measure, Auburn would be expected to lose to LSU. But perhaps the most compelling is LSU's record at home in this series.

    Auburn has a narrow historical advantage over LSU in its own stadium, but LSU absolutely owns Auburn when they play in Baton Rouge. That's where the teams will play on Saturday; LSU hasn't lost at home to Auburn since 1999.

    This is an unavoidable test for any team in the SEC West if it harbors hopes of achieving national prominence, and, as Greg Ostendorf writes for ESPN, Auburn's defensive line will face a major test from LSU's high–octane offense.

    I have the feeling that Auburn might make this competitive game until perhaps the end of the third quarter, but, when the final gun sounds, I expect LSU to win.
  • Florida International at #7 Louisville: Thank goodness conference schedules will be in full swing soon.

    This is yet another game in which I simply can't see the visiting team winning. Louisville should win this one easily.
  • Bethune–Cookman at #8 Florida State, 5 p.m. (Central) on ESPN3.com: There really isn't anything to say about this game.

    I mean, excluding the rivalry series with Florida (which really belongs in a separate category), Florida State has lost only three home games to non—conference foes in the last decade. I don't think Bethune–Cookman can stay with Florida State.
  • North Texas at #9 Georgia, 11:21 a.m. (Central) on SEC: This will be the first time these schools have met in football.

    As a graduate of UNT, I would love to see the Mean Green beat Georgia. But I am a realist, and I know that North Texas really only has two chances of winning — slim and none. I have to pick Georgia, but I will be pulling for North Texas.
  • SMU at #10 Texas A&M, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2 or ESPNU: This is an old Southwest Conference series.

    Prior to this game, the teams have met 79 times — with A&M winning nearly 60% of the time. The Aggies have been particularly dominant at home, where they have won the last seven times against SMU (and, historically, they have won nearly two–thirds of the time).

    The last time SMU beat A&M in College Station, SMU's offense was known as the Pony Express.

    But it's the Aggies who have the high–powered offense this time, and I'm inclined to agree with E.J. Holland of the Dallas Morning News, who writes that Johnny Manziel will be too much for the Mustangs. Anyone who watched that Alabama–Texas A&M game last week almost certainly would agree. I pick Texas A&M.
  • New Mexico State at #13 UCLA, 9:30 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12: New Mexico State hasn't had a winning season since 2002.

    The Lobos are 0–3, they're on a 14–game losing streak, they've lost 20 of their last 22 games, and they haven't beaten a Division I school since November 2011.

    Meanwhile, UCLA is coming off a big win at Nebraska. After struggling for several years, the Bruins played in the Pac–12 title game last year and narrowly lost to Stanford.

    I think UCLA can handle New Mexico State.
  • #15 Michigan at Connecticut, 7 p.m. (Central) on ABC: There doesn't seem to be much to say about this game.

    UConn is really a basketball school, and home field seems to be just about the only thing working in the Huskies' favor. But it won't be enough. I'll take Michigan.
  • Savannah State at #16 Miami (Fla.), 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN3.com: Miami was established as a 60–point favorite over Savannah State earlier this week.

    During all those glory years in the 1980s and 1990s, the Hurricanes beat up on several teams, and their margins approached 60 points on some occasions, but I don't think they were ever favored by that many.

    I don't know if the Hurricanes will cover the spread, but I'll take Miami to win the game.
  • Idaho State at #17 Washington, 2 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12: In another one of those games that are nothing more than big paydays for the visitors and big statistical days for the home teams, there's nothing much you can say except that Washington is sure to win.
  • Maine at #18 Northwestern, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on Big Ten: When I was growing up, Northwestern was the doormat of the Big Ten.

    The Wildcats are better now. They've qualified for bowls in five consecutive seasons, three of them on New Year's Day. Maine is probably best known for its unofficial fight song, "Stein Song," made famous by Rudy Vallée.

    I'll take Northwestern.
  • Tennessee at #19 Florida, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on CBS: There was a time — not so long ago, really — when this was one of the best, most closely contested series in the SEC, capable of producing cliffhangers on a regular basis.

    But the Gators have won nine of the last 11 against Tennessee, and only two of the games played in that time span have been decided by a single score.

    Neither offense has been impressive so far, but the Gators bring the third–ranked defense — and that might be enough considering that the Volunteers served up a point a minute to Oregon last week.

    Still, I can't shake the feeling that we're overdue for another cliffhanger in this series. I do expect Florida to win. The Gators might win by a wide margin, or it might be by a field goal in the final seconds.
  • Louisiana–Monroe at #20 Baylor, 3 p.m. (Central) on Fox Sports: Baylor has the nation's #1 offense. Back in the days of the Southwest Conference, that would have been unthinkable.

    Another thing that was unthinkable was Baylor with a Top 20 defense — but that is exactly where the Bears' defense ranks nationally. Yes, sir, back in those days, Baylor could barely manage a win or two each season. The Bears are a lot better now.

    Oh, sure, I know. Most of the early games are mismatches. But I still say the Bears are better today, and I expect Baylor to win.
  • Michigan State at #22 Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on NBC: In the last 12 seasons, this series has been split right down the middle.

    Since 2001, neither school has won three straight against the other — but the Fighting Irish will do precisely that if they beat the Spartans on Saturday.

    It's going to be a challenge. Michigan State boasts the top–ranked defense in the land, but, of course, that has been achieved through victories over Western Michigan, South Florida and Youngstown State. Notre Dame is in an entirely different league.

    I expect a close game, possibly decided by a field goal. I'll take the home team, Notre Dame.
  • Purdue at #24 Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC: Wisconsin tends to beat Purdue wherever they are playing, but the Badgers have been especially hard to beat at home.

    In fact, since 1996, Wisconsin is 10–3 against Purdue. If there is a bright spot for the Boilermakers, it is that two of those victories came in Madison.

    Purdue's offense has struggled so far this season; Wisconsin's offense is in the Top 20. Neither defense has been impressive.

    My thinking is that the Badgers have something to prove after letting that game get away from them at Arizona State. I pick Wisconsin to win at home.
  • Texas State at #25 Texas Tech, 6 p.m. (Central) on Fox Sports Network: The Red Raiders got a big win last week when they knocked off TCU.

    That kind of thing has been known to produce a letdown in the next game, and that might be the case with Texas Tech this week. But I think the Red Raiders can handle Texas State.

    I'll go with Texas Tech.
Last week: 14–4

Season: 51–8

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Muhammad Ali's Third Heavyweight Crown



Thirty–five years ago today, Muhammad Ali did something no one else has ever done. He won the heavyweight title for the third time.

Seven months earlier, Ali got sloppy and lost his title to Leon Spinks, a newcomer fighting in only his eighth professional fight. The 36–year–old Ali clearly expected an easy time with Spinks, but he wound up losing a 15–round decision.

Ali took the rematch seriously and came into it in much better shape. In many ways, he looked like the Ali of a few years earlier when he won bouts with George Foreman and Joe Frazier.

The Spinks fights were televised in those pre–cable days by one of the networks. That was one of the great things about the years when Ali was the champ. He made boxing accessible to everyone. Before and after Ali's championship years, heavyweight title fights were televised in that era's version of pay–per–view telecasts. They were shown via closed circuit in theaters, and, as I recall, tickets definitely were not cheap (in the financial context of the times).

But Joe Six–Pack could watch heavyweight title fights from the comfort of his own living room — and without paying a penny for the privilege — when Ali was champ.

I didn't get to see Ali lose his title to Spinks in February 1978. It was regarded as a foregone conclusion that Ali would win, and I accepted a social invitation of some kind — and, as a result, missed one of the great upsets in boxing history.

Seven months later, when the two of them met in a rematch, I was in front of the TV watching. I wasn't about to miss it. The Rumble in the Jungle and the Thrilla in Manila get all the attention in the Ali story, but, for me, the fight that took place 35 years ago tonight was the most anticipated fight of my life.

As I watched the rematch, it was hard for me to believe Ali could have lost to Spinks in that first fight. Ali was sharp. He was crisp. He was in charge of the fight from the beginning.

Long before the final bell sounded, I knew Ali would recapture his title that night — barring some totally unexpected development. Not only did Ali look like he was in charge of the fight, but Spinks appeared hesitant, sluggish, even confused at times. In the later rounds, maybe that confusion was due to all the blows Spinks had taken from Ali. But I could not explain why he was that way in the early rounds.

I thought it was a mismatch. It was hard for me to believe the fight went the distance. True, it resulted in a unanimous decision for Ali, but his age was catching up to him. The Ali of even two years prior would have finished off Spinks in a few rounds, as he did Jean–Pierre Coopman and Richard Dunn (with a 15–round decision over a more highly regarded challenger, Jimmy Young, in between) in a three—month span in 1976.

But, after beating Spinks, Ali went more than two years before unsuccessfully defending his title against Larry Holmes in October 1980.

The Era of Ali was over.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Tide, Aggies Brace for Showdown


Eventual Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M runs against Alabama in 2012.


The marquee college football matchup this week is, without a doubt, #1 Alabama vs. #6 Texas A&M.

It is a rematch of the only game Alabama lost in 2012 en route to its second consecutive national championship, and it is the hottest regular–season college football ticket ever, reports Business Insider. Tickets are selling for more than $750 on the secondary market.

Dan Wolken of USA Today reports that Alabama is ignoring the "hype" surrounding the game and the revenge factor, which is probably a wise public stance to take. No sense in giving the opposition some bulletin board material.

But the fans are a different matter.

A tavern owner in Alabama erected a Johnny Manziel piñata to whip up some enthusiasm and has been astonished to discover that it has received national attention.

Similar things are sure to be going on in Aggieland.

Last week was an example of how the early polls can't be entirely trusted. Only two games matched ranked teams, and I believe I picked all ranked teams against all unranked teams in all the other games, which would be the safe way to go, I suppose, rather like picking the favorited in horse races.

Nevertheless, three ranked teams lost to unranked teams last week — #12 Florida lost to Miami (Fla.), #15 Texas lost to BYU, and #25 Southern California lost to Washington State. Florida remained in the Top 20; the other two dropped out.

So we have a couple of newcomers in the AP rankings this week — Washington at #19 and Ole Miss at #25. And as fate would have it, newly ranked Ole Miss gets to play recently ranked Texas this weekend.

Idle: #3 Clemson, #9 Georgia, #15 Miami (Fla.), #18 Florida, #22 Baylor

Today
  • #24 TCU at Texas Tech, 6:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: These former Southwest Conference rivals were playing football games against each other when Calvin Coolidge was in the White House.

    The history of the series seems to favor the home team. This year, that is Texas Tech, and that is bad news for the Horned Frogs. They haven't won in Lubbock since 1991.

    Actually, it has been awhile since the Frogs beat the Red Raiders anywhere. Tech won in Fort Worth last year — and the Red Raiders are 11–3 against the Frogs since 1985.

    I think TCU will win — but only by a point or two.
Saturday
  • #1 Alabama at #6 Texas A&M, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on CBS: This is only the second time Alabama has visited Texas A&M — and Alabama won the first meeting at Kyle Field in December 1988.

    Alabama leads this series — as it does most series — but the Aggies can even it up with a victory. Last year's victory was A&M's first over 'Bama since the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day 1968.

    Frankly, I don't think the Aggies can make it two in a row. Alabama has had a couple of weeks to prepare (in all honesty, though, A&M has had the last two weeks to prepare, too — interrupted by a scrimmage with Sam Houston State last Saturday), not to mention several months to stew over last year's loss.

    I expect it to be a good game, but I think that, ultimately, Alabama will prevail.
  • Tennessee at #2 Oregon, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC: These teams have met only once before — in 2010 when Oregon visited Tennessee and won by five touchdowns, 48–13.

    In all candor, not a lot has changed since then. Oregon is still one of the highest–ranked teams in the land, and Tennessee is struggling to return to its former glory.

    Not gonna happen for the Vols on this occasion. I pick Oregon.
  • #4 Ohio State at California, 6 p.m. (Central) on Fox: Cal won the first–ever meeting between these schools, back on New Year's Day 1921 in the Rose Bowl.

    Ohio State has gone on to win the next six meetings, five of which were played more than four decades ago. In fact, the last time these teams played at California was in 1972 (Ohio State, which was then coached by Woody Hayes, won 35–18).

    Forty–year–old game film is of no value in this one, but it seems clear to me which team is going to win.

    But I don't think it will be as lopsided as some folks think. Ohio State should win — but by about a touchdown.
  • #5 Stanford at Army, 11 a.m. (Central) on CBSSN: This long–dormant series is all knotted up, 5–5, so the winner will take the lead.

    In such a situation, you'd probably want to look at recent meetings to get an idea of which team has the momentum. But these teams haven't faced each other since Sept. 22, 1979. Army only won two games that year, but the game with Stanford was one of them.

    Of course, a lot of things have changed since 1979. Stanford was 5–5–1 that year; the Cardinal are ranked fifth in the nation today.

    Army, on the other hand, went 2–10 last year. Well, maybe some things haven't changed.

    I'll take Stanford by three touchdowns.
  • #7 Louisville at Kentucky, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPN: Natural rivals in basketball, these schools met on the gridiron for the first time in 1994, and it's been an annual event ever since.

    Louisville leads the series, 11–8, and has a winning record at Kentucky. Louisville also is ranked seventh in the nation.

    Kentucky was 2–10 last year and hasn't had a winning season since 2009.

    I'll take Louisville.
  • Kent State at #8 LSU, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPNU: You know, there really isn't much I can say about this game.

    LSU hasn't lost at home to a nonconference foe since 2000. Kent had a good season last year, but, ordinariiy, the Golden Flashes do rather poorly in football.

    I don't think they're the ones to end the Tigers' dominance at home. I pick LSU.
  • Nevada at #10 Florida State, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: This is one of those games I find it hard to be enthusiastic about. I mean, Nevada hasn't had a bad football team in recent years, but it is ludicrous to think that the Wolf Pack could possibly win at Florida State.

    Oh, well, I guess stranger things have happened, but that's a little too strange for my taste. I expect Florida State to win.
  • Akron at #11 Michigan, 11 a.m. (Central) on Big Ten: Michigan hasn't been as dominant lately as man of its fans remember, but the Wolverines have been doing a lot better than the Zips, who have won a total of 20 games since 2005 and endured three consecutive 1–11 seasons (and haven't beaten a nonconference Division I–A foe since 2008).

    I pick Michigan by three touchdowns.
  • Lamar at #12 Oklahoma State, 6:30 p.m. (Central) on Mid–Atlantic Sports: This is one of those games that should be interesting until, oh, about midway through the first quarter.

    I expect Oklahoma State to win — and by a wide margin.
  • Vanderbilt at #13 South Carolina, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: South Carolina leads this series, 18–4, and has won the last four meetings.

    But don't get the wrong idea. Those last four games have been reasonably competitive, not blowouts at all.

    And that is usually the case in this series — not always, but usually.

    Actually, I expect another close one. I expect South Carolina to win — but it won't be easy.
  • Tulsa at #14 Oklahoma, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPN2: This will be the 20th time these schools have faced each other on a football field.

    The Sooners have won 11 of the last 12 meetings. In fact, if not for Tulsa's victory over a subpar OU squad in 1996, Tulsa's last win over Oklahoma would be the Hurricanes' 20–6 triumph in Oklahoma City almost 70 years ago.

    I don't think they'll get another one today. I pick Oklahoma.
  • #16 UCLA at #23 Nebraska, 11 a.m. (Central) on ABC: With the exception of the Alabama–Texas A&M showdown, I think this might be the most entertaining college game of the week.

    Considering that two time zones separate them, these teams have played each other quite a bit (11 times) and never in a bowl game.

    UCLA actually won the first three meetings, two of which were played in California, and the Bruins were among the few who beat Nebraska during the Cornhuskers' greatest glory years in the early 1970s.

    But they have lost all four of their games in Lincoln since that initial win, and I expect Nebraska to extend its home winning streak against UCLA.
  • Western Michigan at #17 Northwestern, 8 p.m. (Central) on Big Ten: Western Michigan is coming off a 4–8 season.

    That's kind of unusual for WMU. It usually wins more than it loses.

    Of course, it doesn't play ranked teams often, and it beats them even more rarely. Based on that, I'm going to pick Northwestern, the ranked team, to win by about 10 points.
  • #19 Washington at Illinois, 5 p.m. (Central) on Big Ten: This will be the 10th time these schools have met on the gridiron, and, if the Illini win, the series will be tied.

    But Illinois' last win over Washington came in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day in 1964. The Illini haven't beaten Washington in a regular–season contest since 1952.

    Of course, this series has been dormant since 1972 so this is really a whole new series for both teams.

    And I think Washington will win the first meeting of the second series.
  • #20 Wisconsin at Arizona State, 9:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: Compared to other rivalries being renewed today, the Wisconsin–Arizona State rivalry is a fledgling.

    This is only the fourth time they have met — and only the second time at Arizona State. Wisconsin lost that first trip to the Southwest back in 1968.

    I think Wisconsin will avenge that defeat, but I think the score could be a lot closer than most people think — perhaps with a field goal separating the two.
  • #21 Notre Dame at Purdue, 7 p.m. (Central) on ABC: This will be the 82nd time these schools have faced each other, and Notre Dame leads the series, 54–25–2.

    It's been a bit more competitive when they've played at Purdue, but the Irish have still managed to win 63% of the time.

    Notre Dame has only lost once to Purdue since 2005 — but that loss came on Purdue's field.

    That may be the only good news for Purdue. The Boilermakers have only had one winning season since 2008.

    This time, I think Notre Dame will leave the field with the victory.
  • #25 Ole Miss at Texas, 7 p.m. (Central) on Longhorn Network: Until they squared off in Mississippi last year, Ole Miss and Texas had not met in football since the 1966 Bluebonnet Bowl.

    And Saturday's game will be the first played between these teams in Austin since 1925.

    I don't know if they have ever met when Ole Miss was ranked and Texas wasn't. Nevertheless, that is the situation today.

    All kinds of firsts If Texas loses, the Longhorns will be 1–2 and may need to do something spectacular to get back into the rankings.

    And that could happen. But I think it is more likely that Texas will squeak out a narrow victory.
Last week: 16–3

Season: 37–4

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

The Bear Centennial



"If we had been more vigilant, September 11 would still be known as Bear Bryant's birthday."

Actor Fred Thompson

If Bear Bryant still lived, today would be his 100th birthday.

But, as I observed in January, he's been dead for 30 years.

In Alabama, they've been working on plans for the centennial birthday celebration for more than a year. It hasn't been an easy task. The director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum lamented last year that the problem was deciding what could be omitted.

Bryant's life story really was like that. Every moment seems to be so significant that to leave out anything is to somehow diminish the life.

Frankly, it reminds me of the disclaimer at the start of the movie "Gandhi""No man's life can be encompassed in one telling."

And so it is with the Bear Bryant story.

(Last night, on the eve of Bryant's 100th birthday, I saw a post from the Huntsville (Ala.) Times about Bryant's last letter. "Bryant would frequently reply to fan mail," writes Melissa Brown, "even in January 1983, the month he passed away."

(Apparently, many of those fans believe they received the last letter Bryant wrote.)

It was just as hard, I suppose, to decide what the most appropriate salute should be.

About the only thing that would be truly appropriate on this occasion would be if Alabama or Texas A&M, the schools where Bryant left his mark as a coach, could play a game today. But this is Wednesday, and college football teams rarely play games in the middle of the week.

However, college football teams do play on Saturdays, and Alabama and Texas A&M will be playing each other in College Station this Saturday.

That is so perfect that it almost certainly was planned. Considering the stature Bryant has in this game, it might well have been planned even if the two schools were not competing in the same conference.

Let me say right now that I have seen no evidence that it was planned — but Alabama and Texas A&M are conference rivals now (they weren't in the Bear's day), and the modern Southeastern Conference is so big now that it has two divisions. Members of a division always play each other — they alternate their games against teams in the other division, but they always play the teams in their own division.

Alabama and Texas A&M are in the same division. Last year, they played in Alabama, and A&M handed Alabama its only loss of the year (en route to its second consecutive national title). The Aggies' quarterback also became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy.

There's enough intrigue surrounding that game to entice even the Bear — and that would have taken some doing in his lifetime. He must have faced off against just about every major football coach in the country at one time or another.

I know for a fact he faced Joe Paterno at least once because I was there. My family and I went to New Orleans to see the Sugar Bowl one year, and Alabama was playing Penn State.

In a quarter of a century as the head coach at Alabama, Bryant faced and defeated Bob Devaney, Ara Parseghian, Bud Wilkinson, John McKay, Lou Holtz, Woody Hayes, Tom Osborne, Barry Switzer. He never faced Bo Schembechler, and he never managed to beat Darrell Royal in four tries.

And Bryant once faced Frank Broyles, the longtime head coach at my alma mater, the University of Arkansas. Bryant won, and I've always been struck by an irony. After the 1941 season, during which Bryant was an assistant coach at Vanderbilt, he was offered the head coaching job at Arkansas.

I guess a little historical background is needed here. Fred Thomsen had been Arkansas' coach since 1929, and he had done some good things for the Razorbacks. He won the Hogs' first Southwest Conference title in 1933 — when Bryant was playing end for Alabama — but the title was forfeited when it turned out he had used an ineligible athlete.

Thomsen also popularized the forward pass at Arkansas. He even had different quarterbacks, depending on conditions — one for wet weather and another for dry weather. He had good years and bad years through 1937, and if he had left after that season, his name probably would be revered today on the Arkansas campus and, indeed, throughout the state.

But the Hogs went 13–25–2 from 1938–41, and there were rumblings among the fans (according to a book on the Razorbacks that was co–written by one of my former Arkansas Gazette colleagues) that the program needed a "name" coach to revive it.

Thomsen had enlisted in the service after Pearl Harbor, and it came as a surprise to his wife that the Board of Trustees, authorized by the state legislature, arranged to cut him a check — and, in the process, cut the school's ties with him — while he was serving his country abroad.

At the same time, apparently, the school was pursuing Bryant (who was born in Arkansas) to lead the team, but Bryant had enlisted in the Navy. So Arkansas endured some misfires at the head coaching position before finally getting a long–termer in Broyles in 1958, the same year Bryant went to Alabama.

Arkansas fans can only wonder what might have been if the war had not interfered. Broyles had some great years at Arkansas — he even shared a national title with Bryant once — but his career was not even close to Bryant's. In all honesty, no one's was.

When Bryant died 30 years ago, the people of Alabama lined the highway overpasses in respectful silence to watch the funeral procession go by.

I can think of no other figure from Alabama who commanded that kind of respect — not firebrand politicians, not Supreme Court justices, no one.

The Bear was one of a kind.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

The Race to Break Maris' Record



There are two things I will always remember about the summer of 1998 — the worst heat wave in nearly 20 years that gripped most of the country and the duel between St. Louis' Mark McGwire and Chicago's Sammy Sosa to see who would break Roger Maris' 37–year–old single–season home run record.

(Maris, as baseball historians will tell you, broke Babe Ruth's single–season home run record in 1961, but he benefited from the fact that baseball seasons were 162 games by then, not 154 as they were in the Bambino's day. And for many, many years, Maris' record had an asterisk next to it in the record book because it was not achieved in 154 games.)

The home run chase made that summer of '98 memorable. Well, the heat wave did, too. It was the worst heat wave I've seen since 1980. But the McGwire–Sosa duel was truly riveting. If one had to stay inside because it was so miserably hot outside, watching SportsCenter for the latest update in the home run chase was worth one's time. And there was almost always a daily update.

In hindsight, one must wonder if the '98 home run chase would have happened at all if not for steroids.

In fact, McGwire did concede at the time that he used an over–the–counter substance that had been banned by, among others, the NFL — but not (at that time) major league baseball.

(McGwire was slipperier on his use of other substances.)

So my feeling is that the '98 season should have an asterisk next to it — or maybe it would be more appropriate to have a little syringe instead — in the record books.

But it doesn't, and it probably won't so 1998 will stand as the year that McGwire broke Maris' record. McGwire was eclipsed three years later by Barry Bonds, who has his own unanswered questions about steroid use, but 15 years ago today, McGwire was on his way to wrapping up the home run–hitting season of a lifetime.

("These long–ball extravaganzas were putting fans back in the seats," Greg Stejskal wrote recently in the New York Daily News, "but the cost was the integrity of the game.")

McGwire hit 70 home runs that year. No one before — and only one man since — hit that many home runs in a single season. (That year, in fact, Bonds hit slightly more than half as many home runs as McGwire.)

That summer, I was working for a trade magazine that served the imprinted sportswear industry. Part of my job was attending trade shows in different parts of the country, and I recall attending a show in Chicago. Exhibitors at these shows were often regional representatives of licensed sports products, and major league baseball was a hot (pardon the expression) commodity in Chicago that summer.

At these shows, I would walk around the hall and sit down to interview exhibitors who caught my eye. As a former sports editor, I was particularly interested in these sports licenses. Major league baseball had a crippling strike a few years earlier, and there had been talk that baseball's popularity was on the decline.

The McGwire–Sosa home run derby was the first thing to breathe some life back into the sport. It was baseball's goose that laid the golden egg.

And the exhibitors were all too eager to talk about McGwire and Sosa — but none, that I can recall, had any interest in talking about steroids.

If they were concerned that I might quote them on the subject in one of my articles, they worried needlessly. I only asked because I'm a sports fan, and I like baseball (although not as much as I did when I was a boy).

Maris' record finally fell 15 years ago today, about three weeks before the scheduled end of the season. McGwire had broken the record in far fewer games than it took Maris — or Ruth, for that matter. That should have raised some red flags.

But, like the exhibitors I spoke to that summer, no one wanted to talk about steroids. Not the teams' management or coaches or players — or fans, for that matter. They wanted to talk about all the home runs, not the steroids that even a casual observer could conclude had made them possible.

The thought of steroids definitely crossed my mind in the summer of '98, but, as I say, I never found anyone who was interested in talking about that angle.

Perhaps now those people have learned that there is a frightful price to be paid for ignoring an approaching storm. It's like ignoring a persistent toothache, hoping it will go away. (In the words of writer Aldous Huxley, "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.")

But then I remember — that's the kind who never learn from the past.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

One More Time For All of the Old Times



What is probably the last game (for awhile, anyway) in the Notre Dame–Michigan series to be played in the Big House is the headliner for this week's action.

There are other rivalries on the schedule. Twelfth–ranked Florida plays at Miami (Fla.) in an early ACC showdown, and sixth–ranked South Carolina visits 11th–ranked Georgia in the SEC opener for both schools.

But Notre Dame–Michigan is the big one this week, and it has been pretty entertaining in recent years. There is no reason to think it won't be entertaining tonight as well.

Unless you're Chris Mahr. I'm assuming that Mahr won't be watching. In a recent post at Lost Lettermen, Mahr asserts that the Notre Dame–Michigan rivalry is overrated.

Be that as it may ...

This is the 18th time these schools have played in Michigan Stadium. There have been some good games played there, but this will be the last time — at least for awhile.

It's worth tuning in for.

Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free–Press writes that Michigan will need to fill the slot in the schedule, and I agree. I disagree with his suggestion that scheduling "SEC middle–of–the–pack Arkansas" isn't the answer. Arkansas is my alma mater and, while "middle of the pack" may be a generous assessment now, when the teams are scheduled to meet on the playing field in about four or five years, things might be different.

Sharp acknowledges, though, that it is "a start."

Speaking of starts ...

I felt pretty good about my predictions last week. For awhile, I even flirted with perfection!

I predicted that the #8 Clemson Tigers would defeat the #5 Georgia Bulldogs — and they did. I picked the 12th–ranked LSU Tigers to beat the #20 TCU Horned Frogs — and they did.

I also picked unranked Washington to defeat #19 Boise State — and that, too, came to pass.

But I stumbled on Eastern Washington–Oregon State. Darn it.

Idle: #1 Alabama, #10 Florida State, #18 UCLA, #20 Washington

Today
  • #2 Oregon at Virginia, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: Oregon and Virginia have never faced each other in football.

    Virginia is the home team so the Cavaliers won't have to contend with the jet lag that the Ducks are sure to encounter. But Oregon has been one of the most fearsome football teams in America the last few years. A little jet lag doesn't seem likely to slow them down.

    The Cavaliers have begun the last two seasons at 2–0, but it doesn't look likely that they can extend that streak to three straight years.

    Admittedly, the Ducks' first opponent was Nicholls, but they still rolled up 66 points and nearly 800 yards on offense. That's going to get your attention.

    Mark Giannotto of the Washington Post observes that the Cavs "had little time to savor their season–opening victory," a 19–16 win over Brigham Young that would probably get noticed in almost any other year.

    In recent years, Virginia typically has opened the season against a non–IA school — and hasn't always been able to win. Beating a school like BYU in the opener is an achievement, but Giannotto is right. There is no time to savor it. Perhaps when the season is over.

    But not now. Now is a time to be focused. But, no matter how focused Virginia may be, I expect Oregon to win by double digits.
  • San Diego State at #3 Ohio State, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on ABC: These schools have met three times since 2001 — each game was played in Columbus, Ohio, and each game was won by Ohio State by an average of about two touchdowns.

    Today, for the fourth time, the teams will play in Columbus. And I predict that, once again, Ohio State will win — probably by about two touchdowns.
  • South Carolina State at #4 Clemson, 11:30 a.m. (Central) on ESPN3.com: The last time these schools met on the gridiron was in 2008. South Carolina State came to Clemson in September and was thrashed, 54–0.

    I expect something similar this time. That Clemson team finished 7–5 and went on to lose the Gator Bowl to Nebraska. This Clemson team looks much better.

    I pick Clemson to win.
  • San Jose State at #5 Stanford, 10 p.m. (Central) on Pac–12: Stanford was the only member of AP's Top 25 that did not play last weekend — and the Cardinal lost ground in the rankings.

    Last week, Stanford was ranked fourth. But Clemson, thanks to its victory over highly regarded Georgia, leaped past Stanford into the #4 slot, and Stanford fell back to fifth.

    Now Stanford has an opportunity to regain that lost ground against a familiar foe. Stanford and San Jose State have met 59 times, and Stanford has controlled the series, 44–14–1.

    Stanford actually has been more dominant on the road than at home. The Cardinal have won two–thirds of the time at home, more than three–fourths of the time on the road.

    Stanford has won nine straight against San Jose State and hasn't lost at home in the schools' practically annual game since 2000.

    Sounds like just the thing to revive Stanford's ranking. San Jose probably won't roll over, but I think Stanford will win by at least a touchdown.
  • #6 South Carolina at #11 Georgia, 3:30 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: Last week's loss to Clemson must have been a bitter pill for Georgia to swallow.

    But the Bulldogs have no time to grieve the loss. Sixth–ranked South Carolina comes to visit today, and the Gamecocks have their eyes on an SEC championship, too.

    These schools have been SEC rivals for a couple of decades, but their series goes back to the turn of the century. This will be their 61st game, and Georgia has dominated the series (42–16–2) but lost the last three encounters.

    Georgia has been particularly dominant at home, winning 75% of the time, but South Carolina has won two of the last three games played there.

    As I mentioned last week, Georgia was regarded by many observers as a potential national champion before the season began. The Bulldogs could still be in the national title conversation at the end of the season, but they will need to win the SEC East, and beating South Carolina would go a long way toward re–establishing the 'Dawgs nationally.

    I pick Georgia to win by a very narrow margin.
  • Sam Houston State at #7 Texas A&M, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN3.com: Jesse Yomtov writes in USA Today that A&M is ripe for an upset.

    Maybe so, considering that national champion Alabama will be coming to College Station next Saturday, but I really don't think Sam Houston State is the team to do it. I expect Texas A&M to win.
  • Eastern Kentucky at #8 Louisville, 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPN3.com: This is probably an important game in Kentucky, but it just doesn't mean much to me.

    The history of the series favors Louisville. So do the college football rankings. I just can't imagine that the Colonels will win this game. I pick Louisville.


  • Alabama–Birmingham at #9 LSU, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPNU: Judging from what I saw in LSU's opener with TCU last week, LSU is set to challenge for the SEC West crown.

    But the Tigers would be advised not to overlook UAB. That may have been the problem the only other time the teams faced each other. In 2000, UAB upset LSU, 13–10, in Baton Rouge, where the teams will face other today.

    Keep in mind, though, that this is a different LSU team. In the two seasons prior to that game, LSU's record was 7–15. In the previous 10 seasons, the Tigers had had far more losing seasons than winning ones.

    But, in two–thirds of the seasons since that 2000 season, LSU has won 10 or more games (including the last three seasons) and gone 2–1 in national championship games.

    I expect this LSU team to win — assuming, of course, that 2000 mindset doesn't show up instead.
  • #12 Florida at Miami (Fla.), 11 a.m. (Central) on ESPN: These two schools have played 54 times, and Miami holds a paper–thin series edge, 28–26.

    But Miami has seized the series advantage by winning six of the last seven games. The Hurricanes haven't lost to Florida at home since 1985.

    Florida's glory days in the series probably came between 1968 and 1977, when the Gators won nine out of 10.

    I expect a close game — which would be appropriate, given how close the series is. I give a very slight edge to Florida.
  • #13 Oklahoma State at Texas–San Antonio, 11 a.m. (Central) on Fox Sports: After Oklahoma State opened the season in Houston last week, Berry Tramel and Gina Mizell of The Oklahoman ask, "Why is OSU playing Texas–San Antonio in San Antonio?

    It is a reasonable question. The Alamodome is, after all, a little bigger than Boone Pickens Stadium ‐ but seating capacity is not the issue. Tramel and Mizell observe that it is a 2–for–1 deal. In exchange for playing today's game in San Antonio, the Roadrunners are obligated to play two games in Stillwater.

    Home field shouldn't make much difference in this game. I pick Oklahoma State.
  • #14 Notre Dame at #17 Michigan, 7 p.m. (Central) on ESPN: This could be the very last time these teams face other in the Big House, and you can watch it.

    Even though Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly says it isn't an "historic rivalry."

    Well, I suppose that is a matter of opinion.

    Head to head, Michigan has won five of the last seven meetings, but the Wolverines lost in South Bend last year, 13–6. Until Alabama beat Notre Dame in the national championship game last January, only three teams had come closer to beating the Fighting Irish during the 2012 season — Purdue, Brigham Young and Pittsburgh.

    Actually, these two bitter rivals have managed to put on a pretty good show of late. The outcomes of each of their last four matchups could have been changed by a single score.

    I think it will be another close one, and I give the edge to the home team, Michigan.
  • #15 Texas at Brigham Young, 6 p.m. (Central) on ESPN2: It was almost 25 years ago — to the day — that Texas paid its only visit to BYU.

    The Longhorns lost that game decisively, 47–6.

    Well, they've had a quarter of a century to get over that. The Cougars, on the other hand, have only had a week to get over last week's loss at Virginia.

    But, as Jay Drew of the Salt Lake Tribune writes, it is the kind of game BYU's students and fans were promised when the program went independent a couple of years ago — games against elite national programs.

    Texas certainly qualifies. The Longhorns aren't what they were when they beat Southern Cal for the national crown — or even when they lost one a few years back — but they do occupy a special place in college football.

    It would be a tremendous achievement if BYU could win this game. But I don't think they will. I pick Texas.
  • West Virginia at #16 Oklahoma, 6 p.m. (Central) on Fox: This should be an interesting game to watch. At least, I think so.

    Historically, OU holds the edge, as one might expect. But the Sooners needed a narrow, one–point (50–49) victory at West Virginia last year to break a series tie.

    They only played four times before last season (once in the Fiesta Bowl). The Sooners won the first two games, both of which were played in Norman, then lost the third game, which was also played in Norman.

    And today they meet in Norman again.

    It's been 30 years since West Virginia won that game in Norman. Can the Mountaineers do it again? It would be huge for them if they could, but I don't think they will. I expect the teams to score a lot of points — maybe about half as many as last year — and I expect the margin to be a single score, but I predict that Oklahoma will win.
  • Syracuse at #19 Northwestern, 5 p.m. (Central) on Big Ten: This will be the 11th game in this series, and these teams have split the first 10 games right down the middle.

    Both teams are 3–2 at home so that would appear to favor Northwestern even though the Wildcats have only beaten Syracuse at home once in nearly 30 years.

    Make that twice. I think Northwestern will prevail.
  • Tennessee Tech at #21 Wisconsin, 11 a.m. (Central) on Big Ten: Wisconsin is adjusting to a first–year coach.

    I understand this because my alma mater (Arkansas) is also adjusting to a first–year coach, and he happens to be Wisconsin's former coach. Neither team seems to be suffering from the transition — at least, not yet.

    Both teams won last week, and both teams will probably win this week.

    Wisconsin's opponent rarely plays teams from power conferences like the Big Ten, and my expectation is that Wisconsin will win handily.
  • Southern Mississippi at #22 Nebraska, 5 p.m. (Central) on Big Ten: These schools have met four times, and the results have been pretty reliable indicators of the kind of season Nebraska had.

    The Cornhuskers have won three of the games, and each time they won, they finished the season with at least 10 wins. On the one occasion when Southern Miss was the winner, Nebraska finished the season 5–6.

    I think Nebraska will win handily this time, possibly foreshadowing a big season for the Cornhuskers.
  • Buffalo at #23 Baylor, 2:30 p.m. (Central) on Fox Sports: I don't see that there is much to say about this game.

    Baylor was regarded as a perennial pushover when I was a child, but even those teams were better than Buffalo has been. The Bulls have had only one winning season since 1999 — 2008 when they won the MAC title.

    Last year, they were 4–8. They lost seven of their first eight games, then finished the year with three wins and one loss.

    I've heard nothing to suggest they can win in Waco. I pick Baylor.
  • SE Louisiana at #24 TCU, 11 a.m. (Central) on Fox Sports: There was a time — in my lifetime — when having TCU on the schedule meant an easy win.

    It isn't that way anymore. Hasn't been for awhile. But I'm not sure it ever would have been an easy win for SE Louisiana.

    It won't be today. I predict TCU will win.
  • Washington State at #25 USC, 9:30 p.m. (Central) on Fox Sports: These schools have been conference rivals since 1922, and WSU has recorded nearly half of its eight victories over USC since 1997.

    They haven't played since 2010, but the Trojans blew out the Cougars on that occasion, 50–16. In fact, USC has an eight–game winning streak against WSU.

    The Trojans have dominated this series, 58–8–4, and they have been particularly dominant at home. They've won the last four meetings in Los Angeles.

    It's been 10 years since WSU won more than six games in a season. Southern Cal won 10 games or more in seven of those seasons and won a national title.

    The Trojans had an off–year last year, going 7–6. I expect them to be better this year. The Cougars were 3–9 last year — which was better than many of their recent seasons.

    I expect Southern California to win.
Last week: 21–1

Season: 21–1