Life (and football) Goes On

I want to apologize to my faithful legion of readers, small group of readers, some guy in Quincy, MA who actually reads this blog, for the paucity of posts this summer.  I posted a guest column a few weeks ago, but I have not actually posted since May!

In my defense, my dad passed away on July 27th. after suffering multiple strokes.  I have not felt like blogging much.  You can read about my amazing golf ball story on my other blog.

My dad won't be attending games with me for the first time in my life.  He has missed a few games the past couple of years for various reasons.  He pretty much gave up the 8pm games since 2005.  But I always knew he COULD go.  There was a game against Michigan State back in the mid-1990's when we had travel plans to go to Disney.  My dad and I went to the game anyway.  We had to leave before the game was over to make our flight out of University Park Airport.  My daughter asked my wife what would happen if I didn't make it to the airport in time.  She answered, "We're going without him."  When she asked my mom what would happen if Pap Pap didn't make it, my mom replied, "We're going without him."  We did make it.  Barely.

And while I know he will be there in spirit, any son who has lost their dad will tell you it is not the same.

Yet, I find myself looking forward to this season starting.  Perhaps it is the anticipation of James Franklin and the opportunity to see what he can do with this team that many have written off as the "worst year of the sanctions."

Or perhaps it is this article about James Franklin leading Penn State back to glory.

Brick by brick. This is how one of the nation’s premier college football powers will be resurrected. It won’t happen today or tomorrow or even next year, but it will happen. It’s only a matter of time before a small, power-packed foundation grows into something more. You see a family, 16 grown men functioning as a unit. And it’s not just these men. It’s the wives and children who have celebrated the highs and lows in football and in life, at schools and at barbecues. You see this same family expanding, embracing open wounds with open arms, listening to those who have endured unspeakable change before worrying about more pressing football matters. You see a staff that was crafted to work in this very location. It’s as if this group were constructed for this purpose and this purpose alone, and the geographic familiarity is already paying dividends. You see a quarterback with a golden arm, an enormous Band-Aid at a time when it’s needed most. And you see why, eventually, this will all be so much bigger than it is now. You can’t help but admire the bricks being laid, one strategically placed block at a time.

Perhaps it is the news that Braxton Miller will be out for the season.  As if we needed any more of an advantage over those Buckeyes ;)!

Perhaps it is the news that the Holier-Than-Everyone-Else Notre Dame is investigating 4 football players for academic fraud.  Slightly amusing.  Probably deserved.  But after the glass house built by the media and Jerry Sandusky, it's really tough to pick up a stone right now.  But maybe I'll have some fun with this later.

Perhaps it is Penn State's 6th ranked recruiting class (according to Rivals) which beats the nearest Big Ten competitor by 10 slots.  If Franklin can coach half as good as he can recruit . . .

Perhaps it's the report that an Icelandic Volcano could threaten the travel plans for the match-up in Ireland against UCF.  I blame this on Joel Myers.  It's weather related--volcanic ash or some sort of excuse.

Or maybe it's this copy of a letter supposedly written by Peggy Bauer Glaser to Dr. Barron:

Whereas in 2012 the NCAA, based on the flawed Freeh report, criticized Joe Paterno and others for not investigating the allegations of Sandusky's sexual abuse of a child, now the NCAA is saying that no members of athletics should attempt to direct or intervene in a sexual abuse investigation. So now, they have concluded that Joe Paterno was correct in reporting the allegation and then stepping aside. If you will read my letter from 2012, that is exactly what Joe Paterno should have done--and what he did.  So Joe Paterno was fired for doing what he should have done from an HR policy position and from the ultimate position of the NCAA. 

Whereas in 2012 the NCAA, based on the flawed Freeh report, criticized Joe Paterno and others for allegedly covering up Sandusky's abuse, the Pennsylvania state prosecutor Frank Fina addressed the question of whether or not there was any evidence of the involvement of Joe Paterno in a cover up and he replied that no such evidence was found.So Joe Paterno was fired even though there was no evidence of a cover-up. 

Now is the time to formally recognize Joe Paterno. Recognition can be achieved by such actions as: return the statue, name the stadium field Paterno Field, seek the rightful return the 409 record built by success with honor, seek to overturn the sanctions, adopt a culture of standing up for the University, and let the alumni community know the University also believes in success with honor.  Do the honorable thing. . .

Not going to hold my breath on this, lest I turn bluer than I already am.

I don't know what it is, but I am really looking forward to this season!

What think you????

Lights Out in South Bend

Apparently, whenever the Notre Dame football team (or any Irish team) is ranked #1, there is a large #1 lit up over Grace Hall on the Notre Dame campus.

When Notre Dame backed into the number one spot by default, a crack team of engineers was called in to refit the old number one, last used in 1988, with modern electrical bulbs.  In 1988, they had to wire the #1 as it previously was gas-lit.

Perhaps I jest, but the truth remains:  Notre Dame football hasn't been relevant since the World War II era.

Is anyone really surprised by Monday night's blow-out loss to Alabama?  Okay--anyone outside of Notre Dame and their ardent fans?

This is a team that should have lost to Stanford, but continued undefeated thanks to incompetence by the refs.  Pitt should have beaten them as well, but a phantom PI kept the Irish alive to send the game into OT.  They should have lost then as well, but Pitt failed to kick a chip shot field goal that would have sent Notre Dame tumbling out of the top ten.  It still took three OTs for a team that went to the BCS Championship to beat Pitt.  Hello, McFly?  This ain't a good team. 

There was ironic redemption in the first quarter as Notre Dame was the victim of a couple of questionable calls by the referees.  In a way, you could call it payback, but it doesn't help Stanford or Pitt one bit.  And when you look at the final score, 42-14, Alabama didn't need the help after all.

Oregon versus Alabama would have been a more entertaining game.  Notre Dame versus Northern Illinois would have been a more competitive game, but the Irish might still have come up short.

There are only four "independents" in major college football:  Notre Dame, Army, Navy and BYU.  Only the Irish have a special clause to "guarantee" them a BCS bowl berth if the school is in the top 8 of the rankings.

Why is that?

Why is Navy not guaranteed a spot if the Midshipmen end up ranked 8th or higher?

Because Notre Dame won 4 Championships in the 1940's, they are given special consideration for bowl games? 

Why isn't Notre Dame in a conference for football?  We all know the bottom line is they don't want to share their NBC contract with anyone else, but they complain that they would lose historic and traditionl rivalries such Michigan, USC and Navy.  So basically, for reasons that are somewhat obscure, Notre Dame continues to have the flexibility to schedule in the name of tradition at whim, while other schools watch traditional rivalries fade into the past, perhaps where they belong (Penn State-Pitt., Oklahoma-Nebraska,) because of conference commitments and financial constraints.

Seriously?  How can Notre Dame be allowed to continue to hand pick their schedule, and take up space in bowls that other teams, better teams, are more deserving of?

What's the difference between Notre Dame and Frosted Flakes?

Frosted Flakes BELONG in a bowl--and they're GRRRRREAT!

Gaining Momentum?

Adam Rittenberg of ESPN blogged that the grassroots movement to add a 12th Big Ten team and create a championship game may be growing.

Seems like the movement for Big Ten expansion has received a boost, at least according to Wisconsin athletics director Barry Alvarez.

The AD and former Badgers football coach told Wisconsin's athletic board today that he expects the Big Ten to increase its push to add a 12th member. The Big Ten hasn't expanded since adding Penn State, which began competing as a league member in football in 1993.

"I have a sense [Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany] is going to take this year to really be more aggressive about it," Alvarez told the board. "I just think everybody feels [expansion] is the direction to go, coaches and administrators."

Which begets the question . . . who? Notre Dame would be a natural fit, geographically and historically. They usually play 3 Big Ten teams every year already. But their exclusive TV contract and independence remains a considerable roadblock.

I have seen various other teams thrown out there: Missouri, Nebraska, Pitt, West Virginia, Syracuse, and even Rutgers.

Cory Giger of the Altoona Mirror has thrown Cincinnati into that mix. His argument looks at things from the other side . . . not who the Big Ten wants, but who would want to join the Big Ten.

Not Pitt. Not Syracuse.

Forget about those schools because it's not going to happen. They are happy in the Big East and have become national powers in basketball. They won't give up their hoops exposure and rivalries merely for the right to be a second- or, in Syracuse's case, third-tier football program in the Big Ten.

Notre Dame may be down, but it's still getting paid big bucks. Its TV deal with NBC runs through the 2015 season and reportedly is worth $9 million per year. The school would be crazy to join a league and be forced to give up or share that money.

Looking over every major conference and every possible team, the best choice - for several reasons - to become the Big Ten's 12th member is ... Cincinnati.

There may be sexier candidates, sure, but just because the Big Ten might want one of them -- like Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, Maryland or Boston College -- doesn't mean those schools would be at all interested in walking away from their current situations.

Cincinnati probably would.

He lists as the only potential drawback the size of their stadium.

The lone drawback would be that its football facility, Nippert Stadium, seats only 35,000. That would have to be addressed if Cincinnati were to enter the Big Ten.

Size doesn't matter does it? And even if it does, consider that our last game at Indiana was attended by 41,251 in 2007. I just realized that we played Indiana at home two years in a row. Huh? And next year the game will be in Washington D.C.! And the Northwestern game attendance this year was only 30,546. Surely the Bearcats could match that number with just about any Big Ten team on the schedule.

I think the maiun downside of Cincinnati is that it doesn't add anything to the viewing area, since Ohio State already represents that zone well. At least Syracuse, West Virginia, Missouri and Rutgers bring new viewing and recruiting areas into play, although arguably Penn State already draws well from those areas with the exception of Missouri.

And as for writing Notre Dame off carte blanche, consider this report by Clay Travis as to the financial implications for Notre Dame:

Why's that number important? Because in 2008, every school in the Big Ten will clear north of $15 million from the conference, a number that will only increase in years to come. Every school in the SEC will bank, conservatively, $17 million. (Looking at the numbers it's likely the SEC will hit $20 million within a couple of years.) The reason for these increases is simple, spiraling television money. The Big Ten Network distributed $7.5 million to each conference school last year, and in conjunction with the 10-year, $1-billion deal that the Big Ten signed with ABC/ESPN, there's a whole lot of new television money floating around. Let me repeat that, the Big Ten Network alone has almost equaled the payout for Notre Dame's sacrosanct contract with NBC.

Every team in the SEC has also eclipsed Notre Dame since signing a new $3-billion contract with CBS and ESPN that tripled existing rights fees ($2.25 billion reportedly comes from ESPN, while the CBS deal is $825 million). Throw in that Notre Dame now nets just $4.5 million for an appearance in a BCS game (against $1.3 million each year if it doesn't go to a BCS bowl) and you're looking at a financial mountain that is becoming increasingly uphill for Notre Dame. Television revenue at most conferences is rapidly accelerating while at Notre Dame it's staying the same. Where once the Fighting Irish were king of the television universe, conference affiliation deals are now lapping the Irish.

And these numbers were cranked out BEFORE the added expense of buying out Weis and dwindling TV ratings. It will also be interesting what effect the potential Comcast buyout of NBC has on the future of Notre Dame's contract.

Welcome to Our World

Charlie Weis is not happy with Big Ten officiating.

Who is, besides THEM and the Buckeyes?

According to Brian Hamilton of Around the Bend,

But, you know, about those refs...

"I have to be careful when I say this -- I have Big Ten officials coming in this week again," Weis said Sunday. "But that game left a lot to be desired."

The ruling of Armando Allen out of bounds on a screen pass that went for a score? "I still haven't heard anyone tell me there's any evidence of Armando stepping out of bounds. The way I thought the rule is supposed to be, it's supposed to be conclusive evidence. I'm perturbed at that call."

The two seconds off the clock on the last kickoff return of the game?"First it was one second. First it went from 11 (seconds) to 10. Then I complained it went to 9. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything... Their answer to me was they thought that Theo (Riddick) tipped the ball in the field of play on the kick which would then start the clock. I couldn't really tell whether he did or he didn't, so I'm going to take their word for it that that happened."

The universe is now back in sync--the extra seconds THEM added in 2005 have finally been repaid in 2009.

Turning Up the Heat

Irish Urns

For the Notre Dame fan who has eveything, Trappist Caskets presents Notre Dame Caskets and Urns.

Doesn't that just burn you up? No--it catches the ashes afterward! I wonder how many fans are dying to get one?

Dollars and Sense

A number of fans--myself included--would like to see Notre Dame join the Big Ten. Not only would this ensure more games against the Irish, but expansion would allow the Big Ten to add a championship game. More football? What could possibly be bad about that?

Unfortunately, Notre Dame likes it's independence, like Independent George on Seinfeld. Independent Irish.

NOTRE DAME: You see, right now, I have Big Ten Irish, but there is also Independent Irish. That's the Irish you know, the Irish you grew up with -- Rudy Irish, Touchdown Jesus Irish, Knute Rockne Irish, Gerry Faust Irish.

JERRY: I, I love that Irish.

NOTRE DAME: Me Too! And he's Dying Jerry! If Big Ten Irish walks through this door, he will Kill Independent Irish! Notre Dame, divided against itself, Cannot Stand!

Joe Paterno recently commented on adding the Irish, basically indicating that that ship had sailed and they had their chance. The Irish have been courted in the past and said NO. Most people think that Notre Dame stands to make more money on its own.

But Clay Travis of the NCAA Fanhouse questions the fiscal validity of this premise.

Chances are, you still think that Notre Dame is banking major revenue from this agreement in comparison to other teams. Chances are, you're wrong. What do Vanderbilt and Northwestern have in common when it comes to football? Answer: They likely both get more money for their televised football games than Notre Dame does. As does every other team in the Big Ten and the SEC.

In 2008, NBC ponied up an extension to the Fighting Irish television contract. USA Today reported that the current contract paid Notre Dame in the neighborhood of $9 million per year. The new deal won't begin until 2010, but it's doubtful the rights fees increased very much, since Notre Dame's television ratings have been dwindling for several years. (Last season, the average Notre Dame game on NBC drew less than half the ratings that CBS and ABC averaged for their college football games.)

Notre Dame's television and shared Big East conference revenue [basketball] in 2009 will be, at best, $11.35 million. Why's that number important? Because in 2008, every school in the Big Ten will clear north of $15 million from the conference, a number that will only increase in years to come. Every school in the SEC will bank, conservatively, $17 million.

What does all of this mean? Notre Dame's television revenue is going to continue to fall relative to the Big Ten and the SEC. If Vanderbilt and Northwestern aren't already ahead of the Irish, which I think the numbers prove they definitely are, another couple of years of increasing television money will erase all doubts. This will continue all the way up through 2015 when Notre Dame's newest extension with NBC runs out. By that time, the financial ramifications of Notre Dame's independence will have become more apparent to everyone.

Now just because you read this on the Internet, take it with a grain of salt. Or a shot of whiskey, whatever works for you. I don't know how accurate all these numbers are, but if the ratings numbers are anywhere near accurate, it will be very difficult for Notre Dame to renegotiate in the future. And this is especially true if Weis (or someone else?) doesn't start winning again.

But will they really kill Independent Irish?

Cup O' Joe

Gordie Jones of FOS has a recap of a recent press conference with the legend himself.

Paterno was asked about Bowman:

Paterno said, “Right now he doesn't have any problems, as long as he keeps up
his academics.” Paterno added that Bowman still has to complete his community service -- “and in all fairness to Navorro, there was some misunderstanding about who was going to supervise that part of it.” But as far as the team is concerned, he is in good standing.

Hopefully, Navarro will keep things together.

About Notre Dame being the 12th member of the Big Ten . . .

“I think they've had their chance,” he said.

Classic! Let's face it, ND brings viewership, but little else to the Big Ten. And as long as the Irish can negotiate their own TV contracts, they have no incentive to join any conference.

On incoming recruits . . .

“You know what I tell high school kids when they come in?” he said. “ 'Get ready to get knocked on your ass. This ain't high school. You come here, and you've got a lot to learn. If you think you're going to walk across the field and say I'm all-this, I'm all-that, it ain't going to work. You've got to get out there, you've got to take your bumps and your bruises and you've got to get after it.' Which ones are going to do it? How do I know? I've never been on the practice field with any one of those incoming kids. They've never heard me yell at them.”

He said "ass!" BOOGER! Then, he compares football to . . . chess:

“Chess, the king can do one thing, the pawn can do another thing, the whole bit. Football and coaching is (determining) who's the pawn? Who's the king? So you can put them all together. ... I don't have any reservations about playing a freshman. ... When I say to a kid, 'Hey, get ready to get knocked on your rear end,' I also tell him, 'Learn. Learn why you got knocked on your rear end, so when you come out to practice the next day, they're not going to knock you on your rear end the same way. And you've got a chance to knock him on his rear end.' There's no hard-and-fast rules. We've got a bunch of kids coming in, we're going to work our butts off to see how good they can be, and how much we can help them be good. We've got to put the combination together that gives us the best chess board.”

Will they go back to the checkerboard end zone? Does that mean he'll open the Akron game with a Ruy Lopez opening? I imagine Paterno is more fond of the Sicilian Defense, though.