From Making History ....to Being History

Five years ago.......

Sylvester Croom was named head football coach at Mississippi State University. It marked the first time in the history of the Southeastern Conference, the football program was run by an African-American...........a black man.

But after a 4-8 record this season including the season ending beat down , 45-0, at the hands of arch rival, Ole Miss, Croom has resigned........effective immediately .


“Five years ago, Mississippi State gave me the unprecedented opportunity to be a head football coach in the Southeastern Conference and to build a program based upon a strong foundation,” Croom said. “I want to thank (then-president) Dr. Charles Lee and (then-athletic director) Larry Templeton for that opportunity. I also want to thank the assistant coaches and all the players who had faith and trust in me. We have tried to build a program the right way that can compete for conference championships. I believe the foundation has been set for those goals to be reached under the leadership of someone else, and it was my decision to resign.”

Mr. Croom is a good and honest man. Very sincere.......very dedicated........well respected.

But..........3-8, 3-8, 3-8, 8-5, and 4-8.......just don't keep the alumni happy. Bottom line? Croom was another nice guy with great morals who was a mediocre coach who happened to be black. One winning season in 5 years will not get you any extended contracts.

It is still sad though.......we are down to just 3 black head football coaches in division 1.......

Randy Shannon of Miami, Turner Gill of Buffalo and Kevin Sumlin of Houston are the only remaining black men in charge among the 119 teams that play at college football's highest level. Washington's Tyrone Willingham and Kansas State's Ron Prince were recently fired, with Willingham finishing up with the Huskies next Saturday.

Croom's coaching record.......courtesy of Wikipedia:

Head coaching record

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl	Coaches#	AP°
Mississippi State Bulldogs (SEC) (2004–2008)
2004	Mississippi State	3–8	2-6	6th (West)
2005	Mississippi State	3–8	1-7	T-5th (West)
2006	Mississippi State	3–9	1-7	6th (West)
2007	Mississippi State	8–5	4–4	T-3rd (West)	W Liberty
2008	Mississippi State	4–8	2-6	T-5th (West)
Mississippi State:		21–38	10–30
Total:		21–38
National Championship Conference Title Conference Division Title
†Indicates BCS bowl game. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll of the season.

From Pre-season #1 ....to #2 in the State

When Georgia falls..........

It falls hard. Consider this...... In August of this year, the University of Georgia's football team was ranked #1 in all significant pre-season college football polls.

In a mere 3 short months, these dogs aren't even the best team in their own state.

Yesterday, on a cold, rainy, and dreary day, the school from North Avenue in Atlanta, known as Georgia Tech, wrecked the Bulldogs, gaining an astounding 409 yards rushing with that un-orthodoxed triple option offense between the hallowed hedges of this southern college town.


The final score was 45-42..........But the game was over at the end of the third quarter, when the Yellow Jackets outscored Georgia, 26-0.....erasing a 28-12 deficit.......to take a 38-28 lead.

The Bulldog nation is left to ponder what might have been..........9-3 is not a disastrous season......unless you live and breathe red & black. Two of the losses were to arguably the 2 best teams in the nation ( Florida & Alabama)....... but the fact that the Bulldogs didn't even show up......on national T V no less..........is a bit troublesome.

Great expectations lead to huge letdowns..........

We did warn of this.



(Right) Tech running back Roddy Jones (20) celebrates with teammates and a piece of the famed Sanford Stadium hedge after the big win at Athens. Brant Sanderlin / bsanderlin@ajc.com

Sunday Morning Headlines

For your viewing pleasure.................From our friends at Newseum Today's Front Pages Gallery View

Click image for larger view....

And then there is our favorite New York Tabloid war...........

We're Baaaacccckkkk!

After a 1 week hiatus ........

We are back.....

5 on Five took a much earned and much deserved vacation. We all went north....as in North Carolina.....for one of those "Norman Rockwell" styled family gathering which included a Thanksgiving dinner and all the things that come with it.

So..........there was no "Hump Day News & Views"..........no "Friday Picks"...........no nothing....

If I was on a computer this week...........it was not to blog.......

But now..........we're back!

Stay tuned........

What not to Wear........to a Major Function......

We love our boy Wesley........but.....

In "Wardrobe 101".........Mr. Snipes.......What were you thinking.....take a look:

What is this?

A banana suit?

Wesley, Wesley............

Well , at least he matched........

Where Were You?

November 22, 1963.......

I had just turned 7 years old in September and was a first grader in a still segregated all black elementary school in Charleston, South Carolina.

My father was in the Navy..........my mother was home at the time.

That morning I had a severe asthma attack and my mother had to come to the school to pick me up.

I remember hearing teachers crying..........saying, "The president has been assassinated!".....Me, being only 7........asked, "Which one?" For all I ever knew, there was Washington, Lincoln, and now Kennedy.

It was a strange time. This was my first recollection ever of watching the news on television. Back then there were but three channels, NBC, CBS, and ABC.

I could not tell you if it was Walter Cronkite or Chet Huntley or David Brinkley ........or all of the above.

I remember the funeral..........the horses carrying the United States flagged draped casket.....

I remember that little boy, John F. Kennedy, Jr............holding his sisters hand....and his mother, Jacqueline........

I remember the country seemed to stop..........and for a brief time........there was no black or white....just Americans grieving......

And this was in 1963..........

Where were you?

Be Afraid.......Be Very Afraid.........

Note to the "Bulldog Nation"..........

Be afraid........be very afraid.........In one week, the Georgia Bulldogs will play a football game in Athens against their archest of arch rivals, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Yes, the Dawgs have won 7 straight against the "Ramblin' Wreck.......

Yes, it is a home game for the Dogs.......

Yes, on paper, Georgia is the more talented team....

But............Last night.....on a nationally televised game on ESPN, Jonathan Dwyer (pictured) and Tech destroyed a good Miami Hurricane team, 41-23. And it was not even close.

A closer look at the numbers reveal Tech gained 472 yards rushing the football behind new head coach Paul Johnson's triple option offense.

472 yards!

On 56 attempts..........and only 1 fumble lost. Tech only threw the ball 7 times (completing 4)........but why throw......when you can gain 8 1/2 yards every time you run the ball.

Yes, Georgia is 9-2.........ranked 11th in the latest BCS poll...........

But........ have you watched this Bulldog defense lately?

So .......Bulldog Nation........a week from tomorrow...........be afraid..........be very afraid....

Friday Picks

The year was 1977........

Thirty-one years to the day.....Chicago Bears running back, Walter Payton ran for an NFL record 275 yards against the Minnesota Vikings.

"Sweetness" as he was known to football fans will go down in history as on of the most prolific backs in the game.

Payton passed away in 1999 with complications of a rare liver disease at the age of 45.

His incredible stats, courtesy of Wikipedia:

Career highlights and awards

• 9x Pro Bowl selection (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986)
• 9x All-Pro selection (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986)
• 1977 NFL MVP
• 1977 PFWA NFL MVP
• 1977 NEA NFL MVP
• 1985 UPI NFC Player of the Year
• 1977 UPI NFC Player of the Year
• 1977 Bert Bell Award
• 1978 Pro Bowl MVP
• Super Bowl XX Champion
• 
  

Now........on with this weeks picks....

Last week's winners? Notre Dame and Clemson covered........Losers? Mississippi (+21 1/2) could not get close to Alabama... The St Louis Rams (+6) got blown out by San Francisco....and Carolina (-14) won the game, but failed to cover against Detroit.

We're still above water........still with a winning record.

Last Week: 2-3-0

Season: 29-25-1

Cincinnati (-5) over Pittsburgh .........

The Bear Cats of Cincinnati (8-2) have won all of their home games and the Pitt Panthers (7-2) have won all of their away games.....But Pitt has lost to Bowling Green and Rutgers....Lay the points.

LSU (-4) over Mississippi.....

The Tigers had a wake up call last week in their narrow escape against Troy..........while the Rebels enjoyed a 59-0 scrimmage against Louisiana-Monroe. The Rebs four losses have been by 2, 6, 7, and 4 points. In a close game.....LSU will win by a touchdown.


Texas Tech (+7) over Oklahoma....

In the biggest game of the week.......We ask, "When is the last time the Sooners won a "big" game?" Been a while.....Sure , Bob Stoops team can score.....but their defense has holes.....and this is arguably the best offense in the nation. Take the points.....in a high scoring thriller.

New England (+1) over Miami.......

Hard to beat a team twice in the same season. In week 3, Miami surprised the Patriots 38-13. These are not the same Pats.....New England wins straight up.

Dallas (-10) over San Francisco.......

Sure, the 49ners won last week, 35-16 against the 2-8 Rams....but.....this is on the road.....against a desperate Dallas team trying to keep pace in the NFC east. Lay the points.

So there........see you in a week.....or sooner...

A 5 Year Old.......Superstar?

Say it ain't so........

Another child prodigy? A phenom? A basketball version of Tiger Woods? Remember the clippings of a young Tiger on the Dick Cavatt Show? And ....it all came to fruition some 20 years later?

Is this deja vu? Leave it to YouTube to capture the unthinkable .......the unimaginative .....

This is a 5 year old........and .......a girl........

And I thought I was a pretty good dribbler.......with one ball.....

Watch this: Milan Simon Tuttle, a 5 year old.......girl........courtesy of Yahoo Sports and YouTube....

On this Day....in Sports History

From our friends at ........ Sports History @ On-This-Day.com



Today in
Sports History
1966 - Sandy Koufax (Los Angeles Dodgers) announced his retirement from major league baseball.

1979 - Nolan Ryan (Houston Astros) signed a four-year contract for $4.5 million. At the time, Ryan was the highest paid player in major league baseball.

1984 - Dwight Gooden, 20-year-old, of the New York Mets, became the youngest major league pitcher to be named Rookie of the Year in the National League.

1995 - Patrick Ewing (New York Knicks) became the 23rd NBA player to surpass the 20,000 point mark.

1996 - Albert Belle signed a contract with the White Sox for a record $55 million. He was the first player to surpass the $10 million per year mark.

1999 - Evel Knievel and Krystal Kennedy were married.

2001 - Barry Bonds (San Francisco Giants) became the first baseball player to win four Most Valuable Player Awards.

2004 - During a Detroit Pistons and Indian Pacers game a fight broke out involving fans and players. Several players were suspended and all involved were later charged with assault and battery.

Hump Day News & Views

Make that 4 in a row........


As in 4 straight losses for the Atlanta Hawks. The team that took the NBA by storm early on by winning their first 6 games, has done a complete turn-about , in losing the last 4.

Suddenly, these Hawks can't shoot, pass, or play defense. And now, two starters ( Josh Smith and Al Horford) are out of the lineup due to injuries.



Planning ahead....way ahead....

The University of Texas has announced their new head football coach, Will Muschamp......well, sort of.

Thing is though , Texas already has a coach..... 57 year old Mack Brown.....In naming Muschamp (37) "head-coach-in-waiting"..... the University doubled the defensive coordinator's salary, from $425,000 to $900,000.

Makes you wonder, "What if?" What if Brown wants to coach for another 10 to 20 years? Just wondering........




BCS on ESPN.....

Don't look for division 1 college football play-offs anytime soon.....or at least until 2014. ESPN has just paid $125 million for the rights to broadcast the BCS bowls and championship games starting in 2011. Fox Sports has the rights through 2010. For everything good ESPN has done for college football..........it's greed has once again set back a play-off system.


Miami and Georgia Tech......a Thursday night affair...

These two teams have played more games on Thursday....on ESPN......than any other teams in the nation, and will meet again tomorrow night in Atlanta. Miami (7-3) is 13-1 on the ESPN showcase while Tech (7-3) is 9-11. By the way, there are over 8,000 seats still available ........



Diversity in MLB?

Congrats to the Seattle Mariners..........The Mariners have hired Don Wakamatsu as manager and in doing so make Wakamatsu the first ever Asian-American to manage in Major League Baseball. What a year for change...........and that's a good thing.

A Million Dollar Stimulus Check?

Sorry we didn't come up with this first.....

Leave it to talk radio.......and a caller...

This current recession can be solved.......immediately. The economic woes that plaque this country can be quickly rectified.

Think about it.......The auto industry is asking for $25 billion........The lending industry is asking for $700 billion....in "bail-outs".

There is a cheaper way out.

The United States has about 300 million citizens.....why not.......give every living soul..........say ....a cool .....million dollars.

Yes, that's right.......$1 million to every man, women , and child.

An instant stimulus for the economy......and way cheaper than that $700 billion in "bail-outs".

Put that money in the hands of the consumers........The retail industry will be ecstatic.....the housing industry will be revived..........the auto industry will be saved........and the lenders will not have loans that are unsecured.

People would be able to afford their own health care, purchase the home of their dreams, put kids through college, invest in the stock marked.........and still have a little left over for vacations or sporting events.

To me ........it's very simple........$300 million versus $700 billion....

It can be done. Earlier this year, the government issued millions of $600 and $1200 stimulus checks......Just add a few more zeros .

Let's start a campaign ........

Contact your local senators and congressmen.......It's worth a try.

Things We Learned From the Weekend..........

Let's not buy play-off tickets.....just yet.....

Oh what might have been. The Atlanta Falcons trailed the Denver Broncos 24-20 with less than 2 minutes left........On third-and-18 from the Denver 45 - yard line, receiver Roddy White got open .....if for just a split second.....and was there for Matt Ryan's heave....

The pass went just off his finger-tips.......and instead of a Falcon lead of 27-24 with just 1:16 left.....The Birds were left.....and the Broncos had won.

Strange game..........a very subdued crowd. And even though it was a sell-out........there were an awful lot of empty seats.

Meaning the ATL has not really gotten as behind this team as much as the talking heads have advertised.

Maybe this team is not quite ready for "prime time"........much less the play-offs.....

Let the ATL take a deep breath........take a good look..........within this team.....

Something is missing........All those empty seats........all that silence........I think the average fans know........These Birds are not there yet..........


Another uninspiring win...

Speaking of not being there yet..........The former "pre-season #1"...........Georgia Bulldogs won a game Saturday........17-13 over an Auburn team which has been less that stellar this year.

And the "Dawgs" had to once again hold on for dear life to win the game......Same old Georgia......stupid penalties........red zone problems for the offense.......special team mishaps.....defensive lapses.....


At 9-2, one might wonder, why is there such a negative attitude surrounding the program?

Well........Maybe it's because the 2 losses were, 41-30 and 49-10.........against the 2 SEC leaders in Alabama and Florida.

And the games were not even close........2 losses..........2 blow-outs..........too bad..........

The Bulldog Nation is famous for making excuses for their beloved "Dawgs".......Too many injuries........bad officiating.......difficult schedule.......

Maybe.......just maybe...........these Bulldogs are just not as good as advertised...........These Dogs have yet to put 4 quarters of dominant football together on any Saturday they have played.

And pressed ..........on the highest level ........against other big time schools.......these Dogs have not bothered to show up and compete. See Alabama and Florida..........


Speaking of Florida........

The Gators spanked Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks, 56-6............"fiddy"......as in a fifty point win.......Spurrier's worst lost.....as a player or coach.....ever.

Vegas was not kind..........

Friday Picks saw us go 2-3........2-1 in the college games ........and 0-2 in the NFL..........It makes one want to just quit........

But ........there is always next week.

Why Can't We All.......Just get Along?

The other night.....

A rather weird happening in an NBA game.......Well, actually it was fun. Phoenix and Houston went toe to toe .......but...........

No punches were thrown.......Why?

The NBA has very specific rules on punch throwing.......Throw a punch.....and it gets you an automatic 1 game suspension...

The players know this ........so what do they do?

A lot of shoving and pushing.......and pushing and shoving.......and shoving and pushing.....but no one threw a punch.

Good job guys.......

Here's the fight.......or push.....courtesy of "YouTube":

Friday Picks

Bond........James Bond........

Yes........007 is back! "Quantum of Solace" opens this week-end in theaters all across the world as the British Secret Service agent embarks in yet another epic battle featuring good versus evil.

This is the 22nd Bond film.......Wow! Has it been that many?

Apparently........My favorite Bond was Roger Moore, followed closely by Sean Connery .....

The newest 007 is played by the British actor Daniel Craig......Maybe he'll grow on me...But for now, I'll just rely on the action scenes and special effects to get me through this one...

So........let's get to the picks.....

We had 3 winners last week in Alabama, FSU, and Carolina..... Vandy and Detroit let us down.

Here we go........

Last Week: 3-2-0

Season: 27-22-1


Notre Dame (-3 1/2 ) over Navy.....

It's put up or shut up for Charlie Weis and the Fighting Irish....Where are all those 5 star recruits from the past few years? This game will still be close.....but the Irish will cover.

Mississippi State (+21 1/2 ) over Alabama...

Sylvester Croom is on the hot seat....His team is 3-6 and going nowhere........this is a pride game. State will still lose.......but not by 21 1/2.....Take the points.

Clemson (-10 1/2 ) over Duke........

Yes..........the Tigers are reeling..........No, they don't have a head coach........but........they are at home.....playing Duke........in November. Better athletes....period. Duke has been decent this year, but this late in the season, the Blue Devils just don't have the horses...Lay the points.

Saint Louis Rams (+6 ) over San Francisco........

Mike Singletary may be a hall of famer .....as a player..........but his coaching is unproven.....It will be just his 3rd game and he may eventually be a great coach.......but the game is this Sunday.......Take the points.

Carolina (-14 ) over Detroit.....

The Lions screwed us last week by failing to show up against Jacksonville.....at home no less. Now they go on the road .......in the deep south? Lay the points........this team is flat awful........

See you in a week.

Another Michael Vick Update....

No .......it won't .....just go away....

Yet another story about our favorite black quarterback........

From the Associated Press and ESPN..........

Vick's lawyers say their client expects to play in NFL again

NORFOLK, Va. -- Michael Vick's bankruptcy attorneys say the imprisoned NFL quarterback expects to return to football.

Vick

Attorneys wrote in a disclosure statement that Vick "has every reason to believe" he will be reinstated by the NFL once he completes a 23-month sentence for a federal dogfighting conviction last summer. The attorneys filed the statement before a hearing Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Virginia.

Vick still has a contract with the Atlanta Falcons. But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would have final say on his return.

The attorneys also lay out a plan for Vick to pay his creditors based on his expected NFL earnings and possible signing bonuses.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

Don't blame the messenger....

An Early Season Statement?

Rarely...........

Do I watch an NBA game from tip-off to finish. But last night was an exception. The undefeated Atlanta Hawks with their talented array of young studs took on the defending world champions.....

You remember these guys. Led by former Hawk player and now Celtics' head coach, Doc Rivers........Led by the "big three"....as in Kevin Garnett , Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen.

Yes..........the Boston Celtics.

This was a great game. The Hawks came out playing the way they have played thus far in the young season. Defense.......Ball movement..........unselfish play.

Atlanta was up by as many as 16 points in the 2nd quarter......but........Boston fought back to tie it up at 51 all at the half.

The 2nd half had more lead changes than a NASCAR race at Daytona.

And in the end ..........with about 7 seconds left......Marvin Williams hit a corner three pointer to put the Hawks up 102-100.

And then .........it was "Pierce Time"..........Paul Pierce calmly ..........fearlessly..........connected on a 20 foot jumper with 0.5 seconds left to give the Celtics a 103-102 win.

Statement?

Yes........but .......by whom?

Sure, the Celtics won the game..........but the statement was made.......by Atlanta.

They out-played the world champions for 47 minutes and 59.5 seconds.

But an NBA game is a full 48........and they will learn from this.

Point is ...........the Celtics now know.......Atlanta is for real....The Hawks know.......and now...the rest of the NBA knows.

Hump Day News & Views

Is it Wednesday already?

The it must be "Hump Day"...........


The week-end brought some decent college football, some outstanding pro football........mixed in with a little NBA.....and we are all just a little envious of our man Chris Rock (right) with his new entourage ....



So........let's dive right in.......






Remembering the Veterans........

Tuesday........on the 11th hour........of the 11th day.......of the 11th month.....We all paused to give the men and women who have served in our country's armed services a moment of silence....and in that moment of silenced ........we thanked them all..........over 42 million have fought for America........With almost 600,000 giving their lives.......for the ultimate sacrifice.

My father fought in the Korean War (United States Navy).......and was on a ship off the coast of Cuba during the Bay of Pigs incident .......Several of my friends fought in Viet Nam...... We thank them and all the other great veterans.

And even though it's a day late..........if you know a veteran.....call him....or her....and tell them how much they are appreciated.


So, I was wrong about Matt Ryan.......

I am man enough to admit it........Earlier this year.......I predicted the Atlanta Falcons would be lucky to get three or four wins this season with rookie Matt Ryan as starting quarterback .....I even went so far as to say he would not even last the season behind the team's porous offensive line.

Now........at 6-3, the Falcons are tied with Tampa Bay for 2nd place in the NFL east....and .....are suddenly looking pretty darn good after beating New Orleans Sunday.

Matt Ryan does not look like a rookie........These Falcons don't look like the dysfunctional franchise they were.....only one year ago. These Falcons........under Defensive Coordinator, Brian Van Gorder, actually play defense.........as in stopping people and making big plays.

These Falcons just look and feel different. They play smart.....and hard.... Just when the City of Atlanta was ready to give up on pro football.......these birds have made them proud.....

Now .....if Arthur Blank would just get off the side lines and back into the owners suite.......all would be right .......in the ATL.


Another bird soars..........

Must be something in the ATL air..........the other "bird" in the city, the Atlanta Hawks, are flat out playing some basketball. If you would have told me........before the season.......by game 6....there would only be 2 undefeated teams.....and one of which would be the Hawks........I'd have probably fallen down laughing.

But ...........it's true........the Hawks and the L A Lakers are a perfect 6-0. Last night , the Hawks went on the road.......again......into Chicago..........and beat the bulls....

Tonight they travel to Boston........that Boston.....the defending world champs.....Should be quite a game.......considering Atlanta took them to seven games in the first round of last year's play-offs.

Stay tuned.....


Who you got? Tennessee or Detroit?

The Tennessee Titans are 9-0 and is the only undefeated team in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions are 0-9 and is the only winless team in the league.

And yes.......the two teams will meet in three weeks (Thanksgiving Day)

In the history of the NFL, only two teams have finished the regular season undefeated.......Miami in 1972 (they went on to finish 17-0 and win the Super Bowl).....and New England last year (16-0 in the regular season, before losing in the Super Bowl).

On the other side.....only 1 team has finished a full NFL season winless. That was back in 1976 when the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 0-14.

My money is on the Lions.........you see what's happening to General Motors.......


Have a great "Hump Day".....

Sports Headlines on a Sunday Morning

For your viewing pleasure.......

Click on image for larger view........

Friday Picks

This is taking "car pooling" to a whole different level....

Another interesting photograph that has absolutely nothing to do with the task at hand....The photo is courtesy of my Mother.....via an e-mail.

Let's hear it ......for their generation......

Well......about last week.... We were 2-2-1......as in 2 wins , 2 losses, and 1 tie (Vegas calls it a "push").

What ever......We lost with Notre Dame not being able to beat Pittsburgh....at home no less....and Auburn , continuing to make us look bad.

Winners? We pegged the NFL correctly with the N Y Giants covering and the Chicago Bears engaged in yet another close game....therefore not covering.

The "push" or tie was LSU and Tulane......We had picked LSU to win laying 25.....they won by ......25....thus the "push".

So....on with this weeks' picks:

Last Week: 2-2-1

Season: 24-20-1


Vanderbilt (+24 ) over Florida.....

Yes.....the Gators are ranked #4.......Yes....Vandy has lost its last 3.....and yes, this is a gutty call.....but.....this is a "tweener" game. Florida is fresh off the demolition derby win over Georgia.....with Steve Spurrier and South Carolina waiting in the wings. Vandy's biggest lost was at Georgia (24-14)......The other two? By 3 points. Take those 24....against Florida.


Alabama (-3) over LSU......

Yes.....the game is in Baton Rouge......But....it's a 3:30pm kick off time, and these Tigers are not last years' team. Alabama will cover.....with ease.


Florida State (-5 1/2) over Clemson....

Two teams going in opposite directions.....No Bowden Bowl here. FSU is still in the hunt for the Atlantic Division title in the ACC, while Clemson is playing for pride. The Tigers will keep it close....but lay the points.....FSU will cover.

Detroit (+6 1/2) over Jacksonville.....

At 0-8, the Lions are due....no NFL team has gone winless in a season. The Jaguars have their own problems. Take the points.....

Carolina (-9 1/2) over Oakland....

Yes.....this is a huge spread.....but we saw last week......in miss-matches.....it's possible. Oakland is a train wreck. The Panthers are so much better....Lay the points.

So there it is .....

See you in a week.

The Sad Condition ...of Black Coaches in College Football

Another one bites the dust.....

Kansas State head football coach, Ron Prince was fired today effective at seasons end. Prince, once a promising offensive coordinator at Virginia , was hired in 2006 to replace the retiring Bill Snyder. This was his first head coaching job.

2 and 1/2 years later.....Prince has a 16-18 record , including 4-5 this year. Snyder was a consistent winner in 17 years as the Wildcats coach, with at least 10 wins seven times, and reached bowl games 12 straight seasons (1992-2003).

Prince went 7-6 and went to a bowl game in his first season.....but it's been down hill since (5-7 last season and losing 4 of 5 Big 12 games this year). And....he is 0-3 against in state rival Kansas.

Kansas State.....took a chance.....hired a virtually unknown coach in Prince.....and Prince has failed.

This comes on the heels of another failure.......Tyrone Willingham of Washington. His pitiful team was blasted by USC 56-0 last week to go 0-8. Willingham was mercifully relieved of his duties....effective at the end of the season also.

That leaves only four black head coaches in the 119 school NCAA division 1 football programs.

In 2 years.....or less ........that number could dwindle down to two.


Here's why.....of the 4 remaining.........Sylvester Croom (pictured at left, Mississippi State), Randy Shannon (Miami), Kevin Sumlin (Houston), and Turner Gill ( Buffalo)........Only Gill and Shannon have made significant improvements at their schools this year.

Houston is 4-4........Mississippi State is 5-4.......While Buffalo is 5-4 and Miami is 6-3.

Face it.......Croom will never be able to get Mississippi State to compete in the SEC West. Nobody can. Mississippi simply does not have the resources to battle Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Arkansas consistently. Another year of 6-5 or 5-6.....the boosters will have had enough....and Croom will be gone.

Same with Kevin Sumlin at Houston.......Not a real pressure pot job....they play in the Conference USA.......but......tradition runs deep.....and the University will not settle for .500 seasons.

In Miami, Shannon does have the program moving in the right direction......after losing 3 of there first 5, Miami has won 4 straight....including 2 on the road.....If the team comes back next year....with even more improvement......Shannon may be safe.....for years to come.

As for Gill (pictured)..........

he took over a joke of a football team..... From 1999 ( when they first joined division 1 football) till 2006......the team played in a 30,000 seat stadium with about a 1,000 fans per game showing up......and consistently finishing 1-11 or 0-12.

Gill's first season was not much better (2-10)........Last year , 5-7 (5-3 in the MAC).....This year, the team is 5-4....and 3-2 in conference play.....and sits tied for 1st in the east division.

Out of all 6 black coaches this year........Turner Gill is the only one making a huge statement....of .......how to coach........

One ........out of six........out of 119......

I Think it's about time to start thinking outside of that proverbial box. It is obvious the new , young black head coaches are not going to come out of the college ranks.

So........bring on the NFL!

Tony Dungee.....where are you? Marvin Lewis..........Romeo Crennel..........Lovie Smith......Mike Tomlin?

It is going to take the likes of one of these coaches.....to take a big time college job.......and show the world........yes........a black man can coach at a major college program....and win.

With ........."no thanks" .....to Mr. Prince and Mr. Willingham..........the state of black coaches in division 1 football is sad.

Time for some "changes"..........

Not Your Average Joe

No.......not "that" Joe...

As in "Joe the Plumber".......That Joe is officially off the radar. With the 2008 election over and done with, we can get back to doing the one thing we were put on this earth to do....that's talk sports.

Let's talk about Joe Johnson and his high flying Atlanta Hawks. A year ago these young birds made the play-offs for the first time in a decade and took the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics to 7 games.

The off-season saw the Hawks lose free agent forward Josh Childress .....to Greece ....of all places ....in the European league.

Usher in 2008.......with the youngest team in the league.....these guys are 3-0.....with 2 of those wins coming on the road.

Going into last night, Johnson was the leagues leading scorer at 30 points a game. After San Antonio's Tony Parker dropped a double nickel (55) on Minnesota.....Johnson is 2nd.

This is the Hawks best start since 1997....and last nights win was against a previously unbeaten New Orleans Hornets team.

Yes........it is early.......No....I am not yet on that bandwagon .....But after so many disappointing losing seasons.......there is reason to hope.

Pro basketball has not been relevant in Atlanta since the days of Dominique Wilkins and Doc Rivers playing at the old Omni.

To these young Hawks........The City of Atlanta says, "Welcome back".....

Meet the Hawks:

Coach: Mike Woodson
Average Age: 24.8
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 227

NO	PLAYER	AGE	POS	HT	WT	DOB	SCHOOL
33	Randolph Morris	22	C	6-11	275	01/02/1986	Kentucky
27	Zaza Pachulia	24	C	6-11	275	02/10/1984	No College
15	Al Horford	22	PF	6-10	245	06/03/1986	Florida
44	Solomon Jones	24	PF	6-10	245	07/16/1984	South Florida
1	Maurice Evans	29	SF	6-5	220	11/08/1978	Texas
50	Othello Hunter	22	SF	6-8	225	05/28/1986	Ohio State
5	Josh Smith	22	SF	6-9	240	12/05/1985	No College
24	Marvin Williams	22	SF	6-9	240	06/19/1986	North Carolina
10	Mike Bibby	30	PG	6-2	195	05/13/1978	Arizona
12	Speedy Claxton	30	PG	5-11	170	05/08/1978	Hofstra
4	Acie Law	23	PG	6-3	202	01/25/1985	Texas A&M
22	Ronald Murray	29	PG	6-3	200	07/29/1979	Shaw
3	Thomas Gardner	23	SG	6-5	225	02/08/1985	Missouri
2	Joe Johnson	27	SG	6-7	240	06/29/1981	Arkansas
6	Mario West	24	SG	6-5	210	06/19/1984	Georgia Tech

Headlines.......From the Morning After

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Headlines from Alaska to New York....

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