The College Football thread

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FROM OUR READERS: Flawed system robs Michigan

December 5, 2006

Email this Print this Did anyone else notice there was no live TV feed from Ann Arbor during the Bowl Championship Series selection show? Why? Because the University of Michigan got screwed by this silly system that is currently in place. I will never understand why the powers that be just didn't want a rematch game for the national championship. Once again, the true No. 1 and No. 2 teams will not play for the national title because of politics and corporate sponsorship manipulation.

Richard Adams

St. Clair Shores

Fans should demand change

The BCS is illegal. Here's why: It unfairly eliminates all but two teams from competing for college football's national championship by basing its selections for its title game on subjective votes and computer rankings, rather than by competition on the field. The BCS thus voids the money that the supporters of the colleges (a.k.a. the fans) pay to attend games, purchase merchandise and give to the universities to support their teams, in the hopes that their teams will have a fair chance to play for the national championship in the sport.

This system of collusion includes many of the major college football conferences and the bowl games, which pay extraordinary amounts of money to ensure this unfair system remains in place. The BCS system should be eliminated immediately and replaced with a playoff system, which allows for a fair decision of the national championship on the football field. We need to get some attorneys involved and a bunch of fans to file a class-action lawsuit against the conferences, the NCAA and the bowls to force them to have a playoff.

Alex J. Grossberg

Berkley

Florida deserves ranking

Florida is the second best team in the country. Now it's been said. If Mitch Albom would turn off the epic Illinois-Indiana Big 10 battles and watch any Florida game, he would have proof that they earned this opportunity ("U-M wronged by BCS voters," Dec. 4). Sure, the offense is akin to a root canal; if you want style points, watch figure skating. The U-M players gave maximum effort; can coach Lloyd Carr look them in the eye and say he did?

David Hackem

Fort Myers Beach, Fla.

Bigger news than football?

Did the world come to an end? Did the sun fail to rise? Did I miss some calamity? By the look of Monday morning's paper, it was all of the above. Michigan didn't get its way with the BCS. Good heavens! To those of you who suffered ego damage because Michigan isn't going to play Ohio State at the risk of losing again, what are you going to do if they lose their bowl game as well?

Robert J. Shoens

Northville

U-M needs new president

Michigan fans feeling snubbed by losing out to Florida to face Ohio State for the BCS championship can take heart. If U-M President Mary Sue Coleman has her druthers, expect to see the Wolverines show up to play Ohio State anyway. After all, if Coleman can audaciously defy the will of 58% of Michigan voters who voted for Proposal 06-2 in the Nov. 7 election, defying the will of BCS voters appears plausible. U-M needs a new president even more than a BCS championship.

Raymond Dubin

Farmington Hills

Victors had their chance

I have to disagree with Mitch Albom's take on the BCS system. U-M had its chance. The No. 1-ranked defense allowed 42 points, and with all of the offensive weapons U-M had, it didn't take advantage of them with enough time left to win.

Enough is enough. U-M should go to the Rose Bowl. Let's see if it can do something it has not done there recently, and that is win the granddaddy of them all.

Nayda Schwartz

Farmington Hills

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Stop the complaining. The BCS is an imperfect system. This was evident during the 1999 college football season. MSU beat U of M in their annual football game, and both teams finished with identical records. Although MSU beat U of M, U of M was invited to play in a BCS bowl--not the deserving MSU team. Where were was all the outrage and cries of "no fair" from sport writers like Mitch Albom and others then? Where were the comments about how MSU got robbed? U of M is getting the treatment that many other teams have received in the past.
The bias towards U of M in the media is truly offensive. CMU wins its conference, is going to a bowl, but that wasn't painted all over the front page of the Free Press. Congratulations to the Chippewas for an outstanding season and being conference champions.

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:22 pm

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First off, let me admit up front I'm a bit of a U of M slappy.
Now that we have that out of the way...I just want to express
my disappointment in the BCS and just why I think Michigan got
jobbed.

First the ESPN sports "gurus" deemed the Michigan Ohio State
game as the real national championship and once it was done, I
heard things like Michigan had its chance, let someone else
take a shot or why should Ohio State be "punished" by playing
Michigan again. Wait a minute!! isn't the national championship
all about playing the two best teams??

But truth be told, if Michigan didn't win the Ohio State game then
they should accept if someone else stepped up to the plate. In all
honesty Florida did just that, not that they hit a home run
(which in most reasonable thinking people) thought they should have in
order to make the title game and pass Michigan in the rankings.
But it was just the fact that they stepped up and won (more like a
double off the wall that was mistaken for a home run).

After USC faltered at the finish line, it was left to the
mostly unimpressive Gators to impress on the last day. Statement
made! and because of the SEC national and media sentiment of not
wanting 2 big ten schools in the title game a backdoor deal was
cut. I thought ESPN did more to discredit Michigan and hype
Florida than anyone else...forget Urban Meyer, ESPN crafted the
statements showed all the Florida footage, their analyst
making the case for everyone but Michigan. Well everyone but Kirk
Herbstreit (an OHIO STATE GUY!!!). Way to go Kirk!!!

The Harris pollsters were doing such nonsense as voting Michigan
fifth and Florida first. I even heard someone that had Louisville
second. This kind of incompetence should not be tolerated, but it
will because that is the flaw in the system that can most easily
be manipulated to get favorable matchups in someones eyes.

I don't have a problem with Florida getting to the national
championship game. I just hate the way they got there, by
devaluing a great Michigan team that was just as deserving.

By the way my last grip come with Urban Meyer who wanted to
discuss "style points" at Utah and a bit for a BCS spot but
all of a sudden doesn't know what style points are and the
fact that outside of the Arkansas game didn't display much.

This is a little like President Clinton stating "it depends on what
the definition of is, is". I think a Rhodes scholar know what is, is,
and that coach Meyer knows whats style points are too.

"The country doesn't want to see a rematch" he says, wait a
minute!! Wasn't if Florida that lost the last game of the
season against it's hated rival FSU but got a chance to redeem
itself and win the championship game IN A REMATCH!!

Coach, you can't have it both ways....well excuse me, maybe
you can but I assure you that it definately damaged some of
my credibility in you. Not that you care.

Well....GO BLUE! in the Rose Bowl.

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:37 pm”

“Ah so a web board huh? Sorry, it doesn't wash with me.

Plain and simple math here. If a Michigan loses to #1 OSU by just 3 points and Floreeda loses to #11 Auburn by 10 points and both have the same number of losses it is clear which one deserves the #2 spot.”

“I wonder if matt could design an arclite filter that would work like the curse filter that turns certain words into “#&%!$”.

It would reduce arclite’s posts to their essence: “blah, blah, blah”.

It would be a huge time saver and none of the original meaning would be lost.”

“As much as a playoff system would mean to the fans, it would be terrible for the players. They are after all supposed to be college students first and athletes second.

December is a time when all college students should be studying their butts off for finals. Having them travel around the country to play a series of playoff games would be great entertainment for us, but you might as well drop the pretense and start paying these guys if we go that route.

No system will ever satisfy everyone and be 100% fair, (what is?) but this is the system everyone signed on to.

Deal with it.”

“Plain and simple math here. If a Michigan loses to #1 OSU by just 3 points and Floreeda loses to #11 Auburn by 10 points and both have the same number of losses it is clear which one deserves the #2 spot.”

by that logic Boise State - who didn't lose to ANYONE should be playing Ohio State who also didn't lose to anyone.

that is not the right answer either though.”

“Who did BS play? Anyone ranked? That argument is apples to oranges.”

“December is a time when all college students should be studying their butts off for finals. Having them travel around the country to play a series of playoff games would be great entertainment for us, but you might as well drop the pretense and start paying these guys if we go that route.

oh come now - you can't play the 'education card' now! After all, how many scharship athletes are really scholars in teh first place - and how is traveling in Dec and Jan any different than traveling around in Sept and Oct - and while your worrying about travel schedules in Dec - be careful that the basketball players don't hear you - they might develop a complex!”

“I'll tell you what, you can combine the best players from Boise State and Florida, and let them keep thier ugly colors on thier ugly uniforms, and the ZBucks would still whoop thier arse.”

“Roam - Some schools actually look to educate all of their students, even in a backwater like Gainesville.”

“agrred RVW, but the travel argument is bogus - there's way too much travel already going on in other sports to use that as an argument agains a playoff.”

“I don't know what it's like in other places, but I did, in fact, see U of M athletes attending class when I was there.

I remember seeing Juwan Howard almost every day in the hallway for one semester. They aren't angels, but I do believe that most of them actually try to graduate from U of M.

So, I think that Michigan is legitimate when they say that they don't want to interfere with exams.”

“I talked to a guy who went to tour UofM with his son whom they want to give a full ride to. He said they met the person who is in charge of tutoring the athletes and the first thing from their mouth was, "Look I don't even like football so don't expect any special treatment. You are a student first and football player second.".”

“the good schools (and the good coaches) do make a big point of getting their players graduated. I have more respect for programs with higher graduation rates than i do for schools with only good w/l records.

I love it when they show some huge mean as hell linebacker and then tell you he's a business major with a 3.5 gpa! thats awesome!”

“

Rutgers fullback Brian Leonard added another highlight to his memorable season last night when he was awarded the prestigious Draddy Trophy at The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame's 49th Annual Awards Dinner in New York.

The Draddy Trophy, known as the "academic" Heisman, recognizes an individual for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. In addition to a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy, Leonard receives a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. A total of $320,000 was awarded to Leonard and the other 16 finalists, who each received $18,000 scholarships.

"We are proud to bestow this honor on Brian Leonard," said NFF President Steven J. Hatchell in presenting the 17th annual Draddy Trophy. "He represents an unbelievable group. Brian joins an elite group of past recipients who serve as the perfect role models for all young players to emulate."

Leonard, whose performance this season helped lead Rutgers to a 10-2 record and a date in the Texas Bowl against Kansas State on Dec. 28 in Houston, also remained a role model off the field, both academically and in serving the community.

A Labor and Employment Relations major, Leonard has earned Academic All-Conference honors three times and a spot on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team in 2005.

Leonard twice earned First Team All-America honors by Pro Football Weekly. A two-time First Team All-Conference selection, Leonard has amassed 2,731 rushing yards and 1,862 receiving yards during his career. A 2006 team captain, he was instrumental in teammate Ray Rice's superb season.

Leonard has participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life walk and Read Across America. A volunteer in the opening ceremonies of the New Jersey Special Olympics, he has traveled to several local hospitals to visit with children and hand out gifts. Leonard also serves as a speaker for high school athletics events and football camps. He becomes Rutgers' sixth National Scholar-Athlete, the first since Nathaniel Jones in 2003.

Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete program became the first initiative in history to credit a player for both academic and athletic accomplishments. The centerpiece to the NFF's scholar-athlete program, which has awarded $8.3 million to 678 top athletes, the Draddy Trophy, first awarded in 1990, honors Manhattan College quarterback and former NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy.

Candidates must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first-team player and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1165387023187490.xml&coll=1”

“excellent!”

“Maybe Rutgers should play in the national championship game.”

“If there was a playoff system that could happen - and if it did, it would be the right answer!”

“Thanks, Roam Around. I appreciate you trying to educate the heathens.




Nigal, if you would take the time to read anything other than Hustler Magazine you’d have the hand strength to click your mouse and search the web. Leave it alone, son.

BTW Mitch Albom writes for the Detroit Free Press. Do your own research ya lazy dink-ten bum.




Nowslimmer, you better take yer meds. You drool when you speak.




“December is a time when all college students should be studying their butts off for finals. Having them travel around the country to play a series of playoff games would be great entertainment for us, but you might as well drop the pretense and start paying these guys if we go that route."
violoooser

Boy, you’d better tell those guys at Lehigh, Lafayette, and Bucknell that they’re not really student athletes. I’m sure they’ll be quite surprised. I know my good buddy who played for Lehigh, and then settled for Rutgers for his MBA because they had night classes, would laugh in your face. Violin, do you ever make sense?

Florida is one of only two schools in the nation to have multiple Draddy award winners. Not bad for a backwater you uneducated putz.
last edited: 12/06/06 8:59:28 PM”

“arclite - I support you in that the University of Florida can not be considered "backwater." That was an unfair, unreasonable and untrue description. As for the rest of your idiotic retort, I give you both thumbs down!

You are ignoring the facts of scheduling a play-off. College Football should be done by Thanksgiving Day. While it is still possible for colleges to continue to play in the southern states, it is not practical in the northern states.

And BTW, The only support to you in the post from Roam Around, was that he tried to be nice to you. Didn't you read the "if's" included in his post?

And, now, since you've been taking shots at me, it's my turn. About this football stuff, I don't think you are capable of a thought of your own. You've been brain-washed by some of the ridiculous articles that you've been reading. And the distortions in the statistics that you've presented are nothing more than distractions. For example, the top two choices most of the season were occupied by Big Ten Schools. Rather than give them due credit and recognition, you keep talking about the top 10 and the top 25. Who the hell cares about your top 25. And who cares about previous years. You haven't proved a thing excepted about how narrow your tunnel vision is. Or should I just refer to the authors from whom you have plagiarized.”

“Wow! I guess I was mad about your remarks. I feel better now and I give you an "A" for your success in trolling.”

“When do we start picking bowl winners? I'm itchin' to be Football God because, by golly, I deserve it.
Rock Chalk!”

“Oh, and by the way Vile Inn, I say K-State is gonna pull it out against Rutgers. They might not win the game, but they will pull it out.
What's our bet?”

“Yay, Dunadan!!! We couldn't have the football god contest without you. Because those weenies from the dink-ten will all disappear when we start to pick.




I hear their coming up with a T-Shirt for the Mythical National Championship game:

WE’RE OHIO STATE
OUR NUTS A REALLY GREAT!
THIS YEAR WE’LL BE ONE AND SEVEN
THAT’S BETTER THAN OH AND EIGHT!

Oh my gosh that is so wrong! That is a total misuse of statistics. Just as the head-to-head bowl numbers that show , all-time, the SEC has a clear advantage over the Big-Ten, 34-21 is a total misuse of statistics. How do we know that? Nowslimmer has a major in Mathematics and more than 50 credit hours of graduate school mathematics. So he believes he’s qualified to ignore this misuse of statistics. And we know he’ll never re-examine his position on misuse of statistics.




I was listening to NPR coming in to work and it occurred to me, we’ve got a college football CRISIS. The BCS CRISIS has been going on for years. Now we’ve got people who are creating a playoff CRISIS by questioning the BCS. This is causing college presidents to have a CRISIS of conscience. It’s causing college football coaches a CRISIS of uncertainty. And it’s causing the bowl sponsors a strategic CRISIS as they scramble to figure how they can make money off of a new system.

I am comfortably numb.
last edited: 12/07/06 6:11:43 AM”

“Yep, arclite is right, trouble is bubbling in the swamp cities.”

“Nigal, if you would take the time to read anything other than Hustler Magazine you’d have the hand strength to click your mouse and search the web. Leave it alone, son.

I can neither confirm nor deny the disproportionate size of my right hand to me left hand.”

“Personally, I don't have a problem with the BCS.

But the game is the "BCS Championship," not the national championship.

If Ohio State wins, they are national champions.

If Florida wins, we've had a really nice game that decided nothing.

Potentially, you'd have four or five teams with a legitimate claim on the championship.”

“yet more factors in support of a playoff system!”

“First the bad-ten needs to grow a pair and have a playoff themselves.




Reformed lurker, if you’re so proud of graduation rates, then you once again ignore Florida’s superiority to your kindergarten team. Your only redemption is that Ohio State really sucks.

Among The Associated Press' Top 25 football teams, five schools met or exceeded the national average with Notre Dame leading the way at 95 percent. The others were Nebraska at 88 percent, Florida at 80 percent, TCU at 78 percent and Clemson at 77.

Top-ranked Ohio State and Southern California, the 2004 national champion, both came in at 55 percent.

Michigan will graduate 71% of it football players and 50% of its black players compared to a 87% overall graduation rate.


Not only are Michigan fans whiney, THEY’RE RACISTS!


If you liked that, you’ll love this fan blog:

“…Fact is, Michigan, you didn’t give Ohio State that much of a game the first time around. Oh sure, the “final” score was 42-39 (was there any defense?). Aware observers know that Michigan scored a meaningless TD with about 2 minutes left to narrow the score. …

… Well, how did Ohio State fare against the other 11 victims on its schedule on offense? The following list shows the OSU’s offense, in order of output, for the season –

Indiana – 540
Michigan – 503
Northern Illinois – 488
Minnesota – 484
Cincinnati – 444
Northwestern – 425
Michigan State - 421
Iowa – 400
Bowling Green – 387
Texas – 348
Penn State – 253
Illinois – 224

That’s right Wolverine fans, the only team Troy Smith and company laid more yards on was Indiana. Five and Seven Indiana, that is. Your defense wasn’t as effective at stopping the Buckeyes as Northern Illinois or Bowling Green.

http://sauriansagacity.blogspot.com/2006/12/enough-already.html



Hail to the whiners, grumbling
Hail to the conquered pansies
Hail, hail to Michigan, they lost their big chance.




“Who did BS play? Anyone ranked? That argument is apples to oranges.”

Nigal, many folks around the country have been asking that same question of Michigan, with good reason.
last edited: 12/07/06 6:41:37 PM”

“Weak weak weak. Name calling means you lose right out of the gate Arc. tisk tisk.”

“Arclite, can you do me a favor?

I've been looking through the numbers at the NCAA website for graduation rates.

Florida has a graduation success rate of 80%, but actual graduation rates seem to be much lower - like in the 50s or 60s.

Michigan has a graduation success rate of 71%, but actual graduation rates in the 70+ percent range.

I've been looking at the numbers and can't make much sense out of them.

Can you look at them?

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLN4g3NPUGSYGYxqb6kWhCjhgihqYeCDFfj_zcVH1v_QD9gtzQ0IhyR0UAA4M5xQ!!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvUUd3QndNQSEvNElVRS82XzBfTFU!?CONTENT_URL=http://www2.ncaa.org/portal/academics_and_athletes/education_and_research/academic_reform/grad_rate/2006/d1_school_grad_rate_data.html

BTW, both Michigan and Florida appear to be very strong in terms of graduation rates.

Ohio State is poor. Sorry, BB:)
last edited: 12/07/06 9:22:22 PM”

“BTW, if you've followed anything about the University of Michigan during the past few years, you'd know that the university is anything but racist. I valued my time there.”

“It looks like Bama has a coach now. Rich Rodriquez appears to be the new guy. I'm excited.”

“Stanford: All students: 94%; Student-athletes: 89/88/93% for the various categories. Not bad.”

“Michigan is hardly racist Arc. They have always proudly been for extreme diversity. And by that I mean keeping higher scoring whites out in place of less deserving minorities. But there's hope. Somehow, I can't imagine how they got the smarts, Michigan voted out the Affirmative Action. The UofM came out the very next day saying they were going to do everything they could to get it overturned. MLK's dream has come to Michigan. Now his children will be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

“what in the world is a 'graduation success rate'? and how is it different from the 'graduation rate'?”

“My best guess Roam Around is that there are extenuating circumstances.

Like if a kid transfers to another school, he or she wouldn't graduate from the original school. That might hurt the graduation rate. But that wouldn't necessarily mean that the original school was bad.

Like the BCS, it looks like Florida has lots and lots and lots of extenuating circumstances surrounding their graduation ranking.”

“But I thought UF was perfect in every way? That's what I've been led to believe.”

“so, like most statistics - it all depends on how you do the math, eh?”

“

"what in the world is a 'graduation success rate'? and how is it different from the 'graduation rate'?"
Roam Around

There are many troubles available for college students. When they do experience trouble and still graduate, graduation is definitely a success!
last edited: 12/08/06 9:54:37 AM”

“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2005/12/20/grad

The link above is pretty interesting.

Basically, The actual graduation rate shows how many students who enter as freshmen actually graduate from that original school. You take the number who enter and divide by the number who graduate.

The graduation success rate removes from the calculation those who leave in good academic standing.

So, a kid who transfers to a different school while on track to graduate is not counted.

A kid who is on track to graduate but drops out to sell drugs is removed from the calculation as well.”

“Hmm. Guess that defines a no-count kid!”

“Go SEC!!!!

Sweep!”

“Hang on until I get home tonight, roam. I'll take a look at what you've got there then.

you may be looking at the difference between the NCAA rates and the government rates.

The old formula (which I believe the government still uses) does not take into account players who leave early for the NFL or who drop out (or transfer) for reasons other than academics.

There are many different ways to look at those rates. Talk about a misuse of statistics. I thought they were funny because pedxing got on here a year or two ago to talk about how ashamed some schools should be about their graduation rates.

Turns out that Texas is one of the worst under the new formula.




We'll eventually get to a sane analysis of why I think the Gators will lose and Ohio State will be one and seven instead of oh for eight. But I've still got time to be a wacko yet!”

“Sorry dayhiker:

BREAKING NEWS

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC-TV) -- FOX6 Sports has learned that Rich Rodriguez has declined an offer to become the head football coach at the University of Alabama.

FOX6 Sports Reporter Mike Dubberly was told Friday afternoon by several members of the football staff that Rodriguez had decided to stay. Rodriguez made the announcement during a team football meeting.

Rodriguez declined an offer that would have nearly doubled his annual salary.

In a statement, University of Alabama athletic director Mal Moore confirmed Rodriguez's decision, and said the search would continue.

http://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=1726337&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1
last edited: 12/08/06 2:37:36 PM”

“Alabama must be a pretty terrible place to live if someone would turn down a doubling of salary and the chance to get out of West Virginia.”

“Roll Tide


hehehehehe”

“Alabama is a wonderful place with nice folks but, as I said before, I think that Bama job is horrible.

My Rutgers buddy hates Rodriguez after that whoopin’ they put on them. He says Rodriguez has a huge ego. Haven’t I heard that before about a coach? He understands that it’s an unsavory emotional reaction that detracts from his life and he’s working on it. That’s more than can be said for many sports fans who form fixed opinions by judging a book by its cover, forming an opinion about someone they’ve never met, and believing everything they read and hear in the news despite the conventional wisdom against those behaviors.

It would have surprised me if Rodriguez had taken the job. In the big-east he’s got Louisville, Rutgers, and up-and-coming S. Florida to worry about. He should be contending for the conference and collecting bonuses for bowl games. They love him there and his job would be fairly secure if he were to have a losing season or two.

I like the Bama fans I’ve met, but I wouldn’t want to coach there for ANY amount of money. Bama fans may never get over their “tradition” under The Bear. They are an impatient lot. If you’re not winning enough games, or if you’re not beating Tennessee, or if you’re not beating Auburn (And you’d better do it NOW!), those are all grounds for dumping the coach. Winning consistently in the SEC is an uphill proposition. The long-ago days of Bama dominating the conference are gone. And you’d better know how to play politics with those “traditional” boosters. You’d better learn how to fit in with the good ol’ boys. It’s a hot-seat job from day one.

Those are my impressions for what they’re worth. Dayhiker could probably bring more clarity to that discussion.




Sorry, reformed. I had brain-freeze (it got cold here) and typed roam. Yeah, those are the government figures and they differ from the formula used by the NCAA.

I’ve long thought that it was unfair to punish schools where the players leave early for the NFL. Emmitt left early and then came back and finished his degree. Could you imagine going to school with millions of dollars? It sure would have made my college life less stressful.

A number of players have transferred from Florida because they felt they weren’t getting the playing time they deserved. That happens at programs where you have a lot of top talent competing for positions. I think it’s unfair to punish schools for that.

Then there are always a few who leave for personal reasons unrelated to academics. Whether that is a death in the family or whatever, it’s not the school’s fault and they shouldn’t be held accountable.

If a player doesn’t make it because of academics, then the school should be held accountable. Florida has pretty strict admission requirements. I’m really not meaning to “dis” any particular people but I remember a few players who couldn’t qualify at Florida and they ended up at Miami, Tennessee, and Ohio State.

We’re recruiting 5-star cornerback Woodny Turenne out of California this year. He loves the Gators but he may not qualify. An article at Rivals says that schools that may pick him up if he doesn’t include Miami, FSU, and Louisville. Michigan and USC are also recruiting him but I can’t imagine Michigan accepting him with sub-par academics.

Once Florida weeds out the guys we really think can’t make it, we may take a chance on a couple. Most programs provide the players with all sorts of academic support like tutors and mentors. Being a school with over 50,000 students, at Florida, there are some easier majors these guys can take. Hey, he may not make it in the pros but at least he can get a job as whatever it is sports management, or recreation, majors do after college. At least he has some sort of education and has learned discipline.

The trick is to get the guys you not only think will make it academically, but behaviorally. We kicked NFL prospect, D-Tackle, Marcus Thomas off the team this year for smoking pot. And boy does it show. Florida hasn’t got that push up the middle, nor been able to rush the quarterback, like we did earlier in the season.

Ohio State gave Troy Smith a lot of breaks:

“…During a high school basketball game in 2000, witnesses said Smith purposely elbowed a white player and knocked him unconscious. Years later, Smith told Sports Illustrated he lashed out because racial slurs were thrown at him during the game.

He was dismissed from the team at private St. Edward High School in suburban Lakewood. He soon transferred to inner-city Glenville, where he starred in football and basketball. …

… Early in his college career, Smith was involved in a fight outside an Ohio State dormitory in the fall of 2003 and was found guilty of disorderly conduct.

Then an NCAA investigation determined he took $500 from an Ohio State booster in the spring of 2004. He had to repay the money, sit out the Buckeyes' bowl game and the 2005 opener.

There were also roadblocks on the field. Just more than two years ago, he failed to play in three straight games while watching big-name recruit Justin Zwick — who was in the same class — play quarterback. …”

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061206/GATORS01/612060313&SearchID=73265325402368


At Florida they probably didn’t recruit him and he probably would have got kicked off the team for that stuff. But that’s a judgment call. It looks as if Smith has turned his life around and he probably wouldn’t have done that without the support he got at Ohio State. Only time will tell if he’s another Randy Moss or a Lawrence Phillips. But that’s the chance you take on some of these guys.


I don’t put a whole lot of importance in those graduation numbers unless they’re as bad as Texas’. Them boys should just hang their heads in shame!”

“Not reading all the posts. Don't hafta - I've read enough to see that these and those and them over there are trying to out-pi$$ the SEC.

Yer glory days are quite bygone, fellow Americans-not-of-the-south. Ever since the Feds dangled Black players from the point of a guardsmans bayonet, Southern institutions of higher learning have taken your game to heights you never could've imagined...”

“

Congrats to my fellow Clevelander in winning the Heisman Trophy. You can't help but see some commonalities between him and Mauirice Clarett. Fortunately, Troy overcame some of the bad aspects of his childhood environment with the help of two legendary coaches, Glenville High's Ted Ginn Sr., and Jim Tressel, and become the nation's best college football player.

I hope the Browns draft him. It would be nice seeing him play right here in Cleveland, and he could continue his work with the B.R.I.C.K. (The Brotherhood of Respect, Intelligence, Conduct and Knowledge) program.”

“BTW - Ohio State has now tied USC and Notre Dame for the lead with 7 Heisman trophy winners.



Michigan has only 3, Florida has only 2. :)”