Sunday, August 24, 2003
San Jose State kicked off the 2003 college football season last night in the inaugural Literacy Classic (what?!) by kicking Grambling State all over the field, 29-0. #5 Kansas State then took on California in this year's Black Coaches Association Classic (remember, that's the game that made everyone ask last year, "is Willingham for real?" when Notre Dame defeated Maryland), and played solidly if not spectacularly, earning a 42-28 win in the process.
In other college pigskin news, much talk of course is centered around damn-he-can-play-but-boy-he's-an-idiot Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett, who's likely out six games. Considering how solid OSU is all-around, however, and that their schedule is not exactly brutal, they should be fine. Kirk Herbstreit agrees - but cautions that if the suspension lasts longer, there could be trouble in Columbus (hello, NC State! Hello, Wisconsin!).
Meanwhile, volunteer high school assistant coach Rick Neuheisel (how far, and hard, and fast, they fall) has sued Washington and the NCAA. Uh, Rick? You lied on tape to NCAA investigators. Shut up. It could be worse. You could be the man in college coaching most likely (and deserving) to be shot on sight, Dave Bliss.
Speaking of, Baylor made a very smart move Friday, hiring Valpo coach Scott Drew to rebuild their basketball program. The NCAA made a very smart (and classy) move last week as well, approving a transfer-and-play (immediately) waiver for all of Baylor's players. Scott Drew was an assistant under his Dad, the inimitable Homer Drew, for 9 years at Valparaiso. Being a northern Indiana native, I can testify that he's a class act (as all the Drews are), and his hiring is an immense amount of good news for Baylor, which sorely and surely needs it. And look who's back holding the reigns at Valpo after a one-year absence: it's Homer! Worth reading are Andy Katz's thoughts on the rebuilding just starting to take shape in Waco.
On the topic of class in sports, there's everyone else, and then there's Martina Navratilova She's not playing mixed doubles at the U.S. Open starting tomorrow, because her partner Leander Paes (with whom she's one two of this year's three Grand Slam titles) had to pull out due to a brain lesion. Martina assuredly could have found someone else to take his place, but refuses, "because he is a true partner, and the special connection we share cannot be replaced." Good God, I love her. She'll still be playing women's doubles, by the way. Maybe she should play singles this year? The field's certainly wide open. Personally, I like French Open champ Justin Henin-Hardenne - with all the attention focused on the lack of Williams sisters in Flushing Meadows, and the fact that queen-without-a-crown Kim Clijsters is the top seed, I can see the gritty Henin-Hardenne just taking care of business and making her way to the final at very least. She's got the confidence - does Clijsters? Can Davenport get past her injury? Can Capriati shock everyone (Pam Shriver says she's "the Sampras going into the U.S. Open this year")? Or will it be Rubin, or Schnyder, or one of the seven Russian women seeded? It's anyone's title this year.
Oh, and let's be honest: the biggest story on the men's side is Pete's retirement.
In other college pigskin news, much talk of course is centered around damn-he-can-play-but-boy-he's-an-idiot Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett, who's likely out six games. Considering how solid OSU is all-around, however, and that their schedule is not exactly brutal, they should be fine. Kirk Herbstreit agrees - but cautions that if the suspension lasts longer, there could be trouble in Columbus (hello, NC State! Hello, Wisconsin!).
Meanwhile, volunteer high school assistant coach Rick Neuheisel (how far, and hard, and fast, they fall) has sued Washington and the NCAA. Uh, Rick? You lied on tape to NCAA investigators. Shut up. It could be worse. You could be the man in college coaching most likely (and deserving) to be shot on sight, Dave Bliss.
Speaking of, Baylor made a very smart move Friday, hiring Valpo coach Scott Drew to rebuild their basketball program. The NCAA made a very smart (and classy) move last week as well, approving a transfer-and-play (immediately) waiver for all of Baylor's players. Scott Drew was an assistant under his Dad, the inimitable Homer Drew, for 9 years at Valparaiso. Being a northern Indiana native, I can testify that he's a class act (as all the Drews are), and his hiring is an immense amount of good news for Baylor, which sorely and surely needs it. And look who's back holding the reigns at Valpo after a one-year absence: it's Homer! Worth reading are Andy Katz's thoughts on the rebuilding just starting to take shape in Waco.
On the topic of class in sports, there's everyone else, and then there's Martina Navratilova She's not playing mixed doubles at the U.S. Open starting tomorrow, because her partner Leander Paes (with whom she's one two of this year's three Grand Slam titles) had to pull out due to a brain lesion. Martina assuredly could have found someone else to take his place, but refuses, "because he is a true partner, and the special connection we share cannot be replaced." Good God, I love her. She'll still be playing women's doubles, by the way. Maybe she should play singles this year? The field's certainly wide open. Personally, I like French Open champ Justin Henin-Hardenne - with all the attention focused on the lack of Williams sisters in Flushing Meadows, and the fact that queen-without-a-crown Kim Clijsters is the top seed, I can see the gritty Henin-Hardenne just taking care of business and making her way to the final at very least. She's got the confidence - does Clijsters? Can Davenport get past her injury? Can Capriati shock everyone (Pam Shriver says she's "the Sampras going into the U.S. Open this year")? Or will it be Rubin, or Schnyder, or one of the seven Russian women seeded? It's anyone's title this year.
Oh, and let's be honest: the biggest story on the men's side is Pete's retirement.
# posted by Thomas : 7:54 AM
