Monday, September 04, 2006
Drinking at the Game
After being in the student section for the Louisville-Kentucky game, I'm in favor of an alcohol ban at games.
In the second half, I saw several screaming matches break out, sometimes between Louisville fans. One Louisville fan yelled at another, "Don't leave after the game. Let me watch the end of the game before I go to jail."
I saw one guy that looked like the Cave Troll from Fellowship of the Ring try to climb up to a fan about two rows up from him, and several people had to restrain him. Security and the police came by the section twice, but no one was kicked out.
My friend jokingly yelled at security, "we need more beer up here!"
The drunken behavior marred what should have been a pleasant event.
In the second half, I saw several screaming matches break out, sometimes between Louisville fans. One Louisville fan yelled at another, "Don't leave after the game. Let me watch the end of the game before I go to jail."
I saw one guy that looked like the Cave Troll from Fellowship of the Ring try to climb up to a fan about two rows up from him, and several people had to restrain him. Security and the police came by the section twice, but no one was kicked out.
My friend jokingly yelled at security, "we need more beer up here!"
The drunken behavior marred what should have been a pleasant event.
Kentucky Loss Inevitable?
When you look at the big picture of Kentucky football, today's shellacking at the hands of Louisville was almost inevitable. For decades, Kentucky has filled its stadium. They get 65,000 fans in there every game, even when the team is horrible. Where is the incentive to improve?
In past decades, it was acceptable. Kentucky would take some 70-7 losses to Florida and/or Tennessee, but they were still the top team in the state. That is no longer the case, and four straight wins in the series and seven wins out of eight overall have cemented that view nationally.
How this will affect the Kentucky admin's game plan remains to be seen. Even with a yearly loss to Louisville, they still pack the stadium, so is it really all that bad? My guess is the program will continue down its current path of medocrity.
In past decades, it was acceptable. Kentucky would take some 70-7 losses to Florida and/or Tennessee, but they were still the top team in the state. That is no longer the case, and four straight wins in the series and seven wins out of eight overall have cemented that view nationally.
How this will affect the Kentucky admin's game plan remains to be seen. Even with a yearly loss to Louisville, they still pack the stadium, so is it really all that bad? My guess is the program will continue down its current path of medocrity.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
College Football Saturday
I have a few observations about today's games.
1. Cal was a pretender. They are the classic proof case that being touted for the MNC just due to a cushy schedule means nothing if the team turns out to be weak anyway. Throw that "easy route" logic out the window and pick good teams, not teams like Cal.
2. Michigan is still down for Michigan, and there will be a new coach in Ann Arbor within the next 365 days.
3. Vanderbilt proved a lot today in their loss. They proved they are a competitive football team, looking to move up into the "Five Spot" in the SEC East. Kentucky is almost obligated to pull the upset against Louisville tomorrow in order to maintain consideration for the "Five Spot".
4. Notre Dame is over-rated. Will a team that did absolutely nothing until the final minute of the first half against a lowly Georgia Tech program be allowed to play in the golden BCS game? Given the hype surrounding this team and that it's Notre Dame, I won't be surprised to see them jump up in the polls to #1 based on this lackluster performance.
5. The Big East is 6-1 so far, with wins over North Carolina, Marshall, and Virginia. It's not stellar... No wins against the Top 25 to hang their hats on. But it's a good start for a conference that is literally begging for respect.
1. Cal was a pretender. They are the classic proof case that being touted for the MNC just due to a cushy schedule means nothing if the team turns out to be weak anyway. Throw that "easy route" logic out the window and pick good teams, not teams like Cal.
2. Michigan is still down for Michigan, and there will be a new coach in Ann Arbor within the next 365 days.
3. Vanderbilt proved a lot today in their loss. They proved they are a competitive football team, looking to move up into the "Five Spot" in the SEC East. Kentucky is almost obligated to pull the upset against Louisville tomorrow in order to maintain consideration for the "Five Spot".
4. Notre Dame is over-rated. Will a team that did absolutely nothing until the final minute of the first half against a lowly Georgia Tech program be allowed to play in the golden BCS game? Given the hype surrounding this team and that it's Notre Dame, I won't be surprised to see them jump up in the polls to #1 based on this lackluster performance.
5. The Big East is 6-1 so far, with wins over North Carolina, Marshall, and Virginia. It's not stellar... No wins against the Top 25 to hang their hats on. But it's a good start for a conference that is literally begging for respect.
Mike Montgomery's Next Move?
Where will Mike Montgomery go, now that he has been fired from his high paying NBA job? Will he bounce around the NBA like P.J. Carlisimo did, or will he return to the college ranks?
Montgomery brought winning back to a Stanford program that had not seen success since the 1940's. I think he could get a job at just about any second tier program. It is too bad for him that he wasn't let go sooner; he'd be a perfect fit at IU or N.C. State. Kentucky fans, of course, think he isn't good enough to replace Tubby.
Montgomery brought winning back to a Stanford program that had not seen success since the 1940's. I think he could get a job at just about any second tier program. It is too bad for him that he wasn't let go sooner; he'd be a perfect fit at IU or N.C. State. Kentucky fans, of course, think he isn't good enough to replace Tubby.
The Best Thing About Team USA Losing...
I hate to see the U.S. team beaten.
But since it did happen... It's nice to see Coach K get humiliated. If he had won gold, we never would have heard the end of it from Dick Vitale and Mike Patrick all winter. "Coach K brought glory back to the National Team. When they needed to turn things around, they brought in the ace -- Coach K." Every cloud has a silver lining.
But since it did happen... It's nice to see Coach K get humiliated. If he had won gold, we never would have heard the end of it from Dick Vitale and Mike Patrick all winter. "Coach K brought glory back to the National Team. When they needed to turn things around, they brought in the ace -- Coach K." Every cloud has a silver lining.
