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Yep, Ksquared, Houston goes from here to there. It is huge and yet Los Angeles is twice as big, at least. I can't imagine trying to traverse the freeway system in LA. It takes about the same amount of time going from the San Antonio area to the far outskirts of Houston @ 85 MPH AS IT Does to get across Houston between 6-9 am and 4-7 pm. I don't know how Justin does it, he is a better man than me. Houston is a very beautiful city with all kinds of things to do and places to see. Not only spread out but, 60, 70 & 80 story skyscrapers downtown and 20-40 story skyscrapers all over the place along the freeways. Makes our little SA look itty-bitty. LOL We do a certain amount of business down in Houston and I always enjoy the visit...BUTTTTTTTTTTT, am so glad when I start heading back home. It is just too hustling n bustling for me. When I was down there a couple months ago, I saw a Home Depot on what seemed like every intersection corner. SA only has about 10-12 of them. Same way with stores like Academy, SA has about 6 and Houston has about 20.
Houston's night life is like NY, LA, Chicago, Philly, and DC. Us cowboys down here in South Tejas ain't nothing but hicks in the sticks when compared to cities like Houston. At least the traffic flows pretty fast compared to NY and LA. Like NY city, I love Houston too...just couldn't live there. I get all my shotgun work done down at Briley's in Houston. As much as I have spent with Jess, he should give me a Beretta SO6 for being such a loyal customer. LOL
Anyway, I am with you all the way. Keep the big cities just far enough away to enjoy the lifestyle of the country but, able to go into town and act like a cityslicker once in a while. :>)
Colt
You got that right...have a good one...talk to you tomorrow.
Colt
Versatile Dantzler the most intriguing player in Cowboys camp
By JAIME ARON
AP Sports Writer
July 29, 2003
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- In going from college quarterback to rookie running back to second-year safety, Woody Dantzler has shown he's willing to try anything to earn a job with the Dallas Cowboys.
That versatility could serve him well under new coach Bill Parcells.
Parcells demands players take on more than one role, and Dantzler is quickly becoming the poster child of that concept.
While learning to play defense for the first time since middle school, he's also trying to pick up the nuances of returning punts and kickoffs, holding on field goals, being the fullback on the punt team and making tackles on various coverage units.
``I might even come out at receiver,'' Dantzler said, smiling. ``You never know.''
Dantzler isn't surprised by his ride on the roster roller coaster. He even discussed with his agent the likelihood of struggling to find a niche in the NFL after he wasn't drafted following a record-setting career at Clemson.
At 5-foot-10, he was too short to be a pro quarterback; he didn't really have the arm for it, either.
But in becoming the first player in NCAA history to throw for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season, he certainly had the kind of athletic ability NFL teams like.
The Cowboys signed him last summer to return kicks and try becoming one of Emmitt Smith's backups. He almost made it, becoming one of the final training-camp cuts. He returned on the practice squad and was activated for the Thanksgiving Day game.
A week later, he made every highlight reel with an 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against San Francisco. Dantzler spun from several tackles, eluding at least six 49ers, and did a bunny hop along the sidelines.
Then Parcells arrived. At his first minicamp, he used Dantzler at quarterback. A day later, he found a blue jersey in his locker signifying he'd been switched to defense. He still threw some passes the day after that, but his main duty quickly became learning how to play safety.
Dantzler is still struggling with technique, such as backpedaling, breaking in different directions and keeping his hips low.
Coaches are confident he's athletic enough to get it down, and that he understands Xs and Os well enough to figure out how to read offenses.
The big question: Can he tackle?
Dantzler told defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer he hadn't tried since he was a linebacker in middle school. When Zimmer said he must've chased someone down after throwing an interception, Dantzler laughed and admitted there were a few, clarifying that it wasn't something he worked on.
His first test will come Saturday in a scrimmage against the Houston Texans.
``He's in a daze right now,'' Zimmer said. ``He's trying to learn so much, he's not being an athlete. He's thinking a lot. When you do that, you're not playing very well.''
With Darren Woodson and Roy Williams likely starters at safety, Dantzler doesn't have to perfect the position. He just needs to be good enough to fill in.
If he can do that, Parcells can use his running and throwing skills to try some trickery on field goals and punts. His mere presence would give opponents something to think about.
Dantzler is taking it all in stride. He's grounded by strong faith, and even wears a bracelet promoting peace, pure love, respect and responsibility.
``When I was in school, I'd have two tests and three term papers at the same time. So I can't say this is too much,'' he said. ``This is my job now. I've got to get it done, somehow or other.''
Rams sign DT Jimmy Kennedy to five-year deal
July 29, 2003
MACOMB, Illinois (Ticker) - The St. Louis Rams signed their first-round pick on Tuesday, agreeing to a five-year deal with defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy.
Financial terms were not disclosed. ESPN reported that the deal is worth about $7 million in guaranteed funds.
Originally thought to be a top-five pick, Kennedy saw his stock drop on draft day and he ended up being taken with the 12th overall pick.
In his final collegiate season at Penn State, Kennedy was a coaches' All-Big Ten selection. The 6-4, 322-pound Kennedy had 87 tackles, 16 for losses, 5 1/2 sacks and three passes defended.
Kennedy showed up at Penn State weighing more than 400 pounds in 1998 and redshirted. He had 14 career sacks in four seasons.
A line of XXXXLs
July 28, 2003
BOB SANSEVERE
Pioneer Press Columnist
MANKATO, Minn.
Mike Rosenthal is 6 feet 7 and weighs 313 pounds. That makes him the scrawniest starter on the Vikings' offensive line.
He is just ounces lighter than the next, uh, skinniest member of the line. Center Matt Birk tips the ol' Toledo at 314 pounds. Birk, by the way, has a nickname for Rosenthal. Birk calls him "the runt of the litter."
Rosenthal came over in the offseason from the New York Giants. "Where I was the heaviest player on the line," he said. "I went from the heaviest guy in New York to the lightest guy here."
Rosenthal is several buffets and binge eatings away from becoming the heftiest member of the Vikings' offensive line. Left to right, they weigh 349, 330, 314, 344 and 313 pounds.
This is not just a line of wide bodies. This is a line of the widest bodies.
With a combined weight of 1,650 pounds and an average of 330, the Vikings might have the beefiest line in the NFL this season. If you're scoring, it would have been the heaviest group of starters in the league last season.
When you factor in their height — Birk is the shortest at 6-4 — the Vikings also could have the tallest offensive line in all of football. Their average height: 6-6.
They're not what you'd call lean, but none of the starters on the Vikings' line is fat, either.
"Some offensive linemen are that way — sloppy," Vikings offensive line coach Steve Loney said. "When you see our guys walking toward you, they're not sloppy looking."
No, just massive looking. If Paul Bunyan played on this line, his nickname would be "Tiny" or "Slim."
"Getting to 300 is a milestone. Life is more fun at 300," Birk said. "This is a pretty elite group. There's a big difference between 300 and 299."
Their cumulative weight has the Vikings' linemen puffing out their chests through their XXXXL shirts.
"It'd be kind of cool, being the biggest," said Chris Liwienski, who shifts his 6-6, 330-pound frame from right tackle to left guard this season. "But we don't want to be the biggest. We want to be the best."
"We've got to play big," said left tackle Bryant McKinnie, who has the distinction of being both the tallest (6-8) and heaviest (349) of the Vikings' starting linemen.
"Chris Hovan tells me when we walk to the line, he says, 'God, you guys are big,' " said right guard David Dixon, 6-5, 344. "Our size plays with people's heads."
"It doesn't matter how big we are. Our stats will be shown in the yardage our running backs gain," Rosenthal said. "And the time Daunte Culpepper gets."
Culpepper loves that kind of talk. He could be the biggest beneficiary of all the super-sized linemen in front of him.
"When I drop back, I have to look over guys. Sometimes, it's tough to see. I have to be light on my feet," Culpepper said. "They're big trees. Especially that guy on the left."
That guy on the left would be McKinnie.
"I call him Eclipse," said Culpepper, no shrimp himself.
Culpepper goes 6-4, 264. Back in the '70s and early '80s, he would have been above the average size for an offensive lineman. The Washington Redskins won the Super Bowl in 1983 with a group of offensive linemen nicknamed the Hogs for obese reasons. Back then, they were considered immense because they had a 300-pound left tackle (Joe Jacoby) and a 291-pound guard (Mark May) and three other starters who, for the era, weren't exactly pint-sized.
Check this out: Culpepper weighs more than two of the Hogs did; center Jeff Bostic went 6-2, 250, and right tackle George Starke was 6-5, 260. Culpepper is only nine pounds lighter than the Hogs' left guard, Russ Grimm, who weighed 273.
Nowadays big linemen are called hogs in a sort of homage to those Redskins.
"We don't want hogs. We don't like hogs," Tice said. "We like to pull guys. We like pass protection. We want guys who are big, tall and athletic."
He's got guys who are big, tall and athletic.
"I love our group," Birk said before heading off to have lunch.
Birk knows what every other starting member of the Vikings' offensive line knows: A man has got to eat, especially if he's a big man and wants to stay that way.
Yeah, but they don't think so. LOL
'Boys learning how to be Parcells guys
July 28, 2003
Jennifer Floyd Engel
StarTelegram Staff Writer
SAN ANTONIO - Being a "Bill Parcells player" has two definitions in Cowboys camp.
No. 1: Having played for him before, like Richie Anderson, Ryan Young and Terry Glenn did.
No. 2: Displaying characteristics or traits that typify what Parcells wants to build his team around, like Anderson, Young and Glenn do.
"In condition, reliable and hopefully have some kind of passion for success in the game," Parcells said when asked to define what makes a BPP. "A lot of people think this game is about money, but it really is not. It's about your teammates. I always tell the players: 'You are never going to remember the money. You are always going to remember what you did and the guys you did it with.' "
BPPs do not fit nicely into a single box. They are guys you would let babysit your kids and guys who need babysitting. They are superstars and No. 53 on a 53-man squad. They are black and white, old and young and quiet and loud.
What they have in common is resiliency, toughness and accountability.
"You have to be a guy he can trust when the game is on the line to make the right play and do things that lead to winning," Anderson said. "Those are the things he looks for in guys when he calls them back."
So who among Parcells' inherited Cowboys players is likely to one day be considered a BPP?
"Antonio Bryant," Glenn said, without hesitation. "The only reason I say that is he reminds me of myself. He's a little rough. If he straightens out a little bit, he could be a Parcells guy."
Rough is a nice way of putting some of what Bryant was in 2002. He admits as much.
He threw a temper tantrum, rivaling anything seen at your local day care, after being yanked from a game midway into his rookie season. He compared playing quarterback to being on cocaine. He celebrated a touchdown by dunking on a goal post late in a blowout loss.
What sparked all of these actions, though, is Bryant's incredible competitiveness.
"He's a little high-strung, but that's OK," Parcells said. "I've had some high-strung guys before. I think Antonio is a very ambitious, gifted athlete who, work-ethic wise, is willing to do whatever."
Whatever included practicing 6 hours, 50 minutes after having surgery. Doctors removed bone spurs from Bryant's left pinkie finger at 8 Sunday morning in Dallas. Parcells watched Bryant hauling in passes when practice began in San Antonio. He had taped his pinkie, six stitches and splint included, to his index finger. He didn't balk about practicing, he just warned Parcells that taking it easy wasn't an option.
"I'll practice," Bryant told his coach beforehand, "but I don't know half-speed."
Consider Parcells impressed, praise-Bryant-in-front-of-his-teammates impressed. OK, so Parcells also joked that "it wasn't open-heart surgery." Bryant didn't care. He understands what Glenn means when he says he gets a certain satisfaction in pleasing the hard-to-please Parcells.
Bryant has not always been big on authority figures, but he sees a little of himself in his coach -- driven, no-nonsense, competitive and straightforward.
"You can tell when a guy is putting a lot of lettuce and tomatoes on the sandwich. You don't want that. You just want the meat," Bryant said. "Coach Parcells is a meat guy, straight meat. And if you can't chew it, you better grow teeth fast."
He said Parcells challenges him every single day. On the field. In the locker room. In the hallway. Bryant recalls a conversation just a couple of weeks ago as he walked past Parcells in the hall.
"Antonio," Parcells called, "how many penalties did you have last year?"
"Three," Bryant guessed.
"No, five," Parcells said. "Three holdings and two illegal procedures."
You can be sure he won't do that this season. He knows Parcells will come down on him like Dave Campo never did. And Bryant thrives in that kind of environment. And he, probably more than anybody, stands to benefit from Parcells being around. Parcells is the kind of coach who can get the most out of a player like Bryant. He did for Glenn.
Which is why Glenn thinks Bryant can be a BPP. If he isn't already.
"He gives me respect but, at the same time, he lets me know, 'This is only your second year in the league. You still got a lot to do,'" Bryant said. "And I respect that."
Parcells Guys
Cowboys coach Bill Parcells prefers players who are in condition, reliable and have a passion for success. Among the players Parcells inherited, Antonio Bryant might fit the mold best. But he isn't the only one. Here are some other possible candidates:
S Darren Woodson -- A non-superstar superstar who has made a career of doing what is best for the team, not himself.
Catching up and moving forward
July 28, 2003
Peter King, SI.com
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS -- It's been a heck of a week, going from Long Island to Orlando to Denver to Phoenix to Flagstaff and now here. When's my next vacation?
Anyway, after mountains of fun in late June and early July at a Bruce Springsteen concert (good, but not his best), a Cape Cod League baseball game in Orleans, Mass. (one of the great undiscovered treats of American sports), sitting a section away from Brandi Chastain and Mia Hamm at Yanks-Red Sox (Mia's good at pretending not to notice anyone staring holes through her), getting too much sun in Spring Lake, N.J. (and reading Moneyball, which is very interesting), barbecuing on the back deck at least 11 times (there is still nothing like cooking a greasy burger over the coals and loading it with a ton of ketchup) and coaching a 10-and-under girls softball team with family and friends all over northern New Jersey (what incredibly great kids), it's finally back to work.
One story first. The Montclair Bears, the 10-and-under squad I mentioned above, were at North Bergen last Monday night, my final game of the summer. One of our ace hurlers, Emma Goldstein, stood on first with two out in a tight game. The first-base coach said to her: "Emma, two outs. Go on anything." After the next pitch, another coach said to Emma: "Two out. Get a good lead and run on anything." Two pitches later, Emma turned to the first-base coach and said: "How many outs are there?"
You have to love it.
But now we're back in full swing, headed out to see Camp Parcells this morning. Here's a taste of the last week, meandering by the byways and turnpikes and scorching fields of the early NFL summer:
Wednesday
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- The most impressive sight of the two-hour practice this morning: the marvelous deep-throwing arm of Vinny Testaverde. As I stand down the left sideline at about the 10-yard line, with a seven-on-seven drill coming my way, Testaverde throws two perfect, 35-yard rainbows, complete, on successive plays. He is, to me, the player of the practice. "He'll probably still make those throws 10 years from now," Jets GM Terry Bradway says.
I watch rookie phenom Dewayne Robertson closely for a few series, trying to see the explosion the Jets drafted him for. On seven snaps he's matched up, single-blocked, against either seventh-round guard Dave Youvanotis from Temple or veteran Tom Nutten, and on six of those, Robertson gets blocked or ridden outside the play. Once he penetrates and gets to the quarterback just after he throws. Uh-oh. Dave Yovanovits?
Thursday
CELEBRATION, Fla. -- Jon Gruden's back is to me in the workroom adjacent to his bedroom at the Bucs' hotel. He's at his computer and workstation, plotting the day's events. The sun won't be up for an hour or so.
"This Super Bowl has been good for so many people," he says. "I've seen some people on this team really grow up."
"Like who?" I ask.
"Me, for one," he says. "You realize what you're in this game for. It's why I get up in the morning, to go again. I realize how crushing it is not to go."
"What have you gotten to do by winning that you wouldn't have been able to do if you didn't win?"
Pause. He looks up and thinks for a minute. He turns to look at me.
"I met David Letterman. I was on his show. Nervous, man. I've been laughing at him for years. Me and [GM] Rich McKay threw out the first pitch on opening day at the Yankees' exhibition game. That was fun. They had a bunch of the old timers there, Ron Guidry and Reggie Jackson and Yogi, leaning over the dugout. I threw a pitch to [Jorge] Posada. Don't know how he caught it. It was smokin'."
Big smile.
Back to work.
Thursday night
ORLANDO -- I learn my flight from Orlando to Denver will be delayed four hours because the plane has a mechanical problem. Another plane has to be ordered. To make conversation, I ask the agent what the problem was. She says someone on the scheduled incoming flight tried to throw something away down the toilet in coach, and it got stuck, and they couldn't get it out, and they won't allow the plane to fly to Denver with only two working toilets. And so because they don't want us to have to wait in line for the bathroom, 100 or so of us get four extra hours in a remote concourse of the Orlando International Airport. Not that any of us wanted to get a good night's sleep, or anything like that.
Friday
DENVER -- Ah, Broncodom. Twelve minutes into the first practice of the summer, Clinton Portis drops his second swing pass of the morning from Jake Plummer, and a voice rings out from the crowd: "Awww, COME ON!!!" Tough crowd.
Plummer, by the way, really looks good. Comfortable, smiling, sharp. Better arm than I thought I'd seen in Arizona. Near the end of practice, going through some first-team passing drills, Plummer looks like he fits just right with his new studs -- a cast he never had in Phoenix. Will it be good enough? I think it will be, but that's why they play the games, folks. "On one play, I go back and hit Ed McCaffrey on a shallow cross," Plummer tells me later. "On the same play, Rod Smith's running a deep corner route, Shannon Sharpe's crossing over the middle and Clinton Portis is running a checkdown. I'm like, 'Wow. Where do I go wrong?'"
Later, Mike Shanahan tells me the Broncos were going to go hard after Kurt Warner if the Rams, in fact, did release him. I hear Denver was all over him, and I hear Warner thinks he'd surely have been a Bronco if he had been released. Interesting.
Saturday
PHOENIX -- I get in the rental car, right around 5:30 a.m., and the temperature on the dash reads 97 degrees. Two and a half hours later, pulling into Flagstaff, the temperature reads 67. I know Phoenix is a swell place. That's what people who live here tell me. I like saunas, too. I'm just not sure I'd want to live in one.
FLAGSTAFF -- Walking up to the morning practice to watch Emmitt Smith make his Cards debut, I chat up Bill Bidwill for a while. He's the Arizona team owner, but I think most Cardinals fans would prefer his title be "team seller." Anyway, after our talk, I say I'm going to watch practice for a while. He heads for the sponsors' tent, off the corner of the end zone. "Let me know if you see anything new," he tells me. I reply that I probably won't see anything new. He says: "I know." And he sits in the tent while his shiny new running back puts on the Cardinal red and white for the first training camp practice. Strange. I think: If I owned this team, I'd probably want to keep an eye on Emmitt.
Sunday
Writing/Transit/Five innings at BankOne Ballpark for a 1-0 baseball game -- One question about the BOB, which is a comfy oasis of a barn with the terrific leg room I like in a ballyard: Why doesn't the team doesn't put the current stats of the Diamondbacks players on the board when they come to the plate? Two things about the Dodgers, the D'backs' opponents on Sunday: They scored 1, 0 and 1 run in 33 innings this weekend here, and have not an offensive soul who excites anyone; and Shawn Green looks like a little lost sheep at the plate. Wow. What happened to him?
And so it's on with the show. Good to be back in the swing. I'll write next week from San Antonio, Latrobe, Pa., and ... well, let's make it all a surprise.
I collected a few of them during the time I was on vacation. My favorites in reverse order:
No. 4: "On the assembly line of putting people together, somehow it stopped on him and gave him whatever it gave him."
--Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, on the physical presence of former player Jay Williams, who was badly hurt in a motorcycle accident June 19. What possible meaning does this quote have? I'm hoping Coach K, who seems like a smart fellow, was thinking about recruiting, or something far away when he uttered this.
No. 3: "In the baseball world, Babe Ruth's everything, right? I got his slugging percentage and I'll take his home runs and that's it. Don't talk about him no more."
--Barry Bonds.
Not be knee-jerkish, Barry, but this quote is exactly why 70 percent of America will never like you, no matter what an incredible ballplayer you are and how many jacks you hit.
No. 2:"Look at me, man. I'm an idiot, man. I've got long hair and tattoos, but I love me and that's all that matters. I date and I drink beer, just like everybody else. But my life is football."
--Minnesota defensive tackle Chris Hovan, commenting on Brett Favre's assertion that he is an idiot.
No. 1 (My personal favorite): "Since 40 percent of our Monday Night Football audience is women, our preference was to select a woman."
--MNF producer Fred Gaudelli, in USA Today, after hiring Lisa Guerrero to replace Melissa Stark as sideline reporter for the Monday game. In the New York Times, Gaudelli said women need someone to relate to on a football telecast.
Now, I played golf with Gaudelli in St. Louis in early June (actually, he played golf and I embarrassed myself), and he seemed like a nice guy. But this is the silliest sports quote of the last few weeks. Guerrero posed in a lacy black nightie in Maxim last year. She got the job because ABC knows the leches who only marginally care football and teen gawkers will go out of their way to watch Guerrero. The way it sounded from Gaudelli's comment, the network reviewed tapes and applications of 100 candidates, and it just so happened that the hottest babe got the gig ... and it just so happened that she got the gig because ABC is trying to appeal to women.
Fred, in the immortal word of Jimmy Johnson, Puh-leeeeeze.
Chris Jenkins of the NFL e-mails to inform me that the New York Giants will not fly to a game until their Oct. 26 tilt at Minnesota. In fact, they'll fly to only four of their first 10 contests, including the preseason -- Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Dallas and New Orleans. They will travel by bus or Amtrak to New England (once in the preseason, once in the regular season), the Jets, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington.
I wonder when the Giants last played a season in which 17 of their 20 games were in the Eastern time zone, with none in the Mountain or Pacific zones.
... Emmitt Smith, who began his Arizona Cardinals career in Flagstaff, Ariz., this weekend with three camp practices.
MMQB: Now that you're here, tell me: Who else wanted you?
Smith: When I was looking, Buffalo called. Carolina had some interest, but they ended up getting Stephen Davis. What I really wanted to do was to go home to Florida. I wanted to go to Tampa Bay. But something happened in Tampa. The Bucs couldn't work it out. Arizona showed the most interest. The Cards didn't insult me and tell me they'd only pay me the minimum. Then I talked to Daryl Johnston for some advice, and he really liked the Arizona option.
MMQB: What has been the toughest thing about making the move?
Smith: I don't have my people. For years I've used a chiropractor and nutritionist in Dallas, Dr. Robert Parker, who has restored me to health a lot of times pretty quickly. He uses something called muscle-interactive therapy, and it involves lots of things regular trainers don't do. It works for me. I may have to talk to him about coming in here once a month.
MMQB: When's the last time you were in red-and-white?
Smith: Brownsville Middle School in Florida. Before that, my first year in football, when I was 8, my uniform was cardinal red. The Salvation Army. My first team, and now maybe my last. Pretty interesting.
(Special bonus question!)
MMQB: Today, when you walked on the practice field, did you, even for a second, think of the Cowboys?
Smith: Nope. I just thought, 'Man, what a view. Look at that mountain. [The San Francisco peaks, just outside Flagstaff.] Time to do my thing. It all starts now.' Could I work in the Parcells system? The answer still is yes. But me being gone allows Jerry Jones and Bill Parcells and the Cowboys to move forward. It allows Parcells to come in and crack the whip without anyone saying anything. There's nobody left there who will say a word about what Parcells will do. Now, if thought something needed to be said, I'd have said it.
On a 104-minute flight from Denver to Phoenix late Friday, I sat stuffed into a middle coach seat on a broiling plane between a chunky kid who slept the whole way and a massive man who, for the entire time we were in the air -- and I exaggerate you not -- pulled a David Puddy while the hot left side of his body was pressed against my right side. Once, on Seinfeld, Elaine and Puddy, the boyfriend, were flying home from Europe and Puddy stared straight forward, reading nothing and doing nothing. It caused Elaine and Puddy to break up. If that had only been possible on my journey. My pal Puddy never pulled out the in-flight mag or a book or a paper or even took a catnap. How is it possible to stare at the seatback for nearly two hours -- unless you're doing trancendental meditation?
1. I think if I were a Bucs player, I'd be fuming that not only did I have the shortest offseason in the NFL this year after winning the Super Bowl, but I was in camp the longest (52 days) before my opening game. That is an absurd amount of time to practice and go through two-a-days and over-prepare for the first game. And on Tuesday, they will get on a plane for Japan. The reaction among the players I asked about this was mixed. Brad Johnson's ticked off about camp length and the schedule, but Warren Sapp said: "This is our bowl game. We didn't have a chance to really celebrate the Super Bowl as a team, and this will be our chance. We ain't practicing over there." Well, I can think of better ways to gather as a team than getting in a plane and flying 18 hours to be mobbed by people who aren't your fans.
2. I think the moral of the Matt Millen $200,000 fine is this: Matt has a lot of friends, black and white, in the game. But when he was hiring Steve Mariucci, someone -- Dan Rooney, Bill Ford, Paul Tagliabue -- needed to tell him, "Matt, go to one of your black coaching friends and tell him you'd really like him to come in for an interview. Tell him it's important." A friend would understand. And one day, Matt would do the friend a favor in return. Now, one thing forgotten in this whole story is how minority coaches can help themselves by interviewing for every job, including jobs they know they won't get. Those NFL owners need to get to know the candidates. This is the point I made when the story originally broke last winter, and I still believe it fervently. And by the way: The rule penalizing teams for not interviewing minority candidates is a good one, a very go! od! one. It will eventually provide exposure for coaches who would not otherwise have received the attention they deserve, such as Ted Cottrell. Then, whether they get hired or not has to be the personal choice of the owner. But at least they've had a chance to air their case.
3. I think I got a kick out of Jake Plummer's reaction to Emmitt Smith suiting up for his former team: "I thought they needed defensive linemen. Then they went out and got a running back. Shows how much I know."
4. I think we should all stop the presses for a moment. Corey Dillon was a no-show on Day 1 of Bengals camp? What? Corey is not buying into another Bengals program? I'm shocked! Just shocked! I'm shocked -- shocked -- to find that gambling is going on in here! I shall have to have you arrested.
5. I think you guys must have the wrong impression about me. I don't hate the Dolphins. One guy who claims to read my column all the time came up to me in the grocery store in Montclair, N.J., a couple of weeks ago: "I've got to ask you: Why do you detest the Dolphins?" Maybe I left the wrong impression when I said the Dolphins were one of the top five teams in football, and it was a travesty that this underachieving group didn't make the playoffs. Doesn't mean I hate them, just means I'm speaking (what I believe to be) the truth.
6. I think I would like to hand my "Dolt (Or Liar) Of The Month Award" to Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. A couple of weeks after the New York Times ran a story saying star running back Maurice Clarett got favorable treatment on a makeup test, helping him get a good grade in a class, the Associated Press ran this line in a story about Tressel's reaction to the scandal: "Tressel said he had not read the Times article and would not comment on the allegations." Now, if Tressel did not read the well-researched story that could put his program on probation, he is a bigger idiot than Hank Kingsley. I can only assume he read the story, but like so many coaches, fibbed when asked if he'd read it. At least if I were the Ohio State administration, I'd hope my football coach wasn't dumb enough to bury his head in the sand about such a vital issue.
7. I think Mike Martz loves the speed Jason Sehorn showed early in camp. Martz thought Sehorn would be a perfect complement to the hammer of Adam Archuleta at safety for the Rams. Now comes word that Sehorn broke his foot and will be out until October. Tough news for Sehorn. That also eliminates one of the real fun matchups of the first week of the season: Sehorn at Giants. That would been one of the best football boo-fests of recent years in New Jersey.
8. I think I love this time of year ... everyone's optimistic, everyone thinking his or her team has a real chance to do something. I was happy to read Jerry Jones is thinking long haul instead of quick fix, by the way. This is about building a contender for 2004, and then a good base for the next decade.
9. I think, just as I thought a low third-rounder (Brian Griese) would have a better pro career than a high first-rounder (Ryan Leaf) in 1998, now I think a low third-rounder (Chris Simms) has an excellent chance to have a better pro career than a high first-rounder (Carson Palmer). Environment, people. Environment.
10. I think, speaking of Carson, I heard the Chargers had less than 100 people at their first practice in the Carson, Calif., facility the other day. Chargers Fever! Catch it!
Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to SI.com. Monday Morning Quarterback appears in this space every week.
Cowboys: Bryant returns after minor finger surgery
by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
Monday, July 28, 2003
News
Wide receiver Antonio Bryant missed morning practice on Sunday in order to have a bone chip removed from his left pinkie finger, the Dallas Morning News reported. Bryant returned to camp for afternoon practice and caught numerous passes, including a deep ball.
Views
It sounds like this surgery was very minor and won't hurt Bryant's battle for playing time with Joey Galloway and Terry Glenn.
Cowboys: Starting spots are up for grabs
by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
Monday, July 28, 2003
News
Head coach Bill Parcells has wiped the depth charts clean to open training camp, the Dallas Morning News reported. "I don't have any preconceived notions about who's going to start. Every starting job is up for grabs," Parcells said. "The name doesn't make any difference to me. Why would I be judgmental? I haven't seen what they can do." Parcells went on to say that he has thought about a backfield-by-committee, and wide receivers Joey Galloway, Terry Glenn, and Antonio Bryant will all see a lot of playing time. The most competitive spots are believed to be quarterback, tight end, cornerback, nose tackle, and center. "I've never paid a lot of attention to who is starting," Parcells continued. "It depends on what we're trying to do. There aren't just 11 guys playing anymore. Whether they call you a starter doesn't make a whole lot of difference."
Views
This news really comes as no surprise, as Parcells is going to reward those ! players that work hard and perform well. Fantasy owners should note that none of the Cowboys has a firm grip on a spot, and they will need to factor that in when thinking about picking a Dallas player.
Giving Outdoors a Shot
July 28, 2003
SHELOCTA - Both outdoor enthusiasts and beginners gathered at Indiana County's first Women in the Outdoors event at the Shelocta Sportsmen Club in Shelocta Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Coordinator Ginny Filler said about 25 women participated in outdoor activities covering everything from archery to scrapbooking.
One of the first women to tackle canoeing and kayaking, Melanie Mertens of Northern Cambria, was a self-proclaimed beginner.
"I'm definitely a novice, but I don't think it'll be too hard. At least, I hope not," Mertens said with a laugh. "I enjoy being on the water. It's so relaxing."
Christine Perkins of Mars, a 27-year volunteer for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the canoeing and kayaking instructor for the day, has loved the water ever since she was a young girl and helped drain a local lake.
She has even hooked her daughter on water sports.
"My 9-year-old daughter has been doing canoeing classes with me ever since she could walk," Perkins said.
On the other side of the park, women brushed up on turkey-calling.
The sound of turkeys rang out early in the day as instructor Vicky Gaydos, River Valley Game Calls representative and pro staffer, taught women the ins and outs of turkey calling.
Many of the women in the class had family members who hunted turkeys, such as Katie Young of Punxsutawney, whose husband hunts turkeys. She thought the class would give her some practice and help her keep up with her husband when they hunted.
Others, such as Daria Wargo of Nicktown, were already established hunters who wanted to learn more about turkey hunting.
"I'm a deer hunter, but I'd like to expand into different areas of hunting," Wargo said.
Gaydos has been a turkey caller for about five years.
"I started out deer hunting and wanted another opportunity to go out in the woods during a more pleasant time of the year," Gaydos said.
"I've seen things someone laying in bed would never see. I've seen things people who don't hunt would never see."
Gaydos also believes hunting can bring families closer together.
"(Hunting) is important for family time," Gaydos said. "My husband hunts, so this gives us something else to do together."
Family time was a priority for Bonnie Elkins of Indiana and her two daughters, Sarah, 13, and Shannon, 14, who attended the event together.
"I want my daughters to be doing (outdoor sports) before they go into the ROTC," said Bonnie, an ROTC member herself.
But the Elkins women are far from outdoor rookies.
"We're RV freaks and we go camping, so this plays into our nature," Bonnie said. "It's a part of our life."
The most attended class of the day was outdoor photography, taught by Ron Juliette, a professional photographer from Indiana and former professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The women from his class could be spotted walking around the grounds looking for prime nature shots.
"I've always liked photography because it makes you slow down and be a little bit more observant," said Linda Gibson, of Indiana.
The second-most popular class of the day was Dutch oven cooking, taught by Dave Horton, also known as Dutch Oven Dave, director of the Western New York Dutch Oven Society.
Driving from Buffalo, N.Y., it took Horton about 3½ hours to travel to Shelocta for the event. And that's not including the hour or so it took to load all of his Dutch ovens, of which he had about a dozen, into his truck.
Dutch ovens, for the uninitiated, are large cast iron pots made for cooking in the outdoors.
"Anything that you can imagine, you can cook (in a Dutch oven)," Horton told his classes.
The smells of peach cobbler, chicken pot pie and cornbread enticed spectators to come over and try some of his home-baked cooking.
Women in the dog-handling class might find themselves on TV. Terry Cover of Black Diamond Kennels videotaped sections of the class for a commercial that may air on the Outdoor Channel.
Women also tried their hands at shooting and fishing.
Also going on throughout the day were a silent auction and several raffles.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=9912512&BRD=1078&PAG=461&dept_id=151025&rf...
Gallery showing ‘Waterworks’ of Seacoast art
By Chris Elliott
news@seacoastonline.com
PORTSMOUTH - The Coolidge Center for the Arts, located at the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion at the end of Little Harbor Road, held an opening reception Sunday for its latest exhibit. Featuring the work of 10 area artisans, "Waterworks" is a display of large-scale paintings, wood carvings, photographs and garden sculpture all with an aquatic theme.
According to Dody Kolb, director of the Coolidge Center, the theme is appropriate to the gallery and to the area.
"Water seems to have a pacifying effect on people. It’s universal," said Kolb. "I’ve lived on the Atlantic and on the Pacific, and there is nothing like the New England coast. This area is all about water, and I think the exhibit celebrates that."
From Don Stone’s dramatic and stormy ocean images, to Frank Corso’s realism, to Fred Dolan’s hand-carved and painted decoy ducks, "Waterworks" addresses a wide variety of visual art idioms.
"I used to hunt as a kid growing up in Somersworth," said decoy maker Fred Dolan. "There was such a gun culture then - if it flies, it dies. These days, I still go into blinds, but I hunt with my camera. I prefer to see the birds fly."
The tradition of hand-carving elaborate duck decoys began in 1918 with the passage of the Migratory Bird Act, which prevented the sale of migratory birds. This changed duck hunting from a commercial venture to a sporting one, greatly reducing the harvesting of wild birds.
As a result, affluent hunters created a demand for artful decoys. Last summer, a hand-carved decoy from 1930 sold at auction for $805,500.
Other artists participating in the Coolidge exhibit include Chris Augusta, George Augusta, Terri Donsker, Tom Glover, Grant Hacking, Simon Harling and Don Williams.
Under Kolb’s direction, the Coolidge Center has undergone significant refurbishment, which includes renovations to the physical site as well as more-frequent and bigger exhibits.
For Jennifer Croteau, the gallery’s accountant, the charm of the building and the gallery have led her to participate in many of the gallery’s presentations.
"I usually help out with events like this one, partly because of my association with the gallery and partly because Dody is so special. There have been so many improvements since she’s come on board," said Croteau.
Attendance was brisk on Sunday, and the main gallery echoed the cacophony of intermingled conversations. Many of the featured artists were present, identified by their name tags. Art patrons asked questions and shared opinions with the artists, and several pieces in the show found buyers.
"Waterworks" runs through Aug. 17. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays, or by appointment.
http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/07282003/news/41912.htm
Gun club's Silver Shoot hits the mark
Monday, July 28, 2003
By Chris Vogtman DAILY GLOBE
cvogtman@dglobe.com
WORTHINGTON — The smell of gun powder and the crack of guns was in the air, which is not how many people would describe the sights and sounds around them on a Sunday afternoon.
But to the 65 men, women and children participating in the 12th Annual Worthington Gun Club Silver Shoot it was more than that.
It’s a chance to perform a sport they enjoy and mingle with friends they rarely see.
“It is a really good way to practice under pressure,” said Glen Lonneman, the president of the Worthington Gun Club (WGC). “It’s a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
“I enjoy seeing the different people and meeting my friends so I can give them a bad time.”
His duties during the Silver Shoot include watching shooters at the line, keeping score and making sure they are properly and safely handling their guns.
“The sport really takes a lot of hand-eye coordination and is fairly physical,” Lonneman said.
Many people participating in the event are not currently members of the WGC, but hardly ever miss a Silver Shoot.
Doug and Renee Vrana, from Westfield, Iowa, have been enjoying the sport ever since they were married and have shot in several Silver Shoots.
“This is a really good family sport,” Renee said. “We like traveling around together and shooting at different gun clubs because each club has different backgrounds and targets are thrown different.
“There are a bunch of good people here and we have a lot of good friends at this club.”
Renee pheasant hunted with her brothers before she met Doug, but Doug really got her into target shooting, she said.
“I saw all of the trophies and thought it would be fun,” Renee said.
Doug’s uncle taught him how to shoot and hunt at a very young age.
“I’ve been turkey hunting since I was knee high to a grasshopper,” he said.
Although many shooters come from all around the area, the WGC members still are the favorites to win.
“We have a home team advantage,” said Jason Collin, a WGC member and six-time Silver Shoot participant. “It’s really fun to see a lot of good shooters.”
The shooters that beat out the rest of the competition were Dave Stearns, the high overall champion, Giles Jones, the 16-yard champion, Scott Lanters, handicap winner and Scott Oberloh won the doubles.
“It’s a lot tougher shooting under pressure. When it all clicks you can’t miss and some days you just can’t hit anything,” Lonneman said.
http://www.dglobe.com/main.asp?SectionID=30&ArticleID=6316&SubSectionID=87
Gun club's Silver Shoot hits the mark
Monday, July 28, 2003
By Chris Vogtman DAILY GLOBE
cvogtman@dglobe.com
WORTHINGTON — The smell of gun powder and the crack of guns was in the air, which is not how many people would describe the sights and sounds around them on a Sunday afternoon.
But to the 65 men, women and children participating in the 12th Annual Worthington Gun Club Silver Shoot it was more than that.
It’s a chance to perform a sport they enjoy and mingle with friends they rarely see.
“It is a really good way to practice under pressure,” said Glen Lonneman, the president of the Worthington Gun Club (WGC). “It’s a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
“I enjoy seeing the different people and meeting my friends so I can give them a bad time.”
His duties during the Silver Shoot include watching shooters at the line, keeping score and making sure they are properly and safely handling their guns.
“The sport really takes a lot of hand-eye coordination and is fairly physical,” Lonneman said.
Many people participating in the event are not currently members of the WGC, but hardly ever miss a Silver Shoot.
Doug and Renee Vrana, from Westfield, Iowa, have been enjoying the sport ever since they were married and have shot in several Silver Shoots.
“This is a really good family sport,” Renee said. “We like traveling around together and shooting at different gun clubs because each club has different backgrounds and targets are thrown different.
“There are a bunch of good people here and we have a lot of good friends at this club.”
Renee pheasant hunted with her brothers before she met Doug, but Doug really got her into target shooting, she said.
“I saw all of the trophies and thought it would be fun,” Renee said.
Doug’s uncle taught him how to shoot and hunt at a very young age.
“I’ve been turkey hunting since I was knee high to a grasshopper,” he said.
Although many shooters come from all around the area, the WGC members still are the favorites to win.
“We have a home team advantage,” said Jason Collin, a WGC member and six-time Silver Shoot participant. “It’s really fun to see a lot of good shooters.”
The shooters that beat out the rest of the competition were Dave Stearns, the high overall champion, Giles Jones, the 16-yard champion, Scott Lanters, handicap winner and Scott Oberloh won the doubles.
“It’s a lot tougher shooting under pressure. When it all clicks you can’t miss and some days you just can’t hit anything,” Lonneman said.
http://www.dglobe.com/main.asp?SectionID=30&ArticleID=6316&SubSectionID=87
Phil....
My powder can is one with a false bottom in it, an inch from the top. I flip it upside down real quick so the wet powder falls out, leaving me an almost full 3#'s of dry powder left in the can.
Colt
Well jw, I do seem to attract em, so I dampen the powder a bit, in order to save the big fireworks for the First of the 'New' Year. No sense in walking into the bar with guns a blazin'. Plenty of time to do that down the road. Hopefully, we can all keep this board civilized. No comments needed by the left on that statement.
Colt
Gun club's Silver Shoot hits the mark
Monday, July 28, 2003
By Chris Vogtman DAILY GLOBE
cvogtman@dglobe.com
WORTHINGTON — The smell of gun powder and the crack of guns was in the air, which is not how many people would describe the sights and sounds around them on a Sunday afternoon.
But to the 65 men, women and children participating in the 12th Annual Worthington Gun Club Silver Shoot it was more than that.
It’s a chance to perform a sport they enjoy and mingle with friends they rarely see.
“It is a really good way to practice under pressure,” said Glen Lonneman, the president of the Worthington Gun Club (WGC). “It’s a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
“I enjoy seeing the different people and meeting my friends so I can give them a bad time.”
His duties during the Silver Shoot include watching shooters at the line, keeping score and making sure they are properly and safely handling their guns.
“The sport really takes a lot of hand-eye coordination and is fairly physical,” Lonneman said.
Many people participating in the event are not currently members of the WGC, but hardly ever miss a Silver Shoot.
Doug and Renee Vrana, from Westfield, Iowa, have been enjoying the sport ever since they were married and have shot in several Silver Shoots.
“This is a really good family sport,” Renee said. “We like traveling around together and shooting at different gun clubs because each club has different backgrounds and targets are thrown different.
“There are a bunch of good people here and we have a lot of good friends at this club.”
Renee pheasant hunted with her brothers before she met Doug, but Doug really got her into target shooting, she said.
“I saw all of the trophies and thought it would be fun,” Renee said.
Doug’s uncle taught him how to shoot and hunt at a very young age.
“I’ve been turkey hunting since I was knee high to a grasshopper,” he said.
Although many shooters come from all around the area, the WGC members still are the favorites to win.
“We have a home team advantage,” said Jason Collin, a WGC member and six-time Silver Shoot participant. “It’s really fun to see a lot of good shooters.”
The shooters that beat out the rest of the competition were Dave Stearns, the high overall champion, Giles Jones, the 16-yard champion, Scott Lanters, handicap winner and Scott Oberloh won the doubles.
“It’s a lot tougher shooting under pressure. When it all clicks you can’t miss and some days you just can’t hit anything,” Lonneman said.
http://www.dglobe.com/main.asp?SectionID=30&ArticleID=6316&SubSectionID=87
Counting down: Don't let the hot weather fool you, deer season less than two months away
Jul. 27, 2003
BY BRYAN BRASHER
Staff Writer
It seems almost silly to talk about deer hunting with the mercury still rising into the mid-90s and the winter clothes still mothballed in a remote corner of the closet.
But as distant as the July heat makes it seem, deer season in the Chattahoochee Valley is rapidly approaching.
Just 48 days from now, on Sept. 13, archery season will begin in Georgia. It will be followed closely by the state's primitive weapons season on Oct. 11 and finally by the firearms season on Oct. 18. Alabama's deer seasons, which have historically started later than Georgia's, will begin on Oct. 15 (archery), Nov. 19 (primitive weapons) and Nov. 22 (firearms).
Local hunters -- if they haven't already -- will soon begin counting the minutes to opening day. At the same time, they'll be hoping for a far more successful season than last year.
"Last season was a lot slower if you compare it to the years before that," said Lee Kennamer, a wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. "We all were seeing deer and there was certainly no shortage of deer in the woods. But it wasn't the kind of record-type season that we've all gotten used to the past few years. You just can't have a record season every year."
Is wetter better?
One factor many people blamed for last year's sluggish hunting conditions was lack of precipitation. Deer seasons in Georgia and Alabama began in the midst of a parching multi-year drought that caused food plots to wither and stunted the growth of acorns and honeysuckles.
This year will be different. Though many experts insist our region is still experiencing drought conditions, rainfall numbers are drastically higher in Georgia and Alabama at the seven-month period than they were this time last year.
But is wetter necessarily better?
"It will certainly be better for the deer," Kennamer said. "There is an abundance of browse (natural food sources) in the woods. And with more to eat, the deer will obviously be a lot healthier."
Normal rainfall amounts also make deer less susceptible to blue tongue and EHD -- two viruses that cause varied numbers of fatalities among the whitetail herd in both states each year.
But despite a long list of positives for the deer, more rain isn't likely to be a plus for hunters.
"The deer will be a lot more spread out because there are more places for them to find food," Kennamer said. "That won't help hunters much. And I imagine there will be places in the woods that are harder for us to reach. What was a little trickle of a creek last year might be a real creek now."
Law and order
In addition to a changed landscape, hunters in both states will open the 2003-04 deer season with several new regulations to adhere to -- especially those who hunt deer with dogs.
For the first time, Georgia landowners and lessees will be required to purchase a permit to hunt deer with dogs on their property. The permits will only be issued to those who have 1,000 contiguous acres, and the permit number must be displayed on all vehicles used to transport dogs and on the dogs' collars.
A season permit can be purchased for $100 and a 2-day permit for $25. Only one permit is required for each tract of land.
In Alabama, hunters will be treated for the first time to a special primitive weapons season that begins on Nov. 19, three days before the commotion of the traditional firearms season.
"Hunters who use muzzleloaders will have a three-day advantage this year," said Allan Andress, chief enforcement officer for the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. "It's just part of the trend in Alabama toward more liberal deer seasons."
Three counties in Northwest Alabama and parts of four counties in Southeast Alabama have been closed to dog deer hunting. But no counties in the Chattahoochee Valley will be affected.
Contact Bryan Brasher at (706) 571-8501 or bbrasher@ledgerenquirer.com
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/enquirer/6393575.htm
Duck call making becomes labor of love
By TODD VINYARD
July 24, 2003
Buck Gardner and Fred Hinkle love the sound and look of duck calls. It's a passion that comes through loud and clear.
For Gardner, a world champion duck caller, the one-time hobby is now a business - Buck Gardner Calls - that seeks to be innovative and still reach the average duck hunter in price and ability to blow the call.
Hinkle's search into the history of duck calling led to his company, Wild Calls, Ltd, which strives to make calls that are pieces of fine art and remind collectors and hunters of older days.
Talking with each of them means being introduced to what seems to be a labor of love - making good duck calls.
Gardner, of Memphis, Tenn., is known in duck calling circles for winning the 1994 World Championship and then achieving the Champion of Champions honor the next year.
He started a waterfowl business in 1986 that produces Arkansas-style calls that can blow when wet, and also compact discs on duck calling.
After some health problems, Gardner is back full time doing what he enjoys most - making duck calls and taking them to the mass duck hunting audiences.
"I love what I do," Gardner said. "To be able to do what I love is a real blessing."
Gardner is excited about his newest duck calls, The Double Nasty II, Tall Timber II and Fowl Mouth. The new polycarbonite calls are $19.99 each retail.
"We've been taking a lot of time in making these calls," Gardner said. "We have duck calls that sell for $124, but these new calls are for people who want the durability and sound of an acrylic call without the high price."
Gardner's company also makes goose and deer calls.
Hinkle of Oakland, Tenn., likes the challenge and history of call making, too.
After buying some property at Reelfoot Lake, Hinkle began learning the history of duck calling.
He studied the work of Victor Glodo. Ducks Unlimited Magazine calls Glodo (1850-1910) one of the founding fathers of American duck calls because his design was the first to survive in its original form to the present.
Hinkle and his son-in-law Roger Brakefield began producing calls that would try to live up to those original finely crafted calls.
"It takes weeks to produce a hand-made call and we know will never get rich selling them, but that is not the point," said Hinkle, whose price list shows calls from $59 to $840. "We want to make calls that stand the test of time and are remembered."
That craftsmanship is showing up in awards for Wild Calls Ltd. A call that Ty Black and Wild Calls Ltd produced together, the Tennessee High-Ball six-pack, won second place from the National Call Makers and Collectors Association this year. The set consists of six, three-inch calls. Each call is made of a different wood, from mahogany to hickory. Another call from Wild Calls Ltd, the Golden Tongue match set, took first place from the National Call Makers and Collectors Association. And the company picked up an honorable mention at the National Wild Turkey Federation Convention this year for a match set.
"Seeing people blow duck calls that they didn't think they could is a great thrill for me," Gardner said.
ON THE WEB: www.buckgardner.com and www.wildcallsltd.com.
- Contact Todd Vinyard at vinyard(at)gomemphis.com.
(Todd Vinyard is outdoors editor of The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., at http://www.gomemphis.com.)
http://www.caller.com/ccct/recreation/article/0,1641,CCCT_805_2132825,00.html
Comedian Jeff Foxworthy Buys 2,000 Acres
Jul. 25, 2003
Associated Press
HAMILTON, Ga. - Comedian Jeff Foxworthy bought 2,000 acres of hunting and fishing land in west Georgia, ending speculation that the area would become a golf resort.
Foxworthy, 44, closed the deal earlier this week in Atlanta. The price was not disclosed, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported Thursday.
The sprawling preserve includes streams, two lakes, a pond, kennels and silos. It also has an octagonal barn that has been converted into a lodge that can sleep 21 people.
Best-known for his "You might be a redneck if..." jokes, Foxworthy starred in the NBC sitcom "The Jeff Foxworthy Show" from 1995-97.
"It means a lot to him to be able to give this farm to his children," said Phebe Robertson, whose father, Harris County businessman Cason J. Callaway Jr., owned the property.
Foxworthy and his family "are real nature lovers," Robertson said. His family had a farm when he grew up. He and wife, Pamela, have two daughters, ages 11 and 9.
California developer Bill Phillips at one point had a contract with Callaway to build a golf resort community called Heritage at Callaway Farms but the project never materialized.
The Callaway family is a major landowner in west Georgia, home to Callaway Gardens botanical site.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/6384094.htm
Message To Jerome Kersey From The Spurs:
If Paul Allen and Mo Cheeks decide they can't use you...c'mon down...we'll put you on our payroll, even though you played most of your career in Portland. But, you helped us get the Trophy in 99 and you are one of the truly good guys of pro sports, and the Spur fans here would welcome you with open arms. We'll convince Peter Holt and Coach Pop to spring for the coins.
The NBA needs to get quality people like Mo Cheeks, Terry Porter and Jerome Kersey back into the NBA to put a stop to all the street-gangstah-rap-crap that is presently going on!
Colt, a big fan of Jerome Kersey....
Thanks Phil. I'll try to keep my powder somewhat wet so as not to cause too much of an explosion. <ggg>
Colt
Right you are, M-M. After so much bad press from the so called know-it-alls (National Sports Writers) that write crap daily, the Loyal fans of Portland deserve to have Jerome on the sidelines as an Assistant coach. He and Terry Porter came to play Every night without any BS. You just don't see that attitude anymore by some of these high priced/paid jerks.
Colt
NLionGuy, I feel the change in the air. Fall is approaching. Ksquared's Michigan is highly thought of by the prognosticators. I wish Texas wasn't even in the Top 25, much less the Top 10. I prefer to catch teams looking past us, but, then, I'm kind of sneaky that way. LOL
Colt
Yep, NLionGuy. The old Greenback does tend to make Hypocrites out of humans. LOL I agree with you...
Colt
Well said, Greg. You also said......
"Feel free to talk amongst yourselves." ... on a political board where everyone brings out their cannons? ROFLMAO
Colt
Excellent post, CM. Right on the mark. e/
LOL, TH. Two Funeral homes I plan on passing up when my time is up.
Colt
You'd definitely be on the winning side, Ksquared!
Colt, no match for the little wifey!
The physical challenge...yep, it is definitely worth it. After physical activity, one always feels better both mentally and physically.
The privacy...again I agree. I would not want to live in an apartment complex. Not so much because of all the people but, almost weekly, another apartment complex goes up in flames and the tenants lose everything. I need my space, for sure. Like you, we're far enough away from the big city, yet still close enough to the big city, if that makes any sense. And from what I've seen of your area, that'd be where I would be if I lived in New Jersey.
Colt
Yep, Ksquared...
it has been nice this summer, watching most of America attaining higher temps than we do. Down here it can be 87 degrees and up in Dallas it'll be 100+ degrees. We are lucky because we get the nice cool Gulf breeze that starts fizzling out North of us. The annual average of 69 degrees is great but, I sure wish we could get a few days of New Jersey snow in the winter. Not much, but a few days of it would be nice.
OK, I'll keep my generous offers to myself. And here I was planning on coming up to get rid of your ground critters, mow and trim your lawn, paint the garage and trim on the house, wash and wax your car, and cook us some Mesquite Grilled Tejas Longhorn Lean Beef. And Hell, I was even going to furnish a couple cases of Bud. Ice cold ta' boot. But, since you don't want any more of my generous offers, I guess I'll have to drink the ice cold beer and watch my wife wash and was our vehicles, mow and trim the yard and paint the barn. It's a TUFF life but, someone has to see that it gets done. <GGG>
Colt being choked by my wife....HELP!!!!
Same down here, Ksquared...thanks to Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson. 95% of the billboards in Texas are within city/county limits. Lady Bird has over the years fought hard to eliminate them altogether and has been successful in getting rid of all the old wooden billboards and/or any kind of signage along the highways that don't have proper and very expensive permits. Once you leave a metropolitan area all you see is beautiful countryside (except for the annoying Super Giant size Oil company/convenience store 'Next Exit' sign). However, in the big metro areas like Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio-Austin there are enough along all the major Interstates and Freeways running around and through these cities. Here in San Antonio there are too many for me on Inner Loop 410 and the newer Outer Loop 1604. Most of the modern day highways skirt around the small towns which keeps them and the countryside pristine. The problem is when you take the 4th largest city in America, Houston, the Greater Houston area contains 8,778 square miles - more than eight times the size of Rhode Island or 1360 square miles bigger than the Great State of New Jersey, one can see a lot of billboards just going to work. Dallas isn't much different. There are laws in place to eliminate future billboards, but, many existing ones are Grandfathered. Hopefully, Old Gramps will kick the bucket soon! Gramps the Law that is. <ggg>
In todays cyber-world, we get more than enough advertising. TV, for example now gives us 15 minutes of program and 15 minutes of advertising per 30 minute show. Newspapers and magazines are no better. I say DOWN With The FRIGGIN Advertising <hope no one here is in advertising...LOL>! I know what I want/need to buy and when/where to buy it. If I don't I can either make a phone call or look it up on the internet. But do away with popups and billboards. We've pretty much done away with telemarketers, thankfully.
The Tax paying Citizens of New Jersey (NHL World Champs) and Tejas (NBA World Champs) <I knew I could get that plug in there somewhere> prefer to keep our states Lean and Green! And I'm sure that the good folks of Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Arizona feel the same.
OK, off my soap box.
Colt
Big Ten says investigation of refs is finished
By Rob Riva
Daily Collegian
(U-WIRE) CHICAGO -- Penn State got what it wanted. Yet, Joe Paterno is still unhappy.
After last season's public criticism of Big Ten officiating by Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and other coaches in the conference, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said a formal review of the situation has been completed.
"[The review] was done," Delany said. "What we did was benchmarked officiating practices of other division one conferences compared to what we were doing. We went to the NFL and compared against ours. We got all of the coaches into a room and came up with some recommendations."
Delany said in two weeks the Big Ten will hold a press conference and issue a press release on the findings of the comprehensive review of the league's officials.
Unlike previous years, the conference's referees' names are not printed in the Big Ten's media guide for this season. When asked about the omission, Delany said he did not know why the names were not included.
Paterno, one of the coaches who pushed for a formal investigation of the conference's referees said he was unaware the Big Ten was releasing the official report. However, he said it was out of character for him to make his complaint publicly.
"It's not my style [to go public with criticism]; I thought somebody had to say, 'Hey let's take a look,' " he said. "Unfortunately some people took that as a suggestion that we had dishonest officials. I did not intend it to be that."
Paterno said he realizes the officials make mistakes, but he felt some of last year's calls were, in effect, calls that changed the possible outcome of a game, including those in the overtime loss to Iowa and regulation loss to Michigan.
"It was not easy for me to be critical, because I used to say the day I coach a perfect game, then I'll expect officials to officiate a perfect game," Paterno said. "And I have never coached a perfect game."
One solution to the officiating issue is the use of instant replay. Paterno said he has not always been in favor of instant replay, but the last couple of years he has changed his mind.
While he now supports the idea, Paterno said the decision is ultimately in the hands of the athletic directors. Sunday, he made a reference to an unnamed Big Ten athletic director who opposed the installment of instant replay in college football games.
"I find it very difficult when one particular athletic director gets up who has never played football and says 'I'm a purist'; he's never been with a bunch of kids who have worked their butt off the entire week," Paterno said. "They play their hearts out, and then all of a sudden the game is taken away from them. The only difference about the person I am speaking about is that he has good intentions."
© 2002 Daily Collegian via U-WIRE
Big Ten season approaches with raised expectations
By Kyle O'Neill
Michigan Daily
(U-WIRE) CHICAGO -- Ohio State defensive tackle Darrion Scott casually played with his phone while answering questions last Thursday at the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon. No one was calling him, but the picture on the video screen was enough to occupy his sight as he gave verbal responses to many of the same questions for two hours.
The photo was of the Buckeyes' national championship ring.
While it's a nice ring to look at, it also serves as a reminder that the Big Ten had its first debate-free national champion since Ohio State won it all in 1968. Michigan, of course, split a title with Nebraska in 1997.
But last year's title was more important for the conference as, coupled with the Big Ten's 5-2 postseason mark and Iowa's BCS bid, it put many critics of the conference to rest.
"As far as football is concerned, we had a great year last year," Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said. "We are able to compete both at the national level and also have quite a bit of shared competitiveness within the conference."
Yet, even with last year's success, just one preseason publication (Phil Steele's College Football Preview) has put Ohio State on top heading into this season. Though the Buckeyes return 10 of their 11 offensive starters (fifth-year senior offensive lineman Ivan Douglas is now medically unable to play this season) and Scott, defensive end Will Smith and corner back/receiver/returner Chris Gamble, the other magazines have put Oklahoma, Miami, Auburn and Texas ahead of the Buckeyes.
"It's only paper, but it hurts," Scott said of not being picked to repeat. "When we're down, people really like to jump on us. I don't know if it's the Big Ten or Ohio State, or what it is. I don't know why people don't give us the respect we deserve."
This wouldn't be the first time that the conference has faced criticism after doing well. The Wolverines, in the final year of pre-BCS football, failed to win an outright national title after winning the Rose Bowl. The coaches' poll, which had Michigan No. 1 going into the bowl season, voted Nebraska as champion in the final poll. Also in 1994, Penn State went undefeated with a Rose Bowl win, yet when voters had to determine a national champion, it was just the Cornhuskers who would wear the crown.
That's what made last year's win for Ohio State so big for the conference. By becoming the first Big Ten team to win the BCS title game, the Buckeyes put to rest any doubts that the conference wasn't among the nation's elite.
"This is the upper echelon of college football, and there wasn't a better example of that than of Ohio State winning the national championship, Iowa going to a BCS game and our impeccable bowl record," Northwestern running back Jason Wright said. "That's why we all came here -- to be a part of it."
As for this season, with many teams returning so much talent, it will be tough to select a Big Ten champion. But for now, Ohio State has been selected to repeat for good reason. Michigan and Wisconsin were Nos. 2 and 3 in the preseason conference poll. No other positions were announced.
"I think everybody will at least have one loss," Michigan State running back Tyrell Dortch said. "Everybody's got everybody coming back this year and we've got the defending national champions coming in the conference as well. It's going to be a great time to compete in the conference."
© 2002 Michigan Daily via U-WIRE
Penn State football looks to reload key spots
By Rob Riva
Daily Collegian
(U-WIRE) CHICAGO -- While many questions still remain about the Penn State football squad concerning the defensive line and how the running game will pan out, a few were answered Thursday.
On the second day of the 2003 Big Ten Football Kickoff, Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, along with wide receiver Tony Johnson and linebacker Gino Capone, shared with the media their thoughts on various aspects of the upcoming season.
"The only expectations I ever have is to play as well as we can play," Paterno said. "In a lot of ways, last year was a very frustrating season for me because I thought we might have been able to get something done last year."
One of the biggest concerns for the Nittany Lions is on defense. With heavy losses on the defensive line, including defensive tackles Jimmy Kennedy and Anthony Adams, along with defensive end Michael Haynes, a young corps of talent is now scheduled to step up and play.
Replacing the three players, all of whom are now on NFL rosters, will not be as difficult as many people would think, Paterno said. The talent is there.
"The kids that we have on the defensive line are going to be good football players," he said. "Athletically, actually, at this stage, they're better [than the graduated players]. Michael Haynes was not a good football player at this stage. Kennedy was a good football player, but as a freshman was a partial qualifier. Anthony Adams was a fat kid who was a pain in the rear end."
However, when Capone was asked about playing behind a virtually new defensive line, he expressed some concern about the chemistry.
"You bring in a new group of guys, it's a concern because I was used to playing with [the graduated players] for the last two years," he said. "It's going to be a little bit of a concern, but we just can't sit here and dwell on it. We have to go out there and do the best with what we have, and I think we have a lot of talent in the defensive line. I think we're going to do a lot better than what people expect."
Within the linebacker corps, chemistry is one area that Capone said he is very comfortable with.
"We've been together for four years, we're all seniors," Capone said. "I think that is just huge. You talk about the chemistry of the unit, we know each other, we hang out, we're good buddies. On the field, we all know what we can do."
The defensive line was not the only group that suffered a heavy loss after the 2002 season. On offense, the backfield lost running back Larry Johnson, who ran for more than 2,000 yards and set a new Big Ten record for average yards per carry with 8.8, to the NFL draft. Until the current running back situation is settled, Tony said the Nittany Lions' offense plans to air the ball out to the receivers.
"Times have changed, you just can't run the ball 24/7," Johnson said. "We're going to throw the ball until we get the running game going. I don't think that's a secret."
With the departure of Bryant Johnson to the NFL, opportunities to fill the No. 2 and No. 3 receiver spots arose during spring practice. A battle between Kinta Palmer, Gerald Smith and Ernie Terrell has ensued for the spot on the depth chart, and Johnson said Palmer is currently winning.
"You could tell who was hungry and who was not," Johnson said. "Some people want to play, some people just go along to get along. Kinta Palmer has really stepped up his level of play. All the receivers are in the mix, but Kinta has stood up above everybody."
Johnson still maintained a high level of confidence in the receivers who do step up and answer the call.
"I think fans are going to see a lot more of the receivers making big plays," Johnson said.
© 2002 Daily Collegian via U-WIRE
An uphill climb
Stewart Mandel
SI.com
Call it the Battle of the Dueling Teleconferences.
Or just call it what it really is: Jealousy.
On Tuesday, 44 presidents and chancellors representing Division I-A's disenfranchised held a long-scheduled conference call kicking off an organized lobbying effort against the injustices of college football's postseason structure.
The group, led by Tulane's Scott Cowen, bestowed themselves an official-sounding name, the Presidential Coalition for Athletics Reform. They launched a Web site. And in a weird cross between politics and boxing, they challenged the presidents and commissioners of the BCS conferences to a public debate Nov. 11 in New Orleans.
Meanwhile, not coincidentally, the BCS' Presidential Oversight Committee hastily scheduled a teleconference of its own for the day before, effectively telling the media, "Hey, we're willing to listen to anything they have to say," even inviting the outsiders to a meeting Sept. 8 in Chicago. This after opening the proceedings by officially ruling out the one alternative Cowen's group wants most, a playoff.
And, oh yeah, they too launched a new Web site.
Welcome to college football's version of the peasants storming the castle. Only in this case, the castle is heavily, heavily fortified and its inhabitants have a whole bunch of important allies.
The timing for this attempted uprising can be traced to the confluence of several prominent events in college athletics. First and foremost is the impending expiration of the BCS contract after the 2005 season. Understandably, schools outside the six conferences (and Notre Dame) that are currently guaranteed access to the four BCS bowls want greater inclusion when the next agreement is negotiated. The BCS' aforementioned presidential committee held its first face-to-face meeting last month and is expected to begin formulating proposals in the coming months.
But the leaders of the protest movement are pulling out more than just the bowl card. Cowen's group is milking the public backlash generated by the ACC's recent purge of the Big East, as well as the NCAA's new, more restrictive requirements for I-A membership, to suggest that college football's reigning powers are out of control. A couple congressmen are mentioning a possible antitrust investigation.
"It is absolutely classic cartel behavior, totally unjustified," said Buffalo President William R. Greiner. "I look upon the BCS, the Big East fiasco, these new [I-A] requirements as just symptoms of a much larger problem in which we have big-time football now dominating all aspects of athletics. What we have is some people who think they are the 'haves,' and for reasons that escape me ... do their damndest to beat on the have-nots."
The "haves" contend they've become an unfair scapegoat for everyone else's problems. They're quick to point out that little has changed in terms of postseason access -- in the 20 years prior to the BCS' existence, 159 of the 160 participants in the Orange, Sugar, Rose and Fiesta bowls came from within their present membership (the one exception: Louisville in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl). And they've distributed revenue to the other conferences -- about $42 million over the eight years of the contract -- that didn't previously exist.
In other words, beggars shouldn't be choosers.
"I think one of the big issues that has been very unintended, but very much reinforced by the media, is using this term [BCS] over and over again for purposes for which it was never considered," said Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany. "It was simply a way to support the bowl system and to provide a 1 vs. 2 game for the coaches, the players and the public. It's been really difficult for the conferences that don't have automatic ties to the Rose Bowl, the Sugar, the Orange or the Fiesta to constantly hear that they are 'non-BCS.'"
Intended or not, there's no question that the BCS has contributed to a widening financial gap within I-A's membership since its 1998 inception. According to a Chronicle of Higher Education study, the average budget of a BCS-affiliated program rose from $14 million in 1997 to $34 million five years later, with an average profit of about $3 million per school. During that same time, the average budget of I-A's other teams rose only slightly to about $15 million, with the average school failing to break even.
It's no wonder the have-nots are clamoring for a bigger piece of the pie.
However, college football and the BCS don't operate in a vacuum. If this were solely a matter of college administrators sitting in a room deciding what's fair, maybe Cowen's group could effect real change. But basic rules of economics apply to this situation, as they do any business.
"While a lot of this has sort of a political overtone of presidents, commissioners, ADs, coaches and media, the fact is this is really about a relationship between the [TV] network and a conference, and a network and a bowl," said Delany. "We might want to bring forward another conference or five conferences or 10 conferences, but if the network tells us there's no added value ... there will be no one to have the discussion with."
Bidding for the next television contract will begin no earlier than January, said Big 12 commissoner Kevin Weiberg, but don't be fooled. While attending this week's ACC media days, officials for ABC Sports -- which has televised college football for 37 years and, in addition to the BCS bowl games, has contracts with five of the six BCS conferences -- expressed their hope they'd be consulted before then.
And assuming the BCS wants to fetch at least the $525 million it did in the last go-around -- a tall order, considering the state of the economy and declining ratings for televised sports -- you better believe there will be some serious consulting.
"Over the years, the marketplace has established that the major revenue streams go to the bigger schools and conferences because they generate larger audiences," said former CBS Sports president Neal Pilson, now a consultant to the networks. "That has nothing to do with the credibility of their education, nothing to do with the quality of their play, it has to do with the viewing preference of the American public. I don't think the president of Tulane or any smaller Division I or II school could dispute that."
The only guaranteed way to up the value, said Pilson, would be to stage a playoff, which also happens to be the preference of Cowen's group. But Penn State President Graham Spanier put those hopes to rest Monday when he said, "As we look at the [63 BCS-affiliated schools] I just don't think there's any support there at all, and only a couple of people who would be even willing to say 'What if?'"
It's still too early to say exactly where this is all headed. Will there be a fifth bowl? An extra game after the bowls? Will the Big East still be included?
But here's guessing all the lobbying in the world will produce only minimal change on the issue of access.
Currently, a non-BCS team must finish in the top six to be guaranteed an at-large berth; maybe that number goes to 10 or 12. It would be a step forward, but not quite the result being sought by Cowen when he said, "My preference is the BCS would go away completely."
Expansion aftermath continues
If you thought the ACC and Big East had resolved their differences by now, think again.
In his address to the media on the last day of the ACC's media kickoff Tuesday, commissioner John Swofford expressed sympathy for colleague Mike Tranghese and the league his members recently raided while also mentioning that Tranghese had apologized for some of his public comments during the fiasco.
That was news to Tranghese, who addressed many of the same media members at his own league's event the very next day. "I have nothing to apologize for," said Tranghese. "My conference has nothing to apologize for."
Tranghese also dropped this semi-bombshell: If the Big East presidents choose to follow through on a much-rumored plan to split into two separate factions, their commissioner of 14 years will resign.
"I will not choose," he said.
Big Ten not budging
Speaking at their league's media event in Chicago on Wednesday, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany as well as most coaches reaffirmed their disinterest in staging a championship game even if the ACC's proposal to lower the requited minimum to 10 teams passes.
"As I visit with some of the other coaches in leagues that have playoffs, I don't think that there's any excitement about the playoff," said Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez. "Sure, it's a big payoff for one game, but I think it diminishes some of the season. I think it's a let down for a team that has a great season and then puts their season on the line for a playoff game. And it all seems done for no other reason than a paycheck."
Alvarez, coming off a couple disappointing seasons by his standards, found out most people aren't expecting another one. Big Ten media picked the Badgers, which return stars Anthony Davis and Lee Evans, to finish third in the league this season behind only Ohio State and Michigan. The Big Ten does not release picks four through 11.
Wisconsin went 2-6 in the league last season but won all its non-conference games, including its dramatic Alamo Bowl victory over Colorado, to finish 8-6 overall.
Worth noting
Michigan State's Jeff Smoker has yet to be officially reinstated, but Spartans coach John L. Smith admitted this week the senior, whose substance abuse problem last season was well-documented, will probably win the starting job back from redshirt freshman Drew Stanton. ... Michigan's projected starting fullback, Sean Sanderson, has been suspended for the season for "failure to attitudinally do the things academically I expect him to do," said coach Lloyd Carr. ... Pittsburgh garnered its highest preseason selection ever in the Big East's preseason poll, behind Miami but ahead of Virginia Tech for second place. ... Is a change in the pecking order finally in store for the MAC this season? League media recently picked Miami of Ohio, not Marshall, to win the East Division, and Northern Illinois, not Toledo, in the West. ... Hawaii beat out Boise State and Fresno State in the WAC's preseason med! ia! poll.
Stewart Mandel covers college sports for SI.com.
Coaches stress accountability at Big Ten football media day
By Donovan Burba
The Daily Iowan
(U-WIRE) CHICAGO -- Wednesday morning's Big Ten football media day was, for the most part, as predictable as one could imagine. Each coach took the podium, rattled off the reasons that his team would contend for the conference title, then answered a few canned questions from reporters. But this year, the coaches weren't just asked to talk about their players -- they also had to respond to issues of their accountability off the field.
The off-season was unkind to college football helmsmen. Washington fired coach Rick Neuheisal on June 12 for his participation in a basketball gambling pool, and Alabama dismissed Mike Price before he could coach a single game for the Tide because of an alleged dalliance with strippers. Since then, the magnifying glass is on all coaches, something not lost on those in attendance Wednesday.
"I go down to the beach sometimes, and kids want to take a picture with me," said Penn State coach Joe Paterno. "I take a picture with a kid in a bikini, and it might be on e-mail."
Several coaches, including the 37-year veteran Paterno, pointed to the increase in media outlets and the rise of the Internet as a contributing factor to the increased scrutiny. In Price's case, the Internet and talk-radio rumor mills virtually condemned the coach before Alabama could fully investigate the issue. Not all the blame went to the Fourth Estate, however.
"The facts are that in Division I football right now, coaches are paid pretty well," said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who took in more than $1.6 million in salary, bonuses and endorsements last year. "I think there's accountability that comes with that. A university has the right to expect things from the coaches on staff."
Several Big Ten coaches make more than $1 million a year, including Michigan's Lloyd Carr, Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez and new Michigan State head man John L. Smith. Ferentz's coaching brethren echoed his sentiment that more accountability isn't always a bad thing.
"There's more scrutiny with college coaches than the NFL [coaches] because we're still working with young people," said Illinois' Ron Turner, adding that there "probably should be" added accountability.
Smith, hired away from Louisville to rebuild the Spartans, was more blunt.
"It's there; that's the way it is, so you'd better accept it," he said, his voice rising. "We are blessed as football coaches, so there comes a certain responsibility as a coach these days. You had better cherish it and accept it and deal with it."
He concluded with an emphatic, "Do it!"
Only time will tell if his 10 peers can stay on the straight and narrow, but one thing's for sure: If someone does stray, the whole world will hear about it.
Extra Points: Ferentz said a decision regarding the future of offensive tackle Sam Aiello will be made within a few weeks. Aiello was suspended indefinitely for his role in an alleged bar fight in April ... Ferentz also said not to rule out the availability of injured running back Jermelle Lewis for this season, although he admitted that the team was handling the junior carefully. Lewis underwent knee surgery after tearing his ACL on April 1 ... Minnesota coach Glen Mason did not attend Wednesday's press conference because of minor surgery ... Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said the results of the conference's review of officiating, undertaken at Penn State's request, will be released in approximately two weeks.
© 2002 The Daily Iowan via U-WIRE
Big Ten coaches discuss upcoming football season
By Rob Riva
Daily Collegian
(U-WIRE) CHICAGO -- Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno, as usual, did not shed much light on his expectations for the upcoming Nittany Lion football season Wednesday at the first day of the annual Big Ten Football Kickoff press conference.
The yearly press conference provides a platform for the conference's coaches to give a general preview of their team for the upcoming season.
In typical fashion, Paterno declined to make an opening statement, and began his day answering the media's questions. He said he felt that until a game is played during the regular season, the conference championship is any team's to win this year.
"I'm not one of those guys who spends a lot of time on what could be or might be," Paterno said. "I think everybody in the conference will be tough. The thing that has impressed me the most about it has been the quality of coaching and quality of competition. I think it's a very competitive league."
The coaches talked about a wide range of topics including their respective team's strengths and weaknesses, conference expansion and a conference playoff system. Also announced were the Pre-Season Offensive and Pre-Season Defensive Player of the Year, this season going to Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett and Michigan cornerback Marlin Jackson, as voted by the media. Also, the projected top three conference finishers included the Ohio State Buckeyes first, followed by the Michigan Wolverines and Wisconsin Badgers third.
When asked about how good Paterno thought the Nittany Lions would be this year, he said the team still needs some work.
"I think we've worked hard, I think the kids are trying to get good and I think there's a possibility that we can be adequate," he said. "Beyond adequate may be stretching it."
One area that Paterno was pleased with was the quarterback position. Junior Zack Mills has the nod as starter, with backup Michael Robinson also pushing for playing time.
"If there's anything I feel strong about, it's our quarterback situation," Paterno said.
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany took the stage last to close off the day, and talked about the success of the conference. He mentioned the five Big Ten teams that went to bowl games, as well as the growing fan base as evidence of the Big Ten's ranking among the nation's elite football conferences.
"It's been a very interesting off-season," he said. "I think the quality of play and depth of competitiveness is there, both being able to compete at the national level and have a shared competitiveness in the conference."
Delany also put things into perspective.
"It has been an interesting year or so," he said. "There are a lot of external forces that affect intercollegiate athletics. We are at war. We are in a recession. We're involved with expansion, and there's an awful lot going on in the sports pages that's not related to sports but related to people behaving badly."
When asked if the recent expansion of the ACC to include Miami and Virginia Tech generated any discussions among Big Ten officials to ask Notre Dame to join the conference, Delany merely replied, "No."
Delany was not the only one who talked about maintaining perspective when dealing with college football. Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr read an excerpt of a letter from a soldier station in Iraq named Nick Verska. In it, he talked about sacrifice and making the right decisions for others.
"I read this [letter] as a reminder of how lucky we are to be in this great city and to be able to talk about a game," Carr said. "It is a reminder of the importance of the leadership and the decisions that we need to make in intercollegiate athletics for those who play the game."
All but one head coach were in attendance, with the exception being Minnesota football coach Glen Mason who was not present because he underwent corrective surgery on his Achilles' tendon Wednesday afternoon. Minnesota offensive coordinator Mitch Browning stepped in to discuss the Golden Gophers.
© 2002 Daily Collegian via U-WIRE
Big Ten coaches in no rush for lucrative playoff
By JASON STRAIT
AP Sports Writer
July 23, 2003
CHICAGO (AP) -- There doesn't appear to be much interest among Big Ten coaches in holding a conference title game -- even if the NCAA changes a rule to allow one.
A proposal submitted by the Atlantic Coast Conference asks the NCAA to change its rules to allow leagues with 10 or more teams to hold lucrative league title games. Only conferences with 12 or more schools, such the Southeastern Conference and Big 12, are currently allowed to play title games.
There are 11 teams in the Big Ten.
``I don't think that I've heard any discussion that would lead me to believe that if it were possible, we would do it,'' commissioner Jim Delany said Wednesday at the Big Ten kickoff. ``While it might clear up some things competitively, it also might undermine some things competitively.''
A conference championship game could generate $10 million to $15 million for the Big Ten, but Delany said there isn't a groundswell of support for it among coaches or administrators.
Delany said coaches fear a title game would diminish the importance of season-ending matchups -- such as the Michigan-Ohio State game -- that have existed for decades in the Big Ten.
``As far as a playoff, I'm not really for it right now,'' Illinois coach Ron Turner said. ``I don't really see a need to have a playoff in the Big Ten.''
The ACC expanded to 11 teams on June 30, when Miami and Virginia Tech dropped out of the Big East. A major reason the ACC expanded from nine members was to be able to hold a revenue-generating football championship game.
The movement in the Big East and ACC led to speculation that the Big Ten would consider adding a 12th member.
Administrators discussed the possibility earlier in the year, but Delany said no one felt an urgent need to shake up the Big Ten.
``There's no strong sense of having to add, nor is there any fear of (losing schools),'' Delany said. ``We're in a very fortunate, healthy situation in light of this change and chaos that occurs in and around us.''
Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez isn't a fan of the title game.
``As I've visited with some of the other coaches in the leagues who have playoffs, I don't think any of them are very excited about (it),'' he said. ``I think it diminishes some of the season and I think it's a letdown for the team that's had a great season, and then puts their season on the line for a playoff game.
``The reason, and the only reason, is for a paycheck.''
OSU coach questioned on academic probe
By JASON STRAIT
AP Sports Writer
July 23, 2003
CHICAGO (AP) -- Ohio State coach Jim Tressel will do more to emphasize academics in the football program following a report that star running back Maurice Clarett received preferential treatment in classes.
The university opened an investigation into the allegations after The New York Times reported that Clarett was allowed to take two oral exams to pass a class.
``Maybe I need to do a better job of making sure we keep pounding and pounding and pounding the importance of academics and the importance of doing things right,'' Tressel said Wednesday at the Big Ten kickoff.
``I think we do a great job of that at Ohio State. I don't have an ill conscience about that whatsoever. But I also know that I can do things better and I believe we'll keep working on that.''
The Times reported that Clarett passed African-American and African Studies 101 by taking two oral exams. An associate professor told the newspaper she worked directly with Clarett and administered the exams after he walked out of the course's midterm exam in the fall quarter. The instructor also said several players claimed tutors occasionally wrote their papers.
Clarett, picked as the preseason offensive player of the year in the Big Ten, rushed for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns last season -- both Ohio State freshman records -- and played a key role in the Buckeyes' national title run.
Tressel said he had not read the Times story and wouldn't comment on the allegations.
``There are certain things that are expected of our (athletes), academically and socially,'' he said. ``When someone starts saying that perhaps we're not doing those as well as we can, then it's like any other thing.
``When they tell us we're not throwing the ball as well as we can, we go figure out whatever it is that we're not doing as well, evaluate the validity of it and go to work on it.''
The university has set up a committee to investigate athletes' academic performance and relationships with tutors and faculty.
The defending national champions were selected by sportswriters and broadcasters to repeat as Big Ten champs -- though Tressel spent scant time answering questions about his football team.
After several queries about the academic probe, a Big Ten moderator told reporters ``we'll take one more question -- please make it a football-related question.''
The Buckeyes return 11 starters on offense to a team that finished the season with perfect record but plenty of close calls.
Ohio State won the national title in double overtime against Miami, was trailing Purdue in the closing minutes before pulling out a win and needed overtime to beat Illinois on the road.
``I think our guys are fully aware of the fact that we were very fortunate in some ways. You can go right down the schedule,'' Tressel said. ``We didn't walk right through 14 games. I would like to think that we'll have the maturity to understand that.''
Michigan, which finished third behind Ohio State and Iowa last season, was picked second in the Big Ten. Wisconsin was third.
Michigan cornerback Marlin Jackson was selected as the preseason defensive player of the year. The junior has 98 tackles and six interceptions in his first two years with the Wolverines and was a second-team All-American last year.
The Wolverines also return quarterback John Navarre, who showed dramatic improvements last season and will be a full-time starter for a third season. Michigan returns 15 starters.
The Badgers, 8-6 last season, could get a big boost on offense with the return of standout receiver Lee Evans.
Evans, who set a Big Ten record in 2001 with 1,545 yards receiving, tore ligaments in his left knee during the Badgers' 2002 spring game. He later had a second operation on the knee.
Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said Evans should be ready to go.
``When you have one of the best football players in the country, let alone one of the best receivers, obviously that has quite an impact on a football team,'' he said.