Notre Dame, You're not what you think you are.

The truth is a hard thing to accept especially if you're a "storied" program like Notre Dame. Most people of the 21st century can't recall the glory days of Knute Rockne, The Gipper, The four Horseman and the national championships of days gone by. Much like washed up superstars of any sport, Notre Dame is living on what they once were and not what they are.


Legendary figures like Knute Rockne and Ara Parsegian have been featured in numerous documentaries, movies and news reports extolling their greatness. It seems as though Notre Dame fans, administrators and media fail to realize that big time football has certainly evolved. It's almost as if the school's administrators haven't heard about the invention of electricity. Are they aware that fire has been discovered? Obviously the world of big time college football is still flat in South Bend.


Notre Dame has been through 4 coaches in 18 years since winning their last national championship in the 1990's. Lou Holtz recruited players like Tony Rice, Raghib Ismail and Jerome Bettis. The 1990's hailed the slow death of traditional powers after the NCAA limited scholarships in the 1980's. Now upstart programs like South Florida can compete with Florida, Miami, and Florida State for top tier talent. (Not to mention every state that gets the sloppy seconds) Gone are the days of Joe Montana, Joe Theisman, and Paul Hornung signing with Notre Dame for their religious and the dream of a playing on hallowed ground.

The Boise State's of the world can go into the living rooms of big time recruits and promise a shot at a decent education. They can also sell kids on how they also play against top flight competition and on their relationships with NFL scouts. Sure a recruit can get all of those things at Notre Dame but why go to a school that plays the likes of Navy, Michigan State and Army. Sure they got Brady Quinn, Arnez Battle, Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate to commit there but all of the men that recruited those great players got fired.

Bob Davie, Ty Willingham and Charlie Weiss were all shown the door after having winning records. Weiss was rewarded a raise after getting Notre Dame to a BCS bowl in only his second season. The ten year extension not only made us scratch our collective heads but it also caused us all to know that this would end pretty ugly. There are some key factors that support my rationale.

1. Every coach that were the "hot candidate" during the eras of Davie, Willingham, and Weiss said thanks but no thanks to Notre Dame.

Guess what Notre Lame fans (sorry but I couldn't resist) its still happening. Urban Myer has said no for the second time. Bob Stoopes is a Deity in Oklahoma. Talented coordinators on both sides of the ball have opted to sign deals as "coaches in waiting" (This is more like waiting to cash in on a trust fund when you turn 40 and you're 15 now)

Mack Brown bolted for Texas after a successful tenure at North Carolina, A school not necessarily blessed with a "storied" history for football. What about Jim Tressel's rise from the Division II ranks. Brian Kelley has climbed through the ranks like Mack Brown and Tressel but Kelley will be more of the same at Notre Dame. (Contrary to what the national media is selling us) He's a skinner version of Charlie Weiss with a lot less arrogance.

2. Notre Dame Athletic Director Jim Swarbick is on the hot seat.

Sports administrators at major college football programs take their fair share of criticisms but not nearly as much as they should. He wasn't the guy that fired Willingham. He certainly isn't the imbecile that decided to give Weiss that ten year extension but that seat will get even hotter after Kelly doesn't get it done at Notre Dame. Sure he's been there 18 months but do you think he pulled the trigger because he thought he had to or did the powerful boosters and alumni pull his chain?

3. Kelly isn't a significant upgrade from Charlie Weiss.

Kelley's teams have dominated lesser leagues offensively. The Big East isn't the MAC or Sun Belt. He will see the likes of USC, Michigan, and Michigan State yearly. Sustained success is not something that we should attribute to Kelly's resume. His tenures at Grand Prairie State, Central Michigan and Cincinnati lasted an average of just over three years. He's smart enough not to promise any "schematic" advantages. He needs to show that he can win close games defensively.

It took a last second touchdown for the Bearcats to put away Pitt. Notre Dame lost several close games this year. They're record could have easily been 8-4 or 9-3. Will Kelly commit to both sides of the ball or will he still depend on his offense to compensate for an inefficient defense? Look for him to do what got him there. What got him there will ultimately seal his fate.

4. Will NBC stay in love with mediocrity?

The allure of tradition earned the program an exclusive contract with NBC. Notre Dame has pulled out some hat tricks under their previous regimes to at least seem some what worthy of exclusivity but what if Kelly gets shown the door? What if the occasional 10 win season gets old? Any thing's possible but I don't expect Notre Dame to loose their big time deal. The contract buyouts alone for Weiss in 18 million dollars. Tack on what they had to pay Willingham and Davie to go away, that's a strong indicator that this program has money to burn. Their contract with NBC runs through 2013.

The first year will yield some excitement for change sake but it will take at least two years to recruit the type of players that can run his system. This isn't Cincinnati! Notre Dame still remains one of the top academic institutions in the country. He will find out what Bob Stoopes, Urban Myer, Jon Gruden or any other big name coach already knows. Notre Dame though powerful and mighty at most points in its history, can no longer competed in the new world of college football. It's just that simple. Let the countdown began for the coaching search that will start in 2014.

What's the exit strategy for Tiger Woods rebuilding his public persona?

I've read several columns by some of the giants of sports writing and was very intrigued by the death sentence that most of them pronounced over Tiger's career. What's strange is that these people have written about Tiger's greatness much like the disciples wrote about Jesus in the gospels. But the cruel irony is that most of the writers all remind you more of Judas more than Matthew, Luke, Mark and John. Tiger has to do a better job of choosing his twelve apostles the next time.


Let's face it, Golf is a country club sport being dominated by a 30 something year-old black guy. The PGA tour's wagon is hitched to Tiger Inc. Woods is the most prominent golfer in an environment that governs the socioeconomic landscape. Some of the most sinister and ferocious business deals are decided over a golf game. This is where the strategy of gradual progress(or the appearance of it) takes place for a multitude of industries. It's where Fuzzy Zoeller can make jokes privately about the masters menu and no one would say, "Cut it out." All of us are different people privately than we are publicly, So why the outrage?


Is it just me or is the coverage of sexual scandals perceived differently by the public? Country club men like Mark Sanford, Elliot Spitzer, Jim Nance, Rodger Clemens, Bill O'Riley and John Edwards draw a different type of indignation from the media. Men like Kwame Kilpatrick, O.J. Simpson, Michael Jordan, Isaiah Thomas, Kobe Bryant and now Tiger Woods (yes Tiger Woods) experience a different public flogging than their white male peers.


In 21st century America, do we still consider Black men as the only sexual deviants? Is Tiger's crime really jungle fever gone wrong thus some of the venom? By the looks of Tiger's mug shot, Elin defied a lot of the stereotypes attributed to the sweet innocent blond. She went off the deep end like most faithful broken hearted women do. (Cue up Jasmine Sullivan) Look for Tyler Perry's Diary of a mad Swedish woman in the fall of 2010. I know, I know I'll move on because this is a sports column right?


So far Tiger has taken some steps at redeeming his image. Here's some key factors to why Tiger will bounce back.



1. The latest statement to the media makes him appear more human than robotic.



Somewhere in middle and urban America, there's a man who identifies with Tiger about compromising his values. Tiger's story was fascinating before but the admiration for Tiger reaches a new plateau. Few will acknowledge or even try to understand how not being wanted can either motivate or send a person on a downward spiral. At first, He was just inspired by Tiger's plight to fulfill his Dad's prophecy of someday ruling the world of the country club's most sacred and prominent sport. Besides this man can probably tell you a thing or two about not being wanted. Especially in certain professional environments. He's even taken some golf lessons to align more with the spirit of what Tiger does and represents. This is way to rub elbows with his peers in his chosen profession. Despite the hostility he perseveres, destroying the stereotypes by performing at a high level equal or even superior to his peers. So for this guy, Tiger Woods will always be a hero because he understands Tiger's real challenge.



2. The public's outrage or lack there of will dictate how fast Tiger recovers.


Don Imus lost his job because the wrong ears heard a very bad but funny joke. (Don't tell me you didn't laugh just a little bit at Imus) The people that defended Imus blamed Al Sharpton for the firestorm but a man with a perm will never have that much power. Advertisers pay attention to whats good for the bottom line and not necessarily to whats politically correct. If enough consumers stop buying Nike's because of Tiger's affair, then and only then will Nike cease its longtime relationship with Woods. Besides they wanna "support" him through this firestorm. God forbid that Reebok swoops in like a knight in shining armor after Tiger successfully repairs his image.


3. America loves a comeback story.


American pop culture has its moments of temporary insanity. We have a fanatical love/hate relationship with our heroes and sheroes. We can to turn on them like faster than a New York minute. Especially after they've exceeded our proverbial limit of success we think they ought to have. Michael Jordan retired after his gambling issues surfaced during the 1993 playoffs. His 1995 return propelled him to new levels of popularity.


Kobe Bryant's return to popularity after his very public fall from grace is even more remarkable. Bryant's rape allegations had an O.J. Simpson like feel to it. He even implicated Shaq during his questioning causing most to still clown him in certain social circles of the NBA. (If you could be a fly on the wall when Kobe's name comes up in a black barbershop you'd really understand) Now after five plus years, Bryant has produced an NBA title. Coupled with MVP awards for the NBA finals and regular season, Kobe has rebuilt his image and regained his endorsements.


Alex Rodgriguez has survived steroid allegations while still playing baseball. Helping the Yankees to a world series and finally peforming in the clutch has temporarily silenced that that scandal. Didn't Nascar quietly settle Maurcia Grant's lawsuit? It's about strategy. A publicist is a public figures best friend.


So all hope isn't lost for Tiger Woods. Reportedly he's changing his prenuptial agreements, getting counseling, and skipping his charitable tournament to prepare for the comeback. If you're over thirty this should remind you of the first line of LL Cool J's 1991 hit "Mama Said Knock you out". LL was wrong about not calling it a comeback. For Tiger it is.......

What does Maturation of Vince Young mean for the future of the Tennessee Titans?

Bud Adams isn't the crazy old owner after all. Vince Young defied the criticisms of many(including the guy writing this column) analyst that downgraded his ability to just win football games. Statistics can never fully explain the magic that Young brings to a football field. Sunday's two minute drill was eerily similar to that drive against USC in the 2006 national championship game. I've never doubted Vince's ability to create the magic we saw Sunday. In fact I believe the Titans coaching staff put a muzzle on "VY" after his rookie season. I've bought into the theory of the Titans coaching staff being paritially responsible for Young's slow development (That's another column coming soon)


Matt Leinart watched Young take away yet another win that was right in his grasp. Leinart played a great game considering he hasn't played meaningful football in over a year. The Titans coaching staff have finally learned to cater a game plan to match the talent of Young. NFL coaches of times past and present are known to be stubborn to a fault. In their defense, every coaching move is scrutinized and some of them lose their jobs on perception more so than by the reality of the situation. I know that the coaching staff look like geniuses now but not so fast. (I promise to write about this because I still have serious beef with them)


Of course wins and losses matter but the intangible qualities that produces winning football got lost in the shuffle. A 13-3 record can cause most teams to overate themselves. The biggest mistake made by Coach Fisher was handing Kerry Collins the job without competition. Training camp competition creates a culture of precision, chemistry, camaraderie and respect. Yesterday's performance by Young and his young receiving corp silenced the sentiment of Chris Johnson being the only way the Titans were pulling off this streak.


"C.J." was still up to par with another explosive day but Kenny Britt, Jarret Cook and Lavelle Hawkins all took a huge step in their own maturation process. Quarterbacks become great when they can lead by example in the huddle, on the practice field and in their preparation in the film room. Great offensive coordinators have to be bold enough to install packages that fit their personnel. Credit Mike Heimerdinger for finally recognizing this. Many local and national analyst have blamed Young for not using his legs more. But he doesn't call the plays. There's a distinct difference between how VY was coached in his rookie year to the second year. The VY that we're seeing now has come full circle.

Norm Chow and VY were the scapegoats. This year is proof positive that Young hasn't been coached to his full potential. (I promise I'm not writing that other column) Sunday was a coming out party that caused even Merril Hodge to take back some of his harsh words. (I wonder will Jason Whitlock do the same? He did it for Rush Limbaugh but I digress)


The fourteen month layoff for Young was probably the best thing to happen to him. The untimely death of Steve McNair may have centered his life in a way that most of us will never know. Young has decided to take an active role in McNair's sons lives. A sense of responsibility can bring balance, purpose and focus for a young man like Young. All of the criticism was a lot for him to take considering his track record of winning at every level he's ever played football. Now he seems to have great understanding of how to deal with life as a professional and its showing on the football field.

The layoff has been the catalyst to his maturation as a person, as a professional football player and locker room leader that his most staunch supporters expected him to be. Young must continue to be a sponge because NFL defensive coordinators stay up late too.. It's a fact of life in a league that really stands for Not for Long and not the National Football League.


The Titans organization must continue to make good on personnel decisions in order for this team to become a perennial contender year after year. Young needs to pull a page from all of the great franchise quarterbacks. He needs to spend the summer with his receiving corp. This will further cement the relationship with his teammates and force Fisher to open things up.


The defeat of The Arizona Cardinals is a signature win for the Titans and for Young. This could be a precursor of things to come. Teams must now account for Young being able to beat you with his arm as well as his legs. Young has silenced the critics at least for another week with a performance line that reads 27-43 387 yards and a touchdown.

The Titans travel to Indianapolis to face Peyton Manning (An MVP candidate) and a Colts team that beat people from multiple angles. If the Titans pull to a .500 record against the Colts, it expands the reputation of Young and further makes Jeff Fisher look inept in his decision making. If that happens look for that column I've been trying not to write to appear real soon.

Which 10-0 team will blink first?

The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are the class of the NFL featuring two of the most dynamic quarterbacks in pro football. Manning is a first ballot hall of famer and is a serious contender for another MVP trophy. Manning is completing a blistering 69.7 percent of his passes and is already over 3,000 yards passing for the season. Brees is no slouch either. The San Diego Chargers let him walk not because he couldn't play but because they had invested a first round pick in Phillip Rivers.

Brees's shoulder injury raised some valid concerns as well. The Saints took the risk when other teams with huge needs at quarterback took a pass. Both the Colts and Saints present unique qualities that explains their uncanny success in a league that is ultra competitive and changes with the next trend. The Saints had a few close calls including a couple of come from behind victories against the Dolphins and Panthers.

Manning's theatrics at the line of scrimmage is legendary while Brees is as cool as a summer breeze in the pocket while shredding defenses to pieces. Robert Meachem, a first round pick out of Tennessee has blossomed under the offense and tutelage of Sean Peyton's system. Marquis Colston has continued his stellar production while Jeremy Shockey has returned to a shadow of what he once was as a rookie with the Giants.

The Colts have had some young players step in from the last few draft years that make Peyton look more dominate than ever. Bill Polian and the Colts organization have not missed a beat with rookie head coach Jim Caldwell. Pierre Garcon sounds more like a designer shirt(Gordon Gartrell for Cosby show fans of the eighties) than an NFL receiver. The amazing thing about Garcon is that he is from tiny Mount Union College, a division III powerhouse that regularly appears on national television during the dead period between the end of the season and the shanigance of the BCS bowls.

Most football junkies don't even watch those games but pro scouts sure do. Garcon saw limited action last season and benefitted from watching Reggie Wayne and Manning work. Now he has become another sure handed weapon for Manning. Along with 30 catches and 3 touchdowns, Garcon is the find of the decade for the Colts. Austin Collie and Anthony Gonzalez are great compliments as well, while Dallas Clark continues to put up big numbers at the tight end position.

The running games of both of these teams get overshadowed by their passing games. Joesph Addai is still a powerful and instinctive runner that blocks and catches the ball out of the backfield very well. Reggie Bush is a classic scat back that reminds you of an overpaid and over hyped version of Dave Megget. Mike Bell is a classic north and south runner that takes the pounding Reggie Bush rarely takes in between the tackles. He is the perfect compliment to Bush's skill set, allowing Sean Peyton to keep defenses honest in their quest to account for all of the weapons on the field. The Saints running game is 5th overall in rushing yards. That's shows that the Saints are just a passing team. They have a healthy balance due to being ranked 6th overall in the league in passing yards.

The Colts survived the brutal test of Ray Lewis and Baltimore Ravens, edging the Ravens by less than a field goal. They are easily the class of the AFC south but face a feisty Houston Texans team that wants to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Then they host a rejuvenated Tennessee Titans team led by Vince Young and the dynamic Chris Johnson. The Colts schedule down the stretch isn't as challenging as it may seems. However it does present a cause for concern.

They will play Jacksonville on the road in December, a team that they beat by two on opening day. The Denver Broncos and New York Jets are both reeling from fast starts, while the Buffalo Bills look like cream puffs. The Colts could conceivably go undefeated considering whats left of their schedule. But this is the NFL and on any given Sunday, a 1-14 team can get that second win against a team that's been the class of the league all year.

The Saints have a Monday night showdown against the New England Patriots. Then they travel to Washington D.C. to meet the struggling Redskins on Dec. 6th. The following week they travel to a reeling Atlanta Falcons team that is missing their star running back Micheal Turner. In closing out the season, The Saints meet the Dallas Cowboys at their new state of the art Taj Mahal posing as a football stadium. The Boys lead the brutal NFC East division and look pretty motivated to win their first playoff game since 1996. Tampa Bay is still hapless and Carolina is searching for answers at the coaching, quarterback and receiver positions.

The Saints are more likely to lose before the Colts considering they've played down to lesser competition. The Colts on the other hand have blown out guys they should have beaten and survived against .500 teams like the Jags and Ravens. Monday Night will be a true test for the Saints. These two teams would be a dream come true to see in the Superbowl. The last decade has seen quite a few wild cards advance and even win the the coveted Lombardy trophy. Records go out of the window when the playoffs kickoff. Let's see who survives at season's end.

Bud The Terrible!!!!!

Maybe you thought the double gun salute was for Ralph Wilson, owner of the Buffalo Bills. Bud actually threw those "guns" several times. Smart business men like Adams probably have forgotten more about keeping their thoughts concealed than the average human. He took the fine because he wanted us to know that he's heard the frivolous comparisons to Al Davis, Jerry Jones, and Daniel Snyder.

Adams is a proud oil man who took a calculated risk when he decided to be one of the charter members of the old AFL. He knew what he was doing when he outbidded other NFL owners for the services of Warren Moon. Adams and Floyd Reese pulled the trigger on drafting Steve Mcnair which planted the seeds for the eventual dismissal of Reese. Bud went "gangsta" again with ordering the selection of Vince Young third overall in the 2006 NFL draft.

After things went south with the Titans in the 2009 season, Adams stepped in yet again with his directive to Jeff Fisher to put Vince in the game. Nationally most analyst thought that Young was left for dead. In most of our minds, Young was an overrated, immature, overpaid and living up to the prophecy of Merril Hodge.

The legend of Vince Young still loomed large in Texas. Bud Adams may have moved his team to Nashville but still resides in Texas. That could explain why Bud isn't easily influenced by the boo birds that have doubted Vince Young from day one. Not that he would anyway but sometimes owners and coaches are influenced by what they hear from analyst in the media. Bud has seen more of Young than all of the experts nationally and locally. Adams saw the intangible quality in Young that most analyst will never see. Vince Young is competitive and he will do what it takes to win.

He brings a unique dynamic that keeps defenses off balance. An 0-6 start reminded Bud why he drafted Young in the first place. Bud reached down in his bag of Do as I say and not as I do and surprised the league by demanding that Young get some playing time. Young Quarterbacks will experience ups and downs before they find some measure of success. Mark Sanchise(Sanchez) has had 2 games this year where he's thrown for 3 or more interceptions. Several of Sanchez's interceptions have been returned for touchdowns.

Young's draft classmate Jay Cutler has already thrown more interceptions than he did last year. Matt Leinart has yet to unseat the ageless Kurt Warner. Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Jason Campbell, Phillip Rivers and Eli Manning have shown flashes of brilliance (Manning has a Superbowl) but they all have struggled at some point during their development. Vince Young's inspired play has confused the wise while making Bud Adams and others who believed as he did look smart.

Young looked like a poor man's Randall Cunningham Monday night against the Houston Texans. Cunningham threw a better ball but seemed to lack the talent around him to help move the Eagles to the next level. Can you imagine what a young Cunningham would've done with a running back of Chris Johnson's caliber? Couple that with the recieving corp he eventually played with in Minnesota. (Chris Carter, Jake Reed, Randy Moss) Ben Rothlisberger, Steve Young, Steve Mcnair, Steve Grogan and Fran Tarkenton are names that come to mind when I scan the hallowed halls of football history. These guys were hybrid quarterbacks that benefited from having sure handed receivers that could catch a ball from a mobile quarterback.

In time Vince Young can become the next great mobile quarterback but he's got to have the proper support around him to pull it off. Steve Young had Jerry Rice, J.J. Stokes, Terrell Owens, Brent Jones, and Rickey Waters. McNair had Derrick Mason, Drew Bennett, Eddie George and Frank Wycheck. With the exception of Chris Johnson and Kenny Britt, the Titans have missed in the draft terribly on young players that could help them be dynamic. Mike Heimidinger has done a great job with preparing Young to be successful but they've got to open up the offense more.

One wrinkle that can be added is more naked bootlegs. The Pittsburgh Steelers do a great job with using Big Ben in all sorts of bootlegs, using him under center and allowing him to throw on the run if a play is sniffed out by defenses. Pittsburgh's receiving corp led by Hines Ward are some of the most sure handed receivers in football.

If I'm Vince Young, instead of envying the games of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees, I'd be studying tape on all the great mobile quarterbacks. Expecting Vince Young to be a pure pocket passer is like expecting Ike Turner not to beat Tina. Good luck with that. It is the responsibility of the Titans coaching staff to draft, develop and devise schemes that caters to the strengths of the personnel that they have.

Bud Adams has had to pull an executive decision but mysteriously the Vince Young of 2007 and 2009 look totally different. Sure his success can be attributed to a variety of things, however the play calling from those two season look an aberration. Where was this in 2007? Did this contribute to Young's meltdown? Some fans are even asking why not sooner in 2009? These are questions that will never be explored or answered. Winning has a way of making people forget such glaring details.

For Now, Bud the Terrible's final word has proved yet again that he knows something that we didn't. Young has shown us that his talents are better served for the schemes the Titans want to run. So the next time we doubt Bud Adams just remember that a 250,000 dollar fine and a flip of the double bird is what he really thinks of our opinions. At 4-6 the Titans have salvaged some pride but it does leaves some questions as to what might have been. So we've been warned. Bud the Terrible can strike at anytime. Analyst and fans be damned......




Apparently there are certain decisions

Should College Coaches be held accountable for their players behavior?

The University of Tennessee recently dismissed Nu'keese Richardson and Mike Edwards from the team. Nyshier Oliver, in an unrelated incident was also arrested for shop lifting on November 7th. Oliver is a redshirt freshman that's expected to contribute to UT's rise to prominence next season. Jansen Jackson a third party in the botched robbery, wasn't aware of the activities of the other freshman. Jackson remains on the team but is suspended indefinitely.


Coaches have a huge responsibility in managing the behavior of players off the field. Is it just me or does its seems as though the player gets a slight pass. Can a coach be there with a kid 24/7? Most college football coaches pour their wisdom into these kids weekly about making the right decisions. For some the message sinks in but for others the message seems to go in one ear and come out of another. The million dollar questions that should be asked is what led to the dismissal of two young men from the University of Tennessee. Why would kids risk their full scholarships on such lousy decisions as shop lifting and attempted robbery?


It's a simple answer for someone like myself but for many Americans, the explanation of poverty may come across as an excuse and not a diagnosis. In 21st century America, most major college programs are going to give scholarships to kids that hail from some of the most impoverished areas in the country. That's not to say that all kids from poor neighborhoods will make the same dumb decisions that Richardson, Edwards and Oliver did. However it shouldn't be a shock when some of them revert to the behavior of their former environments. Most major college programs give their scholarship players very little money outside of their tuition and meal plan.


A college scholarship doesn't necessarily compensate for the fast paced world of major college campus. Some of these kids are driving luxury cars, sporting the latest electronics, fashions and have access to a disposable income. Often times, that income is provided by hardworking or privileged parents. In some cases these students are allowed to work part time while attending classes. During the football season (which is now year round) how can a "student athlete" masquerading as a defacto pro football player, survive in this new world. Oh sure, take the self righteous high road and beat your chest while spouting off your college resume. Tell me how hard you had to work while you were in college. Never mind that you didn't have the demands of a major college athlete.


Some of these young men rarely have the financial means to interact with their new peer group. Acceptance from ones peer group at any age is still important. It's one thing to be worshipped for your athletic prowess, but to not fitting one's social circle breeds a different under current of pressures that few human beings will ever experience or understand. It leads some to have illegal contact with boosters, agents, runners and yes commit crimes that can cost them their college careers. Ask Jimmy Johns why he sold cocaine on Alabama's campus. What about Teddy Dupay's gambling ring he ran out of his dorm room at the University of Florida.


Criminality isn't the answer to their problems. But 3 squares and a roof over your head is hardly market value when your athletic talent is responsible for contributing millions to a major college program. Why does a major college athlete have to steal when he's apart of university that has unlimited resources. College coaches are caught between a rock and a hard place because they can't help their kids with any tangible benefit outside of the NCAA's archaic rules. A sensible social stipend should be apart of the student athlete's scholarship package, which could alleviate most of the allure of criminality that takes place among some young college athletes.

When college kids makes a dumb choices, then the coach has to fall on the sword for a system that is already fundamentally flawed.( I'm not crying for millionaire college coaches either) Peter Warrick was sidelined for shop lifting a few weeks before the national championship game. This guy was a four year starter. At the time Warrick was one of college football's most exciting players in the 1999 season. Warrick could barely afford to get a haircut, let alone any gear that was acceptable to his peer group. Coach Bob Stoopes had to get rid of freshman phenom Rhett Bomar for accepting cash for work he didn't do.


What about Maurice Clarett's "job" in the summer at Ohio State? Ever heard the story how Reggie Bush's his family "rented"a luxrious home for a year before he declared for the NFL draft? Booster involvement for star players is inevitable considering all of the lifestyle challenges most college athletes from lesser means encounter. Sure defend the rights of the NCAA while forgetting the plight of kids that are supposed to "amatuers". Some of these "student athletes" never get college degrees or fail to reach the NFL.


College coaches are paid to win not raise our kids when they arrive on XYZ campus. Ask Sylvester Croom how fast he was shown the door after having early success and cleaning up the mess of his predecessors. College athletics is smoke and mirrors. Most of us hate to admit it. Most of us are blinded by our fanatic loyalty. Our inherent addiction of seeing our favorite college teams win skews our judgement. Nu'keese Richardson and Mike Edwards will land on their feet. In most cases having athletic ability seems to always write a ticket to the land of second opportunity. Nothing changes in the grand scheme of things because most of us will accept that this is the risk we take when recruiting these types of kids. Boderline recruiting violations are also an accepted practice by those who aid their respective programs with whatever resources deemed neccessary to keep the program on top.


Coach Mark Mangino of the University of Kansas, is now under fire for his harsh treatment of his players. Is he really under fire for that or is it the 5 game losing streak that the Kansas administration is really concerned about? Rich Rodriguez dodged a bullet at Michigan after allegedly holding extra practices outside of the mandatory 20 hour limit. Now that Michigan is 5-7 , does their fan base care about the percieved whining of its players? These two coaches aren't a full representation of college coaches who care about their players. But where is the meaningful dialouge that should be taking place? It's easy to write troubled athletes off as bad apples but what about the system itself? Any self respecting college sports fan should be able look at the recent events at Tennessee and compare them to these three factors. The misconduct of some college coaches, the sinister underworld of recruiting, and the riches of the NCAA. How do we sit back and blame college coaches? Rich Rodriguez and Mark Mangino still have their jobs but for how long?



Coach Kiffin didn't commit a cardinal sin in extending troubled kids a chance at a better life. It's one thing to have lax rules that aren't enforced by the coaching staff. Apparently that wasn't the case. These young men made their own choice to go against the commitment they made to the team and a fresh start towards the future. Yet the perfect storm of being away from home, struggling to adapt to college life and having limited resources is the perfect explaination of why see these types of choices are made by young men affiliated with major college sports. As the old saying goes, Don't hate the player hate the game. Obviously we have it backwards. WE hate the players but love the game.

Put a contract on it! Why the titans should lock up Chris Johnson to a long term deal.

Chris Johnson is the NFL's leading rusher. The Titans allowed Albert Haynesworth to hit the open market over one million dollars. After being franchised for the 2008 season, Haynesworth met the terms of the one year deal and signed for the richest contract for a defensive player to date with a contract worth over 100 million dollars. Beyonce Knowles, the sultry and seductive songwriter has coined a phrase synonymous with disgruntled ladies that are trying convince their man to marry them or find greener pastures. It would be horrendous to see CJ get a free agent contract from another team that's willing to "put a contract on it."

How does that sentiment resonate with Titans fans? Management refused to "upgrade" Haynesworth, a move which has affected the Titans this season. A 3-6 record creates an atmosphere of doubt but at the same time creates an expectation of whats to come for future seasons. The inspired play of Vince Young and a do everything super stud in Johnson would definitely keep season ticket holders happy. Arguably Johnson is the best running back in football. Sure Adrian Peterson is in the discussion but CJ doesn't have to play second fiddle either.

Jeff Fisher has gotten his wish. He has the "final" say so on all personnel drafted or signed as free agents. His love affair with defensive backs is evident. He was on board with locking up seventh round pick Courtland Finnegan. SO how about the Titans doing the same for an offensive player. Since 2006 his decisions have been marginal at best. Taking Chris Henry in the second round was a complete debacle.

Trading valuable early round picks for Jared Cook hasn't quite panned out either. Electing to go with rookie Byron Mouton over veteran Mark Jones was genius as well. How about allowing Chris Carr to hit the street? What about not bringing Rod Hood in until the season was all but lost?

Chris Johnson will be going into his third year in 2010. He is one of the few bright spots in Fisher's tenure as the prime decision maker on draft picks and free agent signings. Why not offer him a fair market value contract of the top running backs in the NFL now? I can understand the hesitance of offering Haynesworth a contract but the Titans can ill afford to go bargain basement with Chris Johnson. Johnson maybe the most dynamic player in Tennessee Titans history. Most local analyst have had trouble finding a comparable comparison to Johnson.

Barry Sanders has been mentioned but I see him as a hybrid of Marshall Faulk and Tony Dorsett. Like Faulk, Johnson can line up in the slot or take it to the house from scrimmage. He's still not the traditional "north and south" runner like an Adrian Peterson. Johnson's vision is special which gives him time to adjust to the holes created by his offensive line. Like Dorsett he strikes fear in the opposing defensive coordinators heart, causing defensive staffs to scheme specifically against his unique gifts.

Bo Scaife was franchised after leading the Titans in receptions. Franchising C.J. would be a bad P.R. move considering how productive he's been. Johnson has the type of talent that comes once in a generation. Speed is an intangible that can't be coached. It is certainly a skill set that smart organizations include in their evaluation process, in particular when determining which players can help them when that elusive Superbowl championship.

Securing C.J.'s services is a now brainer. Vince Young is definitely benefiting from playing with him, the fan base is in absolute awe of his speed and talent, And this young man has the goods to carry this franchise for at least another 5 to 7 years. With so much uncertainty at Quarterback this is the wise investment that Bud Adams, Jeff Fisher and Mike Reinfeldt have to make. Say with me Titans fans, Put a contract on C.J.!

Johnson has a bright future in this league barring any serious injury. Conventional wisdom says that they Titans have learned from not resigning Haynesworth. These aren't Floyd Reese's Tennessee Titans. Mike Reinfeldt and Jeff Fisher may go through several franchise tags with Johnson before its to late. If they do that then we become the jealous guy in the club that had Beyonce but didn't commit. Can you blame Jay Z? I could see Daniel Synder or another playmaker starved franchise getting down on one knee after the first date. The NFL season is in the second half so time will tell as always!