College Football Uniforms, Part 1: The Best Uniforms in the Game

Last night, #3 Boise State and #13 Virginia Tech (based on today's AP Poll) played a great game. There were big plays, lead changes, and anyone who tuned in last night got a match-up that lived up to the hype.

Something else fans saw were new uniforms by both teams.

Boise State's uniforms didn't really do anything for me, but I didn't have any particular issue with them.






Not the case with Tech's uniforms. I saw them, and immediately thought 'wtf?!?!' I made a joke on my facebook page the other day stating that they looked like they were designed by M. Night Shyamalan. Look, I realize with fashion and :::achem:::"artistic expression," it's a matter of opinion when it comes to whether they are good-looking or ugly. But these uniforms just looked so strange to me.

It made me think, and then I asked myself 'what are the ugliest uniforms in college football?'

To answer that question, a benchmark needs to be set. What makes a good-looking college football uniform?

The best uniforms represent what college football is all about - tradition and modesty. Good uniforms make you feel like you're looking at a photo album from decades past. They should remain relatively true to what previous teams from that school wore. They shouldn't be flashy. No cartoonish fonts for the numbers. No elaborate graphics. No flashy color schemes. Let the NFL teams use all of that to sell their products. The uniform should give off a vibe that these young guys love football, and are about what's good for the team. They don't need flash and glitz. They don't need to be noticed. They just want to play, share in whatever success they achieve, and respect and honor the traditions of the team.

Here are 5 schools that, according to what I described above, have the best uniforms. You'll find that all of them are based around a simple design of jersey color, normal font for the numbers, and a constant logo on the helmet:

Honorable Mention: Division III schools - Almost every small school college football game I've seen, the uniforms are classy. Block letter on the Helmet, maybe the mascot. Simple design. Understated. Here is where you'll find some of the best looks.

5) BYU Cougars - While they are a rip-off of the Yale jerseys, they still look good. The classic Oval logo with the 'Y' in the middle is displayed on the helmet. The rest is simple and dignified.

Here's why these jersey's are special: When the school changed them, it just didn't look right. Back in the early part of the Aughts, the team wore uniforms that looked more flashy and "with it" (whatever that means). The fans never liked them, favoring the traditional style the team wears today. Coincidentally (or not), the experimentation happened when the program hit a rough patch. Once they went back to the old unis, the bowl games returned.

4) Michigan Wolverines- Gold Pants. Wings on the helmet. 878 wins, good for the most in Division 1 FBS.

3) Nebraska Cornhuskers - The simple 'N' on the helmet to go along with the jerseys. Awesome.





2) Penn State Nittany Lions - If you want tradition, here it is. They wear plain helmets with just a single blue stripe going down the middle. Jerseys are a solid navy blue or white, depending on whether they are home or away. What sets these apart is the fact that the players' names aren't on the backs of the jerzeys. It symbolizes modesty. No one is above the team.

1) Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Whether you like them or not, Notre Dame's uniforms make the team look like kings. The gold helmet, the simple, navy blue jersey, and the gold pants make the team look like champs even when they have a losing season. Different from other teams on this list, Notre Dame has an alternate home green jersey that is reserved for special games. As a symbol of unity and modesty, there are no names on the backs of the jerseys. A nice get-up.


So there. Here is what college football teams should look like. My next post will concentrate on the ugly uniforms.

What should we take away from Week 1 of the College Football Season?

Week 1 of the College Football season is almost in the books. The two remaining games are The Crab Bowl Classic (Maryland v. Navy in Baltimore) and The Clash in the Capital (#3 Boise State v. #10 Virginia Tech at Fedex Field in Landover, MD). One is a rivalry game and one pits two ranked programs against each other who have "national championship" aspirations. Save for those two games, we now have something to go by when talking about teams in the context of the 2010 season.

With Week 1 almost in the can, what can we take away?

That's a tough one. Usually, this is the week when teams play the paycheck/tune-up games (whatever your nickname is for them). This year was no different, as there were enough of these games to shake a stick at over the weekend. These games usually don't tell much since the match-ups are usually uneven.

All the same, there was an abundance of interesting things that took place.

Florida struggled against Miami (OH) - In what was supposed to be John Brantley's coronation as the new King of the Swamp, Florida looked awful. They ended up beating the Redhawks 34-12, but the score doesn't tell the story. Going into the 4th quarter, the Florida offense had a total of 26 yards. That's not a typo. There were fumbled snaps. They were 3-12 on third down. Anyone who saw the game also took notice that Miami (OH) (a non-BCS team that plays in MAC) showed up to play, physically going tit for tat with the Gators. For a paycheck game, the Gators got a run for their money (cue the rim shot). Florida has work to do if they're going to be competitive against the SEC teams.

Michigan looked sharp - I know. They won big last year, too, and still had a lousy season. But this is different. This weekend, they played UConn, a BCS team who has an honest shot to win the Big East. They pushed around the Huskies and started to show the makings of an efficient offensive football team. Denard Robinson looked like Pat White, running the offense like an expert. Michigan showed some legit promise of a strong season.

Syracuse looked like a football team - If Encyclopedia Britannica had an entry on Bad Football, there'd be footage of the Greg Robinson Era streaming from the book. On Saturday, the opening game of Season 2 of the Doug Marrone Era, Syracuse beat the Akron Zips 29-3. The Orange displayed efficient offense, swarming defense, and looked like a tougher, more physical team. The Akron Zips are not exactly the Alabama Crimson Tide, but this was a win on the road, something the program has had difficulty with in recent years. The road to respectability is paved with victories over the teams you're supposed to beat, and this was a promising sign.

Nobody cares about USC - They played Hawaii late Friday night. There was no headline about their underwhelming 49-36 win over an average-at-best Hawaii team. None of the big network analysts talked at length about their game. To editorialize a bit, I say 'good.' They aren't eligible for a bowl game. They aren't eligible to play for the "National Championship" even if they do finish undefeated. They have little bearing on how the year will end, other than to play the role of the spoiler. Why they are ranked confuses me.

Texas Tech won without Mike Leach - Tommy Tuberville walked into a tougher situation than one may think. He took over at a winning program, making it somewhat hard to get players who already know how to win to buy into his new system. According to ESPN's Holly Rowe, there was a considerable amount of backlash from the parents of the players due to Leach's actions against redshirt Sophomore Adam James. If that wasn't enough, the fan base liked Leach, and were upset over his ouster. But, the Red Raiders went out today and beat a talented and feisty SMU team. The game didn't show any evidence of insubordination or defiance on the sideline. From the looks of this win, the team seems to be on solid ground from a standpoint of organization and structure. As far as the fans go, wins will ultimately decide whether they will embrace Tuberville, so today's victory is a step in the right direction.



We'll see what Week 2 brings.

Big Ten Football Rivalries, BYU going Stag, New Music for the Fall, and a 'Bon Voyage' to Jake "The Snake" Roberts

Sorry for the long gaps between posts. The creative process is a tricky thing.

I have some thoughts on some random things:

-There's been some concern recently with the new Big Ten expansion. The issue that conference officials are dealing with right now is upholding football rivalries. The fear is that when the conference divides into two divisions, the importance and integrity of rivalries will go by the wayside.

To me, you can't have your cake and eat it, too. If the conference wants to have a title game, there needs to be some flexibility. For example, when the Big 8 expanded to become the Big XII, The Nebraska-Oklahoma Rivalry, once a heated and storied one, was modified due to both schools being put in different divisions. Instead of playing yearly, the game was played every other year. I think the Big Ten should look at this circumstance as model to establish some sort of compromise. The conference has 14 rivalry games. While I think there is a unanimous sentiment that Michigan-Ohio State should be kept in tact, conference officials shouldn't treat this like rocket science. It would be impossible to play each game every year when the conference gets split.



-BYU is considering leaving the Mountain West Conference to join the Western Athletic Conference as an associate member. The school would be a member in all sports but football, with the goal of being an independent in that sport. Essentially, BYU would try to be the Notre Dame of the west, hoping to eventually get easier access to the BCS.

I think this idea is hair-brained. Look, BYU is a solid program. They play quality BCS teams, they are good for a bowl game each year, and they may be one of the only non-AQ schools that gets top-flight talent. Additionally, BYU has great tradition, with a national championship, a Heisman Trophy winner, and great rivalries. They are also on their own network, too (BYUtv). According to Trevor Matich of ESPN, BYUtv is in 50 million homes, and is now available in HD.

There is only one Notre Dame. Notre Dame is to college football what The New York Yankees are to baseball. They may be down, but the program represents everything important about college football. Plus, Notre Dame is a much bigger cash cow. Their fan base is enormous and travels well for bowl games and neutral-site games. They have a TV contract with NBC, a national network. While I'm not a fan of Notre Dame, facts are facts. Notre Dame is a draw.

With the BCS, BYU shouldn't hold their breath. Notre Dame needs to be ranked in the top 8 to be considered for a BCS bid. The other independents, Army and Navy, need to finish in the top 2 to be considered for a BCS bid. For a school in a non-BCS conference to get a bid, they need to either finish in the top 12, or finish in the top 16 and ahead of a BCS conference champion. If this is about the BCS, they would have been better off staying in the MWC.


-The Fall Season seems to be bringing some good new music from some metal bands.

Zakk Wylde amicably parted ways with Ozzy, and his band, Black Label Society, released, in my opinion, one of their best records, "Order of the Black." The album showcases great riffs, great solos and Wylde's songwriting talent (a big reason why he had a job working for Ozzy for over 2o years). There are one too many ballads, and they hurt the flow of the record a little, but as a whole, good work here.

The Sword put out "Warp Riders,"a concept album about a tidal-locked planet in which one side has constant darkness and the other has constant sunlight. This record is a little different from their first two. The band seemed to take a chance and expand their sound a little, giving some of the songs more of a hard rock/groove feel, a little less darkness. The record is very atmospheric. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot. In general, fans get upset if a band tinkers with their sound at all, but the band did it well here by keeping everything good (The Sabbath-y riffs, the retro sound) and adding some new things that give their sound a newer, fresher color.

If this was 10 years ago, and Iron Maiden put out a record, you could bet money I'd have it the same day it was released. Times have changed. In the past decade, the band has changed their sound and style quite a bit, going in a more progressive direction. Their latest album "The Final Frontier," is more of that. I did not buy the album, but, with an open mind, I did hear all the songs online. I'll give credit where it's due; the record is more in line with "Brave New World" than it is with their last two records. The album has some solid moments. Overall, this record was so laborious to get through. While Iron Maiden records have always been complex and intricate, the songs were still fun to listen to. Almost all the songs were pretty long, a sign of production issues. Maybe I'll buy it, but it's not a priority. It's sad to say that about a Maiden record.

-PWinsider.com reported this week that Jake "The Snake" Roberts has retired from the wrestling business after 35 years. The video can be seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye3ImhrcaY0&feature=player_embedded

In the video, Roberts (whose real name is Aurelean Smith), after a match in Watertown, NY, thanked the fans, talked about his father's recent death, and then cited health as reasons for hanging it up.

Roberts is probably best known for his two stints in WWE (1986-1992,1996-97), when he wrestled some of the biggest names in the business. Never known to have a great body or great athleticism, Roberts had a high aptitude for the performance part of the show, giving eerie promos and excelling in ring psychology.

After he fell out of the spotlight, Roberts fell on hard times, which was documented in the film Beyond the Mat. Throughout his career, he has battled alcohol, drug, and sexual addictions. He has spent the latter part of his career kicking around the independent circuit.

My hope is that Roberts is considered for the WWE Hall of Fame. I would consider him to be one of the best wrestlers ever in the business, and if Pete Rose and "Sensational" Sherri can be inducted into the Hall, surely they need to include Roberts.

Bon Voyage, Jake.

The Time Has Come For Me To Eat a Little Crow

This past Sunday, TNA put on their ECW tribute pay-per-view, Hardcore Justice. The card was a who's who of old-time ECW personalites. There were appearances from The Sandman, Raven, Tommy Dreamer, Sabu, Bill Alfonso, Justin Credible, Balls Mahoney, Axl Rotten, and The Dudleys, to name a few. The show itself received mixed reviews.

A while back, I blogged about how doing this show was not a good idea for a variety of reasons. While I haven't wavered from that stance, as the title of this post indicates, I do need to eat a little bit of crow. According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter (http://www.fromheadlockstoheadlines.com/2010/08/report-early-buy-rate-number-for-tna.html), early projections indicate that Hardcore Justice had a buyrate in the neighborhood of 20,000 buys. To give a little perspective, TNA's May and June pay-per-views, Sacrifice and Slammiversary, respectively, did about 8,000 buys a piece. While none of these numbers are great (WCW did about 40,000 buys when the end was near), this goes to show that TNA put on a show that wrestling fans wanted to see. While I'm sure some, if not most, of the TNA wrestlers under contract were not happy about giving up a PPV bonus to a bunch of hired guns, the show brought the company some much-needed business.

Pass the salt.

5 Predictions for the 2010 NFL Season

I'm Back. Things were quiet for awhile. But, with football on the horizon, and because I'm getting frickin' pumped, the inspirado is back.

Here some predictions I have for the season:

1. The Bills will stink - I'm not just writing this because I'm a Jet fan. Look at the facts. After they couldn't give the job away, they made Chan Gailey the head coach. Chan Gailey. While there are quarterbacks with starting experience, the position is shaky. Trent Edwards has the swagger of a junior high school girl who has just been cut from the volleyball team. Running Back Marshawn Lynch has had some meshugas, and the team even attempted to trade him. The team is better than you think on defense, but I don't think that will be enough to overcome the issues on offense, and I predict a rough season for Rotten Ralph and the Orchard Park Punching Bags.

2. The Jets will be good, but not great - There's something to be said for team chemistry. Last year's fantastic playoff run was a product of all the new team elements coming together at the right time. This year, the Jets have talent, but also a lot of new faces. If the 1996 and 2008 Jets seasons taught us anything, it's that no team is ever just one or two players away from a Super Bowl. I predict 9-7 with a playoff run.

3. The Raiders will improve a lot - They got rid of Jamarcus Russell. They got Jason Campbell from Redskins, and if he doesn't pan out, Bruce Gradkowski, who has provided a spark to the offense when he's been in, is still on the roster. Not only are they better at QB, but the team has drafted decently, stocking the roster with talented young players. While I don't know what their final record will be, I think the Raiders will surprise some people.

4. The Rams will eventually start Sam Bradford - This team still has a little way to go before they're competitive again. While I'm sure A.J. Feeley, a career backup, will start the season putting his hands near the center's crotch in game 1 against Arizona, I don't see him keeping the spot all season. If and when the Rams' season turns into garbage time, I think the coaches will put Bradford in to get him some experience.

5. The Colts will make the playoffs - As long as Peyton Manning is suiting up for Indy, this will keep happening. He makes that team go, and he'll do it again this season.




We'll see if I'm right.

TNA Wrestling Will Put On an ECW-themed PPV

After reading about it on dirt sheets for weeks, it was confirmed on last night's TNA broadcast that the company will be putting on an ECW-themed pay-per-view with past stars from the company appearing in matches. This will occur at TNA's next PPV, Hardcore Justice: The Last Stand. The blueprint for the event is similar to the one WWE had when they put on One Night Stand back in 2005. Tommy Dreamer, Mick Foley, Stevie Richards, Raven, and Rhyno each appeared last night to make the announcement, so it looks like they are confirmed for the show right now.

So many mixed feelings.

Growing up, I was a big fan of Extreme Championship Wrestling. I, like millions of other wrestling fans, was drawn to the edgy nature of the product. There was violence you didn't see in WWE and WCW, the other two companies around at the time. There were Jerry Springer storylines. The roster was full of wrestlers who gave the fans everything they had night in an night out, whether it was a pay-per-view or a random show at Freeport High School, or some other non-glamorous venue. Wrestling shows are scripted, but when you watched an ECW event, you thought twice about that, if just for a brief moment. In plain English, ECW gave you a show.

While the memories of that time are fond ones, I think doing a show like this is a terrible idea.

Number one, it's been done already. WWE not only put together an ECW reunion show, they brought back the entire promotion and made it part of the company's brand extension in which a certain portion of the roster wrestled exclusively on that show, similar to Raw and Smackdown. The results were poor, with WWE making their version of ECW a glorified B-show. As far as what TNA is planning, I don't understand how it will be any different. What are they going to do that hasn't already been done? It's an unoriginal idea that I feel will yield little results creatively.

Speaking of the creative side of things, TNA already has a show it puts on. The writers and bookers have spent months developing storylines. In fact, Impact has become an entertaining wrestling show as of late . Breaking away from that to do this show kills any momentum the company has been building.

Finally, ECW is the past. Once upon a time, the ECW wrestlers were the fresh new faces of this business, and fans liked them for it. Fans were just as interested in tracking their climb up the ladder as they were in seeing them work shows. Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, and the like were the evil old-timers who drew heat from the fans because they were clinging to the past, refusing to give up their spots to the younger talent. The ECW guys have now become what Hogan and Flair were years ago. They are the old-timers now, selfishly holding onto the past glory from ECW's heyday. This is what I really find upsetting. It's their blindness. There is a new group of talent wearing the shoes that the ECW guys filled years ago. If those old guys really love the wrestling business like they always talk about, they should let go of the past and allow the young talent to grow.

For what it's worth, during the segment on Impact last night, the fans went nuts when they saw these five guys. Their segment drew a phenomenal pop from the crowd. Additionally, the crowd hung on Dreamer's every word when he gave his shoot promo on how he was upset with WWE's version of the the product and wanted closure in terms of ECW being defunct. It's possible I have no idea what I'm talking about, and fans still want to see this kind of show.

We'll see what happens.

A Tale of Two Wrestling Shows

Right now, I'm going to describe two wrestling shows. Both are WWE shows, but have different talent rosters. Each show is about two hours long.

The first show is an exciting one, and a fantastic wrestling show. It has the best young talent in the company featured each week in well-booked, entertaining matches. It has the best veterans who can still work the crowd and put on great matches. The storylines are interesting, drawing the fans into the show.

The second show has more of second-tier, B-show feel. Each week, wrestlers who might be a big deal someday are featured in matches that are supposed to get their feet wet when it comes to being in front of a TV audience. The veterans can still work decent matches, but are clearly washed up, and are only there to put over the young talent. The show is a little predictable, and has a ton of filler.

Most people would probably think the first show I described is Monday Night Raw. Aired live every week, it's in a killer time slot, and has traditionally been the flag-bearing broadcast of the WWE. It's natural to think this would be the more exciting show.

On the flip side, most people would probably think the other show I described is Smackdown. This show is taped, then aired later in the week. Additionally, it is in a horrible time slot, Friday night. If the younger talent is still trying to get used to the bright lights of TV, put them on when not as many people are watching, right?

Surprise! the first show is the blue brand, Smackdown. With arguably the best talent in the company, this show is very fulfilling, leaving you entertained and wanting to know what next week's show will offer.

Believe it or not, Monday Night Raw, at least these days, has become a glorified B-show.

Here's what I'm talking about. Recently, WWE aired an episode of Raw in which there wasn't one single match for the first hour of the show. The matches that did take place were squash material. The storylines were both boring and predictable. If that wasn't bad enough, they had a guest host (Rob Zombie), probably a last-ditch effort to boost ratings. It had to be the worst wrestling show I had ever seen, and that's taking into account that I once saw David Arquette win the WCW Heavyweight Championship.

This begs the question, 'what the hell has happened to Monday Night Raw?' Years ago, this was the best wrestling show on TV. It had some of the most memorable storylines (see 'Austin v. McMahon), there were crazy matches that left the audience agape, and when the show was over, the audience wanted more. That's all a memory.


If WWE wants to have the same kind of success it had back in the 90's, the ship needs to be righted, and Raw needs to return to form.

When did Gordon Gekko Become the Commissioner of the NFL?

I am not a destroyer of Pro Football. I am a liberator of it! The point is, NFL owners, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save the NFL, but will also save our wives from having to go to the gross supermarket across town with the sticky floor. It will save our children from driving Chevy Malibus. I will save us from sleeping with mistresses who look like Artie Lange. Thank you very much.

That was a fantastic speech, Roger. Well-said. However, as the old saying goes, Well-done is better than well-said.

As the NFL season approaches, there is a hot topic among NFL owners, players, and fans. In an effort to increase fan interest, and in turn, increase revenue, there is strong interest in expanding the NFL regular season. Potentially, the NFL preseason, currently consisting of four games, would be shortened to two games. Those two games would be tacked onto the regular season to make it an 18-game season, two more than than the current 16-game season.

This is not Wall Street. This is the NFL. Greed is not good. Greed is bad.

In theory, two extra games could fatten TV revenues. It could drum up attendance. It could increase advertising. Look, I'm not a fool. I'm aware that the NFL is a business, and these days, football is king. But the league needs to consider the ramifications:


Player Safety - NFL players are not dumb. This is a gladiator sport. From the first day each player put on pads, they knew that there was the possibility of injury. But over the course of a 16-game season, playing against the fastest, strongest, meanest players in the game, everyone gets banged up. Adding two more games would put players at risk of further injuries.

It's this issue that makes the move to 18 games seem puzzling. Recently, the NFL has changed some rules to protect players from concussions and other injuries during games. If there is an interest in protecting players, then an 18-game season, and the increased potential of injuries, is not the way to go.

More Contract Disputes - NFL owners think that two more regular season games will bring in more money for their organization. Take a guess where some of that money might be going.

With a longer NFL regular season, the risks that come with that, and the average career of an NFL player, agents and their clients will have more ammunition at the bargaining table when contract talks come up.



Blackouts - According to the NFL's Blackout Policy, if a game does not sell out within 72 hours of kickoff, then the game will not be televised within a 75-mile radius. The deadline to sell out may be extended if there is a big game.

In 2008, there were 9 games that were blacked out due to poor ticket sales. In 2009, that number increased to 22 blackouts.

The economy is in terrible shape. Fans just don't have the money to go to games right now. If blackouts have increased, that means there is an attendance problem. What makes the fat-cat owners think that fans will shell out money for two extra games when they aren't going to the games that are on the schedule now? I'm a few credits short of my MBA, but this seems like a bad business decision.



The Unique Factor - The NHL plays 82 regular season games. Same for the NBA. MLB plays 162 regular season games.

The NFL plays 16 games.

Part of why the NFL is special and unique is the amount of games, or lack thereof, compared to other top pro leagues. NFL teams only have 16 games to state their case.

Even if the NFL added two more games, the amount of regular season games would still be significantly less than the other leagues. The concern here is the precedent it would set. Changing the amount of games would open the floodgates for future season expansions. While this wouldn't be the first time the league has expanded the season, the question here is 'where does it end?' What happens when the owners decide 18 regular season games isn't enough? Do they go to 20 games, and just wipe out the preseason? What happens when the owners want more than 20 games? Do they just make the players play all year? There needs to be a cut-off.


The Preseason is Important.... - ...and I'll explain why.

The NFL is a league of stars. Peyton Manning. Ray Lewis. Wes Welker. Donovan McNabb. Dwight Freeney. Adrian Peterson. You get the picture.

What happens when these stars get hurt? What happens if they retire? What happens if they decide to go to a bar, get crazy drunk, and go Ron Burgundy on some poor girl in a bathroom?

Coaches and General Managers need to know what's in the cupboard. There isn't a developmental league for the NFL like there is for other pro sports. Making matters more complicated is the rule that NFL teams must be down to 53 men by the start of the season, with a few extra players designated as practice squad players. Preseason games are essential in creating valuable depth for the future. These game-like situations showcase the abilities of the back-ups better than practice sessions can.

From a fan's perspective, some of these preseason games can be very entertaining. Because there isn't a 'D-league,' there is no tomorrow for some of the players who get invited to camp, so to speak. If they don't play well, they will ::::::dramatic gasp::::: have to use their college diploma to get a real job ::::::cue dramatic music::::: . While casual fans want to see the stars, they also like to see exciting games with big plays. In the past, during the last games of the preseason (when third-stringers and players who are on the cusp of making the roster get the lion's share of the snaps), players have shown up and given fans plenty to watch.

From a public relations standpoint, where has the NFL been? The preseason can be sold very well. Fans love a good underdog storyline, and the league has a great on in its lap. Here they are, the bubble players. Vying for a roster spot, this is their time to shine. These players have no protection, no guarantees, no sure-things. They are playing for a place to go on Monday morning. Do or die. Now or never. There you go. If the NFL wanted, the preseason could be embraced by fans if the presentation was better.


Greed is Bad.

The Burial of Kevin Nash: A Lesson in Poetic Justice

I caught this week's episode of TNA Impact on Thursday night. It was a solid show. The matches were entertaining. Each segment helped move storylines along in a way that left the audience wanting more. A lot of the top performers worked matches. No complaints. Thumbs up.

There was one brief segment that involved Kevin Nash, and if I had blinked, I would have missed him. Upon seeing the gray-haired Nash, I took a quick drive down memory lane. Remember him? A big star in the 90's, Nash had successful runs in both WWE (known back then as the WWF) and WCW. He had numerous title runs and became a fixture in main events and money matches. His biggest claim to fame is the NWO storyline, in which he teamed with Hulk Hogan and Scott Hall to form a heel faction of "outsiders coming to WCW to take over the company." To date, it is arguably one of the best storylines in the history of the wrestling business.

These days, Nash isn't making the same impact. In fact, he has become buried. He's barely on TV. The moments when he makes it on camera, his segments are largely filler, and his matches are squash matches. When it comes to the fans, you can hear the crickets when he comes to the ring. The TNA creative team recently attempted to modestly push Nash by giving his new faction, "The Band" (consisting of Nash, former NWO colleague Scott Hall, and mid-carder Eric Young) a run with the tag team belts. This came to an end due to the recent firing of Scott Hall from TNA, and Nash has reverted back to his ghost presence.

This is a textbook example of poetic justice. For a time in WCW, Nash was a booker. During his tenure booking shows, he either pushed older wrestlers or anyone who was a buddy of his behind the scenes. In the process, he buried many wrestlers, most of whom were, at the time, young, near their prime, and still looking for a taste of triumph in wrestling. Some of these wrestlers were able to recover from this burial. Among them are Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, and the late Eddie Guerrero, all of whom went on to enjoy great success in WWE. Other in-ring performers were not so lucky, and many careers were hurt due to Nash's shoddy booking.

Look, don't get me wrong. Nash has already had success in this business. Additionally, he is past his prime. His situation is not that severe. However, when Ric Flair, Sting, and Jeff Jarrett are on TV regularly, it has to be a bit demoralizing to Nash that he can't find a role these days.

How does the crow taste, Kevin?

College Coaches Who Need a Big Year or Else (cue scary music)

The College Football season is coming up (Thank Goodness!!!). This is the time of year when there's all this excitement and anticipation. Players and fans are getting pumped up about the season. There are hopes of winning campaigns, hopefully conference championships, bowl games, and if things go the right way, a "National Championship." This is a great time because anything can happen. However, there are a select few who are feeling some pressure these days. Those would be coaches. When you're a coach, your job security is non-existent, no matter which sport it is.

In college football, due to the increased involvement of business, coaches can be hired and friend at the snap of the fingers. With the salaries that coaches makes these days, schools cannot afford to wait it out and see if a head coach will turn around a losing team or if their rebuilding project will yield results. They need results now!

Below, I've come up with a list of head coaches whose teams need to have a strong season or they will be getting the Marsellus Wallace speech from their respective athletic directors. "You leave town tonight, right now. And when you're gone, you stay gone, or you be gone. You lost all your [insert school name here] privileges."

Rich Rodriguez, Michigan - After a few so-so seasons and an embarrassing loss to Appalachian State (an FCS team), the time had come for long-time Michigan man Lloyd Carr to hang it up. In an effort to get with the times and modernize Michigan Football, The school hired Rich Rodriquez away from West Virginia. Considered an expert in the hot, new, trendy Spread Option offense, Rodriguez has had success at each stop during his career as an offensive coordinator or head coach. At West Virginia, he had the program ranked among the elite in college football. In 2007, the Mountaineers were thisclose to being in the"National Championship Game."

His tenure in Ann Arbor so far has been a nightmare, on and off the field. When he took the job, there was a nasty public fight with West Virginia over the buyout penalty in his contract, which was set a $4 Million. The case went to court, and received a lot of media attention. The case eventually got settled, but brought a ton of negative attention on Rodriguez. Then there were allegations of NCAA violations, stemming from players on the team (!) anonymously taddling on RichRod for making them practice too much (there is a set amount of hours that NCAA athletes can practice).

Now, let's talk about the football stuff. So far, Michigan under Rodriguez has not been the best. A pair of losing seasons is all there is to show for it. Most were anticipating an adjustment period for the current athletes to acclimate to the new offense and RichRod's way of doing things. Wait a second........ this is Michigan!!! This is one of the most storied programs in the sport, where some of the best athletes in the country go. In fact, Rodriguez and his staff inherited a team coming off a 9-4 season, including an emotional win over Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators in the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day. The cupboard wasn't exactly bare. The program should be making bowl games at the very least, even if everything isn't exactly in place the way RichRod wants. In 2009, team ranked 59th among all Division 1-A teams in total offense. Offense is RichRod's specialty. That's a bad sign.

There have been some good recruits so far in the RichRod era (see Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson), but if there aren't more wins, there may be another coaching staff in place when they graduate. Rodriquez makes about $2.5 Million annually. The school simply can't afford another non-bowl season. Michigan needs to make a bowl game, any bowl game, or else RichRod will be updating his resume by Christmas.

Ron Zook, Illinois - The Zooker was a questionable hire from the start. Fresh off being fired by Florida after 3 relatively average seasons (by Florida's standards), Zook was brought in to rebuild Illinois after a period of non-competitiveness under Ron Turner. Zook's strong suit is his eye for talent. An ace recruiter, the man can sell ice to an Eskimo. In fact, the 2006 "National Champion" Florida Gators was largely made up of players he recruited while he was at Florida.

Save for the 2007 season, when the Illini won 9 games and played in The Rose Bowl, Zook's time in Champagne has been mediocre at best. Zook's Illini teams have been known for their blowout losses and inept offense. Using his recruiting magic, he has attracted top talent to campus. Unfortunately, that hasn't translated into wins.

Zook's current contract, which was extended twice, pays him $1.5 Million a season through 2014. Whether the school has enough cheese to buy him out is anyone's guess, but at that salary, I'm sure the Board of Trustees expect the program to at least be in a bowl game each year. The Zooker needs a bowl, or else he won't be welcome back at Kam's or any other place in Champagne.

Todd Dodge, North Texas - When a program plays in a non-BCS league, winning a conference championship and going to a bowl game is as good as life gets. In the early part of the aughts, life was awesome for North Texas, a member of the Sun Belt Conference. For four straight seasons, from 2001-2004, the program won the conference title, each time earning a spot in The New Orleans Bowl, one of the Sun Belt's two bowl tie-ins. The magic faded, and two losing seasons followed, costing then-head coach Darrell Dickey his job.

In comes in Todd Dodge. Dodge made his bones in Texas high school football, leading Southlake Carroll High School to a record of 98-11 over 7 seasons, winning four Texas 5A State Championships. Hired for his connection to the local high school programs and his high-scoring Air Raid offense, the expectation was to have a team full of Texas talent, all the while passing the ball on traditionally mediocre-at-best Sun Belt defensive backs. In the process, a return to competitiveness was expected.

Things haven't exactly turned out that way. While his offensive scheme has worked (see UNT v. Western Kentucky, October 31, 2009), there has been little defense. In 2009, the defense gave up an average of 36.4 points per game. To date, the program has not had a winning season under Dodge. While his salary ($265,000 per season) is relatively small when you compare it to other FBS coaches, the concern is fan interest. Fouts Field, North Texas' home stadium, has a capacity of 30,500 seats. The average attendance for home games in 2009 was about 18,228 people. That means the house was about 40% empty when they played. That's not good when the program isn't going to bowl games and getting the payouts. Dodge needs some wins, or else the stars at night won't be shining too bright :::clap, clap, clap::: deep in the heart of wherever Todd Dodge is standing.

Paul Wulff, Washington State - This year, the Pac-10 conference screams parity. Even before USC got punched in the face by the NCAA, a case could be made for almost each program about why they had a shot at winning the conference. All except for one. Washington State.

Hired before the 2008 season, Wulff, a Wazzu alumnus and former letterwinner in football, was brought in to rejuvenate the program after a slew of non-winning seasons. While he had a successful 8-season run at nearby Eastern Washington, a big reason for his selection as coach was his knowledge of the recruiting trail in-state. Plus, who better to steer the program and sell it to 18-year-old kids than a former player?

So far, the program has gone nowhere. Wulff's Cougar teams have have a combined record of 3-22 over two seasons. One of those wins came against an FCS team. It's not just that the team has lost, but most of their games are blowouts. Talent-wise, there isn't a player on Wazzu's roster who could dress for another Pac-10 team. That's not good when you play talent-rich teams like Oregon, USC, and Cal every year.

I'm a big proponent of giving newly-hired college football coaches four seasons to get the program going. This is different. There has not been anything to hang your hat on during Wulff's tenure. He needs to win now, and show that there is promise.

Utah Gets Invited to the Big Boy Table

More stuff happened in the conference realignment saga. It was announced that Utah accepted an invitation to join the Pac-10 Conference (or whatever it will be called once Utah and fellow Pac-10 invitee Colorado begin conference play). Utah will begin conference play during the the 2011 season.

The Winners

Utah - This was a no-brainer for the school. Year after year, Utah has proven that they are a solid program good for a bowl game each year. Twice in the aughts, they grabbed an at-large BCS bid, winning both games and capping off undefeated seasons. However, since they played in the Mountain West, which does not have a seat at the big boy table, they were not voted "National Champions" after those undefeated seasons.

Utah will now have a chance to showcase their ability on a regular basis against BCS teams, which will also give Utah a chance to play for "The National Championship" in the current selection system. The team will also have a shot at landing elite talent from the recruiting trail. The roster is full of solid athletes now, but with an automatic BCS bid in their back pockets, the coaching staff can attract some more elite talent to campus. Business-wise, this gives Utah access to much more opportunities, such as nationally televised games, BCS payouts, and better conference payouts. It also gives the school a chance to market itself in California, which is a big market, and could help grab some fans while they participate in Pac-10 play.


The Pac-10 - Once again, the conference has grabbed another TV market. Similar to the acquisition of Colorado, this gives the Pac-10 exposure in another timezone. This will help when the time comes for BCS bids. As previously noted on this blog, due to the fact that all current Pac-10 teams play in the Pacific Time Zone, their games are usually played later in the day. If a big win happens, it usually plays second fiddle to anything that might have happened on the East Coast or in the Midwest. Having teams outside the timezone will help combat this issue of exposure.

Competition-wise, this adds a great program to the conference, As noted above, Utah has proved that they are legit. Thsi will make conference play much more exciting.


The Losers

Boise State - If the school had held out a little longer, we could be talking about them finally getting a chance to play for "The National Championship." Instead, they took a lateral step and joined a conference that will not help them get into the BCS every year.




We'll see what happens next.

Bands/Artists Who Should Consider Throwing In the Towel

Recently, I heard a new song by one of my favorite bands, Iron Maiden. I got wind that new material from their forthcoming album could be streamed online, so of course, I was interested. I had a listen, and found the song to be very underwhelming and lacking the teeth that their older material had. My first thought after hearing the song was 'these guys need to retire.'

I began thinking about other bands and artists who I think have hung around too long.

Here, I have compiled a list of bands and artists who, based on musical content, touring activity, and gaps between albums, should disband or retire.


Iron Maiden - The group that got the juices flowing for this one. Iron Maiden have been around for over 30 years. One of the original members of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, they went on to have huge worldwide success (one of the few bands from that scene to do so). They made their bones in the 80's, making album after album full of fierce riffs, operatic vocals, clever songwriting, and top-notch musicianship.

In the new millennium, their music has sounded exactly like what it is....old men playing metal. The material lacks freshness, energy, and doesn't have the same sharp riffs that their older material had. The band remains a huge touring attraction, but the best parts of their shows are the classics. No mas.


AC/DC - Formed in Australia by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young in 1973, AC/DC have written some of the greatest songs in rock n' roll. With the help of producer Mutt Lange, the band made on of the greatest records of all time, Back in Black. This record vaulted them to the moon, and went on to become the second best selling record in history.

The case I will make here is similar to the one I made for Iron Maiden. The recent albums don't have the bite of their golden era.

What makes this case different is the time between new records. Black Ice, released in 2008, was the band's first offering of new material in eight years. Connected to this is their lack of activity on the touring circuit during the sabbatical. Were they protesting the Bush Presidency? This time frame says two things. One, they are out of ideas. Two (and I hope like hell this isn't the case), their hearts are just not into making music anymore. I think it's time to retire the schoolboy outfit, Angus.

Ozzy Osbourne - At one time, this guy was a god in the metal business. One of the original members of Black Sabbath, he helped create heavy metal with his dark lyrical content on the band's first few records. Kicked out for partying too much in the late 70's, he went on to have a successful solo career, writing some of the greatest numbers in the the history of the genre.

This is a trifecta of terrible. Artistically, his music has become too generic-sounding. The new material simply isn't special or memorable. Activity-wise, he takes a long time between records, and has dramatically scaled back the touring. For his upcoming record, the plans are for him to do a regular tour. If my years of going to Ozzfest have taught me anything, it's that even if he's booked, he may cancel if he's not feeling well. Ozzy is in his 60's. I anticipate a lot of unhappy fans.

What separates this case is his public image. Ozzy used to be looked at as this bad-ass hell hound. The reality show he was in with his family killed that image, showing sides of him that made him look cuddly and cute. His wife/manager strategically did this to make him more accessible to non-metal fans. Ozzy Osbourne is not for everybody, and that's why he is unconditionally loved by his fans. He's our guy, the flag-bearer for rebellion in a world full of prim and proper squares.

Another image killer is the lawsuit he brought against former Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi. Iommi, who owns the Black Sabbath name, was sued for 50% interest in the "Black Sabbath" trademark, along with profits he made from use of the name. Ozzy Osbourne, in addition to being a symbol of rebellion, is a bit f a working class hero. Growing up in Birmingham, England, he came from a meager upbringing. Osbourne himself feels that his background is partly why fans love him, because he knows what it's like to live from paycheck to paycheck, and sometimes on a prayer. Ozzy is extremely wealthy. Why does he need more money? While the suit was settled, this kills any image of him being a working class hero. Instead, it makes him look like a money-grubbing vulture who filed this suit only after Black Sabbath became a big-time attraction again.



In conclusion, I realize that the men in these bands are older now. I realize people change over the years. These men are in a different place in their lives now. Most have families, and have grown past the whole'18 and Angry' shtick. That doesn't mean the music has to stink.

Another Old Wrestler Joins TNA

Last Night, TNA held their Slammiversary Pay-Per-View. In the weeks leading up to the show, TNA President Dixie Carter made an announcement that during the show, there would be a little surprise. After much speculation, it turned out to be the debut long-time ring veteran Tommy Dreamer.

Before I cut loose, I would like mention that fans (that includes me) still love Dreamer, which was made clear during the show when he came out and he received a good pop, followed by the crowd chanting 'ECW.' One of the original ECW wrestlers, Dreamer gave fans lots of great memories during his time with the company. Every match he wrestled, he left everything in the ring, giving fans their money's worth. He was the backbone of ECW, staying loyal to the company through thick and thin.

Now that that's out of the way, this is a bad idea, bringing in Dreamer.

TNA already has a very full roster. Not only that, they already have a lot of older wrestlers who are past their prime. Dreamer, known for wrestling hardcore matches, has to be pretty banged up at this point in his career. I just don't see what sort of impact he can make right now.

A bigger issue, one that should concern TNA management, is the message that is being sent with all these older wrestlers being brought in. The company is brimming with young talent. These young wrestlers can't be too excited that all of these old-timers are being brought in and potentially stealing their opportunity for airtime. If management isn't careful, they could lose this core of young talent to WWE, where young, talented wrestlers who are in/close to the prime of their career (AJ Styles, Abyss, Desmond Wolfe) are coveted.

It is also worth mentioning that there has been a lot of press on TNA's financial woes. Some of the on-air talent are paid in peanuts, and some have to take a second job to make ends meet. How does it look when there's all this talk of cutting back to save money, but they bring in another big name wrestler? None of this can be good for locker room morale.

This was a poor decision. Flat out.

Reggie Bush? Both Sides of the Issue

There have been two stories that have dominated the headlines in college football. The first being the realignment of the conferences. The second has been the NCAA's punishment of USC. Last Thursday, The NCAA stated that due to the improper benefits received by Reggie Bush (football) and O.J. Mayo (basketball), the athletic program would lose 30 football scholarships over three years, be banned from the postseason for 2 years, and must vacate 14 wins in which Bush participated from December 2004 through the 2005 season.

These sanctions are warranted. The NCAA was quick to punish Florida State and Alabama for their infractions. It was about time the blinders were taken off.

The issue that falls into a gray area is this: Should Reggie Bush be stripped of his Heisman Trophy? In the entire history of the award, no football player has been stripped of the honor. In my opinion, I think the award is the most prestigious individual award in college football, and the classiest individual award given out in all of sports. Every year, a few of the best players from the season are invited to New York City, wear suits, and gather with some of the best players in the history of the sport. At the end of the night, one player wins the award, and from that moment on, his name will live through the years as one of the best to have ever played college football.

I will present both sides of the argument.

Bush should be stripped of the award because...he cheated, and he was caught. Secondarily, the Heisman Trophy is a symbol of integrity. Bush violated the rules of the NCAA. If he keeps the award, what does that say about the trophy? If the Heisman Trust continues to recognize him as a winner, the integrity that the award stands for will be compromised.

Look, there is no questioning Bush's talent. However, when voters make their decision, sometimes they consider what each candidate meant to their team. In the end, he was a detriment. The program had to vacate the wins in which he was apart of. How do you give out an award to a player if the games in which he made his name are not even recognized by the NCAA?





Bush should keep the trophy because...It's very possible that in the entire history of the award, other past winners have also done things that were against the rules. There was a time when college football was dirty. Players may have been given a few bucks from boosters, there may have been some "help" with their grades, etc. Not to pile it on, but knowing what we now know about steroids, and how you can't always tell who's on it and who's not, it very possible that a few past winners may have taken the drug. While I don't condone cheating, and I'm not trying to sully the good name of the award, stripping one player may break down a barrier for other past Heisman contests to be investigated and more decisions to be overturned. If the award is to remain special, the Heisman Trust should stand behind their winners.




There's a lot to consider here. At some point, We will see what the Heisman Trust decides.

When It Rains, It Pours

For some time now, there has been talk about conference realignment in college sports. I was of the mindset that until something happens, all this talk about who was going where was cream cheese. It meant nothing because nothing actually had happened.

Well, this week, stuff actually happened. First, there was news that Colorado would leave the Big 12 Conference to join the Pac-10 Conference, starting play in 2012. Then, the Big 12 was gashed again, this time by Nebraska, announcing that they would join the Big Ten, starting play in 2011. Now, Boise State has announced that they will leave the Western Athletic Conference (The WAC) for the Mountain West, starting conference play in 2011.

Who it benefits

Nebraska - From a business/money standpoint, the payout from The Big Ten is going to be bigger, allowing the program to upgrade the facilities and put money toward recruiting, which in turn, will hopefully put Nebraska back in the conversation about "National Championship" contenders. Geographically, it makes better sense. Nebraska is more of a Midwestern school, closer to Iowa and Wisconsin than it is to Oklahoma and Texas. Speaking of which, in the Big XII, four of the 12 schools are located in Texas. The league office is located in Dallas. To top it all off, the conference picked Cowboys Stadium to host the next three championship games, potentially leaving Nebraska fans holding their corn if The Huskers made it to the game. The Big 12 is a Good Ol' Boy Conference.


The Big Ten - More schools may be added to the conference, but regardless of that, the conference now can have a championship game. With that, league play will extend into December, keeping the conference in the minds of BCS voters when picking participants for the "National Championship Game."




The Mountain West - Thanks to that 2007 Fiesta Bowl, Boise State is a household name, making it an attractive choice for nationally televised games. On top of that, the team is one of the elite in college football. The Mountain West already had a sound reputation with solid programs like TCU, Brigham Young, Utah, and Air Force. Adding the Broncos makes it concrete.




The Pac 10 - The Buffaloes may not strike fear in the hearts of its opponents like they did in decades past, but getting Colorado grabs the Denver TV market. The Pac-10 has always struggled to gain the same kind of exposure that eastern schools have received. Due to the time zone that most of the schools play in, most of the conference's games are played later in the day, sometimes making any big win an afterthought if an eastern school has already had one. It may seem small, but getting a market outside the timezone is big.






Who it Hurts


The Big XII - This spells the end for the conference. Colorado leaving is not a big deal, but Nebraska is a charter member going back to the days of the Big 8. What kind of message does that send to the other member schools? This has opened the flood gates.


Boise State - This realignment could have really helped the Broncos. They've played well enough to attract interest from BCS schools. The Mountain West is not a BCS conference. Their chances of playing in a "National Championship" game are still slim. This offers no benefit competition-wise and does not help their credibility in trying to break into the BCS year after year.



Colorado - Above, I talked about how the Big XII is really a Good Ol' Boy conference with the focus being on the Texas area, and leaving the northern member schools holding their you-know-whats . This applies to Buffalo, but competition-wise, in plain English, they're gonna get creamed. Forget about conference play, last year, the team had trouble with Toledo and Colorado State, both non-BCS schools. While a lot of players in the Big XII come from talent-rich Texas, California has just as much talent, and a lot of players in the Pac 10 come from there. They don't start conference play until 2012, so they have some time to try and beef up the team with players who will help them compete with some of the Pac-10's elite. If not, they better bring Ralphie the Buffalo along on road games and have the handlers lead him over the opposite teams best player.



I'm sure there will be more realignment, but so far, this is how it looks. Stay tuned.