A Hometown Headlines newsletter                 
 

 

 

Bowden loses wins; Favre may start feeling pressure; Duke-UNC basketball: who cares?

(2/9) Apparently the NCAA punishment is final for Florida State. Wins were taken away in 10 sports because of a cheating scandal. Former head coach Bobby Bowden, who retired with 389 wins, was forced to give up 12, so the venerable coach officially finishes his legendary career with 377.

The University of Florida is reportedly looking at former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Corwin Brown to replace George Edwards as the Gators’ defensive coordinator. Edwards replaced Charlie Strong, who took the head job at Louisville in January but Edwards stayed only a month before taking a job with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.

The Minnesota Vikings promised that they wouldn’t be pressuring Brett Favre to make a decision on whether to return next year or not. Now, there’s a different story coming out of Minneapolis. The team wants the quarterback to make a decision by the trading deadline of March 5, so if he chooses not to return, they would have a chance to bring in another quarterback.

Short Shots: Of Georgia’s six SEC losses in men’s basketball, four have been by four points or less . . . And speaking of basketball frustration, Georgia Tech has two away ACC games this week - Miami and Wake Forest. . . The Bulldog tennis team is an amazing 50-1 against Georgia Tech since 1969. . . And as they should be, the Rome 24-0 girls’ basketball team is ranked No. 1 in the state.

It’s a great story that Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints are the Super Bowl champions but remember just a year or so ago, team owner Tom Benson wanted to abandon New Orleans and move the team to San Antonio.

Broken record time: Defending NCAA men’s basketball champion North Carolina lost its sixth out of its last seven games over the weekend, this time to Maryland. The Tar Heels have already dropped 10 games and are one-half game out of last place in the ACC. Says head coach Roy Williams: "I’ve never coached effort. I’ve always coached execution. With this group, I’m having to coach effort." . . . The Tar Heels play Duke this week. I can’t remember when there has been this little buzz associated with what is known as ‘College sports biggest rivalry.’

And now that the Super Bowl is over, we go to Mel Kiper, the NFL draft guru for his top five picks in the upcoming draft. Kiper says Nebraska defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh will be picked first by St. Louis followed by the Detroit Lions taking Oklahoma defensive lineman Gerald McCoy; Tampa Bay will select Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry; the Washington Redskins take Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford; and offensive tackle Russell Okung of Oklahoma State goes to Kansas City.

This is Norman Arey reminding you that Dan Houston and I will be at the Bella Roma Grill in front of State Mutual Stadium Saturday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. with our Southern Sports Roundtable.


Danica Patrick upstages Dale Jr. in her NASCAR debut; Woods out of clinic

(2/8) When Southern Cal football coach Lane Kiffin offered a scholarship to 13-year-old seventh grader David Sills, it made national news. But this wasn’t the first time the big-mouthed coach went after youth. If you remember, he also offered a scholarship to 13-year-old Evan Berry, the younger brother of Tennessee All-America Eric Berry. Of course the question is, will the job-hopping Kiffin be at USC in 2015?

And by the way, although No. 1 recruit Seantrel Henderson, a 6-foot-8, 325-pounder, gave his verbal commitment to Kiffin and the Trojans, the latest rumors say that Henderson is reconsidering and is going to take another look at Miami.

If you were wondering how former NBA superstar Isiah Thomas is doing in his first college coaching job at Florida International, the controversial Thomas has managed a 7-19 mark at the school.

Funny that the day Dale Earnhardt Jr. qualified for the front row of the Daytona 500, he had to take a backseat to open-wheel racer Danica Patrick, who overcame a spin out and finished sixth in her NASCAR debut in an ARCA race in Florida.

Our obligatory Tiger Woods item is that the pro golfer has left the rehab clinic in Mississippi where he was being treated for sexual addiction. Supposedly his wife Erin flew to the clinic and they left together.

Ah, just as we were all feeling warm and fuzzy about former NFL standout Warren Sapp after his lengthy appearance on Dancing With The Stars, the ex-lineman was arrested in Miami on a battery and domestic violence charge.

It’s finally official. Clemson backup quarterback Willie Korn says he’ll transfer to Marshall at the end of the school year.

The NCAA’s apparent intent to expand the Men’s National Basketball tournament from 65 teams to 96 teams would definitely impact college basketball, and probably not positively. It would seem that expanding the tourney by 31 teams would not only dilute the tournament, but would make the regular college season even less important. March Madness is one of the top sporting events in the world. Why mess with success?

Dan Houston and I will be live with our Southern Sports Roundtable at Bella Roma Grill in front of State Mutual Stadium Saturday from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Come by and see us.

This is Norman Arey and I’m really, really tired of hearing about Lane Kiffin.


If you put any stock in college football signing day, Tech, UGA didn't do too well

(2/5) Trying to recap college national signing day in this space isn’t possible but here’s a few pertinent facts. Five of the top 10 recruiting classes belonged to the SEC, led by No. 1 Florida. The Southern Cal Trojans finished a surprising second behind the Gators. The other SEC schools were No. 5 Auburn, No. 7 Alabama, No. 8 LSU and No. 10 Tennessee.

Florida State was the lone ACC team in the top rung as the Seminoles snuck in at No. 9.

It’s worth pointing out that Southern Cal’s top recruit, offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson said he won’t sign until the Trojans appear before the NCAA sanctions committee on Feb. 19-21.

Three different recruiting publications ranked Georgia no better than sixth in the SEC and one had the Bulldogs No. 7. And, as expected, Georgia Tech’s class barely made into the Top 50.

There’s a long, long way from Greensboro, N.C., to Berkeley, Calif. Perhaps the strangest happening on signing day was that Cal signed four players from Greensboro.

Some of the bigger stories in sports are taking the form of denials. For instance, former Pittsburgh Steeler head coach Bill Cowher denies he’s waiting for the New York Giants' job to open up before he comes out of retirement. The Philadelphia Eagles deny they’re anxious to trade Michael Vick, although the St. Louis Rams are hot and heavy after the former Falcon felon.

Georgia loves athletics director Damon Evans and just to prove it, Evans’ salary was raised from $440,000 per year to $550,000 annually and is set to top out at $650,000 in 2013. And 46-year old Stegeman Hall, the Bulldogs’ basketball house, will receive a large part of the $21 million approved for renovation of both Stegeman and Sanford Stadium. Note to Georgia - Stegeman doesn’t need a face lift, it needs to be razed.

More irrefutable evidence that there’s something wrong in sports and with this country. A Cobb County man could get up to 20 years in prison for punching out a Pebblebrook High School football coach for making his son run laps.

And whatever happened to former Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, who was fired in December? The former Bulldog signed a contract with Oklahoma to coach the Sooner defensive backs.

A reminder that Dan Houston and I will be live at Bella Roma Grill in front of State Mutual Stadium Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Southern Sports Roundtable on WRGA 1470 AM. Come out and see us. I think there’s a fairly large football game that will be played Sunday and we’ll talk about it.

This is Norman Arey and I still think recruiting day is way out of control for something that means so little.

How much do you really get for your football dollar? Spurrier scores a knockout

(2/4) All of you Super Bowl freaks, consider this statistical data from the Wall Street Journal. In the 174 minutes of an average football game, viewers get about 60 minutes of commercials, 75 minutes of players huddling or milling about between snaps, 17 minutes of replays, and just 11 minutes of actual football. Only in America!

Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart certainly lived up to his name as the Crimson Tide coach signed a contract extension. Smart, you remember, entertained an offer for the same job at Georgia but decided to stay in Tuscaloosa. Smart made $360,000 last season. His new contract pays $750,000 annually through 2013.

For your viewing pleasure, Top 10 teams Boise State of the Mountain West and Virginia Tech of the ACC will face each other in FedEx stadium in Landover, Md., on Labor Day.

College football’s signing day began in opposite directions for two nearby Southeastern Conference schools. South Carolina signed five-star running back Marcus Lattimore. Lattimore was rated either No. 1 or No. 2 in the nation by recruiting sites. Georgia went the other way as top recruit and wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers of Calhoun, once committed to the Bulldogs, signed with Derek Dooley at Tennessee.

Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey doesn’t like what he has seen over the Irish’s last five games, which is four losses - one coming to lowly Rutgers. So Brey is holding 8 a.m. practices this week in addition to the afternoon workouts. I like his style.

Sportsmanship and class do exist, I’m just not sure where. The West Virginia student section threw objects on the floor during a game against Syracuse. The students were so obscene in a recently nationally televised game, the WVU administrators implored the student body to tone it down. Then Louisville came to town and those clever students couldn’t resist targeting Cardinal Coach Rick Pitino with some choice chants. So now what, administration?

Here’s what PGA golfer Tom Watson, one of the true gentlemen of golf, says about Tiger Woods. "I think he has to show some humility to the public when he returns," Watson said. "I feel that he has not carried the same stature that other great players like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson and the Hogans - in the sense that there was club throwing and language on the course."

This is Norman Arey, and Dan Houston and I will appear live at Bella Roma Grill in front of State Mutual Stadium this Saturday from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. with the Southern Sports Roundtable. Come by and see us.

What the media's dumbest question ever asked during Super Bowl week?

(2/3) I’ll tell you up front that I thought the idea being floated by the NCAA to expand its men’s basketball tournament field from 65 to 96 was outlandish but I’m beginning to believe it’ll happen. The reason, of course, is money. An extra week of advertising for the almighty television monster to sell.

And speaking of things I never thought I’d see come to pass. I believe that the U.S. Government is really going to get involved with the BCS and make the college folks go to a true football playoff system. Say what you will about whether the feds should get involved but it’s gonna happen soon.

Just a word on Kentucky State coach Clarence Moore’s comments on the Georgia Tech basketball team. Moore, who played on the Yellow Jackets’ national championship finalists team, says after playing his alma mater, he thinks Tech needs to come up with a floor leader. I agree 100 percent.

Something to ponder. Three of the traditional powers in men’s college basketball, North Carolina, Louisville and Connecticut, have lost a combined 25 games among them and we’re just entering February. I’m not sure when the last time was that the ACC had only one team in the AP top 20 but No. 10 Duke is it for the juggernaut conference this week. Georgia Tech checked in at No. 21.

When the 44th Super Bowl kicks off in Miami Sunday, it will be the 11th time the south Florida city has hosted sports’ main event. New Orleans was tied with Miami with 10 appearances of the game while Los Angeles is a distant third with seven.

Oh man, I just can’t let this go. Former Falcon quarterback and now Philadelphia Eagles felon Michael Vick says he thinks he’s still a Top 10 quarterback. Still? I’ve got news, you were never a Top 10 quarterback. All any team had to do was contain Vick in the pocket and make him throw and the game was over. Ridiculous.

The Big 10 says no way has it issued an invitation to Pittsburgh to be the 12th team in the conference. League officials said they plan on sticking to their original timetable of studying the proposed expansion for 12-18 months. That’s called dragging your feet.

The Super Bowl is the best time of year for stupid question from the media. Of course, the greatest was quarterback Doug Williams being asked how long he had been a black quarterback. The second best was Titans’ tackle Joe Salave’a was asked, "What’s your relationship with the football. The linesman answered, "I’d say it’s strictly platonic."

This is Norman Arey reminding you to join Dan Houston and me live at Bella Roma Grill in front of State Mutual Stadium Saturday from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. with the Southern Sports Roundtable.

What else can you do for a coach after he has his own bronze statue?

(2/2) There’s no shame for men to cry but it seems that the idea is picking up steam in mainline sports. Florida head football coach Urban (Crier) Meyer started it three years ago. Then his quarterback, Tim (Tears) Tebow carried it on after the Gators lost to Alabama last December. Now Australian Open finalist and loser Andy (Sobs) Murray brings it down under. Who’s next, (Bawling) Bill Belichick?

It seems to be really true that Alabama will erect a bronze statue of coach Nick Saban outside of Bryant-Denny Stadium on or before April 17 when the 2010 Spring Game is scheduled to be played. If he should win another national champion, who knows?

Big week for Georgia Tech basketball. It’s that time to either put up or shut up. The Yellow Jackets play Duke in Durham and then play host to N.C. State. The Ramblin’ Wreck is one of the most talented teams in the ACC this season. It’s time to show it.

Stop the presses! Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has issued a proclamation that we all can agree upon. He says the NCAA should do away with the one-and-done athlete. The Blue Devil basketball coach says if a player comes to college he should be required to stay there until he gets his core courses finished.

And speaking of the ACC, there’s big trouble on Tobacco Road. Duke has already lost four games, one of them on a big stage over the weekend as Georgetown drubbed the Blue Devils. Wake Forest has lost five, and N.C. State and North Carolina eight each.

PGA golf bad boy John Daly said he’s through with golf after missing the cut at Torrey Pines over the weekend but changed his mind the next day. Daly says his sponsors are insisting that he continue playing. Daly certainly has a new look. The big hitter at one time weighed 307 pounds and now he’s down to 195. One of the reasons is that he quit drinking beer but admits he’ll take a sip of whiskey every now and then.

With college football signing day tomorrow, here’s a list by Rivals.com of the top 10 classes in the country. In order, they are Florida, Texas, Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma, LSU, Tennessee, Penn State, Georgia and Texas A&M. Spot a surprise in the group? Gene Chizik is doing some serious preaching for the War Eagle contingent.

And finally, Dan Houston and I will be live at Bella Roma Grill in front of State Mutual Stadium Saturday from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. with the Southern Sports Roundtable. Come by and see us. The new eatery will be offering $5 pizza and two-for-one beer all day.

This is Norman Arey looking forward to the Bella Roma experience.


Wonder if President Obama's Secret Service guys put in for overtime?

(2/1) A pair of former Georgia players helped themselves significantly during the Senior Bowl in Mobile over the weekend. According to NFL draft expert Russ Lunde, defensive tackles Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens had an outstanding week of practice and a good game Saturday. And no, former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow didn’t do much to help himself, completing eight of 12 passes for 50 yards. Apparently no one came close to Alabama lineman Terrence Cody as far as hurting themselves. Cody showed up 40 pounds overweight at 370 and did nothing to impress during his week.

Former Cincinnati wideout Mardy Gilyard probably came out at the top of the class by putting up 103 receiving yards and 76 return yards for the winning North team.

With Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback Kurt Warner retiring last week, that puts the ball in the hands of former Southern Cal All-American Matt Leinart. Leinart has done little in the NFL yet and this will be a make or break year for him.

And on Warner, the debate has already started as to whether he should be considered an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback or not. He started Super Bowls for two different teams and won two of three. That’s pretty impressive plus his quarterback rating is sixth all-time in the pro league.

The winning team in next week’s Super Bowl will take home $83,000 per player while the losers will bank $42,000.

The college draft experts, to a man, say this is one of the weakest years ever for high school quarterbacks going into college. In one ratings poll, there isn’t a quarterback mentioned in the top 50 players. National signing day is Wednesday.

If you care, former Georgia All-American Herschel Walker scored a TKO over Greg Nagy in the third round in his mixed martial arts debut over the weekend.

It was a good week in college basketball for Kansas, Syracuse, Michigan State and even No. 1-ranked Kentucky, which lost one to South Carolina earlier in the week but played its finest game of the season in beating Vanderbilt. It wasn’t such a good week for Duke, Texas and UConn.

And finally, what a weekend for the Secret Service. Both President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden attended the Duke-Georgetown basketball game among 20,000-plus other fans. Obama even took a turn at the microphone during part of the game which Georgetown won by plenty.

This is Norman Arey and I wouldn’t want to fight Herschel Walker.