College Sports

In case you aren’t aware, collegiate gymnastics, particularly women’s gymnastics, is huge.  By huge, I mean they fill coliseums for competitions… that’s right, coliseums where men’s basketball is played.  In fact, several schools can lay claim to outdrawing the men’s basketball team.

Last weekend, the 2008 Championships (called the Super Six) were held.  Georgia’s Gym Dogs won the title, their fourth in a row and ninth overall. That last mark ties them with Utah for most titles won.  Here are the team results with scores:

• Georgia - 197.450
• Utah - 197.125
• Stanford - 196.750
• Florida - 196.700
• LSU - 196.350 (highests finish ever, 1st Super Six)
• Alabama - 196.125

And the Dogs did it with a young team while missing one of their stars, Courtney Kupets, who tore her achilles tendon on March 1 during a floor routine.  You may remember Kupets as the bronze medal winner on uneven bars at the 2004 Olympics.

 Since 1998, Georgia has won 24 of its 33 NCAA meets.  Perhaps more impressive, the Gym Dogs have finished first in every session, both prelims and finals, in the last four years.

Individually, two members of the UGa team claimed titles.  Sophomores Courtney McCool (floor - 9.9625) and Grace Taylor (beam - 9.950) won Georgia’s 32nd and 33rd individual titles overall. 

Head coach Suzanne Yoculan, who has led the Gym Dogs to each of their titles and was named the 2008 National Coach of the Year, just completed her 25th year with the program.  She has announced her retirement following the 2009 season, and will be replaced by assistant coach Jay Clark, who has been with the team for 16 years… the last three as associate head coach.

Time for a little griping. I know I am a few months late on this one, but this is a fairly new blog, so I am giving myself a freebie to go backwards in time a bit.

I don’t know why this is bothering me today, in the middle of spring, but exactly what was gained when the NCAA changed Division IA and IAA to Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Championship Subdivision (FCS), respectively.

The reason given is that the new titles more accurately reflect what the divisions stand for. Obviously, the FBS denotes that the division plays bowl games instead of a championship bracket that determines a REAL national champion (thanks, BCS). And DI-AA (oops, I mean FCS) denotes the division that actually man’s up and plays a real championship game.

But pretty much everyone who pays any attention to college football knew what the divisions stood for, and how post-season was played out. And now, when the talking heads on ESPN get going on a story, and try to spit out that new mouthful, it takes me a minute to figure it out… kind of goes against the old KISS theory (keep it simple, stupid).

Oh, here’s another light bulb moment… Division I-AAA has been discontinued. Betcha didn’t even know there was a DI-AAA in football, right? That’s because it was a division created for the schools that don’t play football. That’s right… a football division for schools that don’t play football.

Hmmm…

All this got me to thinking, what will the powers that be rename next?

The Southeastern Conference will become “The Schools located in the southern portion of the United States of America that have banded together in the effort to dominate the athletic climate in the name of education.”

The Big Ten (11) will become “The Schools of the Great Lake States that excel at numerous sports, but are obviously challenged at counting their own members.

The PAC 10 will become “Westernmost schools within the contiguous United States that decry an East Coast bias”

I could go on and on, but you get the point.

LT

Every time I turn a sports page these days, it seems I am seeing the same question in bold type: Should the US Boycott the Olympic Games in China?

A lot of people have very strong opinions on both sides of the matter. China has a horrific record with human rights. There continues to be oppression of religion, and those who dare speak out against the regime wind up imprisoned… or worse. Remember the Tiananmen Square Massacre of 1989? Depending on which source is to be believed, between 200 (the Chinese government) and 3000 (Chinese Student Government and Chinese Red Cross) were murdered. The foreign press was ordered out of the country, and wide-spread arrests of protesters and those who supported were used to crack down on the uprising. Not exactly what Pierre de Coubertin had in mind when he founded the modern day Olympics, I’m sure.

Here we are 19 years later, and China has emerged as a world leader, and the city of Beijing will be hosting this summer’s Olympic games.

Talk about extreme make-over!

But that is just the point, according to those worldwide who believe there should be a boycott of the games. There has been no wholesale make-over, just some lipstick and rouge slapped on the face of an aging tyrant.

The hot button in all this is China’s recent crackdown on those who sympathize with Tibet and the Dalai Lama, as well as China’s support of the Sudanese genocide in Darfur. Virtually everywhere that the Olympic torch has traveled during it’s trip around the world, there have been protests. In this nation, the torch’s voyage through the streets of San Francisco was interrupted repeatedly, and some in the media claim that San Francisco was selected as a site for the torch run specifically because there would be demonstrations, in a city with a large Chinese-American population.

As many of you remember, there is a history to nations withdrawing from the Olympics. In 1980, the U.S., along with more than 50 other countries, boycotted the Moscow Olympics to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Four years later, the Soviet bloc of nations stayed home from the Los Angeles games, in a kind of tit-for-tat boycott.

All well and good, but if you look closer, behind all the “speechifying” (as we say down south), behind all the political bragadacio, there were athletes who had spent years of their lives training for their one moment… and that was gone in an instant.

My question is, was the world better off? Did the Soviet Union crumble when the U.S. and it’s allies stayed home? Did the U.S. crumble four years later? The answer to both questions is no.

When the modern-day Olympics was founded, it was on the belief that sports rose above the political, above boundaries, to bring out the best in mankind. I think going into China, network cameras rolling, will give the world a look at a secret society that wants to put on it’s best face, but whose cracks and wrinkles will show.

Sure, China will get some PR. But do you think for one minute that the world will suddenly forget the rioting monks in Tibet? Heck, if anything, it may put the pictures into the minds of those who usually skip the front page and go straight for the sports section (you know who you are!).

So let the Games begin, full-strength. And maybe, as China makes it’s steps out into the world, the revolution can begin from within.

Johnny Dawkins, former Duke player and longtime assistant to head coach Mike Kryzewski, will be introduced on Monday as the new head coach at Stanford University.

Normally, I wouldn’t write about something that is going to be covered by every media outlet, but this one caught my eye because Dawkins has been with the Duke program for so long.  He has been an assistant with the program since the 1997-98 season, and served the last nine as associate head coach.  Not only that, but Dawkins departure breaks apart the longest continuous serving staff in the ACC, a highly loyal group of assistants who all played for Kryzewski.

And Kryzewski knows Dawkins value to the Duke program will be sorely missed.  “In my 28 years at Duke,” said Kryzewski, ”no one did more to build our program as a player, coach or a person than Johnny Dawkins.”

Big words from a Hall of Fame coach.  But words that ring true.

Dawkins will be leaving one coast for another, but the situations have many similarities, beginning with the emphasis that each puts on education.  No gimmies at either institution.

 This will be Dawkins first head coaching position.  I have long wondered if he is being groomed at some level to take over for Kryzewski when he retires.  Of course, Coach K is showing no signs of retiring, and Dawkins is only 44.  The Stanford job is a great coaching position.  He is left with a team that advanced to the regional semifinals, although they are losing twin seven footers Brooke and Robin Lopez, who have declared for the draft.  No matter, I bet the Cardinal will thrive under their new head coach.  Stanford is a wonderful opportunity… a beautiful campus, great school, and strong athletic traditions.  Win Win Win situation.

Stanford is getting a good man, and Dawkins is getting a good University.  We wish them both success.

LT

Spring is finally in the air! Most of this wonderful country is basking in sunshine and warming temps, and it’s time to get outside and have some fun.

When thinking about how to spend the weekend, don’t forget that some of the best entertainment around can be found on college campuses large and small… and no, I don’t mean the latest frat party.

Once March Madness fades into the sunset, most sports fans go on hiatus until football cranks up in the fall. But campuses are just as busy, if not busier, with some stellar sports action in the spring.

There’s good old, All-American favorite baseball. What a great way to spend an afternoon, sitting at the ballpark and watching a game. Pack a lunch and take the kids, it’s a cheap way to have some great family time.

But baseball isn’t the only story. Women’s softball has taken on a life of its own on many college campuses. And if you are thinking church league-style slow pitch, well, think again. These women can throw the ball in there at a whopping 60+ miles per hour, and they can throw fastballs, breaking balls, you name it.

Another sport to catch is lacrosse, both men’s and women’s. Invented by Native Americans, this sport requires speed, strength and great hand-eye coordination. The men’s game is rougher (hence the pads and helmets), while the women’s game is finesse and speed.

Also on tap in the spring is outdoor track & field. Whoever said, “the only thing more boring than track is field” has never spent a day at a meet. There is constantly something going on, either on the track or in the infield, and there is never a dull moment. Men’s and women’s tennis is a great spectator sport, as well, and can be found on virtually every college campus.

Rounding out the spring sports are men’s and women’s golf, rowing, men’s volleyball and women’s water polo. Some lend themselves more to watching than others, but break out of the box and you might be surprised. I went to my first rowing event, sat on the banks of the river having a picnic, and loved every minute of my day.

One other sport to check on if you live near a larger body of water is sailing. Yet another chance to sit on the shore soaking up the sun and enjoying the day.

Obviously, there really is something for everyone, and while the “Big Three” (football, basketball and baseball) may dominate the headlines, the smaller, lesser known sports have as much to offer and can be a great way to spend the afternoon.

Linda

This morning, I felt the earth move. I was working a crossword puzzle in bed, with my little girl nestled in beside, and my husband was getting ready for work when I heard what I thought was wind against the wall, but then I realized that my bed was shaking like a vibrating bed in a cheap motel.

My first thought was that maybe our house was disappearing into a sinkhole. While that isn’t common in this area, it has happened with roads before. But I quickly realized that we were having an earthquake. It lasted about 30 seconds, and definitely shook me up along with the house. Emi slept through it, and my husband wasn’t phased since he used to live in San Diego. Pretty soon we learned that we had experienced a 5.2 magnitude earthquake centered several hundred miles from here.

As you can imagine, in an area that doesn’t usually have quakes, this has been a major topic around town today. It also got me wondering, have any earthquakes ever occurred during a college sporting event?

So I hopped on my trusty Mac and googled away. The first few listings were all related to the famous “Earthquake Game” played between Auburn and host LSU on October 8, 1988. Auburn was leading 6-0 with two minutes to play, when LSU drove down the field and scored on a fourth and 10 pass from Tommy Hodson to Eddie Fuller to tie the game, then take the lead on the PAT. The response of the 79,341 fans in the stadium was pure delirium, and actually registered as an earthquake in the geology department at the Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex on the LSU campus. The tremors lasted 15-20 minutes, and experts believe that the ground was shaking due to the fans jumping up and down in Tiger Stadium (LSU won the game, 7-6).

Wow! But that wasn’t a “real” earthquake, so I kept hunting…

The 1979 Malibu earthquake was a 5.2 on the Richter Scale, and is known for its timing… occurring during the Rose Bowl game between Southern Cal and Michigan (USC won 17-10). Fans were able to feel the quake, and some were alarmed… but there was no mass exodus from the stadium. Sports fans have their priorities, after all.

I couldn’t actually find any other games, although I am sure there are more. There were lots of references to games cancelled by hurricane threat, and the SEC Basketball Tournament, which was hit by a tornado at the Georgia Dome while a game was in progress, is fresh in our minds. But there is surprisingly (and thankfully!) not much evidence of earthquakes during collegiate sporting events.

Anyway, if you know of an earthquake that occurred during a college game, let me know. We are all thankful that today’s quake was relatively minor, and hope that those who have damaged homes and businesses can recover and move on soon.

See you at the game!
Linda

    You know what frosts me? When a head coach leaves a university for another (usually better paying) coaching position, and suddenly, in the eyes of the alumni, he has become disloyal to the school.

This has happened recently at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.Perhaps you remember the surprise run the Hilltoppers made to the Sweet 16 in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Their coach, Darrin Horn, is a 35 year old graduate of WKU. But as all sports fans know, when a team makes a run in the tourney, the coach becomes a hot property. Within days of Western’s Sweet 16 loss to top-seeded UCLA, Horn was being introduced as the new head coach at South Carolina.

That’s when many in the WKU family began to cry “foul.” Suddenly, the coach who days earlier was being lauded for returning Western to national prominence was being decried as a turncoat, a money-grubber with no regard for loyalty.

My question is, to whom was he supposed to be showing loyalty? A university that would have no problem firing him if he didn’t produce?

OK, if I stretch my mind I can see where the anger and disappointment come from. Horn had been hired when the previous coach, Dennis Felton, had left WKU to coach at the University of Georgia. But Horn is a WKU grad, surely he wouldn’t fall prey to the carpetbagging athletic directors of bigger, wealthier universities!

But there is more to coaching than loyalty, even to one’s own alma mater. There is reality. The reality that this year’s hot coach is next year’s front man in the unemployment line. And loyalty is a two-way street; frankly, most fans and schools don’t practice what they preach. Prior to the start of the season, the word on the street was that if Horn didn’t produce an NCAA tourney bid this year, he was gone… this despite averaging more than 20 wins a season. Yeah, loyalty… right.

And here’s another angle on loyalty. If you had a job, and were offered five times more money with a larger, more visible company, what would you do? Would your loyalty to the company outweigh your loyalty and responsibility to your family… and yourself?

College athletics is a business, plain and simple. And the coaches are employees who have the right to seek other employment… that’s right, they aren’t well-paid, indentured servants.

And one thing for WKU fans to keep in mind. In 2003, Roy Williams left Kansas for his alma mater, North Carolina. The Jayhawk fans were angry, heartbroken, and disbelieving. They demonized Williams.  But just last month, Bill Self, who replaced Williams at KU, led the Jayhawks to the NCAA title, while Williams (who has done very well at UNC), was reduced to sitting in the stands and cheering on his former employer. Who do you think is smiling all the way to the trophy case now?

I blog, therefore I am…

I have entered the blogosphere, and I’m excited. Why? Because I get to write about my first love (sorry, hubby), college sports. And not just one or two college sports or teams, but all of them. What could be better?

First, a little about me. I was raised in the South, where a love of college sports goes hand in hand with fried chicken and sweet tea. I cut my teeth on SEC football at an early age, but my parents made sure I had a well-rounded athletic education. By the time I was 10, I had attended minor league hockey, swimming & diving, track & field, basketball, baseball, softball… you get the idea. Along the way, I made a discovery. While I liked to play, I had little (i.e. NO) talent. So I had to find an outlet for my love, and that is where my writing took over. I majored in athletic public relations and after graduating from an SEC school, I began my career in sports information.

Paid to go to games, who knew?

So here I am now… no longer working in the sports field, I’m a stay-at-home mom. But I still have opinions and knowledge that I want to share, and I hope that you will share your opinions, too… And if you want to see a specific topic, or get something off your chest? Let me know!

So check back every day for stories, rants and viewpoints. Let’s build a little community here where we can learn from each other.

Go Team!

Linda