tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

19Mar/120

Has It Really Been March Madness??

Before the beginning of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, many pundits were saying that this was the most wide open tournament in years. But as we head into the Sweet 16, all four number 1 seeds remain and the only truly Cinderella that remains is number 13 seed Ohio. Friday night was thrilling as two number 15 seeds, Norfolk State and Lehigh, posted major upsets knocking off Missouri and Duke. But both teams were sent packing yesterday as Norfolk State was crushed by Florida 84-50 and Lehigh lost to Xavier 70-58.

In looking at the remaining match-ups, 3 of the 4 number one seeds are playing number 4 seeds with Syracuse taking on Wisconsin, Kentucky facing Indiana and Michigan State meeting Louisville. North Carolina and Kentucky have rolled through their first two games while Syracuse survived a scare in their opener against UNC-Asheville and Michigan State survived against St. Louis. A surprise team remaining in the tournament could be North Carolina State. The Wolfpack have knocked off number 6 seed San Diego State and yesterday defeated number 3 seed Georgetown. They will now face number 2 seed Kansas who squeaked by Purdue. The winner of the NC State-Kansas game could face North Carolina which will be an intriguing match-up either way.

The beauty of the tournament is seeing a lower seed advance to the final weekend. Last year it was VCU. Will we see that happen again?? Here's hoping Xavier, North Carolina State and Ohio reach the Elite Eight. Without them it wouldn't be called March Madness.

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3Feb/120

LSU Head Coach Miles: Class Act?? Not!!!

It was reported last night that LSU Head Football Coach Les Miles made a point of mocking Gunner Kiel for his decision not to play for Miles and instead go to Notre Dame. Kiel is arguably the best high school quarterback prospect graduating this year. He had initially committed to LSU but in the eleventh hour decided that he wanted to play closer to home and chose Notre Dame.

Here is what the adult football coach of a major college football power had to say about an 18 year old high school senior:
"We needed a quarterback," Miles told the crowd. "We lost two. We needed a quarterback in this class. There was a gentleman from Indiana that thought about coming to the Bayou State. He did not necessarily have the chest and the ability to lead a program, so you know."

Really??? I'd like to ask Coach Miles how many blue chip recruits have decided to leave a school they initially committed to and ended up at LSU??? I wonder if the coaches at those jilted schools cried and whined like a baby.

Kiel is an Indiana kid whose father, Blair Kiel, was a Notre Dame quarterback in the early 80's. Is it out of the realm of possibility for an 18 year old to change his mind on what school he or she is going to go to in the fall?? Les Miles should be ashamed of himself for calling out an 18 year old kid. In all the years that I have followed sports, I have never heard a college coach call out a recruit who changed his mind. It happens in every college sport on every level. But Miles' behavior is indicative of college football coaches forgetting that they are not coaching professionals but are coaching kids. In essence, they should be teachers. Teachers of not only the game of football but how to conduct yourself once you leave college. The lesson of Miles' boorish behavior is that if I don't get what I want from someone then I need to lash out as opposed to respecting another person's decision and figuring out how I move on.

There are certain college football teams you kind of always pull for. My list includes Alabama, Oklahoma, UCLA, Texas A&M, Pittsburgh, Penn State and Notre Dame. LSU has never made that list and as long as Les Miles is head coach they never will.

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