Worst opening day pitch in History!! The Mayor of Cincinnati!! He must have seen a Gator out of the corner of his eye! <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rx6zsub-neU"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rx6zsub-neU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Please don't be offended by the messenger on this but I have read many similar comments by different sportswriters and refrained from posting any but this one from Spurrier is too enticing because of who he is: ""We've kind of turned Ohio State into Runner-up U., haven't we?" said Spurrier, a Gator alumnus." Now....if Ohio State and SC meet in this year's Outback bowl....which could happen....these words by Steve may haunt him a little.
Well, it's true, even if not exactly respectful... Fla. turned a lot of teams into also-rans. Nobody else except tOSU got to the championship games, though, did they? There are a lot of folks out there that would have loved a year like that...5 losses total between the two teams...five games of #1 vs. #2...won three of those games.
That's a funny comment by Spurrier. And I agree, MCG, that it's relevent because of who said it. If somehow the two teams should get matched up in the future, the comment certainly would enhance the pre-game hype.
Nice article, Stu. Yes, it's been a great year for OSU, despite the heartbreaking defeats at the end. Despite the old saying about second place, in the future people WILL remember who finished second.
What no comments on the mayors pitch? Have you ever seen a worse one? I don't think I have. I've seen some old major leaguers or politicos bounce it up there but that was the worst I've ever seen!!!
Sid, Not exactly on topic, but what are your expectations for the Hoosiers next year? Gordon certainly is going to be a plus. Coaching changes at Iowa and Michigan should make for some real tough battles. I hope Izzo stays at Michigan State. (Ky) Looks to me like the Big Ten may be very competitive. Don
Don, IMO, Sampson did a great job this year. I believe that after many disappointing seasons, except for the Final Four run several years ago, IU fans are once again optimistic about next season. I just read today that Xavier Keeling, a Mike Davis recruit from Huntsville, AL, who did not see much playing time, has announced he is leaving. What's interesting is that after the article talked about how Sampson wished him well, it said that the transfer opens up a scholarship for a 6'8" 270 lb. JC transfer recruited by Sampson. Also, a redshirt freshman, Joey Shaw, might transfer. He is a guard, and with Eric Gordon coming in he probably does not see a bright future. I project IU to be in the hunt for the B10 championship next year, at worst in the upper echelon of the conference. By the way, I'm betting that the Keeling kid ends up at UAB under Davis. Good for him if it happens.
Don...what has happened to Jim O'Brien? I know he won his suit but is he coaching anyplace these days. Although I must admit suing your employer after you get the team in NcAA trouble probably doesn't look good on the resume'.
George, I sense from this past season that Sampson is what the doctor ordered to provide IU fans, especially the BK loyalists, with what they need to move on. This year's team played with a fire that definitely was missing during the Davis years. Even during the later Knight years, there were so many off-court distractions that we almost didn't notice the teams had lost the fire that was so evident in his first 20 years and 3 NCs. All in all, it's been around 10-15 years that IU fans have hungered for the "good old days" of refuse-to-lose basketball. It's my opinion that after 2-3 more recruiting cycles, maybe sooner, you'll see IU right back at or near the top of the Big 10 and - who knows? - maybe a future Final four contender.
"Nobody else except tOSU got to the championship games, though, did they?" That's a good point Stu and one that should not be overlooked. Seems as if in years past those accomplishments of OSU of just getting there would be much more heralded. Somehow the sports world has become all about who wins but I say it's about what you get done and how far up the ladder you advance. There's only one CEO of a corporation but those cushy VP jobs which are more abundant aint half bad either.
Well, Dave, nobody remembers who finishes second, and rightfully so...so I wasn't really touting the "feat"... I was just saying that at anybody but Fla. folks who find that comment funny about "Runner-Up U." should look up when the last time was that both of their teams made the National Championship games.