Saturday’s Pick Five, 11th Edition

Posted: November 12, 2009 – 9:21 pm

Another 3-2 W/L last week, and my season tally is 29-21. And that’s a fact, Jack.

And, if you think I’m going to rest on my laurels and pick a bunch o’ bunnies, think again, shankapatamous.

So, I’ll start at the top and work my way down the totem pole of student athletic pigskinnery.

Syracuse @ Louisville. So, out of the blue, I get an email from my man Johnny C in Hot ‘Lanta. He’s a scribe who used to cover the Cardinals back in the Corso era. His sage perspective: “A restless nation awaits the kickoff of the Louisville-Syracuse clash. The BCS implications are huge.” What I know is that Johnny U and Jim Brown ain’t walkin’ on that artificial field Saturday. That, a noon kickoff, and the prospect of enduring the undistinguished play of two bottom feeders means there will be plenty of seats available for the masochists among ya. But, hey, I’m a fan. It’s supposed to be a beautiful autumn Saturday. I’ll be there. Join me. Go for the brats, if nothing else. Besides, the good guys — that would be the Cardinals — shall prevail, keeping their wafer thin bowl eligibility hopes alive.

Kentucky @ Vanderbilt. Not far from Vandy’s campus is a deli — allegedly the best in NashVegas — called Noshville. Very clever moniker. Very mediocre fare. The Commodores’ game is as bad as the rye bread on the pastrami sandwich I had there last week during a trip down for a Leonard Cohen concert. The Cats need a win so they can come back next month to its post season home away from home, the Music City Bowl. Hartline plays a little. Newton plays a lot. Cats win.

Notre Dame @ Pittsburgh. Wasn’t it sweet and oh so predictable that Coach Humpty Dumpty threw some of his players under the bus after last Saturday’s loss to the Midshipmen. Then his first assistant started whining about Navy’s coach and how he said the Middies knew exactly what defenses the Irish were going to throw at the triple option. Is there anything more fun than watching Team NBC fall apart in hi def? Normally I’d say the Golden Domers would get fat this week against Dave Wannstedt. But Pitt actually seems to have a legit club this season, a veritable BCS contenda. Panthers prevail. All the King’s Horses and Men are on standby.

Tennessee @ Ole Miss. So three Vols were charged this week with armed robbery just off campus. But, hey, it was only a pellet gun. Just some footballers having a little fun after study hall. So, it’s less than even money that they dress for the game. This is the SEC, right? Lane Kiffin, big mouth or no, looks like he may actually be a good hire there. And not just because his dad came along. Club Stars & Bars has been up and down all season. Despite the “distractions,” I say Vols will win. Those Ole Miss gals in in the Grove in their cocktail dresses will be forced to listen to “Rocky Top” way more than they’d like.

Northwestern @ Illinois. The purple Wildcats are almost bowl eligible already, thanks to their steady W over previously undefeated Iowa last week. Even though they lost to Syracuse and only bested Miami (Ohio) by 10. Pat Fitzgerald is one of the promising up and comers in the coaching ranks. Meanwhile Ron Zook’s Illini were 1-6 when he got a vote of confidence from his bosses. Bingo, two straight Ws against Michigan and Minnesota. From here, it looks like he’ll make it three in a row.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: College Pigskin, U of L, UK | Comments (2)

Another Name to Ponder

Posted: November 11, 2009 – 8:36 pm

So the phone just rings and on the line is the person Formerly Known As Source of the Year.

The first words out of his mouth: “I know nothing.”

I know he’s referring to who might be U of L’s next football coach. (Which assumes that Steve Kragthorpe will be terminated sometime soon.)

Then, correctly assuming I’m viewing some sporting endeavor or another on the tell, he asks a question: “What are you watching?” I mention how I have a mild interest in seeing how the Cavs with Shaq fare against the Magic and Dwight Howard?

“Turn on the Central Michigan/ Toledo game. Check out Central Michigan. Crisp offense. No huddle. The guy’s a disciple of Kelly at Cincinnati.”

“Uh, well, okay,” I respond.

“I know nothing,” he reiterates, “just a name I’ve heard.”

He hangs up.

So, dutiful if normally irreverant, I turn on the game which stands 7 all in the 1st quarter. Butch Jones is the coach my caller referred to. He was 16-11 coming into this season. The Chippewas are 7-2 this year, with a win in Lansing over MIchigan State. The Ls are to Arizona in their opener (6-19) and a beatdown last time out to Boston College.

So that’s all I got for now.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: College Pigskin, U of L | Comments (0)

The Kragthorpe Buyout

Posted: November 10, 2009 – 10:48 am

Just for argument’s sake, let’s assume for a moment that Tom Jurich is displeased with the performance of his head football coach Steve Kragthorpe.

I have no idea whether TJ is pleased as punch or disgruntled with the state of U of L football. Since he’s made no public statements other than his Steve-has-my-full-support-yada-yada-yada to national TV announcers.

But, for entertainment purposes only, let’s assume that TJ hears his fan base and sees what fans are seeing on the field. Which is a program that is treading water in mediocrity, and looks as if it could be washed downstream entirely sooner rather than later to a death by drowning.

What would it cost to relieve Steve Kragthorpe of his duties? Hmmm, thought you’d never ask.

Here’s a link to his contract.

The coach is locked in until the end of June, 2012. For those not keeping track at home, that’s two more seasons after the current one. And, if terminated, SK gets all his moolah. For the entirety of the contract.

Which includes $550,000/ year base salary. $550,000/ year for radio, commericials, etc. Plus a bonus of $1,250,000 due at the end of the contract. Plus a $1,000,000 annuity due when he’s 65.

Which means if Steve Kragthorpe is canned, he hits the jackpot to the tune of $4,450,000. Bingo.

That’s the going rate for incompetence these days in the world of college pigskin.

Though I don’t know whether there is any credence to them at all, I have heard stories that indicate one of the reasons for Tom Jurich’s silence so far is that he can’t find any fatcats to underwrite the buyout. Which leaves one to ask, is Owsley Frazier tapped out or what?

The other possibility, and one that seems unfathomable to most Cardinal fans, is that Jurich may truly be ready to stand by his man. And the not so inconsequential issue of buyout hit may be persuading him to stay the course. The flip side is all those empty seats, past and future, should no change be in the offing.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: College Pigskin, Kragthorpe, U of L | Comments (6)

SchnellSpeak: 11.08.09

Posted: November 8, 2009 – 10:13 am

Coach Quote’s post game comments were more like a literal not a figurative post mortem.

His FAU charges were manhandled by UAB, the paradigm of mediocrity.

29-56. Ouch.

The Schnell did not mince words, calling the L “the worst beating we ever had.” He continued, “This is a very difficult defeat for us to have to endure.”

The Fighting Owls gave up 622 yards to the Blazers.

Surgeon Schnell, eschewing his hobby as Schnell the Scrapbooker, while scrubbing for the operation, with his diagnosis: “It is obviously too late to use patches and glue and stuff like that to try and shore up the defense. Major, major surgery is needed.”

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: College Pigskin, Schnellenberger | Comments (0)

Are You Kiddin’ Me?

Posted: November 7, 2009 – 9:37 pm

I received ESPN The Magazine’s College Basketball Preview issue in the mail today.

The panel of experts ranks their top 64 schools.

Kansas is #1.

Kentucky is #4.

Louisville is # . . . I dunno. The Cards are nowhere to be found.

Which is to say the sports giant which heralds Bilas and Fraschilla and Gottleib and Vitale and Digger and Bobby the Curmudgeon as the be all and end all when it comes to hoops knowledge doesn’t think the University of Louisville is among the 64 best teams in the land coming into the season.

This is gotta be a mistake, right?

Say it ain’t so.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: Hoops, U of L, UK | Comments (2)

Sacked on Saturday

Posted: November 7, 2009 – 8:42 pm

Rule #1: You gotta come ready to play. (Unless your opponent is Louisville, a team coached by an allegedly decent man of stunning incompetence, which will find a way to lose no matter how inept the opponent.)

Okay, Coach Accountable, It’s Time to Step Up and Do The Right Thing. Steve Kragthrope, you keep saying it’s all on you, that the buck stops with you, that those associated with your program need to be accountable, etc, etc. Well, coach, you believe in being responsible, prove it. It’s time to resign. You’re the offensive coordinator, right? Then, riddle me this, how many times you need to get it in the red zone before you can get it in the endzone? More than in Morgantown, obviously. Your team plays with heart, but not a lot of discipline when it matters. If your boss won’t pull the plug, why not endear yourself to U of L’s disenchanted, disengaged, disheartened fan base and call it a career here? Please.

Humpty Dumpty falls again. Yo, Charlie Weiss, how’s your Saturday night goin’? And, hey, that “easy schedule” is looking a bit daunting now, eh? You still gotta go to Stanford and Pitt. A couple of Ls and you’ll be safely ensconced on the Dead Man Walking List. That late safety to secure the Middies’ W was a veritable work of art. (Okay, I also loved your style when you took a drink of bottled water and most of it dribbled down your chin, but let’ not pick favorites.) Calling — once again — All The King’s Horses and All The King’s Men.

Big Kerthunk in the Big House. Silly me, Rich Rod. Louisville’s biggest Wolverine fan — sorry Doug James, it’s Bill Stone by a hair — assured me you’d be gone after this season. I pshawed. Then that win over the Irish made it seem a silly wish. Well, now you’ve lost five — count ‘em — five in a row in the Big 11, sandwiching a nothing W against Delaware State. Looks like your move to Morgantown North skewed two programs. Michigan and West Virginia, where your successor tried to do his Steve Kragthorpe imitation. Except that he was playing Steve himself so it didn’t work.

Add Palo Alto Duck to the Menu. Talk about not being ready to play, how about Oregon’s defense? Gave up 51 to a team whose mascot is a tree. Ouch. The Quack scored 42, but it obviously wasn’t enough to match The Cardinal. Well, I blame it on the unis. White tops. White bottoms. B*O*R*I*N*G. Where’s Phil Knight when you really need him?

Hawkeyes get Shucked in the Cornbelt. Okay, Iowa, you lost your starting QB. And you’ve been winning on a wing and a prayer and the luck was going to run out sometime. But Stanzi went down and you spit it out against one of them academic schools. Northwestern. Lead by a QB named Kafka. This was football and you played like it was a Ph.D. level English seminar. The Wildcat student athletes were ready.

The Other Brother from the same Mother. I am not talkin’ Paul Petrino here. Louisville fans might want to consider Mike Stoops, before assuming absolutely positively that this has to be Steve Kragthorpe’s last season. Sooner Bob’s brother coaches Arizona. They’re lurking around the periphery of national recognition at 6-2. It’s Stoops’ 6th season in Tuscon. He won only 3 in his first. And only 3 in his second. So, uh, just sayin’.

Time to say Buh Bye. Sure Big Chief Seminole Nation Bobby B, I mean you. But I’m also talking to you, JoePa. Enough is enough. Your Nittany Lions are 8-2, boring as ever and nobody is talkin’ about ya. Some fresh blood in Happy Valley would be a good thing.

Late Breaking Up To The MInute Update. It’s 8:36 p.m. on 11/07 and Steve Kragthorpe is still U of L’s football coach. I’ll update you if there are any further developments.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: College Pigskin | Comments (1)

Saturday’s Pick Five, 10th Edition

Posted: November 5, 2009 – 10:18 am

Thanks to the Cards, who may have notched their last W of the year, the surprising Blue Devils and the Mighty Mighty Quack, I went 3-2 last week. The tally for the season is 26 up and 19 down. Not enough to pay for a trip to Vegas, but not bad.

Boise State @ Louisiana Tech. Riddle me this: Why on earth are the Bulldogs of Ruston, La. in the Western Athletic Conference? I know, you’re thinking this is a gimme. Boise State is on a collision course with BCS controversy. LT is 3-5 with 0 impressive Ws. But, hey, Friday night in the Bayou can be a scary place for some carpetbaggers from Idaho. So let’s call this the proverbial “trap game.” I don’t think it’s a walkover. But I do think the Potato(e)s slip out of the swamp with a victory. They might have trouble cleaning the gris gris out of their jerseys though when they get back to that lovely blue astroturf field of theirs.

Kent State @ Akron. Just to show you I’m not cherry picking, I put this MAC East Division encounter on the board. Here’s what I know about the Golden Flashes. They are 5-4. And the name of their school still reminds me of Vietnam era protest turmoil. Here’s what I know about Akron. One W. 7 losses. Their nickname — Zips — sucks. And that Jerry Faust, that high school coach who ran Notre Dame’s program into the ground, coached in RubberTown after being run out of South Bend. The visitors, a 3 point fave, will be victorious.

Duke @ North Carolina. What hath David Cutcliffe wrought? In the Land O’ Coach K, his pigskinners are 5-3, and no longer the laughing stock of college football. (Insert Steve Kragthorpe joke here.) They are 3-1 in the less than stellar ACC. Butch Davis’ Tar Heels haven’t ascended yet as the faithful might like. Even with unis that Pat Forde called “blueberry.” But they did just win at Virginia Tech. I’d be more interested in this Tobacco Road matchup were it on the hardwood. But I’m expecting the same result. Carolina prevails.

South Carolina @ Arkansas. The old O genius meets the new O genius. Ol’ BallCoach meet Travelin’ Bobby P. Spurrier is looking more and more tired and ready for more tee times and less time in the film room. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is his last season on the sideline. Petrino needs some help on the D side of the ball. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s coaching somewhere else next season. (Okay, that is a joke.) The Hogs and Cocks have been up and down. Frankly, it’s a coin flipper. New beats Old and In The Way. Whooooooo Pig Sooey!!!!

Illinois @ Minnesota. I’m picking this game, because it’s a yawn fest and I need a few more ZZZZs before I move on with the day. The Golden Gophers play outside now, you know. Let’s see, what else is there to say? Oh yeah, Minnesota’s b-ball coach is Orlando Smith. The home team is a truly mediocre 5-4, and the Zooksterian Illini are only 2-6. But coming off an invigorating if meaningless W over Rich Rod. Zook comes back next season no matter what happens. Good for him. He needs the cushion. Minnesooooooooooooota wins in OT.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: Uncategorized | Comments (3)

Knights Prove Pawns in Cards’ Game

Posted: November 5, 2009 – 9:37 am

Some quick observations on the Louisville/ Bellarmine match up that was far less scintillating than I thought it would be.

Speaking of quick, can Preston Knowles elevate and launch in a nanosecond? Yes he can. But I digress.

As for the kids who trekked down Eastern Parkway from their Norris Place home, Scotty Davenport’s Bellarmine Knights simply got lost in the moment.

Big Crowd. Big Nerves. Not such a big deal.

After the game, Davenport talked about how his team’s basketball sense got lost early on. The normally fluid motion offense sputtered and misfired. It happens under the bright lights.

I’ve seen Justin Benedetti play just twice, once last season and last night. Both times he shot the lights out. He’s a weapon. Replacing Chartrael Hall, the Knight’s leading scorer and point guard, is the main task ahead. It must be addressed if BU is to meet expectations. It won’t be an easy hole to fill. That could be the Achilles heel of this edition of the Knights.

Louisville looked significantly better than a week ago. And against a significantly better team this time around.

The inevitable happened. Way sooner than later.

It’s been obvious since practice started that if Louisville is going to make any noise on the national scene, in the conference or in the Dance, Peyton Siva must emerge. He’s the guy who will, by force of his considerable game and personality and charisma, lead them there.

With a little over 10 minutes to play Wednesday night, the team became his. First he hustled back on a break to block a Forrest Smallwood layup. Serious elevation there. Moments later he rebounded an errant Jerry Smith attempt, slamming home a reverse follow up flush. Effectiveness: 10. Style Points: 11. Game on.

If Edgar Sosa willingly cedes the leadership role to Siva, this will be one feisty club by the end of the season.

Rakeem Buckles and Jared Swopshire showed signs of life. Mike Marra is still nervous. Reggie Delk appears to be the odd man out. Stephan Van Treese, in limited minutes, gave the first signs he’ll be fine providing stop gap back up in the middle.

Pitino praised Samardo Samuels’ passing out of the post. I know The Rick knows a lot more than I do about the game, and is way more observant. But I didn’t see that passing. Maybe I’ll go back and do a Ron Jaworski on the tapes.

I do agree with the coach that Louisville might be less stellar at the top of its lineup, but quality doesn’t fall off that much at the 9, 10, 11 and 12 spots. Tis a deep bench.

* * * * *

On a peripheral note, the voice of the lady singing the national anthem reminded me of Lily Von Shtupp, the Teutonic Titwillow of “Blazing Saddles.” She could cut diamonds with that high note she hit at the end.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: Uncategorized | Comments (3)

Cardinals/ Knights Pre-Game Musings

Posted: November 4, 2009 – 5:12 pm

Tonight’s “exhibition” against the formidable Bellarmine Knights is not your daddy’s walkover.

Exhibit A: LeMoyne 82, Syracuse 79.

Exhibit B: Bellarmine Knights. Allow me to repeat what I said about last year’s edition of the Norris Placers. “They run the motion offense better than any team I’ve seen this year at any level.” There is no reason to believe it will be any different this season.

Exhibit D: Didn’t Bellarmine almost beat the Cards just a couple of years ago? With a far less talented squad.

Exhibit C: The Cardinals remain a work in progress. A really, really, really early work in progress.

BU lost only one player of consequence. Scotty Davenport has gone Lou Holtz on us, never failing to mention some injuries. My guess is that will be overcome by a team ready to prove its pre-season ranking of #1 in its division isn’t a fluke. Braydon Hobbs would play a lot if he were wearing the red and black.

The Cards need to find their personality as a team. The two forward spots are going to be question marks all year. Unless somebody steps up big time. Swopshire and Delk look like journeymen. Buckles looks too raw. Kuric will be a spark but he’s small. Goode and Van Treese??????

Then there’s the real key to the year: Will the Edgar Sosa we’ve been looking for again since the Texas A & M game ever show up again? If not, will he willingly had the team’s reins over to Peyton Siva?

All of which is to say, tonight’s encounter is perhaps the most intriguing “exhibition” game U of L has ever played.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: Bellarmine, Hoops, U of L | Comments (1)

Down The Stretch They Come

Posted: November 2, 2009 – 10:50 am

This is about college football, not the Breeders Cup or Churchill Downs’ fall meet. But, hey, anything to grab your — the readers’ — attention, right?

Some meandering ruminations:

The annual carping about the BCS can now officially begin. Anybody with any football sense watching Oregon draw and quarter Southern Cal Saturday understands that this is a team of national championship caliber. Of course, that loss to Boise in the opener shall keep them too far down the pecking order to ever make it to the last night of the season.

But, hey, how would you like to be Bama or the Gators or the Horns and have to face the Ducks in a legit national playoff quarter final? That’s right, kiddies, you wouldn’t.

Oh, I can’t go on. You know the BCS is stupid. I know the BCS is stupid. Even Lou Holtz knowsjhjjhh thhhe BSheSSSSS ish sssssshtupppid. But money talks, nobody walks. Period.

That Lane Kiffin might be an arrogant loudmouthed putz. But it seems he can coach. Tennessee’s band is wearing out “Rocky Top,” and a most favorable last season slate has the Vols on a collision course with a New Year’s Day game.

There’s something to be said for slow and steady. It works especially well in the Big 11. Prime example: the undefeated and unflappable Iowa Hawkeyes. The way I see it. The Buckeyes lose to Penn State. Which puts the black and gold on the inside track to Pasadena.

Whatever happened to Rick Neuheisel?

Not sure if it matters, but I saw Jon Gruden at the Bardstown Road Krogers yesterday. Just sayin’.

Of all the dumbfounding teams this season, and there are plenty — Cal, Ole Miss, Miami — Michigan State may be the most confusing. This is a good squad that’s up for a bit, then down. The Spartans are mired in the middle of the Big 11, and I just thought they’d start the late season with a W over Minnesota. But, nope.

Cincy vs. Pitt in a BEast season ender looks to be a reasonably spicy matchup. Assuming neither slip before then, always a proposition in play when Dave Wannstedt is wearing the head set.

Don’t be surprised if Notre Dame sneaks into a BCS bowl.

Duke has won three games in a row. Maybe it’s a good thing for the Cards that the Blue Devils backed out of its U of L contact.

Maybe it means something, maybe it doesn’t. But I saw Tommy Tuberville checking out the Dollar Menu at McDs on Hurstbourne Lane this morning.

Here are some predictions. UK will make it to a bowl game. IU will not. U of L will not. Only one of these three teams will play for the BCS title: Florida, Alabama and Texas.

Last guess, Louisville’s coach next season will be somebody that nobody’s yet mentioned. I could swear that was Nick Saban eating dinner with some Cardinal fat cats last night in the bar of the country club where I was attending a wedding.

– Seedy K

By c d kaplan | Tags: College Pigskin | Comments (1)