Karle's Korner

The SEC Network: What Programs Will You Be Watching?

     I know I'm showing my age, but back in the spring of 1980 I suddenly found myself graduating from college. I heard of a new sports network going on the air called ESPN, so I made a call to Bristol, CT, a few hours from where I went to college. Upon asking about openings for sports anchors, a company official told me, "We have already hired our anchor- his named is Chris Berman. We are not hiring any other anchors."  I hung up the phone, went the local TV route and here I am 33 years later.

    I mention this because back in those days, programming on ESPN was a bit, well, shallow. Filling 24 hours with sports shows was no easy task. Today, you have to wonder if the fine folks with the SEC network may experience some of the same growing pains as ESPN did over three decades ago. Since I've been covering SEC sports since 1984, and since I want the best for Mike Slive and the fine folks at the SEC offices in Birmingham,  I thought I'd offer up some ideas for filling all of those hours when the new network hits the air in the summer of 2014.

     No doubt the SEC folks will order up a program on all 14 SEC football teams. I picture 30 to 60 minute shows on each team, which will certainly help any initial programming voids. Here now, are my ideas for those programs on each team:

    "King Of The Hill" (Alabama):  A reality show sees TV cameras follow Nick Saban, his PR folks, state troopers and groupies wherever he walks.

    "Who's The Boss?" (Auburn): The network profiles AU athletic department officials as they fight for power. In a "Survivor" format, one official is voted out of the department until a last person is left standing. Paul Finebaum hosts.

     "Law & Order LSU" (LSU): The network hires the producers of the show "Cops" to follow the Tigers through an entire season. The Honeybadger is hired to give creative input.

     "Scrubs" (Miss State):   A weekly news magazine show that delves into the reasons the Bulldogs can't get over the hump.

     "Fringe" (Ole Miss):  Hosted by Dari Nowkhah and Mel Kiper, this program explores the reasons why the Rebels are "almost" at the level of Alabama & LSU.  Offers Kiper, "When my hair moves, the Rebels will be back!".

     "Without A Trace"  (Arkansas):  This mystery program informs viewers why the Razorbacks haven't been seen since Bobby Petrino took his infamous motorcycle ride.

     "Johnny Quest" (Texas A&M). Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel and his dog Bandit are followed 24/7 by TV cameras. The SEC soon finds its budget strapped when the TV crew is forced to travel to Cancun six months of the year.  Hosted by AJ McCarron.

     "Hoarders" (Florida):  Can an SEC program win a national title in every sport? Find out on this new program hosted by Jeremy Foley.

     "Once Upon A Time" (Georgia):  Nostalgia freaks will enjoy this show about an SEC program that used to win championships. Hosted by Vince & Barbara Dooley.

     "Mad Men" (South Carolina): A true comedy with hearty laughs, this program is based loosely on the life of Steve Spurrier and his crazy quotes. So what if he tees off other SEC coaches? He's a mad man!  Michelle Beadle is brought back to host.

     "Rescue Me" (Tennessee): Hosted by Peyton Manning, this program explores different ways the Vols program can be rescued and brought back to life.  (Note: Manning has no more eligibility).

     "Lost"  (Kentucky): The title says is all.

     "The Biggest Loser" (Vanderbilt): Hosted by Jillian Michaels, this program profiles bottom dwelling athletes who, after their college careers may just end up being more successful than any other athletes in the conference.

    And if that's not enough? SEC Network big-wigs are said to be exploring these reality programs based on talented and colorful coaches and traditions:

     "Just Shoot Me":  An insightful reality show profiling John L. Smith's run as the Arkansas Razorback's interim coach.

     "The Apprentice": TV cameras follow Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart 24/7.

     "The Six Million Dollar Man": A full 60 minutes of Nick Saban! Is that enough?

     "The Price Is Right": Inside the SEC and ESPN board rooms as big-wigs exhibit the art of the   deal.

     "Family Guy": An uplifting weekly programming starring Auburn's Jay Jacobs. Guest stars include Jay Gogue and Pat Dye.

     "Blues Clues":  This program stars Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari, as he offers us clues on how to  deal with "one-and-done" athletes.

     "The Best Wing": Hosted by Bob Baumhower, this weekly tailgating show is out to find the best barbeque in the SEC  (actually, this one might really work!).

     I hope you enjoy the new SEC network- I know I am excited about what the network will bring. While executives continue to explore future content, let's hope this serves as helpful input to those making the decisions at the highest levels.

   Have a great day and I'll see you on TV!

 

Talladega Race Fans: An Open Letter From Your Momma

     Dear Race Fans,

     I have an admission to make:  I've always been a bit of a drama queen- you know, I like to be noticed, by everyone. Maybe it's something I ate on Sunday morning, but I thought I'd have some fun with all of you who attended the Aaron's 499 Sprint Cup race. Let me tell about the great fun I had on what turned out to be a hectic day for me.

     As you the fan began to trickle into the superspeedway, I greeted you comfortable temperatures and sunshine. I knew those meteorologists, i.e. weather geeks had called for rain, so I thought I'd mess with their heads- besides, who wields more power, their silly Doppler radar or your truly? Just past the halfway point of the race, I really kicked it into gear, throwing in some light rain, wind, and just for an extra laugh or two, a cold front. Little did I know those race cars don't have windshield wipers. And you should have seen those TV sports dweebs running for cover- I guess their "anchor hair" was about to get wet!

     Why did I do all of this? I wanted to find out how tough, how resilient you can be. I have always heard you are the best fans around, far from golf fans who run for cover when I toss some clouds their way, or baseball fans who gripe because there chili dog gets a little wet. Just when I thought a delay of 3 hours and 36 minutes and miserable weather would do the trick, you came back.

     I have to admit, you race people are tough. The drivers run inches a part at nearly 200 miles an hour even though Tony Stewart is in the field (I kid, I really do).  The best way I knew to send you packing? Make that sun go down as quickly as I could following that delay. It's not my problem those cars don't have headlights and the superspeedway people have yet to install lights. Still, those crazy drivers raced anyway, and just before 7:30 pm CT, the race was completed.  I forced you to wait over seven-and-a-half hours for the event to be finished and you were still there when it was over. I guess the only thing more astonishing was the kid who won it- some guy named Dave Ragan from Front Row Racing. Really?

     I did my best to make Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Talladega, the longest, scariest, miserable, uncomfortable, wettest, chilliest race in recent memory, but I gotta hand it to you fans: You met everything I threw at you with resiliency and stubbornness. Just remember that I'm still the boss. If I had less sleep the night before, you would have been back at the track on Monday trying again.

     Have a great week, and for all your patience over the last several days, I may let you enjoy some sunshine by midweek.  Just remember to keep the poncho nearby.

     With much love,

     Mother Nature

Hot Topics: The Fab Four Of Fluker, Lacey, Chizik & Toomers

     Are their any actual sporting events taking place these days? Seems like everywhere you turn, the sports world offers media types and fans alike all sorts of controversy. Four of this week's hot topics? Let's discuss!

     The Removal Of The Toomers Oaks:

     I arrived at Toomers Corner at 5:45 am to several news vans, TV cameras and a one or two lingering Auburn fans. The chain saws cranked up at 7:22, and by 11:30 am it was over. Nearly a half a century of tradition removed (at least until 2014 when new trees will be installed). The mood was somber among those in the crowd of 200 or so. One older gentleman told me that he would have liked to have seen Harvey Updyke up on one of the branches. With tears in his eyes he quickly apologized, saying that he was simply emotional. Why the small crowd? Al Del Greco correctly pointed out on the radio that perhaps many Auburn fans wanted to stay away from something so upsetting. So go ahead and say "Man, they are just trees, dudes, get over it."  To Auburn fans, who have seen weddings, birthday parties, proposals, victory dances and the uniting of athletes and fans below those oaks, Tuesday was a rightful a day of mourning. 

     Alabama Guard Trevor Lacey To Transfer:

     Alabama basketball coach Anthony Grant has been bashed pretty good the last 24 hours as a coach who does not relate to his players, runs players off, and underperforms. While those criticisms may be on target, remember there are two sides to every story.  Many would say that Lacey has underperformed since coming out of high school as one America's top recruits (remember, he had Kentucky and Kansas on his radar). In two seasons at Alabama, Trevor Lacey, a 5-star recruit, averaged 9 points and 3 rebounds a game. While Moussa Gueye has also transferred, Anthony Grant, a man I imagine is not easy for which to play, may deserve the benefit of the doubt. How ironic is the fact that the young man who told Fox6 last month that Bama would play in the Final Four next season is heading out of town? 

     Gene Chizik On Tour Defending Auburn University:

     The former AU football coach had not been heard from since his dismissal, but here he was Monday holding court on WJOX radio, then holding a long media session at (I can't make this stuff up), Auburn University. There is no doubt that as Auburn AD Jay Jacobs released his findings on the Selena Roberts report, Chizik went to the media in support of the man who fired him (at least Chizik spoke to reporters in the soccer/track building and not in the football complex where his replacement is now housed). Was Jacobs aware of Chizik's media sessions? Of course. Was it wrong? Not necessarily, as both took turns bashing Roberts and denying (correctly in most every instances) the accusations found in the report. Still, I found it a bit odd that a fired coach would be asked back to defend the university that released him. There is no denying that there were problems in the program under Chizik, especially in 2010 when a spice epidemic should have been addressed more thoroughly. Said Chizik in standing by his former employer, "We did everything right." Uh, Gene? If you did everything right, you'd still be the Auburn football coach.

    Was That DJ Fluker's Tweet?

    All heck broke loose on Tuesday after a tweet attributed to the former Bama offensive lineman went viral. From Fluker's account read the following: "Yea I took $ n college so wat. I did wat i had to. Agents was tryin to pimp me so I pimped them. Cast da first stone."  The catch? Fluker's agent Deryk Gilmore insists the account was hacked. Says Gilmore, "We know who did this." On the surface this appears to be the case, for if you follow @DjFluker76 you know that the big guy refrains from harmful tweets- most often tweeted by Fluker are Bible verses. Still, asked if the UA compliance people would look into the matter, Nick Saban said a on a conference call, "Absolutely. We're trying to do things the right way." And you wonder why Saban doesn't have a Twitter account.

    And that's what it is at this hour. I hear the Braves are playing this afternoon and the NFL draft is Thursday night. Can't wait to talk some real sports!  

The Boston Bombings: How Sports Will Get Us Through

     As he eyed the end of his most exhausting journey ever, Jacksonville State assistant basketball coach Tom Schuberth felt a sense of relief as the Boston Marathon finish line was less than  a half a mile away. Oh, he had run about 20 marathons, but this was Boston, the Mack Daddy of marathons, where as many as 27-thousand athletes had their wills tested and their bodies beaten. As Schuberth stayed the course on Boylston Street and approached Copley Square, he thought he heard fireworks, a fitting addition, he thought, to this Patriots Day experience. Tom Schuberth quickly learned that the world's most famous marathon and the psyche of Americans everywhere would be forever scarred.

     Designed and timed for maximum bloodshed, two bombs would cost the lives of three innocent people, one of which was an 8-year old boy who had moments before gone for ice cream and returned to the finish line to see his father complete the race. Nearly 200 were injured, many critically, and a nation, nearly twelve years after 9/11, was on edge once again. Now what? It's time for Patriots like you and me to fight back.

     A legitimate question: Will sporting events ever be the same? Isn't every public arena where fans gather a prime target? And while security measures are being beefed up at venues across the nation, how long will it be before we all start letting our guards down? How long before the man at the gate takes a quick look in your backpack or briefcase and sends you on your way? It's time for all of us to stand up the bad guys and let them know we will not back down. But how?

     I find it telling that a tragedy like the one that unfolded Monday took place during one of the most grueling sporting events anywhere. For a human to run 26 miles, 385 yards and be left standing shows a resolve and a spirit accomplished by few.  It's the perfect reminder that we all dig deep and unite to keep us all safe. Longer lines at ballparks so metal detecting wands can be used? No biggie.  Longer waits in subways getting to sporting events so bags can be checked? Bring it on.  Earlier departures to sporting events knowing traffic will be slowed? I'm down with that.

     Today's top-level athletes are really not like us. They are more driven, more focused, more determined. But starting today, when we attend a football game or a baseball game or especially an outdoor sporting event, it's time for us to act more like the world's top athletes. We might need to put down the iPhone and be aware of our surroundings. We may have to shut out distractions from gabby friends and pay attention to something else besides our next text. We have to continue to attend sporting events, bringing with our attendance the statement that we will not be intimidated.  

     Think of attending, say an SEC football game. On a Saturday afternoon, the 100,000 fans in attendance are not bickering over politics or religion. They are standing united in one common cause- the love of college football. Today, we need not to be Republicans or Democrats, Baptists, Catholics or Jews, Caucasian or African-American. We need to be Patriots. Every day, 24-7, united in our love of this country. If we do, the bad guys can never defeat us.

     Tom Schuberth says that after seeing the carnage following Monday's blast, he's not concerned about falling a half-mile short of finishing the Boston Marathon. He says what he is most proud of is not his own running efforts, but the resolve shown by the Boston police, medics and emergency personnel. It is in a time of crisis, says Schuberth, that one can truly appreciate the strength of the human spirit. Schuberth says he will return to run the Boston Marathon.  As he trains toward his return, let's all remember to stand up to the bad guys, to continue to attend sporting events, and to all get along. Let's make every day Patriots Day- our lives depend on it.

Adding Some Spice To The Auburn Bombshell: The Numbers Don't Match Up

     Let's put aside (just for the moment) Selena Roberts. Let's put aside Mike McNeil, Darvin Adams, Michael Dyer and even Gene Chizik. Let's talk "spice. ESPN followed up Robert's blockbuster story with one of their own, and the  numbers in the ESPN story don't seem to jive with those of Auburn's Director Of Athletics. So what's going on here, and why is the date October 14, 2011 so important? Please, read on.

     ESPN paints a picture of a 2010 Auburn football team that was stocked with players higher than their pre-season rankings. The network reports that twelve players tested positive for synthetic marijuana only weeks after the BCS championship game against Oregon, and no disciplinary actions were taken. Former Tiger Dakota Mosley claims he failed seven straight tests with no repercussions. One former player tells ESPN he believes that more than half of the players on the championship team were using "spice". Says AD Jay Jacobs in an open letter to the AU family, "You can't be more wrong than that."

     Let's compare the numbers:  The report claims that once Auburn started testing for "spice" in late January 2011, Auburn's Director Of Sports Medicine Joe Petrone administered 799 drug tests on campus. Eighteen turned up positive for "spice", twelve of those coming from football players. Jacobs disagrees with those numbers, saying that since synthetic marijuana has been added to the university's drug tests, only 3 positive results in over 2500 tests administered have turned up.

     Like you, I have looked at both sides of this story, and on this issue, I'm starting to lean on the side of Auburn rather than Bristol- and here's why.

     A few dates are important here, one of which is April 8, 2010. Bill #697 made synthetic marijuana illegal in the state of Alabama. But there was a catch: The drug manufacturers, with the law on their heels, changed the ingredients in "spice" to keep it legal until Governor Bentley stepped in. Finally, on October 14th, 2011, "spice" was outlawed for good in the state of Alabama. What does it all mean? It means that during the fall of 2010 and into the summer of 2011, spice was a relatively new drug as school administrators and even state officials wrestled for ways to control and outlaw the product. Says Jacobs, "We were doing the best we could. Like the rest of nation, we were trying to figure it out."

     A case for Jay Jacobs and Auburn. According to the AD:

     Auburn began testing for "spice" three days after the test became available (January 27, 2011).

     Only 3 of 2500 synthetic marijuana tests have come up positive, those 3 were football players.

     As soon as school officials learned that "spice" was available at convenience stores, AU athletics personnel contacted their drug company to see if a test for such a drug was available. It was not.

     Auburn provided urine samples to the drug company to assist them in developing a test.

     Gene Chizik preached to players in the fall of 2010 of the dangers of "spice", and letters outlining the dangers of the drug were put in the lockers of every player.

     Phone records show that 50 phone calls were made to the parents of two players who tested positive for the drug.

     The Auburn Drug Testing Advisory Committee recommended to the Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics that synthetic marijuana be added to Auburn's drug testing policy. That policy was adopted on March 14, 2011.

    The bottom line? The 2010 Auburn football team appears to have had a rampant problem with players using "spice". But at that time, with the relatively new drug showing up on campuses nationwide, Auburn officials, from where I sit, actually took a pro-active stance in addressing the problem. I tend to believe Jacobs when he said that between the fall of 2010 and the summer of 2011, "...he was trying to figure it out."

     Has Auburn been unfairly bashed by the media? Remember, where there's smoke there's fire. But I believe that while the Auburn football program has had its share of issues, some coaches and athletes in Austin, Columbus, Gainesville, Tuscaloosa, South Bend and Los Angeles have just received  a wake-up call. And if officials at colleges everywhere had not addressed the issue of synthetic marijuana before the ESPN report on Auburn was released, they certainly are now.

From Toomers Trees To Three Poles And A Wire

     As Harvey Updyke, Jr's legal journey at long last comes to a close, I can't help but think about how the Alabama-Auburn rivalry is just heating up.  If you think the nation's top college rivalry has been bitter over the past few years, just wait until this fall, when each and every time an Auburn fan strolls past Toomers Corner, the blood will boil a bit more.

     The other day I wrote Updyke's attorney asking about the possibility of interviewing his client in prison. Updyke has been hit with a three year prison sentence for poisoning the oaks, but it's a sentence through legal maneuvering that has been reduced to six months. Since Updyke's time served in the legal system counts within that six months, Updyke will be back on the streets before football season begins (yes there are probation terms he must comply with, but he will be done serving his jail sentence). To make a long story short, Updyke is not allowed to talk with the media under terms of his sentence, and that includes the five years of probation that will follow him upon hs release. If Updyke follows judges orders (has he ever?), Updyke will not grant an interview until the summer of 2018. To Auburn and Alabama fans alike, that spells good news, as Updyke will not be heard from. The bad news? The memory of Updyke's callous act will never leave College Street.

     That brings me back to the long-time Tide & Tigers rivalry and the sour taste remaining in the mouths of Auburn fans everywhere. AU officials have announced that the final rolling of the Toomers oaks will take place April 20th after the ADay game. The trees will actually be dug up on April 23rd, bringing an end for many years to one of college sports' storied traditions. What follows the removal of the trees? The insertion of three poles in a triangular formation, wire running from pole to pole. Auburn fans will be able to throw toilet paper at Toomers Corner in the two islands in Front of Toomers Drugs and Bank Vault.

     Three poles and a wire? Are you kidding me? While I admire the efforts of school officials to make do while new trees grow, something does not seem right. This would be like replacing Clemson's Howard's Rock with a Barbie Doll... replacing the Sooner Schnooner with a tricycle... replacing Chief Osceola with one of those monkeys riding a dog... replacing Auburn's pre-game eagle flight with a pigeon. 

     The Auburn fan base has been rejuvinated with the hiring of a new football coach.  Tiger fans want and expect many wins this fall. And when each and every win comes starting in September, Auburn fans will head to Toomers Corner with a roll of toilet paper in hand, only to toss that roll over three poles and a wire. It will be enough to burn the image of Harvey Updyke, Jr into their brains, and elevate an already over-the-top rivalry to a level that many fans don't want to see.

Mal Moore: From The Hot Seat To The Crimson Throne

     Patience.  It's difficult to learn and harder to preach. But if ever there has been a man of the word, it's the true southern gentleman from Dozier, Alabama. Mal Moore is proof positive what patience can bring, and what a man with patience can offer. I can't imagine there are too many people who have anything negative to say about the outgoing Director of Athletics at Alabama. Maybe Dennis Franchione, Mike Shula, Mike Price and Mark Gottfried have a few beefs with the man, but in a world where name-calling and character bashing have become instant through social media, Moore has proved that patience has paid off for the good of his beloved university.

     While some may mock the University's penchant for hiring and promoting their own, the folks at UA have been wise to keep Mal Moore by their side. They remember the kid arriving in Tuscaloosa in 1958, Paul Bryant's first year as the Crimson Tide's head coach. They remember Moore showing patience as he was passed over at quarterback by the likes of Pat Trammel and Joe Namath.  Still, Moore would be with the Tide as Coach Bryant won his first national championship at Alabama. Before his 55 year career at UA was complete, Mal Moore would own a championship ring for every finger and thumb. Ten football titles for Moore as a player, coach, and administrator proves that patience can indeed be a virtue.

     A little over  ten years ago, patience was running thin for many Alabama fans. Mal Moore had been UA's Director of Athletics since 1999. Bama was slapped with five years probation (thanks Phillip Fulmer), Franchione was about to bolt for Texas A&M (take the money and run), and Mike Price was about to seal his destiny ("It's Rollin' Baby!"). Mal Moore was on the hot seat- and when Mike (deer in the headlights) Shula failed to pan out (an Independence Bowl bid, really?), many wondered if the university's greatest historical link was about to be dismissed. The UA powers at that time preached patience, and oh how that patience has paid off.

     Maybe it was patience, maybe it was a strong will, but Mal Moore was not going to board that plane in Miami without Nick and Terry Saban. On January 4, 2007, Moore nabbed his biggest fish ever. With Saban leading the way with three, Moore has overseen eight national championships at UA in the last ten years. When Mal Moore took on the role of Director of Athletics in '99, the department had an annual budget of $36 million. Today that figure is over $100 million. Moore has spearheaded two  major renovations to Bryant-Denny Stadium, the construction of new softball, tennis and soccer facilities, and facelifts to Coleman Coliseum and Foster Auditorium (although some insist the faces of those venues still resemble Joan Rivers). Total cost? $220 million (now, can Sarah Patterson get her own gymnastics facility? Maybe she needs to step it up- she's only won six national championships).

 Today, there would be but a few Alabama fans who would insist that UA sports programs would be better off without the patient leadership of Mal Moore. As one of college sports genuine nice guys battles heart and lung issues, my wish is that after recovering, Mal gets a chance to sit back and enjoy his work. If there is any one person who deserves a seat on the Crimson Throne, it's the patient man from southern Alabama.

Bo Knows Cycling- and Burger King!

     Oh how a self-described "nasty" kid grew up to be a man with such heart. Bo Jackson stopped by Fox6 on Thursday to join me on set. He talked about his Bo Bikes Bama campaign that aids tornado relief. He also reminded me that only days after being named the "Greatest Athlete Of All Time" by ESPN, he was still being ordered by his wife Linda to shovel the driveway outside the family's Chicago area home.

     The only problem with visiting with Bo Jackson is that there is never enough time. Never enough time to hear the great stories about going over the top, winning the Heisman, being named the MVP of the MLB All-Star game, climbing outfield fences, throwing out Harold Reynolds from the warning track in left, running over Brian Bosworth, breaking bats over his knee, running a 4.12 at the NFL combine, going back to Auburn to get his degree, raising two sons and a daughter, dabbling in bows and arrows, and giving the Auburn commencement address. But we did have a chance to chat about a few things near and dear to his heart:  Bo Bikes Bama and yes, high school track and field.

     Come April 27th, Bo and dozens of others will depart on bike rides of 60 miles and 20 miles from Cordova, Alabama, one of the worst areas hit by those tornadoes back on April 27th, 2011. Why the ride? Bo has seen the devastation suffered by residents in his home state. It matters not whether they root for Alabama or Auburn- what matters is that they rebuild, and that they are ready if and when another tornado strikes. That's why despite helping raise $600,000 for the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund, Bo is spearheading a project that has dozens of storm shelters built in areas most prone to tornado strikes.   

     Upon birth, Vincent Jackson received his first name from his mother, who looked up to an actor named Vincent Edwards. The name "Bo" arrived after family and friends insisted that the unruly Vincent often behaved like a wild boar. Today, that wild boar has softened at age fifty, but one story Bo told me in studio perfectly describes what kind of drive and creativity he possessed as a young man.

    Young Bo Jackson was a McAdory High School star in football, baseball, basketball and track and field. The state decathlon championship had narrowly alluded him as a freshman and a sophomore, but Bo had arrived by the time he was in 11th grade. Bo was so strong, so fast, so gifted, that he felt confident of winning the state title. The problem? The 1500 meter run, the decathlon's final event (it's just shy of a mile). Bo loved sprints but hated distance running, so he came up with a plan.

      Bo Jackson bet his high school coach that if he could attain an insurmountable lead in the other nine decathlon events, he could sit out the 1500 meters and eat lunch in the bleachers. His coach agreed.  So Bo worked hard in the 100 meters, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400 meters, 110 meter hurdles, discus, pole vault and javelin throw. And just as he predicted, Bo had such a big lead over the best decathletes in the state that he skipped the final event.

     As the athletes lined up for the 1500 meter run at Vestavia Hills High School, there sat Bo Jackson in the school bleachers, eating a Whopper and drinking an orange soda. Bo tells me that to this day, nothing felt more satisfying to the the heart and to the stomach: Leaning back, enjoying a hearty lunch while watching the other kids run to the point of nausea. The lunch and the state decathlon championship was his.

     The decathlon story is a perfect example of how we should all live our lives. Whatever we face, we should tackle it head on- with such passion that when we have given it our all, perhaps we will wind up winners. That's what Bo Jackson is doing with his Bo Bikes Bama campaign. He's living his dash, living his dream. Let's hope that like Bo, that at the end of our journeys come a few Whoppers, with some orange sodas to wash them down.

 

Offering A Scholarship To An 8th-Grader? Good News, Bama Fans!

  "Has Nick Saban lost his mind?"  That's a question that I'm getting tossed my way by many sports fans in wake of the news that the Alabama coach has offered a scholarship to 14-year old Dylan Moses of Baton Rouge.  Many of those people are missing the broader point. Whether or not Moses will have his act together come Signing Day 2017 is but a mere blip on what Saban's move suggests: The Alabama football coach will continue to work at UA for the next five years and beyond.

    You and I know that alot can happen between now and 2017, but if Saban were to remain the Crimson Tide coach through 2017 and possibly through Moses' tenure in Tuscaloosa, their beloved coach would in the saddle through 2021. That means Bama fans could get eight more years of Nick Saban, and in the process (sorry, couldn't help but use that word) very possibly more than a few national championships.

     Another few thoughts as we head into midweek:

     Each and every year there's one or two stars coming out of the NFL Combine. Former Auburn tailback Onterrio McCalebb's 4.34 forty aside (he had originally posted a 4.27, flirting with Bo Jackson numbers), I'd have to say that former Auburn defensive lineman Corey Lemonier has left Indianapolis in great shape.  Lemonier, a defensive lineman (6 foot 3, 255 pounds), ran a 4.60 forty, did 27 reps in the bench press and turned in a 33-inch vertical. All that, and the guy looks like the Incredible Hulk... Kudos to former Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen, who despite being four months removed from major hip surgery, took part in all Combine drills. Lutz ran a 4.94 forty and plans on improving that number at Auburn Pro Day.  Lutzenkirchen felt that even while less than 100 percent, participating in the drills would show his toughness. Injured players are often faced with tough decisions. To participate in the Combine and be less than 100 percent, or wait until their alma mater's Pro Days to compete. A number of players from Alabama have decided on the latter. Eddie Lacy, Barrett Jones, Jesse Williams, Quinton Dial and Damion Square are all opting to wait for Pro Day to show their skills.

     And a few comments on Danica Patrick. A few years ago, I received a phone call from a local race promoter that the driver would grant me an interview. After quickly gathering up a photographer, we raced to the Barber Motorsports Park and set up for the TV interview. At last, as Danica approached, her PR person walked up to me, introduced herself and said, "Allright, here we go- one question."  Now I'm thinking, "One question? Are you kidding me?" My co-hort next to me that day was Mike Dubberly of Fox6. Gotta hand it to the quick thinking Dub, who, wanting a long answer from Patrick, looked at her and asked her, "What is the meaning of life?".  Danica was not amused, but I thought that was very creative.  Sunday afternoon, Danica proved she belongs on the Sprint Cup level- in fact you can now say she's certainly considered to be one of the guys (as long as she can find someone to draft with near the end of a race). But while she and her marketing people have done a great job creating "The Danica Factor", it sure would be nice to have the opportunity to ask her more than one question.   

Offering A Scholarship To An 8-Grader? Good News For Alabama Fans

  "Has Nick Saban lost his mind?"  That's a question that I'm getting tossed my way by many sports fans in wake of the news that the Alabama coach has offered a scholarship to 14-year old Dylan Moses of Baton Rouge.  Many of those people are missing the broader point. Whether or not Moses will have his act together come Signing Day 2017 is but a mere blip on what Saban's move suggests: The Alabama football coach will continue to work at UA for the next five years and beyond.

    You and I know that alot can happen between now and 2017, but if Saban were to remain the Crimson Tide coach through 2017 and possibly through Moses' tenure in Tuscaloosa, their beloved coach would in the saddle through 2021. That means Bama fans could get eight more years of Nick Saban, and in the process (sorry, couldn't help but use that word) very possibly more than a few national championships.

     Another few thoughts as we head into midweek:

     Each and every year there's one or two stars coming out of the NFL Combine. Former Auburn tailback Onterrio McCalebb's 4.34 forty aside (he had originally posted a 4.27, flirting with Bo Jackson numbers), I'd have to say that former Auburn defensive lineman Corey Lemonier has left Indianapolis in great shape.  Lemonier, a defensive lineman (6 foot 3, 255 pounds), ran a 4.60 forty, did 27 reps in the bench press and turned in a 33-inch vertical. All that, and the guy looks like the Incredible Hulk... Kudos to former Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen, who despite being four months removed from major hip surgery, took part in all Combine drills. Lutz ran a 4.94 forty and plans on improving that number at Auburn Pro Day.  Lutzenkirchen felt that even while less than 100 percent, participating in the drills would show his toughness. Injured players are often faced with tough decisions. To participate in the Combine and be less than 100 percent, or wait until their alma mater's Pro Days to compete. A number of players from Alabama have decided on the latter. Eddie Lacy, Barrett Jones, Jesse Williams, Quinton Dial and Damion Square are all opting to wait for Pro Day to show their skills.

     And a few comments on Danica Patrick. A few years ago, I received a phone call from a local race promoter that the driver would grant me an interview. After quickly gathering up a photographer, we raced to the Barber Motorsports Park and set up for the TV interview. At last, as Danica approached, her PR person walked up to me, introduced herself and said, "Allright, here we go- one question."  Now I'm thinking, "One question? Are you kidding me?" My co-hort next to me that day was Mike Dubberly of Fox6. Gotta hand it to the quick thinking Dub, who, wanting a long answer from Patrick, looked at her and asked her, "What is the meaning of life?".  Danica was not amused, but I thought that was very creative.  Sunday afternoon, Danica proved she belongs on the Sprint Cup level- in fact you can now say she's certainly considered to be one of the guys (as long as she can find someone to draft with near the end of a race). But while she and her marketing people have done a great job creating "The Danica Factor", it sure would be nice to have the opportunity to ask her more than one question.   

Offering A Scholarship To An 8th-Grader? Good News For Alabama Fans

     "Has Nick Saban lost his mind?"  That's a question that I'm getting tossed my way by many sports fans in wake of the news that the Alabama coach has offered a scholarship to 14-year old Dylan Moses of Baton Rouge.  Many of those people are missing the broader point. Whether or not Moses will have his act together come Signing Day 2017 is but a mere blip on what Saban's move suggests: The Alabama football coach will continue to work at UA for the next five years and beyond.

    You and I know that alot can happen between now and 2017, but if Saban were to remain the Crimson Tide coach through 2017 and possibly through Moses' tenure in Tuscaloosa, their beloved coach would in the saddle through 2021. That means Bama fans could get eight more years of Nick Saban, and in the process (sorry, couldn't help but use that word) very possibly more than a few national championships. 

     Another few thoughts as we head into midweek:

     Each and every year there's one or two stars coming out of the NFL Combine. Former Auburn tailback Onterrio McCalebb's 4.34 forty aside (he had originally posted a 4.27, flirting with Bo Jackson numbers), I'd have to say that former Auburn defensive lineman Corey Lemonier has left Indianapolis in great shape.  Lemonier, a defensive lineman (6 foot 3, 255 pounds), ran a 4.60 forty, did 27 reps in the bench press and turned in a 33-inch vertical. All that, and the guy looks like the Incredible Hulk... Kudos to former Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen, who despite being four months removed from major hip surgery, took part in all Combine drills. Lutz ran a 4.94 forty and plans on improving that number at Auburn Pro Day.  Lutzenkirchen felt that even while less than 100 percent, participating in the drills would show his toughness. Injured players are often faced with tough decisions. To participate in the Combine and be less than 100 percent, or wait until their alma mater's Pro Days to compete. A number of players from Alabama have decided on the latter. Eddie Lacy, Barrett Jones, Jesse Williams, Quinton Dial and Damion Square are all opting to wait for Pro Day to show their skills.

     And a few comments on Danica Patrick. A few years ago, I received a phone call from a local race promoter that the driver would grant me an interview. After quickly gathering up a photographer, we raced to the Barber Motorsports Park and set up for the TV interview. At last, as Danica approached, her PR person walked up to me, introduced herself and said, "Allright, here we go- one question."  Now I'm thinking, "One question? Are you kidding me?" My co-hort next to me that day was Mike Dubberly of Fox6. Gotta hand it to the quick thinking Dub, who, wanting a long answer from Patrick, looked at her and asked her, "What is the meaning of life?".  Danica was not amused, but I thought that was very creative.  Sunday afternoon, Danica proved she belongs on the Sprint Cup level- in fact you can now say she's certainly considered to be one of the guys (as long as she can find someone to draft with near the end of a race). But while she and her marketing people have done a great job creating "The Danica Factor", it sure would be nice to have the opportunity to ask her more than one question.