Nick and God’s providence

Alabama coach Nick Saban has taken a few hits (after the Super Bowl and Drew Brees’ performance) for passing over Brees when he was the coach of the Miami Dolphins and choosing instead, Daunte Culpepper. That decision looks ridiculous today — but, as usual, we’re not getting the full story. Saban’s decision seems especially strange given his proven ability to judge talent (see his comments after watching the high school Michael Oher play basketball for 10 minutes). How could Saban have thought that Culpepper was a better choice than Brees? Well, the fact is, he didn’t. According to Fox Sports, Saban loved Brees but was dissuaded from taking him by the Dolphin team physicians:

When Brees hit free agency two months later, his first visit was to the Miami Dolphins, who were under the direction of new coach Nick Saban. Saban loved Brees. But Miami doctors said it was a long shot that Brees would fully recover from the surgery.

It is interesting to think of what might have been if Saban had gone with his instincts instead of listening to the docs. Would Saban still be in south Florida? Would the Dolphins be celebrating a Super Bowl victory? Would Alabama still be suffering under incompetent coaches . . . . like Rich “I’d rather be in West Virginia burning my couch” Rodriguez? Oh, the horror! the pain and agony that comes at the mere thought of all this is unbearable isn’t it? But the truth is, the answer to all these depressing questions is “yeah, probably.”

Sorry, but I can’t stand to think of these nightmare scenarios a nanosecond longer, so let’s leave behind this line of fruitless (and depressing) speculation and think of how beautifully everything worked out because of Coach Saban’s willingness to listen to team doctors.

Because the Dolphins’ doctors were persuasive, Saban passed on Drew Brees (effectively dooming the Dolphins to years of mediocrity and bringing untold frustration to the insufferable Don Shula — and that’s good). Because Saban chose Daunte Culpepper, New Orleans got the services of Mr. Brees thus obtaining the key piece for their Super Bowl championship season this year (and that’s really good). AND because Saban decided not to follow his gut feeling, Alabama was able to persuade him to leave the sinking ship which was the Miami Dolphins and become the head coach of the Tide (and, of course, bring a 13th National Championship home to the capstone three years later — bringing even more frustration to the indescribably obnoxious Popa Shula — and that’s best of all).

So. There it is.

You see? The Lord really does take care of His own!

Ok, so maybe you’re not kidding

Under the category of stories that we wish would go away but which refuse to do so, apparently the plans for a 96 team NCAA “March-April-May Madness” tournament are still going forward. Sports by Brooks reports that negotiations with TV networks have been approved by the NCAA Division I board of directors:

Despite a NCAA denial that the 96-team tournament format will start next season, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors have already given the greenlight to negotiations on a 96-team tournament with television networks that would take effect next season.

This of course would kill the NIT (which I can stand, though it still makes me a little sad, just for history’s sake) but what is worse is what this will do to the regular season and conference tournaments. Why bother? Really. Why not just play a few games and start the tournament after the Super Bowl?

What sort of record would it take to get into a 96 team tournament? or wait, here’s a better question: What sort of record could keep you OUT of a 96 team tournament?

This is a level of crazy that I didn’t think even the NCAA could reach.

O ye of little faith.

You’re kidding, right?

The story broke yesterday and all of us here at Fan headquarters are waiting breathlessly for the punch line. Here’s the headline: “NCAA still looking at tourney expansion.” Hilarious, right?

Already at 64 teams, a committee is considering expanding the NCAA basketball tournament to 96 teams (yep, you saw that right, four less than 100).

If I’m lying I’m dying.

Leave it to the NCAA to mess up one of the best things in college sports. But if ESPN will pay 400 kazillion dollars for the rights, it’s going to be “Welcome to March-April Madness!”

Can you imagine the excitement and anticipation accompanying a scintillating opening round contest between the American East Conference champion, Stoney Brook University against the University of Missouri-Kansas-City of the Summit League? Whoa. I’m getting an major league case of the “sweaty palms” just thinking about that one!

So, c’mon now — if this is not a joke, somebody needs to step forward quickly and let the rest of us know. And I’m serious.

Overrated

From an article by Cary Estes which was posted on MSNBC back on Aug 11, 2007, seven months after Alabama had hired Nick Saban:

The citizens of Alabama never have been rational when it comes to college football, but the state has gone absolutely Lindsey Lohan over the arrival of Saban from his forgettable stint with the Miami Dolphins. How else to explain an overflow crowd of more than 92,000 showing up for the Crimson Tide’s spring game this year? Even by Alabama standards, that’s nuts. The Crimson Tide went 6-7 last season and has not won a national championship in 15 years. Yet a number of Alabama fans truly expect Saban to have a 10-victory team this season and be in the BCS title game within three years. And those are the rational fans. . . .

right. Absolutely nuts. How could anyone have expected Saban to be in the BCS title game within three years?

Saban’s arrival is being treated in these parts like the second-coming of Paul “Bear” Bryant. Or at least Gene Stallings. You would think from the reaction that Alabama had landed one of the two or three best college coaches in the nation, a perception that simply is not backed up by the numbers. . . . if Saban ends up with multiple championship rings, he will go down as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport. And to this point, there is nothing in his record to indicate that he will reach such lofty heights.

The article was titled “Alabama Gaga Over Overrated Saban: Crimson Tide pinning national title dreams on good — not great — coach”

Yep. Definitely overrated. He only went 7-6 his first year.

We are . . .

Only the beginning

“I want everybody here to know, this is not the end. This is the beginning. This team, our fans, our athletics administration has proven that we know what it takes, and we’re going to build on that in the future with the players that we have coming back next year and the future players that are building our program into the greatest and the most consistent winning program in the country.”

Nick Saban, BCS national championship celebration, Bryant-Denny Stadium, January 16, 2010

It’s Derek

Well, Will Muschamp turned them down. John Gruden turned them down. Gary Patterson turned them down, as did Calhoun, and Edsel and David Cutcliff [you know it's bad when the head coach of Duke turns you down]. But Derek Dooley said “YES, please, get me out of Ruston!!!”

Derek is a good guy, comes from a good family, is apparently a pretty good recruiter and will probably look as good as anybody can in that ugly orange — but the most important thing is that UT finally has a coach that will act like an adult [and that's in addition to the great Les Miles impersonation he's got going in the picture above]. All in all, it’s a significant upgrade from Lane “I’m falling up again!” Kiffin.

So, good for them.

But I’m really glad I’m not a Vol (and not the first time).

So long, Lane

UT students gave Lane Kiffin a farewell party last night after learning of his decision to accept the head coaching position at USC. Well, ok, maybe it wasn’t exactly a farewell party. Truthfully, it sounds like it was a tad less friendly than that. ESPN’s Chris Low reports:

Groups of angry students and fans began surrounding the football complex after the news leaked that Kiffin had taken the USC job. Eventually, it evolved into a mob-like scene with police moving in and barricading Johnny Majors Drive in front of the football complex.

Others reported students chanting “We want Lane” — which I guess was not meant to be a plea that Lane remain at UT as head coach. Still others started a bonfire with Lane Kiffin T-shirts and someone even set a mattress on fire — in an ill-considered attempt to imitate the student body at West Virginia.

But hey, think about it, guys. You had a coach who acted like a 12 year-old who had been given the keys to a Ferrari and told to have a good time. Lane was an embarrassment even though most of you (loyally) refused to acknowledge it. But now you don’t have to pretend that immaturity is OK anymore. Now you have the opportunity to get a real coach who might actually act like an adult.

It’s a “Win-Win” situation. Trust me.

Little Lane goes Hollywood

Well, whaddaya say about all this? First Pete Carroll bolts from USC, deftly avoiding the oncoming NCAA probation train and USC then hires Little Laney “I don’t know the rules” Kiffin (who may be avoiding some penalties at UT for recruiting violations). So, in a way, it makes sense. I mean, who better to deal with NCAA problems than the guy who’s become an NCAA secondary violations expert in his first season as a head coach?

The whole process has exposed Lane’s character (and proven what the rest of us have been saying all along). After Tennessee gave him the biggest break of his career (giving him a job after he was unceremoniously fired from the Oakland Raiders), he leaves them holding the bag after only one mediocre season. That’s one heckofa way to say “Thanks” eh?

But, then again, Lane never has been one big on formalities (you know, things like, courtesy, loyalty, gratitude — things that some people think are important). Lane has learned that these things don’t matter when you’re seeking your own best interest. Looking back after Tuesday night, Al Davis doesn’t seem so crazy when he called Lane a “flat out liar” — and that’s probably quite mild compared to what UT athletic director, Mike Hamilton is calling him now.

So now Tennessee is left to try to find a head coach three weeks before signing day. At least they don’t have to worry about what crazy thing Lane is going to do next.

Now that problem belongs to USC. Look out Hollywood.

I hope not

That’s the answer. . .

Here’s the question . . .