If Texas Tech was so worried about their players’ personal safety, how come they hired Bobby Knight as their basketball coach? He’s the real bastion of kindness and player empathy. That’s kind of a joke really.
Mike Leach may be a stubborn guy, but I find it hard to believe that Texas Tech would have worried about this that much if it wasn’t for three factors: 1) The contract negotiations last year which were heated, 2) the 8-4 record this year, which allowed them to look for something to find negative about Leach and use it against him and 3) that Craig James, a high profile guy, complained for his baby boy. I just don’t believe that Texas Tech is being forthright in their explanation. There’s a lot more behind the scenes than this coach abused his player, which, in my opinion, is not true.

About to go 3-6 in bowl picks after Zona’s performance against Nebraska. Nebraska up 17-0 and looking to pour it on. Zona’s rb looks like he ought to be on Dancing With The Stars and not totin’ the rock. Their quarterback threw for a lot of yards this year, but that looks like a farce. He’s clueless. Neb has a pretty stout defense, too.
Idaho beat Bowling Green 43-42 in the last four seconds. Bowling Green may have the worst pass defense I’ve ever seen. No. 21, defensive back for BG, may have been the worst football player I’ve seen in the bowls. BG had taken a 42-35 lead with 30 seconds left and that moron allowed a long completion that put Idaho deep in BG territory. The receiver was right in front of him, he could have knocked down the ball. How can you allow that to happen?

Anyway, like the call by Idaho coach to go for two after he scored the td to make it 42-41. Pretty darn gutsy.

Rest of the picks are in earlier bowl blog. Will fess up with picks after New Year’s. Will be off for a couple of days, but may be blogging if something comes up. Happy New Year.

OK, I’m addicted to the blog. Maybe I need to go to rehab.
Here is the NFL playoff picture:

AFC-The wild cards are not decided. The AFC is pretty convoluted, but I think the Jets and Ravens are in if they win. Jets host Bengals on Sunday and Ravens travel to Oakland. Steelers, Broncos and Texans in it.

NFC-All six playoff teams are in but it’s a fight for the No.2 seed between Philly, the Vikings and Cards. If Philly wins-at Dallas not easy-they are No.2 seed and get a bye first round. If Philly loses and Vikings win (hosting Giants) they’re No.2. If Zona wins (hosting Green Bay) and the other two lose, they are the No.2 seed.

If Dallas beats Philly on Sunday, they get in if Vikings and Cardinals lose.

Here is the breakdown by ESPN:

Just can’t get off this subject. A lot of people in the media have already prosecuted Leach, and I don’t think they have all the facts. I know concussions are serious business these days with all the talk of former pro football players having all kinds of mental problems from the effects of concussions.
My point is: why is Leach so vehemently fighting this if he really thinks he did something wrong? I think there should be some consideration to the fact that Texas Tech was looking for something to fire Leach for because of the heated negotiations in his contract last year. They were displeased with an 8-4 campaign, though I think that’s pretty good considering this was a rebuilding year for Tech after losing their star qb and wr.

At some point these kids need to toughen up. There are plenty of tough football players out there in all ranks, but I also think there are more kids now who complain because they’ve been so entitled their whole lives. There is too much sensitivity with these kids. The coach is the boss; you’ve just got to live with his decisions sometimes.

Parents are too involved now, too. They need to just let the coach do his job and not get so overly involved. In other words, they need to concentrate on how they’re performing in their own jobs and not be so concerned with microanalyzing their coach.

I don’t have all the facts of this case, but in my opinion, I think this is a cry baby kid and his cry baby father taking it out on the coach because the kid didn’t  get to play enough.

Got UCLA right missed out on Wisconsin over Miami.
UCLA30, Temple 21

Was so impressed with UCLA’s defense in the second half. Akeem Ayers, the UCLA linebacker a redshirt soph, is an absolute stud. Was all over the field and intercepted a Temple pass at the three and took it in for go ahead td. He had done the same thing earlier this year. He just went up and instead of batting it down, he caught it and jogged into the end zone. He is 6’4″, 252, an amazing athlete. He could be in the NFL next year, though I wish he’d come back for one more year of college ball.

Wisconsin 20, Miami 14

Wisconsin just outplayed Miami in their 20-14 victory. They were passing over the middle all night and blitzing Jacory Harris who was made ineffective most of the night. Harris had some injuries, but you have to hand it to Wisconsin; they took it to the Canes.

Little under the weather today; I will be off the rest of the day. Back tomorrow with more though.

Here are my picks for tonight:

Bowling Green over Idaho. Don’t know anything about either team, just think Bowling Green will be more physical.

Arizona over Nebraska: This is a tough call. Neb has that great defense, but not much offense. Arizona has a good offense and just enough defense. Could be wrong on this one, but gotta take a shot.

Just going with the PAC 10. I like the Pac 10 and the SEC as the best conferences in football with the SEC getting the edge due to defense.

Bowl record: 3-4

Mike Leach was fired by Texas Tech. I don’t know how fair it is because it’s hard to know what the real truth is when you’re hearing two sides of a story; but it is what it is. It’s too bad. The guy did a great job at Texas Tech. Maybe his negotiating with Tech did him in last year. Apparently, he was tough with them on getting what he wanted in the contract and the AD and president didn’t like that. Who knows about this concussion situation. I kind of sided with him. He had the player watched; there was no danger and I heard Craig James just hovered over practices and got in the way. Sorry for Leach.