ACC/Big 11 "Challenge"? ACC 8 Big 11 3

Well another ACC/Big 11 "Challenge" has concluded and the results are strangely familiar. The ACC beat, no crushed the Big 11 in this years version. That is the 3rd time in the series that the ACC has demolished the Big 11, proving which conference is the stronger not only this year, but overall. This was the 8th installment of the "Challenge", and the ACC is an astonishing 8 - 0. This years "Challenge" brings the overall record to 48 - 27. Wikipedia has everything you could possibly want to know about the "Challenge".

I for one love this thing. What college basketball fan did not enjoy watching Virginia/Purdue last night? The game had a March feeling to it, and the ending did not disappoint either, unless of course you pull for UVA. The OSU/UNC game was even better. I truly believe we were watching the two best teams in the country go at it, and there were portions of the game that were absolutely ridiculous. I can only hope that we get to see a rematch in the Final Four, and that both teams are healthy. Hansbrough going against Oden would be a thing of beauty. Speaking of Oden, can Dickie V get off his jock already? The only downside to that game was the fact that Dickie V was working it. Enough already!

Scary thought for the day, how good would UNC be if they had not given Jameson Curry the cold shoulder over his weed arrest? I absolutely love to watch this kid play. Who cares if the kid sold a little bit of weed? Apparently Roy Williams did. Kudos to Roy for not taking such a talented kid due to his mistakes. I am glad he is getting a 2nd chance, and that it is with a program that actually gets on TV. The Washington Post seems to have as much love for him as I do:

Cowboy's Curry Makes Most of 2nd Chance
Feeling the Burn of a Sting

ACC/Big 11 Challenge - ACC 6 Big 11 3

It's only 9:20 and the "Challenge" is officially over. The ACC has once again won the "Challenge" for the 8th consecutive year. I for one love the "Challenge" even if the ACC does crush every single year. I am the kind of guy that takes pride in the ACC and it's history. While the perception may be that the ACC is down this year, every day that goes by it looks like it's back on the rise.

Oh, and UVA is giving Purdue the fight of it's life right now. 23.9 ticks left and it's all tied up and Purdue has the rock. Who doesn't love this stuff?

UVA just lost on a great shot with 1.2 seconds to go.

Cowher throws the red flag at Wolfpack Nation

Today Bill Cowher did what we all expected him to do yesterday. Cowher was asked today if he was considering the NC State job and he said the following:

"I'm very flattered to hear some of the things that have been coming out, but I'm not a candidate," Cowher said. "I have a job here and my focus really is on this job right here, so you can take me off the list." "You can take me off the list," Cowher said of the N.C. State job. "I am flattered. It's a super program and I'm sure they'll get a very qualified coach that's going to walk into a good situation."

But Bill did say something else of interest:

"I'm the coach here -- as much as that may disappoint some people -- but I am the coach here and I want to win these last five games," Cowher said. "I'm going to do everything in my power to do that. I've been here for a while and I like it. It's a good job. I don't like the way we are right now and I'm going to do everything in our power to finish this thing up strong."

What if Bill Cowher somehow was fired? Would that change his outlook on coaching in the college ranks? When asked if would consider doing so in the future he said the following:

"I don't know. I don't look that far down the road, I really don't," he said. "I guess those are times when you get in that reflective mode. The only thing I'm reflecting on now is that feeling we had after last Sunday's game and trying to rectify that. That's where the focus is at."

So now the real search looks like it will begin. Chuck Neinas and Co. will hit the ground running, and I guess the ESPN report that Norm Chow and David Cutcliffe have not been contacted will only be true for a really short time.

While this news from Cowher was expected, I can't help but feel some disappointment at the news. Partly because of how awesome it would have been, partly because I wanted to use this nice gem as my lead-in picture:

ACC/Big 11 Challenge - ACC 4 Big 11 2

After one full night of games, and Monday's opening game, we sit in a very familiar position in regards to the "Challenge". While I for one love the "Challenge" and want to see more of these, I can certainly understand why a lot of people do not get into it. The ACC is 7 - 0 in these things. After tonight, I expect that to read 8 - 0. There is nothing to indicate that it will not work out that way, as the Big 11 just does not have the horses to run with the ACC. The following picture sums it up nicely, except that this came from a game that the ACC lost:

One of the problems with the "Challenge" is that it just is not that challenging for some of the teams. I am not sure how they pick who plays who in this thing, but I do have some suggestions. They should take the previous years final RPI rankings of each team, and match them up with the closest ranked team according to the RPI computers. Do we really need to see Penn State battle it out with Georgia Tech? Granted, some of the games have been closer than expected, but come on. They can do better than this.

Another twist I would like to see is the rebirth of the old ACC/Big East Challenge, and perhaps even a Big 11/Big East Challenge as well. Throw in the SEC and we could have two weeks of nonstop hoops that matter in late November/early December. Of course, then the mid-majors would have a fit...

The Clock is Ticking - Updated

Yesterday was a quiet day on Cowher Watch 2006. Adam Gold had predicted that Cowher would remove his name from consideration during his weekly presser. Well, the presser came and went with zero mention of NC State. That is a good sign for the Wolfpack, in my opinion. It could mean that he is thinking things through, and going through a serious debate about his future. Cowher is 51 years old, and is currently the longest tenured coach in the NFL with 15 years in Pittsburgh. If he wants to be the head coach at NC State one day, then he does not absolutely have to make a move this year. The risk he takes is that a Paul Johnson comes in and turns the ship around. If that happens, and the new coach is here 10 years or more, Cowher's shot at coaching his alma mater will be gone for good.

A lot of people are saying that to even think this might happen is absurd. I can certainly understand why some people would think that. For anyone with knowledge of the situation to say that, however, is what is absurd. He has a Super Bowl. He is losing support in Pittsburgh, according to their local media. He said, during the Wolfpack's last coaching search, to not forget about him in the future. He just invested $2.5mil on a home in North Raleigh. His family is living full time in Raleigh. I will not speculate on his financial situation, but the $2mil/season package that he would get should pay the bills just fine. The one final piece of the puzzle that people do not put enough value on, he loves NC State with a passion.

I do not expect to hear anything today in regards to what Cowher is thinking. It is my opinion that the longer we go without hearing a solid no, the better State's chances are of landing him. I am also of the opinion that he will not drag this out, as he wants State to get the best coach available. If any news does come out today, I will do my best to update as early as possible.

UPDATE:
I just stumbled across this tidbit on Cowher at Wikipedia.com:

One notable moment in his playing career is a special teams play when he broke the leg, and subsequently ended the playing career, of Chicago Bears kick returner (and current head coach of the Tennessee Titans) Jeff Fisher

ACC/Big 11 Challenge - NC State 74 Michigan 67

The 8th annual ACC/Big 11 Challenge kicked off on Monday night with Sidney Lowe's first nationally televised game as coach of the Wolfpack. Things looked bad in the beginning, and then about 6 minutes into the game Engin Atsur went down with an apparent hamstring injury. At that point State was down 14 - 4. Fast forward to the end of the half, and we would see a 35 - 28 Wolfpack lead. Kudos to Gavin Grant for doing an excellent job running the point for the middle section of the game. State would push the lead as high as 21 points in the second half, but in the final 10 minutes (or the fourth quarter as Sid says) Michigan's pressure on the ball, and fatigue set in for the Pack. The Wolverines were able to scratch to within 4 at one point, but that would be as close as they would get. With a final score of 74 - 67, the Pack handed Michigan it's first loss of the season. The Wolfpack improved to 5 - 0.

My game ball goes to Ben McCauley and his 19 points and 8 boards to go with his 0 turnovers and only 2 personal fouls. At times he looked like an emerging star for the Pack. Another bright sign was Brandon Costner. He poured in 17 points and grabbed a game high 11 rebounds. It is beginning to look like the top 6 players for the Pack will be able to compete. The problem is that we can not expect them to compete for 40 minutes a game, especially when they start playing on short rest.

Bill Cowher reportedly saying no to NC State - Updated

According to Adam Gold at 850 The Buzz, Bill Cowher will remove his name from consideration for the NC State job during his weekly press conference today. I'll post the link to the press conference when it is available online.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette ran this on Sunday:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06330/741261-66.stm

The interesting thing is that it only mentions NFL jobs, and does not once mention NC State. It might be a little shortsighted on their part, and a mention may have been warranted, but I am guessing they are closer to Cowher than we are right now.

My take on this is that it is going down exactly as expected. Going into this, there are two logical schools of thought on how Cowher would conduct himself. If he is not going to take the job, and it is his for the taking, then he will say so right away so that NC State can get a jump on the other candidates. If he is interested, then Chuck Neinas would begin the negotiations to bring Cowher home. This is one of the things that makes Cowher so attractive to me. He will not play any games with State, he will come right out and make his intentions known. If he does not address it in his weekly press conference, that will be a very good sign for Wolfpack Nation.

As for the other candidates out there, our friends at Red & White did a great breakdown with an NC State slant to it. Saved me a lot of time...

UPDATE

Well, the presser came and went. From what I have gathered there was no mention of NC State at all. Keep in mind that this was his weekly presser, and it is a Steeler show not a Cowher show. I still think that if we do not hear a public no from Cowher by the end of the week that things are looking good for Wolfpack Nation. Throw this gem on top of it all:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06332/741748-150.stm

I do not know who this guy is, but he seems to have an ax to grind with Cowher.

The Procession is Over

After the loss at UNC on November 18th, the writing was on the wall for Chuck Amato at NC State. Not because he lost to UNC, but because he lost to a team that was just downright awful. It was the final nail on the coffin, and the masses began calling for his removal. I joined those ranks, but not until after the debacle against ECU on Saturday night. If the UNC game was the final nail, then the ECU loss was the final shovelful of dirt. On Sunday, November 26th, it became official:

Press Release on GoPack.com

One of the highlights of the presser was when Captain Lee Fouler made the following statement:

“Our search will be national in scope and we will begin the process through a search firm very quickly. I ask that all Wolfpackers join together in supporting our student-athletes and staying behind our program."

This is great news, as it clearly states that Lee will not be the front man for this search. I do not think we need to reset how he handled the basketball search, do we? It is a pretty safe bet that when I say that I do not know if I could handle another Lee run search, that I speak for all of Wolfpack Nation. In the very least, however, he does make it entertaining. Chuck Amato's parting words were the following:

“When I came to North Carolina State University, I set my dreams very high,” said Amato. “My vision was to take this program to places that it had never been before in 100-plus years of playing football. We really don’t know how long or how difficult it is to be able to attain those types of goals because we’ve never been there before in football.

“I didn’t come here to use this job as a stepping stone like many others have or could. I wanted to surround myself with people who would help me stretch my vision and not choke my dreams. This is obviously a disappointing decision for me, but I would never do anything to hurt North Carolina State University. This season was a big disappointment but I’m very proud of what I accomplished during my tenure. I believe that my relentless persistence and my passion have brought an enthusiasm, an energy and an emotion that couldn’t be equalled. Those same qualities are just as strong in me today as they were the first day I took this job. I haven’t lost my passion, my will to succeed, or my joy.”

While I would never wish for someone to be fired, getting fired this time of year must be terribly worse than being fired any other time. That being said, I hope they fire Lee "Mr. Basketball" Fouler next. Save me the crying about calling for someones job during the holidays, too. We are not talking about some blue collar guy who makes 45K a year. We are talking about Chuck Amato and his 900K/season package, and Lee "Einstein" Fouler and his pretty portfolio as well. If they are not okay financially, then they have deeper rooted problems than being fired. So the madness will now ensue. I am sure that the powers that be either already know, or will know pretty quickly just what Bill Cowher's intentions are. He is obviously target number one. The next set of names that we will hear are Norm Chow, Paul Johnson, Jimbo Fisher, and Mike Sherman. I will start breaking down the candidates later today, time willing.

I have not forgotten...

about my recruiting entries. I have two more to finish up, and while the Amato distraction may take up a little more of my time than anticipated, I will finish up my entries on Tracy Smith and Julius Mays soon (I hope).

FIRED!!!

It is official, Chuck Amato has gotten the ax. I am working on a few things, but I will give my take on this most likely tomorrow.

Off With His Head!!

Today is a dark day in West Raleigh, as at some point in the afternoon the ax is expected to be swung directly at Chuck Amato's neck. While a lot of people have been clamoring for this event for quite some time now, I for one am not one of them. I was hoping that Chuck could beat ECU, and then resign with some dignity left. While I am not quite sure where this dignity may have been hiding, there would have been some face saved by resigning after a win against the Pirates. Unfortunately for Coach Amato, his team did not deliver said win on Saturday night. It should be pointed out that I am not an Amato supporter, I have just not been calling for his head, until now. To end the season with a 2 - 9 record is completely unacceptable, even in a down year. There are zero signs of improvement in the program, as far as on the field play is concerned. There are zero signs of improvement in the recruiting game, either.

To sum it all up, this has been the absolute worst season in the history of the football program at NC State. The following pictures are from Red and White, and are symbolic of the attitude and demeanor that this team has shown. Take a look at the clock, and keep in mind that the decision to do this can only be made by the grounds crew (I think, but someone please correct me if I am wrong).



If it is not time for change now, then it will never be time for change.

I'll be away for a few days...

I'll update if I have time, but I'll be away until at least Saturday. Have a happy turkey day.

Phone Lines are Ringing Off the Hook Today - Updated

(I am going to update my list of people expecting phone calls as they come in.)


I just got off the phone with Mark May from ESPN. You see, Mark took some heat earlier in the year when he was claiming that our boy Chuckie was on the hot seat. What kind of heat could he possibly have taken for stating what should have been the obvious to all of us? Well, it seems Coach Foulup broke off a call to Mark May, and asked him where he was getting his information from. He told Mark that Chuckie was in absolute zero danger of losing his job this year. I told Mark that no, Coach Foulup had not broken me off a call as of yet, and that I did not expect to receive one. You see, not only am I the most insignificant moron on the internet, but I am not calling for Chuck Amato to be fired. I am calling for Chuck Amato to resign on his own cognizance. A move that would save face for both Amato, and NC State. Pull a Les Robinson, if you will. You remember Les, right Lee? He was a man of dignity and class. He also filled out a red sweater better than anyone not named Bob Knight.

Well if my phone is not ringing, surely that can not be the case for some other guys. The media firestorm is in full effect, and Chuckie is the target of choice at the moment. For good reasons, too. Unfortunately, I don't have time to give the run down on said reasons, but if you frequent my blog, then you most likely frequent Red & White, and our friends over there break down Chuck's ineptitude better than anyone else. So, since time is of the essence, as I have to singlehandedly warn a slew of people about their impending phone calls, I offer you the following list of people who are calling for Chuck's head, in some way, shape, form or fashion.

• Red & White From State
• Frank Dascenzo (The Herald Sun)
• Caulton Tudor (N&O)
• J.P. Giglio (N&O)
• State Fans Nation (Based on forthcoming entries)
• Tanner Kroeger (The Technician)
• Mark Schlabach (ESPN.com)
• Andy Gray (SI.com)
• Adam Gold (850theBuzz)
• ME!!!!! (The Sports Idiot)
  

So while I am not calling for Chuck Amato to be fired, I am absolutely calling for Lee Fowler to be fired. Need I remind everyone of the debacle that was the men's basketball coaching search? Don't worry Lee, we have evaluated your abilities, and have found the perfect position at the University for you. Someone give Lee directions to Fountain please, but we are going to need to see some credentials before we allow you to wear the chef's hat.

J.J. Hickson - The Saga Continues

On April 19, 2006 Scout.com had the following to say about JJ Hickson:

Ohio State is showing interest in this highly ranked prospect from Georgia. Considered the #20 prospect overall in the 2007 class. Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgetown, Kentucky, Michigan State, Purdue, South Carolina, South Florida, Virginia Tech, Wake and New Mexico State have offered. He is also listing Arizona, Georgia Tech, Miami (FL), North Carolina, Syracuse and Virginia.

Notice anythings missing from that statement? That is right, NC State was not even on his long list. Fast forward to August 17th, and that very same profile listed the following:

Hickson has a final 7 of Florida, Tennessee, Georgetown, North Carolina State, Arizona, Kentucky and Illinois.

So in a matter of four months, NC State had gone from not even being in the same tournament as the big guy, to sitting at the final table for all the marbles. There is a lot of speculation on just how Hickson got hooked up with Sidney Lowe, and this is what I have read about it.

Now this is an unconfirmed rumor, and all of the details are not clear, but there appears to be the possibility that Shareef Abdur-Rahim had something to do with this recruitment. It's not uncommon for recruits to get calls from NBA players in hopes of swaying their college choice. It is rumored that Shareef did just that, or spoke with JJ in person about playing for Sidney Lowe. When Sidney Lowe was the head coach of the Vancouver Grizzlies, Shareef was one of his players. It just so happens that Shareef went to the same high school that JJ Hickson now attends. Whether or not there was an actual contact between the two, and as to who sparked the interest is unknown at this point. It could be that Hickson liked State but had not been recruited yet by the Pack, and Shareef found out about it and gave Sid a call. It could be the exact opposite. I really don't know, but it is still a fun story to wonder about. Could Sid's NBA experience already be paying off?

No matter what happened, one thing we know for sure is that on October 12th, JJ made his decision public, and he announced that he would be attending NC State University. The fact that a kid this high on all of the recruiting boards would pick State is simply unbelievable. I want to once again point out that he was offered scholarships to Georgetown (infamous for it's success with big men), Florida (the defending national champs), Arizona and Kentucky.

Here is some more insight into JJ Hickson:

Scout.com lists Hickson as the 3rd best center in the 2007 class. He is also listed as a 5 star recruit, and will likely be a McDonalds All American this year.

Rivals.com also has Hickson listed as the 3rd best player in his position, only this time it is at power forward.

JJ is rated as the number 1 player in Georgia. Last season he averaged 21 points, 12 boards and 6 blocks. It will be interesting to see the numbers he posts this year, as he has set his sights high and wants to be known as the best player in the country.

Needless to say, Wolfpack Nation is ecstatic about JJ Hickson putting his faith in Coach Lowe and the future of the program. He mentioned that the style of play that Sidney is selling to recruits was one of the major factors in his decision. When coupled with Ben McCauley and Brandon Costner next year, the Pack actually looks to be forming a presence in the post.

UNC 23 - NC State 9 - Updated

I think someone just turned up the heat on Amato. More to come...

I'm not going to break down the game, as our friends over at Red & White have taken care of that for us. What I will offer is my opinion on where this leaves us.

Going into this season I knew that we would be bad, so I am not going to jump all over Amato for the 3 - 8 record, which is actualy 2 - 8 in my eyes as a Div-IAA team should not count. What I will jump all over him for is the lack of progress this team has made over the year. There is zero momentum in recruiting, and the best player on the team (Andre Brown) is basically getting benched for allegedly requesting a transfer. The state of State is getting to be quite pathetic, and I do not think we can sit around and watch it get worse.

Thus I am officially pulling my endorsement of Chuck Amato as head coach of the Wolfpack. Chuck is a good man who loves his University with all of his heart. I do not think that he will be fired (I could easily be proven wrong with a loss next weekend) but I do think he should resign. Amato is a great defensive coordinator, and I do not think he will have too much trouble getting a new gig doing just that.

I am not calling for Chuck Amato to be fired. I repeat, I am not calling for Chuck Amato to be fired. I am calling for Chuck Amato to resign. There is a huge difference, if it is his decision. If he is asked to resign, it is the same as being fired. A loss to ECU next weekend, however, and I will quickly change my tune.

Judgement Day 2006 - Updated

At noon today in Chapel Hill, UNC plays host to NC State for it’s annual tilt for football supremacy in the Triangle. While they have taken two completely different courses throughout the season, the results have been painfully similar for both teams. While NC State may have beaten two ranked teams on it’s way to that astounding 3 – 7 record, it has at least been competitive in every game that it has played. UNC on the other hand, has been flat out terrible in most of it’s games this year. While compiling a dismal 1 – 9 record, the Tar Heels have been utterly destroyed in five of their losses, and it squeaked by Division I-AA Furman by three points. To UNC’s credit, however, they have played well in their past two and a half games.

What is at stake today is merely bragging rights in the state of North Carolina. That is about all that seems to be on the line. However, with a loss it would give UNC 10 on the season, and give them a shot at the worst record in school history. NC State, on the other hand, could also be headed to the worst record in school history with a loss of it’s own. State Fans Nation did a nice entry on what is at stake in Triangle football.

On the surface, there is not a whole lot on the line for either team today. NC State, however, could be playing for a little bit more than UNC. With a third straight loss to UNC, the heat will surely be turned up under the throne that Chuck Amato currently rules from. While there is not a whole lot in the air to suggest that he may be in jeopardy of losing his job over this game, if the Pack were to fall flat today, and then again next weekend in the finale to ECU that could all change in a hurry.

I think the Pack mans up today and takes it to the Heels. I think the Heels will “answer the bell” and play a good game as well. NC State finally breaks the 24 point barrier in this one.

NC State 27 UNC 17

Well kids, it looks like I was dead wrong about this one. No surprise to any of us, or at least it should not be. UNC is up 16 - 6 at the start of the 4th. Sounds like penalties have been killing State, and I think there have been at least 3 personal fouls already. Nice.

Chris Wright to Georgetown - The Saga Continues

One of the raps on Herb Sendek was that he could not recruit a top flight point guard to come play in his program. All of that chatter died down when he managed to get a verbal commitment from Chris Wright. Chris is ranked as the 6th best point guard in his class (2007) by Scout.com, and as the 18th best shooting guard by Rivals.com. Unfortunately for the Pack, Chris was not impressed with the departure of Herb Sendek, and the state of the program that he left. While I can't blame him for opening his recruitment back up, I was a little disappointed that he did so before even speaking with Sidney Lowe.

Living in Washington, DC, Chris obviously was generating a lot of attention from Georgetown, who he eventually committed to on October 10th. This decision was a little shocking to some of Wolfpack Nation, as on the 6th of October all signs were pointing towards Wright re-committing to NC State. What happened over the weekend to change his mind (if his mind did indeed change) we can only speculate on. One of the factors that it came down to, however, was style of play.

Apparently the thing that attracted him to State in the first place was the style of offense that Herb Sendek was running. My take on this is that if he is in fact a Princeton style point guard, then he isn't a good fit for the program to begin with. It's the very thing that led me to want a change in the coaching staff. Personally, I wish Chris nothing but success at Georgetown, as long as he isn't playing the Pack.

Johnny Thomas - The Saga Continues

On June 15th word got out that Johnny Thomas, a 6'5" 210 lb small forward out of Greensboro Day, had decided to play basketball for Coach Lowe and NC State. Thomas, who is in the midst of a position change from the 2 to the 3 is not ranked at either Rivals.com or Scout.com. He has been mentioned as the best player in his class (2007) for NC, but that is debatable as Tracy Smith has been called that as well.

Thomas is an athletic wing player who is not afraid, or incapable, of going down low and competeing for rebounds and post points. What kind of range he has remains to be seen, but he is known to go on hot streaks in which he drains threes consistently. As the least heralded member of the 2007 class, he has a lot of upside and will likely turn out to be a "Tim Wells" like player.

Unfortunately, there just does not seem to be a lot out there on Thomas to provide more information. I'll update as I come across things. That being said, I think he is a nice addition to the program, and at 6'5" he brings some size to the wing that is greatly needed. His potential to fill in at the 2 is a major positive, especially if he proves to be good defensively.

The most hyped game in history... Updated

until the next big rivalry game takes place. It always cracks me up how the media over-hypes certain games until it gets to the point that I literally do not want to watch the game anymore. This years version, for college football, is tomorrow's Ohio State/Michigan tilt. Yes, we know it is #1 versus #2. We understand the BCS implications. We know what is on the line. Do we really need a countdown to kickoff? It has gotten so out of hand that I can not take it anymore. It seems like every time I go to espn.com or turn on the TV I immediately get doused with another dose of OSU/UM. Enough already!!

That being said, I can not wait to sit on my couch, drink some cold ones, and watch this game! I really mean it, too. There is some great college football set for tomorrow, and it looks to be a fun day in the den for me.


Prediction time. I think Michigan's front 4 will be the difference in Columbus. Look for them to get to Troy Smith early and often.

Michigan 31 Ohio State 21

NC State Recruiting Saga - Preview

When I originally sat down to try to tackle the recruiting saga that has been the past month and a half, I was going to put together one large post on the issue. After compiling more and more information on what has transpired, I feel that it is better served if presented as a series. I am now planning on a three episode attack, but that could turn into a four or five entry set before this is finished. I want to once again stress that I am in no way a journalist, and I am merely putting out the facts and then giving my opinions on those facts. As always, please take my comments to be what they are, the ramblings of an out of place sports fan who is an admitted idiot (unlike the rest of you who simply can not seem to come to grips with it).

In order to be able to put this recruiting class into the proper perspective, it is necessary to reset the hiring of Sidney Lowe and the steps that have been taken to get to where we now sit. The official announcement that Sidney Lowe would be the next head coach of mens basketball at NC State took place at 5:30 in the afternoon, on May 6th. At the time, Sid was working as an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons, who were the current favorites in the NBA Playoffs.

A July 1 start date was set for Sid to take over the reigns at State. This was because he was not only obligated to complete the post season with Detroit, but also because he had to finish the final steps of his college degree. It should be pointed out that Sid was already working on finishing his degree prior to Herb Sendek leaving for ASU, so it is not like he stutter stepped his way into it once the job was open. Before July 1 even hit, Sid got started working on the NCAA Compliance Exam, which he took and passed sometime in the middle of June. He obviously finished his degree beforehand as well, and the new era was off and running.

When Herb Sendek took the ASU job, he had commitments from three good recruits for the 2006-07 season. Two of those three asked to be released from their commitments and NC State didn't hesitate to allow them to do so. While there was some fishy business going on with at least one of the two (Larry Davis was reportedly being contacted by Seton Hall's assistant coaches while still being bound to his agreement with State. There were no actual infractions, allegedly, because said assistant coaches were not officially members of the Seton Hall team at that point.), to Sid's credit I never heard or read one negative thing about those players.

The new staff was able to keep one of the three recruits, Dennis Horner. Sid also landed Trevor Ferguson and Bartosz Lewandowski. This brought the incoming freshman class for 2006 to a close, and Sidney quickly turned his sights to 2007.

more to come...

I'll take Japanese starting pitchers for $51 million, Alex

The Boston Red Sox won the bidding war for Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka yesterday with a bid that is reported to be around $51.1 million. So what does Boston get for that jack? The rights to negotiate a contract with Matsuzaka, the only WBC MVP in the history of the world. Matsuzaka, who hired Scott Boras to be his agent, and the Red Sox have 30 days to work out a deal, or he will be back across the Pacific pitching for the Seibu Lions again next year. What happens to the money if they don't make a deal? The Red Sox keep it. The boy wonder had this to say about his winning bid:

"We are pleased and excited to have acquired the rights to negotiate with Daisuke Matsuzaka," said Boston general manager Theo Epstein during a press conference held after the first full day of the annual MLB general managers' meetings. "We have long admired Mr. Matsuzaka's abilities and believe he would be a great fit as a member of our organization."

Boras is reportedly seeking a 3 year deal worth somewhere around $15 million per season.

"The licensing fee is certainly something that shows that this is a premium guy," he said. "That talent is going to help win on the field and he also brings off-the-field value to them as well. He's really a bulldog on the mound. I'm anxious to see how he transfers here. I don't know when that's going to be, but we'll see."

No word on any signing bonus or perks that may be expected as well. Do the math, it's a total of $96.1 million that will ultimately be shelled out for 3 years of pitching. And MLB wanted us all to believe that they were in financial difficulty just a few years ago. Right.

The Red Sox are reportedly seeking a more long term deal, and who can blame them? The way I currently see it, there are two lines of thought that could be coursing through Theo's little head right now:

1. Perhaps the Red Sox don't enter into this with good faith. What's to keep them from demanding a long term deal, as they should, and not even consider anything short term? So either they get him for 7 - 10 years, or they let him go back to Japan. A return to Japan would ultimately cost the Red Sox very little, and it would keep Matsuzaka from wearing pin stripes for at least one more season.

2. The Red Sox have more money than the Franklin Mint, and they are willing to pay essentially $32 million per season to Matsuzaka. That's about what it's going to cost if they only sign him to a 3 year deal. Maybe they can afford that, as I don't think the $51.1 counts against the cap and thus no luxury tax on top of it, but that's a lot of jack for a guy who hasn't thrown one ball in MLB and would only play one out of every 5 days (if healthy).

What does Red Sox Nation think about this? They have to wonder the logic in not offering the jack to Damon, but now to a mystery guy out of Japan. Here are the stats on Matsuzaka:

Year    Team       W    L     IP        H   ER     BB       K   ERA
1999    SL (JPN)  16    5    180      124   52     87     151  2.60
2000    SL (JPN)  14    7    167⅔     132   74     95     144  3.97
2001    SL (JPN)  15   15    240⅓     184   96    117     214  3.60
2002    SL (JPN)   6    2     73⅓      60   30     15      78  3.68
2003    SL (JPN)  16    7    194      165   61     63     215  2.83
2004    SL (JPN)  10    6    146      165   47     42     127  2.90
2005    SL (JPN)  14   13    215      172   55     49     226  2.30
2006    SL (JPN)  17    5    186⅓     138   44     34     200  2.13

Granted, 200 strike out guys don't grow on trees, and neither do 2.13 ERAs. Does it warrant $32 million per season though? I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

The hire heard across the corridor

On Monday, November 13^th, the University of North Carolina made it official. Butch Davis will be the next head coach of their football program. Davis comes with all sorts of accolades, from restoring Miami’s glory after the Dennis Erickson fiasco, to being a head coach in the NFL. Davis

is a proven winner, who will undoubtedly give the Tar Heel program a huge lift.

Over the past few weeks, all signs have been pointing to Butch Davis. There were some reports, early on, that some of the high ups were not impressed with some of Davis’ past moves. What exactly they were pointing to, I’m not sure. Whatever it was, it seems to have been worked out, as there appear to be zero road bumps ahead in getting BD approved as head coach. UNC is making a very smart hire.

I have always thought of Butch Davis as an excellent football coach. The one stigma that I do put on him is that he seems to be one of the guys who is always looking for the next big thing. That big thing being a more prominent, and financially rewarding head coaching position. I don’t fault the guy for this. We should all have one eye open looking for the next advancement in our professional lives, as that usually means a step up in our private ones. If the guy ultimately wants to win a National Championship or a Super Bowl, I can’t say one bad word about it.

Speaking of National Championships, who is to say that Butch Davis can not take the reigns at UNC and lead them down that path? With a great foundation already laid on the recruiting trails, and a much heralded QB coming in next year (Greg Paulus’ little bro) the sky could very well be the limit for BD at UNC. I’m not saying that UNC is on the verge of winning a National Championship, I am merely stating that I don’t see why BD can’t make it happen. He will have good to quite good players already, and he has a chance to put together an excellent coaching staff.

So, what does this mean for the rest of the conference? I think it’s great news overall. The strength of the conference just got a huge shot in the arm, which it sorely needs right now. Don’t even start with the 6 teams in the top 25 crap either. I love Wake as much, if not more than the next guy, but if Wake gets matched up again any of the top 10 teams it would be a “thumpin”, as good old W would say.

The more direct implications will be at NC State. For a program that is already having extreme issues in recruiting, especially in it’s own state, this is a devastating blow. I’m not going to say that State needs to counter by firing Amato and bringing in Norm Chow or *gasp* Bill Cowher, but something is going to have to be done right away to get attention off of UNC and back onto State. Finishing out the season with two wins against instate rivals would be a step in the right direction, but at this point I would not be shocked to see two Ls come out of those games.

So the State watch is officially beginning. In a dream world we would see Amato take a step back and resign as head coach. Bill Cowher could then come in and take over the head coaching position and re-hire Amato as defensive coordinator. Norm Chow would then make a highly publicized return as the OC.

In the real world, however, Amato will be the coach in 2007 no matter what happens in these last two games. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, either. I like Amato, to a degree, and I do really think that he has State in position to be good. I just don’t know if he has the management skills to take the next step. It is extremely disheartening to see the regression that has occurred, I should add. It boggles me that the season has been the disaster that it has. It was expected that State would be bad, but after beating BC and FSU expectations took a step up. Those wins may turn out to be what undoes Amato in the end.

work in progress

Tracy Smith gave his verbal commitment to the Pack yesterday. I'm working on an entry and will update when it's finished. I'm also working on a take on the Butch Davis hire, and what it means for UNC and the rest of the league.

It's a done deal

Butch Davis is the new coach at UNC. More to come later. For now, check out Tar Heel Fan's blog.

The Butch Davis debacle at UNC

Reports are rampant that UNC is closing the deal on Butch Davis. Yesterday, there were all sorts of reports from both local and national media that a deal was done. UNC came out and said, "Not so fast, my friend." Here is what we know:

UNC has told Butch Davis that the job is his if he wants it.

Contract negotiations are ongoing.

Davis is reportedly inquiring with members of his potential staff.

Davis has reportedly told UNC that he wants the job.

So what is the hold up here? What could be taking so long in the contract building process? I have never seen a head coach's contract before, so I can't speak in depth on the details involved. All I can say is that I have no clue what could take almost two weeks to iron out. It seems to me that Davis is stalling, and UNC is letting him do so. If the powers that be at UNC think that they can just sit back and be patient here, they are sorely mistaken. Didn't they learn anything from the NC State basketball coaching search? Hell, didn't they learn from their own past searches?

I personally think that Butch Davis wants the UNC job. I think it's his number 3 or 4 choice at this point, however. I think that he covets the Alabama job, and wants to return to Miami if the opportunity arises. He knows that if he takes the UNC job, he won't be able to pursue either of those positions in the near future. He will be locked into UNC for at least 3 years, and there lies the problem. Butch is going to stall as long as UNC will let him, and I think he will use the media and UNC to make it known that they are "close" to having a deal done. Hell, he has already done that, hasn't he?

What's my point? By using the media to relay the message that a deal is close to being done, I think he's hoping to apply pressure to Alabama and Miami to make a move of their own. Both schools have been under tremendous pressure to make a coaching move. Both schools are having "down" years for their programs. Both schools have loads of tradition that Butch could restore, and be a legend doing so. In my opinion, the longer that Butch is allowed to stall, the worse it looks for UNC, and the better it looks for Butch.

Then there is the wild card, the Dallas Cowboys. Rumor has it that he really wants back into the NFL. Rumor also has it that there has been interest in some form or fashion related to Bill Parcels' future in Dallas. Could Jerry Jones sweep in and become a player in the UNC hire? Don't put it past old Leatherface to make his voice heard before it's all said and done.

So what should UNC do? They should tell Butch that the offer is on the table, and if he doesn't sign off on it within 24 hours the offer will be pulled. Plain and simple. Either have a signed contract on file, or continue your coaching search. UNC does not want to be publicly embarrased the way that NC State was (four freaking times in one search). If they don't close the deal on Davis, they need to pull a PR move (like publicly pulling the offer) to keep this from happening. If Davis now says no, with what we know at this point, it's going to be a stain on the reputation over in the mushroom grove.

It's my opinion that they should be looking further anyway, as I think Paul Johnson at Navy is the man for the job. I came to this conclusion based on conversations that I have had with UNC fans, reading about PJ's background, and looking at the other possible candidates that my feeble mind can imagine.

I want to put as much emphasis as possible into the fact that these are merely the opinions of the idiot at the keyboard. I have no background with Butch Davis, or any of the organizations mentioned. This is merely my way of getting my thoughts on the record. As a NC State fan, I want to see UNC build a competitive program in football. I recognize that it's better for NC State if UNC is "decent" and not floundering.

That's all for now. Feel free to lambaste me in the comments if you wish.

Get out and vote.

I'm not going to get into politics right now, but today is election day. In what has been billed one of the most important mid-term elections in a long time, the control of power on Capitol Hill could make a shift to the left today. While the Democrats are expected to gain the necessary seats in the House, it's looking like the Repubs will maintain in the Senate. No matter how you feel about President Bush or anyone else in an elected seat, this is your time to get out and make your voice heard.

While a registered independent, I am taking a different approach to voting this time around. I have grown sick and tired of all of the stupid advertisements from all of these idiots running for office. Thus, my angle tonight when I vote will be to, whenever possible, vote for the person whose name I don't recognize. All of these morons spending millions of dollars on mailings and yard signs have shown me that their business sense is extremely lacking. Not only do I get flyers in the mail every single day, but I get two of them because these buffoons also send them to my wife. And it's not like these ads tell you squat about the candidate who sent them. Oh no, that would be too intelligent for these guys. All they say is how the other guy got caught banging some stripper in Malibu or something. Give it a rest already. Do you really think I am going to make my decision based on whether or not someone got a little tail on the side while on a business trip or vacation?

Anyway, to make a long post short, get out and vote today. Vote for who you feel the strongest about, not for who your boss or your spouse or someone else is telling you to vote for. This is your voice being heard, not someone else's.

Coaches, Coaches Everywhere!!

UNC has yet to close the deal on Butch Davis(BD). Unless they are waiting for some specific moment, like Nov. 17th, to announce the new hire. I think that with every day that goes by that BD is not the head football coach at UNC, the likelihood that he will be the next coach goes down. From what I understand, BD has alluded to Alabama as being his dream job. If this is true, you had better believe that Saturday's loss in Tuscaloosa got old BD's attention good and hard. Which means Badour had better get some ink on some paper fast, or BD's gonna get cold feet on him.

Another name that has been mentioned is Jim Grobe. I will do all I can to help dispel the notion that this may be in the cards. Wake Forest may very well be playing for the ACC Championship, and on it's way to a BCS bowl. He's already locked up ACC Coach of the Year, and he's in the running for National Coach of the Year as well. From what I have seen, it's Greg Schiano's to lose at this point, but it may shake out that the two are playing each other in a BCS bowl, and that would be awesome. So, why not stick around and enjoy the success that is going to bring to Wake Forest?

Also, legend has it that Grobe wants the Penn State job when Paterno finally calls it quits. Paterno, by the way, isn't going to retire as long as Bobby Bowden is roaming the sidelines. Both these guys want to finish with that highly coveted most career wins record. We thought that Paterno's chances may have just taken a hit, literally, but it doesn't appear so at this point. So if Grobe did get the PSU job, he will have a shot at being a coaching legend. Especially if he wins the ACC with Wake beforehand. So how long will he have to wait for the PSU gig? Grobe's early hope lies with Jeffie boy.

Speaking of Bobby Bowden. How long does he think he can get away with his nepotism before things get ugly? At some point he may be given the following choice:

Bobby, either you fire your son and deal with that at home and in your heart, or retire because you won't fire your own son.

Thus, Jeffie boy may be what gets Paterno out of Happy Valley, and thus Grobe out of Winston Salem. Personally, I would rather Grobe stayed at Wake for the rest of his career. He could single handedly change the culture of NC college football by making Wake a team to be proud of, thus garnering more and more NC fans. Wouldn't that be something?

I don't even want to talk about the State game anymore. What an awful season to endure. Worse, perhaps, than even UNC's season. I mean, we knew UNC stunk as soon as they lost to Rutgers. Yeah, with what Rutgers is now doing makes me look foolish there, but nonetheless it's what we thought at the time. It's proven to be true, but not because of Rutgers. But at least UNC fan knew they were bad from the start. State fans, not so much.

Sure, State lost to Akron and then at SMU so we all thought they sucked pretty bad then. Then the quarterback change, the two big upsets, and with it all the confidence in the world that the season might not be half as bad as we thought. Hell, I remember some people talking Jacksonville after those wins. Not me, thank goodness. It doesn't hurt as bad to see how pathetic the Wolfpack has become because I knew before the season started that it was going to be a long year. I accepted it back in June, or whenever the hell the NFL draft was. But not all State fans are like me.

Some State fans really did think that the Pack could make it to Jacksonville. It's for those fans that this season may be worse than UNC's season. UNC fan never really had a lot of hope for this year. Neither did State fan, until the Ws. Amato gave hope and then took it away and laughed in your face about it. If people thought there was a hot seat before this season started, next year is going to be ridiculous.