John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Thinking Out Loud…while wondering how in the world officials at the “U” could be so blind as to not know “something” was going on behind the scenes all these years…
• It’s really very simple. The pressure to win, and the pressure to be relevant in college athletics helped fuel the culture at Miami. It’s been this way for more than 20 years. It was pre-ordained to end like this…
• And what does the word “end” mean? The death penalty? Once again, I’ve talked about the SMU story from the ‘80’s, and have long maintained that because of the devastating effect it had on their program – they’re still recovering 24 years later – I doubt the NCAA has the stomach to do it again. Even if Miami’s alleged transgressions all prove to be true, there’s simply too much money at stake for others here…
• I actually feel sorry for Miami’s coach, Al Golden. Now, he had to know what he was stepping into when he took the job…but with the NCAA saying they’ve been investigating the program for five months, shouldn’t the Hurricanes have told him during his job interview that “something might happen?” If they didn’t, that’s a low blow…
• Not for nuthin’, but did you see where Big East commissioner John Marinatto called his fellow poo-bahs from the Big 12 and ACC to discuss conference realignment? That’s being pro-active, in the wake of Texas A&M’s threat to move to the SEC. And a step toward actual sanity in an insane era of college athletics…
• That being said – even if A&M ultimately decides to stay put in the Big 12, the Big East should still expand by one more school, and invite Houston. With their market size, potential TV audience ($$$), basketball tradition and high-powered football team, they fit the model. But do it soon…
• How do you say “Hoya Paranoia” in Chinese? The Georgetown basketball team was involved in a fight with a Chinese pro team this week while on tour in China, and coach John Thompson III pulled his team off the court before it was over…the game, not the fight…
• Villanova forward Isaiah Armwood has decided to transfer from the program…he averaged 2.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last year as a sophomore for the Wildcats…
• Okay, I want to see new Friar freshman Kiwi Gardner play. He tweeted a response this week to a question about “what other schools offered you?” His answer – “Irrelevant. Providence is all I care about.” That’s what this team will need…
• Brown has hired a replacement for long time women’s hockey coach Digit Murphy…Amy Borbeau is just the 3rd coach in the 47-year history of the program, was responsible for much of Princeton’s success over the past 14 years, and as a former Friar is a by-product of PC’s Bob Deraney from 1992-94…
• It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. Congrats to Cumberland American Little League, for winning the Eastern Regional in Bristol, CT and reaching the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. We’ve had other successful teams make it that far from our little state over the past 31 years (since Pawtucket’s Darlington American made it in 1980, followed by Cranston Western and Lincoln), but getting there never gets old…
• URI’s football team opened camp this week in Kingston…in preparations for the season opening challenge at Syracuse on Sept. 10. Pads starting popping Friday. QB Steve Probst (3rd in total offense last year) and kick returner Travis Hurd (1st team all-CAA last year) were named pre-season all-CAA, as the team was picked for 8th overall in the powerhouse league…
• At Bryant, Marty Fine enters his 8th year as head football coach, and it will be the 4th season in DI for the program…the Bulldogs finished tied for 4th in the Northeast Conference last year, and open their season Sept. 3 on the road at Maine…
• Did I tell you to keep an eye on Ryan Lavarnway? Did I? The Red Sox have had their eyes all over him the past month, as he put up great numbers in Pawtucket…
• Did you miss it? The first professional player in North America to test positive for HGH (Human Growth Hormone) through a blood test is minor-leaguer Mike Jacobs of the Colorado Rockies, a first baseman at Triple A Colorado Springs. He’ll now miss 50 games, but get his name in the history book. Woo hoo…
• If you thought the NFL could breathe more easily after solving the recent labor dispute, think again. First, a puzzler as Roger Goodell decides to make Terrelle Pryor sit five games (after he signs with a team) for his mistakes made at Ohio State. While AT Ohio State. Then, seven former players (including former Chicago QB Jim McMahon) sued the league for negligence in handling concussion-related issues. Get a lawyer, Mr. Commish…
• Think the Patriots knew that Ty Warren would never be the same again? After last season’s hip injury, the Pats cut him early in training camp. Picked up and signed by Denver, Warren is now going under the knife for a torn triceps muscle…
• You had best get Danny Woodhead low, if you get him at all. He has such a knack for finding and hiding behind his blockers, and is so close to the ground, he makes Dustin Pedroia look tall. Tackle him in the open field? Only if you catch him from behind. Or deliver a cheap shot like Tampa’s Devin Holland did Thursday night…
• Bring on the real games! More arguments for shortening the pre-season are coming, after the Patriots blew by Jacksonville and Tampa Bay in their first two exhibitions. Seriously, the Pats are L-O-A-D-E-D…
• Paul Dee, Kirby Hocutt and Donna Shalala…two athletic directors and a school president that will – and should – forever be remembered as college administrators who got caught up in the “win at all costs” culture at Miami…just like former Texas Governor Bill Clements did while overseeing a players’ slush fund at SMU in the ‘80’s. I thought Shalala’s attitude when Miami left the Big East seven years ago was disgraceful then, and her leadership has failed the school now. What “goes around, comes around,” doesn’t it?
• The mailbag question this week comes from Rachel in New Hampshire: “Doesn't this (Miami story) come down to whether amateur college athletes should be paid in some form for the millions of dollars they bring in for their universities and the subsequent reduction in incidences of NCAA violations that would result in doing so?” Rachel – there is some merit to what you’re asking, but the allegations levied at Miami’s athletes (thousands of dollars in payments, prostitutes, abortions paid for, etc.) go WAY beyond just poor students looking for a buck…
• Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to [email protected]. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, too @jrooke0722…
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