Kris Durham: From 8th Grade to UGA Practice

Kris Durham isn't making all his spring practice meetings on time. He's also coming in a little "over-dressed" for the meetings when he gets there. All of this is because Durham is doing his practice teaching this semester. He's an education major scheduled to graduate from UGA in May, and his student teaching assignment came up during the spring semester. So the UGA senior wide receiver reports to school at Oconee Middle School at 7:30 sharp and his responsibilities with his 8th grade students don't end there until 3:3o in the afternoon. Then it's a mad dash to the Bulldog practice facilities for spring drills. All of these efforts should prepare him well for the career of teaching and coaching to which he aspires. He's also found out that he wasn't getting away with as much as he thought he was back in his own 8th grade days!

New NCAA Eligibility Rule: Right or Wrong?

A new rule proposal would allow foreign athletes who have competed in professional sports but have not received compensation to be eligible immediately with colleges in America. This would do away with any waiting periods, suspensions or delays in the players playing status. The rule,if adopted, would go into effect August 1, with the University of Kentucky becoming the most immediate benefactor of the rule. The Wildcat basketball program recently received a commitment from Turkish big man Enes Kanter, who has played for a Turkish club team. The only problem I have with this is that U.S. college student/athlete who declares for a professional draft automatically becomes ineligible as a collegian at the time of his declaration. This is before he ever plays a single minute or earns a single professional dime. Why can't that same athlete have the option of declining his draft position and using up his college eligibility if he wanted to? The draft doesn't always work out for players the way they expected. I understand this illustration is not exactly the same as the new rule proposal, but it nevertheless is also a question of eligibility. Just something else for you to ponder...right or wrong.

The NFL Didn't "Flip Out" Here...

The NFL suddenly discovered that the team that wins the overtime coin flip goes on to win the game almost 60% of the time. Now, at least in the playoffs, the team that wins the flip must score a touchdown for the game to end on the first possession. No more short drives for makeable field goals. You now have to really earn the victory. This is a better way for the NFL to handle overtime games. I've never been a big fan of both teams not having a shot on offense after regulation ties. This plan is a big improvement. However, I still think the college game offers the best overtime procedure. Both teams have to play both sides of the ball well in order to capture the overtime win. Nevertheless, the National Football league has taken a lot of the chance of a coin flip out of determining the outcome of a ball game and put it back in the hands of the players and coaches.

Georgia State University Football

Georgia State University begins spring practice today focusing on the program's first "real" football game in September. In fact, GSU will play its inaugural game on September 2, 2010 in the Georgia Dome against Shorter. Bill Curry's Panthers will play a ten game schedule this fall that ends with a date with the Alabama Crimson Tide on November 20th. So the question is Georgia State, are you ready for some football? You better get ready!

Michigan: Will It Be 'Right at Night'?

Darkness will envelope the "Big House" on September 10, 2011. No, I'm not speculating that coach Rich Rodriguez will be run out of Ann Arbor that night. That is the date of the first night game at Michigan Stadium, and it will come against hated rival Notre Dame. (and that just about translates into hated by all!). But I digress. At any rate, 110,000 fans will grope about in the dark Michigan night looking perhaps for hope for a lost program. A storied football program filled to the brim with years of tradition. Traditions like Bo, 'Touching the Banner', the Victors' walk, and of course one of the most famous fight songs in all of college football. Heck, even Gisele Bundchen's husband played there. However, the thrill of victory has been lost in Ann Arbor and replaced by the agony of Rodriguez. Rich-Rod is an unheard of 8 and 16 at Michigan since he skipped out of West Virginia. One could say the natives are somewhat restless (yea, like Tiger Woods is somewhat unfaithful!). Again, I digress. The important thing is that it will be an historic evening when the Wolverines and the Irish meet in the night in 2011.The question is, will Rich Rodriguez be there among all that darkness?

Digger Phelps: You Need A New Gimmick

It's been several basketball seasons now that Digger Phelps has used the matching tie, matching highlighter trademark. In my opinion, that's several seasons too many. What's with that matchy,matchy anyway? Perhaps we should have a contest to nominate new ideas for Digger to enhance his identity. By the way, have you ever seen him actually USE the highlighter? I've never seen him 'highlight' with it, mark with it, or write with it. Heck, I'd love to see him at least throw it at Dick Vitale or Bobby Knight on occasion. But as it stands now, it's totally useless. Now it's time to throw it away. Enough, already.

Rough NCAA Start For the SEC

Vanderbilit is upset at the buzzer, and Florida falls in double overtime in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The 13th seed of Murray State used a Danero Thomas 15 foot jumper with virtually no time left on the clock to send the 4th seeded Commodores packing back to Nashville.

Earlier in the afternoon, the 10th seeded Gators succumbed to Brigham Young, seeded 7th, 99-92. Even though Florida was the higher seed, they missed opportunities to win the game both at the end of regulation and before the first overtime expired. Not the start the Southeastern Conference was looking for. Heck guys, Mark Fox' Dawgs could have done this well. Just saying...

"We love ya, Cooz!"

On St Patrick's Day 1963, Bob Cousy rendered a tearful goodbye to the fans of Boston. On Bob Cousy Day during a twenty minute speech that was only suppose to last seven, Cousy became so emotional that he was forced to pause during his remarks. Through the silence, a fan yelled the now famous words, "We Love ya, Cooz!" There was not a dry eye to be found in Boston Garden certainly not with the "Houdini of the Hardwood". But after this "Boston Tear Party", Celtic fans sure didn't have much to cry about for a long time. Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

Michael Moore: Getting "Moore" Out of UGA Pro Day

Former Georgia wide receiver Michael Moore did not receive an invitation to participate in the NFL combines, so Tuesday's Pro Day at UGA was important to him. He did not let himself, nor the scouts in attendance, down. He had good work-outs in all the events, even amassing 22 reps in the 225 pound bench press. Moore was in the top 10 of the combine results in the 40 yard dash, the broad jump, and the bench press. He also had a good day in the passing drills, turning his combine snub into a positive motivational ploy for Pro Day. Look for Moore to get selected in the NFL Draft sometimes after round three. He'll definitely be another Bulldog playing pro ball.

Tiger Woods announcement today that he will play in the Masters next week in Atlanta did not surprise me one bit. And it should not have surprised you either. There is no way on earth Tiger Woods would miss playing in the Masters. Not this year, not any year. He would have quit sex therapy earlier, shortcut his marriage rehabilitation, and done anything he had to do to play at Augusta. I never felt at all that he would miss the Masters. Everything else is secondary to his playing for the green jacket. Everything. You could have bet the family farm on it.

March Madness: UGA Style

It's March Madness in Athens, Georgia. Translated, it means this spring is Mark Richt's biggest in his ten year career at Georgia. He has an almost completely new defensive staff, beginning with new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham from the Dallas Cowboys. With him, Grantham brings a totally new scheme to the Bulldogs , the 3-4 defense. Tack on new linebackers coach warren Belin from Vanderbilt, as well as new defensive backs coach Scott Lakotos from Connecticut, and you have only defensive line coach Rodney Garner as a hold-over from the previous staff. Players will compete for new jobs within the new defense. A lot of teaching and a lot of learning will be going on this spring. On the other side of the ball there is a three player competition for the starting quarterback job, two running backs who aspire to be Georgia's first tandem to rush for 1,000 yards each, and a somewhat thin but nevertheless talented wide receive corps. The Dawgs do return an experienced and deep offensive line group, and the aforementioned receivers do feature legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate A.J. Green. Expectations, as always, will run high with regard to the Bulldogs. It just begins in March. Such is the madness.

University of O-No: Ducks Gone Wild!

How does that saying go: If it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck? Man oh man, the hits just keep on coming for Chip Kelly's Oregon Ducks football program. Yesterday, Kelly suspended quarterback Jeremiah Masoli for the entire 2010 season. Wow, that is some heavy punishment. Masoli pleaded guilty to second degree burglary of the on-campus theft of two laptops and a guitar. (I suppose he could use to guitar to play the blues after all this!). Running back LaMichael James was also suspended for the Ducks season opener due to an altercation with his former girlfriend. (No small wonder she's his 'former' girlfriend)!). Placekicker Rob Beard will also sit out the September opener stemming from a street fight incident. The double whammy for Beard is that it appears he got his butt kicked in the street fight as well. (Remember to always win the fight if you're going to be suspended!). Don't forget, these are the same Oregon Ducks who saw running back LeGarrette Brooks serve a season long suspension last year after sucker-punching a Boise State player in the aftermath of their season opener. The Ducks are creating quite an image for themselves and their University as the new thugs of college football. If they recruit the cheerleaders in on their transgressions, they could become the modern day Bonnie and Clyde!