On Sports

Long Odds Get Longer

Bruce — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:18:56 +0000

I wrote a few posts ago about the possibility of Louisville winning the Big East in football. After the events of this week, the odds are now a lot Long-er.

I'm a Tennessee Fan -- Where's My Paper Bag?

Bruce — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:43:11 +0000

During the Alabama-Tennessee game last night, ESPN's cameras found two UT fans with paper bags on their heads. Sports editor John Adams, writing in this morning's Knoxville News-Sentinel, offers some guesses as to the identity of the two bag-heads:

Influential boosters who have seen enough of the Phillip Fulmer Era atUT; members of the UT defense who had seen enough of the UT offense; ora couple of guys who couldn't wait for Halloween.

You want to know how bad things have gotten on The Hill? How about this graf provided by Mr. Adams?

Can Louisville Win the Big East?

Bruce — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:06:36 +0000

After the UConn loss, I certainly didn't think I'd write that title this season. Yet, here we are, over halfway through the season, and U of L actually has a shot at the conference championship and a BCS birth.

Cats Must Have Thought They Were Fishing

Bruce — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:39:58 +0000

What does fishing have to do with football, you ask? Other than Hunter Cantwell's noodling, you probably don't see the connection. Well, let me enlighten you -- the Cats must have thought they were fishing, because all they have to show for the past two weekends are the two that got away.

At Tennessee, the "F" in Football Stands for "Fail"

Bruce — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:17:33 +0000

My son and his friends introduced me to the use of "fail" as a noun, as in "That was a giant Fail right there." After today's debacle in Athens, the image that comes to mind is an orange-and-white UT with a big red FAIL stamped over it.

Orange Pulp

Bruce — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:49:57 +0000

For about two years, there has been an ongoing argument at the Go Vols web site about whether or not the Tennessee football program is in decline. After last Saturday's victory over Northern Illinois (NORTHERN ILLINOIS!?!), the tone of that conversation has shifted.

As one commenter noted, almost no one still defends the "no slippage" position. In addition, the amount of cynicism, jokes about the team and the coaches, and gallows humor has increased rapidly in the past few weeks. When the comment boards on a Tennessee site sound like a Vandy site during a typical Vandy year, then you know the worm has turned.

Fulmer is trying to put a positive spin on things. They started a different quarterback, and he was able to tie his shoes, find the field, and run the same boring offense as his predecessor. Facing a team that a standard-issue Vols team would have beaten by 35 back in the day, this year's offensive juggernaut managed a single touchdown -- and that probably on a blown coverage by NIU. (NIU!?!)

For anyone to celebrate a 16-9 squeaker over a mid-major like Northern Illinois (NORTHERN ILLINOIS!?!) just points to how desperate the Vol leadership is for good news. The fans, the newspaper writers, and the commenters on the boards aren't buying it.

I hope the Large Orange has some actual good news soon, like a win that means something. In the meantime, the Big Orange is rapidly becoming just a pile of Orange Pulp.

Uh-Oh -- It's Time for Cardinal Football

Bruce — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:22:05 +0000

"It's football time in ... The Ville?"

(With apologies to John Ward of Volunteer fame)

As much as I fear the outcome, it's time to start blogging about football ... and that means it's time to blog about U of L football. This fall, that looks like a cause for fear, hesitation, and trepidation, if there ever was one.

No one is giving the Kragmobile much chance of getting off the blocks this year. A few fans have predicted eight wins -- truly evidence of a disconnect from reality. This ain't Conference USA, folks. This is the Big East -- no longer a laughing stock, but home to more than one team capable of making it to the NC game.

I'm going to begin the annual ritual of reading the preseason mags and trying to get a sense of what's up in the great sport of college football. Just from what I've read so far, though, I'd say that when your AD says of this year and the next that he "just wants to get through them," then you don't have a lot to look forward to.

Hope I'm wrong. Hope Stevie K can turn it around. Hope the discipline problems are over, and the discipline on the field is back. Hope they win 10. Hope they go to a bowl.

But I'm prepared, as well, for all those hopes to be dashed.

"That's right -- it's Rocky Top AGAIN!!"

Bruce — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:14:44 +0000

A few years ago, there was a news story about Tennessee winning a regional final and going to yet another Final Four. Accompanying the story was a photo of a Lady Vols fan in the stands, holding up a poster that read "That's right -- it's Rocky Top again!" Today, I just want to keep saying that, over and over, as we celebrate an eighth national championship for Pat Summit and the Lady Vols! I have to say, I had my doubts going into last night's game. After all, the Lady Vols had struggled to get to 48 against LSU, and Stanford was averaging 90 points a game over the last two (regional final and Final Four semi). Add to that the fact that Candace Parker was playing with a bum shoulder, and you've got a recipe for disaster.

Women's Championship and the Scientific Method

Bruce — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:01:49 +0000

Tonight's women's championship between the Lady Vols and the Stanford Cardinal will be a real-life experiment. Using the scientific method we all learned in school, the two teams are going to test this hypotesis: Does great defense beat great offense? In other words -- does defense win championships, as many have said?

Is Louisville a Final Four Team?

Bruce — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 02:35:11 +0000

Watched the UofL-Villanova game today. The team looked pretty good, and at times they looked downright great. They've come from a so-so first half record to be tied for the Big East lead, with the title to be decided this Saturday at Georgetown. Everywhere you turn, Louisville is being mentioned as a dark-horse team to make the Final Four. If they beat Georgetown this weekend, that darkhorse will suddenly look like a Pegasus. The question is -- Are they legit? Can they really put together another Magical Carpet Ride?