The Sports Rumors

Gibbs Resigns; Replacement Candidates?

The Legend Retires

Some may say that Joe Gibbs tarnished his legacy by coming back for the past four years with the Washington Redskins after already being inducted into the hall of fame. Some may say that he lost his touch, wasn’t current or up to date with today’s game or today’s players. In my eyes, he didn’t tarnish his legacy; it would take a couple of Miami Dolphins-esque seasons for him to do that. There is no question that he made some mental errors with clock management over his four years. But there is no coach in the entire NFL, including Belichick and Dungy, that I would rather have coaching my team post Sean Taylor tragedy. Gibbs’ star player, his best player, was murdered in the middle of the season. The team was two games below .500 and managed to make the playoffs; and for a brief moment, looked like they’d win a playoff game. To me, the final 5 games of the season and playoffs summed up exactly why Joe Gibbs is a hall of fame coach. Ask anyone in that locker room if Joe Gibbs couldn’t “connect” with them. If he couldn’t, they wouldn’t have played their hearts out. If he couldn’t, Portis and Landry wouldn’t have looked so dejected after their season came to an end. Last I checked, Portis and Landry are young players.

I figured that Joe Gibbs wouldn’t be back if we lost in the first round because this season was just too fatiguing. It was fatiguing for me as a fan. Throw in the fact that Gibbs has some personal stresses of his own (Grandson fighting leukemia), and you can understand why the 67 year old found it necessary to take off from pro football for once and for all. I’m glad he came back. I got to watch an icon in Washington and for the NFL coach for four years, two of which he made the playoffs. I can now say that I watched the best coach in Washington Redskins football history coach his final game.

The Early Candidates

Obviously, this news of Gibbs resigning is very new but time doesn’t wait and football fans have already begun talking about possible replacements. So will I. I’m separating the coaches into two categories; in house and out of house. Simple enough to understand.

In-House

Gregg Williams: If the Redskins want to keep everything in place from this season heading into next, which isn’t a bad idea considering they were moving in the right direction, then Gregg Williams is the obvious choice. He’s been Gibbs’ second hand man throughout the tenure and has some head coaching experience of his own. He knows the players, the staff, and his defense is a good one. If the Redskins want the least disruption in this transition period, Williams is the clear cut choice.

Al Saunders: Though he was also part of Gibbs’ staff, he has little chance of becoming head coach. His offensive system has not done well and players were very against him at one point last season. I don’t think Snyder would have any confidence in Saunders being the head coach.

Out of House

Bill Cowher: The first choice for every team that needs a head coach. Cowher has made it clear that he doesn’t plan to coach for another year, but he has been listening to every team that has called so far. Dan Snyder is right there with Jerry Jones in being able to talk people into doing things. Everything Cowher would want, Snyder has. He would be granted power to bring in players that he wants, make the decisions that he wants, get paid handsomely, and throw in the fact that there is already a solid nucleus of young talent. The only job I can see Cowher considering more (if any at this point), would be Baltimore.

Pete Carroll: You ever play a video game that you keep beating, even when you’re not trying as hard? You know the feeling when things become just too damn easy? Well that’s Pete Carroll and USC. USC is so established and gets such great recruits that winning has become almost TOO easy for Carroll. You show me any other team in history that can be upset as big as Stanford upsetting USC was, and then still be in talks for a national title. That’s when you know that you need a new challenge. Pete Carroll has the itch to try and conquer the NFL; he has to. He’s a competitor and competitors want to be the very best at the highest of levels. He has made it clear that if he were to give the NFL another shot, it’d be with a good team, he’d have the power and he’d get paid. How often do you get a chance to take over a team with young talent, an owner who’s willing to make you the highest paid in the league while giving you GM powers, and take over a squad that just made the playoffs. This isn’t Atlanta, this isn’t Miami.

Brian Billick: I am surprised that I haven’t heard his name come up in any talks so far this morning about replacing Gibbs. Billick has a Super Bowl win on his resume and has quite a way of wowing people that he meets. He’s not the offensive “mastermind” that he was perceived to be, but he’s one of the best available coaches out there. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind making a transition to a team just across he beltway either.

Jason Garrett: I’m only including his name because people I’ve talked to seem to think that Washington would go after him.  I think there is ZERO percent chance Jerry Jones would let his coach-in-training go to Washington, of all places.

The BCS National Championship Game

Jan 7, 8:30pm FOX, The BCS National Championship Game, #1 Ohio State (11-1) vs #2 Louisiana State (11-2)

Well, its here folks. The mythical national championship game is upon us. OSU vs LSU for all the marbles. In a season that did nothing but prove that a playoff is needed to crown a championship, we are given this game for all the marbles. Who’s gonna take home the trophy? Let’s take a look…

OFFENSE: The edge here goes to LSU. They have athletes coming out the wazoo on offense, and we already know Les Miles won’t hesitate to make the gutsy call. They have a rotating qb system led by SR Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux and a whole slew of running backs that can get it done, with Jacob Hester being the main horse. In a defensive struggle, I give them the nod. Ohio State is too vanilla on offense for my taste. Beanie Wells is an okay back, but nothing overtly special, just another typical Big 10/11 back. Todd Boeckman, despite being hyped by Jessie Palmer and ESPN, is nothing special at all; his saving grace is that he isn’t known to make dumb decisions.

DEFENSE: This is where the NFL calibur talent exists in this game. Glenn Dorsey, despite being injured by a cut block by Auburn, is a beast; look for him to take at least a double-team all game, he is an impact player. James Laurinitis is the main man on the Ohio State defense, he is very good but not great; I suspect if he played for anyone other than Ohio State that he would not be an all-american, but I digress. At any rate, this will be a defensive struggle with LSU having the ever-so-slight edge.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The edge clearly goes to LSU. Les Miles will pull out all the stops in this area (see: USC game). OSU isn’t bad on special teams but LSU is coached up much more and executes better.

Look for LSU to celebrate in their home away from home tonight.

Pick: LSU 28 - OSU 24

The Magic Was Bound to Run Out

As much as I would have love to see my Washington Redskins make it all the way to the Super Bowl and pull off the upset of ages by taking down the evil New England Patriots, I knew that the streak was bound to end at some point. Winning the final four games to finish at 9-7 was hard in itself; winning 3 more games and a Super Bowl would have been impossible.

I watched the game from a hotel in Manhattan rather than the comforts of my family room couch, which I partially blame as the reason for the Skins losing (my superstitions getting the better of me). As bad as the final score looked, there is no doubt that there was still a little magic left in the Skins season. Down 13-0 going into the fourth quarter and unable to muster any offense, it looked like Washington had no chance at coming back. However, the fourth quarter summed up the tumultuous season that the burgundy and gold faced all year. They scored a touchdown to cut the lead to 13-7, followed by an interception and an aggressive play action pass to Santana Moss for their second touchdown in less than three minutes. The Skins were up 14-13 and I was in utter disbelief of what just happened, as was the entire city of Seattle. What happened on the ensuing kickoff gave me even more reason to believe that this ride wasn’t over just yet. Shaun Suisham kicked off and the ball hung in the air longer than it was supposed to, completely throwing off returnman Nate Burleson. The ball bounced right into the hands of a Redskins special teamer as he waltzed into the end zone for another touchdown. Unfortunately, the rules state that wherever the ball is recovered, it becomes a dead ball. Still, the Skins had the ball inside the 20 and were in position to put the nail in the coffin. However, three plays later, Shaun Shuisham came on to attempt a 30 yard field goal. He missed. His shortest miss in two seasons. After that, the Seahawks marched down the field to score a touchdown, followed by two touchdowns run back by their defense giving them a 35-14 win.

Though it was a tough loss to swallow, as most are, I was proud of the Redskins. I was proud that they gave everything they had considering everything they had to deal with. I am glad that they gave the Seahawks a run for their money and I’m happy at how we made progress this season. It will be another long offseason, but I feel confident that we are only a healthy offensive line and a healthy cornerback (Carlos Rogers) away from being a NFC Championship contender. All that aside, I am glad that this season of more lows than highs has finally come to an end. If it as mentally fatiguing for me, I can’t even begin to imagine what it must have been like for the guys rockin the warpath colors. Go Skins.

The Orange Bowl

I missed my preview of the Orange Bowl because I was traveling there and never got to it. I have many thoughts about that abortion of a game. Sit down, this is going to get ugly:

• Bryan Stinespring is *the worst* offensive coordinator in college football today, period. Brandon Ore was dominating on the ground… one of the only times this season he has done so and we just stop handing the ball off and turn into Hawaii on offense. Inexcusable. If I were to be that inept at my job, I would be fired.
• Frank Beamer. What were you doing this past month? It was apparent in the stands Thursday night that focusing on football was not in the Hokies’ itinerary. It looked like the players were sluggish and complacent and, to be frank, they looked like they were just happy to be there and wanted no part in that game. For Shame Frank, this is why Hokie football gets disrespected.
• The weather was horrible. I thought I was going to Miami. This has nothing to do with VT football, but it still angered me when I arrived that it was 45 degrees and raining.
• Back to Frank Beamer. Shaun put it best with his phone call after the game: “I didn’t think there was any way we would lose to Kansas but I’m really not surprised.” Virginia Tech is 1/5 in the last 5 bowl games we have been in. Pathetic. Only UNC and Dook have worse Bowl records in the ACC. You are starting to lose your touch, Frank. I love what you have done with the team but I can’t stand to see any more games like this. How VT can lose national games in which we are favored is beyond me. Is the stage too big? Is the seat too hot? Perhaps it is time for you to move on to AD and hand the reins to Bud Foster.

I paid all that hard-earned money to go down to Miami in crappy weather and watch my favorite team in any level, any sport crap the bed. I am not amused.

BCS Bowl Predictions 3/5

Jan 2, 8:30pm FOX, The Fiesta Bowl, #9 WVU (10-2) vs #4 Oklahoma (11-2)

Here’s all you need to know about this game.  It’s not going to be pretty.  Oklahoma had all year to think about how Boise State embarrassed them last year with the 43-42 thriller.  In case they began to forget, Boise State’s quarterback grazed the cover of NCAA 2008.  That can’t be a good feeling for Oklahoma players or fans.  The Sooners offense will be too much for WVU’s 3-3-5 defense to handle.  Furthermore, the WVU offense won’t rack up the yards on the ground the way they did against other teams this year.  We’re talking about Oklahoma… not Louisville or Rutgers.  These players are big, fast, ferocious, and will sniff out the run early.  That means Pat White will have to win this game with his arm.  The chances of that happening aren’t slim… the chances of that happening are NONE.  With Rich Rodriguez being gone, the special teams will probably not have the intensity it had all season. 

In short, Oklahoma will blow out WVU and you might want to find something else to watch by 9:30pm.

WVU 17  Oklahoma 38

Thoughts on Yesterday’s Games

I’m done listening to people say “Hawaii didn’t belong in a BCS game” because they got ravaged by Georgia.  Really?  So you’re telling me that a team goes undefeated doesn’t belong in one of the BCS games because they aren’t from a major conference?  Really?  Especially after what Boise State did last year?  Give me a break.  Hawaii probably couldn’t beat Georgia regardless of whether the Bulldogs were having a good game or a bad game.  But the fact of the matter is that Georgia was thought by MANY to be the best team in the country at this point in the season.  Georgia would have punished the majority of teams who played in any of the bowls.  You can’t sit here today and say that Hawaii didn’t belong because they lost to a powerhouse.  If you believe that, then say flat out that you don’t want any teams that are not from the SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 in the BCS games.  Don’t be a hypocrite and say “Wow, Boise St. was a great story last year” and turnaround and say “Hawaii doesn’t belong”.  You have got to give these smaller schools an opportunity to prove themselves when they earn it.  Hawaii earned their right to an opportunity by winning all of their games.  What more could they have done?  Stop holding the smaller schools that DESERVE a chance down. 

Urban Meyer is a prick.  I can’t stand him, never could, never will.  Letting his Florida boys jump around midfield before the game was not only disrespectful to the opponent, but disrespectful to the game.  Act like you’ve been there before and show a little class.  And if you’re going to act like a Terrell Owens-like-jerk, at least back it up with a win.  I’m glad Michigan beat that ass. 

USC is NOT the best team in the country.  I am so disgusted with the love USC is getting by everyone.  Yes, they may be playing the best football RIGHT NOW.  I agree with that.  That doesn’t mean you should be in the national title game.  The football season doesn’t start in the last week of November.  You have to play the best football for the entire season to be a national title candidate.  Losing to Stanford means that you were not that.  End of story.  I don’t give a rat’s ass how good they’re playing right now.  You know who else is playing really good right now?  Georgia.  Virginia Tech.  Even Michigan.  They’re not in the title game and don’t deserve to be because they didn’t do it consistently over the entire season.  Just because its USC and Pete Carroll is a loveable guy doesn’t mean you hold them to a different standard. 

BCS Bowl Predictions (2/5)

Jan 1, 8:30pm FOX, The Sugar Bowl, #4 Georgia (10-2) vs #10 Hawaii (12-0)

I know I said that I would provide a more in-depth preview for the BCS games but, honestly, this game doesn’t deserve it. To quote a friend’s father: “Hawaii is a paper tiger only, they fattened themselves up by playing St. Mary’s school for the blind.”

Hawaii is good on O but, once again, we have no idea just how good they are because they have played literally nobody. Even at that, their D is suspect. Look for Knowshon Moreno to continue to remind folks in Athens of a man named Herschel.

Pick: Georgia 31 - Hawaii 21