College Football | John Rohde

MLB’s top thief almost came to Oklahoma

Posted by johnrohde

on May 8, 2009 at 9:02 am

Last Sunday, Tampa Bay leftfielder Carl Crawford tied a major-league record with six stolen bases in a game.

Crawford’s name should sound familiar to those who follow college recruiting closely. He signed a national letter of intent in 1999 to become an option quarterback at Nebraska. Crawford also strongly considered Oklahoma and Tulsa, plus USC and Florida.

Crawford lettered in football, baseball, basketball and swimming at Jefferson Davis High School in Houston and was offered a basketball scholarship from UCLA.

All other athletic options ended when Crawford .637 as a senior and was drafted in the second round by the Rays. In 2002, Crawford was named the franchise’s Most Outstanding Rookie and was tabbed International League Rookie of the Year while playing for the Durham Bulls.

Crawford reached the majors at age 20, is a four-time American League stolen base champion and leads the league again this season. Though only 27 years old, Crawford is sixth on the active steals list with 322.

Now Crawford playfully is being cursed by NU football bloggers.

“He was a complete kind of quarterback — a guy who could throw the ball well but obviously had great running ability,” former Cornhuskers coach Frank Solich, the man who recruited Crawford, told the Lincoln Journal Star this week. “We thought he could really fit everything we wanted to do. In fact, his kind of ability would’ve allowed us to do a great number of things. If Carl would’ve been in the program, Jammal Lord would’ve been a strong safety, and Jammal would probably still be playing pro ball.”

That’s right, Crawford playing pro baseball actually shortened Lord’s pro football career. Weird how that works, huh?

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Hey, Texas: Congratulations on your title (*)

Posted by johnrohde

on April 6, 2009 at 2:26 pm

At this time, we would like to congratulate Kansas State on its 1999 Big 12 football championship. The same goes for Nebraska in 2000 and 2001, for Texas in 2002, Iowa State in 2004 and Kansas in 2007.

In each of these years, the aforementioned teams lost out on tiebreakers and did not advance to the Big 12 championship game. As a result, nowhere on their walls do they claim being Big 12 champions for that particular year.

However, losing out in a predetermined tiebreaker hasn’t stopped Texas from claiming the 2008 Big 12 crown. UT is claiming to have won a conference championship for winning a game in which it didn’t even play.

The Longhorns lost out in a three-way tie last season. Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech tied at 7-1 in conference play last season and each finished 1-1 against one other. Using a tiebreaker agreed upon by all league parties involved, the Sooners advanced to the Big 12 title game because of their higher BCS ranking at the time. OU then beat Missouri 62-21 in Arrowhead Stadium for the Big 12 title.

Texas was angry, still is angry, and is now claiming the 2008 Big 12 title with an asterisk.

ut-champs

Did Texas get robbed? In a word, probably. But those are the tiebreaker rules. You don’t like the rules, change ‘em.

None of this would have happened had the Longhorns not lost to Texas Tech. UT created the three-way tie with its 39-33 loss at Lubbock on Nov. 1. The Longhorns evidently have yet to acknowledge that loss, nor to they accept the circumstances that came with that loss.

OU is the actual 2008 Big 12 champ. The Sooners actually played in last year’s Big 12 title game, actually won that game, then actually advanced to the national title game for winning that game. No asterisk necessary.

If Texas gets to use an asterisk in 2008, then so should the Red Raiders. You would think the Longhorn brass would stress the importance of not losing a game while alone in first place. Instead, they’re clinging to a title they did not earn.

This is all so juvenile. If the Longhorns had beaten Texas Tech last season, they wouldn’t be showing their asterisks right now.

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A coastal confrontation

Posted by johnrohde

on January 8, 2009 at 5:22 pm

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Oklahoma State and Oklahoma did it up right this bowl season, taking their acts coast-to-coast.

The Cowboys soaked in the Pacific Coast while competing at the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.

The Sooners soaked in the Atlantic Coast while competing in the BCS national championship game just outside Miami.

Let’s go head-to-head and coast-to-coast, comparing the two bowl beachfronts in a best-of-9 series:

Scenic beauty: This is a serious mismatch. Advantage: Pacific.

Water temperature: The Atlantic Ocean had to be at least 10 degrees warmer. Advantage: Atlantic.

Beauties on the beach: Too close to call. More research required. Advantage: Push.

Taste test: Both failed miserably. Heavy on the salt. Atlantic tastes more salty when it comes up your nose. Advantage: Pacific.

Better nightlife: Miami Beach holds a substantial lead, but the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego is no slouch. Advantage: Atlantic.

Better waves: Someone told me from Miami Beach to Fort Lauderdale Beach was all shallow reef. That makes for bad waves. Advantage: Pacific.

Beach blanket bingo: More options to have fun on the beach in Miami. In California, it’s pretty much just volleyball and basketball. Advantage: Atlantic.

Golf (not gulf) coast: Torrey Pines is in La Jolla, just north of San Diego. Next question. Advantage: Pacific.

Friendlier atmopshere: People in San Diego apologized for temperatures in the mid-60s. People in Miami don’t apologize for anything. Advantage: Pacific.

Final score: Pacific wins 5-3-1.

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Baffling Beano

Posted by johnrohde

on December 17, 2008 at 4:01 pm

Some Beano Cook gems from a radio interview conducted last week:

Beano: “I think 40-50 years from now, we’re going to talk about this kid (Florida quarterback Tim Tebow) the way people my age discuss Red Grange.”

Tebow undeniably is a terrific player, but you’d think the greatest college player since The Galloping Ghost might show up on an NFL draft board somewhere, and would be chosen on the first day.

Beano: “I will say right now, (Tebow) is one of the five greatest players in the history of college football.”

Who’s to say Tebow is even the best player in UF history, with a Ring of Honor that includes Emmitt Smith, Steve Spurrier, Jack Youngblood and Wilber Marshall?

Beano: (When asked if there is a better college football player in the last 25-30 years?) “I don’t think so.”

Billy Sims, Marcus Allen, John Elway, Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson, Barry Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Peyton Manning, Ricky Williams, Reggie Bush and Vince Young all qualify as better college players. Heck, a case could be made for some of your hometown Pittsburgh products like Tony Dorsett (32 years ago), Hugh Green, Dan Marino and Larry Fitzgerald. You should know that, Beano

Beano: “If you wanted (Tebow) to play defense, I have a feeling he’d be a pretty good linebacker. That’s the way I feel. People can say I don’t know what I’m talking about, and maybe they’re right.”

Now you’re making sense, Beano.

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Your weekly Saturday guide (Nov. 8)

Posted by johnrohde

on November 7, 2008 at 10:03 am

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

11 a.m. – Syracuse at Rutgers (ESPNU): Four more games left for Orange coach Greg Robinson.

11 – Michigan at Minnesota (ESPN): Wolverines are 2-7, and mathematically eliminated from bowl consideration.

11 – Ohio State at Northwestern (ESPN2): Both teams are 7-2 are headed to a bowl, but to which ones?

11 – Baylor at Texas (FSOK): How bad is the Longhorns’ hangover from last week? And the Bears nearly upset Missouri.

11:30 - Georgia at Kentucky (KSBI-52): Bulldogs’ SEC title hopes have are all but eliminated after started out at No. 1.

2:30 p.m. – Penn State at Iowa (ESPN): Upset alert. Iowa is tough at home and has a capable defense.

2:30 – Oklahoma at Texas A&M (KOCO-5): Sooners can’t overlook Aggies, who are getting better each week.

2:30 – Stanford at Oregon (FSOK): Cardinal doing what it can to keep coach Jim Harbaugh at Stanford.

2:30 – Alabama at LSU (KWTV-9): Alabama’s last test before the SEC title game. There are easier places to play.

2:30 – Virginia at Wake Forest (ESPNU): Two middle-of-the-road ACC teams trying to get bowl eligible.

6 – Cincinnati at West Virginia (ESPNU): This is a key Big East showndown. Winner is in the driver’s seat.

6 – Kansas State at Missouri (FSOK): Dead coaching walking. This one could get ugly.

7 – Oklahoma State at Texas Tech (KOCO-5): For the second straight week, Lubbock is the hub of the college football universe. 7 – Notre Dame at Boston College (ESPN): Roman Catholics unite!

7 – Florida at Vanderbilt (ESPN2): Can the Commodores derail a red-hot Florida team? Um, not likely.

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Your weekly Saturday guide (Nov. 1)

Posted by johnrohde

on October 31, 2008 at 7:58 pm

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

11 a.m. - Air Force at Army (ESPNU): We salute you both.

11 - Wisconsin at Michigan State (ESPN): Spartans still cling to conference title hopes.

11 - Northwestern at Minnesota (ESPN2): Surprisingly, both teams already are bowl eligible.

11 - Brown at Pennsylvania (Versus): Ivy League football, followed by a College Bowl debate.

11:30 - Auburn at Mississippi (KSBI-52): Both are 2-3 in the SEC West and 4-4 overall.

11:30 - Kansas State at Kansas (FSN): Big-time grudge match for two teams on downward slide.

1 p.m. - Tulsa at Arkansas (KRMG-AM 740): Sadly, no TV coverage for what some are calling the most important game in TU history.

1:30 - Pittsburgh at Notre Dame (KFOR-4): Pitt’s title hopes took a serious hit last week against Rutgers.

2:30 - Iowa State at Oklahoma State (KOCO-5): The Cowboys did themselves proud last week against No. 1 Texas.

2:30 - Iowa at Illinois (ESPN): Iowa can clinch bowl with a win and hosts Penn State next week.

2:30 - Clemson at Boston College (ESPNU): Clemson’s national coaching search is in second week.

2:30 - Georgia at Florida (KWTV-9): The SEC’s neutral-site version of OU-Texas should be a doozy.

6 - Louisville at Syracuse (ESPNU): Despite all their struggles, Steve Kragthorpe’s Cardinals are still 5-2 overall.

6 - Tennessee at South Carolina (ESPN2): The Phillip Fulmer death watch officially has begun.

7 - Texas at Texas Tech (KOCO-5): The eyes of Texas (and Oklahoma) are upon you.

7 - Nebraska at Oklahoma (ESPN): We long for the old days when they played for championships.

10:30 - Arizona St. at Oregon St. (FSN): Believe it or not, Oregon State is in the driver’s seat for the Rose Bowl.

NBA

7:30 - Oklahoma City at Houston (FOXOK): Thunder faces a quality team that could challenge for the NBA title.

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Your weekly Saturday guide (Oct. 18)

Posted by johnrohde

on October 18, 2008 at 1:49 pm

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

11 a.m. - Texas Tech at Texas A&M (FSN): Arguably the worst team in the Big 12 plays the most overrated team in the Big 12.

11 - Georgia Tech at Clemson (ESPN): The Tigers are at home, but they are also in turmoil.

11 - Purdue at Northwestern (ESPN2): Boilermakers not what they used to be; neither are the Wildcats.

11 - Connecticut at Rutgers (ESPNU): A 5-1 team takes on a 1-5 team in the Big little East.

11:30 - Vanderbilt at Georgia (KSBI-52): Commodores try to bounce back after first loss. Georgia still unimpressive.

11:30 - Nebraska at Iowa State (Versus): Cyclones try to stake their claim as the worst team in the Big 12.

2 p.m. - Baylor at Oklahoma State (KXXY-FM 96.1): No TV, as usual. Cowboys better not look ahead to Texas.

2:30 - Mississippi at Alabama (KWTV-9): Rebels won at Florida. Can they win in Tuscaloosa?

2:30 - Kansas at Oklahoma (KOCO-5): Sooners try to bounce back against the well-disciplined Jayhawks.

2:30 - Ohio State at Michigan State (ESPN2): Upset alert. The Buckeyes still looking for answers on offense.

2:30 - USC at Washington State (FSN): The Trojans are 43-points favorites on the road. Then again, remember Stanford? 2:30 - Miami at Duke (ESPNU): Duke should win this game. My gosh, what’s happened to college football?

3:30 - Michigan at Penn State (ESPN): Penn State is really good, and Michigan is really not.

6 - Kansas State at Colorado (FSN): Buffs playing musical chairs with its offensive line, which is never a good thing.

6 - Oregon State at Washington (Versus): Huskies still looking for their first victory.

6 - Arkansas at Kentucky (ESPNU): After shocking Auburn, Razorbacks looking for their second straight win.

7 - LSU at South Carolina: (ESPN): Upset special. Defending national champions could lose for second straight week.

7 - Missouri at Texas (KOCO-5): The last time the Tigers won in Austin was 1896.

7 - Virginia Tech at Boston College (ESPN2): Hokies are not whatthey once were, but they’re still in first place.

7 - UTEP at Tulsa (KRMG-AM 740): No TV, as usual. Win today and the Golden Hurricane could crack the Top 25.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

3:30 – Boston at Tampa Bay (TBS): Rays head to their first World Series.

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Your weekly Saturday guide (Oct. 11)

Posted by johnrohde

on October 11, 2008 at 8:13 am

Here is your weekly suggestion guide on how to spend Saturday if you’re not going to an Oklahoma, Oklahoma State or Tulsa game.

11 a.m. - Texas vs Oklahoma (KOCO-5): There can be no better way to begin the day than with the Red River Rivalry.

11 - Minnesota at Illinois (ESPN): The Golden Gophers are 5-1, but look for the Juice (Williams) to be on the loose.

11 - Syracuse at West Virginia (ESPNU): Only fans of these teams will tune in for this one, and that’s not a certainty.

11 - Cornell at Harvard (Versus): Who amongst us is smart enough to watch this one?

11:30 - Colorado at Kansas (ESPN2): Jayhawks survived last week’s scare at Iowa State and figure to beat up the Buffs.

11:30 - South Carolina at Kentucky (KSBI-52): Two SEC East teams trying to keep up with Vandy. Yes, Vandy.

Noon – Eastern Michigan at Army (ESPNCL): Army got into win column last week at Tulane, but will it win again?

2 p.m. - Nebraska at Texas Tech (FSN): Tech will be throwing passes until the bitter end, even when it’s up by 40.

2:30 - Tennessee at Georgia (KWTV-9): Tennessee isn’t very good and is beat up. This one could get pretty ugly.

2:30 - Purdue at Ohio State (ESPN): The Boilermakers can’t score and Ohio State isn’t about to let them.

2:30 - Michigan State at Northwestern (ESPN2): Who thought this game would matter, but it certainly does.

2:30 – Arizona State at USC (KOCO-5): Both quarterbacks are ailing and both teams trying to live up to preseason hype.

2:45 - Central Florida at Miami (ESPNU): Conference USA and the ACC is a very localized showdown.

6:30 - Utah

State at San Jose State (ESPNU): Occasionally you wonder why a game is televised. This is one of those times.

7 - Oklahoma State at

Missouri (ESPN2): Grab your calculator and get ready to be entertained. First team to 50, wins. Maybe.

7 – Penn State at

Wisconsin (ESPN): Wisconsin is winless in the Big Ten and Penn State is unbeaten. Not for long.

7 - LSU at Florida (KWTV-9): The 7 p.m. slot is overflowing with choices. The Gators will try to protect their turf.

7 – Tulsa at SMU (KRMG-AM 740): If you don’t believe in Tulsa yet, you should. The could score 70-plus in this one.

9:15 - UCLA at Oregon (FSN): Not as dynamic a matchup as originally hoped about a month ago.

NBA PRESEASON

9:30 - Oklahoma City at

Golden

State (KSBI-52): Are you feeling the Thunder yet? Regular season is approaching fast.

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Your weekly Saturday guide (Oct. 4)

Posted by johnrohde

on October 1, 2008 at 7:24 pm

Here is your weekly suggestion guide on how to spend Saturday if you’re not going to an Oklahoma, Oklahoma State or Tulsa home game:

11 a.m. - Penn State at Purdue (ESPN): Find out if the Nittany Lions are for real, sort of. We’re issuing an upset alert.

11 - Duke at Georgia Tech (ESPNU): In case you haven’t noticed, two ACC basketball schools have improved in football – Duke and Wake Forest.

11 - Iowa at Michigan State (ESPN2): If the Spartans can stay away from choking and Javon Ringer stays healthy, a Big Ten title might await.

11:30 - Oklahoma at Baylor (FSN): The nation’s new No. 1 team tries to up its series record against Baylor to 18-0. The Sooners will succeed by halftime.

11:30 - Florida at Arkansas (KSPI-52): Florida is angry after a loss and the Razorbacks might not win again this season. Ug-ly.

11:30 - Kansas at Iowa State (Versus): If Iowa State can defend the pass, the Cyclones have a chance. The Jayhawks are 94th nationally in rushing offense.

1:30 p.m. - Stanford at Notre Dame (KFOR-4): Irish are coming off big victory against Purdue. Stanford is a surprising 3-2, but stinks.

2:30 - Illinois at Michigan (ESPN2): Wolverines fought back from 19-0 to beat Wisconsin last week, which figures to carry over for a victory against the Illini.

2:30 - Texas Tech at Kansas State (KOCO-5): The nation’s most overrated team hits the road for a conference opener in front of angry KSU fans.

2:30 - Kentucky at Alabama (KWTV-9): Crimson Tide rolled over Georgia on the road last week, now gets to host the unbeaten Wildcats, who are beefy up front.

3 - Navy at Air Force (Versus): Reader Randy Upshaw suggests we check out AFA senior defensive end Ryan Kemp (No. 91) from Mannford. Upshaw was Kemp’s high school basketball coach and simply wanted to acknowledge a special Oklahoman.

5 - Auburn at Vanderbilt (ESPN): How many games can Auburn win with its anemic offense? Here is our upset special of the week.

6 - Texas A&M at Oklahoma State (KXXY-FM 96.1): No television, again. If you want to see the Cowboys, you’ll have to buy a ticket. This one should be, and will be, a rout.

6 - Maryland at Virginia (ESPNU): The Cavaliers are by far the worst team in the ACC, and that’s saying something. The turtles win big.

6 - Texas at Colorado (FSN): Last season, one week before the OU-Texas showdown, the Sooners went to Colorado and lost. Could the Longhorns pull the same stunt?

6 - UConn at North Carolina (ESPN2): It’s getting to the point where UConn football is on TV as often as UConn basketball. This one could be a doozy.

6:30 - Washington at Arizona (Versus): This one is a must-win for Arizona coach Mike Stoops. You can’t lose to a team this bad when your job is on the line.

7 - Oregon at USC (KOCO-5): A team from Oregon knocked USC from the No. 1 spot last week. This team from Oregon will suffer the consequences.

7 - Rice at Tulsa (KRMG-AM 740): No television, again. The Golden Hurricane is for real. TU’s new stadium scoreboard should light up during this one.

8 - Missouri at Nebraska (ESPN); The last time Missouri won in Lincoln was 1978. That dry spell comes to a screeching halt tonight. Tigers win big.

For baseball fans:

5:30 - Philadelphia at Milwaukee (TBS): Brewers couldn’t win a World Series in the American League, maybe they can in the National League.

9 - Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles (TBS): Heading into the playoffs, the all-time series between these two historic franchises was tied 1,012-1,012. Amazing.

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Your weekly Saturday guide (9-27)

Posted by johnrohde

on September 26, 2008 at 6:36 pm

Here is your weekly suggestion guide on how to spend Saturday if you’re not going to an Oklahoma, Oklahoma State or Tulsa home game:

11 a.m. – Northwestern at Iowa (ESPNCL): There are two unbeaten journalism schools in college football — Missouri and Northwestern. This game will be nothing to write about.

11 – Virginia at Duke (ESPNU): Yes, Virginia. There is a Duke, and you will lose to it.

11 – North Carolina at Miami (ESPN2): Tahlequah native and former Hurricanes coach Butch Davis returns to the place he never should have left. 11 – Michigan State at Indiana (ESPN): Conference play begins, and Spartans don’t want to start out with a choke.11:30 – Army at Texas A&M (Versus): This will have a 1940s feel to it. Plenty of short haircuts and pushups on both sides.

11:30 – Mississippi at Florida (KSPI-52): Florida just moved one step closer to No. 1 with USC’s loss on Thursday night.

2:30 p.m. – Wisconsin at Michigan (ESPN): Two big names in the Big Ten, but they carry little national interest this season.

2:30 – Arkansas at Texas (KOCO-5): Razorbacks got a two-week reprieve thanks to Hurricane Ike, but nothing can save them today.

2:30 – Tennessee at Auburn (KWTV-9): Volunteers are strong candidates for the worst team in the SEC East.

2:30 – Purdue at Notre Dame (KFOR-4): Delusional Irish fans hopefully came back down to earth last week after getting spanked by the Spartans.

2:45 – Navy at Wake Forest (ESPNU): Wake continues to prove it’s the best team the ACC has to offer.

3 – Florida A&M at Tennessee State (Versus): Hey, Versus. This is no way to capture a national audience. Aim higher. Much higher.

6 – Troy at Oklahoma State (KXXY-FM 96.1): No television, again, for the Cowboys. This one could be a scoreboard scorcher.

6 – TCU at Oklahoma (FSN): Presumably, the Sooners saw what happened to USC against Oregon State. Presumably, they’ve been duly warned.

6 – Central Arkansas at Tulsa (KRMG-AM 740): No television, again, for Tulsa. Here is your Hurricane Warning: TU is very, very good.

6:30 – South Florida at North Carolina State (ESPNU): Wolfpack out to prove their win over East Carolina was no fluke, but it was.

6:30 – Mississippi State at LSU (ESPN2): No close call for the Tigers this time. They should bounce early and cruise.

6:45 – Alabama at Georgia (ESPN): You’ve got to love big games this early. The Bulldogs are the real deal, but is the Crimson Tide?

7 – Virginia Tech at Nebraska (KOCO-5): This would be a nice win for a Big 12 middle school. The Huskers should pull it off — maybe.

Major League baseball

2:30 - Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee (KOKH-25): Cubs are in. Here’s a toast to the Brewers.

MLB’s top thief almost came to Oklahoma

Hey, Texas: Congratulations on your title (*)

A coastal confrontation

Baffling Beano

Your weekly Saturday guide (Nov. 8)

Your weekly Saturday guide (Nov. 1)

Your weekly Saturday guide (Oct. 18)

Your weekly Saturday guide (Oct. 11)

Your weekly Saturday guide (Oct. 4)

Your weekly Saturday guide (9-27)

John Rohde

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