December 8, 2016
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Swimming Coach at Central High
The Saints are giving us the worst 50th Anniversary celebration, but the most appropriate. They have developed and performed just like many of the teams of the past.
The start of the year featured injuries and close losses. The middle of the year gave Saints fans reasons for hope. That is what made last week against the Lions the most predictable flop of a performance I could imagine.
All the ingredients were there. A “must” win at home. The Saints were a strong favorite and predicted by many “experts” to win. Detroit had won all 7 of their games with 4th quarter comebacks, so they were considered a weak 7-4 team. The Saints were “hot.” The result? The Lions led and controlled the game from start to finish. Of course they did!
Some say the Saints were completely flat, others have their theories, but I think it is another example of a team that is average (remember I predicted 8-8?). The offense cannot perform at a super-efficient level each week. Some weeks they need the defense to create some field position with turnovers, 3 and outs, or a defensive score. A special teams score, great return, or blocked kick would help too. But the Saints don’t create those opportunities to help the offense when the offense are struggles.
Imagine how last Sunday’s game could have gone if the defense forced a 3 and out after the offense scored to cut the deficit to 19-13. Better yet, what if the defense had followed the score with an interception for a TD? Better than all of that and more possible would be to consider how the game would have gone differently if the defense could catch the ball when they get their hands on the ball.
Regardless of how the Saints started the game, we all can imagine the Saints winning that game with a big pay or two similar to what the Chiefs did at Atlanta. Instead, the Lions hit another big play on 3rd and long after the Saints got within a TD.
I suspect the Saints will play well this week, but their margin for error is so small because defense and special teams do not make plays. Even worse, the defense and special teams give up big plays each week. Nevertheless, if the offense is nearly flawless, then the Saints could bounce back with a win.
As good as LSU’s defense has been this year, they have not made many big plays in big games either. Tre White’s interception for a TD against Wisconsin is the only play that comes to mind in the 4 losses.
I love the bowl match-up against Louisville, but I doubt LSU will be able to keep the Cardinals from scoring in the upper 20s without making some big plays on defense. Of course, that game is still weeks away.
Honestly, it has been a disappointing football season. Maybe the last month can provide some unexpected thrills.
HEY REF
BY DENNIS DEARIE,
VETERAN LOUISIANA HIGH SCHOOL REFEREE
As one of the few people that spoke out against a playoff for the NCAA’s Division 1 football elite all I can really say is time is proving me right. I hate when people use clichés but I’ll politely say to everyone “I told you so”. Let me add the one that goes something like “Be careful what you wish for”. I’ll explain my reasons later.
For years all we had to go by when crowning a national champion was the opinions of a few sports writers, coaches and college presidents. But the masses of football crazed people and alum out there began to want and expect more for their continued support of their favorite team. Ideas were tossed around board meetings but for some reason or another nothing could be agreed upon so we just threw our hands up and never thought we’d actually have a system where the national champion would be crowned on the field.
Then one day the idea of putting the top two teams on the field at the end of the season went into effect. But there was just one problem with that idea, just whose number one and number two would get the invite to settle matters on the field? That avenue was tried for a few years and then a light went off in the collective heads of university presidents. The next idea to be granted a try was to pit the top four teams in a “one ‘n done” tournament and that’s what we have today.
Well, now people are up in arms because their team’s final ranking was either fifth, sixth or seventh or
You get the picture? Some want head to head common opponents as a way to rank the final four teams amongst many other great ideas. But at the end of the day no matter what system is tried there will always be that one team’s argument that they should be ranked one notch higher thus earning the right to play for all the marbles. It doesn’t matter if we have eight, ten, twelve or a hundred teams in the finals there will always be an unhappy university president who’ll come up with another plan so their school makes the next playoff.
If you try and look through these smoke screens you’ll understand it isn’t at all about winning a title! Oh, no the only thing that drives these people is the almighty dollar. And if you’re reading these words of wisdom you know I’m telling the truth and you’re not at all shocked concerning my allegations. What can you buy with a plastic and brass trophy or a crystal football? Not much, so please all you university presidents and know it alls don’t pretend you want “in” a playoff no matter which way the brackets are drawn and no matter the number of teams or even the extra weeks your students will have to work in order to reach the final championship game so your athletes will know what it means to work together for a common goal. Put that pony to rest, will ‘ya?
No, none of what they go on record saying is the reason “why” they want to be chosen for any type of playoff. We know the ONLY thing driving a playoff in Div.1 is of course M-O-N-E-Y. And I don’t buy into the school’s need of the money to make up for cuts in their budgets by their respected state legislatures. Just yesterday LSU anointed their defensive guru with a multi-million dollar contract for the next four years.
And according to New Orleans television station WWL, channel 4, for the fifth straight season in 2016 LSU had the highest paid assistant coaching staff IN THE NATION! Let me repeat that; for the FIFTH consecutive year LSU had the highest paid ASSISTANT COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION! (WWL has acknowledged its sources are USA Today). So what does that say for a team that hasn’t finished higher than second in the SEC’s west division and has finished third or lower for the last four seasons?
I’ll tell you what it says; they’re pouring good money after bad hoping to cash in on being one of the teams in a playoff. For that matter every team/school is wanting “in” the playoff picture to get the many dollars they’ll scoop up from TV exposure. In a state that has been cutting services to the sick and elderly to continue dropping millions and millions into the pockets of coaches, and it doesn’t matter the sport. There has to be a cut-off amount that says enough’s enough.
But I know I’m in the very small minority when it comes to keeping professors paid well, keeping buildings with working a/c and heat. Making sure the roofs don’t leak is one of my priorities also. And the audacity these schools work by in that they don’t pay the players a salary is beyond me. How many board presidents would continue to work with only room and two meals a day provided them? I’ll tell you ZERO.
So let’s end the football playoffs and go back to a shorter season and making sure our STUDENT-ATHLETES are taken care of and not taken for granted. A playoff is at the top of so many fans without realizing the students need to get in on this gravy train of millions of dollars going to individuals that don’t deserve the disgusting amount of money so many schools are paying out.
It doesn’t matter if we have a playoff system that invites fifty schools it’ll be the same thing over and over and the fact is schools are using kids as slaves and can’t care less if they get an education or not. Young men are learning a great lesson in life when they are exposed to the greedy and the users of modern day slavery!!!
Till next week…
Jon Fine Wreaking Havoc at:
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