December 26, 2019
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
We are just days from LSU first appearance in the College Football Playoff and I can’t make up my mind. Not about how the game will play out, but how I will watch the game.
For those that haven’t explored the different options ESPN has for these games, allow me to elaborate. Since I have been a fan of the sport but not very interested in the outcome of the games, I have taken the opportunity to experience the variety of broadcasts. It didn’t take me long to realize that the Hometown Radio option is only appealing if the Hometown is my Hometown. Growing up in New Orleans, I always turned down the sound and listened to the Big 870. These days I have trouble synching the sound with the action of the game though. The Hometown Radio broadcast would remedy that issue, so this option is a definite maybe.
The Data Center doesn’t work for me. There is too much information that I don’t care about and the action of the game is too small.
The All 22 and Sky Cam are fun to watch because you can see the plays develop, but when there is any sort of controversy it is hard to know what is happening. That isn’t a big deal when I don’t care who is playing in the game, but I can’t see that as an option for the LSU game.
The main telecast on ESPN is fine, but I get tired of the predetermined script that is created with the 95% of the country watching that is not familiar with both teams. There are too many crowd shots and storylines that have already been decided. Further, when it is my team I always know more than the announcers about my team so I don’t want to listen to them.
That leads me to what has been my favorite option which is the Film Room. In the past, it has been the coaches film room. Watching the game while Dino Babers, Matt Rhule, and Gary Patterson breakdown the game live has been great. They predict the plays and immediately rewind to break down what just happened adding real insight. It is true reality television because after a while the coaches forget they are on TV and end up being fans of the game that know more about the details of the game than any of us. They relax and say things they would never say on TV normally. For comic relief, every once in a while someone like Les Miles will keep his microphone on when he goes to the bathroom.
Unfortunately, this year, the Film Room won’t have coaches, so I am not sure if I will like that. In addition, since I will be watching my team, I don’t think I will be able to handle when they get stuck on a previous play and miss the play as it is happening.
After laying out the options, I guess I will watch the game the way I have watched all LSU games this year. I will watch the Main Telecast with no sound, and turn it up after LSU makes a big play so I can hear the band. The Hometown Radio would be a better option, but I at this point of the year my superstitions get the best of me.
As for the game itself, I think it will be similar to the Texas, Florida, and Alabama games. There will be a time in the game where the defense will not be able to stop Oklahoma. Probably the first quarter or late in the game. But, there will be a time where the defense will make enough plays to give the offense extra opportunities. My hope is that the defense will not allow explosive plays like they did against Ole Miss, Alabama, and Texas. I don’t think Hurts can be as consistently accurate as Florida’s quarterback to sustain drives. But, I suspect Lincoln Riley will be creative enough to engineer some big plays.
As for the offense, losing Edwards-Helaire is a big blow, but LSU caught a break in that it didn’t happen in the first quarter or the week of the game. So, Coach Ensimger and Coach Brady have had time to adjust. Meanwhile, Coach Robinson has had time to prepare the younger backs.
My guess is LSU will use Burrow and the receivers early in the run game because of their experience. Ball security and pass protection would be my top concern. So using more experienced players in the run game in a few different ways would help slow down Oklahoma’s aggressive run defense. In pass protection, I fully expect LSU to turn to the quick game to get the ball out of Burrow’s hands quickly to avoid busts in pass protection.
Again, turning to young running backs in a game this big is scary, but having the time to adapt the game plan to take advantage of their strengths so everyone is confident and on the same page is key.
I know the defense finished the season on a high note, but LSU was fortunate to not play quality spread teams down the stretch. Arkansas, A&M, and Georgia did not have quarterbacks that could make plays with their feet. Those teams were much more traditional and LSU’s defense is much more suited for those teams. Oklahoma will test this defense and I fully expect Oklahoma to move the ball. LSU will need to create some negative plays and turnovers to win this game, and this is where Oklahoma usually has its problems.
While LSU fans are concerned over the loss of Edwards-Helaire, Oklahoma has lost more players of significance to injury and discipline. I fully expect LSU to win this game, but I also expect many moments of angst along the way. It should be fun to watch.
HEY REF
There are so many articles and columns being written about Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers that I just can’t follow the crowd and jump on the ‘ole bandwagon. For me the biggest happening in the sport’s world is a very nasty thing just now coming into the light for all to see. Right now all we’re being told is that at least ten former NFL players have scammed millions of dollars from a special health care program labeled the “Gene Upshaw Health Reimbursement Account Plan”.
The DOJ says the players submitted false and fraudulent claims for high-cost medical equipment covered under the plan between June 2017 and December 2018. According to the press release the ten players scammed more than $3.9 million. Those players that have been charged so far are former Washington Redskin running back Clinton Portis, San Fran 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers, Houston Texans safety Ceandris and New Orleans wide receiver Joe Horn.
Last week Joe Horn pleaded guilty to his part of the scheme. But Clinton Portis’ attorney, Mark Dycio, told ABC News the charges came as a “shock” to his client and Portis maintains his innocence. Portis said he had no knowledge that his participation in what he believed to be an NFL sanctioned medical reimbursement program was illegal. DOJ investigators allege players offered to submit fraudulent claims for medical equipment then would expect kickbacks. The medical equipment was never purchased or received which the DOJ charged that these actions deprived the plan of valuable resources to help others meet their medical needs.
But medical equipment wasn’t the only thing the players were offering in the scam. Among other things many of the players are charged with submitting fake prescriptions that were then exchanged for cash payments. Each one of the charges could land the defendants in jail anywhere from 10 to 20 years. I could go on and on about the charges and findings the federal government brought against the players but it’s just more of the same. It’s a very sad situation to say the least.
It’s sad because now whenever a player or players want medical treatment for injuries sustained while employed by the NFL their actions will now be cause for the league to possibly hesitate in approving treatment which would cause some players to forgo getting needed medical services covered under any agreement. It’s the old song and dance where a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch. In these cases it could make the difference between life and/or death.
When I first heard of this all I wanted to think was the players are innocent of these charges. Then I got to thinking if a player like Joe Horn comes out so quickly and admits his guilt it did cause me to change my mind. If Horn did hurry to plead out in the hopes of getting a leaner sentence it sways the way you look at the others being accused of the fraud and money schemes. When Horn admitted to the charges I just said to myself that I can’t believe any of the other players. I was shocked at first for a very brief second.
A case such as this just proves what I’ve been saying for a very, very long time, both the NCAA and the NFL are negligent in the way they go about in filling their rosters. Neither has in place a system where players are brought in and taught how to manage the millions of dollars that comes with playing professional football. And of course this situation proves that I’m correct in calling for the NCAA to pay its players.
The NCAA claims to be getting its players equipped for the “REAL WORLD”. “Hey Ref” contends the NCAA continues to run the largest slave trade on the planet. IF and that’s a huge “IF” the NCAA were getting its players ready for the real world then it would require them, the players, to be enrolled in financial classes each year they are enrolled in school. The players would learn how to handle the money and fame that comes with the high profile NFL players receive from fans that’ll do anything to watch a game and meet the players.
The powers that be at both the NCAA and the NFL must get a hold on this problem and educate its players in the real world of finance. As we’ve seen for too many years their “slaves” only matter as long as they can catch a 75 yard pass or run for over a thousand yards or have 15 quarterback sacks and so on.
In closing if you’d really like to see just how bad things are then the next time you’ve got a few minutes to spare “Google NFL players arrested”. I noticed tonight an article by KDKA CBS affiliate in Pittsburg running a story with the headline “NFL player Terrelle Pryor and girlfriend arrested after stabbing at Pittsburg apartment complex”. Just one of many… …
Till next week…
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