I turned on the tube Saturday just in time to watch my alma mater, Syracuse, overcome a 12-point second-half deficit to defeat No. 9 Notre Dame, 82-80, before a crowd of 32,116, the largest to see a college hoops game this year and the biggest at the Carrier Dome since 1996. (Recap | Photos). At no point was I concerned with the academic performance of the athletes.
For all know, the Orangemen players could all be on the Dean's List. Or they could be skipping classes and drinking underage, like I did. (Hey, I also made Dean's List three times.) Or they could be dealing drugs and booking bets and making fake IDs and pulling credit-card scams and getting into fights and hazing freshman, like a lot of non-athletes I knew at SU did.
But, as long as the number under "Syracuse" is more than the number under "Opponent" when the scoreboard shows 0:00, I really don't care what kinds of grades these kids pull.
I wish them well, of course. I hope they stay out of trouble, hit the books, graduate and live a terrific life. But more than anything I hope they help Syracuse win basketball games.
This week I read an article detailing Syracuse's recruiting process, which includes a quote from an assistant coach whose strategy it is to "surround the kid" and "talk to as many people in his circle" as he can. It seems like a frightening con game. But I guess that's what it takes to win sometimes. Academics was never referred to in the article. I guess no one's really interested in reading about it.
The Syracuse Post-Standard prints a weekly update on how SU's incoming recruits are doing in their high school games. Academics are only referred to if a player is struggling to meet eligibility requirements that fall much lower than the average SU incoming freshman's SAT score. (Middle 50% is 1130-1300 and, good god almighty, 58% of them are women. Class profile.)
So go Orangemen! And then go hit the books or hit the bottle or hit the gym or hit the couch. I really don't care as long as we win.
Other Sports Links:
Dr. Z's Fifth Annual TV Commentator Awards — The most detailed NFL writer out there correctly credits Sam Rosen and Bill Maas for adding to the football-watching experience. I'm surprised he's down on Phil Simms and thank god finally someone takes the Sunday night (the unlistenable Mike Patrick-Joe Theismann-Paul McGuire three-headed monster) and Monday night (Al Michaels-John Madden) crews to task.
The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Mark Kerr — A fellow SU alum, who was a 190-pound national wrestling champ when I was there, was the subject of an HBO documentary on the life of an Ultimate Fighter. I think he was a bouncer at a bar called Maggie's, where I frequented as a 17-year-old freshman. (Interview from 2000.)
'Office Linebacker Terry Tate' Videos — Some people are going ga-ga over this guy. Here's the official Reebok site with multimedia, including the one where he tackles the Nike streaker.
Cartoon: The NFL Experience — Kurt Snibbe's witty take on how fans can truly experience the NFL.
Top 25 College Football Recruiting Classes — SU is nowhere to be found. Notre Dame gets a top-five class for the 100th straight year. Maybe they'll win a bowl game for the first time in a decade.
2003 NFL Mock Draft — Three QBs expected to go in the top 10. Carson Palmer to the Bengals (1), Bryon Leftwich to the Bears (4), Rex Grossman to the Panthers (9). They've got the Giants taking Ohio State S Mike Doss at No. 25, but nobody can predict that low in the draft at this point.
I watched the game today. What a fantastic college basketball game. I really wasn't for or against either team, but you really didn't have to be. It was an all around great basketball game.
Question to you, Paul:
What is your opinion of fans storming the court after a home win?
We have seen this so often this season. It really angers me when it does happen. I watched the SU students rush onto the court after a well played, well deserved victory and it pissed me off. Students here at the Univ. of Kansas are guilty of it (ie. KU's defeat of Texas on Big Monday) and it disgusted me then, also. Do kids today not know when it's right to storm the court? I believe it really shows no class for that University.
Just wondering what you thought?
-ap
Posted by Andy P at February 16, 2003 1:35 AM