Dowling Decision: Dreck Based on Ignorance

For all he spoke about the intelligence level of college athletes, Professor William C. Dowling exposed his own level of smartness by choosing his quotes to try to make his points. I hesitate to simply call him stupid because much like the Rutgers athletes Dowling drilled, I don't know the man, and wouldn't know him if he was pulling off his hood. So, here we go again. And this comes on the heels of people complaining about the low-brow nature of football fans in general, but it attacks sports on a much broader scope. It seems to be the trend that a success in one area of the world causes someone to look for a way to tear it down. I don't necessarily think that shouldn't happen. Our country and our world has benefited from inspection and debate over many things...civil rights, taxation without representation, and the Yugo all came, were developed and embraced or sent to the societal scrap heap. That activity only happened AFTER people considered these ideas, talked about them, mulled them over, and maybe even fought and died over them.

But discourse based on a marketing plan to promote a book is not a good place to start the discussion. Yes, we all understand the jealousy associated with non-sports fans who don't understand the fascination with sports and want to call anything associated with organized collegiate sports a tremendous waste of time and money. And maybe there are indeed a few corners cut to allow these gifted athletes to play games for the entertainment of people. But don't discount the benefits of the system. Nothing, I repeat nothing in this world is good without any bad associated with it. So does Dowling and his disciples want to disband all college athletics because he doesn't agree with the distribution of scholarships? Phrases such as throwing out the baby with the bathwater, or cutting off your nose to spite your face come to mind. Make no mistake, although he condemns things such as big time athletics and television, his comments to the New York Times were granted to sell his book. His disdain of media is hypocritical.

But before I just dismiss this man Dowling as a racist anti-athletics hater, I decided to do something he apparently did not take the time to do. I tried to learn about him from his apparently abandoned web site. And as one might suspect, he is an interesting man with many scholarly pursuits. He is an english professor with degrees from Dartmouth and Harvard with several books to his credit. From his English professor pulpit, he takes shots at students who use the word 'like' too much, tells serious English students to learn latin, and he also goes on to say:

"...I loathe and detest television and keep telling my students to smash their TV sets and fill their rooms with books. (I actually do think that the people in Hell watch TV. Also that people who watch TV here on earth -- instead of reading books and learning Greek and arguing with their friends about Aristotle or Milton or Tocqueville -- are in Hell and simply haven't realized it yet.)"


Dowling ran marathons before sustaining an injury and loves to spend time in Paris for pleasure. He also moonlights as a Paris restaurant critic. But as you also might imagine, he has some interesting contradictions. For a man who wrote his first book about the form of the Boswellian hero, and also someone who loves to mine through great literature, how can he not see the parallels with sports? Aren't sports dramatic and filled with moments worthy of literature? Aren't athletes heroes in their own right who overcome circumstances of games and their lives to prevail? If they do not prevail, sometimes those competitors are even more fascinating at how they pick themselves up and continue to fight. Why is his preferred debate about "Aristotle or Milton or Tocqueville" more appropriate or desirable than my debate over Rutgers, West Virginia, or Louisville? His opinions seek to create a jargon filled barrier with those who do not share his passion. not open up the academic doors to those in the libraries after school. And if his environment is so distasteful, and he does not approve of his association with his third-rate university employer, why does he stay? Couldn't he make his observations from a distance at a school that he approves? Why is his tenure protected seat at Rutgers the only place he can work? Instead Dowling employs the long standing tradition of hacking up a situation with criticism but does not offer a solution for fixing the problem short of disbanding college sports ties to television revenues.

Finally, Dowling is a man who proudly claims he is no longer on e-mail or the internet because of porn sites popping up and ruining a manuscript he claimed to have been working on for six years. This declaration is symptomatic of the Dowling overall. He chooses to look at himself as a victim for something which he is not. Number one, if you are working on something for six years, you should have it backed up someplace, so the most you will lose is from the last point you backed-up your information. And that could be as simple as printing it, e-mailing it, or saving on a variety of disc formats. Secondly, internet pop-ups are often a function of cookies which can be deleted from your computer. Dowling's ignorance strikes again. For someone who loves to read so much, he ought to read the entire story about athletics in general, and specifically Rutgers football's players.

I encourage you to read Dowling's words, or his web site at least and judge for yourself if he is an enlightened man with a well-thought out opinion or a media saavy marketing man who is ultimately trying to generate interest in his own book sales and inflate his ego.

Go RU.

Score a Touchdown...Jesus!

Well, this might be a time that I point to and realize that I had it too good. This is the type of post that I will look back on when times aren't as rosy and say, what were you thinking. But I will also remember that this was inspired by a true sense of empathy and a willingness to share pain with those around me, a desire to help someone understand their grief, and maybe to cope with their confusion a little better.



You see, I have been a Rutgers fan for a long time. I wear that a badge of honor, especially now, when the years of suffering are blossoming into a top ten ranking and massive national respect. I don't begrudge those who have recently climbed the steps onto the bandwagon, in fact, I embrace them and feel proud to have them on board. The interesting time will be when we have adversity, when we might, gasp, lose a close game, and things might be going our way. Then we will see who stays in their seats, and who will pull the string for the driver to stop at the next stop and let them off.

With this in mind, I feel it is appropriate to extend my expertise on adversity to a program that is so unfamiliar with losing that they have never, EVER started a season 0-4. They have been led by some of the greatest names in sports history, and even have a statue of Jesus they use to guide their young men and bless them as they cross the goal line. With all those victories, great players, coaches, and history, you know that a fan of Notre Dame is feeling a bit bewildered right now. No wins? Sputtering offense? Rebuilding? It's ok Irish fans, we, the Rutgers faithful have been there. And while you might view this on the lines of the bizzaro Seinfeld episode, maybe there is room to learn from this experience. My biggest problem with most fans of teams that have massive amounts of success is that their great seasons get muddied and confused. Conversations like, "What was your favorite championship Muffy? Number two or number five?" Well, now you get a bit of perspective Golden Domers. Now you can see where the teams you have trampled were. Remember this lesson. Soak in the crapulence. Before you know it, Big Charlie (A jersey guy by the way) will turn it around and you will find the next Gipper or Montana or Brown. By suffering a little bit through this season, the next success you taste will be even sweeter and you will understand a little bit about the wait for something. It is often times the journey that is so much fun, not necessarily the destination. So feel free to cry it out, then dry those tears, it will eventually get better...unless you put Temple on the schedule. If you lose to them, you will have to disband the program.

Go RU.

91 seconds

Time of possession. The NY football Giants used to make a living with their ball-control offense. In fact, a lot of teams in the pre-West Coast and Greatest shows in turf era made a living out of running the ball, keeping their defense on the field, and thus, the opposing offense off the field, and control the clock. Overwhelming nine minute drives would crush an opposing team's spirit, and prevent any offensive rhythm from appearing in the game. And the next thing they would know, it's 21-7, and there isn't any time left for a drive, and they are so out of whack and trying to throw on every play, and a fresh defense is pinning its ears back and coming after them on every play.

So, how then, do you explain 1:31 versus 13:29 in time of possession on Saturday, yet look at the scoreboard and see 42-0 in the second quarter of the Spartan massacre? How do you look at 11 offensive plays that cover 277 yards and result in six touchdowns? I can't recreate that on NCAA college football 08. It seems impossible (and maybe a little inhuman) that a team can have drives of:

2 plays - 52 yards
1 play - 28 yards (after a botched fake punt)
2 plays - 92 yards (pass of 65 yards, five yard penalty, then a 22 yard run by Ray Rice)
2 plays - 46 yards
3 plays - 42 yards (starting to slack off offensively...)
and finally, 2 plays - 53 yards.

For the quarter, four guys accounted for all the offense...
Ray Rice, 3 carries, 33 yards, 3 TD's (Rutgers 3-0....)
Mike Teel, 7-8 passing, 244 yards, 3 TD's
Kenny Britt, 3 catches, 96 yards, 2 TD's
Tiquan Underwood, 4 catches, 148 yards, TD

Plus, two penalties by NSU, an illegal sub, and a pass interference. The only blemish, outside of those borderline timeouts, was an incomplete pass and that little roughing the kicker penalty. Otherwise, that is a perfect pummeling of an overmatched opponent.

91 seconds. Oof.

Lastly, I might have a bone to pick with Coach Schiano for calling timeouts at the end of the first half, trying to get the ball back to add to the 42 points already posted over the poor Spartans of Norfolk State. But upon further review, I think he was just trying to get his first stringers back on the field for one last series, to practice the two minute drill against semi-live competition. And Schaino even said after the game, that he was coaching the game hard through the first half, so I guess I give him a break for trying to squeeze everything he could out of the first half...maybe.

But, and maybe I need that Mark guy from the Ledger to write a scathing opinion piece to get this started... for all the people upset at booing college athletes, calling timeouts up by 45? No outrage from the sit on your hands set? Hmmm....where are all the people who were worried about feelings last week. Doesn't Norfolk State deserve any compassion? No Spartan love? See, football is about physicality. All you George Will wannabes should crawl back to your area rugs and fireplaces and stick to things that you know. Allow me to bring you to the breakfast club as you sip your chaintes...

          RARITANSAM
        Don't you ever talk about my
             friends!  You don't know any of my
             friends, you don't look at any of my
             friends and you certainly wouldn't
             condescend to speak to any of my
             friends so you just stick to the
             things you know, shopping, nail
             polish, your father's BMW and your
             poor--rich--drunk mother in the
             Carribean!

                       COLUMNIST
                  (furious and sobbing)
             Shut up!

                RARITANSAM
             And as far as being concerned about
             what's gonna happen when you and I
             walk down the hallways at school,
             you can forget it!  'Cause it's never
             gonna happen!  Just bury your head
             in the sand...and wait for your
             f***in' prom!

And stop telling me when I can and can't boo. I consider this issue laid to rest.



Go RU.

Let's Learn About Who We are Going to Boo

Oh wait, I meant to type who we are not going to boo...in fact, we are going to make notes of every positive thing they do, write them on note cards, and send them to the locker room at half-time with pre-filled blank get-well cards for any injuries we may have missed when they happened live and didn't have time to write out get-well notes...and then after the game, we will cheer equally loud for each team, making sure every other fan is clapping for the opposite team so no one's feelings get hurt, and then we will ask them if it is ok to leave our seats and return home, where we will read at least 100 pages of classic literature before eating, and certainly will not operate machinery until we have personally reviewed our fan behavior and the behavior of those around us, relatives, and neighbors who we have seen at least once in the past 7 months, and report any suspect behavior and especially anyone who boo's to Joe Paterno or the estate of Mother Theresa (does she have an estate?)




So maybe I have a bit of time on my hands, but I got to thinking yesterday, what exactly is a Norfolk State. Yes, it is a blatant attempt to rip off the classic tale of asking the precise definition of what exactly is a Rutgers…but what fun it would be to dig into the history of the storied football program of Norfolk State, who they are, where they come from…(with thanks and non0cited information from the Norfolk St Athletics web site, the city of Norfolk web site, wiki, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, and the AP and UPI wires…see, I am a journalist sort of…)

Norfolk is one of the oldest cities in our country, established in 1682, which I believe is the last time Temple had a winning football season. Some famous people who are from this Virginia mecca of commerce are Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Venus Flytrap (Tim Reid), Bob Saget, and Wayne Newton. It is part of the Hampton Raods region in Virginia, which is the cities of Norfolk, Newport News, and Virginia Beach, as well as the body of water that makes up the harbor of Hampton Roads.

Norfolk State the School was formerly known as the Norfolk State Unit of Virginia Union University, but in 1942 became an independent entity and was known as Norfolk Polytechnic College (aka Norfolk Tech). Then Norfolk Tech bounced into the realm of Virginia State College, lost it polytechnic status, and settled in to being Norfolk State College. And of course, as all colleges aspire to be, it then grew into being Norfolk State University. Enrollment as of last year was 6,238 students. The most popular majors are business, nursing, psychology, biology, and music education.

Their official colors are green and gold and their mascot is a Spartan. They play in one of my favorite conferences outside the Big East, the MEAC. The Spartans have fielded a team since 1938 and they have been to the post-season once and played only one game, their heyday way back in 1984. It was Willard Bailey’s first season as head coach, and it was a dream season. Cruising to the CIAA championship with 10 wins and only one loss, ranked 6th in the polls and hosting 8th ranked Towson State in their in the first round of their first time ever in the Division II NCAA playoffs. The game featured the nations number one passing attack from Towson against the vaunted Norfolk State defense that was particularly stingy against the run, coming into the game giving only 47.3 rushing yards a game, which ranked them number one against the run in the nation. So what happened? Well, six Norfolk turnovers in the form of a blocked punt, fumbles and interceptions stymied their offense, and somehow against the solid Spartan defense, Towson found a way to pound out an uncanny 295 yards of rushing offense. The final score was a result of a furious Norfolk comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, led by quarterback Willie Gillus, who tossed a touchdown pass to Leonard Hopkins, and running back Raynard Ravels. But it was too little too late as Towson took a 31-21 victory. (Towson went on to lose in the next round 45-3 at the hands of eventual national champion Troy State) The 1984 team holds the distinction of having the most wins (10) and the longest winning streak (8) in school history. Anthony Johnson, a SBN 1st team all-American in 1984, set the record that year for the most rushing attempts in a game (43 versus Howard) and for a season (310). Glenn Jones, a defensive back, was drafted with the first pick of the ninth round of the 1985 draft, and Bruce Manley, another defensive back was a free-agent signee with the Seattle Seahawks. But that was it for that run…the next few seasons went steadily downhill, 6-4 in ’85, 4-6 in ’86, and 4-7 in ’87. Coach Bailey tried to right the ship, but eventually the program went in a different direction after a 3-7 campaign in 1992.

Other than that, their big guys were Aaron Sparrow, a quarterback with numerous records, and Kevin Talley a 1-AA defensive player of the year and all-american linebacker who set the NCAA record with 195 tackles in a seaon and once had 30 tackles in one game (overachiever anyone?) Eventually went to the Quad City Steamwheelers of AFL2 fame, but as far as I can tell, he hasn’t played in a game in a few years. There is someone else named Kevin Talley who is a death metal drummer, but apparently these two have no relation, but I can’t confirm that.

So, now, I guess, all that’s left is the massacre that is going to take place at homecoming this week. I hope people can get over the bad press from last week over the rudeness of the SOME not ALL of the fans. I guess it is a sign of the times though. With more success comes more everything, fans, scrutiny, the need to fill newspaper and web spaces...wait a minute, that's me too, because I am sucked into talking about it. I like a victim.

Go RU.

To Boo Or Not to Boo

Ok, so now I have read two articles about horrible Rutgers fans cheering an injured Navy player as well as hurling insults at Navy players, and as you might imagine, I have some thoughts on the matter (although the list of things I don't have a thought on is a much shorter list). First of all, it is inexcusable to cheer for an injured player, regardless of team affiliation. And I see the point about harassing Navy cadets and family members with profanity and jeers. Yes, this shows little class and embarrasses the football program, the university, and as I have read, the state of New Jersey, and humans in general as one recruiter for the Navy said in the opinion piece of Mark D.'s column on NJ.com However, let's keep this in perspective. A few fans, or even half a section does not represent all of Rutgers fans. In the course of a football game, people tend to cheer for big hits, fumbles, and other miscues of the opposing team. While cheering for injuries is clearly over the line, one must understand that football in general, and football fandom in particular is not meant to be a refined activity of nobles. People are passionate and rabid and I think it is easy to be confusing excitement of a game with anti-American taunting of Naval cadets. Did that happen in the stands during the Navy game? I have no doubt. Was it insensitive? Yes. BUT, it is not fair to condemn all of Rutgers football fans for the actions of others, nor does it make sense to pin that behavior on New Jersey in general. Are we supposed to now sit on our hands when Navy throws an interception because it is insensitive to make them feel bad because they are in the military? Are we supposed to forfeit our game with Army because it is disrespectful do defeat the young men headed for military duty and defending our country? That's where I feel these columns are headed. If someone wants to highlight the atrocious actions of SOME of the fans at the Rutgers-Navy game and point out how deplorable it is, go ahead, I am upset it happened as well. But be mindful of casting the guilty net over all of Rutgers football or over the entire state of New Jersey., We are proud of our team and respectful of our opponents (even Temple).

On another note, what's wrong with chanting A__hole when a ref is talking? isn't that standard in every NFL stadium? And maybe those fans should get a little leeway because they don't how to act when their team is whomping other teams. Remember, it is a steep learning curve going from perennial doormat to top 25 team. These kids are learning how to cheer and be cocky, and of course there are going to be some missteps along the way. And while i am not a fraternity person, that is an easy cheap shot to instantly accuse the people in the story as beer swilling frat boys. Please, some guys I went to college with could drink entire Fraternities under the table by themselves. So go Lamda Pie Omega yourself, calm down, and go pledge to be a more informed web opinion giver Mark D.

Looking forward to Norfolk State, learning all about them, and revealing some things you might not know...but that is another rant.

Go RU!

The MidBuffOwlKnight Cup

Rutgers has officially claimed its first title of the season. Ok, so it isn't a BCS championship, but nonetheless, they have dominated a section of the country in an accidental round robin tournament between Buffalo, Navy, Temple, and Rutgers. I know, I know, I am shocked as you to learn that Temple still has a football program and that they actually attempt to take the field on Saturdays and win football games. Kicked out of the Big east, think about the magnitude of that, a conference on the verge of being decimated by defections to the ACC still kicked them to the curb. So, it came as no shock that of the four teams in this round robin, Temple finished 0-2. Buffalo even smoked them 42-7 to finish the two week stretch at 1-1. Navy only beat them by 12, but still walked away with an easy victory to go 1-1 as well. Rutgers was the undeniable champion, going 2-0 with two convincing victories over Buffalo and Navy. The only match-ups not featured were Temple vs. Rutgers, a foregone conclusion, and the game for second place, Navy vs. Buffalo. While that would be an interesting match-up, the trouncing Temple would likely receive from Rutgers would put them at a convincing 3-0, and either Buffalo or Navy would at best be 2-1. So just as Division 1A uses polls to determine the final champion, I would like to offer this one-man, RaritanSam poll of how the four teams officially finished in the MidBuffOwlKnight Championship Cup Standings.

1. Rutgers (1)
2. Navy
3. Buffalo
4. App. State

Also receiving vote - Temple

Congratulations to the Scarlet Knights for winning this prestigious mid-year, mid-week championship.

Sailing, Sailing

I know everyone looks at Rutgers' schedule and says they will sail through the early part, and not have a real test until, depending who you ask, South Florida or West Virginia. But, and I promise this blog entry will be the last reference to one of the greatest upsets in sports history (more thoughts later), but remember the Wolverines...not because they overcame adversity, but because they were steamrolled by a disciplined, mistake capitalizing team with a nickname of a team in the Big East that does the same thing...and trots out Pat White and Steve Slaton.

So as Navy drops anchor in the Raritan, and I don't want to be too un-American here, but the Scarlet Knights need to not give them any option other than trying to pass and come from behind. I am encouraged by the offensive explosion and the defensive manhandling versus Buffalo, but Navy is a quantum leap up. They are a respectable team and don't deserve to lumped in with the Norfolk State on this list. Why? Well look at their past four seasons.
2007: 9-4
2006: 8-4
2005: 10-2
2004: 8-5

Those are decent win totals for any Div 1A team, regardless of opponent. Plus, and I know this is a cliche for a service academy, they are disciplined. they tend to not make mental mistakes. Now having said that, they also played one of my favorite teams to mock in the Owls of Temple University. You know Temple, that Div. 1A that almost had a parade when they finally beat Bowling Green (who should have gone immediately on Conf USA probation). Anyway, Navy beat Temple 31-19, but if Temple is within 12 points, your team has issues.

I don't think Tiquan will rebreak his receiving record, but I think Teel and the passing game will continue to take advantage of the emphasis on stopping Ray Rice. We all see what happeens when the receivers hang on to the footballs they should...and Tiquan making a few juggling catches and runs of passes he shouldn't catch doesn't hurt things either.

And the defense? I can't wait to see what they do next. They are a menacing, quick, and hard hitting defense that flies to the ball and takes pride in stopping teams. They don't get as much love as the offense it seems because chicks and SportsCenter dig the longball and the touchdown. Football fans however dig poor third down conversion stats and tackles for loss...ok, this is heading into weird territory, but you get the idea.

This game is a winnable game for the Scarlet Knights as long as they continue to take care of the football, set-up the pass with the run, and play the stifling defense that comes with a few years of experience tangling with Navy's triple option.

Go RU.

Whew!

My oh my, what would it be like to be an App State Mountaineer these days. I might suggest folding up the program now, having accomplished it all. What else is there? Go to the Swamp, or the Horseshoe, or ahem, The Chop House to try to take down the mighty Gators, Buckeyes, or, ahem, Scarlet Knights.
I don't mean to drudge up recent painful history, but we have a certain understanding of what the Wolverines are going through. Granted we weren't the fifth ranked team in the country, but as recent as last year, we stumbled into Cincy as a seventh ranked team and gacked our way to a loss. Granted, they are Division 1A and an eventual bowl team, but still...And lest we not forget recent times with Villanova or New Hampshire, and newly christened 1A programs Buffalo and UConn took it to our beloved Knights as well.
But having said all that, what a horrible, horrible loss. Michigan quarterback Chad Henne said he didn't want to call that loss embarrassing because that took away from what App State accomplished. Now, I admire his political correctness, but don't be mistaken, that was embarrassing. Yes, App State played well, and made two unbelievable, yes, and i do mean UNBELIEVABLE plays on special teams to block two game altering field goal attempts, but they should never, NEVER be allowed to hang with a 1A team for a half, let alone win the game. So what if Mike Hart was missing for half the game. They still have professional prospect players in their quarterback (Henne) and wide receiver (Manningham), and I am sure their fourth-string RB could have or should have been able to run the ball. If a bottom tier Big Ten team beat them it would be a disgrace, but a team from 1AA, just awful. To overlook an opponent and not be able to adjust to the circumstances that were happening, it doesn't make sense.
And, it was a game with no line. Not that I am a gambler per se, but if even Vegas says it is not going to be close enough to put a line on the game, that should tell you something about how favored Michigan was. I have been kicked in the groin by some losses in my life, but I cannot even begin to empathize with how that loss must sting, and how it will continue to sting for many years to come.
Whew....thank goodness it wasn't Rutgers.

Go Scarlet Knights!