2009 Off-Season Roundup
The News Stories You Need To Know ... May 18
By
Phil Guidry
* This will shock and amaze you, but Steve Spurrier is
tweaking a fellow SEC head coach. This time, though, it's the guy who
took his dream job: Urban Meyer. Spurrier spoke to radio host Paul
Finebaum about the persistent rumors that Meyer will eventually bolt
Gainesville for the laid-back subtropical vibe of South Bend, Indiana:
“They still got that rumor going down there, Paul, that if he has one
more big year, he might be the Notre Dame coach... It’d be surprising if
he left, but who knows? He’s accomplished so much. I left after 12 years
because I just said 'Hey, I’ve done enough. Try something else.' He may
get to the point where he needs to try something else. Who knows?” This
will no doubt ruffle the feathers of Urb, who is already a legend but is
also the most thin-skinned legend in college football history. We can't
wait until he strikes back and says the Old Ball Coach is not a true
Gator.
* Speaking of thin-skinned, L.A. sports fans aren't
known for being the most diehard group. Want proof? USC averaged 57,000
fans per game the year before Pete Carroll arrived. Today, they're
averaging over 90,000. Actually, it's not certain which fact is more
shocking: that roughly 33,000 fans in the Coliseum each week are
bandwagon-jumpers, or that in a city with as many entertainment options
as L.A. boasts, 57,000 people used to show up to watch Paul Hackett
work.
* Joltin' Joe is at it again. The legendary Joe
Paterno spoke at a banquet last week and said, "It makes sense that we
have a playoff. I don't know what the problems are, but I don't like to
hear the phony reasons why they don't have it. 'The kids are going to
spend too much time away from class.' Aw, come on. Look what they do
with the basketball [NCAA Tournament]. All the other divisions in NCAA
football have playoffs. I really think a playoff is fairer." For those
who have called for Joe Pa to retire, we ask you: how is it that, on
this topic at least, he's eminently more sensible than some guys half
his age?
104 days and counting...
Spurrier/Meyer
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2009/05/steve-spurrier-addresses-urban-meyernotre-dame-rumors-.html
Pete Carroll
http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/13/highest-paid-coaches-business-sports-nba.html
Joe Paterno
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20090515_Feisty_Paterno_shows_he_still_has_plenty_of_fight_in_him.html