The Confidential

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Archive for the month “May, 2013”

03 May 2013
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Pitino’s Goldencents

Churchill Downs—with the University of Louisvi...

Churchill Downs—with the University of Louisville Marching Band in the foreground—during the 2006 Kentucky Derby. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Giving my record at Churchill Downs I’m not the one you want breaking down the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby this Saturday but I wouldn’t bet against Goldencents. Louisville head basketball coach Rick Pitino is a 5% owner and with the roll that he is on I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets an unusual Triple Crown of his own; a National Championship, a Hall of Fame Induction and winning the Run For the Roses. Goldencents earned his spot in the Derby field by winning the Santa Anita Derby after overcoming adversities similar to the way Pitino’s Cardinals did later that night in their Final Four victory against Wichita State.

His 5-1 odds make Goldencents the 3rd favorite behind Orb and Verrazano but considering how the clouds and rain cleared for him during his first jog after arriving at Churchill, everything seems to be going their way. Twenty minutes later it was pouring. Fate or maybe destiny? I don’t know but the only thing missing is a start from the 5th gate, Kevin Ware jersey number. Instead he will be starting from the 8th gate. (Siva did wear number 3 so add Wares 5 and you get 8, just sayin.)

Its been an impressive turn around for Pitino considering he was contemplating retirement following a public scandal and a 1st round exit in the NCAA tourney just a couple years ago. He overcame these adversities just to make back-to-back Final Fours with a National Championship and a Hall of Fame induction. Goldencents could add a Kentucky Derby victory to this list as well.

Louisville capped off their championship celebration as the men’s and national runner-up women’s basketball teams served as Grand Marshalls for the Pegasus Parade, a part of the two weeks of festivities leading up to the Derby. You could call it a Triple Crown celebration; first it was a celebration in front of 20,000+ at the KFC Yum Center the Wednesday following the NC games, next was the half time salute and autograph sessions during the spring football game with over 30,000 fans and now finally the Pegasus Parade.

Posted by lenvillecards in Basketball, Louisville Correspondent
03 May 2013
12 Comments

ACC Bowls: The Future

ESPN.com has a fairly comprehensive look at the ACC bowl picture as it transitions from a 12-team conference to a 15-team conference (including Notre Dame).  The article notes the possibility that the “league might increase its bowl affiliations to nine or 10” and change some of the bowls.  So let’s take a closer look at some of the bowls being discusssed.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl.  As you know, this bowl game is played in New York City.  With the Big East transitioning to the American, the inclusion of the ACC in the Big East’s slot makes sense.  There is also scuttlebutt on the Internet about the B1G taking over for the Big XII with a bowl tie in for that game.  Such a decision makes complete sense.  Just look at the schools that could potentially face each other in that game:

  • B1G: Penn State, Rutgers, Maryland
  • ACC: Boston College, Syracuse, Pittsburgh

All six schools have significant proximity to the NYC market.  Plus, one could envision these schools not being selected for better bowls.  And Penn State will be grappling with its sanctions.  There are numerous combinations of schools that would lead to interesting matchups.  It really is a slam dunk, no brainer, grand slam, whatever you want to call it for the bowl and both conferences.  And if Notre Dame is part of the mix?  Consider it done.

Gator Bowl.  Until 2009, this bowl game involved the ACC.  Seems like a natural fit given its location in Jacksonville and the ACC’s two Florida-based schools.  Not to mention Georgia Tech and Clemson being relatively close.

Belk Bowl.  This Charlotte-based bowl is currently an ACC-Big East event.  There is apparently talk of switching to an ACC-SEC matchup.  As with the Pinstripe Bowl, it is hard to disagree with that logic.  Again, look at the teams in the region:

  • ACC: North Carolina, NC State, Duke, Wake Forest, Louisville, Clemson
  • SEC: Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, South Carolina

Once again, you have teams that are likely to qualify in the region.  Also, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Georgia, Auburn, and the Mississippi schools are nearby.  Another nice fit.

In fact, between these three bowls alone, every single ACC team would have a regional bowl tie-in.

What do you think, are there are any other bowls that the ACC should try to get tie-ins with?

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Posted by acaffrey in Bowls, Football and tagged , , ,
02 May 2013

ACC’s-Posure

OK, that was a stretch.  But it was an attempt to demonstrate how much exposure the ACC is getting on ESPN.com these days.  It seems like ESPN is going out of its way to lead with articles touching on ACC teams.  Or SEC teams.  In any event, ESPN is certainly promoting its partners.

Just look at the top half of the college football articles on ESPN.com at 7:52 pm EST:

  • Notre Dame eyes additions to football stadium
  • NCAA suspends rule change on unlimited texts
  • SEC Network set for ’14; ESPN extends deal
  • Pinstripe, Gator likely for ACC, source says
  • FBS schools spending more than they make
  • Kelly: Notre Dame in Texas attracts recruits

That is ACC, general, SEC, ACC, general, and ACC.  And Louisville, soon to be an ACC team, is featured in the main article on the page.

How about college hoops?

  • Parker signs letter of intent to play at Duke
  • Rodriguez transfers from K-State to Miami
  • Iowa to play in Bahamas instead of Alaska
  • Rutgers lands first recruit since Rice’s firing
  • Chol leaving Arizona after sophomore season
  • SEC Network set for ’14; ESPN extends deal

That is ACC, ACC, B1G, B1G, Pac-12, and SEC.  A lot of ACC and SEC.

It will be interesting to see if this becomes an increasing trend.  ESPN may not be making the ACC filthy rich, but the exposure is really unparalleled.  One way to create demand for an ACC Network is to make sure that people are continuously interested in the ACC.  Off to a good start.

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC Network, ACC only and tagged ,
02 May 2013
4 Comments

Boeheimian Rhapsody

Check out this new video involving Syracuse, Jim Boeheim, and some good laughs: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/syracuse-comedy-group-makes-clever-parody-song-called-142439618.html

Don’t forget that the Confidential’s very own MCaffrey named his team Boeheimian Rhapsody in our bracket contest. See here.

Great job by all!

 

 

Posted by acaffrey in Basketball, Opinion, Satire and tagged , , , , , ,
02 May 2013
3 Comments

ACC & 2014 NFL Draft

After a great 2013 NFL Draft weekend, it is time to start looking ahead to the 2014 NFL Draft.  At least that is the case if you are a draftnik like ESPN’s Todd McShay!  He already has a ranking of the top 32 NFL Draft prospects for 2014. 

There are a handful of guys with ACC ties on this preliminary list.  Obviously, much will change in the next 12 months.  But here are the guys with ACC ties getting love from McShay:

  • #2  Teddy Bridgewater QB  Louisville
  • #7  Louis Nix III  NT  Notre Dame
  • #8  Tajh Boyd  QB Clemson
  • #14  Timmy Jernigan  DT  Florida State
  • #18 Stephon Tuitt  DT  Notre Dame
  • #20 Jeremiah Attauchu WR Georgia Tech
  • #21  Sammy Watkins WR Clemson

So that is 4 guys playing in the ACC and 7 guys with ACC ties.  Not sure what anyone else thinks, but the ACC is claiming Notre Dame effective immediately.  So we will call it 6. 

As always, the  SEC is the dominant conference, with 14 guys on the list.  The Big 2/Little 12….err… B1G has 3–exclusively represented by Michigan and Ohio State.  The Big XII has two.  The Pac-12 actually finishes ahead of the Big XII and B1G with 5 guys on the list. 

What do you think?  Who is McShay leaving out from the ACC?

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Draft, Football, Predictions, Rankings and tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
01 May 2013

Notes from Recent Preseason Polls

On Monday, I noticed two offseason polls of interest: the first one was a post Spring football poll for 2013 by ESPN’s  Mark Schlabach  and the second poll was for college basketball on CBS Sportsline.

Here’s a quick breakdown of each:

Football Top 25

ACC (3) 4. Louisville, 12. Clemson, 14. Florida State

Big 10 (5)

Big 12 (5)

SEC (6)

Pac 12 (4)

Notre Dame was ranked #10.

I’m excited about the GOR signed last week, but I’m embarrassed by the lack of solid football programs in the conference.  The potential is there-I’m speaking about Miami, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, NC State-for the ACC to consistently have at least five teams in the Top 25.

Basketball Top 26

On the other hand, the new ACC received a ton of respect in the Sportline Poll.  Four ACC teams were ranked in the Top 11 and seven were ranked overall.

ACC (7) Louisville, Duke, UNC, Syracuse in Top 11

BIG 10 (5)

BIG 12 (1)

Pac 12 (2)

SEC (3)

Florida State and Louisville were the only ACC schools to appear in both (football and basketball) polls.  FSU will certainly move up in basketball if Andrew Wiggins picks the Seminoles in the next two weeks.

Strength in Basketball Helpful for ACC Network?

Most media pundits have pointed to the direct correlation between football performance and television money.  However, few mention the fact that conference network money is driven by “quality” inventory beyond football.  I believe the number of solid basketball programs with diehard fan bases will make the ACC Network viable for ESPN and profitable for all of the teams that recently made a commitment to the conference.  How many people are going to be watching the SEC network? (FYI: I will not watch.)  All of the notable football games are covered by the national networks.  Are people going to watch Alabama vs. Vanderbilt in basketball?  Meanwhile, the Big 10 has a similar advantage to the ACC with several viable non-football programs to provide year round inventory and interest.

Posted by wtnoleacc in ACC Network, Basketball, Football, FSU Correspondent, Rankings, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , ,
01 May 2013
5 Comments

Syracuse is a “Football Factory”?

One of the Confidential’s favorite reads is the Tuesday Morning Quarterback by Gregg Easterbrook on ESPN.com.  Although harping on the same issues week after week can get tedious (we get it–coaches should not punt, blitz, pass, or switch jobs), there are usually some good nuggets scattered within the articles.  Interestingly, his post-draft article almost suggested that Syracuse is a “football factory.”

His specific quote was as follows:

The Bills’ new head coach, Doug Marrone, is coming from NCAA football to the NFL. He had a college-style draft — using his picks on a quarterback, two wide receivers, a speed linebacker, two defensive backs, a tight end. Marrone didn’t draft any linemen on either side of the ball, using all ammo for flashy guys. At a time when speed dominates Division I football, a head coach coming over from a football factory may obsess about getting flashy guys, while taking the line for granted. Taking the line for granted is a fatal error in the NFL.

It is certainly plausible that the sentence describing head coaches and flashy guys was not directly addressed to Marrone and Syracuse.  Still, it is kind of nice to even have some confusion as to whether someone meant that Syracuse was a football factory!

Although Syracuse had dark times during the G-Rob era (and by dark, we mean “bubonic plague” dark), Syracuse is a program that was above average from 1987 to 2001.  Well above average, actually.  Many players went from Syracuse to stardom in the NFL, including Rob Moore, Donovan McNabb, Marvin Harrison, and Dwight Freeney.  It would have been a plausible argument during the 2002 NFL Draft.

2013?  Not so much.  But it is nice to have the discussion.

What do you think?  Was Syracuse a football factory?  Ever?  Circa 2000?  Or does one have to go back to the 1960s to make that argument?  More importantly, what does the future hold for the Orange?

 

Posted by acaffrey in Football, Opinion, Something Positive and tagged , ,

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