The Confidential

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12 Aug 2012
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Duke Forms Committee to Consider Upgrading Football to FBS-Level

(8.86 Miles From Chapel Hill, North Carolina)  Duke University President Dick Brodhead has announced that the university will be forming a committee to consider upgrading the football program to FBS-Level.  The committee will be chaired by former Duke great good, quarterback Anthony Dilweg.  Dilweg, now a successful real estate businessman, will have to “quarterback” a committee considering all the various pros and cons of the upgrade.

Duke actually does have some experience at the FBS-Level, even making it to a few bowl games.  In 1994, Duke played in the Hall of Fame Bowl, just five years after playing in the All-American Bowl.  And, in 1960, Duke played in the Cotton Bowl, a 7-6 barnburner between two 8-3 teams.  This is noteworthy because the Cotton Bowl still exists!  But to make it to bowl games in the modern era of corporate-sponsored bowls, Duke’s upgrade is going to be daunting.

Any good business move requires putting the right team into place.  The Confidential suggests that, if the committee does approve an upgrade,  Duke should consider employing some or all of the following:

  • Someone to run the school’s host program AND not be foolish enough to use actual Duke co-eds to do it.  Duke may need to employ professionals here.
  • Someone to oversee modifying the schoolwork/football balance to a more North Carolina State-y level.  No need to go all out on the cheating like North Carolina, but at least scale back some of that academics crap.
  • Someone to create, implement, and subsequently ignore the free sneaker program.  Do we need to even joke about where Duke should poach this person?   (some FSU fans are a little slow, so, even though this joke expired 10 years ago… YES, we meant FSU!)
  • The standard cocaine/car/prostitute liaison.  Vice = success.
  • Depending on how many rules Duke is comfortable violating, maybe just hire Lane Kiffin or Pete Carroll?  USC has shown that private universities can bend the rules as much as any state school.
  • A couple “coaching” jobs for Dads of real good players. That’s always a big hit on the recruiting trail.
  • A person to muzzle Dick Vitale.  Not going to help the football team directly, but there has to be a karmic benefit here.

Clemson is dabbling with a “scholarship for you and a buddy” program.  Duke might want to consider that too.  A successful football program at the FBS-level must be a little creative.

Quite obviously, Duke has a lot to consider before making the upgrade, and even more to consider if that is the decision is to go forward.  But it would be worth it to see a future generation of Duke football fans get to experience a bowl.

Cool Daily and Weekly Fantasy Baseball Leagues!

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Football, Sarcasm and tagged , , , ,
10 Aug 2012

Today in the A.C.C. (August 10, 2012)

The Confidential had some fun yesterday at the expense of the Atlantic Coast Conference, but today it is back to the uber-serious ACC news.  Here is what is going on in the ACC for August 10, 2012:

Well, everyone plans to retire (except for 40% of transition baby boomers).  The real news here is that Phillips plans to do so soon–specifically, at the end of his term in July 2013.  So now Clemson must find a brand new A.D.  Or at least one that is less than retirement age.  Clemson President James F. Barker indicated that a national search for a replacement will be launched this fall, with the hopes of having a successor in place before Phillips’ contract ends.  Barker also had a slew of positive things to say about Phillips.  It is butt-kissing, funeral-quality stuff, so go read the ESPN article to get the flavor.

  • If you are an ACC school, or plan to be in 2013, chances are you are after an offensive lineman from Rochester, New York, named Alex Officer.

Actually, this was reported in ESPN’s “rumors” section, with a link to a Scout.com website that the Confidential is not yet “liquid” enough to subscribe too.  The upshot is that Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Boston College, and Virginia Tech are already after this guy.  Not sure where Randy Edsall is on this one.

This article also goes way out on a limb in projecting Duke and Wake Forest to be in the cellar of their respective divisions.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Football, Today in the ACC and tagged , , , , , , ,
08 Aug 2012

Today in the A.C.C. (August 8, 2012)

Here is the latest that is happening with the Atlantic Coast Conference, as of August 8, 2012.

  • Previously, the Confidential noted the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Duke WR Blair Holiday.  Actually, it was yesterday, but whatever.

In a classy gesture, the Duke football team will be wearing a #8 on their helmets to honor him this season.  Good for them.  But if YOU want to do something, how about giving a donation to the fund set up to assist him: “For information on how to contribute to the The Blair Holliday Recovery Fund, visit www.giveforward.com/theblairhollidayrecoveryfund.”

  • In Miami, Ray-Ray Armstrong is not accepting his dismissal from the team without a fight; instead, he has lawyered up.

Armstrong’s counsel plans to file an injunction to force the “school to allow Armstrong to practice with the team until the NCAA determines if he has violated any bylaws.”  Of course, Armstrong’s counsel also noted that Armstrong has a lengthy history and was dismissed based on a few different incidents.  Still, it will be Armstrong’s contention that Miami has dismissed Armstrong just to make itself look better while the NCAA ponders just how much of a penalty Miami deserves.

  • In basketball news, Boston College has offered a scholarship to Chicago-area forward Evan Boudreaux.

The 6-foot 7 forward plays for Lake Forest high school.  Even if he chooses Boston College do not expect to see him any time soon–he is only a 15-year-old sophomore.  Nevertheless, he seems to have acquitted himself well against decent competition recently.

 

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, Football and tagged , , , , ,
07 Aug 2012
1 Comment

Today in the A.C.C. (August 7, 2012)

Well, the Confidential jumped the gun a bit yesterday, calling it September in a few different places.  Rest assured, it is still August.  In any event, here is what is going on around the ACC today:

  • Hud Mellencamp, son of the famous singer John Mellencamp, is a walk-on for the Duke football team.

Mellencamp did not play football in high school football.  Nevertheless, Duke is letting him serve as a walk-on defensive back.  Maybe Florida State fans have a legit gripe about the rest of the ACC not taking its football seriously.

  • Speaking of Florida State, they are just thrilled to have stolen a tight end from Penn State, Kevin Haplea, and are not too worried about losing cornerback Greg Reid.

According to ESPN, “the Seminoles recruited Haplea out of high school in Annandale, N.J., but he chose Happy Valley over Tallahassee.”  However, he did not live happily-ever-after (pun intended) in Happy Valley, seeking out Florida State when the NCAA issued its sanctions.  FSU’s Jimbo Fisher was quick to clarify that point–Florida State did not contact Haplea, it was the other way around.  In any event, Penn State’s loss is Florida State’s gain.

Fisher is also confident that the team has the players to replace Reid, who was dismissed from the team after being charged with marijuana possession.  Kudos to Florida State, they are doing it without taking any Penn State players too.  Instead, they have a whole host of players that will audition for Reid’s spot.  All is well, apparently.

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Football, Today in the ACC and tagged , , , ,
06 Aug 2012
2 Comments

Today in the A.C.C. (August 6, 2012)

Here is a quick look at what is newsworthy in the Atlantic Coast Conference today, August 6, 2012:

  • In football, Duke WR Blair Holliday has been transferred to an Atlanta hospital.

Holliday suffered brain injuries in a July boating incident.  Hopefully, his recovery goes well.  Also, the report notes as follows: “Duke updated Holliday’s status in an announcement about the creation of a trust endowment in the receiver’s name.”  That’s a classy gesture, Duke.  Nice work.

  • In basketball, North Carolina State freshman guard Rodney Purvis is having eligibility issues.

Purvis was a McDonald’s All-American and prep basketball player of the year for North Carolina, so he is supposed to be a major  contributed for the Wolfpack this year.  Unfortunately, this eligibility issue stems from a review of his high school, and will keep/delay him from going with the rest of the team on an exhibition tour of Spain.  Hopefully, it gets sorted out fairly and appropriately before the season starts.

  • Interestingly, ESPN is touting North Carolina State as perhaps the favorite in the conference this year for hoops.

Time will tell.  Although a bit dated, the article does provide a nice overview of all the conference teams.   A worthy read.

  • Also in hoops, Duke will be joined in the Battle 4 Atlantis this year by a stacked lineup of Louisville, Memphis, Stanford, Missouri, Minnesota, VCU, and Northern Iowa.

WOW!  Where is the easy game there?  Remember that least year Harvard won this tournament too.  Don’t count out VCU and Northern Iowa.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, Football, Today in the ACC and tagged , , , ,
02 Aug 2012
6 Comments

College Football Returns in 28 Days: Get Your TV Remote Ready

The Confidential hopes that you got a tan.  You know–you weren’t inside all summer blogging about Penn State (sigh).  Summer is basically over.  College football starts in a mere 28 days.

You know what, the Confidential is tired of Florida State’s always bellyaching about something.  One Complaint is that one time FSU had to play a Thursday game or something.  The horror!  This year, the ACC football season does not start in 28 days on a Thursday.  There are no shortage of directional schools opening the season on August 28, 2012.  In addition, other no name schools like UConn, UCLA, Texas A&M, Brigham Young, Washington State, Arizona State, and Minnesota are also playing.  Oh, and the SEC is playing a conference game on that day between South Carolina and Vanderbilt.  So there you go generic whiny Seminole fan–the best football conference that ever existed is allowing its well-compensated schools to open the season on a Thursday.  How about them apples?

The first ACC team to play is North Carolina State, who opens play on Friday, August 29, 2012.  They get a tough matchup against Tennessee.  Yep, another SEC team playing on a non-Saturday.  That’s FOUR.   And don’t forget that, on Sunday, Kentucky plays Louisville in a battle over whatever it is these two teams play for–probably a jug or something.  So that’s 5 of the 14 SEC teams not playing on a Saturday.  So stuff it FSU.

For the ACC, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech square off in a Tech-battle on Labor Day.  Give it up to ESPN–they open the weekend with the SEC and close it with the ACC.  A lot of exposure for both conferences opening weekend.

Of course, there are many games on Saturday that weekend.  But it is notable that the SEC is more than willing to play on a non-Saturday to get its programs television exposure.  Instead of complaining about playing those days, teams need to just maximize the opportunity for a captive audience.

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Football and tagged , , , , ,
25 Jul 2012
2 Comments

Penn State and ACC Football

While the Penn State situation impacts all of college football, it may have a direct impact on ACC football.  Quite obviously, there is the proximity of many schools.  But the ACC’s recent expansion to include Syracuse and Pittsburgh may result in adding the two main beneficiaries in the Penn State decline that is inevitably to occur in the upcoming decade.

Interestingly, while the Florida State fans may dismiss the addition of Pittsburgh and Syracuse from a football standpoint, both schools have had substantial football moments.  Beginning in 1978, look at the records:

  • 1976: Pittsburgh 12-0, Penn State 7-5, Syracuse 3-8 = 22-13
  • 1977: Penn State 11-1, Pitt 9-2-1, Syracuse 6-5 = 26-8-1
  • 1978: Penn State 11-1, Pitt 8-4, Syracuse 3-8 = 22-13
  • 1979: Pitt 11-1; Penn State 8-4, Syracuse 7-5 = 26-10
  • 1980: Pitt 11-1; Penn State 10-2, Syracuse 5-6 = 26-9
  • 1981: Pitt 11-1, Penn State 10-2, Syracuse 4-6-1 = 25-9-1
  • 1982: Penn State 11-1, Pitt 9-3, Syracuse 2-9 = 22-13
  • 1983: Pitt 8-3-1, Penn State 8-4-1, Syracuse 6-5 = 22-12-2
  • 1984: Syracuse 6-5, Penn State 6-5, Pitt 3-7-1 = 15-17-1
  • 1985: Penn State 11-1, Syracuse 7-5, Pitt 5-5-1 = 23-11-1
  • 1986: Penn State 12-0, Pitt 5-5-1, Syracuse 5-6 = 22-11-1
  • 1987: Syracuse 11-0-1, Penn State 8-4, Pitt 8-4 = 27-8-1
  • 1988: Syracuse 10-2, Pitt 8-4, Penn State 5-6 = 23-12
  • 1989: Penn State 8-3-1, Pitt 8-3-1, Syracuse 8-4 = 24-10-2
  • 1990: Penn State 9-3, Syracuse 7-4-2, Pitt 3-7-1 = 19-14-3
  • 1991: Penn State 11-2, Syracuse 10-2, Pitt 6-5 = 27-9
  • 1992: Syracuse 10-2, Penn State 7-5, Pitt 3-9 = 20-16
  • 1993: Penn State 10-2,  Syracuse 6-4-1, Pitt 3-8 = 19-14-1
  • 1994: Penn State 12-0, Syracuse 7-4, Pitt 3-8 = 22-12
  • 1995: Penn State 9-3, Syracuse 9-3, Pitt 2-9 = 20-15
  • 1996: Penn State 11-2, Syracuse 9-3, Pitt 4-7 = 24-12
  • 1997: Penn State 9-3, Syracuse 9-4, Pitt 6-6 = 24-13
  • 1998: Penn State 9-3, Syracuse 8-4, Pitt 2-9 = 19-16
  • 1999: Penn State 10-3, Syracuse 7-5, Pitt 5-6 = 22-13
  • 2000: Pitt 7-5, Syracuse 6-5, Penn State 5-7 = 18-17
  • 2001: Syracuse 10-3, Pitt 7-5, Penn State 5-6 = 22-12
  • 2002: Pitt 9-4, Penn State 9-4, Syracuse 4-8 = 22-16
  • 2003: Pitt 8-5, Syracuse 6-6, Penn State 3-9 = 17-20
  • 2004: Pitt 8-4, Syracuse 6-6; Penn State 4-7 = 18-17
  • 2005: Penn State 11-1, Pitt 5-6, Syracuse 1-10 = 17-17
  • 2006: Penn State 9-4, Pitt 6-6, Syracuse 4-8 = 17-18
  • 2007: Penn State 9-4, Pitt 5-7, Syracuse 2-10 = 16-21
  • 2008: Penn State 11-2, Pitt 9-4, Syracuse 3-9 = 23-15
  • 2009: Penn State 11-2, Pitt 10-3, Syracuse 4-8 = 25-13
  • 2010: Syracuse 8-5, Pitt 8-5, Penn State 7-6 = 23- 16
  • 2011: Penn State 9-4, Pitt 6-7, Syracuse 5-7 = 20-18
  • 2012: TBD

During this entire period, there were only two seasons (2005 and 2007) where two of these teams were not bowl eligible at the end of the season.  Both of those seasons just happened to come during Syracuse’s dreadful Greg Robinson era.* Pitt had a similarly dreadful era from 1992 to 1995, where Paul Hackett and Johnny Majors led them to a combined 11-34.  But, for the most part, Syracuse and Pitt have ordinarily managed to have bad seasons with 4 wins or so.

If Penn State drops to a point where they are not capable of fielding a team able to win more than 2 or 3 FBS games a year, those players have to go  somewhere.  If Pitt and Syracuse are able to siphon off some of that talent, it only stands to reason that both can improve by one or two wins a year.

To be sure, there was not Rutgers or UConn to contend with in the 1980’s and 1990’s.  Even Temple is finally playing up to its potential.  So nothing guarantees that Pitt and Syracuse will pick up the slack.  The move to the ACC might, however, be the shot in the arm that convinces more of these players to go with Pitt and Syracuse (and BC), rather than Rutgers, UConn, and Temple.

Still, the three teams have historically averaged about 22 to 23 wins between them.  If Penn State is only  contributing 2 or 3 wins, that could mean 9 or 10 win seasons for Pitt and/or Syracuse.  If so, the ACC will have to be pleased with these two schools’ contributions to the football equation.

* In the three seasons preceding his era, coaches were 16-20.  In the three seasons after his era, coaches were 17-20.  During his era, Syracuse was 10-37.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Football and tagged , , ,
21 Jul 2012

Yahoo Claims Miami’s NCAA Issues Persisted Under Al Golden

It was about one year ago that Yahoo’s Charles Robinson reported that the Miami Hurricanes provided illegal benefits to more than 70 players.  The report was significant enough to get everyone’s attention, from Miami to the NCAA.  Miami’s Al Golden promised that he would clean up the mess caused by the former regime and booster Nevin Shapiro; however, a new Yahoo report by Robinson suggests that Miami continued to violate NCAA rules under Al Golden.  This is very troubling news for “the U.”

The new report concerns an allegation that the Hurricanes used “Sean ‘Pee Wee’ Allen – a then-equipment manager and onetime right-hand man of convicted Ponzi schemer Nevin Shapiro – to circumvent NCAA rules in the recruiting of multiple Miami-area players.”  The troubling aspect is that Al Golden’s staff also used Allen to make impermissible contacts.  If so, the Miami scandal overlaps the hiring of Golden.

The Yahoo article includes a pointed response by Golden:

“I have been a college football coach for more than 18 years and I am proud of — and I stand by — my record of compliance over that span,” Golden said in a statement. “As my colleagues and players on all of my teams can attest, I believe strongly in doing things the right way with the best of intentions.

“The inferences and suggestions in the Yahoo! Sports story that my conduct was anything but ethical are simply false. I, like all of us at UM, have cooperated fully with the joint NCAA-UM inquiry and will continue to do so, so that our program and our university can move forward. Because the process is on-going, I am unable to address any specifics or answer questions on the matter.”

Despite Golden’s denial, the report does seem to have some pretty clear evidence that Allen was used improperly.

The saving grace for Golden may be that these violations happened so early in his tenure–perhaps before he even knew Allen’s role with the team.  Nevertheless, Allen was dispatched by current Miami coaches other than Golden, who certainly would have known.  All in all, it looks like Miami’s troubles are getting worse, not better.

The Atlantic Coast Conference needs Miami to return to its glory days.  And looming NCAA sanctions are only going to delay that.  Hopefully, these reported violation are either untrue or were quickly remedied by Golden’s staff to help mitigate the sanctions.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Football and tagged , , ,
16 Jul 2012
1 Comment

Lucky 13: Syracuse Will Officially Join the Atlantic Coast Conference on July 1, 2013

Syracuse University has announced that it has reached a deal with the Big East that will allow Syracuse to join the Atlantic Coast Conference on July 1, 2013.  Syracuse will pay $7,500,000–only $2,500,000 more than the buyout of $5,000,000.  With this move, the Atlantic Coast Conference is certain to have 13 teams for the 2013 football season.  It is likely that Pitt will join the ACC for 2013 as well, however, that dispute is in the court system right now.

Reports are that West Virginia paid $20,000,000 to exit the Big East in time for the 2012 football season.  However, the exit fee for West Virginia was $10,000,000, based on changes to the rules after Syracuse and Pitt announced they were leaving.  Kudos to Syracuse and the Big East for being able to resolve their differences without the need for attorneys.

For the ACC, it is not looking like there will be 7-team divisions in 2013.  Let’s hope that the powers that be finally get around to logical geographical divisions.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, Football and tagged , , , , ,
12 Jul 2012
12 Comments

Penn State, the Death Penalty, and Such

The long-awaited Freeh report is out in public.  This allows everyone to start debating Penn State.  Some have even thrown around the idea of the death penalty for Penn State.  There are too many writers suggesting that to bother citing to any one of them.  The Confidential does not want to minimize what happened at Penn State, but fails to see how the death penalty serves anyone’s interests.

Nobody wins if Penn State football is killed.  Penn State and its fans obviously lose.  The Big 10 loses.  Anyone who enjoys playing and defeating (whether often or not) Penn State loses.  The NCAA loses–demonstrating that it cannot prevent wrongful conduct, only punish it long after it occurs.  Seriously, who wins?

Most importantly, there are victims of these crimes.  These victims have friends and relatives.  These victims want justice, surely, but do not want to be responsible for the death of the Penn State football program that entertains so many people they know and care about, and is so integral to local life.  The victims have suffered enough.

A better justice for these victims would be a cleaned-up Penn State program that takes the lead on preventing this from happening again anywhere.  Actually, there is a rather obvious institutional problem as it relates to sexual abuse, especially child sexual abuse.  People do not want to believe that colleagues, particularly respected colleagues, can be abusive.  This is not limited to football programs, but happens in churches, businesses, and government.  However, there are some very smart people who get paid to research at Penn State.  Perhaps Penn State could devote some significant resources from its Big Ten television revenue to putting its smartest sociologist, psychologist and business minds together on how to create an institutional system that allows for a rational, proper response to accusations of sexual abuse.  Not laws or regulations that defer responsibility to the government, but a system that allows entities to self-police long before it reaches the stage of punishment.  This would not be as financially lucrative as sucking on the teat of Monsanto, but this would be Penn State’s greatest gift to the victims–preventing future victims in more places than merely Penn State.

If the NCAA wants to kill Penn State football, it can.  Then we can start talking about what happens next in the conference scheme.  Frankly, the Confidential thinks that those discussions are designed more to inflame passions and entice viewership than any real possibility of the NCAA implementing the death penalty.  The problem is that arguments can detract from solutions.  Until Penn State folks stop worrying about legacies, can anything good be accomplished.  Non-Penn State folks need to stop provoking the Penn State folks.  And so on.

The Confidential has never much cared for Penn State.  They belonged in the Big East.  They would fit nicely in the ACC today.  But that does not mean that it supports the death of its football program.  And without an explanation as to how it benefits all, or even anyone, the Confidential cannot support it.  Punishment can be cathartic, but it can also be pointless.

Posted by acaffrey in Football and tagged , , ,

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