College football movements
There are a couple of interesting tidbits in this story from TFP SEC ace and Press Row cohost David Paschall about the Georgia Bulldogs.
First, having a true freshman battling for the starting QB job with an incumbent who won the job last year as a true freshman speaks to the talent of those two youngsters. (That will be an interesting position tug of war to watch, and no matter how it turns out, you have to be a little curious if the runner-up will stick around for several years of clipboard holding.)
The other item from Paschall is about the sudden departure of defensive line coach Tracy Rocker. Rocker picked up stakes and his next stop is unknown.
It actually is just the latest movement in the fast-spinning carousel of SEC football coaching moves in the last week or so.
The big news Tuesday was Alabama OC Steve Sarkisian leaving to become the OC with the Atlanta Falcons. Sarkisian's tenure as Tide OC lasted one game (0-1), so there's that.
There also was some moving and shaking at LSU recently, as ace recruiter Dameyune Craig was fired last week and running backs coach Jabbar Juluke was demoted. (Juluke has since taken an assistant job with Texas Tech.)
Now Rocker's news and the addition to the Tennessee staff with Brady Hoke coaching the defensive line and the promotion of Walt Wells to coach the offensive line.
Lots of movement, no? And of course the biggest question is who will Alabama go after to be the OC, a spot that comes with a pretty big spotlight, paycheck and bull's eye. In fact, is there a college assistant coaching job out there that comes with more scrutiny, considering Saban is Saban, so all the blame almost always falls on the OC?
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12), center, performs field drills as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) looks on during an NFL football team practice Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) NFL moves
OK, the Super Bowl is done and the dust is settling.
That said, the NFL moves never really stop. Here's a list of the highest profile free agents and a couple of the names are difference makers like Kirk Cousons and Le'Veon Bell.
Now factor in the real possibility that quarterbacks Tony Romo and potentially Jimmy Garoppolo could be on the move, and there's a lot of uneasiness around, right?
If you are, say the Browns, with picks 1 and 12 in round one, would you call the Patriots and see what they want for Garoppolo? And if the Patriots say the 12th pick, do you do it?
Now, if you are the Patriots and you know that Brady has a shrinking window and you are the Super Bowl favorite right now, do you deal Garoppolo for what could be an impact player now even if it means dealing your back-up QB with a starter who will be 40 when the 2017 season starts.
Well, whatcha' got?
New England Patriots fans wait for the start of a parade Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Boston to celebrate their team's 34-28 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Sunday's NFL Super Bowl 51 football game in Houston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) More Falcons fall out
Do any of you folks watch live sports with interaction on the interweb?
We have been known to go on wild Twitter binges, especially during some high-profile sports events. We have never, however, been a chat-room guy for a team or a college. Not that there's anything wrong with that mind you, and we suppose in some ways this is a hybrid version of that. We talks topics, normally have some back and forth, and then start again come morning.
Rinse. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
With that thought, though, this caught our eye this morning.
The Atlanta Falcons fan site on SB Nation is called Falcoholic - which is a rather clever name and certainly resembles a word that a lot of Falcons fans may have descended toward after the Super Bowl loss.
It is a place, like most of them, that is completely one-sided and caters to those sick enough in the head to be life-long Falcons fans. (And we can say that because we are in that club, as well. Raise your hand if you were at Fulton County when the Cowboys ripped out the hearts of an entire city in January 1981. Yep, our hand goes up.)
Anywho, the real time discussions of the these fans as the Falcons unraveled and the Patriots stormed back is downright hilarious. (Warning, there is more than a fair share of profanity here, but we're used to it ll you watched the end of the Super Bowl as Willie McGinest and several Patriots turned the trophy presentation into a Richard Pryor set.)
Enjoy.
This and that
- In addition to the new OC, the Falcons will have a couple of other new faces in the coaching team picture. DC Richard Smith and D-line coach Bryan Cox were not retained by Dan Quinn and Co., although Smith could stay on in an advisory role.
- Here's a fun column from TFP ace Mark Wiedmer celebrating Austin Clark's 500th career coaching win with the Baylor basketball program.
- Sad to hear that Richard Hatch - bet that name led to a lot of teasing growing up - died this week. He was 71. For those unaware, Hatch was best known for playing Apollo on the original Battlestar Galactica. And for those of a certain age, that was a boss - and very short-lived - TV show back in the day.
- Thought this was interesting. Amid the show's feud with President Donald Trump, Saturday Night Live is enjoying a huge ratings boom. In fact, it's the best season in 22 years in terms of viewers for the long-running late-night sketch comedy show. You can say what you want about Trump's politics and policies, but there is no denying everything he does generates ratings because SNL is dreadful.
Today's question
Wow, lot to get to today.
Let's start with the one-word Wednesday game. (And as always, take one and pass it back.)
The Falcons hiring Steve Sarkisian as OC is _______________. The Patriots dealing Jimmy Garoppolo would be ___________.
As for this day in history, well, Feb. 8 should probably be a national holiday. On this day in 1936, the first NFL draft was held. We love the draft; you know this. In fact there are a lot of crazy/notworthy things that happened on Feb. 8 in history.
Spud Webb won the dunk contest on this day in 1986.
In 1945 on this day, Cleveland's expansion football team hired Paul Brown, and on this day in 1996, Art Modell was given permission by the league to move that team to Baltimore. (But he had to leave the name - Browns, after the team's first catch) behind.
In 1976, Taxi Driver - Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro's first big production - was released.
In 1992 on this day "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred hits No. 1 on the pop charts.
In 1955, John Grisham was born, and on this day in 2000 Derrick Thomas died.
Let's stay with Grisham and in honor of him turning the big 61, let's go with Rushmore of lawyer movies.
Go, and enjoy the day.