Title game talent
We talked at great length about the amazing end and drama to Clemson's win over Alabama.
It was a great game, especially in the second half. And then it dawned on us that when Clemson was making its way to the winning score, there were more than a few future NFL players on the field.
Here is a CBSSports.com report on the grades for the draft eligible players from Monday's title game. Here's another way to look at it. The final drive had these skill-position Clemson Tigers on the field:
> Mike Williams, who should be the first WR drafted next April.
> Deshaun Watson, who is no worse than the third QB drafted next April and we'd take him first out of this QB class
> Deon Cain, who has top-end WR speed and will play somewhere on Sundays
> Wayne Gallman, who will be a mid-round running back pick
> Jordan Leggett, a tight end with great measureables who will be no worse than a third-round pick.
> It's hard to know about offensive linemen of course, but left tackle Mitch Hyatt is only a sophomore but he will be the top-rated tackle if he stays healthy in the 2018 draft.
Now look at what Alabama had on the field during that final drive:
> Reuben Foster, the No. 1-ranked ILB in the draft and a sure-fire first-rounder.
> Jonathan Allen, the No. 1-ranked senior pick and will be the first DT tackle drafted.
> Ryan Anderson and Tim Williams, a dynamic tandem of edge rushing OLBs who will be no worse than second-round picks.
> Dalvin Tomlinson, a monster run-stuffing DL who is pegged as a second-rounder.
> Marlon Humphrey, the 6-1 Alabama corner who will likely be a first-rounder.
So, when we look back on that drive - great vs. great with a thrilling result - there's a very strong chance that no fewer than six players in that drive - Williams, Watson, Foster, Allen, Williams, Humphrey (and maybe a few more) - will be first-rounders in April.
And as for the game - with names like Cam Robinson and OJ Howard - there could be even more. Good times.
Alabama senior outside linebacker Tim Williams (56) and the rest of the Crimson Tide defenders could not rattle Clemson junior quarterback Deshaun Watson during Monday night's 35-31 loss to the Tigers at the national title game in Tampa.Title game eye balls
The overnight numbers proved that the second-smallest TV audience since 2005 watched as Clemson toppled Alabama.
The 15.3 rating number was not a huge surprise, considering the following. This was a very region matchup and the start-time and expected length of said game turned a lot of folks off from the start. It was on cable, and let's face it there are fewer and fewer cable subscribers every year. And it was a rematch from last year, and sequels do not bring the same punch. (The only game with fewer viewers since '05 was the LSU-Alabama rematch after the '11 season.)
But before we go all Chicken Little on this news, the hard viewer numbers paint a picture that is not completely devoid of positives.
The MegaCast - ESPN had the title game on almost all of its channels with different set-ups of analysts and formats for viewing - had a total audience of more than 26 million. While that number was slightly off last year's numbers when Clemson-Alabama drew a 15.8 share and almost 28 million total viewers, Monday's title game was the most-watched cable event since last year's title game.
Another strong question we have heard bandied about is why would ESPN not simulcast the title game on ABC like it did with the NFL playoff game last Saturday?
Well, the simple answer to that is ESPN has to create maximum value for its very high subscription fees.
The NFL decision was likely made at the behest of the NFL since the TV numbers have dipped some this year and leaving a game as universally unappealing as Houston-Oakland with back-up quarterbacks on cable only would have meant the lowest playoff rating in league history.
Just some interesting TV numbers for you.
Florida State's Terance Mann attempts a shot against Duke's Grayson Allen, right, and Luke Kennard in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon) Wednesday roundball bounces
OK, it's now officially time that we start paying attention to college basketball.
Football is in the books. Recruiting coverage makes us feel dirty. Baseball is still a month from pitcher's and catchers. NBA matters do not matter until outcomes are measured in 'best of' categories. Yes, the NFL can own the weekends, but that's still a long way away.
With that, we'll trot out Wednesday Swish. A look at something of interest in the college hoops world and then some randomness, al a the old-school Larry King dot-dot-dot columns. Deal? Deal.
So last night, there were two story lines apparent in the FSU-Duke game. First FSU is a legit out and they rolled Duke in Tallahassee with an impressive 88-72 whipping of the Devils. The other one has become as predictable as Christmas joy and Valentine Day dinner crowds.
Duke played and Grayson Allen committed a questionable/dirty physical act. This time, as he is jumping out of bounds to save the ball, Allen shoves a Florida State assistant. Here's the video.
Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was a reaction and an attempt to not fly into the the next row. Maybe it was Allen being Allen. Maybe he's the dirtiest player in the history of college basketball and uses the 'ultimate competitor' mumbo-jumbo as a complete pass on being a total punk. Regardless, it's always something with this cat. Man, who would have guessed that there would be no change whatsoever in Allen after that stringent one-game, indefinite suspension Coach Kakewalk handed down on the third tripping incident in less than two seasons?
Counting the leg whiff he appeared to try last Saturday against BC, Allen is long done with any semblance of the benefit of the doubt. That's five incidents - that we are aware of, mind you (a good Duke beat writer would go back and analyze every play with Allen in every game of his career, because who knows how many more happened that we just dismissed as part of the game, which is, as we know now, way more a part of Grayson Allen's game than just the game of basketball) - in two years.
And because we like to ask the double-standard what ifs. imagine now if Grayson Allen was a black two-guard for Georgetown and what's the narrative on him now?
So there you have it. As we start to pay attention to the college game that Weeds loves more than all others and the game that we used to love more than any other, for the first time in a long, Long, LONG time we believe this:
Duke is losing games on the court, and Duke is losing our respect off it. How the ball bounces (and yes, it's better with whatever Larry King impersonation you have; for you whippersnappers who are wondering "Who is Larry King" well Google it hard):
Dot: Why is watching left-handers do almost anything more aesthetically pleasing than watching right-handers? Not sure why that is, but a pure left-handed swing, throw or shot is like poetry mixed with butterflies and ice-cold Co-Colas. It's joyous and effortless and easy. And watching De'Aaron Fox float and stroke jumper after jumper at Vandy last night made us smile. Good times.
Dot, Dot: The name Press Virginia for the turnover-hungry bunch of Mountaineers is not only fun, it's accurate. West Virginia forced 29 turnovers against top-ranked Baylor's three-guard sets and crushed the Bears 89-68.
Dot, Dot, Dot: Closer to home, UTC men's hoops mastermind Matt McCall was on Press Row on Tuesday. For scheduling purposes, early in the 5 o'clock hour on Tuesdays will be McCall's regular time to join the show. As was discussed earlier this week, we took the 5-at-10 clan to last Saturday's game and we were impressed. We were impressed with the balance - three dudes in double figures four more with at least seven points. We were impressed with the sharing nature - no player attempted more than eight shots. Mostly, we were impressed with the offensive efficiency. Any team at any level who can top 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3 and 80 percent from the foul line is going to be hard to handle. The Mocs did it against Furman (53.5 FG, 45 3FG, 83.3 FT) and easily handled a Furman team that is better than most realize.
Bonus Dot (should that be Bonus Dot, or Dot, Dot, Dot, Dot): There are several players wearing a UTC uniform this year who will have the chance to earn checks playing this game. That's a very strong nucleus, and even more of compliment to McCall's ability to create a ball-sharing environment with that much talent on the mid-major level. One more interesting stat from the Furman game about depth: UTC's bench outscored Furman's 17-0, which is probably kind of important considering the Mocs won by 14.
This and that
- Speaking of college hoops, according to this report from TFP UT ace Downtown Patrick Brown, UT guard Detrick Mostella was dismissed from the team for violating team rules. "I've always been very clear about the standards that members of this program will be held to," Vols coach Rick Barnes said in a statement. "Those standards are very high, and Detrick unfortunately has not lived up to them." We can all agree that just about every time Barnes speaks it's hard not to like him more, right?
- Last night game us an awful bad beat in the NBA. Golden State at home was giving Miami 14. Golden State was up 107-90 with less than 20 seconds. Miami converts an old-school three-point play with 13 seconds left to push the game even in Vegas' view. Then a back-court turnover with six seconds left becomes a Miami lay-up. Final: Golden State 107, Miami 95 and a painful backdoor cover.
- According to ESPN, Johnny Manziel will have two autograph sessions at a Texas mall the Thursday and Friday before the Super Bowl. Signatures are $99 and selfless are $50. Raise your hand if think this will end well.
- Speaking of troubled and financially challenged sports stars, Mr. John Daly is inn the endorsement news again. Daly has signed with Veritcal Groove Golf, which as you might expect, makes drivers with vertical grooves rather than the traditional horizontal grooves. Signing Daly was a genius move for VGG, which sells drivers for about $400. Daly is immensely popular and charismatic. He is a renowned big hitter, especially with the driver. "I've been hitting the ball further and straighter off the tee since putting the Vertical Groove driver in my bag," said the two-time major champ. "I'm hitting more fairways and the sound at impact is terrific." And let's face it, when you have that big a gambling problem - Daly said according to tax documents he has lost a total gross of more than $90 million in casinos - and that many ex-wives, you need the income. In fact, here's betting Daly would endorse those kiddie, plastic Whiffle Ball clubs or play some irons with pipe cleaners for shafts if the price was right.
- Thought this was interesting: In the last three years the Super Bowl has included both No. 1 seeds. If that happens this year, it will be a monster matchup between Dallas and New England, that would be a consensus ratings home run. One thing that is not a consensus in that matchup, however, is how Vegas views it. Vegas bookmakers, a group that is normally pretty consistent regardless of locale, have the Patriots as high as a 6-point favorite if they faced Dallas in the Super Bowl and as low as a pick 'em game. Lots of things could change
- especially a Green Bay win this weekend - between now and then of course, but we'd love to have the Pats at even against anyone and feel really, Really, REALLY good about it.
- For perspective, and since you can't make that wager yet, a blanket Super Bowl wager you can make right now is AFC minus-3 over NFC. That's pretty interesting too.
- One more: Here, courtesy of Big League Stew, is the spring training report dates for all 30 MLB teams.
Today's question
Lots to discuss, and if you have a question or topic for the Wednesday roundball round table, fire away.
As for the question, this was a pretty controversial and landmark day in this country in 1973. On this day the trial of the Watergate burglars started in D.C. (And every scandal since has been designated with the -gate suffix.)
The other one was on this day in 1973, the AL adopted the DH rule.
We'll start with this one: DH friend or foe.
And we'll branch to this Rushmore. Rushmore of 'gates' - and be creative.
Go, and remember the mailbag.