NCAA Football FanHouse

Dennis Felton Leads Georgia to Two Wins in One Day, Drawing Praise From Bob Knight

Michael David Smith — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Media Watch, ESPN

The tornado that damaged the Georgia Dome led to an unusual rescheduling of the SEC Tournament and forced Georgia to play two games in one day. And when Georgia won both games, coach Dennis Felton was praised by someone who knows a little bit about coaching basketball, ESPN analyst Bob Knight:

"I think this is a real credit for the coaching staff, not for what they did today necessarily, but the kind of practices they had throughout the whole course of the year," Knight said. "They had to have been tough, good practices that have enabled these kids to look at two games and say, 'Hey, we practiced hard, we practiced long, we scrimmaged, we can do this. This is what we've prepared for.' I think their coaches did a great job a long time before today in getting them ready for something like this. You never expect this, and yet what they did certainly prepared them to be able to play."

Although I didn't like the way Felton complained about the rescheduling of the SEC Tournament, I have to agree with Knight here: Felton had his team ready to play in incredibly difficult circumstances, and whether the Bulldogs win or lose today, Felton should be commended for his coaching.

Dennis Felton Leads Georgia to Two Wins in One Day, Drawing Praise From Bob Knight originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 16 Mar 2008 11:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bo Ryan Gets a T for Yelling at Brian Butch

Michael David Smith — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:37:00 EST

Filed under: Wisconsin Basketball, Michigan Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Video, ESPN

Wisconsin is having a fairly easy time of it in today's Big Ten Tournament game against Michigan, but there was one little glitch during the first half, when Badgers coach Bo Ryan got a technical foul for yelling at his own player, Brian Butch:

After Butch was out-played in the paint, Ryan got up off his chair and yelled at Butch. But referee Steve Skiles though Ryan was yelling at him, and gave him a technical foul. Here's how ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews explained it:

"Bo Ryan was screaming to Brian Butch, 'Be strong. Stay strong inside.' Skiles thought he was talking to him, and when he came over and explained it to Bo Ryan, he said, 'It wasn't what you said, it was the fact that you stomped your foot.'"

ESPN announcer Steve Lavin said, "That must be a new amendment to the rulebook, no stomping of the feet. We're never going to get through a game if that becomes a rule."

If Ryan actually stepped foot onto the floor while play was in progress, I could understand giving him a technical for that. But if the technical was just for stomping his foot while yelling something to one of his players, well, that's pretty dumb.

Bo Ryan Gets a T for Yelling at Brian Butch originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coach K Thinks Bob Knight Will Coach Again

Michael David Smith — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:55:00 EST

Filed under: Duke Basketball, Indiana Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Video, Texas Tech Basketball, ESPN

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption today, and he had some interesting thoughts about his mentor, Bob Knight, who resigned -- but didn't retire -- this season:

"I still don't think he's through with coaching," Krzyzewski said. "I think he'll come back -- not that he's told me that, but he loves the game so much."

I think he'll return to coaching, too, but it's odd to think of Knight as someone who "loves the game so much," just because he never seems happy when he's in the process of coaching.

Krzyzewski also said he hopes Knight, in his work as an ESPN analyst during March Madness, spends time actually teaching the viewers about the game and its history. I'd love to see that, but I'd love it even more if Knight would answer legitimate questions from his co-workers.

Coach K Thinks Bob Knight Will Coach Again originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15 Years Since Jim Valvano's "Don't Give Up" Speech at the ESPYs

Sportz Assassin — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 04:51:00 EST

Filed under: NC State Basketball, ACC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Video, Carolina, ESPN

Hard to believe that it has been 15 years since those magical first ESPY awards when former NC State coach Jim Valvano gave his famous "Don't Give Up" speech. Back on March 3, 1993, Jimmy V stood in front of a packed house to accep the Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award when he gave his now legendary speech.

"To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special."

"Cancer can take away all of my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever. I thank you and God bless you all."

Valvano would pass away less than two months later.

15 Years Since Jim Valvano's "Don't Give Up" Speech at the ESPYs originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 04:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dick Vitale on Kelvin Sampson: 'Why?'

Michael David Smith — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:17:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Media Watch, NCAA Basketball Video, ESPN

Appearing on ESPN2 this morning, Dick Vitale asked the obvious question about the recently fired Indiana basketball coach, Kelvin Sampson:

"My big question, that day when I did the game, is why?" Vitale said. "Why in the world would you take a chance with phone calls that really aren't going to change the complexion of your recruiting? ... Why in the world would Kelvin Sampson, who can motivate, he can inspire, he can X-and-O, he can coach, jeopardize that opportunity after he was under penalties at Oklahoma? I just don't understand, but again, you have to get into the psyche of what makes a guy, I guess."

That's the question I can't figure out either. Why does Kelvin Sampson simply have no interest at all in following the rules of the NCAA? I can understand why Sampson might not agree with the rules, but I can't understand why he would allow his contempt for the rules to ruin his coaching career. As Vitale said, you have to get into the psyche of what makes a guy, I guess.

Dick Vitale on Kelvin Sampson: 'Why?' originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESPN's Brent Musberger Hopes Indiana Does Not Fire Kelvin Sampson

Michael David Smith — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 05:58:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Media Watch, NCAA Basketball Video, ESPN

Here's the way ESPN's Brent Musberger signed off on Tuesday night's Indiana-Purdue game:

"We certainly hope that we see coach Sampson Saturday, still on the sideline with the Indiana Hoosiers," Musberger said, referring to Indiana basketball coach Kelvin Sampson, who is expected to be suspended or fired in the next three days because of the multiple rules violations the NCAA says he has committed.

Let's unpack that quote a little bit. If Musberger wants to see Sampson coach on Saturday, that means he doesn't want Sampson to get suspended or fired. So either Musberger doesn't think Sampson committed the violations the NCAA has accused him of, or he doesn't think these violations are offenses worthy of firing a coach.

If it's the former, Musberger is sitting on a huge story. All of the ESPN reporters who have investigated this story, led by Pat Forde and Andy Katz, have given strong indications that Sampson did, in fact, commit the violations he's accused of. If Musberger has information that his colleagues haven't reported, why hasn't he shared that information with ESPN's viewers?

If it's the latter, Musberger ought to explain himself a bit better: If Sampson did break these NCAA rules, repeatedly and after being warned, why on earth shouldn't Indiana fire him? Does Musberger just believe coaches shouldn't be held accountable when they break the rules?

Either way, Musberger's statement doesn't make a lot of sense.

ESPN's Brent Musberger Hopes Indiana Does Not Fire Kelvin Sampson originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 05:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dick Vitale Explains Why Indiana Should Fire Athletic Director Rick Greenspan

Michael David Smith — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Video, ESPN

The most frequent criticism that ESPN basketball commentator Dick Vitale faces is that he's too positive: Every player is sensational, every coach is brilliant. But at least that means you know that when Vitale criticizes someone, that person really deserves it. And since Vitale is calling for Indiana Athletic Director Rick Greenspan to get fired, you know Greenspan really deserves it. Here's what Vitale said this morning:

Vitale said of Greenspan's decision to hire disgraced coach Kelvin Sampson, "The athletic director needs to be held accountable as well. ... When you're an athletic director and you hire a guy from a school that has already had penalties and you know that ... and you're an unbelievably prestigious university like Indiana in the world of basketball, you hire that guy and now he goes out and does it again, you've got to be held accountable."

Vitale also correctly called Greenspan's claim that he's not the only one who was involved in hiring Sampson "a cop out." The buck stops with Greenspan, and if Sampson deserves to get fired then Greenspan deserves to get fired.

After Erin Andrews described Sampson as "very honest" and Doug Gottlieb asked, Who possibly could have thought that Kelvin Sampson would break the rules, it's refreshing to hear some common sense on ESPN about the Indiana basketball mess.

Dick Vitale Explains Why Indiana Should Fire Athletic Director Rick Greenspan originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doug Gottlieb Defends Rick Greenspan on Kelvin Sampson: 'Who Could Have Thought?'

Michael David Smith — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:21:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Basketball, Big Ten Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Media Watch, NCAA Basketball Video, ESPN

I'm on the record as saying that not only should Indiana basketball coach Kelvin Sampson lose his job over his latest NCAA rules violations, but so should Athletic Director Rick Greenspan. Many in the basketball media have said the same, but ESPN analyst Doug Gottlieb disagrees:

Although Gottlieb, like everyone, thinks Sampson is about to get fired, he defends Greenspan, saying, "People like Dick Vitale and Jay Bilas are saying that Rick Greenspan needs to be broomed as well, I disagree with that ... Who possibly could have thought that Kelvin Sampson, a bright man, a good basketball coach -- it's one thing to have another NCAA violation, but to do the exact same thing is dumbfounding, he's going to be out by the end of the week, but I think Greenspan should keep his job."

I like Gottlieb as an analyst, but he couldn't possibly be more wrong here. The entire reason Greenspan should have seen this coming is that Sampson has done it before. To answer Gottlieb's question, "Who possibly could have thought?" I would merely say: Anyone who has followed Sampson's career.

Doug Gottlieb Defends Rick Greenspan on Kelvin Sampson: 'Who Could Have Thought?' originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rick Pitino Explains His Suit Change

Michael David Smith — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 07:21:00 EST

Filed under: Louisville Basketball, Big East Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Video, ESPN

As FanHouse's Charles Rich noted yesterday, Louisville head coach Rick Pitino changed suits at halftime of his team's game against Georgetown, and it worked: The Cardinals went from trailing 31-23 to winning 59-51. ESPN's Erin Andrews made the wardrobe change the focal point of her post-game interview:

"My suit was fine, I just spilled Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke all over it at halftime," Pitino said.

After the jump, ESPN makes even more of an issue out of the wardrobe change.

Before the game, ESPN's Rece Davis called Pitino's white suit, which was part of a ploy by Louisville to get all of its fans to wear white for the game, "One of the more remarkable sartorial things we've seen in the history of college basketball":

And if that seems like overkill, also note that Dick Vitale called Pitino a part of his "All-GQ team":

Rick Pitino Explains His Suit Change originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 10 Feb 2008 07:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bob Knight Thinks Society Has Broken Down, Longs for the Days of Corporal Punishment

Michael David Smith — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:16:00 EST

Filed under: Big 12 Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Texas Tech Basketball, ESPN

For a guy who often acts as though he hates nothing more than the media, Bob Knight spent an awful lot of time making media appearances during the week after he resigned as head coach at Texas Tech. I thought his interview on ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning was one of the more revealing:

Knight talked about the differences of players today and players from a few decades back, when Knight began his coaching career, and he said he missed the good old days of 1962, when he was a high school teacher and was permitted to paddle students who acted up.

"Think about that in schools today," Knight said. "That just doesn't happen. I think we've become such a lenient society and a society that not only accepts mediocrity in a lot of ways but condones mediocrity simply because you don't infringe on the rights of a student and you don't take a kid to task."

That's where I take issue with Knight: Knight thinks it's a bad thing that our society has become less tolerant of adults who hit children; I think it's a good thing.

Knight also said basketball players today just want to be left alone to play their own game and want to have fun on the court, whereas Knight says players ought to focus more on hard work.

When asked about the timing of leaving Texas Tech during the season (something I criticized him for), Knight said, "I think it was perfect" because it gave his son, Pat Knight, a chance to learn what it's like to be a head coach for part of a season before he becomes the head coach on a permanent basis next year. Asked whether his players liked having their coach quit on them in the middle of the year, Knight didn't appear to have given it any thought.

Bob Knight Thinks Society Has Broken Down, Longs for the Days of Corporal Punishment originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We Get It Coach K - You Don't Care About the Duke Football Team

Nathan Fowler — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:55:00 EST

Filed under: ACC, Duke Basketball, ACC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches

It's been pretty evident for the past half century or so now that Duke University doesn't really care about their football program, or the fact that they have steadily become what is possibly the worst "BCS League" program in the country. It hasn't been anything blatant, but just a steady neglect that has slowly rotted away the foundation of what used to be a proud and successful program. Duke basketball is obviously the lifeblood of the athletic department and the top dog in the school's sports food chain. It's going to draw the attention of all the fans and the vast majority of the media coverage (seriously - can you remember the last time you read a Duke football story other than "look at Duke's football team, aren't they terrible"?).

This weekend though, Coach K made the irrelevance of the football team as clear as it could be when Duke's annual Blue v. White basketball scrimmage was played in an overlapping time slot with Duke football's visit to Florida State. Even Duke fans thought this was a bit much, as it would have been very easy for the basketball team to play earlier in the day (the scrimmage had originally been scheduled for 1pm and was later bumped to 7pm) and not force fans to choose between hoops and pigskin. Look, I know the vast majority of the fans didn't care and wouldn't have watched, but at least the athletic department and the basketball coaching staff could have pretended that football mattered in the slightest bit. Instead, it's just another step by Coach K and Duke athletic director Joe Alleva that makes it more than clear that the only reason Duke football still exists even in it's abortive form is because the ACC won't allow membership without it.

(biggest surprise out of all of this ... Duke has football fans, and they are pissed!)

We Get It Coach K - You Don't Care About the Duke Football Team originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gators Make Foley a Million Dollar Man

Ryan Ferguson — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 07:50:00 EST

Filed under: Florida Football, Florida Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA FB Coaching, Florida

Jeremy Foley is the latest addition to a growing line of multi-millionaires in the Florida Athletic Department.

A steady rise in the 31 years since [he was hired] has resulted in Foley becoming the highest-paid athletic director in the country among public universities. Foley, 54, has agreed in principle to an 11-year contract extension worth an average annual salary of $1 million.

"Simply put, Jeremy's contract is what you would expect for the best athletic director in the nation," Florida President Bernie Machen said.

Foley is considered one of the best athletic directors in the country. His hire of Urban Meyer and Billy Donovan -- both young and relatively unproven coaches at the time of their hire -- looks brilliant in retrospect. Foley's employees have been responsible for 3 national championships in the NCAA's two biggest sports in the last two years. In Foley's 11-year tenure, the Gators have won a total of 12 national championships across its spectrum of sports teams.

It almost seems comical now, but there was a time -- not too long ago -- in which Florida fans were calling for Foley's head. The low point for Foley's star was when Ron Zook's Gators lost to Sylvester Croom's Mississippi State Bulldogs, easily the worst team in the SEC in 2004. Foley took a lot of heat for Zook's haplessness, but to his credit, made a quick decision to axe Zook. His timing made the hire of Urban Meyer possible, and many schools have since emulated his quick-hook act to better position themselves for the post-season coaching search.

Gators Make Foley a Million Dollar Man originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 23 Jun 2007 07:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mixed Bag of Big East Cash

Charles Rich — Wed, 30 May 2007 09:54:00 EST

Filed under: Louisville Football, Pittsburgh Football, Syracuse Football, West Virginia Football, Big East, NCAA FB Campus, Rutgers Football, Georgetown Basketball, Pittsburgh Basketball, Connecticut Basketball, Marquette Basketball, Louisville Basketball, Villanova Basketball, Syracuse Basketball, West Virginia Basketball, DePaul Basketball, Seton Hall Basketball, Cincinnati Basketball, Notre Dame Basketball, Big East Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, West Virginia

An interesting piece talking about the Big East revenue distributions (via Big East Basketball Report).

While the Atlantic Coast Conference recently awarded its 12 schools an average of $10.85 million for the tax year ending June 30, 2006, the Big East awarded its eight full members an average of $5,842,599.

The Big East average has fallen for the last three years. For the July 1, 2003, to June 30, 2004, reporting period, when Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College were still members, the average was $6,794,029.

After the ACC's raid, six Big East schools (including BC, but not Tech nor Miami) received full football-basketball share averages of $6,445,968.
...
Overall, the Big East's total revenue went from $74,800,951 in 2003-04 to $62,641,685 in '04-05 to $75,411,511 in '05-06. So over the tumultuous three-year period, the league's revenue increased - but only $610,560 in a healthy sports atmosphere.

Some of the fluctuation, though, had to do with television and radio rights fees earned by the league. In 2003-04, the Big East made $25,910,626 in fees. In '04-05, after the defections, it dropped to $15,349,543 before rebounding to $19,225,441 this past reporting period.

There was never any doubt that for the first few years after the revised Big East, that the football revenues from TV would be down. The first year after everything that happened was simply about trying to remain part of the BCS coalition.

It could be argued that only a few of the football schools took significant revenue hits in the first couple of years. Half the football schools were coming into a new conference.

WVU hasn't suffered as much, because the Big East distributions aren't completely equal, but still their revenues from Big East football have been flat. Pitt, Syracuse and Rutgers probably have been feeling more of the pinch. They saw media revenue dip to varying degrees.

For three of the eight members -- Louisville, Cinci and USF -- the money was still better than what they were getting from being in Conference USA. UConn never got serious football money until moving up to 1-A and becoming a football member of the Big East. These four schools may have expected more money flowing to them initially, but it was still an increase.

On the football side, arguably, the Big East managed to do okay in the short term. Especially considering they had to drop to eight teams -- and lacked marquee names.

The basketball side, however, may reveal a bigger problem.

In the last reporting period, Big East basketball took in $34,492,992. Split 16 ways, the average take was $2,155,812. Big East football, meanwhile, took in $28,400,000. Split eight ways, that average take was $3,550,000. The difference was a mere $1,394,188.

Sixteen teams makes the split much smaller. Even with the Big East's latest TV deal that begins next year, the basketball side of things would seem to have too many hands in the jar to create significant revenue increases per member school. That means the relative take for each school remains fairly flat.

It's also worth pointing out, that even though the Big East's basketball side of things may have actually generated more revenue than football, the individual take for each school on the football side of things was greater for all of the schools except Cinci. In football they got the lowest payout in the last period: $2,129,031. About $26,000 less than the average in basketball.

The only way to increase an individual school's take, is in the NCAA Tournament. Creating even more pressure to win, and with that increased ticket prices. The basketball only schools will feel more pressure from the flatter revenue stream. Unlike the football schools, basketball is their only revenue producing athletic activity. Expenses will not remain nearly so flat.

I've always believed that the Big East would split at some point in the next 4 years. I think it might take a little longer, but I still think that. Where I may have been wrong is which side would drive the split. I always assumed the football side would finally break-off with the need to expand and grow. Now, I'm beginning to see how the basketball side might want to make the break.

Mixed Bag of Big East Cash originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 30 May 2007 09:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steve Alford Hates Football

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:10:00 EST

Filed under: Iowa Football, Big 10, Mid-Majors Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches

When he was named the head coach at New Mexico last week, former Iowa basketball coach Steve Alford (right) said all the right things. Instead of backhanding the University of Iowa for a perceived lack of commitment toward basketball, he simply said it was the right time to make such a move, and he talked up the atmosphere he was going to experience at New Mexico.

We all knew he was full of crap, but at least he wasn't tossing his Iowa bosses down the stairs for not caring enough about basketball.

As it turns out, he was simply biding his time.

Monday, during an interview on ESPN Radio with Trey Wingo, Alford made his feelings known. He said that after growing up in Indiana, he was "just really eager to get somewhere where they were that passionate about basketball".

He went on to tell Wingo that it was tough to coach the "second" program on campus.

"Because the recruits see that, and the recruits see the commitment," Alford told Wingo, who was filling in for Dan Patrick. "I can talk for eight years all I want at Iowa about trying to get my own strength coach, my own weight room and own practice facility, but when that never happens and $100 million is being put into football complexes, recruits see that."

I have a lot of respect for what Alford did at Iowa, but he's way off base here. Granted, I don't live in Iowa, but it seems to me that Iowa Hawkeye football has been the top dog in the state for longer than either Alford or I have been alive. If Iowa's administrators promised Alford things in terms of facilities or "commitment" that they didn't deliver on, Alford should have said so. Instead, he comes across as someone who didn't get their way and wants to whine about it.

After all, there are number of Big Ten schools who have "put $100 million into football complexes" in recent years, but don't seem to have any issues recruiting players in other sports.

Illinois has started a $116 million stadium renovation. Do you hear Bruce Weber whining about how recruits don't think they care about basketball there?

Ohio State recently completed a $194 million Horseshoe renovation. Despite that obstacle, Thad Matta has been able to stock enough good basketball players to build a national championship contender.

When Wisconsin finished up a $109.5 million fix-up of Camp Randall Stadium, did you see Bo Ryan pitch a fit about it?

(By the way, I know that tOSU and UW have relatively new basketball facilities, but Illinois doesn't. Assembly Hall opened in 1963.)

Oh, and speaking of money being poured into football facilities, the University of Minnesota should be careful. After all, I'm guessing that, if he's anything like Alford, Tubby Smith won't be pleased about a basketball arena that's 80 years older than the football stadium, especially when he's reminded that his basketball facility hasn't gone through a renovation since the 1980s.

Steve Alford Hates Football originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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THE University of Florida Dominates Ohio State

Ryan Ferguson — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:12:00 EST

Filed under: Florida Football, Ohio State Football, SEC, BCS, Bowl Games, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Fans

They said it would be 60-10, Ohio State.

The Mike Bowers and Jim Samps of the world made it clear that any person proposing a Florida win in Glendale was worthy of a lobotomy.

But on Sunday, January 9th, 2007, they look like fools. And I expect them to be extremely scarce. In fact, I'd be shocked if they had a word to say here at the AOL Fanhouse.

Florida won in identical fashion to LSU: 41-14, beating an overrated Big 10 team which got by all year long on weak competition.

Let me clarify. It wasn't just a win.

It was a beatdown. A rout. A blowout. Total domination. In every possible respect.

This game was never in doubt. There was no danger of close calls or controversial officiating clouding the outcome.

This was the University of Florida all the way.

Gators. Always the Gators.

History was made. Florida is at the top of the mountain. Football -- basketball -- we're there. Florida. Florida. Florida.

My extended family is here at the Ferguson compound in the heart of the great state of Florida. We're celebrating. We're happy. Am I completely in the right frame of mind to write about this game at the moment? No. But you can be assured that I will have prodigious output here at the Fanhouse in the coming week. Oh, yes. You can be sure of that.

I'm just getting started. I invite you to enjoy the ride here at the AOL Fanhouse as the celebration revs up and enters overdrive, starting Tuesday morning. I can assure you, it will be a helluva lotta fun.

Congratulations to Ohio State on a great season.

THE University of Florida Dominates Ohio State originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thad Matta to Urban Meyer: "We're Going to Kick Your Butt"

Ryan Ferguson — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Florida Football, SEC, Florida Basketball, SEC Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Fans, NCAA Basketball Gossip, NCAA Basketball Rumors

With 7:54 to go in the second half of Florida's 86-60 rout of Ohio State, Urban Meyer was shown chatting with former Ohio State receiver Cris Carter.

Greg Gumbel: "That's Urban Meyer, the head football coach here at Florida. You don't think he'd like this game to be some sort of an indicator as to when these two teams meet for the BCS championship game, do you?"

Billy Packer: "Well, Thad Matta gave him a little message yesterday. He went over to his seat is and he wrote down on the seat, 'We're going to kick your butt in the BCS championship.' So I'm sure that was a very interesting little message he received when he sat down today."

"Interesting," indeed.

Note to Mr. Matta (and the rest): Thank you for demonstrating what Ohio State athletics is apparently about... all talk, no action.

Thad Matta to Urban Meyer: "We're Going to Kick Your Butt" originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 24 Dec 2006 15:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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