Tag: Rutgers

Quick reads, quicker observations…

So I’m not surprised about the Wall Street report on John Fetterman, Democratic Senator from Pennsylvania. He’s always been a bit of a weird duck. Just as the Republicans have a number of people who should not be in the Senate due to incompetence, the Democrats have Fetterman, who would feel more comfortable in the Republican party.

Where is all the MAGA outrage about comments from sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln.? No one seems happy about the length of engagement, ships conditions and comments made by President Trump. This will not help recruitment! Conditions and morale across our armed forces seem greatly deteriorated.

Maria Bartiromo is out at Fox News. In her early years. I found her a competent business reporter but she lost her skis when she got involved in political commentary. Probably an unfair comparison but what Maria was to business and political commentary, Diana Russini was to pro football insight.

World’s biggest sovereign wealth fund plans to cut U.S. Treasury holdings. I don’t think most Americans understand the gravity of our financial status. The Stock Market is doing well and as long as people are working, they are not looking under the economic hood to see if problems are brewing.

As an alumni of Rutgers University, I have the following recommendations after their humiliating loss to University of Massachusetts 37-21. Rutgers was a 30 point favorite against a team that was winless last year.

  1. Play out the season with Greg Schiano as Head Coach. Too costly to pay him off and you won’t find anyone of any significance to replace him. God no, I don’t want Brian Kelly to coach Rutgers!
  2. Lower ambitions. Remove commitment and contracts with Big 10. Move down to a lesser conference (Big East)
  3. I think the basketball program should have the same scrutiny.
  4. Be satisfied if you win 4 football games this season. I think a bowl appearance is very doubtful but maybe this team will rise up from the ashes and surprise people.

Best comments about Rutgers football after last night’s debacle:

Rutgers invented college football in 1869 and has spent the last 160 years regretting the decision. Rodger Sherman former Ringer writer

This may be grounds to throw Rutgers out of the Big 10. Albert Breer

I’ll say this: The SEC doesn’t have a Rutgers. former Nebraska player Will Compton

Remote Rants

Daryl Morey was supposed to be the General Manager genius who would push the 76ers to a NBA world championship. Instead, the team is locked into an inescapable contract salary straitjacket that not even Houdini can breakthrough. Suggest Sixers walk across Pattison Ave and talk to the GM who knows how to build championship teams.

Joel Embiid and Paul George are toast. Current biggest concern: Tyrese Maxey does not burn out from carrying team on his back.

Fire Nick Nurse? Nah! Red Auerbach could not improve win-loss record given lack of talent.

If Nick Nurse is fired or quits, I’d try to hire the current Detroit Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff.

Only Cooper Flagg from Duke looks like a player worth going into the tank for in the draft.

Last 10 #1 NBA Drafts and My Performance Grades on their Careers

Karl-Anthony Towns (A)

Ben Simmons (D-)

Markelle Fultz (D)

Deandre Ayton (C)

Zion Williamson (C+)

Anthony Edwards (A+)

Cade Cunningham (B-)

Paolo Banchero (A)

Victor Wembanyama (A)

Zaccharie Risacher N/A)

Note: the two lowest draft grades belong to 76ers first round picks…

Not overwhelmed yet with either Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey from Rutgers, who are projected as #2 and 3 NBA draft picks. Overrated? Maybe. They certainly show potential but I’d rather see them play another year of college ball to sharpen their games even if it was not at Rutgers.

At the start of the college basketball season, I was hoping that Rutgers would mimic the success of the 1976 team that made it to the Final Four. Very disappointed that they are struggling just to make the play in playoff game in the Big Ten tournament.

Fran Dunphy is retiring after stints at Penn, Temple and LaSalle. In the “Big Five Mount Rushmore” of coaches, he would be along Jay Wright of Villanova, Jack Ramsey of Saint Joseph and John Cheney of Temple. Jay Wright is easily the GOAT of Big Five coaches.

I watch many pro and college basketball games with the volume muted as the analysts are so poor and boring.

Best play by play and announce team for college basketball ever:
Dick Enberg and Al McGuire (1970-80s)

Pigskin Punditry

From my couch seat, I must admit that I find college football to be more entertaining and interesting than watching professional football.

***

I read and enjoyed Why We Love Football: A History in 100 Moments by Joe Posnanski. Here is my quick review of the book:

Brief capsules (1-4 pages) of 100 pro, college and high school football moments that makes the sport special. Five of the 100 moments were about the Philadelphia Eagles: 1. Chuck Bednarik’s hit on NY Giants Frank Gifford; 2. Fans throwing snowballs at Santa; 3. Miracle at the Meadowlands (Herman Edwards returning late game fumble vs Giants); 4. DeSean Jackson returning late game punt vs. Giants; and 5. Philly Special from the Super Bowl game vs. the Patriots.

There are a lot of great stories, some deserving of additional length and elaboration. For this football fan of many decades, it was a quick nostalgic trip through my memories of memorable football experiences.

I would be interested in reading his similar themed book on baseball based on how I enjoyed this work.

***

If Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns tried out as QB for the University of Texas, he might make fourth string.
***

Cleveland could be a three point underdog if they played Texas.

***

Nick Sirianni has not made many friends among the local and national media or the football fans of the Philadelphia Eagles. There are calls to fire Sirianni now and not let him finish the season. But who would replace him? Is there a “coach in waiting” on the Eagles staff? Some experts are touting Bill Bellichek but I think he is an awful fit for the football culture in Philadelphia. I expect with the talent and relatively easy schedule the Eagles have, they should make the playoffs. If they don’t, then let’s revisit Siranni’s tenure in Philly.

***

I read an article by a Temple alumnus who feels that the university should terminate its college football program because of the very poor on-field results and the lack of support and attendance from students, alumni and football fans. I concur. I also think that Rutgers University football should take a step or two back. I am not at the point where they should stop playing football, but they should consider competing at a lower level. I am not sure what football conference is appropriate for the school, but the Big 10 was and still remains a gigantic leap of faith. Possibly the greatest challenge for Rutgers football is finding a quarterback that you can build an offense around. In the 30–40 years that I have been watching Rutgers football, I can only recall maybe two, maybe three quarterbacks, who were good. The rest have been largely mediocre or awful. I recall many years ago being at a high school football game where a Rutgers coach was scouting for a quarterback. I did not think that any of the quarterbacks playing on the two teams were good enough to be recruited for a major college football program and expressed that to him. I made a suggestion to the coach about another local player who did wind up playing at a Division I school at quarterback. I hope that the Rutgers scouting program has improved greatly since that time.

***