Parker, who threw 20 touchdowns as a freshman last season, was a first-round pick in the MLB draft last month and had been in serious discussions with the team.

The news was a relief to Tigers coach Dabo Swinney, who would have turned to redshirt freshman Tajh Boyd if Parker had done the expected and signed a baseball-only contract with Colorado.

“We can move on and people can have some closure on it,” Swinney told the Independent Mail of Anderson, S.C. “People have been working extremely hard all summer, we’ve had excellent leadership, I think they’ve been focused. Outside looking in we’ve had an excellent summer and I don’t want to let this overshadow that in any regard.”

It is still possible for Parker change his mind. While he set a deadline of yesterday to reach a deal, Parker officially has until Aug. 15 to make a decision. It is possible the team could meet his demands – reportedly a $3 million signing bonus – and leave Clemson.

The other likely scenario is that he would agree only to a deal that allows him to play professional baseball in the summer and college football in the fall.

Sturdivant was not taken into custody and faces an Aug. 2 court date in Stanly County.

In a statement Monday, Davis says he is disappointed in the senior, though he didn’t specify how the first-team all-ACC performer would be punished

The Fastest Ways to Die in Professional Sports

It is often said that in order to succeed in a sport that you must devote your entire life to eating, breathing, and drinking its fundamentals. Many people argue that the athletes today would never give their life, body, mind or soul to the games they love so much. However, if you look at the long seasons, injuries, surgeries, and even deaths involved in the sports there is no way you can argue that they don’t care. Although the fundamentals of sports will never change, great strides have been taken to ensure that no athlete will ever have to give their lives in competition again. This article will not look at which sports “kill the fastest” or “are the deadliest”, but rather it will look at how the deaths or near deaths of these athletes have acted as a catalyst for officials to save the lives for others.

HOCKEY

Hockey poses the most gruesome instance of giving your life to play the game. Thankfully, this accident did not result in a death. However, it did open the eyes of the NHL commissioners and spark a series of equipment changes and safety overhauls. The date was March 22, 1989 and the Buffalo Sabers were taking on the St. Louis Blues. In the blink of an eye, St. Louis right winger Steve Tuttle broke loose with defender Uwe Krupp following close behind. As the Blues player blew by him, Krupp grabbed Tuttle, who then lost control as his feet left the ground. Standing in front of Tuttle’s flailing skates was the Saber’s goalie Clint Malarchuk. The image that unfolded was ghastly, heart wrenching, and would be burned into the minds of hockey fans for the rest of their lives.
Tuttle’s skate met Malarchuk’s throat mercilessly. The result was a gushing wound with blood spewing from his carotid artery. Malarchuk collapsed to the ground. The announcers stumbled to come up with words, three of his teammates vomited on the ice, and the scene induced heart attacks in two fans. It seemed like the end for Malarchuk, as everyone watched helplessly as he stumbled across the ice on hands and knees. Luckily, his trainer, a Vietnam veteran, ran onto the ice to pinch off Malarchuk’s artery and save his life. If it were not for the trainer, Malarchuk would have died in less than 3 minutes from loss of blood. In a post interview, Malarchuk added, “All I wanted to do was get off the ice. My mom was watching on TV, and I didn’t want her to see me die.” His determination and the help from the trainer is what saved is life.

Because of this accident, NHL officials sanctioned throat protectors to be worn by all NHL goalies. It was no longer the era of the “Jason mask”, but rather an era of putting an increased focus on safety . . . of the goalies. Similar incidents have happened to forwards and defensive men within the last decade. Bengt Åkerblom of Sweden died on the ice in 1995 from a laceration and earlier this year Panther’s forward Richard Zednik lost 5 units of blood as his artery was sliced. Although much could be done to increase the safety in hockey, not enough has been done to protect those “putting their necks out” besides the goalies.

NASCAR

Growing up in North Carolina, I would argue the death that had the most impact of any sport would be the passing of Dale Earnhardt during the 2001 Daytona 500 race. On the final lap of the race, Earnhardt was sideswiped and hit the wall head on at nearly 150 mph. The result was devastating as the “The Intimidator” lost his life on the track. The public was in shock, as we had just lost one of the all-time most influential figures ever in any sport. In what was known as the “Final Ride”, Earnhardt’s hauler made the long trip from Daytona back to Kanapolis, NC down I-85. Not one car dared to pass the hauler the entire trip, as traffic was reportedly backed up for 2 miles with all headlights on full beam.

The death of Earnhardt was not for granted, however. Shortly after his death NASCAR officials called for research to be completed on possible head restraints. Speedway physician Steve Bohannon stated that the cause of Earnhardt’s death was a faulty seatbelt, which caused his head to violently strike the steering wheel. Later that year, Nascar began mandating the use of the HANS device (Head and Neck Support Device), which has been saving lives since.
Like the Malarchuk accident, NASCAR officials realized that there was a danger that needed to be addressed and completed a safety overhaul before any more athletes were killed. Although the number 3 car will be missed sorely in the racing world, his death resulted in safer racing for future cars and drivers. These two examples show the proper response to accidents and the administration’s willingness to overhaul “tradition” for the safety of their athletes.

BASEBALL

When most people think about the dangers in baseball, the most common perception is the risk of getting hit in the head by a pitch. During the early days of the game, getting beamed in the head by a pitcher did cause a number of deaths in the sport. The commissioners responded by requiring batters wear helmets to reduce the chance of injury and death. However, a known but rarely addressed danger in the game has increasingly been brought to the spotlight in the realm of college baseball.

College baseball players are just as big, strong, and fast as the professionals. The only difference is the bats they swing. The collegiate athletes swing bats with sweet spots and recoil that could never be produced by their wooden components. In 2000 the NCAA authorized that the maximum ball speed for any ball leaving the bat was 97 mph, 1 mph slower than a wooden bat. This was done to address the dangers in pitchers getting lined by the batter following a pitch. But on July25, 2003 one game proved that this was not enough.

On this day, Brandon Patch was taking the mound in what would be his last game ever. During this game, his opponent was the much-anticipated cross county rivals, which boasted many D1 athletes or prospects. Brandon was just the average player on a team that would likely just end the season and their baseball careers. The opposing team featured Quinn LeSage, a 6’5’’ slugger that Brandon had managed to strike out earlier in the game. LeSage approached the plate and Patch gracefully began his windup. The pitch was delivered and all that was heard was a “ping” followed by a “thud”. Brandon collapsed back towards second place. He pulled himself into a sitting position and joked about how he “should have kept it down”. Soon after, Brandon collapsed and became unconscious. He would later die from swelling of the brain as a result from being hit on the temple.

This just goes to show that the athletes are growing stronger while the bats are growing more responsive. Everyone in attendance or saw the video of Brandon’s accident knew it was the speed and force of the ball coming off LeSage’s bat that resulted in his death. The NCAA and other baseball leagues have done nothing to address the dangers in aluminum bats other than making the “maximum” speed. With an enormous sweet spot and growing strength, today’s batters have much better chances of crushing the ball, in some cases at the pitcher’s head. This recently happened to Notre Dame pitcher Wade Korpi as he took a 100 mph line drive off his head. Yes, the gun clocked the ball at 100 mph as it came off the bat . . . not the “maximum” 97 mph.

Wade was hospitalized by made a full recovery. The same cannot be said about Brandon Patch. His mother and father remain in the fight to outlaw the use of aluminum bats. Unlike the Malarchuk and Earnhardt incidents, the baseball officials have been reluctant to address this safety issue and properly form a solution to increase safety for the throwers.

FOOTBALL

When it comes to playing a sport and head on collisions, nothing is as dangerous as a 250 lb beast with a 4.45 40 time running at you at full speed.  According to The National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury, 325 men and boys have died either directly or indirectly from playing football at the high school and college level between 1982-2008 (26 years). Direct injuries are defined as those fatalities which resulted directly from participation in the fundamental skills of football (such as tackling and blocking). Indirect injuries are those injuries that are caused by systemic failure as a result of exertion while participating in football activity or by a complication which was secondary to a nonfatal injury (such as heart failure and heat stroke)

A few examples:

Chuck Hugues, a wide receiver with the Detroit Lions, died of a heart attack during a game against the Chicago Bears on Octiber 24th, 1971.

James Victor Cain, a tight end for the St. Louis Cardinals, died of congenital heart failure during training camp in 1979

More recently, Korey Stringer, offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings died during training camp after his core temperature rose to 108 Degrees!! Dying within 24 hours of severe heatstroke

Proffesional Wrestling

One does not have to look far in the history of professional wrestling to find tragedies and death. The life of a professional wrestler, despite all the showmanship, leaves the wrestler tired, hurting and in need of rest they will never get. The wrestling season is all year, with Monday Night Raw being the longest lasting weekly show on cable, with wrestlers being on the road 300 days a year. The culture and the leaders of professional wrestling turned a dangerously blind eye to the use of illicit drugs in the sport which made drugs commonplace and early death likely. Linda McMahon, however, is currently facing the music in her campaign for a Senate seat from Connecticut as former wrestlers blast her work with the WWE and their treatment of the wrestlers.

A few examples:

Eddie Guererro- Died in 2005 at the age of 38 of acute heart failure. Guererro throughout his career had suffered from alcoholism and an addiction to painkillers which was caused by the grueling WWE schedule. He also has been mentioned in steroid allegations by SI dating back to the early 2000s, before the WWE began testing wrestlers for steroids

Umaga- Died in 2009 at the age of 36 from an overdose of muscle relaxers, painkillers, and tranquilizers. All of which he picked up during his career as a wrestler.

Chris Benoit-  Maybe the most tragic instance of any sport was the double murder-suicide that Chris Benoit committed in 2007. Chris, his wife Nancy, and their son were all found dead in their house with Chris hanging from a weight machine, and the other two murdered. The reports say that Chris and his wife Nancy were heavily under the influence of drugs and Chris had drugged his son before strangling him. Further studies after Benoit’s death revealed that his brain had been so heavily beat up by years of wrestling, that it resemble the brain of an 85 year old Alzheimer’s sufferer.

In his third year at the helm, there is a sense that Butch Davis has North Carolina on the cusp of greatness. Coming off an 8-5 season in which four losses were by a combined nine points, the Tar Heels seem ready to take the next step towards becoming a national power. Led by a fast defense that returns nine starters and a healthy QB in T.J. Yates, Carolina fans feel this team is poised for an ACC title in the near future.

Quaterback T.J. Yates

Offense

Quarterbacks: It all starts with Yates, who was sidelined for over five games with a broken ankle last year. The Heels were leading Virginia Tech 17-3 when he went down, and a healthy Yates probably would have spelled the difference in a game that carried Coastal Division ramifications. Gone is backup Cam Sexton, who performed exceptionally in Yates’ absence in the middle of the season. While redshirt sophomore Mike Paulus struggled (3-for-8, two picks as the lead dissolved against Virginia Tech), he has a cannon for an arm. Experience should prove valuable for him. Lefty Braden Hansen enters camp third, and freshman A.J. Blue could see some snaps as a Wildcat QB with the ability to throw. Overall, quarterback appears a strength for this team, as Yates can provide leadership and the rest of the guys are immensely talented.

Running backs: Little known fact: UNC has had more 1,000-yard rushers (24) than any program in NCAA history. The last was Jonathan Linton in 1997. Look for that to change this season, as Shaun Draughn rushed for 866 yards in a little over half a season in 2008. If he can hold on to the ball more effectively than he did at times last year, look for him to sneak into the Jonathan Dwyer/C.J. Spiller/Da’Rel Scott caliber of ACC backs. At 245 pounds, Ryan Houston is the perfect thunder to Draughn’s lightning and is an unstoppable force at the goal line. Redshirt freshman Jamal Womble may be the best player at the position for the Tar Heels, as Davis compares him favorably with 49ers star Frank Gore. Fullbacks Anthony Elzy and Bobby Rome are both solid options to make plays in the flats, which should be a more used option with the departure of so many wideouts.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends/H-Backs: Brandon Tate was having the type of season Heisman voters like to see before going down against Notre Dame. Hakeem Nicks was hands down the best wide receiver ever to play at UNC, as he pulled down 68 passes for a school-record 1,222 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago (217, 3 TDs in the Meineke Car Care Bowl loss to West Virginia alone). TE Robert Quinn and third WR Brooks Foster were NFL draft picks, and slot WR Cooter Arnold made some huge plays down the stretch. All of those players are gone this season, making the passing game the primary focus of the media. While it may not have much experience, the young receiving corps has tons of talent. Junior Greg Little has the most playing time under his belt, and he should start at the ‘X’ position in Carolina’s offense. He will be a matchup nightmare for smaller DBs, as his strength after the catch is phenomenal. ‘Z’ receiver (Nicks’ old position) will likely be manned by sophomore Dwight Jones, who was highly touted coming out of high school. Freshmen Josh Adams, Jheranie Boyd, and Todd Harrelson will also contribute. At tight end, Zack Pianalto returns after missing the second half of the season to injury. H-Back is a hybrid TE/fullback position under offensive coordinator John Shoop’s pro-style attack. Sophomore Christian Wilson needs to improve his blocking, and will be a huge weapon if he can do that. Otherwise, Ryan Taylor will be used there as a blocker and vocal leader.

Offensive Line: This is perhaps the biggest question mark for the Tar Heels. Departed seniors Garrett Reynolds and Calvin Darity made a solid right side, and Aaron Stahl’s surprise decision to graduate left the interior lacking depth. From left to right, the starters should be Kyle Jolly (the anchor), Jonathan Cooper (redshirt freshman that the coaches and players have raved about), Lowell Dyer, Alan Pelc, and Mike Ingersoll. The five have 52 starts between them. Depth is a concern. Cam Holland, Kevin Bryant, and Carl Gaskins are all versatile, but have 13 career appearances combined. Talented true freshmen Travis Bond and Brennan Williams (an Army All-American) may be forced into spot duty.

Defensive End E.J. Wilson

Defense

Defensive Line: Carolina has produced more than its share of NFL-caliber talent over the years on the defensive line, and this group of players certainly has a few players who will play on Sundays. On the inside, Marvin Austin’s production went down last season, but his presence caused double teams and freed up other players to make plays. Look for a breakout season from him. Massive Cam Thomas could be a 3-4 nose tackle on the next level, and will start alongside Austin. Backing them up are pass-rushing specialists Aleric Mullins and Tydreke Powell, both of whom also have NFL potential. Besides E.J. Wilson, all of the ends that contributed last year were true freshmen. Robert Quinn (who started 11 games) and backups Michael McAdoo and Quinton Coples will benefit from a year of strength and conditioning. Both McAdoo and Coples reported to camp 20 pounds heavier. True freshman Donte Paige-Moss, who was ranked as the nation’s No. 1 defensive end in the incoming class, will probably see a lot of action in passing situations. The development of this group and its ability to produce pressure will be the key to the success of UNC’s D.

Linebacker: As of right now, this is the strength of the team. Quan Sturdivant will slide over to the middle after leading the nation in solo tackles last season. Next to him is strong-side LB and fellow junior Bruce Carter, who blocked an NCAA-record four consecutive punts over two games last year. Stepping in on the weak-side is sophomore Zach Brown, who has exceptional speed. The trio makes up possibly the fastest group of linebackers in the country; expect a lot of big plays to be made by this group. Backing them up is a slew of underclassmen. Herman Davidson, Dion Guy, Hawatha Bell, and Linwan Euwell continue the speed theme on the outside.

Defensive backs: More juniors roam the field here. The self-proclaimed “Rude Boyz” return three starters, but lost Trimaine Goddard who was a second-team All-America with seven interceptions. While the numbers were gaudy, many would say his replacement, Da’Norris Searcy, is an upgrade. He is stronger and faster than Goddard and recorded 10 tackles in the bowl game. FS Deunta Williams is a hard hitter and is among the best three safeties in the ACC (along with Georgia Tech’s Morgan Burnett and Virginia Tech’s Kam Chancellor). Boundary corner Kendric Burney is the prototypical shutdown CB and is a preseason All-ACC pick. The biggest question is whether holdover Jordan Hemby or Charles Brown, who struggled with injuries last year, will play the cover corner. In passing situations, Brown will almost certainly move to the nickel-back slot, as he is more physical than Hemby. LeCount Fantroy and a bevy of freshmen will back up this group. At safety, Deunta Williams calls his backup, senior Melvin Williams, the hardest hitter on the team. Backup SS Matt Merletti is a special teams whiz, and reportedly benched 225 pounds 25 times in summer workouts. The success of this unit will correlate directly with the line’s ability to get pressure.

Special Teams

Sophomore Casey Barth should handle the kicking duties, marking the sixth straight year a Barth has held place-kicking duties for the Tar Heels. The 6′7″ Grant Shallock seems the heir apparent at punter, where Terrence Brown leaves after a successful two-year career. Also in the mix is freshman C.J. Feagles, the son of longtime NFL punter Jeff Feagles. The return game is still a bit in flux after the loss of Brandon Tate, but Johnny White and Little did a respectable job filling in on kickoff returns in 2008. There is no telling who will return punts. Kendric Burney is a possibility if the coaches trust him not to get hurt pulling double duty. ]]> http://thejockitch.com/2009/08/2009-unc-previewi-like-our-chances/feed/ 0 http://thejockitch.com/2009/08/great-acc-preview-florida-state-from-chad-floyd/ http://thejockitch.com/2009/08/great-acc-preview-florida-state-from-chad-floyd/#comments Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:22:13 +0000 The Man No One Came To See http://thejockitch.com/?p=700 From Chad Floyd at Road to Tampa Bay: UNC Football Blog

Coach: Bobby Bowden (34^th year at Florida State, 351-117-4 overall)

Stadium: Doak Campbell, 82,300 (Grass)

Wins: Miami, Jacksonville State, South Florida, at Boston College, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, at Wake Forest, Maryland

Losses: at BYU, at North Carolina, at Clemson, Florida

Record: 8-4 (6-2 ACC; Atlantic Division Champions)

Bowl Projection: Chick-Fil-A (ACC #2)

Schedule Overview: I’ll say this: The Noles still aren’t scared to play anyone.  In addition to their annual regular season finale against juggernaut Florida, they play Big East power South Florida and a BYU team that is looking to crash the BCS party in Provo. The Jacksonville State game should be a snoozer, but I don’t see the Noles going better than 2-2 in the out-of-conference.

In conference, they’re done no favors either. While they miss conference favorite Virginia Tech, the other two teams they miss are cellar dwellers Virginia and Duke.  None of their conference games are guaranteed wins either, as most of the tougher teams come to Tallahassee and the Noles haven’t played particularly well on the road recently.  I’d say a win against Maryland at home seems pretty certain, but none of the other games would be considered locks.

Outlook: The Seminoles have struggled this decade, after being THE national power in the 1990’s.  Good news is on the horizon, however. Christian Ponder is the first quarterback since the Chris Weinke era in whom the coaches seem confident.  The staff, finally, has had a couple of seasons without much turnover, and that continuity could really benefit the Seminoles this year.  Legal trouble and injuries have decimated the receiving corps, but I look for Bert Reed to step up and have a big year.  Everyone, myself included, loves the potential of sophomore RB Jermaine Thomas, who averaged 7 yards per carry last year. The offensive line, another much-maligned unit over the 2000’s, is now probably the strongest in the league. It is anchored by preseason All-ACC LG Rodney Hudson and LT Andrew Datko, who was a freshman All-America a season ago.

Defensively, the Noles have some talent departing, including 2nd round draft pick and sack specialist Everette Brown.  Look for Markus White to step up and replace some of Brown’s numbers.  I love their linebacking corps, anchored by preseason All-ACC Dekoda Watson.  Amazingly, even he is being pushed by their depth by (my favorite name in the ACC so far) Mister Alexander.  I also had Nigel Bradham on my All-ACC ballot and I think he’ll have a tremendous year.  They’ll be experienced in the secondary with seniors Patrick & Jamie Robinson and Korey Mangum, and will have great young talent in freshmen A.J. Alexander and Greg Reid.

While the Noles may never reach the status of the 1990’s teams again, I expect this to be a year where they can build towards a top 10 season in 2010.

You heartless bastard. 

Unlike 99.8% of male bloggers in this country of fast food, questionable morals, and worthless celebrities I’ve actually had the pleasure of meeting Erin Andrews . . . in person. While trying to file 6,000 UNC seniors into the Dean E. Smith center during the 2008 UNC vs. Duke basketball game, several people from the Carolina Athletic Association were questioned about our responsibilities and duties regarding the game. She was nice, sincere, and completely devoted to her job despite the thousands of googley eyes fixated on her  undoubtably perfect ass . . . which she would probably contribute to her dream of becoming the Erin Andrews we know and love anyways. 

Compare this to the attitude of Jenn Sterger (who maybe a handful of men recognized as the Florida State cowgirl) and Dick Vitale (who somehow found a way to ejaculate in the middle of 28 scantily dressed men) and you can understand why we instantly fell in love with America’s sideline princess.  It’s a win for both sides that ESPN gives us such a creation during sporting events. But some fuckhole with a high-tech has ruined that for all of us.

I hope you get crabs and your arms are lopped off in a freak roller coaster accident, you worthless piece of shit. 

The difference between Erin Andrews and the 50,000 Lindsay Lohan crotch-shots that surface on a weekly basis is the integrity and morality in the life they live. Andrews is on the road on a daily basis. Traveling from sporting event to ESPN awards shows, it’s hard to believe that Erin has the time to live the life of a bona-fide celebrity. On top of all this travel, she also has to keep up with the daily sporting news and events that may have the slightest impact on her fantasy football teams. Lohan, however, lives a life of luxury despite her last source of income being a film about a fucking Volkswagon Beetle. 

Your freckles ruined your crotch-shots, Ginger.

If anyone deserves to have their nude photos plastered across the internet in an escalating fashion it’s those celebrities that wear the 3 inch skirt without panties. The Hollywood trash that thrives off daddy’s money and pays MTV to create a reality show to search for their new best friends. The same people that believe a degree is worth shittles as long as they have a pretty smile and men will pay to see their sex video. Erin Andrews, however, has a degree from the University of Florida. The same institution where a quarterback with no medial background can circumcise young boys, and a downs syndrome patient can become an NBA lottery pick.

How the fuck did this anomaly come from Miss Sweden?

The point is that Erin Andrews is educated, appreciated, and before the Bobby Frasor sex scandal, everyone had viewed her crotch as a figment of their imagination. Was it clean? Landing strip? Or something completely new and awesome we had never seen before on her downstairs canvas? While millions of men fantasized about a nude video, we all knew that she was so devoted to her job and reputation in the sports world that that day would never come.

Now her Google reputation is ruined.  

When more people are searching for a video that was illegally taken of you in a hotel room than your work as a sportscaster, it’s going to be a while before your bare ass is out of the limelight. Search results for the “Erin Andrews Peephole Video” and “Erin Andrews Peephole Pictures” have exploded throughout the interwebs. With well over 250,000 results for each term, it’s not very difficult for any devout computer enthusiast to find the illicit video. But unaware to many people, there’s a hidden scam out there that’s protecting the integrity of our beloved Sideline Princess.

There’s no condom for your Google query. 

Searching for the “Erin Andrews Peephole” incident has become as risky as having unprotected, homeless, obese recovering heroin addict in Grand Central. You never know what you might catch, she’ll probably leave you shamed, and there’s always the chance a sex tape might go viral. These Erin Andrews video “STD’s” are the only thing protecting the integrity of Andrews at this moment. ESPN has understandably refused to report on the incident (other than verifying it was Erin) and sites such as TMZ  have taken a neutral stance, but have surprisingly refused to put the video up. While refusing to post the video is a great and noble cause to help prevent the spread of the video, it’s the spammers attaching trojan horses to potential videos that are doing the real job. As soon as Americans realize that nearly all of that downloading these videos is a game of Andrews-Roulette, perhaps the storm will pass for Sideline Princess. For once in the internet’s history, hat’s off to the spammers.

And here’s to every sports fan out there that still fantasized about what Sideline Princess looks like nude.  

I have taken the time to edit the real conversation for those of us that didn’t have a chance to read it.

Q: What is your favorite passing route?

A: I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite pass route, but you know what’s nice? When you can hit a guy in stride on a bomb, 50 yards, he doesn’t stop, and he scores with it. That’s nice. … The best is when you see a guy beat a guy, and the guy is trying to catch up, and you hit him in stride. There’s nothing prettier than that. You know what else is pretty? Greg Paulus. That mother fucker came in here trying to take my job after never touching the field for FOUR, count them . . . FOUR fucking years. He even had K lobbying for his sorry ass. If I spent as much time on the floor as Greg Paulus . . . you’d have to wipe me up with a shamwow. Bad analogy. That shamwow guy beat a stripper right? Shit. That doesn’t go over well in Durham. 

Q: What would it mean to you to help lead this team to a bowl game?

A: It would mean everything. But it just wouldn’t be enough to just get there. If I get there, I want to win it. It would mean so much because when I was recruited I was told we weren’t very good and I was told I was part of a change. … It’s only eight seniors that will be able to play this season. For us eight to be remembered as the eight that led this football team to a bowl game … would be tremendous. It’s not how you came in, but how you leave a place. … It would be big. But shit, half the bowl’s that we would be invited to would leave us in debt anyways. Know how much the Papajohn.com bowl payed out? Yeah, $350 K. The Wolfpack weren’t the only team leaving in the red by just GOING to that bowl. Their asses were red too. Because they got spanked. So was their bank account, which is what I was alluding to anyways. 

Q: What would you say you learned about yourself since your enrollment at Duke?

A: I can do anything. I can do anything I put my mind to. … A lot of people don’t know that my freshman year, halfway through the semester, I was failing. Thought I was going to fail out of Duke. Picked it up, and I finished with a 2.5 [G.P.A] that semester. The next three semesters I went 3.4. … I look at it now that I’m about to get a degree in December from Duke University. That’s big.

Coming out of Opa-Locka I didn’t think about getting in Duke, didn’t really know much about the academic standards, what the degree is worth. Now I’m in that elite company with a [degree]. … I didn’t just come to college to play football. I was able to manage both. If I can do it, anybody could do it. Sheldon Williams did it, and look where he’s at in life. He married a hot-ass giant WNBA all-sat . . . has a kid . . . ALL while everyone thought he was retarded. We both majored in sociology. It’s the geography of Duke University. Michael Jordan was a geography major . . . and look how rich he became! To us athletes, our degrees mean all the shit in the world. You’re my sociological hero, Sheldon Williams. Shit yeah.

Like so many other Tar Heels I am sure that the most asked question we hear is: “why don’t you like (or hate or can’t stand or whatever else you want to insert here) Duke?”. Some of the answers are: Coach K, or Henderthug err Henderson, or the flopping that most players that call Cameron Indoor Stadium home do so frequently, or the smirks/tudes that so many Blue Devils have, or (one of my favorites) Wojo, or JJ or the Cameron Crazies. For me the answer is different, I don’t like the arch rival because I do one simple thing: read. Yes, I get up in the morning and after checking out what the sites with a touch of carolina blue are saying I then go and check what the teams UNC has a rivalry with are saying (I guess an online version of keeping my friends close and my enemies closer). While I was surfing today I found this little jewel, that I have to link because I am going to quote from it, but I’m definitely not linking because I think they are owed any traffic.

Here’s a little excerpt from his article:

Lee Fowler: you should almost consider extending free student tickets to everyone who is graduating in 2009 for at least another year or two. We have simply not gotten our money’s worth in the past four years, having suffered through one of the worst eras of N.C. State Athletics in memory. One winning football season, one trip the men’s basketball NCAA tournament and widespread mediocrity in most of the non-revenue sports has left me feeling cheated of some element of my college experience.

Coaches: if you are looking for success, please follow volleyball coach Charita Stubbs’ three step plan for establishing a winning program and building fan support.

1. Demonstrate unflinching excellence on the court. In three years with the Wolfpack, Stubbs has accumulated a 3-61 record in the ACC and a 14-84 record overall.

2. Respond to criticism in a professional, mature manner. On Oct. 14, Technician ran an editorial cartoon complimenting Stubbs’ first ACC wins in a backhanded manner. Stubbs, a black woman, felt the cartoon was directed at her race rather than her performance as a coach.

Stubbs responded to the Oct. 14 piece by refusing to comment to Technician reporters, demanding a front page apology and talking to seemingly everyone about the cartoon except the Technician staff. Repeated invitations to Stubbs to come to our office and discuss the issue in an open forum were left unanswered, and what could have been a learning experience for everyone involved developed into a bitter standoff.

Personally, I don’t think there was anything racist about the cartoon, but I will invite anyone interested to make up their own mind. Search “stubbs cartoon” on Technician’s Web site and see for yourself.

3. Create strong student and fan support by alienating the student newspaper. Stubbs understands that the best way to put out the word about her blossoming volleyball program is to refuse to talk to the only media outlet that will ever regularly cover N.C. State volleyball. She has not allowed any interviews with Technician reporters since the cartoon ran Oct. 14 (She has also not won any matches since that date.) 

Source : The Technician - I’m outie five, keep it sleazy