Todd Bozeman had it all but wanted more. (see quote and link below for full story)
He was one of the top coaches in college basketball especially after he defeated Duke, the defending NCAA chamption.
A BIG mistake cost him dearly. He paid money to the parents of of top high school player which is illegal. The pressure of being the best and winning at any cost was probably on his mind at the time.
In life, one must make responsible mistakes, not irresponsible ones. His mistake derailed a promising and most likely lavish career.
It is a good lesson for anyone. There are no shortcuts to success just hard work. One must "put in the time" to get ahead.
I am happy he is back in basketball and seems to be ready to do what he loves, teaching basketball and education young men about life.
I wish him well.
Gswede
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/28/sports/ncaabasketball/28bozeman.html?ex=1199509200&en=38722713eb057b7a&ei=5070&emc=eta1
December 28, 2007
For Bozeman, Road to Redemption Winds Slowly
By JERÉ LONGMAN
As clearly as any coach, Bozeman, 44, understands the consequences of decisions. In 1993, he was the upstart at California whose team stunned the defending champion in the N.C.A.A. tournament. His star player made the cover of Sports Illustrated, shooting a jumper over Bobby Hurley, vaulting over a headline that read: “Jason Kidd and Cal Dethrone Duke.”
Bozeman was 29 at the time, the youngest coach to reach the Round of 16. He would become the first to win three straight games over U.C.L.A. at Pauley Pavilion. He was going places, all right, just not the places everyone expected.
Seeking a replacement for Kidd at Cal, Bozeman admitted paying $30,000 to the parents of point guard Jelani Gardner. “I knew right away that wasn’t good,” Bozeman said. “But the wheels were already going.”
Eventually, those wheels crushed his career.
Upset about Gardner’s playing time, his parents went to the National Collegiate Athletic Association and told about the payments. By late 1996, Bozeman was gone from Cal. The N.C.A.A. imposed an eight-year show-cause ban, meaning that any university wanting Bozeman had to show just cause why he should be hired.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Why I never played American Football
What many don't know about me is that I really enjoy the game of football. On television, there is no better sport.
I actually considered playing football in high school but decided against it for these reasons:
1) I would never love the game the way I loved basketball
2) An injury would hurt my scholarship chances for basketball
3) I didn't want an injury that made me permanently disabled
Injuries like the one to Kevin Everett (see NY Times article below) reminds everyone of the serious danger with football. One moment a young man is healthy, the next his life is forever difficult.
If your kids want to play football, make sure that they have the LOVE and DESIRE for the game. If not, it may not be worth it.
Gswede
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September 11, 2007
Chance of Recovery for Bills’ Everett Is ‘Bleak’
By MATT HIGGINS
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y., Sept. 10 — Kevin Everett’s Buffalo Bills teammates are accustomed to his silence. On Monday, they described Everett, a third-year tight end, as quiet. So they would have gladly settled for a simple gesture, like a thumb’s up, as he was carted off the field with a spinal cord injury Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Buffalo quarterback J. P. Losman said he thought, “Show me a sign of something,” as Everett was loaded into an ambulance.
“Something” never came. And that turned out to be a grim sign.
On Monday, team doctors said Everett was paralyzed from the shoulders down and his condition was potentially fatal after he was injured while covering the second-half kickoff in the Bills’ 15-14 loss to Denver.
Click on the following link below to read entire article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/11/sports/football/11everett.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin
I actually considered playing football in high school but decided against it for these reasons:
1) I would never love the game the way I loved basketball
2) An injury would hurt my scholarship chances for basketball
3) I didn't want an injury that made me permanently disabled
Injuries like the one to Kevin Everett (see NY Times article below) reminds everyone of the serious danger with football. One moment a young man is healthy, the next his life is forever difficult.
If your kids want to play football, make sure that they have the LOVE and DESIRE for the game. If not, it may not be worth it.
Gswede
----------
September 11, 2007
Chance of Recovery for Bills’ Everett Is ‘Bleak’
By MATT HIGGINS
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y., Sept. 10 — Kevin Everett’s Buffalo Bills teammates are accustomed to his silence. On Monday, they described Everett, a third-year tight end, as quiet. So they would have gladly settled for a simple gesture, like a thumb’s up, as he was carted off the field with a spinal cord injury Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Buffalo quarterback J. P. Losman said he thought, “Show me a sign of something,” as Everett was loaded into an ambulance.
“Something” never came. And that turned out to be a grim sign.
On Monday, team doctors said Everett was paralyzed from the shoulders down and his condition was potentially fatal after he was injured while covering the second-half kickoff in the Bills’ 15-14 loss to Denver.
Click on the following link below to read entire article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/11/sports/football/11everett.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin
Monday, August 13, 2007
Tiger - No Athlete can Compare
No one is more dominant in his or her sport.
Tiger Woods has inspired me from the moment I saw him play over a decade ago. His dedication, preparation, talent, focus and performance are as the poet John Keats says "A Thing of Beauty". I enjoy watching him just as much today as I did when I saw him annihilate the competition at the 1997 Masters.
In our generation, Tiger is the most dominant athlete in his sport, period. MAYBE ever.
Here's why:
Next stop for Tiger, Masters 2008. The other golf pro's are already trembling.
Can't wait.
Gswede
Tiger Woods has inspired me from the moment I saw him play over a decade ago. His dedication, preparation, talent, focus and performance are as the poet John Keats says "A Thing of Beauty". I enjoy watching him just as much today as I did when I saw him annihilate the competition at the 1997 Masters.
In our generation, Tiger is the most dominant athlete in his sport, period. MAYBE ever.
Here's why:
- Arnold Palmer is an icon and a big reason why golf is so popular. He won 7 Majors to Tiger's 13. If we compare Woods to Palmer, the latter becomes irrelevant.
- Two of the best golfers of all time, Gary Player and Ben Hogan each won 9 Majors.
- Tiger's contemporaries, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson have 9 Majors combined. They are in their prime or beyond. Tiger has not even reached his prime.
- There are pro golfers that make a good living like Rory Sabbitini (who famously said that "Tiger looks as beatable as ever") that have won less than 5 PGA tournaments in their career. Tiger has 59 victories. After the comment, Rory is 0-2 in final rounds against Tiger including an 8 stroke thrashing the week before the PGA.
- As much as I have enjoyed other greats like Jordan, Gretzky, Magic, Montana, Bonds, Brady, Federor, Bird, Borg, Jeter, Payton, McEnroe, Ali, etc- they don't even begin to compare in their sport.
- Let's look at one of the greatest athletes of all time, Michael Jordan. Midway in his career, he had 3 championships. For someone in golf to compare, they would need about 4-5 Majors at the midpoint (No current golfers are close except Tiger who has blown that away). Even if you consider Jordan's entire career, Tiger is more dominant NOW in his sport. Jordan has 6 total championships. The equivalent in a golf career would be 8-9 Majors. 13 is Tiger's number.
- No one has accomplished what Tiger has 1/3 or halfway into a career. Can you make a case for Roger Federor (11 tennis majors at 26)? Sure, but tennis is void of ANY serious contenders for Roger and the sport has sunk to pathetic levels of interest.
- Tiger could play until he is 50 if Jack Nicklaus (never in shape or fit) was able to win his last Major, the Masters at age 46. Realistically, he might be only 1/3 into his career.
- At age 35, Jack won his 13th Major. Tiger has done it at age 31
- A CLOSER. This is his best characteristic. 13-0 when leading or sharing the lead in a Major tournament. Has there ever been a better finisher or "moment of truth" athlete?
For those of you that don't consider golf a sport, it sure helps to be IN SHAPE when there are 100-degree days like the ones in Oklahoma last weekend.
Here's a paragraph on Woods from Reuters (August 13 by Mark Lamport-Stokes):
The championship at Southern Hills featured some of the hottest conditions in major history, with temperatures reaching 102 degrees (39 Celsius) during the final round. The ability to maintain focus for all four days was paramount and Woods believes his renowned fitness has always given him an edge in golf's biggest events. "Physical fitness is always a huge advantage, especially when you play any sport and you have heat and anything that wears you down mentally and physically," he said."When I walked up 18, I felt the same way as I did going off the first tee. I felt great. Other guys may have gotten tired and you see their shoulders slumping and dragging a little bit."You should always train hard and bust your butt. That's what a sport is, (it) is to do that. And not everyone considers golf a sport and they don't treat it as such." Woods already has 10 more major titles than any of his contemporaries. The prospect of an improved, fitter Woods over the next seven years can only enhance his aura of dominance.I thought a classic and crucial Tiger moment occurred at the 2007 PGA when he made the 25-foot birdie on the 8th hole that gave him a 5 shot lead at the time. Big moment, Big result. He has done it time after time. Without that shot, Els or Austin might have tied him as they were playing terrific golf. Tiger never gave them that chance. The great ones never do.
Jack Nicklaus always speaks fondly of Tiger and I admire that about him. He should know greatness in golf better than anyone. Tiger will easily break Jack's Major championship record of 18 as long as he stays healthy. Keep in mind, that Jack's most impressive record may be that he came in 2nd place in Majors a record 19 times!
My prediction is that Tiger will have won 26 Majors when he hangs up the clubs. Over 30 would not surprise me but life and kids could mellow his desire.
Finally, like yours truly...he is married to a Swedish woman. He even hits great shots off the course!Next stop for Tiger, Masters 2008. The other golf pro's are already trembling.
Can't wait.
Gswede
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Reggie Miller and Celtics - Worth a Shot!
Once a shooter, Always a shooter.
And not many can put it up like Reggie! Ask Spike Lee and the NY Knicks.
Reggie Miller can definitely help the Celtics and as a true sportsman of the game, I hope he comes back for that elusive ring. No one thought that he would be such a top quality player coming out of UCLA but he proved everyone wrong. He might just do it again.
Bob Ryan has always been one of my favorite sportswriters. A snippet of his article is below.
The entire article can be found at http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/bob_ryan_blog/
Bob is not to sure about Reggie's ability to help the Celtics. I am. With Garnett, Pierce and Allen around him, he could be deadly once again.
They have maybe 4 years to get that championsip if Ray Allen stays healthy.
With or without Reggie, one thing Bob and I agree on is that the Celtics have the SIZZLE back
Gswede
-------
By Bob Ryan, Globe Staff
August 08, 2007 03:44 PM
What? Hal Greer wasn't available? (Had to get the cheap shot out of the way quickly).
Reggie Miller, huh? Makes sense on one level. If you recall, when Danny Ainge was bombarded by assertions that old shooting guards never die, they merely fall apart at age 32 or so, he cited Reggie Miller as an example to the contrary. And Reggie did retire after 18 seasons with his head pretty high, averaging 14.8 points a game in the 18th and final season of a very distinguished career coming off picks to drill jump shots, spotting up for threes, and banking in patented wrong-legged leaners.
And not many can put it up like Reggie! Ask Spike Lee and the NY Knicks.
Reggie Miller can definitely help the Celtics and as a true sportsman of the game, I hope he comes back for that elusive ring. No one thought that he would be such a top quality player coming out of UCLA but he proved everyone wrong. He might just do it again.
Bob Ryan has always been one of my favorite sportswriters. A snippet of his article is below.
The entire article can be found at http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/bob_ryan_blog/
Bob is not to sure about Reggie's ability to help the Celtics. I am. With Garnett, Pierce and Allen around him, he could be deadly once again.
They have maybe 4 years to get that championsip if Ray Allen stays healthy.
With or without Reggie, one thing Bob and I agree on is that the Celtics have the SIZZLE back
Gswede
-------
By Bob Ryan, Globe Staff
August 08, 2007 03:44 PM
What? Hal Greer wasn't available? (Had to get the cheap shot out of the way quickly).
Reggie Miller, huh? Makes sense on one level. If you recall, when Danny Ainge was bombarded by assertions that old shooting guards never die, they merely fall apart at age 32 or so, he cited Reggie Miller as an example to the contrary. And Reggie did retire after 18 seasons with his head pretty high, averaging 14.8 points a game in the 18th and final season of a very distinguished career coming off picks to drill jump shots, spotting up for threes, and banking in patented wrong-legged leaners.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Lebron - Living up to the Hype
Lebron has shown EVERYONE what he is about.
He scored 29 of team's last 30 points in the game last night! And he is only 22.
"It was very Jordanesque," the Pistons' Chauncey Billups said. "That kid was on fire, it was crazy. He put on an unbelievable display out there. It's probably the best I have seen against us ever in the playoffs." (www.nytimes.com)
Lebron is no "moment of truth" infant (see article below) like Dirk Nowitzki.
This year, he is the Dwayne Wade of the playoffs although I don't think the Cavs can beat the Spurs.
Not many teams especially one as bad as the Cavs over the years, have won a championship that quickly (except Bird's Celtics and Magic's Lakers) and Lebron will have to wait and earn it just like Jordan did. He will get one soon though, trust me.
The NBA needs more star power like Lebron. It is unfortunate that he shines in Cleveland and not a major city.
Gswede
He scored 29 of team's last 30 points in the game last night! And he is only 22.
"It was very Jordanesque," the Pistons' Chauncey Billups said. "That kid was on fire, it was crazy. He put on an unbelievable display out there. It's probably the best I have seen against us ever in the playoffs." (www.nytimes.com)
Lebron is no "moment of truth" infant (see article below) like Dirk Nowitzki.
This year, he is the Dwayne Wade of the playoffs although I don't think the Cavs can beat the Spurs.
Not many teams especially one as bad as the Cavs over the years, have won a championship that quickly (except Bird's Celtics and Magic's Lakers) and Lebron will have to wait and earn it just like Jordan did. He will get one soon though, trust me.
The NBA needs more star power like Lebron. It is unfortunate that he shines in Cleveland and not a major city.
Gswede
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Dirk Nowitzki - A "Moment of Truth" Infant
Moment of Truth (1980 NBA Finals and 1987 NBA Finals) – 1) Magic Johnson in game 6 plays center with Kareem injured and scores 42 to win the series against Dr. J and the Sixers. 2) Magic makes a stunning 12 foot hook shot over Kevin Mchale with seconds remaining to win game 4 of the finals. The Lakers beat the Celtics in 6 games. Magic has 5 rings.
Moment of Truth (1987 Eastern Conference Finals) – Game 5, Larry Bird steals the ball from Isaiah Thomas and passes to Dennis Johnson with seconds remaining to win by 1 point. The Celtics go on to win that series in 7 games. Larry has 3 rings.
Moment of Truth (1988 NBA Finals) - Isiah Thomas scores 25 points in the 4th quarter with a sprained ankle to help keep his team in game 6 against the Lakers. Although the Pistons lost the game and the series, I have seen few single game efforts to match his. Isiah has 2 rings.
Moment of Truth (1994 NBA Finals) – Down 3-2 to Pat Riley and the NY Knicks, Hakeem Olajawon leads his team to two straight victories to beat Pat Ewing’s team. Hakeem has 2 rings.
Moment of Truth (Any Year, Michael Jordan) – No need to list his achievements as MJ or Air Jordan ALWAYS performed when it mattered. 6 rings.
Moment of Truth (2000 Western Conference Finals) – Down by 15 points with just over 10 minutes to play in the 4th quarter of game 7 to Portland, Kobe and Shaq rally back to win the game. They go on to win their first NBA championship. Kobe and Shaq have 3 consecutive rings.
There are many more of the aforementioned moments but one thing they have in common is that GREAT players perform in the clutch.
Let’s look at Dirk:
Moment of Truth (2006 NBA Finals) – Up 2-0 on an unimpressive Miami team and leading by 14 points in the 4th quarter in Game 3, Dirk does NOTHING to help his team close out that game. If they win that game, the series is essentially over and Dallas becomes NBA champions. 0 for 1 in his quest for a ring.
Moment of Truth (2007 First round playoffs) – After winning 67 games and stampeding through the league, Dirk ALLOWS his team to lose to a Golden state team that only qualified for the playoffs in the last week of the season. He makes only 2 shots in the final game. 0 for 2 in his quest for a ring.
Can you imagine MJ’s bulls losing round one after their 72 -10 season in the mid 90's?
I like Dirk’s game but his "Moment of Truth" moments cannot be ignored.
In an era with no supreme player like MJ, Bird, Moses, Kareem or Magic, Dirk had his chance last year to put a Greatness stamp on an already impressive career. What did he do? Allowed his team to get swept in the last 4 games of the 2006 NBA championship! Infancy.
This year, I expected Dallas to at least be in the finals as they had one of the best regular seasons in modern times. What did he contribute? Not much and made hollow remarks about being frustrated or disappointed! Infancy.
How about this remark Dirk? “I let my team down and played horribly this year and last year and I take total responsibility for it”. Next year, I guarantee that we will win the championship.”
Even if one has only a single "Moment of Truth" moment in a career, one must seize it. Dwayne Wade has had only one so far, but he annihilated it like a man on fire last year in the NBA finals. That is what CLUTCH players do.
To be fair there are many Dirks out there (past and present NBA) including Pat Ewing, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Jason Kidd, Allen Iverson and John Stockton just to name a few. They get a little more leeway since most faltered in the MJ era but they still had chances to perform and WIN in their "Moment of Truth". They didn’t and will forever be ringless. Iverson and Kidd will never win an NBA title unless they sign on with a Tim Duncan type team when they are over the hill and hanging around only for a ring.
Dirk is an infant now but he is fortunate in that he has time to DELIVER unlike the mailman Karl Malone. He has time to make his mark and BARK loudly unlike Sir Charles Barkley. He can even GLIDE into greatness unlike Clyde “The Glide” Drexler.
Will he?
He should being surrounded by a strong owner with a winning organization. Mark Cuban has done a wonderful job taking that team from nothing and making it work superbly. Maybe Mark needs to loan Dirk some of the fire and energy that has made him successful in technology and sports.
Dirk has talent around him.
Dirk has a good coach.
Dirk is tremendously talented.
The GREAT players perform when it matters most. Dirk has had relatively easy “Moment of Truth” moments thus far and failed miserably. The road never gets easier.
Maybe he should watch and learn from the Accenture advertisement with Tiger Woods.
It says simply “Go ahead, Be a Tiger”.
Gswede
Moment of Truth (1987 Eastern Conference Finals) – Game 5, Larry Bird steals the ball from Isaiah Thomas and passes to Dennis Johnson with seconds remaining to win by 1 point. The Celtics go on to win that series in 7 games. Larry has 3 rings.
Moment of Truth (1988 NBA Finals) - Isiah Thomas scores 25 points in the 4th quarter with a sprained ankle to help keep his team in game 6 against the Lakers. Although the Pistons lost the game and the series, I have seen few single game efforts to match his. Isiah has 2 rings.
Moment of Truth (1994 NBA Finals) – Down 3-2 to Pat Riley and the NY Knicks, Hakeem Olajawon leads his team to two straight victories to beat Pat Ewing’s team. Hakeem has 2 rings.
Moment of Truth (Any Year, Michael Jordan) – No need to list his achievements as MJ or Air Jordan ALWAYS performed when it mattered. 6 rings.
Moment of Truth (2000 Western Conference Finals) – Down by 15 points with just over 10 minutes to play in the 4th quarter of game 7 to Portland, Kobe and Shaq rally back to win the game. They go on to win their first NBA championship. Kobe and Shaq have 3 consecutive rings.
There are many more of the aforementioned moments but one thing they have in common is that GREAT players perform in the clutch.
Let’s look at Dirk:
Moment of Truth (2006 NBA Finals) – Up 2-0 on an unimpressive Miami team and leading by 14 points in the 4th quarter in Game 3, Dirk does NOTHING to help his team close out that game. If they win that game, the series is essentially over and Dallas becomes NBA champions. 0 for 1 in his quest for a ring.
Moment of Truth (2007 First round playoffs) – After winning 67 games and stampeding through the league, Dirk ALLOWS his team to lose to a Golden state team that only qualified for the playoffs in the last week of the season. He makes only 2 shots in the final game. 0 for 2 in his quest for a ring.
Can you imagine MJ’s bulls losing round one after their 72 -10 season in the mid 90's?
I like Dirk’s game but his "Moment of Truth" moments cannot be ignored.
In an era with no supreme player like MJ, Bird, Moses, Kareem or Magic, Dirk had his chance last year to put a Greatness stamp on an already impressive career. What did he do? Allowed his team to get swept in the last 4 games of the 2006 NBA championship! Infancy.
This year, I expected Dallas to at least be in the finals as they had one of the best regular seasons in modern times. What did he contribute? Not much and made hollow remarks about being frustrated or disappointed! Infancy.
How about this remark Dirk? “I let my team down and played horribly this year and last year and I take total responsibility for it”. Next year, I guarantee that we will win the championship.”
Even if one has only a single "Moment of Truth" moment in a career, one must seize it. Dwayne Wade has had only one so far, but he annihilated it like a man on fire last year in the NBA finals. That is what CLUTCH players do.
To be fair there are many Dirks out there (past and present NBA) including Pat Ewing, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Jason Kidd, Allen Iverson and John Stockton just to name a few. They get a little more leeway since most faltered in the MJ era but they still had chances to perform and WIN in their "Moment of Truth". They didn’t and will forever be ringless. Iverson and Kidd will never win an NBA title unless they sign on with a Tim Duncan type team when they are over the hill and hanging around only for a ring.
Dirk is an infant now but he is fortunate in that he has time to DELIVER unlike the mailman Karl Malone. He has time to make his mark and BARK loudly unlike Sir Charles Barkley. He can even GLIDE into greatness unlike Clyde “The Glide” Drexler.
Will he?
He should being surrounded by a strong owner with a winning organization. Mark Cuban has done a wonderful job taking that team from nothing and making it work superbly. Maybe Mark needs to loan Dirk some of the fire and energy that has made him successful in technology and sports.
Dirk has talent around him.
Dirk has a good coach.
Dirk is tremendously talented.
The GREAT players perform when it matters most. Dirk has had relatively easy “Moment of Truth” moments thus far and failed miserably. The road never gets easier.
Maybe he should watch and learn from the Accenture advertisement with Tiger Woods.
It says simply “Go ahead, Be a Tiger”.
Gswede
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Life after Sports
The coach below is a breath of fresh air for the young men at the University of Miami. I hope that he will able to stick to his guns in the WIN,WIN,WIN attitude of college football.
One of my mentors says this to youth all the time:
"What about life after sports"
That question is and should be the most important.
Gswede
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 04, 2007
Coaching Players For Life
By George Will
MIAMI -- Occasionally -- very occasionally -- a football person says something that punctures the fog of George Patton-style rhetoric that football people emit. Before a Super Bowl in the 1970s (the MCMLXXs, for those of you in a Super Bowl frame of mind), Dallas Cowboys running back Duane Thomas asked a subversive question about the game: "If it's the ultimate, how come they're playing it again next year?"
But most football people, and especially football coaches, are of the "Football Is Not a Matter of Life and Death -- It's More Important Than That" school of thought. However, when Randy Shannon, recently named head coach of the University of Miami Hurricanes, says that football can be a matter of life and death, that is not hyperbole, it is autobiography.
Shannon, 40, grew up in Miami's Liberty City, which is what sociologists and other refined thinkers call a challenging urban environment. Shannon was 3 when his father was murdered by one of his friends. "They had an argument," Shannon says matter-of-factly. Two of Shannon's brothers and a sister died, from cocaine and AIDS. By age 16, Shannon was a father. He could easily have been on a path to a prison or a cemetery. Instead, because of football, he went to the University of Miami and became the first member of his family to earn a college degree.
After a brief NFL career with the Cowboys, he went into coaching, and now he is hopscotching around the country recruiting high school seniors, many of whom think college football is a certain path to the NFL. "That," says Shannon, "is the mentality that has to change." Fewer than 2 percent of even Division I college football players will have NFL careers, and most of those who do will be out of the game by the time they are 30 -- the average NFL career lasts less than four years.
The Post's Amy Shipley reports that the University of Miami has more players -- 42 -- on NFL rosters than any other school. Miami's main rival -- the Florida State Seminoles (a T-shirt favored by Miami students reads: "I think, therefore I am not a 'Nole") -- is second with 41. The University of Florida ranks seventh with 35. But in the past 10 years, those three teams have had, combined, more than 1,000 players, all of them exceptional athletes but most of them not of NFL caliber. Which is why Shannon says that when visiting the home of a potential recruit, "I talk to the parents about everything but football."
On a recent day, Shannon was in the Palm Beach area recruiting a wide receiver and then was off to Omaha to make sure that a very large lineman was still eager to be a Hurricane.
Because South Florida is the incubator of so much high school talent (skill positions, Shannon says; for linemen, look to the Midwest, hence the Nebraska trip), during the off-season many NFL players come home to train at the University of Miami's facilities. Shannon says his players "see the fancy cars, the gold chains," so as he takes over Miami's football program, he plans to "come in with a stern attitude."
Stern adults got Shannon to the peak of his profession at age 40. A fourth-grade teacher told him, "You're very smart -- don't let anyone tell you different." A fifth-grade teacher, disapproving his choice of clothes one day, said, "Don't ever come to school like that again." When he was in junior high school, his football coach took the team to play a team in a juvenile detention center, a sobering experience.
Shannon's rules for his players include: If you miss a class, you don't start the next game. Fall below a certain grade-point average, you can't set foot off campus. A conservatively dressed man, with the elegant hands of a surgeon or pianist, Shannon wants his players to learn "how to respect life," so when "they leave the university and the football program, they will go with confidence." They will go, all of them, having taken a public speaking course.
Duffy Daugherty, who coached Michigan State from 1954 through 1972, was an aphorist ("Football is not a contact sport, it's a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport.") and a realist. Because of alumni demands for football perfection, Daugherty said: "A football coach's main problem is that he is responsible to irresponsible people." Shannon, who like 80 percent of his players is African American, feels responsible to, and for, them.
One of my mentors says this to youth all the time:
"What about life after sports"
That question is and should be the most important.
Gswede
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 04, 2007
Coaching Players For Life
By George Will
MIAMI -- Occasionally -- very occasionally -- a football person says something that punctures the fog of George Patton-style rhetoric that football people emit. Before a Super Bowl in the 1970s (the MCMLXXs, for those of you in a Super Bowl frame of mind), Dallas Cowboys running back Duane Thomas asked a subversive question about the game: "If it's the ultimate, how come they're playing it again next year?"
But most football people, and especially football coaches, are of the "Football Is Not a Matter of Life and Death -- It's More Important Than That" school of thought. However, when Randy Shannon, recently named head coach of the University of Miami Hurricanes, says that football can be a matter of life and death, that is not hyperbole, it is autobiography.
Shannon, 40, grew up in Miami's Liberty City, which is what sociologists and other refined thinkers call a challenging urban environment. Shannon was 3 when his father was murdered by one of his friends. "They had an argument," Shannon says matter-of-factly. Two of Shannon's brothers and a sister died, from cocaine and AIDS. By age 16, Shannon was a father. He could easily have been on a path to a prison or a cemetery. Instead, because of football, he went to the University of Miami and became the first member of his family to earn a college degree.
After a brief NFL career with the Cowboys, he went into coaching, and now he is hopscotching around the country recruiting high school seniors, many of whom think college football is a certain path to the NFL. "That," says Shannon, "is the mentality that has to change." Fewer than 2 percent of even Division I college football players will have NFL careers, and most of those who do will be out of the game by the time they are 30 -- the average NFL career lasts less than four years.
The Post's Amy Shipley reports that the University of Miami has more players -- 42 -- on NFL rosters than any other school. Miami's main rival -- the Florida State Seminoles (a T-shirt favored by Miami students reads: "I think, therefore I am not a 'Nole") -- is second with 41. The University of Florida ranks seventh with 35. But in the past 10 years, those three teams have had, combined, more than 1,000 players, all of them exceptional athletes but most of them not of NFL caliber. Which is why Shannon says that when visiting the home of a potential recruit, "I talk to the parents about everything but football."
On a recent day, Shannon was in the Palm Beach area recruiting a wide receiver and then was off to Omaha to make sure that a very large lineman was still eager to be a Hurricane.
Because South Florida is the incubator of so much high school talent (skill positions, Shannon says; for linemen, look to the Midwest, hence the Nebraska trip), during the off-season many NFL players come home to train at the University of Miami's facilities. Shannon says his players "see the fancy cars, the gold chains," so as he takes over Miami's football program, he plans to "come in with a stern attitude."
Stern adults got Shannon to the peak of his profession at age 40. A fourth-grade teacher told him, "You're very smart -- don't let anyone tell you different." A fifth-grade teacher, disapproving his choice of clothes one day, said, "Don't ever come to school like that again." When he was in junior high school, his football coach took the team to play a team in a juvenile detention center, a sobering experience.
Shannon's rules for his players include: If you miss a class, you don't start the next game. Fall below a certain grade-point average, you can't set foot off campus. A conservatively dressed man, with the elegant hands of a surgeon or pianist, Shannon wants his players to learn "how to respect life," so when "they leave the university and the football program, they will go with confidence." They will go, all of them, having taken a public speaking course.
Duffy Daugherty, who coached Michigan State from 1954 through 1972, was an aphorist ("Football is not a contact sport, it's a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport.") and a realist. Because of alumni demands for football perfection, Daugherty said: "A football coach's main problem is that he is responsible to irresponsible people." Shannon, who like 80 percent of his players is African American, feels responsible to, and for, them.
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