There will be no playoff for the BCS anytime soon.
Bowl Championship Series officials rejected a plan Wednesday to turn the controversial system for deciding a national champ into a four-team playoff, starting in the 2010 season.
"After a very thorough very good discussion among the group, we have decided that because we feel at this time the BCS is in an unprecedented state of health, we feel it's never been healthier during its first decade," Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford said. "We have made a decision to move forward in the next cycle with the current format."
Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive presented a plan Wednesday to the other league commissioners for a plus-one format, matching the No. 1 team in the nation against No. 4 and 2 vs. 3 in the marquee bowl games. The winners would meet about a week later in the BCS national championship game.
"I'm not unhappy," Slive said. "There's no such thing as standing pat. I think we've done a service.
"I can't say I'm surprised."
In the current BCS format, the top two teams in the BCS standings - which use polls and computer ratings to grade teams - after the regular season are matched in the BCS national title game.
I think this is absolutely rediculous....but it's a debate that's been more overdone than "pro life vs. pro choice" so I don't really feel like getting too in depth with how I feel about this....but I do think there should be some sort of playoff to determine an ACTUAL champion.
Brad Thibeau
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
USHL Playoff Update
The Chicago Steel were swept by the Waterloo Blackhawks in the second round. 2009 Maine recruit Mark Anthoine had no points in the series.
The Omaha Lancers and the Lincoln Stars have each won two games. The Lancers have Will O'Neil and Joe Diamond who will be attending Maine next year. O'Neil has four points including one goal in eight games. Diamond has one goal in eight games.
Ryan Hegarty who was apart of the National Team Development Program was ranked the 186th best player in North America by NHL Central Scouting. He was the only Maine recruit named to the list.
Nathan Fournier
The Omaha Lancers and the Lincoln Stars have each won two games. The Lancers have Will O'Neil and Joe Diamond who will be attending Maine next year. O'Neil has four points including one goal in eight games. Diamond has one goal in eight games.
Ryan Hegarty who was apart of the National Team Development Program was ranked the 186th best player in North America by NHL Central Scouting. He was the only Maine recruit named to the list.
Nathan Fournier
Team USA Gets Ready for the World Championships
Sunday night in Portland, Maine hockey fans saw a treat. The United States National Men’s Team played their first game on home soil since 2o04 where they faced Finland in Minneapolis in the World Cup. Yesterday was an exhibition game against Sweden. Team USA defeated Sweden 5-1. Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) had a goal and an highlight reel assist. His linemate Peter Mueller (Phoenix Coyotes) had a goal and two assists. Nathan Gerbe who led Boston College to the National Championship also had a goal and an assist. Sweden goal came from former Minnesota Wild and New York Islander Mattias Weinhandl.
When I first looked at the United States roster I thought they would be a middle of a pack team. The average age is 24.6. Patrick Kane and Peter Mueller looked like they have been playing together their entire lives. They both came from the National Team Development Program and were linemates at the 2007 World Junior Championships. Zach Parise (New Jersey) should also be an offensive spark to this team. This team could be challenging for a Gold Medal. Hopefully their goaltending will be stable with Craig Anderson, Tim Thomas, and Robert Esche. They will have to find away past Canada and Russia who are probably the favorites.
I was expecting more from Sweden because half the team played in Sweden this season. They played in other international events this season. With the NHL additions they still came out flat. Mikael Tellqvist (Phoenix Coyotes) showed why he’s a back up goalie in the NHL. Dustin Brown’s (LA Kings) goal went through the five hole. Patrick Kane’s goal was also weak. Mueller won the draw passed it to Kane and it deflected over Tellqvist’s head into the net. He did make a nice save in the first period where he made a nice diving save. Patrick O’Sullivan (LA Kings) was able to score on he rebound to make it 2-0.
I have to give major props to the Swedish fans that made the trip. There were about 200 Swedish fans but it felt like 2,000 fans. Every Swedish fan in that building sung their National Anthem. It was embarrassing to see no American fans sing the American anthem. They were chanting throughout the game. I thought I was at the Gold Medal game and not an exhibition game.
The problem I had with Team USA is where are the name plates on the jerseys? For the first period instead of enjoying the game I was trying to find out who’s who. Poor management by USA Hockey and the arena staff only printing out 500 Game day rosters. 5,300 fans showed up and only printed enough rosters for 10.3% of the crowd. Most of the people that went to the game were casual hockey fans and probably didn’t know half the players on Team USA. Another interesting note the name plate on the Swedish jersey is below the numbers. Phil Kessel got the loudest ovation from the crowd. Nathan Gerbe got the second loudest ovation which I found strange coming from a BC player. Mark Stuart a Bruin was third.
Nathan Gerbe and Matt Gilroy of Boston University are apart of Team USA for training camp purposes only. I think Gerbe has the better chance out of the two to make the team. The tournament starts on May 2nd.
That’s My Take
Nathan Fournier
Flaherty Making His Mark
Ever hear anyone talk about how no good athletes come out of Maine? Well Ryan Flaherty has a little something to say about this. Flaherty, a graduate of Deering High School in Portland, has been in the starting lineup for Vanderbilt University since the second he stepped on campus.
Ryan's freshman year he was named an honorable mention Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball after leading the Commodores with a .339 batting average and 19 doubles (second on team). He also had two homers, 49 RBI and a .421 on base percentage in 62 games played and led the team with 22 multi-hit and 15 multi-RBI games.
Last year Vandy held the #1 rank from preseason all the way until the post season. Ryan ended up a Second-team All-America selection by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rivals.com. He was also named to ABCA All-South Region team and second-team All-SEC. He batted .381 with 23 doubles, four homers and 57 RBI and finished the year with a school single season record 35-game hitting streak ... 23 doubles tied for most on the team ... Led the team with 33 multi-hit and 20 multi RBI games on the year. However, Vanderbilt was upset in the first round of the tournament.
This year, Ryan was named a preseason first team All American and is viewed as THE best shortstop in college baseball.
Whoever says Maine can't produce a good athlete should check out one of his games, but if you're feeling a little too lazy to do so...just wait a couple years. He'll be on your TV.
Brad Thibeau
Ryan's freshman year he was named an honorable mention Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball after leading the Commodores with a .339 batting average and 19 doubles (second on team). He also had two homers, 49 RBI and a .421 on base percentage in 62 games played and led the team with 22 multi-hit and 15 multi-RBI games.
Last year Vandy held the #1 rank from preseason all the way until the post season. Ryan ended up a Second-team All-America selection by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rivals.com. He was also named to ABCA All-South Region team and second-team All-SEC. He batted .381 with 23 doubles, four homers and 57 RBI and finished the year with a school single season record 35-game hitting streak ... 23 doubles tied for most on the team ... Led the team with 33 multi-hit and 20 multi RBI games on the year. However, Vanderbilt was upset in the first round of the tournament.
This year, Ryan was named a preseason first team All American and is viewed as THE best shortstop in college baseball.
Whoever says Maine can't produce a good athlete should check out one of his games, but if you're feeling a little too lazy to do so...just wait a couple years. He'll be on your TV.
Brad Thibeau
The First Black Coach Of Divison I Program Dies
Will Robinson, the first black coach of a divison I basketball program has died at the age of 96. Robinson broke down racial barriers back in the 70's when he became the coach of Illinois State.
Robinson was also a scout in the NBA for the Detroit Pistons, and is credited with finding the likes of Dennis Rodman, and Joe Dumars. Robinson remained a scout for the Piston's organization for 28 years, until he joined the Detroit Lions as a scout.
Midway through the 2003-04 season, the Pistons renamed their locker room the "Will Robinson Locker Room of Champions."
All in all Will Robinson was a civil rights pioneer that was beloved in Detroit and will no doubt be missed.
Adam Smith
Robinson was also a scout in the NBA for the Detroit Pistons, and is credited with finding the likes of Dennis Rodman, and Joe Dumars. Robinson remained a scout for the Piston's organization for 28 years, until he joined the Detroit Lions as a scout.
Midway through the 2003-04 season, the Pistons renamed their locker room the "Will Robinson Locker Room of Champions."
All in all Will Robinson was a civil rights pioneer that was beloved in Detroit and will no doubt be missed.
Adam Smith
UCLA's Collison To Return For Senior Season
UCLA guard Darren Collison has announced that he plans on returning for his senior season. Collison averaged 15.2 points and 3.9 assists this past season for the Bruins and was a third-team All-American.
Collison has come out and said that he did not make this decision because of the deep draft class this year. With Collison coming back this will give the Bruins at least one starter from last year's team that lost to Memphis in the Final Four.
Kevin Love, another UCLA superstar, declared for the draft already. So for the Bruins to get Collison back, it's a huge sigh of relief.
Adam Smith
Collison has come out and said that he did not make this decision because of the deep draft class this year. With Collison coming back this will give the Bruins at least one starter from last year's team that lost to Memphis in the Final Four.
Kevin Love, another UCLA superstar, declared for the draft already. So for the Bruins to get Collison back, it's a huge sigh of relief.
Adam Smith
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Sportsmanship is Important
A question was raised asking people if losing with sportsmanship was more impressive then winning without it. I believe that it is important to lose with sportsmanship because it allows the student-athlete the opportunity to build character. It also shows them that it is okay to lose. You do not always have to win. If you can lose a game with sportsmanship, it shows future employers and teammates that you can accept rejection all right without going crazy in the locker room after the game. If you win a game without sportsmanship, it could show that you will do whatever it takes to win a game even if that means injuring your own teammates along the way.
Mark Zadakis
Mark Zadakis
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