The 22nd annual SEC Championship game features two very unlikely opponents in Atlanta: The East champion Missouri Tigers (11-1, 7-1) against the West champion Auburn Tigers (11-1, 7-1).
Both were coming off a poor season in 2012 particularly Auburn which posted a 3-9 record forcing former HC Gene Chizik out after four years on the job and just two years after winning the BCS National title game.
Missouri, in only its second season in the SEC, was not expected to win the division with established programs such as back-to-back East champion Georgia, defending co-East champ Florida and Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks in the way but Missouri managed to beat both Georgia and Florida and came close to beating South Carolina.
Meanwhile Auburn punched its ticket to Atlanta on what is probably the most unlikely play in football history on a missed field goal return against Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide dynasty.
Missouri HC Gary Pinkel has done a fine job since he arrived 14 years ago with nine bowl appearances, two Big-12 North titles and four bowl victories.
Auburn will be making its fifth SEC title game appearance (1997, 2000, 2004, 2010, 2013) . The Tigers won in 2004 and 2010. The 2004 team went on to win the BCS Sugar Bowl and an undefeated season under Tommy Tuberville and the 2010 team went on to the BCS National Title game.
Missouri will be making its third conference title game appearance (2007, 2008, 2013) but its first SEC title game.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
AFC and NFC South Updates
At the three quarter mark of the season one of the NFL's southern divisions are almost decided while the other is still up for grabs.
The Indianapolis Colts (8-4) led by QB Andrew Luck have a three-game lead over the Tennessee Titans with four games left. Any combination of an Indy win or Tennessee defeat will give the Colts the division. The Colts look to return to its domination of the AFC South after the 2011 transition year. Since 2012 Indianapolis is 19-9 overall and not dropped consecutive games since Andrew Luck was drafted two years ago.
The Titans (5-7) have an outside chance at a wild card but will travel to Denver to face the Broncos and Peyton Manning this sunday. Jacksonville (3-9) has won three straight games and will host the Houston Texans on Thursday night (2-9). After two straight AFC South titles (2011-2012) Houston is having their worst season since the arrival of HC Gary Kubiak eight years ago.
Meanwhile in the NFC South the co-leaders Carolina Panthers (9-3) and New Orleans Saints (9-3) face each other on sunday night in the Superdome in the first of two "mano to mano" games in the next three weeks.
Carolina has clinched its first winning season since 2008 while New Orleans hopes to make it back to the playoffs after a one year absence.
The unusual stat about the defending NFC South champion continues which is no defending NFC South champ has repeated since the division began in 2002. The Atlanta Falcons, the 2012 NFC South winner, is experiencing its worst season in the Mike Smith/ Matt Ryan era.
2002: Tampa Bay
2003: Carolina
2004: Atlanta
2005: Tampa Bay/Carolina
2006: New Orleans
2007: Tampa Bay
2008: Carolina
2009: New Orleans
2010: Atlanta
2011: New Orleans
2012: Atlanta
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers come off a 27-6 loss to Carolina after winning three straight games following an 0-8 start.
The Indianapolis Colts (8-4) led by QB Andrew Luck have a three-game lead over the Tennessee Titans with four games left. Any combination of an Indy win or Tennessee defeat will give the Colts the division. The Colts look to return to its domination of the AFC South after the 2011 transition year. Since 2012 Indianapolis is 19-9 overall and not dropped consecutive games since Andrew Luck was drafted two years ago.
The Titans (5-7) have an outside chance at a wild card but will travel to Denver to face the Broncos and Peyton Manning this sunday. Jacksonville (3-9) has won three straight games and will host the Houston Texans on Thursday night (2-9). After two straight AFC South titles (2011-2012) Houston is having their worst season since the arrival of HC Gary Kubiak eight years ago.
Meanwhile in the NFC South the co-leaders Carolina Panthers (9-3) and New Orleans Saints (9-3) face each other on sunday night in the Superdome in the first of two "mano to mano" games in the next three weeks.
Carolina has clinched its first winning season since 2008 while New Orleans hopes to make it back to the playoffs after a one year absence.
The unusual stat about the defending NFC South champion continues which is no defending NFC South champ has repeated since the division began in 2002. The Atlanta Falcons, the 2012 NFC South winner, is experiencing its worst season in the Mike Smith/ Matt Ryan era.
2002: Tampa Bay
2003: Carolina
2004: Atlanta
2005: Tampa Bay/Carolina
2006: New Orleans
2007: Tampa Bay
2008: Carolina
2009: New Orleans
2010: Atlanta
2011: New Orleans
2012: Atlanta
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers come off a 27-6 loss to Carolina after winning three straight games following an 0-8 start.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Arizona Clinches Eighth Arena Bowl Appearance
The Arizona Rattlers will defend their title next Saturday in Orlando against the Philadelphia Soul in a re-match of the 2012 Arena Bowl after a 65-57 victory over the Spokane Shock.
Arizona came from behind after trailing 21-7 to take a 58-28 lead and held on the rest of the way as Head Coach Kevin Guy continues his rebuilding job of a franchise that has come a long way since falling off the map before the 2009 hiatus.
Between 1993 and 2004 winning years, playoffs, Arena Bowls and championships were commonplace in Phoenix as the clubs' first skipper Danny White led the team to 12 straight postseason appearances, 10 semi-final/conference title games, five Arena Bowls including three straight (2002-2004) and two championships (1994, 1997).
White could not have done it without his players particularly his on the field extension QB Sherdrick Bonner. Bonner played under the former NFL great's tutelage for most of his career as the two were paired together for 12 years until White's departure from the Rattlers in 2004 after three straight defeats in the Arena Bowl.
Although Bonner stayed for three more years the franchise became a shadow of its former self in the post-White years between 2005 and 2008. In those four seasons Arizona failed to post a winning year and made the playoffs only twice (2006, 2008) going 8-8 both times. There wasn't much postseason success in those two years either however in 2006 the Rattlers beat their former mentor White in the first round when he coached the expansion Utah club.
The seeds of today's greatness were sown as Kevin Guy became the new sheriff in town as he led the team from a 4-12 record in 2007 to 8-8 and 2008. Guy, a former AFL player, had one year of coaching experience in 2000. In 2009 the AFL went on hiatus and its future was in question but in 2010 both the league and the Arizona franchise were reborn with the signing of current QB Nick Davila who had spent the previous two years with Spokane.
Davila led the Rattlers to their first winning record in 2010 (10-6) and first Arena Bowl appearance in 2011 since the ill fated 2004 season. The 2011 season was bittersweet as Arizona posted a 16-2 record and came within a minute of a third Arena Bowl title as they lost to Jacksonville.
2012 would be a different story as Guy and Davila made it back to the playoffs for a third straight year and that time there would be no late game drama as the Rattlers won Arena Bowl XXV 72-54 to show that the once great AFL franchise was back on the map.
This year Arizona rolled through the regular season at 15-3 and now seeks to become the third AFL franchise to win its fourth Arena Bowl title but what is more obvious now is how the franchise has re-established itself as an AFL power which means they could be a contender for years to come.
Arizona came from behind after trailing 21-7 to take a 58-28 lead and held on the rest of the way as Head Coach Kevin Guy continues his rebuilding job of a franchise that has come a long way since falling off the map before the 2009 hiatus.
Between 1993 and 2004 winning years, playoffs, Arena Bowls and championships were commonplace in Phoenix as the clubs' first skipper Danny White led the team to 12 straight postseason appearances, 10 semi-final/conference title games, five Arena Bowls including three straight (2002-2004) and two championships (1994, 1997).
White could not have done it without his players particularly his on the field extension QB Sherdrick Bonner. Bonner played under the former NFL great's tutelage for most of his career as the two were paired together for 12 years until White's departure from the Rattlers in 2004 after three straight defeats in the Arena Bowl.
Although Bonner stayed for three more years the franchise became a shadow of its former self in the post-White years between 2005 and 2008. In those four seasons Arizona failed to post a winning year and made the playoffs only twice (2006, 2008) going 8-8 both times. There wasn't much postseason success in those two years either however in 2006 the Rattlers beat their former mentor White in the first round when he coached the expansion Utah club.
The seeds of today's greatness were sown as Kevin Guy became the new sheriff in town as he led the team from a 4-12 record in 2007 to 8-8 and 2008. Guy, a former AFL player, had one year of coaching experience in 2000. In 2009 the AFL went on hiatus and its future was in question but in 2010 both the league and the Arizona franchise were reborn with the signing of current QB Nick Davila who had spent the previous two years with Spokane.
Davila led the Rattlers to their first winning record in 2010 (10-6) and first Arena Bowl appearance in 2011 since the ill fated 2004 season. The 2011 season was bittersweet as Arizona posted a 16-2 record and came within a minute of a third Arena Bowl title as they lost to Jacksonville.
2012 would be a different story as Guy and Davila made it back to the playoffs for a third straight year and that time there would be no late game drama as the Rattlers won Arena Bowl XXV 72-54 to show that the once great AFL franchise was back on the map.
This year Arizona rolled through the regular season at 15-3 and now seeks to become the third AFL franchise to win its fourth Arena Bowl title but what is more obvious now is how the franchise has re-established itself as an AFL power which means they could be a contender for years to come.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Texas Longhorns in 2014
It was the best of times it was the worst of times would be a fitting way to describe the first 15-years of Mack Brown's tenure as the skipper of the Texas Longhorns football program.
First, his regular season record at Texas is 149-48 which is a mark that at least 99% of all football coaches would love to have. Second, he's won a national title (2005) and appeared in another national title game (2009). Third he took a program that had been a mediocre underachiever for a over decade and put it back into the national spotlight.
Unfortunately, for Brown expectations in the Lone Star State are consistently sky high to the point of being unrealistic. No one besides Nick Saban (apparently) can win the national title every year. He has also had the misfortune of having to coach against one of the top coaches in college football, Bob Stoops. Brown is 5-9 vs. his Norman counterpart and 6-9 overall against the Sooners.
After the disappointing 2009 BCS National title game UT fell off the map in 2010 going 5-7 as Brown missed his first bowl game since he arrived in Austin 12 years earlier. The program entered 2011 at a crossroads with Brown given the chance to bring the program back to prominence amid the flurry of changes in the Big-12 as well as throughout the college football landscape.
Texas' creation of the Longhorn Network caused a rift between them and other charter Big-12 members as Colorado moved to the Pac-12, Nebraska went to the Big-10 and the Longhorns main in-state rival Texas A&M going to the SEC. Since then former SWC rival TCU and West Virginia have filled the void in the conference.
The big question for Texas is where do they go from here? Are they a program on the rise just like they were when Brown came to Austin in 1998 or are they going towards mediocrity the way they were between 1984 until Brown's arrival?
Based on sheer numbers Texas is on a steady climb upward. In 2010 they slumped at 5-7, then improved by two wins in 2011 going 7-5 and then improved again in 2012 with an 8-4 record. In both 2011 and 2012 UT won bowl games (Holiday and Alamo). But after a spending most of the 2000's in the top 10 the fans are expecting an encore performance from Mack Brown and wont be content with 8-4 seasons and minor bowl wins.
First, his regular season record at Texas is 149-48 which is a mark that at least 99% of all football coaches would love to have. Second, he's won a national title (2005) and appeared in another national title game (2009). Third he took a program that had been a mediocre underachiever for a over decade and put it back into the national spotlight.
Unfortunately, for Brown expectations in the Lone Star State are consistently sky high to the point of being unrealistic. No one besides Nick Saban (apparently) can win the national title every year. He has also had the misfortune of having to coach against one of the top coaches in college football, Bob Stoops. Brown is 5-9 vs. his Norman counterpart and 6-9 overall against the Sooners.
After the disappointing 2009 BCS National title game UT fell off the map in 2010 going 5-7 as Brown missed his first bowl game since he arrived in Austin 12 years earlier. The program entered 2011 at a crossroads with Brown given the chance to bring the program back to prominence amid the flurry of changes in the Big-12 as well as throughout the college football landscape.
Texas' creation of the Longhorn Network caused a rift between them and other charter Big-12 members as Colorado moved to the Pac-12, Nebraska went to the Big-10 and the Longhorns main in-state rival Texas A&M going to the SEC. Since then former SWC rival TCU and West Virginia have filled the void in the conference.
The big question for Texas is where do they go from here? Are they a program on the rise just like they were when Brown came to Austin in 1998 or are they going towards mediocrity the way they were between 1984 until Brown's arrival?
Based on sheer numbers Texas is on a steady climb upward. In 2010 they slumped at 5-7, then improved by two wins in 2011 going 7-5 and then improved again in 2012 with an 8-4 record. In both 2011 and 2012 UT won bowl games (Holiday and Alamo). But after a spending most of the 2000's in the top 10 the fans are expecting an encore performance from Mack Brown and wont be content with 8-4 seasons and minor bowl wins.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Classic NFL Game: 1982 Playoffs
Its hard to believe that its been two months since the last blog entry but I wanted to review a classic NFL game that I had never seen in its entirety and only a few minutes.
On youtube I found the 1982 St Louis Cardinals/ Green Bay Packers first round playoff game during the strike season when 16 teams made the postseason in a nine game regular season.
This was the first time that not all the playoff games were shown in each market because of the number of games in the first round that were being shown four at a time. Locally we received the Detroit Lions/Washington Redskins game but as that became a blowout CBS switched to the Cardinals/Packers Green Bay just scored to take a 21-3 lead forcing CBS to switch back to the other blowout.
Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris called the Cardinal/Packer game while Dick Stockton/Roger Staubach called the Lion/Redskin game. St Louis was in its first playoff game since 1976 while Green Bay was in its first since 1972. The Cards were led by Coach Jim Hanifan and quarterback Neil Lomax while the Pack was coached by Bart Starr and quarterbacked by Lynn Dickey.
This game represented the Golden Age of CBS Sports coverage of NFL as the graphics had improved and featured the early 1980's intro. No constant scores, no fantasy updates, no obnoxious graphics or sound effects. St Louis actually outgained Green Bay in total yardage while the Packers won big 41-16.
The Cards would not return to the postseason until 1998 while the Packers would not return until 1993.
There are over 2128 regular season games and 96 postseason games from the 1980's that the NFL Network needs to show instead of the same old news and top 10 lists.
On youtube I found the 1982 St Louis Cardinals/ Green Bay Packers first round playoff game during the strike season when 16 teams made the postseason in a nine game regular season.
This was the first time that not all the playoff games were shown in each market because of the number of games in the first round that were being shown four at a time. Locally we received the Detroit Lions/Washington Redskins game but as that became a blowout CBS switched to the Cardinals/Packers Green Bay just scored to take a 21-3 lead forcing CBS to switch back to the other blowout.
Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris called the Cardinal/Packer game while Dick Stockton/Roger Staubach called the Lion/Redskin game. St Louis was in its first playoff game since 1976 while Green Bay was in its first since 1972. The Cards were led by Coach Jim Hanifan and quarterback Neil Lomax while the Pack was coached by Bart Starr and quarterbacked by Lynn Dickey.
This game represented the Golden Age of CBS Sports coverage of NFL as the graphics had improved and featured the early 1980's intro. No constant scores, no fantasy updates, no obnoxious graphics or sound effects. St Louis actually outgained Green Bay in total yardage while the Packers won big 41-16.
The Cards would not return to the postseason until 1998 while the Packers would not return until 1993.
There are over 2128 regular season games and 96 postseason games from the 1980's that the NFL Network needs to show instead of the same old news and top 10 lists.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Intradivision Major League Baseball in Texas
By Keith Antigiovanni
Two years ago baseball commissioner Bud Selig eliminated any chance of an all-Texas World Series when the he coerced the Astros into the American League. Sorry to my fellow Texans but there wont be a Lone Star version of the "Subway Series" or the "Freeway Series" or even the "Battle of I-70".
Because for the first time in major league baseball's long and storied history two clubs from the state of Texas will face each other as division rivals in the American League West when the Texas Rangers faces its neighbors to the southeast, the Houston Astros in Houston on Easter night to beging first a three game series.
On paper this looks like a mismatch as the Rangers come off a third straight postseason appearance and fourth straight winning season including two straight World Series in 2010-2011 while the Astros are currently in the franchises worst stretches since the expansion years of the 1960's and early 1970's even though Houston has also been to a World Series this past decade.
Although the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston will be division rivals for the first time this year the history of professional baseball in Texas tells us otherwise. For the record, before MLB expanded to a national game, the cities of Dallas,Fort Worth and Houston housed "minor league" clubs from the dawn of the 20th Century up until the early 1960's.
Dallas,Fort Worth, Houston, all members of the AA Texas League dominated on the field and established fierce rivalries with each other. Dallas and Fort Worth were both charters members of the second Texas League which began in 1902 while Houston was a charter member of the South Texas League. In 1907, the two leagues came together like peanut butter and chocolate to form, what else? The Texas League.
Dallas and Houston established itself early on as dominant clubs until 1919 when Fort Worth aka "Atz Cats" after their manager Jake Atz won 7 straight regular season pennants through 1925 and won five of six Dixie Series against the champion from the Southern Association.
Houston would become a powerhouse in the Post War years winning four pennants, five playoff titles and three Dixie Series until its move up to AAA in 1959 when it joined the American Association along with Dallas and Fort Worth.
The three clubs move to the American Association was in response to being named charter franchises in the proposed third major league, the Continental League, however it new league never got off the ground but Houston was awarded an expansion franchise in the National League (1962) along while Dallas and Fort Worth had to wait 10 more years until it the former expansion Washington Senators moved to North Texas after the 1971 season.
From 1972 through 2001 the two clubs rarely met and only co-existed in the nation's second biggest state until interleague play arrived in the late 1990's but didnt meet until 2001. Since then the Rangers lead the "Lone Star Series" 43-30.
Football is still king in Texas with the Cowboys neverending popularity and the Texans rise to relevance but these teams only meet every four years and now with Texas A&M in the SEC the state's greatest football rivalry is gone. Hopefully America's Pastime can fill the void as the Rangers seek to continue as one of baseball's elite while the Astros try to adjust to the AL.
Two years ago baseball commissioner Bud Selig eliminated any chance of an all-Texas World Series when the he coerced the Astros into the American League. Sorry to my fellow Texans but there wont be a Lone Star version of the "Subway Series" or the "Freeway Series" or even the "Battle of I-70".
Because for the first time in major league baseball's long and storied history two clubs from the state of Texas will face each other as division rivals in the American League West when the Texas Rangers faces its neighbors to the southeast, the Houston Astros in Houston on Easter night to beging first a three game series.
On paper this looks like a mismatch as the Rangers come off a third straight postseason appearance and fourth straight winning season including two straight World Series in 2010-2011 while the Astros are currently in the franchises worst stretches since the expansion years of the 1960's and early 1970's even though Houston has also been to a World Series this past decade.
Although the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston will be division rivals for the first time this year the history of professional baseball in Texas tells us otherwise. For the record, before MLB expanded to a national game, the cities of Dallas,Fort Worth and Houston housed "minor league" clubs from the dawn of the 20th Century up until the early 1960's.
Dallas,Fort Worth, Houston, all members of the AA Texas League dominated on the field and established fierce rivalries with each other. Dallas and Fort Worth were both charters members of the second Texas League which began in 1902 while Houston was a charter member of the South Texas League. In 1907, the two leagues came together like peanut butter and chocolate to form, what else? The Texas League.
Dallas and Houston established itself early on as dominant clubs until 1919 when Fort Worth aka "Atz Cats" after their manager Jake Atz won 7 straight regular season pennants through 1925 and won five of six Dixie Series against the champion from the Southern Association.
Houston would become a powerhouse in the Post War years winning four pennants, five playoff titles and three Dixie Series until its move up to AAA in 1959 when it joined the American Association along with Dallas and Fort Worth.
The three clubs move to the American Association was in response to being named charter franchises in the proposed third major league, the Continental League, however it new league never got off the ground but Houston was awarded an expansion franchise in the National League (1962) along while Dallas and Fort Worth had to wait 10 more years until it the former expansion Washington Senators moved to North Texas after the 1971 season.
From 1972 through 2001 the two clubs rarely met and only co-existed in the nation's second biggest state until interleague play arrived in the late 1990's but didnt meet until 2001. Since then the Rangers lead the "Lone Star Series" 43-30.
Football is still king in Texas with the Cowboys neverending popularity and the Texans rise to relevance but these teams only meet every four years and now with Texas A&M in the SEC the state's greatest football rivalry is gone. Hopefully America's Pastime can fill the void as the Rangers seek to continue as one of baseball's elite while the Astros try to adjust to the AL.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Super Bowl IV Review
Its hard to believe that its been four months since the latest blog entry but this one reviews the broadcast of Super Bowl IV covered by CBS on January 11, 1970.
First of all it was interesting to hear the late great Jack Buck (play-by-play) teamed with future great Pat Summerall (analyst) for this game. Buck and Summerall were a broadcasting team on CBS in the late 1960's. The Buck/Summerall pairing reminded me a lot of FOX current No.1 broadcast team Joe Buck and Troy Aikman and made me think that if Summerall could make the transition to play-by-play why not Aikman?
Summerall and Aikman have low-key, no frill personalities and at times the Buck/Aikman team can be dull since both men sound alike the way Jack Buck and Summerall did. Of course it was CBS policy in the 1960's and 1970's that the play-by-play man was a professional announcer while the analyst was a former athlete.
This changed in 1974 when Summerall was teamed with another former player Tom Brookshier. This team lasted until 1981 when CBS broke them up and paired Summerall with former Oakland Raiders Head Coach John Madden and Brookshier was promoted to play-by-play.
Summerall would go to work two more Super Bowls as an analyst for CBS working with another late great announcer (Ray Scott) in Super Bowls VI and VIII.
As for the game itself, it was easy watching and easy listening. The Kansas City Chiefs took a 16-0 lead in the first half while the Minnesota Vikings tried to make a game ot it with a touchdown in the third quarter but the Chiefs sealed the game on a Len Dawson to Otis Taylor touchdown pass late in the third. The Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp tried but was harried by the KC pass rush and threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter.
This game is not very memorable except for the fact that it was the final game played before the NFL and AFL became one league and for the NFL Films version of it with a miked up Hank Stram saying "65 Toss Power Trap" or "matriculate the ball down the field."
Kansas City's 23-7 win was the high point for Hank Stram's coaching career with is very underrated in today's press. Stram was the first head coach for the Dallas Texans/ Chiefs franchise and was the closest thing the AFL had that could be compared to the NFL's Vince Lombardi.
The Chiefs had the best winning percentage in the AFL and the most titles with three (1962, 1966, 1969). They even faced Lombardi's Packers in Super Bowl I only to be dismissed, 35-10, in what was a close first half. Stram would leave the Chiefs after 1974.
The other team in this game, the Minnesota Vikings, made its first Super Bowl appearance but it would preview the fortunes of the franchise for the 1970's. The Vikings would go on to dominate the NFC Central the next decade winning 8 division titles and would make three more Super Bowl appearances only to lose them all in convincing fashion.
Ah, yes how I can I forget the Super Bowl commercials. First of all there werent that many, maybe 20 during the entire broadcast. You might ask how that can be? Easy answer. Most commercial breaks contained only one commercial and they were each about a minute long. The ads were mostly car, beer and insurance but the big difference between the ads from 1970 and todays are that the ones from 1970 dont insult you're intelligence and were not loud, violent or obnoxious.
If you get a chance, go to youtube and watch Super Bowl IV, it is not a great game but it is very easy on the ears.
First of all it was interesting to hear the late great Jack Buck (play-by-play) teamed with future great Pat Summerall (analyst) for this game. Buck and Summerall were a broadcasting team on CBS in the late 1960's. The Buck/Summerall pairing reminded me a lot of FOX current No.1 broadcast team Joe Buck and Troy Aikman and made me think that if Summerall could make the transition to play-by-play why not Aikman?
Summerall and Aikman have low-key, no frill personalities and at times the Buck/Aikman team can be dull since both men sound alike the way Jack Buck and Summerall did. Of course it was CBS policy in the 1960's and 1970's that the play-by-play man was a professional announcer while the analyst was a former athlete.
This changed in 1974 when Summerall was teamed with another former player Tom Brookshier. This team lasted until 1981 when CBS broke them up and paired Summerall with former Oakland Raiders Head Coach John Madden and Brookshier was promoted to play-by-play.
Summerall would go to work two more Super Bowls as an analyst for CBS working with another late great announcer (Ray Scott) in Super Bowls VI and VIII.
As for the game itself, it was easy watching and easy listening. The Kansas City Chiefs took a 16-0 lead in the first half while the Minnesota Vikings tried to make a game ot it with a touchdown in the third quarter but the Chiefs sealed the game on a Len Dawson to Otis Taylor touchdown pass late in the third. The Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp tried but was harried by the KC pass rush and threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter.
This game is not very memorable except for the fact that it was the final game played before the NFL and AFL became one league and for the NFL Films version of it with a miked up Hank Stram saying "65 Toss Power Trap" or "matriculate the ball down the field."
Kansas City's 23-7 win was the high point for Hank Stram's coaching career with is very underrated in today's press. Stram was the first head coach for the Dallas Texans/ Chiefs franchise and was the closest thing the AFL had that could be compared to the NFL's Vince Lombardi.
The Chiefs had the best winning percentage in the AFL and the most titles with three (1962, 1966, 1969). They even faced Lombardi's Packers in Super Bowl I only to be dismissed, 35-10, in what was a close first half. Stram would leave the Chiefs after 1974.
The other team in this game, the Minnesota Vikings, made its first Super Bowl appearance but it would preview the fortunes of the franchise for the 1970's. The Vikings would go on to dominate the NFC Central the next decade winning 8 division titles and would make three more Super Bowl appearances only to lose them all in convincing fashion.
Ah, yes how I can I forget the Super Bowl commercials. First of all there werent that many, maybe 20 during the entire broadcast. You might ask how that can be? Easy answer. Most commercial breaks contained only one commercial and they were each about a minute long. The ads were mostly car, beer and insurance but the big difference between the ads from 1970 and todays are that the ones from 1970 dont insult you're intelligence and were not loud, violent or obnoxious.
If you get a chance, go to youtube and watch Super Bowl IV, it is not a great game but it is very easy on the ears.
Friday, October 26, 2012
SEC Update: Week 9
By Keith Antigiovanni
Week 9 for the SEC begins tomorrow with plenty of good matchups. First the #1 team in the nation, Alabama (7-0, 4-0) faces another undefeated SEC team, Mississippi St. (7-0, 3-0). Alabama must continue to win while Mississippi St. is thinking upset all the way.
Florida (7-0, 4-0) and Georgia (6-1, 4-1) play in their annual "World's Largest Cocktail Party" in Jacksonville. If Florida wins they clinch the SEC East title for the 12th time since 1992 but if Georgia wins they have the inside track for a second straight division title.
Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2) tries to bounce back against struggling Auburn (1-6, 0-5).
Missouri (3-4) looks for its first SEC win against Kentucky (1-7, 0-5).
Tennessee (3-4, 0-4) is still trying to win its first SEC win this year against South Carolina (6-2, 4-2).
Ole Miss (4-3, 1-2) vs. Arkansas (3-4, 2-2).
In other news, the Champions Bowl pitting the Big-12 champion vs. the SEC champion is set for 2014 as an answer to the Rose Bowl which features the Pac-12 and Big Ten champions.
Week 9 for the SEC begins tomorrow with plenty of good matchups. First the #1 team in the nation, Alabama (7-0, 4-0) faces another undefeated SEC team, Mississippi St. (7-0, 3-0). Alabama must continue to win while Mississippi St. is thinking upset all the way.
Florida (7-0, 4-0) and Georgia (6-1, 4-1) play in their annual "World's Largest Cocktail Party" in Jacksonville. If Florida wins they clinch the SEC East title for the 12th time since 1992 but if Georgia wins they have the inside track for a second straight division title.
Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2) tries to bounce back against struggling Auburn (1-6, 0-5).
Missouri (3-4) looks for its first SEC win against Kentucky (1-7, 0-5).
Tennessee (3-4, 0-4) is still trying to win its first SEC win this year against South Carolina (6-2, 4-2).
Ole Miss (4-3, 1-2) vs. Arkansas (3-4, 2-2).
In other news, the Champions Bowl pitting the Big-12 champion vs. the SEC champion is set for 2014 as an answer to the Rose Bowl which features the Pac-12 and Big Ten champions.
Friday, October 5, 2012
NL Wild Card
By Keith Antigiovanni
The National League Wild Card game between the St Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves is not only the first year for this postseason experiment but matches two great successful NL franchises that have forged a memorable postseason rivalry the past 30 years. The Cardinals are the most successful NL franchise ever while the Braves are the best NL team since 1991 and have future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones in his final playoff run after announcing it would be his final year.
In 1982 Whitey Herzog's led the Cardinals to the NL East title while Joe Torre led the Braves to the NL West title. St. Louis went on to sweep the Atlanta in the NLCS en route to the World Series title over the Brewers. Herzog would lead the Cardinals to two more WS appearances in 1985 and 1987 while Torre would be dismissed after the 1984 season.
In 1996 Tony LaRussa led the Cardinals to the NL Central title in his first year as manager for the Redbirds, made the NLCS and were leading the defending WS champion Braves 3-1 until Atlanta stormed back and won the final three games and get back to the World Series.
In 2011 the Braves led the Wild Card for most of the year until a late season collapse and a Cardinal late season run gave St. Louis the playoff berth en route to their 11th World Series title.
Its only fitting that the Braves face the team that nudged them out on the final day of the 2011 regular season and for the Cardinals to defend their title as a true Wild Card team after winning it all as a Wild Card team the previous year.
The National League Wild Card game between the St Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves is not only the first year for this postseason experiment but matches two great successful NL franchises that have forged a memorable postseason rivalry the past 30 years. The Cardinals are the most successful NL franchise ever while the Braves are the best NL team since 1991 and have future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones in his final playoff run after announcing it would be his final year.
In 1982 Whitey Herzog's led the Cardinals to the NL East title while Joe Torre led the Braves to the NL West title. St. Louis went on to sweep the Atlanta in the NLCS en route to the World Series title over the Brewers. Herzog would lead the Cardinals to two more WS appearances in 1985 and 1987 while Torre would be dismissed after the 1984 season.
In 1996 Tony LaRussa led the Cardinals to the NL Central title in his first year as manager for the Redbirds, made the NLCS and were leading the defending WS champion Braves 3-1 until Atlanta stormed back and won the final three games and get back to the World Series.
In 2011 the Braves led the Wild Card for most of the year until a late season collapse and a Cardinal late season run gave St. Louis the playoff berth en route to their 11th World Series title.
Its only fitting that the Braves face the team that nudged them out on the final day of the 2011 regular season and for the Cardinals to defend their title as a true Wild Card team after winning it all as a Wild Card team the previous year.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
NFL Game of the Week
By Keith Antigiovanni
The Tennessee Titans (0-1) go west to face the San Diego
Chargers (1-0) this Sunday in an intra-conference match-up. The Titans lost on
opening day to the AFC rival New England Patriots 34-13 in Nashville while the
Chargers beat AFC West rival the Oakland Raiders 22-14 on the road.
The Titans are coming off a 9-7 season in 2011 in which they
missed the postseason on a tie-breaker while the Chargers are coming off an 8-8
season and also missed the playoffs.
Historically both franchises are charter American Football
League (AFL) clubs from 1960 and were the participants of the first two AFL
Championship games in 1960 and 1961. The Houston Oilers won the 1960 AFL title
24-16 over the Los Angeles Chargers and then won the 1961 AFL title 10-3 over the
San Diego Chargers after the Southern California franchise moved 100 miles
southeast following the 1960 season.
Houston qualified for a third straight AFL title game in
1962 but were defeated by the Dallas Texans 20-17 followed by the Chargers in
1963 who won their first and only AFL championship over the Boston Patriots
51-10 at Balboa Stadium.
This is not considered a “glamour” game because neither is a
“big market” team but an important early-season game for both teams. The
Chargers are usually slow starters under Norv Turner and need to get off a
strong start to save Turner’s job while the Titans need a win to avoid going
0-2 .
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Pacific Coast League Regular Season Standings
By Keith Antigiovanni
The regular season wrapped up on Labor Day with the Reno Aces (81-63) winning the PCL Pacific North. Reno faces the PCL Pacific South champion Sacramento Rivercats (86-58).
The Albuquerque Isotopes (80-64) also held on to their lead and won the PCL American South and will face the PCL American North champion Omaha Storm Chasers (83-61).
The winners of the two playoff series will square off in the PCL championship series with the winner advancing to the Triple A championship game in a couple of weeks.
The regular season wrapped up on Labor Day with the Reno Aces (81-63) winning the PCL Pacific North. Reno faces the PCL Pacific South champion Sacramento Rivercats (86-58).
The Albuquerque Isotopes (80-64) also held on to their lead and won the PCL American South and will face the PCL American North champion Omaha Storm Chasers (83-61).
The winners of the two playoff series will square off in the PCL championship series with the winner advancing to the Triple A championship game in a couple of weeks.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Pacific Coast League Standings
By Keith Antigiovanni
There is just over one week left in the PCL regular season.
The Albuquerque Isotopes are 4 games up on the New Orleans Zephyrs with a magic number of 6 to clinch the PCL American South. The defending PCL Champ Omaha Storm Chasers have already clinched the PCL American North.
The Reno Aces are also 4 games in the PCL Pacific North over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and also have a magic number of 6 to clinch. The defending PCL Pacific South champion Sacramento River Cats have a 5.5 game lead over the Las Vegas 51's with a magic number of 4.
There are no Wild Cards in the PCL and the first-round series will consist of the PCL Pacific North vs South champion and the PCL American North vs South champion. The eventual PCL champion will face the International League champion in the Triple A championship game on September 18.
There is just over one week left in the PCL regular season.
The Albuquerque Isotopes are 4 games up on the New Orleans Zephyrs with a magic number of 6 to clinch the PCL American South. The defending PCL Champ Omaha Storm Chasers have already clinched the PCL American North.
The Reno Aces are also 4 games in the PCL Pacific North over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and also have a magic number of 6 to clinch. The defending PCL Pacific South champion Sacramento River Cats have a 5.5 game lead over the Las Vegas 51's with a magic number of 4.
There are no Wild Cards in the PCL and the first-round series will consist of the PCL Pacific North vs South champion and the PCL American North vs South champion. The eventual PCL champion will face the International League champion in the Triple A championship game on September 18.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Arena Bowl XXV
By Keith Antigiovanni
The Arizona Rattlers wrapped up the 25th season of the Arena Football League and the franchises 20th season with a 72-54 win over Philadelphia in Arena Bowl XXV.
The Arena Bowl win was the Rattlers first title since 1997 when they defeated Kurt Warner's Iowa Barnstormers in Arena Bowl XI. The win also marked the return to dominance for the Arizona franchise which had been one of the league's great teams between 1993 and 2004.
The franchise began in 1992 as one of four expansion teams along with San Antonio, Cincinnati and New Orleans and were coached by former Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Danny White. White led them to the playoffs in 1993 and an Arena Bowl title in 1994 after they upset Orlando 36-31.
Arizona made the playoffs 12 straight years (1993-2004) and appeared in five Arena Bowls (1994, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004) winning the first two. White and the team parted ways after the Arena Bowl defeat in 2004.The next four years (2005-2008) the best the Rattlers could do were 2 (.500) playoff seasons. The league went on hiatus in 2009 and returned in 2010.
Kevin Guy became the new coach in 2008 and stayed with the team throughout the hiatus. Guy led them back to the playoffs in 2010 with a 10-6 record, then returned to the playoffs in 2011 with a 16-2 record, a Western title and a return to the Arena Bowl only to fall just short against Jacksonville. Arizona posted another brilliant season in 2012 with a 13-5 record, second straight Western and conference title but this time finally won that elusive third championship.
Arizona can be considered one of the greatest franchises in the history of the league with a regular season record of 187-105, 17 of 20 years in the playoffs, 12 semi-final appearances, 7 Arena Bowls and 3 championships.
The Arizona Rattlers wrapped up the 25th season of the Arena Football League and the franchises 20th season with a 72-54 win over Philadelphia in Arena Bowl XXV.
The Arena Bowl win was the Rattlers first title since 1997 when they defeated Kurt Warner's Iowa Barnstormers in Arena Bowl XI. The win also marked the return to dominance for the Arizona franchise which had been one of the league's great teams between 1993 and 2004.
The franchise began in 1992 as one of four expansion teams along with San Antonio, Cincinnati and New Orleans and were coached by former Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Danny White. White led them to the playoffs in 1993 and an Arena Bowl title in 1994 after they upset Orlando 36-31.
Arizona made the playoffs 12 straight years (1993-2004) and appeared in five Arena Bowls (1994, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004) winning the first two. White and the team parted ways after the Arena Bowl defeat in 2004.The next four years (2005-2008) the best the Rattlers could do were 2 (.500) playoff seasons. The league went on hiatus in 2009 and returned in 2010.
Kevin Guy became the new coach in 2008 and stayed with the team throughout the hiatus. Guy led them back to the playoffs in 2010 with a 10-6 record, then returned to the playoffs in 2011 with a 16-2 record, a Western title and a return to the Arena Bowl only to fall just short against Jacksonville. Arizona posted another brilliant season in 2012 with a 13-5 record, second straight Western and conference title but this time finally won that elusive third championship.
Arizona can be considered one of the greatest franchises in the history of the league with a regular season record of 187-105, 17 of 20 years in the playoffs, 12 semi-final appearances, 7 Arena Bowls and 3 championships.
Today in U.S. History
By Keith Antigiovanni
August 17:
1943: USS Tang (ss 306) launched
USS Wasp (cv-18) launched
August 17:
1943: USS Tang (ss 306) launched
USS Wasp (cv-18) launched
Friday, August 10, 2012
Today in U.S. History
By Keith Antigiovanni
August 10, 2012:
1944: United States troops capture Guam
1949: United States Department of Defense is established
1956: USS Monticello (lsd 35) launched
1957: USS Hull (dd 945) launched
August 10, 2012:
1944: United States troops capture Guam
1949: United States Department of Defense is established
1956: USS Monticello (lsd 35) launched
1957: USS Hull (dd 945) launched
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Arena Bowl XXV
By Keith Antigiovanni
The teams for Arena Bowl XXV are now set with the National Conference champion Arizona Rattlers going against the American Conference champion Philadelphia Soul in New Orleans Next Friday (August 10).
The Rattlers clinched their 7th Arena Bowl appearance with a 75-69 victory over the Western rival Utah at home while the Soul path to the final was much easier in a 89-34 win over defending champion Jacksonville.
Arizona and Philadelphia did not meet in the regular season this year but both have prolific offenses.
The Rattlers are in their 20th season and have been one of the top three franchises in the quarter-century history of the league with a regular season of 187-105, 17 years in the playoffs, 12 conference title/semi-final games, 7 Arena Bowl appearances and fifth attempt at winning a third championship.
Danny White, the first coach in franchise history, led Arizona to the playoffs 12 straight times (1993-2004) which included the 1994 and 1997 Arena Bowl wins, three straight appearances (2002-2004) but lost two of them to arch-rival San Jose. After the 2004 Arena Bowl White and the Rattlers went their separate ways. The next four years the team would only go back to the playoffs twice (2006, 2008) but did not advance.
After the league went on hiatus in 2009 Arizona returned as a league power with three straight playoff years (2010 10-6, 2011 16-2, 2012 13-5). The Rattlers have won back-to-back division titles and now conference titles but are still looking for that elusive third championship this year.
Meanwhile their opponent began in 2004 and won the final Arena Bowl in 2008 before the hiatus in 2009 and did not return until last year.
The teams for Arena Bowl XXV are now set with the National Conference champion Arizona Rattlers going against the American Conference champion Philadelphia Soul in New Orleans Next Friday (August 10).
The Rattlers clinched their 7th Arena Bowl appearance with a 75-69 victory over the Western rival Utah at home while the Soul path to the final was much easier in a 89-34 win over defending champion Jacksonville.
Arizona and Philadelphia did not meet in the regular season this year but both have prolific offenses.
The Rattlers are in their 20th season and have been one of the top three franchises in the quarter-century history of the league with a regular season of 187-105, 17 years in the playoffs, 12 conference title/semi-final games, 7 Arena Bowl appearances and fifth attempt at winning a third championship.
Danny White, the first coach in franchise history, led Arizona to the playoffs 12 straight times (1993-2004) which included the 1994 and 1997 Arena Bowl wins, three straight appearances (2002-2004) but lost two of them to arch-rival San Jose. After the 2004 Arena Bowl White and the Rattlers went their separate ways. The next four years the team would only go back to the playoffs twice (2006, 2008) but did not advance.
After the league went on hiatus in 2009 Arizona returned as a league power with three straight playoff years (2010 10-6, 2011 16-2, 2012 13-5). The Rattlers have won back-to-back division titles and now conference titles but are still looking for that elusive third championship this year.
Meanwhile their opponent began in 2004 and won the final Arena Bowl in 2008 before the hiatus in 2009 and did not return until last year.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Today in U.S. History
7/31:
1942: USS Essex (CV-9) launched
1944: Operation Cobra ends, when U.S. forces under General Omar Bradley launch offensive following Invasion of Normandy
1965: USS Tripoli (LHP-10) launched
1942: USS Essex (CV-9) launched
1944: Operation Cobra ends, when U.S. forces under General Omar Bradley launch offensive following Invasion of Normandy
1965: USS Tripoli (LHP-10) launched
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Arena Football League: First Round Playoffs
By Keith Antigiovanni
Just one week after the Arena Football League (AFL) wrapped up its' 25th regular season the first of three rounds of the post-season was played this weekend.
Utah (12-6) defeated the San Antonio Talons (14-4) 35-34 in the Alamodome Friday evening and advanced to the franchises' first conference championship game or semi-final game.
Their opponent will be the Arizona Rattlers (13-5) who triumphed overthe arch-rival San Jose Sabercats (12-6) by a score of 51-48 at home. Arizona was swept by San Jose during the regular season but managed to finish on top of the Western Division over Utah and San Jose by one game.
The win helped the Rattlers advance to their 12th conference championship game or semi-final game in the past 20 years (1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011). Arizona is also the defending National Conference champion.
Meanwhile in the American Conference the defending Arena Bowl champion Jacksonville (10-8) won by a slim 58-56 margin over the Southern Division rival Georgia Force (9-9) and will hit the road to face the Eastern Division champion Philadelphia Soul (15-3) who dispatched New Orleans (8-10) 66-53.
The channels and times for the conference championship games will be announced during the week.
Just one week after the Arena Football League (AFL) wrapped up its' 25th regular season the first of three rounds of the post-season was played this weekend.
Utah (12-6) defeated the San Antonio Talons (14-4) 35-34 in the Alamodome Friday evening and advanced to the franchises' first conference championship game or semi-final game.
Their opponent will be the Arizona Rattlers (13-5) who triumphed overthe arch-rival San Jose Sabercats (12-6) by a score of 51-48 at home. Arizona was swept by San Jose during the regular season but managed to finish on top of the Western Division over Utah and San Jose by one game.
The win helped the Rattlers advance to their 12th conference championship game or semi-final game in the past 20 years (1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011). Arizona is also the defending National Conference champion.
Meanwhile in the American Conference the defending Arena Bowl champion Jacksonville (10-8) won by a slim 58-56 margin over the Southern Division rival Georgia Force (9-9) and will hit the road to face the Eastern Division champion Philadelphia Soul (15-3) who dispatched New Orleans (8-10) 66-53.
The channels and times for the conference championship games will be announced during the week.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
The new playoff system in College Football
By Keith Antigiovanni
A few weeks ago the University Presidents finally agreed on a new playoff system in college football, well actually the first playoff system in college football that begins in 2014.
For the first time in its long history amateur football's highest level football teams will have to win postseason games in order to qualify for the National Championship game. You can make the argument that the conference title games were the first playoffs which they are but only at the conference level.
The new system includes two semifinals and a title game which will be football's "Final Four". This is where the similarities to college basketball end however because there will be no football tournament with the continuation of the bowl system.
The championship game and semifinals will rotate with the current BCS locations (New Orleans, Tempe, Miami and Los Angeles). There will also be two additional top tier bowls most likely Arlington (Jerry's World) and another city that has not been named yet.
The history of college football championship has been confusing at best. Until the bowl games there was no system (1869-1935). In 1936 the Associated Press (AP) began voting for the best team but many times regional bias and the lack of out of area coverage caused the voters to go with the programs they had actually seen. In 1950 the United Press International (UPI) became the second major poll to vote for a national champion.
Many other polls were added over the years but no significant changes were made until 1998 when the creation of the Bowl Championship System (BCS). The BCS pitted conference champions and at-large teams in the major bowls with the top two teams in a national title game which was one of the current BCS bowls. In 2006 another BCS bowl was added but it had the feel of cheating an actual playoff.
In 2011 two teams from the same conference (SEC) ended up in the title game even though neither was forced to win a playoff game in order to qualify. The new system changes that but rather than arguing over whether the #3 team was left out it will be now the # 5 team.
No system is perfect but this a good first step towards a true national champion in college football.
A few weeks ago the University Presidents finally agreed on a new playoff system in college football, well actually the first playoff system in college football that begins in 2014.
For the first time in its long history amateur football's highest level football teams will have to win postseason games in order to qualify for the National Championship game. You can make the argument that the conference title games were the first playoffs which they are but only at the conference level.
The new system includes two semifinals and a title game which will be football's "Final Four". This is where the similarities to college basketball end however because there will be no football tournament with the continuation of the bowl system.
The championship game and semifinals will rotate with the current BCS locations (New Orleans, Tempe, Miami and Los Angeles). There will also be two additional top tier bowls most likely Arlington (Jerry's World) and another city that has not been named yet.
The history of college football championship has been confusing at best. Until the bowl games there was no system (1869-1935). In 1936 the Associated Press (AP) began voting for the best team but many times regional bias and the lack of out of area coverage caused the voters to go with the programs they had actually seen. In 1950 the United Press International (UPI) became the second major poll to vote for a national champion.
Many other polls were added over the years but no significant changes were made until 1998 when the creation of the Bowl Championship System (BCS). The BCS pitted conference champions and at-large teams in the major bowls with the top two teams in a national title game which was one of the current BCS bowls. In 2006 another BCS bowl was added but it had the feel of cheating an actual playoff.
In 2011 two teams from the same conference (SEC) ended up in the title game even though neither was forced to win a playoff game in order to qualify. The new system changes that but rather than arguing over whether the #3 team was left out it will be now the # 5 team.
No system is perfect but this a good first step towards a true national champion in college football.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Dog Days Are Here
By Keith Antigiovanni
It looks like the "dog days of summer" are upon us now with the NBA Finals over and the NFL/College Football still over two months away. For sports fans this is can be boring time of the year or if you are a baseball fan it can be the best time of year as MLB enters the main stage of the sports world with no competition.
The problem with baseball for many years is the fact there is no salary cap as most of the teams begin to play out the string for the remainder of the year. For the fans of smaller or medium market teams July and August can seem like a very long time.
College Football is only 8 weeks away and the NFL opening weekend is 9 weeks but for now enjoy the summer (if it isnt 100+ degrees where you are).
It looks like the "dog days of summer" are upon us now with the NBA Finals over and the NFL/College Football still over two months away. For sports fans this is can be boring time of the year or if you are a baseball fan it can be the best time of year as MLB enters the main stage of the sports world with no competition.
The problem with baseball for many years is the fact there is no salary cap as most of the teams begin to play out the string for the remainder of the year. For the fans of smaller or medium market teams July and August can seem like a very long time.
College Football is only 8 weeks away and the NFL opening weekend is 9 weeks but for now enjoy the summer (if it isnt 100+ degrees where you are).
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