MONDAY MUSINGS

How many ways can the Redskins rip my heart out?

Memo to Jason Campbell....You cannot throw an interception on your final possession. There is not get em next time with 0:00 on the clock......

Joe Gibbs, did someone kidnap him yesterday? You knew he was going FG on 4-1 at the TB three-yard line........

The ugly part is the Redskins are still in it..8-8 could be good enough in NFC....

College FB
Sweet action on Saturday from Maryland. The Terps most complete effort of the season in swamping N.C. State, 37-0.

Who needs Josh Portis anyway? What will Fridge do next year? This guy was third string....Portis must be really good........

Missouri
What an effort by the Tigers on Saturday night. I like Gary Pinkel. He did a great jon at Toledo and now he is #1 in the country. Looking forward to a Missouri-WVU....Oh wait....there is one more week for this to change.....Could get Ohio State vs. Georgia, Kansas, LSU, Oklahoma, USC, and maybe Va. Tech..........

How will George Bush and the foreign legion effect navy's preparation against Army?

Bo Pellini and Turner Gill have permission from current employers to talk to Nebraska.

College Hoops
I know, I know........Yes I was watching Maryland-UCLA yesterday......womens hoops.....Terps were down 71-58 with five minutes left......they closed out on a 21-4 run to win.......They are real good this year and they did it without their coach who was at home 25 weeks pregnant.

Kansas-Arizona Men was a great game last night. Jayhawks by four in OT and George Mason beat South Carolina to finish 3rd at Disney World.....

George Mason Does It Again

Disney World was not kind to Kansas State last night, as George Mason beat the Wildcats 87-77.

Mason is off to a 4-0 start and this senior laden team as that look again of being able to make a run later in the season and clearly now is the team to beat in a tough CAA.

Bob Knight and Texas Tech avoided the upset bug in Alaska , beating Alaska-Anchorage.

Questions to Ponder on Black Friday and yes I did wear all black today....Not on purpose.

Will Joe Gibbs go back to being conservative Joe after opening up against the Cowboys last week?

Is Maryland's backcourt slumping or just overrated? Today they get Lehigh.

Arent you rooting for a Brett Favre victory over the Patriots in the Super Bowl? Yes I know that means my Redskins wont make it..

Will the over-under on the Navy-Utah Pointsettia Bowl be 85? Bet it is one of the most entertaining bowl games of the season.

Don't you think LSU-USC would be the best bowl game? Did you see USC last night, I think a game of Trojans and Tigers would be awesome.

Isn't it time Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster got a head coaching job? Steve Orsini at SMU are you listening?

Didn't Caps GM George McPhee wait too long to get rid of Glen Hanlon as coach?

Shouldn't Tim Tebow win the Heisman Trophy?

Isnt Caron Butler a really good player? Perhaps one the top-five steals in NBA Trade History.

How good is Tim Tetrick? He's about to break a nine-year old record for victories in a season by a harness racing driver.

Will the Maryland 4A winner be the winner of tonights Sherwood-Quince Orchard game?

Happy shopping.......

Simply Thanks

Thanksgving 2007

What to be thankful for on the sports landscape?

As a fan of Navy, I'm thankful to the administration who gives me the chance to work with some incredible student-athletes. Some have litterally given their lives eventually in service to our country. We have an AD who works to get his coaches the things they need to win. The NAAA works hard to keep our banner program funded from coaches to equipment and beyond. Not to mention, do many mid-majors have a facility like Alumni Hall for hoops? Thanks to the Navy basketball coaches the years who have helped my sons become high school basketball players. You really didnt think it was all me did you?

Thanks to 86, Deli-Meat, Phat and the rest of the folks who make it fun to talk Navy Sports on Gomidshipmen.com. Perhaps one day 86's kid and my kid can play in an NCAA Lax Title game at M&T.

Can you believe the Wizards have won six straight? Thanks to Eddie Jordan and Ernie Grundfeld for an awesome job in the Nations Capital. Just think a rested Gil for the playoffs?

Im trying to think of something to thank Joe Gibbs for as coach of my Redskins. Oh well. Hey, Joe Gibbs Racing did sign Kyle Busch to drive the #18 next year...Thanks Joe.

Thanks to Joe Gross for his many years of service to our community paper, THE CAPITAL. Like with all columnists, you may not always agree, but Joe has become a name that all you say is Joe Gross and people know your talking about THE CAPITAL.

Thanks to Bill Wagner for his outstanding coverage of Navy. Bill turns out a lot of work about the Mids despite the fact he is also the Sailing reporter, and contributor to high school sports in THE CAPITAL as well.

Thanks to Joe Miller for being not only a great broadcast partner but a great friend and fellow graduate of Southern High.

Thanks to Scott Zolak and the rest of the CSTV crew for a great season of Navy Football coverage.

Thanks to Steve Hopp, Bill Lusby and the staff at WNAV for its continued support of Navy and local sports.

Thanks to my friends like Slim, Scott, Andrew, git-r-dun, Dan Duncan, CD Nutz and Too Shady, and The Announcer-Composer who still make working in the harness racing industry a lot of fun. Thanks to all the folks on Horseplop.com who make it entertaining as well. Can't go a day with out my Horseplop!!!!

Thanks to all the coaches at the youth and high school level who are dedicated to helping our youths have constructive things to do instead of hanging out on the streets, the malls etc......

And finally, If you can read this.....thank a teacher........

Happy Thanksgiving.....

Monday Musings

The Redskins played the Cowboys a lot closer than I thought....question? Will Joe Gibbs try and throw that much next week against Tampa Bay?

I love watching early season basketball. What a huge win for Scott Drew and Baylor against Notre Dame. Cleaning up after the Dave Bliss mess hasnt been easy but that is a nice win as was Winthrop over Georgia Tech.

Tonight Maryland-UCLA......

I love womens hoops. But the same ole problem exists. Last night, #7 (Rutgers) played at #12 (George Washington) and won by 25!!!!!!!!! I know its early, but give me Tennessee and Maryland in the Womens final, even if Brenda Frese is out on Maternity leave.

Tip, plan the pregnancy for June like I did....No conflicts....:)

Friday, Forfeits,and Football

Wow. We have a lot to discuss today.

Yet another Maryland High School has had to forfeit games, and this time, its a team already in the playoffs. Cancel that bus ride to Indian Head Chopticon, Lackey, the 3A South Region Champs are now coming to Morganza.

The Chargers join teams in PG, Howard, and Frederick Counties who have had to give up wins. As Vince Lombardi said, "What the hell is going on out here?"

I have often wondered whose job it is to check on these kinds of things because when reporters call schools, the AD says call this person, who then says I have no knowledge of whats going on....Perhaps schools need to take a page from the NCAA book and assign a compliance officer whose job is to check on residency issues, academic eligibility etc......just an idea...

Georgetown
My son played basketball with Georgetown's Austin Freeman a couple of years ago. Freeman helped him with is free throw shooting and my son said, "Dad, He's really good."

Last night, Freeman had a thunderous jam for the Hoyas as they routed Michigan. Just think how good he and fellow frosh Chris Wright will be in January.

Maryland
The CAA is really good people. Last night, Northeastern was the latest CAA team to be a headache for a high profile conference team. The Huskies fought back from a six-point halftime deficit before losing to Maryland in Overtime. James Gist had a career best 27 for the Terps.

Unless Maryland's guards start making better decisions and stop fouling, the Terps will stuggle badly Monday with UCLA.

MIAA B CONFERENCE TITLE GAME
Joe Miller and I call the action of the MIAA B Conference title game on CN8. The game will air Saturday at 12:30 and should be a great game.

Scott Zolak and I will call the action of Navy and Northern Illinois, live on CSTV at 3:30 on Saturday.

Is it basketball or Football?

I have seen a lot of basketball games early in the season that couldnt match Saturday's Navy-North Texas game.

The Mids, somewhat dejected by the result, confirm as a result of their feeling the higher standards they hold themselves too under Paul Johnson. NOTE: Navy would have excepted any victory by 12 in which it scored 74 int he 90's.

This week, Northern Illinois. No Garrett Wolf...thank goodness.

Kudos to the turtles for a good effort against BC. Ralph Friedgen has done a very good coaching job keeping his team above water when it could have packed it in with all the injuries.

With the start of hoops season, lets take a quick look at some of the locals so far.

MARYLAND
Struggled late with MEAC Power Hampton. Mr. West nearly derailed Maryland's trip west to KC on Monday night. Maryland committed some foolish fouls, but Gist looks like he is growing into solid post man for Maryland who is solid at guard with Hayes and Vasquez.

NAVY
Mids split a pair to open the season. Besting Longwood on Friday Greg sprink fired in 28 in an 88-72 win in which the Mids posted 13 three-point shots. After a struggle in the first 20 minutes against Drexel, Navy outscored the Dragons by four in the second half after cutting 20-point deficit to eight. This group is ready to elevate in the Patriot League standings.

LOYOLA
This will be a fun team to watch. They can score, with Brown and Israel. Jimmy Patsos has a real shot with two MAJOR scorers to go to the NCAA Tournament.

TOWSON
Tigers beat Loyola handily, the question is, how does Towson compete in a brutal CAA this year? I mean come on, Mason, VCU, ODU, Drexel just off the top.

GEORGE MASON
See above. The CAA is loaded. Home wins will be a premium. Mason has enoug veterans though to get road wins which will be the ultimate decider in this league. Laranaga is CAA's best bench boss in a league of underrated coaches.

The Aftermath

Talking to Navy's football players after practice yesterday, it was awesome to hear some of the things I heard. Players not giving coach-speak, being honest about still trying to get the magnitude of the win for the program against Notre Dame behind them and moving on to the MEAN GREEN of North Texas, who by the way have the same amount of wins as Notre Dame.

Coaches getting in the grills of players not focused. Players trying to get each other to focus.

This is why Navy's program has been as good as it is under Paul Johnson. His players know where they stand how they have to play. They don't associate winning games with making themselves superstars. The win for the program and then themselves. Its still awesome to watch the highlights.....but hey, Navy is still not bowl eligible.........yet.....

Can I get frequent driving miles? Longwood Friday, Mt. St. Mary's saturday.....

urgh

No better time then Saturday...

We know Navy has struggled on defense. Its not for lack of effort. I watched as the coaches, with lunches in hand, headed in for more closed door film sessions. It could be continued simplification, better tackling, or guys just lucking out and being in the right place when a ball is tipped.

Arguably, only Temple may be worse on offense than the team Navy will play on Saturday. However, Notre Dame is big enough, to try and run the ball 40 times if it wants and try to physically overpower Navy.

For years, people laughed when Navy Coach Paul Johnson said week after week, "We have little margain for error,''. This year he is proving to be a prophet.

We know Notre Dame has won 43 straight. We know ND is bigger. We know, well, Notre Dame is Notre Dame.

I think Paul Johnson has a chance though against a younger, inexperienced Notre Dame defense to do some things and if Navy can posess the ball and score Touchdowns, they can win this game. Even if the defense can hold ND to some field goals!!!!!Just Field Goals on some drives. (Again I promise you the coaches are working their Arssses off)

Navy has its best offensive team since 1963 heading into this game. The nations number-one ground game against the bigger, powerful object. Navy cannot turn the ball over. Period.

"We can't hurt ourselves at all. This is a great opportunity if we can play the way we are capable of,'' running back Adam Ballard said.

How about special teamer and former hoopster Corey Johnson. Last week Johnson made multiple stops on special teams and now goes back to his native Indiana to play against the Irish.

"Every kid in Indiana dreams about playing for Notre Dame growing up. I'm so thankful that Coach Johnson gave me a chance to try out for one, and now to be contributing and going to Notre Dame to play is awesome,'' Johnson said.

Finally some fact and opinion.

Fact:Notre Dame has won 43 in a row.
Opinion: I say only 42 of 43, Navy didn't lose in 99, Perry Hudspeth won it for Notre Dame.

Fact: Kaipo has more touchdowns than Notre Dame's golden QB's.
Opinion: Kaipo plays the whole game Saturday and hits Barnes and Reggie for at least one each.

Fact: Charlie Weis gets paid a lot of green to coach the green and gold.
Opinion: Paul Johnson is the best coaching value in all of college football.

This week's Comcast Game of the week is Mt. St. Joseph at Gilman. CN8 Saturdya night at 7.

Navy tailgate show begins at 12:30 Saturday at www.wnav.com