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
Louisville basketball.
Rick Pitino.
Crootin.
Wow.
Nothing much to add after reading this.
WDRB's Rick Bozich ponders Pitino's future. Bozich, who was away covering U of L’s football win over N.C. State over the weekend, weighed in for the first time and brought up the subject of how this scandal could affect Rick Pitino’s future with U of L.
In a column headlined, Does Rick Pitino's career rest with Katina Powell's story?, Bozich wrote:
If there is significant truth to these sordid stories about strippers, sex, players and recruits, I can’t envision how Rick Pitino can – or should – survive.
A coach who micromanages the percentage of body fat of every player was not aware that somebody was allegedly bringing women into the dormitory he built to honor the memory of his late brother-in-law?
A program that promotes itself as focused on the name on the front, not the back, of the jersey was enhancing its recruiting pitch with a tug on a G-string?
Pitino survived and bounced back victoriously from his last scandal in 2010. This one, if true, is a career killer.
If it isn’t true?
Lawyers, administrators and public relations wizards won’t be able to repair the damage already done to the reputations of McGee, Pitino and the Louisville basketball program.
Those are the stakes. They’re considerable. And worth waiting for the complete story to be told.
— Outside the Lines. The U of L scandal was the lead item on ESPN’s Outside the Linesprogram, and Cardinal fans (based on Twitter) were none to happy to see their nemesis, Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio, on the program with ESPN’s Andy Katz and Seth Greenberg.
For all the uproar, however, Jones was measured in his comments.
“I agree with Seth, it’s hard for me to see that Rick Pitino knew about this, that would be kind of shocking to me,” Jones said. “But it was under his watch, and I think there’s some people in that fan base and definitely in the Kentucky fan base sort of saying, how many more of these things are going to happen at U of L before they do something about it?”
Here's a link to the complete program.
— Just after lunchtime, the Indianapolis Business Journal published a report quoting Katina Powell, the book’s author, as saying she had first tried to take her story to the NCAA before coming to IBJ Book Publishing, but was rebuffed.
Powell said she called the NCAA in mid-March and spoke to a man she described as “a white man” who told her that he wasn’t allowed, “to take a story from somebody on the outside —you know, 'It’s hearsay, I’m not doing that, I’m not taking the story.' I asked if there was anyone else I could possibly tell my story to, and he said, ‘No, there’s no one else. We can’t take outside stories.’ He hung up. I hung up.”
Oh ... my.
A few Tuesday links:
-- Auburn says so long to Duke Williams.
The enigmatic receiver was dismissed from the team Monday after an off-the-field incident at a local nightclub during the weekend. The senior already was on a zero-tolerance policy with coach Gus Malzahn after drawing a suspension late last season, which kept Williams out of the Outback Bowl, and a second suspension in early August following a preseason practice session.
This third strike ended Williams' Auburn tenure.
"When individuals fail to meet the expectations of our program, there has to be consequences," Malzahn told AuburnTigers.com. "I gave D'haquille the chance to prove himself. I am disappointed that it did not work out."
-- Bizarre exchange with a fan on Mark Richt's radio show.
A man, apparently a surgeon, called into Mark Richt’s radio show on Monday, saying he was a leader like Richt, only in the operating room. There are times, the man said, that he has a “complete debacle in my job,” just as Richt did on Saturday, forcing himself to ask what happened. So what questions, he wanted to know, does it force Richt to ask himself?
It seemed an odd parallel to the man who coaches Georgia’s football team.
“I guess maybe a few people died on the operating table or something. I’m not sure what he’s trying to say about a debacle under his regime,” Richt said. “But anyway …”
It was the only really pointed question Richt received on his weekly radio show, two days after Georgia’s 38-10 loss to Alabama. Most of the other callers, as is normal, were supportive, or just asked questions about the team.
Richt’s answer to the surgeon, by the way, was fairly standard: The coaches ask if they had “the right people in the right spots,” are they asking too much of players, are they holding everyone accountable? That’s done on a daily basis, Richt added.
-- Interesting analysis here from the Notre Dame Rivals site on how turnovers have contributed to Irish losses.
Every team makes mistakes, but if it seems Notre Dame's turnover mistakes have been more costly than average over the last five years, that's because they have. The loss to Clemson marked the 10th time in the Brian Kelly era in which the value of turnovers lost exceeded the margin of defeat in the game.
2010: L 24-28 vs Michigan — -9.9 net turnover value
2010: L 31-34 vs Michigan State — -6.0 net turnover value
2010: L 27-28 vs Tulsa — -13.1 net turnover value
2011: L 20-23 vs South Florida — -28.0 net turnover value
2011: L 31-35 vs Michigan — -6.7 net turnover value
2011: L 17-31 vs USC — -17.8 net turnover value
2011: L 14-18 vs Florida State — -6.7 net turnover value
2013: L 21-28 vs Pittsburgh — -15.8 net turnover value
2014: L 31-55 vs Arizona State — -25.0 net turnover value
2015: L 22-24 vs Clemson — -11.9 net turnover value
The Irish have recorded a total of 21 losses since the start of the 2010 season, and 10 of them (47.6 percent) would have been victories had turnovers been neutralized. That is the second highest percentage in the nation in that span, behind only Alabama (5 of 10 losses). If the Irish had a pair of national championships and only 10 losses over five seasons to go with its costly turnover percentage, fans probably wouldn't find these games so frustrating.
-- John Swofford sits down with a reporter from the Tallahassee paper.
Last year the ACC defeated more Top 10 non-conference opponents than any other league. And then had 47 players selected in the NFL Draft — second only to the SEC’s 51. Both conferences had nine first-round picks.
Yet, with slow starts by Georgia Tech, Louisville and Virginia Tech among a few others this season, the ACC is once again having to fight for respectability around the country.
So much so that some national media outlets have wondered if an undefeated ACC team could miss out on the college football playoff.
“I can’t imagine that would happen,” Swofford said. “I can’t imagine.”
Last year, of course, Florida State was the lone undefeated team in the country at the end of the regular season but was the No. 3 seed entering the playoff.
Swofford said he talked about that on Monday morning when he met with FSU head football coach Jimbo Fisher. Polls and perception are quite meaningful to Fisher after all, as his team has made a habit the last two years of dropping in rankings after wins.
“Jimbo and I were talking about that this morning a little bit, about how it used to be in the polls that if you just kept winning it didn’t change,” Swofford said. “And with the playoff and the selection committee that’s not necessarily true anymore. And it’s less true even more with the polls.”
-- Finally, a cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal."
LW
