Bobref

He’s still got plenty to worry about. But I’m also puzzled that no one has snapped Vrabel up. He’s relatively young, and isn’t going to demand total control, unlike Belichik.

I’ve officiated a thousand football games, and watched several times that many. Therefore, I am fully conversant in how to coach a football team, even though I’ve never actually done it. Sounds stupid … maybe even a little bit arrogant … don’t you think?

Unlikely.

Opinions vary.

Exactly. I’m just curious whether that increased pool results in an increase in games vs. non-Indiana opponents.

We don’t have the final contestants determined quite yet. But we have sufficiently narrowed the field to start a discussion. First order of business: Congratulations to Bill Vinovich, selected by the League to wear the white hat. Dependable, unflappable, veteran crew chief. Great choice.

Well, just for starters, we wouldn’t have had a chance to see IMG under the old rule.

It’s not dumb. My opinion.

What do you mean by “this?”

Different schools probably do it for different reasons. For the elite schools playing on ESPN or FoxSports, it’s about money and exposure (which also translates to money), I would guess. I believe many schools do it to provide the students with a great experience as a part of their education. A field trip, if you will.

Obviously, the best nickname/mascot for St. Joseph would be “The Carpenters.” Perhaps some people thought fans would get board of it, since it’s rather plane. But I think it hits the nail on the head.

If they intend to keep Fields, I imagine he’d be involved in some way in hiring a new OC.

I have a feeling that, with the IHSAA’s relaxation of the travel limitations in recent years, we’ll be seeing more matchups that were not possible under the old rule. So, I thought it might be fun to see exactly how many schools take advantage of the new rule. Saw this on the Facebook page for Crown Point football:

I have just one question: Have the Bears involved Fields in any way in the process of finding a new OC? The answer will reveal a lot.

OK, it’s not football. But the event was big enough to warrant mention here. 50 years ago today, the invincible UCLA Bruins basketball team came into South Bend, riding an NCAA record 88 game winning streak. Just 20 days after the Irish football team upset mighty Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to win the national championship, the basketball team took down the 7-time defending champs 71-70, scoring the last 11 pts. of the game. I was there in person at both games. I can still see The Iceman, Dwight Clay, rising on the right baseline for the game winner. When we got up the next morning (OK, it might have been afternoon), the Irish were national champs in football and ranked #1 in basketball. Those were the days … https://www.wndu.com/video/2024/01/19/remembering-notre-dames-historic-upset-over-ucla-50-years-later/ Little known fact: before that game in 1974, the Bruins had not lost a game since the 1970-71 season … when Austin Carr and the Irish took down Sidney Wicks, Curtis Rowe, Henry Bibby, etc. I was at that one, too.

An irresistible compulsion to do something you know is wrong is one of the earliest of the classic insanity defenses.

I don’t think it’s arguable. You said most “storied.” Not the best. Not the most championships or All-Americans. Not the most players in the NFL. Find another program that has been featured in 3 full length movies.

Ummm, no.

Raylan is the best!

If that’s the case, it’s ironic that a game where he finally demonstrated he can manage the clock properly (the drive that ended with a TD and :00 on the clock to close the 1st half) got him fired.

Whoa! Did not see that one coming. Two observations: The Love kid can really play. Looks like the Packers hit the QB lottery … again. There has to be a scapegoat in Dallas. Dan Quinn, the DC was thought to be bulletproof and headed to a HC job somewhere. Is this the year Jerry decides that Mike McCarthy has taken them as far as he can, and they need someone else to get them the rest of the way? Do not miss Steven A. Smith’s inevitable rant about the Cowboys on First Take tomorrow morning.

His stock will never be higher.

You've got to admire a guy who is willing to accept a challenge like that. The $10+ million a year probably doesn’t hurt, either. Washington will always be a red-headed stepchild in the B1G. Now he’s at the marquee school in the marquee conference. Guy’s definitely got some big ones!

I understand that of the 8 officials on this crew, 6 of them have been assigned to work on Wild Card weekend. If the League thought these officials made such a huge miss in that game, I doubt that would be the case.