Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Hockey, Softball, Louisville & More


Posting Today and will re-cap PSU Hoops Game on Friday. 
 While we were all watching basketball, some other Amaizing Blue Stuff was happening in other sporting events over the past weekend:
 Michigan Hockey Sweeps The #1 Domers!
Michigan defeated the Domers (JEEZ I HATE THESE GUYS!) twice last weekend in a Home and Home where they were not favored in either game. Michigan has since moved up to 13th in the National Poll (The domers dropped to #5 as a result of the drubbing) and Michigan is probably (again – I use that term loosely) probably in the Frozen Four.  Their “Pairwise” ranking is what the Frozen Four Committee looks at more than the overall ranking.  I am not going to pretend to know anything about the pairwise except to say “Higher ranking is good”.

And then there’s one MORE component, the “Pairwise Comparison” ranking and Michigan (I think) is doing well here, also. 


But you’ll need a hockey geek to explain it all to you or if you need some night time reading material, you can try to go through it on line.  Either way, higher is better. 
So, they’ve got that going for them, which is nice, and only 2 more games at home against Arizona State is left on the schedule. 
For an indepth look at the pairwise, read the summary here (mgoblog suggesting there's a 95% chance Michigan get's an at large bid):
I did but I still don’t get it.  College Hockey!  Gotta love it!
Michigan Softball
The Michigan Softball Team is in the middle of its southern tour and last Saturday, they BLANKED both the Domers and FSU.  Unfortunately, they played the same two teams on Sunday and dropped a pair.  So, not quite as successful as Men’s Hockey, but a good showing.  Beaubien is looking like the Heir Replacement on the mound this season as Schaeffer struggled in both games on Sunday.  But we’ll see how Schaefer develops as the season wears on.   Michigan is currently 5-4 on the season and still in the Top 20.  Barely. 

Games – Dates – Time – Result - Record
Illinois(H)                  January 6th               Noon                          WON  79-69              14-3
Purdue (H)                January 9th               9:00 PM                     Lost    70-69              14-4
Sparty (A)                   January 13th              Noon                          WON  82-72              15-4
Maryland (H)            January 15th            6:30 PM                     WON 68-67               16-4
Nebraska (A)             January 18th              8:00 PM                     LOST 72-52              16-5
Rutgers (H)              January 21st             Noon                          WON  62-47              17-5
Purdue (A)                 January 25th              7:00 PM                     LOST  92-88             17-6
Northwestern (H)    January 29th            7:00 PM                     WON  58-47              18-6
Minnesota (H)          February 3rd             2:30 PM                     WON  76-73 (OT)    19-6
Northwestern (A)      February 6th              6:00PM                      LOST  61-52             19-7
Wiscy (A)                   February 11th            Noon                          WON  83-72              20-7
Iowa   (H)                   February 14th           6:30 PM                     WON 74-59               21-7
Suckeyes (H)           February 18th           1:00 PM                     WON  74-62              22-7
PSU (A)                      February 21st            7:00 PM
Maryland (A)             February 24th            Noon
Big Game Tonight at Penn State.  The uppity Nittany Lions (7-2 last 9) have become problematic and are on some bubble trackers, so you know they’re gonna’ be hungry.  Michigan could actually improve their “Quadrant 1 Wins” record with a victory as PSU is in the top 75 at this point.  That would be a Quad 1 Road win. 
So, yeah.   It’s a Big Game.  TUNE IN!!!
The NCAA’s – An Update
Michigan still in.  Relax…Deep Breath and try to figure out if Michigan can get that Detroit Little Ceasar’s Arena 1st and 2nd round game.
The Laters have lost 6 in a row.  This was a team that I at one point had picked for a Final Four berth (I’ve changed my mind) and is now reeling and potentially on the bubble looking dangerously close to being kicked out.
LNU can move up to the 1-Seed line by winning out and winning 2 games in the B1G Tourney (according to Palm).  Winning 2 in the B1G Tourney as the 1-Seed would give them 1 additional Quad 1 win (assuming chalk holds in B1G Tourney).
Louisville Has To Take The 2013 Banner Down
In what is probably the biggest non-news item of the day on Tuesday, the NCAA upheld their ruling to vacate all Louisville victories from 2012-13-14-15 or the span that covered Strippergate – A Louisville Love Story.  Of course, in a just world, Michigan would get that title handed to them as a result. 
It’s funny listening to a lot of the Louisville fans crying that no one else has ever had to vacate a National Title and vacating the wins and the fines should be enough.  Here’s the thing:  Would you have won those games and the title assuming you were clean and you DIDN’T GET those players to play for you?  That’s why you’re vacating the title.  Probably wouldn’t have won and as a deterrent to you and others that believe they can “get away with it”. 
The FBI probe may bring a few more of those NC banners down at other schools. 
Hopefully.
Which Scandal Has Done The Most Damage and How Do They Rank?
This was a question posted to the fans on a radio show the other day.  The idea being that there are scandals and then there are SCANDALS and individuals and Universities suffer as a result.   I thought it was interesting as there have been some folks that were otherwise very successful that have since gone down in infamy for actions either on or off the field.  The candidates that were brought up by callers and discussed (in no particular order and I looked up and added a few of my own):
Pitino – Strippergate and FBI Probe
LNU – Larry Nassar Scandal at Spartyville
Paterno – Jerry Sandusky Scandal
Simpson, OJ – Murder of Nicole Simpson and Ron
Briles – Football Team Multiple Rape/Assault Allegations
FBI College Basketball Probe – 2017
Minnesota Football/Basketball Scandals
SMU – Death Penalty
Carrol/Bush – USC Money Payment to Bush Family
Michigan Basketball Scandal – Fab 5
Baylor Basketball – Denehy Murder by a teammate
Miami 2011 Football Scandal – Nevin Shapiro
Larry Eustachy – Iowa State Frat Party
north carolina - Academic Fraud Scandal
Woody Hayes – 1978 Gator Bowl Punch
Michigan vs. LNU 2001 – “Sparty Bob Game”
Football Scandals can be found here:
Baketball Scandals can be found here:
So, to put these in some sort of Context and in an attempt to order them from the worst to they happened, we need some criteria:
1.    How often is the controversy brought up and when brought up, how many people are aware or acknowledge that it is/was a big deal?  Weighting:  50%
2.    How many people were involved?  Weighting:  20%
3.    Did people die (This is a tough one as people die and the controversy might not be that big)  Weighting:  20%
4.    Is the institution or individual still suffering as a result? Weighting:  10%
Some of this is tough because either it just occurred or is occurring as we live and breathe.  So, the order can change over time, but for now, this is how I see it. 
1.     Larry Nassar University Sexual Abuse Scandal:  Due to the sheer number of people involved, victims that are still alive or that took their own lives, the unbelievable number of Nassar supporters, the length of time it lasted, and the subsequent ongoing fall-out, this one has to be at the top of the list.  Its topic is lewd and disgusting and the fact that it went on so long and was at many points in time condoned by the University Admin’s and Larry’s Boss as misunderstood “Therapy” is sickening.  LNU will feel the results of this for years and it is more than just “sports fans” talking about it.  People will talk about this one for generations to come.
2.    Paterno – PSU Sandusky Scandal:  This one was the number 1 scandal until LNU overtook it.  Clearly a major screw up over a long period of time that was intentionally covered up by key players to protect a legendary coach and his staff.  Sickening one that even my mom knew all the details about this which tells me it wasn’t just sports fans talking about it.     
3.    Fab Five Basketball Scandal:  Michigan’s Basketball program was forever tarnished and it’s hard to find anyone that doesn’t know something about the alleged money given to the Fab 5 players.  “Chris Webber got $250,000 from that booster!” is something that you can find people with knowledge of in any walk of life, sports fan or non-sports fan.  Fisher was never able to coach at a major collegiate program again.  Michigan, for the most part, has recovered. 
4.    FBI Basketball Probe:  I know nothing has really come down yet, but with the evidence that IS there and the FBI being involved and not dropping the charges and leaking that “Half of the Top 16 teams in the Committees early selection for the 2018 NCAA Tourney are involved” is quite a shot across the bow of College Basketball.   The sport may forever be changed once everything is said and done and may actually save LNU from owning the top spot of all time scandals, unless of course Izzo and LNU are involved in this, also. 
5.    Louisville, Pitino, FBI Probe Scandal:  Louisville can easily slide up this list as there’s so much they “accomplished” on the scandal list including, but not limited to:  Paying strippers and hookers money at recruiting parties over a period of 3 years, give or take.  Paying players to play at Louisville per the FBI probe.  Employing a coach of questionable character and moral turpitude for multiple years because he won basketball games. 
6.    Simpson Murder Scandal:  While it didn’t happen while OJ was in college, his legacy has certainly taken a hit and it’s hard to watch any USC highlight reels (when they’re shown) from that period and not reflect on the fact that he would eventually be guilty of double homicide.
7.    SMU “Death Penalty”:  Clearly a big one that has stood the test of time.  Young fans have heard about or seen the “30 for 30” on it and are aware and most people that aren’t football fans have a general memory or knowledge of the event.  Some argue that SMU has never fully recovered from this event. 
8.    Miami 2011 Football Scandal:  For a while, Nevin Shapiro’s name was synonymous with scandal and everyone thought that the NCAA was going to dole out the “Death Penalty” to Miami, which was clearly warranted, until the legality of how the evidence was obtained by the NCAA was brought into question and later deemed inadmissable.  While not as popular in the general public, at the time, it was juicy reading for all.  Probably would have moved up on the list if the NCAA would have actually Death Penaltied the Hurricanes. 
9.    North carolina Academic Fraud Scandal:  The fallout from the NCAA was nothing due to the fact that the NCAA flat out botched another case, along the same lines as the Miami scandal.  Otherwise, this would be much higher and closer to the top of the list with multiple Basketball NC Banners coming down in Chapel Hill. 
10. Briles Rape & Assualt Scandal:  This one was a big deal and it still has ongoing investigations and fall out from a coach knowingly bringing sexual assault convicted offenders on to campus and giving them a “second chance” on the football team.  When 60 minutes does a piece on your scandal, it’s a big deal.   
11. 1978 Peach Bowl & the Woody Hayes Punch:  I know this one doesn’t compare to some of others, but Hayes’ legacy was clearly tarnished or he would still be considered among the greatest to ever coach the game.   
12. Carrol/Bush Scandal:  I guess I’m adding Pete Carrol to the Bush scandal as he should have done a whole lot more to stay involved with his players, make sure agents were kept off campus and insure that crap like this wasn’t going down.  Bush gave up his Heisman as a result.
13. Baylor Basketball Denehy Murder:  At the time, it was a HUGE deal but very few people remember this one when you start discussing scandals.  Unfortunate as an individual lost his life at the hands of a team mate. 
14. Minnesota Football/Basketball Sex Train Scandals:  Between the Football team threatening to sit out the Bowl game and the ensuing discussion about what actually went down with the 10 players suspended, Minnesota owned the national stage in the college football discussion.  However, probably not as well known and discussed at the kitchen table among all family members. 
15. Larry Eustachy Iowa State Rick Neuheisel Sports Betting and Mike Price Stripper Binge:  I decided to add all three of these coaches to the list as they came up when I poked around on the internet.  http://www.espn.com/page2/s/caple/030611.html
At the time, these were all big deals and it was kind of funny that these guys were caught doing dumb things.   
16. Michigan vs. LNU Football 2001: “Sparty Bob Game” The only time where openly cheating in a college football game with regards to the game clock was allowed to happen.  I know this isn’t high on everyone’s list, but It’s ON MY LIST!!!

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