Nick Saban and Alabama still have some work to do

The University of Alabama captured its fifth national championship in nine years in a thrilling 26-23 overtime win over the Georgia Bulldogs. The Crimson Tide struggled mightily in the first half, trailing 13-0. QB Jalen Hurts completed only three of his eight pass attempts. He rushed for 46 yards, but the team had only 85 yards of total offense. The 25 win, two loss starter was replaced in the second half.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban turned the signal calling duties over to freshman, Tua Tagovailoa. The Hawaiian born lefthander had only appeared in previous games where the Crimson Tide held at least a double digit lead. After two long incompletions on his first drive, Tua found the range, throwing three touchdowns. His final 41 yard TD toss to fellow freshman wide receiver Devonta Smith in overtime gave the Crimson Tide the national title.

The title was game marred by an incident in the third quarter when Alabama LB Mekhi Brown punched a Georgia player following a kickoff. He was assessed a 15 yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Mekhi continued his rant on the sidelines, shoving coach Kerry Stevenson and later clotheslining kick returner Malkom Parrish early in the fourth quarter.

SEC Country:

UCLA QB Josh Rosen - “Look, football and school don’t go together. They just don’t,” Rosen told Bleacher Report. “Trying to do both is like trying to do two full-time jobs. There are guys who have no business being in school, but they’re here because this is the path to the NFL. There’s no other way. Then there’s the other side that says raise the SAT eligibility requirements. OK, raise the SAT requirement at Alabama and see what kind of team they have. You lose athletes and then the product on the field suffers.”

Alan Blondin, MyrtleBeachonline:

The big winner on Monday was Coastal Carolina where their head football coach Joe Moglia returned to work after a five month medical leave of absence. He had taken time off for treatment of a condition that was causing inflammation and damage to his lungs. “The infection is gone and my doctors have given me an all systems go."

The Coastal Carolina football program once again has its four-time Eddie Robinson FCS National Coach of the Year finalist leading the team. “I couldn’t be more excited about rejoining my staff and team,” Moglia said. “From Aug. 1 through the rest of the year, I only met with them three times, and especially the first two were incredibly emotional for me. It wasn’t easy watching the team on game day from either the press box or on television.”

He leads a unique program, which features a "Be A Man" philosophy. The program doesn’t necessarily have rules, it has the BAM behavioral standard that requires players to treat others with respect, be accountable for their actions and live with the consequences of their actions.

The Chants signed 18 players in the new early signing period in December and have at least another 12 scholarships to give in the signing period that begins Feb. 7, so recruiting will be among Moglia’s priorities over the next month.

Moglia has a unique story among college head coaches. Prior to his hiring at Coastal, Moglia last held a paid college football position in 1983 as the defensive coordinator at Dartmouth, which culminated 16 years of college and high school coaching.

He then transitioned into business, rising to the position of CEO of TD Ameritrade from 2001 until his resignation in 2008 to return to coaching. He remains chairman of the board for the successful online brokerage firm and assisted with its 2016 acquisition of Scottrade for an estimated $4 billion and the assimilation of the company that has followed. After stepping down as CEO, Moglia began work as an unpaid voluntary assistant coach/mentor for the University of Nebraska football team under Bo Pelini.

Nick Saban made a great decision in changing QB's at halftime of the national championship contest. He made no decision in walking away from out of control LB Mekhi Brown on the sidelines. Saban's $8 million a year salary will most likely get a bump from the boosters because he won.

In his seven years at TD Ameritrade, Joe Moglia and his executive management team oversaw the company as its client assets grew from $24 billion to over $300 billion. My guess is that Joe Moglia would have told the petulant linebacker, number 48 in your program, to "take a hike."

Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

California rolls out the red carpet for Showtime

TMZ Sports:

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is allowed to practice and even play home games as part of his 25-day jail sentence he's currently serving at a Southern California jail.

Caldwell-Pope pleaded guilty in Michigan earlier this month to a probation violation after he failed to comply with the terms of a drug and alcohol screening program put in place after he was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Caldwell-Pope pleaded guilty to a lesser charge that stemmed from his arrest in March, which came when he was a member of the Detroit Piston.

According to the L.A. Times, court records revealed that “Caldwell-Pope missed several drug and alcohol screenings” related to his probation, resulting in another Michigan court hearing. After playing against the New York Knicks on Dec. 12, he attended the hearing, where he was given the 25-day sentence. Two days later, he petitioned for the work-release program, and it was approved that day.

The prosecutor’s office in Auburn Hills, Mich., agreed to allow Caldwell-Pope to serve his jail sentence at the Seal Beach Police Department Detention Center--- located about 30 miles from Staples Center in Inglewood, CA. KCP was initially sentenced to 12-months probation -- and was required to submit to drug and alcohol testing. Problem is ... he didn't comply, so the judge ordered him to be locked up. The judge still allowed KCP to do a "work-release" sentence -- where he's locked up at a facility for most of the day ... but he's allowed to leave to do his job.

As part of the work-release program, Caldwell-Pope isn’t allowed to leave the state of California and must return after practice and games where he also is required to submit to a breath test. He has to wear a GPS monitor when he’s outside the detention facility.

California law provides a bathrobe and slippers and

The Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day.

UBER -

Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

Bullies are still trying to eliminate the competition

Darien, Connecticut is the nation's sixth richest community, with median household incomes at $208,906, and the average price of a home at more than $1.2 million. "Median" is a way of measuring the average by listing all the numbers in a data set and picking the middle number. New Canaan's household earnings are the second highest in Fairfield County. The median income of a household in town is $180,434 and home prices average more than a $1 million.

New Canaan’s 27-0 win over No. 1 Darien was the shot heard round Connecticut Thursday morning as the Rams clinched the eighth and final spot in the Class L playoffs and won their first Turkey Bowl in five years. Darien’s winning streak ended at 34 games.

Darien Times:

The game took a turn on Wednesday night when Darien quarterback Jack Joyce and safety/receiver Brian Minicus were arrested on charges stemming from an assault earlier this month, rendering them unavailable for the game. The Blue Wave were also without the services of LB/WR Nick Green, but coach Rob Trifone offered no reason for his absence. New Canaan Police made the arrests early evening of Wednesday, Nov. 22, resulting in Minicus and Joyce not playing in the Turkey Bowl. Police also said that when questioned, Joyce provided false information.

A 17-year-old, who was not identified because he is legally a minor, was charged with conspiracy to commit third-degree assault and second-degree unlawful restraint. The incident in question involved Minicus and the 17-year-old going to a house on Old Kings Highway around 11:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, and assaulting a New Canaan juvenile. Minicus put the New Canaan teen in a headlock, while the Darien 17-year-old held him down. Police said Minicus then began punching the New Canaan teen in the head and face until a friend of the victim pulled Minicus off.

In March of 1969, the Charlestown High School basketball team lost a heartbreaking “Tech Tourney” game to Somerville High School at the Boston Garden. Shooting sensation Billy Endicott was the game’s leading scorer and primarily responsible for Somerville’s thrilling victory. In what turned out to be a very black eye for Charlestown, a group of young adults used their disappointment to inflict a post-game beating on the unsuspecting Endicott. The incident served to cement pre-existing negative stereotypes about “Townies.”

With numerous bruises and two black eyes, Billy Endicott was ineffective in the following Class A Tech Tourney game. He was held to four points, and prevented Somerville from winning its eighth state title in 25 years.

Charlestown Patriot-Bridge:

The word on the “street,” however, was that gangs were coming to Charlestown that night from every direction to exact revenge for the Endicott battery. The Somerville gangs were supposed to come through Sullivan Square, Everett and Chelsea rioters were to cross the bridge at “The Neck,” and North End groups would come over the Charlestown Bridge into City Square.

A week later, at the Somerville Knights of Columbus, there was a benefit function for Billy Endicott. Frankie Fontaine was the Master of Ceremony and Jackie Gleason, the Guest of Honor. In the middle of them was Billy Endicott, who was sitting in a wheelchair and still showing the effects of the assault. The prevailing theme was to apologize to him on behalf of Charlestown. Billy smiled gently and continued to listen to the adults who were fawning over him.

For the next few years, I kept track of Billy Endicott’s basketball exploits. He went on to enjoy a spectacular career at UMass-Amherst and played alongside teammates Rick Pitino and Al Skinner. I’m guessing he probably got to watch, and maybe even practice with, Julius “Dr. J” Erving. Today, Endicott continues his legacy as an AAU youth basketball coach, as well as instructing and mentoring local “hoop” prospects. His is a remarkable story of perseverance and accomplishment, one that I will never forget.

The New Canaan-Darien altercation started because of trash talk on Snapchat. The rich kids from Darien used their war of words to inflict a beating on an unsuspecting juvenile. Charlestown used their fists. Somerville and Charlestown have patched up their differences.

Let's hope that the privileged from the seventh safest state don't get worked up over a nickname.

According to Webster’s New International Dictionary, 1993, a person who is a native or resident of Connecticut is a “Connecticuter”. There was the “Connecticotian” by Cotton Mather in 1702, the “Connecticutensian” by Samuel Peters in 1781 and the “Nutmegger” since 1800. It is derived from the nickname, the Nutmeg State, based on the practice of the Connecticut peddlers who traveled about selling nutmegs.

I think I'll take the beating.




Paul Murphy


Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

Conservatives have no place on Thanksgiving

Con·serv·a·tive - holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics, religion or football.

Innovation - the introduction of something new

In 1989, Charlie Weis became a first-time head coach at Franklin High School in Somerset, NJ, installing a run-and-shoot offense, guiding Franklin Township to a 10-1 record and a state title. A much slower paced formula seemed innovative for Weis as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots and Tom Brady from 2000-2003. Stops with the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, University of Florida, University of Kansas, University of South Carolina(twice) and the University of Notre Dame should be classified as conservative.

The oldest schoolboy rivalry in Southern Ohio is neither conservative nor innovative. Ironton High School has played Portsmouth 125 times since 1899. The first meeting ended in a scoreless tie, 0-0. The game was a double-header for Ironton, which also played to a scoreless tie against rival Ashland, Kentucky. Portsmouth and Ironton are deadlocked in the series at 58-58-9.

In 1997, Ohio changed the rules for ties. If a game is tied after regulation, each team gets an offensive possession from the opponent's 20-yard line. If no winner is determined after one round of possessions, overtime play continues until a winner is determined. Now that's innovative.

Lower Merion and Radnor High School in Pennsylvania meet each Thanksgiving with a lot riding on its outcome. The annual football game played since 1897 has been a great rivalry with Lower Merion holding a slight edge over Radnor, 56 wins, 55 losses and 11 ties. Radnor High School grants the students of the school a half-day on the next school day if the school beats Lower Merion. However, the students of Lower Merion do not enjoy any similar reward.

Nobody noticed when the diminutive Timmy McCarthy brought the water bottles onto the field for Radnor during a fourth quarter timeout. Little did the Lower Merion defense know that Timmy would be staying in the game lining up at the tight end position next to the right tackle.

While in the huddle, Timmy took the ketchup packets from his pocket and spread the ketchup on his knee pads. His white pants now had the look of a player who worked in the trenches. When the teams broke the huddle, the defense didn't recognize that he was by far the smallest player on the field.

Most high school coaches like to run the ball and throw mostly on third downs. Screen passes are quite prevalent and trick plays are generally used in the season's final game.

Plays like Red Rocket Right, Hook and Ladder, Statue of Liberty, Fumblerooski, Fake Punt, double and triple reverses usually get snuffed out before the play unfolds. Lower Merion never saw "Heinz 57" coming.

It helped that Timmy McCarthy's older brother Tommy, was the starting QB. Other than the fact that Timmy might get trampled coming off the line, the play was called with Radnor facing a third down and one at midfield. Tommy took the snap from center and threw a short pass in the right flat to Timmy. The ketchup on the knees never touched the ground as Timmy caught the pass and lateraled to his brother who ran down the right sideline untouched.

Thanksgiving Feast with All the Fixings - Rachael Ray

“All Rachael wants is to go to bed knowing that everyone who came to Thanksgiving dinner couldn’t have had a better meal and is stuffed beyond belief.”

Herb-Roasted Turkey with Dried Plums, Parmesan Flats, Goat Cheese Truffles, Cranberry Sauce, Autumn Greens and Apple Salad, Mushroom Stuffing, Calabaza Squash with Golden Raisins and Pine Nuts, Chive Mashed Potatoes, German Chocolate Pecan Pie, Orchard Fruit Pie, and plenty of Ketchup.

One high school play from scrimmage. One half day off from school. One win on Turkey Day. Not a chance I'm playing my senior year, said Timmy. "I only have, but the one brother."

Happy Thanksgiving

Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

There is no hesitation in Houston

Tyler Lauletta, Business Insider:

In June 2014, the prestigious spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated went to the Houston Astros, who were then coming off three consecutive seasons with at least 105 losses and had a 36-48 record that season.

The cover boldly predicted that the Astros would be World Series champions in 2017, and it was backed up by a story from Ben Reiter titled "Astro-Matic Baseball: Houston's Grand Experiment," which took readers through the Astros' rebuilding process with an in-depth look at the team's front office as it prepared for the draft and planned the team's future. George Springer would be 28.

With the Astros' Game 7 win Wednesday night, Reiter's bold prediction came to fruition.It was one of those slow-developing ideas. The Astros were so bad. Losing 105 games three seasons in a row, Alex Trebek is making fun of them on "Jeopardy," they're putting up 0.0 local television ratings — it just seemed from afar like a total disaster. So we were thinking, "What is going on down here? What's the plan?" And this was before the Sixers started "The Process" — this hadn't really happened in sports to this degree.

The question that should precede the sardonic answer is, "What is a blowout preventer?"

Stutter -to speak in such a way that the rhythm is interrupted by repetitions, blocks or spasms, or prolongations of sounds or syllables, sometimes accompanied by contortions of the face and body.

Early in high school, George Springer was 5-foot-2. By his senior year, a growth spurt added nearly a foot. Even as he flourished on the field, he had to contend with a stutter that was evident at a young age. Self-conscious of it, he became withdrawn and avoided speaking in school or other public situations. Kids can be mean so the best way to avoid ridicule was "to not speak at all."

Springer was called up to the big leagues in April 2014, adopted new techniques to help with his speech, and later became a spokesman and fund-raiser for the Stuttering Association for the Young.

“It took a lot of courage,” his father said, adding: “This didn’t happen overnight. It was hard work, most of which, quite frankly, George did. We were there to guide, assist, coach and support, but he was the one that had to be comfortable in his own skin. He was the one that had to adopt all the techniques. I give him all the credit.”

“I can’t spread a message to kids and adults if I’m not willing to put myself out there,” said Springer.

Sports Illustrated got it right when they put George Springer on the cover three years ago. The Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres are possible choices to win the World Series in 2020. Alex Trebek is working on questions for these two perennial losers.


Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

Daddy, please don't cry over damaged fields

Kimberly Houghton, Union Leader:

Dad sues school district after son suspended from playing football. A father is suing the Nashua School District after it suspended his son from playing football because he damaged a local athletic field with his truck this past summer.

Lisa Gingras, director of athletics and wellness for the school district, suspended Vincent Priore for the fall athletic season after he was charged with criminal mischief for vandalizing school property when he, along with several other students, drove on a Nashua High School North athletic field with his vehicle.

Vincent, 16, of 75 Lock St., a student at North, received his athletic suspension on July 31, according to court documents. Appeals made to Gingras and the Board of Education were ultimately denied.

Vincent’s father, Christopher J. Priore, filed a subsequent appeal with Superintendent Jahmal Mosley in August. Mosley upheld the one-season athletic suspension.

“Ms. Gingras could have suspended Vincent for three seasons, however Vincent took responsibility for his actions and we commend him for taking ownership for this poor decision,” Mosley wrote in his decision.

Mosley went on to state that Vincent is a student athlete, and behavior expectations for athletes are clearly outlined in the school district’s policy for extracurricular activity eligibility.

According to the policy, violations of the student behavior standards policy that result in a suspension, which include vandalism and destruction of property, will cause a student to be suspended from extracurricular activities, Mosley said.

“Immediate action is needed because football season ends in November. We have gone through three appeals with school board,” the elder Priore writes in court documents filed at Hillsborough County Superior Court. “He continues to miss the season ... every day that passes is another day of missed sports, which is not fair to the student athlete.”

North is 3-3 and has three games remaining in the regular season. Priore is asking the court to reverse his son’s athletic suspension and issue an immediate injunction that would allow Vincent to return to the football field.

“We have been served unjust by the school district contradicting their own policy and basing decisions on emotions instead of facts,” Priore claims in court records. “I spent my last $260 to fight for this ex-parte order. Cannot afford an attorney.”

Vincent’s father told the Union Leader that because the incident took place over the summer, the school district should not be permitted to punish him for something that took place outside of the normal school year.

“The school has no authority to give them suspension during non-enrollment time. My son has been punished more than you can believe,” he said on Monday. “The Nashua High School North (football) team has suffered because he is not there to protect the quarterback.”

Priore said Vincent, 16, was ordered to pay $1,200 in restitution, and that he made his son perform 36 hours of community service at the Nashua Soup Kitchen and took his truck away for a month.

Christopher Priore watched the wrong football movie. He would have learned something if he observed, Remember the Titans.

What a difference a generation makes. When Keith Hendricks and Jeff Christopher ripped up the golf course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio in the fall of 1970, they took their punishment like men. When the judge gave the young boys the option of jail time or the Armed Services, they joined the United States Navy for four years. The judge had the draft board on speed dial.

Keith - “I was young, drunk, dumb and stupid.”
Jeff - “Same here.”

Their Daddy's didn't go to court to plead for a reduced sentence. They promised the judge that the boys would be on time for the induction ceremony.

The judge had Uncle Sam on speed dial, too.



Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

Hurricane makes it to The Show and brings home a special guest

UMSportsHall of Fame:

Warren Bogle was one of Coach Ron Fraser's most durable and consistent pitchers in the early years of the Miami Baseball Program. Back before Hurricane Baseball was THE place to be in South Florida, he helped lay the groundwork for the building of Mark Light Stadium and the glory years to come. The Lyndhurst, New Jersey native set standards for future players to reach, and was described by Coach Fraser as one of the most selfless and competitive team players of all time for UM Baseball.

In his two seasons at Miami, "Bog", as he was known to his teammates, would lead the team in victories and innings pitched each year. His 9 complete games in 1966 was a then-school record. His earned run average that year was 2.52. His 15 career complete games still ranks 6th on the list. He struck out 242 opponents in 191 career innings for an average of 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings...a record that stands today. Bogle struck out a then-school record 128 batters in 1966, back when UM played fewer than 40 games. He recorded 17 strikeouts against Rollins College on May 6, 1966. Ever the tough competitor, and back before designated hitters, Bogle hit for himself and had a career .329 average and .523 slugging percentage. In 1967, he led the team, slugging .620.

Drafted in the fourth round (73rd overall) of the 1967 Major League Baseball Secondary draft by the then Kansas City (now Oakland) Athletics, Bogle made his major league debut in Yankee Stadium on July 31, 1968, becoming the FIRST Miami Hurricane baseball player to do so. He lasted 4 2/3 innings, striking out seven and allowing a single to outfielder Mickey Mantle. "At least, I kept him in the ballpark," said Bogle.

The 21 year old youngster appeared in 16 major league games. He fanned 26 batters in 23 innings, walked eight, allowed 11 earned runs, 4.30 era, one balk, and no decisions. Bogle batted five times, striking out against tough lefthanders(Steve Barber, Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar, Tommy John and Sam McDowell). He gave up the first major league home run to outfielder Merv Rettenmund of the Baltimore Orioles in an extra innings loss. Rettenmund sent the Orioles' ball boy to the Athletics locker room to have the ball signed by Bogle. After telling the kid to get lost, A's catcher Jim Pagliaroni told Warren that "this ain't high school. Sign the damn ball."

The 1968 Athletics featured four future hall of famers: Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers, Catfish Hunter and Tony La Russa. The team also included young stars, Bert Campaneris, Joe Rudi, Sal Bando, Rick Monday and Blue Moon Odom. The hitting instructor was former New York Yankees centerfielder, Joe DiMaggio.

Warren had only one brief conversation with Joe DiMaggio. After informing the former Yankee legend that his mother was Italian, they made plans for a postgame meal in Lyndhurst. Sal Bando, Joe Rudi and Tony La Russa tagged along.

There was never any mention of hitting streaks, Marilyn Monroe or who's the greatest outfielder. The topic was Italian Food Forever – Those who eat well, eat Italian. Mrs. Bogle won MVP.

A torn tendon in the pitching arm ended the brief career of lefthander, Warren Bogle. Following a stint in the minors in Iowa City in 1969, Oakland A's pitching coach Sherm Lollar told Bogle "that he should return to the University of Miami and finish his degree."

The best day was pitching in Yankee Stadium in front of two busloads of folks from Lyndhurst. The best night was when the Yankee Clipper came for dinner.


Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy