Hungry?
- You know, there’s a guy every year who seems like he’s been around forever. My 2014 nominee for that guy is Florida’s Andre Debose, who was just granted a sixth year of eligibility.
- “I just don’t want to see any University of Alabama (logos).”
- David Ching makes a case for a guy we probably haven’t thought about much yet, tight end Jordan Davis.
- SEC basketball crowds suck. And here I thought continuously loud music packs folks in.
- So, the question becomes would college basketball be better served as a one-semester sport? What I love about this discussion is that there isn’t a single word about what fans might want, other than to blame our limited attention spans. “It is a big challenge to get people to care about college basketball when football is still being played.”
- Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney thinks it would be swell if college football players didn’t come out early.
- The day Georgia football almost died.
- Pretty good column in the Boston College student newspaper about March Madness: “Thanks to March Madness, regular season success is overlooked.”
- Auburn’s AD has fired the football, baseball and men’s basketball coaches he hired since 2008. Think he’s indebted to Malzahn right now?
Get The Picture 
Great article on UGA football history. We should post it every time some gator starts a rant with “since 1990”.
But what is this basketball you speak of?
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I’ve always been of the opinion that it isn’t just that basketball is played at the same time as football that makes it less popular. I believe part of football’s popularity has to do with its (mostly) regular schedule and the relatively small number of games. If you like high school football, it’s going to be played on Friday night. If you like college football, it’s going to be played (mostly) on Saturday. If you like NFL football, it’s going to be played (again, mostly) on Sunday. I’d really like to watch more Dawgs basketball and baseball games, but I can’t remember to check their schedules to see when their next games are. Heck, as a high school teacher, I’d like to see more games for my students who play other sports, but again, I can’t keep track of what plays when. It’s not impossible to check schedules, of course, but I really believe that irregular schedules negatively affect the popularity of other sports.
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I once loved the sport of basketball, behind football and baseball, it was one of my favorites. The fact it over lapped football didn’t bother me, it was an exciting sport that could be played on dates between the Saturday games. What drove me away was the change in the game from finesse to power, and the move to not enforcement rules that required proper footwork and dribbling (walking, palming). This beginning of this change preceded ESPN but the highlight clips on TV seemed to add to overlooking rule violations/interpretations for the sake of the spectacular. I haven’t watched a pro basketball game since the 70s, and not a complete college game since the early 90s. The football information available on football has made it easier to fill in that time, and I change the channel when they begin a basketball segment on sports shows now.
I don’t know any of the players, and would only recognize 4 or 5 basketball “stars” of the past 20 years if they were seated next to me on a plane. I think the game is responsible for its own decline in popularity, I only hope football is not headed down the same path with the increased scoring and lack of emphasis on the defensive side of the game.
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+1.
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Agreed. Well said. This and the fact that the season is way too long, and the last two minutes are about all thats worth watching if you have any interest at all.
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As a HS Cheerleader for football and basketball, I have to say it is more fun to cheer for basketball. I was so into basketball back in the day. Partly because it was much easier on the body. Which is true also for the players of the two sports. We didn’t even travel with a team Doctor for basketball and the cheerleaders road the same bus with the basketball team, which was also a lot of fun.
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I sometimes turn my collar around and hear confessions if there is something involved in that “a lot of fun” you feel any guilt about, or just need to share. Confidentiality assured, of course, and liquid courage supplied.
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I want to toy with you about this….But it would not be right, however I could drive you crazy! 🙂
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Frustrating, cheap thrills worked well for me in my formative years, and they are essential again as I get old (er). Always hated a tease though….
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Oh you know you love to be teased. It is innate in Men.
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Oh, it is fun…if there is a payoff. Had to lift many cars after dates in HS. And, it doesn’t matter if men like it anyway, because teasing is innate in women and we are gonna be faced with it anyway.
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“The SEC has asked ESPN for help with the growing trend of declining basketball crowds”
… what in the heck is ESPN going to do about i!?!
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it?!
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which is exactly the way I read i!?!
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The SEC asked for better weeknight days and times for games. 9:00 p.m. on a Tuesday starts can depress attendance. Also, it discussed with ESPN having special internet content available for smart phones and pads at the areans that only people at the arenas can access.
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Von Gammon’s momma wrote a helluva letter…
Interesting the effects of the anti-football contingent would hang around the Capital City Club long enough to influence things at Tech. 🙂
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+1
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I’m with Rooney on the value of a college education. These kids should stay in school and, obviously, if the NFL were serious they could fix the situation with a rule change. I won’t pretend to understand the mind of a college football player although I understand the attraction of a paycheck, especially after years of playing with very little cash in your pocket. However, I’ve got to wonder how much of the decision to leave college early is ego. These are guys who have never failed at anything athletic in their lives and I’m sure most can’t imagine failing in the NFL despite objective evidence to the contrary.
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I have a close friend was is a football player at Bama under Bear Bryant and is a successful businessman. He is also a minority. He strongly opposes players leaving school early believing that even the ones that get drafted end up broke because they have not yet developed the life skills to handle the money they get. After a few years, he believes, they can’t play any more and have no real marketable skills outside football (or basketball, etc.). He often speaks to college kids about this and always preaches “stay in school, get your degree.” I admit I didn’t feel that way but after listening to him I have completely changed my mind on this issue.
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Why not have college basketball play the first half of the season on grass at midfield of the home football games?
Sure they games would be shortened and the ball would take some funny bounces (due to crown), but it would get lots of eyes on the sport.
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I believe the Gammon’s were from Rome or lived in Rome or something to that effect. Anywho, those of you making your way to this Northwest Ga town can find a Memorial of sorts written on the ground on the corner of Broad St and one of the adjoining roads. Three rivers, Seven Hills, Rome Braves baseball, & football savin’ ancestors – what more does one need?!?
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I wish Georgia would limit license plates to state schools. It chaps my a$$ every time I see a UF logo on a Georgia plate.
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Why would anyone mark their armored vehicle as a target
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Or AU, or Bama, or UT……….The Georgia state government will authorize anything to get a few more pieces of silver. Disgusting.
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And we, on the other hand, or at least some of us, will accept Brent Musberger.
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Living in SC I am thrilled about the option of a UGA plate I guess it depends on where you live how you feel about this.
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