Desperation in College Park

Lots of topics but so little time - or space.  But after watching Carolina defend the ACC's honor on Saturday, I feel compelled to jump start my blogging with Maryland's short-sighted decision to leave the ACC for the Big 10.  

The decision to leave speaks more to desperation even more than it points to money.

The athletic department at Maryland's flagship university has faced severe budget cuts recently, and drastically decided to cut seven Olympic sports in the last year. Cuts included core collegian sports like swimming and track and field. 

The school had hoped that football and basketball would pay the freight for the rest of their athletic department - as it does at the other ACC schools - and expanded the capacity of Byrd Stadium as part of that plan. But those new seats stayed empty even as now-fired Ralph Freidgen reinvigorated the football program.  At the same time, the men's basketball team oddly slid into mediocrity in the wake of the 2002 National Championship, stopped going to the NCAA tourney every year, and as a result attendance - and revenue - dropped.

Much of the cash that did come in was mismanaged, sports were dropped, and the solution was seen as a conference with its own TV network in the Big 10.

Maryland may make more money from the Big 10 Network, but don't forget the ACC has its own network - at least when it comes to basketball.  It's called ESPN, so the TV money will likely be a wash.

But back to mismanagement and the ill-fated decision to expand Byrd Stadium.  Where Maryland will make money is selling out their stadium but with Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan alums instead of Terps fans. The athletic department is probably happy to trade schools like Wake, Duke, BC, and Miami with schools that have large alumni fan bases in DC. Or ones that have fans that travel; the ACC arguably only has one football program with fans who will go anywhere, and that's Virginia Tech.

In that regard, the Terps are replaying a sad and common refrain sung by other DC-area teams - "come watch the other team." The Wizards have done that for years, alienating a grassroots basketball community so much that a recent survey of local sports fans found the Lakers as popular as our hometown team.  For years the Nats did the same, courting Phillies fans to come to DC until a noticeable fan backlash, and an infusion of talent, stopped that noxious ticket-selling strategy.

Unfortunately, instead of getting more competitive – at least in football - Maryland decided to desperately chase the equivalent of Phillies fans to balance the books at the athletic department.  Disapponting and desperate.

A few more Maryland notes:

• Maryland the university and STATE belong in the ACC. The university was a charter member, but culturally and geographically the state is an ACC state. Like Virginia,  the Carolinas, and Georgia it has a tidal coast on one end with mountains at the other. It's early economy was dominated by tobacco (and slavery). It shares the same weather and many of the same demographics as its fellow south of the Mason-Dixon Line brethren.  Now the Free State is mixed up with states like Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota (all great places to play football in October and November).  Good luck recruiting Florida and the southeast!
• Fans of Terps football should get used to winning only 2 to 5 games a year in perpetuity. Why would any player play football there? Maryland could - and did - compete for ACC championships even after FSU and Miami joined.  But does anyone think the Terps will ever compete with Ohio State or Michigan or anyone in football?
• Don't expect basketball to benefit either. Big 10 basketball is NOT as glamorous as the ACC. And big time recruits from the east will likely stay in the area to play at Carolina, Duke, UConn or Syracuse. And why would big-time recruits from Chicago or the Midwest pick Maryland over Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio State or other regional powers?
• Finally, Maryland has become a big time soccer school, for both men's and women's teams. Outside of Indiana, the Big 10 stinks regarding the world’s most popular sport, while the ACC excels.  
• Other than those reasons it's a great move!

Bad Week For the ACC Gets Worse

First, the two best teams in the conference - Georgia Tech and Clemson - both lost to mediocre, in-state SEC rivals in football.

Then, for the first time in the 11 year history of the event, the conference lost the ACC-Big 10 challenge in basketball. 

Carolina did its part, handily dispatching Michigan State. And kudos to Maryland and especially Boston College for winning road games. The Eagles beat a ranked Michigan team, as did Miami in defeating Minnesota in Coral Gables. Virginia Tech also won a road game, but against a pretty bad Iowa squad.

But all six of the games the ACC lost were bad losses. Duke lost on the road to a good Wisconsin team. But the Badgers, not exactly a running team, looked quicker than the Blue Devils. What's up with that?

Sure, Virginia is rebuilding but how can you lose at home to Penn State. Terrible.

Northwestern is supposed to be decent this year but it's still a team NC State should  have  handled since the game was in Raleigh.

The only semi-legit losses - SEMI - were by FSU and Wake Forest.

Florida State lost to a good Ohio State team on the road. That's to be expected from FSU; no matter how talented the Seminoles NEVER ever seem to rise to the challenge (see last year's ACC tournament final, their loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament, etc.).

Considering that Wake Forest was coming off a home loss to William and Mary (a team of two players!), losing to a top-10 team like Purdue is almost a moral victory. Wake fans must be getting nervous. This team has stunk since February. The Dino Gaudio honeymoon is clearly over.

But the worst loss by far was by Clemson. The Tigers blew a 23-point second half lead at home in losing to half-way decent Illinois. Down the stretch Clemson did not do a good job of getting the ball to Trevor Booker, and generally panicked on their home court in the face of the Illini's press and urgent play. Horrible.

Losing the ACC-Big 10 challenge for the first time is not the end of the world but is disappointing nonetheless. With the Big East expected to have a down year the Big 10 now has the upper hand in the mythical battle for the title of the strongest conference in America.

But this year's challenge could have real consequences for ACC bubble teams.  Clemson in particular should make sure and win 9 or 10 ACC games; ditto for Florida State, who has lost both of its important non-conference games (Ohio State and Florida). 

On the other hand, Boston College and Miami really helped themselves so in the end it may even out. The ACC could still receive 6 and maybe 7 bids: Carolina, Duke, Maryland, Georgia Tech (who defeated Sienna last night), Clemson, and one or two from the group of FSU/UM/BC/Wake Forest).

World Cup Draw is Tomorrow (Dec. 4th)

The draw for the 2010 World Cup is tomorrow and will be shown live on ESPN.  Four pots will be used to determine the eight, four-team, groups.

Pot 1 consists of the seven highest-seeded teams (Brazil, Spain, Argentina, England, Germany, Netherlands, Italy) plus host South Africa. The US is in pot 2, a mix of Asian and North American teams, and Greece is in Pot 4, European teams. Pot 3 is Africa and South America.

To me, the best case scenario for the U.S. is: South Africa, the weakest team in Pot 1, by far; Uruguay or Algeria, the only two bad teams in Pot 2; and Slovakia from Pot 3. But according to the Washington Post and ESPN, Switzerland would be the best match up for us for the European pot.

I really hope that Greece and the US are in separate groups. I would love to see the U.S. play - and defeat - Greece in the final.  What are the odds of that?

Best case for Greece is to draw: South Africa; North Korea, arguably the worst team in the World Cup; and Algeria.

Worst case for both teams is to draw Brazil and a team like Ivory Coast from Pot 3.

Anyway, tune in tomorrow.

Sports Rap

In homage to my brother, the original host of WXYC's 'Sports Rap' show, here are some quick thoughts in response to items in the Sunday sports pages:

• Carolina was lucky to win against UConn yesterday. The game was decided when a UConn offensive lineman was called for holding in their own end zone with about a minute left, giving the Heels two points and a 12-10 win. I know that's the rule, but what a tough and weird way to lose. I guess you have to make that call if you are the referee - otherwise guys would hold all the time rather than give up a safety - but for that play to decide the game?
• Staying in the ACC, is there anything worse for a coach than to have a last name that rhymes with 'go'? Easy for the fans to come up with a derisive cheer when that's the case, as Al Groh has learned in Charlottesville.
• Interesting that both UConn and Serena Williams lost games, set and a match due to a penalty, on the same day. In Serena's case arguing a foot fault, then another point for arguing the call. In each contest a referee's call determined the final score.
• You often hear, especially in basketball, of a referee swallowing his or her whistle late in the game. But that did not happen in Hartford or Flushing Meadows on Saturday.
• As fans of this blog know, I'm not a big fan of anything Duke or Yankees related. That said, I have an appreciation for Greg Paulus playing quarterback at Syracuse and Derek Jeter's accomplishments for the Yankees. Paulus is not intimidated by the real possibility of failure, a fear that paralyzes most people. Got to give him credit for giving it a shot and earning the starting job. He's also lucky he doesn't have to suit up against Ty Lawson. I have nothing to add to the justified praise Jeter has earned throughout his career, and frankly can only offer cliches. But he plays the right way, with a balance of skill and humility we'd like to see in ever person we know, let alone ball player. This may seem sacrilegious, but Jeter would have made a great Tar Heel.
• Hard to believe no Yankees player has 3,000 hits. Obviously, Lou Gehrig would have, and Babe Ruth lots a few seasons pitching with the Red Sox, Joe DiMaggio spend 3 seasons in the Army, and Mickey Mantle lost games to injury. But still hard to believe.
• Both area baseball teams obviously stink, but it's interesting to look at the O's roster and see more hope than on the Nats'. With Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, Matt Wieters, Nolan Reimold, Brian Matusz, Brad Bergeson, and Chris Tillman the Orioles have a roster full of legitimate, big-league talent. Our home town Nats counter with Ryan Zimmerman, Jesus Flores, Nyjer Morgan (who is actually NOT that young), Elijah Dukes, John Lannan, Jordan Zimmermann, maybe Steven Strasburg. On talent, you'd have to favor the Os. But one thing in the Nationals favor - Washington does not have to go through the Yankees, Red Sox and young Rays to get to the playoffs.
• Finally, I watched part of Greece's game in the European Championships today via ESPN360, and the viewing quality was pretty good. I had never watched a game that way. Greece's loss should not hurt their chances of moving up to the final round (they play three rounds; today's game was in round two), especially if they defeat France (led by Tony Parker, Ronny Turiaf, and Boris Diaw) on Tuesday. Greece had been averaging 89 points a game prior to their 65-68 loss to Russia, and shot it badly against their fellow Orthodox foes.