Draft day is where championships are won and lost.
This is evident in any of the major sports when looking at the roster of championship teams, especially in the NBA.
While it may be true that star players are acquired a considerable amount of times through trade or free agency, key role players and bench-depth are built through the draft.
Just look at the last year's NBA champion, the Boston Celtics.
While Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and James Posey were brought in from other teams to push the Celtics over the top, the Celtics used their drafts to build a base with players like Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, and Paul Pierce.
Signing free agents and trading for players to make up for failures in the draft is a recipe for disaster, and that's the situation the Hornets have to deal with now.
Chris Paul and David West are the only starters who were drafted by the Hornets and the only draftees on the Hornets roster who average double figures in scoring.
In the past five drafts--excluding Paul--the Hornets have drafted nine players and two of them are still on the current roster.
Those two are Julian Wright and Hilton Armstrong--drafted in 2005 and 2006, respectively--and they combined to average 9.2 points and 5.6 rebounds this season, which has resulted in coach Byron Scott to express his disgust with their performances several times this season.
That's not a winning formula.
Drafting players not only builds up a base on a team to build around, but if kept together, those players can grow together and learn to work together and use their talents to compliment each other.
But the Hornets have not done that so now they are facing the downfalls that come with that failure.
Their starting lineup is made up of two players drafted by the team--Paul and David West--and three other players who have been brought in to replace others who either left or didn't work out.
So, if the team is constantly working to replace players, they can never begin to build the team's depth. This has resulted in the Hornets finishing last in the NBA in bench production this season and constant headaches that Scott has to deal with when he has to take Paul and/or West out of games to rest.
So, in order to avoid those headaches, Scott has had to extend Paul and West's minutes so the team's efficiency won't have too much of a drastic fall during stretches of games. Paul and West each finished in the top-10 in the NBA in minutes per game during the regular season--the only teammates to do so other than the Washington Wizards' Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler who finished with a 19-63 record this season.
The teams with the three best records this past season--Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers--have a combined 22 players on their respective rosters that were drafted by their organization and have played their entire careers there.
The Hornets currently have four, and depending on the futures of Wright and Armstrong, may have less than that after this season.
Championships are won on draft day, that's something the Hornets need to figure out.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Saints Draft Review
Finally!
The 2009 NFL Draft has come and gone, and now we can see what teams have a legitimate shot at the Super Bowl this year, and what teams should start looking forward to next year's draft a little bit early.
We can all start hearing those "this is our year" rants from the die hard Saints fans who are ecstatic about the Saint's drafting All-American cornerback Malcolm Jenkins and those "we'll see" responses from those of us who have been hearing those types of speeches for our entire lives.
While it's hard to make a drastic change to a team with only four draft picks, I'll break down each of the Saints picks from this year's draft and say what kind of impact they will make on this year's team, if any.
First Round, No. 14 overall CB Malcolm Jenkins/Ohio St.:
Jenkins is, without question, the one guy the majority of Saints fans wanted to nab with the 14th pick and that's just who they got. The 6 foot, 205 pound cornerback was--at one time--looked at as a top-10 pick, but after a sub-par 40-time at the NFL Scouting Combine his stock dropped a little bit being labeled by many GMs as, "the next coming of Charles Woodson". While it's debatable whether or not that is a good thing, it is without question that his addition will make an immediate impact on the depth of the Saints' one-time dreadful secondary.
After adding free agents Darren Sharper and Jabari Greer this offseason, it will not be that big of a surprise to see three new starters in the four secondary spots come next season for a Saints pass defense that ranked 23rd in the league last season. Jenkins also gives new defensive coordinator multiple options with the rookie's ability to play either corner or safety. I'm thinking Jenkins will probably start out at cornerback and if Sharper's production begins to fall, they'll move Jenkins into the free safety spot.
Fourth Round, No. 116 overall SS Chip Vaughn/Wake Forest:
At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Vaughn was an enforcer and run stopper at the safety position while at Wake Forest. He will probably be used as a special teams contributor at first, but don't be surprised if he pushes Roman Harper for the starting strong safety spot. He was known for his big-play abilities while in college and didn't get as much publicity due to his fellow draftees who played at Wake Forest-- cornerback Alphonso Smith and linebacker Aaron Curry.
He is a great athlete, but will be more of a developmental player than an immediate contributor to the Saints' defense.
Fourth Round, No. 118 overall MLB Stanley Arnoux/Wake Forest:
Arnoux, a 6-foot, 232 pound linebacker who was a somewhat of an unknown due to playing alongside Curry, will add depth to a Saints linebacking group that played the same three guys--Jonathan Vilma, Scott Fujita, and Scott Shanle--nearly every play of all 16 games last season. He also ran a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash at the the Combine which ranked second among middle linebackers, bringing some speed to a group that lacked that type of explosiveness last season, to say the least.
He, like his college teammate Vaughn, will probably be asked to contribute more on special teams than on defense. According to the Times-Picayune, Saints Coach Sean Payton said they will try to move Arnoux to weakside linebacker so don't be surprised if he challenges Shanle--the current starter--come time for training camp.
Fifth Round, No. 164 overall P Thomas Morstead
I know what you all are thinking. "PUNTER? Who drafts punters?" While I do agree punters--unless your name is Ray Guy--should never be picked in the draft unless it's in the seventh round. But don't look at this as one of those "dumb Saints decisions that seem to happen every year" draft picks.
There is a method to Payton's madness.
If you haven't forgotten already, the Saints seemed to have a different punter and kicker in every game at the end of last season. While they seemed to find the permanent starter at kicker in Garrett Hartley, they are still looking to find a punter they feel comfortable with. Hopefully, Morstead will be that guy, but the Saints did draft kicker Taylor Mehlhaff in the sixth round of last year's draft and he was cut after starting three games. So, don't be surprised to see Morstead leave just as fast as he came to the Saints.
The 2009 NFL Draft has come and gone, and now we can see what teams have a legitimate shot at the Super Bowl this year, and what teams should start looking forward to next year's draft a little bit early.
We can all start hearing those "this is our year" rants from the die hard Saints fans who are ecstatic about the Saint's drafting All-American cornerback Malcolm Jenkins and those "we'll see" responses from those of us who have been hearing those types of speeches for our entire lives.
While it's hard to make a drastic change to a team with only four draft picks, I'll break down each of the Saints picks from this year's draft and say what kind of impact they will make on this year's team, if any.
First Round, No. 14 overall CB Malcolm Jenkins/Ohio St.:
Jenkins is, without question, the one guy the majority of Saints fans wanted to nab with the 14th pick and that's just who they got. The 6 foot, 205 pound cornerback was--at one time--looked at as a top-10 pick, but after a sub-par 40-time at the NFL Scouting Combine his stock dropped a little bit being labeled by many GMs as, "the next coming of Charles Woodson". While it's debatable whether or not that is a good thing, it is without question that his addition will make an immediate impact on the depth of the Saints' one-time dreadful secondary.
After adding free agents Darren Sharper and Jabari Greer this offseason, it will not be that big of a surprise to see three new starters in the four secondary spots come next season for a Saints pass defense that ranked 23rd in the league last season. Jenkins also gives new defensive coordinator multiple options with the rookie's ability to play either corner or safety. I'm thinking Jenkins will probably start out at cornerback and if Sharper's production begins to fall, they'll move Jenkins into the free safety spot.
Fourth Round, No. 116 overall SS Chip Vaughn/Wake Forest:
At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Vaughn was an enforcer and run stopper at the safety position while at Wake Forest. He will probably be used as a special teams contributor at first, but don't be surprised if he pushes Roman Harper for the starting strong safety spot. He was known for his big-play abilities while in college and didn't get as much publicity due to his fellow draftees who played at Wake Forest-- cornerback Alphonso Smith and linebacker Aaron Curry.
He is a great athlete, but will be more of a developmental player than an immediate contributor to the Saints' defense.
Fourth Round, No. 118 overall MLB Stanley Arnoux/Wake Forest:
Arnoux, a 6-foot, 232 pound linebacker who was a somewhat of an unknown due to playing alongside Curry, will add depth to a Saints linebacking group that played the same three guys--Jonathan Vilma, Scott Fujita, and Scott Shanle--nearly every play of all 16 games last season. He also ran a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash at the the Combine which ranked second among middle linebackers, bringing some speed to a group that lacked that type of explosiveness last season, to say the least.
He, like his college teammate Vaughn, will probably be asked to contribute more on special teams than on defense. According to the Times-Picayune, Saints Coach Sean Payton said they will try to move Arnoux to weakside linebacker so don't be surprised if he challenges Shanle--the current starter--come time for training camp.
Fifth Round, No. 164 overall P Thomas Morstead
I know what you all are thinking. "PUNTER? Who drafts punters?" While I do agree punters--unless your name is Ray Guy--should never be picked in the draft unless it's in the seventh round. But don't look at this as one of those "dumb Saints decisions that seem to happen every year" draft picks.
There is a method to Payton's madness.
If you haven't forgotten already, the Saints seemed to have a different punter and kicker in every game at the end of last season. While they seemed to find the permanent starter at kicker in Garrett Hartley, they are still looking to find a punter they feel comfortable with. Hopefully, Morstead will be that guy, but the Saints did draft kicker Taylor Mehlhaff in the sixth round of last year's draft and he was cut after starting three games. So, don't be surprised to see Morstead leave just as fast as he came to the Saints.
To conclude, I don't think the Saints had a particularly bad draft weekend, but I don't think they did much to improve a team that underachieved their way to an 8-8 record last season. I like the Jenkins pick, but after that it seemed like we picked a couple of guys who will be wearing different uniforms--if any--after two years.
But like a wise man once told me, "we'll see".
Friday, April 24, 2009
"Hybrid": The New Craze In The NFL
NFL coaches would like the fans to think they are masterminds who have these complex systems that "non-football minds" wouldn't understand, but the majority of them have one strategy going from one season to the next:
"Do whatever the good teams did last year, and hopefully, it will work for us this year."
For those who don't believe me, all you have to do is look at this weekend's draft and see for yourself.
The one word you will hear over and over again during the ESPN broadcast will be "hybrid", which is the new fad amongst NFL teams citing how successful these types of athletes were last season.
OLB/DEs like Pittsburgh Steelers' James Harrison and LeMarr Woodley, Miami Dolphins' Joey Porter, and San Diego Chargers' Shaun Phillips accounted for 282 tackles and 57 1/2 sacks for their respective tams.
But what makes the NFL's new affinity with these types of players odd is that at one time they were looked upon in a bad light, as far as the draft goes.
Despite their incredible performances last season, Woodley was taken in the second round, Porter was in the third, Phillips in the sixth, and Harrison didn't get drafted at all.
But it was Harrison's epic performance in Super Bowl XLIII and during the regular season--earning him the Defensive Player of the Year award--that opened the floodgates for players like himself.
It has been projected that there could be anywhere from four to seven DE/OLBs taken in the first round this year.
Coincidence. I think not.
It's even gotten so crazy that the one-time scariest phrase upcoming quarterback prospects can hear about themselves (running quarterback) isn't even that bad an insult anymore due to the Dolphins success with the "Wildcat" offense.
It has been widely reported that--maybe for the first time in NFL history--college quarterbacks who may not be good enough to be every-down signal-callers in the NFL still can be viewed as valuable commodities in upcoming drafts due to their ability to come in and contribute by running the offense that spread across the league like a bad cold after the Dolphins extinguished the New England Patriots with it early in the regular season.
Pat White, for example, is projected to go somewhere in the second round of this year's draft despite having a similar skill set and collegiate background as New York Jets WR/QB Brad Smith, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 draft (to the surprise of some draft analysts who had Smith projected as an undrafted free agent).
So I'm sending this as a warning to all who will be watching this year's draft, because it may be a shock to see teams do things that once was thought of as "draft day no-no's."
But don't worry, because they will be doing something different two years from now anyway.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Reason Why Hornets Are Down 0-2
When thinking of why the Hornets did not live up to their lofty expectations coming into this season one name that never comes up in a negative light is All-Star Chris Paul.
His unbelievable play and leadership this season is the only reason the Hornets aren't along with the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers in the Blake Griffin sweepstakes.
This season, he became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in assists (11.0) and steals (2.8) while ranking top-10 in scoring (22.8).
But so far these playoffs, Paul has not been the the best player every time he stepped on the court like he was in last year's playoffs when he averaged 24.1 points, 11.3 assists and 2.33 steals per game.
In fact, he hasn't even been the best point guard on the court in the two games the Hornets have lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Pepsi Center.
Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups has taken that title with his outstanding performances in the two blowouts the Nuggets have handed the Hornets.
In the two games, Billups has scored a total of 67 points making 18-of-30 shots from the field--12-of-15 from beyond the arc--and knocked down all 19 of his free throw attempts.
What might be the most impressive thing about his play so far in this series is he has yet to register a turnover. The only other player in NBA history to score over 60 points in the first two games of a playoff series without registering a turnover is Michael Jordan, who did it twice.
While Paul's 17.5 points and 12 assists average in the two losses are nothing to frown at, he has not produced that emotinal boost the Hornets need from him to be succesful.
In last year's playoffs, Paul yelling how Dallas point guard Jason Kidd couldn't "guard him", his constant encouraging of his teammates to pick up the pace and to pick up their play, and his circus act, whirlwind and-one plays were what the Hornets needed to keep advancing.
So far in this year's playoffs, he hasn't been able to provide them with those eye-popping, momentum swinging plays to guide the Hornets to victory.
It may be because something he's doing wrong or it might be the result of excellent defense by the Nuggets.
Whatever it is the Hornets and Paul better figure it out fast or they will be exiting this playoffs a lot earlier than they were expecting to before the season started.
His unbelievable play and leadership this season is the only reason the Hornets aren't along with the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers in the Blake Griffin sweepstakes.
This season, he became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in assists (11.0) and steals (2.8) while ranking top-10 in scoring (22.8).
But so far these playoffs, Paul has not been the the best player every time he stepped on the court like he was in last year's playoffs when he averaged 24.1 points, 11.3 assists and 2.33 steals per game.
In fact, he hasn't even been the best point guard on the court in the two games the Hornets have lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Pepsi Center.
Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups has taken that title with his outstanding performances in the two blowouts the Nuggets have handed the Hornets.
In the two games, Billups has scored a total of 67 points making 18-of-30 shots from the field--12-of-15 from beyond the arc--and knocked down all 19 of his free throw attempts.
What might be the most impressive thing about his play so far in this series is he has yet to register a turnover. The only other player in NBA history to score over 60 points in the first two games of a playoff series without registering a turnover is Michael Jordan, who did it twice.
While Paul's 17.5 points and 12 assists average in the two losses are nothing to frown at, he has not produced that emotinal boost the Hornets need from him to be succesful.
In last year's playoffs, Paul yelling how Dallas point guard Jason Kidd couldn't "guard him", his constant encouraging of his teammates to pick up the pace and to pick up their play, and his circus act, whirlwind and-one plays were what the Hornets needed to keep advancing.
So far in this year's playoffs, he hasn't been able to provide them with those eye-popping, momentum swinging plays to guide the Hornets to victory.
It may be because something he's doing wrong or it might be the result of excellent defense by the Nuggets.
Whatever it is the Hornets and Paul better figure it out fast or they will be exiting this playoffs a lot earlier than they were expecting to before the season started.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
BEANIE??????
There has been mass speculation of who exactly the Saints will choose with their first round pick in this weekend's draft by not only people in this city, but around the country.
It is widely recognized that the Saints 8-8 record last year did not nearly match the talent that they had suiting up on Sundays--along with the guys who weren't suiting up due to injuries.
So, it seems as if all the Saints needed to do was add a few spare parts over the offseason and they can reclaim their spot atop the NFC South that they once held a few years ago.
So far, they haven't done a bad job adding two players in veteran safety Darren Sharper and speedster Jabari Greer who could claim starting jobs on a Saints defense that needed much improvement.
So, to officially make this a successful offseason all the Saints, seemingly, would have to do is pick up where they left off in last year's draft--where they drafted major contributors cornerback Tracy Porter and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis-- and pick up some defensive pieces that can contribute right away, as well as being building blocks for future defenses.
But instead, there has been much talk of the Saints taking former Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells with the 14th pick in the draft.
WHY?
While it is true the Saints seemed as if they had more trouble converting on short-yardage plays than any other team in the NFL last season, that is not the reason why they finished 8-8.
I can never look at a team that finished with the no. 1 offense in the NFL the previous season and say, "they need to use their first round pick to improve their offense."
If the Saints were to use their first round pick this year on a defensive player--whether it be a linebacker or defensive back--he would be a contributor on the defense as soon as he steps foot on the Saints practice facility.
Former Southern Cal outside linebacker Brian Cushing would compete for a starting job and, at the very least, be a consistent participant in next year's linebacker rotation and former Ohio State defensive back Malcolm Jenkins would be a short-term solution at cornerback (even if he doesn't win a starting spot he would push Jason David and Usama Young down the depth chart making Saints fans Sundays' a lot less stressful).
Not to mention, even if Jenkins doesn't pan out at cornerback he could serve as a possible long-term solution at free safety, because Darren Sharper, at 33, is not.
This year's draft is a very crucial one. With running back Reggie Bush needing a substantial improvement from last year to avoid "first-round bust" status, grumblings starting about Sean Payton's possible job security in the future, and many of the Saints stars growing older and older the window is starting to close on this team's window of time where they have a legitimate shot at Super Bowl contention.
The last thing they need to do is go through the Robert Meachem experience all over again, because it will result in the same thing we have been seeing for the past two years.
ALL OFFENSE, NO DEFENSE.
It is widely recognized that the Saints 8-8 record last year did not nearly match the talent that they had suiting up on Sundays--along with the guys who weren't suiting up due to injuries.
So, it seems as if all the Saints needed to do was add a few spare parts over the offseason and they can reclaim their spot atop the NFC South that they once held a few years ago.
So far, they haven't done a bad job adding two players in veteran safety Darren Sharper and speedster Jabari Greer who could claim starting jobs on a Saints defense that needed much improvement.
So, to officially make this a successful offseason all the Saints, seemingly, would have to do is pick up where they left off in last year's draft--where they drafted major contributors cornerback Tracy Porter and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis-- and pick up some defensive pieces that can contribute right away, as well as being building blocks for future defenses.
But instead, there has been much talk of the Saints taking former Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells with the 14th pick in the draft.
WHY?
While it is true the Saints seemed as if they had more trouble converting on short-yardage plays than any other team in the NFL last season, that is not the reason why they finished 8-8.
I can never look at a team that finished with the no. 1 offense in the NFL the previous season and say, "they need to use their first round pick to improve their offense."
If the Saints were to use their first round pick this year on a defensive player--whether it be a linebacker or defensive back--he would be a contributor on the defense as soon as he steps foot on the Saints practice facility.
Former Southern Cal outside linebacker Brian Cushing would compete for a starting job and, at the very least, be a consistent participant in next year's linebacker rotation and former Ohio State defensive back Malcolm Jenkins would be a short-term solution at cornerback (even if he doesn't win a starting spot he would push Jason David and Usama Young down the depth chart making Saints fans Sundays' a lot less stressful).
Not to mention, even if Jenkins doesn't pan out at cornerback he could serve as a possible long-term solution at free safety, because Darren Sharper, at 33, is not.
This year's draft is a very crucial one. With running back Reggie Bush needing a substantial improvement from last year to avoid "first-round bust" status, grumblings starting about Sean Payton's possible job security in the future, and many of the Saints stars growing older and older the window is starting to close on this team's window of time where they have a legitimate shot at Super Bowl contention.
The last thing they need to do is go through the Robert Meachem experience all over again, because it will result in the same thing we have been seeing for the past two years.
ALL OFFENSE, NO DEFENSE.
UNO Athletics Crisis
I was kind of disappointed that I didn't have the opportunity to cover the whole "Student Government vote" that is currently all the talk here at UNO (among those of us who stay on campus after class long enough to actually hold a conversation with someone).
For those who don't know, UNO has had some major financial problems over the past few months, to say the least.
Rumors of potential and upcoming budget cuts have been included in The Driftwood nearly every week we have come out with an issue this year.
The newest budget cut alert has resulted in Student Government voting 20-0 on a referendum to allow students to vote on whether or not they are willing to raise their student fees from $8. 33 per credit hour to $16.33 per credit hour.
This would essentially be UNO's message to the Athletic Department saying "we aren't going to pay for this nonsense anymore."
To be honest, I can't blame them either.
I mean I have only been covering sports here at UNO for seven months, so I'm not going to act like I know everything about UNO sports, but once I attended my first women's basketball game I realized very few people can claim they know alot about sports here at UNO.
They had more empty seats in the "new-and-improved" Lakefront Arena than I could have even imagined.
I honestly think the attendance at all the women's games this year might have never went above double-digits.
Then at one game, as I picked my head up off of my binder and noticed the puddle of drool I had accumulated on my notes as a result of my body saying "I can't take it anymore" and passing out during a game and said I would see if it were any different at the men's games.
So I went to "Senior Night" for the men's team and halfway through the first half I felt my body saying, "Stop it, I can't take it anymore!"
So as I made my way back home I wondered 1) How much money I can make if I revealed to all the insomniacs in New Orleans the place where they could sleep like a baby and 2)How is this a Division 1 school?
While I enjoy being able to say I cover a Division 1 sports program and how it allows me to rub elbows with some of the most talented people in the journalistic world as well as college athletics, UNO needs to realize it is not a Division 1 program, at least not right now.
Obviously, whenever somebody says something like that about UNO the first thought that comes to mind is, "They don't have a football team."
While this is true, there are many Division 1 teams that don't have football teams but UNO is in an even smaller minority when it comes to sports.
The minimum number of sports a D-1 school can have if they don't have football is 16. UNO currently has eight, but have a waiver from the NCAA which allows us to remain D-1 citing Hurricane Katrina's impact on the athletic department.
So basically, we have half the number of sports we are supposed to have to be D-1,and we can't even afford those eight!
While we hate to admit it, UNO is not a D-1 school and probably won't be one for a lon time, if ever.
I'm not saying we need to get rid of sports like some people around campus are saying, but we need to come to reality.
Our baseball team won the Sun Belt Conference two years ago and the largest crowd that has attended a baseball game this year was because 80% of that crowd came to support the other team (LSU's 19-8 smackdown that was put on UNO earlier this year).
My fellow Driftwood writer Michael Arvites wrote in this week's issue how we need to fight for our athletic program and not just give up on it.
Sometimes you just have to realize when it's time to throw in the towel.
For those who don't know, UNO has had some major financial problems over the past few months, to say the least.
Rumors of potential and upcoming budget cuts have been included in The Driftwood nearly every week we have come out with an issue this year.
The newest budget cut alert has resulted in Student Government voting 20-0 on a referendum to allow students to vote on whether or not they are willing to raise their student fees from $8. 33 per credit hour to $16.33 per credit hour.
This would essentially be UNO's message to the Athletic Department saying "we aren't going to pay for this nonsense anymore."
To be honest, I can't blame them either.
I mean I have only been covering sports here at UNO for seven months, so I'm not going to act like I know everything about UNO sports, but once I attended my first women's basketball game I realized very few people can claim they know alot about sports here at UNO.
They had more empty seats in the "new-and-improved" Lakefront Arena than I could have even imagined.
I honestly think the attendance at all the women's games this year might have never went above double-digits.
Then at one game, as I picked my head up off of my binder and noticed the puddle of drool I had accumulated on my notes as a result of my body saying "I can't take it anymore" and passing out during a game and said I would see if it were any different at the men's games.
So I went to "Senior Night" for the men's team and halfway through the first half I felt my body saying, "Stop it, I can't take it anymore!"
So as I made my way back home I wondered 1) How much money I can make if I revealed to all the insomniacs in New Orleans the place where they could sleep like a baby and 2)How is this a Division 1 school?
While I enjoy being able to say I cover a Division 1 sports program and how it allows me to rub elbows with some of the most talented people in the journalistic world as well as college athletics, UNO needs to realize it is not a Division 1 program, at least not right now.
Obviously, whenever somebody says something like that about UNO the first thought that comes to mind is, "They don't have a football team."
While this is true, there are many Division 1 teams that don't have football teams but UNO is in an even smaller minority when it comes to sports.
The minimum number of sports a D-1 school can have if they don't have football is 16. UNO currently has eight, but have a waiver from the NCAA which allows us to remain D-1 citing Hurricane Katrina's impact on the athletic department.
So basically, we have half the number of sports we are supposed to have to be D-1,and we can't even afford those eight!
While we hate to admit it, UNO is not a D-1 school and probably won't be one for a lon time, if ever.
I'm not saying we need to get rid of sports like some people around campus are saying, but we need to come to reality.
Our baseball team won the Sun Belt Conference two years ago and the largest crowd that has attended a baseball game this year was because 80% of that crowd came to support the other team (LSU's 19-8 smackdown that was put on UNO earlier this year).
My fellow Driftwood writer Michael Arvites wrote in this week's issue how we need to fight for our athletic program and not just give up on it.
Sometimes you just have to realize when it's time to throw in the towel.
The Beginning
My dad has been on me for weeks to finally get my blog started, and finally I have given up and admitted --for once-- that he's right.
I have always looked at the blogging thing as a way to use cyberspace and the Internet as a means to talk to yourself, but I am starting to realize that it can be much more than that.
I can use this as a way to sharpen my skills as a journalist and a median to vent a little bit when it seems like everyone else in the world has gone mad.
I will be using this blog to write mostly about sports on the national scale, as well as giving my take on my UNO Privateers who I currently cover for The Driftwood, which is UNO's school newspaper.
I am very passionate about sports and I love to talk about them, give my opinion on them, and prove to others as much as possible that I know more than they do when it comes to us ESPNers (another purpose for creating this blog).
I hope the 3 people who may end up reading this blog will join along in my rants about anything I feel like talking about on a particular day, as well as assist me by letting me know what to improve in my writing so one day I can start writing for a major newspaper or website.
Thanks
I have always looked at the blogging thing as a way to use cyberspace and the Internet as a means to talk to yourself, but I am starting to realize that it can be much more than that.
I can use this as a way to sharpen my skills as a journalist and a median to vent a little bit when it seems like everyone else in the world has gone mad.
I will be using this blog to write mostly about sports on the national scale, as well as giving my take on my UNO Privateers who I currently cover for The Driftwood, which is UNO's school newspaper.
I am very passionate about sports and I love to talk about them, give my opinion on them, and prove to others as much as possible that I know more than they do when it comes to us ESPNers (another purpose for creating this blog).
I hope the 3 people who may end up reading this blog will join along in my rants about anything I feel like talking about on a particular day, as well as assist me by letting me know what to improve in my writing so one day I can start writing for a major newspaper or website.
Thanks
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