Ah, August. I used to spend August lolling about Northeast Wisconsin with my parents and my brothers. This was a treat for many reasons, but the journalistic reward was daily access to the Milwaukee Journal's and the Green Bay Press Gazette's sports sections. Every day, these papers would have some significant tidbits on the Packers' training camp-- who was battling for positions, who was looking good, who was underperforming and so on. Also, the preseason games would be on local television, and since the papers' detailed reporting made you very aware of the bottom third of the roster, you could actually enjoy watching all of those games, not just the first quarter with the starters. Now that I'm an "adult," need an "income," are developing a "career," and thus can no longer idle away my August days in the Door peninsula, I have resigned myself to not seeing any Packer preseason games. (Come on, Will's Northwoods Inn!) But, thanks to Al Gore and the miracle of the internet, the newspaper coverage is still largely available. And since both the Packers and the Badgers are in the midst of training camp, there are a plethora of Packer and Badger football articles out there.
You could, of course, discover these on your own through the various links to the right hand side of the page. Or I could just make it easier for you. Here are some good ones:
- State Journal Columnist's Musings on the Packers' D-Line
- Chris Carter's half-brother and the other Wisconsin Safeties (I like Jay Valai)
- Attempts to replace Joe Thomas at LT
- Johnny Jolly is the next Santana?
- Blackmon as the Personal Foul's eventual replacement?
- Corey Williams playing balls out in his contract year?
- Former Sooner for Third String QB
- I bet the Florida rookie leads the team in preseason rushing
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
One step forward...
The University of Wisconsin's football team began its formal practices yesterday, and Lance "Rance" Smith, UW's mercurial back-up running back from Warren, Ohio was unsuspended just in time to start practicing. That's certainly a good thing for Badger fans who have high expectations for this season. Rance also sounded quite penitent about the incident, which he basically admitted. That is, he admitted to shoving his girlfriend around over $5 in cab fare. As I said before, the one positive from that situation is you can now know for sure that he wasn't taking money from boosters.
Rance also made some vows to undergo counseling and do community service. Those activities will likely overlap with whatever plea deal he arranges with the Dane County DA's office, which I continue to predict, will lead to them dropping the charges if he plays by the rules for an extended period of time. Those were the deals given to Booker (the first time) and to Boo Wade. Anyhow, this is positive news. Rance sounds truly contrite, hopefully he's learned something, and he still has the chance to make a meaningful contribution to the team.
But as the title of this post indicates, there's still some negative news out there. John Clay, the manchild from Racine, is not practicing with the team as he awaits his summer school grades and the NCAA "clearinghouse" evaluates his entire record. The State Journal's position on this is gloomy, apparently because Clay's name isn't on the current roster. But having a player's eligibility come down to the wire is not that unusual. I read earlier that three freshman at LSU last year weren't declared eligible until almost the end of August. They were able to enroll and all contributed to the Tiger's Sugar Bowl winning team. Let's keep our fingers crossed with John. It looks very murky, and we're right to be nervous.
I, personally, have learned my lesson to not get too excited about recruits until they're actually enrolled and contributing. I suppose that should also mean I shouldn't get too nervous about other teams' recruits until they're on the field against the Badgers. But there's this particular Michigan recruit who is very worrying. Check this out. Uh oh. Thankfully, he doesn't enroll until next year. Hey, maybe he'll be ineligible.
Rance also made some vows to undergo counseling and do community service. Those activities will likely overlap with whatever plea deal he arranges with the Dane County DA's office, which I continue to predict, will lead to them dropping the charges if he plays by the rules for an extended period of time. Those were the deals given to Booker (the first time) and to Boo Wade. Anyhow, this is positive news. Rance sounds truly contrite, hopefully he's learned something, and he still has the chance to make a meaningful contribution to the team.
But as the title of this post indicates, there's still some negative news out there. John Clay, the manchild from Racine, is not practicing with the team as he awaits his summer school grades and the NCAA "clearinghouse" evaluates his entire record. The State Journal's position on this is gloomy, apparently because Clay's name isn't on the current roster. But having a player's eligibility come down to the wire is not that unusual. I read earlier that three freshman at LSU last year weren't declared eligible until almost the end of August. They were able to enroll and all contributed to the Tiger's Sugar Bowl winning team. Let's keep our fingers crossed with John. It looks very murky, and we're right to be nervous.
I, personally, have learned my lesson to not get too excited about recruits until they're actually enrolled and contributing. I suppose that should also mean I shouldn't get too nervous about other teams' recruits until they're on the field against the Badgers. But there's this particular Michigan recruit who is very worrying. Check this out. Uh oh. Thankfully, he doesn't enroll until next year. Hey, maybe he'll be ineligible.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Oh for the love of!
Vernand Morency will miss "a couple of weeks" of training camp, according to the Journal Sentinel. This is the Packer's running back who looked good in spots last season, but missed several games with injuries. Apparently, he had been working diligently all off season, getting ready to make a push to be the starter with Ahman exiting to Houston. And in his first practice, he gets knocked out for a fortnight. Is it too early to call the Packers snakebitten?
Friday, July 27, 2007
Developments
This article by the two Badger reporters at the Good Land's Journal Sentinel contains some interesting tidbits. First, Lance Smith ("Rance Smith?" as Kim Jong Il would say) was charged with two misdemeanors. From a UW fan's perspective, it's disappointing that the charges weren't dropped, because this means the Dane County DA believes the evidence against Smith is pretty solid. But misdemeanors are way better than felony charges. I imagine they'll let him enter some first offender deal, where he agrees to enter a counseling program, and the charges will dismissed if he completes it. My understanding is that's what they often do with younger folks who have no previous records. And God knows, if "Rance" really freaked out over $5 in cab fare, he could certainly use some counseling. Take it easy, Ike Turner.
Also, the article summarizes some of Bielema's recent comments about Wisconsin running back recruit John Clay. Apparently, Clay is taking some summer school classes in attempt to get eligible to enroll at UW. Thank goodness. Bust your ass on the books in the time you have left, John. And this isn't just because I want to see you scoring touchdown at Camp Randall. Rather, you should know that your life will be dramatically better if you manage to qualify and enroll at UW. You've probably already considered the divergent scenarios, but lets lay it out again: it's either go to UW, one of the nation's great public universities, play on a top 10 football team, and have other people pay for your tuition, room and board; or start scrambling to find a junior college somewhere that'll give you a scholarship. Not a close contest. For the benefit of Badger fans and your own future, bust your ass now, and qualify academically.
In other developments, I'll soon be posting more often as the meaningful sports come around (no offense to baseball fans). Specifically, Packer training camp starts on Saturday. As of today, all of the draft picks have signed except for Harrell, and I don't know of any major injuries. There's a lot of continuity from this year to last both among the players and the coaching staff. That should definitely help the team's chances, if the younger players on the team can continue to improve. The wide receiver, tight end, running back, and free safety competitions should be interesting. Take a look at the links to the State Journal and the Green Bay Press Gazette sport pages if you want some more analysis of personnel. They've been doing position by position break downs. At last, football season is looming. Yee haw.
Also, the article summarizes some of Bielema's recent comments about Wisconsin running back recruit John Clay. Apparently, Clay is taking some summer school classes in attempt to get eligible to enroll at UW. Thank goodness. Bust your ass on the books in the time you have left, John. And this isn't just because I want to see you scoring touchdown at Camp Randall. Rather, you should know that your life will be dramatically better if you manage to qualify and enroll at UW. You've probably already considered the divergent scenarios, but lets lay it out again: it's either go to UW, one of the nation's great public universities, play on a top 10 football team, and have other people pay for your tuition, room and board; or start scrambling to find a junior college somewhere that'll give you a scholarship. Not a close contest. For the benefit of Badger fans and your own future, bust your ass now, and qualify academically.
In other developments, I'll soon be posting more often as the meaningful sports come around (no offense to baseball fans). Specifically, Packer training camp starts on Saturday. As of today, all of the draft picks have signed except for Harrell, and I don't know of any major injuries. There's a lot of continuity from this year to last both among the players and the coaching staff. That should definitely help the team's chances, if the younger players on the team can continue to improve. The wide receiver, tight end, running back, and free safety competitions should be interesting. Take a look at the links to the State Journal and the Green Bay Press Gazette sport pages if you want some more analysis of personnel. They've been doing position by position break downs. At last, football season is looming. Yee haw.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Oh Crap
UW's back up running back, the mercurial Lance Smith, has been arrested. Allegedly, for getting into a public shouting and shoving match with a lady friend over cab fare. On the bright side, if that's what really occurred, then it certainly looks like Smith isn't getting paid off by any boosters. But seriously, the shades of Booker Stanley here are just too depressing to contemplate. Hopefully, this didn't happen, Smith will be given the ok by the UW review board, and the charges will end up being dropped.
However, if the charges have merit, considering UW's situation at running back next season is almost as depressing as the Booker comparison. P.J. is coming off of shoulder surgery, and had trouble staying healthy last season. Smith's legal problems could very well exclude him. And John Clay may not even be eligible to enroll at UW. (Come on, John!) I hope incoming freshman Zach Brown is a player and can stay healthy, because a banged up P.J. and Tyler Holland do not look like a BCS-worthy duo. (No offense, Tyler.)
I can be deeply suspicious, and I find this news, on top of the Clay eligibility worries, to have been directly foreshadowed by the destruction of one of my favorite Wisconsin t-shirts last week. A jungle zipline, a tropical monsoon, and resin from crappy leather gloves were the culprits. Any suggestions for replacement UW gear? We have to get the mojo back.
Also, happy pre-emptive 30th, Sallie. Welcome to the fourth decade.
However, if the charges have merit, considering UW's situation at running back next season is almost as depressing as the Booker comparison. P.J. is coming off of shoulder surgery, and had trouble staying healthy last season. Smith's legal problems could very well exclude him. And John Clay may not even be eligible to enroll at UW. (Come on, John!) I hope incoming freshman Zach Brown is a player and can stay healthy, because a banged up P.J. and Tyler Holland do not look like a BCS-worthy duo. (No offense, Tyler.)
I can be deeply suspicious, and I find this news, on top of the Clay eligibility worries, to have been directly foreshadowed by the destruction of one of my favorite Wisconsin t-shirts last week. A jungle zipline, a tropical monsoon, and resin from crappy leather gloves were the culprits. Any suggestions for replacement UW gear? We have to get the mojo back.
Also, happy pre-emptive 30th, Sallie. Welcome to the fourth decade.
SAY WORD?
http://espn-mp3-od.andomedia.com/espnpod2/espnradio/insider/patrick/patrick_07122007_1.mp3
Monday, July 16, 2007
CHICAGO'S FINEST
Here at Camplambeau, we spend alot of time talking about Illinois' shortcomings.
This guy was not one of them. He will be missed.
patrick brice.
son, brother, great friend, awesome comic, down homie, mauler, basher, destroyer, intellectual, gentleman, south sider, legend and consummate professional.
he was the best. we all love him very much. if you knew him, celebrate. laugh all you can and don't drive like an idiot. keep him and his family in your hearts and prayers.
go white sox.
http://www.blerds.com/blerds/wordpress/2007/07/15/a-billion-pennies/
This guy was not one of them. He will be missed.
patrick brice.
son, brother, great friend, awesome comic, down homie, mauler, basher, destroyer, intellectual, gentleman, south sider, legend and consummate professional.
he was the best. we all love him very much. if you knew him, celebrate. laugh all you can and don't drive like an idiot. keep him and his family in your hearts and prayers.
go white sox.
http://www.blerds.com/blerds/wordpress/2007/07/15/a-billion-pennies/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)