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Thursday, October 4, 2007
Dogs can’t graduate, can beat Vols
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Before unveiling this week’s absolute financial locks — not to be confused with going 7-15-1 against the spread the past two weeks, which I like to view as an abbreviated but horrible scare, sort of like Newt Gingrich in the White House — we have this update from the fascinating world of Georgia education:
Man, are we dumm.
Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1788, but fell to 19th in the rankings a week later when somebody noticed we spelled Constitution with three “o’s” and a “k.”
This of course set the tone for low SAT scores, Prof. Jim Harrick Jr. and this week’s big news: Georgia ranks last in the SEC in football graduation rates. Tech is last in the ACC. But that’s not too surprising considering I think Dave Braine once said the school mandates that all left tackles must be able to split an atom by their sophomore year, sometimes blindfolded. Otherwise, no diploma for you!
But this was crushing news for the Bulldogs. They graduated only 41 percent of their players from 1997 to 2000, far behind Vanderbilt (91), Florida (72) and even Alabama (49), although there seems to be some debate as to whether Alabama ever actually ratified the Constitution.
Georgia fans will not blame Mark Richt. He didn’t get here until 2001 and, besides, like, he’s winning. The Dogs are 3-0 since losing to South Carolina.
Their next opponent, Tennessee, allowed 104 points and some major organs in losses to California and Florida. That has put a strain on coach Phil Fulmer, who at least is standing firm at 52 percent (graduation rates and body fat).
Maybe I’ve lived here too long, but am I reading this wrong: Tennessee by 2? Follow the smart money. Dogs win (but take the gift points).
Study Hall
(Yeah, right)
Sybil at Maryland: The Jackets lost to Virginia, then beat up Clemson, which I think is sort of like conquering Germany but falling to Luxembourg. Tech’s offense ranks first in rushing, last in passing, which I guess means Taylor Bennett throws for three touchdowns. Duh. Tech covers 3.
Florida at LSU: The Gators warmed up for their biggest game of the year by struggling with Mississippi, losing to Auburn and seeing defensive captain Tony Joiner get arrested for allegedly breaking into an impound lot to reclaim his girlfriend’s car. That makes eight arrests in nine months. Wonder if they’re stealing test scores? LSU wins, but take Florida and 9.
Vanderbilt at Auburn: There’s an Internet rumor that Bobby Petrino may be headed for Auburn after the Falcons’ season. Now, come on, of all the farfetched scenarios, do you really think school officials and Bobby Lowder would go behind Tommy Tuberville’s back, fly to a secret location and meet with Petrino, who … wait, let me start over. Tigers cover 7 1/2.
Houston at Alabama: Nick Saban has lost two straight. The last ‘Bama coach to do that got fired. Hey, just saying. Houston lost to East Carolina? Check! Tide covers 10 1/2. • Virginia Tech at Clemson: Since getting whacked by LSU (48-7), the Hokies have won three straight over Ohio, William and Mary and North Carolina, which would matter if that wasn’t the new standard in Blacksburg. The Tigers rebound well from humiliations: the 5 1/2 is covered.
Pros and Ex-Cons
Falcons at Titans: In the past two games, Joey Harrington has completed 74 percent of his passes for 584 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, so captivating Falcons fans that he was booed last week and all anybody wants to know is who’s going to win the Michael Vick arbitration hearing. Must feel good to get on the road. Titans win. But take the Falcons and 8 1/2.
Panthers at Saints: Things are so bad in Carolina that the team held a players-only meeting. I had a meeting once. Still couldn’t play football. Saints finally win one and cover three.
Browns at Patriots: Does Cleveland get an appearance fee for this, you know, like FIU at Penn State? Meet the exception to the NFL two-touchdown rule: The 16 is covered.
Chargers at Broncos: Philip Rivers has nine turnovers. The Chargers rank 26th in total offense. So much for Norv Turner’s strengths. Denver covers 1 1/2.
Bucs at Colts: Tampa has lost Carnell Williams, which means there’s a pretty good chance Jeff Garcia is going to start looking a lot more like a third option (or Jeff Garcia). Indy covers 10.
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Thrashers must build on last year’s success
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Winning a division title, making the playoffs and avoiding indictments puts the Thrashers in exclusive company these days for an Atlanta sports franchise. Some would settle for just one of the three.
But as the franchise opens its eighth season tonight, the high-water mark of last year — which went from postseason to postmortem in roughly seven minutes — has given way to familiar themes.
The coach’s future is uncertain. The general manager is catching heat. Ownership is forever in flux. The team is thin at center and on defense. The team’s three biggest stars — Kari Lehtonen, Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk — all have significant issues, regarding contract, maturity or stability.
These are supposed to be the good times, right?
“It’s not surprising,” Bobby Holik, the team’s new captain, said of the perceptions. “Nobody will pay attention to us until we play well. We’re tucked here into north Georgia. People in Canada or big markets are not going to talk about us. The bottom line is, we haven’t done anything worthy for them to talk about us.”
The regular season opens with Washington tonight and closes April 5. Somewhere in between, the franchise’s future may be defined.
If the Thrashers miss the playoffs, last season will be viewed as an aberration, a housecleaning is possible and, given this city’s bandwagon tendencies, hockey’s future here might circle the drain. Make the playoffs — and make a dent this time — and there’s hope.
You remember hope, don’t you? It passed through town, just before Game 1 against the New York Rangers. Some teams lose playoff games, then patch holes. But after the Thrashers suffered a four-game sweep by one of the league’s mid-level teams, you wondered if the walls or foundation needed replacing.
Coach Bob Hartley has had time to think about this. Yes, the team needed more speed, more youth. Yes, Kovalchuk needed a new center. But many of the team’s problems flowed from the head.
“I’d say we were mentally tired at the end,” Hartley said. “I’m not ready to say we were mentally weak.”
There’s a very fine line there.
The Thrashers are suspect at center, even with the signing of Todd White. They are undersized, even in a redefined league that emphasizes speed. But every team in the salary-cap era has holes. How the Thrashers function will be less because of size and skill than it will be their craniums. Losing exposes issues.
“As soon as we lost that first game [to the Rangers], I could feel that we froze,” Hartley said. “It’s not a matter of being mentally weak or mentally strong, it’s being mentally ready, and it’s tough to be ready when you don’t know what to expect. I really felt when Kari bobbled that puck [in Game 1] and they scored that [clinching] goal, the players became like steel rods on the bench.”
Lehtonen carried the Thrashers for part of the season. But he struggled in the playoffs with “one so-so game and one awful game,” he said. He admits it took a while to let go in the offseason.
Nobody has ever questioned Lehtonen’s talent, but his resiliency is another matter. He’s come to expect the skeptics. “Two years ago it was: I don’t have any experience at this level,” he said. “A year later it was: I’m always hurt. Now everybody is questioning whether I can do well under pressure.”
Hossa is the team’s best all-around player. But he floundered in the postseason and is in a contract year. The fact he hasn’t re-signed is some indication he wants to take a temperature of this team. Don’t we all.
Kovalchuk is the team’s most dynamic scorer. He was one of the few who played with passion in the playoffs, even if still prone to occasional meltdowns. But if White can’t keep up as his new feeder, all bets are off.
The roster has four rookies, including one, Brett Sterling, on Kovalchuk’s line. The added speed should help the penalty killing. Having Alexei Zhitnik for a full season should help the power play.
What does it mean?
As Holik said of the playoffs last year, “What we learned is we weren’t ready.”
There’s no official clock. But time might be running out.
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