January 15th, 2010
acctalk
Today David Cutcliffe, coach of the Duke University football team, turned down a very lucrative offer from the University of Tennessee to be their next football coach. Why would anyone elect to remain at Duke, who’s football program is an afterthought compared to the basketball program, rather than “going big time” at an SEC powerhouse? Reports are that he made a commitment to his assistant coaches two years ago and UT insisted that he come alone.
Those assistants left other promising, lucrative jobs and joined Cutcliffe at Duke on trust. Defensive coordinator Marion Hobby was with the New Orleans Saints. Former defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre had been with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets. Associate head coach Ron Middleton left Alabama. Offensive coordinators Matt Luke and Kurt Roper left Tennessee.
“You follow your heart in big decisions,” he said. “I have a lot of ties and a lot of people that I’m very close to, and a lot of respect for the University of Tennessee, but my heart is here. We’ve worked very hard these two years to change the culture, to change the team physically. You feel like the job’s not done, and in this era, it bothers me, what we do as coaches, moving here and there … this is mid-January. Nothing about that felt right to me as a person.”
Cutcliffe currently makes $1.5 million per year. UT probably would have paid him close to $3 million per year. In this age of “me first” coaches, it takes a an honorable man to turn down big money from a high profile school to help a fledgling program improve. Kudos to Mr. Cutcliffe.
January 13th, 2010
acctalk
Ralphie the Buffalo at Colorado, Uga the bulldog Georgia mascot, the eagle at Auburn, the Texas Longhorn….all live mascots that are “released” prior to football games drawing cheers from the home crowd. Can you imagine a pack of wolves (or hybrids) running on to the field in Carter Finley stadium at NCSU prior to the team exiting the tunnel? A group of NC State Students are exploring the idea and have started a new facebook group to publicize their intent. There’s still a lot of exploring to do.
Obviously you can’t have a real wolf or wolves wandering the sidelines during games like Uga or Ramses the Ram at UNC. There’s a lot of research and advice that these State students need to pursue. Would State fans accept a “hybrid” wolf? Can a real wolf be led by trainers? There’s no better place to get advice than NC State with their Vet School. We’ll be checking in at the Facebook page to see how these kids are doing. The best ideas to bolster support and enthusiasm usually comes from the student body…not from the stuffy offices of university administration.
January 13th, 2010
acctalk
We picked this up from a number of websites including PackPride.com, Frumpzilla.com and StateFansNation.com:
It has come to our attention that Wayne Ellington’s family enjoyed the high life while Wayne was at UNC. According to public records, Wayne Sr. moved his family to a home valued at over $400K in Durham upon Lil Wayne’s arrival in Chapel Hill. View a nice slideshow by clicking here.
Apparently Robbi Pickeral of the Raleigh News and Observer is aware of the possible violations. Here is her response to one StateFansNation member after he sent her information regarding this story:
Thank you for your note about the Ellingtons. It was forwarded to me, and we are looking into several things, including whether the owner can be classified as a UNC booster (and if so, whether the house was rented at the same rate it would have been rented to the family of a non-athlete), whether the school’s compliance department looking into/approved this, etc.
I apologize for taking so long to get back to you, but I have been in and out of town because of the holidays.
Have a great new year,
Robbi Pickeral
College Basketball Reporter/UNC beat writer
The (Raleigh) News & Observer
As Ms. Pickeral indicated, a number of things will have to be proven before this can be regarded as a violation. It will be interesting to see if any improprieties are uncovered. It certainly looks suspect.
October 30th, 2009
acctalk
There aren’t many things more fun than talking trash on a sports message board. Where else can a teenage girl get in a 50 year old man’s face and “scream”, ‘YOU’RE TEAM SUCKS!’ It’s all done in good fun and anonymously, of course. But is it?
Just today a long time poster on Scout message boards, ManhattanHeel, was banned for communicating threats. Here’s the official word from her home board:
One IC poster crossed a legal line by sending a personal threat. As a result, Scout’s legal department got involved and ruled that the IC poster needed to be banned. IC made its appeal to Scout, but ultimately couldn’t overcome the legal barriers, so this board has lost a longtime poster.
What did she do? She threatened two other rival Scout posters that she would come by their place of employment and get them fired. How she could or probably couldn’t accomplish this isn’t the story. The fact that she took the time to find out where they were employed is the story. She also allegedly obtained their IP addresses through her connections at her home board (she is or has been a moderator).
Apparently she’s been psychotic for quite awhile. Author and Sports Illustrated writer James Blythe wrote in 2006:
The poster known as ManhattanHeel…. displayed a saucy, take-no-shit manner. Post an opinion about Duke, especially one that admitted even a speck of favor, and she arrived on the scene instantly with a definitive rebuttal, a one-woman quick-response team.
After over 52,000 posts on the Scout network alone, ManhattanHeel is outta here. From Sports Illustrated pseudo-celebrity to banished from her own community. This should be a lesson to all of us that frequent sports boards. Talk your trash, but don’t cross that line. There’s a big difference between “I can kick your ass” and “I know where you live and I’m coming to your home to kick your ass”. Some folks, like ManhattanHeel, take message board banter waaaaay too seriously. Don’t make the same mistake.
October 20th, 2009
acctalk
There have been numerous bad decisions by players and coaches throughout ACC history that have embarrassed their schools. Wake’s Chris Paul attempting to neuter State’s Julius Hodge in a moment of frustration. Ohio State’s coach Woody Hayes attempting to decapitate a Clemson player near the sideline. Dean Smith breaking the time clock during a Final Four game. But this article isn’t about embarrassing stunts by individuals. This is about a school’s Athletics or Public Relations Department making conscious decisions that backfired.
Nolan looks waaaay too comfortable
One decision happened just this week. Duke put out a funny video “Great Moments in Cinematic History.” We assume the AD approved since assistant coach Steve Wojociewchowski appears in the video. The embarrassing part, other than Wojo’s pinkie ring, is Nolan Smith’s role as Claire in Titanic. You know the scene….where Jack is painting a nude Claire. Why on earth would a) Smith agree to do this and b) the coaches approve???? This picture will be used by Dook haters for years to come.
Fearsome or queersome?
Back in 2007, the UNC Tar Heels basketball team posed for a similarly….well….gay photo (there, I said it). Remember the “Take Everything, Give Nothing” promo poster that the UNC AD apparently approved? Again, we assume that they approved because the basketball schedule was part of the poster and they sold it on the official web site. The poster, with unc players draped over each other holding deflated basketballs and styrofoam shields looked like a pre-orgy scene from Caligula.
Other bad decisions:
The Unitard – It happened back in 1989, but the word is as synonymous with State basketball as “amphibious”. Nothing says “hey big boy” like Bryant Feggins in a unitard.
Read the rest of this entry »
October 20th, 2009
acctalk
You requested it. We provided it. Rant and rave at the ACCTALK.COM message board.
We know it will take awhile to get a message board going. We hope you’ll register and chime in from time to time. Posting on boards can be loads of fun when they get popular. It sure beats working or spending time with your family.
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I don’t normally spend a lot of time on PackPride or InsideCarolina or TomahawkNation or DeaconSports, etc. But when I ran across an unbelievable overreaction by Brian Asbill of Wolfpack Sports Marketing and James Henderson of PackPride.com, I couldn’t help but look.
