Jerry Sandusky and Penn State - GUILTY

eViL G Flashback - November 12, 2011

Penn State University vs. Common Motherf**king Sense

Link - Penn State Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky Sexual Assault Grand Jury Report

If you haven't already read the 23-page grand jury report detailing sexual assault allegations of former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, and you think you have the stomach for it, click the link above and check it out.  If you made it past Page 5, you did better than most.

There's plenty of blame to go around, but what's crystal clear is there were far too many people more concerned with protecting Penn State than the children Sandusky allegedly had his way with.  Everyone involved, from Mike McQueary to Joe Paterno to University Police, they all fell short of their moral obligation to protect kids who couldn't protect themselves.

A faction of Penn State students showed their ingorance and their collective asses on national television, blaming the media for this mess.  ESPN's Colin Cowherd was on point when he said, "Don't blame Weather Channel for the Category 5 hurricane."  What's ironic is several of the victims mentioned in the grand jury report are now college-aged.  Sometimes youth is wasted on the young.

At best, Paterno didn't do enough.  At worst, he's part of a larger conspiracy which allowed a child predator to operate unchecked within the facilities of his football program.  Paterno wasn't implicated or accused of any wrongdoing, and from all reports isn't a target of the Sandusky investigation.  So it makes perfect sense he's contacted a prominent defense attorney to represent him.....represent him for what exactly?

And why is no one digging deeper into the disappearance of Ray Gricar, the original district attorney who worked the Sandusky investigation back in 2005?  Gricar went missing in April 2005 and has since been declared dead, but his body was never found.  

This story isn't going anywhere soon, and as I type this new allegations are surfacing regarding Sandusky, his Second Mile charity and some wealthy Penn State donors...and it's not pretty.  Civil suits will cost Penn State millions of dollars.  As time passes we'll find out more people either suspected or knew about Jerry Sandusky, but failed to take action.  More victims will come forward.  Mike McQueary will eventually leave Happy Valley, voluntarily or involuntarily.  If convicted, Jerry Sandusky will eventually gain the perspective of his victims...hopefully often and without consent.

And least important of all, Penn State will lose some football games. 

Be good.

eG

A SURPRISE VISIT FROM COACH E BRINGING TIDINGS OF BIRTHDAY JOY TO eViL

In respect to tradition, Coach E has emerged from his self-imposed exile (due to time constraints) from this blog to satisfy one of the few guilty pleasures that he has left in life other than college football, Church’s Fried Chicken, and his customary Saturday night bubble bath listening to Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” radio broadcast on NPR.

Please indulge me while we flashback 25 years ago.  The year was 1987 (for those of you who were asleep in elementary school math), and on the sunny campus of The University of Florida there was this cool Freshman who we all know and love as Tony Williams was driving around in a powder blue Honda Civic blasting tracks to Prince’s new album “Sign o’ The Times” while coming up with new ways to sneak into the Purple Porpoise for an afternoon Amaretto Sour rather than going to class. U2 was all lovey-dovey with the Joshua Tree album, people all across America were enamored by acid-washed denim, and a gallon of gas cost .89 cents. Times were a heck of a lot simpler then.  eViL’s biggest worry was how many more layaway payments were left on a new VCR so he could tape episodes of WWF wrestling. Damn, times were good….

Fast forward to the present, most of us hate our jobs. We celebrate when we manage to stave off creditors for another month.  We exhale a sigh of relief when the phone rings and the caller on the other end does not tell us that someone we know has suffered a catastrophic loss or needs a loan.  We even thank whatever Gods we believe in for giving us the strength to keep from losing our collective minds. It takes a sincere and concerted effort just to be a good person. Lately, it seems like the world is being overrun with negative rhetoric, energy, & people.  It seems hard to find a lot of positives out here.

But today is a day different than most, Coach E chooses to celebrate the positive! I have the honor and privilege of wishing sincere and warm birthday tidings to Tony Williams! Yep, this old coot has made it another year and the world is a better place because of it! This man has been a friend, confident, and psychological therapist to me for over 38 years and I eagerly look forward to 38 more.  If you would, please direct your warm wishes, thoughts & prayers to the, man of the hour and special prayers to everyone he holds dear!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY YE OLDEN GATOR FAN!

LSU-Bama 2: Defensive Boogaloo

Welcome to the BCS National Title Edition of the Weekly Picks, or in this case, Pick. 

In spite of all the Southeastern Conference haters out there, the BCS got it right.  After watching a bunch of track meets disguised as bowl games, what more proof do you need that LSU and Alabama are college football’s two best teams?  It’s not their fault they just happen to play in the world’s toughest division, in the world’s toughest college football conference.  Stop hating and recognize…defense wins championships.  Oklahoma State, Oregon, Stanford, and anyone else on the outside looking in on tomorrow night’s game can’t spell defense, let alone play it.  In a related story, West Virginia has petitioned the A She She to allow them to schedule Clemson 12 times next season.

Alright, back to the big game, and why I think Bama opens up a big ass can of BCS worms. 

·        For starters, Bama prepared for Jarrett Lee the first time around, and Weezie Jefferson gave them fits running the option.  Bama will be ready for that tomorrow night.

·        Trent Richardson is PISSED about losing the Heisman, and Bama is PISSED about losing the first game.  Rematches usually favor the team that lost the first time around…see this year’s Big Ten Championship Game, or Florida-Florida State back in the 1997 Sugar Bowl (which just so happens to be the biggest beatdown of a top-ranked team in a bowl game….but I digress).

·        The game being played in New Orleans works against LSU in my opinion.  Bama will treat it like a road game, in spite of 50,000 Bama fans somehow managing to find tickets.  Meanwhile LSU’s team, comprised mostly of Louisiana natives, could find themselves distracted by Uncle Cletus, Aunt Darlene and dozens of baby mama’s cousins bugging them for tickets and access to the team.  Most of LSU’s players know where to go off the beaten path in New Orleans to find some fun…chances are most of Bama’s players don’t.

·        Both teams are healthy.  Marquis Maze’s ankle is 100%, so chances are he won’t let punts go flying over his head, bouncing an additional 20+ yards in LSU’s favor.

·        What are the chances of Les Miles outcoaching Nick Saban again?

All that said, LSU’s defense is good enough to keep New England in check, and I’m still not 100% sold on Bama’s QB.  Before the regular season ended, Honey Badger was playing at another level, and he’ll get more than a few chances to make plays on special teams.

I still think LSU is the better team, but Saban has had WAY too much time to prepare for LSU’s defense.  Don’t expect this game to be any prettier than the first one back in November, but get ready for a different outcome.

Roll Tide – 17

Geaux Tigers - 15

Open Letter to Tim Tebow: A 2008 eViL G Flashback



You're welcome Tim...you're welcome...



Greetings from Central Florida...hopefully all of you had a great Christmas and New Year. 

I'll send out my LSU-Bama pick in plenty of time for you all to call your respective bookies, but first I have to get something off my chest, and I can't think a better time than right now.  And I'm breaking one of my own rules by posting about the NFL on a college football blog, but in this case it’s 100% justified.

As a UF alum and proud native of the mean streets of Jacksonville, Florida, no one took more pride than I did in watching Tim Tebow silence the critics tonight.  I don’t plan on discussing tonight’s Denver-Pittsburgh game, nor will I get into the spiritual irony of Timmy throwing for 316 yards (Tebow 3:16 t-shirts will be on sale at Sports Authority very soon). 

However I will take credit for two things:

1.   Much like my hatred of Lebron James (please see my Hate Week picks for more background on why I hope Lebron gets hit by a bus), I was also WAY ahead of the curve on doubting Tim Tebow (minus the hatred of course).

2.   Tim Tebow’s success at UF and up to this point in the NFL is directly related to an open letter I wrote to Timmy back in October of 2008.

That right…I said it.  Tim Tebow owes me a fruit basket, or a case of that energy drink he endorses...something.

Let’s flash back to October 2007...Florida-Georgia weekend.  UGA crushed my beloved Gators in Jacksonville 42-30.  After UGA’s first TD the entire team rushed the field in what’s now become known as the “Gator Stomp”.  UF lost 3 other games that season, and in each of those losses Tebow failed to lead UF back from 4^th quarter deficits, and he had several chances to do so.  However based on his Xbox statistics, he won the Heisman, and deservedly so.

Fast forward to 2008…Georgia is pre-season #1, and just about everyone’s pick to win the SEC.  Tebow is just about everyone’s choice to repeat as Heisman winner, in spite of whispers about him falling short in the clutch.  The season begins, and four games in UF inexplicably loses at home to Ole Miss.  Tebow gives his little speech, and the rest is history, right?

Sure...if you believe in fairy tales. 

After that now famous Ole Miss “speech”, most every rational Gator fan thought to themselves, “Yeah cute speech Tim, how about you hit Louis Murphy in stride when he’s wide open AGAINST FREAKING OLE MISS!!  WE JUST LOST AT HOME TO OLE MISS AND WE STILL HAVE TO PLAY MOTHERF&@^#ING GEORGIA!!!

I wasn’t sold on the speech, even after a 30-point beatdown of LSU just two weeks later, so when the Cocktail Party rolled around I fired off the manifesto below…after which Tebow not only led UF to a 49-10 blowout against UGA, he later led a 4^th quarter comeback against Alabama in the SEC title game in what I consider to be his greatest performance as a Gator.  UF capped the season winning the national title win over Oklahoma…all because of my little letter calling Timmy out before the 2008 Georgia game.

 

Enjoy…editorial comments have been added in parenthesis.

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Tim Tebow, I’m calling you out.  Never in my life have I seen such hype surrounding a college player who, other than personal statistics, has done little to elevate his team to a championship...division championship, conference championship, bowl championship...anything.  Hell, you haven’t led a 4th quarter comeback as a starter. 

Granted, you did win the Heisman, only because Dennis Dixon’s knee exploded on national television against Arizona.  But you didn’t have a Heisman moment, in spite of putting up historic numbers, or a signature win against anyone who mattered.  And with apologies to Wix and every Vol fan here, FSU and Tennessee just don’t matter like they used to (keep in mind this was 2008…FSU matters now, Tennessee still doesn’t).

Georgia matters.  They always have, even when they sucked ass in the 90s.  Georgia will always matter.  Last year the Dawgs took your emotional energy and love of the game, multiplied it by 85 scholarship players, two 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, and slowly began to expose your true weakness…your ability to lead under pressure.  And in exposing you to the rest of the league and the country, UGA may have turned the corner in a series that UF has dominated for almost 2 decades.

Perhaps I’m being a bit harsh on you Tim.  From all accounts you are the blueprint of what a student-athlete should be on and off the field.  You're everything anyone could ask for in a football player and a person.  The same can be said of Chris Leak, who I was as equally harsh of for being the softest QB ever to play at UF (who knew John Brantley would raise the bar so damn high in less than 5 years?) .  I wasn’t sold on Chris Leak until he picked apart Ohio State’s plodding defense…and I wasn’t alone.  However Chris Leak went 3-1 against UGA, and Ron Zook was his coach for 3 of those seasons.  Tim Tebow, you have no such excuses. 

Your legacy will be defined by your performance this Saturday.  And by performance I mean results, not stats.  When the Gators fall behind, and they will at some point, how will you respond?  Nothing you’ve done up to this point leads me to believe that you can turn a 10-point deficit with 8 minutes left in the game into a 4-point lead with 2 minutes left in the game.  This current generation of Gator fans has no appreciation of the pain and frustration UGA caused us older and crustier types back in the 70s and 80s.  It's up to you to make sure they don't find out.

Again, you have no excuses.  Brandon James will set you up with great field position.  Your defense is much improved from a year ago. You now have a couple of legit running backs with world-class speed to take some of the pressure off.  There's a guy named Percy Harvin on your team who's pretty good, but I think you already know this because you attempt to throw to him on just about every play.  The only thing missing is you coming up big at the required time.  You missed wide open receivers against Ole Miss all day long, and when your number was called, you couldn’t come through on 4th down.  Sure it was a crappy play call, but you’re supposed to be Superman.

If UF loses this weekend, it will mark the first time UGA’s won consecutive games in this series since 1989.  I was a junior at UF at the time.  If UF loses on Saturday, it may be because the defense couldn’t contain Stafford or Moreno. It could be because Dan Mullen called another crappy game. It might be because UGA is flat out the better team.  Whatever the reason, I will hold you responsible as the unquestioned leader, face of the program and the guy who claimed that "no one will work harder than I will and this team will" after losing to lowly Ole Miss.

Is that fair?  Probably not.  But the perception thus far has been more of a reality than many in Gator Nation are willing to admit.  Hell, I’ll just come out and say it.  Tim Tebow, I question your ability to lead this UF team to a championship of any kind, this year or next.  And I also question your ability to lead UF to victory this weekend.  I will gladly eat my words should you prove me wrong.

No pressure.

eG

10/30/2008

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At the end of the day Tebow proved me wrong back then, just like he did tonight…and will continue to do.  Now you know the rest of the story…the truth is out there.

You're welcome Tim, glad I could help.

Be good.....and GOOOOOOO BRONCOS!!

eG

eViL G's Championship Week Picks

I'll take "Things You Won't See Again For A Long, Long Time" for $800, Alex.....

Greetings from Orlando, and welcome to Championship Week.

I didn't get a chance to post my Sunday Morning Hangover segment this week, and that's my bad because there was all sorts of news flying around.  This much is certain, Urban Meyer will headline my Hate Week 2012 picks next year.  Speaking of Hate Week, I'd like to introduce my latest follower, Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino, who was no doubt inspired by my words...so much so he decided to share them with Les Miles.

My Gators and FSU played easily the worst game in the history of the UF-FSU series.  It's only fitting considering both teams had absolutely nothing to play for.  That may as well have been Ball State going at it with Charleston Southern out there.  Mike Shula thinks UF's offense is too conservative and predictable.  Meanwhile, in spite of his season-long regression, E.J. Manuel is still Desmond Howard's pick to win the Heisman Trophy.

That's all I got...time to do some real work....

PICKS!!!

Oklahoma at Oklahoma State

Not too long ago, Bedlam looked to be one half of the national championship picture...the half that gets pounded by the SEC school.  Then Oklahoma lost at home to Texas Tech, Ryan Broyles blew out his knee, Okie State lost to Pop's alma mater, followed by the Sooners losing at Baylor.  Oklahoma is dinged up and can't stop anyone from scoring, while Okie State can score on just about anyone not named LSU or Alabama.  Throw in an emotional Senior Day for Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden, his three children and six grandchildren, and this pick is a no brainer.

Pokes - 38

Sooners - 24

PAC-12 Championship Game

UCLA at Oregon

This is NOT what the PAC-12 had in mind...a 6-6 UCLA team led by a lame duck head coach heading to Duckland to get their shit pushed in at the inagural championship game.  Oregon might score 70, and their mascot's arms could fall off from doing a bazillion push-ups.  Until Southern Cal comes off probation, this game will continue to be lopsided.

Oregon - 68.9

UCLA - 10

A She She Championship Game

Virginia Tech vs. Clemson

You know Christmas is just around the corner...Virginia Tech is ranked in the Top 10 in spite of not beating anyone worth a damn, and Clemson loses 3 out of their last 4 games.  Some things never change.  Clemson beat the snot out of Tech in Blacksburg earlier this year, but that was before Clemson realized they were in fact Clemson.  The good news for the A She She is these two teams travel well, so  chances are the ratio of breathing human beings to empty seats will be slightly higher than 1:1.

Hokie Hoke Hokie Hi - 23

We are Clemson -  14

Big 10 Championship Game

Michigan State vs. Wisconsin

This is the 2nd most anticipated rematch in college football.  Wisconsin is a couple last second miracles from stamping their ticket to New Orleans, while Michigan State is out to prove the first game's ending wasn't a fluke.  Memo to Michigan State: That first game was a fluke, and now you have Wisconsin's full attention.  Badgers win, and Montee Ball has a good enough game to get invited to New York City to watch Trent Richardson win Bama's second Heisman Trophy in 3 years.

Badgers - 24

Sparty - 20

and finally...

SEC Championship Game

Georgia vs. LSU

Talking heads at ESPN and CBS Sports are doing their damndest to convince us that Georgia has a chance to throw the ultimate monkey wrench into the BCS.  Georgia's defensive stats are bogus because they didn't play Bama, LSU or Arkansas.  Georgia's offensive stats are misleading because they didn't play LSU or Bama.  But they've won 10 straight games...all against unranked teams.  UGA lost to the only ranked teams they played this season, Boise State and South Carolina.

Meanwhile LSU won on the road (okay, a neutral site) against Oregon, at West Virginia and AT Alabama.  LSU's defense has no weaknesses, and their offense wears you down like a timeshare salesman.  LSU has wins against the #2, #8 and #9 teams in the country.  UGA beat the worst Florida Gator team in over 30 years by 4 points.

LSU-Bama II is a foregone conclusion.  Georgia's pain is my joy.

Geaux Tigers - 36

Hunker Down - 14

Be good.

eG