Tag Archives: Texas Sports

Red’s Texas College Football Game of the Week

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Red travels to the greater Midland-Odessa area (Odessa really) for this week’s match-up between the Sul Ross State Lobos and the Falcons of UT-Permian Basin.  Okay, Red has to ‘fess up.  He didn’t even know that UTPB had a football program until last week, but ever since figuring that out he has been especially anxious to feature the Falcons squad in this season’s first of Red’s Texas College Football GOTW.

The SRSU football program has been mired in controversy in recent years. In 2014, the entire football staff was fired over allegations of abuse, misconduct and general naughtiness.  Red doesn’t make light of this at all as there were claims that female students were being coerced into more than friendly relations with recruits.   The program has taken a few years to recover going 2-8 in 2015 and 3-7 last season.  This season 4-6 might be in reach.  Reach for the stars boys – or at least reach for the chance of finishing in the middle of the conference pack.

Red might be forgiven for his ignorance of Falcon football as this is the school’s first season.  And the Falcons have a first time head coach in Justin Carrigan who does have experience at Midwestern State and Tarleton.  The Falcons may have built in rivals in Angelo State, West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico all of which are a reasonable road trip away from Odessa.  Unfortunately, Red’s insider knowledge of the program is somewhat hindered – mostly by the fact that the Falcon’s website is down – not that Red could have garnered much from that anyway.  But Red is pleased to honor Texas’ newest college football program in the first GOTW this season.

Red is hard-pressed to really make an intelligent call on this one, but when has that ever stopped him.   SRSU 27 UTPB 13.

 

The Biggest Sporting Event in Houston Since . . .

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Tonight’s semi-final match between World No. 1 Argentina and 31st ranked USA (tucked neatly between the Czech Republic and Algeria) will be the biggest sporting event in Houston since the World Series in 2005.  Sure there have been a couple of NFL Wildcard Playoff games and the occasional playoff appearance by the Rockets.  But this is the world’s most popular sport in a match featuring the highest ranked team in the world in a tournament that is clearly vying for the second most important soccer event behind only the World Cup Finals.  The 16 team Copa America Centenario features 3 of the top 5 teams in the world (Argentina, Columbia and Chile) and 5 of the top 10 (add in Brazil and Uruguay).  The  24 team UEFA European Championship also features 5 of the top 10 and more teams in the top 50, but it’s contests have not been particularly compelling match-ups so far.  And it will be hard to top the semi-final group of the CAC with Argentina, Columbia and Chile making up a world-class field.  Only the US seemingly doesn’t belong and was helped along by the poor showings of Brazil and Uruguay in not making the knock-out rounds.  We will see how it shakes out in Europe and if those final rounds will feature the same quality of competition.

Red Calls the Semi-Finals:

Argentina 4, USA 1   Red has been a big Argentina fan ever since Mexico 86 when Diego Maradona led El Albiceleste to its second World Cup title.  But he is also loyal to his national squad – so this one will be interesting as Red really can’t lose no matter who wins.  If Argentina moves on they have a chance at their first major trophy in an incredible 23 years – an eon for Argentinian fans.  It the USA wins, it is a huge boost for soccer in this country and a chance for the USA to claim its biggest tournament win ever.  All that said, it seems unlikely that the USA can keep up with the dynamic and versatile attack of El Albiceleste.  Even without DiMaria, the Argentines have world best player Leo Messi and Italy Serie A superstar Higuain along with an entire team of players that can put the ball in the net (Otamendi even!).  And while the Argentine center defense is somewhat suspect, the US is missing its best pure striker in Bobby Wood and will be somewhat hobbled in midfield with the absence of Bedoya.  Look for the USA to make a game of it until about 70 minutes in and then the superiority of the Argentinian squad will put the game out of reach.

Chile 3, Columbia 1   The only possible problem for Chile is an emotional let down after their complete annihilation of Mexico in the quarter-final. Columbia did not play like the No. 3 team in the world in having to go to penalties to defeat a game Peruvian team.  And Costa Rica beat them rather convincingly in group play.  Meanwhile, Chile has rounded to form after an opening loss to the powerful Argentines.  Look for the top scoring duo of Vargas (6 goals) and Sanchez (3 goals) to handle a Columbian squad that has had trouble getting balls on target all tournament.  Vidal sitting out is a problem, but look for Chile to press, press, press and control the action throughout the match.

 

 

Copa America Centenario Update

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Red did fairly well in his picks coming out of group play.  Red correctly called 6 of the 8 teams heading to the quarter-finals – missing out on Brazil and Uruguay.  Brazil got bumped on a bad call when the referee missed a handball allowing Peru to beat Brazil for the first time in 31 years and Uruguay just plain sucked without Luis Suarez in the lineup.

The surprises of the tournament are Venezuela and Peru neither of whom figured to factor into the knockout rounds.  So Red’s up-to-date revised picks for the quarter-finals are:

USA 3 Ecuador 1

Argentina 4 Venezuela 1

Mexico 2 Chile 1

Columbia 2 Peru 0

And if all goes right, Red y familia will be watching the US and Argentina next Tuesday before a packed house at NRG.

 

 

Red Calls the Copa America Centenario

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Red will be watching a lot of soccer over the next few weeks with the Copa America Centario and the European Championship overlapping.  Here are Red’s picks for the CAC starting tonight:

Group Stage

Group A   – 1st Columbia; 2d USA

Group B   – 1st Brazil; 2d Ecuador

Group C  – 1st Mexico; 2d Uruguay

Group D – 1st Argentina, 2d Chile

Red doesn’t think that any of the CONCACAF teams other than the US and Mexico stand a chance to make it out of group play with the possible exception of Jamaica.  The Reggae Boys got a tough draw with Uruguay and Mexico in Group C.  They clearly  could make it out of a weak group like B.  And perhaps Haiti will surprise and knock off Ecuador for the second spot in Group B. Costa Rica might have had a chance but with ace goalkeeper Navas out it is a tough road.  The “match” of group play comes early with the Argentina-Chile pairing on June 6 in Santa Clara.  The match between the last two teams left standing in the tournament last year will be must see TV for all soccer fans.

Quarterfinals

Columbia 3 Ecuador 0

Argentina 1 Uruguay 0

USA 2 Brazil 2 (USA advances on PKs)

Mexico 2 Chile 1

A bit of a stretch to think that the US can beat Brazil but Brazil is playing with Neymar, Jr. (who decided to play in the Olympics) and this is not an outstanding Brazilian squad.  Argentina will be at full strength and has numerous weapons but is weak on the back line.  Columbia breezes by virtue of a relatively lucky draw.  And Mexico is fielding perhaps their strongest team ever with Javier Hernandez in good form joined by Peralta up front and a strong back line anchored by Layun and Marquez.

Semifinals

Argentina 3 USA 1

Mexico 2 Columbia 1

The US gets a bad draw here and suffers from not winning its group. Argentina should be the class of the field and Messi needs to prove that he can lead his team to something better than the usual second place finish.  Mexico gets a Columbian team that has an off form James Rodriguez and is missing their best defensive players from their remarkable 2014 World Cup Finals run.

Final

Argentina 2 Mexico 1

This could go either way but Los Albicelestes finally get a big trophy to put up on the mantel.

 

Copa America Centario Kicks Off Tonight

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The second biggest soccer tournament ever to be held in the U.S. kicks off tonight with the USA taking on Columbia in Santa Clara, CA.  The Copa America Centario  is a celebration of 100 years of South American futbol and will be played outside of S. America for the first time ever.  The tournament typically features all ten COMEBOL national teams from South America and two invitees to make up a 12 team field.  But in honor of 100 years of competition, this year’s edition includes all of the S. America squads and national teams from the U.S. (host), Mexico (CONCACAF Champion), Jamaica (Caribbean Champion), Costa Rica (Central American Champion) and Haiti and Panama who won entry in qualifying rounds.  The field includes powerhouses such as Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile (the defending champion).   Games will be played in ten venues (including 3 games at NRG in Houston) from tonight until the final on June 23 in New Jersey.

Keep your eye on this space for Red’s predictions.

 

Texas, Baptists and Football

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Not all Texans love their football, but a sizable majority do.  And although the state has produced exactly zero championships on any level above high school in more than a decade now, there remains the perception that Texas football is somehow superior and more manly than the rest.  The quest to achieve football prominence (or prominence in any sport) can overwhelm more pedestrian desires such as education, quality of life and safety.  What has happened at Baylor and in Waco is a prime example of misplaced priorities and an institution run amok in its goal of building a nationally recognized college football program.  Baylor had had brief moments of football success winning the Southwest Conference several times in the early days of the SWC and twice (1974 and 1980) under Grant Teaff in a more competitive era.  But until winning the Big 12 in 2013, it had been over 30 years without a trophy on the shelf.  Then sharing a Big 12 title in 2014 opened the possibility that the Bears might actually be on the road to long term success and regular national recognition.

But a what price?  Red does not know and probably does not care to know all the details of the investigation that has resulted in the firing of Head Coach Art Briles, the demotion of Ken Starr and the quick exit of the Baylor Athletic Director (whose name only the faithful knew before this week and even they will want to forget it).  Suffice it to say, that to fire a highly successful coach that had brought Baylor to national prominence, the facts are probably worse than we will ever know or want to know.  The athletic program, the administration and the Waco police and district attorney are all complicit in a horrendous cover up of gross criminality.  Anyone who has spent hard-earned money to send their child to what has been revealed to be a corrupt institution cloaking itself in Christian teaching can only be truly shocked and disappointed at how low this place has fallen.

Everyone Red knows that went to Baylor really loves the place.  It has a great reputation for being a place where students feel at home and build a sense of community and friendship.  Will that still be the case?

Red gives no credit to Baylor whatsoever for firing Briles and demoting Starr.  It is incredible that all of this occurred under the noses of the Board of Regents and they too must be considered complicit in the lack of oversight of a program that completely lost any ethical or moral mooring.

So when you are watching college football next fall, think about the consequences of the bloated importance placed on these games, these coaches and these players.  Something is seriously out of order when what happened at Baylor can go on for years without some consequences.

Texas Has Education Priorities Straight – Millions for Football. Everything Else – Not so Much.

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The recent decision of the McKinney Independent School District to spend millions on a high school football stadium has drawn nation-wide attention.  After months of controversy and debate, more than two-thirds of McKinney voters approved spending $63 million as part of a $220 million bond package on a show-piece high school football stadium.  Yes, that’s $63 million.  By way of imperfect and time-challenged contrast, the Astrodome cost only $35 million to build in 1965 – that would be around $375 million today.

But the 12,000 seat McKinney stadium will hardly be alone in the on-going arms race to build bigger and swankier high school football stadiums in wealthy Texas suburbs.  Allen recently completed a $60 million stadium that seats 18,000 and is located about 3 miles from where McKinney will build its sports temple.  Another 12,000 seat edifice is under construction in Katy with a projected cost of more than $62 million.  The first $100 million high-school stadium cannot be far down the road.

For comparison, the $63 million  (financed by school bonds)  would be about 30% of the annual operating budget of McKinney ISD which was about $206 million for the 2015-16 school year.  Supporters claim that the stadium will be a source of local pride and bring tournaments and other business to the area.  Opponents look upon it as a case of completely misplaced priorities.   Red appreciates that, like it or not, football is king in Texas, but does it have to sit on a $63 million throne?    For the record, McKinney High School was 3-7 overall and 1-6 in district in 2015.  McKinney Boyd was 6-5, but did not make the playoffs, and McKinney North was 6-4 and also missed the playoffs. Even $63 million can’t buy you a winning football team.

Today in Texas History – April 27

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From the Annals of Heat –  In 1983, Nolan Ryan playing for the Houston Astros set a new major league record with after recording strike-out number 3509 against Brad Mills of the Montreal Expos.  Ryan broke a 55-year-old major league baseball record with the K.  Ryan would go on to strike out a total of 5714 batters in his remarkable career and record a MLB record seven no-hitters.   Less noted is the fact that he also is the all-time leader in bases on balls – but that is the price of longevity.  Ryan is the only player to have his number retired by three different ball clubs – the Angels, Astros and Rangers.  Among the stranger records he holds is his claim to have been the only pitcher in MLB history to have struck out seven pairs of fathers and sons.   He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1999.  Sadly, he is depicted wearing a Texas Rangers cap on his hall of fame plaque.

Texans Make Bold Play in Free Agency

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The Houston Texans went long in the free agent market yesterday – signing Denver Broncos “backup” quarterback Brock Osweiler and Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller.   The moves are intended to fill two gaping holes in the Texans offense with current QB Brian Hoyer being widely viewed as a capable second stringer at best and the backfield being open following the release of running back Arian Foster.

Red rates the Miller move as a solid decision to pick up a proven running back who has averaged 4.6 yards per carry on weak to mediocre Dolphins teams.   Miller also comes in at age 25 (for next season) without too much wear and tear.  He has 638 carries in his 4 year career.  The last two seasons, Miller also showed himself as a capable receiver averaging over 40 catches.  He should be good enough to keep the job for 3-4 seasons if used wisely.  Miller has said he wants 20 touches a game.  If the Texans are smart, it will be about 15 and Alfred Blue will continue to get work in relief.  The $26 million – 4 year deal for LM is not a budget buster.   On the proverbial scale, Red weighs this one in at 7.5.

The Osweiler deal is another story.  The Texans busted open the bank with a 4 year – $72 million contract for the unproven BO.  The sports talk empire in Houston was naturally abuzz over the move with the local sports wags mostly buying the company line.  Red has to break with Charlie Palilo, Red’s preferred drive-time radio man, on this one.  The Texans have placed at least 10 of the dozen eggs in the Osweiler basket and Red thinks the bottom may not be as strong as beleaguered Texans GM Rick Smith calculates.   For those interested, here is what $72 million buys these days.  If BO turns out to be a less injury-prone Matt Schaub 2.0, then the deal is probably just on the high side of okay.  But for fans expecting Osweiler to take the Texans to the next level (which would be making it to the AFC Championship game), Red thinks probably not.  Which means for ol’ Billy Bob Texansfan, this move is likely to disappoint.  Safe to say, however, that Rick Smith and Coach Bill O’Brian have staked their careers in Houston on this move.

 

Today in Texas History – February 25

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From the Annals of the Cowboys – In 1989, Jerry Jones, the new owner of the Dallas Cowboys, fired head coach Tom Landry after a 29-year career.   Jones made Cowboys General Manager Tex Schramm accompany him to Landry’s vacation home in Lakeway.  Schramm characterized it as, “a very difficult meeting.  It’s very, very sad.  It’s tough when you break a relationship you’ve had for 29 years.”  Schramm stood solemnly and red-eyed at a news conference where JJ announced the firing of Landry later that evening at the team’s Valley Ranch headquarters. Landry’s recent results had been well below his standards with the Cowboys failing to make the playoffs in 4 of his last 5 seasons.  Landry had indicated that he wanted to coach into the 90’s if he wasn’t fired. Jones for his part wasted no time in kicking Landry to the curb having only finalized his purchase of the iconic franchise two days before firing Landry.  Jones was adamant that he would not have bought the team unless he could bring his long-time friend and former University of Miami coach Jimmy Johnson on to lead the Cowboys.  Landry ended his coaching  career as the third-winningest coach in NFL history behind only George Halas and Don Shula, with a record of 270-178-6.  He ranks only behind Bill Bellicheat with 5 trips to the SuperBowl as a head coach.

For his part, Red had already given up his 27 year fanship of the Cowboys during the strike year of 1987 when Cowboys quarterback Danny White led the movement to break the players union and Dallas fans thumbed their noses at the players they formerly idolized.