Assorted Links

1. Video of Notre Dame coach Frank Verducci coaching up the line. (H/t Blue Gray Sky)2. Blue Gray Sky then explores the "sprint" or "stretch" run play.3. Pro Football Reference blog compares AFL and NFL drafts.4. New Detroit Lions' coach Jim Schwartz refuses to read books written by women. I recommend Margaret Atwood. 5. Creative types flocking to the internet, where fame can be instant but fleeti...

Assorted Links

1. Video of Notre Dame coach Frank Verducci coaching up the line. (H/t Blue Gray Sky)2. Blue Gray Sky then explores the "sprint" or "stretch" run play.3. Pro Football Reference blog compares AFL and NFL drafts.4. New Detroit Lions' coach Jim Schwartz refuses to read books written by women. I recommend Margaret Atwood. 5. Creative types flocking to the internet, where fame can be instant but fleeti...

What is old is new again

Look like the bunch formation to anyone else? That's from Percy Duncan Haughton's 1922 book, Football and How to Watch It.H/t CoachHu...

What is old is new again

Look like the bunch formation to anyone else? That's from Percy Duncan Haughton's 1922 book, Football and How to Watch It.H/t CoachHu...

Breaking down the Oklahoma State offense

...over at Dr Saturday. Check it out here, and feel free to ask questions either here or over there. (I am more likely to see it here, thoug...

Breaking down the Oklahoma State offense

...over at Dr Saturday. Check it out here, and feel free to ask questions either here or over there. (I am more likely to see it here, thoug...

Smart Links 7/30/09

1. T. Kyle King has an interesting response to my incoherent musings on business and life in college football. 2. Dan Shanoff really doesn't believe Brett Favre.3. Blutarsky is bringing the Mummepoll back. Get ready.4. Steve Kragthorpe is determined to purge the University of Louisville of all things Brohm.5. Captain Leach doesn't twitter, and reiterates his support for a 64-team college football playoff. I will say this: there would be some wild football, with every game a do-or-die. Some frantic, last minute wildness, every week. It might be...

Smart Links 7/30/09

1. T. Kyle King has an interesting response to my incoherent musings on business and life in college football. 2. Dan Shanoff really doesn't believe Brett Favre.3. Blutarsky is bringing the Mummepoll back. Get ready.4. Steve Kragthorpe is determined to purge the University of Louisville of all things Brohm.5. Captain Leach doesn't twitter, and reiterates his support for a 64-team college football playoff. I will say this: there would be some wild football, with every game a do-or-die. Some frantic, last minute wildness, every week. It might be...

Hoot of Gold

Ryan Hadley. That's the 300th post on this blog. Lor...

All Good In The Hood

Another Julia Seizure pinup, than...

Assorted links

1. Above is Joe Paterno's diagram and coffee. Read all about it. (Ht Black Shoe Diaries.)2. Why do players hold out of training camp? And what agency is doing all this holding out?3. And the cat came back, thought he was a goner.4. “No one should feel sorry for Bob,” said Kansas Coach Mark Mangino, a former assistant at Oklahoma under Stoops, “because he doesn’t feel sorry for himself.”5. "These camps run by schools and their coaching staffs have...

Assorted links

1. Above is Joe Paterno's diagram and coffee. Read all about it. (Ht Black Shoe Diaries.)2. Why do players hold out of training camp? And what agency is doing all this holding out?3. And the cat came back, thought he was a goner.4. “No one should feel sorry for Bob,” said Kansas Coach Mark Mangino, a former assistant at Oklahoma under Stoops, “because he doesn’t feel sorry for himself.”5. "These camps run by schools and their coaching staffs have...

The quarterback

Some things never change.The quarter[back] is, under the captain, the director of the game. With the exception of one or two uncommon and rare plays, there is not one of any kind, his side having the ball, in which it does not pass through his hands. The importance of his work it is therefore impossible to overstate. He must be, above all the qualifications of brains and agility usually attributed to that position, of a hopeful or sanguine disposition. He must have confidence in his centre himself, and, most of all, in the man to whom he passes...

The quarterback

Some things never change.The quarter[back] is, under the captain, the director of the game. With the exception of one or two uncommon and rare plays, there is not one of any kind, his side having the ball, in which it does not pass through his hands. The importance of his work it is therefore impossible to overstate. He must be, above all the qualifications of brains and agility usually attributed to that position, of a hopeful or sanguine disposition. He must have confidence in his centre himself, and, most of all, in the man to whom he passes...

Fairy Good!

I love it when I discover new UK talent! In addition to the huge backpiece below, these cartoon pinups were also done by Emma Kierz...

Saban on Tebow, the Gators' O

[Excerpts from Nick Saban's transcript at the SEC media days. Thanks to deaux of CoachHuey for the pointer.]On Tim Tebow at the next level . . .Q. As somebody who has coached in the NFL, I was wondering what your take is on Tebow’s NFL prospects? Do you think he’s talented enough to warrant a top 10 pick?COACH SABAN: Well, you know, I don’t think it’s fair for me to judge that because I can’t really judge who the other guys in the top 10 are. Being...

Saban on Tebow, the Gators' O

[Excerpts from Nick Saban's transcript at the SEC media days. Thanks to deaux of CoachHuey for the pointer.]On Tim Tebow at the next level . . .Q. As somebody who has coached in the NFL, I was wondering what your take is on Tebow’s NFL prospects? Do you think he’s talented enough to warrant a top 10 pick?COACH SABAN: Well, you know, I don’t think it’s fair for me to judge that because I can’t really judge who the other guys in the top 10 are. Being...

Bury The Hoot-chet

"heres a pic of a kinda different owl tattoo i did" - you ain't kidding, Mike Ada...

Blitz-master Jim Johnson dies

Jim Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator extraordinaire, has passed away due to cancer. Johnson coached some great defenses, and of course his legacy will be carried on by guys like Steve Spagnuolo who learned under him.Johnson was a 4-3 guy, and while his protégés took many lessons from him, he will be remember for his aggressive, blitzing defenses. Spagnuolo is more of a zone-blitz guy, but Johnson was always willing to play man defense...

Blitz-master Jim Johnson dies

Jim Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator extraordinaire, has passed away due to cancer. Johnson coached some great defenses, and of course his legacy will be carried on by guys like Steve Spagnuolo who learned under him.Johnson was a 4-3 guy, and while his protégés took many lessons from him, he will be remember for his aggressive, blitzing defenses. Spagnuolo is more of a zone-blitz guy, but Johnson was always willing to play man defense...

The business and life of football

College football is big business. The highest earning school, the University of Texas, pulled in over $120,000,000 dollars last year (in all sports). Ohio State and Florida finished close behind, with over $117,000,000 and $106,000,000, respectively. This money, of course, drives the product on the field: more money means more resources to recruit good players, and more money to pay (presumably) good coaches. For example, the list of the top earning...

The business and life of football

College football is big business. The highest earning school, the University of Texas, pulled in over $120,000,000 dollars last year (in all sports). Ohio State and Florida finished close behind, with over $117,000,000 and $106,000,000, respectively. This money, of course, drives the product on the field: more money means more resources to recruit good players, and more money to pay (presumably) good coaches. For example, the list of the top earning...

Responses to responses about David and Goliath Strategies

Tomahawk Nation responds to my earlier post on David & Goliath Strategies. See parts one and two of TN's responses. (See also my post on conservative and risky strategies and kurtosis.) Both pieces are well worth the read (I am a supporter of anything that combines football and six sigma). But a couple basic thoughts:First, I completely agree with the idea of reducing variation, particularly negative variation. That really is the genius of Bill...

Responses to responses about David and Goliath Strategies

Tomahawk Nation responds to my earlier post on David & Goliath Strategies. See parts one and two of TN's responses. (See also my post on conservative and risky strategies and kurtosis.) Both pieces are well worth the read (I am a supporter of anything that combines football and six sigma). But a couple basic thoughts:First, I completely agree with the idea of reducing variation, particularly negative variation. That really is the genius of Bill...

Gypsy Queen

Another beautiful gypsy from Daw...

Smart Notes and Links 7/28/09

1. Brett Favre is not happy about this and will unretire to prove it. A commemorative decoration (ht Maize 'n Brew, via sconnie.com):2. How science can save you from choking. This new bit from Jonah Lehrer is a nice complement to my earlier post on football decision making and the brain. Kenny Perry could taste history. He had a two-shot lead with two holes to go at the 2009 Masters - all he had to do was not make any big mistakes and he would become,...

Smart Notes and Links 7/28/09

1. Brett Favre is not happy about this and will unretire to prove it. A commemorative decoration (ht Maize 'n Brew, via sconnie.com):2. How science can save you from choking. This new bit from Jonah Lehrer is a nice complement to my earlier post on football decision making and the brain. Kenny Perry could taste history. He had a two-shot lead with two holes to go at the 2009 Masters - all he had to do was not make any big mistakes and he would become,...

Chinese dragon tattoo

The dragon tattoo design makes a unique and powerful personal statement for the individual who chooses it for self-expression in body art.And the Chinese dragon tattoo is really awesome.The Chinese dragon has been a symbol of power and mystery The meaning of Chinese dragon tattooIn medieval Europe, the dragon was a bloodthirsty, fire-breathing figure. Its malevolence and ferociousness struck terror in all. But in Asia, the dragon is the contrary....