Archive for the Main Category
March 6, 2013
Posted by: Capuano and Filed Under: Main
“Anybody who loves basketball… loves this time of year.” That, the opening comment from Georgia head coach Andy Landers to the media who participated on Monday in a conference call leading up to the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament.
On that same call, which lasted a mere hour and fifty minutes (!), Kentucky head coach Matthew Mitchell called this “One of the great sporting events of the world.” After experiencing it for the past three years, I couldn’t agree more. I simply cannot wait to get to Duluth.
With the addition of Missouri and Texas A&M to the SEC, the tournament structure has changed to include a pair of Wednesday night games. Because Ole Miss elected to self-impose a postseason ban, there will be only one game when the tournament tips off tonight at 6 PM ET, between 12-seed Mississippi State and 13-seed Alabama. The winner of that game will face 5-seed South Carolina.
I’ve talked to all of the SEC coaches over the course of the ‘12-‘13 season and had plans to pen a team-by-team tournament preview. Alas, it is called “March Madness” for a reason. The mania of postseason hoops is not limited to fans. Multiple other demands sprung up unexpectedly this week, leaving me paring down my thoughts. That’s probably for the best. As my SEC Network analyst partner Nell Fortner can attest, I could rant about SEC Women’s Basketball for days (fortunately, so can she, which makes us a great pair to bring you the semifinals and championship game this weekend on ESPNU and ESPN2.)
As Alabama head coach Wendell Hudson put it on Monday, “Basketball is a tournament game. You never know what is going to happen. It’s one shot for everybody.”
Indeed, one resounding theme from the SEC’s coaches is that this year’s field feels more open than in years past. There is a promise, as we saw repeatedly during the regular season, of the possibility for several down-to-the wire thrillers and potential upsets. That said, there is definitely a top tier, with four of the six SEC teams ranked in this week’s AP Top 25 enjoying a first-round bye.
TEAMS AT THE TOP
1. TENNESSEE (23-6, 14-2, 17th regular season SEC Title)
Early in the SEC slate, I asked Holly Warlick for a word to capture where the Lady Vols were in their development. The newly named SEC Coach of the Year chose “discipline,” which has multiple meanings. Warlick said when Tennessee demonstrates solid discipline, the Lady Vols stick to their game plan, which includes firmly understanding who they are defending and also being patient on the offensive end.
On Monday, I asked Warlick if “discipline” was still the word she’d use to describe her team. Discipline has been supplanted by “toughness” and “resiliency.” Warlick told us these Lady Vols have really understood what it means to go back to work after losses and learn from their mistakes, which has created a togetherness and camaraderie. She said she has “enjoyed watching this group grow together and grow up.”
Injury woes continue to plague Tennessee. In the latest wave, senior leader Kamiko Williams sprained both of her ankles and Isabelle Harrison continues to manage knee trouble. Their availability for an already-depleted roster could dictate the Lady Vols longevity in Duluth. At full strength are SEC co-Player of the Year Meighan Simmons and SEC Freshman of the Year Bashaara Graves. That duo and the realization of Warlick’s goal for Tennessee to continue to “play hard and play together” could be enough.
2. KENTUCKY (25-4, 13-3)
The other SEC co-Player of the Year, A’dia Mathies, leads number-two seed Kentucky into Duluth. Mitchell said the Wildcats are very disappointed they didn’t meet one of their preseason goals, to defend the 2012 regular season title. A goal that is still available to them is to win the program’s first SEC Tournament Title since 1982. Mitchell loved the way the Wildcats played in their win vs. Tennessee on Sunday, saying, “they played with tremendous passion and intensity defensively… it reminded us what we can do when our attitude is right.”
Earlier in the season, Mitchell told us “hustle” was the word that leapt off the page to describe Kentucky. At that time, he said, “They sacrifice for each other and I don’t think there is anyone who cares about anything other than winning right now.” After the adversity of a few losses and a couple weeks where he felt the team didn’t practice well, Mitchell shortened his bench. Following the loss at LSU, he “hit the reset button” again, by having a meeting with the bench players to redefine their roles, wipe their slate clean and get back to a deeper player rotation that better suits their “40 Minutes of Dread” style.
The pulse of these ever-changing Wildcats now? Said Mitchell, “I have gotten the sense from the players that they understand to be a special team, they should win a championship.” He asserted that he thinks Kentucky has the championship-caliber players to cut down the nets this weekend.
3. GEORGIA (24-5, 12-4)
Last Thursday, Georgia, Texas A&M and South Carolina lost on the road. The Lady Bulldogs recovered with a season-ending win at home against Vanderbilt, but there is no denying a surprising inconsistency for a team led by three seniors who have been major contributors their entire careers: Jasmine James, Jasmine Hassell and Anne Marie Armstrong. Assuming that trio will give its very best in its last chance to win a SEC Tournament title, Georgia’s success will hedge on its talented freshmen. Landers complimented how adept his first-year players are at “connecting the dots.” In his experience, some freshmen can grasp important team concepts but don’t connect the dots between them. He said this group has done that since the onset of the season. Will they shine under the biggest spotlight yet?
4. TEXAS A&M (21-9, 11-5)
Aggies head coach Gary Blair boldly declared on Monday, “I’m going in to win this thing and get our confidence back.” Texas A&M has sputtered down the stretch, losing four of its final five games. Blair believes that his team “doesn’t need to go into the shop for total repairs. It just needs some Band-Aids and an attitude adjustment.” He said he wants to see the Aggies “play harder, play smarter and sometimes give credit to our opponent.” As an example to that last point, he brought up a comfortable first half lead on Sunday vs. LSU, one built without significant scoring from post star Kelsey Bone, that eventually evaporated after the Lady Tigers made some adjustments.
Blair’s lexicon contains a bevy of entertaining hoops-related one-liners. One he shared with Nell and I before the season finale vs. LSU is, “runnin’, jumpin’ and pressin’ are window dressin’.” Blair’s key to success is March: executing in the half court – both on offense and defense. That recipe helped him lead the Aggies to a national title in 2011, a team which Blair noted had great chemistry. The roster included seniors Adrienne Pratcher and Kristi Bellock were in reserve roles on that team and Bone was sitting out a NCAA-mandated transfer year. Blair said he recently told these Aggies that he wants them to develop their own legacy, “I want this team to realize their moment might be right here. Learn how to win the close games, get the chemistry going and learn to CLOSE the game.”
5. SOUTH CAROLINA (23-6, 11-5)
Thinking about that old adage “on the outside looking in,” one can basically envision the Gamecocks as having their noses firmly pressed to the glass. A two-point loss at Georgia. A two-point loss vs. Texas A&M. A four-point loss at Kentucky. If ANY of those games goes in USC’s favor, they’re resting until Friday.
Head coach Dawn Staley said on Monday that she is still hoping her team can find that player who can make plays down the stretch. Her query, “Who is going to be the player to put the ball in the hole when it is needed to win the game?” The good news? Staley thinks she has those players. The unfortunate news? She’s still waiting for that special player – or a few of them – to emerge.
If that saying “defense wins championships” rings true, South Carolina and Kentucky have two of the best chances this weekend. The Wildcats do it by forcing turnovers and taking care of the basketball. Kentucky’s turnover margin of +8.9 not only leads the SEC, it also leads the nation. The Gamecocks do it by keeping scores low – their defense allows only 49.6 points per game, tops in the SEC and 6th nationally, and their field-goal percentage defense is an SEC-best 35.4%.
6. LSU (19-10, 10-6)
LSU is on a hot streak, one that is gaining national attention, evidenced by their entry into the AP Top 25 poll this week and by this outstanding article written by my ESPN.com colleague Mechelle Voepel today.
LSU’s motto entering the season was “Win From Within.” During this recent streak of six straight wins, the motto has morphed into “Eight is Enough.” The Lady Tigers entered the season with only ten players. They’re now down two more players (one due to health, another to suspension). Head coach Nikki Caldwell joked Monday that she was genuinely concerned last Thursday that Adrienne Webb and Bianca Lutley might not have a chance to head to be honored properly by the crowd on “Senior Night” after one of their teammates fouled out.
Caldwell told me this past Saturday that LSU first turned a corner with improved energy and a renewed commitment to defense and rebounding in a loss at South Carolina January 17th. Following a heartbreaking home loss to Tennessee on February 7th, guard Jeanne Kenney delivered a passionate speech about her dedication to giving everything she could to make sure LSU’s seniors would not sit and watch the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament (Baton Rouge being one of sixteen host sites.) Caldwell loved the ownership demonstrated there and said she has seen it throughout all eight players, “we’ve become a better team. Players know their roles, we’re limited in numbers but there’s a sense of urgency now. They know what’s at stake and what needs to be done.”
7. VANDERBILT (19-10, 9-7)
Vanderbilt head coach Melanie Balcomb said she has never led a team more riddled with injuries. It started before the season with the loss of Stephanie Holzer to a knee injury. Not only was Holzer a key element in the Commodores’ post game, she was also the embodiment of the team’s toughness. Before a game in late January, Balcomb joked with us, “I have the nicest team in America.” When leading scorer Christina Foggie went down with a knee, it appeared Vandy would crumble. Instead, a crop of energetic freshmen grew up quickly and embraced the team’s new motto, “B.F.F.” The “B” stands for “belief.” Balcomb says belief in each other and knowing they can win has made all the difference in a late season stretch of success which included a 30-point outing from senior Tiffany Clarke in a home win against Texas A&M.
PREDICTIONS
None of the coaches we spoke with on Monday seemed ready to declare a “favorite” in the field, so I certainly won’t. Those teams in the top half of the league seem most primed to make a deep run in Duluth, but that’s what is so great about March Madness. Once the ball tips, it is anybody’s game – and any team’s title for the taking. Discount the tenacity of Florida, the three-point shooting of Missouri or the high-pressure defense of Auburn? I wouldn’t dare.
I loved first-year Missisippi State head coach Vic Schaefer’s assessment from earlier this season, on what it’s like to compete in the SEC, “It’s a NIGHTMARE of a league. Tough, physical, aggressive… it’s basically the developmental league of the WNBA. “ Another great declaration came Monday from Arkansas head coach Tom Collen, as he reflected on the close games and surprises of the regular season, “the SEC has proven there is NO argument, whatsoever, that this is the best conference in the country.”
My only prediction is this: we have a WONDERFUL weekend in store! I’ll see you at The Arena at Gwinnett Center.
December 9, 2012
Posted by: Capuano and Filed Under: Main
What a busy week in the Southeastern Conference! The perfect time to give myself a week “off,” right? Wrong.
Four new head football coaches hired, another Heisman Trophy winner from the SEC is crowned, all the while teams are looking ahead to the postseason – and so am I. I had hoped to use this week without a game to work to get everything in order for the upcoming holidays. Ho ho ho? More like, Ha ha ha.
Regardless, let’s fire up my favorite holiday motivation music and start with this morning’s headline:
JOHNNY MANZIEL becomes first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy
I really enjoyed the opening line of Manziel’s acceptance speech: ”…this is a moment I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid, running around the backyard pretending I was Doug Flutie and throwing hail marys to my dad.”
Some bullet points from our friends at ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo), regarding his accomplishment:
- 1st freshman (true or redshirt) to win the award (78th time award has been given)
- 2nd Texas A&M player to win award (1957 John David Crow)
- Texas A&M: Largest gap between winners among schools with multiple Heisman winners (55 years)
- 2nd-youngest player (20 years, 2 days) to win award (2009 Mark Ingram – 19 years, 356 days)
- 6th QB in last 7 years and 11th QB in last 13 years to win award
- 4th player in BCS era (since 1998) to win award on team that did not earn a BCS bowl berth (last was 2011 Robert Griffin III)
- 4th SEC player to win award in last 6 years
- Manti Te’o: 2nd-most 1st-place votes (321) by runner-up in Heisman history (Paul Giel had 366 in 1953)
Andre is one of the finest human beings I'll ever meet.
Related to the Heisman, our SEC Network analyst Andre Ware reflected with the folks at ESPN Front Row on his experience winning the Heisman in 1989. When asked in that interview what he would tell the winner, Andre said, “It’s a huge responsibility to uphold just what the trophy stands for, commitment, honor and integrity. Honor those that have won the trophy before you by living your life the right way so that those who follow you will have an example to follow.” He genuinely believes that – and, after four football seasons working with him, I can tell you his actions always speak louder than his words. He is the definition of a distinguished gentleman and a true professional. I’m honored to call him my friend.
FOUR NEW HEAD COACHES
The other biggest headlines this week pertained to the hiring of four new head football coaches to fill the vacancies at Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Another great nugget from ESPN Stats and Information to sum up the four hirings:
- Former Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones has been hired by Tennessee. This also continues the trend of the SEC hiring coaches from other schools that won their conference championship this season. Jones’ Bearcats won a share of the Big East crown. Arkansas hired former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema, who won the Big Ten. Auburn hired former Arkansas State head coach Gus Malzahn, who won the Sun Belt. And Kentucky hired former Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, who coached the defense of the ACC champions.
That got me to thinking about my past four years at SEC Media Days in July and which teams were introducing new head coaches. My first experience interviewing all the coaches came in 2009, so, in essence, they were all “new to me,” but from a program standpoint:
- 2009 brought three new head coaches to Hoover, AL: Gene Chizik at Auburn, Dan Mullen at Mississippi State and Lane Kiffin at Tennessee.
- In 2010, three more new head coaches arrived, with Joker Phillips at Kentucky, Derek Dooley at Tennessee and Robbie Caldwell at Vanderbilt.
- In 2011, there were only two new head coaches, with Will Muschamp at Florida and James Franklin at Vanderbilt.
- This past July, “four” new head coaches, John L. Smith at Arkansas, Hugh Freeze at Ole Miss, Kevin Sumlin at Texas A&M and Gary Pinkel at Missouri (that is why I put the “four” in quotes – obviously, Pinkel has been at Mizzou a long time – compared to 2012 actually being Sumlin’s debut season with the Aggies – but both men were new to the media who primarily cover the SEC, as the two teams joined the league this year.)
Looking at the list I quickly scribbled out to myself, only three programs have brought the same, already-established head coach to SEC Media Days the past four years: Alabama, Georgia and LSU. That, combined with the hiring of four new coaches who just reached the pinnacles of excellence at their most recent positions, makes a solid statement about the premium placed on winning football games in this conference.
I have yet to work with Bielema, Jones or Stoops and look forward to meeting them, either in Hoover next July, or at their respective schools at some point before then. Gus Malzahn, who I had already covered during his time as offensive coordinator under Chizik, was actually part of one of my favorite memories from last season. I watched portions of the GoDaddy.com Bowl on the sidelines with Malzahn, who had just been hired to take over at Arkansas State, and his then-new-offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee (coincidentally, Lashlee will hold the same role at Auburn, moving forward.) That was such a treat for me – listening to two brilliant offensive minds break down what they were seeing from both teams (the other was Northern Illinois, BCS-Bowl-bound this season.) I’ll never forget it.
WHAT’S NEXT
Our SEC Network crew has a busy college football postseason on the horizon. Our announcing team of play by play man Dave Neal, analyst Andre Ware and myself can be found on the upcoming broadcasts:
- Friday, December 14th, 8 PM ET on ESPN2: FCS Semifinal, Georgia Southern vs. North Dakota State
- Friday, December 21st, 7:30 PM ET on ESPN: Beef O’Brady’s Bowl, UCF vs. Ball State
- Monday, December 31st, 7:30 PM ET on ESPN Radio: Chick Fil-A Bowl, LSU vs. Clemson
- Saturday, January 5th, 1:00 PM ET on ESPN2: FCS Championship, TBD
As well, I’ll team up with play by play Dave Lamont and analyst Kelly Stouffer for the AdvoCare v100 Independence Bowl on Friday, December 28th at 2:00 PM ET on ESPN between Ohio and ULM.
All told, the ESPN Networks will carry live coverage of 34 college football bowl games, including the entire BCS slate. A complete listing of the games and the announcing teams can be found here.
GOOD TIDINGS WE BRING: An ESPN outlet will offer coverage of at least one game a day for 16 out of the 19 days from December 20th to January 7th.
PROGRAMMING TIP: Check your local listings for the SEC Network Bowl Game Preview, hosted by yours truly, alongside two of my favorite All-Americans from the trenches, Florida DE Kevin Carter and Georgia OL Matt Stinchcomb. SEC Network affiliate stations will decide when they want to air that show, which forecasts all nine postseason matchups which involve SEC teams. Set the DVR.
Time to arrange my travel to Fargo, ND, for this Friday’s FCS Semifinal pitting 5-seed Georgia Southern vs. 1-seed (and defending FCS Champion) North Dakota State. Let the prep for the postseason begin!
December 1, 2012
Posted by: Capuano and Filed Under: Main
The past two years, I had the pleasure to cover the SEC Championship game in person, at the Georgia Dome. This year, I’ll be out on the golf course right up until kick off. Am I relishing my first Saturday off in fourteen weeks? Of course. And yet there is a part of me that feels like I’d still rather be working my tail off all day at the Georgia Dome. Because nothing compares to a Championship Saturday. Particularly a Championship Saturday in the SEC. The past six years, a win in this game has punched a ticket for an appearance – and, in each case, a victory – in the BCS National Championship. Today will be no different (note: I’m not predicting an SEC win in the BCS Title game – merely pointing out that the SEC Champion will be inserted in the slot vs. Notre Dame to “play for it all.” This blog remains free of bold victory prognostications.)
THREE KEY BITS of INFO from ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo)
- Alabama and Georgia meet in the SEC Championship Game with the winner projected to meet Notre Dame for the BCS title. There is some good historical news for Georgia in this game. Of the 28 previous teams to play for the BCS championship, eight entered the final weekend of the regular season outside the BCS top-two – and four of them moved up after winning the SEC Championship Game. Even more good news for the Dawgs. All four of those teams went on to win the national championship (Florida 2008, LSU 2007, Florida 2006, LSU 2003).
- Alabama is one win away from playing for another national championship and keeping a streak alive for the state of Alabama. If the Tide can win another BCS title, it will be the fourth straight for the state. In the four major sports plus college football and men’s college basketball, only twice has a state/province won four consecutive championships with multiple teams. From 1949-56, New York won eight straight World Series titles with the Yankees, Giants and Dodgers. And from 1987-90, the province of Alberta won four straight Stanley Cups with Edmonton and Calgary (since 1927 when NHL assumed control of Stanley Cup).
- For 10 more “things to know” about the SEC Championship from ESPN Stats & Info, click here. ESPN Stats & Info has a blog that they’ll update daily, responding to the major trends in sports. Today, there is no game with bigger BCS implications than the SEC Championship.
THREE TRENDS TO WATCH ON THE FIELD
Again, we have to thank our friends at ESPN Stats & Info for three key trends that I’ll be studying when I watch the game today. These numbers come from an email called, “Next Level Stats.” Numbers crunchers, unite!
ALABAMA RUN GAME: Alabama is averaging 6.0 yards per carry on designed running plays this season, the highest average in the SEC. On these runs, the Tide are averaging an SEC-best 4.2 yards before contact. They have made it at least five yards past the line of scrimmage without being touched on 35.7 percent of their designed runs (i.e., does not include QB scrambles or sacks.) Alabama runs downhill with 67.9 percent of their designed running plays coming between the tackles in SEC games. The Tide average 6.4 yards per carry on such running plays with about one in every five attempts going for at least 10 yards.
GEORGIA QB AARON MURRAY under pressure: Aaron Murray is completing 66.3 percent of his passes when opponents send five or more pass rushers on a play this season, up 10.1 points from last season. Murray has just two interceptions against the blitz this season, after having nine in 2011. But, his two interceptions came in his only two games against ranked opponents this season (Florida and South Carolina). Alabama has sent five or more pass rushers on 32.7 percent of its opponents’ dropbacks this season. The Tide have recorded 16 on their 30 sacks when blitzing this season.
STOUT DEFENSES GOING TO WORK:
GEORGIA: Before the Florida game, Georgia safety Shawn Williams called out his teammates on defense, saying, “we’re playing too soft. We’re just not playing with the same attitude we were last year. I don’t know what it is.” Since Williams’ comments, the Bulldogs have allowed 43 points in five games, including 19 in three SEC games. In those three conference games, they held each opponent under 80 yards rushing and had at least four sacks.
ALABAMA: Alabama leads FBS in scoring defense for the second straight season. The Tide do not allow big plays. They have conceded 89 plays that gained 10 yards or more, nine fewer than any other FBS team. Opponents are averaging 1.9 drives per game that reach the red zone against Alabama, the lowest average in FBS. When opponents do reach the red zone, they score on 61 percent of their possessions, the lowest percentage in the nation.
SEC Championship Preview on SEC Network:
On Monday, I taped an hour-long SEC Championship Preview with our analyst Matt Stinchcomb, which breaks down the game in greater detail. Many of the SEC Network affiliates where you watch our Game of the Week will be airing that show at some point today, leading up to the kickoff at 4:30 PM ET on CBS. Check your local listings – something to watch while everyone is settling in for the big game.
Matt and I will combine forces again next week, hopefully with the help of SEC Network studio analyst Kevin Carter, to preview the postseason games involving all of the SEC teams. Again, check your local listings and set your DVRs.
With that, I’m off to the links. Have a FABULOUS Championship Saturday!
November 28, 2012
Posted by: Capuano and Filed Under: Main
With the week of Thanksgiving behind us, taking with it the final week of the regular season in Southeastern Conference play, I’ve found myself the past few days counting my blessings.
As I anticipated, Dad was an ace assistant in my tiny kitchen. King of the Sous Chefs!
Balancing a life of working “on the road” with precious time for family is a tricky business, especially during the demands of college football season. Preparation is constant. There are always more articles to read, notes to jot down and shows to watch to stay abreast of the latest news. As well, a typical work week involves conference calls with the visiting team on Wednesday, travel on Thursday, meetings with the home team on Friday, the game on Saturday… and, since the SEC Network Game of the Week always kicks off early, our crew usually tries to travel home on Saturday night. Some Saturdays, that means I’m stumbling, exhausted, into my living room around 10:30 PM to watch the last of the late games before my eyes inevitably close. Other weeks, if our game assignment is close enough geographically and the flights time out in my favor, I’ll meet a group of friends at a local restaurant to enjoy dinner and watching all of the night games… until I hit that same inevitable wall of fatigue in the 10 PM hour.
Fortunately, my friends and family are understanding. They have been trained over time to accept the vast scheduling complications of the eclectic career path I’ve chosen and still love me – and include me – anyway. That inclusion part is the key. I don’t know what I’d do without them. Was my Mom thrilled yesterday when I told her I’d have to wedge my Christmas visit between a pair of bowl games on the 21st and the 28th? Not really. Will she still be there, smiling broadly, with our family dogs dancing in the backseat, to pick me up at the airport on the 22nd? Absolutely.
That brings me back to Thanksgiving – a holiday which always reminds me of the many gifts working in this career has brought into my life. Let’s set this story to song: ”The Island of Misfit Toys” from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Between living and traveling all over the country and meeting new people on a weekly basis, I’ve found phenomenal people and formed amazing friendships. My Dad came out for the holiday week and we hosted seven people who couldn’t get home to their own families. Misfit Toys? Of course not. They’re simply an extension of our family.
Our diverse guest list included:
- A cherished ESPNU colleague and his lovely lady. The pumpkin cheesecake they brought to the occasion was, simply put, TO DIE FOR.
- A woman who I met through a trivia team that I play on each week, via someone (also now a dear friend) who used to direct our Sunday SEC Network women’s basketball games. This gal also happens to be a proud Vanderbilt Commodore, committed sports fan, avid reader, movie lover and master baker. So much in common!
- A woman I first met while she was employed by the SEC, who has now moved to my city and become one of my best friends ever. She invited another friend that she first met working in sports media relations and also introduced me to another one of our guests, who has since also become my friend. Those two first met at their church. On Thanksgiving day, the gal from the church asked my Dad to take a quick look at her recently-troubled car. Because most Dads know a thing or two about cars, and mine definitely does. Next thing I know, he is taking her car for a spin around my block, to “listen to her transmission.” I found that moment so fabulous. ”Dad for hire!”
- Confused yet? Just wait. This last guest involves the most circuitous path yet. A former ESPNU coworker knew a woman who wanted to move to our city and recommended her as a roommate to my neighbor. This woman came to town, moved in next door to me and quickly established herself as a networking queen. A few months later, the networking queen met a woman who was considering getting into broadcasting. Networking queen suggested that this gal meet with me, to ask any questions she might have about breaking into the business. A coffee meeting intended to “talk about the biz” turned into a friendship that has filled my life with light and laughter – and of course, the networking queen is also one of my favorite friends.
The point? I’m just really thankful and felt like writing it down. If you look at the list of the seven incredible people above (nine, when you include the networking queen and hoops director), my opportunity to meet each one somehow links back to my time working with ESPNU and the SEC Network. My tiny kitchen was filled with food for an army. My home was ringing with laughter. My face hurt by the end of the night from all of the smiling. The next morning, Dad and I boarded a flight for Knoxville, TN, for our final SEC Network game of the regular season. This post simply celebrates a memorable occasion of work-life balance, a priceless blessing during the busiest time of the year.
November 21, 2012
Posted by: Capuano and Filed Under: Main
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! In the giving spirit of the season, I’m giving myself a break and posting just once this week. In part, because I have a party of nine for the orphan Thanksgiving I’m hosting – I’ve got potatoes to peel and there is bird to bake… it’s all a time-consuming process!
In honor of the upcoming festivities, we will set this blog to one of my all-time favorite songs: ”Holiday” by Madonna.
My father (I call him “Sous Chef”, he calls me “Executive Chef” – ha!) is visiting me this week, and will enjoy his first journey to Neyland Stadium for our Saturday regular season finale showdown between Kentucky (2-9, 0-7 SEC) and Tennessee (4-7, 0-7 SEC). These two teams have already decided to move in a different direction with their head coaching positions for next season. Coincidentally, both made the call to dismiss their head coaches following staggering defeats to Eastern division foe, Vanderbilt.
What’s at stake? One precious conference victory in a heated rivalry and positive momentum heading into a major transition next year. All time, Tennessee leads the series vs. Kentucky 74-29-9… and up until last year, had won 26 straight. The Wildcats victory in Lexington, which featured WR Matt Roark running the offense for the injury-decimated home team, not only snapped that skid – it also kept the Volunteers from securing bowl eligibility. Both teams stayed home during the postseason as a result.
What to read? Our pals on the ESPN Blog have created some great posts this week. If you don’t already follow @ESPN_SEC on Twitter, get on it! A few of my favorites from this week:
Ed Aschoff sets up an overview of “What to Watch in Week 13” (RIVALRY WEEK!) and sets up the matchups
Chris Low penned an excellent commentary on the crossroads that Tennessee faces with its next head coaching hire. Derek Dooley will not coach in the season finale – offensive coordinator Jim Chaney will man head coaching duties for this last game. In an interesting twist, Chaney has already been labeled as “interim head coach” on the Vols official team website and Dooley’s bio information has been removed (which I learned looking for his old link.) We spoke with Chaney this afternoon and he told us that he feels like the Volunteers players need to play this game to “get this week off their chests” and remember all too well that they “got their butts beat by Kentucky last year,” in a game, “they can’t hide from, because it’s part of their history.”
Sean Cartell (@SEC_Sean) wrote a lovely piece Tuesday on why Joker Phillips deserved the kind send-off he received in the home finale last Saturday. Few head coaches will remain with a team through the rest of the season after a dismissal, particularly one that occurs with a bye week and two games left on the schedule. This image, from that game, is one that I’ll never forget and speaks to the person Phillips is and the way his players feel about him:
Courtesy: SECDigitalSports.com
TWITTER TIME
Suggestions to follow for Kentucky:
@UKAthleticsNews is the official twitter feed for Kentucky Athletics and @UKFootball is football-specific. Head coach Joker Phillips also has a twitter account (@jokerphillips), but he hasn’t sent out a tweet since September 12th.
@JohnClayIV – John Clay is a sports columnist at the Lexington Herald-Leader. Not only a terrific writer, he’s big on sending out links to other stories involving UK athletics – a tremendous resource for one-stop surfing!
@KyleTucker_CJ – Kyle Tucker is the beat writer covering Kentucky Athletics for the Courier-Journal.
@TCPMattMay – Matt May is a beat writer/columnist covering UK athletics for CatsPause.com. If you’re too cheap to subscribe to CatsPause (for shame!), his timeline is still a great resource for headlines and breaking news.
For Tennessee:
@Vol_Sports – This is the official Twitter account for University of Tennessee athletics.
@Vol_Football – is Tennessee’s official Twitter account for Volunteers football.
@TennesseeBeat – Evan Woodbery covers Tennessee sports for the Knoxville News Sentinel (see above.)
@GoVolsXtra – streams links to all of the Knoxville News Sentinel Vols coverage.
@WesRucker247 – Wes Rucker is locked into all things Rocky Top via his employment with govols247.com and as the co-host of Swain and Rucker on Tennessee Sports Radio. Yes, 247 sites are for pay – but this cheapskate gleans a lot of the top Vols headlines just by following Wes on Twitter.
HASHTAGS:
Be a part of the conversation involving all of the SEC games this weekend by using the following hashtags, created by our friends at ESPN Media Zone:
#AUBvsBAMA (also #IronBowl) #LSUvsARK #UFvsFSU #GTvsUGA #UKvsTENN #MSUvsMISS (also #EggBowl) #MIZZvsTAMU #SCARvsCLEM #VANDYvsWAKE
WHERE TO WATCH:
Check our latest list of affiliates to see where you can watch Kentucky at Tennessee on Saturday. Coverage starts at Noon ET/11 AM CT. Have a warm, happy holiday – and we’ll see you Saturday from Rocky Top!
November 17, 2012
Posted by: Capuano and Filed Under: Main
Enjoyed a pair of great songs on my way to and from campus today for our coaches meetings with the Mississippi State coaching staff (and, to our delight, a few stolen moments with quarterback Tyler Russell and cornerback Johnthan Banks.)
Let’s pick “Always on Time” by Ja Rule, featuring Ashanti, for the soundtrack to tonight’s preview blog post.
Starkville taking a page out of the Athens, GA, playbook, installing more statues of Bully around town. #gooddog
Unlike the song, I’m not always on time, but I need to be tonight – because I have a BIG date to scout some women’s hoops. Hoops at the Hump, as I’m going to play witness to an early season game in year one of the Vic Schaefer regime with the Lady Bulldogs. I rarely get to watch SEC hoops and not actually call the game, so this is going to be a treat for me. That leaves me with 45 minutes to knock out this blog.
NOTES ON THE MATCHUP
This is the third time in a four week period that the Arkansas Razorbacks are being featured on the SEC Network. I’ve written in this blog space about who to watch for the Hogs and what’s at stake down the stretch, as Arkansas tries to erase some of the darker memories of a frustrating season with a postseason berth. At this stage, with two games left – tomorrow and at home vs. LSU next Friday – the Razorbacks must win out to get to their Magic Number Six. Arkansas has traditionally dominated the series vs. Mississippi State, winning 3 in a row and 15 of the 20 games they’ve played as SEC opponents since 1992. Arkansas leads the all-time series by a count of 15-6-1.
After opening the season 7 and OH and earning its postseason eligibility by mid-October, Mississippi State is reeling amid a three-game losing streak. It was a gauntlet long circled on the calendar: at Alabama, vs. Texas A&M and at LSU in a three-week stretch. All three of those Western Division foes can be found in that SEC cluster of six teams between numbers 4 and 9 in the latest BCS standings.
INJURY UPDATES
Good news at running back for both teams, as Knile Davis is back and practicing for Arkansas… and LaDarius Perkins, who missed last week’s loss at LSU with a quad injury, is back for MSU. On the bad news front, TE Chris Gragg (leg) is still out for the Hogs. LB and special teams player Ferlando Bohanna is doubtful for the Bulldogs (groin).
WHAT THE COACHES ARE SAYING
By week 12 of the season, most head coaches are well aware of the specific issues that have been glaring trouble for teams. For Arkansas to succeed, John L. Smith says they need to, “take care of the football better, avoid being charged with big penalties and can’t give up the big plays.” He continues to stress how much he loves this team’s effort, work ethic and willingness to play hard for each other. Suspensions and injuries have been daggers all year, leaving him a lack of flexibility to make changes in any position on the depth chart: ”you have what you have.” Right now, on defense, that leaves several true freshman starters: A.J. Turner at outside linebacker, Otha Peters at middle linebacker and Will Hines at cornerback. In total, 18 Arkansas players have made their first collegiate starts this season, the most in the SEC and tied for 6th-highest in the country.
Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen says his Bulldogs are “as healthy as healthy gets” for this time of year, “Everybody is banged up but nobody is sitting out.” He looks at the season as “12 individual deals” and thinks that the team has worked hard to correct its mistakes from last week’s loss and is doing better. His message to the Bulldogs after their first loss to Alabama was harsh, but poignant. He asked the players, “In the big picture of the year, did you actually think you’d go undefeated? Nobody in the SEC is undefeated.” The grind, the level of talent and the strain of the competition is intense at this level, but Mullen continues to be pleased with the progress of the program. He attributes a good deal of the recent success to the group of seniors who are team leaders this year. That bunch will be recognized in pregame festivities, with a special recognition for their teammate Nick Bell, who lost his battle with cancer in 2010. A fabulous tribute to those seniors is found here, via Hail State Beat writer Bob Carskadon.
WHERE TO WATCH
Friendly reminder that once again, there are two games being broadcast at the same time on the SEC Network: Arkansas at Mississippi State and Western Carolina at Alabama. Please check this updated affiliate list to find out which game will be shown where you live.
ONLY IN THE SEC
Our SEC Network crew covered DL Charles Burns during his senior season in '09.
A moment to honor a special tradition I’ve only seen while covering the SEC (that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen elsewhere – I’m sure it does.) Today at Davis Wade Stadium, there were two couples getting their engagement photos taken on the field. Former Bulldog Charles Burns and his bride-to-be, who wore a jersey that said, “Charlie’s Angel” on the back.
Bully poses like the seasoned pro that he is. What a star!
Another couple who had a special guest in a series of their shots: Bully the mascot. What was the favorite accessory of both? Cowbells, of course. I love it!
That brings us to my other special song today, courtesy of our pals from “90′s on 9″ on Sirius: ”It was a Good Day” by Ice Cube. To the two couples I met on the field: may your wedding day be one of the best in your life. To the folks who will join us in Starkville tomorrow, here’s to a great game!
And with that, I’m off to Humphrey Coliseum.
November 16, 2012
Posted by: Capuano and Filed Under: Main
Well here we are in Week 12 of the college football regular season. WHAT!? Week 12. I know I’m not the only one out there who feels like this season has flown by.
Oh, yes. Week 11. I’m sure you’ll recall it brought upheaval in the BCS, namely for fans who had hoped to see the SEC compete for a seventh straight BCS National Championship. Alabama’s 29-24 loss to Texas A&M, in Tuscaloosa, no less, created a shakeup in the BCS Standings. The Southeastern Conference boasts SIX teams in the top NINE… but with three unbeatens ahead of them, it could be tough sledding. Those top tier teams need to keep taking care of their own business and hope for a little help, otherwise the SEC’s run is done. Our fine ESPN SEC bloggers, Chris Low & Edward Aschoff, get you up to speed daily. Along with the post I linked above, Chris details “What to Watch in the SEC in Week 12” and where the division races stand (spoiler alert: Georgia is heading to Atlanta as the Eastern Division Champ.)
For week 12, eight of the 14 teams in the SEC are playing against non-conference opponents, leaving fans with only three SEC match-ups:
- Our game: Arkansas (4-6, 2-4 SEC) at Mississippi State (7-3, 3-3 SEC).
- Ole Miss at (7) LSU – which is at 3:30 PM ET on CBS.
- Tennessee at Vanderbilt – which airs at 7 PM ET on ESPN2/WatchESPN.
That leaves us with one of the ZANIEST collection of Twitter hashtags we have seen yet… but if you want to be included in the conversation on Twitter, here goes:
#ARKvsMSU #TENNvsVANDY #WCUvsBAMA #AAMUvsAUB #JSUvsUF #GSUvsUGA #SAMvsUK #CUSEvsMIZZ #WOFFvsSCAR #SHSUvsTAMU
Speaking of Twitter, WHO TO FOLLOW for our game:
For Arkansas:
@ArkRazorbacks is the official Twitter feed for the Arkansas Razorbacks/Arkansas Athletics Department and @ARKTD2012 is “the official account of Arkansas Football’s postseason awards campaign.”
@NWARobbie- Robbie Neiswanger covers Razorbacks sports for the Arkansas News Bureau/Stephens Media.
For Mississippi State:
@HailState – Twitter feed for www.hailstate.com, the official website of Mississippi State Athletics. @MStateFB is their official Twitter account for football.
@BMarcello – Brandon Marcello is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion-Ledger.
@BLocke – Brad Locke covers Mississippi State for DJournal.com and has a radio show on BulldogSportsRadio.com.
TWO TIMES THE SEC NETWORK FUN
Like last Saturday, there will be two SEC Network syndicated broadcasts. Check out the latest affiliate listings to see which game – Arkansas at Mississippi State OR Western Carolina at Alabama – will be shown where you live. Both start at Noon ET/11 AM CT.
FINAL IMAGE
Hitting the deck for celebration-shot sanctity
A hearty thanks to our pals with Missouri’s sports information department, for one of the best chuckles my parents and I have enjoyed in a while. This is what happens when a scoring play comes right at a seasoned sideline reporter who is wedged between two cameramen who will undoubtedly turn to gather a “post-TD glamour shot.” Far be it from me to rob Dorial Green-Beckham of his major moment!
November 10, 2012
Posted by: Capuano and Filed Under: Main
Former Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren uttered a saying repeatedly in his Wednesday afternoon press conferences from 2004-2007: “it’s like de ja vu, all over again.” I know I picked it up from him, and I’m sure I’ve heard others say a version of the same message over the course of my years in sports media, but I always enjoyed the way Holmgren said it. His palpable exasperation, with that heavy sigh lingering in the back of his voice, left an indelible impression.
With that memory in mind, I begin a preview of the latest “must-win matchup” on the SEC Network. For a fourth straight week, my comments in our pregame conversation will be about what’s at stake and why a win is so important. Fortunately for me, the math is simple.
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
“First meetings” are rare these days in college football. One would think that perhaps there was some bowl game or non-conference showdown along the way that aligned Missouri and Tennessee. After all, the Tigers first fielded a team in 1890, the Volunteers in 1891. Nope. This is their first meeting.
General Neyland's 1st Maxim of Football, on this statue: "The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win." #foreshadowing
SIMPLE MATH
Both teams come into this game with identical records of 4-5. Their combined record in SEC games is 1-10 (Missouri defeated Kentucky, 33-10, on October 27th, representing the lone victory.) They’ve each lost big to #1 Alabama (by over 30 points) and fallen to SEC East foes, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. Missouri’s other loss is to Vanderbilt, at home. Tennessee lost at Mississippi State.
Back to that simple math: SIX wins secure postseason eligibility. Each team is TWO wins away. Missouri finishes at home vs. Syracuse and at Texas A&M. Tennessee travels to Vanderbilt next week before hosting Kentucky in their regular season finale. Could both teams conceivably lose tomorrow and still qualify for postseason play? Obviously. Would that opportunity to get to six be that much better with a win tomorrow? Undoubtedly.
CONTRASTING SOURCES FOR SUCCESS
Chronic and invasive injury issues on the offensive side of the football resulted in Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel telling our crew that this is “the most challenging year” he has endured, regarding that aspect, in all of his years as a coach – and he is counting his tenures as both the head man and an assistant. Pinkel started his journey in coaching in 1974, as a student assistant at Kent State. His first official assistant coaching job was in 1976 at Washington, working with tight ends. That declaration says it all.
What’s working for the Tigers? Sheldon Richardson and company. The defensive tackle is tied for the team lead with 63 tackles and anchors a unit that is 22nd in the nation (albeit 6th in the SEC, revealing once again the strength of the league) in total defense, allowing 327.6 yards per game. The Tigers defense has forced a takeaway in every game this season, running the program’s stretch to 27 straight games. Pinkel told us Richardson, “has been a dominating player vs. the best teams in the league,” and brought up his speed and athleticism. What really stands out to Pinkel is Richardson’s toughness and competitive spirit; he compared him to former Kent State teammate, Jack Lambert. Pinkel admitted his players today don’t understand the reference, but our crew certainly does (as, I’m sure, will my Dad!) – and if you watch this, so will you.
What’s working for Tennessee? Tyler Bray and company. The Vols set a school record with 718 yards of total offense in a 55-48 win over Troy last Saturday. Bray threw for 5 touchdowns and 530 yards, eclipsing a 15-year old record from Peyton Manning that once seemed untouchable (Manning scorched Kentucky for 523 in 1997.) At over 485 yards per game, Tennessee’s offense ranks 18th in the nation in total offense (2nd in the SEC to Texas A&M) and with over 323 passing yards per game, the Vols lead the SEC and are 12th nationally in passing offense. Head coach Derek Dooley told us today that where Bray continues to mature his well-developed game is in knowing when to take chances and how to manage plays when they break down. Dooley actually stood up during our meeting to physically demonstrate Bray’s ability to get a pass off, no matter how dire a circumstance (with a fire-breathing All-SEC star on a blitz in his face, for example), and deliver the ball accurately. One side note: Dooley is done walking with a cane, as he continues to recover from midseason hip surgery.
Defensively, it’s quite a contrast. Tennessee is allowing almost as many yards as it is racking up – over 483 – to rank 112th in the nation in total defense. The surrendering of 721 yards to Troy last week motivated Dooley to allocate his time almost exclusively to the defensive unit this week. His told us his goal is to “minimize the stress points.” Figure out what’s working, with which personnel, simplify the playbook, decrease the multiplicity in the scheme and “get good at something.” Dooley said what impressed him most about the win against Troy was just that – they WON. He said last year the Vols had to learn how to compete. This year has been about learning how to win. After coming up short at Georgia, Mississippi State and South Carolina, Tennessee’s players showed the coaching staff they’ve learned how to win a close one. Can they continue to grit it out close games? Will they need to? Three more games will reveal some answers.
My one certainty for this game: time spent with Smokey. I LOVE THIS DOG!
FIND OUT WITH US
We asked Coach Dooley if he had any intuition about what kind of game we’ll watch tomorrow and he told us, “I’ve learned to not expect anything and be prepared to adjust.” When I was asked that very same question by my new friends, Will and Thom, on their “Big Show” on KTGR Radio this afternoon, I coyly defaulted to Dooley’s answer – because, I, too, am totally dumbfounded. Stakes are high, styles are contrasting, and I have a feeling this one could be a real wild ride.
PROGRAMMING REMINDER: We have two games on the SEC Network tomorrow, airing at the same time. Some affiliates will show our game – Missouri at Tennessee – while others will air Louisiana-Lafayette at Florida. List of ALL SEC Network Affiliates, and which game they will air, is found here.
See you from Rocky Top at Noon Eastern/11 AM Central!
November 9, 2012
Posted by: Capuano and Filed Under: Main
Initial thought as I went into what I’d write for this post was, “well, your guess is as good as mine!” That’s what happens when there is a new team in the conference (Mizzou) and all the beat writers I used to follow for the other team (Tennessee) have changed jobs.
We will get through it together. And a shoutout to Missouri’s Sports Information Group, who sent out a dazzling and comprehensive packet of press clips which guided me in the right direction.
First of all, the matchup. Another must-win on the SEC Network!
Missouri (4-5, 1-5 SEC) at Tennessee (4-5, 0-5). You see the records. Both teams have four wins with three games to play – and need to get to the magic number of SIX for bowl eligibility.
- Quick SEC bowl-eligibility aside: SEVEN SEC teams are already qualified for postseason play (all found here in latest top 25 of BCS standings). The winner of the Vanderbilt at Ole Miss game on Saturday night at 7 PM ET on ESPNU will become the eighth.
More specific notes on the matchup in tomorrow’s preview. I have a lot of reading to catch up on tonight, as this will be the first time we have seen either team this season on the SEC Network.
WHO TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER
For Missouri:
@MUTigersdotcom – is the official Twitter site for Mizzou athletics. The site administrator(s?) is rather fun and interactive, which I appreciate.
@MUTigerFootball – the Twitter page for the Mizzou Football page on Facebook.
@Dave_Matter – Dave Matter is the Mizzou beat writer for the the Columbia Daily Tribune & co-author of The Mizzou Fan’s Survival Guide to the SEC (which I haven’t read yet, but I’m hoping to meet him on Saturday and beg my way into a signed copy.) In his blog post from today, he asks a Tennessee beat writer who I’ll refer to below, Evan Woodbery, some Vols-specific questions.
@TerezPaylor – Terez Paylor is the Missouri beat writer for the Kansas City Star.
@VGregorian – Vahe Gregorian covers Missouri for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
For Tennessee:
@Vol_Sports – This is the official Twitter account for University of Tennessee athletics.
@Vol_Football – is Tennessee’s official Twitter account for Volunteers football.
@TennesseeBeat – Evan Woodbery covers Tennessee sports for the Knoxville News Sentinel (see above.)
@GoVolsXtra – streams links to all of the Knoxville News Sentinel Vols coverage.
@WesRucker247 – Wes Rucker is locked into all things Rocky Top via his employment with govols247.com and as the co-host of Swain and Rucker on Tennessee Sports Radio. Yes, 247 sites are for pay – but this cheapskate gleans a lot of the top Vols headlines just by following Wes on Twitter.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON TWITTER
The good folks at ESPN Media Zone continue to create lists of Twitter hashtags for games shown on the ESPN platforms. For week 11 games involving SEC teams, those are:
#MIZZvsTENN #ULLvsUF #MSUvsLSU #UGAvsAUB #VANDYvsMISS
That should be a good start for both of us. Back to my voracious prep reading. More mañana!
November 2, 2012
Posted by: Capuano and Filed Under: Main
For week 10 of the SEC Network season, we are in Fayetteville for the 72nd meeting of Tulsa and Arkansas. The Razorbacks lead the all-time series… but there is an interesting discrepancy in the records kept by the two teams. According to page 9 of Arkansas game notes, the Razorbacks lead the series 53-15-3. Tulsa has the series standings at 52-16-3. On page 2 of Tulsa’s game notes, there is an explanation for the inconsistency: in the 1922 meeting, “there was an issue of ineligible players… Tulsa won on the field, 13-6, but Arkansas claimed a forfeit.”
SERIES WITH A RICH HISTORY:
Regardless of whether it is 52 or 53 wins to the favor of Arkansas, the Razorbacks have long dominated this series with their regional rivals from about 110 miles due west. These teams met almost every year from 1933 through 1990. Tulsa head coach Bill Blankenship remembers the heyday of the heated series – he was a quarterback for the University of Tulsa from 1975 to 1979. Coincidentally, a 9-3 victory in the series in 1976, when he was a player there, was Tulsa’s last over Arkansas. The Razorbacks have ripped off 17 in a row since, including a 30-23 win in Fayetteville on November 1st, 2008, the most recent meeting in the series. The game-winning score that day belonged to a freshman Dennis Johnson, on a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown. Tomorrow, Johnson will be a senior, playing in his final homecoming game at Razorback Stadium. He currently leads all SEC players and is fifth in the NCAA in career all-purpose yards. He is also the SEC’s record holder for career total return average, career kickoff return yards and career kickoff returns. Those fun “coming full-circle” facts on the series, involving both Blankenship and Johnson, made my mind wander to a favorite saying (first ten seconds suffice, but the music is definitely soothing.)
WHAT’S AT STAKE:
When we spoke with Blankenship about the rivalry, he said he remembers it being, “very focused and intense for Tulsa” and acknowledged that his players today are removed from that history. For them, it’s “another opportunity vs. a quality team” and a chance to prove they can hold their own, and possibly beat, an opponent from the SEC. Tulsa has been a team on the rise in the last decade, participating in seven bowl games in the last nine seasons, with one outright Conference USA championship (2005) and four C-USA West Division titles to their credit (the 2010 title was shared.) The Golden Hurricane came into the season with a 44-22 record over the last five years, ranking them in the nation’s top 22 teams over that span.
Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson had a very realistic take on this homecoming matchup and what’s ahead in the month of November for his Razorbacks. Gone are this team’s dreams of being able to compete for an SEC Championship, let alone a BCS National Championship, but the opportunity to earn postseason eligibility is still available. If the Razorbacks don’t win tomorrow, it’s a much taller task. After this home game vs. Tulsa (7-1), Arkansas finishes November at (8) South Carolina (7-2) , at (15) Mississippi State (7-1) and at home vs. (5) LSU (7-1). The Razorbacks need three wins in those four games to be able to play in a bowl game. Wilson told us, “I grew up here and I want to go out with a bang and not cheat these final four games. I want to leave a solid impression on everyone’s minds about a strong finish to my career.” He also declared, “I need to compete, to fight and give my team a chance to have success. I’m going to take intensity into the huddle, let them see it in my eyes.” He’s one of the most believable field leaders I’ve ever covered, and it doesn’t take much more than his eye-popping 26 school records to know he can back that talk up with his play.
WHERE TO WATCH:
As always, check out our SEC Network Game of the Week, Tulsa at Arkansas, on these affiliates. Our coverage starts at 12 PM ET/11 AM Central.
- When you’re going to label an item as “ginormous” on the menu, you can’t let the patrons down. Fast Lane’s pie lives up to its descriptor.
SHOUTOUT TO MY SEC NETWORK FAMILY:
Once a season, our SEC Network crew heads out to local lanes and struts our stuff while dining on super-healthy treats like the “Ginormous Pizza” at Fast Lane in Lowell, AR. As always, a fun time was had by all. Maybe not this fun, but Adrian Zmed’s invitation to be guest host of the big event was apparently lost in the mail. I continue to feel incredibly blessed to work every weekend with this team of talented, caring coworkers. Getting to know them has been an experience I’ll never forget. From left to right in the “family photo” below, starting in the back row: Thomas (associate director), Tex and Jeff run camera (and bowled on my team – yay!), Steve is our producer, John is operations producer, Wiggy (also a Steve) mans our handheld camera (a.k.a., the camera guy most often tortured by me), Dan is our director, Lance usually runs cart camera (at games where field dimensions allow a sideline cart), Kim is the spotter for Dave and Andre in the booth, and Chicky also runs camera. In the front row, Jim – one of the high rollers of the night – manages our graphics content, I proudly broke a hundred in two of the three games, and Tracy, resplendent in pink, is my favorite story. Tracy was our waitress at Fast Lane when we started this annual event in 2009. For our game that weekend, she worked with our field audio group (the folks who valiantly hold up those heavy plastic parabolic microphones for three-plus grueling hours, capturing the ambient sounds of bone-crunching tackles and popping pads). In the years since, Tracy has worked her way into a stage manager role, becoming one of the best out there. That’s what I love about this industry – you never know when or where you’ll find the next highly-valued member of a crew!
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Blogger extraordinaire Cara Capuano is a familiar face on ESPN Networks—having served as an anchor on ESPNews and SportsCenter. In the years following her first stop at ESPN (from 2000-2004), Cara covered a variety of teams based in the Pacific Northwest, including the Seattle Seahawks, Mariners, Storm and SuperSonics. In 2009, Cara returned to ESPN, primarily working for the SEC Network and ESPNU as a sideline reporter for college football and basketball, play-by-play for women’s basketball and softball and studio host.