Sports this 'n' that

So now the college football season is over, save for the all-star games that I think still exist (i.e. the Senior Bowl). That means ESPN & Fox Sports 1 & 2 will turn their attention to college basketball for the next three months. Yeah, whatever. I'd rather they increased the attention given to college baseball, but that's just me.

Meanwhile, with her son not playing in the BCS finale, Dee Dee Bonner, mother of Alabama quarterback A. J. McCarron, picked up a Dunce Cap for being critical of Florida State QB & Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston's speech as he was being interviewed by ESPN's Tom Rinaldi after the Seminoles ended the SouthEastern Conference (SEC) gridlock in the BCS by beating the Kardiac Kids from Auburn, 34-31. McCarron's model-girlfriend, Katherine Webb, who became a national celebrity last year, thanks to ABC/ESPN's Brent Musberger crushing on her on the air---and regretting it later---also made similar bad moves, playing follow the leader, if ya will. Both she & Bonner have since apologized and deleted tweets.

Winston, by the way, is the 2nd straight freshman to win the Heisman, following Texas A & M QB Johnny Manziel. Now, the onus is on him to duplicate and/or exceed his effort next season.

Closer to home, there won't be a next season for Troy High football coach Jack Burger. After 19 seasons at the helm of the Flying Horses, Burger, who retired from teaching last summer, was told Tuesday he would not return in the fall, as the Troy school district couldn't find another job for him. According to the Albany Times-Union, junior varsity coach Mike Hurteau, who played on state championship teams for Burger in the 90's, may be in line to succeed his mentor. Budget cuts are being blamed for the coaching change. Seems sports always gets the short shrift in school budgets, doesn't it?

Sticking with the ol' alma mater, the Troy women's basketball team is---gasp---in a losing streak. The defending state champs dropped their 3rd straight to defending Big 10 champ Albany on Tuesday, their first loss in league play, after finishing last in their own holiday tournament. A non-league home game vs. Oneonta was postponed Saturday due to the weather, no makeup date announced, but one wonders if the ladies are dealing with too much pressure to repeat after a magical run last year.

On the boys' side, Troy beat Albany Tuesday night on the road after dispatching LaSalle the night before in a game postponed from last weekend, due again to the weather, but all of a sudden, Troy isn't the best men's hoops team in town. That would be the resurgent Crusaders of Catholic Central High, who knocked off Troy right before the Christmas break, and followed that up by upending Christian Brothers Academy on Tuesday on CBA's home court. CCHS is undefeated, and when was the last time you could say that? 3rd year coach Chuck Mack, a former player at both CCHS & LaSalle, has completed an amazing turnaround. While all the pundits thought CBA would win the Big 10 title, the Brothers have 2 league losses (Troy & CCHS), sitting in 3rd place. Suddenly, the Brothers aren't quite so dominant anymore. I believe the correct term here is a changing of the guard. And it's a welcome one, too.