Sports this 'n' that

Normally, you don't see colleges firing coaches in mid-season. However, with bowl season right around the corner, three have been dismissed in the last week, including today, joining former Florida coach Jim McIlwane & Tennessee's Butch Jones on the unemployment line.

UCLA quietly dumped Jim Mora, Jr. a week ago, and earlier today announced the hiring of "Tortilla" Chip Kelly, who returns to the college ranks, and the Pac-12 in particular, after a 4 year stint in the NFL (Philadelphia, San Francisco). While this will ratchet up the in-city rivalry in Los Angeles with USC, it won't really do anything on the national landscape as long as most of the attention is focused on the SEC.

Arkansas bounced Bret Bielema after 5 seasons on Friday, mere seconds after the Razorbacks lost to Missouri. Earlier today, Nebraska sacked coach Mike Riley. You think maybe the Cornhuskers are regretting ever moving from the Big 12 to the Big 10? They just don't fit, but administration there just chases the money, and that's all that matters to them.

The latest rumor has Mike Leach ready to bolt Washington State to take the Tennessee job. There were rumors earlier this week that had "Wisteria" Lane Kiffin, now the head man at Florida Atlantic, possibly giving it another try in orange & white. Nope. Not going to happen.

Seems the rumor mills have finally gotten a clue and stopped name-dropping ESPN's Jon Gruden every time there's a coaching vacancy. My own thinking on that is that Gruden is holding out for another NFL job, not specifically as a head coach, but the dream job, in this writer's opinion, would be to join brother Jay in Washington as an "associate head coach". Jay Gruden could use the help, even though the Trumpets beat the Giants on Thanksgiving night. I just don't think Jon Gruden, who also has an endorsement deal with Corona thanks to his ESPN gig, wants to rock the boat in the NFL right now.
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In high school football, Cinderella's glass slippers broke at the worst possible time.

Holy Trinity failed in its bid to win its first state title in Class C on Friday night, despite a furious 4th quarter rally, and dropped a 28-25 decision to Skaneateles. Bear in mind that QB Joe Tortello, who threw 4 touchdown passes on Friday, is just a sophomore. Skaneateles QB Patrick Hackler is a junior, and broke the 3,000 yard mark for the season on Friday, throwing 3 TD's while giving up 2 interceptions, both to Holy Trinity RB/DB Nacier Hundley. Hackler returned the favor after the first pick, picking off Hundley, who had to move to QB for one play when Tortello lost his helmet.

Could we see both teams in a rematch next year? I doubt it. Spectrum News/Albany Times-Union analyst James Allen, who called the Cambridge-Maple Grove game, said he believes there's a possibility that Cambridge will move from Class D to Class C next year, especially after winning back-to-back state titles in Class D. We'll know for sure in about 3 1/2 months.
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Jests coach Todd "salad" Bowles was quoted in the press today as saying Gang Green needs to win out to make the playoffs. Sounds like he's hoping to save his job. Unfortunately, the Jests play Carolina tomorrow, then host Kansas City, and have a rematch with New England looming in Foxborough. Bowles, along with his Giants counterpart, Ben McAdoo, will be emptying his office after the last game of the season. Bowles' reluctance to use 2nd year QB Christian Hackenburg or 3rd year signal caller Bryce Petty in place of Josh McCown is going to be what costs him his job.
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The Giants' Olivier Vernon is the latest to incur the wrath of the Ugly American-in-Chief.

President Trump has made NFL players' penchant for kneeling during the "Star Spangled Banner" more about disrespect for the flag and the US than about protesting racial inequalities and social injustices. There are better ways to address the latter, but as long as the most attention-addicted President in human history continues to champion racism and bigotry from his bully pulpit in the White House, the players are better off finding those alternate means to address their concerns.

One solution is for the players association to meet with the NFL about giving the players a forum, before the game, of course, to address societal issues, such as the obligatory interviews to the league's media partners (ESPN/ABC, Fox, CBS, NBC, NFL Network). Take that route, though it won't exactly mean it'll get President Trump off the players' backs, and the message will be much louder than it's been since the protests started in the 2016 pre-season.
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The freefall of the Dallas Cowboys illustrates the unspoken problem some teams have.

2nd year RB Ezekiel Elliott will return in week 16, but the damage has already been done to the Cowboys' chances of catching Philadelphia and winning the NFC East, if not also any hope of a Wild Card. Factor in also the injury to LB Sean Lee, and the Cowboys' collective psyche has been damaged. The defense hasn't been able to close games, and couldn't stop the Chargers' Philip Rivers on Thanksgiving Day. The offense isn't exactly one dimensional, but teams are forcing 2nd year QB Dak Prescott to try to beat them through the air more than on the ground. I think they will have one more game with the Giants before Elliott returns, which might be the only win over his 6 game suspension.
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I find it amusing that certain media outlets think Minnesota's Case Keenum, a journeyman, is hotter than New England's stat-hogging Tom Brady right now. Yes, the Vikings have won seven straight after beating Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, with Keenum starting the last six. The Vikings are winning because they have something the Patriots are reluctant to admit they don't have. A balanced offensive attack. Brady pads his stats to satisfy his ego while the marks genuflect and declare him the greatest QB of all time, which he isn't by a country mile (Joe Montana says hello), and the running game, featuring Albany native Dion Lewis, gets the short shrift. Why do you think the Patriots let LeGarrette Blount go (now in Philadelphia and about to win another division title anyway)? Why did they give up on other running backs like Shane Vereen or Stevan Ridley? Because Brady believes the offense revolves around him and only him. Apparently, he didn't get the message in 2008 when he got hurt in week 1 and missed the rest of the season.

Reality check: Brady is 40. Time will catch up with him.
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Just when you think you've got the College Football Playoff figured out, heading into conference championship games next week, think again.

Miami will play for the ACC title next week, but the Hurricanes were ambushed by Pittsburgh on Friday, this after Miami had eliminated old nemesis Notre Dame from contention.

Now, the reigning SEC champion, Alabama, has fallen to in-state rival Auburn, 26-14. The Tigers, now 10-2, advance to play Georgia for the SEC title in Atlanta next week. Only political favoritism will give the Crimson Tide a chance to make the playoff when the teams are announced December 3. Ohio State will play for the Big 10 title vs. Wisconsin next week, but there aren't that many that think the 2-loss Buckeyes, who beat Michigan today, will win the title. When the updated chart comes out Tuesday, we may have an idea.