#17 Kent State Loses MAC Championship Game in 2OT
November 30, 2012Cavaliers’ Backcourt Shines, Gee’s Putback Snaps 4-Game Losing Streak
December 1, 2012While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com
Leading off, Chris Pokorny at Dawgs by Nature has a scouting report on Browns-Raiders that includes a weather forecast, “If you haven’t heard, the entire Bay Area, including Oakland, is expected to see “significant rainfall” and wind over the next couple of days, including Sunday. As of Thursday, there was an 80 percent chance of heavy rain for gametime. If it does indeed come down in buckets, both teams will have to fine tune their game plans. Oakland is typically a secondary that can be shredded, but both teams might need to rely on the ground game and their short passing game. Browns kicker Phil Dawson described the obvious impact it could have on the kicking game, too.” [Dawgs By Nature]
It’s no secret that I can’t stand the hypocritical David Stern. His latest wielding of power on Gregg Popovich is nothing sort of obscene and ridiculous. If we’re going to go around fining teams for questionable rotation decisions, Stern should make a lot of money for his league. “The Spurs have employed a strategic resting strategy for a number of years. Prior to Friday’s decision, the league had not punished him. The most recent precedent for punishing a team for not playing its players apparently dates back to 1990, when the Lakers were fined $25,000 after they did not play their stars in their season finale. This is a relatively common practice once playoff seedings are locked up, and has gone unpunished recently. So too has “tanking,” the strategic coaching decision to play younger players instead of older players to develop them down the stretch and, of course, improve draft positioning.” [Ben Golliver/SI]
Without a bowl game to occupy the coaches’ time, OSU football recruiting is in full swing. Derek at Eleven Warriors caught up with Plainfield (IL) South linebacker Clifton Garrett, “Garrett has had a busy visiting schedule since then. He has seen the campuses of Illinois, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, and Purdue. The four-star prospect is a recruit that many teams covet and hope to gain the signature of on National Signing Day 2014. Will that team be Ohio State? Garrett was a big Ohio State fan growing up, and has said Mike Vrabel, the OSU staff member recruiting him, was one of his favorite players throughout his childhood. But will it be enough?” [Eleven Warriors]
Kyle at Eleven Warriors talks about lessons to be learned from Ohio State’s trip into Cameron on Wednesday night, “At the top of the Buckeyes’ to-do list will be finding another consistent scorer. After Duke grabbed the lead with just under six minutes remaining, Ohio State had few answers on offense. The Buckeyes only made four of its final 12 shots from the field. Deshaun Thomas, one of the top scorers in the nation, was blanketed much of the night. He never scored in the closing eight minutes, well before Duke even grabbed the lead. The Blue Devils were fully aware that there was no Jared Sullinger or William Buford on this season’s Ohio State team. “In the second half, they weren’t leaving Deshaun,” said Matta, about Duke’s defensive strategy. Second, third and sometimes fourth options have been available to the Buckeyes in recent seasons when points were needed. But that luxury does not exist on the current team, at least no yet.” [Eleven Warriors]
Did everyone see Tom Brady in an OSU jersey? Well, OSU Defensive Line Coach Mike Vrabel tweeted it out a couple of days ago, and if you didn’t, here’s Tom Brady’s burden for his alma mater losing the game. While it’s a little sickening to see Brady in scarlet and gray, the joy comes from the sickening feeling I’m sure it gave him.
And finally, from the land of gimmicks, the Panthers are 0-for-12 on their coin tosses this season, and they want their fans to vote for choosing heads or tails for their coin toss at Kansas City this weekend. Like the Browns long stretch of lost coin tosses last season and the Cavaliers streak of lost jump balls early this season, the Panthers will soon find relief.