Not only is the National Football League on the wrong side of the National Anthem controversy, they are also on the wrong side of this penalty thing, this protecting the quarterback and the receivers thing to the extreme. Hey, I get it. We all like to see scoring but taking all aggressive play away from the defensive players IS NOT the way to do it. Dave Doeren, the North Carolina State head football coach said it best: “The new rules and the way this game is being played is turning it into something we won’t recognize. It will be the death of the sport in a few years.” He went on to say that, if not stopped, it would have a serious impact on our country. Not sure I would take it that far but one only has to watch the flags flying, the silly things they are calling penalties for and it is obvious that the NFL is scared to death that their high-priced quarterbacks and receivers might get hurt. Just one more reason that viewers are leaving the game.
My vote for football team of the year is Troy University out of Troy, Alabama. The Trojans are another one of those schools that the “Big Boys” shouldn’t schedule. They will beat you. The Nebraska Cornhuskers invited little Troy to Lincoln, offering a big payday to take their expected beating. Except, Troy upset the Cornhuskers! They got paid $1.15 Million dollars to do it too! Just last year they took home just under a $Million out of Baton Rouge as they roughed up, and defeated Louisiana State University. David doesn’t always lose to Goliath!
Come March, fans of Kansas State basketball may not be happy with the seeding the Wildcats receive for the NCAA Tournament. Kansas State, in recent years, has been roundly criticized for their non-conference scheduling. This years’ schedule is an improvement over last year but only slightly. Besides, last year it was among the worst in the nation, being rated No.324 by KenPom. Their toughest game might be against Vanderbilt and that is on a neutral court in Kansas City. The true road games are at Marquette and Tulsa. The Wildcats will play in the Paradise Jam and will face Eastern Kentucky , either Northern Iowa or Penn. The only other good team in the tournament is Missouri. With an elite basketball team returning, it would have been fun to see the Cats compete against some high-quality programs. Wildcat basketball fans deserve that.
CHALK TALK
— The walking wounded list just grew by a couple of more this past week. It has been an inordinate season, injury-wise, for Larned and new coach, Tad Remy. This week Larned will take their depleted squad to Holcomb to face the defending 4A-II State Champs. Holcomb is favored by two touchdowns.
— Great Bend steps up a notch this week as they tangle with the defending 5A State Champions, Bishop Carroll. Black Panthers in he hunt but Carroll has the edge, 28-20.
— K-State has had the “jinx” on Texas for five years but , oh my, that Wildcat offense, where is it? I don’t think a quarterback switch is going to fix the problems. Texas 35, Kansas State 19.
— Hoisington has too much Pedigo for Ellsworth. Cardinals 44, Bearcats 13.
— St.John is at Central Plains. This one is over at halftime. Oilers win big!
— If only Oklahoma State had not been upset at home last week, then maybe, just maybe Kansas might pull an upset of the Cowboys. ‘Pokes wide awake now and when they are wide awake they simply have more talent than the Jayhawks. OSU 39, Kansas 20.
— Lyons plays at Ellinwood Friday and the Lions have a 24-game losing streak and are 0-4 on the season while the Eagles are 2-2. Ellinwood favored but this one should be close.
— “It’s tough to make predictions. Especially about the future!” — YOGI BERRA
Buddy Tabler is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune and her views don’t necessarily reflect those of the paper. He can be reached at budtabler@gmail.com.
