Ole Miss will turn to a nationally known headhunter to find candidates for its head football coaching vacancy, the school's athletic director, Pete Boone, said Sunday.
Boone said he spoke with Chuck Neinas, a longtime athletic administrator who owns his own consulting firm, on Sunday for over half an hour and has decided to contract with him.
The use of Neinas Sports Services typically costs a school between $20,000 and $40,000, Boone said. The value to a school is that Neinas operates discreetly and has contacts with coaches nationwide, meaning they can contact Neinas to let him know they're interested in the job.
"That person is kind of the filter," Boone said. "And certainly if we're interested in someone he can find out either one way or the other whether or not they're interested enough that we could contact their athletic director."
Ole Miss is looking for a coach after it dismissed Ed Orgeron on Saturday morning, less than a day after his team blew a 14-point fourth quarter lead at Mississippi State. The loss secured the school's first winless Southeastern Conference season since 1982. Orgeron was 3-21 in SEC games.
Boone met with Ole Miss players for a half-hour Sunday night at the team meeting room in the school's Indoor Practice Facility to give them reasoning for the decision, according to an Ole Miss release. Assistant coaches Hugh Freeze and John Thompson joined him, as did staff members Aaron Ausmus, Tim Mullins and Kyle Strongin.
Boone wouldn't say Sunday if the school had made contact with any candidates.
The selection of Neinas' firm places Ole Miss with a handful of other schools who have hired him. Ole Miss used another search firm, ChampSearch, in 2006 when it hired Andy Kennedy as its basketball coach.
Neinas (pronounced NI-nus) is reported to be assisting Texas A&M's search to replace Dennis Franchione, who resigned Friday. In a USA Today profile of Neinas last December, it was reported that he worked on six searches last off-season alone, including Alabama, which paid him $35,000, according to The Birmingham News.
Neinas consulted on the searches that led Butch Davis to North Carolina, Mark Dantonio to Michigan State, Randy Shannon to Miami and Tom O'Brien to North Carolina State, USA Today reported.
According to the article, Neinas' tactics are extremely secretive, and his firm even offers a background search performed by a former FBI agent. The Web site for Neinas Sports Services touts his ability to run a confidential search and a network of personal relationships.
A message left at Neinas Sports Services' office in Boulder, Colo., was not returned Sunday.
Before starting his own firm in 1997, Neinas served 17 years as the executive director of the College Football Association. Prior to that, he served nine years as the commissioner of the Big Eight Conference.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Boone Discusses Coaching Possibilities with Team
Ole Miss Athletics Director Pete Boone met with members of the Rebel football squad for about 30 minutes Sunday night to discuss the search for a new head football coach and give them an opportunity to ask questions, either publicly or privately.
Ed Orgeron, who had served as head coach of the Rebels for the last three seasons, was informed on Saturday that he would not be retained. An immediate search has begun for his replacement.
Boone was joined at the team meeting by assistant coaches Hugh Freeze and John Thompson, head football strength and conditioning coach Aaron Ausmus, head football athletic trainer Tim Mullins and coordinator of football operations Kyle Strongin. Several other football staff members and athletics administrators also attended the meeting.
A majority of the squad attended the meeting at the Indoor Practice Facility after having returned to campus following the Thanksgiving break.
“It was an opportunity to give the players at least some reasoning behind why the decision was made,” Boone said. “I also expressed my commitment to them to be successful, while making football fun for them and put more college life back into their lives, along with hard work that comes with it.”
A good portion of the meeting dealt with finishing the semester strong in the classroom and things like getting treatment for any injuries and going over post-season strength and conditioning opportunities.
Freeze and Thompson reminded the players that they represent the University of Mississippi and the plan is to move forward together.
Earlier in the day, Boone confirmed he plans to hire Chuck Neinas, president of Neinas Sports Services in Boulder, Colorado, to assist in the search to hire a new head football coach at Ole Miss. “Chuck Neinas knows people,” Boone said of the person considered by some to be the No. 1 headhunter in college football.
“We’re not going to announce possible candidates,” Boone said to the media, noting that if asked questions about who has contacted him or who he has contacted, his response is “I am not going to get into that on a daily basis. All I’ll deal with is the process, which needs to be well thought through as we look for the kind of person needed to lead these kids.”
Boone did say he already has a fluid list of possible candidates which could change daily. “The list may be 20 names today, 10 tomorrow and then 15 the next.”
Monday, October 8, 2007
Sox Sweep Halos with 9-1 Win
Unlike the last time he stepped on the mound in October, Curt Schilling didn't have a blood-stained sock as proof for his will to win. He didn't need it either.
The evidence was all in the way Schilling completely carved up the overmatched Angels on Sunday afternoon and pitched the rolling Red Sox right into the American League Championship Series for a matchup with either the Indians or Yankees that will open on Friday at Fenway Park.
Though more of a control specialist at the age of 40, Schilling was still at his vintage best in lifting the Red Sox to a 9-1 victory that closed out the Angels with a three-game sweep in this AL Division Series.
As it turns out, all the offense the Red Sox needed came in the top of the fourth inning, when the lethal 3-4 combo of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez led off with back-to-back homers against Jered Weaver.
"You have to be excited about what's going on with this team," said Ortiz, who went 5-for-7 with two homers in the series. "We're playing good, hopefully the four or five days off doesn't affect us."
Eleven days of rest certainly didn't faze Schilling in this one. He held the Angels to six hits and no runs over seven innings, walking one and striking out four. In 16 career postseason starts, Schilling is 9-2 with a 1.93 ERA.
"We're trying to win the games," said Schilling. "Whatever I can do in the mix, it makes you feel good to contribute. How you do it is not really relevant anymore to me."
Now, the Red Sox -- who celebrated this win with champagne and Ramirez dumping buckets of water on anyone he could find -- will try to get the next eight wins necessary to achieve their ultimate goal. For those who believe in omens, Boston's World Series championship run in 2004 also began with a three-game sweep over the Angels.
This series was a compete clinic, as the Red Sox outscored the Angels, 19-4.
"Our main key was pitching," said Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell. "I knew we would have to pitch well in order to be successful in this series."
Schilling left after seven, with a tight 2-0 lead. Then the Red Sox busted the game right open and all but punched their ticket to the ALCS with a seven-run barrage in the top of the eighth.
"[Schilling] gave us a quality start when we needed it," said Lowell. "Our bats did a good job in that eighth inning and we were able to put the game away."
Dustin Pedroia got that game-breaking rally started with a double to left that scored Julio Lugo. Kevin Youkilis added a sac fly. After a single by Ortiz, Lowell raked an RBI double to left. J.D. Drew got another run home on a fielder's choice. Jason Varitek added an RBI double and Coco Crisp produced a two-run single, and the rout was on.
In a tightly contested duel, the pitchers were the story early. Weaver took a tough-luck loss, giving up four hits and two runs over five-plus innings.
Home | News | Multimedia | PhotosThe Angels had a good crack at it against Schilling in the third. With two on and two outs, Vladimir Guerrero walked to load the bases. But Schilling got the out he needed, inducing Reggie Willits -- who had entered the game in place of the injured Garret Anderson -- into a foul pop that Varitek hustled to get to.
"I thought Schilling was outstanding," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "I thought from the beginning, he commanded, especially the command of his fastball to both sides of the plate -- in and out, up and down. He really pitched."
The missed opportunity by the Angels quickly became more painful. Ortiz led off the Boston fourth with a towering solo homer to right. Ramirez followed by pummeling a long ball onto the rocks in center field. It was Ramirez's 22nd homer in postseason play, tying him with Bernie Williams for the all-time lead.
It was the ninth time Ortiz and Ramirez have gone back-to-back since becoming teammates in 2003, and the second such instance in the postseason.
"Mike [Scioscia] put it great yesterday," said Schilling. "Pick your poison. Manny is seeing the ball well. There is no way to get either one of those guys out when they're both on."
Schilling had one last jam to deal with in the bottom of the seventh, as the Angels, following a leadoff double by Maicer Izturis, had a runner on third with one out. Again, Schilling came through, getting Juan Rivera on a popup to first and striking out Mike Napoli. Knowing his day was done, Schilling clapped into his glove and excitedly walked back to the dugout, where a crush of high fives and pats on the back greeted him.
"I think if you saw the way I reacted to it, you know how important I thought it was," Schilling said. "It was a 2-0 game at that point."
But the Red Sox put one giant exclamation point on the sweep following Schilling's exit and made the cloudless day in Southern California feel even more perfect.
"These guys worked so hard and executed so well in this series, and they have a lot to be proud of," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein.
In many ways, the day belonged to Schilling.
"It's one thing when you get billed as a big-game pitcher, but it's another thing when you actually come through time and time again," said Lowell. "I think he did an outstanding job and got out of some tough situations when he needed to, and then he was cruising through a good part of the game. He gave us a quality start when we needed it."
Now, the Red Sox will take Monday off and go into workout mode for three days, starting Tuesday.
"We'll be back Friday, New England," said Red Sox principal owner John W. Henry.
And the games will only get bigger then.
The evidence was all in the way Schilling completely carved up the overmatched Angels on Sunday afternoon and pitched the rolling Red Sox right into the American League Championship Series for a matchup with either the Indians or Yankees that will open on Friday at Fenway Park.
Though more of a control specialist at the age of 40, Schilling was still at his vintage best in lifting the Red Sox to a 9-1 victory that closed out the Angels with a three-game sweep in this AL Division Series.
As it turns out, all the offense the Red Sox needed came in the top of the fourth inning, when the lethal 3-4 combo of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez led off with back-to-back homers against Jered Weaver.
"You have to be excited about what's going on with this team," said Ortiz, who went 5-for-7 with two homers in the series. "We're playing good, hopefully the four or five days off doesn't affect us."
Eleven days of rest certainly didn't faze Schilling in this one. He held the Angels to six hits and no runs over seven innings, walking one and striking out four. In 16 career postseason starts, Schilling is 9-2 with a 1.93 ERA.
"We're trying to win the games," said Schilling. "Whatever I can do in the mix, it makes you feel good to contribute. How you do it is not really relevant anymore to me."
Now, the Red Sox -- who celebrated this win with champagne and Ramirez dumping buckets of water on anyone he could find -- will try to get the next eight wins necessary to achieve their ultimate goal. For those who believe in omens, Boston's World Series championship run in 2004 also began with a three-game sweep over the Angels.
This series was a compete clinic, as the Red Sox outscored the Angels, 19-4.
"Our main key was pitching," said Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell. "I knew we would have to pitch well in order to be successful in this series."
Schilling left after seven, with a tight 2-0 lead. Then the Red Sox busted the game right open and all but punched their ticket to the ALCS with a seven-run barrage in the top of the eighth.
"[Schilling] gave us a quality start when we needed it," said Lowell. "Our bats did a good job in that eighth inning and we were able to put the game away."
Dustin Pedroia got that game-breaking rally started with a double to left that scored Julio Lugo. Kevin Youkilis added a sac fly. After a single by Ortiz, Lowell raked an RBI double to left. J.D. Drew got another run home on a fielder's choice. Jason Varitek added an RBI double and Coco Crisp produced a two-run single, and the rout was on.
In a tightly contested duel, the pitchers were the story early. Weaver took a tough-luck loss, giving up four hits and two runs over five-plus innings.
Home | News | Multimedia | PhotosThe Angels had a good crack at it against Schilling in the third. With two on and two outs, Vladimir Guerrero walked to load the bases. But Schilling got the out he needed, inducing Reggie Willits -- who had entered the game in place of the injured Garret Anderson -- into a foul pop that Varitek hustled to get to.
"I thought Schilling was outstanding," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "I thought from the beginning, he commanded, especially the command of his fastball to both sides of the plate -- in and out, up and down. He really pitched."
The missed opportunity by the Angels quickly became more painful. Ortiz led off the Boston fourth with a towering solo homer to right. Ramirez followed by pummeling a long ball onto the rocks in center field. It was Ramirez's 22nd homer in postseason play, tying him with Bernie Williams for the all-time lead.
It was the ninth time Ortiz and Ramirez have gone back-to-back since becoming teammates in 2003, and the second such instance in the postseason.
"Mike [Scioscia] put it great yesterday," said Schilling. "Pick your poison. Manny is seeing the ball well. There is no way to get either one of those guys out when they're both on."
Schilling had one last jam to deal with in the bottom of the seventh, as the Angels, following a leadoff double by Maicer Izturis, had a runner on third with one out. Again, Schilling came through, getting Juan Rivera on a popup to first and striking out Mike Napoli. Knowing his day was done, Schilling clapped into his glove and excitedly walked back to the dugout, where a crush of high fives and pats on the back greeted him.
"I think if you saw the way I reacted to it, you know how important I thought it was," Schilling said. "It was a 2-0 game at that point."
But the Red Sox put one giant exclamation point on the sweep following Schilling's exit and made the cloudless day in Southern California feel even more perfect.
"These guys worked so hard and executed so well in this series, and they have a lot to be proud of," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein.
In many ways, the day belonged to Schilling.
"It's one thing when you get billed as a big-game pitcher, but it's another thing when you actually come through time and time again," said Lowell. "I think he did an outstanding job and got out of some tough situations when he needed to, and then he was cruising through a good part of the game. He gave us a quality start when we needed it."
Now, the Red Sox will take Monday off and go into workout mode for three days, starting Tuesday.
"We'll be back Friday, New England," said Red Sox principal owner John W. Henry.
And the games will only get bigger then.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Tigers Prevail over Gators
Les Miles should head straight to one of those Mississippi River casinos.
Clearly, the LSU coach is on quite a roll.
The No. 1 Tigers and their go-for-broke coach pulled off one gamble after another before Jacob Hester hit the jackpot, scoring on a 2-yard run with just over a minute remaining for a 28-24 victory over ninth-ranked Florida on a thrilling Saturday night in Death Valley.
Playing as a top-ranked team in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1959, LSU was in serious trouble much of the game. Their top-rated defense was shredded by Florida's double-threat quarterback, Tim Tebow, who led the Gators to a trio of 10-point leads.
But they couldn't hold off the Tigers.
LSU (6-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) took advantage of two second-half turnovers and barely converted a pair of fourth-down runs on their final drive. Finally, Hester powered into the end zone to give LSU its first lead of the night -- and the only one that mattered.
"We pretty much knew it was going to be a chance to win the game," Hester said. "Coach Miles said, 'I believe in you. I don't want a tie. I want to go out and win this thing.' When your head coach has that kind of respect and trust in you, you want to prove something to him."
Florida (4-2, 2-2) lost for the second week in a row, the first time that's happened to Urban Meyer since he was a little-known coach at Bowling Green in 2002. And, in all likelihood, the Gators' hopes of repeating as national champions have been snuffed out just halfway through the season.
"I don't know if I've ever done this, but I guarantee we'll be back," Meyer said defiantly. "The Florida Gators will be back. Smokin'."
Tebow threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for another, leading Florida to a 24-14 lead with 15 minutes remaining. But the Gators, who failed to complete a comeback against Auburn the previous week, were the victims of LSU's rally this time.
"I thought our defense hung in there," Meyer said. "They are so young and the offense has got to move the ball. That's twice now. It's two weeks in a row."
LSU kept rolling the dice and coming up with winners. The Tigers scored two touchdowns on fourth-down plays and another after pulling off a fake field goal. Then it was Hester, bulling his way into the end zone to put LSU ahead with 1:09 remaining.
When LSU knocked down Tebow's final long pass in the end zone, the record crowd of 92,910 let out its biggest roar of all.
The Tigers should still be No. 1 when the poll comes out Sunday. And, with second-ranked Southern California losing to Stanford in a 24-23 stunner, really there's no doubt about it.
"We took great strides in showing our character and ability to come from behind," Miles said. "I like the way this team is coming together."
Miles helped the cause by going all-in every chance he got.
Backup quarterback Ryan Perilloux scored on a fourth-and-goal run from the 1 in the second quarter. Starting quarterback Matt Flynn pulled off a fake field goal that led to Keiland Williams' 4-yard TD run in the third quarter. Flynn tossed a 4-yard scoring pass to Demetrius Byrd on fourth-and-goal with 10:15 remaining.
But the Tigers weren't done.
First, with 7 minutes left and the ball on their side of midfield, LSU passed up a punt and went for it needing nearly 2 yards. Hester took the handoff and put his head down. The chains came on after he was tackled. First down by about the length of the football.
"I gamble more than you think," Miles said with the devilish grin of someone who doubled down and hit blackjack. "Their offense is a possession offense. ... They keep the ball. We knew if we got some fourth-down opportunities, we knew were going to make those calls. We were going to make 'em. We just knew that."
They did, over and over again.
LSU kept driving down the field, but found itself facing another fourth-and-1 at the Florida 6. Most coaches would have taken a chip-shot field goal and their chances in overtime. Not Miles, who apparently decided all the cards were going his way. He also was mindful that kicker Colt David already had missed from 43 and 37 yards.
Hester got the ball again and dove forward. The chains came out again. Another first down with less than a yard to spare.
"All the guys were hoping coach Miles would go for them," Williams said. "Even the defensive coaches were trying to get him to go for it."
On the other sideline, Meyer couldn't believe what he was seeing. Just how frustrating was it?
"Very frustrating. Very frustrating," he said.
Finally, Miles' players cut him some slack. On third-and-goal from just outside the 2, Hester took another handoff on virtually the same play that had worked twice before, falling into the end zone with his 23rd carry of the night.
Flynn leaped into the air and pumped his right fist. Touchdown, LSU.
Hester, who finished with 106 bruising yards, trotted off the field to another rousing ovation at Tiger Stadium, there the home team is 30-2 over the last five years.
Tebow got the ball across midfield on the final possession. But his final, desperate heave was batted down in the back of the end zone.
Facing a defense that had two shutouts and was allowing less than 175 yards per game, Tebow passed for 158 yards and rushed for 75. But the Gators let the momentum slip away with two turnovers.
"It is something that just cannot happen," Tebow said. "We have got to straighten it out."
The burly quarterback threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kestahn Moore early in the second quarter to make it 10-0, and scored on a 9-yard scramble late in the half to send the Gators to the locker room up 17-7.
LSU got a huge emotional boost on its first possession of the second half. At about the time Williams was scampering into the end zone to make it 17-14, Stanford was closing out its shocking upset of USC, which was still No. 1 in the coaches' poll.
When the score was announced, the crowd went nuts. But Tebow quickly silenced them with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Cornelius Ingram.
Clearly, the LSU coach is on quite a roll.
The No. 1 Tigers and their go-for-broke coach pulled off one gamble after another before Jacob Hester hit the jackpot, scoring on a 2-yard run with just over a minute remaining for a 28-24 victory over ninth-ranked Florida on a thrilling Saturday night in Death Valley.
Playing as a top-ranked team in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1959, LSU was in serious trouble much of the game. Their top-rated defense was shredded by Florida's double-threat quarterback, Tim Tebow, who led the Gators to a trio of 10-point leads.
But they couldn't hold off the Tigers.
LSU (6-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) took advantage of two second-half turnovers and barely converted a pair of fourth-down runs on their final drive. Finally, Hester powered into the end zone to give LSU its first lead of the night -- and the only one that mattered.
"We pretty much knew it was going to be a chance to win the game," Hester said. "Coach Miles said, 'I believe in you. I don't want a tie. I want to go out and win this thing.' When your head coach has that kind of respect and trust in you, you want to prove something to him."
Florida (4-2, 2-2) lost for the second week in a row, the first time that's happened to Urban Meyer since he was a little-known coach at Bowling Green in 2002. And, in all likelihood, the Gators' hopes of repeating as national champions have been snuffed out just halfway through the season.
"I don't know if I've ever done this, but I guarantee we'll be back," Meyer said defiantly. "The Florida Gators will be back. Smokin'."
Tebow threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for another, leading Florida to a 24-14 lead with 15 minutes remaining. But the Gators, who failed to complete a comeback against Auburn the previous week, were the victims of LSU's rally this time.
"I thought our defense hung in there," Meyer said. "They are so young and the offense has got to move the ball. That's twice now. It's two weeks in a row."
LSU kept rolling the dice and coming up with winners. The Tigers scored two touchdowns on fourth-down plays and another after pulling off a fake field goal. Then it was Hester, bulling his way into the end zone to put LSU ahead with 1:09 remaining.
When LSU knocked down Tebow's final long pass in the end zone, the record crowd of 92,910 let out its biggest roar of all.
The Tigers should still be No. 1 when the poll comes out Sunday. And, with second-ranked Southern California losing to Stanford in a 24-23 stunner, really there's no doubt about it.
"We took great strides in showing our character and ability to come from behind," Miles said. "I like the way this team is coming together."
Miles helped the cause by going all-in every chance he got.
Backup quarterback Ryan Perilloux scored on a fourth-and-goal run from the 1 in the second quarter. Starting quarterback Matt Flynn pulled off a fake field goal that led to Keiland Williams' 4-yard TD run in the third quarter. Flynn tossed a 4-yard scoring pass to Demetrius Byrd on fourth-and-goal with 10:15 remaining.
But the Tigers weren't done.
First, with 7 minutes left and the ball on their side of midfield, LSU passed up a punt and went for it needing nearly 2 yards. Hester took the handoff and put his head down. The chains came on after he was tackled. First down by about the length of the football.
"I gamble more than you think," Miles said with the devilish grin of someone who doubled down and hit blackjack. "Their offense is a possession offense. ... They keep the ball. We knew if we got some fourth-down opportunities, we knew were going to make those calls. We were going to make 'em. We just knew that."
They did, over and over again.
LSU kept driving down the field, but found itself facing another fourth-and-1 at the Florida 6. Most coaches would have taken a chip-shot field goal and their chances in overtime. Not Miles, who apparently decided all the cards were going his way. He also was mindful that kicker Colt David already had missed from 43 and 37 yards.
Hester got the ball again and dove forward. The chains came out again. Another first down with less than a yard to spare.
"All the guys were hoping coach Miles would go for them," Williams said. "Even the defensive coaches were trying to get him to go for it."
On the other sideline, Meyer couldn't believe what he was seeing. Just how frustrating was it?
"Very frustrating. Very frustrating," he said.
Finally, Miles' players cut him some slack. On third-and-goal from just outside the 2, Hester took another handoff on virtually the same play that had worked twice before, falling into the end zone with his 23rd carry of the night.
Flynn leaped into the air and pumped his right fist. Touchdown, LSU.
Hester, who finished with 106 bruising yards, trotted off the field to another rousing ovation at Tiger Stadium, there the home team is 30-2 over the last five years.
Tebow got the ball across midfield on the final possession. But his final, desperate heave was batted down in the back of the end zone.
Facing a defense that had two shutouts and was allowing less than 175 yards per game, Tebow passed for 158 yards and rushed for 75. But the Gators let the momentum slip away with two turnovers.
"It is something that just cannot happen," Tebow said. "We have got to straighten it out."
The burly quarterback threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kestahn Moore early in the second quarter to make it 10-0, and scored on a 9-yard scramble late in the half to send the Gators to the locker room up 17-7.
LSU got a huge emotional boost on its first possession of the second half. At about the time Williams was scampering into the end zone to make it 17-14, Stanford was closing out its shocking upset of USC, which was still No. 1 in the coaches' poll.
When the score was announced, the crowd went nuts. But Tebow quickly silenced them with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Cornelius Ingram.
Miles Gambles Pay off in Tigers Win
Is Les Miles a gambler?
Or just a calculated risk-taker?
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Going for it on fourth-and-short is perhaps an easier decision when you've got as much talent on the field as any team in the country. Going for it five times against a ranked opponent, once with a fake field goal? That takes a little more guts.
"Coach Miles had the confidence to call them," said running back Jacob Hester, who ground out a couple of fourth-down runs to narrowly earn chain-measured first downs during LSU's game-winning drive against Florida on Saturday. "The defense, they knew what was coming and the offensive line didn't care. They went out there ... and made holes for us."
The No. 1 Tigers' dramatic 28-24 comeback victory over the Gators could go down as a signature moment for Miles at LSU, where he's had more trouble than one might think in validating his coaching ability.
He inherited many of his starters from former LSU coach Nick Saban, whose recruiting efforts in Louisiana brought the Tigers back to prominence this decade. Critics have been quick to point that out, even as Miles has gone 28-4 with two lopsided bowl wins since taking over in 2005.
Perhaps now the LSU fans who have faith in Miles' ability will begin to drown out the remaining skeptics.
After waiting nearly half a century -- since 1959 -- to play as the top-ranked team in the AP Poll, the undefeated Tigers (6-0, 3-0 SEC) got there under Miles and have retained that distinction for at least another week.
While Southern California was blowing a late lead, allowing seemingly miraculous fourth-down conversions to a Stanford squad it was heavily favored to beat, LSU was scoring touchdowns on fourth downs and clawing back from a late 10-point deficit for its most emotional win of the season.
"A good football team finds a way," Miles said. "To me, that's a mark of this team."
Miles has called two successful fake field goals in the past three games, one that went for a touchdown against South Carolina and another against Florida that led to 7 points.
Asked if he has more of those in his bag of tricks, Miles grinned and said, "Eight."
"There's the fake field goal option, fake field goal option-pass -- I mean, it goes on and on and on," he said. "We'll keep one ready for every game."
Of the other four times LSU successfully went for it on fourth down against Florida, two went for touchdowns. The most daring of those came with just over 10 minutes left and LSU trailing by 10.
At fourth-and-3 from the 4, the easy choice was a short field goal for a one-possession game. Miles opted to have quarterback Matt Flynn drop back. Under pressure, Flynn rolled right and appeared primed to try to run it in himself. Suddenly, much like Florida's Tim Tebow had done earlier in the game, he pulled up to throw. Demetrius Byrd made the grab to pull the Tigers within 3.
When Hester crashed through for his 2-yard TD with 1:09 to go, LSU had its first lead.
"Coach Miles said, 'I believe in y'all. I don't want a tie. I want to go out and win this thing,"' Hester said. "When your head coach has that kind of respect and trusts you, you want to go out and prove something to him."
Meanwhile, LSU's defense, which seemed to have no answer for Tebow and the Gators through most of the first three quarters, forced a pair of turnovers on a fumble and an interception on consecutive Florida possessions, then got a three-and-out the next time the Gators got the ball.
"Everyone came together and we were able to overcome the adversity and come out with the win," said defensive end Kirston Pittman, who came down with LSU's interception on a deflected pass.
"In the face of adversity and playing from behind, they played very well," Miles said. "I am proud of this team, very proud."
Or just a calculated risk-taker?
ADVERTISEMENT
Going for it on fourth-and-short is perhaps an easier decision when you've got as much talent on the field as any team in the country. Going for it five times against a ranked opponent, once with a fake field goal? That takes a little more guts.
"Coach Miles had the confidence to call them," said running back Jacob Hester, who ground out a couple of fourth-down runs to narrowly earn chain-measured first downs during LSU's game-winning drive against Florida on Saturday. "The defense, they knew what was coming and the offensive line didn't care. They went out there ... and made holes for us."
The No. 1 Tigers' dramatic 28-24 comeback victory over the Gators could go down as a signature moment for Miles at LSU, where he's had more trouble than one might think in validating his coaching ability.
He inherited many of his starters from former LSU coach Nick Saban, whose recruiting efforts in Louisiana brought the Tigers back to prominence this decade. Critics have been quick to point that out, even as Miles has gone 28-4 with two lopsided bowl wins since taking over in 2005.
Perhaps now the LSU fans who have faith in Miles' ability will begin to drown out the remaining skeptics.
After waiting nearly half a century -- since 1959 -- to play as the top-ranked team in the AP Poll, the undefeated Tigers (6-0, 3-0 SEC) got there under Miles and have retained that distinction for at least another week.
While Southern California was blowing a late lead, allowing seemingly miraculous fourth-down conversions to a Stanford squad it was heavily favored to beat, LSU was scoring touchdowns on fourth downs and clawing back from a late 10-point deficit for its most emotional win of the season.
"A good football team finds a way," Miles said. "To me, that's a mark of this team."
Miles has called two successful fake field goals in the past three games, one that went for a touchdown against South Carolina and another against Florida that led to 7 points.
Asked if he has more of those in his bag of tricks, Miles grinned and said, "Eight."
"There's the fake field goal option, fake field goal option-pass -- I mean, it goes on and on and on," he said. "We'll keep one ready for every game."
Of the other four times LSU successfully went for it on fourth down against Florida, two went for touchdowns. The most daring of those came with just over 10 minutes left and LSU trailing by 10.
At fourth-and-3 from the 4, the easy choice was a short field goal for a one-possession game. Miles opted to have quarterback Matt Flynn drop back. Under pressure, Flynn rolled right and appeared primed to try to run it in himself. Suddenly, much like Florida's Tim Tebow had done earlier in the game, he pulled up to throw. Demetrius Byrd made the grab to pull the Tigers within 3.
When Hester crashed through for his 2-yard TD with 1:09 to go, LSU had its first lead.
"Coach Miles said, 'I believe in y'all. I don't want a tie. I want to go out and win this thing,"' Hester said. "When your head coach has that kind of respect and trusts you, you want to go out and prove something to him."
Meanwhile, LSU's defense, which seemed to have no answer for Tebow and the Gators through most of the first three quarters, forced a pair of turnovers on a fumble and an interception on consecutive Florida possessions, then got a three-and-out the next time the Gators got the ball.
"Everyone came together and we were able to overcome the adversity and come out with the win," said defensive end Kirston Pittman, who came down with LSU's interception on a deflected pass.
"In the face of adversity and playing from behind, they played very well," Miles said. "I am proud of this team, very proud."
Rebs post first Shutout since 2003
-Seth Adams threw two touchdowns Saturday and the Ole Miss defense notched the Rebels' first shutout since 2003 in a 24-0 win over Louisiana Tech on homecoming.
Ole Miss (2-4) snapped a four-game losing streak while holding the Bulldogs (1-4) to 301 yards of total offense. Adams completed 16 of 32 passes for 167 yards and touchdowns to Dexter McCluster and Shay Hodge.
Louisiana Tech's Zac Champion threw for 144 yards on 16 of 27 passing, and the Bulldogs lost their fourth straight.
Danny Horwedel missed a 42-yard attempt in the third quarter, and Ole Miss' Brandon Jenkins blocked a 36-yard field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter and Dustin Mouzon returned it 55 yards for the final score.
Daniel Porter rushed for 51 yards for the Bulldogs, and Patrick Jackson added 48.
The two teams combined for four turnovers in the first half, and it was one of those that helped give Ole Miss a 7-0 lead.
Defensive end Marcus Tillman fell on Louisiana Tech center Lon Roberts' errant snap in the shotgun formation on the second play of the game. Three plays later, Adams hit McCluster on a deep slant for a 28-yard touchdown 1:32 into the game.
It was the first touchdown since Sept. 30, 2006, for McCluster, who missed the first four games of the year with a shoulder injury and the last six games of last season with a neck injury.
After Joshua Shene put Ole Miss up 10-0 at the half with a 27-yard field goal in the second quarter, Adams hit Hodge for a 17-yard touchdown in the third quarter for a 17-0 lead.
Louisiana Tech committed 13 penalties for 117 yards and allowed Ole Miss' first shutout since a 31-0 win over Mississippi State on Nov. 27, 2003.
The 24-point winning margin marked the Rebels' largest under head coach Ed Orgeron.
Ole Miss (2-4) snapped a four-game losing streak while holding the Bulldogs (1-4) to 301 yards of total offense. Adams completed 16 of 32 passes for 167 yards and touchdowns to Dexter McCluster and Shay Hodge.
Louisiana Tech's Zac Champion threw for 144 yards on 16 of 27 passing, and the Bulldogs lost their fourth straight.
Danny Horwedel missed a 42-yard attempt in the third quarter, and Ole Miss' Brandon Jenkins blocked a 36-yard field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter and Dustin Mouzon returned it 55 yards for the final score.
Daniel Porter rushed for 51 yards for the Bulldogs, and Patrick Jackson added 48.
The two teams combined for four turnovers in the first half, and it was one of those that helped give Ole Miss a 7-0 lead.
Defensive end Marcus Tillman fell on Louisiana Tech center Lon Roberts' errant snap in the shotgun formation on the second play of the game. Three plays later, Adams hit McCluster on a deep slant for a 28-yard touchdown 1:32 into the game.
It was the first touchdown since Sept. 30, 2006, for McCluster, who missed the first four games of the year with a shoulder injury and the last six games of last season with a neck injury.
After Joshua Shene put Ole Miss up 10-0 at the half with a 27-yard field goal in the second quarter, Adams hit Hodge for a 17-yard touchdown in the third quarter for a 17-0 lead.
Louisiana Tech committed 13 penalties for 117 yards and allowed Ole Miss' first shutout since a 31-0 win over Mississippi State on Nov. 27, 2003.
The 24-point winning margin marked the Rebels' largest under head coach Ed Orgeron.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Papi Walk off Homer Wins for Sox
As the night went deeper, and the zeros advanced across the scoreboard next to "BOSTON," it became increasingly difficult not to notice what was happening next to "NYY."
A seventh straight win by the Yankees, and a loss by the Red Sox in the rubber game of their series against the last-place Devil Rays, and New York would be in position to apply a python's squeeze on the Sox' lead in the American League East this weekend.
Instead, there was a frenzied Jonathan Papelbon, leaping over the dugout wall and applying a crushing bear hug on Kevin Youkilis, as they both awaited the arrival of David Ortiz at home plate after the return of that almost forgotten Sox staple, the Ortiz walkoff home run, in a 5-4 win over Tampa Bay.
"That was such a huge, huge win for us, man," said Papelbon, who made a rare appearance with the Sox behind in the ninth inning and emerged with the victory before a crowd of 36,931, the team's 379th straight sellout but the first this season to see Ortiz hurl his helmet heavenward before crossing the plate after his winning two-run home run. "I don't think you know how big that was for us. [Curt] Schilling called it. He was next to me in the dugout.
"That was one of our biggest wins of the season, not only because it keeps the five-game lead, but for the momentum it gives us going into the weekend."
The Sox' lead remains five games over the Yankees, who play tonight in Toronto before heading to the Fens for three, including a potential Roger Clemens sighting Sunday night. The Sox have 15 games left, the Bombers 17.
"We know it will be interesting," manager Terry Francona said after the Sox rebounded from a 4-0 deficit, one night after coming back from 8-1 down. "Hope it will be a lot of fun."
Ortiz's towering fly ball in the ninth inning off closer Al Reyes caught a serendipitous wind current, spun Tampa Bay right fielder Delmon Young around, and - doink! - struck a fan standing in the front row of the grandstand.
"I don't know, man, I thought it was too high," Ortiz said of his first walkoff home run this season, coming on a night he also hit a three-run home run in the third inning to account for the balance of the Sox' offense. "That was a good pitch by my boy Reyes. That's a pitch you throw guys when you don't want them hitting it in the stands. I put a good swing on it."
Ortiz now has 31 home runs and 104 RBIs, his fifth straight season of 30 or more home runs and 100 or more RBIs. He has 16 walkoff hits for the Sox in his career (counting the postseason), including 10 home runs.
"We could tell it was well-hit, but we couldn't tell if it was fair or foul, or if it had enough to get out," said Sox reliever Kyle Snyder, who was in the bullpen when Ortiz connected. "We saw David bend over to one side like he couldn't tell if it was fair or foul, either, and was trying to give it some body language.
"The wind was a factor on that ball for Young. I think he was thinking the same thing we were. It looked like it was foul initially, but curved back more than we anticipated. It was potentially catchable, yes, but it was too late for him to get back to the ball. We all ran to the bullpen side of the outfield wall, and when we saw it go out, it was absolute pandemonium.
"I told him I'd been waiting over a year for that. The last one he hit came last July 31, in a game I was pitching. He laughed when I said it."
For Julio Lugo, Ortiz's longtime pal and first-year teammate, it was a new experience in a Red Sox uniform. No Sox player had hit a walkoff home run since Carlos Peña, the Haverhill native now putting up monster numbers for the Devil Rays, did it Sept. 4, 2006, against the White Sox.
"It's a great feeling, what you play for," said Lugo, who had drawn a full-count walk from Reyes to open the ninth. "He's just the best, man. There's nobody like that."
WALKOFF WONDER: Recap all of Papi's walkoff hits
Box score
The Yankees held service in Toronto, beating the Blue Jays behind the resuscitated Mike Mussina, 4-1. The Sox, already down one cleanup hitter (Manny Ramírez), spotted the Devil Rays another when Mike Lowell called in sick (officially, it was a text message), and for seven innings could not generate any more offense beyond Ortiz's 30th home run of the season.
When Ortiz's ball cleared the Devil Rays' bullpen to make it 4-3, Tampa Bay, in the third, it appeared the teams intended to stage an encore of the 16-10 hit-o-rama from the night before. But Devil Rays starter Edwin Jackson righted himself, allowing just two singles before leaving after the sixth, and Julian Tavarez, pitching for just the second time in 12 days this month, rescued Jon Lester with three hitless innings after his premature exit, Lester knocked out with two out in the fourth after a yield of four runs on eight hits and four walks.
Lester's abbreviated outing hardly was a balm for a Sox bullpen that went six deep the night before after Tim Wakefield was knocked out after just three-plus innings. That was four short outings in a week for a Sox starter, two for Wakefield and one for Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Lester's troubles began with the game's first batter, Akinori Iwamura, who singled, took second on an infield out, and scored on Peña's base hit. B.J. Upton followed with a fly down the right-field line that hit the foul pole for the cheapest of home runs, and it was 3-0 while many in the crowd were still in the concourses. One out later, Brendan Harris doubled and scored on a base hit by Johnny Gomes, and the Devil Rays had a 4-0 lead.
But Tavarez, followed by Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, and finally Papelbon, held the Devil Rays to one hit, a bloop single off Delcarmen when Pedroia and J.D. Drew crossed wires, over the final 5 1/3 innings.
"Tavarez came in and did a great job," Francona said. "If he doesn't do what he does, we get that [bullpen] line moving way too early, and it's a different game."
Instead, the night belonged to Big Papi. "It's that time of year," Francona said, "and you guys know it."
A seventh straight win by the Yankees, and a loss by the Red Sox in the rubber game of their series against the last-place Devil Rays, and New York would be in position to apply a python's squeeze on the Sox' lead in the American League East this weekend.
Instead, there was a frenzied Jonathan Papelbon, leaping over the dugout wall and applying a crushing bear hug on Kevin Youkilis, as they both awaited the arrival of David Ortiz at home plate after the return of that almost forgotten Sox staple, the Ortiz walkoff home run, in a 5-4 win over Tampa Bay.
"That was such a huge, huge win for us, man," said Papelbon, who made a rare appearance with the Sox behind in the ninth inning and emerged with the victory before a crowd of 36,931, the team's 379th straight sellout but the first this season to see Ortiz hurl his helmet heavenward before crossing the plate after his winning two-run home run. "I don't think you know how big that was for us. [Curt] Schilling called it. He was next to me in the dugout.
"That was one of our biggest wins of the season, not only because it keeps the five-game lead, but for the momentum it gives us going into the weekend."
The Sox' lead remains five games over the Yankees, who play tonight in Toronto before heading to the Fens for three, including a potential Roger Clemens sighting Sunday night. The Sox have 15 games left, the Bombers 17.
"We know it will be interesting," manager Terry Francona said after the Sox rebounded from a 4-0 deficit, one night after coming back from 8-1 down. "Hope it will be a lot of fun."
Ortiz's towering fly ball in the ninth inning off closer Al Reyes caught a serendipitous wind current, spun Tampa Bay right fielder Delmon Young around, and - doink! - struck a fan standing in the front row of the grandstand.
"I don't know, man, I thought it was too high," Ortiz said of his first walkoff home run this season, coming on a night he also hit a three-run home run in the third inning to account for the balance of the Sox' offense. "That was a good pitch by my boy Reyes. That's a pitch you throw guys when you don't want them hitting it in the stands. I put a good swing on it."
Ortiz now has 31 home runs and 104 RBIs, his fifth straight season of 30 or more home runs and 100 or more RBIs. He has 16 walkoff hits for the Sox in his career (counting the postseason), including 10 home runs.
"We could tell it was well-hit, but we couldn't tell if it was fair or foul, or if it had enough to get out," said Sox reliever Kyle Snyder, who was in the bullpen when Ortiz connected. "We saw David bend over to one side like he couldn't tell if it was fair or foul, either, and was trying to give it some body language.
"The wind was a factor on that ball for Young. I think he was thinking the same thing we were. It looked like it was foul initially, but curved back more than we anticipated. It was potentially catchable, yes, but it was too late for him to get back to the ball. We all ran to the bullpen side of the outfield wall, and when we saw it go out, it was absolute pandemonium.
"I told him I'd been waiting over a year for that. The last one he hit came last July 31, in a game I was pitching. He laughed when I said it."
For Julio Lugo, Ortiz's longtime pal and first-year teammate, it was a new experience in a Red Sox uniform. No Sox player had hit a walkoff home run since Carlos Peña, the Haverhill native now putting up monster numbers for the Devil Rays, did it Sept. 4, 2006, against the White Sox.
"It's a great feeling, what you play for," said Lugo, who had drawn a full-count walk from Reyes to open the ninth. "He's just the best, man. There's nobody like that."
WALKOFF WONDER: Recap all of Papi's walkoff hits
Box score
The Yankees held service in Toronto, beating the Blue Jays behind the resuscitated Mike Mussina, 4-1. The Sox, already down one cleanup hitter (Manny Ramírez), spotted the Devil Rays another when Mike Lowell called in sick (officially, it was a text message), and for seven innings could not generate any more offense beyond Ortiz's 30th home run of the season.
When Ortiz's ball cleared the Devil Rays' bullpen to make it 4-3, Tampa Bay, in the third, it appeared the teams intended to stage an encore of the 16-10 hit-o-rama from the night before. But Devil Rays starter Edwin Jackson righted himself, allowing just two singles before leaving after the sixth, and Julian Tavarez, pitching for just the second time in 12 days this month, rescued Jon Lester with three hitless innings after his premature exit, Lester knocked out with two out in the fourth after a yield of four runs on eight hits and four walks.
Lester's abbreviated outing hardly was a balm for a Sox bullpen that went six deep the night before after Tim Wakefield was knocked out after just three-plus innings. That was four short outings in a week for a Sox starter, two for Wakefield and one for Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Lester's troubles began with the game's first batter, Akinori Iwamura, who singled, took second on an infield out, and scored on Peña's base hit. B.J. Upton followed with a fly down the right-field line that hit the foul pole for the cheapest of home runs, and it was 3-0 while many in the crowd were still in the concourses. One out later, Brendan Harris doubled and scored on a base hit by Johnny Gomes, and the Devil Rays had a 4-0 lead.
But Tavarez, followed by Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, and finally Papelbon, held the Devil Rays to one hit, a bloop single off Delcarmen when Pedroia and J.D. Drew crossed wires, over the final 5 1/3 innings.
"Tavarez came in and did a great job," Francona said. "If he doesn't do what he does, we get that [bullpen] line moving way too early, and it's a different game."
Instead, the night belonged to Big Papi. "It's that time of year," Francona said, "and you guys know it."
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