Sports

Eric Norwood Interview on ESPN.com

Interesting interview with Eric Norwood on Chris Low's SEC Blog on ESPN.com ... good read I thought I'd pass along.

Calm before the storm...WMBF News Extra Point: Week 3 tonight!  I'll be at Conway and Carolina Forest...see you there, or see you around 11:20pm!

More Childers?

I ran a story tonight about CCU possibly incorporating backup QB Jamie Childers into the offense more.  Coach David Bennett's answer:

Have you been putting bugs in our offices over there, Justin? I don't know, you'll have to wait and see. He's a very talented guy. You don't see 6'5, 230 pound guys that run 4.6, that can throw the ball 70 yards just walking around the street every day. I hope there's a way we can use him in the future. That's a good question. I'm proud of you, Justin

I appreciate the pride.  The reason I asked was...it seemed to me like it would've happened already.  Coaches are high on Childers' athleticism...I kind of assumed he'd see the field in a way we're getting very used to at the college level: Tim Tebow as a freshman at Florida, Terrelle Pryor as a freshman (before being named starter) at Ohio State, Tyrod Taylor as a freshman at Va Tech....coaches putting in a package of plays for their run-oriented quarterback. 

It's a curveball for the defense, plus it takes up their valuable time preparing for it.  We're even seeing this leak into the NFL with guys like Michael Vick in Philly and Pat White being drafted in Miami.

Coach Bennett is keeping it a surprise...for now...much to my chagrin...but I think you'll see more and more of a Childers package in the next few games.

Here's another take on this from The Sun News' CCU writer Josh Hoke's blog...which mentions me, so I have to include the link.

WMBF News Extra Point: Week 2 Random Thoughts

--Lamar is playing great.  They're undefefeated and took down rival Timmonsville 26-6 on the road.  By the way, their 3 wins...all on the road!  I think running back Jerrod Dargan is the real deal and this team will be one to keep an eye on come playoff time

--Don't make too much out of Myrtle Beach's lopsided loss to Byrnes.  Byrnes is going to beat a lot of people like that this season.  They have Marcus Lattimore, whom rivals calls the #2 running back in the country...and plenty more Division 1A talent.  Myrtle Beach is still the best in their region and still on a path where they can challenge for another 3A Lower State Championship...don't panic just yet

--Speaking of 3A Lower State Championship...man will that be tough to come by!  We know Myrtle Beach is good, but has anyone looked better so far than Lake City?  69-0 last week??  Marlboro County is rolling over good opponents!  Wilson looked excellent against South Florence...man, that will be tough.  If Crestwood or a team from outside our area takes that title...I'd be surprised

--Speaking of Wilson, huge bellweather game for them against Hartsville this week.  The Red Foxes have shown the ability to make scorekeepers retire mid-game...Wilson took out South Florence in a shootout...fans of offense, make your way to Florence Thursday night for a good one

--Props to Carolina Forest.  They hung in and came back for their first regular season win in a good long time over North Myrtle Beach.  That team may not be fighting for state titles, but they go out during the summer and run, lift weights and work just as hard as anyone...good to see their work pay off with a W.

Live from Kent State

I'm up in the press box at Kent State's Dix Stadium, getting ready for CCU's opener against the Golden Flashes.  Right now, CCU's specialists are out...just got done punting.  Kent's on the field catching balls.  Got a handful of Chants down in the corner stretching out...I see QB Jamie Childers among them, otherwise looks like a random group of positions.

Seems to me like CCU's players are confident.  Compared to games against Penn State or Clemson where they're pretty over-matched, Kent State is closer to their level.  Closer...not the same.  Kent State, as David Bennett's pointed out many times, has more scholarships, more money...but CCU has, by all accounts, a high-talented (we'll see this season if they're high-level or high-performing) FCS team.

Dix Stadium is kind of cool...small, I think 25k capacity, but surrounded by trees.  That's the cool part.  From the press box, looking left, straight ahead and right of the stadium, all you see are trees...which is nice.  Dix Stadium is actually outside the city (town?) of Kent...it's in Franklin Township.  It's not far at all from Kent.

While I've been typing, a handful more Chants are out on the field...looks like receivers catching balls.  Now I see QB Zach MacDowall out there throwing balls.  This is kind of stream of consciousness, bear with me.

Anyway...I won't predict a final score, but I'll say Kent State wins by 17, though CCU hangs around into halftime.

But...as one coach told me in Myrtle Beach Airport when I asked if he was ready..."I'm just ready to see history made."  We'll see...should be fun, see you on WMBF News at 11.