Talkin' Sports, Madison-Style: Talkin'... FOOTBALL???

It seems football has been on the front burner lately. And we’re barely a month into baseball, for crying out loud!

Of course the NFL draft is going on this weekend, which has most Vikings fans interested. Frankly, the only way I’d be interested is if they could figure out a way to trade Brad Childress for a washing machine ala “Semi Pro”.

Interesting article in the Argus this week. It turns out SDSU and USD are looking for games in 2010 for football... on the same date. Needless to say, this has a lot of people’s tongues wagging at a revival of what was once a very heated rivalry. Of course, being a loyal Jackrabbit, I would only agree to continuing the series if it favored SDSU… in terms of how the game could help us financially and in terms of playoff eligibility.

Speaking of football games, DSU’s season-opener with Bacone College in Oklahoma has been cancelled. Don’t know why they did it, but it will leave the Trojans with just 9 games this fall. My question is, does this mean that they will contract the game out to another season, or will DSU have to buy-out of the game like Montana had to do with SDSU a few years back?

In other football news, in what can only be described as an EXTREMELY vindictive move, the Indoor Football League has put the smack-down on the Sioux Falls Storm for an office snafu concerning workers’ compensation insurance. Among the sanctions… a $10,000 fine, ineligibility to host a first-round playoff game, reduction of the roster from 21 players to 20, and finally, forfeiture of their first five wins of the season. So what looked like a promising year for the Storm now looks like it’s going to be in the toilet.

Here’s my issue. If the Storm screwed up on the business end, especially with something like insurance, then fine them. Fine the hell out of them. But why take it out on the players and coaches in terms of roster and victories? If this was something to give the team an unfair advantage on the field, like giving everyone steroids or going over the salary cap, then I could see forcing them to give up the wins. But this sanction, which was not issued by some ruling authority but by majority vote of the other owners in the league, smacks of jealousy and vindictiveness over the Storm’s recent success, including four straight UIF championships.

Were I the Storm, I’d appeal. Then I’d sue for relief. After that, I’d look at joining the American Professional Football League, af2, or other minor indoor football leagues. If this is the way the league is going to conduct its business, then why be a part of the IFL at all?

Finally, a big “Welcome to Madison” goes out to Gary Garner. Gary is the new head coach of the Trojan men’s basketball team. Looking at his coaching background, one word comes to mind… impressive. An NCAA-Division II national championship with Fort Hayes State in 1996 (they eliminated SDSU from the playoffs that year) PLUS an appearance in the “Big Dance” with Southeast Missouri State in 2000. WOW! Most recently, he was an assistant coach with the Iowa Energy of the NBA D-League, so he definitely has the coaching chops.

Coach, welcome to Madison! I look forward to meeting you soon!