I would love to be in New Orleans tonight for college football’s national title game. I covered LSU from 1980-1994 and still have a lot of friends in Louisiana. They are going crazy over their Tigers, and for good reason. I was in the Superdome for LSU’s three previous title games and saw them beat Oklahoma and Ohio State and lose to Alabama. I believe a win over Clemson will make this the greatest championship in LSU history.
• Clemson is the Rodney Dangerfield of this game. They’re not getting respect, even though they’ve won two out of the last three championship games and knocked off powerhouse Ohio State. I think Clemson is loaded on both sides of the ball and has the better defense in this game. That said, football comes down to outscoring your opposition and I just don’t see how Clemson can outscore LSU’s pinball machine-like offense. Joe Burrow is as good as advertised. I look for the Heisman Trophy winner to end his career being carried off the Superdome field by his teammates as they complete a 15-0 season. It will be the perfect ending for this great team in front of so many of their fans. The after-party will be incredible. Wish I could be on Bourbon Street with my buddies.
• James Madison fell just short in its bid for the FCS national championship, but Indiana can be very proud of the Stapleton brothers and former IUP head coach Curt Cignetti. Riley Stapleton was terrific, hauling in ten catches and scoring two touchdowns. Brother Dylan added six catches on the day. I feel for these two great kids who were playing in their final collegiate game. Curt Cignetti did a heck of a job in his first year at JMU. And I feel bad for the Cignetti family, who are now 0-3 in national championship games. Curt has a chance to win more titles at JMU, and I hope he does. Also looking down the road I believe Riley has a very good chance of playing in the NFL next season. That would be something.
• The NFL playoffs were outstanding this weekend. I was thrilled to see Baltimore lose to Tennessee at home, and I know I’m not alone. The Titans seem like a team of destiny, but they’re going to have to be outstanding to beat Kansas City in KC next week. The Chiefs looked beaten early but rallied from 24 points down to clobber Houston. I like the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game and a return to the Super Bowl for the first time in fifty years.
• San Francisco looks to be the best team in the NFC. They dominated the Vikings at home. Green Bay is good, but I don’t think they’re good enough to beat the Niners in San Francisco. I’m taking the 49ers, who will get a second chance to win their sixth Super Bowl.
• It was pretty neat seeing former Steelers coach Bill Cowher being informed of his selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame live on the CBS pre-game show on Saturday night. Cowher was stunned and deeply emotional when informed of the honor by David Baker of the Hall of Fame. I’m really happy for Cowher. I met him several times over the years and he was always very nice to me. I just hope that former Steeler Donnie Shell gets the call when the Hall of Fame class is announced this Wednesday. Shell should have been in Canton years ago.
• The Pens have no business doing what they’re doing. They have to be thrilled with their perfect three game road trip out west. Despite all the injuries the Pens are finding ways to win. Go figure. And hats off to goaltender Tristan Jarry, who has been magnificent. He gave up just one goal in the eight round shootout victory over Arizona to end the trip. If the Pens ever get healthy they could be dangerous come playoff time.
• The beat goes on for the IUP basketball teams. The women have now won twelve games in a row. They’re 14-1 on the season. The IUP men have a four game winning streak and are now 13-1 overall. IUP is so lucky to have Joe Lombardi and Tom McConnell coaching these two excellent teams.
• Pitt finally won an ACC road game and did it in Chapel Hill against North Carolina. Good for Jeff Capel and his young team. Pitt is not good enough to beat the powerhouses on a regular basis, but this win is a step in the right direction for the rebuilding Panthers. Hopefully it’s the first of many great wins for Capel and his team.
• RIP George Perles. George was a legendary coach who was a big part of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the 70s. His defense was regarded as one of the best in NFL history. Perles was a heck of a coach with a dynamite personality to match. I was lucky enough to interview him many times, and remember speaking with him in Miami right after the Steelers won Super Bowl 13. Perles always wanted to be a head coach and went on to have great success at Michigan State, where he took the Spartans to the Rose Bowl. I’m so glad I was lucky enough to have been around George Perles.
