Early this season, Western Illinois’ Don Patterson stepped down. I can’t fault him for the decision, as he’s battled tonsillar cancer in the past and is still feeling the effects, despite being cancer-free as of his last check-up.

Western Illinois coach Don Patterson (left) after Wisconsin's 35-10 win. Image: Newscom

However, two schools have already fired their coaches.

In Conference USA, Memphis fired head coach Tommy West after a disappointing season. West has made his voice heard, saying that the schools either needs to put more money into the football program or just bury it, shutting it down completely. West will stay until the end of the season, but this has to have a major effect on the team. They already have a losing season in the making, and this will only make matters worse.

The other school to give their coach the boot? Western Kentucky. ESPN has called the Hilltoppers’ season “horrific,” and I’ll agree with that assessment. This Sun Conference team is 0-9, which is making experts question whether this team is truly ready to be playing with the big boys. They’ve only been a FBS for a few years now, but are statistically last or nearly last in almost every category. David Elson will also be staying for the rest of the season, but is gone afterward.

So, we’ve now seen three casualties in 2009. Are there more to come before the end of the year and in early 2010? I’m sure some coaches will find themselves in the same boat soon.

Post from: EveryJoe

College Coaches are Already Being Fired

Derrick Rose is currently at the center of NCAA investigation into his academic eligibilty at Memphis.

According to the Chicago-Sun Times, his high school grades were even altered to help him stay academically eligible.

The investigation has once again brought attention to the NBA’s age regulation rule, in which players have to be at least 19 years old in order to play professional basketball.

Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports, asks: “Why the heck did he have to take [the SAT test]  in the first place?”

He makes a good point. Rose could have avoided this scandal altogether if he had simply been able to jump directly to the NBA from high school instead.

As Wetzel argues effectively:

“No one cared when Danica Patrick went pro as a race car driver at 16. No one tried to prevent Shawn Johnson from winning an Olympic gold at the same age or Miley Cyrus from making millions singing and acting with her dad even younger than that. And no one ever required them to recognize analogies before doing so. So why do we make Derrick Rose?”

Why, indeed.

Image: Zuma

Post from: EveryJoe

Derrick Rose’s Reputation At Risk

John Calipari has a team full of talented players, including John Wall — the No. 1 prospect in the nation.

First, Patrick Patterson withdraws from the NBA draft and decides to return to school. Then John Wall, the nation’s number one recruit and lighting-quick point guard, decides to sign with Kentucky.

I’m guessing that Coach Cal is chomping at the bit to get the 2009-2010 basketball season underway.

Even though Kentucky already signed Eric Bledsoe, another talented point guard, Wall is excited to compete for the starting position.

“Being able to play against Eric (Bledsoe) is a big plus,” he said, according to Rivals.com.

Duke, Miami and Florida were also at the top of Wall’s list. But playing for Coach Cal and the situation that has opened up for Kentucky is what ultimately swayed his decision. Wall joins No. 2 ranked prospect DeMarcus Cousins, No. 22 ranked prospect Daniel Orton, Bledsoe (No. 23 overall) and four-star prospects John Hood and Darnell Dodson. (As well as returning star, Patrick Patterson.)

Does anyone really want to question Coach Cal’s move from Memphis to Kentucky at this point?

Visit Rivals.com for John Wall’s scouting report.

Image: Zuma

Post from: EveryJoe

John Wall — No. 1 Recruit — Picks A School

Most Exciting Game

I can’t quite remember right now, that cbssportsline feed is off the hook good. However, I do not know if this is weird or normal, but I might have burned myself out these last two days. All the competitive games are running together in my mind as the same.  I will have to go with Siena v. Ohio State just because I remember the two extra sessions pretty well.   They’re fresh in my mind. Conshohocken, Pennsylvania native Ronald Moore hit two clutch shots at the end of both overtimes that had me hollering for joy.  Shortly thereafter a college basketball watching novice near me said “Darnit Siena, they’re screwing up my bracket!”  I looked at the person and scolded them not for the fact they had Ohio State beating Louisville in the next round, but for the fact they pronounced Siena wrong.

Most Surprising Game

None really… until Cleveland State mooned Wake Forest on Friday night, and I mean mooned. It just so happens I picked Wake to go far, Final Four far, championship runner up far.  Anyways.

The Vikings did everything right

Best Individual Performance

I could go with Nic Wise’s 29, Chase Budinger’s 20 points, 8 boards, 6 feeds and 4 swipes, Ben Woodside’s (NDSU) 37, Sherron Collins 32 and 8 dimes, Chris Wright’s (Dayton) 27 points and 10 boards, Taj Gibson’s 10-10 from the field en route to 24 points (3 swats), Greivis Vasquez’s 27, Marcus Thorton’s (LSU) 30, or Dwayne Anderson’s (Nova) 25 on 9-10 from the field (he averages 8.8ppg), but I’ll go with a performance just too improbable to overlook.  And that’s 35 big ones (10 trifectas) in 36 minutes from Roburt Sallie, 6′5 guard from Memphis, averaging 5.4 ppg in 14.7 min/gm. I think Roburt might ask to have a repeat of the pre-game meal before the Maryland game.

Worst Moment

The WWF smackdown of Blake Griffin during the Oklahoma-Morgan State thrilla.  But it gets better, Morgan State players are seen throwing tantrums after the game.

Game I Cared Most About

Michigan v. Clemson.  Always been a  University of Michigan sports fan, can not put a finger on why, but it is what it is. Maybe living in Michigan all my life has something to do with it, just a guess. It also does not hurt that the fine institution accepted me for the fall of 09′.  Big leagues baby.

A Prediction For Round Two
Western Kentucky over Gonzaga. I like WKU’s wing players as well as 6′9 skinny bean Jeremy Evans (190lbs).

Post from: EveryJoe

Round 1 Wrap

Post from: EveryJoe

Memphis over Marshall

The world mourns with you, Memphis.Tomorrow night, Memphis will play against Marshall, with a moment of silence for Taylor, who was murdered it was is believed to be a targeted attack. College classes were canceled on Monday, and students’ dorms were locked down to prevent any non-student wanderers from getting into the campus buildings, just in case this violence was not isolated.I applaud Memphis’ decision to play. We can mourn the dead for years and still not cry enough tears. I didn’t know Taylor, but he was a football player. He would have wanted them to play; I feel very sure about that.

Do you agree with the colleges’ decision to play or do you think the game should have been canceled?

Post from: EveryJoe

Coach West on Taylor Bradford