The Senator

I didn't even realize the season was over - much less that Luck had declared, draft day had arrived, and Carolina had the #1 pick!

Irregardless of the fact that there's no such word as irregardless, I'm pretty sure he knew that when he typed it. (I'm pretty sure everyone knows that.) Isn't he that annoying Dutch fiddler that's always on WNED during pledge-week?

I'm sure Leach appreciates Trump's support - if not the salary suggestion... At least he has Trump on his side. The tycoon lobbied Miami to hire Leach in 2006, when they ultimately chose Shannon. University officials confirmed the authenticity of Trump's note Wednesday. "You made a big mistake when you did not take my advice and hire Mike Leach of Texas Tech ... and you can now get him for the right price," Trump wrote to Shalala. (With friends like that,... ) I wonder if ML's good friend and former 'canes HC Jimmy Johnson has also lobbied on Leach's behalf? No question Leach is a good fit for Miami - "I think it’s a perfect fit because I’m in Miami,'' said Leach, who moved his family to Key West, Fla., after Tech fired him last December. "I think it's a perfect fit because of the offense they run and all the skilled players they’ve got at a variety of positions. "Plus, they’re committed to academics, and so am I.'' Leach coached at Tech from 2000-'09 where he left as the school's all-time winningest coach (84-43). He also coached the Raiders to a bowl game in all 10 years he was at Tech, and many of his long-time Raider Nation admirers are still upset about his firing. It's absolutely no secret that at Tech, Leach didn't often get the high-profile recruits from the Texas high schools. Many of them instead chose to go to Texas, TCU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma or Oklahoma State. But the ones Leach did get, they helped Tech develop into one of the best offensive machines in the nation. And that is Leach's expertise -- offense. Leach's offenses put the "E' in excitement. Thus, he said he is anxious to see how his teams would fare if he was able to recruit the caliber of athletes that Miami recruits. Leach believes if he can get the Miami job, a national championship lies in his future. (Link - Mike Leach really wants the Miami job) It's the only coaching position so far that Leach has openly and aggressively pursued in such a public way (he said next to nothing about the open Minnesota, Indiana, Vanderbilt HC jobs, or the many rumored soon-to-be-open positions). Still, from the ESPN article you cited... As for football, Leach said he doesn't care which conference he winds up in. What matters to him, he said, is to coach a competitive team at a school that backs his emphasis on academics and in a position where there would be stability. The Senator sticks by his early prediction (less than an hour after Shannon's firing) that Mike Leach will be the next head football coach of the University of Miami Hurricanes. Until then... Ex-Texas Tech coach Mike Leach using time off to plan his next move

Actually, if you watched the Stanford/Oregon game, Andrew Luck does choke when the game is on the line!

Seems to me that the NCAA just wants to sweep this under the rug - at least temporarily - so as not to ruin their TV ratings for the SEC title game and the big Oregon/Auburn BCS Championship. Also seems that more dirt will eventually come to light that Cam Newton is somehow ' tainted ' - and had best declare for the draft before he finds himself ineligible to play college ball next season.

That I cannot answer, but if TSW had been around back then, I'm sure there'd have been a faction of whiners complaining that losing a playoff game is not good enough, and that Kelly is nothing more than a one-season USFL wonder and career NFL backup. Only a Superbowl win will do, they would whine, and we should have lost EVERY game that season so we could get the #1 overall pick and draft Jeff George!

Well Kurt Warner certainly wasn't 'marquee' when he was a bag-boy at HiLo markets after being undrafted, then rejected by the Packers and the rest of NFL - and Brady* certainly wasn't 'marquee' as the Patriots* 6th-round draft pick and 4th-string backup to Drew Bledsoe, Favre wasn't 'marquee' when Falcons coach Jerry Glanville swore ' it would take a plane crash for him to put Favre into the game '. Those guys evolved into 'marquee' QBs, after having the opportunity to develop in a competent system. So what's to say the same can't happen with Fitz? Despite my erroneous misgivings about him in the preseason, he's certainly shown potential for greatness - and seems to get even better with more playing time. What's to say, given more playing time to develop gain experience, and a full-season as starting QB from the outset - with no ersatz ' open competition ' ( ) between Fitz and 3 other QBs in next years OTAs, camp, and preseason - that Ryan Fitzpatrick can't be one of the NFL's great, ' marquee ' QBs??? Nothing at all, I think. The Bills may already have their ' marquee QB ' - JMO, though. It will be very interesting to see what Buddy does in the upcoming draft if one of those perceived ' marquee ' QBs is available when the Bills pick. It will certainly give us a good idea how they feel about Fitzpatrick's ability and potential for greatness. GO BILLSSS!!!!

I would've been 6-straight, Promo, if this hadn't happened... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OOWQxv2_M4 Imagine 6 consecutive AFC title games, if Harmon doesn't drop that one! Sometimes I think people forgot just how great that team was.

Gosh, I like all of those too. CR Cask #16 is one of The Senator's latest discoveries. Neat. Or on the rocks. Very smooth.

Gosh, I like almost all of 'em. But when The Senator's in a real bourbon-sipping mood, my favorite has long been Booker's Neat. Or on the rocks.

Yeah, I have. Yeah, I am. In this thread, however, I'm merely a contributor - not on any crusade - just offering my own views on a topic already under discussion. (Hell, why am I bothering? It's like arguing with a stubborn, self-righteous, know-it-all Sicilian ) .

I wouldn't quite call Kelly a ' bona fide ' rookie back then. Even though it was his first year in the NFL, he had prior 2 years in the USFL and threw for 5200 yards in '84- surpassing Marino's NFL record 5084 in the same season. But the similarities between the advent of Kelly/Levy and that of FitzGailey are eerily pleasant to ponder. GO BILLSSS!!!! Reverse the Curse!!!!! .

Carimi's a LT. He may begin his NFL career at RT, but he'll be an All-Pro LT w/in 3 years. Why folks keep saying RT is puzzling - they probably read something by a sports columnist saying he projects better at the RT position. Don't believe it. Gabe Carimi is the next top offensive lineman that Wisconsin will produce. Carimi is a massive and powerful offensive tackle that excels in run blocking. He has started a total of 36 games at left tackle, experience that will help with his adjustment in the NFL. Carimi utilizes his size to drive back defenders and open holes for the running back. He shows the ability to get to the 2nd level and make a block on pursuing linebackers. Carimi has very long arms and quick feet both of which are assets when pass protecting. Carimi is able to use a nice drop step and set against rushing defensive linemen. He has the size and strength to anchor against the bull rush, and the quick feet to hold off the smaller faster defensive ends. 2011 NFL Draft Watch #16: Gabe Carimi 2007: Earned first letter ... started at left tackle in all 13 games, taking over the position from 2006 Outland Trophy winner and No. 3 overall NFL Draft choice Joe Thomas ...fasted for 24 hours prior to Iowa game on Sept. 22 in observance of Yom Kippur 2008: Earned second letter ... played in 10 games and started all 10 ... started his 23rd career game against Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl ... returned to the starting lineup at Michigan State on Nov. 1 after missing games vs. Penn State, at Iowa and vs. Illinois due to injury ... had started 18-straight games at left tackle before sustaining a knee injury in the first quarter against Ohio State on Oct. 4 2009: Earned third letter ... started all 13 games at left tackle as offense led the Big Ten in scoring (31.8 ppg) and total offense (416.9 ypg) 2010: Has started all 11 games at left tackle... named UW's co-offensive player of the game at Michigan on Nov. 20 ... along with rest of starting offensive line and Bill Nagy, named UW's co-offensive player of the week for the Minnesota game Don't believe anyone who says he'll be there for us in round 2, either. Carimi will go in the first half of round one... 11/23/2010 - The finalists for several college football awards were announced Monday. The Outland Trophy finalists for top interior lineman are Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi, Florida State guard Rodney Hudson and Colorado tackle Nate Solder. - AP Sports link

My crusade? So any time YOU get in one of your own silly pissing contests that goes on for pages, you're crusading??? Right. I didn't start the thread, Deano, but take another look at the title. And I know Chandler#81 meant it in good-humor and was just starting a dialog but, when the piling on started, was it not expected that I would post a reply or two? Am I not allowed to do so? Don't you think that some were actually trying to entice me to do so??? Frankly, I find any accusations of ' crusading ' about anything on TSW to be disingenuous, hypocritical, and self-righteous - and usually coming from folks who either (1) have ' a bone to pick ' with the poster, and/or (2) disagree with and don't like the opinion being proffered. They're also quite frequently from someone usually involved in some small crusade of their own. (I see very few accusations - i.e., none - about crusading in the hundreds of threads and thousands of posts regardind St. Andrew )

Had the Bills not signed Merriman, RW would have been further vilified as a cheap scumbag owner worried only about the bottom line, rather than winning games (But wait, I thought it was better to lose games? ) Good for Ralph - and Mary - the Wilsons have been very generous to WNY over the Bills 50-year existence here.

Yes, you're right - I should not have referred to you as ' son ' - that was condescending, and I apologize. It's just that the arument and rationale in your initial post seemed young, immature, and uninformed - much like they do in this, your latest proffer. But I will refrain from calling you that in the future, young man. Yes, there is that small matter! (That just happens to be the foundation of Leach's entire action against Texas Tech - everything else is just his lawyer's ' piling on ', as attorneys are sometimes wont to do. ) Yes, this is where your statement begin to meander in multiple directions, in an attempt to support a poorly conceived argument, and why is I consider it the product of a young mind. None of what you cite as ' facts' are supported by the voluminous depositions - the very depositions which now gave Leach the impetus to expand his action and include Craig James, ESPN, and Swiftboat Communications. A proverbial ' house of cards ' that collapses quickly unto itself at the very outset of your précis, as aboslutely none of what you proffer as a ' summary ' is in any way factual, as I previously stated. Yes we will. You have ' staked ' your young ground, and I have made my complete disagreement quite clear. The upcoming weeks will prove who's in the kiddie pool without his flotation device.

Complications from pneumonia??? That's no way to die... “A parachute not opening… that’s a way to die. Getting caught in the gears of a combine… having your nuts bit off by a Laplander, that’s the way I wanna go!” - Lt. Frank Drebin From his NY Times obit - In keeping with his adopted comic persona, when Mr. Nielsen in 1993 published an autobiography, “Naked Truth,” it was one that cheerfully, blatantly fabricated events in his life. They included two Academy Awards, an affair with Elizabeth Taylor and a stay at a rehabilitation center, battling dopey-joke addiction. link Hard to imagine anyone not liking his style of comedy - I thought the short-lived ' Police Squad ' TV-series (the basis for the Naked Gun movies) was some of the funniest and most clever comedy ever. Leslie Nielsen’s Genius Extended Far Beyond Silly Gags RIP, Drebin.

Ah yes...you're right. And how did that decision to hire Shannon over Leach work out for Ms. Shalala? ...Mike Leach pursued the Miami job, and when university president Donna Shalala asked for a reference, Leach listed Donald Trump. When Shalala ignored Trump's letter of recommendation and hired Randy Shannon instead, Trump called. He pretty much called her an apprentice. As it turned out, though, Shannon wasn't even able to make his own players understand what it means to wear the "U," and now he's out of a job, fired after four seasons as head coach. I love The Onion, but don't think I'm Cynical enough to write for them, so I try to stick to providing factual information. Right you are again... Over the past month, I've been told by several sources who have a vested interest in UM that Georgia's Mark Richt and former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach are at the top of UM's wish list. We'll see if that comes to fruition. (Link - Shannon out as coach at UM-Manny Navaro, Miami Herald) Now, if only Leach had a close friend with some pull at ' The U ' - probably someone closely connected with their football program would be even better - if that guy was somehow connected with Miami's former success, that might be even more helpful...dang, can't think of anyone like that. Can you? (Maybe this guy?)

Yes, the difference here is that Texas Tech DOES want to settle - obviously they think their position has weakened over the past few months. Just 4 months ago, Dicky Grigg, Texas Tech’s lawyer, said: "Mike Leach would have you believe that this was part of some great conspiracy going back to when the contract was signed last February. That is ridiculous, and is just a desperate attempt to distract you from the plain and simple truth. He would still be the coach at Texas Tech today but for the fact that he made a terrible decision when he irresponsibly placed a student-athlete with a brain concussion in small dark rooms for over two hours on two separate occasions. He breached his contract and was terminated as a result of his bad decisions, his insubordination and his refusal to help resolve this situation." Leach/Liggitt countered with: Leach's attorney, Ted Liggett, said Friday he wants the case to go to trial and that the damages Leach would be seeking aren't yet determined. "It would be reckless of me to hazard a guess at that now other than to say that figure is getting bigger every day," he said. "Every day that Mike is out of work ... raises the damages model." “We’ll go to trial in a heartbeat, and we’re excited about it,” Leach said in a telephone interview this week. “Beside the obvious fact we’ll be made whole by the contract and the facts prove that, it will also provide a public opportunity to clear my name.” And this past weak, TT attorney Grigg seems to have softened his earlier statement considerably (more like a 180-degree turnaround): “It takes two to settle. I think that this thing would be better for both sides to get it over with and move on.” Quite clearly, Leach has somehow gained the upper hand on Texas Tech and is now going after the folks who instigated and then propagated the whole vile canard - Craig James, ESPN, and Swiftboat, er, Spaeth Communications... Mike Leach files libel, slander suit against ESPN, PR firm

I have no idea what he'll do, now that he's a top condidate for the Miami job - might be a good idea to get the suits out of the way, but Leach shows no signs of wanting to settle even though Texas Tech seems inclined to do just that. BTW, Leach is not representing himself - he has a team of Texas pit-bull lawyers from the firm of Ted Liggitt... Another Side: Exclusive Interview with Ted Liggett, Fired Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach's Attorney

Well, the Tech v. A&M thing was running out of steam - provided some great moments and quotes, though - but I guess it's time for Leach to get under someone else's skin! As for 'itching' to get back, that I'm not so sure about... Leach lying low in Key West However, I'll stick by my prediction - Leach will be head coach at 'The U' this Fall... Underachieving Shannon out, but Miami can quickly be relevant again

Marecic is the kind of slavic FB/ILB/Special Teams standout that BuffTown would fall in love with in an instant! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnzmNUcLG2M

Ah...I see...that must be why Texas Tech wants to settle, and Leach doesn't Spoken like an soldier, that just got beat by a pirate...

You are a wise man, Sage - and I am prepared. Thanksgiving weekend - homecoming game - throwback uni's - Fitz, 300 yards, 3 TDs... Bills 30 Steelers 6 GO BILLSSS!!!! Why So SERIOUS?????

I disagree, especially after the Badgers 3 consecutive blowouts - Indiana 83-20(29 consecutive running plays), Michigan 48-28, and Northwestern 70-23. Carimi one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy - Award given to nation's best interior lineman In fact, after everyone sees him in the Rose Bowl, the Bills may have to trade up to get him in the 1st round! (Since we'll be drafting somewhere between #12 - #15 spot )