Memories of Super Bowls past

There was an interesting piece on former Steelers coach Chuck Noll on ESPN.com this week.

Since the Steelers are appearing in their seventh Super Bowl in a little more than seven days, it is fitting someone tries to talk with the one coach that has four rings.

Noll was not available, as it indicates in the story. He seemingly has moved on from football and is concentrating on his other interests during his retirement.

I agree Noll is one of the most underrated football coaches of all time. I believe he is overlooked because he had nine Hall of Famers on his teams in the late 1970s, when he won four titles in six years. Noll had to take all that talent and point it in the right direction. It's easy to have a lot of talent and still lose.

But I wonder whether the Steelers of that era could have been better. My father, a long-time Steelers season ticket holder and witness to the Immaculate Reception, second-guesses Noll all the time. He argues the Steelers could have won the Super Bowl in 1976, the year most experts believe the Steel Curtain defense was at its best.

Running backs Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier got injured in the divisional playoffs when the game was over. In the AFC Championship, the Steelers couldn't handle the Raiders with no running game. My dad argues, the team should not have been in a position to loose two starting running backs.

I wonder why Noll could not put together another great team after that six-year stretch. Of course, no one could expect him to draft another nine Hall of Famers. But the Steelers never competed on that high a level again during his tenure, appearing in only one AFC Championship after 1980 -- a loss to the Miami Dolphins in 1984.

I'm really nit-picking what is a great legacy. I could make similar arguments about the legacy of Bill Cowher, Noll's successor. He made only two Super Bowl appearances despite six AFC Championship appearances. And five of those games were at home.

Noll was a great coach, no question. One of the best ever. He was not the offensive genius like Bill Walsh. He also wasn't flamboyant like Bill Parcells or Mike Ditka. Noll was a great judge of talent. And maybe most important, he was exactly what that team needed. He determined how the Steelers could play their best and then got out of the way. He wanted the focus on the players.

The other game in town

When I was an IU student, men's basketball was the only full-time thought for most people once football season ended. Actually it probably was the only thought for most people during football season, too. Even national championship-calibre teams like the men's soccer team took a back seat to men's basketball.

There also is a women's basketball team on campus. While this team doesn't have the history or tradition as Hoosier men's basketball, four NCAA tournament appearances and no national championships, it happens to be playing better than the men's team this season.

The women's team is in first place in the Big Ten and has a 14-3 overall record. Its 7-1 conference mark is the team's best start ever. Yet this team is playing in front of almost nobody. On Jan. 19, when IU knocked off Purdue in Assembly Hall to take over first place, there were 4,112 fans at the game. It was the largest crowd of the season.

The Lady Hoosiers clearly are a Bloomington gem waiting to be discovered. 4,112 people fill 23.5 percent of the Assembly Hall seating capacity, which is more than 17,400. You could probably hear the ball bouncing on the floor the entire game. This is a first-place team.

A loss to Xavier on Nov. 16 brought 506 fans. The smallest crowd for a men's basketball game this season, which includes the current 8-game losing streak, is 10,701 for the Dec. 22 loss to Northeastern.

Am I calling for 17,000 fans to show up for every game? No. But isn't it time someone jumped on this bandwagon? And as the IU athletic department works to fight revenue issues, women's basketball may be another opportunity.

A boisterous home crowd also likely will lead to more wins. More wins lead to better coaches and recruits, which leads to more post-season appearances. Purdue built its women's basketball program into a power and managed to win a national championship.

I don't think IU women's basketball can become the next Tennessee or UConn, but I think the program can become a consistent winner and NCAA tournament participant.

39 little words

Unless you've been living under a rock, you should know that Barack Obama will be inaugurated President of the United States tomorrow.

While there will be lots of ceremony, a speech and a parade, the most important item will last a handful of seconds. Obama will say 39 words:

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God."

Once the election is decided, that's all it takes to become the most powerful man in the world, commander-in-chief of the most well-equipped and trained military in the world and hold the keys to enough nuclear weapons to destroy the planet.

My wife and spent nearly an hour reading and signing papers to complete the purchase of our house once we spent days negotiating the price. I have spent several hours filling out and reading paperwork for a job once I managed to convince the company to hire me.

I suppose it's fitting the person taking over probably the toughest job ever conceived takes less than a minute to be installed.

But these words Obama and his 43 colleagues have spoken say volumes about what Americans expect from their leader. Obama will be expected no just to do his job, but do it to the best of his ability. As a media member, I can attest Americans spend a lot of time arguing over whether the president is in top form.

He also is expected to uphold the Constitution and its principals, the framework of the U.S. government. Obama will not be allowed to act as he chooses, he must obey the rules we have given him. That's not easy as we have seen with his immediate predecessor and others.

The president is an instrument of our government, not the master of it, and the oath is a testament to it. He is filling a job Americans open every four years. Tomorrow, we'll be reminded of exactly what we expect of our new employee with 39 words.

Championship Sunday

There will be a lot of these waving in Pittsburgh tonight. It's game day. Finally.

After listening to previews, analysis and predictions, we finally get to see a game between the Steelers and Ravens. This game has all the makings of a classic. In fact it reminds me of the mid-1970s, when the Steelers and Raiders played some classic AFC Championships.

This was one of the best, from the 1975 game at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. This clip is a touchdown by Franco Harris.

Another clip from the game, this one a touchdown catch by John Stallworth.

The best part about both rivalries has been the quality of the play. Both teams hit hard and were successful. This year, the Steelers won both regular season games, but each was close. It is fitting both are back for a third match-up.

Expect few points to be scored in the cold Pittsburgh weather. I may be biased, but I think the Steelers can get it done. The game will be close again, but I think the Steelers can make the plays when the game is on the line.

Hopefully they'll be lots of celebrating tonight in Heinz Field.

When will it pay off?

As I watch the IU-Penn State game, I keep hearing a lot about effort.

"Nobody will work as hard as (Coach Tom Crean's) Hoosier team," the analyst says.

At some point, shouldn't we expect something from all that effort? When will the Hoosiers finally get a break? When will the other team not make a 3-pointer on every possession in the first half? When will the Hoosiers get a win as some tangible evidence for all this effort I hear so much about?

The Hoosiers have lost seven straight games. Most of those losses have been ugly and painful. IU is last in the Big Ten in field goal percentage and three-point shooting percentage and scoring average. The team is ninth in free throws made and last in three pointers made, a full 15 shots by 10th place Michigan State.

The team does play hard and I appreciate it. Maybe I'm a little frustrated with the Hoosier mistakes, with how opponents always seem to play like national champions.

I just hope they can put it all together sometime this season. I'm already sick of the analyst talk as the Hoosiers fall farther behind:

"You better get your shots in now," they say. "This team will be back."

Update: The Hoosiers hung tough and had a chance to win, but ultimately lost to Penn State 65-55.

The NFL playoffs are upon us...

Yet our friends in Minneapolis don't seem to have got the message. The Vikings are desperately trying to move the remaining tickets so the game will not be blacked-out in Minneapolis.

Did I miss something? Are Vikings fans spoiled from too many playoff appearances? This year, the team secured its first playoff berth since 2004 and first division title since 2000. If the team can sell out eight regular-season games, it surely can sell out one post-season game. These are the games fans wait all year to attend.

I was at the 2001 Bears game when the team clinched its first playoff appearance in what seemed like forever with a win over the Buccaneers. The announcement came over the loud speaker and the place went nuts. There was no question the playoff tickets would be gone in a heart beat, even though the team lost to the Eagles.

The Vikings face a good team in the Eagles, but they still have a good chance to win. Running back Adrian Peterson can beat teams by himself.

The Arizona Cardinals also risked black-out until Friday, when they finally sold all their playoff tickets. That team has been a perennial doormat for most of the decade, last appearing in the post-season since 1998. This year, the Cardinals won their first division title since 1975.

Fans in Phoenix don't seem to have an excuse, since the only post-season action that has happened there in recent memory is last year's Super Bowl, which was a neutral field. It has been mentioned Cardinals faithful may not be interested in seeing the team lose to the Atlanta Falcons this weekend. What kind of rationale is that? If that were the case, no one would buy playoff tickets to watch the Cubs play anyone in the MLB divisional playoffs.

Let's show a little faith, or, dare say it, a little heart. Somebody out there has to remind Minnesota and Arizona that "You gotta believe."

A hard lesson for a Michigan fan

It's New Year's Day, a day that always is circled for Michigan football fans. Too much drinking the night before is not advised, because you would not be in the proper condition. The Wolverines almost always had a bowl game on New Year's Day. Until this year's debacle, they had appeared in 30-some straight post-season games. But this year, they are sitting at home and some fans may be hoping they see a good prospect announce he will head to Ann Arbor in the High School All-American Game this weekend.

For me, and all Indiana football fans, watching New Year's Day football without the Hoosiers is common, and frankly, expected. But I remain interested in most of the games, particularly those involving Big Ten teams. Like now, I'm watching Iowa dominate South Carolina early in the Outback Bowl. I'm interested not because I'm an Iowa fan, but because I'm a Big Ten fan. If our conference does well in the bowl season, we all gain a little more respect. And in my mind, maybe I can rationalize some of the Hoosiers' 9 losses. Like now ... Iowa thumped IU 45-9 in Bloomington and now they're beating an above-average South Carolina team, maybe we weren't as bad as I thought.

If Penn State can upset USC later today in the Rose Bowl, then the IU 34-7 loss to the Nittany Lions appears justified and their first half performance in that game looks all the more impressive. The Hoosiers trailed 10-7 at halftime.

This is a new concept for my wife, who is a Michigan alum. She is used to looking forward to a big bowl game, the last few years the Rose Bowl, on New Year's Day. I had to explain why I root for the Big Ten during bowl season and I think it's starting to rub off. When the Hawkeyes scored a touchdown, I heard a "Go Big Ten" from the couch next to me.

She won't root for Ohio State during the Fiesta Bowl, however. I guess I can allow that.

More perspective on last year's team

Eric Gordon may not be playing for the Hoosiers, but he is making news about them today in the Indianapolis Star.

If what he said is true, it changes the way I viewed that team and adds to the reasons for its downfall. Maybe placing all the blame on Kelvin Sampson is a mistake?

Finding a silver lining

The Hoosiers didn't look all that impressive in a 18-point loss at Kentucky. However, I still think I would pay to see this team.

The game was won within the first 10 minutes of the game. After going nearly 7 minutes before scoring a point, IU found itself down 23 points at halftime, 36-13. It was the second half where the Hoosiers showed me something.

How many times have we seen a team go into halftime down a ton of points and just packed it in going into the second half? The Hoosiers came out with more grit and began to chip away at the huge Wildcat lead. It was helped by UK falling into a general malaise that led to sloppy play. The Wildcats shot 57 percent in the first half, but it decreased to 42 percent in the second half. IU was able to up its shooting percentage from 23 percent to 48 percent in the second half. So it appeared they improved their offense and defense.

The Hoosiers never closed the deficit to less than 15 points. It was clear there were chances for them to get a lot closer had a few more shots fallen, over even some free throws. IU shot 8 for 17 from the free-throw line, a 47-percent rate. Kentucky shot 73 percent from the line, making 16 out of 20.

There may be no moral victories, but the Hoosiers can take some positive things away from this game. They did win the second half, 41-36 and outscored Kentucky in the paint. The Hoosiers also won the points-off-turnovers battle.

For the game, IU was out-rebounded by 8, but it could have been a lot worse. They had 20 turnovers, which is not stellar, but UK had 23.

Is it possible to call this a good loss? I didn't turn this game off thinking the Hoosiers were destitute. I think they may be getting better.

Notes from the game are here.

I think I would pay money to see these Hoosiers

As I wait through the final hour before the annual Indiana-Kentucky game, I began thinking about why I have come to enjoy watching these 5-4 Hoosiers.

I didn't start out all that excited about the team. I watched the blow-out by Notre Dame and Wake Forest and thought I would only be interested in maybe the first few minutes of an IU game this year. But then I saw them beat Cornell, hang with Gonzaga and then take apart TCU and became a little more optimistic.

This team appears to be improving. The first two blow-outs I mentioned, there was almost no rebounding. But against TCU, the team was all over the boards. My only complaint now is they miss too many lay-ups for my taste.

The key thing for me is I can see the effort the players give each night. And it appears other fans can as well. After a 16-point loss to Gonzaga (don't kid yourself, that game was a lot closer that the final score), the team got a standing ovation from the Lucas Oil Stadium crowd. They may not the most-talented team, but these Hoosiers appear to give the winning effort for 40 minutes a game. I'm not sure we could say that about previous years' Hoosiers.

Terry Hutchens in today's Indianapolis Star wonders whether this year's team could emulate the early 90's Kentucky teams. Then UK coach Rick Pitino inherited a team banned from the post-season with a bunch of young players. The rebuilding job was complete by 1992, when UK got to the regional finals of the NCAA tournament and lost what is considered one of greatest college basketball games ever played.

I don't think these Hoosiers have that much potential, but I still applaud the effort. As another friend of mine said this morning, people want to see them play this year because they appreciate the underdog. I hope they can get maybe one or two quality wins this year to boost their confidence.

And hopefully I'll be able to witness that big effort this year, because it won't be long before tickets will be hard to come by again.

A new story

I have completed a short story. It is one of my first real attempts at fiction.

I called it "A Familiar Scene from a Bar."

Enjoy, and let me know what you think.

Root for Mizzu and Florida today

If you are a true college football fan, you should be rooting for Missouri and Florida to win their conference championships today.

Missouri plays BCS No. 2 Oklahoma today in the Big 12 title game, while BCS No. 4 Florida plays No. 1 Alabama in the SEC championship. A win by Florida leaves all the contenders with a loss, forcing a complicated computer and pollsters formula to decide which two teams deserve a to play for the national championship.

I have written in this blog before that I want a playoff in the college football bowl subdivision. And later this month I will stage my fantasy college football tournament. For the health of college football, the BCS needs to be thrown in to chaos and put more pressure on the powers-that-be to create a playoff system.

Assuming the Tigers and Gators win today, it would give a lot of teams a claim to a title-game spot. And the arguments aren't as long-winded as you might think.

• Florida should into the title game by knocking off the No. 1 team, and they likely would deserve a spot. But the loss to Ole Miss, at home no less, still weighs on me.
• A Missouri win would knock Oklahoma out of the discussion. Texas, BCS No. 3, has one loss and beat Oklahoma in the regular season, but how can you put a team in the national championship game that couldn't win their conference division? Texas beat Oklahoma and Missouri during the regular season. That should count for something.
• Texas Tech, BCS No. 7, also has a claim, because they beat Texas. But are you really going to put a run-and-shoot football team in the national championship after they gave up 60-plus points to Oklahoma?
• USC, BCS No. 5, clinches the PAC 10 title today with a win over UCLA. The Trojans' only loss is to Oregon State on the road. But the lack of quality competition in the PAC 10 has kept them out in the past. It seems to me they would have a beef if they are kept out of the game.
• Nobody believes Penn State, BCS No. 8, should be included in the national championship discussion because the Nitnany Lions didn't play anyone except Ohio State and Oregon State. I am a Big Ten fan, an Indiana alum, but rationally it's hard to say Penn State doesn't have a shot at the national championship. The lions beat Ohio State on the road and their only loss was to Iowa on the road on a last-second field goal. Florida's only loss was a home.
• Utah and Boise State, BCS Nos. 6 and 9, respectively, are undefeated. If I root for those teams, I would feel a little cheated. They beat everyone on their schedule. Both are faulted by their lack of competition in conference. How do you solve that problem?

In this scenario, there are arguments against EVERY potential national champion. The key problem is the voters and computers are forced to make a decision. If they would settle it on the field with a tournament, the teams make the decision for them. There are no beefs, no politicking, no complaints about writers changing votes.

When will college football wake up? Institute a playoff.

Are the Hoosiers the Big Ten's worst football team?

I began thinking about this yesterday after watching (thankfully only bits and pieces) another IU beating, this time at the hands of Purdue. For a while I thought it was a no-brainer, the Hoosiers and Boilermakers had the worst conference records going into the game, and the Boilers won. So IU clearly was the worst team in the Big Ten. But then I watched Michigan lay another egg against Ohio State and I thought there may be another contender.

Michigan's offensive struggles were legendary, as were IU's defensive struggles. Michigan and Indiana didn't play each other. So I began to wonder who was worse.

Indiana finished 3-9 with one conference win over Northwestern. That included non-conference losses to Ball State and Central Michigan. Michigan also was 3-9, but tallied two conference wins over Wisconsin and Minnesota. Their non-conference losses included Toledo, Utah and Notre Dame.

In terms of quality wins, Michigan gets the nod. One win was on the road and another was against a bowl-bound team. One of IU's wins came against a team with less wins than it (Western Kentucky) and another was against a non-FBS school. The third came against a bowl-bound team.

Offensively, the Hoosiers get the nod. The two teams averaged about 21 points per game, but IU was better in total offense than Michigan, 348 to 291 yards per game. The Hoosiers had almost 40 yards passing per game and 20 yards rushing per game more than Michigan.

Defensively, the Wolverines were much better. Michigan gave up 367 yards per game in total defense, while the Hoosiers gave up 432 yards per game.

According to the statistics compiled at Bigten.org, the Hoosiers were worst in the conference in 12 categories: scoring defense, pass defense, total defense, pass defense efficiency, opponent first downs, fourth down conversions, opponents fourth down conversions, red zone offense, opponents third down conversions, sacks against, field goals, and time of possession.

Michigan was the conference worst in seven categories: scoring offense, pass offense, turnover margin, total offense, pass efficiency, first downs, and third down conversions.

I would say settle this on the field or the XBox, but would you really want to see this game? Unfortunately, I suspect the IU defense would not be able to contain the Rich-Rod spread and the Wolverine defense would keep Kellen Lewis and Co. in check.

My fantasy prediction: Michigan wins 17-14.

Refections on a forgettable season

After another beating, this time at the hands of Penn State, the Hoosiers head to Purdue this weekend. Most of us Hoosier football fans are hoping this game goes quickly so we can wake up from this nightmare.

The funny thing about this match-up, is that it's not a mismatch. Purdue has struggled just as much as IU has this year. If the Hoosiers can put together some defense and get some quality quarterback play, this game could be tight.

There are no bowl games on the line this year, just the Old Oaken Bucket. Unfortunately, it also is Purdue coach Joe Tiller's last game. That means the players will be emotionally up for this one.

The Boilers also are second in the Big Ten in passing yards per game, averaging 229 a game, which could pose a problem for the depleted IU secondary. But Purdue is last in points per game.

IU isn't much better in that department, at less than point per game better. But their offense is more balanced than Purdue. If the IU defense can stop or slow down the Purdue passing game, namely quarterback Curtis Painter, they could have a shot.

IU has not won on the road this year and I don't think that will change this week. Tiller goes out in style and IU finishes the season in last place in the Big Ten.

Soon, I'll be able to put all my energy into IU basketball. Is that such a good thing?

Badgered and tortured

The IU defense was run over this week. Wisconsin thumped the Hoosiers 55-20. The second half was the back-breaker. Wisconsin scored 31 points, the Hoosiers none.

I've said it for several weeks: teams cannot win without at least a little defense. IU has a couple defensive linemen who are playing well, namely Jammie Kirlew, but a sack here and there is not enough. The IU defense gave up 601 total yards, including 443 yards rushing. Wisconsin rushed for almost twice as many yards than the entire IU offense.

The lack of offense can be attributed to injury once again. Ben Chappell was hurt on a QB sneak late in the first half. He was near the goal line, took a hard hit and fumbled. Instead of the Hoosiers taking the lead (they were down one point at the time), they gave up a field goal and trailed by four at halftime.

Wisconsin running back David Gilreath averaged 21 yards per rush, including a 90-yard run in the third quarter that really ended the game. He ran for 168 yards on 8 carries and P.J. Hill ran for another 127 yards, scoring three touchdowns.

Now the Hoosiers have allowed 400 total yards or more in six of their seven losses. Hopefully the coaching staff knows what to look for on the recruiting trail.

Where is the love?

When I was an IU student 14 years ago, I had to get in line to get my season tickets for men's basketball. We marked our calendars for the day we could pick them up. I even remember jumping for joy in 1995 when learned I would be sitting on the floor for a game against Michigan. By the way, I even appeared on ESPN. I was signaling a three-pointer when the now infamous Neil Reed made in the first half. ESPN used the shot in their lead-in to a commercial break during halftime.

Imagine my surprise when I saw a commercial on the IU Web site advertising student tickets for men's basketball. And this story appeared in today Indiana Daily Student. Four thousand student ticket packages are unsold and now available to the general public.

We all know the Hoosiers are going to struggle this year and may not have a winning record. But that is not a reason for students to abandon the team. IU basketball is not inconsistent like IU football. Five national championships, nine final fours, more NCAA tournament berths than I can count. The tradition is there. And Assembly Hall is what makes it really special.

The students are who make it tough to play in Assembly Hall. Get out there and buy some tickets.

Print is dead, right?

Not after last night's election. According to this post from Poynter.org, you couldn't find a copy of the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post or New York Times in their respective cities.

Journalism may be shifting to the Internet, but newspapers still provide permanency. Our words will be remembered, and cherished, because they can be kept in shoe boxes, closets and basements.

I don't think too many people are saving Web pages that appeared this morning.

No bowling date this year

I don't have to hope any more this year.

The Hoosiers lost to Central Michigan 37-34. The Hoosiers stand at 3-6 with three games to go. A .500 record still is possible, but consecutive wins over Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue seem highly unlikely, if not impossible.

It was another embarrassing display for the IU defense. Big-time CMU QB Dan LeFevor didn't even play, but the back-up rolled up 485 yards passing. CMU accumulated 522 total yards for the game. The Hoosiers now have allowed more than 400 yards in five of their six losses. It is the second time in three games the Hoosiers have allowed more than 500 total yards.

What's worse is IU was winning the game in the fourth quarter, and after holding CMU to two field goals, gave up the game-winning touchdown. The Hoosiers also spent most of the game running the ball (43 attempts for 272 yards), a move to keep the CMU offense off the field, and still could not control the time of possession battle. CMU held the ball for 33:19, IU for 26:41.

The fix is becoming increasingly clear. Better defense, check that, any defense, will lead to more wins. The magic number for total yards allowed appears to be 400. More and its usually a loss, less and it could be a win.

Next week: Wisconsin is in town, smarting from a last-second loss to Michigan State. But you know what the best medicine for that is, right?

Studs Terkel -- RIP

Chicago literary giant Studs Terkel died today at 96.

Aside from being a popular radio and TV personality, he also was a Pulitzer Prize winning writer. I had one of his books signed when he came to speak in Woodstock, Ill., but I was not able to talk to him. My friend Dan was able to get a couple seconds with him.

Dan asked if he had any advice for a young reporter: "Yes. Keep giving 'em hell," he said. I think Terkel inspired him.

Studs now is reunited with his wife Ida, who died in 1999. Rest in peace.

Here is the official Studs Terkel Web site.

What's that? IU won?

Yes, the Hoosiers squeaked past No. 22 Northwestern, 21-19 in Bloomington.

This will go down as an upset on paper, but Northwestern probably didn't deserve a ranking. They have won six games, but haven't beaten anybody. The Wildcats biggest win was at Iowa, a team that now is 5-3.

The Hoosiers played well in the game, especially on the defensive side. After giving up more than 400 yards four of the last five weeks, the defense gave up 316 this week. They got two interceptions and recovered three fumbles.

The offense out-gained Northwestern, amassing 319 total yards with no turnovers. Nearly all of that came through the air, with Ben Chappell throwing for 219 yards.

It's easy to say win will help the Hoosiers get back on track, especially after I predicted no more wins after last week's loss to Illinois. There may be one or two wins left this season. Next week is home against Central Michigan, which is a potential win. CMU 6-2 after beating Toledo by one today. They did lose to Purdue, so it is possible with a quality defensive effort IU could get win number four.

Wisconsin is playing bad enough lately to keep IU in the game on Nov. 8, but Penn State is going to spank the Hoosiers and I just don't see IU beating Purdue on the road in Joe Tiller's last game.

It was a nice win this week over a good team, but this will not turn the season around. IU's fate has been sealed.