Fixing the Star Wars Prequels

 

I’m doing a treadmill rewatch of the Star Wars movies and just finished the prequel trilogy.  I didn’t misremember, the first two are bad, but I was once again struck by how relatively good Revenge of the Sith is, despite having to deal with the issues of the first two.  Sith manages to make Anakin and Palpatine’s relationship completely believable and his turn makes complete sense in that context.  It establishes his worrying about Padme, his resentment of the Jedi Counsel, his fondness for Palpatine and further resentment of what Counsel asks him to do.  Palpatine preys on that by creating a plausible set of alternative facts about the Jedi motives that play to Anakin’s ego and offers an aspirational plan to bring peace to the galaxy.  And the backdrop of all this, is offering Anakin hope for protecting Padme. 

 

                All this was done well and yet, it could have had so much more power if the prequels had been good movies that built better to this conclusion.  The Phantom Menace is a bad movie that has the bones of a decent story.  Attack of the Clones is a disastrous movie, with a meandering plot we care little about and an awkward love story that is completely unnatural in how it plays out.  It’s to me one of the biggest failures in movie history.  Here’s how I think the Prequels should have gone:

 

The Phantom Menace (Episode 1)

 

                The Phantom Menace should have been better as some of the broad structural ideas of the movie work well.  In the context of the series, this movie is about the Jedi finding Anakin and choosing to teach him.  It’s also about Palpatine emerging as a major power player on the galactic scene and to a lesser extent creating the story of how Anakin met Luke and Leia’s mother.  These are smart, reasonable, achievable goals to open a prequel trilogy.  As a result you can see the bones of a movie that works. 

                However, the problems are enormous:

1.  Jar Jar Binks and the Gungans as a whole are horribly portrayed.  Jar Jar is basically there for comic relief, but isn’t funny in the least.  The Gungans seem moderately incompetent.  The idea of this underwater civilization being part of Naboo is fine and could have worked if they’d made any effort to make that civilization believable and their participation in the story matter. 

2.  Anakin is too young.  He should be a teenager at the very least.  It would work better for the Padme/Anakin relationship and it could produce a more complicated early relationship with the Jedi, which I’ll explain in a minute. 

3.  Anakin should have more agency in the final battle.  His involvement shouldn’t be an accident. 

 

New story:

 

                Jedi are sent to Naboo to convince the Trade Federation to make peace with Queen Amidala and the Naboo.  They stumble into an invasion.  (The initial setup is fine).  The Jedi sneak down to the planet rescue Queen Amidala from the invading army (see we’re still good).  They end up on Tatooine and need a ship part to get the Queen to Coruscant. 

                Jedi discover a 16 year old Anakin, a slave (and sure podracer that was fun enough).  Qui-Gon senses his strength in the force, his instincts/the force tell him Anakin matters.  Sure get into the prophecy…don’t run his blood for midichlorians.   Have teen Anakin friendly and interested in the Jedi, but also questioning things immediately like, “if the Jedi are so powerful and just, why are my mom and I in slavery. Isn’t that something the Jedi should have eradicated?” 

                When Qui-Gon reveals he has freed Anakin from bondage it shouldn’t just be a question about whether his mom is going or not.  Anakin should be arguing with the Jedi to take her.  He should be questioning why they can’t just free her, take her without consent of the slave owner.  He should be forceful that is what is right.  And his mom should convince him to go without her.  Also Padme should comfort him on the way to Coruscant and she should also say she doesn’t understand why the Jedi can’t save his mother, but the Jedi have their own way. 

                All of that is important because we are setting up Anakin early on to be both in awe of the Jedi and wanting to be a Jedi, but also to question why the Jedi do things the way they do.  We’re giving Anakin a reason to blame the Jedi when his mother dies in the next movie (though not fully and not turn on them yet).  We are giving Anakin and Padme an important, tender moment when he can see her on his side (it should not be romantic at this point).   And using their unwillingness to free slaves, we’re giving him a reason to think his being powerful can do more good than the Jedi down the road. 

                Going to Coruscant, most of what happens there is fine.  How Palpatine becomes Chancellor is probably the biggest thing episode one got right.  Nobody had to explain each of his maneuvers but you could see how all the conflict had been put in place to benefit him and you could see how nobody would have discovered him yet (this is a problem in episode 2 that I’ll get into).  Everything is set up for Padme to go back and save the Naboo people. 

                Padme reveals herself to the Gungans (who again in the new movie would be portrayed as competent, different kind of society, separate but a part of that world) and negotiates their assistance.  The end battle scene plays out similarly but with 1.  Less comic relief in the Gungan battle and 2. More agency from Anakin.  The Qui-Gon / Obi-Wan Darth Maul fight is kind of perfect.  Leave it the way it is. 

Prior to the fight Qui-Gon tells Anakin to get the empty fighter and stay there.  Anakin gets in but stubbornly decides he can help more by flying the damn thing.  He fires it up, takes out some battle droids in the hanger, then flies out to battle.  Anakin senses what must be done to destroy the ship and stop the droid army then executes it. 

Now we have a movie that has:

1.        Introduced us to Anakin, our tragic protagonist who we know will turn.

2.       Introduced Anakin to the Jedi, who take him under their wing.

3.       Created a basis for resentment and shown that Anakin already has reason to question how the Jedi operate. 

4.       Adjusted the age to create a more compelling relationship between Padme and Anakin. 

5.       Kept the circumstances that work regarding Palpatine and his first big steps toward becoming emperor. 

We ditched the flaws and brought forth the strengths and in doing so made The Phantom Menace a very compelling movie. 

 

Attack of the Clones (Episode 2)

 

                Unlike The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones is just an utter disaster from beginning to end, with little redeeming about it. 

1. Its love story feels forced and contrived. 

2. The general plot doesn’t do enough to advance Anakin’s turn / relationship with Palpatine

3.  The story makes the Jedi look completely incompetent because they still are failing to recognize or even really suspect that Palpatine could be a threat. 

4.  Dooku feels extraneous, like a villain added to buy time for the Palpatine confrontation in the final movie. 

5.  The need to shoehorn in Janga/Boba Fett felt like fan service to the fullest extent. 

 

About the only important development in Attack of the Clones is the creation of the clone army and putting it in control of the senate / Palpatine.  Anyways, I have a thin outline of a movie I think addresses these issues and properly builds toward Revenge of the Sith.

 

New Story:

 

The scroll discusses the ongoing war and toll it is taking on the Republic’s resources.  Many in the senate are looking to end the war and are introducing a truce with the trade federation for the Senate’s consideration (that has favorable terms for the trade federation).  Chancellor Palpatine has suggested the purchase of a Clone army to lessen the toll on republic soldiers and not give into the demands of the trade federation, but the Jedi Council has grown concerned about Palpatine’s power and what this purchase might mean…

This centers the story around Palpatine vs. the Jedi counsel, while introducing the idea of the Clone Army from the jump.  I’d start out with a scene between Anakin and Palpatine where Palpatine is discussing the dangers of giving into the Trade Federation demands.  Maybe some points that this will expand slavery in the fringes of the galaxy.  Anakin discussing how master Obi-Wan is worried about more bloodshed and Palpatine stressing Jedi have their purpose, but are often too indecisive to bring true peace to the galaxy.  Palpatine asks for Anakin’s help bringing Padme on board with rejecting the truce, stressing she could be the key, and pointing out that Padme and Anakin have been friends since Naboo and she trusts him.  Anakin makes no promises, says he must discuss it with Obi-Won.

I envision a scene where Obi-Won and Anakin are discussing this and there is an attack on Obi-Won’s life which we later find out was Palpatine trying to get rid of the only Jedi Anakin fully and absolutely trusts.  Anakin saves him, as he has done many times and they banter about how he always saves him. Obi-Won speaks to the counsel about what Anakin told him, the counsel pushes Obi-Won to have Anakin spy on Palpatine but Obi-Won knows Anakin and for this movie convinces them they cannot ask that of him.  Jedi Counsel sends Obi-Won to investigate the Clone Army believing Palpatine could be hiding something.  Anakin wants to go, but Obi-Won tells him to be patient, await his return.  He asks if Anakin will be seeing Padme.  Anakin says yes, Obi-Won tells Anakin he senses issues that could arise from that and to be careful, says the counsel does not want him to take sides between Palpatine and the representatives wanting a Truce. 

Padme and Anakin’s relationship in this movie isn’t built on them hiding away on Naboo but on their interactions regarding the Truce and real political discussions that spark Padme’s curiosity.  She confides in him about her concerns for the republic and the consolidation of power under Palpatine.  He makes arguments on Palpatine’s behalf, stressing he knows he shouldn’t disagree with the counsel that wants him to take no side.  His arguments sound reason, Padme appreciates his openness with her.  He eventually confides in her about his dreams about his mother.  She convinces him to go to Tatooine to find her.    

We get a scene with Count Dooku and the Emperor where Palpatine reveals the Jedi are getting too close and too suspicious of him.  He tells Count Dooku it is time to reveal himself and draw their attention.  He also reveals he believes Anakin is the key to their destroying the jedi.  He tells Dooku his attempt to take out Obi-Won failed, but that Obi-Won is going to investigate the Clone Army and Dooku should reveal himself there and kill him. 

These changes specifically make the Jedi seem more competent in that they suspect Palpatine earlier, but also show Palpatine’s cunning in using Dooku as their false enemy to distract from himself.  I think this is better use of Dooku.  It creates an early confrontation between Obi-Won and Dooku.  In the meantime Anakin arrives on Tatooine and there is a similar scene from AofC where he discovery her death and kills everyone.  He comes back and again confides in Padme.  She comforts him. 

We get a confrontation between Obi-Won and Dooku, but Dooku escapes…  Obi-Won tracks him back to a huge droid army and notifies the counsel that he believes he has found the Sith behind everything.  He says they need to send the biggest army they have and some Jedi for assistance in taking out the Droid army and apprehending Dooku.  When Anakin finds out he notifies Palpatine who uses it to convince the Senate to authorize the Droid army’s approval.  There’s a huge battle, Anakin and others confront Dooku who again escapes, but it is a victory for the Clone Army. 

This story makes more narrative sense, it solves many problems of episode 2, it makes the Jedi look more competent, it creates a more natural opportunity for Padme and Anakin’s love to blossom (and the changes from Episode one don’t make that seem so creepy).  It shows Palpatine’s focus on Anakin in more depth and develops Anakin’s relationship with Palpatine.  It also shows the conflict between Anakin and the counsel, but the connection and trust between Obi-Won and Anakin. 

 

Episode I and II were huge lost opportunities.  Episode III holds up remarkably well despite those missed opportunities, but these changes would strengthen that movie even more as we’d better believe Padme/Anakin’s bond.  We’d understand how Palpatine continued to deceive the Jedi as he gained power.  We’d also see more of Palpatine’s attempts to corrupt Anakin from early on.  Obviously this is a skeleton story.  There are plenty of other scenes that could be added that fit within these parameters but I think this would have told a better story that fit better into the story of the Emperor’s rise and Anakin’s corruption. 

Bearcats Have a Path to Victory

 

I don’t have much time for writing about my Bearcats these days, but with an historic matchup just around the corner and minimal hearings this week I decided to take some time and give my thoughts. 

 

How The Bearcats Got Here

 

                Before we dive into the game, let’s take a little time to appreciate the journey.  The program bottomed out in the late 80s before Tim Murphy came to resurrect it.  Murphy redshirted an entire class, took a ton of losses and in his final year (before leaving for Harvard) raised them to an 8-3 record.  Then leaving the independent ranks for Conference USA and finding Rick Minter, an average/above average coach not good enough to leave, but good enough at identifying talented players and assistants to compete, stabilized the program.  A ton of great players and coaches came through during the Minter/Murphy stretch.  (I celebrated that era in THIS post)  After that 8-3 season the Bearcats were rarely too bad, but never particularly great.  It was a stable, solid program waiting for something big.

                Something big would come in the form of a Big East invite.  The invite made possible by an elite basketball program, a stabilized, solid football program, and the foresight of Bob Goin and Joe Steger investing in the future of UC athletics.  UC moved on from Minter, bringing in Dantonio who built a foundation that their next coach used for thrust the Bearcats onto the national scene.  Brian Kelly brought the fans to Nippert in year 1, he brought the program to a BCS Bowl in year 2 (behind maybe the MOST IMPORTANT 3 game stretch in UC football history) and he ran the table in year 3 leaving the Bearcats one agonizing Big 12 second from playing for a National Championship.  (I wrote about the season in depth in 2019 here are my 2 favorite pieces:  Experiencing Bearcat Football... and One Impossible Season... )

                What Kelly built, Butch Jones mostly kept intact.  There were more slipups and a noticeable dropoff, but they still shared 2 more Big East Championships.  Then the Big East collapsed, the AAC was born (a tweener conference that offered respite while UC desperately looked for an exit), Butch left and the program collapsed under Tuberville.  But the collapse proved temporary, as the program had not lost the luster from its rise.  The right coach could bring it back, and Luke Fickell was just that. 

                After a 4-8 debut season (that could have been much worse) focused on building the culture and creating a foundation, Fickell has done nothing but win.   The insertion of Freshman QB Des Ridder led to a surprise with at the Rose Bowl to open 2018.  A young Bearcat team took advantage of a so-so schedule and an ability to win close games to finish 11-2, capping it off with a win over VT in the Military Bowl.  The following year the Bearcats again won 11 games, winning the AAC East, but lost back to back weeks at Memphis (the second being the conference championship) to end the regular season.  The foundation had been laid for something bigger in 2020.

                Amidst a crazy COVID season the Bearcats were dominant.  They went 9-0, blasting nearly everyone in the AAC along the way.  They rocketed into the top ten of the human polls and several computer rankings and led nearly the entire way in the Peach Bowl before losing on a 53 yard field goal against Georgia.  That loss at the time was excruciating, but in many ways it could be the most important loss in Bearcat history.  After that loss, player after player seemed to decide to come back one more time.  The COVID season had offered an opportunity for players to get an extra season.  Between those players and other draft eligible players who would have been drafted coming back, UC was looking at an incredibly talented and exceptionally experienced team returning for 2021.  The expectations were enormous.

                And they met those expectations at every turn.  They won by 14 at Indiana despite a disastrous start fueled by penalties in their first game against a hostile crowd since 2019, finishing the game on a 38-10 run.  They built a 17 point lead at Notre Dame, one that should have been bigger but for some chip shot field goal misses, and held on to win by 11.  They dominated the best teams in the AAC beating UCF by 35, SMU by 34 and Houston by 15.  The Bearcats had a 99 or 100% postgame win expectancy in 11 of their 13 games according to SP+.  Their 2 lowest postgame win expectancies were 87% at Indiana and 88% against Tulsa.  In short, they were dominant all season. 

 

The Bearcats Belong

 

                The naysayers might be loud, but they aren’t that prevalent.  The people that matter, polls, computer rankings and oddsmakers all have concluded the Bearcats are among the elite of college football this season.  They were a preseason top 10 team.  They were favored at Notre Dame.  They’ve been in the top 4 of the human polls the entire back half of the season.  The main computer rankings and the oddsmakers have them somewhere between the 5^th and 7^th best team in the country.  In fact looking at a rough average of the computers and oddsmakers the best teams in college football this season can be grouped like this:

 

Alabama/Georgia

GAP

Michigan/Ohio State

GAP

Cincinnati/Notre Dame

GAP

Oklahoma/Oklahoma State/Texas A&M/Utah/Clemson

 

                Oddsmakers see UC as the 5^th best team.  SP+ has UC as the 5^th best team.  Sagarin has UC as the 6^th best team (behind a Notre Dame team it beat at Notre Dame).  FPI has UC as the 7^th best team (behind Notre Dame and Oklahoma).  Seeing as Ohio State lost 2 of its 3 biggest games, having Cincinnati in over OSU despite those numbers is completely reasonable and in fact UC stacks up favorably to many CFP teams in the past.  These are all predictive metrics which typically are not favorable to G5 teams and when you look at resume metrics, the Bearcats are a consensus top 4 team.   UC has earned their spot.

 

Bama -13.5 is Vegas Showing this Bearcat Team a Ton of Respect

 

                You see a -13.5 line and immediately may think, wow, Vegas thinks UC is going to get killed, but looking at Bama’s history in these semi-final games and their strength in the computers, keeping this line below 2 tds tells you Vegas believes in this Bearcat team.  Since the 2015 -2016 season Bama has won its semi-final matchups by 38 (38-0 over Michigan State), 17 (over Washington), 18 (over Clemson), 11 (over Oklahoma, where Oklahoma chipped away at a huge early deficit) and 17 (over Notre Dame).  Bama wins these games by multiple scores. 

Bama is clearly the favorite.  Bama is the better team.  Bearcat fans mostly know and accept this.   There are only 3 other teams that would be less than a 2 TD underdog against Bama on a neutral field (Georgia, Michigan and Ohio State).  Bama has the Heisman trophy winning QB.  They have maybe the best defensive player in the country.  They are the deepest, most talented team in the country (the only other argument on that front is Georgia, but the QB gap between those teams matters).  This is a true David v. Goliath matchup because Bama has separated itself from the rest of college football over the years.  But, this Bearcat team has potential advantages that present a plausible path to victory. 

 

How the Bearcats Win the Cotton Bowl

 

                I’m not going to play the prediction game.  The more likely scenario is a Bama win, but games are played on the field and I firmly believe this Bearcat team can shock the world.  I touched on this earlier, but the Bearcats have an incredible blend of talent and experience among its juniors, seniors and super seniors.  Eight to Ten players from that group will likely be drafted this spring, including multiple players projected as first round draft picks.  While the Bearcats are at a depth of talent disadvantage, having that much talent and that much experience cannot be overlooked. 

                Here’s my big contradictory statement regarding this football game:  I think Cincinnati matches up better with Bama than they do against Michigan or Georgia, but I would have rather been matched up with Michigan or Georgia.  The reason I didn’t “want” Bama is Bama has the best coach in college football history and the Heisman trophy winning QB (QB is probably the “weakness” of Georgia and Michigan).  However, Bama’s offensive strengths play into the Bearcats’ defensive strengths and while Bama may be able to sustain drives running the ball they aren’t a particularly strong running team.  I think the Bearcats would welcome Bama attempting to exploit UC’s run defense which is better than some fans complained about, but definitely not the strength of the defense.  The Bearcats will give up yards on the ground if teams are patient about running it, but the defense tends to get enough negative plays/stops to not give up points.  It will be interesting to see whether Saban sees UC’s run defense as a potential weakness to attack and tries to win that way. 

                UC’s secondary is elite, but Bama has elite wide receiver talent and a Heisman QB throwing to them.  This will be a test unlike any other for Sauce and Coby (and Cook/Hicks/Bush). The Bearcats have been great about preventing big plays.  If they can prevent big plays from the Bama wide receivers they’ll have a great chance to hold Bama in the 20s, which is what they need to do to win.  I’m really interested to see if Saban has Williams on the Boundary against Sauce most the time.  I believe Sauce would be up to the challenge.  That doesn’t mean he couldn’t be beat, but that he’ll make his share of plays. 

                The biggest key to the Bearcat secondary holding up will be if they can continue to get pressure on the QB.  The Bearcats have been pretty great at Havoc rate most of the season.  Early in the season that wasn’t translating into sacks but often translated into turnovers as QBs tried to make plays while getting hit (see Indiana and Notre Dame).  Against Houston that translated into a barrage of sacks.  Bama is undoubtedly the most talented offensive line UC has faced, but they haven’t been typical Bama on the line.  Multiple teams have been able to get to Young by bringing pressure (Texas A&M, LSU and Auburn all did this to varying degrees of success).  If UC’s defensive line can win some battles that should open up some seems for the blitzing linebackers and defensive backs. 

                I think UC’s defensive line depth might be an underrated positive in this game.  UC only plays 3 defensive lineman at a time, but the backups have come in and done their job all season.  I could see someone like Briggs having a big day.  The other complicating factor is when they disrupt Young they need to prevent him from escaping.  His buying time is a recipe for the talented Bama receivers finding daylight against UC and it is where a lot of their big plays are made.  UC needs to come out aggressive, stay aggressive and show some wrinkles in their blitz schemes Bama hasn’t seen on film (I’d like to see Coby/Bush play more press man, as there won’t be a ton of that on film and I’d like to see some new, unique pressures).  UC is talented enough to be disruptive and if the front seven is disruptive the defensive backs are likely to hold up.  Keeping Bama in the low 20s is going to be essential to winning this game. 

                If the defense does those things the question becomes, can the offense and special teams hold up their end?  I have absolute confidence in Desmond Ridder and his weapons to make plays if given time and confidence Ford can bust some big runs if the line creates some space…everything really comes down to what the offensive line can do.  It’s unfair to call the offensive line a weakness for the Bearcats.  UC gave up very few sacks, ran the ball well with multiple running backs and hit on many down the field plays that took time to develop.  They had 3 offensive lineman that were first team all-conference.  They were a top flight AAC offensive line.

But offensive line is clearly the position group that is least proven to be able to play at an elite level.  A less experienced version of this group struggled against Georgia in last year’s Peach Bowl (particularly when their now departed NFL offensive tackle was ejected), and at times struggled against Notre Dame (though opened some holes in the second half and gave Ridder enough time most the game).  Bama is a completely different animal.  I suspect the tight ends will chip more than normal before releasing, hoping to buy Ridder the time to make the reads he is capable of making.  I don’t think they’ll be able to consistently hold up, but if they can enough this offense can make the kind of chunk plays they need to score. 

I’ve seen two big issues from the line all season:

1.  They have struggled when teams sell out to stop the run.  This has been true even against inferior teams who are bound and determined to take away UC’s bread and butter running plays on early downs (inside zone and duo) and been true in short yardage situations both near the goal line and on third/forth and short.  So while UC’s YPC look great because they have opened some big holes and their backs (especially Ford) are great at breaking huge runs, their actual down to down success rate running is a concern.  I doubt Bama is going to sell out on early down runs, so it will be interesting to see if the line can hold up enough to open some holes and sustain a few drives with the run.  I think they’ll need to pass to set up the run and this staff has shown a willingness to play that way against the best teams on its schedule. 

2.  On obvious passing downs this team has really struggled to identify where the pressure is coming from.  Blitzes and especially delayed blitzes have wreaked havoc on this team.  It’s why UC’s third a long numbers are putrid.  When the Bearcats are in obvious passing downs they are susceptible to pressure.  Teams don’t even have to send extra guys, just get creative about how they send them and where they come from.  Hopefully, this is an area that gets sorted out on the break, but it’s one that is troubling. 

 

                The Bearcats need to avoid obvious passing downs and third downs in general.  Trying to get some quick hitting routes on first down early in the game will be key.  Hopefully, that will open up run and play action for the big play.  I think UC needs a bunch of chunk plays to win this game (which is a strength of the offense), but to get those the offensive line will have to hold up enough to get Ridder time.  UC’s skill guys can win against the Bama defense if given the chance. 

The Bearcats need to score in the high twenties to have a realistic shot.  To get there I think they need at least one huge run from Ford (50+ for a TD/setting up a TD).  They need 5-8 chunk passing plays of 20+ yards and they need to avoid turnovers.  They are likely going to have some negative plays on offense, but those can’t be turnovers.  Additionally, a special teams play or 2 could be key to taking some pressure off the offense.  This team has been great blocking kicks and mostly good in the return/coverage game.  As for field goal kicking, they aren’t winning this game with field goals.

 

Final Thoughts

 

We’ve heard “biggest game in Bearcat football history” many times this year.  This really is it.  And it’s probably a house money game.  This is a game Bama wins convincingly all the time.  Nobody expects the Bearcats to win, but they can because he Bearcats have some potentially favorable matchups such as:

 

1.  Bearcat defensive backs v. Bama Receivers

2.  Bearcat pressure packages v. Bama offensive line

3.  Bearcat receivers/tight ends v. Bama secondary

 

Those matchups give the Bearcats a great chance to win the game if they can prevent Young from extending plays, protect Ridder long enough to make a few plays of their own and be clean in the turnover department.  Yea, the most likely scenario is a Bama win, but Cincinnati’s has a unique combination of talent and experience that makes me dream and see a path toward the National Championship game in Indy two weeks from tonight.

 

Go Bearcats!

 

Ode to the Minter/Murphy Bearcats

 

Back in the days before BK

Many great Bearcats used to play

So, here’s an ode to all those guys

That kicked so much ass before our eyes.

 

When I was barely four feet tall

At Nippert Stadium, I’d yell “Give it to Small!”

For David Small would juke and spin

And carry the offense for a win

 

Nearly 3000 yards at 6.7 a pop

Small played big, a bitch to stop

Finished his career with 31 Tds

Took UC from one and ten to eight and three.

 

And then in 1994

A new receiver blew through the door.

Quick as hell, his hands were great

That man’s name was Robert Tate

 

Holy shit, just look at 1995.

Tate’s yards per catch, 19.5

After one game he signed my hat

That young boy will always remember that.

 

But to pursue the NFL you see

Tate needed to convert to DB

Drafted by the Vikings in round 6

Covered NFL receivers until 2006

 

On the defensive side at that same time

Artrell Hawkins was in his prime

Covering receivers and returning kicks

Offensives struggled to move the sticks

 

And in 1997, low and behold

A 47-year bowl drought ends at the Humanitarian Bowl

With Brad Jackson out there giving heck

And four punt return TDs by Tinker Keck

 

Brad Jackson played for Huggs, a different sport

Making tackles on the field and on the court

392 career tackles, third most in UC history

Playing next to Phillip Curry

 

Curry prowled the field with fury

487 career tackles, yeah offenses worried

A brutal defense, great special teams

Keck’s punt returns and ints

 

And anchoring the offensive line, another great you see

Three time all-conference, Jason Fabini.

A fourth round Jets Pick in 1998

His NFL career turned out so great. 

 

The next year a freshman stormed on the scene

Demarco McCleskey, a running machine

Rushed for nearly 3500 yards, good for 2^nd at UC

No shortage of touchdowns, he had 43

 

How about a receiver, catching everything in sight

LaDaris Vann, a small man with big fight. 

Caught 204 passes in his Bearcat career

While breaking tackles, alluding, leaving defenders in the rear

 

With Vann in the slot, always on the go

The Bearcats could look down the field to Jonny O.

Olinger was a stud, want to feel alive?

Go watch his incredible game winning 2001 Memphis drive

 

But you need a QB, to throw these guys passes

And Gino did that, kicking so many asses

Starting as a freshman, an incredible career

11,453 yards, making defenses fear

 

78 TDs, and so many comeback wins to his name

See TCU, Southern Miss, Memphis, so many great games

And poor one out for the Buckeye near miss

Two balls on the spot, close to sweet upset bliss

 

But no UC defender more havoc did wreak.

Than the fast and powerful force, Antwan Peek

27 career sacks and I promise you this

No UC lineman made more Offensive tackles miss.

 

And I’ll tell you this, though it may seem quite bold

Peek had at least as many sacks, denied by a hold

A singular Bearcat force, like none other. 

Many great lineman, but Peek, there will never be another

 

Of course, Peek was followed by Frasier and Cole

Starting a dline tradition that is still on a roll

And that line also included Mike Wright

Those offensive lines were in for such a fright. 

 

If UC football is relatively new to you

I’m glad you came here, for this history review

I hope you enjoyed this ode to those guys

Those Bearcats, who kicked so much ass in front of our eyes. 

Writing About Writing

               I’ve been an avid reader since I read Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card in the 8^th grade.  It was assigned to me by one of my least favorite teachers in one of my least favorite classes (an advanced English class that was tedious and boring).  However, in assigning us to read Ender’s Game that teacher gave me a lifelong appreciation for Science Fiction and Fantasy novels that has never waned. You never know where important moments in your life will come from.

                I remember putting off reading the assigned chapters until the last possible second.  I think she’d assigned us to read the first 5 chapters the first week.  The night, before I laid in bed around 9:00 picking up the book to read those chapters. I didn’t put the book down until nearly 4 in the morning.  I’d finish it the next day after school. 

From that day forward I plowed through the Ender’s series (It was 4 books at that time), the Foundation Series, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and every other piece of science fiction I could get my hand on.  I dabbled in fantasy with Watership Down and Lord of the Rings, but struggled to get into some of the big series at the time like Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth.  Eventually, my tastes expanded and I dove into the Hyperion Cantos, the Culture Series, Game of Thrones, First Law, etc. 

At some point I started coming up with ideas of my own.  I wrote out some vague plans for an ambitious series and even wrote a rough draft of the prologue and first chapter of what would eventually become Felan’s Rescue.  But ultimately, I never committed the time to following through and in my twenties, when there was plenty of time to be had, those pages stayed mostly blank.

Then came law school and limited reading beyond law school assigned readings.  Then came getting my law practice off the ground.  But shortly before the birth of my now two-year-old daughter I had an epiphany.   I knew I wanted to write these, but if I didn’t commit those pages would always remain empty.  I wanted to tell my daughter that I gave it a shot.  That I had something I really wanted to do and I took the time to do it.  So shortly after she was born, I began revisiting Felan’s Rescue.  Over the next seven months I wrote during my lunch at work, sometimes at night, sometimes if I had a light day I’d write during work hours (the beauty of owning your own practice) and I finished a draft of Felan’s Rescue.

Several edits later I had a draft I was very happy with and since then I’ve been querying various agents hoping to find someone as excited by the story as I am.  In the meantime, I’ve been writing a second novel whose first draft is getting closer to being finished by the day.  Maybe the only people that will read these novels will be close to me, but I’m proud of the work I’ve put into them.  I love the characters and love how the pieces of both stories fit.  I hope one day they’ll be on bookshelves somewhere, but until that day I’m happy my daughter inspired me to commit to the writing process and write two novels I’ve intended to write for over a decade. 

Redraft the NBA (every 10 years)

This started as a thought exercise.  If the players decided they wanted to form their own league where the players had stakes in the league so that they could keep the vast majority of the money, what could they do to maximize the value of the league?  Basically, if you were starting a league from scratch how would you make it the most fun/profitable?  It morphed into a plan for the best possible version of the NBA.  Players don’t stay at a franchise forever anymore.  They move.  Their free agency is a huge deal.  The old way of a player being forever tied to a franchise is gone.  With all that in mind here is my biggest idea for the best possible NBA: every ten years you redraft the entire league. 

                I know you’re thinking it wouldn’t work, but hear me out.  I’ve tried to work through the anticipated complaints and issues and you’ll see me address them as I go, but think about how awesome this would be.  People would be crazy for the redraft.  It would drive content.  It would get massive viewership.  TV would pay a ton for it.   It might be bigger than the games.  I've thought out the basics of how it would work and why it would be (1) awesome and (2) financially unbelievable for the players and owners.  More importantly, given the way players move around from city to city these days now seems like the perfect time for it.  Players just aren't tied to franchises like they once were.  Lets take advantage of that to make the most fun / most interesting NBA possible.  Let's Redraft the NBA every 10 seasons.

2 years before the draft:

                Our hypothetical redraft is going to take place after the 2025 season.  We have 5 years to go.  The previous five years everything was normal.  There was a salary cap, free agents, a rookie draft, etc.  This will continue to be the case for a couple more seasons.  However the second to last season before the redraft we get rid of the rookie draft.  All rookies are now free agents.  I like this because there is less value in the draft when you won’t have your rookie under contract for 3-5 years.  With the draft being devalued, why not allow rookies to sign where they feel it is the best fit.  Further, it’s something unique to change the narrative for an offseason.  I also think without a draft, they should exempt rookie salaries from the cap.  Teams can bid what they want for a rookie. 

Last Season before the Draft:

                The last season before the Redraft is UNCAPPED and there is no maximum player salary.  This is one my favorite little ideas to set up the redraft.  Big stars will be setting up their contracts to capitalize on that last season.  There could be free agent bidding wars and teams trying to spend those extra dollars at the end to steal a championship for a season.  I think there should be a provision that limits how much you can backload a contract (this will encourage free agent activity the year proceeding the redraft).  Also teams will be incentivized to win as many games possible that season (and every other season) because of my next rule.

Draft Order for the Redraft:

                The draft order for the Redraft will be determined by your record over the 10 seasons preceding the draft.  During the first 8 seasons we still have a normal rookie draft where draft order is tied to your record the opposite way (lottery with bad teams picking early), but the Redraft will reward the teams that did the most winning over the previous decade.  Record only, not titles.  There will still be some tanking incentive early in the ten years, but is it worth ruining your draft position for the Redraft?  During that final season not only will fans be tracking their team’s record for that season, but they will track their record for redraft purposes.  There is interest for every team.  Every season there is incentive to win games because this could matter for the Redraft. 

The Redraft, Rounds 1 and 2:

                These are your stars.  They are the guys you want to build your franchise around.  They are only required to sign a 2 year contract with the team that drafts them, but can sign up to a 5 year deal if they choose.  There are some financial incentives to sign for the additional years as well as financial incentives to resign with the team that drafts you.  When you are drafting a star in the Redraft you could get him for a full 5 years, you could get him for only 2 years.   Every player that wants to play professional basketball will be eligible for the Redraft.  There will be no rookie draft that season.  All rookies will be in the Redraft. 

The Redraft, Rounds 3-6:

                Starter level players.  They are required to sign for at least 3 seasons and up to 5 seasons. 

The Redraft, Rounds 7-10: 

                Bench and developmental type players.  Players are required to sign 4-5 year contract with the team that drafts them. 

Free Agency: 

                Any players not taken in the 10 round Redraft will be free agents. 

Why Owner’s Would Agree to It?

                I have to think it would be worth an insane amount of money to the League.  It’s relevant to every season, but particularly relevant as you start approaching the 10^th year.  It incentives teams to avoid tanking.  Owners mostly aren’t keeping their guys throughout their careers anyways.  This gives the successful franchises a chance to lock in the best guys to new contracts and gives the struggling franchises a chance to overhaul their roster.  Hope is around for every franchise.  That has to drive interest. 

Why the Players Would Agree?

                The money would be huge.  You just know it would.  The best players would only have to go to a team for 2 years if they were really against playing for that franchise then have the flexibility to move on.  The best players could get huge paydays in the uncapped season.  Starter level players would have slightly less flexibility but could still get out of their contract in 3 years.  Late round role players would have 4 years of a guaranteed contract. 

Why the Fans Should Want It?

                What would drive conversation in the NBA more than Redrafting the entire League?  The debates about who you should take would be never ending.  The two years leading up to the draft would be incredibly exciting.  You’d still a nice period of time where the game is run like it is.  You can still develop attachments to your players, hell it would probably be a consideration of owners when drafting.  Does an owner who wants to keep his star on his team trade down to a spot he knows he can get him and acquire an additional pick?  Does he reach for his guy early?  There would be so many variables to consider. 

                I get fired up thinking about this idea.  I know it would never happen, but wow would it be incredible if it did.                 

Best First Round NCAA Tournament Games (That I Watched and Remember)

No basketball today.  It's depressing.  I hate it.  To give a little basketball to everyone's lives I'm ranking my fall time favorite first round games.  I'm sure I missed some (as these are off the top of my head) so please share your favorites.  I'll count down from 10.

10.  14 Weber State over 3 UNC (1999)- We'll start with an upset I remember watching on my mini TV in my bedroom.  It was a late night game.  I was in 8th grade.  Harold "The Show" Arceneaux just took over. 

9.  13 UNCW over 4 USC (2002) -  A sentimental favorite for me as my dad went to UNCW and always followed them.  Brett Blizzard and Craig Callahan made this a team that could win a tournament game and they did in a great, exciting battle with USC.  

8.  6. Maryland over 11. UNCW (2003)-  They were back a second straight year and looked headed for another NCAA tournament win when Drew Nichols broke my heart.  Amazing game and end.  I watched it at a high school party my senior year.  

7.  9. UAB over 8. Washington (2004)-  The only game I couldn't find footage of.  The final score was 102 to 100.  It ended in regulation.  UAB put up 51 each half.  One of the most exciting, up and down basketball games I remember watching.  https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=244000048

6.  13. Vermont over 4 Syracuse (2005) -  "OHHHHHHH!  MY GOODNESS!  SORRENTINE, HIT THAT ONE FROM THE PARKING LOT!" --- Gus Johnson

5.  8. Cincinnati over 9. Purdue (2015)-  UC winning a tournament game they never seem to win.  Down late, game seemingly lost and they make every play down the stretch including a buzzer beating Caupain layup to force OT.  

4.  11. VCU over 6. Duke (2007) -  One of my toughest omissions was when Lehigh beat Duke, but this one really sticks out.  Eric Maynor was awesome for VCU and drilled the game winner with 1.8 to play.  

3.  13. Valparaiso over 4. Mississippi (1998) - I stayed late at school and walked home to watch the end of this one.  Everyone knows it.  The homerun play to Bryce Drew. 

2.  15. Hampton over 2. Iowa State (2001)-  Capping off a crazy dame in Boise.  Ending with the image of their coach kicking his legs in the air being held up by his celebrating player.  

1.  14. Georgia State over 3. Baylor (2015)- Down 10 with under 2 minutes left.  Georgia State mounts a furious comeback capped off by RJ Hunter from deep while an injured coach Ron Hunter falls out of his chair.  

Pre-Selection Bracket Projection 2020

I’d be stunned if there was a tournament next week.  I’d be surprised if there is a tournament at all.  However, if there is a tournament (either starting next week or eventually) here is my prediction for what the field will look like:

One Seeds:         Kansas, Gonzaga, Dayton, Baylor

Two Seeds:         San Diego State, Creighton, Florida State, Duke

Three Seeds:     Kentucky, Michigan State, Seton Hall, Oregon

Four Seeds:        Wisconsin, Villanova, Louisville, Maryland

Five Seeds:         Ohio State, Penn State, Auburn, Butler

Six Seeds:            BYU, Illinois, Houston, Colorado

Seven Seeds:     West Virginia, Iowa, Virginia, St Marys,

Eight Seeds:       Arizona, Michigan, Providence, USC

Nine Seeds:        Marquette, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma

Ten Seeds:          ETSU, UCLA, Arizona State, Utah State

11 Seeds:             Rutgers, Cincinnati, Texas Tech, NC State/Texas

12 Seeds:             Richmond/Wichita State, Stephen F. Austin, Yale, Liberty

13 Seeds:             Akron, Vermont, North Texas, Belmont

14 Seeds:             UC Irvine, NM State, North Dakota State, Hofstra

15 Seeds:             Eastern Washington, Little Rock, NKU, Bradley

16 Seeds:             Winthrop, Boston, Siena/NC Central, Prairie View A&M/Robert Morris

Last 4 In:  NC State, Richmond, Wichita State, Texas

First Four Out:  Mississippi State, Stanford, Xavier Purdue

Next Four Out:  Northern Iowa, Saint Louis, South Carolina, Memphis

Others Considered: Arkansas, Rhode Island, Alabama, Tennessee, Syracuse, Tulsa

I have 36 teams I think are definitely in the tournament as of today (not including teams that have already won their at large bids).  Those are every team seeded on the first 8 seed lines, plus every nine seed except Oklahoma.  I think Oklahoma, Arizona State and Rutgers are almost certain to be in as well, but I’m not willing to put it at the likelihood of the other 36. 

That leaves 10 teams I think the committee could theoretically choose as of today for the remaining 6 spots.  Those teams are:  UCLA, Texas Tech, NC State, Richmond, Wichita State, Texas, Mississippi State, Stanford, Xavier and Northern Iowa.  I actually think the committee will overseed UCLA, but I have them on this list because I think they COULD go the other way (They have things the committee traditionally values, but real holes that justify leaving them out).  I have Purdue over Northern Iowa on my First Four Out, but I think Northern Iowa is more likely to make the tournament.  Basically they have things the committee might value that are unique, whereas Purdue has things that other bubble teams did better.