Like the pick, don't love it...

I love that the Dolphins traded out of the #12 pick, although OLB Derrick Morgan or FS Earl Thomas were both there. Too many needs on this defense to find a real solution in one player. The value on the trade? Good, not great. We get a second top 40 pick, which is fabulous, but have to move down in the 4th round?? (Dobbins for a sixth is a wash). Not crazy about that part of it. But overall, having the chance to get two top 40 players after trading for a stud receiver in Brandon Marshall is very good news. I give the team an A- grade for these maneuvers overall.

On to the pick...Jared Odrick, 6'5 304 DE from Penn State. Look, I really thought it had to be a pure NT, an outside linebacker or a true free safety with the top pick. The front office saw it differently. My first reaction was, okay, at least it's a big body defensive guy, but he looks like a defensive end. Apparently he has some versatility and can play a number of spots across the line for us. I like how one site said he "plays like a Raven"...meaning he has a physical approach. We definitely need bad asses in the front seven. Not bad to get the co-Big 10 defensive player of the year and pick up another high pick in the process.

There's a bunch of talent on that line now and they can rotate guys in and out and move people around. Mike Nolan's DL includes Odrick, Randy Starks (who played as well as any DE/DT in the AFC the last half of last season), Kendall Langford, Phillip Merling, Paul Soliai and Tony McDaniel among others. ALL young, ALL versatile. I STILL think they need another run stuffer in the middle, more of a Dan Williams than a Jared Odrick. But it's a decent choice, and the way we have this thing set up is really solid.

Can't wait for pick #40. Maybe trade down a few spots for somebody looking for a QB?

Caps - Bruins regular season finale

Covering a pro game for the first time – Caps host the Bruins at the Verizon center. I recall a drunk conversation with my buddy last night where he was telling me all Caps fans are the bandwagon type and wouldn’t care if the Caps were losing. I adamantly disagreed, I think. Great crowd today – another sellout – for a game that means nothing in the standings, on a beautiful 70+ degree day with little humidity in D.C. Case in point.

Alex Semin just took the puck and winged it into the back of the net early in the first period. Poti and Carlson assist.


Bruins goalie Tim Thomas gets crashed into by Jason Chimera and just starts throwing punches. He doesn’t even get penalized! You gotta love hockey.

Bruins just scored to tie the game. Jason Chimera looks like he’s on the ice for one reason and one reason only – to protect his team mates. The guy looks like the dude at the bar that you know will want to fight you if you make eye contact. He just picked up his second penalty of the game – for a game misconduct. Looks like he might not be out here for long, does he have somewhere else to be today?

Bruins score on the power play to take the lead. Pressure on the penalty kill needs to be a point of emphasis these playoffs.

Eric Belanger with a great athletic play to tie the score. His shot was turned back, got the rebound like a Wizards (er, insert good NBA team) forward and fired it in. Nice.

2-2 after one. Ovechkin chase for points mark – 0 points in first quarter.

I’ve gotten used to covering high school sports the last year and covering pro sports, by comparison, is a breeze. A lady just walked up to me during the first intermission and gave me a paper that breaks down basically every second of the period. I’m used to tracking my own stats and here I have a sheet that tells me how many shots each goalie stopped in 4 on 4 play! Wow.

It’s still 2-2 – we’re almost halfway through the second and Boston is on the power play.

Correction, Chimera didn’t get tossed. I know this because he was just by the goal mixing it up with someone again. Picks up another penalty – his third of the game.
Caps just had a power play with three minutes left in the period but couldn’t get anything going.

Still 2-2 after two.

Ovechkin update: 0 points, trails league leader Sedin (Vancouver) by three. Tied with Stamkos (Tampa Bay) for goals lead with 50.

Is the regular season finale destined for overtime? 12:35 left in a 2-2 game.

Caps just took the lead – Knuble scored after they won a faceoff in the Bruins’ zone. 9:30 to go… I didn’t realize Theodore is ranked 29th in goals against average – not good. He makes some great saves sometimes but the consistency must improve this spring if the Caps are to bring Lord Stanley’s Cup to D.C.

Bruins tie it at 4:18 mark. We got a game here, folks.

This is getting ridiculous - the fourth straight game I've covered that has gone into overtime. Something is up...

SHOOTOUT!

Making History: Coolidge Hires Female Head Football Coach

While Natalie Randolph was officially announced today as one of the first ever female head football coaches, she was much more interested in discussing the future of the program at Calvin Coolidge Senior High School (Washington D.C.) than her gender.

"While I'm proud to be part of what this all means, being female has nothing to do with it," said the new coach. "Once all this clears, it's straight to business."

Randolph, who played for the D.C. Divas of the Independent Women's Football League from 2004-2008 and was an assistant coach at a local high school from 2006-2007, was hired to replace Jason Lane after he resigned earlier this year amid questions about players' academic performance. The new coach graduated from prestigious Sidwell Friends High School (D.C.) - Chelsea Clinton's alma mater - and ran track at the University of Virginia. She is a strong proponent of academic as well as athletic excellence.

"For all of my students - you already know - you are a student first, that is your job, you can't get anywhere without it. Sports are a means to an end; when you get out there, anything can happen but no one can take this away form you," she said.

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty was on hand to join Coolidge officials in formally introducing Randolph at Friday afternoon's press conference at the school. Her former Divas' teammates and current colleagues cheered wildly as she took center stage with a huge smile and an air of positivity.

Her appointment was met with tremendous enthusiasm from players, officials and fellow teachers.

"I took her (environmental science) class as a freshman and she helped me a lot, not only with the books but learning how to be a person in general. She’s a great teacher and she can only improve us as a team," said sophomore Oluwakemi Bamico, who will be in the mix for the starting quarterback job next fall. Junior defensive lineman Daniel West added, "That’s our coach, that’s the person who is our guidance. She's like a mother; the coach is like a mother or a father figure."

It was nice to see Coolidge players excited about Randolph and eager to discuss the hire. Several said she's one of their favorite teachers and they have no qualms about playing for a woman.

Seeing a group of her players surround her at the press conference was pretty cool; a touch of humanism in the violent, chaotic world of football.

It'll be very interesting to see how this plays out when the season starts but it's a HUGE step in the right direction for a school district desperate for improvement. "Since I've been here I've been about change - new ideas and new things - and this falls right into line; I'm ecstatic about it," said D.C. Public Schools' Athletic Director Marcus Ellis, who took over last August.

Change is certainly necessary - I've seen Division I recruits from Coolidge end up in junior college because they weren't taught how to perform in the classroom. Poor academics have been one of my biggest issues with DCPS since I started covering local sports here in 2008, and Randolph seems like a breath of fresh air.

"You can be the best player in the world but if your academics aren't right, you will not be going to college," said West, one of several students who took part in the media availability and showed tremendous maturity. "When I talked with Ms. Randolph, she assured me that she's not only for us on the field but for us in the classroom. First and foremost, she is our teacher and first and foremost, we are students, before athletes." I was pretty impressed with this kid, especially.

Who said the women's rights movement was over? "I feel that it’s a great opportunity to wow the world and show them that, you know, that it’s still football, whether it be a male or female coach, you’re still playing football and competing every day out there," said Bamico.

Randolph spoke with confidence and didn't hesitate in expressing her purpose. "Some people will undoubtedly want to focus on my gender and they’ll focus on the historical meaning of this day but I’d much rather focus on something that all dedicated coaches already know: I'm here to give these young man, these student athletes - these wonderful students - the best opportunity and guidance to succeed in the classroom, to make good decisions at home and to perform well on the football field."

Welcome aboard, coach.

The Washington Post has an excellent story on this

Check back for my feature on Randolph for the Northwest Current, coming next Wednesday.

The big catch...

From Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald..

"You guys know I'm kinda sorta obssessed with the Dolphins landing some top-caliber wide receivers, right? You know that I am convinced a team cannot win an NFL championship with second-tier wide receivers and the only reason I believe that is because it's true."

I haven't always agreed with Salguero's judgment but here, he hit the nail right on the head. After two years under the Bill Parcells' umbrella, nothing has convinced me that these guys know what they're doing when it comes to the WR position. The Tuna has always had some kind of issue with receivers - dating back to when Bob Kraft and Pats' management took Terry Glenn over a defensive player Parcells wanted - and it's starting to really hurt his ability to build a champion.

Let's look at the WR's Parcells/Sparano/Ireland have brought to Miami, shall we?

Davone Bess - a 2008 undrafted free agent who made the team and has exceeded everyone's expectations over the past two seasons. He is a nice slot guy with pretty good hands, quickness and runs nice routes. Ideally, he's a 4th WR - not even a third, and definitely not a starter, considering he's 5-foot-9 with little ability to get vertical or make plays in the red zone.

Patrick Turner - last year's 3rd round pick barely saw the field and didn't make a single catch all of last season. He looked really good early in training camp and then fell apart, barely making the roster and failing to contribute to a team that was desperate (and still is) for receivers.

Brian Hartline - last year's 4th round pick showed good ability and should be a very good 2nd/3rd WR. He has okay size, good hands, runs good routes and has some big play flair.

This team is lacking a true #1 receiver - a go-to-guy for quarterback Chad Henne; someone who draws consistent double teams and make plays all over the field. It doesn't have to be Randy Moss Larry Fitzgerald or Reggie Wayne - there are other guys out there. In fact, Miami missed on one yesterday because Parcells and co. are unwilling to risk mid-round draft choices and pay substantial money to a receiver, even in an UNCAPPED year. I'm talking about Anquin Boldin, a big, physical, unique talent who Baltimore acquired yesterday, along with a 5th round pick, for a 3rd and a 4th round choice. Remember, last year's 3rd and 4th were both used on WR's, so it's like picking up Boldin and a 5th for Turner and Hartline. Hmm. Yes, Boldin comes with question marks including age (will be 30 October) and injuries (missed 11 regular season starts and several playoff appearances the last three seasons) and there's a reason this guy isn't going for two 1st round picks. The potential, however, far outweighs the risk considering the compensation.

They weren't major players for Boldin, they passed on Hakeem Nicks last year, they continue to refuse to do what's necessary to get the big-time receiver we desperately need. At this point, give me Antonio Bryant (83-1248-7 two years ago, 28 years old, unrestricted free agent) and a 2nd round pick to move in the right direction.

Musings

Good for Team USA Hockey. After goalie Ryan Miller (looking like one of the top, if not the top, keeper in the world) stopped 42 shots against the Canadians, Team Canada put up seven goals, including four in the first period, against powerhouse Russia. Talk about making a great achievement look even better. The re-match tomorrow has more Americans excited about hockey than we’ve seen in a long time. These kids could do a tremendous service to professional hockey in the U.S. (and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman) by winning tomorrow. By the way, with the exposure his league is getting right now, Bettman would be crazy to try and keep NHL players from playing in the Olympics.

You know when I saw Tiger Woods, a Florida native, standing on the Indianapolis Colts’ sideline IN Miami for a Monday Night game against the Dolphins; I really started to resent the guy. I never really liked him because of his standoffish, aloof demeanor, but he didn’t bother me too much until I saw him rooting against the ‘Phins. (I’m very protective of my Dolphins). When the car accident happened and all of the allegations started coming out (I loved the ecstasy thing in particularly), I just kind of sat back and laughed. But when I watched his ill-timed, completely unnecessary press conference last week in which he said ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, it really hit me just how much I can’t stand the guy, and how disgusted I am by American sports media and the viewing population. Who the hell CARES if Tiger Woods cheated on his wife? Unless someone makes a parody of Woods rolling on ecstasy while driving a stolen car ala Neil Patrick Harris in Harold & Kumar go to White Castle, I don’t want to hear about it, and you shouldn’t either! How is it possible that the New York Stock Exchange was affected by his nine-minute worthless “speech” where, by the way, he had to look at note cards to say “I’m sorry”? Jesus Christ. We have the Olympics going on, college basketball getting mad, the NBA season heating up, NFL free agency on the horizon and spring training baseball, not to mention, an actual golf tournament, and we’re talking about Tiger Woods' sex life. I just realized that with this blog, I’m becoming part of the problem. Accordingly, let’s move on.

Dolphins’ fans: We need to get a receiver. Period. Look, I’m not going through another season telling my friends that guys named Bess, Camarillo and Hartline can carry the passing game. I’m just not gonna do it. Bill Parcells needs to get over his issue with drafting WR’s high or giving them big money. Not EVERY receiver is a head case and a prima donna. Parcells has NEVER liked dishing out cash to receivers and has only drafted two in the first round during his entire career as head coach/general manager/lord of the Dolphins – Mark Ingram (Giants) and Terry Glenn (Patriots, against his wishes to take a defensive lineman). This needs to stop! In today’s NFL, you need playmakers outside. Look at New Orleans and Indianapolis, the two Super Bowl teams. How about New England, San Diego, Minnesota, even Dallas was greatly boosted by the development of Miles Austin (who, by the way, is NOT worth 1st and 3rd round compensation as a restricted free agent), and Philadelphia? Two years ago, Pittsburgh doesn’t win the Super Bowl without Santonio Holes making a ridiculous play in the corner of the endzone. Get a ‘freaking receiver, please. My suggestion? Trade a mid-round pick for Anquin Boldin and draft a guy with speed (AND some kind of vision, awareness, hands, hand-eye coordination – in other words not another Ted Ginn).

By the way, I’ll be running a live NFL Draft blog this year, something I haven’t done in a while.

One more thing – how in the world did the Knicks manage to trade away Jared Jeffries’ contract? What did they give up to do it, Jordan Hill and a pick? Not too shabby. Signing LeBron next summer would be amazing but with money for two max players - a Dwayne Wade/Amar'e Stoudamire combo with Tracy McGrady playing 20-25 minutes on the wing would be pretty impressive. It WILL, however, be really interesting to see what LeBron decides to do, because the lure of Madison Square Garden might be too much to pass up if Wade or Chris Bosh come along for the ride.
That’s all for now.

Thanks for reading and root for Team USA hockey even if you can’t see that little puck on TV.

Super Bowl XLIV

6:16 Just got to my friends house in Adams Morgan (Washington D.C.) for the game. You would think that after taking a cab, walking thirty minutes and riding two trains to get there after a blizzard made public transportation impossible and my car invisible, your friends wouldn't try to convince you to go and get the food. Since the guys that live in the place (Dave and Zak) were playing in a high stakes poker tournament online, I guess they figured it made sense that I go, which I did. I walked in cursing up a storm about the weather and the walking and told them gambling becomes a problem when it starts affecting your relationships. Specifically, I hate both of them. Anyway...

6:21 We're betting on the length of the national anthem - Dave set the over/under at 1:56. The under dominated, Carrie Underwood came in at precisely 1:46.

Now, the coin toss; I'm taking tails all the way. They just showed Jerry Rice. He's kind of like Michael Jordan, only the exact opposite. He knows he's the best and a total pimp because of it, he doesn't have to rub it in people's faces. I don't think MJ was hugged enough when he was growing up or something. Whatever. Why did they call heads?? You never call heads! And... it's a head, Saints win the toss, they will receive.

My prediction is 41-38 New Orleans in the highest scoring Super Bowl of all time.

6:31...And here we go....By the way, the highest scoring Super Bowl to date was Super Bowl XXIX , San Francisco over San Diego 49-26 with Steve Young as MVP. Dave wanted me to mention that he called it when I asked the room.

Someone just asked if Manning is playing for the title of "best quarterback of all-time." Two championships with his gaudy numbers and the name to go with it?? I'll say this; if they win, he will certainly have a good case and the debate wil at least give 'analysts' something to talk about until Brett Favre shows up at training camp somewhere.

My favorite player on the Colts is Pierre Garcon just because I love saying "Manning to his boy Garcon." You know (Dave didn't), because Garcon means boy in French. Anyway, on 3rd down, Manning just did what makes him the player he is. Under pressure, he threw off his back foot and rifled one into Collie for a first down. Drive stays alive, 1st and 10 at the 25. On 3rd and 5 from the 20, Manning misses the throw and Stover comes on to hit a field goal. Almost every drive in this game I expect to be a scoring drive. The difference will be who can score the most touchdowns when they get in the red area.

Betty White just got laid out in a commercial. Not bad. My only question is, Betty White's still alive? Hm. Also during the break, the D.C. jumbo slice I scarfed down while waiting for wings started killing my stomach, updates on this to come...

I just suggested we set an over/under for how many calls get challenged during this game. We set it at 2.5. Everyone, including me, took the over, except for Dave. I should mention this now - Dave is die-hard Patriots and Red Sox fan from Boston. For those of you not familiar with this type, Dave is a hater. He hates the fact the Colts are in this game to begin with and he resents me because the Yankees won the World Series. Colston just had a ball bounce right off his hands and incomplete. That kind of stuff won't beat Peyton Manning or, as importantly, help my prediction come true.

Joseph Addai rips off a 12-yard run. He's had a tough year but he's going to have a long career in this league because he doesn't have to carry it 25-times a game, he gets to the perimeter a lot and he does a lot of things very well. This is the new wave of running backs in the NFL - gone are the days of the prototype 230-pound workhorse, they just don't last and teams have started really figuring this out over the last few years. You want a more versatile guy who can stay healthy, pick up a lot of assignments and not mind splitting carries.

MANNING TO HIS BOY GARCON!!! 10-0 Colts. I just challenged the Red Sox fan to a fight-to-the-death at halftime. He declined, I win.

New Go Daddy commercial. Yesterday I was looking for a host for my upcoming website and I chose Go Daddy. This is why, seriously. Let's Go Brees, time to get it going. The city of New Orleans needs this.

Largest deficit a team has ever overcome to win the Super Bowl was 10 by the Redskins, of all teams, against Denver in Super Bowl XXII; they fell behind 10-0 and won 42-10. I just had a weird vision of Reggie Bush winning the MVP and asked the guys what kind of odds I could get on that bet, to which I got a sarcastic response from Dave. Tough running from Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas as the Saints maneuver down field. Big sack from Dwight Freeney on 3rd down; the ankle looked okay on that one. 10-3 Colts.

My friend Avi's reaction to the Mark Sanchez heartbeat commercial said it all: "I don't even know what that's supposed to mean."

2:00 warning with the Saints at the 1 yard-line after a great looking drive. They HAVE to get 7 here, you can't kick a field goal after all that and then have Manning come back down the field in 90 seconds and make it 17-6. When we (the Dolphins) played them in Week 2 and held the ball for 46 minutes and still lost, this is exactly the type of thing we did. Even when we scored TD's, Manning would answer so quickly and go to the sideline with that "What were you saying, again?" look on his face. Point is, definitely can't settle for three. 3rd down, let's go Brees. The play call is a Mike Bell run to the right, he trips, falls, loses a half-yard and New Orleans has a decision to make.

They choose to go for it and can't convert. How in the WORLD do you call a run there on 4th down with the best quarterback in the NFC on the field? I knew it was a bad idea from the millisecond Brees' handed off. The ironic thing is it was a great idea to go for it - I had just got done explaining that to the room - and then they run the ball and not even with their best back? Unreal. The score remains 10-3.

Saints get another chance after forcing a punt and Brees finds a wide open Henderson at the 32. Spike with :20. Brees to Henderson again at the 28 but he can't get out of bounds and NO uses its last timeout. Hartley hits to give them back the three points they missed out on when they went from it from the 1. Halftime.

Pretty good half of football. No 80-yard TD throws like many expected but some physical play and back-and-forth action. I have a feeling the 4th quarter will be crazy. Sticking to my prediction and my pride: 41-38 New Orleans.

8:16 - Halftime show...not really a lot to say. It's pretty much what you're gonna get from The Who, just a solid performance. Update: I've only had one beer so far and I'm feeling alright. Dave is in 9th place with 15 left in a poker tournament that pays way more money than he deserves. Back to the action..Indy will have the ball first.

ONSIDES KICK by New Orleans to start the second half!!!... and they recover. It's almost like they really want to win this game, maybe they'll have a chance if they don't run the ball with a backup running back on 4th down after making a gutsy call to go for it. A chance for some serious redemption now.

Brees is starting to look more comfortable out there, they're rolling him out, doing some different things to keep the rush away from him and he's getting into a rhythm. Doesn't hurt that Freeney is on the sidelines getting his ankle heavily taped. Touchdown Pierre Thomas!! The Saints take the lead and now Peyton Manning gets to do what he does best - make plays with the pressure on. Remember a few years ago when we would never say that about him, or any Manning for that matter? I guess he has really come a long way. What a throw by Manning to Dallas Clark to put them at the 20. Indy scored to make it 17-13 and it looks like the Manning-Brees battle is about to catch fire.

On a lighter note, Dave busted out in 12th place to win $500 and he looks like his girlfriend just broke up with him. One of our friends was trying to tell him that even though he didn't win he still has an extra $500, but Dave isn't hearing it. I commented that he no longer lives on the same plane as we do, which drew a couple of laughs. I'm not-so-secretly happy that Dave lost in the tournament. Life is alright...

New Orleans cuts the lead to 17-16 on a Hartley field goal.

The new Google commercial is pretty cool but it needed a better ending like those Mastercard "priceless" commercials. The guy is in a long distance relationship with a girl in Paris, he googles everything he needs to know like "how to speak french" etc etc. up until he books a flight, goes to Paris, plans a wedding, and then the last line is "how to assemble a crib?" I would've liked something surprising or, preferably, a little dark humor, but maybe that's just me.

After the game, let me know what your favorite commercial was in the comments section

Zak just pointed out there have been few penalties, no turnovers, no big plays and no challenges. In other words, nothing controversial or overly exciting. 15 minutes to play....

Predictions for MVP: In this room we've heard Manning, Garcon, Pierre Thomas (Dave - not sure if he's being sarcastic, he insists he isn't), Deverey Henderson, and I'm gonna say...Drew Brees.

We just got into a talk about the most recent defensive players to win the MVP...I thought Harrison won it last year but apparently it was Santonio Holmes, I guess I must have blocked out that TD he caught. The answer: Dexter Jackson won it for Tampa Bay 2003, before that it was Ray Lewis for Baltimore in 2001 and Larry Brown for Dallas in 1996.

8:00 left, New Orleans with the ball after Matt Stover missed a 51-yarder for Indy. Any Ravens fan could have told you Stover would miss that kick. Someone should have told Tony Dungy...or whoever it is that coaches the Colts these days.

Wow, Jeremy Shockey just caught a TD pass in the Super Bowl! Who would've thunk it, now we just gotta get Tiki Barber a Super Bowl win. It's 22-17, they go for two and miss. Things are starting to heat up. Our first coaches challenge of the game comes after the two-point try; really interesting situation and this might be the first time I've seen this. What happened is the receiver, Lance Moore, caught the ball, put it over the goal-line, hit the ground with possession and then as he was turning over, the ball was kicked out of his hand. They overturn it and here's why: According to the NFL Rulebook , "a forward pass is complete when a receiver clearly possesses the pass and touches the ground with both feet inbounds while in possession of the ball." In this case, he landed with possession and the ball only came out when he made a second move after already being down. Got it? I think it's a good call, everybody concurs and we can move on with our lives. Huge deal by the way because now a touchdown ties it as opposed to giving Indy a potential lead.

Interception return for a Touchdown by Tracy Porter for the Saints!! Imagine making a play of that caliber in a game of this magnitude. Unbelievable and that's what makes pro sports so exciting. This rare pick of Manning comes straight from film study and knowing the Colts' offense and tendencies; Porter read the play and made a break on the ball. Hats off to him and that could do it for the Colts. Two touchdown lead for the Saints, 31-17, but if there's anyone you don't want to face in this situation today it's Manning, and even all-time after Marino and maybe Elway.

As the Colts drive to try and make it a one-score game with less than two minutes left, one of my friends just made a good point - this season really showed just how good Manning is because he really didn't have much of a squad around him; reminds me of another guy who went pretty far almost every year without a good team.

Manning incomplete on 4th down and they turn it over. Here's my problem with this: the Colts called TO after they were stopped on 2nd so once that timeout was gone, they should have used their last one before the 4th down play with the clock running and their season on the line. Come out with your best play, then worry about recovering the onsides kick.

Anyway, the Saints are going to win this game and their first Super Bowl 31-17, Brees will be the MVP and Jim Nantz just took a cheapshot at the Dolphins for passing on Brees...twice.

"Mardi Gras is about to break out here in Miami," says Nantz. Pretty good Super Bowl and we now have a good string going ever since the cheatin' Pats stopped winning. While Bourbon Street will party into the night, I'll sleep like a baby and dream of seeing my 'Phins win one. Good night.

Jacory story,...

Jacory Harris that is.

My girlfriend and I went down to South Florida for Dolphins camp in early August. Right when we got there, I grabbed us a couple of seats and she went to the concession stand to get some hot dogs and drinks. Watching the Dolphins with my lady in 95-degree weather - these are the things that make life worth it.

Anyway, there was a kid sitting next to me with one of his buddies when his girlfriend showed up with her brother and her best friend. I overheard her introduce everybody and soon after she said the name 'Jacory' I realized it was that Jacory, the Hurricanes quarterback. As practice went on, some kids caught wind of who he was and were asking him to sign autographs and take some pictures with him and all that. He had no problem giving some kids a nice memory and some souvenirs to take home with them, in fact, he seemed happy that people were taking interest in him. His girlfriend, with a big smile on her face, remarked to my girlfriend and I, "this happens all the time!" It was a pretty cool moment.

To be honest, I don't follow college football all that much; I watch a lot of the big games and all that but I never really fell in love with a team and I pretty much only follow things on and off. It caught my attention, however, that the 'Canes quarterback was coming out for Dolphins camp. He also just seemed like a real genuine kid, the kind of guy that you're surprised to find out is some type of big-shot athlete, particularly a starting quarterback for a major Division I program - pretty down to earth, not looking for the spotlight but not shying away from it. I guess I was a little bit like some of those kids that got his autograph because the memory stuck with me.

Last night, I was winding down my Labor Day weekend by finishing up some stories for the newspaper I write for, the Northwest Current in Washington D.C. My friend told me Miami was playing Florida State so I flipped on the game hoping to watch Harris play a little bit. I was at my girlfriend's apartment and as soon as I mentioned his name, she remembered him pretty much the same way I did - genuine kid, down to earth, the kind of guy you want to root for. She sat down to watch some of the game with me.

All those things I caught in passing that day at Dolphins camp were evident in watching him play last night - unselfish kind of guy, quiet and humble. The performance he turned in was inspiring. I had never seen him play before and what I saw was a 6-foot-4, skinny kid with a strong arm and a good head on his shoulders. He showed great mechanics, very good footwork and excellent poise. When he took a shot in the 4th quarter that resulted in an interception returned for a touchdown, I wanted to see how he would bounce back. He threw a TD pass on the ensuing drive, showing no ill effects from what looked like an awkward injury to his throwing arm. He never panicked while trailing on the road against a ranked team. Instead, he made throw after impressive throw, the best of which was a perfectly thrown bullet down the sideline that landed in the absolute perfect place for his receiver to get it, stay in bounds and set up the go-ahead score. When the 'Canes defense had a goal-line stand to seal the win, he showed no reaction on the sidelines, just exhaled after a job well done. The kid is only 19 years and has tremendous poise and looks like he could be a really good leader and a pretty exciting player to watch.

I was impressed when I saw a local product who was the quarterback for the city's college team coming out to watch the Dolphins practice with his girlfriend. I became a pretty big fan of Jacory Harris last night after watching him lead the Hurricanes past the 18th ranked Seminoles. I have a feeling we're going to hear a lot of good things about this young man this season and maybe for some years to come.

BEAT THE FALCONS.