Bob’s Blog

Hey, who turned on the air conditioning here? It feels like Wichita today in Miami. Nothing against Wichita, but I didn’t come here to get cold.

Complaining? No, not me. The first four days here were spectacular, so I guess one cold day doesn’t ruin the trip. But it was so cold today, and I brought so few clothes, that I considered going out to buy a jacket. I didn’t do it, though, but I did turn on the heat in my hotel room.

Today’s column, about Mark Mangino, was very personal for me. I don’t know whether you read it or not, but it dealt some with Mangino’s compassion during a tragedy that involved the grandson of my Eagle cohort Rick Plumlee nearly three years ago. Rick is one of my best friends. I saw today while reading Kansas.com some of the reader comments to that story. Some were absolutely inappropriate and makes you wonder about the people who made them. I am probably in the minority, but I don’t see the purpose served of printing reader comments to stories online, with anonymity. In fact, I think it’s a terrible practice. There, got that off my chest.

The more I learn about the KU-Virginia Tech matchup in tomorrow night’s Orange Bowl, the more I anticipate the game. It’s about time we had a decent BCS bowl, isn’t it? I think this game sets up as a very close one. But if I were Kansas, I would be concerned about handling the various pressure schemes that Virginia Tech will deliver. I know KU’s offensive line is a strength, but the Jayhawks haven’t had to block against the kind of speed they’ll see tomorrow night. That’s definitely one of the biggest keys to the game. Another is the Kansas running game. Brandon McAnderson and Jake Sharp need to get in the neighborhood of 120-150 yards for the Jayhawks to have a chance. Virginia Tech has allowed more than 23 points only once this season; giving up 48 to LSU in the second week of the season. The Hokies are totally legit.

For those of you who are wondering (and are there really any of you who do?) I visited Coyote Ugly in Ft. Lauderdale for New Year’s Eve. I went with my Eagle buddy Scott Paske as well as Kevin Haskin from the Topeka Capital-Journal and Harold Bechard from the Hutchinson News. Here’s all I’ll say about the night: tequila still doesn’t agree with me. I knew that, it has been well documented throughout my adult life. And I still let it win another battle. It’s now something like Tequila 110, Lutz 0.

Looking forward to the weekend’s NFL matchups. I’m becoming a Tampa Bay aficionado, mostly because of my good friends like the Bucs. Well, one of them likes the Bucs. The others, both women, like Tampa Bay coach John Gruden. So we’ll venture out somewhere to watch the Bucs play the New York Giants, who are 7-1 on the road. Tampa Bay’s home-field advantage might not mean much. And whatever momentum the Bucs had went out the window when the mighty Gruden (OK, I’m jealous) rested many starters during the final two weeks of the season. Tampa Bay lost both games and three of its final four. Jacksonville at Pittsburgh is the most intriguing AFC wild-card matchup of the weekend. And I like Washington to go into Seattle and win, even though the Seahawks are 7-1 at home. San Diego will thump Tennessee.

Shockers? More of the same. Can’t shoot. Don’t win many games when you can’t shoot. What else is there to say? Frustration will set in soon, if it hasn’t already. And with four of the next five on the road. . .

We did the radio show, Sports Daily, from the hotel this morning and will do it again tomorrow, from 9 to 11 a.m. on KFH (1240-AM, 98.7 FM). Give it a listen. Really enjoy doing radio. It’s a perfect complement to the newspaper work.

Have to get out to Koch Arena on Saturday night and check out the East-Southeast game. My kid, Jeff, is talking like Southeast is the best high school team he’s seen. Of course, no team will ever come close to the 1976-77 Heights team. It’s almost unfair to have to compare any team to that Falcons group, led by Darnell Valentine, Calvin Alexander and Antoine Carr.

I forgot to do my 10 best list in the last blog. So before I forget again, let’s get it out of the way. Here are the 10 favorite teachers I had in junior high and high school. Some of you are saying: How can he remember that long ago? Funny, really funny. Here goes: Mr. Nikkel (junior high civics); Mr. Harper (high school math who let me slide in geometry because I was a baseball player and he was the coach); Mr. Blackwell (high school PE and baseball coach); Mrs. Bourn (don’t remember what she taught in high school, but she was hot); Mrs. Barclay (fifth grade); Mrs. Robinson (third grade); Mrs. Gubitz (high school drama); Mr. Heidebrecht (high school P.E.); Mrs. Coffin (junior high English). Compiling that list, I realized I don’t really have a lot of favorite teachers. Wonder why that is?

What a letdown from Hawaii last night in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia. The Hawaii offensive tackles aren’t going to soon forget the speed of the Bulldogs’ defensive ends. It was a total mismatch. And how, again, did the Rose Bowl decide Illinois was deserving? The Rose Bowl committee could have chosen Georgia to play Southern California. On paper, that looks like it would be one heck of a game.

I was really doing well playing spades online until this morning, when I was blown out two games in a row. It has damaged my psyche.

Kansas football coach Mark Mangino addressed the media for 45 minutes this morning and was outstanding. So was Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer. These are two coaches who are easy to root for.

The players on these teams have to be itching to play. I know I’m itching to see the game.

Have fun everyone. Happy New Year’s. I’ll be back Saturday.