[NU Sports] Morrissey's article

[s.fridley at comcast.net]

This happens infrequently, so let me note it when it happens.  I agree with everything Dennis said.    Our kicking game hasn't been very good if the last several years.  It was actually more reliable this year with Howells than it's been in the past.

So it's unfortunate that the cheering FOR Demos was [understandably] interpreted not just as cheering for Demos along with a probable swipe at Walker, but also as an attack on Howells.

I also salute Walker for publically standing up for his player.

While giving credit where it's due, let me note a small correction:  our kicker a few years back was Tim Long, not Tony.


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Dennis W. Brandt" <tbng at suscom.net>
> Mr. Morrissey wrote, "But if some of these people would take a step back, 
> they might realize they're obsessing on kids playing a kid's sport."
> 
> I wish it were so, Rick, but t'ain't.  Frankly, sports writers obsess just 
> as much on those collegiate athletes.  If not, they wouldn't have jobs.
> 
> Morrissey added, "Please don't tell me that if they're old enough to fight a 
> war, they're old enough to be ridiculed."
> 
> There are lots of folks in this country saying much worse things about 
> Howell-aged boys and girls fighting in Iraq - not the policy, the kids 
> themselves.
> 
> I say, good for Coach Walker.  He stood up for his player, and that was the 
> right thing to do.  I suspect the crowd reaction, tasteless as it may have 
> been, was less aimed at Joel Howells than the long string of bad kickers and 
> special teams players Walker has recruited.  (Howells did not lose the Sun 
> Bowl however badly he kicked; a pathetic defense did.)  But one reason for 
> Walker's success in 2000 was a fellow named Tony Long who hit the big ones. 
> Since then, special teams on the NU football team hasn't been a job, it's 
> been an adventure, too often one with an unhappy ending.
> 
> 
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