The Coaches Corner: Nu’Keese Richardson.

With signing day closing in on the class of 2008, soon enough all the attention in the world will be turned upon the class of ’09.  One of the top players in the 2009 class that will garner a large amount of attention sat down to have an interview with myself.

In the first edition of “Coaches Corner”, I had a conversation with one of the top players in all the land, in the class of 2009.  A player that hails from the nationally ranked Pahokee High School, in Pahokee, Florida, a player wide-open in the recruiting process, a player that has had to overcome tragedy to get where he is today, a player listed in the Rivals Top 100 players of 2009, and a player that will provide an immediate boost to the school he eventually decides to commit to.  Enjoy, “Coach’s Corner” with 2009 standout, Nu’Keese Richardson.

Nu’Keese Richardson

Nu’Keese Richardson getting his times down.

Nu’Keese Richardson, in action, for his Nationally ranked High School football team: Pahokee High.

Q:      First off, I want to thank you Nu’Keese for agreeing to do this interview, How has junior year been going, to date?

A:      Well it’s been going great so far wit all the recruiting and everything. 

Q:      When was your first offer?

A:      Over the summer last year at South Carolina camp. 

Q:      On a weekly basis which schools keep up with you the most?

A:      Pretty much all of the local schools, and sometimes the out of state teams. 

Q:      Of the schools recruiting you who, from the staff, is doing the recruiting of you and what kind of relationship do you have with them?

A:      I call coach Gillespie at South Carolina, once every week and we talk about thing’s outside of football, but other then that I’ll say he’s a great recruiter.  I also talk to Coach Meyer and his WR coach Gonzalez from time to time. 

Q:      South Carolina seems to be ahead of the game with you, how about their rival, Clemson University, Who’s recruiting you from Clemson and what kind of relationship do you have with them?

A:      I forgot his name, but I have been up there a couple of times. 

Q:      I know John Lilly was recruiting you for Florida State before he left for Georgia, Have you heard from anyone from FSU since John Lilly took the job at Georgia?

A:      Nope. 

Q:      Have you, yet, narrowed down your list to who you are looking at?

A:      No. I’m wide open right now for everybody that’s recruiting me. 

Q:      Who, to date, has offered you a scholarship?

A:      Florida, South Carolina, Michigan, Florida State, FIU, Clemson, West Virginia. Southern Cal is interested in me, just no offer yet.

Q:      What are you looking for in a school that you will commit to?

A:      First of all as in school, what their school has to offer and what percentage of student athletes graduate each and every year. 

Q:      As a kid coming up through school, who was “your team”?

A:      I was a big UM fan. 

Q:      Do you have a timetable for a commitment?

A:      I will wait until signing day. 

Q:      What are your long-term goals for your football career?

A:      First of all it’s to stay healthy, and if God has blessed me enough i’m going to take the next step to enter the draft. 

Q:      Do you plan to attend any camps this summer?

A:      Yea, Nike camp and some others. 

Q:      Are you looking forward to your senior year and all the “hype” that may surround you, even-more?

A:      Yes I’m looking forward to it, and so are my team mates.  That was a big part of our success last year and the year before that. I’m pretty sure we as player’s from Pahokee high can handle all the hype that surround us. 

Q:      What are your goals for next year’s football season?

A:      To stay healthy, and win a state title once again. 

Q:      What roll has your high school football coach played in your development and support?

A:      He is a father figure who’s constantly staying on you about your school work and girl’s. 

Q:      Who do you accredit your football ability to? Is there someone who stayed behind you, someone who pushed you, someone who provided a major support to you?

A:      My older brother, Tyrone Clervan.

To Change the subject from football we talked about some Random things Nu’Keese may like.

Q:      Nu’Keese, What is your favorite movie?
A:      Scarface Q:      Do you have a favorite actor?
A:     

Denzel Washington  

Q:     

 Who is your favorite singer/performer? A:      Usher Q:      What is your favorite subject in school?A:     

Reading

Q:     

Are you looking at all at graduating early, or will you graduate with your fellow class-members?

A:     

Undecided right now. 

Q:     
Do you know what you want to major in, in college?

A:     
Theater.

Q:     

Who, growing up, did you look up to in your family?

A:     
My uncle Richard Bryant, he use to play corner for West Virginia.
Q:     

Are there any tragedies or setbacks you have had to deal with in your life?

A:     

Yes, losing my mom at a young age.

Nu’keeses Beautiful Mother.

Q: What is something your mother taught you, or your lasting memory of her?

A: Well I lost my mother due to a heart attact when I was about 10, and ever since then I have had to take care of my little brother and sister so, I really had to grow up at a young age. But the things she taught me before she passed away still are with me today, She let me know that in life you have struggles, but respect what you and never lose that smile and joy for life. To this day, I use that in anything i do on the football field

Nu’Keese Richardson’s numbers:

Height: 5’8”

Weight: 170 lbs.

40 Time: 4.4

Vertical: 32 inches. 

With the recruitment of Nu’Keese Richardson hot now, it will only heat up after Signing Day, 2008 expires.  This kid has the promise and ability to do great things at the college level and his raw skills and pure athletic ability surely could translate into taking his game to the next Level. 

Nu’Keese will re-enter the “Coaches Corner” in the future to keep us all apprised of his recruitment, when he narrows down his list, and his future visits to schools.

Stay Tuned. 

The future of “Coaches Corner” will host a many top 100 and other 2009 recruits, to shed some light on their recruitment.

I am Coach.

(I would like to thank, Rivals.com for their “Rivals-100″ list)

Coaches- 2008 Top 10 poll.

With the 2007 college football season now over with, much like my Heisman post we must now do what we do best and look ahead to next season.  I have provided what I think should be next seasons Preseason top 10.

10.  Kansas Jayhawks-

        Kansas may be an even better team next season, but with the year they had this year not only will teams be gunning for them but on the schedule returns Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech.

9.  Missouri Tigers-

        This years two feel-good stories start off the top 10 this year and with Chase Daniel coming back (or he better) along with Frosh sensation Jeremy Macklin, this team is for real.

8.  Auburn Tigers-

        The tigers will still be adjusting to the new offense as well as replacing one of the finest defensive coordinators in the country in Will Muschamp, who departed for Texas.  They will return, still, one of the finest defenses in all the land.

7.  LSU Tigers-

        The defending National Champions lose a ton next season but putting them as pre-season number 7 is a leap of faith based on the stellar recruiting they have done in years past.  Ryan Perriloux will have his chance.

6.  Florida Gators-

        With a better defense return I would have put them higher because the offense should be even better but the truth is, is that they lose a ton on that side of the ball and were shaky already this season.

5.  West Virginia Mountaineers-

       New Coach however with Steve Slaton and Pat White almost surely coming back along with Noel Devine’s second season, this team will be just as good. (If not better) The defense will be the key.

4.  Ohio State Buckeyes-

      This team will have a real shot at losing going to it’s third National Championship game in a row.  Offense will have Beanie Wells running over defenders and the defense will be just AS strong.  Let’s see how they will respond to losing superstar, Laurinaitis early. (Potentially)

3.  USC Trojans.

      Blah. Going to be a fantastic team and i’ll be pulling against them in every game but I’m putting them here because they are that good.

2.  Georgia Bulldogs-

     Two names: Knowson Moreno and Matthew Stafford.  A deadly combo for teams to go up against makes Georgia have a real shot at giving Richt his first championship and making the SEC a tough conference yet again.

1.  Oklahoma Sooners-

     I think when it is all said and done Oklahoma could very well be playing for all the marbles.  They return the nations must efficient quarterback in Sam Bradford ( A Sophmore) as well as 17 starters.  This team is loaded with talent and loaded with coaching.

—————————————————————————————————————————

Just missed the cutoff-

Virginia Tech Hokies- Returning alot

Texas Longhorns- Will Muschamp make an immediate impact?

Wisconsin Badgers- Only question mark I give them is at Quarterback.

BYU- Seriously look at their schedule, if they can find ways to beat Washington and UCLA this team won’t lose and will start in the polls high enough to cause serious trouble to the BCS. This team can play with any in the country, is loaded, and is for real.

Illinois- They lost Mendenhall has I predicted so it could either be another good campaign or a rough one for the zookers.

Texas Tech- Harrel-to-Crabtree. Nuf Ced.

Clemson- Loaded with talent. Can they mess it up again? seriously….?

What does your poll look like? Let me know.

I am coach.

Black Eye for baseball.

Today, Major League Baseball received a blackeye much-like the BlackSox Scandal of yesteryear, the Mitchell Report was released today in-which names former and current players who used performance-enhancing steroids.

Some of the names in the report are: Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Gary Matthews Jr., Rick Ankiel, Barry Bonds, Eric Gagne, Troy Glaus, Brian Roberts, Paul Lo Duca, Jay Gibbons.

Being a baseball coach, and being a baseball-lover, this is a rough day for baseball. 

The best bet for baseball is to attempt to move-on from today’s news.

The other names rumored in the list are as follows:

Brady Anderson
Manny Alexander
Rick Ankiel
Jeff Bagwell
Barry Bonds
Aaron Boone
Rafael Bettancourt
Bret Boone
Milton Bradley
David Bell
Dante Bichette

Albert Belle
Paul Byrd
Wil Cordero
Ken Caminiti
Mike Cameron
Ramon Castro
Jose and Ozzie Canseco
Roger Clemens
Paxton Crawford
Wilson Delgado
Lenny Dykstra
Johnny Damon
Carl Everett
Kyle Farnsworth
Ryan Franklin
Troy Glaus
Rich Garces
Jason Grimsley
Troy Glaus
Juan Gonzalez
Eric Gagne
Nomar Garciaparra
Jason Giambi
Jeremy Giambi
Jose Guillen
Jay Gibbons
Juan Gonzalez
Clay Hensley
Jerry Hairston
Felix Heredia, Jr.
Darren Holmes
Wally Joyner
Darryl Kile
Matt Lawton
Raul Mondesi
Mark McGwire
Guillermo Mota
Robert Machado
Damian Moss
Abraham Nunez
Trot Nixon
Jose Offerman
Andy Pettitte
Mark Prior
Neifi Perez
Rafael Palmiero
Albert Pujols
Brian Roberts
Juan Rincon
John Rocker
Pudge Rodriguez
Sammy Sosa
Scott Schoenweiis
David Segui
Alex Sanchez
Gary Sheffield
Miguel Tejada
Julian Tavarez
Fernando Tatis
Mo Vaughn
Jason Varitek
Ismael Valdes
Matt Williams
Kerry Wood

We’ll see how this all shakes-out….I am Coach.

My Bowl Pick’ems.

Bowl Season is here, and although I think there, at the very least, should be a plus one scenario to decide the National Championship, we have what we have.  I’m posting, now, my picks for every single bowl game.  In the end, we’ll see how well I do.

Poinsettia San Diego	Utah vs. NavyCOACHES PICK-UTAH	Dec. 20, 9 p.m.	ESPN
New Orleans New Orleans	Florida Atlantic vs. MemphisCOACHES PICK-MEMPHIS	Dec. 21, 8 p.m.	ESPN2
Papajohns.com Birmingham, Ala.	Cincinnati vs. Southern MissCOACHES PICK-CINCINNATI	Dec. 22, 1 p.m.	ESPN2
New Mexico Albuquerque, N.M.	Nevada vs. New Mexico COACHES PICK-NEVADA	Dec. 22, 4:30 p.m.	ESPN
Las Vegas Las Vegas	UCLA vs. BYU COACHES PICK-BYU (BIG!)	Dec. 22, 8 p.m.	ESPN
Hawaii Honolulu	Boise State vs. East CarolinaCOACHES PICK-BOISE STATE	Dec. 23, 8 p.m.	ESPN
Motor City Detroit	Central Michigan vs. PurdueCOACHES PICK-PURDUE	Dec. 26, 7:30 p.m.	ESPN
Holiday San Diego	Arizona State vs. TexasCOACHES PICK-ARIZONA STATE	Dec. 27, 8 p.m.	ESPN
Texas Houston	Texas Christian vs. HoustonCOACHES PICK-TCU	Dec. 28, 8 p.m.	NFL Network
Champ Sports Orlando, Fla.	Boston College vs. Michigan StateCOACHES PICK-BOSTON COLLEGE	Dec. 28, 5 p.m.	ESPN
Emerald San Francisco	Maryland vs. Oregon State COACHES PICK-OREGON STATE	Dec. 28, 8 p.m.	ESPN
Meineke Car Care Charlotte, N.C.	Wake Forest vs. Connecticut COACHES PICK- WAKE FOREST	Dec. 29, 1 p.m.	ESPN
Liberty Memphis, Tenn.	Central Florida vs. Mississippi StateCOACHES PICK-CENTRAL FLORIDA	Dec. 29, 4:30 p.m.	ESPN
Alamo San Antonio	Penn State vs. Texas A&M COACHES PICK- PENN STATE	Dec. 29, 8 p.m.	ESPN
Independence Shreveport, La.	Colorado vs. Alabama COACHES PICK-COLORADO	Dec. 30, 8 p.m.	ESPN
Armed Forces Fort Worth, Texas	California vs. Air Force COACHES PICK- CALIFORNIA	Dec. 31, 12:30 p.m.	ESPN
Humanitarian Boise, Idaho	Fresno State vs. Georgia TechCOACHES PICK- FRESNO STATE	Dec. 31, 2 p.m.	ESPN2
Sun El Paso, Texas	Oregon vs. South FloridaCOACHES PICK-SOUTH FLORIDA	Dec. 31, 2 p.m.	CBS
Music City Nashville, Tenn.	Kentucky vs. Florida State COACHES PICK-THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY	Dec. 31, 4 p.m.	ESPN
Chick-fil-A Atlanta	Auburn vs. ClemsonCOACHES PICK-CLEMSON	Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m.	ESPN
Insight Tempe, Ariz.	Indiana vs. Oklahoma StateCOACHES PICK-INDIANA	Dec. 31, 8 p.m.	NFL Network
Outback Tampa, Fla.	Wisconsin vs. Tennessee COACHES PICK-WISCONSIN	Jan. 1, 11 a.m.	ESPN
Cotton Dallas	Missouri vs. Arkansas COACHES PICK-ARKANSAS	Jan. 1, 11:30 a.m.	FOX
Gator Jacksonville, Fla.	Texas Tech vs. Virginia COACHES PICK-TEXAS TECH	Jan. 1, 1 p.m.	CBS
Capital One Orlando, Fla.	Michigan vs. Florida COACHES PICK-FLORIDA	Jan. 1, 1 p.m.	ABC
Rose Pasadena, Calif.	Southern California vs. IllinoisCOACHES PICK-USC	Jan. 1, 4:30 p.m.	ABC
Sugar New Orleans	Hawaii vs. GeorgiaCOACHES PICK-GEORGIA	Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m.	FOX
Fiesta Glendale, Ariz.	Oklahoma vs. West VirginiaCOACHES PICK-OKLAHOMA	Jan. 2, 8 p.m.	FOX
Orange Miami	Virginia Tech vs. KansasCOACHES PICK-VIRGINIA TECH	Jan. 3, 8 p.m.	FOX
International Toronto	Rutgers vs. Ball State COACHES PICK-BALL STATE	Jan. 5, noon	ESPN2
GMAC Mobile, Ala.	Bowling Green vs. TulsaCOACHES PICK-TULSA	Jan. 6, 8 p.m.	ESPN
BCS Championship Game New Orleans	Ohio State vs. LSUCOACHES PICK-LSU	Jan. 7, 8 p.m.	FOX

So there you have it.  I would love it if you would all email me your picks so that we could have a little friendly competition, but if not you can atleast follow my picks silently as I woop up lose of course to you. 

And the Heisman award winner, 2008 is…..

First of all, congratulations to Darren McFadden and Colt Brennan for finishing 2^nd and 3^rd respectively in the Heisman voting last night. (Am I leaving anyone out?) So with the Heisman presentation over with we must now, do what we all do best, look ahead.  I am going to give you the top ten candidates for next years Heisman award:

10)  Todd Reesing- QB-Kansas: Almost pulled off a near flawless season at Kansas and chances are Kansas won’t have the season they had this year, however Reesing got plenty of pub to carry over to next season in order to give him a chance. 

9)  Jonathan Stewart-RB-Oregon: He may bolt for the NFL so I might have to remove him from this list however if he comes back and stays healthy this guy, in the Pac-10 could feasibly rush for 2000 yards, giving him a shot at the award.

8)  Ryan Perrilloux-QB-LSU: He’ll be taking over for LSU at the QB position, the uber-talented Perrilloux is a better athlete, has a stronger arm, his only obstacle is that Ryan has to stay out of trouble off the field.  If he does so, Perrilloux will have the numbers at the end of the year to make an argument.

7)  Rashard Mendenhall-RB-Illinois: Another guy here that could very well bolt for the NFL, but he if returns the TD-Machine will have another big season.

6) Chase Daniel-QB-Missouri: Chase had a chance to win or at least finish 2^nd with a win or big game in the Big-12 championship, however that was not the case.  Chase is the “new guy” on the national scene having a breakout season this year which puts him in the discussion already for next year, however he WILL NOT have the same weapons.

5) Sam Bradford-QB-Oklahoma: Was largely ignored, being a freshman, this year in the Heisman-talk nevertheless he was the Nations most proficient passer.  Loses Malcom Kelly but still a great talent and will have the numbers

4)  Jamaal Charles-RB-Texas: BLAZING SPEED, and this is a guy that also may bolt for the NFL but if he does come back he will get more work in the Texas offense and a more experienced/stronger offensive Line.

3)  Pat White-QB-West Virginia-: I’m putting this guy 3, though he will have a LEGITIMATE, VERY REAL, CHANCE at taking home the trophy especially if Steve Slaton makes the mistake of going to NFL.  Assuming Slaton leaves, Pat White will be the premier playmaker on offense with Noel Devine, and with a dangerous array of Receivers White will have a monster season.

2) Chris “Beanie” Wells-Rb-Ohio State: A Big, speedy, nasty back whom I expect to easily put up 20+ touchdowns putting him in contention for the award.

1) Tim Tebow-QB-Florida: Won it this year, has the hype behind him, and the already young Florida offense will be even better.  I personally don’t think he will win it, as other guys will have larger years than him next year, though he’ll be in New York.

Just missed the Coaches top 10:

Graham Harrell-QB-Texas Tech: I feel bad for leaving him off, because it is so hard to ignore his Xbox/Playstation type numbers, but he won’t be there.

P.J Hill-RB-Wisconsin

Ian Johnson-RB-Boise State

Knowshon Moreno-RB-Georgia

DeMarco Murray-RB-Oklahoma

LeSean McCoy-RB-Pittsburgh

…And the people I purposely left off of the list because they won’t be back, meaning they’ll be making moolah in the NFL. (In parenthesis, is where I would have ranked them had they came back)

Darren McFadden-RB-Arkansas (1)

Felix Jones-RB-Arkansas (7)

Kevin Smith-RB-UCF (4)

Ray Rice-RB-Rutgers (9)

…And, finally, the players that next season could be this years Chase Daniel…

Ryan Mallett-QB-Michigan

Matthew Stafford-QB-Georgia

Joe McKnight-RB-USC

Josh Freeman-QB-Kansas State

Jimmy Clausen-QB-Notre Dame

Juice Williams-QB-Illinois

C.J. Spiller-RB-Clemson

We’ll see how it goes in about 364 days…God Speed my friends. I am Coach.

Heis’MAN or Heis’HYPE?

To be or not to be…that is the question right?

Tonight the Heisman Trophy will be given away, and the “award” is for the “most outstanding player in college football” in the current season.  To me, though, the Heisman trophy award has evolved into a “Hype-man Trophy”.  It, more times than not, is given to the player who has had the largest hype machine behind them.  There is no question about it, that whomever wins the award has had a fantastic season , there is, though, a question in my eyes about the who in fact takes home the trophy. 

Let’s look at the past winners.

2006- Troy Smith.  I didn’t really have a problem with Troy taking it home, however in my eyes the only reason McFadden (who finished 2nd) didn’t take it home was because he was a sophmore. (hmm…Hype…help anyone?)

2005-Reggie Bush. Bush absolutely was the best player in college football this season.  Vince Young (who finished 2nd) did have a strong case though.

2004-Matt Leinart.  I begged to differ on this one.  The 2nd place vote getter that year, was a kid (a sophmore..hmm..) by the name of Adrian Peterson. Because, though, Peterson got injured partway though it seemed to hurt his vote. 

2003-Jason White.  I did not agree with this one either.  He was a very good college quarterback, but did nothing toooooo….spectacular to me.  I would have rather given the award to, Larry Fitzgerald, Eli Manning, Chris Perry, or Darren Sproles. (the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place finishers)

2002- Carson Palmer. Blah. Larry Johnson (who finished 3rd) should have won this award.  Brad Banks had a real argument as well.

2001-heh. This was the worst year ever for the Heisman trophy. I’ll just give you the results:

                     1. Eric Crouch

                     2. Rex Grossman

                     3.  Ken Dorsey

                     4. Joey Harrington

                     5. David Carr

2000- Chris Weinke. Hands down! ;-)

Honorable Mention-

1997- Charles Woodson.  Peyton should have won it.

1996- Danny Weur—who?– Warrick Dunn Should have won it. ;-)

1993- Charlie Ward. WOOT WOOT! Hands down! ;-)

So you get the picture.

My prediction of tonights results are:

1) Tim Tebow

2) Darren McFadden

3) Colt Brennan

If I had a vote, it would look like this:

1) Colt Brennan

2) Darren McFadden

3) Anyone else in NCAA Football other than Tebow.

Everyone have a blessed day. I am Coach.