The 2008 Summer Olympics begin today. It’s a pretty big deal, don’t know if you’ve heard or not.
Auburn University is very well represented at the Games in Beijing, with 23 former and current Tigers competing in the games. Former Auburn great Rowdy Gaines will also be there doing commentary for NBC on its swimming events. Also, former AU sprinter Brett Hawke will be there as a coach of the Brazilian team. Hawke was asked by Team Brazil to join its roster to coach the fastest man on the planet, Auburn’s own Cesar Cielo.
Now I have to qualify something about Cielo being the fastest man on the planet. He is ... in yards. The NCAA swims its meets in yards. Cielo owns all the records for that distance in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle swims. He’s gone under 19 seconds (which is like being in the low 9-second range in the 100-meter dash, or running a sub-four minute mile. He’s fast.
But in the Olympics, of course, the swimming distances are measured in meters. Since yards are shorter than meters, Cielo is faster than any else. But this month, he’ll have to swim the longer distance at the Games. He will swim in the 50- and 100-meter freestyles for Brazil, as well as compete on the 400-meter freestyle relay team.
There’s another interesting story about Hawke coaching on the Brazilian team. Hawke is from Australia. He represented his country twice (2000 and 2004) in the Olympics as a swimmer. Now, he’s coaching for Brazil. He told me awhile ago when we talked that it’ll be weird for him coaching another country. The colors are the same, but the name on the back of the shirt is different.
“It’s going to be strange, you know,” Hawke said. “They speak Portuguese down there and I don’t speak a lick of Portuguese. I barely speak English.”
I got a chuckle out of that. I guess you had to be there.
Anyway, here’s the list of all the Auburn athletes competing in the Beijing games ... Sanjay Ayre (Jamaica) Track & Field
Fred Bousquet (France) Swimming
George Bovell (Trinidad & Tobago) Swimming
Mark Burns (Trinidad & Tobago) Track & Field
Cesar Cielo (Brazil) Swimming
Timicka Clarke (Bahamas) Track & Field
Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe) Swimming
Alana Dilette (Bahamas) Swimming
Vonette Dixon (Jamaica) Track & Field
Mark Gangloff (U.S.) Swimming
Margaret Hoelzer (U.S.) Swimming
Jeremy Knowles (Bahamas) Swimming
Josanne Lucas (Trinidad & Tobago) Track & Field
Gabor Mate (Hungary) Track & Field
Avard Moncur (Bahamas) Track & Field
Alexei Puninski (Croatia) Swimming
Leevan Sands (Bahamas) Track & Field
Shamar Sands (Bahamas) Track & Field
Eric Shanteau (U.S. ) Swimming
Maurice Smith (Jamaica) Track & Field
Kerron Stewart (Jamaica) Track & Field
Matt Targett (Australia) Swimming
Donald Thomas (Bahamas) Track & Field
Also, for a complete bio on each of these athletes, Auburn University has done a great job of putting together a Web site on all its athletes competing in the Olympics. You can find that here.
Jeff Lebo’s seat just got a little bit warmer, and the Auburn University basketball season doesn’t tip off for another four months.
Thursday’s dismissal of Josh Dollard from the Tigers’ hoops team has caused some restlessness among the natives, with matches being lit up and down the Loveliest Village.
The reason AU gave for Dollard’s dismissal Tuesday was officially labeled as a “violation of Auburn University Athletic Department policy.”
Here’s what Lebo had to say in a statement released by AU:
“Auburn supplied Josh with all the resources for him to be successful. Josh understood his requirements and responsibilities to be an Auburn student-athlete, and he has fallen short in fulfilling what was clearly communicated to him.”
Here’s what Dollard had to say:
“I have had the opportunity to be successful on and off the court at Auburn. Due to certain circumstances, I am unable to continue my career here at Auburn. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in my career at Auburn, and I would like to wish my teammates, coaching staff and Auburn family much success in the future.”
A couple things are clear here:
First, Dollard was given some chances to get his act together. He didn’t. And now he’s gone.
Second, Lebo really wanted Dollard to play this year. He needed Dollard to play this year. Dollard was Auburn’s leading scorer (12.5 points per game) and rebounder (7.0) as a sophomore in the 2006-07 season. Dollard sat out all of last season with what Auburn called “medial issues.”
Whatever that means.
But Lebo, as he pointed out in his comments, couldn’t keep giving Dollard chance after chance after chance.
Third, this is the ninth player signed by Lebo, and the 14th overall since his arrival in 2004, that are no longer a part of the program for one reason or another.
Fourth, Lebo needs this year’s incoming class of freshmen and transfers to contribute right away or that seat might catch fire.
When Lebo took over AU’s program in 2004, it was on probation. There was an exodus of some players left over from former head coach Cliff Ellis, namely Marco Killingsworth (who transferred to Indiana).
Lebo, no doubt, had his hands tied. And when you’re trying to build a program at a school that’s not known for basketball, with the facilities Auburn has, it’s hard to bring in recruits.
So, Lebo took some chances on guys, who, if they worked out, would have help the team. And if they didn’t work out ... well ... now, you’re seeing that side of the coin. The turnstile doesn’t stop.
And that’s the catch. Lebo gambled because he needed to compete. And it hasn’t worked out.
But let’s face it, Auburn’s never going to be able to bring in blue-chip recruiting classes every year. Or even ever couple years. It’s just not that way. Not at Auburn.
The new arena will help out a lot from the recruiting aspect. And sure, the coach recruiting the players has a major role in getting them into school.
But what it really comes down to is winning. That’s really all that matters.
Win and the recruits will come. Struggle, and, well, you’ve got to do what you can to put a competitive team on the floor.
Lebo’s teams have struggle to win. But that hasn’t been for the lack of trying.
That’s right, we hit a milestone here at the Lazy Blog ... I turned 30.
Please, hold your applause and “it’s all down hill from here” comments until everyone’s name has been called.
I’ve got to admit, turning 30 wasn’t as bad as I thought. I’ve been getting used to it since I was in my 20s ... that’s when I started looking like I was a thirtysomething. Seriously, my hair started falling out on my 19th birthday, and by the time I hit 21, I looked old enough to get the senior discount at Denny’s.
My wife hooked me up with a sweet surprise party Monday. I wasn’t expecting it. Really. And the fact that she pulled off the surprise was even more of a surprise. My wife can’t keep anything a secret. The last time she tried to keep something from me, she woke me up in the middle of the night to tell me what she got me for Christmas. And that was in November.
She’s just no good at hiding things. But she was this time. And, to tell you the truth, I’m glad she did. Nothing says “we care” like a surprise party. Well, maybe a nice fruit basket. But other than that, it’s a surprise party all the way.
Anyway, now that that’s over with, it’s time to concentrate on football ... that’s right, Auburn begins practice Saturday. And the high school season isn’t too far away either.
Below is Auburn’s practice schedule until classes start Aug. 18. All practices will be on the intramural fields ... Enjoy.
Auburn University preseason football practice schedule:
Saturday, Aug. 2
9:45 a.m. Practice
3-5 p.m. Fan Day, Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum
Sunday, Aug. 3
4:45 p.m. Practice
Monday, Aug. 4
4:30 p.m. Practice
Tuesday, Aug. 5
9:45 a.m. Practice
Wednesday, Aug. 6
9:45 a.m. (First day in full pads)
Thursday, Aug. 7 (First day of two-a-days)
8:15 a.m. Practice #1
7 p.m. Practice #2
Friday, Aug. 8
9:45 a.m. Practice
Saturday, Aug. 9
9:30 a.m. Practice
Sunday, Aug. 10
7 p.m. Practice
Monday, Aug. 11
8:15 a.m. Practice #1
7 p.m. Practice #2
Tuesday, Aug. 12
9:45 a.m. Practice
Wednesday, Aug. 13
8:15 a.m. Practice #1
7 p.m. Practice #2
Thursday, Aug. 14
9:45 a.m. Practice
Friday, Aug. 15
8:15 a.m. Practice #1
7 p.m. Practice #2
Saturday, Aug. 16
9:30 a.m. Practice
Sunday, Aug. 17
7 p.m. Practice
Monday, Aug. 18 (No practice)
First Day of Class
** All practice times are subject to change
** All practices held on intramural fields unless otherwise noted.
My fifth SEC Media Days were everything I hoped they’d be and more.
I really enjoy my time on the second floor of the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover. It’s great. And now that SEC Media Days are over, it’s time for the real season to begin.
So get ready, Auburn’s practice begins a week from today.
Also, below is my final video blog from Hoover. Let me know what you think about these things ... if you think I should continue on or just stick to the writing-type blogs.
For more video blogs from yours truly, go here and scroll through the list of videos until you find Mike Szvetitz Video Blogs ... Enjoy. Oh, and check out some other videos while you’re there.
The room was packed. Must be time for Steve Spurrier.
The South Carolina head coach and the headliner of SEC Media Days came through the print media room at the Wynfrey ready to put on a show. And he didn’t disappoint. No wonder he was last.
Spurrier is full of one-liners, quips, self-deprecating humor and honesty.
Steve Spurrier doesn’t pull any punches. He calls it like he sees it and will answer any question he’s asked. It’s not rare in college football, there are coaches who do the same, but there’s something different about Spurrier.
And everyone knows it. That’s why they pack the room when he’s there. Everyone wants to hear what he’s got to say.
He’s just funny. Like Collin Mickle said ... There’s only one Steve Spurrier.
UPDATED 4:14 p.m.: OK, the Steve Spurrier video’s not up yet, but hopefully by this weekend it will be. But to make a point of what I was talking about earlier, here’s a question and answer from Spurrier’s interview that got the biggest laugh of the entire week.
QUESTION: When you send out your coaches looking for certain height and weight parameters, how strict are you now with those when you’re looking for players? SPURRIER: We’re not completely real strict. I know we’ve got two or three linebackers committed right now. I think all of ‘em are about six foot or 6’1”. We sent a memo, No more six foot linebackers, let’s go for 6’2” or 6’3”, if we can (laughter).
We all try to get the best we can, but at times, you know, well, he’s not quite as tall as we hoped, but we think he’s a good player. We got to go with who you can. Sort of like going after girls, I guess. Got to get the best you can, right (smiling)? Some of these guys actually have good looking wives, which is unusual.
