
What's Your Number?
This past week, SI.com examined the Magic Numbers in sports, including only two from the college ranks: 879 for Dean Smith's career wins and 88 for UCLA's consecutive win streak under John Wooden. Surely there are some other famous college digits that should have made the list. Our favorite college Magic Number is 6 -- for the number of homers that Florida State second baseman Marshall McDougal hit in one game, in 1999 (he also set the record for RBI's that day, with 16). And 58 is a good one, too. Robin Ventura of Oklahoma had a 58-game hitting streak in 1987. What are the other notable numbers that deserve recognition? Bad Decisions
When Matt Leinart arrived in New York City a couple of weeks ago for the NFL Draft, he wasn't sure where he'd be taken in the first round. Experts predicted he'd go as high as No. 4 to the New York Jets or slip all the way into the 20's. When he was finally chosen by Arizona at No. 10, Leinart must have cursed himself for staying in school and foregoing upwards of $10 million that he would've received had he entered the draft after his junior season. But bad decisions are a part of life. In Gainesville, all indications point to Joakim Noah sticking around another season to defend the Gators' national championship as a move that will backfire. While we won't discourage anyone from staying in school to complete their education, Noah is projected to be a top three pick in this year's NBA Draft. His stock can only go one way if he stays in school for another season: down. In addition to Leinart and Noah, we think Florida's atrocious special jersey worn against Georgia and Kelvin Sampson leaving Oklahoma for Indiana, where he'll forever be compared to Bobby Knight, rank among the worst decisions of the year. Time will tell, but Leinart's decision to date Paris Hilton may rank high up there as well. What other examples in college sports can you think of? Musical Coaching Chairs
The college sports year is winding down and today we are eschewing our traditional Vent format and playing a little fantasy game. Which top college coaches would be successful in other sports? For instance, Bobby Bowden walks into Doak Campbell Stadium for football practice and is told that he must coach another sport at FSU. We see him hopping on his golf cart and driving to the nearest course to take over as coach of the golf team. Similarly, we think Tom Izzo would be a stellar football coach due to his background of playing the sport and his close relationship with former Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers coach Steve Mariucci. Other coaches we think would thrive in a different sport: Joe Paterno -- an old school hard-ass if there ever was one -- taking control of a wrestling team, and laid-back Pete Carroll of USC leading the Trojans volleyball squad to the promised land. Which coaches would be successful in other sports and why? Colleges Producing top NBA Talent
The NBA playoffs are down to the Elite Eight, and for fans of Kentucky basketball, there are seven reasons to watch: Antoine Walker, Derek Anderson, Jamaal Magloire, Tony Delk, Tayshaun Prince, Scott Padgett and Walter McCarty. But Kentucky isn't the only school with strong representation. North Carolina (Vince Carter, Jeff McInnis, Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace) and Connecticut (Donyell Marshall, Clifford Robinson, Richard Hamilton and Khalid El-Amin) have given their fans reasons to tune in. Surprisingly, the mighty Duke Blue Devils have only three players still active in postseason play (Daniel Ewing, Elton Brand and Corey Maggette), all of whom play for the Clippers. Michigan State (Eric Snow and Charlie Bell) and the University of Utah (Keith Van Horn and Michael Doleac) have two apiece. That's not to say that a roster made up of former Utah players who are currently in the NBA would beat a lineup of Duke or Michigan State alums. But there is something to be said about the schools that are producing the best NBA talent. Kentucky may have the most number of players, but nobody can match the star power of North Carolina. If you could pick one school to supply your favorite NBA team with talent which one would it be? We're going with Carolina. The Ultimate College Sport
It's springtime and there's no better way to enjoy the gorgeous weather than by tossing a Frisbee around with some friends. For the more competitive types, however, there is Ultimate Frisbee. It is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports on college campuses and many of the nation's top schools will bring their Ultimate teams to Columbus, Ohio, to compete in the College Championships later this month. Despite the growth of the sport, however, it is still not sponsored by the NCAA, so there isn't a formal conference schedule and postseason tournament. Ultimate is still relatively new (it was invented in the late '60s), but the NCAA sponsors less popular sports like bowling and fencing. Today we want to know what you think of Ultimate. Have you played it? Did you enjoy it? Where are the best places to play? What are your most memorable Ultimate stories? And should the NCAA sponsor it as a spring sport? |
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