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Brownell trying to fire up WSU fans
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Hope you took advantage of our recent warm spell to get rid of all those leaves and detail the Chevy. I opted to delegate, and the kids haven't stopped thanking me for teaching them about hard work and how to avoid blisters by gripping the rake properly.
Find a seat: It's time for Wright State basketball fans to rediscover the Nutter Center. That was the message delivered by WSU coach Brad Brownell last week. Brownell, about the most polite guy you'll run across, called out the Raiders' fickle followers while talking about the upcoming season-opener against Illinois State.
"If we don't have 8 to 10,000 people in the building, we are missing the boat," he said. "We are blowing an opportunity."
That was refreshing to hear. It's obvious that after two great seasons, overtures from big-time programs and a hefty raise, Brownell is comfortable offering up his opinions. And he's not asking for the impossible. In four of the Nutter Center's first five seasons, WSU averaged more than 7,000 fans per game.
Don't sign Dunn: There are a ton of ex-Reds in baseball's free-agent market. If they wanted to, the Reds could pretty much reassemble the 2003 outfit that went 69-93. Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey Jr., Felipe Lopez, Juan Castro ... all available.
Well, probably not such a great idea. But there is one former Red worth bringing back: Sean Casey.
Casey can still hit, and he'd be a great influence on the young guys. He's also a great guy. I was shocked a few years ago on Opening Day when Casey strolled around the batting cage shaking hands and chatting up everyone, writers included. His handshake was firm, his greeting genuine.
Bye, Big Ten: Iowa saved everyone a lot of drama by upsetting Penn State. No more piling on the Big Ten in the BCS. Looks like it'll come down to the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12 in Miami.
The Hawkeyes also probably knocked Ohio State down to a Florida bowl game. For the second straight season, the Buckeyes appeared Rose Bowl-bound, only to watch the meet-and-greet with Disney characters slip away like a pass between Braylon Edwards' fingers.
Quick hits: The Coldwater-Alter regional final is a must-see game for area football fans. Get there early to catch another classic between two of Ohio's best teams, regardless of division. ... That clip of new Piston Allen Iverson joking about "practice" was hilarious. Good to see an athlete have a little fun. ... Wyoming 13, Tennessee 7? So much for rallying around Phillip Fulmer.
Knucklehead of the Week
Ten years ago, Ryan Leaf was considered by some "experts" to be a better NFL quarterback prospect than Peyton Manning. Now Leaf lives somewhere in the Texas Panhandle and is being investigated by police for a minor drug allegation. Leaf, whose brief pro career featured more interceptions and run-ins with fans than touchdowns, was placed on leave before resigning from his assistant coaching job at West Texas A&M. He allegedly asked one of his players for a pain pill.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2163 or bkollars@DaytonDailyNews.com.
