Daily Swarm

FSU NEEDS TO BEAT GT IN HOOPS
Don't worry - I'm not looking ahead. Just preparing your minds for our season finale. FSU is sitting at 6-9 in the ACC. They just lost to Dook. Bottom line - they need win #7 to ensure a ticket to the dance. IMO, win they're in, lose and sorry boys, NIT here you come. So, their game against us is do-or-die, all-or-nothing. For GT, we have our 7 wins. We could lose the next 2 and still go to the dance. We need to be ready for that game. It will critical for building momentum going into the ACC tourney. As good as the ACC is this year, you will still need 7 wins to get your ticket to the dance. Six won't cut it. In fact right now, the ACC only has 5 tourney locks - Dook, NCST, WF, GT and UNC. So what happens between UVA, FSU and MD for that 6th spot? Time will tell.

BRING ON THE POINTER SISTERS
At least I think it was the Pointer Sisters who sang that "New Attitude" song. That's what they're talking about at Dook in the football program with former GT coach Ted Roof. Be ready BooDevils, you WILL go down this time. There will be no repeat. You will be put back in your proper spot in 2004. Live it up while you can.

TIME TO CASH IN YOUR UNUSED DOLLAR BILLS
This article highlights the reality of recruiting and the Colorado scandals - while most schools are probably not hosting sex parties, most higher level officials are not aware of the specifics of what goes on during the free evening time with recruits and mostly bury their heads in the sand. Dave Braine says "It could happen anywhere". No doubt. But I do like Chan Gailey's policy of meeting with the recruit early Sunday morning. This means that recruits truly interested in going to GT have to be sharp and ready. I am starting to think that we may have to most upstanding, ethical coaches running our programs that we've ever had. While nobody really knows that for sure, it seems to be the case. Hewitt is recruiting kids who could get accepted to GT on their own (3/4 this coming season have the grades). Gailey's class this year is CLEARLY one of the best academic classes we've ever had. Gailey himself said that we will have no problems with qualifying with this group of kids. Gailey is not ashamed to share his Christianity with the recruits and the kids / families seem to respect him for it.

BUCK FREDRICK'S CALHOUN TEAM PLAYS IN STATE SEMI'S TONIGHT
Top-rated 2-A Calhoun County faces #3 rated Woodmont tonight. The winner goes to the state 2-A finals. If they win, then Calhoun will advance to the finals for a record-tying 5th time in a row. You will be interested to know that Buck Fredrick (Mr. 2-A SC Basketball), has been on the varsity team for 5 years. Buck is averaging 41 points a game during the play-offs, 7 points higher than his regular season average. Standing in the way will be Woodmont's Sam Perry, a Clemson signee, who is averaging 28/game and scored 39 in an earlier playoff game. Calhoun has knocked them off 2 times in a row to get to the finals, so Woodmont will be ready.

RANDOLPH MORRIS DOMINATES WITH HEWITT WATCHING
I mentioned in a previous post that Hewitt watched Morris's recent playoff win. Well, Morris managed to score about 40 points, grab about 13 rebounds and block 5-6 shots (don't have the official stats). No doubt a top-notch performance. Hopefully he makes it official soon and hopefully it will be the Jackets. Stay tuned.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - DORSEY LEVINS
Levins was released by the Giants along with Brain Mitchell after a disappointing season.

THE WEST COAST SUCKS
Sorry Walt, but the west coast was harsh on our beesball team. They dropped their 3rd game in a row, this time to Oklahoma 6-2. Expect a sharp drop in the polls this week, not that it matters much at this point. The Jackets are now 6-3. Maybe the team can reverse their fortunes of recent years. Seems like we always get out of the gate strong, then fade towards in the end, particularly towards World Series time. Maybe this year we will do the opposite, playing our best ball at the end of the year. Stay tuned.