Having a couple of freshmen on The Associated Press' All-America team is nothing new. This year, however, they are from the same school.
Kentucky's John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins were on the All-America team announced Monday. Joining them were Ohio State junior Evan Turner, who received all but one first-team vote, Syracuse junior Wes Johnson and Villanova senior Scottie Reynolds.
In the age of one-and-done players, the All-America team has become a home for freshmen.
Kevin Durant of Texas and Greg Oden of Ohio State were on the 2007 team, while Michael Beasley of Kansas State and Kevin Love of UCLA were on it the next year.
After a year without any freshmen being honored, Wall and Cousins moved in as the ninth set of teammates to be selected and the first since Duke's J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams in 2006.
Turner, the 6-7 point guard considered one of the best all-around players in recent years, received all but one first-team vote from the 65-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25.
Wall received 62 votes, while Johnson had 45, Reynolds 32 and Cousins 26 in voting conducted before the NCAA tournament.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Merlin Olsen
Merlin Olsen, a Hall of Fame defensive lineman and member of the Los Angeles Rams' "Fearsome Foursome" who followed up football with a successful television career in "Little House on the Prairie," NFL broadcasts and commercials, has died. He was 69.
Utah State, Olsen's alma mater, said he died outside of Los Angeles early Thursday after battling cancer. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining, last year.
Olsen was a consensus All-American at Utah State and a first-round draft pick of the Los Angles Rams in 1962.
The giant from northern Utah joined Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier on the Rams' storied "Fearsome Foursome" defensive line known for either stopping or knocking backward whatever offenses it faced. The Rams set an NFL record for the fewest yards allowed during a 14-game season in 1968.
Olsen was rookie of the year for the Rams in 1962 and is still the Rams' all-time leader in career tackles with 915. He was named to 14 consecutive Pro Bowls, a string that started his rookie year.
Olsen was also an established television actor with a role on "Little House on the Prairie," then starring in his own series, "Father Murphy," from 1981 to 1983 and the short-lived "Aaron's Way" in 1988.
As a Utah State senior, Olsen won the 1961 Outland Trophy as the nation's best interior lineman. The Rams drafted him third overall in 1962 and he spent the next 15 years with the team before retiring in 1976.
He was voted NFC defensive lineman of the year in 1973 and the NFL MVP in 1974, and was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
After his football career, he analyzed football games for NBC and CBS and sought acting advice from actor-producer Michael Landon, who cast him as Jonathan Garvey in NBC's "Little House on the Prairie" from 1977 to 1981. In the early 1980s, Mr. Olsen starred in NBC's "Father Murphy," as an Old West frontiersman who disguises himself as a priest to help orphans.
Utah State, Olsen's alma mater, said he died outside of Los Angeles early Thursday after battling cancer. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining, last year.
Olsen was a consensus All-American at Utah State and a first-round draft pick of the Los Angles Rams in 1962.
The giant from northern Utah joined Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier on the Rams' storied "Fearsome Foursome" defensive line known for either stopping or knocking backward whatever offenses it faced. The Rams set an NFL record for the fewest yards allowed during a 14-game season in 1968.
Olsen was rookie of the year for the Rams in 1962 and is still the Rams' all-time leader in career tackles with 915. He was named to 14 consecutive Pro Bowls, a string that started his rookie year.
Olsen was also an established television actor with a role on "Little House on the Prairie," then starring in his own series, "Father Murphy," from 1981 to 1983 and the short-lived "Aaron's Way" in 1988.
As a Utah State senior, Olsen won the 1961 Outland Trophy as the nation's best interior lineman. The Rams drafted him third overall in 1962 and he spent the next 15 years with the team before retiring in 1976.
He was voted NFC defensive lineman of the year in 1973 and the NFL MVP in 1974, and was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
After his football career, he analyzed football games for NBC and CBS and sought acting advice from actor-producer Michael Landon, who cast him as Jonathan Garvey in NBC's "Little House on the Prairie" from 1977 to 1981. In the early 1980s, Mr. Olsen starred in NBC's "Father Murphy," as an Old West frontiersman who disguises himself as a priest to help orphans.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Gib Arnold to be new Hawaii basketball coach
Punahou School graduate Gib Arnold is expected to be introduced as the University of Hawai'i's new head men's basketball coach as soon as this afternoon.
The 40-year-old Arnold would take over the state's only NCAA Division I men's program 23 years after his father, Frank Arnold, stepped down as the 'Bows' head coach.
Gib Arnold, who had been an assistant at Southern California until this month, was a finalist for the position along with Saint Mary's associate head coach Kyle Smith, whose team plays Villanova today in the NCAA South Regional in Providence, R.I.
This will be his first Division I head coaching position. He was the head coach at the College of Southern Idaho (a junior college) and assisted at Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, Vanderbilt, Utah Valley State College and Provo (Utah) High School.
Arnold is the son of former UH head coach Frank Arnold, who went 11-45 in two seasons at Manoa prior to the hiring of 20-year coach Riley Wallace. Gib Arnold played his junior and senior years of high school basketball at Punahou, where he earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
***
Gib Arnold embarked on two quests yesterday.
Restore the names of Hawaii basketball nationally, and his family locally.
The new UH men's basketball coach realizes neither will be easy in his first Division I head coaching gig. But the former USC assistant is also wasting no time getting started.
When UH athletic director Jim Donovan turned the podium at the Stan Sheriff Center over to Arnold, it was fast apparent how he earned his reputation as a top-notch recruiter. He spoke passionately about the future of the program and was forthright in acknowledging the struggles of his father, Frank Arnold, as UH head hoops coach in the mid 1980s.
"The thing I'm most grateful for is a chance to build something special," said Arnold, 41, a Punahou graduate who lived in Hawaii for two years. "We all know we've got a lot of work ahead of us. It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be worth it. I hope that we can build the spirit of this great university and support this team as we continue to grow and develop.
"Be patient with us. There are going to be some growing pains. But I'm confident that together, we can build this program up.
The 40-year-old Arnold would take over the state's only NCAA Division I men's program 23 years after his father, Frank Arnold, stepped down as the 'Bows' head coach.
Gib Arnold, who had been an assistant at Southern California until this month, was a finalist for the position along with Saint Mary's associate head coach Kyle Smith, whose team plays Villanova today in the NCAA South Regional in Providence, R.I.
This will be his first Division I head coaching position. He was the head coach at the College of Southern Idaho (a junior college) and assisted at Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, Vanderbilt, Utah Valley State College and Provo (Utah) High School.
Arnold is the son of former UH head coach Frank Arnold, who went 11-45 in two seasons at Manoa prior to the hiring of 20-year coach Riley Wallace. Gib Arnold played his junior and senior years of high school basketball at Punahou, where he earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
***
Gib Arnold embarked on two quests yesterday.
Restore the names of Hawaii basketball nationally, and his family locally.
The new UH men's basketball coach realizes neither will be easy in his first Division I head coaching gig. But the former USC assistant is also wasting no time getting started.
When UH athletic director Jim Donovan turned the podium at the Stan Sheriff Center over to Arnold, it was fast apparent how he earned his reputation as a top-notch recruiter. He spoke passionately about the future of the program and was forthright in acknowledging the struggles of his father, Frank Arnold, as UH head hoops coach in the mid 1980s.
"The thing I'm most grateful for is a chance to build something special," said Arnold, 41, a Punahou graduate who lived in Hawaii for two years. "We all know we've got a lot of work ahead of us. It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be worth it. I hope that we can build the spirit of this great university and support this team as we continue to grow and develop.
"Be patient with us. There are going to be some growing pains. But I'm confident that together, we can build this program up.
Monday, March 08, 2010
Bob Nash fired
University of Hawai'I men's basketball head coach Bob Nash, who spent 31 years at UH as a player, assistant and head coach, was fired today, following three consecutive losing seasons and a last-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference.
"It's probably one of the toughest days of my career," said UH Athletic Director Jim Donovan said to open today's press conference at Stan Sheriff Center. "Bob Nash is a tremendous man. I have the utmost respect for him, what he's done for this university as a player, as assistant coach and where his heart is for this program, but I'm announcing this morning that he will not retained next year as head coach."
Donovan said he and Nash had discussions over the past 10 days, but "ultimately, didn't make the decision until this morning."
Donovan said a national search for a new coach will begin immediately.
During the press conference, Donovan said he asks his coaches to do six things — focus on the academics, comply with NCAA and state regulations, interact with community with public relations focus and help fund raise, recruit players with good character, be part of the UH team,and (have a good) won-lost record.
Donovan said Nash met five of the six standards, except the won-lost record,
"That's the only category that hasn't met our standards."
In his three years as coach, Nash never had a winning record. He was 11-19 in the 2007-08 season, 13-17 in 2008-09 and 10-20 this past season.
"I could not foresee a 10-win season with the schedule (21 home games) that we went into this year," Donovan said, "and that's why we're making a change."
Donovan said he did offer Nash a position to help fund raise involving the expansion and refurbishment of Stan Sheriff Center.
"He (Nash) appreciated the offer and understood the decision and he said would move on," Donovan said.
Donovan said a buyout will be involved in Nash's final year of a $240,000 annual contract. Donovan said he would "try to mitigate all costs to UH for the buyout."
Donovan emphasized that Nash is "a class act."
"We are grateful for the way he represented the school and for the example he has set for our student athletes," Donovan said in a prepared statement.
"He may no longer be our coach, but he will forever be a Rainbow Warrior."
***
Riley Wallace comments.
***
Interview with Bob Nash
"It's probably one of the toughest days of my career," said UH Athletic Director Jim Donovan said to open today's press conference at Stan Sheriff Center. "Bob Nash is a tremendous man. I have the utmost respect for him, what he's done for this university as a player, as assistant coach and where his heart is for this program, but I'm announcing this morning that he will not retained next year as head coach."
Donovan said he and Nash had discussions over the past 10 days, but "ultimately, didn't make the decision until this morning."
Donovan said a national search for a new coach will begin immediately.
During the press conference, Donovan said he asks his coaches to do six things — focus on the academics, comply with NCAA and state regulations, interact with community with public relations focus and help fund raise, recruit players with good character, be part of the UH team,and (have a good) won-lost record.
Donovan said Nash met five of the six standards, except the won-lost record,
"That's the only category that hasn't met our standards."
In his three years as coach, Nash never had a winning record. He was 11-19 in the 2007-08 season, 13-17 in 2008-09 and 10-20 this past season.
"I could not foresee a 10-win season with the schedule (21 home games) that we went into this year," Donovan said, "and that's why we're making a change."
Donovan said he did offer Nash a position to help fund raise involving the expansion and refurbishment of Stan Sheriff Center.
"He (Nash) appreciated the offer and understood the decision and he said would move on," Donovan said.
Donovan said a buyout will be involved in Nash's final year of a $240,000 annual contract. Donovan said he would "try to mitigate all costs to UH for the buyout."
Donovan emphasized that Nash is "a class act."
"We are grateful for the way he represented the school and for the example he has set for our student athletes," Donovan said in a prepared statement.
"He may no longer be our coach, but he will forever be a Rainbow Warrior."
***
Riley Wallace comments.
***
Interview with Bob Nash
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Three and out for Bob Nash?
Three years ago, almost to the day, the Stan Sheriff Center broke out in a booming, Danny Kaleikini-led chorus of: "We Want Nash! ...We Want Nash! ..."
The occasion was the postgame tribute to then-University of Hawai'i men's basketball head coach Riley Wallace, who had coached his last game at the school. And Bob Nash, his long-time assistant, was a popular choice for successor.
But as Nash's third season ended yesterday at 10-20 with 11 losses in the final 12 games and a last-place (3-13) finish in the Western Athletic Conference standings, several signs point to the cash-strapped school attempting to buy out the final year of his extended contract and hiring a replacement.
Nash has not achieved a winning record in three seasons and has an overall record of 34-56 (15-33 WAC), the lowest point of which was not making the WAC Tournament this season.
Wallace said Nash "was put in a hole" from the start of his head coaching tenure in 2007.
Wallace announced his resignation as Hawai'i head coach on Dec. 29, 2006. Nash was named his successor on April 13, 2007.
At the time, then-athletic director Frazier said "a national search" made the process lengthy.
"I made it known to Herman Frazier from the start of that year that I was going to step down and so he should name Bob as the next coach right away," Wallace said. "If (Frazier) did that from the start, the transition would have been smooth and recruiting would have been in place."
Instead, Nash and his assistant coaches scrambled to sign six recruits before the start of the 2007-08 season. Several other higher-rated recruits signed with other programs while the Hawai'i coaching search endured.
A dark cloud has seemingly followed Nash and the 'Bows ever since.
During the 2007-08 season, starting center Stephen Verwers suffered a season-ending broken leg during a Christmas Day practice, and the 'Bows' defense struggled the rest of the way.
During the 2008-09 season, the team — which did not have any seniors on the roster — made significant strides on defense, but struggled offensively. Four players from that team left the program after the season.
This season, the team has been riddled with injuries and suspensions. The 'Bows started the season with 11 scholarship players available.
Amazingly, all 11 missed either practice or game time due to injury or suspension. Most significant, forward Bill Amis — the leading rebounder in 2008-09 — did not play a single game due to a foot injury.
Guards Dwain Williams (indefinite suspension) and Jeremy Lay (hernia surgery) — the key recruits prior to the season — missed the entire stretch run of this season. That left Nash with only one scholarship guard (Hiram Thompson) available for the final seven games.
"You have to make your luck sometimes, because every team goes through that," Wallace said. "But I've never seen a team that had so many injuries and problems develop in one year."
Utah State head coach Stew Morrill has followed the debate about whether Nash should be retained and said three years isn't long enough to evaluate the tenure.
"Three years, are you kidding me?" Morrill said. "It just amazes me in college basketball how impatient anybody is any more. Bob is a good coach and, hopefully, the powers to be know that."
Last month Donovan commended Nash, saying, "Bob Nash is an outstanding man; you can't find someone out there that has better character than he does ... a lot of things outside of win/loss Bob has done a very good job on. But win/loss is also a very important component of the success of a coach."
As a player, assistant coach and, most recently, head coach, Nash, with time out for a pro career, has had a 31-year stay at UH, the longest, hands-on association with the basketball program in school history.
The occasion was the postgame tribute to then-University of Hawai'i men's basketball head coach Riley Wallace, who had coached his last game at the school. And Bob Nash, his long-time assistant, was a popular choice for successor.
But as Nash's third season ended yesterday at 10-20 with 11 losses in the final 12 games and a last-place (3-13) finish in the Western Athletic Conference standings, several signs point to the cash-strapped school attempting to buy out the final year of his extended contract and hiring a replacement.
Nash has not achieved a winning record in three seasons and has an overall record of 34-56 (15-33 WAC), the lowest point of which was not making the WAC Tournament this season.
Wallace said Nash "was put in a hole" from the start of his head coaching tenure in 2007.
Wallace announced his resignation as Hawai'i head coach on Dec. 29, 2006. Nash was named his successor on April 13, 2007.
At the time, then-athletic director Frazier said "a national search" made the process lengthy.
"I made it known to Herman Frazier from the start of that year that I was going to step down and so he should name Bob as the next coach right away," Wallace said. "If (Frazier) did that from the start, the transition would have been smooth and recruiting would have been in place."
Instead, Nash and his assistant coaches scrambled to sign six recruits before the start of the 2007-08 season. Several other higher-rated recruits signed with other programs while the Hawai'i coaching search endured.
A dark cloud has seemingly followed Nash and the 'Bows ever since.
During the 2007-08 season, starting center Stephen Verwers suffered a season-ending broken leg during a Christmas Day practice, and the 'Bows' defense struggled the rest of the way.
During the 2008-09 season, the team — which did not have any seniors on the roster — made significant strides on defense, but struggled offensively. Four players from that team left the program after the season.
This season, the team has been riddled with injuries and suspensions. The 'Bows started the season with 11 scholarship players available.
Amazingly, all 11 missed either practice or game time due to injury or suspension. Most significant, forward Bill Amis — the leading rebounder in 2008-09 — did not play a single game due to a foot injury.
Guards Dwain Williams (indefinite suspension) and Jeremy Lay (hernia surgery) — the key recruits prior to the season — missed the entire stretch run of this season. That left Nash with only one scholarship guard (Hiram Thompson) available for the final seven games.
"You have to make your luck sometimes, because every team goes through that," Wallace said. "But I've never seen a team that had so many injuries and problems develop in one year."
Utah State head coach Stew Morrill has followed the debate about whether Nash should be retained and said three years isn't long enough to evaluate the tenure.
"Three years, are you kidding me?" Morrill said. "It just amazes me in college basketball how impatient anybody is any more. Bob is a good coach and, hopefully, the powers to be know that."
Last month Donovan commended Nash, saying, "Bob Nash is an outstanding man; you can't find someone out there that has better character than he does ... a lot of things outside of win/loss Bob has done a very good job on. But win/loss is also a very important component of the success of a coach."
As a player, assistant coach and, most recently, head coach, Nash, with time out for a pro career, has had a 31-year stay at UH, the longest, hands-on association with the basketball program in school history.
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