John Sweeney is an exceptional interviewer with a contagious sense of humor, and a knack for getting guests to open up regarding their personal experiences on the subject at hand. I was delighted to be invited as a guest on his Stories with Sweeney podcast. John asked me to talk about my approaches to leadershipContinue reading “Discipline and Focus – the Stories with Sweeney podcast”
Category Archives: NCAA
The 2024 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship
NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball finally gets its long awaited storyline. For the first time, a female head coach will be crowned the national champion as Katie Schumacher-Cawley’s Penn State University Nittany Lions take on Dani Busboom-Kelly’s Louisville Cardinals. Since the NCAA began awarding women’s volleyball titles, the champions have been led by male coaches.Continue reading “The 2024 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship”
A Rare Heisman Year
College football’s greatest beauty contest, the Heisman Award, will challenge this award’s voters more than it has in many years. Like kids at a toy shop, voters have tended to reach for the shiniest toy on the shelf when casting their ballot. Add in a dash of recency bias, and you have the recipe forContinue reading “A Rare Heisman Year”
Part Man, Part Machine
Communication between the dugout, catcher, and pitcher used to be an art form. Pitching coach signs wipes, taps, and touches that could easily be mistaken for parking a plane. The catcher’s fingers twitch freakishly between the legs; savvy catchers paint fingernail polish on their nails to ensure the pitcher’s view of the sign. A dissentingContinue reading “Part Man, Part Machine”
Let “The Game” Solve the Problem
The best college football rivalry has added spice this season. I’m not talking about the Bedlam series; there’s nothing rival about a game where one team has a 91 to 19 advantage over its opponent. It is not the Iron Bowl, although the Auburn/Alabama games have produced some entertaining results. The 2023 Egg Bowl wasContinue reading “Let “The Game” Solve the Problem”
NFL Quarterback Conundrum 2023
Dramatic departures, attention grabbing hold outs, and a few smart signings will punctuate the NFL quarterback carousel of 2023. The league and the individual QBs themselves have successfully parlayed this off season’s quarterback shuffle in to a media blitz. This year’s QB shuffle has been more compelling than most, but it has also shined aContinue reading “NFL Quarterback Conundrum 2023”
A Rose by Any Other Name…
Commitment means everything in college sports. Coaches will tell you that buy in means the world to the success of their programs. Without buy in, practices have less energy and focus, and ultimately teams cannot meet their potential in competition. College athletes are asked to sign a National Letter of Intent committing to play aContinue reading “A Rose by Any Other Name…”
Musings on the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament
The NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament is now under way. March Madness has already flexed its muscle with several upsets (North Texas over Purdue, Oral Roberts over Ohio State and others), with more to come. There’s so much to talk about regarding this tournament, these are my highlights and low lights. The NCAA can breathe aContinue reading “Musings on the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament”
Big Ten Football’s Coaching Carousel Going for a Spin
Big Ten football has been notorious for exceptionally competitive games, and national relevance for multiple team members. The league’s relevance took a major hit due to its commissioner, Kevin Warren. The conference’s coaching carousel (both current and future) hasn’t helped the league either. COVID has certainly added difficulty in planning for and directing a season.Continue reading “Big Ten Football’s Coaching Carousel Going for a Spin”
Big Time Fan Bases and the Media Must Lower the Bar
Many fan bases would have us think that they are perennial championship contenders year in and year out for decades on end. However, their perceptions are based upon antiquated successes of yesteryear, opportunistic media, overspending on athletes, and the forgotten reality that other teams are working to build their teams in the face of theseContinue reading “Big Time Fan Bases and the Media Must Lower the Bar”
Paul MacDonald - Sports Broadcaster 