Scott Jackson
Scott Jackson is one of the Insiders, along with Mark Thomas, on 99.9 FM The Fan. You can hear Scott on the airwaves from 3-7 p.m., Monday-Friday.
By Scott Jackson
Aug 12, 2009
It takes a lot of planning to kick off the college football season, especially when you are programming 15 hours of coverage as we are on 99.9 FM The Fan ESPN Radio.
The first thing you need is a really good venue, which we have at Tobacco Road Sports Café on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh.
Secondly, you need a staff of unbelievable producers behind the scenes making calls and we have that, too.
Third and really most importantly you need an audience of listeners that thirst for college football - and we definitely have that here in the Triangle.
The show has a definite ACC flavor, but that does not mean East Carolina, North Carolina Central, Appalachian State, and other teams from around the state will be ignored. We also will hit some of the big national stories going on in college football this season including an early look at the Heisman watch.
Some of the local guests will be coming on site others by phone. So if you have some free time during our 15 hours of broadcasting, please join us on site. You might walk away some good stuff like tickets to a big game. Plus, for a small donation to the NCHSAA, you can pick up an nd Annual World’s Longest College Football Preview Show T-shirt. We hope to see you out there, but if you can’t make it tune into 99.9 FM, The Fan ESPN Radio or stream us online at wralsportsfan.com.
Thursday’s Football Kickoff Lineup live from Tobacco Road Sports Café
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By Scott Jackson
Jul 16, 2009
Steve Spurrier once accused Bobby Bowden's defenses of playing "to the echo of the whistle" for their late hits on then Florida Quarterback Danny Wuerffel. Now it is Bowden who is being blindsided by the NCAA and someone needs to throw a flag on this play.
To get everyone up to speed Florida State is appealing the NCAA's decision to strip Bowden of wins as part of its punishment for academic fraud that involved a total of 61 athletes, who allegedly cheated on an on line music course exam.
The NCAA placed Florida State on four years' probation, cut 19 athletic scholarships and ordered the school to vacate victories by 10 teams whose student-athletes were involved and for Bowden that could mean as many as 14 victories. Florida State's track program might have to vacate a National Title.
The reason this appeal has gotten so much attention is because Bowden sits just one win behind Joe Paterno on the all-time list among College Football Coaches. Joe Pa has 383 wins (Bowden as of now 382) and does not want to get the record by default, he has voiced his support of Bowden.
"The NCAA is going to do what it's going to do, but I would hope they would not take away 10 or 12 wins away from him," Paterno told the Reading Eagle of Pennsylvania. "I don't think that's fair. He coached the team he had; they played against people, and they won. They ought to be wins for them."
FSU certainly is not a sympathetic figure, but
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By Scott Jackson
Jul 1, 2009
It might have been Erik Cole's name in the headlines today as he re-signed with the Hurricanes for two years, $5.8(M), but it is the other Eric as in Staal that was the biggest winner. No single player benefited more from the deadline deal this past season to bring back Cole than his buddy Eric Staal. The face of the Canes franchise scored 24 of his 75 points in the final five weeks of the season after Cole was reacquired.
The two just click on and off the ice and its no surprise that Cole says he kept Staal in the loop throughout the process. He even texted shortly after it became a done deal. Needless to say Staal is very excited to have Cole back. Shortly after the deal got done, Cole joined us on 99.9 FM The Fan and talked about how he and Staal "compliment each other well" and the personal connection they have off the ice "translates onto the ice."
The 'Canes probably would not have made the run to the Eastern Conference Finals if it was not for Cole's return. Even on nights when he does not put up points Cole finds a way to contribute usually by creating space with his physical style of play. That it is that kind of selfless stuff teammates appreciate especially his friend Eric Staal.
By Scott Jackson
Jun 4, 2009
The research department here at 99.9 FM The Fan ESPN Radio came up with this gem: Zero, that is the number of games and practices Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski missed with his Blue Devils while serving as the coach of Team USA.
Despite that, there are many critics - some Duke fans, some media, some Coach K bashers - who continue to trumpet that the Team USA commitment somehow takes away from Duke.
Now we will never truly know how much of a tool it has taken on his ability to coach and recruit for the Blue Devils. However, anyone who saw Duke last year has to admit the coach got ever ounce out of that team. So coaching-wise, it is hard to argue it hurt him. I mean, do you really think he’s on the bench worrying about matching up with Spain when he’s facing the Tar Heels? Sure, he probably wishes he could look down the bench and ask Kobe to go in or put Dwight Howard in to guard Tyler Hansbrough.
The real negative in the critic’s minds is on the recruiting front. He’s getting out-recruited by his rival up the road. Guess what - Ol' Roy has been out-recruiting a lot of coaches for a long time. Based on the NCAA’s 2009 recruiting calendar, the only overlapping time that Coach K is with Team USA during recruiting is the June 15 through Aug. 1, when its an evaluation period, not contact period. The NCAA has not released their 2010 scheduled, but Krzyzewski may be still in the World Championships when the contact period
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By Scott Jackson
May 26, 2009
By now you know the odds and they are not good for Hurricanes, who find themselves in a 3-0 hole against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Canes are trying to become just the third team in NHL history to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. There have been 155 teams in this spot before and the only two to win were the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and the 1975 New York Islanders. For the Canes to pull off this comeback, it would be like “Miracle on Ice” on steroids. I mean, they have been outscored 16-8 so far in this series and the margin of victory have become larger each game for Pittsburgh.
The questions have been asked to the players and coach for the past two days. Is this team physically spent after two grueling seven-game series? Is this team overmatched against the high-powered Penguins, who have two of the best players in the league?
To a man, the Canes always give the kind of answers that tells you they are still in the fight. Will that translate into a win? Will they at least be able to push the series back to Pittsburgh for a Game 5? All questions that get answered tonight in what could be the final home game of the season.
Here is what we do know - the Canes have a starting point for making history. They have a coach in Paul Maurice who stands in front of them with a real belief they can get one tonight. In order to break down historical barriers, a team has to believe they can do it. The Canes do have that
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By Scott Jackson
May 14, 2009
What? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! John ‘Bluto’ Blutarsky
From “Animal House” (Great American Cinema)
There were a lot of dejected fans leaving RBC Center on Tuesday night after the Canes 4-2 loss to the Bruins that probably needed to hear that famous speech. Fans in red are suddenly feeling very blue about the series they once controlled with a 3-1 lead. The Big Bad Bruins are back and they have momentum on their side. They are the prohibitive favorite heading into tonight’s Game 7 finale of this series. No one outside of the Canes locker room and the fan base are giving the Hurricanes a chance tonight.
It's times like these when I like to defer to some of the great philosophers of our time. Former NFL coach Jim Mora once said, “You think you know, but you don’t.” So very true - raise your hand if you have the Penguins taking Game 7 on the road 6-2 over the Capitals? A series that has been as good as advertised ends with such and anti-climatic clunker. Who knew? The answer is no one.
Sure Boston has the momentum and the talent and the home ice (for whatever that is worth - see the Caps). The Bruins are the
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By Scott Jackson
May 7, 2009
Canes clutch performer Jussi Jokinen was named the number one star of the teams Game 3 win over the Boston Bruins. However, the real star of the Jokinen break out is the team’s General Manager Jim Rutherford. It was hardly headline news on February 7, 2009 when the Canes acquired Jokinen from Tampa Bay in exchange for Wade Brookbank and Josef Melichar and a 4th round pick in this years draft. Now it is hard to keep Mr. Clutch out of the headlines. That’s what five playoff goals and two game winners will do for you.
Those in hockey like former Lightning Coach and current ESPN Analyst Barry Melrose called Jokinen the best player when he was briefly coaching the team this season. I also remember Canes TV play by play man John Forslund praising the move by Rutherford when it happened. However overall it was an understated and now appears very under rated deal made by the Canes GM.
It’s an old story in sports talented players fall out of favor with a franchise gets dealt and find new life. Coach Paul Maurice also believes it probably helps Jokinen to have two fellow countrymen in the locker room with Joni Pitkanen and Tuomo Ruutu. Teammates have praised Jokinen’s knack for the big goal and ability to fill any role he’s put in. Rutherford also seems to have the knack for finding the right fit at the right time.
The Canes were short of quality NHL players because of injuries when they acquired Jokinen. Then
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By Scott Jackson
Apr 15, 2009
I caught an interesting NHL playoff preview show last night courtesy of TSN Canada. As they say no one covers the NHL like TSN. I knew it was going to be a good show when I saw the expert panelists and Maggie the Monkey who would later spin a wheel to predict winners. Anyway, on the panel there was Darren Pang, Bob McKenzie, and former coach Peter Laviolette.
Yes that Peter Laviolette, you know the guy who led the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup title in 2006 and was on the bench with these Canes the first two months of the season. Laviolette has had very little publicly since his ouster back on December 3rd, but I was pretty sure they did not fly him up to Canada to ride the fence when breaking down the first round of the playoffs.
So when time came for Lavi to break down the Canes/Devils series my ears perked up. Here’s what he had to say, “I like New Jersey here, I think New Jersey can take advantage of the size that Carolina has up front and I don’t think they are that big, that strong, and (New Jersey) can utilize that to their advantage.”
Then the former ‘Canes Coach sounded like he still worked for the franchise (he is still being paid by them) when he said, “the other thing that scares me a little bit is back in 2006 New Jersey was the hot team down the stretch they won 14 in a row and swept the first round and then came in and played us in Carolina.” We all know what happened
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By Scott Jackson
Apr 7, 2009
Good thing Billy Packer is no longer working for CBS, because he would have told the millions of viewers to get some sleep well before 10 p.m.
North Carolina put an exclamation point on their stellar season with an absolute beat-down of Michigan State. The Tar Heels set an NCAA record for points in a half with 55 and never looked back en route to the 89-72 win over Michigan State.
It is not often in sports when teams live up to the hype. The Tar Heels did that playing with a target on their chests all season long. They were anointed preseason champs by all the preseason magazines and websites. The President of the United States picked them to win it all.
In the end, though, they made everyone look smart with the business-like approach this season as they reached their goal. Sure they had some bumps in the road with Tyler Hansbrough’s early injury, the loss of defensive stopper Marcus Ginyard, a
0-2 start in ACC play, and Ty Lawson’s toe, but they responded to ever challenge all season long.
Roy Williams kept this group focused, loose and hungry in route to winning his second national titles since returning to his alma mater six years ago. He has equaled his mentor Dean Smith on the title front.
The talk about not being able to win with his players can now end. It is time to stand up and give Old Roy the credit his is due. He once again called himself, “the luckiest coach in America.”
You don’t
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By Scott Jackson
Apr 5, 2009
The Tar Heels did not suffer from a Kansas hangover from a year ago. No, instead it was the Heels delivering the early blow to Villanova en route to yet another double digit win in this years NCAA tournament. Ty Lawson once again controlled the game for the Heels with 22 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds and Wayne Ellington lit up his buddies from Philly, chipping in with 20 points. The Wildcats never could get in a sustained offensive grove shooting a chilly 32 percent for the game.
The only hurdle that remains for the Heels is the Michigan State Spartans and there 50,000 fans that they will be bringing to Ford Field on Monday night. There will be no neutral court or field in this case. The city is rallying behind the Spartans. Tom Izzo’s Spartans are the feel good story of the tournament. In a city that could use some good news, the Spartans are seen as a diversion for all that ails downtrodden Detroit. So sorry to break this to you Heels fans, but that makes your team the bad guys on Monday night. I know that’s not fair but believe me that is the way it will be portrayed nationally. America loves the underdog story.
North Carolina has been booed before, but Monday night could be even worse than what happened to Duke during the NCAA tournament. The home court advantage will be all the talk until tip-off, but the truth of the matter is, what happens once the game starts will be the difference - not fans with body
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