It's already the end of the semester — the BCS bowl season has arrived, the NFL playoff picture is becoming clearer and the Hoyas are defying expectations on the hardwood. When you forget about final exams, it's definitely the most wonderful time of the year.
Now is also a great time to reflect on the lessons we have learned over the past few months. Not the lessons in the classroom, but the ones we witnessed on TV and in the arena. Here are the top 10 things we have discovered this semester in the world of sports.
10. The BCS system will always be controversial. We knew all along that LSU was the best team in the nation, but the question remains: Who is the second-best? The computers and voters have decided it's Alabama, but that doesn't really answer the question. In fact, we'll never really know the answer, although many of us are clamoring to see Oklahoma State battle LSU in what would have been a high-scoring affair. Instead, we're stuck with a defensive struggle that should come down to field goals. It's deja vu all over again.
9. Coaches are only as good as their players. See Caldwell, Jim. He can't muster a single win without his star quarterback, Peyton Manning. There's no question about who's really running the show in Indianapolis. Maybe the same could be said about Belichick and Brady or McCarthy and Rodgers. Do they win all those games without clutch performances by their field generals? You can draw up a brilliant game plan, but without the right players to execute it, the strategy fails.
8. Professional sports are all about the money. Both the NBA and NFL lockouts can attest to that. For months, there was a constant flow of players and owners walking in and out of fancy hotel conference rooms, with both parties being stubborn and unwilling to compromise. It was reminiscent of the eggheads on Capitol Hill. So while we're sitting on our couches and cheering in the stands, don't forget that there's more at stake than just a number in the win column. Massive amounts of money are changing hands.
7. Money is poison. When you're not getting paid, you are motivated to get paid. When you are getting paid, that spark seems to disappear. This year, Michael Vick, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Chris Johnson all signed big contract extensions. All three have also flopped on the field. Although Johnson has been steadily improving, Fitzpatrick has led the Bills to a 5-8 record after starting the season 5-2. And Vick — need I say more?
6. The college kids are taking over. With the NBA taking an extended leave of absence, college basketball has the spotlight all to itself, and it has hardly disappointed. Does anyone even watch the NBA regular season? At least it's now official.
5. The "Freshman 15" has been redefined. It's now the "Freshman 20," and it's not caused by Chicken Finger Thursday. Instead, it's the number of points that our Hoya freshmen are averaging on the basketball court. When ESPN ranked our recruiting class as the 14th-best in the nation, they weren't kidding. Led by forward Otto Porter, our young guns have become a sensation on campus.
4. Don't be fooled by expectations. Early in the semester, things were looking grim for Hoya basketball, and I personally wrote several scathing, critical articles. How quickly things have changed. We are now standing at 7-1 and are ranked No. 18 in the country. Big thanks to senior center Henry Sims for his high level of play.
3. Speaking of expectations, how about Tim Tebow? Denver's approach may be unorthodox, but it's certainly working, and Tebowmania is sweeping the nation. He doesn't throw, but he can run. And he can pray. Enough said.
2. Except for Tebow, who probably doesn't even swear, we've all got some baggage. And as hard as we try to forget it or cover it up, it's going to come back to bite us. Unfortunately for Joe Paterno, the truth got the best of him. It's a shame that such a legendary program and beloved coach ended his career on such shocking and embarrassing terms. Mistakes can define a career for eternity.
1. Character matters. It's why JoePa walked out with his tail between his legs. It's why we hate stompers like Ndamukong Suh. It's why we love Tim Tebow. You'll get noticed for your touchdowns and three-pointers, but you'll be remembered for something much more intangible. In the end, it's not what you did, but how you did it. You never want to be stuck on Santa's naughty list.
