Shane Rinner: Understanding the man behind the whistle

Former TAMIU head men’s basketball coach Shane Rinner (in white) was one of more mercurial and successful coaches I’ve covered in my seven years as a sports journalist. Here he is talking with me (in black) along with star guard Ryan McLucas after winning the program’s first conference tournament championship in 2011.

(Since 2009, I covered Shane Rinner’s stint as head coach of the Texas A&M International men’s basketball team. I was the beat writer for the program – and was from June 2007 through January 2012 – and recently learned of him leaving the program last week for a job in California. As one of the more mercurial and successful figures I’ve had the joy of reporting on in my career, here is my recollection of Rinner’s tenure in Laredo, Texas).

One of South Texas’ most brilliant and calculating basketball minds resigned last week to head to California for a better gig. But what Laredo’s Texas A&M International men’s basketball program lost in head coach Shane Rinner was not only a man who revived what had been a scandalous doormat of an athletic institution, but an individual presided upon ethics who embraced right from wrong and expected his staff and players to follow suit.

As complex as Rinner, who will be the first assistant head women’s basketball coach at Fresno State, may seem, he’s actually not. The fiery, no-holds-barred tornado that whirled the sidelines in the “Gateway City’s” north side is actually, in essence, an affable, thoughtful, considerate human being without a selfish bone in his body. All the evidence necessary is the reason why he took the Fresno State gig, and that was to get his wife Amanda, a Cali native and Fresno State alum, back home to be with her family, knowing that’s what she’s wanted all along. That was priority No. 1: do what’s right by his family.

See, there’s Shane Rinner, the coach, and there’s Shane Rinner, the person. It’s important to learn how to differentiate between the two.

In a brief but substantially rewarding three years at the helm of the Dustdevils, Rinner – who accepted what appeared to be a career death sentence in 2009 when he accepted the position following a cheating scandal the prior spring in which the program had six players who cheated on a spanish exam, resulting in the NCAA stripping the program of all wins in 2008-09 and putting it on probation for following seasons – led TAMIU to its first NCAA conference tournament postseason appearance in his first year and earning two consecutive conference championships in his next two seasons. He won a school-record 21 games in each the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, and in 2010-11 he guided the program on an epic run toward the NCAA Division II tournament, where the Dustdevils fell to No. 1 seed and site host Central Oklahoma by nine points in overtime in the first round. In his three years at TAMIU, Rinner’s Dustdevils won 54 games. In his final campaign last year, he earned the conference’s Coach of the Year honor and helped Evan Matteson (his first recruit to TAMIU) nab MVP.

It was easy to assume that basketball is all Rinner eats, sleeps and drinks. It’s true that his work ethic is legendary. It’s also true that he is incredibly meticulous on all matters in his program, nothing was void of his fingerprints, and is the definition of “hands-on,” from the style of marketing posters made for the team to the way a player closes out on a potential shooter. But there is certainly a method to his perceived madness, and if you can say one thing about Rinner it’s that it’s blatantly clear that he cares way too much. That goes for any waters he dips his toes into. If he pleads his allegiance, it will be done, and it will be done right.

But basketball is not the end-all, be-all with Rinner. In a sit-down chat right after a heated practice before the start of the 2011-12 season last winter, I found out a few cool things about a leader who is as multi-faceted as he is demanding. Rinner actually does not necessarily aspire to be a head coach at a prominent Division I university. He’d be perfectly fine as an assistant coach at a mid-major DI. He boasts other interests, vastly different from his current vocation. He loves politics. He’s been known to sit in on campaigns and craves that kind of stuff, even going as far as tinkering with the idea of running for office back home in Alaska.

He also likes fundraising. Loves it, in fact. In previous conversations, he has mentioned how he doesn’t necessarily have to coach and he would still be happy in college athletics. He’s talked about his passion for building a program. He also joked that he would like the lifestyle involved in fundraising, which is “little more than playing golf and going out to dinners.” He has a passion for helping others, for building, for structure. It’s a cliche, but Shane Rinner is all about the journey, all about being immersed in the process.

While I was taken aback a bit at the sudden nature of Rinner’s departure for Fresno State last week, I was far from totally surprised. His move not only achieved the goal of getting his wife closer to her family and back home, but also opened the door for former player, longtime associate head coach and dear friend Bryan Weakley to run his own program and keep TAMIU afloat all at the same time. It was a no-brainer for Rinner. It was a calculated move. It was an unselfish move. No one loses. Everyone wins.

It’s the end result to a past three years that have been hellaciously tiring and emotional. It’s why Rinner busted his tail in otherwise deplorable circumstances.

Consider:

– The Dustdevils are one of three Heartland Conference teams not fully funded. TAMIU, in the 2011-12 conference championship season, played with 5.2 scholarships. The rest of the 5.9 went to redshirts. TAMIU played with 5.8 schollys this year, 6.8 total.

– In the Heartland Conference, Laredo is considered the second-least desirable attraction other than Oklahoma’s Panhandle State. The program is also second-worst in scholarship allotment, also behind OPSU, and TAMIU has the fewest number of students on campus (approximately 600). The next fewest is 1,600 in Odessa at Texas-Permian Basin.

– Any increase in Rinner’s budget has come from his own fundraising, which is approximately $2,000 in his three years. That money helped for upgrades in the men’s locker room as well as the women’, due to Title IX. He was the program’s chief fundraiser and drove the initiatives, finding little support from department administrators.

The only plus of being in the situation in Laredo, Rinner told me, is how bad it was before he got there. It was a program mired in scandal and mediocrity; a program of apathy and a revolving door of head coaches, philosophies and principles. For a first-time head coach, it was also a beneficial one. Anything and everything Rinner and his staff would be able to accomplish in Laredo would be seen as the next great thing, simply because the program had never escaped the depths of college basketball purgatory. Had Rinner failed, it would have been thought of as nothing. But if he succeeded – he would be seen by university leaders as nothing less than a savior. It was win-win. Low risk, high reward. Much like his move to leave TAMIU, interestingly enough.

Give Shane Rinner this: No move goes unplanned. He’s always thinking 2-3 steps ahead, on and off the court. He is a throwback to the old age of coaches who demanded excellence on the court, off it and in the classroom. The plus is that TAMIU won’t skip a beat with Weakley. Weakley shares Rinner’s thrill for helping student-athletes succeed, in the classroom first before on the court. And while I have no doubt the Dustdevils – who graduated eight seniors and are in an ideal rebuilding situation with a motivated, hungry teacher like Weakley running the show – will maintain the program’s integrity and growth initiated three years ago, it’s important to take a moment and understand what Rinner truly accomplished, coming to Laredo like a dark knight from his home of Alaska, willing to put his career on the line and sacrificing for the greater good of the university.

And now that sacrifice has been rewarded, for the greater good of his family.

Griner’s greatness comes off the court as well

Brittney Griner, with the ball, has not only been a champion on the court, but off it as well since an ugly incident in Lubbock her freshman year. (AP PHOTO)

Aside from the atrocious court that made a relatively unwatchable game even more unwatchable on Tuesday, history was also made at the Pepsi Center in the women’s NCAA championship game between Baylor and Notre Dame.

The Lady Bears breezed past the Irish with swift, though not surprising, ease. Baylor won 80-61 in a game that was probably not even that close; a contest that was more representative of an exhibition than a competitive tilt between two No. 1 seeds. That’s what happens when Baylor has 6-foot-8 junior phenom Brittney Griner on its team. I’ve heard the comparisons between Griner and men’s champ Kentucky’s Anthony Davis, but don’t be fooled. While both are dominating shotblockers who can completely control a game without taking a single shot or scoring a single point, Griner is the face of women’s hoops. There will be another Anthony Davis someday. It is highly unlikely there will be another Brittney Griner. Davis thrives in a sport that is rich in tradition, in its skill, in its magic. Griner stands tall — literally — in a sport that cries for attention, one few take seriously. It’s why the game needs Griner more than Griner needs the game. She has an opportunity to be its salvation.

Griner had 26 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks against the Irish and led a crusade that ended with Baylor as the lone NCAA-era team to ever go 40-o in a season. That’s pretty remarkable. Whether it’s intramurals softball, putt-putt golf or women’s college basketball, 40-0 is 40-0. It’s extraordinary. It’s this man’s opinion that there have been more talented teams than Baylor in the past, such as past champs at UConn and Tennessee, but for this particular squad to be the first to accomplish something like this speaks to its anchor in Griner, who says all the right things and plays and acts with embarrassing unselfishness, almost to a fault. Ever since she slugged an opposing Texas Tech player her freshman year in March 2010, Griner seems to have done what we all hope to achieve when we make mistakes: she learned from it. It was the wakeup call in an introductory collegiate campaign that spewed a history of boastful, stare-you-down moments from her, as this ESPN.com attests. Even if that Texas Tech player tried to throw Griner to the floor while wrestling for position, ultimately resulting in a punch that broke her nose, it was no excuse, and it forced Griner to grow up quickly. Odds are she had a lot of people in her ear in the days, weeks and months after the moment, but it’s up to the individual whether or not they want to truly change things. Give her credit, for she did. She now boasts poise and control against opponents’ strongest holds, clutches, swings or any other assortment of physical punishment. And it’s because of how she responded from that ugly punch.

It was a significantly black moment, that March 3 in Lubbock, and one that led many to shake their heads and dismiss Griner as an ungrateful “thug” who simply has been catered to all her life. What Griner did was prove us wrong. She’s learned to adapt. In spite of facing triple and quadruple teams every single night, being beaten upon, pounded and harassed within the confines of the rules of the game, she has responded admirably, letting her game do the talking and refusing to bite the bait. It can be argued that that incident in Lubbock two years ago was the best thing that could have happened to Brittney Griner. It’s hard to say these days she is not an example of professionalism, class and grace. It’s too easy to want to root for her these days, even if 24 months ago we all viewed her as nothing more than another pompous athlete that felt entitled to anything and everything. These days she speaks sincerely about how it’s about her teammates and coaches, about how she’d be nothing without them. Only her closest family, friends and her teammates rallied around her following the punch, and now she rallies around them. It’s been incredible to watch Griner’s personal transformation.

In lieu of all the jokes made about the tone of her voice or about her looks or about whether she should forego her senior year to enter the NBA Draft, Griner has taken it all in stride, and you don’t learn how to deal with such constant scrutiny if you’re not humbled at some point. Aside from her tremendous skills on the court, with her nifty spins on the baseline or soft touch around the rim, it’s her character that make her easy to cheer on. She is the ultimate embodiment of “we, not me,” and and now she has a piece of history as well as a national championship as a reward. Griner is the definition of a game-changer, and the seven dunks in what has been an illustrious college career – not to mention the 52 she had as a senior in high school at Nimitz in Houston – and all the record shot-blocking numbers play only a teeny small part. The essence of Brittney Griner paints a bigger picture.

I’ll end with a statement I never thought would be even whispered two years ago, a claim that seems outlandish then just as it is truthful now: The world needs more Brittney Griners. And it has little to do with basketball.

What a game … and not in a good way

Alabama's DeMarcus DuBose celebrates after the BCS National Championship college football game against LSU Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, in New Orleans. Alabama won 21-0. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Alabama head coach Nick Saban celebrates with AJ McCarron (10) after the BCS National Championship college football game Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, in New Orleans. Alabama won 21-0. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

The BCS would want you to believe that Monday’s national title game between No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama, with the Crimson Tide winning in a runaway 21-0, was one for the storybooks. Just like they’d like you to believe college football has the perfect system in place that determines its elite.

But do not be fooled. Aside from some nice powerhouses each played sporadically throughout the season, LSU and Alabama were in New Orleans on Monday due to light schedules that allowed them to relatively cakewalk through the season. Top to bottom, the Big 12 was the more competitive league, and there’s really no question about that. It’s why so many wanted OSU to have a shot at the national title game. We’d already seen LSU-Alabama a little more than two months ago (a 9-6 LSU win in overtime in which field goals – FIELD GOALS – were the story of the game). Been there, done that.

No one’s saying OSU would have beaten an LSU or Alabama. But we, as fans and unbiased observers who do not wear SEC rose-colored glasses, wanted to at least see if it was possible. We knew we’d get another snoozefest with LSU-Alabama Part II. And guess what? That’s exactly what we got.

LSU was horrible. The Tigers didn’t cross midfield until the fourth quarter and had 40-something total yards at halftime. Alabama was undoubtedly the superior team, with an offense that threw LSU off guard with the startling poise and wits of QB A.J. McCarron – named the Offensive Player of the game – and a defense that was determined to show it was clearly the more dominant of the two, but LSU crumbled. It shrunk on the biggest of stages, and that’s why many college football fans went to bed Monday night feeling unfulfilled.

If the MVP of the game wasn’t all the fans who had to sit and watch through that debacle hoping a competitive game of football broke out, then it should have been Alabama kicker Jeremy Shelley, whose five field goals accounted for 15 of the Tide’s 21 points. A kicker. Potential MVP. Of a championship game. That tells you a bit of what we’re dealing with here, folks. We’re dealing with the fact that we have to accept that the best team in the nation, according to the BCS, wasn’t even the best team in its own division or conference.

If we need any reason for a play-off in college football, Monday night was exactly what the doctor ordered. It is really tough to swallow that these were the top two teams in college football. The top two defenses, of course. Undoubtedly. But there is no question, at least in my eyes, OSU would have given Alabama a more competitive game. Again, they likely wouldn’t have won either. But it would have been nice to see and let things play out.

The bottom line is it was a despicable mockery of a championship game. Surely there has to be something to fix that; anything to ensure that we don’t go through a month without any sense of anticipation or excitement in regard to the biggest game of the year for college football.

I’ve said it since day one: Until the game stops allowing a computer and significantly system to stop choosing its title contenders, college football can never be taken seriously. And it’s a shame, because it’s a great game, no matter how much I refuse to watch it during the regular season.

On a side note, I’d like to also say how thrilled I am for coach Nick Saban. The only coach with three national titles (two in the last three years) and one of the greats of the game. I’ve always been a longtime supporter of Saban and his no-nonsense attitude and emphasis on toughness and execution. From a coaching perspective, few are greater. I couldn’t care less that he’s prickly or short with the media. It is a joy watching his teams, though most of the luster is lost when the opponent clearly does not shape up to par as was the case on Monday.

TAMIU’s “game-changers”

TYREE MURRAY.

JOE REID.

JAYVIN REYNOLDS.

The following story I wrote as a preview for TAMIU men’s basketball’s conference opener earlier tonight, which they won 65-59 over rival Texas-Permian Basin.

The Dustdevils initiated defense of their conference title and are off to a fast start. If they are to repeat, they’ll need to expect big seasons from JUCO transfers Tyree Murray, Joe Reid and Jayvin Reynolds.

Here’s my story on TAMIU’s “game-changers.”

=========================

In sports lexicon, they’re called “game-changers.” In other words, players that can change the complexion of any game simply by their presence on the court or field.
For the Texas A&M International men’s basketball team, they’re sophomore forward Joe Reid, junior guard Tyree Murray and junior center Jayvin Reynolds, all junior college transfers acquired this year to bring more depth, speed and strength to an already blossoming program coming off its first NCAA Division II conference championship.
Through 13 games, 10 of which are wins, the answers are clear for the aforementioned trio. There is no more uncertainty, no more doubts about whether coming to Laredo was the right move, and no more questions about how they fit into a veteran roster that returned eight players from last year’s champion.
Whether it’s via Reid’s length and athleticism, Murray’s pure scoring or Reynolds’ stability in the paint, know this: As the Dustdevils initiate defense of their conference title with a four-game road trip starting today in Odessa against rival Texas-Permian Basin, they do so as a more dynamic group than the one UTPB saw last spring when it fell to TAMIU in the conference tournament title game.
“I’m excited,” TAMIU coach Shane Rinner said of his prized recruits. “We brought them here to help us get some wins. All have the chance to really do that and to help us there at the end when it’s time to win a championship.”

Balanced bigs

When the Dustdevils produced the finest campaign in the program’s nine years last season, they did so deliberately.
They were methodical in approach, relying upon a dominant defense to accompany an efficient offense predicated upon motion and sharp shooting from 3-point range.
But when Rinner went shopping for more talent during the summer, he sought speed, athleticism, quickness. He wanted a team that could play just as easily in transition as it did in the halfcourt.
A little less than halfway through the season, consider that goal accomplished. While TAMIU does not officially keep track off fast-break points or points off turnovers, there is no question the Dustdevils get easier baskets.
Most of that starts with the 6-foot-7 Reid, who is averaging 8.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and is second on the team in blocks. After struggling early in the season staying on the floor, thanks to his happy hands on defense, Reid has settled into a groove, adjusting to Rinner’s disciplined system sooner than many thought.
“Playing in a system was tough at first,” Reid said. “I haven’t really played in a structured system before, and that was hard. I had to take awhile to learn not to be as loose as I used to be on the court.”
While Reid figures to be vital against the Arkansas-Fort Smith’s and UTPB’s of the world, Reynolds holds down the fort inside, surely to be an asset against the likes of St. Mary’s and St. Edward’s.
His numbers are modest (4.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg), but there’s a reason Reynolds has started eight of the 12 games he’s played. Alongside Reid, he gives Rinner nice depth and balance at a position that is perhaps the most evolved in college basketball.
“Jayvin stepped up early and was really good in the wins against Incarnate Word and on the road against West Texas A&M and Abilene Christian, and here lately Joe’s stepped up of late and Jayvin hasn’t had as much time,” Rinner said. “But I’m fine as long as one of them steps up.
“They’ve kind of taken turns and that’s nice to see.”

TAMIU’s wild card

The true wild card, however, may indeed be Murray. After posting a gaudy 17 points per game on 48 percent 3-point shooting at Los Medanos Community College last year, the 6-foot sharpshooter had to all but reform his game.
When you shoot as well as Murray, almost any shot is a good shot. But under Rinner, where the ball and offensive possessions are valued, that’s not the case, and instead of learning how to get open, Murray had to also learn how to reverse the ball, look for open teammates and pass up good looks for better ones.
Not the easiest assignments for a player that’s been a top scorer all his life. Interestingly enough, however, they weren’t the toughest.
“The hardest part, to me, was defensively,” Murray said. “I’ve never been known as a defender, but coming in and playing with a group of guys that emphasize defense, it changes your mentality.
“With everybody else out there working hard defensively, it forces you to straighten up and not be the one that gets beat.”
Murray has certainly grown in that regard, and his offense is improving as well. While his 7.6 points per game on 41 percent shooting aren’t near his standards, he’s doing other things like getting teammates involved, moving the ball quickly and just knowing when and where to be offensively.
Just as he’s learning how to adapt to Rinner’s style, Rinner is also learning how to adapt to Murray.
“If Tyree can continue to grow into what we do offensively and score the ball for us, it’s going to be a huge advantage for us,” Rinner said. “I’m worried about getting him more shots and him learning where to get those.
“He’s got to continue to learn where to get shots in our offense, but we also do need to get him a few more shots per game.”

Game time

Throughout the season, players have raved about how this team is more talented than last year’s. That has to do with Reid, Murray and Reynolds.
On more than one occasion, each has affected a game significantly and made more than their share of footprints en route to the best start in program history.
“They’re huge for us. I really think they’re the key,” said senior center Evan Matteson. “They provide a whole other dynamic altogether for this team. They’re great guys to have and they’ve fit in just fine.”
But, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. As a result of their vast skills and game-changing ability, much is resting upon the shoulders of the three to help lead the Dustdevils to not only another conference title, but also a NCAA tournament win or two.
It’s why as conference play tips off today, there is a great sense of anticipation amongst them.
“It’s more anxiety than anything,” Murray said. “These guys won a championship last year. There’s some pressure on the new guys to continue the excellence, but we don’t feel it.
“The guys who came back are making us feel comfortable and we really do feel like we fit right in.”

Dustdevils looking at spectacular finish

Junior guard Tyree Murray, along with sophomore forward Joe Reid, is a big reason why this year's Dustdevils are destined for an outstanding finish to the season. (PHOTO BY JOEY SANCHEZ | JSPHOTOSTUDIO.COM)

It’s been awhile since I’ve updated on the TAMIU men’s basketball team. It’s been an off-and-on month consisting of a nine-day holiday break and four games against cupcakes so that preparatory work is at a minimum while the team focused on finals and improving on last season’s program-best GPA.

However, these Dustdevils being defense of their conference title on Thursday on a record roll. They stand at 10-3, the best non-conference record in the program’s nine years, barely nipping last year’s 9-4 mark. Among those wins are demonstrative tallies against Incarnate Word, West Texas A&M, Abilene Christian, Notre Dame College, and most recently on Saturday, Cedarville.

In my opinion, Incarnate Word was the most impressive of the bunch, with Cedarville a close, close second.

The Dustdevils are beating their opponents by a little less than 18 points per game. They average 78.2 points on 51 percent shooting (including 40 percent from 3) and also compile an unheard of 18 assists per game. There are NBA teams that don’t even sniff that many.

But, as we know, offense is not what drives TAMIU. It’s defense.

On that end, TAMIU allows just 60.5 points per game on 39 percent shooting. Opponents shoot just 32 percent from deep and have amassed 28 more total turnovers than assists against the Dustdevils.

Every aspect of the game has been upgraded for the Dustdevils’ from last year to this year. But what’s the big difference? In my opinion, it’s the fact that TAMIU has some wild cards this year, and I mean that in the best light possible.

Last year, you knew what you were getting when you faced TAMIU. A precise, halfcourt-oriented team that used defense as its fuel. Aside from Brian Schaeffer, who has almost doubled his scoring average from last year to become a primary scoring threat, most of the eight returners are pretty much set in who they are.

However, this year, there is some nice change of pace off the bench in sophomore forward Joe Reid and junior guard Tyree Murray, both junior college transfers. Reid, in particular, is a huge factor, simply because of his versatility, length and shooting ability. He averages 8.1 points on 57 percent shooting. He takes good, smart shots, but he can really frustrate a defense, particularly off the bench.

Murray is a pure scorer, but he’s really improved as a facilitator. He had big trouble with shot selection earlier this season, but he has moved the ball extremely well and seems to have a much better grasp on when and where to get his shots.

I know for a fact both guys had a real tough time acclimating to coach Shane Rinner’s system earlier this season. At one point, I even thought there was a chance they may not be much of contributors after all. It seemed they were fostering a mindset that Rinner’s emphasis on structure, discipline and teamwork was too much to overcome.

But there’s a reason Rinner recruited them. Of course for their skills, but also because of their toughness. And their ultimate acclimation to buying in and sacrificing numbers and glory for the team is a testament to just that. In fact, how quickly they have turned things around is why I’m even more optimistic this team is more than capable of defending their conference title and winning a NCAA tourney game or two. I seriously thought it wouldn’t be until four or five more games until they really hit their strides, but they’ve proven me wrong.

It’s going to be interesting. I think Arkansas-Fort Smith and St. Mary’s are the top threats to TAMIU’s crown, but at this point, having watched the Dustdevils grow and mature over the last couple of weeks, it’s hard to see anyone taking down TAMIU for the title. TAMIU is well equipped to deal with teams of size, quickness and/or versatility. All I needed to see was the wins over Incarnate Word and Cedarville to know they can really play with anyone. And while it’s fine for me to be optimistic about their chances, I know Rinner isn’t even thinking that far ahead.

“I’m pleased, but nervous,” he said about where his team stands at the moment. “Now it really starts.”

 

December = more BCS madness

It’s December, so that must mean the BCS is on everyone’s lips. Like Christmas carols and cruddy holiday movies, college football is always in the limelight this time of year, and that’s not necessarily a good thing.

LSU and Alabama are playing for the BCS championship in New Orleans in January. No. 1 LSU is 12-0. No. 2 Alabama is 11-1. They have already played this season – a bit more than a month ago, in fact, when LSU bested Alabama 9-6 in an eye-sore of a game – and they were apparently rewarded with a rematch. Interesting. Head-scratching, but interesting.

No. 3 Oklahoma State (11-1) was bypassed. The argument, by the BCS, is that the championship game pits the two best teams in college football against each other.

The truth is we’ll never know who the best team of 2011 is.

LSU is certainly deserving of consideration. But Alabama has proven it is not, having already lost to LSU.

OSU, on the other hand, opened a lot of eyes with its thrashing of Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game, but that was too little, too late. That game – just like every one played on the regular season’s final weekend – had no bearing on who the BCS would select to compete for its grand prize.

The computer wanted a rematch. Everyone with common sense wanted LSU-OSU.

As we’ve found out too often in recent years, the computer won.

There is no element of surprise. No anticipation. No excitement. And that’s pathetic when you’re talking in regard to a championship game.

We know LSU can beat Alabama. We don’t know if Alabama can beat LSU, just like, more importantly, we don’t know if LSU can beat OSU or vice versa.

Now which scenario is more intriguing?

But, once again, a computer’s faulty system is responsible for playing a bad hand in the country’s most beloved sport. Nothing about this makes sense. Nothing.

Every year, the BCS wants to say how there is no need for a playoff system. Every year, they’re proven wrong.

If you’re a college football fan – as in, a fan of the game, one without rose-colored glasses – then you feel betrayed. You feel disgusted, upset.

The BCS is telling you the best two teams in college football are going at it. The fact is we don’t know.

As close as that Nov. 5 game was, no one wanted a rematch. No one wanted to see another game between those two teams. It was ungodly, ugly, unsettling.

There was nothing memorable about it, and they were the top two teams in the country.

But the BCS wanted to see it. The SEC is their baby, and you better believe ESPN is wetting its pants over it, too.

Oklahoma State got shafted. Simple as that.

Mike Gundy’s boys deserve to be playing on Jan. 9. They played a more difficult schedule than either LSU or Alabama, taking care of business against the No. 8, 10, 14 and 22 teams in the country.

And their reward is a trip to the Fiesta Bowl. Whoop-de-doo.

People always tell me how college football is the greatest game on earth. How there’s nothing like it. Nothing even comes close.

They’re wrong. The “greatest game” is determined by a laughable system that screws up more often than it gets it right. The “greatest game” is a system rigged with numbers and nonsense; a system that will be proud to give you an answer but won’t dare try to explain it.

You want to laugh and scoff at the expense of the NBA or any other pro sport? Don’t bring that my way when college football is a sham. Don’t bring that my way when the system makes a mockery of whatever the heck it thinks it represents.

Don’t bring that my way when college football is the only sport more significantly impacted by a computer than anything that takes place on the field.

Twitter beats the press on Rich-Rod

The University of Arizona's recent hiring of Rich Rodriguez as its new head football coach was broken by ... the school's athletic director Greg Byrne ... via Twitter (PHOTO COURTESY OF DETROIT FREE PRESS).

On Monday, the world found out Rich Rodriguez would be named the new head football coach at the University of Arizona.
No big deal, of course. Rich-Rod certainly doesn’t bring the sizzle as he did before his disastrous three years at Michigan. Whatever.
What was particularly interesting, however, was how the news was released. America did not find out via ESPN. There wasn’t a breaking news story online or on TV. The Arizona Republic didn’t break the news on its web site.
Rodriguez’s move west was made public by, of all things, Twitter. Even THAT, in today’s overwhelming age of technology, was not so absurd, though. What did raise eyebrows was that Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne was the mastermind behind the ploy.
Posted to Byrne’s Twitter page that Monday was a comment that read: “And the new Arizona football coach and his family is…” It included a link that, when clicked, led to a photo of Rodriguez with his family.
While it is somewhat disconcerting that I am highly amused by something that certainly isn’t a good sign for my industry, Byrne’s Tweet was yet another enforcement of how Twitter is taking over (The Twakeover?).
Never before have so many prominent athletes, celebrities, entertainers or other public figures been so accessible. And while I always thought Twitter would be a relatively good thing – well, aside from the Redskins’ Jabar Gaffney telling a Cowboys fan via a Tweet to “kill urself” last week following their game – I never thought it’d grow into the monster it is today. “Monster” may even be understating it.
When reading a Valley newspaper the other day, I saw that no longer was an email listed as the contact below a writer’s byline. Instead it was their Twitter handle. Hmmm.
Late last week I read an interview conducted between a beat reporter and an athlete … on Twitter. Back and forth. Public and open for anyone to see. Double hmmmm.
I remember the good ol’ days when a phone call was all it took. Apparently some in my profession have gotten lazier.
While it’s not all subjective – teams and athletes are wise in realizing they, not the media, can control the message delivered to fans – it certainly serves its purpose. I see a future where most media is rendered obsolete. Community newspapers will thrive, but the USA Todays of the world won’t last. Sure, objectivity will die a quick death, but most won’t care if they can get what they want from the actual team or athlete of which they seek information. And from what I’ve seen, there are more than a fair share of honest athletes on Twitter, though coaches and athletic administrators are a whole different story.
It is what it is. I’m not going to lie; I love Twitter. I’m on it every day (@densilva2) and find it extremely convenient. If you follow the right people, you won’t ever have to turn on a TV or radio. But that’s precisely the catch. You have to follow the right people and distinguish between who is credible and who is not.
Good luck with that, as it’s not as easy as you may think.
It’s a continually developing beast – one that has all but consumed a self-conscious society in just a few years – and Byrne took it to a new level last week when he essentially broke his own story. Control the flow. That’s what he did, and if there are as many smart people in this world as I think, it’s only going to be more controlled, sooner than later.

Dustdevils right wrongs, get back on track

TAMIU senior guard Brian Schaeffer has emerged as arguably the top leader for the Dustdevils this season. (PHOTO BY CUATE SANTOS | LAREDO MORNING TIMES)

Following a maddening two-game losing streak, complete with everything from poor shooting to a lack of attention to details, the Texas A&M International men’s basketball showed a sense of urgency in practices before departing for a four-game, 11-day road trip last Thursday.
Players spoke up to remind others of what they were there for. They preached of following head coach Shane Rinner’s methods, proven yet demanding. There were one-to-one, heart-to-heart chats.
It was the first true sign of the players policing themselves, and the result was a brilliant two-game weekend that saw the Dustdevils topple Lone Star Conference perennial power West Texas A&M on Friday and then 18 hours later upend promising Abilene Christian on Saturday.
“We played the way I’d envisioned us,” Rinner said. “We were really tough. Our communication was great. We showed a lot of resolve. These were two really good teams. West Texas is a perennial NCAA tournament team and Abilene Christian is actually more talented than West Texas.”
In both games, the Dustdevils’ (3-2) penchants for smart halftime adjustments and closing strong down the stretch were on full display.
In Friday’s 53-50 win against West Texas A&M, the Dustdevils held the Buffs to 26 points on 36.8 percent shooting in the second half. In Saturday’s 71-69 victory against ACU, made possible thanks to Armando Brito’s buzzer-beating bucket as time expired, the Dustdevils held the Wildcats to 25 points on 34.8 percent shooting in the final 20 minutes.
Each of those wins gave defeats to teams that had previously been undefeated. West Texas A&M, which rebounded from the TAMIU loss to beat Heartland Conference power Texas-Permian Basin 81-75 on Saturday, is 4-1 overall. ACU is 3-1.
“Through adversity, you either shrink or you rise up, and this team rose up,” Rinner said. “They did a good job of doing what we do.
“People stepped up. Guys rose up.”
While Rinner applauded the defense, he did mention his team can still be “miserable offensively,” but that improvement is being made in players being patient and being in the right spots more often than not.
The biggest improvement over the last two days has been the leadership, which was practically non-existent through the first three games of the season.
“Our leadership has started to step up and guys are demanding from other people,” Rinner said. “We didn’t do a good job of preparing as a staff against (the two losses to) Texas A&M-Kingsville and we’ve gotten back to the basics and preaching the message.
“Now it’s not just us coaches preaching, it’s the guys themselves. They’re holding each other accountable on the court now and it’s making a big difference.”
Rinner specifically noted senior guard Brian Schaeffer as the one leading the charge. After delivering a passionate and emotional speech emphasizing unselfishness and taking responsibility during last Wednesday’s practice, Schaeffer backed up the talk with a team-best 17 points, 12 rebounds and three steals against West Texas A&M, a LSC juggernaut predicted to place third in the conference in preseason polls.
“He’s been the best leader,” Rinner said. “He’s the guy.”
However, while Rinner expressed a good amount of pleasure with the two wins, he also knows work is far from being done.
It’s been a tough early schedule for TAMIU, and since it figures to get no easier with next week’s slate in the Fresno Pacific Classic starting Friday in California, he knows it’s a team headed in the right direction, but with quite a few more miles to go.
“I thought we had a chance to be 4-1 at this point, maybe 5-0,” he said. “But we also could easily be 1-4 … playing five Lone Star Conference teams in 12 nights is not easy.
“So, it’s a start. This will help get us going to where we need to be.”

Game 1: Dustdevils start slow, finish with a blitz to conquer UIW

Junior center Jayvin Reynolds only had six points and two rebounds, but, as is coach Shane Rinner's desire, he did all the little things that warranted 25 minutes played in Friday's season opening win. (COURTESY | TAMIU ATHLETICS)

Season openers are a tricky bunch. It’s unwise to scrutinize and harp upon the negatives. Any positives are often exaggerated.

Openers are essentially supposed to be complemented with rust, uncertainty, sloppiness.

So when the TAMIU men’s basketball team opened its 2011-12 campaign on Friday with a demonstrative 71-58 win over regional foe Incarnate Word, the good overwhelmed the bad.

Yes, there were turnovers, often of the self-imposed kind. Yes, there were one too many times when the ball stopped, when players stopped; times when thinking outbid reacting.

But, in the end, how does the win go down as anything but impressive, resilient? The Dustdevils trailed UIW – complete with size, length, athleticism and versatility – by two at halftime before outscoring it by 11 in the second half. They held the Cardinals to 31 percent shooting in the second half, doing a masterful job of closing driving lanes and bodying up, all things they did not do in the first half when UIW shot 48 percent.

More impressively, the Dustdevils simply imposed their will. They fought for rebounds, and won time after time again. They bodied the Cardinals out of position and thwarted what they wanted to do. They were brilliant down the stretch, outscoring the Cardinals 21-8 in the last half of the second half.

“The key was defense,” said senior guard Scottie Payne, who scored all eight of his points in the final eight minutes. “Buckling in, staying keyed in on their shooters, and we just focused on that in the second half. We started taking ownership. When people get by us and we’re not stopping penetration, we as guards take that seriously. We made that adjustment.”

TAMIU shot 59 percent in the second half. While the 3-point shot, fool’s gold, kept it alive in the first half when UIW seemingly had control, at ease with its athleticism and speed, it was ball movement, stingy defense and rebounding that enabled it to prevail.

UIW controlled the first half. TAMIU controlled the second.

“We got stagnant for an eight minute period in the first half,” TAMIU coach Shane Rinner said. “Our emphasis was to play the way we play. We were aggressive and made plays down the stretch.”

As expected en route to TAMIU victory, many contributed pivotal roles. From Ryan McLucas’ game-high 15 points and poise in all 40 minutes of the game, to Brian Schaeffer’s seven rebounds in 13 minutes, to Armando Brito’s act of awakening in the second half, as his slashing and length finally found their niche, to newcomer Jayvin Reynolds coming in and adding much-needed beef and strength underneath, with his play taking lead and proving that, yes, TAMIU was indeed of manhandling the Cardinals’ posts …

“He did a nice job,” Rinner said of Reynolds. “He played within himself and did the little things. Brian’s rebounding down the stretch and Ryan’s leadership … it was a collective team effort.”

Other things I liked: Ian Salter asserting himself in his first time getting legit minutes as a starter. He scored seven points and grabbed four rebounds in 17 minutes, and even drilled a 3. Like Matteson, he’s a big who can step out and stretch the floor, always a plus in a conference with versatile bigs. I liked Joe Reid overcoming nerves and anxiety to end up with a respectable line of eight points and four rebounds in nine minutes. He still makes silly mistakes, hence the few minutes on the court, but he’s aggressive on the floor and did well to limit UIW’s bigs.

But what I liked more than anything was the Dustdevils’ composure in the second half. When the game was tied 50-50, they hit another gear. While the Cardinals seemed to tire and started rushing shots and committing stupid turnovers, it was TAMIU that straightened up, playing with the confidence and swagger of a team that, yes, did indeed win a conference title last year.

Make no mistake, UIW is legit. I don’t know how they’re ranked sixth out of 10 teams in their conference, but they have a plethora of athleticism and skill, anchored by 7-foot- junior center Ian Markolf. The low ranking makes me believe people are unknowing of Markolf, a newbie to the program, but he’s going to open a lot of eyes and he does wonders opening things up for them.

But on this particular night, it was the Dustdevils that  were undoubtedly the better team. Sure, there was a fair share of hiccups with the turnovers, poor offensive flow and shoddy defensive rebounding early, but adjustments were made, execution was sharp down the stretch, and a quality basketball team was defeated en route.

“We did well, but we still have a lot of work to do,” said senior center Evan Matteson, whose 3 with 3:41 left was the dagger for the Cardinals. “We have to do better moving the ball, cutting … there’s still a lot to get done.”

Final Stats: http://www.godustdevils.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2011-2012/tamimb1.html 

Dustdevils stay in the moment as season approaches

After 26 days of practice, including a plethora of two-a-day sessions, the Texas A&M International men's basketball team finally gets to see what it's made of Friday night at home. (PHOTO BY CUATE SANTOS | LAREDO MORNING TIMES)

Fall practices for the 2011-12 men’s college basketball season began 26 days ago, but Friday night’s season opener at home for the TAMIU Dustdevils began as a work in progress on March 13.

As soon as the Dustdevils left Central Oklahoma following a historic campaign that featured a conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance – both firsts for the program – they immediately began work toward Friday night’s contest against regional foe Incarnate Word.

So what do we know of these ’11-12 Dustdevils? Well, we know they’re more athletic and versatile, thanks to junior college transfers Joe Reid (sophomore forward), Jayvin Reynolds (junior center) and Tyree Murray (junior guard). We know, in spite of the graduation of their top two scorers in Will Faiivae and Luis Gomez, they return a great chunk of last year’s core in senior center Evan Matteson, senior forward Armando Brito and senior guards Ryan McLucas and Scottie Payne. We know that they have issues communicating on the floor consistently, talking and directing, and they had turnover troubles during recent practices.

Most importantly, however, we know they’re all on the same page. Even for the newcomers, it didn’t take long for them to buy into head coach Shane Rinner’s mindset.

“Excellence is the standard,” Murray said. “That’s our motto and that’s what’s on our posters everywhere. He doesn’t expect anything less, and that’s good. Even if you’re not excellent, you’ll fall somewhere around there.”

Coaches are generally pessimistic by nature. but even TAMIU’s leaders are having a difficult time pinpointing much to be concerned with.

“Our practices are more consistent and the unity and the closeness of the group is a lot higher than at the beginning of the year last year,” associate head coach Bryan Weakley said. “We have eight seniors preaching our system daily and that’s a huge benefit. Now we’ve got to see who steps up in a leadership role.”

Even Rinner, normally high strung and as stressed as can be about his team, is relatively assured. Perhaps that comes with having 12 returners, including eight seniors. Perhaps that comes with not having to preach about effort or intensity, two things the Dustdevils do well. Or perhaps he finally sees a complete team with size, shooting, athleticism, scoring and versatility.

“I like where we’re at,” Rinner said. “The guys are getting better and they’re really working. You just have to try and get them to be as edgy as you can, so you overemphasize everything to make sure they can get there. But I like where they are.”

If you’d like to know where these Dustdevils compare to last year’s record-setting unit or of any in Rinner’s tenure here, don’t bother. Rinner loathes comparing teams and is all about the process, the journey, opposed to the destination.

He literally lives day by day, practice by practice. In practices he encourages players by saying he sees them getting better, which is perhaps the highest compliment you can receive from Rinner, who scrutinizes everything to the max and prioritizes detail after detail after detail.

“I don’t get caught up in wins or losses or anything like that,” he said. “I always try to stay involved in the process instead of setting my eyes on the destination. When you set in on the destination, it’s easy to skip steps and there are no steps you can skip. If you climb a ladder, you go one rung at a time. If you miss one, you fall down.”

The most glaring flaw of these Dustdevils, from what I’ve seen through six preseason practices and a scrimmage, is they don’t communicate consistently. There are bursts where everyone is talking, directing, in sync like an orchestra. And there are others where there’s, well, nothing. No talking, no anything.

For a team predicated upon defense and spacing and movement on offense, communication is absolutely a necessity. It’s not to say the Dustdevils are bad at it, not by any means. It’s my opinion, however, that they’re not communicating up to the standards of last year’s bunch or even other Rinner teams in the past.

Rinner, for his part, does not see it as a significant issue.

“If the average person came into our practice, they’d say we communicate at an above-average rate,” he said. “As a coach, it’s not what you coach, it’s what you emphasize. We emphasize communication, so I’ll hit them over the head with it every day.

“We’re pretty good at communicating. But we want to be the best.”

That’s fair. And it’s, to be honest, nit-picking. This Dustdevils team is tantalizing because it, for the first time in Rinner’s tenure, has the ability to make up for mistakes due to its speed, athleticism and quickness. While it’s not something you’d like for them to fall back upon, at least it’s there.

TAMIU tips off its season Friday against Incarnate Word at home. The Cardinals were ranked No. 15 in the country last season before injuries precipitated a drop from the rankings. They opened some eyes in the exhibition season with a 69-65 win over NCAA DI A&M-Corpus Christi, though they were picked to place seventh in their 10-team conference’s preseason poll.

The Dustdevils then play A&M-Kingsville on Saturday before going up there to play them again on Tuesday. Then they head next week to Odessa for a tournament to play West Texas A&M and Abilene Christian.

These next two weeks are absolutely crucial. All four teams are Lone Star Conference foes, which, if TAMIU is to do well and thrive, could help in its bid for an at-large spot for the NCAA tourney.

All four are picked within the bottom half of their 10-team conference, though the conference is said to be 5-6 deep in title contenders.

“If we want to accomplish what we hope to accomplish in the preseason and get some regional points so we can get an at-large bid for the NCAA, that’s what we’re urgent about,” Weakley said. “Ever since (Rinner) called the team out a couple of weeks ago on the lack of urgency, that’s risen. But it’s still not where we want it to be.

“We measure this team to the team in Alaska when we went to the (NCAA Division II) Final Four (in 2008, with the University of Alaska-Anchorage), where we had great practices and the leadership was intact.”

It remains to be seen whether these Dustdevils are deserving of being mentioned in the same sentence as that UAA squad. But the mentality is right, the tools are in place and the system is proven.

“I just take it game by game,” Payne said. “Every game plays out a different way and it’s a long season, man. The focus is winning every game you can so that when the big games come you’ve been through the battles and you can compete.

“It’s about the process. You can’t look down the line.”