Tebow confounds the experts

Written by Joe Kleinsasser Tuesday, 13 December 2011 16:44

It’s too soon to say how Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow will fare over the long haul. But initially, he’s confounded the experts, whoever they are.

Even those who are critical of Tebow’s technique and poor footwork in the pocket don’t deny that he is a great guy. But being a great guy isn’t what it’s all about in the NFL.

There are those who say you can’t win in the NFL with a running quarterback, and yet, Denver has won more than its share of games with this option-style quarterback.

No one denies he’s one of the best-to-ever-play quarterback in college, but that was then and this is now. Nearly all NFL experts say you have to pass the ball to win. It’s not that running doesn’t matter, but if that’s what...

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‘Silent Night’ a unique tradition for Taylor U.

Written by Joe Kleinsasser Tuesday, 29 November 2011 16:09

Close your eyes and imagine the atmosphere at a small-college basketball game. What comes to mind? Crowd noise? A pep band? Raucous cheering?

That may be true for most games, but not at the traditional Silent Night game played at Taylor University in Upland, Ind., each year. Taylor, like Tabor College, is an NAIA Christian college.

If you’re wondering what such a peaceful and worshipful song like “Silent Night” has to do with a college basketball game, read on.

The game is played the last Friday of the fall semester. With classes finished and finals looming, as many as 1,500 Taylor students show up at Odle Arena clad in pajamas along with more creative costumes.

I’m not making this up.

According to Taylor sports information...

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It’s easy to point blame, but we all fall short

Written by Joe Kleinsasser Tuesday, 15 November 2011 15:56

Sports should be a time for fans to relax and enjoy the thrill and excitement of athletic competition. Isn’t that what we want sports to be — a time to root, root, root for the home team?

However, rather than give fans a respite from the travails of life, sports all too often mirror life and all the troubles the world has to offer.

Two of the most highly respected and successful head coaches in major college football, Jim Tressel and Joe Paterno, lost their jobs because of various scandals. Tressel’s fall from grace was the more conventional coverup of an attempt to get a competitive edge in recruiting. Paterno’s goes far beyond that.

The reaction of fans is interesting in itself. Some fans are outraged. Others are in denial...

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Hard for heavily recruited to stay humble

Written by Joe Kleinsasser Tuesday, 01 November 2011 15:55

Being a highly sought-after high school recruit has some advantages. It’s nice to be wanted.

If you’re one of the few who attracts attention from every coach under the sun, it’s nice knowing you won’t have to pay a dime for college tuition. It’s good to know you will have an opportunity to play before thousands of rabid fans every game and be seen frequently on TV. It’s kind of cool to be the big man on a big campus.

But like most things in life, there’s always a “but.” Not all recruits are ready for the scrutiny that comes with being under a microscope. The limelight isn’t always everything it’s cracked up to be.

It’s never easy to predict how a particular athlete will fare in the recruiting process. A lot of...

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