Jim Szoke's Sports Blog

Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire

Now that the Panthers have shown that they can again play with the big boys after busting up Arizona 34-21, they now get the most difficult assignment in the NFL.  Next up are the undefeated New Orleans Saints, who feature the number-one ranked offense in the league, while averaging 39 points per game.  Unlike last year's Saints, this year's edition features a strong running game and much-improved defense. But of course it all begins with the potential league MVP in quarterback Drew Brees, who is the most accurate passer in the game.

Despite the staggering challenge, the Panthers have a punchers' chance based on their performance against the Cardinals.  They did an excellent job of limiting quarterback Kurt Warner with a swarming defense that created six takeaways.  By running the ball for 270 yards, the Panthers controlled the game and the clock in further frustrating Arizona. No team can be (+6) on turnovers every week, but if the Panthers can apply pressure to Brees and knock him around a bit, while filling the passing lanes, they will have an opportunity to pull the upset.  Don't forget, the Panthers were the last team to beat New Orleans, 33-31 in last year's regular season finale.

On to college football, where the BCS may be in trouble with the likes of Boise State and TCU still undefeated.  Currently, TCU is the highest ranked of these non-BCS teams and would be the only one to get into one of the major bowls.  The same thing happened to Boise State last year when they went undefeated, but Utah was ranked higher.  It's ridiculous to guarantee spots for conferences that are having down years, when other teams potentially could run the table and have a chance to play in a BCS bowl game.  As Jim Mora would say, "playoffs?"

I am not anti-New York Yankees.  They did what is allowed within the flawed system of Major League Baseball and spent what it took to give themselves a chance to win another World Series.  I even understand from a marketing standpoint why MLB would like to see the table slanted in favor Boston, New York, Los Angeles, etc to create marquee matchups and sustain rivalries in the games that matter most.  But as a Cleveland Indians fan, the post-season was unwatchable with Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia leading their big market teams while the small markets are left to pick up the crumbs.  And yes, Cleveland plays in the winnable AL Central with the likes of Detroit and Kansas City, but the opportunity for teams such as the Royals, Pirates, etc to sustain success does not exist since they can not afford to hang on to their corp of top players for even a short period of time.  Like the BCS, nothing will change soon, if ever as the gap between the haves and have-nots continues to widen.

Pressure Will Burst a Pipe

"Pressure will burst a pipe" is just one of many eloquent and entertaining quips from my Panthers radio broadcast partner Eugene Robinson.  Geni-Rob also hits Mick Mixon and me with the occassional "punch a man in the mouth, legally" and "get medieval on them" between his more detailed analysis of what's actually happening during the game.  But when looking at this upcoming Panthers versus Cowboys Monday Night Football matchup, the pressure of this week-3 regular season game is hanging over the two teams like a pending thunderstorm.  It's still September and yet it has the feeling of a season in the balance already for franchises that expect to be playoff participants.

So how did we get to this point so soon?  For the Panthers, following up a season-ending 20-point playofff loss to Arizona with a 28-point season-opening loss to Philadelphia crushed expectations that were set from last year's (12-4) regular season.  One week, Jake Delhomme turns the football over five times, while the next week Julius Peppers earns his weekly million dollars by making two tackles.  The Panthers are lacking at defensive tackle and safety because of injuries, and apparently are still adapting to a new defensive system.  Special teams are giving up big plays and field position in putting the defense behind the 8-ball. 

Dallas has similar concerns with quarterback Tony Romo coming off a 127-yard, three interception performance against the Giants.  Cowboys fans can't blame that one on Jessica Simpson.  After leading the NFL in sacks last year, they don't have one in their first two games.  The opening of a billion-dollar stadium and having not won a playoff game since 1996 add to the urgency in Big-D.  So, only two games in the book and already one or both of the teams will be in spin control on Tuesday morning.

Although they are currently a 9-point underdog, I actually like the Panthers chances to win this game.  John Fox teams always seem to rise up about the time they are being counted out.  The Panthers offense put up 440 yards in Atlanta and Dallas figures to put up even less resistance.  I emceed the Charlotte Touchdown Club luncheon this week where linebacker Jon Beason was the speaker.  He said to put the team's slow start on him.  He would come in about 22nd on the list of things to blame, but I look for him to show that same leadership on Monday as the Panthers try to save their season.

And Away We Go...

Pre-season felt like it took about six months, but at last the NFL regular season arrives this week with a feeling of uncertainty about what to expect from the Panthers in season-15.  A team that has traditionally been known for a strong defensive line seems to have their biggest questions in that unit.  The overall questionable tackling of the defense from starters through third-string was a constant in the four pre-season games.  Punt returns were an adventure, enough so that last year's returner Mark Jones was brought back in this week for what appeared to be a second stint with the team but failed the physical and now is on hold.  Offensively, second year running back Jonathan Stewart missed the entire pre-season with injuries that could now carry over into the regular season.

But there is plenty to be optimistic about as well, thanks mainly to DeAngelo Williams and Steve Smith.  The top two playmakers are accompanied by one of the league's top starting offensive lines.  Jake Delhomme had a solid pre-season.  Young players like Mike Goodson and Kenny Moore look like they can add some spark and depth to the offensive side.  Defensively, Jon Beason, Julius Peppers and Chris Harris lead the way, and it will be interesting to see the new Ron Meeks defense of flying to the football and trying to create turnovers.

I don't like predictions on win-loss records, so I won't quantify what all of this information means.  Injuries and the variable of how other teams rise and fall make it hard to put a number on it.  Nobody had Atlanta going (11-5) last season.  Watch out for New Orleans though as they have one of the NFL's most potent offenses and the defense is improved making them the most dangerous team in the NFC South in my opinion.  Dallas and Green Bay should bounce back this season, joining Philadelphia, NY Giants, Chicago and the top three NFC South teams as the class of the conference.  I don't think Brett Favre makes that big of a difference for Minnesota, but they will fight for a wildcard.  The NFC West is putrid and I doubt Arizona will play to the level they did last year.

The AFC is loaded, led by the Steelers and Ravens in the North, Patriots and Dolphins in the East, Colts and Titans in the South, and Chargers in the weak West Division.  That's seven right there, so it's tough to imagine one of those not even making the playoffs let alone who may surprise this season.  

2010 is lining up as an uncapped season next year unless something happens, with the collective bargaining agreement running out in 2011.  Hopefully, the NFL will learn from their own past and other major sports by resolving their financial matters prior to then to avoid a lockout.  Expect to see one of the changes to be the 18-game regular season schedule and reduction of pre-season as part of that.

Finally, it was a crazy week last week with the front office changes of Mark and Jon Richardson resigning their positions.  I interviewed incoming team president Danny Morrison three times in less than 24 hours with Hancock, Charlotte's Morning News and the Panthers pregame show.  Beyond exhausting every conceivable question, Danny comes across as real pro and team player that will blend in perfectly to his role and obviously is a trusted friend of Mr. Richardson.  Dr. Morrison has watched over as TCU's football program has become a national contender and did great work with Wofford College and the Southern Conference.  Nice to get all of that cleared up prior to the first kickoff, so now we can focus on the fun part of football.

  

Relax, It's Only Pre-Season

Here's everything you need to know about NFL pre-season records.  Last year, the Detroit Lions were a perfect (4-0) in their pre-season games and then went on to become the first team to ever go (0-16) in the regular season.  So, with the Panthers (0-2) halfway through their pre-season schedule, some of the critics are already chirping.  Don't get me wrong, nobody here is saying the Panthers have it all figured out and are ready to run the table in 2009, but pre-season is supposed to still be a time to work through personnel combinations, a new defensive system and coaching staff, and in general get used to playing in game situations.

The biggest lingering question is whether or not the Panthers will consistently be able to stop the run.  The New York Giants and Miami Dolphins met with little resistance in that department, in particular when the starters were playing.  At one point late in the Miami game, the Dolphins were averaging (6.6) yards per carry before settling in at 5 yards a run by the end of the game.

No question, losing starting defensive tackle and run stop specialist Ma'ake Kemoeatu to a season-long achilles tendon tear was a significant blow.  Also apparent so far is that Damione Lewis is the only defensive tackle currently on the roster capable of starting at this level.  In time, Nick Hayden, Corvey Irvin or Marlon Favorite may emerge, but for now they are more rotation guys to provide depth.  Picking a player off waivers or trading a late draft pick ala the Chris Harris deal two years ago will likely be the next step to plug the position.

Young veterans and rookies who have emerged....second-year linebacker Dan Connor missed most of his rookie season with an injury, but now looks like Dan Morgan did when he was healthy, tackling everybody in sight.  Another linebacker James Anderson has stood out, including eight tackles in just the first half of the Miami game.  Anderson also had a sack and blocked a punt versus the Giants.  Rookie Captain Munnerlyn from South Carolina had a 58-yard punt return against the Dolphins and will compete for playing time in the secondary.

Offensively, Butler High School graduate Kenny Moore is really making a case for the final wide receiver position.  Moore played at Wake Forest and his off-season work with another Demon Deacon grad Ricky Proehl has really paid off.  Rookie running back Mike Goodson from Texas A&M will be the third back and looks like he can handle kick returns.  All three tight ends likely to make the roster have had bright spots with Donte Rosario catching passes, Jeff King as the best blocker, and Gary Barnidge a combination of the two.

Panther Talk is underway, but the first show with an audience will be Monday September 14th at Bank of America Stadium following the regular season opener.  Coach John Fox and a Panthers player will join Mick Mixon and me each week.

Vick Sentence Just Beginning

Michael Vick will get his second chance.  NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will meet with the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback any day now.  Although I am sure there will be a compliance list a mile long, I can't imagine Goodell ruling anything other than reinstatement for the convicted dog killer.  What Vick did as the mastermind of a dog fighting operation was brutal, ghastly and evil.  But a federal judge set his sentence at 23 months and those have been served.  Vick is bankrupt, his career shut down for two years and his reputation ruined forever.  There is no need for the NFL to pile on.  His is a lifetime sentence.  Don't get me wrong, I am not defending Vick, but it is time to move on.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth killed a man and only served 24 days in jail.  He made a financial settlement with the man's family which certainly shortened his time served.  What does that say about society when the wealthy can buy their way out of punishment?  Stallworth's case is different in that it was a DUI and he did not set out to kill somebody.  But the fact is that he made a number of horrific decisions that led to the death of a human being and served 22 fewer months in jail than Vick, and will miss only one NFL season.

So, assuming I'm right and Vick is reinstated, which of the 32 teams will take a chance on bringing him into their organization?  Vick is probably in decent shape as he has been working with a high-profile trainer.  His role at this point is likely that of a back-up quarterback, although he might be willing to move to another position to resume his career.  Atlanta released him and will not take him back.  Teams like Miami that run some form of the "Wildcat" offense which features a running quarterback make sense, but that is a short list.  Of course, the biggest concern for any team would be backlash of their own fan base and the distraction of the media circus that would set up shop adjacent to their practice field.

I suppose some team will take that chance, but darn if I know who will be that bold.  The Oakland Raiders come to mind because Jamarcus Russell may not pan out and Jeff Garcia is at the very end.  They are of course known for being something of the outlaw team and have been in a disarray for a number of years, so they have less to lose on such a gamble.  Vick fits the Miami Dolphins offense and they have gotten production out of Ricky Williams, who at one point quit the NFL so he could smoke marijuana full-time.  But they also drafted West Virginia quarterback Pat White and may not want to rock the boat with their fortunes turning around.

Forgotten in all of this by many is that before Vick was a dog killer, he was labeled the "coach killer."  That's a reference to former Atlanta Falcons coach Jim Mora Jr.  His dad, former NFL coach Jim Mora, was interviewed in 2006 saying that Vick was not a passing quarterback, and that you could not win consistently in the league that way.  While those Falcon teams teams were often ranked first in rushing behind the athletically gifted Vick, they were also usually dead-last in passing.  Vick was exciting to watch, but only once were the Falcons a playoff factor in his time at the helm.  So, while Vick should get his second NFL chance, one has to wonder why a team would want to provide it.

Summertime Blues

I think today is the slowest sports day of the year.  Today's lead stories are the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets "might" miss the season with a foot injury.  Panthers training camp is over a month away, the Bobcats draft has come and gone, the Atlanta Braves are floundering, and the next golf major is weeks away.  It got so slow that the Charlotte Observer had a front page sports story the other day about the ACC competing on the same level with the SEC in football...the summer heat plays with the mind.   

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is in Daytona for their traditional Firecracker, er, Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola.  It was a great story though that 19-year-old Joey Logano won his first Cup race last weekend at New Hampshire, becoming the youngest winner in breaking Kyle Busch's record.  And keeping with the summertime theme, how about that trophy?  A giant lobster for the New England native.  At least he didn't smash it the way Kyle Busch did with the Gibson Les Paul custom painted guitar at Nashville.  That could have horrified young viewers as the claw meat splattered if he had given it the Pete Townshend treatment.

It took Julius Peppers four months to decide that he would accept the Panthers offer of over a million dollars per Sunday to play football.  Fans are not usually that good about seperating the personal from the business side of the game, so it will be interesting to see what kind of reaction Pep gets coming through the tunnel.  Only signing a long-term contract will smooth over that aspect.  I'm also excited to see what new defensive coordinator Ron Meeks has in store to take advantage of not only Peppers, but also the speed of linebackers Thomas Davis and Jon Beason.  

I took my 15-year-old son to the beach last weekend for our annual golf trip.  We played a course in Calabash called Farmstead which has a par-6 finishing hole, 767 yards.  I picked this course because of that hole which actually covers parts of North and South Carolina on the state line.  Unfortunately, the looming thunderstorms that had held off all afternoon began to unleash as we literally sprinted to play the par-3 17th.  Wanting to at least get a glimpse of 18, we teed off in the pouring rain.  After hitting a long second shot a couple of thunderbolts too close for comfort (remember the old guy from Caddy Shack that Bill Murray caddied for?) sent us racing the golf cart to the parking lot.  After getting soaked loading the clubs in the car and returning the cart, we started to head back to the condo.  But the rain started to slow and the thunder became more distant, so we turned around and drove back to the course, parking in the corner nearest the final hole.  Grabbing a couple of clubs we dropped a ball about where we had picked up and came in with a bogey-7, making the longest hole last about 30 minutes total.

The Bobcats first round selection of former Duke star Gerald Henderson looks like a safe pick with a lot of upside.  The Bobcats are not acting like they will be much of a player in free agency, so any improvement this season will be incremental.  As much as I liked Stephen Curry as a college player, I hope he does not become a one-dimensional jump shooter in the NBA.  He'll have a much tougher time driving the lane and defending in the NBA, not to mention he's not surrounded by much talent in Golden State.  Hey, did you hear Yao Ming might not play this season....

Bobcats & Big Cat

It was an interesting contrast to see how the community responded to recent news about the two majority owners of Charlotte's professional sports franchises, Bob Johnson and Jerry Richardson.  The announcement that Bobcats owner Bob Johnson was looking to sell off his interest in the NBA team was met with positive response because of the overall negative impact the team has had.  The Bobcats haven't come close to sniffing the playoffs in the weak Eastern Conference and the franchise has incorrectly read the market interest from ticket and concession pricing, the failed C-SET premium pay channel to view the then expansion team's games, and of course the force-fed arena on taxpayers who did not ask for one.  Overall, the consensus seems to be don't let the door hit you on the way out to an owner who seldom appears in town anyway.

Meanwhile, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson attends a team practice and it's one of the warmest, local stories of the year.  Yes, the primary reason for that is the remarkable recovery of Mr. Richardson from heart transplant surgery.  But it is also the measure of a man who is well-liked universally, and exudes a deep passion for providing a winning product for their fans.  The opposite of aloof, Mr. Richardson makes it a point to shake hands with the locals and not only ask their opinions, but listen to their answers.  That local ownership persona connects to Panthers fans throughout the Carolinas.  Wins and losses can not always be controlled (witness the Arizona playoff loss), but you can win over fans by showing a commitment to doing the best you can with a plan that includes putting a quality product out.

Moving off of ownership, and down to the field/court now.  The Panthers now need to show the fans that the previously mentioned playoff thumping was an ill-timed letdown.  It was a team that went (12-4) with a division title, but expectations rise when you show that kind of success.  If Julius Peppers does not show up for the start of training camp, it officially becomes a distraction.  The offensive line must rebuild depth after losing their bench rotation.  QB Jake Delhomme needs a solid start to dissolve the bitter taste of January.  The opening portion of the schedule will be playoff caliber with Philadelphia, at Atlanta, and at Dallas just for starters.  The only team with a losing record on the entire slate is (7-9) Buffalo which added Terrell Owens this off-season.

As for the Bobcats, they do seem to be headed in the right direction under Coach Larry Brown.  He's in the middle of re-tooling the roster and trying to bring some defense and consistent scoring to the team.  His parting statement in regard to Emeka Okafor was dead-on.  While Okafor is talented and works hard, he needs to become a better basketball player, not just a well-conditioned athlete.  To get to the next level, the Bobcats must add more quality players who also care about winning and losing.  They already have a number of truly NBA caliber players, but now must blend in an influx of heart.  They won't pick until 12th in the first round so the answer is not likely to come from the college ranks.

Of the two franchises, the Panthers obviously appear to be closer to being able win a championship.  However, that expectation level also brings it's own baggage.  Panthers fans will not be satisfied with merely a return trip to the playoffs that comes up empty.  The Bobcats can win over followers by simply finishing in the top eight of their own conference and qualifying for the post-season.  Charlotte gets compared to Atlanta from time-to-time.  Being compared to Atlanta's luke warm professional sports scene is not something to aspire to, so let's hope we can surpass them in at least that department.

A Hollow Feeling

The Quail Hollow Championship is done for another year.  Congratulations to Kym Hougham, Mac Everett, Johnny Harris, Lee Patterson and everybody involved on doing another outstanding job in hosting the annual tour stop.  The tournament is under contract through 2014, which is the second longest committment currently on the PGA Tour.  The question as the contract winds down will be whether to extend it, or let it expire with the intent of host a major tournament or Ryder Cup event.  Johnny Harris told the Charlotte Business Journal that they will likely let the contract expire in 2014.  The next available PGA Championship is not until 2017, and the next open American Ryder Cup venue will not be until 2024, so we've got a little time to dwell on it. 

Typically, Sundays are made for Tiger Woods in a red Nike golf shirt making a charge up the leaderboard.  He looked the same as far as the red shirt goes, but the putting was well below his usual standard.  He drove the green on the short par-4 14th hole, but then proceeded to three-putt from 23 feet out.  Tiger says his driving distance is down from what it was pre-surgery, as he currently is ranked 29th in that department on the PGA Tour stats at 293.5 yards.  It's something to see Bubba Watson drive in person as I did last week at Quail.  He averaged over 331 yards for the tournament, as he and Lucas Glover came within a stroke of Sean O'Hair's winning (-11) total.

The Panthers off-season has been notable for mostly it's lack of real news outside of the changes in the defensive staff.  There has been plenty of Julius Peppers speculation with now the San Francisco 49ers as the latest rumor mill team with a pair of first round draft picks next year, thanks to the Panthers trade. That deal to acquire Florida State's Everette Brown in the second round by trading next year's first round pick indicates the Panthers desire to get another speed rusher trained as quickly as possible for whatever the future holds.

Chad Bowar from our news department is a Minnesota Vikings fan and says he will drop them as his team if they sign Brett Favre.  I don't have a problem with Favre playing again, my irriation is you can not believe a thing he says.  He has retired twice in two years and again said he was definitely not coming back.  But here he is meeting with Vikings Coach Brad Childress.  I don't know what the Packers did to set him off besides pay him a ton of money and give in to all of his time requests, but he seems to have it out for them and the opportunity to match up two times in the NFC North.  While he had his moments with the Jets last season, his clunkers down the stretch run cost New York the playoffs.

Quail Hollow put Charlotte on the international media map last week, and now Michael Phelps and the Ultra Swim meet at the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club will do it again next week.  Phelps of course will be competing for the first time since his three month suspension following the Beijing Olympics.  His likeness on cornflakes boxes were sent by the thousands to feed Third World nations as Kelloggs pulled them off the shelf here.  But now he can begin again to repair his reputation following his short-lived fame.  Not to worry, Michael Vick, A-Rod and Roger Clemens will make him yesterday's news as the summer heats up. 

Master of his Terrain

The Masters lived up to the hype and had something for any golf fan to follow.  The heartbreak is always as big of a story as the victory itself in a major tournament.  For Kenny Perry, he unfortunately will be the foil for blowing a two stroke lead with two holes to go, and a total of three bogeys over his final four holes.  Angel Cabrera seems like a likable enough guy.  I don't speak Spanish so I can't go into greater detail, but he looked happy about it.  Chad Campbell got a reprieve as he watched the lead fall back into his lap after his round was over, but made a quick exit in the playoff.

Tiger and Phil of course made the event most memorable.  Rivalries are what makes competition great, and the mere presence of Tiger makes any tournament that much more interesting.  The two of them tugging each other up the leaderboard was great drama until they ran out of gas on the final two holes.  On Friday, it was touching to watch 73-year-old Gary Player make that final walk up 18 at Augusta in his record 52nd tournament there.  It reminded me very much of when I was there five years ago to witness Arnold Palmer make that same walk.

Last week, I took my 14-year old son to play golf with my 73-year-old father at Chester Golf Club.  On a day with 20-25 mph wind gusts, we laughed, played and enjoyed the day together.  It's fun to watch the light go on, as Pops straightened up Andy's stance on the tee box.  Where Andy was slicing to the right previously, he immediately ripped a drive down the middle of the fairway.  As we all know, it doesn't usually stay that automatic in golf, but you live for those wide-eyed moments where the game comes into focus.

Nobody knows for sure where the Julius Peppers saga will end.  I don't rule out a trade on or around draft day with the Patriots and Eagles looking like the most interested contenders.  Regardless, the Panthers need to add to both the defensive and offensive lines.  Overall, the starters look relatively set, but there is a priority to fortify every unit with the exception of linebacker and running back from what I see.

North Carolina's Ty Lawson is ready for the NBA.  Wayne Ellington is a nice college player with a terrific jump shot, but maybe a tad slow for the big show.  With a young group of big men, led by Deon Thompson and Ed Davis, plus the return of defensive specialist Marcus Ginyard, the only major hole would be point guard if Lawson in fact turns pro.  Larry Drew does not look like the fulltime answer, but reinforcements are on the way as usual in Chapel Hill.  Duke was a solid second in the ACC this season, but I miss the years when the Blue Devils, NC State and Wake could really compete on a national stage consistently.  Duke and Wake were paper number-1's at times this past season, but the talent gap is obvious.        

Roy's Revenge

University of North Carolina basketball managed to hold up under some pretty heavy pressure this season.  They survived a string of injuries and some media expectations that they could actually go undefeated, which is ridiculous to put on any program. To their credit, the Tar Heels are back in the Final Four for a record 18th time and 9th time in the past 19 seasons.  They'll have a tough match-up with Villanova, but unless the Wildcats shoot lights out (like they did in 1985's championship), Carolina should advance past the semi-finals this time.  I'll stick with my brackets with North Carolina winning the national title over Louisville...oops, guess that side of my bracket fell apart.  So, I'll take Michigan State over Connecticut with what amounts to a home game for the Spartans, who are the most physical team of the four remaining.

Wonder if Kansas coach Bill Self will wear a Tar Heels sticker like Roy Williams did for the Jayhawks last year during the national championship?  That was pretty bizarre considering Kansas had just ended UNC's season.  But if it took a sticker to make Kansas fans forgive Williams for leaving them, then small price to pay, I say.  When I speak to elementary school groups on occassions like career day, I find that stickers are always a big hit.  Apparently it works on the college level too.

If Seth Curry is only partially as good as big brother Stephen, he will be a big hit at Duke.  The younger Curry will have to sit out for a season as he transfers from Liberty, but that will give his body a chance to fill out and then still have three years to play.  As for Stephen, it probably would not improve his draft status by waiting another year to turn pro, but I think his ability to succeed in the NBA would improve with another season of playing point guard under Davidson College coach Bob McKillop.  Too may others, like former ACC player of the year Joseph Forte have bolted early and then slipped into NBA obscurity.  Although Forte had other issues that involved guns and drugs.

Speaking of Davidson, another former point guard is moving on.  After 16 seasons as an assistant coach, Matt Matheny gets his first crack at being a head coach with another Southern Conference team, Elon.  Matt was a guard on the Davidson teams that I called play-by-play for in the early 90's.  Now I feel very old. 

Former Charlotte Hornets guard, Tony Bennett has become a fine college basketball coach and moves from Washington State to Virginia.  WBT listeners may know that part-time radio host and full-time pastor, David Chadwick's son committed to play at Washington State.  Our "source" tells me that David Banner Chadwick of Charlotte Latin remains committed to the Cougars, but will watch to see where the coaching search ends.