Rod's Monday Thoughts

College Football this Saturday should be an interesting day to say the least. Nebraska vs. Oklahoma in the final Big 12 championship game. It's the only way that that things could have ended for the Huskers and the Sooners. Throughout the 70's and 80's it was the most anticipated game of the year. The Big 8 championship and alot of times the national championship was determined on who won this game. Both teams are 10-2 on the season so no national championship implications but a trip to the Fiesta Bowl is on the line for the winner. The loser will go to either the Alamo Bowl, Holiday Bowl or Cotton Bowl. Probably the latter. If Nebraska wins, they will do it against the odds. Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe and the Husker nation have a hate-hate relationship. Husker head coach Bo Pelini's team has been up against it every game this year. Most they could overcome. The Texas A&M game and the officiating they could not. And the Huskers will be up against it again against the Sooners. Nebraska will get no breaks in the game. From the Oklahoma defense and offense to the officiating to whether quarterback Taylor Martinez will be able to start or will backup Cody Green get the start at quarterback. The game will depend on the Nebraska defense. If they can play anywhere near where they did last year at Texas, when the Big 12's love of the Longhorns allowed a second to be put back up on the clock on Texas could kick the game winning field goal, the Huskers have a chance because their offense is a little better than last year.

Darren Boyle's weekly words of wisdom. Hail Zigy! The wicked coach is gone

This past Sunday I drove to the farm as I usually do and happened to see my brother Wes. If you know him, you know he bleeds purple. He is ten times the Vikings fan I am. So I mentioned to him that Syndey Rice had decided to grace the Metrodome with his presence, my response from Wes was "WHO CARES"! Aparently thats what most fans were thinking. Thats why Brad had to go.

But why didnt this happen sooner? Arent all these owners great businessmen, and should be great judges of leadership? Did it have to take so long to notice that Brad Childress wasnt much of a leader? This isnt the first time something like this has happened in the world of sports. You would just think that if someone had made 600 million so they could spend 600 million to own a team you would hope they were better at reading people. Think about that the next time you buy stock.

And if you were Brad Childress what were you thinking? You knew you were on thin ice after your team had such a poor start, then after your owner spent some money to get you a wide reciever you cut him because he complained about food. If you are going to be out on the ice you better know when to go back to shore and Childress didnt.

Just a thought, could Randy Moss have his hand in getting two coaches fired this season? Keep an eye on things with the Titans.

How long will Farve hang around? That is the next burning question.

Congratulations to the Highmore Harrold Pirates on their sixth place finish at the State B Volleyball tourney. This was my first season covering volleyball and after I got the hang of things I really had a blast. Hope you guys enjoyed our coverage.

Rod's Monday Thoughts

Well, I hate to admit it but Zigi Wilf is a owner who cares about the team and the teams fans after all. He fired Brad Childress this morning as head coach and named Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazer as the interim head coach for the rest of the season. Actually, Zigi had little choice but to do what he did. He wants a new stadium or in two years, the Vikings might have Los Angeles in front of it instead of Minnesota. So if you want something, you have keep the fans happy, after all they are the ones that are going to pay a huge bundle for the new digs. The Viking fan base said "fire Childress" and after yesterdays destruction at the hands of the Packers, Zigi did what he had to do to keep his new stadium construction hope alive.

Rod's Sunday Thoughts

College Football from yesterday. Sioux Falls crusied in a 33-6 win over Northwest Oklahoma State. The NAIA will be glad to see USF leave to Division II and give someone else a chance to win a national title. North Dakota State loses 3-0 to Missouri State, a team that averages scoring around 40 points a game this year but also gives that up. And the weather was perfect in Missouri. Hard to figure after watching the Bison beat up SDSU last weekend. But NDSU does make the playoffs and will play Robert Morris, an 8-2 team this season, next Saturday. Augustana will host Grand Valley State on Saturday in the Division II playoffs on Saturday. It will be a test for Augie. Nebraska got hosed by the refs in last night's 9-6 loss at Texas A & M. But what else is new in this the last year of the Huskers in the Big 12. Nebraska has to play against the refs, the Big 12 and their opponent every week. But the officiating crew that worked the game last night has been horrendous in the previous games they have officiated. I try hard not to say anything by the refs because it is a very difficult job to do and my hat is off to all those who officiate in our area, but last night was obvious. 16 penalties on the Huskers. 2 for A & M for 10 yards, who had entered the game the most penalized team in the league.

College Basketball yesterday. Michael Tveidt scored 10 points in limited time on the floor in NDSU 40 point rout of Valley City State. I understand that Michael, who has scored in double figures in all four of NDSU's games this year is hobbled by some sore feet. USD lost at Marquette yesterday by 13. Not sure how Louie Krogman did but it was an improvent over a 20 plus point loss to the Golden Eagles last year.

Volleyball from yesterday. Congratulations to Arlington. They did something very few thought would happend. The defeated unbeaten Warner in 4 games last night to win the the State B title. Impressive to say the least. Perhaps had Highmore-Harrold played anyone but Arlington in the opening round, the Pirates might have been playing in the evening instead of the afternoon brackets. Sioux Falls Lincoln beat Roosevelt in the AA championship last night. 5 beating 1 would have to be considered an upset. And Sioux Falls Christian won the A title. I guess since 4 of 5Sioux Falls high school teams finished first and first (Lincoln and Christian), Roosevelt second and Washington 4th, they will are the volleyball queens of the state just like thier boy counterparts are in their sports.

NASCAR. Can Denny Hamlin hold on to the lead to win the Sprint Cup championship? Can Jimmy Johnson win his 5th title? Or will Kevin Harvick come from third to win? I don't know and frankly my dear, in the words of Clark Gable, I don't give a damn! I will be watching the Vikings and Packers and rooting for a tie.

Brian's Thursday Thmack Talk

Well, the fall sports season comes to an end this weekend with the State Volleyball Tournaments, and although we don't have a lot of teams to cheer for in our neck of the woods, I do think that we have two bona fide sleepers that could really make some noise in their respective tournaments. First of all, in Class B, where Highmore-Harrold goes in as the #6 seed for the second straight year. They finished 6th in VB last year, but remember when these girls rose to my personal challenge in the State BB tournament? I wonder, if I were to pick the Lady Pirates to finish 8th in this tournament, would they rise to the challenge and overachieve again? :o) Obviously, with Warner in the field, the Monarchs are the next best thing to a foregone conclusion - they've actually only lost 3 sets all season, 2 to district arch-rival Northwestern - although they will still have to earn their championship. I do think, though, that the second best team in the field will be the #3 seed and H-H's first-round opponent, Arlington. But who knows? Highmore is on quite a winning streak, and I expect them to play some of their best ball of the season this weekend. Be sure to follow Highmore-Harrold with Darren on 94 Country this weekend!

In Class A, Mobridge-Pollock goes into the tournament as the #7 seed for the second straight year. Not much is usually expected from a team seeded that low, but let's not forget the Tigers pulled the first-round upset over #2 SF Christian last year, and I think their chances are pretty good of duplicating the feat against Elk Point-Jefferson in Thursday's final match. I will have the pleasure of following the Lady Tigers on Star99, and for the sake of a little horn-tootin', I will also have an opportunity to announce all State A matches over the Public Broadcasting webcast on sports.sdpb.org, so I'm looking forward to that. Here's hoping the girls can feed off of the excitement that the boys gave us on the gridiron a week ago, despite the heartbreak (congrats on a great season nonetheless, guys - you made a lot of folks proud around here!!!).

Folks, if you still are among the many who haven't gotten into volleyball yet, please pay attention this weekend. I promise, you will be on the edge of your seat more often than not.

A couple of other quick notes:
** From the files of "It's About Time" -- Ron Gardenhire is the 2010 American League Manager of the Year. Five times he's come in second in that voting, but he won easily this time, and very rightfully so, with all the injuries that the Twins had to endure this season. From a 44-40 record at the All Star Break to a 49-17 record after the Break (before losing 11 of their last 12 or something like that). The man tends to make all the right decisions just about all the time. Now, if only he can make just a couple more to get that team to go deeper into the postseason in 2011.....

** And finally, oh, what I wouldn't give to be in West Lafayette, Indiana, Thursday night, when Purdue hosts SDSU in women's basketball. OUR three girls - Katie Lingle, Steph Paluch, and Sam Ostarello - all together in one game, all of whom many of us watched for four years of varsity ball, growing up right before our eyes. Now I know how Archie Manning feels. And for me personally, among the 3 of these young ladies -- I don't care who you are, that's an awful lot of KGFX Player of the Game t-shirts right there!! Talk about making us all proud......

Have a great weekend, and good luck again to the Pirates and Tigers!!

Rod's Tuesday Thoughts

Well, Well, Well. The Vikings fans are jumping ship and having a cow because Zigi will not fire Chilly! Brett Favre is proving that he is human and his taking chances late in games is really backfiring on the Vikings this season. And still, Chilly is the head coach of the Vikings. And probably will be for the remainder of the year. Why you ask? I think I can answer in two words. Contract Extention! You remember, the one that Chilly signed at the end of last season! Zigi is a businessman and I don't think he wants to buy out Childress's contract until at least until the end of the year. And I don't think he wants to be paying two head coaches in the same season. I might be wrong but the Vikings have bigger problems than a coach who usually outcoaches himself in close games. They have an aging roster. The Williams boys in the defensive middle of the line comes to thought. Jarred Allen, where are the quarterback sacks you should be making? Injuries to the recieving corp leaving Favre no one to really throw to. And while Adran Peterson isn't fumbling the ball as much as in the past, only 51 yards rushing against the Bears, a team he has owned in recent years, is a telling tale that perhaps AP is beginning to beleive that maybe he should play someplace else! Not to mention grandpa Favre who should have probably packed it in a couple of years ago. Or at least after last season. Oh Vikings fans, I feel for you. I have been there. I have been a Bears fan as long as I can remember. And I think it is funny as all get out that the Bears are 3 games up on the Vikings in the standings. And have beaten all of the NFC North teams at home this year. They won't have a chance in Minneapolis and will probably get beat in Detroit too. The Packers game on the other hand at the end of the year could be for all the marbles and the Packers have not beaten the Bears all that often in recent years at Lambeau. Ironic, isn't it.

Darren Boyle's Weekly words of wisdom...........A letter to Zygy

Mr Wylf, the time has come to rid Viking fans of your head coach. I know that means that the season is lost, I know that means the team will be in disarray, but it still needs to be done. Yes it means you paid $19,000,000 for an aging qb. But that qb was the reason you extended your coaches contract anyway.

Over the history of the NFL there have been tons of coaches who have been fired, some more than once. And there are several coaches who dont have the best won-lost record that stayed employed for alot longer than they probally should have. The one thing an owner has to look at is can a coach have a team ready to play every week. Eric Mangini is the best current example of a coach who is still employed even though his record isnt the best, in fact they are not a good football team, but Mangini keeps his team motivated and they can come out an suprise a team, like the Browns did to the Patriots last week.

On the flip side of that look at the Dallas Cowboys, a team that looked terrible against the Packers last Sunday night. The players gave up on the coach, and Jerry Jones was left with no other choice but to fire Wade Philips, and look how the Cowboys responded, with a big win over the NY Giants.

The Vikings performance against the Bears looked to me like they have given up on their coach.

Look, a coaching change mid season is never a good idea. But an owner has to look at the entire picture. And right now Zigy Wylf knows he owns a team that isnt going to make the playoffs, the fanbase is ticked off and his qb says this is his last year. Time to get ready for 2011 with a clean slate. Time to fire Brad Childress

Darren Boyle's weekly words of wisdom...........THE CHILDRESS CHRONICLES

If you have read my posts over the last couple of years you have often had to deal with my frustration with the Minnesota Vikings. You have read the ramblings of a long suffering fan who knows that as soon as things start to go well something always goes wrong. Honestly, that is why I just havent been able to completely jump on the purple bandwagon the last few years. Now the events over the past couple of weeks have reinforced my fears. Now the team is in free fall and there is only one person to blame, Brad Childress.

Remember a few years ago when Zygy Wylf bought the Vikes? He wanted to start off with a clean slate so he brought in Childress who at the time was the offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. The previous season the Eagles were in the Super Bowl with this "high flying offense" that had trouble scoring points. That should have been our first clue that we as Viking fans were doomed.

You have read my rants over the years, about how this coach was supposed to be this great developer of talent. How he drafted and traded for all these young qb's who just couldnt make it, so we had to see guys that were past their prime like Brad Johnson and Gus Ferotte on the field most of the time so the Vikings could win just enough games to get into the playoffs, or at least close enough to the playoffs to keep Childress from getting fired. That doesnt get you a contract extension though.

That is why Brett Farve was recruited folks. That is why Childress personally called Brett after a terrible performance by all his qbs in the first exhibition game of 2009 against the Colts. That is why Childress was willing to let Farve dictate when and how he joined the team. Brad Childress needed Brett Farve to come in and help the Vikings get to at least the second round of the playoffs. Childress had to get that new contract.

But like a true gambler, he just doesnt know when to cash out. This season he allowed Farve to wait until the last possible minute to decide to play this year. Other players expected the same treatment. Thats why Sydney Rice waited so long to have his hip surgery. Thats why Percy Harvin skipped at least two weeks of traing camp following the death of his grandmother. Childress had let the inmates run to asylum.

Childress knew he had to get some control back.. Thats why after the loss to the Packers he was so critical of Farve. And just this week, he released Randy Moss, a player who they gave up a draft pick to get just four games ago because Moss threw a tantrum in the Viking locker room last Friday over food that was catered in.

Now the coach has lost the team. What happens next will be good drama at least. How long does Childress let Farve continue to play? Does the defense quit playing so Childress gets fired and Leslie Frazier gets the head coaching job. What does Zygy Wylf do? Supposedly he wasnt too happy that Moss was cut without his imput.

All this adds up to another long season for the fans of the purple. Hopefully Brad Childress can find a good realtor, and the Vikes hire Bill Cowher or John Gruden before the Cowboys do.

It has been another good run through the football playoffs for the Gettysburg Battlers and the Sully Buttes Chargers, as they have made it to the semifinals. Both teams have a big challenge this Saturday. Gettysburg goes to Canistota, and the Cgargers go to Harding Co. I get to make the trip to Buffalo and call the SB vs. HC game with a 5:00 central time kickoff on KPLO.

Good luck to both teams.

Brian's Tuesday Tweet.....

Say it ain't so! In a year where it seemed like, perhaps aside from the top two in the State, parity was coming back to somewhat of a reality in Class 11AA, still - somehow - the Final Four comes down to all four Sioux Falls schools! Washington and Roosevelt have clearly been the best two teams throughout the season, so the blowouts they registered Monday night are really no surprise - much to the chagrin of Pierre Governor fans. But two teams the Govs probably should have beaten during the regular season, Watertown and RC Stevens, couldn't get it done in close losses to O'Gorman and Lincoln. There have been a lot of good teams outside of Sioux Falls this season, but for whatever reason, those SF schools just seem to have a way of making plays when plays need to be made, and I'm guessing that was the case in those two close games Monday. Can't wait to read the Argus sports page about their Dream Final Four - well, actually I can. Looks like Washington and Roosevelt are destined to meet in the Dome again, though. As for the Govs, 7-4 is a fine season, but it may be a season that they will leave wondering what might have been.

In 11A, the Final Four is decidedly a Sioux Falls Metro event as well. It'll be Dell Rapids hosting West Central and Harrisburg hosting Canton on Saturday. Four obviously good teams, with Canton maybe the most obscure - and the team my family and I root hard for. West Central may have benefited from a windy night to hammer a pass-happy Sisseton team in the first round, but they still went out and easily handled St. Thomas More on Monday night, so apparently nothing has changed for the perennial power. Can they pull the upset over unbeaten Dell Rapids, though? Well, I'm sure they can, but unbeaten Dells beat West Central, 37-22, in Hartford just a few weeks ago. Harrisburg probably has too many weapons for Canton to overcome in the other semifinal. Should be some quality football in 11A and AA on Saturday, but not a lot of local interest, unfortunately.

But now in 11B, a Saturday semifinal might have a lot of local interest, and rightfully so. The powerhouse of Tri-Valley will not go to the Dome for a fourth straight year, after they were upset (I use that term loosely) by Flandreau Monday night. Flandreau is a very good #8 seed, though, and they will provide a lot of problems in the semis for Aberdeen Roncalli. But of course, it's the other semifinal that will have us all watching. In Week 3, Mobridge-Pollock went down to Winner and flattened the Warriors, 26-10. The defending champs have shown some vulnerabilities this season, and even still in the postseason, and I've got a sneaking suspicion that this is just simply Mobridge's year. Keep in mind, their only loss was back in Week 1 against Linton, the #1 team in North Dakota, and a reliable source tells me, even that never should have happened. For the final eight, 11B was the most balanced, and we should get ready for a great championship game between.....mmmm.....Flandreau.....and.....a very good Big Dakota Conference team. ;o)

There seems to be a somewhat quietly stacked Final Four set up in 9AA. It'll be Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan hosting Chester Area in one semifinal, and I think the eventual champion comes from this game. The other semi has Leola/Frederick hosting Viborg/Hurley. V/H brings perhaps the best 9-man player in the state, depending on who you ask, in quarterback Cory Jacobsen, but Leola/Frederick has gone unbeaten for the second regular season in a row. Still, for some reason we just don't hear a lot about them, and we really don't know just how good they can be. I have a hunch they'll be good enough to contain Jacobsen and meet up with Chester in the championship. Chester is a #4 seed, but they are going to be a dangerous opponent for top-seeded Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan.

In 9A, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Hanson upset Avon in the Dome last year, and they will meet again, but this time it'll be Saturday in the semifinals. Early this year, I was thinking Avon lost a lot, but even though they lost to Hanson in their first game of the season, they really haven't missed a beat since. Clearly the consensus favorite for the 9A title will be the winner of this game, but I'd like to think that people might underestimate what the other two teams have to offer. Harding County hosts Sully Buttes in the other semifinal Saturday, and not that I know for sure, but I'm thinking there are two distinctly different styles here. Harding County seems to always be a bruising, hard running team, and they have man-handled almost everyone on their schedule a little more this year than in most years past. Harding is usually big and strong, but Sully Buttes probably has more team speed than anyone left in the 9-man postseason, and the Ranchers might not be able to tackle what they can't catch up to. This one's gonna be a fun one! Harding Co. has a somewhat weak schedule, but they did shut out both Philip and Wall - easily, I might add. In fact, they've only given up two scores all season. The Chargers will play well, but I wonder if this isn't the best Harding County team they've ever had. Whoever wins this one, I will definitely be pulling for in the title match.

The 9B Final Four will clearly have the four best teams in the class, which will include three unbeatens. The exception to the rule will be Gettysburg, and if you ask some of the Battler faithful, they'll probably say they should have been unbeaten as well. But even with two losses, the Battlers are probably playing as well as anyone. Get this - as I covered their 46-36 win over Colome Monday night, I had the Battlers in a total yardage advantage of 547 to 427!! A fun game indeed, but now the 4th seeded Gettysburgers draw the top seed Canistota, and I think everyone is aware just how tough of an assignment this will be. One look at the season schedule for the unbeaten Hawks says an awful lot -- a tough win at 9A power Hanson, and blow-out wins over 9AA semifinalists Chester and Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan, and also a tough White Lake/Plankinton team -- it seems Canistota is probably the best 9-man team in the state, regardless of class. Hopefully the underdog will put it all together on Saturday. The other semifinal pairs two unbeatens - Dell Rapids St. Mary and defending champion Hitchcock-Tulare, in a rematch of last year's title game. This will be a great game, but you might just have to go with the home team, and that'll be DRSM this time around. Still, good luck to anyone that tangles with Canistota this season.

So that's a look ahead to the high school semifinals, and what should be a fun day of football come Saturday. In the meantime, for what it's worth, I apologize for not having much to say lately. I guess it's just been really hectic around here lately.....either that, or we just can't stay off of Facebook long enough to say what's on our minds. As for a couple of other tidbits, is it me, or is it just really, really stupid that the World Series ends in November? Congrats to the Giants! And also, wouldn't it have been nice if the Vikings would have have given up a third round draft pick to get Brad Childress, and then gotten rid of HIM after only three games? Think about that for a while.

Don't forget - volleyball postseason starts Tuesday night - good luck everyone! Peace out....and Rock the Vote!