Topics As Different as Night and Day

There are two very different subjects I want to take on today and stealing a line from the old Patty Duke Show: ”They are as different as night and day.”

First the latest developments at Rutgers where Wednesday head football coach Kyle Flood was suspended for three games and fined $50,000 by university president Robert Barchi.  This after an investigation revealed that not only did Flood email a faculty member about the academic status of a player but he met with the professor in person which are clear violations of policies set in place by the school.

The disciplinary action had nothing to do with the recent arrests of six players who were dismissed from the team and the suspension and arrest this week of star receiver Leonte Carroo. It was strictly for Flood’s intervention of behalf of a player who by the way was one of the six kicked off the team.

While Flood cannot appear at games against Penn State, Kansas and Michigan State he is still in charge of the daily operation of the football program. Associate head coach Norries Wilson, a former head coach at Columbia, will run the show on game day.  President Barchi admitted that firing Flood was something he considered before handing down the same fine and suspension that was given to former basketball coach Mike Rice nearly three years ago. Of course a few months later Rice was fired and I would not be surprised if the same fate awaits Flood at the end of this season.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California was the setting for last night’s second Republican Presidential debate on CNN with Jake Tapper serving as moderator.  It did not have some of the fireworks associated with the first debate in August and clearly have 11 candidates on the stage was just way too many.  Tapper said in the beginning the goal was to give each their fair share of time but that was not the case and some including New Jersey Governor Chris Christie had limited opportunities to make their points.

As to who came out on top I would put Carly Fiorina, Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush in the category of winners or those who at least helped themselves.  Front-runner Donald Trump was not very sharp and I doubt made any gains but those who are in his corner will likely stay there. Same for Ben Carson who was not overly impressive.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker continues to tumble and the rest did little to improve their fading hopes.  I thought Christie handled himself well but again was treated almost as an after-thought and you have to wonder how much longer he and some of the others will remain in the race.  I guess the answer is when checks stop coming in.