Out in Sport: Football Adopts Gay-rights Charter

There are at present no openly gay players in the top ranks of British football - unlike rugby and cricket, where things are beginning to change, and some individual sporting codes, where the circumstances are easier. (The last time a British footballer was known to be gay ended tragically in the man's suicide, after intense hostility and gay-baiting from the stands. Some other modern players are not out, but receive similar taunting just on the suspicion).

In a welcome new development, the Football Association has agreed to join other sporting codes in supporting the UK government's charter for action, to stamp out homophobia in sport. Young boys often idolize their sporting heroes, and seek to emulate them. When they see the leading players engaging in homophobic taunting of opponents, this too easily becomes repeated on playing fields and playgrounds of British schools. If the charter can succeed in changing the behaviour of top players, it could potentially help to counter the homophobic bullying that so many young boys encounter.

This, from Politics UK:

Football accepts gay-rights charter

Efforts to wipe out homophobia in sport have received a significant boost as the country's major sports leagues put their weight behind a government campaign.

The organising bodies for football, tennis, cricket, rugby league, rugby union and the Olympics have all signed the government's charter for action.

The charter aims to create a welcoming environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in sport.

Activists welcomed the move as a sign that sport - often considered the last bastion of homophobia in the UK - was pressured to modernise in line with other industries.

(Full report at Politics UK)

.

Who Dat Gonna Be NFL Champs!

The New Orleans Saints were founded in 1967 and have endured 43 seasons of good, bad and ugly football. After Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005 and wrecked the Superdome, it wasn't even certain that the Saints would even be playing their future NFL games in New Orleans.

Today you can call them NFL champions after playing and winning in their first Super Bowl appearance.

They ain't the Aints no more.

In a Super Bowl for the ages the Saints turned a 10-6 halftime deficit, gutsy play calling and stout defense into a memorable 31-17 win and a well deserved championship for the long suffering Saints fans.

Mardi Gras has already started, but this party will probably be going on until tomorrow morning and maybe into next week.

Congratulations Saints. Way to geaux!

Super Bowl XLIV

Will Who Dat win? Or will another Vince Lombardi Trophy be heading back to Indiana?

Starting at 6:25 PM EST America and a large television viewing audience will know the answer to that question as Super Bowl XLIV kicks off.

The NFC Champion New Orleans Saints will tackle the AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts in Miami with an NFL title on the line.

I'm hoping for a good game that will be fun to watch.

As for what team I'm rooting for? I lived in New Orleans for two years.

Geaux Saints!

Saints Are Geauxing To The Super Bowl!

44 years of football frustration was lifted on one majestic kick in the Superdome Sunday as the New Orleans Saints beat the Minnesota Vikings 31-28 in overtime on Sunday to claim their first NFC Championship and a trip to Miami for the Super Bowl XLIV.

The Mardi Gras parades may not be starting for another week, but the partying got an early start after Garrett Hartley's 40 yard overtime kick went through the uprights.

The city that has hosted four Super Bowls is in the unfamiliar position of scrambling to get tickets to watch their beloved Saints play in one.

And in light of all the drama the city has gone through post-Katrina, they deserve it.

Geaux Saints!

I will be parked in front of the television later today when the New Orleans Saints play in their second NFC Championship game against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Saints are trying to not only win their first NFC championship in their 43 year history, they are trying to erase themselves from the list of five NFL teams that have never reached the Super Bowl.

New Orleans has a special connection with this team, and its only deepened since Katrina devastated the city.

It would be nice to see after all the city has gone through and after the 'Aints' years when the team was horrible for the Saints to finally make it to the Super Bowl!

Geaux Saints!

Kentucky-Black Head Coaching Hotbed?

Over the last few years, there has been a marked increase in the numbers of minorities getting the head coaching jobs at NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1) schools. I'm proud to say my alma mater, the University of Houston is one of them.

But the interesting trend that has happened lately on the NCAA African-American head football coaching front is transpiring in Kentucky.

There are three schools in this state, Louisville, Kentucky and Western Kentucky that play at the FBS level. With the recent elevation of offensive coordinator and UK alum Joker Phillips in the wake of the retirement of Rich Brooks, U of L's hiring of Florida defense coordinator Charlie Strong and the hiring of Hilltopper alum and Stanford assistant Willie Taggart at WKU, the state of Kentucky's FBS football programs are all headed by African-Americans.

That means out of the 12 African-American head football coaches in the FBS, Kentucky is home to one quarter of them.

In addition, Joker Phillips' elevation to the position makes him only the second ever African-American head football coach in the SEC. Sylvester Croom broke that barrier when he was hired by Mississippi State in 2004 and held the position until he resigned at the end of the 2008 season.

Kentuckians are taking football as seriously as they do King Basketball in light of the fact these three programs have been making competitive noise.

The Wildcats have been steadily building the foundation since the arrival of Brooks and have become competitive in the SEC East, the toughest division in college football.

The Cards won a BCS bowl in 2005 as Big East champions but have slipped from that elite level.

Western Kentucky won the 2002 Division I-AA National Championship, elevated its program to FBS level and had a rough 0-10 maiden season adjusting to FBS level football.

It's great to see that all three institutions have decided to have these well qualified gentlemen run their programs. Strong was defense coordinator for the NCAA Champion Florida Gators. Phillips has been the offensive coordinator for the Wildcats. Taggart was an assistant coach at WKU for a decade before he moved on to Stanford.

It's even more gratifying to see in Phillips' and Taggart's cases former players who have been given the opportunity to coach at their alma maters. In Taggart's case he is one of only four WKU players in the 91 year football history to have their jersey number retired.

May all three have much success leading their respective programs to the next level of development in the future, unless they're playing Kevin Sumlin and my Cougars.

9-7!

On September 8, 2002 the expansion Texans shocked the NFL world and a national television audience by beating the hated Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium 19-10 in their inaugural game. They joined the 1961 Minnesota Vikings as the second NFL expansion teams to win their opening game.

The Texans followed that piece of NFL history up by knocking off the Miami Dolphins to begin the 2003 season, thus becoming the only expansion team to win back to back season openers.

After consecutive 8-8 seasons, the Texans started the 2009 season with expectations of making the NFL playoffs for the first time ever. At midseason they looked like they were on track to do so with a 5-3 record.

But after another frustrating loss to their AFC South nemesis the Indianapolis Colts jumpstarted an ill timed four game losing streak, it put them in the position of needing to win their remaining four games and get help in order to make the playoffs.

They opened the 2010's with a critical must win home game against the NFL team of the 2K's, the New England Patriots. After falling behind 27-13, a 21 point fourth quarter comeback for the ages secured the 34-27 win for the Texans in front a a delirious sellout crowd and secured the first winning season in franchise history.

But to make the playoffs, thanks to their midseason swoon, they needed to have two out of three teams, the NY Jets, the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens lose.

The Broncos obliged, but the Ravens and Jets won their games, thus eliminating the Texans from playoff contention.

Despite being disappointed the Texans fell just short of making the playoffs this year, I'm still happy for my hometown team.

They posted a winning record and have some positive momentum going into the 2010 season. Maybe next year I'll finally get the chance to see my boys beat the Indianapolis Colts and play in the NFL playoffs.

UH Coogs Climb to Number 18 in Football Rankings

The Coogs climbed up the college football ranking ladders this week in the wake of their 73-14 demolition of the Rice Owls.

They moved up to Number 18 in both the AP and USA Today College Football polls. They jumped two spots on the AP one and seven spots on the USA Today poll.

They also gained ground in the BCS poll, moving up two spots from Number 23 to Number 21.

And best of all, the Bayou Bucket is back where it belongs.

The Coogs play for the C-USA Championship Saturday against the C-USA East Division Champion East Carolina Pirates. Should be a fun game with Case Keenum only needing 50 yards to pass the 5000 yard barrier for the season.

Eat 'em up!

Number 20 Coogs Win The West-Barbecue Rice

The C-USA West Division that is.

My number 20 ranked fave college football team walked into the game with our crosstown rivals at the Rob with a lot at stake.

Win and they not only gained revenge for last year's 52-45 loss to Rice and reclaim the Bayou Bucket, they clinch a share of the C-USA West title with a 6-2 record and play in next week's C-USA title game.

Tyron Carrier got the game off to a rousing start by taking the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown as the Cougars raced to a 59-0 halftime lead enroute to a 73-14 victory over the Owls.

Case Keenum was 25 of 31 for 323 yards and two touchdowns. He added a first half rushing touchdown as the dark horse Heisman candidate led the 10-2 Cougars to their first 10 win season since 2006.

The Coogs will travel to Greenville, NC to play for their first C-USA championship since 2006 when they take on the East Carolina Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

Number 24 Coogs Beat Down Memphis

The Number 24 AP ranked University of Houston Cougars shook off their upset loss to Central Florida last week by beating down Memphis at the Rob 55-14.

It's only the second time since the 1991 season that my fave college football team has won nine games in a season, and they have a chance to hit ten wins next week when they play our crosstown rivals Rice.

Case Keenum made sure it was going to happen today. UH scored on eight of its first nine possessions as he went 29 for 39 for 405 yards and five touchdowns in the rout and broke David Klingler's school record for career touchdowns.

Keenum now has 94 TD's with only the game against our crosstown rival Rice remaining on their C-USA schedule

The Coogs also received some good news in addition to improving their season record to 5-2 in the C-USA West Division. Marshall knocked off the C-USA West Division leading SMU Mustangs 34-31 to drop them into a tie for the West Division lead with SMU.

The Cougars already have the tiebreaker over SMU thanks to the earlier 28-15 homecoming beatdown.

I'm not getting too happy yet. They have to take care of business next week against Rice before I can exhale and get happy about the prospects of my boys playing for the C-ISA title.

If they do that, they win the C-USA West Division Championship and they host the C-USA title game at the Rob.

UH Still Ranked-Barely

All these close last second victories for the Cardiac Cougars finally caught up with them this week against the University of Central Florida Knights. Case Keenum couldn't work his last minute magic and the Cougars fell 37-32 to an unranked UCF Knights squad.

This second loss of the season could be potentially fatal to their C-USA title hopes as the Coogs fell to 8-2 on the year and out of a tie for the C-USA West Division lead with SMU. The Mustangs now lead the C-USA West Division with a 5-1 record with two games to play against Marshall and Tulane.

The 4-2 Coogs have the tiebreaker over SMU, but must win their final two games at the Rob with Memphis and our crosstown rivals Rice and hope for an SMU loss in order to make it to and host the C-USA Championship game.

It was also painful to their national rankings. The Cougars fell to Number 24 from their previous ranking of Number 13 in the AP poll and probably killed any outside chance they had of making a BCS bowl.

My fave college football team has an outside chance at winning the C-USA title and allowing me the chance to see my boys in Memphis for the Liberty Bowl

But they're going to need help now to get there.

Coogs Escape Tulsa With 46-45 Win

The Number 13 ranked Houston Cougars scored 9 points in the final 21 seconds, including a 51 yard field goal from walk on freshman kicker Matt Hogan to escape with a 46-45 win over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

After scoring a touchdown to narrow the deficit to 45-43, Keenum was sacked on the two point conversion play to preserve the Tulsa lead. UH recovered the ensuing onside kick and the stage for the Cardiac Cougar heroics was set.

Case Keenum connected on 40 of 60 passes for 522 years, but the biggest was hitting a 13 yard pass to a wide open Tyron Carrier to get them into field goal range.

hogan had never kicked a field goal beyond 34 yards prior to this game winning heroics, but nailed this one to move the Cougars to 8-1 and stay tied with SMU atop the C-USA West Division standings.

Next up is the University of Central Florida Knights in Orlando.

And fellas, can we wrap up the game before halftime for a change? The last second wins are fun to watch but stress inducing as well.

UH Cougars Take On Tulsa

My favorite college football team will take on the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane at 6:30 PM EST later tonight.

The 7-1 (3-1 C-USA West) and Number 13 ranked Coogs stroll into Tulsa with a one game lead over their C-USA West Division rivals. A victory puts them one step closer the the division title and a berth in the C-USA championship game.

The Saints Are Marching With A 7-0 Record

Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say they gonna beat dem Saints? Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say they gonns beat dem Saints?

So far nobody on their 2009 NFL schedule has.

I'm a happy camper right now football wise. My high school and collegiate alma maters are having banner seasons right now. My Texans are 5-3 and have a huge game coming up up the road from me with the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC South lead.

And the New Orleans Saints, my other fave NFL team is 7-0.

You're not misreading that. The New Orleans Saints are 7-0 and leading the NFC South Division after a wild 35-27 Monday Night Football victory over the Atlanta Falcons that probably set off major partying in the French Quarter last night.

And yes, they are my other fave NFL team because I lived on the West Bank as a toddler for two years.

In a sense, the Saints are my connection to the New Orleans part of my life besides my godsister Angela and her family, and my former IAH flight attendant co-workers who live there.

As I stated in the Who Dat post, the Saints are as much a part of New Orleans life as chicory coffee, beignets, jazz and Mardi Gras.

The Saints even echoed their nomadic fanbase in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, playing their 2005 'home' games in San Antonio and limping to a 3-13 record that season while the hurricane damaged Superdome was being repaired.

But since they moved back into a renovated Superdome, picked up a new coach, new GM, and made some smart player acquisitions such as quarterback Drew Brees, Jeremy Shockey, Jonathan Vilma and Marques Colston, the New Orleans Saints have been climbing towards elite status.

In 2007 they won their first NFC South title and made it all the way to the NFC Championship game before falling to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field..

So far this edition of the Saints looks like they have the tools to go all the way with an explosive offense and a suffocating defense.

After knocking off the Falcons last night they have a favorable rest of the season schedule. If they keep winning, they can secure Dome field advantage and set themselves up nicely for a memorable NFL playoff run.

It would be fitting for an NFL city that has hosted multiple Super Bowls if their beloved hometown team gets to march right into Miami's Dolphin Stadium on February 7 and play in Super Bowl XLIV for an NFL championship.

Coogs Climb To Number 13

It was a Halloween weekend full of treats for the University of Houston.

In addition to outlasting a tough Southern Miss team, they are tied with SMU for the C-USA West Division lead after losses by Tulsa and UTEP. The Coogs hold the tiebreaker over SMU thanks to their 38-15 win over the Mustangs.

The polls are out, and the 50-43 win helped the 7-1 Cougars climb to Number 13 in the AP poll and Number 15 in the USA Today and BCS rankings.

But you better believe they are kicking themselves over that meltdown loss to UTEP. They would probably be in the BCS championship chatter if they had handled their business in El Paso.

Oh, what might have been.

But they can take a giant step toward winning the C-USA West Title and the C-USA Championship game by handling their business against Tulsa on Saturday.

Jones Falcons Threepeat in 22-4A

My 2009 Falcon footballers have accomplished something no Jesse H. Jones football team ever has in my school's 50 year history.

The 1985 Falcon footballers advanced all the way to the Region III-5A title game before losing a 21-15 Astrodome showdown with our arch rival and eventual 5A state champion Jack Yates.

Yates would go on to beat down San Antonio Holmes 34-7 and legendary Texas high school football powerhouse Odessa Permian 37-0 in the Class 5A title game at Texas Stadium.

But the 1985 Falcon team made that remarkable playoff run as a district runner-up. The 2009 Falcons have won three consecutive district football titles.

“The reason I love three district championships in a row is because that’s the first time Jones has ever done it,” said Jones' senior quarterback Aaron Taylor

The Falcons have already clinched a playoff spot, and with last nights hard fought 35-28 victory over Booker T. Washington Jones has clinched at least a share of a third consecutive district title.

This game wasn't easy as our all-everythang quarterback Aaron Taylor fumbled twice in the first half. The Booker T. Washington Eagles quickly converted those early Halloween treats into two touchdowns and a 21-14 halftime lead.

But the Falcons struck back for 21 third quarter points and sealed the win with a late 4th quarter interception by Aaron Taylor, who was playing safety.

Taylor in addition to having the game saving interception, threw for 222 yards and four touchdowns in addition to rushing for 92 yards.

Jones coach Ronald Booker said in a Houston Chronicle interview, “It wasn’t easy at all. Our defense is really giving up too many points, but Aaron Taylor...words cannot explain. He had four touchdowns and a crucial interception at the end of the game. It’s just unbelievable how much we depend on him.”

With a win over my parents and other sister's alma mater Worthing on Saturday, my 6-2 (6-0) Falcons will clinch back to back undefeated district seasons.

If they do it, I'll have family bragging rights for the second straight year as I get to rub in Falcon victories over the Ross S. Sterling Raiders and the Evan E. Worthing Colts.

But my cousins Shondrel and Ivory will probably bring up that butt kicking we took early in the season at the hands of Alief Taylor.

Congrats JJ footballers for a milestone achievement. Know that we Falcon alums are extremely proud of you. May you gentlemen continue to go where no Jones Falcon football team has gone before.

Hail JJ!

Had to show my high school alma mater back home some love as well. My Jesse Jones Falcons have been playing some serious light-out football back home. They have dominated District 22-4A for the last two years and the Falcons are the two time defending district champs.

Last year JJ went undefeated in District 22-4A play, but they have that same maddening tendency that the school had when I was walking the halls there of falling in the playoffs.

Aaron Taylor, our senior quarterback is starting to heat it up and the Falcon offense has responded. He's also determined to make this year's playoff sojourn a more extended stay.

They beat down our old rival Phillis Wheatley on and off the football field. There was a little rumble after the game as the frustrated Wildcat team turned the ball over four times and watched a 14-7 Wheatley lead turn into a 41-22 Falcon romp.

JJ ran their season record to 6-2 and a spotless 5-0 record in district play.

The Falcons have already clinched a playoff spot and can clinch the district title tonight for the third straight year with a win over Booker T. Washington.

So here's hoping my good day continues tonight with my alma maters winning football games.

Coogs Treated To Shootout Win Over Southern Miss

My Number 15 ranked University of Houston Cougars won their matchup against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, but it wasn't easy. Both teams combined for 93 points and 1,358 yards in a defense optional shootout.

At one point during this wild game UH held a commanding 40-22 lead with 12:25 left, but two Southern Miss touchdown passes from Martevious Young to wide receiver Gerald Baptiste in a span of 5:25 tied the game with 57 seconds left.

It took Heisman Trophy candidate Case Keenum throwing for a personal best 559 yards and five TD's, a 48 yard touchdown throw to Patrick Edwards with 21 seconds remaining to break the tie, and the defense swatting down a Southern Mississippi Hail Mary pass in the end zone to preserve the 50-43 win over one of the C-USA East Division co-leaders.

The win was a Halloween treat for Cougar fans at the Rob as they witnessed the Cougars 13th straight home win.

In addition to the offensive fireworks Keenum provided, the Cougars racked up a season-high 750 yards of total offense as they bumped their season record to 7-1 for the year and 3-1 in C-USA West play.

Next up are road games versus Tulsa and UCF before they return to Robertson Stadium and finish the season at home against Memphis and Rice.

UH Administers Homecoming Beatdown To SMU

The Number 17 ranked University of Houston Cougars came back to the Rob after a month of road games.

They were facing off in a C-USA West Division tilt with our old SWC rivals, the Southern Methodist University Mustangs.

After the homecoming parade, the rain of touchdowns began for my favorite college football team. The number one ranked offense in the NCAA never trailed despite not generating more than 500 yards for the first time all season in their 38-15 win.

The defense stepped up and forced three turnovers that led to 14 first half Cougar points. Linebacker C.J. Cavness had a monster game with 18 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

The Coogs also opened the second half with a 92 yard kickoff return from Tyron Carrier to make the 31-3.

The Coogs are now 6-1 for the year and 2-1 in C-USA play. With the win they inched up two more spots to number 15 on the AP poll, Number 16 on the USA Today Coaches Poll but fell one spot to Number 18 in the BCS rankings.

Next up is a Halloween matchup at the Rob versus the always tough C-USA East Division leading Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles.

Eat 'em up!

UH Coogs Handle Their Business- Climb To Number 17

The University of Houston Cougars took a business trip to New Orleans Saturday for a C-USA game in the Louisiana Superdome against the Tulane Green Wave.

They were getting a little tired of hearing the line that they were 2-0 against the Big 12, 1-0 against the SEC and 0-1 in C-USA.

The Coogs average 569.2 yards and 40.2 points per game, but Tulane’s defense was ranked first against the pass in Conference USA.

And as any football fan can tell you, a high powered offense and a hot shot quarterback can't score points to beat you if they're both sitting on the bench.

Tulane executed some long clock eating drives to forge a brief 6-3 lead and eventually trail at the half 9-6.

But the one thing about the Cougars offense is that it doesn't need a lot of time to score. They demonstrated that on their opening second half drive by taking just eight plays and 1:58 to march 60 yards to up their lead to 15-6.

After blocking a Tulane punt deep in Green Wave territory, two plays later the lead was up to 22-6. It was part of a 37 point second half blitz that saw UH score touchdowns on five straight possessions and turn a close game into a 44-16 Cougar victory.

With the win, the Coogs go to 5-1 on the year, even their C-USA west Division record to 1-1 and climb to Number 17 in the AP and USA Today College Coaches polls.

In addition, the Cougars make their first ever appearance in the BCS standings which started in 1998. UH is Number 17 in the BCS rankings as well.

Next up is a game at the Rob Saturday against SMU. Eat 'em up!