Team Check

I love my teams, but it's a good thing I don't live and die by them. I'd certainly be dead right now.

This football season's been a tough one. After starting out with a couple of improbable wins in turnover-laced games, the Eagles dropped one to the Cardinals. Seemingly righting the ship with a win the following week vs. the division rival New York Giants, the Eagles started the season 3-1. They haven't won a game since. The most recent loss was against the hated Cowboys in Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, at USF, I'm pleased to report that it's basketball season. If you've been familiar with the sports landscape at USF, you know that's not something that is typically said with glee, especially not at the expense of football season. But following a great 2011-2012 campaign which resulted in an NCAA tournament berth and advancing to the field of 32, USF basketball was picked in the preseason to finish a respectable 8th (of 15) in Big East hoops. Coincidentally, USF football may find themselves at the same spot (of 8). USF finally picked up a win vs. UConn this past weekend after having dropped six straight, one of which I was present for (in the home of the Eagles, no less). For those keeping track at home, that's one weekend victory my teams have to show in the past six weeks. It's been rough.

On both Saturdays and Sundays, the calls for coaches' heads has risen from a whisper to a roar. With the Eagles, we knew that this season was going to be a re-audition for Andy Reid, as his contract was not extended as season's beginning. With that knowledge, it's doubtful we'll see him on the sidelines in Philly this coming year. In Tampa, Skip Holtz took a team that hadn't missed the postseason since 2005 to its first losing season in as much time last year, and, barring winning out this year, its second consecutive for the first time in program history. And while this is no fault of Holtz', the remaining victories may be a little more difficult to come by, as quarterback B. J. Daniels sustained a season- and career-ending injury in the UConn game.

Hopefully both squads right the ship, if not this season, then by doing what needs to be done in the offseason. Until then, it's not easy being green.