Urban Meyer update - Meyer could be replaced by Dan Mullen

The legendary innovator Urban Meyer will step down as Head Coach of the Florida Gators after his team takes on the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl. Meyer, who's health problems (including chest pains after Florida's 32 - 13 loss to Alabama in the 2009 SEC championship game) finally convinced him to leave the field.

Urban Meyer, to me, is irreplaceable by anyone except former Florida Offensive Coordinator Dan Mullen (now Head Coach at Mississippi State)

As Chris Brown points out in a comprehensive blog post at SmartFootball.com, Urban Meyer's contribution to football was to take several seemingly disparate offensive concepts - the Run-and-Shoot, the Spread Passing Offense used by Joe Tiller at Purdue, the Shotgun Formation, Zone Running, and The Triple Option - and fuse them together into a new offensive approach.

Urban Meyer has been so successful with this system that New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichek sent then-Quarterback Coach (now Denver Broncos Head Coach) Josh McDaniel down to learn about his offense in 2006. The result was several key changes that led to the Patriots record-setting passing game in 2007.

Urban Meyer and Dan Mullen refined the Spread Offense over time such that play-action passes (which Chris Brown points out were considered impossible in Shotgun Formations) are a common part of the attack.

My point is, Meyer and Mullen really created that offense and have been the architects of Florida's success. Dan Mullen's the most logical candidate to replace Meyer.

The question is if Mississippi State will match Florida's reported possible payout of $4.9 million a year. Since Mullen takes in just $1.2 million, it's not likely that will happen. While other coaches like Bobby Petrino at Arkansas and Bob Stoops at Oklahoma are rumored to replace Urban Meyer, Dan Mullen's the best choice to step in as he's a seamless fit.

Happy Kwanzaa! December 26th is the first day of Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration of family, community, and culture. It's an African American holiday; born of the first harvest celebrations of Africa. In a custom similar to Hanukkah, Kwanzaa is marked by candle-lighting and gift giving.

This Kwanzaa opening ceremony was held at Youth Uprising in Oakland in 2009:



Greg Hodge, who ran for Oakland's District Three City Council seat in 2008, is also Minister Greg Hodge of Wo'se Church in Oakland. In this video, he talks about the importance of language and names in Kwanzaa. Greg, as usual, offers great words of wisdom:



If you're looking for a good guide for the preparation of Kwanzaa-related cuisine, check out the new website Cuisine Noir.

Stay tuned and Happy Kwanzaa!

Charlie Sheen update - Brooke Mueller Sheen blows off police

In this Charlie Sheen update, we learn from TMZ.com that Brooke Mueller Sheen is blowing off the Aspen, Colorado police.

Charlie Sheen was arrested and placed in the Pitkin, County Jail in Aspen, Colorado on Christmas morning after having been charged with, according to the Aspen Times, a class-four felony charge of second-degree assault and a class-five felony charge of menacing. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of what is called "criminal mischief."

District Judge James Boyd presided over a hearing called Friday, Christmas night. The Judge issued a mandatory protection order against Sheen; he can't have contact with Brooke Mueller Sheen. He posted bond, set at $8,500 and was released.

Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller Sheen

Aspen lawyer Richie Cummins said Sheen was scheduled to board a flight to Los Angeles.

Now, TMZ.com reports Brooke Mueller Sheen "has told cops she's done talking with them about the incident" when they tried to re-interview her on Saturday. Initial reports quoted Colorado law enforcement officials as saying Brooke Mueller Sheen was legally drunk when she made a 911 call to report Charlie Sheen.

TMZ.com has also reported that Brooke Muller Sheen changed her story from what she said during the 911 call.

Some have asked why Charlie Sheen managed to get a hearing on Christmas night. One reason separate from who Charlie Sheen is, is that he picked the right lawyer. Richie Cummins is reportedly a 30-year criminal lawyer in Aspen. He knows all of the police, sheriffs, and judges. Sheen made the right choice.

RadarOnline.com reported that Charlie and Brooke took a "trial separation". They reportedly met in Aspen where Muller rented a house and started arguing Christmas morning.

Charlie Sheen is to report back to court in Colorado, February 8th.

Lady Gaga in San Francisco - fans praise Lady Gaga

This is one of those "slice-of-life" vlog moments. I was on my way to a Christmas Party, the route of which took me past the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium and a huge line. Fans by the thousands were waiting to see Lady Gaga at Virgin Mobile Presents The Monster Ball Starring Lady Gaga featuring special guest Kid Cudi .

Lady GaGa

What got me was just how long the line of fans was. It stretched down the block, around the corner and almost to Market Street. In it were legions of people dressed in some way to indicate their affection for Lady Gaga. So, Flip Video Camera handy, I decided to conduct an impromptu Lady Gaga fan interview.

Even with the diversity of voices, there was little difference in the response to my question: "Why do you like Lady Gaga?" The answer was "I like her individuality", with little variation on that theme, even with people who talked to me off-camera. I've seen a lot of fans of different entertainers, but The Rolling Stones and Amy Winehouse don't spawn the kind of costume copy fans that Lady Gaga has.

But more important is they pick up on her idea of individual freedom and civil rights. So Lady Gaga is seamlessly weaving her concern for social justice with her music and image. I don't think that was intentional; it's an outgrowth of who she is. But if it turns out that it was an intentional marketing trick, then it was genius.

Here's a video from her San Francisco concert:



I think to some degree much of it is on purpose. For example, Virgin Mobile, the concert sponsor, is offering free tickets to see Lady Gaga if you volunteer at a homeless youth organization in your town. Just visit Lady Gaga's site for more info. (No, Virgin Mobile's not my sponsor; would be massively cool, though.)

Of course, if Lady Gaga's music was awful, the effort would be all for naught. Fortunately, Lady Gaga can sing.

Urban Meyer stepping down - history of health problems

In stunning news, Urban Meyer, the Head Coach at the University of Florida, and the father of the modern Spread Offense, is stepping down due to health concerns.

Urban Meyer

According to the University of Florida Sports Information Department, Urban Meyer made this announcement Saturday afternoon. Meyer said:

"I have given my heart and soul to coaching college football and mentoring young men for the last 24-plus years and I have dedicated most of my waking moments the last five years to the Gator football program," said Meyer. "I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to re-evaluate my priorities of faith and family."

"After consulting with my family, Dr. Machen, Jeremy Foley and my doctors, I believe it is in my best interest to step aside and focus on my health and family.

"I'm proud to be a part of the Gainesville community and the Gator Nation and I plan to remain in Gainesville and involved with the University of Florida.

"I'm very appreciative for the opportunity I've had to be a part of a tremendous institution - from Dr. Machen to Jeremy Foley and the entire administrative staff at UF. I'm also very thankful for the chance to work with some of the best assistants in college football and coach some of the best college football players and watch them grow both on and off the field as people. I will cherish the relationships with them the most."

Urban Meyer has the best record amoung active coaches in college football. Meyer has 95 victories, just 18 losses for a .841 winning percentage in his nine seasons of coaching.

Urban Meyer rang up a school-record 22-game winning streak, two SEC Championships and two BCS National Championships.

But Urban Meyer's best known for the Spread Offense he created then refined at Utah and Florida.  The system, which combines spread "Airraid" passing patterns with option running, changed the strategic face of both college football and the NFL.

In hospital with chest pains after 2009 SEC Championship

According to OnlyGators.com, Meyer had been battling concerns about his health for years. But after the 2009 SEC Championship Game - a 32 to 13 loss to Alabama - they came up again as Meyer was hospitalized with chest pains. In 1998, as an assistant at Notre Dame, Meyer had headaches; doctors discovered a non-life-threatening arachnoid cyst on his brain.

Stay tuned for updates.

PETN explosive used by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab - father warned U.S.

The father of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab said he warned U.S. authorities about his son according to the Associated Press and The Huffington Post. Also, a PETN explosive was used by the Nigerian national on Northwest Flight 253 to Detroit.

His father reportedly went to the U.S. embassy in Abuja, Nigeria to report his concern that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was a terrorist. But the information his father provided was not of significant reason to place his son on the "no-fly" list.

The No-Fly List is a secret document maintained by the U.S. Government. It bans those listed from air travel in, to, or from the United States. There are reportedly over 1 million people on the No-Fly List.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was stopped in his attempt by Jasper Schuringa.

According to ABC News, the bomb plot was planned by al-Qeada in Yemen. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is reportedly giving a lot of information.

I can't help but wonder what was going through Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's head because on CNN,Jasper Schuringa said that Abdulmutallab said very little when he subdued him.  He intended to execute a Christmas-day suicide bombing.

Stay tuned.

Jasper Schuringa's on Facebook and CNN - become a fan!

I just saw CNN's interview with Jasper Schuringa, who's the hero of Northwest Flight 235. I did not record the conversation as it happened to come on as I sat down to eat, but I did listen attentively. Jasper Schuringa said that when he saw the fire coming from alleged terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, he just "leaped over some seats" and went to put out the flame.

Jasper said "I didn't think; I just reacted."

It's hard for me or anyone else to say what we would have done in that situation. The last two fights I took to get here to Georgia for Christmas, I was so tired I fell into a deep sleep. It's possible I would have been zonked out on Jasper's flight, too. Regardless, Jasper's actions are a reminder that people should not be afraid to take action.

As Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab' was on fire, from Jasper Schuringa's account, it seemed others around him were initially afraid to act. In fact, Jasper seemed like he was holding back criticism of his fellow passengers. Good for him.

Jasper Schuringa's Facebook page has just over 200 friends as of this writing, but that's about to change. He also has one of those "Become a fan" buttons - I don't have one. But I did become a fan of him for what he did. You should too. Click here.

Congratulations!