Dennis Dodd

Dennis "Dodo" Dodd is a petty little man with an axe to grind.  As one of the readers of this page told me, "Dennis is best known as the former editor of a Missouri Tiger sports rag who hates K-State. While editing that paper, and during his entire stint at CBS Sportsline, the majority of his articles are about K-State and how much he dislikes them and Bill Snyder."

Well, who can blame him?  As many times as Bill Snyder has led the Cats to thrashing of the Missouri Tigers, it's not surprising that Dodd would be bitter.

Here is an example of him trying to bash the Cats.  This took place during the 1998 season.  The press seemed to think that Texas running back Ricky Williams was better than K-State quarterback Michael Bishop.  Texas made the Cotton Bowl (undeservedly) and defeated Nebraska in Lincoln that season.  However, when Bishop and the Cats spanked the Longhorns 48-7, this was chalked up as the Cats beating another "nobody."  The press never really explained how the supposed best player in college football that year was held to 45 yards on 25 carries against a supposedly "overrated" defense...and don't hold your breath waiting for the answer.  Anyway, here is some of Dodd's petty jabs after that game (my comments are in purple italicized font)...

...The Burma Road has only begun for the Texans. Counting UCLA's 35-3 halftime score last week, Texas has been outscored 70-3 in its last two first halves. The 'Horns still have to play at Nebraska and Texas Tech, both 3-0. If somehow Brown can squeeze six victories out of his first rebuilding season at Texas, he should be hailed as a genius.

Genius?  No.  Only on Dodd's low standards (keep in mind that K-State and UCLA were ranked #1 and #2 during the season).  Texas went on to beat Nebraska.

...The opponents have been so thin K-State sophomore David Allen has a punt return for a touchdown in each of the first three games. The NCAA record for a season is four.

D'OH!  It never occurred to Dodd that maybe Allen is sensational.  Allen was the first team All-American that season.  The next season, he was 2nd team, even though nearly every team kicked away from him.  The next season, against a higher ranked Texas team, Allen tied the career NCAA record with his 6th touchdown return.  This is why I said Dodd had an axe to grind.

Saturday was not one of those big games. Don't get all huffy, K-State fans. Major Applewhite, the Longhorns' fuzzy-cheeked freshman, lit up your vaunted secondary for 239 yards. That was with defensive coordinator Mike Stoops' press defense sending at least seven guys on almost every play.

Once again, Dodd flaunts his ignorance.  It never occurred to him that Applewhite was a good quarterback.   Applewhite had a string of 21 games with 200+ yards passing.  He was the Big 12 offensive newcomer of the year his freshman season and the Big 12 offensive player of the year his second season.

We'll check back with you Oct. 10 when your Wildcats have to play at Colorado. That's where this dream of a national championship might die a quick death. The Buffs, 3-0, are building their resume slowly and might be in top shape by that date. Meanwhile, go beat Northeast Louisiana next week and enjoy the bye week. It might be your toughest competition yet.

K-State beat Colorado for the 2nd season in a row.  Poor Dodd got his hopes up for nothing.

In a more recent article, Dennis Ahab gives the Big East commissioner a forum to bash his hated Moby Dick.

Jan. 10, 2000

Whether it's college football or basketball, the message is the same from Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese.

If you want to chase a championship, play the best.

Tranghese sent that directive loud and clear last week in New Orleans as a representative of the Bowl Championship Series...

One common and controversial denominator in the sports is scheduling.

"I would like to see some (BCS) element that really rewards people for playing a quality non-conference schedule," said Tranghese, who watched conference member Virginia Tech lose to Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. "I think there are people that are hiding."

During his stay, he provided one man's future vision of both sports' championships...

"Personally, I'm a proponent of making the strength of schedule a very large part of (the BCS) but being a member of the basketball committee I understand how the RPI works," Tranghese said. "You can attain strength of schedule by insulating yourself in a conference. I will tell you I am opposed to that."

[side note: no doubt he is.  The Big East is a patsy conference that offers no parody!]

That was a not-so-veiled swipe at Kansas State, which has gone 22-3 over the past two seasons but has yet to earn even a New Year's Day bowl bid since the BCS began. Most of the blame goes toward Kansas State's non-conference schedule which last season featured Temple, Texas-El Paso and Utah State...
"Candidly, the Kansas State situation is a concern," Tranghese said later. " … If you're in a conference that's in the BCS, what you have to do is go out and play people. You have to put yourself at risk."

...Kansas State is seemingly doing little to address the situation itself. It has I-AA Massachusetts, Ball State (0-11 in 1999) and a weak Iowa team on next season's non-conference schedule.

Here is where Dodd presented his payment to earn a room in the Hotel of Fools.  First, he takes his jab at K-State while ignoring Virginia Tech's strength of schedule ranking was 53rd.  Wisconsin's was 75th (Kansas State's was 63rd).  Where's the platform for them?  D'OH!

Second of all, Dodd has failed to read how Kansas State has had difficulty getting teams to play home-and-home series with them.  Oregon State and Notre Dame have both turned down offers.  Virginia has said that they would rather not play Kansas State.  Kansas State has been trying to drop the game against Manhattan, but can't seem to find a team with the courage to play them.  Fellow Hotel of Fools guest Mark Blaudschun at least acknowledged the difficulties they have faced in getting a home-and-home series.

"I know Virginia Tech has come under some criticism for their schedule," Tranghese said. "But I can tell you there are people who are playing in very good football conferences who play no one outside their conference. I would argue, 'How do I know how good they are?' They're not playing anybody but themselves."

Does this somehow address Virginia Tech?  That wasn't addressing the issue.  Where was the mention of an out-of-conference schedule that included I-AA James Madison and Alabama-Birmingham?

Dodd has certainly earned a double-room in the Hotel of Fools.

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