Tag: PCI
Who Should Win the Naismith College Player of the Year?
by The Cowl Editor on February 7, 2019
PCI
Zion Williamson will Win Naismith Award
by Sullivan Burgess ’20
This year’s Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year will go to none other than Duke University freshman Zion Williamson. If you are unfamiliar with Williamson, then prepare for what the sports media calls the next LeBron James, a title he has held since his junior year of high school.
Williamson, from Salisbury, North Carolina, is 6’6” and 285 lbs, making him one of the biggest college basketball players in history, even out-weighting a current batch of NBA players.
The freshman came into Duke as number two in the ESPN Top 100 players, right behind his current teammate, R.J. Barrett. He has never looked back and has proven his status as a legendary force to be reckoned with when being guarded.
Not only is the freshman forward currently averaging 22.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, but he has also brought the team to the number two spot in the entire country of division one basketball. However, the team has constantly been battling back and forth between the second and first spot throughout the season.
Williamson leads the country in player efficiency with 42.5 which is 5.6 higher than the next highest player. This high number reflects Williamson being able to find success in multiple facets of the game.
Williamson saw success early this season by earning the ACC Player of the week honors in his first week. Williamson helped the team to be unstoppable, raising the question of whether he and the entire Duke team were able to beat a current roster in the NBA. However, these conversations were put to rest when the team lost the Maui Invitational Tournament to Gonzaga University.
Last month, Williamson set the single-game freshman scoring record with 35 points, surpassing former Duke players Marvin Bagley III and J.J. Redick. He also received his third ACC Freshman of the Week award for the season.
In his first two games of February, Williamson recorded 29 points against St. John’s University, and 16 points and 17 rebounds against Boston College.
From the start of the season, Williamson has been a high contender for the first overall pick of the NBA Draft. Some professionals and members of the sport media even think Williamson should sit out the rest of the season and focus on the draft. However, Williamson wants to focus on his only goal right now, winning the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament and being a championship caliber player to whichever team drafts in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Providence College Investigates
by The Cowl Editor on January 31, 2019
PCI
Pass Interference Should Be Reviewable Because The Referees Need To Get The Right Call
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
After the blatant missed defensive pass interference call on Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman that shifted the outcome of the National Football Conference championship game that cost the New Orleans Saints the opportunity to go to the Super Bowl, it is time for the NFL to follow suit with other professional leagues and improve their replay system.
While those opposed to making the play reviewable will point out it is a “judgement call,” the truth is, if a guy does not even try for the ball and is solely focused on inhibiting the defender from trying to get to the ball, it must be called 10 out of 10 times. When Major League Baseball decided to expand the number of calls that can be challenged, the idea was that it was important that the umpires get the right call because games should not be decided on a missed call.
Other leagues have also allowed judgement calls to be replayed. In the National Basketball Association (NBA), hard fouls will be reviewed to see if excessive contact is used. If so, then a flagrant foul are assessed. It may be based on the referee’s judgement, but it is important the league gets the correct call in order to protect its players.
With 22 players on the field at a time, there is a lot happening on the field at once, which means plenty of calls are being missed. By having pass interference be reviewable, the number of incorrect calls will be reduced and fewer games will be determined by missed calls.
It is not necessary for small five-yard penalties to be challenged and reviewed as most teams can make up five yards easily, but calling pass interference can be the difference of a 20 yards or more, which can quickly give an offense the momentum it needs or kill the drive completely.
Regarding other calls that get replayed in the NFL, unless there is conclusive evidence to overturn the call, the original call on the field stands. While we should not expect every time that there is a little contact it will be overturned, by reviewing pass interference the league will be able to cut down on the number of incorrect calls, and there would be fewer games decided by a controversial call.
Allowing defensive pass interference to be challenged should not slow the game down significantly to the point that fans stop watching football. Since coaches only get two challenges a game, unless a pass interference was obvious or on a crucial play, they would be more likely to hold onto their challenge for later in the game.
In a time where referees have fallen under more scrutiny than ever before, with camera angles that allow the average fan at home to get a close look at every play, it would be beneficial to the league and referees to allow coaches to challenge pass interference calls. It is more important to get the call right than to worry about slowing down the game. Getting more calls right means that refs will be criticized less, and games will not be determined by an incorrect call.
Providence College Investigates
by The Cowl Editor on January 31, 2019
PCI
Pass Interference Should Not Be Reviewable Because It Would Slow Down The Game
By Cam Smith ’21
Sports Staff
The 2019 National Football Conference Championship featured the non-call heard round the world, as officials missed a clear pass interference penalty on Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman in the waning seconds of regulation. The penalty would have set the New Orleans Saints up with a first and goal with a minute and 45 seconds to play, but they were instead forced to settle for a field goal. In the ensuing overtime, Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein would send Los Angeles to Super Bowl LIII.
The debate around pass interference review is understandable because, if the correct call was made, it would be the Saints playing Tom Brady and the New England Patriots this weekend in Atlanta. Yet, there should not be an uproar over a team not advancing that rewrites the rulebook. What should dictate a change of this magnitude is if it is actually good for the game of football. Simply put, it would not be.
Replay has already taken over most of the game. Every scoring play and turnover is automatically reviewed by the replay assistant, who sends the head referee on the field to the replay booth if the play looks even somewhat questionable. In the final two minutes of each half, the replay assistant can do this for any play, excluding “judgement call” penalties. These rules already slow the game down, as they disrupt the flow of offenses and halt momentum for the sake of accuracy.
Creating any sort of system to review these judgment call penalties, such as pass interference, would increase the disruptions of play tenfold. In week one of the 2018 NFL season, an average of nearly 16 penalties was called per game. If the replay assistant had the ability to call down to the field for every one of these penalties, there would be a possible 16 additional stoppages in play per game.
Then comes the word “judgement” itself. Penalties such as pass interference are much more difficult to judge than say, watching the replay to determine if the ball crossed the goal line. Pass interference reviews will still come down to the official determining if there was enough contact to “significantly hinder” the offensive player from catching the ball. This wording leaves more up to the interpretation of the referee than is desirable.
Other factors are the flags that are not thrown. If coaches are able to ask officials to look for a flag on a seemingly uninterrupted play, imagine the uproar when a big play is negated for a sketchy holding penalty 30 yards away from the ball.
All in all, reviewing pass interference calls simply is not worth the slower rate of play and potential controversy it would cause. With NFL TV ratings dropping lately, from 17.9 million views per game in 2015 to 15.8 million this past season, the last thing the NFL needs is a game bogged down by constant review.
Providence College Investigates
by The Cowl Editor on January 24, 2019
PCI
The New England Patriots Will Win Super Bowl LIII
By Liza Sisk ’19
Sports Staff
In signature New England Patriots fashion, a nerve-wracking, gut-wrenching birth into Super Bowl LIII was earned on Sunday, January 20. Their triumphant defeat of the Kansas City Chiefs marked their third consecutive American Football Conference (AFC) championship. An overtime victory kept fans holding their breath for the entirety of the second half. We are living during a time of a New England Patriots dynasty and the Super Bowl is theirs for the taking. They will face the Los Angeles Rams on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Despite starting the season with a 2-1 record, the Patriots were able to turn things around and dominate the regular season ending the year with an 11-5 record, blowing the rest of the AFC East out of the water. There is no doubt that much of this success can be attributed to the managerial leadership of head coach Bill Belichick and the on-field leadership of quarterback Tom Brady. Together they have built a legacy racking up five Super Bowl wins and eight Super Bowl berths. Their accolades alone, three Coach of the Year awards and four Super Bowl MVP awards, respectively, speak for themselves. This dynamic duo separates the Patriots from every other team in the National Football League (NFL).
The tenacity of Patriots’ tight end Rob Gronkowski will contribute greatly to a Patriots win on Feb. 3. Gronkowski’s ability to assume a unique role on the team game to game is especially key. He is able to channel his brute force and strength to serve as a blocker in one play and then showcase his athleticism and hands catching anything Brady throws his way. Gronkowski was an incredibly valuable player in the Patriot’s victory against the Chiefs. Recorded by Kevin Patra, writer for the NFL, Brady commends Gronkowski for “[catching] the fade on Eric (Berry) and then [catching] the slant (NFL).” With the Lombardi Trophy up for the taking, there is no doubt that Gronkowski will perform in February.
The list of athletes on the Patriots that contribute significantly to their success is not short. Wide receiver Julian Edelman was an essential component to their victory over the Chiefs; however, the leadership from rookie Sony Michel proved the Patriots talent runs deep. Michel executed a 10-yard rush for a touchdown and his five postseason rushing touchdowns has distinguished him in the rookie class.
After defying the odds and persevering through overtime against the Chiefs, the Patriots will be victorious come Super Bowl Sunday.
Providence College Investigates
by The Cowl Editor on January 24, 2019
PCI
The Los Angeles Rams Will Win Super Bowl LIII
By Sullivan Burgess ’20
Sports Staff
After defeating the New Orleans Saints and a controversial missed pass interference call late in the fourth quarter, the Los Angeles Rams will play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII. This will be the first Rams appearance in the Super Bowl since 2002, when they also played the Patriots.
While the New England Patriots have been on a hot streak since entering the playoffs, the game will ultimately go to the Rams.
Two key aspects that will help lead the Rams to victory are their consistent offense and defense—aspects that 33-year-old head coach Sean McVay knows how to control within any game.
On the offensive side, third-year quarterback Jared Goff is looking to make a name for himself after being drafted first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft.
This season Goff has career-high stats throughout all categories, with 32 touchdowns, a 64.9 percnt completion rate, and a total of 4,688 passing yards, putting him fourth for highest passing yards during the regular season behind Ben Roethlisberger, Patrick Mahomes, and Matt Ryan.
Rams running back Todd Gurley has also been having a good season with 1,251 yards, putting him third in rushing yards. He proves to be the difference-maker when he is healthy and on the field for the Rams. For example, in a game against the Denver Broncos, Gurley completed the game with 208 yards, two touchdowns, and 28 carries which resulted in a win. Against the Chicago Bears, he only completed 11 carries and 28 yards with no touchdowns, which resulted in a loss for the Rams.
On the defensive side, starters such as Michael Brockers, Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh, and Marcus Peters must put on the games of their career in order to stop Tom Brady and his offensive weapons.
Aaron Donald has proven to be a defensive nightmare against any quarterback that steps in his way. He led the league at 20.5 sacks this season and is still hungry for anyone that comes in front of him.
Overall, the game will be tough, being against the veteran team that is the New England Patriots. Hopefully, the Rams will bring the consistent game play they have used throughout the season. They will be the dominant team in the NFC and will be holding the Lombardi Trophy in Atlanta at the end of the night.
Providence College Investigates
by The Cowl Editor on January 17, 2019
PCI
High School Athletes Should Not Be Able to Reclassify
By Sam Scanlon ’19
Sports Staff
Ever since the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft rules changed in 2005, many athletes have been reclassifying in high school in order to graduate and get to college, and subsequently the NBA, a year earlier. The rule change required prospective players to turn 19 during the calendar year of their draft and be at least one year removed from their high school graduation, thus, tempting many players to accelerate their high school years and graduate a year early.
Although it is very popular for basketball players to reclassify due to the draft rule, athletes in other sports have gone down this road as well. Noah Hanifin, currently an All-Star defenseman for the Calgary Flames in the National Hockey League (NHL), was a highly recruited hockey prospect from an early age. He committed to play for Boston College, but decided to accelerate his high school career and join the Eagles a year early after reclassifying.
Bryce Harper also took that path and finished high school early in order to be drafted into the MLB. After many stories like Hanifin and Harper, as well as NBA players Karl Anthony Towns and Nerlens Noel, reclassifying may seem to be a good route to take. However, I disagree and believe that athletes should not be able to reclassify in order to finish high school early.
First, most athletes are not physically ready to compete against the top athletes in the world at 17, 18, or 19-years-old. Physical development is essential to maintaining a healthy and lengthy career. Attempting to push an athlete ahead one year and stunt their physical development and growth could be extremely detrimental to their career in the long run. I do not believe that risking any sort of setback in an athlete’s career is worth getting to their respective professional leagues one year sooner.
Along with physical growth being at risk, 17-year-olds may not be mentally prepared to make these important life decisions, let alone deal with them a year earlier. Being a year younger and have to deal with college can be extremely difficult for some athletes, and it only gets harder when they step into the spotlight as a professional athlete. There is a lot to worry about from a mental standpoint while making a large jump at such a young age.
I wholeheartedly believe that it is more beneficial to take the natural and necessary year to make sure that one is both mentally and physically prepared to ensure that their career, and livelihood, will be secure.
Providence College Investigates
by The Cowl Editor on January 17, 2019
PCI
High School Athletes Should Be Able to Reclassify
By Eileen Flynn ’20
Sports Staff
High school is usually described as four years of your life spent learning and growing up. There is, however, a new trend for aspiring collegiate athletes. Some families decide to plan ahead for their children’s athletic careers and have them repeat a year of high school with the incentive of improving their skills in a specific sport.
Many people disagree with parents that allow this and accuse them of teaching their kids a bad life lesson— putting sports in front of school. I believe that high schoolers should be allowed to reclassify for several reasons.
First, just because a student is repeating a grade does not mean they are exempt from doing the work again. All student athletes are still required to complete the specific classes their high school offers for that grade. Athletes are typically busy, with practices after school, games, and additional training. Repeating a grade gives student athletes the opportunity to learn the material again and grow intellectually, while also improving athletically.
Sports often play a very important role for kids as they are growing up and it is an opportunity to learn important life lessons. If a parent decides to hold their child back to repeat a grade, who are we to try and stop him or her from gaining another year full of learning from these lessons in sports and in school?
Another reason high school students should be allowed to reclassify is because each child develops physically at different times. If a freshman has not yet hit his or her growth spurt, he or she still has to tryout against their classmates who have already reached their full height. Reclassifying gives students a fair opportunity to compete against their other classmates by giving their body the time to catch up with everyone else’s.
If student athletes are looking to play a sport in college, the recruiting process takes a long time. If students repeat a year in high school, this gives them more time to reach out and contact the scouting team from their desired schools. Students that repeat a year of school show they are committed to their sport and are willing to put in the extra work in school and in the sport.
One more year in high school should not be looked upon as a mistake, but rather as a chance for the student to gain an extra year to grow physically, emotionally, and intellectually.
Providence College Investigates
by The Cowl Editor on December 6, 2018
PCI
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide will win the College Football Championship
By Thomas Zinzarella ’21
Sports Staff
With the college football season nearly over, all eyes will turn towards the four-team College Football Playoff which boasts no. 1 University of Alabama Crimson Tide, no. 2 Clemson University Tigers, no. 3 University of Notre Dame, and no. 4 University of Oklahoma Sooners. My pick to win this year’s playoffs is the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Why Alabama? The Crimson Tide has been one of the best college teams for the past decade, winning the College Football Playoffs last year. Alabama also has one of the best coaches in the country, Nick Saban, who owns a 5-2 overall CFP record. Alabama will square off against the No. 4 University of Oklahoma Sooners, a team that has been hyped around QB Kyler Murray and deservingly so. Murray, this past June, was drafted into the MLB by the Oakland A’s with the ninth overall selection in the first round.
Murray has carried his skills from the diamond to the gridiron with his elusive quickness and power of arm that she has shown as a centerfielder. Murray is the projected winner of the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded to the best College Football Player every year.
The opening game against the Sooners should be a great test for Alabama. There may not be a better coach in the offensive game than Lincoln Riley. The Sooners are averaging 49.5 PPG which is no. 1 in the country. The concern is going to be the defensive side of the ball. Oklahoma did bring in former East Carolina University Head Coach Ruffin McNeill, who has pushed the Sooners defense to new levels, especially in the Big 12 Championship win against the University of Texas. The Sooners defense will have to hold off the no. 2 offense in PPG in Alabama, who averages 47.9 points. The Tide also holds a spoil of riches in the quarterback position with Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa. It was a reversal of the National Championship game when Hurts came in for the injured Tagovailoa and marched the Tide to victory over the University of Georgia in the SEC Championship game last weekend.
The Sooners may be the toughest opponent that the Tide will have to face, especially because Oklahoma has been playing better since the firing of defensive coordinator Bob Stoops. The Tide will have to face the Clemson Tigers or the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, both teams that Alabama has beaten in championship games before. The Tide will have their hands full with the Tigers since they arguably have the best defense in the country with a lot of speed on the defensive line. Either way, it should be an entertaining College Football Playoff, with Nick Saban hoisting the trophy once again.
Providence College Investigates
by The Cowl Editor on December 6, 2018
PCI
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide will win the College Football Championship
By Thomas Zinzarella ’21
Sports Staff
With the college football season nearly over, all eyes will turn towards the four-team College Football Playoff which boasts no. 1 University of Alabama Crimson Tide, no. 2 Clemson University Tigers, no. 3 University of Notre Dame, and no. 4 University of Oklahoma Sooners. My pick to win this year’s playoffs is the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Why Alabama? The Crimson Tide has been one of the best college teams for the past decade, winning the College Football Playoffs last year. Alabama also has one of the best coaches in the country, Nick Saban, who owns a 5-2 overall CFP record. Alabama will square off against the No. 4 University of Oklahoma Sooners, a team that has been hyped around QB Kyler Murray and deservingly so. Murray, this past June, was drafted into the MLB by the Oakland A’s with the ninth overall selection in the first round.
Murray has carried his skills from the diamond to the gridiron with his elusive quickness and power of arm that she has shown as a centerfielder. Murray is the projected winner of the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded to the best College Football Player every year.
The opening game against the Sooners should be a great test for Alabama. There may not be a better coach in the offensive game than Lincoln Riley. The Sooners are averaging 49.5 PPG which is no. 1 in the country. The concern is going to be the defensive side of the ball. Oklahoma did bring in former East Carolina University Head Coach Ruffin McNeill, who has pushed the Sooners defense to new levels, especially in the Big 12 Championship win against the University of Texas. The Sooners defense will have to hold off the no. 2 offense in PPG in Alabama, who averages 47.9 points. The Tide also holds a spoil of riches in the quarterback position with Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa. It was a reversal of the National Championship game when Hurts came in for the injured Tagovailoa and marched the Tide to victory over the University of Georgia in the SEC Championship game last weekend.
The Sooners may be the toughest opponent that the Tide will have to face, especially because Oklahoma has been playing better since the firing of defensive coordinator Bob Stoops. The Tide will have to face the Clemson Tigers or the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, both teams that Alabama has beaten in championship games before. The Tide will have their hands full with the Tigers since they arguably have the best defense in the country with a lot of speed on the defensive line. Either way, it should be an entertaining College Football Playoff, with Nick Saban hoisting the trophy once again.
Providence College Investigates
by The Cowl Editor on December 6, 2018
PCI
The Clemson University Tigers will win the College Football Championship
By Sullivan Burgess ’20
Sports Staff
This year in the 2019 College Football Playoffs, the no. 2 Clemson University Tigers (13-0) will win the National Championship in Santa Clara, California. While the road ahead may be tough, the Tigers have the tools and skills to be victorious at the end of the season.
In their first matchup of the playoffs at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, the Tigers will face the University of Notre Dame, who is the no. 3 seed at 12-0 this season. Meanwhile, on the other side at the Orange Bowl, the No. 1 seed University of Alabama will face the no. 4 seed University of Oklahoma.
While the game against the Fighting Irish will be tough, the Tigers will ultimately succeed. Clemson’s offense and defense have been unstoppable this season, with six potential NFL first round picks next year.
Though they were off to a slow start, the now-starting quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, has proven to be a threat one game at a time, adjusting quickly to any situation at hand, ultimately increasing their confidence. This season, Clemson has scored at least 27 points or more in all 13 of their games.
On the defensive side of the field, the Tigers are allowing the least amounts of yards per games in the country, at 2.40 yards. Their defensive backs have been nothing but quick in their strategy which allows them to beat their opponents. Clemson has managed to force nine interceptions this season.
The Tigers’ defensive line has been the best in all of college football. Clemson as a team is third in the country in sacks with 45.
Against a team like Notre Dame, who has no down field threats, Clemson’s front seven will be looking for them to run, which only plays into the Tigers’ strength. Teams have averaged 93 rushing yards per game against Clemson, which is third lowest in college football.
Notre Dame’s offensive line will need help against the strong pass rush, which will cause their tight ends to come in to block, freeing up the Tigers’ linebackers to make plays.
After defeating Notre Dame, the Tigers would look to take on Alabama for the third time in the last four years. In 2016, Alabama defeated Clemson 45-40 in the championship game, then one year later Clemson came back and won 35-31.
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, hurt his ankle against the University of Georgia in the Southeastern Conference Championship, allowing Jalen Hurts to return to the starting lineup and rally back from a 21-point Georgia lead.
Overall, these are two well-coached teams with good quarterbacks and defensive threats that can pressure offense. They both will prove to be extraordinary football teams, but Clemson will win for the second time in the last four years.