Yardbarker: Mike Smith

AN UNCONVENTIONAL TRIPLE CROWN, BUT A TRIPLE CROWN JUST THE SAME

Tue, 19 May 2009 11:39:24 -0500

Try as he did, Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird came up just a few jumps short and thus eliminated a potential Triple Crown at this year’s Belmont. It has to be tough for the folks at NYRA to promote the race without the possibility of the rarely accomplished feat.At the moment, the Rachel Alexandra connections are going to see what signals she gives them following her race in Baltimore. Based on what trainer Steve Asmussen has said if she’s doing well, they may run her, but, again, they ...

THE REAL DEAL – TIMES TWO

Sun, 17 May 2009 11:05:50 -0500

Yesterday’s Preakness in Baltimore made three things very clear.ONE – As Calvin Borel has said continuously, Rachel Alexandra may well be the best horse in the country. Even while she had some difficulty handling the track (according to Borel) she beat the boys and became the eleventh filly to win a Triple Crown race. She joins an exclusive club that has as its members Rags To Riches (Belmont, 2007), Winning Colors (Kentucky Derby, 1988), Genuine Risk (Kentucky Derby, 1980), Nellie Morse (Pre...

RACHEL ALEXANDRA MORNING LINE PREAKNESS FAVORITE

Thu, 14 May 2009 14:21:09 -0500

According to the Daily Racing Form, Thirteen horses were entered in the 134th Preakness Stakes just after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, and the last to load will be the favorite, the filly Rachel Alexandra.The Kentucky Oaks winner, with Calvin Borel named to ride, drew the outside stall, and was installed by Pimlico linemaker Frank Carulli as the 8-5 favorite.Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird drew post 2, and was made the co-third choice at odds of 6-1 with Mike Smith named to ride.Pioneerof the Ni...

Request denied

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:34:04 -0500

I received this email today from ICT: Ian, As you will appreciate the crest is part of the club’s intellectual property rights and as such is licensed to a number of commercial partners for their use. In the circumstances we are unable to grant you the right to use the crest. Regards Mike Smith Chief Executive ICTFC Of course, I'm disappointed. I liked to believe until ...

ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE STATE

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:04:21 -0500

(1) PITT VS. (16) EAST TENNESSEE STATE2:55 PM ET, March 20, 2009University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OHCBS NICKNAME: BuccaneersLOCATION: Johnston City, TennesseeENROLLMENT: 12,600COACH: Murry Bartow (12 seasons, 6th at East Tennessee State), career record 221-154 (118-71 at East Tennessee State)RECORD: 23-10, 14-6 ATLANTIC SUNRPI: 121TOP RPI WIN: vs. Belmont (#126) twiceTOP RPI LOSS: vs. Temple (#30) 79-65LEADING SCORER: F Kevin Tiggs, 21.5 PPGLEADING REBOUNDER: G Mike Smith, 7.7 RPGNOTABLE AL...

Bob Costas Has Some Odd Criteria When Voting For NFL Coach Of The Year

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:10:36 -0500

It seemed pretty cut and dry that Falcons' Coach, Mike Smith would win the 2008 Coach of the Year award, but that wasn't the case for one Robert Quinlan "Bob" Costas. See Costas' vote went to someone who's team didn't even make the Playoffs. In fact, it went to someone who's team did five games worse than they did last season. Yep, Costas voted for Bill Belichick, and here's his reasoning. Via The Boston Globe.... ?I didn?t think he would win, but I thou...

How to Turn Around an NFL Franchise

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:15:49 -0500

After the Lions went 0-16 this year, it became fashionable for bloggers and mainstream internet writers to suggest a program for turning around struggling franchises. I have a suggestion of my own and it only requires two easy steps. 1) Interview Ravens' Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan for your head coaching vacancy. 2) Hire some other no-name coordinator instead. It worked for the Dolphins (Tony Sparano, 1-15 to 11-5), Falcons (Mike Smith, 4-12 to 11-5) and Ravens (John Harbaugh, 5-11 to...

Focus on the Bucs

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:29:21 -0500

The Atlanta Falcons are working on the gameplan as we speak. Tampa Bay looms large both on the division and on the Falcons schedule. Mike Smith had this to say?"After the game we have 24 hours to review the tape, make our corrections and move on? We've switched gears as far as our football team [..

Mini-Camp Update

Sat, 31 May 2008 17:27:00 -0500

What's up yardbarker? I would say were about half way thru with the mini camps and veteran camps and OTA's (Organized Team Activities) and passing camps, and whatever else Coach Smith is putting us thru to get this team on the right track. After these last 2 months of preparation, I can honestly say there is no team I would rather be on then the falcons. When people encounter change we always compare it to our past experiences and weigh the pros and the cons. With Coach Smiths mini-camps and OTA's some of the players, including myself were not to keen on the long hours we were putting in to prepare for training camp because it was more than we did with Petrino (and more than what most guys are doing around the league). I remember during the off-season in Baltimore, it truly was an off-season and voluntary truly meant voluntary. I distinctly remember some of our camps being no more then 2 to 3 hrs long. The fact that we had so many veterans like Ray Lewis, Steve Mcnair, Jonathan Ogden and even the great Deion Sanders probably allowed us to operate in a more laid back environment in the off-season. As I've mentioned before this was and is not the case in ATL. But there is a special thing happening in Atlanta. Which is why many of my teamate's no longer grumble with the early mornings and extra film sessions when it's only May. At first the coaches would have to beg, plead and even sometimes lay on guilt trips to make sure everyone would come to all the voluntary workouts and camps, but now it is the players who are policing each other and encouraging everyone not only to be here but to make sure we all get better every day as a team. Going thru the motions is no longer an option in Atlanta. Either you work or u get out the way. Being a 6-year veteran, I've seen this team unity thing occur before but never have I seen it happen this early into a team's season or to a team that has had a changing of the guard such as the falcons have had. If you ask anyone on the team last year they all will probably tell you that the fun had been taken out of the game. If you ask these same players that same question today, they will tell u that all we do when we drive thru those gates at Flowery Branch is have fun. A big reason that is happening is because of the tone Mike Smith has set and the tone that the leaders and veterans of the team have set. Coach Smith makes sure to keep the fun in the off-season by scheduling different activities for us such as fishing, bowling, golfing, etc. The funniest thing ever was when he put up a blooper reel of some of the guys worst golf swings with video references to Caddyshack and Happy Gilmore to drive the point home (no pun intended (well it was kind of intended)). Laughter is becoming a way of life at Flowery Branch. If you enjoy what you do, you will always be great at what you do.

NFL: Falcons offer coaching job to Jaguars Smith

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:06:37 -0500

It is being reported today that the Atlanta Falcons have offered Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith their head coaching job. The official word and details of the offer have yet to be released but a news conference is tentatively scheduled for Thursday.