Bittersweet Moment

Rest In Peace Sean Taylor



I know I'm supposed to be an unbiased journalist, but anyone who knows me knows that I bleed burgundy and gold (hopefully I don't have to regret saying that).

On Tuesday I emailed Chris Helein the head of public relations for the Skins in hope of getting a press credential for the Breeze. Chris had hooked me up with credential for the Lions game, where Gary Clark (JMU '84) was inducted into the Ring of Fame. But I didn't know with the media circus surrounding Sean Taylor's death if I would get an opportunity to cover what is the worst instance in team history.

I was shocked when I was e-mailed back today to be notified of my press pass. I had to leave Harrison Hall where I was working on a project to catch my breath. "Am I really going to cover this event?" I thought to myself.

The thing is it isn't just a coverage opportunity. Sean Taylor is one of my favorite players of all time. I've been following the story since Monday afternoon and was really taken aback when I woke up Tuesday to the news.

How could someone be so sick to do this? Sean was close to being engaged and he had an 18-month old daughter. Every player who has spoken to the media has reiterated the maturity Sean has exhibited in the last year or so. Sure he has had legal troubles, but even that has been ballooned I feel. Until there is some correlation to the crime and Sean's past I wish people would be a little more respectful.

Yesterday I heard people around the office downplaying what they considered the "importance" of the incident. They argued that people die everyday and they don't get this coverage. Yes that is true, but Sean was a celebrity and is thus getting celebrity treatment. It isn't his fault that he busted his ass to get into the league and consequently the spotlight that he didn't ever really want. I have no problem with this story's coverage and do not feel like it has been overdone.

I will be covering my second game of the year, but wont be able to get quite the same experience. When my pass allowed me onto the field, I was able to see how hard Sean really hit and how athletic he really was. When I rushed the field with the press following the game, Sean actually brushed into me. Yeah he is just another human being, but I can't lie growing up a Skins fan it was really cool. I even saw Sean after the game in the locker room and this time around I wont get that.

Bittersweet definitely describes how I feel and how I'm sure I will on Sunday. But like Sean's father, Pedro, I will be pulling for the Redskins (just secretly in order to be a good journalist). Lets Go D.C.! We've done five in a row before, but this time it'll be for Sean.

Rest In Peace #21

When I made my last blog last night I was really encouraged that Sean Taylor was gonna pull through.

I woke up this morning though to a sequence of text messages regarding a project I'm working on for the paper, but the last text regarded the situation.

"Sorry to hear about Taylor too."

I jumped out of bed, hoping my friend just meant he was sorry Taylor was hospitalized. Unfortunately the headline on the major media website was that Sean had passed.

I'm almost still at a loss for words. I'm angry and sad for his family, the team and most especially his 18-month old daughter. He was only 24!

This is being called a "tremendously sad and unnecessary event," by Sean's attorney. It's much more than that though.

I'm angry right now and can't understand what was going through the killers mind when he shot at Taylor. What could this guy possibly have to gain by killing another human being and making that person's fiance witness it.

Something is seriously wrong with society today and something needs to be done about gun violence.

For now though it is definitely time to remember the good Sean brought to the world. God Bless You Sean.

Sean is Responsive!

Sean Taylor is being reported as responsive now. The best information I've been receiving is through the WashingtonPost. Redskins' beat writer Jason La Canfora is doing a great job tracking the story and is posting about two to three times an hour.

Check out the latest through the link above. It sounds much more encouraging, but who knows what life ahead for Sean will be like.

On a lighter note, remind us of your favorite Sean T hits by leaving a comment.

Pray for Sean Taylor

Once again gun violence has put another human being in critical condition. This time it's my favorite Redskin player Sean Taylor.

All we can do right now is pray as the doctors in Miami try to do their best. If you hadn't heard, Sean was shot in his femoral artery around 1:45 this morning in his home in Miami. It is currently being called a home-invasion by the Miami-Dade police. He was back home recovering from a knee injury he suffered three weeks ago against Philly. His absence against Dallas was more than noticeable and we could have definitely used him yesterday.

Football aside this is tragic and all we can really do right now is pray that God sees Sean and his family through this.

I'm not really political and don't know a viable solution but something needs to be done in this country in regards to gun laws.

Does Matthews Help or Hurt His Players By Not Allowing Postgame Interviews

I can't really say I was surprised yesterday when JMU coach Mickey Matthews closed his locker room and prevented members of the media from interviewing players, even though NCAA playoff rules say he has to. But is the coach hindering these young men in their maturation off the field?

It's not the fact that they lost a gut-wrenching battle. Matthews has pulled these shenanigans for the last half of the season. Even after big wins where quarterback Rodney Landers set school rushing records, Matthews didn't allow anyone to speak with the player. Following the loss to Delaware, in which redshirt-freshman running back Griff Yancey fumbled late in the game, Matthews didn't allow Yancey to speak for himself.

Yesterday it was redshirt-freshman Jamal Sullivan who coughed it up late and of course Sullivan wasn't made available to the media.

Although Matthews took responsibility for the loss and questionable play-calling in the fourth quarter, he should still let the players who played an integral part in the game speak for themselves.

Landers, who again didn't speak to the media, had a phenomenal performance sans one interception. The Dukes leading rusher and passer, amassed 253 total yards of offense. He ran 29 times for 129 yards and completed 10-of-15 passes for 124 yards. He also completed a huge 35-yard pass to Bosco Williams in the final minute of the game to set up what should have been the game-winning drive. He did all of this with an ailing ankle that brought rumors throughout the week of him possibly sitting out the playoff game.

Matthews didn't let his star talk about the late-game heroic effort, or his fourth 100-100 passing-rushing performance of the season, or how he felt about his first season at the helm.

Far too often we hear of coaches talking about how they aren't just coaches but mentors teaching life lessons. What is the life lesson here then, if you face adversity and things don't go your way then hide from it? Everyone on that football team is an adult by American standards. They can all vote and own property etc., and they should all be able to speak for themselves. If I ask a guy for an interview and he says, "Not now Chapman" than I'm cool with that, but if that player can't say it for himself then something is wrong.

JMU vs. Appalachian St. Part 3: The Aftermath

Sorry I didn't get this up after the game, we had to drive back and finish up the game story last night.

But it basically came down to two main factors that contributed to the Dukes previous two losses against Richmond and Delaware.

1. Turnovers:
Like in the Delaware game, Matthews elected to put the ball in the hands of a redshirt-freshman running back late in the game. In Newark it was Griff Yancey who coughed up the ball in the closing minutes when the Dukes were nearing field goal range for the possible tie.

Yesterday in Boone, it was Jamal Sullivan who came in to replace Yancey when he went down in the third quarter. Sullivan played well rushing 12 times for 67 yards and carrying tacklers to first down markers. But Matthews expected too much out of the youngster and neglected to take into account his team's recent past. Sullivan fumbled with 22 seconds left on the ASU 9-yard line and that was the game.

2. Questionable Coaching:
Matthews didn't shy away from accepting responsibility for the loss, admitting that Sullivan shouldn't have been put in that situation. But really should anyone have been put in that situation. The Dukes spiked the ball after Yancey's 17-yard rush to the 9-yard line and instead of kicking the chip-shot field-goal well within junior Dave Stannard's range, Matthews decided to run another play.

He didn't give it Antoinne Bolton, a small back at 5-foot-8, but a reliable senior who would've have protected the ball. He didn't give it to Landers who could have just moved the ball to the center of the field, for a centered field goal attempt. Instead Sullivan tried to break outside where he was met by a gang of Mountaineer defenders and the ball was wrangled out.

Landers was the team's leading rusher all year and is as hard to take down as almost any rusher in the CAA. Just like in the Delaware and Richmond games Matthews didn't let Landers finish fourth quarter drives with his legs, the way he easily has game after game.

Madison fans can only hope that Matthews figures out how to utilize his personnel better next year when Eugene Holloman returns.

JMU vs. Appalachian St. Part 2: Halftime

With the two teams running the same offense with comparable talent it has stayed close. Its 19-14 as Appalachian St. has missed to PAT attempts. One was blocked by Scotty McGee the other was wide left from 36 yards out. A facemask penalty pushed that one back 15 yards.

The turnover margin is already played a key role. ASU's Kevin Richardson fumbled on the first possession and the Dukes scored on the ensuing drive with a 10 yard run by Griff Yancey. But JMU's Mike Caussin fumbled after a big hit following a catch across the middle. ASU's Jacque Roman returned the fumble to the JMU 2 yard line, setting up Armanti Edwards four-yard TD run.

Madison answered with 3:11 possession capped by a five yard run by Rodney Landers who looks healthy. ASU then tacked on two more scores with 1 yard runs by Richardson and Edwards.

Yancey has 71 yards rushing, Landers 70. Edwards has 116 yards rushing including a 41 yard run in the second quarter. Richardson has 44.

The Dukes will receive to start the second half and will need to fill the void of injured linebacker Justin Barnes. Whoever takes care of the ball and gets defensive stops will likely come out on top. Check back in two hours.