Here’s a look at the Memphis-Rice football game, a lackluster Conference USA matchup that’s even getting bashed by our Grizzlies blogger (Chip Crain, be careful, you don’t want those Tiger message board types coming after you):

** Rice coach David Bailiff on his team’s 1-5 start: “This football team is in the exact same position it was last season. This is when the team went on a roll. The only difference is that they were 0-2 in conference last season and we’re 1-1.”

** Tiger fans looking for long-shot optimism may want to research coach Tommy West vs. first-time opponents. Under West, the Tigers are 4-2 when facing an opponent for the first, as the Tigers will be doing at Rice.

** Look for reserve Tiger quarterback Matt Malouf to be heavily involved in the U of M offense. He was left on the bench last weekend against Middle Tennessee, an oversight West regretted.

** Look for Rice freshman James Casey to play anywhere. Casey, 23, is a former minor league baseball player who recently returned to college. He played seven positions against Southern Miss, including quarterback, running back, tight end and defensive end.

Pau Gasol appeared at practice with a left ankle that was extremely swollen and discolored.

“It doesn’t look too good but as far as strength and stuff, its feeling better than it was (Thursday),” said Gasol, who will miss at least the next two pre-season games and perhaps the rest of training camp.

“Better now than later,” Gasol said. “At this point and time, it’s not as bad as it could have been. It’s not as bad timing as it could have been. It would have been worse in the middle of the year.”

After a rather dreary Monday night crowd at FedEx Forum, when it was raining and the game was competing against Monday Night Football and baseball playoff games, things should pick up Saturday night as the Miami Heat come to town to play the Grizzlies. Penny Hardaway, Earl Barron (right), Jason Williams and Alexander Johnson all return to a town they have called home in this game. Hopefully this will drag a few more fans out of the comforts of their couch to see a game in person.

It isn’t like people will be choosing to watch the Tigers play Rice after all.

For an excellent review of the Pacers game check out Grizzlies Nation. The blogger obviously got to watch the game (I was blocked by Comcast not showing the game on NBA League Pass) and has some excellent insight into people’s play in the game.
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THE BIG STORY

Ian Rappaport of The Birmingham News writes:

David Cutcliffe’s childhood home in Birmingham had a pasture next to it. Every time he went outside to throw a football, he picked out a big tree and named the branches.

One limb was named for former University of Alabama All-American receiver Ray Perkins, another for Dennis Homan, and so on. Meanwhile, Cutcliffe pretended to be Crimson Tide quarterbacks Joe Namath or Steve Sloan.

Cutcliffe may be the University of Tennessee’s offensive coordinator now, but he grew up a huge Alabama fan. His idol was coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.

So when Cutcliffe walks into Bryant-Denny Stadium for Saturday’s game between Alabama (5-2, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) and Tennessee (4-2, 2-1), expect him to savor the experience. As always.

“I take a moment, even when I was head coach at Ole Miss, to take in the crowd and take in the scene at Tuscaloosa,” said Cutcliffe, UA Class of 1976. “You think, `Wow, this is special.’ So you appreciate what Alabama football is and means. That helps you when you have to compete against them, because you know how intense it is.”

Cutcliffe has been involved in 18 Alabama-UT games in two separate stints. During that time, he became one of the nation’s most respected quarterback coaches, tutoring future NFL stars Peyton and Eli Manning, while helping the Vols to a national title in 1998.

His resume also includes six years as the Rebels’ head coach, with a 44-29 record (25-23 SEC), and a 10-3 mark in 2003.

Given his resume, Cutcliffe was asked if he was interested in the Tide job that was open for 38 days after the dismissal of Mike Shula. While pointing out that Alabama did not look in his direction, he said he would have loved to listen.

“Certainly I would’ve been interested in that,” said Cutcliffe, who was signed by Bryant as a linebacker before an injury curtailed his career. “Having been a head coach, having a strong feeling about the University of Alabama, I would certainly have considered that.”

While he’d like to again be a head coach one day “in the right environment,” Cutcliffe said he’d be just as happy to spend his career in Knoxville.

“Every day,” he said, “I can’t wait to get to work.”

A look at the league: Read the rest of this entry »