Pat Forde Archive

July 11, 2005
Forde: Runaway Center
Loyalty, discipline, respect. After the latest in the Randolph Morris debacle, it seems those ideals are slipping away from the Kentucky basketball program.

June 20, 2005
Pat Forde: Shock Waves
For now, the greatest baseball season in Tulane baseball history has been reduced to a one game fight for survival.

June 19, 2005
Pat Forde: Family Affair
Celebrating Father's Day in Omaha generated a wave of emotions for the tight-knit Tulane baseball family.

June 18, 2005
Pat Forde: Magic boot
One polite eviction was all it took to restore top-seeded Tulane's karma at the College World Series on Saturday.

June 17, 2005
Pat Forde: Riding the Wave
CWS Celebration Day gave No. 1 Tulane a chance to revel in its season and enjoy the Omaha experience.

May 20, 2005
Forde: The Underclass
No conference had more underclassmen declare for the draft than the SEC. The question is: Why?

May 19, 2005
Forde: SECond citizens
It's been a rough millennium for the SEC, and another slew of early departures won't help the league restore its status.

May 18, 2005
Forde: Race intersects with basketball
As a longtime Kentuckian, ESPN.com's Pat Forde has a unique insight into the Rex Chapman discussion.

May 18, 2005
Forde: Fragile Falcons
After half a century of losing, Air Force finally is a winner. Now it now must hope Jeff Bzdelik can keep it going.

April 26, 2005
Pat Forde: Waking up the echoes
Charlie Weis is mixing a little spirit and tradition with cold, analytical football strategy and a dash of downright nastiness in hopes of returning Notre Dame to the top.

April 26, 2005
Forde: Careful what you wish for
In today's "win now, get paid" society, sometimes the golden jobs have rough endings.

April 20, 2005
Forde: Swofford's last laugh
How does John Swofford look now that the ACC's Big East imports are adding to the basketball mix?

April 14, 2005
Pat Forde: Time for Fulmer to make a stand
In the wake of their problems, it's time for Phillip Fulmer to get tough or face the Vols becoming an outlaw program.

March 12, 2005
Forde: Weber coaching? It's about family
A day after his mother died, Illinois coach Bruce Weber was back engaging in the family business. And his team was certainly overjoyed to see it.

March 6, 2005
Forde: Epic day, epic game
North Carolina's dramatic comeback to beat Duke capped off an incredible hoops day.

March 6, 2005
Forde: Forde Minutes
Pat Forde peeks ahead to the bigger conference tourneys in this week's Forde Minutes.

March 3, 2005
Forde: Rag-tag to riches
Rick Pitino and Louisville celebrated a senior moment few would have predicted four years ago.

March 3, 2005
Forde: A true beast
Think the Big East is tough now? Just wait until next season.

March 2, 2005
Pitino '99 percent' sure Garcia headed to NBA
Rick Pitino said Wednesday that he's "99 percent" sure that star junior forward Francisco Garcia will enter the NBA draft. With that in mind, Louisville plans to honor Garcia along with its departing seniors Thursday night before the Cardinals' game against Charlotte.

February 28, 2005
Forde: Playin' for the play-in?
MEAC teams must take guarantee games, which guarantee a terrible NCAA seed.

February 27, 2005
Forde: Forde Minutes
Pat Forde hands out the hardware in a rewarding (and awarding) Forde Minutes.

February 25, 2005
Forde: Still not good enough
John Chaney sitting out the A-10 tourney better fits his crime, but he still owes the game of college basketball more time.

February 25, 2005
Forde: Speaking with the enemy
Whether it's the media, the fans or even the RPI, antagonists lurk everywhere for John Calipari.

February 20, 2005
Forde: Forde Minutes
Pat Forde talks statistical disagreements and his favorite players in this week's Forde Minutes.

February 19, 2005
Forde: BC defying protocol and critics
Forget that BC was ranked higher than Syracuse. The Eagles are still trying to make people believe.

February 17, 2005
Forde: Chestnut's roasting
Al Skinner had better be careful. He might win so many games his under-the-radar Eagles will get noticed.

February 13, 2005
Forde: Forde Minutes
Pat Forde talks wild West comebacks and Final Four poll position in this week's Forde Minutes.

February 8, 2005
Forde: Rupp's Rock'n Rondo show
Kentucky was up to Florida's game effort Tuesday -- from its seniors down to its fearless freshman point guard.

February 8, 2005
Forde: Illini an unbeaten lock
If it avoids injury to its key players, Illinois will be undefeated when the NCAA Tournament brackets are unveiled on Selection Sunday.

February 7, 2005
Forde: Updated Top 25 for 2005
Players have come (thanks to Signing Day) and gone (thanks to early departures to the NFL). How has it affected the Top 25 for 2005? Here's the latest look.

February 6, 2005
Forde: Forde Minutes
Pat Forde talks RPI by state and teams to buy and sell in this week's Forde Minutes.

February 2, 2005
Forde: Not your typical freshman
Not your typical freshman, Juan Palacios just might make Louisville a major player come March.

February 1, 2005
Pat Forde: No more ignoring The Outsiders
The days of ignoring the recruiting of schools like Louisville, Boise State and Utah are long gone.

January 31, 2005
Forde: Lost on the Savannah
Statistically and administratively, there is nothing flukish about Savannah State's winless quest.

January 30, 2005
Forde: Forde Minutes
Pat Forde talks conference bests and worsts and unbeaten odds in this week's Forde Minutes.

January 26, 2005
Forde: Louisville emerges from shadow
The Marquette Golden Eagles couldn't find Louisville's Larry O'Bannon with a GPS system and a pack of bloodhounds on Wednesday. But it will be hard for the nation to overlook the Cardinals much longer.

January 26, 2005
Forde: Crean rises
The C-USA coach who owns Rick Pitino? Not Calipari. Not Huggins. It's Marquette's Tom Crean.

January 23, 2005
Forde: Forde Minutes
Pat Forde talks hairdos, stat stuffers and great races in this week's Forde Minutes.

January 20, 2005
Forde: Illinois fighting to stay on top
For seven star-kissed weeks, being No. 1 was a lark for Illinois. Not any more.

January 18, 2005
Forde: Stark reality
Winsome Frazier's injury didn't register nationally, but Mississippi State knows how big a loss he is.

January 16, 2005
Forde: Forde Minutes
Pat Forde brings you forty names, teams or games making news each week in Forde Minutes.

January 9, 2005
Forde: Road warriors
With half their roster ailing on the bench, Kansas found an inner resolve -- and a huge road win.

January 5, 2005
Forde: Top 25 for 2005
Can you say three-peat? The Gatorade hasn't even dried of Pete Carroll's back, but USC is already the (very) early No. 1 for 2005.

January 4, 2005
Forde: Sooners couldn't quite cross the finish line
Since the end of last season, the Sooners were motivated to "finish." They just couldn't do it when it mattered most in the the Orange Bowl.

January 4, 2005
Forde: Tuberville visits Orange Bowl to campaign
Auburn's Tommy Tuberville surprised reporters at the Orange Bowl with a last-second campaign plea.

January 4, 2005
Forde-Yard Dash: Pre-Orange Bowl edition
Before we watch the biggest bowl game of the year, let's look back at what we've seen so far this postseason.

January 4, 2005
Forde: One coach's view of the Orange Bowl
Oregon's Mike Bellotti played Oklahoma and watched USC on film over half-a-dozen times. So he knows a little about them. Now he breaks down the matchup.

January 2, 2005
Forde: The life of the party
After a mediocre NFL coaching career, Pete Carroll has found a home at USC and is loving every minute of it.

December 31, 2004
Forde: Mixed messages
Louisville fans love coach Bobby Petrino and his offense. The problem is they hate him at the same time.

December 31, 2004
Forde: Orange Bowl notebook
Both Oklahoma and USC have plenty of supporting facts when tradition is the issue on the table.

December 30, 2004
Forde: Party monster
The tense mood at Louisville's Liberty Bowl party only deteriorated when coach Bobby Petrino arrived.

December 30, 2004
Forde: Strictly Ballroom
Whether on the practice field or in an opulent ballroom, Louisville's potent offense is constantly evolving.

December 29, 2004
Forde: Gimme the old man and the kid
When forced to choose, I'll take OU's sixth-year senior Jason White and freshman Adrian Peterson in my starting backfield over anyone.

December 29, 2004
Forde: Simply the best
In terms of star players, old-school tradition and present-day dominance, OU-USC may be the best title game ever.

December 18, 2004
Forde: Feeling Sparks
In a state where every boy grows up with visions of game-winning shots dancing in his head, Patrick Sparks lived the Ultimate Kentucky Fantasy against Louisville.

December 13, 2004
Forde: The real Rudy
In a story Hollywood couldn't dream up, former Notre Dame student Charlie Weis is now the coach of the Irish.

December 12, 2004
Forde-Yard Dash: Bowl Edition
Racing from Akron getting Zip to the best bowl games to bowl attitudes to matchups The Dash would like to see.

December 11, 2004
Forde: Kentucky derby
Kentucky isn't great right now. But the warning signs are there for opponents come February and March.

December 10, 2004
Forde: Seems like old times
Last year's bad finish left Jason White wanting more. So while he'd love to repeat as Heisman winner, he's more focused on winning the national championship game.

December 10, 2004
Forde: Child's play
Adrian Peterson is being called the LeBron of football, and he's backed it up with one of the greatest freshman seasons ever and a spot as a Heisman finalist.

December 6, 2004
Forde: Old school
With a new system that never works, let's go back to the old bowl system so all the games once again matter.

December 4, 2004
Forde: Sooner swagger
Oklahoma isn't sneaking in the backdoor of the BCS title game this year. The Sooners sent a message in the Big 12 title game.

December 2, 2004
Forde: Three and out
Coaches used to get four or five years to build a program, but judging by this season's firings, three is the magic number.

December 2, 2004
Forde: Gators striking out?
Florida looked like it would have its pick of coaches after firing Ron Zook a month ago. Now, it may miss out on its top choices.

November 30, 2004
Forde: Notre Dame outed
Notre Dame used to talk about class and dignity. But in the wake of Tyrone Willingham's firing, it showed it's now nothing more than just another football factory.

November 30, 2004
Forde: Who's next at Notre Dame
Now what Urban Meyer has decided to coach at Florida, here's who could be next on the list to replace Tyrone Willingham at Notre Dame.

November 30, 2004
Forde: One play away
Led by the most powerful offense seen in over half-a-century, Louisville was so close to a BCS bowl.

November 24, 2004
Forde: Forde-Yard Dash
Racing from what we're thankful for (hint: Adriana) to rivalry week, take two to putting butts in the seats.

November 22, 2004
Forde: The right call
The bold stand by Clemson and South Carolina to forgo a bowl after an embarrassing brawl should be applauded.

November 20, 2004
Forde: Tuberville savors the Iron-y
One aborted coup and 13 straight wins later, Tommy Tuberville is now Auburn legend.

November 19, 2004
Forde: Opportunity of a lifetime
The Iron Bowl has a way of turning mortals into heroes. Just ask Bill Newton, whose role in Auburn's win in the famous "Punt Bama Punt" game made him a legend.

November 17, 2004
Forde: Forde-Yard Dash
Racing from Rivalry week to the bowl chaos to the newest cradle of QBs to taking Adriana over Nicollette.

November 15, 2004
Boston's winning ways
When it comes to winning, Boston fans suddenly find themselves with an embarrassment of riches.

November 13, 2004
Embracing the soil
Fresno State coach Pat Hill embraces the Valley and it hugs right back

November 11, 2004
Forde: They've come a long way
Now that its football team is for real, Louisville is living up to its claim as "The Best College Sports Town in America."

November 10, 2004
Forde: Davis on the line
"On the line" is the operative phrase for Mike Davis this season at Indiana. His job could be on the line, and his serenity absolutely will be.

November 10, 2004
Forde: Forde-Yard Dash
Racing from a good form of freshman 15 to who's on the bowl bubble to thanking Adriana in our awards speech.

November 9, 2004
Game of inches
Indianapolis is still trying to figure out where the Colts fit in with its reputation as a basketball town.

November 7, 2004
Forde: Tale of "two" states
Forget your stereotypes about Utah's football fans. They can party with the best of them.

November 6, 2004
Forde: Big Cat in Lexington
Kentucky has avoided what has plagued Duke, Michigan State, Syracuse and other programs in recent years -- the one-and-done player. Until, perhaps, now.

November 5, 2004
Forde: Memphis' ultimate fan
DeAngelo Williams brought a strong running game to Memphis, but it's his mom who taught the team the meaning of courage.

November 4, 2004
Forde: Offensive orgy
Louisville 56, Memphis 49. It might not have been a game Woody and Bo could stand to watch. But the Liberty Bowl crowd had to love it.

November 4, 2004
Forde: Petrino staying at Louisville
Bobby Petrino sent a letter to a Louisville former players association last week saying that he "wanted to ensure you I am staying in Louisville." And he reiterated that to his boss in a meeting Wednesday.

November 3, 2004
Forde: Forde-Yard Dash
Racing this week from filling out our ballot for Heisman to which teams are Nos. 1, 58.5 and 117.

November 3, 2004
Forde: Been there, done that
Merv Johnson does a little of everything at Oklahoma. But what few seem to realize is he's done a little of everything in college football as well.

November 3, 2004
Forde: First politics, then football
Before they battled on the football field, Miami University players got a civics lesson in their "battleground" state.

November 1, 2004
Cheering in the past
In Chicago, diehard football fans remain stuck in 1985.

October 30, 2004
Forde: Famous football
Their field might be blue, but Boise State football fans aren't singing the blues this season.

October 27, 2004
Forde: Not just for weekends anymore
Baseball might be the national pastime, but this country's insatiable appetite for football has made it America's most transcendent game. <--!America's insatiable appetite for football has made it the nation's most transcendent sport.-->

October 27, 2004
Forde: Forde-Yard Dash
Racing this week from what jobs open next to who might fill them to Adriana on the hot seat.

October 26, 2004
Forde: What went wrong?
For Ron Zook, just about everything. Here are the 12 lowlights from the Ron Zook era at Florida.

October 25, 2004
Forde: What went wrong?
For Ron Zook, just about everything. Here are the 12 lowlights from the Ron Zook era at Florida.

October 22, 2004
Forde: Let's play the feud
Mix 100 years of bitterness with Phil Fulmer's recent NCAA talks, and you have the Bama-Tennessee feud.

October 20, 2004
Forde: Forde-Yard Dash
Racing this week from the mignificent seven to problems with Liberty to Major Harris and the guy in the chicken suit.

October 16, 2004
Forde: One shining moment
Wisconsin's defense turned Kyle Orton's Heisman moment into its own possible Rose Bowl moment.

October 14, 2004
Forde: Brock from the brink
Brock Berlin, human thrill ride, once again engineered an Elway-esque comebacks for the Hurricanes, plucking a 41-38 victory from legit-as-can-be Louisville.

October 14, 2004
Forde: Nine simple rules for being a BCS Buster
Want to tear down the BCS wall? Here's a nine-point plan for non-BCS conference teams to follow.

October 14, 2004
Forde: Birds of a feather
Louisville is undefeated and staring at a BCS-busting opportunity tonight in Miami because of its two QBs.

October 13, 2004
Forde: Forde-Yard Dash
Racing this week from a wild first half to the midseason fan of the year to Rulon Gardner's Big Red review.

October 11, 2004
Forde: Big Ten midseason report
With instant replay and the lack of Ohio State and Michigan at the top of the Big Ten standings, it's been a strange year so far.

October 9, 2004
Forde: Almost perfect
Cal and QB Aaron Rodgers did just about everything perfectly against No. 1 USC. Everything but win.

October 8, 2004
Forde: Jackie Oh!
You could question his tactics, but never his results. Jackie Sherrill knew what it took to beat a rival.

October 6, 2004
Forde: Forde-Yard Dash
Racing this week from debating about the top games to coaches who may not surive the season to Adriana and The Dash breaking down the BCS busters.

October 2, 2004
Forde: Campbell is one who tops a pair
Auburn's Jason Campbell stole the show from Tennessee's two talented frosh QBs in Saturday's win and is the reason Auburn can start dreaming about a national title.

September 30, 2004
Forde: Bear hunting
He'll never be confused for an icon, but Tennessee's Phil Fulmer has quietly become the dean of the SEC and may even one day -- gasp! -- pass Bear Bryant as the SEC's winningest coach.

September 29, 2004
Forde: Hittin' The Books
Football players are students first and that's a fact that's never forgotten at Oklahoma, especially for freshmen.

September 29, 2004
Forde: Forde-Yard Dash
Racing this week from an Octoberfest of football to chicks digging Southern Miss to Arkansas' Matt Jones' way-cool sandlot style.

September 23, 2004
Forde: Vandal-ism
It's tough enough trying to play your way into respectability, but Idaho's schedule featuring nine road games makes it bordeline insane.

September 23, 2004
Forde: Scheduling Twister
Trying to make a last-minute schedule change requires patience and flexibility. Just ask Oregon and Oklahoma.

September 23, 2004
Forde: Scheduling your way to the top
Programs trying to break into the big-time have two scheduling methods: hit the road or play during the week.

September 23, 2004
Forde: Waking up the echoes
Notre Dame has always prided itself on a tough schedule. But even the Irish realize the importance of having a breather at home.

September 23, 2004
Forde: This game brought to you by. . .
While we're used to seeing Keith Jackson or Jill Arrington bringing us the game, the real credit often belongs to the network guys who make the matchups happen.

September 23, 2004
Forde: The art of the deal
In the cautious world of scheduling, it's the bottom line that often dictates the matchups.

September 22, 2004
Forde: Forde-Yard Dash
Racing this week from undefeated and unranked teams to officials to the spectre of Spurrier.

September 21, 2004
Forde: Crisis Management
When difficult situations arise, it takes teamwork from the AD to the coach to the SID to handle the problem.

September 21, 2004
Forde: A game-day mile in Joe C.'s shoes
Sitting down isn't an option for Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione on game day. After all, it's not easy throwing a party for 84,000 people.

September 15, 2004
Forde: Forde-Yard Dash
Racing this week from BCS busters to the nation's leading rusher to an APB for the CobbWebb backfield.

September 11, 2004
Forde: A predictable surprise
Ty Willingham's era has been unpredictable, so Darius Walker's burst into history is hardly a surprise.

September 10, 2004
Forde: All eyes on Irish
It's never easy in South Bend, but it sure seems like things have been alot tougher lately for Ty Willingham and Notre Dame.

September 9, 2004
Forde: Good times, bad times
Coming off one of the biggest wins in recent memory, BYU is dealing with scandal instead of smiling.

September 8, 2004
Forde: Forde-Yard Dash
Racing from coaches on hot seat to a sudden infusion of RBs and freshman QBs to an APB for Steve Taneyhill.

September 4, 2004
Forde: A feel-good win
For eight months, it was tough to be a Colorado Buffalo. With a win over Colorado State, it feels so much better.

September 2, 2004
Forde: BCS take note
Though he lacks the marquee name and plays for a smaller program, Alex Smith and Utah are two names worth remembering.

September 2, 2004
Forde: Extreme Makeover
It may not look like Gary Barnett has changed one iota after an offseason of controversy. But look again.

September 1, 2004
Forde: What's in a name?
Though he lacks the marquee name and plays for a smaller program, Alex Smith and Utah are two names worth remembering.

August 21, 2004
Forde: Means To An End
Memphis DL Albert Means is tired of being known for his part in a recruiting scandal. He's slimmed down and ready to make a name for himself on the field.

August 16, 2004
Forde: Farewell Tour
It only seems like Chris Rix has been around longer than the Rolling Stones. But this season will determine his legacy.

July 1, 2004
Pitino: Krzyzewski can succeed in NBA
Rick Pitino looks at Mike Krzyzewski's dalliance with the Los Angeles Lakers and says, Why not?

July 1, 2004
Forde: Coach K's crazy idea
In the end, the rah-rah coach and La-La Land do not mix. So please, Mike. Don't mess with your successful life.

May 14, 2004
Forde: Bluegrass give and take
While the NBA draft has stripped Lousiville of its best recruits, Kentucky's class just kept improving into May.

March 24, 2004
Phoenix preview: 'Others'? No, the only SEC teams
It's the SEC vs. Big East in Phoenix. Just not the SEC teams you'd expect to still be playing.

March 23, 2004
Forde: Blazin' into 'Hell'
Feeling pressured? Good. That's how UAB beat Kentucky ... much to the delight of its coach's mentor.

March 20, 2004
Rovell: St. Joe's outgrows outfitter
What are you wearing? In the case of Saint Joseph's, it's not what other No. 1 seeds are sporting.

March 17, 2004
Forde: Little older 'Pack'
A little older, Dave Leitao finally gets his chance to dance as the head coach of DePaul.

March 17, 2004
Forde: Welcome to the Dance
Move over Quin, Matt and Tommy. There is a new "Brat Pack" in this year's NCAA Tournament, writes Pat Forde.

March 9, 2004
Forde: No. 1 Cats or Dogs?
The SEC's best, Mississippi State and Kentucky, arrive in Atlanta with an NCAA top seed at stake.

March 3, 2004
Forde: No fan of February
As the losses kept piling up, March couldn't come soon enough for Louisville and coach Rick Pitino.

February 24, 2004
Forde: 'Bama's bubble boogie
From playing the nation's toughest schedule to more NCAA doubts, going dancing is never easy for Alabama.

March 26, 2003
'Blue Mist' may be a little less dense in Metrodome
UK's 'Blue Mist' may find tickets tougher to acquire with Cheeseheads filling the Dome.

March 25, 2003
Forde: Butler embraces Hollywood connection
The "Hoosiers" tie may be trite, but Butler's NCAA Tournament run is the stuff of cinema.