Vince Moraga and co. started slow against Fresno on Saturday. By Owen Main

Cal Poly Football’s short roadie over the hill to face the Fresno State Bulldogs was something several local fans were looking forward to: not having to travel too far for a chance to see their Mustangs compete on the road.

A trip to the valley is only two hours away for fans in San Luis Obispo County. The excitement for Mustang followers was quickly met squarely in the face with Fresno State’s vastly superior talent, size and speed, as the Mustangs fell to the Bulldogs 41-25 Saturday night at Bulldog Stadium.

In the first half Cal Poly only had 10 more yards than Fresno State had points — 44-34 — and mustered only two first downs on offense. The Mustangs’ running attack and noticeably smaller offensive line was stymied by the physically superior defensive line and linebackers of the Bulldogs. It was clear that Cal Poly’s by-design, smaller and quicker offensive lineman that are featured in their option attack were a bad matchup against the FBS size and speed of Fresno State’s defensive front.

Throughout the first half, the Bulldogs were able to stuff the fullback on the inside, easily get to the pitch on the outside, and weren’t falling for the misdirection of the trap play. The Mustangs were unable to mix things up and get the Bulldogs out of their base defense, which allowed Fresno State to comfortably pin their ears back without the occasional mental hiccup to distract their physical superiority.

Derek Carr looked great on Saturday night. By Owen Main

Bulldogs quarterback Derek Carr looked every bit of the hype and attention he has received, which isn’t something easily lived up to. Carr went 17-24 in the first half for 147 yards, while connecting on two passing touchdowns. Fresno State’s air-attack was highlighted by quick wide receiver screens, as well as running their tight ends vertically down the middle. This countering combination gave the Mustang linebackers and secondary fits all game long. The fact that Cal Poly also wasn’t able to get any sort of pressure on Carr with their pass rush eminently became a recipe for mega-disaster on defense.

The real back-breakers for the Mustangs? The Bulldogs returned two punts for touchdowns and Cal Poly fullback Akaninyene Umoh lost a fumble inside his own 30 that lead to another quick Fresno State score. In a situation where you are up against an FBS team that is undoubtedly more talented, there are two things that can easily cause a game to get out of hand: ball security and special teams. Giving up two “gimme” scores and losing a fumble inside your own territory drastically shifts all sorts of momentum and will get any team beat, let alone one that is already physically outmatched.

Things looked beyond dismal at the half the Mustangs, who trailed 34-0.

It was obvious head coach Tim Walsh and his staff dulled out some “constructive criticism” in the locker room at halftime, as the Mustangs came out with a new sense of purpose in the second half. After Kristaan Ivory broke a 52-yard run down the home sideline, Bobby Zalud kicked a 43-yard field goal to get Cal Poly on the board, 34-3.

Derek Carr then stepped back onto the field and marched his offense North to South once again, as Fresno State scored their final points of the game halfway through the third quarter, leading now, 41-3.

On the subsequent Cal Poly possession, their season changed. Quarterback Vince Moraga went down with an apparent knee injury. Walsh described it as a probable ACL tear and Moraga will likely be out for the remainder of the season.

This is absolutely a devastating blow for Moraga and the team, but they must move on. Times like this are when the cliché ‘football is like war’ metaphors come into play, how the game is always a revolving battle of attrition. “Next man up” has most recently become the popular credo within the game that this idea echoes. While it is an unfortunate tragedy, as teammates and Vince alike are probably filled with a definite amount of disappointment, the campaign must go on. There is no time to feel sorry for yourselves and the purpose must move forward without him.

With Dano Graves also already on the shelf, the next man up was arguably the best raw talent on the quarterback depth chart, a true dual-threat, sophomore Chris Brown.

Brown stepped in, albeit against primarily Fresno State’s second team, and brought a definite lightning-rod quality that was lacking before. While Brown had a handful of egregious decision-making errors, his play-making ability with his feet and down-the-field throwing precision vastly outweighed those mistakes.

Twice in the second half Brown slung deep bombs behind the Bulldog back-end, once to Willie Tucker and another to Cole Stanford. Both big plays took the Mustangs from backed up in their own territory, to instantly threatening.

The intangible ‘make something out of nothing’ ability of Brown got Poly into the end zone on back to back possessions late in the third quarter and early in the fourth. Brown eluded pressure inside the pocket and would-be tacklers outside of it, juking and weaving his way to pay-dirt on multiple occasions.

As Cal Poly took back some momentum, there was a certain electricity that began to emanate from the Poly sideline and from the faithful in the stands that wasn’t formerly present. Halfway through the fourth quarter, Cal Poly only trailed 41-17.

Late in the fourth, Brown showed off his strength, breaking two tackles to get into the end zone with shades of Andre Broadous from one yard out. He also then ran in the 2-point conversion, bringing the tally to 41-25.

At this point, even if the tables hadn’t completely turned on the scoreboard, they had undeniably turned as far as the attitudes and climate on the field were concerned. The Mustangs were doing body high-fives and the Bulldogs were moping. This inexplicably caused Fresno State to put their star quarterback Derek Carr back into the game. Along with the emergence of Chris Brown, this was another small moral victory for Cal Poly.

Chris Brown showed what he can do with his legs and his arm on Saturday. By Owen Main

Some will contend that Brown’s success, again, was against the Bulldogs second team, one also has to consider that most of the backups on the Fresno State roster would start and may even star in Cal Poly’s Conference. This is something that should be considered when examining the outlook for the remainder of Poly’s season. Trying to find ways to discredit the great things Brown accomplished in the second half may seem realistic to some, intentionally pessimistic to others.

Regardless, there is no doubt that Brown now steps into the role and instantly becomes a dynamic threat to the opposing team’s defensive game plan week-in, week-out. This truly wasn’t the case before.

The coaching staff decided to go with the safest choice at quarterback at the season’s outset, which is understandable based on the option system that they run, instead of taking a chance on a huge payout.

Brown was my pick to be the starter all things equal at the outset of the season. I was of the opinion that if you didn’t have a standout guy at the position, you build your program around your youngest player with the most upside – the player that has the most time left to improve at the highest rate. That was Brown. Well, now he has the opportunity to prove myself and all like-minded thinkers right.

And even though the Mustangs took their licks in Fresno, ultimately falling to the Bulldogs 41-25, they can certainly take a ton away from the experience. The loss of one leader’s season may have inadvertently began the great career of another. It is inauspicious that it had to unfold this way, but I personally believe that when compared to all other quarterbacks on the roster, injured or otherwise, Brown has the highest number of the tools you look for from a signal caller in today’s game.

Yes, Mustang fans are going to have to get ready to take the good with the bad when it comes to Brown, but it will always be enthralling to watch, and trust me, once this kid gets the majority of the repetitions in practice and gets his feet completely underneath himself, the good will catapult the bad completely off the teeter totter.

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Cal Poly travels to Fort Collins this Saturday afternoon to take on the Colorado State Rams. Kickoff is at 12:30pm. Radio play-by-play can be heard on ESPN Radio 1280 The Ticket. Fansmanship.com will be there covering the game. Look for real-time game photos at halftime and after the game on fansmanship.com

Deer antler spray and gay-bashing are unfortunately the driving headlines leading into Super Bowl XLVII. This is the circus that the Super Bowl “media” ring has become.

Real reporters and analysts asking real questions have been pushed aside in favor of paparazzi and comedians – but I guess this is what Super Bowl media week has always been about – sideshow over substance.

Hearsay about what is realistically the equivalent of popping a few extra vitamins and opinions on social issues have officially engulfed the anticipation of the game itself.  The insignificant and unbelonging are being overvalued.  The news shouldn’t be what football players think about swirling gossip and civil rights.

The “media” sideshow around the Super Bowl has unfortunately taken center stage once again. By National Football League [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Maybe its just me. I suppose I’m only interested in the X’s and O’s, but I assume there are actually people out there that care about all the undercard nonsense? It wouldn’t be driving the media if that weren’t the case? I guess I’ll never come around to the TMZ factor – but then again, I never hope to.

Move to the matchup on the field. What immediately comes to mind when breaking it down?

The difference-maker is undoubtedly Colin Kaepernick.  What he has the ability to do is something no one else that will be taking the field is capable of:  turning something into nothing the majority of his team’s offensive snaps.

And why do I dance around the “something into nothing” factor with the caveat of “the majority of offensive snaps?”  Ray Rice doesn’t take the snap from Matt Birk.  Rice can absolutely put the same type of pressure on a defense that Kaepernick can, but the ball just has to travel further to find him.

Touches, touches, touches.  Rice needs more than 25 throughout the course of the game for the Ravens to be on schedule. Throughout the end of the regular season and into the playoffs, newly-appointed offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell, formerly the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, has kept Baltimore on-time.

49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is a creative mind that will be more than ready for what Baltimore has already shown they are capable of doing.  The key for Caldwell will be comprising twists and tweaks that haven’t been documented on tape.

Look for the Ravens to have gadgets ready on 1st-and-10 to 2nd-and-ahead situations in the middle of the field.  Don’t rule out a Rice-Flacco-Smith flea-flicker if the opportunity presents itself in an advantageous down and distance with room to work.

Ray Rice will have to be an explosive factor for the Ravens to emerge victorious. By U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hughes/Released [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Two brothers, two sons of a coach, going head to head for the game’s ultimate prize?  Some deeply conceived surprise is bound to unravel.

Now place your mind on the opening kick.

If San Francisco comes out and gets a lead with Kaepernick getting loose, the burden for Baltimore will quickly find its way to Joe Flacco.  Advantage: 49ers.

If Baltimore can control the clock in the 1st half, the groundwork will be laid and the rock will end up lying with Ray Rice in the end instead of Flacco.  Advantage: Ravens.

The other side of the coin?  “God is absolutely AMAZIN’!”

There isn’t a doubt Ray Lewis will have his defense pumped up for one last final pass through the gauntlet.  The motivating factor behind a single galvanizing player being able to inspire an entire team in the ultimate fashion can’t be understated.

That being said, what unfolds on the turf still ends up rising over words in the locker room.  Talent and opportunity fundamentally prevails more than motivational speeches – but I think it goes beyond that to a certain extent.

History and experience on big stages has a better shot of winning out in a game like this.  Top to bottom, the Ravens simply have been there more than the 49ers have.  And when you factor in a complete wildcard like Kaepernick, the potential for him to dominate doesn’t completely cancel out the potential for him to fold under the pressure.  His naivete could superceed his obliviousness in the end.

He might not have known where he was in all of his 10 NFL starts that fill his resume, but I think he will eventually find out where he actually is come crunchtime.  Asking what is essentially a rookie quarterback to finish on the grandest of main-event stages is as “all or nothing” of a bet as it gets.

I’m not really much for predictions.

Ravens 27 – 49ers 23.  Whoops.  Slip of the keyboard.

The Cal Poly men’s basketball team got back on track in a big way Thursday night at Mott Gym.  Their opponent, the Hawai’i Warriors ended up being more of a punching bag than an adversary in the 88-59 routing.  Riding a three-game losing streak, the Mustangs seemed to take out their frustration on the overmatched Warriors.

Chris Eversley lead the way by filling up the score sheet with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals.  Reese Morgan was unconscious from distance, Brian Bennett scored and boarded with consistency inside (17 points, 9 rebounds), and Drake U’u’s career high 14 points and an 8 to 1 assist to turnover ratio also significantly contributed to the victory.

Chris Eversley executes a jump-hook in the lane, one of many moves in his entire arsenal. Photo by Owen Main

Poly’s big win came down to three main measurements:  a more-than 2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio, dead-eye 3 point shooting, and authoritative offensive rebounding.  The Mustangs also almost doubled-up the Warriors in total rebounding by a margin of 38-21.   Cal Poly improves to 4-0 in the Big West when they out rebound their opponent.

The Warriors opened play on a 4-0 run that was halted by Poly’s first points, a 3-pointer from Dylan Royer, and after a Brian Bennett left-handed hook, the Mustangs led 5-4 at the under 16:00 timeout.

Drake U’u’s 3-pointer out of the timeout, inside scoring from Bennett and two free throws from U’u helped Poly go on a 14-0 run, opening the game up to a 14-4 Mustang lead at the 14:00 mark.  The hustle of Chris Eversley allowed the Mustangs to win the early turnover battle, a tendancy that would continue throughout the entire game.

After a Reese Morgan bomb from long distance, Coach Joe Callero snapped off a quit timeout, and with 10:18 left in the first half, Poly held a 19-10 advantage.  Morgan dialed long distance again out of the timeout to bring the score to 22-12 Mustangs with 7:41 to go in the half.

Eversley showed great leadership and outstanding hustle as the conversion of two garbage buckets ballooned the Poly lead to 16 points with 4:23 left. Four of Eversley’s five rebounds in the first half were on the offensive glass.

The 1st half closed with the Mustangs winding the clock down after yet another offensive rebound, and Morgan hit a clutch 20-footer with 4.3 seconds left.

Then, you guessed it — more clock issues.  The longest 4.3 seconds in the history of mankind allowed Hawai’i to hit a long 3-pointer at the buzzer, closing the Cal Poly lead to 38-26 at the break.

The Mustangs completely owned the offensive glass in the first half, as half of their 16 rebounds were of the offensive variety.

The second half opened with Morgan back doing what he does, as he buried two more 3-pointers.  Eversley then joined the party as he hit one of his own, and the Mustangs extended the lead to 47-28.  At this point Hawai’i was forced to take a timeout before the under 16:00 stoppage in an attempt to cool off Poly’s raging inferno from beyond the arc.

The route was on.

Joel Awich and Kyle Odister then finally got the Poly bench in the mix and pushed the Mustang lead to 55-33 with 13:30 left in regulation.

An acrobatic attempt by U’u as he was fouled gave the crowd one of their last audible gasps of the game.  U’u converted both attempts from the charity stripe, bringing him to a perfect 6-6 from the line at that point, as the scoreboard read 59-36 at the under 12:00 timeout.

An Odister 3-pointer and a Bennet inside bucket gave the Mustangs a 28-point lead with 9:30 remaining.  Poly then extended their lead to 31 after another make from long distance, this time from Eversley, as they opened up a 69-38 margin.

With the score reading 77-46 and 4:20 left, Coach Callero took Eversley and Bennett out of the game to a well-deserved standing ovation from those who remained at a thinning Mott Gym.

As the final seconds ticked down,  Joel Awich joined the 3-point party in what could be considered beyond garbage time.  It was landfill time at this point.

“This was by far in my opinion the best 40 minutes we have played all year, both sides of the ball,” remarked Mustang Coach Joe Callero after the game.

“They (Hawai’i) may have been fatigued from a long road trip, but we squeezed the life out of them.  We need to strive for perfection and that killer instinct,” continued Callero.

Cal Poly (8-9 overall, 4-3 Big West) will host Northridge Saturday at 7:00pm.  Hawai’i (10-9 overall, 4-4 Big West) will now hop on a charter bus and head to Santa Barbara for a Saturday night meeting at 7:00pm.

After opening Big West play with three consecutive wins, and then dropping three consecutive games, will this Mustang drubbing of Hawai’i propel them to another impressive performance on Saturday night?  Or will the up and down, roller coaster trend of late continue?

There are lots of potential reasons to speculate in either direction make a lot of sense, but I do know one thing for certain:  if the Mustangs play with the level of overall intensity and execution that they displayed on this night, the sky is the limit.

With the Super Bowl right around the corner, the time of year has returned once again. This particular pocket on the calendar serves as the preparation point that will give way to the onslaught of sport for the year to come.

As we speak, New Orleans is being blitzed and invaded by 49ers fans and Ravens fans alike, not to mention the straight-up football fans and “party fans” that are piling in. It is Bourbon Street, after all.

Even the First Super Bowl Party gets a little loose! By White House (Pete Souza) / Maison Blanche (Pete Souza) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

We know the pageantry and performance of the big game won’t disappoint. The annual pinnacle of American sport never lets us down, and even if the scoreboard is lopsided, one of your friends at the party seems to always end up that way as well, making the whole Super Bowl party experience a let-down-free zone.

Pushing all the rif-raf to the peanut gallery, the 49ers open, and will most likely remain, favorites – and with good reason. Colin Kaepernick is a dynamic force that is currently surfing the wave that most young phenoms always seem to – “they don’t even know where they are right now.”

The combination of Colin Kaepernick riding the whitewash of momentum, coupled with his elite, dual-threat ability coming of age right before our eyes, makes the 49ers an extremely dangerous favorite. The 49ers could win by a slim margin or a big margin. This is something you can’t necessarily say about the Ravens.

If the Ravens get over, it will be a ‘Rice, Rice, Flacco to Boldin or Pitta 3rd down conversion’ type of game. The deep bomb to Torrey Smith is something I don’t really see the defense of the 49ers allowing, given the prowlace their two all-pro safeties.  At the same time, I would also be foolish if I didn’t consider the magic a retiring Ray Lewis and his defense seem to have going.  Underdogs can still overachieve.

Analysis of the game aside, the unbridled fun of the Super Bowl also serves as a recognizable signaling of the year to come in all other arenas of sport.

The NBA all-star game is on the horizon, and unfortunately for most fans, the taste of purple and gold is impossible to remove from the palate of NBA water-cooler talk everywhere.

Dwight Howard throw-downs have been few and far between so far this season. By Fido (Flickr: Bucks @ Lakers) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

I know everyone is exhausted with the revolving Laker discussion, but the reason the Lakers continue to hoard the headlines is a reason you rarely equate with this franchise – their ineptitude.

Give me an “A” or give me an “F,” right?  Unfortunately, “F” sells in a huge way, and sadly, sells even more than “A” does – but you can’t blame the Lakers for all the attention they are recieving.  Another main reason the Lakers are hogging print and air waves is because nothing around the rest of the NBA is making waves.

The Heat are dominating in their defense of the title. The Celtics, Knicks and Rose-less Bulls are still nipping at their heels in the East.  Great.

In the West, the Thunder are still running, the Spurs are still lurking, and the Clippers and Grizzlies are still up-and-coming. Great.

Yawn.  Alright!  I’m awake!

Moving on — what or who else looms near this time of year? You got it – everyone’s favorite worst guy ever, the infamous “bracket guy.”

Unrightfully so, no one pays an emphatic amount of attention to the national NCAA basketball scene until March rolls around, but when it does, get ready to throw down your bracket and your bucks.

Cinderellas will be the overlying theme as they always are, and golden chariots will turn back into pumpkins in the end like they always do – but the overall saga of March never comes up short.  One.  Shining.  Moment.  I’m welling up just thinking about it.  No I’m not.

Seamheads are beyond hyped this time of year as well. Everyone is a potential pennant winner in spring training, and pitchers and catchers report in less than a month.

With the Giants coming off another World Series Championship and the Dodgers having huge expectations, the rivalry only looks to get juicier. By andyrusch (http://www.flickr.com/photos/asrusch/5748267516/) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Money, money and more money has morphed a perpetual big-market underachiever into the new West coast version of the New York Yankees. Trading for the gigantic contracts of super stars has given way to monumental stadium renovations for the Dodgers, which will create more revenue, and eventually give way to taking on even more gigantic contracts of super stars.

Moneyball may get you to the dance, but big money allows you to go home with the prom queen in the end. The Dodgers have officially taken on the new face of baseball’s dark side, and will become even more of a polarizing team than they were before.

Spoiler alert: yes, the rebels eventually win in Star Wars, but in baseball the empire always eventually wins in bulk. Blue thinkers finally realizing gold once again could be right around the corner.

From progression to regression – congratulations on almost killing your sport one more time, Gary Bettman. Hockey is back, but now the few casual fans that existed before care even less.

Kings captain Dustin Brown hoists the cup, a trophy of a dying sport. By Eric Chan from Hollywood, United States (DSC00815 Uploaded by JoeJohnson2) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

On a positive note, the Kings raising the banner was beyond due.  It was an awesome run last season and a championship that was well deserved for Kingdom loyalists — but the realistic future of hockey has essentially become a dimming light, one that now can barely even be seen by a telescope in the night sky of the American sporting realm.

It wouldn’t be an all discussion without mentioning eagles and earplugs, two associations about to start the longest campaigns of any professional leagues in the United States. 10 months?  Forget campaigns, try marathons.

There are niches in our sports melting pot that absolutely live for the PGA and Nascar circuits. And strangely enough, they couldn’t be more polar opposites.  Its the quietest sport and the loudest sport.  Its the high-class perception and the low-class perception.  And given the differences, it’s kind of ironic how the hardcore fans of both circuits would probably never get along, yet the 19th hole and the 5th wheel effectively serve the same purpose.  I guess that’s one thing everyone can agree on – booze.

So there it is and here it comes – the great American sporting landscape.  And with all of the anticipation and excitement on the horizon, there’s honestly nothing I can see that could put damper on the cornucopia of sport all of us fans are in line for, could there be?

April 15th. Yea, the smartass went and did it.

The lightning rod of last week’s divisional playoff round was beyond confirmation, that the NFL is still the boss in the American sports arena. The excitement of the NFL continues the skyrocket, that preemptively pushes the bounds of the NFL brand frontier.

And it only gets better my friends.

A Super Bowl matchup of the Harbaugh brothers is still in the cards. By Ben Liebenberg / NFL (NFL.com) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Will the Baltimore Ravens be able to celebrate the soul of their leader Ray Lewis once again in the toughest possible confrontation they could draw?

Does Tommy Touchdown, eventually get over on his most glaring nemesis of a defensive opponent?

The answers I refuse to guarantee – but even after last week’s salvage of a 1-3 prediction, the questions I will never refuse to ask, and the potential answers to those questions I will never refuse to expound upon.

Of course, Kaepernick’s NFL record-breaking performance for most rushing yards by a quarterback in any game, ever (183), won’t be duplicated. Without a doubt, Atlanta’s defense won’t limp and chase with the same evident worthlessness Green Bay’s defense did last Saturday. However, that doesn’t mean Kaepernick won’t utilize his feet to their fullest extent once again.

San Francisco will only lose because of turnovers. If they value and secure the ball, it will be incredibly difficult for Atlanta to beat them, even in the Georgia Dome. And if the neck-bucking ostrich, converts 3rd downs at a rate of 61.5% for the second playoff week in a row, we might as well consider the filthy Niners will be headed to the Super Bowl.

With all the attention directed at Kaepernick’s record-breaking day, doesn’t Tom Brady still have a stake in all this? Captain America seems to be the forgotten man in this year’s NFL Playoffs.

The most decorated quarterback in the game is still in the mix and hungry for another ring. Photo By Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA (Tom Brady) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

And if it is, Solomon Wilcots‘ preemptive cut-away from Ray Lewis’ tearful post-game sermon better not be prioritized by network promos. The pimping of The Big Bang Theory or Two Broke Girls apparently took precedence over a first-ballot NFL hall-of-famer, possibly giving us our last positive memory of him in celebration.

Next time, CBS, stay with the reality nugget right in front of you! We have a living legend shedding tears on live camera! You might want to stick with that.  Dorks uncomfortable around women and two waitresses who don’t get tipped,  can wait!

In all seriousness, I know just as much as you do about all this NFL analysis stuff — and in all honestly, probably a whole lot less.

What I do know however is a menu. I’ll be the guy that brought the bacon-wrapped shrimp and won your Super Bowl Party.

Show me the barbeque.

You’re Welcome.

“Hack-a-Dwight” is now being employed the same way “Hack-a-Shaq” was a decade ago. By Copyright by Steve Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The numbers say, of course not. And like Nick Bakay said…..

Howard is just 87 for 187 (46.5%) from the line so far this season, and while this is undoubtedly a reasonable sample size, it is realistically a far cry from his career numbers he put up in the eight years prior to becoming a Laker (3,366 for 5,727; 58.8%).

You’d be kidding yourself to think that the reason why multiple teams have utilized the “Hack-a-Dwight” strategy isn’t because of this recent discrepancy. Coaches at the highest level scheme according to any advantage they can possibly gain.

To put this pressure in the mind of a star player that is infant to a new franchise, as well as also under immense early pressure, and while only being able to execute this particular skill at a rate of less than one out of every two times, well, I can’t say that I blame them.

However, I am beginning to blame Howard’s nonchalant route of excuses.

When asked about his free throw discrepancies, Dwight remarked, “just got to keep playing. Keep playing. Keep being aggressive. Keep practicing.”

The cliche nonsense about playing and playing and being aggressive is something that is like iceberg lettuce, like “ummm’s” and “uhhhh’s” during speech – absolute filler, a waste of intake and a poor excuse of outtake – blah, blah, blaaaahhhh.

Be that as it may, it does seem he at least is trying to prioritize the idea of practicing.  Practice? We talkin’ ’bout….. practice?

Obviously something isn’t working in practice. I am of the opinion that vanilla free throw practice in a non-intensive environment won’t work with a personality like Howard. You are just spinning your wheels.

I would hope that there is some kind of competitive umbrella being propped over the entire team when the free throw segment is upon them. I believe a player like Dwight needs team pressure and needs to be pushed in a peer environment. His playful disposition could potentially be countered by a dunce-cap of sorts.  He needs to be driven and provoked by superiors like Kobe Bryant.

So far this season with the Lakers, Howard is only shooting free throws at a clip of 46.5%, whereas in the 8 years prior in Orlando, he shot them at a clip of 58.8%. By Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA (Dwight Howard) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

People may scoff and think this idea is silly for pros at this level, but sometimes the easiest way to solving a problem is by gaining an answer through the most simplistic remedy.  And if something like this isn’t taking place, I am afraid that he just “ho-hums” through his free throw segment and isn’t being pushed as far as he can to find the true inspiration and motivation to improve.

After the loss to the Magic on Sunday night, he was asked about what he thought about being fouled in the 4th quarter and sent to the line.  He sharply snipped, “I don’t have any thoughts.”

Really? That’s how you are going to play that? Completely leaving the door wide open to criticism? Bad play.

Howard needs to be transparent about his shortcomings and accept reality. He needs to be willing to shamelessly share what is being worked towards to remedy the problem – not shun away from it like a child.

You’re no longer in Orlando, Dwight. Just because you refuse to welcome the media’s relevant probe doesn’t mean its just going to go away and everyone will be all buddy-buddy tomorrow. Accept your inadequacies and vow to correct the hitch candidly from the get-go.

More times than not it seems so many professional athletes don’t realize how much fans invest in dollars and in time to their direct cause. You get paid millions, but we pay those millions in thousands, hundreds and ones. And when you address these facilitators through the media in such cavalier and aloof ways, it is one of the most detrimental public relations mistakes you can possibly make.

Laker fans want to see improvement on the horizon, and players like Dwight Howard treating concerning observations with adages and buzzwords isn’t going to improve the stock anytime soon. It does nothing but perpetuate the problem.

But then again, Laker fans are as frivolous and as paltry as the next fad anyways, right? They don’t really care about things like this, do they? So why does a Laker fan like me even delve into a provlem like this in the first place?

Nevermind.

As the Showcase got underway Sunday morning, the big guns brought out the big birds.

Ali Machinchy, one of the world’s most renown RC jet pilots from England was dominating the air early on Sunday. His favorite toy of choice, the blue and white Viper sport jet, was noticeably outperforming all other jets in the air. Machinchy was simply able to maneuver on a different level than most all other pilots flying.

Ali Machinchy brings home another one safely with some obvious opinions on some changes to make. Photo by Andrew Stevens

His inverted and knife-edge passes presented the most risk, as some bordered close to single-digit feet from the ground. And those passes that weren’t that low, morphed into bold and daring perpendicular bolt-aways from the runway off into the distance.

As if that weren’t enough, some passes also ended up in steep and sudden climbs into the heavens that resulted in spinning and dropping falls back to earth from their peak. Quite a show to say the least.

And when I asked Ali why it seemed his favorite model to fly was his blue and white Viper he commented, “because the Viper is the most accessible jet out there. Its easy to maneuver for the high amount of performance it has. Everything about it is solid all the way around.”

Not only was Ali flying his own Jets, but everyone else got in line to have him fly their models. From the A-10 Warthog, to the Victory, and everything in-between, Machinchy seemed to be constantly up in the air flying something.

Scott Marr, another big-time RC ace from Florida, and pilot of a Reno Air Race champion model, brought his Tomahawk Futura to the table, along with a line of other Futura models. These jets were definitely different than the mainstream, as their futuristic and modern design was a great alternative to everything else on display.

Scott Marr brings another Futura sport jet to the runway. Photo by Andrew Stevens

Marr also boasted the Shockwave sport jet, a candy-red beauty that was by far the fastest jet in the sky all weekend. An aerodynamically clever design, the Shockwave lived up to its nickname. While having to actually be traveling three and a half times faster than it was going to break the speed of sound barrier, (comparing the conservative peak speed of the Shockwave – 220 mph, to the speed of sound barrier, 768 mph), the Shockwave still widely opened eyes, ears and nerve-endings. As it made aggressive passes along the runway, it was literally there, and then gone in the blind of an eye.

As the afternoon progressed, the fans were finally allowed onto the runway to vote for their favorite jets of the showcase. Kids adult-sized and child-sized alike were given a treat in the ability to examine these complex systems up-close and personal. Being able to meet and greet with the pilots and their prides was something engaging for everyone and entirely embodied the essence of Fansmanship.

The fans get a chance to check out all of the models and pilots in the showcase. Photo by Andrew Stevens

Best of the West 2012 was a complete and encompassing success as it has been the past two years I have been fortunate enough to attend, and as I’m sure it will be once again next October. More and more pilots from around the world are making it a go-to destination, and rightfully so.

Event director Joe Casteleao and all that assist him are deserved the utmost amount of credit and gratitude for being such accommodating hosts once again. Everyone that made the whole production happen should be proud of both how seamless the entire meet unfolded and and how fulfilling the experience was.

Mark it down on your calendar right now – Best of the West 2013, next October. If you find your way to the ‘Willow, you’ll find an escape in the air.

Feel free to check out Part 2 photos below!

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The New York Yankees of the hardwood have met and exceeded off-season expectations. Should we be so surprised? Since moving to Los Angeles in 1960, the Lakers have once again done what they are known for doing — perpetually adding to the list of all-time acquisitions in the history of the NBA, year after year.

The Lakers have brought into the fold the star power of the biggest off-season prize in big man Dwight Howard, as well as one of the most respected and decorated point guards in the history of the game in Steve Nash. Los Angeles has once again struck big and has made the biggest series of offseason splashes in recent NBA history.

Moreover, when you add in bench-strengthening additions like Antawn Jamison, Jodie Meeks and Chris Duhon, this off-season could be graded even higher than all-time great Laker off-seasons, meeting or exceeding when they brought in the likes of Wilt Chamberlain in 1968, Kareem-Abdul Jabbar in 1975 or Shaquille O’Neal in 1996.

When you take into consideration this year’s epic additions, and then throw into the recipe mainstays like Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Metta-World Peace, Jordan Hill and Steve Blake, what do you expect the overall dish to taste like? Some are saying an NBA championship favorite, others are saying a huge chemistry problem. I argue as objectively as I can that it is honestly someplace in-between.

While Dwight Howard not seeing a lot of preseason game action due to his recovery from a minor back procedure and Kobe missing the last week of practice and games in the preseason obviously isn’t going to help to build early-season chemistry, don’t think for a second that this team not gelling early means that they won’t end up gelling at some point in the new year, when games start to matter.

Howard recovering from surgery at the outset will predictably stunt the growth process, but let’s take a look at what will ultimately make that process flourish.

Point primarily to the Princeton offense. The first cousin of the Triangle, both are based in similar principles: spacing, ball movement, movement without the ball and player versatility. Both feature many series of 2-man and 3-man games and like the triangle, the post is the hub of the offense. This is and will be the perfect compliment to a roster that includes above average passing big men like Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol, as well as Hall-of-Fame-level facilitators like Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant. The main benefit to consider is that the Princeton system brings structure to an offensive gameplan that last year, looked like a complete mess.

How will it all come together? How will each piece fit and what can we expect from each separate personality in the process of building what is paramount – team chemistry? Below is an in-depth look at each player who looks to contribute this upcoming season:

Kobe Bryant

The addition of more high-end stars leaves the door wide open for Kobe to trust his teammates at a new and unprecedented level. Steve Nash now being in the back-court means Kobe doesn’t have to have the ball in his hands the majority of the time when it matters most — namely, at the end of the shot clock and at the end of quarters and games.

Kobe Bryant hits another clutch fadeaway jumper. By Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA (AAAA9080) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Kobe won’t have to hoist as many bad shots as he has had to in the recent past. Steve Nash will get him better shots. And if Bryant can be assisted by Nash within the confines of the Princeton offense by cutting to the basket on rubs and back-cuts for easy lay-ups, as well as get more open shots on the perimeter, his ego will hopefully be satisfied.

All of us Lakers fans and haters alike can at least agree on that simple fact: Bryant does have a huge ego to satisfy, no matter how his overall skills may have eroded (or not eroded at all in his mind) from their peak some five years ago.

All of this considered, Kobe’s minutes will more-than-likely be curbed and managed with the addition of the most capable scoring backup he has ever had behind him at shooting guard in Jodie Meeks. Less wear and tear during the season means more energy come playoff time. In Lakerland, having the most available to you come playoff time is all that matters.

Dwight Howard

Finally, Dwight doesn’t have to be the man. And although the public and media’s perception during his holdout/re-sign/holdout might suggest that he feels like he needs to be the man, I argue that his loose and playful personality points to something different. It points to a level of humility and that he has no problem being ‘one of the guys’ and contributing to a champion in any way, shape or form that he can to help the team reach the ultimate goal.

He has learned in failures past that it takes more than himself to win it all. This is the reason he came to Los Angeles. Yes, his offensive game in the post needs further development. Yes, his free throw percentage needs to improve. But one needs to also consider that the man will turn only 27 years old in December. There is plenty of room and time to improve over the next few years. We may have yet to see Howard’s peak.

There is no question in any argument that could be presented that his presence as a defensive force in the middle is a factor the Lakers haven’t had since Wilt many eras ago. Yea, you heard me Kareem and Shaq. Howard will be a strong anchor in the middle for a defense that has lacked one basic element in recent years past…. a strong anchor in the middle. There will be no more free layups lines for guys like Durant and Westbrook. Dwight will have opportunities for defensive and offensive rebounds galore.

His calling card on this squad will be limiting the opposition to one-and-done’s on the defensive end and feasting on put-backs around the basket on the offensive end. The size of his impact in the paint on both ends of the floor will be just as big as the smile you will see on his face all season long. Dwight and Hollywood will be a great match for years to come.

Steve Nash

Quick, go back to “The Showtime Era.” How long ago was Magic dishing out dimes like nobody’s business? 20-plus years ago? This was the last time the Lakers had an ultimate facilitator. And now they have one again, finally.

Nick Van Exel, Sedale Threatt, Ron Harper, Derek Fisher, Smush Parker or even Ramon Sessions you could never honestly tag as great or even good ‘facilitators.’ Not only is Steve Nash this, but he is one of the best facilitators this league has ever seen.

While he is getting up there in age, his conditioning and ability have not diminished much at all. Nash is one of those rare athletes where body is even more of the ultimate temple come the late 30’s towards the end of his career. His ability to retain his conditioning and skill given his growing age is at the same hall-of-fame level that his uncanny passing acumen and dead-eye shooting ability has always been.

So what is Nash’s outlook with this group? Simple – to get everyone theirs. The Princeton offense is predicated on reading the defense and taking what they give you. This charge, along with managing what is truly a juggernaut offense is the task that Nash has been chosen to achieve. Who better than the most unselfish point guard the NBA has seen in the last decade-plus to tackle this assignment? With all the offensive talent that surrounds him, Nash could eclipse an assists per game average of 12 and beyond.

Pau Gasol

Gasol’s role looks to be very similar to what it was last year. While both Pau and Howard are in the game, Gasol’s 15-20 foot game will be his primary niche. A lot of those shots, when missed, will be followed in by Howard around the rim. When Howard leaves the floor and Pau remains, look for Gasol to take his game down low. This becomes the perfect, simplistic inside-outside game plan for the game’s most diverse big man.

Pau Gasol blocks a shot as Metta World-Peace looks on. By Keith Allison (Flickr: Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Metta World-Peace

While World-Peace isn’t what he once was on the offensive end, his defensive prowess remains. Metta’s role on this roster should be one main focus night-in, night-out — lock down the opposition’s best wing player defensively. Period. One goal. A tunnel assignment.

I believe a personality like World-Peace can thrive in a simplified situation such as this. And as long as the voices of Kobe Bryant and Mike Brown keep him focused, his toughness will be irreplaceable, given that Bryant, Nash and Gasol are average to only above-average defenders at best at this point in their careers.

If his team needs him to hit an outside shot or contribute garbage points around the basket, we all know Metta can do that in spurts, but I truly believe a simplified approach to Metta’s game and role on this team will get the most out of his unique talent.

Oops, I forgot to mention regular therapy sessions once a week, if not more. Toss that in there. Stay in your shoes Ron-Ron.

The Bench

Scoring off the bench was one of the biggest holes the Lakers had to fill this off-season to get back to a championship level. Antawn Jamison highlights a much-improved bench in 2012-13. Jamison is one of those swing forwards that can replace Metta World-Peace at the 3 in certain situations or Pau Gasol at the 4 in other particular situations. Defensively he may be a liability, but that’s not why Los Angeles brought him in. They brought him in to score. And score he can. In many ways. Those who haven’t seen Jamison’s game will be thrilled with his go-to move – a sneaky, almost strange-looking finger-roll game around the basket. Jamison is instantly a 6th man of the year candidate.

Jordan Hill is returning from a herniated disc injury and should be ready to go for opening night. Last season he surprisingly emerged from the bench as the go-to replacement at power forward when Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum needed a rest. The Lakers wisely re-signed the hustling garbageman for less than a mid-level exception — two more years and a reasonable total of only 7 million dollars. Hill’s knack and fast-twitch muscle fibers that slither and leverage both defensive and offensive rebounds cannot be understated. And if his most recent ailment doesn’t nag, there is nothing that says he can’t duplicate and even improve upon his key role off the bench from last year’s campaign.

Jodie Meeks looks to be the 8th man behind Kobe, and as Bryant’s minutes slowly diminish, Meeks appears to be more than capable as an ideal second team scorer at the off-guard position. A product of the lottery farm known as the University of Kentucky, Jodie comes over to Tinseltown from Philadelphia where over the last two seasons, the now 25-year-old averaged a solid 9.5 points in 26.5 minutes a game off the Sixers bench.

The Lakers scoring in the late 1st and 3rd quarter – early 2nd and 4th quarter portions of the game will be made or broken by how consistently Jodie can put the ball in the hole. For what Meeks can potentially bring to the table for only $1.5 million a year over the next two years, Mitch Kupchak has a lot of pats on the back to come. And I’m not even kidding here – #20 might end up being my favorite Laker this season when its all said and done. I love these types of key role players.

All through camp Steve Blake and Chris Duhon have battled for the 9th man spot backing up Steve Nash at the point guard position. Blake began camp recovering from a foot injury where he punctured his foot walking over one-way tire spikes in a parking lot (Clint Barmes breaking his collarbone “lugging deer meat” thinks that is one of the most ridiculous non-field injuries in recent memory).

Steve Blake whips the ball around the perimeter. By Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA (Steve Blake  Uploaded by JoeJohnson2) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Hailing from the floor-slapping defensive juggernaut of Duke, Duhon’s defense gives the Lakers something they haven’t had in a very long time – a force that can potentially check and keep up with the elite offensive point guards the NBA now glorifies. Look for Duhon to slowly steal minutes from Blake at this position as the season matures.

Devin Ebanks and Chris Douglas-Roberts will compete for the 11th man position on the roster. Major injuries aside, best-case scenario for these two backup wing players will be limited contributions, aside from pushing starters in practice and trying to impress coaches for future opportunities. Both will be able to dress for the game, unless there in an injury on the front line and rookie Robert Sacre needs to fill a hole.

Guards Andrew Goudelock and Darius Morris, as well as aforementioned rookie 7-footer that was drafted this past April out of Gonzaga, Robert Sacre, look to begin this season as the 13th, 14th and 15th men. Joining them on the practice squad could be Darius Johnson-Odom, Reeves Nelson and an injured Earl Clark, who they also acquired in the Dwight Howard trade.

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All opinions considered, detractors will point to a preseason that is without a win for the Lakers. Are we actually giving credence to a preseason record, and are we willing to speak it in the same sentence with postseason chances 6 months down the road?

Since when did what happens in October have anything to do with what happens in April and June given a roster loaded with playoff veterans such as this? One thing I can say about preseason Lakers talk – I’m utterly amazed at the naivete of the notion that a preseason record of a team that is made up like this one matters.

Given the infancy of the group as a new team, this new offense, the feeling-out process that needs to take place, and how the elite talent this team possesses played literally a fraction of the minutes in the preseason that they are going to play in the regular season and playoffs makes the idea that the preseason record matters down right silly and fundamentally empty. You’d think the Lakers were the Charlotte Bobcats! They must be in for a season in which their win total will tally only in the teens!

These things are for sure – for this loaded group, zero preseason wins equals exactly this: 50-55-plus wins, a Pacific Division title, a top 3 playoff seed or higher, and a barometer of the Western Conference Finals. Anyone who reads more into a preseason record in the NBA, where the final score means close to ultimately nothing, is only fancying him or herself as a glass-half-empty contrarian.

As far as the Lakers on-television issue is unfolding, the whole Time Warner Sportsnet dilemma on the precipice of the regular season is now partly resolved for San Luis Obispo-County fans. Those of us that are Charter subscribers now have access to the network that will carry every single one of the Lakers’ non-nationally televised games. Those of us that are Direct TV subscribers are still unfortunately out of luck at this time – but keep the faith, these two sides will ultimately come to a compromise and the Lakers will be live and in color for all local fans in the very near future.

As the excitement builds, the story of the 2012-2013 NBA season will be a must-see, be you Laker-fan or Laker-hater. And that is the beauty of a team like the Los Angeles Lakers – the polarization. You either love them or hate them. There is no in-between. They are always a topic of conversation no matter what side of the fence you may dig your heels into, because the majority of NBA fans strongly stand on one side of the barbed wire or the other.

Talking time is over. Watching time is now!

Event director Joe Castelao holds a pilot briefing on the runway prior to the showcase getting underway. Photo by Andrew Stevens

A consistent flow of RV’s and hobby trailers slowly gave way to glorified airborne toys that are valued in the hundreds, thousands and even tens of thousands of dollars.  Some of the participants made their way to the destination from points around the world as early in the week as Monday.  When Fansmanship.com arrived Thursday, all but a handful of the total that were to be involved in the Saturday Showcase had already made their way to the scene.  As the event reached its penultimate on Saturday, several pilots, technicians, modelers, vendors, event staff and most importantly, fans, were all present to take in the majesty of this elite hobby.

Event Director Joe Castelao once again piloted a smooth and turbulent-free flight for all involved.  Planning and coordinating all of the licenses, permits, rentals, catering, awards, and emergency and event personel truly takes the entire year leading up to the next event to have all of your ducks in a row.  The efforts of Mr. Castelao and all around him should be commended and appreciated.  Best in the West is first class when it comes to these types of events, and this year there wasn’t even the slightest hiccup as the entire production unfolded.

Master of Ceremony Sam Wright addresses the runway, tents and fans as the showcase gets underway. Photo by Andrew Stevens

The voice of Best in the West, the golden pipes of longtime announcer Sam Wright brought the perfect amount of marvel to everyone within speaker earshot.  His descriptions were the perfect compliment to all the action taking place in the sky, as veteran or novice pilots and fans alike seemed to welcome and enjoy the colorful and informative broadcast.  I personally got to spend a lot of time taking it all in with Sam, as sitting next to him at the announcer’s booth was the ideal perspective to effectively capture the entire display.

On my initial walk around the tents I noticed that, although each model was unique in its own way, the one thing that all of these birds had in common was their internal intricacy.  Anyone can go to their local hobby shop and buy a small electric-powered jet that is essentially “plug and play” for a few hundred dollars – but these high-end puzzles of wood, fiberglass, plastic, metal, electrical wire, tubing, batteries and turbine engines have all the elaborate complexity of the human body.

Jet Cat USA technician Scot Sneed awaits the pilot to return to test his finished product on the runway. Photo by Andrew Stevens

I was fortunate enough to get a complete inside look at what a technician goes through in order to fix a number of problems and get these jewels flight-ready.  One of my best friends, Scot Sneed, is an engine and all-around hobby technician for Jet Cat USA.  Located in Paso Robles, California, Jet Cat USA is a satellite operation of the German-based turbine engine manufacturer.  Jet Cat has very few competitors, as a dominant majority of all jets of these magnitude around the world employ Jet Cat turbine engines.  Jet Cat USA in Paso Robles supplies and services all of their turbine engines in the entire Western hemisphere. 

Knowing the ins and outs of these engines that range from $2,500 to $7,500 and how they mesh with the rest of the internal system is something that isn’t gained overnight.  Watching and assisting “Dr. Sneed” with his remote-controlled patients was well worth the trip. The main thing to consider in the guts of these jets, is that if only one little thing isn’t right in the entire system of dozens if not hundreds of things, the whole arrangement isn’t going to work.  And the procedure of knowing what to look for in the entire order of each particular system is truly something incredible.  And what was most outstanding is that Sneed fixed all of the problems he was charged with at a rate of 100% on this weekend.  

Tam Nguyen spots his nine-year-old son Sean as he walks his electric-powered jet back up the runway into the pits after another successful flight. Photo by Andrew Stevens

Another wonderful thing this exciting and fulfilling hobby features is the family connection.  Based in Silicon Valley, California, the Tam Jets operation always features elite models and pilots at these types of events.  Owner Tam Nguyen is a respected veteran in RC jet circles around the world.  Tam’s son, Sean Nguyen has already become a pilot well beyond his years at only nine years old.  You heard me right.  Nine. And he probably already flies better than half of all RC jet pilots in the industry.  And to see father and son come together and share something that is both business and enjoyment for Dad and 100% fun for son is something that poetically transcends RC jet modeling.  Tam should be incredibly proud of his son Sean.  He put on a great show for everyone that was fortunate enough to be present at the event.

Most of Thursday and the early part of Friday was reserved for practice flights and testing.  The testing you ask?  The players versus the environment.  Buttonwillow in October still has more of a feeling of summer than it does fall.  Temperatures early in the event ranged from the the high 80’s to the low 90’s with a limited wind factor.  The pilots had no complaints, as these conditions are beyond ideal for jet flight.  The one and only downside?  Well, if you want to get picky, Buttonwillow presents a very dry heat.  And surprisingly enough, humidity trumps dryness as far as ideal flight conditions are concerned.  In conversations with several pilots and technicians, I learned that heavier air works extremely better than dry air when you consider turbine engine efficiency and overall performance, which is a reasonable trade in exchange for whatever slight difference there may be in fuel consumption.

A couple of early on-lookers are present for the event equivalent of batting practice, taking a preliminary view of all that was available on the runway and in the air. Photo by Andrew Stevens

Early to mid-morning Friday, a few hardcore fans came a day early to get a preview of what would be on display the next day.  For only $10 dollars fans could purchase a pit pass and walk through the pit areas to view the jets up close, as well as be able engage the pilots and technicians.  This pass was good for both Friday and Saturday, as the real enthusiasts that showed up a day early could get some value in showing up before the masses arrived and the showcase may have made everyone less accessible. 

As the sun reached its peak Friday afternoon, one of the most recognized modelers in the industry finally arrived with his hobby trailer full of projects.  Henry Nguyen rolled in with event director Joe Castelao’s A-10 Warthog, an annual show favorite.  This classic Vietnam War scale model was known for its nickname “tank buster.”  Armed with a 30 mm rotary cannon, the A-10 Warthog was primarily used as the nose of the spear in escorting squadrons on bombing missions.

Top modeler Henry Nguyen explains to event director Joe Castelao about the new additions to his A-10 Warthog. Jet Cat technician Scot Sneed looks on. Photo by Andrew Stevens

The amount of detail the A-10 boasted inside and out put all other jets at the show to shame.  How precise and accurate everything was inside the cockpit had to be what stood out most about the majestic killer.  And after being able to study most all of the birds intensely as Friday afternoon turned into evening, this particular part of the hobby as a whole seemed to be the most impressive – detail, detail, detail. Things like high-rate performances of engines and the different aerodynamic qualities of airframes definately has a certain amount of attraction for the pilot in us all, but the hobbyist in us all can’t help but appreciate the overall detail of these fine sport and scale models.  

If all the chatter, laughter and wrenching going on around the tents all day and evening Friday was any indication, the Saturday showcase was shaping up to be something special. 

Part 2 of Fansmanship.com’s coverage of the Best in the West 2012 RC Jet Event will be available to view in the coming days.  Stay tuned!

Please view the Part 1 photo gallery below.  More pictures and video to come!

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A Cal Poly receiver goes horizontal to catch an Andre Broadous pass on Saturday night. Photo by David Livingston

Quarterback Andre Broadous combined for 263 total yards, 68 on the ground and 195 through the air. Broadous efficiently racked up his 195 yards passing with 9 completions on only 12 attempts. Broadous threw for 2 touchdowns, one for 45 yards to Willie Tucker and another for 30 yards to Brandon Michalkiewicz.

Cal Poly’s offense was an amazingly clutch 11 for 13 on third down.

Junior defensive captain Sullivan Grosz led the Mustangs’ defense, sacking Bears quarterback Seth Lobato three times.

The Mustangs scored with incredible balance, posting 14 points in each in all four quarters. Northern Colorado matched the Mustangs in the first quarter with 14 points of their own, but Cal Poly’s defense stiffened in the 2nd quarter and didn’t relent until the 4th quarter, when the second team defense starting getting mixed into the game. The Bears then scored their other two touchdowns in garbage-time.

Early in the contest Cal Poly was impressively crisp on offense, as Broadous played mistake-free and Williams was getting downhill and falling forward with ease. The Northern Colorado defense honestly looked over-matched from the get-go.

Halfway through the first quarter with Poly up 7-0 after a 8-yard Kristaan Ivory touchdown run, Broadous’ only major mistake of the game occurred. While keeping over the right side, Andre fumbled and Northern Colorado recovered inside the Cal Poly 20. Bears running back Tremaine Dennis then found his way towards the goal line over his next three carries, finding the end zone to tie the game at 7.

The Mustangs then got back on track with their bread and butter, as Williams fought for first downs on option pitches and inside trap plays. Once Poly crossed midfield into Bear territory, Broadous hit Willie Tucker streaking deep across the field on a 45-yard touchdown. Broadous commented in a post-game radio interview with Tom Barket on ESPN Radio 1280 that a couple of years ago he would have never been able to make that throw or even would have thought of trying it. He admitted he would have just tucked it away and got what he could have with his legs. The growth and maturity of a player is a great thing to see unfold.

As the first quarter came to a close, Northern Colorado answered Poly’s big play with another score of their own, as Lobato found tight end Darin McDonald in the end zone from 22 yards away to tie the score at 14. At this point it looked as if the game was shaping up to be a track meet.

Poly answered back early in the 2nd quarter with a Kristaan Ivory 37-yard scamper on the pitch to make the score 21-14. Then, the Mustang defense stiffened.

Cal Poly cornerback Nico Molino battles for the ball with Norther Colorado receiver Dominic Gunn. Photo by David Livingston

Defensive ends Andrew Alcaraz and Jake Irwin started getting better up-field penetration, putting a post in the defense against Northern Colorado’s off-tackle play. This change forced Bears running back Tromaine Dennis back inside to the teeth of Poly’s defense, instead of allowing him to have the choice to bounce to the outside and extend cutback opportunities in the open field.

The Mustangs added another score after a Northern Colorado punt, as Deonte Williams took a trap play back inside away from option action, a staple of the Poly offense, for a 5-yard plunge, bringing the score to 28-14, where it stayed until halftime.

Cal Poly did not come out with any sense of complacency to start the second half. After a stellar special teams tackle on the kickoff, the Mustangs recovered a fumble by Northern Colorado inside the Bears 25.

Deonte Williams then cashed in that turnover for Poly, taking in his 2nd score of the game, this one from 11 yards out. The Mustangs held a commanding 21-point lead, 35-14, with only 2:24 elapsed in the 3rd quarter. Credit Poly’s coaching staff for keeping their team fired up, and the players for having the killer instinct to put someone away when you have them down. This is the sign of not just a good team, but potentially a great one.

On their next posession, the Mustangs strung together back to back big plays. Broadous hit Cole Stanford down the left seam for 38 yards, and then took it himself on an option keeper for another 25. Deonte Williams smelled the paint along the right side he juked, spun and then lunged his way into the end zone for his 3rd and final score of the night, this one a 15-yard work of art, bringing the score to 42-14 Cal Poly.

Broadus capped off the final first-team drive of the game with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Michalkiewicz, in which the receiver navigated two defenders both during and after the catch, crossing the goal line as the defenders ran into each other. It was a play indicative of the overall Mustang dominance on this night. Poly lead 49-14 with 12 minutes left to play.

After a Northern Colorado touchdown, the Mustangs second-team offense, led by Vince Moraga, countered with a touchdown drive of their own, capped off by a short Ryan Soloman plunge with 3:47 remaining, making the score 56-21. It was Soloman’s first career touchdown.

Cal Poly improves to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big Sky. Northern Colorado falls to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in the Big Sky.

The game was televised on KSBY and was broadcast by recent Fansmanship Podcast guest Bill Halter along with Andrew Masuda. KSBY will again televise next week’s game as head coach Tim Walsh and his Mustangs will take on his former team, the Portland State Vikings (2-4, 1-3 Big Sky) at Spanos Stadium. The Vikings are coming off a bye week, and the week before the bye they demolished Idaho State 77-10. The Mustangs are an even 9-9 all-time against Portland State.

If you haven’t had a chance to see this Mustang offensive machine yet this season, I highly recommend you check them out. You won’t be disappointed. Game time is 6:05pm Saturday night. Get there.

Photos by David Livingston

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