Author: Jeremy Fernando

Texas A&M Former Student. Avid Golfer. Passionate about sports.

Top 10 of 2019: #7

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in 2019, Top 10

#7. Dirk Nowitzki Retiring from the NBA

Video by NBA

*This article was written by a contributor who wishes to remain anonymous.

“At forward in his 21st season, the greatest Dallas Maverick in franchise history, the tall baller from the G, number 41, Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirk Nowitzki!!” echoed in the American Airlines Center on April 9, 2019 in what would be Nowitzki’s last home game. In typical Dirk fashion, he waited until after his last game in the house he built to let the fans know he was calling it quits. No farewell tour. No year long celebration like Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade and even baseball stars such as Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Even though many teams recognized the situation this past season like when Doc Rivers, coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, stopped the game to pay homage to to the legend, Dirk clearly never sought any special treatment. In his 21 seasons, Dirk was a professional who never sought unnecessary attention. It is because of this humility that I find it important to write this article. We must remember the retirement of the 2007 NBA MVP, the 2011 Finals MVP, the 14 time All-Star, and the 6th All-Time scorer in the history of the league.

When asked to discuss the top sports moments of 2019, Dirk Nowtizki retiring without a doubt must make the list. Not only did Dirk transform the game for big men shooters, he revolutionized the game for Europeans. Nowadays, it is not hard to find big men who can shoot such as Joel Embiid, Nikola Vucevic, Nikola Jokic, Karl Anthony-Towns, Kristaps Porzingis, and Anthony Davis. Kids growing up watching those stars today don’t see anything crazy about a seven-footer who can knock down the three. Yet, it was a rare skill in 1998 when Dirk was drafted out of Würzburg, Germany. No longer was a big man just a bully in the paint, it was now necessary to give them respect beyond the arc.

Video by Bleacher Report

Dirk was an example of the benefits that could come when drafting European talent. He created a serious interest for players in the EuroLeague and ironically paved the way for future Mavericks Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. Without his incredible success, the respect to the European talent pool may not be there.

Dallas Mavericks Basketball GIF by NBA - Find & Share on GIPHY
Courtsey of Giphy

Lastly, Dirk did all of this with class and respect. Don’t get me wrong, he annoyed players. The fadeaway was tough to guard and Dirk knew how to sell the foul. He was also a bit of a liability on the defensive end of the court. But he never had a problem with a teammate. He was a likeable player and as a young kid from Germany, he handled becoming a celebrity in Dallas-Fort Worth well. He engaged with the community and most importantly, he remained loyal (tough to find and you may never find it again). He wanted to win with Dallas and towards the end of his career, Dirk routinely took pay cuts to try and get it done with the team who drafted him. As a kid myself born in 1996 and raised in Dallas, Dirk was a role model and I always found myself in the driveway trying to recreate his fade away. At a certain point, I even wanted him to leave the Mavericks to try and win 1 more. But he stayed. I can only hope the Mavericks provide their two big Europeans more support than Dirk had in his 21 seasons. As of right now, it looks like they have. 

CFB Playoffs: #2 Ohio St. vs. #3 Clemson

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in Football, NCAA Football

Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah! Happy Kwanzaa! Whichever holiday you celebrate, we can all come together and rejoice in College Football Playoff season. The playoffs are finally upon us and let us rejoice and be glad. Grad School’s Cole West did a preview of the 1st semifinal game which can be found here: http://gradschoolsports.net/2019/12/24/college-football-playoffs-1-lsu-vs-4-ou-preview/

I will be previewing the primetime matchup between the Clemson Tigers and The Ohio State Buckeyes. Neither team is short of playoff appearances with the Buckeyes making their 3rd playoff appearance, winning it all 2014. Meanwhile, the Tigers will be playing in their record-tying 5th CFB playoff and will hoping to win back to back championships and their 3rd title in the last 4 years. Let’s dive into the matchups in this highly anticipated affair which has Clemson narrowly favored by 2.5 points

Clemson Offense:

This Clemson offense is very similar to last year’s team and is once again led by QB Trevor Lawrence and RB Travis Etienne. After some early season troubles, Lawrence has really rebounded in the 2nd half of the season and enters the game with the 7th best QBR in the nation. Lawrence has homerun targets in receivers Tee Higgins, who comes into the game with over 1,000 receiving yards, and Justyn Ross, the 13th best receiver in the ACC. Etienne has been magnificent on the ground for the Tigers as they have the 9th best rushing attack in all of college football. The Tigers offensive line has been stellar all season as well as they are 5th in the country in sacks allowed. Overall, this offense has been absolutely phenomenal and is clicking on all cylinders heading into the semifinal.

Ohio State Defense:

Two words: Chase Young. Lining up to defend against Lawrence and Co. will be arguably the best player in all of college football and a prospective number one pick in next year’s draft. Young is 1st in the country in both tackles for loss and sacks, and 2nd in forced fumbles. While Young has been a force to be reckoned with, this OSU defense is incredibly well-rounded. Statistically, they have the 2nd best passing defense and 7th best rushing defense in the nation. LB Malik Harrison has also enjoyed a great season and will team with Young to put pressure on the Tigers offense.

Ohio State Offense:

Offensively, the Buckeyes have a 3-headed monster in QB Justin Fields, RB J.K. Dobbins, and WR Chris Olave that Columbus has not seen since the 06 season. They have arguably the best offensive line in college football and the unit was a semi-finalist for the Joe Moore award. Playing in the very competitive Big 10, this offense has been battle-tested against some of the better defensive units in the nation. However, they have not faced a defense like the Tigers and could face some challenges moving the ball on Saturday.

Clemson Defense:

Statistically, the Tigers have the best defense in all of college football. They are at the top in both total defense and passing defense, 5th in turnover margin, and have the 9th best rushing defense. Brent Venables is a defensive mastermind and has one of the best defensive players in all of football in LB Isiah Simmons. The All-American Simmons has been remarkable this year and is an absolute unit at 6’4, 230 lbs. The Tigers also have one of the best scoring defenses in the country. Therefore, pressuring OSU QB Justin Fields and forcing him to make miscues could give Clemson the advantage it needs on Saturday.

Now the last time these 2 teams met in the 2016 semifinal, Clemson manhandled the Buckeyes 31-0 en route to their title win over Alabama. I, along with the rest of the country, expect a much closer game this year.

Who wins this game? I honestly think this is a coin flip game. Clemson has steamrolled their competition this year. However, there is an argument to be made that the teams they played don’t deserve to be properly identified as “competition.” Throughout the season, analysts have been underestimating this Tigers group however, everyone knows head coach Dabo Swinney will use that as fuel to have his team properly prepared and motivated for Saturday.

On the other hand, Ohio State has also dominated their competition and have played one of the more challenging schedules in the country. Ryan Day has done a great job in his 1st year as head coach and there were many around the country who believed OSU deserved the number one overall seed in the playoff.

I will have an official prediction on Friday when I release my Picks from God, however as of publishing I like the Buckeyes to prevail.

Top 10 of The Decade: #7

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in Decade, Top 10

7. Dee Gordon’s home run against the New York Mets in 2016, one day after the death of teammate Jose Fernandez.

On September 25, 2016, Jose Fernandez, an MLB All-Star and one of the games most well-liked players, passed away due to a boating accident. Players and fans alike around the league were devastated. Fernandez was only 24 years old but had established himself as one of the premier pitchers in the league.

On Monday September 26, 2016, the Miami Marlins played their first game since Fernandez’s passing against the New York Mets. Dee Gordon, the 2B of the Marlins and one of Fernandez’s closest friends, was the leadoff hitter that day. Gordon, typically a left-handed hitter, stepped into the right-handed batters box wearing Fernandez’s helmet. After seeing the first pitch from Mets’ pitcher Bartolo Colon, Gordon proceeded to switch to the left-hand side of the plate. On a 2-0 fastball from Colon, Gordon promptly smacked a homerun to the right-field bleachers and began to weep uncontrollably as he rounded the bases. As he crossed home plate, he pointed to the sky in remembrance of his good friend. It was a moment that will be forever be remembered by baseball fans around the world.

Video by MLB

In the postgame interview, Gordon told a reporter “I don’t have kids, so hitting a homerun for Jose Fernandez is the best moment of my life.” It is in these moments where sports can truly bring everyone together. Dee Gordon’s homerun is one, as a baseball fan, I will never forget.

Top 10 of 2019: #9

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in 2019, Moments

9. Stephen F. Austin beats #1 Duke at Cameron Indoor.

On November 26, Stephen F. Austin, a small school in East Texas, did the improbable by knocking off #1 Duke 87-85 in overtime at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Over the past 3 years, SFA has become known as a potential bracket buster come March, however Duke had not lost a home game in 150 games. The Blue Devils came into the game as 28 point favorites.

The Lumberjacks were able to stifle Duke’s offense the entire game and were able to take away the Blue Devil’s home-court advantage. Duke led by 5 at the half, however the Lumberjacks were able to bounce back in the 2nd half to force overtime. It was in overtime where the Lumberjack magic came to life as mass chaos would ensue.

With 15 seconds left, Duke’s Tre Jones missed a jump shot but Wendell Moore snagged the offensive rebound. Moore kicked it back out to Jack White who passed it back to Jones. Jones drove to the lane however the Lumberjack forced him to make an errant pass. The ball kicked away and was grabbed by Lumberjack Gavin Kensmil who then passed it to Nathan Bain. In a frantic dash across the court, Bain laid the ball in at the buzzer in front of the Cameron Crazies to give the Lumberjacks the upset victory.

Video by ACC Digital Network

As the Lumberjacks went into a frenzy on the court, Cameron Indoor was silent. In the post-game press conference, SFA coach Kyle Keller said “I told our players, banners can’t beat us tonight. The players have to beat us.” Anytime Duke loses, Americans around the country can rejoice. However, there is call for extra celebration when a mid-major like SFA can knock off Coach K’s team on their home-court.

Top 10 of The Decade: #9

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in Decade, Moments

9. #16 seed UMBC beats #1 seed Virginia in 2018.

A sixteen seed had never beaten a one seed in March Madness. The closest any sixteen seed had come to this impressive feat was in 1996 when Western Carolina lost 73-71 to Purdue. However, on March 16th 2018, history was made when the University of Maryland-Baltimore County beat the first ranked Virginia Cavaliers 74-54.

Virginia came into the tournament with championship aspirations as the number one overall seed. They went 31-2 including a 20-1 record in the ACC, arguably the best conference in the NCAA. They had the top-ranked defense in the country and were led by one of the best young minds in college basketball in head coach Tony Bennett. The Cavaliers came into the game as 20.5-point favorites making it the 2nd biggest upset in NCAA tournament history behind Norfolk State’s upset over Missouri in 2012.

On the other hand, the Retrievers were far less talented than the Cavs and were only in the NCAA tournament due to a last second 3-pointer from senior guard Jairus Lyles in the America East Conference championship over Vermont. As one would expect, the Retrievers came in as heavy underdogs and were projected to lose by 20.5 points according to the sportsbooks in Vegas.

However, on this night it was the Retrievers who played as if they were the heavy favorites. The once vaunted UVA defense had absolutely no answer for Lyles who scored a game high 28 points. In the words of Coach Bennett at the postgame press conference, it was a “thorough butt whipping.” America was stunned as millions of brackets around the country were now busted.

While the Retrievers put on a show on the court, it was their Twitter account who stole the hearts of Americans with some of the most memorable tweets of the decade.

The Retrievers would go on to lose in the next round against Kansas State, however their victory over the Cavaliers will live in infamy. In 2019, the Cavaliers would once again be a number one seed in the NCAA tournament. This time though the outcome was far different as they would go on to win the NCAA Division One basketball championship and celebrate by cutting the nets. No college basketball fan will ever forget where they were the night the sixteen seed beat the one seed.

Fade Fernando’s Picks from God 12-20-19

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in Action

Howdy everyone and welcome back to this week’s Picks from God. I would like to start off by voicing my discontent towards the Indianapolis Colts and the Seattle Seahawks. For those who didn’t get a chance to read last weeks Picks from God, we went 2-2 (-1U) as we won Tamu CC +10 and U40.5 in Army-Navy game. However, we lost Seahawks -6.5 and O48.5 in the Monday Night Football matchup.

Early in the 4th quarter the Seahawks held a comfortable 20-point lead over the Carolina Panthers. 10 minutes and 2 touchdowns later, the Seahawks win the game by 6 points and therefore, not covering the 6.5 point spread. I have advised everyone to ride the Seahawks money train the whole year, however I believe it’s best if we all got off at the next station. Getting blown out by the Rams and then not covering against the Panthers has me racing for the exits. This team is dead to me.

Jacoby Brissett and Marlon Mack stink. That’s it. The Colts offense is horrendous. How in the great Lord’s name does the over not hit when one team puts up 34 points?!? Just ridiculous.

With that being said, this week the Lord has spoketh to me again and we have a few winners lined up. With a solid mix of NCAA Basketball, bowl games and NFL action let’s dive into Grad School’s Picks from God.

*Grad School Sports reminds you to please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-800-522-4700.

1. NCAA Basketball: Oregon State (-anything*) vs. Texas A&M. *As of publishing, there is no official line for this game. For those who slept through last weeks lesson let me give you some advice. If you want to make money, bet against Aggie Men’s Basketball.  I may be an Aggie graduate. However, until Buzz Williams thoroughly renovates that program, I will continue to advise everyone to bet agains them. They have still yet to cover a spread this season and Reed Arena isn’t exactly a rowdy venue anymore. Take whatever the book will give you on the Beavers.

2. NCAA Football: Utah State (-6) vs. Kent State. I like my chances with good quarterbacks and Utah State QB Jordan Love is a stud. Love has thrown for over 3,000 yards and has 17 touchdowns on the year. Couple that with the RB duo of Gerold Bright and Jaylen Warren and I like my chances against a very subpar Golden Flashes team. I like Utah State to show us the Love in the Frisco Bowl.

3. NFL: L.A. Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers (-6.5). The Rams suck. Coming off an embarrassing loss to the Cowboys and being virtually eliminated from the playoffs doesn’t give me hope for this ballclub. I also bet on QB’s and it’s a lopsided matchup in that category. The man Jimmy G is lightyears ahead of Jared Goff and the Niners will be looking to make a statement ahead of their pivotal matchup with the Seahawks in the last week of the season. Also, the last time these two teams met Goff had absolutely no answer for the Niners’ defense and I expect a similar result this time around.

4. NFL: Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks (-9.5). Like that one girlfriend you can’t seem to forget, I am back on the Seahawks after our 3-day hiatus. Am I worried that the Seahawks may be overlooking this Cardinals team with the 49ers’ on the horizon? No. 2 words: Russell Wilson. He will have this team ready to go in a raucous CenturyLink Field. He understands home-field advantage is at stake and I’m looking forward to watching this defense feast on Kyler Murray. Yes, the Seahawks have been unreliable the last two weeks. However, the Lord preaches forgiveness and we should do so now.

Please remember, I am not a professional gambler. So please do yourself a favor and fade me at all costs. In addition, if you do not have the funds or live in an area where gambling is prohibited by law, please do not gamble. As we conclude this week’s picks, lets all remember Jeremiah 29:11. Good luck to everyone this weekend.

Fade Fernando’s Picks From God

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in Action

For those who know me, you know I am a degenerate gambler. You give me lines on a little league baseball game and I can promise you I’m putting action on it.

Although we have to wait a week until the start of bowl season, this weekend we are treated to a full slate of NFL games as well as the best rivalry in all of sports: the annual Army-Navy game. With that being said, let’s take a look at a few bets I will be making this weekend and I suggest you do so as well. The Lord has spoketh to me. Here’s Grad School’s Picks from God.

*Grad School reminds you to please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem please call 1-800-522-4700.

1. U40.5 in Army-Navy game. In the last 6 years of this matchup, the two teams have combined for over 40 points just once. This matchup is always decided in the trenches and I see no reason why this year should be any different. Further, neither of these teams can throw the ball. They each rely heavily on the ground game meaning lots of time of possession and less points. Take the under.

2. Seahawks -6.5. Up until last week, the Seahawks had been a gold mine for sharps. Everyone not only continues to doubt their overall talent level but also keeps underestimating the greatness that is Russell Wilson. The Panthers fired their head coach, Ron Rivera, earlier this week amidst an overall disappointing regular season and who knows how they will perform. Seahawks should roll.

3. O46 Saints/Colts game. Yes, the Colts offense isn’t great. However, the Saints defense is decimated with injuries and just gave up 48 points to Jimmy G and Co. We know Brees and the Saints will put up points and I expect a shootout. Take the over.

4. TAMU-CC + Whatever against Texas A&M. As of publishing, there is no official line for this game. However, this Aggie basketball team is BAD as they have yet to cover in any game this season. Take the Islanders and the points, doesn’t matter how high.

Now, I am not a professional gambler so please feel free to fade me. In addition, if you do not have the funds or live in an area where gambling is prohibited by law, please do not gamble. As we conclude this weeks picks, let’s all remember Jeremiah 29:11. Good luck to everyone this weekend.

EMERGENCY: The Yanks Signed Mr. Cole

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in MLB

Gerritt Cole is a New York Yankee. Let us rejoice and be glad. Cashman and the Yanks got their guy. Similar to the winter before the 09 season, the Yankees front office had a plan and were backed financially by the Steinbrenner family. The rotation is now stacked. The lineup is deep. And the Bronx Bombers are officially the EVIL Empire again. I will see everyone in October. The chase for 28 has begun.

Utah Lost and It’s my Worst Nightmare

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in NCAA Football

Utah lost. Oh no. As someone who is an avid SEC fan and in a league full of big 12 fans (specifically Baylor graduates) it will be my worst nightmare if Baylor manages to make it into the top 4. The apocalypse, armageddon and the rapture sound more appealing than Baylor getting into the CFB playoff.

Listen, do I respect Matt Rhule and the job hes done with this Baylor football program? Yes, absolutely. You’d have to hate a comeback story to not. However, this isnt exactly a pg story. We all know why Baylor’s program came to a crashing halt and in all reality it wasnt too long ago.

For the Baylor fans in the audience who were in bible study while I was doing extracurricular activities on my friday nights, save me the holier than thou speech. Before I get too much hate I want to say I have the utmost respect for Baylor University. In fact, 2 of my best friends and fellow contributors are Bears alum and they are 2 of the best gentlemen I’ve ever met. Doesn’t matter to me though. The football program should have received the death penalty 3 years ago and now they are back from the dead.

Bottom line: all I’m saying is my life will be imminently worse if Baylor wins tomorrow afternoon. For the first time in my life, Boomer Sooner.

Sooners or Utes: Who’s In?

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in NCAA Football

If the Oklahoma Sooners and Utah Utes each win their conference championships, and Georgia loses to LSU in the SEC championship, there will be a highly contested debate among analysts over who will receive the last bid into the College Football Playoff.  The Sooners and the Utes would each have a road loss to a respected opponent and when stacked up against one another each team has very similar statistics.  And if that’s the case then how is a decision made?  Well, the Sooners have a key component that the Utes don’t quite have: a massive fanbase and name-brand recognition capable of stimulating a hefty payday for the NCAA.

The Sooners have one of the best offenses in football, but they are not as sharp defensively. Whereas, the Utes have a phenomenal defense, but they are less talented offensively. The Sooners have a few more quality wins than the Utes, with road victories over #9 Baylor and #21 Oklahoma State. However, the Sooners have looked vulnerable in several games this season including wins over TCU, UT and Iowa State, and most notably in the road loss to Kansas State. Meanwhile, the Utes have dominated their competition as they rank 5th in average scoring margin. Yet, their loss to a USC team hindered by injuries at the Coliseum has some weary of their capabilities. Based off the eye test, there is not one exact thing that voters can point to that can separate the two teams from one another. Therefore, the final spot in the CFP could be decided by another factor, one that is outside what the teams can control on the field.

According to a census produced by the NCAA in 2018, the Sooners ranked 11th in total home attendance in all of college football with an average attendance of 86,735. More importantly, they are 9th in all games attendance which measures team’s fan attendance in home, road and neutral games. In 14 games, they had a total of 1,073,464 fans in attendance. When it comes to TV viewership, the Sooners have outperformed the Utes in the ratings nearly every week. A part of that can be attributed to the fact that Utah is in the PAC-12 and thus, starts most of its games around 11 p.m. eastern time. However, I believe more viewers are drawn to the Sooner brand-name and are more inclined to tune in. OU is a football school and has been for a long time. A storied program with a championship pedigree, that holds seven national championships and is ranked 7th all-time in total wins, it is no wonder why the Sooners draw a crowd. It is simple: more fans means more money for the NCAA.

We have also seen the Playoff committee choose a name-brand school over two lesser known football schools in the past. In 2014, the first year of the CFP, the committee was faced with the tough task of choosing who should be awarded the 4th spot in the playoff between three teams: The Ohio State University (OSU), Texas Christian University (TCU), and Baylor University (BU). Based off the eye test that year, both TCU and BU were more deserving of the spot than OSU as each team had more wins against ranked opponents and had played more challenging schedules. However, the Big 12 had not yet established a conference championship game, thus there was no true conference champion. Meanwhile, OSU throttled Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big 10 championship game and found a spot in the CFP. However, that is not the sole reason OSU was awarded the final slot. The Buckeyes, too, have one of the most legendary programs in all of college football and have been a perennial power for decades. In addition, they bring with them a crazed fanbase that was 1st in both total home attendance and total attendance (home, road, and neutral) in 2014. Buckeyes fans travel and the NCAA knew they were a money tree that was ripe for the picking. Like the Sooners, when it came to TV viewership, OSU was ahead of the Frogs and Bears nearly every weekend. Knowing OSU had a proud and large alumni base that would travel across the country to watch their team play, the CFP committee chose a team that would bring monetary value to the NCAA and I believe the same could thing could happen in 2019.

Many fans will wonder: well then why is Utah ranked ahead of OU in the current CFP rankings? In 2014, OSU was 5th and TCU was 3rd in the rankings in week 15. However, come week 16 it was the Buckeyes who had surpassed the Frogs into the top 4 after a large victory over Wisconsin. Similarly, I believe a commanding victory over the Baylor Bears by the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday will allow them to jump the Utes in the standings. The Bears will be a more rigid test than the Utes opponent, the Oregon Ducks, who are not only lower in the rankings, but are also a weaker team statistically. Furthermore, the 2019 Oklahoma Sooners possess the star talent on the field, much like the 2014 Buckeyes, that voters like to see. The 2014 Buckeyes had star-studded players such as WR Michael Thomas, RB Ezekiel Elliot and DB Eli Apple. Likewise, the Sooners have playmakers like WR CeeDee Lamb, RB Kennedy Brooks and fan-favorite QB Jalen Hurts. The transfer from Alabama, Hurts has a massive following off the field and will attract viewers to the screen. The Utes have a star in QB Tyler Huntley, however I believe more people will be drawn to their television screens to watch Oklahoma, solely due to the name recognition the Sooners possess.

While this is assuming both teams win this weekend, I believe the choice CFP voters will have to make between the Oklahoma Sooners and Utah Utes will be one where each and every factor, including the ones off the field, will be evaluated very closely. Unfortunately for Utes fans, they will be going up against one of the most well-known and storied football programs in NCAA history with a massive following and fanbase. Historically in the CFP selection, that does not seem to bode well for the “little man.”