Tag: Mark May

Former Washington players react to the news that Dan Snyder has agreed to sell the team

Some former Washington players speak on the potential new ownership group.

Since Daniel Snyder bought the then-Washington Redskins in 1999, some former players have been complimentary of him over the years. Others, not so much.

Several former players always believed in Snyder’s desire to win, choosing to focus less on how the owner treated people. Some of that support waned over the years as the franchise twice changed its name, leaving some former players feeling like their old team was now an expansion team. The constant losing didn’t help things either.

On Thursday, news broke that Snyder has agreed to sell the Commanders to Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris. Sure, the deal is not yet done, but it’s closer than ever.

Scott Abraham of ABC 7 in Washington, D.C., caught up with three former Washington players to see how they were feeling: Quarterback Mark Rypien [1986-93], offensive linemen Mark May [1981-90] and Mark Schlereth [1989-94].

Rypien:

“I’m really looking forward to the change,” Rypien said. “I think everyone is kinda got to take a breath of fresh air. I don’t think there’s any one of us who needs to hate on anything or anything that Dan wanted to do. Because Dan wanted to win, you know, it just didn’t happen. Hopefully, this next group that comes in here, the Harris group, will lead us to bigger and better things.”

May couldn’t contain his excitement.

“It’s a celebration, baby; it’s party time,” May said, smiling and waving his arms. “But I’m just glad it’s a good group; it’s a solid group that they know professional sports.”

How did Schlereth feel:

“I’m glad that they have moved on,” Schlereth said. “I’m glad that the deal in principle is set, and I’m glad they’ll be new ownership in Washington.”

Most Washington fans are feeling like May.

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Washington football’s great history with ‘The Hogs’

A historical perspective on “The Hogs.”

Just when you think it is just about all over, the negative news regarding the Washington football franchise and Daniel Snyder continues.

Washington football’s great history with “The Hogs”

Apparently, the “Hogs” themselves have threatened Daniel Snyder with a lawsuit. Who were the “Hogs?” How did the “Hogs” launch?

Joe Bugel who named his offensive lineman the “Hogs” had come to Washington in 1981 as part of Joe Gibbs’ original coaching staff for the Redskins. Washington drafted Mark May (1st round) and Russ Grimm (3rd round), and grabbed Joe Jacoby an undrafted lineman out of Louisville. They were in the lineup early in that first season as the team struggled to an 0-5 start; however, progressed wonderfully to finish 8-8.

From there the foundation was laid; Washington would win the NFC East the next three seasons, and it would win the NFC four times and three Super Bowls over Joe Gibbs’ first reign as head coach (1981-92).

Joe Gibbs led Washington to three Super Bowl victories, each time with a different quarterback and featured running back. Yet, the constant was Gibbs himself and several original “Hogs:” Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby, Jeff Bostic and Don Warren (tight end). Tight end Rick “Doc” Walker, guard Fred Dean, guard Mark May and tackle George Starke were the other original members in 1982.

John Riggins’ rugged style led to him being an honorary “Hog” and over the years as linemen and tight ends retired, new members were brought into the “Hogs” family.

Starke, the eldest of the original “Hogs”, retired following the 1984 season while Dean had been the first to depart, his last game as a “Hog” being Super Bowl XVII. May was moved from guard to Starke’s right tackle position, and Washington obtained guard R.C Thielmann.

1985 was Walker’s and Riggins’s last NFL season. And when Russ Grimm went down in the 1987 season, Raleigh McKenzie was ready to step right in at left guard as the team won the NFC and Super Bowl XXII over Denver 42-10.

Without question, the best of the Hogs, who was not an original member was tackle Jim Lachey. Lachey would come in 1988 in the trade of Jay Schroeder to the Raiders. He originally played right tackle, moving May back to right guard. Later, Lachey was moved to left tackle, with Jacoby switching to right tackle.

May’s last season in Washington was the ’89 season; McKenzie’s versatility meant he played right guard, and Ed Simmons started 11 1990 games when Joe Jacoby was injured.

The best performance by the unit occurred in the 1991 season when Washington was 14-2, then won each of their playoff games by multiple scores and SB XXVI 37-24 over Buffalo after leading 37-10 and celebrating on the sidelines.

That ’91 team had added Mark Schlereth at right guard, and the flexible McKenzie was most often at left guard when Grimm suffered injuries. Yet the Hogs led Washington to be the highest-scoring team in the NFL; Mark Rypien passed for 3,564 yards, 28 touchdowns, and in all 16 regular season games was sacked only seven times!

After Gibbs retired following the 1992 season, the winning decreased, and the “Hogs” were retiring, but there were some other notable additions as “Hogs” over the next few years such as Ray Brown and Tre’ Johnson.

Yes, the “Hogs” were awesome; they brought Washington fans so much joy, so much winning, the Hogettes, and even Hogfarmers Charitable Foundation, supporting families who suffer from pediatric cancer.

In fact, there were some fans that desired the name “Hogs” over the “Commanders” as the franchise was rebranding.

Now, we have the very unfortunate news that the attempt to provide the team a mascot (a hog) is going to be met with a legal suit by some of the original “Hogs?”

The original “Hogs” feel the Commanders have no right to profit off of the name given to them some 40 years ago by Bugel. I loved the “Hogs” and still love the “Hogs.” Yet, honestly, did the group ever pursue legal standing over the last 40 years? Why only now?

 

Around the Big Ten: Lou Holtz and Mark May on Notre Dame, Nebraska plus big games for Michigan State & Penn State

Lou Holtz and Mark May breakd down big games for Nebraska and Michigan State.

It has already been an incredible start to the college football season. It has Lou Holtz and Mark May’s collective heads spinning a little bit.

(They wouldn’t have it any other way, for what it’s worth).

And with the Big Ten and the SEC the dominant powerhouses in college football, it makes for some fascinating storylines.

May and Holtz broke down several Big Ten games as well as some topics related to the Big Ten (including if possible future Big Ten member Notre Dame can make a bowl game after their 0-2 start to the season). The duo were longtime analysts and sparring partners on ESPN and now appear for a weekly series on The Crowd’s Line where they break down and analyze games.

Holtz, of course, is a legendary college football personality best known for his time as head coach at Notre Dame. And May is a former standout at Pittsburgh who had an NFL career that includes two Super Bowl titles.

Check out what Holtz and May have to say about the situation at Notre Dame and Nebraska against Oklahoma this weekend. In addition, Holtz and May talk about this weekend’s Big Ten football games for Michigan State and Penn State.

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Even Lou Holtz is picking against Notre Dame vs. Ohio State

Say it ain’t so, Coach!

“What tho the odds be great or small old Notre Dame will win overall” is how the Notre Dame fight song goes, and those words will have to be believed by the 2022 Fighting Irish football team as they go into No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday night.

Plenty of experts have already weighed in with their picks for the season-opener, and we have not yet found anyone picking Notre Dame straight up.

When you hear [autotag]Lou Holtz[/autotag] is making a prediction involving a Notre Dame game you figure that’s a safe bet for one person to pick the Irish, but even Holtz is picking the Buckeyes to prevail as he previewed the game on “The Crowd’s Line” along with his sidekick Mark May.

“But Ohio State has a great offensive line, they have great talent on defense. I think if Notre Dame can win this football game, what they’re going to have to manhandle Ohio State physically up front. If they go into that game with the attitude that we’re going outhit them, we’re going to be tougher than them up front, then Notre Dame is capable of winning the game,” Holtz said.

“I think it will be very, very close but I look for Ohio State to prevail by a score of 27-24.”

To the surprise of absolutely nobody, Mark May also picked Ohio State, but he has the Buckeyes winning 48-20. Kristian Dyer of Rutgers Wire went a bit deeper into watching and reacting to the segment, so be sure to check that out.

I never thought I’d see the day Holtz picked against the Irish (unless his son was coaching against them) but here we are. Hopefully Marcus Freeman’s first team can go out and shock the world, including Holtz, Saturday night.

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Around the Big Ten: what team does Lou Holtz and Mark May have winning between Notre Dame at Ohio State?

Lou Holtz, Mark May predict Notre Dame at Ohio State.

The marquee match-up of the college football weekend involves the Big Ten, with No. 2 Ohio State hosting No. 5 Notre Dame. Despite it being a battle of two top-five teams, no one is giving Notre Dame much of a chance to upend Ohio State.

Not even former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz.

The odds seem stacked against Notre Dame a bit, who open the season on the road with a sophomore quarterback making his first start of his collegiate career. This is also the first game as head coach of Notre Dame for Marcus Freeman, who did coach one game last season (the Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State) as interim head coach after Brian Kelly left the program.

Saying that “I am impressed with Marcus Freeman,” Holtz thinks that Notre Dame has a puncher’s chance against the Big Ten program. He certainly isn’t wrong; Notre Dame does has a better chance in this game than most pundits are giving them credit for.

In 1968, Holtz was an assistant at Ohio State. It was 20 years later that he led Notre Dame to a national championship.

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But, well, even Holtz’s green-tinted glasses can’t see Notre Dame winning this one over an Ohio State team that is generating some serious national championship buzz.

“But Ohio State has a great offensive line, they have great talent on defense. I think if Notre Dame can win this football game, what they’re going to have to manhandle Ohio State physically up front. If they go into that game with the attitude that we’re going outhit them, we’re going to be tougher than them up front, then Notre Dame is capable of winning the game,” Holtz said.

“I think it will be very, very close but I look for Ohio State to prevail by a score of 27-24.”

Holtz made his comments on The Crowd’s Line which he co-hosts with former college and NFL standout Mark May. The duo used to be a dynamic twosome on ESPN where there frequent debates became must-watch television.

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May, opened the segment on The Crowd’s Line. The former Pittsburgh offensive lineman gives Notre Dame even less of a chance against Ohio State.

That’s right Buckeyes fans, Mark May is picking Ohio State. Proceed to pick your jaw off the ground.

“They should be better defensively but offensively, C.J. Stroud is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. He’s going to be fighting for the Heisman trophy; 44 touchdown passes last year with six interceptions,” May said.

“The last time we saw him, he threw for 583 yards against that Utah defense. I like Ohio State in this game.”

May then released his prediction:

“I’ve got Ohio State winning this game 48-20.”

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WATCH: Mark May, Lou Holtz pick winner of Ohio State/Utah Rose Bowl

Check out who Mark May and Lou Holtz picked to win the Rose Bowl on Saturday #GoBucks

We’re now just two short days away from watching Ohio State and Utah in the “Granddaddy of them all,” the Rose Bowl on New Year’s day.

The game would seem like two teams going in opposite directions. Ohio State is no doubt disappointed in losing to Michigan and not making the College Football Playoff, while the Utes are smitten and motivated by representing the Pac-12 and playing in their first-ever Rose Bowl.

Still, there is a game to be played, and a proud program like Ohio State has to lay it all on the line or risk losing three games in a college football season for the first time since 2011 when the team finished 6-7 with a loss to the Florida Gators in the Gator Bowl.

You’re going to see a ton of predictions and previews for this thing as we inch ever so closer, but we like to check in with two of our favorite people that never seem to agree on anything, OSU hater Mark May and Lou Holtz. They have a fun little video podcasty thing called “The Crowd’s Line” going, and both provided their predictions for the game at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. Both agreed on who will win this contest.

Check out which team each picked and their reason for doing so.

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Lou Holtz the latest to express disappointment in Brian Kelly

Lou has weighed in…

Has anyone associated with Notre Dame not come forward and stated their displeasure for Brian Kelly’s actions in leaving for LSU?

Brady Quinn has, assistant coaches may not have by words but certainly rallied together based off their actions, and plenty of fans and former players did the same.

You can now add Lou Holtz to the list of those agitated by the now LSU head coach.

“You just don’t leave Notre Dame,” Holtz said Wednesday on The Crowd’s line which he co-hosts with Mark May. “You don’t go to Notre Dame for the money!”

“The other thing that bothered me about him, he never talked about Notre Dame and what really made it great,” Holtz continued, “To be part of Notre Dame you’ve got to talk about the Lady on the Dome…you have to feel the spirit of Notre Dame and you’ve just got to be part of it!”

Holtz also mentioned how Kelly’s biggest win at Notre Dame came against a Clemson team playing without their best player and did praise the accomplishments of Kelly under the dome, but did finish with a bit more of a jab:

“To go somewhere for money, I just don’t think that’s the right reason.”

Personally I was fairly surprised how reserved Holtz was in discussing this compared to how he often can be.

Former ESPN analyst and former South Carolina coach give predictions for Clemson-Wake

Clemson (7-3, 5-2 ACC) plays host to No. 10 Wake Forest (9-1, 6-0) at 12 p.m. on Saturday at Death Valley. The Tigers hope to stay in contention for a seventh consecutive appearance in the ACC Championship Game, while the Demon Deacons look to …

Clemson (7-3, 5-2 ACC) plays host to No. 10 Wake Forest (9-1, 6-0) at 12 p.m. on Saturday at Death Valley. The Tigers hope to stay in contention for a seventh consecutive appearance in the ACC Championship Game, while the Demon Deacons look to clinch their first Atlantic Division title since 2006.

On The Crowd’s Line, former South Carolina and college football head coach Lou Holtz and former ESPN analyst Mark May gave their predictions for the game, with May picking Clemson to win 28-26 and Holtz picking the Tigers to lose 31-24.

You can check out their full comments below:

May: “Clemson is a 3.5-point favorite in this game, and they’re not even ranked. Sam Hartman, the quarterback for Wake, has done a terrific job all season long throwing the football. He’s eighth in the nation with 3,163 yards passing. But if you look at this offense, they’re second in scoring at almost 45 points a game. So, you know they’re going to score some points. But what leads Clemson is their defense. Brent Venables, their defensive coordinator, has done a terrific job with this defense. They don’t give up a lot of points. They’re third in scoring (defense) in the nation, and they’ve got talent on that side of the ball. But their offensive line has been horrendous this year, that’s where they’ve had problems – not running the ball effectively or efficiently. So, I think Wake is going to put points up, even though this defense is terrific on Clemson. It’s not going to be as high scoring as most people think. I’m going to take Wake and the 3.5 points in this game. I’m going to say Clemson wins this game in an upset over No. 10 Wake, but Wake covers the number. The final score is going to be 28 to 26.”

Holtz: “Who would’ve thought it was possible when everybody buried Clemson that if they beat Wake Forest, they could very easily win their division and play in the (ACC) championship game. But you mentioned, Mark, their offensive line is very, very poor. Their quarterback has had trouble. He’s only thrown eight touchdowns and seven interceptions, and I’ve been impressed with him. The defense at Clemson is absolutely outstanding each and every week. However, there’s going to be a week where they just don’t quite show up, and I think it’s going to be this time. I think we do not give Coach (Dave) Clawson near enough credit at Wake Forest. True, they are 9-1. True, they are the surprise team in the division, and it’s also true they haven’t beaten anybody real special. The one real good football team they played was North Carolina, and they lost that football game. Hartman, the quarterback, is now a four-year starter. Threw for I think it’s 30 touchdowns, only eight interceptions. The receiver, (A.T.) Perry, has 47 receptions, and 11 of those went for a touchdown. I think that even though it’s at Clemson, even though it’s going to determine who’s going to represent who in the championship game, I look for Wake Forest to upset Clemson, 31 to 24. Clemson’s offense is very suspect. Wake Forest has a great offense and a poor defense, so it’s a perfect matchup. The strength of each team is offset by the strength of the other team. But I think Wake Forest wins – 31, Clemson 24, in an upset. I know that they may rush me off to the insane asylum after that prediction, but I think it’s going to work out.”

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Did former N.C. State, Gamecock coach pick the Tigers over the Pack?

Ninth-ranked Clemson (2-1, 1-0 ACC) travels to NC State (2-1, 0-0) for a 3:30 p.m. tilt on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C. The Tigers are a 10-point favorite entering the contest. Former South Carolina, NC State and college …

Ninth-ranked Clemson (2-1, 1-0 ACC) travels to NC State (2-1, 0-0) for a 3:30 p.m. tilt on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C. The Tigers are a 10-point favorite entering the contest.

Former South Carolina, NC State and college football head coach Lou Holtz and former ESPN analyst Mark May gave their predictions for the game, with May picking Clemson to win 21-14 and Holtz picking the Tigers to win 17-14.

You can check out their full comments below:

May: “Looking at these two teams, guess what, quarterback play is going to be the issue in this game, and offensive line play. If you look at North Carolina State, Devin Leary has passed for 67 percent, six touchdowns to just two interceptions on the season. And I break this game down … If you look at Clemson, they’re supposed to be one of the top teams in the country. They score 14 points last week in their game against Georgia Tech. In their opener, just three points against Georgia. Maybe it’s just a Georgia thing. But I’m looking at Clemson as a 10-point favorite in this game, scratching my head saying the way that they’ve played offensively throughout the season, can they score that many points? If NC State scores 14 points in this game, that should be enough to cover. So, guess what, I’m going to take NC State and the 10 points. Clemson wins this game, but it’ll be an ugly seven-point victory. I’ve got Clemson winning this game, 21-14.”

Holtz: “I think that NC State’s a very difficult place to play, and Clemson is really puzzling to me. D.J., their quarterback, for this year, has thrown one touchdown, has one completion over 20 yards. They can’t run the football. Offensively, they have all kind of problems. I’m sure Dabo will figure that out. However, the one thing that they do have is Brent Venables, the great defensive coordinator for Clemson. They have not given up a single touchdown this entire year. I think that will come to a halt at NC State. But I think NC State will lose this football game by a score of 17-14, but it will be a great football game. But if Clemson’s defense doesn’t show up and play outstanding again, they are capable of losing this game unless they straighten out their offense.”

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Mark May come out of the shadows to troll Ohio State fans with Fiesta Bowl pick

Former Ohio State nemesis Mark May came out of hiding to troll Buckeye fans with his prediction for the Fiesta Bowl.

He’s back.

Gone from ESPN, and gone from college football mainstream in general, former Ohio State media nemesis Mark May has come out of hiding just in time for the 2019 Fiesta Bowl.

You remember May. He was famous for sticking it to Ohio State no matter what the situation, whenever given a chance. Whether it was picking against the Buckeyes in seemingly every big spotlight game, or simply nagging OSU fans at every corner, he literally made a career out of loving to hate anything scarlet and gray.

Well then. Dave Briggs of the Toledo Blade caught up with May out in Arizona and got him on camera providing his prediction for the Fiesta Bowl between Ohio State and Clemson. Yeah, you know how this is going to turn out.

“Buckeye fans, deep down you know I loved you forever and ever through the years — I was just toying and playing with you guys,” May told Briggs. “Nah … that wasn’t true. You know I was sticking it to you, and I’ll stick it to you again. I’m not done yet, I’ll be back.”

May then was asked to give his prediction on the game Saturday. I’m sure you can figure out how that went.

“You know what, to tell you the truth, I think Dabo Swinney and Clemson are going to rock the house,” May said. “Remember the last time you face Dabo? Huh, did you score a point? Are you going to score a point this time? I got Clemson winning again 38 — I’ll give you a point — 38 to 7.”

Listen to May yourself and watch him revel in tweaking Ohio State fans one more time thanks to Dave Briggs.

The more things change, the more they stay the same apparently when it comes to Mark May and his love affair with Ohio State fans.