Wisconsin had Jim Harbaugh’s number for the bulk of his tenure at Michigan
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh took the head job with the San Diego Chargers Wednesday night. The reigning national champion college coach returns to the NFL for the first time since 2014.
He leaves Michigan after a solid coaching tenure became a legendary one. Program stagnation and calls for his job in 2020 were met with three straight College Football Playoff appearances and this year’s national championship.
Harbaugh’s final record is 89-25. He went 2-6 in bowl games, a record that doesn’t count the national championship game.
There will be substantial fallout from this news. Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore is likely to get the job, which will create stability. But as seen with Alabama post-Nick Saban, there will be a 30-day transfer window for the entire roster. This could lead to widespread player departures from one of the nation’s best rosters.
Before all of that happens, it’s time to rehash Wisconsin’s history against Harbaugh over the last decade. Despite the direction the series trended after 2020, the Badgers actually had his number for a significant chunk of time.
Packers RB Aaron Jones finished the 2023 season with 5 straight games of 100 or more rushing yards, setting a new franchise record.
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones set the new franchise record for consecutive games with 100 or more rushing yards at five when he rushed for 108 yards during the Packers’ 24-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round.
Jones went over 100 rushing yards and set the new record on a 53-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Jones broke Ahman Green’s record of four straight 100-yard rushing games during the 2003 season. His five-game streak is tied for the 24th longest in NFL history and is the longest in the NFL since DeMarco Murray had eight straight in 2014.
Over the last five games, including the final three regular season games and two playoff games, Jones rushed for 127 yards, 120 yards, 111 yards, 118 yards and 108 yards.
Despite missing six games to injury and being limited to under 40 percent of snaps in three others, Jones still finished the year with 882 rushing yards and 1,136 total yards over 13 games, including the postseason. Of his 882 rushing yards, 584 came over the final five games.
Here’s Jones’ end to the 2023 season, in visual form:
According to the Packers, Jones was the first player to rush for over 100 yards against the 49ers in 50 games.
Barry Sanders currently holds the NFL record for consecutive games with 100 or more rushing yards at 14 during the 1997 season.
Jones, 29, is under contract to return to the Packers at a cap number of a little over $17 million in 2024. His deal voids after the 2024 season.
Eric Allee was targeting bass when he reeled in perhaps the largest crappie ever caught in the state.
A Colorado angler who landed perhaps the largest crappie ever caught in the state last November has been awarded a catch-and-release record.
Eric Allee was targeting bass from a kayak at McKay Lake on Nov. 12 when he spotted what he assumed were three large crappie on his forward-facing sonar unit.
Allee, a marketing director at Eagle Claw Tackle in Denver, hooked one of the fish with a 3.6-inch Berkley Flat Worm and soon realized that he might have a record crappie on his line.
On Friday, after being informed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife that his 18.25-inch black crappie had broken the previous catch-and-release length record, Allee told FTW Outdoors what went through his mind during the fight:
“It all happened so fast, but it felt like slow motion if that makes any sense. My heart was pounding, I was trying to remain tactful, and I was petrified at the same time.
“When she breached the surface, I would cringe every time her head would shake. Anyone who’s ever chased crappie knows they’re notorious for having paper-thin skin around the framework of their jaw; with a fish that heavy, if she was hooked in the thin-skinned parts of her mouth, it’s a recipe for disaster.
“After what seemed like forever, I felt instant relief when I scooped the net under her and lifted her out of the water.”
Eric Allee poses with 18.25-inch black crappie before releasing the fish. Photo: Eric Allee
Allee said the crappie weighed 3 pounds, 15 ounces on a scale he keeps on his kayak. He knew he could also shatter the Colorado weight record (3.48 pounds, set in 2017) if he killed the fish to have it weighed somewhere on a certified scale.
But Allee told FTW Outdoors that the fish was so large and magnificent-looking that he chose to toss it back after immortalizing the catch with a photograph.
“I didn’t want to kill the fish for the record,” he said. “It’s not that I’m against killing fish, I eat crappie often, but didn’t want to kill the fish just for the record.
“There’s more to it for me, too. I practice selective harvest and there’s something special about watching big fish go back.”
Colorado is not known for giant crappie, but any crappie topping three pounds is a giant.
For comparison, the all-tackle world-record black crappie in the weight category stands at 5 pounds, 7 ounces. That fish was caught at Richeison Pond in Tennessee in 2018.
The International Game Fish Assn. lists as the length (release) record a tie between five catches measuring 37 centimeters, or about 14.6 inches.
Allee said he did not consider applying to the IGFA for a possible length record and bemoaned the fact that he missed the 60-day limit for record submissions.
Mickey Loomis can’t stop making bad excuses for Dennis Allen, comparing his second head coaching gig to rough starts from a couple of Hall of Famers:
Is Mickey Loomis proud of the turnaround the New Orleans Saints achieved back in 2006? Everything the longtime general manager has said in recent weeks would suggest he isn’t. First, Loomis compared Derek Carr’s ugly first season with the Saints to a fictitious retelling of Drew Brees’ debut way back when.
Then, on Wednesday when speaking to local media, Loomis tried to get clever and compare head coach Dennis Allen’s lack of success to similar rough starts for a couple of Hall of Fame coaches like Bill Walsh, Chuck Noll, and Bill Belichick — and Sean Payton, who Loomis recalled facing public outcry after underwhelming performances in 2007 and 2008.
“I think sometimes the easy thing to do, the lazy thing to do is look at the results of the season and say ‘ah it’s the coach’s fault, it’s the quarterback’s fault.’ I think sometimes you have to look beyond that,” Loomis said, pointing to the records each of those coaches achieved in their first two years on the job. Walsh went 8-24 in his first two years with the San Francisco 49ers. Noll was 6-22 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Belichick had a 13-19 showing after his first two years with the Cleveland Browns. Payton went 7-9 and 8-8 in his second and third years on the job.
But it’s a bogus comparison. Allen may be 16-18 after two seasons with the Saints, but you can’t compare these situations the way Loomis is trying to. It isn’t like Allen is new to the responsibilities of being a head coach. He had three years to figure these things out a decade ago with the Raiders. Walsh, Noll, Belichick, and Payton were all first-timers. Allen has been here before but he doesn’t have the results to show for it.
To be clear, Loomis should believe in Allen seeing that he brought the coach back for a third year at the helm. Loomis, however, doesn’t need to make ridiculous comparisons to attempt to defend his guy. The comparisons are meant to express things haven’t gone well but can get better, and Dennis Allen’s record isn’t a full reflection of his ability Comparing Allen to Payton and Belichick, and multiple Hall of Famers, dilutes the point.
And Payton, specifically, accomplished much more than Allen had to this point in his career. Has Loomis forgotten that he led the Saints to the NFC championship game in his first season with New Orleans? That he won more games in his first year as a head coach than Allen has ever managed in five? Allen can’t even win the weakest division in pro football two years running.
But Loomis hired Allen, and he’s going to keep making excuses for Allen’s shortcomings until things change. And hopefully they will. There’s enough talent on this roster to get into the playoffs. Maybe the Saints can make enough changes to the coaching staff this offseason to get over that hump. But they can do that without having their general manager embarrass himself whenever he gets in front of a microphone.
2023-24 OKC Thunder breaks franchise record for most 30-plus assist games in season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder made franchise history in their 128-120 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday.
After racking up 36 assists on 51 made shots, the 2023-24 Thunder own the franchise record for most 30-plus assists games in a season with 12. OKC managed to do that in 36 games.
The previous record holders were the 2022-23 and 2018-19 Thunder, who totaled 11 games with 30-plus assists in their 82 contests.
This speaks volumes to how well the offensive machine Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault has is running right now. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, OKC is playing a successful style of offense.
It also likely speaks about the evolution of basketball and how high-scoring games have become the norm. That shouldn’t take away from what Daigneault and the Thunder have accomplished so far this season.
Report: A loss to Saints could prompt Falcons into firing Arthur Smith, pursuing longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick, head coach of the Atlanta Falcons? It’s more likely than you’d think. The New England Patriots appear to be poised for a divorce with one of the winningest coaches in NFL history, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport suggests the Falcons could pursue him if he becomes avaiable — and if they lose to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
That at least implies that Falcons head coach Arthur Smith (21-29, and 7-9 going into this Saints game) is on the hot seat and he’ll need a strong showing to save his job. But here’s what Rapoport had to say about the situation:
But a loss would drop Atlanta to 1-4 over its final five games of the regular season and ensure a third straight seven-win season, heightening scrutiny on the progress of the football operation at a time when there could be big-name coaches — including Patriots legend Bill Belichick, whose name has come up frequently in connection with Atlanta in conversations with league sources the past week — potentially becoming available.
Obviously competing with Belichick for a division the Saints haven’t been able to win with Dennis Allen at head coach is unappealing. But Belichick hasn’t found the same results since he split with Tom Brady. His record is 84-101 without Brady in his corner. Belichick was unable to find a worthy successor in New England, including first-round draft bust Mac Jones, and it’s unclear whether he could do so in Atlanta. The possibility is just one more thing to keep in mind at kickoff in New Orleans.
Here we go: the New Orleans Saints have revealed their Week 18 uniform combination, choosing to wear black jerseys and matching pants in their regular season finale with the Atlanta Falcons.
This specific all-black uniform combo has been worn in more games since 2006 than any other; the Saints have achieved a 53-37 record while wearing them, including the playoffs. But that’s a win percentage of just .589 which lags behind their record in some other kits.
If you’re curious (or just a little superstitious), here’s how that compares to the other uniforms used since 2006 (not including the controversial gold jerseys used in a loss back in 2003):
With one more field goal, Broncos kicker Wil Lutz will tie a single-season franchise record held by Jason Elam (31).
Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton made a surprising move this spring when he released veteran kicker Brandon McManus and replaced him with Wil Lutz.
In hindsight, it looks like Payton made the right decision.
Lutz has converted 88.2% of his field goal attempts this season, better than McManus (80.0%) with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Lutz also has a cheaper contract — switching from McManus to Lutz saved Denver $2.05 million.
“I think he’s doing well,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of Lutz on Dec. 1. “He’s made some big kicks for us, and he’s been in some big spots … I think he’s doing a good job and I’m glad we have him.”
The 29-year-old kicker is just one field goal away from tying Jason Elam’s franchise record of 31 field goals in a single season (Brandon McManus and Matt Prater both converted 30 field goals in a single season).
Elam made 31 field goals in two different seasons (1995 and 2001) and to be fair to history, Elam did that during the 16-game era. Still, even with an extra game, Lutz’s numbers are impressive. Two field goals on Sunday would break Elam’s record.
Lutz has also had 88.5% of his kickoffs go for touchbacks this season, seventh-most in the NFL. McManus (75.6%) ranks 23rd.
McManus was one of the best kickers in franchise history and a key member of Denver’s Super Bowl 50 team, but Payton made the right move to switch to Lutz this offseason.
Bryan Bresee owns the Saints rookie sacks record for a DT. No interior lineman has had more sacks in their rookie year for the Saints since tracking began in 1982:
Don’t look now, but Bryan Bresee is closing in on the New Orleans Saints’ rookie sacks record for defensive tackles. He may have it already. Bresee sacked Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Bake Mayfield on Sunday, putting his season total at 4.5 sacks — which would be the official record, pushing Sedrick Ellis (2008) and Sheldon Rankins (2016) down and into a tie for second-place.
But depending on where you look, Bresee may still be in second place. Officially, his 4.5 sacks are the most by a rookie defensive tackle in Saints franchise history. Unofficially, thanks to the research of analysts at Pro Football Reference and Stathead, he’s still trailing one player in the team record books: Dave Rowe.
The second round pick of the Saints’ inaugural 1967 draft class (out of Penn State), Rowe finished his rookie season with 5.5 sacks. The first player to wear No. 76 in team history was an early fan-favorite on some really bad Saints teams, winning Pro Bowl recognition in 1968, and he went on to play for four different teams over his 12-year career, winning a Super Bowl ring with the Oakland Raiders in 1976.
But Rowe’s total is unofficial. It hasn’t been verified by another outlet or the NFL itself (which didn’t begin tracking sacks until 1982), so Bresee technically already has it in the bag. Still, it would be nice to see him remove all doubt and sack Taylor Heinicke or Desmond Ridder a few times next week in the regular season finale.
CeeDee Lamb set a new single-season receiving record for the Dallas Cowboys and here’s how social media reacted.
The Dallas Cowboys have one of the best wide receivers in the game in [autotag], CeeDee Lamb[/autotag], and now he’s proving to be one of the best in Cowboys history.
The former Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver set a new single-season receiving record with a big night for the Cowboys. In Dallas’ 20-19 win over the Detroit Lions, Lamb had 13 receptions for 227 yards and a touchdown. That gives Lamb 122 receptions for 1,651 yards and 10 touchdowns.
With the huge night, he passed Cowboys legend and NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin for the most receiving yards in a season in Dallas Cowboys history.
In his fourth season with the Cowboys, Lamb has ascended to be considered among the very best in the NFL. He’s seen his reception, yardage, and touchdown totals every season he’s been in the league.
He’s been every bit the player the Dallas Cowboys hoped they were getting and more when they selected him with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
In the process of setting the Cowboys single-season record, Lamb set single-game bests for receptions and yards in the win.
Let’s take a look at how social media reacted to Lamb’s historic day.
