Transfer decides

Okay, I'm about a day late on this information but it appears former Marshall standout Jenny Vining will be transferring to the land of the Golden Suns.
Vining, a sophomore at Oklahoma, visitied OBU on Saturday after announcing she would leave the Sooners' program. Her grandfather is legendary former OBU coach Bill Vining and she has former high school teammates playing at Arkansas Tech.
Sources say she has decided to play in Russellville.
While on the subject of women's college basketball, why does it appear that UA coach Tom Collen is suddenly on the hot seat when his predecessor Susie Gardner got a free ride up on the hill?
Gardner, quite possibly the most inept coach in any sport ever at the Division I level, took a top-25 program built by Gary Blair and absolutely destroyed it. She let out-of-state schools invade Arkansas and take away talent. She killed the Lady Razorbacks' relationship with the high school coaches and athletes.
When Collen took the job, it was already ruined. It will take years to repair all the damage Gardner did to that program. Yet, suddenly, fans are asking, "what's wrong with the women's program at Arkansas?"
Worse, they're putting the blame on Collen.
I'm not saying Collen is the best coach in the SEC. I'm not saying he can get it turned around. All I'm saying is, he's a hell of a lot better than the incompetent boob he replaced and should be given at least as long to fix it and she took to break it.

Darius Hayward-Bey?

I'm not a happy man. Oakland had the No. 7 pick in the NFL Draft and picked Darius Hayward-Bey.
Who the hell is Darius Hayward-Bey?
Michael Crabtree, the consensus top receiver in the draft, was still available. The second best offensive tackle in the draft was still available.
Who the hell is Darius Hayward-Bey?
Who the hell is Darius Hayward-Bey?
Im so pissed, right now.
Who the hell is Darius Hayward-Bey?
I didn't think they'd get the opportunity to pick Crabtree. I was shocked when he was still available. How do you pass up on Crabtree?
Who the hell is Darius Hayward-Bey?
%$#@!**&^
On a separate topic, Oklahoma shooting guard Jenny Vining announced she was leaving that program last week. The former Marshall state champion was scheduled to visit Ouachita Baptist on Saturday.
Rumor has her going to either OBU or Arkansas Tech, which has her high school teammate.
I don't know if OBU needs another perimeter player but an opportunity to get a D-I guard is one they won't pass up.
It'll be interesting where she ends up.
On another topic, who the hell is Darius Hayward-Bey?

Darn you, UConn

Connecticut won the women's national championship and the world didn't end the next day.
That's me looking on the bright side.
Well, as if UConn totally dominating the competition this season wasn't bad enough, Geno Auriemma has been named coach of the USA women's national team through the 2012 Olympics.
Whatever!
I'm sick of griping about UConn and the East coast prejudice towards ESPN's favorite program. I'll just root for Russia, again.
Speaking of UConn, Atlanta screwed up at the WNBA Draft by picking Louisville's Angel McCouthry instead of Renee Montgomery. The lady from Louisville (no, I didn't spell her name right and yes, I'm too lazy to look it up) didn't appear to be the best teammate in the world in the NCAA Tournament. She's good but a little streaky offensively for my taste. Speaking of taste, the announcers comparing her to Sheryl Swoopes should have the taste slapped out of their mouths.
As much as I hate UConn, I have to admit, if I was starting a team, I'd feel good about picking Montgomery as my point guard.
Oh well, it looks like Atlanta will be the latest dumbass organization in the WNBA.
***
Changing levels, I was in Parkers Chapel yesterday to see Coach Mark Young. The coach wasn't in his office when I got there so I made myself at home sitting at his desk. I saw several letters from colleges and, being a snoopy journalist, I took a quick peek.
Sophomore Savanna Langston has started getting letters from the likes of Arkansas and South Carolina, among others.
Young, who coached former Lady Techster Latasha Crain while she was at Kingsland, knows how the recruiting process works. It's just getting started for Langston, who will be a hot commodity by the time she's a senior.
***
We got a press release this week announcing former Conway standout Sidney Stewart had requested and been granted a release by Louisiana Tech. The release said Stewart was homesick, which would appear to target UCA as her future home.
Rumor has it, Oklahoma's Jenny Vining might also be considering transferring. I don't know if she wants to come back to Arkansas or what level she'll compete at. The gymnasium at OBU has her grandfather's name on it.

Beefed up schedule, too tough

Laurel Pfahler
Special to Rivals High
They say a better schedule makes for a better team, but a beefed-up slate might actually end up hurting the three-time defending state champion Vero Beach (Fla.) High girls' lacrosse team.
The Florida High School Athletic Association has received reports that the Fighting Indians (19-1) violated a new rule requiring teams to play at least 60 percent of their schedule against in-state opponents. The guideline is a stipulation for playing in the FHSAA State Series, which is now under way, and could prevent Vero Beach from defending its throne.
Cristina Alvarez, the FHSAA director of media relations and marketing, said a ruling is pending because Denarvise Thornton Jr., the associate executive director for athletic administration, is out of the office until next week.
"We are going to look into it, and once that occurs, we can find out where to go from there," Alvarez said.
The Indians played just 44 percent of their schedule against in-state teams during the regular season, with eight games against FHSAA opponents and 10 against out-of-state opponents, according to results reported to Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers and LaxPower.com, which were confirmed by Vero Beach coach Shannon Dean.
Dean did not want to comment until after speaking with his athletic director and could not be reached.
FHSAA Policy 10 of the State Series Commitment Form Policy and Procedures guidelines states, "Effective with the 2008-09 school year, a school must play not less than 60 percent of its regular season contests in the sport against FHSAA member schools" in order to be eligible for participation in the FHSAA State Series in any sport.
There were no variations of that rule last year.
Vero Beach athletic director Tim Tharp said he could not comment in detail until he meets with fellow administrators next week when the school returns from spring break.
"We feel our programs are in compliance with FHSAA guidelines," Tharp said. "But it's an allegation we will address when we return to school."
The Indians won the first FHSAA-recognized state title last year, marking its third consecutive state championship with the first two coming in the non-sanctioned Florida Lacrosse League.
In the past, Dean, who owns a 138-17-1 record over the past four seasons, has attributed his team's success in part to playing more-seasoned out-of-state competition. Vero Beach started its program in 1998 and is one of the few public schools in Florida with an established feeder program, as the two middle schools within its boundaries formed teams in 2002.
Lacrosse is a fast-growing sport in Florida but just became an FHSAA-recognized sport last year, and the competition is not yet up to par with teams from northern states, where athletes grow up playing lacrosse.
Vero Beach has outscored its opponents 303by more than 250 goals this season and hasn't lost a game to a Florida team since a 7-6 loss to Lake Brantley in the 2007 season opener, which it went on to avenge in the FLL state championship. Archbishop Spalding (Md.) handed Vero Beach its only loss this season, a 9-4 decision.
Though the Indians have dominated Florida, they are power-rated just 42nd nationally, according to LaxPower.com. Florida's second-rated team, Lake Worth (Fla.) Park Vista, which Vero Beach thrashed 18-2 in last year's state final, sits at No. 316 in the national ratings.
Dean said he believes his team has the recipe and ingredients to win a fourth consecutive title this year, but the only thing that might stop the Indians is a ruling against them.
Although FHSAA State Series competition has begun, Alvarez said it is possible Vero Beach's postseason run could end.
"We have kicked teams out of the playoffs for violations before," Alvarez said.