Phillip's blog: Ramblin' around

I watched Marquis Daniels give the Boston Celtics a spark off the bench in their victory over the Miami Heat in the NBA playoffs Friday night, and it made me feel good.

Senior Editor Phillip Marshall

Daniels is the kind of guy that makes college athletics worthwhile. He came to Auburn after a rough childhood in Orlando. He barely qualified. Not only did he become star, he graduated in 3 1/2 years. And he was a class act on and off the court every step of the way. ...

It also hit me Friday night that the 2003 team that Daniels led to the Sweet 16 was the last to represent Auburn in the NCAA Tournament. ...

You have to give Alabama credit for a remarkable athletic year - three national championships already and threatening to win two more. Auburn basketball, baseball, softball and women's basketball really do need to get better, and soon.

Those sports mean more than once did. Compete on a national level, and you'll be on national television. That means exposure for your athletic program and your school. There'll be even more exposure when the SEC Network comes into being in near future. ...

I am convinced now. Samford really does have the best baseball team in the state this season. That's a program with no lottery scholarships, almost no money at all and no SEC competition to sell to recruits. Casey Dunn and his guys earned the biggest win in school history when they beat Mississippi State 5-0 in the Tallahassee Regional Friday. ...

Talk about bad nights. In Kentucky's 21-inning 7-6 loss to Kent State, shortstop J.T. Riddle was 0-for-9. ...

I don't know if Vanderbilt coach James Franklin's statement that he only wants assistant coaches with very attractive wives was said in jest or not. If he meant it, he really is a jerk. If he didn't mean it or even if he did, saying it was stupid. Very stupid. Franklin really, really likes to hear himself talk. Before he says too much, he might want to consider that in 2008, not that long ago, Vanderbilt won more games than he won last season. ...

Until next time. ...