"Keep your mouth shut and your ears open."
Eight words of advice I received more than 25 years ago from Richard Witt, a fellow graduate from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
Witt, who employs the nickname "Wildcat" for his contributions to the New York Post, offered the valuable guidance during a conversation at the now-shuttered Stardust Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Listening is an underrated skill, especially in the gambling arena or any investment venue, for that matter.
Most people listen with the intent to reply; few people listen to fully comprehend the intended message.
Handicapping smarts and gambling wisdom are qualities gained from a lifetime of listening.
Once a person has mastered the art of listening, the next step in the process is listening to the right people.
And here's where the conundrum arrives.
In the sports betting world, winning gamblers rarely share their insight while losers never shut up.
How do you know who to trust?
It's wise to track others to discover which handicappers offer unique insight and ultimately a proven record of success.
I'm interested in listening to the comments of sharp sports handicappers like Frank Betti, Ron Boyles, ComptrBob, Alan Denkenson, Steve Fezzik and Matt Hatfield, just to name a handful.
The betting marketplace also speaks.
Pay close attention to the first hour of wagering when savvy gamblers are correcting the house's evaluations and the last hour of wagering when injury information and lineup changes are coming to light.
Last month, I had the pleasure of sharing lunch with Nevada head football coach Jay Norvell.
He talked and I listened.
The 52-year-old Norvell is a University of Iowa product where he played under Hayden Fry and played alongside the Stoops brothers, Bob and Mike.
(Editor's note: Norvell did not mention playing alongside EOG contributor FISHHEAD)
Norvell taught me a few things about the game of football and offered plenty of insight on the style of football he likes to play in Reno.
Here are a dozen notes I scribbled on my napkin:
1) If you want to find out how a team is going to play on Saturday, find out how they practiced in the days leading up to the game. A team that practices well, plays well.
2) University of Nevada running backs are not allowed to dance until they get the first down. Run north-south, just as the play is scripted, and then once you hit the open field, you can start to juke and jive.
3) We teach our quarterbacks to throw away from defenders. Some coaches instruct quarterbacks to hit the receiver in the numbers. What if the receiver is blanketed by coverage or bracketed by double-coverage? Quarterbacks must throw away from defenders. Location, location, location.
4) I like to design plays with our fastest receivers in the slot, forcing opposing safeties to cover them.
5) The more physical team wins. We implore our players to play with their hair on fire.
6) Plays in the kicking game are worth points or field position.
7) Placekicking in college football is a crap shoot. In the NFL, a 40-yard field goal is a gimme. There are no sure things at the college level.
8) Our linebackers are taught to play downhill.
9) We teach our cornerbacks and safeties, the last line of defense, to trust their training and use good judgment, especially in space.
10) We believe in analytics but you must make decisions based on your roster with the talent of your players in mind. (A similar point made by ComptrBob in a recent conversation)
11) The greatest measure of any defense can be summed up in one word: PURSUIT. How many hats do you get to the football?
12) Our defensive coordinator, Jeff Casteel, likes to keep it simple. He tells our defensive guys (with tongue in cheek) that the opposing offense is either going to A) Run the ball or B) Pass the ball.
Nevada football is in good hands under Jay Norvell.
Norvell respects the team's past (running plays designed by coaching legend Chris Ault) while clearing a new path for the future (constantly bragging about the talented freshmen on this year's team).
Bowl-eligible Nevada (6-4 overall, 4-2 MW) features a stingy defense and a ball-control offense and they're clearly one of the most improved teams in college football this season.
They've also covered four straight games.
(Wink, wink, nudge nudge)
Eight words of advice I received more than 25 years ago from Richard Witt, a fellow graduate from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
Witt, who employs the nickname "Wildcat" for his contributions to the New York Post, offered the valuable guidance during a conversation at the now-shuttered Stardust Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Listening is an underrated skill, especially in the gambling arena or any investment venue, for that matter.
Most people listen with the intent to reply; few people listen to fully comprehend the intended message.
Handicapping smarts and gambling wisdom are qualities gained from a lifetime of listening.
Once a person has mastered the art of listening, the next step in the process is listening to the right people.
And here's where the conundrum arrives.
In the sports betting world, winning gamblers rarely share their insight while losers never shut up.
How do you know who to trust?
It's wise to track others to discover which handicappers offer unique insight and ultimately a proven record of success.
I'm interested in listening to the comments of sharp sports handicappers like Frank Betti, Ron Boyles, ComptrBob, Alan Denkenson, Steve Fezzik and Matt Hatfield, just to name a handful.
The betting marketplace also speaks.
Pay close attention to the first hour of wagering when savvy gamblers are correcting the house's evaluations and the last hour of wagering when injury information and lineup changes are coming to light.
Last month, I had the pleasure of sharing lunch with Nevada head football coach Jay Norvell.
He talked and I listened.
The 52-year-old Norvell is a University of Iowa product where he played under Hayden Fry and played alongside the Stoops brothers, Bob and Mike.
(Editor's note: Norvell did not mention playing alongside EOG contributor FISHHEAD)
Norvell taught me a few things about the game of football and offered plenty of insight on the style of football he likes to play in Reno.
Here are a dozen notes I scribbled on my napkin:
1) If you want to find out how a team is going to play on Saturday, find out how they practiced in the days leading up to the game. A team that practices well, plays well.
2) University of Nevada running backs are not allowed to dance until they get the first down. Run north-south, just as the play is scripted, and then once you hit the open field, you can start to juke and jive.
3) We teach our quarterbacks to throw away from defenders. Some coaches instruct quarterbacks to hit the receiver in the numbers. What if the receiver is blanketed by coverage or bracketed by double-coverage? Quarterbacks must throw away from defenders. Location, location, location.
4) I like to design plays with our fastest receivers in the slot, forcing opposing safeties to cover them.
5) The more physical team wins. We implore our players to play with their hair on fire.
6) Plays in the kicking game are worth points or field position.
7) Placekicking in college football is a crap shoot. In the NFL, a 40-yard field goal is a gimme. There are no sure things at the college level.
8) Our linebackers are taught to play downhill.
9) We teach our cornerbacks and safeties, the last line of defense, to trust their training and use good judgment, especially in space.
10) We believe in analytics but you must make decisions based on your roster with the talent of your players in mind. (A similar point made by ComptrBob in a recent conversation)
11) The greatest measure of any defense can be summed up in one word: PURSUIT. How many hats do you get to the football?
12) Our defensive coordinator, Jeff Casteel, likes to keep it simple. He tells our defensive guys (with tongue in cheek) that the opposing offense is either going to A) Run the ball or B) Pass the ball.
Nevada football is in good hands under Jay Norvell.
Norvell respects the team's past (running plays designed by coaching legend Chris Ault) while clearing a new path for the future (constantly bragging about the talented freshmen on this year's team).
Bowl-eligible Nevada (6-4 overall, 4-2 MW) features a stingy defense and a ball-control offense and they're clearly one of the most improved teams in college football this season.
They've also covered four straight games.
(Wink, wink, nudge nudge)
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