About manuch

Dan Manucci aka Manuch is a long time Arizona resident. Manuch graduatedfrom Tempe McClintock High School and Mesa Community college before earning a football scholarship from Kansas State University. He led the Big 8 in passing his senior year, and was named 1978 All-Big 8 Honorable Mention. Manuch was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 5th round in1979. He played QB for the Bills in 1979-80, Toronto Argonauts 1981, Arizona Wranglers of the USFL 1983, and played with the Buffalo Bills replacement team of 1987. Dan started his broadcast career in 1992 in hosting the Arizona Cardinals pre-game and post-game shows. Manuch wasa part of the Cardinals Broadcast team for 11 years, and a part of the ASU Sun Devils radio and TV football broadcasts. He is involved with the local NFL Retired Players Association, former Executive Director of the National Football Foundation for the Valley of the Sun Chapter, and involved in numerous charities. He has been a co-host of Calling All Sports since 2004.

Sun Devil Nation Frustrated with Mediocrity

Posted on November 29, 2011 by manuch

In watching ASU teams and players in the late 60′s, 70′s, and 80′s, like Spaghetti Joe Spagnola, JD Hill, Woody Green, Mike Haynes, Danny White, JeffVan Raaphorst, Gerald Riggs, and Randall McDaniel, was majestic and a can’t wait and watch on Saturdays nights at Sun Devil Stadium.

You always knew you would see an exciting team that was fast, focused, and extremely intense. Losses were few and far between, but every year was full of promise and you knew you’d get a team that would challenge for the WAC or PAC 10 Conference Title.

They were disciplined teams, that kept mental mistakes to a minimum, and didn’t have personal foul penalties called on them on successive plays, or continually jump offsides on key 3rd down plays on the final drive of a game. OR, better yet, allow a pass completion on 3RD DOWN AND 29 for a first down, for a game winning scoring drive… Are you serious!!?? Otherwise, that player would sit for a game, or run his butt off starting at 5:00 am the next morning for an entire week. WOW, what a concept to cure someone of their mental irregularities.

The late Bruce Snyder era from 1992-2000 had two great years, 1996, 11-1 (Rose Bowl loss to Ohio St) and 1997, 9-3 (Sun Bowl victory). But overall, his record at ASU was 58-45. Most of the teams struggled to be .500 or better. Frustrating at times for Sun Devil fans.

But ever since 2000, with the Dirk Koetter era, 2001-2006, a 40-34 won-loss record, no PAC 10 Title, and Dennis Erickson era, 2007-2011, a 31-30 won-loss record, with a tie for the PAC 10 Title in year one. The total 2000-2011 won-loss record is just a hair above .500 at 71-64.

This is TOTALLY unacceptable, and frustrating for the Sun Devil nation and former players.

Time has come for Lisa Love to make a bold and decisive move in hiring a coach who is a WINNER ALL THE TIME! Sun Devil fans don’t care about physical responsibility. They want consistent, competitive, fast paced and intense football. A team that has a shot at winning the PAC 12 year in and year out.

At what point did Stanford, Cal, UCLA, Oregon and Washington get the memo it was OK to thump ASU every year! REALLY!! Stanford, Oregon and Cal on a regular basis.

Sorry Lisa Love, you need to read the memos from the Sun Devil nation. They are not happy, and will stop donating and supporting a program that has underachieved for too many years, and has fallen to the likes of, I hate to say it, Washington St??

The Sun Devil nation is fed up, and not going to take it anymore.

Keep on keepin on!

Manuch

Playing Cardinals Backup QB John Skelton Puts Entire Team In Jeopardy

Posted on November 4, 2011 by manuch

It looks as though quarterback John Skelton may be the starting for the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday against the St. Louis Rams.

The turf toe that quarterback Kevin Kolb suffered on his right foot makes it extremely hard to plant and push off. He won’t be able to get a strong drop back, and will not be able to get much power behind his ball as he throws down the field.

With Skelton now the starter, this puts the entire team on RED ALERT!

By Red Alert, I mean that the entire team has to step up their game to an all new level. We call that, doing all that you can do, to make up for the ineffectiveness that Skelton will most likely show on the field.

Skelton will lack timing, tempo, and continuity with his receivers. He will not be able to react to key blitz packages thrown at him by the Rams, and most of all, won’t have the mobilty required with his bad offensive line.

Continue reading →

Lack of Cards Focus Falls on Whisenhunt

Posted on October 25, 2011 by manuch

In watching the Arizona Cardinals get hammered by the Pittsburgh Steelers 32-20 on Sunday, the one thing that sticks out more than anything, are the continued mental mistakes after their 6th game. Yes THE SIXTH game!!

Sure, you would think that the first 3 or 4 games that was going to happen because of the lockout, and lack of practices/OTA’s/mini-camps, whatever you want to blame it on. But it’s week six folks.

Maybe Whiz was TOO SOFT on the boys at Camp, even with the new CBA. ”No, we’ll be much fresher and we’ll be able to hold up longer” players were quoted as saying. That was somewhat the theme at Cards Camp this past summer.

OK, I get all of that, but Coaches and Players should ALL be on the same page by now.

This Cardinals team isn’t even in the same classroom, let alone reading from the same book after six games.

THAT fans, rests on the Head Coach/Teacher of that classroom.

After watching the same horrible pass blocking, missed hot reads by quarterback Kevin Kolb and several of his receivers, the CONTINUED blown coverages in the secondary, and the ill-timed penalties by both sides of the ball, SHOWS me, this team is not mentally prepared on Sunday afternoons.

Where was the intensity and new found focus this Cards team was going to have after the bye week? Where was everyone being on that SAME page after the players and coaches had their family intervention with Dr. Phil?

Come on, a Cumbaya session after only five weeks of the season. Hell, if I’m the head coach, I tell’em all, “If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen”. Or better yet, “Don’t let the door hit you in the rear on the way out”.

Who’s running the show over there anyways, the inmates?!

Whiz needs to read the book, The Man in the Mirror, and re-evaluate his way and style of getting a team ready to play.

He no longer has that great cushion who wore number 13 a few short years ago to keep him out of the fire week in and week out. By the way, his record is 6-16 since Kurt Warner has retired.

It’s time for Whiz to re-adjust his philosphy, or he will be looking for a new classroom to teach at in the near future.

Like my old coach Chuck Knox of the LA Rams and Buffalo Bills would say, “Players win and Coaches lose”.

Keep on keepin on!

Manuch