(An Extensive) View From the Stands-Jan. 25th, 2009

It has been a long week, and a lot has happened since I last took a seat to look out at the sports world.

So, to make up for lost time, here is an ultra-extended version of View from the Stands.

• NJIT is no longer Ice Cold! That's right, the Highlanders who made my list of the coldest of the cold finally won their first game as a Division-I basketball team on Wednesday. The New Jersey Institute of Technology beat Bryant University out of Smithfield, Rhode Island 61-51 to get their first win in their last fifty-two games. The Highlanders led by as much as 18 at early points in the second half before finishing off the Bulldogs.
• The Reuben Randle Saga continues. Since his visit last weekend to Tuscaloosa, a lot has happened in the chase for Louisiana's top prospect Reuben Randle. First, he has now officially said he will take a visit to Auburn next weekend after going to LSU this weekend. Speaking of LSU, wide receiver Brandon LaFell withdrew his name from the NFL Draft, filling up a spot that could have easily been taken by Randle had LaFell stayed declared. It was also a scary site for Alabama fans this week when an LSU rivals' writer left the Tide out of Randle's top three in an article about the nation's top high school receiver. But don't worry folks, hopefully it will all be over in nine more days...that is, unless Randle pulls a Terrell Pryor.
• James Willis switches over from the dark side. Nick Saban made un-characteristically quick work in hiring replacements for the spots made available on his staff, and managed to make some big noise with them as well. Saban hired Sal Sunseri from the Carolina Panthers to coach the linebackers, along with former Auburn linebackers coach James Willis. Both are considered serious recruiters in college football, something Saban always places a great emphasis on.
• Alonzo Mourning, Jeff Kent hang it up. On Thursday, two of the greats in their respective games said goodbye for the last time. Alonzo Mourning, a man who deserves great respect after his battle with cancer and still making a comeback, officially announced his retirement after not playing in a game for over a year. Mourning was a part of the Heat team with Shaq and Dwyane Wade that won it all a few years back and was Mourning only title. Mourning was also a two-time defensive player of the year during his peak. Jeff Kent has long been known as one of the best second basemen in baseball. Now that he has retired, he is in the discussion for the best ever. After a career that saw him peak with the Giants and end with the Dodgers, Kent is the all-time leader in home runs by a second baseman. Kent managed to win one MVP award while playing with the Giants and was always a feared hitter when he stepped into the box. Both sports will miss these players.
• Kay Yow loses her battle with cancer. There are few coaches in basketball who can match their impact off the court with their impact on the court. Jim Valvano was one of them, and N.C. State women's head coach Kay Yow was one as well. The 66-year old passed away yesterday morning after a 21-year battle with breast cancer. Yow had stepped down from coaching this season about two weeks ago when the cancer reappeared. Yow had been on and off the bench over the past few years as she courageously battled the disease which kept her from the game she loved. She is one of only seven women's basketball coaches to ever reach 700 career wins, a platform which she shares with her good friend Pat Summit. Yow also won a gold medal in 1988 while coaching the women's national team and also lead NC State to a Final Four during her career.