The College Football Independent

Were not in Dallas anymore!

2009-07-30T12:55:00.000-05:00

The Cotton Bowl has officially left Dallas, TX behind and has moved into Arlington, TX.

LINK

Personally, I can't stand it! I am a traditionalist and really liked the old stadium. Sure, it was not a fancy place, but it was "tradition." It was a piece of College Football History! I am glad that I went to the 2005 Cotton Bowl (among many others), as I won't get that opportunity again.

It is for this same reason that I traveled to Miami in 2007 to see Miami play in the original Orange Bowl. I just had to see it before it was gone!

Southwest Classic Logo

2009-07-30T12:45:00.000-05:00

The logo for the game between Arkansas and Texas A&M has been released. Opinions about the logo seem to be all over the map, as some hate it and others like it.

Personally, I am one that likes to see things like this "grow" naturally from a rivalry game that is played over a period of time. However, I have to say that I actually think this logo is pretty sharp.

One thing that I would have done to make the logo better is that I would have left the team logos off. I would have made the logo about the game, and not necessarily the two teams.

For example, when someone says "Red River Shoot-Out," you automatically think of the Longhorns and Sooners. You don't need to see a logo that shows both of the teams who are playing in that game, because you know exactly who plays in the "Red River Shoot-Out."

I would like for this game to carry the same weight, however, I understand that it is not on the level as the game between Texas and Oklahoma. Who knows, maybe it can get there!? With enough money, anything is possible.

Statistical Greatness!

2009-07-30T11:41:00.003-05:00

You need to go to www.CollegeGameBalls.com and check out the Statistical Break-Down they created in order to determine the best teams of the last five years.

There are a lot of ways to create a list like this, but this is one of the better ways to do it (in my opinion).

List of Top Teams over the past 5 seasons!

Campaign Sites - 2009

2009-07-12T21:06:00.005-05:00

http://www.7-to-9.com/

http://www.berryforheisman.com/

Best fans? Texting for Trouble?

2009-06-30T22:13:00.004-05:00

So after reading this article, my first question was..."I thought Nebraska fans were suppose to be the greatest anywhere?"

Did the Nebraska Ath. Dept. not realize that this was going to be taken negatively by a lot of people? What a great way to shoot your own reputation in the foot!

It also may offer a better opportunity for fans to report another fan without anyone knowing.

“If they’re sitting there taking abuse or listening to someone speaking inappropriately or having some inappropriate conduct, they can report that almost anonymously,” Yardley said.

I hope they define "inappropriate" in a way that everyone understands. If not, I suspect a lot of people will get turned in for just "being a little annoying."

While I too want those who annoy me to simply go away, I am not sure that I should be able to report "annoying" behavior to the police. After all, isn't that "subjective?"

My second question was; if you are sitting there and the cops come up and arrest (?) you. Do you have a chance to rebut the accusation?

I guess we will just have to see how this plays out.

If you want to read more, check out HuskerExtra.com or Omaha.com and TheWizofOdds.com

This new "texting" feature at Nebraska (and Florida has it as well), reminds me of another campaign that the University of Texas started a few years ago. The same (or similar) campaign started at Ohio State first, but then Texas decided to run with it shortly after.

UT announces good-sportsmanship campaign
By John Maher | Tuesday, August 22, 2006, 01:22 PM

The University of Texas kicked off a campaign to promote good sportsmanship among fans Tuesday. The theme, which fans will soon be seeing on everything from T-shirts and cups to messages on the giant new scoreboard is: “Texas Fans Make Us Proud.”

Respectful, friendly and passionate will also be part of the message.

The campaign is the result of project started by the Texas Exes a year ago that included students, alumni, spirit groups and administrators. UT administrators said that the football team’s national championship last year will only magnify the spotlight on the team and fan behavior. They are also very aware that Ohio State fans will be coming to town for a Sept. 9 game and do not want a repeat of some of the behavior Longhorn fans encountered in Columbus.

UT fans will be urged to monitor their alcohol consumption, treat opposing teams and fans with respect, watch their language, tell ushers if they see inappropriate behavior and support the team enthusiastically.

Are Longhorn fans really that bad that they need a campaign such as this? I mean, if I didn't know how bad Texas Fans really were, then I guess its nice that their Ath. Dept. has taken it upon themselves to let me know in advance.

After all, what other message is this suppose to send??

Excitement in Ohio

2009-06-27T17:19:00.003-05:00

This is my "random" post of the day (I guess). I am thinking that if Ohio State can't get it done with Tyrell Pryor at the helm, then I am not sure what it is they are missing.

In other words, I think Pryor is the guy Ohio State has been looking for. In 2009, I am predicting that he will be that break-out player that has all the skills and speed to get Ohio State back into the spotlight, and to do it in a good way.

He has the potential to "wow" a lot of watchers, fans, and voters, and there will be plenty of recruits (who have speed) who will want to play at Ohio State because of him. Speed has been, arguably, the one thing that has kept Ohio State from getting over the BCS National Title Game "Bump."

Whether it really was or not, I think Pryor will the guy that solves that problem for the Buckeyes.

TexAgs.com in the NYTimes.com!

2009-06-27T16:56:00.006-05:00

As many visitors of this blog know, I attended Texas A&M University. Therefore, if I am online, I am usually on TexAgs.com reading threads, posting, etc. Anyway, I thought it was great that TexAgs.com got a "plug" in the New York Times, so I have posted it here.

The second article is one from two years ago. I think I posted it before but I figured I would re-post it again.

However, another reason I posted this is because I am very "beside myself" with where A&M's program currently is. I mean, here I am reading the NY Times, and they have A&M at No. 72 of 120 Teams. There are a lot of reasons why teams such as Oklahoma, Texas, and LSU are doing very well and why A&M is not. These teams are all in the same region and I guess something has to "give." Unfortunately, what has "given" is apparently A&M's football program.

On the other hand, if TCU, Baylor, and Oklahoma State can continue to "grow" as programs, there is no reason that A&M shouldn't be doing better (instantly)!

In the first article (below) they have listed the A&M schedule for 2009. I have highlighted the teams in BLUE that I think A&M will beat this season. However, I have highlighted in RED the teams that are most likely (at least on paper) to be a loss. Finally, the teams in GREEN are the ones that I either have no idea, or are a toss-up. According to this...it doesn't look great, as my colors has A&M at 4-6-2 (2 being the 2 in green).

On the other hand, I think Sherman is the guy who will at least get A&M back to a consistent 8 wins per season. I don't know if that will happen in 2009, and I don't think it is likely, but then again, I really really really hope I am wrong.

June 21, 2009, 12:17 pm — (Updated: 1:24 pm)
The Quad Countdown: No. 72 Texas A&M
By Paul Myerberg

What I predicted in last year’s preview: Looking at the Big 12 schedule, I see four wins in Kansas State, Iowa State, Colorado at home and Baylor. The other four are toss-ups, especially as A&M needs to go to Oklahoma State and Texas. What about the defense, you might ask? It is an area of concern, no question about it – but I see an improvement under Joe Kines, who has made a living out of creating top 10 defenses, especially against the pass. Over all, I expect an 8-4 season from A&M. I know many are projecting the Aggies to hover around .500, but I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Postseason re-ranking: No. 84.

2008 record and recap: (4-8, 2-6). Horrible, simply horrible. Could Mike Sherman’s first season back with Texas A&M have gone any worse? Yes, it actually could have. A&M’s four wins came by a total of 31 points, including narrow victories in nonconference play over New Mexico and Army. The Aggies even lost their home opener – to Arkansas State – for the first time in 20 years, perhaps a harbinger of the setbacks yet to come. Texas A&M allowed at least 41 points in seven of its losses, including an embarrassing three-game stretch to end the season in which the Aggies were outscored, 156-58. Among those final three games? A humiliating 41-21 loss at Baylor, which all but assured A&M’s first winless season in South division play since the conference’s formation. All told, the 2008 season greatly resembled Dennis Franchione’s first season, 2003, when the Aggies also finished 4-8. Though the 2003 team may have been worse defensively, if that’s possible, it did do two things last year’s Aggies could not: beat Arkansas State and Baylor. Suffice to say, there are many questions regarding the future of this program. Maybe I shouldn’t give them “the benefit of the doubt” in 2009?

High point: Texas A&M went 2-1 against the Big 12 North, with wins coming by 49-35 at Iowa State and by 24-17 over Colorado. Four wins on the season, and only was actually worth writing home about. (If beating a 5-7 Colorado team is cause for celebration.)

Low point: The hits just kept on coming for Sherman and the Aggies, starting with the humbling loss to A.S.U. in the season opener. The trend continued with knee-to-the-groin losses to Oklahoma State (56-28), Kansas State (44-30), Oklahoma (66-28), Baylor and Texas (49-9).

Tidbit: A&M’s 40-points loss to rival Texas was the program’s second-largest margin of defeat in the series, trailing only a 48-0 loss in 1898. A&M has recently experienced a measure of success in the series, in which Texas holds a commanding 74-36-5 advantage (two straight wins, 2006-7); however, it would take A&M’s combined margin from its last five victories over the Longhorns (1994, 1997, 1999, 2006-7) to better to the 40-point margin of a season ago.

Tidbit (U.T. edition): Or T.U., standing for “Texas University,” as A&M often refers to the rival Longhorns. The relationship between the two colleges, contentious on its best day, can be summed up in A&M’s fight song, the Aggie War Hymn. The song has 23 lines, 13 of which (by my count) reference their neighbors in Austin. For example, the War Hymn (sung to the tune of “Goodbye, My Coney Island Baby”) starts “Goodbye to Texas University,” and continues with lines like “the eyes of Texas are upon you/That is the song they sing so well/Sounds Like Hell/So goodbye to Texas University/We’re going to beat you all to…”

Of course, the final stanza is great fun, as Aggie fans repeat “Saw varsity’s horns off” while locking arms and swaying in unison, replicating the motion of a blade. I shiver at the thought of what a group of Aggie students would do to Bevo if they ever got their hands on him.

Former players in the N.F.L.: 29 – DT Michael Bennett (Seattle Seahawks), TE Martellus Bennett (Dallas Cowboys), DT Rocky Bernard (Giants), P Justin Brantly (Houston Texans), DT Red Bryant (Seattle Seahawks), CB Melvin Bullitt (Indianapolis Colts), TE Dan Campbell (New Orleans Saints), WR Jason Carter (Carolina Panthers), OT Corey Clark (San Diego Chargers), DT Ron Edwards (Kansas City Chiefs), CB Aaron Glenn (New Orleans Saints), WR Dante Hall (St. Louis Rams), C Geoff Hangartner (Buffalo Bills), LB Chris Harrington (Cincinnati Bengals), DT Johnny Jolly (Green Bay Packers), P Shane Lechler (Oakland Raiders), QB Stephen McGee (Dallas Cowboys), C Seth McKinney (Buffalo Bills), C Steve McKinney (Seattle Seahawks), DE Mike Montgomery (Green Bay Packers), C Don Muhlbach (Detroit Lions), DT Cyril Obiozor (Green Bay Packers), C Cody Wallace (San Francisco 49ers), DE Ty Warren (New England Patriots), CB Jason Webster (New England Patriots), DT Pat Williams (Minnesota Vikings), OG Billy Yates (New England Patriots).

Top five N.F.L. players from Texas A&M: I had been looking forward to this list for a while now because I really didn’t know what I was going to get from A&M. What do the Aggies have? One of the greats in Yale Lary, a memorable cornerback in Lester Hayes and a former M.V.P. in Moseley. Just missing the cut: linebackers Lee Roy Caffey and Jack Pardee and defensive end Jacob Green, among others.

This is a top-10 list so far, but not in the Countdown’s top three.
1. S Yale Lary (Detroit; 1952-64)
2. CB Lester Hayes (Oakland; 1977-86)
3. RB John David Crow (Chicago, St. Louis, S.F.; 1958-68)
4. DT Ray Childress (Houston, Dallas; 1985-96)
5. K Mark Moseley (Phi., Houston, Wash., Cleveland; 1970-86)

Team

Conference: Big 12, South division.
Head coach: Mike Sherman (’78 Central Connecticut State), 4-8 after one season with the Aggies. Could his first season have gone any worse? No, probably not. Should fans keep the faith? In Sherman’s favor, he is no stranger to the Aggie program, having served two separate stints as R.C. Slocum’s offensive line coach (1989-93, 1995-96). As stated in last year’s preview, most coaches need a year to acclimate themselves to a new program, so Sherman entered last fall with a leg up over any other candidate A&M could have considered. Not that it did him much good. Still, the speed with which Texas A&M went after Sherman – he was hired three days after the besieged Dennis Franchione resigned – signals the faith the university’s administration has in his ability to turn the program around. That optimism has surely been tested after last fall.

Sherman’s impressive resume includes 12 seasons in the N.F.L. as an assistant, a head coach and an executive. His professional career started with a two-year stint as a Packers assistant (1997-98, tight ends/assistant offensive line) under Mike Holmgren, which was followed by one season as the Seahawks offensive coordinator, again under Holmgren. Green Bay, reeling from an 8-8 season under Ray Rhodes, tabbed Sherman as its head coach before the 2000 season, a position he held through 2005. Sherman had a six-year record of 59-43, though that was hampered by a 4-12 season in 2005; through five years, Sherman’s .640 winning percentage was second in Packers history to Vince Lombardi. His 59 wins represent the fourth-most in Packers history. Sherman held an executive post in the Packers front office each of his six seasons, including, like his professional mentor Holmgren, being general manager from 2001 to 2004. He was fired after the 2005 season, then moved to Houston, where he was the Texans assistant head coach from 2006 to 2007.

Returning starters: 13 (7 offense, 6 defense).

Key losses: The Aggies must replace the heart of their running game, though neither Mike Goodson nor Jorvorskie Lane performed to their lofty standards in 2008. Lane, despite being undervalued, underused and often injured as a senior (93 yards and 5 scores), finished his Aggie career as the program’s career leader in rushing touchdowns (49), total scores (50) and had the most career points by a non-kicker (302). From his freshman through junior seasons, Lane never once dipped below 119 carries, 595 yards or 9 touchdowns in a season; in 2006 and 2007, he combined for 1,505 yards and 35 rushing touchdowns. Last fall, though admittedly stymied by injuries, Lane only twice had more than five carries in a game (seven against New Mexico and Army). The outside runner to Lane’s bruising style was Mike Goodson, the team’s leading rusher in 2006 (847 yards) and 2008 (406).

Like Lane, Goodson’s worst season of his career came last fall, when he received more than eight carries in a game only three times. After posting only 38 yards in the team’s final six games – two of which he missed to injury – Goodson wisely opted to enter the N.F.L. draft, forgoing his final year of eligibility. An early-season injury cost quarterback Stephen McGee the starting job he had held the previous two seasons, and he threw for only 586 yards in his final season. His legacy at A&M, one reinforced by top-five career rankings in completion percentage (59.5), total offense (7,225 yards) and passing yards (5,475), was secured by back-to-back victories over rival Texas (2006-7). It may be true, as Texas Tech’s Mike Leach proposed this off-season, that the Cowboys – the team that drafted McGee in the fourth round of April’s draft – like McGee more than Sherman did. Still, McGee’s limited senior season does not diminish his solid Aggies career.

Defensively, the Aggies lost both starting ends, Michael Bennett and Cyril Obiozor. In his first season as a starter, Bennett led all Aggies with 12 tackles for loss (adding two sacks and an interception). Obiozor, a two-year starter and a three-year contributor up front, led all A&M defensive linemen in tackles (45) and sacks (3) for the second straight season. Alton Dixon set a career high in tackles as a senior (94), when the coaching staff used him at the rover spot and at outside linebacker. The losses in the secondary continued with the graduation of cornerbacks Arkeith Brown (50 tackles, 1 interception) and Danny Gorrer and rover Devin Gregg (37 tackles). Gregg, whose 33 career starts at the end of the 2008 season led the team, moved back into the starting lineup when Dixon transitioned down to linebacker. In the kicking game, the Aggies lost perhaps the second-best punter in team history in Justin Brantly, who trails only the former Aggie great Shane Lechler in career punt average (44.4 yards) and career net average (39.9 yards).

Players to watch: Despite being thrown into the fire early into the 2008 season, the junior quarterback Jerrod Johnson responded with one of the best passing seasons in A&M history. On the year, Johnson threw for 2,435 yards (fifth on the team’s single-season list) and 21 touchdowns (a team record) while completing 59.5 percent of his passes (sixth in program history). Johnson started 10 games, sitting out the season opener and backing up McGee in the finale at Texas, setting a team record for passing yards in a game (419 against Kansas State) along the way. He did lose some of his effectiveness down the stretch, throwing 6 of his 10 interceptions against Oklahoma and Baylor, but Johnson showed himself to be a good fit for Sherman’s offense, and a piece on which to build the rest of the offense around. Not that his starting job is completely secure: Johnson will have to hold off the sophomore Ryan Tannehill, a record-setting receiver for the Aggies who aspires to return to his former position. Last fall, Tannehill set team freshman records for receptions (55) and yards (844); the Aggies would be better off keeping him at receiver. Tannehill teams with his electric fellow sophomore Jeff Fuller (50 receptions for 630 yards and an A&M freshman record 9 touchdown grabs) to give the Aggies one of the best young receiver tandems in the F.B.S. Fuller looks like a future N.F.L. draft pick. Rounding out a stellar receiving corps is the junior tight end Jamie McCoy, who finished third on the team with 43 receptions for 500 yards last fall, and McCoy’s younger brother, Terrence, a sophomore, who added 24 receptions for 237 yards.

Though four starters return up front, this unit needs to greatly improve in pass protection. Leading the way is the senior left tackle Michael Shumard, who will moved inside from left tackle to guard, and the senior center Kevin Matthews, a member of the 2009 Rimington Trophy watch list. Injuries decimated this group in the spring, so it will be important to get the returning starters as many snaps as possible in fall practice to prepare them for the season opener. Call me crazy, but I like this Aggie defense. Any improvement from this side of the ball will be a result of improved play from the line, which must replace both its starting ends. One end spot – the “jack” position in Joe Kines’s defense – will be filled by the athletic junior Von Miller, who the team moved down from outside linebacker. Though undersized, Miller showed his pass-rushing ability last fall, when he led the team with 3.5 sacks. I’m excited to see what he can do coming off the edge. The senior Matt Featherston, the team’s co-leading tackler last fall, will also get a good look at the jack spot.

The interior of the line will be manned by the talented sophomore Eddie Brown and Tony Jerod-Eddie, each of whom got their feet wet as part of the line rotation last fall. The secondary, not altogether terrible last fall, brings back the senior Jordan Pugh and the sophomore Trent Hunter at safety. Pugh (45 tackles, 1 interception) moves back to safety after starting at corner last fall. The second-year player Justin McQueen is penciled in at cornerback, as is fellow sophomore Terrence Frederick, who started six games as the team’s nickelback in 2008. The defensive backfield could be very good, but it will need strong performances from its underclassmen.

Position battle to watch: The position changes for Featherston and Miller means all three linebacker spots are open. As of now, the team hopes a tide of unproven freshmen and sophomores can step in and provide a boost to last year’s underperforming defense. The best of the bunch is the sophomore Garrick Williams, who posted 36 tackles and 1.5 sacks in five starts as a rookie. He’ll battle the senior Anthony Lewis for the starting role. Lewis was Featherston’s backup last fall, but seniority should mean little to a coaching staff in desperate need of playmakers. Currently atop the depth chart on the outside are the redshirt freshman Kyle Mangan and the sophomore Ricky Cavanaugh (seven tackles in five games last fall).

Sensing a need for more depth, Sherman and his staff signed five linebackers in the team’s 2009 recruiting class; one, Jonathan Stewart, may be good enough to push his way onto the field as a true freshman. Another position battle to watch is at running back, where the favorite to supplant Goodson is the sophomore Cyrus Gray (363 yards rushing). The sophomore Bradley Stephens is also in competition for the top job, but keep an eye out for the incoming freshman Christine Michael, one of the top high school running backs in the 2009 class and one of the highest-ranked recruits in recent A&M history.

2009 schedule:
Sept. 5 New Mexico
Sept. 19 Utah State
Sept. 26 U.A.B.
Oct. 3 Arkansas (in Dallas)
Oct. 10 Oklahoma State
Oct. 17 @ Kansas State
Oct. 24 @Texas Tech
Oct. 31 Iowa State
Nov. 7 @ Colorado
Nov. 14 @ Oklahoma
Nov. 21 Baylor
Nov. 26 Texas

Game(s) to watch: In nonconference play, A&M meets its old SWC rival Arkansas for the first time since 1991. The two teams will meet every year through 2018, with the potential to extend the series even further. The Countdown is excited. In the Big 12, Aggie Nation always circles Texas as the game of the year, but the more important game in 2009 is Baylor, as that game will decide who finishes last in the South.

Season breakdown & prediction: Regardless of how poorly equipped Sherman may be to handle this job, or how inept the defense was a season ago, the Aggies should be able to roll out of bed and reach six wins this fall. Why? A 3-0 start should be a guarantee, for starters, despite last fall’s slip-up to Arkansas State. From there, Arkansas may be a toss-up, but A&M will have momentum and probably a pro-Aggie crowd in its favor. Let’s say, for argument’s sake, the Aggies lose to the Razorbacks, leaving them 3-1 as it enters Big 12 play. I give the team one win over Iowa State, one out of Kansas State and Colorado, and a third win over Baylor. Yes, the Baylor team that pushed the Aggies around a season ago. But this game is in College Station, where the Bears haven’t won since 1984. So that’s my prediction: 6-6, but no better. One thing is clear: A&M is as far off the two big dogs – Oklahoma and Texas – as it has been in some time.

Dream season: The tide turns in one season: 10-2, 6-2 in the Big 12, with wins over Baylor and Texas.

Nightmare season: It may not represent a worse record than last fall, but another 4-8 season and last-place finish in the South would be disastrous.

Where Texas A&M fans congregate: As one would expect with a bigger program, the independent sites are coming fast and furious: the best is TexAgs.com, but don’t forget about AgTimes.com and AggiesFans.com. For recruiting news, visit AggieYell.com and AggieWebsider.com.

Who is No. 71?: The next time you visit this university, impress the locals by ordering a loco moco at any of the area’s many, many roadside eateries. If you’re like me, you order the loco moco with teriyaki chicken, and don’t skimp on that macaroni salad.

An earlier version misstated one of the years of Texas A&M’s last five victories over Texas.

SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Internet Whistleblowers Go Where N.C.A.A. Fears to Tread
By SELENA ROBERTS
Published: July 15, 2007

Photo: A Sense of Community The third Madison Square Garden, on Eighth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, with Nedick's next door. George Vecsey, Page 7. (Photograph by The New York Times, 1957)

The Buddy List of watchdogs for college sports operates under pseudonyms inside a message-board world that functions as group therapy for cathartic enthusiasts.

In technology speak, call them iFans. They descend upon wildly popular Web sites like TexAgs.com with their team musings and debates and, at times, the kind of insider information that can doom a rival to N.C.A.A. purgatory.

It was well past midnight in January 2006 when a user named aggiegrant06 dashed off a thread on TexAgs.com that detailed how his girlfriend handed out payroll checks for a car dealer in Norman, Okla. ''She didn't recognize several of the names,'' aggiegrant06 wrote. ''She thought it was fishy and asked me.''

The boyfriend knew the names in the blink of an instant message: They were football players at Oklahoma. Gotcha, Rhett Bomar. Six months later, after it was determined that Bomar, the Sooners' sainted quarterback, received money for a no-show job at Big Red Sports/Imports, Coach Bob Stoops tossed him from the team.

Last week, the N.C.A.A., citing Oklahoma's failure to monitor the employment of its players, handed down punishment, forcing the team to erase its victories from the 2005 season. Oklahoma will appeal.

Aggiegrant06 wasn't a spy hidden in the bushes, but a chat-room visitor who lurked among hard drives. He was a legitimate tipster, even though his postings on TexAgs.com were pulled by the administrator within two hours because the information lacked sufficient evidence.
How can a fan-site monitor measure Internet cred?

''We're in a strange situation,'' said Brandon Jones, the vigilant owner of TexAgs.com, a fan site independent of Texas A&M. ''We function as editors in trying to determine if something is valid.
''But you'd be surprised. It's rare when we see something that is blatantly dishonest.''

The iFan, armed with a BlackBerry or an iPhone, a cellphone camera or a text message, is actually better equipped to be a caretaker of college athletics than the sleuths at the N.C.A.A., whose water guns and magnifying glasses leave them best suited to guard a tip jar.

Exactly when is the N.C.A.A.'s investigation of Reggie Bush's luxury family digs while he was a star at the University of Southern California going to conclude?

The iFan, as an embedded member of the fight-song culture, can be considered more diligent in the oversight of a program than serially incurious university compliance officers who ignore the sudden appearance of Cadillac Escalades in the player parking lot.

Those earnest university officials don't self-police, they self-protect. The disingenuousness of authority figures on campus leaves those searching for real answers to try an alternate route that, in essence, violates the core tenet of childhood: go ahead, trust a stranger.

An anonymous post on a bulletin board can possess as much veracity as the selective account of an athletic department curator.

''What's interesting to me, and I've owned and operated this site since 1999, is that there is definitely a change in how the site is received,'' Jones said. ''And I'd say it was about three years ago when we started to cross into a realm of legitimacy.''

It was cyberfans, after all, who uncovered the kegger night indulgences of Larry Eustachy at Iowa State and ratted out Rick Neuheisel's dalliance in a March Madness pool at the University of Washington.

Team spirit has never been so deliciously interactive. How else would we know if Nick Saban had cozy conversations with prospects this spring -- a potential N.C.A.A. infraction for Alabama's newest Bear Bryant knockoff -- if not for a Miami Hurricanes fan site, canesport.com.

''I think it's funny it came from Miami,'' Saban recently told reporters.

An agenda might make a posting suspicious, but not necessarily bogus.

Internet meddlers aren't Web surfers without a day job killing time in their bathrobes anymore.

There are more than 200,000 unique visitors to TexAgs.com each month in what amounts to a survey of every demographic on subjects from the popularity of team uniforms to the unpopularity of a coach.

Fan sites are where athletic directors and coaches, boosters and players go to be in the know anonymously.

''It's the great equalizer,'' Jones said. ''No one knows who you are, whether you're wealthy or famous. Everyone is the person next door.''

The neighborhood is eclectic. Before Robert Gates took office as the nation's secretary of defense in 2006, he was the president at Texas A&M. People knew exactly who he was -- or did they?

On TexAgs.com, he blended into the fan forum with a secret identity: ranger65, according to The Dallas Morning News. Gates often began his posts with ''I'm told'' as he went into different issues with Aggies devotees.

Not everyone in a chat room is such an impeccable source of information. But more and more, the message board has become a place where news isn't made up, but made.

''It's a paradigm shift in how information is disseminated,'' Jones said. ''Our viewership continues to increase each year. People everywhere have become citizen reporters.''

Whistleblowers of the iFan crowd are now equipped to investigate what the N.C.A.A. can't -- or won't.

E-mail: selenasports@nytimes.com

The Trophy Case

2009-06-26T10:24:00.003-05:00

I don't get a chance to update my "virtual trophy case" very often, but when I do, I try to post the updates here.

Right now the blog/trophy case focuses exclusively on football trophies and rings from Texas A&M University. However, if (and when) I get all of them posted, I am plan on expanding the display to select trophies and rings from other schools as well.

In the mean time, enjoy!

Click here to view:
CAMPUSOLOGY

Univ. of Kentucky Basketball Decisions

2009-06-20T02:14:00.003-05:00

I know that I don't normally write basketball opinions such as this one, however, after reading all that is going on over at the University of Kentucky, I just couldn't help myself. I am not claiming that all of this is accurate or even that I am right. All I am trying to communicate here is that everything Kentucky did and said during the Gillispie hire/fire, followed by the Calipari hiring....well, it has me questioning what the people in Kentucky are really thinking.

Article Link

Impatient for a winner, Kentucky fired Gillispie after just two years, too many losses and too little appreciation for all the things that come with running college basketball's all-time winningest program. Saying the Wildcats deserve a leader who understands "this is not just another coaching job," athletic director Mitch Barnhart and president Lee Todd made the unusual decision to dismiss Gillispie less than two years after he was hired to replace Tubby Smith.

"He's a good basketball coach," Barnhart said. "Sometimes it's just not the right fit and that's my responsibility."

It's a move Barnhart felt was necessary following a couple of turbulent seasons in which the Wildcats struggled to improve under their hard-working but sometimes aloof head coach.

Barnhart said rebuilding years are expected when a new coach is hired. The trouble were "philosophical differences" between the university and Gillispie on the role the school's coach plays...."There is a clear difference in how the rules and responsibilities of overseeing the program are viewed," Barnhart said. "It is a gap that I do not believe can be solved just by winning games. It is a philosophical disparity that I do not think can be repaired when the chemistry is just not right."

Forget about Coach G. for a second and just evaluate UK's BBall Program and the "reasons" they give for making such hiring/firing decicisons.

Is Barnhart refering too "cheating," when he speaks about "philosophical differences" and "too little appreciation" for what it takes to run a big-time college program? I would hope not, but it almost seems like he is saying that what Gillispie did was not good enough, and yet what Calipari has been accused of doing in his prior coaching stops is apparently acceptable.

[Gillispie] could be gruff with the media and stubbornly refused to change his coaching strategy even as the program suffered embarrassing losses to schools like Gardner-Webb and VMI.

Barnhart said the problem wasn't Gillispie's won-loss record but his seeming refusal to do the other things associated with being the head coach at the state's flagship institution.

"(Gillispie) spoke to things that were not in his job description, just about winning and losing and improving," Barnhart said. "This program is bigger than that. There's much more to it than that."

Are we talking about "cheating" again? I know that everyone said it was really about how tough Gillispie was in practice (esp. on gamedays), but maybe it was a different "strategy" that Barnhart is referring too (?).

Gillispie arrived at Kentucky with great fanfare to replace Smith two years ago. Hundreds of supporters crowded the floor of Memorial Coliseum during a pep rally -- one with a sign that read "Billy G: Our Savior!"

The coach who engineered turnarounds at UTEP and Texas A&M was heralded by one of college basketball's most ardent fan bases, who were won over by Gillispie's notorious work ethic and homespun demeanor.

The losses and Gillispie's somewhat sarcastic demeanor prevented him from connecting with some of the 20,000-plus assistant coaches who packed Rupp Arena every fall, some of whom waited anxiously next to a radio table following home games hoping to get a glimpse, a handshake or an autograph from the state's highest paid and mostly highly visible employee.

It's amazing how fast a fan base can turn on you. I mean, without really knowing who you are, they act as if you are some how connected by the same thread. They (the fans) honestly think you (the coach) really love their school as much as they do, and for the same reasons.

Regardless, the same "demeanor" that they fell in love with is the same "demeanor" that they used as an excuse to run him off.

He claimed he wasn't hired to be a celebrity, but to win games. He struggled at both, at least by Kentucky standards.

This is probably the most accurate statement concerning the whole affair. He wasn't hired to be a celebrity, he was hired to win games (which he didn't do enough of). Had he been winning enough games, they would have gladly overlooked any other "short-coming" he may have had.

So why is all this relevant?

Well, its relevant because Kentucky recently found out that their new hire (John Calipari) left his last job at UMass with plenty of NCAA violations to go around.

John Calipari used to coach at UMass. In 1996, Calipari he guided UMass to the Final Four. You won't find evidence of that in the NCAA record book, however, because Marcus Camby was on the take. - Article Link

John Calipari said that his decision to leave UMass for the Nets had nothing to do with recent allegations that star center Marcus Camby had received money and gifts from two agents while he was still playing collegiately.

Camby reportedly has admitted taking improper gifts from would-be sports agents, and Connecticut prosecutors are investigating whether an unsuccessful agent tried to blackmail Camby into signing with him. - Article Link

Oh...wait...the UMass "scandal" was from 1996 before Calipari was at Memphis. I meant his "last job" as in the Univ. of Memphis. [/sarcasm]

Article Link - The NCAA notified the University of Memphis that its men's basketball program has been charged with major violations during the 2007-08 season under former head coach John Calipari.

The allegations include "knowing fraudulence or misconduct" on an SAT exam taken by a player from that 2007-08 team.

Should that allegation prove to be true, the program may be forced to forfeit its NCAA-record 38 victories and Final Four appearance, which culminated in a loss in the title game to Kansas.

In addition, it is alleged that the school provided almost $2,300 in free transportation to an associate of an unnamed player.

I guess some at Kentucky might say "so what?" Well, here is the "what" part of that answer.

Article Link - The Memphis investigation could have far-reaching consequences at Kentucky. Rest assured, the NCAA will take a much closer look at the Wildcats' three prized recruits - point guard John Wall, forward DeMarcus Cousins and point guard Eric Bledsoe - who are all still trying to qualify academically.

It probably doesn't help that Wall pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for walking into a vacant house in Raleigh, N.C., and entered a program for first offenders that requires him to complete 75 hours of community service and stay out of trouble for the next six months.

So, is this what Barnhart really meant when he said that both he (and UK) had "Philosophical Differences" with Coach BCG?

If so, then I guess Calipari shares those "Philosophical Ideas." (?)

Is this kind of "baggage" acceptable if you are pulling in the right amount of wins each season? Apparently so.

I know that some at Kentucky (including Barnhart) have at least alluded to the fact that BCG's personal life as well as his interaction with fans and media were part of the equation. However, when BCG was at Texas A&M (and winning) no one had any real problems with him (fans and media alike). At least not the type of problems that would get someone fired, because that is what winning does.

One can only conclude that at a program like Kentucky, everything negative about Calipari can be overlooked if he wins enough (and the same would have been true about BCG).

Finally....

Article Link - University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. said basketball coach John Calipari told him during the coach’s job interview about the NCAA investigation of allegations of major rule violations at the University of Memphis.

Todd said university officials were confident that Calipari, who isn’t named in the NCAA investigation report, did not do anything wrong while leading the University of Memphis team.

Well, of course they are!!

What is President Todd suppose to say? "He told us and now we are going to fire him."..?

Or, "We think he didnt do anything wrong, because we (Kentucky) don't really have a problem with the things that allegedly went on at Memphis...especially if it helps us get to the National Title game!"..?

He might as well of said the latter.

At the end of the day, Aggies have mixed emotions about coach Gillispie. However, all of that is unimportant right now. This is about the Univ. of Kentucky trying to act like they had no idea what they were getting into when they hired Coach Gillispie.

However, if that is true, UK needs to get a "more informed" search committee for its head coaches. Also, the fan base needs to start questioning the Ath. Dept's. hiring methods. Could you imagine if you school hired a coach that turned out to be someone you didn't want (for whatever reason); only for the AD to turn around and say..."Well, I didn't really know what I was getting into when I hired that guy!"

My first question would be "Well why not!?"

Either way, now UK has hired Calipari. Regardless of how he is doing it, Calipari knows how to win games (obviously). The only problem is that once again, UK has hired someone that appears to be carrying some of the similar baggage that UK has already said it doesn't want.

Or, is it that the baggage is perfectly acceptable as long as you win!? Maybe this is what is meant by "Univ. of Kentucky Standards."

The Cost of Recruiting!

2009-06-15T11:20:00.002-05:00

If you haven't already seen this, then you are missing out. Okay, you may think this is boring stuff, but I found it pretty interesting.

There is an amazing amount of information contained in this article that covers all the costs associated with the Univ. of Tennessee's 2009 Recruiting class.

Basically, the class that UT signed in Feb. 2009 cost them a little over $1 Million!

Of that $1 Million, only about $260,000 was spent under Fulmer before he left in November, and then Coach Kiffin spent about $835,000 between Dec. 1 and Feb. 4! Although that is amazing, I am guessing it probably has a lot to do with UT saving the majority of the recruiting budget to be spent after the new coach has come and taken over. If that is the case, then I can't argue with the logic.

Now, lets just see what the return on this $1 Million investment is for UT!

Anyway, here is a link to the article. Enjoy!

Another $1 million signing class; cost of recruiting has UT staying within budget for 2009-10
By Dave Hooker
GoVolsXtra.com

Now that is a rivalry!

2009-06-09T14:15:00.000-05:00

Rick Neuheisel tells UCLA boosters he's 'ticked' at USC's Pete Carroll
June 8, 2009
From LATimesBlogs.com

A league rule prohibits anybody younger than 18 from being on the sideline during a football game, so Neuheisel proposed creating a waiver for coaches' children (namely his own). When he brought it up to a committee of his fellow coaches, the vote was overwhelmingly in favor -- by a margin of 9-1.

Was it another case of Pac-10 football boiling down to USC and everybody else?

Neuheisel shared the story during a booster event last month. He recalled looking at the lone dissenter and thinking, "I'm gonna' get you. I'm gonna' reel you in. I don't know how, I don't know when, but I am not going to rest until I reel you in." Then he reminded the crowd, "Now, you noticed I did not name any names, did I?"

But immediately before that, he made it clear whom he was talking about. First acknowledging respect for Pete Carroll, Neuheisel introduced his story by saying, "He did something this last week that ticks me off, and I'm going to share it with you and see if it ticks you off. And we're going to walk out of this room tonight ticked off at Pete Carroll, ticked off at all that is SC."
It's worth nothing that though Neuheisel's kids are all under 18, most if not all of Carroll's are over 18. In fact, son Brennan Carroll is an assistant coach for the Trojans.

Sidelines can be unfriendly places for kids. Heavy equipment is all over the place, and that's not including the 300-pound linemen. Grown men run out of bounds at a full sprint. Carroll once saw one of his own receivers sprain an ankle while avoiding a small child on the sideline of USC's practice field.

Neuheisel is still hoping to be joined by his kids, even if he's not sure what to do with them. He told the crowd that before technology improved, some leagues allowed coaches' children to carry cords around on the sideline. "I kinda always dreamt of a day that my boy would be able to do that. Well, now we don't have cords ... but I'm still going to make my son carry one even though it's not plugged into anything!"

-- Adam Rose
Photos: UCLA's Rick Neuheisel, left, is upset with USC's Pete Carroll, right. Credit: Photographs by Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times

Some of this was edited out. To read the whole thing, visit here!

Where did all the money go!?

2009-06-08T14:08:00.000-05:00

Holding pattern: After a huge financial hit, will OSU’s Athletic Village ever become a reality?
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 6/7/2009

STILLWATER By now, when he arrives each morning at his spot in the Oklahoma State coaches' parking lot, Mike Holder expected to see a flurry of construction activity to the immediate north of Boone Pickens Stadium. He expected to see the development of Oklahoma State's Athletic Village a collection of state-of-the-art venues that would include a $50 million indoor practice facility and a $30 million baseball stadium.

Instead, he sees 100 acres of mostly nothing.

Eleven months ago, OSU had $407 million in a facilities fund managed by T. Boone Pickens' BP Capital investment firm.

A few weeks later, because of the stock-market crisis, a lot of that money was gone.

"Things were great from Jan. 1, 2006, until July of 2008, and then we hit a slight bump in the road," Holder says. "We lost ($282 million) in three months.

Read more:

Beary-Expensive!

2009-06-06T14:12:00.001-05:00

$225,000 for prime Cal football tickets
Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, June 5, 2009

UC Berkeley is serious about mining the gold in the Golden Bears.

As a way to raise money for the renovation of Memorial Stadium, the university is charging some football fans up to $225,000 to see the Bears play.

The program, similar to personal seat license plans used by many professional teams, will require hefty financial commitments from about 3,000 fans whose season tickets are between the 30-yard lines on the west side of the stadium. If they decline to participate, they'll have to give up their seats.

The goal is to increase the school's athletic endowment tenfold, from its current $50 million to at least half a billion dollars over a 30-year period. The money will be used to fund scholarships, pay salaries and cover the $250 million price tag to seismically upgrade the crumbling 86-year-old stadium.

"This is an opportunity to renovate the jewel on the hill - Memorial Stadium - and stabilize the financial situation of the athletic department, which has been a problem for decades," said Associate Athletic Director Dave Rosselli.

"We want to solidify the future of the football program because with the money and attention it brings in, it's an engine that catapults philanthropy and morale across the entire athletic department," he said.

Several fans already have sent checks of $900,00, which buys four seats in what the school is calling the University Club. Membership benefits include 50-year rights to your seat including season tickets, on-campus parking on game days, free food and drinks, including beer and wine, cup holders and other perks. A clubhouse also will be available, consisting of a portion of the press box that will include an expansive balcony overlooking the campus and San Francisco Bay.

....

Across the bay at Stanford, there are no personal seat programs, but fans must pay an extra $500 to $2,000 a year to sit between the 45-yard lines.

"They're asking $225,000? And they give us crap for being elitists," Stanford's director of tickets, Rich Muschell, said with a laugh. "How 'bout those Bears."

For more:

Another one is gone.....

2009-04-22T22:16:00.002-05:00

I need to start by making it clear that the following is not my work. It was written (as you can see) by Mark Schlabach and was posted recently on ESPN.com. However, I really wanted to repost it here to ensure that as many people got to read it as possible. Mr. Schlabach writes a lot of great pieces and many of them can be found at ESPN.com, however, I must say that this is one of his best! Thanks Mark for such a fantastic read on Doc Blanchard.

I have to say, if I would have known that Mr. Blanchard lived just North of San Antonio, I would have gone to visit him a long time ago. I can't believe I have forever missed my opportunity. It would have been my pleasure and a great honor!

Blanchard more than football hero
By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com
April 20, 2009
Felix Doc Blanchard passes at age 84....

When Nazi Germany launched one of its last counterattacks of World War II during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, American GIs identified themselves in the dangerous woods of the Ardennes by whispering "Blanchard."

If the man in the foxhole next to them was a fellow American soldier, he simply replied, "Davis."
In the war-torn decade of the 1940s, Army running backs Glenn Davis and Felix "Doc" Blanchard were more than American football heroes. They were the faces of the young men fighting the Axis powers during the deadliest conflict in human history.

"We had to represent them well," Blanchard told author Bill Pennington in the book, "The Heisman: Great American Stories of the Men Who Won." "To let them down at the time, when guys are giving their lives, would have been disrespectful. But I think the whole country felt that way, too, not just us."

Blanchard, 84, died of pneumonia over the weekend at his home in Bulverde, Texas. Blanchard was the earliest living Heisman Trophy winner until his death. He won college football's most coveted individual award in 1945. Davis, his teammate, won the award the next season.
Davis died of prostate cancer in 2005.

Together, Blanchard and Davis formed perhaps the most famous backfield in college football history. Dubbed "Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside" by columnist George Trevor of the New York Sun, Blanchard and Davis helped lead Army to three consecutive unbeaten seasons, going 27-0-1 from 1944 to '46.

Army won national championships in each of their first two seasons together and finished second to Notre Dame in 1946, after the teams played to a famous 0-0 tie at Yankee Stadium on Nov. 9, 1946.

"Blanchard was just a great player," said ESPN college football analyst Beano Cook. "He and Davis were probably the most famous duo in college football history. In the 1940s, it was Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, and Blanchard and Davis. The two of them together were what made them so special. If you mention one player, you always mention the other. They were together."

At at time when America needed sports heroes more than ever before, the country found them in the most appropriate of places: the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.
During the 1940s, only professional baseball and boxing rivaled college football as the country's favorite pastime, and only Notre Dame rivaled Army as America's team.

No college football stars of the era were more revered than Blanchard and Davis. They appeared together on the covers of Time and Life magazines and their football exploits were featured in home-front newsreels. Blanchard and Davis even appeared in a Hollywood film about their lives, "The Spirit of West Point," shortly after their college careers were over.

Although they are still singularly identified more than a half-century later, Blanchard and Davis couldn't have been more different. Davis was raised in Claremont, Calif., and arrived at West Point one year before Blanchard in 1943. Davis adhered to the academy's strict rules and guidelines, after he was nearly expelled for failing a math class as a plebe.

Blanchard was more of a free spirit, raising his hand and saying, "Oh, sure," when legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik asked if any of his players drank alcohol after Blanchard's very first practice at West Point in 1944.

Blanchard was raised in Bishopville, S.C., where his father, Felix Anthony Blanchard Sr., opened a medical practice. Blanchard was given the moniker "Little Doc" at an early age. He attended high school at Saint Stanislaus College in Bay Saint Louis, Miss., where he grew into a highly coveted football star. Blanchard was recruited by such football powers as Fordham and Notre Dame, but chose to play at North Carolina partly because the Tar Heels were coached by his mother's cousin, Jim Tatum.

Blanchard played on the freshman team at North Carolina in 1942, when NCAA rules still prevented freshmen from playing for the varsity. He was turned down by a Navy V-12 unit at the end of his freshman season because of his weight and poor vision. He enlisted in the Army and served until securing an appointment to West Point. He sat out the 1943 season and then joined Davis at Army in 1944.

It didn't take long for Blanchard to impress Blaik.

"Doc Blanchard was the best-built athlete I ever saw: six feet and 208 pounds at his peak, not a suspicion of fat on him, with slim waist, Atlas shoulders, colossal legs," Blaik wrote in his 1960 biography, "You Have to Pay the Price."

"For a big man, Doc was the quickest starter I ever saw, and in the open he ran with the niftiness as well as the speed of a great halfback. He was a terrific tackler and blocker. He could catch passes, punt, and kick off exceptionally well. Twice in Navy games, I saw him run through a head-on tackle without breaking stride and race on to a touchdown. He had great instinctive football sense, supreme confidence, and deep pride."

In a 59-0 rout of Notre Dame in 1944, Blanchard dislocated the elbow and wrenched the knee of the head linesman, Dr. David Reese, with an inadvertent hit. After that game, Fighting Irish coach Ed McKeever was famously quoted as saying: "I've just seen Superman in the flesh. He wears No. 35 and goes by the name of Blanchard."

On Dec. 2, 1944, days before the Battle of the Bulge would begin in Europe, top-ranked Army faced No. 2 Navy in the regular-season finale. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had ordered the game be moved to Baltimore's Municipal Stadium to accommodate a larger crowd. FDR also required fans to purchase war bonds with their tickets. According to Pennington's book, the game raised $60 million, the largest homeland fundraising effort during World War II.

Army had lost five straight games to Navy before Blanchard and Davis arrived. Army had a 9-7 lead going into the fourth quarter in 1944, and the Midshipmen seemed poised to spoil their rival's undefeated season. But Davis intercepted a pass at the start of the quarter, and then Blanchard ran six consecutive times, including a 10-yard touchdown to put Army ahead, 16-7. Davis added a 50-yard touchdown run to seal a 23-7 victory.

On his way back to West Point, Blaik received a telegram from Gen. Douglas MacArthur, which read: "The greatest of all Army teams. We have stopped the war to celebrate your magnificent success. MacArthur."

"We came into the game and it seemed like the whole country was either in the Army or Navy or knew and cared about someone who was," Blanchard told Pennington in "The Heisman." "It was one of the times when a game just felt like more than a game."

It always seemed that way when Army took the field during the mid-1940s. At a time when many schools' best players were off at war, Army had the pick of the litter from among thousands of troops and was a juggernaut. The 1944 team outscored its opponents 504-35; the 1945 squad won all of its games by a whopping 412-46 margin.

No team suffered more humiliation during Army's great era of dominance than Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish didn't lose to the Cadets from 1932 to 1943, beating them 10 times and tying them twice. In fact, Army didn't score against Notre Dame in five straight games before Blanchard and Davis joined its team.

But with coach Frank Leahy and many of Notre Dame's best players serving in the military, the Cadets outscored the Irish 107-0 in consecutive victories in 1944-45. When Leahy and many of his players returned to Notre Dame in 1946, they began counting down the days when they would play Army again.

"Notre Dame won the national championship in 1943," Cook said. "Army won it in 1944 and 1945. The war was over. Everybody knew Leahy and all those players would be back in 1946. The buildup started the day after Army beat Notre Dame in 1945. It was the biggest buildup for a game in history."

The 1946 Army-Notre Dame contest was called the "Game of the Century." It featured four Heisman Trophy winners: Blanchard (1945), Davis (1946), Notre Dame quarterback John Lujack (1947) and Irish end Leon Hart (1949).

With more than 74,000 fans packed into Yankee Stadium, and $1 tickets being sold for as much as $250 on the streets of New York, the game ended in a 0-0 tie. Notre Dame moved inside Army's 10-yard line only once and failed to score on fourth down. Blanchard had the best chance to score, but was tackled in the open field by Lujack at the Irish 37. Then Notre Dame intercepted an Army pass at its 8-yard line to preserve the scoreless tie.

In the opener against Villanova that season, Blanchard tore knee ligaments. He missed only two games and played the rest of the season at about 60 percent, according to Blaik. After the Notre Dame game, Blanchard joked that he would have "run through" Lujack if not for his knee injury.
Blanchard later called the famous scoreless tie against Notre Dame "the most boring game I ever played in."

Blanchard was the No. 3 overall selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1946 NFL draft. He was offered $130,000 to play professional football, and he and Davis nearly persuaded West Point officials to extend their furloughs to allow them to play. But when the media learned of the possibility, the Army decided granting Blanchard and Davis a reprieve from their military commitment would send the wrong message.

So Blanchard joined the U.S. Air Force in 1947 and made a career of it. He flew fighter planes during the Korean and Vietnam wars, completing 113 missions in one year while flying a bomber jet over Thailand and Vietnam. He received a special Air Force commendation for bravery for landing a burning aircraft. Blanchard retired as a colonel in 1971 and later became a flight instructor.

Army is scheduled to retire Blanchard's No. 35 jersey during ceremonies at its Oct. 10 home game against Vanderbilt. Blanchard will be the fourth Army player to receive such an honor, joining Davis, Pete Dawkins and Joe Steffy.

While Davis is buried near his coach on the grounds of West Point, Blanchard will be buried at the Texas military base where he met his wife, the former Jody King of San Antonio. They were married 45 years until her death in 1993.

But West Point was never far from Blanchard's heart, according to his family members.
In his final days, when he was battling dementia and other ailments, Blanchard wanted nothing more than to catch a bus back to West Point.

Mark Schlabach covers college football and men's college basketball for ESPN.com. You can contact him at schlabachma@yahoo.com.

A Basketball State!?

2009-04-18T15:10:00.003-05:00

So does this mean that there is really no such thing as a Basketball State?

In the past I have had the discussion with others that "College" Football is the most important sport in the U.S. (However, I am open to the idea that there are others that disagree, and for good reason).

However, the crux of my argument is that there is not one state (out of 50) that places another sport higher (in level of importance) than that of College Football. The typically response is that states like Indiana, North Carolina, and Kansas have basketball ranked a lot higher than football.

My reasons for why this is simply not true are as follows.

1. Indiana: Yes, IU is a big basketball school. However, the Hoosiers love their football too. Despite the fact that the state of Indiana is home to IU, it is also the home of Purdue and more importantly (in terms of this discussion), Notre Dame.

Forget about how irrelevant IU has been in terms of basketball (as of lately, when compared to what they once were), and you might even be able to make an arugment that Purdue is 50/50 split on Football/Basketball. However, the State of Indiana is the Home of Notre Dame. Whether you love or hate the Irish....you have to admit that they are one of the most significant football programs of all time, and having them in your state definitely makes you a "football state."

2. Kansas: This one is even hard than Indiana. Although, KU football is coming on strong lately. However, I will concede the point that KU is probably not ready to say Football is more important than Basketball. Yet, it is undeniable that KU is in love with their football team, their coach, and the success they have been having.

However, there is also Kansas State. They haven't been a decent football program for very long. In fact, they were at one point, the worst program anywhere! Yet, I still don't think you can make an argument that Kansas State is a Basketball School. I think your better argument is that they are a Football School!

Of course, with KU a BBall School and K-State a Football School, that puts the State of Kansas at at a 50/50 split. I have been using (as a tie breaker) the fact that there are so many JUCO football programs in Kansas to show that the overall importance goes to football, even if just by 1% (49/51).

3. Finally, North Carolina: Okay, so this state is a hard one to make an argument for (in terms of Football being more important), but it can be done.

The schools you are looking at are Duke, UNC, and N.C. State.

I have been tempted to leave Duke out of the conversation in the past, because they didnt really have a competitive football program on their campus, and really only seemed to care about Basketball. But, I realized the falacy of that argument and have decided to include them.

Duke: Yes, they have a POWER basketball program, and there is no reason to even discuss that. But when you take a look at the football program, you will see that there is at least "some" importance placed upon it. Afterall, Steve Spurrier has coached there and now they have David Cutcliffe at the helm. I am not willing to make the argument that Duke might care more about football, because that would just be ignorant. However, its more on their radar than most give them credit for. (maybe 80/20).

N.C. State: NC State is simply a football school, plain and simple. To argue they are a Basketball School is just as silly as mean trying to convince you that Duke is a Football school. Besides, if you are a great basketball player, and you are going to play in North Carolina, you are going to consider UNC or Duke. If they won't take you, you are probably of the caliber to go looking at other powerhouse basketball programs. This is not a "shot" at NC State, at least not by me it isnt. I consider being called a Football School an honor...and not something to be ashamed of.

Finally, there is UNC: Again, this is a tough one. They are definitely a Basketball School and there is no getting around it. However, they do love their football at UNC. They have put a lot of money into the football facilites to "not" love it. Mack Brown (current coach at Univ. of Texas) coached there not long ago, and currently Butch Davis is leading the program. Still, I cant say that they are a football school. I would have to say they are more like Duke and are around an 80/20 split (with the 20% being football).

Although two schools in the State of North Carolina put more emphasis on Basketball than they do Football....if you add up the percentages, you will see that it is pretty close. If anything, North Carolina is the ONE state in the US that is truly a basketball state. However, I would argue it differently and we would simply have to agree to disagree.

But....if I can offer one last piece of evidence it would be this.

Greg Paulus Jumps as Opportunity Knocks at Michigan!

Online Trophy Room - Texas A&M

2009-04-18T15:08:00.003-05:00

(Unofficial) Online Trophy Room showing Texas A&M Football Trophies, Rings, and other items.

Link

Harvard Beats Yale 29-29

2009-03-09T23:36:00.002-05:00

Youtube.com Video

NYTimes.com Article

Movies Official Website

Clemson in Texas

2009-03-09T23:20:00.004-05:00

“It’s time to get back to believing you can do great things,” Swinney told
reporters earlier this week. “It’s not easy to do. But I know this, (Texas has)
won more games than anybody the last 10 years. The biggest thing (Brown) did,
having losing records, he had to get the mentality changed.

“It’s that mentality, believing you can do something great, that your hard work is worth it, it’s going to pay off,” he said. “You keep getting up and believing, and
you’ve got to get everybody to believe around here again. Fans, too.”
- Clemson Staff visits Brown & Co. (Austin American Statesman.com) 3/6/09

I couldn't agree more!

The Legacy of FSU

2009-03-09T23:14:00.006-05:00

When it's all said and done, it will be interesting to see what "history" says about Bobby Bowden and his accomplishments at FSU.

For his sake, I hope he always gets the credit he deserves. However, I have a feeling that most people will remember FSU for its "scandals."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-bianchi07030709mar07,0,7546858.column

Updating an old post!

2009-01-14T23:49:00.003-06:00

In July of 2006 I posted about a Dartmouth Football Trophy that was for sale on Ebay. (See here!)

I had almost forgotten about it until I stumbled upon a post from another blog. The "Big Green Alert" blog found my post and did some research to find out more information on the trophy.

Here is what they found:

Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008
"Solving a Mystery"

Now, an update on a blog item for a few days ago about a Dartmouth football trophy sold on eBay. Former Dartmouth sports information director Jack DeGange, solves the mystery. Jack writes:

Every member of Dartmouth's 1970 football team received a trophy identical to the one displayed, including Alex Turner, a sophomore halfback on the team. Also, coaches and some athletic administrators (including me) received one of these trophies. Each trophy had a name plate identifying the recipient.

Coach Bob Blackman preferred trophies to rings to commemorate Ivy League championship seasons, each a different design and all produced by L. G. Balfour Company in Attleboro, Mass. Jake Crouthamel, Blackman's successor when Blackman left after the 1970 season to coach at Illinois, continued the trophy theme for Ivy championship seasons in 1971-72-73.

Travis Normand notes the images (on metal) of the Ivy and Lambert trophies on the left side of the trophy and the team photo on the back side. The missing element on the right side is a similar plate listing of the seven offensive and defensive statistics involving national ranking (plus a couple of significant Ivy League stats) achieved by the 1970 team that was undefeated (9-0-0), won the Ivy League championship and the Lambert Trophy as the outstanding team in the East.

The trophy appearing on Normand's web site isn't unique...there are close to 100 of them floating around. Likewise for other Ivy championship seasons achieved by Blackman's teams at Dartmouth (1958, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1969). Until 1969, Blackman had plaques made by Balfour. The more substantial trophies were created for the five-year run of Ivy titles from 1969-73.

- (Taken from the "Big Green Alert Blog")
http://biggreenalertblog.blogspot.com/

Thanks to the Big Green Alert for finding this information and posting it!!

And then, there was one..!

2009-01-03T16:31:00.002-06:00

After yesterday's Cotton Bowl game, there is only one "major" college football bowl game that is played in it's original stadium (Rose Bowl).

New Year's Rant!

2009-01-02T15:53:00.002-06:00

Okay, so its time for my annual rant about Fox Sports and its coverage of College Football.

It is simply amazing how poorly a job Fox can do in producing college football games. Each of the BCS games is so poorly done (as compared to the early BCS years when they were on ABC), as well as the Cotton Bowl.

It is amazing that after watching an entire year of College Football, suddenly you have all these people covering these games that you "never" see covering a college football game (during the regular season).

It is also apparently obvious that they all know very very little about any of the games or the teams in the games.

Take Pat Summerall for example (who covers the Cotton Bowl). It couldn't be more obvious that he knows very little about either team in the game (Texas Tech or Ole Miss). Its simply a sad state of affairs for both Fox Sports and the games it covers. The Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl should all have a little more pride in themselves to allow for such a low standard.

Its good to see that the Rose Bowl was able to maintain a higher standard and not compromise their own integrity when it came to the quality of TV coverage they demanded (while sticking with ABC/ESPN).

As I said in an earlier post, thank goodness ABC/ESPN will begin covering the BCS games again in the near future. Now if only we could get the Cotton Bowl off of Fox Sports, all would be right with the world.

Does the Cotton Bowl just not get it??

2009-01-02T15:39:00.004-06:00

The Cotton Bowl is one of the oldest and most prestigious bowls around. Some new-comers to college football might not feel that way, but that is probably because they think if your not in the BCS, then you are not an important bowl game.

However, as we all know, what makes college football so great is the tradition, the atmosphere, the history, etc. I mean, if you just wanted some football, there are other options (such as the NFL). But most (if not all) college football fans enjoy college football for more than just the game itself.

The Cotton Bowl is a major part of that history, atmosphere, and tradition. Of course, when I say Cotton Bowl, I am also talking about the stadium itself.

Take for example the Rose Bowl. It has always been a major bowl game, and one of the most prestigious bowls. The Rose Bowl was smart enough to get involved with the BCS without compromising their traditions in order to do so.

However, the Cotton Bowl has consistently let itself slide further away from prestigious. Moving the Cotton Bowl to the new Cowboy's Stadium will not in and of itself increase its prestige, but getting into the BCS might.

Why do I say "might!?" Because you can put any bowl in the BCS and call it "important." After all, it would be a BCS bowl. But that doesn't instantly create history and tradition (something the Cotton has already).

Take for example the Fiesta Bowl. Where do you think it would sit in order of importance/prestige if it were not in the BCS?

By giving up its stadium in order to get into the BCS (or to just go to a nicer facility) will not increase the "standing" of the actual Cotton Bowl Game. It will be important and relevant by default (as it will be a BCS bowl) but it wont be important because its the Cotton Bowl.

No, once the Cotton Bowl leaves its stadium (after 73 years) it will no longer be the "Cotton Bowl of Old!" Even if its in the BCS mix, it will be no more important than if we were to select the "Texas Bowl" (simply because it is in Reliant Stadium) for the BCS.

Once you are a BCS bowl, you are a big deal. However, nobody cares if it is the Liberty Bowl, the Texas Bowl, or the Cotton Bowl they are playing in when it is in the BCS....just as long as it is in the BCS! For someone to get picky about "which" BCS bowl they are playing in, you will need something to distinguish yourself from the rest. As I said before, look at the Rose Bowl. Its different from the Orange, Fiesta, and Sugar in that it is played in its original stadium. A true Shrine just for College Football. The Rose Bowl has something all the others do not.....its own stadium. And with that stadium comes prestige, tradition, history, etc. that sets it apart as one of the best bowl games to play in!

1934 Rose Bowl Trophy (on Ebay)

2008-12-29T23:16:00.003-06:00

While looking on ebay.com I came across the 1934 Rose Bowl Trophy! The seller is asking $9,999 for it and it will be interesting to see if anyone actually buys it. This is a great item for any private collection, but $10K is a big price tag.

Link: 1934 Rose Bowl Trophy

Baylor Academics

2008-12-29T16:17:00.002-06:00

That Good Old Baylor Lyin'

To raise the freshman class's test score average and improve the school's ranking in U.S. News and World Report's annual rating of U.S. colleges, Baylor University sought to entice incoming, already admitted freshmen to retake the SAT by offering them a $300 credit at the campus bookstore.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8964390/THE-2009-BUM-STEER-AWARDS-

No Prestige Bowl (Chick-Fil-A)

2008-12-29T12:45:00.000-06:00

In order for a bowl to have "prestige," it needs tradition and pride.

Long-standing bowls have "tradition," but so do some of the newer bowls. As for "pride," teams and players need to be proud to say they played in the bowl.

It is hard to establish either of these (and thus very hard to be prestigious) if you take a great bowl game that has both, and change the name.

What was wrong with the "Chick-Fil-A PEACH Bowl?" Afterall, the game was played in Georgia (known for peaches). Why is the "Chick-Fil-A Bowl" a better name? Is it more prestigious? Will you hear a fan or player ever say, "Man, I hope we get to play in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl?"

The older bowls that have lots of tradition and pride (and prestige) have kept their original name over the years, but have changed their title sponsors. These sponors get to share in the prestige that comes with the Bowl Game (and in some cases, get associated with it).

As for Chick-Fil-A, they apparently couldn't stand sharing the spotlight with the name "Peach," and they apparently don't respect the tradition of the name either. I guess they think it is the "Chik-Fil-A" name that gives this bowl its tradition and prestige (and not the "Peach" name or State of Georgia).

Oh well, I guess they think they are doing the right thing for them, but I know that my "viewing" time is limited, and the first bowls I cut from my schedule are the ones with non-traditional bowl names.

Can you even imagine the Rose Bowl chaning its name to the "Chick-Fil-A Bowl??" Not that the Chick-Fil-A Bowl is even close to sniffing the prestige level of the Cotton, Rose, Sugar, Orange, or even Gator Bowl.

Of these two bowl groupings, which group would you hope your school/team ends up getting picked from?

Group A:
Rose Bowl
Sugar Bowl
Orange Bowl
Cotton Bowl
Gator Bowl
Sun Bowl
Citrus Bowl
Independence Bowl
Texas Bowl

Group B:

MPC Computers Bowl
PapaJohns.com Bowl
Emerald Nuts Bowl

Insight Bowl

Champs Sports Bowl
Meineke Car Care Bowl

Chick-Fil-A Bowl

Capital One Bowl

GMAC Bowl

I would have to say Group A, and I am willing to bet that most everyone else would agree with me.

Someday I can tell my kids about how there use to be great bowls with great names (like the "Peach Bowl") until companies/sponsors destroyed these great college football traditions.

**I originally made this post during the 2007 bowl season. However, I wanted to bump it to the top because I believe it is still relevant (especially since the bowl game is still named the "Chick-Fil-A Bowl").**

Awesome

2008-12-15T18:54:00.002-06:00

Carroll is a life force at street level
LATimes.com
Kurt Streeter

23 Reasons Why A Profile of Pete Carroll Does Not Appear in this Space
TheFoundationofCoaching.org
J.R. Moehringer

Is that really the "ONLY" reason!?

2008-12-15T13:01:00.004-06:00

So, Auburn went with Coach Chizik. Its funny how quickly Chizik "bolted" from Iowa State. I probably would have done the same, if I was at ISU and Auburn had called me up. However, Chizik had to know he would be getting phone calls from schools the entire time he was at ISU.

I guess the head job at ISU really was "that bad," and Chizik realized that he needed to get out of there ASAP. Two years ago, he was a "hot" coaching name, and recently he has just about become an after-thought. So, all things considered equal, this is a great move for Chizik. We will have to wait and see how great it will be for Auburn. However, the last time he was there, he did well!

And then there is Charles Barkley.

"Former Auburn and NBA star Charles Barkley ripped his alma mater on Monday,
saying the only reason the Tigers did not hire Buffalo's Turner Gill as the
school's new football coach is because Gill is black."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3770769

Could that really be the only reason? I seriously doubt it. I am not saying that Auburn picked the best coach, because only time will tell. I am also not saying that Gill isn't a great coach, because I think he is. In fact, only a great coach could do what he has done at Buffalo, so he must be great (or at least pretty darn good)!

However, I have a hard time believing that the Auburn administration is sitting there thinking "Well, we want the best coach...but we just can't hire Gill because he is black. So, lets go hire Chizik who has a horrid coaching resume!"

Yeah, that sounds like a great plan!!

I don't see it.

What I see is a school reaching out to a familiar face. Someone they know. Someone they know may have struggled at ISU, but knows that he did well while at Auburn. He knows the high school coachs in Alabama and hopefully that will help him recruit. He is also a name that the fans feel is "safe" which is something administrators love, as it helps them keep their job. (If they hire a "risk" then they are the ones with their heads on the chopping block!)

At the end of the day, Chizik's resume at ISU may not speak for itself, but seeing him hired at Auburn is not a big surprise or stretch.

I think Gill would have done great things at Auburn. In fact, I am sure Gill will get his chance very soon. Look at it this way, at least Gill will end up at a place where he is hopefully their No. 1 choice. Afterall, he was apparently not Auburn's. Plus, with the way the Auburn administration treated the last coach...it is probably best for Gill to go somewhere else. He will be better off professionally, and mentally (not having to deal with as much drama).

The last thing anyone (even Charles Barkley) needs right now is for Gill to end up in a place where he is not wanted, not respected, and not able to be successful. He needs to find the "pefect" fit. The job that he really wants and that really wants him. This will do more good in the long run for him.

As for ISU....When they fired Dan McCarney, I said they were making a big mistake. They had a man from Iowa coaching at an Iowa school. He was dedicated and committed to the university and was doing good things.

I am not sure who ISU thought they were when they let McCarney go. They must have gotten too big for themselves (obviously).

McCarney went down to USF where he was an assistant coach for the Bulls. While an assistant coach at USF, USF went to Auburn and defeated the then No 17 Ranked Tigers on the road.

McCarney is now an assistant head coach at the University of Florida. Yeah, thats the same Florida who is about to play for the National Title.

What is the lesson here? When ISU hires or fires a football coach, don't look at what they did as a "smart move!" They obviously don't know what they are doing. They had a good thing going, and thought they knew better. So they got rid of McCarney and got a coach that has now left them for a better school.

Not to get too derailed in the discussion, but ISU has also screwed up their "image" or "marketing." They have gone with a new logo (as you probably already know), and every time I see a list of the helmets of the Big 12 (like at the Big 12 Championship, or basketball tournament, or whatever) I always do a "double-take" when I see the ISU helmet and think...."What / Who is that?"

"Oh yeah, thats ISU's new logo. Man, if they had kept the old one, I would recognize it."

Anyway, back on track.

My message to Gill. Your better off without Auburn, and just don't go to ISU (even though there is an opening there now).

Can any of these guys be trusted..?

2008-12-09T00:27:00.006-06:00

So, you have got the Auburn AD swearing up and down that he didn't fire Tuberville, and that the coach left on his own. However, it was only a couple years ago that Auburn's "leadership" was running around, jumping on private planes, and chasing after other coaches.

http://www.al.com/sportsflash/college/index.ssf?/base/sports-15/122877238369150.xml&storylist=college

Regardless of what really happened "the other day," does anyone really think that Tuberville just "up and quit" all on his own?

Seriously? This has been building for years. Auburn has been doing everything they can to run Tuberville off (not sure why), and now want to act like they can't believe he just walked out!!

It will be interesting to see who the next coach at Auburn is going to be. You might not expect it, but Auburn could end up like Notre Dame did a few years back. Notre Dame did eventually get the man they wanted, but only after being denied a few times first (based on unrealistic expectations).

I wonder how many coaches will see past all of this and realize that the Auburn Board of Trustees, the Auburn AD, and everyone else running that program are probably not who you want to gamble your coaching career on.

You want "style" points!!

2008-12-09T00:08:00.004-06:00

Last night on ESPN's bowl selection show, Lee Corso made his opening remarks. He went on to say that the difference between OU (and some of the other teams who didn't make the championship game) was "style points." He also said he didn't think that OU was that much better than Texas, etc.

Yes, I know...Texas beat OU. But see my post from 12-7-08 where I discussed the fact that it was a 3-way-tie, so "who beat who" is irrelevant.

Either way, Lee Corso's comments are not that outrageous. However, there have been plenty of other "talking heads" that have said maybe OU is not one of the two best teams.

Well, if you base your vote off of style points....how is this one: With the win over Missouri in the Big 12 Title game, OU became the ONLY team in NCAA history to score 60+ points 5 straight times. The last time anyone came close was about 89 years ago, when Tulsa scored 60+ 4 straight times in 1919. (Thanks to STATS LLC for finding that stat!)

OU also became the highest scoring team in Div. 1 history at 702 total points on the season. In fact, they are the only team to ever top the 700 point mark.

So, if you vote via style points....or if you think style points should count....don't be so quick to count-out the Sooners. This is one major achievement that should not go overlooked.

I don't do basketball, but....

2008-12-08T01:45:00.003-06:00

Okay, I don't typically talk college basketball (unless I am debating the BCS vs. a Playoff). However, these guys were just too funny to pass up. The looks on their faces are "price less."

Photo Credit: Jim Davidson @ The Ozone
www.the-ozone.net

http://www.the-ozone.net/images/ea/pages/08-01-29-MB-0003.htm

Flutie Statue at BC

2008-12-08T01:23:00.002-06:00

Finally, one of the most famous plays (and players) gets properly recognized!

Press Release:

http://bceagles.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110708aaa.html

Tim Tebow for Heisman (2008)

2008-12-08T00:55:00.004-06:00

So how is it that Tim Tebow doesn't win the Heisman (again) in 2008? If you have a Heisman vote, are you really going to cast it for someone else?

Why? You have a guy (Tebow) that is the current Heisman winner, is 12-1 this season, and is on his way to the National Title game!

Okay...that also makes a pretty good case for Sam Bradford (OU) as well, as he is in the same position.

However, in a sport where everyone is "screaming" for a play-off, because they want someone to lose/win on the field....how do you justify NOT voting for Tebow when nobody has "out-done" him in such a way that would prove him "defeated!"

Or is it that you just want to pick someone else based on another "subjective" measuring stick (?). With one breath we say "decide it on the field," and "We want a playoff!" But with the other side we say "I don't subjectively believe that he is as good as ____ , so he should not win it!"

Isn't that a little strange?

Regardless, that is just my soap-box, and I will get back to the point.

Does Tebow have as many passing yards as Bradford? No, but then again, no one has as many as Graham Harrell (Texas Tech).

What about TD passes? No, again he doesn't have as many, but lets look at "rushing yards and rushing TDs!"

Afterall, who says a QB must be rated by his passing statistics in terms of the Heisman? Rushing yards and Rushing TD's were perfectly fine for Eric Crouch (Nebraska). Nobody worried about the fact that he had a low passing stats. Why? Because he was a "Great" College QB who did amazing things!

Even Troy Smith at Ohio State won the Heisman only two years ago (2006) with 2,507 total passing yards, and right now, Tebow has 2,515 yards! Thats more than Troy Smith, and I don't hear anyone making a case for why Troy shouldn't have won.

I mean, if we are going to go strictly off of passing yards and stats, shouldn't we be looking at what David Johnson did at Tulsa this season? He threw for 3866 yards and 43 TDs! Not bad numbers!! There are even guys at other schools we should look at (if we are using just stats), like Nate Davis at Ball State. However, we are not just looking at stats, are we? We are looking at a lot of things (the player as a whole). I am sure your thinking, Swift and Johnson don't play in good enough conferences to take their stats into consideration! That may be true, but if that is the case, it further proves my point that the "best player" may not have the most impressive stats.

However, Colt McCoy's rushing numbers aren't too bad either....(especially when you don't really expect them to be as high as they are). So maybe a vote for McCoy is in order?

No....I still dont think so.

In things such as the Heisman, you can look at stats, and most do. In fact, it is probably one of the best things to "start" with. However, I really think that in a race such as this I would consider some other factors:

1. Deferrence to the current winner!

You can't normally do this, because the winner is usually somewhere in the NFL as a rookie. However, here is a guy who is back in the College Game doing what he did last year. Your going to tell me that what was good enough last fall, is not good enough this fall??

Wouldn't you rather see him lose it to someone than to just give it to someone else? Since he doesn't play against OU until after the New Year, that won't work for us here. However, being 12-1 isn't a bad place to be (in terms of not having lost it).

2. Look for the "it" factor.

Every year there are players who come and go. We all talk about them as if they are the next greatest name in College Football. However, a year later, most people can't remember them. (This reminds me currently of Chase Daniel!)

In 5 years, I am willing to bet most people will have forgotten Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy. However, I doubt most will have forgotten Tim Tebow.

Why is that? There are many reasons. But it is not this often that you see a guy of his caliber on the field, both athletically and mentally.

I know....we say this every season. It is said about whom ever is "right now" the hottest player. We speak about them as if they are already legends, only to forget about them within a season or two.

A few names of those who are most memorable come to mind. Reggie Bush, Vince Young, Danny Wuerffel, etc. There are a few more, but it is a small percentage of the names that we can toss out during a season. If you try, you can probably name a few players from most Top 25 team rosters. If nothing else, you can probably name the QB.

However, I am of the opinion that Tim Tebow will be one of those names that just seems to live on in College Football, as the Autumns roll by.

(And no, I am not a Gator Fan, per se, and I don't live in Florida. I didn't attend an SEC school, nor do I live in an SEC state. I actually live in Texas. I am not anti-Univ. of Texas, or Texas Tech, or Oklahoma...and that is not why I am lobbying for someone outside of the Big 12. I simply believe Tebow is the best of the best. He has the "it" factor in every sense of the word. If he doesn't win this years Heisman, it will be a shame.)

Other great links covering the Heisman Race:

http://www.heismanpundit.com/

http://www.stiffarmtrophy.com/

Interesting Point...!

2008-12-08T00:49:00.005-06:00

Okay, so I don't totally agree with it, but I can see where he is coming from. I actually think Oklahoma is a far-superior team than Ohio State is, and I don't personally think Ohio State was kept from the Championship Game because of their performance the past two years.

(Although, I will agree, had they not done so poorly, they probably would have had a better shot. But as long as their record matched anyone elses, they probably would be passed over for the other team. Of course, using this logic, that means Penn State had a realistic shot at the Title game with one loss. However, we know this is not the case.)

Anyway, here is the post I am talking about. Again, I just thought it was interesting.

45-35? Remember 48-28 (And 43-42)
"45-35" is so last week. The new catch-phrase-number is "48-28" -- the score of last year's Oklahoma blowout loss to West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl. Between that and Oklahoma's 43-42 Fiesta debacle the year before against Boise State, the Sooners have allowed 45.5 points per game in BCS bowls in the past 2 years.

Good luck with that.

(Wow: The Sooners HAVE to average 60 points per game -- because that's
the national ranking of their defense. Oklahoma is Ohio State without the
pathos; if BCS voters were ready to hold Ohio State's past 2 BCS blowout losses
against them, they should remember OU-WVU. Oklahoma is the chokiest BCS-bowl team of the decade -- and that's saying something, considering the Buckeyes.)
http://www.danshanoff.com/2008/12/45-35-remember-48-28-and-43-42.html

Its not a BCS Argument!

2008-12-08T00:19:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I live in Big 12 Country and listen to all the discussion about the Big 12 South and the tie-break between OU, Texas, and Texas Tech.

Everyone is so mad at the BCS because they have OU ahead of Texas, and that is apparently not fair!

However, despite your feelings on the subject, I must point out (and do point out at every opportunity) that the problem is not with the BCS. The problem is with the Big 12 Conference and how they made their tie-breaker.

Despite this fact, it seems like all Texas fans (and talk-ing heads) are blaming the BCS! Maybe I am getting the wrong impression, but it seems as if they believe the BCS has caused this controversy.

I guess you could argue that it did "indirectly" cause the problem by "existing" and therefore being the tie-breaker. However, the thing that everyone should be angry with is the Big 12 Conference...not the BCS. Afterall, it is the Big 12 that made the BCS ranking its tie-break.

I hear too many people say "But Texas beat OU! How can OU be ranked higher?"

Have they all forgotten that it is a 3-Way-Tie! If you use Head-to-Head you will never have the "right" team ranked highest, because it is impossible! With a 3-way-tie, it is a circular argument (chasing your tail, and you will never find the beginning or the end)!

Many people have said the BCS is not fair! However, they are very quick to "dismiss" Texas Tech from the 3-way-tie discussion in order to make it a simple Texas v. OU argument. I am sorry guys, but you can't just dismiss Tech from the table and carry on a conversation about head-to-head. For one, it would be UNFAIR (as everyone is so desperately screaming) and two, it would be illogical.

The BCS is essentially dismissing (or down-playing) both Texas and Texas Tech, and thus has OU on top of all! Everyone says this is not fair, but how is that different than Texas fans (and media) saying "lets just dismiss Tech, so that its an OU v. Texas argument...and oh yeah, we beat OU!"

Either way...I don't see a problem with the outcome. It was a 3 way tie, and they needed an tie-breaker. The SWC use to have a tie-break (in 3 way ties) for determining who got to go to the Cotton Bowl. It was simple, and was "Which ever of the three hadn't been in the longest!"

Not really "fair" but it worked. Any other tie-break that could have been used (in the Big 12 or SWC) could be argued to be unfair as well. Its basically a lose - lose situation for the conference. At least by picking the BCS they have shifted a lot of the blame off their sholders an onto the BCS (smart move). Otherwise, which ever team was left out would be yelling at the conference, and I am sure the conference commissioner doesn't want that.

At least with this tie-break, it can be argued that is serves two very good functions:

1. The team chosen to represent the South Division is not automatically the Conference Champion. Instead, you do have to go play (and defeat) the North Champion in order to be the Big 12 Conference Champion. If you fail to do so, you are only the South Division Champ. Oh, and you share that title with two other teams! (Yes, there are co-division champions for the South and North).

OU did beat Missouri and therefore has earned the title of Big 12 Conference Champion. However, Texas Tech and Texas are simply Co-Divsion Champions (with OU). But this doesn't mean they "couldn't" have beaten Missouri, it just means they didn't get the chance too. And again, before you start saying "well, Texas should have...b/c they beat OU!" Don't forget that it was NOT a Texas v. OU situation. It was a 3-way-tie!

Its almost as if the fans of these schools either can't count to three, or don't pay attention to any sports (outside of College Football). Because even those with play-off's have 3-way-tie situations in which some teams get left out in the cold.

Look at last years Super Bowl. Did the Patriots complain about having to play the Giants for a second time in one season? No.

Did anyone point out that the Patriots had already defeated the Giants in the regular season, and therefore shouldnt "really" get to play the Patriots again for the Super Bowl title?

If not, why not? With the Big 12, people are upset b/c OU is in the Big 12 Title game (instead of Texas) when Texas beat OU in the regular season. However, last year, as the Super Bowl was set to kick-off, did anyone not think it was a little strange that the Patriots had to play a team that they had defeated once already for a second time just to be declared champions?

What about the Cowboys and Packers? They beat the Giants in the regular season, but no one acted like it was odd that they had to meet again in the post season.

If you use the same logic, the Cowboys and Packers should have never played the Giants in the playoffs. They had already proven that they were better than the Giants, and did so earlier in the season.

But, no one said a word...they thought it was the right thing to do. They thought it was fair.

I digress.

The Second thing the Big 12 has done, is they have created a tie-breaker that gives one of their teams the best shot at making it to the Natonal Title game.

Lets face it, had Texas (or Texas Tech) won that tie breaker.....there might not be a Big 12 team in the Championship game! They may not have been ranked high enough going into the Championship game to make it to the #1 or #2 spot.

In this case, maybe Texas would have made the jump, but we KNOW OU would have...because they were at a higher starting point.

Whether you like the BCS system or not, you have to agree with the tie-breaker based on this logic. Afterall, the head-to-head argument is completely illogical....considering it is not a head-to-head situation.

The right team made it in....and if you disagree...thats fine. However, when you tell me that Texas beat OU and should therefore have gone instead...I will counter with "but Tech beat Texas, so maybe they should have gone!"

I hope your response to that is not "But that doesnt count!"

I know....enough about Notre Dame already!

2008-11-26T17:41:00.003-06:00

No, this is not a "Notre Dame" blog. However, if you have only been checking it out over the past couple days you might think it was.

It seems that Notre Dame is doing what they should, and that is "making all decisions with the Notre Dame brand in mind."

However, despite what the production on the field will has been, ND has been taking a beating when it comes to reputation and Coaches. First they had the Ty Willingham incident, and I won't go into that here. But now, they have a very expensive big-name coach that can't seem to produce.

What are they suppose to do!? If they fire him, most will agree it was an "okay" call, but they will still be viewed as a "revolving door." There may not be a coach in the country who would take that job due to the expectations and baggage that come with it.

In fact, I think they won't pull the trigger on Weis until they have someone lined up first. They can not afford to get left at the alter again!! That would just add to the embarrasment.

So, do they keep Weis?

Keeping him could get the AD and administration in trouble with boosters, etc. Forget the cost of buying Weis out, as fans don't care about that. They just want him gone, and you are the guy not firing him!

So, if you keep him, you save money, you build the appearance of stability in the program, and all is well (other than the fact that the natives are really getting restless).

Here is how I think it will all play out.

I think ND has got their "feelers" out in full-force as of right now. If they can line someone up for the job, and its worth the money, then they will pull the trigger (there is no more argument for "give him time"). However, I think ND has the benefit of waiting until the time is right. What I mean is that, they are not concerned with finding someone ASAP! They know that they can give Weis another season and live to tell the tale.

However, all through the rest of 2008 and 2009, they will be searching!

Unlike most programs, we can fire a guy and replace him in a couple months. However, ND can do this too, but their position is unique. Unlike everyone else, it is harder to win at ND (right now) and there is a bigger micro-scope. The baggage is too heavy and the demands are too high. They are probably not that much higher than most places, however, because of their situation, they are looking for the next coach to be Rockne himself....and not another 8-9 wins per season guy!

Okay, so while ND searches for the next greatest coach (and figures out how to lure him to ND)....what do they do until then??

Well....it appears that they are taking the "lowest" approach possible (however, also CYA!).

What happens if Weis finds a way to beat USC this weekend? What happens if ND doesn't find a coach in time, and the 2009 season starts with Weis and the program showing some improvement? UH-OH!! A situation like that is an ADs worts nightmare.

Right now, ND has everyone's support in firing Weis (or at least no one would fault them for it). But if things actually start to look up, and THEN they fire him, ND will take another black eye for handling the situation so poorly.

(But like I said, there is more potential for this at ND, because they can't move on a coach as fast as everyone else.....why? Because the next guy has to be a home-run, and for them, right now, it is hard to convince someone to coach at ND. Otherwise, they take the same hit to their reputaion as if they go ahead and screw it up by themselves. Its a balancing act for them, and almost both scales have bad consequences. They have an 80% chance of getting burned no matter what they do....and only a 20% chance of getting through this PR nightmare with any dignity. However, even if they make the 20% mark, that doesn't guarantee the next coach is going to be any good!)

However, there is one dirty little trick that will help Notre Dame come out pretty clean in the long run? (The long-run being that they have to wait and fire Weis after things potentially start to look up!)

What is this "trick" you ask?

Well, if you make Weis out to be the world's largest jerk! Then they will be forgiven for dropping the axe on him when he starts winning, but yet ND has secretly found their new coach.

Now, why would I suggest that ND would stoop to such a low trick?

Well, just check out the Chicago Tribune! One of their "sources" has already started taking shots at Wies' character, in the name of why it would be justified to go ahead and buy out his contract.

ChicagoTribune.com
Sources: Weis' Notre Dame buyout smaller than believed
By Teddy Greenstein - Tribune staff reporter
November 25, 2008
It has been reported Weis' annual compensation package is worth between $3
million-$4 million, which includes money from speaking appearances, media
contracts and apparel deals. Some industry sources dispute that figure, saying
Weis' total package is closer to $2 million-$2.5 million.
Whatever the case, a consensus is building among sources with ties to Notre Dame that Weis is in danger of being fired after four seasons."He has built zero relationships at the school," one source said. "It has been all about him and his ego."

What do you want to bet we "suddenly" start to hear that argument get tossed around more and more??

I am thinking you will hear it a lot!

They won't do it....but....

2008-11-25T19:05:00.005-06:00

Notre Dame will not do this, but it would pretty amazing if they did:

"When the most ardent, enthusiastic and
faithful student section in America uses its football team for in-game target
practice, something has gone seriously wrong in South Bend. Yeah, this could
have simply been a few drunken louts making the entire student body look bad --
but why pelt your own players? By all reports The Dash has read, few if
any snowballs were thrown at the Syracuse guys -- and while it's nice to extend
good manners to the visitors, what about extending the same courtesy to the guys
you're allegedly cheering for?

Lord knows,
this Notre Dame team has made it hard to stay behind. But the snow was flying
well before the Irish had reached the breaking point by losing on Senior Day to
the Orange -- it was flying in the first quarter. The Dash knows this much:
Booing certainly would be preferable to projectiles.

The Dash's immediate reaction
Saturday night was that the university should issue the entire student body a
one-game suspension for next year's opener against Nevada -- no student tickets.
Sell those seats to the general public. But that would only serve
to rob the team of much of the spark and noise that constitutes home-field
advantage, so that's not an ideal solution."
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&page=dash0813&sportCat=ncf

A one game suspension for the students? That would be pretty awesome if you ask me.

Forget about Weis and how bad the team is. Why is this acceptable? You have a team of guys who are trying their best to follow their coaches lead (for better or worse) and win some football games.

To make it worse, youve got a bunch of spoiled rich kids sitting in the stands who think they need to toss snow balls at them? What for? Are they trying to let them know that they hate them? Or that they are not playing well? Or maybe they are trying to say that "I, the student in the student section, thinks you need to play better!?"

Do they think the players don't know this? Of course the players know this. They dont need a message (in the form of a snow ball) from the students section to figure any of this out. I thought students at Notre Dame were suppose to be smart enough to make such an inference.

How would you like to end your football career at Notre Dame on Senior Day by 1) knowing that the teams you were on were not very good and 2) that the students at your own school do not care for you!?

Pretty harsh treatment if you ask me.

In any event, in normal everyday life we would not accept such juvenile behaviour. You wouldnt let a student throw a tennis ball (or snow ball) from the bleachers at Graduation. Why? Because its not appropriate. However, the administration will allow it in this case because they probably agree with the message it sent! Or.....the message they thought it was sending.

The only message I received (as well as everyone I have spoken too) is that Notre Dame (the school that should be the "gold" standard for college football) is full of "trash," just like a lot of other also-ran programs across the country. They may be Notre Dame, but they are not different than any other team or program.

At the rate their going, ND had better worry about their image more than their football coach.

Oh well...I guess since its football, we will make excuses and not worry about it. After all, its just a snow ball, and the guys deserved it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&page=dash0813&sportCat=ncf

Okay...so I was wrong.

2008-11-25T18:50:00.003-06:00

A few posts back I made the mistake of saying that the Coaching hire at Tennessee would be one of the most interesting things to watch (as far as coach hiring goes).

However, it appears as if Notre Dame is getting closer to pulling the trigger on Weis. At this point, watching Notre Dame make the antagonizing decision of whether to go ahead and drop the axe, or to wait another season, is fun all by itself. However, if they do fire Weis, that will definitely be an interesting show!!

For starters, one could argue that Notre Dame is one of the Top Jobs in the country (or that maybe it use to be). However, watching them to see how they handle their current situation (ie luring a coach to their school where the demands may be too high for anyone), will take the cake on coaching-hires.

There are plenty of rumors on what is going to happen, but I would guess that Weis gets one more season. (Despite the loss to Syracuse.)

Although, if they do fire Weis, I don't think anyone will argue that it was unjustified. Dissapointing? Yes. Unjustified? No.

Dissapointing in that we all expected him to be a huge hire, and I would think most are shocked that it hasn't worked out so far.

But, considering that he has done as poorly as Ty did (and has lost to Syracuse and Navy), Notre Dame would be justified in pulling the trigger.

I think Notre Dame keeps him for several reasons.

1. They are into him for a lot of Cash!
2. What is one more year going to hurt??
3. By not firing him, it keeps Notre Dame out of the "coaching-job revolving door" position that most have pigeon-holed them into.

But...I guess we will see!?

Texas has a new football coach!?

2008-11-18T22:54:00.002-06:00

Muschamp to remain at Texas, will someday succeed Brown as head coach

Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 03:32 PM

Statesman.com

University of Texas athletics director DeLoss Dodds announced Tuesday that Will Muschamp will remain as the Longhorns’ defensive coordinator and will someday succeed Mack Brown as head coach.

Dodds said a new contract that’ll raise Muschamp’s salary to $900,000 has been agreed to in principle. The new deal makes Muschamp the nation’s highest-paid assistant coach.

“We want to keep Will Muschamp as our defensive coordinator at the University of Texas,” Dodds said. “We’ve decided to build our future from the inside.”

Brown said “there is no timetable” for Muschamp to succeed him. He said he intends to honor the eight years remaining on his contract and to continue coaching “as long as I do it to the satisfaction of myself and the university.”

“The only way it works is if Will is young and isn’t in a hurry,” said Brown, who described Muschamp as a “hot item” this fall.

For his part, Dodds said that he is “planning on Coach Brown being here a long, long time.”
Dodds would not say whether Muschamp had been offered a head coaching job elsewhere but said, “Recently, Coach Muschamp had chances. He’s in demand at other universities.”

Muschamp, thought to be a candidate for the current head coaching vacancies at Clemson, Tennessee and elsewhere, said he has had opportunities to be a head coach and “I was waiting for the right one. This is the best one.”

He said that “some things have come up” but that “nothing concrete” had been offered to him at other schools.

Muschamp said it was a no-brainer to accept the offer. “I don’t think Coach Brown got it out of his mouth before I said, ‘Yes,’ ” Muschamp said. “It’s like third-and-8: You make up your mind and you go.”

“This is an exciting day for me and my family. I think this is the best job in the country and that’s why I’m staying,” he said. “This is an elite job in the country.”

For now, Muschamp said, he’ll continue to do his job as the team’s defensive coordinator. “I don’t see my role being any different until Coach Brown decides to retire,” Muschamp said.
The arrangement is similar to one that Florida State has set up for Bobby Bowden’s successor. The Seminoles brought in Jimbo Fisher as offensive coordinator last December with the intent of having him take over for Bowden. Fisher was given a $600,000 salary.
Brown said he thinks it’s part of a new trend. “Looking across the country, I think we will see more of this, especially in programs that are working well,” Brown said.
Brown was asked why the move was made now, with one game left in the regular season. “He had to make a decision whether he wanted to go through the interview process or stay here,” Brown said, noting that an open week such as the one Texas has now would traditionally be a time for a coach to interview elsewhere.

Of Muschamp, Brown said: “He’s the real deal. We knew it when he got here.”

“I see a lot of myself in him,” Brown said, then quipped, “I don’t know if that’s a compliment for Will. … It’ll be fun to watch him over the next several years.”

Thank God!!

2008-11-17T19:41:00.003-06:00

ESPN Hauls In Rights to Top College Bowl Games

I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that FOX is out of the BCS game! I think ESPN/ABC does a great job with college football, and I am happy they are covering the games.

However, I think I am more happy about the fact that FOX is out (regardless of who covers the games).

The news on Weis

2008-11-17T00:24:00.002-06:00

If you are at all curious as to what is going on with Charlie Weis and Notre Dame Football, be sure to check out www.UHND.com.

They always have the latest news on Notre Dame including this article that I found there a few minutes ago:

"Swarbrick Backs Weis" (UHND.com)

Who will coach the Vols?

2008-11-17T00:08:00.005-06:00

As of right now, this is the most interesting coaching search going on. However, if Notre Dame does actually pull the trigger on Weis then obviously things could get interesting (however, I really dont think they will - and that's not a huge leap or anything).

Sources: Vols check to see if Gruden, Smith interested in open job (ESPN.com)

Although, as most already know, Cincinnati Head Coach Brian Kelly seems to be the early favorite to get the Tennessee Job.

Check out: "3rdSaturdayinBlogtober" for more on Brian Kelly.

They also have a list of other possible candidates posted - Here.

Of course, on a random note...Washington is out there looking too! There is the smallest of rumours that Mike Leach will be considered for the job, but with all that is going on at Texas Tech right now, that probably won't surface until sometime in December. (Of course, every time a Pac-1o job opens, somebody mentions Leach, so there is no telling if that has any merit to it, or maybe Leach really does like Lubbock...!? Who knows.)

Gators' Offense is on Fire!!

2008-11-16T23:54:00.004-06:00

If only Florida had not lost to Ole Miss earlier this season, the BCS discussion would be a little different right now. Yes, Alabama and Texas Tech would still be undefeated, but one of those two would be on the outside looking in because Florida would definitely be holding the No. 1 spot. Of course, the SEC Championship game would be garnering more hype than ever before with both Florida and Alabama being undefeated, and the winner not only taking the Conference Crown, but punching their ticket to the BCS Championship game (while knocking the other one out).

However, such is not the case.....as of now, all we can do is sit back and watch. Watch to see if Florida can find a way to leap past a few teams and find themselves in the BCS Title game. Its not at all out of the realm of possibility, so we will just have to sit tight.

In the mean time, make sure you check out http://www.gatorcountry.com/ The have a couple great articles posted there, and I have linked to one here (just below their logo).

Point-a-minute? How about 21 in 2:15
(This link and logo belong to http://www.gatorcountry.com/)

I have been following this site for a couple of years (way back from when it was a completely independent site, before it went to Scout and now ESPN).

Either way, its a great site if you like following the Gators.

One more thing to think about. There was a time (not that long ago) that the most dominant teams were in Florida (Miami, Florida, and Florida State). However, the momentum swung way out to the West Coast for a while and USC pretty much held the crown. Could this season be the change of direction again? I know that FSU and Miami still have some work to do, but Florida is definitely on top, while USC has definitely fallen down from where they very recently sat. Oh well...its just a thought.

Please let this happen..!!!

2008-11-12T00:42:00.001-06:00

BCS considering moving games from Fox to ESPN

The BCS is considering a proposal from ESPN that would see all BCS bowl games, including the championship game, wind up on ESPN, sources familiar with the negotiations are saying.

I am hoping and praying that ESPN/ABC finds a way to get the BCS games on their network. Fox has done a horrible job covering these games and it would be nice to get the most important bowl games back into the hands of those who know what they are doing when it comes to College Football.

Now, if only we could get the Cotton Bowl off of FOX and over to ESPN, then we would be set.

Finebaum on LSU Fans!!

2008-11-12T00:35:00.003-06:00

Saban puts LSU fans in despair
Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Walking out of Tiger Stadium on Saturday night, amid the wreckage and debauchery known as the LSU Nation, I couldn't help but flip the calendar back 52 weeks.

On that November night in 2007, LSU survived a bloody brawl in Bryant-Denny Stadium and a small group of their fans were hooting and hollering about Nick Saban, decrying Alabama's current state while boasting of their own lofty ranking and likely shot at a national championship.

A year later, the most repugnant and pathetic group of fans in college football was strikingly silent. There was little mouth from LSU Nation, but a few who could manage three or four words without a hiccup and a stumble filled the cool autumn air with incendiary insults for the victorious Tide.

The rest of the article...

Who's it going to be Tennessee...!?

2008-11-11T16:21:00.002-06:00

Okay, so we all know who is "out" at Tennessee....but who is going in? Watching this unfold should be interesting.

In case you missed it: Fulmer is out!

David Cutcliffe, Steve Spurrier, and John Gruden have all been rumored to be in the running for the job. However, they have also all denied being interested in the job, but we know that in coaching and college football...that isn't worth anything.

Gruden not interested

Cutcliffe and Spurrier not going to Tennessee

It's about time!!

2008-11-11T16:14:00.002-06:00

Isn't this exactly what Weis was hired to do? I thought that this was his "thing!"

Imagine going after an "offensive game calling" master-mind to coach your football team, and offering him a truck-load of money to do it!

But, after you hire him, he decides that he is NOT going to call the plays!?!

Anyway, it's about time he made this decision...and hopefully it will do Notre Dame some good. Especially since last year Navy snapped its 40 year streak against you. You don't need Navy making it two in a row!

Weis will call plays on offense for Notre Dame against Navy

Is Colt McCoy any good?

2008-11-11T15:22:00.009-06:00

I am sure this is old news to most, but I am posting it anyway, because for some reason I didn't post it earlier. Either way, this "rant" by Lou Holtz happened during the College Football Final (ESPN) episode that aired the same night that Texas beat Oklahoma this season (2008).

I have to say, before the game, I agreed with what Lou Holtz is saying. I didn't think Colt McCoy was as great as everyone has recently made him out to be. I thought he was good, but I knew there were better QBs out there.

However, after Texas beat OU, I was starting to change my mind. Apparently it did not change Lou's mind (as you can tell from the video clips below).

As a side note, I started to think Colt was a better QB than I was giving him credit for. Then he had the Texas Tech game in Lubbock. Although Tech played their "A" game, Texas played their "C-" game...and still almost won. However, that put a few more doubts in my head about McCoy.

I really do hope I get plenty of chances to see him continue to play at Texas, so I can make a final opinion on him. (I know, most people would tell me to "shut up," because he is obvioulsy the Second-coming. However, I like to formulate my own opinion, and not just default to whatever is said on College Gameday.)

Anyway, the videos are provided just for the fun of it.

I have provided two versions of this video. The first one is the complete segment (which you will have to watch until the end to see Holtz's "rant"), but the second video is for those who just want to cut to the end!

Happy Birthday College Football!

2008-11-06T16:47:00.004-06:00

It's Nov. 6, 2008....Happy Birthday College Football!

Rutgers & Princeton, played the first game of intercollegiate football (that we know of) on Nov. 6, 1869, on a plot of ground where the present-day Rutgers gymnasium now stands in New Brunswick, N.J.

Rutgers won that first game, 6-4.

Short-Leash Wildcat's!

2008-11-06T16:19:00.004-06:00

Coach Ron Prince Fired at Kansas State!

The news coming out of the Kansas State Football program is not something that would trouble me this much. Normally, I don't mind a program having a "short-leash" on their coaches, assuming all was fair up to the point they fire him.

What do I mean by fair? Well, as long as the school gave the coach everything he needed to succeed, and there were not any road blocks, then it was a fair chance. (Basically, the school helped the coach, and did everything they could, and there is no reason to not be "more" successful.)

However, one of the biggest roadblocks that is usually in place is "expectation." The problem with this road block, is that it is put there by the school itself.

A school like Alabama or Notre Dame usually has high expectations, and it is rightfully so. In fact, both of these programs are hiring people based on the expectation that they can get their program "back" to where it once was.

Notice the key element n the paragraph above...."back to where it once was."

Other programs are simply hiring coaches because the last guy left, or because they last guy didn't win enough "as normal." They look for a coach that can do "as good, or better!"

Having said this, I expect that every program is looking for that coach that can take them to an undefeated season (on a regular basis). Another way to say it is, they are looking for a coach that always has them competing for something (whether that be an undefeated season, a bowl game, conference title, winning season, etc.)

I would think it was strange if a program didn't want to better itself, and constantly improve. The entire purpose of the game is to compete.

But, here is the biggest problem. A lot of schools think they are "bigger" than they really are and Kansas State is a prime example. Ten years ago, Kansas State came on as a very good football team. They had a run that went from about 1997 to 2003.

In 1998, they were No. 2 in the country and were about to go to the National Title game, when their in-experience as a football program caused them to blow a 4th quarter lead in the Big 12 Title game....after which they went to the Alamo Bowl.

Nine times out of ten, experienced programs like Oklahoma or USC, don't mess up that bad. However, Kansas State is not that powerful of a program, and it was their first time on such a huge stage. So, if they were on the same level as OU or USC, then the '98 title game was there one time out of ten that they don't win. It would stand to reason that the would win the next nine!

They did manage to get back to the Big 12 title game, and they did win it in 2003. However, they haven't been nearly as powerful since the 2003 season.

You have to remember back to when Kansas State was literally the worst team in college football. Coach Snyder was able to bring them to life, and brought them all the way up to the 1998 and 2003 seasons. After that, the Wildcats have been a decent program. They win games, they compete. However, they could do better.

So they hired Coach Prince and he has done well. He has won some games, and even scored a few big upsets.

Was he as good as Coach Snyder was in 1998 and 2003? No, but Coach Snyder was only that good for two seasons. The majority of his career was spent coaching a good-to-decent K-State Football team.

I think Prince was on his way to where Snyder spent the latter years as head coach (8-9 wins a season and a bowl game, while competing for the North Division of the Big 12).

However, its only Kansas State. We all know how hard it is to recruit to that school (and that's why they use so many JUCO players). Asking for more than what they have, and asking for it faster...just seems extremely unrealistic.

(Maybe watching KU do as well as they are, is just too big of a pill for K-State to swallow? On the other hand, they could also learn from KU, and give their head coach more of a chance to make it!)

What were you thinking??

2008-11-03T17:44:00.004-06:00

How did the Harris poll come up with this result, after Texas (No. 1) lost their game in Lubbock this past weekend??

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankings?pollId=5

I mean, there are 3 other undefeated teams in the Top 5, and 5 Undefeated teams in the Top 10. Yet somehow, one voter finds a way to justify giving Texas a first-place vote!?

Looks like there was a voter who, not only didn't watch any games this past weekend, but also didn't bother to check any scores.

The outcome of the BCS is too important to screw something like this up. I really hope this voter is off the panel.

PreTTy Creative..!

2008-10-19T02:32:00.002-05:00

I see a lot of Heisman Campaign material and a lot of candidate websites. Most of the things I come across are pretty good and are full of the necessary information. However, a lot of these items are usually lacking in the "creativity" department.

Today I saw this site:

www.passorcatch2008.com

I must say, of all the things I have seen for the 2008 campaign(s), this one is probably one of the most creative.

I hate to make this kind of prediction....

2008-09-09T16:58:00.003-05:00

But I feel as if I must.

In one way, I don't really care if I am right or wrong. However, for the sake of Ohio State, I hope I am wrong.

I don't really have a rooting interest in the Ohio State / USC game that is looming this coming Saturday. I guess if Ohio State is the "under-dog" then it would be fun to see them find a way to go to L.A. and win. However, in the end, I am just hoping for a great game (an instant classic, if you will).

However, this is not what I expect. So, my prediction is this....if this past Saturday's game against the Univ. of Ohio was any kind of indicator, I would expect USC to roll over Ohio State with little or no problem.

Some have said that last weeks game was simply OSU looking past Ohio to USC (and getting caught half-asleep). Some have also said that OSU's poor performance will lead USC to be in the same apathetic position this coming weekend.

I don't see either of those being the case, or a factor. I think USC is great at getting pumped for any game, and will be able to handle their business. I also think that Ohio State will be overmatched. The only question remains is whether OSU can step up their game, or if OSU can use their new QB (Pryor) in such a way that it confuses USC (and thus gives Ohio State a fighting chance).

Maybe 45 - 14?

Well see....

Can East Carolina get to a BCS Game!?

2008-09-09T16:55:00.002-05:00

East Carolina has pretty much surprised everyone in that they have cleared their first two majors hurdles of the season, and now are sitting in great shape to run the table.

I know, I know....its very early. However, the rest of their schedule is very favorable for them (considering what they have done in weeks 1 and 2). The only reason they should drop a game at this point, would be due to lack of focus.

However, if ECU can keep from shooting themselves in the foot, they may reach out and grab BYU's expected BCS slot. Right now BYU looks pretty good, however, their win over Washington was not all that impressive (rule controversy aside).

In the end, if it comes down to BYU or ECU, which would you pick?? I am thinking right now the scales are tipping towards ECU. But, we have a lot of season left....so I guess we will just have to wait and see.

The "Ohio State" problem

2008-09-07T01:14:00.003-05:00

Well, it appears that the BCS decision that is possibly brewing (that I mentioned in my previous post) is getting a little closer. Ohio State's performance today vs. the University of Ohio was a pretty poor showing for the Buckeyes.

I am not saying it's time to cash-it-in, and that they are a bad football team. In fact, they are a very good football team, (and I would figure that that is obvious).

However, the problem I alluded too was that if they go 12-0, they might get passed over for the BCS National Title game. Especially if the #1 team is a team from the SEC (like a 13-0 Georgia). I firmly believe that there is a strong chance that the voters will decide that they don't want to see Ohio State face a SEC team for the 3rd straight year in the title game.

So what does this mean? It means that Ohio State needs to be trying to put up some "style points." They really need to do everything they can (starting now) to help their own cause. (As you can already hear the doubters). Every talking head is saying "I am not sure there are that good." Its as if everyone is waiting around and looking for an excuse to knock OSU down a few steps.

Well, todays game against the Bobcats of Ohio did not help their cause. People are already pointing at that game and saying "See there! I told you they were not that good!"

Oh well, next week Ohio State travels to LA to take on USC. If they can win this one, they will silence all the doubters and instantly shoot to the top of the "A-list" of teams that are in line for the BCS title game.

(On a random note, my preseason #1 pick - Florida - looked pretty good tonight against Miami, and is still no pace to be one of those teams hoping to make it untouched through the 2008 season.)

Will Ohio State "crash" the BCS?

2008-06-02T14:40:00.006-05:00

As many of you know, I am a huge fan of the BCS. I support it and think it works just fine. I also realize that I am probably the ONLY person on the planet that feels this way.

However, I am thinking Ohio State might be set to "destroy" the BCS system this year.

There is already plenty of pre-season talk about Ohio State running the table and making it back to their third straight BCS Championship Game. Most pundits think the other team that is most likely to meet them there is the University of Georgia (and they are probably right). Both teams have favorable schedules and both teams look really good coming into the 2008 season.

However, does anyone really want to see Ohio State get blown-out by another SEC team?

I don't think the fans, poll voters, conference commissioners, or BCS Officials want to see this. I am not one for conspiracies but would the thought of low TV ratings be enough to keep a deserving team like Ohio State out of the Championship Game?

Imagine this scenario....Ohio State is undefeated (and so is Georgia) but a team with one loss (like USC) jumps Ohio State to face Georgia in the title game (?). So instead of two undefeated teams going head-to-head, we have one undefeated and one one-loss team (all because no body wanted to see Ohio State get run over by another "fast" SEC team). Let me add another twist to the scenario....Ohio State and USC meet early on in the season. What if USC's one loss is to the undefeated Buckeyes of Ohio State?

Most would think "there is no way that this scenario will play out like this!" Well, I know I am getting ahead of myself, so I guess we will just have to wait and see. Remember, I am not trying to predict what will happen this year, I am only trying to point out that the stage could be set for a scenario in which the BCS takes more than a serious black-eye if its not careful.....thus officially "Crashing" by the end of the 2008-09 season.

Well see..!

Old Man River

2007-10-26T23:27:00.000-05:00

Created: 10/24/2007 10:17:44 AM

By Peter MackieLike

“Old Man River,” Joe Paterno just keeps rolling along. The 80-year old Brown Bruin turned Nittany Lion, now in his 58th year of coaching at Penn State, shows little indication of slowing down. A broken leg sustained on the sidelines last season delayed his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame until this December, when Paterno will join seven Hall of Famers with Brown football connections. Among them is his Brown coach and Penn State mentor, Charles A. “Rip” Engle, who was inducted in 1973.

The story of how Engle left College Hill for Happy Valley in 1950, taking Paterno with him for what Joe thought would be an interlude of “a couple of years” before law school, is a familiar one. Rip had learned early on that young Paterno was a born coach, before ever formally being named one. Joe’s leadership, brilliance as a play caller, and ability to inspire others caused Engle to comment, “He was like having another coach on the field.” After watching his quarterback dissect Harvard’s defense in Brown’s 28-14 victory in 1949, Engle reflected, “I’ve coached better runners and better passers, but I’ve never coached a more heady quarterback.”

Joe Paterno’s college career began in the fall of 1946, when the skinny Brooklyn Prep graduate entered Brown with his younger brother, George (the elder Paterno had served in the military briefly at the end of World War II). The brothers had torn up New York area gridirons, earning the nickname “Gold Dust Twins” in the New York press.

At Brown, Joe was initially used as a halfback, but Engle moved him to a backup quarterback role in 1947, where he played behind Brown Hall of Famer Ed Finn for two seasons. Paterno initially made his mark via his defensive prowess, helping the Bruins’ record to improve dramatically (7-2 in his junior year). In particular, one quick thinking Paterno play helped pave the way for a last second 23-20 win at Princeton. With under a minute to play, and the score tied, the Tigers punted from their four-yard line. The alert Paterno called for a fair catch, a rarely used tactic in that era, stopping the clock, and enabling the Bruins to move in for a last second field goal by Joe “The Toe” Condon.

Princeton evened the score in 1949, however, when, as Paterno tells it, “A skinny sophomore nobody had ever heard of threw a perfect pass over my head, the score that beat us.” That sophomore turned out to be Dick Kazmaier, the great Tiger All-American and Heisman Trophy winner. That game was the only blemish on the 1949 record, causing this team to fall just short of the slogan coined by Athletic Director Paul Mackesey, “Nine for nine in 49.”

It was in 1949 that Joe Paterno truly came into his own as a complete two-way player. The ‘49 team, which became an Eastern power, was blessed with a large number of fun-loving rough and tumble veterans. However, in their final game against underdog Colgate on Thanksgiving Day, things were not going according to plan.

The Bruins trailed the Red Raiders 26-7 with a little more than a period to play. Paterno saved his best for last, engineering one of the greatest comebacks in Brown football history. After telling Rip, “Don’t worry coach, we’ll get ‘em,” the fiery Paterno proceeded to challenge his team during a time out. The Bruins exploded scoring 34 unanswered points. Joe moved the team within striking distance with a 40-yard keeper, set up another score with a 45-yard interception, and passed for a third score. Final score: Brown 41-Colgate 26! It was a fitting ending to the Gold Dust twins’ Brown careers as they accounted for 222 of Brown’s 321 total yards of offense.

Joe Paterno’s years at Brown helped pave the way for his remarkable achievements at Penn State. The man of whom the famed sportswriter Stanley Woodward wrote, “Paterno, the Brown quarterback — he can’t run, and he can’t pass. All he can do is think and win.” Now, more than a half century later, “Joe Pa,” as he is affectionately known, is still thinking and winning. A true educator who places academics first, he has made an indelible mark on the game, serving as a beacon of integrity in the sometimes murky waters of “big-time” college football.

Now if he can only avoid those flying bodies while pacing the sidelines, he will be at the Waldorf-Astoria podium in New York on December 4th, not far from where his life began in 1926, just across the Brooklyn Bridge. Joseph Vincent Paterno will receive college football’s highest honor, induction into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame. That proud moment will be shared by Bears and Lions alike.

Peter Mackie is the Brown Football Historian/Sports Archivist for the Edward North Robinson Collection of Brown Athletics

http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/article.asp?intID=6245

Navy's Singleton nominated for FedEx Orange Bowl Courage Award

2007-10-10T11:33:00.000-05:00

Oct. 10, 2007
FWAA Media Release

DALLAS (FWAA) - Zerbin Singleton has been nominated for the FedEx Orange Bowl- FWAA Courage Award, to be announced at the end of the 2007 season. Singleton, a senior slotback, overcame a troubled background to win an appointment to the Naval Academy, and is on track to reach his ultimate goal of becoming an astronaut.

Singleton didn't know his father until he was a senior in high school; a year later, his father committed suicide. Singleton had been living with cousins in Decatur, Ga., since he was 11, when he left his home in Alaska because his mother went to jail for a parole violation.

Wanting to pursue military aviation and his dream of becoming an astronaut, Singleton was accepted by the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy, and chose the Navy because of the potential to "land on a carrier, in pitch black, while it's tilting left and right," he told SI.com.
But Singleton's dream was deferred when he was hit by a drunk driver one week before he was scheduled to graduate high school (as valedictorian). A broken collarbone meant he couldn't go through Navy's plebe summer, and couldn't enroll. But after a year at Georgia Tech, Singleton transferred to Navy. He's been a two-year starter. He carries a 3.2 GPA in aerospace engineering.

Previous winners of the FWAA's Courage Award are Clemson's Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis' Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State's Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo's William Bratton (2002).

2007 FedEx Orange Bowl Courage Award Nominees· Sept. 12: Brian Kajiyama, Hawaii· Sept. 19: Terry Clayton, Kentucky· Sept. 26: Danny Langsdorf, Oregon State· Oct. 3: Lester Karlin, Virginia Tech· Oct. 10: Zerbin Singleton, Navy

STEVE SPURRIER TO RECEIVE O'BRIEN LEGENDS AWARD

2007-10-10T01:53:00.000-05:00

Davey O'Brien Foundation Media Release - Oct. 9, 2007

FORT WORTH, Texas (October 9, 2007) - The Davey O'Brien Foundation proudly announces Steve Spurrier as the 2007 Davey O'Brien Legends Award winner in recognition of his life-long contributions to the game of football. The Award will be presented at the Foundation's 31st Annual Awards Dinner on Feb.18 at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Davey O'Brien Legends Award recognizes a college or professional quarterback who has made a significant contribution to the game of football, distinguished himself as an extraordinary leader and demonstrated exemplary conduct on and off the football field.

"The Head Ball Coach," Steve Spurrier, embodies the values of character, leadership and passionate work ethic. Spurrier has been recognized for his leadership on and off the field during his playing days at the University of Florida, his time in the NFL, and his presence as both a professional and collegiate coach.

While assuming quarterback duties at Florida, he was named a two-time All-American and was the recipient of the Heisman Memorial Trophy in 1966. During his career as a Gator, he threw for 36 touchdowns and over 4,800 yards while leading his team to a 24-9 record over three seasons. A number one draft pick, Spurrier went on to a nine-year career in the NFL, leading the San Francisco 49ers to their third consecutive NFC West title.

"The excitement and fun of playing college football was like no other experience," said Spurrier. "The challenge of leading the team into battle took character, perseverance and leadership. Davey O'Brien exhibited these qualities extremely well, and I am honored to receive an award based on these merits."

Spurrier has coached a national championship team, won seven SEC titles and more than 75% of the college games that he has coached. He is one of only three coaches in major college history, and the only one in SEC history, to lead a school to an appearance in the weekly polls for 200 consecutive weeks and lead a school to 12 consecutive seasons (1990-2001) of nine or more wins. He is a member of the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame, Gator Bowl Hall of Fame, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.

Not only dedicated to coaching players on the field, Spurrier and his wife Jerri also host a football clinic for women who want to learn more about the sport. The clinic takes place at the University of South Carolina, Spurrier's current home as head football coach, and walks attendees through the X's and O's of football.

"It's refreshing to introduce a behind-the-scenes look at football to these very enthusiastic ladies," said Spurrier. "I feel it's so important to show the value of this game to more than just those who have played, because our sport impacts the lives of so many people. This is another reason why I love the game so much."

Since 1977, the Davey O'Brien Foundation's awards programs have inspired and encouraged high school and college athletes to create their own legacy of greatness on and off the football field. By selecting Spurrier as the 2007 Legends Award recipient, the Foundation has recognized what sets him apart - not just his success, but the commitment to true competition that Spurrier sets for himself and his team.

"We are truly excited and honored to add Steve Spurrier to the venerable list of Legends Award winners," said Davey O'Brien Foundation Legends Chair, Scott Murray. "His dedication, leadership and commitment to the game of football make him the most deserving of winners."
Spurrier remains an inspiration to the entire athletic industry, as he has motivated many to achieve their goals and missions. In his current coaching position at the University of South Carolina, Spurrier is leading the Gamecocks to success in his third season and is poised to take his team to the promised land once again.

Scenes from Saturday!

2007-09-13T02:12:00.000-05:00

Yes, College Football is officially here! We are only two weeks into the season, but already we have some memorable moments to relive!

1) TCU @ Texas - Hey, she wanted everyone to know she was a "Horn Frog" and not just a regular Frog! What is wrong with that?

2) "Oh My God! South Carolina is winning!"

3) Ok....seriously....don't be "that guy." I mean, you have got your kid with you. At least send him to the snack stand for popcorn before you take out the camera phone and start taking shots of the cheerleaders.

4) Ahhh...the "Class" of the Big 12!

Nice find EDSBS!

2007-09-13T02:08:00.000-05:00

I saw this over at EDSBS.com and thought it was worth sharing.

Now, the guys at EDSBS are pretty clear that this is not a ref getting taken away, but instead, is a member of the "chain gang."

Either way, I know of a few Big 12 Refs that I wouldn't mind seeing "escorted" away from the game (especially when the Longhorns are playing).

Cable fight escalates during Iowa State-Kent State opener

2007-09-13T02:02:00.000-05:00

Aug. 13, 2007

Television tensions among Mediacom, the Big Ten Network and Fox Cable Networks ramped up during Thursday night's Iowa State football game against Kent State.

Mediacom contends Fox kept Iowa's largest cable company from providing coverage of Gene Chizik's coaching debut to its estimated 400,000 in-state subscribers on its Cable Connections channel.

Officials said Fox, which has rights to Big 12 Conference telecasts and had granted approval in past seasons, denied the request.Mediacom placed an image of Chizik and Iowa State athletics on its Connections channel during the game, with words contending it was blocked from providing Cyclone fans the game - as the radio broadcast of the game played.

The screen included directions on how to sign an online petition, along with a campus telephone number to complain to University of Iowa president Sally Mason.Fox is a business partner with the Big Ten Network and involved with the current tension between UI, the Big Ten Network and Mediacom.

Scrolling text on the screen included the phrase, "Fox is holding ISU fans hostage in order to extract money from you and other Iowans that will flow into the pockets of Fox, the University of Iowa, and the other Big 10 schools.

That's not fair."Fox issued a statement: "Iowa State already has permission from FSN (Fox Sports Network) to stream tonight's game live over the Internet (http://www.cyclones.com/) throughout Iowa and anywhere else in the world, which obviously denies Mediacom what it's really seeking - the right to be the exclusive distributor of the game.

"Efforts to show the Kent State game on Mediacom had been in the works since at least early summer, a Mediacom official said. Mediacom was able to show Iowa State's season-opener last season - a 45-43 triple-overtime victory against Toledo.

Fox also said it has "helped Iowa State to its rightful share of approximately $200 million" as a Big 12 Conference partner for about 15 years and called Mediacom's claims "once again laughable" - contending it made TV rights to the Kent State game available to two other networks, including one owned by Comcast cable.

The Big Ten Network launched Thursday, but still had not secured basic cable agreements with major providers such as Mediacom, Comcast and Time Warner.

In July, University of Iowa officials distributed an e-mail to Hawkeye supporters urging them to vote in an online poll sponsored by the Cedar Rapids Gazette asking whether the Big Ten Network should be on a Mediacom basic package."

I invite you to cast a vote in favor of Mediacom placing the Big Ten Network on the basic level of service," said Rick Klatt, an Iowa associate athletic director.

Stay tuned ...
- Bryce Miller

For this article from the DesMoinesRegister.com

News from "The Wizard"

2007-09-13T01:55:00.000-05:00

I found this posted over at "The Wizard of Odds (Blog)," and thought I would share.

"Iowa State fans were running into the streets, pitchforks in hand, to protest Thursday night.

It had nothing to do with the Cyclones' 23-14 loss to Kent State. It had everything to do with the Big Ten Network and its business partner, Fox Cable Networks.

Mediacom said it was not allowed to broadcast the game because Fox, which has rights to Big 12 telecasts and had granted approval in the past, denied the request, according to the Des Moines Register.

The Big Ten Network has yet to secure an agreement with Mediacom, and the cable outfit in essence implied that Fox, the Big Ten's partner, denied the request in order to put more pressure on Mediacom to agree to the Big Ten's terms.

Mediacom put the above image on the screen and provided the radio broadcast of the game.

The image gave directions on how to sign an online petition and the number to University of Iowa president Sally Mason to voice complaints. Fox said Mediacom was merely raising a fuss because it didn't have exclusive rights to the telecast, which was streamed over the Internet at Cyclones.com. "

Who knew?

2007-09-13T01:28:00.000-05:00

I mean, who really knew that a Duck could whip a Cougar? Well, if you are referring to the Univ. of Houston...then it is not that surprising. It has been a long time since UH has been relevant in College Football. In fact, I think the break-up of the SWC was the worst thing that ever happened to the poor Cougs. That is until a Duck got a hold of them.

Now, the duck mascot has been suspended for the next home game (Fresno State) for handing out such a solid butt-whipping to the cougar. However, the Oregon Football team is serving no punishment for "beating the day-lights" out of a Michigan team (while they were already down).

Watch the Beat-Down on YouTube.com

Duck suspended for next home football game
Posted: 12:41 AM, Saturday, September 8, 2007

The University of Oregon Athletic Department announced Friday that the Duck mascot will be suspended for next Saturday’s home game against Fresno State.

The action comes after two incidents between the Duck and the University of Houston Cougar mascot in both the first and second halves of last Saturday’s game at Autzen Stadium.

Two students were involved. As is often the case, the students each wore the Duck outfit for one half, UO sports information director Dave Williford said Friday by telephone from Ann Arbor, Mich., where Oregon takes on the Michigan Wolverines Saturday in a nationally televised game that begins at 12:30 p.m. on ABC.

“At least three, but maybe more” students serve as the Duck mascot, Williford said.

The Duck is in Ann Arbor, Williford said. Exactly what he’ll be allowed to do is unclear, but he’s not suspended for the Michigan game, Williford said.

In addition to the one-game suspension, other disciplinary measures will be taken against the two UO students involved in altercations, he said.

“There’s some other things, yes, but I can’t go into that for privacy reasons,” Williford said.
In the first half of the Houston game, the Duck approached the Cougar mascot on the field and appeared to kick him in the side after he mimicked the Duck by doing pushups after Houston scored a touchdown. The Cougar then tackled the Duck as he went back to the sideline. In a scene that ended up on YouTube this week, the Duck can then be seen punching the Cougar for about 20 seconds.

Read more in Saturday’s Register-Guard.
— Mark Baker
Copyright © 2007
The Register-Guard

What should Michigan Fan focus on?

2007-09-13T01:04:00.000-05:00

Now that the Michigan football season is finally over, some are left asking, "what should Michigan fans spend their days focusing on?" Well, here is the best we can do, but its a start. Take note Wolverines!

1). Ok so they are Michigan State co-eds. But who cares? The Wolverines are 0-2 to a Div 1-AA team and Oregon. At this point, I don't think any Wolverine fan should be getting picky (talk about "take what you can get"). Afterall, will it be so bad compared to the fact that your season is over?? I don't think so.

2.) Ok, so if #1 doesn't end up working for you...you have some serious problems. On the other hand, you will still need some therapy. These guys seem to know how to fix the problem that is the 2007 Football season....follow their lead!

Ty Detmer offering football advice?

2007-06-18T01:28:00.000-05:00

On July 16th, Ty Detmer (and a few others) will be putting on the "Detmer Football Camp" in Austin, Texas.

Although I am sure this will be an educational event for anyone looking to improve their football/quarterback skills, I can only wonder if he will show highlight film from the 1990 Holiday Bowl??

Holiday Bowl (1990) Highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmbc7k299vk

I don't see why he wouldn't, as that is a perfect example of how a quarterback can have a "bad day." It would also show potential future college quarterbacks how a defense can completely take over a game, "injure" your shoulder, hurt your pride, "injure" your other shoulder, make you look bad, and prove to everyone in the country that even Heisman voters don't always get it right.

I mean, if you are trying to teach kids what it will "really" be like in the college game (under center), then I would think this would be a valuable lesson.

Maybe Colt McCoy (Univ. of Texas) can also participate in this event as an instructor (afterall, the event is in Austin). I am sure he can find some video footage of the last 10 minutes of the A&M/t.u. game (2006). If not, I am sure Kellen Heard (DL - Texas A&M) would let him borrow his.

http://www.tritonsportsmanagement.com/events.html

Trophy Information

2007-02-02T14:06:00.000-06:00

I am going to ask those of you who read/view this blog, to do me a big favor (so "Thank You," in advance)!

As many of you probably already know, I am always looking for information on any and all College Football Trophies. Whether it is a photograph, a news article on a trophy, info on a website about the trophy, its history, or creator, or simply some obscure piece of information, I would love to see/hear/have it. Auction sites (such as Ebay and others) always have great info as well, as some of the older trophies have gone up for bid!

If you see anything of this sort, please email it to me at normand99 at hotmail (dot) com

I really do appreciate those who have sent me stuff in the past, and I will try to post any and all info I get to this blog!

Thanks in advance (again)!

HeismanPundit.com

2007-01-01T12:37:00.000-06:00

I would like to thank the HeismanPundit (from www.HeismanPundit.com) for asking me to participate in his www.CSTV.com Heisman Blog this season (2006)!

I had a great time, and I look forward to being able to hopefully do it again in the future. Being selected was a real honor.

If you haven't seen www.HeismanPundit.com you should really go and check it out. It is probably the best site (source) of information on all-things Heisman.

In my opinion, his coverage is better than any of the major media outlets (like ESPN.com, etc.).

If you are a College Football Fan, and a fan of the Heisman Trophy, you need to check out www.HeismanPundit.com NOW!

Blog Moving

2007-01-01T12:30:00.000-06:00

Ok, so the "College Football Independent" is moving! (Well, only partly). The CFI will still be here at this address, but I will be doing more blogging at www.TexAgs.com

Feel free to check out www.TexAgs.com and my blog there ("Campusology").

But the CFI will still be around.

His name is famous, but Heisman himself remains a mystery

2006-12-09T10:18:00.000-06:00

Influential coach introduced some of football's most basic parts, from the forward pass to the scoreboard

By Bill Pennington
NEW YORK TIMES
Saturday, December 09, 2006

NEW YORK — The old football coach had a cold, and as it worsened that September, his wife summoned a doctor to the couple's Midtown Manhattan apartment. A week earlier, the coach had played 18 holes of golf and worked out at his local gym. But now he had pneumonia, and his condition was deteriorating by the day.

Then, on Oct. 3, 1936 — a crisp Saturday and a good day for a college football game — the man with what would become the sport's most famous name died at home.

Seventy years ago, the passing of John William Heisman a few days before his 67th birthday caused little stir in New York, not as the Yankees were defeating the Giants in their first World Series with Joe DiMaggio. Several days later, Heisman was buried in Rhinelander, Wis., the hometown of his widow, Edith.

Today, the 72nd Heisman Trophy will be awarded to the nation's most outstanding college football player. In the seven decades since Heisman's death, the small, flush-with-the-ground gravestone at his resting place has rarely been visited. It has never, for example, been visited by a Heisman Trophy winner, cemetery officials said.

Mike Garrett, the 1965 winner, might have best summarized the attitude of the college football community. Handed the trophy 41 years ago, Garrett asked: "The award is wonderful, but who's Heisman?"

Heisman, born two weeks before the first American football game was played between Princeton and Rutgers in 1869, is often referred to as a pioneering coach — when he is remembered at all. It would be more accurate to call Heisman someone who acted as the game's conscience. He was a forceful defender of its soul and a tireless advocate of its potential.

Without John Heisman, there might not be a forward pass in football. Aside from leading the fight for the legalization of the pass in the early 1900s, Heisman pushed to divide the game into quarters and created the center snap. The ball had previously been rolled on the ground.

Heisman introduced the "hike" vocal signal and the first audible at the line. He invented the hidden ball trick and what would now be called the fumblerooski.

Because he wanted fans to understand play-calling, he made it easier for them to follow the downs and yardage needed by erecting something else new at games: a scoreboard.

He was a man of many faces and skills, and he used them to help create what is now an accepted cultural American character, the autocratic football coach. Heisman instinctively honed a talent for commanding, melodramatic locker-room oratory.

Heisman, standing before his players when he first met them, would hold aloft a football and ask, "What is this?"

Answering his own question, Heisman said: "It is a prolate spheroid in which the outer leather casing is drawn tightly over a somewhat smaller rubber tubing." Heisman would pause, then add: "Better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football."

He moved around the country helping spread the growth of the game like a coaching Johnny Appleseed, taking jobs in Ohio, Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia. With the game's popularity surging in the South in the 1910s, Heisman's 1917 Georgia Tech squad became the first Southern team to win the unanimous college football national championship. Heisman, who was known to bench players for poor grades, also became among the first football coaches to anger an institution's faculty when his annual salary of $9,000 was higher than any professor's.
He was also a prolific writer, authoring a book, "Principles of Football," and a series of football columns for Collier's magazine. Ever curious, Heisman had many side jobs, including roles in Shakespearean summer stock plays.

But football was his life's work. He had played the game since 1883 as a high schooler in the western Pennsylvania oil town of Titusville and later as a 150-pound lineman for Brown and Pennsylvania universities.

He seemed a paradox to most who knew him. As a middle-aged coach, he would bang shoulders with his 20-year-old linemen in practice, then excuse himself to leave early to attend the opera. He used a silken cord around his neck to hold a small, effete set of eyeglasses that he would prop on a flattened nose he broke while blocking a punt against Penn State in 1890.

There is little in the early stages of football that Heisman did not see, including the growing fanaticism of booster groups and the interest of gamblers, as regional powers began to face off.
Scouting a North Carolina-Georgia game in 1895, Heisman said he saw the first forward pass in history when a bungled punt attempt led a desperate punter to illegally fling the football over the line to a teammate who ran for a touchdown. Heisman walked away convinced it was the play that would save football from itself. As Heisman wrote, violent scrums based around bruising running plays were "killing the game as well as the players."

In 1904-05, 44 players had been reported killed in football games, with hundreds sustaining serious injuries. Heisman said the forward pass "would scatter the mob."

As Wiley Lee Umphlett wrote in his 1992 book, "Creating the Big Game," Heisman began to forcefully lobby Walter Camp, shepherd of the national rules committee. When Camp did not act swiftly enough, Heisman rallied other coaches and newspaper reporters to pressure Camp and the committee.

In 1906, the forward pass was legalized with several constraints that limited its effectiveness. Heisman pressed on, and the restrictions were eventually lifted.

Heisman's 36-year coaching career, after more stops at Penn, Washington & Jefferson and Rice, concluded in 1927 with a 190-70-16 record. He happily retired to New York, where he owned part of a sporting goods company.

When the newly opened Downtown Athletic Club recruited Heisman as its athletic director in 1930, he started a popular touchdown club. Five years later, the club came up with the idea of an annual award recognizing the best college football player in the land.

The club would give away a trophy, and it wanted to name the award for Heisman. Although he had never been shy about self-promotion, Heisman vociferously declined. He did not like the idea of an award singling out one player in a team game.

The 1935 trophy was named the Downtown Athletic Club award. Two months after Heisman's death, the club renamed the award. For the next 28 years, until her death in 1964, Edith Maora Heisman received a bouquet of flowers from the Downtown Athletic Club during the week of the award announcement.

At the Forest Home Cemetery, where Edith and John Heisman are buried, the current sexton and his longtime predecessor said that a few people stop by every December looking to visit the grave site.

"It was never anyone famous," said Richard Winquist, who retired as the sexton in 2003 after 32 years and whose father had been the sexton for 14 years before him. "One time, it was a couple of newlyweds on their honeymoon. The woman wasn't too happy about it, but the bridegroom said he was a big college football fan and he knew Heisman was buried here, so he stopped to have his picture taken. Like I said, she wasn't too happy. But he was."

About 10,000 are buried at Forest Home Cemetery.

"It's pretty hard to find without help," Winquist said. "One year, 1983, somebody left four football tickets to a Minnesota-Illinois game on the grave and then wrote an anonymous letter to the editor of the local paper saying we should do more to promote Heisman.

"I always kept an eye on the grave. I'd walk by it every morning. He's a piece of history. You just sort of felt it. Who hasn't heard of the Heisman?"

Biography:
John Heisman - Courtesy of Penn Archives

Heisman Club - Oberlin College

Heisman.com

Coaches' Poll, the BCS, and Bowl Payouts!

2006-12-06T15:29:00.000-06:00

Human element has biggest impact on the BCS process
By Jack Carey, USA TODAY

$17M BCS payouts sound great, but ...
By Thomas O'Toole, USA TODAY

Integrity An Issue With Coaches Poll

By Adam Caparell CSTV.com

32 Flavors of Bowls!

2006-12-03T22:28:00.000-06:00

2006-2007 Bowl Schedule by NationalChamps.net

Did you know that Alligators can jump? Well, they can jump two spots overnight! The Florida Gators will be facing the Ohio State Buckeyes in the BCS National Championship Game.

People have been asking for a play-off, and now you have it. Only, it has just two teams. The Gators and Buckeyes are not playing in a Bowl Game. The winner will not take home a Fiesta, Rose, Sugar, or Orange Bowl Trophy. They are simply going to slug it out in the National Championship Game, while everyone else goes to bowl games.

Interesting, but subtle, change to the world of College Football.

Replay official knew Sooners recovered kick vs. Ducks

2006-11-25T12:25:00.000-06:00

From ESPN.com and the Associated Press
Nov. 23, 2006

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The replay official for the Oklahoma-Oregon football game says he knew that Oklahoma recovered a pivotal onside kickoff late in the game.

But Gordon Riese told The Oklahoman that replay rules prevented him from correcting on-field officials who made the wrong call and awarded possession to Oregon, even though it was clear to Riese that Oklahoma's Allen Patrick had recovered the ball.

Riese also said that if he had seen the correct angle of the replay, it would have been easy to reverse the result of the call and give possession to Oklahoma, which could have run out the clock. But that didn't happen, he said, and Oregon took advantage of the officiating blunder, scoring a last-minute touchdown to win 34-33.

At the center of the dispute in the Sept. 16 game was a botched call on an onside kickoff by Oregon before the Ducks' winning touchdown. Replays showed the kick was touched by an Oregon player before it traveled the required 10 yards, and, therefore, possession should have been awarded to Oklahoma.

The video also showed that Oklahoma's Patrick actually recovered the ball, although that aspect of the play was not reviewable.

"This was the easiest call to make, if I'd gotten the [correct] replay," Riese said. "It would have been the right call. It would have been the correct call. The Oregon kid touched the ball at the 44-yard line."

Riese said the only replay angle he saw on the play came from Oklahoma's end zone, which he said prevented him from making the correct call. But he did see something else.

"I saw the ball laying on the ground, the Oklahoma kid picks up the ball with his knee on the ground," he said. "I knew it was Oklahoma ball."

But, Riese said, he chose to follow the rules of the replay system, which meant he couldn't tell the on-field Pacific-10 Conference officials of their error -- even though the referee asked him which team had recovered.

"I can't let it go," he said. "It's something we officials have just been schooled with -- to get the call right -- and I didn't do it that day."

Oklahoma is 9-2, but would be 10-1 and possibly a part of the national-championship discussion if not for the officiating errors at Oregon. Riese said he's aware of the Sooners' success this season.

"Oh, they're a good football team," he said. "My goodness sakes, they're a good football team."
The Pac-10 suspended Riese for one game, and he later requested and was granted a leave of absence for the remainder of the season. He said he does not plan to return to the replay booth and that the mistake continues to bother him.

"I worry about the screwup we did in the Oklahoma game," he said. "It's inexcusable."

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

My Final Heisman Ballot

2006-11-25T12:20:00.000-06:00

1. Troy Smith - I don't know if anything more needs to be said about Mr. Smith, as his amazing season has already spoken for him!

2. Darren McFadden - This guy just does it all. He has proved that he is a great "back" in the SEC, and is an amazing all-around player. If I were a coach, and could pick just one player to add to my team, I would be hard pressed to not pick Mr. McFadden, and for this reason he is in my Top 3.

3. Brady Quinn - Mr. Quinn is an excellent QB (which most have been saying all-along) and I believe he showed it on Saturday night against a very talented USC Defense. Did the Irish win the game? No. But Brady Quinn stepped up his game on the national stage and showed us all what he is capable of. If I could add just one player to my team, I would add Darren McFadden. But, if I had to pick a QB, Brady Quinn would be my next choice (after Troy Smith) and third pick overall.

Bo Schembechler 1929 - 1977

2006-11-20T10:57:00.000-06:00

As the winningest head coach in Michigan football history, Schembechler's teams won or tied an impressive 13 Big Ten championships during his 21 year tenure. Under Schembechler's guidance, Michigan's 96-10-3 regular season record through the decade of the 1970s was the nation's best. He guided 17 teams to post-season bowl games (Ten Rose Bowls) and another 17 to top ten finishes in the final wire service polls (AP and/or UPI). In his 27 years of coaching, Schembechler's teams never had a losing season. Upon stepping down after the 1989 season, Bo retired as the winningest active coach in the nation (234-65-8) and fifth on the all-time list, only behind coaching legends Paul 'Bear' Bryant, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Glen 'Pop' Warner, and Woody Hayes. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Schembechler served as Michigan's Director of Athletics between 1988-1990.

After earning his diploma from Miami (Ohio) University in 1951, Schembechler received his master's degree from Ohio State in 1952 while serving as a graduate assistant coach. He continued his coaching career with brief stints as an assistant at Presbyterian College (1954), Bowling Green (1955) and Northwestern (1958) before spending five seasons as an assistant at Ohio State. in 1963, Schembechler was named head coach at Miam. of Ohio, a position he held until taking over the Michigan program prior to the 1969 campaign.

From: UMich.edu

For More - ESPN.com

The Stage is Set....!

2006-11-15T23:24:00.000-06:00

ESPN.com 360 Coverage

Articles:

"More confident Henne embraces leadership role"

by Ivan Maisel - ESPN.com

"Buckeye's defense shreds preseason perception"

by Pat Forde - ESPN.com

"Michigan QB takes back seat to no one"

by Reid Hanley - ChicagoTribune.com

"Sure seems like everyone's talking about Michigan-Ohio State"

CBSSportsline.com

"One observer's opinion on the best Michigan-Ohio State games"

WANE.com (WANE-TV)

Jeff Bowden to Iowa State!?!

2006-11-15T22:39:00.000-06:00

By: Travis Normand
The College Football Independent
Nov. 15, 2006

Jeff Bowden resigned from his position as the Offensive Coordinator at Florida State on Nov. 14th.

Actually, he was "forced out."

Of course he was. Who leaves a job like that for no reason?

The only way you leave that job is if you are fired, if someone tells you to leave, or someone simply buys out your contract. In this case, it seems to be a mix.

Don't get me wrong, I think Jeff Bowden felt family pressure to move on anyway. I am not saying that anyone in the Bowden family told Jeff to leave, but no son can sit back and watch their father take the heat for the job they (the son) are doing. If you could, you probably don't care for your father too much.

Jeff probably got tired of listening to the critics, and also didn't want to jeopardize his father's legacy anymore than it already has been. Plus, with a nice contract buy-out, you can pretty much dial up retirement.

Of course, in the end, all coaches want their shot at the Head Position, and I am hearing now that Iowa State is looking hard at Jeff Bowden for the Head job in Ames, IA. Keep an eye on the Cyclones as they may have a Bowden of their own before the 2007 season gets started.

Photo Courtesy of: CNNSI.com

North Carolina names Butch Davis new head coach

2006-11-15T22:35:00.000-06:00

Nov. 14th, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.

Former NFL coach Butch Davis will return to the sidelines as coach at North Carolina, which is 1-9 and hasn't beaten a Division I-A team this season.

He will replace the fired John Bunting, the school said Monday. The hiring had been widely expected the past week after Davis' name rose to the top of the list of candidates.

Davis, who will turn 55 on Friday, brings a reputation for orchestrating turnarounds -- which is just what the struggling Tar Heels need. North Carolina ranks among the worst offenses and defenses in the country.

"Butch Davis became our first choice early in the process, although we did not know of his interest in us," athletic director Dick Baddour said. "We were excited to learn of his interest in Carolina and our football program and proceeded from that point. He's a first-class individual who is committed to preparing his student-athletes for success in all aspects of their lives."

Davis coached the Miami Hurricanes from 1995-2000, compiling a 51-20 record before leaving for the NFL's Cleveland Browns and leaving behind the players with whom Larry Coker won the national title in 2001. He went 24-35 with the Browns before resigning in 2004 and has worked the past two seasons in broadcasting.

School officials said Davis agreed in principle last week to take the job. Terms were unavailable and the contract will be released once the school's trustees approve it.

Baddour said none of the key figures involved in the hiring would be available for additional comment until Davis is formally introduced as coach on Nov. 27, two days after the Tar Heels play Duke in their season finale.

"The timing of my decision to consider coaching opportunities and the opening at UNC seemed to intersect perfectly," Davis said. "Dick Baddour made my introduction to Carolina happen in a well-planned, well-organized manner and did an outstanding job of presenting the virtues of UNC -- its people, its strong commitment to both academics and athletics as well as the exciting, active part it plays in the community. Obviously, he succeeded."

The announcement came 22 days after Bunting was fired following an embarrassing shutout loss at Virginia.

Almost immediately, speculation centered on Davis, and so did the school's search. Davis spoke of his desire to return to coaching but didn't specify which jobs interested him. Last week, media reports linked Davis to the North Carolina opening.

"I am very impressed with Butch Davis' record as both an outstanding coach and strong advocate of academic performance," university chancellor James Moeser said. "My own personal interaction with Butch, supported by all of my conversations with faculty and administrators who have known him over the years, confirmed the view that he has the values and commitments we care about most at Carolina."

Davis is the third football coach hired by Baddour in the past decade. Baddour promoted Carl Torbush when Mack Brown left for Texas in 1997 and then fired Torbush and hired Bunting in 2000.

Bunting is 25-45 in his sixth season as the coach at his alma mater and hasn't had a winning season since his first team went 8-5 in 2001 and beat Auburn in the Peach Bowl. Bunting is owed $286,200 a year through the 2009 season.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

Las Vegas Bowl Sold Out!

2006-11-15T22:28:00.000-06:00

Who says the bowls are "no good?" The Las Vegas Bowl is still 5 weeks away and it is already sold out. What is even better is that we still don't know who is going to be "bowling" in vegas.

If a lower tier bowl like the Las Vegas bowl can sell out five weeks in advance with no match-up announced, then I can't wait to see how well all the other bowls are attended!

If people want a change in the Div.-1 College Football Post-Season, they sure are sending a "mixed message."

For more on this at ESPN.com

Getting Clearer (Heisman Poll)

2006-11-12T23:48:00.000-06:00

This list is finally down to only 5 players (from 10). One (0r two) players might slip onto the list and take someone's spot away before it is all said and done, but this is how I see it playing out from here on.

If 5 get an invite to NYC, these are the 5 that I would invite. It is a tough choice, as leaving people like Michael Hart from Michigan off of the list is almost un-fair.

1. Troy Smith - Sr. - QB - Ohio State

The stage is set as Troy Smith has one more game to go before he and his fellow Buckeyes “punch” their ticket to the national title game. If they find themselves on the winning side of the big game next weekend, Troy will be making sure his trip to the “Big Game” has a lay-over in New York, where he will surely win one of College Football’s most prestegious awards.

Last weekend Ohio State had a “scare” against Illinois, but hung on for the Win. I said that the game vs. the Illini would probably serve as a “wake-up call” for the buckeyes, and it did. The Buckeyes not only over came some cold weather, but also had to deal with not being able to fly into Chicago for the game with Northwestern. The team had to take a shorter flight and then take buses the rest of the way to the game, arriving at their hotel late that evening, and missing their pre-game walk through.

With all of the distractions, Troy Smith handled the Wildcats 54-10. He threw for 185 yards, 4 touchdowns, and was 12 of 19 attempts.

2. Chad Henne – QB – Jr. – Michigan

Like I said last week, it is looking like Henne will have to go to Columbus and personally deliver a loss to Troy Smith if he wants to win the Heisman, and his chance has finally arrived. The Wolverines will travel to Columbus in less than 6 days to take on No. 1 Ohio State.

If Henne and Company can take care of business, Henne will not only take away Ohio State’s National Title hopes, but Troy Smith’s Heisman hopes as well.

3. Brady Quinn – QB – Sr. – Notre Dame

Notre Dame has two games to go, and Quinn will need impressive outings in both in order to sneak in and take the Heisman. But, Quinn’s chances are not as far off as one might think. If Quinn and the Irish can really blow Army out, they will then travel to LA to take on a one loss USC team that is primed to go to the National Title game!

Yes, according to today’s BCS standings, USC is No. 3, and will be No. 1 or 2 after the Ohio State – Michigan game. If the Irish can beat the Trojans on the road, in front of a National TV audience, Quinn might make this Heisman race go from “clear cut” to “very muddy.”

Imagine this scenario, Ohio State loses to Michigan in a game where both QB’s are equally un-impressive. Quinn goes to LA and knocks USC out of the top two with an “career” game, while Florida loses the SEC title game! Not only would Heisman Voters be thinking about Brady Quinn, but Poll Voters would be thinking about Notre Dame for the National Title game (possibly setting up a Michigan – Notre Dame re-match)!

5. Darren McFadden – TB – So. - Arkansas

Darren McFadden is finally on everyone’s radar screen, but unfortunately it is probably too little, too late.

McFadden put on a show against Tennessee on Sat. night rushing for 181 yards, and toping 1200 for the season. He also ran for two scores against the Vols, pushing his 2006 total to 13 total touchdowns.

McFadden is only a Sophomore, and finishing the 2006 season strong (with a possible SEC title and BCS Bowl Berth) could really set the stage for an amazing 2007 Heisman Campaign. There is still a lot of football to be played in the 2006 season, but I think the best McFadden can hope for at this point would be an invite to New York this December (which he might get).

SWAC Football

2006-11-12T22:52:00.000-06:00

The East Champ will play the West Champ on Dec. 16th 2006 in the SWAC Championship Game!

SWAC Football Official Site
Championship Game
MEAC SWAC Challenge!
ESPN.com SWAC Clubhouse

Ivy League Football - Final Week!

2006-11-12T22:33:00.000-06:00

This coming weekend is the final weekend for Ivy League Football. Princeton is looking to win the conference championship, while Harvard and Yale are going to fight for second place in "The Game!"

Saturday, November 18

*Yale at Harvard, Noon

*Columbia at Brown, 12:30 pm

*Penn at Cornell, 1 pm

*Dartmouth at Princeton, 1 pm

Official Ivy League Page
ESPN.com Ivy League Club-House

Post-Season Central!

2006-11-12T22:13:00.000-06:00

We enjoy all college football here at the "College Football Independent." We may spend most of our time covering Division 1 Football, but that doesn't mean we aren't enjoying all the action going on in D-1AA, D-2, and D-3.

To celebrate those other leagues, we want to provide a easily accessible list of links to info for all things "post-season!" We hope this helps...enjoy.

D-1AA Football Info: I-AA.org

D2Football.com
D-2 Playoff Bracket: ESPN.com

D3Football.com
D-3 Playoff Bracket: ESPN.com
Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl - Dec. 16th

BCS - Week 5

2006-11-12T22:00:00.000-06:00

To see the poll, click here:
Week 5 (Nov. 12, 2006)

Some notes on the Initial BCS Poll:
- Rutgers appears for the first time ever in a BCS poll at #16!
- Ohio State is the first Big 10 Team to appear at #1 in the initial BCS poll.
- USC has been 1st or 2nd in the BCS Standings for 25 consecutive polls.
- Boise State is at #15, which is the highest ranking that a non-BCS conference team has ever appeared, in an initial BCS poll.
- This is the first time in BCS history (61 all-time polls) that both Florida State and Miami are not in the Top 15 or Top 25.

Standings Observations for Week ONE!
- #1 Ohio State and #3 Michigan will face off in November
- #2 USC will play both #8 Notre Dame and #10 Cal
- #8 Notre Dame's only loss is to #3 Michigan
- #9 Texas' only loss is to #1 Ohio State
- #11 Tennessee beat #10 Cal
- #4 Auburn lost to an un-ranked Arkansas team at HOME, while #6 Florida lost to a ranked Auburn team while on the ROAD.
- The Computers like USC at #1, while the Humans are unsure if USC is #2 or #3.
- The Computers do not like #5 West Virginia and have them ranked 14, while the Humans have them at #4.

More controversy:

For those of you who do not like the BCS, here is some ammo. Personally I like the BCS a lot, but I do not like FOX and their coverage of anything College Football, so I am still not happy ABC sold it off.

When looking to see the new rankings, I went straight to www.BCSFootball.org! This is the old website for the BCS, which is now opperated by FoxSports.com.

Upon looking at the standings of the BCS, it took me only one minute to realize the team at Fox had calculated the standings incorrectly.

1.) For example, on their site, they claimed that the Coaches Poll had 62 voters. Their calculations also back this up by showing that 62 x 25 = 1550. They then show that Ohio State had a Coaches Poll Percent of 1.016. Upon further investigation, the only way to get 1.016 is to multiply 62 x 25 = 1550 and divide it by 1575. Where does the 1575 come from? I am glad you asked. It comes from the fact that the Coaches Poll actually has 63 voters (63 x 25 = 1575).

So, the actual number (which you can see on ESPN.com's spread sheet) should be 1.00 for the Coaches Poll as Ohio State received all 63 First Place Votes.

2.) They also managed to incorrectly calculate the points for the Harris Poll as well. The Fox Site had Ohio State with a Harrs Poll Percent at 1.008. I actually have no idea how they got this number, but do know the correct number appears on the ESPN.com website as .999.

3.) Although they did get the computer percentage right (.920), they also got the final BCS Poll Average correct as well (Ohio State is .973 for the first week, and both Fox, ESPN, and myself have calculated that as the correct number).

The only problem is that you need a correct calculation for the Harris Poll, the Coaches Poll, and the Computer Poll to get this final standings number correct. (I don't know how they came up with the correct number if both their Harris and Coaches numbers were wrong.)

I am sure Fox will see this problem and correct it, and that is why I have taken screen shots of their error and posted them here.

Link to the FOX Site
- Standings
- Formula

See Pictures of the Error's Below:

1. Wrong Totals in BCS Standings Spread Sheet

2. Calculation Instructions showing the Coaches Poll only has 62 votes (?)

Why not Rutgers?

2006-11-08T09:40:00.000-06:00

If Rutgers doesn't belong, Louisville doesn't belong.

by Todd Helmick
NationalChamps.net
Nov. 6, 2006

To see Original Article, please visit NationalChamps.net!

Let the BCS nightmare begin. This Thursday on ESPN, undefeated Louisville (#3 in the BCS) heads to New Brunswick, NJ to do battle with undefeated Rutgers (#13 in the BCS). The big question this week: Does Louisville belong in the national championship game if they run the table?

Well, listening to ESPN all weekend, the big answer is absolutely - Louisville belongs. But when people like the well-respected Kirk Herbsteit and Mark May are asked the same question about Rutgers (should they run the table), the smirks on faces were tough to disguise. “No way!” seems to be the definitive answer.

Wait a minute…Rutgers in the National Championship Game? My gosh, the FOX network stockholders just fell off their thrones, for FOX currently owns the broadcasting rights to the BCS National Championship Game. Rutgers is a probable rating’s nightmare. Heck, the first college football game ever played was in 1869 between Rutgers and Princeton on a plot of ground where the present-day Rutgers gymnasium now stands. Hence, in 137 years of football existence, Rutgers has been to just two bowl games and lost them both.

In some regards, not too much has changed since that inaugural meeting. An analytical account of the first college game every played appeared in the November, 1869 issue of the Targum, Rutgers’ undergraduate newspaper. “To describe the varying fortunes of the match, game by game, would be a waste of labor, for every game was like the one before,” wrote the student reporter. “There was the same headlong running, wild shouting, and frantic kicking."

Headlong running? The same analogy would fit both Rutgers’ RBs (Ray Rice and Brian Leonard) today. As for the wild shouting, tune in Thursday night - this game represents the biggest matchup in Rutgers Football history…all 137 years worth.

With the media love affair concerning the newly realigned Big East Conference (which surely has exceeded all expectations up to this point), why shouldn’t Rutgers play for all the marbles if they run the rest of the table? Plain and simple, if Rutgers – which plays the exact same conference slate as the Cardinals - does not belong, then neither does Louisville. The hypocrites claiming that the Big East is currently one of the better conferences outside the SEC have flown the coo-coos nest if Rutgers doesn’t share the same privilege.

Most every poll voter has the same gut feeling, that Louisville is not a better team than one-loss Texas, Florida, Auburn, USC or California, if all these teams continue to run their course given the scheduling disparities. Credit Louisville for going out and adding toughie Miami to their 2006 schedule, something the other Big East frontrunners failed to do in terms of fortifying their non-conference opponents. Despite the Hurricanes’ current slide, this may be just enough to put the Cards over the top in the polls. Really, not too many longtime college football followers have a problem with UL knowing how top billing is set up for teams that finish undefeated…so, more power to Louisville if they go unscathed.

However, claiming in the same breath that Rutgers would not belong is a slap in the face to the Big East. Commissioner Michael Tranghese was quoted last week in the build up to the WVU vs. Louisville game. “Any team that goes undefeated while playing in a BCS Conference deserves the right to play for the national championship.” He just forgot to add, “Depending on what type of television ratings your program delivers.”

The History of College Football

2006-11-07T01:26:00.000-06:00

A Brief History of the Game
From HornetFootball.org

Leather Helmets and the Flying Wedge: Early Football at Colgate

From Colgate.edu

History of the Game
From The-Game.org

When Men were Men and Football was Brutal!
From YaleAlumniMagazine.com

Happy Birthday College Football!

2006-11-06T23:43:00.000-06:00

Football was first played at Princeton on crisp fall afternoons in the 1840s when students gathered behind Nassau Hall for impromptu games. Opposing teams were made up of residents of East and West Colleges or members of the Whig and Clio Halls; sometimes, all the A to L's were pitted against the M to Z's. After the Civil War, increasing interest led to interclass matches and eventually to an epochal event -- the first American intercollegiate football game, between Princeton and Rutgers, in New Brunswick on November 6, 1869.

The twenty-five players from each college played in their street clothes, and the several hundred spectators stood around on the side or sat on a wooden fence. There were no coaches, no officials, no programs -- the Rutgers Targum, on which we chiefly depend for the record of the game, tells us that Princeton's first goal was made ``by a well directed kick, from a gentleman whose name we don't know, but who did the best kicking on the Princeton side.'' The Targum is equally silent about the identity of the first wrongway player in American football history, a Rutgers man ``who, in his ardor, forgot which way he was kicking,'' and scored for Princeton instead of Rutgers. By agreement, the home team's style of play was used, and Rutgers won, 6 goals to 4; a week later, Princeton won the return match on its grounds, 8 goals to 0.

The game that Princeton and Rutgers played was a form of association football, forerunner of later-day soccer, as was the game that Princeton and Yale played in 1873 (Princeton 3, Yale 0) in a match that inaugurated the longest continuous rivalry in American intercollegiate football. Harvard, meantime, had been playing the "Boston game,'' which was more like rugby, and in 1875 Harvard beat Yale, 4 to 0, in a rugby-type match, inaugurating this series. At this game, two spectators from Princeton, Jotham Potter 1877 and Earl Dodge 1879, were so taken with rugby that they resolved to press for its adoption at Princeton. Despite strong sentiment for retaining association football -- "rather less rowdyish and more scientific'' than the Harvard game, said the Nassau Lit -- Potter's and Dodge's views prevailed by a narrow margin at a spirited mass meeting. Subsequently, on Princeton's initiative, Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale representatives met on November 23, 1876, and formed the Intercollegiate Football Association, which adopted modified rugby rules.

Princeton's success, which had been marked in association football, declined temporarily with the change to rugby, but by 1878, when Woodrow Wilson and his classmate, Earl Dodge, were directors of the student-managed Princeton College Football Association, Princeton won all six of its games, defeating both Harvard and Yale in the same season for the first time.

American football, as it evolved from rugby, became so rough in its early years that after watching a Harvard-Yale match, bare-knuckle heavyweight boxing champion John L. Sullivan declared, "There's murder in that game.'' Princeton contributed its share of roughness with its invention of the "V-formation wedge,'' which compared favorably with other engines of attack such as Harvard's "flying wedge'' and Yale's "tackles back'' formation. There were repeated efforts at reform, but relief from the continuing hazards of football came only in 1906, when, in response to public outcry, the game was opened up with legalization of the forward pass and other rule changes designed to reduce injuries.

Continued...

A College Football History Timeline! (Courtesy of Princeton.edu)

Alvarez praises Bielema for exploiting 'bad rule'

2006-11-06T23:38:00.000-06:00

Nov. 6, 2006
By Joe Schad
Special to ESPN.com

Former Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez defended on Monday current coach Bret Bielema's decision to have players intentionally go offsides prior to kickoffs so the first half would expire during Saturday's game against Penn State.

After three kicks, Penn State did not run an offensive play in what was a manipulation of a new rule that starts the clock rolling as soon as it is kicked.

"It was a hell of a call!" said Alvarez, the school's athletic director who hired Bielema. "If Joe Paterno does that everyone says it's genius. There are rules. Good coaches take advantage of them. Do you not think Joe Paterno would have done it if he'd known the rule?"

Wisconsin won the game to improve to 9-1. Alvarez said he and Bielema discussed exploiting this loophole back in the summer, when they visited with officials.

"It's a bad rule," Alvarez said. "I think what you'll see next year is the clock stopped in the final two minutes of each half."

NCAA Associate Director for Playing Rules Administration Ty Halpin said that, by rule, Penn State could have accepted a 5-yard penalty where it ended up with the ball.

"But think about where Penn State would have started with the ball," Alvares noted. "They caught it at the 5-yard line."

Game officals have also been instructed to give out unsportsmanlike penalties if they believe the offsides are clearly intentional.

"Officials are not going to use that until it is very clear the team is circumventing the rule," Halpin said. "You can argue that in this case, but the game officials are in a tough spot here because by rule, what Wisconsin did was legal."

Grant Teaff, director of the American Football Coaches Association, said his organization and the NCAA are compiling feedback and analysis on the new clock rules, which have been widely criticized by coaches.

"I can assure you this scenario is a big topic of discussion at officials' meetings this morning," Teaff said. "There are other rules that can be exploited. If within the rules, the question becomes is it unethical or does it just take advantage of a rule? I can assure you this will be discussed."

Said Alvarez: "Bret's just a smart coach. We're looking at winning ten games this season for just the second time."

Alvarez said that although he loves his role as an administrator, he has not ruled out the possibility of coaching again.

"Never say never," Alvarez said. "I'm like most guys who cut the cord. I miss it at times. The day to day involvement with the assistants. The games."

Alvarez has been mentioned as a possible successor in Miami if president Donna Shalala fires Larry Coker.

Joe Schad covers college football for ESPN.

For more - Click Here!

Craig James - ABC Football Analyst

2006-11-05T19:21:00.000-06:00

I am not really sure why everyone is so shocked at the comments made by Craig James on ABC's Football Studio Set. I have been forced to listen to these guys "talk" about College Football for several seasons now, only to watch them make complete idiots of themselves again and again as they make fun of "the computers" (of the BCS), etc.

Anyway, in case you missed it, there is no reason to re-hash it, as it is posted just about everywhere on the interent. Basically, Craig James called Joe Paterno an "Old Fart" on National TV.

Regardless of his context, how does someone who is trying to be a respectable "talking head" call a College Football Legend an "Old Fart!"

Joe Paterno's legacy (in College Football terms) will be one that never leaves the history books. Craig James will be lucky if he is even included in that book, unless this story makes the back page.

My only point is this - I can do as bad of a job as Mr. James; but I can do so for about half the price.

For more:
BuckNuts.com (Thanks to BuckNuts.com for the photo as well.)
ReadingEagle.com
PennLive.com
PennLive.com (2)

Michigan's Stadium Expansion

2006-11-05T19:16:00.000-06:00

Click Here: For more info on Michigan's stadium expansion!

Coach of the Week - Nov. 4, 2006

2006-11-05T17:03:00.000-06:00

Bret Bielema

Head Coach - Univ. Wisconsin

Badgers

Nov. 4, 2006 - Coach Bielema gets the recognition of "Coach of the Week" from the "College Football Independent" for his creativity right before the half (end of 2nd quarter) of the Wisconsin - Penn State Football Game.

Coach Bielema had his Badgers run offsides on two consecutive kick-offs in order to take advantage of the new clock rules, which allows the clock to start running the instant the ball is kicked (vs. the old rule, that didn't start the clock until the ball was caught).

With 00:23 seconds remaining in the half, Bielema took advantage of the new rule and ran it down to his advantage.

Photo Courtesy of UWBadgers.com

Post Week 9 - Top 10 Heisman Candidates

2006-11-05T13:38:00.000-06:00

CSTV.com

1. Troy Smith - Sr. - QB - Ohio State
Ok, so the showing against Illinois was not all that impressive. The Buckeye's and Troy Smith did what they needed to do to hang on and get the victory. I expect that the game with the Illini will act as a "huge" wake-up call, and you will see Mr. Smith (and troops) regroup next week in preparation for the show-down with Michigan on the 18th.

2. Chad Henne – QB – Jr. – Michigan

Like I said last week, it is looking like Henne will have to go to Columbus and personally deliver a loss to Troy Smith if he wants to win the Heisman. Just like the Buckeyes, the Wolverines struggled with their opponent (Ball State) this past Saturday as well. It was a classic example of what happens every college football season, when a certain team is on a crash-course for the national title, and the end up struggling against an inferior opponent only a few weeks before the big game. Only with the Wolverines, they were able to rise up and hold on for the victory.

3. Brady Quinn – QB – Sr. – Notre Dame

At this point, Brady Quinn is playing well enough to win the Heisman, but will fall short as long as both Henne and Smith are ranked above him. The fact that USC loss to Oregon State (and will now not be undefeated when the two meet up) also hurts Quinn's chances.

Yet, all is not lost for Mr. Quinn. If the Irish keep winning, Brady will find himself in second place for the Heisman after Nov. 18th (when either Smith or Henne take a loss), and the following week the Irish will face off with USC. Due to the fact that USC has a loss, the Irish will really have to blow the Trojans out on national TV (a la Carson Palmer). A scenario like this will put Brady in prime position to walk off with the trophy!

4. Michael Hart – RB – Jr. – Michigan

A FUMBLE!!
Thats ok, its his first fumble in how many? One fumble is not going to bounce Hart out of the running. As I said with Henne, the entire Michigan team struggled with Ball State, but were still able to hold on for the win. For this reason, I will consider the game a "wash" at this point in the season.

5. Ted Ginn Jr. - WR - Jr. - Ohio State

Just like I can't give all of Michigan's credit to Henne, I can't give all of Ohio State's to Troy Smith. Ginn has been doing his part, and is still an amazing athlete. Ohio State (if I had to guess) would probably still be undefeated if they didn't have Ginn, but that doesn't take away the importance of his contributions (or his amazing ability as a WR and Kick Returner).

6. Darren McFadden - TB - So. - Arkansas

I have to consider McFadden a top 10 candidate for a couple reasons. For one, he is looking to top 1000 yards rushing for his second straight season, and two, he and the Razorbacks are leading their division of the SEC.

The remainder of the Razorback schedule is going to be pretty tough, but if they can run through it with only one loss (or maybe less), win the division, and pick up a 1000+ yard season for McFadden, then it will be pretty tough to not consider McFadden as one of the best running backs in the country.

7. Chris Leak – QB – Sr. – Florida

Leak is slipping down the list, but the Gators are not. The Gators have clinched their SEC division, and now, a great showing the rest of the way (with a SEC Title) might get Leak back into the Top 3.

8. Ray Rice - RB - Rutgers

Rice is in the top 10 (statistically) in rushing and scoring. There are a few RBs in front of him, but he happens to be on a team that is undfeated, and I can't help but think that stats are not everything (and Rice has the intangibles that the others do not).

9. James Davis - RB - Clemson
10. Calvin Johnson - WR - Ga. Tech

Still Hopefull:
Brian Brohm – QB – Jr. – Louisville
Dwayne Jarrett - USC
Ian Johnson - Boise State

National College Football Day - Nov. 4, 2006!

2006-11-04T13:48:00.000-06:00

Although College Football's Birthday is not until Nov. 6th, today (Nov. 4th) is National College Football Day (Saturday).

Almost 137 years ago, Rutgers defeated Princeton 6-4 on a field in New Brunswick, N.J. (Nov. 6, 1869). With about 100 spectators watching on, College Football was born (as well as one of the greatest American Traditions).

Click here for more info on National College Football Day, and The V Foundation!

The Heisman after 9 Weeks of Games!

2006-10-30T14:03:00.000-06:00

CSTV.com!

If I had to vote today, here is how my ballot would look.

1. Troy Smith - Sr. - QB - Ohio State

Troy Smith is pretty un-stoppable (and so is Ohio State). Assuming Ohio State wins out; the most exciting aspect of this year's Heisman race will be "who comes in second?"

2. Chad Henne – QB – Jr. – Michigan

Henne is going to need Ohio State to take a loss before he is able to jump into the #1 spot. It may even require him (and the rest of the Michigan Wolverines) going to Columbus and delivering the loss to the Buckeyes in person.

3. Michael Hart - RB - Jr. - Michigan

If Henne doesn't jump to #1 (with a win over Ohio State) then Hart should. Some may ask, "What about Quinn?" While I think Quinn is amazing, his loss to the Wolverines should prevent him from winning the award over a Michigan player (as long as Notre Dame doesn't lose another game, and Michigan stays undefeated).

4. Brady Quinn – QB – Sr. – Notre Dame

Another win over Navy and Mr. Quinn is still in the Top 5! The only problem with beating Navy is that, you are supposed to beat Navy. Beating Navy doesn't really do much to help Brady Quinn, but it doesn't hurt him either. It is just another week without much national attention (when he really needs all he can get).

If anything hurts him, it is Oregon State. Yes, the Beavers knocked USC off the list of un-defeateds, and that makes the Notre Dame vs. So. Cal. game that much less important. USC was going to be Notre Dame's marquee game of the season, and a win over an undefeated Trojan team would have done a lot for Mr. Quinn's Heisman Hopes.

5. Chris Leak – QB – Sr. – Florida

I still think Florida is the best One-Loss team in the country (especially with that one loss mostly due to a bad ref. call). Regardless, Florida is where they are because of the leadership of Chris Leak, and his development as a QB under Urban Meyer. If Florida had not lost to Auburn, I would be making a case for them as a top-3 team.

As it is, they are a top-10 team, and that just makes it a little harder for Mr. Leak to win the Heisman.

6. Ted Ginn Jr. - WR - Jr. - Ohio State

As seen this past weekend, Mr. Ginn Jr. can do it all. I know he sits at 6 now, but don't let that get you down. Ginn is another player who could literally "shoot" to the top of this list after the showdown with Michigan in November. In fact, he is the ONE player who could pass Troy Smith for the #1 spot with a Buckeye victory.

7. Garrett Wolfe - RB - SR. - Univ. No. Illinois

8. James Davis - RB - Soph. - Clemson

Last week I said the Ga. Tech game was Mr. Davis' "coming-out" party. Well, it might have been, but then he had a "going-in" party against Va. Tech!

I am not hanging the loss to VT on James' sholders, but Clemson has to play like a Top 10 team every week if they want James Davis to have a "real" shot at ever winning the Heisman, and I am not sure that Clemson can do that over the course of an entire season.

Sure, Davis will get his yards, as he has shown how "explosive" he can be. But, as we all know, you have to get your yards, and your team has to keep winning.

9. Steve Slaton - RB - West Virginia

This week could be the biggest week of Steve Slaton's career. Sure, bigger and better things are to come for Slaton (and all the Mountaineers) if they get a win at Louisville, but in order to get those things, Slaton needs a huge night in Kentucky.

If the Mountaineers blow Louisville out of their own stadium, and they do so courtesy of the amazing play of Steve Slaton.....then prepare yourself to see Mr. Slaton make a real run at the Top 5 of this list!

10. Calvin Johnson - WR - Ga. Tech

It could not be more clear that Clavin Johnson is the most important player on this year's Ga. Tech football team. I don't think that is enough to win him the Heisman, but it is enough to get him in the Top 10 of my list!

Still Hopefull:
Kenny Irons - RB - Auburn
DeSean Jackson - WR - Cal
Patrick White – QB - Soph. - WVU
Brian Brohm – QB – Jr. – Louisville
Dwayne Jarrett - USC
Calvin Johnson - Ga. Tech
Ray Rice - Rutgers
James Davis - RB - Clemson

Fire Bowden!

2006-10-29T13:27:00.000-06:00

To see the original arcitle: NationalChamps.net

Father Bobby and son Jeff contemplate the recent Seminole woes as some boosters push for dad's retirement! Former FSU Player Todd Helmick defends a legend and writes it's more about basic X's and O's.

by Todd Helmick
NationalChamps.net
Oct. 25, 2006

The recent defeats suffered by the Florida State football nation and their current last place residence in the ACC Atlantic Division have caused anxiety for much of the FSU faithful. Just look around the web or through the daily newspapers lately and you’ll be sure to find how some form of a story has hit the headlines concerning the disenchantment of head coach Bobby Bowden. Some prominent boosters have gone so far as to call for the resignation of the NCAA Division I-A’s winningest football coach. Well, I am alum and played for Coach Bowden when the team’s great run got started in 1987, and I’m here to set a few things straight.

Calling for Bobby Bowden to resign or be forced out is tantamount to removing Vince Lombardi’s face from the NFL Hall of Fame. No way, no how, not even an option.

Unfortunately, many in the media misstepped this week when they reported that a large majority of Nole boosters have asked for Bobby Bowden to step down, portraying this train of thought as being the overall sentiment. They got that wrong. Sure, some have said as much, but most have positive ideas for change that don’t include the Big Guy’s head on a platter.
Bobby Bowden is the face of Florida State football. Hopefully he can continue to “manage” this team for another 20 years, god willing. But let’s be clear in distinguishing the difference…manage vs. coach. Most already know Bobby doesn’t make the calls on offense, defense, special teams, play selection, schemes, or QB progression…he has put assistants in place to call the chess match on Saturdays.

Clearly, scrutinizing the winning of football games by making sound football decisions as opposed to judging a person’s character is apples and oranges. Moreover, when media members – as well as boosters and fans - criticize coaching decisions, it shouldn’t be a knock on that person as a human being. I have had Bobby and all his sons on my radio shows, and I have written stories that involved talking to members of the Bowden family. As anyone would say that has had the unique chance to talk with Bobby, Terry, Tommy, Jeff and the rest, these are some of the best human beings I have ever encountered. The world is a better place with them in it.

With that said, allow this humble advice to be given by a former player: To win more games, FSU has to change what it’s doing offensively, period. That doesn’t equate to letting Bobby go. It has more to do with his son Jeff, who is the offensive coordinator, as well as QB coach Daryl Dickey and his way of grooming a signal caller. Both bring iffy résumés (listing the likes of Salem College (Jeff) and Presbyterian College (Daryl)), and while not too shabby, they fall way short in quality experience to the many better résumés Bobby had on his hiring table when ex-offensive coordinator Mark Richt left for Georgia.

Calling the FSU contingent spoiled fans carries some weight. Understanding their issues would be more noteworthy.

THE BASICS

Let’s talk X’s and O’s - Football 101. Last Saturday, FSU coaches made the call and gave QB Drew Weatherford the option of throwing a three-yard down-and-out pass to run out 30 seconds on the first-half clock with the Noles deep in their own territory. The results of this call? Interception, touchdown, and a 21-10 trailing score at the break. Hey, you can even go to ESPN.com and vote for this past week’s (Oct. 21) Pontiac Game Changing Performance. One of the choices is this 36-yard interception return for a touchdown by Boston College’s DeJuan Tribble. OK, so Drew made a bad decision and a worse throw. But, to quote Jeff from a recent interview with Rivals.com website Warchant.com on his reaction to this play after the game, “It was a safe call”. Taking a knee or running the ball via a handoff is a safe call. Throwing the ball deep is even acceptable. But opening the door for what ultimately occurred leaves one scratching their head in disbelief.

Burning early time outs for failing to get the right play called has now become par for the FSU course week in, year out. This is also about running play-action on 3rd-and-16, and about a running game based on a two second delay before moving up field. This is about a pitch to your slowest back on fourth-and-short. This is about one-receiver sets telegraphing an impending running play. This is about not being able to run the ball even when the opposing defense has their dime package in. This is about the staple of the downfield passing game being a deep Hail Mary.

QB Drew Weatherford is still doing the same things wrong today that he did wrong in his freshman season, much like how former-QB Chris Rix looked marginal (at best) for three straight years after his record setting first season. Rix arguably never improved. Drew Weatherford is Chris Rix right now. Like Rix, Weatherford seems undecided in whether to tuck the ball and run, when to look for the short dump pass to the RB, or when to take the sack. Notice the pattern? Simply stated, the coaches are confused, thus the players are confused.
Longtime FSU defensive ends coach Jim Gladden, on the staff for 27 years (one year longer than Bobby Bowden), was an associate head coach when he evaluated the performance of offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden in an effort to solve any problems with the university’s nepotism policy.
But what Gladden told me in a conversation during the summer of 2003 was that the FSU program genuinely changed that sad day Devaughn Darling passed away at on off-season workout. Jim claims you could just see the look on the other player’s faces, as if to say, “We trusted you as coaches and now look what happened.” While most of the players from that era have moved on, the looks of doubt on player’s faces (with respect to the direction this offense is headed) seem to have carried over.

The head man’s current job is to teach his student-athletes important lessons about seeing the good in life. More importantly, it is to get the recruits (and their parents) to sign on the dotted line come Signing Day. By a longshot, he has done as much better than anyone over a long measurement of time. Fire him? Might as well ask Joe Paterno to resign…

Ahem!

Remarkably, the two winningest coaches in Division I-A history are meeting similar difficulties - a combined 80 plus years of coaching soon fades into the heavens above when they go.
Bottom line? Bring in a new offense coaching staff, period. Keep Jeff as a receivers coach (much like Joe Paterno’s son Jay and OC Fran Ganter were reassigned a few years back after the Nittany Lions struggled offensively). Learn from other’s mistakes or be doomed to repeat history. That has to start with Bobby doing what Joe Pa eventually had to do - recognize that there is a problem at the play-calling helm.

As Albert Einstein once said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Well, it doesn’t take an Einstein to realize that this FSU offense, with all of its four- and five-star caliber recruits, is still in a downward spiral after six seasons under this regime.

Calling for the resignation of Bobby Bowden – that is also insanity. Calling for a new set of proven offensive assistants – that is much more logical. Unfortunately, most feel such change has no real chance of occurring due to Bobby’s loyalty and family ties. Unfortunately, we take this obvious bad with the proven good that Bobby Bowden has delivered over his tenure - success can be a double-edged sword. Even though the agony of watching this offense stumble is comparable to a drawn-out root canal, long live the king! Oh, such a painful line to walk.
Unfortunately, Bobby’s undoing will be his own if this inevitable change doesn’t come sooner rather than later. But it is his bed, and he has earned the right to sleep in it, though we FSU fans and former students sleep in it as well. Questioning authority is not a negative action when due respect is paid.

An Open Letter to Fox, ABC, and the Fans

2006-10-25T23:48:00.000-05:00

From the desk of Richard Billingsley:

I’ve been a college football fan for 49 years, probably longer than the current age of the majority of the media representatives covering the sport today. There is no doubt in my mind that college football is the greatest sport on earth, yet, season by season, the ignorance of media representatives, the lack of sportsmanship, and the greed of television is slowly but surely diminishing my appreciation of this beloved game.

The brawl between the players from Miami and Florida International was a disgrace to the rich history of sportsmanship generated by thousands of dedicated young men who graced the fields of the gridiron for over 135 years. Shame on you, shame on all of you who participated in that gross misuse of your God given talent. But there is nothing that the fans of college football can do about situations like that. Our hands are tied. That incident was a result of a much larger problem in society, one that has been building for years. It can be traced all the way back into the 1980’s. But preventing incidents like that is unfortunately in the hands of administrators, politicians, and millions of citizens who comprise this great nation of ours, many of whom would not know the difference between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the country music group Alabama playing on their Ipod. It’s up to the whole of society to determine just how far we will slide into the abyss of human experiences before we say enough. I fear we may be too late to stop it now.

For decades television has been chipping away at the tradition and integrity of college football. I recognize that the need for big money is a necessity in the NCAA Division 1-A. But I also know that long ago administrators failed to strike a balance between what television money is necessary to survive and what has become saturation in the marketplace. No one could be a more dedicated fan than I am, but not even I care to watch college football 7 days a week. Yes, it’s true. By seasons end we will have seen a college football game at least once on every day of the week. That is insane and a disgrace to the tradition of college football. Call me old fashioned, but some things should just not be compromised. Thursday’s were a great addition to the sport, Friday was pushing the envelope, but Sunday was over the line. Enough said.

The real reason for my taking the time to share these few but precious thoughts is because this past weekend I witnessed Craig James of ABC sports ignorantly blast the BCS computers on national television for the umpteenth time, and this morning I read a commentary on Fox Sports web site by Pete Fiutak questioning why the BCS even has more than one computer formula in the standings. Combined, these two statements prompted me to reply about the lack of integrity in journalism in general, and personally to these two men, although I certainly recognize this act is perpetuated dozens of times daily in the media.

Observations of this nature were to be expected in the initial years of the Bowl Championship Series because the BCS itself was a new experience for college football, but ladies and gentlemen, this is 2006. This is the 9th season in the existence of the BCS, an organization in which the great majority of fans recognize is without a doubt a positive participant in college football, light years ahead of the old Bowl system. Say what you will about the formula, but at least acknowledge that matching #1 and #2 team in a championship game is better than watching #1 and #2 play in separate Bowls, which is what college football had from the inception of the Associated Press Poll in 1936 until the BCS in 1998. I’m just weary of the fact that the media refuses to do their job by investigating aspects of the BCS before they carelessly and thoughtlessly impart information that is ridden with misinformation. This only serves to undermine not only the BCS, but college football as a whole. The BCS is a part of college football. Computers are a part of the BCS. Get over it. If you don’t understand the intricacies of the formula by now, whose fault is it? YOURS!

Millions of people watch national television pre-game shows, whether it is ESPN, ABC, Fox, CBS, NBC or some cable outlet. Millions of people read information on these same media outlet web sites. Everything seems to be about shock values, selling ad space, and stirring up controversy. Does anyone in the media REALLY care about the facts anymore? Do the facts ever come into play when writing or speaking about the BCS? Craig James, do you really want to understand the dynamics of each of the computer rankings? You should. It is your job as a responsible analyst for ABC. Why have you not tried to contact me? I’m very accessible. I love talking college football. Chris Fowler has called me on several occasions. He is a man of integrity who takes his job seriously. Chris wants to know the facts before he gets on national television and starts making remarks about subjects he realizes he might not have all the information he needs to make an informed statement. Craig, there was a time I admired your work, now you’ve slipped into the same role played by 99% of the media……just doing whatever attracts attention, regardless of the impact it has on college football. Don’t you feel any sense of responsibility to your viewers to be informed?

Pete, where can I even begin? At least we agree on one thing from your article posted on Tuesday at http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/5934184, the computers should comprise more of the formula than 33.3%. It should be at least 50% and I continue to fight for this in each off season, but to no avail at this point. But, for you to say the BCS should use only one computer is, well, plain ignorant of the process. It is not humanly possible to achieve this. At one time the BCS did actually consider this possibility, but I personally enlightened then BCS Commissioner Kevin Weiberg on the fact it could not be done, and he understood. Yes Pete, believe it or not, Richard Billingsley is a real person, not a machine. I have a car and I actually drove to Dallas on several occasions and had productive face to face meetings with Mr. Weiberg.

It seems rather redundant, as this information is so widely available to the media from the BCS office, or from the internet with a little research, but for the sake of being helpful I’ll spell it out clearly for you. The reason the BCS uses more than one computer is because there is no one single philosophy of how to rank teams in college football. I don’t know what your personal preference is, but would you want to use an initial rank of teams to start the season as the AP and Coaches polls do, or would you prefer to start everyone out equal? There is the core of your answer right there Mr. Fiutak because I’ll guarantee you at least 50% of America will disagree with your perspective of that, and your answer would DRAMTICALLY change the ranking of each team as the season unfolds. Why haven’t you called me? You seem to have no problem identifying myself and Jeff Sagarin in a comparison in your article. Did you even consider finding out the answer to your question before writing about it and perpetuating the confusion of millions of college fans? As I told Craig James above…..i’m certainly available. Call Charles Bloom in the SEC/BCS office. He’ll give you my personal contact information. Dennis Dodd of CBS Sportsline has done that on numerous occasions. He, just like Chris Fowler, is a man of integrity. I don’t always agree with Mr. Dodd’s opinions, but if he writes about me, he always calls first to get the facts.

I’m not going to sit here and whine about the computers not getting the respect they deserve, but I certainly have the ammunition to do that. The 7 men who generate the 6 computer rankings for the BCS are dedicated to college football. The current computer panel of 2006 boasts over 100 years of combined service to the field of mathematical rankings in college football. Not only are these gentlemen the best America has to offer in this field, but they are highly regarded in their individual respective professions.

• Jeff Sagarin is a mathematics graduate of MIT and is America’s best known, and highly respected rankings professional through his syndicated work in the USA-Today newspaper since 1985.

• Kenneth Massey is a mathematics graduate from Virginia Tech, a young man that Roy Kramer once described to me as “one of the brightest young mathematical minds in the world”.

•Wes Colley has a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from Princeton and is currently a Senior Research Scientist in Virginia.

•Doctor Peter Wolfe is a world renowned medical researcher.

•Anderson/Hester- Jeff Anderson is a professor of Political Science at the Air Force Academy. Chris Hester is a professional sports broadcaster.

• Myself, Richard Billingsley. While I lack the credentials of some of the members of the panel, I’m a dedicated fan who has spent much of the past 30 years compiling the world’s largest database of college football scores and statistics. Do me a favor Pete, do me a favor Craig…….if you don’t already have a copy of the ESPN College Football Encyclopedia (although if you don’t own one it once again shows your lack of desire to be competent and informed), but if you don’t, go buy one. Look at those 1,625 pages of information. Now, realize this……. over 1,300 pages of that information was supplied by Richard Billingsley, a man who has dedicated practically his entire life to recording the history of the sport you write about. In the encyclopedia you will find an article I wrote on the history of mathematical ranking systems (page 1128). I suggest you both read it. You will come away with a much greater understanding of how each computer formula operates and hopefully, in the future, if you have any questions about the computers you’ll pick up the phone and give me a call. I would love to chat with both of you.

I challenge both of you to look at my rankings. Compare them to your own idea of where each team should be ranked. Find what you consider to be an injustice and call me, we’ll talk about it. I’m never one to turn down a lively discussion of college football rankings.

Richard Billingsley
October 24, 2006

For more visit CFRC.com

The "Big Dog" is Not Happy!

2006-10-14T23:43:00.000-05:00

If you think that Georgia's Governor was unhappy last week after UGA's loss to Tennessee; then I can't wait to hear what he has to say about UGA's loss to Vandy this week!

Read more - Here!

College Football will miss Adrian Peterson

2006-10-14T22:47:00.000-05:00

Adrian Peterson potentially finished his last game in a Sooner Uniform today, but did it while doing what he did best (running 53 yards to the endzone). Adrian (or AD) was a "prize" RB recruit from Texas, and was sought after by just about every major program.

AD ended up at Oklahoma and the rest was history. As a freshman, he helped the Sooners to a 12-1 season, a BCS Championship game, and a Big 12 Conference Championship. He also finished second place for the Heisman trophy his freshman year.

In the win over Iowa State, AD finished in fourth-place on OU's all-time rushing list. He only needs 150 more yards to match 1978 Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims (4118 yards).

Sadly, it doesn't look like AD will get a chance to get those yards. (Although some doctors for OU's football team have said he "might" be back in time for OU's Bowl Game, but even then, it is not definite.)

I am not sure what the "football gods" have against OU (considering the drop off in win totals, last years loss to TCU at home, loosing two in a row to rival Texas, QB Rhett Bomar's off-field troubles this past August, and then the blown on-side kick call vs. Oregon at Oregon that cost the Sooners the game), but I will say that I am glad they held off on ending Peterson's career until his father was able to finally see him play.

For those who may not have heard, AD's dad has spent the past 8 years in prison, and hasn't seen his son play in a football game for almost a decade. In fact, the last time he saw him play (in person) was in a Pee-Wee Football game (AD was about 12 years old at the time). But, finally, after all this time, Nelson Peterson (Adrian's Father) was allowed to make the trip to Norman to watch the Sooners. Fortunately, he was able to see his son in an OU Uniform, but unfortunately, it will probably be the last time he wears one.

Thanks for all the excitement AD! You added a lot of fun to the game over the past couple of years, and the CFI wishes you the best.

**Note: Adrian Peterson is a Junior and could play all of next season as an Oklahoma Sooner, but the CFI is assuming he will take time off to heal (even skipping the Bowl Game, regardless of his status) and will start preparing for the NFL Draft.

Coach Spurrier holds Asst. Coach accountable (in public)!

2006-10-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

Photo: stltoday.com

In case you haven't been following along, there is quite a lot of discussion about how Coach Spurrier handled his Post-Game press conference, this past Sat. after beating the Univ. of Kentucky and moving to 4-2 on the season.

After taking several questions about confusion among the Gamecock defense (late in the game) he summoned his Assist. Coach (Secondary Coach) Ron Cooper to the Press Conference and began hitting him with questions about the defensive confusion.

Under pressure, and an unusual situation, Coach Cooper remained calm (although visiably nervous) and did his best to answer many of the questions.

Later Spurrier was quoted as saying "It was probably wrong" (to have brought Cooper into the conference). But those who are familiar with Coach Spurrier are not at all shocked by this move.

Anyway, in case you need to get caught up, here are the links with which to do it:

TheState.com - "Spurrier, Cooper at peace" by Ron Morris

TheState.com - "A former head coach, Cooper used to criticism" by Joseph Person

The Week 6 Top 5!!

2006-10-08T18:53:00.000-05:00

Before Week 6 - CSTV.com

Can you believe it, the season is officially half way over! At this stage of the game, this Heisman Top 10 list will now become a Top 5, as there are only a handful of guys who still have a chance at winning the award (although there are still one or two who might fall out/in to the top 5 with a late surge)!!

1. Troy Smith - Sr. - QB - Ohio State

If he keeps winning, Troy Smith will stay in the number one spot. His numbers are impressive, but it is getting late in the season and if Ohio State was going to lose a game, it should have done so already (in order to not hurt Smith's chances).

2. Adrian Peterson - Jr. - RB - Oklahoma

Even though OU lost to Texas this past weekend, Peterson still managed to get 109 yards rushing and a touchdown. This is impressive considering the Sooners were over-matched and it was no secret they were going to rely heavily on the run. Going on the road (to a hostile, although neutral) rivalry environment, is never easy, but Peterson did his job.

3. Brady Quinn – QB – Sr. – Notre Dame

If the Irish Keep winning, Brady will definitely get an invite to New York. Afterall, with all the pre-season hype, dropping one game doesn't knock you completely out.

4. Chad Henne – QB – Jr. – Michigan

I have said it once, and I will say it again. As long as the November Ohio State - Michigan game features two undefeated teams, both QBs from that contest are going to be strongly considered (especially the winner).

5. Chris Leak – QB – Sr. – Florida

Chris Leak is really coming on strong. I have to put him at number 5, as I really see his success as truly a team performance. This is nothing against Leak...afterall, he is in my top 5.

Still Hopefull:
Brian Brohm – QB – Jr. – Louisville
Michael Hart – RB – Jr. – Michigan
Garrett Wolfe - RB - SR - UNI
Ted Ginn Jr. – Ohio State

Long Shot:
Dwayne Jarrett - USC
Calvin Johnson - Ga. Tech
Steve Slaton – WVU
Pat White – WVU
Ray Rice - Rutgers