CFB Week 5 (9/25-9/27) News and Picks
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">No change at QB for Florida State
</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights
</td></tr></tbody></table>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Another season and another quarterback controversy is brewing at Florida State.
Christian Ponder will start at quarterback for Florida State on Saturday when the Seminoles meet unbeaten Colorado in Jacksonville while backup D'Vontrey Richardson remains second team.
Although neither sophomore was effective in Saturday's 12-3 loss to 16th-ranked Wake Forest, Florida State coaches didn't turn to the far more experienced Drew Weatherford, who is languishing on the bench despite 33 career starts.
"It wouldn't do any good except to cause more confusion," coach Bobby Bowden said Monday.
Ponder and D'Vontrey Richardson combined for just 118 yards passing and threw five interceptions in Saturday's loss.
"Bing, bam, boom, we never could get any rhythm," offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said Monday. "We'll get better."
Fisher said he was sticking to his decision to rotate the sophomores at quarterback, who had both looked good in wins over lower-division Chattanooga and Western Carolina to open the season.
Ponder conceded Monday that he was unnerved after throwing an interception on his first play of the game against Wake Forest.
"Everything that could go wrong, went wrong," Ponder said. "The next game is going to be the most important game we have, showing that we can come back."
Weatherford, who is now third team, spent three seasons looking over his shoulder at Xavier Lee, who left school a year early in hopes of a professional career.
Before that it was Chris Rix and Adrian McPherson, who was kicked off the team under suspicion of gambling, and then Rix and Wyatt Sexton, who gave up his final season because of illness.
And while he isn't playing, Weatherford has mentored the youngsters as Ponder and Richardson battle for playing time.
"He's a guy I can really learn a lot from," Ponder said. "He's a guy who's been through a lot."
Florida State (2-1) has won just one of its last five games against Bowl Subdivision opponents, heading into Saturday's game against Colorado (3-0).
</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights
- Florida State will start Christian Ponder at quarterback on Saturday
- Backup D'Vontrey Richardson will rotate in
- The two were ineffective in a loss to Wake Forest, throwing five interceptions
</td></tr></tbody></table>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Another season and another quarterback controversy is brewing at Florida State.
Christian Ponder will start at quarterback for Florida State on Saturday when the Seminoles meet unbeaten Colorado in Jacksonville while backup D'Vontrey Richardson remains second team.
Although neither sophomore was effective in Saturday's 12-3 loss to 16th-ranked Wake Forest, Florida State coaches didn't turn to the far more experienced Drew Weatherford, who is languishing on the bench despite 33 career starts.
"It wouldn't do any good except to cause more confusion," coach Bobby Bowden said Monday.
Ponder and D'Vontrey Richardson combined for just 118 yards passing and threw five interceptions in Saturday's loss.
"Bing, bam, boom, we never could get any rhythm," offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said Monday. "We'll get better."
Fisher said he was sticking to his decision to rotate the sophomores at quarterback, who had both looked good in wins over lower-division Chattanooga and Western Carolina to open the season.
Ponder conceded Monday that he was unnerved after throwing an interception on his first play of the game against Wake Forest.
"Everything that could go wrong, went wrong," Ponder said. "The next game is going to be the most important game we have, showing that we can come back."
Weatherford, who is now third team, spent three seasons looking over his shoulder at Xavier Lee, who left school a year early in hopes of a professional career.
Before that it was Chris Rix and Adrian McPherson, who was kicked off the team under suspicion of gambling, and then Rix and Wyatt Sexton, who gave up his final season because of illness.
And while he isn't playing, Weatherford has mentored the youngsters as Ponder and Richardson battle for playing time.
"He's a guy I can really learn a lot from," Ponder said. "He's a guy who's been through a lot."
Florida State (2-1) has won just one of its last five games against Bowl Subdivision opponents, heading into Saturday's game against Colorado (3-0).
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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</td><td class="cc c">4:56 PM (8 minutes ago)
Mid-Major Monday: Welcome back to the party, Broncos
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
The only reason I could figure that Fresno State seemed to be getting so much more "BCS Buster" hype than Boise State -- which has dominated the WAC and beaten Fresno State every year but one since the Broncos joined the conference, and never lost any WAC game at home, where Fresno has to travel in November -- is that Boise's schedule included "at Oregon." The other major upstarts had allegedly tough games, at Michigan, at Washington, UCLA, Wisconsin, etc., but if there was one place the Broncos definitely would notbreak their perfect 0-12 road losing streak to BCS conference teams, it was the Autzen Zoo. Plus BSU has a new quarterback, lost its bowl game, etc. -- a poor recipe for an underdog. Those tables shifted quickly, in about ten minutes, in fact, the game time it took Boise to run up 24 points on the Ducks in the second quarter and all but seal its season-making upset. Boise found its quarterback and still has Fiesta hero Ian Johnson in the backfield, if the domestic life hasn't made him too complacent and docile to dominate again in his sophomore fashion. Assuming the only qualification for the big-money games is still an undefeated record, the Broncos' WAC slate sets up just as nicely as it did for the BCS run in '06, and Hawaii's run last year -- it will be a huge upset if BSU isn't undefeated for that Fresno State showdown the day after Thanksgiving. Again, Boise doesn't lose on the blue turf. So if you're looking to punch a Cinderella ticket for January, look at the schedules, weight the odds and pencil in the Broncos.
Mid-Major Game(s) of the Week.
Pity exhausted LSU-Auburn watchers too tired to hang on for the other late-night shootout, where Fresno State and Toledo combined for 109 points, 1,020 yards and seven touchdown passes -- and it still couldn't decide anything before a two-point conversion in double overtime in the wee hours.
I'm sure Fresno would still like to consider itself worthy of the polls, on the national radar, etc., possibly even a BCS long shot if the chips fall the right way after its respectably close loss to Wisconsin, but with this defense, it's a rocky road ahead even through the WAC. The Rockets -- a ho hum MAC outfit that was buried by Arizona two weeks ago -- finished just shy of 600 total yards, half of them on the ground courtesy of who dat running backs DaJuane Collins (138 yards) and Morgan Williams (142), who combined for 7.4 per carry. Aaron Opelt threw two touchdown passes in regulation and didn't turn the ball over. The Bulldogs led by ten entering the fourth thanks largely to field position, and still couldn't keep the Rockets from driving 81 and 88 yards for touchdowns, setting up a 42-yard field goal drive force the overtime.
But Toledo came to win, not play overtimes into the dawn. Down 55-54 following a dramatic fourth down touchdown pass and drawing from the Boise State/Denver Broncos book of gutty underdogs going for the throat, Tom Amstutz decided to put the game into Opelt's hands again with a two-point conversion in the second overtime. Cue Fresno viewing party:
And how many turnovers does it take to make a thorough, one-sided beating look close? For Utah and Air Force, three, and a little help: the Utes gave away an interception and two fumbles, failed on downs once and missed two field goals, letting AFA hang around despite gaining a paltry nine first downs and a nearly 300-yard deficit in total yards. Utah didn't score the decisive points until Darrell Mack capped an 80-yard touchdown drive with 58 seconds to play.
Mid-Major Player(s) of the Week.
Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour was mostly exceptional with 400-plus total yards in a game the Chippewas probably should have won against Purdue, though he also threw two costly interceptions. ... Utah's Paul Kruger had 2.5 sacks and swatted a pass against Air Force. ... Darius Passmore had nine catches for 139 yards and a touchdown to lead Marshall's win over Southern Miss, and went 80 yards on an end around for another score. ... And Ball State freshman Sean Baker had six tackles, a pass breakup and an interception returned 40 yards to the end zone in BSU's easy win over Indiana, his second straight week with a defensive touchdown.
Steppin' Up
Boise State's win in Eugene was the only significant class-hopping upset of the day, but Ball State and UNLV both have to be ecstatic with their respective wins over Indiana and Iowa State, however unsurprising they were according to the lines. The Cardinals not only beat the Hoosiers, but routed them, 42-20, took them behind the proverbial woodshed and definitely established themselves as contenders in the MAC beyond just the flashy offense; and UNLV, off three straight last place finished in the Mountain West, needed a second decent win to diminish the fluke factor of its upset over Arizona State. The Rebels could have easily folded with nice efforts in overtime in both games, but instead they're sitting at 3-1 with feasible bowl hopes for the first time in a good eight years.
An Arbitrary Mid-Major Top Ten
This is more of a power poll.
1. BYU (4-0): The Cougars own this spot for the next three weeks or so, at least, until they visit TCU for one of two serious remaining tests.
2. Boise State (3-0): On the map again with one of the most impressive road wins of the year, though hardly out of the woods with Southern Miss, Nevada and Fresno State still to come.
3. Utah (4-0): Oregon is a better win than Michigan at the moment, but UNLV and Air Force are no pushovers, it turns out, a boost to strength of schedule compared to BSU's WAC-ky cupcakes. Still hoping for the collision course with BYU.
4. East Carolina (3-1): The N.C. State is a major demerit, but West Virginia and Virginia Tech is still a better pair of victims than any team on this list.
5. Tulsa (3-0): New Mexico should have been a test, and got shredded. Arkansas' collapse means its smooth sailing to the C-USA championship, if the offense stays on track.
6. TCU (4-0): Quietly hammering some very bad teams, as expected; measuring stick this week at Oklahoma.
7. UNLV (3-1): Back-to-back BCS wins over Arizona State and Iowa State, but the Rebels are still doormats to the rest of the MWC (3-22 under Mike Sanford).
8. Fresno State (2-1): See above. The Rutgers win is rapidly losing value, and Boise is the clear favorite again in the WAC.
9. Ball State (4-0): Maybe not the best team in the MAC, especially minus Dante Love, but Cards won both their biggest non-conference games, against Navy and Indiana, going away.
10. Air Force (3-1): Defense has been a problem two straight weeks, but the Falcons did enough to beat Houston and were in it right to the end against Utah. "Scrappy," if nothing else.
Honorable Mention: Arkansas State (3-1), Marshall (3-1), Western Michigan (3-1), Louisiana Tech (2-1), Troy (2-1)
Coming Up
The Week Ahead
Best Game(s). Buffalo and Temple have both lived up to the expectations of dramatic improvement (the 1-3 Owls are two plays from being 3-1) and both get big opportunities to take the next step against two of the better outfits in the MAC: the Bulls visit Central Michigan, 16-2 in-conference with Dan LeFevour at quarterback, and Temple hosts Western Michigan, well on its way to a third winning season in four years under Bill Cubit.
Most Realistic Upset. Marshall's off to a solid 3-1 start and has a real playmaker in Passmore, which is enough to make the Herd at least a threat against West Virginia, which could be on the verge of atrocity from the looks of thngs.
Least Realistic Upset. TCU is flying far too beneath the radar for a 4-0 team with as much success as the Frogs over the last eight seasons, but a second victory at Oklahoma in four years -- TCU upset the Adrian Peterson-led Sooners in 2005 -- is too distant to seriously contemplate.
Break Out the Abacus. Nevada's usually prolific pistol attack has been stuck in neutral against Texas Tech and Missouri, but has a chance to make a few points against UNLV. The Rebels aren't scoring much their own selves, but Omar Clayton has been beyond efficient (9 TDs, 0 INT) in the wins over Arizona State and Iowa State. Vegas has the talent and Nevada has the porous D to break the bank on the over.
And Tulsa's going to score so many points on Central Arkansas, the Hurricane will probably be thrown into a Central Arkansan pokie on obscenity and abuse charges. Malzahn, have mercy.
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</td><td class="cc c">4:56 PM (8 minutes ago)
Mid-Major Monday: Welcome back to the party, Broncos
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
Mid-Major Game(s) of the Week.
Pity exhausted LSU-Auburn watchers too tired to hang on for the other late-night shootout, where Fresno State and Toledo combined for 109 points, 1,020 yards and seven touchdown passes -- and it still couldn't decide anything before a two-point conversion in double overtime in the wee hours.
I'm sure Fresno would still like to consider itself worthy of the polls, on the national radar, etc., possibly even a BCS long shot if the chips fall the right way after its respectably close loss to Wisconsin, but with this defense, it's a rocky road ahead even through the WAC. The Rockets -- a ho hum MAC outfit that was buried by Arizona two weeks ago -- finished just shy of 600 total yards, half of them on the ground courtesy of who dat running backs DaJuane Collins (138 yards) and Morgan Williams (142), who combined for 7.4 per carry. Aaron Opelt threw two touchdown passes in regulation and didn't turn the ball over. The Bulldogs led by ten entering the fourth thanks largely to field position, and still couldn't keep the Rockets from driving 81 and 88 yards for touchdowns, setting up a 42-yard field goal drive force the overtime.
But Toledo came to win, not play overtimes into the dawn. Down 55-54 following a dramatic fourth down touchdown pass and drawing from the Boise State/Denver Broncos book of gutty underdogs going for the throat, Tom Amstutz decided to put the game into Opelt's hands again with a two-point conversion in the second overtime. Cue Fresno viewing party:
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/74z40GOHXmg&hl=en&fs=1" flashvars="undefined" allowscriptaccess="never" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344">Popout
The owner of "Bully's" on 26th thinks that's great for business, but not so much Pat Hill's business: Tom Brandstater and the offense pulled off the this one, but the defense has to find its way, or FSU will shoot itself right out of a bowl game.And how many turnovers does it take to make a thorough, one-sided beating look close? For Utah and Air Force, three, and a little help: the Utes gave away an interception and two fumbles, failed on downs once and missed two field goals, letting AFA hang around despite gaining a paltry nine first downs and a nearly 300-yard deficit in total yards. Utah didn't score the decisive points until Darrell Mack capped an 80-yard touchdown drive with 58 seconds to play.
Mid-Major Player(s) of the Week.
Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour was mostly exceptional with 400-plus total yards in a game the Chippewas probably should have won against Purdue, though he also threw two costly interceptions. ... Utah's Paul Kruger had 2.5 sacks and swatted a pass against Air Force. ... Darius Passmore had nine catches for 139 yards and a touchdown to lead Marshall's win over Southern Miss, and went 80 yards on an end around for another score. ... And Ball State freshman Sean Baker had six tackles, a pass breakup and an interception returned 40 yards to the end zone in BSU's easy win over Indiana, his second straight week with a defensive touchdown.
Boise State's win in Eugene was the only significant class-hopping upset of the day, but Ball State and UNLV both have to be ecstatic with their respective wins over Indiana and Iowa State, however unsurprising they were according to the lines. The Cardinals not only beat the Hoosiers, but routed them, 42-20, took them behind the proverbial woodshed and definitely established themselves as contenders in the MAC beyond just the flashy offense; and UNLV, off three straight last place finished in the Mountain West, needed a second decent win to diminish the fluke factor of its upset over Arizona State. The Rebels could have easily folded with nice efforts in overtime in both games, but instead they're sitting at 3-1 with feasible bowl hopes for the first time in a good eight years.
This is more of a power poll.
1. BYU (4-0): The Cougars own this spot for the next three weeks or so, at least, until they visit TCU for one of two serious remaining tests.
2. Boise State (3-0): On the map again with one of the most impressive road wins of the year, though hardly out of the woods with Southern Miss, Nevada and Fresno State still to come.
3. Utah (4-0): Oregon is a better win than Michigan at the moment, but UNLV and Air Force are no pushovers, it turns out, a boost to strength of schedule compared to BSU's WAC-ky cupcakes. Still hoping for the collision course with BYU.
4. East Carolina (3-1): The N.C. State is a major demerit, but West Virginia and Virginia Tech is still a better pair of victims than any team on this list.
5. Tulsa (3-0): New Mexico should have been a test, and got shredded. Arkansas' collapse means its smooth sailing to the C-USA championship, if the offense stays on track.
6. TCU (4-0): Quietly hammering some very bad teams, as expected; measuring stick this week at Oklahoma.
7. UNLV (3-1): Back-to-back BCS wins over Arizona State and Iowa State, but the Rebels are still doormats to the rest of the MWC (3-22 under Mike Sanford).
8. Fresno State (2-1): See above. The Rutgers win is rapidly losing value, and Boise is the clear favorite again in the WAC.
9. Ball State (4-0): Maybe not the best team in the MAC, especially minus Dante Love, but Cards won both their biggest non-conference games, against Navy and Indiana, going away.
10. Air Force (3-1): Defense has been a problem two straight weeks, but the Falcons did enough to beat Houston and were in it right to the end against Utah. "Scrappy," if nothing else.
Honorable Mention: Arkansas State (3-1), Marshall (3-1), Western Michigan (3-1), Louisiana Tech (2-1), Troy (2-1)
Coming Up
The Week Ahead
Best Game(s). Buffalo and Temple have both lived up to the expectations of dramatic improvement (the 1-3 Owls are two plays from being 3-1) and both get big opportunities to take the next step against two of the better outfits in the MAC: the Bulls visit Central Michigan, 16-2 in-conference with Dan LeFevour at quarterback, and Temple hosts Western Michigan, well on its way to a third winning season in four years under Bill Cubit.
Most Realistic Upset. Marshall's off to a solid 3-1 start and has a real playmaker in Passmore, which is enough to make the Herd at least a threat against West Virginia, which could be on the verge of atrocity from the looks of thngs.
Least Realistic Upset. TCU is flying far too beneath the radar for a 4-0 team with as much success as the Frogs over the last eight seasons, but a second victory at Oklahoma in four years -- TCU upset the Adrian Peterson-led Sooners in 2005 -- is too distant to seriously contemplate.
Break Out the Abacus. Nevada's usually prolific pistol attack has been stuck in neutral against Texas Tech and Missouri, but has a chance to make a few points against UNLV. The Rebels aren't scoring much their own selves, but Omar Clayton has been beyond efficient (9 TDs, 0 INT) in the wins over Arizona State and Iowa State. Vegas has the talent and Nevada has the porous D to break the bank on the over.
And Tulsa's going to score so many points on Central Arkansas, the Hurricane will probably be thrown into a Central Arkansan pokie on obscenity and abuse charges. Malzahn, have mercy.
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
Scouting Arkansas
By Alan Trubow
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Arkansas Razorbacks
Coach: Bobby Petrino
Record: 2-1, 0-1 SEC
Last meeting: Texas won 22-20 at Arkansas in 2004.
Notable: Arkansas hasn't had much luck in its history against teams ranked No. 7, sporting a 1-5 record. Their lone victory was a 14-10 win against Texas A&M in 1986. ... The Razorbacks are in the midst of a tough four-game stretch, playing No. 8 Alabama, No 7 Texas, No. 4 Florida and No. 15 Auburn. ... Freddy Burton, playing in his first game this season, recorded 16 tackles against Alabama in the Hogs' 49-14 loss Saturday. ... Under new coach Bobby Petrino, this is a different Arkansas team than in the past. Known for their power running game, the Razorbacks rank 93rd in the nation in rushing offense. Not known for passing, the Razorbacks rank 16th in the country in passing offense. ... Quarterback Casey Dick is averaging 277 yards per game, the same as Texas' Colt McCoy. ... The Razorbacks' kicking game is struggling. The Hogs have missed both attempted field goals.
By Alan Trubow
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Arkansas Razorbacks
Coach: Bobby Petrino
Record: 2-1, 0-1 SEC
Last meeting: Texas won 22-20 at Arkansas in 2004.
Notable: Arkansas hasn't had much luck in its history against teams ranked No. 7, sporting a 1-5 record. Their lone victory was a 14-10 win against Texas A&M in 1986. ... The Razorbacks are in the midst of a tough four-game stretch, playing No. 8 Alabama, No 7 Texas, No. 4 Florida and No. 15 Auburn. ... Freddy Burton, playing in his first game this season, recorded 16 tackles against Alabama in the Hogs' 49-14 loss Saturday. ... Under new coach Bobby Petrino, this is a different Arkansas team than in the past. Known for their power running game, the Razorbacks rank 93rd in the nation in rushing offense. Not known for passing, the Razorbacks rank 16th in the country in passing offense. ... Quarterback Casey Dick is averaging 277 yards per game, the same as Texas' Colt McCoy. ... The Razorbacks' kicking game is struggling. The Hogs have missed both attempted field goals.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
Shareece Wright out with a hairline fracture to the neck
from Conquest Chronicles by Paragon SC
From the OCR's USC Blog:
from Conquest Chronicles by Paragon SC
From the OCR's USC Blog:
USC cornerback Shareece Wright will miss “a number of weeks” because of a neck injury, Trojans coach Pete Carroll said after practice Monday.
Tests revealed a hairline fracture in one of Wright’s vertebrae. He originally suffered the injury against Ohio State on Sept. 13 when he collided with a teammate.
More as it becomes available...Tests revealed a hairline fracture in one of Wright’s vertebrae. He originally suffered the injury against Ohio State on Sept. 13 when he collided with a teammate.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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</td><td class="cc c">7:49 PM (54 minutes ago)
A quick look at the upcoming UConn game
from Card Chronicle by DocCardsFan
Bumped from Diaries
OK, so during Mike’s AWOL, I decided to pick up the ball on the upcoming UCONN game and run for it This is the Cards first Big East test, and it’s shaping up to be a good one. I think we’re going to go ahead and call this the “Vengeance Bowl” even though Larry Taylor won’t be there. Wherever he is, somebody should run up behind him and throw a big hit at the same time UCONN receives their first punt.
But seriously, this is a big game. The Big East is wiiiiiiide open right now (obviously, as everybody is 0-0 in-conference……even you Syracuse) as evidenced by the out-of-conference defeats by just about every team.
UConn is looking to crack the top-25. Louisville would love nothing more than to foil the Huskie’s plans.
So in the Mike format of previews:
VITALS
2008 Record: 4-0
2007 Record: 9-4 (5-2) good for a share of the Big East crown
Starting off strong against Hofstra, the Huskies edged out Temple with a field goal in overtime. Virginia was next on the chopping block as the Huskies dealt out a 45-10 rout of the Cavaliers (1-2). UCONN extended its undefeated season to 4-0 with some 4th quarter heroics in a close one with Baylor (2-2). The Baylor offensive attack was fairly fierce as the dual-threat Robert Griffin was 14/25 with 208 yards passing, 23 rushes for 85 yards and 3 TDs. UConn weathered the storm with Donald Brown grinding out 34 carries for 150 yards and two TDs.
OFFENSE
Running Game (on Everybody) There are no questions about Connecticut’s running game. Only answers from Donald Brown who ran in the game-winning sprint to the end zone against Baylor. So far in his junior season, the experienced Brown, has amassed an NCAA-leading 716 yards on 113 carries and 10 touchdowns. Bulldozing (new word) his way to almost 2500 career yards and 25 TDs , Brown looks to remain a force in the Big East for the next season and a half. Brown is to the Huskies what Adrian Peterson is to the Vikings. Maybe we should just replace the term “Husky Offense” with “Donald Brown-fense” as the Huskies have only one touchdown through the air so far this year. The Huskies coaching staff says they are looking to take some of the load off Brown using the passing game and getting some reps in with RBs Dixon and Todman, but come crunch time on Friday, look for Brown to run the football down the Card’s throats.
Quarterback QB Tyler Lorenzen has been hard-pressed to keep his balls from the hands of the defenders (see what I did there?) as he has thrown 6 interceptions to one lowly TD - and these are against mediocre defenses. Lorenzen has tried to zing some throws into tight coverage, resulting in INTs. What Lorenzen will do against upper-echelon teams remains to be seen this year. But, as the new Huskies’ saying goes, “when in doubt, run the ball.” Lorenzen has scrambled his way to 222 yards and two touchdowns on the ground thus far. Louisville has historically faltered against semi-mobile quarterbacks (ala Pat White) on teams with a good running game, but in all likelihood will stay home and force Lorenzen to make some throws, which may be trouble for the Huskies.
Wide Receivers Lorenzen’s downfield targets, besides the hopeful UofL secondary, have included 13 different receivers this year for a total of 519 yards. Sr Ellis Gaulden and talented redshirt freshman Kashif Moore have been targeted the most (17 receptions between the two) while CB Darius Butler might be the “Devon Hester-like” gamebreaker (16 yards per catch) as he ran a WR reverse in for a TD against Virginia. Louisville’s defense against KSU showed us how the middle can open up for a big play every once in a while, so expect Lorenzen and company to exploit this. Not much else to say here.
O-Line The front five is comprised of 2 seniors, 1 junior, 1 soph, and a freshman. With the experienced guys at the tackle positions and center, its easy to see why Brown has had his way with defenders early on. Last year, the Huskies gave up 30 sacks on Lorenzen. Look for much better protection this year.
DEFENSE
Connecticut has some experience and quickness on the other side of the ball. Their depth chart boasts 5 senior starters on defense with most of that anchoring the defensive line. Look for the athletic CB Darius Butler to impose his will against the young Cardinals receiving corps and take away the deep threat. The huskies seemingly plug the gaps well with some talented linebackers. Greg Lloyd and Scott Lutrus both each had 10 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in the win against Baylor. Junior Robert Vaughn and senior Dahna Deleston lock down the safety positions.
Coach Randy Edsall has sensed some ensuing problems: “Five (big plays given up) is too many but we just didn't make some proper reads on defense and when you go back and look at the film. If guys just executed what they were supposed to execute then we wouldn't have had some of the plays we had against us. Guys made some mistakes. That's what happens. If they didn't make the mistakes we would have been able to limit the number of yards that [Baylor] got.
Connecticut will shut down the short inside passes and run, but have had trouble against spread offenses. Connecticut had 4 sacks against a very mobile quarterback, so watch for them to attack Cantwell all game. Conversely look for Louisville’s go-to WR Doug Beaumont to get some open holes in the middle of the field for medium gains. The Husky cornerbacks may also have some difficulty matching up with Louisville’s Josh Chichester, as he will have almost a full foot of height advantage over their corners.
SPECIAL TEAMS Virginia had 219 yards of total offense and 209 on kickoff returns. Troubles remained for the Baylor game. UCONN gave up 133 yards on five returns to Baylor. This puts them right near the bottom, statistically, of Div I-A teams. The problems have not come in the kicking game, but rather the coverage. Blowing downfield assignments has led to some big plays for receiving teams. What’d you say Coach Edsall? “It hasn’t been the kicks, the kicks have been good. It’s been a problem with people executing what we want them to do in terms of the returns that we’re seeing. In kickoff coverage, you’re trying to avoid people in a certain way based on the returns you see. We had a couple breakdowns with some people not reading correctly and executing their assignment.”
Tony Ciaravino remains upbeat about the kicking game, however, as he is 15/15 on extra points and 4/7 on field goals for the year with 3/4 coming in from 30-39 yards and perfect from inside 30. Ciaravino’s solid foot may come into play again if another defensive battle occurs at Papa John’s on Friday.
STATISTICS TO THINK ABOUT UCONN has forced 6 INTs while the UofL running game has coughed up 4 lost fumbles. Big stat of the day (borrowed from SI.com or FoxSports.com): Louisville statistically fields the #2 rushing defense in the nation in terms of rushing yards/game (42.0) and 17th overall in total yards/game (243.0). The Huskies, meanwhile, are giving up more yards, yet holding opponents to a measly 12.5 points/game to UofL’s 22.0.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Expect this to be a grinding running-laden game with a few big plays sprinkled in for fun. Donald Brown might get a carry or two. The winner here might be the winner of the turnover battle. Turnover stats for the year: UCONN: -2 Louisville: + 1. Advantage UofL. Get pumped for Big East play. Like Reebok Pumps big.
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</td><td class="cc c">7:49 PM (54 minutes ago)
A quick look at the upcoming UConn game
from Card Chronicle by DocCardsFan
Bumped from Diaries
OK, so during Mike’s AWOL, I decided to pick up the ball on the upcoming UCONN game and run for it This is the Cards first Big East test, and it’s shaping up to be a good one. I think we’re going to go ahead and call this the “Vengeance Bowl” even though Larry Taylor won’t be there. Wherever he is, somebody should run up behind him and throw a big hit at the same time UCONN receives their first punt.
But seriously, this is a big game. The Big East is wiiiiiiide open right now (obviously, as everybody is 0-0 in-conference……even you Syracuse) as evidenced by the out-of-conference defeats by just about every team.
UConn is looking to crack the top-25. Louisville would love nothing more than to foil the Huskie’s plans.
So in the Mike format of previews:
VITALS
2008 Record: 4-0
2007 Record: 9-4 (5-2) good for a share of the Big East crown
Starting off strong against Hofstra, the Huskies edged out Temple with a field goal in overtime. Virginia was next on the chopping block as the Huskies dealt out a 45-10 rout of the Cavaliers (1-2). UCONN extended its undefeated season to 4-0 with some 4th quarter heroics in a close one with Baylor (2-2). The Baylor offensive attack was fairly fierce as the dual-threat Robert Griffin was 14/25 with 208 yards passing, 23 rushes for 85 yards and 3 TDs. UConn weathered the storm with Donald Brown grinding out 34 carries for 150 yards and two TDs.
OFFENSE
Running Game (on Everybody) There are no questions about Connecticut’s running game. Only answers from Donald Brown who ran in the game-winning sprint to the end zone against Baylor. So far in his junior season, the experienced Brown, has amassed an NCAA-leading 716 yards on 113 carries and 10 touchdowns. Bulldozing (new word) his way to almost 2500 career yards and 25 TDs , Brown looks to remain a force in the Big East for the next season and a half. Brown is to the Huskies what Adrian Peterson is to the Vikings. Maybe we should just replace the term “Husky Offense” with “Donald Brown-fense” as the Huskies have only one touchdown through the air so far this year. The Huskies coaching staff says they are looking to take some of the load off Brown using the passing game and getting some reps in with RBs Dixon and Todman, but come crunch time on Friday, look for Brown to run the football down the Card’s throats.
Quarterback QB Tyler Lorenzen has been hard-pressed to keep his balls from the hands of the defenders (see what I did there?) as he has thrown 6 interceptions to one lowly TD - and these are against mediocre defenses. Lorenzen has tried to zing some throws into tight coverage, resulting in INTs. What Lorenzen will do against upper-echelon teams remains to be seen this year. But, as the new Huskies’ saying goes, “when in doubt, run the ball.” Lorenzen has scrambled his way to 222 yards and two touchdowns on the ground thus far. Louisville has historically faltered against semi-mobile quarterbacks (ala Pat White) on teams with a good running game, but in all likelihood will stay home and force Lorenzen to make some throws, which may be trouble for the Huskies.
Wide Receivers Lorenzen’s downfield targets, besides the hopeful UofL secondary, have included 13 different receivers this year for a total of 519 yards. Sr Ellis Gaulden and talented redshirt freshman Kashif Moore have been targeted the most (17 receptions between the two) while CB Darius Butler might be the “Devon Hester-like” gamebreaker (16 yards per catch) as he ran a WR reverse in for a TD against Virginia. Louisville’s defense against KSU showed us how the middle can open up for a big play every once in a while, so expect Lorenzen and company to exploit this. Not much else to say here.
O-Line The front five is comprised of 2 seniors, 1 junior, 1 soph, and a freshman. With the experienced guys at the tackle positions and center, its easy to see why Brown has had his way with defenders early on. Last year, the Huskies gave up 30 sacks on Lorenzen. Look for much better protection this year.
DEFENSE
Connecticut has some experience and quickness on the other side of the ball. Their depth chart boasts 5 senior starters on defense with most of that anchoring the defensive line. Look for the athletic CB Darius Butler to impose his will against the young Cardinals receiving corps and take away the deep threat. The huskies seemingly plug the gaps well with some talented linebackers. Greg Lloyd and Scott Lutrus both each had 10 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in the win against Baylor. Junior Robert Vaughn and senior Dahna Deleston lock down the safety positions.
Coach Randy Edsall has sensed some ensuing problems: “Five (big plays given up) is too many but we just didn't make some proper reads on defense and when you go back and look at the film. If guys just executed what they were supposed to execute then we wouldn't have had some of the plays we had against us. Guys made some mistakes. That's what happens. If they didn't make the mistakes we would have been able to limit the number of yards that [Baylor] got.
Connecticut will shut down the short inside passes and run, but have had trouble against spread offenses. Connecticut had 4 sacks against a very mobile quarterback, so watch for them to attack Cantwell all game. Conversely look for Louisville’s go-to WR Doug Beaumont to get some open holes in the middle of the field for medium gains. The Husky cornerbacks may also have some difficulty matching up with Louisville’s Josh Chichester, as he will have almost a full foot of height advantage over their corners.
SPECIAL TEAMS Virginia had 219 yards of total offense and 209 on kickoff returns. Troubles remained for the Baylor game. UCONN gave up 133 yards on five returns to Baylor. This puts them right near the bottom, statistically, of Div I-A teams. The problems have not come in the kicking game, but rather the coverage. Blowing downfield assignments has led to some big plays for receiving teams. What’d you say Coach Edsall? “It hasn’t been the kicks, the kicks have been good. It’s been a problem with people executing what we want them to do in terms of the returns that we’re seeing. In kickoff coverage, you’re trying to avoid people in a certain way based on the returns you see. We had a couple breakdowns with some people not reading correctly and executing their assignment.”
Tony Ciaravino remains upbeat about the kicking game, however, as he is 15/15 on extra points and 4/7 on field goals for the year with 3/4 coming in from 30-39 yards and perfect from inside 30. Ciaravino’s solid foot may come into play again if another defensive battle occurs at Papa John’s on Friday.
STATISTICS TO THINK ABOUT UCONN has forced 6 INTs while the UofL running game has coughed up 4 lost fumbles. Big stat of the day (borrowed from SI.com or FoxSports.com): Louisville statistically fields the #2 rushing defense in the nation in terms of rushing yards/game (42.0) and 17th overall in total yards/game (243.0). The Huskies, meanwhile, are giving up more yards, yet holding opponents to a measly 12.5 points/game to UofL’s 22.0.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Expect this to be a grinding running-laden game with a few big plays sprinkled in for fun. Donald Brown might get a carry or two. The winner here might be the winner of the turnover battle. Turnover stats for the year: UCONN: -2 Louisville: + 1. Advantage UofL. Get pumped for Big East play. Like Reebok Pumps big.
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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</td><td class="cc c">6:23 AM (56 minutes ago)
Monday Headlinin': The treesitters will never die! But, oh, how they will pay.
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
• $10,000 is a lot of hemp. As a story, Brent Musburger's favorite group of aging hippies in the oak trees stretched their 15 minutes into nearly two years of recurring frustration for Cal and recurring giggles for everyone else before they were finally sent packing, so to speak, two weeks ago. Now that the trees are down and diabolical capitalist construction plans are moving forward, it's payback time for the university:
• But who will cater to the Quagmire demographic? Not long after nixing the team's pants for an unfortunately-placed logo, Idaho has decided to ditch its 'skimpy' cheerleader uniforms for something more appropriate for young women at the peak of their sexual prowess, instead of "something more like pro cheerleaders would wear": "A number of fans were concerned that the uniforms were inappropriate," said Bruce Pitman, dean of students. "To be fair, there were a number of fans who liked them."
Ah, yes, Bruce, I'm sure there were, but "the fans who liked them" are really the problem here, no? The new uniforms feature a "less revealing" halter top and a slightly longer skirt any Vandal could take home for mother:
That's a fine hemline you've got there. Rightfielders has your actual Idaho cheerleader photo gallery, and it's about as boring as a cheerleader gallery could conceivably be. The switch is, however, another shrewd move for the Vandals, in the news now for the second time in a month for something other than their rock-bottom play in the smallest I-A stadium in the country. I suggest next they send coach Robb Akey to the sideline in a comically-sized sombrero and fake Zapata mustache, and really let the river flow.
• Oh Captain, my Captain, Carolina style. The quarterback injury bug hits Tobacco Road like a sledgehammer: North Carolina's T.J. Yates is out for at least six weeks with a broken ankle, and N.C. State's Russell Wilson will probably miss the next two games with a suspiciously undisclosed injury. A month ago, that would mean basically nothing, since neither Yates nor Wilson had a hold on their job and were virtual no-names, but both were crucial to their teams last week -- the Tar Heels fell apart and blew a 14-point lead after Yates went out and backup Mike Paulus tossed a pair of interceptions; and Wilson, injured early in the Pack's lame opening effort at South Carolina, brought the offense to life for the first time in the upset of East Carolina. Just when the Pack showed some spark, it has to go back to Daniel Evans and/or Harrison Beck for South Florida and Boston College, at least, and that might mean the season. It doesn't held that leading tackler Nate Irving is out for USF, too.
In other major injury news, USC's oft-injured Josh Pinkard will make his first start for the Trojans since the 2006 opener Thursday in place of cornerback Shareece Wright, who'll miss six weeks with a hairline fracture of his vertebrae. Geez, kid, whatever happened to sucking it up? Put some icy hot on that spinal cord and lead with your shoulder next time, and you'll be fine.
Quickly ... What's worse: the economy, or South Carolina's offense? . . . Alabama's Kareem Jackson wants to show Georgia what it missed when it passed over the Peach State native for a scholarship. . . . Quarterback Christian Ponder will start again, but DeVontrey Richardson will play for Florida State against Colorado. Drew Weatherford? "Never really considered," although he never threw five interceptions in a game. . . . Rick Stanzi will start at quarterback for Iowa against Northwestern. . . . Ohio State fans' booing of Todd Boeckman was borderline despicable. . . . A pair of suspended Nittany Lions, Maurice Evans and Abe Karoma, were back at practice on Monday. . . . Wisconsin cornerback Aaron Henry may redshrit because of a bad knee. . . . And possibly the greatest lead ever written about Auburn football.
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</td><td class="cc c">6:23 AM (56 minutes ago)
Monday Headlinin': The treesitters will never die! But, oh, how they will pay.
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
Berkeley's infamous tree-sitters have been hit with a rude surprise since they came down to earth: Judges are socking them with thousands of dollars in fines and legal fees.
Ironically, much of the money -- which could total more than $10,000 per sitter -- is going straight to the University of California, the very institution the tree-sitters were protesting as they tried to save a grove of trees outside Memorial Stadium.
"It's really vindictive," said an attorney for some the sitters, Dennis Cunningham. "They don't have this kind of money."
Maybe, but university lawyer Michael Goldstein isn't making any apologies.
"We've asked the judge to throw the book at them," Goldstein said flatly.
The university estimates it spent upwards of $800,000 on police and security on the protesters over 22 months, half of those after a judge issued an order last October forbidding anyone from inhabiting the trees. My suggestion: let them work it off as halftime performers, like mascots -- give people a stake in something, as the saying goes, and you don't have to cherry-pick them from the tops of trees. Ironically, much of the money -- which could total more than $10,000 per sitter -- is going straight to the University of California, the very institution the tree-sitters were protesting as they tried to save a grove of trees outside Memorial Stadium.
"It's really vindictive," said an attorney for some the sitters, Dennis Cunningham. "They don't have this kind of money."
Maybe, but university lawyer Michael Goldstein isn't making any apologies.
"We've asked the judge to throw the book at them," Goldstein said flatly.
• But who will cater to the Quagmire demographic? Not long after nixing the team's pants for an unfortunately-placed logo, Idaho has decided to ditch its 'skimpy' cheerleader uniforms for something more appropriate for young women at the peak of their sexual prowess, instead of "something more like pro cheerleaders would wear": "A number of fans were concerned that the uniforms were inappropriate," said Bruce Pitman, dean of students. "To be fair, there were a number of fans who liked them."
Ah, yes, Bruce, I'm sure there were, but "the fans who liked them" are really the problem here, no? The new uniforms feature a "less revealing" halter top and a slightly longer skirt any Vandal could take home for mother:
That's a fine hemline you've got there.
• Oh Captain, my Captain, Carolina style. The quarterback injury bug hits Tobacco Road like a sledgehammer: North Carolina's T.J. Yates is out for at least six weeks with a broken ankle, and N.C. State's Russell Wilson will probably miss the next two games with a suspiciously undisclosed injury. A month ago, that would mean basically nothing, since neither Yates nor Wilson had a hold on their job and were virtual no-names, but both were crucial to their teams last week -- the Tar Heels fell apart and blew a 14-point lead after Yates went out and backup Mike Paulus tossed a pair of interceptions; and Wilson, injured early in the Pack's lame opening effort at South Carolina, brought the offense to life for the first time in the upset of East Carolina. Just when the Pack showed some spark, it has to go back to Daniel Evans and/or Harrison Beck for South Florida and Boston College, at least, and that might mean the season. It doesn't held that leading tackler Nate Irving is out for USF, too.
In other major injury news, USC's oft-injured Josh Pinkard will make his first start for the Trojans since the 2006 opener Thursday in place of cornerback Shareece Wright, who'll miss six weeks with a hairline fracture of his vertebrae. Geez, kid, whatever happened to sucking it up? Put some icy hot on that spinal cord and lead with your shoulder next time, and you'll be fine.
Quickly ... What's worse: the economy, or South Carolina's offense? . . . Alabama's Kareem Jackson wants to show Georgia what it missed when it passed over the Peach State native for a scholarship. . . . Quarterback Christian Ponder will start again, but DeVontrey Richardson will play for Florida State against Colorado. Drew Weatherford? "Never really considered," although he never threw five interceptions in a game. . . . Rick Stanzi will start at quarterback for Iowa against Northwestern. . . . Ohio State fans' booing of Todd Boeckman was borderline despicable. . . . A pair of suspended Nittany Lions, Maurice Evans and Abe Karoma, were back at practice on Monday. . . . Wisconsin cornerback Aaron Henry may redshrit because of a bad knee. . . . And possibly the greatest lead ever written about Auburn football.
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
Spaulding Roundup: Poor Fresno State
from Bruins Nation by Nestor
It’s Fresno State week. That means in addition to getting ready for Pat Hill’s team we also have to brace for flooding of 20,000+ Bull Dogs fans down the I-5. Apparently Fresno State has sold out its entire allotment of tickets for 9,000 fans. Yet I think the actual number is going to be lot bigger because those guys know they will never have a better opportunity for taking their best shot against the Bruins (and unload decades of inferiority complex) against UCLA on our home turf. So they are going to be out in force, while Pat Hill is being coy:
Anyway, to build up the Bruins’ chances more, Pat Hill is crying about the extensive travel Fresno State has had to do last three weeks due to their wacky scheduling:
So speaking of Bruins, Brian Dohn reports on our QB situation is precarious. Apparently CRN had Kevin Prince warming up last weekend at the Rose Bowl:
Speaking of another player, who needs to get better in a hurry is Terrence Austin:
I hope coaches have a Plan B in place in case TA continues his performance from last two weekends because we can’t let our special teams continue to put our defense in such precarious short field positions game after game. Otherwise it will be those poor Fresno State Bulldogs, who will be making big plays at the expense of our mistakes.
from Bruins Nation by Nestor
It’s Fresno State week. That means in addition to getting ready for Pat Hill’s team we also have to brace for flooding of 20,000+ Bull Dogs fans down the I-5. Apparently Fresno State has sold out its entire allotment of tickets for 9,000 fans. Yet I think the actual number is going to be lot bigger because those guys know they will never have a better opportunity for taking their best shot against the Bruins (and unload decades of inferiority complex) against UCLA on our home turf. So they are going to be out in force, while Pat Hill is being coy:
Pat Hill and about 20,000 of his friends will drop by the Rose Bowl on Saturday, and the Fresno State football coach won't have any sympathy for a UCLA team that has been outscored 90-10 the last two games.
"There is no reason to feel sorry for UCLA," Hill said. "They have very, very good players on their roster. There is not one guy on that roster that would take a [recruiting] visit to Fresno State. We know they've got great players."
Uh hum. I am sure he really means that (just like Lou Holtz meant what he said when he made the Midshipmen sound like bunch of world beaters as ND during Navy week in South Bend). "There is no reason to feel sorry for UCLA," Hill said. "They have very, very good players on their roster. There is not one guy on that roster that would take a [recruiting] visit to Fresno State. We know they've got great players."
Anyway, to build up the Bruins’ chances more, Pat Hill is crying about the extensive travel Fresno State has had to do last three weeks due to their wacky scheduling:
While one might wonder whether Hill has seen game film of the Bruins' 59-0 debacle against Brigham Young or their 31-10 loss to Arizona, Hill can be forgiven if he's a little edgy.
The Bulldogs anyone-anywhere scheduling philosophy has earned them loads of frequent-flier miles this month. They opened the season by beating Rutgers in New Jersey, then, after an intense 13-10 home loss to No. 9 Wisconsin, played a double-overtime thriller at Toledo, winning 55-54.
"It's not easy getting home at 5 a.m. after two of our first three games, then going right to work and get the team going again," Hill said. "For us to travel three times zones twice in 21 days is a lot, but it's what we have to go through to get these type of games."
Yeah, I am sure all that traveling will dampen Fresno State’s enthusiasm and adrenaline for what they really think they can do to UCLA this weekend at the Rose Bowl. The Bulldogs anyone-anywhere scheduling philosophy has earned them loads of frequent-flier miles this month. They opened the season by beating Rutgers in New Jersey, then, after an intense 13-10 home loss to No. 9 Wisconsin, played a double-overtime thriller at Toledo, winning 55-54.
"It's not easy getting home at 5 a.m. after two of our first three games, then going right to work and get the team going again," Hill said. "For us to travel three times zones twice in 21 days is a lot, but it's what we have to go through to get these type of games."
So speaking of Bruins, Brian Dohn reports on our QB situation is precarious. Apparently CRN had Kevin Prince warming up last weekend at the Rose Bowl:
After Arizona took a two-touchdown lead early in the fourth quarter, UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel told true freshman quarterback Kevin Prince to warm up as the Bruins toyed with the idea of replacing starter Kevin Craft.
However, Neuheisel said Monday offensive coordinator Norm Chow elected to remain with Craft, a decision he supported.
"I told (Prince) to warm up in the event we were going to make a change," Neuheisel said. "But Norm decided that it was probably not prudent, and I thought Norm's idea was the right one."
So why did Neuheisel instruct Prince, a Crespi of Encino product, to get loose?
"I thought the outcome was no longer in question, and maybe it was a good time to get some young guys some reps," Neuheisel said. "But I think it was probably the wise thing not to do it."
Neuheisel said Craft is the starter as the Bruins prepare for Saturday's final non-conference opponent, No. 25 Fresno State, at the Rose Bowl.
The pressure is on Craft. I think he has to come out next Saturday and put together an above average first half against Fresno State. Just being average is not going to cut it (although arguably his performance last weekend was well below average). Craft will have to come out, play in rhythm, make smart decisions, and lead the offense to some point producing drives. Otherwise, if the end result is the same as last weekend (when defense scored more TD than the O), I would have to think CRN and Chow will ask Prince to warm up again.However, Neuheisel said Monday offensive coordinator Norm Chow elected to remain with Craft, a decision he supported.
"I told (Prince) to warm up in the event we were going to make a change," Neuheisel said. "But Norm decided that it was probably not prudent, and I thought Norm's idea was the right one."
So why did Neuheisel instruct Prince, a Crespi of Encino product, to get loose?
"I thought the outcome was no longer in question, and maybe it was a good time to get some young guys some reps," Neuheisel said. "But I think it was probably the wise thing not to do it."
Neuheisel said Craft is the starter as the Bruins prepare for Saturday's final non-conference opponent, No. 25 Fresno State, at the Rose Bowl.
Speaking of another player, who needs to get better in a hurry is Terrence Austin:
For Austin, not hanging onto punts has been a recurring problem dating back to last season, though he said his error on Saturday was the result of not having good technique.
The ball was several yards in front of Austin and instead of letting it bounce, he tried to charge it and scoop it up just before it hit the ground. It quickly shot out of his hands and was recovered by the Wildcats.
Austin said that he estimated he fumbled only one punt last season and did not see this as a long-term problem. But a review of the box scores from the 2007 season showed he fumbled punt returns against Washington, Cal, USC and BYU.
This season, he fumbled a kickoff return against BYU and then was credited with the fumble on the muffed punt in the Arizona loss.
Austin averaged 10 yards on 31 punt returns last season and said he set the goal of 16 yards per return this year. But through three games and seven returns this season, he is averaging 5.3 yards with a season long of 9 yards.
"Other than the muffed punt this week, everything else was fine," Austin said. "Looking at film, it's almost there. There are just one or two blocks that need to be made, or I need to fake one way to get to the other way. It's just a few things that need to be done and then big plays will be made."
Well, TA and his team-mates in the special teams will need to get their issues resolved this week. The ball was several yards in front of Austin and instead of letting it bounce, he tried to charge it and scoop it up just before it hit the ground. It quickly shot out of his hands and was recovered by the Wildcats.
Austin said that he estimated he fumbled only one punt last season and did not see this as a long-term problem. But a review of the box scores from the 2007 season showed he fumbled punt returns against Washington, Cal, USC and BYU.
This season, he fumbled a kickoff return against BYU and then was credited with the fumble on the muffed punt in the Arizona loss.
Austin averaged 10 yards on 31 punt returns last season and said he set the goal of 16 yards per return this year. But through three games and seven returns this season, he is averaging 5.3 yards with a season long of 9 yards.
"Other than the muffed punt this week, everything else was fine," Austin said. "Looking at film, it's almost there. There are just one or two blocks that need to be made, or I need to fake one way to get to the other way. It's just a few things that need to be done and then big plays will be made."
I hope coaches have a Plan B in place in case TA continues his performance from last two weekends because we can’t let our special teams continue to put our defense in such precarious short field positions game after game. Otherwise it will be those poor Fresno State Bulldogs, who will be making big plays at the expense of our mistakes.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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</td><td class="cc c">5:33 AM (1 hour ago)
USC vs. Oregon State Preview
from Conquest Chronicles by Paragon SC
Two years ago USC was rolling along. They had big wins against Arkansas and Nebraska and while things weren't as crisp as they were in 2005 USC seemed to be humming along and in the hunt of another trip to the BCS title game...then they went up to Corvaliis and it all changed.
SC was manhandled as they let the Beavers get out to a 30-10 lead and the crowd was going crazy. SC made a comeback but John David Booty's pass on the two point conversion with seconds to play was intercepted and that was that. A humbling experience to say the least...But that was then and this now as those were two different teams. SC won't fall into that trap this year as just about everyone who was on the team then does not want a repeat of that fateful October afternoon this year. This year they have been beat by Stanford in their first game and Penn State in their second game before finally getting on track against a depleted Hawaii team a week and a half ago.
Oregon State is struggling to find their identity on defense as they look to replace all of their starters from the front seven that ranked in the top 10 of just about every defensive statistic in 2007. The Beavers led the nation in run defense, finished fifth in tackles for loss and tied for tenth overall in sacks. But this season is a completely different story as the line has combined for two sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in three games. They have some gamers at the defensive end position with Slade Norris and Victor Butler but just like Ohio State they are vulnerable up the middle so I would expect the game plan to much of the same as we saw against Ohio State. So while I won't ever discount any team ever again I have a hard time seeing USC not being able to run anywhere at any time against this Oregon State defensive front.
Linebacker is a little more of the same story as it is a talented unit but they have yet to come together and they have been exploited a lot this season and because of that look for USC to use a lot of tight end and running back sets out in the flat to create a lot of mismatches similar to the type of play that Sanchez hooked up with Havili on against Ohio State.
Oregon State's cornerbacks are a different story. This is talented tandem and because the front seven are so vulnerable they don't get tested as much as they would like. But they aren't as good as what USC face against Ohio State. Safety Greg Laybourn leads the team with 25 tackles while Al Afalava has ten tackles this season because they have had to supplement the deficiencies of the front seven. Both are under six feet tall so SC should have a height advantage but both can also hit so the receivers need to hang onto the ball.
On the offense look for Oregon State to put it up in the air. The Beavers are ranked 9th in passing yards with 307 per game. QB Lyle Moevao has settled into the starting role and he has put it up a lot going 79-of-129, a 61.2% completion rate, for 922 yards and six touchdowns against four interceptions so far this season. SC saw him a bit last year in garbage time but he is more confident this season. He is not a flamboyant QB but SC has been burned by guys like that in the past so while he isn't the most mobile if makes smart throwsand not make mistakes its the best way to keep the Beavers in the game. Moevao hasn't see a defense like this up close so you know SC is going to throw the kitchen sink at him in order to rattle him into making mistakes.
Moevao has three pretty good receivers to get the ball to if he has some time. Led by Sammie Stroughter, he is the Beavers best deep threat, and the Beavers need to get the ball in his hands early and often if they are to have a chance. If Stroughter is making plays then it could open up the field for Oregon State's other receiver Shane Morales who actually leads the team with 22 receptions for 284 yards. He isn't a speedster but he is a true pocession reciver and if he hangs onto the ball against SC's defense he can be effective in helping the beavers move it down field. he #3 option is James Rodgers his main goal will be to try and stretch the USC defense laterally using the "fly sweep" a play that is designed to have him run parallel to the line of scrimmage and takes a direct handoff from the quarterback. This also gives the QB the option to fake the handoff and give it to a tailback coming toward the line of scrimmage, or fake the hand off and drop back to pass. Rodgers gained 39 yards on that play last year against SC so you they will try to run it again but SC should also be looking for it. Oregon State will rotate 4 TE's but none are as good as former Oregon State standout Joe Newton.
At running back the Beavers will go with Jacquizz Rodgers (brother of WR James) and Ryan McCants with Rodgers getting the bulk of the work. Jacquizz may be only 5-feet, seven-inches tall but he has no fear of running between the tackles. He isn't a speedster but hi low center of gravity will make it a bit more difficult to tackle him with out wrappig him up and taking him down. He is the second option in the fly sweep os SC neds to keep an ey on him. McCants is a seviceable back but he hasn't yet made the impact that Beavers hoped he would carrying the ball just eight times for 19 yards in the Beavers first two games while getting 14 rushes for 60 yards in the win over Hawaii.
The offensive line has been a question mark as well but look for both left tackle Tavita Thompson and Offensive guard Jeremy Perry to be in the game bolstering an O line that has to find a way to keep the SC rundefesne in check while also giving Moevao tie to throw. That is going to be a pretty tall order.
Here is Mike Riley on Mason and Ireland last week.
Here is Riley during his Monday press conference.
<table style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td>Four questions (with answers) for Mike Riley</td> </tr> <tr> <td>
</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> This should be a fun game on Thursday as SC needs to come out and set the tone early for a convincing win...
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</td><td class="cc c">5:33 AM (1 hour ago)
USC vs. Oregon State Preview
from Conquest Chronicles by Paragon SC
Two years ago USC was rolling along. They had big wins against Arkansas and Nebraska and while things weren't as crisp as they were in 2005 USC seemed to be humming along and in the hunt of another trip to the BCS title game...then they went up to Corvaliis and it all changed.
SC was manhandled as they let the Beavers get out to a 30-10 lead and the crowd was going crazy. SC made a comeback but John David Booty's pass on the two point conversion with seconds to play was intercepted and that was that. A humbling experience to say the least...But that was then and this now as those were two different teams. SC won't fall into that trap this year as just about everyone who was on the team then does not want a repeat of that fateful October afternoon this year. This year they have been beat by Stanford in their first game and Penn State in their second game before finally getting on track against a depleted Hawaii team a week and a half ago.
Oregon State is struggling to find their identity on defense as they look to replace all of their starters from the front seven that ranked in the top 10 of just about every defensive statistic in 2007. The Beavers led the nation in run defense, finished fifth in tackles for loss and tied for tenth overall in sacks. But this season is a completely different story as the line has combined for two sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in three games. They have some gamers at the defensive end position with Slade Norris and Victor Butler but just like Ohio State they are vulnerable up the middle so I would expect the game plan to much of the same as we saw against Ohio State. So while I won't ever discount any team ever again I have a hard time seeing USC not being able to run anywhere at any time against this Oregon State defensive front.
Linebacker is a little more of the same story as it is a talented unit but they have yet to come together and they have been exploited a lot this season and because of that look for USC to use a lot of tight end and running back sets out in the flat to create a lot of mismatches similar to the type of play that Sanchez hooked up with Havili on against Ohio State.
Oregon State's cornerbacks are a different story. This is talented tandem and because the front seven are so vulnerable they don't get tested as much as they would like. But they aren't as good as what USC face against Ohio State. Safety Greg Laybourn leads the team with 25 tackles while Al Afalava has ten tackles this season because they have had to supplement the deficiencies of the front seven. Both are under six feet tall so SC should have a height advantage but both can also hit so the receivers need to hang onto the ball.
On the offense look for Oregon State to put it up in the air. The Beavers are ranked 9th in passing yards with 307 per game. QB Lyle Moevao has settled into the starting role and he has put it up a lot going 79-of-129, a 61.2% completion rate, for 922 yards and six touchdowns against four interceptions so far this season. SC saw him a bit last year in garbage time but he is more confident this season. He is not a flamboyant QB but SC has been burned by guys like that in the past so while he isn't the most mobile if makes smart throwsand not make mistakes its the best way to keep the Beavers in the game. Moevao hasn't see a defense like this up close so you know SC is going to throw the kitchen sink at him in order to rattle him into making mistakes.
Moevao has three pretty good receivers to get the ball to if he has some time. Led by Sammie Stroughter, he is the Beavers best deep threat, and the Beavers need to get the ball in his hands early and often if they are to have a chance. If Stroughter is making plays then it could open up the field for Oregon State's other receiver Shane Morales who actually leads the team with 22 receptions for 284 yards. He isn't a speedster but he is a true pocession reciver and if he hangs onto the ball against SC's defense he can be effective in helping the beavers move it down field. he #3 option is James Rodgers his main goal will be to try and stretch the USC defense laterally using the "fly sweep" a play that is designed to have him run parallel to the line of scrimmage and takes a direct handoff from the quarterback. This also gives the QB the option to fake the handoff and give it to a tailback coming toward the line of scrimmage, or fake the hand off and drop back to pass. Rodgers gained 39 yards on that play last year against SC so you they will try to run it again but SC should also be looking for it. Oregon State will rotate 4 TE's but none are as good as former Oregon State standout Joe Newton.
At running back the Beavers will go with Jacquizz Rodgers (brother of WR James) and Ryan McCants with Rodgers getting the bulk of the work. Jacquizz may be only 5-feet, seven-inches tall but he has no fear of running between the tackles. He isn't a speedster but hi low center of gravity will make it a bit more difficult to tackle him with out wrappig him up and taking him down. He is the second option in the fly sweep os SC neds to keep an ey on him. McCants is a seviceable back but he hasn't yet made the impact that Beavers hoped he would carrying the ball just eight times for 19 yards in the Beavers first two games while getting 14 rushes for 60 yards in the win over Hawaii.
The offensive line has been a question mark as well but look for both left tackle Tavita Thompson and Offensive guard Jeremy Perry to be in the game bolstering an O line that has to find a way to keep the SC rundefesne in check while also giving Moevao tie to throw. That is going to be a pretty tall order.
Here is Mike Riley on Mason and Ireland last week.
Here is Riley during his Monday press conference.
<table style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td>Four questions (with answers) for Mike Riley</td> </tr> <tr> <td>
</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> This should be a fun game on Thursday as SC needs to come out and set the tone early for a convincing win...
</td></tr></tbody></table>
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
USC's Garrett Green moves to #2 on the QB depth chart
from Conquest Chronicles by Paragon SC
This is an interesting development..
This is definitely a head scratcher but if Green is the most prepared then so be it, he has my full support.
Congrats Garrett!
from Conquest Chronicles by Paragon SC
This is an interesting development..
A week ago, Garrett Green was USC's fourth-string quarterback[COLOR=darkgreen ! important][/COLOR]. But Monday, he was named the backup for the Oregon State game.
Coach Pete Carroll said Green would play if Mark Sanchez gets injured against the Beavers.
"Right now, Garrett is going in first," Carroll said. "It's clear he was ahead. He's more in command. That's the way we feel about it at this time."
I am really not sure what to make of this. How does the 4th string QB jump to the #2 spot in a week? Is he really that good or are Mustain and Corp really struggling with the playbook. I have complete faith in how the coaching staff handles these things but it is a bit disconcerting that if Sanchez were to go down there is a bit of musical chairs going on in regards to who is the back-up.Coach Pete Carroll said Green would play if Mark Sanchez gets injured against the Beavers.
"Right now, Garrett is going in first," Carroll said. "It's clear he was ahead. He's more in command. That's the way we feel about it at this time."
This is definitely a head scratcher but if Green is the most prepared then so be it, he has my full support.
Congrats Garrett!
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
For a laugh, check out the early-season BCS rankings
A few more games are required before the formulas figure themselves out.
September 23, 2008
If the season ended today -- and don't you think Rutgers' fans wish it were over? -- Utah and Wisconsin would be playing in Wes Colley's national championship.
Wes who?
Colley operates one of the six computers used in the Bowl Championship Series standings formula that helps determine the participants for college football's big prize.
Relax, though, because there's a reason the first BCS standings won't be released until Oct. 19.
If they released them today, it would set off a sitcom laugh track.
BCS operator Kenneth Massey has USC and Boise State as his top two teams this week, Oklahoma at No. 32 and Duke at No. 39, one spot ahead of football up-and-comer Florida.
Massey's rankings even come with an owners' manual disclaimer: "Early season ratings will fluctuate significantly until a sufficient number of games have been played."
He might have also added: "Kids, don't try this at home!"
Colley touts his rankings as "bias free," but they might not be buying that at Heritage Hall in Los Angeles, where USC is checking in at No. 14 this week.
Gee, and some people thought the Trojans were actually good.
Colley also has Texas at No. 23 and Oklahoma at No. 25.
Think of the polls vs. BCS computers in terms of spring training in baseball, where pitchers usually start out ahead of the hitters.
The Associated Press and USA Today coaches' polls, misguided as they often are, probably have a tighter grasp on reality at this point.
Things are so fluid that two BCS indexes, Peter Wolfe and Anderson & Hester, haven't even started posting weekly standings.
Wolfe's first rankings will coincide with the first BCS standings release.
Meanwhile, Anderson & Hester is just about ready to crank up operations.
"We post them after the fifth full week of games, which this season is this coming weekend." Jeff Anderson said in an e-mail statement Monday. "So we'll have our first release up by early next week."
The four BCS systems currently posting are fluctuating like last week's stock market.
Richard Billingsley and Jeff Sagarin this week both have USC and Louisiana State at the top of their tickets -- who wouldn't want to see that?
Sagarin, though, also throws us for this early loop: he has Fresno State ranked No. 52 this week and UCLA at No. 37.
Billingsley has UCLA at No. 41 and Fresno State at 42.
Excuse me, but have these computers seen UCLA's offense?
Thankfully, Fresno State and UCLA get to settle this on the field Saturday when the schools meet at the Rose Bowl.
A few more games are required before the formulas figure themselves out.
September 23, 2008
If the season ended today -- and don't you think Rutgers' fans wish it were over? -- Utah and Wisconsin would be playing in Wes Colley's national championship.
Wes who?
Colley operates one of the six computers used in the Bowl Championship Series standings formula that helps determine the participants for college football's big prize.
Relax, though, because there's a reason the first BCS standings won't be released until Oct. 19.
If they released them today, it would set off a sitcom laugh track.
BCS operator Kenneth Massey has USC and Boise State as his top two teams this week, Oklahoma at No. 32 and Duke at No. 39, one spot ahead of football up-and-comer Florida.
Massey's rankings even come with an owners' manual disclaimer: "Early season ratings will fluctuate significantly until a sufficient number of games have been played."
He might have also added: "Kids, don't try this at home!"
Colley touts his rankings as "bias free," but they might not be buying that at Heritage Hall in Los Angeles, where USC is checking in at No. 14 this week.
Gee, and some people thought the Trojans were actually good.
Colley also has Texas at No. 23 and Oklahoma at No. 25.
Think of the polls vs. BCS computers in terms of spring training in baseball, where pitchers usually start out ahead of the hitters.
The Associated Press and USA Today coaches' polls, misguided as they often are, probably have a tighter grasp on reality at this point.
Things are so fluid that two BCS indexes, Peter Wolfe and Anderson & Hester, haven't even started posting weekly standings.
Wolfe's first rankings will coincide with the first BCS standings release.
Meanwhile, Anderson & Hester is just about ready to crank up operations.
"We post them after the fifth full week of games, which this season is this coming weekend." Jeff Anderson said in an e-mail statement Monday. "So we'll have our first release up by early next week."
The four BCS systems currently posting are fluctuating like last week's stock market.
Richard Billingsley and Jeff Sagarin this week both have USC and Louisiana State at the top of their tickets -- who wouldn't want to see that?
Sagarin, though, also throws us for this early loop: he has Fresno State ranked No. 52 this week and UCLA at No. 37.
Billingsley has UCLA at No. 41 and Fresno State at 42.
Excuse me, but have these computers seen UCLA's offense?
Thankfully, Fresno State and UCLA get to settle this on the field Saturday when the schools meet at the Rose Bowl.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" class="storytitle">Tuesday Question - M-West or the Pac 10? </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="primaryimage" valign="top">
Utah RB Darrell Mack
</td> <td width="3" nowrap="nowrap">
</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td valign="middle" nowrap="nowrap">By Staff
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Sep 23, 2008
</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Who's better right now, the Mountain West or the Pac 10?
</td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">
<table id="table2" align="right" border="0" cellspacing="4" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td bgcolor="#ffffcc"> Past TQs
- If USC is No. 1, who's No. 2? - The best unknown storyline - Will the week 1 duds rebound? - Top Week 1 Games - Predict the 2008 Season - Does Sean Lee's injury change your view of spring ball? - Is a CF Final 4 a good idea?
- How good will Terrelle Pryor be?
- 2008 March Madness Picks - What can college football learn from March Madness? - Three Big Spring Storylines
- The Combines are missing ...
- Best & Curious Coaching Hires - 2008 Wish List
- The 3 Big Bowl Questions - What are you most looking forward to from the bowls? - Did the BCS get it right?
- Who deserves a spot more, OSU or WVU? - What BCS matchups do you want?
- 10 Greatest Quarterbacks of All-Time
- 10 Greatest Defensive Players of All-Time
- 10 Greatest Regular Season Games of All-Time
- 10 Greatest Playmakers of All-Time
- 10 Worst Heisman Winners
- 10 Greatest Bowl Games
- All-Time Offensive Team
- All-Time Defensive Team </td> </tr> </tbody></table> [FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2] Pete Fiutak [/SIZE][/FONT]
Q: Right now, do you rank the Mountain West over the Pac 10?
A:I'd call it dead-even.
I know BYU had to work way too hard to beat Washington, probably the No. 8 team in the Pac 10, but that seemed more like an aberration. USC is better than anyone in the Mountain West, but after the Pac 10 lost yet another big game against a non-BCS league, with Oregon losing to Boise State, it's not like anyone else is stepping up to show much.
I think Cal is better than BYU, Utah and TCU, but in a head-to-head with all three, the Bears would lose one of those games. What else is there for the Pac 10 to hang its hat on? Yes, the 0-5 record against the Mountain West matters, and so do games like Utah over Michigan and Colorado State over a high-powered Houston.
Alright, so Wyoming, San Diego State, Colorado State and now, without QB Donovan Porterie, the bottom half of the Mountain West isn't anything special, UNLV's win over Arizona State and New Mexico's win over Arizona were huge for the league.
However, the Pac 10 has had its moments. UCLA might look awful now, but it did beat Tennessee. Cal's win over Michigan State was nice, Oregon showed heart in the comeback over Purdue, and of course you have to throw USC's win over Ohio State into the equation.
Eventually the Pac 10 should be better, but right now, that 0-5 Mountain West matzo ball is hanging out there, and it won't go away.
Richard Cirminiello [FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2][/FONT] <o
> </o><o> </o> [FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2][/SIZE][/FONT] <o> </o>[/SIZE]
Q: Right now, do you rank the Mountain West over the Pac 10?
A: While it’s tempting to do so, especially after what happened two weeks ago between the two leagues, I’m not quite ready to declare the Mountain West the better conference. The Pac-10, for all of its problems this month, still has more depth in terms of personnel and members. I realize this theory is being tested in 2008, but I’ll still take Washington over San Diego State and a healthy Oregon over TCU. Oh, and don’t underestimate the power of Troy. It ought to count for something that the Pac-10 houses the nation’s top-rated team, right? The Mountain West’s superiority over the Pac-10 this fall has been a wee bit overhyped, considering USC hasn’t had a crack at BYU, Utah, or TCU. The Mountain West and its members deserve all of the pub they’ve been getting over the last couple of weeks for outplaying bigger schools and overshooting expectations. If this was annual head-to-head tournament, it would already be putting the hardware in Craig Thompson’s trophy case. One month, however, isn’t enough of a sampling to give the league the nod over the Pac-10. Although the gap between the two is a whole lot closer than any of us could have imagined in August. <o> Matthew Zemek</o>
Q: Right now, do you rank the Mountain West over the Pac 10?
A: Yes. Not just because of the head-to-head wins (New Mexico over Arizona, TCU over Stanford, BYU over UCLA, BYU over Washington, UNLV over Arizona State), but because some of those head-to-heads involved lower- or middle-division MWC teams beating middle- or upper-division Pac-10 teams.
Sometimes, the low end of one conference proves to be superior to the low end of another conference. But in the case of the Mountain West and the Pac-10, some of this season's results (not all, but at least some) indicate that the MWC's lower-tier clubs can beat middle-tier teams from the Pac. That's alarming... and also the best justification for ranking the Mountain West higher at this point in time.
<o>Steve Silverman</o>
Q: Right now, do you rank the Mountain West over the Pac 10?
A: At first, this seems like a question designed to get a knee-jerk reaction like, “Of course the Mountain West is better than the Pac-10. Look at what happened two weeks ago. The Mountain West was 4-0 vs. the Pac-10. Brigham Young 59, UCLA 0. Need I say more?”
Or perhaps the Pac-10 people might say something like: “Yes, you had a couple of good weeks in September. Come talk to me in January when USC is playing for the national championship and Oregon is playing on New Year’s Day. Talk to me then.”
But instead of getting our noses out of joint, we will look at the situation as objectively as possible. The Mountain West has some good teams in Tulsa, UNLV and Utah and a potentially great team in Brigham Young. In the Pac-10, Cal, Arizona and Oregon should be competitive all season long. Oregon has an excellent chance to play on New Year’s Day. And then there’s USC. Pete Carroll’s team is once again a juggernaut. Mark Sanchez is a top quarterback and the Trojans have a defense to be reckoned with. As the season moves along, the Trojans will get better.
Even the most ardent Mountain West rooter would have to give an objective nod to USC. Say Brigham Young continues to roll the rest of the year and managed to go undefeated. And the SEC and Big 12 cooperated by having their best teams lose once or twice. Would the Cougars really want any part of the Trojans in the National Championship game? I think not.
I’m not talking about what they would say publicly and how they might bluster in front of the cameras and their fans. But when the players and coaches are alone with their thoughts, Brigham Young wants nothing to do with USC.
So in a very round-about and long-winded way, the Mountain West is simply not in the same class as the Pac-10. Put the best from each conference on the field and it would be a route.
</td></tr></tbody></table>
Utah RB Darrell Mack
</td> <td width="3" nowrap="nowrap">
</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td valign="middle" nowrap="nowrap">By Staff
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Sep 23, 2008
</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Who's better right now, the Mountain West or the Pac 10?
</td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">
<table id="table2" align="right" border="0" cellspacing="4" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td bgcolor="#ffffcc"> Past TQs
- If USC is No. 1, who's No. 2? - The best unknown storyline - Will the week 1 duds rebound? - Top Week 1 Games - Predict the 2008 Season - Does Sean Lee's injury change your view of spring ball? - Is a CF Final 4 a good idea?
- How good will Terrelle Pryor be?
- 2008 March Madness Picks - What can college football learn from March Madness? - Three Big Spring Storylines
- The Combines are missing ...
- Best & Curious Coaching Hires - 2008 Wish List
- The 3 Big Bowl Questions - What are you most looking forward to from the bowls? - Did the BCS get it right?
- Who deserves a spot more, OSU or WVU? - What BCS matchups do you want?
- 10 Greatest Quarterbacks of All-Time
- 10 Greatest Defensive Players of All-Time
- 10 Greatest Regular Season Games of All-Time
- 10 Greatest Playmakers of All-Time
- 10 Worst Heisman Winners
- 10 Greatest Bowl Games
- All-Time Offensive Team
- All-Time Defensive Team </td> </tr> </tbody></table> [FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2] Pete Fiutak [/SIZE][/FONT]
Q: Right now, do you rank the Mountain West over the Pac 10?
A:I'd call it dead-even.
I know BYU had to work way too hard to beat Washington, probably the No. 8 team in the Pac 10, but that seemed more like an aberration. USC is better than anyone in the Mountain West, but after the Pac 10 lost yet another big game against a non-BCS league, with Oregon losing to Boise State, it's not like anyone else is stepping up to show much.
I think Cal is better than BYU, Utah and TCU, but in a head-to-head with all three, the Bears would lose one of those games. What else is there for the Pac 10 to hang its hat on? Yes, the 0-5 record against the Mountain West matters, and so do games like Utah over Michigan and Colorado State over a high-powered Houston.
Alright, so Wyoming, San Diego State, Colorado State and now, without QB Donovan Porterie, the bottom half of the Mountain West isn't anything special, UNLV's win over Arizona State and New Mexico's win over Arizona were huge for the league.
However, the Pac 10 has had its moments. UCLA might look awful now, but it did beat Tennessee. Cal's win over Michigan State was nice, Oregon showed heart in the comeback over Purdue, and of course you have to throw USC's win over Ohio State into the equation.
Eventually the Pac 10 should be better, but right now, that 0-5 Mountain West matzo ball is hanging out there, and it won't go away.
Richard Cirminiello [FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2][/FONT] <o
> </o><o> </o> [FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2][/SIZE][/FONT] <o> </o>[/SIZE]Q: Right now, do you rank the Mountain West over the Pac 10?
A: While it’s tempting to do so, especially after what happened two weeks ago between the two leagues, I’m not quite ready to declare the Mountain West the better conference. The Pac-10, for all of its problems this month, still has more depth in terms of personnel and members. I realize this theory is being tested in 2008, but I’ll still take Washington over San Diego State and a healthy Oregon over TCU. Oh, and don’t underestimate the power of Troy. It ought to count for something that the Pac-10 houses the nation’s top-rated team, right? The Mountain West’s superiority over the Pac-10 this fall has been a wee bit overhyped, considering USC hasn’t had a crack at BYU, Utah, or TCU. The Mountain West and its members deserve all of the pub they’ve been getting over the last couple of weeks for outplaying bigger schools and overshooting expectations. If this was annual head-to-head tournament, it would already be putting the hardware in Craig Thompson’s trophy case. One month, however, isn’t enough of a sampling to give the league the nod over the Pac-10. Although the gap between the two is a whole lot closer than any of us could have imagined in August. <o
> Matthew Zemek</o>Q: Right now, do you rank the Mountain West over the Pac 10?
A: Yes. Not just because of the head-to-head wins (New Mexico over Arizona, TCU over Stanford, BYU over UCLA, BYU over Washington, UNLV over Arizona State), but because some of those head-to-heads involved lower- or middle-division MWC teams beating middle- or upper-division Pac-10 teams.
Sometimes, the low end of one conference proves to be superior to the low end of another conference. But in the case of the Mountain West and the Pac-10, some of this season's results (not all, but at least some) indicate that the MWC's lower-tier clubs can beat middle-tier teams from the Pac. That's alarming... and also the best justification for ranking the Mountain West higher at this point in time.
<o
>Steve Silverman</o>Q: Right now, do you rank the Mountain West over the Pac 10?
A: At first, this seems like a question designed to get a knee-jerk reaction like, “Of course the Mountain West is better than the Pac-10. Look at what happened two weeks ago. The Mountain West was 4-0 vs. the Pac-10. Brigham Young 59, UCLA 0. Need I say more?”
Or perhaps the Pac-10 people might say something like: “Yes, you had a couple of good weeks in September. Come talk to me in January when USC is playing for the national championship and Oregon is playing on New Year’s Day. Talk to me then.”
But instead of getting our noses out of joint, we will look at the situation as objectively as possible. The Mountain West has some good teams in Tulsa, UNLV and Utah and a potentially great team in Brigham Young. In the Pac-10, Cal, Arizona and Oregon should be competitive all season long. Oregon has an excellent chance to play on New Year’s Day. And then there’s USC. Pete Carroll’s team is once again a juggernaut. Mark Sanchez is a top quarterback and the Trojans have a defense to be reckoned with. As the season moves along, the Trojans will get better.
Even the most ardent Mountain West rooter would have to give an objective nod to USC. Say Brigham Young continues to roll the rest of the year and managed to go undefeated. And the SEC and Big 12 cooperated by having their best teams lose once or twice. Would the Cougars really want any part of the Trojans in the National Championship game? I think not.
I’m not talking about what they would say publicly and how they might bluster in front of the cameras and their fans. But when the players and coaches are alone with their thoughts, Brigham Young wants nothing to do with USC.
So in a very round-about and long-winded way, the Mountain West is simply not in the same class as the Pac-10. Put the best from each conference on the field and it would be a route.
</td></tr></tbody></table>
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" class="storytitle">Cavalcade of Whimsy - An Inconvenient Truth </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="primaryimage" valign="top">
Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor
</td> <td width="3" nowrap="nowrap">
</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td valign="middle" nowrap="nowrap">By Pete Fiutak
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Sep 23, 2008
</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
You slept well over the last week safe in the knowledge that Ohio State won't be ruining your BCS Championship game. But what if Beanie Wells is healthy and Terrelle Pryor starts rolling? Could perceptions change? What might past SEC champions do in the national title game? This and more in the latest Cavalcade of Whimsy.
</td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]Fiu's Cavalcade of Whimsy[/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]
a.k.a. Frank Costanza's Festivus Airing of the Grievances [/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2]
By Pete Fiutak
What's your beef? ... Fire off your thoughts
Past Whimsies [/SIZE][/FONT] 2006 Season | 2007 Season
- Preseason Cavalcade | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
If this column sucks, it’s not my fault … the Notre Dame coaches had a laptop in the booth and they figured out all the mildly interesting lines before I wrote them.
“I can handle this. This man has a bad heart, but I have plenty of medicine. My name is Dr. Gonzo. Prepare our suite at once. We'll be in the bar.” ... It was 5 a.m. and I was just getting to bed after another long college football Saturday. While brushing my teeth, I had an epiphany, or maybe it was a hallucination, and then a cold shiver ran down my spine as if I had just found out someone had died.
I saw the future of the 2008 college football season, and it is not good.
If you’re having a good day and are in a good mood, then stop reading this right now. Go medicate yourself with an Oreo, take a deep breath, and just keep telling yourself that everything is going to be O.K.
Tell me if any of this sounds even the slightest bit far-fetched considering the recent history of all the teams I’m about to throw into the mix.
- USC might be better than it’s been in the last few seasons, but considering the way the program occasionally plays down to the competition, and how Stanford and Oregon pulled off wins last year, let’s say the Trojans, stuck in the malaise of an easy run of Pac 10 games, gack at Arizona on October 25<sup>th</sup>. Then let’s say they politely excuse themselves from the national title discussion as Rick Neuheisel, Norm Chow and the UCLA Bruins pull a Tennessee-win performance out of their behinds in early December. That might sound crazy, but so did that 13-9 loss to a mediocre Bruin team at the end of the 2006 season when everything was on the line.
- BYU loses at TCU but screws up Utah’s dream season in Salt Lake City at the end of November, so there are no unbeatens from the Mountain West.
- Boise State goes 12-0, but no one thinks too much of it. The Broncos go to the BCS, but they’re not really in any serious discussion for the national title.
- Remembering Oklahoma’s problems at Colorado and Texas Tech last year, the yearly brain-cramp will come at Kansas State and/or at Oklahoma State. Texas loses to Oklahoma and Kansas but beats Missouri. The Tigers are shocked by Iowa State or Nebraska and loses to Kansas, but ends up getting to the Big 12 title game and gets their revenge against Oklahoma. In other words, all the top Big 12 teams will beat each other up.
- The SEC teams start picking each other off. Florida beats LSU but loses to Georgia. Georgia loses at LSU and at Auburn. The Florida/LSU winner in the SEC title game has a loss and is an almost certain lock to play for the national title.
Meanwhile, Beanie comes back and plays like the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
I told you not to read this if you were having a good day, but remembering all the craziness of last year, and remembering how Ohio State found its way into the national championship game, if USC somehow gets upset twice, everyone of note outside of the SEC champion will likely have two losses. There’s still a chance in this long, long season that Ohio State rears its brutally ugly big game head and stays alive for a third straight trip to the big show.
Yes, really.
What happens if Chris Wells is back and healthy, Terrelle Pryor plays like the world-beater he’s supposed to be, and the Buckeye offense starts to rock? Really rock.
“All of a sudden, if Pryor starts to become a star, Ohio State changes,” said Big Ten Network lead analyst Charles Davis. “Now, Ohio State becomes a team everyone’s going to want to pay attention to instead of a team everyone had to watch because they had to. Pryor could change everything.”
Let’s say the Buckeyes pull off tough, impressive wins at Wisconsin and Michigan State, they give Penn State its one loss of the year, and they blast Illinois in Champaign. All of a sudden, everyone starts talking about how the USC game might have been different if Beanie was alive and kicking and if Pryor was running the show full-time. The voters will start noticing that this is a vastly different team from the one that looked so brutal at the start of the year. All of a sudden, it’s the first week of December and it’s between the new look Buckeyes and a slew of two-loss teams to play the SEC champion for the national title.
I’m sorry. Now try to unring that bell in your head and try to enjoy the rest of your day.
The 2002 Georgia team’s tickets were magically missing … There’s no truth to the rumor that the empty seats in Ohio Stadium for the Troy game were supposed to be filled by the 1973 SEC champion Alabama and 1969 SEC champion Tennessee teams, but were denied access because the chants of "S-E-C" would've drowned out the honoring of the '73 and ’69 national champion Buckeye teams.
And these are just the teams that didn’t get caught for cheating … Alright, with SEC love running amok after the last two national title games, let’s run with the hip premise that the SEC champion is superior to everyone else no matter what the records. Is this a new thing? What would’ve happened if the SEC champions of recent years played in the national title game?
I did some research to see just how many SEC champions might have won the national title if given the right breaks like 2006 Florida and 2007 LSU received. You’ll see how far you have to go back before there’s an SEC champion that really might have won the national title had it pulled a two-loss 2007 LSU and gotten into the championship game. Where applicable, here are the best guesses of what would’ve happened had the SEC champion played the No. 1 team for the national title.
2007 National Title – LSU over Ohio State
2006 – Florida over Ohio State
2005 – Texas over USC
SEC Champion: Georgia … Beat Guess: No vs. USC. Georgia lost to West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl.
2004 – USC over Oklahoma
SEC Champion: Auburn … Best Guess: No vs. USC. That Auburn team was great, especially in the backfield, but USC was special.
2003 – LSU over Oklahoma2002 – Ohio State over Miami
SEC Champion: Georgia … Best Guess: No vs. Miami. And no over that Ohio State team, too.
2001 – Miami over Nebraska
SEC Champion: LSU … Best Guess: No vs. Miami, but had Florida not blown it at home against Tennessee in the final game of the regular season, flip a coin on what would’ve happened against Miami. That was an ultra-talented Miami team, but it didn’t beat anyone with a pulse until the Rose Bowl. The Rex Grossman-led Gators were loaded.
2000 – Oklahoma over Florida State
SEC Champion: Florida … Best Guess: No vs. Oklahoma. The Gators lost to Miami in the Sugar Bowl.
1999 – Florida State over Virginia Tech
SEC Champion: Alabama … Best Guess: No vs. Florida State. The Tide lost to Michigan in a classic Orange Bowl.
1998 – Tennessee over Florida State … BUT, I’d have taken the loaded ’98 Ohio State team over the shaky Volunteers. FSU didn’t belong in the championship over a Buckeye team that blew its title shot in the fourth quarter in a loss to Michigan State, but it blasted everyone else. That was arguably John Cooper’s best team. 1997 – Michigan over Washington State
SEC Champion: Tennessee … Best Guess: Yes vs. Michigan, but no over Nebraska, who blasted Peyton Manning and the boys 42-17 in the Orange Bowl to win a share of the national title.
1996 – Florida over Florida State … but remember, had Joe Germaine not led Ohio State on the classic final scoring drive to beat Arizona State in the Rose Bowl, Jake Plummer and the Sun Devils would’ve won the national title.
1995 – Nebraska over Florida
1994 – Nebraska over Miami, and Penn State over Oregon
SEC Champion: Florida … No vs. Nebraska or Penn State, who were named co-national champions
1993 – Florida State over Nebraska
SEC Champion: Florida … Best Guess: Yes vs. Nebraska, who was No. 1 in the Coaches’ Poll, but no vs. Florida State, who was No. 1 in the AP.
1992 – Alabama over Miami 1991 – Miami over Nebraska, Washington over Michigan
SEC Champion: Florida … Best Guess: No vs. Miami or Washington. 1990 – Colorado over Notre Dame, Georgia Tech over Nebraska
SEC Champion: Florida … Best Guess: No vs. Colorado, Yes vs. Georgia Tech
Unless Pat White gets hurt, and then the bowls will be more about Car Care than Oranges… To fully grasp just how bad the 1-2 start for West Virginia is, remember that the Mountaineers under Rich Rodriguez went 10-2 (with Bill Stewart earning the win in last year’s Fiesta Bowl), 11-2, and 11-1 over the last three seasons. This was a program that was among the elite, and it was on the verge of playing for the national title. But there’s still time to turn this around. Beat Auburn on October 23<sup>rd</sup> and go on to win the Big East title and all will be forgotten.
“You heard me...I don't like losses sport. Nothing ruins my day more than losses... You do good, you get perks, all kinds of perks. Stay home tonight. Louis, take care of'im. Enjoy the lunch.” … After the American economy apparently came within an eyelash of a complete and total collapse, and with your mattress suddenly becoming every bit as safe a place to keep your money as any investment, can we all finally blow off the complete and utter bullspit notion that there’s anything immoral or wrong about placing a wager on a sporting event?
Generations of wealth can be wiped out by “doing the right thing” and investing heavily into a supposedly rock-solid company like AIG, but you can’t make a buck on your belief that Northwestern will cover the eight points against Michigan State. You can day trade to your heart’s content, and can blow all your money with one click of a mouse, but you’re not allowed to put $100 on Cincinnati -10 over Akron.
No, you shouldn’t gamble in place of investing and it can lead to problems, but in a time when raising revenue in any way possible is a must, it’s time to finally legalize on-line gaming, tax it, and make tens of billions in new revenue.
“And when you’re gone, you stay gone, or you be gone. You’ve lost all your L.A. privileges.” … Remembering that these are college kids and not professionals, and always, always remembering that it’s more important to err on the side of caution when it comes to injuries, there has to be some sort of man-rule when it comes to how a player leaves the field.
Again, it’s never a bad thing to be too careful, but if you’re going to get immobilized and carted off the field with an apparent neck injury, like Auburn RB Brad Lester was, be out a week, at least. Fine, so he made it back for the LSU game, but he suffered a knee injury and had to be helped/carried to the sidelines. He came back in later in the game. I’m not questioning Lester’s toughness or heart, quite the opposite, but if a player appears to be hurt enough to need major help, keep him out to make sure he’s 100%. Remember, Lester has to go to class and be a student, too.
“Ooh don't poo-poo a nickel, Lisa. A nickel will buy you a steak and kidney pie, a cup of coffee, a slice of cheesecake and a newsreel. With enough change left over to ride the trolley from Battery Park to the Polo Grounds.” … Forgive me for sounding like some old guy pining away for the days of yore, but watch some of the classic games and then take in a football weekend. The announcers just aren’t what they used to be.
The NFL Network replayed the great 1995 Green Bay vs. Dallas NFC Championship game the other day. Yes, there was a time when John Madden used to be good. Really good, and Pat Summerall was a peerless play-by-play man. We’re now about 15 years removed from when Keith Jackson was at the height of his powers, and now a new slew of fans only know the slow, rambling, Gatorade-pitching version, if they remember him at all. I’ve always been a Brent Musburger fan and Brad Nessler is certainly competent, but football is missing a signature voice.
The C.O.W. airing of the grievances followed by the feats of strength
Ten things I’m grouchy about this week.
10. Indiana State vs. Northern Illinois and Idaho vs. Utah State on ESPN GamePlan
Talk about your niche markets, what were the ratings on the GamePlan package for Indiana State vs. Northern Illinois and Idaho vs. Utah State? I gave a look-see to both games for a little while just to see what was going on, I sort of have to, but they might join the Geraldo Rivera opening of Al Capone’s vault as the strangest pay-per-view options of all-time.
9. Michigan State’s Nick Saban
Spartan fans have to be happy with the job Mark Dantonio is doing with the program as he cleans up the mess from the John L. Smith era, but at the same time, they have to be a little bit ticked that when it comes to Nick Saban, they got the Who’s The Boss Alyssa Milano and LSU and Alabama got the matured, Embrace of the Vampire version. Saban has Alabama rolling in just his second year on the job, and he obviously did wonders with LSU. At Michigan State, he went 6-5-1, 6-6, 7-5, and 6-6 before bolting after a big 9-2 season. Speaking of MSU...
8. Texas A&M RB Mike Goodson
What Javon Ringer is doing at Michigan State, Mike Goodson should be doing for Texas A&M. Goodson is a premier, superstar caliber back, as evidenced by his breathtaking early touchdown this weekend against Miami, but he’s stuck on a bad team with a bad offense and a bad defense. Goodson can’t tackle, he can’t make the passing game go, and he can’t block for himself. Is it possible Texas can trade backup QB John Chiles for him?
7. The Hotels.com workers blowing bubbles with straws in a bath ad
It wouldn’t be so disturbing if it was a woman taking the bath. The ad control types should’ve tried other options to figure out how to make two guys blowing into a bathtub not seem like, well, uh ... moving on ...
6. Knowshon Moreno’s touchdown dive
It’s not like Moreno did a Reggie Bush like dive-and-roll for a score. He took a full leap over the top of Arizona State’s Rodney Cox for a spectacular first quarter touchdown in Georgia’s 27-10 win, and he landed full-bore on his shoulder. Just for giggles, take a ladder out on your lawn, climb up it, and then dive off on your shoulder. It's amazing what football players can survive.
5. Offsetting penalties
It always seems like offsetting penalties end up penalizing the defense. Whenever both the offense and defense gets flagged on the same play for penalties that walk off equal yardage, the play becomes a do-over. While a big offensive play is negated once in a while, the extra play usually means the defense has to be out there a little bit longer and the offense gets to try something different.
Of course, most offensive coordinators would complain that the O gets hosed because if the play didn’t work, the defense most likely did something to prevent it from happening, while the offensive penalty didn’t turn out to matter. There is no right answer; you can’t penalize the other offense when it comes on the field for the sins of the defense. Maybe you penalize the offense the yards, but give it a down. For example, if there were offsetting ten-yard penalties on 2<sup>nd</sup> and 7 on the offense’s 45, it goes to 1st and 7 but on the 35.
4. Energy efficient light bulbs
Sick and tired of flying blind with the bombardier continuously searching in vain for its target, it finally became time change the burnt out light bulb in my office bathroom. I took out one of those energy efficient bulbs, because using it will make me a good person, and without thinking, popped the package open only to see the bulb go flying out in what seemed like slow motion. It shattered all over the floor in a bazillion pieces
Only later did I realize that 1) these things have mercury in them, 2) mercury is bad for you, and 3) you’re not supposed to vacuum up the pieces (which I did) because the vacuum spreads the mercury though the air, and you’re supposed to open a window (which I didn't) .Oh yeah, and you're not supposed to touch anything. Fine, so we all have to die of something. That I can live with. What I can’t handle is the energy-efficient, soul-sucking bluish-gray glow that makes every trip to the “office” a little reminder that our planet is about ten minutes away from melting down.
3. “(Insert team here) should run the table.”
East Carolina should’ve won every game on its schedule after the upset win over West Virginia. Tulsa will be favored in every game the rest of the way, including the date at Arkansas. BYU, Utah, and TCU will probably all kill each other off. I know it’s fun and exciting to think about the what-if scenarios, I’m the Grand Marshal of that parade, but like always, everyone’s going to get picked off until there are just a few real choices come early December.
2. My yearly checklist
All apologies for the same beefs being repeated for what seems like the ninth straight season, but they’re going to be brought up every year about this time until the world changes. It wouldn't be late September without these two whines.
1. Stop publicizing anything that happens in the AP Poll. It doesn’t matter. The Coaches’ Poll is the one that’s part of the BCS, along with the Harris Poll. All concentration and all analysis and all scrutiny must be paid to what matters.
2. A concussion is never cute and it’s always serious. After LSU quarterback Andrew Hatch’s brain bounced off the inside of his skull and was unable to continue. According to Mike Patrick, Hatch was, “seeing cobwebs, that’s all.” Bones and joints heal. You get a few of these knocks on the noggin and you have issues that won’t go away for the rest of your life.
1. The missing Ohio State fans
It’s the old adage that you can say 99 good things and it’s the one negative that everyone will remember, and that applies to stadiums, too. It all has to be put into perspective. It’s not like Ohio Stadium was half empty for Ohio State’s game with Troy, close to 103,000 fans still showed up, but it wasn’t filled to capacity and it was the smallest crowd in years. Had the Buckeyes beaten USC, the place would’ve been jammed for Troy.
Die-hard Buckeye fans probably dismiss the no-shows as the bandwagon riders who no one wants around anyway, but it does go to show that the entire program is a general malaise and appears to be shell-shocked after the three high-profile beatings in the last 20 months. It also goes to show how quickly things can turn for a program that’s in desperate need of some positive PR.
Random Acts of Nutty … Provocative musings and tidbits to make every woman want you and every man want to be you (or vice versa) a.k.a. things I didn’t feel like writing bigger blurbs for.
- It’s working. Georgia Tech new rushing attack rumbled for 438 yards on a Mississippi State defense that held Auburn to 161 yards and Louisiana Tech to 94.
- This week’s edition of What I’m Going To Change My Name To: Tulsa’s fantastic receiver Slick Shelley. Minnesota RB Shady Salamon and Southern Utah WR Tysson Poots got the honor the first two weeks.
- I dogged the WAC officials for a bad replay call against Wisconsin in its win over Fresno State. Now I have to give credit to the WAC powers-that-be for admitting the call was wrong when it could’ve easily been swept under the rug.
- Mea culpa No. 2. I joked about Jesse Palmer being added to the ESPN mix, and even though he always seems like he’s going to fire out a “duuuuude,” he’s been solid. He’s at his best when he’s dealing with Xs and Os more than when he’s in banter-mode.
- What would happen if an SEC offensive line came out and simply tried to go smashmouth? The beef and the talents are in place, especially at LSU, and it would be interesting to see more teams take advantage of the smallish, quicker SEC defenses by committing to the run no matter what.
C.O.W. shameless gimmick item … The weekly five Overrated/Underrated aspects of the world
1) Overrated: Eva Longoria ... Underrated: The law student with a French accent in the I’m A PC ad.
2) Overrated: The Ryder Cup … Underrated: The Euro
3) Overrated: Arizona State ... Underrated: Arizona
4) Overrated: Yankee Stadium, Mickey Mantle, and Billy Crystal ... Underrated: The classic college football stadiums still serving as weekly cathedrals.
5) Overrated: The first two weeks of the ACC season ... Underrated: The ACC now and going forward
“I hearby designate Chase Daniel, Missouri as my First Choice to receive the Heisman Memorial Trophy awarded to the most outstanding college football player in the United States for 2008. The the best of my knowledge he conforms to the rules governing this vote.”
My Second Choice Is: Javon Ringer, Michigan State
My Third Choice Is: Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
“You know I'm born to lose, and gambling's for fools/But that's the way I like it baby, I don't wanna live forever” … The three lines this week that appear to be a tad off. As always, I went 1-2 (and 4-8 overall), which is impressive that I can do this each and every week considering I’m over .500 against the spread on the Expert Picks. I press on … 1) Arkansas State +1 over Memphis, 2) Colorado +6 over Florida State, 3) UCF -5 over UTEP
Last Week: 1) West Virginia -3 over Colorado (Loss), 2) Ohio +11 over Northwestern (Win), 3) Rutgers -5 over Navy (Loss)
Sorry this column sucked, but it wasn’t my fault … as if the column wasn't bad enough, now I feel worse after getting slapped in the head by Rutgers QB Mike Teel.
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Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor
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</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td valign="middle" nowrap="nowrap">By Pete Fiutak
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Sep 23, 2008
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You slept well over the last week safe in the knowledge that Ohio State won't be ruining your BCS Championship game. But what if Beanie Wells is healthy and Terrelle Pryor starts rolling? Could perceptions change? What might past SEC champions do in the national title game? This and more in the latest Cavalcade of Whimsy.
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[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]Fiu's Cavalcade of Whimsy[/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]
a.k.a. Frank Costanza's Festivus Airing of the Grievances [/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-2]
By Pete Fiutak
What's your beef? ... Fire off your thoughts
Past Whimsies [/SIZE][/FONT] 2006 Season | 2007 Season
- Preseason Cavalcade | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
If this column sucks, it’s not my fault … the Notre Dame coaches had a laptop in the booth and they figured out all the mildly interesting lines before I wrote them.
“I can handle this. This man has a bad heart, but I have plenty of medicine. My name is Dr. Gonzo. Prepare our suite at once. We'll be in the bar.” ... It was 5 a.m. and I was just getting to bed after another long college football Saturday. While brushing my teeth, I had an epiphany, or maybe it was a hallucination, and then a cold shiver ran down my spine as if I had just found out someone had died.
I saw the future of the 2008 college football season, and it is not good.
If you’re having a good day and are in a good mood, then stop reading this right now. Go medicate yourself with an Oreo, take a deep breath, and just keep telling yourself that everything is going to be O.K.
Tell me if any of this sounds even the slightest bit far-fetched considering the recent history of all the teams I’m about to throw into the mix.
- USC might be better than it’s been in the last few seasons, but considering the way the program occasionally plays down to the competition, and how Stanford and Oregon pulled off wins last year, let’s say the Trojans, stuck in the malaise of an easy run of Pac 10 games, gack at Arizona on October 25<sup>th</sup>. Then let’s say they politely excuse themselves from the national title discussion as Rick Neuheisel, Norm Chow and the UCLA Bruins pull a Tennessee-win performance out of their behinds in early December. That might sound crazy, but so did that 13-9 loss to a mediocre Bruin team at the end of the 2006 season when everything was on the line.
- BYU loses at TCU but screws up Utah’s dream season in Salt Lake City at the end of November, so there are no unbeatens from the Mountain West.
- Boise State goes 12-0, but no one thinks too much of it. The Broncos go to the BCS, but they’re not really in any serious discussion for the national title.
- Remembering Oklahoma’s problems at Colorado and Texas Tech last year, the yearly brain-cramp will come at Kansas State and/or at Oklahoma State. Texas loses to Oklahoma and Kansas but beats Missouri. The Tigers are shocked by Iowa State or Nebraska and loses to Kansas, but ends up getting to the Big 12 title game and gets their revenge against Oklahoma. In other words, all the top Big 12 teams will beat each other up.
- The SEC teams start picking each other off. Florida beats LSU but loses to Georgia. Georgia loses at LSU and at Auburn. The Florida/LSU winner in the SEC title game has a loss and is an almost certain lock to play for the national title.
Meanwhile, Beanie comes back and plays like the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
I told you not to read this if you were having a good day, but remembering all the craziness of last year, and remembering how Ohio State found its way into the national championship game, if USC somehow gets upset twice, everyone of note outside of the SEC champion will likely have two losses. There’s still a chance in this long, long season that Ohio State rears its brutally ugly big game head and stays alive for a third straight trip to the big show.
Yes, really.
What happens if Chris Wells is back and healthy, Terrelle Pryor plays like the world-beater he’s supposed to be, and the Buckeye offense starts to rock? Really rock.
“All of a sudden, if Pryor starts to become a star, Ohio State changes,” said Big Ten Network lead analyst Charles Davis. “Now, Ohio State becomes a team everyone’s going to want to pay attention to instead of a team everyone had to watch because they had to. Pryor could change everything.”
Let’s say the Buckeyes pull off tough, impressive wins at Wisconsin and Michigan State, they give Penn State its one loss of the year, and they blast Illinois in Champaign. All of a sudden, everyone starts talking about how the USC game might have been different if Beanie was alive and kicking and if Pryor was running the show full-time. The voters will start noticing that this is a vastly different team from the one that looked so brutal at the start of the year. All of a sudden, it’s the first week of December and it’s between the new look Buckeyes and a slew of two-loss teams to play the SEC champion for the national title.
I’m sorry. Now try to unring that bell in your head and try to enjoy the rest of your day.
The 2002 Georgia team’s tickets were magically missing … There’s no truth to the rumor that the empty seats in Ohio Stadium for the Troy game were supposed to be filled by the 1973 SEC champion Alabama and 1969 SEC champion Tennessee teams, but were denied access because the chants of "S-E-C" would've drowned out the honoring of the '73 and ’69 national champion Buckeye teams.
And these are just the teams that didn’t get caught for cheating … Alright, with SEC love running amok after the last two national title games, let’s run with the hip premise that the SEC champion is superior to everyone else no matter what the records. Is this a new thing? What would’ve happened if the SEC champions of recent years played in the national title game?
I did some research to see just how many SEC champions might have won the national title if given the right breaks like 2006 Florida and 2007 LSU received. You’ll see how far you have to go back before there’s an SEC champion that really might have won the national title had it pulled a two-loss 2007 LSU and gotten into the championship game. Where applicable, here are the best guesses of what would’ve happened had the SEC champion played the No. 1 team for the national title.
2007 National Title – LSU over Ohio State
2006 – Florida over Ohio State
2005 – Texas over USC
SEC Champion: Georgia … Beat Guess: No vs. USC. Georgia lost to West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl.
2004 – USC over Oklahoma
SEC Champion: Auburn … Best Guess: No vs. USC. That Auburn team was great, especially in the backfield, but USC was special.
2003 – LSU over Oklahoma2002 – Ohio State over Miami
SEC Champion: Georgia … Best Guess: No vs. Miami. And no over that Ohio State team, too.
2001 – Miami over Nebraska
SEC Champion: LSU … Best Guess: No vs. Miami, but had Florida not blown it at home against Tennessee in the final game of the regular season, flip a coin on what would’ve happened against Miami. That was an ultra-talented Miami team, but it didn’t beat anyone with a pulse until the Rose Bowl. The Rex Grossman-led Gators were loaded.
2000 – Oklahoma over Florida State
SEC Champion: Florida … Best Guess: No vs. Oklahoma. The Gators lost to Miami in the Sugar Bowl.
1999 – Florida State over Virginia Tech
SEC Champion: Alabama … Best Guess: No vs. Florida State. The Tide lost to Michigan in a classic Orange Bowl.
1998 – Tennessee over Florida State … BUT, I’d have taken the loaded ’98 Ohio State team over the shaky Volunteers. FSU didn’t belong in the championship over a Buckeye team that blew its title shot in the fourth quarter in a loss to Michigan State, but it blasted everyone else. That was arguably John Cooper’s best team. 1997 – Michigan over Washington State
SEC Champion: Tennessee … Best Guess: Yes vs. Michigan, but no over Nebraska, who blasted Peyton Manning and the boys 42-17 in the Orange Bowl to win a share of the national title.
1996 – Florida over Florida State … but remember, had Joe Germaine not led Ohio State on the classic final scoring drive to beat Arizona State in the Rose Bowl, Jake Plummer and the Sun Devils would’ve won the national title.
1995 – Nebraska over Florida
1994 – Nebraska over Miami, and Penn State over Oregon
SEC Champion: Florida … No vs. Nebraska or Penn State, who were named co-national champions
1993 – Florida State over Nebraska
SEC Champion: Florida … Best Guess: Yes vs. Nebraska, who was No. 1 in the Coaches’ Poll, but no vs. Florida State, who was No. 1 in the AP.
1992 – Alabama over Miami 1991 – Miami over Nebraska, Washington over Michigan
SEC Champion: Florida … Best Guess: No vs. Miami or Washington. 1990 – Colorado over Notre Dame, Georgia Tech over Nebraska
SEC Champion: Florida … Best Guess: No vs. Colorado, Yes vs. Georgia Tech
Unless Pat White gets hurt, and then the bowls will be more about Car Care than Oranges… To fully grasp just how bad the 1-2 start for West Virginia is, remember that the Mountaineers under Rich Rodriguez went 10-2 (with Bill Stewart earning the win in last year’s Fiesta Bowl), 11-2, and 11-1 over the last three seasons. This was a program that was among the elite, and it was on the verge of playing for the national title. But there’s still time to turn this around. Beat Auburn on October 23<sup>rd</sup> and go on to win the Big East title and all will be forgotten.
“You heard me...I don't like losses sport. Nothing ruins my day more than losses... You do good, you get perks, all kinds of perks. Stay home tonight. Louis, take care of'im. Enjoy the lunch.” … After the American economy apparently came within an eyelash of a complete and total collapse, and with your mattress suddenly becoming every bit as safe a place to keep your money as any investment, can we all finally blow off the complete and utter bullspit notion that there’s anything immoral or wrong about placing a wager on a sporting event?
Generations of wealth can be wiped out by “doing the right thing” and investing heavily into a supposedly rock-solid company like AIG, but you can’t make a buck on your belief that Northwestern will cover the eight points against Michigan State. You can day trade to your heart’s content, and can blow all your money with one click of a mouse, but you’re not allowed to put $100 on Cincinnati -10 over Akron.
No, you shouldn’t gamble in place of investing and it can lead to problems, but in a time when raising revenue in any way possible is a must, it’s time to finally legalize on-line gaming, tax it, and make tens of billions in new revenue.
“And when you’re gone, you stay gone, or you be gone. You’ve lost all your L.A. privileges.” … Remembering that these are college kids and not professionals, and always, always remembering that it’s more important to err on the side of caution when it comes to injuries, there has to be some sort of man-rule when it comes to how a player leaves the field.
Again, it’s never a bad thing to be too careful, but if you’re going to get immobilized and carted off the field with an apparent neck injury, like Auburn RB Brad Lester was, be out a week, at least. Fine, so he made it back for the LSU game, but he suffered a knee injury and had to be helped/carried to the sidelines. He came back in later in the game. I’m not questioning Lester’s toughness or heart, quite the opposite, but if a player appears to be hurt enough to need major help, keep him out to make sure he’s 100%. Remember, Lester has to go to class and be a student, too.
“Ooh don't poo-poo a nickel, Lisa. A nickel will buy you a steak and kidney pie, a cup of coffee, a slice of cheesecake and a newsreel. With enough change left over to ride the trolley from Battery Park to the Polo Grounds.” … Forgive me for sounding like some old guy pining away for the days of yore, but watch some of the classic games and then take in a football weekend. The announcers just aren’t what they used to be.
The NFL Network replayed the great 1995 Green Bay vs. Dallas NFC Championship game the other day. Yes, there was a time when John Madden used to be good. Really good, and Pat Summerall was a peerless play-by-play man. We’re now about 15 years removed from when Keith Jackson was at the height of his powers, and now a new slew of fans only know the slow, rambling, Gatorade-pitching version, if they remember him at all. I’ve always been a Brent Musburger fan and Brad Nessler is certainly competent, but football is missing a signature voice.
The C.O.W. airing of the grievances followed by the feats of strength
Ten things I’m grouchy about this week.
10. Indiana State vs. Northern Illinois and Idaho vs. Utah State on ESPN GamePlan
Talk about your niche markets, what were the ratings on the GamePlan package for Indiana State vs. Northern Illinois and Idaho vs. Utah State? I gave a look-see to both games for a little while just to see what was going on, I sort of have to, but they might join the Geraldo Rivera opening of Al Capone’s vault as the strangest pay-per-view options of all-time.
9. Michigan State’s Nick Saban
Spartan fans have to be happy with the job Mark Dantonio is doing with the program as he cleans up the mess from the John L. Smith era, but at the same time, they have to be a little bit ticked that when it comes to Nick Saban, they got the Who’s The Boss Alyssa Milano and LSU and Alabama got the matured, Embrace of the Vampire version. Saban has Alabama rolling in just his second year on the job, and he obviously did wonders with LSU. At Michigan State, he went 6-5-1, 6-6, 7-5, and 6-6 before bolting after a big 9-2 season. Speaking of MSU...
8. Texas A&M RB Mike Goodson
What Javon Ringer is doing at Michigan State, Mike Goodson should be doing for Texas A&M. Goodson is a premier, superstar caliber back, as evidenced by his breathtaking early touchdown this weekend against Miami, but he’s stuck on a bad team with a bad offense and a bad defense. Goodson can’t tackle, he can’t make the passing game go, and he can’t block for himself. Is it possible Texas can trade backup QB John Chiles for him?
7. The Hotels.com workers blowing bubbles with straws in a bath ad
It wouldn’t be so disturbing if it was a woman taking the bath. The ad control types should’ve tried other options to figure out how to make two guys blowing into a bathtub not seem like, well, uh ... moving on ...
6. Knowshon Moreno’s touchdown dive
It’s not like Moreno did a Reggie Bush like dive-and-roll for a score. He took a full leap over the top of Arizona State’s Rodney Cox for a spectacular first quarter touchdown in Georgia’s 27-10 win, and he landed full-bore on his shoulder. Just for giggles, take a ladder out on your lawn, climb up it, and then dive off on your shoulder. It's amazing what football players can survive.
5. Offsetting penalties
It always seems like offsetting penalties end up penalizing the defense. Whenever both the offense and defense gets flagged on the same play for penalties that walk off equal yardage, the play becomes a do-over. While a big offensive play is negated once in a while, the extra play usually means the defense has to be out there a little bit longer and the offense gets to try something different.
Of course, most offensive coordinators would complain that the O gets hosed because if the play didn’t work, the defense most likely did something to prevent it from happening, while the offensive penalty didn’t turn out to matter. There is no right answer; you can’t penalize the other offense when it comes on the field for the sins of the defense. Maybe you penalize the offense the yards, but give it a down. For example, if there were offsetting ten-yard penalties on 2<sup>nd</sup> and 7 on the offense’s 45, it goes to 1st and 7 but on the 35.
4. Energy efficient light bulbs
Sick and tired of flying blind with the bombardier continuously searching in vain for its target, it finally became time change the burnt out light bulb in my office bathroom. I took out one of those energy efficient bulbs, because using it will make me a good person, and without thinking, popped the package open only to see the bulb go flying out in what seemed like slow motion. It shattered all over the floor in a bazillion pieces
Only later did I realize that 1) these things have mercury in them, 2) mercury is bad for you, and 3) you’re not supposed to vacuum up the pieces (which I did) because the vacuum spreads the mercury though the air, and you’re supposed to open a window (which I didn't) .Oh yeah, and you're not supposed to touch anything. Fine, so we all have to die of something. That I can live with. What I can’t handle is the energy-efficient, soul-sucking bluish-gray glow that makes every trip to the “office” a little reminder that our planet is about ten minutes away from melting down.
3. “(Insert team here) should run the table.”
East Carolina should’ve won every game on its schedule after the upset win over West Virginia. Tulsa will be favored in every game the rest of the way, including the date at Arkansas. BYU, Utah, and TCU will probably all kill each other off. I know it’s fun and exciting to think about the what-if scenarios, I’m the Grand Marshal of that parade, but like always, everyone’s going to get picked off until there are just a few real choices come early December.
2. My yearly checklist
All apologies for the same beefs being repeated for what seems like the ninth straight season, but they’re going to be brought up every year about this time until the world changes. It wouldn't be late September without these two whines.
1. Stop publicizing anything that happens in the AP Poll. It doesn’t matter. The Coaches’ Poll is the one that’s part of the BCS, along with the Harris Poll. All concentration and all analysis and all scrutiny must be paid to what matters.
2. A concussion is never cute and it’s always serious. After LSU quarterback Andrew Hatch’s brain bounced off the inside of his skull and was unable to continue. According to Mike Patrick, Hatch was, “seeing cobwebs, that’s all.” Bones and joints heal. You get a few of these knocks on the noggin and you have issues that won’t go away for the rest of your life.
1. The missing Ohio State fans
It’s the old adage that you can say 99 good things and it’s the one negative that everyone will remember, and that applies to stadiums, too. It all has to be put into perspective. It’s not like Ohio Stadium was half empty for Ohio State’s game with Troy, close to 103,000 fans still showed up, but it wasn’t filled to capacity and it was the smallest crowd in years. Had the Buckeyes beaten USC, the place would’ve been jammed for Troy.
Die-hard Buckeye fans probably dismiss the no-shows as the bandwagon riders who no one wants around anyway, but it does go to show that the entire program is a general malaise and appears to be shell-shocked after the three high-profile beatings in the last 20 months. It also goes to show how quickly things can turn for a program that’s in desperate need of some positive PR.
Random Acts of Nutty … Provocative musings and tidbits to make every woman want you and every man want to be you (or vice versa) a.k.a. things I didn’t feel like writing bigger blurbs for.
- It’s working. Georgia Tech new rushing attack rumbled for 438 yards on a Mississippi State defense that held Auburn to 161 yards and Louisiana Tech to 94.
- This week’s edition of What I’m Going To Change My Name To: Tulsa’s fantastic receiver Slick Shelley. Minnesota RB Shady Salamon and Southern Utah WR Tysson Poots got the honor the first two weeks.
- I dogged the WAC officials for a bad replay call against Wisconsin in its win over Fresno State. Now I have to give credit to the WAC powers-that-be for admitting the call was wrong when it could’ve easily been swept under the rug.
- Mea culpa No. 2. I joked about Jesse Palmer being added to the ESPN mix, and even though he always seems like he’s going to fire out a “duuuuude,” he’s been solid. He’s at his best when he’s dealing with Xs and Os more than when he’s in banter-mode.
- What would happen if an SEC offensive line came out and simply tried to go smashmouth? The beef and the talents are in place, especially at LSU, and it would be interesting to see more teams take advantage of the smallish, quicker SEC defenses by committing to the run no matter what.
C.O.W. shameless gimmick item … The weekly five Overrated/Underrated aspects of the world
1) Overrated: Eva Longoria ... Underrated: The law student with a French accent in the I’m A PC ad.
2) Overrated: The Ryder Cup … Underrated: The Euro
3) Overrated: Arizona State ... Underrated: Arizona
4) Overrated: Yankee Stadium, Mickey Mantle, and Billy Crystal ... Underrated: The classic college football stadiums still serving as weekly cathedrals.
5) Overrated: The first two weeks of the ACC season ... Underrated: The ACC now and going forward
“I hearby designate Chase Daniel, Missouri as my First Choice to receive the Heisman Memorial Trophy awarded to the most outstanding college football player in the United States for 2008. The the best of my knowledge he conforms to the rules governing this vote.”
My Second Choice Is: Javon Ringer, Michigan State
My Third Choice Is: Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
“You know I'm born to lose, and gambling's for fools/But that's the way I like it baby, I don't wanna live forever” … The three lines this week that appear to be a tad off. As always, I went 1-2 (and 4-8 overall), which is impressive that I can do this each and every week considering I’m over .500 against the spread on the Expert Picks. I press on … 1) Arkansas State +1 over Memphis, 2) Colorado +6 over Florida State, 3) UCF -5 over UTEP
Last Week: 1) West Virginia -3 over Colorado (Loss), 2) Ohio +11 over Northwestern (Win), 3) Rutgers -5 over Navy (Loss)
Sorry this column sucked, but it wasn’t my fault … as if the column wasn't bad enough, now I feel worse after getting slapped in the head by Rutgers QB Mike Teel.
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" class="storytitle">Who's Hot & Not ... Tulsa? Minnesota?! </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="primaryimage" valign="top">
Minnesota QB Adam Weber
</td> <td width="3" nowrap="nowrap">
</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td valign="middle" nowrap="nowrap">By Pete Fiutak
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Sep 22, 2008
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</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Minnesota, the nation's punching bag last year, is suddenly 4-0 thanks to the efficient passing of QB Adam Weber, and most importantly, no mistakes. The Gopher turnover margin, Tulsa, the UCLA running game, and why penalties aren't that big a deal in the latest Who's Hot & Who's Not.
</td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]Who's Hot & Not - Week 4[/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][/FONT][SIZE=-1]Past Hot and Not: 2007 Hot & Not[/SIZE] | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
Who’s Hot …
Minnesota turnover marginEverything went wrong last year for Minnesota, with turnovers and a lack of takeaways proving to be one of the biggest problems. The Gophers were 114th in the nation in turnover margin with 29 turnovers and just 14 takeaways in the 1-11 season. The Gophers haven't played a killer schedule, but it's 4-0 and currently fourth in the nation in turnover margin 13 takeaways, or just one fewer than the team came up with all of last year, and only two turnovers. Up next is Ohio State.
Western Michigan QB Tim Hiller
Western Michigan has won three straight after a season-opening loss at Nebraska, and while the competition hasn't been great, QB Tim Hiller has been tremendous all season long. The junior has completed 72% of his passes on the year for 1,102 yards and 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. His biggest yardage day came against the Huskers (342).
Tulsa and QB David Johnson
The beat keeps on rolling. After leading the nation in total offense last year, Tulsa came back roaring averaging 52 points per game over the first three including a 56-point outburst on a New Mexico team that beat Arizona the week before. Meanwhile, senior QB David Johnson continues to explode. He leads the nation in passing efficiency and is second in total offense. So far he has completed 69% of his passes for 1,219 yards and 15 touchdowns with two interceptions. Both picks were thrown against the Lobos, but Johnson threw for 469 yards and six scores. Next up is Central Arkansas.
East Carolina in the first quarter
NC State scored early in the second quarter last week, but after four weeks, East Carolina has yet to allow a point in the first quarter so far. Houston is up next for the Pirates.
Penn State in the first half
Penn State has won its first four games by a combined score of 211 to 40, or an average of 53 to 10. The games are over at halftime outscoring teams142 to 20 in the first half and 49-0 in the first quarters. Illinois is coming to Happy Valley next. Who’s Not …Great teams and penaltiesSo much for the idea of penalties killing a good team. Here are the five biggest sinning teams in America: T1. Georgia and Texas Tech, with each averaging 10.75 penalties per game, 3. Utah, averaging 9.25, 4. Florida, averaging 9, and TCU, averaging 8.75. These five teams are a combined 19-0. By the way, Oklahoma State is 7th on the list, Nebraska 9th, and Texas and Oklahoma are tied for 13th. In all, of the 26 most penalized teams (with USC being 26th), 12 are unbeaten.
UCLA running game
SMU average a nation-worst 31.25 rushing yards per game. That's to be expected in the June Jones offense. San Diego State averages 34.67 rushing yards per game. Third lowest on the list is UCLA averaging 51 rushing yards per outing. The Bruins netted 29 yards against Tennessee, nine against BYU, and 113 against Arizona. Fresno State is up next, but its run defense has been gouged so far allowing 186 yards per game. Temple vs. Penn State
In 1931 and 1932, Temple beat Penn State in the two meetings by a combined score of 25-12. After an 18-0 Penn State win in 1940, Temple won again, 14-0, in 1941 to take a 3-1 lead in the series. Since then, Penn State has gone 33-0-1 against the Owls by a combined score of 1,082 to 263, or an average of around 32 to 8. Temple hasn't come closer than 17 points in the last 14 meetings after losing 45-3 last week in Happy Valley. The Owls play Western Michigan this week.
SMU defense
The June Jones offense hasn't taken off yet, and the defense has hardly picked up the slack. After four games, the Mustangs have the nation's worst defense allowing 530.5 yards per game, and have allowed 56 points to Rice, 36 points to Texas State, 43 to Texas Tech and 48 to TCU. SMU has lost its last two games by a combined score of 91 to 14. A trip to Tulane is up next.
Florida International passing game
FIU finished dead last in the nation in scoring and passing efficiency last year. Last year, the passing efficiency rating was a nation's worst 91.33. So far this year, it's 69.25 completing 40-of-86 passes for 352 yards and no touchdowns and five interceptions. By comparison, the second least efficient passing game is Louisiana Tech's with a 79.97 rating, while Tulsa leads the nation with a rating of 224.72. FIU plays at Toledo this week.</td></tr></tbody></table>
Minnesota QB Adam Weber
</td> <td width="3" nowrap="nowrap">
</td> <td valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#f5f5f5" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="60%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td valign="middle" nowrap="nowrap">By Pete Fiutak
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Sep 22, 2008
</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Minnesota, the nation's punching bag last year, is suddenly 4-0 thanks to the efficient passing of QB Adam Weber, and most importantly, no mistakes. The Gopher turnover margin, Tulsa, the UCLA running game, and why penalties aren't that big a deal in the latest Who's Hot & Who's Not.
</td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]Who's Hot & Not - Week 4[/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][/FONT][SIZE=-1]Past Hot and Not: 2007 Hot & Not[/SIZE] | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
Who’s Hot …
Minnesota turnover marginEverything went wrong last year for Minnesota, with turnovers and a lack of takeaways proving to be one of the biggest problems. The Gophers were 114th in the nation in turnover margin with 29 turnovers and just 14 takeaways in the 1-11 season. The Gophers haven't played a killer schedule, but it's 4-0 and currently fourth in the nation in turnover margin 13 takeaways, or just one fewer than the team came up with all of last year, and only two turnovers. Up next is Ohio State.
Western Michigan QB Tim Hiller
Western Michigan has won three straight after a season-opening loss at Nebraska, and while the competition hasn't been great, QB Tim Hiller has been tremendous all season long. The junior has completed 72% of his passes on the year for 1,102 yards and 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. His biggest yardage day came against the Huskers (342).
Tulsa and QB David Johnson
The beat keeps on rolling. After leading the nation in total offense last year, Tulsa came back roaring averaging 52 points per game over the first three including a 56-point outburst on a New Mexico team that beat Arizona the week before. Meanwhile, senior QB David Johnson continues to explode. He leads the nation in passing efficiency and is second in total offense. So far he has completed 69% of his passes for 1,219 yards and 15 touchdowns with two interceptions. Both picks were thrown against the Lobos, but Johnson threw for 469 yards and six scores. Next up is Central Arkansas.
East Carolina in the first quarter
NC State scored early in the second quarter last week, but after four weeks, East Carolina has yet to allow a point in the first quarter so far. Houston is up next for the Pirates.
Penn State in the first half
Penn State has won its first four games by a combined score of 211 to 40, or an average of 53 to 10. The games are over at halftime outscoring teams142 to 20 in the first half and 49-0 in the first quarters. Illinois is coming to Happy Valley next. Who’s Not …Great teams and penaltiesSo much for the idea of penalties killing a good team. Here are the five biggest sinning teams in America: T1. Georgia and Texas Tech, with each averaging 10.75 penalties per game, 3. Utah, averaging 9.25, 4. Florida, averaging 9, and TCU, averaging 8.75. These five teams are a combined 19-0. By the way, Oklahoma State is 7th on the list, Nebraska 9th, and Texas and Oklahoma are tied for 13th. In all, of the 26 most penalized teams (with USC being 26th), 12 are unbeaten.
UCLA running game
SMU average a nation-worst 31.25 rushing yards per game. That's to be expected in the June Jones offense. San Diego State averages 34.67 rushing yards per game. Third lowest on the list is UCLA averaging 51 rushing yards per outing. The Bruins netted 29 yards against Tennessee, nine against BYU, and 113 against Arizona. Fresno State is up next, but its run defense has been gouged so far allowing 186 yards per game. Temple vs. Penn State
In 1931 and 1932, Temple beat Penn State in the two meetings by a combined score of 25-12. After an 18-0 Penn State win in 1940, Temple won again, 14-0, in 1941 to take a 3-1 lead in the series. Since then, Penn State has gone 33-0-1 against the Owls by a combined score of 1,082 to 263, or an average of around 32 to 8. Temple hasn't come closer than 17 points in the last 14 meetings after losing 45-3 last week in Happy Valley. The Owls play Western Michigan this week.
SMU defense
The June Jones offense hasn't taken off yet, and the defense has hardly picked up the slack. After four games, the Mustangs have the nation's worst defense allowing 530.5 yards per game, and have allowed 56 points to Rice, 36 points to Texas State, 43 to Texas Tech and 48 to TCU. SMU has lost its last two games by a combined score of 91 to 14. A trip to Tulane is up next.
Florida International passing game
FIU finished dead last in the nation in scoring and passing efficiency last year. Last year, the passing efficiency rating was a nation's worst 91.33. So far this year, it's 69.25 completing 40-of-86 passes for 352 yards and no touchdowns and five interceptions. By comparison, the second least efficient passing game is Louisiana Tech's with a 79.97 rating, while Tulsa leads the nation with a rating of 224.72. FIU plays at Toledo this week.</td></tr></tbody></table>
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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</td><td class="cc c">8:11 AM (10 minutes ago)
Can OSU beat USC?
from Building The Dam by beavers415
Why can't OSU beat USC? Some say it’s because of the Trojan's superior talent. Others will say it’s because of better coaching. Even a few will say that they are USC and OSU is just Oregon State. But this is all why they play the games.
And I hope that more then a few Beaver faithful understand that this is a game that Oregon State can win and not with just dumb luck (but I'm sure that OSU will take as much luck as they can get in this one). Will the effort require a perfect game? Well, it wouldn't hurt but here is how I think OSU can beat the mighty Trojans.
1. Do not get caught up in the mystique and hype that is USC.
They are just another team that scores the same amount of points for a touchdown, field goal and safety and point after TD as OSU. Sure, Rey Maualuga and Mark Sanchez are talented (and they have both been arrested for some form of assault) but you have lined up with guys just as good as them before. And once you get past the glitz and the glamour that only a team in LA would possess you will just realize they are another team that starts the game off with the same amount of points as you.
2. Tackle. Good open field tackling.
Against Hawaii the Beavs showed that they can be a good tackling team that many have known the past two years. And while Stanford and Penn State had some good and great athletes that might have been better then what Hawaii presented, a good tackle still beats a broken tackle. More then likely, broken tackles are just usually the results of a bad effort by the defensive player.
3. Oregon State will need to keep the home crowd into it.
Not only will ESPN be there to broadcast the Thursday Night College Football, I can't remember the last time the World Wide Leader in Sports was at Parker Stadium to bring the Beavers to the entire nation. This crowd wants to show the world that it is one of the best in the country and the Beaver football team could really use this to their advantage to rattle USC and keep OSU pumped through the game.
I feel like this one is so important. I remember the OSU/USC game in 2006 and that crowd was great. But this was helped tremendously by the Beavers making plays to keep the crowd into it and in the end I think this was a tremendous advantage.
4. Penetrate, Penetrate, Score, Score (my favorite Stanford student section cheer).
So I'll state the obvious but some things to note about OSU on both its lines.
Last year the OSU offensive line was just torn up by the Trojans. It's amazing the Sean Canfield was injured by the cheap shot artist Will Harris who plays safety instead one of the DL's who were hitting him all night long. This year they need to be nasty (hopefully with the return of Jeremy Perry) and protect their QB. If Lyle Moevao gets time to find his receivers the Beavers could score some points.
This year the OSU defensive line has taken its time to warm up but you saw some signs of improvement against the Rainbow Warriors. And I don't want to take away any credit from the Beavers for getting some penetration through the Hawaii line but they need to prove that they can do it against one of the bests. USC coming into town is perfect timing for OSU's DL to show up.
5. Let LA buy into their hype.
Now wait a second. Didn't I just say that OSU needed to ignore the hype generated for the Trojans? Yes I did but have you been following the coverage of this Trojan team? They are the cats meow in LA and Bristol, Connecticut. Instead of KEZI and KOIN covering some practice before a big game, this team has ESPN and CNN providing viewers of recaps and a look ahead to the next game. After a while you start to believe you can do no wrong and you are all that and then some. Sometimes this can help you in a big game type scenario (Ohio States and Notre Dames) but when you head into bees nest with national expectations of a blow out it could turn into a long night. Don't forget everyone saw OSU get destroyed in State College. How could that team beat USC? Why are they even playing this game?
6. Could USC be overlooking the Beavers?
All the talk I've heard from USC has been about focusing on OSU. Mark Sanchez said right after the Ohio State game and on Game Day the following weekend that their thoughts are on OSU. I even mentioned it on yesterday's epic That Guy Sports CFB Journal when I wrote that Sanchez said his only worry was falling asleep against the Beavs. I tried to make it sound like if Ernie McCrackin in Kingpin was making one of his condescending comments towards the competition even if Sanchez was not intending to come off like that. But I still wonder how much USC respects OSU.
In practice they are using one of their shorter running backs to mimic Jacquizz Rodgers so they could get used to finding a smaller RB in traffic. If I were USC I would be concerned if their Quizz rip-off can plow over a defender when he meets him in the open field. I wonder if he has moves like Barry Sanders and can block like Tom Rathman. Because if he doesn't USC might not be ready once the real Quizz appears from behind that line.
And I would still like to call out Sanchez for focusing on not falling asleep against OSU. Does he really think that if he just shows up he's going to win? That if he just shows up for the game that this OSU team won't be able to hang with USC? I'm sure Pete Carroll and company will do everything to do in their power to get their team ready for one of the best defensive backfields in the conference and practice the silent counts for a loud Parker Stadium. But if USC just expects to do their thing and goes through the motions against the Beavs then its going to be a really tough game.
7. Join the Mountain West Conference.
Just kidding. But as much Pac-10 looks bad this year I think a lot has to do with playing a tough non-conference schedule. And many think the Mountain West (well, all except for That Guy Sports) is just like the WAC or the Sun Belt, but this conference should have its conference champ play in a BCS bowl game every year.
8. Just imagine OSU beating USC.
Last year before OSU played the #2 ranked Cal Bears in Berkeley, no one would give the Beavers a chance. But I did and I wrote about how I could see it happening (http://thatguysports.blogspot.com/2007/10/i-can-see-osu-upset.html). At the time I was living in San Francisco and heard all these Bear fans saying that OSU didn't have a chance against the Cal. Later that day OSU pulled off one of the greatest upsets of the season and Cal, which plummeted them in the polls, had their season spin out of control for a 7-6 season.
And of course there is what happened the last time the Beavers and Trojans met in Corvallis. It was somewhat similar to what is going on today.
In 2006, OSU was 4-3 and no one gave them a chance against the Men of Troy. That victory spring boarded OSU to a 10 win season and a lot of the confidence and swagger that we see with the program today. If OSU can somehow find a way to beat USC can you imagine how the rest of this season could end up? A conference championship? A Rose or BCS Bowl? How about the seasons after this one?
All you have to do is start seeing OSU beating USC on Thursday night.
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</td><td class="cc c">8:11 AM (10 minutes ago)
Can OSU beat USC?
from Building The Dam by beavers415
Why can't OSU beat USC? Some say it’s because of the Trojan's superior talent. Others will say it’s because of better coaching. Even a few will say that they are USC and OSU is just Oregon State. But this is all why they play the games.
And I hope that more then a few Beaver faithful understand that this is a game that Oregon State can win and not with just dumb luck (but I'm sure that OSU will take as much luck as they can get in this one). Will the effort require a perfect game? Well, it wouldn't hurt but here is how I think OSU can beat the mighty Trojans.
1. Do not get caught up in the mystique and hype that is USC.
They are just another team that scores the same amount of points for a touchdown, field goal and safety and point after TD as OSU. Sure, Rey Maualuga and Mark Sanchez are talented (and they have both been arrested for some form of assault) but you have lined up with guys just as good as them before. And once you get past the glitz and the glamour that only a team in LA would possess you will just realize they are another team that starts the game off with the same amount of points as you.
2. Tackle. Good open field tackling.
Against Hawaii the Beavs showed that they can be a good tackling team that many have known the past two years. And while Stanford and Penn State had some good and great athletes that might have been better then what Hawaii presented, a good tackle still beats a broken tackle. More then likely, broken tackles are just usually the results of a bad effort by the defensive player.
3. Oregon State will need to keep the home crowd into it.
Not only will ESPN be there to broadcast the Thursday Night College Football, I can't remember the last time the World Wide Leader in Sports was at Parker Stadium to bring the Beavers to the entire nation. This crowd wants to show the world that it is one of the best in the country and the Beaver football team could really use this to their advantage to rattle USC and keep OSU pumped through the game.
I feel like this one is so important. I remember the OSU/USC game in 2006 and that crowd was great. But this was helped tremendously by the Beavers making plays to keep the crowd into it and in the end I think this was a tremendous advantage.
4. Penetrate, Penetrate, Score, Score (my favorite Stanford student section cheer).
So I'll state the obvious but some things to note about OSU on both its lines.
Last year the OSU offensive line was just torn up by the Trojans. It's amazing the Sean Canfield was injured by the cheap shot artist Will Harris who plays safety instead one of the DL's who were hitting him all night long. This year they need to be nasty (hopefully with the return of Jeremy Perry) and protect their QB. If Lyle Moevao gets time to find his receivers the Beavers could score some points.
This year the OSU defensive line has taken its time to warm up but you saw some signs of improvement against the Rainbow Warriors. And I don't want to take away any credit from the Beavers for getting some penetration through the Hawaii line but they need to prove that they can do it against one of the bests. USC coming into town is perfect timing for OSU's DL to show up.
5. Let LA buy into their hype.
Now wait a second. Didn't I just say that OSU needed to ignore the hype generated for the Trojans? Yes I did but have you been following the coverage of this Trojan team? They are the cats meow in LA and Bristol, Connecticut. Instead of KEZI and KOIN covering some practice before a big game, this team has ESPN and CNN providing viewers of recaps and a look ahead to the next game. After a while you start to believe you can do no wrong and you are all that and then some. Sometimes this can help you in a big game type scenario (Ohio States and Notre Dames) but when you head into bees nest with national expectations of a blow out it could turn into a long night. Don't forget everyone saw OSU get destroyed in State College. How could that team beat USC? Why are they even playing this game?
6. Could USC be overlooking the Beavers?
All the talk I've heard from USC has been about focusing on OSU. Mark Sanchez said right after the Ohio State game and on Game Day the following weekend that their thoughts are on OSU. I even mentioned it on yesterday's epic That Guy Sports CFB Journal when I wrote that Sanchez said his only worry was falling asleep against the Beavs. I tried to make it sound like if Ernie McCrackin in Kingpin was making one of his condescending comments towards the competition even if Sanchez was not intending to come off like that. But I still wonder how much USC respects OSU.
In practice they are using one of their shorter running backs to mimic Jacquizz Rodgers so they could get used to finding a smaller RB in traffic. If I were USC I would be concerned if their Quizz rip-off can plow over a defender when he meets him in the open field. I wonder if he has moves like Barry Sanders and can block like Tom Rathman. Because if he doesn't USC might not be ready once the real Quizz appears from behind that line.
And I would still like to call out Sanchez for focusing on not falling asleep against OSU. Does he really think that if he just shows up he's going to win? That if he just shows up for the game that this OSU team won't be able to hang with USC? I'm sure Pete Carroll and company will do everything to do in their power to get their team ready for one of the best defensive backfields in the conference and practice the silent counts for a loud Parker Stadium. But if USC just expects to do their thing and goes through the motions against the Beavs then its going to be a really tough game.
7. Join the Mountain West Conference.
Just kidding. But as much Pac-10 looks bad this year I think a lot has to do with playing a tough non-conference schedule. And many think the Mountain West (well, all except for That Guy Sports) is just like the WAC or the Sun Belt, but this conference should have its conference champ play in a BCS bowl game every year.
8. Just imagine OSU beating USC.
Last year before OSU played the #2 ranked Cal Bears in Berkeley, no one would give the Beavers a chance. But I did and I wrote about how I could see it happening (http://thatguysports.blogspot.com/2007/10/i-can-see-osu-upset.html). At the time I was living in San Francisco and heard all these Bear fans saying that OSU didn't have a chance against the Cal. Later that day OSU pulled off one of the greatest upsets of the season and Cal, which plummeted them in the polls, had their season spin out of control for a 7-6 season.
And of course there is what happened the last time the Beavers and Trojans met in Corvallis. It was somewhat similar to what is going on today.
In 2006, OSU was 4-3 and no one gave them a chance against the Men of Troy. That victory spring boarded OSU to a 10 win season and a lot of the confidence and swagger that we see with the program today. If OSU can somehow find a way to beat USC can you imagine how the rest of this season could end up? A conference championship? A Rose or BCS Bowl? How about the seasons after this one?
All you have to do is start seeing OSU beating USC on Thursday night.
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
Robinson out at Syracuse
from Bevo Beat
Former Texas co-defensive coordinator Greg Robinson appear to be on his way out at Syracuse come the end of the 2008 season.
“It isn’t working out,” Syracuse athletics director Dr. Daryl Gross said of Robinson. “It’s very disappointing … He has some work to do out in front of him.”
Syracuse has a Big East record of 2-22 in the last three seasons.
from Bevo Beat
Former Texas co-defensive coordinator Greg Robinson appear to be on his way out at Syracuse come the end of the 2008 season.
“It isn’t working out,” Syracuse athletics director Dr. Daryl Gross said of Robinson. “It’s very disappointing … He has some work to do out in front of him.”
Syracuse has a Big East record of 2-22 in the last three seasons.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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</td><td class="cc c">10:23 AM (17 minutes ago)
Life on the Margins: Rebel fail
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
Vanderbilt 23, Ole Miss 17. As Clay Travis notes, this game wasn't on television anywhere, and it's a shame, because it was a wild, wild night in Oxford -- certainly better than, say, Georgia and Arizona State, for non-Dawg fans.
In the first quarter alone: Ole Miss drove 77 yards inside the Vandy five on its first possession but had to settle for a field goal. The Commodores immediately returned the favor when Chris Nickson fumbled on the next play from scrimmage and Peria Jerry returned the loose ball for a touchdown to put the Rebels up 10-0. Vandy -- and this is a top 25 team now, remember -- fumbled again on the very next snap, setting Ole Miss up at the Commodore 20 with a chance to go up three scores. Instead, Jevan Snead was intercepted on the first play, and Ryan Hamilton went 79 yards the other way to cut the score to 10-7. On the ensuing kickoff, of course, Mike Wallace broke free for a 98-yard touchdown to push Ole Miss' lead back to 17-7. Three snaps, three touchdowns in less than 50 seconds, none of them by either offense.
The headline of this game is "Ole Miss fumbles away the winning touchdown," when Dexter McCluster lost the ball into the end zone to negate his 56-yard reception on the previous play and preserve Vandy's field goal lead. But the Rebels missed opportunities and gave others away all night: Jevan Snead was picked off four times, Joshua Shene missed a field goal and Cordera Eason was stopped on 4th-and-1 at the goal line in the third quarter even before McCluster's fumble. And after the fumble, Vanderbilt was able to take almost all of the remaining 2:53 off the clock and kick a field goal by springing two of their biggest plays of the night, a 17-yard run by McKenzie Adams and 40-yarder by Jared Hawkins. So if they don't know how to start, at least the Commodores can finish.
Pittsburgh 21, Iowa 20. The Hawkeyes missed a brilliant chance early in this game when -- just one play after the Panthers had fallen on their own muffed punt to avert disaster -- LeSean McCoy fumbled on Pitt's first play from scrimmage, setting Iowa up at the Panther 19. They only got a field goal out of that, and that was the story of the day.
Pitt's offense went into quarter-long depressions: it gained a grand total of three yards in the second and went three-and-out seven times. Excluding the three touchdown drives, the Panthers gained two first downs, one immediately followed by an interception.
But Pitt did finish off those few drives it was able to sustain, punching in three touchdowns at the end of 73, 58 and 80-yard marches, where Iowa twice had to settle for field goals in scoring position and missed another kick at the end of a 54-yard drive. The lesson, as usual: score touchdowns, not field goals.
Purdue 32, Central Michigan 25. The Boilermakers never really found an answer for Dan LeFevour, who went over 400 yards rushing and passing, but even with LeFevour's two interceptions, the Chippewas were done in more by the usual missed opportunities: five possessions ended in Purdue territory, including two missed field goals at the end of 43 and 57-yard drives.
But Purdue left three drives inside CMU territory, too, and turned the ball twice as well. The difference in this game boils down to "Central Michigan went slightly further before punting or otherwise failing to score," a step forward given the Chippewas egregious blowouts at the hands of BCS conference teams (including Purdue, in the regular season meeting) last year. But if these teams played again, I'd still pick the Boilermakers to pull out a win.
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Life on the Margins: Rebel fail
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
The headline of this game is "Ole Miss fumbles away the winning touchdown," when Dexter McCluster lost the ball into the end zone to negate his 56-yard reception on the previous play and preserve Vandy's field goal lead. But the Rebels missed opportunities and gave others away all night: Jevan Snead was picked off four times, Joshua Shene missed a field goal and Cordera Eason was stopped on 4th-and-1 at the goal line in the third quarter even before McCluster's fumble. And after the fumble, Vanderbilt was able to take almost all of the remaining 2:53 off the clock and kick a field goal by springing two of their biggest plays of the night, a 17-yard run by McKenzie Adams and 40-yarder by Jared Hawkins. So if they don't know how to start, at least the Commodores can finish.
Pitt's offense went into quarter-long depressions: it gained a grand total of three yards in the second and went three-and-out seven times. Excluding the three touchdown drives, the Panthers gained two first downs, one immediately followed by an interception.
But Pitt did finish off those few drives it was able to sustain, punching in three touchdowns at the end of 73, 58 and 80-yard marches, where Iowa twice had to settle for field goals in scoring position and missed another kick at the end of a 54-yard drive. The lesson, as usual: score touchdowns, not field goals.
But Purdue left three drives inside CMU territory, too, and turned the ball twice as well. The difference in this game boils down to "Central Michigan went slightly further before punting or otherwise failing to score," a step forward given the Chippewas egregious blowouts at the hands of BCS conference teams (including Purdue, in the regular season meeting) last year. But if these teams played again, I'd still pick the Boilermakers to pull out a win.
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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This year's UConn game is at least partially about last year's UConn game
from Card Chronicle by Mike Rutherford
The prevailing message coming from the U of L camp this week has been that last year's controversial loss to Connecticut has been put out of mind, and that the team is absolutely not going to be out for revenge on Friday night.
Steve Kragthorpe, Hunter Cantwell and company have said everything you'd expect them to say, and handled a fairly difficult situation as well as any of us could have hoped for. But we're fans here, and fans aren't saddled with the burden of political correctness. Mute memories and feelings of antagonism can find voices on Card Chronicle.
I really, really, really want to beat Connecticut in three days, and approximately 85% of that is because of what happened in last year's game. My assumption is that most people reading this harbor a similar percentage.
There was never any reason to dislike the Huskies before Oct. 19, 2007. They'd never beaten Louisville, they haven't been a Division I-A program for that long, Rentschler Field always looks nice on television, etc. But it took about 12 seconds to shake up these feelings of apathy.
I'm sure each one of you has a where I was/what I did story from that ghastly October night, but here's mine:
A group of friends and I had made plans to spend this particular weekend in Lexington, drinking, watching football and betting on horses (say what you will about the city, there are few better ways to spend Fridays or Saturdays in the fall). Keeneland has always been far crueler to me than Churchill would ever dream of being, but my attempts to cash a ticket on this afternoon were especially off-target. We're talking exacta bets on first and third choices who end up running seventh and ninth. A sign of things to come, indeed.
After some pretty intense grubbing and napping, we congregated in the main room of a friend's house to take in the game.
There are almost too many maddening aspects of that five-minute span to recall. Obviously, the play itself was particularly cruel, but then you had the color guy continually saying that Louisville's punt coverage team needed to "finish the play," Kragthorpe calling a timeout but not going nearly ballistic enough, a shot of Larry Taylor laughing on the sidelines, and shot after shot of the officials looking like they had absolutely no idea what was going on. It was all just a little too much to take.
After the extra point was kicked and ESPN had cut to commercial, silence drenched the once boisterous room. There was no movement until a blameless Art Carmody jersey was ripped off and thrown to the ground with such intensity that even the chucker couldn't help but crack a smile. It remains the biggest overreaction since the now infamous two-liter hurl in the closing seconds of the loss to Marquette in the '02 C-USA Tournament. I watched the rest of the game in a room by myself and was no fun to be around for the remaining hours of the night.
Things likely would have been even worse had I known what took place after the game. You had Randy Edsall actually giving a game ball to Larry Taylor, and then of course Taylor himself saying the following:
Yes, it'd be great to start Big East play with a victory and yes, it'd be great to build on the momentum created by the Kansas State win, but unlike the folks who will actually be involved in the winning or the losing, I'm more than willing to acknowledge being consumed with the feeling that we owe these guys one, and equally willing to acknowledge that this feeling is the main force driving my excitement level as we continue to move towards the end of the week.
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This year's UConn game is at least partially about last year's UConn game
from Card Chronicle by Mike Rutherford
The prevailing message coming from the U of L camp this week has been that last year's controversial loss to Connecticut has been put out of mind, and that the team is absolutely not going to be out for revenge on Friday night.
Steve Kragthorpe, Hunter Cantwell and company have said everything you'd expect them to say, and handled a fairly difficult situation as well as any of us could have hoped for. But we're fans here, and fans aren't saddled with the burden of political correctness. Mute memories and feelings of antagonism can find voices on Card Chronicle.
I really, really, really want to beat Connecticut in three days, and approximately 85% of that is because of what happened in last year's game. My assumption is that most people reading this harbor a similar percentage.
There was never any reason to dislike the Huskies before Oct. 19, 2007. They'd never beaten Louisville, they haven't been a Division I-A program for that long, Rentschler Field always looks nice on television, etc. But it took about 12 seconds to shake up these feelings of apathy.
I'm sure each one of you has a where I was/what I did story from that ghastly October night, but here's mine:
A group of friends and I had made plans to spend this particular weekend in Lexington, drinking, watching football and betting on horses (say what you will about the city, there are few better ways to spend Fridays or Saturdays in the fall). Keeneland has always been far crueler to me than Churchill would ever dream of being, but my attempts to cash a ticket on this afternoon were especially off-target. We're talking exacta bets on first and third choices who end up running seventh and ninth. A sign of things to come, indeed.
After some pretty intense grubbing and napping, we congregated in the main room of a friend's house to take in the game.
There are almost too many maddening aspects of that five-minute span to recall. Obviously, the play itself was particularly cruel, but then you had the color guy continually saying that Louisville's punt coverage team needed to "finish the play," Kragthorpe calling a timeout but not going nearly ballistic enough, a shot of Larry Taylor laughing on the sidelines, and shot after shot of the officials looking like they had absolutely no idea what was going on. It was all just a little too much to take.
After the extra point was kicked and ESPN had cut to commercial, silence drenched the once boisterous room. There was no movement until a blameless Art Carmody jersey was ripped off and thrown to the ground with such intensity that even the chucker couldn't help but crack a smile. It remains the biggest overreaction since the now infamous two-liter hurl in the closing seconds of the loss to Marquette in the '02 C-USA Tournament. I watched the rest of the game in a room by myself and was no fun to be around for the remaining hours of the night.
Things likely would have been even worse had I known what took place after the game. You had Randy Edsall actually giving a game ball to Larry Taylor, and then of course Taylor himself saying the following:
“That wasn’t no fair catch, that was a fair play out there,” Taylor told the Associated Press. “The referee didn’t call anything, he said it was a fair play. I felt I didn’t fair catch it anyway.”
Taylor would go on to pull the same move (albeit less successfully) a month later against Cincinnati, and Louisville would go on to miss the postseason by one win.Yes, it'd be great to start Big East play with a victory and yes, it'd be great to build on the momentum created by the Kansas State win, but unlike the folks who will actually be involved in the winning or the losing, I'm more than willing to acknowledge being consumed with the feeling that we owe these guys one, and equally willing to acknowledge that this feeling is the main force driving my excitement level as we continue to move towards the end of the week.
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
Morning Coffee Is Better Late Than Never
from Burnt Orange Nation by GhostofBigRoy
No starter? No big deal. While Longhorn fans are busy worrying about an anemic performance from the running backs against a vastly physically outmatched Rice team, Greg Davis is busy being unconcerned about who starts. Vondrell McGee is listed as the starter after an unimpressive 8 carries for 30 yards, with Chris Ogbonnaya and Fozzy Whitaker listed as the co-backups. PB mentioned yesterday that McGee looks uncomfortable running the ball out of the shotgun. Despite his "Bulldozer" nickname from high school, McGee hasn't shown the ability to make anyone miss in his time at Texas.
Solution? The scheme seems to be part of the problem, as running out of the shotgun doesn't take advantage of McGee's downhill running style. Surely, his knee injury suffered in the FAU game doesn't help, but I think some tweaks to the scheme would benefit McGee. The easiest adjustment is a wrinkle that some zone read teams are running now: instead of having the running back right next to the quarterback, he stands a foot or two farther back. For a running back without explosive quickness, it allows extra room to accelerate and read the defense. Something less easy to install (it would probably have to be done in the spring) is to use some of the Pistol formation that Nevada runs. The running back remains at normal depth, while the quarterback takes the snap from in front of him, using a three step drop when passing. It allows the running back to get a running start when receiving the ball, negating the biggest weakness of running from the shotgun. It requires some footwork adjustment by the quarterback and may take some time to develop timing, but it's something to consider.
No tight end solutions yet. Ever since his devastating injury on Saturday night against Rice, Texas coaches have been searching for a solution to the problem of replacing the versatile Blaine Irby. So far, they have no answers. IT's Ross Lucksinger ($) calls for a shift in offensive philosophy and a movement to a base four wide receiver set. Unless Greg Smith or someone else really prove themselves a threat in the passing game, it doesn't make sense to have them on the field except for running downs. Going four wide might even help the running game by spreading the field even more and forcing defenses to play more nickel defense, leaving them smaller and less physical. The Longhorns also have the depth at the receiving position to do it. In fact, one of the issues coming into fall practice was getting playing time for all the talented receivers. The shift may even allow the electric John Chiles more snaps.
Speaking of Chiles. Mack Brown said the nine Q package plays against Rice "looked good." I'm not sure if the coaches consider it part of the package, but several plays with Chiles at quarterback were impressive, including several of his long runs. It wasn't just his athletic ability evidenced in those runs, it was his vision. On two plays he saw holes open up. Instead of running into trouble within the design of the play, he improvised and hit the holes quickly and decisively. That vision, coupled with a moribund running game, leads me to believe that Chiles should see more snaps at running back, especially because it's hard to justify taking McCoy off the field in big games when he's running the offense with the precision of a maestro.
A savior from the defensive ranks? Texas coaches mentioned on Monday that they may look to the defense to help fill the decimated tight end ranks. No specific names were given by the staff, leaving it up to your humble scribe to speculate. And so I shall. The first two names that come to mind are Brian Orakpo and Eddie Jones, although I think the problem is pressing enough to warrant some practice time spent on tight end tryouts on defense. Orakpo makes sense because of his size/speed combination, but his value to the defense probably outweighs any potential gain for the offense. Eddie Jones, however, hasn't been seeing a lot of playing time with the emergence of Henry Melton and Sam Acho, who played some tight end in high school and might be another option because of his experience. With limited practice time, the package wouldn't be anything close to extensive, but with several complimentary plays, could be effective. I don't think any defense wants to let Eddie Jones or Sam Acho run through their secondary without any resistance.
from Burnt Orange Nation by GhostofBigRoy
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">Spurrier: Every offensive position open at South Carolina
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</td></tr></tbody></table>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is so bothered with his offense that he's ready to get a whole new one.
Spurrier says no one's job on that side of the ball is safe this week as the Gamecocks (2-2) prepare to play UAB (1-3).
Spurrier says he doesn't expect wholesale changes when he announces his starting lineup after Thursday's practice, but says he wants to shake things up with an offense that has struggled to run the ball or throw long passes.
The coach says redshirt freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia will play, but hasn't decided if he will start in place of sophomore Chris Smelley.
Whomever starts should have an opportunity for a big game against the Blazers defense, which is allowing 495 yards and 35 points a game.
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- Spurrier wants to shake things up in his struggling offense
- Spurrier says no one's job on that side of the ball is safe this week
- The coach says redshirt freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia will play
</td></tr></tbody></table>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is so bothered with his offense that he's ready to get a whole new one.
Spurrier says no one's job on that side of the ball is safe this week as the Gamecocks (2-2) prepare to play UAB (1-3).
Spurrier says he doesn't expect wholesale changes when he announces his starting lineup after Thursday's practice, but says he wants to shake things up with an offense that has struggled to run the ball or throw long passes.
The coach says redshirt freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia will play, but hasn't decided if he will start in place of sophomore Chris Smelley.
Whomever starts should have an opportunity for a big game against the Blazers defense, which is allowing 495 yards and 35 points a game.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
Breaking: Senate divided as UCLA, Neuheisel seek unprecedented quarterback bailout
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
WASHINGTON — UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel received an angry and skeptical reception on Capitol Hill Tuesday when he appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee to ask Congress to promptly give him unprecedented authority to rescue the Bruins' rapidly failing quarterback situation. Neuheisel appeared in support of a bill proposed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) that would authorize the coach to select any three quarterbacks in the Pac-10 in return for increased federal regulation of the Bruin program. Arguing UCLA football is "too awesome to fail," he urged lawmakers “to enact this bill quickly and cleanly, and avoid slowing it down with restrictions.” Neuheisel is not good with restrictions, he added, and he needs "Rudy Carpenter or Mark Sanchez, somebody like that" in the lineup by the end of the week to avoid catastrophe.
With injuries to its top two passers prior to the season and dreadful efforts by transfer Kevin Craft in two straight blowout losses, ticket holders and other emotional investors in the Bruins panicked before Neuheisel opened the job to competition on Monday. Offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who appeared with Neuheisel, said the quarterbacks “continue to be very unpredictable, and very worrisome,” and that inaction by Congress could lead to further recession in Bruin scoring and an increased imbalance in the Southern California football monopoly.
One after another, however, senators from both parties said that, while they were prepared to move fast to pull UCLA from the utter ruin of a 90-10 scoring deficit against BYU and Arizona, they were far from ready to give the coaches everything they wanted in their proposed three-quarterback plan, which seeks tall, strong-armed transfers -- two of whom will redshirt, preferably -- from conference rivals.
Senator Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT), chairman of the Senate appropriations panel, called the UCLA proposal “stunning and unprecedented in its scope and lack of draws and screens to slow the pass rush.”
“Nobody doubts the situation is dire and some kind of intervention is necessary for stability," Dodd said. "But after reading this proposal, I can only conclude that it is not only the immediate future of UCLA football that is at risk, but the health of anyone who steps under center there, as well."
Another expression of disgust came from Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY), who said the plan would “take UCLA’s pain and spread it to the entire Pac-10.”
“It’s quarterback socialism, and it’s un-American,” Bunning said.
Dodd called the Bruins' quarterback crisis “entirely foreseeable and preventable, not an act of God,” and said that it angered him to think about “the authors of this calamity” walking away with the usual contract extensions while more prudent recruiters pick up the bill.
Neuheisel said in response to questions that he shared the senators’ exasperation. “I’m not only concerned, I’m angry” over the injuries that led to the crisis, Neuheisel said. He blamed an outdated training system for the turmoil and, in an effort to counter any impression that the proposed rescue plan was orchestrated by fat-cat Bruin boosters, said: “This is all about the Pac-10. That is all we are about.”
He and Chow said that the problems in the conference's quarterback recruiting industry were the core of the crisis but that the problems would continue to spread far outside UCLA if the crisis in the recruiting markets were not addressed, and soon. Chow pointed to recent spates of quarterback injuries at Oregon and Washington State as evidence of a growing trend. Congress balked at quarterback aide to the Northwest earlier this week, arguing the Ducks and Cougars' success wasn't essential to the conference's reputation as a whole and they could "sink or swim with a walk-on or whatever."
Chow, however, warned in his testimony that “if quarterback conditions at UCLA fail to improve for a protracted period, the implications for the broader conference landscape could be quite adverse.” He reminded the senators at one point that the Pac-10 has failed to put an at-large team in the BCS since 2002.
Deliberations are expected to continue through the week, or until Drew Olson can put his full weight on his broken foot.
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
With injuries to its top two passers prior to the season and dreadful efforts by transfer Kevin Craft in two straight blowout losses, ticket holders and other emotional investors in the Bruins panicked before Neuheisel opened the job to competition on Monday. Offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who appeared with Neuheisel, said the quarterbacks “continue to be very unpredictable, and very worrisome,” and that inaction by Congress could lead to further recession in Bruin scoring and an increased imbalance in the Southern California football monopoly.
One after another, however, senators from both parties said that, while they were prepared to move fast to pull UCLA from the utter ruin of a 90-10 scoring deficit against BYU and Arizona, they were far from ready to give the coaches everything they wanted in their proposed three-quarterback plan, which seeks tall, strong-armed transfers -- two of whom will redshirt, preferably -- from conference rivals.
Senator Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT), chairman of the Senate appropriations panel, called the UCLA proposal “stunning and unprecedented in its scope and lack of draws and screens to slow the pass rush.”
“Nobody doubts the situation is dire and some kind of intervention is necessary for stability," Dodd said. "But after reading this proposal, I can only conclude that it is not only the immediate future of UCLA football that is at risk, but the health of anyone who steps under center there, as well."
“It’s quarterback socialism, and it’s un-American,” Bunning said.
Dodd called the Bruins' quarterback crisis “entirely foreseeable and preventable, not an act of God,” and said that it angered him to think about “the authors of this calamity” walking away with the usual contract extensions while more prudent recruiters pick up the bill.
Neuheisel said in response to questions that he shared the senators’ exasperation. “I’m not only concerned, I’m angry” over the injuries that led to the crisis, Neuheisel said. He blamed an outdated training system for the turmoil and, in an effort to counter any impression that the proposed rescue plan was orchestrated by fat-cat Bruin boosters, said: “This is all about the Pac-10. That is all we are about.”
He and Chow said that the problems in the conference's quarterback recruiting industry were the core of the crisis but that the problems would continue to spread far outside UCLA if the crisis in the recruiting markets were not addressed, and soon. Chow pointed to recent spates of quarterback injuries at Oregon and Washington State as evidence of a growing trend. Congress balked at quarterback aide to the Northwest earlier this week, arguing the Ducks and Cougars' success wasn't essential to the conference's reputation as a whole and they could "sink or swim with a walk-on or whatever."
Chow, however, warned in his testimony that “if quarterback conditions at UCLA fail to improve for a protracted period, the implications for the broader conference landscape could be quite adverse.” He reminded the senators at one point that the Pac-10 has failed to put an at-large team in the BCS since 2002.
Deliberations are expected to continue through the week, or until Drew Olson can put his full weight on his broken foot.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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</td><td class="cc c">4:24 PM (12 minutes ago)
West Virginia 'livid' to discover how much it will cost West Virginia to get rid of Bill Stewart
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
Bill Stewart is a nice man. Everybody thinks so. He's a good person with a big heart and a genuine devotion to his players. He spends most of his day in solemn prayer and meditation.
Indeed, Coach Stew is a gentle man, who took all of three games to get the West Virginia Board of Governors sniffing around at the prospect of giving him the respectful, enthusiastic boot after an ugly 1-2 start. Their ears perked when Stewart's contract was oddly extended just after the then-eighth-ranked Mountaineers were nearly shut out in a loss to East Carolina. They burned when Stewart bungled the clock at the end of both halves, freaked out Erin Andrews at halftime, made the above face and actually said, "Outside of the third-down conversions, we played a tremendous football game" in last Thursday's overtime loss to Colorado. And finally steam emerged when it got around how much it will actually cost the university to show him the door before the end of the season:
On the bright side, West Virginia, look at this way: A prohibitive price tag almost ensures Stewart will be back for another year! Aren't you excited? That's okay, you don't have to answer. I know you're excited.
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West Virginia 'livid' to discover how much it will cost West Virginia to get rid of Bill Stewart
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
Bill Stewart is a nice man. Everybody thinks so. He's a good person with a big heart and a genuine devotion to his players. He spends most of his day in solemn prayer and meditation.
Some Board of Governor members and donors are surprised and angry to find that the six-year contract recently awarded to new West Virginia football coach Bill Stewart included not only an extra year over the original terms, but also a previously off-the-table buyout clause, sources said. The deal could entail more money than was included in Rich Rodriguez's infamously litigated deal.
If Stewart were to be fired before Jan. 3, 2009, the university would have to pay him $4.125 million.
[...]
"People are livid," said one person in a position of responsibility with the university, though requesting anonymity. "It's malfeasance, whoever did it. 'Cause it didn't have to be done. The coach didn't want it. And that wasn't [former WVU president] Mike Garrison, he was gone."
Four-point-one-million for Bill Stewart? The man's continued employment is nothing but money for this blog, and even I'm livid reading that. It has nothing to do with being a West Virginia fan or a taxpayer in one of the poorest states in America: just think of the flatlining economy in general, the minimum wage slave, soaring oil prices, the competent middle class dad worried about downsizing. And then think of this: if Bill Stewart, inheriting a program off the most successful three-year run in its long history, continues a reign of ineptitude so dramatic that he fails to even make it out of his first year, he's scheduled to be rewarded with millions of dollars. What a country!If Stewart were to be fired before Jan. 3, 2009, the university would have to pay him $4.125 million.
[...]
"People are livid," said one person in a position of responsibility with the university, though requesting anonymity. "It's malfeasance, whoever did it. 'Cause it didn't have to be done. The coach didn't want it. And that wasn't [former WVU president] Mike Garrison, he was gone."
On the bright side, West Virginia, look at this way: A prohibitive price tag almost ensures Stewart will be back for another year! Aren't you excited? That's okay, you don't have to answer. I know you're excited.
</td></tr></tbody></table>
Aztec4Life
Montezuma Mesa Survivor
Good lookin card bro...with you on WMU, and leaning to Louisville and Minnesota. Best of luck RJ!
:cheers:
:cheers:
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font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]-->[FONT="]BOL to ya this weekend RJ..... good to see we're on the same page on a couple.
Hope to see the buffs make the final card as well...
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mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]-->[FONT="]I think you were dead on when you talked about a weak OL for FSU this season, and it really shows. Good numbers in sophomore and junior year for smith, but in his senior year he has been less then impressive… even with the possibility to pad his stats going up against a terrible chatanooga and western Carolina defense. Then, in his first real test this year, facing an excellent defense in wake, he rushed 8 times for only 24 yards.
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mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]-->[FONT="]Even with the pass D as great as it is for FSU, I think until this FSU offense can get clicking they’ll be good fade material over the next couple of weeks. This team could not get anything going at all, and they turned it over SEVEN times.
Steele was wrong about them, this team still has a long way to go (on offense at least). Defense certainly played well, though, especially in the red zone… where wake has been pretty good in, this season.
Ponder or richardson, it didnt matter. Both 6/18... and COMBINED they threw for 118 yards and 5 picks. sad. sadder thing is in rushing for 46 and 27, they outrushed antoine smith...
[/FONT]
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mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]-->[FONT="]BOL to ya this weekend RJ..... good to see we're on the same page on a couple.Hope to see the buffs make the final card as well...
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mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]-->[FONT="]Even with the pass D as great as it is for FSU, I think until this FSU offense can get clicking they’ll be good fade material over the next couple of weeks. This team could not get anything going at all, and they turned it over SEVEN times.Steele was wrong about them, this team still has a long way to go (on offense at least). Defense certainly played well, though, especially in the red zone… where wake has been pretty good in, this season.
Ponder or richardson, it didnt matter. Both 6/18... and COMBINED they threw for 118 yards and 5 picks. sad. sadder thing is in rushing for 46 and 27, they outrushed antoine smith...
[/FONT]
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">Gamecocks starting LT King hospitalized with heart flutter
</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights
</td></tr></tbody></table>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina starting left tackle Jarriel King has been taken to the hospital after experiencing what coach Steve Spurrier called a heart flutter.
Athletics officials say King was lifting weights Tuesday morning when he had the problem. He is expected to recover fully and only miss a day of practice.
Spurrier says King normally takes medicine for the problem. He didn't know if the sophomore forgot to take it or had an adverse reaction.
King has started two of South Carolina's four games in 2008.
</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights
- King was lifting weights Tuesday morning when he had the problem
- He is expected to recover fully and only miss a day of practice
- Spurrier says King normally takes medicine for the problem
</td></tr></tbody></table>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina starting left tackle Jarriel King has been taken to the hospital after experiencing what coach Steve Spurrier called a heart flutter.
Athletics officials say King was lifting weights Tuesday morning when he had the problem. He is expected to recover fully and only miss a day of practice.
Spurrier says King normally takes medicine for the problem. He didn't know if the sophomore forgot to take it or had an adverse reaction.
King has started two of South Carolina's four games in 2008.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="col0">Arrested Irish TE Yeatman won't play against Purdue
</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights
</td></tr></tbody></table>SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Notre Dame tight end Will Yeatman can practice but can't play until prosecutors decide whether to formally press alcohol-related charges against him, coach Charlie Weis said Tuesday.
"Until further notice, I've decided to hold Will Yeatman from competition until his matter is resolved," Weis said.
Yeatman, 20, and Irish center Mike Golic Jr., 18, were among 37 arrested at a weekend party in South Bend following a 23-7 loss at Michigan State.
Yeatman faced preliminary charges of consumption of alcohol by a minor, false informing and resisting arrest. Golic faced a preliminary charge of consumption of alcohol by a minor, St. Joseph County Police Sgt. William Redman said.
Prosecutors are reviewing police reports before deciding whether to file formal charges.
Weis said any punishment Golic, the son of ESPN television host and former NFL player Mike Golic, will face will be handled internally.
The case involving Yeatman is different, though, because he was suspended from spring football practice and from the men's lacrosse team after he pleaded guilty in February to drunken driving and reckless driving for driving on a campus sidewalk. The plea agreement said if Yeatman stayed out of trouble for a year, the drunken-driving charge would be dismissed and he would be sentenced only for reckless driving.
When asked about what type of talk he had with Yeatman when he was reinstated to the team in August, Weis spoke in general terms about how he talks with players. He said he tries to talk to them as though he is talking with his 15-year-old son, Charlie Jr.
"As you go through growing pains you try to educate and teach and let them know that you weren't perfect going through the growing experience yourself. You just try to educate them as best as you can and give them as much guidance as you can," Weis said.
He said he talks to the team regularly about alcohol and other societal issues.
"I'm not here to play judge and jury. The most important thing is for me to look out for the interests of the kids and the team and the university," he said. "I have to try to have those to mutually coexist peacefully and do what's in best interest of all three."
The loss of Yeatman could hurt the team as the Irish (2-1) prepare to play Purdue (2-1) on Saturday. Yeatman has only two catches for 6 yards in three starts this season, but is the best blocking tight end on a team struggling to get its rushing game going. The Irish are ranked 111th in rushing at 78 yards a game.
Tight end was considered one of Notre Dame's deepest positions heading into the season. But the Irish lost Mike Ragone to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in August and now Yeatman is out indefinitely. Weis said the Irish, who already are starting freshman Kyle Rudolph at tight end, will have to turn to freshman Joseph Fauria, who wasn't expected to play this year.
Weis said Fauria moved Tuesday from the scout team to practicing with the starters.
"Because you have to have your contingency plans in place just in case," he said.
Fullback Luke Schmidt also has practiced at tight end, so he is another option.
</td><td class="col1">Story Highlights
- Yeatman and Irish center Mike Golic Jr. were among 37 arrested at a party
- He can practice but can't play until prosecutors decide whether to press charges
- Yeatman was suspended from spring ball after pleading guilty to drunken driving
</td></tr></tbody></table>SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Notre Dame tight end Will Yeatman can practice but can't play until prosecutors decide whether to formally press alcohol-related charges against him, coach Charlie Weis said Tuesday.
"Until further notice, I've decided to hold Will Yeatman from competition until his matter is resolved," Weis said.
Yeatman, 20, and Irish center Mike Golic Jr., 18, were among 37 arrested at a weekend party in South Bend following a 23-7 loss at Michigan State.
Yeatman faced preliminary charges of consumption of alcohol by a minor, false informing and resisting arrest. Golic faced a preliminary charge of consumption of alcohol by a minor, St. Joseph County Police Sgt. William Redman said.
Prosecutors are reviewing police reports before deciding whether to file formal charges.
Weis said any punishment Golic, the son of ESPN television host and former NFL player Mike Golic, will face will be handled internally.
The case involving Yeatman is different, though, because he was suspended from spring football practice and from the men's lacrosse team after he pleaded guilty in February to drunken driving and reckless driving for driving on a campus sidewalk. The plea agreement said if Yeatman stayed out of trouble for a year, the drunken-driving charge would be dismissed and he would be sentenced only for reckless driving.
When asked about what type of talk he had with Yeatman when he was reinstated to the team in August, Weis spoke in general terms about how he talks with players. He said he tries to talk to them as though he is talking with his 15-year-old son, Charlie Jr.
"As you go through growing pains you try to educate and teach and let them know that you weren't perfect going through the growing experience yourself. You just try to educate them as best as you can and give them as much guidance as you can," Weis said.
He said he talks to the team regularly about alcohol and other societal issues.
"I'm not here to play judge and jury. The most important thing is for me to look out for the interests of the kids and the team and the university," he said. "I have to try to have those to mutually coexist peacefully and do what's in best interest of all three."
The loss of Yeatman could hurt the team as the Irish (2-1) prepare to play Purdue (2-1) on Saturday. Yeatman has only two catches for 6 yards in three starts this season, but is the best blocking tight end on a team struggling to get its rushing game going. The Irish are ranked 111th in rushing at 78 yards a game.
Tight end was considered one of Notre Dame's deepest positions heading into the season. But the Irish lost Mike Ragone to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in August and now Yeatman is out indefinitely. Weis said the Irish, who already are starting freshman Kyle Rudolph at tight end, will have to turn to freshman Joseph Fauria, who wasn't expected to play this year.
Weis said Fauria moved Tuesday from the scout team to practicing with the starters.
"Because you have to have your contingency plans in place just in case," he said.
Fullback Luke Schmidt also has practiced at tight end, so he is another option.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
GUEST COMMENTARY: TIM GUNN
from Every Day Should Be Saturday by Orson Swindle
Guest Columnist at work.
I tend to avoid delving into the world of sport for a number of reasons, the most salient of these being that I was never any good at sports, and thus forever intimidated by the more Athenian and robust dimension of the physical life. I was a championship swimmer in high school, but please: young men, speedos, and you may run the necessary permutations and calculations to assess the reasons I excelled therein.
The sporting life also never appealed to me because of, and please give me a wide berth here to allow for my own personal encumbrances vis-a-vis style and de mode, but the uniforms? Simply hideous! Tight pants are one thing, but pairing them with jerseys in color combinations that look like a Mark Rothko painting put in a blender? It just turned what was initially a disaffection into a juvenile but powerful antipathy for all things athletic that would last into my adulthood.
I’ve softened my stance recently, though. Tom Brady’s stylish couture strutting has helped; has there ever been a quarterback so effortlessly in tune with the runway? Besides Troy Aikman? Also, my recent entry into a “kick-ball” league in central park has helped me overcome my uppensiesportenheitfiersichengetfleitkesich. Don’t look for me out there! I’m all schlubby when I play, since you can’t be a fashion manuductor all the time. My goal is to kick the ball out of the infield one day.
Anyway, a reader brought this to my attention, and I feel I must address it in the manner in which I am comfortable. Please see the fashion advice given at the 1:00 mark, and read about the background here.
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eWt9M5fJ-cA&hl=en&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344">Popout
Let’s just dispel one myth here: BLACK IS NOT JUST FOR FUNERALS! It is time have a funeral, yes, but for this tired old glue-mare of fashion foolishness! Black is a versatile color for all seasons and styles, be you an executive wanting to cut the right authoritative silhouette, a browseur endlessly perusing the windows of the city’s marketplace in style, or simply looking for the vetements justes for a quiet evening at home. Let us just throw this old wives (or coaches’) tale out with the bad vegetables of yesterday’s fashion. Think fashion forward, not cliche-backward, coach!
Given your frame, I’d recommend a nice v-neck with a tie to lengthen the torso and de-emphasize those big bulgy trapezius muscles that obscure the lines of the neck. The look will also offer a soft, preppy but casual look to play off but not overwhelm the Armani stylings of your ever-dapper head coach, Nick Saban.
Make it work,
Tim
from Every Day Should Be Saturday by Orson Swindle
I tend to avoid delving into the world of sport for a number of reasons, the most salient of these being that I was never any good at sports, and thus forever intimidated by the more Athenian and robust dimension of the physical life. I was a championship swimmer in high school, but please: young men, speedos, and you may run the necessary permutations and calculations to assess the reasons I excelled therein.
The sporting life also never appealed to me because of, and please give me a wide berth here to allow for my own personal encumbrances vis-a-vis style and de mode, but the uniforms? Simply hideous! Tight pants are one thing, but pairing them with jerseys in color combinations that look like a Mark Rothko painting put in a blender? It just turned what was initially a disaffection into a juvenile but powerful antipathy for all things athletic that would last into my adulthood.
I’ve softened my stance recently, though. Tom Brady’s stylish couture strutting has helped; has there ever been a quarterback so effortlessly in tune with the runway? Besides Troy Aikman? Also, my recent entry into a “kick-ball” league in central park has helped me overcome my uppensiesportenheitfiersichengetfleitkesich. Don’t look for me out there! I’m all schlubby when I play, since you can’t be a fashion manuductor all the time. My goal is to kick the ball out of the infield one day.
Anyway, a reader brought this to my attention, and I feel I must address it in the manner in which I am comfortable. Please see the fashion advice given at the 1:00 mark, and read about the background here.
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eWt9M5fJ-cA&hl=en&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344">Popout
Let’s just dispel one myth here: BLACK IS NOT JUST FOR FUNERALS! It is time have a funeral, yes, but for this tired old glue-mare of fashion foolishness! Black is a versatile color for all seasons and styles, be you an executive wanting to cut the right authoritative silhouette, a browseur endlessly perusing the windows of the city’s marketplace in style, or simply looking for the vetements justes for a quiet evening at home. Let us just throw this old wives (or coaches’) tale out with the bad vegetables of yesterday’s fashion. Think fashion forward, not cliche-backward, coach!
Given your frame, I’d recommend a nice v-neck with a tie to lengthen the torso and de-emphasize those big bulgy trapezius muscles that obscure the lines of the neck. The look will also offer a soft, preppy but casual look to play off but not overwhelm the Armani stylings of your ever-dapper head coach, Nick Saban.
Make it work,
Tim
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
<table class="card"><tbody class="card-tbody"><tr></tr><tr><td class="ct c">
</td><td class="ctr c">
</td></tr><tr><td class="cl c">
</td><td class="cc c">7:14 AM (42 minutes ago)
Some Pregame Q&A with Conquest Chronicles
from Building The Dam by Jake
One: There are many pre-season predictions about your team. Why are they all so horribly wrong? Give us specifics.
There was a lot of questions about USC at the start of the season. How would the O line perform? Would the receivers finally live up to their potential? How would Mark Sanchez perform as Captain and starter?
For the most part those question have been answered in the affirmative so now there is a lot of hype over USC because of two convincing wins, but already the detractors are out discounting both the UVA and Ohio State games. I would like to see how SC does in the next couple of weeks to see if they are for real or if they stumble once again. This 2008 team does seem to be different in regards to leadership and intensity but they need to put big wins up every week going forward to prove our detractors wrong.
Two: Last season was a dream-come-true/nightmare/uneventful for your team. How do you expect that to effect this year's team? Convince us with a meaningless, out of context statistic.
Well, given the Stanford loss and how it probably kept us out of the BCS title game I would say it was a nightmare scenario. Win that game and we are in even with the loss to Oregon. As for a meaningless statistic...it's the second year in a row where SC had an unexpected loss that kept us out of the title game. Beat either you guys or ucla in 2006 and we're the BCS title game there as well that would have been 4 BCS title games in a row...oh what could have been.
Three: Who is your best player--what is the signature play of his career? Convince us of his greatness by comparing him to a superhero or movie character.
Joe McKnight - not because he's carrying the team, but because he's the one most likely to pull off a spectacular move.
Three-A: Who does he rely on to achieve such greatness? Who is his sidekick or supporting character?
Stanley Havili - a fantastic lead blocker who allows McKnight to get clear through the middle and take off, instead of having to try and get round the corner of the D-line.
Four: Your fans have many traditions surrounding the sport of football. What are some of your most questionable traditions? Do you have any good ones that aren't laughably ridiculous?
How about playing Conquest a million times during the game. I know it drives people nuts. But of course its all about the horse...we love it when he runs a lot if you know what I mean.
(click play below to hear Conquest --ed)
Five: Napoleon (and later, Abba) had Waterloo, Sen. Larry Craig had difficulties meeting like-minded men; what will be the downfall of your team this year?
Complacency...looking ahead. People won't believe USC is legit until it gets through the entire Pac-10 slate, and does so convincingly. Everyone knows the pattern and USC has to break it.
Six: Your team would be unrecognizable to its own fans without strength in a certain area. What is your team's secret sauce?
Pete Carroll...enough said.
We're #2?!?! (via Don Petersen/ AP)
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td><td class="ctr c">
</td></tr><tr><td class="cl c">
</td><td class="cc c">7:14 AM (42 minutes ago)
Some Pregame Q&A with Conquest Chronicles
from Building The Dam by Jake
In preparation for tomorrow's game with #1 USC, we bring in Jim from Conquest Chronicles to drop some knowledge on the Trojans.
One: There are many pre-season predictions about your team. Why are they all so horribly wrong? Give us specifics.
There was a lot of questions about USC at the start of the season. How would the O line perform? Would the receivers finally live up to their potential? How would Mark Sanchez perform as Captain and starter?
For the most part those question have been answered in the affirmative so now there is a lot of hype over USC because of two convincing wins, but already the detractors are out discounting both the UVA and Ohio State games. I would like to see how SC does in the next couple of weeks to see if they are for real or if they stumble once again. This 2008 team does seem to be different in regards to leadership and intensity but they need to put big wins up every week going forward to prove our detractors wrong.
Two: Last season was a dream-come-true/nightmare/uneventful for your team. How do you expect that to effect this year's team? Convince us with a meaningless, out of context statistic.
Well, given the Stanford loss and how it probably kept us out of the BCS title game I would say it was a nightmare scenario. Win that game and we are in even with the loss to Oregon. As for a meaningless statistic...it's the second year in a row where SC had an unexpected loss that kept us out of the title game. Beat either you guys or ucla in 2006 and we're the BCS title game there as well that would have been 4 BCS title games in a row...oh what could have been.
Three: Who is your best player--what is the signature play of his career? Convince us of his greatness by comparing him to a superhero or movie character.
Joe McKnight - not because he's carrying the team, but because he's the one most likely to pull off a spectacular move.
Three-A: Who does he rely on to achieve such greatness? Who is his sidekick or supporting character?
Stanley Havili - a fantastic lead blocker who allows McKnight to get clear through the middle and take off, instead of having to try and get round the corner of the D-line.
Four: Your fans have many traditions surrounding the sport of football. What are some of your most questionable traditions? Do you have any good ones that aren't laughably ridiculous?
How about playing Conquest a million times during the game. I know it drives people nuts. But of course its all about the horse...we love it when he runs a lot if you know what I mean.
(click play below to hear Conquest --ed)
Five: Napoleon (and later, Abba) had Waterloo, Sen. Larry Craig had difficulties meeting like-minded men; what will be the downfall of your team this year?
Complacency...looking ahead. People won't believe USC is legit until it gets through the entire Pac-10 slate, and does so convincingly. Everyone knows the pattern and USC has to break it.
Six: Your team would be unrecognizable to its own fans without strength in a certain area. What is your team's secret sauce?
Pete Carroll...enough said.
We're #2?!?! (via Don Petersen/ AP)
</td></tr></tbody></table>
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
HD Formation Playmaker's Dream, Camera Man's Nightmare
from Black Shoe Diaries by Kevin HD
When you have a team with so many weapons, one of the challenging things isn't necessarily being able to use them all, but threatening to. For those reasons, I love this set:
The concept is simple: get all of the playmakers on the field. However, the way it's set up is efficient enough to make me excited about pointing it out. Just to break this down, let's point out what we are looking at:
<center> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IiWntES406Y" allowscriptaccess="never" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350">Popout </center> Now that obviously went for big yardage, but it doesn't have to in order to be effective. You get the play opened up by leaving the TE on the line for a block and bringing in the FB to clear out a lane. The LBs can't sit on the play because they have to worry about Williams sweeping around to the sideline, not to mention the possibility of a QB keeper. The result? Green needs only to get past the line of scrimmage and all of the sudden things are wide open.
Now that won't work with any kind of regularity unless you force the defense to play it honest, enter the second option:
<center> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/c0jON28xZig" allowscriptaccess="never" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350">Popout </center> You sell the run, which brings the LBs to the line of scrimmage, but then give the ball to Williams, already at full speed. On the near side you've already brought the FB over to help Williams turn the corner, and as a bonus you have the WR blocking the corner and giving the ball carrier more room.
Something that should be clearly pointed out here is that the coaching staff may have finally figured out a way to get Williams the ball without the terrible telegraphing we've grown oh so accustomed to over the past couple of years. All the different threats on the field mean the former #1 overall recruit is getting a fair shot at a big play. If he learns to run through traffic it is only a matter of time before he starts breaking a couple of these.
Moving on to a third option:
<center> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qR1F5eS1Wr0" allowscriptaccess="never" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350">Popout </center> Ah yes, the pass. What originally looks like a running set is, only moments after the play fake, a passing play with options all over the field. You hope someone bites on the fake to Williams and then get the chance to look for the big play to Bulter (or Norwood) streaking across the middle or the TE who has by now released his block and gone straight north. If those options aren't there? You have Williams or the RB available for a quick dump off. Also, The way this clears out the box, Clark can easily gain positive yards without even giving up the ball.
I'm going to stop here but it's only because I'm out of video; we've hardly covered all the different options of this set. I never claimed to be and X's and O's guy, so I'll leave the finer details alone, but the bottom line is this thing is going to work. They won't run it every play, or even every series, but four to eight times a game and you are looking at solid yardage with big play potential. All of the best football players are on the field and all of them are a liability to the defense.
from Black Shoe Diaries by Kevin HD
When you have a team with so many weapons, one of the challenging things isn't necessarily being able to use them all, but threatening to. For those reasons, I love this set:
- Under center, a 235 lb quarterback who can throw the ball
- Six yards back, one of two explosive backs, each one bringing a different style that makes it hard for defenses to sit on a particular pattern
- On the near side, one of two very sure handed receivers who have the speed to force the secondary to protect against the deep ball
- Just to the right of the QB, a FB ready for the blast or used to pick up blocking. He is also available to clear out a lane created by what is probably the best offensive line in the Big Ten
- To the right of the FB, a playmaker who can move toward the center for the ball or go downfield into a passing pattern
- Oh, and don't forget about the TE
<center> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IiWntES406Y" allowscriptaccess="never" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350">Popout </center> Now that obviously went for big yardage, but it doesn't have to in order to be effective. You get the play opened up by leaving the TE on the line for a block and bringing in the FB to clear out a lane. The LBs can't sit on the play because they have to worry about Williams sweeping around to the sideline, not to mention the possibility of a QB keeper. The result? Green needs only to get past the line of scrimmage and all of the sudden things are wide open.
Now that won't work with any kind of regularity unless you force the defense to play it honest, enter the second option:
<center> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/c0jON28xZig" allowscriptaccess="never" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350">Popout </center> You sell the run, which brings the LBs to the line of scrimmage, but then give the ball to Williams, already at full speed. On the near side you've already brought the FB over to help Williams turn the corner, and as a bonus you have the WR blocking the corner and giving the ball carrier more room.
Something that should be clearly pointed out here is that the coaching staff may have finally figured out a way to get Williams the ball without the terrible telegraphing we've grown oh so accustomed to over the past couple of years. All the different threats on the field mean the former #1 overall recruit is getting a fair shot at a big play. If he learns to run through traffic it is only a matter of time before he starts breaking a couple of these.
Moving on to a third option:
<center> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qR1F5eS1Wr0" allowscriptaccess="never" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350">Popout </center> Ah yes, the pass. What originally looks like a running set is, only moments after the play fake, a passing play with options all over the field. You hope someone bites on the fake to Williams and then get the chance to look for the big play to Bulter (or Norwood) streaking across the middle or the TE who has by now released his block and gone straight north. If those options aren't there? You have Williams or the RB available for a quick dump off. Also, The way this clears out the box, Clark can easily gain positive yards without even giving up the ball.
I'm going to stop here but it's only because I'm out of video; we've hardly covered all the different options of this set. I never claimed to be and X's and O's guy, so I'll leave the finer details alone, but the bottom line is this thing is going to work. They won't run it every play, or even every series, but four to eight times a game and you are looking at solid yardage with big play potential. All of the best football players are on the field and all of them are a liability to the defense.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
Auburn Turns Its Attention To Tennessee
from Track Em Tigers by Jay Coulter
The Auburn Tigers turn their focus toward Tennessee.
The Auburn football team put the disappointment of Saturday's loss to LSU away on Tuesday and shifted their attention to what promises to be another tough, physical contest when Tennessee pays a visit to Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Tommy Tuberville held his weekly press conference and says he's pleased with the way his team has rebounded from Saturday night, but realizes there are a lot of mistakes to correct. "We've had two good practices," said Tuberville. "The practice this morning (Tuesday) went very well. We've got good leadership, but there are a lot of things that we have to improve on.
"In order to be successful in this game of football, you've got to understand that and you've got to work toward it every day and we're trying to do that. There are some things that we'll adjust on both sides of the ball and on special teams. We've got to improve in all those and we've got to understand that probably in three weeks, we'll still need to improve."
When the Tigers welcome Tennessee (1-2) to town they'll be looking at a team that is very similar to their own. The Volunteers are adjusting to a new offensive coordinator in Dave Clawson. So far, the results have been mixed at best. Like Auburn, they are struggling with their new quarterback, Jonathan Crompton. The junior quarterback has completed just a little more than half of all his passes this season.
The Volunteers struggled on third down conversions in Saturday's home loss to Florida, converting only 4 of 14 attempts. Look for that trend to continue on Saturday. The Auburn defense ranks first nationally in stopping third down conversions, allowing just 11.4 percent.
Tuberville says the fact that both teams are coming off losses doesn't diminish the importance of this old rivalry. "Tennessee got off to a slow start, as we all know," he said. "Their team is a lot like ours in that they've had a change in offense, a change in offensive coordinators, a new quarterback and they've had some set backs, but they're still Tennessee.
"They're a proud football team that plays very hard. When we play them, it's always a very physical game. We both understand that, going into this game, both teams have a loss in the conference and both teams will have to play hard to try to stay out of the loss column again, because both teams are very similar in terms of programs and how things have gone."
The biggest challenge for Auburn this weekend might be themselves. Coming off two physical SEC games, depth will play a big role in who comes out on top. Tuberville says how you cope with these long stretches of SEC games determines what kind of football team you have in the end. "It's tough," he says. "They're all physical. This one is going to by physical this week and then we go play another physical game next week. They're all physical. I've always said that the teams who can survive and have the depth on defense are the ones that are going to consistently win games.
"We've got a little depth, but it's chipping away. It was our fourth game and most of our defense had to play a majority of the game. It'll start chipping away as you go through the year. The younger guys start filling in another row and they've got to be successful and if they're not, then your execution is going to fall."
Kickoff is set for Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. CT from Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The contest will be televised by CBS.
from Track Em Tigers by Jay Coulter
The Auburn Tigers turn their focus toward Tennessee.
Tommy Tuberville held his weekly press conference and says he's pleased with the way his team has rebounded from Saturday night, but realizes there are a lot of mistakes to correct. "We've had two good practices," said Tuberville. "The practice this morning (Tuesday) went very well. We've got good leadership, but there are a lot of things that we have to improve on.
"In order to be successful in this game of football, you've got to understand that and you've got to work toward it every day and we're trying to do that. There are some things that we'll adjust on both sides of the ball and on special teams. We've got to improve in all those and we've got to understand that probably in three weeks, we'll still need to improve."
When the Tigers welcome Tennessee (1-2) to town they'll be looking at a team that is very similar to their own. The Volunteers are adjusting to a new offensive coordinator in Dave Clawson. So far, the results have been mixed at best. Like Auburn, they are struggling with their new quarterback, Jonathan Crompton. The junior quarterback has completed just a little more than half of all his passes this season.
The Volunteers struggled on third down conversions in Saturday's home loss to Florida, converting only 4 of 14 attempts. Look for that trend to continue on Saturday. The Auburn defense ranks first nationally in stopping third down conversions, allowing just 11.4 percent.
Tuberville says the fact that both teams are coming off losses doesn't diminish the importance of this old rivalry. "Tennessee got off to a slow start, as we all know," he said. "Their team is a lot like ours in that they've had a change in offense, a change in offensive coordinators, a new quarterback and they've had some set backs, but they're still Tennessee.
"They're a proud football team that plays very hard. When we play them, it's always a very physical game. We both understand that, going into this game, both teams have a loss in the conference and both teams will have to play hard to try to stay out of the loss column again, because both teams are very similar in terms of programs and how things have gone."
The biggest challenge for Auburn this weekend might be themselves. Coming off two physical SEC games, depth will play a big role in who comes out on top. Tuberville says how you cope with these long stretches of SEC games determines what kind of football team you have in the end. "It's tough," he says. "They're all physical. This one is going to by physical this week and then we go play another physical game next week. They're all physical. I've always said that the teams who can survive and have the depth on defense are the ones that are going to consistently win games.
"We've got a little depth, but it's chipping away. It was our fourth game and most of our defense had to play a majority of the game. It'll start chipping away as you go through the year. The younger guys start filling in another row and they've got to be successful and if they're not, then your execution is going to fall."
Kickoff is set for Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. CT from Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The contest will be televised by CBS.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
Brian Cushing possibly out for the Oregon St. Game
from Conquest Chronicles by Paragon SC
Brian Cushing's sore hamstring could be an issue in regards to his starting tomorrow nights game against Oregon State.
We discussed earlier in the year how Brian Cushing need to stay healthy if he was going to make a strong impression on the NFL scouts. This doesn't help his cause if it's more than just a strain. Wew ill obviously be watching this closely.
from Conquest Chronicles by Paragon SC
Brian Cushing's sore hamstring could be an issue in regards to his starting tomorrow nights game against Oregon State.
USC All-America linebacker Brian Cushing's status for the Oregon State game could be in doubt after he strained his hamstring.
Cushing participated in only a small portion of Tuesday's practice and there is a chance he could be a game-time decision on whether he plays.
"I'm sure I'll see how it feels," Cushing said. "I'm going to be smart about it and not push it until then."
Cushing said it would be "tough" if he did not play.
"I just have to take it easy," he said. "This is a strain. I've had worse."
If he can't go Clay Matthews will move to SLB. That's not the end of the world but it might change some of the defensive schemes SC would woant to run.Cushing participated in only a small portion of Tuesday's practice and there is a chance he could be a game-time decision on whether he plays.
"I'm sure I'll see how it feels," Cushing said. "I'm going to be smart about it and not push it until then."
Cushing said it would be "tough" if he did not play.
"I just have to take it easy," he said. "This is a strain. I've had worse."
We discussed earlier in the year how Brian Cushing need to stay healthy if he was going to make a strong impression on the NFL scouts. This doesn't help his cause if it's more than just a strain. Wew ill obviously be watching this closely.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
Thoughts From A Fat White Guy: Robert Griffin Can Burn
from Burnt Orange Nation by PB @ BON
Billyzane just emailed to point me to a blog written by current Connecticut Huskies defensive lineman Rob Lunn. Where to start with this? How about with the blog's name, which deserves an award: Thoughts From A Fat White Guy. That's Mike Leach-style truth serum, giving Lunn instant credibility and immediate entry to my RSS reader.
But he also grabbed my attention by doting on the object of my newest man-crush, Robert Griffin, writing:
I just found a reason to root for UCONN football.
from Burnt Orange Nation by PB @ BON
Billyzane just emailed to point me to a blog written by current Connecticut Huskies defensive lineman Rob Lunn. Where to start with this? How about with the blog's name, which deserves an award: Thoughts From A Fat White Guy. That's Mike Leach-style truth serum, giving Lunn instant credibility and immediate entry to my RSS reader.
But he also grabbed my attention by doting on the object of my newest man-crush, Robert Griffin, writing:
I guess I should probably talk about the Baylor game.
They. Were. Fast.
Top to bottom, running back to receiver to offensive guard, that team had some serious speed. I would compare them with the only other team I've seen demonstrate this kind of athleticism...thats right...our beloved toothless friends from the south, West Virginia University. And while Griffin (their QB) didn't have "Gold Frontz" (you alone hold that honor Noel Divine), he did have some serious speed.
Want to know just how serious his talent is? The kid won the NCAA's when he should have been in the end of his senior year in High School. He graduated in the Fall and entered Baylor in the spring. Still not convinced? Why don't you check out the play where I had him cornered in the pocket, already cutting the tape for my highlight real, and he made me (a slow fat white guy) look like...well...a slow fat white guy. He was gone in a flash and rolling out. I chased in vain. He was good.
Can we give Rob Lunn a siren, please? Gold Frontz? Self-deprecating humor? Notably engaging writing? Robert Griffin droolage?They. Were. Fast.
Top to bottom, running back to receiver to offensive guard, that team had some serious speed. I would compare them with the only other team I've seen demonstrate this kind of athleticism...thats right...our beloved toothless friends from the south, West Virginia University. And while Griffin (their QB) didn't have "Gold Frontz" (you alone hold that honor Noel Divine), he did have some serious speed.
Want to know just how serious his talent is? The kid won the NCAA's when he should have been in the end of his senior year in High School. He graduated in the Fall and entered Baylor in the spring. Still not convinced? Why don't you check out the play where I had him cornered in the pocket, already cutting the tape for my highlight real, and he made me (a slow fat white guy) look like...well...a slow fat white guy. He was gone in a flash and rolling out. I chased in vain. He was good.
I just found a reason to root for UCONN football.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
SINISTER COLLEGE FOOTBALL STRATEGIES, PT. 28320
from Every Day Should Be Saturday by Orson Swindle
When losing by 27 points, remember: untie their shoes! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
Photo from SI, obviously, and via the brilliant people Gatorsports forums.
from Every Day Should Be Saturday by Orson Swindle
When losing by 27 points, remember: untie their shoes! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
Photo from SI, obviously, and via the brilliant people Gatorsports forums.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
The Cynic’s Guide to College Football, Week 4
All across the country, the weather is turning a bit cooler, leaves are starting to change colors and, with conference games coming soon to a stadium near you, we finally have the prospect of the end of these ridiculous cupcake nonconference games. And yet with the season less than a third of the way through, we already know a few things. Some bad things. Just as every silver lining has a dark cloud, here’s the lowdown on the lowlights of this week in college football.
1. Country Roads to Nowhere?
Is it too early to start pressing the panic button on the Bill Stewart (six-year) era at West Virginia? Probably. But that won’t stop me from doing it anyway. It’s not just that the Mountaineers are 1-2 this season. It’s that they’ve looked so decidedly sub-par. In all fairness, WVU did show signs of life in the “John Denver Bowl” vs. Colorado last Thursday. After giving up two quick TDs, the defense shut out Colorado for thenext 55 minutes. Pat White and Noel Devine both went over the century mark in rushing. And White’s 39 yard TD run in the fourth quarter was a thing of beauty. But WVU had no passing game whatsoever (10-15 for just 43 yards; White actually had minus-five passing yards at halftime.) They were just 3-of 13 on third down conversions and had 91 yards in penalties. Even the rushing numbers are a bit misleading as anyone who watched the game saw that the Mountaineers offense was lethargic, unimaginative and, worst, predictable.
Look at the numbers:
<table str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 422px; height: 90px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><col style="width: 98pt;" span="3" width="130"> <tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt; width: 98pt;" width="130" height="17">
</td> <td class="xl22" style="width: 98pt; font-weight: bold;" width="130">2007 (Rank)</td> <td class="xl22" style="width: 98pt; font-weight: bold;" width="130">2008 (Rank)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt; font-weight: bold;" height="17">Total Offense</td> <td class="xl23">456 ypg (#15)</td> <td class="xl23">303 ypg (#95)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt; font-weight: bold;" height="17">Rushing Offense</td> <td class="xl23">297 ypg (#3)</td> <td class="xl23">164 ypg (#50)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt; font-weight: bold;" height="17">Scoring Offense</td> <td class="xl23">39.6 ppg (#9)</td> <td class="xl23">25.5 ppg (#71)</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Short version, the Mountaineers are averaging 153 yards and two touchdowns fewer per game than last year. Look, we all knew that the Mountaineers would likely be down a bit this year after losing Rich Rodriguez and Steve Slaton. But with uber-QB Pat White and a talented defense returning, I don’t think anyone thought it would be like this. Yes, the season’s still young and they still have a lot to play for (such as a possible Big East title). But the knee-jerk reaction to hire Stewart following the Mountaineers’ upset of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl isn’t looking good.
2. The PAC 10 is Godawful.
Much was made last week about the SEC being the first conference in history to land five teams in the top ten at the same time. Well, with USC out of action this week (does anyone else find it odd that the Trojans scheduled two bye weeks in the first month of the season?), it gave me a chance to check out how the other half lives. Big mistake. I really had high hopes for the Pac-10 this year, thinking that maybe, just maybe, Arizona State, Oregon or Cal could finally get to that "next level" and challenge for the conference title. Way wrong.
Six of the teams in the Pac-10 teams have lost to a non-BCS team. Not counting USC, the rest of the conference is just 10-12 in out of conference games. And that includes two wins over 1-AA teams and a 4-1 record against the WAC. They are 3-6 against the other BCS conferences (including 0-3 versus the Big 12) and an amazing 0-5 against the Mountain West. Frankly, most of the Pac-10 has to be grateful that conference games are starting up just so they might have a chance at winning a game or two.
3. Kansas State: Worst Week Ever.
Things started off bad for Kansas State when they had to travel to Louisville for a rare Wednesday night game. They proceeded to get throttled by a CUSA team (38-29 final, but it wasn’t that close) who, two weeks earlier against Kentucky, looked like they'd never seen a football. Sadly, that was the high point of the week. On Friday, KSU RB Leon Patton was released from the team after a run in with the law. But this was not your usual run-of-the-mill college football arrest. No DUIs, mary jane possessions or weapons charges here. No, Patton was arrested and charged with felony child abuse of a two-month old baby.
To KSU's credit, Patton had already been suspended while the investigation was ongoing and was kicked off the team once he was arrested on Thursday. But, man, talk about a rough week. Even with a new contract, the seat under Ron Prince is already starting to get a little warm. This week certainly didn't help matters any.
On a related note, I've always felt there was a particularly warm spot reserved in hell for people who hurt kids. In Patton's case, let's hope I'm right.
“Leon, meet Adolf. I’m sure you’ll have lots to talk about.”
4. Awww, Florida State Fall Down, Go Boom
Believe me, I wish I was making this quote up. But after FloridaState’s embarrassing 12-3 loss at home to Wake Forest this week, Seminoles offensive coordinator (and head coach in waiting) Jimbo Fisher offered this insightful analysis: “We made some boo-boos.” No, Coach Fisher. Boo-boos are something that happen to my two-year old daughter, not to a once-proud college football power. 12 penalties for 139 yards are not boo-boos. Seven turnovers are not boo-boos. Three points are not boo-boos. I’m not trying to bag on Wake Forest—I think they’re a good team and I really like Jim Grobe. And maybe I’m just bitter since I picked FSU to have a rebound nine-win season this year. But shouldn’t a program with the history and tradition of Florida State be held to a higher standard than this? I mean, this is just embarrassing for all of us. Even ‘Noles despisers have to admit that the haterade just isn’t as sweet right now. Like Jack Nicholson’s character in A Few Good Men, even if it’s to serve as the object of envy and hate, we want FSU on that wall. We need FSU on that wall! FSU administrators, you know what needs to be done. You can either rip the Band Aid off now and start the healing process. Or you can continue to let the “boo-boo” fester. Your choice.
Florida State’s next coach?
5. And Speaking of Octogenarian Coaches . . .
I have no idea if Penn State is any good. Yes, they’re putting up monster statistics. Sixth in total offense. Third in scoring offense. Seventh in rushing and total defense. Ninth in scoring defense. But for all that, does anyone really have any idea how good Penn State is? Their four opponents thus far (Coastal Carolina, Oregon State, Syracuse and Temple) aren’t exactly murderer’s row (a combined 5-10). To date, Penn State hasn’t been tested, let alone challenged. And frankly, I just don’t think I believe the hype. Admittedly, they’ve gotten solid if unspectacular play from QB Darryl Clark (7 TDs, 1 INT). But we’ll see how he responds under pressure—the Nittany Lions’ next three games get a lot more challenging as they have Illinois, @ Purdue and @ Wisconsin. If they can run that gauntlet, I’ll be a believer. But I’m not holding my breath.
6. Singular Names are Still Dumb, but . . .
And for my one positive note of the week, I bring you the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. In a year in which attention has been focused on BYU and possibly Utah as potential BCS busters, keep your eyes on Tulsa out of Conference USA. Through three games, Tulsa is second in the nation in total offense (587 yards per game) and fourth in scoring offense (52.3 points per game). QB David Johnson is simply unconscious—he’s on a pace for 4800+ yards passing and 60 touchdowns. The Golden Hurricane offense can put up video game type numbers. I know it’s early and they haven’t really played anybody yet. But their schedule is easy (they avoid East Carolina until a possible matchup in the CUSA title game) and, with this offense, there’s no reason to believe they can’t run the table. Would an undefeated CUSA season be enough to break into the BCS? Doubtful. But it’s still good to see a team who has always played third-fiddle in its own state achieve at a high level. Even if the head coach is the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit.
All across the country, the weather is turning a bit cooler, leaves are starting to change colors and, with conference games coming soon to a stadium near you, we finally have the prospect of the end of these ridiculous cupcake nonconference games. And yet with the season less than a third of the way through, we already know a few things. Some bad things. Just as every silver lining has a dark cloud, here’s the lowdown on the lowlights of this week in college football.
1. Country Roads to Nowhere?
Is it too early to start pressing the panic button on the Bill Stewart (six-year) era at West Virginia? Probably. But that won’t stop me from doing it anyway. It’s not just that the Mountaineers are 1-2 this season. It’s that they’ve looked so decidedly sub-par. In all fairness, WVU did show signs of life in the “John Denver Bowl” vs. Colorado last Thursday. After giving up two quick TDs, the defense shut out Colorado for thenext 55 minutes. Pat White and Noel Devine both went over the century mark in rushing. And White’s 39 yard TD run in the fourth quarter was a thing of beauty. But WVU had no passing game whatsoever (10-15 for just 43 yards; White actually had minus-five passing yards at halftime.) They were just 3-of 13 on third down conversions and had 91 yards in penalties. Even the rushing numbers are a bit misleading as anyone who watched the game saw that the Mountaineers offense was lethargic, unimaginative and, worst, predictable.
Look at the numbers:
<table str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 422px; height: 90px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><col style="width: 98pt;" span="3" width="130"> <tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt; width: 98pt;" width="130" height="17">
</td> <td class="xl22" style="width: 98pt; font-weight: bold;" width="130">2007 (Rank)</td> <td class="xl22" style="width: 98pt; font-weight: bold;" width="130">2008 (Rank)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt; font-weight: bold;" height="17">Total Offense</td> <td class="xl23">456 ypg (#15)</td> <td class="xl23">303 ypg (#95)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt; font-weight: bold;" height="17">Rushing Offense</td> <td class="xl23">297 ypg (#3)</td> <td class="xl23">164 ypg (#50)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt; font-weight: bold;" height="17">Scoring Offense</td> <td class="xl23">39.6 ppg (#9)</td> <td class="xl23">25.5 ppg (#71)</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Short version, the Mountaineers are averaging 153 yards and two touchdowns fewer per game than last year. Look, we all knew that the Mountaineers would likely be down a bit this year after losing Rich Rodriguez and Steve Slaton. But with uber-QB Pat White and a talented defense returning, I don’t think anyone thought it would be like this. Yes, the season’s still young and they still have a lot to play for (such as a possible Big East title). But the knee-jerk reaction to hire Stewart following the Mountaineers’ upset of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl isn’t looking good.
2. The PAC 10 is Godawful.
Much was made last week about the SEC being the first conference in history to land five teams in the top ten at the same time. Well, with USC out of action this week (does anyone else find it odd that the Trojans scheduled two bye weeks in the first month of the season?), it gave me a chance to check out how the other half lives. Big mistake. I really had high hopes for the Pac-10 this year, thinking that maybe, just maybe, Arizona State, Oregon or Cal could finally get to that "next level" and challenge for the conference title. Way wrong.
Six of the teams in the Pac-10 teams have lost to a non-BCS team. Not counting USC, the rest of the conference is just 10-12 in out of conference games. And that includes two wins over 1-AA teams and a 4-1 record against the WAC. They are 3-6 against the other BCS conferences (including 0-3 versus the Big 12) and an amazing 0-5 against the Mountain West. Frankly, most of the Pac-10 has to be grateful that conference games are starting up just so they might have a chance at winning a game or two.
3. Kansas State: Worst Week Ever.
Things started off bad for Kansas State when they had to travel to Louisville for a rare Wednesday night game. They proceeded to get throttled by a CUSA team (38-29 final, but it wasn’t that close) who, two weeks earlier against Kentucky, looked like they'd never seen a football. Sadly, that was the high point of the week. On Friday, KSU RB Leon Patton was released from the team after a run in with the law. But this was not your usual run-of-the-mill college football arrest. No DUIs, mary jane possessions or weapons charges here. No, Patton was arrested and charged with felony child abuse of a two-month old baby.
To KSU's credit, Patton had already been suspended while the investigation was ongoing and was kicked off the team once he was arrested on Thursday. But, man, talk about a rough week. Even with a new contract, the seat under Ron Prince is already starting to get a little warm. This week certainly didn't help matters any.
On a related note, I've always felt there was a particularly warm spot reserved in hell for people who hurt kids. In Patton's case, let's hope I'm right.
“Leon, meet Adolf. I’m sure you’ll have lots to talk about.”
4. Awww, Florida State Fall Down, Go Boom
Believe me, I wish I was making this quote up. But after FloridaState’s embarrassing 12-3 loss at home to Wake Forest this week, Seminoles offensive coordinator (and head coach in waiting) Jimbo Fisher offered this insightful analysis: “We made some boo-boos.” No, Coach Fisher. Boo-boos are something that happen to my two-year old daughter, not to a once-proud college football power. 12 penalties for 139 yards are not boo-boos. Seven turnovers are not boo-boos. Three points are not boo-boos. I’m not trying to bag on Wake Forest—I think they’re a good team and I really like Jim Grobe. And maybe I’m just bitter since I picked FSU to have a rebound nine-win season this year. But shouldn’t a program with the history and tradition of Florida State be held to a higher standard than this? I mean, this is just embarrassing for all of us. Even ‘Noles despisers have to admit that the haterade just isn’t as sweet right now. Like Jack Nicholson’s character in A Few Good Men, even if it’s to serve as the object of envy and hate, we want FSU on that wall. We need FSU on that wall! FSU administrators, you know what needs to be done. You can either rip the Band Aid off now and start the healing process. Or you can continue to let the “boo-boo” fester. Your choice.
Florida State’s next coach?
5. And Speaking of Octogenarian Coaches . . .
I have no idea if Penn State is any good. Yes, they’re putting up monster statistics. Sixth in total offense. Third in scoring offense. Seventh in rushing and total defense. Ninth in scoring defense. But for all that, does anyone really have any idea how good Penn State is? Their four opponents thus far (Coastal Carolina, Oregon State, Syracuse and Temple) aren’t exactly murderer’s row (a combined 5-10). To date, Penn State hasn’t been tested, let alone challenged. And frankly, I just don’t think I believe the hype. Admittedly, they’ve gotten solid if unspectacular play from QB Darryl Clark (7 TDs, 1 INT). But we’ll see how he responds under pressure—the Nittany Lions’ next three games get a lot more challenging as they have Illinois, @ Purdue and @ Wisconsin. If they can run that gauntlet, I’ll be a believer. But I’m not holding my breath.
6. Singular Names are Still Dumb, but . . .
And for my one positive note of the week, I bring you the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. In a year in which attention has been focused on BYU and possibly Utah as potential BCS busters, keep your eyes on Tulsa out of Conference USA. Through three games, Tulsa is second in the nation in total offense (587 yards per game) and fourth in scoring offense (52.3 points per game). QB David Johnson is simply unconscious—he’s on a pace for 4800+ yards passing and 60 touchdowns. The Golden Hurricane offense can put up video game type numbers. I know it’s early and they haven’t really played anybody yet. But their schedule is easy (they avoid East Carolina until a possible matchup in the CUSA title game) and, with this offense, there’s no reason to believe they can’t run the table. Would an undefeated CUSA season be enough to break into the BCS? Doubtful. But it’s still good to see a team who has always played third-fiddle in its own state achieve at a high level. Even if the head coach is the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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</td><td class="cc c">12:36 PM (5 minutes ago)
Dave Wannstedt is really looking forward to giving Greg Robinson a few tips about building a program
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
Before he collapses face-first into his desk at night, Dave Wannstedt always tries to remind himself, "first things first." Syracuse is a conference opponent and worthy of Pittsburgh's respect. It's a shame the way things have spun out of control for Greg up there, but after all, there but for the grace of God goes Wannstedt himself. If the Panthers don't prepare for a tough afternoon, they'll be the ones staring down the barrel of an 0-1 start in the Big East. Okay, seriously now: Dave feels terrible for Greg. They've known each other for so long, and they're so much alike in so many ways. Why hasn't Greg been able to put it together? There's nothing wrong with him. He's coached in Rose Bowls, coordinated two Super Bowl championship defenses. He's a smart, normal coach with a perfectly attractive resumé. He has a stable athletic department that makes good money. Recruits like him. So why won't they play for him?
Maybe Greg just doesn't put himself out there enough. He is a little stoic and introverted. He'd rather sit in his office and diagram a Crash Smoke 1 Under Bandit against trips sets than trade text messages with a three-star tight end from Altoona. His attitude is too defensive, like, "Why bother, he's just going to go to Penn State, anyway. I want recruits who want to play for me just like I am, you know?" Dave knows just what's going through Greg's head, because he used to be exactly the same way.
If only Greg could see himself like other people see him, maybe he could loosen up a little and find his own thing. Maybe after the game, when they meet at midfield and Dave congratulates him for a nice effort, Dave can put his arm around Greg and let Greg know he's perfectly capable of taking a team to two games over .500, too. It's all right there for the taking, if he just comes out of his shell a little bit. If he plays it a little less conservative. Maybe fake a punt sometimes, throw a flea flicker here or there. You never know until you try, man.
"Look at me," Dave will say to Greg. "There's nothing I have that you don't have. All this can be yours, too."
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</td><td class="cc c">12:36 PM (5 minutes ago)
Dave Wannstedt is really looking forward to giving Greg Robinson a few tips about building a program
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
Maybe Greg just doesn't put himself out there enough. He is a little stoic and introverted. He'd rather sit in his office and diagram a Crash Smoke 1 Under Bandit against trips sets than trade text messages with a three-star tight end from Altoona. His attitude is too defensive, like, "Why bother, he's just going to go to Penn State, anyway. I want recruits who want to play for me just like I am, you know?" Dave knows just what's going through Greg's head, because he used to be exactly the same way.
If only Greg could see himself like other people see him, maybe he could loosen up a little and find his own thing. Maybe after the game, when they meet at midfield and Dave congratulates him for a nice effort, Dave can put his arm around Greg and let Greg know he's perfectly capable of taking a team to two games over .500, too. It's all right there for the taking, if he just comes out of his shell a little bit. If he plays it a little less conservative. Maybe fake a punt sometimes, throw a flea flicker here or there. You never know until you try, man.
"Look at me," Dave will say to Greg. "There's nothing I have that you don't have. All this can be yours, too."
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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</td><td class="cc c">10:26 AM (2 hours ago)
Morning Coffee Likes Missouri, Okay?
from Burnt Orange Nation by PB @ BON
Blog Pollin. Lots of questions related to my dropping Missouri from #4 to #7 in this week's draft Blog Poll ballot. (FYI: this week's Blog Poll has been released, viewable here.) Though I did make a few revisions to the draft ballot, the Tigers stayed behind the three SEC teams who moved up--Georgia, LSU, and Alabama. Simply put: the Tigers' resume is, in my view, just slightly behind each of those three teams, who each own a higher quality road/neutral field win (LSU at Auburn, Georgia at Arizona State, Alabama over Clemson in Atlanta) than Missouri's top win--a neutral field 10-point victory over Illinois.
Could you argue the other way on this question? Certainly. Does it matter at this point in the season? Not really. And is it a sign of my not taking the Tigers seriously? Definitely not. Remember, I'm the guy who picked MU to face Florida in the national title game before the season began. Hang in there, Tiger lovers.
(Finally, a note on my balloting, which has heretofore been pretty subjective/wishy-washy. Next week I bust out the resume charts, so expect more firm analysis on where each team is being slotted, and why.)
Would you like to see some wedding photos? It's Arkansas week, which means the newspapers and my inbox are full of rivalry talk. As always, it's one-sided, with everyone NE of Texarkana licking their porked lips and the rest of us unsure we care about this game any more or less than next week's versus Colorado.
The Statesman points out that Arkansas' coaches think the piggies are showing 'some fight' after their beatdown in Fayetteville at the hands of Alabama, while the folks who run SEC Rivals asked me to answer a handful of questions about this Saturday's match up in Austin.
Related: Practice report from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Wednesday's tight end up date. Bruce Chambers took his turn with the media after Tuesday's practice, more or less towing the party line on Texas' tight end situation:
Change I can get behind. I have more on this in this week's Big 12 report (forthcoming this afternoon), but the Statesman has a nice article on the new points of emphasis on defense under Will Muschamp. In particular, Texas' defensive philosophy has shifted to guard fiercely the big play, protect our safeties, concede the soft stuff underneath (including runs), and be in the right position to hammer opponents who try to do more than what we're giving them. It's smart football period, and especially so given the make up of this year's unit.
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</td><td class="cc c">10:26 AM (2 hours ago)
Morning Coffee Likes Missouri, Okay?
from Burnt Orange Nation by PB @ BON
Could you argue the other way on this question? Certainly. Does it matter at this point in the season? Not really. And is it a sign of my not taking the Tigers seriously? Definitely not. Remember, I'm the guy who picked MU to face Florida in the national title game before the season began. Hang in there, Tiger lovers.
(Finally, a note on my balloting, which has heretofore been pretty subjective/wishy-washy. Next week I bust out the resume charts, so expect more firm analysis on where each team is being slotted, and why.)
The Statesman points out that Arkansas' coaches think the piggies are showing 'some fight' after their beatdown in Fayetteville at the hands of Alabama, while the folks who run SEC Rivals asked me to answer a handful of questions about this Saturday's match up in Austin.
Related: Practice report from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
I think we've been running the ball well and we are obviously going to continue to do that. I think we have a great plan for this coming Saturday, and I'm looking forward to watching that. We're going to go out there and just have fun... We're going to stick with the plan that we've got, and there is no need to move anybody at this time.
More interesting were Chambers' comments on Ian Harris, who returned to practice yesterday. Chambers points out that Harris is, contrary to Greg Smith and Peter Ullman, athletic enough to be used in the passing game in similar ways to Blaine Irby. Harris is a player to watch on Saturday, if he participates at all.
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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</td><td class="cc c">10:09 AM (2 hours ago)
Matador’s Week 5 Notebook
from underdogsofwar.com by Matador
I needed a few days off after last week, so I’m getting a late start. I’ll keep it very brief this week.
Last week was another disaster. Believe it or not, I put substantial effort into coming up with that mess. I won’t waste too much time beating myself up over it, but I won’t waste a lot of time on this weeks games either. Seems to make very little difference.
As bad as last week was, I would have been bailed out if Baylor, CMU or SJSU had come through. That’s what I like about those longshots, they can really bail you out when a big one hits, but just wasn’t to be last week. SJSU is probably just wishful thinking — it seems that while they had a decent first half, they never really had a chance. Stanford did the same thing in the second half that they did last year — they took control at the LOS, both sides. I’m becoming more and more convinced that recent history in a series is as important an indicator as any you’ll find, particuarly OOC, but in a lot of conference matchups too. I bucked the trend, and paid for it.
How bad was it last week? Consider the big week Garfather had. He had 6 ML dogs, four that were excellent, having every chance to win and actually winning three, and two that were just dog shit. Guess which two I overlapped with him? All told, I had 7 ML dogs (counting Ball St.) and just 3 of them turned out to be good plays. You need a much better percentage than that, because you’re always going to lose a good number of the strong plays. What Kent State was doing, I don’t know. I mean, why get on the airplane? Save the embarrassment and cancel the game. Non-competitive teams do that all the time, and this isn’t even a money game. At least go get your ass kicked by a big 10 team, and cash a check. Disgraceful.
Moving on, I continue to evolve methods, more urgently at this point. Expect less dependence on fundamental aspects of personnel, matchups, etc., which is convenient because that was a lot of work anyway. I’ll focus more on just looking for situations that resemble situations in the past that yielded good results. Example this week is Troy. They beat Okie St. last year. That means something to me — a hell of a lot more than “revenge” does. ML is ridiculously low in relation to the points, but I’ll likely play it anyway. Same deal with UNR — They own UNLV.
Lots of QB’s going down last week. I’m staying away from any game involving a brand new replacement QB, either side. I have zero luck with those.
This week’s prospective agenda:
Northwestern + or ML — I’m hearing Sutton should play. I also heard there is something ailing Bacher, but he played the whole game last week. I assume he is in. Anything I don’t know about? I’m unimpressed with Iowa and don’t understand this line at all.
Ohio State Minus — If it comes back to the key number. Again, I just don’t understand the line. OSU obliterates Minnesota every year.
Virginia Tech + or ML — Because Nebraska won’t be able to run the ball and their defense is still highly suspect — fits my theory that good defense is a better bet than good offense in a road dog. Could be like KSU/UL, where it didn’t appear (to me, at least) that UL had the goods to exploit KSU’s defensive fault lines, but they did.
Michigan ML — Classic conference home dog. Why are they discounted this much? Wisconsin is only slightly better than Fresno.
Wyoming ML — I like the home dogs better this week than last. I wouldn’t have got CSU or NCSU in 50 guesses. Does that mean HD’s go 0-17 this week?
UCLA ML — What will Fresno do when they can’t run the ball? Could be an ugly game, but I’ll take the mad home team.
SDSU Minus — I disagree with Garfather on this one. I think Idaho is the worst defensive team in D 1A, and that includes SMU. Worst rush defense vs worst rush offense. Something has to give. SDSU gets some players back on defense, and that could make the difference. 10 is a key number.
Reno ML — UNLV is still UNLV. They nearly gave away the ISU game.
Troy + or ML — Give me fair value here, please. Troy still the class of the SBC, and I think they go undefeated in conference this year.
Arkansas +28 — Laugh all you want. In fact, laugh even louder after they lose 51-7, but that’s a lot of points. Somebody please tell Casey Dick what color jerseys his team is wearing.
Others……..Mississippi plus, Akorn plus or ML, Maryland plus or ML. Depends on price and even more on the fact that I’ve barely even taken a look at any of those.
KSU/BSU is an interesting line. I see Garfather has the +900 already. That’s the problem with shooting prematurely — now I can’t even look at the game. D. Love being out could be a distraction. I’m just glad the team was able to stay focused vs IU or my Saturday could have been even worse. I think KSU gave up 17 plays of 50+ yards in the ULL game, but I might have to check that…..either way, I’m avoiding this like the plague.
Colorado/FSU is another interesting game. What FSU does in practice all spring and summer, I don’t understand. But as soon as you start to depend on their total offensive ineptness, wham!, they jump up and do something right. That team is completely unbettable.
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</td><td class="cc c">10:09 AM (2 hours ago)
Matador’s Week 5 Notebook
from underdogsofwar.com by Matador
I needed a few days off after last week, so I’m getting a late start. I’ll keep it very brief this week.
Last week was another disaster. Believe it or not, I put substantial effort into coming up with that mess. I won’t waste too much time beating myself up over it, but I won’t waste a lot of time on this weeks games either. Seems to make very little difference.
As bad as last week was, I would have been bailed out if Baylor, CMU or SJSU had come through. That’s what I like about those longshots, they can really bail you out when a big one hits, but just wasn’t to be last week. SJSU is probably just wishful thinking — it seems that while they had a decent first half, they never really had a chance. Stanford did the same thing in the second half that they did last year — they took control at the LOS, both sides. I’m becoming more and more convinced that recent history in a series is as important an indicator as any you’ll find, particuarly OOC, but in a lot of conference matchups too. I bucked the trend, and paid for it.
How bad was it last week? Consider the big week Garfather had. He had 6 ML dogs, four that were excellent, having every chance to win and actually winning three, and two that were just dog shit. Guess which two I overlapped with him? All told, I had 7 ML dogs (counting Ball St.) and just 3 of them turned out to be good plays. You need a much better percentage than that, because you’re always going to lose a good number of the strong plays. What Kent State was doing, I don’t know. I mean, why get on the airplane? Save the embarrassment and cancel the game. Non-competitive teams do that all the time, and this isn’t even a money game. At least go get your ass kicked by a big 10 team, and cash a check. Disgraceful.
Moving on, I continue to evolve methods, more urgently at this point. Expect less dependence on fundamental aspects of personnel, matchups, etc., which is convenient because that was a lot of work anyway. I’ll focus more on just looking for situations that resemble situations in the past that yielded good results. Example this week is Troy. They beat Okie St. last year. That means something to me — a hell of a lot more than “revenge” does. ML is ridiculously low in relation to the points, but I’ll likely play it anyway. Same deal with UNR — They own UNLV.
Lots of QB’s going down last week. I’m staying away from any game involving a brand new replacement QB, either side. I have zero luck with those.
This week’s prospective agenda:
Northwestern + or ML — I’m hearing Sutton should play. I also heard there is something ailing Bacher, but he played the whole game last week. I assume he is in. Anything I don’t know about? I’m unimpressed with Iowa and don’t understand this line at all.
Ohio State Minus — If it comes back to the key number. Again, I just don’t understand the line. OSU obliterates Minnesota every year.
Virginia Tech + or ML — Because Nebraska won’t be able to run the ball and their defense is still highly suspect — fits my theory that good defense is a better bet than good offense in a road dog. Could be like KSU/UL, where it didn’t appear (to me, at least) that UL had the goods to exploit KSU’s defensive fault lines, but they did.
Michigan ML — Classic conference home dog. Why are they discounted this much? Wisconsin is only slightly better than Fresno.
Wyoming ML — I like the home dogs better this week than last. I wouldn’t have got CSU or NCSU in 50 guesses. Does that mean HD’s go 0-17 this week?
UCLA ML — What will Fresno do when they can’t run the ball? Could be an ugly game, but I’ll take the mad home team.
SDSU Minus — I disagree with Garfather on this one. I think Idaho is the worst defensive team in D 1A, and that includes SMU. Worst rush defense vs worst rush offense. Something has to give. SDSU gets some players back on defense, and that could make the difference. 10 is a key number.
Reno ML — UNLV is still UNLV. They nearly gave away the ISU game.
Troy + or ML — Give me fair value here, please. Troy still the class of the SBC, and I think they go undefeated in conference this year.
Arkansas +28 — Laugh all you want. In fact, laugh even louder after they lose 51-7, but that’s a lot of points. Somebody please tell Casey Dick what color jerseys his team is wearing.
Others……..Mississippi plus, Akorn plus or ML, Maryland plus or ML. Depends on price and even more on the fact that I’ve barely even taken a look at any of those.
KSU/BSU is an interesting line. I see Garfather has the +900 already. That’s the problem with shooting prematurely — now I can’t even look at the game. D. Love being out could be a distraction. I’m just glad the team was able to stay focused vs IU or my Saturday could have been even worse. I think KSU gave up 17 plays of 50+ yards in the ULL game, but I might have to check that…..either way, I’m avoiding this like the plague.
Colorado/FSU is another interesting game. What FSU does in practice all spring and summer, I don’t understand. But as soon as you start to depend on their total offensive ineptness, wham!, they jump up and do something right. That team is completely unbettable.
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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</td><td class="cc c">9:32 AM (3 hours ago)
Blog Pollin': On week four's ballot, the South rises again
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
Now in its fourth year, the Blog Poll is a weekly effort of dozens of college football-centric Web sites representing a wide array of schools under the oversight of founder/manager/guru Brian Cook at MGoBlog. Its goal is to provide a more rigorous check on the mainstream polls that actually, like, count toward the mythical championship, and to put all biases in the open. But mainly, it’s fun.
This week’s poll is brought to you by rap supergroup Big Tymers, which reminds readers,
Put it all together, and you get -- for now anyway -- ESSSSSSS EEEEEEE SEEEEEEEE. Four weeks in, the SEC occupies spots two through six, and the distinction isn't arbitrary: Florida (over Miami and Tennessee) and Georgia (South Carolina and Arizona State) both have two fairly quality wins by mostly wide margins, while LSU (over Auburn) and Alabama (by a huge margin over Clemson) have two of the strongest wins of the early season; after destroying Arkansas, Alabama is only dinged by a lazy effort against Tulane, where the Gators, Bulldogs and Tigers have appropriately dominated their cruise control games. Vanderbilt is a tougher call because the Commodores don't have a great win, and there's essentially no gap between Vandy at six and Wisconsin at twelve.
That group of teams, between Vandy and Wisconsin, has been winning impressively over middle of the pack competition like Washington, Cincinnati, Ole Miss, UCLA and Michigan, none of which we can make a strong judgment about at this point. As opposed to, say, Auburn or Ohio State, which don't appear here because neither has a real quality win to its name yet, but both of which we can still classify as valuable wins for now (yes, I recognize the inconsistency in that assumption, but these are the compromises we make).
East Carolina is the first team this season to appear on my ballot with a loss, a bad loss at that, but the Pirates' quality wins over Virginia Tech and West Virginia still carry some considerable weight, even as the Mountaineers are rapidly losing value. Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech are in the same boat: both have a pair of decent wins, and close, acceptable losses that don't sink them completely.
Beyond that, there's a string of Big 12 teams (and Tulsa) with perfect records and impressive margins of victory, but not much substance to their style -- between Texas, Texas Tech, Missouri and Nebraska, the only win of substance is Missouri's shootout with Illinois, which most recently struggled to put away UL-Lafayette. Even with the Illini on the board, the Tigers' strength of schedule is near rock-bottom according to Sagarin and will take a few Big 12 victims to put them in the upper echelon here (though I fully expect Mizzou to get there).
Caveat: In retrospect, I'd probably bump Missouri considerably and move South Florida in front of Boise State and Colorado. Sorry, Bulls -- I'll get you back, as long as you keep winning.
There's still time for all that to sort itself out as the data mounts. As always, I'll begin from scratch next week, when everything will be completely different.
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</td><td class="cc c">9:32 AM (3 hours ago)
Blog Pollin': On week four's ballot, the South rises again
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
Now in its fourth year, the Blog Poll is a weekly effort of dozens of college football-centric Web sites representing a wide array of schools under the oversight of founder/manager/guru Brian Cook at MGoBlog. Its goal is to provide a more rigorous check on the mainstream polls that actually, like, count toward the mythical championship, and to put all biases in the open. But mainly, it’s fun.
Ooh, Big Tymers in a private jet
Got the head of Universal to sign the check
Meanwhile Ludacris is out arrangin rovers
Every coast watch out cuz the South is takin' over
Uhh
As always, the criteria here is not "strength" or projection, but resumé, actual on-field accomplishment to date. This week, that's composed of four factors: record (obviously), "quality" wins, overall strength of schedule (as tallied by Jeff Sagarin, for the sake of time and consistency) and overall margin of victory.Got the head of Universal to sign the check
Meanwhile Ludacris is out arrangin rovers
Every coast watch out cuz the South is takin' over
Uhh
Put it all together, and you get -- for now anyway -- ESSSSSSS EEEEEEE SEEEEEEEE. Four weeks in, the SEC occupies spots two through six, and the distinction isn't arbitrary: Florida (over Miami and Tennessee) and Georgia (South Carolina and Arizona State) both have two fairly quality wins by mostly wide margins, while LSU (over Auburn) and Alabama (by a huge margin over Clemson) have two of the strongest wins of the early season; after destroying Arkansas, Alabama is only dinged by a lazy effort against Tulane, where the Gators, Bulldogs and Tigers have appropriately dominated their cruise control games. Vanderbilt is a tougher call because the Commodores don't have a great win, and there's essentially no gap between Vandy at six and Wisconsin at twelve.
That group of teams, between Vandy and Wisconsin, has been winning impressively over middle of the pack competition like Washington, Cincinnati, Ole Miss, UCLA and Michigan, none of which we can make a strong judgment about at this point. As opposed to, say, Auburn or Ohio State, which don't appear here because neither has a real quality win to its name yet, but both of which we can still classify as valuable wins for now (yes, I recognize the inconsistency in that assumption, but these are the compromises we make).
Beyond that, there's a string of Big 12 teams (and Tulsa) with perfect records and impressive margins of victory, but not much substance to their style -- between Texas, Texas Tech, Missouri and Nebraska, the only win of substance is Missouri's shootout with Illinois, which most recently struggled to put away UL-Lafayette. Even with the Illini on the board, the Tigers' strength of schedule is near rock-bottom according to Sagarin and will take a few Big 12 victims to put them in the upper echelon here (though I fully expect Mizzou to get there).
Caveat: In retrospect, I'd probably bump Missouri considerably and move South Florida in front of Boise State and Colorado. Sorry, Bulls -- I'll get you back, as long as you keep winning.
There's still time for all that to sort itself out as the data mounts. As always, I'll begin from scratch next week, when everything will be completely different.
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
Putting Fulmer's future on the rocks, literally
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
It's sounds like the walls are beginning to close in on Phil Fulmer, complete with those interlocking spikes like in Indiana Jones, and insult-covered rocks across from the street from the athletic center, etc. When the discontent gets that loud, that close to home, it's impossible to shield the players. So, like a jury instructed to disregard that last bombshell statement, you teach the kids to close ranks and look the other way.
Take receiver and sometimes shotgun runner Gerald Jones, who doesn't care what the fans and media are saying, even if he has a pretty strong grasp of it, anyway:
Fulmer himself is more used to this sort of thing, which might be part of the problem at this point: it hurts at first, but eventually, you learn to ignore the screaming. The Knoxville News-Sentinel said Fulmer was asked what it would take for him to resign twice during his Monday call-in show, after the boos rained down for the second week in a row in the loss to Florida. "That comes with the territory," he said, which is true. And if the Vols fall to 1-3 Saturday against Auburn, will be more true than ever.
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
Take receiver and sometimes shotgun runner Gerald Jones, who doesn't care what the fans and media are saying, even if he has a pretty strong grasp of it, anyway:
“You know who’s real fans when things go wrong,” said Jones, a sophomore. “There’s a lot of things that say, ‘Fire Fulmer’ and ‘Get (Jonathan) Crompton out of there and put Jones at quarterback’ or ‘the receivers can’t win one-on-one’ and ‘(tailback) Arian (Foster)’s not running physical.’ I’m not worried about that. They might as well be Florida fans because they’re saying the same exact thing.”
People are like, "Gerald Jones should be getting the ball more," and "Gerald Jones has so many sweet moves, and Crompton is too dumb to hit the side of a barn with a screen pass, why don't they just try to run Gerald Jones on every play?" and "Our offensive line is holier than Mother Teresa on draw plays," and "Damn, Gerald Jones so sexy, how can I get with that man?" But Gerald Jones doesn't listen to any of that. Gerald Jones is only worried about Tennessee.
Fulmer himself is more used to this sort of thing, which might be part of the problem at this point: it hurts at first, but eventually, you learn to ignore the screaming. The Knoxville News-Sentinel said Fulmer was asked what it would take for him to resign twice during his Monday call-in show, after the boos rained down for the second week in a row in the loss to Florida. "That comes with the territory," he said, which is true. And if the Vols fall to 1-3 Saturday against Auburn, will be more true than ever.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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</td><td class="cc c">8:32 AM (4 hours ago)
Wednesday Headlinin': Alabama talks noise, very quietly
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
• Going to what kind of funeral? Make sure the boss and/or kids are out of earshot, turn the sound up and listen around 1:04 for Alabama strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran's assessment Georgia's "blackout" for the Tide's visit on Saturday -- it's uncharacteristically quiet for a very loud man, so much so that Tide Sports originally posted the otherwise innocuous practice clip unedited, yet still not safe for wherever you happen to be listening:
• Reform, Ferentz. Reform. The sexual abuse cover-up that broke this summer was the tipping point on a long, long list of Iowa misdeeds -- Dezman Moses' public intoxication Sunday makes an incredible 19 Hawkeyes arrested since the start of the 2006 season -- and set the wheels of reform to grindin'. Over the weekend the university hired former DB Chigozie Ejiasi to play nanny, aka "director of player development," to keep incoming players out of the blotter. Tuesday, heads were rolling in preparation for president Sally Mason's meeting Thursday with the Board of Regents.
The board president wouldn't tell the Associated Press whether Mason could still be fired herself (I can name at least a couple of Iowans who'd be totally fine with that), and there's no indication from the outside whether the canned underlings, attorney Phillip Jones and vice president of something or other Marcus Mills, are just heads to deliver the regents on a platter. Those two were singled out in an independent report into the university's botched response to the sexual abuse charges against players Abe Satterfield and Cedric Everson, who go to trial in November, but Mills said Tuesday that Mason was "absolutely" aware of how the investigation was going forward. So despite the effort, she's not out of the woods yet.
• Beanie's back. Jim Tressel is calling Chris Wells 'probable' for Minnesota, and not a moment too soon for Ohio State, which needs an insurance policy to ease Terrelle Pryor's learning curve heading into the Big Ten schedule. The rest of the Buckeyes' season could hinge on the trip to Wisconsin next week, Pryor's first road start, and the Gophers are a perfect warm-up to develop some chemistry for the "second season" in-conference.
Quickly ... Dismissed Virginia quarterback Peter Lalich has been to Oregon State this week and will be a Beaver. . . . Chris Todd wants to play better after Auburn's loss to LSU. Big of him. . . . There's a whole spate of articles about Florida's "conservatism," all of them boiling down to "hey, a win is a win." . . . Gator defensive end Jermaine Cunningham is on crutches but still likely to play against Ole Miss. . . . Tennessee players and the big boss himself are fuming over criticism of Phil Fulmer. . . . Colorado receiver Kendrick Celestine is leaving the team. . . . Bo Pelini says Tom Osborne's input is welcome. That's nice of him. . . . USC promises to take Oregon State seriously. How dutiful, especially since USC lost on its last trip to Corvallis. . . . Also for USC, Brian Cushing's status is in question for Thursday, and unsung Garrett Green has passed heralded Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain as the Trojans' No. 2 quarterback. . . . And will Pat McAfee ever recover from missing an overtime field goal against Colorado? Probably, but the jury's still out -- take his shoelaces away, just in case.
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</td><td class="cc c">8:32 AM (4 hours ago)
Wednesday Headlinin': Alabama talks noise, very quietly
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
• Going to what kind of funeral? Make sure the boss and/or kids are out of earshot, turn the sound up and listen around 1:04 for Alabama strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran's assessment Georgia's "blackout" for the Tide's visit on Saturday -- it's uncharacteristically quiet for a very loud man, so much so that Tide Sports originally posted the otherwise innocuous practice clip unedited, yet still not safe for wherever you happen to be listening:
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VzoZVcH_39c&hl=en&fs=1" flashvars="undefined" allowscriptaccess="never" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344">Popout
The best thing about this is Cochran following up his meaningless smack by screaming, "You heard it! Keep that low now, keep that low!" Because the best empty swagger is always whispered within full view and earshot of independent cameramen. See, this is why Mark Richt keeps his practices closed.• Reform, Ferentz. Reform. The sexual abuse cover-up that broke this summer was the tipping point on a long, long list of Iowa misdeeds -- Dezman Moses' public intoxication Sunday makes an incredible 19 Hawkeyes arrested since the start of the 2006 season -- and set the wheels of reform to grindin'. Over the weekend the university hired former DB Chigozie Ejiasi to play nanny, aka "director of player development," to keep incoming players out of the blotter. Tuesday, heads were rolling in preparation for president Sally Mason's meeting Thursday with the Board of Regents.
The board president wouldn't tell the Associated Press whether Mason could still be fired herself (I can name at least a couple of Iowans who'd be totally fine with that), and there's no indication from the outside whether the canned underlings, attorney Phillip Jones and vice president of something or other Marcus Mills, are just heads to deliver the regents on a platter. Those two were singled out in an independent report into the university's botched response to the sexual abuse charges against players Abe Satterfield and Cedric Everson, who go to trial in November, but Mills said Tuesday that Mason was "absolutely" aware of how the investigation was going forward. So despite the effort, she's not out of the woods yet.
Quickly ... Dismissed Virginia quarterback Peter Lalich has been to Oregon State this week and will be a Beaver. . . . Chris Todd wants to play better after Auburn's loss to LSU. Big of him. . . . There's a whole spate of articles about Florida's "conservatism," all of them boiling down to "hey, a win is a win." . . . Gator defensive end Jermaine Cunningham is on crutches but still likely to play against Ole Miss. . . . Tennessee players and the big boss himself are fuming over criticism of Phil Fulmer. . . . Colorado receiver Kendrick Celestine is leaving the team. . . . Bo Pelini says Tom Osborne's input is welcome. That's nice of him. . . . USC promises to take Oregon State seriously. How dutiful, especially since USC lost on its last trip to Corvallis. . . . Also for USC, Brian Cushing's status is in question for Thursday, and unsung Garrett Green has passed heralded Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain as the Trojans' No. 2 quarterback. . . . And will Pat McAfee ever recover from missing an overtime field goal against Colorado? Probably, but the jury's still out -- take his shoelaces away, just in case.
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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ACC Championship Roulette: When all else fails, bet Hokies
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
Round and round she goes, where the ball stops, nobody knows ...
This week's bet: Virginia Tech. If the wheel had a 'default' setting, it would be the Hokies, who are playing the same kind of ugly, forgettable ball they play every September en route to dominating the conference again. Saturday's game at Nebraska is a litmus test for the course of the season: back to contending for the top ten, or just hanging onto the fringes?
Let 'em Ride. Don't be fooled by the early loss to East Carolina or back-to-back 20-17 scores over Georgia Tech and North Carolina: Tech regularly starts slow, with at least one September loss now in four of the last five years since joining the ACC, all accompanied by a too-close-for-comfort win or two. The wins the last two weeks have come by the familiar defense/turnovers/special teams M.O. that keep coming out on top.
Once Tyrod Taylor settles in, this version of the Hokie offense will have a playmaking quarterback for the first time since Marcus Vick in 2005. Tech has won the last two years despite Sean Glennon most of the time, and the full-fledged switch to Taylor after the ECU debacle can only pay off in the long run. Once Taylor gets his feet under him, they'll carry him into all-ACC territory by November.
Bet the Field. As it stands after East Carolina's flop at N.C. State, the ECU loss is on Virginia Tech just not being very good, and you'd be letting Tech off light to describe the wins over Georgia Tech and UNC as "ugly." The Hokies were outgained in both and needed a couple fat turnover margins (+3 against the Jackets, +2 against the Tar Heels) to eke out a field goal margin. The difference right now between 1-3, where the only win is over Furman, and the 3-1 reality is razor thin.
The young-ish defense is nothing like its consistently killer predecessors yet, but the bigger problem is the same: the quarterbacks are struggling massively to get the ball downfield, and there are no apparent playmakers for them to get it to if they could. The off-and-on running game has been decidedly 'off.' Even the special teams let them down, on the decisive punt block against ECU. The Hokies haven't proven particularly good at anything yet except falling on fumbles, and the trip to Nebraska is an opportunity to be exposed in similar fashion to last year's de-boweling at LSU.
Payout. 6-to-1. Again, one of the better bets on the table based on past performance, which is about all there is to recommend Tech at this point aside from the schedule. With Georgia Tech and North Carolina vanquished, though, who on the remaining conference schedule would you give odds to take the Hokies down? Boston College? Florida State? Maryland? Miami? Duke? Virginia? Even if things go terribly Saturday in Lincoln, last year's team survived its disastrous letdown in Baton Rouge to win seven of eight ACC games in the regular season -- it was a few seconds and an onside kick against Boston College away from 8-0 -- and won the conference championship. Assuming the ongoing maturity of Taylor and the defense in general, I'm not sure there's anyone left to stop that from happening again.
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</td><td class="cc c">3:41 PM (45 minutes ago)
ACC Championship Roulette: When all else fails, bet Hokies
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
Round and round she goes, where the ball stops, nobody knows ...
Let 'em Ride. Don't be fooled by the early loss to East Carolina or back-to-back 20-17 scores over Georgia Tech and North Carolina: Tech regularly starts slow, with at least one September loss now in four of the last five years since joining the ACC, all accompanied by a too-close-for-comfort win or two. The wins the last two weeks have come by the familiar defense/turnovers/special teams M.O. that keep coming out on top.
Bet the Field. As it stands after East Carolina's flop at N.C. State, the ECU loss is on Virginia Tech just not being very good, and you'd be letting Tech off light to describe the wins over Georgia Tech and UNC as "ugly." The Hokies were outgained in both and needed a couple fat turnover margins (+3 against the Jackets, +2 against the Tar Heels) to eke out a field goal margin. The difference right now between 1-3, where the only win is over Furman, and the 3-1 reality is razor thin.
The young-ish defense is nothing like its consistently killer predecessors yet, but the bigger problem is the same: the quarterbacks are struggling massively to get the ball downfield, and there are no apparent playmakers for them to get it to if they could. The off-and-on running game has been decidedly 'off.' Even the special teams let them down, on the decisive punt block against ECU. The Hokies haven't proven particularly good at anything yet except falling on fumbles, and the trip to Nebraska is an opportunity to be exposed in similar fashion to last year's de-boweling at LSU.
Payout. 6-to-1. Again, one of the better bets on the table based on past performance, which is about all there is to recommend Tech at this point aside from the schedule. With Georgia Tech and North Carolina vanquished, though, who on the remaining conference schedule would you give odds to take the Hokies down? Boston College? Florida State? Maryland? Miami? Duke? Virginia? Even if things go terribly Saturday in Lincoln, last year's team survived its disastrous letdown in Baton Rouge to win seven of eight ACC games in the regular season -- it was a few seconds and an onside kick against Boston College away from 8-0 -- and won the conference championship. Assuming the ongoing maturity of Taylor and the defense in general, I'm not sure there's anyone left to stop that from happening again.
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
South Florida Would Like Tom O'Brien to Remember Where He Coaches
from The FanHouse - NCAAfootball
Filed under: NC State, South Florida, ACC, Big East
Like any blogger, I like a little smack talk between teams. Both the intended, and unintended. Either way, it generally makes for a good post game interview because someone always loses. But what I don't understand is why Tom O'Brien thought he needed to take a shot at South Florida's defense since the two teams don't play this year.
from The FanHouse - NCAAfootball
Filed under: NC State, South Florida, ACC, Big East
USF's defense took a shot from N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien last week when he told reporters he saw no reason to consult with the Bulls about stopping the spread offense...
"Did you watch them against Oregon?" O'Brien asked, referencing the Ducks' 56-21 trouncing of the Bulls in the Sun Bowl in El Paso. "Go look at that game. That was the spread that they were defending. I'm not saying anything about South Florida's defense, but if they're the gurus, we'd better go somewhere else."
Is he right? Kind of. Something did happen to the South Florida defense toward the end of the year. They weren't nearly the same unit that was shutting down Auburn and West Virginia at the beginning of the season when they faced Oregon. But the fact still remains that they did have a lot of success last year before the wheels feel off. Another fact that they would like everyone to remember is that Tom O'Brien and NC State were watching that game because they didn't make a bowl last year."Did you watch them against Oregon?" O'Brien asked, referencing the Ducks' 56-21 trouncing of the Bulls in the Sun Bowl in El Paso. "Go look at that game. That was the spread that they were defending. I'm not saying anything about South Florida's defense, but if they're the gurus, we'd better go somewhere else."
"Here's the way I feel about it: He's right. We're not gurus," Burnham said. "On the other hand, we try to handle things professionally and not say anything ... with class, not say anything about anyone else's coaching staff. He can say what he wants to. The other thing, I forget what bowl game they were in. That's all I've got to say."-USF defensive coordinator Wally Burnham
Zing! Although the chances are slim, it is possible that these two teams could meet in a bowl game this year. Provided NC State can do something they haven't done in a while, have a winning season. No, Phillip Rivers doesn't play here anymore.
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
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</td><td class="cc c">6:47 AM (26 minutes ago)
Thursday Headlinin': It's only 'black humor' for deadpan Richt
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
• Funeral jokes. Edgy. If Alabama is looking forward to a funeral at Satuday's "Black Out" in Sanford Stadium, Mark Richt would be more than willing to oblige -- I mean, if he had any idea what was going on:
Alas, we can only hope for that, but a couple appearances we will definitely see: Julio Jones and A.J. Green. Both Rivals and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution focus on the matchup of the top two receiver recruits in the country as the game's storyline of the day.
• Maybe next time, he'll try actual food. Cal's Jahvid Best, star of the infamous on-field vomit video after getting lit up at Maryland, reveals what he had for breakfast:
• Where will the madness end?Add another potential victim to the long list of Wall Street casualties: Oklahoma State. Since the start of the year, the Cowboys' sugar daddy/surrogate owner, Swift Boat-funding, death-capitalizing, wind-championing mega-tycoon T. Boone Pickens, has suffered one billion dollars in losses to his hedge fund portfolio, from which OSU draws most of the tens of millions it plans to use for major facilities upgrades. The ongoing Pickens Stadium expansion project will go on as planned, but the $50 million indoor practice facility? Not so fast, as AD Mike Holder said last month: "Have you seen the price of oil?"
If oil's a problem, why not a wind-powered facility? T. Boone, make it happen!
Quickly ... The new clock rules has shaved eight plays and 14 minutes off of games, on average, and Urban Meyer's not happy. . . . Tennessee's Gerald Jones hopes to actually attempt a pass from the G-Gun against Auburn. . . . Tommy Tuberville promises Kodi Burns will play sooner or later, although he hasn't taken a snap in two games. . . . Battered LSU quarterback Andrew Hatch sat out practice Wednesday but should be ready to go in necessary Saturday, according to Les Miles, and freshman Jordan Jefferson will probably play some significant snaps against Mississippi State. . . . South Carolina lineman Jamel King will require heart surgery after the season, but will soldier on for the rest of the year. . . . Instead of four years at USC, Trojan recruit Maurice Simmons will spend four years in prison for a holdup in Compton in March. . . . Penn State has turned Paternoville into another bureaucratic zone. . . . Injuries are shuffling up Michigan's offensive line. . . . And Oregon quarterback Justin Roper missed Wednesday's practice, meaning its unlikely he'll make the cut for the Ducks' 64-man travel roster to Washington State.
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Thursday Headlinin': It's only 'black humor' for deadpan Richt
from Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports by Matt Hinton
Richt walked into the team-meeting room for his post-practice briefing Wednesday wearing a black hat, black shirt and black shorts. “I’m going to a funeral,” he said with a mischievous grin.
Naturally, a reporter asked if he was responding to the Alabama video.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he quipped.
This is either the feisty, dance in your end zone, plant one on my wife in public Richt we want to see, or he's actually, you know, focused on preparing for the game instead of a barely audible barb on YouTube. Whatever. All this talk of black outs and funerals is very dark, perfectly appropriate for a good intra-conference slugfest, and hopefully getting enough pub for a melodramatic Undertaker appearance before kickoff.Naturally, a reporter asked if he was responding to the Alabama video.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he quipped.
Alas, we can only hope for that, but a couple appearances we will definitely see: Julio Jones and A.J. Green. Both Rivals and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution focus on the matchup of the top two receiver recruits in the country as the game's storyline of the day.
• Maybe next time, he'll try actual food. Cal's Jahvid Best, star of the infamous on-field vomit video after getting lit up at Maryland, reveals what he had for breakfast:
The most popular four versions of the video have been viewed by more than 200,000 users, but one question had gone unasked until Wednesday's teleconference.
ESPN's Ted Miller said, "I've got to ask. What did you have for breakfast?" For the record, Best says it was a mix of blue Gatorade and yellow Cytomax.
For the uninitiated, Cytomax is an energy drink made with a unique blend of Alpha-L-PolyLactate, complex carbohydrates, and electrolytes for an optimal energy supply. Just so you know.ESPN's Ted Miller said, "I've got to ask. What did you have for breakfast?" For the record, Best says it was a mix of blue Gatorade and yellow Cytomax.
If oil's a problem, why not a wind-powered facility? T. Boone, make it happen!
Quickly ... The new clock rules has shaved eight plays and 14 minutes off of games, on average, and Urban Meyer's not happy. . . . Tennessee's Gerald Jones hopes to actually attempt a pass from the G-Gun against Auburn. . . . Tommy Tuberville promises Kodi Burns will play sooner or later, although he hasn't taken a snap in two games. . . . Battered LSU quarterback Andrew Hatch sat out practice Wednesday but should be ready to go in necessary Saturday, according to Les Miles, and freshman Jordan Jefferson will probably play some significant snaps against Mississippi State. . . . South Carolina lineman Jamel King will require heart surgery after the season, but will soldier on for the rest of the year. . . . Instead of four years at USC, Trojan recruit Maurice Simmons will spend four years in prison for a holdup in Compton in March. . . . Penn State has turned Paternoville into another bureaucratic zone. . . . Injuries are shuffling up Michigan's offensive line. . . . And Oregon quarterback Justin Roper missed Wednesday's practice, meaning its unlikely he'll make the cut for the Ducks' 64-man travel roster to Washington State.
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RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
Football news 9/22
Posted by Steve Irvine--Birmingham News September 22, 2008 5:05 PM
UAB head coach Neil Callaway was surprised on Monday when told during his weekly press conference that South Carolina will be without starting running back Mike Davis when the teams meet on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The 5-foot-9, 207-pound Davis is suspended for Saturday because of violating the program's class attendance policy. Davis could have already served the suspension but the decision was made to sit him out this week, which is the team's fifth game.
Callaway said his team had already begun preparing to face Davis, who has 254 yards on 54 carries.
"That's good news," Callaway said. "To be honest I haven't seen past him (while watching film). I didn't know he was suspended. I guess it's good for us and shows you they don't respect us very much if they're not going to play him. That definitely ought to send a message to what they think and how they think."
Two other regular starters _ offensive right guard Heath Batchelor and defensive end Jordin Lindsey _ are also slated to miss the game for violating the class attendance policy.
South Carolina's depth chart lists sophomore Brian Maddox as the tailback starter and freshman Eric Baker as his backup. Maddox has 15 carries for 65 yards in four games and Baker has 11 carries for 49 yards in two games.
Callaway said on Monday that UAB running back Aaron Johns will miss his second consecutive game because of an undisclosed injury. But Callaway said several other players who sat out against Alabama State, including safety Will Dunbar, defensive linemen Tim Davis and David Decordova and cornerback Brandon Carlisle, are on track to return to the lineup on Saturday.
Callaway isn't sure whether Stephen Garcia, Chris Smelley or Tommy Beecher will get the starting nod on Saturday. South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier said that it's possible that Garcia will take over for Smelley as the starter. Callaways said all three are similar.
"I think they're all big guys, physical guys," Callaway said. "They're OK as athletes. I don't think there is an athletic guy like (UAB quarterback Joe Webb) that's going to have a lot of escapability."
Posted by Steve Irvine--Birmingham News September 22, 2008 5:05 PM
UAB head coach Neil Callaway was surprised on Monday when told during his weekly press conference that South Carolina will be without starting running back Mike Davis when the teams meet on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The 5-foot-9, 207-pound Davis is suspended for Saturday because of violating the program's class attendance policy. Davis could have already served the suspension but the decision was made to sit him out this week, which is the team's fifth game.
Callaway said his team had already begun preparing to face Davis, who has 254 yards on 54 carries.
"That's good news," Callaway said. "To be honest I haven't seen past him (while watching film). I didn't know he was suspended. I guess it's good for us and shows you they don't respect us very much if they're not going to play him. That definitely ought to send a message to what they think and how they think."
Two other regular starters _ offensive right guard Heath Batchelor and defensive end Jordin Lindsey _ are also slated to miss the game for violating the class attendance policy.
South Carolina's depth chart lists sophomore Brian Maddox as the tailback starter and freshman Eric Baker as his backup. Maddox has 15 carries for 65 yards in four games and Baker has 11 carries for 49 yards in two games.
Callaway said on Monday that UAB running back Aaron Johns will miss his second consecutive game because of an undisclosed injury. But Callaway said several other players who sat out against Alabama State, including safety Will Dunbar, defensive linemen Tim Davis and David Decordova and cornerback Brandon Carlisle, are on track to return to the lineup on Saturday.
Callaway isn't sure whether Stephen Garcia, Chris Smelley or Tommy Beecher will get the starting nod on Saturday. South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier said that it's possible that Garcia will take over for Smelley as the starter. Callaways said all three are similar.
"I think they're all big guys, physical guys," Callaway said. "They're OK as athletes. I don't think there is an athletic guy like (UAB quarterback Joe Webb) that's going to have a lot of escapability."
RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
Nice cheapshot by Boise St. Their safeties are leading with their helmets this season.
The shot that sent Masoli out of the game.
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The shot that sent Masoli out of the game.
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