tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54605050114582929082024-02-08T10:36:40.056-05:00COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVENA fresh take on college football without any biases. Outside the box thinking to explain what happens on the field and what the numbers mean. The college football experience is not complete without College Football Haven.The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.comBlogger269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-16530758720898950962011-01-20T16:37:00.001-05:002012-03-29T09:35:35.923-04:005 Yard Out: Mountain West Conference (MWC)The Mountain West Conference (MWC) landed a team in the BCS for the third straight year, but in a few short years, the MWC will be a shell of what it was this year. Conference expansion and losing Brady Hoke to Michigan make it impossible for the MWC to ever reach BCS AQ status. Those are off the field issues, let’s get to what happened on the field this year. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
You can read the preseason analysis on the MWC here: <a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/08/mountain-west-conference-football.html">5 Step Drop: Mountain West Conference</a> <br />
<br />
<b>1. Who will win the conference?</b> <br />
<u>Preseason answer</u>: TCU Horned Frogs. <br />
<u>2010 Champion</u>: TCU Horned Frogs. <br />
TCU has clearly become the class of the league. Second place Utah didn’t even put up a fight (47-7). San Diego State gave TCU a scare, but other than that it was clear sailing. No wonder the Big East decided to woo them away. <br />
<br />
<b>2. Who is the top returning player? </b><br />
<u>Preseason answer</u>: Carmen Messina, New Mexico. <br />
<u>2010 Top Player</u>: Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State. <br />
Hillman burst onto the scene this year. He amassed 1,532 yards and 17 touchdowns while averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Hillman went over 200 yards against Missouri and Navy. He had four other games with 150 or more yards rushing. He brings back memories of Marshall Faulk. <br />
<br />
<b>3. Which team will be the most improved?</b> <br />
<u>Preseason answer</u>: San Diego State Aztecs. <br />
<u>2010 Most Improved</u>: San Diego State Aztecs.<br />
There really is only one choice here. From 4-8 to 9-4 in one year clearly shows why Michigan hired away Brady Hoke. Every other MWC team stayed the same or was worse. <br />
<br />
<b>4. What will be the biggest surprise?</b> <br />
<u>Preseason answer</u>: One of the "Big 3" (TCU, BYU, Utah) will lose to one of the other six members of the conference. <br />
<u>2010 Biggest Surprise</u>: Total collapse by Wyoming and BYU. <br />
Although the preseason answer became a reality (September 11, Air Force 35 BYU 14), BYU barely qualifying for a bowl game, and Wyoming dropping from 7-6 bowl champ to 3-9 takes the cake as biggest surprise. Wyoming was supposed to be on the up swing like San Diego State. BYU was expected to be down some this year, but not that down. <br />
<br />
<b>5. Which coach is on the hottest seat? </b><br />
<u>Preseason answer</u>: Mike Locksley, New Mexico. <br />
<u>2010 Hot Seat</u>: Mike Locksley, New Mexico. <br />
After back-to-back 1-11 seasons, I find no reason for New Mexico to retain Locksley. The $1.5 million buyout must be the only thing keeping him on staff. He landed a big recruit last year; maybe he can do it again this year. Perhaps that will be enough to get 4 wins next year.<br />
<br />
The MWC can be proud that it won the Bowl Challenge Cup for the third time this year with a 4-1 bowl record. Utah was ranked in the top 5 at one point, as well. While the future looks turbulent, the 2010 season was a good one.The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-45206354816858328342011-01-19T16:26:00.001-05:002012-03-29T09:35:56.166-04:005 Yard Out: Pac-10<em>College Football Haven continues its year end review by looking at the Pac-10. </em><br />
<br />
Early in the year, the Pac-10 commanded a lot of respect as a league full of high powered offenses. By season’s end, only Oregon and Stanford were ranked in the top 25. Here is how the season turned out in comparison to the preseason predictions in the <a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/08/5-step-drop-pac-10-conference-football.html">5 Step Drop: Pac 10</a>. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b>1. Who will win the conference?</b> <br />
<u>Preseason answer:</u> USC Trojans/Oregon State Beavers. <br />
<u>2010 Champion:</u> Oregon Ducks. <br />
Even with all the suspensions and dismissals, which included starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, the Ducks were better than ever in 2010. They finished with a perfect 9-0 record in the Pac-10. <br />
<br />
<b>2. Who is the top returning player? </b><br />
<u>Preseason answer</u>: Jaquizz Rodgers, Oregon State. <br />
<u>2010 Best Player</u>: LaMichael James, Oregon. <br />
James was nearly unstoppable as he piled up 1,731 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns, despite missing the season opener. He eclipsed the 100 yard mark in 9 games, and he went over 200 yards in three of those nine games. James ran his way all the way to New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist. <br />
<br />
<b>3. Which team will be the most improved?</b> <br />
<u>Preseason answer</u>: Washington Huskies. <br />
<u>2010 Most Improved</u>: Arizona State Sun Devils. <br />
Arizona State only improved by two wins (4 to 6), however, four of their six losses were by four points or less—including a one point loss to Wisconsin and a four point loss to Stanford. The Sun Devils were one of the more competitive teams with Oregon this year “holding” the Ducks to 42 points and losing by “only” 11. <br />
<br />
<b>4. What will be the biggest surprise?</b> <br />
<u>Preseason answer</u>: Oregon’s off the field issues will greatly effect Oregon (four losses). <br />
<u>2010 Biggest Surprise</u>: Only 4 Pac-10 teams qualified for bowl games. <br />
I couldn’t have been more wrong about this one in the preseason. With USC on probation and Arizona State scoring two wins over FCS opponents, the Pac-10 failed to fill all of its bowl commitments. Oregon State and Cal both flopped regressing from 8 win seasons in 2009 to just 5 wins in 2010. <br />
<br />
<b>5. Which coach is on the hottest seat?</b> <br />
<u>Preseason answer</u>: Dennis Erickson, Arizona State. <br />
<u>2010 Hot Seat</u>: Rick Neuheisel, UCLA. <br />
Dennis Erickson showed enough progress and promise to keep his job safe, for another year. Rick Neuheisel, on the other hand, is in the pressure cooker after watching his Bruins go from bowl champs in 2009 to winning just four games in 2010. He is being proactive by shaking up his staff, but he better deliver next season or he will be sent packing. <br />
<br />
The Pac-10 has much to be proud of this year. For the first time since 2005, the conference had a representative in the BCS national championship game. For the first time since 2000, two Pac-10 teams finished ranked in the top 4. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck finished second in the Heisman Trophy ballot and LaMichael James was third.The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-62715611971868770562011-01-19T10:31:00.001-05:002012-03-29T09:36:30.416-04:00Weekly Trivia: Most Former Players On NFL Conference Championship RostersThe answer to last week's trivia question, "How many schools won a national championship since 1957?" is 27. Rather than list them all, you can find the list at <a href="http://www.shrpsports.com/cf/finals.htm">ShrpSports</a>. <br />
<br />
On to this week's question. <br />
<a name='more'></a>One big recruiting tool is to have players advance to the NFL. With national letter of intent day fast approaching, coaches are fighting to secure those final one or two undecided recruits. They would love to say something to the effect of “Look at the NFL playoffs. Only four teams remain. Do you know which college football team has the most players still playing? We do!” This week’s trivia question looks to find which coach can use this question in recruiting. <br />
<blockquote>Which college football team has the most players on the rosters for the remaining four NFL playoff teams? </blockquote>Leave your answer in the comments section. The answer will be revealed next Wednesday when a new question is asked. <br />
<br />
For more trivia questions, visit the <a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/p/trivia.html">Trivia</a> page.The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-66521771057049078732011-01-18T16:41:00.001-05:002012-03-29T09:36:52.671-04:005 Yard Out: Southeastern Conference (SEC)Now that the 2010 season is officially over, it is time to wrap it up. At the start of the year COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN previewed each conference with a “5 Step Drop.” We will look back at those predictions to see how this year shaped up with what was expected in a series of “5 Yard Out” columns over the next few weeks. First up, the Southeastern Conference (SEC). <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/08/souteastern-conference-sec-football.html">5 Step Drop: Southeastern Conference</a><br />
<br />
One thing that didn’t change was that the road to the national championshp still goes through the SEC. Auburn became the fourth different SEC team in the last five years to win the national championship. <br />
<br />
<b>1. Who will win the conference?</b> <br />
<u>Preseason answer</u>: Alabama Crimson Tide. <br />
<u>2010 champion</u>: Auburn Tigers. <br />
Alabama controlled it’s destiny late in the year, but a 24-17 loss to LSU on November 6 gave the Tide two conference losses. Auburn ran the gauntlet unscathed and claimed it’s first SEC title since 2004. <br />
<br />
<b>2. Who is the top returning player?</b> <br />
<u>Preseason answer</u>: Mark Ingram, Alabama. <br />
<u>2010 Top Player</u>: Cam Newton, Auburn. <br />
To use the same reasoning as was used in the preseason: How can the answer to this question be anyone but the reigning Heisman Trophy winner? Newton ran away with the Heisman. He came in under the radar transferring from Blinn Junior College, but it was obvious that he learned a few tricks from Tim Tebow while at Florida. Newton finished the year with 2,854 yards passing, 1,473 yards rushing, and 51 total touchdowns (30 passing, 20 rushing, 1 receiving). He had a 182 pass efficiency rating, which was only 0.6 points behind the national leader Kellen Moore. <br />
<br />
<b>3. Which team will be the most improved?</b> <br />
<u>Preseason answer</u>: Mississippi State Bulldogs. <br />
<u>2010 Most Improved</u>: Auburn Tigers.<br />
Mississippi State did show marked improvement going from 5-7 to 9-4 with a bowl win. However, there is no way to compete with Auburn’s leap from 8-5 to 14-0 and national champions.<br />
<br />
<b>4. What will be the biggest surprise?</b> <br />
<u>Preseason answer</u>: The SEC champion will not play in the BCS title game. <br />
<u>2010 Biggest Surprise</u>: The collapse of Florida. <br />
Mississippi’s loss to Jacksonville State was a close second. However, after the Gators lost 5 games total in their previous 40 contests, Florida lost five out of eight games between October 2 and November 27. The offense was so bad that Urban Meyer resorted to using a 3 quarterback rotation by the end of the year. It is not like this was a blip in the radar, either. The long term prospectus looked so bleak that, this time, Meyer quit the job for good. <br />
<br />
<b>5. Which coach is on the hottest seat?</b> <br />
<u>Preseason answer</u>: Les Miles, LSU. <br />
<u>2010 Coach on the Hot Seat</u>: Mark Richt, Georgia. <br />
Les Miles validated himself with the LSU faithful this year. Pretty much every other SEC coach did so as well, or they are still new enough to the job to have not worn out their welcome. Except Mark Richt in Athens, Georgia. The Bulldogs had a very slow start without A.J. Green for the first four games. Georgia finished 6-7 after losing to Conference USA champion UCF in the Liberty Bowl. Richt faces a win or else ultimatum in 2011. <br />
<br />
While the 2010 season was a down year for the SEC, six teams still finished ranked in the final AP and USA Today Top 25. Most importantly, the SEC ran its string of consecutive national championships to five. Other notable achievements included Arkansas making its first appearance in a BCS bowl, and South Carolina making its first appearance in the SEC championship game.The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-1965261511232520022011-01-18T12:30:00.001-05:002012-03-29T09:37:33.819-04:00Poll Results: Auburn vs. TCU: Who would Win?Not surprisingly, Auburn won by a landslide with 80% of the vote. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I have been thinking about it all week. I, guess, my vote would go to Auburn. TCU could beat Auburn, but I have to look at how Auburn came back from 24-0 against Alabama and pulled out a few other games miraculously. If TCU and Auburn played this weekend, I would expect Auburn to find a way to win. <br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone who voted. Don't forget to vote in this week's poll: "When will college football have a playoff?"The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-14961024265731749172011-01-17T12:51:00.000-05:002011-01-17T12:51:37.650-05:00College Football Will Have A Playoff SoonBCS haters and playoff proponents, your time has almost come. College football will have a playoff soon. That is right. The days of the BCS are, in fact, numbered. No more settling things by trying to impress voters by running up the score and scheduling weak FCS schools to earn style points. College football's champion will be settled on the field after more than two of the top teams face off in a multiple game, winner advances championship format.<br />
<br />
No, this is not a dream. Two factors are pushing college football, fast, towards a playoff system. <br />
<br />
<b>1. The SEC monopoly on national championships.</b><br />
<br />
As we just witnessed last week, Auburn made this the fifth consecutive year that a team from the SEC has won the national championship. Whether the SEC champion is undefeated, has one-loss or two-losses, they have always found their way into the BCS national championship game and won it the last five years. Don't expect this pattern to change next year. <br />
<br />
ESPN's <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=6009707">Way-too-early 2011 Top 25</a> already has Alabama number 2, and LSU number 4. It doesn't take a genius to see that the game between Alabama and LSU will be the de facto SEC championship game, and the winner will play in the BCS national championship game. Arkansas is losing Ryan Mallett and Auburn will be without Cam Newton. Ole Miss and Mississippi State are not ready to challenge these giants for the SEC West. The SEC East will not put up a fight. Florida will still be rebuilding. The best South Carolina team in a long time proved to be no match for an SEC West power. We all saw how bad Georgia was without A.J. Green during the first four games. Green will be gone all of 2011. Kentucky, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt? No commentary necessary. <br />
<br />
The Pac-10 became the third power conference to fail to unseat the SEC. The Big XII and Big Ten have both been unsuccessful in four total attempts (two each). These three conferences along with the Big East and the ACC, which are fighting just to stay relevant, aren't going to sit around and do nothing. Tradition has been a stumbling block in the past, but now it is a stepping stone. <br />
<br />
We all balked a month ago about the Big Ten naming their divisions “Legends” and “Leaders.” Well, there is nothing legendary about not being able to win a national championship, and there is no leadership in finishing second. Out on the west coast, the Pac-10 is proud of its moniker the “Conference of Champions.” Calling yourself the “Conference of Champions” looks silly when you can't get a championship in THE marquee college sport. It will be these traditions that prevail in the end, not the Big Ten vs. Pac-10 playing in the Rose Bowl. <br />
<br />
The only option to break up the SEC monopoly is a playoff system. With everyone else united on some sort of playoff model, the SEC will be forced to follow along. <br />
<br />
<b>2. ESPN wants a playoff. </b><br />
<br />
And ESPN usually gets what it wants. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=dw-expansion060610">Dan Wetzel with Yahoo! Sports</a> reported last year that Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany testified to Congress that a 16-team playoff would gross approximately $900 million a year (four times that of the current BCS format). ESPN is well aware of this, and it wants its share. <br />
<br />
In 2008, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3710477">ESPN outbid the competition</a> for “exclusive television, radio, digital, international and marketing rights” for the BCS bowl games from 2011-2014. While this year's BCS games were the first under this contract with ESPN, the next bidding war will take place in 2012. You better believe that ESPN will be doing everything in its power to ensure this package includes a plus-one game or some other form of a playoff. In fact, ESPN already is. <br />
<br />
We have all heard the cliché “toe the company line.” During this past college football season, the ESPN television, radio, and Internet personalities were not toeing the company line. They were as far from it as possible. In the first year of its contract to broadcast BCS games, you would expect the ESPN corporate executives to send a memo to everyone telling them to fawn over the BCS and build it up as the best thing that happened to college football since the Heisman Trophy. It appears that a memo stating the opposite was sent. I have never heard the ESPN broadcasters lament so openly and frequently the controversy of the BCS while building up the virtues of a playoff. <br />
<br />
ESPN knows the power that it has to shape college football. It has made a calculated decision to wield that power to bring about a playoff as soon as possible. <br />
<br />
Money and prestige will bring what so many have been waiting decades to have: a playoff for the highest level of NCAA football. Love it or hate it, brace yourself, because it is coming sooner than you expect.<br />
<br />
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at <a href="mailto:collegefootballhaven12@gmail.com">collegefootballhaven12@gmail.com</a><br />
<br />
<i>Other recent posts on COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN:</i><br />
<i><a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2011/01/game-predictions-2010-bowl-results.html">Game Predictions: 2010 Bowl Results</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekly-trivia-national-championship.html">Weekly Trivia: National Championship Winners Since 1957</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2011/01/poll-results-which-new-years-day-loss.html">Poll Results: Which New Year's Day Loss was the Worst for the Big Ten</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2011/01/college-football-haven-top-25-final.html">College Football Haven Top 25, Final, 2010</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2011/01/monday-musings-any-changes-to-bcs.html">Monday Musings: Any Changes to BCS Championship Game For Arizona Shootings?</a></i>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-85158350952289156262011-01-13T08:57:00.000-05:002011-01-13T08:57:23.723-05:00Game Predictions: 2010 Bowl ResultsAfter being correct 68.7% of the time during the season, I posted a wimpy 57.1% (20-15) correct prediction for the bowls. Picking against the Big 10 really helped me avoid finishing right at 50%. I was 3-2 in the BCS bowls, correctly picking TCU, Stanford, and Ohio State.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned, I will be working on the end of the year reports for each conference in the next couple of weeks. Then it is on to Letter of Intent day, the NFL combine, spring practices, and the NFL draft.<br />
<br />
I am working on some special research ideas that will help keep things rolling until the games are played again.The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-69324251907794166822011-01-12T10:22:00.000-05:002011-01-12T10:22:48.193-05:00Weekly Trivia: National Championship Winners Since 1957The answer to last week's trivia question, "When was Oklahoma’s last BCS bowl win?" is the Rose Bowl following the 2002 season. They beat the Washington State Cougars 34-14. Oklahoma lost their next five BCS bowls (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008) before beating UConn 48-20 New Year’s Day in the Fiesta Bowl. <br />
<br />
On to this week's question. Congratulations to Auburn on the 2010 National Championship. It has been well publicized that this is Auburn’s first national championship since 1957. That is a long time—53 years to be exact. That makes this week’s trivia question: <br />
<blockquote>How many other schools won a national championship since 1957? </blockquote>Leave your answer in the comments section. The answer will be revealed next Wednesday when a new question is asked. <br />
<br />
For more trivia questions, visit the <a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/p/trivia.html">Trivia</a> page.The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-38982375193255122652011-01-11T12:11:00.000-05:002011-01-11T12:11:34.431-05:00Poll Results: Which New Year's Day Loss was the Worst for the Big TenThe results are in and the run away winner was the Michigan State loss to Alabama, 49-7, with 68% of the vote. Michigan's 52-14 loss to Mississippi State and Wisconsin's 21-19 loss to TCU tied for second with 13% each. The final vote getter was Penn State to Florida, 37-24, with 6%. <br />
<br />
I agree that the Michigan State loss was the worst. It completely blows up the credibility of the Big Ten. Michigan State was co-Big Ten champion. They beat Rose Bowl representative Wisconsin. Now the fourth best SEC team is steam rolling the Spartans. Not even Ohio State's win over Arkansas could make up for the negative image the Michigan State loss gave the Big Ten. <br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone who voted. Don't forget to vote in this week's poll: "Auburn vs. TCU: Who would win?"The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-47985577101242110292011-01-11T11:37:00.000-05:002011-01-11T11:37:37.865-05:00College Football Haven Top 25, Final, 2010The Auburn Tigers are the College Football Haven 2010 National Champions! What about TCU? It is tempting to have a split national championship, especially since I think it is far from a foregone conclusion that Auburn would beat TCU. However, I have made a decision to never have a split national champion. Unlike other polls, College Football Haven will not hesitate to strip Auburn of the title, and award it to TCU, if sometime in the future it is concluded that either Auburn or Cam Newton did violate NCAA rules.<br />
<br />
I am not going to belabor the point on the final rankings. They speak for themselves, except that I have included each team’s preseason ranking in parenthesis (OTW = Others to watch). At the end is a list of teams ranked in the preseason, but are not ranked in the final rankings. <br />
<br />
<b>1. Auburn, 14-0 (OTW)</b><br />
LAST: Beat Oregon 22-19.<br />
How will Gene Chizik follow this one up? <br />
<br />
<b>2. TCU, 13-0 (4)</b><br />
LAST: Beat Wisconsin 21-19.<br />
Would love to see TCU square off with Auburn.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Oregon, 12-1 (21)</b><br />
LAST: Lost to Auburn 22-19.<br />
Despite sour end, it was a great, great year for the Ducks.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Stanford, 12-1 (OTW)</b><br />
LAST: Beat Virginia Tech 40-12.<br />
Best season in 70 years. Soak it in this off season, Cardinal fans. <br />
<br />
<b>5. Ohio State, 12-1 (6)</b> <br />
LAST: Beat Arkansas 31-26.<br />
Finally got that SEC monkey off their back.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Nevada, 13-1 (NR)</b><br />
LAST: Beat Boston College 20-13.<br />
What would Nevada give to redo that trip to Hawaii?<br />
<br />
<b>7. Boise State, 12-1 (1)</b> <br />
LAST: Beat Utah 26-3. <br />
Could have been Boise’s best team ever. Fate played a cruel trick.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Wisconsin, 11-2 (11)</b><br />
LAST: Lost to TCU 21-19.<br />
Lots of great moments for the Badgers this year. <br />
<br />
<b>9. LSU, 11-2 (18)</b><br />
LAST: Beat Texas A&M 41-24.<br />
Very good rebound year for the Tigers. Is a national championship next?<br />
<br />
<b>10. Oklahoma, 12-2 (2)</b> <br />
LAST: Beat UConn 48-20. <br />
The BCS monkey is off the Sooners’ back. <br />
<br />
<b>11. Oklahoma State, 11-2 (NR)</b><br />
LAST: Beat Arizona 36-10. <br />
Special season for the Cowboys. Good to see it end on a positive note.<br />
<br />
<b>12. Alabama, 10-3 (5)</b> <br />
LAST: Beat Michigan State 49-7. <br />
We knew it would be very, very difficult to repeat, but it would be easier to accept the results if the Tide didn’t blow that 24-0 lead against bitter rival Auburn.<br />
<br />
<b>13. Arkansas, 10-3 (10)</b><br />
LAST: Lost to Ohio State 31-26. <br />
Can Bobby Petrino replace Ryan Mallet?<br />
<br />
<b>14. Michigan State, 11-2 (NR)</b> <br />
LAST: Lost to Alabama 49-7.<br />
Two ugly losses marred an otherwise terrific season.<br />
<br />
<b>15. Missouri, 10-3 (NR)</b><br />
LAST: Lost to Iowa 27-24.<br />
Surprise team from the Big 12. <br />
<br />
<b>16. Virginia Tech, 11-3 (13)</b><br />
LAST: Lost to Stanford 40-12.<br />
The Hokies need to carry the ACC banner better.<br />
<br />
<b>17. UCF, 11-3 (NR)</b><br />
LAST: Beat Georgia 10-6.<br />
Best season in school history.<br />
<br />
<b>18. Texas A&M, 9-4 (NR)</b><br />
LAST: Lost to LSU 41-24. <br />
This season has some weird twists, but still had several marquee moments.<br />
<br />
<b>19. Nebraska, 10-4 (12)</b><br />
LAST: Lost to Washington 19-7.<br />
A season with a lot of promise ends with identical record as 2009.<br />
<br />
<b>20. Florida State, 10-4 (17)</b><br />
LAST: Beat South Carolina 26-17.<br />
Good start to the Jimbo Fisher era. <br />
<br />
<b>21. Utah, 10-3 (NR)</b><br />
LAST: Lost to Boise State 26-3.<br />
Very hard to figure out the Utes this year. Might be in for a rude awakening next year in the Pac-12.<br />
<br />
<b>22. Northern Illinois, 11-3 (NR)</b> <br />
LAST: Beat Fresno State 40-17. <br />
Impressive year for the Huskies.<br />
<br />
<b>23. Mississippi State, 9-4 (NR)</b><br />
LAST: Beat Michigan 52-14.<br />
Break out year for the bulldogs. <br />
<br />
<b>24. Maryland, 9-4 (NR)</b><br />
LAST: Beat East Carolina 51-20.<br />
Terp fans need to focus on the good from this year. Worry about the weird coaching events later. <br />
<br />
<b>25. Tulsa, 10-3 (NR)</b><br />
LAST: Beat Hawaii 62-35.<br />
Would have liked to see Tulsa face UCF in CUSA championship game. <br />
<br />
Preseason Drop Outs:<br />
3-Iowa<br />
7-USC<br />
8-Miami<br />
9-Texas<br />
14-Pitt<br />
15-Oregon State<br />
16-Florida<br />
19-Penn State<br />
20-Georgia Tech<br />
22-North Carolina<br />
23-BYU<br />
24-Washington<br />
25-Houston<br />
<br />
Previous Top 25: <br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/08/college-football-haven-top-25-preseason.html">Preseason</a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/09/college-football-haven-top-25-week-1.html">Week 1</a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/09/college-football-haven-top-25-week-2.html">Week 2</a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/09/college-football-haven-top-25-week-3.html">Week 3</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/”http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/09/college-football-haven-top-25-week-4.html”">Week 4</a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/10/college-football-haven-top-25-week-5.html">Week 5</a> <br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/10/college-football-haven-top-25-week-6.html">Week 6</a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/10/college-football-haven-top-25-week-7.html">Week 7</a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/10/college-football-haven-top-25-week-8.html">Week 8</a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/11/college-football-haven-top-25-week-9.html">Week 9</a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/11/college-football-haven-top-25-week-10.html">Week 10</a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/11/college-football-haven-top-25-week-11.html">Week 11</a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/11/college-football-haven-top-25-week-12.html">Week 12</a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/11/college-football-haven-top-25-week-13.html">Week 13</a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/12/college-football-haven-top-25-week-14.html">Week 14</a>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-78335404928268621212011-01-10T10:54:00.000-05:002011-01-10T10:54:09.010-05:00Monday Musings: Any Changes to BCS Championship Game For Arizona Shootings?If you want my Keys to the Game for the Auburn Tigers and the Oregon Ducks in the BCS Championship game tonight, they can be found <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insane-prices-for-bcs-national-championship-who-will-win-the-crystal-ball-2011-1">here</a>, on the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insane-prices-for-bcs-national-championship-who-will-win-the-crystal-ball-2011-1">Business Insider</a>. <br />
<br />
This week in college football was a mixed bag of sorts. The headlines were split between coaching changes and the final bowl games. It is the weekend's national headline, however, that hits home, and leads off this week's Monday Musings. <br />
<br />
<strong>1. The Arizona Shootings.</strong> While there is never a good time for what happened in Arizona over the weekend with U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, it couldn’t have happened at a worse time for college football. The BCS National Championship game will be played in Glendale, AZ tonight. How will this event impact the BCS national championship game? As of 10:53 A.M. Eastern time, the BCS has not made any announcement on its official website regarding the shootings and what might be done for security or otherwise. While the shootings were in Tucson (2 hours south of Glendale), it is 100% appropriate and in order for the pre-game program to be adjusted one or two minutes to offer condolences and hold a moment of silence for everyone who was affected. <br />
<br />
<strong>2. 4-2.</strong> Teams from the BCS non-AQ conferences were 4-2 against teams from AQ conferences. Air Force beat Georgia Tech in the Independence Bowl, Central Florida beat Georgia in the Liberty Bowl, Nevada beat Boston College in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, and TCU highlighted the non-AQ victories by beating Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. Only Southern Mississippi (lost to Louisville in the St. Petersburg Bowl) and East Carolina (lost to Maryland in the Military Bowl) failed to beat their AQ conference opponents. <br />
<br />
<strong>3. Who needs a coach?</strong> Michigan fired Rich Rodriguez last week, but they can’t seem to find anyone to replace him. Who would have thought the Michigan job would ever be so undesirable? Jim Harbaugh is not interested. Brady Hoke doesn’t seem to meet their standards. Les Miles? He is going to need some pretty big reasons to leave Louisiana State after he was …<br />
<br />
<strong>4. Validated.</strong> Even with the national championship in 2007, Les Miles struggled to win over the LSU faithful. He struggled with an 8-5 and a 9-4 season the next two years. With the big win over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, Miles has an 11 win season with <em>HIS</em> players, and likely a top 10 finish. He also led LSU to its best start (7-0) since 1973 (9-0).<br />
<br />
<strong>5. Hoping to get lucky.</strong> Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, in a bold move, decided to return for his senior season. Recent history shows that he will be lucky to maintain his projected number one pick status. Jake Locker has seen his draft stock drop significantly this year. Colt McCoy had the same thing happen to him. Sam Bradford suffered an injury and was extremely lucky to recover in time for the draft. Tim Tebow also had a scare with a concussion. Matt Leinart dropped from the number one pick to the 10th overall pick. Now with Jim Harbaugh leaving for the NFL, another set of risks and unknowns is thrown into the mix. Luck will be very lucky to keep his lofty draft position after playing one more year.<br />
<br />
<strong>6. Suicide coaching hire.</strong> Incoming Florida Gators coach Will Muschamp proved one thing this week: he is a <em>defensive</em> genius. That is the only reason I can think of that would make him want to hire beleaguered former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis as his offensive coordinator. Why anyone in the college ranks would trust their offense to Weis is a mystery to me. Weis belongs in the NFL. Hiring Weis could be suicide to Muschamps’ tenure at Florida, and it hasn’t even started. <br />
<br />
<strong>7. Wake me up from this nightmare.</strong> Coaching the Maryland Terrapins might be some aspiring college coach’s dream job. That aspiring coach better be one who plays with a round, orange ball. For new Maryland coach Randy Edsall to call coaching the football team his dream job makes me think he is having a nightmare. What makes Maryland any different from UConn? He is going from one basketball school in a basketball conference to another. Hurry, somebody pinch that guy. <br />
<br />
<strong>8. Exposed.</strong> Most of us learned our lesson back in September when Virginia Tech lost back-to-back games to Boise State and James Madison. The BCS had to learn the hard way. Stanford exposed Virginia Tech, the ACC automatic qualifying champion, with their 40-12 shellacking in the Orange Bowl last Monday night. Should have pitted the Hokies against UConn. Both the Orange and Fiesta bowls would have been better attended and more competitive.<br />
<br />
<strong>9. Make the most of it.</strong> Knowing they would not get to play again until October next season, the infamous “tattoo 5” for Ohio State made the most of it. They were all key players in the Buckeye’s first bowl win ever against an SEC team--Arkansas, 31-26. Fortunately, those first five games next year will be played against much inferior competition. <br />
<br />
<strong>10. Who needs a coach? Part 2.</strong> The Pittsburgh Panthers lost incumbent coach Dave Wannstedt when he was fired at the end of the season. They lost newly hired head coach Make Heywood literally days later when he was arrested. Going into the BBVA Compass Bowl they still didn’t have a coach. That didn’t seem to matter as the Panthers sent the Kentucky Wildcats back to the blue grass state with their tails between their legs, 27-10.The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-13521064428027137182011-01-10T08:46:00.000-05:002011-01-10T08:46:59.723-05:00BCS National Championship: Keys To The GameWith the Auburn Tigers and Oregon Ducks facing off in the BCS National Championship game tonight, I was recently approached by <a href="http://www.seatgeek.com/blog">SeatGeek.com</a> about writing a guest post for them about the "keys to the game" for both Auburn and Oregon. The fine folks at SeatGeek liked my work enough, they took it to the next level, and had one of their partners' sites--<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insane-prices-for-bcs-national-championship-who-will-win-the-crystal-ball-2011-1">Business Insider</a>--publish this piece. Please take a minute and visit this <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insane-prices-for-bcs-national-championship-who-will-win-the-crystal-ball-2011-1">link</a> to read it. The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-33903652311457778612011-01-06T13:06:00.000-05:002011-01-06T13:06:40.311-05:00Best Move For Jim Harbaugh Is The NFLSorry, Stanford Cardinal. Sorry, Michigan Wolverines. The best career move for Jim Harbaugh is to go to the NFL. I have long been a traditionalist and favored successful coaches staying at one school, however, in this case, I have to admit Harbaugh should bolt Stanford and take the best offer he gets in the professional ranks. <br />
<br />
Maybe it is because I have no emotional attachment to Stanford. Maybe it is me maturing now that I am five years into my professional career, and I better understand what moving up the ladder is all about. Maybe it is the prolonged recession and the potential for inflation that makes you realize that there is a real difference between making $2 million and $4 million and $6 million a year. Whatever it is, the bottom line is, it just makes sense. <br />
<br />
The jump from the NCAA to the NFL can be very difficult. Others have tried and failed. Why, then, is this the best and most logical career move for Harbaugh? <br />
<br />
First, the increased earnings. No one in college, regardless of the size of their endowment, their BCS pay out, or their television revenues, will pay Harbaugh what an NFL franchise will pay. It would be irresponsible. Sure, Michigan could match a $6 million offer from the Miami Dolphins, but the Wolverines won’t. The minute the ink would dry on that contract a precedent would be set. Every time a big time program made a hire, the negotiations would start at $6 million. After winning the national championship next week, either Chip Kelly or Gene Chizik will want to renegotiate his contract to make him the highest paid coach in college football. Weren’t we all outraged just a few years ago about coaches with $4 million salaries? <br />
<br />
Second, there is no risk. While the jump from college to pros is difficult, there is no risk. If Harbaugh is successful, then he will earn a bigger paycheck every year for the rest of his career than he would if he was coaching college ball. If Harbaugh fails, he can always come back to college. You can call it the Nick Saban/Bobby Petrino/Steve Spurrier model. They all had incredible success in the college ranks, so much so that they could go to the NFL and flop, but still land a head coaching job at big name schools. Harbaugh’s success at Stanford has given him elite status among college coaches. Nothing that happens in the NFL can take that away from him. Worst case scenario is that Harbaugh pockets millions of extra dollars while he learns a few lessons the hard way. He will find several open arms ready to receive him in college football. He can then build a dynasty somewhere, or after another successful run do like Pete Carroll and take another stab at the NFL. <br />
<br />
Congratulations Stanford on your best season in 70 years, but get ready to say good-bye to the man who made it possible. Go ahead, Michigan, and focus your search on some else. Jim Harbaugh is NFL bound. <br />
<br />
<em>Other recent posts on COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN:</em><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekly-trivia-oklahoma-bcs-bowl-wins.html"><em>Weekly Trivia: Oklahoma BCS Bowl Wins </em></a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2011/01/monday-musings-big-ten-didnt-look-like.html"><em>Monday Musings: The Big Ten Didn’t Look Like “Murderer’s Row”</em></a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2011/01/poll-results-how-should-ncaa-punish.html"><em>Poll Results: How should the NCAA punish the Ohio State players involved in the tattoo scandal?</em></a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2011/01/game-predictions-bcs-bowls.html"><em>Game Predictions: BCS Bowls</em></a> The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-17355093577416005312011-01-05T14:42:00.000-05:002011-01-05T14:42:33.351-05:00Weekly Trivia: Oklahoma BCS Bowl WinsThe answer to last week's trivia question, " Which FBS conference won the Bowl Challenge Cup in 2009-10?" is the Mountain West Conference with a 4-1 record. <br />
<br />
On to this week's question. Oklahoma beat UConn in the Fiesta Bowl to reverse their recent trend in BCS bowls—lose when favored. This week’s trivia question is: <br />
<blockquote>When was Oklahoma’s last BCS bowl win? </blockquote>Leave your answer in the comments section. The answer will be revealed next Wednesday when a new question is asked. <br />
<br />
For more trivia questions, visit the <a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/p/trivia.html">Trivia</a> page.The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-58796071888245058622011-01-03T11:48:00.000-05:002011-01-03T11:48:52.424-05:00Monday Musings: The Big Ten Didn’t Look Like “Murderer’s Row”The second week of bowls has given us a lot to talk/think about this week. <br />
<br />
<strong>1. Murderer’s Row got murdered.</strong> We all know that Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee stuck his foot in his mouth back in November with <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5845736">his comments</a> that playing the Big Ten conference schedule was “like murderer’s row every week.” We just didn’t realize how far his foot went in his mouth. Murderer’s row got murdered New Year’s Day. The Big Ten was 0-5 in bowl games, and many of them were not pretty. Michigan was destroyed 52-14 by Mississippi State. Michigan State was obliterated by Alabama 49-7. Penn State played horrible against a bad Florida team and lost 37-24. Northwestern couldn’t hang with Texas Tech long enough and lost 45-38. Last, but not least, Big Ten Champion Wisconsin lost to none other than … TCU. Five teams—that’s half the conference. So, if the Big Ten is murderer’s row, then what does that make the SEC (three of the five Big Ten opponents were SEC teams)? A mine field? A rainstorm of nuclear bombs? <br />
<br />
<strong>2. Where’s the backup quarterback?</strong> Penn State quarterback Matthew McGloin had a terrible game in the Outback Bowl against Florida. He was just 17 of 41 for 211 yards, with one touchdown and <strong><em>5 interceptions.</em></strong> At what point do you bring in the back up quarterback? No surprise that it was an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown that put the nail in the coffin. <br />
<br />
<strong>3. Nothing says New Year’s Day like infomercials.</strong> I turned the television to ABC to watch the Rose Bowl and found an infomercial. Later that night, I turned back to ABC to see what was in place of the Fiesta Bowl. More infomercials. What kind of a decision was that to move the biggest bowl games of the day to cable? How do you cost justify running infomercials on a Saturday during prime time? I don’t think they paid anywhere close to the amount advertisers would have paid for commercials during the Rose and Fiesta Bowls. ESPN has commitments to air plenty of snoozer “sporting” events during the year, so why not schedule the World Series of Poker or some fascinating X games while you broadcast the bowls on your sister station ABC. <br />
<br />
<strong>4. Not like it used to be.</strong> Notre Dame and Miami renewed their rivalry in the Sun Bowl. It was 30-3 in the fourth quarter. Not quite the drama that we were used to 20 years ago. At least no fights broke out this time. <br />
<br />
<strong>5. A plus-one system for the FSC?</strong> A plus-one system can’t be agreed upon for the football bowl subdivision of college football, but what about one for the Florida State Championship? With UCF beating a SEC team in its bowl to finish 11-3 and Florida State beating another SEC team in its bowl to finish 10-4, who is the best team in the state of Florida? I would love to see UCF and Florida State play one last game to settle the state championship. <br />
<br />
<strong>6. The Holiday Bowl really was a holiday.</strong> Nebraska took the name of its bowl game a little too literally. Losing 19-7 to the same Washington Huskies that they beat 56-21 earlier this year, in Seattle, the Cornhuskers shouldn’t have even bothered to show up for the game. It’s a good thing that the Holiday Bowl payout is one of the better non-BCS bowl game payouts; otherwise, that would have been a total waste for Nebraska. <br />
<br />
<strong>7. Upset alert.</strong> Five ranked teams lost to unranked or lower ranked teams last week. Ironically, Oklahoma wasn’t one of them. Number 12 Missouri lost to unranked Iowa. North Carolina State took down number 22 West Virginia. Number 20 South Carolina fell to number 23 Florida State. Number 18 Nebraska mailed it in against Washington. The 9th ranked Michigan State Spartans were clobbered by number 16 Alabama. LSU and Nevada better be paying attention. <br />
<br />
<strong>8. Model of consistency.</strong> Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon had his 12th consecutive 100-yard receiving game when he logged 117 yards against Arizona in the Alamo Bowl. That is a new NCAA record for consecutive 100-yard receiving games and for the most receiving yards by a sophomore (sorry, Larry Fitzgerald). Blackmon reached the 100-yard milestone in every game played this year. <br />
<br />
<strong>9. Time to relieve Rich Rod.</strong> I have argued for Michigan to <a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/11/michigan-wolverines-will-fire-rich.html">retain Rich Rodriguez for 2011</a>, but now I am switching sides. The 52-14 loss to Mississippi State shows that the players don’t want, and won’t, play for him. Michigan brass made it clear they were waiting for the bowl game to make a final decision. Okay men, time to rise up. One last chance to save your coach’s job. The players made it known how they feel. Don’t forget that Rodriguez doesn’t want to make <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5752667">the coaching changes</a> necessary to improve the defense, either.<br />
<br />
<strong>10. Loophole Lovers.</strong> The NCAA loves loopholes. It became known this week that <a href="http://www.foxsportsohio.com/12/29/10/Money-is-still-king-in-NCAA/landing.html?blockID=381680&feedID=3631">the real reason</a> that the five suspended Ohio State players were allowed to participate in the upcoming Sugar Bowl is because a loophole in the rules that allows suspended players to play in bowl games because of “the unique opportunity these events provide at the end of a season.” What about redshirted players? Why not let them play as well? This might be the only time in their careers that they make it to a bowl game. As if this loophole wasn’t enough, the NCAA needed to create another one with the Cam Newton situation earlier in the season.The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-37904941382135645572011-01-03T11:30:00.000-05:002011-01-03T11:30:45.302-05:00Poll Results: How should the NCAA punish the Ohio State players involved in the tattoo scandal?The poll has closed and tying with 35% of the vote each was to suspend the five players for the "bowl game and four games next year" and to suspend the players for the "bowl game and all of next year." Suspending for the "bowl game and three games next year" received 24% of the vote, and "play in bowl, but suspend for all of next year" received the remaining 6 percent.<br />
<br />
I understand the loophole (bowl games are unique), and the delicate situation (multi-party agreements with major $$$ tied to them) the bowl presents. I also understand how sensitive some people can be with the items sold, which could make no punishment too severe. My vote would be for the same five games, but for it to kick in immediately, meaning suspended for the bowl game and the first four games next season. <br />
<br />
The timing of all this really gave the NCAA a black eye. If they were going to wait until the 2011 season to start the suspension, then why not wait until after the bowl game and the deadline to declare for the NFL draft to announce the suspensions? The NCAA took years to rule in the Reggie Bush/USC case, they could easily come up with a way to prolong this investigation another three or four weeks. It sure would have helped diffuse all this controversy.<br />
<br />
Thanks to all who voted. Don't forget to vote in this week's poll: "Which New Year's Day loss was the worst for the Big Ten?"The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-653679235005313512011-01-01T11:37:00.000-05:002011-01-01T11:37:31.328-05:00Game Predictions: BCS BowlsIt is time to give my predictions for the BCS bowls. To view my non-BCS bowl predictions, click <a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/12/game-predictions-non-bcs-bowls-2010.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>January 1</b><br />
<i>Rose Bowl</i><br />
TCU vs. Wisconsin, <b>28-21 TCU</b><br />
Hawaii is the only non-AQ team to ever lose a BCS bowl game.<br />
<br />
<i>Fiesta Bowl</i><br />
Oklahoma vs. UConn, <b>27-24 UConn</b><br />
Until Oklahoma wins a BCS game that they should, I will keep picking the underdog. <br />
<br />
<b>January 3</b><br />
<i>Orange Bowl</i><br />
Stanford vs. Virginia Tech, <b>35-21 Stanford</b><br />
The Hokies have finally met their match.<br />
<br />
<b>January 4</b><br />
<i>Sugar Bowl</i><br />
Arkansas vs. Ohio State, <b>28-24 Ohio State</b><br />
The Buckeyes finally beat a SEC team, but was the controversy worth it?<br />
<br />
<b>January 10</b><br />
<i>BCS National Championship Game</i><br />
Oregon vs. Auburn, <b>36-34 Oregon</b><br />
A surprise 2 point conversion will be the difference.The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-16278756378091692912010-12-29T10:28:00.000-05:002010-12-29T10:28:42.003-05:00Weekly Trivia: 2009-10 Bowl Challenge CupThe answer to last week's trivia question, "What other FBS conferences (in addition to the Big Ten) had a three team tie for the conference championship?" is the Big East and the WAC. Uconn, Pitt, and West Virginia all had 5-2 conference records in the Big East. Hawaii, Boise State, and Nevada all had 7-1 conference records in the WAC. You could even throw in the Big 12 South, if you wanted; Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M all had a 6-2 conference mark. <br />
<br />
One of the newer traditions in college football is the Bowl Challenge Cup awarded to the conference with the best win percentage in bowl games. This week’s trivia question is: <br />
<blockquote>Which FBS conference won the Bowl Challenge Cup in 2009-10? </blockquote>Leave your answer in the comments section. The answer will be revealed next Wednesday when a new question is asked. <br />
<br />
For more trivia questions, visit the <a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/p/trivia.html">Trivia</a> page.The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-10861660790483508702010-12-27T13:04:00.000-05:002010-12-27T13:04:32.885-05:00Monday Musings: Tattoo Ohio State UniversityMonday Musings is back after being off a week. At this point, I plan to continue this feature each week all offseason. Some weeks there might be less than 10 musings, but there will be something to muse about. College football lives on all year. <br />
<br />
<strong>1. The real meaning of tOSU.</strong> I have seen the abbreviation of Ohio State University with a small t in front of it on occasion. I always thought it stood for “the,” in the way people in some circles refer to Ohio State as “the Ohio State.” I guess we all found out last week that tOSU really stands for “tattoo Ohio State University.” As for the NCAA penalties going into effect September 2011, that is ridiculous. That isn’t a penalty at all. No one’s NFL draft stock will be hurt (just ask Dez Bryant and Sam Bradford), and Ohio State plays such inferior out of conference teams, they will still be 5-0 or 4-1. It also helps to know all spring and all fall that you need to get your second string players ready to start those five games. <br />
<br />
<strong>2. Where did that come from?</strong> The Big Ten made their announcement that the two six-team divisions would be named “Legends” and “Leaders” when the conference becomes 12 teams next year. I know I am late on this, but count me as one who doesn’t like them, to say the least. This is coming from the conference that made such a big deal about academics and AAU membership during the expansion evaluation process. These division names show no signs of intelligent discussion and decision making. My suggestions: 1 and 2. Since they are so stubborn to change the name to reflect that the conference has 12 teams, you should work the number 12 in there somewhere. <br />
<br />
<strong>3. Records are meant to be broken.</strong> BYU broke or tied 42 New Mexico Bowl records and 13 school bowl records in their 52-24 trouncing of UTEP in the year’s first bowl game. <br />
<br />
<strong>4. The Humanitarian Bowl was inhumane.</strong> Just playing a game in Boise, Idaho, in December is inhumane, but the way Northern Illionis crushed Fresno State, 40-17, made it worse for the Bulldogs who never want to play there again after losing two games in Boise by a combined score of 91-17.<br />
<br />
<strong>5. The Men of Troy.</strong> The Troy Trojans played like the USC Trojans in the New Orleans Bowl. They piled up 602 total yards and converted 10 of 15 third downs. Freshman quarterback Corey Robinson led the charge with 32-42, 387 yards, and 4 TD passes. <br />
<br />
<strong>6. Special teams does it again.</strong> Another game was greatly impacted by special teams late in the game. After taking a 28-21 fourth quarter lead, Southern Mississippi kicked off to Louisville. The Cardinals ran the kick back 95 yards to tie the game. That enabled Louisville to kick a field goal later in the quarter to win. <br />
<br />
<strong>7. The worst 10 win team.</strong> Utah gets my vote for the worst 10 win team in 2010. The Utes looks terrible against Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl. They had just 200 yards of total offense. Looking at their season record, their best win came against a 5-7 Iowa State team. Utah needed overtime to beat a bad Pittsburgh team, and several breaks to win games against Air Force, San Diego State, and BYU down the stretch. Throw in the disasters against TCU and Notre Dame, and Utah was lucky to be above 0.500. <br />
<br />
<strong>8. The next Marshall Faulk?</strong> San Diego State running back Ronnie Hillman ran for 228 yards and scored four touchdowns in the Poinsettia Bowl. That gives this fab freshman 1,532 yards (5.8 yards per carry) and 17 touchdowns on the season. Marshall Faulk had 1,429 yards and 21 touchdowns as a freshman. <br />
<br />
<strong>9. How high will he go?</strong> With an incredible 326 all-purpose yards in the Hawaii Bowl, Tulsa running back Damaris Johnson broke the NCAA record for career all-purpose yards. Johnson now has 7,796 yards, and he is only a junior. With one more year to play, how high will he push this record? Is 10,000 yards too much to ask?<br />
<br />
<strong>10. Beginners luck?</strong> The Florida International Panthers played their very first bowl game in the Little Caesars Bowl. They also won their first bowl game. They had to overcome a 24-7 second half deficit. They also had to convert a 4th and 17 to get into position to kick the game winning field goal on the last play of the game. <br />
<br />
<em>Other recent posts on COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN:</em><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/12/poll-results-has-nike-gone-overboard.html"><em>Poll Results: Has Nike gone overboard with the Pro Combat Uniforms?</em></a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/12/weekly-trivia-three-team-tie-for.html"><em>Weekly Trivia: Three Team Tie For Conference Championship</em></a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/12/heisman-hopefuls-bowl-games-will-impact.html"><em>Heisman Hopefuls: Bowl Games Will Impact The 2011 Race</em></a>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-47241980779862274892010-12-27T12:46:00.000-05:002010-12-27T12:46:46.251-05:00Poll Results: Has Nike gone overboard with the Pro Combat Uniforms?The poll has closed, and it was a 50-50 tie for "Has Nike gone overboard with the Pro Combat Uniforms?"<br />
<br />
My opinion is that they have gone overboard. First, I can't understand why teams need to use more than one uniform design during the same year. Second, I can't understand how Nike has all this money to spend developing several different designs for one team and then implementing them. I imagine that several players get new uniforms for each game, but with the new design every players has to have new uniforms. To summarize, I think it is not fashionable and not fiscally responsible. <br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone who voted. Don't forget to vote in this week's poll, "How should the NCAA punish the Ohio State players involved in the tattoo scandal?"The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-88725975932450193292010-12-22T13:01:00.000-05:002010-12-22T13:01:53.198-05:00Weekly Trivia: Three Team Tie For Conference ChampionshipThe answer to last week's trivia question, "How many college football bowl games were played after the 1990 season?" is <a href="http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0747118.html">19</a>, and 8 of those (42%) were played January 1. That is almost half as many bowl games that will be played this year. If January 1 was still the “grand finale” of the bowls, then 15 games would be played that day. <br />
<br />
The Big Ten conference had three teams tie for the conference championship. They weren’t the only ones with three teams sharing the conference crown. That makes this week’s trivia question: <br />
<blockquote>What other FBS conferences had a three team tie for the conference championship? </blockquote>Leave your answer in the comments section. The answer will be revealed next Wednesday when a new question is asked. <br />
<br />
For more trivia questions, visit the <a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/p/trivia.html">Trivia</a> page.<br />
<br />
<em>Other recent posts on COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN:</em><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/12/heisman-hopefuls-bowl-games-will-impact.html"><em>Heisman Hopefuls: Bowl Games Will Impact The 2011 Race</em></a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/12/poll-results-which-coach-will-have-more.html"><em>Poll Results: Which coach will have more success at his new school?</em></a><br />
<a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/2010/12/game-predictions-non-bcs-bowls-2010.html"><em>Game Predictions, Non-BCS Bowls, 2010</em></a>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-6704217891326167032010-12-21T15:30:00.000-05:002010-12-21T15:30:31.864-05:00Heisman Hopefuls: Bowl Games Will Impact The 2011 RaceIt has barely been a week since the 2010 Heisman Trophy was awarded, but the 2011 race is already underway. The college football bowl season is the perfect opportunity for Heisman hopefuls to get a leg up on next year’s race. Bowl games are a bigger stage than many regular season games, and they leave a lasting impression in voters’ minds during the long offseason.<br />
<br />
Jimmy Clausen positioned himself just behind the “Big 3” in the 2009 Heisman Trophy race after the 2008 Hawaii bowl. Clausen was 22 of 26 for 401 yards, 5 touchdowns and zero interceptions in a 49-21 route. <br />
<br />
Matt Leinart roasted Michigan in the Rose Bowl following the 2003 season. Leinart passed for 337 yards and 3 touchdowns with 23 completions on 34 attempts. He was the Rose Bowl MVP, and he even caught a touchdown pass. In 2004, Leinart beat out freshman upstart Adrian Peterson. No one knew who Peterson was until September 2004, but, nearly a year before, Leinart had already established himself as the best quarterback in college football.<br />
<br />
Ty Detmer, the 1990 Heisman Trophy winner, overcame long odds to win the bronze statue largely in part because he passed for 576 yards against Penn State in the 1989 Holiday Bowl.<br />
<br />
This list could go on and on. However, as fun as reminiscing is, the 2010 bowl season is upon us. We should be looking at who can establish themselves as 2011 Heisman Trophy candidates with strong bowl performances.<br />
<br />
To avoid a list as long as many children’s Christmas wish list, I will leave off the obvious guys, like LaMichael James, Andrew Luck and Kellen Moore, who are already in the center of the radar and could sit out their respective bowl games and still be prime candidates when the 2011 season rolls around.<br />
<ol><li><strong>Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State,</strong> was a leading candidate coming into 2010, but fell completely off the radar despite having his best season to date. The junior quarterback didn’t even receive one vote. A big game in the Sugar Bowl against an “SEC defense” can put him back on everyone’s list. </li>
<li><strong>Taylor Martinez, Nebraska,</strong> entered the Heisman discussion this year with a big game at Washington. He trailed off at the end of the season due to injuries and Roy Helu getting more touches. Another monster game against the Huskies in the Holiday Bowl, and Martinez can enter the discussion for 2011, without Helu.</li>
<li><strong>Russell Wilson, North Carolina State,</strong> had a solid junior year guiding North Carolina State to their best season since the Phillip Rivers days. Wilson has passed for almost 3,300 yards and 26 touchdowns to date, and he had NC State on the cusp of playing in the ACC championship game. How he plays against 9-3 West Virginia in the Champs Sports Bowl could signal whether he is ready to take his game and the Wolfpack to the next level.</li>
<li><strong>Blaine Gabbert, Missouri,</strong> had a down statistical year, but he helped Missouri surpass most people’s expectations by quarterbacking the Tigers to 10 wins. A big game against the well respected Iowa Hawkeyes defense in the Insight Bowl could be the catalyst for Gabbert to bounce back in 2011 with a special year.</li>
<li><strong>Aaron Murray, Georgia,</strong> had a good season. He passes for 2,851 yards, has a 24 to 6 TD:Int. ratio, and a 162.7 pass efficiency rating. He put up these numbers despite A.J. Green missing the first four games of the season. Oh, and Murray is just a freshman. A big game in the Liberty Bowl against Central Florida and Murray will be poised to make a run at the Heisman in 2011.</li>
<li><strong>Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina,</strong> had flashes of greatness this year as a freshman. He faces ACC runner up Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. If he shows up the way he did against Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida, then he will be showing up on a lot of preseason Heisman Trophy lists.</li>
<li><strong>Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M,</strong> brought life back to the Aggies. He has guided them to a 6-0 finish to the season. He will face the best defense in the SEC in the Cotton Bowl. If he can get a win and look good doing it, voters will take notice.</li>
<li><strong>Darron Thomas, Oregon,</strong> unexpectedly took the Ducks to the next level this year. With Thomas being unknown and untested, LaMichael James got all the attention early in the year. The nation is slowly catching on to how important Thomas was in getting the Ducks where they are now. If Thomas can outplay Cam Newton the way Vince Young did Reggie Bush five years ago, Thomas will have a spot at the top of everyone’s list in 2011. </li>
</ol>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-36209243040051431782010-12-20T12:21:00.000-05:002010-12-20T12:21:22.421-05:00Poll Results: Which coach will have more success at his new school?This poll has closed, and Al Golden (Miami) had 56% of the vote to Will Muschamp's 44%. I guess voters think that the conference affiliation will make a difference. <br />
<br />
If I had voted, I would say Muschamp. I just think that Florida is in a better position than Miami. Until a coach goes into Miami and turns it around, I expect the coach at Florida to be more successful than the coach at Miami. Coaching really is the variable that all success in college football hinges on. <br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone who voted. Don't forget to vote in this week's poll: "Has Nike gone overboard with the Pro Combat uniforms?"The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-27304656387351518872010-12-17T11:15:00.001-05:002010-12-17T11:16:26.219-05:00Game Predictions, Non-BCS Bowls, 2010I took the week off last week from game predictions (the only game was the Army-Navy contest). I was 13-6 two weeks ago to finish the year 219-100 for the season. I had hoped to keep the wrong predictions under 100. <br />
<br />
Bowl season kicks off Saturday. This week will be non-BCS bowl predictions. Then when we get a little closer, I will predict the BCS bowls. <br />
<br />
As always, you are free to chime in with your picks, or at least where you agree or disagree, and we can discuss. <br />
<br />
<strong>Saturday, December 18</strong><br />
<em>New Mexico Bowl</em><br />
Brigham Young vs. UTEP, <strong>34-10 BYU</strong><br />
It will take a complete meltdown for BYU not to win this one.<br />
<br />
<em>uDrove Humanitarian Bowl </em><br />
Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State, <strong>45-17 Northern Illinois</strong><br />
Fresno State will not go 2-0 against the state of Illinois. <br />
<br />
<em>R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl</em><br />
Ohio vs. Troy, <strong>34-27 Ohio</strong><br />
The Trojans are down this year. <br />
<br />
<strong>Tuesday, December 21</strong><br />
<em>Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg</em> <br />
Southern Miss vs. Louisville, <strong>28-17 Southern Miss</strong><br />
Southern Miss is one of the best kept secrets in the nation.<br />
<br />
<strong>Wednesday, December 22</strong><br />
<em>MAACO Bowl Las Vegas </em><br />
Utah vs. Boise State, <strong>40-17 Boise State</strong><br />
Boise State will look like the one that should be going to the Pac-12.<br />
<br />
<strong>Thursday, December 23</strong><br />
<em>San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl</em> <br />
Navy at San Diego State, <strong>31-28 San Diego State</strong><br />
Home field advantage wins this one.<br />
<br />
<strong>Friday, December 24</strong><br />
<em>Sheraton Hawaii Bowl</em><br />
Hawaii vs. Tulsa, <strong>45-27 Hawaii</strong><br />
This is a good Hawaii team playing at home. <br />
<br />
<strong>Sunday, December 26</strong><br />
<em>Little Caesars Bowl</em><br />
Florida International vs. Toledo, <strong>34-14 Toledo</strong><br />
Dream season ends sour for FIU.<br />
<br />
<strong>Monday, December 27</strong><br />
<em>AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl</em><br />
Air Force vs. Georgia Tech, <strong>28-17 Air Force</strong><br />
The Cadets will establish themselves as the best option team in the nation.<br />
<br />
<strong>Tuesday, December 28</strong><br />
<em>Champs Sports Bowl</em><br />
West Virginia vs. North Carolina State, <strong>38-24 North Carolina State</strong><br />
Breakout year for the Wolfpack.<br />
<br />
<em>Insight Bowl</em><br />
Missouri vs. Iowa, <strong>31-10 Missouri</strong><br />
I can’t imagine that Iowa even cares to be in this game. <br />
<br />
<strong>Wednesday, December 29</strong><br />
<em>Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Gruman</em><br />
East Carolina vs. Maryland, <strong>24-14 Maryland</strong><br />
Home field advantage for the Terps. <br />
<br />
<em>Texas Bowl</em><br />
Illinois vs. Baylor, <strong>38-31 Baylor</strong><br />
The Bears have so much more to play for than the Illini.<br />
<br />
<em>Valero Alamo Bowl </em><br />
Oklahoma State vs. Arizona, <strong>45-28 Oklahoma State</strong><br />
Justin Blackmon is unstoppable.<br />
<br />
<strong>Thursday, December 30</strong><br />
<em>Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl</em><br />
Army at Southern Methodist, <strong>34-17 SMU</strong><br />
SMU is clearly the better team. <br />
<br />
<em>New Era Pinstripes Bowl </em><br />
Kansas State vs. Syracuse, <strong>17-10 Kansas State</strong><br />
A win-win for both schools. Syracuse is back in a bowl, and K-State is back to respectable status.<br />
<br />
<em>Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl </em><br />
North Carolina vs. Tennessee, <strong>35-21 North Carolina</strong><br />
Both teams will be happy to get this season over.<br />
<br />
<em>Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl </em><br />
Nebraska vs. Washington, <strong>23-21 Nebraska</strong><br />
Even with no motivation, Nebraska is better than Washington<br />
<br />
<strong>Friday, December 31</strong><br />
<em>Meineke Car Care Bowl</em><br />
South Florida vs. Clemson, <strong>28-24 Clemson</strong><br />
Just a stab in the dark.<br />
<br />
<em>Hyundai Sun Bowl </em><br />
Notre Dame vs. Miami (FL), <strong>27-17 Notre Dame</strong><br />
Notre Dame on 3 game win streak, Miami 2 game losing streak and down a coach. <br />
<br />
<em>AutoZone Liberty Bowl</em><br />
Georgia vs. UCF, <strong>28-17 UCF</strong><br />
UCF can lay a claim to best team in Florida with a win over the Bulldogs.<br />
<br />
<em>Chick-fil-A Bowl </em><br />
South Carolina vs. Florida State, <strong>38-21 South Carolina</strong><br />
The Gamecocks will be motivated enough to win 10 games for the first time since 1984.<br />
<br />
<strong>Saturday, January 1</strong><br />
<em>TicketCity Bowl</em><br />
Northwestern vs. Texas Tech, <strong>45-21 Texas Tech</strong><br />
Five of Northwestern’s wins have come by a combined 15 points. <br />
<br />
<em>Capital One Bowl </em><br />
Alabama vs. Michigan State, <strong>35-14 Alabama</strong><br />
Last time the Spartans played a team like Alabama, they were crushed by Iowa.<br />
<br />
<em>Outback Bowl </em><br />
Florida vs. Penn State, <strong>24-14 Penn State</strong><br />
Urban Meyer has packed it in. <br />
<br />
<em>Progressive Gator Bowl</em><br />
Mississippi State vs. Michigan, <strong>24-20 Mississippi State</strong><br />
Each team has a lot to play for. Better team will prevail. <br />
<br />
<strong>Thursday, January 6</strong><br />
<em>GoDaddy.com Bowl</em><br />
Middle Tennessee vs. Miami (OH), <strong>30-21 Miami (OH)</strong><br />
Miami has finished the year very strong, and surprising.<br />
<br />
<strong>Friday, January 7</strong><br />
<em>AT&T Cotton Bowl</em><br />
LSU vs. Texas A&M, <strong>35-17 LSU</strong><br />
The Tigers are a much stronger bowl team than the Aggies.<br />
<br />
<strong>Saturday, January 8</strong><br />
<em>BBVA Compass Bowl</em><br />
Pittsburgh vs. Kentucky, <strong>35-13 Kentucky</strong><br />
It’s been a disappointing year for Pitt, and now they are without a coach. <br />
<br />
<strong>Sunday, January 9</strong><br />
<em>Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl</em><br />
Nevada vs. Boston College, <strong>28-14 Nevada</strong><br />
Nevada can finish off this dream season with a win over a BCS AQ school.The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460505011458292908.post-2896664390793825702010-12-15T10:02:00.000-05:002010-12-15T10:02:48.830-05:00Weekly Trivia: Number of Bowl Games in 1990The answer to last week's trivia question, "How many other teams averaged 10 wins or more over the last six years?" is 9, possibly 10. In addition to Florida, these teams are: Boise State, Texas, USC, Ohio State, TCU, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, LSU, and Oklahoma. Wisconsin can join the club with a win over TCU in the Rose Bowl. <br />
<br />
The biggest and baddest (you decide if this word has a positive or negative meaning) college football bowl season is upon us. There are 35 bowls this year and they will be played over a 24 day period. The bowl games just keep on proliferating. This week’s trivia question aims to illustrate this. <br />
<blockquote>How many college football bowl games were played after the 1990 season? </blockquote>Leave your answer in the comments section. The answer will be revealed next Wednesday when a new question is asked. <br />
<br />
<i>For more trivia questions, visit the <a href="http://collegefootballhaven12.blogspot.com/p/trivia.html">Trivia</a> page.</i>The Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077396611926905837noreply@blogger.com0