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 here, on the Business Insider.
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.
1. The Arizona Shootings. 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.
2. 4-2. 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.
3. Who needs a coach? 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 …
4. Validated. 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 HIS players, and likely a top 10 finish. He also led LSU to its best start (7-0) since 1973 (9-0).
5. Hoping to get lucky. 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.
6. Suicide coaching hire. Incoming Florida Gators coach Will Muschamp proved one thing this week: he is a defensive 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.
7. Wake me up from this nightmare. 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.
8. Exposed. 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.
9. Make the most of it. 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.
10. Who needs a coach? Part 2. 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.
Monday, January 10, 2011
BCS National Championship: Keys To The Game
With the Auburn Tigers and Oregon Ducks facing off in the BCS National Championship game tonight, I was recently approached by SeatGeek.com 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--Business Insider--publish this piece. Please take a minute and visit this link to read it.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Best Move For Jim Harbaugh Is The NFL
Sorry, 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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
Other recent posts on COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN:
Weekly Trivia: Oklahoma BCS Bowl Wins
Monday Musings: The Big Ten Didn’t Look Like “Murderer’s Row”
Poll Results: How should the NCAA punish the Ohio State players involved in the tattoo scandal?
Game Predictions: BCS Bowls
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
Other recent posts on COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN:
Weekly Trivia: Oklahoma BCS Bowl Wins
Monday Musings: The Big Ten Didn’t Look Like “Murderer’s Row”
Poll Results: How should the NCAA punish the Ohio State players involved in the tattoo scandal?
Game Predictions: BCS Bowls
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Weekly Trivia: Oklahoma BCS Bowl Wins
The 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.
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:
For more trivia questions, visit the Trivia page.
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:
When was Oklahoma’s last BCS bowl win?Leave your answer in the comments section. The answer will be revealed next Wednesday when a new question is asked.
For more trivia questions, visit the Trivia page.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Monday 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.
1. Murderer’s Row got murdered. We all know that Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee stuck his foot in his mouth back in November with his comments 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?
2. Where’s the backup quarterback? 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 5 interceptions. 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.
3. Nothing says New Year’s Day like infomercials. 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.
4. Not like it used to be. 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.
5. A plus-one system for the FSC? 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.
6. The Holiday Bowl really was a holiday. 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.
7. Upset alert. 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.
8. Model of consistency. 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.
9. Time to relieve Rich Rod. I have argued for Michigan to retain Rich Rodriguez for 2011, 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 the coaching changes necessary to improve the defense, either.
10. Loophole Lovers. The NCAA loves loopholes. It became known this week that the real reason 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.
1. Murderer’s Row got murdered. We all know that Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee stuck his foot in his mouth back in November with his comments 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?
2. Where’s the backup quarterback? 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 5 interceptions. 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.
3. Nothing says New Year’s Day like infomercials. 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.
4. Not like it used to be. 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.
5. A plus-one system for the FSC? 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.
6. The Holiday Bowl really was a holiday. 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.
7. Upset alert. 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.
8. Model of consistency. 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.
9. Time to relieve Rich Rod. I have argued for Michigan to retain Rich Rodriguez for 2011, 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 the coaching changes necessary to improve the defense, either.
10. Loophole Lovers. The NCAA loves loopholes. It became known this week that the real reason 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.
Poll 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.
I understand the loophole (bowl games are unique), and the delicate situation (multi-party agreements with major $$$ tied to them) the bowl presents. I also understand how sensitive some people can be with the items sold, which could make no punishment too severe. My vote would be for the same five games, but for it to kick in immediately, meaning suspended for the bowl game and the first four games next season.
The timing of all this really gave the NCAA a black eye. If they were going to wait until the 2011 season to start the suspension, then why not wait until after the bowl game and the deadline to declare for the NFL draft to announce the suspensions? The NCAA took years to rule in the Reggie Bush/USC case, they could easily come up with a way to prolong this investigation another three or four weeks. It sure would have helped diffuse all this controversy.
Thanks to all who voted. Don't forget to vote in this week's poll: "Which New Year's Day loss was the worst for the Big Ten?"
I understand the loophole (bowl games are unique), and the delicate situation (multi-party agreements with major $$$ 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.
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.
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?"
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Game Predictions: BCS Bowls
It is time to give my predictions for the BCS bowls. To view my non-BCS bowl predictions, click here.
January 1
Rose Bowl
TCU vs. Wisconsin, 28-21 TCU
Hawaii is the only non-AQ team to ever lose a BCS bowl game.
Fiesta Bowl
Oklahoma vs. UConn, 27-24 UConn
Until Oklahoma wins a BCS game that they should, I will keep picking the underdog.
January 3
Orange Bowl
Stanford vs. Virginia Tech, 35-21 Stanford
The Hokies have finally met their match.
January 4
Sugar Bowl
Arkansas vs. Ohio State, 28-24 Ohio State
The Buckeyes finally beat a SEC team, but was the controversy worth it?
January 10
BCS National Championship Game
Oregon vs. Auburn, 36-34 Oregon
A surprise 2 point conversion will be the difference.
January 1
Rose Bowl
TCU vs. Wisconsin, 28-21 TCU
Hawaii is the only non-AQ team to ever lose a BCS bowl game.
Fiesta Bowl
Oklahoma vs. UConn, 27-24 UConn
Until Oklahoma wins a BCS game that they should, I will keep picking the underdog.
January 3
Orange Bowl
Stanford vs. Virginia Tech, 35-21 Stanford
The Hokies have finally met their match.
January 4
Sugar Bowl
Arkansas vs. Ohio State, 28-24 Ohio State
The Buckeyes finally beat a SEC team, but was the controversy worth it?
January 10
BCS National Championship Game
Oregon vs. Auburn, 36-34 Oregon
A surprise 2 point conversion will be the difference.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Weekly Trivia: 2009-10 Bowl Challenge Cup
The 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.
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:
For more trivia questions, visit the Trivia page.
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:
Which FBS conference won the Bowl Challenge Cup in 2009-10?Leave your answer in the comments section. The answer will be revealed next Wednesday when a new question is asked.
For more trivia questions, visit the Trivia page.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday Musings: Tattoo Ohio State University
Monday 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.
1. The real meaning of tOSU. 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.
2. Where did that come from? 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.
3. Records are meant to be broken. 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.
4. The Humanitarian Bowl was inhumane. 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.
5. The Men of Troy. 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.
6. Special teams does it again. 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.
7. The worst 10 win team. 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.
8. The next Marshall Faulk? 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.
9. How high will he go? 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?
10. Beginners luck? 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.
Other recent posts on COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN:
Poll Results: Has Nike gone overboard with the Pro Combat Uniforms?
Weekly Trivia: Three Team Tie For Conference Championship
Heisman Hopefuls: Bowl Games Will Impact The 2011 Race
1. The real meaning of tOSU. 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.
2. Where did that come from? 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.
3. Records are meant to be broken. 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.
4. The Humanitarian Bowl was inhumane. 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.
5. The Men of Troy. 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.
6. Special teams does it again. 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.
7. The worst 10 win team. 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.
8. The next Marshall Faulk? 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.
9. How high will he go? 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?
10. Beginners luck? 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.
Other recent posts on COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN:
Poll Results: Has Nike gone overboard with the Pro Combat Uniforms?
Weekly Trivia: Three Team Tie For Conference Championship
Heisman Hopefuls: Bowl Games Will Impact The 2011 Race
Poll 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?"
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.
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?"
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.
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?"
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Weekly Trivia: Three Team Tie For Conference Championship
The answer to last week's trivia question, "How many college football bowl games were played after the 1990 season?" is 19, 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.
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:
For more trivia questions, visit the Trivia page.
Other recent posts on COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN:
Heisman Hopefuls: Bowl Games Will Impact The 2011 Race
Poll Results: Which coach will have more success at his new school?
Game Predictions, Non-BCS Bowls, 2010
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:
What other FBS conferences had a three team tie for the conference championship?Leave your answer in the comments section. The answer will be revealed next Wednesday when a new question is asked.
For more trivia questions, visit the Trivia page.
Other recent posts on COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN:
Heisman Hopefuls: Bowl Games Will Impact The 2011 Race
Poll Results: Which coach will have more success at his new school?
Game Predictions, Non-BCS Bowls, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Heisman Hopefuls: Bowl Games Will Impact The 2011 Race
It 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State, 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.
- Taylor Martinez, Nebraska, 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.
- Russell Wilson, North Carolina State, 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.
- Blaine Gabbert, Missouri, 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.
- Aaron Murray, Georgia, 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.
- Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina, 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.
- Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M, 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.
- Darron Thomas, Oregon, 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.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Poll 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.
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.
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?"
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.
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?"
Friday, December 17, 2010
Game Predictions, Non-BCS Bowls, 2010
I 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.
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.
As always, you are free to chime in with your picks, or at least where you agree or disagree, and we can discuss.
Saturday, December 18
New Mexico Bowl
Brigham Young vs. UTEP, 34-10 BYU
It will take a complete meltdown for BYU not to win this one.
uDrove Humanitarian Bowl
Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State, 45-17 Northern Illinois
Fresno State will not go 2-0 against the state of Illinois.
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Ohio vs. Troy, 34-27 Ohio
The Trojans are down this year.
Tuesday, December 21
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg
Southern Miss vs. Louisville, 28-17 Southern Miss
Southern Miss is one of the best kept secrets in the nation.
Wednesday, December 22
MAACO Bowl Las Vegas
Utah vs. Boise State, 40-17 Boise State
Boise State will look like the one that should be going to the Pac-12.
Thursday, December 23
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
Navy at San Diego State, 31-28 San Diego State
Home field advantage wins this one.
Friday, December 24
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Hawaii vs. Tulsa, 45-27 Hawaii
This is a good Hawaii team playing at home.
Sunday, December 26
Little Caesars Bowl
Florida International vs. Toledo, 34-14 Toledo
Dream season ends sour for FIU.
Monday, December 27
AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl
Air Force vs. Georgia Tech, 28-17 Air Force
The Cadets will establish themselves as the best option team in the nation.
Tuesday, December 28
Champs Sports Bowl
West Virginia vs. North Carolina State, 38-24 North Carolina State
Breakout year for the Wolfpack.
Insight Bowl
Missouri vs. Iowa, 31-10 Missouri
I can’t imagine that Iowa even cares to be in this game.
Wednesday, December 29
Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Gruman
East Carolina vs. Maryland, 24-14 Maryland
Home field advantage for the Terps.
Texas Bowl
Illinois vs. Baylor, 38-31 Baylor
The Bears have so much more to play for than the Illini.
Valero Alamo Bowl
Oklahoma State vs. Arizona, 45-28 Oklahoma State
Justin Blackmon is unstoppable.
Thursday, December 30
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Army at Southern Methodist, 34-17 SMU
SMU is clearly the better team.
New Era Pinstripes Bowl
Kansas State vs. Syracuse, 17-10 Kansas State
A win-win for both schools. Syracuse is back in a bowl, and K-State is back to respectable status.
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
North Carolina vs. Tennessee, 35-21 North Carolina
Both teams will be happy to get this season over.
Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl
Nebraska vs. Washington, 23-21 Nebraska
Even with no motivation, Nebraska is better than Washington
Friday, December 31
Meineke Car Care Bowl
South Florida vs. Clemson, 28-24 Clemson
Just a stab in the dark.
Hyundai Sun Bowl
Notre Dame vs. Miami (FL), 27-17 Notre Dame
Notre Dame on 3 game win streak, Miami 2 game losing streak and down a coach.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Georgia vs. UCF, 28-17 UCF
UCF can lay a claim to best team in Florida with a win over the Bulldogs.
Chick-fil-A Bowl
South Carolina vs. Florida State, 38-21 South Carolina
The Gamecocks will be motivated enough to win 10 games for the first time since 1984.
Saturday, January 1
TicketCity Bowl
Northwestern vs. Texas Tech, 45-21 Texas Tech
Five of Northwestern’s wins have come by a combined 15 points.
Capital One Bowl
Alabama vs. Michigan State, 35-14 Alabama
Last time the Spartans played a team like Alabama, they were crushed by Iowa.
Outback Bowl
Florida vs. Penn State, 24-14 Penn State
Urban Meyer has packed it in.
Progressive Gator Bowl
Mississippi State vs. Michigan, 24-20 Mississippi State
Each team has a lot to play for. Better team will prevail.
Thursday, January 6
GoDaddy.com Bowl
Middle Tennessee vs. Miami (OH), 30-21 Miami (OH)
Miami has finished the year very strong, and surprising.
Friday, January 7
AT&T Cotton Bowl
LSU vs. Texas A&M, 35-17 LSU
The Tigers are a much stronger bowl team than the Aggies.
Saturday, January 8
BBVA Compass Bowl
Pittsburgh vs. Kentucky, 35-13 Kentucky
It’s been a disappointing year for Pitt, and now they are without a coach.
Sunday, January 9
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
Nevada vs. Boston College, 28-14 Nevada
Nevada can finish off this dream season with a win over a BCS AQ school.
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.
As always, you are free to chime in with your picks, or at least where you agree or disagree, and we can discuss.
Saturday, December 18
New Mexico Bowl
Brigham Young vs. UTEP, 34-10 BYU
It will take a complete meltdown for BYU not to win this one.
uDrove Humanitarian Bowl
Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State, 45-17 Northern Illinois
Fresno State will not go 2-0 against the state of Illinois.
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Ohio vs. Troy, 34-27 Ohio
The Trojans are down this year.
Tuesday, December 21
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg
Southern Miss vs. Louisville, 28-17 Southern Miss
Southern Miss is one of the best kept secrets in the nation.
Wednesday, December 22
MAACO Bowl Las Vegas
Utah vs. Boise State, 40-17 Boise State
Boise State will look like the one that should be going to the Pac-12.
Thursday, December 23
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
Navy at San Diego State, 31-28 San Diego State
Home field advantage wins this one.
Friday, December 24
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Hawaii vs. Tulsa, 45-27 Hawaii
This is a good Hawaii team playing at home.
Sunday, December 26
Little Caesars Bowl
Florida International vs. Toledo, 34-14 Toledo
Dream season ends sour for FIU.
Monday, December 27
AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl
Air Force vs. Georgia Tech, 28-17 Air Force
The Cadets will establish themselves as the best option team in the nation.
Tuesday, December 28
Champs Sports Bowl
West Virginia vs. North Carolina State, 38-24 North Carolina State
Breakout year for the Wolfpack.
Insight Bowl
Missouri vs. Iowa, 31-10 Missouri
I can’t imagine that Iowa even cares to be in this game.
Wednesday, December 29
Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Gruman
East Carolina vs. Maryland, 24-14 Maryland
Home field advantage for the Terps.
Texas Bowl
Illinois vs. Baylor, 38-31 Baylor
The Bears have so much more to play for than the Illini.
Valero Alamo Bowl
Oklahoma State vs. Arizona, 45-28 Oklahoma State
Justin Blackmon is unstoppable.
Thursday, December 30
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Army at Southern Methodist, 34-17 SMU
SMU is clearly the better team.
New Era Pinstripes Bowl
Kansas State vs. Syracuse, 17-10 Kansas State
A win-win for both schools. Syracuse is back in a bowl, and K-State is back to respectable status.
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
North Carolina vs. Tennessee, 35-21 North Carolina
Both teams will be happy to get this season over.
Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl
Nebraska vs. Washington, 23-21 Nebraska
Even with no motivation, Nebraska is better than Washington
Friday, December 31
Meineke Car Care Bowl
South Florida vs. Clemson, 28-24 Clemson
Just a stab in the dark.
Hyundai Sun Bowl
Notre Dame vs. Miami (FL), 27-17 Notre Dame
Notre Dame on 3 game win streak, Miami 2 game losing streak and down a coach.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Georgia vs. UCF, 28-17 UCF
UCF can lay a claim to best team in Florida with a win over the Bulldogs.
Chick-fil-A Bowl
South Carolina vs. Florida State, 38-21 South Carolina
The Gamecocks will be motivated enough to win 10 games for the first time since 1984.
Saturday, January 1
TicketCity Bowl
Northwestern vs. Texas Tech, 45-21 Texas Tech
Five of Northwestern’s wins have come by a combined 15 points.
Capital One Bowl
Alabama vs. Michigan State, 35-14 Alabama
Last time the Spartans played a team like Alabama, they were crushed by Iowa.
Outback Bowl
Florida vs. Penn State, 24-14 Penn State
Urban Meyer has packed it in.
Progressive Gator Bowl
Mississippi State vs. Michigan, 24-20 Mississippi State
Each team has a lot to play for. Better team will prevail.
Thursday, January 6
GoDaddy.com Bowl
Middle Tennessee vs. Miami (OH), 30-21 Miami (OH)
Miami has finished the year very strong, and surprising.
Friday, January 7
AT&T Cotton Bowl
LSU vs. Texas A&M, 35-17 LSU
The Tigers are a much stronger bowl team than the Aggies.
Saturday, January 8
BBVA Compass Bowl
Pittsburgh vs. Kentucky, 35-13 Kentucky
It’s been a disappointing year for Pitt, and now they are without a coach.
Sunday, January 9
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
Nevada vs. Boston College, 28-14 Nevada
Nevada can finish off this dream season with a win over a BCS AQ school.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Weekly Trivia: Number of Bowl Games in 1990
The 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.
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.
For more trivia questions, visit the Trivia page.
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.
How many college football bowl games were played after the 1990 season?Leave your answer in the comments section. The answer will be revealed next Wednesday when a new question is asked.
For more trivia questions, visit the Trivia page.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Heisman Hopefuls: Reaction to 2010 Results
As expected, Auburn Tigers quarterback Cameron Newton was awarded the Heisman Memorial Trophy last Saturday. He won by a land slide. Only five past winners have received more points than Newton’s 2,263 (O.J. Simpson-2,853, Tony Dorsett-2,357, Charlie Ward-2,310, Ricky Williams-2,355, Troy Smith-2,540). Congratulations Cam.
Following the announcement and the release of the voting, I have a few other thoughts before closing the book on Heisman Hopefuls 2010.
Following the announcement and the release of the voting, I have a few other thoughts before closing the book on Heisman Hopefuls 2010.
- Cam Newton received 729 first place votes and only 24 second and 28 third. With the controversy surrounding him, voters took an “all or nothing” approach to him. Either they were voting for him because he was clearly the most outstanding player, or they boycotted voting for him because of the possible pay-for-play.
- Andrew Luck should not have been second. I already explained why Luck should not have been a Heisman finalist. I am still dumbfounded about why Luck even got one first place vote, let alone enough votes to finish second. Especially since …
- Terrelle Pryor got no votes. Absolutely zero. He was one of the biggest preseason candidates, and he made huge strides this year. If Andy Dalton and Owen Marecic could get some votes, how did Pryor get none?
- Speaking of Owen Marecic, why did he get any votes? Because he plays two ways? Because he scored an offensive and defensive TD in the same game? A lot of players could play two ways. It’s just that nobody does. No one else can do what Newton, LaMichael James, and Justin Blackmon did. Marecic barely touched the ball on offense. The offensive and defensive TD feat was done just 4 years ago. Yeah, it is cool, but it’s not like it hasn’t happened since the leather helmet days.
- Ninety-one voters should lose their voting privileges. In addition to the 78 who voted Luck first, the six that voted Denard Robinson first, the four that voted Andy Dalton first, and the three that voted Owen Marecic first. I can understand local voters giving token votes to really good players in their region of the country, but putting them first on your ballot? No way.
- The token votes I was pleased to see were those for Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Statistically, he was on par with Newton (2,830 yards passing, 1,154 yards rushing, 20 TD rushing and 20 TD passing). He led the Wolf Pack to their first national ranking in ages. While his stats were not gaudy, he quarterbacked a 17 point second half comeback to dethrone Boise State.
Monday Musings: Texas A&M Aggies and LSU Tigers To Prove Themselves In The Cotton Bowl
This week, the bowl season starts, so I have gone with a non-BCS bowls theme for the musings.
1. Proving Ground. The Cotton Bowl provides more than an intriguing match up. It will be a proving ground. Texas A&M was surging to end the year. The Aggies were actively seeking an invitation to the SEC last summer. Beat LSU and they strengthen their cause. LSU got tripped up on it way to an at-large BCS bid. Each team has a chance to stake its claim for best team left out.
2. Make or Break. The Gator Bowl will go a long way to making or breaking each teams’ seasons. Rich Rodriguez could secure his job with a solid win number 8 over an SEC opponent. Or, the Michigan coaching staff could be broken up with Rich Rod getting fired. Mississippi State would move to 9 wins in their breakout year. It would be the most wins by Mississippi State since 1999.
3. No Business Playing. I bet you are thinking of the 6-6 teams. Well, that is not what I am referring to. The four bowl games from January 6-9 have no business being played so late. They should be moved back to January 1 or earlier. None of these four are BCS bowls. All you get is more rust on the players waiting so long to play. The fun and excitement of the bowls dies significantly after New Year's Day.
4. The Bowl Apologists Dream. The New Mexico Bowl is the perfect pairing of 6-6 teams for those who love to argue for bowls being a reward for the players and all the other rhetoric. UTEP is in a bowl for the first time in 5 years. Do you think they are excited? Do you think they won’t be playing their hearts out for the first winning season ever for 100% of the players on the roster? BYU was 1-4 and desperate for signs of life, to say nothing for a win. The Cougars have finished the season hot and want to have a winning season as well, especially after giving away the final game of the season to nationally ranked Utah.
5. Trains passing in the night. Boise State and Utah meet in the Las Vegas Bowl like two trains passing in the night. Boise State is joining the MWC next year while Utah is leaving that conference for the new Pac-12. It is a preview of what might have been.
6. No Fly Zone. The Independence Bowl has been grounded. With two option offenses squaring off (Air Force and Georgia Tech), be sure to keep your eyes at ground level. Both teams are sure to keep the ball on the ground. We just might have our first sub two hour game in ages.
7. Playing with the big boys now. Central Florida (Liberty Bowl vs. Georgia), Nevada (Kraft Fight Hunger vs. Boston College), Air Force (Independence vs. Georgia Tech), Southern Mississippi (St. Petersburg vs. Louisville), and East Carolina (Military vs. Maryland) all have one more opportunity to play against a member of one of the BCS AQ conferences. Interestingly, all of these bowl games look winnable by the non-AQ team.
8. What were they thinking? The Holiday Bowl picked a rematch of one of the ugliest games this season. Nebraska vs. Washington. Add to it that Nebraska blew out Arizona 33-0 in the Holiday Bowl last year. Not exactly what we are told bowl execs look for when making match ups. This does not have any interest to fans outside these two teams. It doesn’t promise to be an exciting game that goes down to the wire.
9. Staying home for the holidays. Usually the bowls represent a holiday get away. The opposite is true this year for several bowl participants. San Diego State, Maryland, Hawaii, Toledo, SMU, Tennessee, and Florida are all playing in their home stadium or very, very close to their campuses.
10. Redemption. The Iowa Hawkeyes took a trip out to Arizona in September, and it was a disaster. Iowa lost its first game of the season. They rebounded following that game, but they ended the season on a three game losing skid. They can redeem themselves, a little, with a win on their second trip to Arizona for the Insight Bowl. They face a good Missouri team. Of course, being without running backs Jewel Hampton and Adam Robinson will make it much more difficult.
1. Proving Ground. The Cotton Bowl provides more than an intriguing match up. It will be a proving ground. Texas A&M was surging to end the year. The Aggies were actively seeking an invitation to the SEC last summer. Beat LSU and they strengthen their cause. LSU got tripped up on it way to an at-large BCS bid. Each team has a chance to stake its claim for best team left out.
2. Make or Break. The Gator Bowl will go a long way to making or breaking each teams’ seasons. Rich Rodriguez could secure his job with a solid win number 8 over an SEC opponent. Or, the Michigan coaching staff could be broken up with Rich Rod getting fired. Mississippi State would move to 9 wins in their breakout year. It would be the most wins by Mississippi State since 1999.
3. No Business Playing. I bet you are thinking of the 6-6 teams. Well, that is not what I am referring to. The four bowl games from January 6-9 have no business being played so late. They should be moved back to January 1 or earlier. None of these four are BCS bowls. All you get is more rust on the players waiting so long to play. The fun and excitement of the bowls dies significantly after New Year's Day.
4. The Bowl Apologists Dream. The New Mexico Bowl is the perfect pairing of 6-6 teams for those who love to argue for bowls being a reward for the players and all the other rhetoric. UTEP is in a bowl for the first time in 5 years. Do you think they are excited? Do you think they won’t be playing their hearts out for the first winning season ever for 100% of the players on the roster? BYU was 1-4 and desperate for signs of life, to say nothing for a win. The Cougars have finished the season hot and want to have a winning season as well, especially after giving away the final game of the season to nationally ranked Utah.
5. Trains passing in the night. Boise State and Utah meet in the Las Vegas Bowl like two trains passing in the night. Boise State is joining the MWC next year while Utah is leaving that conference for the new Pac-12. It is a preview of what might have been.
6. No Fly Zone. The Independence Bowl has been grounded. With two option offenses squaring off (Air Force and Georgia Tech), be sure to keep your eyes at ground level. Both teams are sure to keep the ball on the ground. We just might have our first sub two hour game in ages.
7. Playing with the big boys now. Central Florida (Liberty Bowl vs. Georgia), Nevada (Kraft Fight Hunger vs. Boston College), Air Force (Independence vs. Georgia Tech), Southern Mississippi (St. Petersburg vs. Louisville), and East Carolina (Military vs. Maryland) all have one more opportunity to play against a member of one of the BCS AQ conferences. Interestingly, all of these bowl games look winnable by the non-AQ team.
8. What were they thinking? The Holiday Bowl picked a rematch of one of the ugliest games this season. Nebraska vs. Washington. Add to it that Nebraska blew out Arizona 33-0 in the Holiday Bowl last year. Not exactly what we are told bowl execs look for when making match ups. This does not have any interest to fans outside these two teams. It doesn’t promise to be an exciting game that goes down to the wire.
9. Staying home for the holidays. Usually the bowls represent a holiday get away. The opposite is true this year for several bowl participants. San Diego State, Maryland, Hawaii, Toledo, SMU, Tennessee, and Florida are all playing in their home stadium or very, very close to their campuses.
10. Redemption. The Iowa Hawkeyes took a trip out to Arizona in September, and it was a disaster. Iowa lost its first game of the season. They rebounded following that game, but they ended the season on a three game losing skid. They can redeem themselves, a little, with a win on their second trip to Arizona for the Insight Bowl. They face a good Missouri team. Of course, being without running backs Jewel Hampton and Adam Robinson will make it much more difficult.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Poll Results: Which non-BCS bowl has the best match up?
The latest poll has closed, and the best non-BCS bowl match up is Boise State vs. Utah in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, so said 41% of voters. Alabama vs. Michigan State was a very close second with 39% of the vote. South Carolina vs. Florida State was a distant third (12%). It was a tie for fourth with both Notre Dame vs. Miami and West Virginia vs. North Carolina State receiving 4%.
I like the Alabama vs. Michigan State game. Two teams that were very, very close to playing in BCS bowl games, but at the same time, so far away.
Thank you to everyone who voted. Don't forget to vote in this week's question: "Which coach will have more success at his new school?"
I like the Alabama vs. Michigan State game. Two teams that were very, very close to playing in BCS bowl games, but at the same time, so far away.
Thank you to everyone who voted. Don't forget to vote in this week's question: "Which coach will have more success at his new school?"
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Urban Meyer: The Latest Florida Gators Drop Out
Urban Meyer has resigned as the Florida Gators head coach. Again. His reasons: family and health. Those are always good cover ups.
While this news is surprising, it is not shocking. Meyer probably has concerns about his health and certainly wants to spend more time with his family. However, these reasons alone were not enough to tip the scales. What did? The Gators’ disappointing season. I just don’t think this happens if Florida played in the SEC championship game and was preparing for a BCS bowl this year.
One year ago, the day after Meyer announced his retirement, he went out to practice and saw the state of the program and the potential for the future. That was enough to get him to stay on board and take a brief leave of absence. Now, one year into the future, Meyer has seen enough.
This season was the first year that Meyer faced the toughest challenge for a coach: sustaining success. Meyer learned the hard way that sustained success is more difficult than it looks. Before coming to Florida, Meyer hopped from job to job, never staying long enough to graduate a recruiting class and to compete against foes who had had time to adjust to his spread attack.
After inheriting a well stocked cupboard and using his spread scheme to win the 2006 BCS National Championship, Meyer weathered the storm in 2007 when his recruits started taking the field. While the team only won 9 games, quarterback Tim Tebow won the Heisman. It was clear that with a few defensive adjustments, the Gators would be back on top. Fast forward to 2010. Tebow, Brandon Spikes, and others were gone. Meyer’s revolutionary offense had become mainstream in college football.
John Brantley was supposed to be the answer. By the end of the year, Florida was using a three quarterback system. Florida lost miserably to Florida State (Meyer’s first loss to the Seminoles). It must have hurt, too, to see former Florida quarterback Cam Newton thriving on the other side of the SEC. Going into their bowl game, Florida is 7-5. Not ideal, but not unheard of either. A quick glance up north, and Meyer could see how Mark Richt has struggled to reload the last two years at Georgia. Look west, and Mack Brown sticks out like a sore thumb. A year removed from the national championship game, and Texas is 5-7. These two coaches are not throwing in the towel.
Urban Meyer is just the latest college drop out. When the advanced classes got difficult, he took the easy way out.
A few years from now, Meyer will be back. Probably at Notre Dame if Brian Kelly can’t return the Fighting Irish to the BCS. However, if Meyer doesn’t stay at his next gig for at least 10 years and have continued success, he should never be considered one of the greatest coaches of all-time.
That distinction belongs to guys like the one who will be opposite Meyer in the Outback Bowl—Joe Paterno. I have no problem with Meyer changing schools early on, but the great coaches have to settle down at some point and sustain success over multiple recruiting classes. They have to be able to beat the same teams over and over and over again, even when those teams know what you are going to do and are very familiar with your schemes. They do not jump ship at the first sign of disaster.
Other recent posts on COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN:
Auburn Tigers QB Cameron Newton’s Alibi Is Believable
Weekly Trivia: 10 Or More Wins From 2005-2010
Heisman Hopefuls: Cam Newton Will Win Auburn's Third Heisman
Monday Musings: Auburn Tigers' Hail Mary Says It All
Poll Results: Should Nevada be ranked higher (#14/#17) after beating Boise State?
College Football Haven Top 25, Week 14, 2010
While this news is surprising, it is not shocking. Meyer probably has concerns about his health and certainly wants to spend more time with his family. However, these reasons alone were not enough to tip the scales. What did? The Gators’ disappointing season. I just don’t think this happens if Florida played in the SEC championship game and was preparing for a BCS bowl this year.
One year ago, the day after Meyer announced his retirement, he went out to practice and saw the state of the program and the potential for the future. That was enough to get him to stay on board and take a brief leave of absence. Now, one year into the future, Meyer has seen enough.
This season was the first year that Meyer faced the toughest challenge for a coach: sustaining success. Meyer learned the hard way that sustained success is more difficult than it looks. Before coming to Florida, Meyer hopped from job to job, never staying long enough to graduate a recruiting class and to compete against foes who had had time to adjust to his spread attack.
After inheriting a well stocked cupboard and using his spread scheme to win the 2006 BCS National Championship, Meyer weathered the storm in 2007 when his recruits started taking the field. While the team only won 9 games, quarterback Tim Tebow won the Heisman. It was clear that with a few defensive adjustments, the Gators would be back on top. Fast forward to 2010. Tebow, Brandon Spikes, and others were gone. Meyer’s revolutionary offense had become mainstream in college football.
John Brantley was supposed to be the answer. By the end of the year, Florida was using a three quarterback system. Florida lost miserably to Florida State (Meyer’s first loss to the Seminoles). It must have hurt, too, to see former Florida quarterback Cam Newton thriving on the other side of the SEC. Going into their bowl game, Florida is 7-5. Not ideal, but not unheard of either. A quick glance up north, and Meyer could see how Mark Richt has struggled to reload the last two years at Georgia. Look west, and Mack Brown sticks out like a sore thumb. A year removed from the national championship game, and Texas is 5-7. These two coaches are not throwing in the towel.
Urban Meyer is just the latest college drop out. When the advanced classes got difficult, he took the easy way out.
A few years from now, Meyer will be back. Probably at Notre Dame if Brian Kelly can’t return the Fighting Irish to the BCS. However, if Meyer doesn’t stay at his next gig for at least 10 years and have continued success, he should never be considered one of the greatest coaches of all-time.
That distinction belongs to guys like the one who will be opposite Meyer in the Outback Bowl—Joe Paterno. I have no problem with Meyer changing schools early on, but the great coaches have to settle down at some point and sustain success over multiple recruiting classes. They have to be able to beat the same teams over and over and over again, even when those teams know what you are going to do and are very familiar with your schemes. They do not jump ship at the first sign of disaster.
Other recent posts on COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN:
Auburn Tigers QB Cameron Newton’s Alibi Is Believable
Weekly Trivia: 10 Or More Wins From 2005-2010
Heisman Hopefuls: Cam Newton Will Win Auburn's Third Heisman
Monday Musings: Auburn Tigers' Hail Mary Says It All
Poll Results: Should Nevada be ranked higher (#14/#17) after beating Boise State?
College Football Haven Top 25, Week 14, 2010
Auburn Tigers QB Cameron Newton’s Alibi Is Believable
Auburn Tigers quarterback Cameron Newton was cleared to play by the NCAA last week after being declared ineligible by Auburn under allegations of pay-for-play. That’s fine. Not every allegation is true. What caused controversy and stirred debate was the NCAA’s reasoning: Cam Newton and Auburn were unaware that Cecil Newton was shopping his son.
I know it is easy to look at this situation and think that it was impossible for the younger Newton to not be, at least, suspicious that something strange was going on. I don’t know what happened, but I do think we should not dismiss so easily that Cam Newton was oblivious to what was happening. In fact, I think Cecil could have easily pressured his son to choose Auburn without his son thinking either his dad was crazy or he was working something under the table.
Every time I hear some radio talk show or read a sports columnist comment on this story, they all neglect one fact. To quote the New York Times: “Newton, 50, is the bishop overseeing five small Pentecostal churches in Georgia, including the church here, where he is also pastor…”. Cecil Newton is not only Cam’s father, but he is a very important religious figure. All the senior Newton had to do is approach his son and say something to the effect that he had been praying about where Cam should play football, and he had a revelation that Auburn was the place for him. He could have added to that any outrageous prediction of what would happen if Cam went to Auburn (i.e., a national championship, a Heisman Trophy, a huge professional contract).
Put yourself in Cam’s shoes. You are 20 years old, you got into some trouble at Florida, and you are trying to do what is right and fix your life. Your religious leader, who also happens to be your father, tells you Auburn may not be the obvious choice, but it is the right choice. He could then cite William Cowper, “God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform,” or Proverbs chapter 3 verse 5, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Add to the religious aspect that impressing and influencing parents is just as important in the recruiting process as the player himself. Just ask that struggling team in Las Vegas. Parents don’t have to be overbearing about it, but even if they are, there are so many reasonable excuses for parents that the child could be clueless that a pay-for-play deal was being brokered.
Yes, the NCAA sounds like they have been knocked off their rocker, and they have opened up a loophole the size of a football field, but when it comes to condemning Cam Newton, I am not ready to do it.
Other recent posts on COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN:
Weekly Trivia: 10 Or More Wins From 2005-2010
Heisman Hopefuls: Cam Newton Will Win Auburn's Third Heisman
Monday Musings: Auburn Tigers' Hail Mary Says It All
Poll Results: Should Nevada be ranked higher (#14/#17) after beating Boise State?
College Football Haven Top 25, Week 14, 2010
I know it is easy to look at this situation and think that it was impossible for the younger Newton to not be, at least, suspicious that something strange was going on. I don’t know what happened, but I do think we should not dismiss so easily that Cam Newton was oblivious to what was happening. In fact, I think Cecil could have easily pressured his son to choose Auburn without his son thinking either his dad was crazy or he was working something under the table.
Every time I hear some radio talk show or read a sports columnist comment on this story, they all neglect one fact. To quote the New York Times: “Newton, 50, is the bishop overseeing five small Pentecostal churches in Georgia, including the church here, where he is also pastor…”. Cecil Newton is not only Cam’s father, but he is a very important religious figure. All the senior Newton had to do is approach his son and say something to the effect that he had been praying about where Cam should play football, and he had a revelation that Auburn was the place for him. He could have added to that any outrageous prediction of what would happen if Cam went to Auburn (i.e., a national championship, a Heisman Trophy, a huge professional contract).
Put yourself in Cam’s shoes. You are 20 years old, you got into some trouble at Florida, and you are trying to do what is right and fix your life. Your religious leader, who also happens to be your father, tells you Auburn may not be the obvious choice, but it is the right choice. He could then cite William Cowper, “God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform,” or Proverbs chapter 3 verse 5, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Add to the religious aspect that impressing and influencing parents is just as important in the recruiting process as the player himself. Just ask that struggling team in Las Vegas. Parents don’t have to be overbearing about it, but even if they are, there are so many reasonable excuses for parents that the child could be clueless that a pay-for-play deal was being brokered.
Yes, the NCAA sounds like they have been knocked off their rocker, and they have opened up a loophole the size of a football field, but when it comes to condemning Cam Newton, I am not ready to do it.
Other recent posts on COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAVEN:
Weekly Trivia: 10 Or More Wins From 2005-2010
Heisman Hopefuls: Cam Newton Will Win Auburn's Third Heisman
Monday Musings: Auburn Tigers' Hail Mary Says It All
Poll Results: Should Nevada be ranked higher (#14/#17) after beating Boise State?
College Football Haven Top 25, Week 14, 2010
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