As part of my protest against the bowl system, let my lonely voice be heard!
No longer should sports care about the EagleBank Bowl or the magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl. And, what an insult to America, the John Hancock Bowl, named after one of this country's greatest patriots has been replaced by the Brut Bowl! The Brut Bowl? What is the reward, the finest smelling armpit in all the land?
How should I, one who loves my country, be expected to take this slap in the face? I don't and I won't.
Matchups of mediocre teams against other mediocre teams that don't matter and they never have are the basis of the bowl system. The only people who care are the gamblers, the people who pick games for both fun and money. But this is a group of Americans, patriots, who should no longer be vexed by the likes of these meaningless games such as Buffalo and Connecticut, a combined 15-10, in the International Bowl to played in Canada. Canada? An American college football bowl game is played in Canada? This insult to America and freedom-loving Americans everywhere should not stand.
Where do we draw the line?
First it is Toronto, a city where you drive south from Detroit to get to. But then, what's next? Vancouver? Home of the Canadian Hollywood. Then what? Puerto Rico? And since you are already so close, why not just go to Havana and smoke a cigar with Fidel and enjoy your college football game then. America hater!
I, for one, will no longer reward mediocrity. I will no longer pick games that don't matter. And I ask that all of you, unless it somehow involves your Alma Mater, don't pick the games that don't matter either.
I ask, I beg, that if you love America, don't continue to pick the games that don't matter. Because if you, you hate this country and are destroying this nation from the inside.
This has nothing to do with me forgetting to send the picks. Nothing.
Nothing.
So I beg you indulgence and ask that you take my selections for the games that matter.
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
Boise State
Valero Alamo Bowl
Northwestern
Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
Oklahoma State
Capital One Bowl
Michigan State
The Rose Bowl
USC
AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic
Ole Miss
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Utah
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Texas
BCS National Championship Game
Florida
Friday, December 26, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Hellfire and damnation on the Plains
Not for nothing, but the Auburn situation looks incredibly bad.
It looks like from the outside that a single booster, Bobby Lowder, is calling the shots and hellfire shall be rained down on the plains because of it.
It is, from a sportswriter viewpoint, an incredibly easy story to write.
Does this booster have a bad reputation? Check.
Has this booster tried to get the coach fired before? Check.
Does this booster talk to the press? Nope and therefore check.
Does he complain about what is written about him? Nope and therefore check.
Does this booster have detractors inside the athletic department who will say anything about him as long as you don't put their name to it? Yep and check.
Does this booster like the new hire? Yep and check.
Does the incoming coach have a less than stellar record as a head coach? Yep and check.
Are various relatives connected to the outgoing staff, singing like songbirds? Yep and check.
Does this university have outspoken, celebrity minorities who will talk to the press about anything at anytime? Yep and check.
Lordy, it doesn't get much better than that.
Taste the hellfire, enjoy the hellfire, it will be coming for as long as Chizik has losing teams. And that could be for a couple of years. The cupboard isn't exactly full at Auburn. Offense is in flux.
He could make some moves to stem the tide, hah!, hire the right assistant coaches. Land a couple big name recruits such as beating hated rivals for some four-star player out of Dothan or Hoover or some such high school hellhole and some fans will become convinced and the press will begin to let up.
But, in a state with Paul Finebaum ruling the roost, it will be ugly. Like Bobby Knight once said about rape, if it is going to happen, you might as well as lay back and enjoy it.
It looks like from the outside that a single booster, Bobby Lowder, is calling the shots and hellfire shall be rained down on the plains because of it.
It is, from a sportswriter viewpoint, an incredibly easy story to write.
Does this booster have a bad reputation? Check.
Has this booster tried to get the coach fired before? Check.
Does this booster talk to the press? Nope and therefore check.
Does he complain about what is written about him? Nope and therefore check.
Does this booster have detractors inside the athletic department who will say anything about him as long as you don't put their name to it? Yep and check.
Does this booster like the new hire? Yep and check.
Does the incoming coach have a less than stellar record as a head coach? Yep and check.
Are various relatives connected to the outgoing staff, singing like songbirds? Yep and check.
Does this university have outspoken, celebrity minorities who will talk to the press about anything at anytime? Yep and check.
Lordy, it doesn't get much better than that.
Taste the hellfire, enjoy the hellfire, it will be coming for as long as Chizik has losing teams. And that could be for a couple of years. The cupboard isn't exactly full at Auburn. Offense is in flux.
He could make some moves to stem the tide, hah!, hire the right assistant coaches. Land a couple big name recruits such as beating hated rivals for some four-star player out of Dothan or Hoover or some such high school hellhole and some fans will become convinced and the press will begin to let up.
But, in a state with Paul Finebaum ruling the roost, it will be ugly. Like Bobby Knight once said about rape, if it is going to happen, you might as well as lay back and enjoy it.
New Coach Haiku
Since Auburn hired a new coach, I had to include it in a haiku:
Chizik, what the hell?
Fans hemorrhoids are in a bunch
Losing continues.
Chizik, what the hell?
Fans hemorrhoids are in a bunch
Losing continues.
Letters to Ramon
Actual calls from actual listeners...
"You know who is to blame for killing a playoff system? Arkiesaw. Yes, when the SEC brought in a 12th team and instituted the SECCG (the first conf. to do so) the dominoes fell. First the B12 in 1996 and ultimately the ACC in 2005. Now, I kid about Arkansas being the death of all playoff thought but it certainly can be traced to the root of the issue when you think you about it. Arkansas 1 - Lamechunkahs 0. P-Nuggets: Did you know as of yesterday Maryland had sold a total of 16 tickets through their offices for the Humanitarian Bowl? Nevada has sold a whopping 8. Yes, 24 seats sold for the Tueday night game on Dec. 30th. And who would blame fans? Boise in late December, at night, on a Tuesday? Not the kid... no way no how." -- Mike P.
"Who cares about the damn BCS. I want to know what was Auburn thinking when they hired their new coach?" -- Johnny V.
"Here is the Chiznik hire, broken down: Breaking down the Gene Chizik hire
"This hire was made with one thing in mind... Go with who you know. They know Chizik. He will be good with the talent that Auburn can attract, SEC talent not Big XII North talent. He was 'unsuccessful' at ISU because he was given two years and was handed a really bad team. ISU is not a recruitiing Meca, and he would have been a miricle worker if he pulled off even one winning season in 3 years (with 'his' recruits). Chizik is/will be a good hire. He wasn't the sexy hire, but I think he has a chance to be successful. Where is the loyalty here?" -- Ryan H.
"Hot rumor is that Gill pulled his name because he wants the Arkansas job. Gill's wife is from Rogers and she wants to go home. The rumor being that Petrino will eventually bolt after three or so years, and Gill will be in a perfect position to get the gig. If he took the Auburn job, then going to Arkansas would be taking a step back." -- Jeremy P.
"Thanks for the support Ryan. Also, we learned that the ISU AD wanted to offer Chizik a 2 year contract extension due to the things he was seeing in the program there. They had to start from scratch. This past year Chizik had to START 11 true freshmen. Nothing good can come from that. I'm upset with how this went down but I'm sick of complaining about it and will now support our current coach. Everything I read and hear about him from his past players, other coaches, etc., he's a..." -- Trey D.
"The heretofore unheard lyrics of the Barnaby Jones theme:
He never carries a revolver.
Guns don't feel good 'gainst his bones.
He's a crime fightin' problem solver.
He's Barnaby Jones!"
-- Seth Mac
"Rutgers - neighborhood boys from NJ will be P-Oed about playing in a bowl named for a national pizza chain.
Maryland - at the games, they'll hold signs that say "Fear the turtle"... at the restaurants, they'll say "Fear the Friedgen".
E Carolina - Crap, Kentucky made a bowl?!? Great year, Auburn.
OSU - Mack Brown is contractually obligated to choke against a team with an O and U in its name every year.
Tulsa -I don't want Mr. Wild to be the only one that makes the choice."
-- Lee D.
"My biggest underdog upset... Northwestern over Mizzou. My biggest bet-your-house sure thing.... Texas. My favorite... favorite play, Cincinnati -2 over Vir. Tech. Best bowl game... Texas Tech/Ole Miss. Worst bowl game.... Alabama/Utah. Best BCS Championship game ever? '08 Florida/OK certainly gets my vote on paper. Best bowl name... majicjack. Best bowl destination... Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. Worst bowl destination.... Independence Bowl. Worst bowl name...Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl." -- Larry B.
"First my rules apply the same as last year. If you fire your coach, you team cannot go to a bowl game. Secondly, if you go to a bowl game and you have to play Rice, you must forfeit. Third rule is that Hawaii must leave the Island to go to a bowl game. It can't stay at home. Also, what is up with ND playing on Christmas Eve. Maybe they should pray to the Blessed Mother about this one to make sure they feel OK about playing a game on the night of their Savior's birth. And I can never take the bowls seriously again when Buffalo gets to play in a game after the Sugar Bowl. And when did Nebraska make a bowl game?" -- BR
"You know who is to blame for killing a playoff system? Arkiesaw. Yes, when the SEC brought in a 12th team and instituted the SECCG (the first conf. to do so) the dominoes fell. First the B12 in 1996 and ultimately the ACC in 2005. Now, I kid about Arkansas being the death of all playoff thought but it certainly can be traced to the root of the issue when you think you about it. Arkansas 1 - Lamechunkahs 0. P-Nuggets: Did you know as of yesterday Maryland had sold a total of 16 tickets through their offices for the Humanitarian Bowl? Nevada has sold a whopping 8. Yes, 24 seats sold for the Tueday night game on Dec. 30th. And who would blame fans? Boise in late December, at night, on a Tuesday? Not the kid... no way no how." -- Mike P.
"Who cares about the damn BCS. I want to know what was Auburn thinking when they hired their new coach?" -- Johnny V.
"Here is the Chiznik hire, broken down: Breaking down the Gene Chizik hire
"This hire was made with one thing in mind... Go with who you know. They know Chizik. He will be good with the talent that Auburn can attract, SEC talent not Big XII North talent. He was 'unsuccessful' at ISU because he was given two years and was handed a really bad team. ISU is not a recruitiing Meca, and he would have been a miricle worker if he pulled off even one winning season in 3 years (with 'his' recruits). Chizik is/will be a good hire. He wasn't the sexy hire, but I think he has a chance to be successful. Where is the loyalty here?" -- Ryan H.
"Hot rumor is that Gill pulled his name because he wants the Arkansas job. Gill's wife is from Rogers and she wants to go home. The rumor being that Petrino will eventually bolt after three or so years, and Gill will be in a perfect position to get the gig. If he took the Auburn job, then going to Arkansas would be taking a step back." -- Jeremy P.
"Thanks for the support Ryan. Also, we learned that the ISU AD wanted to offer Chizik a 2 year contract extension due to the things he was seeing in the program there. They had to start from scratch. This past year Chizik had to START 11 true freshmen. Nothing good can come from that. I'm upset with how this went down but I'm sick of complaining about it and will now support our current coach. Everything I read and hear about him from his past players, other coaches, etc., he's a..." -- Trey D.
"The heretofore unheard lyrics of the Barnaby Jones theme:
He never carries a revolver.
Guns don't feel good 'gainst his bones.
He's a crime fightin' problem solver.
He's Barnaby Jones!"
-- Seth Mac
"Rutgers - neighborhood boys from NJ will be P-Oed about playing in a bowl named for a national pizza chain.
Maryland - at the games, they'll hold signs that say "Fear the turtle"... at the restaurants, they'll say "Fear the Friedgen".
E Carolina - Crap, Kentucky made a bowl?!? Great year, Auburn.
OSU - Mack Brown is contractually obligated to choke against a team with an O and U in its name every year.
Tulsa -I don't want Mr. Wild to be the only one that makes the choice."
-- Lee D.
"My biggest underdog upset... Northwestern over Mizzou. My biggest bet-your-house sure thing.... Texas. My favorite... favorite play, Cincinnati -2 over Vir. Tech. Best bowl game... Texas Tech/Ole Miss. Worst bowl game.... Alabama/Utah. Best BCS Championship game ever? '08 Florida/OK certainly gets my vote on paper. Best bowl name... majicjack. Best bowl destination... Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. Worst bowl destination.... Independence Bowl. Worst bowl name...Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl." -- Larry B.
"First my rules apply the same as last year. If you fire your coach, you team cannot go to a bowl game. Secondly, if you go to a bowl game and you have to play Rice, you must forfeit. Third rule is that Hawaii must leave the Island to go to a bowl game. It can't stay at home. Also, what is up with ND playing on Christmas Eve. Maybe they should pray to the Blessed Mother about this one to make sure they feel OK about playing a game on the night of their Savior's birth. And I can never take the bowls seriously again when Buffalo gets to play in a game after the Sugar Bowl. And when did Nebraska make a bowl game?" -- BR
Monday, December 15, 2008
Pick 36: The bowl games
Thirty-six games to go.
Here they are, your final games of the season to pick in the college football pool. At the conclusion of these games, someone getting this e-mail is going to be $800 richer and the proud owner of the Ramon Escobar Trophy. Someone else is going to be $250 richer. Another person will have an extra $100. Yet another will have a $20 bill to pay for double his or her entry fee. A Catholic High graduate not finishing in the top four is going to get a $20 gift certificate to Markham Street Liquor plus a $20 donation made in his name to the Catholic High Foundation. And one other lucky person who has finished with the worst record among those submitting picks for every game is going to get the very special Ramon Escobar $10 Gift Card.
Those finishing in the bottom third of the standings after the Gauntlet Week are automatically entered into a separate consolation bowl pool called the Hilary DeMillo Challenge, so named for the person who is last in the standings. The winner of this bowl pool, which is also open to people who did not enter the regular season pool, will get free entry next year, which is a $10 value if redeemed through me or up to a $9 value if sold on the open market. The one stipulation in this pool is that anyone beaten by Hilary DeMillo must send her $1 in the mail.
As always, all games are worth two points unless otherwise indicated. Note that the winner of the BCS national championship game is worth double. All picks, and I mean all 36 of these games, must be turned in at one time. When you send them in, please list your winners one under the other in the same order they were received.
So here we go. For $800 and the Ramon Escobar Trophy, the coveted solid-gold statuette epitomizing the spirit of amateur athletics and football pools, select your winners and e-mail them back to me by 5 p.m. Friday. Choose wisely.
Division I Championship
Montana-Richmond
7 p.m., Fri., ESPN2
Line: Pick 'em
Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl XXXVI
Division III Championship
Mount Union-Wisconsin Whitewater
10 a.m., Sat., ESPN2
No line
EagleBank Bowl
Navy-Wake Forest
10 a.m., Sat., ESPN
Line: Wake Forest by 3
New Mexico Bowl
Colorado State-Fresno State
1:30 p.m., Sat., ESPN
Line: Fresno State by 2
magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl
South Florida-Memphis
3:30 p.m., Sat., ESPN2
Line: South Florida by 12
* Underdog worth four points in this game
Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl
Arizona-BYU
7 p.m., Sat., ESPN
Line: Arizona by 3
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Troy-Southern Miss
7:15 p.m., Sun., ESPN
Line: Troy by 4
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
TCU-Boise State
7 p.m., Dec. 23, ESPN
Line: TCU by 2
Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl
Hawaii-Notre Dame
7 p.m., Dec. 24, ESPN
Line: Hawaii by 1
Motor City Bowl
Central Michigan-Florida Atlantic
7 p.m., Dec. 26, ESPN
Line: Central Michigan by 7
* Underdog worth three points in this game
Meineke Car Care Bowl
North Carolina-West Virginia
Noon, Dec. 27, ESPN
Line: North Carolina by 1
Champs Sports Bowl
Florida State-Wisconsin
3:30 p.m., Dec. 27, ESPN
Line: Florida State by 4
Emerald Bowl
Miami-California
7 p.m., Dec. 27, ESPN
Line: California by 7
* Underdog worth three points in this game
PetroSun Independence Bowl
Louisiana Tech-Northern Illinois
7:15 p.m., Dec. 28, ESPN
Line: Northern Illinois by 1
PapaJohns.com Bowl
NC State-Rutgers
2 p.m., Dec. 29, ESPN
Line: Rutgers by 7
* Underdog worth three points in this game
Valero Alamo Bowl
Northwestern-Missouri
7 p.m., Dec. 29, ESPN
Line: Missouri by 12
* Underdog worth four points in this game
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl
Nevada-Maryland
3:30 p.m., Dec. 30, ESPN
Line: Nevada by 1
Texas Bowl
Western Michigan-Rice
7 p.m., Dec. 30, NFL Network
Line: Rice by 3
Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
Oregon-Oklahoma State
7 p.m., Dec. 30, ESPN
Line: Oklahoma State by 3
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Air Force-Houston
11 a.m., Dec. 31, ESPN
Line: Houston by 2
Brut Sun Bowl
Oregon State-Pittsburgh
1 p.m., Dec. 31, CBS
Line: Oregon State by 3
Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
Vanderbilt-Boston College
2:30 p.m., Dec. 31, ESPN
Line: Boston College by 3
Insight Bowl
Minnesota-Kansas
4:30 p.m., Dec. 31, NFL Network
Line: Kansas by 10
* Underdog worth four points in this game
Chick-fil-A Bowl
LSU-Georgia Tech
6:30 p.m., Dec. 31, ESPN
Line: Georgia Tech by 4
Outback Bowl
Iowa-South Carolina
10 a.m., Jan. 1, ESPN
Line: Iowa by 3
Konica Minolta Gator Bowl
Clemson-Nebraska
Noon, Jan. 1, CBS
Line: Clemson by 2
Capital One Bowl
Michigan State-Georgia
Noon, Jan. 1, ABC
Line: Georgia by 7
* Underdog worth three points in this game
The Rose Bowl
Penn State-USC
3:30 p.m., Jan. 1, ABC
Line: USC by 10
* Underdog worth four points in this game
FedEx Orange Bowl
Cincinnati-Virginia Tech
7:30 p.m., Jan. 1, Fox
Line: Cincinnati by 2
AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic
Texas Tech-Ole Miss
1 p.m., Jan. 2, Fox
Line: Texas Tech by 5
* Underdog worth three points in this game
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
East Carolina-Kentucky
4 p.m., Jan. 2, ESPN
Line: East Carolina by 2
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Alabama-Utah
7 p.m., Jan. 2, Fox
Line: Alabama by 10
* Underdog worth four points in this game
International Bowl
Connecticut-Buffalo
11 a.m., Jan. 3, ESPN2
Line: Connecticut by 4
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Ohio State-Texas
7 p.m., Jan. 5, Fox
Line: Texas by 9
* Underdog worth four points in this game
GMAC Bowl
Tulsa-Ball State
7 p.m., Jan. 6, ESPN
Line: Ball State by 2
BCS National Championship Game
Florida-Oklahoma
7 p.m., Jan. 8, Fox
Line: Florida by 3
* Winner worth four points in this game
Good luck.
****#****
Here they are, your final games of the season to pick in the college football pool. At the conclusion of these games, someone getting this e-mail is going to be $800 richer and the proud owner of the Ramon Escobar Trophy. Someone else is going to be $250 richer. Another person will have an extra $100. Yet another will have a $20 bill to pay for double his or her entry fee. A Catholic High graduate not finishing in the top four is going to get a $20 gift certificate to Markham Street Liquor plus a $20 donation made in his name to the Catholic High Foundation. And one other lucky person who has finished with the worst record among those submitting picks for every game is going to get the very special Ramon Escobar $10 Gift Card.
Those finishing in the bottom third of the standings after the Gauntlet Week are automatically entered into a separate consolation bowl pool called the Hilary DeMillo Challenge, so named for the person who is last in the standings. The winner of this bowl pool, which is also open to people who did not enter the regular season pool, will get free entry next year, which is a $10 value if redeemed through me or up to a $9 value if sold on the open market. The one stipulation in this pool is that anyone beaten by Hilary DeMillo must send her $1 in the mail.
As always, all games are worth two points unless otherwise indicated. Note that the winner of the BCS national championship game is worth double. All picks, and I mean all 36 of these games, must be turned in at one time. When you send them in, please list your winners one under the other in the same order they were received.
So here we go. For $800 and the Ramon Escobar Trophy, the coveted solid-gold statuette epitomizing the spirit of amateur athletics and football pools, select your winners and e-mail them back to me by 5 p.m. Friday. Choose wisely.
Division I Championship
Montana-Richmond
7 p.m., Fri., ESPN2
Line: Pick 'em
Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl XXXVI
Division III Championship
Mount Union-Wisconsin Whitewater
10 a.m., Sat., ESPN2
No line
EagleBank Bowl
Navy-Wake Forest
10 a.m., Sat., ESPN
Line: Wake Forest by 3
New Mexico Bowl
Colorado State-Fresno State
1:30 p.m., Sat., ESPN
Line: Fresno State by 2
magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl
South Florida-Memphis
3:30 p.m., Sat., ESPN2
Line: South Florida by 12
* Underdog worth four points in this game
Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl
Arizona-BYU
7 p.m., Sat., ESPN
Line: Arizona by 3
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Troy-Southern Miss
7:15 p.m., Sun., ESPN
Line: Troy by 4
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
TCU-Boise State
7 p.m., Dec. 23, ESPN
Line: TCU by 2
Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl
Hawaii-Notre Dame
7 p.m., Dec. 24, ESPN
Line: Hawaii by 1
Motor City Bowl
Central Michigan-Florida Atlantic
7 p.m., Dec. 26, ESPN
Line: Central Michigan by 7
* Underdog worth three points in this game
Meineke Car Care Bowl
North Carolina-West Virginia
Noon, Dec. 27, ESPN
Line: North Carolina by 1
Champs Sports Bowl
Florida State-Wisconsin
3:30 p.m., Dec. 27, ESPN
Line: Florida State by 4
Emerald Bowl
Miami-California
7 p.m., Dec. 27, ESPN
Line: California by 7
* Underdog worth three points in this game
PetroSun Independence Bowl
Louisiana Tech-Northern Illinois
7:15 p.m., Dec. 28, ESPN
Line: Northern Illinois by 1
PapaJohns.com Bowl
NC State-Rutgers
2 p.m., Dec. 29, ESPN
Line: Rutgers by 7
* Underdog worth three points in this game
Valero Alamo Bowl
Northwestern-Missouri
7 p.m., Dec. 29, ESPN
Line: Missouri by 12
* Underdog worth four points in this game
Roady's Humanitarian Bowl
Nevada-Maryland
3:30 p.m., Dec. 30, ESPN
Line: Nevada by 1
Texas Bowl
Western Michigan-Rice
7 p.m., Dec. 30, NFL Network
Line: Rice by 3
Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
Oregon-Oklahoma State
7 p.m., Dec. 30, ESPN
Line: Oklahoma State by 3
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Air Force-Houston
11 a.m., Dec. 31, ESPN
Line: Houston by 2
Brut Sun Bowl
Oregon State-Pittsburgh
1 p.m., Dec. 31, CBS
Line: Oregon State by 3
Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
Vanderbilt-Boston College
2:30 p.m., Dec. 31, ESPN
Line: Boston College by 3
Insight Bowl
Minnesota-Kansas
4:30 p.m., Dec. 31, NFL Network
Line: Kansas by 10
* Underdog worth four points in this game
Chick-fil-A Bowl
LSU-Georgia Tech
6:30 p.m., Dec. 31, ESPN
Line: Georgia Tech by 4
Outback Bowl
Iowa-South Carolina
10 a.m., Jan. 1, ESPN
Line: Iowa by 3
Konica Minolta Gator Bowl
Clemson-Nebraska
Noon, Jan. 1, CBS
Line: Clemson by 2
Capital One Bowl
Michigan State-Georgia
Noon, Jan. 1, ABC
Line: Georgia by 7
* Underdog worth three points in this game
The Rose Bowl
Penn State-USC
3:30 p.m., Jan. 1, ABC
Line: USC by 10
* Underdog worth four points in this game
FedEx Orange Bowl
Cincinnati-Virginia Tech
7:30 p.m., Jan. 1, Fox
Line: Cincinnati by 2
AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic
Texas Tech-Ole Miss
1 p.m., Jan. 2, Fox
Line: Texas Tech by 5
* Underdog worth three points in this game
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
East Carolina-Kentucky
4 p.m., Jan. 2, ESPN
Line: East Carolina by 2
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Alabama-Utah
7 p.m., Jan. 2, Fox
Line: Alabama by 10
* Underdog worth four points in this game
International Bowl
Connecticut-Buffalo
11 a.m., Jan. 3, ESPN2
Line: Connecticut by 4
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Ohio State-Texas
7 p.m., Jan. 5, Fox
Line: Texas by 9
* Underdog worth four points in this game
GMAC Bowl
Tulsa-Ball State
7 p.m., Jan. 6, ESPN
Line: Ball State by 2
BCS National Championship Game
Florida-Oklahoma
7 p.m., Jan. 8, Fox
Line: Florida by 3
* Winner worth four points in this game
Good luck.
****#****
From the Bench
Annual Report Card: Petrino Barely Passes
Robert T. Shields
With the firing of Houston Nutt (and I was years ahead of the mob in calling for his firing, by the way), new coach Bobby Petrino came in with high expectations from the fans for a dynamic aerial assault. What we got was a 5-7 team with a defense that gave every other team a great opportunity to pad its offensive stats. While the sports columnist of the statewide daily and the marks on the Internet paint a sunshine-pumping picture, let’s be honest that Petrino’s first year was not a success. In my annual tradition, it’s time to let the grades roll on Petrino...
Player Development: C-
Player development this year was a real mixed bag. You have to admit some players like Alex Tejada inexplicably took a step back and others who contributed last season completely disappeared. Starting quarterback Casey Dick seemed the same even with Petrino’s tutelage in the spring and beyond. Others like Dennis Johnson improved as the season ended. DJ Williams looked great at times. London Crawford at times seemed to improve, but that’s just because he was catching the ball. Others like Jerry Franklin and Ramon Broadway also seemed to improve. The enormous amount of freshmen having to play and basically only getting to start practicing with the team just a few weeks before the first game limits the time to develop anyone. Next year will be a better gauge.
Fundamentals: D-
This grade would be higher if you could throw out the special teams. Special teams haunted this team all season up to and including its final kick-off that almost cost the Razorbacks the LSU game. Special teams this season muffed and shanked punts, ran into kickers, missed field goals, and you can go through the whole gamut. Arkansas made some other horrible mistakes such as the interception before halftime against Ole Miss and the late fourth-quarter fumble against Kentucky. This team was never too far away from shooting itself in the foot, and that is not surprising playing 17 freshmen.
Play Calling: C+
When you go 5-7, the play calling has not been the greatest in the world. There were times this year that one could easily have thought “now that’s what I am talking about,” and then there were other times that just left you scratching your head, such as the fourth-quarter four-down series at Kentucky’s goal line that ended up in a field goal when a touchdown would have sealed the game. The same can be said for a failed series against Alabama at the goal line. The Hogs did not hang great numbers on other teams and should have against the likes of Western Illinois. You can partially blame this on play calling. At the same time, it was great play calling that pulled out the LSU game that was aided by a very determined senior quarterback who had been benched the previous game.
Image: C
This was not Petrino’s fault, but it goes on his report card. The circus that followed Nutt’s firing and into his hiring was brutal. The national media wrongly or rightly hammered Arkansas on this hiring and branded Petrino as a wanderer. He was not proven to be a miracle worker this season. It also did not help that the Hogs were embarrassed a couple of times on television by Alabama, Texas, and Florida early in the season. He still has next season to prove that he can work miracles. And he better.
Success: D
You can’t have below a .500 season and expect anything above a D when it comes to success. This grade will anger some who like Petrino on a personal level. It may even anger Wally Hall, who gave Petrino an A for this season. I bet if you asked Petrino what he would give this season, it would not be a high mark. With this season behind him and it not being stellar, it will provide Petrino the ability to manage more realistic expectations of the average Hog fan. For a season, at least.
Management of the Athletic Director: A
In the days of Frank Broyles, this was a very important category. I am not sure that it means that much anymore and may be discontinued in the future. Petrino seems to have a good relationship with Jeff Long. In fact, he doesn’t seem like he takes orders from anybody, fans included.
Hiring Assistant Coaches: C
This is hard to know. His staff was put together quickly last year. His first choice of defensive coordinator (Ellis Johnson) jumped ship and Petrino was scrambling again to find a defensive coordinator. His staff apparently will stay in place. This is good for stability. It also may mean the staff gets along very well, and that is also good. Or, it may be a bad sign that no one else wants anybody on his staff.
Leadership: B
Discipline always seemed to come fast from the top. I say seemed because he sure did wait a long time before Freddie Fairchild was dismissed from the team only after the UA said he couldn’t enroll as a student. The suspension of a couple of defensive linemen cost the Hogs dearly for the Mississippi State game. The last coach who suspended a player for a game at Mississippi State and lost was eventually fired.
Overall grade: D+
Again, you cannot go 5-7 and have a losing record and not go to a bowl game and expect anything greater than a D. The case could be made that Petrino’s sudden benching of Casey Dick for the younger brother cost the team a win at Starkville and a sixth win to get to a bowl. This team was a few seconds over and over again from being 0-12. But you can look at the positives and think at least won five of them. The Hogs lost three close ones that it easily should have won. If you’re a positive kind of person, I will tell you it’s a C- as the team ended on about as upbeat of a note as one can end on with this type of losing season.
Bonus grade
Stadium: D
The loss of all SEC games at home in Fayetteville was staggering and most of the losses were in ugly fashion. The lone home SEC win came in Little Rock. To become competitive, the Hogs must start winning SEC games in Fayetteville. Thus Petrino will need an A in this category next year to probably raise his overall grade.
Send your grades to fromthebench@yahoo.com
Robert T. Shields
With the firing of Houston Nutt (and I was years ahead of the mob in calling for his firing, by the way), new coach Bobby Petrino came in with high expectations from the fans for a dynamic aerial assault. What we got was a 5-7 team with a defense that gave every other team a great opportunity to pad its offensive stats. While the sports columnist of the statewide daily and the marks on the Internet paint a sunshine-pumping picture, let’s be honest that Petrino’s first year was not a success. In my annual tradition, it’s time to let the grades roll on Petrino...
Player Development: C-
Player development this year was a real mixed bag. You have to admit some players like Alex Tejada inexplicably took a step back and others who contributed last season completely disappeared. Starting quarterback Casey Dick seemed the same even with Petrino’s tutelage in the spring and beyond. Others like Dennis Johnson improved as the season ended. DJ Williams looked great at times. London Crawford at times seemed to improve, but that’s just because he was catching the ball. Others like Jerry Franklin and Ramon Broadway also seemed to improve. The enormous amount of freshmen having to play and basically only getting to start practicing with the team just a few weeks before the first game limits the time to develop anyone. Next year will be a better gauge.
Fundamentals: D-
This grade would be higher if you could throw out the special teams. Special teams haunted this team all season up to and including its final kick-off that almost cost the Razorbacks the LSU game. Special teams this season muffed and shanked punts, ran into kickers, missed field goals, and you can go through the whole gamut. Arkansas made some other horrible mistakes such as the interception before halftime against Ole Miss and the late fourth-quarter fumble against Kentucky. This team was never too far away from shooting itself in the foot, and that is not surprising playing 17 freshmen.
Play Calling: C+
When you go 5-7, the play calling has not been the greatest in the world. There were times this year that one could easily have thought “now that’s what I am talking about,” and then there were other times that just left you scratching your head, such as the fourth-quarter four-down series at Kentucky’s goal line that ended up in a field goal when a touchdown would have sealed the game. The same can be said for a failed series against Alabama at the goal line. The Hogs did not hang great numbers on other teams and should have against the likes of Western Illinois. You can partially blame this on play calling. At the same time, it was great play calling that pulled out the LSU game that was aided by a very determined senior quarterback who had been benched the previous game.
Image: C
This was not Petrino’s fault, but it goes on his report card. The circus that followed Nutt’s firing and into his hiring was brutal. The national media wrongly or rightly hammered Arkansas on this hiring and branded Petrino as a wanderer. He was not proven to be a miracle worker this season. It also did not help that the Hogs were embarrassed a couple of times on television by Alabama, Texas, and Florida early in the season. He still has next season to prove that he can work miracles. And he better.
Success: D
You can’t have below a .500 season and expect anything above a D when it comes to success. This grade will anger some who like Petrino on a personal level. It may even anger Wally Hall, who gave Petrino an A for this season. I bet if you asked Petrino what he would give this season, it would not be a high mark. With this season behind him and it not being stellar, it will provide Petrino the ability to manage more realistic expectations of the average Hog fan. For a season, at least.
Management of the Athletic Director: A
In the days of Frank Broyles, this was a very important category. I am not sure that it means that much anymore and may be discontinued in the future. Petrino seems to have a good relationship with Jeff Long. In fact, he doesn’t seem like he takes orders from anybody, fans included.
Hiring Assistant Coaches: C
This is hard to know. His staff was put together quickly last year. His first choice of defensive coordinator (Ellis Johnson) jumped ship and Petrino was scrambling again to find a defensive coordinator. His staff apparently will stay in place. This is good for stability. It also may mean the staff gets along very well, and that is also good. Or, it may be a bad sign that no one else wants anybody on his staff.
Leadership: B
Discipline always seemed to come fast from the top. I say seemed because he sure did wait a long time before Freddie Fairchild was dismissed from the team only after the UA said he couldn’t enroll as a student. The suspension of a couple of defensive linemen cost the Hogs dearly for the Mississippi State game. The last coach who suspended a player for a game at Mississippi State and lost was eventually fired.
Overall grade: D+
Again, you cannot go 5-7 and have a losing record and not go to a bowl game and expect anything greater than a D. The case could be made that Petrino’s sudden benching of Casey Dick for the younger brother cost the team a win at Starkville and a sixth win to get to a bowl. This team was a few seconds over and over again from being 0-12. But you can look at the positives and think at least won five of them. The Hogs lost three close ones that it easily should have won. If you’re a positive kind of person, I will tell you it’s a C- as the team ended on about as upbeat of a note as one can end on with this type of losing season.
Bonus grade
Stadium: D
The loss of all SEC games at home in Fayetteville was staggering and most of the losses were in ugly fashion. The lone home SEC win came in Little Rock. To become competitive, the Hogs must start winning SEC games in Fayetteville. Thus Petrino will need an A in this category next year to probably raise his overall grade.
Send your grades to fromthebench@yahoo.com
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Gene Chizik? Really?
What, were Francione, Phil Bennett and Guy Morriss busy or something?
Heck, even SMU landed June Jones for crying out loud!
Methinks Jacobs has a white envelope stuffed with cash understanding with Jimbo Sexton...it's the only explanation.
Head up Chiz!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Sounding off on the Slabby Award
"BOISE is getting shafted. C'mon they are 12-0 for the season and enough
can't be said about the strength of the WAC." -- Moose T.
"I've anxiously awaited the Slappy ballot. Moreseo than my FWAA All-American ballot or my Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year ballots (things the IRPC can't take away from me). I've debated the strengths and weaknesses of several teams. In the end, I went with the simplest metric wins and losses ... Utah (12-0)" -- Scott F.
"Florida. Not that I like it, mind you, but I don't see anyone beating them. They showed focus and determination against 'Bama and made no mistakes in a huge game. OU won't be able to handle their pass rush and we've already seen that Bradford can be rattled. Plus I don't see OU's D holding up to the pounding. Just like the SEC game - it will be pretty close, but Florida will take the wind out of OU's sails in the 4th and win by at least 10." -- Jeff G.
"The Oklahoma Sooners. Looking forward to the presentation, I think Joe is up for the carrying portion." -- Sean O.
"Oklahoma has my vote for Slabby. Florida is a very close second, but their loss to Ole Miss is worse than Oklahoma's loss to Texas." -- Ryan H.
"USC Trojans. Too bad for them they cannot prove it on the field!!!" -- John C.
"The head to head between Oklahoma and Texas doesn't matter. Florida is the best." -- Brendan O.
"Florida. Although at basically 50% in this pool its apparent I know very little about college football." -- DJ U-Explicit Johnson
"My vote goes to Boise St., because they should be in the championship game." -- Booty D
"Texas. Body of work baby... body of work.... if our safety catches that tipped ball... there would no discussion on who should be #1. No other team can say they were one play away, against another Top 5 team, from being undefeated. No other team. Remarkably, I didn't expect us to be this good this year. Everyone thought next year would be our year." -- Sal
"While continuing my objection as to any selection without playing the bowl games, I'll vote nevertheless for the Florida Gators out of SEC loyality." -- Big O
"USC, of course! If they were not in picture, then probably go w/ Oklahoma." -- Tim Bic
"Oklahoma is the Slabby National Champion. Based on the final AP and Coaches Poll, they beat more teams in the top 25 and their only loss was to the number 3 team at a neutral site." -- Lee D.
can't be said about the strength of the WAC." -- Moose T.
"I've anxiously awaited the Slappy ballot. Moreseo than my FWAA All-American ballot or my Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year ballots (things the IRPC can't take away from me). I've debated the strengths and weaknesses of several teams. In the end, I went with the simplest metric wins and losses ... Utah (12-0)" -- Scott F.
"Florida. Not that I like it, mind you, but I don't see anyone beating them. They showed focus and determination against 'Bama and made no mistakes in a huge game. OU won't be able to handle their pass rush and we've already seen that Bradford can be rattled. Plus I don't see OU's D holding up to the pounding. Just like the SEC game - it will be pretty close, but Florida will take the wind out of OU's sails in the 4th and win by at least 10." -- Jeff G.
"The Oklahoma Sooners. Looking forward to the presentation, I think Joe is up for the carrying portion." -- Sean O.
"Oklahoma has my vote for Slabby. Florida is a very close second, but their loss to Ole Miss is worse than Oklahoma's loss to Texas." -- Ryan H.
"USC Trojans. Too bad for them they cannot prove it on the field!!!" -- John C.
"The head to head between Oklahoma and Texas doesn't matter. Florida is the best." -- Brendan O.
"Florida. Although at basically 50% in this pool its apparent I know very little about college football." -- DJ U-Explicit Johnson
"My vote goes to Boise St., because they should be in the championship game." -- Booty D
"Texas. Body of work baby... body of work.... if our safety catches that tipped ball... there would no discussion on who should be #1. No other team can say they were one play away, against another Top 5 team, from being undefeated. No other team. Remarkably, I didn't expect us to be this good this year. Everyone thought next year would be our year." -- Sal
"While continuing my objection as to any selection without playing the bowl games, I'll vote nevertheless for the Florida Gators out of SEC loyality." -- Big O
"USC, of course! If they were not in picture, then probably go w/ Oklahoma." -- Tim Bic
"Oklahoma is the Slabby National Champion. Based on the final AP and Coaches Poll, they beat more teams in the top 25 and their only loss was to the number 3 team at a neutral site." -- Lee D.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Sports Illustrated ranks the bowl games
Ranking the bowl games from 1-34
Stewart Mandel
There's no disputing the fact that many of the once-sacred traditions of bowl games have irreparably changed over the past decade. In this, my sixth-annual ranking of all 34 bowl games (there were 28 when I started it, including the Silicon Valley Classic), I think you will find that the date a game is played no longer bears any correlation to the quality of its matchup.
In the following list -- which is based on the quality of the teams involved, the degree of intrigue for each matchup and the anticipated viewing interest (or lack thereof) -- you will find a game played on Dec. 23 ranked in the top five, while two New Year's Day games fail to crack the top 14.
You know how ESPN likes to promote the heck out of "Bowl Week?" I'd like to know when exactly said week begins and when it ends. Perhaps it should be rebranded "Bowl Half-Month."
1. BCS National Championship Game (Jan. 8): Oklahoma (12-1) vs. Florida (12-1). Two phenomenal QBs, Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow, could stage a championship duel for the ages. Or the Gators could pull off another 41-14 drubbing. Think we'd ever hear the end of that?
2. Rose (Jan. 1): USC (11-1) vs. Penn State (11-1). Joe Paterno vs. Pete Carroll. The Spread HD against the nation's most dominant D. Will the Nittany Lions defy the Big Ten skeptics, or will the Trojans play the role of rude hosts yet again?
3. Fiesta (Jan. 5): Texas (11-1) vs. Ohio State (10-2). The last time these two met, in 2006, Colt McCoy was a scrawny, overmatched freshman, but now our little boy is all grown up. Not that James Laurinaitis has gotten any less beastly.
4. Sugar (Jan. 2): Alabama (12-1) vs. Utah (12-0). Nothing could cause more pride for little guys everywhere than the Mountain West toppling the SEC. Of course, the SEC spin doctors would quickly point out that 'Bama was only their runner-up.
5. Poinsettia (Dec. 23): Boise State (12-0) vs. TCU (10-2). In just its fourth year of existence, the nation's most famous County Credit Union Bowl has managed to land a showdown of two top-11 teams. Who says businesses aren't growing?
6. Capital One (Jan. 1): Georgia (9-3) vs. Michigan State (9-3). This could be the last collegiate game for Dawgs stars Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, and it definitely will be for Spartans workhorse Javon Ringer. Expect yards aplenty.
7. Holiday (Dec. 30): Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Oregon (9-3). The Holiday Bowl is known for entertaining shootouts, and this one should be no exception. Both teams average 40-plus points behind lethal dual-threat QBs Zac Robinson and Jeremiah Masoli.
8. Orange (Jan. 1): Cincinnati (11-2) vs. Virginia Tech (8-4). The Bearcats haven't played on this big a stage since Nick Van Exel led them to the Final Four. And while the Hokies have become regulars, they need to reverse a 1-4 bowl-game skid.
9. Cotton (Jan. 2): Texas Tech (11-1) vs. Ole Miss (8-4). Remember Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree? You know, the Heisman front-runners prior to Nov. 22? They're back, and they'll be gunning for Tech's first Cotton Bowl victory.
10. Chick-fil-A (Dec. 31): Georgia Tech (9-3) vs. LSU (7-5). A heavily partisan Yellow Jackets crowd is anticipated as the Jackets attempt to pull off their third-straight 400-yard rushing game against the alleged defending-national champions.
11. Sun (Dec. 31): Pittsburgh (9-3) vs. Oregon State (8-4). You like watching really good running backs? Allow me to present Pitt's LeSean McCoy (1,403 yards, 21 TDs) and the Beavers' Jacquizz Rodgers (1,253 yards, 11 TDs.)
12. Alamo (Dec. 29): Northwestern (9-3) vs. Missouri (9-4). Northwestern fans would love to forget the Alamo. Their last appearance here was a 66-17 thrashing by Nebraska. This time, all the Wildcats have to do is ... shut down Chase Daniel.
13. GMAC (Jan. 6): Ball State (12-1) vs. Tulsa (10-3). What better way to prep for Tebow-Bradford two days later than to watch two other top-10 passers, Ball State's Nate Davis and Tulsa's David Johnson, light up the Mobile sky.
14. Hawaii (Dec. 24): Hawaii (7-6) vs. Notre Dame (6-6). C'mon, admit it. You know you'll be watching. If the Fighting Catholics can't end their nine-game bowl losing streak against a WAC team on Christmas Eve ... they may be running out of options.
15. Outback (Jan. 1): Iowa (8-4) vs. South Carolina (7-5). Apparently, losing your last two games by a combined score of 87-20 is no longer a deterrent to a New Year's Day invite. Next up for the Gamecocks: A date with 1,729-yard rusher Shonn Greene.
16. Meineke Car Care (Dec. 27): West Virginia (8-4) vs. North Carolina (8-4). Think the home-state Tar Heels will take over Bank of America Stadium? Don't be so sure. Mountaineers fans travel in droves, especially if it means seeing PatWhite's last game.
17. Emerald (Dec. 27): Cal (8-4) vs. Miami (7-5). Beating a decent Pac-10 team in its backyard would be a big milestone in RandyShannon's rebuilding job at Miami. Giving up 300 yards to Jahvid Best would be a giant step backward.
18. Las Vegas (Dec. 20): BYU (10-2) vs. Arizona (7-5). There is no truth to the rumor this game has been renamed the BYU Invitational. There may be truth to the rumor 'Cats coach Mike Stoops will skip the game to help his brother prepare for Florida.
19. Music City (Dec. 31): Boston College (9-4) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6). Vandy's first bowl trip in 26 years is dampened a bit by the fact that a) The Commodores don't even get to leave their own city and b) They're already 0-2 against the ACC this season.
20. Gator (Jan. 1): Nebraska (8-4) vs. Clemson (7-5). If the Gator Bowl committee feels it needs to invite a team that went 5-5 against Division I-A foes to be able to fill seats, that's their prerogative. Just don't expect the rest of us to give a damn.
21. Champs Sports (Dec. 27): Florida State (8-4) vs. Wisconsin (7-5). A year ago, the 'Noles were without 36 suspended or ineligible players for the Music City Bowl. Now, they're playing with a Rhodes Scholar and in warm weather. Nice upgrade.
22. International (Jan. 3): Buffalo (8-5) vs. Connecticut (7-5). TurnerGill's MAC champion Bulls are one of the feel-good stories of 2008. The Huskies boast the nation's leading-rusher, Donald Brown. It should make for good TV ratings ... in the Northeast.
23. Insight Bowl: Kansas (7-5) vs. Minnesota (7-5). Two years ago, Minnesota suffered the biggest collapse in bowl history -- blowing a 38-7 lead to Texas Tech -- in this same game. Maybe I should move this one up the list just in case.
24. Texas (Dec. 30): Rice (9-3) vs. Western Michigan (9-3). It will be the final collegiate game for one of the most prolific passing tandems in the sport's history, Rice QB Chase Clement and WR Jarrett Dillard, and they get to do it in Houston.
25. Liberty (Jan. 2): East Carolina (9-4) vs. Kentucky (6-6). The Pirates burst out of the gate with upsets of Virginia Tech and West Virginia, then went in the tank, then rebounded to win Conference USA. Kentucky stayed evenly mediocre throughout.
26. PapaJohns.com (Dec. 29): Rutgers (7-5) vs. NC State (6-6). You know your bowl is fairly low on the totem pole when ESPN schedules it for 3 p.m. on a random Monday. Apparently the World Poker Tour is off for the holidays.
27. EagleBank (Dec. 20): Navy (8-4) vs. Wake Forest (7-5). These are two philosophically similar programs that seem like natural fits to play each other. Which is why they already did, earlier this season, a 24-17 Navy win on Sept. 27.
28. Armed Forces (Dec. 31): Air Force (8-4) vs. Houston (7-5). Hmm -- this matchup sounds familiar, too. Yep, sure enough, the Falcons beat the Cougars 31-28 on Sept. 13, in a game that was also played in Dallas. Glad we could get everyone back together.
29. New Orleans (Dec. 21): Troy (8-4) vs. Southern Miss (6-6). Troy, if you haven't noticed, is a pretty good team, one that nearly knocked off LSU in Baton Rouge. Unfortunately, as Sun Belt champions, the Trojans are obligated to this crappy bowl.
30. Humanitarian (Dec 30): Nevada (7-5) vs. Maryland (7-5). Of all the bizarre bowl arrangements out there, I've yet to figure out why the ACC ever decided to send one of its teams to Boise every year. They've gone 3-2 so far against their WAC foes.
31. St. Petersburg (Dec. 20): USF (7-5) vs. Memphis (6-6). Give this inaugural game credit for one thing: It caused me to look up what exactly "magicJack" (the game's title sponsor) is. Ladies and gentlemen: This bowl is sponsored by a phone jack.
32. Motor City (Dec. 26): Central Michigan (8-4) vs. Florida Atlantic (6-6). Bowl director Ken Hoffman said choosing FAU from among four 6-6 teams was "a very difficult decision because all were very close in terms of what they had to offer" -- as in, almost nothing.
33. New Mexico (Dec. 20): Fresno State (7-5) vs. Colorado State (6-6). Fresno coach Pat Hill has long prided his program on its mantra of playing "anyone, anywhere, anytime." Do you think he envisioned that to include playing a 6-6 team in Albuquerque?
34. Independence (Dec. 28): Louisiana Tech (7-5) vs. Northern Illinois (6-6). The Shreveport, La., game has deals to land the No. 7 team from the Big 12 and No. 8 team from the SEC. Some years, that gets you Alabama-Colorado, some years, that gets you ... this.
Stewart Mandel
There's no disputing the fact that many of the once-sacred traditions of bowl games have irreparably changed over the past decade. In this, my sixth-annual ranking of all 34 bowl games (there were 28 when I started it, including the Silicon Valley Classic), I think you will find that the date a game is played no longer bears any correlation to the quality of its matchup.
In the following list -- which is based on the quality of the teams involved, the degree of intrigue for each matchup and the anticipated viewing interest (or lack thereof) -- you will find a game played on Dec. 23 ranked in the top five, while two New Year's Day games fail to crack the top 14.
You know how ESPN likes to promote the heck out of "Bowl Week?" I'd like to know when exactly said week begins and when it ends. Perhaps it should be rebranded "Bowl Half-Month."
1. BCS National Championship Game (Jan. 8): Oklahoma (12-1) vs. Florida (12-1). Two phenomenal QBs, Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow, could stage a championship duel for the ages. Or the Gators could pull off another 41-14 drubbing. Think we'd ever hear the end of that?
2. Rose (Jan. 1): USC (11-1) vs. Penn State (11-1). Joe Paterno vs. Pete Carroll. The Spread HD against the nation's most dominant D. Will the Nittany Lions defy the Big Ten skeptics, or will the Trojans play the role of rude hosts yet again?
3. Fiesta (Jan. 5): Texas (11-1) vs. Ohio State (10-2). The last time these two met, in 2006, Colt McCoy was a scrawny, overmatched freshman, but now our little boy is all grown up. Not that James Laurinaitis has gotten any less beastly.
4. Sugar (Jan. 2): Alabama (12-1) vs. Utah (12-0). Nothing could cause more pride for little guys everywhere than the Mountain West toppling the SEC. Of course, the SEC spin doctors would quickly point out that 'Bama was only their runner-up.
5. Poinsettia (Dec. 23): Boise State (12-0) vs. TCU (10-2). In just its fourth year of existence, the nation's most famous County Credit Union Bowl has managed to land a showdown of two top-11 teams. Who says businesses aren't growing?
6. Capital One (Jan. 1): Georgia (9-3) vs. Michigan State (9-3). This could be the last collegiate game for Dawgs stars Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, and it definitely will be for Spartans workhorse Javon Ringer. Expect yards aplenty.
7. Holiday (Dec. 30): Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Oregon (9-3). The Holiday Bowl is known for entertaining shootouts, and this one should be no exception. Both teams average 40-plus points behind lethal dual-threat QBs Zac Robinson and Jeremiah Masoli.
8. Orange (Jan. 1): Cincinnati (11-2) vs. Virginia Tech (8-4). The Bearcats haven't played on this big a stage since Nick Van Exel led them to the Final Four. And while the Hokies have become regulars, they need to reverse a 1-4 bowl-game skid.
9. Cotton (Jan. 2): Texas Tech (11-1) vs. Ole Miss (8-4). Remember Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree? You know, the Heisman front-runners prior to Nov. 22? They're back, and they'll be gunning for Tech's first Cotton Bowl victory.
10. Chick-fil-A (Dec. 31): Georgia Tech (9-3) vs. LSU (7-5). A heavily partisan Yellow Jackets crowd is anticipated as the Jackets attempt to pull off their third-straight 400-yard rushing game against the alleged defending-national champions.
11. Sun (Dec. 31): Pittsburgh (9-3) vs. Oregon State (8-4). You like watching really good running backs? Allow me to present Pitt's LeSean McCoy (1,403 yards, 21 TDs) and the Beavers' Jacquizz Rodgers (1,253 yards, 11 TDs.)
12. Alamo (Dec. 29): Northwestern (9-3) vs. Missouri (9-4). Northwestern fans would love to forget the Alamo. Their last appearance here was a 66-17 thrashing by Nebraska. This time, all the Wildcats have to do is ... shut down Chase Daniel.
13. GMAC (Jan. 6): Ball State (12-1) vs. Tulsa (10-3). What better way to prep for Tebow-Bradford two days later than to watch two other top-10 passers, Ball State's Nate Davis and Tulsa's David Johnson, light up the Mobile sky.
14. Hawaii (Dec. 24): Hawaii (7-6) vs. Notre Dame (6-6). C'mon, admit it. You know you'll be watching. If the Fighting Catholics can't end their nine-game bowl losing streak against a WAC team on Christmas Eve ... they may be running out of options.
15. Outback (Jan. 1): Iowa (8-4) vs. South Carolina (7-5). Apparently, losing your last two games by a combined score of 87-20 is no longer a deterrent to a New Year's Day invite. Next up for the Gamecocks: A date with 1,729-yard rusher Shonn Greene.
16. Meineke Car Care (Dec. 27): West Virginia (8-4) vs. North Carolina (8-4). Think the home-state Tar Heels will take over Bank of America Stadium? Don't be so sure. Mountaineers fans travel in droves, especially if it means seeing PatWhite's last game.
17. Emerald (Dec. 27): Cal (8-4) vs. Miami (7-5). Beating a decent Pac-10 team in its backyard would be a big milestone in RandyShannon's rebuilding job at Miami. Giving up 300 yards to Jahvid Best would be a giant step backward.
18. Las Vegas (Dec. 20): BYU (10-2) vs. Arizona (7-5). There is no truth to the rumor this game has been renamed the BYU Invitational. There may be truth to the rumor 'Cats coach Mike Stoops will skip the game to help his brother prepare for Florida.
19. Music City (Dec. 31): Boston College (9-4) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6). Vandy's first bowl trip in 26 years is dampened a bit by the fact that a) The Commodores don't even get to leave their own city and b) They're already 0-2 against the ACC this season.
20. Gator (Jan. 1): Nebraska (8-4) vs. Clemson (7-5). If the Gator Bowl committee feels it needs to invite a team that went 5-5 against Division I-A foes to be able to fill seats, that's their prerogative. Just don't expect the rest of us to give a damn.
21. Champs Sports (Dec. 27): Florida State (8-4) vs. Wisconsin (7-5). A year ago, the 'Noles were without 36 suspended or ineligible players for the Music City Bowl. Now, they're playing with a Rhodes Scholar and in warm weather. Nice upgrade.
22. International (Jan. 3): Buffalo (8-5) vs. Connecticut (7-5). TurnerGill's MAC champion Bulls are one of the feel-good stories of 2008. The Huskies boast the nation's leading-rusher, Donald Brown. It should make for good TV ratings ... in the Northeast.
23. Insight Bowl: Kansas (7-5) vs. Minnesota (7-5). Two years ago, Minnesota suffered the biggest collapse in bowl history -- blowing a 38-7 lead to Texas Tech -- in this same game. Maybe I should move this one up the list just in case.
24. Texas (Dec. 30): Rice (9-3) vs. Western Michigan (9-3). It will be the final collegiate game for one of the most prolific passing tandems in the sport's history, Rice QB Chase Clement and WR Jarrett Dillard, and they get to do it in Houston.
25. Liberty (Jan. 2): East Carolina (9-4) vs. Kentucky (6-6). The Pirates burst out of the gate with upsets of Virginia Tech and West Virginia, then went in the tank, then rebounded to win Conference USA. Kentucky stayed evenly mediocre throughout.
26. PapaJohns.com (Dec. 29): Rutgers (7-5) vs. NC State (6-6). You know your bowl is fairly low on the totem pole when ESPN schedules it for 3 p.m. on a random Monday. Apparently the World Poker Tour is off for the holidays.
27. EagleBank (Dec. 20): Navy (8-4) vs. Wake Forest (7-5). These are two philosophically similar programs that seem like natural fits to play each other. Which is why they already did, earlier this season, a 24-17 Navy win on Sept. 27.
28. Armed Forces (Dec. 31): Air Force (8-4) vs. Houston (7-5). Hmm -- this matchup sounds familiar, too. Yep, sure enough, the Falcons beat the Cougars 31-28 on Sept. 13, in a game that was also played in Dallas. Glad we could get everyone back together.
29. New Orleans (Dec. 21): Troy (8-4) vs. Southern Miss (6-6). Troy, if you haven't noticed, is a pretty good team, one that nearly knocked off LSU in Baton Rouge. Unfortunately, as Sun Belt champions, the Trojans are obligated to this crappy bowl.
30. Humanitarian (Dec 30): Nevada (7-5) vs. Maryland (7-5). Of all the bizarre bowl arrangements out there, I've yet to figure out why the ACC ever decided to send one of its teams to Boise every year. They've gone 3-2 so far against their WAC foes.
31. St. Petersburg (Dec. 20): USF (7-5) vs. Memphis (6-6). Give this inaugural game credit for one thing: It caused me to look up what exactly "magicJack" (the game's title sponsor) is. Ladies and gentlemen: This bowl is sponsored by a phone jack.
32. Motor City (Dec. 26): Central Michigan (8-4) vs. Florida Atlantic (6-6). Bowl director Ken Hoffman said choosing FAU from among four 6-6 teams was "a very difficult decision because all were very close in terms of what they had to offer" -- as in, almost nothing.
33. New Mexico (Dec. 20): Fresno State (7-5) vs. Colorado State (6-6). Fresno coach Pat Hill has long prided his program on its mantra of playing "anyone, anywhere, anytime." Do you think he envisioned that to include playing a 6-6 team in Albuquerque?
34. Independence (Dec. 28): Louisiana Tech (7-5) vs. Northern Illinois (6-6). The Shreveport, La., game has deals to land the No. 7 team from the Big 12 and No. 8 team from the SEC. Some years, that gets you Alabama-Colorado, some years, that gets you ... this.
Letters to Ramon
Actual calls from actual listeners...
"Do you have Kirk Wilson's number? Maybe he can get in touch with 'Tim the Enchanter.' I'm gonna' need some magic help to make some of these picks. I think I have as good a chance at picking this week's winners as picking winners at a tractor pull." -- Geoff H.
"I hate you." -- Seth Mac
"You suck, because this throws off my little experiment! Although, to be fair, it is clear that going with Vegas is not very successful! James Madison-can't bet against a founding father!" -- Alex O.
"Probably will be Colt McCoy but I can't write that down with a Sooner in the hunt. Bradford owns like every quarterback record at OU now excepting the rushing ones. Heisman voting is really random, though." -- Sean O.
"I love this week because I never know the winners until you tell me on Monday and then I have to go back again and remember who I picked." -- BR
"The paper-rock-scissors method worked pretty well for me, but I don't believe in using the same method twice. So, I'm using a slight modification of P-R-S called "onesies-twosies". Same challenges as last time, but less fingers used in this method cuts down on the possibility of cheating by any or all digits involved." -- Greg Biz
"If ESPN doesn't show the majority of the SWAC halftime show, it will be the biggest travesty of the college football season. This might be the tightest Heisman race in decades. McCoy and Bradford split the Southwest voting block, opening the door for Tebow's repeat." -- Scott F.
"The Heisman Trophy? Who cares? Yes, that is a protest in light of last year's vote. But I didn't want to burden Matt with so many words." -- M. Steve W.
"I joined Facebook a long time ago and basically ignored it. Finally a few months back my wife and her crowd got hooked and she made me be her friend - since then it seems to have snowballed. High School was the only missing group. It's reached critical mass because now there are people from nearly all of my past lives, school, family, etc. It's pretty strange - I got friended by my young nieces and nephews. I still mostly ignore it but it's a lot easier than keeping up with addresses and phone numbers." -- Will L.
"I don't believe in the Heisman - no pick." -- Kate D.
"I can take solace in the knowledge that everyone is as clueless regarding these picks as me. So I'm going to be use as little imagination as possible and hope those around me falter. As for the Heisman, maybe my SEC prejudice comes into play here, but Tebow appears (to me at least) to have contributed even more to Florida's success this year than prior seasons, with arguably a less talented team. I think their win against 'Bama, w/o Harvin, may put him over the top. Going against him is the repeat winner issue, but I don't know how much that plays into voting. I think Bradford, when comfortably in the pocket and in rhythm, is unbeatable. But he showed weakness when under pressure. McCoy might win just from a UT sympathy standpoint, but I think the voters will pick Tebow." -- Jeff G.
"The Heisman Trophy -- Tebow and he should get it since he did no worse than last year when he stole it from DMAC....although I HATE tbo." -- M. Pacheco
"Do you have Kirk Wilson's number? Maybe he can get in touch with 'Tim the Enchanter.' I'm gonna' need some magic help to make some of these picks. I think I have as good a chance at picking this week's winners as picking winners at a tractor pull." -- Geoff H.
"I hate you." -- Seth Mac
"You suck, because this throws off my little experiment! Although, to be fair, it is clear that going with Vegas is not very successful! James Madison-can't bet against a founding father!" -- Alex O.
"Probably will be Colt McCoy but I can't write that down with a Sooner in the hunt. Bradford owns like every quarterback record at OU now excepting the rushing ones. Heisman voting is really random, though." -- Sean O.
"I love this week because I never know the winners until you tell me on Monday and then I have to go back again and remember who I picked." -- BR
"The paper-rock-scissors method worked pretty well for me, but I don't believe in using the same method twice. So, I'm using a slight modification of P-R-S called "onesies-twosies". Same challenges as last time, but less fingers used in this method cuts down on the possibility of cheating by any or all digits involved." -- Greg Biz
"If ESPN doesn't show the majority of the SWAC halftime show, it will be the biggest travesty of the college football season. This might be the tightest Heisman race in decades. McCoy and Bradford split the Southwest voting block, opening the door for Tebow's repeat." -- Scott F.
"The Heisman Trophy? Who cares? Yes, that is a protest in light of last year's vote. But I didn't want to burden Matt with so many words." -- M. Steve W.
"I joined Facebook a long time ago and basically ignored it. Finally a few months back my wife and her crowd got hooked and she made me be her friend - since then it seems to have snowballed. High School was the only missing group. It's reached critical mass because now there are people from nearly all of my past lives, school, family, etc. It's pretty strange - I got friended by my young nieces and nephews. I still mostly ignore it but it's a lot easier than keeping up with addresses and phone numbers." -- Will L.
"I don't believe in the Heisman - no pick." -- Kate D.
"I can take solace in the knowledge that everyone is as clueless regarding these picks as me. So I'm going to be use as little imagination as possible and hope those around me falter. As for the Heisman, maybe my SEC prejudice comes into play here, but Tebow appears (to me at least) to have contributed even more to Florida's success this year than prior seasons, with arguably a less talented team. I think their win against 'Bama, w/o Harvin, may put him over the top. Going against him is the repeat winner issue, but I don't know how much that plays into voting. I think Bradford, when comfortably in the pocket and in rhythm, is unbeatable. But he showed weakness when under pressure. McCoy might win just from a UT sympathy standpoint, but I think the voters will pick Tebow." -- Jeff G.
"The Heisman Trophy -- Tebow and he should get it since he did no worse than last year when he stole it from DMAC....although I HATE tbo." -- M. Pacheco
This week's games
Some people look at this as a chance to pick up some bonus points because so many in the pool won't pick these correctly. Others look at it as a standings killer. Either way, you must pass through the Gauntlet, a bridge to the bowl games. Note that the SWAC and Division II championships are at neutral sites, but in the Division I semifinals the second team listed is the home team. For $800 and the Ramon Escobar Trophy, puzzled by this crazy idea of "playoffs" that the lower divisions have come up with, select your winners and e-mail them back to me by 5 p.m. Friday.
Division I Semifinal
Montana-James Madison
7 p.m., Fri, ESPN2
No line
Division II Championship
NW Missouri State-Minnesota Duluth
Noon, Sat., ESPN2
No line
SWAC Championship Game
Jackson State-Grambling State
Noon, Sat., ESPN Classic
No line
Division I Semifinal
Richmond-Northern Iowa
3 p.m., Sat., ESPN
No line
The Heisman Trophy
Write in winner
7 p.m., Sat., ESPN
Good luck.
****#****
Division I Semifinal
Montana-James Madison
7 p.m., Fri, ESPN2
No line
Division II Championship
NW Missouri State-Minnesota Duluth
Noon, Sat., ESPN2
No line
SWAC Championship Game
Jackson State-Grambling State
Noon, Sat., ESPN Classic
No line
Division I Semifinal
Richmond-Northern Iowa
3 p.m., Sat., ESPN
No line
The Heisman Trophy
Write in winner
7 p.m., Sat., ESPN
Good luck.
****#****
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
BCS DECLARES GERMANY WINNER OF WORLD WAR II - US RANKED 4TH
After determining the Big-12 championship game participants the BCS computers were put to work on other major contests and today the BCS declared Germany to be the winner of World War II.
"Germany put together an incredible number of victories beginning with the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland and continuing on into conference play with defeats of Poland, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands. Their only losses came against the US and Russia; however considering their entire body of work--including an incredibly tough Strength of Schedule-- our computers deemed them worthy of the #1 ranking."
Questioned about the #4 ranking of the United States the BCS commissioner stated "The US only had two major victories--Japan and Germany. The computer models, unlike humans, aren't influenced by head-to-head contests--they consider each contest to be only a single, equally-weighted event."
German Chancellor Adolph Hiter said "Yes, we lost to the US; but we defeated #2 ranked France in only 6 weeks." Herr Hitler has been criticized for seeking dramatic victories to earn 'style points' to enhance Germany's rankings. Hitler protested "Our contest with Poland was in doubt until the final day and the conditions in Norway were incredibly challenging and demanded the application of additional forces."
The French ranking has also come under scrutiny. The BCS commented "France had a single loss against Germany and following a preseason #1 ranking they only fell to #2." Japan was ranked #3 with victories including Manchuria, Borneo and the Philippines.
"Germany put together an incredible number of victories beginning with the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland and continuing on into conference play with defeats of Poland, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands. Their only losses came against the US and Russia; however considering their entire body of work--including an incredibly tough Strength of Schedule-- our computers deemed them worthy of the #1 ranking."
Questioned about the #4 ranking of the United States the BCS commissioner stated "The US only had two major victories--Japan and Germany. The computer models, unlike humans, aren't influenced by head-to-head contests--they consider each contest to be only a single, equally-weighted event."
German Chancellor Adolph Hiter said "Yes, we lost to the US; but we defeated #2 ranked France in only 6 weeks." Herr Hitler has been criticized for seeking dramatic victories to earn 'style points' to enhance Germany's rankings. Hitler protested "Our contest with Poland was in doubt until the final day and the conditions in Norway were incredibly challenging and demanded the application of additional forces."
The French ranking has also come under scrutiny. The BCS commented "France had a single loss against Germany and following a preseason #1 ranking they only fell to #2." Japan was ranked #3 with victories including Manchuria, Borneo and the Philippines.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Timing is everything
Dec. 2: Colonial Bank (and CEO Bobby Lowder) gets a $550 million bailout from the U.S. government.
http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2008/12/01/daily12.html
Dec. 3: Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville is fired.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3742934
Coincidence? I think not.
http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2008/12/01/daily12.html
Dec. 3: Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville is fired.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3742934
Coincidence? I think not.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Jack Cristil [Voice of the Mississippi State Bulldogs since 1953] quotes from the Egg Bowl
Supplied by Glenn B. This must have been one entertaining broadcast...
"The QB and the receiver weren't on the same page there; but hey, it's only week eleven."
"Handoff to Dixon. And Dixon is murdered on the play."
After Ole Miss went up 17-0 in the 1st Quarter: "They are going to have to send in their second kickoff coverage unit because the first unit is going to tire out with all of these kickoffs."
"Ole Miss has just scored and we don't know who scored because No. 85 isn't listed on their roster. It's academic at this point."
After an MSU holding call, "Well, if you can't block 'em, hold 'em!
John Correro: "One can only hope so, Jack."
"It's third down and so long, you will need surveying equipment to see how much is needed for a first down."
"There are only 45 seconds left. Maybe Ole Miss won't score another touchdown. In the 1st quarter that is."
"Coming up on the end of the quarter - the third quarter, that is. We've still got another one to play.
"At the end of the third quarter, Ole Miss barely out in front, 38-0."
"Ole Miss has punted once today for a grand total of 12 yards. They ought to improve on that with this next punt."
(Laughter in the background as he was saying it)
"Let's punt it again. McAdams has to punt it a lot in his final game as a Bulldog."
In the 4th Quarter: "For the record both teams have all of their timeouts left. So, that ought to make it fun."
"Well, what do you know? The Rebels have put a couple of backup linemen in the game."
"Mercifully, the clock continues to run."
"About 3 minutes left, many fans have long been gone. In fact, some of them are probably already home by now."
"Chris Relf can throw it long. He cannot throw it accurately, but he can throw it long."
"Well, that's only a loss of 9 there. So, it's only third and 19."
"A great many of the 55,000 fans have left the game now (45-0), they might even be home now watching on TV".
"It's 4th down and 24 yards to go, this ought to dictate a punt right now."
John Correro: "One can only hope so, Jack."
"Well, the Bulldogs take a delay of game. That backs them up to their 4 where it will be fourth and 31. We just wanted to make sure McAdams had plenty of room to kick the ball because he has such a powerful leg."
"That's it. Ballgame over. Ole Miss noses out Mississippi State, 45-0."
"Sonic drive of the game....My drive home to Tupelo, MS I guarantee you that is my drive of the game." Then he proceeded to give his home address.
After Ole Miss was twice flagged for celebration after scoring: "That's terrible, throwing a flag on a kid that just made a great play. Let the kid celebrate a little."
"The QB and the receiver weren't on the same page there; but hey, it's only week eleven."
"Handoff to Dixon. And Dixon is murdered on the play."
After Ole Miss went up 17-0 in the 1st Quarter: "They are going to have to send in their second kickoff coverage unit because the first unit is going to tire out with all of these kickoffs."
"Ole Miss has just scored and we don't know who scored because No. 85 isn't listed on their roster. It's academic at this point."
After an MSU holding call, "Well, if you can't block 'em, hold 'em!
John Correro: "One can only hope so, Jack."
"It's third down and so long, you will need surveying equipment to see how much is needed for a first down."
"There are only 45 seconds left. Maybe Ole Miss won't score another touchdown. In the 1st quarter that is."
"Coming up on the end of the quarter - the third quarter, that is. We've still got another one to play.
"At the end of the third quarter, Ole Miss barely out in front, 38-0."
"Ole Miss has punted once today for a grand total of 12 yards. They ought to improve on that with this next punt."
(Laughter in the background as he was saying it)
"Let's punt it again. McAdams has to punt it a lot in his final game as a Bulldog."
In the 4th Quarter: "For the record both teams have all of their timeouts left. So, that ought to make it fun."
"Well, what do you know? The Rebels have put a couple of backup linemen in the game."
"Mercifully, the clock continues to run."
"About 3 minutes left, many fans have long been gone. In fact, some of them are probably already home by now."
"Chris Relf can throw it long. He cannot throw it accurately, but he can throw it long."
"Well, that's only a loss of 9 there. So, it's only third and 19."
"A great many of the 55,000 fans have left the game now (45-0), they might even be home now watching on TV".
"It's 4th down and 24 yards to go, this ought to dictate a punt right now."
John Correro: "One can only hope so, Jack."
"Well, the Bulldogs take a delay of game. That backs them up to their 4 where it will be fourth and 31. We just wanted to make sure McAdams had plenty of room to kick the ball because he has such a powerful leg."
"That's it. Ballgame over. Ole Miss noses out Mississippi State, 45-0."
"Sonic drive of the game....My drive home to Tupelo, MS I guarantee you that is my drive of the game." Then he proceeded to give his home address.
After Ole Miss was twice flagged for celebration after scoring: "That's terrible, throwing a flag on a kid that just made a great play. Let the kid celebrate a little."
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Letters to Ramon
Actual calls from actual listeners...
"Boston College - How did I not know there's a Flutie on this team until last week!?! Sure, he's a backup but the name alone is worth one extra win this season." -- Scott F.
"You should add to the pool, who will be the next coach at Auburn. Leach is interviewing, Auburn has asked for permission to interview Petrino. Also of note, John Brummett and Kristin Fisher will discuss twitter and live blogging at next Tuesday's meeting of the SPJ. I have suggested that since Fisher is such a fan of the Twitter and the tweet, that all her comments should be limited to 150 characters or less. Such as:
Brummett: Well, the problem with Twitter and tweeting is that by its very nature you can't get into context and depth since brevity and speed are so prized.
Fisher: OMG JB, o rly? LOL
Brummett: I think I just won the debate in one question
Fisher: ROFLMAO
Brummett: LH6
Fisher: Rrly? A3 OM
Brummett: Kewl"
-- Jeremy P.
"Dear Doosh Bag, Why do we have 2 sorry-ass Big East games this week, when you could have some other conference championship games in the mix with the other 3? You're as bad as the BCS. Didn't East Carolina, who incidentally plays in a Conference Championship game this weekend, beat this 7 point favorite West Virginia already this season? P.S. Thanks for running the pool again this year. Great job as always." -- Jerry W.
"I am boycotting the Big 12 Championship game this year. At least the SEC has hit the 1 in 10 year anomaly in which the Conference Championship game is worthwhile: the top 2 teams in the conference who have not played each other this season are matched up. The only thing that would make this game more anticipated is if the Gators were coming in undefeated as well. Yea Houston Nutt! More often, the Conference Championship is just a chance for an undeserving team to pull an upset and
get into a BCS bowl. If Missouri pulls that off this weekend, I think OU is out of a BCS game." -- Jerry W.
"I'm so sick of Texas fans, what do they not get about a three way tie? Maybe they should pick some decent nonconference foes like Cincy and TCU and win all their games...duh. The campaigning by Mack Brown was just disgusting." -- Sean O.
"Big 11????? PAC 10???? Oh sorry they have no playoff...... Cuz they suck. Ditch them and bring in the WAC and Mountain West." -- Sully
"After my 0-for last week and the idiots who run the AU athletic department, I need a 5-0 week..." -- Jeff K.
"Brace yourself... my cheer this week goes to..... Alabama! ROLL TIDE!!!" -- Randi P.
"Mark Murphy, Stephen Atkinson and Jason Caldwell, all staff members of the Inside Auburn Tigers publication, have been on top of this thing the entire week and they stand by their statement Tommy was fired. You are not 'fulfilling the contract' if you pay Tommy $5.1 Million Dollars over a year if he in fact quit. Folks, I've been involved in more involuntary resignations than you can imagine over the past 40 years and this departure is not what Tommy wanted. If you remove from your HC inherent functions such as retention and assignment of coaching staff members you have created an intolerable situation which by long standing case law principles constitutes what the law describes as a 'constructive discharge.' Labeling the action a resignation is nothing more than a face saving measure for all concerned. Tommy, unlike his recently terminated OC, respects our University enough so as to not make it harder for our program to recover as soon as possible. On top of all that, if further supportive evidence is needed, one of the website posters today definatively stated she knows some one who knows Tommy's Mother who has complained that Tommy was fired. Seriously, as for CTT sticking around Auburn, that isn't required under the terms of his contract to collect the buyout. I believe Tommy, like many of us, truely loves Auburn, loves his new digs and wants his kids to graduate from High School there." -- Big O
"I'm reverting back to the old paper-rock-scissors method for picking them this week. This is more challenging then you would think, since it's my left hand against my right hand. I had to keep my eyes closed just to make sure I didn't favor one side over the other." -- Greg Biz.
"The story on Hogville was pulled because it was not a link and it was copyrighted. I will paraphrase. Friends and loved ones waited at the Tubberville home. When Tubby entered he was rubbing the back of his neck and did not address anyone waiting on him. He walked to his bedroom where he methodically closed the door. His wife arrived home before him apparently crying and went to the bed room." -- BR
"I don't want Petrino. If not because I think Petrino is a slime ball, but bringing him in will only continue the circus of what was started 5 years ago. The rumor mill will never end if he is brought in." -- Lee D.
"A 17 pt. spread for the Oklahoma - Missouri game. Can you say 'choke time'? How difficult would a 4-team playoff be to set up? Florida vs. Oklahoma at Oklahoma and Texas vs. Alabama at Alabama. The winners meet in the National Championship game. Superiority decided on the field of play. The two losers can meet in one of the premiere bowl games. And can we not wait 2 weeks or whatever ridiculous time between the conference championship games and the National Championship game?" -- Kate D.
"After reading Wally Hall yesterday (which I always try NOT to do) I remembered that I meant to reply to this e-mail. First of all, how does Wally give Petrino a higher coaching grade this year than Houston Nutt? Nutt won his last 5 games and beat Florida at the Swamp. Crazy. If Hall isn't the worst sports writer on the planet, who is? How does he have the esteemed position that he has within the Arkansas sports community? The second any editor reads anything like "and that deal fell apart faster than wet tissues at a sneezing clinic," they should tell him "I think you're in the wrong profession." And there's always 2 or 3 of those turds in every one of his articles. Okay, I feel better now." -- Jerry W.
"Boston College - How did I not know there's a Flutie on this team until last week!?! Sure, he's a backup but the name alone is worth one extra win this season." -- Scott F.
"You should add to the pool, who will be the next coach at Auburn. Leach is interviewing, Auburn has asked for permission to interview Petrino. Also of note, John Brummett and Kristin Fisher will discuss twitter and live blogging at next Tuesday's meeting of the SPJ. I have suggested that since Fisher is such a fan of the Twitter and the tweet, that all her comments should be limited to 150 characters or less. Such as:
Brummett: Well, the problem with Twitter and tweeting is that by its very nature you can't get into context and depth since brevity and speed are so prized.
Fisher: OMG JB, o rly? LOL
Brummett: I think I just won the debate in one question
Fisher: ROFLMAO
Brummett: LH6
Fisher: Rrly? A3 OM
Brummett: Kewl"
-- Jeremy P.
"Dear Doosh Bag, Why do we have 2 sorry-ass Big East games this week, when you could have some other conference championship games in the mix with the other 3? You're as bad as the BCS. Didn't East Carolina, who incidentally plays in a Conference Championship game this weekend, beat this 7 point favorite West Virginia already this season? P.S. Thanks for running the pool again this year. Great job as always." -- Jerry W.
"I am boycotting the Big 12 Championship game this year. At least the SEC has hit the 1 in 10 year anomaly in which the Conference Championship game is worthwhile: the top 2 teams in the conference who have not played each other this season are matched up. The only thing that would make this game more anticipated is if the Gators were coming in undefeated as well. Yea Houston Nutt! More often, the Conference Championship is just a chance for an undeserving team to pull an upset and
get into a BCS bowl. If Missouri pulls that off this weekend, I think OU is out of a BCS game." -- Jerry W.
"I'm so sick of Texas fans, what do they not get about a three way tie? Maybe they should pick some decent nonconference foes like Cincy and TCU and win all their games...duh. The campaigning by Mack Brown was just disgusting." -- Sean O.
"Big 11????? PAC 10???? Oh sorry they have no playoff...... Cuz they suck. Ditch them and bring in the WAC and Mountain West." -- Sully
"After my 0-for last week and the idiots who run the AU athletic department, I need a 5-0 week..." -- Jeff K.
"Brace yourself... my cheer this week goes to..... Alabama! ROLL TIDE!!!" -- Randi P.
"Mark Murphy, Stephen Atkinson and Jason Caldwell, all staff members of the Inside Auburn Tigers publication, have been on top of this thing the entire week and they stand by their statement Tommy was fired. You are not 'fulfilling the contract' if you pay Tommy $5.1 Million Dollars over a year if he in fact quit. Folks, I've been involved in more involuntary resignations than you can imagine over the past 40 years and this departure is not what Tommy wanted. If you remove from your HC inherent functions such as retention and assignment of coaching staff members you have created an intolerable situation which by long standing case law principles constitutes what the law describes as a 'constructive discharge.' Labeling the action a resignation is nothing more than a face saving measure for all concerned. Tommy, unlike his recently terminated OC, respects our University enough so as to not make it harder for our program to recover as soon as possible. On top of all that, if further supportive evidence is needed, one of the website posters today definatively stated she knows some one who knows Tommy's Mother who has complained that Tommy was fired. Seriously, as for CTT sticking around Auburn, that isn't required under the terms of his contract to collect the buyout. I believe Tommy, like many of us, truely loves Auburn, loves his new digs and wants his kids to graduate from High School there." -- Big O
"I'm reverting back to the old paper-rock-scissors method for picking them this week. This is more challenging then you would think, since it's my left hand against my right hand. I had to keep my eyes closed just to make sure I didn't favor one side over the other." -- Greg Biz.
"The story on Hogville was pulled because it was not a link and it was copyrighted. I will paraphrase. Friends and loved ones waited at the Tubberville home. When Tubby entered he was rubbing the back of his neck and did not address anyone waiting on him. He walked to his bedroom where he methodically closed the door. His wife arrived home before him apparently crying and went to the bed room." -- BR
"I don't want Petrino. If not because I think Petrino is a slime ball, but bringing him in will only continue the circus of what was started 5 years ago. The rumor mill will never end if he is brought in." -- Lee D.
"A 17 pt. spread for the Oklahoma - Missouri game. Can you say 'choke time'? How difficult would a 4-team playoff be to set up? Florida vs. Oklahoma at Oklahoma and Texas vs. Alabama at Alabama. The winners meet in the National Championship game. Superiority decided on the field of play. The two losers can meet in one of the premiere bowl games. And can we not wait 2 weeks or whatever ridiculous time between the conference championship games and the National Championship game?" -- Kate D.
"After reading Wally Hall yesterday (which I always try NOT to do) I remembered that I meant to reply to this e-mail. First of all, how does Wally give Petrino a higher coaching grade this year than Houston Nutt? Nutt won his last 5 games and beat Florida at the Swamp. Crazy. If Hall isn't the worst sports writer on the planet, who is? How does he have the esteemed position that he has within the Arkansas sports community? The second any editor reads anything like "and that deal fell apart faster than wet tissues at a sneezing clinic," they should tell him "I think you're in the wrong profession." And there's always 2 or 3 of those turds in every one of his articles. Okay, I feel better now." -- Jerry W.
This week's games
Not to put any added pressure on this game, but just the way the season has gone, I have a theory that you have to correctly pick the ACC championship game to win this pool. If it all comes down to one game at the end, this may be remembered as at least one of them that was the determining factor. And, appropriately for the ACC's final game of the season, the line is "pick 'em."
Here's Week 15, conference championship week and your final set of five games before entering the postseason. For $800 and the Ramon Escobar Trophy, which can think of no better place to watch the SEC championship game between Florida and Alabama than the Florabama Lounge and Package Store, select your winners and e-mail them back to me by 5 p.m. Friday, and check out the bonus points available this week. Note that the championship games are played at neutral sites.
Pittsburgh-Connecticut
11 a.m., Sat., ESPN
Line: Connecticut by 3
ACC Championship Game
Boston College-Virginia Tech
Noon, Sat., ABC
Line: Pick 'em
SEC Championship Game
Alabama-Florida
3 p.m., Sat., CBS
Line: Florida by 9
* Underdog worth four points in this game
Big 12 Championship Game
Missouri-Oklahoma
7 p.m., Sat., ABC
Line: Oklahoma by 17
* Underdog worth six points in this game
South Florida-West Virginia
7 p.m., Sat., ESPN2
Line: West Virginia by 7
* Underdog worth three points in this game
Good luck.
****#****
Here's Week 15, conference championship week and your final set of five games before entering the postseason. For $800 and the Ramon Escobar Trophy, which can think of no better place to watch the SEC championship game between Florida and Alabama than the Florabama Lounge and Package Store, select your winners and e-mail them back to me by 5 p.m. Friday, and check out the bonus points available this week. Note that the championship games are played at neutral sites.
Pittsburgh-Connecticut
11 a.m., Sat., ESPN
Line: Connecticut by 3
ACC Championship Game
Boston College-Virginia Tech
Noon, Sat., ABC
Line: Pick 'em
SEC Championship Game
Alabama-Florida
3 p.m., Sat., CBS
Line: Florida by 9
* Underdog worth four points in this game
Big 12 Championship Game
Missouri-Oklahoma
7 p.m., Sat., ABC
Line: Oklahoma by 17
* Underdog worth six points in this game
South Florida-West Virginia
7 p.m., Sat., ESPN2
Line: West Virginia by 7
* Underdog worth three points in this game
Good luck.
****#****
Things I think I think
1. See what happens when I forget to post "Things ... " Those wacky boosters at Auburn (and by boosters I mean Bobby Lowder) get bored and fire Tommy Tuberville.
Now some will blame this firing on Tuberville's flirtation with the Spread (Hi Matt!). Others will say Nick "Little Bear" Saban's success at Ala-BAMA put pressure on Tubs. Don't believe either.
This came down to revenge. Ever since Jetgate, Lowder and his pals have been looking for a reason to fire Tubs. You don't embarrass a foof with an outsized ego and bank account to match and survive very often in sports.
Like a pack of hyenas on the African plain, Lowder and his cronies weren't smart enough nor strong enough to get the job done with the target was at full strength. Instead, they waited until the first sign of weakness (5-7) and attacked from all sides.
Of course, now it starts to get messy. Like Aubie assistant coaches' wives phoning sports talk radio shows ...
http://deadspin.com/5101925/do-not-mess-with-an-auburn-coachs-wife
Now the question becomes - Who does Auburn get? Will Muschamp, the foul-mouthed defensive coordinator/Mack Brown replacement? Mike Leach, the mad offensive scientist/pirate captain? Left-field choice that infuriates fans but is rubber-stamped by Lowder?
2. Speaking of coaching changes how about that Lane Kiffin?
Specifically, how about his wife?
Can you tell she's 8 months pregnant in that photo? Because I sure can't.
And Deadspin discovered how Tennessee plans to pay Kiffin's salary ...
3. Pete Carroll might be the smartest coach in America ... when it comes to stealing headlines.
You've got Florida vs. Alabama in the SEC title game. A berth in the BCS championship is at stake. But what's getting more attention nationally than that? Carroll's willingness to forfeit a timeout against UCLA in order for USC to hear their home red jerseys even though they are the visiting team. Seems the two LA teams used to both wear home jerseys back in the good ole days and Carroll wants to revive the tradition.
Across town, UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel likes the idea too. So he's going to burn a timeout at the start of the game, so the bitter rivals will be on equal timeout terms for the rest of the game. Carroll has also pledged to do the same in 2009 when UCLA wears home jerseys on the road at USC.
4. The story in college football that isn't getting nearly enough coverage from the national media? Myron Rolle.
He's a starting safety for FSU. He's expected to be a late first or early second round NFL Draft pick. But he's a Rhodes frickin' Scholar and has announced he's going to Oxford to study medical anthropology instead of playing football next season.
In a sports world of Plaxico Burresses, we need more Myron Rolles.
(And we also need more Chuck D and less Flavor Flav, but that's another issue entirely.)
5. As always, the SportsJournalists.com Top 25 is here ... http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/index.php/topic,59980.msg2197490.html#msg2197490
And AwfulAnnouncing.com's Pammy standings are here ... Awful Announcing: Your Week Fourteen Pammy Winners And New Standings
M8B Prediction
With Arkansas season over, Magic 8 Ball is like a rudderless ship. But undeterred, we'll ask for another prediction.
Will Alabama beat Florida in the SEC championship game?
(Views expressed by the Magic 8 Ball do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog, the blog owner nor this post's author. Advice from the M8B is for entertainment purposes only and not for actual wagering ... especially since Magic 8 Ball was 3-6 in predicting Arkansas games.)
Now some will blame this firing on Tuberville's flirtation with the Spread (Hi Matt!). Others will say Nick "Little Bear" Saban's success at Ala-BAMA put pressure on Tubs. Don't believe either.
This came down to revenge. Ever since Jetgate, Lowder and his pals have been looking for a reason to fire Tubs. You don't embarrass a foof with an outsized ego and bank account to match and survive very often in sports.
Like a pack of hyenas on the African plain, Lowder and his cronies weren't smart enough nor strong enough to get the job done with the target was at full strength. Instead, they waited until the first sign of weakness (5-7) and attacked from all sides.
Of course, now it starts to get messy. Like Aubie assistant coaches' wives phoning sports talk radio shows ...
http://deadspin.com/5101925/do-not-mess-with-an-auburn-coachs-wife
Now the question becomes - Who does Auburn get? Will Muschamp, the foul-mouthed defensive coordinator/Mack Brown replacement? Mike Leach, the mad offensive scientist/pirate captain? Left-field choice that infuriates fans but is rubber-stamped by Lowder?
2. Speaking of coaching changes how about that Lane Kiffin?
Specifically, how about his wife?
Can you tell she's 8 months pregnant in that photo? Because I sure can't.
And Deadspin discovered how Tennessee plans to pay Kiffin's salary ...
3. Pete Carroll might be the smartest coach in America ... when it comes to stealing headlines.
You've got Florida vs. Alabama in the SEC title game. A berth in the BCS championship is at stake. But what's getting more attention nationally than that? Carroll's willingness to forfeit a timeout against UCLA in order for USC to hear their home red jerseys even though they are the visiting team. Seems the two LA teams used to both wear home jerseys back in the good ole days and Carroll wants to revive the tradition.
Across town, UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel likes the idea too. So he's going to burn a timeout at the start of the game, so the bitter rivals will be on equal timeout terms for the rest of the game. Carroll has also pledged to do the same in 2009 when UCLA wears home jerseys on the road at USC.
4. The story in college football that isn't getting nearly enough coverage from the national media? Myron Rolle.
He's a starting safety for FSU. He's expected to be a late first or early second round NFL Draft pick. But he's a Rhodes frickin' Scholar and has announced he's going to Oxford to study medical anthropology instead of playing football next season.
In a sports world of Plaxico Burresses, we need more Myron Rolles.
(And we also need more Chuck D and less Flavor Flav, but that's another issue entirely.)
5. As always, the SportsJournalists.com Top 25 is here ... http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/index.php/topic,59980.msg2197490.html#msg2197490
And AwfulAnnouncing.com's Pammy standings are here ... Awful Announcing: Your Week Fourteen Pammy Winners And New Standings
M8B Prediction
With Arkansas season over, Magic 8 Ball is like a rudderless ship. But undeterred, we'll ask for another prediction.
Will Alabama beat Florida in the SEC championship game?
(Views expressed by the Magic 8 Ball do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog, the blog owner nor this post's author. Advice from the M8B is for entertainment purposes only and not for actual wagering ... especially since Magic 8 Ball was 3-6 in predicting Arkansas games.)
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
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