Tuesday, September 06, 2011
King's Things
Larry King's People: News & Views
Fort Smith, Arkansas, hello... Thrilling end to the first week of games. This is the first time in pool history two games have produced bonus points in the first week. Could be a wild season... Bad scene on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. I haven't heard that many Catholics booing at one time since Father Antony mistakenly invited the Shiloh Christian athletic director to the St. Joe fish fry... Big win on the road in the SEC for BYU. Unfortunately, half the BYU band is now in violation of the Honor Code after a pregame march through the Grove... Who doesn't like eggs?... I'm not saying I called it, but I knew Oregon's offense was in trouble early when one of those signs had a picture of Beano Cook... After the loss to Boise State, Mark Richt's job is so in jeopardy that he got an unexpected vote of confidence from Frank Broyles... In my day, reality television meant kick the balloon on the Bozo show, gang... I love the uniforms the kids are doing these days, but when I see Maryland's helmets all I can think of is the last time I went to medieval laser-tag night at Playtime Pizza.
Saturday, September 03, 2011
On the triumph of the Hillbillies
I awoke Saturday morning with a spring in my step.
My high school alma mater, Ozark, and, in fact, not Little Rock Catholic, had beaten its biggest rival — Booneville — Friday night. Faced with a long list of Saturday tasks, I picked up the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports section expecting to see at least something resembling a story about the game.
I knew that Lane Kramer, a sportswriter for that paper had covered the game and as had Grant Tolley with the Times Record in Fort Smith.
But nothing in the Little Rock paper. Grant's fine story can be read here, http://www.swtimes.com/sports/article_a8701710-d5ee-11e0-b82d-001cc4c002e0.html
So, as something of a joke and because I've done it for a living, when we got home last night, I banged out a quick 400 words on the game and sent it to the Hootens of Hootens Arkansas Football fame. I know Chad and Chris both and they are fine people. They might actually use some of what I sent.
But as a public service to those living in Little Rock because the Democrat-Gazette has failed in its basic mission of covering the state, I post online what I have done.
That's what follows. Enjoy, or not.
Ozark beats Booneville, 21-7
My high school alma mater, Ozark, and, in fact, not Little Rock Catholic, had beaten its biggest rival — Booneville — Friday night. Faced with a long list of Saturday tasks, I picked up the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports section expecting to see at least something resembling a story about the game.
I knew that Lane Kramer, a sportswriter for that paper had covered the game and as had Grant Tolley with the Times Record in Fort Smith.
But nothing in the Little Rock paper. Grant's fine story can be read here, http://www.swtimes.com/sports/article_a8701710-d5ee-11e0-b82d-001cc4c002e0.html
So, as something of a joke and because I've done it for a living, when we got home last night, I banged out a quick 400 words on the game and sent it to the Hootens of Hootens Arkansas Football fame. I know Chad and Chris both and they are fine people. They might actually use some of what I sent.
But as a public service to those living in Little Rock because the Democrat-Gazette has failed in its basic mission of covering the state, I post online what I have done.
That's what follows. Enjoy, or not.
Ozark beats Booneville, 21-7
OZARK — In his head coaching debut, Jeremie Burns notched the first and biggest win of his career as the Ozark Hillbillies beat long-time rival Booneville, 21-7, on Friday night in front of a packed house at Hillbilly Stadium.
Burns, a veteran assistant coach, took over at Ozark after Brooks Coatney left this summer for Van Buren.
Burns has deep roots in the River Valley and was an easy choice for the Ozark administration. He's a former all-state football player at Alma and is married to former Ozark star athlete and professional basketball player Penni Peppas. He was the defensive coordinator for Ozark last season as the Hillbillies lost in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs to Pulaski Academy.
Ozark got off to a shaky start with a fumble on its first offensive play of the game and Booneville turned the miscue to the game's first score, to go up 7-0.
Ozark junior quarterback Jonathon McKenzie also fumbled the ball away on the goal line that ended a potential scoring threat in the second quarter.
"I told them [at halftime] all they needed was one play to get back in it," Burns said after the game. "Just one play."
His players listened and it was one play that got everyone standing up as Brandon Brokeshoulder took the second half's opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and the "Thrill" was back for the Hillbillies.
Ozark took the lead for good when McKenzie found Brokeshoulder in the end zone for another score.
The Thrillbillies put the game away in the fourth quarter with a blocked punt returned for a touchdown.
The run of long-time rivals continues for Ozark as the Hillbillies take on Clarksville next Friday. After that, Charleston, and then off to the hills for conference games against relatively unfamiliar foes in Gravette and such before Shiloh Christian heads down the mountain for its game at Ozark on Oct. 28.
The game was also something of a family affair as Burns' brother, Jarrod, is the middle school principal at Ozark and worked a ticket booth. Both their parents, along with Jeremie Burns' mother-in-law sat in lawn chairs near the end zone. One brother-in-law, Josh Peppas, kept the game's stats in the press box. Burns' son, Bryant, worked the sidelines as a ball boy and another of his brother-in-laws, Jeremy Peppas, a no-account reporter of middling talent, also took in the game from a lawn chair near the end zone.
It was Jeremy Peppas who, after his late night return to Little Rock, got the notion to sit down and peck out a poorly written e-mail to the fabulous Hooten brothers in case they needed cliché ridden copy to flesh out their web/broadcast products.
— Jeremy Peppas, one proud as punch brother-in-law, who likely won't make another Ozark game until Shiloh in October
Friday, September 02, 2011
SEC Coaches' Candid Quotes On Conference Rivals
"Link to story"
Each year we ask college football coaches to tell us what they really think about the other teams in their conference. But we don't want the cliche'd press conference platitudes, so we ask them to give us their quotes off-the-record and anonymously. Here are this year's quotes in alphabetical order for each team in the SEC.
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Alabama
"You have to give (Nick) Saban credit: Other than a stinker at South Carolina, they nearly ran the table again. LSU and Auburn were lucky to beat them, and Alabama finally put it all together in the bowl game, by just annihilating Michigan State."
"They only have to replace four starters on offense, but three of those have been so huge to the program’s success — quarterback Greg McElroy, running back Mark Ingram and wide receiver Julio Jones."
"I know Ingram won the Heisman and Jones had the capability of scoring every time he touched the football, but I think the one they’ll miss the most out of those three is McElroy. The kid was brilliant and just a flat-out winner. He might not have been the strongest, fastest or have the best arm, but he was such a tremendous leader."
"Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy will be just as productive, or more, than Ingram. Also Marquis Maze will fill in nicely for Jones."
"If the offense struggles, the defense should be able to bail them out. They return nearly everyone, including linebacker Dont’a Hightower."
"Their secondary could be one of the nation’s best units with the entire group back intact."
"Even with only 14 seniors, I still would not be surprised if them or LSU ends up playing for the national title."
"They have so much talent. Nick has done such a great job stockpiling talent there. It’s amazing how many good players they have."
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Arkansas
"Obviously the big guy, (Ryan) Mallett is gone on offense. Tyler Wilson is slated to be the replacement and was impressive in limited action last year. He had a monster game against Auburn (332 yards, four touchdowns), so he’s proven he’s quite capable of directing the offense. The schedule sets up nicely for him to build his confidence (opening with three home games against Missouri State, New Mexico and Troy) before a killer back-to-back stretch against Alabama and Texas A&M."
"They’ve had a lot of good backs in the past few years, but no one seized the job until Davis last year. He was great."
"The defense has slowly improved under (Bobby) Petrino and coordinator Willy Robinson and should be as strong or better this fall. It was a weakness a few years ago. Not so much anymore."
"Defensive end Jake Bequette is one of the best in the league, and tackle Byran Jones is a solid force up front."
"I think last year they responded very well to the pressure of being a dark horse to win the league, losing only to Alabama and Auburn. This year with the expectations not as high, I think the Razorbacks will jump up and surprise some people as long as Wilson can be consistent at quarterback.”
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Auburn
"No Cam Newton, no Nick Fairley and no chance for the Tigers to repeat as SEC or national champions. How far down the standings will the Tigers plummet?"
"Newton was obviously ‘the team’ last season and even with all the controversy surrounding him and (his father Cecil), he still carried that team on his back and never faltered even with a tremendous amount of pressure on him on and off the field. I think that, as much as his physical skills, are what Auburn will miss the most."
"It looks like they’re unsettled at quarterback, but one possibility could be a highly touted incoming freshman (Kiehl Frazier) from Arkansas. I don’t know how successful in this league you can be with a freshman quarterback, but Auburn might find out real quick."
"(Gus) Malzahn will always get his quarterback to play well, but no one will do what Newton did for them."
"Whoever replaces Newton better be elusive, because the right tackle (Brandon Mosley) is the only returning starter on the offensive line."
"Running back Michael Dyer gave a glimpse of his big-play ability in the BCS title game."
"Fairley will be a huge loss, but the Tigers also have several other holes to fill on defense."
"(Gene) Chizik shocked the world last year winning the national title. We’ll see how it works this time around."
"It will be interesting to see how they handle themselves this year. They are the defending national champs but expectations are low. Not a ton of pressure on them.”
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Florida
“Jeremy Foley is widely considered among the top ADs to work for in the nation, but the common theme among coaches I’ve talked to in the SEC wonders if Will Muschamp’s hiring will be a Billy Donovan hiring for Foley or a Ron Zook-type of hire? Muschamp is widely respected within the coaching ranks, but having his first head coaching job at a place like Florida is going to be tough."
"Charlie Weis’ hiring as offensive coordinator is interesting to say the least. He can X-and-O with anyone, but I don’t think Florida has the Jimmys and the Joes to win the SEC this year."
"Besides losing (Urban) Meyer, the Gators also lost 23 seniors. That will be tough to do in one season."
"(Quarterback) John Brantley should benefit most from Weis’ pro-style attack. He was horrendous last year, trying to run the spread. If he doesn’t perform, I’ve heard a lot of good things about early enrollee Jeff Driskel. He could get a shot back there as well, but it’s tough for a freshman in this league."
"It will be interesting to see if they can finally run the ball with Weis in charge. They did a lot of great things under Meyer, but run the ball with a more traditional running back wasn’t one of them."
"They weren’t very good last year, but still had a chance to win the (SEC) East if they could have beaten South Carolina. But they couldn’t get it done."
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Georgia
“While it was unfortunate, I really think the whole fiasco with A.J. Green’s suspension for selling his jersey took the wind out of Georgia. He sat those first four games and before they knew it they started 1–4. They did manage to put together a few wins to get bowl-eligible, but another loss to rival Florida and to UCF in the Liberty Bowl is not good for Mark Richt’s job security."
"Incoming freshman running back Isaiah Crowell is a stud, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the mix for playing time."
"I really like Aaron Murray at quarterback, and he’ll be even better with another year of experience."
"Murray will have to find another go-to receiver. In addition to Green, they also lose Kris Durham. I’d expect him to look for (tight end) Orson Charles more this year."
"Defensively, I think they were a work in process with a new defensive staff in place. Having had a year to adjust to defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s 3-4, the Bulldogs should be somewhat improved, but I don’t think they have enough to compete for the SEC East title, and Georgia alums are not going to like to hear that."
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Kentucky
"Joker (Phillips) did a nice job in his first season as head coach, getting Kentucky to a bowl game. His second season might be somewhat tougher, especially since he has to replace Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke. Cobb was one of the nation’s top wideouts and just a spectacular all-around threat. I, for one, am glad that I don’t have to face him again. People don’t understand how good that guy was."
"The quarterback (Mike Hartline) also is gone, so I don’t know where they’re going to get their offense from. Hartline really came on last year. He wasn’t very good early in his career, but he was pretty solid as a senior. "The good news is they are strong up front (returning four offensive line starters). Guards Larry Warford and Stuart Hines are the anchors on that unit."
"The defense is loaded and returns virtually intact. Linebacker Danny Trevathan and safety Winston Guy are as good as anyone in the SEC. They could play for anyone."
"Rick Minter, the former Cincinnati coach, was named co-defensive coordinator. Word is he’ll look to implement a 3-4 defense."
"The key for Kentucky is a three-game stretch against Florida, LSU and South Carolina. If they could steal one of those games, I think they could have a special season. If not, they could be fighting to get to a bowl."
"They need some skill guys to emerge. They have had playmakers over the past few years, but I don’t see anyone who really scares you — at least not yet."
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: LSU
"Les (Miles) is loaded this year. He’s got the majority of his team back, and I think either LSU or Alabama, whoever survives the SEC West, will play for the national title and make it six national championships in a row for our league. Whether it’s LSU or not may depend on what happens at quarterback. Jordan Jefferson certainly has had his moments, but Miles has opened it up and made his quarterback derby a three-man competition between Jefferson, Jarrett Lee and Zach Mettenberger. Mettenberger is the most intriguing. That kid is a hoss."
"(Cornerback and return specialist) Patrick Peterson is gone, but they have so many athletes back there he won’t be missed a great deal — and yes, I know how strange that sounds."
"Miles has been, let’s just say, very fortunate in the past, such as against Florida with the bounce-pass fake field goal and against Alabama with some late trick plays. Somehow, someway everything always seems to go Miles’ way. If that continues I don’t see many people stopping the Tigers."
"They are loaded. Everyone knows that. But they still scare me because Jefferson is inconsistent at quarterback. Now, he played well down the stretch, but if he is the guy, do you trust him to win you a national title?"
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Mississippi State
"I thought they were one of the nation’s most underrated teams last season. Just look at their four losses — Auburn, LSU, Alabama and Arkansas. And they probably should have beaten Auburn. Then the way they ended the season by simply destroying Michigan (52–14) in the Gator Bowl. Wow. I was very, very impressed with Dan Mullen’s second season to say the least and how much progress they made from his 2009 debut. And the scary thing is: This year might be even better."
"Chris Relf is back at quarterback and Vick Ballard at running back. Those two seniors will provide tremendous leadership."
"Relf has really turned into a good player. I was not impressed with him a few years ago. It looked they wanted to go with (Tyler Russell), but Relf just played too well."
"The one unknown is how the team will respond to the departure of defensive coordinator Manny Diaz to Texas. Chris Wilson and Geoff Collins will share the duties, and they’ll enjoy coaching defensive tackles Fletcher Cox and Josh Boyd."
"(Receiver) Chad Bumphis is a good player. They don’t throw the ball a ton, so we don’t see a lot of him, but the guy can make plays."
"I think another bowl game is a certainty for the Bulldogs. If people sleep on them, they’re going to be in for a rude awakening."
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Ole Miss
"There was so much hype and hope with the addition of (quarterback) Jeremiah Masoli — and then that first game happened. I really think that overtime loss to Jacksonville State in the season-opener just killed their season. Maybe they were never going to be better than 4–8, but they had no big-time victories."
"Their best player is running back Brandon Bolden. I also like (Jeff) Scott. He was really good last year as a freshman. He’s fast. Good player."
"Who replaces Masoli at quarterback is a big unknown, but Houston Nutt brought in Dolphins assistant David Lee as offensive coordinator and Oklahoma State assistant Gunter Brewer (as passing game coordinator). That should give the offense a boost from last season. I’d expect to see more Wildcat this year."
"It sounds like Randall Mackey was the guy in the spring. That will be a tough decision for the staff."
"The defense remains a question mark. They were just good enough to get you beat last season. Losing (D.T.) Shackelford (to a torn ACL) is a tough blow. He’s a hard-nosed player."
"What’s in store this season? They could improve slightly, but it looks like another sub.-500 season."
"Who are they going to be better than in the SEC West? No one. They have some talent, but the West is so good now."
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: South Carolina
"The soap opera that is Stephen Garcia’s career took another turn (when he was suspended in the spring). I know (Steve) Spurrier has got to be fuming about this latest episode. It will be interesting to see if this causes a distraction within the team."
"Connor Shaw is a capable backup and has pushed Garcia in the past. The offense should be just fine with tailback Marcus Lattimore and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. Both of those guys are among the best in the country. Lattimore is such a beast and Jeffery is a spectacular talent."
"As much as turnovers killed them last year, the defense got lit up in their losses. They need to be more consistent on that side of the ball and should be this fall."
"They were good last year, but it wasn’t a great year for the division. They picked a good year to be good. They were in the middle of the pack statistically (seventh in total offense and seventh in total defense). Again, don’t want to take anything away from them, because it’s hard to get to Atlanta, but they weren’t a great team."
"The secondary is solid with several starters back."
"The biggest question is how will they deal with these huge expectations and also will Garcia be there to lead the way?"
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Tennessee
"Well, you can say one thing about Derek Dooley’s debut season with Tennessee: It certainly wasn’t boring. I thought he did a tremendous job, and if not for some wacky endings against LSU and North Carolina, the Volunteers would have had a solid eight-win season. To be able to rebound strong from a dismal 2–6 start showed a lot of character from the Vols. Although I can understand some people attributing their last four-game winning streak (against Memphis, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Kentucky) to an easy schedule, but it still was an impressive turnaround."
"Quarterback Tyler Bray keyed the strong finish as a freshman and should improve from last season. Tauren Poole is a serviceable option at tailback, and the Vols’ offensive line should be better. They have a lot of guys back."
"They’ve got some really good young receivers. Justin Hunter is a stud. They will miss Denarius Moore and Gerald Jones, but with guys like Hunter and Da’Rick Rogers, they still have plenty of weapons for Bray."
"The defensive front seven has to be rebuilt, but the secondary returns three starters (cornerbacks Marsalis Teague and Prentiss Waggner and safety Brent Brewer so they’ve got a decent chance to return to a bowl game."
"They are getting better, but still not ready to challenge the top teams in the division. Maybe in 2012. But not yet."
"Keeping (defensive coordinator) Justin Wilcox was big. You need to keep continuity with your coordinators."
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Vanderbilt
"James Franklin steps into a great position in his first year as coach. No matter what he does should be a big improvement, and the Commodores should be improved. They have nearly their entire team back, and Franklin has infused the program with a winning attitude. That may sound funny at Vanderbilt, but from what I’ve heard their kids are buying into it."
"Franklin comes in with a reputation as a good recruiter, and he did a good job with his first class. Got some pretty good players, especially at the quarterback position."
"They have some pretty good players on defense. The linebacker (Chris Marve) is really good. Been around forever. And the cornerback (Casey) Hayward is outstanding. Been a starter since his sophomore year and really locks people up. I like Sean Richardson, the big safety, too."
"Vanderbilt will never out-talent anyone in the SEC, but I think you’ll see some real progress this fall and even next year. They’ve got a young bunch. They’re not going to challenge for the SEC East title, but they might jump up and surprise someone."
"The running backs are pretty good, especially Warren Norman, but they don’t have anybody on the outside who scares you. That makes them much easier to play against."
Each year we ask college football coaches to tell us what they really think about the other teams in their conference. But we don't want the cliche'd press conference platitudes, so we ask them to give us their quotes off-the-record and anonymously. Here are this year's quotes in alphabetical order for each team in the SEC.
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Alabama
"You have to give (Nick) Saban credit: Other than a stinker at South Carolina, they nearly ran the table again. LSU and Auburn were lucky to beat them, and Alabama finally put it all together in the bowl game, by just annihilating Michigan State."
"They only have to replace four starters on offense, but three of those have been so huge to the program’s success — quarterback Greg McElroy, running back Mark Ingram and wide receiver Julio Jones."
"I know Ingram won the Heisman and Jones had the capability of scoring every time he touched the football, but I think the one they’ll miss the most out of those three is McElroy. The kid was brilliant and just a flat-out winner. He might not have been the strongest, fastest or have the best arm, but he was such a tremendous leader."
"Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy will be just as productive, or more, than Ingram. Also Marquis Maze will fill in nicely for Jones."
"If the offense struggles, the defense should be able to bail them out. They return nearly everyone, including linebacker Dont’a Hightower."
"Their secondary could be one of the nation’s best units with the entire group back intact."
"Even with only 14 seniors, I still would not be surprised if them or LSU ends up playing for the national title."
"They have so much talent. Nick has done such a great job stockpiling talent there. It’s amazing how many good players they have."
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Arkansas
"Obviously the big guy, (Ryan) Mallett is gone on offense. Tyler Wilson is slated to be the replacement and was impressive in limited action last year. He had a monster game against Auburn (332 yards, four touchdowns), so he’s proven he’s quite capable of directing the offense. The schedule sets up nicely for him to build his confidence (opening with three home games against Missouri State, New Mexico and Troy) before a killer back-to-back stretch against Alabama and Texas A&M."
"They’ve had a lot of good backs in the past few years, but no one seized the job until Davis last year. He was great."
"The defense has slowly improved under (Bobby) Petrino and coordinator Willy Robinson and should be as strong or better this fall. It was a weakness a few years ago. Not so much anymore."
"Defensive end Jake Bequette is one of the best in the league, and tackle Byran Jones is a solid force up front."
"I think last year they responded very well to the pressure of being a dark horse to win the league, losing only to Alabama and Auburn. This year with the expectations not as high, I think the Razorbacks will jump up and surprise some people as long as Wilson can be consistent at quarterback.”
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Auburn
"No Cam Newton, no Nick Fairley and no chance for the Tigers to repeat as SEC or national champions. How far down the standings will the Tigers plummet?"
"Newton was obviously ‘the team’ last season and even with all the controversy surrounding him and (his father Cecil), he still carried that team on his back and never faltered even with a tremendous amount of pressure on him on and off the field. I think that, as much as his physical skills, are what Auburn will miss the most."
"It looks like they’re unsettled at quarterback, but one possibility could be a highly touted incoming freshman (Kiehl Frazier) from Arkansas. I don’t know how successful in this league you can be with a freshman quarterback, but Auburn might find out real quick."
"(Gus) Malzahn will always get his quarterback to play well, but no one will do what Newton did for them."
"Whoever replaces Newton better be elusive, because the right tackle (Brandon Mosley) is the only returning starter on the offensive line."
"Running back Michael Dyer gave a glimpse of his big-play ability in the BCS title game."
"Fairley will be a huge loss, but the Tigers also have several other holes to fill on defense."
"(Gene) Chizik shocked the world last year winning the national title. We’ll see how it works this time around."
"It will be interesting to see how they handle themselves this year. They are the defending national champs but expectations are low. Not a ton of pressure on them.”
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Florida
“Jeremy Foley is widely considered among the top ADs to work for in the nation, but the common theme among coaches I’ve talked to in the SEC wonders if Will Muschamp’s hiring will be a Billy Donovan hiring for Foley or a Ron Zook-type of hire? Muschamp is widely respected within the coaching ranks, but having his first head coaching job at a place like Florida is going to be tough."
"Charlie Weis’ hiring as offensive coordinator is interesting to say the least. He can X-and-O with anyone, but I don’t think Florida has the Jimmys and the Joes to win the SEC this year."
"Besides losing (Urban) Meyer, the Gators also lost 23 seniors. That will be tough to do in one season."
"(Quarterback) John Brantley should benefit most from Weis’ pro-style attack. He was horrendous last year, trying to run the spread. If he doesn’t perform, I’ve heard a lot of good things about early enrollee Jeff Driskel. He could get a shot back there as well, but it’s tough for a freshman in this league."
"It will be interesting to see if they can finally run the ball with Weis in charge. They did a lot of great things under Meyer, but run the ball with a more traditional running back wasn’t one of them."
"They weren’t very good last year, but still had a chance to win the (SEC) East if they could have beaten South Carolina. But they couldn’t get it done."
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Georgia
“While it was unfortunate, I really think the whole fiasco with A.J. Green’s suspension for selling his jersey took the wind out of Georgia. He sat those first four games and before they knew it they started 1–4. They did manage to put together a few wins to get bowl-eligible, but another loss to rival Florida and to UCF in the Liberty Bowl is not good for Mark Richt’s job security."
"Incoming freshman running back Isaiah Crowell is a stud, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the mix for playing time."
"I really like Aaron Murray at quarterback, and he’ll be even better with another year of experience."
"Murray will have to find another go-to receiver. In addition to Green, they also lose Kris Durham. I’d expect him to look for (tight end) Orson Charles more this year."
"Defensively, I think they were a work in process with a new defensive staff in place. Having had a year to adjust to defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s 3-4, the Bulldogs should be somewhat improved, but I don’t think they have enough to compete for the SEC East title, and Georgia alums are not going to like to hear that."
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Kentucky
"Joker (Phillips) did a nice job in his first season as head coach, getting Kentucky to a bowl game. His second season might be somewhat tougher, especially since he has to replace Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke. Cobb was one of the nation’s top wideouts and just a spectacular all-around threat. I, for one, am glad that I don’t have to face him again. People don’t understand how good that guy was."
"The quarterback (Mike Hartline) also is gone, so I don’t know where they’re going to get their offense from. Hartline really came on last year. He wasn’t very good early in his career, but he was pretty solid as a senior. "The good news is they are strong up front (returning four offensive line starters). Guards Larry Warford and Stuart Hines are the anchors on that unit."
"The defense is loaded and returns virtually intact. Linebacker Danny Trevathan and safety Winston Guy are as good as anyone in the SEC. They could play for anyone."
"Rick Minter, the former Cincinnati coach, was named co-defensive coordinator. Word is he’ll look to implement a 3-4 defense."
"The key for Kentucky is a three-game stretch against Florida, LSU and South Carolina. If they could steal one of those games, I think they could have a special season. If not, they could be fighting to get to a bowl."
"They need some skill guys to emerge. They have had playmakers over the past few years, but I don’t see anyone who really scares you — at least not yet."
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: LSU
"Les (Miles) is loaded this year. He’s got the majority of his team back, and I think either LSU or Alabama, whoever survives the SEC West, will play for the national title and make it six national championships in a row for our league. Whether it’s LSU or not may depend on what happens at quarterback. Jordan Jefferson certainly has had his moments, but Miles has opened it up and made his quarterback derby a three-man competition between Jefferson, Jarrett Lee and Zach Mettenberger. Mettenberger is the most intriguing. That kid is a hoss."
"(Cornerback and return specialist) Patrick Peterson is gone, but they have so many athletes back there he won’t be missed a great deal — and yes, I know how strange that sounds."
"Miles has been, let’s just say, very fortunate in the past, such as against Florida with the bounce-pass fake field goal and against Alabama with some late trick plays. Somehow, someway everything always seems to go Miles’ way. If that continues I don’t see many people stopping the Tigers."
"They are loaded. Everyone knows that. But they still scare me because Jefferson is inconsistent at quarterback. Now, he played well down the stretch, but if he is the guy, do you trust him to win you a national title?"
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Mississippi State
"I thought they were one of the nation’s most underrated teams last season. Just look at their four losses — Auburn, LSU, Alabama and Arkansas. And they probably should have beaten Auburn. Then the way they ended the season by simply destroying Michigan (52–14) in the Gator Bowl. Wow. I was very, very impressed with Dan Mullen’s second season to say the least and how much progress they made from his 2009 debut. And the scary thing is: This year might be even better."
"Chris Relf is back at quarterback and Vick Ballard at running back. Those two seniors will provide tremendous leadership."
"Relf has really turned into a good player. I was not impressed with him a few years ago. It looked they wanted to go with (Tyler Russell), but Relf just played too well."
"The one unknown is how the team will respond to the departure of defensive coordinator Manny Diaz to Texas. Chris Wilson and Geoff Collins will share the duties, and they’ll enjoy coaching defensive tackles Fletcher Cox and Josh Boyd."
"(Receiver) Chad Bumphis is a good player. They don’t throw the ball a ton, so we don’t see a lot of him, but the guy can make plays."
"I think another bowl game is a certainty for the Bulldogs. If people sleep on them, they’re going to be in for a rude awakening."
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Ole Miss
"There was so much hype and hope with the addition of (quarterback) Jeremiah Masoli — and then that first game happened. I really think that overtime loss to Jacksonville State in the season-opener just killed their season. Maybe they were never going to be better than 4–8, but they had no big-time victories."
"Their best player is running back Brandon Bolden. I also like (Jeff) Scott. He was really good last year as a freshman. He’s fast. Good player."
"Who replaces Masoli at quarterback is a big unknown, but Houston Nutt brought in Dolphins assistant David Lee as offensive coordinator and Oklahoma State assistant Gunter Brewer (as passing game coordinator). That should give the offense a boost from last season. I’d expect to see more Wildcat this year."
"It sounds like Randall Mackey was the guy in the spring. That will be a tough decision for the staff."
"The defense remains a question mark. They were just good enough to get you beat last season. Losing (D.T.) Shackelford (to a torn ACL) is a tough blow. He’s a hard-nosed player."
"What’s in store this season? They could improve slightly, but it looks like another sub.-500 season."
"Who are they going to be better than in the SEC West? No one. They have some talent, but the West is so good now."
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: South Carolina
"The soap opera that is Stephen Garcia’s career took another turn (when he was suspended in the spring). I know (Steve) Spurrier has got to be fuming about this latest episode. It will be interesting to see if this causes a distraction within the team."
"Connor Shaw is a capable backup and has pushed Garcia in the past. The offense should be just fine with tailback Marcus Lattimore and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. Both of those guys are among the best in the country. Lattimore is such a beast and Jeffery is a spectacular talent."
"As much as turnovers killed them last year, the defense got lit up in their losses. They need to be more consistent on that side of the ball and should be this fall."
"They were good last year, but it wasn’t a great year for the division. They picked a good year to be good. They were in the middle of the pack statistically (seventh in total offense and seventh in total defense). Again, don’t want to take anything away from them, because it’s hard to get to Atlanta, but they weren’t a great team."
"The secondary is solid with several starters back."
"The biggest question is how will they deal with these huge expectations and also will Garcia be there to lead the way?"
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Tennessee
"Well, you can say one thing about Derek Dooley’s debut season with Tennessee: It certainly wasn’t boring. I thought he did a tremendous job, and if not for some wacky endings against LSU and North Carolina, the Volunteers would have had a solid eight-win season. To be able to rebound strong from a dismal 2–6 start showed a lot of character from the Vols. Although I can understand some people attributing their last four-game winning streak (against Memphis, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Kentucky) to an easy schedule, but it still was an impressive turnaround."
"Quarterback Tyler Bray keyed the strong finish as a freshman and should improve from last season. Tauren Poole is a serviceable option at tailback, and the Vols’ offensive line should be better. They have a lot of guys back."
"They’ve got some really good young receivers. Justin Hunter is a stud. They will miss Denarius Moore and Gerald Jones, but with guys like Hunter and Da’Rick Rogers, they still have plenty of weapons for Bray."
"The defensive front seven has to be rebuilt, but the secondary returns three starters (cornerbacks Marsalis Teague and Prentiss Waggner and safety Brent Brewer so they’ve got a decent chance to return to a bowl game."
"They are getting better, but still not ready to challenge the top teams in the division. Maybe in 2012. But not yet."
"Keeping (defensive coordinator) Justin Wilcox was big. You need to keep continuity with your coordinators."
What SEC Coaches Are Saying About: Vanderbilt
"James Franklin steps into a great position in his first year as coach. No matter what he does should be a big improvement, and the Commodores should be improved. They have nearly their entire team back, and Franklin has infused the program with a winning attitude. That may sound funny at Vanderbilt, but from what I’ve heard their kids are buying into it."
"Franklin comes in with a reputation as a good recruiter, and he did a good job with his first class. Got some pretty good players, especially at the quarterback position."
"They have some pretty good players on defense. The linebacker (Chris Marve) is really good. Been around forever. And the cornerback (Casey) Hayward is outstanding. Been a starter since his sophomore year and really locks people up. I like Sean Richardson, the big safety, too."
"Vanderbilt will never out-talent anyone in the SEC, but I think you’ll see some real progress this fall and even next year. They’ve got a young bunch. They’re not going to challenge for the SEC East title, but they might jump up and surprise someone."
"The running backs are pretty good, especially Warren Norman, but they don’t have anybody on the outside who scares you. That makes them much easier to play against."
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Live Fan Feedback: Week 1
Comments on the week from our expert panel of reporters, bankers, doctors, lawyers, ad wizards, lawn guys, bond guys, car guys, pilots, priests, principals, builders, teachers, bums, and nomads.
Continually updated throughout the day...
Jeff G's weekly picks:
UND - I want to be wrong
BYU - Southpark said that the Mormons are the true religion, so I have to give them the nod over that sinner Nutt.
LSU - I can't pick a team with unis as terrible as Oregon. That comment is limited to the football players only. Their cheerleaders are properly attired.
UGa – Besides Clemson, UGa has been my biggest nemesis over the years. No matter how I pick them, I usually lose. Therefore I respectfully request that UGa and Clemson be removed from all subsequent games here. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your reply.
Maryland - Count me among those taking pleasure in Miami's recent unpleasantness. Hopefully that will manifest itself on the field.
-
This was hard to choose for the opening 1st week. I see your rep is still strong for 2011/12. I think I might add tudors to the School of Noise this season. -- School of Noise
The BYU Honor Code will be put to the test in the Grove. -- Brendan
-
Faldon's Five More Thoughts:
Notre Dame - That laughter you hear is the Golden Domers' response to being asked to join the LonghornSooner Conference.
BYU - Those Mormons ... err, Latter Day Saints ... can ball.
Oregon - Bigger detriment to LSU's chances this week than the QB being suspended? Artifical turf prevents Les Miles from having a pregame snack.
Boise State - Did you know Boise State has a Chick-fil-A on campus? And it's the only CFA in the entire state?
Maryland - Which campus suffered more damage? Maryland from Hurricane Irene or Miami from Hurricane Nevin Shapiro? Oh, and "Homicide: Life on the Streets" > "CSI: Miami"
-
Boise State airs it out over Georgia, Georgia blames the uniforms (34-31 Boise) -- Jeremy A.
Considering the fact that there are two more nights available to party and the word is that Dallas has some clubs, I am reluctant to pick oregon-LSU prior to the deadline, but I will abide by the rules. Just think there should have been a waiver on this game until 6:45 saturday night. -- Dean of Sportswriters
And so it begins... all the choices, deleting the choices and going with the other, then calling yourself dumb and "going with your gut" then losing the game anyway - 5 months of second guessing and remorse, handfuls of "what if" and "if I only had", finding yourself asking your customers "can I get you another beer and, by the way, who do you like in the Notre Dame/USC game (and keeping a mental score card for the e-mail to be sent later) - damn, I have missed this... -- Dave M.
-
The System
By Glenn B.
I determined this week's picks by running the games through my new custom app NCAAFConverter, which converts and translates any given matchup to an equivalent relationship in a wholly unrelated field. I'm still working a few bugs out of the system but here is what NCAAFConverter has come up with so far:
1. South Florida - Notre Dame (USF worth four points)
NCAAFConverter : Leprechaun riding mechanical bull, and we all know how that will end. So I'll take South Florida and the bonus points, thank you very much. (My only concern here is that NCAAFConverter did yield an alternative outcome: Leprechaun slamming Red Bull, and if this second conversion is the right one, then my pick is DOOMED.)
2. BYU - Ole Miss
NCAAFConverter: Black Bear versus cougar! And we all know how that will end. So in the interest of seeing if my faith in NCAACFConverter is well placed, I'll go against my gut and take Ole Miss, thank you very much. (Actually, I was too impatient to wait for the video to load so I just scanned the comments; this one is representative: "Black bear uses swipe! But it missed! Cougar uses slash! But it's not very affective. Cougar flees! Black bear gained 32 exp.") (Interestingly, on this one, NCAAFConverter yield two alternative outcomes: Col. Reb versus cougar, and: shark versus cougar, so apparently my Ole Miss pick is solely attributable to UM's choice of a stupid black bear as its new, non-racist mascot.)
3. Oregon - LSU
NCAAFConverter: 555 South Eugene is WINNING! in Baton Rouge! You know you are ready to make an offer so act now!
So I'll take Oregon, thank you very much.(NCAAFConverter really had a hard time with this one; it kept substituting the Auburn Tiger for LSU's Bengal Tiger, yielding a consistent Tiger win but only so long as the Tiger squad was adequately compensated.)
4. Boise State - Georgia
NCAAFConverter: Buttercup cruising Manhattan in a sweet '73 Ford Bronco. Actually, I don't know how this one will end. I'm sorry, I hate to go against an SEC team, but with a name like Buttercup, and taking into account the possible infallibility of NCAFConverter, I have to go with the (sweet) Bronco; so I'll take Boise State, thank you very much.
(P.S., Mark Richt, don't feel bad when UGA VII (?) terminates your contact by peeing on it at the end of this season; you are a quality coach and you will find there's a bright future ahead of you in the Big East or ACC.)
5. Miami - Maryland
NCAAFConverter: Diamonback terrapins released into hurricane-ravaged salt marsh, and we all know how that will end (SARCASM). Actually, I'm sorry, maybe I launched NCAAFConverter too early because I have no clue what this means. Is this terrapin over hurricane because the reintroduction of these baby turtles into the marsh shows the resiliency of the species? Or is the main point that the hurricane slaughtered so many turtles in this marsh that now scientists are having to bring them in via bucket brigade? So I am going with my gut on this one, I'll take Maryland and the bonus point, thank you very much.
-
I am extremely confident in these picks, which reflect my newfound love of the SEC. I look forward to sitting pretty at 2-3 going into week #2. -- Aggie Mark
And we're off. I had a rush order put on the school internet feed being repaired just so I would not have to explain to Wells how one can get email on a cell phone. Such a conversation would have led to questions about email in general. So... it was a better use of my time to give a rush order to Comcast so I could get my picks in. They were here until 8:00 last night all due to Poolsville. -- Rocket Man
-
Regards from the Big O
Football is finally here and these are my picks for this week: 1)South Florida (who knows the first week of football, and ND may have just listened too many ESPN prognosticators); 2)BYU (because the projections that the Black Bears are getting out of the West's cellar are at best imaginary); 3)Oregon (Lee at QB just doesn't get it); 4)Boise State (because this dawg won't hunt either); 5)Maryland (the U doesn't have the players with character to play on through their media storm like a certain team last year). That's it for a lot of upsets and a different attitude towards AU's fellow SEC members this year... learned the hard way. Also, I'm making the picks while taking Hydrocodone.
-
It seems that we should have some sort of pool on where each Big XII team ends up. Is it more of will Big XII add a member or dissolve by end of the year? Though with the way this works, they could add a member and then Oklahoma bolts and it dissolves, all in one season. My hope for the Sooners is a 16 member Pac-12. Definitely no SEC (sorry). I don't see a worthwhile option for adding to the Big XII. -- Sean O.
Traveling for work otherwise woulda blown yur shit up with anotha DJ-U Hip Hop Ya' Don't Stop Pick Pic. -- DJ U-Explicit Johnson
S.E.C. Teams have been fighting the West Team's popularity for years. We still do not get the respect we deserve, despite the recent nat'l championships. "What is the Deal"?? Most interesting - Coach Nutt and the surprise flexbone??? Not much of a surprise, or a factor. BYU Wins... -- Al G
As you can tell from my picks, I despise the SEC with all of my being and hope every team has a losing record this year. Go Frogs and go Canes!!! -- G. Berry
-
Danny K's Poetry Corner
The time has come
The picks are in
Football season is here.
I've grabbed the remote
Smacked my wife on the ass
And told her to grab me a beer.
Continually updated throughout the day...
Jeff G's weekly picks:
UND - I want to be wrong
BYU - Southpark said that the Mormons are the true religion, so I have to give them the nod over that sinner Nutt.
LSU - I can't pick a team with unis as terrible as Oregon. That comment is limited to the football players only. Their cheerleaders are properly attired.
UGa – Besides Clemson, UGa has been my biggest nemesis over the years. No matter how I pick them, I usually lose. Therefore I respectfully request that UGa and Clemson be removed from all subsequent games here. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your reply.
Maryland - Count me among those taking pleasure in Miami's recent unpleasantness. Hopefully that will manifest itself on the field.
-
This was hard to choose for the opening 1st week. I see your rep is still strong for 2011/12. I think I might add tudors to the School of Noise this season. -- School of Noise
The BYU Honor Code will be put to the test in the Grove. -- Brendan
-
Faldon's Five More Thoughts:
Notre Dame - That laughter you hear is the Golden Domers' response to being asked to join the LonghornSooner Conference.
BYU - Those Mormons ... err, Latter Day Saints ... can ball.
Oregon - Bigger detriment to LSU's chances this week than the QB being suspended? Artifical turf prevents Les Miles from having a pregame snack.
Boise State - Did you know Boise State has a Chick-fil-A on campus? And it's the only CFA in the entire state?
Maryland - Which campus suffered more damage? Maryland from Hurricane Irene or Miami from Hurricane Nevin Shapiro? Oh, and "Homicide: Life on the Streets" > "CSI: Miami"
-
Boise State airs it out over Georgia, Georgia blames the uniforms (34-31 Boise) -- Jeremy A.
Considering the fact that there are two more nights available to party and the word is that Dallas has some clubs, I am reluctant to pick oregon-LSU prior to the deadline, but I will abide by the rules. Just think there should have been a waiver on this game until 6:45 saturday night. -- Dean of Sportswriters
And so it begins... all the choices, deleting the choices and going with the other, then calling yourself dumb and "going with your gut" then losing the game anyway - 5 months of second guessing and remorse, handfuls of "what if" and "if I only had", finding yourself asking your customers "can I get you another beer and, by the way, who do you like in the Notre Dame/USC game (and keeping a mental score card for the e-mail to be sent later) - damn, I have missed this... -- Dave M.
-
The System
By Glenn B.
I determined this week's picks by running the games through my new custom app NCAAFConverter, which converts and translates any given matchup to an equivalent relationship in a wholly unrelated field. I'm still working a few bugs out of the system but here is what NCAAFConverter has come up with so far:
1. South Florida - Notre Dame (USF worth four points)
NCAAFConverter : Leprechaun riding mechanical bull, and we all know how that will end. So I'll take South Florida and the bonus points, thank you very much. (My only concern here is that NCAAFConverter did yield an alternative outcome: Leprechaun slamming Red Bull, and if this second conversion is the right one, then my pick is DOOMED.)
2. BYU - Ole Miss
NCAAFConverter: Black Bear versus cougar! And we all know how that will end. So in the interest of seeing if my faith in NCAACFConverter is well placed, I'll go against my gut and take Ole Miss, thank you very much. (Actually, I was too impatient to wait for the video to load so I just scanned the comments; this one is representative: "Black bear uses swipe! But it missed! Cougar uses slash! But it's not very affective. Cougar flees! Black bear gained 32 exp.") (Interestingly, on this one, NCAAFConverter yield two alternative outcomes: Col. Reb versus cougar, and: shark versus cougar, so apparently my Ole Miss pick is solely attributable to UM's choice of a stupid black bear as its new, non-racist mascot.)
3. Oregon - LSU
NCAAFConverter: 555 South Eugene is WINNING! in Baton Rouge! You know you are ready to make an offer so act now!
So I'll take Oregon, thank you very much.(NCAAFConverter really had a hard time with this one; it kept substituting the Auburn Tiger for LSU's Bengal Tiger, yielding a consistent Tiger win but only so long as the Tiger squad was adequately compensated.)
4. Boise State - Georgia
NCAAFConverter: Buttercup cruising Manhattan in a sweet '73 Ford Bronco. Actually, I don't know how this one will end. I'm sorry, I hate to go against an SEC team, but with a name like Buttercup, and taking into account the possible infallibility of NCAFConverter, I have to go with the (sweet) Bronco; so I'll take Boise State, thank you very much.
(P.S., Mark Richt, don't feel bad when UGA VII (?) terminates your contact by peeing on it at the end of this season; you are a quality coach and you will find there's a bright future ahead of you in the Big East or ACC.)
5. Miami - Maryland
NCAAFConverter: Diamonback terrapins released into hurricane-ravaged salt marsh, and we all know how that will end (SARCASM). Actually, I'm sorry, maybe I launched NCAAFConverter too early because I have no clue what this means. Is this terrapin over hurricane because the reintroduction of these baby turtles into the marsh shows the resiliency of the species? Or is the main point that the hurricane slaughtered so many turtles in this marsh that now scientists are having to bring them in via bucket brigade? So I am going with my gut on this one, I'll take Maryland and the bonus point, thank you very much.
-
I am extremely confident in these picks, which reflect my newfound love of the SEC. I look forward to sitting pretty at 2-3 going into week #2. -- Aggie Mark
And we're off. I had a rush order put on the school internet feed being repaired just so I would not have to explain to Wells how one can get email on a cell phone. Such a conversation would have led to questions about email in general. So... it was a better use of my time to give a rush order to Comcast so I could get my picks in. They were here until 8:00 last night all due to Poolsville. -- Rocket Man
-
Regards from the Big O
Football is finally here and these are my picks for this week: 1)South Florida (who knows the first week of football, and ND may have just listened too many ESPN prognosticators); 2)BYU (because the projections that the Black Bears are getting out of the West's cellar are at best imaginary); 3)Oregon (Lee at QB just doesn't get it); 4)Boise State (because this dawg won't hunt either); 5)Maryland (the U doesn't have the players with character to play on through their media storm like a certain team last year). That's it for a lot of upsets and a different attitude towards AU's fellow SEC members this year... learned the hard way. Also, I'm making the picks while taking Hydrocodone.
-
It seems that we should have some sort of pool on where each Big XII team ends up. Is it more of will Big XII add a member or dissolve by end of the year? Though with the way this works, they could add a member and then Oklahoma bolts and it dissolves, all in one season. My hope for the Sooners is a 16 member Pac-12. Definitely no SEC (sorry). I don't see a worthwhile option for adding to the Big XII. -- Sean O.
Traveling for work otherwise woulda blown yur shit up with anotha DJ-U Hip Hop Ya' Don't Stop Pick Pic. -- DJ U-Explicit Johnson
S.E.C. Teams have been fighting the West Team's popularity for years. We still do not get the respect we deserve, despite the recent nat'l championships. "What is the Deal"?? Most interesting - Coach Nutt and the surprise flexbone??? Not much of a surprise, or a factor. BYU Wins... -- Al G
As you can tell from my picks, I despise the SEC with all of my being and hope every team has a losing record this year. Go Frogs and go Canes!!! -- G. Berry
-
Danny K's Poetry Corner
The time has come
The picks are in
Football season is here.
I've grabbed the remote
Smacked my wife on the ass
And told her to grab me a beer.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Season Premiere Haiku
Its a brand new football season but theres one thing that won't change, my Auburn trashing haikus. So lets get this season kicked off right:
Auburn Tigers fact
They're not on like donkey kong
Fans are super square.
Auburn Tigers fact
They're not on like donkey kong
Fans are super square.
Games of the Week
WEEK 1 -- Which of these is the most interesting story line going into this weekend? A) All three SEC teams in big games this week are underdogs to schools from the west and I don't mean SEC West. B) Quarterbacks for LSU and Miami are suspended after one of the most scandal-plagued years for college football and neither's trouble had anything to do with the Auburn bagman. C) Mark Richt's job is already on the line in only the first game of the season and the same goes for person at Nike who designed the uniforms. D) Houston Nutt and David Lee plan to shock BYU by exclusively running Ken Hatfield's old Flexbone offense. E) A win by the Fighting Irish gives Ben Baldwin an excuse to dress down in a Notre Dame T-shirt at church on Sunday. F) College football finally arrives. Answer: F
Lleeggoo.
South Florida - Notre Dame
2:30 p.m., Saturday, NBC
Line: Notre Dame by 10
* Underdog worth four points
BYU - Ole Miss
3:45 p.m., Saturday, ESPN
Line: BYU by 3
The Cowboys Classic
Oregon - LSU
7 p.m., Saturday, ABC
Line: Oregon by 3
Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game
Boise State - Georgia
7 p.m., Saturday, ESPN
Line: Boise State by 3
Miami - Maryland
7 p.m., Monday, ESPN
Line: Miami by 5
* Underdog worth three points
Good luck.
****#****
Lleeggoo.
South Florida - Notre Dame
2:30 p.m., Saturday, NBC
Line: Notre Dame by 10
* Underdog worth four points
BYU - Ole Miss
3:45 p.m., Saturday, ESPN
Line: BYU by 3
The Cowboys Classic
Oregon - LSU
7 p.m., Saturday, ABC
Line: Oregon by 3
Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game
Boise State - Georgia
7 p.m., Saturday, ESPN
Line: Boise State by 3
Miami - Maryland
7 p.m., Monday, ESPN
Line: Miami by 5
* Underdog worth three points
Good luck.
****#****
Sunday, August 28, 2011
NCAA football attendance for 2010 -- in order!
In its infinite wisdom, when the NCAA released football attendance figures for 2010, for the second year in a row it did not list the schools in descending order of attendance after the top 30. Instead, it released the attendance figures in alphabetical order. What good does that do?! Do they just not want to bother because they are investigating half the schools on the list, or are they trying to make everyone look good?
If you are like me and want to see the FBS attendance figures in their proper order, I've done the NCAA's job for them again this year and compiled the following list of average home attendance. Note that all schools listed below the break in the list had attendance figures worse than the top school in the lower division (Appalachian State at 25,715 in the FCS).
Attendance is everything in college football. If you don't believe me, check the last 10 winners of the national championship in red. My motto is that fans have no right demanding that their team finish any higher than their own attendance rankings.
Attendance is also important because the top 81 teams on this list make it into the Project Playoffs plan, which is the world's best plan for a college football playoff and conference realignment. Click the above link for this week's updated playoff seedings!
1 Michigan 111,825
4 Alabama 101,821
5 Texas 100,654
6 Tennessee 99,781
7 Georgia 92,746
8 LSU 92,718
9 Florida 90,511
10 Auburn 86,087
11 Nebraska 85,664
12 Oklahoma 84,738
13 Texas A&M 82,477
14 Notre Dame 80,795
15 Southern California 79,907
16 Wisconsin 79,862
17 Clemson 77,469
18 South Carolina 76,668
19 Michigan St. 73,556
20 Florida St. 71,270
21 Iowa 70,585
22 Arkansas 68,932
23 Washington 66,264
24 Virginia Tech 66,233
25 Kentucky 66,070
26 Missouri 61,540
27 BYU 61,381
28 UCLA 60,376
29 Oregon 59,398
30 North Carolina 58,250
31 California 57,873
32 Texas Tech 57,108
33 North Carolina St. 56,877
34 West Virginia 56,325
35 Mississippi 55,898
36 Arizona 55,408
37 Mississippi St. 54,999
38 Illinois 54,188
39 Miami (FL) 52,575
40 Pittsburgh 52,165
41 Oklahoma St. 50,812
42 Louisville 50,648
43 Kansas St. 49,816
44 East Carolina 49,665
45 Minnesota 49,513
46 Purdue 48,063
47 Arizona St. 47,943
48 Colorado 46,864
49 Georgia Tech 46,449
50 Rutgers 46,195
51 Oregon St. 45,509
52 Utah 45,459
52 Virginia 45,459
54 Iowa St. 45,395
55 Kansas 44,851
56 TCU 42,466
57 Indiana 41,953
58 South Fla. 40,849
59 Air Force 40,093
60 Syracuse 40,064
61 Baylor 40,043
62 Stanford 40,042
63 UCF 39,614
64 Maryland 39,168
65 Boston College 38,369
66 Connecticut 38,248
67 Hawaii 37,311
68 Northwestern 36,449
69 Cincinnati 35,067
70 Fresno St. 34,120
71 San Diego St. 34,133
72 Boise St. 33,269
72 Vanderbilt 33,269
74 Navy 32,653
75 Houston 31,728
76 Army 31,667
77 Wake Forest 30,474
78 Southern Miss. 29,400
79 UTEP 29,350
80 Duke 28,750
81 Marshall 27,046
82 Rice 25,571
83 Washington St. 24,532
84 Memphis 23,918
85 SMU 23,515
86 Tulane 23,220
87 Colorado St. 22,400
88 La.-Monroe 20,934
89 New Mexico 20,888
90 Wyoming 20,791
91 UNLV 20,612
92 Temple 20,515
93 Central Mich. 20,448
94 Tulsa 20,379
95 FIU 19,808
96 Nevada 19,576
97 Louisiana Tech 19,485
98 Toledo 19,333
99 Ohio 19,046
100 Middle Tenn. 19,024
101 Troy 18,947
102 UAB 18,360
103 Utah St. 17,878
104 Northern Ill. 17,760
105 North Texas 17,718
106 Arkansas St. 17,394
107 La.-Lafayette 17,383
108 Kent St. 16,152
109 New Mexico St. 15,906
110 Eastern Mich. 15,885
111 Miami (OH) 15,519
112 Western Ky. 14,577
113 San Jose St. 14,474
114 Western Mich. 14,255
115 Fla. Atlantic 14,025
116 Bowling Green 13,306
117 Buffalo 12,981
118 Idaho 12,730
119 Akron 10,185
120 Ball St. 8,947
If you are like me and want to see the FBS attendance figures in their proper order, I've done the NCAA's job for them again this year and compiled the following list of average home attendance. Note that all schools listed below the break in the list had attendance figures worse than the top school in the lower division (Appalachian State at 25,715 in the FCS).
Attendance is everything in college football. If you don't believe me, check the last 10 winners of the national championship in red. My motto is that fans have no right demanding that their team finish any higher than their own attendance rankings.
Attendance is also important because the top 81 teams on this list make it into the Project Playoffs plan, which is the world's best plan for a college football playoff and conference realignment. Click the above link for this week's updated playoff seedings!
1 Michigan 111,825
2 Ohio St. 105,278
3 Penn St. 104,234 4 Alabama 101,821
5 Texas 100,654
6 Tennessee 99,781
7 Georgia 92,746
8 LSU 92,718
9 Florida 90,511
10 Auburn 86,087
11 Nebraska 85,664
12 Oklahoma 84,738
13 Texas A&M 82,477
14 Notre Dame 80,795
15 Southern California 79,907
16 Wisconsin 79,862
17 Clemson 77,469
18 South Carolina 76,668
19 Michigan St. 73,556
20 Florida St. 71,270
21 Iowa 70,585
22 Arkansas 68,932
23 Washington 66,264
24 Virginia Tech 66,233
25 Kentucky 66,070
26 Missouri 61,540
27 BYU 61,381
28 UCLA 60,376
29 Oregon 59,398
30 North Carolina 58,250
31 California 57,873
32 Texas Tech 57,108
33 North Carolina St. 56,877
34 West Virginia 56,325
35 Mississippi 55,898
36 Arizona 55,408
37 Mississippi St. 54,999
38 Illinois 54,188
39 Miami (FL) 52,575
40 Pittsburgh 52,165
41 Oklahoma St. 50,812
42 Louisville 50,648
43 Kansas St. 49,816
44 East Carolina 49,665
45 Minnesota 49,513
46 Purdue 48,063
47 Arizona St. 47,943
48 Colorado 46,864
49 Georgia Tech 46,449
50 Rutgers 46,195
51 Oregon St. 45,509
52 Utah 45,459
52 Virginia 45,459
54 Iowa St. 45,395
55 Kansas 44,851
56 TCU 42,466
57 Indiana 41,953
58 South Fla. 40,849
59 Air Force 40,093
60 Syracuse 40,064
61 Baylor 40,043
62 Stanford 40,042
63 UCF 39,614
64 Maryland 39,168
65 Boston College 38,369
66 Connecticut 38,248
67 Hawaii 37,311
68 Northwestern 36,449
69 Cincinnati 35,067
70 Fresno St. 34,120
71 San Diego St. 34,133
72 Boise St. 33,269
72 Vanderbilt 33,269
74 Navy 32,653
75 Houston 31,728
76 Army 31,667
77 Wake Forest 30,474
78 Southern Miss. 29,400
79 UTEP 29,350
80 Duke 28,750
81 Marshall 27,046
82 Rice 25,571
83 Washington St. 24,532
84 Memphis 23,918
85 SMU 23,515
86 Tulane 23,220
87 Colorado St. 22,400
88 La.-Monroe 20,934
89 New Mexico 20,888
90 Wyoming 20,791
91 UNLV 20,612
92 Temple 20,515
93 Central Mich. 20,448
94 Tulsa 20,379
95 FIU 19,808
96 Nevada 19,576
97 Louisiana Tech 19,485
98 Toledo 19,333
99 Ohio 19,046
100 Middle Tenn. 19,024
101 Troy 18,947
102 UAB 18,360
103 Utah St. 17,878
104 Northern Ill. 17,760
105 North Texas 17,718
106 Arkansas St. 17,394
107 La.-Lafayette 17,383
108 Kent St. 16,152
109 New Mexico St. 15,906
110 Eastern Mich. 15,885
111 Miami (OH) 15,519
112 Western Ky. 14,577
113 San Jose St. 14,474
114 Western Mich. 14,255
115 Fla. Atlantic 14,025
116 Bowling Green 13,306
117 Buffalo 12,981
118 Idaho 12,730
119 Akron 10,185
120 Ball St. 8,947
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
LSU tops annual SEC predictions
By Jeff Kendall
OK, it's finally here, the long-awaited annual SEC preview. I would put a number in front to say what annual edition this is, but I forgot. I think its the ninth, but who knows. Here we go.
SEC Offensive Player of the Year -- Marcus Lattimore, RB, USC (I would go with Aaron Murray, QB, UGA, but he has no receivers to throw to)
SEC Defensive Player of the Year -- Chris Marve, LB, Vanderbilt
SEC Comeback Player of the Year -- John Brantley, QB, FU
SEC Freshman of the Year -- Keihl Frazier, QB, AU
East Division Champ -- USC
West Division Champ -- LSU
SEC Champ -- LSU
East Division
1) USC (10-2, 6-2) -- The Ol' Ball Coach has that swagger back and finally a South Carolina team to match. Garcia is a mess, as he would rather be at a fraternity house than playing ball, but he is a meathead athlete, so he doesn't know anything else except football. If he can keep his head in the game, he is a good enough QB and will have Spurrier on his butt enough to win some games. It doesn't hurt to have one of the best RBs in the country with Marcus Lattimore, along with one of the best WRs in the country with Alshon Jeffrey. The defense will again be decent. I really like Stephon Gilmore at CB. The schedule sets up nicely, but there will be the inevitable USC brain fart along the way to cost them a game they should win, I think at Miss State on Oct. 15.
2) FU (7-5, 4-4) -- I really like Will Muschamp as a D-Coor, but not sure if he is really head coaching material, plus can anyone of us imagine a former UGA DB coaching at FU? That’s a head scratcher. Anyway, there is enough talent to win, but the problem is two-fold: a new staff is revamping the entire O and D, and there are no true RBs on the roster to run the pro-style offense that Charlie Weis will run. The schedule isn't great either with the four-game stretch in the middle of the season with LSU, uat, AU, and UGA. I really like John Brantley and think he will be a pleasant surprise in Gainesville. If Charlie Weis can turn Brady Quinn into a first-rounder at Notre Dame, he should be able to do something with Brantley.
2) UGA (7-5, 4-4) -- I would have UGA above FU to finish second, but as mush as I think Murray is the best QB in the SEC, he has no receivers to throw to and he has a true freshman starting at TB with no one else behind him. Plus FU still has UGA's number on a fairly consistent basis, save a year here or a year there. I think Todd Grantham is a decent D-Coor, but I am not a huge fan of the pure 3-4 that he likes to play. Mark Richt may be in his last year before he heads up I-85 to Chapel Hill but still has enough talent to make it to a bowl behind the arm of Aaron Murray.
2) Kentucky (7-5, 4-4) -- Morgan Newton returns at QB without having to split time with anyone, and an experienced O-Line will be there to protect him. I think Joker Phillips is a good coach, and now that he is in his second year, he knows his way around. UK is not just a basketball school anymore, and they should make it to yet another bowl again this year. I believe that will be five in a row.
5) Tennessee (5-7, 3-5) -- I wasn't so sure about Derek Dooley when he was hired, and the jury is still out whether he has the genes to be a successful coach in the SEC, but he is headed in the right direction. Bray at QB is good, but still young. Another year of experience, and he will be in the top three or four QBs in the conference. UT is still young everywhere, but the coaching staff is recruiting well. They are still a year away, but I think in the coming years, we will see a revival of the '90s with FU and UT fighting it out for the division.
6) Vanderbilt (5-7, 1-7) -- The out-of-conference schedule will get them close, but that is always Vandy -- close but just short of a bowl. I really like their LB core, especially Marve. He could start on any team in the SEC. Vandy always has good LBs. Smith is their returning QB, but supposedly he is actually in a QB battle... that is not good. New coaching staff, same old Vandy.
West Division
1) LSU (11-1, 7-1) -- I think Craig Kragthorpe will be very good for Jordan Jefferson. He still isn't an SEC QB, but with the talent around him, the gambler Mad Hatter as the coach and a very favorable schedule, LSU has a shot at the national title... with a caveat. If their is a QB battle still in the middle of the season between Jefferson and Mettzenberger, then all bets are off. That aside, I am to the point now that I really like Les Miles. He is still a nut, but I am warming up to his style. He is a player's coach, and shows confidence in his players, whether they actually warrant it or not. The defense is strong and the skill players on offense are strong as well. I don't see this as a dominant SEC team, so I think a loss is very possible, but they are good enough to win, and from there, we all know the SEC is well, the SEC.
2) uat (10-2, 6-2) -- I am not buying into the hype over in turd-town. The defense should be very good again, and that should be good enough for a 10-win season, but who do they have on offense? There are three returning starters on the O-line, so Trent Richardson should be a 1,000-yard back. There is a QB battle between two guys who would have problems starting on most other teams in the SEC. There are no proven receivers, except for Marquis Maze, who is average, and no back-up to Richardson at RB. If they can win all their games 3-0 then it is all good, but their offense will have to show for a few games, and there just isn't enough there.
3) Arkansas (9-3, 6-2) -- Arky had a shot to win the division until the third play of their first scrimmage this past week when their only RB went down with a busted ankle -- probably out for the year. With Bobby P running the team, the O will score, and I like Tyler Wilson, but he will have some growing pains being a first-year starter, especially with no running game. The WR core is by far the best in the country, which will make it tough to double-team any one of them, but as always, you have to be able to run to win in the SEC. I still don't think much of the Arky D, but it doesn't have to be great, or even good -- just average, and they should be that.
4) AU (9-3, 5-3) -- I heard it last year, and I will hear it again this year... HOMER! Well, I think I was pretty spot-on with AU last year, so I'm going higher than the "experts" again this year. I know, no experience, so AU will be lucky to win five games. But as the coach says, "Not so fast my friend." Auburn may not have the experience, but it does have the talent with the last two recruiting classes. The BCS Championship MVP returns for just his sophomore year, with RB 1a, Onterrio McCalleb, back for his junior year. Even with Cammy Cam gone, these two should easily run for more than 2,000 yards. There is a QB battle going on between Jr Barret Trotter, Soph Client Moseley, and TFr Keihl Frazier. Anyone could end up starting, and with Gus Malzahn back as O-Coor, the QB position will not be a concern, contrary to popular belief. The defense is the same with little experience but plenty of talent. This will be a rebuilding year, but 2012 will be big.
5) Miss St (8-4, 4-4) -- If MSU played in the East , I may pick them over USC, but they don't, so I won't. Dan Mullen may be in his last year in Starkvegas, and not because he is going to get fired. He is positioning himself for bigger and better, maybe UGA when Richt heads to UNC (just speculation on my part). Chris Relf at QB is not good at all, but Mullen has made him into a Cam Newton Jr. His size is similar, but his passing and running are not as good, though Relf is good enough to run the Mullen offense. As mentioned, MSU's biggest problem is playing in the best division in the best conference in the country. Think of MSU as FU under Meyer with Tebow running the offense, just with 2-3 star players instead of 4-5 stars.
6) Ole Miss (4-8, 0-8) -- Thankfully Ole Miss has four games out of conference. Houston Dale always seems to turn in a good season when not expected, but not this year. Brandon Bolden returns as the team's lone star at RB. He could start on most teams in the SEC, but he is all they got. Nutt got what he wished for by getting out of Fayettenam, but be careful what you wish for. At least there is The Grove and the hotties in Oxford.
That's all I got for this year. Let the rebuttles begin.
OK, it's finally here, the long-awaited annual SEC preview. I would put a number in front to say what annual edition this is, but I forgot. I think its the ninth, but who knows. Here we go.
SEC Offensive Player of the Year -- Marcus Lattimore, RB, USC (I would go with Aaron Murray, QB, UGA, but he has no receivers to throw to)
SEC Defensive Player of the Year -- Chris Marve, LB, Vanderbilt
SEC Comeback Player of the Year -- John Brantley, QB, FU
SEC Freshman of the Year -- Keihl Frazier, QB, AU
East Division Champ -- USC
West Division Champ -- LSU
SEC Champ -- LSU
East Division
1) USC (10-2, 6-2) -- The Ol' Ball Coach has that swagger back and finally a South Carolina team to match. Garcia is a mess, as he would rather be at a fraternity house than playing ball, but he is a meathead athlete, so he doesn't know anything else except football. If he can keep his head in the game, he is a good enough QB and will have Spurrier on his butt enough to win some games. It doesn't hurt to have one of the best RBs in the country with Marcus Lattimore, along with one of the best WRs in the country with Alshon Jeffrey. The defense will again be decent. I really like Stephon Gilmore at CB. The schedule sets up nicely, but there will be the inevitable USC brain fart along the way to cost them a game they should win, I think at Miss State on Oct. 15.
2) FU (7-5, 4-4) -- I really like Will Muschamp as a D-Coor, but not sure if he is really head coaching material, plus can anyone of us imagine a former UGA DB coaching at FU? That’s a head scratcher. Anyway, there is enough talent to win, but the problem is two-fold: a new staff is revamping the entire O and D, and there are no true RBs on the roster to run the pro-style offense that Charlie Weis will run. The schedule isn't great either with the four-game stretch in the middle of the season with LSU, uat, AU, and UGA. I really like John Brantley and think he will be a pleasant surprise in Gainesville. If Charlie Weis can turn Brady Quinn into a first-rounder at Notre Dame, he should be able to do something with Brantley.
2) UGA (7-5, 4-4) -- I would have UGA above FU to finish second, but as mush as I think Murray is the best QB in the SEC, he has no receivers to throw to and he has a true freshman starting at TB with no one else behind him. Plus FU still has UGA's number on a fairly consistent basis, save a year here or a year there. I think Todd Grantham is a decent D-Coor, but I am not a huge fan of the pure 3-4 that he likes to play. Mark Richt may be in his last year before he heads up I-85 to Chapel Hill but still has enough talent to make it to a bowl behind the arm of Aaron Murray.
2) Kentucky (7-5, 4-4) -- Morgan Newton returns at QB without having to split time with anyone, and an experienced O-Line will be there to protect him. I think Joker Phillips is a good coach, and now that he is in his second year, he knows his way around. UK is not just a basketball school anymore, and they should make it to yet another bowl again this year. I believe that will be five in a row.
5) Tennessee (5-7, 3-5) -- I wasn't so sure about Derek Dooley when he was hired, and the jury is still out whether he has the genes to be a successful coach in the SEC, but he is headed in the right direction. Bray at QB is good, but still young. Another year of experience, and he will be in the top three or four QBs in the conference. UT is still young everywhere, but the coaching staff is recruiting well. They are still a year away, but I think in the coming years, we will see a revival of the '90s with FU and UT fighting it out for the division.
6) Vanderbilt (5-7, 1-7) -- The out-of-conference schedule will get them close, but that is always Vandy -- close but just short of a bowl. I really like their LB core, especially Marve. He could start on any team in the SEC. Vandy always has good LBs. Smith is their returning QB, but supposedly he is actually in a QB battle... that is not good. New coaching staff, same old Vandy.
West Division
1) LSU (11-1, 7-1) -- I think Craig Kragthorpe will be very good for Jordan Jefferson. He still isn't an SEC QB, but with the talent around him, the gambler Mad Hatter as the coach and a very favorable schedule, LSU has a shot at the national title... with a caveat. If their is a QB battle still in the middle of the season between Jefferson and Mettzenberger, then all bets are off. That aside, I am to the point now that I really like Les Miles. He is still a nut, but I am warming up to his style. He is a player's coach, and shows confidence in his players, whether they actually warrant it or not. The defense is strong and the skill players on offense are strong as well. I don't see this as a dominant SEC team, so I think a loss is very possible, but they are good enough to win, and from there, we all know the SEC is well, the SEC.
2) uat (10-2, 6-2) -- I am not buying into the hype over in turd-town. The defense should be very good again, and that should be good enough for a 10-win season, but who do they have on offense? There are three returning starters on the O-line, so Trent Richardson should be a 1,000-yard back. There is a QB battle between two guys who would have problems starting on most other teams in the SEC. There are no proven receivers, except for Marquis Maze, who is average, and no back-up to Richardson at RB. If they can win all their games 3-0 then it is all good, but their offense will have to show for a few games, and there just isn't enough there.
3) Arkansas (9-3, 6-2) -- Arky had a shot to win the division until the third play of their first scrimmage this past week when their only RB went down with a busted ankle -- probably out for the year. With Bobby P running the team, the O will score, and I like Tyler Wilson, but he will have some growing pains being a first-year starter, especially with no running game. The WR core is by far the best in the country, which will make it tough to double-team any one of them, but as always, you have to be able to run to win in the SEC. I still don't think much of the Arky D, but it doesn't have to be great, or even good -- just average, and they should be that.
4) AU (9-3, 5-3) -- I heard it last year, and I will hear it again this year... HOMER! Well, I think I was pretty spot-on with AU last year, so I'm going higher than the "experts" again this year. I know, no experience, so AU will be lucky to win five games. But as the coach says, "Not so fast my friend." Auburn may not have the experience, but it does have the talent with the last two recruiting classes. The BCS Championship MVP returns for just his sophomore year, with RB 1a, Onterrio McCalleb, back for his junior year. Even with Cammy Cam gone, these two should easily run for more than 2,000 yards. There is a QB battle going on between Jr Barret Trotter, Soph Client Moseley, and TFr Keihl Frazier. Anyone could end up starting, and with Gus Malzahn back as O-Coor, the QB position will not be a concern, contrary to popular belief. The defense is the same with little experience but plenty of talent. This will be a rebuilding year, but 2012 will be big.
5) Miss St (8-4, 4-4) -- If MSU played in the East , I may pick them over USC, but they don't, so I won't. Dan Mullen may be in his last year in Starkvegas, and not because he is going to get fired. He is positioning himself for bigger and better, maybe UGA when Richt heads to UNC (just speculation on my part). Chris Relf at QB is not good at all, but Mullen has made him into a Cam Newton Jr. His size is similar, but his passing and running are not as good, though Relf is good enough to run the Mullen offense. As mentioned, MSU's biggest problem is playing in the best division in the best conference in the country. Think of MSU as FU under Meyer with Tebow running the offense, just with 2-3 star players instead of 4-5 stars.
6) Ole Miss (4-8, 0-8) -- Thankfully Ole Miss has four games out of conference. Houston Dale always seems to turn in a good season when not expected, but not this year. Brandon Bolden returns as the team's lone star at RB. He could start on most teams in the SEC, but he is all they got. Nutt got what he wished for by getting out of Fayettenam, but be careful what you wish for. At least there is The Grove and the hotties in Oxford.
That's all I got for this year. Let the rebuttles begin.
Monday, August 15, 2011
NCAA looking into booster's claims that Miami players took cash
Article from cbssports.com...
The NCAA has launched an investigation into the University of Miami's athletic department involving a potentially damaging extra benefits case, two sources confirmed to CBSSports.com.
InsideTheU.com first reported the news.
A source confirmed that the focus of the investigation stems from claims made by Nevin Shapiro, a Miami booster who has been convicted of running a multimillion dollar Ponzi scheme. He is working on a tell-all book about the claims, which is expected to name nearly 100 athletes at the school who broke NCAA rules since 2001. Shapiro donated $150,000 to the athletic department and was a frequent guest on the sidelines at Hurricanes practices and games.
Palm Beach Post beat writer Jorge Milian reported Sunday night that Shapiro would also be the focus of a damaging story from Yahoo! Sports.
One source said Miami was "in big trouble" as a result of the claims and that Shapiro would be able to back up his allegations. Most of the allegations focus on Miami football players receiving money and other benefits as a result of playing for the Hurricanes. Investigators are expected to question several current players with ties to Shapiro but one source said there was no connection between the current coaching staff and the booster.
The NCAA has been active in South Florida over the past several months, sending investigators to various 7-on-7 camps and making connections with parents and coaches. One source added that the secondary focus of the look was on the recruiting methods of at least three SEC schools and a number of ACC schools in the area. It is unclear whether the two probes are connected but one person told CBSSports.com that the NCAA will be questioning several people connected to the Miami players, such as coaches and other "third parties" connected to them.
Though several have called Shapiro's information into question, two sources told CBSSports.com that the NCAA is taking the claims seriously and investigators have used information from convicted felons in the past.
The NCAA does have a four-year statute of limitations. Miami was hit with major sanctions in 1995 as a result of a lack of institutional control stemming from a financial aid and extra benefits scandal.
The NCAA has launched an investigation into the University of Miami's athletic department involving a potentially damaging extra benefits case, two sources confirmed to CBSSports.com.
InsideTheU.com first reported the news.
A source confirmed that the focus of the investigation stems from claims made by Nevin Shapiro, a Miami booster who has been convicted of running a multimillion dollar Ponzi scheme. He is working on a tell-all book about the claims, which is expected to name nearly 100 athletes at the school who broke NCAA rules since 2001. Shapiro donated $150,000 to the athletic department and was a frequent guest on the sidelines at Hurricanes practices and games.
Palm Beach Post beat writer Jorge Milian reported Sunday night that Shapiro would also be the focus of a damaging story from Yahoo! Sports.
One source said Miami was "in big trouble" as a result of the claims and that Shapiro would be able to back up his allegations. Most of the allegations focus on Miami football players receiving money and other benefits as a result of playing for the Hurricanes. Investigators are expected to question several current players with ties to Shapiro but one source said there was no connection between the current coaching staff and the booster.
The NCAA has been active in South Florida over the past several months, sending investigators to various 7-on-7 camps and making connections with parents and coaches. One source added that the secondary focus of the look was on the recruiting methods of at least three SEC schools and a number of ACC schools in the area. It is unclear whether the two probes are connected but one person told CBSSports.com that the NCAA will be questioning several people connected to the Miami players, such as coaches and other "third parties" connected to them.
Though several have called Shapiro's information into question, two sources told CBSSports.com that the NCAA is taking the claims seriously and investigators have used information from convicted felons in the past.
The NCAA does have a four-year statute of limitations. Miami was hit with major sanctions in 1995 as a result of a lack of institutional control stemming from a financial aid and extra benefits scandal.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)