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 And, what an insult to America, the John Hancock Bowl, named after one of this country's greatest patriots has been replaced by the Brut Bowl!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
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