Never before have so many people asked me what the five games are in the days leading up to Week 1 or seriously told me they are going to win the pool this year. This is probably the best group ever in a pool filled with interesting people, or as one entrant (one of Ramon's teammates on the famed '82 Wabbits dynasty) called the list of invitees, "a 'who's who' of bankers, doctors, lawyers, lawn guys, bond guys, car guys, pilots, priests, principals, builders, bums, nomads, and more." I'll add reporters, teachers, architects, engineers, health-care peeps, ad wizards, photographers, students, cartoon-voice actors, playground kings, and chicken pluckers. And we've got fans of a long list of colleges from across the country, so between the contest of picking the games and the actual games on the field, this should be an interesting competition.
Now for the games. We've got two with bad blood lingering from close contests last year (what is the Big East game of the year doing in Week 1?) plus two other big-time interconference match-ups. And you know the pool wouldn't be complete without an unpredictable ACC game to close out the first week.
Remember, all correct picks are worth two points unless otherwise noted, you are picking the games straight up without regard to the spread, and the home team is always listed last unless the game is on a neutral field like the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. So for $800 and the Ramon Escobar Trophy, soon to be the pride of your home or office, select your winners and e-mail them back to me by 8 p.m. Thursday. (If for some reason you don't get to the Thursday game in time, you can still send in your picks for the rest.)
Thursday Night Throwdown
Oregon - Boise State
9:15 p.m., Thursday, ESPN
Line: Boise State by 4
Georgia - Oklahoma State
2:30 p.m., Saturday, ABC
Line: Oklahoma State by 5
* Underdog worth three points
Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game
Alabama - Virginia Tech
7 p.m., Saturday, ABC
Line: Alabama by 7
* Underdog worth three points
Cincinnati - Rutgers
3 p.m., Monday, ESPN
Line: Rutgers by 5
* Underdog worth three points
The Florida Cup Series
Miami - Florida State
7 p.m., Monday, ESPN
Line: Florida State by 5
* Underdog worth three points
Good luck.
*****#*****
And my non-pool upset special: Take Louisiana Tech and the points against Auburn.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Auburn is in "Dyer" need
Auburn fans have made an appearance at the high school kickoff classic in Little Rock on Tuesday night.
Two Auburn fans sported a sign that said "Auburn is in Dyer need"
Elementary school students from Oak Grove (I think) were booing the Auburn fans.
Good times.
This followed a report on the local Fox affiliate that said Dyer had committed to Auburn. Dyer had actually said his No. 1 choice of his top three schools was Auburn, but his top three were still Auburn, Arkansas and Tennessee.
It caused a bit of a panic in the press box as the recruiting guys went into a tizzy.
Best line, "you don't want to be first, you want to be accurate."
Best guess is that Dyer will land at Auburn. Tennessee has Bryce Brown, the No. 1 player of last year's class at running back and Petrino is too proud to kowtow to a high school kid.
Plus it is in Petrino's best interest for Dyer to go to Auburn so when he leaves Fayetteville for the plains in three years, Dyer will be in Petrino's backfield for the Tigers.
Two Auburn fans sported a sign that said "Auburn is in Dyer need"
Elementary school students from Oak Grove (I think) were booing the Auburn fans.
Good times.
This followed a report on the local Fox affiliate that said Dyer had committed to Auburn. Dyer had actually said his No. 1 choice of his top three schools was Auburn, but his top three were still Auburn, Arkansas and Tennessee.
It caused a bit of a panic in the press box as the recruiting guys went into a tizzy.
Best line, "you don't want to be first, you want to be accurate."
Best guess is that Dyer will land at Auburn. Tennessee has Bryce Brown, the No. 1 player of last year's class at running back and Petrino is too proud to kowtow to a high school kid.
Plus it is in Petrino's best interest for Dyer to go to Auburn so when he leaves Fayetteville for the plains in three years, Dyer will be in Petrino's backfield for the Tigers.
Recession Effects on Sports
A lot of people are making cuts in their budgets. It even has an effect on
tailgating. At WMS, the eighteenth green has all reserved spots.
As of last week, there were several still available. Several people have
cut the $150 reserved spot from their budgets. I know someone who
has a reserved spot and bought up both of the spots next to him.
After hearing that, I wonder if people are also cutting season ticket
packages. Either by cutting altogether or buying one game at a time.
We'll see how it all shakes out in the end.
tailgating. At WMS, the eighteenth green has all reserved spots.
As of last week, there were several still available. Several people have
cut the $150 reserved spot from their budgets. I know someone who
has a reserved spot and bought up both of the spots next to him.
After hearing that, I wonder if people are also cutting season ticket
packages. Either by cutting altogether or buying one game at a time.
We'll see how it all shakes out in the end.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Set the DVR
SI's Richard Deitsch tweets Erin Andrews will be on Oprah to talk about the peephole video.
On 9/11.
Because there's no better way to remember the victims of that day?
http://twitter.com/richarddeitsch/status/3672655205
On 9/11.
Because there's no better way to remember the victims of that day?
http://twitter.com/richarddeitsch/status/3672655205
Faldon: What's your number?
6-6? 7-5? 8-4?
Here's the prediction of some dead-tree media person in Fort Smith ... What's Your Number?
Here's the prediction of some dead-tree media person in Fort Smith ... What's Your Number?
Going behind the tarp
for a Razorback practice report
From a Razorback insider...
I talked to a friend last night at church who was at the dress rehearsal the Hogs held the other night. Part of the reason for this is making sure the players knew when they were supposed to be on the field and what happens if an injury occurs (this fellow made the comment that faked a couple of injuries and woe to the substitute that wasn’t ready when his name was called and they had to use a time out t get the sub on the field.) They also worked extensively on signally plays in and under the time limit. Petrino hates blowing timeouts.
During the practices I saw Coach P had no qualms about making a team get back in the huddle and do it again. This happened a lot to Tyler Wilson and at the time I didn’t understand the reason for it (I thought lack of hustle), but having heard Tyler has had problems reading the sideline signals this now makes sense. He would come out and they would lineup in the wrong formation and of course Coach P noticed this immediately.
According to my friend, the first team offense went against the second team defense and the defense won the day. My friend said the defense just seemed more up for it and they were flying around to the ball. Maybe the defensive shakeups we heard about earlier this week has provided a little motivation for both starters and second teamers alike.
Anyway according to my friend, the 2nd team D stalled a number of the drives and if it wasn’t for the coaches intervening and allowing the offense a second chance their would have been lots of punts. It appeared that Mallett wasn’t sharp at all and missed on a lot of throws and most of them tended to be behind the receivers.
He mentioned that Reggie Fish dropped three passes that should have been caught, but all three were behind him. He also missed several wide open receivers. Broderick “Crawford” Green was given lots of work and appears to be the one the coaches will go to 3rd and 1 and goal line plays. However, my friend said the same thing that Jerry and I saw during the spring and in fall ball that although Broderick doesn’t dance at the hole he doesn’t just lower his shoulder plow over people either.
I talked to a friend last night at church who was at the dress rehearsal the Hogs held the other night. Part of the reason for this is making sure the players knew when they were supposed to be on the field and what happens if an injury occurs (this fellow made the comment that faked a couple of injuries and woe to the substitute that wasn’t ready when his name was called and they had to use a time out t get the sub on the field.) They also worked extensively on signally plays in and under the time limit. Petrino hates blowing timeouts.
During the practices I saw Coach P had no qualms about making a team get back in the huddle and do it again. This happened a lot to Tyler Wilson and at the time I didn’t understand the reason for it (I thought lack of hustle), but having heard Tyler has had problems reading the sideline signals this now makes sense. He would come out and they would lineup in the wrong formation and of course Coach P noticed this immediately.
According to my friend, the first team offense went against the second team defense and the defense won the day. My friend said the defense just seemed more up for it and they were flying around to the ball. Maybe the defensive shakeups we heard about earlier this week has provided a little motivation for both starters and second teamers alike.
Anyway according to my friend, the 2nd team D stalled a number of the drives and if it wasn’t for the coaches intervening and allowing the offense a second chance their would have been lots of punts. It appeared that Mallett wasn’t sharp at all and missed on a lot of throws and most of them tended to be behind the receivers.
He mentioned that Reggie Fish dropped three passes that should have been caught, but all three were behind him. He also missed several wide open receivers. Broderick “Crawford” Green was given lots of work and appears to be the one the coaches will go to 3rd and 1 and goal line plays. However, my friend said the same thing that Jerry and I saw during the spring and in fall ball that although Broderick doesn’t dance at the hole he doesn’t just lower his shoulder plow over people either.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Letters to Ramon: Saturday edition
Dear Sirs
Thank you for your interest in the Danger Bros.
Unfortunately the Danger Bros can not participate in your American football game pool league. They are currently working on a live action television mini-series based on the novella "The Danger Bros: Adventures at 55 MPH." Dust off your funny bone and get ready to laugh, love, and cry at 55 MPH with the Johnny Speed and Jack Turbo!
Regards,
Richard McGraw
Agent and Manager for the Danger Bros
Thank you for your interest in the Danger Bros.
Unfortunately the Danger Bros can not participate in your American football game pool league. They are currently working on a live action television mini-series based on the novella "The Danger Bros: Adventures at 55 MPH." Dust off your funny bone and get ready to laugh, love, and cry at 55 MPH with the Johnny Speed and Jack Turbo!
Regards,
Richard McGraw
Agent and Manager for the Danger Bros
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
The truth about College Colors Day
You may have heard of the marketing ploy called College Colors Day, an attempt by the Collegiate Licensing Company to get people to buy T-shirts and various other pieces of apparel to wear on Friday, September 4.
Hey, I'm all for this idea and for people wearing college football stuff on the Friday before kickoff weekend, but please Collegiate Licensing Company, don't try to tell us the reason for this day is the line below that you put on your web site.
College Colors Day strives to promote higher education in the United States through increased public awareness and celebrates the achievements of colleges and universities, acknowledging their critical and fundamental importance.
The goal is to promote higher education? Try higher sales from any store selling licensed collegiate apparel.
Hey, I'm all for this idea and for people wearing college football stuff on the Friday before kickoff weekend, but please Collegiate Licensing Company, don't try to tell us the reason for this day is the line below that you put on your web site.
College Colors Day strives to promote higher education in the United States through increased public awareness and celebrates the achievements of colleges and universities, acknowledging their critical and fundamental importance.
The goal is to promote higher education? Try higher sales from any store selling licensed collegiate apparel.
Letters to Ramon: Monday edition
"You got the Auburn and LSU traditions backwards. It's Auburn that likes to eat corndogs. That's how the septic tanks fill up so fast. New this year @ Jordan Pubic Hair stadium, the Poop Deck has been added. The way Auburn's season is predicted, fans will be hanging out in their stalls the entire time." -- Booty D
"This year there won’t be a Utah beating Alabama that keeps me from claiming the top stop. How the hell does Utah beat Alabama -- the rolling tide from the mighty SEC, the most powerful conference in the history of college football?" -- Sal C
"This year there won’t be a Utah beating Alabama that keeps me from claiming the top stop. How the hell does Utah beat Alabama -- the rolling tide from the mighty SEC, the most powerful conference in the history of college football?" -- Sal C
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