ACC Football: Coastal Division Warzone
Of the two divisions of the ACC, the most interesting seems to be the Coastal Division. We talked before about how the ACC had lost a lot of respect last year because none of the 12 teams finished in the top 10. It even sparked some to say that maybe the ACC does not deserve a BCS bid, and should rather give it to Boise State…
Huh? Boise State beat how many quality teams last year?
But this year things look a little different. With early surprises and a handful of teams in the top 25, the ACC looks as competitive as it did last year, but with even more punch.
If you missed the blog I wrote on the Atlantic Division of the ACC, and their rank, check that out. We wanted to take a look at this football conference and see their current rank and file, as of three weeks into the 2009 season. The actual rankings look this way:
General: Miami Hurricanes
Captain: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Lieutenant: North Carolina Tarheels
Sergeant: Virginia Tech Hokies
Corporal: Duke Blue Devils
Buck Private: Virginia Cavaliers
Remember that these are only based after 3 weeks, since 4 of the 6 teams have yet to play a conference or division game. Of course Miami leads the division because not only have they won 2 games, they won two CONFERENCE games. Georgia Tech is second because they won and lost a conference game, one against Miami. The remaining four teams are listed with the Tarheels third because they are 3-0, and Virginia Tech is 2-1 overall. Duke is 1-2 and at dead last is Virginia, at 0-3.
But is this the TRUE rank and file? Let’s take a closer look and see:
Miami: Good times are a plenty in Miami, not only as the state (and the eastern coast) survived hurricane season with no threats in the least, the sports-type Hurricanes are enjoying a very good start. A team that was 7-6 last year has surprised everybody with a 2-0 start, including wins over a ranked Florida State and a ranked Georgia Tech. There is no question that as of this moment, they are doing very well. A HUGE game against Virginia Tech will determine if this will be a solid top 10 squad, or one just passing by. Some question if this is a really for real top ten team, and this weekend will prove many things. Mind you, last year Miami beat VA Tech by 2 points… it could be just as close.
Georgia Tech: This 9-4 team bothers me, in that the style of play that worked last year could quickly be as outdated at bell-bottomed pants and fly-collars. This option style almost cost them the game against Clemson, and surely cost them against Miami. If people figure out this style, it may well be easy to counter, forcing the Yellow Jackets to do what they could not do…pass. We’re just not too confident that the option will work in the BCS conference.
North Carolina: The only 3-0 team in the ACC and one more win from making a solid impact on the top 25. Beating Citadel means nothing, beating Big East foe Connecticut on the road is worthy, and beating ECU is even a little better. Lots of people see the Tarheels as a mid-card team, and not much is going to change it this year, but if UNC can beat Georgia Tech, then they could possibly be the third best team in the division…maybe
Virginia Tech: Hmmm, this team is ranked and plays top ten foe Miami this weekend. Losing to Alabama is their only blemish, but much is expected from this team that was 10-4 last year. An embarrassing loss to ECU, back to back road losses to Boston College and Florida State, and a road loss to Miami means they don’t like leaving home, but a home game vs. Miami might fix all that ails them. IF Virginia Tech beats Miami, it is not out of the realms of possibility for them to run the table…you were warned…
Duke: Ugh…do we have to? Oh well. Four wins last year had some people thinking they can win 8 this year…not sure on who does the math at Duke. However, a good win over Navy at home and a narrow win at Vanderbilt is worth something. If they don’t beat NC Central by at least 30 points, then shame on them…it may well be the best win of the year for them. Live it up now Blue Devils, the post season comes not for thee.
Virginia: This is an embarrassing spot for a once proud football team. Currently the ONLY winless team in the ACC, there may still be hope for Virginia. I mean, they did win one game more than Duke. Mind you, they did beat ECU, UNC and Georgia Tech, so there is still some talent there, but they better manifest it soon, or they will be mopping the halls long after chowtime is done. Such is the fate for Buck Privates.
So having looked at these teams, we think the true order, the true rank and file of the Coastal Division goes like this:
General: Virginia Tech Hokies
Captain: Miami Hurricanes
Lieutenant: North Carolina Tarheels
Sergeant: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Corporal: Virginia Cavaliers
Buck Private: Duke Blue Devils
With several key games this weekend in the ACC, it will be interesting to see top ranked foes Miami and Virginia Tech will fare. With a week off, Virginia needs to find someway to play this game they call football. UNC will see if they can figure out the code to cracking the played out style called Triple Option and Duke plays a so called Gridiron Classic, with nothing classic about it.
We shall see who really runs the ACC…time will tell…..
Friday, September 25, 2009
ACC Football: Atlantic Division Warzone
ACC Football: Atlantic Warzone
(just trying to have a little fun here folks)
Last year the ACC was heavily criticized as being a weak conference, some felt that teams like Boise State were better than any team in either the ACC or Big East…I strongly disagree. While the ACC has had better years, every year has been a war from start to finish…
And before I continue, I don’t wanna hear no self-righteous yap about being sensitive to war terms…I am greatly proud of all our troops, but almost every term used in the sport of football comes from the aggressive terms used in the military…so don’t take it so personal…it’s just a game!
Anyway…..
With the ACC being as competitive as it was last year, we see that all 12 teams dive into the season with hopes of making it to that ACC Championship game, and also that next step to a BCS bowl. But who stands the best chances of getting there? Let’s look at the Atlantic Division of the ACC and see the rank and file of these ACC members:
In alphabetical order, you have Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina State and Wake Forest. But three games into the college football season, the order is a little different.
According to the standings, Clemson actually sits on top because as of this moment, they are the ONLY team in the Atlantic Division with a division win, that being over Boston College, although it is matched with a loss from Georgia Tech. You technically have a three way tie for second because NC State, Wake Forest and Maryland are all 0-0. At the bottom you have a tie because both Boston College and Florida State have a conference loss. So one could put the actual rank and file as such:
General: Clemson Tigers
Captain: North Carolina State Wolfpack
Lieutenant: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Sergeant: Maryland Terrapins
Corporal: Boston College Eagles
Buck Private: Florida State Seminoles
But appearances can be deceiving, can’t they?
Each team will all face one another to truly determine who is the leader, and who will be mopping the floors at the end of the day. Let’s take a closer look at each team and see where they might TRULY end up:
Clemson: A win over Boston College makes them the (temporary) undisputed leader with a division win, which means more than a conference win. Putting Boston College in their place gives the Tigers a leg up on everybody else, but as we noted, this is only temporary. This 7-6 team last year wasn’t much on leading, as they were a highly ranked team at the beginning of last year, only to lose rank in record fashion. They beat 2 of the 5 division foes last year, and it seems that they might be a little better this year. Could Florida State be the only thing standing in their way for Atlantic Division domination?
NC State: The reason why they are listed above Wake Forest and Maryland is because alphabetically they come before Wake Forest, and Maryland is currently 1-2. With cheap wins against less than stellar foes, the jury is still out on this team that went 6-7 last year. Wake Forest was the only divisional foe they beat least year, and it was a home game, winning only by 4. With away games at Wake Forest, Boston College and Florida State, we can’t see the Wolfpack commanding too many troops here.
Wake Forest: This 8-5 team has only lost one game so far this year, but there are still many questions about the lack of scoring that they had last year. Yes they got the ball in the end zone, but averaging about 21 a game makes it too close for comfort. Beating Florida State AND Clemson was great, losing in a shutout to Maryland, then losing to NC State and Boston College makes them average. They need this win over Boston College to validate some authority, else it will be a long season.
Maryland: How many stripes are really on the arm of this team. Lose to Middle Tennessee, beat California. Get shut out by Virginia, then shuts out Wake Forest. If we don’t know what this team is about, it is best to keep them right in the middle of the pack, but at 1-2 they are already behind the ball, and it does not look like they will show us anything to change our mind. Average at best, possibly lower.
Boston College: The loss to Clemson was an odd one, with the weather playing such a significant factor, but a loss is still a loss. Few wonder how legit the team really is, after all, there is no quality wins at the moment. A lot of work to be done for a team that was 9-5 last year. Only Clemson bested them last year out of the division, but BC had 7 games that were within a possession of winning…or losing. It might appear that the glory days of the Eagles might be slipping… and the rank possibly justified.
Florida State: Odd how the tail is actually the head, how a Buck Private is actually the leader of a division. Florida State lost to Miami, but crushed a top 25 foe in BYU on the road to solidify (for now) a top 25 ranking. With 3 division games on the road, this might be a sign. A respectable 9-4 last year, it is still underachieving for the former Commander-In-Chief of the ACC. Those days of absolute rule are long gone, but remember that two of their losses last year came from this very division…and we are still scratching our heads about that Jacksonville State game…
So having looked at the facts, we might change up the rank and file of the ACC to read this way, as it may well look at the end of the year:
General: Florida State Seminoles
Captain: Clemson Tigers
Lieutenant: North Carolina State Wolfpack
Sergeant: Boston College Eagles
Corporal: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Buck Private: Maryland
We shall learn much more after this weekend, with Boston College hosting Wake Forest… time will tell all….
(just trying to have a little fun here folks)
Last year the ACC was heavily criticized as being a weak conference, some felt that teams like Boise State were better than any team in either the ACC or Big East…I strongly disagree. While the ACC has had better years, every year has been a war from start to finish…
And before I continue, I don’t wanna hear no self-righteous yap about being sensitive to war terms…I am greatly proud of all our troops, but almost every term used in the sport of football comes from the aggressive terms used in the military…so don’t take it so personal…it’s just a game!
Anyway…..
With the ACC being as competitive as it was last year, we see that all 12 teams dive into the season with hopes of making it to that ACC Championship game, and also that next step to a BCS bowl. But who stands the best chances of getting there? Let’s look at the Atlantic Division of the ACC and see the rank and file of these ACC members:
In alphabetical order, you have Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina State and Wake Forest. But three games into the college football season, the order is a little different.
According to the standings, Clemson actually sits on top because as of this moment, they are the ONLY team in the Atlantic Division with a division win, that being over Boston College, although it is matched with a loss from Georgia Tech. You technically have a three way tie for second because NC State, Wake Forest and Maryland are all 0-0. At the bottom you have a tie because both Boston College and Florida State have a conference loss. So one could put the actual rank and file as such:
General: Clemson Tigers
Captain: North Carolina State Wolfpack
Lieutenant: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Sergeant: Maryland Terrapins
Corporal: Boston College Eagles
Buck Private: Florida State Seminoles
But appearances can be deceiving, can’t they?
Each team will all face one another to truly determine who is the leader, and who will be mopping the floors at the end of the day. Let’s take a closer look at each team and see where they might TRULY end up:
Clemson: A win over Boston College makes them the (temporary) undisputed leader with a division win, which means more than a conference win. Putting Boston College in their place gives the Tigers a leg up on everybody else, but as we noted, this is only temporary. This 7-6 team last year wasn’t much on leading, as they were a highly ranked team at the beginning of last year, only to lose rank in record fashion. They beat 2 of the 5 division foes last year, and it seems that they might be a little better this year. Could Florida State be the only thing standing in their way for Atlantic Division domination?
NC State: The reason why they are listed above Wake Forest and Maryland is because alphabetically they come before Wake Forest, and Maryland is currently 1-2. With cheap wins against less than stellar foes, the jury is still out on this team that went 6-7 last year. Wake Forest was the only divisional foe they beat least year, and it was a home game, winning only by 4. With away games at Wake Forest, Boston College and Florida State, we can’t see the Wolfpack commanding too many troops here.
Wake Forest: This 8-5 team has only lost one game so far this year, but there are still many questions about the lack of scoring that they had last year. Yes they got the ball in the end zone, but averaging about 21 a game makes it too close for comfort. Beating Florida State AND Clemson was great, losing in a shutout to Maryland, then losing to NC State and Boston College makes them average. They need this win over Boston College to validate some authority, else it will be a long season.
Maryland: How many stripes are really on the arm of this team. Lose to Middle Tennessee, beat California. Get shut out by Virginia, then shuts out Wake Forest. If we don’t know what this team is about, it is best to keep them right in the middle of the pack, but at 1-2 they are already behind the ball, and it does not look like they will show us anything to change our mind. Average at best, possibly lower.
Boston College: The loss to Clemson was an odd one, with the weather playing such a significant factor, but a loss is still a loss. Few wonder how legit the team really is, after all, there is no quality wins at the moment. A lot of work to be done for a team that was 9-5 last year. Only Clemson bested them last year out of the division, but BC had 7 games that were within a possession of winning…or losing. It might appear that the glory days of the Eagles might be slipping… and the rank possibly justified.
Florida State: Odd how the tail is actually the head, how a Buck Private is actually the leader of a division. Florida State lost to Miami, but crushed a top 25 foe in BYU on the road to solidify (for now) a top 25 ranking. With 3 division games on the road, this might be a sign. A respectable 9-4 last year, it is still underachieving for the former Commander-In-Chief of the ACC. Those days of absolute rule are long gone, but remember that two of their losses last year came from this very division…and we are still scratching our heads about that Jacksonville State game…
So having looked at the facts, we might change up the rank and file of the ACC to read this way, as it may well look at the end of the year:
General: Florida State Seminoles
Captain: Clemson Tigers
Lieutenant: North Carolina State Wolfpack
Sergeant: Boston College Eagles
Corporal: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Buck Private: Maryland
We shall learn much more after this weekend, with Boston College hosting Wake Forest… time will tell all….
Iowa vs Penn State 2009
Iowa vs. Penn State
I have nothing against Iowa, I am sure they are a pretty good team, but I have a place in my heart for Joe Paterno.
I say that because years ago I wrote to Penn State for a media guide and I received one from them, to which I was most grateful. I also wrote a letter to Joe Paterno a few years ago and he actually answered it. It takes a nice man to take the time to answer a fan’s mail…not EMAIL, but land mail.
So you better believe I pull for Penn State when I can. But I also know that this game against Iowa is critical, because one loss can possibly knock you out for a shot at the BCS Championship. I have nothing negative to say about Iowa, so there are no hard feelings for them, but having said all that, let’s look at this matchup:
Iowa is one of those mid card teams that can have a banner year at any time. Last year they went 9-4, which in itself is great, but there are head scratchers to the teams they lost to. Losing by one point to Pittsburgh on the road is something you can live with, because Pittsburgh is a pretty good team.
Losing to Northwestern at home 22-17 is kinda iffy, I mean, Northwestern is not a long-time power in the Big 10. Losing to Michigan State 16-13 seems to set the table that this Hawkeye team plays to the competition. Losing to Illinois on the road seemed to clinch that thought.
Some might say the only credible win was against Penn State, winning 24-23 at home…sets the stage for this weekend. And losing an excellent rusher and some receivers makes this Iowa team touchable to the team the barely beat last year.
Penn State last year enjoyed huge success with an 11-2 record. As mentioned before, they lost to Iowa on the road, and lost to Southern Cal 38-24 in their final game of the year. Not bad, when you sprinkle good wins over Oregon State, Ohio State and Michigan State. We know that key elements in the offense are still there, and Penn State seems quite equal on the passing and the rushing…it will be hard to figure them out.
But maybe the biggest problem for the Nittany Lions is the hype the media puts around them. Being ranked in the top 5 now, is it possible for Penn State go to perfect? It would mean besting Iowa, a constant thorn in their side, and beating Ohio State, but it certainly is possible.
Both teams come in 3-0, with Iowa having wins over Northern Iowa by one point (errr?), Iowa State big, and Arizona by 10. Close games at home, great game away. Penn State has 3 of a 4 game home stand, beating Akron, Syracuse and Temple. To be sure, none of these teams will be crashing the gates of the BCS, but Penn State allowed only 6.5 points a game…that spells very tough defense, while averaging 30 points a game.
If there was a top 30, Iowa would not be on one poll, and barely clinging to the other. This tells me that even at 3-0, voters are not that impressed with the Hawkeyes, even though they beat Penn State last year. But with the Nittany Lions home, can the Hawkeyes repeat the performance of last year?
My heart tells me to go with Penn State, but logic says the same thing. I will admit though, I don’t think Penn State has been properly tested yet. I mean, Akron, Syracuse and Temple were 13-23 last year combined. This year they are currently 2-6...ugh.
We’ll learn much more about Penn State and their chances to play in the BCS Championship after this win, one they simply must have. To them, a loss here ruins the season…at the hands of a familiar foe.
But I see Penn State winning this handily, by 10 points, although that may still be too close for comfort. But we shall see…….
I have nothing against Iowa, I am sure they are a pretty good team, but I have a place in my heart for Joe Paterno.
I say that because years ago I wrote to Penn State for a media guide and I received one from them, to which I was most grateful. I also wrote a letter to Joe Paterno a few years ago and he actually answered it. It takes a nice man to take the time to answer a fan’s mail…not EMAIL, but land mail.
So you better believe I pull for Penn State when I can. But I also know that this game against Iowa is critical, because one loss can possibly knock you out for a shot at the BCS Championship. I have nothing negative to say about Iowa, so there are no hard feelings for them, but having said all that, let’s look at this matchup:
Iowa is one of those mid card teams that can have a banner year at any time. Last year they went 9-4, which in itself is great, but there are head scratchers to the teams they lost to. Losing by one point to Pittsburgh on the road is something you can live with, because Pittsburgh is a pretty good team.
Losing to Northwestern at home 22-17 is kinda iffy, I mean, Northwestern is not a long-time power in the Big 10. Losing to Michigan State 16-13 seems to set the table that this Hawkeye team plays to the competition. Losing to Illinois on the road seemed to clinch that thought.
Some might say the only credible win was against Penn State, winning 24-23 at home…sets the stage for this weekend. And losing an excellent rusher and some receivers makes this Iowa team touchable to the team the barely beat last year.
Penn State last year enjoyed huge success with an 11-2 record. As mentioned before, they lost to Iowa on the road, and lost to Southern Cal 38-24 in their final game of the year. Not bad, when you sprinkle good wins over Oregon State, Ohio State and Michigan State. We know that key elements in the offense are still there, and Penn State seems quite equal on the passing and the rushing…it will be hard to figure them out.
But maybe the biggest problem for the Nittany Lions is the hype the media puts around them. Being ranked in the top 5 now, is it possible for Penn State go to perfect? It would mean besting Iowa, a constant thorn in their side, and beating Ohio State, but it certainly is possible.
Both teams come in 3-0, with Iowa having wins over Northern Iowa by one point (errr?), Iowa State big, and Arizona by 10. Close games at home, great game away. Penn State has 3 of a 4 game home stand, beating Akron, Syracuse and Temple. To be sure, none of these teams will be crashing the gates of the BCS, but Penn State allowed only 6.5 points a game…that spells very tough defense, while averaging 30 points a game.
If there was a top 30, Iowa would not be on one poll, and barely clinging to the other. This tells me that even at 3-0, voters are not that impressed with the Hawkeyes, even though they beat Penn State last year. But with the Nittany Lions home, can the Hawkeyes repeat the performance of last year?
My heart tells me to go with Penn State, but logic says the same thing. I will admit though, I don’t think Penn State has been properly tested yet. I mean, Akron, Syracuse and Temple were 13-23 last year combined. This year they are currently 2-6...ugh.
We’ll learn much more about Penn State and their chances to play in the BCS Championship after this win, one they simply must have. To them, a loss here ruins the season…at the hands of a familiar foe.
But I see Penn State winning this handily, by 10 points, although that may still be too close for comfort. But we shall see…….
South Florida vs Florida State 2009
South Florida vs. Florida State
Florida State is currently ranked #18 in the polls, after a thrashing they put on BYU (which surprised me as well as many others). It is possible that the ACC made a statement that they are as competitive as the other conferences by beating a top 25 team handily in their own house?
Now they have to do it again, under much more local confines. The ACC’s Florida State will host South Florida in a big time game for both sides. This is a game that Florida State simply cannot lose, if they are to retain credibility for their top 25 ranking. With teams slipping and sliding every week, the opportunistic team can easily find themselves in the top 10 in a few weeks…case in point, Mississippi.
But to stay there, they must win and not lose to an unranked opponent…case in point, Mississippi.
But the Big East has a point to prove too, and they need South Florida to make that for them. About 27 undefeated teams remain in the FBS, three of them come from this very conference. South Florida has shown signs of brilliance the last few years, only to buckle under the pressure once they were ranked high in the standings.
There is a LOT of credibility on the line here, for the ACC and the Big East…who wins this matchup in the Sunshine State? Let’s look at it:
South Florida is currently 3-0, and not ranked at the moment. Sure, the Bulls have scored about 134 points in three games, which averages to over 40 a game, but who have they beaten? Wofford? Western Kentucky? Charleston Southern?
Again, only 27 teams remain undefeated, and you’re not on the top 25? Very soft schedule folks.
Mind you, this team started out 5-0 last year and was the apple of many eyes, beating teams like Kansas and NC State. But it preceded a 1-4 record once they hit the Big East schedule before beating UCONN, losing to West Virginia and winning the bowl game against Memphis.
I think with a returning good quarterback and an excellent defensive power, this is still a good team, they can win decent games so these are not your mother’s cupcakes, but the last couple of years just seem to show that they are mid-card teams, destined to hover around greatness, but never obtaining it.
But if there is a chance for an upset, it can happen against Florida State.
The Seminoles were 9-4 last year, losing to Wake Forest by 9, Georgia Tech by 3, Boston College by 10 and to Florida by…well that doesn’t matter. Granted they destroyed my beloved Catamounts 69-0, but what did it gain them?
Losing to rival Miami hurt them, but not as bad as the near loss to Jacksonville State. That embarrassing win must have prompted Florida State to re focus, which is what they did against BYU, in a big time win that vaulted them back in the top 25 spotlight.
The Seminoles try to make a living with the passing, which has also burnt them more than once. Last year quarterback Ponder threw for 14 touchdowns…great….but also threw for 13 interceptions…ugh.
The question here is going to be which mindset is Florida State on: the swagger that produced players like Charlie Ward and Deon Sanders, or the team that was so high on itself that it almost lost to Jacksonville State… as they say, half of football is mental.
With Grothe for the Bulls being injured, there may be a feast of blitzes for Florida State, and I think that kinda pressure could get to South Florida. But sometimes playing home makes a team kinda…cocky. I don’t think South Florida can beat Florida State, but I also don’t think they are as intimidated. This could be interesting…
If I had to pick, I might think Florida State will win, but not as big a margin as the BYU game. I give it to the Seminoles by 8 points.
Florida State is currently ranked #18 in the polls, after a thrashing they put on BYU (which surprised me as well as many others). It is possible that the ACC made a statement that they are as competitive as the other conferences by beating a top 25 team handily in their own house?
Now they have to do it again, under much more local confines. The ACC’s Florida State will host South Florida in a big time game for both sides. This is a game that Florida State simply cannot lose, if they are to retain credibility for their top 25 ranking. With teams slipping and sliding every week, the opportunistic team can easily find themselves in the top 10 in a few weeks…case in point, Mississippi.
But to stay there, they must win and not lose to an unranked opponent…case in point, Mississippi.
But the Big East has a point to prove too, and they need South Florida to make that for them. About 27 undefeated teams remain in the FBS, three of them come from this very conference. South Florida has shown signs of brilliance the last few years, only to buckle under the pressure once they were ranked high in the standings.
There is a LOT of credibility on the line here, for the ACC and the Big East…who wins this matchup in the Sunshine State? Let’s look at it:
South Florida is currently 3-0, and not ranked at the moment. Sure, the Bulls have scored about 134 points in three games, which averages to over 40 a game, but who have they beaten? Wofford? Western Kentucky? Charleston Southern?
Again, only 27 teams remain undefeated, and you’re not on the top 25? Very soft schedule folks.
Mind you, this team started out 5-0 last year and was the apple of many eyes, beating teams like Kansas and NC State. But it preceded a 1-4 record once they hit the Big East schedule before beating UCONN, losing to West Virginia and winning the bowl game against Memphis.
I think with a returning good quarterback and an excellent defensive power, this is still a good team, they can win decent games so these are not your mother’s cupcakes, but the last couple of years just seem to show that they are mid-card teams, destined to hover around greatness, but never obtaining it.
But if there is a chance for an upset, it can happen against Florida State.
The Seminoles were 9-4 last year, losing to Wake Forest by 9, Georgia Tech by 3, Boston College by 10 and to Florida by…well that doesn’t matter. Granted they destroyed my beloved Catamounts 69-0, but what did it gain them?
Losing to rival Miami hurt them, but not as bad as the near loss to Jacksonville State. That embarrassing win must have prompted Florida State to re focus, which is what they did against BYU, in a big time win that vaulted them back in the top 25 spotlight.
The Seminoles try to make a living with the passing, which has also burnt them more than once. Last year quarterback Ponder threw for 14 touchdowns…great….but also threw for 13 interceptions…ugh.
The question here is going to be which mindset is Florida State on: the swagger that produced players like Charlie Ward and Deon Sanders, or the team that was so high on itself that it almost lost to Jacksonville State… as they say, half of football is mental.
With Grothe for the Bulls being injured, there may be a feast of blitzes for Florida State, and I think that kinda pressure could get to South Florida. But sometimes playing home makes a team kinda…cocky. I don’t think South Florida can beat Florida State, but I also don’t think they are as intimidated. This could be interesting…
If I had to pick, I might think Florida State will win, but not as big a margin as the BYU game. I give it to the Seminoles by 8 points.
Missouri vs Nevada, 2009
Missouri vs. Nevada 2009
Speedblog
The Big 12 puzzles me, how can a conference that had so many power players be ranked so low this year? Texas Tech wasn’t ranked at the beginning of the year, Oklahoma State isn’t getting a lot of love, Oklahoma lost early and Missouri wasn’t ranked at the beginning of the year.
What’s up with that?
The Big 12 has 4 teams that are, to this point, undefeated, and Missouri is one of those teams. Tonight they play Nevada on a road game that will definitely place them in the top 25 in both polls should they win.
At the moment they are not ranked in one poll, and #21 in another. This is a game they need to win to justify their power…and the Big 12 as well.
You remember Missouri doncha? Went 10-4 last year, losing only to teams with a top 25 number in front of them? A high powered offense that hung 69 points on Nevada last year…oh wait, that’s who they play tonight.
That makes this game a little more interesting.
Nevada comes out of the Western Athletic Conference, and finished last year with a 7-6 record. Their big claim to fame last year was losing to Boise State by 7 points, but is known as a high scoring team…much like Missouri was last year.
The Wolf Pack, not to be confused with NC State, did win 7 games, but one might highly question the strength of those wins. Their six losses came to superior teams, such as Texas Tech, Missouri, Boise State and Maryland, who combined for 187 points…or about 40+ a game…defense could be a problem.
But Nevada also scores well too, the problem is that they have to with a porous defense. Outside of the Grambling win 49-13, most of their other games have been kinda close. Very few wins from Nevada were of quality, possibly showing an average team at best, despite what people tried to say on ESPN about them being a good football team only when Notre Dame played them.
But Missouri has to deal with new weapons on offense, gone are the glory days of Chase Daniel, who was an excellent quarterback. Still there is some offense left on this team, having scored 37 against Illinois. Beating Furman doesn’t really count, and one wonders about that close game against Bowling Green…hmmm.
There is no question that Missouri is favored, as they should be. With no conference games under their belts, it is critical for the Tigers to jump out to a 4-0 start, which will definitely get them ranked on both polls. As long as Nevada does not have a top 25 ranking on them, then Missouri should be fine, but beware Tigers, this Nevada team loves that end zone, although their defense seems to be quite charitable.
I can’t see an upset here, even though Nevada is home and Missouri has a new quarterback, but I’ll give it to Missouri by 13 points.
Speedblog
The Big 12 puzzles me, how can a conference that had so many power players be ranked so low this year? Texas Tech wasn’t ranked at the beginning of the year, Oklahoma State isn’t getting a lot of love, Oklahoma lost early and Missouri wasn’t ranked at the beginning of the year.
What’s up with that?
The Big 12 has 4 teams that are, to this point, undefeated, and Missouri is one of those teams. Tonight they play Nevada on a road game that will definitely place them in the top 25 in both polls should they win.
At the moment they are not ranked in one poll, and #21 in another. This is a game they need to win to justify their power…and the Big 12 as well.
You remember Missouri doncha? Went 10-4 last year, losing only to teams with a top 25 number in front of them? A high powered offense that hung 69 points on Nevada last year…oh wait, that’s who they play tonight.
That makes this game a little more interesting.
Nevada comes out of the Western Athletic Conference, and finished last year with a 7-6 record. Their big claim to fame last year was losing to Boise State by 7 points, but is known as a high scoring team…much like Missouri was last year.
The Wolf Pack, not to be confused with NC State, did win 7 games, but one might highly question the strength of those wins. Their six losses came to superior teams, such as Texas Tech, Missouri, Boise State and Maryland, who combined for 187 points…or about 40+ a game…defense could be a problem.
But Nevada also scores well too, the problem is that they have to with a porous defense. Outside of the Grambling win 49-13, most of their other games have been kinda close. Very few wins from Nevada were of quality, possibly showing an average team at best, despite what people tried to say on ESPN about them being a good football team only when Notre Dame played them.
But Missouri has to deal with new weapons on offense, gone are the glory days of Chase Daniel, who was an excellent quarterback. Still there is some offense left on this team, having scored 37 against Illinois. Beating Furman doesn’t really count, and one wonders about that close game against Bowling Green…hmmm.
There is no question that Missouri is favored, as they should be. With no conference games under their belts, it is critical for the Tigers to jump out to a 4-0 start, which will definitely get them ranked on both polls. As long as Nevada does not have a top 25 ranking on them, then Missouri should be fine, but beware Tigers, this Nevada team loves that end zone, although their defense seems to be quite charitable.
I can’t see an upset here, even though Nevada is home and Missouri has a new quarterback, but I’ll give it to Missouri by 13 points.
Is Michigan worth the top 25 ranking?
Is Michigan worth the ranking?
Speedblog
Ok, so we’re like two or three games into the college football season, and a team that won only three games last year is now in the top 25...care to comment on that?
Such is the case for Michigan. But is it valid?
Michigan is one of those storied programs that was and is one of the greatest football programs in the history of college football. Heck, I like them because a few years ago I wrote to the Athletic Director and he sent me a free media guide…you better believe that I have been a Michigan fan for awhile.
But lately there has been some down time with this team, and personally I am not a fan of their new coach, Rich Rodriguez. To me he seems a bit snobby and tight-necked, and lately his way of football has not been very successful. It’s funny because yesterday on ESPN classic I saw the 15th anniversary of the great Colorado vs. Michigan game, with Kordell Stewart, Ty Law, and a host of great NFL players. You guys remember that last second catch in the end zone, right?
So today I’m looking at Michigan currently ranked #23 on one poll, #22 on another, and I start to think, do they deserve it? Let’s look into that.
It has to start from last year, when Michigan finished a sad-sacked 3-9. Beating only Miami Ohio by 10 points (who would finish 2-10), beating Wisconsin by 2 points (who would finish 7-6) and beating Minnesota by 23 (who also finished 7-6).
They lost to EVERYBODY else.
So at the beginning of the season, you wonder if this team can manage 5 wins, maybe even six to qualify for a bowl. There is a lot of pressure for the great Michigan Wolverines to play in post season you know.
So Michigan pads up the schedule, having not one, not two but FOUR straight home games, beating Western Michigan, Notre Dame and Eastern Michigan. Western Michigan is currently 1-2 and Eastern Michigan is currently 0-3. Granted Notre Dame was ranked, but a lot of football purists felt that the ranking was not as credible as it now appeared.
But in any case, Michigan is 3-0 and looking perfect as they prepare to face Indiana this weekend…another home game. The same team that was 3-9 last year, and is currently 3-0 this year too…
Wow, there must have been some magic, in that old soft schedule they made, for when they placed ….
Wait a minute….that’s something else….
Anyway, Indiana is now 3-0, but no quality wins, as they prepare to play conference foe Michigan, who is also 3-0. That’s not saying too much since almost half the Big 10 is undefeated. But again, does this make Michigan a top 25 team?
I am just not too sold on the idea that you can pad your schedule with a ton of home games and jump out to a quick start and get ranked. I just find it hard to believe that Michigan of last year (3-9) can be one of the top 25 teams in the nation at this point.
Yet the counter here is that they DID beat a top 25 opponent in Notre Dame, even though some hardly felt that Notre Dame was 25 caliber…still it counts. And with so many upsets this year already, somebody HAS to move up. I mean, if Michigan is undefeated, with a top 25 win, then surely it has to count for something.
Consider that there are about 27 undefeated teams in the FBS right now, if Michigan is one of them, and they are, don’t they deserve at least to be somewhere in that mix? I can’t argue that, and again, with a top 25 win, I think their standing is indeed credible.
Now prove that you ARE top 25 by winning more games. They didn’t play Indiana last year, and of the three games they won last year, only Wisconsin is on this year’s schedule. A bunch of home games plays in their favor, but you still have to be good to win games…
Time will tell…
Speedblog
Ok, so we’re like two or three games into the college football season, and a team that won only three games last year is now in the top 25...care to comment on that?
Such is the case for Michigan. But is it valid?
Michigan is one of those storied programs that was and is one of the greatest football programs in the history of college football. Heck, I like them because a few years ago I wrote to the Athletic Director and he sent me a free media guide…you better believe that I have been a Michigan fan for awhile.
But lately there has been some down time with this team, and personally I am not a fan of their new coach, Rich Rodriguez. To me he seems a bit snobby and tight-necked, and lately his way of football has not been very successful. It’s funny because yesterday on ESPN classic I saw the 15th anniversary of the great Colorado vs. Michigan game, with Kordell Stewart, Ty Law, and a host of great NFL players. You guys remember that last second catch in the end zone, right?
So today I’m looking at Michigan currently ranked #23 on one poll, #22 on another, and I start to think, do they deserve it? Let’s look into that.
It has to start from last year, when Michigan finished a sad-sacked 3-9. Beating only Miami Ohio by 10 points (who would finish 2-10), beating Wisconsin by 2 points (who would finish 7-6) and beating Minnesota by 23 (who also finished 7-6).
They lost to EVERYBODY else.
So at the beginning of the season, you wonder if this team can manage 5 wins, maybe even six to qualify for a bowl. There is a lot of pressure for the great Michigan Wolverines to play in post season you know.
So Michigan pads up the schedule, having not one, not two but FOUR straight home games, beating Western Michigan, Notre Dame and Eastern Michigan. Western Michigan is currently 1-2 and Eastern Michigan is currently 0-3. Granted Notre Dame was ranked, but a lot of football purists felt that the ranking was not as credible as it now appeared.
But in any case, Michigan is 3-0 and looking perfect as they prepare to face Indiana this weekend…another home game. The same team that was 3-9 last year, and is currently 3-0 this year too…
Wow, there must have been some magic, in that old soft schedule they made, for when they placed ….
Wait a minute….that’s something else….
Anyway, Indiana is now 3-0, but no quality wins, as they prepare to play conference foe Michigan, who is also 3-0. That’s not saying too much since almost half the Big 10 is undefeated. But again, does this make Michigan a top 25 team?
I am just not too sold on the idea that you can pad your schedule with a ton of home games and jump out to a quick start and get ranked. I just find it hard to believe that Michigan of last year (3-9) can be one of the top 25 teams in the nation at this point.
Yet the counter here is that they DID beat a top 25 opponent in Notre Dame, even though some hardly felt that Notre Dame was 25 caliber…still it counts. And with so many upsets this year already, somebody HAS to move up. I mean, if Michigan is undefeated, with a top 25 win, then surely it has to count for something.
Consider that there are about 27 undefeated teams in the FBS right now, if Michigan is one of them, and they are, don’t they deserve at least to be somewhere in that mix? I can’t argue that, and again, with a top 25 win, I think their standing is indeed credible.
Now prove that you ARE top 25 by winning more games. They didn’t play Indiana last year, and of the three games they won last year, only Wisconsin is on this year’s schedule. A bunch of home games plays in their favor, but you still have to be good to win games…
Time will tell…
NFL Top 10, week 2
ANFL Top 10, after Week 2
There are a lot of questions about this year’s NFL teams, which makes it very interesting. Key injuries, surprise wins, surprise losses make this very interesting, and it’s only after week 2. So how in the world can we possibly make a top 10 after only two games?
Easy! We just force one!
To be honest, this isn’t fair to make a top 10 this early, but just for the sake of argument, I wanted to see if I could create a top 10 of the NFL teams this year. The easy thing to do is to simply assume that every 2-0 squad is immediately credible, but that may not be so much the case. But it’s our starting point as we begin to name the top 10 NFL teams, as of the end of week 2:
Before we begin, we need to first make a list of all the 2-0 teams:
Giants, Vikings, Falcons, Saints, 49ers, Jets, Colts, Ravens and Broncos. That’s the list of 9 teams that are currently undefeated…so it might be assumed that all 9 should be in the top 10, right?
Maybe.
But this also means we must include some 1-1 teams, and right now they number 14, meaning we have to decide the ten best teams out of over 20, as of only the second week of the season.
Ugh.
Well, after doing my math, I came up with my top 10, but before I do, let me start with the team that just missed out on the cut, and why:
MISSED CUT: Minnesota Vikings 2-0
See, technically the Vikings should have made it, since there were in fact 9 undefeated teams, but I looked at all the other teams that were 2-0 and 1-1 and to be honest, I can’t place the Vikings as a top 10 team, not yet. Beating the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions proves nothing, even though the Vikings do score 28 points to the good. But until they beat tougher foes, I can’t put them on the top 10, not yet.
#10 Buffalo Bills (1-1)
This team SHOULD have been 2-0, with that wacky loss to New England, and their win over Tampa Bay has them 12 points more than they give up, not bad for a 1-1 team. We saw that the Bills may just be as good as advertised, but how long before Mouth Almighty, Tongue Everlasting (TO) starts to undermine the team? As long as they are winning he will be quite…but another loss or two, watch out for fireworks.
#9 Chicago Bears (1-1)
To me this might be the best 1-1 team in the NFL, having lost to the Packers but beating the Superbowl Champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The question here is all about the quarterback, who plays kinda like a werewolf. You just never know what you’re going to get out of Cutler, and with the defense wounded, this could cause some problems as the season goes on. One would have to think that the Bears will lean heavily on an already limping defense, but they are good enough to get the job done.
#8 Denver Broncos (2-0)
I very nearly wanted to place the Broncos even lower, because their two wins are based off beating the Bengals and Browns…and how much noise did THEY make last year? But I was more impressed with their wins than over 2-0 Minnesota, even though the Broncos scored 26 points more than their opponents, while the Vikings scored 28 points more. But between those two, I gave the nod to the Broncos because well, ANYBODY can beat the Lions…
#7 Indianapolis Colts (2-0)
There is a lot of transition going on with the Colts, and one wonders if they can hold serve in their own division. With wins over the Jaguars and the Dolphins, they Colts look ok, but of all the 2-0 teams in the NFL at this moment, the Colts have the slimmest margin of points over their opponents, with a +6. That’s hard to figure out when you have Peyton Manning, and something they better fix soon or they won’t remain undefeated for long.
#6 San Francisco 49ers (2-0)
I realize this might be a bit premature, but hey, it’s only the second week. I put the 49ers here because they won two division games already, one over the Cardinals, who just came off a Superbowl loss. But many have questioned the strength of the NFC West, and I am one of them. They do manage to score 17 points more than their opponents in total, which kinda splits it to like 8 points a game. I don’t think they’ll get any better IF they sign Michael Crabtree (greedy rascal), but I also don’t see this perfect record going too much longer either. Still, two wins over division foes isn’t bad.
#5 New Orleans Saints (2-0)
Talk about 5 hour energy! My home town is racking up the points, having the highest point differential in the NFL after 2 weeks. The Saints have scored 44 points more than their opponents, which averages to like 22 points MORE per game than the opponent. This is a high maintenance machine, but I placed it at number 5 because well, you did beat the Lions…ho hum….and you also beat a wounded Philadelphia team. That does not mean the Saints are a joke, you can’t score tons of points unless you are good, but we will see when they play tougher competition.
#4 Baltimore Ravens (2-0)
People are still talking about that Ray Lewis hit at the end of the game…wow, what a STOP! And beating the Chargers in their house means the Ravens mean business. Add to this some offensive attacks and you may have a pretty tough team in Baltimore. I placed them here because of the impressive win over the Chargers, but not any higher because one of their wins was against the Chiefs, who wasn’t exactly burning up the charts last year. The Ravens average about 10 points more than their opponents per game, which is pretty impressive since the Ravens aren’t known for their offense.
#3 New York Jets (2-0)
Wow, who woulda thought… well, somebody did. And right after Brett Farve left them too. At 2-0 the Jets are one of the top 5 scoring teams in the NFL. They have 24 points total more than their opponents, which averages to about 12 points per game more than teams they play. With wins over the Texans and the Patriots, all eyes look to the AFC East and this team to make noise. They look for real, but one wonders…beating the Texans isn’t saying too much, and is this a down year for the Pats? If so, are the Jets as good as the record… or just Jesting…..
#2 Atlanta Falcons (2-0)
There is no more mystery about Matt Ryan, and the Falcons have beaten the Dolphins and the Panthers…two teams that were decent last year. There is a lot of promise for the team, and with offensive weapons it is likely to see this team hovering near the playoffs by the end of the season. But is Carolina just that bad this year, and what of the Saints? Can Atlanta best the Buccs twice? Lots of questions, to be answered as the year goes on.
#1 New York Giants (2-0)
So if things go the way I said, then the Jets and Giants meet in the Superbowl, right? Well, that’s way too early. But the Giants are good, and it is always a good sign when you knock down two of your division rivals. Beating the Redskins and the Cowboys are always good signs, but they play hard games. Their +8 point differential over 2 games means they are winning on an average of only 4 points…one possession. They have yet to play the Eagles, and if they are healthy, it could be a fight. Missing a very key receiver could be a problem, one they have to adjust to quickly, but it seems they are doing ok.
So that’s my list of the top 10 teams of the first two weeks, you notice I didn’t add in the Pittsburgh Steelers. I didn’t put them in because with a loss to the bears, and a win over the Titans, it wasn’t really saying too much. The Steelers are struggling with offense, and with a key injury on defense, that could be a problem too.
I also didn’t put the Patriots on the list because by many accounts, they OUGHT to be 0-2. They didn’t win that Buffalo game, the Bills GAVE that to them. Yeah, I know a win is a win, but it was not very impressive.
Things will start shaking out as we go on, so surely these rankings are subject to change….tune in as we keep checking on that…
There are a lot of questions about this year’s NFL teams, which makes it very interesting. Key injuries, surprise wins, surprise losses make this very interesting, and it’s only after week 2. So how in the world can we possibly make a top 10 after only two games?
Easy! We just force one!
To be honest, this isn’t fair to make a top 10 this early, but just for the sake of argument, I wanted to see if I could create a top 10 of the NFL teams this year. The easy thing to do is to simply assume that every 2-0 squad is immediately credible, but that may not be so much the case. But it’s our starting point as we begin to name the top 10 NFL teams, as of the end of week 2:
Before we begin, we need to first make a list of all the 2-0 teams:
Giants, Vikings, Falcons, Saints, 49ers, Jets, Colts, Ravens and Broncos. That’s the list of 9 teams that are currently undefeated…so it might be assumed that all 9 should be in the top 10, right?
Maybe.
But this also means we must include some 1-1 teams, and right now they number 14, meaning we have to decide the ten best teams out of over 20, as of only the second week of the season.
Ugh.
Well, after doing my math, I came up with my top 10, but before I do, let me start with the team that just missed out on the cut, and why:
MISSED CUT: Minnesota Vikings 2-0
See, technically the Vikings should have made it, since there were in fact 9 undefeated teams, but I looked at all the other teams that were 2-0 and 1-1 and to be honest, I can’t place the Vikings as a top 10 team, not yet. Beating the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions proves nothing, even though the Vikings do score 28 points to the good. But until they beat tougher foes, I can’t put them on the top 10, not yet.
#10 Buffalo Bills (1-1)
This team SHOULD have been 2-0, with that wacky loss to New England, and their win over Tampa Bay has them 12 points more than they give up, not bad for a 1-1 team. We saw that the Bills may just be as good as advertised, but how long before Mouth Almighty, Tongue Everlasting (TO) starts to undermine the team? As long as they are winning he will be quite…but another loss or two, watch out for fireworks.
#9 Chicago Bears (1-1)
To me this might be the best 1-1 team in the NFL, having lost to the Packers but beating the Superbowl Champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The question here is all about the quarterback, who plays kinda like a werewolf. You just never know what you’re going to get out of Cutler, and with the defense wounded, this could cause some problems as the season goes on. One would have to think that the Bears will lean heavily on an already limping defense, but they are good enough to get the job done.
#8 Denver Broncos (2-0)
I very nearly wanted to place the Broncos even lower, because their two wins are based off beating the Bengals and Browns…and how much noise did THEY make last year? But I was more impressed with their wins than over 2-0 Minnesota, even though the Broncos scored 26 points more than their opponents, while the Vikings scored 28 points more. But between those two, I gave the nod to the Broncos because well, ANYBODY can beat the Lions…
#7 Indianapolis Colts (2-0)
There is a lot of transition going on with the Colts, and one wonders if they can hold serve in their own division. With wins over the Jaguars and the Dolphins, they Colts look ok, but of all the 2-0 teams in the NFL at this moment, the Colts have the slimmest margin of points over their opponents, with a +6. That’s hard to figure out when you have Peyton Manning, and something they better fix soon or they won’t remain undefeated for long.
#6 San Francisco 49ers (2-0)
I realize this might be a bit premature, but hey, it’s only the second week. I put the 49ers here because they won two division games already, one over the Cardinals, who just came off a Superbowl loss. But many have questioned the strength of the NFC West, and I am one of them. They do manage to score 17 points more than their opponents in total, which kinda splits it to like 8 points a game. I don’t think they’ll get any better IF they sign Michael Crabtree (greedy rascal), but I also don’t see this perfect record going too much longer either. Still, two wins over division foes isn’t bad.
#5 New Orleans Saints (2-0)
Talk about 5 hour energy! My home town is racking up the points, having the highest point differential in the NFL after 2 weeks. The Saints have scored 44 points more than their opponents, which averages to like 22 points MORE per game than the opponent. This is a high maintenance machine, but I placed it at number 5 because well, you did beat the Lions…ho hum….and you also beat a wounded Philadelphia team. That does not mean the Saints are a joke, you can’t score tons of points unless you are good, but we will see when they play tougher competition.
#4 Baltimore Ravens (2-0)
People are still talking about that Ray Lewis hit at the end of the game…wow, what a STOP! And beating the Chargers in their house means the Ravens mean business. Add to this some offensive attacks and you may have a pretty tough team in Baltimore. I placed them here because of the impressive win over the Chargers, but not any higher because one of their wins was against the Chiefs, who wasn’t exactly burning up the charts last year. The Ravens average about 10 points more than their opponents per game, which is pretty impressive since the Ravens aren’t known for their offense.
#3 New York Jets (2-0)
Wow, who woulda thought… well, somebody did. And right after Brett Farve left them too. At 2-0 the Jets are one of the top 5 scoring teams in the NFL. They have 24 points total more than their opponents, which averages to about 12 points per game more than teams they play. With wins over the Texans and the Patriots, all eyes look to the AFC East and this team to make noise. They look for real, but one wonders…beating the Texans isn’t saying too much, and is this a down year for the Pats? If so, are the Jets as good as the record… or just Jesting…..
#2 Atlanta Falcons (2-0)
There is no more mystery about Matt Ryan, and the Falcons have beaten the Dolphins and the Panthers…two teams that were decent last year. There is a lot of promise for the team, and with offensive weapons it is likely to see this team hovering near the playoffs by the end of the season. But is Carolina just that bad this year, and what of the Saints? Can Atlanta best the Buccs twice? Lots of questions, to be answered as the year goes on.
#1 New York Giants (2-0)
So if things go the way I said, then the Jets and Giants meet in the Superbowl, right? Well, that’s way too early. But the Giants are good, and it is always a good sign when you knock down two of your division rivals. Beating the Redskins and the Cowboys are always good signs, but they play hard games. Their +8 point differential over 2 games means they are winning on an average of only 4 points…one possession. They have yet to play the Eagles, and if they are healthy, it could be a fight. Missing a very key receiver could be a problem, one they have to adjust to quickly, but it seems they are doing ok.
So that’s my list of the top 10 teams of the first two weeks, you notice I didn’t add in the Pittsburgh Steelers. I didn’t put them in because with a loss to the bears, and a win over the Titans, it wasn’t really saying too much. The Steelers are struggling with offense, and with a key injury on defense, that could be a problem too.
I also didn’t put the Patriots on the list because by many accounts, they OUGHT to be 0-2. They didn’t win that Buffalo game, the Bills GAVE that to them. Yeah, I know a win is a win, but it was not very impressive.
Things will start shaking out as we go on, so surely these rankings are subject to change….tune in as we keep checking on that…
Mountain West Conference Football
What’s up with the Mountain West Conference?
You know, just a few days ago I was singing the praises of the Mountain West Conference, and I even went so far as to say that they are better than the Big East and ACC because they had (at that time) three ranked teams.
My, how much changes in one week.
With teams like Utah, BYU and TCU, and sprinkle in some Air Force, I really thought this conference was better than the WAC and Boise State. When you have three teams out of your conference on the top 25, and you are not a power conference, that is awesome!
But what happened? I would have bet my last peanut butter and jelly sandwich that BYU was going to rout Florida State, and I CERTAINLY didn’t see a 54-28 smashing in BYU’s own living room.
And Utah losing at home to Oregon helps Boise State feel bigger than the Mountain West, since they beat Oregon at the beginning of the year.
With all the Mountain West teams 3 games in except TCU, only two teams remain that are undefeated: the afore-mentioned TCU and Colorado State, who at the moment is 3-0.
This is odd because this is a very tough conference, and if Colorado State is currently 3-0, with Utah just falling out the top 25, and TCU undefeated, with BYU still on the rankings, this to me is still a very tough conference…ok let’s not bring up that New Mexico is 0-3.
So the question might be, is this conference for real, or are they all pretenders to the BCS Buster Crown? Again, many will swear by Boise State, but I still think the WAC is not as competitive as the Mountain West.
Yes Boise State beat Oregon…at home, but outside of that, few see their schedule as competitive to the end. Look at the schedule of the Mountain West Conference and key games:
Air Force: Played at Minnesota, will play at Navy, home to TCU, away to Utah and Colorado State, and BYU.
BYU: Played away at Oklahoma, home to Florida State and Colorado State and TCU, Air Force and Utah.
Colorado State: Played away at Colorado, away to BYU, home to Utah, away to TCU and home to Air Force
New Mexico: Played away at Texas A&M, home to Air Force, away to Texas Tech and Utah, home to BYU and away to TCU
San Diego State: Away at UCLA and Air Force, home to BYU, away to Colorado State, home to TCU and way to Utah.
TCU: Away at Virginia and Clemson, Air Force and BYU, home to Utah.
UNLV: Home to Oregon State, BYU, Utah, away to TCU and Air Force.
Utah: Away at Oregon, home to Louisville, away to Colorado State, home to Air Force, away to TCU and BYU.
Folks, that is a competitive schedule.
It’s a shame that the old WAC super conference can’t get back together, when they had 16 teams. This would have ended a lot of talk about BCS Busters and stuff like that when you had teams like Boise State, Utah, BYU and TCU all fighting for one crown before stating a case for a BCS Championship. But as it stands, this Mountain West Conference is indeed a tough conference.
Sure, one loss hurts Utah and BYU a ton, in fact it kicked Utah out of one poll. So it might appear that the pride of the conference rests on TCU, or maybe Colorado State, since they need an undefeated team to make a serious charge at the BCS. I am not as confident in the Rams as I am in Horned Frogs, but both are still undefeated at the moment, after Saturday we will know much more about this conference.
I still think that IF a team goes undefeated in the MWC, they deserve serious consideration at a BCS Title IF there are no undefeated teams out of the BCS conferences. I mean, if people talk about Boise State getting that shot, why not TCU or Colorado State, if they go undefeated?
But there is still much to see, many more games to play, time will tell all.
You know, just a few days ago I was singing the praises of the Mountain West Conference, and I even went so far as to say that they are better than the Big East and ACC because they had (at that time) three ranked teams.
My, how much changes in one week.
With teams like Utah, BYU and TCU, and sprinkle in some Air Force, I really thought this conference was better than the WAC and Boise State. When you have three teams out of your conference on the top 25, and you are not a power conference, that is awesome!
But what happened? I would have bet my last peanut butter and jelly sandwich that BYU was going to rout Florida State, and I CERTAINLY didn’t see a 54-28 smashing in BYU’s own living room.
And Utah losing at home to Oregon helps Boise State feel bigger than the Mountain West, since they beat Oregon at the beginning of the year.
With all the Mountain West teams 3 games in except TCU, only two teams remain that are undefeated: the afore-mentioned TCU and Colorado State, who at the moment is 3-0.
This is odd because this is a very tough conference, and if Colorado State is currently 3-0, with Utah just falling out the top 25, and TCU undefeated, with BYU still on the rankings, this to me is still a very tough conference…ok let’s not bring up that New Mexico is 0-3.
So the question might be, is this conference for real, or are they all pretenders to the BCS Buster Crown? Again, many will swear by Boise State, but I still think the WAC is not as competitive as the Mountain West.
Yes Boise State beat Oregon…at home, but outside of that, few see their schedule as competitive to the end. Look at the schedule of the Mountain West Conference and key games:
Air Force: Played at Minnesota, will play at Navy, home to TCU, away to Utah and Colorado State, and BYU.
BYU: Played away at Oklahoma, home to Florida State and Colorado State and TCU, Air Force and Utah.
Colorado State: Played away at Colorado, away to BYU, home to Utah, away to TCU and home to Air Force
New Mexico: Played away at Texas A&M, home to Air Force, away to Texas Tech and Utah, home to BYU and away to TCU
San Diego State: Away at UCLA and Air Force, home to BYU, away to Colorado State, home to TCU and way to Utah.
TCU: Away at Virginia and Clemson, Air Force and BYU, home to Utah.
UNLV: Home to Oregon State, BYU, Utah, away to TCU and Air Force.
Utah: Away at Oregon, home to Louisville, away to Colorado State, home to Air Force, away to TCU and BYU.
Folks, that is a competitive schedule.
It’s a shame that the old WAC super conference can’t get back together, when they had 16 teams. This would have ended a lot of talk about BCS Busters and stuff like that when you had teams like Boise State, Utah, BYU and TCU all fighting for one crown before stating a case for a BCS Championship. But as it stands, this Mountain West Conference is indeed a tough conference.
Sure, one loss hurts Utah and BYU a ton, in fact it kicked Utah out of one poll. So it might appear that the pride of the conference rests on TCU, or maybe Colorado State, since they need an undefeated team to make a serious charge at the BCS. I am not as confident in the Rams as I am in Horned Frogs, but both are still undefeated at the moment, after Saturday we will know much more about this conference.
I still think that IF a team goes undefeated in the MWC, they deserve serious consideration at a BCS Title IF there are no undefeated teams out of the BCS conferences. I mean, if people talk about Boise State getting that shot, why not TCU or Colorado State, if they go undefeated?
But there is still much to see, many more games to play, time will tell all.
The Fate of Southern Cal
The Fate of Southern Cal
Well, looks like USC has lost to another team they should have beaten.
But does this change anything about their chances?
Well….let’s talk about that. USC started out crushing San Jose State 56-3, then barely beat Ohio State 18-15, then loses to Washington 16-13. Seems like a downward spiral for the Trojans.
That’s what happens when you go with a freshman quarterback, and have injuries on the team. Granted the loss to Washington was not based on a freshman quarterback, since he was not playing, but what can’t be missed is that this is not the USC team of old, and apparently away games don’t hold too well for them.
And with games vs. California on the horizon, and a Notre Dame team that now thinks they might be able to take shots at the wounded lion, this could be a problem for USC’s hopes to get to the BCS. So, is it over for a UCS team to make it to the National Championships?
Hard to say.
For us to buy into USC still in the hunt, we first have to remember where they are. They are currently ranked #12 in one poll, and #10 in another. This means they need some help from other teams to fall out, so they can climb back in. As it stands right now, the biggest game left on USC’s schedule is against California, which is coming fast.
So your question would then be, IF USC can hold off Cal, and finish the season, who then are the most likely teams to fall out the top 10, and thus allow USC to slip back in the top 10 and further up the ladder.
There are at this moment FOUR SEC teams ahead of USC, and you just know that won’t last. They have to play each other, and between Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and LSU, there will be “L”s handed out. And the fact that they have a conference championship means they will settle it out once and for all, leaving USC able to slip a few spots up the ladder.
You have to wonder if Miami is for real, being now ranked #9 in one poll. I just can’t buy into that now, especially with two very tough games ahead of them before sinking into the ACC schedule. As much as I would like to think Miami can hang in there, I can’t see it.
The same would hold true for Virginia Tech, as the ACC has brutally beaten each other last year, and I don’t see how that would change this year. I can’t see anybody from the ACC going undefeated, so even one loss will drop them to the point where USC could jump them.
Remember, this is based on USC running the tables, and their chances of getting back at a BCS Championship.
From the Big 12 you have a wounded Oklahoma and #2 Texas. We KNOW they have to play, and it looks like the favorites will be Texas. If so, then Oklahoma, with two losses, is out of any BCS Title game…but if Texas LOSES, what then?
Is Penn State beatable? As good as I think they are, I still don’t think they can run the tables in the Big 10. One loss, maybe two, but I just can’t see them going undefeated. But one loss might not kill their shots at the BCS if other things happen.
And what of Boise State? Their win over Fresno State shows that they are touchable, but with the weak conference they are in, it would be hard to see them losing. Yet when the BCS rankings come out, I wonder if Boise State will be penalized for such a soft schedule. I said in another blog about Boise State, scheduling UC Davis and Miami Ohio isn’t the way to go if you REALLY want to compete for a National Championship, it might cost them when the first BCS polls come out later this season.
So, having said all this, does USC have a legit shot? Yeah, because the season is still young. I mean, if USC can lose…so can anybody else, right. I mean, Florida barely won their game, BYU lost, Utah lost, so we seem to have a pretty competitive season so far…anything is possible.
So Southern Cal is still in the mix….for now.
Well, looks like USC has lost to another team they should have beaten.
But does this change anything about their chances?
Well….let’s talk about that. USC started out crushing San Jose State 56-3, then barely beat Ohio State 18-15, then loses to Washington 16-13. Seems like a downward spiral for the Trojans.
That’s what happens when you go with a freshman quarterback, and have injuries on the team. Granted the loss to Washington was not based on a freshman quarterback, since he was not playing, but what can’t be missed is that this is not the USC team of old, and apparently away games don’t hold too well for them.
And with games vs. California on the horizon, and a Notre Dame team that now thinks they might be able to take shots at the wounded lion, this could be a problem for USC’s hopes to get to the BCS. So, is it over for a UCS team to make it to the National Championships?
Hard to say.
For us to buy into USC still in the hunt, we first have to remember where they are. They are currently ranked #12 in one poll, and #10 in another. This means they need some help from other teams to fall out, so they can climb back in. As it stands right now, the biggest game left on USC’s schedule is against California, which is coming fast.
So your question would then be, IF USC can hold off Cal, and finish the season, who then are the most likely teams to fall out the top 10, and thus allow USC to slip back in the top 10 and further up the ladder.
There are at this moment FOUR SEC teams ahead of USC, and you just know that won’t last. They have to play each other, and between Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and LSU, there will be “L”s handed out. And the fact that they have a conference championship means they will settle it out once and for all, leaving USC able to slip a few spots up the ladder.
You have to wonder if Miami is for real, being now ranked #9 in one poll. I just can’t buy into that now, especially with two very tough games ahead of them before sinking into the ACC schedule. As much as I would like to think Miami can hang in there, I can’t see it.
The same would hold true for Virginia Tech, as the ACC has brutally beaten each other last year, and I don’t see how that would change this year. I can’t see anybody from the ACC going undefeated, so even one loss will drop them to the point where USC could jump them.
Remember, this is based on USC running the tables, and their chances of getting back at a BCS Championship.
From the Big 12 you have a wounded Oklahoma and #2 Texas. We KNOW they have to play, and it looks like the favorites will be Texas. If so, then Oklahoma, with two losses, is out of any BCS Title game…but if Texas LOSES, what then?
Is Penn State beatable? As good as I think they are, I still don’t think they can run the tables in the Big 10. One loss, maybe two, but I just can’t see them going undefeated. But one loss might not kill their shots at the BCS if other things happen.
And what of Boise State? Their win over Fresno State shows that they are touchable, but with the weak conference they are in, it would be hard to see them losing. Yet when the BCS rankings come out, I wonder if Boise State will be penalized for such a soft schedule. I said in another blog about Boise State, scheduling UC Davis and Miami Ohio isn’t the way to go if you REALLY want to compete for a National Championship, it might cost them when the first BCS polls come out later this season.
So, having said all this, does USC have a legit shot? Yeah, because the season is still young. I mean, if USC can lose…so can anybody else, right. I mean, Florida barely won their game, BYU lost, Utah lost, so we seem to have a pretty competitive season so far…anything is possible.
So Southern Cal is still in the mix….for now.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Mississippi vs South Carolina: One minute left
Mississippi vs. South Carolina: One minute left
Ok, so I am blogging this on the idea that South Carolina wins this game 16-10, and a game that exposes a few things about both teams….
Wait, it’s official, the #4 team, Mississippi, loses to South Carolina 16-10.
So what have we learned? Several things.
First, we see that neither team has a really potent offense, but both have some pretty good defenses. For awhile we wondered if anybody was going to score a touchdown.
For South Carolina, the win is HUGE, but there are some very glaring problems with the offensive. The score should have been more like 28-10 instead of 16-10 because of their inability to get in the end zone. Folks, when you are first and goal, you simply MUST punch that in and cash in.
South Carolina failed to do that many times, either because they can’t run the ball or because Mississippi is good on defense. I think it’s a little of both, because last year South Carolina showed that they don’t run the ball all that well.
We also saw how Mississippi plays, and it seems that the hype about their quarterback seems to be just that…hype. Not that he did a terrible job, because every college quarterback is going to have off days, but the great ones have to be able to take the team on his shoulder and move forward…something the Rebels just were not able to do.
What we also saw was that South Carolina does not have the offense to finish an opponent, while Mississippi refused to give up, credit given to their defense. At one point the score was 16-3 and I remember saying to somebody that if South Carolina could get one more touchdown, they would ice the game…this was in the third quarter.
But was it me, or did it seem like South Carolina seemed to put it on “cruise control” after they scored 16 points? This is very unlike a Steve Spurrier coached team, who was well known for running up the scores while at Florida. It just seemed that this Gamecock team had just enough to win the game…no more than that.
Yet this also speaks of Mississippi, which some questioned the ranking at #4. To be sure, they benefited from other teams losing, allowing them to slide up the rankings, but in the end, they proved that they were not the 4th best team in the nation…not playing like that.
So Mississippi will drop in the polls, losing to an unranked team, one I feel they will see a few more times before the year is out. Let’s not forget that they did lose to South Carolina last year, and although they won a host of games late last year, the jury is still out on their greatness. As one guy on ESPN said, the last game Miss played against Texas Tech seemed to be one that was given to them. Some say that Texas Tech gave up on the game because they felt they should have gone to a bigger bowl…maybe there was some truth to it.
In any case, Mississippi is now off the ranks of the unbeaten, making room for other teams to take their place….could this be the beginning of a weekend of upsets? Or was it that South Carolina beating Mississippi was never an upset to begin with…
Time will tell. But for now, the final score rests at 16-10, South Carolina Gamecocks.
Ok, so I am blogging this on the idea that South Carolina wins this game 16-10, and a game that exposes a few things about both teams….
Wait, it’s official, the #4 team, Mississippi, loses to South Carolina 16-10.
So what have we learned? Several things.
First, we see that neither team has a really potent offense, but both have some pretty good defenses. For awhile we wondered if anybody was going to score a touchdown.
For South Carolina, the win is HUGE, but there are some very glaring problems with the offensive. The score should have been more like 28-10 instead of 16-10 because of their inability to get in the end zone. Folks, when you are first and goal, you simply MUST punch that in and cash in.
South Carolina failed to do that many times, either because they can’t run the ball or because Mississippi is good on defense. I think it’s a little of both, because last year South Carolina showed that they don’t run the ball all that well.
We also saw how Mississippi plays, and it seems that the hype about their quarterback seems to be just that…hype. Not that he did a terrible job, because every college quarterback is going to have off days, but the great ones have to be able to take the team on his shoulder and move forward…something the Rebels just were not able to do.
What we also saw was that South Carolina does not have the offense to finish an opponent, while Mississippi refused to give up, credit given to their defense. At one point the score was 16-3 and I remember saying to somebody that if South Carolina could get one more touchdown, they would ice the game…this was in the third quarter.
But was it me, or did it seem like South Carolina seemed to put it on “cruise control” after they scored 16 points? This is very unlike a Steve Spurrier coached team, who was well known for running up the scores while at Florida. It just seemed that this Gamecock team had just enough to win the game…no more than that.
Yet this also speaks of Mississippi, which some questioned the ranking at #4. To be sure, they benefited from other teams losing, allowing them to slide up the rankings, but in the end, they proved that they were not the 4th best team in the nation…not playing like that.
So Mississippi will drop in the polls, losing to an unranked team, one I feel they will see a few more times before the year is out. Let’s not forget that they did lose to South Carolina last year, and although they won a host of games late last year, the jury is still out on their greatness. As one guy on ESPN said, the last game Miss played against Texas Tech seemed to be one that was given to them. Some say that Texas Tech gave up on the game because they felt they should have gone to a bigger bowl…maybe there was some truth to it.
In any case, Mississippi is now off the ranks of the unbeaten, making room for other teams to take their place….could this be the beginning of a weekend of upsets? Or was it that South Carolina beating Mississippi was never an upset to begin with…
Time will tell. But for now, the final score rests at 16-10, South Carolina Gamecocks.
Mississippi vs South Carolina 2009
Mississippi vs. South Carolina 2009
Looks like we got us a SEC matchup tonight….
Tonight on ESPN there will be a pretty interesting matchup between two SEC foes, as South Carolina will host the Mississippi Rebels. This is a game to watch, because for a lot of folks like myself, we are waiting to see if this Miss team is really the real deal.
I think the jury is still out on it.
Now Mississippi is ranked #5 on one poll, and #4 on the other, so we’re talking about a top 5 team in the nation. I can’t argue that. Mississippi has two wins already, while South Carolina is 2-1. By numbers alone, one might assume that South Carolina is doomed to lose…I mean, even under Steve Spurrier the Gamecocks have not really kicked open the door to the SEC Championship, have they?
But let’s look a little further, and see if we can find out what may happen tonight, shall we?
South Carolina, as mentioned, is 2-1, but came off a 7-6 record last year. Since they are playing home, let’s look at their home games from 2008. The Gamecocks beat NC State 34-0 to start the season, lost to Georgia 14-7 and barely beat Wofford 23-13...
Only ten points? What’s up with that Spurrier?
South Carolina beats UAB 26-13, loses to LSU 24-17, beats Tennessee 27-6 and stops Arkansas 34-21. So the home record for South Carolina is 5-2...not bad. When you consider that they lost to Georgia and LSU, that’s nothing to get too upset about. It might appear that South Carolina has a strong home field advantage.
Add to this that they beat Mississippi away last year 34-21, and one could guess that a little home cooking might make things better. This year they started out with Wolfpack, sweaking by 7-3, then lost at Georgia 41-37 before beating Florida Atlantic 38-16. I think the Gamecocks are a tad better this year than last year. Consider last year about this time they had about 58 points, this year they have scored over 80. If they can improve their defense just a little, it might make the difference in winning 7 games, or winning 9. To be sure, they have a chance tonight.
But Mississippi is a top 5 ranked team, with a quarterback that has been mentioned as a Heisman hopeful. With a 9-4 record last year, their losses were to Wake Forest on the road, Vanderbilt at home, South Carolina at home and Alabama away…hmmm.
The strength of Mississippi rests on the fact that they beat Florida, LSU and Texas Tech last year…not a bad trio to hang your hat on. So the Rebels get a nice big ranking early this year, and with upsets already abound, it was easy for them to move up the BCS ladder.
Question…are they REALLY a top 5 team?
That’s hard to answer right now, because even at 2-0 they have no conference games yet…until tonight. Beating Memphis isn’t saying a lot, crushing the Tigers 45-14, and beating Southeastern Louisiana 52-6 does not really make a real mark either. Granted, two wins is two wins, but who have you beat so far?
But you can’t ignore a quarterback that has thrown only 50 times this year, and has 5 touchdowns. With a high powered offense, this could be a team that will give South Carolina fits. We know the Rebels love to score, whether home or away, so the South Carolina fans better be ready for scoring galore.
Can Mississippi win on the road against Steve Spurrier? Can the Gamecocks beat a top 5 team, which would give an incredible boost to the university and the team? I think Mississippi can beat South Carolina in their house, after all they beat Florida AND LSU last year in their houses…why would this be any different?
It’s different because South Carolina beat them last year.
But folks, I am going to drink a little bit of that Rebel Gatorade, and think that this team can…and will pull out a victory. This will be their first real test of the year, and I do wonder if they are mentally ready for that. Whipping up on lesser foes can make you dull, but I think this South Carolina team is average at best, and may put up a good fight, but it won’t be enough.
I see Mississippi winning by about 7 points, maybe as much as 10.
Looks like we got us a SEC matchup tonight….
Tonight on ESPN there will be a pretty interesting matchup between two SEC foes, as South Carolina will host the Mississippi Rebels. This is a game to watch, because for a lot of folks like myself, we are waiting to see if this Miss team is really the real deal.
I think the jury is still out on it.
Now Mississippi is ranked #5 on one poll, and #4 on the other, so we’re talking about a top 5 team in the nation. I can’t argue that. Mississippi has two wins already, while South Carolina is 2-1. By numbers alone, one might assume that South Carolina is doomed to lose…I mean, even under Steve Spurrier the Gamecocks have not really kicked open the door to the SEC Championship, have they?
But let’s look a little further, and see if we can find out what may happen tonight, shall we?
South Carolina, as mentioned, is 2-1, but came off a 7-6 record last year. Since they are playing home, let’s look at their home games from 2008. The Gamecocks beat NC State 34-0 to start the season, lost to Georgia 14-7 and barely beat Wofford 23-13...
Only ten points? What’s up with that Spurrier?
South Carolina beats UAB 26-13, loses to LSU 24-17, beats Tennessee 27-6 and stops Arkansas 34-21. So the home record for South Carolina is 5-2...not bad. When you consider that they lost to Georgia and LSU, that’s nothing to get too upset about. It might appear that South Carolina has a strong home field advantage.
Add to this that they beat Mississippi away last year 34-21, and one could guess that a little home cooking might make things better. This year they started out with Wolfpack, sweaking by 7-3, then lost at Georgia 41-37 before beating Florida Atlantic 38-16. I think the Gamecocks are a tad better this year than last year. Consider last year about this time they had about 58 points, this year they have scored over 80. If they can improve their defense just a little, it might make the difference in winning 7 games, or winning 9. To be sure, they have a chance tonight.
But Mississippi is a top 5 ranked team, with a quarterback that has been mentioned as a Heisman hopeful. With a 9-4 record last year, their losses were to Wake Forest on the road, Vanderbilt at home, South Carolina at home and Alabama away…hmmm.
The strength of Mississippi rests on the fact that they beat Florida, LSU and Texas Tech last year…not a bad trio to hang your hat on. So the Rebels get a nice big ranking early this year, and with upsets already abound, it was easy for them to move up the BCS ladder.
Question…are they REALLY a top 5 team?
That’s hard to answer right now, because even at 2-0 they have no conference games yet…until tonight. Beating Memphis isn’t saying a lot, crushing the Tigers 45-14, and beating Southeastern Louisiana 52-6 does not really make a real mark either. Granted, two wins is two wins, but who have you beat so far?
But you can’t ignore a quarterback that has thrown only 50 times this year, and has 5 touchdowns. With a high powered offense, this could be a team that will give South Carolina fits. We know the Rebels love to score, whether home or away, so the South Carolina fans better be ready for scoring galore.
Can Mississippi win on the road against Steve Spurrier? Can the Gamecocks beat a top 5 team, which would give an incredible boost to the university and the team? I think Mississippi can beat South Carolina in their house, after all they beat Florida AND LSU last year in their houses…why would this be any different?
It’s different because South Carolina beat them last year.
But folks, I am going to drink a little bit of that Rebel Gatorade, and think that this team can…and will pull out a victory. This will be their first real test of the year, and I do wonder if they are mentally ready for that. Whipping up on lesser foes can make you dull, but I think this South Carolina team is average at best, and may put up a good fight, but it won’t be enough.
I see Mississippi winning by about 7 points, maybe as much as 10.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Boise State vs Fresno State 3rd quarter
Boise State vs. Fresno State: before the end
Speedblog
Ok, a quick blog to get something off my chest about this game.
Currently Boise State is in a dogfight with Fresno State, with 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, leading 34-24, but by the time I finish blogging this, the score could be much closer.
Before this final comes out, I want to spotlight a key play that could have turned this game into Fresno State’s favor…the kickoff.
In the third quarter, if you were watching the game, Fresno State kicks the ball off to Boise State, and the player catches it in the end zone…and proceeds to come out..
And runs 102 yards into the end zone! Touchdown….maybe not.
There was a block in the back by Boise State, but there was also a facemask against Fresno State. With both penalties offsetting, you had a re-kick. Now, this is where I think Fresno State dropped the ball:
If you just kicked the ball to a guy who ran 102 yards, guess what…he is DOG tired! With Fresno State having to re kick, the guys calling the game on ESPN suggested not to kick to this guy again…I strongly disagree.
You kick DIRECTLY to him, because he is extremely tired. This creates a better chance for maybe a turnover for Fresno State. But as I was watching this with my brother, they decided to kick away to him, to the other guy. I quickly said to him, “that’s a terrible idea, because that guy is fresh”.
And Boise State proceeds with that guy to get a HUGE gain on the kick return, setting up another score. And now with the score 34-27, that plays big time on how the results will come out.
It just didn’t make sense to me why you would kick AWAY from a dead tired player into the hands of a fresh one. Would it not have made sense to challenge that same guy who ran across the entire field to do it again. With him being that tired, your chances of a turnover is greater than with a guy that didn’t run full speed, across the length of the field.
But that’s something they may have to live with.
Mark my words, if Fresno State loses by less than one possession, they will regret that unwise decision. With under 2 minutes left in the third quarter, I still think it may be a matter of time before Fresno State sputters with the offense. Well, with a whole quarter to go, we will see.
End of third quarter, Boise State up 34-27...and that unwise decision on that kickoff makes the difference. The full result of that has yet to be determined….
Speedblog
Ok, a quick blog to get something off my chest about this game.
Currently Boise State is in a dogfight with Fresno State, with 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, leading 34-24, but by the time I finish blogging this, the score could be much closer.
Before this final comes out, I want to spotlight a key play that could have turned this game into Fresno State’s favor…the kickoff.
In the third quarter, if you were watching the game, Fresno State kicks the ball off to Boise State, and the player catches it in the end zone…and proceeds to come out..
And runs 102 yards into the end zone! Touchdown….maybe not.
There was a block in the back by Boise State, but there was also a facemask against Fresno State. With both penalties offsetting, you had a re-kick. Now, this is where I think Fresno State dropped the ball:
If you just kicked the ball to a guy who ran 102 yards, guess what…he is DOG tired! With Fresno State having to re kick, the guys calling the game on ESPN suggested not to kick to this guy again…I strongly disagree.
You kick DIRECTLY to him, because he is extremely tired. This creates a better chance for maybe a turnover for Fresno State. But as I was watching this with my brother, they decided to kick away to him, to the other guy. I quickly said to him, “that’s a terrible idea, because that guy is fresh”.
And Boise State proceeds with that guy to get a HUGE gain on the kick return, setting up another score. And now with the score 34-27, that plays big time on how the results will come out.
It just didn’t make sense to me why you would kick AWAY from a dead tired player into the hands of a fresh one. Would it not have made sense to challenge that same guy who ran across the entire field to do it again. With him being that tired, your chances of a turnover is greater than with a guy that didn’t run full speed, across the length of the field.
But that’s something they may have to live with.
Mark my words, if Fresno State loses by less than one possession, they will regret that unwise decision. With under 2 minutes left in the third quarter, I still think it may be a matter of time before Fresno State sputters with the offense. Well, with a whole quarter to go, we will see.
End of third quarter, Boise State up 34-27...and that unwise decision on that kickoff makes the difference. The full result of that has yet to be determined….
Can Tennessee Volunteers make a bowl this year?
Can Tennessee Volunteers make a bowl?
Well, did they LAST year?
The answer might require a little more thought, I mean, teams can get better from one year to the next…and they can also go backwards too….
So the question for the Volunteer fans is this: can Tennessee qualify for a bowl?
To get a good answer, we have to look at a few elements, including how they fared last year, who they play this year, and how they have done so far.
For any college football program in Division I, the number one objective is to first win the minimum number of games to qualify for a bowl. So the question first is, can Tennessee win six games?
To answer that, we have to first jump back a year. This is a team that won 5 games last year in the very tough SEC conference. The season started out with a loss to UCLA in California before a win over UAB to even the record to 1-1. A “respectable” loss to Florida at Rocky Top dropped them to 1-2, but with the hopes that maybe this team could compete in the SEC.
But losing to Auburn away sunk them further, and it didn’t help that Tennessee barely escaped Northern Illinois at home, 13-9. This once mighty team had a 2-3 record, and not very impressive.
Another road loss to Georgia and a home win over hapless Miss State ran the record to 3-4 before losing two conference games back-to-back, dropping games to Alabama and South Carolina, and not even scoring more than 10 points in either game.
Ugh.
A loss to Wyoming put Tennessee at 3-6, and no chance for post season. But oddly enough, THAT is when they put together a few wins, beating Vanderbilt away and Kentucky at home.
So…how does that change this year?
Beating Western Kentucky 63-10 proves nothing and almost smells like a first time coach trying to impose his will on the weak. Anybody can be a bully for a weekend….
So then the chance comes to put up or shut up against UCLA, a team that beat Tennessee on the West Coast last year…and as it turns out, nothing changed but the date on the calendar. The Volunteers lost by 3 last year to UCLA…lost by 4 this year in their own home.
So now this weekend they have to go to see about a Gator…and to eat some crow. There is no doubt that nobody is picking Tennessee to win, it would be a moral victory if they lose by less than 3 touchdowns, but with Lane Kiffin popping his chops, this might be more about taming a shrew than just a game.
So we can go ahead and put Tennessee at 1-2, right?
The Volunteers then have three straight home games against Ohio, who was 4-8 last year, then Auburn, who was 5-7 but beat Tennessee last year, and Georgia, who was 10-3, and spanked Tennessee last year.
I am willing to believe Tennessee can split the SEC home games, and win over Ohio, so I can see them coming out of this with a 3-3 record.
They then travel TO Alabama, then home for two more games (South Carolina and Memphis). I can’t see them beating Alabama, and I have doubts about South Carolina too, but it’s not impossible. So the Volunteers can come out of this either 5-4, or 4-5.
But playing Mississippi could be a problem, if they are as good as people think they are…personally I am not fully convinced, but I do think they are better than Tennessee. So with two games left in the season, Tennessee would, by my guesses, be struggling to qualify for a bowl, at either 5-5 or 4-6. If the latter, then the last two games are of HUGE importance.
As it turns out, it is a repeat of last year, playing Vanderbilt and Kentucky, the only difference is the location. Vandy at home, Kentucky away. Tennessee handily beat both teams last year…they might NEED to do so this year to get to a bowl.
So if the question is whether Tennessee can make it to a bowl, my answer is yes they can…but the margin for error is razor thin. If I give Tennessee the last two games, they would either finish 7-5 or 6-6...that is cutting it close.
Still, either way it is a step in the right direction since last year they were 5-7. But losing 4 out of 5 road games ain’t cool, perhaps that’s why they figured out how to give them only FOUR this year. With eight scheduled home games, you BETTER qualify for a bowl game, I can’t imagine how much money will be spent filling up Neyland Stadium.
We’ll get a true measure AFTER the Florida game, I think the Auburn game will tell us much more…heaven forbid if they lose BIG to Florida and then lose to Ohio…oh the agony.
We shall see…..
Well, did they LAST year?
The answer might require a little more thought, I mean, teams can get better from one year to the next…and they can also go backwards too….
So the question for the Volunteer fans is this: can Tennessee qualify for a bowl?
To get a good answer, we have to look at a few elements, including how they fared last year, who they play this year, and how they have done so far.
For any college football program in Division I, the number one objective is to first win the minimum number of games to qualify for a bowl. So the question first is, can Tennessee win six games?
To answer that, we have to first jump back a year. This is a team that won 5 games last year in the very tough SEC conference. The season started out with a loss to UCLA in California before a win over UAB to even the record to 1-1. A “respectable” loss to Florida at Rocky Top dropped them to 1-2, but with the hopes that maybe this team could compete in the SEC.
But losing to Auburn away sunk them further, and it didn’t help that Tennessee barely escaped Northern Illinois at home, 13-9. This once mighty team had a 2-3 record, and not very impressive.
Another road loss to Georgia and a home win over hapless Miss State ran the record to 3-4 before losing two conference games back-to-back, dropping games to Alabama and South Carolina, and not even scoring more than 10 points in either game.
Ugh.
A loss to Wyoming put Tennessee at 3-6, and no chance for post season. But oddly enough, THAT is when they put together a few wins, beating Vanderbilt away and Kentucky at home.
So…how does that change this year?
Beating Western Kentucky 63-10 proves nothing and almost smells like a first time coach trying to impose his will on the weak. Anybody can be a bully for a weekend….
So then the chance comes to put up or shut up against UCLA, a team that beat Tennessee on the West Coast last year…and as it turns out, nothing changed but the date on the calendar. The Volunteers lost by 3 last year to UCLA…lost by 4 this year in their own home.
So now this weekend they have to go to see about a Gator…and to eat some crow. There is no doubt that nobody is picking Tennessee to win, it would be a moral victory if they lose by less than 3 touchdowns, but with Lane Kiffin popping his chops, this might be more about taming a shrew than just a game.
So we can go ahead and put Tennessee at 1-2, right?
The Volunteers then have three straight home games against Ohio, who was 4-8 last year, then Auburn, who was 5-7 but beat Tennessee last year, and Georgia, who was 10-3, and spanked Tennessee last year.
I am willing to believe Tennessee can split the SEC home games, and win over Ohio, so I can see them coming out of this with a 3-3 record.
They then travel TO Alabama, then home for two more games (South Carolina and Memphis). I can’t see them beating Alabama, and I have doubts about South Carolina too, but it’s not impossible. So the Volunteers can come out of this either 5-4, or 4-5.
But playing Mississippi could be a problem, if they are as good as people think they are…personally I am not fully convinced, but I do think they are better than Tennessee. So with two games left in the season, Tennessee would, by my guesses, be struggling to qualify for a bowl, at either 5-5 or 4-6. If the latter, then the last two games are of HUGE importance.
As it turns out, it is a repeat of last year, playing Vanderbilt and Kentucky, the only difference is the location. Vandy at home, Kentucky away. Tennessee handily beat both teams last year…they might NEED to do so this year to get to a bowl.
So if the question is whether Tennessee can make it to a bowl, my answer is yes they can…but the margin for error is razor thin. If I give Tennessee the last two games, they would either finish 7-5 or 6-6...that is cutting it close.
Still, either way it is a step in the right direction since last year they were 5-7. But losing 4 out of 5 road games ain’t cool, perhaps that’s why they figured out how to give them only FOUR this year. With eight scheduled home games, you BETTER qualify for a bowl game, I can’t imagine how much money will be spent filling up Neyland Stadium.
We’ll get a true measure AFTER the Florida game, I think the Auburn game will tell us much more…heaven forbid if they lose BIG to Florida and then lose to Ohio…oh the agony.
We shall see…..
Georgia Tech vs Miami: Aftermath
Georgia Tech vs. Miami: Aftermath
Georgia Tech 17, Miami 33 Final
This was a pretty nice game to watch, one where there seemed to be more pressure on Miami to win than on Georgia Tech. I watched this game with the idea that maybe the winner here could be the favorite to win the ACC. While that is still possible, I am still not quite sure on that.
But what I am sure of is that the option that Georgia Tech runs may be quickly outdated. Remember that the coach came from Navy, and the option was common there. When he used it last year, it had marginal success, but is it possible that now the competition has adjusted to them?
To me, if you are going to run a triple option, then the quarterback has to have some legit threat to pass. We know from last year that this was not the case at all, as Josh Nesbitt had only two passing touchdowns, and five interceptions. We even saw this last week vs. Clemson, when the glaring problem of the triple option came evident. This does not seem to work against more quality teams and actually hurts when you’re down by more than 8 points.
But last night the game certainly looked like they were going to do a repeat of getting over 400 yards rushing against Miami. This was a revenge game for Miami, and also a very key game for several reasons. One, being embarrassed by Georgia Tech last year, two, in the midst of four very tough games, and three, the real possibility of their head coach’s job on the line.
Beating Florida State was crucial, but it was only the first of four big time games for the Hurricanes. They needed to win this game to make a solid statement for the ACC crown.
It was most important for Miami to stop the run… it’s what Georgia Tech lived by, and if they could stop that, it would force them to do what they are not good at…throwing the ball.
The first drive seemed to start out just like last year, with the Yellow Jackets moving the ball at will, but the Hurricanes managed to stop them from getting into the end zone, settling for a field goal. To Miami, this was a moral victory, even though they were down 3-0.
But the offence of Miami seemed to come alive with this new quarterback, Jacory Harris. I gotta tell ya, he looked like he knew the system every which way but loose. The Hurricanes moved the ball down the field and scored with a 40 yard pass, taking the lead at 7-3 by the end of the first quarter.
The plan for Miami seemed to be simple, if you contain Nesbitt and Dwyer, you contain the option. It seemed that the Hurricanes were willing to gamble that Georgia Tech could not throw the ball, because that was not their strength. However, the passing attack of Miami seemed to have the Yellow Jackets winded as they took a halftime lead of 17-3.
At this point, I believed Georgia Tech was half beaten, because to come back, they would either have to hope that Miami got lazy with the option, or would have to throw the ball. But Miami seemed dead set to stop the option at all costs, even if it meant being burnt on a few passing plays. Although there was some glimpses of the option working, it took some rare long passes for Georgia Tech to get back in. Still, near the end of the 3rd, quarter, the score was 31-14.
Then there was that odd safety penalty thing….
I am not quite sure what Coach Paul Johnson of Georgia Tech was so upset about here, and why it was directed at his kicker. GA Tech snaps the ball, it goes sailing over the kicker’s head into the end zone. The kid has only a couple of options; get rid of the ball or try to make something out of it. He decides to purposely kick it out the end zone, which is an automatic safety, rather than giving Miami superior field position or a touchdown should something crazy happens. Yet he is flagged for intentionally kicking the ball out, which still results in a safety.
Ok, fine. But why then was coach Johnson all hot at the kicker? Didn’t he do only what he had to do? It was quite likely it was going to be a safety anyway, if he had tried to be a hero and save the ball and try to kick it, it could have easily ended up inside the 10 or 5 yard line, almost guaranteeing Miami a touchdown or field goal. I just didn’t see what the kicker did wrong except save GA Tech some points.
So we go into the 4th quarter, and I see something else…early in the 4th, Miami inside the GA Tech 10 yard line, and Coach Randy Shannon opts to go for a field goal…
WHY?
With the score being 33-10 early in the 4th, I would not think it would be running up the score to try for one more touchdown. Yet I think Shannon, to his credit, was concerned about that, and even with his team inside the 10, he takes a penalty to back up and try for a field goal…and misses.
The problem here that Miami might need to fix is when you are beating a team, make sure you have the BEAT before you show mercy. The problem with this is that once you take your foot off the pedal, sometimes it is hard to find it again. And by missing that field goal, you offer the ball back to Georgia Tech with better field position, and you give them the slightest gleam of hope.
This is something Georgia Tech learned last week against Clemson, and it almost cost them the game. But now with a little light, the Yellow Jackets do the rare thing and get the passing game going, and nets a touchdown. Now the score is 33-17 with 10 minutes left…and Georgia Tech has some hope.
The onside kick does not work, but they would not have tried it unless they thought there was a chance they could come back. But the defense holds and Miami gets the ball back, but misses a second field goal…this gives Georgia Tech every thought that they just might make a game of it.
But Georgia Tech was contained by the Hurricanes, as Nesbitt could not get anything going, passing or running, and it choked any hope of them coming back. End the end, Miami wins…but we see that they have two problems. One, the kicking game, and two, the lack of a “killer instinct”.
This might come back to haunt them, especially with games vs. Virginia Tech and Oklahoma back to back. Is the “U” back…I am not completely convinced, but I like what I see.
As for Georgia Tech, I think they have been exposed and I think average teams will be able to set up a counter for that option, forcing Nesbitt to lean on his weakness, that of throwing. A bad team can’t stop Georgia Tech, but a decent team can seriously challenge them. Some people might think this option stuff is awesome, but without a good quarterback who can throw the ball, it makes them too one dimensional. At this rate, I can’t see 9 wins for them…maybe 7.
But we shall see as the season goes on…
Georgia Tech 17, Miami 33 Final
This was a pretty nice game to watch, one where there seemed to be more pressure on Miami to win than on Georgia Tech. I watched this game with the idea that maybe the winner here could be the favorite to win the ACC. While that is still possible, I am still not quite sure on that.
But what I am sure of is that the option that Georgia Tech runs may be quickly outdated. Remember that the coach came from Navy, and the option was common there. When he used it last year, it had marginal success, but is it possible that now the competition has adjusted to them?
To me, if you are going to run a triple option, then the quarterback has to have some legit threat to pass. We know from last year that this was not the case at all, as Josh Nesbitt had only two passing touchdowns, and five interceptions. We even saw this last week vs. Clemson, when the glaring problem of the triple option came evident. This does not seem to work against more quality teams and actually hurts when you’re down by more than 8 points.
But last night the game certainly looked like they were going to do a repeat of getting over 400 yards rushing against Miami. This was a revenge game for Miami, and also a very key game for several reasons. One, being embarrassed by Georgia Tech last year, two, in the midst of four very tough games, and three, the real possibility of their head coach’s job on the line.
Beating Florida State was crucial, but it was only the first of four big time games for the Hurricanes. They needed to win this game to make a solid statement for the ACC crown.
It was most important for Miami to stop the run… it’s what Georgia Tech lived by, and if they could stop that, it would force them to do what they are not good at…throwing the ball.
The first drive seemed to start out just like last year, with the Yellow Jackets moving the ball at will, but the Hurricanes managed to stop them from getting into the end zone, settling for a field goal. To Miami, this was a moral victory, even though they were down 3-0.
But the offence of Miami seemed to come alive with this new quarterback, Jacory Harris. I gotta tell ya, he looked like he knew the system every which way but loose. The Hurricanes moved the ball down the field and scored with a 40 yard pass, taking the lead at 7-3 by the end of the first quarter.
The plan for Miami seemed to be simple, if you contain Nesbitt and Dwyer, you contain the option. It seemed that the Hurricanes were willing to gamble that Georgia Tech could not throw the ball, because that was not their strength. However, the passing attack of Miami seemed to have the Yellow Jackets winded as they took a halftime lead of 17-3.
At this point, I believed Georgia Tech was half beaten, because to come back, they would either have to hope that Miami got lazy with the option, or would have to throw the ball. But Miami seemed dead set to stop the option at all costs, even if it meant being burnt on a few passing plays. Although there was some glimpses of the option working, it took some rare long passes for Georgia Tech to get back in. Still, near the end of the 3rd, quarter, the score was 31-14.
Then there was that odd safety penalty thing….
I am not quite sure what Coach Paul Johnson of Georgia Tech was so upset about here, and why it was directed at his kicker. GA Tech snaps the ball, it goes sailing over the kicker’s head into the end zone. The kid has only a couple of options; get rid of the ball or try to make something out of it. He decides to purposely kick it out the end zone, which is an automatic safety, rather than giving Miami superior field position or a touchdown should something crazy happens. Yet he is flagged for intentionally kicking the ball out, which still results in a safety.
Ok, fine. But why then was coach Johnson all hot at the kicker? Didn’t he do only what he had to do? It was quite likely it was going to be a safety anyway, if he had tried to be a hero and save the ball and try to kick it, it could have easily ended up inside the 10 or 5 yard line, almost guaranteeing Miami a touchdown or field goal. I just didn’t see what the kicker did wrong except save GA Tech some points.
So we go into the 4th quarter, and I see something else…early in the 4th, Miami inside the GA Tech 10 yard line, and Coach Randy Shannon opts to go for a field goal…
WHY?
With the score being 33-10 early in the 4th, I would not think it would be running up the score to try for one more touchdown. Yet I think Shannon, to his credit, was concerned about that, and even with his team inside the 10, he takes a penalty to back up and try for a field goal…and misses.
The problem here that Miami might need to fix is when you are beating a team, make sure you have the BEAT before you show mercy. The problem with this is that once you take your foot off the pedal, sometimes it is hard to find it again. And by missing that field goal, you offer the ball back to Georgia Tech with better field position, and you give them the slightest gleam of hope.
This is something Georgia Tech learned last week against Clemson, and it almost cost them the game. But now with a little light, the Yellow Jackets do the rare thing and get the passing game going, and nets a touchdown. Now the score is 33-17 with 10 minutes left…and Georgia Tech has some hope.
The onside kick does not work, but they would not have tried it unless they thought there was a chance they could come back. But the defense holds and Miami gets the ball back, but misses a second field goal…this gives Georgia Tech every thought that they just might make a game of it.
But Georgia Tech was contained by the Hurricanes, as Nesbitt could not get anything going, passing or running, and it choked any hope of them coming back. End the end, Miami wins…but we see that they have two problems. One, the kicking game, and two, the lack of a “killer instinct”.
This might come back to haunt them, especially with games vs. Virginia Tech and Oklahoma back to back. Is the “U” back…I am not completely convinced, but I like what I see.
As for Georgia Tech, I think they have been exposed and I think average teams will be able to set up a counter for that option, forcing Nesbitt to lean on his weakness, that of throwing. A bad team can’t stop Georgia Tech, but a decent team can seriously challenge them. Some people might think this option stuff is awesome, but without a good quarterback who can throw the ball, it makes them too one dimensional. At this rate, I can’t see 9 wins for them…maybe 7.
But we shall see as the season goes on…
Michael Crabtree being Crabby!
Michael Crabtree being Crabby!
“Oh greed, from which pit of hell cometh thou?”
I don’t get this folks, SOMEBODY tell me what I am missing here!
The last few years I was fortunate enough to watch some Texas Tech games on television and loved how these guys played. We were almost guaranteed many points every game, and it was most exciting. This high scoring team had a great quarterback, and also a great receiver, showcased last year when Texas Tech beat Texas in a thriller.
(R.I.P MJ)
One of the stars was Michael Crabtree, a sure-fire first round pick in the NFL draft. I realized that whoever picked this guy would certainly be in a good position to build a good offense, even with a decent quarterback.
So the NFL Draft comes around, and Michael Crabtree is picked #10 by the San Francisco 49ers…ok, not exactly the best team in the NFL at the moment, but to be sure there is great promise with what they have there. Seems like a no brainer; Crabtree signs, he gets on the team, works out and bingo, the 49ers have a new weapon that could just make the difference in them getting to the playoffs.
Problem.
That rare disease called Divamentia has descended on Michael Crabtree, where he thinks that he should be paid even more than the offer.
Let’s see…the 49ers are offering him about $20,000,000 over a 5 year period, with about $16,000,000 guaranteed. He’d be making about $4 million a year. He wants MORE money, comparable to the higher picks.
Comparable to what?
Darrius Heyward-Bey was picked #7 in the draft, the only other receiver ahead of Crabtree. He signed a 5 year deal guaranteeing him at least $23 million, but can make over $38 million.
Eugene Monroe was picked #8, and will get about $35 million, with about $19 million guaranteed. So what in the world is Crabbytree looking for?
If you looked at the 2009 draft, and what the players all signed for (except Crabtree) you can see a progressive change from the first pick on down. Generally speaking, the higher you are drafted, the more money you can be signed for, over a 4-6 year deal. Most players signed for 5 years, a few signed for 4 or 6.
The progression of salaries and guaranteed contracts goes lower as the picks go lower. For example, Matthew Stafford was the #1 pick, and signed with the Lions for 6 years, $72 million with almost $42 million guaranteed. The second pick was Jason Smith, who signed for the St. Louis Rams for 5 years, almost $62 million with $33 million guaranteed.
From there it decreases in salary as the pick get lower. One exception is Andre Smith, who signed with the Bengals for only 4 years, $26 million ,but $21 million of that guaranteed. From there the contract gets progressively lower.
If you look at the lower picks under Crabtree, you see that the #12 pick was Knowshon Moreno was picked by Denver for 5 years, $23 million, with $13 million of that guaranteed. Fellow receiver Jeremy Maclin was selected #19, and his contract was for 5 years, almost $15 million, with just over $9 million guaranteed.
You get the idea? The higher you are picked, the more money you can get, the lower you are picked, the less money you will sign for. If we were to use some kinda math at what Michael Crabtree should get since he was picked #10, it might be something along maybe $21 or $22 million, with about $16 million guaranteed…there abouts.
But that’s not enough. Crabtree wants similar money to what Darrius Heyward-Bey makes, which is about $15 million MORE than the contract that Crabtree has on the table, and about another 8 or 9 million guaranteed.
He wants #7 money when he was NOT the #7 pick….what makes this dude think he deserves that kind of money?
And the problem is that he looks at Brandon Marshall with the Broncos throw a temper tantrum and get what he wants, he sees Terrell Owens as “Mouth Almighty” and gets what he wants, and thinks that every receiver has to be the center of the universe. So Crabtree has already missed every bit of training camp, and the season has already started…he is now of no use to the 49ers.
And there is the thought of reentering the draft next year for a higher pick… a foolish gamble if you ask me.
Guys like this make me wish that he gets picked MUCH later in the first round, preferably the second round, so he can dream about those big dollars he left on the table. I realize this is a business, but the business wanted to award him $16 million guaranteed! That would have made him the 10th highest paid rookie of the draft…isn’t that the way it is supposed to work?
With the length of contract and the overall salary, it gets a little sketchy, but maybe his argument was that there was such a dropoff from the #9 pick, B.J. Raji, picked by the Packers for 5 years, $28 million with $18 guaranteed to his $20 million, $16 million guaranteed. The difference of $8 million dollars might have been what upset him…and his agent.
If the 49ers make a deal with him, (and I hope they don’t), they might offer a few million more, maybe give him a $24 or $25 million dollar deal, maybe $17 million guaranteed, but how can they go any higher? He does not deserve it, he has not shown anything on the field, and he is suffering from Divamentia…somebody help the poor guy!
A sad story to be sure…where $20 million dollars just doesn’t buy what it used to…maybe he ought to take a part time job at Wal-Mart…I am sure they got one in San Francisco….
“Oh greed, from which pit of hell cometh thou?”
I don’t get this folks, SOMEBODY tell me what I am missing here!
The last few years I was fortunate enough to watch some Texas Tech games on television and loved how these guys played. We were almost guaranteed many points every game, and it was most exciting. This high scoring team had a great quarterback, and also a great receiver, showcased last year when Texas Tech beat Texas in a thriller.
(R.I.P MJ)
One of the stars was Michael Crabtree, a sure-fire first round pick in the NFL draft. I realized that whoever picked this guy would certainly be in a good position to build a good offense, even with a decent quarterback.
So the NFL Draft comes around, and Michael Crabtree is picked #10 by the San Francisco 49ers…ok, not exactly the best team in the NFL at the moment, but to be sure there is great promise with what they have there. Seems like a no brainer; Crabtree signs, he gets on the team, works out and bingo, the 49ers have a new weapon that could just make the difference in them getting to the playoffs.
Problem.
That rare disease called Divamentia has descended on Michael Crabtree, where he thinks that he should be paid even more than the offer.
Let’s see…the 49ers are offering him about $20,000,000 over a 5 year period, with about $16,000,000 guaranteed. He’d be making about $4 million a year. He wants MORE money, comparable to the higher picks.
Comparable to what?
Darrius Heyward-Bey was picked #7 in the draft, the only other receiver ahead of Crabtree. He signed a 5 year deal guaranteeing him at least $23 million, but can make over $38 million.
Eugene Monroe was picked #8, and will get about $35 million, with about $19 million guaranteed. So what in the world is Crabbytree looking for?
If you looked at the 2009 draft, and what the players all signed for (except Crabtree) you can see a progressive change from the first pick on down. Generally speaking, the higher you are drafted, the more money you can be signed for, over a 4-6 year deal. Most players signed for 5 years, a few signed for 4 or 6.
The progression of salaries and guaranteed contracts goes lower as the picks go lower. For example, Matthew Stafford was the #1 pick, and signed with the Lions for 6 years, $72 million with almost $42 million guaranteed. The second pick was Jason Smith, who signed for the St. Louis Rams for 5 years, almost $62 million with $33 million guaranteed.
From there it decreases in salary as the pick get lower. One exception is Andre Smith, who signed with the Bengals for only 4 years, $26 million ,but $21 million of that guaranteed. From there the contract gets progressively lower.
If you look at the lower picks under Crabtree, you see that the #12 pick was Knowshon Moreno was picked by Denver for 5 years, $23 million, with $13 million of that guaranteed. Fellow receiver Jeremy Maclin was selected #19, and his contract was for 5 years, almost $15 million, with just over $9 million guaranteed.
You get the idea? The higher you are picked, the more money you can get, the lower you are picked, the less money you will sign for. If we were to use some kinda math at what Michael Crabtree should get since he was picked #10, it might be something along maybe $21 or $22 million, with about $16 million guaranteed…there abouts.
But that’s not enough. Crabtree wants similar money to what Darrius Heyward-Bey makes, which is about $15 million MORE than the contract that Crabtree has on the table, and about another 8 or 9 million guaranteed.
He wants #7 money when he was NOT the #7 pick….what makes this dude think he deserves that kind of money?
And the problem is that he looks at Brandon Marshall with the Broncos throw a temper tantrum and get what he wants, he sees Terrell Owens as “Mouth Almighty” and gets what he wants, and thinks that every receiver has to be the center of the universe. So Crabtree has already missed every bit of training camp, and the season has already started…he is now of no use to the 49ers.
And there is the thought of reentering the draft next year for a higher pick… a foolish gamble if you ask me.
Guys like this make me wish that he gets picked MUCH later in the first round, preferably the second round, so he can dream about those big dollars he left on the table. I realize this is a business, but the business wanted to award him $16 million guaranteed! That would have made him the 10th highest paid rookie of the draft…isn’t that the way it is supposed to work?
With the length of contract and the overall salary, it gets a little sketchy, but maybe his argument was that there was such a dropoff from the #9 pick, B.J. Raji, picked by the Packers for 5 years, $28 million with $18 guaranteed to his $20 million, $16 million guaranteed. The difference of $8 million dollars might have been what upset him…and his agent.
If the 49ers make a deal with him, (and I hope they don’t), they might offer a few million more, maybe give him a $24 or $25 million dollar deal, maybe $17 million guaranteed, but how can they go any higher? He does not deserve it, he has not shown anything on the field, and he is suffering from Divamentia…somebody help the poor guy!
A sad story to be sure…where $20 million dollars just doesn’t buy what it used to…maybe he ought to take a part time job at Wal-Mart…I am sure they got one in San Francisco….
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Will Florida CRUSH Tennessee?
Should Florida CRUSH Tennessee?
This is a hard question for me, because I have some biases about this game. First off, I live in ACC country, so to talk about SEC matchups is kinda odd to begin with. But there is no question that the SEC is better, it has been proven several times in the last few years.
But this Tennessee vs. Florida game is pretty big because there is a promise of a major beat down. But my problem is that Lane Kiffin, the head coach of Tennessee, is a former Oakland Raider coach…and I am a HEAVY Raider fan.
And I felt sorry for how Monty Burns….er….Al Davis, ran him out of the NFL. At that time he looked like the guy that was stepped on by the mean ole grumpy businessman, and had a lot of sympathy votes. So when Tennessee called him up, it just seemed like the great fit.
And I was a very big fan of Tennessee, I have always admired their very strong fan base and they have been a great team up until recently. But I personally felt that the alumni of Tennessee was too hasty in getting rid of their former head coach because they wanted to be in the National Title hunt every single year. It lends to the phrase, “what have you done for me lately”…of which Janet Jackson made famous years ago.
I lost respect for Tennessee for getting rid of a good coach, and hiring one with virtually NO experience…this just didn’t really add up unless they were hoping that Lane Kiffin’s NFL aura could recruit more talent to Tennessee.
So I have mixed feelings for the Volunteers. I have admired the school for a long time, but lately I kinda feel like they listened to rich alumni rather than being patient. But it didn’t help one bit when Kiffin stepped into the college spotlight by opening his big mouth about what Tennessee was going to do.
What is his pedigree in winning…mind you, not his dad’s but Lane himself? How can a guy that had a bad record with the Raiders can come across the country and pop his chops as if he won the Superbowl? Come on now, being confident is one thing…being arrogant is quite another.
So now Lane Kiffin has written a check that is bigger than the stadium he coaches in…not very wise. Sometimes when coaches get God-like egos, it is nice to see it popped. When Steve Spurrier was the head coach at Florida, he used to run up the score a lot. When he got the head coach’s job for the Washington Redskins, he thought he could do the same thing during preseason, but learned a HUGE lesson about doing that. His coaching career didn’t last so long in the NFL…
So now Lane Kiffin has called the thunder, of the best team in the country, and playing in the “Swamp”, with a team that was 5-7 last year, already lost their first game of the season, and playing Florida, who beat them handily last year in their own house. Does this smell like a legendary beat down to you?
It ought to.
And I gotta tell you, I am not the biggest Florida fan, since I like Florida State more, but I have no problem cheering for Florida this year. Tim Tebow has been like the ray of sunshine to the sport, and all I ever hear is good things about him. I have to give major props to the coach, because Urban Meyer is trying to prepare his quarterback for the NFL, rather than just running the same system. This is a man that is trying to help his player, who helped them win a National Championship. I see nothing but honor in that.
I remember years ago when Emmitt Smith was playing for Florida, when Steve Spurrier took over. It was said that the “ole ball coach” told Smith that if he was going to play on the Gator team, he had to play it HIS way…so Emmitt Smith decided to go pro a little earlier…and the rest as they say…is history for Emmitt Smith, but for Steve Spurrier as well, both having legendary careers.
For a long time I didn’t like Florida, not really hate them (come on folks, it’s just a game) but up until recently I have set a place in my heart for Florida. I like the way they play and they seem to be as professional as students can be.
So, if you asked me who I am pulling for, I would say Florida…BIG. I think beating Tennessee by 35 points would be an understatement. If they were playing at Tennessee, the score would be less, but at home, you don’t have to show any mercy to anybody. Lane Kiffin will go 1-2 and start to eat those words he spit out when he took to that podium. I see this game possibly ending up maybe 45-10, maybe even higher…
And somewhere in California, Al Davis is laughing and saying… “excellent”, as only Monty Burns could say.
Good luck on qualifying for a bowl this year Tennessee.
This is a hard question for me, because I have some biases about this game. First off, I live in ACC country, so to talk about SEC matchups is kinda odd to begin with. But there is no question that the SEC is better, it has been proven several times in the last few years.
But this Tennessee vs. Florida game is pretty big because there is a promise of a major beat down. But my problem is that Lane Kiffin, the head coach of Tennessee, is a former Oakland Raider coach…and I am a HEAVY Raider fan.
And I felt sorry for how Monty Burns….er….Al Davis, ran him out of the NFL. At that time he looked like the guy that was stepped on by the mean ole grumpy businessman, and had a lot of sympathy votes. So when Tennessee called him up, it just seemed like the great fit.
And I was a very big fan of Tennessee, I have always admired their very strong fan base and they have been a great team up until recently. But I personally felt that the alumni of Tennessee was too hasty in getting rid of their former head coach because they wanted to be in the National Title hunt every single year. It lends to the phrase, “what have you done for me lately”…of which Janet Jackson made famous years ago.
I lost respect for Tennessee for getting rid of a good coach, and hiring one with virtually NO experience…this just didn’t really add up unless they were hoping that Lane Kiffin’s NFL aura could recruit more talent to Tennessee.
So I have mixed feelings for the Volunteers. I have admired the school for a long time, but lately I kinda feel like they listened to rich alumni rather than being patient. But it didn’t help one bit when Kiffin stepped into the college spotlight by opening his big mouth about what Tennessee was going to do.
What is his pedigree in winning…mind you, not his dad’s but Lane himself? How can a guy that had a bad record with the Raiders can come across the country and pop his chops as if he won the Superbowl? Come on now, being confident is one thing…being arrogant is quite another.
So now Lane Kiffin has written a check that is bigger than the stadium he coaches in…not very wise. Sometimes when coaches get God-like egos, it is nice to see it popped. When Steve Spurrier was the head coach at Florida, he used to run up the score a lot. When he got the head coach’s job for the Washington Redskins, he thought he could do the same thing during preseason, but learned a HUGE lesson about doing that. His coaching career didn’t last so long in the NFL…
So now Lane Kiffin has called the thunder, of the best team in the country, and playing in the “Swamp”, with a team that was 5-7 last year, already lost their first game of the season, and playing Florida, who beat them handily last year in their own house. Does this smell like a legendary beat down to you?
It ought to.
And I gotta tell you, I am not the biggest Florida fan, since I like Florida State more, but I have no problem cheering for Florida this year. Tim Tebow has been like the ray of sunshine to the sport, and all I ever hear is good things about him. I have to give major props to the coach, because Urban Meyer is trying to prepare his quarterback for the NFL, rather than just running the same system. This is a man that is trying to help his player, who helped them win a National Championship. I see nothing but honor in that.
I remember years ago when Emmitt Smith was playing for Florida, when Steve Spurrier took over. It was said that the “ole ball coach” told Smith that if he was going to play on the Gator team, he had to play it HIS way…so Emmitt Smith decided to go pro a little earlier…and the rest as they say…is history for Emmitt Smith, but for Steve Spurrier as well, both having legendary careers.
For a long time I didn’t like Florida, not really hate them (come on folks, it’s just a game) but up until recently I have set a place in my heart for Florida. I like the way they play and they seem to be as professional as students can be.
So, if you asked me who I am pulling for, I would say Florida…BIG. I think beating Tennessee by 35 points would be an understatement. If they were playing at Tennessee, the score would be less, but at home, you don’t have to show any mercy to anybody. Lane Kiffin will go 1-2 and start to eat those words he spit out when he took to that podium. I see this game possibly ending up maybe 45-10, maybe even higher…
And somewhere in California, Al Davis is laughing and saying… “excellent”, as only Monty Burns could say.
Good luck on qualifying for a bowl this year Tennessee.
Boise State vs Fresno State 2009
Boise State vs. Fresno State
Some feel that this is the last obstacle for Boise State, that a win here means an undefeated season.
And it might feel that way, because the conference of the WAC is not very competitive when it comes to the BCS standings. Yet in this conference you have a very good team in Boise State that demands to be recognized.
In a way, it reminds me of UNLV, back in the early 90’s and they had players like Larry Johnson, Greg Anthony and Stacy Augman playing for the Rebels, and how they came out of a very weak conference, but was as good as advertised.
Boise State reminds me much of that. But to get there, they have to get through Fresno State. On paper it looks like there is no match up, especially since Boise State knocked off Oregon to start the year, but let’s look anyway.
Fresno State finished 7-6 last year, and we can’t forget that before Boise State started making all this noise, Fresno State was doing it first…but that was eons ago. Some of the Bulldogs’ wins included Rutgers at the beginning of the year, and UCLA… kinda short list, isn’t it? Of the 7 games they won, Rutgers had a winning record as well as San Jose State…that’s it. None of their other wins were that credible.
Most of their losses came to decent teams, including a 61-10 beat down at the hands of Boise State. The amazing thing here about Fresno is that outside of that beating to Boise State and the 13-10 loss to Wisconsin, this team does score a LOT. It’s a track meet when you play them, but 3 of their losses came AT home…not very good. Add on a new quarterback and it could spell trouble, but with many offensive weapons returning, this could be a breath of fresh air. Playing at home can’t hurt either.
But Boise State just seems to be heads and shoulders above anybody else in the WAC. This team averages about 30+ a game, and as we all know, went 12-1 last year. They lose a very valuable back and a few receivers, so it will be interesting to see how they adjust. If you are going to look for any weaknesses, you may have to look for the closest games they had last year. Granted their schedule is weak, but in 2008 they beat Oregon away by 5 points. They beat Nevada away by 6 points and lost to TCU by 1 point. It just seems that the possible formula for Boise State to lose has to begin with them leaving that smurf turf.
The second key has to be to hope that Boise State already believes they are in the BCS Championship or bowl game…and they might forget about the Bulldogs. It’s going to take a mental slip of the team for Boise State to lose. I just can’t see any other way, even though the quality of players slipped this year after losing Ian Johnson, Jeremy Childs and Vinny Perretta. I didn’t say they dropped to the floor, I just said they slipped.
But when it comes down to it, Boise State has to beat Fresno State by at least 21 points to make voters believe in them. If not, they could slip a notch or two and lose respect. Boise State will have to crush every foe to even get close to HOPE for a BCS Bowl, and it begins with Fresno State. I have liked Fresno State’s guts, having the onions to challenge anybody anywhere, so they have my support (not that it weights much).
But unless Boise State slips, I can’t see them losing to Fresno State. A 61-10 beat down may not happen but winning by 21 points ought not be too hard. But IF Boise State comes in thinking they are high and mighty, don’t be too surprised if Fresno State hands them the big “L”. Boise State is now every WAC team’s championship game, and will get their very best every weekend…they better be ready.
Some feel that this is the last obstacle for Boise State, that a win here means an undefeated season.
And it might feel that way, because the conference of the WAC is not very competitive when it comes to the BCS standings. Yet in this conference you have a very good team in Boise State that demands to be recognized.
In a way, it reminds me of UNLV, back in the early 90’s and they had players like Larry Johnson, Greg Anthony and Stacy Augman playing for the Rebels, and how they came out of a very weak conference, but was as good as advertised.
Boise State reminds me much of that. But to get there, they have to get through Fresno State. On paper it looks like there is no match up, especially since Boise State knocked off Oregon to start the year, but let’s look anyway.
Fresno State finished 7-6 last year, and we can’t forget that before Boise State started making all this noise, Fresno State was doing it first…but that was eons ago. Some of the Bulldogs’ wins included Rutgers at the beginning of the year, and UCLA… kinda short list, isn’t it? Of the 7 games they won, Rutgers had a winning record as well as San Jose State…that’s it. None of their other wins were that credible.
Most of their losses came to decent teams, including a 61-10 beat down at the hands of Boise State. The amazing thing here about Fresno is that outside of that beating to Boise State and the 13-10 loss to Wisconsin, this team does score a LOT. It’s a track meet when you play them, but 3 of their losses came AT home…not very good. Add on a new quarterback and it could spell trouble, but with many offensive weapons returning, this could be a breath of fresh air. Playing at home can’t hurt either.
But Boise State just seems to be heads and shoulders above anybody else in the WAC. This team averages about 30+ a game, and as we all know, went 12-1 last year. They lose a very valuable back and a few receivers, so it will be interesting to see how they adjust. If you are going to look for any weaknesses, you may have to look for the closest games they had last year. Granted their schedule is weak, but in 2008 they beat Oregon away by 5 points. They beat Nevada away by 6 points and lost to TCU by 1 point. It just seems that the possible formula for Boise State to lose has to begin with them leaving that smurf turf.
The second key has to be to hope that Boise State already believes they are in the BCS Championship or bowl game…and they might forget about the Bulldogs. It’s going to take a mental slip of the team for Boise State to lose. I just can’t see any other way, even though the quality of players slipped this year after losing Ian Johnson, Jeremy Childs and Vinny Perretta. I didn’t say they dropped to the floor, I just said they slipped.
But when it comes down to it, Boise State has to beat Fresno State by at least 21 points to make voters believe in them. If not, they could slip a notch or two and lose respect. Boise State will have to crush every foe to even get close to HOPE for a BCS Bowl, and it begins with Fresno State. I have liked Fresno State’s guts, having the onions to challenge anybody anywhere, so they have my support (not that it weights much).
But unless Boise State slips, I can’t see them losing to Fresno State. A 61-10 beat down may not happen but winning by 21 points ought not be too hard. But IF Boise State comes in thinking they are high and mighty, don’t be too surprised if Fresno State hands them the big “L”. Boise State is now every WAC team’s championship game, and will get their very best every weekend…they better be ready.
Top Football Conferences
The top Football Conferences
After the first couple of weeks of the college football season, I’d like to argue which conferences are the best, and why. I wanted to make the argument because no matter what people think, the strength of the conference has a major impact on whether their champion makes a BCS Championship or not. You can’t go undefeated out of a weaker conference and expect to play in the title game.
I love “Pardon the Interruption” it is one of my favorite shows, but I don’t agree with Michael Wilbon’s opinion that if a team goes undefeated, they ought to get a shot at a National Title. He believes that a team like Boise State ought to have a shot if they go undefeated…I don’t quite agree.
If you reward a team out of a weak conference a BCS Championship, then what stops independent teams like Notre Dame from taking out USC on the schedule and substituting Duke, or removing Boston College for Miami (OH)? The quality of opponents must play a factor because it substantiates greatness of a team.
So what I want to do is rank the conferences in order, from best to… well, not so great. Let’s start:
#1 Conference in College Football: SEC A+
If you have the defending National Champs still ranked at #1, AND a team like Alabama at #4, and Mississippi in the top ten, you have a strong conference. Toss in teams like LSU and Georgia and you have a pretty tough conference. Last year there was a great argument of who was the best conference; the SEC or Big 12, and personally I thought that from top to bottom, the Big 12 was ever so slightly better, but you could not go wrong either way. This year, I put SEC on top, but not by such a large margin.
#2 Conference in College Football: Big 12 A
Personally, if Oklahoma had beaten BYU, I would have made the Big 12 the top conference by a slight margin. But with the injury, I had to put them here, by a close margin. You still have Texas as the #2 team in the nation, Oklahoma is still in the mix, and you have teams like Oklahoma State and Kansas still in the mix. What happened to Texas Tech? Missouri is still on the radar, so you have half the conference making noise, and oh by the way Nebraska is in the top 20 too.
#3 Conference in College Football: Pac-10 B-
I had to think long on this one, because I wonder how strong this conference really is. I mean, one of their teams loses to Boise State at the beginning of the season, and eyes start to roll around when it comes to the true strength of the Pac-10. Sure, USC is good, but with a freshman quarterback, how soon before they lose a game…or even two? But they are the #3 team in the nation, with California in the top 10...but after that, what is there? Oregon State is on one poll, and UCLA got a few votes, but many wonder if this conference can give USC a run. If USC wasn’t in the top 3, I would not have put this conference here.
#4 Conference in College Football: Big 10: B-
It didn’t help that Ohio State lost to USC…it didn’t help that Michigan State lost to Central Michigan, and Michigan beating Notre Dame didn’t really count for so much. But Penn State is in the top 5 and Ohio State is still in the top 25. Iowa just might be able to make some noise in the conference, but we have to wait and see on that. The Big 10 has been getting pushed around lately, and need some key wins to validate their strength, they may have to rely on Penn State to get it done, since Ohio State seems to slip whenever the chips are on the table.
#5 Conference in College Football: Mountain West Conference C+
When you have a “lesser” conference with not one, not two but THREE teams in the top 25, you have to pay attention. This is one of those examples where if any team out of the Mountain West goes undefeated, they ought to have a legit shot at the BCS Championship. When you consider that BYU is in the top 10, TCU is in the top 15 and Utah is just outside the top 15, this is a strong conference. And with decent teams like Air Force and Colorado State, this is a very competitive conference. I say again, if either Utah, BYU or TCU goes undefeated, somebody ought to put them in the BCS Championship. Add on that BYU beat Oklahoma and has Florida State on the schedule, TCU beat Virginia (so what) and plays Clemson, and Utah having Oregon and Louisville, these are hard schedules for a team not considered to be with the “big boys”. This is a good conference, one that could produce an undefeated team.
#6 Conference in College Football: ACC C-
Last year I can argue that top to bottom this conference was one of the most competitive. Only two teams failed to win 6 games, that being Virginia and Duke, and the Cavaliers missed it by one game. But this year I questioned why Virginia Tech was so high in the rankings. They are good, but not THAT good. Florida State could not hold on to it’s ranking after the first game, and there were some VERY poorly played games by Florida State and Maryland.
Lots of people felt that the ACC ought not be considered in the BCS, and rather let teams like Boise State or…ugh…Notre Dame, take their spot in the BCS bowls. I can see their point, but this is still a very tough conference, and I doubt a team like Boise State can run through it like they do their conference. Team for team, this is a very tough conference, but in comparison to the others, they do look kinda…bland. Georgia Tech, Miami, Virginia Tech and UNC are on the top 25...but for how long?
#7 Conference in College Football: Big East C-
At the beginning of the year, NOBODY from the Big East was on the list. How insulting is that when 6 out of the 8 teams won at least EIGHT games? Cincinnati went 11-3 and got no love at the beginning of the year…how insulting is that?
Right now Cincinnati is on the bottom half of the top 25, but no other team is on the list. If Pittsburgh wins another game, they can likely climb into the list, but the entire conference looks very weak, in comparison to the other BCS conferences, and even the Mountain West Conference. I gotta tell ya, if the Big East can’t start pulling somebody out as a power team, they will continued to be laughed at as one of the weakest conferences in college football.
With other conferences like the WAC, Sun Belt, Mid-American and Conference USA, there can be arguments made for a few of those as well. We all like the underdog, and Boise State is certainly one of those, but their conference just isn’t strong enough to be in the top 7. That does not take away from the Broncos wins, but when you look at the body of work in conference match ups, it does count against you.
So as of the second week, these are my top 7 conferences in college football… which are clearly subject to change week by week.
After the first couple of weeks of the college football season, I’d like to argue which conferences are the best, and why. I wanted to make the argument because no matter what people think, the strength of the conference has a major impact on whether their champion makes a BCS Championship or not. You can’t go undefeated out of a weaker conference and expect to play in the title game.
I love “Pardon the Interruption” it is one of my favorite shows, but I don’t agree with Michael Wilbon’s opinion that if a team goes undefeated, they ought to get a shot at a National Title. He believes that a team like Boise State ought to have a shot if they go undefeated…I don’t quite agree.
If you reward a team out of a weak conference a BCS Championship, then what stops independent teams like Notre Dame from taking out USC on the schedule and substituting Duke, or removing Boston College for Miami (OH)? The quality of opponents must play a factor because it substantiates greatness of a team.
So what I want to do is rank the conferences in order, from best to… well, not so great. Let’s start:
#1 Conference in College Football: SEC A+
If you have the defending National Champs still ranked at #1, AND a team like Alabama at #4, and Mississippi in the top ten, you have a strong conference. Toss in teams like LSU and Georgia and you have a pretty tough conference. Last year there was a great argument of who was the best conference; the SEC or Big 12, and personally I thought that from top to bottom, the Big 12 was ever so slightly better, but you could not go wrong either way. This year, I put SEC on top, but not by such a large margin.
#2 Conference in College Football: Big 12 A
Personally, if Oklahoma had beaten BYU, I would have made the Big 12 the top conference by a slight margin. But with the injury, I had to put them here, by a close margin. You still have Texas as the #2 team in the nation, Oklahoma is still in the mix, and you have teams like Oklahoma State and Kansas still in the mix. What happened to Texas Tech? Missouri is still on the radar, so you have half the conference making noise, and oh by the way Nebraska is in the top 20 too.
#3 Conference in College Football: Pac-10 B-
I had to think long on this one, because I wonder how strong this conference really is. I mean, one of their teams loses to Boise State at the beginning of the season, and eyes start to roll around when it comes to the true strength of the Pac-10. Sure, USC is good, but with a freshman quarterback, how soon before they lose a game…or even two? But they are the #3 team in the nation, with California in the top 10...but after that, what is there? Oregon State is on one poll, and UCLA got a few votes, but many wonder if this conference can give USC a run. If USC wasn’t in the top 3, I would not have put this conference here.
#4 Conference in College Football: Big 10: B-
It didn’t help that Ohio State lost to USC…it didn’t help that Michigan State lost to Central Michigan, and Michigan beating Notre Dame didn’t really count for so much. But Penn State is in the top 5 and Ohio State is still in the top 25. Iowa just might be able to make some noise in the conference, but we have to wait and see on that. The Big 10 has been getting pushed around lately, and need some key wins to validate their strength, they may have to rely on Penn State to get it done, since Ohio State seems to slip whenever the chips are on the table.
#5 Conference in College Football: Mountain West Conference C+
When you have a “lesser” conference with not one, not two but THREE teams in the top 25, you have to pay attention. This is one of those examples where if any team out of the Mountain West goes undefeated, they ought to have a legit shot at the BCS Championship. When you consider that BYU is in the top 10, TCU is in the top 15 and Utah is just outside the top 15, this is a strong conference. And with decent teams like Air Force and Colorado State, this is a very competitive conference. I say again, if either Utah, BYU or TCU goes undefeated, somebody ought to put them in the BCS Championship. Add on that BYU beat Oklahoma and has Florida State on the schedule, TCU beat Virginia (so what) and plays Clemson, and Utah having Oregon and Louisville, these are hard schedules for a team not considered to be with the “big boys”. This is a good conference, one that could produce an undefeated team.
#6 Conference in College Football: ACC C-
Last year I can argue that top to bottom this conference was one of the most competitive. Only two teams failed to win 6 games, that being Virginia and Duke, and the Cavaliers missed it by one game. But this year I questioned why Virginia Tech was so high in the rankings. They are good, but not THAT good. Florida State could not hold on to it’s ranking after the first game, and there were some VERY poorly played games by Florida State and Maryland.
Lots of people felt that the ACC ought not be considered in the BCS, and rather let teams like Boise State or…ugh…Notre Dame, take their spot in the BCS bowls. I can see their point, but this is still a very tough conference, and I doubt a team like Boise State can run through it like they do their conference. Team for team, this is a very tough conference, but in comparison to the others, they do look kinda…bland. Georgia Tech, Miami, Virginia Tech and UNC are on the top 25...but for how long?
#7 Conference in College Football: Big East C-
At the beginning of the year, NOBODY from the Big East was on the list. How insulting is that when 6 out of the 8 teams won at least EIGHT games? Cincinnati went 11-3 and got no love at the beginning of the year…how insulting is that?
Right now Cincinnati is on the bottom half of the top 25, but no other team is on the list. If Pittsburgh wins another game, they can likely climb into the list, but the entire conference looks very weak, in comparison to the other BCS conferences, and even the Mountain West Conference. I gotta tell ya, if the Big East can’t start pulling somebody out as a power team, they will continued to be laughed at as one of the weakest conferences in college football.
With other conferences like the WAC, Sun Belt, Mid-American and Conference USA, there can be arguments made for a few of those as well. We all like the underdog, and Boise State is certainly one of those, but their conference just isn’t strong enough to be in the top 7. That does not take away from the Broncos wins, but when you look at the body of work in conference match ups, it does count against you.
So as of the second week, these are my top 7 conferences in college football… which are clearly subject to change week by week.
Georgia Tech vs Miami
Georgia Tech vs. Miami
Florida, that is….
This is going to be a game I plan on watching since I am in the middle of ACC country, and well…I LOVE college football…(so there!)
But this is very important because the ACC needs somebody to emerge as a powerhouse and give credit to the conference. Virginia Tech and Florida State dropped the ball all too early, so hopes are hinging on the winner of this game.
To add to this, Georgia Tech is ranked #14 on one poll, and Miami is ranked #20 on the other…this is a top 25 matchup. I saw how Miami beat Florida State, and I saw how Georgia Tech escaped Clemson. I gotta tell you, I think Georgia Tech might be in trouble.
First off, that triple option is a cute gimmick, but it won’t win championships. It’s just hard for me to put faith in a quarterback that, IF he has to pass, makes it an adventure short of the Lord of the Rings. If you have a quarterback that completes on average 4 passes a GAME, this could be problematic.
But you would argue that Georgia Tech went 9-4 last year, so it must be working, right? True, but those Yellow Jackets must hate leaving ATL, because their away games last year were tough. They win by only 3 at Boston College, win by 3 at Virginia Tech, win by 4 at Clemson, lose by 21 at UNC, beat Georgia by 3 and lose to LSU by 35. They fare much better when they are home, especially since they BEAT Miami last year 41-23.
So what’s different? First, they are playing away, which means a much closer game than they want. Second, you have a quarterback that had only 2 passing touchdowns and 5 INTs, with a key running back in Jonathan Dwyer gone, who was an excellent rusher and receiver. If they can’t adjust, this could be a tough night.
So what of Miami? Coming off that win over Florida State got them ranked in the top 20, but many feel that the coach is on the “hot seat”. Winning only 7 games won’t get it done, so there is pressure to win more…preferably the ACC Championship. It does NOT help that Miami has a horrendous schedule the first 4 games.
And the problem with the Hurricanes is that there is no consistency in the team. Of their away games, they lost to Florida (who didn’t), beat Texas A&M by almost 20, beat Duke and Virginia (which happened to be the two worst teams in the ACC in 2008), and lost to Georgia Tech, NC State and California, all away from the confines of their home. Their home games had them beating Charleston Southern, losing to UNC and Florida State back to back, and beating Central Florida, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech.
It’s hard to figure this team out, and with a new quarterback it may be harder. But if home games count for anything, then at least Miami has the comfort of the fans behind them. The interesting thing is that most of Miami’s games don’t end close, not within 6 points or so, meaning they will either dominate…or GET dominated. Remember, they lost to Georgia Tech by almost 20 points last year…in Atlanta.
So who wins? If my keys hold up, the Georgia Tech will have a hard time with Miami, this was not a low scoring team last year, and the problem with such a team is that it may force Georgia Tech to try to pass to keep up…which will certainly end in disaster.
Miami still needs an identity, and with a new QB they can establish that, but it may also be important for Miami not to look ahead to Virginia Tech and Oklahoma. I personally don’t think teams do that, they play who is on that field, but what momentum could it give Miami to win this game and go 2-0. I think it’s quite possible. I give it to the Hurricanes by 8 points.
Florida, that is….
This is going to be a game I plan on watching since I am in the middle of ACC country, and well…I LOVE college football…(so there!)
But this is very important because the ACC needs somebody to emerge as a powerhouse and give credit to the conference. Virginia Tech and Florida State dropped the ball all too early, so hopes are hinging on the winner of this game.
To add to this, Georgia Tech is ranked #14 on one poll, and Miami is ranked #20 on the other…this is a top 25 matchup. I saw how Miami beat Florida State, and I saw how Georgia Tech escaped Clemson. I gotta tell you, I think Georgia Tech might be in trouble.
First off, that triple option is a cute gimmick, but it won’t win championships. It’s just hard for me to put faith in a quarterback that, IF he has to pass, makes it an adventure short of the Lord of the Rings. If you have a quarterback that completes on average 4 passes a GAME, this could be problematic.
But you would argue that Georgia Tech went 9-4 last year, so it must be working, right? True, but those Yellow Jackets must hate leaving ATL, because their away games last year were tough. They win by only 3 at Boston College, win by 3 at Virginia Tech, win by 4 at Clemson, lose by 21 at UNC, beat Georgia by 3 and lose to LSU by 35. They fare much better when they are home, especially since they BEAT Miami last year 41-23.
So what’s different? First, they are playing away, which means a much closer game than they want. Second, you have a quarterback that had only 2 passing touchdowns and 5 INTs, with a key running back in Jonathan Dwyer gone, who was an excellent rusher and receiver. If they can’t adjust, this could be a tough night.
So what of Miami? Coming off that win over Florida State got them ranked in the top 20, but many feel that the coach is on the “hot seat”. Winning only 7 games won’t get it done, so there is pressure to win more…preferably the ACC Championship. It does NOT help that Miami has a horrendous schedule the first 4 games.
And the problem with the Hurricanes is that there is no consistency in the team. Of their away games, they lost to Florida (who didn’t), beat Texas A&M by almost 20, beat Duke and Virginia (which happened to be the two worst teams in the ACC in 2008), and lost to Georgia Tech, NC State and California, all away from the confines of their home. Their home games had them beating Charleston Southern, losing to UNC and Florida State back to back, and beating Central Florida, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech.
It’s hard to figure this team out, and with a new quarterback it may be harder. But if home games count for anything, then at least Miami has the comfort of the fans behind them. The interesting thing is that most of Miami’s games don’t end close, not within 6 points or so, meaning they will either dominate…or GET dominated. Remember, they lost to Georgia Tech by almost 20 points last year…in Atlanta.
So who wins? If my keys hold up, the Georgia Tech will have a hard time with Miami, this was not a low scoring team last year, and the problem with such a team is that it may force Georgia Tech to try to pass to keep up…which will certainly end in disaster.
Miami still needs an identity, and with a new QB they can establish that, but it may also be important for Miami not to look ahead to Virginia Tech and Oklahoma. I personally don’t think teams do that, they play who is on that field, but what momentum could it give Miami to win this game and go 2-0. I think it’s quite possible. I give it to the Hurricanes by 8 points.
Can Notre Dame get to a BCS Bowl?
Can Notre Dame get to BCS Bowl?
If we’re talking about getting to the BCS Championship, the answer is no, although the absolute purist would argue that IF Notre Dame wins ALL the rest of their games, they could in theory, get there.
Uh…yeah. I guess they COULD, but let’s not hold our breaths for that.
With one loss already, the question is no longer about whether the Fighting Irish will get to the BCS Championship, the priorities fall a bit. Now one had to wonder if they can qualify for a BCS Bowl game.
To do that, Notre Dame has to win perhaps all their games, and their margin for error might ONLY be one more game. With them losing to Michigan already, few see them beating USC later on.
So consider the following schedule and see where Notre Dame can finish. They would have needed a perfect season just to make a shot for the National Championship… that is gone. They might be allowed one…maybe two more losses to still get in a BCS Bowl, and they need 6 wins to qualify for any bowl.
With them falling out of BOTH polls, that hurts them a lot, but because they have a soft schedule, they might be able to climb back in. And with butt kissers like Lou Holtz pushing them, and NBC showcasing them, they have a good shot.
They’ll be playing a Michigan State team that was embarrassed by Central Michigan last week…you better believe they are looking for redemption. But this is a home game for the Irish, so I think you have to favor Notre Dame.
Purdue played well against Oregon, but still lost. They take on ND in another away game for the Irish, if Purdue has improved on any level, I think they could possibly steal a game.
Notre Dame’s next three games are home, with Washington, USC and Boston College. If ND had beaten Michigan handily, I might say that ND could be two of those three…now I can only give them Washington. If it goes this way, the Fighting Irish will be fighting with a possible 3-4 record, or as good as maybe a 5-2.
They’ll play away at Washington State, then home vs. Navy, which could be a split. Another away game at Pittsburgh, home vs. UCONN and ending the season at Stanford could give Notre Dame two wins at the end of the season. But overall, we could be looking at 8-4, maybe 9-3 at best.
Let’s add on here that they were beaten by a team that was 3-9 last year… Michigan is NOT a very good team, and Notre Dame lost to them. If this is the case, then I think some of the people gave Notre Dame more credit than they ought to have. With a 8-4 record, I can’t see how they can get a BCS Bowl game, and 9-3 would be highly questionable, but not out of the question.
If this is true, then Notre Dame’s margin for error is 2 games, having already lost one. Almost everybody sees USC beating Notre Dame, but will they lose another game this year? I think an embarrassed Michigan State team can be a problem, and an away game vs. Purdue can be tough. Add on a good Boston College team, and a Navy team that almost beat Ohio State, this will be a serious challenge for Notre Dame.
It’s going to be very tough to get a BCS bowl bid folks, no matter how much Lou Holtz kisses up to them. We’ll see all soon….
If we’re talking about getting to the BCS Championship, the answer is no, although the absolute purist would argue that IF Notre Dame wins ALL the rest of their games, they could in theory, get there.
Uh…yeah. I guess they COULD, but let’s not hold our breaths for that.
With one loss already, the question is no longer about whether the Fighting Irish will get to the BCS Championship, the priorities fall a bit. Now one had to wonder if they can qualify for a BCS Bowl game.
To do that, Notre Dame has to win perhaps all their games, and their margin for error might ONLY be one more game. With them losing to Michigan already, few see them beating USC later on.
So consider the following schedule and see where Notre Dame can finish. They would have needed a perfect season just to make a shot for the National Championship… that is gone. They might be allowed one…maybe two more losses to still get in a BCS Bowl, and they need 6 wins to qualify for any bowl.
With them falling out of BOTH polls, that hurts them a lot, but because they have a soft schedule, they might be able to climb back in. And with butt kissers like Lou Holtz pushing them, and NBC showcasing them, they have a good shot.
They’ll be playing a Michigan State team that was embarrassed by Central Michigan last week…you better believe they are looking for redemption. But this is a home game for the Irish, so I think you have to favor Notre Dame.
Purdue played well against Oregon, but still lost. They take on ND in another away game for the Irish, if Purdue has improved on any level, I think they could possibly steal a game.
Notre Dame’s next three games are home, with Washington, USC and Boston College. If ND had beaten Michigan handily, I might say that ND could be two of those three…now I can only give them Washington. If it goes this way, the Fighting Irish will be fighting with a possible 3-4 record, or as good as maybe a 5-2.
They’ll play away at Washington State, then home vs. Navy, which could be a split. Another away game at Pittsburgh, home vs. UCONN and ending the season at Stanford could give Notre Dame two wins at the end of the season. But overall, we could be looking at 8-4, maybe 9-3 at best.
Let’s add on here that they were beaten by a team that was 3-9 last year… Michigan is NOT a very good team, and Notre Dame lost to them. If this is the case, then I think some of the people gave Notre Dame more credit than they ought to have. With a 8-4 record, I can’t see how they can get a BCS Bowl game, and 9-3 would be highly questionable, but not out of the question.
If this is true, then Notre Dame’s margin for error is 2 games, having already lost one. Almost everybody sees USC beating Notre Dame, but will they lose another game this year? I think an embarrassed Michigan State team can be a problem, and an away game vs. Purdue can be tough. Add on a good Boston College team, and a Navy team that almost beat Ohio State, this will be a serious challenge for Notre Dame.
It’s going to be very tough to get a BCS bowl bid folks, no matter how much Lou Holtz kisses up to them. We’ll see all soon….
Southern Miss Football: After Jeff Bower
Southern Miss: After Jeff Bower
Speedblog
I wanted to revisit a story that happened a few years ago, one that has a very sour taste when it comes to football programs and rich alumni that often times are as fanatical as some of the fans.
Southern Miss was one of those teams a few years ago that you had to keep your eye on. Out of the Conference USA, this was a team that just seemed to be just short of making the BCS voters nervous.
Coached by Jeff Bower, this team reached the heights that the university had not seen on decades. Under this coach’s leadership, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles had 14 consecutive winning seasons out of his 17 seasons, and had dedicated almost 30 years to the university.
Under Jeff Bower, they won four Conference USA Championships as Bower was voted coach of the year in the conference three times, and also voted the Coach of the Decade by said conference.
In the 12 years Coach Bower was with Southern Miss under Conference USA, the team went to 10 bowls…TEN! They won 3 out of four bowl games, losing the 4th one in 2007.…
And it cost Jeff Bower his job.
The final year of Bower’s tenure was 7-6 as they lost in their bowl game, and apparently the “big bucks” that run college football at Southern Miss felt that he did not deserve another year…so they ran him out.
Folks, there is a term for a school that lives mainly in the middle of the NCAA, it is a reference term for wrestlers that aren’t the most popular, but liked…
“Mid-card for LIFE”
Conference USA has a competitive conference, but NOBODY is going to mistake it for being a BCS contender. As such, any team from such a conference is not going to be in the top 10. So what did these people see in running Bower out that would land them in the BCS?
Nothing.
Has the team gotten any better since 2007...nope.
So why was this move done? Why would a university push out a guy who not only gave Southern Miss the credibility it has today, but also GRADUATED a heck of a lot of athletes. It was said that Southern Miss Football had a very high graduation rate, one of the best schools in the nation in Division I.
So tell me, if winning was not important, and graduating players was not important, then what is?
I used to watch Southern Miss often on television, and got to know them pretty well, but now since Bower is gone, I don’t see them much on tv, not that I am looking for them. Last year they finished 7-6 but some say that they will be better this year…that’s really not saying too much.
It’s only been two years, but I wonder how long it will take before the upper crust of Southern Miss start to realize that when you listen to old spoiled alumni with deep pockets, you don’t always get what you want….kinda like dealing with the devil. The hope of something great SOUNDS good, but the sacrifice you pay for it will cost you far more than your money can buy.
Good luck to your future Southern Miss…you’re gonna need it without Jeff Bower.
Speedblog
I wanted to revisit a story that happened a few years ago, one that has a very sour taste when it comes to football programs and rich alumni that often times are as fanatical as some of the fans.
Southern Miss was one of those teams a few years ago that you had to keep your eye on. Out of the Conference USA, this was a team that just seemed to be just short of making the BCS voters nervous.
Coached by Jeff Bower, this team reached the heights that the university had not seen on decades. Under this coach’s leadership, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles had 14 consecutive winning seasons out of his 17 seasons, and had dedicated almost 30 years to the university.
Under Jeff Bower, they won four Conference USA Championships as Bower was voted coach of the year in the conference three times, and also voted the Coach of the Decade by said conference.
In the 12 years Coach Bower was with Southern Miss under Conference USA, the team went to 10 bowls…TEN! They won 3 out of four bowl games, losing the 4th one in 2007.…
And it cost Jeff Bower his job.
The final year of Bower’s tenure was 7-6 as they lost in their bowl game, and apparently the “big bucks” that run college football at Southern Miss felt that he did not deserve another year…so they ran him out.
Folks, there is a term for a school that lives mainly in the middle of the NCAA, it is a reference term for wrestlers that aren’t the most popular, but liked…
“Mid-card for LIFE”
Conference USA has a competitive conference, but NOBODY is going to mistake it for being a BCS contender. As such, any team from such a conference is not going to be in the top 10. So what did these people see in running Bower out that would land them in the BCS?
Nothing.
Has the team gotten any better since 2007...nope.
So why was this move done? Why would a university push out a guy who not only gave Southern Miss the credibility it has today, but also GRADUATED a heck of a lot of athletes. It was said that Southern Miss Football had a very high graduation rate, one of the best schools in the nation in Division I.
So tell me, if winning was not important, and graduating players was not important, then what is?
I used to watch Southern Miss often on television, and got to know them pretty well, but now since Bower is gone, I don’t see them much on tv, not that I am looking for them. Last year they finished 7-6 but some say that they will be better this year…that’s really not saying too much.
It’s only been two years, but I wonder how long it will take before the upper crust of Southern Miss start to realize that when you listen to old spoiled alumni with deep pockets, you don’t always get what you want….kinda like dealing with the devil. The hope of something great SOUNDS good, but the sacrifice you pay for it will cost you far more than your money can buy.
Good luck to your future Southern Miss…you’re gonna need it without Jeff Bower.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Michigan beats Notre Dame 2009
Michigan beats Notre Dame 38-34
So will Lou Holtz PLEASE shut up?
For the last two years this old man has been flapping his chops about how Notre Dame was going to go undefeated…and two years he has been wrong. Now I am not a fan of Notre Dame, but I am not a fan of Michigan since they got Rich Rodriguez. And neither team did so hot last year, so why was there so much hype about this game?
Well, we know these are two very storied programs, and amongst the top college football teams in wins all time, so I understand the value in that. But I found myself trying to figure out who to pull for, not really liking either team this year. I ended up pulling for Michigan because before Rodriguez got there, I did like the Wolverines a lot.
I watched that game and when Michigan scored with a few ticks left, we were excited in the house because a defeat would quiet all those critics who seemed to think that Notre Dame’s softer schedule should give them a National Title shot…not likely.
I remember the kickoff and how the clock only took one second off and I said to myself, “if he touched that ball, they need to take a few more seconds off!”. The clock went down to 10 ,but then they showed the ND quarterback (Clausen) tell the refs to put more time back on the clock…and they did, but then took off 2 seconds, down to 9 seconds left.
Notre Dame had time for one play, and although it was a big gain, the time ran out as Michigan won the game, but ole Charlie Weiss and the Irish didn’t like how it ended, thinking that they deserved two more seconds. The refs were quick to dash out, their word being final.
I remember hearing later on that night on one of the shows that the refs did say that the receiver touched that ball, and thus time had to be taken off. Once that receiver touched the ball on the kickoff, the clock had to run. So Notre Dame can’t complain.
Neither can Lou Holtz.
And this also means Notre Dame ought to fall from their #18 ranking down to maybe #23, or #24. I won’t doubt that some voters will still keep them up there, but being beat by a team that was 3-9 last year ought to knock them off the top 25. I mean, Oregon fell out when they lost to higher ranked Boise State, right?
So an undefeated season is gone from the Irish, and yet the season just got started. With Michigan State next, this could possibly be a toss up, even though Central Michigan stunned the Spartans in their house, I might imagine they will really get up for this game, but even so, it is still a game ND can take.
The Purdue game might be more interesting, especially after how they played at Oregon last night…or was it this morning? UNC is still ranked (slim win over UCONN) and with Pittsburgh, Boston College, Navy and Southern Cal, one has to wonder if this ND team can manage 7 wins. If we are just going on the premise that Michigan, who was 3-9, beat Notre Dame, then one might guess that maybe not much has changed with the Irish…if not, they are in for another average year.
But Michigan is not out of the water yet either. Sure they get Eastern Michigan and then Indiana, but having to play Penn State, Iowa, Michigan State and Ohio State won’t be easy either. Beating Miami (OH), Wisconsin and Minnesota was all they saw of the winning side last year, but Minnesota isn’t on their schedule this year. There is little doubt that voters will slip Michigan in maybe #25 or #24, but I think it will be a short stay. Many times you see in the pros where a team is bad one year, and good the next, examples being the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons last year, but in college you are dealing with the same group of students, minus graduating players, so the general talent is not a hyper jump of improvement. If they were 3-9 last year, it is possible they might do 5 or 6 wins.
They could be 4-0 before they see Michigan State, and with Delaware State on the schedule, they can get 5 wins pretty easy. But those games in the middle they will have to scratch and claw for…it’s not out of the possibility for Michigan to qualify for a bowl, but it would be a long shot.
So now that this game is over, let’s see if all the hype of how good these teams were SUPPOSED to be was true. One loss does not ruin a season, to be sure…but multiple ones will destroy it…and possibly one of these coach’s career.
So will Lou Holtz PLEASE shut up?
For the last two years this old man has been flapping his chops about how Notre Dame was going to go undefeated…and two years he has been wrong. Now I am not a fan of Notre Dame, but I am not a fan of Michigan since they got Rich Rodriguez. And neither team did so hot last year, so why was there so much hype about this game?
Well, we know these are two very storied programs, and amongst the top college football teams in wins all time, so I understand the value in that. But I found myself trying to figure out who to pull for, not really liking either team this year. I ended up pulling for Michigan because before Rodriguez got there, I did like the Wolverines a lot.
I watched that game and when Michigan scored with a few ticks left, we were excited in the house because a defeat would quiet all those critics who seemed to think that Notre Dame’s softer schedule should give them a National Title shot…not likely.
I remember the kickoff and how the clock only took one second off and I said to myself, “if he touched that ball, they need to take a few more seconds off!”. The clock went down to 10 ,but then they showed the ND quarterback (Clausen) tell the refs to put more time back on the clock…and they did, but then took off 2 seconds, down to 9 seconds left.
Notre Dame had time for one play, and although it was a big gain, the time ran out as Michigan won the game, but ole Charlie Weiss and the Irish didn’t like how it ended, thinking that they deserved two more seconds. The refs were quick to dash out, their word being final.
I remember hearing later on that night on one of the shows that the refs did say that the receiver touched that ball, and thus time had to be taken off. Once that receiver touched the ball on the kickoff, the clock had to run. So Notre Dame can’t complain.
Neither can Lou Holtz.
And this also means Notre Dame ought to fall from their #18 ranking down to maybe #23, or #24. I won’t doubt that some voters will still keep them up there, but being beat by a team that was 3-9 last year ought to knock them off the top 25. I mean, Oregon fell out when they lost to higher ranked Boise State, right?
So an undefeated season is gone from the Irish, and yet the season just got started. With Michigan State next, this could possibly be a toss up, even though Central Michigan stunned the Spartans in their house, I might imagine they will really get up for this game, but even so, it is still a game ND can take.
The Purdue game might be more interesting, especially after how they played at Oregon last night…or was it this morning? UNC is still ranked (slim win over UCONN) and with Pittsburgh, Boston College, Navy and Southern Cal, one has to wonder if this ND team can manage 7 wins. If we are just going on the premise that Michigan, who was 3-9, beat Notre Dame, then one might guess that maybe not much has changed with the Irish…if not, they are in for another average year.
But Michigan is not out of the water yet either. Sure they get Eastern Michigan and then Indiana, but having to play Penn State, Iowa, Michigan State and Ohio State won’t be easy either. Beating Miami (OH), Wisconsin and Minnesota was all they saw of the winning side last year, but Minnesota isn’t on their schedule this year. There is little doubt that voters will slip Michigan in maybe #25 or #24, but I think it will be a short stay. Many times you see in the pros where a team is bad one year, and good the next, examples being the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons last year, but in college you are dealing with the same group of students, minus graduating players, so the general talent is not a hyper jump of improvement. If they were 3-9 last year, it is possible they might do 5 or 6 wins.
They could be 4-0 before they see Michigan State, and with Delaware State on the schedule, they can get 5 wins pretty easy. But those games in the middle they will have to scratch and claw for…it’s not out of the possibility for Michigan to qualify for a bowl, but it would be a long shot.
So now that this game is over, let’s see if all the hype of how good these teams were SUPPOSED to be was true. One loss does not ruin a season, to be sure…but multiple ones will destroy it…and possibly one of these coach’s career.
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