The "replacement officials", or at least that's what the NFL has been calling them, has been the topic of conversation since the preseason. But given what we have seen since week one when the games started to matter maybe a better term would have been "incapable officials". They have shown to be about as good at officiating football games as Michael Vick has been throwing touchdowns. But I don't wanna beat the issue of the replacement officials into the ground anymore than it already is. I wanna go a different route. I wanna put the blame with the guy who allowed this to charade to happen in the first place.
Blame it on the Commissioner
It's simple really. Rodger Goodell is solely responsible for the embarrassment that has been brought upon the NFL. It's his job as the head man of the NFL to resolve these types of issues. It's a job that is different from any other top job in the corporate world. He has a ridiculous salary, no governing body to answer too, basically unlimited power, and the ability to actually discipline his only superiors which is the owners. It's a cakewalk. Now yes, he is responsible for a multi billion dollar company. But its a company that would continue to make money with or without Rodger Goodell. And that's my point.
The NFL is richest sports identity in the country and that didn't happen under Goodells watch. The league has been racking in money for years, each season making more and more. Why? Because it's a TV driven league. The TV contracts are worth hundred's of millions of dollars each year alone. Because it's the premier sports brand. Stop ten people on the street and unless one of them is blind,deaf, and dumb all ten will know the NFL brand. You cant say that about any other major sports brand in the world. And its also because they have and always have had a loyal fan base. And its expanding at a rapid rate. You want proof. How many fantasy leagues out there don't have at least one female player? Not many. Yea, you have always had casual female fans but nothing like it is today and its because of the brand. Somewhere out there right now there's a women checking stats, filling out a waiver wire, making trades and talking smack on her leagues message board all because of the what the NFL has built over the years.
Rodger Goodell is hurting that brand. And not just by letting the referee situation get out of hand. The rules of the game have been changed so much that it makes players look like pansies. Don't get me wrong I'm all for player safety to a certain extent but lets not forget: It is football. Its a contact sport. Its meant to be played in a violent fashion. You take that away and you take away the history that makes the sport so great. And its heading in that direction. You throw in the absurd fines he dishes out, the suspensions that are uncalled for and the way he blundered the Saints ordeal and what you have is a pattern of bad and inconsistent decisions.
All I'm saying is that the NFL is the NFL. You could put the CEO of Enron in charge and it would still make money. You don't a commissioner to be an All Pro, he just needs to manage the game.
And right now he's playing like Micheal Vick
Not your typical Sports blog. Not your typical Sports writer. Cover2 touches on a little bit of everything in the sports world one sarcastic view at a time.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
How bad is it? The Kentucky Edition.
I have gotten some interesting comments from some UK fans in response to yesterdays post about how terrible Kentucky football is right now. Some ask me to elaborate so as with Arkansas, this needed its own post. It's just to much to hit on in a single blog. Some of you ask how bad can it be? The 2012 Wildcat football team may be the worst team the SEC has seen in a decade. And I wouldn't expect any kind of mid season turn around. Kentucky is 1-3 and simply put will struggle to win another game. A week 2 win against Kent St. may be the only thing that will keep this team from going undefeated. In reverse.
Kentucky fans don't care about football.
This is something I've heard from some of you non Kentuckians but surprisingly, your wrong. The majority of UK fans are just like any other collegiate fan base, they want there team to win no matter what sport there competing in. I happen to know quite a few UK fans that are as passionate about there football program as they are their championship basketball program. Sure, as with any major "basketball school" you have a percentage of fans that talk about "Midnight Madness" in August rather than the opening kickoff. But that small percentage doesn't file into Commonwealth Stadium on fall Saturday's to watch a team that up until a couple years ago was heading in the right direction under former coach Rich Brooks.
When things took a turn
In 2009 Brooks led the Wildcats to a 7-5 regular season and a trip to a bowl game. Then hometown product Joker Phillips took over and things have went south in a hurry. 2012 is his third season as head coach. 2012 is his last season as head coach. And yes, I'm sure of it. No I don't have any sources or inside information, I'm just not a complete idiot. It's not hard to see that the players have quit. Not that it matters if they hadn't, there not very good anyway. Its harsh I know, but its just facts. Their offense is putrid, there defense couldn't stop Western Kentucky ( That's not a punchline, it's factual. They gave up 32 points to a team in the Sunbelt Conference) and play makers are non existent. Throw in a terrible coaching staff and it all adds up to be an awful product on the field.
Can they save the season?
Not a chance. There is a possiblity they can squeak out another win against Samford late in the season but I wouldnt count on it . The SEC schedule will have taken its toll and if you think this team has quit now you aint seen nothing yet. They could ask to play the rest of the season in the MAC but Im not sure that would get them bowl eligible.
Where do they go from here?
Kentucky has a golden opportunity here. Bobby Petrino is there for the taking. He definitely wants to coach at a high level and Kentucky plays in the SEC. Petrino already has ties to the bluegrass state having spent time at Louisville so he would have a head start in recruiting. Speaking of recruiting, he could out-recruit the current staff with a cell phone from 1999 and a $500 budget. Not to mention get a lot more out the current roster. Some fans will bring up his moral issues. They hired John Calipari as their basketball coach. Moral integrity and following rules should not be on the coaching application at Kentucky. That's not a shot at the Wildcats either, I applaud it. Look how that has turned out for them.There are other options. Anybody is better than what they have now. But none are as good a fit as Petrino
The good news is there will be a change so Kentucky fans have something to look forward to. It can't get worse. And look on the bright side, you could Arkansas
Kentucky fans don't care about football.
This is something I've heard from some of you non Kentuckians but surprisingly, your wrong. The majority of UK fans are just like any other collegiate fan base, they want there team to win no matter what sport there competing in. I happen to know quite a few UK fans that are as passionate about there football program as they are their championship basketball program. Sure, as with any major "basketball school" you have a percentage of fans that talk about "Midnight Madness" in August rather than the opening kickoff. But that small percentage doesn't file into Commonwealth Stadium on fall Saturday's to watch a team that up until a couple years ago was heading in the right direction under former coach Rich Brooks.
When things took a turn
In 2009 Brooks led the Wildcats to a 7-5 regular season and a trip to a bowl game. Then hometown product Joker Phillips took over and things have went south in a hurry. 2012 is his third season as head coach. 2012 is his last season as head coach. And yes, I'm sure of it. No I don't have any sources or inside information, I'm just not a complete idiot. It's not hard to see that the players have quit. Not that it matters if they hadn't, there not very good anyway. Its harsh I know, but its just facts. Their offense is putrid, there defense couldn't stop Western Kentucky ( That's not a punchline, it's factual. They gave up 32 points to a team in the Sunbelt Conference) and play makers are non existent. Throw in a terrible coaching staff and it all adds up to be an awful product on the field.
Can they save the season?
Not a chance. There is a possiblity they can squeak out another win against Samford late in the season but I wouldnt count on it . The SEC schedule will have taken its toll and if you think this team has quit now you aint seen nothing yet. They could ask to play the rest of the season in the MAC but Im not sure that would get them bowl eligible.
Where do they go from here?
Kentucky has a golden opportunity here. Bobby Petrino is there for the taking. He definitely wants to coach at a high level and Kentucky plays in the SEC. Petrino already has ties to the bluegrass state having spent time at Louisville so he would have a head start in recruiting. Speaking of recruiting, he could out-recruit the current staff with a cell phone from 1999 and a $500 budget. Not to mention get a lot more out the current roster. Some fans will bring up his moral issues. They hired John Calipari as their basketball coach. Moral integrity and following rules should not be on the coaching application at Kentucky. That's not a shot at the Wildcats either, I applaud it. Look how that has turned out for them.There are other options. Anybody is better than what they have now. But none are as good a fit as Petrino
The good news is there will be a change so Kentucky fans have something to look forward to. It can't get worse. And look on the bright side, you could Arkansas
How bad is it? The Arkansas edition
Since some of you are asking, I'll give you my take on one of the biggest dumpster fires in college football. And fair warning, you ask me for my opinion. While I find some personal enjoyment in the events that are taking place down in Fayetteville I can certainly understand in some ways what Arkansas fans are feeling right now to some degree. I'm a Tennessee fan still hanging on to past glory that now seems so long ago. Even though the Razorbacks don't have the same storied football tradition as the Vols, its a program that was enjoying recent success and was well on its way to seeing that success continue until Bobby Petrino lost control of the motor cycle he was riding and soon after lost his job. There's a little more to this story but I must warn you, I'm a win at all cost kinda guy.
Arkansas's Moral dilemma
After the Petrino crash that ultimately uncovered the affair with a smoking hot 25 year old University of Arkansas employee, it put it's president and AD in the middle of a moral decision. They took the high road and ousted Petrino and decided that wasn't the image they wanted for the program. Fine. Look at the image you portray now. You went from competing for BCS bowls to getting beat by teams that are not even in a automatic qualifying BCS conference. Well done. That's tough to do and you managed to do it in the span of about 7 months. That's impressive by any standards. Throw in your new head coach and his baggage and you successfully set your program back at least 5 years. And don't fool yourself into thinking you will ever be as good as were under Petrino. You wont. And those of you who say it's not all about winning football games, it is, or you wouldn't be so pissed that your team is a disaster right now. Do you think national media would be saying "Arkansas is 4-0 but that Petrino is a sleazy unfaithful s.o.b.') No. I don't think so. Most of you wanted him gone and you got what you wished for. And most of the same ones who wanted him gone cant believe where your program is at right now. Bottom line is once the season started and the Razorbacks played liked the preseason top ten team that they would have been under Petrino most would have forgotten his misuse of power and bad judgement. And if you really had great morals, you wouldn't have hired him in the first place. It's not like Petrino had the image of a guy with high moral values. He lied to Louisville all the way up until the day he left for Atlanta, had numerous run-ins with player's and ownership there, and then left a note in the locker room letting them know he was walking out on them. Not exactly a poster boy for class and integrity. Then for his replacement, you hire a guy who walked out on his program before coaching a game, had to file bankruptcy because of some alleged bad investments and, is an absolute terrible head coach to boot.
Whats Next?
So now you ask, where can we go from here?There's not alot to say really. Nowhere but up I guess.
Because it cant get much worse
Arkansas's Moral dilemma
After the Petrino crash that ultimately uncovered the affair with a smoking hot 25 year old University of Arkansas employee, it put it's president and AD in the middle of a moral decision. They took the high road and ousted Petrino and decided that wasn't the image they wanted for the program. Fine. Look at the image you portray now. You went from competing for BCS bowls to getting beat by teams that are not even in a automatic qualifying BCS conference. Well done. That's tough to do and you managed to do it in the span of about 7 months. That's impressive by any standards. Throw in your new head coach and his baggage and you successfully set your program back at least 5 years. And don't fool yourself into thinking you will ever be as good as were under Petrino. You wont. And those of you who say it's not all about winning football games, it is, or you wouldn't be so pissed that your team is a disaster right now. Do you think national media would be saying "Arkansas is 4-0 but that Petrino is a sleazy unfaithful s.o.b.') No. I don't think so. Most of you wanted him gone and you got what you wished for. And most of the same ones who wanted him gone cant believe where your program is at right now. Bottom line is once the season started and the Razorbacks played liked the preseason top ten team that they would have been under Petrino most would have forgotten his misuse of power and bad judgement. And if you really had great morals, you wouldn't have hired him in the first place. It's not like Petrino had the image of a guy with high moral values. He lied to Louisville all the way up until the day he left for Atlanta, had numerous run-ins with player's and ownership there, and then left a note in the locker room letting them know he was walking out on them. Not exactly a poster boy for class and integrity. Then for his replacement, you hire a guy who walked out on his program before coaching a game, had to file bankruptcy because of some alleged bad investments and, is an absolute terrible head coach to boot.
Whats Next?
So now you ask, where can we go from here?There's not alot to say really. Nowhere but up I guess.
Because it cant get much worse
Sunday, September 23, 2012
CFB: The Day After
A little less than twenty four hours have passed since week four came to a close and it left us with plenty to talk about. Some teams that were supposed to look good did, while others not so much. A few schools had program defining wins while others had inexcusable losses to lower tier conferences. Just another week in in the wonderful world of college football.
Biggest Winners
While #1 Alabama was cruising against out gunned FAU, other top teams had to put in work to remain in the BCS national title picture. Now second ranked Oregon throttled then #22 Arizona in what started off as a sloppy defensive type game until Chip Kelly turned the Ducks loose in the second half. #4 Florida St. answered any critics who were questioning whether or not the Noles were back with an impressive performance against then #10 Clemson. We also had #15 Kansas St. going into Norman and upsetting the sixth ranked Sooners to officially put Dan Schneider's Wildcats into the BCS conversation. #5 Georgia and #6 South Carolina both rolled against SEC competition while #10 Notre Dame forced Denard Robinson into five turnovers to get passed then eighteenth ranked Michigan. All these winners got a boost in the latest polls and put themselves into serious title contention.
Biggest Losers
Some teams didn't bring there A game yesterday and while it only cost some a slight drop in the polls it caused others there shot a national championship. #3 LSU looked beatable for the first time against a below average Auburn team and #8 West Virgina struggled against un-ranked Maryland. But both managed to get a win and only a one spot fall in the polls for the Tigers was the only side effect for now. Oklahoma started yesterday at #6 and looking to remain unbeaten but couldn't hold off Collin Klein as they are all but out of the BCS title picture with the loss to Kansas State. Clemson was a top ten team twenty four hours ago but had there hopes of a trip to Miami crushed with that thrilling game in Tallahassee. The teams that escaped with victories showed some weaknesses that future opponents will try to exploit while the ones who lost will have to refocus and hope for some help. But its never as bad as it seems for the teams with a loss right now. You could be Arkansas or Kentucky.
My Top 5
1. Alabama
Still the best team in the nation. Period.
2. Oregon
Slow start but when they turned it on, they really turn it on. Some challenges ahead but barring a slip-up should make for a helluva title game against the Tide in Miami.
3. FSU
A big win against a good Clemson team and looked damn impressive. Made some big stops on defense when it mattered and offensively looked sharp. The easiest schedule of any of the other top 5 by far, the Noles should be 11-0 heading into they season finale against Florida.
4. LSU
Just didn't play well. Plain and simple. The Tigers also showed some weaknesses in the passing game that better opponents will be able to exploit.
5. Georgia
Absolutely hammered a Vanderbilt team that some people thought would keep it close. Those people should have know better. It's the same old Vandy. And the Dogs are very talented. They have a tough stretch of SEC games coming up starting Saturday with Tennessee.
Stock Up
EJ Manuel QB-Florida St. Manuel threw for 380 yards and rushed for another 102 in Florida States 49-37 win over Clemson putting him in the Heisman conversation.
Cobi Hamilton WR- Arkansas. The only, and I cant stress the word only enough here, positive to the dumpster fire that is the Arkansas Razorbacks was Hamilton's SEC record 10 catches for 303 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Rutgers. The other positive for Hamilton is he's a senior so he will be out of Fayetteville soon, which may be the better of the two.
And if you took my week 4 picks and bet the farm like I said, your made a substantial financial gain this weekend as I was a perfect 3-0. This is a humble brag, and may not happen again for the rest of the season
Biggest Winners
While #1 Alabama was cruising against out gunned FAU, other top teams had to put in work to remain in the BCS national title picture. Now second ranked Oregon throttled then #22 Arizona in what started off as a sloppy defensive type game until Chip Kelly turned the Ducks loose in the second half. #4 Florida St. answered any critics who were questioning whether or not the Noles were back with an impressive performance against then #10 Clemson. We also had #15 Kansas St. going into Norman and upsetting the sixth ranked Sooners to officially put Dan Schneider's Wildcats into the BCS conversation. #5 Georgia and #6 South Carolina both rolled against SEC competition while #10 Notre Dame forced Denard Robinson into five turnovers to get passed then eighteenth ranked Michigan. All these winners got a boost in the latest polls and put themselves into serious title contention.
Biggest Losers
Some teams didn't bring there A game yesterday and while it only cost some a slight drop in the polls it caused others there shot a national championship. #3 LSU looked beatable for the first time against a below average Auburn team and #8 West Virgina struggled against un-ranked Maryland. But both managed to get a win and only a one spot fall in the polls for the Tigers was the only side effect for now. Oklahoma started yesterday at #6 and looking to remain unbeaten but couldn't hold off Collin Klein as they are all but out of the BCS title picture with the loss to Kansas State. Clemson was a top ten team twenty four hours ago but had there hopes of a trip to Miami crushed with that thrilling game in Tallahassee. The teams that escaped with victories showed some weaknesses that future opponents will try to exploit while the ones who lost will have to refocus and hope for some help. But its never as bad as it seems for the teams with a loss right now. You could be Arkansas or Kentucky.
My Top 5
1. Alabama
Still the best team in the nation. Period.
2. Oregon
Slow start but when they turned it on, they really turn it on. Some challenges ahead but barring a slip-up should make for a helluva title game against the Tide in Miami.
3. FSU
A big win against a good Clemson team and looked damn impressive. Made some big stops on defense when it mattered and offensively looked sharp. The easiest schedule of any of the other top 5 by far, the Noles should be 11-0 heading into they season finale against Florida.
4. LSU
Just didn't play well. Plain and simple. The Tigers also showed some weaknesses in the passing game that better opponents will be able to exploit.
5. Georgia
Absolutely hammered a Vanderbilt team that some people thought would keep it close. Those people should have know better. It's the same old Vandy. And the Dogs are very talented. They have a tough stretch of SEC games coming up starting Saturday with Tennessee.
Stock Up
EJ Manuel QB-Florida St. Manuel threw for 380 yards and rushed for another 102 in Florida States 49-37 win over Clemson putting him in the Heisman conversation.
Cobi Hamilton WR- Arkansas. The only, and I cant stress the word only enough here, positive to the dumpster fire that is the Arkansas Razorbacks was Hamilton's SEC record 10 catches for 303 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Rutgers. The other positive for Hamilton is he's a senior so he will be out of Fayetteville soon, which may be the better of the two.
And if you took my week 4 picks and bet the farm like I said, your made a substantial financial gain this weekend as I was a perfect 3-0. This is a humble brag, and may not happen again for the rest of the season
NFL Week 3 Look Around
Players to Watch
It's early in the NFL season and by no means can you identify legit playoff teams in week three but you can start to see if certain teams will start putting it together and others continue to be in self destruct mode. Week three can also give you an idea about what direction some of the leagues premier impact players are heading in. Can Peyton bounce back from that three interception performance last week against a very good Houston defense? Will Micheal Vick continue to toss the ball to opposing teams DB's like he's conducting a high school secondary drill? I heard the Ravens defense yell "Pass! Ball! Oskie! every time Vick dropped back last week. (The Eagles however are 2-0 despite a league high 9 turnovers). Will Tony Romo ever play like the QB that he is hyped up to be? Will Chicago's offensive line even attempt to block for Jay Cutler this week? I personally love seeing Cutler get knocked around like Sean Austin in "Rudy" and act like its someone else's fault that he threw the ball to Green Bay all night. Nothing personal to Bears fans, for me it's a dislike of Cutler. And Vanderbilt. And can Chris Johnson, aka CJ, aka CJ2K, aka Lighting, aka.... he has more nicknames than rushing yards heading into week three get on track. He set the bar high before the season when he said he wanted to rush for 2000 yards again. Titans fans would settle for a 100 yard game. And that is just a few players who are searching for some success.
Marquee Match-Ups
Not a big week for big games but here a few that should make your football Sunday enjoyable.
Chicago - St. Louis
Maybe not a big time game but watching Cutler get jacked up repeatedly should make any fan feel good. Unless your a Bears or Vandy fan. Cutler is the only thing Vandy fans have to be proud of. Which should tell you about Vandy fans,
Cincinnati - Washington
RGIII is fun to watch. The Redskins may be a team to watch in the NFC and the Bengals have Andy Dalton and AJ Green who are good for at least one or two phenomenal plays a game.
Houston - Denver
Peyton can prove that he is really "back" with a win against one of the best, if not the best team in the AFC. The Texans have an outstanding defense and an offense that has several fantasy league stars.
New England - Baltimore
The Patriots are coming off a bad loss a week ago and history tells us they will bounce back with a vengeance. But the Ravens are also coming off a tough loss and history also suggest the Dirty Birds will show up with there A game. I think this is the best game of the week and should be fun to watch.
Keep an Eye On
The officials. The league actually fined two coaches this past week for telling the refs in a stern voice and using "inappropriate language" that the were terrible, when in fact they are terrible. This is a big boy league and Rodger Goodell is making players and coaches look like pansies
It's early in the NFL season and by no means can you identify legit playoff teams in week three but you can start to see if certain teams will start putting it together and others continue to be in self destruct mode. Week three can also give you an idea about what direction some of the leagues premier impact players are heading in. Can Peyton bounce back from that three interception performance last week against a very good Houston defense? Will Micheal Vick continue to toss the ball to opposing teams DB's like he's conducting a high school secondary drill? I heard the Ravens defense yell "Pass! Ball! Oskie! every time Vick dropped back last week. (The Eagles however are 2-0 despite a league high 9 turnovers). Will Tony Romo ever play like the QB that he is hyped up to be? Will Chicago's offensive line even attempt to block for Jay Cutler this week? I personally love seeing Cutler get knocked around like Sean Austin in "Rudy" and act like its someone else's fault that he threw the ball to Green Bay all night. Nothing personal to Bears fans, for me it's a dislike of Cutler. And Vanderbilt. And can Chris Johnson, aka CJ, aka CJ2K, aka Lighting, aka.... he has more nicknames than rushing yards heading into week three get on track. He set the bar high before the season when he said he wanted to rush for 2000 yards again. Titans fans would settle for a 100 yard game. And that is just a few players who are searching for some success.
Marquee Match-Ups
Not a big week for big games but here a few that should make your football Sunday enjoyable.
Chicago - St. Louis
Maybe not a big time game but watching Cutler get jacked up repeatedly should make any fan feel good. Unless your a Bears or Vandy fan. Cutler is the only thing Vandy fans have to be proud of. Which should tell you about Vandy fans,
Cincinnati - Washington
RGIII is fun to watch. The Redskins may be a team to watch in the NFC and the Bengals have Andy Dalton and AJ Green who are good for at least one or two phenomenal plays a game.
Houston - Denver
Peyton can prove that he is really "back" with a win against one of the best, if not the best team in the AFC. The Texans have an outstanding defense and an offense that has several fantasy league stars.
New England - Baltimore
The Patriots are coming off a bad loss a week ago and history tells us they will bounce back with a vengeance. But the Ravens are also coming off a tough loss and history also suggest the Dirty Birds will show up with there A game. I think this is the best game of the week and should be fun to watch.
Keep an Eye On
The officials. The league actually fined two coaches this past week for telling the refs in a stern voice and using "inappropriate language" that the were terrible, when in fact they are terrible. This is a big boy league and Rodger Goodell is making players and coaches look like pansies
Friday, September 21, 2012
College Football Week 4 Preview
Games to watch
Week four brings us a match up of two high powered offenses going head to head as #22 Arizona goes into Eugene to face #3 Oregon in what should be a detailed clinic in the "spread" offense. This game has the potential to be the most entertaining game of the weekend if you consider the fact that these to teams combine for an average of 1,200 yards per game and over 100 points. Really, those are actually numbers. Not play station stats. Look them up. Throw in Oregon's uniform combinations and this one should be fun to watch. Take the over on the points, even though it will probably be like 70 it's a safe bet. A couple hours before this highlight reel #4 Florida St. hopes to keep its national title hopes alive when #10 Clemson goes to Tallahassee. This is considered the marquee game because some have the Seminoles pegged for a spot in the BCS title game. I am not one of them but none the less it has the making of being a very good football game. Around the same time you have #6 Oklahoma taking on #15 Kansas St. in Norman. Last season the Sooner's won by 41 points. It may a little closer tomorrow, but not by much. Then there is #11 Notre Dame trying to kept all the early season optimism rolling against #18 Michigan. This should be a back and fourth game that will make any college football fan appreciate the rivalry. You have a few others that could be watch worthy depending on which teams decide to show up. #7 South Carolina and new SEC East opponent Missouri, #13 USC taking out frustrations on rival Cal, and #2 LSU putting Gene Chizick one step closer to the unemployment line at Auburn.
Games not to watch
Obviously there are several but lets look at few that don't deserve to be discussed in depth unless you are a compulsive gambler. #1 Alabama has more talent than FAU, probably on there coed flag football team. Vanderbilt will "anchor down" and get rolled by #5 Georgia and afterwords James Franklin will still talk about how this " isn't the same old Vandy". Yes it is James. The only difference is you saying it's not.
You have #14 Florida matched up with a Kentucky team that couldn't get to 6 wins if they played in the MAC the rest of the season. Even Billy Gillespie laughs at UK. Add any Big East game to this list.
Players to watch
Braxton Miller, OSU.
Kid is the Buckeyes do everything, and so far he has done everything really really good
Denard Robinson, UM
He accounts for like, all of Michigan's offense. Literally
De'Athony Thomas, Oregon
Another year, another trillion yard rusher for the Ducks. And probably a new uniform.
Players not to watch
Add any Big East player to this list
Games to bet the farm on
Georgia -14.5. You should "anchor down" a Brinks truck on this one.
Rutgers +9.5. How can Arkansas be favored in any game right now, even with Tyler Wilson this is a lock
USC +16. The Trojans will run up the score and Matt Barkley should have 15 TD passes. By halftime.
Week four brings us a match up of two high powered offenses going head to head as #22 Arizona goes into Eugene to face #3 Oregon in what should be a detailed clinic in the "spread" offense. This game has the potential to be the most entertaining game of the weekend if you consider the fact that these to teams combine for an average of 1,200 yards per game and over 100 points. Really, those are actually numbers. Not play station stats. Look them up. Throw in Oregon's uniform combinations and this one should be fun to watch. Take the over on the points, even though it will probably be like 70 it's a safe bet. A couple hours before this highlight reel #4 Florida St. hopes to keep its national title hopes alive when #10 Clemson goes to Tallahassee. This is considered the marquee game because some have the Seminoles pegged for a spot in the BCS title game. I am not one of them but none the less it has the making of being a very good football game. Around the same time you have #6 Oklahoma taking on #15 Kansas St. in Norman. Last season the Sooner's won by 41 points. It may a little closer tomorrow, but not by much. Then there is #11 Notre Dame trying to kept all the early season optimism rolling against #18 Michigan. This should be a back and fourth game that will make any college football fan appreciate the rivalry. You have a few others that could be watch worthy depending on which teams decide to show up. #7 South Carolina and new SEC East opponent Missouri, #13 USC taking out frustrations on rival Cal, and #2 LSU putting Gene Chizick one step closer to the unemployment line at Auburn.
Games not to watch
Obviously there are several but lets look at few that don't deserve to be discussed in depth unless you are a compulsive gambler. #1 Alabama has more talent than FAU, probably on there coed flag football team. Vanderbilt will "anchor down" and get rolled by #5 Georgia and afterwords James Franklin will still talk about how this " isn't the same old Vandy". Yes it is James. The only difference is you saying it's not.
You have #14 Florida matched up with a Kentucky team that couldn't get to 6 wins if they played in the MAC the rest of the season. Even Billy Gillespie laughs at UK. Add any Big East game to this list.
Players to watch
Braxton Miller, OSU.
Kid is the Buckeyes do everything, and so far he has done everything really really good
Denard Robinson, UM
He accounts for like, all of Michigan's offense. Literally
De'Athony Thomas, Oregon
Another year, another trillion yard rusher for the Ducks. And probably a new uniform.
Players not to watch
Add any Big East player to this list
Games to bet the farm on
Georgia -14.5. You should "anchor down" a Brinks truck on this one.
Rutgers +9.5. How can Arkansas be favored in any game right now, even with Tyler Wilson this is a lock
USC +16. The Trojans will run up the score and Matt Barkley should have 15 TD passes. By halftime.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
September: Is this the best time of year for a sports fan?
I happen to think it may be. Just hear me out.
As I sit here on this Thursday night getting prepared to do some channel flipping between some games that include some of the biggest names in there respective sports, I began to think that late September could be the best time of year for a sports enthusiast. I mean sure, there is nothing like that first college football game of the season when eight months of anticipation finally gives way to the opening kickoff, but lets review for a minute. Football season is just getting cranked up. The race for playoff spots is in full swing for over a dozen MLB teams. A new PGA FedEx cup champion will be crowned by the end of the weekend. We're roughly three weeks from the start of the NBA preseason, and there's the NHL lockout to discuss. Throw in a couple months of high profile UFC fights and I'm hard pressed to find a better time to be a sports fan.
Tonight alone you can watch the defending Super Bowl champions led by the other Manning (who has two, not one but two Super Bowl rings) take on one of the most electrifying QB's in the NFL in Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. By the end of the first quarter you can flip over and watch Boise State try and win it's 19th consecutive September home game against a pass happy BYU team on the famed blue turf.
As I write this blog the Milwaukee Brewers have a 1 run lead in the top of the 9th. If they can close the deal they are one game closer to a wild card spot.Speaking of closing the deal, the Cincinnati Reds became the first team to clinch a playoff birth today. Hit "up" four times on your tv remote and you can see the 2011 MLB MVP runner-up Matt Kemp try and end his September slump and pull his Dodgers one game closer in the NL west standings. And that's just a couple of examples of what is shaping up to be one of the best Septembers for Major League Baseball in quite some time.
Then there's Tiger Woods, who continued his streak of great opening round golf by shooting 66 at Eastlake Golf Club today to place himself atop the leader board in the PGA's final tournament of the year. If the old Tiger shows up over the next three days then he will win the FedEx Cup again and the "Tiger is back" talk can carry over into the 2013 golf season.
We can almost officially start the "Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six," not gonna happen, talk of the Miami Heat title run and the pure hatred of LeBron James. Is Dwight Howard actually gonna give effort to his new club? Can the Boston Celtics win one more for KG and Pierce? How many guns will be found in NBA locker rooms? My over/under on that by the way is at least 10, and that's only the ones that will get reported. If it were actually numbers I would raise that number to around 1000, but times that by 3 if you count the D league.
And we can kind of sort talk a little hockey, most likely KHL hockey as it seems that's were many of the NHL's top talent will be at least starting their seasons with a lockout in place. I'm not to worried about this however because, frankly, no ones losing money yet. Players haven't started missing game checks, owners haven't had empty arenas, and the NHL brass hasn't started receiving all the bad publicity that it cannot afford to get with an extended work stoppage. I have full confidence that this will not last long.
And all this is just the tip of the iceberg of what is happening and will continue to happen in the sports world over the next few months. I didn't even mention the chase for the Piston Cup with Lighting McQueen leading the standings after......(somewhere I'm sure there is someone who actually cares, and knows what the hell is going on in that "sport" known as Nascar.) I am not one of them by the way.
My point is, I am convinced this is the best time of year for a sports fan.
And it's only gonna get better from here
As I sit here on this Thursday night getting prepared to do some channel flipping between some games that include some of the biggest names in there respective sports, I began to think that late September could be the best time of year for a sports enthusiast. I mean sure, there is nothing like that first college football game of the season when eight months of anticipation finally gives way to the opening kickoff, but lets review for a minute. Football season is just getting cranked up. The race for playoff spots is in full swing for over a dozen MLB teams. A new PGA FedEx cup champion will be crowned by the end of the weekend. We're roughly three weeks from the start of the NBA preseason, and there's the NHL lockout to discuss. Throw in a couple months of high profile UFC fights and I'm hard pressed to find a better time to be a sports fan.
Tonight alone you can watch the defending Super Bowl champions led by the other Manning (who has two, not one but two Super Bowl rings) take on one of the most electrifying QB's in the NFL in Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. By the end of the first quarter you can flip over and watch Boise State try and win it's 19th consecutive September home game against a pass happy BYU team on the famed blue turf.
As I write this blog the Milwaukee Brewers have a 1 run lead in the top of the 9th. If they can close the deal they are one game closer to a wild card spot.Speaking of closing the deal, the Cincinnati Reds became the first team to clinch a playoff birth today. Hit "up" four times on your tv remote and you can see the 2011 MLB MVP runner-up Matt Kemp try and end his September slump and pull his Dodgers one game closer in the NL west standings. And that's just a couple of examples of what is shaping up to be one of the best Septembers for Major League Baseball in quite some time.
Then there's Tiger Woods, who continued his streak of great opening round golf by shooting 66 at Eastlake Golf Club today to place himself atop the leader board in the PGA's final tournament of the year. If the old Tiger shows up over the next three days then he will win the FedEx Cup again and the "Tiger is back" talk can carry over into the 2013 golf season.
We can almost officially start the "Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six," not gonna happen, talk of the Miami Heat title run and the pure hatred of LeBron James. Is Dwight Howard actually gonna give effort to his new club? Can the Boston Celtics win one more for KG and Pierce? How many guns will be found in NBA locker rooms? My over/under on that by the way is at least 10, and that's only the ones that will get reported. If it were actually numbers I would raise that number to around 1000, but times that by 3 if you count the D league.
And we can kind of sort talk a little hockey, most likely KHL hockey as it seems that's were many of the NHL's top talent will be at least starting their seasons with a lockout in place. I'm not to worried about this however because, frankly, no ones losing money yet. Players haven't started missing game checks, owners haven't had empty arenas, and the NHL brass hasn't started receiving all the bad publicity that it cannot afford to get with an extended work stoppage. I have full confidence that this will not last long.
And all this is just the tip of the iceberg of what is happening and will continue to happen in the sports world over the next few months. I didn't even mention the chase for the Piston Cup with Lighting McQueen leading the standings after......(somewhere I'm sure there is someone who actually cares, and knows what the hell is going on in that "sport" known as Nascar.) I am not one of them by the way.
My point is, I am convinced this is the best time of year for a sports fan.
And it's only gonna get better from here
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
College Football Week 3
5 things we've learned so far.
1. The SEC is still atop the polls.
After two weeks of the college football season the SEC is still flexing its muscle. Four out of the top ten teams in the latest rankings reside in the South Eastern Conference. #1 Alabama looks poised to play in the BCS title game barring a slip-up November 3rd against #2 LSU. The Tigers could book their ticket to Miami if they can knockoff the Crimson Tide in a game that should decide the SEC West, and most likely the conference. Georgia sits at #5 and the favorite to represent the East in Atlanta for the annual SEC championship game. #7 South Carolina will be a factory for that spot but their road is a lot tougher with LSU and #14 Florida in back to back weeks, and both on the road. The Gators may be the team that disrupts things as they look better than expected coming off a big win against Tennessee.
2. The Pac-12 hopes for a BCS title rest with Oregon.
Another year, another loss to Stanford for USC. The Trojans had there sights set on a national championship run and QB Matt Barkley was leading the Heisman race but Saturday changed all that. Barkley had costly turnovers and now USC is on the outside looking in with a showdown with Oregon looming. Not to mention games against #19 UCLA and #22 Arizona that now seem much more dicey. Oregon on the other hand has put on an offensive clinic in the first 3 games and looks like a legit title contender. There young at some skill positions and should only get better with each games, and uniform.
3. Notre Dame is back in the National spotlight for actually winning football games.
The Irish are usually one of the most talked about teams in the preseason and its usually for no reason other than several notable alums (or coaches) that work for certain sports networks. Throw in their ridicules tv contract and even if your not trying to keep tabs on Notre Dame football you'll be in the loop. Three games into the season the Fighting Irish have shown that for the first time in a long time, there's reason to give attention to what their accomplishing on the field. Coming off of a huge win over #21 Michigan State the Irish moved up to #11 in the polls. Head Coach Brian Kelly has his offense playing much more balanced than a year ago and the defense may be one of the most underrated in the country.
4. Louisville may go 12-0.
It's early, I know but the #20th ranked Cardinals are 3-0, Teddy Bridgewater is among the best young QB's in the country, and their schedule is slightly tougher than local prep power house Louisville Trinity HS. Charlie Strong has brought an SEC toughness to his defense and he has some big time play makers on offense. Add all that together and its a team that could find itself playing in a BCS bowl at season's end.
5. Some Athletic Directors are already starting a coaching search.
Maybe not publicly but trust me, there are several AD's out there beginning the process of finding a new leader for there football programs and most are in the SEC. John L Smith has taken an Arkansas team that started the season ranked in the top ten to one of the worst teams in the SEC. And he has done it in dramatic fashion, having lost to Louisiana Monroe in overtime and then suffering a 52-0 blowout against Alabama the following week. To top it all off he ask the media in his weekly press conference what was with all the gloomy faces and that they should "smile". There will be plenty or smiling at season's end, if he makes it that long. Joker Phillip's Kentucky team just became the third best team in the bluegrass state after losing to Western Kentucky on Saturday, and that's debatable with the above mentioned Louisville Trinity HS also residing in the same state. The Wildcats look like a team that has giving up on the coaches, them selves and the program. With 9 games left to play things could get ugly in Lexington. And then there is Derek Dooley at Tennessee. In his third year as head man for the Vols, Dooley has yet to beat a ranked opponent and suffered another loss to high profile rival Florida Saturday on a national stage. The Vols have a stretch of five games coming up against nationally ranked opponents and unless Doolander can turn things around in a hurry Tennessee may be looking for it's fourth head coach in the last five years.
Stock up: Stephon Taylor RB, Stanford
Taylor had 213 offensive yards and two touchdowns Saturday as the Cardinals knocked off #2 USC. A year after losing Andrew Luck, Taylor may be the next big thing in Palo Alto.
Stock Down: Le'veon Bell RB, Michigan State
After starting the season hot with a 210 yard rushing performance in week one and averaging over 4 yards per carry, Bell ran for just 77 yards on 19 carries in Saturday's loss to Notre Dame. Every team on Michigan State's schedule will try and duplicate the Irish's defensive game plan which could make for tough going for the Bell and the Spartans moving forward
1. The SEC is still atop the polls.
After two weeks of the college football season the SEC is still flexing its muscle. Four out of the top ten teams in the latest rankings reside in the South Eastern Conference. #1 Alabama looks poised to play in the BCS title game barring a slip-up November 3rd against #2 LSU. The Tigers could book their ticket to Miami if they can knockoff the Crimson Tide in a game that should decide the SEC West, and most likely the conference. Georgia sits at #5 and the favorite to represent the East in Atlanta for the annual SEC championship game. #7 South Carolina will be a factory for that spot but their road is a lot tougher with LSU and #14 Florida in back to back weeks, and both on the road. The Gators may be the team that disrupts things as they look better than expected coming off a big win against Tennessee.
2. The Pac-12 hopes for a BCS title rest with Oregon.
Another year, another loss to Stanford for USC. The Trojans had there sights set on a national championship run and QB Matt Barkley was leading the Heisman race but Saturday changed all that. Barkley had costly turnovers and now USC is on the outside looking in with a showdown with Oregon looming. Not to mention games against #19 UCLA and #22 Arizona that now seem much more dicey. Oregon on the other hand has put on an offensive clinic in the first 3 games and looks like a legit title contender. There young at some skill positions and should only get better with each games, and uniform.
3. Notre Dame is back in the National spotlight for actually winning football games.
The Irish are usually one of the most talked about teams in the preseason and its usually for no reason other than several notable alums (or coaches) that work for certain sports networks. Throw in their ridicules tv contract and even if your not trying to keep tabs on Notre Dame football you'll be in the loop. Three games into the season the Fighting Irish have shown that for the first time in a long time, there's reason to give attention to what their accomplishing on the field. Coming off of a huge win over #21 Michigan State the Irish moved up to #11 in the polls. Head Coach Brian Kelly has his offense playing much more balanced than a year ago and the defense may be one of the most underrated in the country.
4. Louisville may go 12-0.
It's early, I know but the #20th ranked Cardinals are 3-0, Teddy Bridgewater is among the best young QB's in the country, and their schedule is slightly tougher than local prep power house Louisville Trinity HS. Charlie Strong has brought an SEC toughness to his defense and he has some big time play makers on offense. Add all that together and its a team that could find itself playing in a BCS bowl at season's end.
5. Some Athletic Directors are already starting a coaching search.
Maybe not publicly but trust me, there are several AD's out there beginning the process of finding a new leader for there football programs and most are in the SEC. John L Smith has taken an Arkansas team that started the season ranked in the top ten to one of the worst teams in the SEC. And he has done it in dramatic fashion, having lost to Louisiana Monroe in overtime and then suffering a 52-0 blowout against Alabama the following week. To top it all off he ask the media in his weekly press conference what was with all the gloomy faces and that they should "smile". There will be plenty or smiling at season's end, if he makes it that long. Joker Phillip's Kentucky team just became the third best team in the bluegrass state after losing to Western Kentucky on Saturday, and that's debatable with the above mentioned Louisville Trinity HS also residing in the same state. The Wildcats look like a team that has giving up on the coaches, them selves and the program. With 9 games left to play things could get ugly in Lexington. And then there is Derek Dooley at Tennessee. In his third year as head man for the Vols, Dooley has yet to beat a ranked opponent and suffered another loss to high profile rival Florida Saturday on a national stage. The Vols have a stretch of five games coming up against nationally ranked opponents and unless Doolander can turn things around in a hurry Tennessee may be looking for it's fourth head coach in the last five years.
Stock up: Stephon Taylor RB, Stanford
Taylor had 213 offensive yards and two touchdowns Saturday as the Cardinals knocked off #2 USC. A year after losing Andrew Luck, Taylor may be the next big thing in Palo Alto.
Stock Down: Le'veon Bell RB, Michigan State
After starting the season hot with a 210 yard rushing performance in week one and averaging over 4 yards per carry, Bell ran for just 77 yards on 19 carries in Saturday's loss to Notre Dame. Every team on Michigan State's schedule will try and duplicate the Irish's defensive game plan which could make for tough going for the Bell and the Spartans moving forward
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)