DECEMBER 31, 2009
#1 overall pick in the NFL draft
BLOWING OUT IN STYLE
After seeing Nebraska’s offense this year especially against Iowa State and Texas one could not possibly predict the Huskers’ 33 pt. output against Arizona. The Wildcats were supposed to be a defensive team, this must have been their day off.
What happened to the offense is the better question. Arizona couldn’t even manage a field goal. They did managed 109 total yards. I don’t know what else can be written this was a complete annihilation by Nebraska of what I thought was a pretty good football team. Twenty five days off meant a great deal to Nebraska, they were able to find an offense.
PITCH AND CATCH
How about Freddie Barnes of Bowling Green who set the NCAA record with 155 rec. in a single season (13 games). Barnes at 6 feet and 210 lbs is a legitimate NFL prospect and should play for real cash next year. On the blue turf in Boise Barnes caught 17 rec for 219 yards , WHAT?
Pour some Gatorade on this kid he’s on fire.
DECEMBER 30, 2009
MIAMI SHOWS NOTHING
The Hurricanes were out played and out hustled. Miami was dominated by the Wisconsin Badgers and were only able to come up with two offensive touchdowns. The Hurricanes had problems with their offensive line all season and the same problems plagued them in Orlando. Harris was hurried all night, he was inaccurate and his receivers didn’t help him any.
Miami has been inconsistent all season but the offensive line has consistently played poorly. The offense could not convert on key third downs to keep drives going and Wisconsin took over and kept the ball away from that Miami speed at the skill positions. Both teams will return most of their key players and should push for double digit wins next season. On this day, however, Miami was no match for Wisconsin.
THE OWLS, THAT'S WHO!
I understand that Temple lost but sometimes you’re a winner even if you lose. The Temple Owls lost in their first bowl game in 30 years. The fact that this team is in a bowl game is victory enough. Temple was considering scrapping the football program a few years ago. This team was 0 - 11 on 2005, today they are 9 – 5.
A most deserving congratulations to the Owls.
DECEMBER 29, 2009
I am GOD
INEXECUSABLE
Mike Leach has been suspended by Texas Tech University because on two occasions Leach ordered a player to be locked or confined to a dark closet for being unable to practice due to a concussion. The details are still being verified. Leach through his lawyer has admitted to confining the player.
This happens when the pressure to win overtakes your senses and you lose all perspective and humanity. “TOUGHNESS” is a very important element in football but this insistence on toughness can not interfere with protecting the well being of your players and the most important element in one’s life, HEALTH. Just as Urban Meyer is taking a leave of absence due to a heart condition and putting his health first so must every coach, employer and any one else in a position of authority who can influence a subordinates well being, protect the health of their subjects.
Leach has lost his way, to lose perspective and act in such an inhumane manner is outrageous. How can you as human being and a father subject one of your players to such treatment. I’ll tell you how, because he doesn’t care. The players are just cattle to him, he uses them to further his own gain, more wins means more money. So who cares if you lock some player in the electrical utility closet, he’s injured and can’t help you win.
This mistreatment is even more inexcusable because the coaches’ contracts are guaranteed. If these guys don’t win yes they will get fired but they get to keep the money and at the end of the day you have to be able to take care of your family financially first every thing else comes second. The fact that your contract is guaranteed and you will have a buyout guarantees financial security. This should have you focused on teaching the players and coaching the team. But not for some like Mike Leach, who apparently will sell his Mother for a win.
Goodbye and good riddance
DECEMBER 25-28, 2009
BACK FROM THE DEAD
You have to hand it to that June Jones. This coach made Hawaii into a winner and now a most remarkable turnaround for SMU. Some years ago in the days of the Southwest conference the Mustangs were a power house attracting the top talent in the country. This talent included the likes of Craig James, Jerry Ball and Eric Dickerson. Of course SMU was actually paying their players, which is a BIG NO NO in college sports and as a result the NCAA hammered the final nail in their coffin. Well that was back in the late ‘80s. Fast forward to 2009 and you have an offensive explosion happening at University Park near Dallas.
June Jones got this run and shoot thing down cold and most importantly so does his QB. Kyle Padron threw for a school record 460 yds against Nevada. The Wolf Pack had three 1000 yard rushers but not much of a defense I guess. The Mustangs were up 31 to nothing at the half, come on Nevada I know the game is in Hawaii but this is no vacation.
This was a very impressive win over an opponent that averaged over 40 pts for 8 games in the middle of the season. Nevada scored 33 in a loss against Boise State. They had 10 points total in the bowl game, a double come on!
DECEMBER 23-24, 2009
Wind, no problem.
THE WINDY CITY
What a match up this early in the bowl season. The #12 BYU vs. the #14 Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl. Don’t underestimate the Mormons. Just because half of them are married with kids you can’t take them lightly. In fact you should be even more afraid of this team. Did I not mention these guys are married, you know how frustrated they must be.
But this game had one story line, WIND, as in 40 miles per hour winds that took the Beavers out of this game. Ah and that backward pass that Rodgers dropped and the Cougars ran back for six didn’t help either.
Oregon State looked like the 114th team in the county instead of the 14th. This was a very interesting game. The score board read 44-20 yet the statistics were much closer. Total yards were 308 (BYU) to 305 (OS), turnovers were 2 for the Mormons and 3 for the Beavers. But that’s why they play the game, the game itself was not nearly as close as the stats would have you believe.
The best in the business, Damion James
THE LONGHORNS PLAY BASKETBALL AS WELL
At 11-0 Texas already looks like the national champs. I’m not a Rick Barnes fan but when you have such great players it’s hard to get it wrong. It’s a good thing we have the playoffs because so far Texas has played most of their games at home, and only one big win on the road versus Pitt.
The BIG 12 isn’t a big for basketball so Texas should do well only Kansas stands in their way. As impressive as they are lets not give them the championship trophy just yet, as history has shown us #1 seeds don’t fair well in the big dance in March.
DECEMBER 21-22, 2009
One more come back
NFL THOUGHTS
What a win for the Steelers. You can’t give QBs time to throw in the pros they will find someone open. The Packers gave Big Ben time and he found a receiver open with no time remaining. This is Roethlisberger’s 13th come from behind win that’s impressive, oh and 2 RINGS. He had 503 yards passing. WHAT! Ridiculous. That was a one word sentence right there. The Packers were 9 and 4 they most likely could not win the division, but Minnesota lost today (11-3 now) and is struggling and you simply don’t know what can happen in the NFL, which is to say, anything can happen. They’re just a bunch of cheese heads.
The Chargers are winning, 11 and 3. Impressive win over an emotional Bengals squad.
Rivers with 308 yds and 3 tds. It should be a tremendous game San Diego at Indianapolis for the privilege to go the Super Bowl.
Broncos lost to the Raiders. He, he. The Broncos are a .500 team some nice wins early but the cream always rises to the top and you can see the problems with that undersized defense giving up 133 rush yards to Michael Bush. The D-Line needs to get bigger in Denver, you need size in the pros no matter the sport.
How about the Titans. Didn’t they start 0 and 5 and are now a very respectable 7-7. I never liked Vince Young but the numbers don’t lie, they are a better team with him. Young had 236 yds and 3 tds.
Cleveland‘s Harrison runs for 286 yards which is a Browns record and it’s the third highest total in history. Good thing for Kansas City fans the game was blacked out otherwise some of them might give up their season tickets for good.
Shouldn’t the Texans be better this year? Houston has this ridiculous offense and yet they can only manage 16 pts against the Rams. as Eli Manning would say in his Direct TV ads, “Come on step it up!”
Seattle, WHAT HAPPENED? I did write that Mora was useless.
Some one should tell Minnesota fans to watch out. As good a year as Favre is having it looks likes the Vikes are wearing down. It will be very difficult to win on the road in New Orleans.
DECEMBER 20, 2009
AINT PERFECT
Well it had to come to come to an end sooner or later, the Saints dropped one. It’s the best thing that could have happened to them. Now 13 and 1 they can focus on the real business of winning the championship. The Dolphins are the only team to have gone undefeated and win it all, a tremendous feat, but what have they done since then?
I would much rather win 2 or 3 Super Bowls in some span of years than have one perfect season in thirty. The Saints have to worry about home field and the playoffs not a perfect season. Ask the Patriots how they feel about theirs.
THE PERFECT BOWL GAME
The bowl season just started and I think we’ve seen the best game already. How about the University of Wyoming Cowboys beating the heavy favorite Fresno State Bulldogs in double overtime in the New Mexico Bowl.
I didn’t see this coming. What a tremendous effort to stop the Bulldogs on four attempts from the one. And how pathetic can Fresno State be that they can’t score from the one. Stretch the play out, but no they just kept pushing it inside, take your great back outside and let him beat a defender instead of running into a brick wall, DUMB!
RUTGERS DOMINATES
Congratulations to the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers for winning another bowl game defeating Central Florida. Schiano is one of the great young coaches in the Nation and is really doing a tremendous job in New Jersey.
We’re off to a heck of a start, if the rest of these bowl games can be as good as the New Mexico Bowl, I won’t need to open any gifts this Christmas, they couldn’t possibly compare. Unless of course it‘s a Playboy Bunny, but I digress.
These bunnies were not selected for product testing
DECEMBER 19, 2009
WATCH THIS! THE BOWL EDITION
One of the great backs you will hear about in the pros
Fresno State @ Wyoming (Albuquerque, NM.)
Fresno has been oh so close so many times this season, losing by 3 in Madison Wisconsin and by 8 against Cincinnati. Ryan Mathews is the real deal he has stepped it up against top competition. Mathews had 107 yds. vs. Wisconsin, 234 vs. Boise State, 145 vs. Cincinnati and 173 against Illinois. Wyoming is at .500 and is just happy to be out of the cold this time of year. I can’t see the Cowboys stopping Mathews. Fresno State is a better all around team and this one should be over by half time, or at least the 3ed qtr. Fresno State by 14
The future of Rutgers football
UCF @ Rutgers (St. Petersburg, FL.)
My sentimental favorites Scarlet Knights are in their 5th consecutive bowl. That is amazing I can’t write enough about the job Greg Schiano has done in Piscataway (I grew up a few towns over from there). For all those who are impatient and are questioning this program for not taking the next step in getting to one of the BCS games, I write go F#*% yourself. You have a program that probably was not even allowed to watch a bowl game in years past much less participate in one. Now Schiano has build a perennial bowl team that is competitive and is actually cultivating talent by keeping it in the Garden State.
Not much could be expected from the freshman Tom Savage but he has had a good year, good enough to win 8 games. But so have the Knights of Central Florida going 5 - 1 in their last 6 games. Central Florida lost to some pretty good teams, East Carolina, Miami, Texas, most everyone else they beat. This should be a very good game. George O’Leary the former Georgia Tech coach who had some trouble with his resume when he interviewed for the Notre Dame job some years ago has turned this program around and this is an up and coming group, but they will not be good enough to beat those Jersey boys. Rutgers by 9.
SUNDAY
Southern Miss @ Middle Tennessee (Superdome New Orleans)
Middle Tennessee and Southern Miss are pretty evenly matched. The Blue Raiders have had a respectable season but I don’t see them beating Southern Miss. Dwight Dasher, QB Middle Tenn. is a great athlete and if he gets hot, look out, but he can throw some interceptions as well (14 this season). Southern Miss will turn Middle Tenn. over and that’s why I give them the edge. But not too big an edge Southern miss has been inconsistent this year and that may be due to the loss of their starting QB Austin Davis. Now that Martevious Young has had enough games under his belt the Golden Eagles should be prepared to put some points on the board and they will have to because Dasher can score. Southern Miss by 3
DECEMBER 17-18, 2009
16 and Oh!
No one ever remembers who the Super Bowl loser is, it’s true. Except when you lose the Super Bowl after going 16 and 0 in the regular season like the Patriots did 2 years ago. To have the perfect season in today’s football world with a 16 game schedule would be quiet a feat, however, the Super Bowl is the ultimate prize. To lose the Lombardi Trophy would forever solidify that team as a HUGE LOSER.
Everyone is asking and wondering can these Colts and Saints have the perfect season? I don’t know, and as I wrote earlier it would be quite a feat. As a fan I would love to see something like that but not for the sake of the championship. I bet the coaches are telling the players not to care about the perfect season but to secure home field and worry about the playoffs where by the way anything can happen.
I hate the fact that New England made Giants champions. Although the Giants deserved to win look at them now, as average as a team can be. They have not recovered after falling apart last year. It is just too much pressure to have to go perfect. The players are human and the pressure will get to them and if you lose your concentration in the playoffs one of the wildcard teams that will probably be a road underdog can sneak up and ruin your trip to Disney World.
It is a very hard thing to do to win a championship in any sport so to focus on that is laborious enough things do not need to be more complicated. It’s all about the RING.
