and the fun is just beginning! If you thought yesterday's post was long, get ready for this one!
Review: BYU 24 Tulsa 21 √
This game was a lot more exciting than I thought it'd be. I was glued to the television for nearly every play of this game. The first half was a good game, but when the clock got under a minute, that's when it really started to heat up. J.D. Ratliff of the Golden Hurricanes fielded a punt with several defenders around him, and sure enough, one of them knocked the ball free, giving BYU possession again before halftime. This time, they didn't fool around. One play later, quarterback Riley Nelson, completed a pass to Cody Hoffman for their first of three connections for touchdowns in the game. The pass was great, but the key part of the play was the block Matt Reynolds laid after already losing his helmet during the play. If you haven't seen it, look it up. That's effort and will to win. The Cougars took the lead in the third quarter, but were down late in the fourth. They got the ball back down 21-17 with four minutes to go, and got a key fourth down conversion at midfield to keep the drive alive and get inside Tulsa territory. Of course, a field goal wouldn't do any good, and with time winding down and no timeouts, the Cougars were in hurry-up mode. As the clock ticked under 20 seconds, on 2nd and goal, Nelson faked spiking the ball and connected with Hoffman for their final touchdown of the game, and the points that put them on top of Tulsa.
Review: RUTGERS 27 Iowa State 13 X
This one, not so much. I became disinterested after a certain point. However when Iowa State came back and pulled within a score with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, it was exciting, but a dagger-in-the-heart 86-yard touchdown sealed the Cyclones fate. Early in the game, the Cyclones faked a punt which led to their second field goal of the contest. They weren't the only ones to take a gamble though. The Scarlet Knights went for it on 4th and goal, but their gamble paid off with 7 points. On the following drive, Iowa State's quarterback Jared Barnett was sacked and fumbled the ball, which Rutgers recovered and that led to another 3 points for the Scarlet Knights. The Cyclones returned the kickoff for a sizeable gain, however, that play was nullified by a holding call. That drive ended in a missed field goal. Then we're back to the top of this, when things got interesting again. Three turnovers for Iowa State proved to be too much to overcome. Rutgers held the longest active bowl win streak with five wins, until the Bulldogs played.
Review: MISSISSIPPI STATE 23 Wake Forest 17 √
At least I rebounded with a victory. Too bad everyone else in my group had the Bulldogs winning too. This game didn't capture my attention as much as the BYU game either, but it was another good game between two well-matched teams. State's three touchdown's on the night were all over 30-yard plays including 60 and 72 yard rushing touchdowns from Vick Ballard. The Demon Deacons had their chances and kept the game relatively close. They made it a six point game with under four minutes left in the game, and got the ball back again 2:15 to go, but failed to get a first down and turned the ball over after running only 34 seconds off the clock. The Bulldogs secured their second consecutive bowl victory and winning season. They also have five straight bowl victories, tied with Rutgers for the longest active streak.
Review: OKLAHOMA 31 Iowa 14 √
Another late night, and it was almost another thriller as Oklahoma seemed to relax in the second half after coasting to a 21-0 lead, allowing the Hawkeyes to pull withing seven points with less than seven minutes left in the game. But the Sooners weren't the only ones with a close call. Iowa receiver Marvin McNutt got a close-up view of the overhead sky cam as it came crashing onto the field late in the fourth quarter. He became tangled in the wire and the game was delayed several minutes as the technical crews worked to get the camera and the wires off the field. Definitely something you don't see everyday. With under a minute left in the contest, the Sooners capped off the night with another touchdown run by Blake Bell, his third of the night. Oklahoma ended the season with 10 wins for the fifth time in six seasons.
Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas
Preview: Texas A&M v. Northwestern
Another new SEC member will be playing their final game before joining the conference. The Aggies began the year as the AP preseason number 8. Finishing the year at 6-6 doesn't quite qualify you for 8th in the country. Northwestern also finished at .500, and after going on a 5 game skid midway though the season, won four of the last five. The Aggies on the other hand had just the opposite happen as they lost four of their last five. Northwestern has been to a bowl three previous times under current head coach Pat Fitzgerald, but they have yet to win one since 1949. The Aggies head-man will be Kevin Sumlin next season, but they'll be under the direction of interim head coach Tim DeRuyter. This will be the first time these squads have met on the football field, and I see Northwestern falling in post-season play yet again. Go Aggies.
Hyundai Sun Bowl
Preview: Georgia Tech v. Utah
The Yellow Jackets looked to be starting strong going 6-0 out of the gate, but stumbled to a 2-4 finish including losses to Virginia, Virginia Tech and Georgia. The Utes finished the season strong winning four of their last five, with that loss coming against Colorado in the season finale and only by three points. Tech ranks second in the country in rushing yards, averaging 316 per game running the triple option. One of the key contributors in the running game has been quarterback Tevin Washington, who graduated from none other than Wetumpka High School! He's got 890 yards on the ground and thrown for over 1500. I've got family that have graduated from Georgia Tech so for them, Go Yellow Jackets. I see them securing a victory and Washington making Wetumpka proud!
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Preview: Cincinnati v. Vanderbilt
This matches two teams who only combined for six wins last season. This year they both reached that mark (Cincinnati surpassed it) and became bowl eligible, and here we are. The Bearcats reeled off six straight wins during the season, while the Commodores began the season with three straight victories, only to lose the next three. Both these teams lost to Tennessee during the season. The final score of Cincinnati's game against the Vols was 45-23, while the Commodores fell to the Vols in overtime, 27-21. Vandy leads the all-time series 4-3 and I think they make it five tonight. SEC? Stay undefeated in bowl play.
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
Preview: Illinois v. UCLA
Can we go on and rename this one "The Replacements Bowl"? Both these squads will be coached by interim guys as their coaches were fired within a day of each other. The "Replacements" won't be in until after the bowl games, but the name is fitting. Though the name, "Fight Hunger," seems pretty fitting too, as Illinois is on a six game losing streak, and the Bruins will be looking to avoid being two games under .500 on the season (when does that even happen to a bowl team?), so both these teams should be pretty hungry for a win. I don't see a sub-par Bruins team, who wouldn't have even made a bowl had USC been eligible, beating the Illini tonight. Despite the Illini's six game losing streak they still rank 7th in the country in total defense. I see Illinois taking this one.
Chick-fil-A Bowl
Preview: Virginia v. Auburn
Is there any question who I'll have? I went to Arizona last year to see the Tigers play for the National Championship. I'll try to remove any bias I have, and I'll honestly evaluate the game, but I'll tell you now, I'm picking the Tigers. The last game for the Tigers was against the BCS title bound Crimson Tide, and I was there in the student section to witness it. Despite being an Auburn fan and the team getting beat soundly (that's putting it nicely), it was the most fun I've ever had at a regular season game (sorry Troy, you can't compare). Looking at the actual numbers though, the Tigers lost a good bit of their core from last year's championship squad, including Heisman trophy winner Cam Newton. They finished 7-5, but did win two games against top 25 teams, however, they also lost four more against the top 25. Virginia is 8-4, and 2-1 against the top 25 with that lone loss coming to Virginia Tech who'll be in a BCS bowl. Not too shabby, but most of the Cavaliers wins have been close games. Five games were decided by 7 points or less. Auburn could tie with Rutgers and Mississippi state with 5 consecutive bowl wins with a victory tonight. I already said who I'm going with, and this may just be for my heart, but War Eagle!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
As 2011 draws to a close...
Here's a list of my top 10 personal sports memories of 2011
10 best personal sports memories of the year
10. Meeting Levi Brown and Tony Barnhart. This was at the Larry Blakeney Appreciation Roast, which I talk about later in the list, where I also got the chance to interview Jerrel Jernigan and other former players under Blakeney.
9. Working with CSS. I got the chance to work two different Troy baseball games with the television network CSS as a stage manager, including once with Joe Davis and Brian Jordan. It was fun, and it was interesting to see how the live broadcasts work.
8. Troy Media Days. This was my first year working with the Trojan football team and back in August I got the opportunity to attend a scrimmage and Media Day and interview many of the current Trojans. These are some of the packages I did previewing the upcoming season and what they hoped would be the Search for Six.
7. Mavs down the Heat. You might be wondering how this was personal for me. I was on the sports desk the night after game 6. Beginning at the 2:12 mark, is my coverage of game 6 and the NBA Championship.
6. An Autograph Christmas. This Christmas I received several sports books including two that were autographed by the authors. Lewis Colbert: The Unlikeliest Auburn Tiger, that was signed by Colbert to me personally, and Keith Dunnavant's America's Quarterback, signed by Dunnavant to me personally, as well as wishing me the best and telling me that hard work pays off.
5. Reporting on Chase Riddle. I never had the priviledge to meet this man, but by all accounts he seems to have been an outstanding man. I was working with Troy University this summer when he passed away and had the chance to interview the current Troy Baseball coach and Athletic Director about his passing and met some special people along the way as well. This was the report, Coach Chase Riddle Remembered.
4. Larry Blakeney Roast. I got to attend the roast held in his honor where the Board of Trustees revealed that the field at Veteran's Memorial Stadium would be named Larry Blakeney Field. That night I also filmed my first standup to go along with my report on the event.
3. First game on the sidelines for Troy. And it couldn't have been any more exciting. It was the first win on Larry Blakeney Field and it came against one of the Trojans rivals, Middle Tennessee. It was a close, exciting game, but the most exciting moment for me came when defensive back Chris Pickett picked up a fumble and took it to the house and gave me the best view in the stadium.
2. Sideline reporting. My first chance to do sideline reporting for radio came this season once the high school football playoffs started. I absolutely loved it and hope to get the opportunity to do more sideline reporting next season. Thanks to Jonathan Sellers and Buddy Johnson for the chance!
1. January 10, 2011. Witnessing the Auburn Tigers win the 2011 national championship in Glendale, Ariz. against the Oregon Ducks. The trip of a lifetime thanks to my parents. You guys are the best, and gave me memories that will last a lifetime. Definitely sealed the top spot.
Here's hoping 2012 is another memorable year, with even more first's!
10 best personal sports memories of the year
10. Meeting Levi Brown and Tony Barnhart. This was at the Larry Blakeney Appreciation Roast, which I talk about later in the list, where I also got the chance to interview Jerrel Jernigan and other former players under Blakeney.
9. Working with CSS. I got the chance to work two different Troy baseball games with the television network CSS as a stage manager, including once with Joe Davis and Brian Jordan. It was fun, and it was interesting to see how the live broadcasts work.
8. Troy Media Days. This was my first year working with the Trojan football team and back in August I got the opportunity to attend a scrimmage and Media Day and interview many of the current Trojans. These are some of the packages I did previewing the upcoming season and what they hoped would be the Search for Six.
7. Mavs down the Heat. You might be wondering how this was personal for me. I was on the sports desk the night after game 6. Beginning at the 2:12 mark, is my coverage of game 6 and the NBA Championship.
6. An Autograph Christmas. This Christmas I received several sports books including two that were autographed by the authors. Lewis Colbert: The Unlikeliest Auburn Tiger, that was signed by Colbert to me personally, and Keith Dunnavant's America's Quarterback, signed by Dunnavant to me personally, as well as wishing me the best and telling me that hard work pays off.
5. Reporting on Chase Riddle. I never had the priviledge to meet this man, but by all accounts he seems to have been an outstanding man. I was working with Troy University this summer when he passed away and had the chance to interview the current Troy Baseball coach and Athletic Director about his passing and met some special people along the way as well. This was the report, Coach Chase Riddle Remembered.
4. Larry Blakeney Roast. I got to attend the roast held in his honor where the Board of Trustees revealed that the field at Veteran's Memorial Stadium would be named Larry Blakeney Field. That night I also filmed my first standup to go along with my report on the event.
3. First game on the sidelines for Troy. And it couldn't have been any more exciting. It was the first win on Larry Blakeney Field and it came against one of the Trojans rivals, Middle Tennessee. It was a close, exciting game, but the most exciting moment for me came when defensive back Chris Pickett picked up a fumble and took it to the house and gave me the best view in the stadium.
2. Sideline reporting. My first chance to do sideline reporting for radio came this season once the high school football playoffs started. I absolutely loved it and hope to get the opportunity to do more sideline reporting next season. Thanks to Jonathan Sellers and Buddy Johnson for the chance!
1. January 10, 2011. Witnessing the Auburn Tigers win the 2011 national championship in Glendale, Ariz. against the Oregon Ducks. The trip of a lifetime thanks to my parents. You guys are the best, and gave me memories that will last a lifetime. Definitely sealed the top spot.
Here's hoping 2012 is another memorable year, with even more first's!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Too many to name!
My kind of day. Nothing but GAMES. ALL. DAY. #perfect (yes, I did just go twitter hashtag on you)
Review: FLORIDA STATE 18 Notre Dame 14 √
This one was scary to begin with if you were cheering for the Seminoles. For the second day in a row, there was an offensive struggle in a bowl, as the Fighting Irish went into halftime up 7-0, courtesy of a Zeke Motta fumble recovery returned to the endzone during the second quarter. Things weren't looking much better in the second half for the Seminoles as Michael Floyd caught a TD pass for the Fighting Irish to put them up 14-0, but it wasn't just any catch. He bobbled it multiple times, repeatedly tipping it to himself, and eventually got the grab and the score. After that, however, it was all FSU, at least on the scoreboard. The Seminoles scored 18 unanswered in the second half, and it could've been more had either of the Noles 2-point conversions been successful. Sometimes that can come back to haunt you, but FSU had just enough to get to 9-4 on the year.
Remember the Alamo Bowl, and it won't be hard to do.
Review: BAYLOR 67 Washington 56 √
The game I was waiting for. My new favorite, RG3, playing in likely his last collegiate outing. What an outing it was. Not necessarily for him, but it was an outstanding game if you like offense. If you don't, then it was a long night for you. With 8 touchdown scoring drives under two minutes in this game and one under two minutes for a field goal, there was no question this game would come down to who had the ball last, who made a mistake, or who made a defensive stop. I know, that's a lot of options, but they're all grouped together. During the opener of SportsCenter last night after the game, it was well put, "Wait, Baylor just scored again." In an offensive output like this, clearly defense is non-existent, or just about. While a Washington fumble in the third quarter did seem to be a momentary momentum switch, a defensive stop on a 4th and 8 try by the Huskies, late in the fourth quarter, at the Baylor 39 yard line sealed the game for the Bears as they were up 60-56 at the time. Three plays, 61 yards, and 52 seconds later, Terrance Ganaway got into the endzone for the fifth time in the game, as he rushed for 200 yards of the Bears 482 rushing yards. The bowl record for total offense in a game was set with 1,397 yards between the two schools. Five plays covered 50 yards or more. 17 total touchdowns, another record. There are too many records to list them all, but one stat ESPN put out on SportsCenter last night, since November 1st, the Baylor football team and men's and women's basketball teams have yet to lose a game, going 30-0. Unbelievable. All in all, a crazy night. I'm glad I stayed up for it.
After a set of games like those, can today live up to it? It starts early, and it'll be a day full of action.
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Preview: BYU v. Tulsa
The Armed Forces Bowl has historically had high scoring matchups. With the exception of last season, the previous three had reached 60+ points. After last night's Baylor game, I don't think this can live up to it. BYU has scored over 40 in their last three games, and Tulsa scored over 35 six times this season. Who knows, they might make it to 60 combined. BYU lost two of their first three matches, then reeled off five wins and finished the season 9-3. Tulsa's four losses came against squads inside the top 10 when they faced them, which is nothing to look down on. I've got the Cougars coming away with this one.
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Preview: Rutgers v. Iowa State
Iowa State, about all I know about them is what I remember of 5-19 from years ago. This year they're 6-6. They opened the season with three straight wins, followed by four straight losses. They beat two top 25 teams this season (finishing at 2-5 against top 25 teams) including routing Texas Tech, as the Cyclones won 41-7, and the most notable game of the season for Iowa State was the one that changed the BCS title picture as they beat Oklahoma State in overtime, 37-31. Pretty sure most people remember where they were when that game was decided, at least I do, because it caused major chaos for the BCS. Rutgers only faced one top 25 team in West Virginia, who they lost to 41-31. They did finish 8-4 though, but lost their final game against Connecticut, 40-22. Despite the records, I'm going with Iowa State. They seem to know how to get it done when it matters most and I believe they'll be ready for this game.
Franklin American Mortage Music City Bowl
Preview: Mississippi State v. Wake Forest
The SEC finally gets a chance to play. Both these teams playing tonight barely got to .500 on the season and made it to bowl eligible. Wake Forest lost four of their last five including the season finale against the Bulldog's SEC foe, Vanderbilt. Vandy handed the Demon Deacons a 41-7 loss. State won three of their last five but suffered tough losses to two top 10 teams in Alabama and Arkansas in back to back weeks. Both these teams will be looking to end with a winning season, and only one will get the victory needed to do so. This is the first time these two schools have ever met on the gridiron. It might not be as much of a thriller as some of the earlier matches, but I'm looking for a good showing. I'm going against my own rule, and I changed my pick to Mississippi State.
Insight Bowl
Preview: Iowa v. Oklahoma
The final game of the night. It'll be another late one as this doesn't start till 9 central. Oklahoma is still the 14th ranked team in the nation despite losing two of their last three. Losses to Baylor and Oklahoma State knocked the Sooners out of BCS bowl contention, but a loss tonight to Iowa could leave them out of the final top 25 for the second time in three years. Iowa is 7-5 and they did beat Michigan when they were the 15th ranked team in the nation. Oklahoma is right there near that mark, and might be on a bit of a let down since they aren't playing in the bowl they had in mind. They might have a slow start, but I believe the Sooners come away with the victory tonight.
Sorry for being so lengthy, but there was a lot to cover!
Review: FLORIDA STATE 18 Notre Dame 14 √
This one was scary to begin with if you were cheering for the Seminoles. For the second day in a row, there was an offensive struggle in a bowl, as the Fighting Irish went into halftime up 7-0, courtesy of a Zeke Motta fumble recovery returned to the endzone during the second quarter. Things weren't looking much better in the second half for the Seminoles as Michael Floyd caught a TD pass for the Fighting Irish to put them up 14-0, but it wasn't just any catch. He bobbled it multiple times, repeatedly tipping it to himself, and eventually got the grab and the score. After that, however, it was all FSU, at least on the scoreboard. The Seminoles scored 18 unanswered in the second half, and it could've been more had either of the Noles 2-point conversions been successful. Sometimes that can come back to haunt you, but FSU had just enough to get to 9-4 on the year.
Remember the Alamo Bowl, and it won't be hard to do.
Review: BAYLOR 67 Washington 56 √
The game I was waiting for. My new favorite, RG3, playing in likely his last collegiate outing. What an outing it was. Not necessarily for him, but it was an outstanding game if you like offense. If you don't, then it was a long night for you. With 8 touchdown scoring drives under two minutes in this game and one under two minutes for a field goal, there was no question this game would come down to who had the ball last, who made a mistake, or who made a defensive stop. I know, that's a lot of options, but they're all grouped together. During the opener of SportsCenter last night after the game, it was well put, "Wait, Baylor just scored again." In an offensive output like this, clearly defense is non-existent, or just about. While a Washington fumble in the third quarter did seem to be a momentary momentum switch, a defensive stop on a 4th and 8 try by the Huskies, late in the fourth quarter, at the Baylor 39 yard line sealed the game for the Bears as they were up 60-56 at the time. Three plays, 61 yards, and 52 seconds later, Terrance Ganaway got into the endzone for the fifth time in the game, as he rushed for 200 yards of the Bears 482 rushing yards. The bowl record for total offense in a game was set with 1,397 yards between the two schools. Five plays covered 50 yards or more. 17 total touchdowns, another record. There are too many records to list them all, but one stat ESPN put out on SportsCenter last night, since November 1st, the Baylor football team and men's and women's basketball teams have yet to lose a game, going 30-0. Unbelievable. All in all, a crazy night. I'm glad I stayed up for it.
After a set of games like those, can today live up to it? It starts early, and it'll be a day full of action.
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Preview: BYU v. Tulsa
The Armed Forces Bowl has historically had high scoring matchups. With the exception of last season, the previous three had reached 60+ points. After last night's Baylor game, I don't think this can live up to it. BYU has scored over 40 in their last three games, and Tulsa scored over 35 six times this season. Who knows, they might make it to 60 combined. BYU lost two of their first three matches, then reeled off five wins and finished the season 9-3. Tulsa's four losses came against squads inside the top 10 when they faced them, which is nothing to look down on. I've got the Cougars coming away with this one.
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Preview: Rutgers v. Iowa State
Iowa State, about all I know about them is what I remember of 5-19 from years ago. This year they're 6-6. They opened the season with three straight wins, followed by four straight losses. They beat two top 25 teams this season (finishing at 2-5 against top 25 teams) including routing Texas Tech, as the Cyclones won 41-7, and the most notable game of the season for Iowa State was the one that changed the BCS title picture as they beat Oklahoma State in overtime, 37-31. Pretty sure most people remember where they were when that game was decided, at least I do, because it caused major chaos for the BCS. Rutgers only faced one top 25 team in West Virginia, who they lost to 41-31. They did finish 8-4 though, but lost their final game against Connecticut, 40-22. Despite the records, I'm going with Iowa State. They seem to know how to get it done when it matters most and I believe they'll be ready for this game.
Franklin American Mortage Music City Bowl
Preview: Mississippi State v. Wake Forest
The SEC finally gets a chance to play. Both these teams playing tonight barely got to .500 on the season and made it to bowl eligible. Wake Forest lost four of their last five including the season finale against the Bulldog's SEC foe, Vanderbilt. Vandy handed the Demon Deacons a 41-7 loss. State won three of their last five but suffered tough losses to two top 10 teams in Alabama and Arkansas in back to back weeks. Both these teams will be looking to end with a winning season, and only one will get the victory needed to do so. This is the first time these two schools have ever met on the gridiron. It might not be as much of a thriller as some of the earlier matches, but I'm looking for a good showing. I'm going against my own rule, and I changed my pick to Mississippi State.
Insight Bowl
Preview: Iowa v. Oklahoma
The final game of the night. It'll be another late one as this doesn't start till 9 central. Oklahoma is still the 14th ranked team in the nation despite losing two of their last three. Losses to Baylor and Oklahoma State knocked the Sooners out of BCS bowl contention, but a loss tonight to Iowa could leave them out of the final top 25 for the second time in three years. Iowa is 7-5 and they did beat Michigan when they were the 15th ranked team in the nation. Oklahoma is right there near that mark, and might be on a bit of a let down since they aren't playing in the bowl they had in mind. They might have a slow start, but I believe the Sooners come away with the victory tonight.
Sorry for being so lengthy, but there was a lot to cover!
Which QB was better?
Baylor and Washington.
A Heisman winner and an unknown.
But when you look at the stats, the unknown (who's more than that..just go with me here) seemed more impressive than my new favorite, Robert Griffin III. However, I'm sure RG3 will take the stats he had (which were impressive and certainly didn't indicate a Heisman slump) along with a victory any night.
RG3: 24/33 for 295 yards & a TD through the air, 18 carries for 55 yards and another TD on the ground.
Keith Price: 23/37 for 438 and 4 TD's passing the ball, 5 carries for 39 yards and 3 TD's. 7 total touchdowns for Price.
Who is Price anyway? RG3 might've been an "unknown" (& by that, not exactly a Trent Richardson or Andrew Luck) entering the season, but now the world knows him as Superman, or at least a Heisman trophy winner.
Well, Price was the Huskies starting quarterback in all but the Oregon State game this season, broke the school record for touchdown passes in a season with 33, and did everything but win Thursday night. This is his first season as a starter, though he did see action in 8 of 13 games in 2010. He is just a sophomore on the field, so he might be someone to look out for entering the 2012 season. And who says it's too early to say he started a Heisman campaign last night. There could've been two 2012 Heisman watch finalists on the field last night (I know, I don't see Griffin III coming back either). Seven total touchdowns on the night came at the hands of this player, and not a single turnover, and in a game that is such an offensive explosion where mistakes prove extremely costly, that's a huge stat to have in your favor.
RG3 couldn't say the same about his own performance. However, his lone turnover in the second quarter (a forced fumble during a sack that was recovered by the Huskies John Timu) wasn't the turnover that changed the game. Griffin III certainly had an outstanding season as the Heisman trophy winner, as he passed for over 400 yards four times and over 300 yards nine times. He nearly made it 10 times as he was just five yards short on the night, finishing with 295 through the air. He finished the season averaging 330 passing yards per game with 4,293 yards on the season. He's still got a year of eligibility left, but I don't see what he has to come back for. He has the world at his feet, and he said he was going to decide after this game, but I don't see how it's much of a decision. I'd love to see him come back, but he's gotten his degree and achieved his dreams. I'll be happy with his decision no matter what.
Remember the Alamo Bowl, and remember the superstar quarterbacks who stole the show.
& yes, both defenses were terrible, awful, lousy and couldn't stop a thing coming their way. But this was a look at the quarterbacks. For a game recap, check back later in the day for yesterday's reviews and today's previews!
A Heisman winner and an unknown.
But when you look at the stats, the unknown (who's more than that..just go with me here) seemed more impressive than my new favorite, Robert Griffin III. However, I'm sure RG3 will take the stats he had (which were impressive and certainly didn't indicate a Heisman slump) along with a victory any night.
RG3: 24/33 for 295 yards & a TD through the air, 18 carries for 55 yards and another TD on the ground.
Keith Price: 23/37 for 438 and 4 TD's passing the ball, 5 carries for 39 yards and 3 TD's. 7 total touchdowns for Price.
Who is Price anyway? RG3 might've been an "unknown" (& by that, not exactly a Trent Richardson or Andrew Luck) entering the season, but now the world knows him as Superman, or at least a Heisman trophy winner.
Well, Price was the Huskies starting quarterback in all but the Oregon State game this season, broke the school record for touchdown passes in a season with 33, and did everything but win Thursday night. This is his first season as a starter, though he did see action in 8 of 13 games in 2010. He is just a sophomore on the field, so he might be someone to look out for entering the 2012 season. And who says it's too early to say he started a Heisman campaign last night. There could've been two 2012 Heisman watch finalists on the field last night (I know, I don't see Griffin III coming back either). Seven total touchdowns on the night came at the hands of this player, and not a single turnover, and in a game that is such an offensive explosion where mistakes prove extremely costly, that's a huge stat to have in your favor.
RG3 couldn't say the same about his own performance. However, his lone turnover in the second quarter (a forced fumble during a sack that was recovered by the Huskies John Timu) wasn't the turnover that changed the game. Griffin III certainly had an outstanding season as the Heisman trophy winner, as he passed for over 400 yards four times and over 300 yards nine times. He nearly made it 10 times as he was just five yards short on the night, finishing with 295 through the air. He finished the season averaging 330 passing yards per game with 4,293 yards on the season. He's still got a year of eligibility left, but I don't see what he has to come back for. He has the world at his feet, and he said he was going to decide after this game, but I don't see how it's much of a decision. I'd love to see him come back, but he's gotten his degree and achieved his dreams. I'll be happy with his decision no matter what.
Remember the Alamo Bowl, and remember the superstar quarterbacks who stole the show.
& yes, both defenses were terrible, awful, lousy and couldn't stop a thing coming their way. But this was a look at the quarterbacks. For a game recap, check back later in the day for yesterday's reviews and today's previews!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Champs Sports Bowl/Valero Alamo Bowl
That whole "not gonna change my picks anymore" mindset? Well, that's out the window.
Review: TOLEDO 42 Air Force 41 X
Toledo. All that separated me from being 2-0 on the day was a failed 2 point conversion. I even said I knew they could cost me. Air Force scored three fourth-down touchdowns. How often does that happen? This game had 35 points scored in the first quarter. It seemed like Toledo was comfortably taking over the game but the Falcons tied it up before halftime and kept it a close, competitive game. However, a botched 2-point conversion by Air Force sealed Toledo's first bowl win since 2005.
Review: TEXAS 21 California 10 √
I didn't get the chance to see much of this game, but when you read tweets like "The Texas defense is playing two offenses tonight, Cal and their own," you start to think what Coach Mack Brown tried to describe as a defensive battle coming out of halftime, might've just been an offensive struggle. The Longhorns got things in gear in the second half though scoring 14 points to put away the Golden Bears.
Preview: Florida State v. Notre Dame
A good point was brought up on the ESPN analysis of this game. Before the SEC dominance, these were two of the teams to beat in college football. While they may not be at the top of the rankings this season, having both finished at 8-4, the matchup of these two teams still proves to be an exciting one. They both average scoring nearly 30 points per game, though the Fighting Irish defense does allow nearly 20 points per game compared to the Seminoles 15, which ranked them fourth in the country in points allowed per game. I've got Florida State in this one, and I hope I get the chance to sit down and enjoy this one.
Preview: Washington v. Baylor
But the one I'm really looking forward to is tonight. Baylor. Synonomous for Robert Griffin III. I fell for this player. I jumped on the bandwagon, just wish I'd paid more attention to him throughout the season, rather than just being able to enjoy one game. However, this one game will be worth it. I see the Heisman winner ending his collegiate career (I think he's done, though I'd LOVE to see him back!) with a win, and a big one at that. I've got the Baylor Bears ending the season with 10 wins.
But the one I'm really looking forward to is tonight. Baylor. Synonomous for Robert Griffin III. I fell for this player. I jumped on the bandwagon, just wish I'd paid more attention to him throughout the season, rather than just being able to enjoy one game. However, this one game will be worth it. I see the Heisman winner ending his collegiate career (I think he's done, though I'd LOVE to see him back!) with a win, and a big one at that. I've got the Baylor Bears ending the season with 10 wins.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Military Bowl/Holiday Bowl
0-2. Ouch. That's the last time I let myself get convinced to change my pick. I'm going with my gut pick I made when I first picked all the games for my College Bowl Pick'em. That being said, let's see where I went wrong.
Review: PURDUE 37 Western Michigan 32 X
With as sloppy as this game was for Western Michigan, they should feel luck to have escaped with only a five point loss. If they had a point on the board for each turnover they had, they'd have won the game. Seven turnovers. Seven? When does that happen, and how do you even stay in the game? Of course, Purdue had 4 to make 11 total for the game, but seven turnovers is a large number to overcome. In a wacky game, Purdue had a 99 yard kickoff return for a touchdown, two recovered onside kicks, and led by as many as 16 in the game, but with just two minutes remaining on the clock, the Broncos got the ball, got a first down, and quarterback Alex Carder fumbled at his own 24 yard line to seal a Boilermakers victory. It was Purdue's first bowl win since 2007, which also came in Detroit, and the Broncos fell to 0-5 in post-season play.
Review: NORTH CAROLINA STATE 31 Louisville 24 X
It's bad enough to strike out your first time around, but the second time stings a little more. For the second time Tuesday, the team I was cheering for was down at halftime, down by double digits in the third quarter (this time by 21), and made it a one-score game late in the fourth only to lose in the end. Turnovers again plagued both squads on the field as each team posted 3 turnovers, though all of the Cards came off interceptions thrown by quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, including one that was returned 65 yards by David Amerson for a score to put the Wolfpack up 31-10.
Now it's time to move on to bigger and better things. At least hopefully a few victories
Preview: Toledo v. Air Force
Two teams I know nothing about. Great. Kinda like yesterday, though I want a total 180 with the results. So, starting from the top. Toledo. The Rockets against the Air Force Falcons. There are jokes that could be said with that, but I'll refrain. These are two teams that score a lot of points. Toledo has scored over 40 points seven times this season, and the Falcons scored over 45 their last two outings. The ground game may be the strong point of both these teams as Air Force ranks second in the country in rushing and Toledo close behind in 14th. I said I wouldn't be changing any picks this time around, so I'm going with Air Force, though looking at it a little closer, Toledo could cost me again.
Preview: California v. Texas
We're right back at two 7-5 teams. The Longhorns made it back to a bowl after seeing their 12 year streak snapped in 2010. They made it back under the direction of another McCoy, this time Case McCoy along with David Ash have split playing time under center. The Texas defense may have been the highlight of the team as they rank 14th in the nation, though in their final game of the regular season, RG3 and the Baylor Bears racked up 511 yards in a 48-24 Longhorn loss. The Golden Bears won three of their final four games to get bowl eligible with that lone loss coming at the hands of Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinals, who were the eighth ranked team at the time. Texas is 4-0 against California in previous matchups and I've got the Longhorns ending the season on a strong note with a win. Mack Brown, please don't let me down.
Review: PURDUE 37 Western Michigan 32 X
With as sloppy as this game was for Western Michigan, they should feel luck to have escaped with only a five point loss. If they had a point on the board for each turnover they had, they'd have won the game. Seven turnovers. Seven? When does that happen, and how do you even stay in the game? Of course, Purdue had 4 to make 11 total for the game, but seven turnovers is a large number to overcome. In a wacky game, Purdue had a 99 yard kickoff return for a touchdown, two recovered onside kicks, and led by as many as 16 in the game, but with just two minutes remaining on the clock, the Broncos got the ball, got a first down, and quarterback Alex Carder fumbled at his own 24 yard line to seal a Boilermakers victory. It was Purdue's first bowl win since 2007, which also came in Detroit, and the Broncos fell to 0-5 in post-season play.
Review: NORTH CAROLINA STATE 31 Louisville 24 X
It's bad enough to strike out your first time around, but the second time stings a little more. For the second time Tuesday, the team I was cheering for was down at halftime, down by double digits in the third quarter (this time by 21), and made it a one-score game late in the fourth only to lose in the end. Turnovers again plagued both squads on the field as each team posted 3 turnovers, though all of the Cards came off interceptions thrown by quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, including one that was returned 65 yards by David Amerson for a score to put the Wolfpack up 31-10.
Now it's time to move on to bigger and better things. At least hopefully a few victories
Preview: Toledo v. Air Force
Two teams I know nothing about. Great. Kinda like yesterday, though I want a total 180 with the results. So, starting from the top. Toledo. The Rockets against the Air Force Falcons. There are jokes that could be said with that, but I'll refrain. These are two teams that score a lot of points. Toledo has scored over 40 points seven times this season, and the Falcons scored over 45 their last two outings. The ground game may be the strong point of both these teams as Air Force ranks second in the country in rushing and Toledo close behind in 14th. I said I wouldn't be changing any picks this time around, so I'm going with Air Force, though looking at it a little closer, Toledo could cost me again.
Preview: California v. Texas
We're right back at two 7-5 teams. The Longhorns made it back to a bowl after seeing their 12 year streak snapped in 2010. They made it back under the direction of another McCoy, this time Case McCoy along with David Ash have split playing time under center. The Texas defense may have been the highlight of the team as they rank 14th in the nation, though in their final game of the regular season, RG3 and the Baylor Bears racked up 511 yards in a 48-24 Longhorn loss. The Golden Bears won three of their final four games to get bowl eligible with that lone loss coming at the hands of Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinals, who were the eighth ranked team at the time. Texas is 4-0 against California in previous matchups and I've got the Longhorns ending the season on a strong note with a win. Mack Brown, please don't let me down.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Little Caesars Bowl/Belk Bowl
Review: MISSOURI 41 North Carolina 24 √
So, that close matchup? I was off. But if I had to be off about something, I'd rather be off about the score than the winner. North Carolina got off to a hot start and made me sweat my pick of Missouri, but it didn't take long for the Tigers to pick up the pace and take the lead. With a 31-10 lead at halftime, the Tigers coasted to an easy victory. I'm short on time, so congrats to Missouri and the SEC as they embrace yet another set of Tigers.
Preview: Western Michigan v. Purdue
This game is actually the first one that is really giving me some trouble. I honestly don't know who to go with. I've gone back and forth in my head with the arguments, "Purdue is from the Big Ten. No way a
Big Ten team loses to a MAC team," but there's also the fact that Western Michigan, well they're pretty good! I haven't seen either of these teams in action, but from what I've heard and seen from the stats, the Broncos are a high scoring offense and suffered a few close losses. They've also got All-American wideout Jordan White, who is leading the nation with 127 receptions for 1,646 yards. My gut is telling me Western Michigan, so go Broncos.
Preview: Louisville v. North Carolina State
Two games in one day. Wonderful. Another set of 7-5 teams set to square off. Louisville will be looking to end the second year of coach Charlie Strong's tenure on a strong note. After starting the season 2-4, the Cardinals reeled off three straight wins and ended the season 5-1. The Cards have 10 freshmen starters and next season might be even more promising for them. NC State's biggest win of the season came against then 7th ranked Clemson in their second to the last game. The role of quarterback might've been in question after Russell Wilson transferred to Wisconsin, but Mike Glennon stepped in and finished with 2,790 yards and 28 touchdown passes. Not too shabby. I don't have a clear reason, but I'm going with the Louisville Cardinals (and I'll be wearing my Cards sweatshirt today to show my support!).
Big Ten team loses to a MAC team," but there's also the fact that Western Michigan, well they're pretty good! I haven't seen either of these teams in action, but from what I've heard and seen from the stats, the Broncos are a high scoring offense and suffered a few close losses. They've also got All-American wideout Jordan White, who is leading the nation with 127 receptions for 1,646 yards. My gut is telling me Western Michigan, so go Broncos.
Preview: Louisville v. North Carolina State
Two games in one day. Wonderful. Another set of 7-5 teams set to square off. Louisville will be looking to end the second year of coach Charlie Strong's tenure on a strong note. After starting the season 2-4, the Cardinals reeled off three straight wins and ended the season 5-1. The Cards have 10 freshmen starters and next season might be even more promising for them. NC State's biggest win of the season came against then 7th ranked Clemson in their second to the last game. The role of quarterback might've been in question after Russell Wilson transferred to Wisconsin, but Mike Glennon stepped in and finished with 2,790 yards and 28 touchdown passes. Not too shabby. I don't have a clear reason, but I'm going with the Louisville Cardinals (and I'll be wearing my Cards sweatshirt today to show my support!).
Monday, December 26, 2011
AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl
Santa Clause was coming...and the Golden Eagles got an early Christmas present.
Review: SOUTHERN MISS 24 Nevada 17 √
After a scoreless first quarter and a less than impressive offensive output by both squads, Southern Miss got on the board courtesy of a blocked punt by Tim Green that was recovered in the endzone by Tray Becton-Martin. The Golden Eagles were down 14-10 after kicking a field goal with less than two minutes on the clock before the half, but that wasn't the closest they'd get to the endzone before the clock hit zero. On the ensuing kickoff, Nevada's Khalid Wooten fumbled at his own 24 yard line setting up the Golden Eagles with 1:16 left to get in the endzone. It only took 1:09 to put them up 17-14 heading into halftime. Nevada came back to tie the game at 17 all in the 3rd quarter, but Southern Miss scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown mid-way through the 4th quarter to reach their 12th victory for the season, a school record. The Golden Eagles' signal caller, Austin Davis, seemed to struggle throughout the game, but on the final scoring drive was 3-4 for 66 yards. He finished the night 18-41 for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Now that we're through the Christmas lull, it's back to bowl week.
Preview: Missouri v. North Carolina
The SEC hasn't seen action yet during bowl season, but one of their newest members will be in action tonight as the Missouri Tigers take on the Tar Heels. While the result of the game won't effect the SEC standinds in the bowl challenge, it will be a chance for SEC fans in Louisiana to get excited about football, and really, do they need anything to get excited about this season? Missouri won their last three to secure a better than 500 record and beat a then 16th ranked Texas Longhorns squad to get one of those three. The Tar Heels on the other hand, lost two of their last three, though one was a three point loss to Virginia Tech who is headed to a BCS bowl. They were 0-3 against top 25 teams this season, compared to Missouri's 2-3. This game is set for a 4:00 kick, and there's nothing like mid-afternoon football on a Monday. That might be a stretch, but there's nothing like football ANY TIME for this girl. I've got the Tigers in what I think will be a competitive, close game. If it's not, my apologies.
Review: SOUTHERN MISS 24 Nevada 17 √
After a scoreless first quarter and a less than impressive offensive output by both squads, Southern Miss got on the board courtesy of a blocked punt by Tim Green that was recovered in the endzone by Tray Becton-Martin. The Golden Eagles were down 14-10 after kicking a field goal with less than two minutes on the clock before the half, but that wasn't the closest they'd get to the endzone before the clock hit zero. On the ensuing kickoff, Nevada's Khalid Wooten fumbled at his own 24 yard line setting up the Golden Eagles with 1:16 left to get in the endzone. It only took 1:09 to put them up 17-14 heading into halftime. Nevada came back to tie the game at 17 all in the 3rd quarter, but Southern Miss scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown mid-way through the 4th quarter to reach their 12th victory for the season, a school record. The Golden Eagles' signal caller, Austin Davis, seemed to struggle throughout the game, but on the final scoring drive was 3-4 for 66 yards. He finished the night 18-41 for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Now that we're through the Christmas lull, it's back to bowl week.
Preview: Missouri v. North Carolina
The SEC hasn't seen action yet during bowl season, but one of their newest members will be in action tonight as the Missouri Tigers take on the Tar Heels. While the result of the game won't effect the SEC standinds in the bowl challenge, it will be a chance for SEC fans in Louisiana to get excited about football, and really, do they need anything to get excited about this season? Missouri won their last three to secure a better than 500 record and beat a then 16th ranked Texas Longhorns squad to get one of those three. The Tar Heels on the other hand, lost two of their last three, though one was a three point loss to Virginia Tech who is headed to a BCS bowl. They were 0-3 against top 25 teams this season, compared to Missouri's 2-3. This game is set for a 4:00 kick, and there's nothing like mid-afternoon football on a Monday. That might be a stretch, but there's nothing like football ANY TIME for this girl. I've got the Tigers in what I think will be a competitive, close game. If it's not, my apologies.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all!
Got a favorite sports story that has to do with a gift you received at Christmas? I sure do. Last year, Christmas 2010, I got the best Christmas present my father could've ever purchased me, and the delivery, well that was a huge part of it too.
Click here to watch what I got, and how he surprised me!
Got a favorite sports story that has to do with a gift you received at Christmas? I sure do. Last year, Christmas 2010, I got the best Christmas present my father could've ever purchased me, and the delivery, well that was a huge part of it too.
Click here to watch what I got, and how he surprised me!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
It's Christmas Eve. Celebrate and watch some NFL, but don't forget about those who haven't made it to the pro's yet.
Review: BOISE STATE 56 Arizona State 24 √
Well, that 20 point victory I nearly guaranteed wasn't far-fetched. I also wasn't far off with the 56-7 score from the previous meeting between these two schools. Only 14 seemingly meaningless points scored in the 4th quarter by ASU kept it from being closer to the original prediction. There was no question whether the Broncos were in control or not as they took the opening kickoff back 100 yards for a touchdown to put them up 7-0 with only 14 seconds off the clock. Despite three turnovers at the hands of their star QB, Boise State had no trouble putting away the Sun Devils.
Now the Hawaii bowl. Cue Mele Kalikimaka.
Preview: Nevada v. Southern Miss
The third top 25 team will be in action tonight as Southern Miss (11-2) takes on Nevada (7-5). Southern Miss ended the season ranked 21st after handing Houston their only loss of the season in the Conference-USA championship game. If you didn't see that game, you missed out. Southern Miss' two losses came against Marshall (a team who has already won a bowl game this season) and UAB. UAB? Come on. They went 3-9 (Ouch, just realized that's the same as Troy) and gave an 0-11 team their only victory of the year. Southern Miss, you could've been a much more intimidating 11-2 had you lost to Virginia and Houston. For the Wolfpack, their five losses came to two top teams in Oregon and Boise State, and then three close losses by four points or less. Two of those three close losses came against bowl bound teams. It did come as a surprise to me to see that Nevada earned their seventh straight bowl bid this season. The Golden Eagles and the Wolfpack have met two previous times with Southern Miss taking both games. Sorry Wolfpack, I don't see a different outcome this time. Southern Miss takes this one and makes it 3-0 against Nevada.
Review: BOISE STATE 56 Arizona State 24 √
Well, that 20 point victory I nearly guaranteed wasn't far-fetched. I also wasn't far off with the 56-7 score from the previous meeting between these two schools. Only 14 seemingly meaningless points scored in the 4th quarter by ASU kept it from being closer to the original prediction. There was no question whether the Broncos were in control or not as they took the opening kickoff back 100 yards for a touchdown to put them up 7-0 with only 14 seconds off the clock. Despite three turnovers at the hands of their star QB, Boise State had no trouble putting away the Sun Devils.
Now the Hawaii bowl. Cue Mele Kalikimaka.
Preview: Nevada v. Southern Miss
The third top 25 team will be in action tonight as Southern Miss (11-2) takes on Nevada (7-5). Southern Miss ended the season ranked 21st after handing Houston their only loss of the season in the Conference-USA championship game. If you didn't see that game, you missed out. Southern Miss' two losses came against Marshall (a team who has already won a bowl game this season) and UAB. UAB? Come on. They went 3-9 (Ouch, just realized that's the same as Troy) and gave an 0-11 team their only victory of the year. Southern Miss, you could've been a much more intimidating 11-2 had you lost to Virginia and Houston. For the Wolfpack, their five losses came to two top teams in Oregon and Boise State, and then three close losses by four points or less. Two of those three close losses came against bowl bound teams. It did come as a surprise to me to see that Nevada earned their seventh straight bowl bid this season. The Golden Eagles and the Wolfpack have met two previous times with Southern Miss taking both games. Sorry Wolfpack, I don't see a different outcome this time. Southern Miss takes this one and makes it 3-0 against Nevada.
Sports and Christmas
Two of my favorite words.
So how are they linked?
There's the obvious college football bowl season or Capital One Bowl Week (which lasts nearly a month), that falls around the Christmas season, and to me, there's nothing like watching two 8-4 teams duke it out on a tv decked in garland and santa hats, but that might just be at my house.
The NBA. It's baaaaack, & I wrote a killer Twas the Night Before Christmas about it. Why wouldn't I be excited about the season starting? Even if I don't care all that much about it any other time.
The NFL. With Christmas falling on a Sunday, most of the games are being played today on Christmas Eve, with the exception of the Sunday night and Monday night primetime games.
So around Christmas, which is better? A packed Christmas Eve filled with 13 NFL games, or an NBA opening day on Christmas with a total of 5 games, including a tripleheader to kick things off?
It's hard not to be biased, but I'm trying. I'm more of an NFL fan than an NBA fan, but I do feel that the NFL on Saturday is better than the NBA on Sunday. Now, that being said, the NBA may have more viewers since it is the start of the season, but with how busy Christmas day is and how much of a lull can occur on Christmas Eve, I personally am more likely to keep the NFL games on today, and actually pay attention and sit through a game or two, than to turn on the NBA tomorrow for more than a few minutes, just to see how things are going. I'll try and keep up with the NBA games, just to know how the season's beginning, but I won't be stuck on the couch watching.
Whatever your favorite is, enjoy it. And have a Merry Christmas. But remember, it's not about the sports, or the gifts, or even the family and friends. Though those are all important and special, remember the real reason for the season. God Bless You, and Merry Christmas!
So how are they linked?
There's the obvious college football bowl season or Capital One Bowl Week (which lasts nearly a month), that falls around the Christmas season, and to me, there's nothing like watching two 8-4 teams duke it out on a tv decked in garland and santa hats, but that might just be at my house.
The NBA. It's baaaaack, & I wrote a killer Twas the Night Before Christmas about it. Why wouldn't I be excited about the season starting? Even if I don't care all that much about it any other time.
The NFL. With Christmas falling on a Sunday, most of the games are being played today on Christmas Eve, with the exception of the Sunday night and Monday night primetime games.
So around Christmas, which is better? A packed Christmas Eve filled with 13 NFL games, or an NBA opening day on Christmas with a total of 5 games, including a tripleheader to kick things off?
It's hard not to be biased, but I'm trying. I'm more of an NFL fan than an NBA fan, but I do feel that the NFL on Saturday is better than the NBA on Sunday. Now, that being said, the NBA may have more viewers since it is the start of the season, but with how busy Christmas day is and how much of a lull can occur on Christmas Eve, I personally am more likely to keep the NFL games on today, and actually pay attention and sit through a game or two, than to turn on the NBA tomorrow for more than a few minutes, just to see how things are going. I'll try and keep up with the NBA games, just to know how the season's beginning, but I won't be stuck on the couch watching.
Whatever your favorite is, enjoy it. And have a Merry Christmas. But remember, it's not about the sports, or the gifts, or even the family and friends. Though those are all important and special, remember the real reason for the season. God Bless You, and Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Twas the Night Before Christmas (NBA Style)
Twas the night before Christmas,
and all through the league,
not a player was stirring,
not even CP3.
For tomorrow the season
was set to begin,
the season that looked
like it might not have been.
"We want to play basketball,"
the commissioner said,
when the new deal was finally read.
Then how come it took
149 days,
when you guys kept insisting
to go your separate ways
From July 1st
to December 25th,
thoughts of a 2012 champion
seemed to be a myth.
The season will only be shortened
by 16 games,
to a 66 game season,
but who's to blame?
The owners, the players,
is it anyone's fault?
That the off-season and workouts
were put to a halt?
The trade rumors created
more drama in the league,
and also added a new element of intrigue.
Chris Paul the Hornet,
Laker, who?
turns out he is in L.A.,
but he'll be wearing red and blue.
Christmas day is always
full of excitement and cheer,
but for NBA fans,
it'll be the first chance to break out the gear.
To start things off,
there will be a tripleheader,
including teams like the Celtics, Heat, Mavs, & Lakers,
what could be better?
And that night the Warriors
will face the Clippers and CP3.
Could this be the year Paul adds
another 3 initials to his title, MVP?
For Lakers fans, losing CP3
isn't your only concern.
Kobe's got a torn wrist ligament,
doubt you can blame that one on Commissioner Stern.
Tomorrow's the day,
who'll outshine the rest?
Will the Dallas Maverick's prove
they're still the best?
The fans will be happy,
if any remain.
All that matters is,
we're back in the game.
and all through the league,
not a player was stirring,
not even CP3.
For tomorrow the season
was set to begin,
the season that looked
like it might not have been.
"We want to play basketball,"
the commissioner said,
when the new deal was finally read.
Then how come it took
149 days,
when you guys kept insisting
to go your separate ways
From July 1st
to December 25th,
thoughts of a 2012 champion
seemed to be a myth.
The season will only be shortened
by 16 games,
to a 66 game season,
but who's to blame?
The owners, the players,
is it anyone's fault?
That the off-season and workouts
were put to a halt?
The trade rumors created
more drama in the league,
and also added a new element of intrigue.
Chris Paul the Hornet,
Laker, who?
turns out he is in L.A.,
but he'll be wearing red and blue.
Christmas day is always
full of excitement and cheer,
but for NBA fans,
it'll be the first chance to break out the gear.
To start things off,
there will be a tripleheader,
including teams like the Celtics, Heat, Mavs, & Lakers,
what could be better?
And that night the Warriors
will face the Clippers and CP3.
Could this be the year Paul adds
another 3 initials to his title, MVP?
For Lakers fans, losing CP3
isn't your only concern.
Kobe's got a torn wrist ligament,
doubt you can blame that one on Commissioner Stern.
Tomorrow's the day,
who'll outshine the rest?
Will the Dallas Maverick's prove
they're still the best?
The fans will be happy,
if any remain.
All that matters is,
we're back in the game.
MAACO Bowl Las Vegas
Finally. I'm back on the right track.
Review: TCU 31 Louisiana Tech 24 √
It looked a little scary at times and I wasn't quite sure the Horned Frogs were going to pull it off, but in the end, for the third time this season, TCU overcame a fourth quarter deficit and downed the Bulldogs. TCU QB Casey Pachall broke several single-season school records with 228 completions, 2,921yards and a completion percentage of 66.5. The previous record holder? Andy Dalton. TCU is now 3-0 in the Poinsettia Bowl, and I am 4-1 so far in picks.
Tonight, possibly the most one-sided match-up of the bowl season.
Preview: Arizona State v. Boise State
I honestly could stop there. If Boise doesn't win by 20, I'll be surprised. I'm not doubting Arizona State, but having the 7th ranked team in the nation playing three days before Christmas? That's unheard of. That's an injustice. I know the system gets some things right and others wrong, but what kind of excuse can you come up with for this one? For the second straight year, the Bronco's won't be in a BCS bowl game, despite seemingly having a deserving record. Boise State's QB Kellen Moore is the winningest quarterback in college football history, having passed Colt McCoy this season, and if a few more field goals had fallen through the uprights, he might have a couple more victories added to his name. I honestly don't know much about Arizona State other than they're on a four game skid right now. These teams have only met once on the playing field, back in 1996. The winner? ASU took the game 56-7 in Tempe. Don't be surprised if tonight's game has a similar score, only on the side of the Broncos.
Review: TCU 31 Louisiana Tech 24 √
It looked a little scary at times and I wasn't quite sure the Horned Frogs were going to pull it off, but in the end, for the third time this season, TCU overcame a fourth quarter deficit and downed the Bulldogs. TCU QB Casey Pachall broke several single-season school records with 228 completions, 2,921yards and a completion percentage of 66.5. The previous record holder? Andy Dalton. TCU is now 3-0 in the Poinsettia Bowl, and I am 4-1 so far in picks.
Tonight, possibly the most one-sided match-up of the bowl season.
Preview: Arizona State v. Boise State
I honestly could stop there. If Boise doesn't win by 20, I'll be surprised. I'm not doubting Arizona State, but having the 7th ranked team in the nation playing three days before Christmas? That's unheard of. That's an injustice. I know the system gets some things right and others wrong, but what kind of excuse can you come up with for this one? For the second straight year, the Bronco's won't be in a BCS bowl game, despite seemingly having a deserving record. Boise State's QB Kellen Moore is the winningest quarterback in college football history, having passed Colt McCoy this season, and if a few more field goals had fallen through the uprights, he might have a couple more victories added to his name. I honestly don't know much about Arizona State other than they're on a four game skid right now. These teams have only met once on the playing field, back in 1996. The winner? ASU took the game 56-7 in Tempe. Don't be surprised if tonight's game has a similar score, only on the side of the Broncos.
Christmas Vacation Trivia
While this may not be sports, I have to promote what I will be doing the next two days.
Yesterday began the annual SportsRadio740's Max Roundtable Christmas Vacation Trivia days. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 22-23, I will be co-hosting with Doug Amos and Josh Moon as we ask you questions about the movie and give away prizes including t-shirts and copies of the DVD signed by the three of us!
It's a fun time for all, so be sure to tune in to Montgomery's SportsRadio740 at 740AM or online here by clicking LISTEN LIVE in the top right corner!
Brush up on the movie though if you want to beat this girl. The entire first day, no one was able to answer a question I threw out there. Not sure if I should be proud, or discouraged. Either way, it's the most wonderful time of the year, because it's Christmas and...we're all in misery!
Yesterday began the annual SportsRadio740's Max Roundtable Christmas Vacation Trivia days. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 22-23, I will be co-hosting with Doug Amos and Josh Moon as we ask you questions about the movie and give away prizes including t-shirts and copies of the DVD signed by the three of us!
It's a fun time for all, so be sure to tune in to Montgomery's SportsRadio740 at 740AM or online here by clicking LISTEN LIVE in the top right corner!
Brush up on the movie though if you want to beat this girl. The entire first day, no one was able to answer a question I threw out there. Not sure if I should be proud, or discouraged. Either way, it's the most wonderful time of the year, because it's Christmas and...we're all in misery!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Poinsettia Bowl
So much for being undefeated. FIU, you let me down.
Review: MARSHALL 20 FIU 10 X
One QB seemed to be the shining star in this game, and he was a native of Miami, Fla., the town where FIU is located, but Rakeem Cato wasn't playing with a Golden Panther's jersey on his back. He did however carry his team on his back as he led Marshall to a 20-10 victory as he threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns on the night. T.Y. Hilton, the FIU all-purpose player, scored the school's only touchdown on the night, giving him seven on the season and 24 in his career. Marshall finished the season with a winning record at 7-6 while FIU was denied what would've been their first ever nine-win season, as they fell to 8-5.
Moving along to the preview of tonight's game, which is the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (See why I shortened it in the title?).
Preview: TCU v. Louisiana Tech
An 18th ranked 10-2 team against an 8-4 squad that appears to have not played a ranked team all year. TCU's two losses on the season came in their first and fifth games which they lost by a combined nine points. When you're playing Superman though, it's hard to win (the Horned Frogs lost to eventual Heisman trophy winner Robert Griffin III and his Baylor squad in their first game of the season 50-48). That was the first time TCU lost their season opener since they suffered a loss to Cincinnatti in 2002 to start the year. The Horned Frog's biggest win was arguably against then 5th ranked Boise State, where they won by a single point 36-35, keeping the Bronco's out of the BCS and costing them the chance to play after Christmas. Enough about TCU though, moving to La Tech, after starting the season 1-4, they reeled off seven straight victories including wins against teams like Utah State and Nevada, both teams that have or will take part in a bowl game. 2008 was the last year this school was in a bowl game where they finished the season off against Northern Illinois with a win to end the year at 8-5. They'll be looking to get to nine wins on the season this time around, something they haven't accomplished this decade. Again, I'm going with the favorite though I hope they do better than FIU did last night. I've got TCU moving to 11-2 on the season.
I actually had time to do my homework this time around. Here's hoping tonight's a better night for my picks than last night, and yours too!
Review: MARSHALL 20 FIU 10 X
One QB seemed to be the shining star in this game, and he was a native of Miami, Fla., the town where FIU is located, but Rakeem Cato wasn't playing with a Golden Panther's jersey on his back. He did however carry his team on his back as he led Marshall to a 20-10 victory as he threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns on the night. T.Y. Hilton, the FIU all-purpose player, scored the school's only touchdown on the night, giving him seven on the season and 24 in his career. Marshall finished the season with a winning record at 7-6 while FIU was denied what would've been their first ever nine-win season, as they fell to 8-5.
Moving along to the preview of tonight's game, which is the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (See why I shortened it in the title?).
Preview: TCU v. Louisiana Tech
An 18th ranked 10-2 team against an 8-4 squad that appears to have not played a ranked team all year. TCU's two losses on the season came in their first and fifth games which they lost by a combined nine points. When you're playing Superman though, it's hard to win (the Horned Frogs lost to eventual Heisman trophy winner Robert Griffin III and his Baylor squad in their first game of the season 50-48). That was the first time TCU lost their season opener since they suffered a loss to Cincinnatti in 2002 to start the year. The Horned Frog's biggest win was arguably against then 5th ranked Boise State, where they won by a single point 36-35, keeping the Bronco's out of the BCS and costing them the chance to play after Christmas. Enough about TCU though, moving to La Tech, after starting the season 1-4, they reeled off seven straight victories including wins against teams like Utah State and Nevada, both teams that have or will take part in a bowl game. 2008 was the last year this school was in a bowl game where they finished the season off against Northern Illinois with a win to end the year at 8-5. They'll be looking to get to nine wins on the season this time around, something they haven't accomplished this decade. Again, I'm going with the favorite though I hope they do better than FIU did last night. I've got TCU moving to 11-2 on the season.
I actually had time to do my homework this time around. Here's hoping tonight's a better night for my picks than last night, and yours too!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl
Preview: Florida International v. Marshall
Isn't it odd that FIU has one of the best records of a Florida team this season? They went 8-4, as did Florida State, while Florida and Miami both finished 6-6. The only FIU game I saw was the Tuesday night matchup against the Troy Trojans. That might've been one of Troy's better games this season, but the Golden Panthers looked impressive. Of course their star player is T.Y. Hilton, who some see as a potential draft pick in April. On the other side of the field, I don't know all that much about Marshall. They are 6-6 and a touchdown at the end of the regular season finale is the reason they made it to be bowl eligible. The SunBelt is 1-0 so far in bowl games, with the ULL game being a nail biter. Gotta love games like that. This might be another one, but either way, I've got FIU taking this one.
Isn't it odd that FIU has one of the best records of a Florida team this season? They went 8-4, as did Florida State, while Florida and Miami both finished 6-6. The only FIU game I saw was the Tuesday night matchup against the Troy Trojans. That might've been one of Troy's better games this season, but the Golden Panthers looked impressive. Of course their star player is T.Y. Hilton, who some see as a potential draft pick in April. On the other side of the field, I don't know all that much about Marshall. They are 6-6 and a touchdown at the end of the regular season finale is the reason they made it to be bowl eligible. The SunBelt is 1-0 so far in bowl games, with the ULL game being a nail biter. Gotta love games like that. This might be another one, but either way, I've got FIU taking this one.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
3 for 3!
Get the brooms out, cause it was a clean sweep for me Saturday!
Review: TEMPLE 37 Wyoming 15 √
I didn't get the chance to watch any of the game, but I did see the crazy Wyoming XP on SportsCenter. But for Temple, when you get up 21-0, it's pretty smooth sailing from there on.
Review: OHIO 24 Utah State 23 √
I got to see the 4th quarter of this game, and that's all that really mattered. The Bobcats were down 23-10 with 6 minutes to go in the third quarter, and down by six in the fourth quarter. That is until there were 13 seconds left in the game when a touchdown and the crucial XP put them up by 1. That was their first and only lead of the night, and brought them their first bowl victory. Ohio's final drive was a crazy one and created suspense. It looked to be one of the craziest endings for a bowl game this season, but the craziness for the night was yet to be over.
Review: LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 32 San Diego State 30 √
That craziness I was referring to was the ending of this game. I made the mistake of falling asleep before the game was over and missed quite a thriller. The Ragin Cajuns had as large as a 16 point lead in the third quarter, but in the fourth, the Aztecs fought back to take a one point lead with 35 seconds to go. ULL drove down the field to try a 55 yard FG, but before the play a flag was thrown against the defense for trying to draw a false start penalty. Those five yards picked up off that penalty had to be helpful. 50 yard field goal and a win as the clock expired. Classic.
Three wins. Two close games. One happy football fan.
I'm going to do my best to give you a preview of each bowl and the following day a post-game wrap up and analysis of how my picks went. 3 down, 32 to go!
Review: TEMPLE 37 Wyoming 15 √
I didn't get the chance to watch any of the game, but I did see the crazy Wyoming XP on SportsCenter. But for Temple, when you get up 21-0, it's pretty smooth sailing from there on.
Review: OHIO 24 Utah State 23 √
I got to see the 4th quarter of this game, and that's all that really mattered. The Bobcats were down 23-10 with 6 minutes to go in the third quarter, and down by six in the fourth quarter. That is until there were 13 seconds left in the game when a touchdown and the crucial XP put them up by 1. That was their first and only lead of the night, and brought them their first bowl victory. Ohio's final drive was a crazy one and created suspense. It looked to be one of the craziest endings for a bowl game this season, but the craziness for the night was yet to be over.
Review: LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 32 San Diego State 30 √
That craziness I was referring to was the ending of this game. I made the mistake of falling asleep before the game was over and missed quite a thriller. The Ragin Cajuns had as large as a 16 point lead in the third quarter, but in the fourth, the Aztecs fought back to take a one point lead with 35 seconds to go. ULL drove down the field to try a 55 yard FG, but before the play a flag was thrown against the defense for trying to draw a false start penalty. Those five yards picked up off that penalty had to be helpful. 50 yard field goal and a win as the clock expired. Classic.
Three wins. Two close games. One happy football fan.
I'm going to do my best to give you a preview of each bowl and the following day a post-game wrap up and analysis of how my picks went. 3 down, 32 to go!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
It's finally here!
Bowl season is officially underway today and I won't even be home to watch, but that's alright! There will be 32 other games I can catch.
Preview: Temple v. Wyoming
The Owls finished with an 8-4 record, same as last year when they did not receive a bowl bid. They finished second in the East division of the Mid-Atlantic Conference while, the Cowboys who are also 8-4, finished third in the Mountain West Conference behind TCU and Boise State. I have no reasoning so put simply, I've got Temple in this match-up.
Preview: Ohio v. Utah State
I can honestly say I did at least watch one Utah State game this season, the first game against Auburn, and they looked like a good team (maybe Auburn really was just that bad). They finished 7-5 while Ohio posts a 9-4 record. The last Ohio game I saw was against the Troy Trojans last year in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, and being a Troy fan, I enjoyed the game. Don't know much about their team this year but the Bobcats are back in a bowl and my Trojans aren't. So, looking at the two teams records and going with a gut feeling, I've got Ohio.
Preview: San Diego State v. Louisiana Lafayette
The Sun-Belt. I could stop there and go with my team's conference and pick ULL, but where's the fun in that? Both teams finished the season 8-4, but that's about all I know about the Aztecs. They do have a running back, Ronnie Hillman, who finished third in the FBS with 138 rushing yards per game. ULL went 3-9 last season (sound familiar Trojan fans?) and while they are the underdog today, I've got the Ragin Cajuns winning to start the Sun Belt off at 1-0 in bowl games.
Preview: Temple v. Wyoming
The Owls finished with an 8-4 record, same as last year when they did not receive a bowl bid. They finished second in the East division of the Mid-Atlantic Conference while, the Cowboys who are also 8-4, finished third in the Mountain West Conference behind TCU and Boise State. I have no reasoning so put simply, I've got Temple in this match-up.
Preview: Ohio v. Utah State
I can honestly say I did at least watch one Utah State game this season, the first game against Auburn, and they looked like a good team (maybe Auburn really was just that bad). They finished 7-5 while Ohio posts a 9-4 record. The last Ohio game I saw was against the Troy Trojans last year in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, and being a Troy fan, I enjoyed the game. Don't know much about their team this year but the Bobcats are back in a bowl and my Trojans aren't. So, looking at the two teams records and going with a gut feeling, I've got Ohio.
Preview: San Diego State v. Louisiana Lafayette
The Sun-Belt. I could stop there and go with my team's conference and pick ULL, but where's the fun in that? Both teams finished the season 8-4, but that's about all I know about the Aztecs. They do have a running back, Ronnie Hillman, who finished third in the FBS with 138 rushing yards per game. ULL went 3-9 last season (sound familiar Trojan fans?) and while they are the underdog today, I've got the Ragin Cajuns winning to start the Sun Belt off at 1-0 in bowl games.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
College Bowl Mania
With 35 bowl games, what better way to keep you involved in each game than to play bowl mania and have a team to cheer for, no matter whether you really have any interest outside your picks or not. If you aren't a Temple or Wyoming fan, why else would you care who won on the first Saturday of bowl games?
I'll keep you updated on my picks as the bowl season progresses, and I'll try to give you a preview of each bowl with my prediction as to the outcome.
The end of college football is never something I look forward to, but with 35 games in less than 25 days..it's hard not to get excited about the approaching bowl season.
Here's the ESPN Bowl Mania Challenge and a list of all the bowl games!
So happy bowling, and go get involved with college bowl mania!
I'll keep you updated on my picks as the bowl season progresses, and I'll try to give you a preview of each bowl with my prediction as to the outcome.
The end of college football is never something I look forward to, but with 35 games in less than 25 days..it's hard not to get excited about the approaching bowl season.
Here's the ESPN Bowl Mania Challenge and a list of all the bowl games!
So happy bowling, and go get involved with college bowl mania!
Pick'em Contest Award
They say college is the time of your life. Days like today make me believe that.
I got the chance to meet the mayor of Montgomery, Todd Strange, today and he was the one who presented me with my plaque! It is extremely nice and will be displayed in my office for years to come. Of course there were some jabs thrown back and forth since he was in the lead until the very end last season when I beat him by a single game, but we had a great time on the show and the presentation was very nice! I was impressed and had a blast with these guys!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Austin Silvoy
Who would've thought he would make it to Sportscenter before me? Still found it awesome that a former Troy Trojan was on to talk about his high school days with Tim Tebow. Tebow-mania really has taken over, but there are no complaints from me! Troy got some air time and Silvoy got his touchdown catch from one of the Troy v. Florida matchups shown three times. Congrats to Silvoy on getting the call to be on Sportscenter. I'll keep waiting for my phone to ring for the full time job (but let's hold off a few years so I can get my degree!).
College Football Pick'em Contest
Well we're only a year behind but tomorrow I will be at the SportsRadio740 Max Roundtable remote to accept my award for winning the 2010 SportsRadio740 Max Roundtable's College Football Pick'em Contest! I went up against Doug Amos and Josh Moon, the co-host's of SportsRadio740's Max Roundtable; Ashley McDonald, WAKA's chief meteorologist; and the mayor of Montgomery, Todd Strange.
And beat them all (cue the TrojanSportsNow commercial & you'll see that's why "she knows sports").
I will be meeting Mayor Strange for the first time tomorrow, and I have to point out, during the contest last year he couldn't remember my name (the one name I remember being called was Michelle, but there may have been others). Here's hoping he gets it right tomorrow.
If you want to check it out, Listen here between 12-2! I believe around 12:45 they'll be doing the presentation.
And beat them all (cue the TrojanSportsNow commercial & you'll see that's why "she knows sports").
I will be meeting Mayor Strange for the first time tomorrow, and I have to point out, during the contest last year he couldn't remember my name (the one name I remember being called was Michelle, but there may have been others). Here's hoping he gets it right tomorrow.
If you want to check it out, Listen here between 12-2! I believe around 12:45 they'll be doing the presentation.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Finals are over!
Let the party begin. Christmas break is here!
I'm more astounded than ever looking at college athletes, no matter the sport, knowing how much work I put into school and being a journalist, and seeing them succeed with high GPA's. How do they do it?
I know being a "student-athlete" means student first, but that's not always the case for athletes. I'm not trying to stereotype anyone, but even breaking it down to the average guy or girl, for many "students" in college, is it really about the classes?
It's hard enough to balance my job with schoolwork, much less an athlete balancing practice, meetings, travel, and games.
These guys are tough, not only physically but mentally as well.
Props to the ones who put forth the extra effort. It pays off!
I'm more astounded than ever looking at college athletes, no matter the sport, knowing how much work I put into school and being a journalist, and seeing them succeed with high GPA's. How do they do it?
I know being a "student-athlete" means student first, but that's not always the case for athletes. I'm not trying to stereotype anyone, but even breaking it down to the average guy or girl, for many "students" in college, is it really about the classes?
It's hard enough to balance my job with schoolwork, much less an athlete balancing practice, meetings, travel, and games.
These guys are tough, not only physically but mentally as well.
Props to the ones who put forth the extra effort. It pays off!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Is there still hope out there?
I was a fan of Robert Griffin III heading into last night because I felt he had the best case for winning the Heisman. Today, I’m a fan of him because he gives me hope in collegiate athletics.
With everything that’s going on from sex scandals to brawls like what happened at the Xavier v. Cincinnati game, RG3 makes me think there are a few good guys still around in the NCAA.
Did you hear his speech? Well-spoken doesn’t begin to tell the story. This guy was outstanding in my opinion. I was not very familiar with his character or attitude heading into Saturday night (enough to know I felt he was a qualified candidate), but after hearing how much he spoke about Baylor and not about himself, I was even more impressed with him than I had been just by watching his game.
His playing career is spectacular and has been discussed to no end surrounding the Heisman watch, but have you looked at his educational career? Undergrad in Political Science in just three years. Working on his Master’s currently in Communication (evident by the speech last night), & will finish in the spring. I’ve also seen where he plans to apply to Baylor law school. He made the honor roll every semester. This guy is legit.
“Unbelievably believable.” That’s how RG3 described the moment of winning the Heisman. Unbelievable, in his words, because in the moment we are all amazed at what has just happened, but believable because great things happen because of hard work.
Unbelievably believable is how I would describe this player, who is an excellent representative of the Heisman fraternity and a model for NCAA athletes. This is why he gives me hope. It’s unbelievable because there are so few GOOD stories that make the headlines anymore, but it’s believable because this guy has worked for what he’s got, and I know there are plenty of other stories out there like his.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
And the winner is...
RG3. He flew away with it. Literally. Superman does that.
Congratulations to the man I feel deserved the trophy, & really, how do you not give it to a player who shows up wearing Superman socks? Seriously. Those are classic. When you can get something trending on twitter within ten minutes…you’re a big timer. #supermansocks made it, and quick.
Congrats to Baylor as well on their first Heisman trophy winner. And Andrew Luck? No luck yet again as he finished in second place for the second year in a row.
Richardson? Well, he did finish ahead of Ball, but I was surprised he wasn’t closer to the top. I was off with my two and three predictions. But I do find it funny that neither athlete from the south region won the south. RG3 captured the south’s vote, and I thought Richardson would at least get the vote near home. Didn’t expect the SEC overload to change how SEC territory voted.
But back to RG3. Again, it was an hour’s worth of waiting to hear a heartfelt speech from the recipient that always seems to bring chills to me, no matter the winner. RG3’s was no different.
One statement in the introduction of the Heisman show really caught my attention. “25 pounds of bronze carries immeasurable weight for one man who will win the trophy tonight.” That man was Robert Griffin III, and I feel he embodied the characteristics needed to become a member of the Heisman fraternity.
Congrats on getting it right voters, and congrats again RG3. Strike the Heisman pose anytime you want to now, just don’t let that Superman cape get in the way.
Strike a pose
Someone's going to tonight...or atleast be awarded the trophy that carries the famous Heisman pose with it.
There will be five players in New York all hoping it's their name that's called to join the brotherhood.
Mathieu. In my book, he's out. I understand that it would be odd not to have the best player on the best team as a candidate for the Heisman, but I feel he does not meet all the qualifications necessary to be a member of the Heisman fraternity (& I don't believe I'm alone in thinking this). Heisman winners are expected to exhibit "excellence with integrity." To me, a suspension for a postive test for synthetic marijuana doesn't quite fit into those standards. It's not often a defensive player wins this award, but the last one to do so was a cornerback, Charles Woodson, in 1997. Mathieu is the only sophomore player in the top five this year, so despite the reasons i feel he should not win it, if he has another outstanding season next year, voters may forget about the past (Cam Newton won last year didn't he?) & give him a shot in 2012.
Ball. Well, there are two running backs in this years Heisman watch, and it seems like one of them is overshadowing the other and it's surprising considering the stats. What other criteria do you put in? Strength of schedule? I don't feel like going that far into it, so we'll just look at the numbers. 1759 rushing yards. 38 total TD's. He's just a single touchdown shy of Barry Sanders' mark of 39 TD's in a single season. It's true that he did it in only 11 games whereas Ball gets 14 to set the mark. Still, despite the numbers, I'm afraid it'll be hard for him to jump Richardson.
Sidenote: Prior to Mark Ingram in 2009, it had been ten years since a running back had won the trophy (and kept it! Thanks to Jonathan Sellers for pointing out Reggie Bush won the trophy in 2005).
Luck. He knows what its like being a Heisman candidate. However, it's too bad it doesn't have to do with how you handle the anxiety. His numbers? 3170 passing yards. 35 TD's. 9 INT's. Impressive, but not the best in the nation. Not even the best quarterback numbers in the Heisman top five. Stanford has had the runner-up for the Heisman the past two years in Toby Gerhart & Andrew Luck, respectively. Could Luck make it to runner-up for the second year in a row? I don't see him finishing higher than third.
Richardson. The guy who looked to be the favorite at one point, and while he is favored over Ball in most predictions, he stats aren't even as good as Ball's. 1583 rushing yards. 23 total TD's. It is double his numbers from last season, but by the numbers, he looks to be the second best running back in the Heisman top five. Now, not relying solely on stats, he is crazy good. His ability to get yards after contact might be what's most impressive. That might be why he is so highly favored over Ball. Something Richardson might have working against him though is the SEC's dominance the past few years. With two SEC teams heading to the BCS National Championship, the past two Heisman trophy winners from the SEC, & holding the last 5 BCS titles, voters and fans outside of the southeast may have had their fill of the SEC winning everything (or so it seems). I've got him at number two overall.
Griffin III. By now you can see, I saved my Heisman winner for last. RG3. While he is not on the best team in the country, or even a BCS bowl team, I believe he had the best individual performance this season, and should therefore win the Heisman. He has nearly 4000 passing yards on the season (he's only 2 shy with 3998), 36 passing TD's, 9 rushing TD's, the best quarterback rating in the country at 192.3 and 2 games where he rushed for over 100 yards. Luck, the only other QB that seems to be in the discussion, only had 153 rushing yards on the season. The fact that Baylor is not undefeated or only a one loss team may have hurt RG3 to begin with, but it seems like as the Heisman race continued, that fact might not have mattered as much. But thinking about the team, who else can you name on Baylor's team? Really? Would Baylor be anywhere near the spot they are without Griffin? I don't think there's a question about that.
So, there you have it. I believe it should be based on the individual performance, not the record of the team. & I would give the award to Robert Griffin III. Who knows how it will really go, but it's worth tuning in to find out.
There will be five players in New York all hoping it's their name that's called to join the brotherhood.
A list of the candidates in alphabetical order:
Montee Ball, Wisconsin RB
Robert Griffin III, Baylor QB
Andrew Luck, Stanford QB
Tyrann Mathieu, LSU CB
Trent Richardson, Alabama RB
The Heisman is designed to recognize "the most outstanding player in college football." According to who? Based on what standards? Win/loss records? Big plays? Who's to say?
Obviously, there are voters to determine who receives the award so that first question might be unnecessary, but I'll still pose it. How are you supposed to compare a player like Mathieu to someone like Luck? Or Richardson and Ball?
Breaking it down one by one doesn't seem to clear up the picture much either, but it's worth a shot.Montee Ball, Wisconsin RB
Robert Griffin III, Baylor QB
Andrew Luck, Stanford QB
Tyrann Mathieu, LSU CB
Trent Richardson, Alabama RB
The Heisman is designed to recognize "the most outstanding player in college football." According to who? Based on what standards? Win/loss records? Big plays? Who's to say?
Obviously, there are voters to determine who receives the award so that first question might be unnecessary, but I'll still pose it. How are you supposed to compare a player like Mathieu to someone like Luck? Or Richardson and Ball?
Mathieu. In my book, he's out. I understand that it would be odd not to have the best player on the best team as a candidate for the Heisman, but I feel he does not meet all the qualifications necessary to be a member of the Heisman fraternity (& I don't believe I'm alone in thinking this). Heisman winners are expected to exhibit "excellence with integrity." To me, a suspension for a postive test for synthetic marijuana doesn't quite fit into those standards. It's not often a defensive player wins this award, but the last one to do so was a cornerback, Charles Woodson, in 1997. Mathieu is the only sophomore player in the top five this year, so despite the reasons i feel he should not win it, if he has another outstanding season next year, voters may forget about the past (Cam Newton won last year didn't he?) & give him a shot in 2012.
Ball. Well, there are two running backs in this years Heisman watch, and it seems like one of them is overshadowing the other and it's surprising considering the stats. What other criteria do you put in? Strength of schedule? I don't feel like going that far into it, so we'll just look at the numbers. 1759 rushing yards. 38 total TD's. He's just a single touchdown shy of Barry Sanders' mark of 39 TD's in a single season. It's true that he did it in only 11 games whereas Ball gets 14 to set the mark. Still, despite the numbers, I'm afraid it'll be hard for him to jump Richardson.
Sidenote: Prior to Mark Ingram in 2009, it had been ten years since a running back had won the trophy (and kept it! Thanks to Jonathan Sellers for pointing out Reggie Bush won the trophy in 2005).
Luck. He knows what its like being a Heisman candidate. However, it's too bad it doesn't have to do with how you handle the anxiety. His numbers? 3170 passing yards. 35 TD's. 9 INT's. Impressive, but not the best in the nation. Not even the best quarterback numbers in the Heisman top five. Stanford has had the runner-up for the Heisman the past two years in Toby Gerhart & Andrew Luck, respectively. Could Luck make it to runner-up for the second year in a row? I don't see him finishing higher than third.
Richardson. The guy who looked to be the favorite at one point, and while he is favored over Ball in most predictions, he stats aren't even as good as Ball's. 1583 rushing yards. 23 total TD's. It is double his numbers from last season, but by the numbers, he looks to be the second best running back in the Heisman top five. Now, not relying solely on stats, he is crazy good. His ability to get yards after contact might be what's most impressive. That might be why he is so highly favored over Ball. Something Richardson might have working against him though is the SEC's dominance the past few years. With two SEC teams heading to the BCS National Championship, the past two Heisman trophy winners from the SEC, & holding the last 5 BCS titles, voters and fans outside of the southeast may have had their fill of the SEC winning everything (or so it seems). I've got him at number two overall.
Griffin III. By now you can see, I saved my Heisman winner for last. RG3. While he is not on the best team in the country, or even a BCS bowl team, I believe he had the best individual performance this season, and should therefore win the Heisman. He has nearly 4000 passing yards on the season (he's only 2 shy with 3998), 36 passing TD's, 9 rushing TD's, the best quarterback rating in the country at 192.3 and 2 games where he rushed for over 100 yards. Luck, the only other QB that seems to be in the discussion, only had 153 rushing yards on the season. The fact that Baylor is not undefeated or only a one loss team may have hurt RG3 to begin with, but it seems like as the Heisman race continued, that fact might not have mattered as much. But thinking about the team, who else can you name on Baylor's team? Really? Would Baylor be anywhere near the spot they are without Griffin? I don't think there's a question about that.
So, there you have it. I believe it should be based on the individual performance, not the record of the team. & I would give the award to Robert Griffin III. Who knows how it will really go, but it's worth tuning in to find out.
Friday, December 9, 2011
I'm in!
What a time to start a sports blog.
Could there be anything more exciting than the beginning of bowl season approaching, the announcement of the Heisman trophy winner just a day away, & a NBA season that will be under 80 games? Alright, the NBA thing might still be a stretch, but come on, when is it NOT a great time to be a sports fan?
Sure, there are plenty of scandals around sports right now, especially collegiate athletics, & I’m not downplaying those at all, (I’m sure I’ll go into my opinions on them at some point, but that’s not the point of this post) but I’m excited to be a sports fan and I want you to be excited too.
So, why do I have a blog? Well, I want to be able to share my sports opinions with you, and I’d love feedback from you as well. I want to be a sports broadcaster. I want to talk sports ALL DAY LONG, and it’s a lot more fun when you’re talking them with someone else (talking to yourself gets old).
Join in. Comment. Agree with me. Disagree with me. Whatever! Just keep it clean and have fun. That’s all I ask.
Enjoy!
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