Zach Johnson: Football isn't everything

After ten years, divorcing the sport you love isn’t easy, but sometimes it’s the only choice.

Zach Johnson, former Trojan offensive lineman, had played the game he loved since he was ten years old; however, this season, one hit and one diagnosis changed his life.

Johnson began playing football at the age of 10 and said there was no doubt this was the game for him.

“I wasn’t the tall athletic looking kid,” Johnson said. “I was always the biggest kid in class, so people expected me to play.”

He only received one FBS offer to play football and that was at Troy University where he was able to come in early.

Johnson graduated mid-term and joined the Trojans in the spring of 2011.

“He actually went through spring ball and summer training, and in the fall won a starting job, which is highly unusual,” head coach Larry Blakeney said. “He’s a pretty good player to be able to do that.”

When he first arrived his role was to fill in where he was needed, but due to injuries on the line during the 2011 season, he was placed into a starting role.

“Zach was a huge part on this offensive line,” senior lineman Kyle Wilborn stated. “The second he got on campus he made an impact.”

This season though in the first home game against Louisiana-Lafayette, Johnson suffered a concussion after his helmet was hit by running back Shawn Southward on a play late in the game.

It wasn’t just the concussion Johnson was battling however.

“With the concussion alone, they had ruled me out for the rest of the season anyway, but this gave them time to really look at my neck,” Johnson said. “The whole process was pretty crazy.”

Johnson had suffered from concussions before and also had problems with stingers and neck injuries.

“I would even sneeze and get stingers,” he said.

During the time following his injury in September, Johnson saw several doctors and a neurologist.

Doctors determined Johnson suffered from spinal stenosis, an abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal.

He was told his spinal column is so narrow there is barely even enough room for the nerves themselves.

After over a month, Johnson and the team orthopedic discussed the options for him, and he was informed it was highly unsafe to continue playing football.

“The doctors and trainers told me that if I were to have a serious neck injury then there would be a 90 percent chance of paralysis,” Johnson said.  “In all actuality, the concussion was a blessing in disguise.”

For Johnson, it wasn’t leaving the game that was the most difficult.

It was leaving his family.

“Without a doubt the offensive line is a family,” Johnson said. “To see them go into battle and not being able to suit up beside them may be the worst feeling.”

With the impact Johnson made immediately on the team, he will be missed.

“We’re sad to see him go but we certainly understand you have to be smart with an injury like that,” offensive line coach John Schlarman said.

“I really hate it for him hearing the news that he can’t play football anymore but I know that if anybody can handle it Zach can,” Wilborn declared.

Though his presence on the field will be missed, he is not only remembered for his actions but also his character.

“You don’t get any better than Zach,” Schlarman said. “He’s a good Christian young man.”

But when one door closes, another opens.

That’s something Cory Wilkes, another former Trojan football player, knows all too well.

He was a member of the team for two years from 2008-2010 before suffering a career-ending back injury off the field.

Wilkes said prior to his injury he began to evaluate how much of his life he was pouring into football.

“Eventually I started realizing, you know, I’m devoting too much to football,” Wilkes said. “I really wasn’t focusing on priorities as much as I should have.”

After he was told he could no longer play, his reaction was not typical.

“It was not as bitter as I thought it would’ve been,” Wilkes stated. “If it had happened a year before, I would have been torn apart.”

He said some of his family members took the news harder than he did.

Since he had already begun to think he needed to reevaluate his priorities, leaving the game was not a harsh departure.

“It really helped me to understand God is really pointing me in a new direction now,” Wilkes said.

Wilkes still lives in Troy and serves in different ways at Bush Memorial Baptist Church, which is how he knew Johnson.

Both of them worked at Camp Troy at Bush Memorial teaching children the game of football.

After Johnson’s career ended, Wilkes offered words of encouragement to him.

“It’s not fun being told you can’t do what you love, but it’s going to turn out really good,” Wilkes said. “God’s going to open doors and opportunities that you never dreamed would’ve happened.”

Johnson said that hearing from Wilkes has helped him through the process of moving on.

“It is different talking to someone who is simply giving you sympathy and talking to someone who genuinely knows what is going on from experience,” Johnson stated.

Johnson said though football is not in his future, he already had other plans in mind.

“When I was a freshman in high school I surrendered to the ministry, and feel led to one day pastor a church,” Johnson said.

For now, he plans to get involved in churches and ministries around the area and after finishing his degree, attend seminary.

“I know that God has a greater plan for my life and I’m anxious to see what it is,” Johnson stressed.

Though he only was a Trojan football player for two seasons, he left a definite impact on his coaches and teammates.

“I know he’s got big things in his future outside of football that he’s going to be involved with,” Schlarman said. “I look forward to seeing what he does moving forward from here.”

Judy Morgan: An Unsung Hero

Many times you hear players or coaches refer to a football team as a family, but it is not as often that you hear about the team mom.

Troy v. Louisiana Lafayette

Despite a record setting night on offense, the Troy football team lost its conference opener Saturday to Louisiana-Lafayette 37-24.

The downfall for the Trojans was three turnovers that the Ragin’ Cajuns turned into points.

“If we had played a little bit better and made a little bit fewer mistakes, we could’ve been in the hunt at the end to win it,” coach Larry Blakeney said.

The Trojans first fumble came late in the first quarter after a pass from quarterback Corey Robinson to wide receiver Chandler Worthy was stripped from Worthy’s grasp.

Jermarlo Moten returned the fumble 56 yards for the touchdown to put the Ragin’ Cajuns on top 14-7.

That score gave Louisiana-Lafayette momentum and put them on top for good.

Robinson had a record setting night for Troy breaking five school records in the loss.

He broke three career marks and two single-game records including completions and passing yards.

Robinson was 46-of-70 for 485 yards and two touchdowns but gave the credit for his accomplishments to his coaches and teammates.

“I haven’t done it alone,” Robinson said. “I want to thank all those guys and my coaches for sticking with me and believing in me.”

Troy had 588 total yards of offense, but only 60 yards came on the ground.

The rushing attack that was successful against UAB was almost non-existent against Louisiana-Lafayette.

“Everybody blocked well,” Shawn Southward, running back, said. “Lafayette was on it. They did a great job stopping the run.”

Troy had almost 200 more offensive yards than Louisiana-Lafayette, however Troy was out rushed 218 yards to just 60 for the Trojans.

“It looks like it boils down to me being able to rush the football,” Blakeney said. “They had no fumbles lost and out rushed us and I think that’s a big key.”

Along with the turnovers, Troy was unable to convert twice on fourth down resulting in a turnover on downs.

The Trojans were 4-of-5 in the red zone but only got in the end zone three times.

“We’ve just got to get better in the red zone and capitalizing,” Robinson said.

“We can put up the yards all day,” he said. “We’ve just got to get in the end zone and once we start doing that we’ll be tough to beat.”

Despite the loss, players said the morale of the team was still high and unlike last year, they were not going to be discouraged but rather move forward.

“I don’t see us falling out this year,” Southward said. “Everybody is going to come together and we’re going to keep practicing hard and get wins.”

Even with an SEC opponent next weekend in Mississippi State, coach Blakeney said he was confident his team would be ready.

“We’re a little bit behind the 8-ball right now but you never know when we’ll peek out from behind it,” Blakeney said.

I love being a journalist

Being a journalist has perks.

Viewing games from the sideline or the press box, knowing players and coaches behind the scenes, and being the first to hear breaking news.

There's another perk though that has nothing to do with any benefit I could receive.

It's the way my mind works.

When I'm watching SportsCenter and they do something creative, my mind runs wild.

I want to be able to work with the limitless resources they have.

They did a story on Peyton Manning this morning (I probably paid a little more attention since I am a Manning fan) and about his attention to detail.

The shot began with the anchor just standing there talking to the camera with the anchor well in the distance.

 The story was about the fact that he has a camera placed 10 yards behind him on the field on a ladder so that he can observe his footing and which direction his helmet is facing.

As the camera zoomed in, they rotated around the anchor to show that there was indeed a ladder behind him with a camera girl filming him and as he went to intro the story, he turned around and they put him on the shot that was from the ladder.

HOW CREATIVE CAN YOU GET?

It blew my mind.

It was so perfect for the story.

That's what I love.

Seeing things from a journalistic mindset.

Just something I wanted to share and if you haven't seen it, run to your tv, flip it to SportsCenter, and sit for a spell.

Does anyone even care?

The Miami Heat are the 2012 NBA Champions.

The playoffs have FINALLY ended.

Will you miss the NBA?

Or is college basketball more your taste?

Put me in Coach

On May 29, the world lost one of the few good men left.

Coach Kyle Dawkins.

The name alone means so much to so many people.

It's synonymous with loving, faithful, happy and helpful.

He was a coach, a father, a mentor and a friend to countless young men and women who will never forget the impact Coach left on them.

More importantly than any of those, he was a servant of his savior.

He didn't just coach students in sports, he coached them in life. 

His testimony of love leaves behind a legacy that will continue to impact lives.

So go out today and give someone a big ol' Coach Dawkins bear hug, and tell them you love them in his memory.

And make a difference in their life, because he did in so many.

Just a scan of his Facebook page shows the impact he had on countless individuals.

It's heartwarming to read the stories left about how he was a father figure to so many young students, and how he always greeted you with a smile and a hug.

But what impacts me most is seeing the posts that say, "This isn't goodbye, it's see ya later."

That is exactly what Coach would have wanted us to say.

It's not goodbye, it's see ya later.

Starting out big!

Yesterday I doubled the number of baseball games I had called play-by-play for.

I called four state championship baseball games in a span of 12 hours.

It was one of the longest days in my career so far, but also one of the most rewarding.

Big thanks to my friend Taylor Burck who got my name out there in the mix for the job opportunity.

We broadcast the 1A AHSAA State Championship games 2 & 3, St. Luke's v. Shoals Christian, in the morning, then the 4A games 2 & 3, Beauregard v. Guntersville, in the afternoon and evening.

In the 1A series, Shoals Christian carried a 25 game playoff win streak into the finals, but lost game one to the Wildcats from St. Luke's.

However, one loss did not make or break their season. They came back strong in game 2 with a 14-4 victory and forced a decisive game three.

Game three was no different than game two as the Flame were dominant yet again, winning on a throwing error. After a double to left center brought home two runs, St. Luke's shortstop, Hunter Kirksey, threw the ball over the catcher's head and the winning run (due to the mercy rule) came home.

While the celebration was going on, there was still heartbreak.

Not only on the side of St. Luke's, but for Shoals Christian as well.

The Flame had dedicated their season to a little boy named Noah Crowe who was diagnosed with a brain tumor last November.

Noah lost his battle with cancer Friday morning.

The fans of the Flame had been wearing shirts saying "Pray for Noah" throughout the season, and there were fans at the game Friday with their shirts on in support of Noah,

In the 4A series, Guntersville beat Beauregard in the first game of the series, knocking off the top ranked team in 4A.

The Hornets weren't going down without a fight as they rallied in game two and destroyed the Wildcats 13-0.

It set up the perfect scenario for a suspenseful game three, and that's exactly what fans saw.

The Wildcats took the lead first, but it was a back and forth battle throughout.

The Hornets were up 4-1, but heading into the seventh inning everything was knotted up at 4.

In the top of the seventh, the Wildcats took the lead for good after a single scored a run, then Robert Smith hit a three run bomb over the left field railing.

The Hornets swarmed back in the bottom of the seventh, down by four and cut the lead to two, but the final out was recorded and the Wildcats got their names in the record books.

For Guntersville, it was their first baseball state championship.

For me, it was my first chance to call championship baseball, and it was a thrill.

There's nothing like the moments when the championship is about to be decided, and the moments after when the words coming out of your mouth are nothing but excitement and energy, and you honestly have no clue what you're saying.

I can't wait to watch the replay's of the games and hear the calls I made at the end of the games.

When the videos are done being processed and are available for access online, I'll post a link.

I'm not sure whether to be anxious or nervous.

All I know is, this is the time of my life, and I'm enjoying every second of it.

Me & my partner Taylor Burck

Hard at work!

 Guntersville hoisting the championship trophy

How honest is too honest?

How much do you really want to know about the sports profession?

Fans say they want to know the in's and out's, but when you learn the cold, hard truth do you have the same respect for the game?

Two recent incidents brought this to my mind.

Cole Hamels admitting to beaming Bryce Harper on purpose and Cris Carter coming out with details about his own bounty system in the NFL.

Sure, pitchers plunk hitters all the time. There's retaliation for good hits, previously hit batters on a pitcher's own team, any number of reasons why a pitcher may purposely hit a batter.

Hamels owned up to it, and got a longer suspension because of it.

Does it hurt him in the long run? No. He doesn't even miss a scheduled start.

Does it accomplish anything? Probably not.

In the end, the Hamels thing is pretty common.

This bounty situation is a bit deeper and murkier than the Hamels deal.

Pitchers hitting batters is one thing.

Players setting bounties on other players, for any reason, is a bit more questionable.

Cris Carter came out and said he put bounties on opposing players who were looking to take cheap shots at him.

It was about protection.

But it carried a financial incentive.

He later said the word bounty may not have been the best word choice with the Saints "pay for play" situation at hand, but did not back down from the claims he made.

Carter did say the point was always protection, never about causing harm to another player, but where do you draw the line?

Do you really want to know what else is lurking out there?

Sure, there's the side of getting everything out in the open. There's also the side of maintaining the image sports professions have worked to establish and keeping a blind eye to the mishaps and truth of the situation.

What's the solution? I don't have one.

What's right? I'm not sure there's an easy answer to that either.

Until something is figured out, there are two truths.

There will still be problems, and there will still be fans watching.

Pitiful Petrino

This entire situation shows how some people in athletics forget about morals.

Sometimes, they seem to be held above the law, but Petrino seems to have been dealt what he was due in this case.

I'm pleasantly surprised to see Arkansas be the "better man" in the situation and stand up for what is right.

Petrino brought them success, there's no doubt about that.

But what pricetag goes with success?

Is it an undisclosed $20,000 sent to Petrino's newest hire and fling, Jessica Dorrell?

Or is it that $55,735 Dorrell would've been making per year as a recruiting coordinator?

In reality, it wasn't cheating that got him fired. It was lying, repeatedly.

The arrogance was outpacing the talent, as Bill Reiter said.

These are a few posts I found interesting concerning the Petrino situation, and I'm giving credit where credit is due. These are the writers opinions, not necessarily my own.

Hunter Robinson - playing off the DirecTV commercials.  

"When you don't beat LSU, you get angry. When you get angry, you buy a Harley. When you buy a Harley, you meet a 25 year old blonde. When you meet a 25 year old blonde, you ask her to ride your Harley. When a 25 year old blonde rides your Harley, you end up in a roadside ditch. Don't end up in a roadside ditch. Beat LSU."

Ryan McCollough -  with an interesting observation

"Rick Pitino: admits to having a mistress, gets a pay raise.
Bobby Petrino: admits to having a mistress, gets fired.  


Moral of the story: Petrino should have stayed at Louisville."

So, what's next? Does Petrino have a coaching future?

Who knows.

But I wouldn't be surprised if there's a clause in his next contract restricting Harley endorsements.

Troy Trojans - Spring Football

It's 5 months till football season but I'm ready to declare it football time already!

The Troy Trojans held their annual T-Day on Saturday, March 31, where fans got the chance to see the Trojans in action for the first time this spring.

If you missed it, you're still in luck.

Here's a look back at last year, and a preview of 2012.

The Madness is Over

I missed the rest of March Madness.

I watched, but didn't get the chance to update the blog about it.

Things were wacky for the first few rounds, and nearly everyone's  bracket got busted.

But when it game down to the championship, it was almost cut and dry.

The Wildcats. Kentucky did it.

Now that college basketball is over, I'm ready to declare it time to concentrate on football.

Guess baseball season still stands in the way for now though.

March Madness: Day 1

I filled out ten brackets, and I don't have a single perfect one left.

I went 14-2 in my best bracket and 8-8 in my worst.

Could've been better; certainly, could've been worse.

In my best bracket, UNLV and UCONN cost me.

Looks like I shouldn't have gone with all caps, but VCU came through for me.

It's just the South bracket that's given me problems so far.

Here's a look at the bracket I'm referring to.

The worst part? I was undefeated until 10:00 last night.

Here's hoping today is similar, if not better!

Manning Watch: Part 2

More interesting developments this morning.

Turns out, I was completely off. Who knew.

Seems like Manning is handling this just as he would, methodically.

The Broncos were the first team he met with, now they'll be the first team he works out for.

The Broncos are sending a private plane out to Durham to watch Manning work out, but aren't expected to bring him back to Denver on the plane.

Broncos officials aboard the plane include John Fox, John Elway, the QB coach and other offensive coaches as well as the medical staff.

Word recently is also that the Dolphins are out of the mix. So, I was dead wrong.

It's seeming more like the Cardinals are falling off the radar as well, since Kolb's deal must be done by the close of business today. If they haven't heard any news from Manning, they've got to get Kolb's deal done.

The Broncos appear to be in the prime spot right now, but like I said yesterday, where does that leave Tim Tebow?

It'd be a perfect slot for him to learn under arguably one of the greatest in the game, but would he want to do that?

Not sure, but I think he'd be able to hone his skills and learn a lot from Manning if Manning becomes a Bronco and Tebow sticks around.

This is bound to get more confusing before it gets any clearer.

Stay tuned for Part 3, which I'm sure is coming soon.

Timing is everything

It's March Madness, and that means college hoops all day, every day.

Not for this girl.

Sure, I'll be tuning in to every game this weekend, but it'll be around listening to the Troy Baseball team as they take on South Alabama in a three game series.

I'll be calling my second baseball game of the season (& of my career) Tuesday night at Riddle-Pace Field as the Trojans take on the Alabama Crimson Tide, and I've got to be prepared!

That means studying both the Trojans and Tide this weekend.

So, while you all are soaking in hoops up to your neck, I'll be doing the same, while still trying to learn more about the game of baseball and get ready to deliver some play by play on Tuesday night.

Let's hope the Troy Trojans can manage some March Madness of their own on the diamond.

Manning Watch

I've said before, I'm a Manning fan.

& it looks like it will still be a few more days before I figure out what team I've got to pull for.

Manning's top suitor's seem to be Denver, Arizona, Tennessee and Miami.

I could pull for any of those.

But what are the repercussions if he goes to those squads?

Denver - What would they do with Tim Tebow? Would he really be gone? What about Tebow Time?

I don't know where Tebow would head. But I know, personally, of a few Bronco's fans that would be extremely disappointed. I would be disappointed, too.

Maybe that wouldn't be for the best.

Arizona - They've got Larry Fitzgerald, who could prove to be a selling point. But they've got to make a decision quick because of their own QB situation with Kevin Kolb. He's owed $7 million if he's on the roster today.

Plus, this is the NFC people. Manning is all AFC.

Looking like they might not be in the running after all.

Tennessee - The same division as the Colts? Really? Would that be a smart idea? I understand you could seek revenge and seek it twice a season, but I'm not sure it'd be worth it. The Titans owner Bud Adams has reportedly said he'll do whatever it takes to get Manning on board.

I wouldn't doubt there are a lot of owners willing to do just the same.

Miami - The same division as the Patriots. This could hold some value in Manning's eyes. Sunny Miami. Beating Brady at his own game. I don't know where he's going or what he's thinking, but this stop seems to have something about it that makes me wonder if he might not end up a Dolphin.

Don't hold me to it though.

This is an article Rick Reilly wrote back on March 8th. A Tribute of sorts to Manning.

The Colts may have gotten lucky with Manning and his success, but clearly now they're looking to get Luck.

This time by the name of Andrew.

I'll still have an interest in how the Colts do, but with so many of their star players gone, it's not the same team. Though they do still have Reggie Wayne.

But, back to Manning.

I don't have a clue where he's going, but he'll have to take a back seat to March Madness now.

And so the Manning Watch continues.

Today's the day

One of the busiest sports days and one of the most fun.

I'll be watching the beginning of the tournament at Coaches Corner in Wetumpka with my dad & not only watching the tournament games but watching the MAX Roundtable with Doug & Josh.

There's nothing like the next two days. Can you beat non-stop tournament style ball?

I think not.

I've filled out my brackets, and I've got a few surprises in there.

I've got mostly Kentucky or UNC winning it all, but I do have a bracket with Marquette taking home the championship.

You never know.

That's why they play the game.

I've filled out eight brackets so far, but the deadline isn't here yet.

I just might get in all ten that ESPN will allow.

I'll have a clue as to which brackets are shaping up the best after today, and I'll post how I'm doing.

Best of luck to you in your picks, and clear the schedule.

The next two days are all hoops.

Selection Sunday

Finally.

This used to be the only time college basketball appealed to me.

Obviously, this is the ultimate appeal, but I do enjoy basketball more during the season than I used to.

But nothing can beat games all day, every day. Especially tournament style.

The atmosphere and energy is unmatchable.

The joy. The heartbreak. The buzzer beaters. The upsets.

Everything.

And I get to be out on spring break and tune in to it all.

#Winning

Up next, bracketology.

Bring it on.

Finally catching up

Just posted all my work from this semester on Youtube.

You can see them at the top of my page!

If you get a chance, check them out.

Including Troy Basketball, Jerrel Jernigan's Superbowl journey, and the Trojan Olympics, even the full length Dancing with the Stars competition!

Man this is tough

Peyton Manning. Peytie-Pie. My favorite for so many years.

Gone.

From the Colts, but probably not from the game.

Manning has always been my favorite player in the NFL.

Why? Of course, he is successful. But I really don't know what attracted me to an infatuation with the player.

I'm not even sure what year it was that I began becoming a huge Manning fan.

The problem was, I claimed Colt fan status.

Today, I realized that I'm not a dedicated Colts fan; I'm a Manning fan.

I don't have anything left for the Colts. Unless they draft Robert Griffin III, which is highly unlikely. In that case, I'd still claim team fan status.

I'm not saying I hope they get beat all but twice again next year, or that I want the Patriots to win it all, but I won't be heartbroken if the Colts don't make the playoffs.

As long as Manning is in the game, I'll be a fan of his. No matter where he goes.

I own a Manning Colts jersey, and I'm sure I'll still wear it. It's a classic.

He'll always be a Colt in my eyes. Just like Brett Favre will always be a Packer despite how he finished things off.

Best of luck to Manning wherever the chips fall, and best of luck to the Colts who will likely be creating their own luck, or at least drafting him.

Success was..

mine, but not the Trojans. UAB took the game by a final of 9-7.

The broadcast was successful and will air on TrojanVision Thursday at 1:00 central and Sunday at 6:00 central!

My broadcast partner was Taylor Burck and we made a pretty good team. We played off each other's comments well and it was an overall success.

The Trojans got down by 5 early in the game before cutting it to 5-4 at the end of the second. A Jake Harrell bomb over the wall tied the game at 6 but the Blazers got three more runs and sealed the win.

I was bitten by the announcing bug though. I thought I would enjoy it and have fun doing it, but I never imagined it'd be that much fun!

I can't wait for my next opportunity to do some play by play!

Ready or not..

Dreams are about to come true.

Tuesday night I will be living out a dream as I call play-by-play for the Troy Trojans baseball game against UAB for the TrojanVision television broadcast.

If I could scream through this, I would!

I cannot wait for this opportunity. I will be calling the game alongside Jonathan Sellers who will be the color analyst.

We work together each week on Trojan Sports Now and get the opportunity this week to move outside the studio for the baseball game.

So, this weekend I will be preparing and studying both the Trojans and the Blazers.

Wish me luck!

Catching up on Troy athletics

It's been a while.

Football season only saw three wins for the Trojans, but at the same time at least there were only 9 losses.

For the women's basketball team, they almost got to three, but the losses wouldn't stop rolling in.

2-25. Twenty-five. That's just dismal at best.

And worse still? They have to go to the conference tournament.

It is the worst season on record for the women's team at Troy.

And for the men's team, things didn't look much better.

They only managed 10 wins.

But on the bright side, they did end the year with two straight conference victories, which is something they hadn't done all season.

Now, on to the conference tournament.

The saving grace is we're heading to baseball and softball season, and so far, that's meant lots of wins.

The softball team racked in 5 in a row to start the year and claimed the Southeastern Louisiana Lion Classic title, but then played host to top ten ranked Missouri who handed them their first loss.

They have improved their record to 11-2 after participating in the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn. this weekend.

Last but certainly not least, baseball.

They won the SunBelt conference championship last year, and they're looking to make it back-to-back titles.

They started the year off with a series win over Central Michigan and followed that with a road trip to Southern Miss where they won Friday night, but lost the next two games in the series.

They'll have the chance for redemption Tuesday night at home against Samford.

And I'll proudly be in attendance!

Here's hoping Spring sports go better than the Fall and Winter did.

If not, it's going to be a long semester.

Sports Saturday

For the first Saturday in quite some time, I haven't had a sport to cover.

So, what do I do?

Spend all day in front of the TV and listening to the radio, tuning in to, you guessed it, sports!

Tuned in to the Kentucky v. Vandy game earlier today only to see the Commodores fall in the end.

The Wildcats prove time and again they are worthy of the number 1 spot, but will they make it all the way to the Final Four again? Maybe. Maybe not.

Doesn't seem like March Madness is just a few weeks away, but I'm looking forward to it.

It's like Christmas for hoops fans. It's hard to beat non-stop basketball for two days straight!

Back to today's schedule though.

Saw a little of the LSU v. Ole Miss game, but then came the big ticket item.

Trojan Baseball.

The Troy Trojans are on the road in Hattiesburg, Miss. taking on Southern Miss this weekend and took the first game of the series Friday night 3-0.

The Trojans star pitcher Tyler Ray grabbed his 14th straight win on T-Ray Friday.

But today's game wasn't as favorable for the Trojans.

They fell to Southern Miss 2-1, though it wasn't without a bit of controversy.

Troy will have to pick up the win tomorrow afternoon in order to win their second series of the season.

The Trojan Softball team also was in action today and I kept up with the stats online.

They picked up a come from behind victory over Cleveland State earlier in the day and currently hold a lead over Tennessee Tech.

The Trojan Women's Basketball team was in action as well in the regular season finale, but with a 2-24 record heading into the game, I'm not sure how many people really kept up with the game. I know they lost a close one to FAU, but I really didn't pay attention.

Currently, I'm tuning in to the Kansas v. Mizzou game, because a top 5 matchup that goes into overtime is too good to pass up.

Back to Troy. The Men's Basketball team wraps up their season tonight as well at Florida Atlantic, and I will proudly be tuning in to Barry McKnight as he gives the call for the game.

Hopefully the men can win another game in the sunshine state to gain more momentum heading into the conference tournament.

After the men's game, I might tune in to whatever game happens to be on ESPN. Otherwise, I'm all sports-out till the baseball team takes the diamond again tomorrow afternoon.

Go Trojans!

The best way to get the true experience

Everyone has their favorite way to experience the game.

Whether it's being at the venue cheering on your team, being in front of the TV in the comfort of your home, or listening to the radio announcer call the game.

So, which is best?

I have to say, there's nothing like the atmosphere of being in the stadium.

Nothing tops the fans, the cheers, the pop of a baseball on a bat, the sound of pads and helmets colliding on a football field, and the P.A. announcers and their quirky catch phrases.

But if you don't have the option of being at the game, do you rely on the TV or the radio?

Or are you one of those people that watches the game with the TV on mute while listening to the radio?

I'm going to stick to just going with one or the other, but if that's where you fall, carry on my friend. I can't blame you.

For me personally, the radio wins hands down.

Why?

Sure with TV you've got the pleasure of seeing the action as it happens and visually keeping up with the game.

But the TV announcers, well, they aren't always completely informed and sometimes can cause true fans more trouble than convenience (though certainly not in all cases).

It's ironic I'm saying this since I want to go into TV broadcasting. I'm certainly not discouraging anyone from watching the games this way, and it depends on the sport you're talking about too, but i'll get into that in a minute.

The advantages of the radio are some that I can't see passing up.

The radio announcer knows the team. No, really. He knows them. He didn't just get assigned the game, learn the players names as best he could, and take a stab at it (I'm not saying all TV guys are this way).

He eats, sleeps, and breathes his team's sport.

That, I can admire.

He puts so much passion into the game and into the team, how can it not be infectious?

Tuning in to the radio also gives you the listener the pleasure of creating the scenery in your mind.

Usually, you know the setting of the game you're tuning in to. But you can't see the action happening before your eyes. However, sometimes seeing it with your mind is even better. You create the action that the announcer is broadcasting through his descriptions and details.

I'll admit that my opinion on this could change depending on the sport, but in general, I truly love listening to games on the radio.

For football? Sure, you can't beat being in the stadium or on the field, but hearing the announcer say "Massaquoi massacres him" when your defensive tackle takes out the ball carrier, well, it doesn't get much more vivid for the imagination.

I love watching football in person and on TV, but the radio still adds a flair that TV can't for me.

And for baseball, it's just different listening to the guys who know your team fill the time between pitches, versus the guys who throw out stats and the things they read up on during the week to fill TV time.

All this is coming from a sports broadcaster, not a radio broadcaster. But I have worked in radio before.

Describe it to me and let me visualize it in my mind.

Superbowl Dreams

I never got the chance to update my blog about the Superbowl, but what a game it was.

Of course, I wouldn't know as I was sick during the game and slept through most of it.

But I did get the chance to learn a little bit about it from one of the athletes that participated in the game.

Check out my feature story on the Troy Trojans own Jerrel Jernigan!

Lin

Need I say more?

He went from the hottest topic on the east coast after his first start, to the hottest topic in the country by the weekend.

The nicknames say it all.

Linsanity. All I Do is Lin. Linning. International Lin-sation.

This kid became a superstar overnight.

And there's a reason why. He's good!

But if he wasn't in New York would the phenomenon of "Lin" have occurred? Maybe not as fast, but how can you not like this kid?

He had 114 points in his career nine days ago. After his first four starts, he nearly doubled that with 109.

He's being compared to Tim Tebow for his ability to capture the nation and keep God at the forefront of his story.


He's a true role model who had a tougher road than Tebow to make it to the big time, but he did it, and he's succeeding.


For Lin, nothing is impossible. Or Lin-possible.

This week in Sports

Well, I may not know what happened elsewhere, but I know that I had a busy week in sports! And a few firsts!

For the first time in my short career, I was a part of a live shot! And, not to sound conceited, but I rocked it. It went great! It was the first live shot TrojanVision had done in four years, and I was honored to be a part of it! I was on the air live from Sartain Hall, the site of a basketball double-header, and made three appearances on the show. I was scheduled to have an interview to do live on the air, but with ten minutes to go, that was scrapped and I had to come up with some way to fill time! Here's a link to the video! I come in at the 7:00 mark and 11:30 mark! :)

I also had the opportunity to film Trojan Sports Now by myself! That's because my co-host was sick, so I hope he's better soon, but it was another awesome opportunity! When that video is up online I'll post a link to it as well.

Hope your week was as exciting and eventful as mine!

X Games

I can't believe the X Games are almost over and I've seen maybe 30 minutes of coverage.

This wouldn't have happened 3 years ago.

I watched every moment of the X Games back then.

I even claimed on my YouTube account that I LIVED for the X Games.

Maybe that was a bit of a stretch, but I did enjoy watching.

I'm a big Shaun White fan so after he withdrew from the Slopestyle competition, there wasn't much that interested me until Sunday night's SuperPipe final.

I'll be glued to the tv to watch that, and just in case something happens, I'll have it DVR'd.

I did tune in and see the tribute to Sarah Burke on opening night, and I thought it was an excellent way to honor her legacy.

If you didn't see it, check it out. Well worth the time.

Congrats to the winners so far, and I'll be cheering on White as hard as anyone.

Introductory Speech

So, while it won't be as effective here, I told you guys that read the post about my personal story that I would post my speech as well, so I am. Here you go!

My name is Danielle Percival. I am a sophomore from Wetumpka, Alabama and I am a broadcast journalism major, with a contract or minor in Sports Information.

Speaking of sports, how many of you are interested in sports?

How many of you played sports?

Guys, how many of you played football? Any level. Pee wee, Junior high, High school, or even College ball.

And out of those who just answered on that last question, how many of you think it would’ve been a good idea for me to put on pads and a helmet and get out there and play with you?

Exactly.

It’s okay to laugh. My parents did too. 

But I was passionate about football, and sports altogether..so I wanted to be involved. 

What’s wrong with that? Besides the fact that I probably shouldn’t play football and likely wouldn’t be any good.

So it wasn’t very likely they’d let me out on the playing field in pads and a helmet. 

So the next best option? 

Having a camera and a mic in my hand. Being a reporter.

This past year I had the chance to cover the Trojan football team pretty much as a beat reporter, meaning strictly covering everything that had to do with the team, for the entire season. 

I attended Media Day and scrimmages, camera and mic in hand mind you, and got to be on the sidelines and film each home game and the weekly press conferences to cover the upcoming games.

You’re probably wondering why…or for what. 

Well I work with TrojanVision, the campus news station, and I am pretty much the sports department right now. 

I’m not saying that to impress you or sound like I run the place, but we’re short handed right now and you work with what you’ve got.

So, because of that, they gave a girl the chance to prove herself and show that she had what it took to cover the game.

But getting here was a long road. I didn’t just wake up one day and start going out and interviewing people and covering games.

When I was growing up, I was shy. I wouldn’t have talked to you, whether I knew you or not. But when I decided this was the field I wanted to go into, that had to change. 

My parents helped me secure a job working with Faulkner university in Montgomery, in their athletic department where I started to break out of my shell. It was a step in the right direction.

I began working with their radio broadcasts of the football and basketball games, but I didn't do play by play. Doug Amos did play by play, but he gave me the chance to be the halftime show host.

So, I recapped the game, interviewed a guest about an event occurring around campus, and went over the stats from the first half, then tossed it back to him and I was out of there.

But that was radio. No one had to see me. 

I wanted to be on tv though. That took another BIG step.

I got the opportunity to help out with their weekly television show and worked my way up to doing on camera interviews. 

But when I came down to troy, it was totally different. 

Here there was a news station. Cameras, lights, telepromter, studios, newsrooms, editing systems. 

Not just one camera, one tripod, and two collapsible directors chairs.

Little bit of an upgrade, also, a little bit intimidating. But, it was how I wanted to spend my life, around cameras and equipment and the craziness of deadlines. 

But it was all new to me. And took getting used to. 

Which meant practice. 

Sorta like football.

See I guess I’m kind of like that 6th grade kid that’s right on the cusp of being really good. 

Coaches see the potential. They just haven’t had the years of practice, hours in the weight room, training, and studying techniques. 

They’re going to be good, they just haven’t reached their full potential yet.

I’ve only been working with trojanvision for a year and a half, but it has been the most incredible year and half and I've had invaluable experience, and been able to do what I love day in and day out.

I may not be wearing the same equipment and gear as the players, and I think we extablished earlier that's not for me, but I do have my own equipment.

And I still get to be down on the field.

Bobby Valentine

I have some awesome friends. Seriously.

This Red Sox fan is now the proud owner of a Bobby Valentine autograph.

Hunter Robinson and Justin McNelley deserve a shoutout for getting me the autograph after meeting Valentine last night.

Thanks to you two for remembering me!

Definitely a good start to this Wednesday morning!

Help me out!

I am going to be entering a journalism competition on Wednesday and I am trying to decide what package on the football team I am going to submit.

I am thinking about this one on Jimmie Anderson, but there are a lot to choose from and a whole list of my packages is available here.

Take a look and let me know what you think! I want feedback from you!

Joe Paterno

This is one of those moments where you'll remember exactly where you were when you heard the news.

Joe Paterno passed away at the age of 85 today.

I've heard so many saying he died of a broken heart. A terrible tragedy.

Much like when Bear Bryant quit being around football. He too died soon after.

It's a shame it had to end the way it did. I've never given my opinion on the Jerry Sandusky case, and now is certainly not the time, but it's tragic that Joe Pa's legacy will be forever tainted by this situation.

When Bob Ley broke the news on SportsCenter this morning, I was not watching the program but rather listening.

As soon as they came back for the segment, the solemn music was playing and my heart dropped.

I knew immediately Joe Pa had passed away.

I quickly got to the TV to watch the rest of the segment. ESPN went commercial-free for an hour covering every aspect of this story. I haven't had the chance to watch all of it yet, but I'm not too proud to admit, I set my DVR to record the rest of SportsCenter this morning.

One statement that stood out to me was something Mike Ditka said on SportsCenter this morning. He was talking about when Joe Paterno came to visit him before Ditka chose Pittsburgh over Penn State.

He said, "class is the hardest thing to define, but once you see it you never forget it."

A classy man who certainly will not be forgotten anytime soon.

One closing thought from the mouth of Joe Paterno himself.

"Losing a game is heartbreaking. Losing your sense of excellence or worth is a tragedy."

And so is his death.

A rough season

This NFL season was tough for me.

Maybe I should've...hoped the lockout would continue.

Maybe I should've...disguised myself as another team's fan.

Maybe I should've...gone with the other brother.

That's right. I'm a Colts fan, and a Peyton Manning fan.

Now you see why this year was tough.

But it's not too late for me to go with the other brother. I mean, Eli's still in the playoffs, and I'll be cheering for him today against the 49ers. But Tom Brady and the Patriots are still in, and I can't stand the Patriots.

So what's a girl to do?

It's simple. Break out the Colts gear.

That's right. 2-14? Doesn't matter. I don't own Ravens gear, and I'm not a Baltimore fan, but I'm a fan of whoever stands in the Patriots way of getting to the SuperBowl.

I'm hoping the Ravens stop Brady, and in my attempt to show my support, I'll be sporting my Colts gear.

I might even wear my Manning jersey. Besides, wouldn't that cover cheering for the Ravens and the Giants since brother Eli is a New Yorker?

I even think I have a legitimate reason to cheer for the G-men. There are three former Troy Trojans on the team, and what kind of fan would I be if I didn't want the best for them, right?

I'm hoping for a Ravens v. Giants SuperBowl. And I'll be cheering them on.

Besides, how fitting to wear Indianapolis gear, while hoping the Patriots don't make it to Indianapolis.

How I got involved with sports

I'm working on an introductory speech for a class and I felt like to figure out my story, why not share it here? I'll post a copy of my speech when it's finalized too.

Well, growing up I had a few influences in my life that led me to my love for sports.

1. Daddy. My father has been into sports as long as I can remember. He used to work the ticket gates at Auburn games and we'd go in and watch the tail end of games. He would go out in the yard and throw the football with me and taught me how to throw a spiral. He also bought me a basketball goal when I thought I wanted to learn how to play. I still have the basketball goal, but no height. He taught me about sports and continues to share my passion for sports and the dreams I have of covering sports for a living.

2. Obed Ellis. Big brother. Not by blood, but he might as well be. He played for Troy State University and we used to make the trip to Troy to watch him and even went all the way to Marshall to a nasty, rainy game just to see him. He's now a football coach in Wetumpka, Alabama (my hometown) and he got me involved with working with the Wetumpka High School football team my junior and senior year. I went to every game and took stats for the team. That was one thing that sparked me wanting to get involved in sports on a more permanent basis.

3. Beth Lauritson. My childhood best friend. We watched football together nearly every Saturday growing up. We taught ourselves things about the game, went out in the yard and tried to learn how to play, and fell in love with the sport. The first season we really got completely enthralled by the game was the 2004 season, and we were both Auburn fans (good year to pick to really pay attention right?). I remember watching the LSU v. Auburn game, the 10-9 game, and going outside and jumping on the trampoline screaming after Auburn won. Good times.

My senior year of high school, I got the opportunity to work with SportsRadio740, a Cumulus radio station in Montgomery, and Faulkner University's athletic department. Doug Amos gave me the chance to be an "intern" and shadow him in his profession as a sports radio personality and the voice of Faulkner athletics. I was "Danielle the Intern" and got my first chance to get on the airwaves and the television. I filled in for Doug's co-host Josh when he was out of town and had my own segment on the television show Faulkner This Week called the Student Spotlight.

I was also able to get on the field and cover football games during the 2009 season and being on the field made me know more so than ever, this is what I want to do. I filmed the home football games that season and got the opportunity to do the same for basketball that year.

Then I graduated high school and moved to Troy. 

New town, same story? Sort of, but not really.

When I got to Troy, I became involved with Troy TrojanVision, the campus news station. Turns out, there weren't that many people involved with sports. However, I was shy. I didn't want to just jump in as a freshman. So, I didn't do very much reporting, but I did get involved with the weekly sports show Trojan Sports Now, where I became Jonathan Sellers co-anchor and began to write my own scripts and was guaranteed a spot on TV once a week.

When spring semester rolled around, some of the sports reporters had moved on, and there were openings. I was also braver. So, I got involved covering some basketball games and softball when the season started. Including getting the chance to cover a touching story about Morgan Hasty.

When football season rolled around, that's when I jumped head first into reporting. I attended media day to start the season and became the football beat reporter. I got the chance to be on the sidelines for the first game on Larry Blakeney Field and cover the win against Middle Tennessee. I attended each home game and the press conferences each week in preparation for covering that week's match up.

I also got the opportunity to make my high school football sideline reporting debut on the radio with Jonathan Sellers and Buddy Johnson when the high school playoffs rolled around. That was a dream come true. I absolutely loved being able to be on the field and contribute to the broadcast. If I'm lucky enough to join them again next year, I'll be thrilled.

Now, it's basketball season and I'm covering the Troy Trojans each time they're home. And I'm learning more about the game each time (I might know about sports, but football is my main focus, so I'm trying to get caught up on all the others!).

There's nothing better than being down on the field covering football. And in second? Covering any other sport while living out my dream!

Constant change

I'd love to say I know who's coaching where in college football, but that's why I'm making this post. To tell you my thoughts about who went where and to catch myself back up on the coaching changes.

Arkansas State: Gus Malzahn
I've already given some thoughts on this situation in an earlier post, but I feel he will have success with the Red Wolves, though it may take a season or two to get back to the top of the Sun Belt. I'm looking forward to seeing how he does and seeing if he can live up to his promise of making Arkansas State the "Boise State of the South." Those are some big shoes to fill.

Ole Miss: Hugh Freeze

The old Ark State coach had to head somewhere for Malzahn to get the job, and Freeze is moving up to big boy ball after only one season with the Red Wolves (I'm not knocking the Sun Belt, but the SEC is a tough league even just from a coaching position). He'll be replacing Houston Nutt who started off with some success with the Rebels, but after an 0-8 campaign in the SEC this season, it was time to go.  Look for the Rebels to bounce back and at least earn a few SEC victories this season, maybe even some surprises.

Penn State: Bill O'Brien
Change is definitely what this program needed. With Joe Paterno being fired mid-season amid the Jerry Sandusky scandal, anyone coming into this position would face a tough road ahead. That task will be Bill O'Brien's, current Patriots offensive coordinator. He'll be looking to bring the Nittany Lions back to the spotlight for the right reasons, but first he's got to worry about Ray Lewis and the Raven's D.

Ohio State: Urban Meyer
Well, the Gator Bowl didn't work out so well for Urban Meyer's new set of players at Ohio State, but at least he doesn't have to worry about the guys selling their bowl rings. Low blow, I know. I think Meyer will be able to get them back to the top within a few seasons. Of course, he's got to deal with the mess Jim Tressel left behind, but I think he can help this team rise to the top again.

Kansas: Charlie Weis
Referring back to the Gator Bowl, a guy who knew a little bit about the Gators was Charlie Weis, though he won't be worrying about the SEC anymore as he is heading to Kansas to take Turner Gill's job. Weis didn't have much success at Notre Dame (like you needed to be reminded), and I'm not sure he'll be much better this time around. He could prove me wrong, but I'm just not sure.

Texas A&M: Kevin Sumlin
Houston is losing a stud. Former head coach Kevin Sumlin is no longer a Cougar, but will be staying in state and moving into the SEC. The Aggies are making the swap over to the SEC this upcoming season and Sumlin will get his chance to face the big dogs. Houston is replacing him with Tony Levine, who served under Sumlin with the Cougars.

Colorado State: Jim McElwain

Last but not least. He led the Crimson Tide to another national championship and while the offensive side of the ball wasn't the side attracting the most attention, he's still a good coach. I think he'll do a good job out west.


A few other notable mentions are Terry Bowden back at the helm, this time for Akron; Todd Graham leaving Pittsburgh for Arizona State; Pittsburgh replacing Graham with Paul Chryst; and Mike Leach is getting another chance, this time with Washington State.


Too bad it's another seven months till we really see what these guys can do.

Goldstein golden behind the arc

I know I'm a Troy fan, but this story was worth sharing.

The Troy Trojans were unable to overcome a record-setting performance Saturday night by South Alabama's Freddie Goldstein as the Jaguars coasted to a 75-60 victory.

Goldstein banked nine 3-pointers en route to setting a school record. He scored all of South Alabama's 3-pointers and led all scorers in the game with 30 points.

The Trojans, who ranked third in the nation in 3-pointers per game, were 6-for-37 for a mere 16 percent, while Goldstein shot 56 percent from behind the arc.

During the second half, Goldstein scored 13 in a row for the Jaguars, single-handedly leading them on a 9-2 run with 5:56 remaining in the game to put them up 64-52.

Be sure to tune in to TrojanVision Nightly News Tuesday night to hear my report on this game and the rest of the Trojan sports in action over the weekend!

Making it tough on me

As a Troy fan and someone who has grown up as an Auburn fan (both my parents graduated from Auburn so I have legitimate ties to the Tigers) next season will be tough for me. Why?

Arkansas State.

Gus Malzahn, Michael Dyer and Kodi Burns.

Those names ring a bell?

Well, they came from Auburn. Dyer will have to sit out a year since he's transferring, but at any rate, three of the Auburn family will now be Red Wolves.

Where does Troy come into play? It's the Sun Belt. Need I say more?

The Red Wolves beat the Trojans soundly in the final game of Troy's season in 2011, 45-14, to end the Trojans year at 3-9. Next year will hopefully be a better season, and Arkansas State will be traveling to Troy to play on Larry Blakeney Field. Revenge? Tell me it won't be a factor.

For me, I'll be honored just to be on the same field as Malzahn, but I'll have to be pulling against him. That's tough though, cause I've really grown to like him.

Best of the Best

There were some thrillers, some heart-breakers and some surprises during the 2011-2012 bowl season. Here's a look back at what I feel were the top 10 bowl games from this bowl season.


10. Discover Orange Bowl. Orange you glad you didn't pick the Tigers? What a beat down. There are no other words to describe this game. The Mountaineers had complete control of this game en route to 70 points on the night, the most ever in a bowl game. Of course one of the biggest plays, or at least most memorable, was the 99-yard fumble recovery for a Mountaineers touchdown. One of several record-setting bowl games this season.

9.5. Chick-fil-A Bowl. Tigers end season with convincing win in Chick-fil-A Bowl. I would be lying to myself if I didn't include the Auburn game somewhere in my top 10. So, I created a spot for it even if it really doesn't belong, or wouldn't be included in someone else's list. This was one of the most intriguing Auburn games of the season. If the Tigers had managed to play like that more often, could've been a different season, but the same could be said for all 118 teams not playing in the championship game this year (but Les Miles and Nick Saban might say all 120 could be in the mix).


9. Little Caesars Bowl. Purdue wins turnover filled game 37-32, 11 total turnovers. This might be a questionable pick, but this game was crazy to watch. It was sloppy, there's no question, but that added to the excitement of it. When you can have seven turnovers and lose by five, you're hanging tough. That's exactly what Western Michigan did. Despite all the turnovers, they had their opportunities to win the game.


8. R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Last second kick gives La.-Lafayette first bowl win as FBS team. The Ragin Cajuns looked like they had this one under control, but the Aztecs fought back to tie the game after being down as many as 16. The lead San Diego State took was with 35 seconds to go. Seems like that's the only time it'd really matter if you had a lead, right? Too bad no one told La.-Lafayette to lay down. They got down the field with the chance to try a 50-yard field goal as the clock ran out. Up and good.

7. Military Bowl. Failed 2-point conversion ends Air Force's season, Toledo wins 42-41. This was one of those games that I really had no interest in, but when it came down to game time, that changed. This was an entertaining match-up and were it not for a failed 2-point conversion, this could've been another overtime game this bowl season. One interesting note about this game was that Air Force scored three fourth down touchdowns. That's taking a risk right there. Wish the risk had been rewarded though.

6. Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Cowboys are Sharp, field goal in OT gives them their 12th win. I picked Oklahoma State, but I'll admit I was doubting at first. It seemed like the Cardinal had the game in their control, but Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon kept the Cowboys alive and it doesn't matter whether you take the lead in regulation or not (which they failed to do). As long as you can tie and take it to overtime, that's the only time you really need to take the lead. The Cowboys did just that on a Quinn Sharp field goal.

5. Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. Late score by the Cougars seals victory. Hurry up already! The hurry up offense is what saved the day for the Cougars. A fake spike with less than 20 seconds left on the clock gave quarterback Riley Nelson just enough time to convert a 2nd and goal into a touchdown to give them the game-winning score. My favorite offensive line moment was in this game. The crucial block Matt Reynolds laid out after already having lost his helmet. Props to that guy.

4. BCS National Championship. Tide roll over Tigers, first shutout in a BCS bowl. Oh, Alabama. Is it 9 or 14 championships now? Whatever the number, it's certain they had the Tigers number all night long. LSU couldn't do anything against this Bama defense. Congratulations to Nick Saban and the Bama boys. They got it done against the team that no one thought could be beaten, even if Alabama was favored in the game, you get my point. What a way to end bowl season, though the game wasn't the most entertaining to watch.

3. Outback Bowl. Late rally by MSU proves to be enough, game ends on blocked FG in 3OT. I hate that I didn't get to see a snap of this game. What a game. The Bulldogs seemed to have this one under control, but Michigan State made a comeback and sent the game to overtime. And not just one overtime. Not just two. Three OT's and a blocked field goal was all it took for the Spartans to win. No big deal right? It was another exciting game that kept you on the edge of your seat, at least in the fourth quarter and beyond.

2. Rose Bowl. Ducks score 10 unanswered in the fourth to win highest-scoring Rose Bowl. One of the few times when I changed my pick the day of the game and still ended up on the winning side. It looked like the Ducks could have the game secured late in the fourth but a quick drive by Wisconsin ended up leaving them two seconds on the clock. However, that's not enough time to spike the ball. It's a shame. The game could've ended differently, but I'm happy with the winner, and the fact that it came down to the wire put it near the top of my list.

1. Alamo Bowl. Bears shred Huskies for 777 yards in record-shattering Alamo Bowl. The best for last. My favorite. RG3. So maybe it wasn't the most well-played game. Maybe it didn't have any defense at all, but you know what? I loved it. I watched every minute and I was so drawn in by the competitiveness. Sure, the defenses couldn't seem to stop anything, but it was exciting. I enjoyed it, and I enjoyed even more getting to watch RG3 go out with a win. There were a combined 1,397 yards racked up in the game, 17 touchdowns scored and 123 points scored. Remember the Alamo Bowl.

Don't like my picks? Think they should've been different? Comment and let me know!

2012 National Champions are..

The Alabama Crimson Tide.

The world didn't end but it seemed like the LSU Tigers' world, or at the very least their perfect season, was crashing down around them.

It wasn't an offensive battle, but the lack of success for the Tigers offense made the Alabama unit look more impressive. The Alabama defense though (to no real surprise) stole the show. They held LSU to less than 100 yards for the entire game. This was the first BCS bowl to post a shutout, and the Tide did it in convincing fashion.

Early in the second quarter with a 3-0 lead, the Crimson Tide kicker Jeremy Shelley had a 42-yard field goal attempt blocked. That momentarily seemed like it could prove to be a momentum shift. However, the Tigers were unable to get another first down before the half. LSU only had four plays in Alabama territory all night. Shelley was 5/7 on field goals and missed the only extra point attempt he had off the upright. That extra point try came after a Trent Richardson 34 yard rushing touchdown with 4:36 left in the game. As if the game wasn't decided at that point, the touchdown sealed the deal.

Could I have been any further off with my pre-game analysis?

• I said it wouldn't be a field goal battle. Until that last touchdown inside of five minutes to go, I was eating my words.

• I said Richardson would have more of an impact. He had 89 yards in the first game and 96 this time around. I don't think 7 yards counts as having a tremendously larger impact, though he did play a big role in getting some key blocks, so there may still be some redemption for me.

• "Look for Mathieu to shine." Ha. I was completely wrong about that one. He didn't even seem to be in the game toward the end. I've heard of the Heisman hangover for a winner, but not just a finalist.

• Finally, I had LSU winning. Hard to do when you don't score.

 So, college football season is officially over. Another one is in the books. And what a season it was.

A year later!

Last season I had to pleasure of attending the national championship game between Auburn and Oregon with my parents. It was a wonderful family experience, and there is absolutely nothing that can match the feeling of watching your team win a national championship. If you ever get the chance, you better go. It’s worth the money.

Our flight was scheduled to leave at 8 a.m. but an ice storm delayed our flight. We were lucky because it was a charter flight. Some people who were flying commercial didn't even get the chance to make it out there.We made it out to Arizona by about 3 and were able to roam the pre-game festivities before making our way in the stadium.

My dad had what could've been the most popular sign in Glendale. There were so many people stopping to take pictures with him. He was a famous man.

That trip held a lot of first’s for me. First time in an airport, first time sleeping in an airport, first time on a plane, first time in Arizona, and the first time I’d been to a bowl game. The venue wasn’t the best (University of Phoenix Stadium, it was just a complicated situation trying to get all the thousands of people there in the stadium through one gate) but the game was spectacular. It was a close and at times scary game but I honestly wouldn’t have had it any other way. That really did make it that much sweeter when that kick sailed through the uprights and the game-winning points were put on the scoreboard.

It was an amazing time, and I’m proud I can say I was there.

BCS National Championship Game

Apparently once wasn't good enough. Do I really even need to put who's playing?

Preview: LSU v. Alabama
The rematch. The game that will end the SEC's dominance, yet let it continue. The irony. Two coaches who have tons of supporters and a lot of haters as well. Two teams that met for the Game of the Century just over two months ago. Can the world handle the Rematch of the Century? It is 2012, and the world could end according to the Mayans, so I guess if there's a blog post up tomorrow reviewing the game, we'll know we made it.

First time around it was a defensive struggle. This time? I don't think it will be another field goal battle. LSU beat every team they faced this season by at least thirteen, not counting the first game against the Crimson Tide. The last five times these teams have faced each other the difference at the end of the game has been nine points or less. That might point in the Crimson Tide's favor.

Alabama has the top ranked defense in the country and has plenty of stars on that side of the ball, but on offense it was Trent Richardson who attracted the most attention and rightly so. His numbers prove he was a worthy Heisman finalist. LSU held him to just 89 yards the first time these two teams met, but look for him to have more of an impact tonight.

So far I've been all about Alabama, but in the words of Lee Corso, not so fast.

LSU may not have the top ranked defense in the nation, but they do hold the second spot. They are the first team ever to have two first-team All-American cornerbacks in a season in Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne. Mathieu isn't just a threat on defense. He might be more intimidating as a return specialist. Another thing to keep in mind? He'll be returning home to New Orleans. Look for him to shine in the hometown spotlight tonight.

There are tons of names to watch for in this game as far as guys that could play a big role. Jordan Jefferson. A.J. McCarron. Trent Richardson. Tyrann Mathieu. Courtney Upshaw. Dont'a Hightower. Marquis Maze. Rueben Randle. Point proven?

This game has the potential to be almost anything. I doubt it will be an offensive showdown, but with the way this bowl season has been, I won't be surprised by anything. I do expect the LSU Tigers to finish their season undefeated. Geaux Tigers.

One month later

Well, I've been an official blogger since Dec. 9th, and now here we are Jan. 9th, and bowl season ends tonight. But we'll get into that later. In fact, that deserves it's own post.

Review: NORTHERN ILLINOIS 38 Arkansas State 20 X
Arkansas State jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter, only to let Northern Illinois come back and score 31 unanswered, leaving the Red Wolves in a big hole. After the opening drive of the game where Arizona State kicked a field goal, the Huskies lined up to receive the kickoff, but the returner apparently touched the ball and it went deep in the endzone. The return man proceeded to pick it up, attempt to return it and get knocked down short of leaving the endzone. Isn't that a safety? It wasn't in this game. Would two points have really changed the outcome? Probably not. The first few minutes out of halftime were pretty entertaining and the Red Wolves looked to be getting something done as Chaz Scales intercepted the ball, giving Arkansas State the ball and momentum. That didn't last long however as three plays later, the Huskies were the ones with an interception, and on their ensuing drive it only took one play for 43 yards and six points were up on the board.

Playoffs?

I'm personally a huge college football fan and bowl season was special and had some pretty exciting, entertaining games, but the NFL playoffs have had their share of excitement so far as well.

First up was Wildcard weekend.

Saturday: The Texans won easily against the Bengals and the Saints handled the Lions in the dome. The Texans got their first ever playoff win and are moving on to face the Ravens. The Saints rebounded from tough first round loss to the Seahawks from last season. The Saints are only two years removed from a Superbowl and they might have a shot to get back, but first up they'll have to go through Candlestick park and the San Fransisco 49ers. Let's hope the light's stay on this time. 

Sunday: The first game of the day was a blowout. The Giants ran over, under and around the Falcons. A team that had been shouldered by quarterback Eli Manning got a good effort from their defense and held the Falcons to a scoreless outing. I mean, technically Atlanta didn't score those two points, Manning did. At any rate, 24-2 is pretty ugly. The Giants will get the chance to put their defense to the test against one of the league's best in Aaron Rodgers in their next outing as they travel to take on the Packers. And of course, the thriller of the weekend, Tebow. That's all that needs to be said. The Broncos had a 20 point second quarter and took the game away from the Steelers. It took overtime, but just barely. Next up the Broncos will leave the Mile-high city (which I'm sure is more than mile high about this victory) to take on the Patriots in Foxboro. Will the Tebow time magic last? It'll be worth watching to see.

Who's got the best shot to make a run in the playoffs? I'll say New Orleans v. Green Bay for the NFC and New England v. Baltimore for the AFC. I'll check back in with these picks next week and see how it's turned out.

Tebow Time

A phenomenon that's occurred several times this season, but none more dramatically than in Tim Tebow's first playoff appearance. Tebow time was accurately described by Adam Schefter on Twitter, "Tebowtime trumped overtime."

There's no question that was the case as the announcers explaining the new rules for overtime didn't even get the chance to finish the explanation before Tebow completed a pass over the middle to Demaryius Thomas who took it 80 yards to the house. Because of that, Tebow and the Bronco's didn't have to pack up and go to the house for the rest of the offseason. They're still playing. The Steelers on the other hand are not as lucky.

Tebow was at his best when it mattered, but the rest of the game wasn't outstanding. Take away the 80 yard reception in overtime and you've got a guy who racked up all but about 50 yards in the Broncos 20-point second quarter. 50 yards in three quarters? Who cares? Does it really even matter?

Tebow's next feat will be facing the Patriots in Foxboro. Not an easy task, but then again, did you really think they would beat the Steelers?

Congrats Tebow. You deserve it.