The Bengals were on the road last night and their All Pro kicker Shayne Graham tweaks his groin so as a precaution they sit him the rest of the game without another kicker on the roster. What would you do if you were head coach Marvin Lewis in that position? Well, you would ask Chad Ochocinco to kick the extra point, DUH. Check out this video of Chad booting the extra point through the uprights in an impressive manner and ultimately winning the game for the Bungles against the Patriots. He also kicked off to begin the second half and came very close to the 10-yard line. I got a strong feeling we will hear some chatter from Ocho on this latest feat.
Poor Charleston Southern
August 19, 2009 by
Danny Sheridan of USA Today has made Charleston Southern a 73-POINT underdog against the mighty Florida Gators in the first week of the pending college football season. The staggering line is believed to be the biggest point spread in college football history. Vegas doesn’t normally post lines for FBS (1-A) versus FCS (1-AA) schools because the teams just aren’t on level playing fields. FBS schools are able to keep 85 players on scholarship while FCS teams are only able to have 63 scholarship players. Yet it is a common theme for FBS teams to include one of these games on their schedule so they can embarrass the weaker teams.
Since the NCAA created the separate divisions a little over 30 years ago there have only been five FBS that haven’t played a FCS opponent. These reputable teams are UCLA, USC, Washington, Notre Dame and Michigan State. That being Michigan State will no longer be on this list after the first week of this season after their home game against Montana State. I can only hope the other four hold strong because I respect them and others should as well.
Florida is the king of scheduling early creampuff games and shows no shame in doing so because they aren’t penalized in the end. Not only do they schedule early creampuffs they cater their entire nonconference schedule to their favor in egregious fashion. The Gators haven’t played an out-of-state regular season nonconference game since 1991 and it has even been longer since they last played a regular season game west of the Mississippi considering they haven’t done so since 1983. Charleston Southern, Florida International, Citadel, Florida Atlantic, Western Kentucky, Western Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, Eastern Michigan and Florida A&M are some recent examples of the cupcake competitors the Gators chose to chomp.
In the end this is the state of college football and I’m not going to lose sleep over it because it isn’t going to change. Now, on to more in important things and something we can control. Who is going to take the Charleston Southern Buccaneers +73?
Paulus Is a Quarterback
August 18, 2009 by
Many of you have already heard that Syracuse University’s new head football coach Doug Marrone announced late Monday night that former Duke point guard Greg Paulus will begin his “one and done” season at Syracuse as it’s starting quarterback.
Surprised??
You shouldn’t be. Really, this should come as no surprise to anyone.
I have to admit that I was not too fond of the idea when I first heard that Paulus was coming to Syracuse. And I was not sure how I felt about him getting the starting job. I think that the ‘Cuse nation is about 60%-40% on the whole deal; most are taking a wait and see attitude. That’s what several years of dismal performances will do to a fan. (I think fans are more upset by the fact that Syracuse’s AD Daryl Gross has decided to ship off 3 of its marquee games to be played at the new Meadowlands, but more on that another time.)
But no one should be surprised.
After a day of quiet reflection on the golf course today, I am now a BIG fan of this move by Syracuse and the powers that be. Call it a pure publicity event if you want, but the fact is its working. Syracuse is all over every news outlet. It was even on CNN.
It has Big East coach’s spewing out bulletin board material left and right.
– BE coach on Paulus: “Won’t be easy for him to read zones and pick up blitzes.”
– BE coach on Paulus: “Wonder how much fans in the seats have to do with this.”
– BE coach on Paulus: “I wish we were opening with Syracuse.”
This is a storied program that not more than 4 months ago needed some major upsets to even get a mention in the Podunk Times. Now Syracuse is getting play everywhere you turn.
Depending on what the team and the staff actually do with it is yet to be seen. This could turn out to be the story of the season. It won’t take long to find out as Syracuse takes on Minnesota, #8 Penn State and Northwestern in its first three games.
But at least for now Syracuse is in the spotlight and recruits all over the country are seeing it. That can’t be bad for business, especially when you are in the business of rebuilding a program.
Oh yea, and let’s not forget.
That 5th year graduate student that just took over the starting quarterback position at Syracuse… 4 years ago he could have played for Notre Dame, Miami or a host of other schools that he could have picked from. Instead he decided to play basketball for one of the premier programs run by one of the premier coaches in America.
It’s not like he’s been sitting on a porch belching for the last four years.
The Fatttest Football Coaches
August 18, 2009 by
The top ten list of the largest most rotund coaches past or present from the NFL and college.
Number 10 Butterball – Mike Holmgren
Number 9 Blimp – Phil Fulmer
Number 8 Potbelly – Art Shell
Number 7 Chunk – Bill Parcells
Number 6 Plump – Romeo Crennel
Number 5 Lard – Andy Reid
Number 4 Gargantuan – Charlie Weis
Number 3 Roly-poly – Tom Amstutz
Number 2 Jabba the Hut – Ralph Friedgen
Number 1 Whale – Mark Mangino
Dancing with the Stars Feeling Sporty
August 17, 2009 by
ABC’s television show sensation “Dancing with the Stars” has released their list of contestants for this year’s show and there seems to be even more athletes than normal this time around. Michael Irvin is the most famous of the athletes and looks to fall in the foot steps of former Cowboy teammate Emmitt Smith who won the show a couple of years back. Other athletes that will compete on the show include Louie Vito a professional snowboarder, former UFC champ Chuck Liddell and another Olympic star in swimmer Natalie Coughlin. Other contestants include singer Aaron Carter, actor Mark Dacascos, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, singer Macy Gray, actor Ashley Hamilton, actress Melissa Joan Hart, model Kathy Ireland, actress Debi Mazar, singer Mya, reality star Kelly Osbourne and singer Donnie Osmond. This is all good and well, but in the end I didn’t plan on watching the show until I also heard our friend Joanna Krupa will also be on the show. I wonder if she will end up blessing out her partner on “Dancing with the Stars” like she previously did to Terrell Owens on “The Superstars”?
ACC is Now a Football Conference
August 14, 2009 by
Surprise Team
Maryland – The ‘08 season started out with the Terps losing to Delaware, but then 2 weeks later defeating Cal. This team was a Jekyll and Hyde winning games they shouldn’t have and losing those they were supposed to win. 2009 promises big time talent due to the recruiting of Ralph Friedgen and friends. Also, Maryland is returning on offense a sophomore playmaker in receiver Torrey Smith who will be taking over for the #7 pick in the NFL Draft Darrius Heyward-Bey. Smith is not as fast, but a more complete receiver overall. Junior running back Da’Rel Scott is back and the 2nd leading ACC rusher has his sights set on back to back first team All ACC. On the defensive side of the ball the new coordinator Don Brown will scheme a ton of blitzes using linebackers Adrian Moten and Demetrius Hartsfield. Maryland’s schedule is pretty easy once they go to Cal for the opening weekend and try to stop the best running back in the nation Jhavid Best. Next comes James Madison, Middle Tennessee State, Rutgers and Clemson all at home before playing at suspect Wake Forest then home against Virginia in a payback game and then to Duke. Could it be that Maryland will be 8-0 when they visit the ACC Sleeper NC State on November 7th?
Disappointing Team
Virginia Tech – Very tough schedule as usual and the loss of Orange Bowl MVP running back Darren Evans is a death blow. Evans was the only running back that had any real game experience so they will have to lean on their defense even more than usual.
Game of the Year
Virginia Tech vs. Alabama in Atlanta. The Chick-fil-A College Kickoff opener isn’t just about Virginia Tech getting off to a good start to their season. The reputation of the ACC to an extent is involved with the outcome of this game. If Virginia Tech could somehow pull off the upset then the ACC would have a top five team and a nice win over a very good SEC team. The ACC can’t afford to have another embarrassing loss like Clemson suffered in this same game last year against Alabama or the blowout Georgia Tech suffered to LSU in the Peach Bowl.
Wagering history
Maryland is 7-4 SU but 1-7 ATS first month of the season last 3 seasons
V Tech last 3 seasons 9-1 SU & ATS on the road against non conf
Miami is on an 11-3 SU & 10-2 ATS run on road when total is 45-49
NC St is on an 11-3 ATS run vs. winning teams
Prediction
Don’t give the BCS berth just yet to Virginia Tech even though most of the media are predicting them to win. Georgia Tech and their wishbone offense is will be much better this year and coach Paul Johnson is a winner. Miami and Florida State are definitely not back to their former powerhouse programs and even though UNC is on the rise they aren’t a top 25 team in the end. So who will win the ACC this year? I am going with NC State and this isn’t a biased selection. That’s right, eight home games and two early tough non-conference foes in South Carolina and Pitt will prepare the Pack for ACC play. The Pack only have four away games and they don’t even start until October 3rd when they drive ninety miles to face a weak Wake Forest team and then back home against Duke. NC State can potentially be 6-0 when they travel to play BC with a new coach and system before they get a week off before heading to Florida St. They do have to play at Virginia Tech in late November which will be very tough to win, but in the end they will make the Championship game.
Russell Wilson an All ACC quarterback is back with another year under his belt and a slew of returning players on both sides so I can see 9-3 record and an ACC BCS crown!
Is the Big East Underrated?
August 11, 2009 by
The Big East went through a tough season last year to say the least, but let’s not forget this conference won consecutive BCS games the three previous years. The glaring issue right now is West Virginia isn’t the annual national title contender they were for so many years under Rich Rodriguez and no other Big East team seems ready to step up. That being said, almost every team in the conference this year truly feels they have a chance to win the Big East and cash in on the large BCS payout.
Cincinnati would love to repeat as champions, but they lost a crippling 10 defensive starters from last year’s Orange Bowl team. Quarterback Tony Pike leads a high profile offense under head coach Brian Kelly, but I’m not so sure they can recover from their defensive issues. Rutgers has had great success under coach Schiano in recent years even if they haven’t made the most impressive bowl games. Rutgers has a workable schedule with Pittsburgh, South Florida and West Virginia coming to town so keep an eye on the Scarlet Knights.
South Florida has made big strides in recent years and in 2009 might be the year they put it all together. Star quarterback Matt Grothe is in his senior year and the defense is quite talented as usual. UConn under Randy Edsall continues to focus on getting the best quality of player they can sign and then coach them up to a whole new level. Four players were drafted on the first of the NFL Draft last year which is very impressive for a school that just a few years ago stunk up the football field. Connecticut will still be solid on the defensive side of the ball and you can rest assured they will continue to focus on the rushing game.
Pittsburgh has been picked by many to win the Big East this year based on a fantastic defense along with a good special teams. The big question is how do the Panthers recover from the loss of RB LeSean McCoy in order to generate some semblance of an offense. If they can score a reasonable amount of points then they can win the Big East.
Syracuse and Louisville are the two teams who aren’t in contention this year. There isn’t really much more to say about either team other than the fact Syracuse has former Duke basketball point guard vying for the starting position at quarterback.
Below is a short list of players to keep your eyes on this year in the Big East
LB Reed Williams, Sr. West Virginia
DE George Selvie, Sr. South Florida
WR Mardy Gilyard, Sr. Cincinnati
DE Greg Romeus, Jr. Pittsburgh
QB Matt Grothe, Sr. South Florida
DT Arthur Jones, Sr. Syracuse
RB Noel Devine, Jr. West Virginia
LB Scott Lutrus, Jr. Connecticut
RB Victor Anderson, Soph. Louisville
LB Ryan D’Imperio, Sr. Rutgers
Suprise Team
South Florida – The Bulls have become a more prominent team in recent years, but this could be the one when they get over the hump. A lot of the pressure will ride on the arm and legs of Matt Grothe because you can count on their defense being solid.
Disappointing Team
West Virginia – Mr. Everything quarterback Pat White is long gone and coach Bill Stewart pales in comparison to former head coach Rich Rodriguez. Take these two factors in conjunction with an offensive line overhaul and you have a recipe for disaster.
Game of the Year
South Florida at Pittsburgh. This year is really wide open in the Big East, but this game could be the deciding factor in who wins the conference crown. Look for this game to be a defensive brawl and don’t forget the 26-21 victory Pittsburgh pulled out last year in South Florida
The Snuggie Goes NFL
August 11, 2009 by
I guess it was only a matter of time before a company or organization jumped on the Snuggie craze and who better than the Home Shopping Network to capitalize. HSN has created their version of the Snuggie for professional football and it’s named the NFL Huddler. I would like to warn family and friends right now that there is a strong possibility you will be receiving a NFL Huddler this year from yours truly.
Beano Cook Means College Football is Back!
August 10, 2009 by
The first college football games are now just 24 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes away so you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that Beano Cook has awaken from his 8 month slumber.
No he hasn’t already called a Notre Dame player to win the Heisman Trophy nor has he picked Penn State or Pitt to win the BCS Championship, but what he has done is get out of bed (or coffin) so now the whole world is back on track.
Just the fact you can here his voice and then Beano provides a few quips and that can only mean it’s close to the best time of the year and the yearning for football is coming to a peak.
If this doesn’t get you going then remember these immortal words of Beano Cook to get your football jones kicking.
“You only have to bat a thousand at two things; flying and heart transplants. Everything else you can go 4 for 5”
24 days, 5 hours, 45 minutes till kick off….
Titans Fake Punt Video
August 10, 2009 by
If you didn’t get a chance to watch the opener of the NFL preseason last night then you missed an outstanding play from the Tennesse Titans punter. Yes, I said the Titans punter! Former Buckeye AJ Trapasso pulled off a stellar fake punt last night in the Hall of Game by going behind his back with the football and ending up with Trapasso entering the end-zone for a Titans touchdown. Tennessee beat the Buffalo Bills 21-18 in large part due to Trapasso’s fake punt early on in the first quarter of the game.