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The Fastest Players in College Football
6/1/2009 5:18:52 PM
The Heisman Pundit put together a list of college football's fastest players. Besides the obvious Jeff Demps and Trindan Holliday, we see one of our favorites Jeshua Anderson. Also, Robert Griffin makes the list as a quarterback; scary. |
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Big XII Releases Kickoff Times
6/1/2009 10:06:18 AM
Can't Wait for Fall
Some of the highlights:
Saturday, September 5
Georgia at Oklahoma State ABC 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 12
Houston at Oklahoma State FSN 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 19
Tulsa at Oklahoma FSN 2:30 p.m.
Texas Tech at Texas ABC 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 26
Texas Tech at Houston ESPN2 8:15 p.m.
Saturday, October 17
Oklahoma vs. Texas (Dallas) ABC 11:00 a.m.
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Memorable Quotes from the SEC Coaches Meetings
5/28/2009 11:42:47 AM
The Birmingham News has a list of some of the funniest quotes from the SEC meetings this week.
My favorite...
"I personally have no problem with that (Nick Saban using former Virginia offensive coordinator Mike Groh as a graduate assistant). If he wants to go and take classes, more power to him. I think there are some people who do have problems with that, particularly in the higher level of the conference." - Rich Brooks
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Can we get Tommy Smyth to broadcast college football?
5/27/2009 8:40:55 AM
I would love to see the futbol guru in Tuscaloosa on a Saturday night.
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Random Musings from Around the Net
5/26/2009 4:56:45 PM
I'm not trying to go all ESPN.com with the random links. But I found these stories to be entertaining and but non-fantasy related. So I'm chucking them on the B-Side.
- Harvin wishes he was Tebow: "Some of the stuff and some of the girls and things that were thrown at him. We saw all kind of actors and news reporters just kind of blatantly say, "Tebow, I want you." And he turned them down. I'm looking at him, like, "Man, you are crazy.""
Apparently Tebow is a fantasy quarterback on many levels (insert rim shot here).
- Kiffin waiting on apology from Urban Meyer: "When asked if he planned to apologize to Urban Meyer in person for accusing the Florida coach of cheating, Kiffin said he was still waiting for an apology from USC coach Steve Spurrier – for questioning whether Kiffin had taken the NCAA recruiting test after Kiffin was hired (a question that took on more relevance as Kiffin tripped over recruiting rules)."
- Was Meyer the socially awkward kid in school?: "Several minutes later, Meyer met briefly with the media and clearly wasn't thrilled with having to sit in the same room for several hours with Kiffin or any of the coaches he goes head-to-head with on the field and the recruiting trail."
- One more Kiffin/SEC coaching meeting link
- NCAA delays decision on Bowden's wins...Looks like Bowden is going to have to wait to see if he gets his precious victories back. I'm still waiting for Bowden to loss it and go all Mel Gibson and yells "Gimme back my Wins!"
- Do you like history? Check out the Pig Skin History blog for a look at back at some old school games. It should help ease the pain this summer.
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CFFinsider Bracket Challenge Winner
5/6/2009 7:03:46 AM
Our first CFFinsider Bracket Challenge was a huge success with a maxed out Yahoo! pool of 500 participants, all vying for the coveted Arm Chair Big Man trophy from FantasyTrophies.com and a $100 gift certificate from Buffalo Wild Wings.
The winner just so happened to be Spartan fan (a man after our own heart). The resemblance is striking isn't it?
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Charlie Weis the Executive
4/26/2009 6:44:37 PM
Charlie Weis spent part of Notre Dame's spring game from the comforts of an office chair. "I don't have any pain," Weis said about his surgically repaired knee. "I just don't have any stamina."
The question is, is he ordering take out or calling plays?
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Is Spring Practice Over Yet?
4/17/2009 8:30:03 PM
You can tell it is spring. The slightest hint of a story leads to a media feeding frenzy. In all fairness, we are not immune to this. We get giddy over new names making waves in spring practice. And sometimes we become so attached to those names that we simply can't let go (see Mario Fannin and Jacoby Ford).
A few stories that have taken on a life of their own this spring: Emmanuel Sanders giving up his WR duties and moving to CB permanently...Michigan State going all Paul Johnson and installing the option...People crying "whoa is me" for all the Gators' injuries this spring. The giddiness of breaking a story often clouds common sense.
Our most recent example is the Greg Paulus to Michigan story. Could he end up at Michigan? I'll never say never, anything can happen. But I will say it is highly unlikely. The better question is will he ever see a snap anywhere, at any time, at any position, at a FBS school in 2009? Not unless someone is truly desperate.
Top prep quarterback four years ago or not, if this young man hadn't spent the past four years flopping in Durham it'd be a non-story. Heck, David Cutcliffe didn't want him to suit up...and he's the coach at ummmm...DUKE!
Of course Ohio State fans everywhere are dusting off their video editing skills just in case...
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Cost of Watching College Football
4/11/2009 2:01:20 PM
The Oregonian |
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JOIN the CFFinsider Bracket Challenge!
2/26/2009 8:20:21 PM
***League Manger UPDATED***
It's free to join and couldn't be easier. Just sign up, fill out your NCAA tournament bracket and let CBS's Bracket Manager do the rest. The winner will receive the ultimate bragging rights and a personally engraved "Armchair Bigman" championship trophy from FantasyTrophies.com. Over a $300 value!
Sign up at Yahoo.com **LINK UPDATED**
League ID: 62023
League Name: cffinsider
Problems signing up? Email us at admin@cffinsider.com
Armchair Bigman |
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From high school to the CFL?
2/4/2009 12:23:02 PM
WICHITA, Kan. – The top-ranked player in last year’s high school basketball class, Brandon Jennings, skipped college to play professionally overseas. Could the same thing happen in football?
Keep reading...
If not Brown then somebody may do it soon.
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What are you going to do this Saturday?
1/9/2009 1:15:34 PM
I posed this question to Brian earlier in the week. I suppose I could make up for the lost family hours or watch NFL football (joy)...but Brian's solution to my (our) dilemma made me chuckle.
The Russian National Ballet Music Hall Center
Detroit, MI Sat, 01/10/09 08:00 PM
Drink vodka at the tailgate while wearing this:
Make sure you stand up at key moments of the ballet to piss off women behind you. Leave before the performance is over to have more vodka at the tailgate. Football is merely the excuse. Booze is the reason.
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Mountain Momma deserves some love
12/27/2008 10:35:54 PM
Love them or hate them, those Mountaineers know how to win bowl games. As Pat White so eloquently put it "once a Mountaineer, always a Mountaineer". Maybe he's downplaying his importance in WVU's recent four-game bowl winning streak, but I'll give him some credit. I'll also give some credit to the coaching staff. They always have the guys playing loose come bowl-time. Rich Rod got them over UGA, which was a signature win in Atlanta, but Bill Stewart has kept that bowl magic going for the last two years, with wins over Oklahoma and North Carolina. I'll be the guy to say that Stewart is on to something; I think he'll keep his program going in the post-White years to come. Kudos to WVU. |
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Nick Saban sends a mesage to Bama fans
11/15/2008 6:58:53 PM
If you're listening at work or in the presence of little people be wary of a bad word at the 45 second mark.
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Official makes hit of the game
10/19/2008 5:30:37 PM
Refs being unable to get out of the way of rumbling running backs or streaking receivers has always been apart of the game. Never before have I seen a ref lay a lick on a player like the one laid in Saturday night's LSU-South Carolina game.
Wilbur Hackett obviously had some sort of Al Bundy flashback and momentarily thought he was a LSU linebacker when he drilled South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia.
Not only does he have perfect contain, he squares his shoulders, delivers a blow and then hovers over Garcia for a moment admiring his hit. The only thing missing from this great stick was a fist pump or point up the sky.
We are still working to confirm if Les Miles will be sending him a helmet sticker.
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Start or Sit Look back
10/9/2008 5:59:25 PM
Last week:
Quarterback Starts: 19.32 points
Quarterback Sits: 12.88 points
Running Back Starts: 12.40 points
Running Back Sits: 15.53 points
My boy Antone Smith killed me. Banking on the lack of consistency that has plagued his career, Smith went out and put up a career day. Of course, Ryan Mathews sitting one out certainly didn't help the start average.
Wide Receiver Starts: 9.14 points
Wide Receiver Sits: 2.66 points
For this week, check out the podcast for my start and sit specials, as I attempt to TOTALLY REDEEM MYSELF
Real Quick...Heisman Insider
1. Chase Daniel: His to lose
2. Sam Bradford: This week provides a real chance
3. Colt McCoy: See Bradford
4. Donald Brown: Hanging around
5. Mark Sanchez: Stay healthy and let everyone else lose
6. Jeremy Maclin: Needs an explosion
7. Max Hall: Keep rolling
8. Knowshon Moreno: Not done just yet
9. Javon Ringer: Slip sliding away
10. Daryll Clark: Keep winning baby |
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Week 6 Fantasy Games
10/2/2008 2:50:19 PM
A couple interesting fantasy match ups that you could witness this weekend if you've got the right combination of television packages. And I'm sick of seeing the Dan Hawkins tribute here.
Oregon State at Utah, 9:00 PM, Vs. -- Might not be high scoring, but how will Quizz do on the road?
Indiana at Minnesota, 12:00 PM, Big Ten Network -- This should be a fun game.
Oklahoma at Baylor, 12:30 PM, Fox College Sports Central -- Ok, so the Sooners should win handily, but maybe, just maybe Mr. Griffin will have something to say!
Texas Tech at Kansas State, 3:30 PM, ABC -- Both teams like to pass, a lot.
Rice at Tulsa, 8:00 PM, CBS CSTV -- Self explanatory.
Missouri at Nebraska, 9:00 PM, ESPN -- I'm looking for Nebraska to show up. That means decent fantasy numbers for Ganz and Lucky. |
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Dan Hawkins Tribute
9/18/2008 10:09:35 PM
In tribute to Colorado's victory over West Virginia Thursday night, we bring this one out of the archives. Who wouldn't run through a wall for this guy?
Link to Audio
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Moreno Goes all McGuffie on the Chips
9/8/2008 5:37:58 PM
Knowshon Moreno did his best Sam McGuffie impersonation hurdling over a Chippewa defender last Saturday. I'm pretty sure Mark Richt will tell Moreno to never do that again...at least not against a MAC school.
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Any good games this weekend?
9/5/2008 7:47:09 AM
I'm hearing everywhere that there aren't any good college football games this weekend. So I took a look at the TV schedule to figure out what games are interesting.
Admittedly, most of the noon games will be snoozers, but once 3:30 rolls around we should have some interesting viewing.
12:00 Georgia Tech/Boston College should be a low-scoring affair, but an interesting match up. Can Tech's new offense move on BC's traditionally tough defense?
3:30 Cinci/Oklahoma, Ole Miss/Wake, Oregon State/PSU, heck even CMU/Georgia.
4:30 ECU/WVU Is ECU for real?
7:30 Minn/BG on ESPNU should be a good fantasy matchup
8:00 Miami/Florida we still have to watch right?
10:00 Stanford/ASU could be a worse nightcap.
12:00 Weber State/Hawaii fantasy fan special.
Ok, it's not the best slate, but I'll be watching. |
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Ask the Insider Roundup Week 1
8/26/2008 5:11:43 AM
One thing is perfectly clear to me as I go through the ATI questions this week. Most of the people on this site really know and are really passionate about college fantasy football. I'm afraid I sound like a broken record when rating squads because there are a lot of good, solid teams out there. I'm hoping that the readers of this site have an edge and it's not due to our poor rankings.
*There are a lot of WR questions that put a proven veteran against the potential of a newcomer. In general, I'll recommend the guy that scored 10 touchdowns last season over a highly-regarded freshman. Sometimes we underestimate the difficulty of the transition at the receiver position.
*Colin Kaepernick is officially a good start now that he has been named the starter at Nevada. I've been a little hesitant about recommending him, but yesterday's news is a relief. I would start Kaepernick over say Kellen Moore of Boise State.
*I'm not high on Jake Locker this week, but some of our readers are. I'm not going to root against the guy, but this could be real ugly for me if Locker has a big game.
*I like both Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt of Rutgers this week against Fresno State.
*We'll be watching to see how Kyle Halderman is used for Air Force in week 1.
*A lot of people are counting on Detron Lewis of Texas Tech to be a regular in their wide receiver rotations. I sure hope he pans out like we expect.
*Shannon Woods is expected to get one-third of the snaps for Texas Tech. If he doesn't get hot in the first two or three weeks, it might be time to cut him loose, even in PPR leagues.
*Mike Ford is on a lot of people's minds. He should get his in the first week, but we'll have to keep an eye on his carries.
*I think an SEC recruiting battle is breaking out over running back recruit Trent Richardson, this should be interesting.
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Brent Musburger is the man
8/22/2008 7:34:45 PM
My friends are well-aware of my affinity for Brent Musburger. Be it his dedication to the games he calls, his affinity for the occasional beverage, or his habit of mentioning the point spread in the early stages of most games, it's clear that Brent is one of us.
My first memories of Brent stem from my early days. My dad and I used to race out of Mass, grab some unhealthy food (wing dings, White Castle, McDonalds, Sylvia's subs) and head home to catch the opening of the NFL Today. We all remember that cool opening:
My second early memory of Brent comes from one of my favorite movies. Brent plays a pivotal role in Rocky II, as Apollo Creed uses his interview with journalist Brent to attempt to draw Rocky Balboa out of his retirement, and into a rematch where Apollo could show the whole world that the first fight was a fluke. Can't find the clip, however here's a link to his Rocky II Action Figure:
BRENT!
I remember him calling Keith Smart's jumper to win the national title:
Smart Takes the Shot!
Then Brent was canned from CBS, and in true Musburger fashion, he rebounded to eventually become ABC's lead guy on college football, and team with Steve Lavin and Erin Andrews to wreak havoc at campus watering holes nationwide.
Brent was there when my beloved Spartans went down to Ohio Stadium to knock off the then #1 Buckeyes:
You are looking live!
My one disappointment from this year's Big Ten Luncheon was that I couldn't meet and get a pic with Mr. Musburger. Maybe next year.
Musburger got popped chugging a Budweiser in a moving car in Lincoln. He makes every game seem like the Game of the Century. He calls everyone his pardner. Brent clearly enjoys the fact that he pretty much has the coolest job ever. For all of these reasons, and his clear interest in point spreads, I'd like to honor my boy Brent.
In fact, please take a look at one of my favorite sites. College Football is upon us. Get Musburger the hell out of Williamsport, and get him on a rocking college campus right now!
Brent Watch
Here are some other favorite Brent moments:
Horny Brent
Outdoorsman Brent
Kooky Brent
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Experts Draft
8/17/2008 7:23:23 PM
I had the pleasure of representing CFFinsider.com in the annual experts draft on Sunday. This is a 14 team, all-Division I league. Scoring is fairly standard, passing touchdowns are worth 4 points. The starting lineup each week is 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 D.
We drafted on MockDraftCentral.com, and I ran into a problem in two rounds when I got autopicked. I ended up with a guy that I wanted in one case (several rounds too early), and someone I didn't in the other case. If I'm winning, I'll be sure to update during the season.
Here is my roster:
QB Zac Robinson OK ST
QB Brent Rausch HAWAI
QB Gary Rogers WAS ST
RB Ian Johnson BOISE
RB DeMarco Murray OK
RB Anthony Dixon MISS ST
RB Terence Kerns W VA
WR Jeff Moturi UTEP
WR Juaquin Iglesias OK
WR Austin Collie BYU
WR DeAndre Brown S MISS
WR Michael Washington HAWAI
WR Michael Jones AZ ST
WR Dicky Lyons KY
K Ryan Bailey TEX
DEF Cincinnati Defense CINCI
DEF Florida State Defense FSU
TE Chase Coffman MO
TE Mark Hafner HOU
I'm happy with my running backs and tight ends. The defensive scoring is heavily weighted to turnovers and scores, so I like the way the schedule sets up with Cinci and FSU for at least the first 2/3 of the season. The QBs could be good if Rausch tears it up at Hawaii, but they should be at least average. My WR group worries me a bit.
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So You've Been Asked to Join a Keeper League
8/16/2008 4:22:08 PM
For the fifth straight season your buddy has invited you to join his college fantasy football league, and finally, after tailgate after tailgate of fantasy smack talk that left you on the outside looking in, you’re going to take the plunge and give it a go. After all, it’s just fantasy football, and even if it’s the college variety, you’re certain you’ll be fine. You understand football. You understand fantasy football. You’re certain that it’ll be a relative short time before you’re hoisting that trophy. Oh, one more thing. This is a keeper league.
Joining a keeper league as an “expansion” squad brings about an entirely different strategy, and it’s one that’s going to require a great deal of patience and foresight, because things could be pretty ugly in the short term. In order to minimize the time needed to compete for a title, I’ve compiled ten rules for the brave soul as he prepares for draft day.
1. Prepare for a long first season
Odds are you’re taking over a team for someone who has left the league. In all likelihood this owner wasn’t frustrated with the relative ease with which he won championships. This owner probably stunk up the joint something fierce, grew tired of mocking emails, took his ball and went home. The “expansion rules” were likely drawn up by current league members, and you can be certain that these owners have made your prospects appear much more promising than they are in reality. It’s going to be an uphill battle, and no amount of “supplemental” 8th round picks is going to change this.
2. Draft for next season
Look to the future, but an expansion owner in a keeper league will not want to spend the majority of his picks on incoming freshman. Remember, Jason Gwaltney looked like a future stud in Morgantown. Sure, you have carte blanche to reach for a five star recruit, but you’ll want to spend a majority of picks on rising sophomores and juniors, particularly those who’ll likely fill in for seniors-to-be following their graduation.
3. Make like Lou Holtz
The greatest team in the history of college football so happened to be the next team on Lou Holtz’s schedule. He was a master at the “awww shucks, we’ll be lucky to hang within three touchdowns of Army” press conference. You’ll want to do this too. When an upcoming opponent attempts to talk smalk via email, respond with one of the following:
a. “Dude, your team is loaded. I’m going to get crushed.”
b. “You SHOULD beat me by 200 points this week.”
c. “How did you end up with such an awesome squad?”
d. “Do we even have to keep score this week?”
This method of playing down your squad serves two purposes: one, it will make your opponent nervous about losing to your squad, and even if you will get smoked, at least he’ll be a bit leery about actually losing to you. Two, it will make laughing at him that much more enjoyable in the event that you do pull an upset.
4. Don’t neglect senior stars
Yes, the great majority of fantasy stars, be they seniors or sophomores, will be protected. You’ll never sniff the likes of Tim Tebow, Knowshon Moreno or Michael Crabtree. However there will be some talent available to you in the early rounds. And like a real life expansion team that dots its roster with veteran talent to provide leadership, you’ll want to draft senior talent in anticipation of trade opportunities down the road.
5. Don’t fall in love with that senior talent
Let’s say you nab Cullen Harper, a solid rising senior who plays in what should be a pretty prolific offense. Harper throws for 366 yards and four scores in week four against South Carolina State, and this happens to be the same week in which a fellow league member loses his starting quarterback for the season. TRADE HARPER NOW! While it’s week four, and you still have delusions of staying in the league race, you’ll want to unload Harper while his value is high. I don’t care if it’s a mid-round pick next season…
6. If you’re going to load up on young talent…
Make sure you nab a whole bunch of young running backs. If you spend five of your first ten picks on highly touted underclassmen running backs, you can bet that one will pan out. Wide receivers are flaky. There will always be a top quarterback available in your league. Running back depth is where you can begin to make a move.
7. Reach for a top defense
We’ve written a great deal about the importance of defensive units in college fantasy football. Historically LSU and Virginia Tech have been head and shoulders above every other BCS defense. You can probably add Ohio State to this short list as well. If an owner has kept too much skill position talent and has thrown one of these three defensive units back into the drafting pool, grab it, even if means using a first-round pick. A top-flight defense can be as valuable as a top wide receiver, and this will be one position you won’t need to worry about before next year’s draft.
8. Draft sleepers based on systems
When drafting sleepers look to traditionally prolific offenses and coaches who have proven themselves. Texas Tech, Tulsa, Boise State, UTEP and SMU are some of the many teams that will continue to put up big numbers. You don’t earn points for the number of times a player is on television.
9. Don’t fall in love with top-ranked teams and remember it’s FANTASY football
I’ve lost count of the number of times someone has emailed to tell us what idiots we are for ranking about 50 quarterbacks ahead of Matt Stafford. I know we’re idiots, but it has nothing to do with the Georgia quarterback. Everyone knows Stafford because:
1. He’s an excellent quarterback
2. He leads what may be the best team in the country
3. He’s been compared to Tim Tebow since he was a prep
The above three points are IRRELEVANT to his fantasy standing. I have compared to Matt Stafford to Troy Aikman from a fantasy perspective. Troy Aikman won Super Bowls. Troy Aikman is in the Hall of Fame. Troy Aikman made the Pro Bowl in 1993, throwing 15 touchdowns. Craig Erickson threw 18.
10. Pay attention
Some prime keepers weren’t even drafted. We’re talking about college kids here. Players mature, get better and become stars. Keep tabs on every eligible college team, or better yet, keep coming back to this website as we’ll do it for you. Whether you play in an all-BCS league, or one in which every Division I team is eligible, you’ll have to do your homework. However if you consider following college football like crazy to be work then maybe you shouldn’t have accepted your buddy’s invitation.
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A new Uga between the hedges
8/15/2008 1:06:24 PM
 With football set to kick in less than two weeks (yes, less than two weeks!) and college fantasy football drafts at a fever pitch, we haven't had much time to breath. Let alone take in some of the sights and sounds from the B-Side.
But I couldn't let this one escape without being mentioned. Georgia has picked a successor to the recently departed Uga VI. Obviously the new mascot will now and forever be known as Uga VII.
So who is the new Uga? No one knows. That's right there is a secret Uga selection committee and they aren't telling. The slobbering bulldog will make his home debut against Georgia Southern on August 30th. Given the likely score of this tilt, the mystery Uga might be the star attraction.
Obviously my infatuation with college mascots needs to be looked into to. |
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Marshawn Lynch's hit and run case
8/4/2008 9:09:30 AM
I'm a little slow on this one as I was traveling abroad for a few days. This one is too good/easy to let slip by though.
Remember when we posted the youtube video of Marshawn Lynch tooling around in the injury cart after the victory over Washington last year? In the video he nearly takes out a person or two. Of course the crowd loved it.
We'll who knew it could possibly be a little forshadowing as Lynch was recently involved in a hit and run accident. Seems that the case has been settled but it does give us the opportunity to bump the youtube video of Lynch's joyride.
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Lyons tussles with Stafford
7/27/2008 2:08:51 PM
We've read several reports of Kentucky wide receiver Dicky Lyons' media session at the recent SEC media event. Lyons told the assembled media that he had a dream in which Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford came to the aid of Lyons' girlfriend after he tracked her down and confronted her in a bar (remember this is a dream). Michigan State quarterback Brian Hoyer apparently felt the need to jump in on Stafford's side as well. Obviously this is one weird dude.
DL Jr.
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From the Big Ten Media Day: My summer has officially ended
7/25/2008 1:42:31 PM
I've sat and had beers with real live sports journalists before. All I've met are great men and women who get to watch sports and write/report for a living. They're passionate about their profession, and thanks to technology (and the fact that all idiots :) can have websites) many have seen their jobs become increasingly difficult. After all, everyone can get news immediately, and everyone with a keyboard is an expert. And despite the struggles in this apparent dream job, these men and women have great passion for their career; but it appears many have lost their passion as fans.
When something becomes a job it suddenly loses some of its novelty. When a player is a jerk, it becomes difficult to pull for him. I understand this. However I am not a journalist; rather I am a college football fan, a junkie. That is why spending today at the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon with Courtney was such a treat.
I love college football. It's the reason we started this site. Writing about college fantasy football is simply an excuse to research college football year round. It's an excuse to watch every game possible. It's an excuse to spend fall weekends grilling dogs and crushing brews with your best friends on some of the most beautiful campus settings in the entire world.
I also love Michigan State University. Being the first in my family to go to college means a great deal to me, and the fact that this University provided the means for me to do so many rewarding things as an adult, and is the vessel by which I've made lifelong friends, is extremely important. And being a proud Spartan I have:
1. A pride and love of the Big Ten Conference
2. A natural hatred (but begrudging awe and admiration) for the University of Michigan.
And this is why today was so much fun.
I heard Joe Tiller and Joe Paterno thrill the crowd and leave everyone in stitches.
I heard Northwestern legend Pat Fitzgerald, not much older than I, command a room with a presence this teacher can only dream of having.
I heard enough coachspeak to last an entire lifetime.
In briefly speaking with Rich Rodriguez I saw a Southern charm and charisma that, all jokes aside, was a little Clinton-esque. It must be scary for a coach to follow him into a recruit's living room.
I heard my personal cult-hero legend Brent Musberger spew more of the gridiron poetry that makes him so much fun.
I also got to meet the coach of my favorite school, and while I know he's got a tough job ahead of him, there is little doubt that he'll get us where we want to go.
When Courtney and I left the Chicago Hyatt it was still July 25, and it was still a Chi-town kind of muggy outside. However we could almost feel that slight breeze that saddens students and teachers, yet makes college football fans realize that the best time of year will soon be upon us.
Whether you're a fan in Eugene, Coral Gables, Waco, Boise or any of the other 100 and some points in between you can rest assured: the long summer is almost over, and our unofficial new year that kicks off around Labor Day is on the horizon.
Some pics from the Day:
CFFinsider Brian McDonald on the left
Brian with Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez
Brian with Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio
Brian with Michigan State running back Javon Ringer
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Poor Urban
7/23/2008 3:36:05 PM
Georgia's wild celebration following their first score "...will forever be in the mind of Urban Meyer and in the mind of our football team. ..."
Hopefully Urban can one day move past this horrific memory and create room for concern over world hunger or something else that could be deemed signficant.
Read the rest of Chip Towers' piece from SEC Media Days here:
Please make the nightmares go away |
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Shootout in the OK Corral
7/23/2008 12:36:22 PM
Texas Tech and Houston announced a home-and-home series kicking off in Houston in 2009 and returning to Lubbock in 2010.
With Mike Leach patrolling the sidelines on one end and former Tech offensive coordinator now Houston offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen and new head coach Kevin Sumlin patrolling the other...I'm guessing Vegas will be setting the o/u somewhere in the mid-80s.
Okay, I've never seen an o/u that high, but you get the point. These are games you definitely don't want to miss.
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Sorry Zips fans
7/21/2008 3:57:54 PM
Test your knowledge of college football helmets. Should be pretty easy for most of us college football addicts, but there were two that stumped me (one I have apologized for in the title). You can check out any that are giving you a hard time at The Helmet Project
Helmet Quiz Part 1
Helmet Quiz Part 2
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Atta boy Les
7/21/2008 1:12:23 PM
Les Miles was asked about his win over Bama last season. According to the The Times-Picayune coach responded to the LSU faithful with "not to make too much of that game, as it seems like a lot of teams in Louisiana beat that team," which was a direct reference to Bama's loss to Louisiana-Monroe.
This will, of course, get the Bama message board geeks up in arms. And I think it's great. We love the Fulmer-Spurrier verbal battles, and there's nothing wrong with having a little fun now and then. Besides, as far as public personas go, you can't get much different than Miles and Saban.
Read the whole article that references the piece here:
The Rap Sheet |
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Joe Pa "Say What" HOF Tribute
7/20/2008 12:25:46 AM
From his rolled up pant legs to his refusal to leave the field after breaking his stick to his surliness to the media, there is no one that embodies college football more than Joe Paterno.
We love our vision impaired lil' friend from PA. Even though we can hardly understand him sometimes, Joe Pa is everything that is football.
The young Joe Paterno was inducted into the college football Hall of Fame today. Even though it probably should of happened a half dozen years ago, we will be saddened the day he calls it quits (or keels over, which ever comes first).
Some video from ESPN on the day of his HOF announcement, note the fiestiness when asked about his retirement.
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Best three yard punt return
7/19/2008 8:08:38 AM
This run by Oklahoma's Joe Washington against USC back in 1973 is one of my favorites.
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Greatest play that never was...
7/16/2008 9:56:58 PM
This play, though called back, is great on so many levels. The most exciting player I've seen in college football. One of the greatest announcers of all time "Oh My!" along with the late, great Bill Walsh.
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Toughest Moments in College Foots
7/15/2008 11:37:45 AM
Everyone has his or her favorite college football moments. Whether it is your team winning a championship, making a redic comeback or a game saving tackle, these defining moments flash in your head and from time to time and make you smile. Since I’m short on the aforementioned moments and have blocked out most of the dramatic comebacks since they are usually against my alma mater…mine border on the obscure.
I love tough guys and tough plays…who doesn’t? So with the help of Youtube, I came up with some of my favorite tough guy plays off all-time. I’m sure there are others and once the burners start firing I might post some more.
Toughest Moment #1: The first is the toughest run I’ve ever seen and the inspiration behind this blog. Everyone will remember Jerome Bettis as the bruising running back for the Fighting Irish in the early 90’s. But it was a Reggie Brooks run against Michigan in 1990 that deserves special recognition. Fast forward to the 2:42 mark in the Brooks highlight video below. Brooks gets spun and keeps his feet at the 20, then gets knocked cold at about the 4 and some how manages to keep his legs churning into the end zone. The vision of a blacked out Brooks stumbling and then face planting into the end zone is one that I will never forget.
Toughest Moment #2: A few months ago I found myself reliving the pain of Michigan’s come from behind win over Michigan State in 2007 on ESPN classic sports. Why would I put myself through such torture? Just to confirm the play I saw Michigan linebacker Shawn Crable make on Javon Ringer in the 2nd half wasn’t a figment of my beer soaked imagination. While Javon’s 75-yard run in the 0:36 second mark of the video below is certainly highlight worthy in its own right, it’s Crable (#2) that gets the tough SOB award on this play for making one of the most amazing “not give up on a play” tackles I’ve ever seen. Take note of who spins Javon at the 20 along the far sideline and then makes the touchdown saving tackle on the opposite sideline at the 5.
This overhead shot is not as clear, but gives you a better feel of just how far Crable came to make this play (0:15 mark).
Toughest Moment #3: Sitting in a cellar drinking Blue Lights with the boys, soaking in the last of the 1998 college football season, fully expecting #1 Kansas State and Michael Bishop to roll over the Aggies, we were treated with an underrated play for the ages; Sirr Parker’s catch and run that he finished off by dragging a Kansas State defender into the end zone to seal the upset in the 2nd overtime of the 1998 Big XII championship game (0:51 mark). Admittedly this one is a bit of stretch from a toughness standpoint, but I love the stiff arm at the end and this play sticks vividly in my mind for some reason, so it makes it in.
This video is not very clear, but it shows the stiff arm to the jaw of the K-State safety better (2:45 mark).
Toughest Moment #4: There is nothing better than having a hard hitting safety or a linebacker that constantly has blood dripping down his nose on your team. Everyone wants those tough SOBs to root for on Saturday. Especially when you are a dozen beers in and the crowd erupts from a punishing hit. Oklahoma’s Roy Williams made a career out enhancing the buzz of lubed up Sooner fans in 2000 and 2001. None was bigger than the superman dive at Texas’ Chris Simms in he waning moments of the 2001 Red River Shootout, making Longhorn fans everywhere throw up a little big in their mouth and sealing the victory for the Sooners. Warning: Longhorn fans, do not click below.
Bonus from the archives: Even though I was probably doing slide turns on my big wheel in the driveway when OU safety Scott Hill laid out Pitt Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett in the below video…I stumbled upon this gem when searching for the Roy Will hit above and felt the need to share.
I’m sure I’m missing number of others (Darren McFadden stiff arms, Adrian Peterson runs, Michael Bush, Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson, etc), my brain seems to purge information faster than it collects it these days. If you got some that you’d like to share email me. If I get some good ones I’ll post them up as well. |
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BYU is a different kind of place
7/12/2008 8:40:57 PM
While reading Jeff Call's piece in the Deseret News I couldn't help but be taken aback by the first line of the article:
Last Monday, one day after returning from a vacation to Mexico with his wife, BYU quarterback Max Hall showed up at the team's practice facilities at 6:30 a.m., as usual, to continue his rigorous summer workouts
Then later on:
Hall spends some of his free time working for Dish Network at a call center to earn some extra spending money.
Drafting Max Hall likely means you'll have no worries about 2:00 a.m. arrests...talk about a different kind of college experience.
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Be very afraid of June Jones
7/8/2008 10:21:31 AM
Within the past week I read that June Jones has plans of bringing back the old white helmets, and recent news of a SMU reunion.
Cool Helmets
Jerry Ball is a large man
For a program whose name became synonomous with the term death penalty, Jones is showing the ability to move forward while embracing the great tradition that exists at Southern Methodist University. Eric Dickerson anyone?
Here's what going to happen to a man who had crap facilities at Hawaii, no recruiting budget, yet still won:
His offense, led by Justin Willis and Emmanuel Sanders, will put up some huge numbers this season and get a few wins. Then, just like on the islands, Jones will take players of marginal academic ability, and maybe even marginal character. He'll also get some legitimate, top-flight skill players to hang around Dallas. And he will win.
Like him or not, June Jones can coach offense and now he's in some of the greatest recruiting territory in the college football world. It's a matter of time.
SMU fans have had to deal with a lot of crap over the past couple of decades. The chickens will soon be coming home to roost. |
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Brian Bosworth still a stud
7/8/2008 8:57:28 AM
Former Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth helped emergency personnel rescue a woman from a SUV that had flipped and trapped her in.
Da Boz
This news has no fantasy impact. I just thought others would like to know that the former Sooner star, who helped build Bo Jackson's rep while taking a ride into the endzone, AND starred in Stone Cold, is still changing lives
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Worst Gatorade dousing ever
7/3/2008 1:02:55 PM
Harry Carson and his 1986 New York Giant teammates get the blame for the annoying Gatorade dousing tradition. It's also clear which is the worst dousing in the history of sports. I bring up this horrible Kentucky memory as it was discussed over a few beers the other night.
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RIP Uga
6/28/2008 7:37:49 AM
University of Georgia Athletic Director Damon Evans called it "a sad day for the entire Bulldog nation." Yes the college football world lost another mascot. Uga VI passed away this past weekend from heart failure. Smokey VIII and Bevo XIII both passed away in 2006 (scroll way down).
While Uga VI was not as surly as his father Uga V who snapped at an Auburn wide out in 1996, he barked and snarled at taunting cameramen for the better part of a decade all the same. The Atlanta Journal Constitution has a solid recap of all the Bulldog mascots.
RIP Uga VI |
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An oldie but a goodie…Texas Tech Bell Ringer
10/12/2007 6:50:19 PM
This is pretty much how CFFinsider Brian McDonald gets when he thinks of Michael Crabtree.
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Joe Pa Say What? Part VI
10/12/2007 12:00:00 AM
Shades of Woody Hayes? The 81 year old Joe pulls over and shakes his finger at a woman who blew a stop sign. The women's husband gets out and taps on Joe Pa's window. Pa roles down the window and what happens next is simply Joe Pa being Joe Pa.
Husband: That's my wife
Joe Pa: Boy, that's your problem
ESPN.com |
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Joe Pa Say What? Part V
9/19/2007 7:08:33 PM
Q: This is the first Michigan game that you've played since Bo Schembechler died. What was his legacy and how did he improve Michigan football and help the Big Ten?
Joe Pa: I never coached against Bo. I can tell a story about Bo calling me up after we were invited to join the Big Ten. He said, "You sneaky little son of a..." I said, "What are you talking about, Bo? He said, "you sneaked in there and the athletic directors and coaches never had a vote because it was all presidents." I said, "Bo, nobody sneaked in. " He started screaming and ranting. I started screaming and ranting at him. I liked Bo. Bo is the kind of guy you had to like. You know where he's coming from, no hypocritical statements. He never pontificated, said some things. I always had a lot of fun with him. I never coached against him. I think you have to figure that he and Woody Hayes, at a stage of the Big Ten, probably dominated a lot of things. I've said this before, you guys get tired of hearing me say it, I think when Joe Tiller came into the league with a little different type of offense, that people say he can't do that here. I never forget the quote Joe Tiller made when they said about throwing the football. He said, "Don't you think it snows in Wyoming?" I think then it started to change. This league's got a lot of great young coaches. The kid at Wisconsin (Bret Bielema). Ron Zook is going to make Illinois really good. Kirk Ferentz...I could go down the list. I think Bo and Woody dominated the thing for a while. I think right now there's so many darn good young coaches. I think the league's got a little different personality than it did when maybe Bo and Woody were running the show. I'm not sure, because I wasn't in the league when they were running it.
Q: A lot has been made of the losing streak to Michigan, now at eight. When the players are asked a question, obviously they can't go back that far. You obviously have been there for all eight. Is there something about Michigan that just makes Penn State tighten up?
JoePa: Well, the first time I coached against Fielding Yost (1901-23, '25-26), it was tough. |
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Kudos to Coach Gundy
9/19/2007 6:57:54 PM
I was critical of Coach Gundy last week after he benched Bobby Reid. But we understand that it is a coaches decision and we are not part of practice to see what goes on. Along the same lines we were more critical of NewsOk.com blatant attacks on Bobby Reid leading up to the switch. Well, major kudos to coach Gundy for letting NewsOk.com have it in Saturday's post game press conference.
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Husker Hounds, Halftime Passes, Ron Burgundy and Runzas: A Weekend in Husker Land
9/17/2007 12:00:00 AM
Final confirmation came while sitting in a diner a mere 9 hours before kickoff. As if the Friday night trip to jam-packed Cornhusker haven Husker Hounds wasn't enough, nor the seemingly endless amount of local news coverage dedicated to the Big Red, it was as I was dining on some wonderful potato pancakes, building a tailgating base for a considerable amount of lager to follow, that I recognized I was a college football junkie in uncharted territory. Having only resided in an area where one can take a relatively short drive to take in a marquee matchup in East Lansing, Ann Arbor, South Bend, or Columbus, I've become accustomed to avoiding eye contact with rival fans on 12 Saturdays and, if being truthful, the other 353 days of the year. Loyalties in Michigan are divided based on alumni status, locale and family history, however make no mistake, there are great divides. Sitting in that Omaha restaurant I quickly realized that I had been swept into a phenomenon where an entire state is pulling in the same direction, and the full impact of Husker Power, a religion shared from Omaha to Scottsbluff was evident. Nebraskans are baptized at birth, and the doctrine appears to advocate two principles: one must wear red on gameday and one must leave any visitor with the impression that he just left the heart and soul of the college football world.
 Even before the westbound trek on Interstate 80 it was abundantly clear that this was what is oft referred to as a measuring stick game. This was the chance for a great program, recently downgraded to good, to announce its reemergence on the national scale. The traveling rock show, led by its nauseatingly enthusiastic and talented recruiting and coaching guru would provide the opportunity for the host program to provide the evidence that the transformation from Tommie Frazier to Sam Keller was complete, and a program steeped in tradition and a running style had undergone a metamorphosis and could stand toe-to-toe with the nation's number one team. The fact that the hopes of Nebraskans hinged on a West Coast transfer quarterback, a tailback from North Hollywood High School and a former Oakland Raider coach was an irony not lost on this fan. This wasn't a battle of contrasting styles but a battle of team trying to compete with the best while playing a similar game.
The arrival in Lincoln would begin a 12 hour frenzy that would either end with Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson ordering a couple new goalposts or the continuance of J.D Booty's Heisman campaign. However of utmost importance upon our arrival at tailgate number one was the ongoing Michigan State and Pitt contest in East Lansing. As this would be the third Spartan home game in 13 years that I was missing, I couldn't help but stare in amazement at a tailgate supplying a 40" HDTV broadcast, coupled with a speaker system certainly comprised of thingies like woofers, subwoofers and amps that provided a pretty damn good East Lansing experience from hundreds of miles away. Those at the tailgate must've assumed that that strange dude dressed like everyone else, who was jumping up and down at a game between two unranked squads, must've had a considerable amount of money on the game. As I anti-socially stared at the tube, fielding texts and calls on my "fancy-pants" new phone, I realized that I wasn't doing much to foster a relationship between MSU and Nebraska diehards. Forgetting the pummeling provided by Lawrence Phillips to my Spartans over a decade ago, and setting aside Ritchie Incognito's cheap shot on Drew Stanton a few years back, I attempted to converse with some fine Nebraskans. Usually able to strike up a conversation with a deaf-mute, I was uncharacteristically short on conversation topics. Thankfully those awkward moments were quickly averted with shared mocking and laughter at the early-season fates of Michigan and Notre Dame.
 Following a stroll under a bridge, which was home to some out-of-control makeshift bar, we hit a new tailgate where we were greeted by a woman celebrating, and for some strange reason my memory is beginning to fail me, what was likely a mid-thirtysomething birthday, and she insisted, and I mean insisted, that we make ourselves some quesadillas on any of the three quesadilla makers located between the two motor homes, next to the big screen television but an inconvenient ten feet away from the keg and two common source containers of other flowing nectars. We himmed and hawed, but decided to partake. Following a few hours of world events discussion, more laughter at Michigan and Notre Dame's fortunes, and ten feet walks that were becoming increasingly challenging, we realized that tickets would be a good idea.
For a game where tickets were hyped as going for the price of a Chinese adoption, it was pleasing to take my seat at the thirty yard line, twenty rows up, with my money clip only $60 lighter. I then realized that there were no barriers preventing me from heading down to the field, so I sauntered down to about ten feet from the USC bench. There I saw Will Ferrell engrossed in a discussion with Sean Salisbury, and thankfully Sean's cell phone was nowhere to be found. Pete Carroll had the carefree look of a man who knew something no one else did, and the USC running back corps was drawing straws to determine whose turn it was to impress the scouts. Realizing the kick was near, I took my seat next to a man who could have been Tom Osborne's dad and together we enjoyed the national anthem, a raucous Nebraska entrance and a beautiful autumn evening of football.
 I won't bore with a great deal of analysis of what was wrong with the Huskers on Saturday because it was more a matter of what their opponents did to make things go wrong. Granted the game may have been slightly different had a muffed punt not been recovered by the Trojans inside their own five, and if Big Red had been able to get to the half down one score. Alas, as the half neared completion Stafon Johnson found himself running through holes the width of I-80 and it was just a matter of time. As the half come to its conclusion I grabbed a yellow piece of paper from a lovely woman usher which might as well have said, "Sonny, head on out and grab yourself another beer, bring this back in about 20 minutes, and we'll let you back in the stadium."
I did return, and for the majority of the second half I was down on the field again, where I watched the Trojan paparazzi dodge that big moving camera on wheels. The players congregated by the Gatorade and some actually had conversations with their adoring minions while clearly enjoying the fact that they play for a really, really good team. A night where I had hoped to run on a field for the first time since I rubbed former MSU coach George Perles' head following a big win in 1993 ended with the purchase of a burnt hot dog for a dollar and a drive back to Omaha, where I would hop out of bed in two hours. My only regret was that I didn't scarf down some strange edible called a runza that apparently is a delicacy in Lincoln.
The Omaha and O'Hare airports early Sunday morning were meeting places for college football fans from across the country. Among others, we ran into giddy Utah fans, travel-weary Buckeye fans and staunch Notre Dame supporters still donning their blue and gold. Another action-packed college football weekend had seen its conclusion, and I was ready for my own bed.
There are many people whom I'd like to thank, and while each made my little journey enjoyable in numerous ways, I'd like to especially thank my friends, both old and new, in a specific fashion. Troy, thanks for allowing me to partake in the Nebraska experience while a perfect travel agent and host. Todd, thanks for the fleece that prevented the round of golf from turning into "fun with hypothermia". Tammie, thanks for the advice on the great places to travel in Eastern Europe and an impressive ability to minimize ticket cost. Chris, thanks for the golf tip. Brad, thanks for carrying the beer. And Sara, thanks for the tour of Creighton, Warren Buffett's favorite restaurant, your wonderfully comfortable couch and your trip to FedEx.
When I told everyone of my weekend plans, most responded with wishes that I get to see a great game. The game may not have been a classic, but of much greater importance, the experience was one to remember. Nebraska football is supported by a group of fans who make ALL welcome, are generous with their food and drink and overall hospitality and applaud with a refreshing and genuine vim when an injured opponent's player leaves the field. One gets the impression that it's only a matter of time before the great state of Nebraska sees its team playing in a nationally significant game in January. However even if that happens later rather than sooner, there is no doubt that Nebraska football will continue to benefit from unwavering support from those to whom the word fan doesn't even begin to do justice. |
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Joe Pa Say What? Part IV
8/31/2007 7:09:42 PM
Q: Are you planning on running out of the tunnel with the team?
A: Not really. I've got a new plan. I'm going to drop from a parachute. How do you think I'm going to get on the field? How about if you carry me out?
Q: If the game were to get out of hand, would you consider putting Pat Devlin in or would it be Darryl Clark?
A: I don't have the slightest idea if I'm going to stick Pat Devlin in. Do you have any eligibility? Is 36 a good number for you? That was my number. I can stick you in there. I'm trying to win the game. I guess I don't make myself clear. I'm scared to death of the game, and you think I'm thinking about getting Devlin into the game?
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Joe Pa Say What? Part III
8/2/2007 7:33:41 PM
Apparently Joe Pa enjoyed his stay up in the coaches booth last year. It gave him time to pass some notes like he used to in gym class and enabled to get caught up on his Leave it to Beaver re-runs
"I tried not to interfere with the guys upstairs because they know what they're doing. But, every once in awhile, I'd drop a little note to them and say, 'Hope to get this,' or 'That corner's playing awfully tight.'
"You're really a cheerleader most of the time down on the sideline. ... I enjoyed being upstairs, I really did. I sat down, had a nice time, had a cup of coffee. I felt like a newspaper guy. I was even able to watch television." |
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One Geek's Beginning
7/26/2007 12:00:00 AM
I was on the radio in Nashville (104.5 the Wake Up Zone) earlier this summer discussing the upcoming college fantasy football season. We chatted about the growing popularity of college fantasy football before getting into some national players, both BCS and non-BCS to watch in 2007. When the discussion turned to tight ends, I extolled the fantasy virtues of Darius Hill of Ball State, our #1 tight end on the big board. As we were wrapping up our chat the hosts joked that my knowledge of Ball State tight ends had me on the road to geekdom, and I replied that I was already there. For some, this moment could have been an epiphany, where one realizes how much time he’s been spending on fantasy games. Instead, it further cemented the idea that the college fantasy football game is the only fantasy game for me.
The first player I ever selected in a fantasy draft was Jim Everett in 1989. I convinced four buddies to get together in my backyard and, at the age of 14, I selected the L.A Ram quarterback in a draft that would also feature the likes of Neal Anderson and Mervyn Fernandez. The motivation for this new game came from an insert that accompanied a case of Miller Lite that my dad had left lying (the insert…not the case) around. It described this exciting new game called fantasy football. It sure beat those little white betting cards where I was convinced the 10 games I’d pick correctly, coupled with my $2 bet, would buy my first car.
My high school years, when not smiling awkwardly at girls, getting bloop hits to right field and failing physics…twice, were spent arguing about fantasy basketball, football and baseball. I once attempted to trade New Jersey Net forward Chris Morris for cuts in line at Wendy’s. I actually was one of 5 people who subscribed to the quickly defunct “The National Sports Daily”. Spanish class was spent going over “the blue folder”, in which I maintained, by hand, the stats of the ten fantasy baseball teams in our league. In fact, I’m certain that “the blue folder” nearly kept my buddies from graduating Ferndale High School, and my own concern over Delino DeShield’s batting average nearly caused Michigan State to inform me that the incoming freshman class of 1993 could survive without me.
The Michigan State years saw much of the same as high school, except for the marked increase in beer consumption and awkward smiles at girls. Thursday, Friday and Saturday were blurs consisting of $5 plastic cups, 2:30 a.m 7-11 Big Bite hot dogs, devastating Spartan losses and “falling asleep” to Beavis and Butthead. Sunday would begin with a noon wakeup, a call telling my dad that I just made it to mass (I know hell awaits), and a whole lot of PowerAde. Then we’d saunter to a watering hole (usually Dooley’s or the Sports Den) for a debacle of a day that wouldn’t end until Joe Theisman shut his piehole around midnight. Sundays, the days before real-time scoring, were spent with pen and paper in hand, calculating fantasy production…classic style.
Then the undergrad fun ended too quickly, and eventually, a few years later, pro fantasy football, like pro offenses themselves, suddenly became boring and predictable. Anyone could pick up a mag on the way to the draft and leave with a competitive squad. I could’ve sent my aunt to the draft with a cheat sheet and had the same team. Other pro sports were no help either. I certainly didn’t care about the NBA anymore, and as someone who has always loved baseball, the rotisserie road became more of a death march. I needed something else, and it was staring me right in the face…the unpredictable and tailgate-driven world of college fantasy football. The only problem was finding fellow compulsive personalities who loved college football…and this proved not too difficult. A bunch of us met up over beers and wings, and the Big Ten fantasy league was born. The following year I joined a BCS league where I would play with a couple fellas who would eventually become the founders of this very website. This allowed me to couple my love of the college football world with my competitive drive to always have something at stake. More than anything, it was another means to simply stay connected.
Following graduation, returns to campus became the place to meet up and continue to live vicariously through those friends who wisely chose not to get the degree so quickly. As many of us married, had kids, moved away and came back, the trips back to campus became the time to catch up over a grill, wobbly spirals and lots o beer. As we’ve gotten even older, some have gotten divorced, some have taken jobs with more responsibility and others, in one way or another, have seen life get in the way. This often means the Wednesday email ripping on your old roommate’s choice of a tight end who likes throwing people through bar windows becomes the vessel for continued communication. And this is where college (fantasy) football comes in. Unlike many of my friends, my schedule allows for a great deal more flexibility, and I’ve chosen to spend my free time on college campuses around the nation. In fact, while my summer is spent researching college football, playing golf and going to baseball games, September becomes a smorgasbord of college football that provides weekend atmospheres second to none. More than anything, it’s the chance to enjoy the environment with friends and loved ones.
I’ve figured that these weekends will be spent with no less than 100 different friends whom I’d otherwise see with much less frequency. In fact, my autumn travel schedule has recently been finalized, and while some may see it as a tad…extreme, I see it as a reason to wish that summer would move with a greater sense of urgency.
September 1: MSU vs. UAB - East Lansing
September 8: MSU vs. Bowling Green - East Lansing
September 15: USC vs. Nebraska - Lincoln
September 22: MSU vs. Notre Dame - South Bend
September 29: Every game possible - Couch
October 6: MSU vs. Northwestern - East Lansing
October 13: MSU vs. Indiana - East Lansing
October 20: Every game possible - Couch
October 25: Va. Tech vs. BC - Blacksburg
October 27: Georgia vs. Florida - Jacksonville
November 3: MSU vs. Michigan - East Lansing
November 10: Every game possible - Couch
November 17: MSU vs. Penn State - East Lansing
January 1: MSU vs. TBD - Pasadena
One person’s geekiness is another person’s passion, and my non-family, non-real job passion lies with college football. It lies with the Friday night dinner and drinks in a college football town so full of electricity it’s ready to explode. It lies in being the first car at the tailgate with radio blaring. It lies in talking college football with fans of that week’s opponents. In lies in making last-minute lineup decisions as the guy you’re playing with makes fun of you and your indecision.
So if the fact that hundreds of hours are spent researching players almost half my age makes us geeks, so be it. If the fact that the day freshmen report begins a 5 month stretch where nearly every free moment will be spent researching, analyzing, writing about and celebrating college football makes us geeks, then so be it. We’re college football geeks.
For some, the respite from the everyday comes holding a reel on the open lake. For others it comes in the form of a 445 yd. dogleg, and for others it comes staring off into the distance looking for that elusive 5-point buck. Everyone has their “thing” that makes the grind worth it, and for millions of people like me across the globe, college football is just that. The days are getting shorter and soon shorts and a t-shirt will be replaced with jeans and a sweatshirt. These days can’t get here fast enough. |
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80's Stars and Coaching Comparisons
7/6/2007 12:00:00 AM
I have a thing for the 1980’s and college football. That’s truly about it. Sure, I like my family, my friends are decent, the Detroit Tigers are good, and my beagle rules. However when I truly examine my daily existence, it revolves around the 1980’s and college football. This summer I’ll pay hard-earned cash to see 80’s cover bands, in addition to still extremely relevant acts like Poison, White Lion, Ratt, and Def Leopard. I’ll also waste lazy weekend afternoons watching classic 80’s films that while, yes, have scripts that I know by heart, also have elements that make each viewing like seeing it for the first time.
It is with these great films in mind that I’ve decided to take a break from our regularly scheduled musings and combine my love of college football with my love of 80’s films, more specifically, legendary 80’s roles. Truth be told, this idea is actually quasi-stolen from a remarkable list written a few year’s back that compared college programs to characters from “The Simpsons” (if anyone can find the actual original creator of the list I’d love to chat with him to pay my respects, or at the very least, give him some credit). In short, there are certain characters from great 80’s cinema that seem to have been the role models for some currently involved in the college game today.
80’s Role #1: John Kreese, founder, operator and head instructor of Cobra Kai Dojo
 Strengths:
-Discipline (students chanting in unison)
-Recruiting machine (everyone loved the unis)
-Facility full of trophies
Weaknesses:
-In-game adjustments
-Getting fat on weak opponents
-Relying too much on past All-Valley Tournament Success
 Modern Day College Coaching Comparison: Lloyd Carr
Like Kreese, Carr has had the opportunity to allow past success to take care of his recruiting, and like impressionable teenage boys in 1980’s California, the lure of playing in cool uniforms is often enough to draw players to his dojo. However, in recent years Carr has allowed beating up on early round opponents in the tournament that is the National Title race to allow him susceptible to shrewd Miyagi-like coaches (Tressel) with LaRusso-like talent (Troy Smith).
80’s Role #2: Zod, rival of Jor-El, and would-be ruler of Planet Hooston
 Strengths:
-Ability to inspire teammates (Ursa and Non loved playing for him)
-Again...cool unis
-Quick starts (took Texas in about 10 minutes)
Weaknesses:
-Overconfidence
-Inability to rein others in
-Inability to parlay strength in numbers into world domination
 Modern Day College Coaching Comparison: Larry Coker
Like the initial days following Zod’s move to Earth, everyone assumed that the early success of Larry Coker would continue. He had a reputation as a player’s coach, and his inability to get the most out of Kyle Wright is comparable to Zod’s failure to truly mold Non into a dominating force. While Coker’s goose may have been cooked with Urban Meyer’s arrival in Gainesville, Zod was done once Superman showed up following his return to power. Again, like Zod, Coker had the talent; he was just outsmarted on occasion. And this, in the end, did him in.
80’s Role #3: Steff, king of high-school power elite from Pretty in Pink
 Strengths:
-Snappy dresser
-Ruled the school
-Popped collar
Weaknesses:
-Willingness to bend the rules
-Seemed to enjoy taunting lesser opponents
-Was despised by others
 Modern Day College Coaching Comparison: Pete Carroll
Maybe I’m letting the striking physical resemblance overrule the similarities, but these boys both are big fish. While Steff drew the ire of Duckie, Pete has already gotten under the skin of Jim Harbaugh. Both Steff and Pete have the hair, and truly love their position of power, however Steff’s willingness to have others due his dirty work, and the stink surrounding the Reggie Bush era that’s being brushed under the carpet makes the also-rans, or less cool kids, wonder why there appear to be two sets of rules.
80’s Role #4: Ed Rooney, wannabe power player
 Strengths:
-Surrounded by good people
-Cool porno mustache
-Dedication to the job
Weaknesses:
-In over his head
-Looks the part, doesn’t produce
-Outdated porno mustache
 Modern Day College Coaching Comparison: Dave Wannstedt
As Ed Rooney’s reputation was improved through the work of his secretary, Marge Sweetwater, so too was Wannstedt’s lifetime employment secured through his work with Jimmy Johnson. Each, on paper, appears tailor-made for their role: both Rooney and Wannstedt love their schools and each wants to be respected, however the impression of trying too hard often leads to questions of ability.
80’s Bad Guy #5: Mr. Hand, history teacher
 Strengths:
-Dedication to job and Ridgemont High
-Respect and admiration from students and fellow faculty
-Snappy dresser
Weaknesses:
-If anything, too dedicated
-No other apparent weaknesses
 Modern Day College Coaching Comparison: Joe Pa
Like Joe Pa, it’s impossible not to love Mr. Hand. Like Joe Pa having his whole team clean up Beaver Stadium, Mr. Hand used creative discipline such as taking Spicoli’s pizza and distributing throughout the class is a sign of pure genius. Each has withstood the test of time and been able to relate to young people even as each enters the twilight years of coaching, and don’t think for a second that JoePa hasn’t looked around the locker room and wondered if all young people truly are on dope. |
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Dan Hawkins...Go Play Intramurals Brother!!
2/14/2007 7:10:48 PM
Colorado's head coach Dan Hawkins does his best Hulk Hogan impersonation.
Link to Audio
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Marshawn takes the injury cart for a spin after the overtime victory over Washington
10/25/2006 7:11:09 PM
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RIP Smokey and Bevo
10/10/2006 12:00:00 AM
 Not a good year for retired mascots. Bevo XIII, whose actual name was Sunrise Express, passed away last Monday. Bevo XIII served 16 seasons as the Longhorns mascot starting in 1988. His last game was against North Texas in 2004. Bevo XIV, or Sunrise Studly, took over the honorary duties in that same game.
Smokey VIII, pictured at right with our very own Alex Fischer, also passed away earlier this year. Smokey VIII was retired in 2003...replaced by none other then Somkey IX. Both Bevo XIII and Smokey VIII we're considered the winningest mascots for their respective school.
So what about Uga? Well, Uga V was retired in 1999 and passed away shortly after. His son Uga VI has been patrolling the sidelines and barking at cameramen ever since. |
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Coach Slappy
10/2/2006 12:00:00 AM
There is actually a good explanation for John L. Smith slapping himself during a post game presser....wait no there isn't.
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Joe Pa Say What? Part II
9/20/2006 12:00:00 AM
Q: What is your game plan on stopping Ted Ginn Jr.?
Joe Pa: I am going to have somebody put something in his food the morning of the game (laughter). Ted Ginn is a great athlete, but there is a kid by the name of (Anthony) Gonzalez on that team. There is a kid we tried like the dickens to get whose father is a great coach, (Brian) Robiskie. They have a great quarterback. The tight end is a big league player. The tailback is a big league player. What do you do? You go in there and pray. You got a good prayer to St. Jude for hopeless causes or something. |
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This Games Not Over!
9/10/2006 12:00:00 AM
UNLV coach Mike Sanford blows his lid over the final call of the game...later pics show that the receiver was clearly out-of-bounds. I wonder if they are still there?
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Joe Pa Say What? Part I
8/15/2006 12:00:00 AM
A solid Joe Pa ramble with a blast at a Big Ten rival at the end.
Q: What are your recollections of Keith Dorney as he is being enshrined in the Hall of Fame?
Joe Pa: Dorney played for us as a freshman on the offensive line, which was unusual. The only reason we started him was because I was starting to have kids and I always saw his old man at the park down there at the amusement park (laughter). I was looking for free tickets. Do they still have the Dorney Park down there? (Dorney Park is a big amusement park in Allentown, PA) Unfortunately, they weren’t related. Keith was all business. Keith was smart. I don’t know whether you guys read his book, but his book is a good book. He was up here for a couple of days. He was all business and knew what was going on. He was a great technique kid. He is the kind of guy you like to coach. I coached a kid out at the Hula Bowl by the name of Dan Dierdorf. Dorney and Dierdorf were very similar guys. They were big, strong kids but were great technique guys. The only thing is that Dorney got an education and Dierdorf went to Michigan…(laughter) You can’t have any fun anymore.
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