The Campus Game

The Fightin' Side of Me

2012-01-22T14:28:00.001-05:00

"If you're runnin' down my country, man,
you're walkin' on the fightin' side of me."

The Fightin' Side of Me
Merle Haggard 1968

My fighting side is boiling today and there are a number of reasons why.

Papa

Joe Paterno died this morning.

"Joe Pa" all the Yankee sportswriters and fans called him, but down South my buddies and I knew him simply as Papa. In SEC country, we loved him just about as much as Bear, Archie, Bo, and Herschel. We're college football fans see, not fairweather cowards. If he'd have coached at Alabama, or Tennessee, or Georgia, or LSU ... I doubt we'd have run him off and humiliated him because a weirdo had been on his staff fifteen years earlier.

Lung cancer gets cast as the culprit in Papa's demise, but you, me, and everybody with sense enough to come in out of the rain (which excludes Penn State Trustees and much of the school's administration) knows he died from a broken heart. The chemo and radiation Joe fought through these past few months couldn't have been nearly so painful as the shameful, hurtful treatment the gallant old lion suffered at the hands of those ungrateful "leaders" at Penn State. A trustee phone call in November saying simply "you're through" (let that cold-blooded statement sink in) ended more than sixty years of service for a man who'd lifted a rinky-dink cow college into international prominence. I won't name that squirrelly trustee, but man he's walking on the fightin' side of me. Let's also save a bit of vitriol for the sheep-herd mentality of the shoot first-find out facts later media that pressured the spineless Penn Staters. What a miserable group - the whole lot of them.

I'll choose to remember Joe Paterno for his greatness.

Papa was an Ivy-League educated football coach, a man who could've been a priest and considered practicing law. His teams were just that - teams ... players working together, the whole greater than the sum of its parts. This man coached Lydell Mitchell and Franco Harris in the same backfield, the great Curt Warner, a list of linebackers that reads like a Hall of Fame roster, yet always the individuals sacrified their personalities into the group. Happy Valley was not a place for prima donnas.

Paterno won two national titles (1982 and 1986), had a legitimate argument for four others (1968, 1969, 1973, 1994), led five unbeaten squads, won over 400 games (the only FBS coach to do so), coached (37) and won (24) more bowls than anybody, and is the only person to win all the majors bowls (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Fiesta).

While different in demeanor and temperament, Paterno most reminds me of the great Vince Lombardi. Brooklyn boys, both considered the priesthood and law before settling on football - at the time still a rather minor distraction in the pantheon of American sports - as the profession where they'd make a mark. Unlike the whiners of contemporary society, where racism and bigotry are claimed at the slightest inconvenience (like having to work for instance), these two men overcame real prejudice against Americans of Italian descent ... Lombardi being passed over by schools and teams that were not ready for a coach with a last name that ended in a vowel, Paterno shunned by the WASPy elite at Brown. Neither man forgot those slights and went out of their way to champion fairness on their teams, regardless of skin color or ethnic background.

Penn State did not deserve him ... and he surely did not deserve the shameful treatment they gave him these past few months.

College football will not see another Paterno. RIP Papa.

Have We Lost Our Minds?

Let me continue my rant by asking whether this nation has collectively lost its mind.

President Obama is an incompetent. That point is hardly debatable. If news articles and essays are accurate, he is also condescending and arrogant. His wife may be worse, at first never proud of her country until hubby was nominated and elected, now offended because apparently this nation is just not smart enough to realize the brilliance of the President. Mrs. Obama is so wearing that even the reliably liberal NY Times columnist Maureen Dowd recently took her to task. The first lady may be right; we were stupid enough to elect him in the first place, but by all measures The One should be one and done.

But ... do you think Republicans have an answer?

Think again. The Grand Ole Party seriously could be about to nominate a caricature. Newt Gingrich and I have at least two similarities. We both taught at West Georgia College (he a couple of decades before me) and probably neither one of us should be elected President of the United States in 2012 (I'm leaving myself some wiggle room for the future). Rumpled, bombastic, and undisciplined, Newt reminds me of a creepier version of Bill Clinton (which takes some creeping). Gingrich treated his first two marriages like a golf hacker treats the Saturday morning foursome ... expecting a little lying and cheating to be overlooked. The man is too undisciplined to be trusted, and I predict the President (who is disciplined if nothing else) would defeat him handily in a general election.

This president deserves to lose, yet the nation seems too fearful to fire him. I think political correctness rears its ugly head as part of this equation ... too many Americans probably think someone will consider them racist for an unkind word against Obama. Well, it's not racist to call him a disappointing dunderhead with economic and foreign policies that are disastrous.

Is it too tough to understand that as a nation we spend too much?

We cannot raise taxes enough ... or cut spending enough for that matter ... to pay all the Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and Obamacare mandates we've promised. That's just at the federal level and does not include all the state pension systems for government workers. We cannot pay those IOUs without major changes. It cannot happen. Democrats are shameless partisan liars (quick to play the race card or to use scare tactics against serious policy proposals) and Republicans are hopeless dupes (buying into one snake oil salesman candidate after another, all basically in the public realm simply to sell more books or raise speaking fees).

As citizens we should storm the gates.

Social Media

On all the course syllabi distributed in my classes, a policy addresses the use of electronic devices during class (primarily smart phones). Without that policy and frequent subtle and not-so-subtle reminders, I'd recognize the tops of the heads of some students more than I would their faces. The same goes for most social venues, including highways, where Americans are busy tweeting, texting, talking, and pretty much paying attention to the palms of their hands more than the road or their lunch companion.

I like Twitter and following the news online, but I'm not sure young people understand the permanence and potential implications of using social media without a filter. Not every word or thought that comes to mind should be posted for the world to see ... and for future generations to access. Once it's online, those words or actions never go away.

The lewd behavior of an Alabama fan after the BCS national title game obviously comes to mind. I won't rehash the story, but the chicanery involves drunkenness, stupidity, vulgar (and potentially criminal) behavior ... and a viral video of the whole thing that future family members of all involved will be able to show at reunions. Yuck.

Big brother is officially watching ... and he is us.

America in 2012 ... as Brother Merle sang ... if you don't love it, leave it. Or change it.

Until next time.

SEC Post-Season Awards

2012-01-10T16:35:00.001-05:00

Welcome back to campus!

The 2011 college football season heads for the history books, and congratulations to the Alabama Crimson Tide for winning a second national championship in three years.

Here are a few closing notes on the SEC season.

SEC Awards

Most Valuable Player: Trent Richardson (Alabama) ... the Tide defense actually carried this squad, but if you have to single out one player it would be the powerful junior tailback. Richardson rushed for nearly 1600 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. He also set a work ethic on and off the field that was a model of leadership.

Offensive Player of the Year: Tyler Wilson (Arkansas) ... excluding Richardson since he was MVP, this became a close race between underclass quarterbacks. Aaron Murray of Georgia threw for a remarkable 33 touchdowns, but Wilson gets the nod for leading the Razorbacks to an 11-2 record with the only losses coming to Alabama and LSU. He and Murray will be back.

Defensive Player of the Year: Tyrann Mathieu (LSU) ... who else - the Honey Badger! The little defensive back earned the nickname of the year award for his stellar defensive play and game-changing special teams contributions. He nearly single-handedly saved LSU in the SEC title game against Georgia with two long punt returns and a long interception run back.

Special Teams Player of the Year (tie): Joe Adams (Arkansas) and Brad Wing (LSU) ... Adams narrowly edges the Badger by taking three punts to the house and averaging over 16 yards a return. Wing was the only player in major college football to cost his team a touchdown under the new taunting rule, but that was about all that went wrong for the freshman from down under as he averaged 44 yards a punt and was an effective weapon in pinning teams down.

Newcomer of the Year: Jarvis Jones (Georgia) ... this USC transfer lead the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss by a large margin over any other defender. The future NFL first-round pick will return for his junior season in Athens.

Coach of the Year: Les Miles (LSU) ... yes he reverted to confounding form in the national title game where he was completely outclassed by Nick Saban but that cannot wash away a full season of excellence. Miles' Tigers whipped the champions of the Rose Bowl, the Orange Bowl, the Cotton Bowl, the Music City Bowl, the Gator Bowl, the Chick-fil-A Bowl, and the BCS Championship Game. Yes Saban is the best in the business, but Miles did the best job in 2011.

Professor's Picks

The old professor finished up the regular season at a pretty good 120-41 and then prognosticated a 23-12 bowl record. The blight on the record was missing the BCS title game pick for the first time in eight years (though I'm actually partially blaming a Crimson Tide-following cousin who claims I jinx the Tide whenever I pick them in a big game!).

On Deck

Unless you are a recruitnik, the end of the bowl season brings a bit of deflation to the college football fan.

After watching virtually every minute of all thirty-five bowls, I would watch another tonight if one was on television. Keep an eye on the BCS post-season formula ... I remain staunchly opposed to a playoff but it looks like there is some momentum for a four-team system of some sort (make it the week after the conference championships if it has to be done).

The professor will continue to post regularly so check back often and always feel free to send comments to bob@themcampusgame.com or thecampusgame@yahoo.com.

See you at kickoff!

Will It Go Round In Circles?

2012-01-09T14:01:00.008-05:00

Will it go round in circles?

I've got a song, ain't got no moral
Let the bad guy win every once in a while.

Billy Preston, 1973

The college football world does go round in circles and Southeastern Conference teams keep flying high like Billy's bird up in the sky (click that Preston link for a nice video clip).

Tonight, for the sixth straight time, a squad from the SEC will claim the BCS championship when LSU and Alabama battle in a rematch of their November 5th defensive struggle (won 9-6 in overtime by LSU). Take your pick on the bad guy that's going to win this one.

Will it be the little Nictator?

Nick Saban is already the only coach to win BCS titles at two different schools (and actually I can't think of any other coach to win national championships at two schools even in the pre-BCS period ... maybe it happened when the helmets were leather). Intense, loud, controlling, Saban reigns over Alabama football with an aura unmatched since Paul "Bear" Bryant tilted goalposts in Tuscaloosa.

Like him or not, most fans and analysts consider Saban at the very top rung of the college coaching ladder, if not perched atop it alone.

If Saban is not your villain, how about LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson?

As sports fans our memories are often short when it comes to the shortcomings of the Saturday heroes, but remember that Jefferson narrowly avoided felony prosecution for his role in a fight outside a Baton Rouge bar back in the summer. With Jefferson suspended, fellow senior Jarrett Lee filled in and played extremely well ... until the Tigers' trip to Tuscaloosa in early November. At that point, Jefferson reemerged and showed just enough fight on the field to give LSU a boost (primarily with his option runs) in the overtime win.

Non-SEC fans probably consider both teams the bad guys.

Mike Gundy felt his Oklahoma State team deserved the slot opposite LSU, and Big 12 fans probably agree. Big Ten fans chafe under the annual New Year's Day whippings the boys from the South lay on them. The Pac-12 thought Oregon or Stanford had a real shot at the title this year after the Ducks came close against Auburn last go round, but had to settle for counting all the money the league pulled in from placing two teams in BCS bowls. The Big East posts a strong bowl record most years (including winning lower-tiered bowls against the SEC) but lacks a top-flight flagship program. The ACC ... well, it's basketball season so their fans are now relevant.

So, which team will fly high tonight?

LSU comes into the game with a great deal of confidence. Georgia shut them out and shut them down for half of the SEC title game, but the Tigers never wavered and then blew out the Dogs once special teams turned the game. Punter Brad Wing and returner Tyrann Mathieu (the Honey Badger) are true weapons. The LSU offense also boasts a deep backfield, so keeping fresh running backs in the game will not be an issue. If they can pound the Tide by holding on to the ball that depth could be a factor. I do not see LSU throwing the ball effectively unless they lull the Tide to sleep and hit a deep ball. While Jefferson had some impact with the option, I would expect Saban and Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart to shut that down.

Alabama actually dominated most of the first game between these teams and lost primarily because of missed field goals. Trent Richardson should be the best offensive player on the field (Mathieu keeps me from calling him the best overall player in the game), but I'm not real sold on Eddie Lacy or any depth behind him. QB A.J. McCarron does not impress me, but if Richardson can get some movement up front, play-action passes might be available.

My concern with the Tide is the program has developed a tendency to play tight too often. It happened last year against Auburn and it happened as the game wore on against LSU this year. All that yelling and hollering from strength coaches and Saban and from whoever is fine as far as it goes, and it keeps the team motivated, but Alabama needs to loosen up.

There's a sports psychology/motor learning term called "flow" or optimal arousal level. It holds that players need to be excited to reach maximum performance or flow, but getting too excited diminishes performance. The Tide tends to be a bit too high-energy at times in my opinion.

These are the two best teams in the nation and they'll play what LSU coach Les Miles called "big boy" football tonight.

The BCS championship will go round in circles, but only one SEC team will fly high like a bird up in the sky.

LSU 23-21.

Professor's Bowl Picks

2011-12-16T18:00:00.027-05:00

2011-12 College Football Bowls

Welcome back to The Campus Game and the end of fall term.

With final exams a fast fading memory, students fleeing for home and the holidays, the college campus is a quiet, peaceful place over Christmas break. Strolling along Lumpkin Street during a brief trip to Athens the past couple of mornings, the loudest sounds came from the football practice fields where the Bulldogs prepared for an Outback Bowl appearance against Michigan State.

Below is the lineup for all 2011-2012 college football bowl games (listing courtesy of the Rivals website).

Enjoy!

1/10/12 UPDATE: The bowls are over and the Professor finished up 23-12 with bowl selections ... not bad although missed the BCS title game pick for the first time in eight years.

* All times Eastern

NEW MEXICO BOWL
Temple (8-4) vs. Wyoming (8-4)
WHEN: Dec. 17, 2 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Albuquerque
COMMENT: Steve Addazio leads the Temple Owls to a bowl bid in the Land of Enchantment after a solid inaugural season. Cowboys look to build momentum for 2012 when they'll soon become a Mountain West power with the defection of Boise State and TCU.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: TEMPLE
RESULT: Temple 37-15 (Professor 1-0)

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL
Ohio (9-4) vs. Utah State (7-5)
WHEN: Dec. 17, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Boise, Idaho
COMMENT: Ohio comes into the game fresh from a tough MAC title game loss to Northern Illinois behind the leadership of dual threat QB Tyler Tettleton. The US Aggies have won five straight entering the spud bowl and earlier in the season put a big scare into Auburn and BYU before losing close games.
PROFESSOR"S PICK: UTAH STATE
RESULT: Ohio 24-23 (Professor 1-1)

NEW ORLEANS BOWL
San Diego State (8-4) vs. LA-Lafayette (8-4)
WHEN: Dec. 17, 8 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: New Orleans
COMMENT: LA-L will be playing a virtual home game at the Super Dome and that crowd should be enough to get the Ragin Cajuns past Rocky Long's Aztecs.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: LA-LAFAYETTE
RESULT: LA-L 32-30 (Professor 2-1)

BEEF O'BRADY'S BOWL
Florida International (8-4) vs. Marshall (6-6)
WHEN: Dec. 20, 8 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: St. Petersburg, Fla.
COMMENT: FIU and coach Mario Cristobal are both up-and-comers (the Panthers hope to hang onto to Cristobal during the on-going coaching carousel) and should get by Doc Holliday and the Thundering Herd.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: FIU
RESULT: Marshall 20-10 (Professor 2-2)

POINSETTIA BOWL
TCU (10-2) vs. Lousisana Tech (8-4)
WHEN: Dec. 21, 8 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: San Diego
COMMENT: Nabbing TCU is a nice coup for the Poinsettia Bowl and playing the highly regarded Horned Frogs is a nice opportunity for Sonny Dykes and the LA Tech Bulldogs. Expect the Frogs to get a big win before heading off to join the Big 12.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: TCU
RESULT: TCU 31-24 (Professor 3-2)

MAACO LAS VEGAS BOWL
Arizona State (6-6) vs. Boise State (11-1)
WHEN: Dec. 22, 8 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Las Vegas
COMMENT: The Broncos return to Sin City a second consecutive time thanks to a tough loss to TCU (which knocked Boise from a BCS bowl). The game with ASU marks the swan song for record-setting Broncos QB Kellen Moore ... and also for Sun Devils head coach Dennis Erickson. Boise agains shows it can whip the power conferences.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: BOISE STATE
RESULT: BOISE 56-24 (Professor 4-2)

HAWAII BOWL
Nevada (7-5) at Southern Miss (11-2)
WHEN: Dec. 24, 8 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Honolulu
COMMENT: The USM Golden Eagles took an interesting path to the islands - thanks to bowl contracts between the SEC and Big East, and some nifty vacation planning by soon-to-be-former USM head coach Larry Fedora. Typically, the Conference-USA champion would play an SEC team at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis (a nice, easy drive for USM fans). However, since the SEC had only nine bowl-eligible squads this season (and thus could not place a team in the Compass Bowl in Birmingham), the Liberty Bowl contract called for an SEC-Big East matchup ... so the Liberty could not invite Southern Miss and its thousands of fans to take on Vandy. That left USM with the choice of any other C-USA bowl partner and Fedora (before taking the North Carolina job a few days later) acted like any good travel agent and opted for a week in paradise for his squad. Can't blame him! Let's say his team gets a win too.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: USM
RESULT: USM 24-17 (Professor 5-2)

INDEPENDENCE BOWL
Missouri (7-5) vs. North Carolina (7-5)
WHEN: Dec. 26, 5 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Shreveport, La.
COMMENT: A bonus SEC-ACC game as the Tigers of Missouri move to the SEC next season. Changes will take place in beautiful Chapel Hill too as interim coach Everett Withers moves on to Ohio State and Larry Fedora takes over the Heels after this game.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: MIZZOU
RESULT: Mizzou 41-24 (Professor 6-2)

LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA BOWL
Western Michigan (7-5) vs. Purdue (6-6)
WHEN: Dec. 27, 4:30 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Detroit
COMMENT: WMU will want it more, but the Boilers should be a bit better.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: PURDUE
RESULT: Purdue 37-32 (Professor 7-2)

BELK BOWL
Louisville (7-5) vs. NC State (7-5)
WHEN: Dec. 27, 8:00 ESPN
WHERE: Charlotte
COMMENT: Up and down Wolfpack takes down Cardinals.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: NC STATE
RESULT: NC State 31-24 (Professor 8-2)

MILITARY BOWL
Toledo (8-4) vs. Air Force (7-5)
WHEN: Dec. 28, 4:30 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Washington, D.C.
COMMENT: Falcons option attack should run over the Rockets.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: AFA
RESULT: Toledo 42-41 (Professor 8-3)

HOLIDAY BOWL
Cal (7-5) vs. Texas (7-5)
WHEN: Dec. 28, 8 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: San Diego
COMMENT: Holiday Bowl is always a Professor's favorite, but this matchup is not up to par. Horns hook Bears.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: TEXAS
RESULT: Texas 21-10 (Professor 9-3)

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL
Notre Dame (8-4) vs. Florida State (8-4)
WHEN: Dec. 29, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Orlando
COMMENT: Game is a sellout, TV ratings should be boffo, and the setting is great. Not so sure the game will live up though because FSU's defense will be tough for Irish.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: FSU
RESULT: FSU 18-14 (Professor 10-3)

ALAMO BOWL
Washington (7-5) vs. Baylor (9-3)
WHEN: Dec. 29, 9:00 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: San Antonio
COMMENT: Think the folks at Valero are happy to sponsor this year's Heisman winner? Me too. Robert Griffin III and the Bears should bring a whole bunch of fans down to the San Anton ... and should whip the Huskies.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: BAYLOR
RESULT: Baylor 67-56 (Professor 11-3)

ARMED FORCES BOWL
BYU (9-3) vs. Tulsa (8-4)
WHEN: Dec. 30, noon, ESPN
WHERE: Dallas
COMMENT: Two pretty good offenses on display in big D. Think it's Tulsa Time.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: TULSA
RESULT: BYU 24-21 (Professor 11-4)

PINSTRIPE BOWL
Rutgers (8-4) vs. Iowa State (6-6)
WHEN: Dec. 30, 3:20 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: New York
COMMMENT: The visuals alone make this game at Yankee Stadium worth watching. If the East Coast gets a snowstorm, well - all the better. Iowa State is better, but Rutgers is essentially at home so let's go with the Scarlet Knights.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: RUTGERS
RESULT: Rutgers 27-13 (Professor 12-4)

MUSIC CITY BOWL
Miss State (6-6) vs. Wake Forest (6-6)
WHEN: Dec. 30, 6:40 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Nashville
COMMENT: Two pretty solid coaches in Dan Mullen of MSU and Jim Grobe of Wake, but I like the Bullies team better. This should be a very physical matchup.
PROFESSOR'S PICK: MISS STATE
RESULT: MISS STATE 23-17 (Professor 13-4)

INSIGHT BOWL
Iowa (7-5) vs. Oklahoma (9-3)
WHEN: Dec. 30, 10 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Tempe, Ariz.
COMMENT: The Hawkeyes return to Tempe for a second straight year and they are fortunate to be there having lost three of five to close the season, including double-digit losses to Michigan State and Nebraska. Iowa should at least have the motivation edge over OU because the Sooners expected to be playing in "a" BCS bowl if not "the" BCS bowl. Those hopes got gashed in a 44-10 season finale debacle against OK State. I'm leery of teams that don't want to be at their bowl, but will go with talent over motivation in this one.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: OK
RESULT: Oklahoma 31-14 (Professor 14-4)

MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL OF TEXAS
Texas A&M (6-6) vs. Northwestern (6-6)
WHEN: Dec. 31, noon, ESPN
WHERE: Houston
COMMENT: The Aggies enter the game with interim coach Tim DeRuyter at the helm. The A&M defensive coordinator takes over for the deposed Mike Sherman, and will take over as head coach at Fresno State after the bowl as the Kevin Sumlin era begins in College Station. The coaching situation couldn't be more stable in Evanston as Pat Fitzgerald - always on everybody's short list when vacancies arise - seems to be a potential lifer for the Purple. NU is plucky, but the Aggies are stronger and faster.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: TEXAS A&M
RESULT: Texam A&M 33-22 (Professor 15-4)

SUN BOWL
Georgia Tech (8-4) vs. Utah (7-5)
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2 p.m., CBS
WHERE: El Paso, Texas
COMMENT: Utah finished the season winning four of five, but the last game was a stinker - a 17-14 loss to lowly Colorado. Tech struggled down the stretch. After a 6-0 start, the Jackets lost four of six and yielded over 30 points in the last three games. Although flinty Tech coach Paul Johnson never admits it, his teams struggle in bowl games because opponents have time to prepare for the triple option. I think it will happen again.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: UTAH
RESULT: Utah 30-27 (Professor 16-4)

LIBERTY BOWL
Cincinnati (9-3) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6)
WHEN: Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m., ABC
WHERE: Memphis
COMMENT: Typically this game matches the C-USA champ with an SEC opponent, but due to some scheduling agreements (see Hawaii Bowl above), the Liberty gets a good Big East team in Cincy playing the home state Commodores. First year Vandy coach James Franklin is fiery and has done a find job in Nashville; watch QB Jordan Rodgers - he's a good player (yes - he's the brother of Green Bay's Aaron). Bearcat coach Butch Jones had his team in contention for a BCS berth all season and actually tied for the conference championship behind dual threat QB Zach Collaros. This one should be pretty good, but I like Cincy.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: CINCY
RESULT: Cincy 31-24 (Professor 17-4)

KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER BOWL
Illinois (6-6) vs. UCLA (6-7)
WHEN: Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: San Francisco
COMMENT: This games tests the old Professor's theory that there is no such thing as a bad bowl game. UCLA got an exemption to play in the game with a losing record, and both teams can't get to the New Year fast enough. I would suggest tuning to the Liberty Bowl instead.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: UCLA
RESULT: Illinois 20-14 (Professor 17-5)

CHICK-FIL-A BOWL
Auburn (7-5) vs. Virginia (8-4)
WHEN: Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Atlanta
COMMENT: The old Peach Bowl has really taken off in popularity since Chick-Fil-A (America's finest fast-service chain) became the primary sponsor, and solidified the New Year's Evening date. I am nursing a bit of a grudge againts the Chick-Fil-A because their media folks have not approved my credentials the past few years (and I don't think it has anything to do with me gobbling down several of those great chicken sandwiches in the press box that last time), but this is usually an exciting game to wrap up the calendar. Auburn is about what most people expected, and UVA is better than predicted. With the Tigers losing both coordinators, I think the Cavaliers win.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: VIRGINIA
RESULT: Auburn 43-24 (Professor 17-6)

TICKETYCITY BOWL
Houston (12-1) vs. Penn State (9-3)
WHEN: Jan. 2, noon, ESPNU
WHERE: Dallas
COMMENT: The saddest season finally ends for Penn State. Let's go with the Lions since nothing has gone right for them in a long time.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: PENN STATE
RESULT: Houston 30-14 (Professor 17-7)

OUTBACK BOWL
Michigan State (10-3) vs. Georgia (10-3)
WHEN: Jan. 2, 1 p.m., ABC
WHERE: Tampa
COMMENT: After an 0-2 start, Georgia rebounded with ten straight wins before losing to LSU in the SEC title game. Head coach Mark Richt may have needed every one of those victories because the Bulldog faithful were very restless. Now, Richt is set to sign a contract extension, the Dogs return a bunch of talent in 2012, and the conference schedule for next season is very favorable (again). Quite a difference since early September. The Spartans also lost in a conference title game and they were one of the Big Ten's best squads all season. State is rugged on both sides of the ball (I'm not convinced of Georgia's toughness on offense), but the Dog defense may be a bit too fast for them.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: GEORGIA
RESULT: MSU 33-30 (Professor 17-8)

CAPITAL ONE BOWL
Nebraska (9-3) vs. South Carolina (10-2)
WHEN: Jan. 2, 1 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Orlando
COMMENT: Yet another B1G vs SEC New Year's Day game finds the old ball coach returning to his home state and trying to coax the USC Gamecocks to 11 wins - which would be a first in school history. They will need to get past a Nebraska team that runs the ball well but struggles in the passing game. I don't particularly think either team is all that good, but will go with SC on a hunch.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: SOUTH CAROLINA
RESULT: South Carolina 30-13 (Professor 18-8)

GATOR BOWL
Ohio State (6-6) vs. Florida (6-6)
WHEN: Jan. 2, 1:00 p.m., ESPN2
WHERE: Jacksonville
COMMENT: This is an intriguing matchup because of the Urban Meyer angle. The former Gator head coach accepted the Ohio State position a few weeks ago and has apparently been at least peripherally involved in preparation for this game (based on comments by Buckeye interim head coach Luke Fickell). I'm sure that sits real well with the Florida folks who were already mad at Meyer for returing to the sidelines less than a year after retiring for health reasons. On the field, both teams finished at .500 but State sure seems like the better team right now. QB Braxton Miller is stellar and should be a real force running Meyer's spread attack the next three years. Florida was inept most of the season on offense and the departure of offensive coordinator Charlie Weis to become head coach at Kansas was met with near glee in Gainesville. Gator coach Will Muschamp has his work cut out for him and it won't get any easier if he loses to Urban Meyer's new team.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: OHIO STATE
RESULT: Florida 24-17 (Professor 18-9)

ROSE BOWL
Oregon (11-2) vs. Wisconsin (11-2)
WHEN: Jan. 2, 5:00 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Pasadena, Calif.
COMMENT: A really nice contrasting matchup between the fleet Ducks of Oregon and the powerful Badgers of Wisconsin (returning to the granddaddy for a second straight season). For my money, this is the best of the BCS bowls outside the title game. I'll go with Bucky.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: WISCONSIN
RESULT: Oregon 45-38 (Professor 18-10)

FIESTA BOWL
Stanford (11-1) vs. Oklahoma State (11-1)
WHEN: Jan. 2, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Glendale, Ariz.
COMMENT: After suffering through a miserable pairing last year (Oklahoma vs U Conn), the Fiesta landed a dandy this time. OK State could make a legitimate argument for deserving to play in the BCS championship, but the Cowboys will have their hands full with Stanford and soon-to-be NFL #1 Andrew Luck. Use up your remote batteries early in the day, then set the channel to ESPN for a great double header of the Rose and the Fiesta. What a great day of college football!
PROFESSOR’S PICK: OKLAHOMA STATE
RESULT: OK State 41-38 (Professor 19-10)

SUGAR BOWL
Michigan (10-2) vs. Virginia Tech (11-2)
WHEN: Jan. 3, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: New Orleans
COMMENT: I'll repeat this complaint ... call me old-fashioned but I prefer more games on New Year’s Day instead of spreading these major bowls out over several nights. The Sugar Bowl got the opportunity of offering two at-large bids due to the SEC placing two teams into the national championship game. Michigan, with the tradition and the large fan base, was pretty much a given even though the Wolverines did not get to the Big Ten title game. QB Denard Robinson - aka Shoelace - is perhaps the most exciting player in college football. The Sugar's selection of Virginia Tech caused some backlash, even though the Hokies actually did make it to the ACC title game (where they were trounced by Clemson). The Big Ten suffered another ugly bowl day on Jan. 2nd, but I think Michigan pulls out the win.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: MICHIGAN
RESULT: Michigan 23-20 (Professor 20-10)

ORANGE BOWL
West Virginia (9-3) vs. Clemson (10-3)
WHEN: Jan. 4, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Miami
COMMENT: The least appealing of the BCS games on paper, this may turn out to be an exciting game. Keep any eye of Clemson's explosive freshman WR Sammy Watkins - he's big time. ACC teams have done little of note this bowl season, but I like the Tigers.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: CLEMSON
RESULT: WVU 70-33 (Professor 20-11)

COTTON BOWL
Kansas State (10-2) vs. Arkansas (10-2)
WHEN: Jan. 6, 8 p.m., Fox
WHERE: Arlington, Texas
COMMENT: Think the Jerry Dome will be rocking with these two fan bases filling the place on a Friday night. For a 2nd consecutive year, the Cotton Bowl lands a matchup of BCS worthy teams. Arkansas lost only to the teams playing for the national championship, and K-State had a strong case for landing the at-large Sugar Bowl bid that went to Virginia Tech. I think the Hogs are a better team, but do not always count on Bobby Petrino to have them ready.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: ARKANSAS
RESULT: Arkansas 29-16 (Professor 21-11)

BBVA COMPASS BOWL
SMU (7-5) vs. Pitt (6-6)
WHEN: Jan. 7, 1:00, ESPN
WHERE: Birmingham, Ala.
COMMENT: Pitt returns to Birmingham a second straight season ... and again with a coaching staff issue. Last year, AD Steve Pederson (how does he keep his job) botched up things by firing solid coach Dave Wannstedt. After new hire Mike Haywood ran into legal issues, Todd Graham was hired from Tulsa. Graham bolted for Arizona State just a few weeks ago. Paul Chryst of Wisonsin takes over after this one. Meantime, the Mustangs also had some coaching angst as June Jones thought he had an offer for that same Arizona State job only to have it pulled and given to Graham. Whew! I think Junie makes a statement in this one, although SMU will struggle with the Pitt rushing attack.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: SMU
RESULT: SMU 28-6 (Professor 22-11)

GODADDY.COM BOWL
Arkansas State (10-2) vs. N. Illinois (10-3)
WHEN: Jan. 8, 9 p.m., ESPN
WHERE: Mobile, Ala.
COMMENT: Some coaching turnover in this game too as Auburn OC Gus Malzahn takes the helm at ASU after the game, replacing Hugh Freeze who's on his way to Ole Miss. I don't think it will matter because NIU is very good.
PROFESSOR’S PICK: NIU
RESULT: NIU 38-20 (Professor 23-11)

BCS Championship Game (see post for full breakdown)
PROFESSOR'S PICK: LSU
RESULT: Alabama 21-0 (Professor 23-12)

Professor's Picks - Championship Week

2011-12-01T17:09:00.001-05:00

2011 Record

Final Regular Season Record: 120-41
Last Week’s Record: 11-6

Comment: Like a student struggling to reach semester’s end, the old professor saw grades slip late in the term. Two straight weeks with five or more wrong answers is enough to pass the class comfortably, but not to earn any academic honors.

Championship week is upon us and the prof will be monitoring SEC football final exams for LSU and the alma mater from the press box at the Georgia Dome on Saturday afternoon. The Bengal Tigers look to be a BCS Championship Game lock – win or lose against the Dogs – but an upset win by Georgia could garner the SEC an unprecedented three teams in the BCS bowls.

Enjoy championship week and keep in mind some conferences are still playing regular season games too (South Florida and West Virginia square off on Thursday night).

Championship Game Professor’s Picks

MAC Championship
Ohio (9-3) vs. N. Illinois (9-3)
Friday, Dec. 2nd at 7:00 ET
Ford Field (Detroit, MI)
Television: ESPN2
Preview: The MAC is one of the most underrated conferences in the land for my money. For the past several weeks, the old professor has enjoyed MAC games nearly every Tuesday and Wednesday, so I’ve missed them this week almost as much as Thanksgiving leftovers. The game should be exciting. These teams did not meet during the regular season, and both put up the points. NIU is led by one of the nation’s best quarterbacks in Chandler Harnish, a true dual-threat who rung up over 2600 yards passing and 1300 yards rushing during the regular season. The Huskies survived one of the year’s most thrilling games when they beat Toledo 63-60 (in regulation!) on November 1st. I watched every minute and it was as exciting a game as I saw all season. The Bobcats are not as prolific on offense, but still plenty good. QB Tyler Tettleton has passed for over 2800 yards and added more than 500 rushing, so he’s quite the dual threat too. Don’t expect too much defense, but settle in for a nice game.
Professor’s Pick: NIU

Pac-12 Championship
UCLA (6-6) vs. Oregon (10-2)
Friday, Dec. 2nd at 8:00 ET
Autzen Stadium (Eugene, OR)
Television: FOX
Preview: Commissioner Larry Scott and his Pac-12 athletic directors made two shrewd decisions in scheduling the first conference championship game. First, playing the game at an on-campus site likely guarantees a sell-out crowd, even with a mediocre UCLA team representing the Pac-12 South. Similarly, playing the game on Friday night avoids the busy Saturday schedule of title games featuring the ACC, SEC, and Big Ten. The conference powers-that-be did commit one blunder – signing on with FOX for broadcast rights … it was very aggravating the past several years watching the biggest games of the year (the BCS bowls) covered by a network that televised no regular season games. FOX will give the game its due, but their folks are ill-equipped to deliver a good telecast. As for the game itself, the best team in the conference (USC) is sitting home, one of the participants has fired its coach (UCLA), and the other probably is still stinging from letting a shot at the BCS title game slip away (Oregon). The Ducks quack all the way to Pasadena and another Rose Bowl appearance.
Professor’s Pick: Oregon

Conference USA Championship
Southern Miss (10-2) vs. Houston (12-0)
Saturday, Dec. 3 at Noon ET
Robertson Stadium (Houston)
Television: ABC
Preview: C-USA gets the big-time treatment from ABC as the great Case Keenum and his undefeated Houston Cougars vie for a conference championship and BCS berth against Southern Miss. The Cougars are the nation’s most prolific passing and scoring offense. Keenum will surpass 5000 yards passing in this game, and he tossed 43 TDs during the regular season. UH scores 52 points per game, so the Golden Eagles better try and hold onto the ball. Senior QB Austin Davis is no slouch, with over 3000 yards passing and 24 TD throws. Big surprise – expect plenty of scoring in this one with Houston winning a BCS bid (likely to the Sugar Bowl).
Professor’s Pick: Houston

SEC Championship
LSU (12-0) vs. Georgia (10-2)
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 4:00 ET
Georgia Dome (Atlanta)
Television: CBS
Preview: For many college football followers, the SEC Championship is a bit of an afterthought. Top-ranked LSU is a two touchdown favorite, and barring an unexpected blowout loss (and maybe even with one) the Bengal Tigers have procured a spot in the BCS title game. LSU has really dominated the season. The Tigers trounced Oregon at a neutral site, whipped West Virginia on the road, won the grudge match with Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and overcame pre-season and in-season suspensions to some of their top players. Georgia overcame a great deal too. The Dogs opened the season with losses to Boise State and South Carolina, and I believe coach Mark Richt’s job was in jeopardy with one more loss. The Bulldog leader steadied the team, took advantage of an abnormally soft conference schedule, and rallied his squad to ten straight wins. That’s an impressive streak versus any competition. Offensively, LSU is not fancy. The Tigers try to bludgeon opponents with a downhill rushing attack led by a deep tailback stable. QB Jordan Jefferson is a mediocre passer, but he is pretty clutch and (while not very fast) can escape trouble to extend plays. A key to the game will be whether Georgia’s defense can hold its own along the line of scrimmage. On the opposing sides of the ball, Georgia brings a more balanced offensive attack into the game behind QB Aaron Murray and a host of playmakers. The Dogs have really good, young wide receivers, the best being Malcolm Mitchell. If Murray has time and is accurate – neither is assured – the Dogs have enough weapons to challenge LSU’s vaunted secondary. A key to this Offense-Defense matchup may be Georgia’s rushing attack. The Dogs have been plagued by injuries, suspensions, and lack of toughness at this position. Georgia must get something from the run game to set up Murray’s play-action passing. While LSU may not be too excited to play this one, I just don’t see Georgia’s rushing attack doing enough to help out Murray and the receivers. If the Dogs start fast, they may be in the game late … if LSU starts fast it might get a little ugly.
Professor’s Pick: LSU

ACC Championship
Virginia Tech (11-1) vs. Clemson (9-3)
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 8:00 ET
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC)
Television: ESPN
Preview: Virginia Tech lost by three touchdowns to Clemson earlier in the season, but comes into this game as one of the nation’s hottest teams and a solid favorite. The Hokies feature a really nice offensive combo in huge QB Logan Thomas (6’6 254) and quick RB David Wilson (1595 yards rushing). Clemson faltered late in the season and comes into the title tilt having lost three of four … with all three losses by double-digit deficits. The Tiger offense can be explosive (WR Sammy Watkins may be the most exciting freshman in the country), but it’s tough to see them regaining form this late in the season, especially against a VT defense ranked 6th in the country. With a win, Virginia Tech and ACC supporters may make some noise about the Hokies getting into the BCS title game (sorry Bama fans), but it seems doubtful they would garner enough poll power. An Orange Bowl berth to the winner.
Professor’s Pick: Virginia Tech

Big Ten Championship
Michigan State (10-2) vs. Wisconsin (10-2)
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 8:17 ET
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, IN)
Television: FOX
Preview: Complaint first – why the heck is FOX calling yet another big-time conference championship game? The almighty dollar has skewed common sense. At any rate, this should be a really fine game, albeit a rematch. Earlier in the season, I thought Wisconsin would be the legitimate team to face an SEC champ in the BCS title game … and I still believe they are the best team outside of Dixie. The Badgers lost back-to-back road games in mid-October (to Michigan State and Ohio State), both losses coming on fluky last second plays. Those miscues cost college football fans the best post-season matchup out there (I realize LSU and Bama are probably the two best teams, but I dislike rematches and think Wisconsin is the next best team). Michigan State is a tough, seasoned squad and the Spartans defeated Wisconsin on October 22 with a last second Hail Mary pass that had to be reviewed in the booth. Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson and RB Montee Ball (29 TDS!) will be too much for Sparty in the inaugural Big Ten championship.
Professor’s Pick: Wisconsin

See you at kickoff!

Thanksgiving Professor's Picks

2011-11-24T20:20:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite sports traditions growing up in metro Atlanta was reading Furman Bisher's annual Thanksgiving Day column in which he offered thanks on the blessings in his life. In homage to the ageless Bisher, still going strong in his early 90s, please enjoy these turkey day thoughts (followed by Professor's Picks).

On this beautiful Thanksgiving in north Georgia, among the many thoughts that come to mind ... I am thankful for ...

... a brisk walk on a cold, clear morning.
... a pastor with a sense of humor in the pulpit (and an accurate timepiece).
... a wife who handles all our family financial business.
... a son who loves college football more than I do and knows more about it too.
... my college students; the professor gets older every year but the students stay the same - college professor is the world's best job.
... neighbors that put up Christmas decorations (but not until after Thanksgiving please).
... craftsmen who know how to build things.
... a couple of good lefthanders in the bullpen for the Braves (thanks Venters and O'Flaherty).
... listening to my favorite Bulldog for all those wonderful seasons. Oh, you Larry Munson.

Here's hoping your Thanksgiving was full of family, food, fun, and football!

Professor's Picks

2011 Overall Record: 109-35
Last Week’s Record: 10-6 (ouch again!)

Thursday, November 24

8:00 PM ET No. 25 Texas at Texas A&M ... a great rivalry ends for a while. PP: A&M

Friday, November 25

12:00 PM ET No. 8 Houston at Tulsa ... could the BCS buster get busted? PP: Tulsa

12:00 PM ET Iowa at No. 21 Nebraska ... should be the start of a fine corn-fed rivalry in the B1G. PP: Nebraska

2:30 PM ET No. 3 Arkansas at No. 1 LSU ... Bengal Tigers probably wrap up a BCS CG bid with win. PP: LSU

7:00 PM ET Pittsburgh at West Virginia ... sure hope the backyard brawl survives these teams splitting for different conferences. PP: WVU

Saturday, November 26

12:00 PM ET Iowa State at No. 9 Oklahoma ... Sooners blew a chance to get back in BCS title picture, but should beat tough Cyclones. PP: OK

12:00 PM ET No. 13 Georgia at No. 23 Georgia Tech ... Dogs defense will have its hands full with Tech triple option, so UGA offense better improve. PP: Georgia

12:00 PM ET Ohio State at No. 15 Michigan ... Wolverine fans are counting on turning this rivalry back around in the Big House; better get it done this year because a man named Urban will probably be on the Buckeye sideline next go round. PP: Michigan

12:21 PM ET Tennessee at Kentucky ... Kentucky hasn't beaten Tennessee since I had no gray hairs and was skinny (well, skinnier anyway). PP: UT

3:30 PM ET No. 2 Alabama at No. 24 Auburn ... many expect a Tide rout in the Iron Bowl, but I'm not sure it will be that bad. PP: Alabama

3:30 PM ET No. 5 Virginia Tech at Virginia ... trip to ACC title game on the line in beautiful Charlottesville. Mr. Jefferson's U will be happy. PP: Virginia

3:30 PM ET No. 19 Penn State at No. 16 Wisconsin ... Wisonsin is two fluke plays away from playing for a national title. Bucky in Big Ten's best. PP: Wisconsin

7:00 PM ET Florida State at Florida ... Sunshine State showdown has lost some glamour but athletes still abound. PP: Florida

7:00 PM ET Ole Miss at Mississippi State ... the Egg Bowl should be played Thanksgiving night, but Ole Miss fans just want this season over no matter the day. PP: MSU

7:45 PM ET No. 17 Clemson at No. 12 South Carolina ... the Tigers may have too much offense for the Gamecocks. PP: Clemson

8:00 PM ET No. 22 Notre Dame at No. 6 Stanford ... cannot agree with the way Brian Kelly handled the Irish QB situation this year. No such worries on the Farm. PP: Stanford

See you at kickoff!

Professor's Picks Week 12

2011-11-19T12:30:00.001-05:00

Professor's Picks
Week 12

2011 Overall Record: 99-29
Last Week's Record: 9-6 (ouch!)

Around the SEC

Kentucky (4-6, 1-5 SEC) at Georgia (8-2, 6-1 SEC)
12:21 p.m. ET • SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Athens, Ga. • Sanford Stadium (92,746)
Series Record: UGA leads, 50-12-2 • Last Meeting: Oct. 23, 2010 at Lexington (UGA, 44-31)
Comment: Georgia can wrap up the SEC East and a trip to Atlanta with a win. Bulldogs grab 9th straight victory.
Professor's Pick: Georgia

The Citadel (4-6) at South Carolina (8-2, 6-2 SEC)
12 p.m. ET • South Carolina PPV
Columbia, S.C. • Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250)
Series Record: USC leads, 39-7-3 • Last Meeting: Oct. 20, 1990 at Columbia (CIT, 38-35)
Comment: Most of the eyeballs in Columbia will be scoreboard watching and pulling for Kentucky, but Gamecocks still stifle Citadel.
Professor's Pick: SC

Samford (6-4) at Auburn (6-4, 4-3 SEC)
12 p.m. CT • Auburn PPV
Auburn, Ala. • Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
Series Record: AU leads, 25-0-1 • Last Meeting: Sept. 11, 1993 at Auburn (AU, 35-7)
Comment: Auburn tries to improve bowl options with easy win over Samford.
Professor's Pick: Auburn

Furman (6-4) at Florida (5-5, 3-5 SEC)
1 p.m. ET • Florida PPV
Gainesville, Fla. • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field (88,548)
Series Record: UF leads, 6-2 • Last Meeting: Sept. 22, 1990 at Gainesville (UF, 27-3)
Comment: UF continues SEC vs. Southern Conference weekend. Everybody is tuning up for next week's rivalry games.
Professor's Pick: Florida

Georgia Southern (9-1) at Alabama (9-1, 6-1 SEC)
1 p.m. CT • Alabama PPV
Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,82)
Series Record: First Meeting
Comment: BCS hopes are revived in Tuscaloosa but the Tide must handle the GSU option (in yet another SEC-Southern Conference showdown).
Professor's Pick: Alabama

Mississippi State (5-5, 1-5 SEC) at Arkansas (9-1, 5-1 SEC)
2:30 p.m. CT • CBS Sports
Little Rock, Ark. • War Memorial Stadium (53,955)
Series Record: UA leads, 14-6-1 • Last Meeting: Nov. 20, 2010 at Starkville (UA, 38-31, 2 OT)
Comment: The SEC's top game of the weekend sees the Razorbacks still harboring BCS title hopes. The Bullies will be no pushover, and an upset is not out of the question. Hogs - barely.
Professor's Pick: Arkansas

LSU (10-0, 6-0 SEC) at Ole Miss (2-8, 0-6 SEC)
6 p.m. CT • ESPN
Oxford, Miss. • Vaught-Hemingway Stadium / Hollingsworth Field (60,580)
Series Record: LSU leads, 56-39-4 • Last Meeting: Nov. 20, 2010 at Baton Rouge (LSU, 43-36)
Comment: Just a couple of games left in the Houston Nutt era at Ole Miss. If he keeps suspending players there may not be enough left to finish the year. Bengal Tigers cannot look too far ahead.
Professor's Pick: LSU

Vanderbilt (5-5, 2-5 SEC) at Tennessee (4-6, 0-6 SEC)
7 p.m. ET • ESPNU
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium / Shields-Watkins Field (102,455)
Series Record: UT leads, 72-27-5 • Last Meeting: Nov. 20, 2010 at Nashville (UT, 24-10)
Comment: Everybody is picking Vandy to come into Neyland Stadium and wear out the Vols. Well, almost everybody.
Professor's Pick: Tennessee

Around the Nation

12:00 PM ET No. 16 Nebraska at No. 18 Michigan ... Huskers visit the Big House in a meeting of two storied rivals. Professor's Pick: Nebraska

3:30 PM ET Southern Methodist at No. 11 Houston ... Cougars try to bust into the BCS bowls with a win over the Ponies. Hope the scoreboard has plenty of power. Professor's Pick: Houston

3:30 PM ET No. 21 Penn State at Ohio State ... OK winner gets to hire Urban Meyer? Penn State sure needs some good news, and maybe they'll get some at the Shoe. Professor's Pick: PSU

3:30 PM ET Miami (FL) at South Florida ... were I on the hiring committee at Penn State, one phone call would be made. It would be to Al Golden. He's the perfect choice for the Nittany Lions. However, I think he loses today. Professor's Pick: USF

7:30 PM ET Virginia at No. 25 Florida State ... Cavs try and keep ACC title hopes alive. No. Professor's Pick: FSU

8:00 PM ET USC at No. 4 Oregon ... Give Lane Kiffin credit (as much as it hurts to type that) because he has the Trojans playing about as well as anybody. Ducks are probably a bit too fast. Professor's Pick: Oregon

8:00 PM ET No. 5 Oklahoma at No. 22 Baylor ... Baylor has never beaten OK and the Bears fall again Saturday night. Professor's Pick: OK

8:00 PM ET No. 13 Kansas State at No. 23 Texas ... Longhorns tame Wildcats and improve bowl standing (Cotton anyone?). Professor's Pick: Texas

See you at kickoff!

Professor's Picks Week 11

2011-11-12T11:58:00.001-05:00

Professor’s Picks Week 11

2011 Overall Record: 90-23
Last Week’s Record: 11-4

AROUND THE SEC
GAMES OF SATURDAY, NOV. 12, 2011

Florida (5-4, 3-4 SEC) at South Carolina (7-2, 5-2 SEC)
12 p.m. ET • CBS Sports
Columbia, S.C. • Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250)
Series Record: UF leads, 23-5-3 • Last Meeting: Nov. 13, 2010 at Gainesville (USC, 36-14)
Comment: SC can wrap up the SEC East with a win and a Georgia loss to Auburn. Florida beat a pretty good Vandy team last week, and may be rounding into at least some semblance of an offense. Go with the Gators in an upset.
Professor's Pick: Florida

Kentucky (4-5, 1-4 SEC) at Vanderbilt (4-5, 1-5 SEC)
11:21 a.m. CT • SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Nashville, Tenn. • Vanderbilt Stadium (39,773)
Series Record: UK leads, 40-38-4 • Last Meeting: Nov. 13, 2010 at Lexington (UK, 38-20)
Comment: Two teams struggling for bowl eligibility, but Vanderbilt has looked good since Jordan Rodgers took control at QB. Dores move within a win of going bowling.
Professor's Pick: Vanderbilt

Auburn (6-3, 4-2 SEC) at Georgia (7-2, 5-1 SEC)
3:30 p.m. ET • CBS Sports
Athens, Ga. • Sanford Stadium (92,746)
Series Record: AU leads, 54-52-8 • Last Meeting: Nov. 13, 2010 at Auburn (AU, 49-31)
Comment: Like South Carolina, Georgia can wrap up the SEC East today. The Dogs need to beat Auburn and get help from nemesis Flordida. Tigers had two weeks to prepare for this one and the road team historically plays well. I'm just not sold on this Georgia team although their 7-game winning streak under pressure grows more impressive each week.
Professor's Pick: Auburn

Tennessee (4-5, 0-5 SEC) at Arkansas (8-1, 4-1 SEC)
5 p.m. CT • ESPN2
Fayetteville, Ark. • Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000)
Series Record: UT leads, 13-3 • Last Meeting: Nov. 10, 2007 at Knoxville (UT, 34-13)
Comment: My neighbor will miss his first Volunteer game in twenty-two years Saturday night when he doesn't make the trip to Fayetteville. His home streak still stretches past the thirty-year mark, but hate to see it end. Might be a good one to miss though.
Professor's Pick: Arkansas

Western Kentucky (5-4) at LSU (9-0, 6-0 SEC)
6 p.m. CT • ESPNU
Baton Rouge, La. • Tiger Stadium (92,542)
Series Record: First Meeting
Comment: LSU will suffer a letdown after handling Alabama in the game of the year last Saturday night. Will it be enough to derail their championship drive? Don't think so.
Professor's Pick: LSU

Louisiana Tech (5-4) at Ole Miss (2-7, 0-6 SEC)
6:30 p.m. CT • CSS / ESPN3.com
Oxford, Miss. • Vaught-Hemingway Stadium / Hollingsworth Field (60,580)
Series Record: UM leads, 8-1 • Last Meeting: Oct. 6, 2007 at Oxford (UM, 24-0)
Comment: LA Tech took Miss State Bulldog to overtime, so the Bulldogs stand a good chance to beat the rudderless Rebels. Houston Nutt is gone at the end of the year so he'd like to get a win before attention will turn to his successor.
Professor's Pick: Ole Miss

Alabama (8-1, 5-1 SEC) at Mississippi State (5-4, 1-4 SEC)
6:45 p.m. CT • ESPN
Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (55,082)
Series Record: UA leads, 73-18-3 • Last Meeting: Nov. 13, 2010 at Tuscaloosa (UA, 30-10)
Comment: Many expect Bama to blow out the Bullies after Tide championship hopes took a big hit last week. I'm not so sure they'll have that much fire, but let's give them the solid pick.
Professor's Pick: Alabama

AROUND THE NATION

12:00 PM ET No. 2 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech ... Cowboys must lasso the Red Raiders to keep championship hopes alive. Professor's Pick: OK State

12:00 PM ET No. 19 Nebraska at No. 12 Penn State ... I'm not sure how the Lions regain focus after the tumultuous week in Happy Valley. Maybe the game will serve as a release for them. Professor's Pick: PSU

12:00 PM ET No. 17 Michigan State at Iowa ... winner jumps to front of the pack in the jumbled Legends Division. Professor's Pick: MSU

12:00 PM ET West Virginia at No. 23 Cincinnati ... West Virginia must win to keep any Big East title hopes alive, while Bearcats remain impressive (and under the radar) with no conference losses. Professor's Pick: WVU

12:00 PM ET Pittsburgh at Louisville ... Louisville tries to stay within a game of Cincy in the standings (or move into a tie if the Cats lose). Professor's Pick: Pitt

3:30 PM ET TCU at No. 5 Boise State ... Broncos need another win to keep BCS title shot alive (if it is). Professor's Pick: Boise

3:30 PM ET Texas A&M at No. 14 Kansas State ... I believe A&M will continue to expose the Wildcats. Professor's Pick: A&M

8:00 PM ET No. 7 Oregon at No. 4 Stanford ... Stanford will leap Bama with a win, but the Ducks will be a tough out. Professor's Pick: Oregon

See you at kickoff!

Needing a Hero

2011-11-10T15:21:00.004-05:00

"I need a hero ...
and it's gotta be soon,
and he's gotta be larger than life"

Holding Out for a Hero (Bonnie Tyler, 1984)

* NOTE: For the full site go to thecampusgame.com

There likely have been sadder weeks in sport, but I don't recall one easily.

Joe Frazier died Monday and Joe Paterno was fired Wednesday. Losing those giants could cause even the most optimistic sports fan to go searching for heroes. Seems not many are around these days.

Let's spend a few minutes reflecting about Smokin' Joe first.

Each spring, I have the pleasure of teaching about the great Frazier-Ali rivalry in my sport history course. Their triology of battles between 1971 and 1975 personified the greatest era of American heavyweight prize fighting. I liked both men when they fought, but over time have come to admire Frazier more, both as a boxer and - especially - as a man.

Frazier whipped Ali in their storied matchup of 1971 when both men were undefeated. It was the closest they would ever come to meeting at their peaks (though in fairness to Ali he missed his prime after being stripped of the title in 1967). After Frazier lost a non-title rematch in 1974, the men staged one final epic encounter in Manila in 1975. Frazier's corner (specifically the quiet and gentle Eddie Futch) threw in the towel after the 14th round, unwilling to risk Joe's health for another round. Frazier was ready to keep fighting. Ali won the decision, but Frazier probably did the most damage in the fight - Frazier danced the night away after the fight; Ali went to the hospital.

We could debate their merits inside the ring all day, but outside the ring I think Joe was clearly the better person.

Ali, for all his fortitude in standing up for his religious beliefs and refusing induction into the military, was in many ways a fraud. He decried the racism in America, but was himself racist ... aligning himself with the Nation of Islam and their radical notions of blue-eyed devils, spaceships, and other such vitriol. Ali espoused pious beliefs for the cameras, but cheated on his multiple wives by running around with women like a drunken sailor on shore leave. Ali spoke of respect for his race, but poked fun of the noble Frazier in the most vile terms ... Gorilla, Uncle Tom, ugly ... names that cut Frazier in ways that Ali's lethal left jab never could. Nor was Ali alone. Bryant Gumble, as pompous and gutless a personality as you'll find in national sports coverage, penned an article calling Joe "a white man's n..." using an epithet a white man best not use; a word the spineless Gumble so cavalierly threw out against Joe Frazier - who grew up dirt-poor in South Carolina and faced far greater hardships than Ali (son of a Louisville schoolteacher) or Gumble (son of a New Orleans judge). Gumble is still pulling his tired act, recently comparing NBA players (who earn on average more than $5 million annually) to slaves. I'd give a month's paycheck to go back in time and have Joe dust off Gumble with a left hook.

Frazier wasn't glib, quick-tongued, funny, or silly like Ali. He was ferocious, fearless, and loyal (even giving the spendthrift Ali money at times). He was repaid with hate, jealously, and insults. He deserved better ... he was the better man.

Rest in peace Smokin' Joe ... you were the bravest guy in the ring I ever saw or ever want to see.

Now to the even sadder case of Joe Paterno and the mess at Penn State.

The word so many national pundits use is "unspeakable" as they continually speak about the alleged crimes committed by Jerry Sandusky, Paterno's longtime defensive coordinator.

Obviously, any empathy felt about Joe Paterno is not meant to diminish feelings of anguish, anger, and sympathy for the victims and their families. It's not the same reaction and one should not exclude the other.

The victims are unknown to the general public. They have not been on our television screens, our computer monitors, or in our newspapers for the majority of our lives. Obviously, we felt like we knew Joe - coke bottle glasses, high-wader khakis, black shoes and white socks. My gosh, the last time Paterno was not on the Penn State coaching staff Harry Truman was President. So, yes I hurt for Joe Paterno, for myself because I'll miss him greatly, for college football fans, for American sports fans who loved him. My sadness and hurt regarding Paterno does not diminish in the least what I feel for the victims. Nor should yours.

There's simply no sense to be made of this case.

Why didn't Mike McQueary, a twenty-eight year old 6'2 strapping former Nittany Lion player, stop Sandusky when he caught him harming a child in a deserted locker room shower? Why didn't he call the police right then (and better yet, beat hell out of Sandusky while waiting on them to arrive)?

Why didn't Paterno or his bosses - all the way up to PSU president Graham Spanier - inform the police and make sure Sandusky was put away? There's no rational answer.

Until more information comes out, I refuse to believe Joe Paterno would sweep something like this under the rug to keep from tarnishing his image or that of his program. I refuse to believe it because Joe Paterno is a good man who did great work for his university for over sixty years.

Revisit that word "unspeakable."

In my neigborhood growing up near Atlanta, there was a strange guy that was about seven or eight years older than the kids in my age group (we were about eight or nine). He had a reputation for approaching young boys and offering them free comic books or the like if they'd come to his house and play. We didn't really understand what was going on with the guy, but our parents told us to stay away from him, and when he rode his bike up around our circle (cul-de-sac to you more affluent readers) once too often, my mother went and spoke to his parents. The second time he came back about five of us pelted him with rocks and ran. Looking back, there was nothing ever spoken about what this guy did ... we were told he was weird, we were to avoid him and tell our parents if he came around, but otherwise his behavior was ... unspoken.

Ivan Maisel of ESPN wrote the only piece that has made much sense at all to me in this Penn State story and he spent some time on that word - unspoken. He (presciently) remarked that while Paterno's age never failed him in his coaching duties, it did off the field - tragically so - when he was faced with Sandusky's actions. I can believe that behaviors, even crimes, like those Sandusky is accused of, were unspoken in Joe Paterno's world ... embarrassing matters to be handled quietly and privately.

Does that excuse McQueary, Paterno, Tim Curly (AD), Gary Shultz (VP), or Spanier? No. The university had to rid themselves of all those men (why McQueary is still on staff baffles me). The institution failed to protect children ... and allowed Sandusky free reign around the football complex to continue his evil. That's unforgivable.

In the weeks and months to come nobody will be surprised to find out more heartbreaking, unspeakable acts committed by Jerry Sandusky. It seems too convenient that he retired soon after one of the earliest complaints about him in 1998. The coverup at Penn State may be far worse and more devious than we know right now. It is altogether sickening.

Joe Paterno - a tremendously significant figure in American sport history - failed to do all the he could to stop a staff member from harming children in the most vile way.

That should sadden all of us on so many levels.

At the risk of overload, let me close with comment on heroes.

Those who look to the sports world for heroes are going to be disappointed (same goes for any public profession in America). Look in the mirror and make that person a hero to someone. You be the person that your child reveres. You be the person that is a good neighbor, a good friend, a trusted confidant, a fine spouse, a community leader, a loyal employee, or a kind boss. Don't count on the quarterback, the coach, the baller, or the slugger.

Searching for a hero?

Look in the mirror and find one staring right back at you.

Professor's Picks Week 10

2011-11-05T11:51:00.001-04:00

Professor's Picks Week 10

2011 Overall Record: 79-19
Last Week's Record: 9-5

The professor tries to rebound after a lackluster week as we enter the season's stretch drive. Enjoy the games.

AROUND THE SEC
GAMES OF SATURDAY, NOV. 5, 2011

Vanderbilt (4-4, 1-4 SEC) at Florida (4-4, 2-4 SEC)
12:21 p.m. ET • SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Gainesville, Fla. • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field (88,548)
Series Record: UF leads, 33-9-2 • Last Meeting: Nov. 6, 2010 (UF, 55-14)
Comment: QB Jordan Rodgers is playing really well for Vanderbilt, giving the Dores a nice dual threat. While it would not be a shock for rapidly improving Vandy to gig the Gators, the talent level at the Swamp is still too much to overcome.
Professor's Pick: Florida

New Mexico State (3-5) at Georgia (6-2, 5-1 SEC)
12:30 p.m. ET • CSS / ESPN3.com
Athens, Ga. • Sanford Stadium (92,746)
Series Record: UGA leads, 3-0 • Last Meeting: Sept. 28, 2002 (UGA, 41-10)
Comment: (In my opinion) For six straight games, Georgia coach Mark Richt has been faced with this situation: Win or Lose (your job). Winning against arguably the worst FBS team in America should not be a problem, but with the Dogs you never know. They are down to the bottom of the RB depth chart due to suspensions (3 tailbacks this week!) and injuries.
Professor's Pick: Georgia

Ole Miss (2-6, 0-5 SEC) at Kentucky (3-5, 0-4 SEC)
3:30 p.m. ET • ESPNU
Lexington, Ky. • Commonwealth Stadium / C.M. Newton Field (67,942)
Series Record: UM leads, 27-13-1 • Last Meeting: Oct. 2, 2010 (UM, 42-35)
Comment: One team will get its first conference win of the season. I think Ole Miss is a little better team, but am going to give the home field and hunger edge to Kentucky. Big Blue gets a win as their fans get ready for the hardwood.
Professor's Pick: UK

Middle Tennessee (2-5) at Tennessee (3-5, 0-5 SEC)
7 p.m. ET • FS South / ESPN3.com
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium / Shields-Watkins Field (102,455)
Series Record: UT leads, 1-0 • Last Meeting: Sept. 7, 2002 (UT, 26-3)
Comment: Tennessee is not good enough to take any team for granted, so the Vols better come prepared to handle a Blue Raider offense ranked 22nd nationally. MTSU averages over 460 ypg with a balanced attack, but the defense gives up nearly as much while yielding 34 ppg. Vols score enough to win.
Professor's Pick: UT

South Carolina (7-1, 5-1 SEC) at Arkansas (7-1, 3-1 SEC)
6:15 p.m. CT • ESPN
Fayetteville, Ark. • Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000)
Series Record: UA leads, 12-7 • Last Meeting: Nov. 6, 2010 (UA, 41-20)
Comment: This is a big game for both squads, but it is really huge for South Carolina. If the Gamecocks can get past the Razorbacks, a home victory over Florida next week would earn them a second straight trip to Atlanta and the SEC title game. Might not be getting the hype of the LSU-Bama game, but should be a good one.
Professor's Pick: South Carolina

Tennessee-Martin (5-3) at Mississippi State (4-4, 1-4 SEC)
6:30 p.m. CT • CSS / ESPN3.com
Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (55,082)
Series Record: First Meeting
Comment: State needs two wins for bowl eligibility and with Alabama and Arkansas on the horizon this better be one of them.
Professor's Pick: MSU

LSU (8-0, 5-0) at Alabama (8-0, 5-0)
7 p.m. CT • CBS Sports
Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821)
Series Record: UA leads, 45-24-5 • Last Meeting: Nov. 6, 2010 (LSU, 24-21)
Comment: See "Wrong Place This Evening" post below (by the way, word comes down this morning that the great Smokin Joe Frazier is gravely ill with liver cancer. Keep the champ in your prayers.
Professor's Pick: Alabama

OPEN: Auburn (5-3, 3-2 SEC)

AROUND THE NATION

12:00 PM ET No. 15 Michigan at Iowa ... Wolverines stay in contention by beating Hawkeyes. Professor's Pick: Michigan

12:00 PM ET Texas Tech at No. 21 Texas ... is anybody in the SEC surprised that a Tommy Tuberville team would lay an egg (getting blown out by Iowa State last week) after a big win (beating Oklahoma two weeks ago). The answer is no. Professor's Pick: Texas

3:30 PM ET Texas A&M at No. 6 Oklahoma ... Plenty of offensive fireworks in Norman as the Sooners start climb back toward BCS title game contention. Professor's Pick: OK

7:00 PM ET Cincinnati at Pittsburgh ... Winner may well win the Big East; let's go with Bearcats on the road. By the way, I'll miss these type Big East games - this is a good river rivalry that figures to be lost (same as Pitt-West Virginia). Professor's Pick: Cincy

7:30 PM ET No. 19 Arizona State at UCLA ... Winner plays sacrificial lamb to PAC-12 North champ? Professor's Pick: ASU

8:00 PM ET No. 14 Kansas State at No. 3 Oklahoma State ... OK State stays in BCS contention and becomes second team to expose KSU as a fraud (the Wildcats will lose four games before this season ends). Professor's Pick: OK State

8:00 PM ET Notre Dame at Wake Forest ... Irish are too unpredictable to feel strongly about, but let's say they handle the Demon Deacs. Professor's Pick: ND

10:30 PM ET No. 8 Oregon at Washington ... Huskies can score - but probably not enough to stay with Ducks. Professor's Pick: Oregon

See you at kickoff!

Wrong Place This Evening

2011-11-01T19:31:00.000-04:00

The Wrong Place This Evening
LSU at Alabama

Muhammad Ali - "I'm God! Don't you know I'm God?"
Joe Frazier - "God ... you in the wrong place this evening."

Ali-Frazier I March 8, 1971

He was in the wrong place that storied night at Madison Square Garden (Ali - not God). After fourteen brutal rounds, Frazier launched a left hook in the fifteenth that broke Ali's jaw, knocked him to the canvas, and secured "Smokin Joe" a unanimous decision. It was Ali's first loss.

On Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, two undefeated heavyweights meet when LSU travels to Alabama. Which team will be in the wrong place?

Ali and Frazier battled for the heavyweight title as unbeaten champions, a first in the annals of prize fighting. Ali was the better known man.

As Cassius Clay, he won the light-heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics. In 1964, he upset fearsome Sonny Liston in Miami Beach to win the heavyweight championship and a day later proclaimed his name change and his adherence to the Nation of Islam - he was a "Black Muslim." So little known was this shadowy group to most of black America, and virtually all of white America, the Louisville Lip might as well have announced he was from Mars and adhered to the teachings of Ali Baba.

Ali reigned over the division into 1967 without a loss.

During that time, two social movements in the U.S. gained momentum. The Civil Rights Movement peaked in 1964 (Civil Rights Act) and 1965 (Voting Rights Act) then became more angry and threatening, with semi-fringe groups such as the Black Panthers and the Nation of Islam preaching and practicing a virulent form of rebellion against social and political inequalities. A bit later, the Anti-Vietnam War Movement strengthened. Ali would become a symbol for both groups.

In 1967, Ali's draft status was reclassified, making him eligible for the draft. When drafted, he refused induction (famously proclaiming "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong") and was stripped of his title and boxing license. Ali would not fight again until October 1970. He would whip Jerry Quarry that month and Oscar Bonavena in December as preludes to his "Fight of the Century" with Frazier.

Joe Frazier had quietly moved up the ranks of heavyweight contenders upon winning his own gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

After Ali was stripped of the belt, Frazier emerged as a top contender and won the title from Jimmy Ellis in 1970. He had defended his title once before beating Ali in March of 1971. That bout marked the apex of the finest era in heavyweight prize fighting history.

When Alabama plays LSU this weekend, the game may one day be looked at as the peak of SEC dominance over college football.

Like Ali and Frazier, neither team has lost. They are the top ranked contenders in the sport. It has been nearly six years since a team from another conference has worn the BCS crown.

In this contest, the Tide reminds me of Frazier and the Tigers of Ali.

LSU opened the season in grand fashion, dismantling last season's runner-up Oregon 40-27. Les Miles and his Bengals backed that win up with easy victories over highly regarded Mississippi State and West Virginia in the next three weeks and no team has played them closer than 13 points all year. The Tigers have been a bit controversial too. Starting QB Jordan Jefferson was suspended for his role in a fight outside a bar, then reinstated and now shares time with Jarrett Lee. Two weeks ago, Miles suspended his best offensive player (Spencer Ware) and best defensive player (Tyrann Mathieu) for one game, but they were hardly missed as the Tigers swamped Auburn (last season's BCS champion).

Alabama's trek to the big game has been less eventful, but even more methodical and efficient. The Tide's closest game was a 16-point win on the road over Penn State. Arkansas, the best team Bama has faced this season. fell by 24 points, Tennessee by 31, and Florida by 27. Similar to Frazier getting his shot on the big stage against Ali, this game provides the 2011 Tide team an opportunity to prove its mettle against the best of the best.

Like Ali, I believe LSU is more talented. Like Frazier, I think Alabama is tougher and hungrier.

There may not be a rematch (Ali would come back and defeat Frazier twice), but I'm sticking to the original script.

Frazier over Ali ... Alabama over LSU.

Professor's Picks Week 9

2011-10-29T00:33:00.007-04:00

Professor’s Picks Week 9

2011 Overall Record: 70-14
Last Week’s Record: 11-2

Around the SEC Week 9

Arkansas (6-1, 2-1 SEC) at Vanderbilt (4-3, 1-3 SEC)
11:21 a.m. CT • SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Nashville, Tenn. • Vanderbilt Stadium (39,773)
Series Record: UA leads, 6-2 • Last Meeting: Oct. 30, 2010 at Fayetteville (UA, 49-14)
Comment: Should the Razorbacks rumble past Vanderbilt on the road as expected, they figure to be strong favorites in three upcoming home games (South Carolina, Tennessee, Miss State) before the season finale at LSU. Another BCS bid could be in the offing. Vanderbilt is scrappy and needs two wins to earn bowl eligibility.
Professor’s Pick: Arkansas

Florida (4-3, 2-3 SEC) vs. Georgia (5-2, 4-1 SEC)
3:30 p.m. ET • CBS Sports
Jacksonville, Fla. • EverBank Field (84,000)
Series Record: UF records list UGA leads, 46-40-2 • UGA records list UGA leads, 47-40-2
Last Meeting: Oct. 30, 2010 at Jacksonville (UF, 34-31, OT)
Comment: Around Georgia I’m hearing more and more apathy about Mark Richt and the Bulldogs. Near the end of the Ray Goff regime, many Dog fans felt torn between pulling for their team – in which case the overwhelmed Goff might linger longer in the job – or counting on losses so a coaching change would occur. The animosity is not at that level yet, and Richt has certainly built up much good will, but another loss to Florida would trigger a backlash. It just might happen too. While Georgia has won five straight, the level of competition has been weak. Florida has lost three straight, but played Alabama and LSU back-to-back and then lost at Auburn with a beat up squad. If the schedules were reversed, you’d probably see about the same results. Georgia will probably be without top deep threat Malcolm Mitchell on offense, and the Dogs need a strong game from freshman RB Isaiah Crowell (who’s been a little banged up himself). Florida gets back starting QB John Brantley. Georgia will play this game on a 5 and 1/2 inch space (between their helmet earholes) and I’m just not sure the Dogs are composed enough to handle the stage.
Professor’s Pick: Florida

Ole Miss (2-5, 0-4 SEC) at Auburn (5-3, 3-2 SEC)
6 p.m. CT • ESPNU
Auburn, Ala. • Jordan-Hare Stadium / Pat Dye Field (87,451)
Series Record: AU leads, 26-9 • Last Meeting: Oct. 30, 2010 at Oxford (AU, 51-31)
Comment: Ole Miss arrives on the Plains after losses to Alabama and Arkansas, but the Rebels did play the Razorbacks close last week. Auburn got whipped pretty soundly by LSU (who hasn’t). Neither squad plays much defense, so you may see a lot of points.
Professor’s Pick: Auburn

Mississippi State (3-4, 0-4 SEC) at Kentucky (3-4, 0-3 SEC)
7 p.m. ET • FS South / ESPN3.com
Lexington, Ky. • Commonwealth Stadium / C.M. Newton Field (67,942)
Series Record: UK leads, 21-17 • Last Meeting: Oct. 30, 2010 at Starkville (MSU, 24-17)
Comment: One team finally gets a conference “W” in this battle of teams with identical records. Miss State would seem to be the stronger team, but the Bullies have been overrated quite often this season. Let’s give them one more try.
Professor’s Pick: Miss State

South Carolina (6-1, 4-1 SEC) at Tennessee (3-4, 0-4 SEC)
7:15 p.m. ET • ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Knoxville, TN. • Neyland Stadium / Shields-Watkins Field (102,455)
Series Record: UT leads, 22-5-2 • Last Meeting: Oct. 30, 2010 at Columbia (USC, 38-24)
Comment: Seems like not many still give South Carolina an edge in the SEC East after the dismissal of Stephen Garcia and the season-ending injury to Marcus Lattimore, but the Gamecocks can hold serve with a win on Rocky Top. The Vols hope to use a victory over SC as a springboard to a bowl and they will use freshman QB Justin Worley under center. Many Vol fans questioned pulling the redshirt off Worley in a hopeless cause against Alabama last week … they should keep in mind he’ll probably just be redshirted next season when Tyler Bray returns from injury with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Calling for the moderate upset here.
Professor’s Pick: Tennessee

OPEN: Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC); LSU (8-0, 5-0 SEC) … have you heard? These teams play next week!

Around the Nation Week 9

12:00 PM ET No. 11 Michigan State at No. 14 Nebraska … Spartans are physical, but I think Huskers get enough offense to knock them off in Lincoln. Professor’s Pick: Nebraska

12:00 PM ET Missouri at No. 16 Texas A&M … These SEC teams play a Big 12 game on Saturday; Aggies prove themselves the bigger catch right now. Professor’s Pick: A&M

3:30 PM ET Baylor at No. 3 Oklahoma State … HOpe T. Boone Pickens paid all the electricity bills (or maybe the OSU scoreboards run off wind power); either way plenty of points as the Pokes try and stay in BCS title contention. Professor’s Pick: OK State

3:30 PM ET No. 9 Oklahoma at No. 8 Kansas State … Bob Stoops has lost consecutive conference games … ah, never? K-State gets exposed in the first of what this prof thinks will be at least three losses before season’s end. Professor’s Pick: OK

3:30 PM ET Illinois at No. 19 Penn State … Who is this up and comer coaching the Nittany Lions to another fine season? Joe Pa’s only loss to Alabama, but the Zooker at Illinois might upset the State bandwagon. Professor’s Pick: Penn State

3:30 PM ET Navy at Notre Dame NBC … Last season Navy ran for a few miles against a clueless ND defensive scheme. Last week East Carolina completed around thirty passes in a row against the Middie defense. Something has to give. Let’s say Irish by 42-33. Professor’s Pick: ND

8:00 PM ET No. 5 Clemson at Georgia Tech … This figures to be a nice contrast between the Tigers explosive spread attack, and the Jackets explosive option game. I’ll be tuned in. I want to pick the upset but Tech’s defense scares me too much. Professor’s Pick: Clemson

8:00 PM ET No. 6 Stanford at USC … Is anybody a more graceless winner than Lane Kiffin? We won’t have to suffer him this week because Stanford will whip USC (actually Kiffin’s a graceless loser too so maybe we will have to put up with him). Professor’s Pick: Stanford

8:00 PM ET No. 15 Wisconsin at Ohio State … Wiskey must recover from the heartbreaking loss to Michigan State and I believe the Badgers will. Let the Urban Meyer to Columbus watch begin (oh, am I late on that?). Professor’s Pick: Wisconsin

See you at kickoff!

Almost Heaven

2011-10-25T20:33:00.004-04:00

Almost Heaven
Country Roads Take Me Home
to the place I belong,
West Virginia ...
Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver 1971)

"Almost Heaven, West Virginia," begins John Denver's iconic ode to the Mountain State.

Too bad Mike Slive is no John Denver fan.

When news broke today that West Virginia agreed to join the Big 12, it marked a missed opportunity for the Southeastern Conference.

Slive, the Ivy League-educated (Dartmouth 1962) Southeastern Conference Commissioner, has by all reasonable accounts been a truly successful leader of the nation's premier college football league. As anybody who follows the sport knows, he presides over a group that has captured the past five BCS championships, boasts the top two teams in the most recent rankings, and far surpasses all competitors in attention, attendance, and zeal among fans.

Still, nobody's infallible and I believe it was a mistake for the SEC to pursue Missouri and take a pass on West Virginia.

Deciphering first, second, and third-tier television contract rights, numbers of potential viewers, and marketing footprints of Mizzou vs. the Mountaineers sails far above this old professor's comprehension and interest. But, as a southerner with interest in the league going back to the 1960s I think I have a feel for the SEC - and West Virginia was a better fit than Missouri.

Yes, the Mountaineer football program is probably a notch above the Tigers (but not by much), basketball is about a stalemate. Columbia is certainly more cosmopolitan than Morgantown, and the UM academic reputation exceeds that of WVU (an important consideration for the pseudo-academician Slive and the twelve conference presidents who actually make decisions in the SEC). The state of Missouri has bigger cities, bigger television markets, and may bring a bigger dollar windfall when the SEC renegotiates its contract with ESPN (which still has a dozen years remaining).

All that said - West Virginia is a better fit.

Geographically West Virginia is a better fit. The state is contiguous (touching Kentucky) with the rest of the conference. Missouri borders conference states too, but WVU would fit nicely into the SEC East Division as a counterpart to recent league addition Texas A&M. Just watch, Missouri will be placed in the East initially (so as to save the annual Alabama-Tennessee football game), a glaring exception to the league's current east-west geographic balance and an affront even in this age of map-twisting silliness.

More significantly, West Virginia - the state and university - is a better fit culturally. Whatever aspirations Mike Slive and the SEC presidents have from an academic perspective, the conference will always be sneered at by the likes of the Big Ten and the Pac-12 (welcome to the South boys). West Virginians sound more like us, act more like us, and wanted to join us (in contrast to Missouri - which openly pined for the preening Big Ten only to be rejected).

The SEC missed out on the Mountaineers ... leaving this professor with only a misty taste of moonshine and a teardrop in my eye.

West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home country roads.

The Cowboy in Me

2011-10-21T15:53:00.005-04:00

The Cowboy in Me

I got a life that most would love to have
But sometimes I still wake up fightin' mad
The Cowboy in Me - Tim McGraw 2001

Welcome back to campus where college football coaches and players are apparently channeling their inner "cowboy" from Tennessee to Tucson. Professor's Picks are below, but first a few fightin' words.

This fall's pugilistic proliference actually started before the season when several LSU Tigers celebrated the end of football camp with a parking lot brawl outside a bar called (appropriately enough) Shady's. Starting QB Jordan Jefferson was initially suspended after being charged with felony battery, but was reinstated after the charge was lowered to a misdemeanor.

This past week really got the cowboy blood boiling in a couple of SEC coaches. Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin took offense to some mouthing off by Georgia defensive back Shawn Williams in the aftermath of the Commodores close loss to the Dogs. UGA defensive coordinator Todd Grantham in turn blew his top and engaged in a good, old nose-to-nose screaming session with Franklin (below).

Finally, last night a "knucklehead" (in the great description of ESPN's Rece Davis) prompted a donnybrook between Arizona and UCLA that was far more entertaining than the 48-12 beating administered to the Bruins by the Wildcats.

The fighting filtered down to the high school level as well. Warren County (GA) High head coach David Daniel suffered a severe beating from Hancock Central players after his squad won a road game last Friday night. When Daniel tried to break up a post-game altercation between the teams, a Hancock player allegedly struck him in the face with a helmet and then several players beat him. Daniel suffered crushed bones in his face, but is now out of the hospital.

Since many faculty and students are engaged in Academic Advising this week, allow me to provide some advice for our gridiron grapplers.

1. Coaches get control of your teams. If you promote a cocky attitude and allow the constant jabbering and posturing after even mundane plays - which many college programs do - then you should not be surprised when somebody on the team crosses the line.

2. Coaches get control of your own emotions. Todd Grantham of Georgia is fiery (which a lot of Dog fans like because of the contrast with the placid demeanor of head coach Mark Richt), but he cannot come unglued like he did at Vandy. Watching the game live, I truly thought he might take a punch at Franklin. Similarly, we saw Jim Harbaugh of the 49ers and Jim Schwartz of the Lions tangle after an NFL game last week ... if players see their coaches out of control, why should they maintain their own composure.

3. Administrators get control of everybody. Athletic Directors, conference commissioners, and even college presidents need to be more proactive. The SEC suspended a couple of Georgia players (one for a punch and one for a late hit) and one Vandy player (for a particularly dirty late hit to the back of a knee) for a grand total of .... one half! Boy, that's strong. Still, that's better than the ADs at Vandy and Georgia. Neither publicly addressed the penalties imposed on their childish coaches.

I teach a Sport in Society course spring semesters that addresses ethical issues in sport. All are welcome to enroll.

Professor's Picks

2011 Overall Record: 59-12
Last Week's Record: 10-1

Around the Nation

12:00 PM ET No. 4 Oklahoma State at Missouri ... Cowboys look to keep riding high into Bedlam with a shot to play for BCS title. Professor's Pick: OK State

12:00 PM ET North Carolina at No. 7 Clemson ... following a terrific comeback, the Tigers face the talented but unpredictable Tar Heels. Professor's Pick: Clemson

3:30 PM ET Air Force at No. 5 Boise State ... one of the few tests left for Boise, but the Falcons probably cannot swoop in and derail another unbeaten season. Professor's Pick: Boise State

3:30 PM ET No. 22 Georgia Tech at Miami (FL) ... The Ramblin' Wreck crashed unexpectedly in Charlottesville and must regroup in a tough place against a decent team. Professor's Pick: Miami

7:00 PM ET No. 21 Penn State at Northwestern ... great seasoned coach in Joe Pa against fine young coach in Paddy Fitz - nice matchup. Professor's Pick: Penn State

7:30 PM ET USC at Notre Dame NBC ... the nation's most famous intersectional rivalry moves to prime time in South Bend. Irish are favored and also unveiling new helmets and (most likely) green jerseys but I think USC has a very good chance to spoil the party. Professor's Pick: USC

8:00 PM ET Texas Tech at No. 3 Oklahoma ... Sooners typically handle Tech pretty well. Professor's Pick: OK

8:00 PM ET No. 6 Wisconsin at No. 16 Michigan State ... Really looking forward to this pairing of the Big Ten's most physical teams. Suspension of Sparty's William Gholston is a difference maker. Professor's Pick: Wisconsin

AROUND THE SEC

Headlines (courtesy of SECsportsmedia.com)

• SEC Football Players of the Week for games of Oct. 15 are Alabama RB Trent Richardson (offense), Auburn DE Corey Lemonier and South Carolina FS D.J. Swearinger (co-defense), Auburn P Steven Clark (special teams), LSU OT Chris Faulk (offensive line), Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox (defensive line) and South Carolina WR Bruce Ellington and Georgia OLB Ray Drew (co-freshman).

• The SEC has six teams ranked in this week’s AP poll and the consensus 1-2 teams in the major polls. LSU and Alabama are ranked 1-2 in the AP, Harris Interactive and BCS Rankings this week.

• Ole Miss DE Jason Jones is this week’s SEC Community Service Player of the Week.

• The SEC has a 29-4 mark in non-conference games this season (87.9 percentage). The mark is second this season to the Big 12’s 26-3 (89.7 percentage) record.

• LSU has won at least two SEC road games every season since 2001. The 11-year streak is the longest in the conference.

• Vanderbilt’s 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Andre Hal against Georgia was the first allowed by an SEC team this season.

• LSU’s 16-play, 99-yard, 8:44 touchdown drive against Tennessee is the longest in the SEC this season in all three categories.

• The Auburn-LSU series (Saturday, CBS Sports, 2:30 p.m. CT) is the ninth closest in the SEC since 2000 with an average margin of 11.27 points. Six of the 11 games during the time have been decided by nine-points-or-less.

SEC Professor's Picks

Jacksonville State (5-1) at Kentucky (2-4, 0-3 SEC)
12 p.m. ET • ESPNU
Lexington, Ky. • Commonwealth Stadium / C.M. Newton Field (67,942)
Series Record: First Meeting
Comment: Kentucky will take a win against any level, but Gamecocks are not pushovers.
Professor's Pick: UK

Arkansas (5-1, 1-1 SEC) at Ole Miss (2-4, 0-3 SEC)
11:21 a.m. CT • SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Oxford, Miss. • Vaught-Hemingway Stadium / Hollingsworth Field (60,580)
Series Record: UA records list UA, 31-25-1 • UM records list UA, 30-26-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 23, 2010 at Fayetteville (UA, 38-24)
Comment: Rebels look like worst team in the league while Razorbacks are not out of title contention just yet. Houston Nutt would love to knock off his old team, but don't think he has the squad to do so.
Professor's Pick: Arkansas

Auburn (5-2, 3-1 SEC) at LSU (7-0, 4-0 SEC)
2:30 p.m. CT • CBS Sports
Baton Rouge, La. • Tiger Stadium (92,542)
Series Record: LSU leads, 24-20-1 • Last Meeting: Oct. 23, 2010 at Auburn (AU, 24-17)
Comment: The suspensions of two top LSU Tigers hurts, but Auburn will be throwing a new starting quarterback (Clint Moseley) into the din of Death Valley against one of the nation's top defenses. I still think Les Miles is going to harm LSU's title chances by expanding the number of snaps Jordan Jefferson gets at QB. I've noticed what looks like a decline in confidence by Jarrett Lee ... Jefferson should not be playing in this professor's gradebook.
Professor's Pick: LSU

Army (2-4) at Vanderbilt (3-3, 1-3 SEC)
6 p.m. CT • ESPNU
Nashville, Tenn. • Vanderbilt Stadium (39,773)
Series Record: Tied, 4-4 • Last Meeting: Oct. 10, 2009 at West Point (Army, 16-13, OT)
Comment: James Franklin better calm down this week or an Army coach might really show him how to handle an altercation. Improving Commodores should beat Cadets.
Professor's Pick: Vandy

Tennessee (3-3, 0-3 SEC) at Alabama (7-0, 4-0 SEC)
6:15 p.m. CT • ESPN2
Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821)
Series Record: UA leads, 47-38-7 • Last Meeting: Oct. 23, 2010 at Knoxville (UA, 41-10)
Comment: This great old southern rivalry may be on its last legs because the game is probably gone (at least on an annual basis) if Missouri joins the SEC. For that matter, Vol fans might prefer not to play it this year.
Professor's Pick: Alabama

OPEN: Florida (4-3, 2-3 SEC), Georgia (4-2, 3-1 SEC), Mississippi State (3-4, 0-4 SEC), South Carolina (6-1, 4-1 SEC)

See you at kickoff!

College Football Fall Break 2011

2011-10-14T01:01:00.000-04:00

College Football Fall Break

Welcome back to campus.

Most colleges follow a semester course schedule which means this week - midpoint of the semester - includes the dreaded midterm exams but also the treasured Fall Break (a couple of days with no classes). Fall Break 2011 finds the college gridiron schedule a bit light on big-time games, so hopefully students allotted plenty of study time for tests, papers, and presentations (what - you don't think so?).

This prof is knee-deep in grading such assignments, but still has made time to provide midterm grades and professor's picks.

MIDTERM GRADES

Class Clown ... Steve Spurrier. The ol' head ball coach (shown below studying a new backfield formation) refused to hold his weekly press conference with columnist Ron Morris of The State newspaper in the room. Spurrier claimed he was upset over a 7-month old story Morris had written, but this seemed to be more a case of the ball coach throwing up a smokescreen so he wouldn't have to answer questions about dismissing troubled QB Stephen Garcia. That's an F in the professor's gradebook.

Dean's List ... the top academic honor halfway through the season goes to "The Hat" and LSU. Les Miles may not wear a mortar board perched atop his head, but he and the Bengal Tigers are heading for Summa Cum Laude status for overcoming a preseason scandal that cost them starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson. The Tigers devoured solid competition including Oregon, Miss State, West Virginia, and Florida. With Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas, and a potential SEC title game still to come, the Tigers would certainly earn their BCS championship game appearance by winning out (and maybe even with 1 loss).

Honor Roll ... Alabama appears to play the nation's best defense to this point of the season; Wisconsin's offense has blended the talents of new QB Russell Wilson seamlessly into the Badger power run game; Oklahoma and Oklahoma State seemed destined to decide the Big 12 and perhaps a BCS title game berth; Boise State mashed Georgia in the Broncos one annual big game.

Incompletes with High Marks ... the winner of Georgia Tech and Clemson has a really good shot at an undefeated regular season (they meet in Atlanta in late October). Clemson might deserve a higher rating, but I'm not sold on the Tigers just yet (nor on the Tech defense); Stanford and QB Andrew Luck look terrific, but have played a cupcake schedule; Michigan is off to yet another fast start but the Wolverines have gotten out of the gate in similar fashion the last few years only to stumble (however their schedule is favorable).

Failing ... Ohio State fans can begin pooling their money to try and lure Urban Meyer or Chris Petersen to Columbus; the Arizona administration - yes Mike Stoops lost a bunch in a row but wasn't the program in a mess when he took over?; Pitt, Syracuse, and the ACC - while the rest of college athletics is driven by football, ACC Commissioner John Swofford must have lent his ear to Coach K from Duke by bringing two basketball schools with mediocre football programs into a league full of schools with similar resumes. All he probably accomplished was to kill the Big East; Realignment - so would people in NYC really rather watch Rutgers play NC State than Alabama play Florida? This talk of expanding because of television markets seems awfully short-sighted to me ... fans want to see good football programs (that's why the Big 10 move to accept Nebraska was a fit). I realize academics play a larger role than many might imagine, but please spare me that conferences are inviting or decling membership based on a school's academic reputation - not the case.

Professor's Picks Week 7

2011 Overall Record: 49-11
Last Week’s Record: 11-2

AROUND THE NATION

Saturday Oct. 15 Games

12:00 PM ET No. 11 Michigan at No. 23 Michigan State (ESPN) ... State stops Brady Hoke's unbeaten string by controlling Denard Robinson. Professor's Pick: Michigan State

12:00 PM ET No. 20 Baylor at No. 21 Texas A&M (FX) ... The Aggies haven't done much to excite SEC fans since garnering the coveted invite a few weeks ago; they get back on track against the Bears. Professor's Pick: TAMU

12:30 PM ET Miami (FL) at North Carolina ... Al Golden is a prof's favorite although I'm not sure his Hurricanes can beat a pretty good NC team. Hey, he wears a shirt and tie on the sideline, that's good enough for me. Professor's Pick: Miami

3:30 PM ET No. 6 Oklahoma State at No. 22 Texas (ABC/ESPN) ... Texas tries to recover from a massive beating at the hands of Oklahoma, and must do so against one of the nation's highest scoring offenses. Cowboys lasso Bevo. Professor's Pick: OK State

3:30 PM ET Ohio State at No. 16 Illinois (ABC/ESPN) ... Can the Zooker keep it going another week? Ohio State is showing some signs of improvement but the Illini have a lot of confidence. Professor's Pick: Illinois

10:15 PM ET No. 18 Arizona State at No. 9 Oregon (ESPN) ... This could be a preview of the PAC-12 championship game because the Sun Devils almost assuredly will be there (the Ducks will settle the North when they face Stanford). Oregon makes a statement. Professor's Pick: Oregon

AROUND THE SEC

SEC Headlines
(courtesy SECSportsMedia.com)

• SEC Players of the Week for games from Oct. 8 are Connor Shaw, QB, South Carolina (offense); Mike Gilliard, ILB, Georgia (defense); Blair Walsh, PK, Georgia (special teams); Will Blackwell, OG, LSU (offensive lineman); Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State (defensive lineman); and, Tevin Mitchel, CB, Arkansas (freshman).

• Six different SEC teams are listed in the top 25 of the three major polls – USA Today Coaches, Harris Interactive and AP polls. In the USA Today poll, LSU and Alabama are second and third, followed by Arkansas 11th and South Carolina 13th. In the Harris Interactive poll, LSU and Alabama are 1-2, followed by Arkansas 11th, South Carolina 15th and Florida 25th. In the AP poll, LSU and Alabama are 1-2 followed by Arkansas 10th, South Carolina 15th and Auburn 24th.

• The SEC now has a 29-4 (.879) non-conference winning percentage this season, which is second to the Big 12 (26-3, .897). Since 1992, the SEC is 714-221-2 in all non-conference games (including bowls) for a 76.3 winning percentage.

• In five SEC home games last week (Week 6), the total attendance was 447,627, an average of 89,525 fans per game. The average capacity of the five games was 99.68 percent. In 40 SEC home games this season, the total attendance is 3,104,673, which is an average of 77,617 fans per game. The average capacity so far this season is 95.37 percent. 18 of 40 games have been sell-outs.

• Three of SEC's 5 highest active players with most TDs scored have as many TDs as games played (Trent Richardson, UA – 31 games/31 TDs; Marcus Lattimore, USC – 29 games/19 TDs; Vick Ballard, Mississippi State – 25 TDs/18 games).

• Georgia and LSU are the only SEC teams to have scored first in all of its games this season.

• Florida has the SEC’s best mark against AP Top 25 teams since 1989. During that time, the Gators are 68-52-1 (.566) against AP Top 25. Alabama is second with a .519 winning mark (54-50-1).

GAMES OF SATURDAY, OCT. 15

South Carolina (5-1, 3-1 SEC) at Mississippi State (3-3, 0-3 SEC)
11:21 a.m. CT • SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (55,082)
Series Record: USC leads, 7-6
Last Meeting: Sept. 29, 2007 at Columbia (USC, 38-21)
Comment: The Gamecocks never got to enjoy their best performance of the season (a pasting of Kentucky) because of the dismissal of Stephen Garcia and the childishness of Steve Spurrier this week. They really cannot afford a loss with Georgia breathing down their neck in the East.
Professor's Pick: SC

LSU (6-0, 3-0 SEC) at Tennessee (3-2, 0-2 SEC)
3:30 p.m. ET • CBS Sports
Neyland Stadium / Shields-Watkins Field (102,455)
Series Record: UT leads, 20-8-3
Last Meeting: Oct. 2, 2010 at Baton Rouge (LSU, 16-14)
Comment: Last year was a vintage crazy finish on the bayou, a game Tennessee should have won. This time around the Vols are struggling and the Tigers are rolling.
Professor's Pick: LSU

Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC) at Ole Miss (2-3, 0-2 SEC)
5 p.m. CT • ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium / Hollingsworth Field (60,580)
Series Record: UA leads, 44-9-3
Last Meeting: Oct. 16, 2010 at Tuscaloosa (UA, 23-10)
Comment: Look at the stat above ... Ole Miss has only beaten Alabama 9 times in the history of the rivalry. Does anybody think the Rebs will make it into double digits this week? I agree with you.
Professor's Pick: Alabama

Florida (4-2, 2-2 SEC) at Auburn (4-2, 2-1 SEC)
6 p.m. CT • ESPN / ESPN3.com
Jordan-Hare Stadium / Pat Dye Field (87,451)
Series Record: AU leads, 42-38-2
Last Meeting: Sept. 29, 2007 at Gainesville (AU, 20-17)
Comment: For my money the most intriguing SEC game this weekend. The Tigers finally got thumped a bit at Arkansas last weekend, while the Gators got steamrolled for a second consecutive week (first by Alabama and last week by LSU). Florida must be a beaten up team at this point and with all the problems on offense this season could get away from new coach Will Muschamp in a hurry. Auburn is clever enough to score some on the Gators and I think that will be the difference.
Professor's Pick: Auburn

Georgia (4-2, 3-1 SEC) at Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-2 SEC)
6 p.m. CT • FS South / ESPN3.com
Vanderbilt Stadium (39,773)
Series Record: UGA leads, 51-18-2
Last Meeting: Oct. 16, 2010 at Athens (UGA, 43-0)
Comment: Regardless as to how terrible Georgia looked to open the season, many people now favor the Dogs in the East. I still give the edge to South Carolina, but Georgia should win at Vandy and then head into a bye week before the Cocktail Party in Jacksonville.
Professor's Pick: Georgia

OPEN: Arkansas (5-1, 1-1 SEC); Kentucky (2-4, 0-3 SEC)

See you at kickoff!

Professor's Picks Week 6

2011-10-08T13:29:00.001-04:00

Professor’s Picks
Week 6

The professor returns after a two-week hiatus due to an academic overload. Enjoy the picks.

2011 Overall Record: 38-9
Last Week’s (Week 3) Record: 10-2

12:00 PM ET No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 11 Texas ... Red River Shootout regains some luster with revival of Longhorns. Not sure this one will make the highlight reels of The Longhorn Network though because Sooners seem strong. Professor's Pick: Oklahoma

12:00 PM ET Maryland at No. 13 Georgia Tech ... the Ramblin Wreck quietly appears one of the most likely teams in America to finish unbeaten; the option offense is dynamic (defense is weak) and should turn Terps to turtle soup. Professor's Pick: Georgia Tech

2:30 PM ET No. 19 Illinois at Indiana ... the happy Zooker at Illinois saves his job more often than any coach that comes to mind. Indiana is woeful, but wouldn't it be just like the Illini to lose? Nah ... Professor's Pick: Illinois

3:00 PM ET Boston College at No. 8 Clemson ... Clemson had the best September in sports this side of the St. Louis Cardinals, but BC has been a thorn in Tigers' paws over the years. Dabo's boys stay unbeaten. Professor's Pick: Clemson

3:30 PM ET No. 17 Florida at No. 1 LSU CBS ... the premier SEC matchup of the week matches two terrific defenses. LSU should win the game, especially since Florida is without starting QB John Brantley. Baton Rouge on a Saturday night is no place for the Gator's freshman backup Jeff Driskel to learn on the job. My only concern with LSU is the presence of quarterback Jordan Jefferson. The team leader and former starter returned from suspension last week; working him back into the lineup could be tricky for the Hat. Professor's Pick: LSU

3:30 PM ET Miami (FL) at No. 21 Virginia Tech ... Hokies try to rebound after a loss to Clemson while the U tries to remain in the Coastal race. Let's go with the Gobblers. Professor's Pick: VA Tech

3:30 PM ET Air Force at Notre Dame NBC ... the Irish defense was hit and miss against option attacks last season, getting shredded by Navy but shutting down Army. The fly boys swoop into South Bend but could suffer a little letdown after sinking the Middies last week. Professor's Pick: ND

7:00 PM ET Vanderbilt at No. 2 Alabama ... Tide cannot fall asleep against Commodores but should continue to roll, probably all the way to the early November meeting with LSU. Professor's Pick: Alabama

7:00 PM ET No. 15 Auburn at No. 10 Arkansas ... if anybody can figure out Auburn, please let me know. The Tigers are either very lucky or very well-coached (but probably both). The Arkansas offense lit up Texas A&M to the tune of 500+ yards ... this one could be close. Professor's Pick: Arkansas

7:00 PM ET No. 12 Michigan at Northwestern ... are Brady Hoke and the Wolverines really contenders? Probably not and the Wildcats may have enough offense to outscore Denard Robinson and the winged helmets. Professor's Pick: Upset Special Northwestern

7:00 PM ET No. 24 Texas A&M at Texas Tech ... the Red Raiders are the quietest unbeaten team in America. This will actually be the real shootout in the Lone Star state this weekend, but let's say Aggies get back on track. Professor's Pick: Texas A&M

7:00 PM ET Georgia at Tennessee ... Dogs have rounded into form after two ragged losses to open the season. The Vols will throw the league's top passing team at them and pull a mild home upset. Professor's Pick: Tenneseee

8:00 PM ET Ohio State at No. 14 Nebraska ... think Nebraska might want to make amends for the putrid effort in Madison last week? The struggling Buckeyes might be the perfect foil for them. Professor's Pick: Nebraska (big)

See you at kickoff!

Against the Wind

2011-10-06T00:08:00.000-04:00

Against the Wind

"It seems like yesterday
but it was long ago ...
I'm older now but still running
against the wind"

Against the Wind - Bob Seger 1980

Derek Dooley was an unhappy camper. Literally.

The site was Jekyll Island, circa late July to early August of 1984 or so, on a hot Friday morning. Derek and about 100 of his closest buddies were running against the wind - against the wind of the Atlantic Ocean blowing along the coast of Georgia's Golden Isles.

Yellow football helmets, adorned with bright red stripes down the middle and a "C" on the sides, lay stretched in a zig-zagged pattern in ten-yard intervals far into the sandy distance as the Clarke Central High School football team suffered through the world's longest "hat" drills.

It was the last morning of Clarke Central's annual football camp, but instead of readying for the traditional scrimmage that marked the end of a grueling week, a little good-natured "conditioning" was being doled out by legendary Gladiator head coach Billy Henderson (pictured below).

Seems young master Dooley and a few compadres and team leaders had been observed sneaking back into the team hotel after curfew the night before (names omitted to protect the guilty - but let's just mention that one is now the head baseball coach at a major university in Athens). Presumably the wayward band had been trying to rendevous with some visiting Clarke Central co-eds staying on nearby St. Simon's Island.

A young staff member at the time coaching mostly 9th and 10th graders (C and B teams in CC vernacular), I stood on the beach with a few other coaches including Chuck Conley, Greg "Curly" Neal, and the late, great Ben Scott, as the sad Glads trudged by. An unparalled needler, offensive coordinator Scott jeered and snapped pictures with an old Polaroid camera as Dooley and a cluster of the perpetrators passed us ... I've still got a snapshot in a shoe box somewhere of the "salutes" the players gave us while we heckled them.

It seems like yesterday, but it was long ago.

The old Clarke Central Gladiator tight end is now a young head coach at Tennessee, and this week his second Volunteers team welcomes the Georgia Bulldogs to Neyland Stadium in a pivotal game.

Bulldog coach Mark Richt has been running against the wind himself of late.

Coming off a 6-7 record in 2010 and an 8-5 mark in 2009, Richt has gone from universally respected and mostly revered among Georgia fans to a coach who might not be able to afford many more stumbles.

A disastrous loss to Boise State in the season opener and a sloppy home defeat against South Carolina put the Dogs into an 0-2 hole record-wise, but - more significantly - sent hope among the program's fans plummeting and Richt's reputation among the faithful spiraling down.

The team steadied itself with consecutive wins over Coastal Carolina, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State, but this week's game in Knoxville is huge.

In the short term, a win places Georgia squarely in the midst of the SEC East race, and in normal years would solidify the Dogs as the division favorite. Their schedule is by far the easiest among division contenders. The Dogs do not play Alabama, Arkansas, or LSU from the West, they get Auburn at home, and nemesis Florida looks vulnerable. Throw in Auburn's upset of South Carolina last week, and a trip to Atlanta and the SEC title game is there for Georgia's taking.

More broadly, beating Tennessee in Knoxville would send a message that the Georgia program is actually on sound moorings. The Dogs signed a terrific freshman class and many of the "dream team" are now contributing (especially running back Isaiah Crowell and receiver Malcolm Mitchell). Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham may be finding his bearings at the college level in his second season from the NFL. Heck, there's even word that a new Uga mascot may be unveiled soon to replace interim stalwart Russ.

But - first comes this trip to the banks of the Tennessee River.

Derek Dooley was a young man runnin' those many years ago ... now he and his Vols are searching for a win.

Mark Richt and his Dogs must have one or he may find himself surrounded by strangers he thought were his friends.

The losers of this game?

They'll be riding against the wind the rest of the 2011 season.

Professor's Picks

2011-09-17T12:04:00.001-04:00

Professor's Picks
Week 3

Grades slipped last Saturday as Auburn, Michigan, and Vanderbilt knocked off Miss State, Notre Dame, and U Conn respectively. The professor tries to get the class back on track on this weekend that features a few stellar pairings.

2011 Overall Record: 26-7
Last Week’s Record: 10-3

Best Pick: No games stood out, so let's go with Texas over BYU (and that says something about the current state of the Longhorns).

Worst Pick: Auburn continued a long trend of baffling this old prof, knocking off a disappointing Mississippi State team with a goal-line stand at the final whistle.

Around the South

GAMES OF THURSDAY, SEPT. 15

LSU (2-0) at Mississippi State (1-1)
7 p.m. CT • ESPN
Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (55,082)
Series Record: LSU leads, 68-33-3 • Last Meeting; Sept. 18, 2010 (LSU, 29-7)
Comment: LSU won 19-6

GAMES OF SATURDAY, SEPT. 17

Auburn (2-0) at Clemson (2-0)
12 p.m. ET • ABC Sports
Clemson, S.C. • Clemson Memorial Stadium (81,500)
Series Record: AU leads, 34-11-2 • Last Meeting: Sept. 18, 2010 (AU, 27-24, OT)
Comment: Two tough teams to figure out. Both sets of big cats have used up some of those nine lives, but the Auburn Tigers have looked a little better.
Professor's Pick: Auburn

Ole Miss (1-1) at Vanderbilt (2-0)
11:21 a.m. CT • SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Nashville, Tenn. • Vanderbilt Stadium (39,773)
Series Record: UM leads, 47-36-2 • Last Meeting: Sept. 18, 2010 (VU, 28-14) Comment: Vanderbilt could wake up a few people by knocking off Nutt's Rebels ... let's say they do.
Professor's Pick: Vanderbilt

Coastal Carolina (2-0) at Georgia (0-2)
1 p.m. ET • Georgia PPV / ESPN3.com
Athens, Ga. • Sanford Stadium (92,746)
Series Record: First Meeting
Comment: Coastal coach David Bennett provided Georgia fans with their first bit of fun all season with his passionate defense of head Dog Mark Richt (if you haven't listened, click the link and prepare to laugh). As long as his Chanticleers don't knock off UGA, he'll still be a fan favorite after Saturday. Also, The Campus Game would like to wish a get well soon to longtime favorite Larry Munson.
Professor's Picks: Georgia

Tennessee (2-0) at Florida (2-0)
3:30 p.m. ET • CBS Sports
Gainesville, Fla. • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field (88,548)
Series Record: UF leads, 21-19 • Last Meeting: Sept. 18, 2010 (UF, 31-17)
Comment: This is a huge early season SEC East game. The winner joins South Carolina as a co-favorite in the division. It looks to be a battle between Florida's fast and stingy defense against Tennessee's young slinging QB Tyler Bray. The Vols still seem a little green to beat the Gators in the Swamp (but don't be too surprised if they do - how's that for hedging?).
Professor's Pick: Florida

Navy (2-0) at South Carolina (2-0)
6 p.m. ET • ESPN2
Columbia, S.C. • Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250)
Series Record: USC leads, 4-3 • Last Meeting: Nov. 12, 1988 (USC, 19-8)
Comment: After a slighlty scary comeback from a 17-0 deficit in Week 1, and an emotional and fortunate victory over Georgia, the Gamecocks could be ripe for a letdown. The Middies offense is tough to get ready for anytime, so a close game is certainly feasible. SC may be at the point where they can win even if not totally sharp emotionally.
Professor's Pick: SC

Louisville (1-1) at Kentucky (2-0)
7 p.m. ET • ESPNU
Lexington, Ky. • Commonwealth Stadium (67,942)
Series Record: UK leads, 14-9 • Last Meeting: Sept. 4, 2010 (UK, 23-16)
Comment: The battle of the bluegrass state pits two teams that have not been impressive in spite of the 3-1 combined record. I think Kentucky is slightly better.
Professor's Pick: UK

North Texas (0-2) at Alabama (2-0)
6:30 p.m. CT • FS South / ESPN3.com
Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821)
Series Record: UA leads, 3-0 • Last Meeting: Sept. 19, 2009 (UA, 53-7)
Comment: Oh my, tune in early to listen to Eli Gold because the contest is likely to be over real quickly. Tide rolls.
Professor's Pick: Alabama

Troy (0-1) at Arkansas (2-0)
6:30 p.m. CT • CSS / ESPN3.com
Fayetteville, Ark. • Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000)
Series Record: UA leads, 3-0 • Last Meeting: Nov. 14, 2009 (UA, 56-20)
Comment: Bobby Petrino's Razorbacks are rooting around out of sight and out of mind for many college football fans. That will change when they tangle with Alabama soon. A nice tuneup in Troy.
Professor's Pick: Arkansas

Around the Nation

West Virginia at Maryland ... two new coaches and two pretty decent teams. I'll take Mountaineers on the road. Professor's Pick: WVU

Pitt at Iowa ... New Panther coach Todd Graham usually wins quickly and he's catching the Hawkeyes after a tough loss to in-state rival Iowa State. Will it be enough? No. Professor's Pick: Iowa

Michigan State at Notre Dame ... the Spartans are physical and for the past decade or so have really given the Irish fits (remember last year's fake FG win?). ND has outplayed both South Florida and Michigan but only have a tough-to-swallow 0-2 record to show for it. Can't stick with the Irish bandwagon another time. Professor's Pick: MSU

Ohio State at Miami ... the Canes Al Golden is one of the up and coming coaches in my opinion, and I think Miami beats under-achieving Ohio State. Professor's Pick: Miami

Oklahoma at FSU ... although this is a battle of Top 5 teams, neither impresses me so much at this point (just not sold on either squad). The Sooners traditionally struggle on the road against highly-ranked teams under Bob Stoops, but it's been a while since FSU won a game with national implications. Oklahoma is probably a bit more sound. Professor's Pick: Oklahoma

See you at kickoff!

New Campus Game Site

2010-10-01T15:58:00.003-04:00

The Campus Game has a new site and new look ... but the same purpose: to provide serious college football fans with news, commentary, and information on America's most exciting sport - the campus game - college football!

Visit our new site by clicking here.

Thanks.

New Star in SEC?

2010-07-22T12:15:00.005-04:00

Robbie Caldwell.

You don't know him.

Neither do I. Nor do the rest of the football media gathered here on the outskirts of Birmingham. Even the other SEC head coaches don't know him.

That's too bad for us.

Make no mistake, there is a new media star in the conference (at least for a year) and he is the head football coach at Vanderbilt.

At his appearance in the main press room at SEC Football Media Days this morning, the recently named interim head Commodore sounded like Jerry Clower while mentioning among other things:

Turkey farming.

Pouring concrete.

Pipe fitting.

Frog Gigging.

Hunting.

Fishing.

Watermelon.

Cussing.

Oh yeah, a little football too.

Coming across like your favorite uncle or the best high school coach you ever played for, Caldwell entertained the gathered media with his country accent, self-deprecating sense of humor, openly emotional personality, and quick one-liners.

Whether he'll be able to hold on to the Vandy job for more than just a season may be questionable, he certainly has one group behind him - the football writers gathered here in Hoover.

You can check out the SEC's newest coaching star by visiting the conference website (see links on side) and following football prompts to the media days video clips.

It'll be worth your time.

SEC Media Day Questions

2010-07-19T19:32:00.006-04:00

Like the girl in the Zac Brown Band song, the SEC's got whatever "it" is.

Look no farther than Hoover, Alabama, for proof.

For many southern football fans, SEC Football Media Days kick off the college football season.

The event brings to mind dual pep rallies.

Upstairs at the Winfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alabama, the annual gathering of league coaches, selected players from each school, and hundreds of national and local media could pass for a big, corporate pep rally. Which it is of course.

Downstairs, a hotel lobby-full of fans decked out in team colors and seeking autographs, pictures, or handshakes from coaches and players is much like a college or high school pep rally. Which it is of course.

A pep rally the SEC Media days may be, but they are typically not much with regard to making news.

Coaches are exceptionally well-versed in sticking to scripted answers (although Steve Spurrier cannot help himself on occasion). Players are similarly prepared, their answers so clean and non-controversial, often seeming like young politicians training for future campaign races.

Commissioner Mike Slive is smoother and a more commanding presence than any of the politicians seeking election in this month's primaries. He provides concise, positive information about the conference, and deftly addresses controversial topics.

While breaking news may be rare, there are legitimate questions that can be addressed at these media gatherings.

Here are several I would like to see answered this week (some are on-field related, others deal with off-field topics):

1. How will individual programs and the SEC as a whole address the growing problem of agents jeopardizing the eligibility of players by offering them financial (or other) inducements?

Reggie Bush and USC may be the most notorious characters in this story right now, but with recent news of an agent hosting dozens of returning college stars at a party in south Florida, a true quagmire may be on the near horizon.

2. Are any programs close to breaking the Alabama-Florida stranglehold on the two conference divisions?

The quick answer based on preseason prognostications is an emphatic "NO." Nick Saban at Bama and Urban Meyer with the Gators stand shoulder-to-shoulder astride the top of the league, and none of the other coaches can see above the well-polished shoetops of those two.

3. If the division crowns seem to have been conceded, how does the rest of the league stack up?

In the East, South Carolina is a perennial tease, Georgia has underachieved the past two years, Tennessee is coming off a tumultuous twenty-four months, and the Kentucky-Vandy duo is not near championship caliber (although UK is certainly closer than the Commodores). If things fall into place just right, Carolina and/or Georgia could feasibly take the title (unlikely though).

On the other side, the Crimson Tide faces stronger challengers, but even with significant personnel losses still figures to roll over the rest of the West. Arkansas must learn to play defense, LSU needs consistency under center and on the sidelines, Auburn will have a brand-new signal caller as will Ole Miss, and Mississippi State still lacks the talent to compete over the long, arduous season. A semi-educated guess would place Arkansas and LSU atop the challenger list (scheduling has something to do with that).

4. Who are the most important players in the league this season ... not necessarily the best players - those most important to the success of their respective teams?

Here are four that immediately come to mind:

Aaron Murray - Quarterback Georgia. The highly touted redshirt freshman is the only new starter on offense for the Dogs. Should he play well, Georgia might provide the biggest challenge to Florida.

Stephen Garcia - Quarterback South Carolina. An enigmatic junior (who seems like he has been in Columbia a decade), Garcia needs to make plays and eliminate mistakes to give Steve Spurrier a chance at another championship. If he doesn't the head ball coach figures to have a quick hook.

Dont'a Hightower - Linebacker Alabama. This huge (260 lb) inside linebacker earned freshman All-America honors in 2008, but missed the Tide title season with an injury. Hightower will be counted on to stabilize an Alabama defense that lost eight starters, including his predecessor as emotional leader, Rolando McClain.

Cameron Newton - Quarterback Auburn. Notice a trend here? The SEC lost a whole lot of experienced QBs. Newton is a former Florida transfer and Terrell Pryor look-alike who could pose big problems for defenses if he can master the intricate spread attack of the Tigers.

5. Although it's only July ... what games look to be the premier matchups this fall?

There are quite a few ... here are five listed in predicted order of significance:

Florida at Alabama (October 2): The league's two juggernauts square off at the Capstone. This could be the regular season game of the year ... in the nation, not just the SEC.

Alabama at Arkansas (September 25): If the Hogs hope to take the West, they'll need to stem the Tide in Fayetteville. Arkansas plays at Georgia the week before, while Bama is at Duke, but this is also the Saturday before Alabama-Florida ... so it could be a trap game for Bama.

Georgia at South Carolina (September 11): These two teams should be the main challengers to Florida in the East. Losing this game will not absolutely eliminate one from the race, but will certainly damage title hopes.

Alabama at LSU (November 6): Yet another installment of the Saban-Miles saga. The animosity toward Saban has waned somewhat among Tiger faithful, but if the defending national champs roll into Baton Rouge undefeated, it will be a big time on the bayou.

Clemson at Auburn (September 18): While the game will have no bearing on the conference race, it is a nice ACC-SEC pairing and could be indicative of how much a threat both sets of Tigers will be in their respective leagues.

-------------------

Note: Live at the SEC Media Days ... Heisman winner Mark Ingram just finished his remarks. Nick Saban led off the afternoon session after comments from Commissioner Mike Slive. BCS head Bill Hancock spoke to media this morning.

Crumley Interim AD for Dogs

2010-07-06T14:05:00.001-04:00

Frank Crumley will serve as interim Athetic Director while the University of Georgia conducts a national search to replace Damon Evans.

Four to Consider for Dogs AD

2010-07-06T05:50:00.001-04:00

With the dismissal of Damon Evans, the focus inside the Butts-Mehre Building at the University of Georgia now turns to his successor as Athletic Director.

A familiar firm seems likely to lead the search.

Zach Klein of WSB-TV in Atlanta (he has been at the forefront of coverage since the Evans scandal broke) reports that Parker Executive Search of Atlanta will recommend the new AD. Headed up by Georgia alum Dan Parker, the group is well-respected in college athletics and previously played a significant role in the hiring of Dr. Michael Adams as President, Evans as Athletic Director, and Mark Fox as Men's Basketball coach (although those first two names might not provide much confidence for some Bulldog fans).

While the Parker firm typically keeps a tight lid on research and recommendations, here are pros and cons of four potential search targets, plus two that should be considered. Click on any name for a bio link.

Greg McGarity (Florida)

Pros: Without question, Greg McGarity will be the favored choice of rank-and-file Bulldog fans. A native Athenian, a UGA alum, and a former varsity athlete (tennis), McGarity paid his dues at various assignments within the Georgia athletic department before moving to Florida in 1992. He has an even and friendly disposition, and has worked for two of the premier intercollegiate leaders of the last three decades (Vince Dooley at Georgia and Jeremy Foley at Florida). A safe, seasoned, and sound choice.

Cons: Although McGarity was long gone before the Michael Adams-Vince Dooley saga of the late 1990s, the president might see him as too closely allied with the Bulldog legend.

Eric Hyman (South Carolina)

Pros: The well-respected AD of the Gamecocks has the kind of curriculum vitae that would quickly turn the head of an academician like Michael Adams. Top man in Columbia since 2005, Hyman was formerly athletic director at TCU, Miami of Ohio, and VMI. A prolific fund-raiser and national leader among his peers, Hyman would certainly bring steadiness, experience, and prestige to Athens. He was reportedly a finalist when Evans was hired.

Cons: While Georgia is probably a more nationally recognized department (keep in mind the Gamecocks just won the College Baseball World Series) than SC, the move could be seen as a lateral one. Also, Hyman and his family are Carolinians (he and his wife are UNC grads, and Eric also earned a masters degree at Furman).

Carla (Green) Williams (Georgia)

Pros: A former varsity basketball star for the Lady Dogs, Williams would bring continuity to what appears from the exterior to be a smoothly functioning department. She also carries a bit of academic heft having earned a Ph.D. in sport management from Florida State (although she has never published or presented research to my knowledge). The prospect of naming the first female athletic director in the SEC would probably be appealing to the always image-conscious Adams. It would be difficult seeing her stand up to the powerful president either (which would be a pro for her hiring prospects).

Cons: The hiring of Williams would promote someone young, only moderately experienced, and would come with more than just a whiff of political correctness. Would seem simply a distaff Damon Evans hire to many.

Mark Lewis (Jet Set Sports)

Pros: Do not let the cartoonish company name fool you, Mark Lewis brings more business credentials to the table than any of the other candidates for the position. Son of former Bulldog defensive coordinator Bill Lewis, Mark grew up in Athens, attended Clarke Central High, and was a long-snapper for the Bulldogs. Boasting experience with the U.S. Olympic Committee, at General Electric, and now at Jet Set (an international event planning company for the Olympics), Lewis has overseen budgets that dwarf even that of a large athletic department. Still has ties to Athens as his brother Geoff is a teacher and coach in nearby Oconee County. Lewis would be a somewhat bold choice.

Cons: Lack of experience as an athletic director would be the first that jumps out, although his business background would likely supersede such concerns. One thing he might not be able to overcome is his link to the Dooley years. His dad was Vince's defensive coordinator for nearly a decade.

Two others that deserve consideration:

Claude Felton ... one of the top sports media people in the nation, Felton is universally admired within the UGA athletic department and throughout college athletics generally. Retained (apparently after some reservations by Adams/Evans) when he was passed over for Evans, Felton has remained a steadfast part of the Bulldog operation. Not an exciting pick perhaps, but Michael Adams could do much worse.

Frank Crumley ... Typically considered second in command to Evans, Frank Crumley is a senior associate AD in charge of finance. With Georgia annually ranking as one of the most profitable departments in the nation, Crumley deserves much of the credit for keeping a close eye on all those Bulldog bucks. Talented, relatively young, and seen as an up-and-comer, his candidacy might be tainted by his close ties to Damon Evans (although it shouldn't be).

Evans and Adams Should Go

2010-07-02T09:42:00.005-04:00

Damon Evans should be fired as Athletic Director at the University of Georgia.

Consider that unlikely pending further details of his arrest.

Michael Adams should have long ago been fired as President of the University of Georgia.

He was not, and is in no danger of losing his job now.

Two of the three most visible and powerful people at the state's flagship university are unfit to lead (the third - head football coach Mark Richt - should not be mentioned in the same company as Evans and Adams).

Evans was arrested by the Georgia State Patrol on Wednesday night in Atlanta after being spotted driving erratically, and charged with driving under the influence. Evans refused breathalyzer tests, and his unfortunate mug shot will likely be a lasting image.

To make matters more unseemly, Evans - a married father of two - was with a 28 year-old woman (not his wife) when pulled over near midnight. At his brief and unenlightening press conference Thursday evening, Evans called the woman just "a friend." Perhaps.

The man who will decide the professional fate of Damon Evans is similarly unfit for leadership.

UGA President Michael Adams is a political brawler. He cut his teeth working for then U.S. Senate majority leader Howard Baker, and later as an aide to Governor Lamar Alexander (now U.S. Senator), both of Tennessee. That those two respected southern gentlemen would have someone as slimy as Adams representing them is not a positive mark on their records.

Since taking the helm in Athens in 1997, Adams has presided over a period of tremendous growth at UGA, something that very likely would have happened whether he or someone else was living in the President's Mansion on Prince Avenue.

He is best known for controversial - and ethically questionable - decisions.

Adams fired football coach Jim Donnan in 2000 after consecutive 8-win seasons, against the wishes of longtime Athletic Director and Bulldog coaching legend Vince Dooley. Adams was later found to have doled out a secret payment to Donnan as well.

After butting heads with Dooley (who is most responsible for the ultimate hiring of Mark Richt as head coach), Adams engaged in a death-match struggle and forced the most influential icon in Bulldog athletic history out of his job. Adams replaced Dooley with Evans. While calling him a "yes-man" might be too strong (the Athletic Department has continued to roll along successfully under Evans) ... if anyone can document a decision by Evans that went against the views of Adams, I would enjoy reading it.

Adams has other leadership lapses on his curriculum vitae as well.

He was responsible for hiring the reprehensible Jim Harrick as men's basketball coach. He reimbursed the institution for questionable personal expenditures, paid a stipend from university funds to his wife (who once famously called the police when a group of basketball students came to the President's home to complain about the dismissal of Harrick), and was embroiled in a controversy concerning the oversight of excessive spending on an "ecolodge" in Costa Rica.

His handling of the Dooley debacle caused enmity from a throng of loyal Bulldog boosters, and many withdrew donations. While the overall fund-raising efforts of the university have grown under Adams, there seems little doubt the level could have been higher had so many Dooley loyalists not been alienated.

Adams and Evans both earn taxpayer money.

In fiscal year 2009, Adams earned $607, 417.98 in salary with another $7779.14 in travel according to state records. The same report showed Evans earning $420,000.00. His recent $90,000 pay increase goes into effect today.

Adams and Evans work for you, me, and the rest of the citizens of Georgia. Their salaries come from our paychecks. They are eligible (if they choose to participate) to reap thousands upon thousands of retirement dollars through the bloated state retirement system.

Neither man is fit for his office.

Damon Evans should be fired. Michael Adams should go with him.

Consider both unlikely. For now.

Preseason Publications

2010-06-16T16:02:00.002-04:00

While college football provides year-round entertainment and grist for gossip among many fans, the month of June really kicks off the countdown to the coming season.

That's because the always popular preseason publications are available at your favorite magazine stand.

If you are one of those fans that grew up enjoying the pocket sized Peek's Guide or waiting for the slick and shiny new Street and Smith's every summer, you know the great fun yearbooks provide.

A relative newcomer to the field arrives this week from the The Kickoff, a venerable weekly publication covering college football from the Chattanooga area since 1951. Owner/publisher Bill Hope and editor Jim Gumm just wrapped up their second preseason annual. It's an attractive and informative yearbook (for which I was proud to contribute the SEC preview section) and I encourage you to find a copy at your local news stand or order online by clicking on the link above or picture below.

As your budget allows, please support college football publishers by purhasing the preseason annuals.

Conference Realignment: Wild Wild Whispers

2010-06-11T17:41:00.017-04:00

A Wild, Wild Whisper
by Bob Epling
The Campus Game
June 12, 2010

There's a wild, wild whisper blowing in the wind ...
(Lady Antebellum - American Honey)

This is the second of a series of columns on the current state of big-time college football. Part Two examines potential conference expansion and realignment, and the factors driving these significant changes. Part One provided an introduction to and explanation of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS).

Those wild, wild whispers about conference expansion and realignment in college athletics have now become a roaring reality.

The Big Ten, accelerating an expansion schedule first publicized by conference commissioner Jim Delany in December, will soon formally accept Nebraska's application to join.

The Pac-10 yesterday announced the admission of Colorado into the league.

The reeling Big 12 Conference, jilted league to both the Cornhuskers and the Buffaloes, will in all likelihood soon lose four or five other members to the plunderers from the Pacific Coast.

The institutions left behind and those conferences not yet directly involved in the tumult warily wait and watch, some seeking to strengthen their current circumstances, others simply hoping for a safe, soft landing spot.

The topic of conference expansion has dominated newspapers and online publications for the past couple of weeks. This article seeks to summarize the current status of conference realignment, and identify the main reasons for these changes. A future column will take up the mostly unexplored question of what impact these seismic realignments will have on college football bowls.

Here is a recap of the current realignment status.

The Big Ten may or may not stop with the addition of Nebraska (it seems likely the conference will add two to four more members). Among the schools considered to be primary Delany targets are Notre Dame, Maryland, Rutgers, Syracuse, and possibly Pitt and Missouri.

Out West, Pac-10 Commissioner Larry Scott seems intent on expanding to sixteen teams by adding nearly the entire Big 12 South to the league rolls. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas Tech reportedly favor accepting invitations, while Texas A&M seems to be wavering slightly between joining them or trekking east to the Southeastern Conference. I expect the Aggies to stick with their conference colleagues and flee west.

The Big 12 might not be dead, but life support may be in order and the electricity plug could be pulled next week should the exodus to the Pac-10 occur. Remaining members Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri could be scrambling to find a new home or might be part of an effort to keep the league together by luring new schools. Should the latter happen, expect schools such as TCU, SMU, Louisville, Memphis, and others to be mentioned.

Notre Dame, probably the Big Ten's top target, is clinging to its long-held football independence but the Irish have to be sweating on behalf of all the other sports on campus. Those teams need the structure of a league to thrive ... should the Big Ten pillage the Big East, ND could be forced into accepting an invitation to protect all the sports other than football. Ironic and unenviable.

The SEC, typically a proactive bunch, had been on the sidelines until reports this week that Texas A&M might be open to an invitation (Texas obviously would be accepted with open arms but the Longhorns are apparently averse to the idea). Should the Aggies shun their Big 12 South brethren and move to the SEC, the conference would likely look to the ACC to even out its membership (Virginia Tech?). If the Aggies do the expected and go west, I believe the SEC will wait before making major moves ... unless these new super-conferences are granted two automatic BCS bowl bids (a topic to be addressed in the next article in this series).

What is driving this expansion and realignment?

1) Finances: Unsurprisingly, money plays the predominant role. Only two sports generate money in most college athletic programs - football and men's basketball, with football far and away the primary breadwinner. College presidents and athletic directors are constantly seeking new revenue streams; if a super-sized conference increases the budget significantly expect them to join. Similarly, institutions must weigh the financial boon versus potential new costs. Texas A&M is not awash in money like the University of Texas, so a trip for the women's volleyball team to Pullman, Washington, probably seems mighty costly to the Aggies.

2) Academics: I had a coversation today with Bob Epling (no relation but a great guy with a heckuva name). Mr. Epling is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, and former President of the Orange Bowl Committee. He addressed many of the factors I am listing here, and emphasized that too often fans overlook the academic influence in this process (especially considering that college presidents are the main decision makers - not athletic directors). For example, the Big Ten already had twelve member schools even before admitting Nebraska ... the University of Chicago is also a Big Ten member, even though the former school of Amos Alonzo Stagg does not compete in athletics. Similary, the Big Ten seeks new members that share commonalities in academic pursuits (all schools in the league are members of the Association of American Universities - AAU). One reason Texas seems intent on going to the Pac-10 instead of the SEC is because the Longhorn administration probably sees broader benefits from being associated with Stanford, Cal, USC, etc.

3) Personality Dynamics: Every one of these conference moves includes its own dynamics. One reason the Big 12 appears to have disintegrated so quickly is because of internal tension between the Texas teams (specifically Texas) and the Big 12 North schools (especially Nebraska). Tom Osborne, Cornhusker AD, is about as steady a guy as you'll find in college sports, but even he has occasionally expressed frustration at the southern slant of the league. Remember the Big 12 is (was?) less than two decades old, and it is a somewhat unwieldy alliance of the old Southwest Conference and the Big Eight. It was never a good fit. Another example - former Alabama coach Gene Stallings is a trustee at his alma mater Texas A&M, and some media reports indicated he is one of the biggest advocates of exploring options with the SEC before jumping into the Pac-10.

4)Television Contracts: This could just as easily be cited as part of #1, but the huge television contracts garnered by the Big Ten (through subscription fees paid to the Big Ten Network), the SEC (through recent 15 year deals with CBS and ESPN), and even the ACC (through recent contracts with ABC and ESPN) have helped move the expansion train. The Pac-10 and the Big 12 would be negotiating new contracts soon and want to leverage their assets as much as possible to gain maximum dollars.

5) Marketing Footprint: Fans think about expansion differently than college presidents, athletic directors, and league commissioners. While the SEC might be even stronger from a competitive standpoint by inviting Florida State, Miami, or Clemson into the fold, what do those teams do to drive revenue? The University of Florida already provides an entry into the lucrative and populous Sunshine State, and the U of South Carolina does the same for the Palmetto State. Other than making the football divisions even stronger, what else would those schools add to the league's footprint? That's why Texas A&M and Virginia Tech make more sense. Each brings a new territory ... more viewers, more recruits, new markets. The Big Ten does not care near so much about geography as about a marketing footprint. Thus, Rutgers and Maryland are popular expansion targets (to bring New York City and Washington DC into the league's footprint).

Finally, what impact will all these moves have on bowls?

As a traditonalist, an historian, and a lover of college football bowl games large and small, that is a question on my mind.

Please visit again for Part Three of this series to read about the anticipated effects of college conference realignment on the grand old bowl games.

2010 Hall of Fame Class

2010-05-27T15:14:00.003-04:00

The National Football Foundation announced the 2010 class today.

The most prominent name on the list is the late Pat Tillman, former linebacker at Arizona State and defensive back in the NFL, who enlisted in the military in the aftermath of 9/11 and was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan.

Two SEC schools had players earn Hall honors.

Former Arkansas center Ronnie Caveness played for Frank Broyles from 1962-1964 when the Razorbacks were part of the old Southwest Conference.

Jerry Stovall was an All-American halfback at LSU, where he succeeded legendary Heisman winner Billy Cannon. Stovall finished second in Heisman voting in 1962 (to Terry Baker of Oregon State), and later coached the Bengal Tigers.

Two coaches were elected.

Gene Stallings won the 1992 national championship at Alabama, and was a member of Bear Bryant's famed "Junction Boys" as a player at Texas A&M.

Current Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez won back-to-back Rose Bowls as head coach of the Badgers, the only Big Ten coach to accomplish that feat. He and Woody Hayes are the only Big Ten coaches to win three Rose Bowls.

The complete list of inductees is below.

Players

•DENNIS BYRD - DT, North Carolina State (1964-67)
•RONNIE CAVENESS - C, Arkansas (1962-64)
•RAY CHILDRESS - DL, Texas A&M (1981-84)
•RANDY CROSS - OG, UCLA (1973-75)
•SAM CUNNINGHAM - RB, Southern California (1970-72)
•MARK HERRMANN - QB, Purdue (1977-80)
•CLARKSTON HINES - WR, Duke (1986-89)
•DESMOND HOWARD - WR, Michigan (1989-91)
•CHET MOELLER - DB, Navy (1973-75)
•JERRY STOVALL - HB, LSU (1960-62)
•PAT TILLMAN* - LB, Arizona State (1994-97)
•ALFRED WILLIAMS - LB, Colorado (1987-90)

Coaches

•BARRY ALVAREZ - 118-73-4 Wisconsin (1990-2005)
•GENE STALLINGS - 89-70-1 Texas A&M (1965-71) Alabama (1990-96)

BCS 101: An Introduction

2010-04-23T17:38:00.013-04:00

BCS 101:
An Introduction to Big Time College Football
by Bob Epling
The Campus Game
May 7, 2010

This is the first of a two-part series on big-time college football. This article provides an introduction to and explanation of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). Part Two examines potential conference expansion scenarios ... something college football fans should expect to happen over the summer.

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) is a set of five post-season college football games.

The primary purpose of the BCS is to match the nation's two top-rated teams against each other in a championship game. A second (self-proclaimed) goal is to provide compelling pairings in the other four BCS bowl games.

The five games that comprise the BCS are:

* BCS Championship Game
(site rotates among four cities below)
* Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona
* Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida
* Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
* Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana

The selection process for placing ten teams into those five bowls can cause controversy, though the BCS is not always at fault (conference tie-ins to specific bowls and the tie-breaking methods conferences use to determine champions are bigger problems). The champions from six big-time college football leagues, dubbed the "BCS" conferences, automatically qualify for the five bowls.

The BCS Conferences are:

* Atlantic Coast (ACC)
* Big 12
* Big East
* Big Ten
* Pacific 10 (PAC-10)
* Southeastern (SEC)

Several of those conferences have affiliations with the BCS bowls (meaning the conference champion goes to the affiliated bowl unless that champion earns a berth in the BCS championship game). The conference bowl affiliations are:

* ACC - Orange
* Big 12 - Fiesta
* Big East - No Tie-in
* Big Ten - Rose
* PAC-10 - Rose
* SEC - Sugar

After those six teams are determined, the other four slots go to "at large selections" ... either a second team from the BCS conferences or teams from outside those leagues (no conference can send more than two teams to the BCS bowls). The pool of teams to fill the at-large spots include:

* Notre Dame and other Independents
* Non-Champions from the six BCS conferences
* Teams from the five other major college football conferences: Conference-USA (CUSA), Mid-America (MAC), Mountain West, Sun Belt, Western Athletic (WAC)

Teams from outside the BCS conferences can guarantee entry to the BCS bowls by meeting certain criteria. The BCS released a memo last month explaining the new guidelines ... greater access to BCS bowl bids means greater access to the huge financial payouts that accompany such bids.

The top two teams in the final BCS standings each season meet in the BCS Championship Game.

Those BCS rankings are calculated by averaging a team's standings in three categories: the Harris Poll, the USA Today Coaches Poll, and a composite computer ranking based on six computer rating systems.

The Harris Poll is comprised of 114 panelists drawn at random each season from a list of 300 names provided by the 11 major football conferences and independents. The panel includes former coaches, players, administrators, and current and former media members. To view the 2009 panel (and their votes) click here.

The USA Today Coaches Poll is a weekly vote from 59 members of the USA Today Board of Coaches (who are members of the American Football Coaches Association). You can see the list and their final 2010 votes by clicking here.

The six computer polls vary in methodology and a full explanation is outside the scope of this article, but a list of the polls and links to their sites are available by clicking here.

The BCS is a favorite punching bag among many college football fans and media, and occasionally from coaches, administrators, and politicians (although typically only when their favorite teams have been left out of a preferred bowl).

On the flip side, the BCS provides a financial windfall to all eleven of the major college football conferences. It also supports a bowl system that has benefitted college football since the first Rose Bowl in 1901.

As a traditionalist and a college football historian, I strongly prefer the BCS to a playoff.

Coming Soon in Part Two: Conference Expansion ... Welcome to the Big Sixteen?

American Sports

2010-04-09T09:04:00.010-04:00

Like the azaleas at Augusta this week, sport across America is in full bloom.

Every college football team remains undefeated as the squads grind through spring practices. Soon spring games conclude, and the annual preseason publications will hit the newstands (more on those in a future post).

April and May are such great months in American sport.

The Final Four just concluded with record-setting victories for Duke and Connecticut. Coach K of the Blue Devils tied legendary Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp with his 4th NCAA championship (trailing only John Wooden of UCLA). The Duke win over Butler was a classic.

Geno Auriemma of the Huskies won his 7th NCAA crown, moving him one behind Tennessee's Pat Summitt. His team has also won 78 straight games, going undefeated in back-to-back seasons.

As the Final Four wrapped up, Major League Baseball started.

Here in Atlanta, 20-year old rightfield phenom Jason Heyward smacked a homerun on his first major league swing for the Braves in front of a sold-out crowd on a postcard perfect afternoon.

About the time Heyward cracked a fastball into the rightfield seats, Tiger Woods made his return to competitive golf a couple hours east at The Masters. The event itself teed off Thursday with a stellar leaderboard featuring Fred Couples, Phil Mickelson, Tom Watson, and Woods.

The NFL draft will grab attention next weekend when our favorite college football stars learn their professional destinations.

The month of May will soon bring us those iconic American sports events: the Kentucky Derby and the Indianapolis 500. Throw in the NBA and NHL playoffs and sports fans could not ask for more.

Enjoy!

Notre Dame Recruit Tragedy

2010-04-03T09:32:00.004-04:00

According to reports from the Panama City News Herald (and various online sources), Notre Dame football recruit Matt James died Friday night after falling from a hotel balcony in the Florida vacation beach town. James was 17 years old.

Considered the top signee in new Irish coach Brian Kelly's first recruiting class, James was expected to contend for playing time at tackle in the fall. High school teammate and fellow Irish recruit Luke Massa was reportedly with James when the accident occurred.

SEC Spring Football Dates

2010-03-03T19:53:00.003-05:00

Courtesy of the SEC Offices, here are the spring football dates for conference members:

Spring Practice Dates (Start / Finish)

Alabama - March 12 / April 17
Arkansas - March 30 / April 24
Auburn - March 24 / April 19 (Spring Game – April 17)
Florida - March 17 / April 10
Georgia - March 4 / April 10
Kentucky - March 31 / April 24
LSU - Feb. 26 / March 27
Ole Miss - March 27 / April 17
Mississippi State - March 23 / April 17
South Carolina - March 16 / April 10
Tennessee - March 18 / April 17
Vanderbilt - March 17 / April 10

Hall of Fame?

2010-02-19T17:37:00.004-05:00

Ok - this is not me, but it's probably my favorite newspaper headline ever ... maybe some day!

You Can't Always Get ...

2010-01-28T06:00:00.006-05:00

College Football Recruiting
"You Can't Always Get What You Want"
by Bob Epling, The Campus Game

"You can't always get what you want ...
but if you try sometimes, you just might find ...
You get what you need ..."
(The Rolling Stones 1969)

Just like Mick and the boys from Britain sang, you best believe coaches are trying real hard to get what they need right now.

Yes, it's recruiting season.

With a week remaining until NSD (National Signing Day) coaches are still trying hard to land the talent, while fans wander the web to find out the latest leanings and rumors.

But, do fans truly understand what their teams actually need?

Welcome back to The Campus Game, where you'll always find just what you need to keep up with the great American game - college football.

This week, instead of looking at recruiting from the perspective of a fan's "wants" ... let's analyze from a coach's needs.

Defense: Know Your School's Alignment

4-3 or 3-4?

You probably read frequently about whether a team will use a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive scheme or alignment. My two favorite teams (Georgia and Notre Dame) both just made the switch from the former to the latter. With Alabama coach Nick Saban ascendant on the college scene (Saban is college football's foremost proponent of the "3-4"), expect even more squads to play copycat.

So what do those numbers mean?

Simply put, they refer to the number of defensive players near the ball before each snap, and to how those players are aligned.

Originally called the "50 defense" or "Oklahoma 50," the 3-4 scheme calls for three defensive linemen to play "down" (meaning with their hands literally on the ground). The one in the middle (nearest the center) is the nose tackle, the other two (lined up on the outside shoulders of the offensive tackles) are called ends.

The other four players in the 3-4 are now commonly called linebackers: two outside linebackers (OLB) and two inside linebackers. The inside backers are often labeled "Sam" (for strong side - usually lining up closer to the tight end side) and "Will" (for weak side - usually away from the tight end); they line up on the outside shoulders of the offensive guards but a few yards away from the line of scrimmage. The OLBs line up close to the line of scrimmage, on the outside shoulders of the last men on the offensive line. These outside linebackers can either penetrate, hold their ground, or drop into pass coverage. All four linebackers line up in a "two-point" stance - meaning they are standing.

The 4-3 originated as a variation of the 3-4 or old Oklahoma 50.

In this alignment, there are four "down" linemen. Two defensive tackles line up on the outside shoulders of the opposing offensive guards. Two defensive ends line up on the outside shoulders of the last men on the offensive line.

Backing them up are three linebackers. The Sam and Will designations explained above still hold; between those two comes the "Mike" (or middle linebacker).

The defensive backfield typically consists of two cornerbacks (playing nearer the sidelines of the field) and two safeties (playing nearer the middle of the field).

Before we leave alignments, realize all teams shift personnel to take into account opposing attacks (for example removing one or two of the front seven and replacing them with extra defensive backs). With the proliferation of the spread offense, some teams (most notably Florida) make their base defense include five defensive backs (the Gators regularly use a 4-2-5 alignment).

How Does Alignment Affect Recruiting?

Let's focus solely on the defensive fronts. Given that all defenses would love big, strong, fast players at every position, as a fan you should be aware of your squad's specific personnel needs.

Those personnel needs are different for the 3-4 and the 4-3.

In the 3-4, three positions require a lot of girth: the nose tackle and the two defensive ends. Ideally, your team lands a huge, mobile "two-gap" nose tackle like Bama's Terrence Cody. The two-gap tag means that your nose tackle can occupy two gaps ... the space between offensive linemen. Cody could occupy the gaps on either side of the center, forcing offenses to allot two men to block him.

If you cannot find a two-gap guy, then your team might have to rely on a smaller (relatively speaking) one-gap nose tackle. Using this style, the nose would shoot gaps and try to penetrate into the opposing backfield on nearly every snap. New Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham does a great job explaining how undersized Jay Ratliff of the Dallas Cowboys makes all-pro as a one-gap nose tackle.

The defensive ends also need to be jumbo sized in the 3-4. Most of the pass rush in this alignment will come from blitzing outside linebackers, so you want your team to have ends in the 3-4 that can clog up the opposing run game. By the way - for the old-timers and traditionalists out there (including me) - to us, the modern "end" in a 3-4 is what we'd call a tackle in "50" terminology.

On to the 4-3. Your team better be able to recruit even more size up front.

Your squad will have two huge tackles lined up inside, and two more large (and agile) defensive ends that must be able to rush the passer and fend off run blockers. My beloved Fighting Irish have had much trouble recruiting defensive linemen for many years ... moving to a 3-4 puts less a premium on recruiting these highly coveted athletes because you only need three instead of four.

While I actually prefer the 4-3 alignment (and almost all coaches who can get the athletes to run it would use it), the 3-4 is probably more unpredictable.

One of the two outside linebackers is going to be rushing the passer on virtually every play - so in both schemes you have a minimum of four pass rushers. The difference is that in the 3-4, offenses cannot be sure which OLB will be charging the quarterback.

So ... What Does Your Team Need?

When your team inks its new recruiting class next Wednesday, you should really be able to analyze the defensive front haul based on your team's needs (rather than your wants). Those needs are based on the alignments we just addressed.

Here are some points of analysis to measure whether your school had a successful recruiting season:

In the 3-4 ...

Did you seek one-gap or two-gap nose tackles? If you land a big guy or two (300+ lbs. or so) you might have the coveted two-gapper. If your nose guys are all in the 280-300 lb. range, expect your defensive coordinator to be shooting the gaps.

Did you land at least two more big defensive linemen to fill the run-stopping requirements of those defensive end positions?

Look closely at players labeled linebackers. Did you get at least two or three rather tall (6'4 to 6'6), rangy athletes quick enough to rush the passer, strong enough to take on run-blockers, and agile enough to drop into pass coverage? If so, those are your outside linebackers.

In the 4-3 ...

Where's the beef?

Your squad better stock up on plenty of big bodies. Depending on your returning roster, every recruiting class usually needs at least two big monsters (300+ lbs. - height is not paramount) to man the tackle positions, and probably four big athletes (at least 6'2 and between 260-280 lb. range) to handle the tough defensive end slots.

Did you sign good size and numbers at linebacker and in the secondary?

Doing so fills two needs. Obviously, you need three LBs and four defensive backs on the field in your base defense. So, numbers are important.

The other benefit is that these guys often grow into another position. Miami in the 1980s, 90s, and early 2000s made a living by turning secondary recruits into smallish, fast linebackers (think Ray Lewis and Jonathan Vilma), and linebacker recruits into smallish, fast defensive linemen (think Cortez Kennedy and Warren Sapp).

You Just Might Find

College football fans celebrate National Signing Day next week as one contest when there are no losers. Every team will sign a whole bunch of good players.

Some of you will be disappointed because your team didn't get everything you wanted.

But, if you try real hard (and analyze), you just might find ... you get what you need. Oh yeah.

See you at kickoff!

College Football Warm Fire League

2010-01-23T06:00:00.002-05:00

The Warm Fire League

Welcome back to The Campus Game and our first 2010 college football "Warm Fire League" discussion.

Sports fans recognize the warm fire term as a takeoff on the old baseball tradition of "hot stove" leagues. Not official leagues, the phrase simply refers to fans gathering around a hot stove during the cold winter to talk about their favorite teams, seasons past, and upcoming pennant races.

In the spirit of the hot stoves, The Campus Game gives you college football's warm fire league. Strike the kindling, grab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage, and settle back in your most comfortable chair. Let the warm fire discussions begin.

The Tide Rolls Again in 10?

Expect Alabama to start the 2010 season as an overwhelming choice to repeat as national champions - much like Florida the season just past.

Bama returns most of the offensive weapons that carried the program to its first title since 1992, including tailback/Heisman winner Mark Ingram and his talented backup Trent Richardson, savvy and unbeaten starting quarterback Greg McElroy, talented future NFL receiver Julio Jones, and most of the offensive line.

The other side of the ball is not so pretty. The Tide loses nearly its entire defensive front seven, including stalwart LB Rolando McClain and huge nose tackle Terrence Cody. The loss of starting cornerbacks Kareem Jackson and Javier Arenas damages the secondary.

Finally, do not underestimate the loss of PK Leigh Tiffin, who grew into one of the country's best during his four years.

Still, any team that has recruited like Alabama the past three seasons ... and that has the driven Nick Saban on the sideline ... will be a force.

Who Can Stem the Tide?

Many of the usual suspects should be in the hunt in 2010.

Ohio State seems likely to start the season at #2. The Buckeyes beat a good Oregon team in the Rose Bowl, recruit as well as anyone outside USC, Texas, and the SEC teams, and have a multi-threat quarterback in big Terrelle Pryor. The schedule is also conducive to a title run with one tough, high-profile non-conference team (Miami) visiting the Horseshoe on September 11th. In conference, a Nov. 20 trip to Iowa should determine the Big Ten crown.

Virginia Tech looked good in the Chick-fil-Bowl, returns a terrific offensive tandem in QB Tyrod Taylor and RB Ryan Williams, and the Hokies always play solid defense and special teams. Frank Beamer's boys also have a nice inter-sectional matchup with Boise State at Fed Ex Field in D.C. on October 2nd.

The Broncos will get a lot of early publicity too. They lose only one starter (and just four seniors total) from a team that's 25-1 the past two seasons. BSU should be riding an 18-game winning streak when they play the Hokies. Couple that game with another non-conference contest against Oregon State of the PAC-10 and Boise could be poised to play for a title.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are potentially another challenger from Big Ten country. Iowa beat Georgia Tech pretty handily in the Orange Bowl, their defense returns nearly intact, and QB Ricky Stanzi is a heady player.

Others that could be in the mix are Texas (freshman Garrett Gilbert showed toughness in the BCS title game), Oregon (the Ducks return all eleven starters from their explosive offense), and Oklahoma (the Sooners took their licks last year but may grow up in 2010).

What about the SEC?

Of course, the biggest challengers to Alabama may well come from the Southeastern Conference.

SEC teams have won the past four national titles, and next year may be no different - even if Bama doesn't go back-to-back.

The West division will be absolutely brutal.

Arkansas may pose the biggest threat to the Tide. Bobby Petrino can X and O with anybody, the Hogs return big Ryan Mallett at QB, and Bama must travel to Fayetteville.

Auburn is having a great recruiting run after winning a thrilling Outback Bowl over Northwestern. The Tigers played the Tide tougher than anyone in 2009.

LSU features a deep, talented roster, but must get some consistency on offense to be a real contender.

Ole Miss comes off a second consecutive Cotton Bowl victory, and Houston Nutt has stockpiled a nice roster of talent. Losing QB Jevan Snead to the NFL hurts.

Mississippi State showed toughness in Dan Mullen's first season, and the Bullies should continue to get better.

In the East, Florida faces the uncertainty of having a head coach in limbo and the loss of the greatest Gator ever - Tim Tebow. Still, UF has to be the favorite in a division that otherwise should be wide open.

Georgia has exceptional young offensive play-makers, but the Dogs are hampered by having absolutely no experience at quarterback.

South Carolina returns a lot of starters, but did not show up in the bowl game. A perennial tease, the toughness of the Gamecocks has to be questioned.

Tennessee is still reeling from the ugly departure of coach Lane Kiffin. I like Derek Dooley, but he has his work cut out next season.

Vanderbilt and Kentucky don't figure to win the division, although the Wildcats have run off four consecutive bowl seasons.

Until Next Time

OK- that should be enough fat to chew.

One commercial announcement ... I'll again write the Southeastern Conference preview for The Kickoff preseason magazine. Last year was the first time the venerable Chattanooga-based publication published a preseason annual, and it turned out nicely. Look for it on newstands in early summer or click on the publication link above to make an order.

Well, the last embers are flickering, so we better throw another log on that warm fire.

Until next time - see you at kickoff!

Dooley's Vols?

2010-01-15T09:43:00.006-05:00

As the Tennessee football program staggers from the sudden and untimely departure of Lane Kiffin ... as coach after coach seems to turn down Volunteer overtures ... as the UT fan base frets over a wrecked recruiting class ... here is some unsolicited advice.

Hire Derek Dooley.

Welcome back to The Campus Game and let me start by saying I do have a dog in this fight. Actually two or three.

As a teacher and coach fresh out of the University of Georgia, I worked at Clarke Central High School in Athens for a few years. There we had a young, undersized tight end with a pretty famous dad that worked a mile or two down the road.

While I never coached Dooley's position and did not know him too well, he was a consumate student and player on a championship high school program. Smart but not overbearing. Confident but not cocky. Respectful but not obsequious.

Dooley went to the University of Virginia, played under George Welsh, and later earned a law degree. Once the coaching bug bit, he eventually hooked up with Nick Saban at LSU and then the Miami Dolphins.

At Louisiana Tech the past few years, Dooley has been the only D-I head football coach also serving as Athletic Director (at least to my knowledge).

Young, telegenic, and personable, Dooley fits the mold of a rising young head coach ... much like Lane Kiffin without all the arrogance and baggage.

The Vols should snag him now.

Making Me Dizzy

2010-01-01T07:08:00.020-05:00

You're making me dizzy ... my head is spinning!
Tommy Roe - Dizzy

That old tune from Atlantan Tommy Roe tells of a boy getting dizzy after being kissed by a pretty girl ... no confirmation on whether the young lady was one of Lane Kiffin's Orange Pride escorts.

Welcome back to The Campus Game where the annual college football coaching carousel is making me dizzy.

Lil Lane

"Lil Lane" Kiffin (as he's known at The Campus Game) bolted the mountains of east Tennessee for the hills of Hollywood yesterday leaving a greasy trail across Rocky Top that will take a while to scrub clean.

I can understand why Lil Lane would take the job.

He'll probably make quite a bit more money. The PAC-10 should be much easier to conquer than the ascendant SEC. He's a West Coast guy and his silly "street cred" ploys play much more easily on Sunset Strip than Cumberland Strip.

Yes, he's a shady guy with little to no scruples (kind of like Bobby Petrino only without the brains), and he's leaving the Volunteers in a recruiting lurch ... but I can understand why Lil Lane took the Trojan job.

I cannot understand why USC offered him the job.

On the field, the best one can say is that the jury is still out on Lil Lane (but it's getting mighty close to a verdict). He was part of the golden age of Trojan football under Pete Carroll, but by most accounts played only a modest role at best. He had a disastrous stint as head coach of the Oakland Raiders (when Al Davis comes out of a spat looking better than you - well that's ugly). He produced one mediocre 7-6 season in Knoxville, winning a single game of note (over a down Georgia team). He got taken to the cleaners in the Chick-fil-A bowl.

Off the field, Kiffin was far worse.

He cheated.

At least six NCAA infractions were reported by the Vols in Lil Lane's fourteen month tenure ("compliance" to the Vol Athletic Department apparently meant taking bullets for boy blunder ... bullets and Lane Kiffin football players is not such a stretch either).

He lied.

Lil Lane claimed Urban Meyer broke rules - false. He spewed nonsense that all his missteps were part of some grand design to keep Tennessee football in the limelight - false. Spend ten minutes listening to him at a press conference and you know Kiffin's IQ would not allow him such scheming. Simply put, he's not real bright. After being a college professor for sixteen years, it's kind of easy to spot a C-minus student trying to charm and bluff his way through a course - that's Lil Lane, only he's bullshooting his way through a lucrative career.

He embarrassed.

Kiffin demeaned a proud program, many of his conference coaching brethren, and the citizens of at least two states (South Carolina and Florida). He recruited thugs and did not care. That whole business of using female undergraduate students in the recruting process is not unheard of certainly, but Lil Lane took it to sleazy new lows. Do you doubt Lil Lane would have run a brothel if he could have gotten away with it and landed one more five-star recruit (or that ham-handed UT AD Mike Hamilton may just have let him do so based on how he coddled Lil Lane)?

The putdowns of fellow coaches, of teenagers who would not commit to Tennessee even under the pressure of post-midnight phone calls, of high school administrators ... the playing of lewd, loud music on the practice field when children were present, the shirtless screaming coaches ... the insufferable sounds of chief recruiter Ed Orgeron (a somewhat endearing personality, but as much an envelope pushing, rule-bending recruiter as will be found on a college sideline) overheard on speaker phone enticing Tennessee's committed freshmen recruits to follow the bad boys to So Cal at the same time Lil Lane was holding his team meeting ... what a bunch of clowns.

I can understand why Lil Lane took the job.

I cannot understand why USC hired him.

A New Day ... A New Type Athlete

The coaching carousel starts spinning crazily near the end of most every college football season, but the end of 2009 and start of 2010 may set a record for zaniness.

The strange cases of Mark Mangino, Mike Leach, and Jim Leavitt all point to a new standard for coaches in treatment of athletes.

Mangino made Kansas relevant on the gridiron for the first time since Bobby Douglass was running over and around people, even taking the Jayhawks to an Orange Bowl.

Still, his chastising, sarcastic, and mildly physical style gave his administration enough ammunition (and or reason) to show him the door in Lawrence.

Mike Leach was an even stranger case.

Leach acted foolishly with his treatment of injured receiver Adam James. A coach-to-player verbal dress down is nearly an every day occurrence in many programs even at the high school level. A coach questioning a player's injury or desire, while less common, is certainly not unusual.

However, ordering a player confined to a dark equipment shed or electrical closet for a couple of hours crosses a line from cantankerous coach to belligerent bully.

We always knew Leach was quirky or weird; the Lubbock Lockdown showed us he can be an idiot.

Still, Leach's treatment of Adam James did not get him fired. The act simply provided the school an excuse to get rid of him.

Leach is a straight shooter, so when he says "animosity remaining from last year's contract negotiations" is mainly to blame for his firing, he hits the nail on the head. I'd say that animosity (and saving a whole bunch of money) is about 90% of the reason he was fired.

The Jim Leavitt case at South Florida also reeked of old-style coaching methods costing a coach his job.

South Florida's investigation found credible evidence that Leavitt grabbed a player by the throat and quickly slapped him twice (angrily but not viciously). While Leavitt denied the charges, the report (available at various sites online) provides plenty enough corroboration to make the scenario plausible.

As a former high school and college coach, I have seen plenty of instances that in the past might have been ignored or even snickered at ... but in this new day would get a coach fired.

Coming Soon

Writing for Gameday Weekly several years ago, I coined the phrase "The Warm Fire League" ... a takeoff on baseball's Hot Stove League. Check back soon for Warm Fire League topics from The Campus Game.

See you at kickoff!

BCS Championship Game Preview

2009-12-22T16:03:00.007-05:00

Welcome back to The Campus Game.

The 2009 college football season ends tonight when the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide faces the number two Texas Longhorns in the BCS national championship game.

College Football Royalty

Webster's defines "Royalty" as being of an elite class and the description aptly applies to these programs.

Football in Texas is part of the cultural fabric of the Lone Star state, from dusty small towns to college campus towns to the big cities. How many states have books written and television programs produced about high school football programs (Friday Night Lights and the Odessa-Permian Panthers)?

At the professional level, the Dallas Cowboys are perhaps the elite franchise in the NFL, boasting a huge new futuristic stadium. The Houston Texans are very popular, and the state is in the Super Bowl host rotation.

College football is so popular in Texas that the state hosts five bowl games, sent two teams to BCS games this season, and provided six bowl teams.

Of those college squads, the Longhorns are by far the most popular (their merchandise sales actually lead all of college football on an annual basis). Texas is widely recognized as having won four national titles (1963, 1969, 1970, 2005).

If there is a state to match Texas for football passion, it's Alabama.

With no professional sports competing for attention, college football is a twelve-month topic in the heart of Dixie. Alabama-Auburn discussions stay heated all year from Muscle Shoals to Mobile Bay and Dothan to Decatur, but no school and football team is more closely identified with its state than the Crimson Tide.

The state's most revered citizen of the twentieth century was a football coach (if I have to tell you who, you should probably stay out of the state).

Because of excellence dating back to before the Great Depression of the 1930s, and through the civil rights upheavals of the 1960s and 70s, the Tide football program became a source of pride statewide and across the South generally.

The program claims twelve national titles, and while that figure is considered perhaps a bit inflated, you get the picture. This program - like that of Texas - belongs to college football's elite.

The Politician and the General

Two of college football's best coaches will lead their teams into the title game.

Mack Brown of Texas looks, talks, and acts like a politician. Watch him during interviews ... always calling the interviewer by name, keeping his composure, smiling, sure to compliment his Longhorns and their opponent. It would seem natural if he were to start passing out campaign buttons.

At Alabama, Nick Saban is more general than politician. Saban is so intense, he seems to bristle all the time. He's not likely to call an interviewer by name because he probably doesn't know the person's name (there is a hilarious video clip of Saban in the NFL calling a player "Frank" until a coach corrects him that the player's name is "Cliff" ... to which Saban replies "that's what I called him!").

Personalities aside, these are two of the best.

Brown won the 2005 national title with an epic victory over a USC team that featured two Heisman winners (Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush). Saban, widely regarded as the best defensive tactician in college football, also won a national title when his LSU team upset Oklahoma in 2003.

The History

These teams have a history against one another (Texas leads 7-0-1), but they've only met three times in the past forty-five years (1965 Orange Bowl, 1973 Cotton Bowl, 1982 Cotton Bowl). Each was a close, tough game with Texas coming out on top by 4, 4, and 2 points.

While the 1982 game was memorable mainly for being the last major bowl appearance for Bama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant (the Cotton was considered one of the four majors at the time), the most famous of the games was that '65 Orange Bowl.

The game was the first big bowl game played at night, and fans were treated to a sensational game between the nation's two best teams of the era. From 1961-64 Texas was 39-3-1 with a national title under Darrell Royal. During the same time frame, Alabama was 40-4 with two national crowns under the Bear.

In the Orange Bowl, Tide QB Joe Namath - injured much of the season - came off the bench to lead an Alabama comeback that fell short when Namath was stopped by Longhorn great Tommy Nobis (among others) on a quarterback sneak late in the game. Well, at least Longhorn fans (and the refs) think he was stopped. Had instant replay been around, Tide fans believe the verdict would have been overturned. The final was 21-17.

Georgia Boys

An interesting plot in the game tonight features the defensive coordinators.

Will Muschamp (Texas) and Kirby Smart (Alabama) are both former Georgia players of similar background. Muschamp was an undersized, rugged, over-achiever at linebacker for the Bulldogs, and Smart was a similar type defensive back.

Both men learned at the foot of defensive master Saban, and they present multiple fronts, coverages, and blitz schemes. Watching them match wits tonight will be fun.

Tonight's Game

Alabama has been the nation's best and most consistent team all season. If both teams play their best, Alabama wins. The Tide's performance against Florida in the SEC title game was the most impressive of the year by any team.

Texas was more up and down, but they got to the title game. With all due respect to Heisman winner Mark Ingram of Alabama, Texas QB Colt McCoy is the most important offensive player on the field in this game. His ability to run could offset pressure the Tide might bring.

The SEC is undefeated in BCS championship games and conference teams will be seeking an unprecedented fourth straight title.

Alabama is unlikely to match the intensity of the SEC championship game over Florida (which featured the best two teams in the country), and Texas should play much better than the Horns did in the Big 12 championship.

Still (and with a personal seven-game correct prediction streak in BCS title games on the line) ... I'll go with Alabama.

Enjoy the game.

Professor's Pick: Alabama

College Football Bowl Bonanza

2009-12-19T09:57:00.009-05:00

Professor's Picks

Happy Holidays and welcome back to The Campus Game.

Below is the lineup for all 2009-2010 college football bowl games (listing courtesy of the Rivals website). Each game has an active link ... if you want more information about the game, simply click on the name of the bowl.

Professor's Picks for all bowls except BCS bowls after Jan. 1 are now posted.

For those interested in taking part in a bowl prediction contest, let me recommend Phil Steele's site ... it's great.

Enjoy!

* All times Eastern

NEW MEXICO BOWL
Fresno State vs. Wyoming
Dec. 19/4:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Albuquerque, N.M.
Professor's Pick: Fresno State

ST. PETERSBURG BOWL
Rutgers vs. UCF
When: Dec. 19/8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: St. Petersburg, Fla.
Professor's Pick: Rutgers

NEW ORLEANS BOWL
Southern Miss vs. Middle Tennessee
When: Dec. 20/8:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: New Orleans
Professor's Pick: Southern Miss

LAS VEGAS BOWL
BYU vs. Oregon State
When: Dec. 22/8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Las Vegas
Professor's Pick: Oregon State

POINSETTIA BOWL
Utah vs. California
When: Dec. 23/8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: San Diego
Professor's Pick: Utah

HAWAII BOWL
SMU vs. Nevada
When: Dec. 24/8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Honolulu
Professor's Pick: Nevada

LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA BOWL
Marshall vs. Ohio University
When: Dec. 26, 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Detroit
Professor's Pick: Ohio

MEINEKE CAR CARE
North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh
When: Dec. 26/4:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Charlotte
Professor's Pick: Pitt

EMERALD BOWL
Boston College vs. USC
When: Dec. 26, 8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: San Francisco
Professor's Pick: USC

MUSIC CITY BOWL
Clemson vs. Kentucky
When: Dec. 27/8:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Nashville, Tenn.
Professor's Pick: Clemson

INDEPENDENCE BOWL
Texas A&M vs. Georgia
When: Dec. 28/5 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
Where: Shreveport, La.
Professor's Pick: Georgia

EAGLEBANK BOWL
Temple vs. UCLA
When: Dec. 29/4:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Washington, D.C.
Professor's Pick: UCLA

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL
Miami vs. Wisconsin
When: Dec. 29/8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Orlando, Fla.
Professor's Pick: Miami

HUMANITARIAN BOWL
Idaho vs. Bowling Green
When: Dec. 30/4:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Boise, Idaho
Professor's Pick: Idaho

HOLIDAY BOWL
Nebraska vs. Arizona
When: Dec. 30/8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: San Diego
Professor's Pick: Arizona

ARMED FORCES BOWL
Houston vs. Air Force
When: Dec. 31/noon
TV: ESPN
Where: Fort Worth, Texas
Professor's Pick: Air Force

SUN BOWL
Oklahoma vs. Stanford
When: Dec. 31/2 p.m.
TV: CBS
Where: El Paso, Texas
Professor's Pick: Stanford

TEXAS BOWL
Navy vs. Missouri
When: Dec. 31/3:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Houston
Professor's Pick: Missouri

INSIGHT BOWL
Minnesota vs. Iowa State
When: Dec. 31/6 p.m.
TV: NFL Network
Where: Tempe, Ariz.
Professor's Pick: Iowa State

CHICK-FIL-A BOWL
Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee
When: Dec. 31/7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Atlanta
Professor's Pick: Virginia Tech

=================================

OUTBACK BOWL
Northwestern vs. Auburn
When: Jan. 1/11 a.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Tampa, Fla.
Professor's Pick: Auburn

CAPITAL ONE BOWL
Penn State vs. LSU
When: Jan. 1/1 p.m.
TV: ABC
Where: Orlando, Fla.
Professor's Pick: LSU

GATOR BOWL
Florida State vs. West Virginia
When: Jan. 1/1 p.m.
TV: CBS
Where: Jacksonville, Fla.
Professor's Pick: FSU

INTERNATIONAL BOWL
South Florida vs. Northern Illinois
When: Jan. 2/noon
TV: ESPN2
Where: Toronto
Professor's Pick: South Florida

PAPAJOHNS.COM BOWL
Connecticut vs. South Carolina
When: Jan. 2/2 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Birmingham, Ala.
Professor's Pick: South Carolina

COTTON BOWL
Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss
When: Jan. 2/2 p.m.
TV: Fox
Where: Arlington, Texas
Professor's Pick: OK State

LIBERTY BOWL
East Carolina vs. Arkansas
When: Jan. 2/5:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Memphis, Tenn.
Professor's Pick: Arkansas

ALAMO BOWL
Michigan State vs. Texas Tech
When: Jan. 2/9 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: San Antonio
Professor's Pick: Texas Tech

GMAC BOWL
Troy vs. Central Michigan
When: Jan. 6/7 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Mobile, Ala.
Professor's Pick: Troy

=================================

BCS MATCHUPS

ROSE BOWL
Ohio State vs. Oregon
When: Jan. 1, 4:30 p.m.
TV: ABC
Where: Pasadena, Calif.
Professor's Pick: Oregon

SUGAR BOWL
Florida vs. Cincinnati
When: Jan. 1/8:30 p.m.
TV: Fox
Where: New Orleans
Professor's Pick: Florida

FIESTA BOWL
Boise State vs. TCU
When: Jan. 4/8 p.m.
TV: Fox
Where: Glendale, Ariz.
Professor's Pick: TCU

ORANGE BOWL
Iowa vs. Georgia Tech
When: Jan. 5/8 p.m.
TV: Fox
Where: Miami
Professor's Pick: Iowa

BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Alabama vs. Texas
When: Jan. 7/8 p.m.
TV: ABC
Where: Pasadena, Calif.

College Football Bowls 2009-2010

2009-12-11T12:55:00.005-05:00

Happy Holidays and welcome back to The Campus Game.

Below is the lineup for all 2009-2010 college football bowl games (listing courtesy of the Rivals website). Each game has an active link ... if you want more information about the game, simply click on the name of the bowl.

Professor's Picks for all bowls will be posted soon.

Enjoy!

* All times Eastern

NEW MEXICO BOWL
Fresno State vs. Wyoming
Dec. 19/4:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Albuquerque, N.M.

ST. PETERSBURG BOWL
Rutgers vs. UCF
When: Dec. 19/8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: St. Petersburg, Fla.

NEW ORLEANS BOWL
Southern Miss vs. Middle Tennessee
When: Dec. 20/8:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: New Orleans

LAS VEGAS BOWL
BYU vs. Oregon State
When: Dec. 22/8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Las Vegas

POINSETTIA BOWL
Utah vs. California
When: Dec. 23/8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: San Diego

HAWAII BOWL
SMU vs. Nevada
When: Dec. 24/8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Honolulu

LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA BOWL
Marshall vs. Ohio University
When: Dec. 26, 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Detroit

MEINEKE CAR CARE
North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh
When: Dec. 26/4:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Charlotte

EMERALD BOWL
Boston College vs. USC
When: Dec. 26, 8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: San Francisco

MUSIC CITY BOWL
Clemson vs. Kentucky
When: Dec. 27/8:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Nashville, Tenn.

INDEPENDENCE BOWL
Texas A&M vs. Georgia
When: Dec. 28/5 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
Where: Shreveport, La.

EAGLEBANK BOWL
Temple vs. UCLA or Army
Scenario: If Army beats Navy Dec. 12, Army plays Temple. If Army loses to Navy, UCLA plays Temple.
When: Dec. 29/4:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Washington, D.C.

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL
Miami vs. Wisconsin
When: Dec. 29/8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Orlando, Fla.

HUMANITARIAN BOWL
Idaho vs. Bowling Green
When: Dec. 30/4:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Boise, Idaho

HOLIDAY BOWL
Nebraska vs. Arizona
When: Dec. 30/8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: San Diego

ARMED FORCES BOWL
Houston vs. Air Force
When: Dec. 31/noon
TV: ESPN
Where: Fort Worth, Texas

SUN BOWL
Oklahoma vs. Stanford
When: Dec. 31/2 p.m.
TV: CBS
Where: El Paso, Texas

TEXAS BOWL
Navy vs. Missouri
When: Dec. 31/3:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Houston

INSIGHT BOWL
Minnesota vs. Iowa State
When: Dec. 31/6 p.m.
TV: NFL Network
Where: Tempe, Ariz.

CHICK-FIL-A BOWL
Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee
When: Dec. 31/7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Atlanta

OUTBACK BOWL
Northwestern vs. Auburn
When: Jan. 1/11 a.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Tampa, Fla.

CAPITAL ONE BOWL
Penn State vs. LSU
When: Jan. 1/1 p.m.
TV: ABC
Where: Orlando, Fla.

GATOR BOWL
Florida State vs. West Virginia
When: Jan. 1/1 p.m.
TV: CBS
Where: Jacksonville, Fla.

INTERNATIONAL BOWL
South Florida vs. Northern Illinois
When: Jan. 2/noon
TV: ESPN2
Where: Toronto

PAPAJOHNS.COM BOWL
Connecticut vs. South Carolina
When: Jan. 2/2 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Birmingham, Ala.

COTTON BOWL
Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss
When: Jan. 2/2 p.m.
TV: Fox
Where: Arlington, Texas

LIBERTY BOWL
East Carolina vs. Arkansas
When: Jan. 2/5:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Memphis, Tenn.

ALAMO BOWL
Michigan State vs. Texas Tech
When: Jan. 2/9 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: San Antonio

GMAC BOWL
Troy vs. Central Michigan
When: Jan. 6/7 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Where: Mobile, Ala.

BCS MATCHUPS

ROSE BOWL
Ohio State vs. Oregon
When: Jan. 1, 4:30 p.m.
TV: ABC
Where: Pasadena, Calif.

SUGAR BOWL
Florida vs. Cincinnati
When: Jan. 1/8:30 p.m.
TV: Fox
Where: New Orleans

FIESTA BOWL
Boise State vs. TCU
When: Jan. 4/8 p.m.
TV: Fox
Where: Glendale, Ariz.

ORANGE BOWL
Iowa vs. Georgia Tech
When: Jan. 5/8 p.m.
TV: Fox
Where: Miami

BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Alabama vs. Texas
When: Jan. 7/8 p.m.
TV: ABC
Where: Pasadena, Calif.

College Football 2009 Week 15

2009-12-09T13:54:00.007-05:00

Ruminations on the Passing Scene

December brings mixed feelings for college football fans.

The Christmas holidays mark the end of the regular season and those wonderful weekly Saturday football bonanzas of games from morning to night. No more College Gameday, no more tailgating, fewer trips to campus.

We are not Scrooged however!

Like a little boy looking forward to Santa bringing a sleigh full of gifts, college football fans now get ready for a month's worth of bowl games.

Welcome back to The Campus Game ... where every college football bowl game - from the New Mexico on December 19th to the title game on January 7th - is like opening a great gift on Christmas morning. To those who think there are too many bowls - bah humbug! No such thing.

Christmas Comes Early to T-Town ...

Alabama fans got an early Christmas gift from St. Nick (Saban) when the Tide rolled over Florida in the SEC title game and earned a date with Texas to settle the national championship.

The game was sweet redemption for the Tide.

A year after losing to Florida with similar stakes on the line, Alabama out-prepared, out-hit, and out-played the Gators from start to finish. Bama is now a victory away from earning a first national crown since 1992.

The game with Texas pairs two of the nation's premier and storied programs.

Not So Fast My Friend

That signature comment from ESPN's Lee Corso should apply to all those who believe Alabama will easily handle Texas in the BCS title tilt.

Since the BCS format started after the 1998 season, at least half the games have been won by teams given little chance at victory.

Here is a brief recap with upsets in bold:

1999 Tennessee 23 FSU 16 ... Odd as it may seem more than a decade later, the SEC champs were considered not much of a match for the powerful Seminoles.

2000 FSU 46 Virginia Tech 29 ... This game held to form as the Noles whipped the Hokies despite a scintillating performance from Tech's Michael Vick.

2001 Oklahoma 13 FSU 2 ... The Sooners were considered an upstart under 2nd year coach Bob Stoops. If you think FSU benefitted from playing weak conference competition during the 1990s - you'd be right.

2002 Miami 37 Nebraska 14 ... Canes lived up to billing and easily beat Huskers (who didn't even win conference).

2003 Ohio State 31 Miami 24 ... perhaps the most well-known of the upsets, the Buckeyes prevailed in OT.

2004 LSU 21 Oklahoma 14 ... few gave Bengal Tigers (and coach Nick Saban) a chance against mighty Oklahoma but SEC champs shut down Sooners (many experts thought USC should have been there instead of LSU).

2005 USC 55 Oklahoma 19 ... this one held to form as the great Trojan team with Leinart and Bush crashed the Sooner Schooner.

2006 Texas 41 USC 38 ... Longhorns and Vince Young staged yet another upset against what some were calling the greatest team ever.

2007 Florida 41 Ohio State 14 ... remember when many pundits (most notably Kirk Herbstreit - who's apparently only for a rematch when the Big Ten and Bucks are involved) called for a Michigan do-over against OSU. The underdog Gators quieted such talk quickly and thoroughly.

2008 LSU 38 Ohio State 24 ... Once more, an upset. LSU lost its last game but pulled out the SEC championship and got the BCS bid. The underdogs from the bayou outclassed Ohio State.

2009 Florida 24 Oklahoma 14 (this was a tossup) ... Oklahoma boasted one of the great offenses in college football history averaging over 50 points (and more than 60 down the stretch), but Florida shut them down and won a tight game.

More on this topic in another column ... but don't bet the house just yet Tide fans.

Notre Dame Coaching Carousel

Hire Brian Kelly.

Perhaps by the time you read the Irish will have wised up enough to go ahead and hire the best guy for the job. The man is young enough, driven enough, and successful enough to handle all the attention and pressure.

SEC Announcers

Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson announce the CBS SEC game of the week and while they are likeable enough, the league could do better.

Lundquist is at heart a Southwest Conference/Dallas Cowboys guy with (at least in my opinion) a somewhat limited knowledge of the SEC and its heritage (although he has a wonderful overall grasp of college football history).

He is also slipping just a bit ... as only one example, during the SEC title game did you catch the mistake during a discussion of teams that have won three national titles in four years (only Minnesota in the late 1930s and Notre Dame in the late 40s have done so). Verne mentioned those old Irish teams with Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis! If you don't know that's a mistake leave this site immediately! ... just kidding, but those two Heisman Trophy winners actually played at Army during the WWII years.

Danielson didn't even correct him (hopefully from politeness rather than not knowing).

Here's a suggestion for CBS/SEC ... Ron Franklin on play-by-play, Tommy Tuberville as analyst, and how about sports talk radio's Paul Finebaum as sideline host or special commentator? All southern, all knowledgeable about the SEC, all professional and very candid.

Bowl Season

Check back soon for the bowl schedule and Professor's Picks for all the bowl games!

SEC Championship Game 2009

2009-12-05T08:12:00.007-05:00

Championship greetings from snowy north Georgia.

That's right, it's snowing in Dixie this morning. And while weather poses no threat to the SEC Championship Game, tucked snugly into Atlanta's climate-controlled Georgia Dome an hour south of the current snow line, the falling flakes provide a perfect storm for a perfect conference championship between Alabama and Florida.

Both teams are perfect record wise.

Alabama and Florida arrive in Atlanta ranked as the top two teams in national polls with matching 12-0 regular season records. Each prevailed in one truly tough game (a win at LSU for Florida and a win at Auburn for Alabama). Each team also got a bit lucky and survived a fluke challenge in games that should not have been so close (Bama vs. Tennessee and Florida vs. Arkansas). Since the first week of the season, most college football fans expected these two to go undefeated and they met expectations.

Both teams have perfect pedigrees.

Alabama boasts the South's grandest football history. The Crimson Tide owns 25 SEC titles, far more than any conference rival. Bama backers claim 12 national titles and while the figure might be a bit inflated due to the "mythical" nature of college football championships nobody can claim more. We all know about the man in the houndstooth hat.

Florida floundered for decades before winning a conference championship. That changed when the guy in the visor showed up. Steve Spurrier started winning in 1990; since then the Gators have been the league's glamor guys for nearly two decades. Should this team win a national title, it'd be the Gators' third in four years and fourth since 1996.

Both teams have great coaches.

For my money, Urban Meyer and Nick Saban are the two best coaches in the country. More similar than not, even though one is known more for defensive toughness (Saban) the other for offensive imagination (Meyer), rarely do these two leaders allow their teams to be outflanked from a strategy standpoint.

Both teams have great players.

Some college football fans suffered Tim Tebow fatigue as early as three seasons ago, but the Gator quarterback is the face of college football - and the sport could not ask for a better representative. The guy punishes opponents on the field and does missionary work off it. He runs and passes. He preaches and teaches. He's the best college football player in the country. Period. Sprinkling the Florida roster are Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey, Riley Cooper, the Pouncey twins, Brandon Spikes, Joe Haden ... these guys only seem to have been there a decade.

Alabama brings its own campus-full of talent. Mark Ingram is no worse than the second-best running back in America, Rolando McClain may be the best linebacker, Terrence Cody the most dominant defensive lineman, and Julio Jones the most physically imposing receiver. Toss in two of the nation's best special teams players in returner Javier Arenas and kicker Leigh Tiffin and we are playing a de facto all-conference all-star game at the Dome today.

Both teams have great fans.

The Georgia Dome RV lots were already nearly full yesterday, school flags on full display, crimson colors clashing proudly with bright blue and orange hues. Alabama supporters slightly outnumbered Gator backers yesterday morning, but it is a shorter drive east to Atlanta than north from the Sunshine State. The dome will be evenly split this afternoon.

So ... great records, great pedigrees, great coaches, players, and fans.

Now, who will win?

Trends for most of the season favored Alabama.

The Crimson Tide seemed more dominant than Florida, just as solid on defense as the Gators, but more varied and effective on offense. Florida rarely seemed to find an offensive stride, dinking and dunking and riding Tebow, the big bull Gator, on punishing drives instead of unleashing the lightning quick attack we're used to.

Trends this week favor the Tide.

Bama got an extra day of rest and preparation after playing the Iron Bowl on Friday, while Florida played a late Saturday afternoon game. Then, star Florida defensive lineman Carlos Dunlap ran afoul the law this week and will miss the championshp game due to suspension, a big blow to the Gator pass rush and psyche.

The revenge factor also favors Alabama.

The Gators spoiled an undefeated Tide team is this game last season and don't think Nick Saban has forgotten. He's probably been scheming since December, awaiting a chance to atone for the loss and play for a national title.

So, the Tide would seem to be the pick.

I'm going with the Gators.

Here are three reasons:

1. Mental Toughness ... Florida under Urban Meyer always rises to the occasion. This particular team has played under enormous pressure since they were virtually anointed as this year's champs after last season's national title. The road has not been smooth, but they have shown the mental toughness to navigate it well. When bad things happen in this game - as they will for both squads - Florida appears more apt to handle them.

2. Playmakers ... this is a close call, but Florida just seems to have a few more playmakers, especially on defense generally (although the loss of Dunlap is significant) and in the secondary specifically. I would not be surprised to see a Gator DB turn in a game-changing play.

3. You knew this was coming ... Tim Tebow. How can you go against the face of college football? The Gator quarterback is simply the sport's greatest winner and with the game on the line, with an undefeated season on the line, with a potential third national championship on the line ... expect Tebow to win.

Professor's Pick: Florida

Professor's Picks - Championship Week

2009-12-03T13:12:00.002-05:00

2009 Record

Final Regular Season Record: 144-55
Last Week's Record: 12-5

Comment: Rivalry week predictions garnered about a B, which is probably the season long grade as well. Not Dean's List material, but solid passing marks.

Best Pick: The Egg Bowl is a prof's favorite and Miss State came through with the upset win over Ole Miss.

Worst Pick: Rarely is being wrong on a pick more enjoyable than when the alma mater (Georgia) knocks off the arch rival (Georgia Tech).

Championship Game Picks

Since the professor truly is in final exams right now, this is a Cliff's Notes version of Prof's Picks for championship week. Headed to the SEC title game on Friday and Saturday and perhaps will have a special game preview posted before kickoff.

Enjoy the games!

ACC Championship (Saturday at 8:00 ET - ESPN) ... Georgia Tech and Clemson face off in Tampa with the winner earning an Orange Bowl berth. Tigers outplayed Jackets in second-half of a loss earlier this season, and that familiarity with the option should help again. Professor's Pick: Clemson

Big 12 Championship (Saturday at 8:00 ET - ABC) ... Nebraska plays Texas at Cowboys Stadium and the Cornhuskers will try to deny the Longhorns a trip to the BCS title game. Colt McCoy of UT might lock up a Heisman Trophy with a big performance. Professor's Pick: Texas

Big East Championship (Saturday at 12 Noon ET - ABC) ... While not a formal league title game, unbeaten Cincinnati travels to Heinz Field for a game with Pitt that decides the Big East winner and the league's BCS bowl bid. Will this be Brian Kelly's last game leading the Bearcats before heading to South Bend? (Yes). Professor's Pick: Cincinnati

Conference USA Championship (Saturday at 12 Noon ET - ESPN2) ... High-scoring Houston meets solid East Carolina on the Pirates home field in Greenville (NC) where ECU tries to earn a second straight conference crown and trip to the Liberty Bowl. Tough call and good game. Professor's Pick: Houston

Mid-American Conference Championship (Friday at 8:00 PM ET - EPSN2) ... The mighty MAC determines its champion with a Friday night fight between Central Michigan and Ohio at Ford Field in Detroit. The MAC champ earns a return trip to Motown for the Little Caesar's Bowl (formerly the Motor City). Professor's Pick: Central Michigan

PAC-10 Championship (Thursday at 9:00 PM ET - ESPN) ... Yet another informal league championship game, the Civil War between Oregon State and Oregon takes on more urgency than usual as a trip to Pasadena and the Rose Bowl awaits the victor. The game is Thursday night at Oregon. Professor's Pick: Oregon

SEC Championship (Saturday at 4:00 ET - CBS) ... For the second straight year Alabama and Florida meet at the Georgia Dome to settle the conference championship and send a team to compete for the national championship. Check back later in the week for the title game preview!

See you at kickoff!

College Football 2009 Week 14

2009-12-02T11:50:00.007-05:00

Best and Briefest

Is it over already?

Seems like just yesterday that the August sun blazed, everybody's team was undefeated, and toe met leather to kick off the 2009 college football season.

Now, it's a gray and gloomy forty-five degrees here in north Georgia, empty tree branches rustle as the final leaves of fall blow away, and a steady rain pours.

Seems even Mother Nature realizes the end of sport's best and briefest regular season is upon us and has given us weather suitable for the occasion.

Welcome back to The Campus Game where you can always brighten your mood by visiting for some college football news and notes.

Championship Week

The end of the regular season brings us to championship week and several conference crowns will be determined over the weekend.

The championship chase includes:

ACC ... Georgia Tech and Clemson face off in Tampa with the winner earning an Orange Bowl berth.

Big 12 ... Nebraska plays Texas at Cowboys Stadium and the Cornhuskers will try to deny the Longhorns a trip to the BCS title game.

Big East ... Unbeaten Cincinnati travels to Heinz Field for a game with Pitt that decides the Big East title and the league's BCS bowl bid.

Conference USA ... High-scoring Houston meets solid East Carolina on the Pirates home field in Greenville (NC) where ECU tries to earn a second straight conference crown and trip to the Liberty Bowl.

Mid-American ... The mighty MAC determines its champion with a Friday night fight between Central Michigan and Ohio at Ford Field in Detroit. The MAC champ earns a return trip to Motown for the Little Caesar's Bowl (formerly the Motor City).

PAC-10 ... The Civil War between Oregon State and Oregon takes on added meaning as a trip to Pasadena and the Rose Bowl awaits the victor. The game is Thursday night at Oregon.

SEC ... For the second straight year Alabama and Florida meet at the Georgia Dome to settle the conference championship and send a team to compete for the national championship.

Several conferences have already determined a champion ... Big Ten (Ohio State), Ivy (Penn), Mountain West (TCU), Sun Belt (Troy), and WAC (Boise State).

Be sure to read Professor's Picks for predictions on all the championship games.

Varsity vs. Jayvee

Remember those high school days when the varsity team got to square off with the junior-varsity (jayvee) squad?

Whether it be basketball, football, or baseball, the old veteran juniors and seniors would show the frosh and sophomores who was boss. The jayvees would take their licking and know their place.

The ACC knows its place this week.

SEC = Varsity
ACC = Jayvee

When South Carolina spanked Clemson and Georgia rambled over Georgia Tech in rivalry games last weekend, both ACC division champs headed to the conference championship game smarting from losses to middling SEC teams.

Dabo Swinney of Clemson and Paul Johnson of Tech each made nice efforts to return the focus toward the conference titles and the Orange Bowl, but much damage was done to the league's reputation (the ACC has still never landed more than one team in a BCS bowl).

It will be particularly interesting to see how Paul Johnson of Tech handles losing in the future.

So far he has not handled it very well.

After the Georgia loss, the likeable (but curmudgeonly) Yellow Jacket head coach bristled when reporters asked him about his questionable play-calling at the end of the game (with nearly two minutes left and Tech in UGA territory, Johnson called for three straight long passes instead of running the ball with his vaunted triple-option attack). A short fourth-down pass was dropped and the ball game was over.

Johnson followed up his post-game sneering by telling Tech fans to respond to taunts from Georgia fans by punching them in the face and getting a thicker skin. OK, he was being sarcastic about the punching, but Paul appears a little prickly and might need thicker skin himself.

Perhaps he's unused to criticism.

Johnson never played college ball, so he's never faced the scrutiny or pressure his players do every week.

He's also been treated with kid gloves by the Atlanta press since taking the Jacket job.

The Tech loss came after a week (and really a whole year) of over-the-top fawning by the Atlanta media toward PJ (The Campus Game had an article a couple weeks ago entitled "Paul not Perfect" poking fun of such coverage).

While no one doubts how good he is and that he is likely to keep Tech a contender for years, Paul certainly proved he's not the perfect coach with those calls late in the loss to Georgia. He proved it after the game too.

Hope he doesn't punch me in the face for saying so.

Bobby Bowden

College football lost another grand old coach this week when Florida State shoved Bobby Bowden out the door.

80 years old. 388 wins. 44 years as a college football head coach. Those numbers are unlikely to be seen again.

Bowden's forced retirement (and that's what it was regardless any political correctness you might hear from FSU) leaves Joe Paterno as the last truly legendary coach working at a Division I school (treasure him while you can). Joe Pa fought off the wolves snapping at him a few years ago, but "Saint Bobby" could not.

On a more positive note, several legends in the making still roam the college sidelines each Saturday ... Bob Stoops, Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Mack Brown, Pete Carroll, Jim Tressel, and others should be around a long time to come.

Notre Dame Search

Is ND still relevant?

Does it strike anyone else as humorous when a national sports entity like ESPN devotes hours and hours of coverage and commentary to the Irish then asks whether the Gold Domers are still significant in contemporary college football?

Go to any major national college football columnist, website, or newspaper and see if they are mentioning the Irish. You bet they are.

As for the candidates to replace Charlie Weis ... and I write this as a long-time ND follower and fan (dating to the old Notre Dame football replays with Lindsey Nelson and Paul Hornung - look them up if you don't know them) my concern is that Irish AD Jack Swarbrick not botch the search as has happened with the last three ND hires.

Bob Davie was not ready for prime-time when Lou Holtz left (perhaps most evidenced by Davie soon being hit with an age-discrimination lawsuit by one of his own coaches for comments made to a fan publication).

Tyrone Willingham was a consolation (booby) prize when George O'Leary's resume turned out to have inaccuracies on it. Willingham had been moderately successful as a head coach, but his recruiting efforts and work ethic apparently were not up to par and after a strong first eight games he faded quickly.

Charlie Weis was probably about the fifth choice for ND when he was hired five years ago (after Urban Meyer and others either turned down the Irish or used them to get pay raises).

My hunch is that Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly will get the job ... if the timing of the Bearcats' game with Pitt doesn't make him feel pressured to push ND away prematurely.

Since Bob Stoops and Urban Meyer are out of the picture based on their own comments, the other candidates probably include:

Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern): Young, attractive, articulate, and energetic coach would be a good choice.

Randy Edsall (U Conn): Edsall would be a nice fit with Notre Dame in part because his solid, down-to-earth personality contrasts strongly with that of Charlie Weis. He also favors a strong running game and stout defense, traits admired by many Irish faithful.

Jim Harbaugh (Stanford): This pick would sure light a fire under ND fans eager to take it to USC and Pete Carroll. Harbaugh is fiery and his teams are very physical.

Unless Stoops is stonewalling or a big-name sleeper pick (like Tony Dungy) emerges, the guess here is the Irish will offer and land either Kelly, Fitzgerald, Edsall, or Harbaugh (in that order). Butch Davis of North Carolina might also get in the mix.

Heisman Trophy

The best college football player in America is Tim Tebow.

Had I a vote for the Heisman (which I do not), he would get it. No player means more to his team than Tebow and it is not even close.

Now, do I think Tebow will join Archie Griffin as the only man to win two Heismans?

No.

Colt McCoy probably already has it locked up for a couple reasons.

First, while the award is supposed to be based only on the current season, it often takes on a "lifetime achievement" aspect. McCoy has been part of the holy trinity of college quarterbacks the past three seasons ... Tebow won his, Sam Bradford won his, now McCoy will win his.

Second, Tebow and Alabama running back Mark Ingram may cut into the other's support just a bit, while McCoy has no significant rival in the Southwest. Stanford's Toby Gerhart has made a nice run at the trophy and might challenge McCoy for some western votes, but it's doubtful he can overtake the Longhorn.

Of course, the SEC title game gives Tebow and Ingram one last prominent stage this weekend.

My guess as to the Heisman results:

1) Colt McCoy
2) Toby Gerhart
3) Tim Tebow
4) Mark Ingram

Professor's Picks

The Championship Week edition of Professor's Picks will be posted by the end of the week.

See you at kickoff!

Professor's Picks Rivalry Week

2009-11-27T08:30:00.000-05:00

2009 Record

Overall: 132-50
Last Week: 10-4

Comment: The old alma mater (Georgia) stopped a twenty-game SEC winning streak on the picks by falling to Kentucky between the hedges. Professor seeks to finish strong the next couple weeks of the season.

Best Pick: With a big assist to Les Miles, Ole Miss pulled out the win over LSU as predicted; the Rebels probably need only to win the Egg Bowl for a holiday trip to Orlando.

Worst Pick: Maybe those Bob Stoops to Notre Dame rumors have something to them, because the Sooners got bushwhacked by Texas Tech.

Here are this week's SEC picks and all the weekend's rivalry games too.

Enjoy!

SEC PICKS

Friday, November 27th

Alabama (11-0, 7-0) at Auburn (7-4, 3-4)
1:30 p.m. CT
CBS Sports
Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
Comment: Crimson Tide heads to SEC title game win or lose, but a victory clinches a second straight unbeaten regular season and keeps BCS title hopes afloat. It will not be easy on the Plains, but Bama gets the nod. Professor's Pick: Alabama

Saturday, November 28th

Clemson (8-3) at South Carolina (6-5, 3-5)
12 p.m. ET
ESPN
Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250)
Comment: Steve Spurrier has really struggled against Clemson in the Battle of the Palmetto State (going 1-3), and the professor questions whether the old ball coach takes the game very seriously. Clemson and head man Dabo Swinney do.
Professor's Pick: Clemson

Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3) at Mississippi State (4-7, 2-5)
11:21 a.m. CT
SEC Network / ESPN 360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Scott Field (55,082)
Comment: If the professor was college football commish for a day, the Egg Bowl would be played on Thanksgiving Night where it goes real well with one last turkey sandwich. Don't expect this game to be a turkey; should be plenty of scoring. Upset special.
Professor's Pick: Miss State

Florida State (6-5) at Florida (11-0, 8-0)
3:30 p.m. ET
CBS Sports
Florida Field (88,548)
Comment: Florida best be on letdown alert what with the emotions of sending off the greatest Gator of 'em all, the looming SEC showdown with Alabama, and the pressure of national championship expectations. Might be scary for a while.
Professor's Pick: Florida

Arkansas (7-4, 3-4) at LSU (8-3, 4-3)
6 p.m. CT
ESPN
Tiger Stadium (92,400)
Comment: LSU must be reeling after losing a wacky game to Ole Miss (although to be fair the Rebels had outplayed the Tigers the whole game), and Arkansas comes in primed to move up in the SEC West pecking order. Bayou Bengals have a way of responding, so let's go with them.
Professor's Pick: LSU

Tennessee (6-5, 3-4) at Kentucky (7-4, 3-4)
7 p.m. ET
ESPNU
Commonwealth Stadium (67,942)
Comment: Bowl positioning will be on the line when two pretty physical squads square off. Saturday nights in Lexington are not easy, so consider this a tossup.
Professor's Pick: Tennessee

Georgia (6-5, 4-4) at Georgia Tech (11-1)
8 p.m. ET
ABC / ESPN2
Grant Field (55,000)
Comment: How sweet would an upset be for the Bulldogs? Georgia Tech swaggers in as ACC Coastal champs, headed for the conference championship, with a potential south Florida bowl trip on the holiday docket. The Dogs straggle into Atlanta after blowing a two-touchdown lead against Kentucky at home, minus their best player (WR A.J. Green), with a fan base holding a pocketful of pink slips designated for every assistant coach wearing red and black. Even the Dog mascot died. Tough year gets tougher for the Classic City canines.
Professor's Pick: Georgia Tech

Open: Vanderbilt (2-10)

RIVALRY AND GAMES OF INTEREST

Thursday

8:00 PM ET No. 3 Texas at Texas A&M ... Longhorn QB Colt McCoy has a losing record against Aggies, but should even that up Thanksgiving night. Professor's Pick: (Picked Earlier) Texas

Friday

3:30 PM ET Nebraska at Colorado ... Huskers on way to Big 12 title game but cannot overlook Buffs. Professor's Pick: Nebraska

7:00 PM ET No. 9 Pitt at West Virginia ... a Pitt win in the Backyard Brawl sets up a Big East showdown against Cincy next week, but this could be a dangerous fight for the Panthers. Professor's Pick: Pitt

10:00 PM ET Nevada at No. 6 Boise State ... Broncos could be left out in BCS cold even if they tame the Wolfpack. Professor's Pick: Boise State

Saturday

12:30 PM ET No. 12 Oklahoma State at Oklahoma ... Bedlam carries big-time risk-reward for OK State because Cowboys probably BCS bound with a victory. Professor's Pick: OK State

1:30 PM ET Southern Miss at East Carolina ... C-USA East title on line when Golden Eagles swoop into Greenville to face the purple Pirates. Professor's Pick: East Carolina

3:30 PM ET Missouri vs. Kansas ... Border War might be last stand for Mark Mangino who will fall victim to political correctness (and a bad season) as much as anything else. Professor's Pick: Missouri

5:00 PM ET No. 21 Utah at No. 19 Brigham Young ... the Holy War is the only matchup of top-25 teams this rivalry weekend. Professor's Pick: Utah

6:30 PM ET Washington State at Washington ... Apple Cup is a bit sour as Wazoo is perhaps worst team in a BCS conference. Professor's Pick: Washington

8:00 PM ET Notre Dame at Stanford ... Charlie Weis brought some criticism on himself for being too mouthy too early, but the personal stuff sometimes goes overboard. Jim Harbaugh could probably get the Irish job if he wanted it, but figures to stay at Stanford (until Michigan or the NFL comes calling). Professor's Pick: Stanford

College Football Rivalry Week TV Schedule

2009-11-26T18:09:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving Weekend Television Schedule

The National Football Foundation has posted the college football television schedule for rivalry week.

--------------------------------------------------------

Bonus Professor's Pick

Thanksgiving Night Game

8:00 PM ET No. 3 Texas at Texas A&M ... Longhorn QB Colt McCoy has a losing record against Aggies in the Lone Star State , but should even that up Thanksgiving night.

Professor's Pick: Texas

---------------------------------------
Professor's Picks

Check back Friday morning for Professor's Picks!

Paul not Perfect ... Ask about A-Pop

2009-11-25T10:06:00.017-05:00

Recent media reports to the contrary, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson is not the perfect football coach.

Just ask him about A-pop (since apparently none of the pundits will).

The annual Georgia-Georgia Tech battle looms at historic Grant Field Saturday night and the story's all about Paul.

Tech swaggers in at 10-1, ranked 7th in BCS standings, champions of the ACC Coastal Division, most likely bound for a big-time Florida bowl game.

All because of Paul.

Georgia staggers in at 6-5, freshly wounded from a second-half collapse against Kentucky, head coach Mark Richt on the business end of fan discontent for the first time since he arrived in Athens, a potential trip to shivering Shreveport souring the post-season.

All because of Paul leading Tech to a rousing victory in Athens last season.

At least that's the story scribes are selling us.

Heck, I bet Johnson even offed Uga.

This morning I learned from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Mark Bradley that a couple years ago Paul hit the green on a par-5 with his second shot ... after his partner suggested he lay up.

Wow, move over Knute Rockne and back off Bear Bryant.

In the same section, I discovered from Jeff Schultz that Johnson had done a better job than Richt of developing a quarterback this season because Josh Nesbitt has outplayed Joe Cox. Schultzie failed to explain how the great JP might have rounded the slow-footed Cox into an option quarterback had Johnson inherited him instead of the multi-talented runner Nesbitt. But, I'm sure Bear - er I mean Paul - could've.

In online versions of the AJC, the esteemed Mr. College Football (Tony Barnhart - not Paul Johnson) claims PJ will bring the hammer down on Georgia should he get the chance, and Tony wonders whether the Dogs will have the heart to fight back and keep the game close.

Slow down fellas.

Paul Johnson is a very good coach, possibly on his way to becoming a great one.

Keep in mind he does have a losing bowl record and got completely outmaneuvered by the less-than-esteemed Les Miles of LSU in last year's Chick-fil-A Bowl.

While I'm a Georgia grad, I grew up pulling for Tech too, saw many games off North Avenue, have wonderful in-laws who are Tech people, love the triple-option offense, and sometimes still even cheer for the Jackets. So, my comments are not knee-jerk reactions because the Wreck is rambling along pretty good right now.

Still, local hero worship by Atlanta scribes to the contrary, Paul's not perfect.

Georgia just may need him to have an A-pop moment this weekend.

Read A Civil War: A Year Inside College Football's Purest Rivalry, John Feinstein's fine book about the Army-Navy game of 1995. While Johnson (Navy's offensive coordinator) comes across very well in the book, earthy, profane, funny, and smart ... he's also overly confident and bold. That boldness leads to a blunder that costs the Middies dearly.

Deep into the fourth quarter, Navy led 13-7 and drove to the Army one-foot line. Facing a 4th and goal, all the Midshipmen needed was a chip shot field goal (their kicker was 2-2 that day) to take a nine-point lead, forcing the Cadets to score twice to win the game - an implausible possibility.

As Navy head coach Charlie Weatherbie pondered what to do, Johnson came over the headset and exclaimed "We can score with A-pop ... they'll have so many people on the line it'll be wide open."

Rarely will such a smart coach make such a dumb call at such a bad time.

Navy was an option team. Same offense Tech runs today. The Middies had the ball on the one-foot line. Logic dictated the field goal, or - if the team decided to go for the TD - a quarterback plunge or fullback (B-back) up the middle. Instead, Paul Johnson called A-pop ... a short pass into the flats to one of the wingbacks (A-back in the vernacular).

All the Navy coaches with the exception of one supported Johnson's silly call. The pass fell incomplete and the game turned.

Army drove the ball 99 yards, scoring with just over a minute left in the game to win a 14-13 thriller, one of the best games in the storied series.

A-pop was the pivotal call in the game. Johnson blew it.

Paul Johnson's a good coach, perhaps on his way to being great.

He's also prone to being overly confident and bold.

Georgia needs PJ to have another A-pop moment this weekend.

He just might.

* Note: Wonder about the lone dissenter on the Navy staff oppposing Johnson's boneheaded call against Army? Defensive backs coach Gary Patterson, now head coach at TCU ... a team that might well face Georgia Tech in a bowl game. Maybe he'll remind PJ of A-pop.

College Football Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T10:55:00.005-05:00

Thanksgiving Wishes

God ... The game is all your way, the secrets and the signals and
the system; and so for the break of the game and
the first play and the last. Our prayer of thanks.
Carl Sandburg Our Prayer of Thanks

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.
Erma Bombeck

Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American.
O. Henry

-------------------------------------------------

Thanksgiving Football Quick Quiz

The Thanksgiving Week offers great rivalry games ... can you name the schools that play in these ten rivalries?

Backyard Brawl
Battle for the Golden Boot
Bedlam
Border War
Civil War
Clean, Old Fashioned Hate
Egg Bowl
Holy War
Iron Bowl
Sunshine Showdown

------------------------------------------------

Ain't that America

Welcome to The Campus Game where a second helping of turkey and dressing is a side course to the main dish of Thanksgiving week football.

We'll get to the quiz answers in just a minute, but as we gather with family and friends for food and football this holiday season we are enjoying a truly historical aspect of American culture.

College football and Thanksgiving have been linked together for well over a century.

By the 1880s, football had surpassed baseball as the most popular campus game, and (in these pre-bowl game years) the season typically ended with a big Thanksgiving Day game against a top rival. The same held true for high school football teams too.

So ... enjoy your feast and your football ... it's America.

-------------------------------------------------

Quiz Answers!

Backyard Brawl: Pitt-West Virginia
Battle for the Golden Boot: LSU-Arkansas
Bedlam: Oklahoma-OK State
Border War: Kansas-Missouri
Civil War: Oregon-Oregon State
Clean, Old Fashioned Hate: Georgia-Georgia Tech
Egg Bowl: Ole Miss-Miss State
Holy War: BYU-Utah
Iron Bowl: Alabama-Auburn
Sunshine Showdow: Florida-FSU

-------------------------------------------------

The Campus Game Top Ten Games (Thanksgiving Week)

10. Texas at Texas A&M: Longhorns take on Aggies and the "12th man" at College Station.

9. Utah at BYU: Only pairing of Top 25 teams over Thanksgiving weekend ... that's not right.

8. Southern Miss at East Carolina: Golden Eagles and Pirates settle the C-USA East title.

7. Florida State at Florida: Tim Tebow's last home game as Gators try to stay perfect.

6. Nevada at Boise State: WAC title on line as wily Wolfpack creeps onto the blue turf.

5. OK State at Oklahoma: Pokes are looking for a BCS bid but must get past in-state nemesis Sooners in Bedlam series.

4. Pitt at West Virginia: The Brawl looms large because Pitt is still in BCS bowl picture.

3. Georgia-Georgia Tech: Can Bulldogs recover and upset Tech after blowing a two-touchdown lead over Kentucky?

2. Ole Miss at Miss State: The Egg Bowl has few national ramifications (other than bowl implications), but is annually one of the hardest-hitting, most fun games to watch.

1. Alabama at Auburn: Tide travels to Plains with national title hopes on the line.

-------------------------------------------------

Around the SEC and Professor's Picks

Check back later in the week for Around the SEC and Professor's Picks.

See you at kickoff!

Professor's Picks Week 12

2009-11-21T06:00:00.002-05:00

2009 Record

Overall: 122-46
Last Week: 14-3

Comment: For the second week in a row, a pretty solid record highlighted by a perfect mark in the SEC (that's 15 in a row going back to the Auburn-Ole Miss game). The grade is somewhat inflated because the SEC picks have not been so difficult.

Best Pick: Many had Auburn beating Georgia between the hedges, but the Dogs pulled it out as predicted here. Also, Ole Miss came through with a victory over what had been a hot Tennessee team.

Worst Pick: Stanford had been a professor's favorite all season, but I went with USC to win ... to paraphrase Pete Carroll ... what's my deal? Also, Notre Dame did not win one for the Weis guy against Pitt.

Here are this week's SEC and selected national picks.

Enjoy!

SEC Picks

Chattanooga (6-4) at Alabama (10-0, 7-0)
11:21 a.m. CT *SEC Network (check local listing)
Bryant-Denny Stadium (92,012)
Comment: If this was 1958 we might want to see this game; otherwise just a Tide tuneup before the Iron Bowl.
Professor's Pick: Are you kidding - Bama

Mississippi State (4-6, 2-4) at Arkansas (6-4, 2-4)
11:21 a.m. CT *SEC Network (check local listing)
War Memorial Stadium (Little Rock)(53,727)
Comment: Hog QB Ryan Mallett leads the league in total offense and Arkansas paces the conference in scoring, while Miss State ranks 10th in pass defense and 11th in total defense. The only team below the Bullies in scoring D? The Hogs, so it could be a high scoring day in Little Rock.
Professor's Pick: Arkansas

Florida International (3-7) at Florida (10-0, 8-0)
12:30 p.m. ET Florida PPV
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548)
Comment: Like Alabama, the Gators also take a break from big-boy football before closing the regular season against an in-state rival (FSU Noles) next week.
Professor's Pick: Are you kidding #2 - Florida

LSU (8-2, 5-2) at Ole Miss (7-3, 3-3)
2:30 p.m. CT CBS Sports
Vaught-Heminway Stadium (60,580)
Comment: The league's best game with bowl travel destinations on the line. Winner most likely goes to Orlando for the Cap One Bowl, with loser looking at Cotton, Chick-fil-A, Outback ... none of those scenarios is too bad. The Rebels are an up-and-down team coming off their most impressive win of the season (a 42-17 pasting of Tennessee). LSU played a lackluster game in dispatching Louisiana Tech 24-16. LSU has not impressed me all year, so I'll go with the Rebs.
Professor's Pick: Ole Miss

Vanderbilt (2-9, 0-7) at Tennessee (5-5, 2-4)
7 p.m. ET ESPNU
Neyland Stadium (100,011)
Comment: The Volunteers fell from grace very quickly last week on and off the field. Four Vol arrests (three for their part in an alleged armed robbery and one for shoplifting) overshadowed a terrible defensive performance at Ole Miss. Vanderbilt should provide a tough, but beatable, opponent this week. Vols get back to business and earn a bowl berth.
Professor's Pick: Tennessee

Kentucky (6-4, 2-4) at Georgia (6-4, 4-3)
7:45 p.m. ET ESPN2
Sanford Stadium (92,746)
Comment: Georgia played its best game of the year against Auburn last week, at a time Mark Richt and the Dogs really needed a lift. Expect the Dogs, who rank 11th in SEC rushing statistics, to try and run the ball at the Cats (who rank 11th against the run) with emerging freshman tailback Waushan Ealey. UK continues to play pretty well without starting QB Mike Hartline, as frosh Morgan Newton has played decently. Both teams may be without their best players ... multi-threat WR Randall Cobb of Big Blue and WR A.J. Green of Georgia. That probably hurts Kentucky more.
Professor's Pick: Georgia

OPEN: Auburn (7-4, 3-4), South Carolina (6-5, 3-5)

-------------------------------------------------

Selected National Picks

Connecticut at Notre Dame: Charlie is probably already gone, we'll see if his team is too. Professor's Pick: ND

Virginia at Clemson: Orange-hot Tigers can win ACC Atlantic division by unseating the Cavaliers. Professor's Pick: Clemson

Penn State at Michigan State: Don't count Joe Pa out of BCS berth just yet. Professor's Pick: Penn State

Kansas at Texas: Suddenly Mark Mangino feels the heat - from his Athletic Director no less ... don't remember all these complaints when Jayhawks made it to Orange Bowl. Professor's Pick: Texas

Oregon at Arizona: Ducks try to survive in desert against Wildcats. Professor's Pick: Oregon

Oklahoma at Texas Tech: Sooners usually arrest passing game of Red Raiders. Professor's Pick: Oklahoma

Cal at Stanford: "The Big Game" is the only one pitting top 25 squads this week. Professor's Pick: Stanford

Ohio State at Michigan: who cares about the records, it's one of college football's best rivalries. Rich Rod and the Wolves could really use a good showing. Professor's Pick: Ohio State

Around the SEC Week 12

2009-11-20T12:42:00.007-05:00

Ruminations on the passing scene ...

Bowl Bonanza

The bowl season will soon be upon us and every SEC team except Vanderbilt is still in contention for post-season play. Here is one early projection of where teams might go bowling.

BCS Championship Game (Pasadena): Winner of Alabama/Florida if they finish regular season unbeaten

Sugar (New Orleans): Loser of Alabama/Florida

Capital One (Orlando): LSU-Ole Miss winner

Outback (Tampa): LSU-Ole Miss loser

Chick-fil-A (Atlanta): Georgia

Cotton (Dallas/Arlington): Arkansas

Music City (Nashville): Tennessee

Liberty (Memphis): Auburn

Independence (Shreveport): South Carolina

Papa John's (Birmingham): Kentucky

-------------------------------------------------

Gator Bowl Joins Bowl Destinations

In 2010, the Gator Bowl joins the list of SEC bowl tie-ins. The game will be another Sunshine State SEC-Big Ten showdown (like the Cap One and the Outback). Selection order has not been finalized, but the Gator traditionally pays out the most of any non-BCS bowl.

The Independence Bowl will no longer be tied in with the conference.
-------------------------------------------------

Conference News and Notes (from SEC Office)

SEC Football Players of the Week
Games of Nov. 14

Offense: Ole Miss RB/WR Dexter McCluster
Defense: Florida CB Joe Haden
Special Teams: Auburn DB/RS Demond Washington
O Line: Alabama OG Mike Johnson
D Line: Kentucky DT, Corey Peters
Freshman: Georgia RB Washaun Ealey

• Florida became the eighth team since SEC expansion
(1992) to go through the regular season undefeated in
the conference (Alabama, at 7-0 this season, has one
conference game remaining.).

The list includes:
Alabama (1992, 1994, 2008)
Florida (1995, 1996)
Tennessee (1998)
Auburn (2004)

• With wins this past weekend, Arkansas, Georgia,
Kentucky and Ole Miss became bowl eligible. The SEC
now has nine bowl eligible teams with Tennessee
(needs one win) and Mississippi State (needs two
wins) still able to reach bowl eligibility.

• The SEC has a 37-6 non-conference record so far
this season. The 86.1 winning rate is tops in NCAA
FBS. The SEC has already reached the win total of
last season and needs to go 4-1 the remainder of the
regular season against non-conference foes to equal its
best winning percentage since the season was expanded
to 12 games (41-7 in 2006).

• Twenty (20) SEC football players are either semifinalists
or finalists for 11 post-season individual awards.

-------------------------------------------------

College Football on TV Week 12

The National Football Foundation has released this week's television schedule. The games are listed by conference home game.

-------------------------------------------------

Reviews

Results for SEC Games Week of Nov. 14:

Ole Miss 42, Tennessee 17 (61,422 at Oxford)
Kentucky 24, Vanderbilt 13 (33,675 at Nashville)
Florida 24, South Carolina 14 (79,297 at Columbia)
Alabama 31, Miss. State 3 (58,103 at Starkville)
Georgia 31, Auburn 24 (92,746 at Athens)
LSU 24, Louisiana Tech 16 (92,584 at Baton Rouge)
Arkansas 56, Troy 20 (66,442 at Fayetteville)

-------------------------------------------------

SEC Games This Week
Professor's Picks Posted Tomorrow!

Schedule of SEC Games Week of Nov. 21:

Chattanooga (6-4) at Alabama (10-0, 7-0) 11:21 a.m. CT
*SEC Network / ESPN360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (92,012)

Mississippi State (4-6, 2-4) at Arkansas (6-4, 2-4) 11:21 a.m. CT
*SEC Network / ESPN360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Little Rock, Ark. • War Memorial Stadium (53,727)

Florida International (3-7) at Florida (10-0, 8-0) 12:30 p.m. ET
Florida PPV / ESPN 360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Gainesville, Fla. • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field (88,548)

LSU (8-2, 5-2) at Ole Miss (7-3, 3-3) 2:30 p.m. CT
CBS Sports
Oxford, Miss. • Vaught-Heminway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field (60,580)

Vanderbilt (2-9, 0-7) at Tennessee (5-5, 2-4) 7 p.m. ET
ESPNU
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium/Shields-Watkins Field (100,011)

Kentucky (6-4, 2-4) at Georgia (6-4, 4-3) 7:45 p.m. ET
ESPN2
Athens, Ga. • Sanford Stadium (92,746)

OPEN: Auburn (7-4, 3-4), South Carolina (6-5, 3-5)

-------------------------------------------------

Previews

Schedule of SEC Games for Thanksgiving Week:

Friday, Nov. 27
Alabama at Auburn (1:30 p.m. CT / CBS Sports)

Saturday, Nov. 28
Arkansas at LSU (6 p.m. CT / ESPN)
Ole Miss at Mississippi State (11:21 a.m. CT / SEC Network)
Florida State at Florida (3:30 p.m. ET / CBS Sports)
Georgia at Georgia Tech (8 p.m. ET / ABC - ESPN2)
Tennessee at Kentucky (7 p.m. ET / ESPNU)
Clemson at South Carolina (12 p.m. ET / ESPN)

-------------------------------------------------

Professor's Picks

Remember to visit The Campus Game for Professor's Picks ... they will be posted early Saturday morning.

See you at kickoff!

College Football 2009 Week 12

2009-11-18T12:32:00.013-05:00

Hanging Half a Hundred

"What's your deal?" ... "What's your deal?"
(On-Field exchange between USC coach Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh of Stanford after the Cardinal beat the Trojans 55-21 last weekend)

While that exchange might win no prizes for lyricism or wit, it fits well within a century-old college football ritual.

Welcome back to The Campus Game ... where we know gratuitously hanging half a hundred on somebody is part of a grand college football tradition - running up the score.

Seems Pete got his dander up mainly because Haurbaugh went for a two-point conversion with 6:47 remaining and Stanford clinging to a scant 48-21 lead.

Now, Harbaugh can cite any reason he wants for piling on (and he told a few whoppers on the Colin Cowherd ESPN radio show this week), but the plain fact is he wanted to hang half a hundred on the Trojans and he eventually did even though the conversion failed; the Cardinal plunged in with a short TD at the 2:19 mark after an interception return.

Instead of denying his desire to rub it in, Harbaugh might have been better served to channel his inner Steve Spurrier.

The old head ball coach routinely ran up the score on opponents at Florida in the 1990s and didn't shy away from showing some swagger in doing so.

"Wanted to hang half a hundred on them" Spurrier crowed after the Gators trampled the Georgia Bulldogs (his favorite foil) 52-17 in 1995 ... at Sanford Stadium no less. The Georgia-Florida game is typically played in Jacksonville but was played on each campus once in the mid-90s while the Gator Bowl was renovated, and the visored one wanted to make sure he left Clarke County after having rung up the most points ever against the Dogs between the hedges (he did).

Haurbaugh, a Michigan man, could have also revisited an old foe of his alma mater.

Legendary Woody Hayes and Ohio State battered Michigan 50-14 on the way to the 1968 national championship. After the Buckeyes scored their last touchdown, Woody rubbed salt in the Wolverine wounds and had the Bucks line up for the 2-point conversion (it failed).

Asked afterward why he went for two, Hayes supposedly growled "because I couldn't go for three!"

That's the spirit!

If you're man enough to run up the score, be man enough to say you did.

Even old Woody pales when compared to the all-time score runner-upper.

John Heisman (yes, that Heisman) of Georgia Tech paid Cumberland College of Tennessee $500 to play the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta in 1916. He got his money's worth.

Seems Heisman wanted a bit of revenge because his Tech baseball squad lost a game 22-0 to Cumberland in the spring of 16. He earned his vengeance - ten times over.

Never passing or punting, Tech rambled to a tidy 32 touchdowns in a shortened game and won by the fabled mark of 222-0.

Woody, Spurrier, and Harbaugh would have been proud.

-------------------------------------

Professor's Bookcase

Before getting to this week's games, a few plugs for good football books (or sports books in general).

Earlier this season, I recommended The Real All-Americans by Sally Jenkins ... the story of Pop Warner, Jim Thorpe, and the Carlisle Indian School. I do so again; fine book and here's a review.

I am currently re-reading A Civil War, another in a long-line of sports books by the prolific John Feinstein (this one about the Army-Navy football rivalry). Want to learn about one of college football's greatest spectacles? This is your book.

As a fan of sports talk radio, I rank Paul Finebaum's show out of Alabama about the best around. Yesterday, he had the great Pat Conroy on the show. Conroy was there to talk about his latest book (South of Broad - have read it and it's good but very grim) but I want to mention My Losing Season, a terrific recount of his senior basketball season at The Citadel, a book I occasionally require my students to read. You can hear the interview with Conroy (it's very good) at Finebaum's website.

Finally, just finished Tall Tales. This is Terry Pluto's history of the early NBA. Not a football book, but an interesting and fun read - wonderful stories of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s when the earliest players seemed to play mainly for the beer, and coaches thought nothing of punching fans, officials, even team owners (the Celtics Red Auerbach once decked Hawks owner Ben Kerner before a game and wasn't even ejected) and sometimes each other.

Maybe good for Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh they didn't coach back then.

-------------------------------------

BCS Bowl Projections

The bowl season approaches rapidly, and BCS bowl selections will be most interesting this season.

Since there are two undefeated teams from non-BCS conferences (TCU and Boise State) and only the SEC clearly merits two teams in BCS bowls this may get a bit hairy.

Let's say the top three of Florida, Alabama, and Texas win out in the regular season and Texas wins the Big 12 title. The BCS championship would obviously pit Texas against the survivor of the SEC.

The selection order would then be as follows:

1. Sugar (for losing SEC champ to title game ... note that if Texas finished atop the standings the Fiesta would get first replacement pick)

2. Fiesta (for losing Big 12 champ to title game)

3. Orange (would already automatically have ACC champ so would choose foe)

4. Rose (would be set with PAC-10/Big Ten champs)

The Sugar would certainly take the SEC title game loser, but what about the Fiesta Bowl? Boise State? TCU? Big East champ? Big Ten runner-up? PAC-10 runner-up?

Here are this week's projections in order of selection:

BCS Title: Alabama/Florida winner vs. Texas
Sugar: Chooses SEC title game loser
Fiesta: Chooses Cincinnati if undefeated
Orange: Chooses TCU to face ACC Champ
Rose: PAC-10 vs Big Ten champs set
Sugar: Chooses Iowa or Penn State? Boise State?
Fiesta: Chooses Boise State ... or Oklahoma State if the Cowboys win out ... or Georgia Tech if the Jackets lose the ACC title game ... on and on!

-------------------------------------

The Campus Game Top Ten Rankings (Week 12)

10. Stanford ... three losses is too many for this rank but playing great ball.

9. Ohio State ... Buckeyes best of a bad league.

8. Pitt ... Panthers are methodical but sound.

7. Boise State ... will Broncos be left out of BCS mix?

6. Georgia Tech ... can Jackets win a bowl when opponent has time to prepare for the option?

5. TCU ... Horned Frogs blasted Utah and should sail to a BCS bowl.

4. Cincinnati ... Bearcats keep churning out big wins, but did not look great against West Virginia.

3. Texas ... Longhorns look to cruise to national title game, but Nebraska might be worthy Big 12 foe.

2. Alabama ... Tide plays Chattanooga choo-choo this week before the Iron Bowl.

1. Florida ... mighty Gators get an FIU bye then close out regular season with Seminoles.

-------------------------------------

The Campus Game Top Ten Games (Week 12)

10. Connecticut at Notre Dame: Charlie is probably already gone, we'll see if his team is too.

9. Virginia at Clemson: Orange-hot Tigers can win ACC Atlantic division by unseating the Cavaliers.

8. Penn State at Michigan State: Don't count Joe Pa out of BCS berth just yet.

7. Kentucky at Georgia: Two bowl-bound SEC teams battle between the hedges.

6. Kansas at Texas: Suddenly Mark Mangino feels the heat - from his Athletic Director no less.

5. Oregon at Arizona: Ducks try to survive in desert against Wildcats.

4. Oklahoma at Texas Tech: Sooners usually arrest passing game of Red Raiders.

3. Cal at Stanford: One of few games pitting top 25 squads this week.

2. LSU at Ole Miss: Rebels wore out Vols and face shaky Bengal Tigers

1. Ohio State at Michigan: who cares about the records, it's one of college football's best rivalries.

Remember to visit later in the week for Around the SEC and Professor's Picks.

See you at kickoff!

Professor's Picks Week 11

2009-11-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

2009 Record

Overall: 108-43
Last Week: 12-5

Comment: The SEC made for easy pickings last week (8-0) with few close matchups, but in national games a 4-5 record calls for extra study hall.

Best Pick: Stanford has been a professor's pet all year and the Cardinal pulled off the predicted upset of red-hot Oregon.

Worst Pick: Notre Dame let the old prof down by falling to the Naval Academy.

Here is a fast-break version of this week's SEC and national picks.

Enjoy!

SEC Picks

Tennessee (5-4, 2-3) at Ole Miss (6-3, 2-3)
11 a.m. CT CBS Sports
Hollingsworth Field/Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (60,580)
Comment: Vols cannot shake off the arrest of three freshmen, and Ole Miss is on the way to a bowl berth.
Professor's Pick: Ole Miss

Kentucky (5-4, 1-4) at Vanderbilt (2-8, 0-6)
11:21 a.m. CT SEC Network / ESPN360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Vanderbilt Stadium (39,773)
Comment: Commodores just trying to get to finish line ... home field helps, but not enough.
Professor's Pick: Kentucky

Florida (9-0, 7-0) at South Carolina (6-4, 3-4)
3:30 p.m. ET CBS Sports
Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250)
Comment: Gators continue quest for unbeaten season, but the Gamecocks could present problems. Florida sneaks by close.
Professor's Pick: Florida

Alabama (9-0, 6-0) at Mississippi State (4-5, 2-3)
6 p.m. CT ESPN
Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (55,082)
Comment: The Bullies are much improved this season, but should not be able to stem the Tide.
Professor's Pick: Alabama

Auburn (7-3, 3-3) at Georgia (5-4, 3-3)
7 p.m. ET ESPN2
Sanford Stadium (92,746)
Comment: South's oldest rivalry may be a high scoring affair as the offenses are pretty good and the defenses ... well, they are not. Dogs - barely.
Professor's Pick: Georgia

Louisiana Tech (3-6) at LSU (7-2, 4-2)
6 p.m. CT ESPNU
Tiger Stadium (92,400)
Comment: Upset alert for Bengal Tigers after tough loss in Tuscaloosa. LSU wins, but it might get a little crazy.
Professor's Pick: LSU

Troy (7-2) at Arkansas (5-4, 2-4)
6:30 p.m. CT CSS / ESPN360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000)
Comment: Pretty nice matchup of potent SEC and Sun Belt offenses ... of course there's quite a difference in those two leagues.
Professor's Pick: Arkansas

Selected National Picks

Penn at Harvard ... venerable Ivy League championship on the line in matchup of teams unbeaten in conference. Professor's Pick: Penn

Idaho at Boise State ... Pat Forde of ESPN calls it the Spud State Super Bowl; can the Vandals (what a great nickname) bust the Broncs? Professor's Pick: Boise State

Kansas State at Missouri ... Wildcats try to hold serve on road against Tigers. If K-State and Nebraska win, Big 12 North title will be on line the following week. Professor's Pick: Missouri

Georgia Tech at Duke ... Jackets can claim Coastal Division by beating Blue Devils. Professor's Pick: Georgia Tech

Arizona at Cal ... Mike Stoops is quietly positioning the Wildcats to play for the PAC-10 title against Oregon, but UA must get past Cal first. Professor's Pick: Arizona

Notre Dame at Pitt ... another checkpoint Charlie for the Irish; another loss probably means ND will be looking for a coach. Panthers are very much in contention for Big East BCS berth. Professor's Pick: Notre Dame

Cincinnati at West Virginia ... Big East continues to offer pretty good fare. Bearcats are poised for possible BCS title game if Texas or the SEC schools falter. Professor's Pick (Friday Special Picked Earlier): Cincy

Utah at TCU ... ESPN Game Day crew makes visit to Fort Worth as the Horned Frogs try to leap the last serious obstacle to a BCS bowl. Professor's Pick: TCU

Stanford at USC ... Cardinal knocked off Oregon last week, can they end SC conference hopes this Saturday? Professor's Pick: USC

Iowa at Ohio State ... winner gets the Big Ten BCS bowl berth: a trip to Pasadena and the Rose Bowl. Professor's Pick: Ohio State

See you at kickoff!

Around the SEC Week 11

2009-11-13T13:30:00.018-05:00

TV Schedule Week of November 12

The National Football Foundation has released its weekly television schedule by conference. Please click here to see the schedule.

------------------------------------------

Lil Lane Kiffin

"We're Lil Wayne fans ... Guess we're getting a little street cred ... the more we're out there the better."
(Coach Lil Lane Kiffin gloating about a profane lyric mentioning him in the song "Banned on TV" by rapper Lil Wayne)

"Lil Lane" probably got more "street cred" than he bargained for when three of his Tennessee players were arrested this week. Perhaps he can spin that into another recruiting gimmick.

No need to go into specifics about the arrests here, nor is there much reason for rival fans to gloat because it could happen anywhere and the lives of three young men are likely to be effectively ruined.

Still ... with the way Lil Lane loves to needle other conference members, with the way he crowed about stealing coaches from other staffs, with the way he told a South Carolina recruit the kid would pump gas the rest of his life like everybody else in the Palmetto State, with the way he lied about firing a UT staff member who picked him up late at the airport, with the way he chided a Georgia recruit from Memphis for being a grandma's boy, with the way he inferred the administration at Pahokee High School in Florida was dishonest, with the whole Tennessee "wild boys" schtick ... well, let's say not many people around the SEC feel much sympathy for Lil Lane right now.

--------------------------------------------

SEC Title Game

With the SEC Championship game all set, the month of November is anti-climactic for division races. Nonetheless, this week offers some pretty good matchups ... Auburn at Georgia, Alabama at improving Miss State, Tennessee at Ole Miss in an Ed Orgeron homecoming, Florida vs. the Old Ball Coach at Columbia ... not bad fare.

Be sure to check out Professor's Picks Saturday morning to read pigskin prognostications for the SEC and select national games.

-----------------------------------------------

Friday Special Pick

West Virginia at Cincinnati ... the Bearcats continue to impress and remain the team most likely to claw into the BCS title game should the SEC teams and Texas falter. UC Coach Brian Kelly has done a masterful job with quarterbacks Tony Pike and Zack Collaros (making his fourth straight start in replace of the injured-but now recovered Pike). The WVU Mountaineers will not be a pushover. Last season's game went into overtime before the Bearcats prevailed. May be that close again - with similar results. Professor's Pick: Cincinnati

---------------------------------------------

League Leaders

With Alabama and Florida having sewn up the division races, here are team statistical leaders courtesy of the official weekly SEC press release.

SCORING OFFENSE (with national rank)

1. Arkansas (9) 35.6
2. Florida/Auburn (11) (tie) 35.0
4. Tennessee (23) 32.1
5. Alabama (29) 30.9
6. Ole Miss (38) 29.9
7. Georgia/Kentucky (62) (tie) 27.1
9. Miss. State (67) 26.9
10.LSU (73) 25.1
11.South Carolina (98) 21.3
12.Vanderbilt (111) 16.7

SCORING DEFENSE (with national rank)

1. Florida (1) 10.1
2. Alabama (6) 11.8
3. LSU (10) 13.4
4. Ole Miss (12) 15.8
5. Tennessee (26) 18.9
6. South Carolina (29) 20.4
7. Vanderbilt (45) 22.5
8. Kentucky (47) 22.7
9. Miss. State (64) 24.6
10.Georgia/Arkansas (71) (tie) 26.1
12.Auburn (80) 26.6

-----------------------------------

Reviews and Previews

REVIEW: SEC RESULTS NOV. 7

Arkansas 33, South Carolina 16 (68,865 at Fayetteville)
Georgia 38, Tennessee Tech 0 (92,746 at Athens)
Kentucky 37, Eastern Kentucky 12 (67,053 Lexington)
Auburn 63, Furman 31 (81,506 at Auburn)
Alabama 24, LSU 15 (92,012 at Tuscaloosa)
Tennessee 56, Memphis 28 (94,636 at Knoxville)
Florida 27, Vanderbilt 3 (90,694 at Gainesville)
Ole Miss 38, Northern Arizona 14 (38,184 at Oxford)

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Tennessee (5-4, 2-3) at Ole Miss (6-3, 2-3)
11 a.m. CT CBS Sports
Hollingsworth Field/Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (60,580)

Kentucky (5-4, 1-4) at Vanderbilt (2-8, 0-6)
11:21 a.m. CT SEC Network / ESPN360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Vanderbilt Stadium (39,773)

Florida (9-0, 7-0) at South Carolina (6-4, 3-4)
3:30 p.m. ET CBS Sports
Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250)

Alabama (9-0, 6-0) at Mississippi State (4-5, 2-3)
6 p.m. CT ESPN
Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (55,082)

Auburn (7-3, 3-3) at Georgia (5-4, 3-3)
7 p.m. ET ESPN2
Sanford Stadium (92,746)

Louisiana Tech (3-6) at LSU (7-2, 4-2)
6 p.m. CT ESPNU
Tiger Stadium (92,400)

Troy (7-2) at Arkansas (5-4, 2-4)
6:30 p.m. CT CSS / ESPN360.com / ESPN GamePlan

PREVIEW: NOV. 21 SCHEDULE

Chattanooga at Alabama
Mississippi State at Arkansas
Florida International at Florida
Kentucky at Georgia
LSU at Ole Miss
Vanderbilt at Tennessee

*-Check local listings or The Campus Game next week for television/kickoff time for games in each market.

See you at kickoff - don't forget Professor's Picks!

College Football 2009 Week 11

2009-11-11T06:45:00.007-05:00

Football Political Correctness?

No thanks.

What is political correctness?

It's devious, dumb, and dangerous that's what.

Devious because groups with bullying tendencies try to silence those with different views. They do so with the implied threat of labeling people as racist, biased, whatever.

Dumb because most of the time these bullies simply have a knee-jerk reaction to anyone with a different viewpoint. Oh, that guy disagrees with President Obama ... must be racist.

Dangerous because good people too often avoid speaking their minds (or the truth) for fear of being cast in a bad way. Events of the last week remind us of the danger posed.

Spend the better part of twenty-five years on campus at various colleges and you'll develop a pretty keen sense for the intolerance of those who condemn others in the name of tolerance.

It's rampant and getting worse. When will we do something?

Welcome back to The Campus Game, where you can rest assured that political correctness is the last item on our agenda.

With a somber Veteran's Day 2009 as a backdrop, college football certainly pales in significance to current events ... but political correctness can be pretty pervasive in our little part of the world too.

An example.

Boise State and TCU remain in the hunt for the BCS championship game (although neither will make it), and very much in the chase for BCS bowl bids (both may well get in).

While both teams probably merit a BCS bowl if they finish unbeaten (mainly because many top teams have two losses this season), let's not kid ourselves.

Put either squad in the SEC or PAC-10 and they finish middle of the pack - at best.

Put either squad in the Big Ten or Big 12 and they might contend for the Big 12 North, while finishing anywhere from third to fifth in the Big Ten or the Big 12 South.

Put either squad in the Big East or ACC and winning the league would be a big stretch, but competing for good bowls would certainly be feasible.

Good bowls - not BCS level bowls.

So, while these schools tend to squawk a little about lack of respect ... perhaps they should also be thankful for reaping the benefits of football political correctness.

For the rest of us, let's not be afraid to speak our minds - and stand up to the forces of political correctness.

Around the Nation

This is quite a good weekend for games with conference championship implications ... here is an early projection for the BCS bowls:

BCS Title Game: Florida/Alabama Winner vs. Texas
Rose: Oregon vs. Ohio State
Fiesta: Boise State vs. USC
Sugar: Florida/Alabama Loser vs. TCU
Orange: Georgia Tech vs. Cincinnati

The Campus Game Top Ten Lists

Top Ten Rankings (Week 11)

10. Pitt ... Panthers getting little love at 8-1.

9. USC ... Trojans face tough test against Stanford.

8. Boise State ... love them or not, the Broncos play an exciting brand of football.

7. Ohio State ... Buckeyes back into control of Big Ten race.

6. TCU ... Horned Frogs face challenge with physical Utes visiting.

5. Georgia Tech ... Paul Johnson loves to use all four downs on offense.

4. Cincinnati ... Does Bearcat coach Brian Kelly have Irish eyes?

3. Texas ... Longhorns marking time until Big 12 title game.

2. Alabama ... Crimson Tide's outstanding kicking game provides support to great defense and adequate offense.

1. Florida ... Gators defense and special teams overshadow offensive issues.

The Campus Game Top Ten Games (Week 11)

10. Penn at Harvard ... venerable Ivy League championship on the line in matchup of teams unbeaten in conference.

9. Idaho at Boise State ... Pat Forde of ESPN calls it the Spud State Super Bowl; can the Vandals (what a great nickname) bust the Broncs?

8. Kansas State at Missouri ... Wildcats try to hold serve on road against Tigers. If K-State and Nebraska win, Big 12 North title will be on line the following week.

7. Georgia Tech at Duke ... Jackets can claim Coastal Division by beating Blue Devils.

6. Arizona at Cal ... Mike Stoops is quietly positioning the Wildcats to play for the PAC-10 title against Oregon, but UA must get past Cal first.

5. Notre Dame at Pitt ... another checkpoint Charlie for the Irish; another loss probably means ND will be looking for a coach. Panthers are very much in contention for Big East BCS berth.

4. Cincinnati at West Virginia ... Big East continues to offer pretty good fare. Bearcats are poised for possible BCS title game if Texas or the SEC schools falter.

3. Utah at TCU ... ESPN Game Day crew makes visit to Fort Worth as the Horned Frogs try to leap the last serious obstacle to a BCS bowl.

2. Stanford at USC ... Cardinal knocked off Oregon last week, can they end SC conference hopes this Saturday?

1. Iowa at Ohio State ... winner gets the Big Ten BCS bowl berth: a trip to Pasadena and the Rose Bowl.

See you at kickoff!

College Football TV Schedule Week 10

2009-11-06T15:36:00.002-05:00

The National Football Foundation has released its television schedule for week ten. The games are listed by conference home game (all times Eastern).

ACC

Saturday, November 7

Virginia @ (17)Miami,12 noon, Raycom; Steve Martin, Rick Walker, Mike Hogewood
Maryland @ NC State, 1 p.m., ESPN360; Ryan Rose, Danny Kanell
Duke @ North Carolina, 3 p.m., ESPNU; Todd Harris, Charles Arbuckle
Wake Forest @ (10)Georgia Tech, 3:30 p.m., ABC; Pam Ward, Ray Bentley
Florida State @ Clemson, 7:45 p.m., ESPN; Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Erin Andrews

Big East

Saturday, November 7

Louisville @ West Virginia, 12 noon, Big East Network; Mike Gleason, John Congemi, Quint Kessenich
Syracuse @ (13)Pittsburgh, 12 noon, ESPNU; Clay Matvick, David Diaz-Infante
Connecticut @ (5)Cincinnati, 8 p.m., ABC; Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit, Lisa Salters

Big Ten

Saturday, November 7

Illinois @ Minnesota, 12 noon, Big Ten Network; Matt Rosen, Ron Johnson, Ron Johnson
Northwestern @ (4)Iowa, 12 noon, ESPN; Dave Pasch, Bob Griese, Chris Spielman
Purdue @ Michigan, 12 noon, Big Ten Network; Wayne Larrivee, Chris Martin, Charissa Thompson
Western Michigan @ Michigan State, 12 noon, Big Ten Network; Ari Wolfe, Anthony Herron, Larra Overton
(21)Wisconsin @ Indiana, 12 noon, Big Ten Network; Craig Coshun, Glen Mason, Mike Hall
(16)Ohio State @ (11)Penn State, 3:30 p.m., ABC; Sean McDonough, Matt Millen, Holly Rowe

Big 12

Saturday, November 7

Central Florida @ (2)Texas, 12 noon, FSN; Bill Land, Gary Reasons, Emily Jones
Kansas @ Kansas State, 12:30 p.m., Versus; Ron Thulin, Kelly Stouffer, Lewis Johnson
Texas A&M @ Colorado, 1:30 p.m., FCS Central; Dan McLaughlin, Yogi Roth, Samantha Steele
Baylor @ Missouri, 2 p.m., No TV
(19)Oklahoma State @ Iowa State, 3:30 p.m., ABC; Bob Wischusen, Brain Griese
(24)Oklahoma @ Nebraska, 8 p.m., ABC; Ron Franklin, Ed Cunningham

Conference USA

Thursday, November 5

(23)Virginia Tech @ East Carolina, 7:30 p.m., ESPN Rece Davis, Mark May, Lou Holtz, Todd Harris

Saturday, November 7

Florida Atlantic @ UAB 12 noon, No TV
Rice @ SMU, 3 p.m., Time Warner/Metro Sports C.J. Martin, Bruce Wiseman
UTEP @ Tulane, 3:30 p.m., CW 33 Jon Teicher,Bernie Ricono, Jeff Limberg
(15)Houston @ Tulsa, 7:30 p.m., CBS College Sports; Tom Hart, Aaron Taylor

MAC

Thursday, November 5

Miami(OH) @ Temple, 7:30 p.m., No TV Thursday, November 5 - Eastern Michigan @ Northern Illinois, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU; Charlie Neal, Jay Walker

Saturday, November 7

Kent State @ Akron, 3:30 p.m., FS Ohio, Jeff Phelps, Hanford Dixon

Tuesday, November 10 - Ohio @ Buffalo, 7 p.m. ESPN2

Wednesday, November 11 - Toledo @ Central Michigan, 8 p.m., ESPN2

Mountain West

Saturday, November 7

BYU @ Wyoming, 2 p.m., The Mtn.; James Bates, Todd Christensen, Andrea Lloyd
(6)TCU @ San Diego State, 4 p.m., Versus; Tim Neverett, Glenn Parker, Lindsay Soto
Army @ Air Force, 3:30 p.m., CBS College Sports; Dave Ryan, Jason Sehorn
New Mexico @ (14)Utah, 4 p.m., The Mtn.; Dan Gutowsky, Blaine Fowler, Sammy Linebaugh
Colorado State @ UNLV, 8 p.m., The Mtn.; Bill Doleman, Robert Griffith, Molly Sullivan

PAC 10

Saturday, November 7

(8)Oregon @ Stanford, 3:30 p.m., FSN; Barry Tompkins, Petros Papadakis, Rebecca Haarlow
Washington @ UCLA, 3:30 p.m, FSN/FCS Bill McDonald, James Washington, Brooke Olzendam, Courtney Jones
Washington State @ (18)Arizona, 3:30 p.m., AWSN/FCS Dave Sitton, John Fina, Glenn Howell
Oregon State @ (2)California, 7 p.m., FSN; Steve Physioc, Mike Pawlawski, Drea Avent
(12)USC @ Arizona State, 8 p.m., ABC; Mike Patrick, Craig James, Heather Cox

SEC

Saturday, November 7

South Carolina @ Arkansas, 12:21 p.m., SEC Network; Dave Neal, Andre Ware, Cara Capuano
Tennesse Tech @ Georgia, 1 p.m., CSS PPV; Matt Stewart, Buck Belue, Sandra Golden
Eastern Kentucky @ Kentucky, 1 p.m., WKYT-27 Rob Bromley, Tim Couch, Dick Gabriel
Furman @ Auburn, 1:30 p.m., CSS PPV; Andy Burcham, Cole Cubelic, Melissa Lee
(9)LSU @ (3)Alabama, 3:30 p.m., CBS; Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson, Tracy Wolfson
Memphis @ Tennessee, 7 p.m., ESPNU; Eric Collins, Brock Huard
Vanderbilt @ (1)Florida, 7:15 p.m., ESPN2; Mark Jones, Bob Davie
Northern Arizona @ Ole Miss, 7:30 p.m., CSS Todd Bell, Chris Doering

Sun Belt

Saturday, November 7

Florida Atlantic @ UAB, 2 p.m., No TV
Louisiana-Lafayette @ Arkansas State, 3:30 p.m., Sun Belt Network; Todd Kalas, Derek Rackley
Louisiana-Monroe @ North Texas, 4 p.m., No TV
Florida International @ Middle Tennesse, 4:30 p.m., Blue Raiders TV; Chip Walters, Kelly Holcomb
Troy @ Western Kentucky, 5 p.m., No TV

WAC

Friday, November 6 - (7)Boise State @ Louisiana Tech, 8 p.m., ESPN2; Dave Lamont, Rod Gilmore
Saturday, November 7 - Utah State @ Hawaii, 10:05 p.m., Oceanic PPV; Jim Leahey, Russell Yamaoha
Saturday, November 7 - Fresno State @ Idaho, 10:30 p.m., ESPNU; Justin Kutcher, Tom Luginbill
Sunday, November 8 - Nevada @ San Jose State, 8 p.m., ESPN; Terry Gannon, David Norrie

Independents

Saturday, November 7 - Navy @ (22)Notre Dame 2:30 p.m. NBC; Tom Hammond, Pat Haden, Alex Flanagan

IVY

Saturday, November 7

Harvard @ Columbia, 12:30 p.m., GoCrimson.com
Cornell @ Dartmouth, 12:30 p.m., NO TV
Brown @ Yale, 1 p.m., YES; Chris Shearn, Ross Tucker, Jack Ford
Princeton @ Pennsylvania, 3:30 p.m., Comcast; Scott Graham, Kevin Reilly

Professor's Picks Week 10

2009-11-05T14:25:00.007-05:00

2009 Record

Overall Record: 96-38
Last Week: 9-5

Comment: Followed up best week of season with worst. As we move toward semester's end the assignments get tougher and tougher.

Best Pick: No real Fulbright-scholar stuff last week; Texas Tech over Kansas maybe?

Worst Pick: The USC debacle at Oregon, the Ole Miss collapse against Auburn, the Kentucky blue funk vs. Miss State ... take your pick.

Here are this week's SEC picks and national games of interest.

Enjoy!

SEC Games

South Carolina (6-3, 3-3) at Arkansas (4-4, 1-4)
11:21 a.m. CT SEC Network / ESPN360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000)
Comment: The second best game in the league gets a bacon and eggs kickoff time this week. Combining the Arkansas offense with the SC defense would make a major bowl-caliber team as the Hogs boast the top passing attack in the conference and the second best scoring average at 35 ppg. On the other side, the Gamecock defense ranks second in pass defense and fifth in scoring D, but the offense is next to last in scoring. Both teams will go bowling after the year, and the Razorbacks improve their place in the pecking order.
Professor's Pick: Arkansas

Tennessee Tech (5-3) at Georgia (4-4, 3-3)
1 p.m. ET Georgia PPV / ESPN 360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Sanford Stadium (92,746)
Comment: The Dogs get to play at home for the first time in over a month (who made this schedule?) and T-Tech should make a nice homecoming present. Penalties, turnovers, and plenty of lapses on both sides of the ball have plagued Georgia all season, so Watson Brown's Golden Eagles of the Ohio Valley Conference (T-Tech is in third place in OVC) may not be a complete pushover. Close enough to one though.
Professor's Pick: Georgia

Eastern Kentucky (5-3) at Kentucky (4-4, 1-4)
1 p.m. ET WKYT-TV / WMYT-TV / ESPN 360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Commonwealth Stadium (67,942)
Kentucky looked like a lock for a fourth consecutive bowl appearance last week, but a home loss to Miss State makes a win this week over the Colonel's imperative. Eastern figures to be a hard-nosed visitor, making the brief drive up I-75 from Richmond to Lexington.
Professor's Pick: Kentucky

Furman (4-4) at Auburn (6-3, 3-3)
12:30 p.m. CT Auburn PPV / ESPN 360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Pat Dye Field / Jordan Hare Stadium (87,451)
Comment: Auburn continues to befuddle the professor. After starting the season on fire at 5-0, the Tigers went into a mid-season swoon and seemed destined for a 6-6 mark. Then they went and thumped Ole Miss on the Plains and now look like a threat again. Furman is a power in the venerable Southern Conference, but the alliteratively-named Purple Paladins should be out of their league.
Professor's Pick: Auburn

LSU (7-1, 4-1) at Alabama (8-0, 5-0)
2:30 p.m. CT CBS Sports
Bryant-Denny Stadium (92,012)
Comment: Short of a potential Alabama-Florida SEC championship game, this tilt in Tuscaloosa is the biggest remaining contest on the conference calendar. LSU arrives with one blemish (a 13-3 home loss to Florida), and the least fanfare of any team ranked in the national top ten. The Tigers are last in the SEC in total offense and a shocking tenth in rushing offense (even with the talented tailback tandem of Charles Scott and Keiland Williams ... QB Jordan Jefferson is a good running threat too). Defensively, the Tigers should prepare for a healthy dose of Tide RB Mark Ingram running from the Wildcat formation. Ingram's prowess (along with the kicking of Leigh Tiffin) has been the bright spot of an Alabama offense plagued with inconsistent quarterback play by Greg McElroy for the last month. While LSU has had the upper hand in the series of late (winning five of six overall and the last four in T-Town), the Tide defense has been much stronger this season and should keep them rolling toward Atlanta for that Florida showdown.
Professor's Pick: Alabama

Memphis (2-6) at Tennessee (4-4, 2-3)
7 p.m. ET ESPNU
Shield-Watkins Field/Neyland Stadium (100,011)
Comment: For all the bluster about Lane Kiffin rejuvenating Tennessee with recruiting and bravado (the lastest claim being that him getting mentioned by rapper Lil' Wayne gives the Vols "street cred" ... isn't it hilarious to hear Kirk Herbstreit, Brad Nessler, and Desmond Howard talk about street cred?) ... even with all that, Kiffin still has not won two games in a row. The woeful Tigers from Memphis should remedy that hole in Kiffin's credibility.
Professor's Pick: Tennessee

Vanderbilt (2-7, 0-5) at Florida (8-0, 6-0)
7:15 p.m. ET ESPN2
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field (88,548)
Comment: Florida is rounding into form for the stretch national championship run. Vanderbilt has lost five in a row this season. Florida has beaten Vandy 18 times in a row, going back to 1988. Oh yeah, it's a night game at the Swamp on national television. What do you think?
Professor's Pick: Florida

Northern Arizona (5-3) at Ole Miss (5-3, 2-3)
6:30 p.m. CT CSS / ESPN360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Hollingsworth Field/Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (60,580)
Comment: The Rebels got handled pretty easily at Auburn last week and now find themselves struggling to qualify for a bowl ... any bowl. Playing their second FCS/I-AA team of the season means the Rebs have to win 7 games to be bowl-eligible. After facing the Lumberjacks this week, Ole Miss hosts Tennessee and LSU before finishing the season in the Egg Bowl at Miss State. A disappointing season would turn embarrassing should Houston Nutt's crew not win two of these last four. They get one this week.
Professor's Pick: Ole Miss

Selected National Picks

TCU at San Diego State: 4-4 Aztecs, winners of two straight, are one of tougher games left for BCS dreaming Horned Frogs. Not tough enough. Professor's Pick: TCU

Oregon State at Cal: Two good teams with 3-2 conference marks in the underappreciated PAC-10. I'll go with Cal but really like OSU and Mike Riley a lot. Professor's Pick: Cal

Oklahoma at Nebraska: History and tradition alone make this game worth watching. Sooners squeak by ghosts of Devaney, Rodgers, Tagge, Osbore, Gill, et al. Professor's Pick: Oklahoma

Kansas at Kansas State: The Sunflower Showdown is really important to K-State Wildcats as they sit atop Big 12 North. Not sure why, but I'll go with struggling Todd Reesing and the Jayhawks in a mild upset. Professor's Pick: Kansas

Boise State at Louisiana Tech: If Broncos are to lose, a Friday night game against (Derek) Dooley's Dogs might be the game. But ... I don't think they will. Professor's Pick: Boise State

Navy at Notre Dame: Irish must win out for any potential BCS bowl game; otherwise Gator Bowl seems a lock. Return of WR Michael Floyd further boosts an already explosive offense for ND, defense struggles to contain Middie option, and Irish win a closer-than-expected game. Professor's Pick: Notre Dame

Florida State at Clemson: As odd as it seems, this game has conference title game implications. Dabo Swinney's Tigers are up and down so flip a coin ... heads-Clemson tails-FSU ... mine came out heads so I guess that means Clemson is up this week. Professor's Pick: Clemson

Oregon at Stanford: The nation's hottest team plays against the PAC 10's most physical squad. Letdown alert for Ducks ... upset special of week. Professor's Pick: Stanford

Ohio State at Penn State: Nittany Lions not completely out of Big Ten title picture but must handle Buckeyes to stay alive. They do. Professor's Pick: Penn State

See you at kickoff!

College Football Week 10

2009-11-03T07:15:00.002-05:00

All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray ...
I'd be safe and warm, if I was in L.A. ...
California Dreaming ...
(California Dreaming, The Mamas and the Papas)

Hanging Ten

Like a So Cal surfer with all ten toes on the nose, two fistfuls of college football teams are still California dreaming as we move into November.

Welcome back to The Campus Game, where we can't furnish the sand or sea, but can provide a road map to Pasadena.

Today we review the current top ten teams in the BCS standings ... and explain what must happen for those squads to play for a national championship.

We'll start at the top where the conditions are clean and move down into the choppy waters of those needing to catch a sleeper wave.

Florida: 1) Win out and Gators are westward bound. 2) If Gators lose a regular season game, but beat an undefeated Alabama team in the SEC title game, they might still get to BCS championship by outranking any other one-loss team and undefeated Cincinnati, TCU, or Boise State squads (an undefeated Iowa would beat out a 12-1 Florida).

Texas: 1) Win out and the Longhorns play for another title in Tinsel Town. 2) Should UT lose a regular season game, but win the Big 12 title, the Horns would likely need Iowa and Oregon to lose down the stretch. Like Florida, a once-beaten Longhorns team should outrank undefeated Boise or TCU teams (but the weak schedule makes it more iffy with regard to Cincinnati).

Alabama: 1) Win out and Tide rolls to the Pacific. 2) Should Bama fall in regular season, same scenario as Florida above ... counting on one-loss SEC champ reaching title game over potential unbeatens and any other one-loss team (Oregon being the most dangerous).

Iowa: Hawkeyes must win out and count on two of the three teams above to lose. An unbeaten Iowa would get the nod over any once-beaten team.

Cincinnati: Bearcats are in a similar circumstance as Iowa, only the Hawkeyes figure to outrank them if both remain unbeaten. My feeling is that a one-loss SEC champ would get dibs over an undefeated Cincy team ... a one-loss Texas would not.

TCU: Horned Frogs are interesting, but I do not see them making the title game unless something freakish happens ... Texas, Iowa, and Cincinnati all lose, and the SEC teams finish regular season unbeaten. Frogs could make a case to play for title against winner of SEC championship game. Unlikely - but not impossible.

Boise State: While the Broncos victory over Oregon looks more impressive every week, Boise will not play for a title under any realistic circumstance. A one-loss SEC champ would block them, and Texas-Iowa-Cincy-TCU-Oregon-Georgia Tech would all have to lose ... even that might not be enough.

Oregon: Along with LSU, the Ducks have the clearest path from the back of the pack to the front. A one-loss Ducks team could displace anybody below Iowa from the list above ... so they need Iowa and two from among Texas and the SEC teams to lose. Boise presents a potential wipeout for the Ducks because the Broncos dominated them to open the season. Long-shot title contender but it's possible (and team is playing better than anybody right now).

LSU: Bengal Tigers quietly have a very clear path to title game (I just don't think they are good enough to navigate it) ... win out and the Tigers will play for a national title. A one-loss SEC champ figures to be in unless Texas and Iowa win out.

Georgia Tech: Nobody wants to face the Rambling Wreck offense but everyone would love a crack at that porous defense. Unrealistic to think of title game scenario but here goes ... Jackets win out and hope to play the SEC champ in title game ... so, Texas and Iowa must lose ugly and Cincy-Oregon must lose; then Jackets might outrank Boise and TCU. Extremely soft non-conference schedule (and a generally weak ACC) hurts chances. Orange Bowl is nice consolation.

The Campus Game Top Ten Games (Week 10)

Difficult to identify ten good games this week with many conference teams scheduling a post-Halloween non-conference cupcake but here goes:

10. TCU at San Diego State: 4-4 Aztecs, winners of two straight, are one of tougher games left for BCS dreaming Horned Frogs.

9. Oregon State at Cal: Two good teams with 3-2 conference marks in the underappreciated PAC-10.

8. Oklahoma at Nebraska: History and tradition alone make this game worth watching.

7. Kansas at Kansas State: The Sunflower Showdown is really important to K-State Wildcats as they sit atop Big 12 North.

6. Boise State at Louisiana Tech: If Broncos are to lose, a Friday night game against (Derek) Dooley's Dogs might be the game.

5. Navy at Notre Dame: Irish must win out for any potential BCS bowl game; otherwise Gator Bowl seems a lock.

4. Florida State at Clemson: As odd as it seems, this game has conference title game implications.

3. Oregon at Stanford: The nation's hottest team plays against the PAC 10's most physical squad. Letdown alert for Ducks.

2. Ohio State at Penn State: Nittany Lions not completely out of national title picture but must handle Buckeyes to stay alive.

1. LSU at Alabama: SEC West goes to the winner in all likelihood, and national title dreams stay alive as well.

Enjoy the games!

Professor's Picks Week 9

2009-10-31T06:15:00.003-04:00

2009 Record
Overall: 87-33
Last Week: 13-2

Comment: Best week of the season catapults the 2009 grade up into the A- range. Several tough games this week, a few with national implications.

Best Pick: Arkansas was a trendy choice to whip Ole Miss, but the rejuvenated Rebels ripped the Razorbacks.

Worst Pick (Tie): If you can figure out Clemson or Miami let me know. Canes could have taken control of ACC Coastal, but Tigers tamed them. TCU outclassed overrated BYU.

Here are this week's SEC picks and national games of interest.

Enjoy!

SEC Picks

Ole Miss (5-2, 2-2) at Auburn (5-3, 2-3)
11:21 a.m. CT
SEC Network / ESPN360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Pat Dye Field/Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
Comment: Two teams headed in different directions play on the Plains. Rebels easily handled Arkansas last week and may be starting to live up to preseason hype, with offense clicking (Dexter McCluster became first Ole Miss player since at least 1965 to gain over 100 yards both rushing and receiving vs. Hogs). Auburn would love to generate that type offensive performance. The Tigers "O" has scored progressively fewer points for four straight games. Reality has come to the Chizik era for 2009.
Professor's Pick: Ole Miss

Florida (7-0, 5-0) vs. Georgia (4-3, 3-2)
3:30 p.m. ET CBS Sports
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (80,000)
Comment: The cocktail party has gotten a little cranky the past two seasons. First was Georgia's 2007 "celebration" when the Dogs spilled onto the field after an early touchdown, caught the defending national champ Gators off guard, and stomped to a 42-30 win. Urban Meyer and UF did not forget and took a little extra time to savor last season's 49-10 destruction of the Dogs by calling timeouts at the end of the lopsided game. Gators have won nine of twelve in the series, but I do not believe the Florida offense is good enough to blow this game open. Georgia may not be able to score much either, but expect this to be close into the fourth quarter.
Professor's Pick: Florida

Eastern Michigan (0-7) at Arkansas (3-4, 1-4)
6 p.m. CT ESPNU
Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000)
Comment: Hogs need three more wins to go bowling in Bobby Petrino's second season, and the 0-7 Eagles from Ypsilanti provide an inviting treat on Halloween. Razorbacks rumble.
Professor's Pick: Arkansas

Mississippi State (3-5, 1-3) at Kentucky (4-3, 1-3)
7 p.m. ET FS South / ESPN360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Commonwealth Stadium (67,942)
Comment: Cats can secure a fourth consecutive bowl bid with wins over State this week and Eastern Kentucky or Vandy the next two. The Bullies are no pushover, but a letdown after the emotional Florida loss is to be expected. Wildcats move closer to post-season.
Professor's Pick: Kentucky

Georgia Tech (7-1) at Vanderbilt (2-6, 0-5)
6:30 p.m. CT CSS / ESPN 360.com / ESPN GamePlan
Vanderbilt Stadium (39,773)
Comment: The ACC figures to gain bragging rights when the conference's best team plays the cellar-dweller of the SEC. The Johnson boys, Bobby of Vandy and Paul of Tech, have a history of good competition dating to their days leading Furman (Bobby) and Georgia Southern (Paul). The Tech option is a dream to watch, but a nightmare to defend, and one week prep time is not adequate even for the scholars of the gridiron in Nashville.
Professor's Pick: Georgia Tech

South Carolina (6-2, 3-2) at Tennessee (3-4, 1-3)
7:45 p.m. ET ESPN
Shield-Watkins Field/Neyland Stadium (100,011)
Comment: Not sure even massive Neyland Stadium can contain the egos of the two coaches in this one. Lane Kiffin of UT gets another chance to beat somebody he insulted before the season, and Steve Spurrier of SC can prove he still wields the sharpest tongue in town. Offensive coaches aside, this promises to be a terrific defensive struggle between two of the league's most physical and rugged units. The Neyland crowd might help Mr. Brash (young) beat Mr. Brash (old). Keep the mics open for this one.
Professor's Pick: Tennessee

Tulane (2-5) at LSU (6-1, 4-1)
7 p.m. CT TigerVision PPV/ESPN 360.com/ESPN Game Plan
Tiger Stadium (92,400)
Comment: While the Bengal Tigers cannot treat the Green Wave as a Saturday night scrimmage in preparation for the trip to T-Town next week ... well, that's what it should be. LSU fans are seeking an identity (and some consistency) on offense before the Bama brawl.
Professor's Pick: LSU

Selected National Picks

Miami at Wake Forest: Hurricanes need help to reach ACC title, but none in this game. Professor's Pick: Miami

Kansas at Texas Tech: Can a Big 12 North team win a meaningful game? Doubtful. Professor's Pick: Texas Tech

Michigan State at Minnesota: Big Ten bowl bound teams battle for best Florida destination. Professor's Pick: Michigan

Cal at Arizona State: PAC-10 is deeper than most "experts" think. Cal is the best of this duo. Professor's Pick: Cal

West Virginia at South Florida: Mountaineers try to keep Big East hopes alive. They get it done in Tampa. Professor's Pick: West Virginia

Texas at Oklahoma State: The biggest remaining obstacle between Longhorns and title game. Bevo is up to the challenge of fending off the Stillwater Cowboys. Professor's Pick: Texas

USC at Oregon: Winner likely on way to Pasadena ... for granddaddy or BCS title game. The Ducks are hot, but to be the champ you've got to beat the champ. Trojans have earned the respect. Professor's Pick: USC

See you at kickoff!

College Football TV Schedule Week 9

2009-10-30T16:52:00.001-04:00

Week 9 Television Schedule

The National Football Foundation has published the television schedule for week 9 of the college football season.

Around SEC Football Week 9

2009-10-29T16:35:00.007-04:00

Around the SEC

Who snuck off with the Snickers?

Who confiscated the Candy Corn?

Who jacked the Jack-o-Lantern?

Who made the college football weeks between Halloween and Thanksgiving as invisible as the Great Pumpkin Linus waits on every year?

Alabama and Florida that's who.

Nick Saban and Urban Meyer that's who.

Mark Ingram and Tim Tebow, Terrence Cody and Carlos Dunlap, Javier Arenas and Joe Haden ... that's who.

Those guys might as well be ghosts, goblins, and sorcerers because they've cast a spell over the SEC that makes the next month nearly meaningless.

Everybody seems to be simply waiting on the inevitable SEC Championship Game showdown between the nation's top-ranked teams. Shoot ... with the way Southeastern Conference fans show conference loyalty and regional pride, many may actually be pulling for the two super teams to win out and assure another SEC team plays for the national title (a trait that seems to really grate on people from outside the South).

There's only one figure who might botch the witch's brew that has ended the SEC season before Halloween ... the Mad Hatter.

Yes, Les Miles and LSU are about the only scary characters on the league horizon. Should the Bengal Tigers upset Alabama next weekend, the boys from Baton Rouge would leap into the conversation. If - as most expect - the Tide rolls over the Tigers, the SEC West race will be over.

The SEC East is already done.

Oh, not officially ... but Florida holds a two-game lead and does anyone really believe Florida will lose twice in three games?

Georgia might spook the Gators (or even beat them) this weekend, and the Florida trip to South Carolina on November 14th could raise the pulse ... but even with a Halloween upset in Jacksonville the Dogs would still trail the Gators and have games remaining against Kentucky and Auburn. South Carolina plays at Tennessee and Arkansas the next two weeks, so the Gamecocks showdown with the Gators may mean little from a division-race perspective by mid-November.

Start munching that Halloween candy and let's wait on Thanksgiving.

Alabama and Florida have made a turkey out of this conference race.

The Campus Game SEC Ratings (Week 9)

12. Vanderbilt ... Commodores mediocre on defense and awful on offense.

11. Mississippi State ... Bullies are not really good enough for Dan Mullen to be complaining about officials so strongly. Win a few first.

10. Auburn ... with Ole Miss, Georgia, and Alabama still on schedule, the Tigers are reeling a bit.

9. Arkansas ... Razorbacks probably better than this ranking, but have lost two in a row.

8. Kentucky ... Wildcats have solid shot for 8 or 9 wins.

7. Georgia ... Bulldogs could upset the SEC applecart with a win over Gators.

6. Tennessee ... Volunteers could win four or five more games as they move into what has traditionally been the easy month of schedule.

5. Ole Miss ... Rebels failed to live up to preseason hype but are rebounding for a solid season.

4. South Carolina ... Gamecocks better enjoy this ranking because the final four games are scary (at Tennessee, at Arkansas, Florida, Clemson).

3. LSU ... this lofty ranking is fragile as a child's teeth after eating too much candy ... not sure the Tigers are this good.

2. Alabama ... The shoddy quarterback play has cost Tide only style points ... so far.

1. Florida ... Gators toughness moves them back to head of TCG class.

Enjoy the games and check back for Professor's Picks!

College Football Week 9

2009-10-27T06:15:00.001-04:00

Crying Time

"Oh, it's crying time again ... I can see that far away look in your eyes"
(Crying Time, Buck Owens)

Haven't heard such whining since the alternator on my 1969 Chevelle went out (in 1978).

Haven't listened to so much criticism of officials since John McEnroe wore short shorts and a headband.

Haven't witnessed so many waterworks since Dick Vermeil hung up his whistle (and handkerchief).

Yes, like the great Buck Owens sang ... it's crying time again.

Especially in the SEC.

Welcome back to The Campus Game, where you can get all the college football news fit for print or comment with nary a complaint (well, I may have one a few paragraphs down).

The Southeastern Conference again admonished coaches this week for critical comments toward game officials.

Bobby Johnson garnered a public rebuke from SEC commissioner Mike Slive after the Vanderbilt coach complained about calls in the Commodore loss to South Carolina.

Then, the usually mild-mannered Dan Mullen drew a reprimand by calling for severe sanctions against the replay booth official in the Mississippi State-Florida game. Mullen's ire resulted from a play in which Gator linebacker Dustin Doe appeared to have the ball slapped from his hand before getting to the end zone with an intercepted pass. Mullen, in a not-so-forgiving mood hoped "he's severely punished ... if he ever works another SEC game."

Finally, the league's favorite bad boy - Lane Kiffin of Tennessee - got summoned to the principal's office yet again. This time Slive threatened to put him in detention - I mean suspend him - when Kiffin blasted officials after his Vols lost to Alabama when a last-second field goal was blocked.

Kiffin not only felt Bama blocker Terrence Cody should have been penalized for taking his helmet off after the block (but before the whistle), he also claimed that he let the clock wind down because he "wasn't going to let the refs lose the game for us ... or wait for some magical flag to appear."

These smackdowns come a week after Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino vented about poor officiating in a Razorback loss to Florida (the SEC admitted a mistake), and in the aftermath of the conference acknowledging another bad call in Georgia's loss to LSU.

Still.

While some complaining may be justified, crying time needs to be over.

Scolding officials has darn near become a national sport in America and it's unseemly. Officials are easy targets. The only time they get attention is when something bad happens.

Quick ... how many college football officials can you name?

Just once wouldn't it be funny to hear a ref lay into Kiffin in the papers?

"Gosh, did you see Lane's playcalling on the goal line against UCLA? Daddy's last name didn't help him much then did it?"

Or how about a zebra getting overheard on the loudspeaker saying ... "How many more lies did Kiffin tell today? Let's see, he accused Meyer of cheating, South Carolinians of being dumb career gas-pumpers, and told a big fib about firing a UT staff member who picked him up late from the airport. What a punk."

Maybe the ref in the Miss State game should have queried Mullen on why he blew the fake punt call against the Gators. Ref to Mullen ... "Nice call coach - you should be penalized - if you ever get another job."

Refs are easy targets and moderately compensated.

Coaches are spoiled, rich, and (some of them) are not real bright (my guess is Kiffin's IQ combined with his SAT score is below 1000).

I'll side with the guys in the stripes.

Here are this week's Top Ten Lists.

Enjoy!

The Campus Game Top Ten Rankings (Week 9)

10. Oregon ... Ducks have made remarkable turnaround since disastrous week one.

9. Boise State... Broncos bound for a BCS bowl but not the BCS bowl.

8. TCU ... Horned Frogs defense will give anyone fits.

7. Georgia Tech ... have called Jackets ACC best all season and now they are atop the league.

6. USC ... beware the Trojans if they beat Oregon this week.

5. Iowa ... an undefeated Big Ten champ has been left out of title mix before (see Penn State).

4. Cincinnati ... Bearcats a long-shot to reach title game, but have a chance.

3. Texas ... Longhorns in best position to reach title game.

2. Alabama ... Crimson Tide offense is struggling (as mentioned here a week ago).

1. Florida ... Gators move back to top of TCG rankings.

The Campus Game Top Ten Games (Week 9)

10. Miami at Wake Forest: Hurricanes need help to reach ACC title.

9. Kansas at Texas Tech: Can a Big 12 North team win a meaningful game?

8. Ole Miss at Auburn: Rebels try to continue resurgence against tumbling Tigers.

7. Michigan State at Minnesota: Big Ten bowl bound teams battle for best Florida destination.

6. South Carolina at Tennessee: Mr. Brash (old) meet Mr. Brash (young). Only one has ever won anything though.

5. Cal at Arizona State: PAC-10 is deeper than most "experts" think.

4. West Virginia at South Florida: Mountaineers try to keep Big East hopes alive.

3. Georgia vs. Florida (Jacksonville): Can Dogs break Gator grip on the largest outdoor cocktail party?

2. Texas at Oklahoma State: The biggest remaining obstacle between Longhorns and title game.

1. USC at Oregon: Winner likely on way to Pasadena ... for granddaddy or BCS title game.

See you at kickoff.

College Football TV Schedule Week 8

2009-10-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

The National Football Foundation has published this week's college football television schedule.

Professor's Picks Week 8

2009-10-23T09:15:00.001-04:00

2009 Record
Overall: 74-31
Last Week: 10-4

Comment: 10-4 good buddy is a phrase those of a certain age will surely recognize, and it was also last week's record. We now move toward the holiday season still hoping to get together a convoy of victories.

Best Pick: Georgia Tech whipped Virginia Tech as predicted, and the Jackets could be on the cusp of an 11-1 regular season.

Worst Pick: (Tie) Wisconsin could not pull out the win over unbeaten Iowa, and Nebraska laid an egg on behalf of the Big 12 North against Texas Tech.

Here are this week's SEC picks and national games of interest.

Enjoy!

SEC Picks

Arkansas (3-3, 1-3) at Ole Miss (4-2, 1-2)
SEC Network 11:21 AM CT
Hollingsworth Field/Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (60,580)
Comment: While the Hogs have earned praise for leading the conference in passing and playing Florida tough on the road last week, Ole Miss has been catching some heat for not living up to preseason expectations. I have a feeling the Rebels will pull this one out.
Professor's Pick: Ole Miss

Tennessee (3-3, 1-2) at Alabama (7-0, 4-0)
CBS 2:30 p.m. CT
Bryant-Denny Stadium (92,012)
Comment: Volunteers come to T-Town fresh from both a week off and the first big win of Lane Kiffin's career (45-19 thumping of Georgia two weeks ago). Now that all the national media seemed to have climbed aboard the Bama bandwagon, I'll become more skeptical (my sense is that the Tide offense may have peaked already). Still, this should be another chance for Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer to give em ... well, Tide fans know the rest of it.
Professor's Pick: Alabama

Louisiana Monroe (3-2) at Kentucky (3-3, 1-3)
FS South 7 p.m. ET
C.M. Newton Field/Commonwealth Stadium (67,942)
Comment: With win over Auburn, UK Wildcats suddenly look bowl worthy - even without their starting QB. Warkhawks of ULM can throw it around a bit, but Big Blue too tough.
Professor's Pick: Kentucky

Vanderbilt (2-5, 0-4) at South Carolina (5-2, 2-2)
ESPNU 7 p.m. ET
Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250)
Comment: Two pretty good defenses playing against two sporadic, if not mediocre, offenses project to a low scoring game alongside the Cockaboose Railroad. SC a little better on both sides.
Professor's Pick: South Carolina

Auburn (5-2, 2-2) at LSU (5-1, 3-1)
ESPN2 6:30 p.m. CT
Tiger Stadium (92,400)
Comment: These two squads tend to play close and wacky games. If the Bengal Tigers woeful offense (11th in scoring and 12th in total offense in SEC) is ever going to get better, the Auburn defense might provide the tonic (11th vs the run). Watch for a big dose of the LSU running backs ... but most people have been expecting that all season. The team that can block the other wins. Slight edge to boys from the bayou.
Professor's Pick: LSU

Florida (6-0, 4-0) at Mississippi State (3-4, 1-2)
ESPN 6:30 p.m. CT
Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (55,082)
Comment: Much has been made concerning State coach Dan Mullen's knowledge of Florida's calls and system (since he helped implement the offense as Gator coordinator), but one thing he cannot do is switch players. Just as a hunch tells me Alabama might have peaked for a while, another says the Gators start to growl a little louder this week.
Professor's Pick: Florida

OPEN: Georgia (4-3, 3-2)

Selected National Picks

Oklahoma at Kansas ... both teams trying to recover from big losses. Professor's Pick: Oklahoma

Clemson at Miami ... Tigers a major obstacle to Canes title hopes. Professor's Pick: Miami

South Florida at Pitt ... Panthers try to stay atop Big East race. Professor's Pick: Pitt

Boston College at Notre Dame ... do all Irish games go to last-play? ND breaks long losing streak to Eagles. Professor's Pick: Notre Dame

Penn State at Michigan ... two of college football's flagship programs. Professor's Pick: Penn State

Oregon State at USC ... Beavers ended SC title dreams last season; not this time. Professor's Pick: USC

Texas at Missouri ... Longhorns must avoid post-Oklahoma letdown. Close, but they do. Professor's Pick: Texas

TCU at BYU ... winner tries to woo BCS bowls. TCU dream season ends. Professor's Pick: BYU

Iowa at Michigan State ... does Iowa's dream season end in East Lansing? No. Professor's Pick: Iowa

Around SEC Football Week 8

2009-10-22T08:15:00.000-04:00

Around the SEC

Simply the best ...

In case anyone still needed convincing, this week's bickering provided evidence aplenty of the Southeastern Conference's supremacy in college football.

First, Steve Spurrier called out Alabama for breaking rules. Seems Alabama's kicker (Leigh Tiffin) was putting down a small marker to show where the football would be placed down on extra points and field goals. That may be about the most meaningless rule-breaking that has ever gone on in Tuscaloosa (or anywhere else), but the head ball coach picked up on it and turned in the Tide.

Where else but SEC country would so much attention be given to a little square piece of white tape?

Next, word of a suspension broke.

Not a player or coach, but an official. Actually, make that a whole crew of officials.

The same 20-20 gang that potentially cost Georgia an upset of LSU a while back (with a phanton unsportsmanlike conduct call that the league acknowledged as a mistake) was up to its old tricks, this time in Gainesville.

A 15-yard personal foul call against Arkansas aided Florida's comeback (the Gators scored on the play after the call). The conference released a statement saying no video evidence supported the call ... wonder why it got made then?

This time commissioner Mike Slive had seen enough. The group will not be assigned a game together before Nov. 14th. It's the first time the SEC has ever publicly suspended an officiating crew.

Then came Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin (aka Agent Orange).

Possibly bored after not offending anybody during the Vols off week, Kiffin informed the Big Orange nation that UT had requested to wear their home orange jerseys on the road against Bama this weekend, but had been rebuffed by that mean old Nick Saban (who's also a cheater for using white tape on field goals). I don't think Kiffin mentioned that he hired Bama's best recruiter last winter (and went na-na-na-na-na-na while sticking out his tongue) ... but he may have.

Kiffin has quickly become a sportswriter's best friend. After his Vols beat Georgia two weeks ago, he declared Georgia to be Tennessee's biggest rival (something he had neglected to share previously). Do you get the feeling that had the Vols beaten Florida .. or should they roll over the Tide this weekend, that one of those teams might supplant the Bulldogs as his top rival? Me too.

(By the way, UT could wear those orange jerseys anyway, but would face a 15-yard penalty at the start of each half)

One final bit of melodrama played out deep in the heart of Texas with another UT.

Coach Mack Brown apparently got fed up with being asked why his Texas Longhorns only beat Oklahoma (sans Sam Bradford) by three points. At a press conference, Mack got as testy as Bevo during branding season and sputtered that if it was an SEC game everybody would have been bragging on the defenses.

Not sure why Mack was whining because his Longhorns are in the best position of any team to play for a national title, but his performance was just another bit of evidence.

White tape ... suspended officials ... orange jerseys ... surly coaches from rival leagues.

Yep, the SEC reigns supreme right now.

Campus Game SEC Rankings Week 8

12. Vanderbilt: Commodores just not getting it done on either side.

11. Miss State: Bullies and Dan Mullen get Gators in prime time.

10. Auburn: That 5-0 start is getting farther into rearview mirror.

9. Kentucky: Wildcats had nice comeback on Plains.

8. Georgia: Pretty good game together against pretty bad Vandy.

7. Tennessee: Will week off have Vols ready for Bama?

6. Ole Miss: Rebels can regain respect against Arkansas.

5. Arkansas: Razorbacks battled Florida to the wire.

4. South Carolina: No shame in loss to Bama.

3. LSU: Bengal Tigers still in hunt but face wounded Auburn.

2. Florida: Gators getting by with mental toughness.

1. Alabama: Tide stays atop conference and national TCG rankings.

Check back for Professor's Picks on Friday!

College Football Week 8

2009-10-21T12:18:00.005-04:00

"Things are more like they are now than they ever were before."
Dwight D. Eisenhower

President and General Eisenhower wasn't, but might as well have been, speaking of the BCS rankings.

The initial rankings of the 2009 season came out Sunday. We saw them. We'll debate them, curse them, argue over their merits ... same as next year, same as last year, same as the year before.

Welcome back to The Campus Game, where we can all try to make sense of something that makes no sense.

Here are the first BCS rankings for 2009:

1. Florida
2. Alabama
3. Texas
4. Boise
5. Cincinnati
6. Iowa
7. USC
8. TCU
9. LSU
10. Miami
11. Oregon
12. Georgia Tech

Don't get me wrong. For opponents of a college football playoff (such as me), the BCS system works about as well as any such system could. It can be confounding and confusing, but for the most part seems to function pretty well.

Problems arise because ... like in many other areas (schools, government, etc) ... we expect too much.

The system is only supposed to identify the two teams most worthy of playing in a championship game at the end of the season.

Most significant word in that previous sentence? END.

So, if your squad is a serious title game contender, be patient. The rankings can and will fluctuate between now and early December. For proof, check out the initial BCS rankings for the past two seasons (final bowl destination is indicated):

2008 Week 1

1. Texas (Fiesta)
2. Alabama (Sugar)
3. Penn State (Rose)
4. Oklahoma (BCS Title)
5. USC (Rose)
6. OK State (Holiday)
7. Georgia (Capital One)
8. Texas Tech (Cotton)
9. Ohio State (Fiesta)
10. Florida (BCS Title)
11. Utah (Sugar)
12. Boise (Poinsettia)

2007 Week 1

1. Ohio State (BCS Title)
2. South Florida (Sun)
3. Boston College (Champs Sports)
4. LSU (BCS Title)
5. Oklahoma (Fiesta)
6. South Carolina (No Bowl)
7. Kentucky (Music City)
8. Arizona State (Holiday)
9. West Virginia (Fiesta)
10. Oregon (Sun)
11. Virginia Tech (Orange)
12. Cal (Armed Forces)

Around the Nation

South: In the ACC, Virginia hosts Georgia Tech in a Coastal Division contest. Visiting Clemson poses a threat to Miami's division hopes, and Bobby Bowden will get plenty of attention when his FSU team travels to beautiful Chapel Hill for a Thursday night ESPN game with North Carolina.

The SEC offers up the great "third Saturday in October" tradition with Tennessee visiting Alabama. Rejuvenated Arkansas faces former head Hog Houston Nutt at Ole Miss. Top-ranked Florida also squares off on the road against a former coach as Dan Mullen (past UF offensive coordinator) and Miss State welcome the Gators. Auburn at LSU is worth a watch as well.

North/East: The Big East features a trio of nice games. Louisville paddles the Ohio River to face front-running Cincinnati; South Florida plays at Pitt; U Conn tries to carry on against West Virginia in the aftermath of the Jasper Howard tragedy.

Midwest: Big Ten country provides a terrific pairing of two storied programs when Michigan hosts Penn State. Minnesota travels to Columbus to face Ohio State, the Buckeyes reeling from a loss at Purdue. Unbeaten Iowa faces a hurdle at Michigan State. In South Bend, the hard-luck Irish try to stop yet another losing streak, this one a six-game skid against Boston College.

Southwest: Texas travels to Missouri for one of the toughest remaining tests on the Longhorns schedule. Texas Tech travels to Texas A&M in a game that got a little chippy last year when Red Raider coach Mike Leach tacked on a touchdown with just seconds remaining in a game that was already decided.

West: Potential BCS busters TCU and BYU meet in Provo, while fellow threat Boise State plays at Hawaii. USC seeks to pay back Oregon State for last year's loss. Oregon at Washington might be interesting too.

Here are this week's Top Ten Lists ... Enjoy!

Campus Game Top Ten Rankings (Week 8)

10. TCU (tie) ... Horned Frogs make rankings; can they beat BYU?

10. Boise State (tie) ... Broncos in the top ten, but no title game in future.

9. Georgia Tech ... Jackets offense is thing of beauty; defense not so much.

8. LSU ... a ten-point loss to Gators was no shame.

7. Iowa ... undefeated Hawkeyes still still getting little respect from TCG.

6. Miami ... still expect Canes to lose one or two more, but they deserve rank.

5. Cincinnati ... Brian Kelly keeps Bearcats winning regardless of QB it seems.

4. USC ... Trojans escaped Notre Dame upset bid, now jostle for poll position.

3. Texas ... Longhorns won ugly vs. Oklahoma, but ugly wins count.

2. Florida ... Gators hanging tough but need to score more.

1. Alabama ... Tide holds onto top spot in TCG ratings.

Campus Game Top Ten Games (Week 8)

Oklahoma at Kansas ... both teams trying to recover from big losses.

Clemson at Miami ... Tigers a major obstacle to Canes title hopes.

Tennessee at Alabama ... will week off give Vols edge over Tide?

South Florida at Pitt ... Panthers try to stay atop Big East race.

Boston College at Notre Dame ... do all Irish games go to last-play?

Penn State at Michigan ... two of college football's flagship programs.

Oregon State at USC ... Beavers ended SC title dreams last season.

Texas at Missouri ... Longhorns must avoid post-Oklahoma letdown.

TCU at BYU ... winner tries to woo BCS bowls.

Iowa at Michigan State ... does Iowa's dream season end in East Lansing?

See you at kickoff!