Note: this appears in the GHSA program that will be handed out at the Georgia Dome at next week's state championships.
Five teams celebrated state football titles last season and for the first time, those celebrations all occurred on the floor of the Georgia Dome. High school football fans living around the state of Georgia got to share in the celebration in their homes as once again Georgia Public Broadcasting was there to broadcast the GHSA state championship games live from the Georgia Dome. Back in 1992, the GHSA and GPB decided to form a television partnership, and by 1997 GPB was airing state semi-finals and some of the championship games. Last season the GHSA elected to move the state semi-final location from the Dome to home sites while moving the actual title games from the school campuses to the Georgia Dome, normally the home of the Atlanta Falcons and the SEC Championship Game. Despite the move in venue, residents of Georgia were still able to catch all of the action on GPB. According to Tom Vardase of GPB and Prep Sports+, the move of the championship games to the Dome was a good one. “I believe [the games] were a success.”
The finals brought a few new twists opposed to prior years’ coverage of the semi-finals. New graphics were developed by GPB and implemented for the games. “You want the look to be as nice as you can get…but you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.” Vardase says that he watches how Ray Com produces its weekly game, and he tries to use similar ideas. “We do our best to be that way (as professional as NFL and NCAA broadcasts).” This season the state title games will look a little different than last year. Some of the graphics were tweaked for last year and have been even more so for this year’s title tilts. The broadcast will feature new internal graphics as well as a new segment for offensive and defensive players of the game. The latter segment also finds GPB working with the Atlanta Falcons to present those awards. Vardase credits two gentlemen who have been with him since Day One thirteen years ago, for the new looks. Doug Furce produces and directs while Tony Robinson serves as Technical Producer. New talent is also one difference folks might see and hear compared to last year. Former Atlanta Falcon and ten-year NFL vet Harper Lebel will work as a color commentator for one of the championship games while Stu Klitenic will call play-by-play for Class A’s title game. Lebel has been working some high school games in the Gainesville area while Klitenic has been involved in Atlanta sports for some time, even co-hosting the Atlanta Braves pregame radio show. Vardase was also proud to announce that Jeff Van Note is coming back to do color analysis for the Class AAAA and AAAAA games. Van Note is a former Falcon who was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. He has appeared as a color commentator on Falcons broadcasts as well as the University of Kentucky and Georgia Tech football broadcasts.
In the weeks that follow the games, GPB will unveil two new innovations that will help keep the broadcasts, “new and refreshing,” according to Vardase. Prep Sports+ will air two recap shows, one on Thursday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m. and the other Sunday, December 20 at 11 a.m. The second show will be Prep Sports+ 400th original show, something that Vardase is quite proud of. That same week, the GPB Knowledge Channel (Comcast channel 246 in Metro-Atlanta) will rebroadcast all of the games, one each night starting on December 14 with Class A at 8 p.m. This will be a first for GPB as the Knowledge channel affords the opportunity of a two or three hour window that GPTV might not normally have to re-air the games.
Football isn’t the only sports programming found on GPB though. In addition to Prep Sports+, basketball fans can tune in this March for the state basketball championships. Georgia Public Broadcasting has done more than 140 basketball games and will be back this year with eleven games. This March 12 and 13, GPB will air all of the girls and boys state title games as well as the wheelchair championship, presented by the American Association of Adapted Sports Program.
Though there are always hurdles, Vardase knows the rewards are always there as well, and people really enjoy GPB and its broadcasts of the high school championships. Vardase recalls in 1997 going to Thomasville and a fans thanking him. According to Vardase, the fan told him, “You guys did one heck of a job.” After thirteen seasons and over 140 games, this fun likely won’t stop anytime soon.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
From Eight to Four....
Thanksgiving weekend means Turkey, Mashed potatoes, Gravy, rolls, the Lions losing, the Cowboys playing a weak opponent, Georgia winning its 8th in 9 years over a bitter GaTech (hey CPJ, if it DIDN'T mean anything, why'd you put last year's score on a ring. PS, your 790 interview yesterday sounded like the first chapter of the book Things Losers Say.) and the Georgia High School football playoffs going from the Elite 8 down to the Final Four.
Quarterfinals baby! And boy did Class AAAAA lose ALL of its schools north of the airport. WOW. Let's get right to it.
Newnan knocked off Grayson because of ONE PERSON Alec Ogletree. His pledging to Georgia makes me absolutely giddy. Dude had a one-handed TD grab, 13 tackles (at least) and then he only blocked the potential game-winning field goal attempt with under :10 to play. WOW. This is what Reshad Jones wishes he was. A freak that goes all out and I cannot wait for this guy to team with Bacarri Rambo in the Georgia defensive secondary. WOW. I saw the highlights. WOW. Get on campus NOW Ogletree, and while you are at it, bring your brother Zander because he reminds me of a Tony Taylor-type, the undersized LB that hustles his butt off due to the chip on the shoulder that turns from a 3-star into a 5-star once on campus and in the system. He won't believe his press clippings and he'll want to prove to everyone that he is just as good as his brother.
As for Grayson, I tip my cap to you guys, Ean Pemberton, Kori Gaines, Shawne Green, Terry Williams, Joe Champaign, and Mickey Conn. This was one HECK of a team, completing one heck of a two-year run. I'm not sure Grayson can recover from the loss of all of this talent. But we'll see.
Newnan will now host Northside (in a game you can watch on GPB.org/football, with THIS GUY serving as analyst. For the record) after the Eagles rallied from down 10 to score in the final minutes to force OT. Then another OT. Then ANOTHER OT. Brison Williams, headed to South Carolina had a big Kick Return and outran Vandy-commit Brad Roby for a 65-yard TD reception. Devon Pike made a few FGs to cap the rally and win in the third OT. Williams PS also blocked a PTR FG attempt in the 3rd OT to enable NSWR to win.
That semi-final contest should be a classic with do-it-all Ogletree and do-it-all Williams going head to head likely all night long. Northside was held to -2 rushing yards and that was against the Lions. The Cougs have a better defense so watch out. I won't make a prediction, but if you really pressed me, I think Newnan wins at home.
On the flip side, Colquitt County and Rush Propst knocked off his former OC Chip Lindsey and Lassiter, ending Hutson Mason's high school career. We talked to Hutson on our show this past Monday (go to www.scoreatl.com for the clips of the show), and he said that the defense was strong for the Packers but Lassiter may have shot itself in the foot right before halftime when the Trojans went for it on 4th and goal from the 2. The second half was all Packers as they went on to win 46-17.
Now Colquitt faces....
defending champ Camden. Camden doesn't throw much, but that's OK. They absolutely dominated North Gwinnett. (My neighborhood team.) The champs won 35-0 IN Suwanee which just shocks me. I know in south GA the boys are grown big, but I thought the OLine for the Bulldogs would be able to have its way. CJ Uzomah (Also a guest on The Official Visit this past Monday) was able to throw for ~100 yards and run for 70+, but threw two picks. He'll be back next year as a senior and will have a Blake Sims run. PREDICTION! I'm calling it RIGHT NOW. But Camden was dominating and they are back in the final four, hosting the Packers. Traveling isn't anything for Colquitt though, traveling up to Westlake, then Stephenson and then again the next week to Lassiter. Heading south to Camden Co, shouldn't faze Rush and the boys. I think the second year of Propst ends in the GA DOME.
In Class AAAA, Rajion Neal and the rest of the Fighting Pats were able to go ON THE ROAD to TCC and walk out winners, not a shock there. The Patriots are VERY GOOD and should cruise to a win, except that they face Griffin and their home stadium is not big enough to host, so despite winning the coin toss to host, they must go ON THE ROAD to face Griffin. Griffin just wore out Apalachee and the running game was never able to do anything against the Bears. I am told by some people from the South Atlanta area that Griffin will easily advance to the championship, but ++++GET THIS SANDY CREEK FANS+++++ I'm not sure. In fact, IN AN UPSET, I'm going with Sandy Creek and Rajion Neal. Perhaps he runs through the Bears himself and then accepts the UGA offer. MAYBE! (Or maybe he and Hutson Mason both head to Starkvegas and help Dan Mullen's cause in two years when he visits Athens. Ya Never know)
On the other side of that bracket, Clarke-Central proved it was NO FLUKE when they knocked off SWD by just BLASTING North Clayton and Clarence Jackson 52-13. I must say that C-CHS might have the most impressive resume of all of the remaining teams in class AAAA's final four. They posted 52 points, knocked off SWD and hung a 40 spot in the opening round. Pretty impressive.
They'll face Rockdale in Athens and I think the magical ride of Rockdale County is donezo. Sorry. Nice win though over Westside Macon. I knew WSM would lose eventually. Perhaps Todd Holcomb won't put then in the top 5 preseason next year.... THEY ALWAYS DO THIS!
Moving down to AAA, let's turn to Score Atlanta's own Fletcher Proctor for a breakdown of the two final four games...The Class AAA semifinals feature a regular season rematch on one side of the bracket and a road warrior vs. a former champion on the other side. The Peach County Trojans won back-to-back state championships in 2005 and 2006 but the team is only now in a position to take home another after two down seasons. Patrick Taylor is back as quarterback after missing most of last season and the senior has made up for lost time. Taylor scored a TD in OT last week to help push the Trojans back to the semis, but he's had some help on the ground in the form of Travis Richmond. The running back had 127 yards last week in the 21-14 win over St. Pius.
Meanwhile the Eastside Eagles are on the road again just one week after traveling to Jackson to knock off the Region 4 champion Red Devils. The Eagles churned out a 14-0 victory on the legs of Git Aiken's 163 rushing yards. Greg Griffieth scored on a one-yard touchdown scamper but fumbled once. The Eagles will have to cut down on fumbles if they want to pull off yet another road victory to make it to the Georgia Dome. The defense though seems to be able to bail out any mistakes the offense makes. Against Jackson, the defense intercepted the Red Devils twice, including one for a score. Eastside also showed its steel against Carrollton and Towers, giving up just 13 points to each.
On the other side of the bracket, Gainesville and Flowery Branch will renew acquaintances in a rematch of the 49-17 Red Elephants win in the regular season's final week. Gainesville is led by QB Blake Sims and WR Tai-lor Jones on offense and Daunte Carr on defense. Carr won a state title last year with Buford so he brings big-game experience to Gainesville and has all season. This postseason, Gainesville has given up a playoff-low 26 points defensively. Teryan Rucker (181 yards vs. Cairo) and Tyson Smith (52 yards) provide all of the push the Red Elephants need on the ground, outside of the legs of the QB Sims.
Connor Shaw and the Falcons of Flowery Branch will be on the road for the fourth week in a row. The Falcons were a No.4 seed out of Region 7-AAA and knocked off Ridgeland and Grady before traveling south to take out Carver-Columbus, the Champions out of Region 2. Shaw finished with 307 yards of total offense (235 rushing and 72 passing) and five TDs, four on the ground. Imani Cross had 110 yards rushing in the Elite Eight round and if Shaw wants to put the ball up, Rodney Boudreau is likely to come down with it, as he did on several fourth down plays in the 35-33 win over the Tigers.
THANKS FLETCHER! (Wait, that's me!)
Moving down to Class AA, Calhoun hosts Lovett this weekend and I'm finally starting to pick up some members on the Nash Nance bandwagon. I've been saying all season that his transfer to Calhoun will bring them a title that they missed out on last season and I'm looking more and more like a genius. (Notice how I never mention the predictions that I miss out on?) Nance will outplay Jonathan Carkhuff mainly because of Da'Rick Rogers. Calhoun nearly put 50 on Jefferson Co, after going 39 and 42 the rounds before. Nance stirs the drink and the drink is a strong one right now. I still feel good about my pick of the Yellow Jackets, especially at home and NOT against Charlton Co.
On the other side, Buford travels to Fitzgerald and I think Buford is still trying to play the "NO ONE IS GIVING US A CHANCE!" Card despite being the two-time defending champions. Buford has won 42 of its last 43 games and I think they knock off Fitz but leave too much on the field for the GA Dome rematch of 2008 against Calhoun.
In Class A, Wesleyan LOST! WOW. I guess I'll take Wilcox now, the team that beat Wesleyan. WOW. I cannot believe that. Hmmm. So I've lost Grayson, SWD and now Wesleyan. COME ON RED ELEPHANTS! COME ON CALHOUN! DON'T LET ME LOOK 100% STOOPID.
Once again, log on this Friday as Newnan hosts Northside LIVE on gpb.org/football.
Quarterfinals baby! And boy did Class AAAAA lose ALL of its schools north of the airport. WOW. Let's get right to it.
Newnan knocked off Grayson because of ONE PERSON Alec Ogletree. His pledging to Georgia makes me absolutely giddy. Dude had a one-handed TD grab, 13 tackles (at least) and then he only blocked the potential game-winning field goal attempt with under :10 to play. WOW. This is what Reshad Jones wishes he was. A freak that goes all out and I cannot wait for this guy to team with Bacarri Rambo in the Georgia defensive secondary. WOW. I saw the highlights. WOW. Get on campus NOW Ogletree, and while you are at it, bring your brother Zander because he reminds me of a Tony Taylor-type, the undersized LB that hustles his butt off due to the chip on the shoulder that turns from a 3-star into a 5-star once on campus and in the system. He won't believe his press clippings and he'll want to prove to everyone that he is just as good as his brother.
As for Grayson, I tip my cap to you guys, Ean Pemberton, Kori Gaines, Shawne Green, Terry Williams, Joe Champaign, and Mickey Conn. This was one HECK of a team, completing one heck of a two-year run. I'm not sure Grayson can recover from the loss of all of this talent. But we'll see.
Newnan will now host Northside (in a game you can watch on GPB.org/football, with THIS GUY serving as analyst. For the record) after the Eagles rallied from down 10 to score in the final minutes to force OT. Then another OT. Then ANOTHER OT. Brison Williams, headed to South Carolina had a big Kick Return and outran Vandy-commit Brad Roby for a 65-yard TD reception. Devon Pike made a few FGs to cap the rally and win in the third OT. Williams PS also blocked a PTR FG attempt in the 3rd OT to enable NSWR to win.
That semi-final contest should be a classic with do-it-all Ogletree and do-it-all Williams going head to head likely all night long. Northside was held to -2 rushing yards and that was against the Lions. The Cougs have a better defense so watch out. I won't make a prediction, but if you really pressed me, I think Newnan wins at home.
On the flip side, Colquitt County and Rush Propst knocked off his former OC Chip Lindsey and Lassiter, ending Hutson Mason's high school career. We talked to Hutson on our show this past Monday (go to www.scoreatl.com for the clips of the show), and he said that the defense was strong for the Packers but Lassiter may have shot itself in the foot right before halftime when the Trojans went for it on 4th and goal from the 2. The second half was all Packers as they went on to win 46-17.
Now Colquitt faces....
defending champ Camden. Camden doesn't throw much, but that's OK. They absolutely dominated North Gwinnett. (My neighborhood team.) The champs won 35-0 IN Suwanee which just shocks me. I know in south GA the boys are grown big, but I thought the OLine for the Bulldogs would be able to have its way. CJ Uzomah (Also a guest on The Official Visit this past Monday) was able to throw for ~100 yards and run for 70+, but threw two picks. He'll be back next year as a senior and will have a Blake Sims run. PREDICTION! I'm calling it RIGHT NOW. But Camden was dominating and they are back in the final four, hosting the Packers. Traveling isn't anything for Colquitt though, traveling up to Westlake, then Stephenson and then again the next week to Lassiter. Heading south to Camden Co, shouldn't faze Rush and the boys. I think the second year of Propst ends in the GA DOME.
In Class AAAA, Rajion Neal and the rest of the Fighting Pats were able to go ON THE ROAD to TCC and walk out winners, not a shock there. The Patriots are VERY GOOD and should cruise to a win, except that they face Griffin and their home stadium is not big enough to host, so despite winning the coin toss to host, they must go ON THE ROAD to face Griffin. Griffin just wore out Apalachee and the running game was never able to do anything against the Bears. I am told by some people from the South Atlanta area that Griffin will easily advance to the championship, but ++++GET THIS SANDY CREEK FANS+++++ I'm not sure. In fact, IN AN UPSET, I'm going with Sandy Creek and Rajion Neal. Perhaps he runs through the Bears himself and then accepts the UGA offer. MAYBE! (Or maybe he and Hutson Mason both head to Starkvegas and help Dan Mullen's cause in two years when he visits Athens. Ya Never know)
On the other side of that bracket, Clarke-Central proved it was NO FLUKE when they knocked off SWD by just BLASTING North Clayton and Clarence Jackson 52-13. I must say that C-CHS might have the most impressive resume of all of the remaining teams in class AAAA's final four. They posted 52 points, knocked off SWD and hung a 40 spot in the opening round. Pretty impressive.
They'll face Rockdale in Athens and I think the magical ride of Rockdale County is donezo. Sorry. Nice win though over Westside Macon. I knew WSM would lose eventually. Perhaps Todd Holcomb won't put then in the top 5 preseason next year.... THEY ALWAYS DO THIS!
Moving down to AAA, let's turn to Score Atlanta's own Fletcher Proctor for a breakdown of the two final four games...The Class AAA semifinals feature a regular season rematch on one side of the bracket and a road warrior vs. a former champion on the other side. The Peach County Trojans won back-to-back state championships in 2005 and 2006 but the team is only now in a position to take home another after two down seasons. Patrick Taylor is back as quarterback after missing most of last season and the senior has made up for lost time. Taylor scored a TD in OT last week to help push the Trojans back to the semis, but he's had some help on the ground in the form of Travis Richmond. The running back had 127 yards last week in the 21-14 win over St. Pius.
Meanwhile the Eastside Eagles are on the road again just one week after traveling to Jackson to knock off the Region 4 champion Red Devils. The Eagles churned out a 14-0 victory on the legs of Git Aiken's 163 rushing yards. Greg Griffieth scored on a one-yard touchdown scamper but fumbled once. The Eagles will have to cut down on fumbles if they want to pull off yet another road victory to make it to the Georgia Dome. The defense though seems to be able to bail out any mistakes the offense makes. Against Jackson, the defense intercepted the Red Devils twice, including one for a score. Eastside also showed its steel against Carrollton and Towers, giving up just 13 points to each.
On the other side of the bracket, Gainesville and Flowery Branch will renew acquaintances in a rematch of the 49-17 Red Elephants win in the regular season's final week. Gainesville is led by QB Blake Sims and WR Tai-lor Jones on offense and Daunte Carr on defense. Carr won a state title last year with Buford so he brings big-game experience to Gainesville and has all season. This postseason, Gainesville has given up a playoff-low 26 points defensively. Teryan Rucker (181 yards vs. Cairo) and Tyson Smith (52 yards) provide all of the push the Red Elephants need on the ground, outside of the legs of the QB Sims.
Connor Shaw and the Falcons of Flowery Branch will be on the road for the fourth week in a row. The Falcons were a No.4 seed out of Region 7-AAA and knocked off Ridgeland and Grady before traveling south to take out Carver-Columbus, the Champions out of Region 2. Shaw finished with 307 yards of total offense (235 rushing and 72 passing) and five TDs, four on the ground. Imani Cross had 110 yards rushing in the Elite Eight round and if Shaw wants to put the ball up, Rodney Boudreau is likely to come down with it, as he did on several fourth down plays in the 35-33 win over the Tigers.
THANKS FLETCHER! (Wait, that's me!)
Moving down to Class AA, Calhoun hosts Lovett this weekend and I'm finally starting to pick up some members on the Nash Nance bandwagon. I've been saying all season that his transfer to Calhoun will bring them a title that they missed out on last season and I'm looking more and more like a genius. (Notice how I never mention the predictions that I miss out on?) Nance will outplay Jonathan Carkhuff mainly because of Da'Rick Rogers. Calhoun nearly put 50 on Jefferson Co, after going 39 and 42 the rounds before. Nance stirs the drink and the drink is a strong one right now. I still feel good about my pick of the Yellow Jackets, especially at home and NOT against Charlton Co.
On the other side, Buford travels to Fitzgerald and I think Buford is still trying to play the "NO ONE IS GIVING US A CHANCE!" Card despite being the two-time defending champions. Buford has won 42 of its last 43 games and I think they knock off Fitz but leave too much on the field for the GA Dome rematch of 2008 against Calhoun.
In Class A, Wesleyan LOST! WOW. I guess I'll take Wilcox now, the team that beat Wesleyan. WOW. I cannot believe that. Hmmm. So I've lost Grayson, SWD and now Wesleyan. COME ON RED ELEPHANTS! COME ON CALHOUN! DON'T LET ME LOOK 100% STOOPID.
Once again, log on this Friday as Newnan hosts Northside LIVE on gpb.org/football.
Monday, November 30, 2009
....and you still couldn't beat us.
That is what I'll be able to say about WHATEVER Georgia Tech does for the rest of the season. Oh you are the Coastal Division champs in the ACC?
you still couldn't beat us (and I say "us" even though I am not on the team. But I went there, graduated from there and send money there. That makes them part mine, IMHO.)
Oh you went 10-2 while we went 7-5?
you still couldn't beat us
Oh you won* the ACC title? (regular season yes, with a chance this weekend in the ACCC v Clemson)
you still couldn't beat us
Oh you beat* Cincinnati in the Orange Bowl? (Maybe...)
you still couldn't beat us
And let's be honest here, Georgia dominated that game. Tech had some life in the third quarter when it score a couple of TDs, but Georgia owned the first, second and fourth quarters (according to Wifey, and who am I to go against her?). Yes Tech had a chance to win at the end, but the Universe owed us one and we cashed in with that dropped pass by BeBe.
Blair Walsh misses his second kick of the season which would have iced the game, but after kicking us in the balls all season long, karma felt bad and decided to pull down the Yellow Jackets pants for once.
You know what? We'll take it.
Another thing I wanted to say about the game was how impressed (and disappointed) I was by the running game. The Dawgs racked up over 300 yards on the ground with Washaun and Caleb slicing through the Jackets smallish front four. Why was I disappointed you ask? Because I thought they should have done this all season long. Bobo kept calling for the run and that was sublime. I loved it. Jam it down their throats. They cannot stop it! The only bad call I have for Bobo was the 3rd and 4 (maybe 7, I forget) on the final drive where he called for a screen. The back was stopped for a loss, forcing Walsh into a longer kick that he missed. That's the only one though. Bobo called for a few long passes that Wooten, Troupe and TKing all dropped, which at least two would have gone for touchdowns. Oh well. Good game plan BooBoo.
I remember a column that Mark Bradley did recently for the AJC where he wondered where Georgia would finish in the ACC and where the Jackets would finish in the SEC. Georgia, Bradley reasoned would finish 5th or so in the ACC. Meanwhile, Tech would be third overall in the SEC, second in the East. I find this interesting because Tech has a small OLine and a small D-Line that couldn't stand up to the 6th best team in the SEC. Yeah, Tech beat Vandy and Miss State, who didn't? When they faced one of the better defenses with better athletes, this is what happened. It was 30-24 ONLY because GATech was able to BOG down Georgia's running game twice in the red zone. Otherwise the score gets nasty quick and the fans once again start to doubt CPJ's offense (which by the way, if it was SOOOO good, then how come more people don't run it? I've been waiting two years to say that!)
In other news, Groh has finally Gone and I know Daddio is happy about that. I actually got to break the news to him as well. A nice moment for me. I think UVa has some competition for Tubs though with Texas A&M, though the Aggies might hang on to Sherman after the effort his squad put up against the Horns.
Tim Tebow won. HIS RUN ON SPORTSCENTER IS ALMOST OVER! And actually, I'm hoping Urban stays at Florida because I want to see if he can do it without Tebow. Or if his system was all around one man. Hmmmmmm. (Maybe I should just hope that he goes to Notre Dame, but then Florida would probably just go out and get Brian Kelly with my luck.
Bobby Bowden might not return next season. Hopefully the Bulldogs hold on to CMR. Anyone who wants him gone is an idiot. Willie can go, but Mark Richt needs to stay. Why are we pushing him out the door?
Finally, I am getting a little sick of EVERYONE saying that Gus Malzahn invented the Wildcat. Ummm, really? You REALLY think this guy invented that? So HE was calling the plays at UGA back in 1997 and 1998 when Jim Donnan was putting Hines Ward in a shotgun and handing off to Champ Bailey on a sweep? And Donnan didn't invent it either for the record. I think "putting the ball into your best player's hands" was invented right after the idea for football came around. Just saying. Sporting News, get a grip guys.
That's it. the rest of the football weekend was kinda lame. Lots of blowouts and of course, Charlie Weis lost and Pete Carroll ran the score up after whining about Stanford doing it to him. Hmmmmmmmmmm.
OH, sorry, one more thing, I read where Michael Vick believes he'll get a standing ovation this week when he returns to Atlanta's Georgia Dome for the Falcons/Eagles game. He says "Atlanta is still [his] city." Well a portion of the city is still his. And sadly he WILL get a standing O from a certain segment of the crowd and I think you know which ones I'm talking about. The kind that never gave Matt Ryan because he looks more like 2% milk than a Reese's Cup. Sad, really.
you still couldn't beat us (and I say "us" even though I am not on the team. But I went there, graduated from there and send money there. That makes them part mine, IMHO.)
Oh you went 10-2 while we went 7-5?
you still couldn't beat us
Oh you won* the ACC title? (regular season yes, with a chance this weekend in the ACCC v Clemson)
you still couldn't beat us
Oh you beat* Cincinnati in the Orange Bowl? (Maybe...)
you still couldn't beat us
And let's be honest here, Georgia dominated that game. Tech had some life in the third quarter when it score a couple of TDs, but Georgia owned the first, second and fourth quarters (according to Wifey, and who am I to go against her?). Yes Tech had a chance to win at the end, but the Universe owed us one and we cashed in with that dropped pass by BeBe.
Blair Walsh misses his second kick of the season which would have iced the game, but after kicking us in the balls all season long, karma felt bad and decided to pull down the Yellow Jackets pants for once.
You know what? We'll take it.
Another thing I wanted to say about the game was how impressed (and disappointed) I was by the running game. The Dawgs racked up over 300 yards on the ground with Washaun and Caleb slicing through the Jackets smallish front four. Why was I disappointed you ask? Because I thought they should have done this all season long. Bobo kept calling for the run and that was sublime. I loved it. Jam it down their throats. They cannot stop it! The only bad call I have for Bobo was the 3rd and 4 (maybe 7, I forget) on the final drive where he called for a screen. The back was stopped for a loss, forcing Walsh into a longer kick that he missed. That's the only one though. Bobo called for a few long passes that Wooten, Troupe and TKing all dropped, which at least two would have gone for touchdowns. Oh well. Good game plan BooBoo.
I remember a column that Mark Bradley did recently for the AJC where he wondered where Georgia would finish in the ACC and where the Jackets would finish in the SEC. Georgia, Bradley reasoned would finish 5th or so in the ACC. Meanwhile, Tech would be third overall in the SEC, second in the East. I find this interesting because Tech has a small OLine and a small D-Line that couldn't stand up to the 6th best team in the SEC. Yeah, Tech beat Vandy and Miss State, who didn't? When they faced one of the better defenses with better athletes, this is what happened. It was 30-24 ONLY because GATech was able to BOG down Georgia's running game twice in the red zone. Otherwise the score gets nasty quick and the fans once again start to doubt CPJ's offense (which by the way, if it was SOOOO good, then how come more people don't run it? I've been waiting two years to say that!)
In other news, Groh has finally Gone and I know Daddio is happy about that. I actually got to break the news to him as well. A nice moment for me. I think UVa has some competition for Tubs though with Texas A&M, though the Aggies might hang on to Sherman after the effort his squad put up against the Horns.
Tim Tebow won. HIS RUN ON SPORTSCENTER IS ALMOST OVER! And actually, I'm hoping Urban stays at Florida because I want to see if he can do it without Tebow. Or if his system was all around one man. Hmmmmmm. (Maybe I should just hope that he goes to Notre Dame, but then Florida would probably just go out and get Brian Kelly with my luck.
Bobby Bowden might not return next season. Hopefully the Bulldogs hold on to CMR. Anyone who wants him gone is an idiot. Willie can go, but Mark Richt needs to stay. Why are we pushing him out the door?
Finally, I am getting a little sick of EVERYONE saying that Gus Malzahn invented the Wildcat. Ummm, really? You REALLY think this guy invented that? So HE was calling the plays at UGA back in 1997 and 1998 when Jim Donnan was putting Hines Ward in a shotgun and handing off to Champ Bailey on a sweep? And Donnan didn't invent it either for the record. I think "putting the ball into your best player's hands" was invented right after the idea for football came around. Just saying. Sporting News, get a grip guys.
That's it. the rest of the football weekend was kinda lame. Lots of blowouts and of course, Charlie Weis lost and Pete Carroll ran the score up after whining about Stanford doing it to him. Hmmmmmmmmmm.
OH, sorry, one more thing, I read where Michael Vick believes he'll get a standing ovation this week when he returns to Atlanta's Georgia Dome for the Falcons/Eagles game. He says "Atlanta is still [his] city." Well a portion of the city is still his. And sadly he WILL get a standing O from a certain segment of the crowd and I think you know which ones I'm talking about. The kind that never gave Matt Ryan because he looks more like 2% milk than a Reese's Cup. Sad, really.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Picks on a Wednesday? Hey, it's a holiday week
Adam Lambert kissed a boy and America DIDN'T like it, MJ pulls a Heath Ledger, Donny Osmond finishes what Marie started and Oprah sets a retirement date. Oh yeah, and we have FOOTBALL!
Ladies and gentlemen, the Weekly picks mixed in with a midweek entertainment report!
(CONFUSED CLAPPING. Shot of Marissa in the audience)
Thursday.
#3 Texas @ Texas A&M. I know Detroit plays (without Stafford, they lose) and Dallas plays (hopefully they lose too) and Joey BoD's Giants play (who cares?) but the college game of the night is the Aggies hosting the Horns. Is there anyone that DOESN'T think that Colt McCoy won't put up 6 TDs on these guys in an attempt to stuff the Heisman ballot box? On a side note, Daddio is now freaking out because UVA might miss out on Tuberville as TAMU might come a-callin'.......Won't matter. Tubs will be keeping an eye on the Miami job the entire time he is in either College Station or Charlottesville.
Friday
Rutgers @ Louisville. Is this Krapthorpe's final game? Fulmer to Louisville! Do the Cardinals win one for Steve and carry him off into the sunset? Doubt it. As much as I like to mock Greg Shiano for pulling an Eddie Fogler (now I hear that he turned down Miami because he wants the Penn State job...HA!), he is 200X better than Krapthorpe. That's not saying much about Shiano, more about Krapthorpe.
Illinois @ #5 Cincy. This game at the start of the season is one I might be really interested in. Too bad Ron Zook pulled a 2004 Zook job on this team and messed up a potentially really solid team. Look for Brian Kelly to yet another gold star on his resume as he applies for the Notre Dame gig.
Nebraska @ Colorado. You can bet this game will be on when I head out west to Colorado to visit Wifey's family this weekend. Grandpa Gene is a big Colorado fan. NU has already clinched a spot in the Big12 CG and I love how ABC/ESPN are trying to keep viewers for next week's Big12CG by saying that Bo Pelini's defense could slow down Colt McCoy. Yeah, and I could start for the Chicago Bulls. That COULD happen but in REALITY it won't. Nebraska wins this one, but will be skullcrushed next week.
#9 Pitt @ West Va. TWO TEAMS IN THE TOP 10! The Big East is BACK! Well, no, that's not true. But two teams is sort of impressive. The Pac10 doesn't have that. Big12? Nope. As for this game, the BACKYARD BRAWL if you will. I fear that couches will be burned after the game, but they won't be in celebration of victory. Nope, I think the stache knocks off Bill Stewart for the win.
Nevada @ #6 Boise State. I ONLY put this game on the picks because I just want to show everyone the quality of competition that Boise State plays in conference. OH COURSE BSU WINS, THEY ARE PLAYING NEVADA IN CONFERENCE PLAY. Who else plays Nevada? Notre Dame (First game of the season), Colorado State (tune up in second week) and Mizzou (tune up in third week). Yet Boise State plays them as a coference opponent. Boise State wins. SIGH.
Saturday
#18 Clemson @ South Carolina. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Dabo Sweeney is my favorite coach in the ACC. I listen to Paul Johnson on the radio and I'm not sure if I like him or think he's a prick. He's honest. But Dabo cracks me up. He really does. How is he a coach? "I looked around and I didn't see CJ, then I found him. He was tired from running that kick back." What did you do then? "I just yelled at him for a while." Great. Take the funny coach over the coach that was swarmy and funny back in the late 90s.
#24 UNC @ NCState. The Heels. Did you catch Adam Lambert on the AMAs? I missed it (I was watching Fracture on Charter on-demand.) Apparently he forced a guy down into his crotch, then kissed another dude. And American didn't like it. At least Good Morning America didn't. AL, we get it. you are gay and now you can finally show it when you couldn't on American Idol (not sure why you didn't think you could...) Is this what you are going to be from now on, performer-wise? You've even turned off Sean. Just saying... I know you aren't a babysitter, but let's maybe leave that stuff for your post-Idol tour. Maybe?
Syracuse @ UConn. Maybe this one will go 6 OTs like their Basketball game? That would be the ONLY WAY I'd watch this one, for the record. I think UConn on senior day wins another one for Jazz.
Wake @ Duke. The Blue Devils cannot go bowling. Sorry David Cutcliff. On the other hand, Wake Forest has a new fan in Paul The Deacon Mac. Those two factors have me jumping on Wake's bangwagon for this game. NEVER go against Paul Mac. As a Deacon, he now has God on his side.
#25 Ole Miss @ Mississippi State. The battle for the egg bowl. Houston Nutt has more talent than Dan Mullen, so right now, I've got to go with Ole Miss. And Kudos (I guess?) to Donny Osmond for winning Dancing with the stars, even though I don't watch that one. (I'm not even watching SYTYCD this season. Sorry Cat.) He won after his sister/girlfriend from a few seasons back faked passing out to not get voted out. Ahhhhh C- list celebs, clinging to 6 weeks of "fame." So sad.
#12 Okie State @ OU. If you DON'T think I'm going to give my in-laws crap about the Pokes using an illegal player to beat Georgia, then you clearly don't know me. This game is in Norman, but with Landry Jones at QB, the Sooners are cooked. He might be the only QB in America WORSE than Joe Cox. MAYBE. At least if Okie State goes to the Fiesta Bowl, I can sleep easier at night knowing Georgia lost to a BCS team that it could have beaten if the ILLEGAL player had not played....Wait Bryan Evans played for us. Nevermind. We'd have lost that game anyways.
New Mexico @ #4 TCU. Texas A&M and Texas Tech. Two teams that used New Mexico as target practice. TCU calls them a conference opponent. Take the Horney Toads. And Michael Jackson won four AMAs...I wonder how many he'd have won if he had not died. Did he release any new music? I didn't think so. Way to pull a Heath Ledger there AMAs.
FSU @ #1 Florida. Urban Meyer has now cried at three straight press conferences when the fact is brought up that this is Tim Tebow's final game in the swamp. I like that you are close to your players, but this is a bit scary. Just saying. Or maybe you are crying because you know that he was your meal ticket and you are just Billy Donavon on the gridiron and once your star leaves, you'll be in the Capital One Bowl (a No.4 seed) or Outback bowl (the NIT) for a while. Tebow won't lose his final home game. The refs won't allow it! Sorry SEC commish. You can fine me.
#14 VaTech @ UVa. Ladies and gentlemen, the final game of Al Groh's UVa career. MASS APPLAUSE! Hokies close the curtain with yet ANOTHER win over the Hoos.
#17 Miami @ SoFla. The Hurricanes and the Bulls. Can you really call Tampa "South Florida?" Isn't Miami a little more SOUTH than Tampa? If Miami wins, shouldn't South Florida have to call themselves Middle Florida? Just wondering.
Zona @ Arizona State. I am NOT wearing my Arizona shirt today. I feel that I jinxed them. But don't worry. If Stoops feels he is on the hotseat, he wins this game. I'll have to ask F-i-L if he is. He is the NEW Tommy Bowden. Take the Wildcats.
BC @ Maryland. Speaking of people that will soon be out of work (Ralphie, that was a reference to you!) Oprah announced that she is calling it quits in 2011 so she can focus on her new Oprah Network. Doesn't she already have Oxygen? She needs another one? Wait, what will stay-at-home wives do now? Who will they blindly listen to without question? Oprah? I bet Tyra thinks she is going to step right in. Or will Rosie try and get back in the game? Will Rachel Ray try and squeeze in there? This could get exciting. I know Joel McHale is voting for Wendy Williams. Oh, as for this game, take BC.
Mizzou @ KU. Wasn't Mizzou ranked at one point this season? I think Kansas was too though. Hmmmmm, Oh Yeah, Mizzou doesn't have a HORRIBLE coaching controversy to deal with. I have to give the edge to the Tigers. Less drama. And I think Todd Reesing throws 6 INTs on his 9th senior day (or maybe it just seems like his ninth.)
#21 Utah @ #19 BYU. Hey cool, two ranked teams from the state of Utah. Did they just rank them so Senator Hatch would shut it? YES. YES THEY DID. I like the Mormons in this game. (Crap, that includes both teams.) I'll take the team that Jamal Sniff Anderson didn't play for.
Texas Tech @ Baylor. Mike Leach, I am SO sorry I picked against you last week. Win this one then give the red raiders the finger right to Louisville. OR MAYBE SOUTH BEND? Nah, they'd never do that. But he could do the Louisville thang.
Wazzou @ U-Dub. The Apple Cup. Never I have NOT cared about a state championship more. Well, maybe last year.....U-Dub.
Tennessee @ UK. So Janzen Jackson was reinstated now that he was cleared of charges because he saw what was happening but decided not to get involved. That means he didn't help in the robbery but he didn't exactly stop it or alert police. But I guess because he COULD EVENTUALLY be all-SEC, he's allowed to stick around. UK, I know you guys beat Georgia last week, but Tennessee is going to beat you guys. Sorry Matt. Enjoy the game though.
Notre Dame @ Stanford. Jimmy Clausen gets punched in the face but he's still going to start this Saturday. He just has a black eye. His pride was hurt a long time ago; he's learned to play without it. Stanford lost last week, but if you DON'T think they'll just pound Charlie Weis right into forced retirement, you are out of your mind.
UCLA @ #20 USC. Three losses, two blowouts, and they are still in the top 20. Pete Carroll has everyone snowed. They beat UCLA though. Easy. You know Pete wants to smack Rick and Norm. Right in the face. And he will. HOLIDAY BOWL! USC V OU! YIPPEE!
SIDE DISHES
LOCK OF THE WEEK
#2 Bama @ Auburn. Sorry Joey BagoDonuts, but I cannot see ANY SITUATION where Auburn beats Alabama. Sorry. I really am. The way I see it though, you lost to us and we lost to UK. So you guys REALLY stick. I know it's at home but to top it all off, Ben Tate is crazy and crazy people just don't lead teams to wins, especially over Nick Saban. Just doesn't happen.
UPSET OF THE WEEK
Arkansas @ #15 LSU. The Tigers have a weaker team than they did last year and Arkansas has a better team than last year. And Arkie won last season. I think Ryan Mallet leads Arkie to YET ANOTHER WIN over LSU. Hey Les, HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Local teams involved in Good Clean Old-fashioned Hate.
Georgia @ #7 GT. I heard where there is a cartoon going around that has Buzz driving the Ramblin' Wreck over the dead body of Uga VII. You stay classy Georgia Tech. Bottom line in this game, if Georgia doesn't win, I want Tech to RUN IT UP, because maybe then Willie Martinez will get gone. I will be rooting crazy-like for the Dawgs, but I just don't see it happening, especially with Joe Cox at QB. Final score: GT 41-UGA 34.
Have a great Turkey weekend everybody. Safe travels if you are traveling. Don't worry Dawg fans, the pain is almost over.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Weekly picks mixed in with a midweek entertainment report!
(CONFUSED CLAPPING. Shot of Marissa in the audience)
Thursday.
#3 Texas @ Texas A&M. I know Detroit plays (without Stafford, they lose) and Dallas plays (hopefully they lose too) and Joey BoD's Giants play (who cares?) but the college game of the night is the Aggies hosting the Horns. Is there anyone that DOESN'T think that Colt McCoy won't put up 6 TDs on these guys in an attempt to stuff the Heisman ballot box? On a side note, Daddio is now freaking out because UVA might miss out on Tuberville as TAMU might come a-callin'.......Won't matter. Tubs will be keeping an eye on the Miami job the entire time he is in either College Station or Charlottesville.
Friday
Rutgers @ Louisville. Is this Krapthorpe's final game? Fulmer to Louisville! Do the Cardinals win one for Steve and carry him off into the sunset? Doubt it. As much as I like to mock Greg Shiano for pulling an Eddie Fogler (now I hear that he turned down Miami because he wants the Penn State job...HA!), he is 200X better than Krapthorpe. That's not saying much about Shiano, more about Krapthorpe.
Illinois @ #5 Cincy. This game at the start of the season is one I might be really interested in. Too bad Ron Zook pulled a 2004 Zook job on this team and messed up a potentially really solid team. Look for Brian Kelly to yet another gold star on his resume as he applies for the Notre Dame gig.
Nebraska @ Colorado. You can bet this game will be on when I head out west to Colorado to visit Wifey's family this weekend. Grandpa Gene is a big Colorado fan. NU has already clinched a spot in the Big12 CG and I love how ABC/ESPN are trying to keep viewers for next week's Big12CG by saying that Bo Pelini's defense could slow down Colt McCoy. Yeah, and I could start for the Chicago Bulls. That COULD happen but in REALITY it won't. Nebraska wins this one, but will be skullcrushed next week.
#9 Pitt @ West Va. TWO TEAMS IN THE TOP 10! The Big East is BACK! Well, no, that's not true. But two teams is sort of impressive. The Pac10 doesn't have that. Big12? Nope. As for this game, the BACKYARD BRAWL if you will. I fear that couches will be burned after the game, but they won't be in celebration of victory. Nope, I think the stache knocks off Bill Stewart for the win.
Nevada @ #6 Boise State. I ONLY put this game on the picks because I just want to show everyone the quality of competition that Boise State plays in conference. OH COURSE BSU WINS, THEY ARE PLAYING NEVADA IN CONFERENCE PLAY. Who else plays Nevada? Notre Dame (First game of the season), Colorado State (tune up in second week) and Mizzou (tune up in third week). Yet Boise State plays them as a coference opponent. Boise State wins. SIGH.
Saturday
#18 Clemson @ South Carolina. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Dabo Sweeney is my favorite coach in the ACC. I listen to Paul Johnson on the radio and I'm not sure if I like him or think he's a prick. He's honest. But Dabo cracks me up. He really does. How is he a coach? "I looked around and I didn't see CJ, then I found him. He was tired from running that kick back." What did you do then? "I just yelled at him for a while." Great. Take the funny coach over the coach that was swarmy and funny back in the late 90s.
#24 UNC @ NCState. The Heels. Did you catch Adam Lambert on the AMAs? I missed it (I was watching Fracture on Charter on-demand.) Apparently he forced a guy down into his crotch, then kissed another dude. And American didn't like it. At least Good Morning America didn't. AL, we get it. you are gay and now you can finally show it when you couldn't on American Idol (not sure why you didn't think you could...) Is this what you are going to be from now on, performer-wise? You've even turned off Sean. Just saying... I know you aren't a babysitter, but let's maybe leave that stuff for your post-Idol tour. Maybe?
Syracuse @ UConn. Maybe this one will go 6 OTs like their Basketball game? That would be the ONLY WAY I'd watch this one, for the record. I think UConn on senior day wins another one for Jazz.
Wake @ Duke. The Blue Devils cannot go bowling. Sorry David Cutcliff. On the other hand, Wake Forest has a new fan in Paul The Deacon Mac. Those two factors have me jumping on Wake's bangwagon for this game. NEVER go against Paul Mac. As a Deacon, he now has God on his side.
#25 Ole Miss @ Mississippi State. The battle for the egg bowl. Houston Nutt has more talent than Dan Mullen, so right now, I've got to go with Ole Miss. And Kudos (I guess?) to Donny Osmond for winning Dancing with the stars, even though I don't watch that one. (I'm not even watching SYTYCD this season. Sorry Cat.) He won after his sister/girlfriend from a few seasons back faked passing out to not get voted out. Ahhhhh C- list celebs, clinging to 6 weeks of "fame." So sad.
#12 Okie State @ OU. If you DON'T think I'm going to give my in-laws crap about the Pokes using an illegal player to beat Georgia, then you clearly don't know me. This game is in Norman, but with Landry Jones at QB, the Sooners are cooked. He might be the only QB in America WORSE than Joe Cox. MAYBE. At least if Okie State goes to the Fiesta Bowl, I can sleep easier at night knowing Georgia lost to a BCS team that it could have beaten if the ILLEGAL player had not played....Wait Bryan Evans played for us. Nevermind. We'd have lost that game anyways.
New Mexico @ #4 TCU. Texas A&M and Texas Tech. Two teams that used New Mexico as target practice. TCU calls them a conference opponent. Take the Horney Toads. And Michael Jackson won four AMAs...I wonder how many he'd have won if he had not died. Did he release any new music? I didn't think so. Way to pull a Heath Ledger there AMAs.
FSU @ #1 Florida. Urban Meyer has now cried at three straight press conferences when the fact is brought up that this is Tim Tebow's final game in the swamp. I like that you are close to your players, but this is a bit scary. Just saying. Or maybe you are crying because you know that he was your meal ticket and you are just Billy Donavon on the gridiron and once your star leaves, you'll be in the Capital One Bowl (a No.4 seed) or Outback bowl (the NIT) for a while. Tebow won't lose his final home game. The refs won't allow it! Sorry SEC commish. You can fine me.
#14 VaTech @ UVa. Ladies and gentlemen, the final game of Al Groh's UVa career. MASS APPLAUSE! Hokies close the curtain with yet ANOTHER win over the Hoos.
#17 Miami @ SoFla. The Hurricanes and the Bulls. Can you really call Tampa "South Florida?" Isn't Miami a little more SOUTH than Tampa? If Miami wins, shouldn't South Florida have to call themselves Middle Florida? Just wondering.
Zona @ Arizona State. I am NOT wearing my Arizona shirt today. I feel that I jinxed them. But don't worry. If Stoops feels he is on the hotseat, he wins this game. I'll have to ask F-i-L if he is. He is the NEW Tommy Bowden. Take the Wildcats.
BC @ Maryland. Speaking of people that will soon be out of work (Ralphie, that was a reference to you!) Oprah announced that she is calling it quits in 2011 so she can focus on her new Oprah Network. Doesn't she already have Oxygen? She needs another one? Wait, what will stay-at-home wives do now? Who will they blindly listen to without question? Oprah? I bet Tyra thinks she is going to step right in. Or will Rosie try and get back in the game? Will Rachel Ray try and squeeze in there? This could get exciting. I know Joel McHale is voting for Wendy Williams. Oh, as for this game, take BC.
Mizzou @ KU. Wasn't Mizzou ranked at one point this season? I think Kansas was too though. Hmmmmm, Oh Yeah, Mizzou doesn't have a HORRIBLE coaching controversy to deal with. I have to give the edge to the Tigers. Less drama. And I think Todd Reesing throws 6 INTs on his 9th senior day (or maybe it just seems like his ninth.)
#21 Utah @ #19 BYU. Hey cool, two ranked teams from the state of Utah. Did they just rank them so Senator Hatch would shut it? YES. YES THEY DID. I like the Mormons in this game. (Crap, that includes both teams.) I'll take the team that Jamal Sniff Anderson didn't play for.
Texas Tech @ Baylor. Mike Leach, I am SO sorry I picked against you last week. Win this one then give the red raiders the finger right to Louisville. OR MAYBE SOUTH BEND? Nah, they'd never do that. But he could do the Louisville thang.
Wazzou @ U-Dub. The Apple Cup. Never I have NOT cared about a state championship more. Well, maybe last year.....U-Dub.
Tennessee @ UK. So Janzen Jackson was reinstated now that he was cleared of charges because he saw what was happening but decided not to get involved. That means he didn't help in the robbery but he didn't exactly stop it or alert police. But I guess because he COULD EVENTUALLY be all-SEC, he's allowed to stick around. UK, I know you guys beat Georgia last week, but Tennessee is going to beat you guys. Sorry Matt. Enjoy the game though.
Notre Dame @ Stanford. Jimmy Clausen gets punched in the face but he's still going to start this Saturday. He just has a black eye. His pride was hurt a long time ago; he's learned to play without it. Stanford lost last week, but if you DON'T think they'll just pound Charlie Weis right into forced retirement, you are out of your mind.
UCLA @ #20 USC. Three losses, two blowouts, and they are still in the top 20. Pete Carroll has everyone snowed. They beat UCLA though. Easy. You know Pete wants to smack Rick and Norm. Right in the face. And he will. HOLIDAY BOWL! USC V OU! YIPPEE!
SIDE DISHES
LOCK OF THE WEEK
#2 Bama @ Auburn. Sorry Joey BagoDonuts, but I cannot see ANY SITUATION where Auburn beats Alabama. Sorry. I really am. The way I see it though, you lost to us and we lost to UK. So you guys REALLY stick. I know it's at home but to top it all off, Ben Tate is crazy and crazy people just don't lead teams to wins, especially over Nick Saban. Just doesn't happen.
UPSET OF THE WEEK
Arkansas @ #15 LSU. The Tigers have a weaker team than they did last year and Arkansas has a better team than last year. And Arkie won last season. I think Ryan Mallet leads Arkie to YET ANOTHER WIN over LSU. Hey Les, HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Local teams involved in Good Clean Old-fashioned Hate.
Georgia @ #7 GT. I heard where there is a cartoon going around that has Buzz driving the Ramblin' Wreck over the dead body of Uga VII. You stay classy Georgia Tech. Bottom line in this game, if Georgia doesn't win, I want Tech to RUN IT UP, because maybe then Willie Martinez will get gone. I will be rooting crazy-like for the Dawgs, but I just don't see it happening, especially with Joe Cox at QB. Final score: GT 41-UGA 34.
Have a great Turkey weekend everybody. Safe travels if you are traveling. Don't worry Dawg fans, the pain is almost over.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Quick review and preview of the Georgia HSFB playoffs
Let me start by saying WOW, I CANNOT BELIEVE Southwest DeKalb lost in the second freaking round. WOW. That score hit me like I was Jimmy Clausen. And the thing that really spits in my face, Westside Macon made it to the Elite 8. AWESOME. I wasn't just wrong but Karma hocked a big ole loog RIGHT in my Orange Mocha Frappacino of life....or at least my OMF of a bracket. Now to top it all off, North Clayton will face Clarke Central and Clarence Jackson will run all over the Gladiators (That's C-CHS's mascot, right?) We could have seen CJax against Ken Malcome, but NOOOOOOO, Clarke-Central had to go and ruin everything. Just kidding. Kudos to Clarke-Central for turning the clock back to when they dominated and getting a huge win.
Sticking with Class AAAA, Hiram also fell by the wayside and Rockdale County (get your penicillin ready!) now faces Westside Macon. You know the Seminoles LOVE proving me wrong and Robert Brown will be ready to rub it in my face with every win. Did I really smacktalk the Noles on GPB's pregame show last week? Wow, maybe I did. MOTIVATION STATION, the Disrespect train has departed to the western side of the city of Macon. Sorry guys. (But I won't be wrong until you win the state title, so I'll always have THAT to fall back on.)
Griffin now looks like the front runner, especially with the Wildcats of Apalachee next on the schedule. I like Apalachee as a team (I called their games two years ago, so they have a special spot in my heart) but you have to know that the luck is going to run out eventually. They pulled a Les Miles-2007 style against Marist and eventually even Les Miles ran out of luck. (See last week v Ole Miss). Maybe the Lach-key kids can keep it up...but I don't know if I see it.
Finally in AAAA, Sandy Creek has to go TO TCC and I think Sandy Creek wins, setting up the defacto State title game next week against Griffin. Rajion Neal is good. You hear me Fighting Patriot people! HE IS GOOD, GET OFF MY BACK!
Moving on to AAA (We'll save AAAAA for last!), Peach Co wants it third title in five years and while Cole Moon and St. Pius X is a tough Elite8 opponent, I feel that the Trojans are rolling right now. 29-6 over WaCo? Wow. Peach Co has its QB healthy and he is putting on a show in AAA. Jackson at home should roll Eastside (another team I belittled on GPB's pregame show. They only won 20-13 at HOME against Carrollton. I am right about them, even if I'm wrong about WS-M).
On the other side of the bracket, Cairo advanced with a win over Baldwin, albeit a 9-7 win. Cairo's run to a second title ends this weekend against Gainesville. Blake Sims was realitively sharp for 142 plus 1 and 1, but the defense was ohso tough, limiting Dunwoody to 101 yards. Gainesville will blitz Cairo, maybe starting in the third quarter and walk away with a 35-6 win?
Finally, Conner Shaw and the FloBranch Falcons continue a cinderella run through the playoffs but the clock could strike midnight in Columbus against Carver. Why? Isaiah Crowell moreso than Corey Crawford or Devin Burns. Both of those guys are playmakers (on defense and as QB) but Crowell has another gear and is only a JUNIOR running back. Dare I say best in the state? I DARE! And that includes seniors.....
Cannot wait for Crowell and Burns to go against Sims and Jones.
In Class AA, Calhoun, Buford and Fitzgerald all should win home games to move to the F4, but Lovett goes on the road to face Charlton Co. Hmmmmmmmm Charlton may be able to win this game at home, especially since they aren't going head-to-head against Booford. Lovett has crushed East Jackson and Chattooga but Charlton is a different animal. CharCo won a couple of state titles right before Buford began its run, for the record. I know Lovett made it to the title game two years ago and beat Buford earlier this year, but going ON the road....might be tough. I think the home team wins. That means Charlton. Sorry Lovett Lions. Sorry JCarkhuff.
In classA, Wesleyan went to OT with Bowdon? Wiskey Tango Foxtrot? They are at home this weekend, so I believe they'll recover and shake out the funk that maybe got them thinking they could just one-minute-waltz-in-45-seconds right to another state title....but they WILL win the title. They just needed a wake-up call. Consider the giant awake.
Finally we move to Class AAAAA....
I did the Colquitt Co/Stephenson game and the defensive struggle was one, until the middle of the third quarter. Then the offensive floodgates opened. Rush Propst was great to watch on the sidelines: he jumped, he pouted, he fist-pumped. And The Colonel was a pleasure to watch on the first drive. The thing that sticks out to me is, and Scott Janovitz of Score Atlanta agreed with me, if Stephenson had a QB that could play mistake-free, this team would have won the state playoffs. His Pick-6 allowed Colquitt to stay in the game in the first half and his two other INTs gave Colquitt life when the Jags were poised to finish off the game. Stephenson loses some great players (many on defense) but the QB will return next season. Hopefully Coach Gartrell will work with him all spring and summer to get him ready to make amends.
In other action, Peachtree Ridge got a huge night from its defense (mainly Twan Sandridge's 3.5 sacks) to beat Brookwood 21-6. The Lions now get to take Brad Roby and the rest of Suwanee (well, not really...) down to Northside Warner Rob..(Oh, wait, we don't call them that. Just Northside), to face the Eagles and Shaq O'Neal. The last time PTR faced a team from Region 1-aaaaa, it was over in the first 60 seconds. The Lions MUST not beat themselves it they want to pull off another trip to the final four.
I couldn't say all of Suwanee will go down to Warner Rob...Northside because Grayson will host Newnan and the NoGwin Bulldogs will host Camden Co. The latter was a huge flip of the coin because that means the defending champs, just one week after facing Lowndes, have to get on a bus and drive for 7 hours (maybe?) up to the land of Fletcher for a bout with the Bulldogs. CJ Uzomah and that OLine will be ready to bust open holes and I like the Bulldogs in this one, mainly so the Chick-fil-A will continue to keep NGHS on the windows. Seriously though, Lowndes did it on the ground whereas the Bulldogs CAN throw the ball. I think Camden is in trouble.
And moving over to Grayson, the Rams defense will face the Newnan defense (just not at the same time) WOW. First team to score wins? Alec Ogletree is really good (REALLY REALLY REALLY GOOD) at safety and can even catch a ball or two as a receiver, but the Rams are JUST as good with multiple players making plays (meaning if one player has a bad game, three others are there to step up) and Ean Pemberton is still a Ram running back. Heart of a GIANT!
Finally, Hutson Mason threw for 8 TDs last week and has a shot to break the state TD single season TD record this week. But the biggest thing will be Chip Lindsey v Rush Propst. Former OC v Former Coach from Hoover High in Bama. Having watched both of these teams, I really don't know which will win. Colquitt has a dominant defense with enough offense to win, but Lassiter could EASILY put 6 TDs up in the first half and end it, good defense or not on the other side. But I've also seen Mason struggle against Walton for moreorless a half of football. WOW. If I HAD to, I'd take Lassiter and think that Mason will have a big game. (PS, he told 680 last week that Miss State, and UVa were looking at him. Al Groh or Al Golden or Tommy Tuberville NEEDS to get this guy up to Charlottesville. DO IT). That should be the GPB game of the week though, and BOY will it be a good one. It's a shame I will be missing it, but I might just watch on gpb.org/football....and you should too!
Have a great Turkey Day and SBF will break all of it down again next week.
Sticking with Class AAAA, Hiram also fell by the wayside and Rockdale County (get your penicillin ready!) now faces Westside Macon. You know the Seminoles LOVE proving me wrong and Robert Brown will be ready to rub it in my face with every win. Did I really smacktalk the Noles on GPB's pregame show last week? Wow, maybe I did. MOTIVATION STATION, the Disrespect train has departed to the western side of the city of Macon. Sorry guys. (But I won't be wrong until you win the state title, so I'll always have THAT to fall back on.)
Griffin now looks like the front runner, especially with the Wildcats of Apalachee next on the schedule. I like Apalachee as a team (I called their games two years ago, so they have a special spot in my heart) but you have to know that the luck is going to run out eventually. They pulled a Les Miles-2007 style against Marist and eventually even Les Miles ran out of luck. (See last week v Ole Miss). Maybe the Lach-key kids can keep it up...but I don't know if I see it.
Finally in AAAA, Sandy Creek has to go TO TCC and I think Sandy Creek wins, setting up the defacto State title game next week against Griffin. Rajion Neal is good. You hear me Fighting Patriot people! HE IS GOOD, GET OFF MY BACK!
Moving on to AAA (We'll save AAAAA for last!), Peach Co wants it third title in five years and while Cole Moon and St. Pius X is a tough Elite8 opponent, I feel that the Trojans are rolling right now. 29-6 over WaCo? Wow. Peach Co has its QB healthy and he is putting on a show in AAA. Jackson at home should roll Eastside (another team I belittled on GPB's pregame show. They only won 20-13 at HOME against Carrollton. I am right about them, even if I'm wrong about WS-M).
On the other side of the bracket, Cairo advanced with a win over Baldwin, albeit a 9-7 win. Cairo's run to a second title ends this weekend against Gainesville. Blake Sims was realitively sharp for 142 plus 1 and 1, but the defense was ohso tough, limiting Dunwoody to 101 yards. Gainesville will blitz Cairo, maybe starting in the third quarter and walk away with a 35-6 win?
Finally, Conner Shaw and the FloBranch Falcons continue a cinderella run through the playoffs but the clock could strike midnight in Columbus against Carver. Why? Isaiah Crowell moreso than Corey Crawford or Devin Burns. Both of those guys are playmakers (on defense and as QB) but Crowell has another gear and is only a JUNIOR running back. Dare I say best in the state? I DARE! And that includes seniors.....
Cannot wait for Crowell and Burns to go against Sims and Jones.
In Class AA, Calhoun, Buford and Fitzgerald all should win home games to move to the F4, but Lovett goes on the road to face Charlton Co. Hmmmmmmmm Charlton may be able to win this game at home, especially since they aren't going head-to-head against Booford. Lovett has crushed East Jackson and Chattooga but Charlton is a different animal. CharCo won a couple of state titles right before Buford began its run, for the record. I know Lovett made it to the title game two years ago and beat Buford earlier this year, but going ON the road....might be tough. I think the home team wins. That means Charlton. Sorry Lovett Lions. Sorry JCarkhuff.
In classA, Wesleyan went to OT with Bowdon? Wiskey Tango Foxtrot? They are at home this weekend, so I believe they'll recover and shake out the funk that maybe got them thinking they could just one-minute-waltz-in-45-seconds right to another state title....but they WILL win the title. They just needed a wake-up call. Consider the giant awake.
Finally we move to Class AAAAA....
I did the Colquitt Co/Stephenson game and the defensive struggle was one, until the middle of the third quarter. Then the offensive floodgates opened. Rush Propst was great to watch on the sidelines: he jumped, he pouted, he fist-pumped. And The Colonel was a pleasure to watch on the first drive. The thing that sticks out to me is, and Scott Janovitz of Score Atlanta agreed with me, if Stephenson had a QB that could play mistake-free, this team would have won the state playoffs. His Pick-6 allowed Colquitt to stay in the game in the first half and his two other INTs gave Colquitt life when the Jags were poised to finish off the game. Stephenson loses some great players (many on defense) but the QB will return next season. Hopefully Coach Gartrell will work with him all spring and summer to get him ready to make amends.
In other action, Peachtree Ridge got a huge night from its defense (mainly Twan Sandridge's 3.5 sacks) to beat Brookwood 21-6. The Lions now get to take Brad Roby and the rest of Suwanee (well, not really...) down to Northside Warner Rob..(Oh, wait, we don't call them that. Just Northside), to face the Eagles and Shaq O'Neal. The last time PTR faced a team from Region 1-aaaaa, it was over in the first 60 seconds. The Lions MUST not beat themselves it they want to pull off another trip to the final four.
I couldn't say all of Suwanee will go down to Warner Rob...Northside because Grayson will host Newnan and the NoGwin Bulldogs will host Camden Co. The latter was a huge flip of the coin because that means the defending champs, just one week after facing Lowndes, have to get on a bus and drive for 7 hours (maybe?) up to the land of Fletcher for a bout with the Bulldogs. CJ Uzomah and that OLine will be ready to bust open holes and I like the Bulldogs in this one, mainly so the Chick-fil-A will continue to keep NGHS on the windows. Seriously though, Lowndes did it on the ground whereas the Bulldogs CAN throw the ball. I think Camden is in trouble.
And moving over to Grayson, the Rams defense will face the Newnan defense (just not at the same time) WOW. First team to score wins? Alec Ogletree is really good (REALLY REALLY REALLY GOOD) at safety and can even catch a ball or two as a receiver, but the Rams are JUST as good with multiple players making plays (meaning if one player has a bad game, three others are there to step up) and Ean Pemberton is still a Ram running back. Heart of a GIANT!
Finally, Hutson Mason threw for 8 TDs last week and has a shot to break the state TD single season TD record this week. But the biggest thing will be Chip Lindsey v Rush Propst. Former OC v Former Coach from Hoover High in Bama. Having watched both of these teams, I really don't know which will win. Colquitt has a dominant defense with enough offense to win, but Lassiter could EASILY put 6 TDs up in the first half and end it, good defense or not on the other side. But I've also seen Mason struggle against Walton for moreorless a half of football. WOW. If I HAD to, I'd take Lassiter and think that Mason will have a big game. (PS, he told 680 last week that Miss State, and UVa were looking at him. Al Groh or Al Golden or Tommy Tuberville NEEDS to get this guy up to Charlottesville. DO IT). That should be the GPB game of the week though, and BOY will it be a good one. It's a shame I will be missing it, but I might just watch on gpb.org/football....and you should too!
Have a great Turkey Day and SBF will break all of it down again next week.
Who Punched Jimmy Clausen outside of the South Bend Bar?
We here at SportsbyFletch have decided to go Sherlock Holmes on this one. We'll get to the bottom of this one.......... (in case you didn't hear, some one punched Jimmy Clausen in the face outside of a South Bend bar after the game on Saturday while Clausen was hanging with some friends and family.)
Let's go to the suspects...
ANYONE in the student body! Honesltly, this guy isn't the golden child everyone thought he'd be
OR
Charlie Weis, because Clausen didn't play well enough to save Weis' job
OR
Matt Stafford who then said, "How DARE you underachieve throughout your college career then likely STILL be a top 5 NFL draft pick! That's my schtick!" (No, couldn't have been him. His shoulder was hurt. Well not that night, but let's move on)
OR
Brian Kelly, aka the next coach of Notre Dame who found out that Clausen might leave if Weis goes. Kelly then decided it didn't matter because he can just try and petition the NCAA to give Ben Mauk a 9th year to play at ND.
OR
Urban Meyer, because if he were to take over at Notre Dame, he wouldn't be right to run the spread the way Tebow could. "You are NO Tebow!" POW!
OR
Golden Tate, because Clausen didn't throw to him in OT, instead opting to go to Michael Floyd
OR
a runaway emu, for stealing his "good looks"
OR
Sean Astin, aka Rudy, because it was guys like Jimmy Clausen that never appreciated Rudy's efforts when he was 5-foot nothing, 100-and nothing, with hardly a spec of athletic ability, yet still hanging with the best football program in the nation for two years....
OR
Dayne Crist, ND backup who tore his ACL and wanted to make Clausen hurt too.
OR
Rick Clausen with Casey Clausen in tow. How DARE you become better than us! No, it couldn't have been Casey Clausen, but I bet he could have done it with his arm tied behind his back.
OR
Phil Fulmer, because if Jimmy had gone to Tennessee, perhaps Fulmer wouldn't have had to play Jonathan Crompton and the Pumpkin would still have his job (doubtful though)
OR
Willie Martinez, because if Clausen had followed his bros to the Vols, then Martinez's defense wouldn't have gotten shredded in 2007 and 2009 and he wouldn't have to move.
OR
JaMarcus Russell, because Oakland has ALREADY said they'd take Clausen with the team's first round pick, thus putting Russell out of a job.
No, it was NONE of those people.
KARMA was the one that punched Clausen in the face, giving him a black eye.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SHOW UP ON CAMPUS IN A WHITE LIMO, THINKING YOU ARE THE NEXT BIG THING. Yep. You cannot say you didn't have it coming there Jim. (PS, drop the -my. you are what, 21 now? Jimmy is name for 6-year-olds.)
Let's go to the suspects...
ANYONE in the student body! Honesltly, this guy isn't the golden child everyone thought he'd be
OR
Charlie Weis, because Clausen didn't play well enough to save Weis' job
OR
Matt Stafford who then said, "How DARE you underachieve throughout your college career then likely STILL be a top 5 NFL draft pick! That's my schtick!" (No, couldn't have been him. His shoulder was hurt. Well not that night, but let's move on)
OR
Brian Kelly, aka the next coach of Notre Dame who found out that Clausen might leave if Weis goes. Kelly then decided it didn't matter because he can just try and petition the NCAA to give Ben Mauk a 9th year to play at ND.
OR
Urban Meyer, because if he were to take over at Notre Dame, he wouldn't be right to run the spread the way Tebow could. "You are NO Tebow!" POW!
OR
Golden Tate, because Clausen didn't throw to him in OT, instead opting to go to Michael Floyd
OR
a runaway emu, for stealing his "good looks"
OR
Sean Astin, aka Rudy, because it was guys like Jimmy Clausen that never appreciated Rudy's efforts when he was 5-foot nothing, 100-and nothing, with hardly a spec of athletic ability, yet still hanging with the best football program in the nation for two years....
OR
Dayne Crist, ND backup who tore his ACL and wanted to make Clausen hurt too.
OR
Rick Clausen with Casey Clausen in tow. How DARE you become better than us! No, it couldn't have been Casey Clausen, but I bet he could have done it with his arm tied behind his back.
OR
Phil Fulmer, because if Jimmy had gone to Tennessee, perhaps Fulmer wouldn't have had to play Jonathan Crompton and the Pumpkin would still have his job (doubtful though)
OR
Willie Martinez, because if Clausen had followed his bros to the Vols, then Martinez's defense wouldn't have gotten shredded in 2007 and 2009 and he wouldn't have to move.
OR
JaMarcus Russell, because Oakland has ALREADY said they'd take Clausen with the team's first round pick, thus putting Russell out of a job.
No, it was NONE of those people.
KARMA was the one that punched Clausen in the face, giving him a black eye.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SHOW UP ON CAMPUS IN A WHITE LIMO, THINKING YOU ARE THE NEXT BIG THING. Yep. You cannot say you didn't have it coming there Jim. (PS, drop the -my. you are what, 21 now? Jimmy is name for 6-year-olds.)
Score Atlanta's Around The Dial Preview
It is a short week. I've had to make some sacrifices. Sorry. I'll try and get to a GHSA playoff review and preview, but I can make no promises. Tomorrow I'll combine the picks with the midweek entertainment report as well. Hey, It's Turkey Week, ONLY THE BEST HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR. Sorry.
Enjoy Around the Dial!
The Sporting News released an incredibly early mock draft last week and several local ties appeared in the first round of Russ Lande’s mock draft. Lande pegged the Falcons into the No.19 spot of the first round and had the team selecting CB Patrick Robinson out of Florida State. Said Lande of the pick, “The Falcons have struggled to get consistent cornerback play, and Robinson shows good athleticism, size and intelligence.” USC safety Taylor Mays, predicted by some to have been a top ten pick had he left the Trojans last year, was prognosticated to go No.22 to the Giants. Robinson would certainly be an instant starter in the Falcons defensive secondary and his size would be something that this year’s Falcons are missing. In FSU’s game against Maryland over the weekend, the color analyst spent most of the second half gushing over Robinson, comparing him to former Seminole and Falcon Deion Sanders. Before the season started, I thought the Falcons should JUMP at the chance to get Taylor Mays if he was still on the board when they picked, but after watching last week’s game against New York, it is obvious: the team needs CBs with height. Robinson is that guy. Perfect pick for the Falcons, although I wonder about that spot at No.19. Lande is guessing that the Dirty Birds don’t make the playoffs.
Lande would go on to forecast the San Diego Chargers taking Georgia Tech junior running back Jonathan Dwyer with the No.23 pick. Lande noted, “Running back LaDanian Tomlinson turns 31 in June and Darren Sproles is too small to be a feature back, leaving the Chargers offense often one-dimensional.” Lande feels that Dwyer would solve that problem.
Tony Gonzalez recently appeared on Tim Brando’s radio show. Brando is known for his work with SEC football on CBS, but he stepped up to the NFL level to interview the future Hall of Fame Tight End and Gonzalez told Brando he couldn’t be happier. “I’m just living a dream and enjoying it. We’d like to think we can be a little bit better than [5-5], but that’s just the reality of it.” Gonzalez also noted that he’s taking his career one year at a time. “But this is the most fun I’ve had in a long time,” Gonzalez reassured Falcons fans wondering about his future with the team.
The Sports Business Journal teamed up with Sports Business Daily and The Sporting News to come up with their list of the top 25 sports broadcasters in today’s sports world. Gary Danielson of CBS came in at No.1, beating out NBC’s Cris Collinsworth, the list’s No. 2. Collinsworth’s partner on NBC’s Sunday Night Football broadcasts Al Michaels was No.3 while Phil Simms of CBS was No.4. ESPN and ABC college football expert Kirk Herbstreit was No.5 and Troy Aikman of Fox and TSN Radio was No.6. Other top ten notables included Joe Buck of Fox at No.8 for his MLB and NFL coverage and Jim Nantz of CBS at No.10. Nantz does NFL, golf and college basketball for CBS. While I do like Danielson in the No.1 spot, Collinsworth at No.2 I thought was a bit too high. I know he knows his stuff but I don’t believe he’s found his personality just yet. Is he going to be just an X and O guy? Is he going to be a funny guy? It seems to me like he needs to find his footing with Al Michaels. They just have not yet developed chemistry and I think that has hurt Collinsworth. I love Al Michaels and he should be in that No.2 spot as he is the best play-by-play guy out there today. The NFL has not passed this guy by and I don’t believe it ever would. I just hope that NBC has him do the winter Olympics Hockey coverage in 2010, especially if Team USA makes another run at the gold.
Finally, I have to take Peachtree TV to task for the selection of Alabama/UT-Chattanooga over Mississippi State/Arkansas last Saturday. I am not certain how the contracts work with the SEC and maybe PTV didn’t have a choice but since I didn’t hear Dave Neal and Andre Ware calling the Alabama game, perhaps those two were at the Bulldogs/Razorbacks game. Is it because we are in Atlanta, closer to Tuscaloosa than the states of Arkansas and Mississippi that we got that blowout? Why did the network not fight to get the more competitive game? Alabama vs. Chattanooga? Really? Did Alabama fans even care to see that game? I really would have rather seen Dan Mullen vs. Bobby Petrino. I would have rather seen Anthony Dixon vs. Ryan Mallet. But instead I got a game that was over three years ago when it was scheduled.
Enjoy Around the Dial!
The Sporting News released an incredibly early mock draft last week and several local ties appeared in the first round of Russ Lande’s mock draft. Lande pegged the Falcons into the No.19 spot of the first round and had the team selecting CB Patrick Robinson out of Florida State. Said Lande of the pick, “The Falcons have struggled to get consistent cornerback play, and Robinson shows good athleticism, size and intelligence.” USC safety Taylor Mays, predicted by some to have been a top ten pick had he left the Trojans last year, was prognosticated to go No.22 to the Giants. Robinson would certainly be an instant starter in the Falcons defensive secondary and his size would be something that this year’s Falcons are missing. In FSU’s game against Maryland over the weekend, the color analyst spent most of the second half gushing over Robinson, comparing him to former Seminole and Falcon Deion Sanders. Before the season started, I thought the Falcons should JUMP at the chance to get Taylor Mays if he was still on the board when they picked, but after watching last week’s game against New York, it is obvious: the team needs CBs with height. Robinson is that guy. Perfect pick for the Falcons, although I wonder about that spot at No.19. Lande is guessing that the Dirty Birds don’t make the playoffs.
Lande would go on to forecast the San Diego Chargers taking Georgia Tech junior running back Jonathan Dwyer with the No.23 pick. Lande noted, “Running back LaDanian Tomlinson turns 31 in June and Darren Sproles is too small to be a feature back, leaving the Chargers offense often one-dimensional.” Lande feels that Dwyer would solve that problem.
Tony Gonzalez recently appeared on Tim Brando’s radio show. Brando is known for his work with SEC football on CBS, but he stepped up to the NFL level to interview the future Hall of Fame Tight End and Gonzalez told Brando he couldn’t be happier. “I’m just living a dream and enjoying it. We’d like to think we can be a little bit better than [5-5], but that’s just the reality of it.” Gonzalez also noted that he’s taking his career one year at a time. “But this is the most fun I’ve had in a long time,” Gonzalez reassured Falcons fans wondering about his future with the team.
The Sports Business Journal teamed up with Sports Business Daily and The Sporting News to come up with their list of the top 25 sports broadcasters in today’s sports world. Gary Danielson of CBS came in at No.1, beating out NBC’s Cris Collinsworth, the list’s No. 2. Collinsworth’s partner on NBC’s Sunday Night Football broadcasts Al Michaels was No.3 while Phil Simms of CBS was No.4. ESPN and ABC college football expert Kirk Herbstreit was No.5 and Troy Aikman of Fox and TSN Radio was No.6. Other top ten notables included Joe Buck of Fox at No.8 for his MLB and NFL coverage and Jim Nantz of CBS at No.10. Nantz does NFL, golf and college basketball for CBS. While I do like Danielson in the No.1 spot, Collinsworth at No.2 I thought was a bit too high. I know he knows his stuff but I don’t believe he’s found his personality just yet. Is he going to be just an X and O guy? Is he going to be a funny guy? It seems to me like he needs to find his footing with Al Michaels. They just have not yet developed chemistry and I think that has hurt Collinsworth. I love Al Michaels and he should be in that No.2 spot as he is the best play-by-play guy out there today. The NFL has not passed this guy by and I don’t believe it ever would. I just hope that NBC has him do the winter Olympics Hockey coverage in 2010, especially if Team USA makes another run at the gold.
Finally, I have to take Peachtree TV to task for the selection of Alabama/UT-Chattanooga over Mississippi State/Arkansas last Saturday. I am not certain how the contracts work with the SEC and maybe PTV didn’t have a choice but since I didn’t hear Dave Neal and Andre Ware calling the Alabama game, perhaps those two were at the Bulldogs/Razorbacks game. Is it because we are in Atlanta, closer to Tuscaloosa than the states of Arkansas and Mississippi that we got that blowout? Why did the network not fight to get the more competitive game? Alabama vs. Chattanooga? Really? Did Alabama fans even care to see that game? I really would have rather seen Dan Mullen vs. Bobby Petrino. I would have rather seen Anthony Dixon vs. Ryan Mallet. But instead I got a game that was over three years ago when it was scheduled.
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