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.
Monday, November 30, 2009
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.
Monday, November 23, 2009
One more note on NASCAR....
I read where Yahoo! has named Jimmie Johnson its athlete of the year (even though we still have over a month to go in the year....) and I guess this is how YAHOO! is planning on driving me crazy today. (TYPICALLY it is with they broken email feature. Or the misleading headlines)
REALLY? Jimmie Johnson is the athlete of the year? Does he play golf or basketball on the side? Umm, he DRIVES. No, really that is his job. I drive TO WORK. He drives AS his work.
And before everyone from the "LARGEST SPECTATOR SPORT IN AMERICA....NOT NAMED COLLEGE FOOTBALL" starts yelling at me, saying, "Do you know how hard it is to sit in a car for 8 hours at a time?"
I SAY YES I DO! I drive home for Christmas and to the beach several times a year, and OH YEAH, I DRIVE IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC.
I'd like to see how the Athlete does in THAT gridlock!
Athlete of the year. Unless he can handle Atlanta rush hour like I can, I call BS!
REALLY? Jimmie Johnson is the athlete of the year? Does he play golf or basketball on the side? Umm, he DRIVES. No, really that is his job. I drive TO WORK. He drives AS his work.
And before everyone from the "LARGEST SPECTATOR SPORT IN AMERICA....NOT NAMED COLLEGE FOOTBALL" starts yelling at me, saying, "Do you know how hard it is to sit in a car for 8 hours at a time?"
I SAY YES I DO! I drive home for Christmas and to the beach several times a year, and OH YEAH, I DRIVE IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC.
I'd like to see how the Athlete does in THAT gridlock!
Athlete of the year. Unless he can handle Atlanta rush hour like I can, I call BS!
UK, more like WE suck
Sorry to all of the UK fans out there that may have been offended by UK-More like YOU SUCK. Actually, WE suck. That's right. Georgia is terrible, but that isn't exactly news anymore. (Sadly).
Yep for the second straight season on Senior Day, Georgia gets out front early, only to fumble the second half kickoff and suddenly lose. AWESOME. Loved it. I also loved it when Joe Cox, after throwing two interceptions decided to THROW Washaun Ealey under the bus ("I don't know what he saw, but I turned around and he was too close to me," was more-or-less the quote from the AJC.) Umm Joe, if you saw that he was too close to you, WHY'D YOU PITCH THE BALL YOU BIG DUMMY?! Hand it off or be a man and try and get the ONE yard yourself.
If you wanted to blame Washaun, perhaps you could for not cutting inside on his big run down to the four. If he had cut in instead of going out of bounds to avoid a hit, he finds paydirt.
But how sad is it that AFTER the fumble and the defense gets the ball back, first play....BOOM Joe Cox INT to end the game. His two picks were BAD throws. BAD BAD BAD.
And after we looked so good in the first half.....
with the exception of Jeff Owens, Kade Westin and Geno Atkins, I think this senior class is the one I've been happiest to see leave in all of my time as a Bulldog fan. Cox, Bryan Evans (can I help you guys pack?), Prince Miller (or Toast, as he's been known this year), Michael Moore (thanks for the South Carolina game in 2007!), Grrr.
And the funniest thing about Reshad Jones is that when folks WANT you to leave early for the NFL, that should tell you something. Rennie Curran, you can stick around, but PLEASE Reshad Jones, you can go.
This year has been a disappointment and really the seniors are to blame, namely Joe Cox. (Well and Willie Martinez, though if he is allowed to stick around, C-Note and Justin Houston are going to make him look REALLY smart) At some point, the Seniors needed to STOP yelling at fans (Cox) and pull this team together, even strap the team to their backs and carry them (something Curran and Green did, but no one else ever really did)
That's a shame. Georgia should NEVER EVER EVER be 8-4, much less 6-6. 10-2 should be every year at worst, but with a bad QB with a shaky D-Coor this team was doomed. Thankfully the team IS going to a bowl and Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger should get EVERY snap of the first 13 practices with Cox getting the last two practices in preparation for whomever the team plays in the Independence Bowl....
Find out who is coming back and who is leaving. Play ONLY the ones returning in those practices to get a jump so maybe next year the Dawgs can go 9-3. Crud!
In other college football thoughts, hey Alabama and Florida, was that fun? Hope so. Way to spit in your fans faces the week before Thanksgiving.
Kudos to Klimpsen for winning the Atlantic Division. I knew they'd be better. I hate to tell The Deacon I told him so (that's right, The Body is becoming The Deacon!) BUT I TOLD HIM SO. Believe in Dabo!
Finally, I still say that Michigan would be STOOPID to get rid of RichRod. Tate Forcier is a different story. I might try Denard Robinson a little more. Now, Notre Dame and Charlie Weis, they are cooked. They will NOT turn around and they need new blood there. Just don't hire Kirby Smart as the new Head Coach. He needs to come be Georgia's D-Coor. Just saying......
PS, WHY IN THE WORLD is NASCAR called the largest spectator sport in Amerca? Ummm, ever hear of College football? The Big House holds 115,000+. Knoxville, Columbus, Happy Valley, Athens, Baton Rouge.....But no, I'm sure NASCAR's 36? races a year with 150,000 in attendance is more than 119 teams playing 12 games apiece. Sure......Where do they get these numbers? I think those people are huffing too much paint thinner in their trailers.
Yep for the second straight season on Senior Day, Georgia gets out front early, only to fumble the second half kickoff and suddenly lose. AWESOME. Loved it. I also loved it when Joe Cox, after throwing two interceptions decided to THROW Washaun Ealey under the bus ("I don't know what he saw, but I turned around and he was too close to me," was more-or-less the quote from the AJC.) Umm Joe, if you saw that he was too close to you, WHY'D YOU PITCH THE BALL YOU BIG DUMMY?! Hand it off or be a man and try and get the ONE yard yourself.
If you wanted to blame Washaun, perhaps you could for not cutting inside on his big run down to the four. If he had cut in instead of going out of bounds to avoid a hit, he finds paydirt.
But how sad is it that AFTER the fumble and the defense gets the ball back, first play....BOOM Joe Cox INT to end the game. His two picks were BAD throws. BAD BAD BAD.
And after we looked so good in the first half.....
with the exception of Jeff Owens, Kade Westin and Geno Atkins, I think this senior class is the one I've been happiest to see leave in all of my time as a Bulldog fan. Cox, Bryan Evans (can I help you guys pack?), Prince Miller (or Toast, as he's been known this year), Michael Moore (thanks for the South Carolina game in 2007!), Grrr.
And the funniest thing about Reshad Jones is that when folks WANT you to leave early for the NFL, that should tell you something. Rennie Curran, you can stick around, but PLEASE Reshad Jones, you can go.
This year has been a disappointment and really the seniors are to blame, namely Joe Cox. (Well and Willie Martinez, though if he is allowed to stick around, C-Note and Justin Houston are going to make him look REALLY smart) At some point, the Seniors needed to STOP yelling at fans (Cox) and pull this team together, even strap the team to their backs and carry them (something Curran and Green did, but no one else ever really did)
That's a shame. Georgia should NEVER EVER EVER be 8-4, much less 6-6. 10-2 should be every year at worst, but with a bad QB with a shaky D-Coor this team was doomed. Thankfully the team IS going to a bowl and Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger should get EVERY snap of the first 13 practices with Cox getting the last two practices in preparation for whomever the team plays in the Independence Bowl....
Find out who is coming back and who is leaving. Play ONLY the ones returning in those practices to get a jump so maybe next year the Dawgs can go 9-3. Crud!
In other college football thoughts, hey Alabama and Florida, was that fun? Hope so. Way to spit in your fans faces the week before Thanksgiving.
Kudos to Klimpsen for winning the Atlantic Division. I knew they'd be better. I hate to tell The Deacon I told him so (that's right, The Body is becoming The Deacon!) BUT I TOLD HIM SO. Believe in Dabo!
Finally, I still say that Michigan would be STOOPID to get rid of RichRod. Tate Forcier is a different story. I might try Denard Robinson a little more. Now, Notre Dame and Charlie Weis, they are cooked. They will NOT turn around and they need new blood there. Just don't hire Kirby Smart as the new Head Coach. He needs to come be Georgia's D-Coor. Just saying......
PS, WHY IN THE WORLD is NASCAR called the largest spectator sport in Amerca? Ummm, ever hear of College football? The Big House holds 115,000+. Knoxville, Columbus, Happy Valley, Athens, Baton Rouge.....But no, I'm sure NASCAR's 36? races a year with 150,000 in attendance is more than 119 teams playing 12 games apiece. Sure......Where do they get these numbers? I think those people are huffing too much paint thinner in their trailers.
Braves fans are CRAZY if they think we're getting Adrian Gonzalez
Or Matt Holiday....
After coming close to a Wild Card in 2008, the Atlanta Braves may just be two or three moves away from reaching the playoffs after missing out over the last four seasons. That ticket to the playoffs though will likely have to be of the Wild Card variety again though as the Philadelphia Phillies, the two-time defending National League Pennant winners still reside in the NL East.
But what do the Braves need to do to have a shot at playing in late October? Simple: add a bat. That move though is easier said than done. The Braves offense really seemed to take off after Adam LaRoche arrived but he is a free agent and not likely to return for anything less than a three-year deal and the team won't want to block Freddie Freeman, who might make his full-time debut Spring 2011.
Payroll will likely be a problem in terms of adding the big bopper that the team needs in the No.4 spot in the lineup. Brian McCann has hit in the cleanup spot since the team traded Mark Teixeira but he would be the ideal No.5 hitter. If you keep Chipper at No.3 that means you need a big-time No.4. Jason Heyward, if he wins the leftfield job out of spring training, is likely too young to begin his career there, so he'll probably bat fifth with McCann returning to the four-spot. Should Heyward make the team, he will man leftfield and Nate McLouth is locked into center. In right field, Matt Diaz and Ryan Church will probably platoon since they team doesn't have the money to make a run at Matt Holiday.
As for the infield, Martin Prado earned a permanent spot in the starting lineup with a huge second half last season. However, as the market may not be conducive to signing a first baseman in the team's price range, perhaps Prado could move to first to enable the team to sign a second baseman. Orlando Hudson had a nice year for the Dodgers but LA and New York (NL) will be coming after him. If Hudson doesn't sign, the Florida Marlins are offering Dan Uggla to folks and the Braves do have one of the deepest farm systems in the majors. Yunel Escobar and Chipper Jones are a strong left side, but the team could afford to look around for a reliable option behind Chipper since Jones cannot seem to stay healthy.
Bottom line, the development of Jason Heyward in left should add some pop and a new second baseman with Prado shifting the first will help out the infield.
After coming close to a Wild Card in 2008, the Atlanta Braves may just be two or three moves away from reaching the playoffs after missing out over the last four seasons. That ticket to the playoffs though will likely have to be of the Wild Card variety again though as the Philadelphia Phillies, the two-time defending National League Pennant winners still reside in the NL East.
But what do the Braves need to do to have a shot at playing in late October? Simple: add a bat. That move though is easier said than done. The Braves offense really seemed to take off after Adam LaRoche arrived but he is a free agent and not likely to return for anything less than a three-year deal and the team won't want to block Freddie Freeman, who might make his full-time debut Spring 2011.
Payroll will likely be a problem in terms of adding the big bopper that the team needs in the No.4 spot in the lineup. Brian McCann has hit in the cleanup spot since the team traded Mark Teixeira but he would be the ideal No.5 hitter. If you keep Chipper at No.3 that means you need a big-time No.4. Jason Heyward, if he wins the leftfield job out of spring training, is likely too young to begin his career there, so he'll probably bat fifth with McCann returning to the four-spot. Should Heyward make the team, he will man leftfield and Nate McLouth is locked into center. In right field, Matt Diaz and Ryan Church will probably platoon since they team doesn't have the money to make a run at Matt Holiday.
As for the infield, Martin Prado earned a permanent spot in the starting lineup with a huge second half last season. However, as the market may not be conducive to signing a first baseman in the team's price range, perhaps Prado could move to first to enable the team to sign a second baseman. Orlando Hudson had a nice year for the Dodgers but LA and New York (NL) will be coming after him. If Hudson doesn't sign, the Florida Marlins are offering Dan Uggla to folks and the Braves do have one of the deepest farm systems in the majors. Yunel Escobar and Chipper Jones are a strong left side, but the team could afford to look around for a reliable option behind Chipper since Jones cannot seem to stay healthy.
Bottom line, the development of Jason Heyward in left should add some pop and a new second baseman with Prado shifting the first will help out the infield.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Friday Picks-UK,more like You SUCK-edition
Today is a sad day for the Bulldog nation and dog/Dawg lovers(well, I guess yesterday was) as Uga VII passed away from apparently a heart attack. I won't mock Uga VII, but I will say that potentially had he been more active, perhaps he'd still be with us today. Uga VI was active and barked loud enough you could hear him in the upper deck and over the TV. He played with Hairy Dawg and the cheerleaders and was always ready to pose for a photo. This Uga seemed to run out at the beginning of the game then just head to his house and rest his genitals on ice for the rest of the game. Never heard him bark much. Just sit on ice in his house.
He was still a damn good dawg who left us too soon, but maybe the next Uga could be a little more active. Just saying...........
with that, let's head to the picks.
#10 Ohio State @ Michigan. The Big House will see Ohio State come in having won 9000 straight over Michigan (give or take) and RichRod might actually need to win this game to save his job. SERIOUSLY Michigan men? You guys might fire him after two seasons? REALLY? You guys think that is smart? The Big 11 is THERE for the taking and he is two years into a rebuilding job and you guys want to cut ties with him? He is going to own the conference once his freshmen become sophomores then juniors. Iowa? Ohio State? Penn State? These are the big time programs in the Big11 right now and they are at their best....and Michigan is right on their heels as bad as they are right now. Did the Michigan men see what RichRod did at West VA? Obviously they did; that's why they hired him. Now they have buyer's remorse? I don't get them. I think RichRod upsets the Sweatervest and suddenly Michigan Men all over the world love RichRod again. UPSET OF THE WEEK SPECIAL BONUS PICK!
Minnesota @ #13 Iowa. So Iowa, without its top two RBs and without its QB, is STILL No.13? WOW. That is something. Reminds me of when Statesboro lost its QB last year yet was still ranked in the AJC's top ten for the last three weeks of the season. Hmmmmmm. Iowa can still win at home though. Right? I mean Minnesota isn't that good, right? I'm only doing ONE extra upset pick.
Duke @ No.20 Miami. snickersnicker. I guess The U isn't yet back. Moving on. Relax Tech fans, even if you had lost to Duke last week, you'd have been bailed out this week....assuming Miami can beat Duke. If Miami lays another egg this week, then Tuberville can tell his real estate agent to stop looking in Charlottesville and start in Coral Gables....but don't worry Daddio. Randy Shannon isn't getting fired this off-season. Tubs is coming to UVa (hopefully for your sake). The Canes win and PLEASE don't say The U is BACK after you beat DUKE......
Maryland @ FSU. Poor Maryland. The Terps used to be able to say Crabcakes and Football, that's what Maryland does. Well, because of Ralph the Fridge, they cannot say either. He's killed the football aspect by coaching Maryland into the ground and I think he's eaten all of the crabcakes in the Maryland, Delaware and Virginia area. Crud! At least it is basketball season....which is what FSU fans are saying too these days. Did you see that Mrs. Bowden said that they'd have to fire Bobby because he'll never quit. WOW. He really needs to tell his Squaw to let her Brave run the teepee. Does he go to Tallahassee League of Women Voters meetings and say that she'll never retire as the treasurer, they'll have to fire her? Come on now.....Take FSU
Louisville @ SoFla. So I wonder where all of the Cardinal backers are NOW that said Gruden was a LOCK to take the Lou'ville job? If I was Gruden and I could do ESPN or coach the Louisville Cardinals.....I'd sign an extension with ESPN as well. FULMER TO LOUISVILLE (and they should be HAPPY to get him!) SoFla is SO FLY!
UNC @ BC. I am SOOOO Sorry I picked against you Butch. I was wrong. But you know why I did? I was sitting on the toilet, looking through the TSN spread that chronicled your week leading up to the UVa game and I thought, "WOW, he doesn't look happy with his team." Then I pooped and flushed. Don't worry though. I sprayed fabreez before during and afterwards. UNC wins a road game. PS, this is an ESPN2 game so Pam Ward is Chestnut Hill and now that she's transitioned to the ACC from the Big11, I think the road team usually ruins the plans for the hometown dance party. The REVERSE CURSE!
Chattanooga @ No.2 Bama. I remember SportsNight used to say about Chattanooga, "Two T's and Two O's." Jeremy could have also added "three A's," but that's OK. He went on to become Will Bailey and would write for one of the greatest (fictional) presidents ever, Jed Bartlett. And that is a Republican saying that.....Tide ROLLS!
Miss State @ Arkie. So Uga died. There will not be a replacement Uga at Sanford Stadium this weekend (hey, I was at the last UgaVII game ever. sad...) and UGaVIII won't be picked until next season. I say this because there WILL be a live Bulldog mascot in action in the SEC this weekend as Miss State heads to Fayetteville to face Petrino. But does anyone KNOW Miss State's bulldog's name? NO. Petrino piles on the points.
Florida International @ #1 Florida. Hey Gators, way to play a TOUGH non-conference schedule. Of, FIU, WOW. Was FAU busy this weekend? Gimmie a break. Florida scores 80.
Oklahoma @ Texas Tech. Remember last year when this game was No.1 v No.2? Gameday was there (shocker, ABC and ESPN at a Big12 game?!) and OU just routed Texas Tech. Boy have both teams fallen. OU has made me ashamed to wear my most comfortable hat while Texas Tech still has a fun coach, but not much else. SO tough to go on the road in the Big12....unless it is to Lubbuck in which case you should remember to bring toilet paper and fresh water. Kind of like going to France. But not at all. Boomer Sooner.
Memphis @ #24 Houston. Hmmmm Memphis just fired its coach and now they go on the road. Typically you'd like to think the team will want to rally up and win one for the coach, but then you remember, gosh, wouldn't they have won one BEFORE he was fired it they REALLY cared about him? Houston cruises with Case Kennum trying to win the Heisman.
#4 TCU @ Wyoming. (And on a side note, #6 Boise State travels to Utah State tonight) Wow, What tough conference road games for BOTH of these top 6 schools. Yeah, think about what I just said. This is considered a TOUGH CONFERENCE ROAD game for these two schools. Yep, Wyoming, an early season cupcake for Texas and Utah State, a cupcake win for Oregon last year and Georgia before that a few years back. These are the schools that the big boys play over Labor Day. They get up by 4 TDs by the middle of the second quarter and people head back to their tailgate to finish drinking. But for TCU and Boise State, these games MATTER....BIG TIME. THAT'S WHY TCU and BSU are jokes. I can knock Florida all I want about playing FIU, that for TCU that is probably a conference opponent. Take TCU and ESPN, don't you EVER go to TCU for Gameday.....EVER AGAIN! So stupid. But it WAS a nice change from Columbus and Austin.
Iowa State @ Mizzou. You're probably thinking, "SBF, why are you picking this game? these two teams really bite! (NOT A NEW MOON REFERENCE, I PROMISE!)" Well, the reason I'm picking this game is because it has MAJOR Big12 North implications. Wow. The B12N stinks. Iowa State because a Tiger would lose to a Cyclone in a fight.
UConn @ Notre Dame. I wonder if Fupa will act smug about keeping his job if he beats UConn. He SHOULDN'T, but he probably will. Notre Dame will get just about EVERY CALL by the hometown officials and we'll have to deal with Charlie-just-might-save-his-job stories. I wonder if Notre Dame doesn't get Brian Kelly, who they'll go to next. It could be like January 2005 all over again.
#8 LSU @ Ole Miss. I bet the folks at the Grove thought this game would be WAY bigger than this at the beginning of the season. I know Roomie thought it would be. She took Ole Miss as her Boys. Bad move Cubes. I guess it would be better than taking Uga though. He died. I think Ole Miss wins because Jefferson is a little dinged up, but I'm rooting for LSU so that Georgia can maybe go to the Outback Bowl instead of the music shi**y bowl.
#14 Penn State @ Michigan State. THere is a chance that Penn Kate is coming over tomorrow for this game and the Georgia game. I CANNOT pick against Penn State, otherwise she will mock me if they win and I picked against them. Therefore....PENN STATE WINS!
#16 Wisconsin @ Northwestern and Purdue @ Indiana. BOTH are on at the same time on the Big Ten Network (but there are 11 teams...) How will they decide which game to show? BOTH games are so watchable...and by watchable I mean if I was in one of those rooms in the Saw movies. I wonder what Jigsaw would make me do to get out of that situation.....probably pick Wisconsin and Purdue.
UVa @ #23 Clemson. As much as I want UVa to win, it would just be a battle and I want UVa to win the war. If UVa loses, then Groh FINALLY goes and Tubs or maybe Al Golden can come in and turn the Hoos around. So I will take Klimpsen to win at home and advance to the ACCCG.
#19 Oregon State @ Wazzou. WAIT, WHAT? Oregon State is No.19? IN THE COUNTRY? When did this happen? Was I asleep? Wiskey Tango Foxtrot!? I guess the No.19 team in the country will move up with a win over the Carps of Wazzou. (I know they are the cougars, but I think calling them Carp, aka bottom-feeding sucker fish is funnier)
#25 Cal @ #17 Stanford. Didn't Cal lose three straight (or something) then have its best player leave the field on a stretcher? I like Stanford in this one. Hmmmm I guess like the Big12 last season, the Pac10 is getting an extra heapin' helpin' of ESPN love due to SEC backlash. If we were to rank the teams though in the two conferences (I love doing this) I would do it this way....
1 USC v Florida (I know USC isn't the top team in the conference, but they really are.) Gators win
2 Stanford (Yep, that's your No.2 Pac10ers) v Bama. Bama wins
3 Oregon v LSU. Yesh, without a healthy QB for LSU and no healthy Charles Scott, I might have to go with Oregon
4 Oregon State v Ole Miss. I'm taking Ole Miss
5 Cal v Georgia. (That's right. I put UGA No.5! Eat it) I'm taking Georgia. Cal is a bunch of tree-huggers.
6 Arizona v Auburn. Depends on when the game is played. Is Mike Stoops on the hot seat? He only wins when he is. (See earlier this season when he was-he reach No.17. Now that he saved his job-he lost last week). Let's go with Zona.
7. UCLA V Tennessee. They've played already and UCLA won. Would that result change? Hmmmm yes. I belive it would. BUT I'll say UCLA so people don't say I'm a homer
8.Arizona State v South Carolina. Both played Georgia close. I'll go with ClickClack over Dennis Erickson.
9. Washington v Arkansas. One beat USC, the other would beat Washington. Arkansas
10. Washington State v Kentucky. Two words. Randall Cobb. UK.
Let's tally that up. SEC: 7 Pac10: 3 Yeah, the Pac-10 RULES! Not.
K-State @ Nebraska. On ESPN no less. Much like Iowa State v Mizzou, this one will decide who gets killt by Texas in the Big12 CG. Since Nebraska is at home, let's go with them.
KU @ #3 Texas. BREAKING NEWS! YET ANOTHER person has come out and claimed that Mangino crossed the line. The player, who refused to give SBF his name, said that Mangino threatened to sit on him if he didn't respect his authority. (Wait, is Mangino who they based Cartman from South Park on?) Listen, (even though I'm not talking) even without all of these threats and accusations that ex-players have made against Mr. Arbys, this guy should be shown the extra-wide door: HE BENCHED HIS BEST PLAYER WITH THE GAME STILL ON THE LINE. HE IS AN IDIOT! Texas will put him out of his misery with a thrashing. Colt McCoy, Wifey's boy, will have a field day.
Special picks, one week before Black Friday.
Lock of the Week.
NCState @ #15 VaTech. I really thought Tom O'Brien would have this thing farther along than this. Alas....Take Beamer.
Upset of the Week.
No.11 Oregon @ Arizona. I am WEARING my Arizona shirt for the second straight week, last week they lost. Will they again? I SAY NO! I think the Karma Police comes back to haunt Chip Kelly and they lose BECAUSE they play LeGarrett Blount after they said he was donezo for the year. Arizona with KARMA wins this one.
Local rooting interest
GT is off. GREAT, so they can scout Georgia and Clemson. Let me give you a hint: MOVE ON FROM GEORGIA, we stink. Start focusing on CU. In fact, don't even bother next week either. I'm sure you'll win in a cakewalk.
UK @ Georgia. The Dawgs looked pretty good last week after this first Quarter. And as for Joe Cox, he said he was laughing after the game at the fact that people were booing in the first quarter. Is his eligibility done yet? I am sick of this guy and his apparent disdain for the Georgia fans. Oh, I've never played so therefore I shouldn't talk about it? If we left the talking to the people that played ONLY, then only David Pollack would be allowed to talk. AND THAT WOULDN'T BE A GOOD THING. Cox, face it bro, you've had a BAD season. This was your only shot and you missed. Bobo has been nice to not say that his playbook has been limited with you running the offense.
And What is with all of the INTs?
And now you don't like it when people voice displeasure with you? SORRY BRO, but you went three and out against a sorry Auburn Defense when your team was trailing and needed a score to respond. I know you ended up winning, but that was thanks to the running game. You need to STOP responding to the fans through the media and just focus on playing football. You've got three games left. Shut up and just score touchdowns. That will make the fans stop booing. And don't expect a HUGE ovation on senior day. You might have burned your bridges to get that Standing O you probably think you deserve. And if/when you DON'T get it, don't yell at the fans through the media.
That said, I like Justin Houston and Cornelius "C-Note" Washington (I'm trying to see if that nickname will catch on. C-Note, catch the fever!) chasing a true freshman QB all day. I like Rennie Curran in perhaps his final Sanford Stadium appearance and I like the idea that this might be Reshad Jones' final appearance Between the Hedges. (How sad is it that people are ROOTING for you to turn pro. What does that say about you? Maybe you stink? And Rennie...I love you brother, but I think you are too small to play right now in the NFL. You get taken out by the likes of LSU and that isn't good. EVERYONE in the NFL is LSU good.)
No AJ Green, but perhaps we won't need him against UK. T-King, time to step up. And the running game has gotten better now that Dick Samuel isn't running the ball anymore. Caleb and Washaun are quite the duo. Weird, but true.
I like the Dawgs in this one.
Have a great weekend of football. I'll be calling the Colquitt Co (with Rush Propst) v Stephenson game tonight. The game features about 6 or 7 Jaguar players headed to BCS conferences next season. My favorite might just be Raymond Sanders aka The Colonel, headed to UK. That nickname is SURE to stick, especially if he becomes a good player. The Colonel at Kentucky. Sanders. COME ON PEOPLE! gpb.org/football if you want to check it out.
He was still a damn good dawg who left us too soon, but maybe the next Uga could be a little more active. Just saying...........
with that, let's head to the picks.
#10 Ohio State @ Michigan. The Big House will see Ohio State come in having won 9000 straight over Michigan (give or take) and RichRod might actually need to win this game to save his job. SERIOUSLY Michigan men? You guys might fire him after two seasons? REALLY? You guys think that is smart? The Big 11 is THERE for the taking and he is two years into a rebuilding job and you guys want to cut ties with him? He is going to own the conference once his freshmen become sophomores then juniors. Iowa? Ohio State? Penn State? These are the big time programs in the Big11 right now and they are at their best....and Michigan is right on their heels as bad as they are right now. Did the Michigan men see what RichRod did at West VA? Obviously they did; that's why they hired him. Now they have buyer's remorse? I don't get them. I think RichRod upsets the Sweatervest and suddenly Michigan Men all over the world love RichRod again. UPSET OF THE WEEK SPECIAL BONUS PICK!
Minnesota @ #13 Iowa. So Iowa, without its top two RBs and without its QB, is STILL No.13? WOW. That is something. Reminds me of when Statesboro lost its QB last year yet was still ranked in the AJC's top ten for the last three weeks of the season. Hmmmmmm. Iowa can still win at home though. Right? I mean Minnesota isn't that good, right? I'm only doing ONE extra upset pick.
Duke @ No.20 Miami. snickersnicker. I guess The U isn't yet back. Moving on. Relax Tech fans, even if you had lost to Duke last week, you'd have been bailed out this week....assuming Miami can beat Duke. If Miami lays another egg this week, then Tuberville can tell his real estate agent to stop looking in Charlottesville and start in Coral Gables....but don't worry Daddio. Randy Shannon isn't getting fired this off-season. Tubs is coming to UVa (hopefully for your sake). The Canes win and PLEASE don't say The U is BACK after you beat DUKE......
Maryland @ FSU. Poor Maryland. The Terps used to be able to say Crabcakes and Football, that's what Maryland does. Well, because of Ralph the Fridge, they cannot say either. He's killed the football aspect by coaching Maryland into the ground and I think he's eaten all of the crabcakes in the Maryland, Delaware and Virginia area. Crud! At least it is basketball season....which is what FSU fans are saying too these days. Did you see that Mrs. Bowden said that they'd have to fire Bobby because he'll never quit. WOW. He really needs to tell his Squaw to let her Brave run the teepee. Does he go to Tallahassee League of Women Voters meetings and say that she'll never retire as the treasurer, they'll have to fire her? Come on now.....Take FSU
Louisville @ SoFla. So I wonder where all of the Cardinal backers are NOW that said Gruden was a LOCK to take the Lou'ville job? If I was Gruden and I could do ESPN or coach the Louisville Cardinals.....I'd sign an extension with ESPN as well. FULMER TO LOUISVILLE (and they should be HAPPY to get him!) SoFla is SO FLY!
UNC @ BC. I am SOOOO Sorry I picked against you Butch. I was wrong. But you know why I did? I was sitting on the toilet, looking through the TSN spread that chronicled your week leading up to the UVa game and I thought, "WOW, he doesn't look happy with his team." Then I pooped and flushed. Don't worry though. I sprayed fabreez before during and afterwards. UNC wins a road game. PS, this is an ESPN2 game so Pam Ward is Chestnut Hill and now that she's transitioned to the ACC from the Big11, I think the road team usually ruins the plans for the hometown dance party. The REVERSE CURSE!
Chattanooga @ No.2 Bama. I remember SportsNight used to say about Chattanooga, "Two T's and Two O's." Jeremy could have also added "three A's," but that's OK. He went on to become Will Bailey and would write for one of the greatest (fictional) presidents ever, Jed Bartlett. And that is a Republican saying that.....Tide ROLLS!
Miss State @ Arkie. So Uga died. There will not be a replacement Uga at Sanford Stadium this weekend (hey, I was at the last UgaVII game ever. sad...) and UGaVIII won't be picked until next season. I say this because there WILL be a live Bulldog mascot in action in the SEC this weekend as Miss State heads to Fayetteville to face Petrino. But does anyone KNOW Miss State's bulldog's name? NO. Petrino piles on the points.
Florida International @ #1 Florida. Hey Gators, way to play a TOUGH non-conference schedule. Of, FIU, WOW. Was FAU busy this weekend? Gimmie a break. Florida scores 80.
Oklahoma @ Texas Tech. Remember last year when this game was No.1 v No.2? Gameday was there (shocker, ABC and ESPN at a Big12 game?!) and OU just routed Texas Tech. Boy have both teams fallen. OU has made me ashamed to wear my most comfortable hat while Texas Tech still has a fun coach, but not much else. SO tough to go on the road in the Big12....unless it is to Lubbuck in which case you should remember to bring toilet paper and fresh water. Kind of like going to France. But not at all. Boomer Sooner.
Memphis @ #24 Houston. Hmmmm Memphis just fired its coach and now they go on the road. Typically you'd like to think the team will want to rally up and win one for the coach, but then you remember, gosh, wouldn't they have won one BEFORE he was fired it they REALLY cared about him? Houston cruises with Case Kennum trying to win the Heisman.
#4 TCU @ Wyoming. (And on a side note, #6 Boise State travels to Utah State tonight) Wow, What tough conference road games for BOTH of these top 6 schools. Yeah, think about what I just said. This is considered a TOUGH CONFERENCE ROAD game for these two schools. Yep, Wyoming, an early season cupcake for Texas and Utah State, a cupcake win for Oregon last year and Georgia before that a few years back. These are the schools that the big boys play over Labor Day. They get up by 4 TDs by the middle of the second quarter and people head back to their tailgate to finish drinking. But for TCU and Boise State, these games MATTER....BIG TIME. THAT'S WHY TCU and BSU are jokes. I can knock Florida all I want about playing FIU, that for TCU that is probably a conference opponent. Take TCU and ESPN, don't you EVER go to TCU for Gameday.....EVER AGAIN! So stupid. But it WAS a nice change from Columbus and Austin.
Iowa State @ Mizzou. You're probably thinking, "SBF, why are you picking this game? these two teams really bite! (NOT A NEW MOON REFERENCE, I PROMISE!)" Well, the reason I'm picking this game is because it has MAJOR Big12 North implications. Wow. The B12N stinks. Iowa State because a Tiger would lose to a Cyclone in a fight.
UConn @ Notre Dame. I wonder if Fupa will act smug about keeping his job if he beats UConn. He SHOULDN'T, but he probably will. Notre Dame will get just about EVERY CALL by the hometown officials and we'll have to deal with Charlie-just-might-save-his-job stories. I wonder if Notre Dame doesn't get Brian Kelly, who they'll go to next. It could be like January 2005 all over again.
#8 LSU @ Ole Miss. I bet the folks at the Grove thought this game would be WAY bigger than this at the beginning of the season. I know Roomie thought it would be. She took Ole Miss as her Boys. Bad move Cubes. I guess it would be better than taking Uga though. He died. I think Ole Miss wins because Jefferson is a little dinged up, but I'm rooting for LSU so that Georgia can maybe go to the Outback Bowl instead of the music shi**y bowl.
#14 Penn State @ Michigan State. THere is a chance that Penn Kate is coming over tomorrow for this game and the Georgia game. I CANNOT pick against Penn State, otherwise she will mock me if they win and I picked against them. Therefore....PENN STATE WINS!
#16 Wisconsin @ Northwestern and Purdue @ Indiana. BOTH are on at the same time on the Big Ten Network (but there are 11 teams...) How will they decide which game to show? BOTH games are so watchable...and by watchable I mean if I was in one of those rooms in the Saw movies. I wonder what Jigsaw would make me do to get out of that situation.....probably pick Wisconsin and Purdue.
UVa @ #23 Clemson. As much as I want UVa to win, it would just be a battle and I want UVa to win the war. If UVa loses, then Groh FINALLY goes and Tubs or maybe Al Golden can come in and turn the Hoos around. So I will take Klimpsen to win at home and advance to the ACCCG.
#19 Oregon State @ Wazzou. WAIT, WHAT? Oregon State is No.19? IN THE COUNTRY? When did this happen? Was I asleep? Wiskey Tango Foxtrot!? I guess the No.19 team in the country will move up with a win over the Carps of Wazzou. (I know they are the cougars, but I think calling them Carp, aka bottom-feeding sucker fish is funnier)
#25 Cal @ #17 Stanford. Didn't Cal lose three straight (or something) then have its best player leave the field on a stretcher? I like Stanford in this one. Hmmmm I guess like the Big12 last season, the Pac10 is getting an extra heapin' helpin' of ESPN love due to SEC backlash. If we were to rank the teams though in the two conferences (I love doing this) I would do it this way....
1 USC v Florida (I know USC isn't the top team in the conference, but they really are.) Gators win
2 Stanford (Yep, that's your No.2 Pac10ers) v Bama. Bama wins
3 Oregon v LSU. Yesh, without a healthy QB for LSU and no healthy Charles Scott, I might have to go with Oregon
4 Oregon State v Ole Miss. I'm taking Ole Miss
5 Cal v Georgia. (That's right. I put UGA No.5! Eat it) I'm taking Georgia. Cal is a bunch of tree-huggers.
6 Arizona v Auburn. Depends on when the game is played. Is Mike Stoops on the hot seat? He only wins when he is. (See earlier this season when he was-he reach No.17. Now that he saved his job-he lost last week). Let's go with Zona.
7. UCLA V Tennessee. They've played already and UCLA won. Would that result change? Hmmmm yes. I belive it would. BUT I'll say UCLA so people don't say I'm a homer
8.Arizona State v South Carolina. Both played Georgia close. I'll go with ClickClack over Dennis Erickson.
9. Washington v Arkansas. One beat USC, the other would beat Washington. Arkansas
10. Washington State v Kentucky. Two words. Randall Cobb. UK.
Let's tally that up. SEC: 7 Pac10: 3 Yeah, the Pac-10 RULES! Not.
K-State @ Nebraska. On ESPN no less. Much like Iowa State v Mizzou, this one will decide who gets killt by Texas in the Big12 CG. Since Nebraska is at home, let's go with them.
KU @ #3 Texas. BREAKING NEWS! YET ANOTHER person has come out and claimed that Mangino crossed the line. The player, who refused to give SBF his name, said that Mangino threatened to sit on him if he didn't respect his authority. (Wait, is Mangino who they based Cartman from South Park on?) Listen, (even though I'm not talking) even without all of these threats and accusations that ex-players have made against Mr. Arbys, this guy should be shown the extra-wide door: HE BENCHED HIS BEST PLAYER WITH THE GAME STILL ON THE LINE. HE IS AN IDIOT! Texas will put him out of his misery with a thrashing. Colt McCoy, Wifey's boy, will have a field day.
Special picks, one week before Black Friday.
Lock of the Week.
NCState @ #15 VaTech. I really thought Tom O'Brien would have this thing farther along than this. Alas....Take Beamer.
Upset of the Week.
No.11 Oregon @ Arizona. I am WEARING my Arizona shirt for the second straight week, last week they lost. Will they again? I SAY NO! I think the Karma Police comes back to haunt Chip Kelly and they lose BECAUSE they play LeGarrett Blount after they said he was donezo for the year. Arizona with KARMA wins this one.
Local rooting interest
GT is off. GREAT, so they can scout Georgia and Clemson. Let me give you a hint: MOVE ON FROM GEORGIA, we stink. Start focusing on CU. In fact, don't even bother next week either. I'm sure you'll win in a cakewalk.
UK @ Georgia. The Dawgs looked pretty good last week after this first Quarter. And as for Joe Cox, he said he was laughing after the game at the fact that people were booing in the first quarter. Is his eligibility done yet? I am sick of this guy and his apparent disdain for the Georgia fans. Oh, I've never played so therefore I shouldn't talk about it? If we left the talking to the people that played ONLY, then only David Pollack would be allowed to talk. AND THAT WOULDN'T BE A GOOD THING. Cox, face it bro, you've had a BAD season. This was your only shot and you missed. Bobo has been nice to not say that his playbook has been limited with you running the offense.
And What is with all of the INTs?
And now you don't like it when people voice displeasure with you? SORRY BRO, but you went three and out against a sorry Auburn Defense when your team was trailing and needed a score to respond. I know you ended up winning, but that was thanks to the running game. You need to STOP responding to the fans through the media and just focus on playing football. You've got three games left. Shut up and just score touchdowns. That will make the fans stop booing. And don't expect a HUGE ovation on senior day. You might have burned your bridges to get that Standing O you probably think you deserve. And if/when you DON'T get it, don't yell at the fans through the media.
That said, I like Justin Houston and Cornelius "C-Note" Washington (I'm trying to see if that nickname will catch on. C-Note, catch the fever!) chasing a true freshman QB all day. I like Rennie Curran in perhaps his final Sanford Stadium appearance and I like the idea that this might be Reshad Jones' final appearance Between the Hedges. (How sad is it that people are ROOTING for you to turn pro. What does that say about you? Maybe you stink? And Rennie...I love you brother, but I think you are too small to play right now in the NFL. You get taken out by the likes of LSU and that isn't good. EVERYONE in the NFL is LSU good.)
No AJ Green, but perhaps we won't need him against UK. T-King, time to step up. And the running game has gotten better now that Dick Samuel isn't running the ball anymore. Caleb and Washaun are quite the duo. Weird, but true.
I like the Dawgs in this one.
Have a great weekend of football. I'll be calling the Colquitt Co (with Rush Propst) v Stephenson game tonight. The game features about 6 or 7 Jaguar players headed to BCS conferences next season. My favorite might just be Raymond Sanders aka The Colonel, headed to UK. That nickname is SURE to stick, especially if he becomes a good player. The Colonel at Kentucky. Sanders. COME ON PEOPLE! gpb.org/football if you want to check it out.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Around the Dial sneak peek for 11/19/09
Just because we love you here at SportsbyFletch and we give you Around The Dial-unedited, that doesn't mean you shouldn't still stop by any metro-area Kroger or QuikTrip (especially in the Gwinnett Area!) and pick up a copy of Score Atlanta. Come on folks. Help me out. I'm helping you guys! Or visit www.scoreatl.com
With the success Georgia Tech has achieved this season, the powers that be at ABC have decided that the Yellow Jackets should be on display for the nation just two days after Thanksgiving. ABC announced earlier this week that Georgia Tech’s final regular season game against in-state rival Georgia will be aired in prime time the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The Yellow Jackets, following the team’s 49-10 victory over Duke, clinched the ACC Coastal division and will play the ACC Atlantic winner in Tampa one week later also on ABC. With the appearance on ABC, Tech can now claim that it has played on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC-regional, ABC-national, ESPNU and locally on CSS and CW. For the Georgia Bulldogs, the ABC-national broadcast will have given the Dawgs appearances on ABC-Regional (Oklahoma State), ABC-National (Georgia Tech), ESPN (Arkansas), ESPN2 (South Carolina, Auburn, Kentucky), ESPNU (Arizona State), Peachtree-TV (Vanderbilt and Tennessee) and CBS (LSU, Florida). Georgia’s game against Tennessee Tech was a pay-per-view contest only.
ESPN announced earlier this week that Jon Gruden and the network have agreed to a multi-year extension that will keep the former Super Bowl championship coach in the Monday Night Football booth for the next few years. Gruden’s deal will also expand the coach’s role on the Sports Leader’s football coverage. Gruden will call the 2010 Pro Bowl and will appear on ESPN’s Super Bowl Coverage as well as the NFL Draft coverage. The contract also allows Gruden to grow his brand to include college games as he will pair with current MNF play-by-play co-host Mike Tirico to call the 2010 Rose Bowl as well as the BCS Championship game, both for ESPN Radio. This is Gruden’s first season in the booth along side Tirico and former QB Ron Jaworski. This move is really a coup for ESPN as Gruden, with a Super Bowl championship on his resume, was likely a leading candidate for several head coaching jobs not just on the NFL level (Washington is one team that seemingly had his number on speed dial if you believe Washington DC sports radio rumors) but also at the college level. Gruden’s name was floated last season as a possibility for the Tennessee job and his name always seems to pop up when Notre Dame has an opening. Pat Forde also noted in his weekly column Forde Yard Dash that Louisville boosters had planned to make a big run at Gruden. Several players even were led to believe that Gruden was “a lock” to take over the program after this season. Gruden’s decision to stay with ESPN means that Monday Night Football will keep its biggest asset, an insider that has a sense of appropriate humor mixed with NFL street cred. He isn’t shy in sharing his opinion and personally I take what he says seriously, since he was a very successful coach, just two years removed from the playoffs.
Bud Adams should really know better. The NFL has sold its rights not just to NBC, CBS, FOX, the NFL Network and ESPN, but also to DirecTV so all of the games are now televised. Factor in that each network tries to outwork each other in terms of coverage and you get more and more and more cameras at every game. Considering Adams is the owner of a team and his mediocre team is playing another mediocre team, you know the networks are going to position a camera at the owners box, especially considering how vocal he was about wanting Vince Young inserted into the starting lineup a few weeks back. So should Adams be surprised that the camera caught him repeatedly giving the Buffalo Bills sideline and fans the middle finger? Adams should have known that he would get caught flipping the bird to an entire team. The clips are all over YouTube if you really want to see an 86-year-old man getting cranky and giving the peace sign one half at a time. Come on Bud, you’ve got to tone it down. I hope the loss of $250,000 will calm you down. PS, just remember Bud, you are richer than all of those Buffalo fans you were “saluting.”
Finally, ESPN is starting to give the Atlanta Hawks a little bit of love. Marc Stein of ESPN.com ranked the Hawks No.1 in his latest weekly power rankings. The Hawks moved up from No.6 to No.1 on the strength of a big road win over Boston, the previous No.1 team. As of last Tuesday, the Hawks were an NBA-best 9-2 and had won five straight. Stein said of the Hawks, “How much more must the Hawks do before we all start saying that the East elite runs four teams deep?” High praise for a team that Sports Illustrated had pegged as the No.5 seed out of the East, getting passed by Washington, a team that missed the playoffs last year.
With the success Georgia Tech has achieved this season, the powers that be at ABC have decided that the Yellow Jackets should be on display for the nation just two days after Thanksgiving. ABC announced earlier this week that Georgia Tech’s final regular season game against in-state rival Georgia will be aired in prime time the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The Yellow Jackets, following the team’s 49-10 victory over Duke, clinched the ACC Coastal division and will play the ACC Atlantic winner in Tampa one week later also on ABC. With the appearance on ABC, Tech can now claim that it has played on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC-regional, ABC-national, ESPNU and locally on CSS and CW. For the Georgia Bulldogs, the ABC-national broadcast will have given the Dawgs appearances on ABC-Regional (Oklahoma State), ABC-National (Georgia Tech), ESPN (Arkansas), ESPN2 (South Carolina, Auburn, Kentucky), ESPNU (Arizona State), Peachtree-TV (Vanderbilt and Tennessee) and CBS (LSU, Florida). Georgia’s game against Tennessee Tech was a pay-per-view contest only.
ESPN announced earlier this week that Jon Gruden and the network have agreed to a multi-year extension that will keep the former Super Bowl championship coach in the Monday Night Football booth for the next few years. Gruden’s deal will also expand the coach’s role on the Sports Leader’s football coverage. Gruden will call the 2010 Pro Bowl and will appear on ESPN’s Super Bowl Coverage as well as the NFL Draft coverage. The contract also allows Gruden to grow his brand to include college games as he will pair with current MNF play-by-play co-host Mike Tirico to call the 2010 Rose Bowl as well as the BCS Championship game, both for ESPN Radio. This is Gruden’s first season in the booth along side Tirico and former QB Ron Jaworski. This move is really a coup for ESPN as Gruden, with a Super Bowl championship on his resume, was likely a leading candidate for several head coaching jobs not just on the NFL level (Washington is one team that seemingly had his number on speed dial if you believe Washington DC sports radio rumors) but also at the college level. Gruden’s name was floated last season as a possibility for the Tennessee job and his name always seems to pop up when Notre Dame has an opening. Pat Forde also noted in his weekly column Forde Yard Dash that Louisville boosters had planned to make a big run at Gruden. Several players even were led to believe that Gruden was “a lock” to take over the program after this season. Gruden’s decision to stay with ESPN means that Monday Night Football will keep its biggest asset, an insider that has a sense of appropriate humor mixed with NFL street cred. He isn’t shy in sharing his opinion and personally I take what he says seriously, since he was a very successful coach, just two years removed from the playoffs.
Bud Adams should really know better. The NFL has sold its rights not just to NBC, CBS, FOX, the NFL Network and ESPN, but also to DirecTV so all of the games are now televised. Factor in that each network tries to outwork each other in terms of coverage and you get more and more and more cameras at every game. Considering Adams is the owner of a team and his mediocre team is playing another mediocre team, you know the networks are going to position a camera at the owners box, especially considering how vocal he was about wanting Vince Young inserted into the starting lineup a few weeks back. So should Adams be surprised that the camera caught him repeatedly giving the Buffalo Bills sideline and fans the middle finger? Adams should have known that he would get caught flipping the bird to an entire team. The clips are all over YouTube if you really want to see an 86-year-old man getting cranky and giving the peace sign one half at a time. Come on Bud, you’ve got to tone it down. I hope the loss of $250,000 will calm you down. PS, just remember Bud, you are richer than all of those Buffalo fans you were “saluting.”
Finally, ESPN is starting to give the Atlanta Hawks a little bit of love. Marc Stein of ESPN.com ranked the Hawks No.1 in his latest weekly power rankings. The Hawks moved up from No.6 to No.1 on the strength of a big road win over Boston, the previous No.1 team. As of last Tuesday, the Hawks were an NBA-best 9-2 and had won five straight. Stein said of the Hawks, “How much more must the Hawks do before we all start saying that the East elite runs four teams deep?” High praise for a team that Sports Illustrated had pegged as the No.5 seed out of the East, getting passed by Washington, a team that missed the playoffs last year.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Midweek Entertainment report RETURNS!
Neve gets work! TV Legend clicks off, Upset in Sexiest Man of the Year race, Wifey is a tween? and a Local radio station thinks it is funny....but it isn't.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It's the Midweek entertainment report!
(Thunderous applause) CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP!
Apparently since no one watched Scream3 the producers decided to make Scream4...basically because Neve Campbell sold her soul to the devil just to get work again. Out of charity, Courtney Cox and David Arquette have signed on to join Neve as she reprises her role of Sydney Prescott in Scream 4. I know that Monica er I mean Courtney has done Dirt and now CougarTown and David still lives off the Ready to Rumble royalties, but what has Neve been doing? No one watches Party of Five on netflix, so she isn't getting money from that...odds are she did sell her soul for a gig, and that is what Lucifer came up with.
SBF would like to take a moment to remember MTV's Remote Control as the host of that program Ken Ober passed away earlier this week. That show was really fun back in the day and this guy, though out of the spotlight for a while will be missed.
In an upset, Johnny Depp managed to STEAL his second Sexiest Man Alive title from THIS GUY! I guess JDepp is sexy, but have you ever seen this guy in a manthong, homemade variety? That's what I thought.
New Moon aka Twilight2 premieres this Friday and Wifey is going to see it on Saturday. Yep, she is going to miss the Georgia game to see Twilight2. She isn't dressing up (that I know of) like she did for Sex and the City and Traveling Pants, so I cannot make fun of her for being a Trekkie, but the fact that she is going to see a movie made for Tweens, can't I make fun of that?
Finally, the Bert Show in Atlanta is starting a movement to ban the phrase Hotlanta when referring to Atlanta. Do they think they are funny? Do they think they have that sort of power? Let me tell you....no. In their attempts to get Hotlanta banned, they told Janet Jackson to tell J. Dupri and now will tell Jordan Knight of NKOTB and then John Mayer to spread the work. Ummm do you REALLY think Janet Jackson cares? She has a dead brother's legacy she has to protect from the rest of her family. Do you think John Mayer cares? He is getting booty calls from Rachel Green (wow, two Friends references in one blog....scary). Do you think Jordan Knight cares? Wait, he probably does. He needs ANY sort of press right now.
Maybe he should start dating Neve Campbell.
Have a ZONEtastic rest of the week. The Runs and Glee are both on tonight. Ahhhh it feels good to be back!
Ladies and gentlemen,
It's the Midweek entertainment report!
(Thunderous applause) CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP!
Apparently since no one watched Scream3 the producers decided to make Scream4...basically because Neve Campbell sold her soul to the devil just to get work again. Out of charity, Courtney Cox and David Arquette have signed on to join Neve as she reprises her role of Sydney Prescott in Scream 4. I know that Monica er I mean Courtney has done Dirt and now CougarTown and David still lives off the Ready to Rumble royalties, but what has Neve been doing? No one watches Party of Five on netflix, so she isn't getting money from that...odds are she did sell her soul for a gig, and that is what Lucifer came up with.
SBF would like to take a moment to remember MTV's Remote Control as the host of that program Ken Ober passed away earlier this week. That show was really fun back in the day and this guy, though out of the spotlight for a while will be missed.
In an upset, Johnny Depp managed to STEAL his second Sexiest Man Alive title from THIS GUY! I guess JDepp is sexy, but have you ever seen this guy in a manthong, homemade variety? That's what I thought.
New Moon aka Twilight2 premieres this Friday and Wifey is going to see it on Saturday. Yep, she is going to miss the Georgia game to see Twilight2. She isn't dressing up (that I know of) like she did for Sex and the City and Traveling Pants, so I cannot make fun of her for being a Trekkie, but the fact that she is going to see a movie made for Tweens, can't I make fun of that?
Finally, the Bert Show in Atlanta is starting a movement to ban the phrase Hotlanta when referring to Atlanta. Do they think they are funny? Do they think they have that sort of power? Let me tell you....no. In their attempts to get Hotlanta banned, they told Janet Jackson to tell J. Dupri and now will tell Jordan Knight of NKOTB and then John Mayer to spread the work. Ummm do you REALLY think Janet Jackson cares? She has a dead brother's legacy she has to protect from the rest of her family. Do you think John Mayer cares? He is getting booty calls from Rachel Green (wow, two Friends references in one blog....scary). Do you think Jordan Knight cares? Wait, he probably does. He needs ANY sort of press right now.
Maybe he should start dating Neve Campbell.
Have a ZONEtastic rest of the week. The Runs and Glee are both on tonight. Ahhhh it feels good to be back!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
GHSA playoff 1st RD review and 2nd RD preview
The first round of the Georgia High School football state playoffs saw two big upsets (one that we called here at SBF) and the end of a high school career that makes us a little sad.
I was at the Marist/Sprayberry game and Marist certainly looks like it could make another run all the way to the Georgia Dome once again. Matt Connors, the senior FB is 6'0, 210 lb and he is a load to bring down. Sprayberry has a pretty strong defense and yet it was taking 3 Yellow Jackets at a time to bring down the big man. Factor in Andy Perez at QB (who looks like he was born to run Alan Chadwick's defense) and Sam McNearney at RB and you have a precision offense that will dull you right into submission (and I mean that in a good way). Marist next faces Apalachee and while I love Jon Lee at tailback, I think that Marist can go on the road and run that offense to knock off the unbeaten Wildcats. Sorry WIMO, but it looks like the season ends here. Maybe Christian Hoard and co prove me wrong. But Marist looked too good running that offense.
Griffin will certainly take out either of those two teams though.
Sandy Creek should have the athletes on offense to take out Tucker, considering I personally watched the Tigers get taken out by SWD, a team that Sandy Creek reminds me of in many ways (athletic tailback, tough defense with an additional threat of a talented crew of wideouts). Sandy Creek should easily get through to the Final Four.
On the other side of the bracket, SWD annihilated NW Whitfield and will likely beat up Clarke Central, considering this is a down year for C-CHS. North Clayton will once again have Clarence Jackson to run around and over Brunswick (a mild upset), setting up a huge RB v RB matchup with Ken Malcome.
Let's look at Class AAAAA...
Brookwood got three TDs from Julian Suber and 133 yards from QB Ben McLane to end the high school career of Rajaan Bennett. Rajaan led the Indians to a 10-0 season, starring in the Pistol before they lost the Corky Kell rematch to the Broncos. Wow. My Score Atlanta Co-Host IJ Rosenberg said he wasn't that surprised, considering that Brookwood had playoff experience and McEachern didn't. I was still a bit surprised. But I guess that's just me. Never fear though, Brookwood loses this weekend at the Lions Den, right down the road from my house at Peachtree Ridge. The Lions survived 6 fumbles (that's right. 6!) to beat Kell 14-7. WOW. Look for Brad Roby and Lombardo to recover and take out the Broncos with a few less turnovers.
Newnan/ML King should be interesting with the great defense of Newnan going against the Mouth of the South Mack Brown. No word on if he has guaranteed a victory or 9000 yards in this game, but if he does, look for Alec Ogletree to smack the mouth off the future Gator. Ogletree is a future Dawg...
Also in that bracket, Grayson faces Roswell and kudos to Roswell for winning last week without its QB Brian Hickman, who quit the team, along with his father who was an assistant coach. Hmmmm Leo Barker's two years at Roswell have amounted to a losing season and the QB quitting the team the week of the first playoff game. WOW. Grayson is probably LOVING the idea of a backup QB in there. PS, Grayson/Newnan next week...SWEET!
Camden County v Lowndes in the second round is so crazy. Those are the past two champions, doing battle in the second round. Look for Lowndes to crush the defending champs because, quite frankly, they can. They have about 6 running backs that can take it to the house at any time (Khary Franklin, I'm looking right at you!) and Camden IMHO just lost too much from last season. The winner of this one gets North Gwinnett likely (sorry Woodstock) and it will be a pleasure to see the air attack going up against the ground game. Who wins, the Air Force or the Marines? Hmmm. I really don't know. Tom Cruise was cool in Top Gun, but you get the feeling that Jack Nicholson from A Few Good Men would have torn him UP in a celebrity deathmatch.
In the final part of that bracket, Lasssiter may have found a team with just as much offensive fire power and I think people are sleeping on South Gwinnett. Hutson Mason probably pulls it out at the end (he has his own TV show these days) and he probably needs another game to set the season TD record, but expect Kent Rollins, Aaron Wimberly, Jonathan Krause and CO to push the Trojans to the max. Finally, Stephenson with perhaps the best D in the state goes against Rush Propst and Colquitt Co. Great game. I might be calling it, so I will withhold a prediction. Expect big hitting and I'd love to be able to write about The Colonel next week....
In Class AAA, who called Flowery Branch over Ridgeland? Oh, that's right....I DID. Connor Shaw and his fellow Falcons should pass right over Grady. Sorry Gracie. I'd love to see Carver-Columbus with Isaiah Crowell go up against FloBranch. WOW. What a game that would be.
Gainesville shut out Lakeview FTO and that is why I think this is the Red Elephants year. So many years, the Red Elephants have had the offense. They still have it with Sims to Jones, but they also have the defense, led by Carr and Sims in the defensive secondary. I fully expect them to roll in the mid-50s over Dunwoody then put it to Baldwin (as I think Jesse Hicks's boys take out the defending champion Cairo). Baldwin doesn't have the defense it has in past seasons to slow Blake Sims and the under appreciated RE defense will shut down a Brave offense that I saw stopped by Carver earlier this year.
If Peach Co can get by WaCo (which I think they can) congrats you get either St. Pius with Cole Moon or the underrated North Hall (enh, did I call North Hall or what?) I still think Peach Co comes out of this bracket.
In Class AA, Fitzgerald looked impressive in a 42-21 win over Greene (and by looked impressive, I read a newspaper article about them... They looked impressive to that reporter) and Buford gets ready for T McFerrin of the 300+ wins and region titles with 7 different Georgia schools. Impressive resume. I'd take Buford though.
On the other side of the bracket, Calhoun is just biding its time until it potentially gets another shot at Buford (in the state title game) while Lovett and Charlton seem bound on a collision course that typically Buford has to go through.
In Class A, Wesleyan won and will win four more. Bank on it.
Not sure where we are this week for gpb.org/football but tune in this Friday at 7 when the expanded pregame show begins. Enjoy it everybody!
I was at the Marist/Sprayberry game and Marist certainly looks like it could make another run all the way to the Georgia Dome once again. Matt Connors, the senior FB is 6'0, 210 lb and he is a load to bring down. Sprayberry has a pretty strong defense and yet it was taking 3 Yellow Jackets at a time to bring down the big man. Factor in Andy Perez at QB (who looks like he was born to run Alan Chadwick's defense) and Sam McNearney at RB and you have a precision offense that will dull you right into submission (and I mean that in a good way). Marist next faces Apalachee and while I love Jon Lee at tailback, I think that Marist can go on the road and run that offense to knock off the unbeaten Wildcats. Sorry WIMO, but it looks like the season ends here. Maybe Christian Hoard and co prove me wrong. But Marist looked too good running that offense.
Griffin will certainly take out either of those two teams though.
Sandy Creek should have the athletes on offense to take out Tucker, considering I personally watched the Tigers get taken out by SWD, a team that Sandy Creek reminds me of in many ways (athletic tailback, tough defense with an additional threat of a talented crew of wideouts). Sandy Creek should easily get through to the Final Four.
On the other side of the bracket, SWD annihilated NW Whitfield and will likely beat up Clarke Central, considering this is a down year for C-CHS. North Clayton will once again have Clarence Jackson to run around and over Brunswick (a mild upset), setting up a huge RB v RB matchup with Ken Malcome.
Let's look at Class AAAAA...
Brookwood got three TDs from Julian Suber and 133 yards from QB Ben McLane to end the high school career of Rajaan Bennett. Rajaan led the Indians to a 10-0 season, starring in the Pistol before they lost the Corky Kell rematch to the Broncos. Wow. My Score Atlanta Co-Host IJ Rosenberg said he wasn't that surprised, considering that Brookwood had playoff experience and McEachern didn't. I was still a bit surprised. But I guess that's just me. Never fear though, Brookwood loses this weekend at the Lions Den, right down the road from my house at Peachtree Ridge. The Lions survived 6 fumbles (that's right. 6!) to beat Kell 14-7. WOW. Look for Brad Roby and Lombardo to recover and take out the Broncos with a few less turnovers.
Newnan/ML King should be interesting with the great defense of Newnan going against the Mouth of the South Mack Brown. No word on if he has guaranteed a victory or 9000 yards in this game, but if he does, look for Alec Ogletree to smack the mouth off the future Gator. Ogletree is a future Dawg...
Also in that bracket, Grayson faces Roswell and kudos to Roswell for winning last week without its QB Brian Hickman, who quit the team, along with his father who was an assistant coach. Hmmmm Leo Barker's two years at Roswell have amounted to a losing season and the QB quitting the team the week of the first playoff game. WOW. Grayson is probably LOVING the idea of a backup QB in there. PS, Grayson/Newnan next week...SWEET!
Camden County v Lowndes in the second round is so crazy. Those are the past two champions, doing battle in the second round. Look for Lowndes to crush the defending champs because, quite frankly, they can. They have about 6 running backs that can take it to the house at any time (Khary Franklin, I'm looking right at you!) and Camden IMHO just lost too much from last season. The winner of this one gets North Gwinnett likely (sorry Woodstock) and it will be a pleasure to see the air attack going up against the ground game. Who wins, the Air Force or the Marines? Hmmm. I really don't know. Tom Cruise was cool in Top Gun, but you get the feeling that Jack Nicholson from A Few Good Men would have torn him UP in a celebrity deathmatch.
In the final part of that bracket, Lasssiter may have found a team with just as much offensive fire power and I think people are sleeping on South Gwinnett. Hutson Mason probably pulls it out at the end (he has his own TV show these days) and he probably needs another game to set the season TD record, but expect Kent Rollins, Aaron Wimberly, Jonathan Krause and CO to push the Trojans to the max. Finally, Stephenson with perhaps the best D in the state goes against Rush Propst and Colquitt Co. Great game. I might be calling it, so I will withhold a prediction. Expect big hitting and I'd love to be able to write about The Colonel next week....
In Class AAA, who called Flowery Branch over Ridgeland? Oh, that's right....I DID. Connor Shaw and his fellow Falcons should pass right over Grady. Sorry Gracie. I'd love to see Carver-Columbus with Isaiah Crowell go up against FloBranch. WOW. What a game that would be.
Gainesville shut out Lakeview FTO and that is why I think this is the Red Elephants year. So many years, the Red Elephants have had the offense. They still have it with Sims to Jones, but they also have the defense, led by Carr and Sims in the defensive secondary. I fully expect them to roll in the mid-50s over Dunwoody then put it to Baldwin (as I think Jesse Hicks's boys take out the defending champion Cairo). Baldwin doesn't have the defense it has in past seasons to slow Blake Sims and the under appreciated RE defense will shut down a Brave offense that I saw stopped by Carver earlier this year.
If Peach Co can get by WaCo (which I think they can) congrats you get either St. Pius with Cole Moon or the underrated North Hall (enh, did I call North Hall or what?) I still think Peach Co comes out of this bracket.
In Class AA, Fitzgerald looked impressive in a 42-21 win over Greene (and by looked impressive, I read a newspaper article about them... They looked impressive to that reporter) and Buford gets ready for T McFerrin of the 300+ wins and region titles with 7 different Georgia schools. Impressive resume. I'd take Buford though.
On the other side of the bracket, Calhoun is just biding its time until it potentially gets another shot at Buford (in the state title game) while Lovett and Charlton seem bound on a collision course that typically Buford has to go through.
In Class A, Wesleyan won and will win four more. Bank on it.
Not sure where we are this week for gpb.org/football but tune in this Friday at 7 when the expanded pregame show begins. Enjoy it everybody!
Monday, November 16, 2009
WE DON'T SUCK AS MUCH AS THEY DO!
HEY HEY! WORST CASE NOW....THE MUSIC CITY BOWL!
Well thanks to Laney Kiffin's future business leaders of America and the fact that Auburn couldn't take advantage of Willie Martinez, it looks like Georgia might just go to the OUTBACK BOWL!
Aussie Chips are falling from the sky!
The Dawgs looked terrible for the first 12 minutes of this past Saturday's contest against fellow-suckbag Auburn, but then Georgia turned it on. Caleb King ran with a purpose and racked up 66 yards plus two 4th quarter scores and made me NOT want to call him a puss for the entire walk back to our tailgate. (Once I was back, then I called him one again, but HEY, he was given a break for a good 25 minutes.)
Throw in Washaun Ealey's 98 yards and the running game, when Bobo commits to it, looks rather OK. (That was meant as a compliment)
The passing game took a HUGE hit when AJ Green landed on his shoulder and will be out until a bowl game (OUTBACK????) which means that while we will beat Kentucky, we will now probably lose to Tech. I DID like that Troupe caught a 50-yard TD pass and hopefully TKing will get his head and hands on straight to step up in AJ's absense. If he gets his mind right, he can TOTALLY pick up the slack. If other teams choose to single cover him thinking Tavarres cannot beat them, they will be mistaken. King was quite good up at Habersham-Central. I got to follow him for a few games and that kid is a stud. He has the potential, he just needs to realize it. This is the perfect stage for him to do so.
And Cornelius Washington looks like he has come to play the second half of this season. Good for him. Team him with JHoustin and we might just have something cooking next year.
Two more things to say about the Georgia game. I hope Bacarri Rambo can return for the Tech game because that kid has been a stud all year when he's gotten the chance to play. I think he INTd one against Arizona State and at Wilcox Co, he ran offense too and was Synjyn Days and Barry BJ Bostic, before those guys were. This guy is a pleasure to have in our defensive secondary; I was holding my breath that he was not seriously injured not only for his sake, but ours too. If he has to miss the regular season, OK. Just get better and be ready to play come Labor Day weekend 2010.
Finally, did you see the man-huge that CMR and Willie shared after the game. They lingered a bit longer than was comfortable for me. If was like the hug Andy and Red shared at the end of Shawshank, only if Red held Andy for an extra beat. It was awesome seeing CMR go over to the band and the student section and salute the fans along with the players. They wanted this win, badly and they got it. AWESOME. Come on Georgia, as Herm Edwards would say, "We can BUILD on this!" 8-4 with a 9th win in the bowl game.....let's do it! Beat Iowa in the Outback. YE-HAW! Good-day Mate!
Paging USC's defense. Paging USC's defense. You are needed in the Coliseum. Stanford's white running back is torching the song girls that stole your jerseys.
Bama beat down Miss State while Florida struggled with SoCar. Tell me why Bama is behind Florida? Oh, the stupid slotting system....that's why.
Last thought on College Football.....Boise State has a big conference game this week with Utah State. Yes you just read that correctly. Boise State's BIG conference game this week is against the Aggies of Utah State. USU is a school that Georgia, Florida, Bama, LSU, etc bring in for the first game of the season as a tuneup. Boise State plays them as a conference game. This about Boise State's level of competition before you try and argue that they should be in the BCS Title game. Even coach Chris Petersen was joking that his team would probably move down after the win over Idaho. WELL YEAH, Idaho is a team that USC and Ohio State bring in over Labor Day and pay $650K so the Trojans and/or Buckeyes can go 1-0 in a laugher. NO KIDDING Boise State might move down. PLAY SOMEONE! You are in a conference of Labor Day weekend opponents!
What a bad loss for the Falcons. Body, DUDE, you guys should NOT have lost that one. The missed FG, the loss of Mike Turner, the two Matty Ice INTS......crap.
Well thanks to Laney Kiffin's future business leaders of America and the fact that Auburn couldn't take advantage of Willie Martinez, it looks like Georgia might just go to the OUTBACK BOWL!
Aussie Chips are falling from the sky!
The Dawgs looked terrible for the first 12 minutes of this past Saturday's contest against fellow-suckbag Auburn, but then Georgia turned it on. Caleb King ran with a purpose and racked up 66 yards plus two 4th quarter scores and made me NOT want to call him a puss for the entire walk back to our tailgate. (Once I was back, then I called him one again, but HEY, he was given a break for a good 25 minutes.)
Throw in Washaun Ealey's 98 yards and the running game, when Bobo commits to it, looks rather OK. (That was meant as a compliment)
The passing game took a HUGE hit when AJ Green landed on his shoulder and will be out until a bowl game (OUTBACK????) which means that while we will beat Kentucky, we will now probably lose to Tech. I DID like that Troupe caught a 50-yard TD pass and hopefully TKing will get his head and hands on straight to step up in AJ's absense. If he gets his mind right, he can TOTALLY pick up the slack. If other teams choose to single cover him thinking Tavarres cannot beat them, they will be mistaken. King was quite good up at Habersham-Central. I got to follow him for a few games and that kid is a stud. He has the potential, he just needs to realize it. This is the perfect stage for him to do so.
And Cornelius Washington looks like he has come to play the second half of this season. Good for him. Team him with JHoustin and we might just have something cooking next year.
Two more things to say about the Georgia game. I hope Bacarri Rambo can return for the Tech game because that kid has been a stud all year when he's gotten the chance to play. I think he INTd one against Arizona State and at Wilcox Co, he ran offense too and was Synjyn Days and Barry BJ Bostic, before those guys were. This guy is a pleasure to have in our defensive secondary; I was holding my breath that he was not seriously injured not only for his sake, but ours too. If he has to miss the regular season, OK. Just get better and be ready to play come Labor Day weekend 2010.
Finally, did you see the man-huge that CMR and Willie shared after the game. They lingered a bit longer than was comfortable for me. If was like the hug Andy and Red shared at the end of Shawshank, only if Red held Andy for an extra beat. It was awesome seeing CMR go over to the band and the student section and salute the fans along with the players. They wanted this win, badly and they got it. AWESOME. Come on Georgia, as Herm Edwards would say, "We can BUILD on this!" 8-4 with a 9th win in the bowl game.....let's do it! Beat Iowa in the Outback. YE-HAW! Good-day Mate!
Paging USC's defense. Paging USC's defense. You are needed in the Coliseum. Stanford's white running back is torching the song girls that stole your jerseys.
Bama beat down Miss State while Florida struggled with SoCar. Tell me why Bama is behind Florida? Oh, the stupid slotting system....that's why.
Last thought on College Football.....Boise State has a big conference game this week with Utah State. Yes you just read that correctly. Boise State's BIG conference game this week is against the Aggies of Utah State. USU is a school that Georgia, Florida, Bama, LSU, etc bring in for the first game of the season as a tuneup. Boise State plays them as a conference game. This about Boise State's level of competition before you try and argue that they should be in the BCS Title game. Even coach Chris Petersen was joking that his team would probably move down after the win over Idaho. WELL YEAH, Idaho is a team that USC and Ohio State bring in over Labor Day and pay $650K so the Trojans and/or Buckeyes can go 1-0 in a laugher. NO KIDDING Boise State might move down. PLAY SOMEONE! You are in a conference of Labor Day weekend opponents!
What a bad loss for the Falcons. Body, DUDE, you guys should NOT have lost that one. The missed FG, the loss of Mike Turner, the two Matty Ice INTS......crap.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday the 13th Picks....don't wall under a ladder or you'll explode
That is true I think. Or if you break a mirror today, I think you blow up like Violet at Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. You can look that up. Sorry I couldn't get to a midweek entertainment report this week, so I've decided to throw in some thoughts randomly during my picks blog. Enjoy. PS, I'll be in Athens doing the tailgate thang tomorrow, so if you disagree with me on the picks, just come and find me. I'm sure I'll be inebriated.
With no FURTHER ADO.......
Tonight! #25 West Va @ #6 Cincy. Noel Devine is banged up and Tony Pike still isn't playing for Cincy. It won't matter. The Fighting Larrys just plug in a sophomore QB and they keep rolling. Expect Inbred Jed and the rest of the Mountaineers to lose on the road because they won't feel at home without the burning couches everywhere. If only they were playing in Detroit.... Bearcats.
Saturday's action..
#3 Texas @ Baylor. This is an EASY Texas win, so let's talk about Steven Tyler. On Monday he leaves Aerosmith and Joe Perry Tweets the the band is looking for a new lead singer, then Tuesday he sings with Perry in one of Perry's solo shows. He even says that Perry is a colorful dude, but Tyler is "the F*CKING RAINBOW." Then both tell TMZ that Tyler never left and everything is cool. Whaaaaaaaa....? So does Aerosmith Rockband become a collector's item? Should I listen to Big Ones and recall the fonder days? I need to know.
#15 Houston @ UCF. So my former EVHEI Co-host Bobby Labertino is currently going to grad school at Houston and is a Cougar. He loves being called a cougar. I don't think guys can be cougars, but that is just me. And I also heard that George O'Leary tried to kick out a reporter that broke the news that two players wouldn't be playing last week. Houston has positive karma and O'Leary has some negative karma. I'm not sure about that stuff, but I've gotta think that Case Kennum is going to go nuts on the Golden Knights. Kind of like how Pat Swayze did (RIP) in Roadhouse. ROADHOUSE!
Indiana @ #18 Penn State. I am NEVER betting against Penn State. You hear that Kate? Even after they lose Yooge against Ohio State, I'm still not picking against them. I mean, I watched them lose to Iowa and then again to Ohio State, but I will NOT pick against them. Just for Penn Kate. (Although, Cake, remember. When I was picking against them, they were winning. Careful what you ask for. The expectations of SBF are sometimes too much to overcome.) I'm taking Penn State. FULMER TO INDIANA!
Syracuse @ Louisville. They say that if Krapthrope loses to Da Cuse and Gregory Paulus, then Krapthorpe is out come Monday. It would be the third loss to Krapthorpe in three years if my math is correct. I've gotsta think that Cuse will win this one. Louisville is pretty bad. And their stadium is just on the side of the highway from Atlanta to Chicago. just on the side of the road? Who are they? Georgia Tech? How about you push it back a bit? Maybe? FULMER TO LOUISVILLE!
Michigan @ #20 Wisco. Boy that Big 11 with all of those teams ranked from 18-25. WOW! Big 11 football! No WONDER they got their own network which no one can see! And I am sure it is out of respect that ESPN throws Pam Ward on all of their games. (Though she is at the GT/Duke game this weekend. Sorry Tech fans.) Back to this game. Michigan needs to beat either Wisco or Ohio State to go to a bowl. It won't happen. Wisco takes this one and holds their own dance party sans Pammy...since she is doing the Georgia Tech game. Hey CPJ, that is what ESPN thinks of you guys. You guys are Wisconsin/Northwestern announcing crew-worthy. Not good.
Tennessee @ Ole Miss. So three of Laney's recruits decide to pull an armed robbery outside of a Knoxville 7-11 (maybe not 7-11, could have been a Circle K or QuikTrip) and were too dumb wear a mask or ditch the hoodie after pulling a gun on another car. They were stopped and brought back to the scene and positively IDed. Lane hasn't commented on the situation yet (interesting, the first time he has stayed away from a mic...) but you have to think that Urban is LOVING that Nu'Keese in trouble or Les Miles likes that Janzen isn't in Red Stick. Is it too much to overcome? Yes. Jevan Snead and co wins at the Grove. I think Lane HAS to kick these guys off the team, but they are his guys, so he might keep them on the team and just suspend them for the rest of the year to show loyalty. He is in a sticky situation right not. Recruits have to wonder if this is how he is planning on building a program: taking all risks and hoping they don't screw up too badly. Not a good spot to be in right now for Lane. People were starting to give him props for being more than just a mouth. But now this....HA is all I have to say.
Clemson @ NC State. CJ Spiller should punch his OC in the face (And really Dabo too) for not getting him the ball more earlier in the season. They lost to TCU and Maryland because he didn't get enough touches. Now, they'll still prolly make it to the ACCCG for a rematch with Tech, but they could be talking BCS at-large with those two wins...On a side note, when Spencer visited the doctor on The Hills (or The Bu) I was VERY uncomfortable with all of the talk about getting a vasectomy. Just knowing that I am 6 or 7 years from having that done to me....cold shiver. Clemson wins FYI.
FSU @ Wake. Hey Wake Forest, thanks for letting GT get that first down in OT. Thanks. Presh. I'm sure you'll rally to beat FSU though! And I loved it when Roxy once again invited herself on another trip. And by LOVED I mean hated. Is Roxy dumber than She-Pratt? Why does Kelly Cuttrone keep hiring these people? Ohhh, because MTV makes her. That's right.
Michigan State @ Purdue. The Boilermakers and the Spartans. Funny, even the Big11 network didn't want this one. They made ESPN take it. Take Purdue at home. On a side note, Gerald Butler turns 40 today. PS, you're old. But PS, Wifey still loves you. Between this guy in that movie and that Nicholas Sparks guy (who writes the SAME BOOK OVER AND OVER) on her facebook, why am I even here?
UK @ Vandy. Is it true? Is Mike Hartline coming back for this game? Do you mean to tell me that Randall Cobb (UK's best QB) might not play QB next week against Georgia? Oh happy day. UGA is gonna win! UK is still 19 times better than Vandy though.
Mizzou @ K-State. I don't really care about this game (take K-State), but I think Russell's move last night in Survivor was crucial, they just decided on the wrong guy. Maybe taking out Kelly was what Shambo wanted to do, but it would have made more sense to blindside John, a guy that beats Russell in the challenges. He also thought that maybe Russell had the idol. Kelly is just going to go along with Laura and I know they wanted to take out Laura but she won the immunity. Why not take out a real threat instead of a follower. If Shambo really switches, then it is 5-5, but I'd rather, if I'm Foa Foa, have taken out one of the dudes on former Galu than Kelly. Plus Kelly is nice on the eyes. Don't get rid of her... One final note, hey Jeff, could you explain again what a rock slide is please?
#21 VaTech @ Maryland. So Underarmor is giving Maryland all black unis for a blackout, so Nike decides to fight back, and gives the Hokies all white to go up against the all-black. Ummm, they do realize that this game is going on at 1pm, right? It is kind of hot outside, (maybe not in Maryland, but still) so wouldn't the team in white be cooler and thus less tired? Didn't you guys see that episode of Seinfeld? Cotton! Take the White Hokies. (I didn't say White Honkies. Come on people)
#1 Florida @ So Car. The last time Tebow went to Columbia, he score 92 touchdowns and cemented his heisman-winning season. Can the Ole Ball Coach pull out some magic? No. The answer is no. Urban Meyer is the coach people should now think of first when the topic of Florida comes up. Urban, not the Visor. That's how it is. You don't think Urban loves sticking it to Spurrier when they play. He wants to be the best Florida coach ever. He'll crush Spurrier every time they play. You know he will. Including this one.
Stanford @ #9 USC. So with two losses, USC is still a top ten team? Is this 2007? I am so confused. Toby Gerhart is good, but come on....he's a white running back. It didn't work in Remember the Titans. It won't work against USC. I love Screech's cousin, but take the men of Troy. (PS, I used that last week at the Lassiter game and Charles Ward loved it. What witty reference will I use this week when Colquitt Co travels to Westlake? Log on to gpb.org/football tonight at 7:15 to find out!)
#14 Miami @ UNC. Butch Davis would surely love to stick it to his old team, but his old school is light-years ahead of his new one. UNC has REALLY taken a step back after a pretty good year last year. I guess they lost too much talent and former Pope QB TJ Yates couldn't do it all by himself. I won't say the U is back before OR after this game, though I'm sure you'll find some Cane fans who will after this game.
BC @ UVa. I certainly thought after that blocked punt last week that UVa was going to come back and make my upset of the week pick look genius. I was wrong. After getting 50 hung on them in Miami, why would I think that BC is going to be any different? Oh, because BC isn't as good as Miami. That's why. The Eagles will still beat the Cavs though. Poor Wahoos.
#2 Bama @ Miss State. If Sly Croom was still at Miss State, perhaps this would....nah. It would still be a blowout. And if Sly Croom had gotten the Bama job instead of Shula, then Bama wouldn't have Saban. Or they would have blown Croom out for Saban. Either way Croom is out of a job. Bama gets over this speed hump.
#17 Zona @ Cal. I am actually wearing my Arizona polo today, likely jinxing them. Well, not against Cal sans JBest. That tumble he took was nasty. WOW. Scary. Mike Stoops as No.17 in the country is scary too. My F-i-L is probably pulling his hair out over that one.
#16 Utah @ #4 TCU. Apparently if TCU wins this, they have a BCS bowl locked up. Hopefully one against Cincy so we don't have to watch. Or put them in one with Boise State so I don't have to watch. Any way you slice it, I won't watch TCU in a BCS bowl. Unless they play ND, then I'd watch and root for them to beat the Fupa. Hey Utah, you guys still want to brag and think you should have been national champs last year? Let's see, Bama didn't care about the Sugar Bowl and was missing several members from the o-line, THEN in the off-season, lost a RB, QB, three OL, and they are No.2 in the country. Perhaps they didn't care about you? Way to overcelebrate that one Coach Kyle!
Notre Dame @ #12 Pitt. Two offensive genii going head-to-head and I use the word genius with a grain of salt since Wanny the Stache and Charlie the Fupa aren't what we thought they were when they started as HCs. While Notre Dame has that offense, Pitt has a bit of a defense and the RB Lewis. Ballgame. Weis is gone. Will the Pats rehire him? Hmmmmmm. Will he EVER coach again? Doubtful.
ASU @ #13 Oregon. The return of LeGarrett Blount. I haven't felt this good about a pugilist's return since Mike Tyson took on Hurricane Pete. It is going to be awesome. If he has a bad game against the Sun Devils, will a backup lineman say something to him to see if he'll hit him? Will Blount? What are the odds? Can we check on this?
Special situations.
Lock of the week.
Idaho @ #6 Boise State. I don't think Chris Petersen wants to share the state spotlight with the Vandals, even if the cheerleaders wear slutty outfits and the team has a patch of the state on their butts. And while I want Idaho to knock off the unbeaten Boise State Broncos, I also don't want another team from the Potato state to suddenly skyrocket to fame. I couldn't handle it. So Go Broncos.
Upset of the Week. #10 Iowa @ #11 Ohio State. Sadly, this means Ohio State will likely go to the Rose Bowl. Oh well. They'll just lose again to USC or get beaten by Oregon. Iowa is No.10 in slotting rules only. They don't have a QB or a RB due to injuries so therefore Ohio State, also without a QB (no, Pryor isn't injured, just think about it...), will still win. I'd love Iowa to pull the stunner, but it isn't going to happen. If only Penn State had beaten Ohio State last week....
Local rooting interest.
#7 Georgia Tech @ Duke. Would all of the local radio hosts in town please stop saying that Duke's passing attack is going to give GT trouble! The Blue Devils might score 28 points on GT's weak defense, but the GT offense is going to put 40+ on Duke, all in front of Pam Ward. GT MIGHT lose to UGA or Clemson, but they are NOT going to lose to Duke. Come on people.
Auburn at Georgia. I will be at the game. It is either going to be 14-9 or 49-45. Not sure which and I'm not sure who wins. I will be rooting for Georgia, obvie, but I'm looking forward to the tailgate. See you then Roomie!
Have a great weekend and log in to gpb.org/football for Colquitt @ Westlake. I'll be there. Will YOU!?
With no FURTHER ADO.......
Tonight! #25 West Va @ #6 Cincy. Noel Devine is banged up and Tony Pike still isn't playing for Cincy. It won't matter. The Fighting Larrys just plug in a sophomore QB and they keep rolling. Expect Inbred Jed and the rest of the Mountaineers to lose on the road because they won't feel at home without the burning couches everywhere. If only they were playing in Detroit.... Bearcats.
Saturday's action..
#3 Texas @ Baylor. This is an EASY Texas win, so let's talk about Steven Tyler. On Monday he leaves Aerosmith and Joe Perry Tweets the the band is looking for a new lead singer, then Tuesday he sings with Perry in one of Perry's solo shows. He even says that Perry is a colorful dude, but Tyler is "the F*CKING RAINBOW." Then both tell TMZ that Tyler never left and everything is cool. Whaaaaaaaa....? So does Aerosmith Rockband become a collector's item? Should I listen to Big Ones and recall the fonder days? I need to know.
#15 Houston @ UCF. So my former EVHEI Co-host Bobby Labertino is currently going to grad school at Houston and is a Cougar. He loves being called a cougar. I don't think guys can be cougars, but that is just me. And I also heard that George O'Leary tried to kick out a reporter that broke the news that two players wouldn't be playing last week. Houston has positive karma and O'Leary has some negative karma. I'm not sure about that stuff, but I've gotta think that Case Kennum is going to go nuts on the Golden Knights. Kind of like how Pat Swayze did (RIP) in Roadhouse. ROADHOUSE!
Indiana @ #18 Penn State. I am NEVER betting against Penn State. You hear that Kate? Even after they lose Yooge against Ohio State, I'm still not picking against them. I mean, I watched them lose to Iowa and then again to Ohio State, but I will NOT pick against them. Just for Penn Kate. (Although, Cake, remember. When I was picking against them, they were winning. Careful what you ask for. The expectations of SBF are sometimes too much to overcome.) I'm taking Penn State. FULMER TO INDIANA!
Syracuse @ Louisville. They say that if Krapthrope loses to Da Cuse and Gregory Paulus, then Krapthorpe is out come Monday. It would be the third loss to Krapthorpe in three years if my math is correct. I've gotsta think that Cuse will win this one. Louisville is pretty bad. And their stadium is just on the side of the highway from Atlanta to Chicago. just on the side of the road? Who are they? Georgia Tech? How about you push it back a bit? Maybe? FULMER TO LOUISVILLE!
Michigan @ #20 Wisco. Boy that Big 11 with all of those teams ranked from 18-25. WOW! Big 11 football! No WONDER they got their own network which no one can see! And I am sure it is out of respect that ESPN throws Pam Ward on all of their games. (Though she is at the GT/Duke game this weekend. Sorry Tech fans.) Back to this game. Michigan needs to beat either Wisco or Ohio State to go to a bowl. It won't happen. Wisco takes this one and holds their own dance party sans Pammy...since she is doing the Georgia Tech game. Hey CPJ, that is what ESPN thinks of you guys. You guys are Wisconsin/Northwestern announcing crew-worthy. Not good.
Tennessee @ Ole Miss. So three of Laney's recruits decide to pull an armed robbery outside of a Knoxville 7-11 (maybe not 7-11, could have been a Circle K or QuikTrip) and were too dumb wear a mask or ditch the hoodie after pulling a gun on another car. They were stopped and brought back to the scene and positively IDed. Lane hasn't commented on the situation yet (interesting, the first time he has stayed away from a mic...) but you have to think that Urban is LOVING that Nu'Keese in trouble or Les Miles likes that Janzen isn't in Red Stick. Is it too much to overcome? Yes. Jevan Snead and co wins at the Grove. I think Lane HAS to kick these guys off the team, but they are his guys, so he might keep them on the team and just suspend them for the rest of the year to show loyalty. He is in a sticky situation right not. Recruits have to wonder if this is how he is planning on building a program: taking all risks and hoping they don't screw up too badly. Not a good spot to be in right now for Lane. People were starting to give him props for being more than just a mouth. But now this....HA is all I have to say.
Clemson @ NC State. CJ Spiller should punch his OC in the face (And really Dabo too) for not getting him the ball more earlier in the season. They lost to TCU and Maryland because he didn't get enough touches. Now, they'll still prolly make it to the ACCCG for a rematch with Tech, but they could be talking BCS at-large with those two wins...On a side note, when Spencer visited the doctor on The Hills (or The Bu) I was VERY uncomfortable with all of the talk about getting a vasectomy. Just knowing that I am 6 or 7 years from having that done to me....cold shiver. Clemson wins FYI.
FSU @ Wake. Hey Wake Forest, thanks for letting GT get that first down in OT. Thanks. Presh. I'm sure you'll rally to beat FSU though! And I loved it when Roxy once again invited herself on another trip. And by LOVED I mean hated. Is Roxy dumber than She-Pratt? Why does Kelly Cuttrone keep hiring these people? Ohhh, because MTV makes her. That's right.
Michigan State @ Purdue. The Boilermakers and the Spartans. Funny, even the Big11 network didn't want this one. They made ESPN take it. Take Purdue at home. On a side note, Gerald Butler turns 40 today. PS, you're old. But PS, Wifey still loves you. Between this guy in that movie and that Nicholas Sparks guy (who writes the SAME BOOK OVER AND OVER) on her facebook, why am I even here?
UK @ Vandy. Is it true? Is Mike Hartline coming back for this game? Do you mean to tell me that Randall Cobb (UK's best QB) might not play QB next week against Georgia? Oh happy day. UGA is gonna win! UK is still 19 times better than Vandy though.
Mizzou @ K-State. I don't really care about this game (take K-State), but I think Russell's move last night in Survivor was crucial, they just decided on the wrong guy. Maybe taking out Kelly was what Shambo wanted to do, but it would have made more sense to blindside John, a guy that beats Russell in the challenges. He also thought that maybe Russell had the idol. Kelly is just going to go along with Laura and I know they wanted to take out Laura but she won the immunity. Why not take out a real threat instead of a follower. If Shambo really switches, then it is 5-5, but I'd rather, if I'm Foa Foa, have taken out one of the dudes on former Galu than Kelly. Plus Kelly is nice on the eyes. Don't get rid of her... One final note, hey Jeff, could you explain again what a rock slide is please?
#21 VaTech @ Maryland. So Underarmor is giving Maryland all black unis for a blackout, so Nike decides to fight back, and gives the Hokies all white to go up against the all-black. Ummm, they do realize that this game is going on at 1pm, right? It is kind of hot outside, (maybe not in Maryland, but still) so wouldn't the team in white be cooler and thus less tired? Didn't you guys see that episode of Seinfeld? Cotton! Take the White Hokies. (I didn't say White Honkies. Come on people)
#1 Florida @ So Car. The last time Tebow went to Columbia, he score 92 touchdowns and cemented his heisman-winning season. Can the Ole Ball Coach pull out some magic? No. The answer is no. Urban Meyer is the coach people should now think of first when the topic of Florida comes up. Urban, not the Visor. That's how it is. You don't think Urban loves sticking it to Spurrier when they play. He wants to be the best Florida coach ever. He'll crush Spurrier every time they play. You know he will. Including this one.
Stanford @ #9 USC. So with two losses, USC is still a top ten team? Is this 2007? I am so confused. Toby Gerhart is good, but come on....he's a white running back. It didn't work in Remember the Titans. It won't work against USC. I love Screech's cousin, but take the men of Troy. (PS, I used that last week at the Lassiter game and Charles Ward loved it. What witty reference will I use this week when Colquitt Co travels to Westlake? Log on to gpb.org/football tonight at 7:15 to find out!)
#14 Miami @ UNC. Butch Davis would surely love to stick it to his old team, but his old school is light-years ahead of his new one. UNC has REALLY taken a step back after a pretty good year last year. I guess they lost too much talent and former Pope QB TJ Yates couldn't do it all by himself. I won't say the U is back before OR after this game, though I'm sure you'll find some Cane fans who will after this game.
BC @ UVa. I certainly thought after that blocked punt last week that UVa was going to come back and make my upset of the week pick look genius. I was wrong. After getting 50 hung on them in Miami, why would I think that BC is going to be any different? Oh, because BC isn't as good as Miami. That's why. The Eagles will still beat the Cavs though. Poor Wahoos.
#2 Bama @ Miss State. If Sly Croom was still at Miss State, perhaps this would....nah. It would still be a blowout. And if Sly Croom had gotten the Bama job instead of Shula, then Bama wouldn't have Saban. Or they would have blown Croom out for Saban. Either way Croom is out of a job. Bama gets over this speed hump.
#17 Zona @ Cal. I am actually wearing my Arizona polo today, likely jinxing them. Well, not against Cal sans JBest. That tumble he took was nasty. WOW. Scary. Mike Stoops as No.17 in the country is scary too. My F-i-L is probably pulling his hair out over that one.
#16 Utah @ #4 TCU. Apparently if TCU wins this, they have a BCS bowl locked up. Hopefully one against Cincy so we don't have to watch. Or put them in one with Boise State so I don't have to watch. Any way you slice it, I won't watch TCU in a BCS bowl. Unless they play ND, then I'd watch and root for them to beat the Fupa. Hey Utah, you guys still want to brag and think you should have been national champs last year? Let's see, Bama didn't care about the Sugar Bowl and was missing several members from the o-line, THEN in the off-season, lost a RB, QB, three OL, and they are No.2 in the country. Perhaps they didn't care about you? Way to overcelebrate that one Coach Kyle!
Notre Dame @ #12 Pitt. Two offensive genii going head-to-head and I use the word genius with a grain of salt since Wanny the Stache and Charlie the Fupa aren't what we thought they were when they started as HCs. While Notre Dame has that offense, Pitt has a bit of a defense and the RB Lewis. Ballgame. Weis is gone. Will the Pats rehire him? Hmmmmmm. Will he EVER coach again? Doubtful.
ASU @ #13 Oregon. The return of LeGarrett Blount. I haven't felt this good about a pugilist's return since Mike Tyson took on Hurricane Pete. It is going to be awesome. If he has a bad game against the Sun Devils, will a backup lineman say something to him to see if he'll hit him? Will Blount? What are the odds? Can we check on this?
Special situations.
Lock of the week.
Idaho @ #6 Boise State. I don't think Chris Petersen wants to share the state spotlight with the Vandals, even if the cheerleaders wear slutty outfits and the team has a patch of the state on their butts. And while I want Idaho to knock off the unbeaten Boise State Broncos, I also don't want another team from the Potato state to suddenly skyrocket to fame. I couldn't handle it. So Go Broncos.
Upset of the Week. #10 Iowa @ #11 Ohio State. Sadly, this means Ohio State will likely go to the Rose Bowl. Oh well. They'll just lose again to USC or get beaten by Oregon. Iowa is No.10 in slotting rules only. They don't have a QB or a RB due to injuries so therefore Ohio State, also without a QB (no, Pryor isn't injured, just think about it...), will still win. I'd love Iowa to pull the stunner, but it isn't going to happen. If only Penn State had beaten Ohio State last week....
Local rooting interest.
#7 Georgia Tech @ Duke. Would all of the local radio hosts in town please stop saying that Duke's passing attack is going to give GT trouble! The Blue Devils might score 28 points on GT's weak defense, but the GT offense is going to put 40+ on Duke, all in front of Pam Ward. GT MIGHT lose to UGA or Clemson, but they are NOT going to lose to Duke. Come on people.
Auburn at Georgia. I will be at the game. It is either going to be 14-9 or 49-45. Not sure which and I'm not sure who wins. I will be rooting for Georgia, obvie, but I'm looking forward to the tailgate. See you then Roomie!
Have a great weekend and log in to gpb.org/football for Colquitt @ Westlake. I'll be there. Will YOU!?
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Score Atlanta's Around the Dial 11/12/09 preview
Be sure to pick up this week's Score Atlanta at any metro-Atlanta area Kroger, Blockbuster or QuikTrip. And I know what you're thinking, SBF is PRAISING David Pollack? Don't worry. I still cannot stand the guy, especially since he thinks it is the Stanford Cardinals. I didn't realize that the St. Louis baseball team moved to Palo Alto. What, Stanford shares its mascot with the official state bird of Virginia? And I'm STILL mad about the forward lateral...
Did you catch the Georgia game this past weekend? Unless you ponied up for the Pay-per-view, odds are you missed it. I realize that the University of Georgia Bulldogs headed into the game with a 4-4 record and the game was against Tennessee Tech. But come on, this is Georgia football. Pay-per-view? Are you telling me that CSS didn’t want to pick this game up? For Pete’s sake CSS showed Ole Miss against Northern Arizona University. CSS, which has several shows highlighting Georgia football, really missed the boat at getting the chance to carry the Dawgs. I am sure that there are contract issues that I am not aware of, but to me it seems as though CSS could have still had an SEC game featuring a conference team against a non-BCS homecoming foe. It seems to me like the network should have pushed harder.
Speaking of college football, ESPN’s Gameday for whatever reason decided NOT to go to the best game of the weekend, but instead to Colorado Springs, home of the Air Force Academy. Maybe the decision was based on the idea that Veterans Day was this past Wednesday and it was a salute to the Armed Forces, but I think ESPN just did not want to alert potential viewers to switch channels to CBS for the Alabama/LSU game. ESPN has tried to use the excuse before of “we don’t want to set up at a certain school’s site repeatedly in one season,” but that argument is a bunch of bull considering that Gameday regularly sets up at Ohio State and USC and Texas. Throw in the fact that ESPN/ABC just signed a huge deal with the SEC, you’d think that ESPN would want to promote its new deal. If the LSU/Alabama game had been on the ESPN/ABC family of networks, you can nearly guarantee that the gang would have been in Tuscaloosa last Saturday.
Andre Agassi was on 60 Minutes over the weekend, promoting his new book. In the book, Agassi admits that he used meth for about one year while he was on tour. This fact was revealed in an excerpt in Sports Illustrated recently and was big news on ESPN. The real humor comes in Marat Safin’s comments to L’Eqipe where the former No.1 men’s player in the world said of the retired Agassi, “I’m not sure why he did it [wrote the book]. I’ll never write one because I won’t need the money.” Umm Marat, you certainly look like you crave the attention. Safin is due to retire at the end of the tennis season and the two-time Grand Slam winner said that Agassi should give back the titles he won while on tour when he used a banned substance. Again, Marat, meth is NOT a performance-enhancing drug. Agassi wasn’t on steroids, that we know of, at least. I like it when athletes have an opinion on relevant topics, but in this case, your stance doesn’t make a lot of sense. Give back his titles? And you don’t get why Agassi is writing a book?
If you haven’t picked up this week’s copy of Sports Illustrated and you are a Georgia Tech fan, go now to your local newsstand. (Wait, do they have those in Atlanta? Really? An actual newsstand?) The Yellow Jackets are featured in a story that highlights Coach Paul Johnson’s offense. The Jackets have been living in the shadow of the Georgia Bulldogs for so long when it comes to national pub, it must be nice for Tech fans to feel a little love from SI.
V103 also carried the Falcons game last week. How did Dave FM let that happen? Apparently the coverage wasn’t very good and I’m not sure who would tune in to that broadcast when Wes Durham is calling the game. Bob Neal is an Atlanta icon, but Durham is the Voice of the Falcons. He knows the team and he has a flow about him when doing the Falcons games that is unmatched, especially by a broadcast team that is doing a one game and done production.
Finally, 790 The Zone’s David Pollack made an interesting point when broaching the DeAngelo Hall situation following last Sunday’s game between the Falcons and the Redskins. As co-host Mike Bell was calling Hall a knucklehead, Pollack conceded that point but responded that, if Hall was still on the Falcons, he’d be the best player out there in the defensive backfield. That is a true statement. Chris Houston and Brent Grimes have talent but nowhere near the talent that Hall possesses. True Hall was a cancer in his last few seasons with the Falcons, but the guy is talented. He has Pro Bowl ability and as much as Atlanta is putting team first, at some point, talent does need to be imported. Hall isn’t the guy to do it, but Pollack, as a football man, was right to recognize that despite the win Hall’s talent is missing here in Atlanta.
Did you catch the Georgia game this past weekend? Unless you ponied up for the Pay-per-view, odds are you missed it. I realize that the University of Georgia Bulldogs headed into the game with a 4-4 record and the game was against Tennessee Tech. But come on, this is Georgia football. Pay-per-view? Are you telling me that CSS didn’t want to pick this game up? For Pete’s sake CSS showed Ole Miss against Northern Arizona University. CSS, which has several shows highlighting Georgia football, really missed the boat at getting the chance to carry the Dawgs. I am sure that there are contract issues that I am not aware of, but to me it seems as though CSS could have still had an SEC game featuring a conference team against a non-BCS homecoming foe. It seems to me like the network should have pushed harder.
Speaking of college football, ESPN’s Gameday for whatever reason decided NOT to go to the best game of the weekend, but instead to Colorado Springs, home of the Air Force Academy. Maybe the decision was based on the idea that Veterans Day was this past Wednesday and it was a salute to the Armed Forces, but I think ESPN just did not want to alert potential viewers to switch channels to CBS for the Alabama/LSU game. ESPN has tried to use the excuse before of “we don’t want to set up at a certain school’s site repeatedly in one season,” but that argument is a bunch of bull considering that Gameday regularly sets up at Ohio State and USC and Texas. Throw in the fact that ESPN/ABC just signed a huge deal with the SEC, you’d think that ESPN would want to promote its new deal. If the LSU/Alabama game had been on the ESPN/ABC family of networks, you can nearly guarantee that the gang would have been in Tuscaloosa last Saturday.
Andre Agassi was on 60 Minutes over the weekend, promoting his new book. In the book, Agassi admits that he used meth for about one year while he was on tour. This fact was revealed in an excerpt in Sports Illustrated recently and was big news on ESPN. The real humor comes in Marat Safin’s comments to L’Eqipe where the former No.1 men’s player in the world said of the retired Agassi, “I’m not sure why he did it [wrote the book]. I’ll never write one because I won’t need the money.” Umm Marat, you certainly look like you crave the attention. Safin is due to retire at the end of the tennis season and the two-time Grand Slam winner said that Agassi should give back the titles he won while on tour when he used a banned substance. Again, Marat, meth is NOT a performance-enhancing drug. Agassi wasn’t on steroids, that we know of, at least. I like it when athletes have an opinion on relevant topics, but in this case, your stance doesn’t make a lot of sense. Give back his titles? And you don’t get why Agassi is writing a book?
If you haven’t picked up this week’s copy of Sports Illustrated and you are a Georgia Tech fan, go now to your local newsstand. (Wait, do they have those in Atlanta? Really? An actual newsstand?) The Yellow Jackets are featured in a story that highlights Coach Paul Johnson’s offense. The Jackets have been living in the shadow of the Georgia Bulldogs for so long when it comes to national pub, it must be nice for Tech fans to feel a little love from SI.
V103 also carried the Falcons game last week. How did Dave FM let that happen? Apparently the coverage wasn’t very good and I’m not sure who would tune in to that broadcast when Wes Durham is calling the game. Bob Neal is an Atlanta icon, but Durham is the Voice of the Falcons. He knows the team and he has a flow about him when doing the Falcons games that is unmatched, especially by a broadcast team that is doing a one game and done production.
Finally, 790 The Zone’s David Pollack made an interesting point when broaching the DeAngelo Hall situation following last Sunday’s game between the Falcons and the Redskins. As co-host Mike Bell was calling Hall a knucklehead, Pollack conceded that point but responded that, if Hall was still on the Falcons, he’d be the best player out there in the defensive backfield. That is a true statement. Chris Houston and Brent Grimes have talent but nowhere near the talent that Hall possesses. True Hall was a cancer in his last few seasons with the Falcons, but the guy is talented. He has Pro Bowl ability and as much as Atlanta is putting team first, at some point, talent does need to be imported. Hall isn’t the guy to do it, but Pollack, as a football man, was right to recognize that despite the win Hall’s talent is missing here in Atlanta.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Georgia High School football Playoff Preview SBF-style
Normally this would be a Georgia High School football review/preview, but do you REALLY want me to look back when the playoffs begin this week?
You DO?
OK, fine.
Kudos to Hutson Mason and Lassiter for winning the Trojans first Region title and finishing with the first 10-0 season in school history. Mason threw for 4 TDs and ran for another (nearly hurting himself in the process) and now has 39 TDs on the season (The record is 47. I'm thinking three games?)
Hats off to North Gwinnett for the Bulldogs first 10-0 season and first region title in 52 years. CJ Uzomah has done what Mike Tamburo never could, win the Region title. The Bulldogs are the most surprising team IMHO because of the loss of the QB/TB combo (Tyler Jarry) and having to switch Uzomah from WR to QB, but they still win the title and my neighborhood school took home the region title. Good for them.
Parkview will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1993, but this is positive week, so let's move on. Good for you guys South Gwinnett, getting that No.2 seed. and Bravo to Grayson for yet another 10-0 season.
Don't worry, we'll have awards at the end of the blog along with predictions. But for now, let's take a look at the Bracket and breakdown the matchups.
Class AAAAA
I like Northside (DON'T CALL US WARNER Robbins!) to win its first two games with ease. McEachern should knock out Brookwood thanks to Rajaan Bennett and I think Peachtree Ridge takes out Kell before falling in a GREAT second round contest to the Indians. I have NWR to come out of that region thanks to the hard running of Shaq O'Neal and the defense being better than McEachern's.
Newnan/MLK should be a great 2nd round matchup and I have Grayson outdistancing Marietta then facing Roswell because I wasn't impressed with Collins Hill. They are TOO one-dimensional. I know I said Charles Perkins would take them to at least the second round, but I don't think they get by Roswell. I think Perkins gets his yardage and two scores, but Roswell takes the game. I feel like John Kerry ie the Flipflopper. Grayson should take out the Hornets and then Newnan (wow, Alec Ogletree v Ean Pemberton) to advance to the final four.
North Gwinnett should cruise in the first two rounds, especially since they'll face Dacula after the Dacs upset Woodstock in the first round. Camden/Lowndes in the second round will be a great game for south Georgia and I won't have to watch. Yippee! Lowndes's defense will end CJ Uzomah's season as I think Lowndes will make it to the championship game. I know Lowndes cannot throw, but they can run and play defense. They are too good right now.
In the bottom right portion of the bracket, Lassiter will meet South Gwinnett in the second round and the more well-rounded South Gwinnett Comets will knock out Hutson Mason. Yep, I said it. SoGwin was the only team to really challenge Grayson and I just think they are too good for the pass-happy Trojans. Meanwhile Stephenson will make it thru the first and second round. (I'm not picking a winner in the Westlake/Colquitt Co game because I'll be there calling the game for GPB!) Stephenson uses its defense (maybe the best in Class AAAAA?) to shut down the Comets and advance to the final four.
In the semis, Lowndes and Grayson will prevail and Mickey Conn's boys get a title with a 14-13 win in the Dome.
Class AAAA (Spoiler...I LIKE SOUTHWEST DEKALB!)
The matchups in the first round that really intrigue me include Dalton hosting defending champion Tucker, 7-3 Chamblee @ 10-0 Hiram, Starr's Mill @ Apalachee and Loganville @ Sandy Creek.
The Catamounts had a 50th straight winning season (WOW, Thanks to Josh Cole no doubt. They don't want to let No.1 down!) but they will face Tucker, considered a sleeper by some to repeat. Let me say that NO THEY WON'T, but I do think they beat Dalton. Sorry JCole.
Chamblee lost to each REAL team it played this season so I have to go with Hiram. Apalachee should win its first ever home playoff game.
Loganville and Sandy Creek. Storm Johnson against Rajion Neal. WOW. Expect much running from those two? I think Johnson outrushes him, but I think Neal's team will win. That isn't a knock on Neal. Not by a long shot. I think his team is so diverse that they won't need him to go for 240+ yards. They can "settle" for 175 + 3TDs and a few from the QB to easily advance.
On to the bracket...Sandy Creek beats Loganville then Tucker and stomps TCC to make it to the F4.
I see Griffin taking care of biznas in the first two rounds, then beating Marist (who will upset Apalachee. Sorry Coach Davis) to make it to the semis.
Hiram has a cakewalk to the semis as the only "real" competition comes in the form of Westside-Macon and we all know that WS-M isn't much of a playoff team...
Finally, Southwest DeKalb beats North Clayton for the final final four spot.
SW-D beats Hiram then faces Griffin in an exciting game at the Dome....where it wins 27-14.
In Class AAA,
Peach Co is looking for a third state title in the last five years, first since 2006. St. Pius was 10-0 for the first time in school history and won its first region title. Cole Moon is a beast. Gainesville is averaging 47 ppg while giving up just 6 points. Defending champion Cairo is 7-3, Flowery Branch averages 42 ppg but is just 7-3 with three bad losses. Carver...always dangerous, especially with Isaiah Crowell. Let's go to the brackets...
Peach Co has the pool of death as it would have to face Waco potentially in the second round while St, Pius and North Hall will slug it out and the survivor will face Peach Co in the Elite 8. I think Peach Co beats St. Pius in the quarters.
I actually have LaGrange going on a run, beating Jackson in the second round then taking out the Creekside/Carrollton winner (sorry Eastside). Yeppers, LaGrange going to the final four.
Gainesville's side of the bracket has tough names but they are names only. Baldwin and Cairo are in their quadrant, but I think the Red Elephants take out Dunwoody (big whoop) and then likely Baldwin in the Elite8. Blake Sims should be ready to go in the F4.
I'm taking Flowery Branch to upset Ridgeland in the first round, then the Falcons taking out Hart Co. FloBranch would then likely fall to Carver Columbus because Devin Burns is a pretty good high school athlete playing QB, where you STICK your best athlete on the high school gridiron. Burns and Crowell will make for an exciting game against Flo Branch then again against Gainesville.
Look for the Red Elephants to win the defacto state title game over Carver in a great game. Gainesville just has too much offense for Carver to keep up with. Then Gainesville likely starts slow but eventually knocks out Peach Co 31-12 in the state title game.
In Class AA, I'm expecting a final four of Lovett, Buford, Calhoun and Fitzgerald. That Jefferson/Buford second round game will be great, as will the Lovett/Charlton Co game in the Elite8. I think Calhoun takes out Buford in the state title game as Nash Nance is just a better Carkhuff, who beat the Wolves once this season. Buford pulls out a little magic to get past Fitzgerald in the Semis, but the magic runs out for BooFord in the Dome.
In Class A, Wesleyan. We don't even have to look at the brackets.
Awards....
Class AAAAA
PoY Ean Pemberton, Grayson
CoY Mickey Conn, Grayson
Class AAAA
PoY Clarence Jackson, North Clayton
CoY Steven Devoursney, Griffin
Class AAA
PoY Blake Sims, Gainesville
CoY Paul Standard, St. Pius X
Class AA
PoY Nash Nance, Calhoun
CoY Mike Muschamp, Lovett
Class A
PoY Kyle Karempelis, Wesleyan
CoY Franklin Pridgen, Wesleyan
Most surprising team: North Gwinnett (for all of the right reasons)
Most disappointing team: Norcross
Underrated: Lassiter
Overrated: Wesleyan (do it against AA, where you should be) (Buford was a close second. MOVE TO AAA boys!)
Best game of the year: Lovett beats Buford
Best team in 2010: Carver Columbus or Lowndes
Top ten overall entering playoffs...
10. Wesleyan
9. Newnan
8. Griffin
7. Calhoun
6. Lowndes
5. Carver Columbus
4. Gainesville
3. Stephenson
2. Grayson
1. Southwest DeKalb
You DO?
OK, fine.
Kudos to Hutson Mason and Lassiter for winning the Trojans first Region title and finishing with the first 10-0 season in school history. Mason threw for 4 TDs and ran for another (nearly hurting himself in the process) and now has 39 TDs on the season (The record is 47. I'm thinking three games?)
Hats off to North Gwinnett for the Bulldogs first 10-0 season and first region title in 52 years. CJ Uzomah has done what Mike Tamburo never could, win the Region title. The Bulldogs are the most surprising team IMHO because of the loss of the QB/TB combo (Tyler Jarry) and having to switch Uzomah from WR to QB, but they still win the title and my neighborhood school took home the region title. Good for them.
Parkview will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1993, but this is positive week, so let's move on. Good for you guys South Gwinnett, getting that No.2 seed. and Bravo to Grayson for yet another 10-0 season.
Don't worry, we'll have awards at the end of the blog along with predictions. But for now, let's take a look at the Bracket and breakdown the matchups.
Class AAAAA
I like Northside (DON'T CALL US WARNER Robbins!) to win its first two games with ease. McEachern should knock out Brookwood thanks to Rajaan Bennett and I think Peachtree Ridge takes out Kell before falling in a GREAT second round contest to the Indians. I have NWR to come out of that region thanks to the hard running of Shaq O'Neal and the defense being better than McEachern's.
Newnan/MLK should be a great 2nd round matchup and I have Grayson outdistancing Marietta then facing Roswell because I wasn't impressed with Collins Hill. They are TOO one-dimensional. I know I said Charles Perkins would take them to at least the second round, but I don't think they get by Roswell. I think Perkins gets his yardage and two scores, but Roswell takes the game. I feel like John Kerry ie the Flipflopper. Grayson should take out the Hornets and then Newnan (wow, Alec Ogletree v Ean Pemberton) to advance to the final four.
North Gwinnett should cruise in the first two rounds, especially since they'll face Dacula after the Dacs upset Woodstock in the first round. Camden/Lowndes in the second round will be a great game for south Georgia and I won't have to watch. Yippee! Lowndes's defense will end CJ Uzomah's season as I think Lowndes will make it to the championship game. I know Lowndes cannot throw, but they can run and play defense. They are too good right now.
In the bottom right portion of the bracket, Lassiter will meet South Gwinnett in the second round and the more well-rounded South Gwinnett Comets will knock out Hutson Mason. Yep, I said it. SoGwin was the only team to really challenge Grayson and I just think they are too good for the pass-happy Trojans. Meanwhile Stephenson will make it thru the first and second round. (I'm not picking a winner in the Westlake/Colquitt Co game because I'll be there calling the game for GPB!) Stephenson uses its defense (maybe the best in Class AAAAA?) to shut down the Comets and advance to the final four.
In the semis, Lowndes and Grayson will prevail and Mickey Conn's boys get a title with a 14-13 win in the Dome.
Class AAAA (Spoiler...I LIKE SOUTHWEST DEKALB!)
The matchups in the first round that really intrigue me include Dalton hosting defending champion Tucker, 7-3 Chamblee @ 10-0 Hiram, Starr's Mill @ Apalachee and Loganville @ Sandy Creek.
The Catamounts had a 50th straight winning season (WOW, Thanks to Josh Cole no doubt. They don't want to let No.1 down!) but they will face Tucker, considered a sleeper by some to repeat. Let me say that NO THEY WON'T, but I do think they beat Dalton. Sorry JCole.
Chamblee lost to each REAL team it played this season so I have to go with Hiram. Apalachee should win its first ever home playoff game.
Loganville and Sandy Creek. Storm Johnson against Rajion Neal. WOW. Expect much running from those two? I think Johnson outrushes him, but I think Neal's team will win. That isn't a knock on Neal. Not by a long shot. I think his team is so diverse that they won't need him to go for 240+ yards. They can "settle" for 175 + 3TDs and a few from the QB to easily advance.
On to the bracket...Sandy Creek beats Loganville then Tucker and stomps TCC to make it to the F4.
I see Griffin taking care of biznas in the first two rounds, then beating Marist (who will upset Apalachee. Sorry Coach Davis) to make it to the semis.
Hiram has a cakewalk to the semis as the only "real" competition comes in the form of Westside-Macon and we all know that WS-M isn't much of a playoff team...
Finally, Southwest DeKalb beats North Clayton for the final final four spot.
SW-D beats Hiram then faces Griffin in an exciting game at the Dome....where it wins 27-14.
In Class AAA,
Peach Co is looking for a third state title in the last five years, first since 2006. St. Pius was 10-0 for the first time in school history and won its first region title. Cole Moon is a beast. Gainesville is averaging 47 ppg while giving up just 6 points. Defending champion Cairo is 7-3, Flowery Branch averages 42 ppg but is just 7-3 with three bad losses. Carver...always dangerous, especially with Isaiah Crowell. Let's go to the brackets...
Peach Co has the pool of death as it would have to face Waco potentially in the second round while St, Pius and North Hall will slug it out and the survivor will face Peach Co in the Elite 8. I think Peach Co beats St. Pius in the quarters.
I actually have LaGrange going on a run, beating Jackson in the second round then taking out the Creekside/Carrollton winner (sorry Eastside). Yeppers, LaGrange going to the final four.
Gainesville's side of the bracket has tough names but they are names only. Baldwin and Cairo are in their quadrant, but I think the Red Elephants take out Dunwoody (big whoop) and then likely Baldwin in the Elite8. Blake Sims should be ready to go in the F4.
I'm taking Flowery Branch to upset Ridgeland in the first round, then the Falcons taking out Hart Co. FloBranch would then likely fall to Carver Columbus because Devin Burns is a pretty good high school athlete playing QB, where you STICK your best athlete on the high school gridiron. Burns and Crowell will make for an exciting game against Flo Branch then again against Gainesville.
Look for the Red Elephants to win the defacto state title game over Carver in a great game. Gainesville just has too much offense for Carver to keep up with. Then Gainesville likely starts slow but eventually knocks out Peach Co 31-12 in the state title game.
In Class AA, I'm expecting a final four of Lovett, Buford, Calhoun and Fitzgerald. That Jefferson/Buford second round game will be great, as will the Lovett/Charlton Co game in the Elite8. I think Calhoun takes out Buford in the state title game as Nash Nance is just a better Carkhuff, who beat the Wolves once this season. Buford pulls out a little magic to get past Fitzgerald in the Semis, but the magic runs out for BooFord in the Dome.
In Class A, Wesleyan. We don't even have to look at the brackets.
Awards....
Class AAAAA
PoY Ean Pemberton, Grayson
CoY Mickey Conn, Grayson
Class AAAA
PoY Clarence Jackson, North Clayton
CoY Steven Devoursney, Griffin
Class AAA
PoY Blake Sims, Gainesville
CoY Paul Standard, St. Pius X
Class AA
PoY Nash Nance, Calhoun
CoY Mike Muschamp, Lovett
Class A
PoY Kyle Karempelis, Wesleyan
CoY Franklin Pridgen, Wesleyan
Most surprising team: North Gwinnett (for all of the right reasons)
Most disappointing team: Norcross
Underrated: Lassiter
Overrated: Wesleyan (do it against AA, where you should be) (Buford was a close second. MOVE TO AAA boys!)
Best game of the year: Lovett beats Buford
Best team in 2010: Carver Columbus or Lowndes
Top ten overall entering playoffs...
10. Wesleyan
9. Newnan
8. Griffin
7. Calhoun
6. Lowndes
5. Carver Columbus
4. Gainesville
3. Stephenson
2. Grayson
1. Southwest DeKalb
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