Not to sound like an old sports cliche, but I will do it, you can throw out the records of both teams when the #1 University of Florida Gators and the un-ranked Georgia Bulldogs tangle this Saturday in Jacksonville, FL in one of the biggest, if not the biggest, rivalry in the SEC.
The Bulldogs come into the game at 4-3 and a win on Saturday could bolster the "Dawgs" for strong finish and help salvage what has been a disappointing season so far. The Gators will be out to prove why they are ranked as number one in the land. After what some have called lackluster performances against some inferior opponents the Florida squad will be playing with a small chip on their shoulders.
A big win and a strong statistical day for Tim Tebow could vault the Gator quarterback into a Heisman race in which there is no clear cut leader emerging. Tebow has said that the Heisman is not his biggest concern, but rather winning the national championship for the Gator Nation is his goal for the season. A good day could accomplish both feats though.
Offensive coordinator and line coach, Steve Addazio, is leaning toward starting two freshmen lineman on Saturday, Sam Robey and Xavier Nixon, both could get the start after the Gators allowed nine sacks in their last two SEC games.
The Gators will also be welcoming back Brandon Spikes and three other starters to the line-up . Spikes sat out the Mississippi State game. He was dressed but saw no playing time in Starksville because of a hamstring injury.
It was also just announced today that Tim Tebow is one of 16 finalists for the Campbell Trophy that is awarded to the top senior-athlete in football every season.
The PAC-10 picture will come a little more into focus after this weekend as #5 USC travels up the coast to take on the #10 Oregon Ducks. The Ducks have done a masterful job of putting behind them the opening night loss at Boise State and the after game pyrotechnics. Coach Chip Kelly has his team focused on the job at hand. USC head coach Pete Carroll has done the same with the Trojans. After getting upset by Washington the Trojans have been chewing through opponents with reckless abandon and setting up this game with the Ducks in a showdown that will more than likely decide the PAC-10 champion.
The #3 Texas Longhorns have another big test this weekend as they take on the #14 Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Cowboys will be without former Heisman candidate Dez Bryant who has been suspended by the NCAA for lying about contact with former NFL player Deion Sanders. The Longhorns will be playing for a chance to move up to the #1 or #2 spot in the rankings with a big win over a ranked opponent. Colt McCoy, just like Tim Tebow, will vault himself into the lead of Heisman talk with a big game in the national media's eyes.
Another SEC game that needs some attention is #22 South Carolina traveling to Knoxville to take on Tennessee. All has been quiet this week on the Lane Kiffin front but Kiffin ran his mouth earlier this year with comments about Gamecock head ball coach Steve Spurrier. We all know if given the chance Spurrier will run it up to prove a point to the SEC rookie Volunteer head coach.
Other games to keep your eyes on #25 Ole Miss visits Auburn. Which Ole Miss team will show up and for that matter which Auburn team will come out of the tunnel. #19 Miami is back in action, traveling to Winston-Salem to take on Wake Forest, after losing in overtime to Clemson.
After a big win of BYU last week #6 TCU hosts UNLV in what could be a trap game for the Horned Frogs.
FSU celebrates homecoming this Saturday by welcoming NC State into Doak Campbell Stadium. This will be a battle of two very good quarterbacks in Seminole Christian Ponder and the Wolfpack's Russell Wilson. It should be a high scoring affair and be highly entertaining if you like touchdowns and big plays.
Upsets of the week, and I have two, Syracuse shocks #8 Cincinnati and hopeless and hapless Indiana pulls off the major upset of #4 Iowa.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Florida / Georgia
"The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" kicks off today in Jacksonville, Florida site of the annual Florida/ Georgia game. Here are some quick facts about the rivalry:
--First game was played in 1915 in Jacksonville, FL and won by the Bulldogs 37-0
--Other cities to host Florida/Georgia Game - Athens, GA - Savannah, GA - Tampa, FL - Gainesville, FL
--Game has been played in Jacksonville every year since 1933 except for two years (1994-1995) when it was played at each schools home field because of renovations for the Jacksonville Jaguars at the stadium in Jacksonville
--Georgia leads series 46-38-2
--Florida has won 16 of last 20 meetings.
--It took Florida seven games before they found victory in the rivalry. First win came in 1928.
-- Longest winning streak in rivalry. Georgia 7 games (1941-1948) Florida 7 games (1990-1996)
--Shut outs in the rivalry. Georgia has 14 and Florida has five.
--Largest margin of victory (75 points) Georgia win in 1942. 75-0
--Florida largest margin of victory (40 points) in 1996
--Florida's most point scored in a game (52) twice in 1994 and 1995.
--Lowest scoring game. 0-0 tie in 1930
--Florida / Georgia game has it's own Hall of Fame. Georgia has 32 members and Florida 31.
--Florida has won 3 of the last 4 meetings. The teams have split the last two meetings.
MEMORABLE GAMES
2008- BOTH TEAMS RANKED IN THE TOP TEN. FLORIDA THROTTLES GEORGIA 49-10. THE LOSS IS THE WORST IN GEORGIA HEAD COACH MARK RICHT'S CAREER AND SECOND WORST LOSS FOR GEORGIA PERIOD. FLORIDA ALSO OWNS THE RECORD FOR THE WORST LOSS IN GEORGIA HISTORY IN 1997 LOSING 47-7
2007 -THE WHOLE GEORGIA TEAM RUSHING THE FIELD AND CELEBRATING THE BULLDOGS FIRST SCORE OF THE GAME BY STOMPING THE GATOR IN FLORIDA'S ENDZONE. GEORGIA WINS 42-30.
1995- STEVE SPURRIER CALLS A FLEA FLICKER WITH FIVE MINUTES TO PLAY UP 45-17 TO SCORE A TOUCHDOWN. WHY? "TO SCORE HALF A HUNDRED" SPURRIER SAID, "WE HEARD KNOW ONE HAD EVER DOWN THAT BETWEEN THE HEDGES". NO ONE HAD AND IT SERVES AS GEORGIA'S WORST HOME DEFEAT IN ITS HISTORY.
1985 - THE GATORS COME INTO JACKSONVILLE UNDEFEATED AND RANKED #1 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY. BULLDOGS SPOIL THE PARTY BY UPSETTING THE GATORS 24-3.
1980 - THE CALL MADE FAMOUS BY GEORGIA ANNOUNCER LARRY MUNSON. "LINDSAY SCOTT, LINDSAY SCOTT, LINDSAY SCOTT". GEORGIA COMES FROM BEHIND TO WIN 26-21 AND GOES ON TO WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
--First game was played in 1915 in Jacksonville, FL and won by the Bulldogs 37-0
--Other cities to host Florida/Georgia Game - Athens, GA - Savannah, GA - Tampa, FL - Gainesville, FL
--Game has been played in Jacksonville every year since 1933 except for two years (1994-1995) when it was played at each schools home field because of renovations for the Jacksonville Jaguars at the stadium in Jacksonville
--Georgia leads series 46-38-2
--Florida has won 16 of last 20 meetings.
--It took Florida seven games before they found victory in the rivalry. First win came in 1928.
-- Longest winning streak in rivalry. Georgia 7 games (1941-1948) Florida 7 games (1990-1996)
--Shut outs in the rivalry. Georgia has 14 and Florida has five.
--Largest margin of victory (75 points) Georgia win in 1942. 75-0
--Florida largest margin of victory (40 points) in 1996
--Florida's most point scored in a game (52) twice in 1994 and 1995.
--Lowest scoring game. 0-0 tie in 1930
--Florida / Georgia game has it's own Hall of Fame. Georgia has 32 members and Florida 31.
--Florida has won 3 of the last 4 meetings. The teams have split the last two meetings.
MEMORABLE GAMES
2008- BOTH TEAMS RANKED IN THE TOP TEN. FLORIDA THROTTLES GEORGIA 49-10. THE LOSS IS THE WORST IN GEORGIA HEAD COACH MARK RICHT'S CAREER AND SECOND WORST LOSS FOR GEORGIA PERIOD. FLORIDA ALSO OWNS THE RECORD FOR THE WORST LOSS IN GEORGIA HISTORY IN 1997 LOSING 47-7
2007 -THE WHOLE GEORGIA TEAM RUSHING THE FIELD AND CELEBRATING THE BULLDOGS FIRST SCORE OF THE GAME BY STOMPING THE GATOR IN FLORIDA'S ENDZONE. GEORGIA WINS 42-30.
1995- STEVE SPURRIER CALLS A FLEA FLICKER WITH FIVE MINUTES TO PLAY UP 45-17 TO SCORE A TOUCHDOWN. WHY? "TO SCORE HALF A HUNDRED" SPURRIER SAID, "WE HEARD KNOW ONE HAD EVER DOWN THAT BETWEEN THE HEDGES". NO ONE HAD AND IT SERVES AS GEORGIA'S WORST HOME DEFEAT IN ITS HISTORY.
1985 - THE GATORS COME INTO JACKSONVILLE UNDEFEATED AND RANKED #1 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY. BULLDOGS SPOIL THE PARTY BY UPSETTING THE GATORS 24-3.
1980 - THE CALL MADE FAMOUS BY GEORGIA ANNOUNCER LARRY MUNSON. "LINDSAY SCOTT, LINDSAY SCOTT, LINDSAY SCOTT". GEORGIA COMES FROM BEHIND TO WIN 26-21 AND GOES ON TO WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
This Weekend
I would normally come on today and blog about what is going to be happening this weekend in college football, like the Florida/ Georgia game or FSU taking on NC State this weekend but today is different. Today I'm not really going to talk college football but about something that is more important to me.
On October 29, 1994. I married the woman of my dreams and this Friday we will celebrating of 15th wedding anniversary. By no means am I the perfect husband, I have my flaws. Our marriage has produced six wonderful children, three biological and three adopted. Our marriage has been a challenge every day, like any marriage, and we work at it everyday. As in any marriage it has had it's up and downs. We have persevered through the good times and bad times. We have laughed and cried together. Through all that time the one thing that has always bonded us together and helped us overcome any obstacle as husband and wife, is that she is my best friend and supports me in what ever I do as I do with her.
Yes, sometimes she will roll her eyes at me and chuckle and say, "Really", when I'm so concerned about college football, my Noles and the season but she is always beside me while watching on television or at a game. Does she like college football? I don't know, she's never said she doesn't, I hope so, because if not she's sacrificed many a night or day for my love of the game. Lord knows I think she could be doing something that interests her more but the game is our time together. Our time to hang out and forget about life's little problems for awhile and we do it together. She helps me with blog ideas and will e-mail me stories she thinks I might not have seen. She even started proofing my blog posts more often to cut down on my mistakes. (if this blog isn't correct it is because she didn't proof it). She even didn't mind that, actually her idea, that our basement has a sports theme and is more of man's den than a family tv room. The walls are even garnet and gold and Seminole propaganda adorns most of the walls with other sports memorabilia.
I have a serious addicting to college football. I watch games on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and all day Saturday. I scour websites for news and information. I read the trade papers, sports page and sports news magazines to gather information. I watch the pre-game shows and post game wrap-ups on television. I watch the coaches shows when I can to get insight and reaction.I pour over stats on the teams websites looking at the match-ups and to do the comparisons. I spend hours on the Internet researching. I get on facebook and talk college football. I spend time working on this blog and in photobucket for the blog. I attend games and practices when I can. College football season is my favorite time of year and I spend countless hours related to the game.
Throw into the mix that I have four active children who play sports year round and I work full time my slate is pretty full during the season.
I want to take this time to say thank you and I love you to my wife who puts up with a lot of stuff during this time of year and who sacrifices her time and our alone time for my love of college football.
To be honest, after all these years I don't think I could make it through the season with seeing my wife sitting next to me or hearing my wife telling me to "sit down", "be quiet", "quit being so loud", ""calm down it's just a game, "quit jumping around like that the kids are trying to sleep", "what is wrong with you" or "are you serious", on game days. It wouldn't be the same.
I love you and Happy Anniversary and, oh can't forget, "GO NOLES".
On October 29, 1994. I married the woman of my dreams and this Friday we will celebrating of 15th wedding anniversary. By no means am I the perfect husband, I have my flaws. Our marriage has produced six wonderful children, three biological and three adopted. Our marriage has been a challenge every day, like any marriage, and we work at it everyday. As in any marriage it has had it's up and downs. We have persevered through the good times and bad times. We have laughed and cried together. Through all that time the one thing that has always bonded us together and helped us overcome any obstacle as husband and wife, is that she is my best friend and supports me in what ever I do as I do with her.
Yes, sometimes she will roll her eyes at me and chuckle and say, "Really", when I'm so concerned about college football, my Noles and the season but she is always beside me while watching on television or at a game. Does she like college football? I don't know, she's never said she doesn't, I hope so, because if not she's sacrificed many a night or day for my love of the game. Lord knows I think she could be doing something that interests her more but the game is our time together. Our time to hang out and forget about life's little problems for awhile and we do it together. She helps me with blog ideas and will e-mail me stories she thinks I might not have seen. She even started proofing my blog posts more often to cut down on my mistakes. (if this blog isn't correct it is because she didn't proof it). She even didn't mind that, actually her idea, that our basement has a sports theme and is more of man's den than a family tv room. The walls are even garnet and gold and Seminole propaganda adorns most of the walls with other sports memorabilia.
I have a serious addicting to college football. I watch games on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and all day Saturday. I scour websites for news and information. I read the trade papers, sports page and sports news magazines to gather information. I watch the pre-game shows and post game wrap-ups on television. I watch the coaches shows when I can to get insight and reaction.I pour over stats on the teams websites looking at the match-ups and to do the comparisons. I spend hours on the Internet researching. I get on facebook and talk college football. I spend time working on this blog and in photobucket for the blog. I attend games and practices when I can. College football season is my favorite time of year and I spend countless hours related to the game.
Throw into the mix that I have four active children who play sports year round and I work full time my slate is pretty full during the season.
I want to take this time to say thank you and I love you to my wife who puts up with a lot of stuff during this time of year and who sacrifices her time and our alone time for my love of college football.
To be honest, after all these years I don't think I could make it through the season with seeing my wife sitting next to me or hearing my wife telling me to "sit down", "be quiet", "quit being so loud", ""calm down it's just a game, "quit jumping around like that the kids are trying to sleep", "what is wrong with you" or "are you serious", on game days. It wouldn't be the same.
I love you and Happy Anniversary and, oh can't forget, "GO NOLES".
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Gators the Best?....Really?
After watching the Florida Gators dispatch the Mississippi State Bulldogs, I learned a few things. The Gators do not have an offense and Tim Tebow misses Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy. The Gators do not have a go-to receiver who has that big play capability. While Riley Cooper and Aaron Hernandez are good possession receivers the Gators don't have that big play go-to guy. Their offense is anemic. They will have to find some offense if they expect to win a national championship. Tebow is suffering and has played his way out of any consideration for a Heisman Trophy.
The Gators let Mississippi State stay in the game way too long and Bulldogs had a chance to pull it out up until three minutes to play. This is the fourth game this season that Gators have looked more than beatable by what most would consider a lesser opponent. Except for the LSU game, the Gators look like a team that could fall to any team in the land. On the flip side they have won and that is what a national championship contender is supposed to do, but again, they look very vulnerable.
The Alabama Crimson Tide are also showing the same problems as the Gators. The Tide have a great defense but no offense. Except for Mark Ingram running the ball the Tide have little else. Tide quarterback Greg McElroy is playing with absolutely no confidence and will have to step up if the Tide hope to contend for a national title. Tennessee gave the Tide all they could handle and the Tide had to rely on a blocked field goal at home to escape with the win. Tennessee statistically should have won the game and left Tuscaloosa with the victory, squashing the Tides chances at a national championship. Again, just like the Gators, Bama looks very beatable. And also just like the Gators, have an offense that needs to be found.
If there is one team that has it going for them right now, on both sides of the ball and based on the current rankings, Texas, may be the best team in the country. Colt McCoy and the Longhorns devoured the Missouri Tigers on national television Saturday night and made a statement. After less than two quarters the outcome of the game was never in doubt and Texas made a huge impact on the national football audience.
I'll give you my top five teams right now and my top five Heisman candidates:
Top Five Teams:
1) Texas
2) Cincinnati
3) Alabama
4) TCU
5) Florida
Top Five Heisman Candidates:
1) CJ Spiller - Clemson
2) Mark Ingram - Alabama
3) Colt McCoy - Texas
4) Golden Tate - Notre Dame
5) Christian Ponder - Florida State
The Gators let Mississippi State stay in the game way too long and Bulldogs had a chance to pull it out up until three minutes to play. This is the fourth game this season that Gators have looked more than beatable by what most would consider a lesser opponent. Except for the LSU game, the Gators look like a team that could fall to any team in the land. On the flip side they have won and that is what a national championship contender is supposed to do, but again, they look very vulnerable.
The Alabama Crimson Tide are also showing the same problems as the Gators. The Tide have a great defense but no offense. Except for Mark Ingram running the ball the Tide have little else. Tide quarterback Greg McElroy is playing with absolutely no confidence and will have to step up if the Tide hope to contend for a national title. Tennessee gave the Tide all they could handle and the Tide had to rely on a blocked field goal at home to escape with the win. Tennessee statistically should have won the game and left Tuscaloosa with the victory, squashing the Tides chances at a national championship. Again, just like the Gators, Bama looks very beatable. And also just like the Gators, have an offense that needs to be found.
If there is one team that has it going for them right now, on both sides of the ball and based on the current rankings, Texas, may be the best team in the country. Colt McCoy and the Longhorns devoured the Missouri Tigers on national television Saturday night and made a statement. After less than two quarters the outcome of the game was never in doubt and Texas made a huge impact on the national football audience.
I'll give you my top five teams right now and my top five Heisman candidates:
Top Five Teams:
1) Texas
2) Cincinnati
3) Alabama
4) TCU
5) Florida
Top Five Heisman Candidates:
1) CJ Spiller - Clemson
2) Mark Ingram - Alabama
3) Colt McCoy - Texas
4) Golden Tate - Notre Dame
5) Christian Ponder - Florida State
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Christian Ponder and the Weekend Ahead
Before I get into what lies ahead this weekend and what to watch out for I want to interject this. With all the problems and controversy the Florida State Seminoles are having this year they have found and Jimbo Fisher has developed a real Heisman Candidate in quarterback Christian Ponder. While everything else has gone wrong for the Noles this season, Ponder has been rock steady and definitely is one of the reasons that head coach Bobby Bowden would want to coach another season, Ponder's senior year. Ponder is a NFL future quarterback. He has shown the pocket presence and maturity that the Noles have missed since Chris Weinke. Last nights win and 18-point comeback over North Carolina on national television should have proved to the college football world that Ponder is truly deserving of some Heisman recognition, if not this year than he will be an early candidate next year. Without Ponder in the game, carving up the #1 pass defense in country, the Noles lose and lose big. It was a big win for Noles, for Ponder and for the program that showed some true grit in the face of some serious adversity. The boys from Tallahassee showed some spunk and that there is some left in the tank.
The biggest game of the weekend is between #8 TCU and #16 Brigham Young in Provo. TCU will be out to prove that should be considered for BCS birth. The Horned Frogs have wins on the road against Virginia and Clemson and this will be their first ranked opponent of the season. TCU will have to win and do it in an impressive fashion for the poll voters. They will have only one more game against a ranked opponent, that being #18 Utah. BYU on the other hand is out to prove the home loss to Florida State was a fluke and a victory over the #8 team in the land will go a long way. Last year TCU burst BYU's BCS buster bubble by defeating the Cougars at home. (Say that five times fast)
#12 Georgia Tech gets to travel to Virginia to take on the Cavaliers. Virginia started the season with three straight losses and it looked like Al Groh's future as head coach was coming to an end but just like they seem to do every season they started reeling off some wins. This could be a trap game for Tech coming off the win over Virginia Tech.
South Florida travels to #20 Pittsburgh and will try to get over the loss to Cincinnati. Pittsburgh will be making that late season push for a Big East title.
Michigan will have chance to start showing they are further along with the rebuilding project than expected, under Rich Rodriquez by pulling off a win over #13 Penn State at home in the "Big House".
#2 Alabama gets to host Tennessee. Which Volunteer team will show up is the big question. The Tide should take care of the Volunteers easily but Lane Kiffin will have his team fired up for this SEC match-up in Tuscaloosa.
The best three loss team in the country, Oklahoma, will put some pride on the line as they take to the road against #25 Kansas. Coming off the loss to Texas and the loss of Sam Bradford, now for the season, the Sooners turn to the future for good with QB Landry Jones. The Sooners now look to ruin some seasons. The Jayhawks last tasted victory over Oklahoma in 1997.
The #1 Florida Gators travel to Starkville to take on former offensive coordinator Dan Mullen and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Gators have dropped four straight in Starkville and last won there in 1985. The last time the Gators went into this game undefeated in did not end very well for the orange and blue. There will be lots of noise and cowbells and Tebow and the bunch will probably want to bring some aspirin. It's going to be a headache for the Gators all day and this could be the game that ends the Gators hopes for a national championship.
Also keep your eyes on these match-ups, Clemson @ #10 Miami, #6 Iowa @ Michigan State, Minnesota @ #19 Ohio State, Auburn @ #9 LSU and #11 Oregon @ Washington.
The biggest game of the weekend is between #8 TCU and #16 Brigham Young in Provo. TCU will be out to prove that should be considered for BCS birth. The Horned Frogs have wins on the road against Virginia and Clemson and this will be their first ranked opponent of the season. TCU will have to win and do it in an impressive fashion for the poll voters. They will have only one more game against a ranked opponent, that being #18 Utah. BYU on the other hand is out to prove the home loss to Florida State was a fluke and a victory over the #8 team in the land will go a long way. Last year TCU burst BYU's BCS buster bubble by defeating the Cougars at home. (Say that five times fast)
#12 Georgia Tech gets to travel to Virginia to take on the Cavaliers. Virginia started the season with three straight losses and it looked like Al Groh's future as head coach was coming to an end but just like they seem to do every season they started reeling off some wins. This could be a trap game for Tech coming off the win over Virginia Tech.
South Florida travels to #20 Pittsburgh and will try to get over the loss to Cincinnati. Pittsburgh will be making that late season push for a Big East title.
Michigan will have chance to start showing they are further along with the rebuilding project than expected, under Rich Rodriquez by pulling off a win over #13 Penn State at home in the "Big House".
#2 Alabama gets to host Tennessee. Which Volunteer team will show up is the big question. The Tide should take care of the Volunteers easily but Lane Kiffin will have his team fired up for this SEC match-up in Tuscaloosa.
The best three loss team in the country, Oklahoma, will put some pride on the line as they take to the road against #25 Kansas. Coming off the loss to Texas and the loss of Sam Bradford, now for the season, the Sooners turn to the future for good with QB Landry Jones. The Sooners now look to ruin some seasons. The Jayhawks last tasted victory over Oklahoma in 1997.
The #1 Florida Gators travel to Starkville to take on former offensive coordinator Dan Mullen and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Gators have dropped four straight in Starkville and last won there in 1985. The last time the Gators went into this game undefeated in did not end very well for the orange and blue. There will be lots of noise and cowbells and Tebow and the bunch will probably want to bring some aspirin. It's going to be a headache for the Gators all day and this could be the game that ends the Gators hopes for a national championship.
Also keep your eyes on these match-ups, Clemson @ #10 Miami, #6 Iowa @ Michigan State, Minnesota @ #19 Ohio State, Auburn @ #9 LSU and #11 Oregon @ Washington.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Noles home for the Holidays
As a Florida State Seminole faithful I have put a lot of though into this post. It comes from the heart but also from some common sense.
It should come as no surprise that the Florida State Seminoles may not be heading to a bowl game this year and it is probably a good thing. I'm die hard garnet and gold but I feel that if the Noles were to go to a bowl game it would be a meaningless bowl and stunt the future growth and rebuilding that needs to be done at FSU. The time would be right for Bobby Bowden to say good-bye at the end of this season. I never thought the day would come when Coach Bowden would not be leaving on his own terms, for all he has done for the football program and university, but with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees having lost faith in Bowden, numerous influential booster members losing faith in Bowden and a team that has seemed to have lost direction it is obvious the time is right.
For the last few years it seems that the once proud Seminole football program has been losing ground on the rest of the elite programs and losing games. Is Coach Bowden to blame? Of course he is, Bowden is the head coach and with the failure of the program all fingers are pointed at him and deservedly so. He is the leader and the face of the football program and he knows that. My heart tells me that it can't be true but everyone needs to take a few steps back and take the emotion out of the equation and look at every program that has fallen on tough times a change is always made. Head coaches are dismissed, that is a reality. I do know that at the end of the season the Florida State administration will give Coach Bowden the opportunity to retire and I hope he does. There does come a time when a change is good and that time has come. In the best interest of Florida State I believe Bowden will take the high road and retire. Bowden's image and legacy will not be tarnished when he walks away at the end of the season. He is a legend and his status is very secure in my opinion, in the opinion of many Seminole faithful and the college football world. I know that Bobby would love to go out on top of the college football world as a National Champion or would settle for BCS bowl bid to finish his career but it is not in the cards and and it be years away and get much uglier, the time is right for him to walk away.
I have, as a Seminole faithful, no ill will towards Bobby Bowden. He built the program I love into what it is. He has brought more joy to this Seminole fan than I could ever express. He made the Seminole Nation proud and by walking away after this season he will be making the hardest decision of his coaching career but one of the best decisions he has ever made. I will shed a tear when Bobby makes the announcement as will many Nole fans not because of him leaving but because of all the great memories he gave us and college football.
Is Jimbo Fisher the right choice? I can't answer that question. All I know is that Bobby Bowden is not the answer and it hurts to say that. There will be a major overhaul of the coaching staff when Bowden leaves as the departures of Mickey Andrews and Chuck Amato will not be far behind. Bowden has always said, "surround yourself with great people and let them do their job." I hope that Jimbo Fisher does take that advice and brings in some capable people to assist him in bringing the Seminole program back to prominence.
It is a tough pill to swallow, thinking about going to or watching a Florida State football game without Coach Bowden on the sidelines but just as Alabama did with "Bear" Bryant we will learn to deal with it and keep our Tomahawk chops and war chants going for who ever is the new head coach patrolling the sidelines.
It should come as no surprise that the Florida State Seminoles may not be heading to a bowl game this year and it is probably a good thing. I'm die hard garnet and gold but I feel that if the Noles were to go to a bowl game it would be a meaningless bowl and stunt the future growth and rebuilding that needs to be done at FSU. The time would be right for Bobby Bowden to say good-bye at the end of this season. I never thought the day would come when Coach Bowden would not be leaving on his own terms, for all he has done for the football program and university, but with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees having lost faith in Bowden, numerous influential booster members losing faith in Bowden and a team that has seemed to have lost direction it is obvious the time is right.
For the last few years it seems that the once proud Seminole football program has been losing ground on the rest of the elite programs and losing games. Is Coach Bowden to blame? Of course he is, Bowden is the head coach and with the failure of the program all fingers are pointed at him and deservedly so. He is the leader and the face of the football program and he knows that. My heart tells me that it can't be true but everyone needs to take a few steps back and take the emotion out of the equation and look at every program that has fallen on tough times a change is always made. Head coaches are dismissed, that is a reality. I do know that at the end of the season the Florida State administration will give Coach Bowden the opportunity to retire and I hope he does. There does come a time when a change is good and that time has come. In the best interest of Florida State I believe Bowden will take the high road and retire. Bowden's image and legacy will not be tarnished when he walks away at the end of the season. He is a legend and his status is very secure in my opinion, in the opinion of many Seminole faithful and the college football world. I know that Bobby would love to go out on top of the college football world as a National Champion or would settle for BCS bowl bid to finish his career but it is not in the cards and and it be years away and get much uglier, the time is right for him to walk away.
I have, as a Seminole faithful, no ill will towards Bobby Bowden. He built the program I love into what it is. He has brought more joy to this Seminole fan than I could ever express. He made the Seminole Nation proud and by walking away after this season he will be making the hardest decision of his coaching career but one of the best decisions he has ever made. I will shed a tear when Bobby makes the announcement as will many Nole fans not because of him leaving but because of all the great memories he gave us and college football.
Is Jimbo Fisher the right choice? I can't answer that question. All I know is that Bobby Bowden is not the answer and it hurts to say that. There will be a major overhaul of the coaching staff when Bowden leaves as the departures of Mickey Andrews and Chuck Amato will not be far behind. Bowden has always said, "surround yourself with great people and let them do their job." I hope that Jimbo Fisher does take that advice and brings in some capable people to assist him in bringing the Seminole program back to prominence.
It is a tough pill to swallow, thinking about going to or watching a Florida State football game without Coach Bowden on the sidelines but just as Alabama did with "Bear" Bryant we will learn to deal with it and keep our Tomahawk chops and war chants going for who ever is the new head coach patrolling the sidelines.
Monday, October 19, 2009
100 Reasons to Love College Football
There are many reasons to love college football. I've listed my top 100 reasons. Feel free to leave a comment adding one of your favorite reasons to love college football. The top 100 reasons are in no particular order except for #1. Every one has a special meaning to me and personifies college football and sometimes not at it's best but makes or has made the game more interesting. It can be a person, game, play, event or anything related to college football.
100) Gordie Lockbaum- Holy Cross - 1987 Heisman Trophy candidate. Last true two way player.
99) USC vs. NOTRE DAME
98) Mike Leach - Texas Tech Head Coach
97) Brian Bosworth - University of Oklahoma
96) Bevo - University of Texas mascot
95) Blue / Gray Game
94) Prairie View A&M snapping longest losing streak in NCAA history.
93) Camp Randall - University of Wisconsin home field
92) The joy or agony felt when your team wins or loses.
91) The Cotton Bowl
90) Fumblerooski
89) Apple Cup - Washington vs. Washington State
88) New Years Day
87) Notre Dame Football Tradition
86) Lou Holtz
85) Penn State's Old School Uniforms
84) "The Big House" - University of Michigan home field
83) "Can't spell Outback Bowl without UT" - Steve Spurrier referring to University of Tennessee while coaching at Florida
82) ESPN's Gameday
81) Wide Right
80) Spring Practice
79) Bo Jackson - Auburn University
78) The Citadels pre-game walk of cadets to the stadium
77) Dave Remington - University of Nebraska
76) The Fiesta Bowl
75) Upsets
74) The Outland Trophy
73) Chris Zorich - Notre Dame
72) Colt McCoy- University of Texas, great football name
71) UGA - University of Georgia mascot
70) A blackout, white-out, red-out or any color -out
69) Myron Rolle - Florida State University and Rhodes Scholar
68) Paul "Bear" Bryant - University of Alabama head coach
67) Texas players and coaches singing "Eyes of Texas" after game.
66) Doug Flutie - Boston College
65) Touchdown Jesus
64) Larry Munson - University of Georgia radio announcer
63)Michigan vs. Ohio State
62) Michie Stadium - on the campus of West Point
61) The Choke at Doak
60) The fake punt
59) Bronco Stadium - Boise State home field
58) The play - California vs. Stanford. Multiple laterals and a dash through the band for a game winning touchdown as time ran out.
57) The old "Orange Bowl"
56) Tony Dorsett - University of Pittsburgh
55) Paul Bunyan Trophy - Michigan vs. Michigan State
54) Howard's Rock - Clemson University
53) Woody Hayes - Ohio State University head coach
52) Old school wishbone offense
51) Brent Musberger - ABC/ESPN
50) Ralphie- University of Colorado mascot
49) Georgia vs. Florida
48) Marshall University
47) Jimmy Johnson - University of Miami head coach
46) Harvard vs. Yale
45) Oklahoma Sooner Schooner
44) Archie Griffin - Ohio State University
43) Boise State beating Oklahoma in BCS Bowl Game
42) Penn State vs. Florida State Orange Bowl triple overtime
41) Appalachian State upsetting Michigan on the road
40) The Holiday Bowl
39) Memorial Stadium - "Death Valley" - Clemson home field
38) "Free Shoe University" - Steve Spurrier while coaching at Florida
37) The Iron Bowl - Auburn vs. Alabama
36)Bo Schembechler - University of Michigan head coach
35) Spring Practice
34) Lavalle Edwards - Brigham Young University head coach
33) Doak Campbell Stadium - Florida State University home field
32) Doug Flutie to Gerald Phelan (Boston College) hail mary to beat Miami
31) Keith Jackson - "Whoa Nellie" - ABC Sports
30) Bobby Bowden - Florida State University head coach
29) The Sugar Bowl
28) The 12th Man - Texas A&M
27)University of Tennessee band playing Rocky Top
26) World's Largest Cocktail Party - Jacksonville, FL
correction "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party"
25) The Horseshoe - Ohio State University home field
24) Little Brown Jug - Minnesota vs. Michigan
23)The Heisman Trophy
22)Tomahawk Chop
21) Convict vs. Catholics - Notre Dame vs. Miami rivalry
20) Baton Rouge on a Saturday night
19) Florida A&M Marching Rattlers
18) Gene Deckerhoff - radio voice of Florida State
17) Coach "Visor" - Steve Spurrier University of South Carolina head ball coach
16) Gator Chomp
15) Tom Osbourne - University of Nebraska head coach
14) Red River Rivalry
13) Playing between the hedges - University of Georgia
12) Florida Field - "The Swamp"
11)Joe Paterno - Penn State University head coach
10) Albert - University of Florida mascot
9) Chief Osceola and Renegade
8) The Rose Bowl
7) Florida State vs. Florida
6) Joe Montana's Cotton Bowl Comeback
5) Army/Navy Game
4) Tim Tebow - University of Florida
3) Eddie Robinson - Grambling head coach
2) Pre-Season rankings - when hope is eternal
1) The young men that play the game
100) Gordie Lockbaum- Holy Cross - 1987 Heisman Trophy candidate. Last true two way player.
99) USC vs. NOTRE DAME
98) Mike Leach - Texas Tech Head Coach
97) Brian Bosworth - University of Oklahoma
96) Bevo - University of Texas mascot
95) Blue / Gray Game
94) Prairie View A&M snapping longest losing streak in NCAA history.
93) Camp Randall - University of Wisconsin home field
92) The joy or agony felt when your team wins or loses.
91) The Cotton Bowl
90) Fumblerooski
89) Apple Cup - Washington vs. Washington State
88) New Years Day
87) Notre Dame Football Tradition
86) Lou Holtz
85) Penn State's Old School Uniforms
84) "The Big House" - University of Michigan home field
83) "Can't spell Outback Bowl without UT" - Steve Spurrier referring to University of Tennessee while coaching at Florida
82) ESPN's Gameday
81) Wide Right
80) Spring Practice
79) Bo Jackson - Auburn University
78) The Citadels pre-game walk of cadets to the stadium
77) Dave Remington - University of Nebraska
76) The Fiesta Bowl
75) Upsets
74) The Outland Trophy
73) Chris Zorich - Notre Dame
72) Colt McCoy- University of Texas, great football name
71) UGA - University of Georgia mascot
70) A blackout, white-out, red-out or any color -out
69) Myron Rolle - Florida State University and Rhodes Scholar
68) Paul "Bear" Bryant - University of Alabama head coach
67) Texas players and coaches singing "Eyes of Texas" after game.
66) Doug Flutie - Boston College
65) Touchdown Jesus
64) Larry Munson - University of Georgia radio announcer
63)Michigan vs. Ohio State
62) Michie Stadium - on the campus of West Point
61) The Choke at Doak
60) The fake punt
59) Bronco Stadium - Boise State home field
58) The play - California vs. Stanford. Multiple laterals and a dash through the band for a game winning touchdown as time ran out.
57) The old "Orange Bowl"
56) Tony Dorsett - University of Pittsburgh
55) Paul Bunyan Trophy - Michigan vs. Michigan State
54) Howard's Rock - Clemson University
53) Woody Hayes - Ohio State University head coach
52) Old school wishbone offense
51) Brent Musberger - ABC/ESPN
50) Ralphie- University of Colorado mascot
49) Georgia vs. Florida
48) Marshall University
47) Jimmy Johnson - University of Miami head coach
46) Harvard vs. Yale
45) Oklahoma Sooner Schooner
44) Archie Griffin - Ohio State University
43) Boise State beating Oklahoma in BCS Bowl Game
42) Penn State vs. Florida State Orange Bowl triple overtime
41) Appalachian State upsetting Michigan on the road
40) The Holiday Bowl
39) Memorial Stadium - "Death Valley" - Clemson home field
38) "Free Shoe University" - Steve Spurrier while coaching at Florida
37) The Iron Bowl - Auburn vs. Alabama
36)Bo Schembechler - University of Michigan head coach
35) Spring Practice
34) Lavalle Edwards - Brigham Young University head coach
33) Doak Campbell Stadium - Florida State University home field
32) Doug Flutie to Gerald Phelan (Boston College) hail mary to beat Miami
31) Keith Jackson - "Whoa Nellie" - ABC Sports
30) Bobby Bowden - Florida State University head coach
29) The Sugar Bowl
28) The 12th Man - Texas A&M
27)University of Tennessee band playing Rocky Top
26) World's Largest Cocktail Party - Jacksonville, FL
correction "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party"
25) The Horseshoe - Ohio State University home field
24) Little Brown Jug - Minnesota vs. Michigan
23)The Heisman Trophy
22)Tomahawk Chop
21) Convict vs. Catholics - Notre Dame vs. Miami rivalry
20) Baton Rouge on a Saturday night
19) Florida A&M Marching Rattlers
18) Gene Deckerhoff - radio voice of Florida State
17) Coach "Visor" - Steve Spurrier University of South Carolina head ball coach
16) Gator Chomp
15) Tom Osbourne - University of Nebraska head coach
14) Red River Rivalry
13) Playing between the hedges - University of Georgia
12) Florida Field - "The Swamp"
11)Joe Paterno - Penn State University head coach
10) Albert - University of Florida mascot
9) Chief Osceola and Renegade
8) The Rose Bowl
7) Florida State vs. Florida
6) Joe Montana's Cotton Bowl Comeback
5) Army/Navy Game
4) Tim Tebow - University of Florida
3) Eddie Robinson - Grambling head coach
2) Pre-Season rankings - when hope is eternal
1) The young men that play the game
Sunday, October 18, 2009
BCS and Who's #1
The polls are out and they are split, Florida is #1 in USA/ESPN poll and Alabama is #1 in the Associated Press poll. The BCS rankings are out and and Florida is one and Alabama is two.
So what did we learn from this weekend?
We learned that Florida got all they could handle from Arkansas. A final second field goal by Caleb Sturgis sealed the deal for the Gators. The Gator Nation though was on edge all game as the Razorbacks put up a fight more than was expected. After Arkansas missed their field goal toward the end of the game and left the Gators around two minutes to come up the field was their any doubt that Tim Tebow would not get the Gators in field goal range. Every game is not easy but the Gator are being exposed a little on offense, Tennessee, LSU and now Arkansas proved that the Gators are very beatable.
While Alabama dispatched South Carolina is was not without a fight either. The Crimson Tide again proved that if they win the National Championship they will do it by riding their defense. The offense is very serviceable and sophomore running back Mark Ingram is now getting whispers of some Heisman Trophy recognition after his big game against the Gamecocks.
Texas handed the Oklahoma Sooners their third loss of the season and stayed undefeated. More importantly though, the Sooners have lost Sam Bradford possibly for the season. A lot of questions came up when Tim Tebow when out with his head injury and whether or not he came back to early. No one questioned the Bradford injury but after reaggrevating the shoulder against the Longhorns maybe Bradford was the one that came back to soon.
The University of Southern California escaped a land mine in South Bend, IN by a nose against Notre Dame. A goal line stop ended the Irish dreams of getting into the BCS mix. The Irish though proved that they are on the mend and can hang with the big dogs of major college football.
The Purdue Boilermakers shocked Ohio State. With the loss the Buckeyes are now on the outside looking in for a BCS bowl bid. In other the Big Ten football the Iowa Hawkeyes keep plugging along, picking up a win over Wisconisn this weekend. The Hawkeyes are now undefeated, but ranked #11 and will find it very difficult to leap frog the teams in front of them. Kirk Ferentz has done a masterful job coaching the Hawkeyes this season but an undefeated season may be all they have to show for it. They are going to get no chance to play for National Championship or even be considered, even if they run the table.
So what have we learned, the battle for the National Championship is muddled and proving once again that a playoff system is needed in major college football. Too many good teams are going to be left out of the loop when the BCS Bowls are announced. We also learned that the Heisman Trophy picture is also as muddled as ever as well. Right now no player has had that marquee game to separate himself from the field.
One thing we all know is that if we are going to preach that parity if good for the game of college football then we need to let the teams settle it on the field and not in the polls and not by a computer. Who is the best team in the country, many of them have an argument but only two will get to prove it on the field.
So what did we learn from this weekend?
We learned that Florida got all they could handle from Arkansas. A final second field goal by Caleb Sturgis sealed the deal for the Gators. The Gator Nation though was on edge all game as the Razorbacks put up a fight more than was expected. After Arkansas missed their field goal toward the end of the game and left the Gators around two minutes to come up the field was their any doubt that Tim Tebow would not get the Gators in field goal range. Every game is not easy but the Gator are being exposed a little on offense, Tennessee, LSU and now Arkansas proved that the Gators are very beatable.
While Alabama dispatched South Carolina is was not without a fight either. The Crimson Tide again proved that if they win the National Championship they will do it by riding their defense. The offense is very serviceable and sophomore running back Mark Ingram is now getting whispers of some Heisman Trophy recognition after his big game against the Gamecocks.
Texas handed the Oklahoma Sooners their third loss of the season and stayed undefeated. More importantly though, the Sooners have lost Sam Bradford possibly for the season. A lot of questions came up when Tim Tebow when out with his head injury and whether or not he came back to early. No one questioned the Bradford injury but after reaggrevating the shoulder against the Longhorns maybe Bradford was the one that came back to soon.
The University of Southern California escaped a land mine in South Bend, IN by a nose against Notre Dame. A goal line stop ended the Irish dreams of getting into the BCS mix. The Irish though proved that they are on the mend and can hang with the big dogs of major college football.
The Purdue Boilermakers shocked Ohio State. With the loss the Buckeyes are now on the outside looking in for a BCS bowl bid. In other the Big Ten football the Iowa Hawkeyes keep plugging along, picking up a win over Wisconisn this weekend. The Hawkeyes are now undefeated, but ranked #11 and will find it very difficult to leap frog the teams in front of them. Kirk Ferentz has done a masterful job coaching the Hawkeyes this season but an undefeated season may be all they have to show for it. They are going to get no chance to play for National Championship or even be considered, even if they run the table.
So what have we learned, the battle for the National Championship is muddled and proving once again that a playoff system is needed in major college football. Too many good teams are going to be left out of the loop when the BCS Bowls are announced. We also learned that the Heisman Trophy picture is also as muddled as ever as well. Right now no player has had that marquee game to separate himself from the field.
One thing we all know is that if we are going to preach that parity if good for the game of college football then we need to let the teams settle it on the field and not in the polls and not by a computer. Who is the best team in the country, many of them have an argument but only two will get to prove it on the field.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
BIG SATURDAY FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL
BIG SATURDAY FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL
It will be a big day for college football this Saturday as the picture will start to become a little clearer on the haves and have nots, the pretenders and the real deals. A couple of teams will be trying to salvage a season of frustration with one big win.
First we'll mention #5 Boise State keeping on track for a BCS Bowl bid with a 28-21 win over Tulsa on Wednesday night. This might have been the Broncos last big test of the year. They will just have to win out in all winnable games and yet again Boise State will show how unfair the system is and will not play for a National Championship but will be in a BCS bowl. Remember this is the same team that dropped Oklahoma a few years back in a BCS Bowl. Major college football needs a playoff. Write Obama a letter. If he can pull off the Nobel Peace Prize he can get this done.
Anyway, #20 Oklahoma can redeem it's season when it takes on #3 Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. Sam Bradford is back in the line-up and has one game under his belt to get back into game shape. Oklahoma would like nothing more than to ruin the Longhorns chance at a National Championship and Colt McCoy's shot at Heisman Trophy. Texas has looked beatable though this season and struggled for a half against Colorado last week. If Texas does win and wins with some style they will probably leap frog over Alabama is the Tide have any trouble with South Carolina.
MY PICK: OKLAHOMA
Want to know the problem with South Carolina and why no one is paying that much attention to them, even though they are ranked #22 in the country. They are a boring football team. That's right I said a Steve Spurrier coached team is boring. The Gamecocks rely heavily on their defense and have all season. As of late Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia has found a rhythm and the offense has come alive some, they will still count on the defense to shut down #2 Alabama this weekend. That is what poses the problem for Carolina, because the Tide will also be bringing a stout defense and but a more potent offense. Many are calling Bama the best team in SEC, yes, better than Florida and that they might be the best team in the country. A win for Bama and they must avoid any pitfalls the rest of the way and they will set themselves up for a clash with Florida in the SEC Championship game. If the Gamecocks should win Spurrier will have finally been able to get over the hump that has stalled the program for years, getting that big marquee win when they need it most.
MY PICK: ALABAMA
Throw out all the past records and stats. While the #6 USC- #25 Notre Dame game has lots of history this year the Irish are playing to show that they are back and should be considered in any BCS Bowl talks. Jimmy Claussen, the Domer's QB , has a hot hand right now. Both teams are coming off of bye weeks. This will be another big test for USC freshman QB, Matt Barkley on the road. Notre Dame is riding a seven game losing streak to the Trojans and have lost six straight games to opponents ranked in the top-ten. USC does bring to South Bend the 6th ranked defense in country. Notre Dames weak point this year has been its defense and we all know Southern Cal can score some points. A win on Saturday and the Irish get right into the thick of the BCS. A loss and USC considers the season a failure.
MY PICK: NOTRE DAME
The ACC has a marquee match-up this weekend with #4 Virginia Tech and #19 Georgia Tech. Frank Beamer and Bud Foster will have the Hokies ready to stop the vaunted Yellow Jacket option game. Georgia Tech has been able to move the ball almost at will against the teams they have played this year, but hey, Josh Nesbitt, this ain't FSU, this is Virginia Tech. The Jackets will test the Hokie D but come up short. The Yellow Jackets defense is as porous as a sponge and Hokie QB Tyrod Taylor will have a big day.
MY PICK: VIRGINIA TECH
The Big East also has a big game tonight on ESPN as #8 Cincinnati travels to Tampa to take on the #21 University of South Florida Bulls. The Bearcats have a QB that's being mentioned on the Heisman talk in Tony Pike. The Bulls are without start QB Matt Groethe who has been lost for the season with a knee injury. The Bulls are now being led by freshman B.J. Daniels who has responded to the call by leading the Bulls in wins over Florida State and Syracuse. In those two games Daniels has thrown for 423 yards and four touchdowns against two interceptions. Cincy's pass defense is suspect and if Daniels has a big day could mean trouble for the Bearcats and hopes of a BCS Bowl.
MY PICK: CINCINATTI
Keep your eye on #11 Iowa heading to Camp Randall to take on Wisconsin. Iowa is playing for chance at a Big 10 Championship and may be looking ahead to a Nov. 14 match-up with Ohio State. Wisconsin is coming off a big loss to Ohio State. The Badgers were able to move the ball and out gain the Buckeyes in yards but couldn't get it done on the scoreboard. It's a game Wisconsin thought they should have won.
MY PICK: WISCONSIN
It will be a big day for college football this Saturday as the picture will start to become a little clearer on the haves and have nots, the pretenders and the real deals. A couple of teams will be trying to salvage a season of frustration with one big win.
First we'll mention #5 Boise State keeping on track for a BCS Bowl bid with a 28-21 win over Tulsa on Wednesday night. This might have been the Broncos last big test of the year. They will just have to win out in all winnable games and yet again Boise State will show how unfair the system is and will not play for a National Championship but will be in a BCS bowl. Remember this is the same team that dropped Oklahoma a few years back in a BCS Bowl. Major college football needs a playoff. Write Obama a letter. If he can pull off the Nobel Peace Prize he can get this done.
Anyway, #20 Oklahoma can redeem it's season when it takes on #3 Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. Sam Bradford is back in the line-up and has one game under his belt to get back into game shape. Oklahoma would like nothing more than to ruin the Longhorns chance at a National Championship and Colt McCoy's shot at Heisman Trophy. Texas has looked beatable though this season and struggled for a half against Colorado last week. If Texas does win and wins with some style they will probably leap frog over Alabama is the Tide have any trouble with South Carolina.
MY PICK: OKLAHOMA
Want to know the problem with South Carolina and why no one is paying that much attention to them, even though they are ranked #22 in the country. They are a boring football team. That's right I said a Steve Spurrier coached team is boring. The Gamecocks rely heavily on their defense and have all season. As of late Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia has found a rhythm and the offense has come alive some, they will still count on the defense to shut down #2 Alabama this weekend. That is what poses the problem for Carolina, because the Tide will also be bringing a stout defense and but a more potent offense. Many are calling Bama the best team in SEC, yes, better than Florida and that they might be the best team in the country. A win for Bama and they must avoid any pitfalls the rest of the way and they will set themselves up for a clash with Florida in the SEC Championship game. If the Gamecocks should win Spurrier will have finally been able to get over the hump that has stalled the program for years, getting that big marquee win when they need it most.
MY PICK: ALABAMA
Throw out all the past records and stats. While the #6 USC- #25 Notre Dame game has lots of history this year the Irish are playing to show that they are back and should be considered in any BCS Bowl talks. Jimmy Claussen, the Domer's QB , has a hot hand right now. Both teams are coming off of bye weeks. This will be another big test for USC freshman QB, Matt Barkley on the road. Notre Dame is riding a seven game losing streak to the Trojans and have lost six straight games to opponents ranked in the top-ten. USC does bring to South Bend the 6th ranked defense in country. Notre Dames weak point this year has been its defense and we all know Southern Cal can score some points. A win on Saturday and the Irish get right into the thick of the BCS. A loss and USC considers the season a failure.
MY PICK: NOTRE DAME
The ACC has a marquee match-up this weekend with #4 Virginia Tech and #19 Georgia Tech. Frank Beamer and Bud Foster will have the Hokies ready to stop the vaunted Yellow Jacket option game. Georgia Tech has been able to move the ball almost at will against the teams they have played this year, but hey, Josh Nesbitt, this ain't FSU, this is Virginia Tech. The Jackets will test the Hokie D but come up short. The Yellow Jackets defense is as porous as a sponge and Hokie QB Tyrod Taylor will have a big day.
MY PICK: VIRGINIA TECH
The Big East also has a big game tonight on ESPN as #8 Cincinnati travels to Tampa to take on the #21 University of South Florida Bulls. The Bearcats have a QB that's being mentioned on the Heisman talk in Tony Pike. The Bulls are without start QB Matt Groethe who has been lost for the season with a knee injury. The Bulls are now being led by freshman B.J. Daniels who has responded to the call by leading the Bulls in wins over Florida State and Syracuse. In those two games Daniels has thrown for 423 yards and four touchdowns against two interceptions. Cincy's pass defense is suspect and if Daniels has a big day could mean trouble for the Bearcats and hopes of a BCS Bowl.
MY PICK: CINCINATTI
Keep your eye on #11 Iowa heading to Camp Randall to take on Wisconsin. Iowa is playing for chance at a Big 10 Championship and may be looking ahead to a Nov. 14 match-up with Ohio State. Wisconsin is coming off a big loss to Ohio State. The Badgers were able to move the ball and out gain the Buckeyes in yards but couldn't get it done on the scoreboard. It's a game Wisconsin thought they should have won.
MY PICK: WISCONSIN
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED AT HALFWAY
There are many interesting twists and turns to the college football world this season. At the half point of the season the cream is starting to rise to the top and some of the same players are still involved as they were last year. Here's a quick look at some of what we have learned so far this season.
Controlling Their Own Destiny
The University of Florida is still the team to beat in college football. They came into the season ranked #1 and have never let go. The meat of their schedule is just now starting to take form and they have passed the first true test by beating LSU on the road. Tim Tebow is nicknamed Superman and his only taste of kryptonite this season came from one of his own offensive lineman.
The Crimson Tide from the University of Alabama are starting to stake their claim as the best team in the SEC or for that matter in the country. They have moved to #2 in the most current rankings and continue to impress on the field with an overwhelming defense and a solid offense. Alabama is positioning itself for a big time showdown in the SEC Championship game that might just decide the National Championship. Bama does have some challenges ahead bit it appears that Coach Nick Saban is setting the Tide on a collision course with Florida.
The #3 Texas Longhorns continue to win football games but are losing ground in the polls and will more than likely find themselves behind Florida and Alabama when the Bowl Championship series standings come out. They have struggled a few time this season but are still undefeated. Undefeated and still losing ground doesn't make any sense but it is happening. They will need a big win this weekend against Oklahoma to leap frog back over Bama and regain the # 2 ranking.
Virginia Tech #4 is not the flashiest team ranked among the top four but coach Frank Beamer has the Hokies winning football games. They seemed to have found an offense and the Bud Foster coached defense is again living up to its reputation. A true test will come this weekend when the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets come to Blacksburg with their wishbone option attack. The Hokies opening day and only loss this season to Bama doesn't look that bad considering the Tide's #2 ranking.
Year in and year out #5 Boise State continues to be the one team outside of a BCS conference that fights it way into a BCS bowl and shows how unfair the system is and how much there is a need for a playoff in major college football. In it's only game this season against a ranked opponent the Broncos took care of business against Oregon. The rest of the schedule for the men in blue is one they should easily win out. They won't be playing for a National Championship but Bronco head coach Chris Peterson will find them playing in a BCS game. Since 2002 the Broncs have compiled an 85-11 record.
The #6 USC Trojans regret losing to an upstart Washington Huskie program. Pete Carroll rolled the dice with a freshmen quarterback and it seems to be paying dividends for the Men of Troy. The Trojans still have a couple of big games coming with Notre Dame this weekend and Oregon in two weeks.
Take away the week two loss to USC and the #7 Ohio State Buckeyes have played some solid ball. They will finish their season though with the toughest part of their schedule in the last three games. They have Penn State #14 on the road, Iowa #11 at home and then will finish the season against Michigan in the Big House.
#8 Cincinnati came into the season un-ranked and have fought their way up to eighth in the polls . Last years Big East champion is looking to repeat. They have a South Florida team this Thursday night on ESPN that comes into the game ranked #21. USF will be playing without Senior QB Matt Groethe who has been lost for the season due to a knee injury. If the Bearcats survive the Bulls only one more formidable challenge remains.,that's against Pitt. Cincy also has a Heisman Trophy candidate in QB Tony Pike.
Getting No Respect
They play in one of the toughest college football conferences outside of the SEC but the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes #11 are getting nothing from pollsters. Even the road win against Penn State has done little to boost the Hawkeyes past eleven. Iowa will have Nov. 14 circled on their calendar, that's when they face Ohio State in the Horseshoe. The Hawkeyes can not look past road trips to Camp Randall to take on Wisconsin and a trip to Michigan State.
TCU finds itself ranked #12 and chances of being a BCS buster are slim to none. Too many teams to jump over this late in the season. The Horned Frogs do have two games remaining against ranked teams with a road trip to Provo to take on #18 BYU and they get a visit from #24 Utah.
One team that still finds itself undefeated and not being mention much is the #17 Kansas Jayhawks. Part of the reason the Jayhawks are not getting mentioned much is because they really haven't beaten anyone yet. They do have some huge games for the program remaining though with match-ups against Oklahoma #20, Nebraska #15 and Texas #3. Not to mention Texas Tech and Mizzou.
PROGRAMS LURKING
It has been a big year for some programs to flex some muscle they once had. # 9 Miami handled a tough four game stretch against ranked teams to start the season at 3-1. #15 Nebraska is trying to make some noise in the Big 12. They will have some tough games coming up against #20 and Oklahoma and #17 Kansas. #25 Notre Dame is finding a way to win and Charlie Weiss is fighting for his job. Irish QB Jimmy Claussen is hot and being mentioned for the Heisman. The Domers don't have a tough schedule this year and a win against USC could go a long way.
There are a few teams that seem to be getting their house back in order Michigan, Texas A&M, Stanford, Auburn, Houston, Washington and South Carolina.
The Wheels on the Bus fell off, off.....off off......off off...The wheels on the bus fell....
Sam Bradford showed why he won a Heisman last year by missing almost the first half of the season. The Sooners have two losses without his leadership and are now looking to ruin some season for some of the contenders.
Mark Richt and the Georgia Bulldogs have laid an egg. Thought to be one of the premier programs in the SEC for this season the loss of Matt Stafford is showing. The "Worlds Largest Cocktail Party" won't be the same.
Coach Jim Tedford is on the hot seat after some devastating losses for his Cal football program. This was a team ranked in the top ten. They'll make a bowl game but not the one they wanted for this year.
Remember when everyone was touting Jevan Snead for the Heisman. Remember when everyone was talking about Ole Miss being a player in the SEC. Yeah, those are some fond memories.
FS-WHO?. The Noles have fallen and fallen hard. Four losses this season at half way and three in a row. Talk of Bobby Bowden being forced out of the program at years end. A lot of controversy surrounding this once great program.
North Carolina. Butch Davis was supposed to be building something in the Tar Heel state. He might well be on the way but the on-field results have shown some more growth is needed especially on the offensive side of the ball.
Controlling Their Own Destiny
The University of Florida is still the team to beat in college football. They came into the season ranked #1 and have never let go. The meat of their schedule is just now starting to take form and they have passed the first true test by beating LSU on the road. Tim Tebow is nicknamed Superman and his only taste of kryptonite this season came from one of his own offensive lineman.
The Crimson Tide from the University of Alabama are starting to stake their claim as the best team in the SEC or for that matter in the country. They have moved to #2 in the most current rankings and continue to impress on the field with an overwhelming defense and a solid offense. Alabama is positioning itself for a big time showdown in the SEC Championship game that might just decide the National Championship. Bama does have some challenges ahead bit it appears that Coach Nick Saban is setting the Tide on a collision course with Florida.
The #3 Texas Longhorns continue to win football games but are losing ground in the polls and will more than likely find themselves behind Florida and Alabama when the Bowl Championship series standings come out. They have struggled a few time this season but are still undefeated. Undefeated and still losing ground doesn't make any sense but it is happening. They will need a big win this weekend against Oklahoma to leap frog back over Bama and regain the # 2 ranking.
Virginia Tech #4 is not the flashiest team ranked among the top four but coach Frank Beamer has the Hokies winning football games. They seemed to have found an offense and the Bud Foster coached defense is again living up to its reputation. A true test will come this weekend when the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets come to Blacksburg with their wishbone option attack. The Hokies opening day and only loss this season to Bama doesn't look that bad considering the Tide's #2 ranking.
Year in and year out #5 Boise State continues to be the one team outside of a BCS conference that fights it way into a BCS bowl and shows how unfair the system is and how much there is a need for a playoff in major college football. In it's only game this season against a ranked opponent the Broncos took care of business against Oregon. The rest of the schedule for the men in blue is one they should easily win out. They won't be playing for a National Championship but Bronco head coach Chris Peterson will find them playing in a BCS game. Since 2002 the Broncs have compiled an 85-11 record.
The #6 USC Trojans regret losing to an upstart Washington Huskie program. Pete Carroll rolled the dice with a freshmen quarterback and it seems to be paying dividends for the Men of Troy. The Trojans still have a couple of big games coming with Notre Dame this weekend and Oregon in two weeks.
Take away the week two loss to USC and the #7 Ohio State Buckeyes have played some solid ball. They will finish their season though with the toughest part of their schedule in the last three games. They have Penn State #14 on the road, Iowa #11 at home and then will finish the season against Michigan in the Big House.
#8 Cincinnati came into the season un-ranked and have fought their way up to eighth in the polls . Last years Big East champion is looking to repeat. They have a South Florida team this Thursday night on ESPN that comes into the game ranked #21. USF will be playing without Senior QB Matt Groethe who has been lost for the season due to a knee injury. If the Bearcats survive the Bulls only one more formidable challenge remains.,that's against Pitt. Cincy also has a Heisman Trophy candidate in QB Tony Pike.
Getting No Respect
They play in one of the toughest college football conferences outside of the SEC but the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes #11 are getting nothing from pollsters. Even the road win against Penn State has done little to boost the Hawkeyes past eleven. Iowa will have Nov. 14 circled on their calendar, that's when they face Ohio State in the Horseshoe. The Hawkeyes can not look past road trips to Camp Randall to take on Wisconsin and a trip to Michigan State.
TCU finds itself ranked #12 and chances of being a BCS buster are slim to none. Too many teams to jump over this late in the season. The Horned Frogs do have two games remaining against ranked teams with a road trip to Provo to take on #18 BYU and they get a visit from #24 Utah.
One team that still finds itself undefeated and not being mention much is the #17 Kansas Jayhawks. Part of the reason the Jayhawks are not getting mentioned much is because they really haven't beaten anyone yet. They do have some huge games for the program remaining though with match-ups against Oklahoma #20, Nebraska #15 and Texas #3. Not to mention Texas Tech and Mizzou.
PROGRAMS LURKING
It has been a big year for some programs to flex some muscle they once had. # 9 Miami handled a tough four game stretch against ranked teams to start the season at 3-1. #15 Nebraska is trying to make some noise in the Big 12. They will have some tough games coming up against #20 and Oklahoma and #17 Kansas. #25 Notre Dame is finding a way to win and Charlie Weiss is fighting for his job. Irish QB Jimmy Claussen is hot and being mentioned for the Heisman. The Domers don't have a tough schedule this year and a win against USC could go a long way.
There are a few teams that seem to be getting their house back in order Michigan, Texas A&M, Stanford, Auburn, Houston, Washington and South Carolina.
The Wheels on the Bus fell off, off.....off off......off off...The wheels on the bus fell....
Sam Bradford showed why he won a Heisman last year by missing almost the first half of the season. The Sooners have two losses without his leadership and are now looking to ruin some season for some of the contenders.
Mark Richt and the Georgia Bulldogs have laid an egg. Thought to be one of the premier programs in the SEC for this season the loss of Matt Stafford is showing. The "Worlds Largest Cocktail Party" won't be the same.
Coach Jim Tedford is on the hot seat after some devastating losses for his Cal football program. This was a team ranked in the top ten. They'll make a bowl game but not the one they wanted for this year.
Remember when everyone was touting Jevan Snead for the Heisman. Remember when everyone was talking about Ole Miss being a player in the SEC. Yeah, those are some fond memories.
FS-WHO?. The Noles have fallen and fallen hard. Four losses this season at half way and three in a row. Talk of Bobby Bowden being forced out of the program at years end. A lot of controversy surrounding this once great program.
North Carolina. Butch Davis was supposed to be building something in the Tar Heel state. He might well be on the way but the on-field results have shown some more growth is needed especially on the offensive side of the ball.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
A WEEKEND AT LENOIR RHYNE UNIVERSITY
The reporter in me says, I should just stick to the facts, do the standard inverted triangle theory of writing and let the reader know how the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears football team did this weekend in their homecoming football game against Wingate. The writer in me says, that's not the right approach because this weekend was so much more than just a game of who won and who lost and it would not reflect what actually took place. It was about what it takes to get ready for a football game, the emotions that a group of young men go through, the thoughts, prayers and dreams they have, the highs and lows of game day and the joy they bring to a small university in Hickory, NC. It was much more than a final score.
The emotions that I witnessed on Saturday were raw and honest. In the world of being a "grown-up" we are very rarely afforded the opportunity to experience or are allowed to show the emotions that were on display Saturday afternoon. It didn't matter to these young men that this is just Division II college football, it was about being a student athlete in college and making their coaches, alumni and classmates proud on homecoming.
As adults, me included, we tend to forget that in the college football world these are just young men playing this game. We forget about all the hard work they put in to lineup on Saturday and have the privilege of playing college football on any level. For the most part they understand that they are the small minority of high school players that get to continue on their football careers in college.
"I came here to get and education and continue to play football." red shirt freshman and defensive lineman Brandon Martin of Spartanburg, SC said , "I enjoyed my visit here and its not that far from home. It's also special playing for Coach Goldsmith who has coached at Division I because we get to hear a lot about the experiences"
"Most of the kids that come and visit here we get to come and play football here, Mark Houston the defensive coordinator said, "It's the same game they play at Division I, the practices are just as hard, the plays are the same and the field is the same size. The only difference is the stadium is smaller.
Just over 6,000 people strolled into Moretz Stadium on Saturday afternoon to watch the Bears battle the Wingate Bulldogs in what may have been one of the most entertaining football games I have ever seen. The scores came quick and often. There were fumbles returned for touchdowns, kickoff returns returned for touchdowns, long pass plays and longer running plays that all produced touchdowns. There was even a 61 yard missed field goal that decided the out come of the game.
The weekend started for me on Friday at the football offices with Coach Fred Goldsmith, I sat and watched the players stroll in all give me that look of, who the hell is this guy and why does he have his notebook in hand. The first player I spoke with on Friday was freshman defensive back Doug Ellis from Atlanta, GA . Ellis was all alone in the weight room when I arrived. He had the look of a fish out of water even though LR is six games into their season. I had spoken to Coach Goldsmith about some of the the toughest things about coaching at a division II school and he let me know that one of those things was getting the players to stick it out for four years. Ellis' faced show signs of being homesick and missing his family.
I asked Ellis why he came to Lenoir-Rhyne, "It was the furthest place away from home that gave me an offer." Ellis said, "I'm away from home but I'm getting used to it." As I walked away Ellis continued lifting weights by himself with the coaches watching from their offices.
" These kids come here and get homesick or can't get it done academically and we lose them." Houston said, "We've got a great little campus and some facilities that rank in the top half of our conference. This is a great little football school with a ton of pride."
The rest of Friday went as expected. Their were meetings for position players, chapel service and the final walk through out on the field under the lights.
Saturday morning brought a whole new feel than Friday on the campus of Lenoir-Ryhne. When I arrived just after 8 am, tailgaters were all ready setting up and had grills going for a 2 pm kickoff. The side walks around LR were starting to fill up by fans, students, faculty and alumni for the Homecoming Parade. Too sound very cliche', you could feel the excitement starting to build from those around you.
The team was in the football offices when I made my way to meet them going through some final position meetings and getting ready to head over for the team pre-game meal. I skipped the team meal along with Coach Goldsmith. Goldsmith rarely attends the pre-game meal. Instead we walked the field to see what condition it was in.
"I get too worked up." Goldsmith said, "I'm afraid I'll go off on one of my players goofing off during the meal. It's better for me to just get away and do some thinking and give them some time."
After the meal the players sat on the front steps of the athletic department and watched the homecoming parade. They made their catcalls and hooted and hollered as their classmates traveled by with their floats on the streets of the campus. They played around during the parade but you could notice toward the end, the atmosphere changing for the players, they knew that the battle was getting closer. They quited down and started to focus on what lied ahead. The pageantry of the day was starting to wear off for them and getting in a game time mood was first and foremost.
The final team meeting before the players suited and went out to field for pre-game warm-ups was led by Coach Goldsmith. Goldsmith was short and sweet in the final meeting just reminding his players of what lied ahead and that it was time to care care of business "between the bricks." Goldsmith then left the room and turned the team meeting over to senior captain, Dewayne Jones of Reidsville, NC.
Jones came to the podium and motivated his team with just a few words, He was quiet in his approach . He finished is brief speech with a quote that I am starting to believe in more and more each day since I heard it for the first time.
"Tomorrow is not guaranteed." Jones said. The response from his team was overwhelming as the energy in the room could have launched the space shuttle. Lenoir -Rhyne had not won a homecoming game since 2004 and Jones reminded everyone of that fact and it was their mission this day to end that streak.
All during warm-ups the music pumped over the p.a. system and the players kept getting more fired up. Just 55 seconds into the game on the second play of scrimmage Bear sophomore fullback Byron Darby of Gastonia, NC set the tone for the day when he broke a 65 yard touchdown run. The scoring came fast and often all day with the Bears leading the way.
The Bears were never behind the whole game until there was just under a minute to play when Wingate running back Nelson Woods scored with a three yard run to put the Bulldogs on top 50-49. What was a great day for Lenoir-Rhyne was fast becoming a heartbreaking day.
The Bears would have one more chance to win the game and came up short when sophomore Colin Corpe out of Ocala (FL) Vanguard High School missed a 61 yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining. The Bears lost.
In the locker room after the game the emotions of the day overflowed. Players consoled each other, some cried and others were angry, not at teammates but at themselves for letting down their teammates, alumni, coaching staff and classmates. They had come so far and yet had failed, or did they?
Too many times as fans we measure the success of a football program by wins and losses on the field. Even though Lenoir-Rhyne lost the football game the pride that the players showed before, during and after the game should make the LR Family proud. The LR football team cared not that they had lost a football game but that they has dissappointed the over 6,000 people that come to support them.
It's really too bad that we measure the success of a program in wins and losses. Saturday I learned for the first time in my life that sometimes the measure of man comes in defeat. That true character is shown when as an athlete your heart is ripped out and left trampled on the goal line in the final seconds.
The Bears lost a football game on homecoming but they won so much more for being a part of it
The emotions that I witnessed on Saturday were raw and honest. In the world of being a "grown-up" we are very rarely afforded the opportunity to experience or are allowed to show the emotions that were on display Saturday afternoon. It didn't matter to these young men that this is just Division II college football, it was about being a student athlete in college and making their coaches, alumni and classmates proud on homecoming.
As adults, me included, we tend to forget that in the college football world these are just young men playing this game. We forget about all the hard work they put in to lineup on Saturday and have the privilege of playing college football on any level. For the most part they understand that they are the small minority of high school players that get to continue on their football careers in college.
"I came here to get and education and continue to play football." red shirt freshman and defensive lineman Brandon Martin of Spartanburg, SC said , "I enjoyed my visit here and its not that far from home. It's also special playing for Coach Goldsmith who has coached at Division I because we get to hear a lot about the experiences"
"Most of the kids that come and visit here we get to come and play football here, Mark Houston the defensive coordinator said, "It's the same game they play at Division I, the practices are just as hard, the plays are the same and the field is the same size. The only difference is the stadium is smaller.
Just over 6,000 people strolled into Moretz Stadium on Saturday afternoon to watch the Bears battle the Wingate Bulldogs in what may have been one of the most entertaining football games I have ever seen. The scores came quick and often. There were fumbles returned for touchdowns, kickoff returns returned for touchdowns, long pass plays and longer running plays that all produced touchdowns. There was even a 61 yard missed field goal that decided the out come of the game.
The weekend started for me on Friday at the football offices with Coach Fred Goldsmith, I sat and watched the players stroll in all give me that look of, who the hell is this guy and why does he have his notebook in hand. The first player I spoke with on Friday was freshman defensive back Doug Ellis from Atlanta, GA . Ellis was all alone in the weight room when I arrived. He had the look of a fish out of water even though LR is six games into their season. I had spoken to Coach Goldsmith about some of the the toughest things about coaching at a division II school and he let me know that one of those things was getting the players to stick it out for four years. Ellis' faced show signs of being homesick and missing his family.
I asked Ellis why he came to Lenoir-Rhyne, "It was the furthest place away from home that gave me an offer." Ellis said, "I'm away from home but I'm getting used to it." As I walked away Ellis continued lifting weights by himself with the coaches watching from their offices.
" These kids come here and get homesick or can't get it done academically and we lose them." Houston said, "We've got a great little campus and some facilities that rank in the top half of our conference. This is a great little football school with a ton of pride."
The rest of Friday went as expected. Their were meetings for position players, chapel service and the final walk through out on the field under the lights.
Saturday morning brought a whole new feel than Friday on the campus of Lenoir-Ryhne. When I arrived just after 8 am, tailgaters were all ready setting up and had grills going for a 2 pm kickoff. The side walks around LR were starting to fill up by fans, students, faculty and alumni for the Homecoming Parade. Too sound very cliche', you could feel the excitement starting to build from those around you.
The team was in the football offices when I made my way to meet them going through some final position meetings and getting ready to head over for the team pre-game meal. I skipped the team meal along with Coach Goldsmith. Goldsmith rarely attends the pre-game meal. Instead we walked the field to see what condition it was in.
"I get too worked up." Goldsmith said, "I'm afraid I'll go off on one of my players goofing off during the meal. It's better for me to just get away and do some thinking and give them some time."
After the meal the players sat on the front steps of the athletic department and watched the homecoming parade. They made their catcalls and hooted and hollered as their classmates traveled by with their floats on the streets of the campus. They played around during the parade but you could notice toward the end, the atmosphere changing for the players, they knew that the battle was getting closer. They quited down and started to focus on what lied ahead. The pageantry of the day was starting to wear off for them and getting in a game time mood was first and foremost.
The final team meeting before the players suited and went out to field for pre-game warm-ups was led by Coach Goldsmith. Goldsmith was short and sweet in the final meeting just reminding his players of what lied ahead and that it was time to care care of business "between the bricks." Goldsmith then left the room and turned the team meeting over to senior captain, Dewayne Jones of Reidsville, NC.
Jones came to the podium and motivated his team with just a few words, He was quiet in his approach . He finished is brief speech with a quote that I am starting to believe in more and more each day since I heard it for the first time.
"Tomorrow is not guaranteed." Jones said. The response from his team was overwhelming as the energy in the room could have launched the space shuttle. Lenoir -Rhyne had not won a homecoming game since 2004 and Jones reminded everyone of that fact and it was their mission this day to end that streak.
All during warm-ups the music pumped over the p.a. system and the players kept getting more fired up. Just 55 seconds into the game on the second play of scrimmage Bear sophomore fullback Byron Darby of Gastonia, NC set the tone for the day when he broke a 65 yard touchdown run. The scoring came fast and often all day with the Bears leading the way.
The Bears were never behind the whole game until there was just under a minute to play when Wingate running back Nelson Woods scored with a three yard run to put the Bulldogs on top 50-49. What was a great day for Lenoir-Rhyne was fast becoming a heartbreaking day.
The Bears would have one more chance to win the game and came up short when sophomore Colin Corpe out of Ocala (FL) Vanguard High School missed a 61 yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining. The Bears lost.
In the locker room after the game the emotions of the day overflowed. Players consoled each other, some cried and others were angry, not at teammates but at themselves for letting down their teammates, alumni, coaching staff and classmates. They had come so far and yet had failed, or did they?
Too many times as fans we measure the success of a football program by wins and losses on the field. Even though Lenoir-Rhyne lost the football game the pride that the players showed before, during and after the game should make the LR Family proud. The LR football team cared not that they had lost a football game but that they has dissappointed the over 6,000 people that come to support them.
It's really too bad that we measure the success of a program in wins and losses. Saturday I learned for the first time in my life that sometimes the measure of man comes in defeat. That true character is shown when as an athlete your heart is ripped out and left trampled on the goal line in the final seconds.
The Bears lost a football game on homecoming but they won so much more for being a part of it
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Reviewing The Week
The #1 ranked Florida Gators played it close to the vest and did what that they had to do in picking up a big road win at Death Valley against #4 LSU. Florida coach Urban Meyer used Tim Tebow sparingly, and the LSU Tigers are now quite familiar with the Gators dive play. The Gator O-line controlled the game and Meyer did not have to deviate from his game plan. The Tigers proved as they have all season that their offense is very suspect. Nonetheless, it was a big win for the Gators and for Tebow health wise. The Gators will get no style points for the win but that was never really the goal. The goal was to get into Baton Rouge, control the ball, keep Tebow safe and win the game. Mission accomplished.
#2 Texas survived an early scare from Colorado, then took control and cruised to a 38-14 victory. Next up for Texas is the Red River Rivalry showdown with Oklahoma, who now have Sam Bradford back in the line-up. Heisman candidate Colt McCoy had a solid but not spectacular performance going 32 for 39 for 265 with one td pass and one pick.
#9 Ohio State took care of business by handling Big 10 foe, and unbeaten, Wisconsin 31-13. It will be a tough loss for the Badgers to swallow as they only gave up 184 yards of offense to the Buckeyes but had two interceptions returned for touchdowns and gave up a 96 yard kick off return for a touchdown.
South Carolina improved to 5-1 and 2-1 in the SEC by getting by Kentucky 28-26. The win for the Gamecocks was their first win in their last five attempts as a ranked team. Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier improves to 17-0 over the Wildcats.
#3 Alabama may not be the flashiest in college football but they just keep winning, dispatching #20 Ole Miss by the score of 22-3. Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead pitched 4 interceptions. The Crimson Tide held the Rebels to just 212 yards total offense and allowed just 72 yards on the ground. The old saying is defense wins championships and the Tide are putting a stout defensive unit out on the field.
Lane Kiffin and Tennessee finally have an SEC win after downing Georgia this week 45-19. Georgia still stinging from a loss to LSU last week must now have to handle two conference losses in a row. This is the first time Georgia has lost consecutive SEC since 2006 when they did it twice. The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Dawgs as they still have Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech on the schedule. Hey, Mark Richt, might be a job opening at FSU.
#22 Georgia Tech came from behind to hand Florida State it's third straight loss in a row with a final score of 49-44, and start the Noles 0-3 in ACC play. The game was an offensive showdown most of the night as the two schools traded touchdowns early and often. Both schools managed over 500 yards of offense. The night started with the Seminole football team and coaching staff walking out of the tunnel with locked arms showing unity and support for head coach Bobby Bowden who has come under heavy fire in the last week for the Noles on field performance. Tech meanwhile improves to 5-1 on the season and is heading for a huge ACC showdown with Virginia Tech next Saturday.
Gene Chizik and the #17 Auburn Tigers came back to earth today as Arkansas stopped the Tigers high powered offense 44-23. Costly to Auburn were three fumbles lost. Arkansas now improves to 3-2.
#2 Texas survived an early scare from Colorado, then took control and cruised to a 38-14 victory. Next up for Texas is the Red River Rivalry showdown with Oklahoma, who now have Sam Bradford back in the line-up. Heisman candidate Colt McCoy had a solid but not spectacular performance going 32 for 39 for 265 with one td pass and one pick.
#9 Ohio State took care of business by handling Big 10 foe, and unbeaten, Wisconsin 31-13. It will be a tough loss for the Badgers to swallow as they only gave up 184 yards of offense to the Buckeyes but had two interceptions returned for touchdowns and gave up a 96 yard kick off return for a touchdown.
South Carolina improved to 5-1 and 2-1 in the SEC by getting by Kentucky 28-26. The win for the Gamecocks was their first win in their last five attempts as a ranked team. Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier improves to 17-0 over the Wildcats.
#3 Alabama may not be the flashiest in college football but they just keep winning, dispatching #20 Ole Miss by the score of 22-3. Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead pitched 4 interceptions. The Crimson Tide held the Rebels to just 212 yards total offense and allowed just 72 yards on the ground. The old saying is defense wins championships and the Tide are putting a stout defensive unit out on the field.
Lane Kiffin and Tennessee finally have an SEC win after downing Georgia this week 45-19. Georgia still stinging from a loss to LSU last week must now have to handle two conference losses in a row. This is the first time Georgia has lost consecutive SEC since 2006 when they did it twice. The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Dawgs as they still have Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech on the schedule. Hey, Mark Richt, might be a job opening at FSU.
#22 Georgia Tech came from behind to hand Florida State it's third straight loss in a row with a final score of 49-44, and start the Noles 0-3 in ACC play. The game was an offensive showdown most of the night as the two schools traded touchdowns early and often. Both schools managed over 500 yards of offense. The night started with the Seminole football team and coaching staff walking out of the tunnel with locked arms showing unity and support for head coach Bobby Bowden who has come under heavy fire in the last week for the Noles on field performance. Tech meanwhile improves to 5-1 on the season and is heading for a huge ACC showdown with Virginia Tech next Saturday.
Gene Chizik and the #17 Auburn Tigers came back to earth today as Arkansas stopped the Tigers high powered offense 44-23. Costly to Auburn were three fumbles lost. Arkansas now improves to 3-2.
LIVE FROM LENOIR-RYHNE UNIVERSITY UPDATE
Just letting out of the final team meeting. The players are now talking some other college football, texting family and friends and turning up their Ipods.
Coach Goldsmith urged his team to go out on the field and use their size and speed. He stressed to his squad the importance of the kicking game, it has been a thorn in LR's side the last two years. Goldsmith added, "It's time to do it between the bricks. The games are more meaningful now and we need to start taking them one game at a time and is starts today."
The coach then walked out of the room with his coaching staff and turned it over to his senior leadership including, linebacker Dewayne Jones of Reidsville, NC.
"I'm not gonna say much because enough has been said already." Jones said, "We have the best football team we've had since I have been here."
"It's homecoming and we haven't won a homecoming game since I've been here and it hurts." Jones told his teammates, "Tomorrow is never promised so lets go out there and get it done today.We are brothers each and everyone of us and today we walk out here winners as well."
With that the Bears huddled up, broke it down and went to think about the 2:oopm kick off.
Coach Goldsmith urged his team to go out on the field and use their size and speed. He stressed to his squad the importance of the kicking game, it has been a thorn in LR's side the last two years. Goldsmith added, "It's time to do it between the bricks. The games are more meaningful now and we need to start taking them one game at a time and is starts today."
The coach then walked out of the room with his coaching staff and turned it over to his senior leadership including, linebacker Dewayne Jones of Reidsville, NC.
"I'm not gonna say much because enough has been said already." Jones said, "We have the best football team we've had since I have been here."
"It's homecoming and we haven't won a homecoming game since I've been here and it hurts." Jones told his teammates, "Tomorrow is never promised so lets go out there and get it done today.We are brothers each and everyone of us and today we walk out here winners as well."
With that the Bears huddled up, broke it down and went to think about the 2:oopm kick off.
GAME DAY LENOIR-RHYNE UNIVERSITY
It's homecoming and the tailgaters are already setting up in the parking lot for the Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears contest later this afternoon with the Wingate Bulldogs. There is a light rain falling and thunderstorms are expected later this afternoon.
The players are now gathering for morning position meetings and going over final preparations for this afternoons contest. The Wingate Bulldogs currently sit a top the conference standings, tied with Carson-Newman, with a 4-1 record and 2-0 in conference play. The Bears are 4-2 over-all and 1-1 in conference.
Last years meeting saw the Bears stage a rally in the 4th quarter but they came up short. Bears head football coach Fred Goldsmith has urged his players to finish the job today and dominate the 4th quarter just as they did last year.
I know we normally only talk about college football on this blog but today would be a great chance to come out and watch numerous college athletics today on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne. It is homecoming weekend for the Bears and along with football, the women's volleyball team and men's and women's soccer will be in action.
The players are now gathering for morning position meetings and going over final preparations for this afternoons contest. The Wingate Bulldogs currently sit a top the conference standings, tied with Carson-Newman, with a 4-1 record and 2-0 in conference play. The Bears are 4-2 over-all and 1-1 in conference.
Last years meeting saw the Bears stage a rally in the 4th quarter but they came up short. Bears head football coach Fred Goldsmith has urged his players to finish the job today and dominate the 4th quarter just as they did last year.
I know we normally only talk about college football on this blog but today would be a great chance to come out and watch numerous college athletics today on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne. It is homecoming weekend for the Bears and along with football, the women's volleyball team and men's and women's soccer will be in action.
Friday, October 9, 2009
LIVE UPDATE#2 FROM LENOIR-RHYNE UNIVERSITY
Many do not understand what the college football player goes through. Its a Friday night at 8pm and these players are halfway through walk through. There is a sense of urgency to the season for the Bears. They are 4-2 and looking to make some noise in the South Atlantic Conference.
The coaches are all over the defense barking how important it is for them to take this walk through serious. Game time is just around the corner. They tell them to hustle and get ready for a quick team that will not back down and would like nothing better than to slap a loss on the Bears on homecoming.
A light rain is starting to fall and the players start to become more focused. As the kicking team is on the field doing their portion of the walk through the rest of the squad is on the sideline bonding and talking of things not even related to football. Two players are having a conversation about the teams they played for in high school, tonight, they are taking each other on the field. The smack talk is hot between the two.
Some players are having a conversation on the sideline discussing what they need to graduate and what they need to get it done. Some upperclassman are giving a talking to a freshman explaining to him the fine art of acting like you are paying attention while your mind is somewhere else.
Junior corner back Carl Brooks is walking around slapping teams and getting his team up for tomorrow.
The coaches are all over the defense barking how important it is for them to take this walk through serious. Game time is just around the corner. They tell them to hustle and get ready for a quick team that will not back down and would like nothing better than to slap a loss on the Bears on homecoming.
A light rain is starting to fall and the players start to become more focused. As the kicking team is on the field doing their portion of the walk through the rest of the squad is on the sideline bonding and talking of things not even related to football. Two players are having a conversation about the teams they played for in high school, tonight, they are taking each other on the field. The smack talk is hot between the two.
Some players are having a conversation on the sideline discussing what they need to graduate and what they need to get it done. Some upperclassman are giving a talking to a freshman explaining to him the fine art of acting like you are paying attention while your mind is somewhere else.
Junior corner back Carl Brooks is walking around slapping teams and getting his team up for tomorrow.
LIVE FROM THE CAMPUS OF LENOIR-RYHNE UNIVERISTY
Showed up on campus around 5:oo pm found a few players hanging out in the weight room. Many were out and about around the football offices staying loose and hanging out until chapel at 6:30 pm.
Noticed one thing about Head Coach Fred Goldsmith as we walked around every player he spoke with was being coached not just about football but about life and being a student. These coaching sessions came at every corner and every turn he ran into one of his players.
Chapel meeting went well a guest speaker preached about the importance of God in your life and accepting him not just when life was going well but all the time. Coach Goldsmith finished the Chapel meeting with a brief talk about the rest of the evening and what to expect tomorrow.
He let his players know that tomorrow is homecoming and LR has a chance to make a statement in the South Atlantic Conference.
" Let's show our family what we can do between these bricks on homecoming" said Goldsmith before breaking up into position meetings.
Currently sitting in position meeting with Defensive Coordinator Mike Houston and the defensive backs. Coach Houston is going over film of practice yesterday and some game film of Wingate, who LR will be playing tomorrow.
Will be posting pictures later tonight of some of the meetings and walk-throughs tonight.
Noticed one thing about Head Coach Fred Goldsmith as we walked around every player he spoke with was being coached not just about football but about life and being a student. These coaching sessions came at every corner and every turn he ran into one of his players.
Chapel meeting went well a guest speaker preached about the importance of God in your life and accepting him not just when life was going well but all the time. Coach Goldsmith finished the Chapel meeting with a brief talk about the rest of the evening and what to expect tomorrow.
He let his players know that tomorrow is homecoming and LR has a chance to make a statement in the South Atlantic Conference.
" Let's show our family what we can do between these bricks on homecoming" said Goldsmith before breaking up into position meetings.
Currently sitting in position meeting with Defensive Coordinator Mike Houston and the defensive backs. Coach Houston is going over film of practice yesterday and some game film of Wingate, who LR will be playing tomorrow.
Will be posting pictures later tonight of some of the meetings and walk-throughs tonight.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
WEEKEND AHEAD
The weekend ahead will start showing some separation in the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12 has two ranked teams tangling tonight on ESPN.
#21 Nebraska heads to #24 Missouri. Nebraska has one loss on the season that coming against #13 Virginia Tech. Mizzou comes into the game undefeated at 4-0. They have yet to be tested though and the next three games will show what they are made of after the Cornhuskers they have #15 Oklahoma State and then #2 Texas.
The biggest game of the week sees the #1 ranked Florida Gators heading to Baton Rouge to take on the #4 LSU Tigers on a Saturday night. Gators coach Urban Meyer has said any decisions on injured quarterback and Heisman candidate Tim Tebow will be a game day decision. Sources close to the program are saying the Tigers will be getting a dose of both Gator QB's, Tebow and pocket passer and back-up John Brantley. LSU has shown some great defense all season and shined on the road against Georgia in a defensive slug fest. The LSU offense is suspect and can not afford a shoot-out with the Gators. A Florida loss and it gets real interesting in the polls for the top four.
#3 Alabama gets a true test this weekend against #20 Ole Miss. Many are calling Nick Saban's coached Crimson Tide the best team in the SEC and possibly the best team in the country. Ole Miss is out to prove they belong with the elite and Rebel QB Jevon Snead is trying to fight his way back into the Heisman conversation.
Another interesting game in the SEC is #17 Auburn at Arkansas. The Tigers are a much better team under Gene Chizik and Auburn QB Chris Todd has already thrown for 7 more touchdown passes than last year and 5 less interceptions. The Tiger offense is the 5th best in the country in total yards and boasts the #2 scoring offense. The Razorbacks will be gun slinging with QB Ryan Mallet. Saturday starts a tough three game stretch for the Razorbacks with Auburn, Florida and Ole Miss.
#9 Ohio State gets to see if they have fully recovered from an early season loss to USC as the undefeated, and getting no respect, Wisconsin Badgers come into town. This will also be a test for the Badgers to see, if they start their late season fade as they have historically done.
#12 Iowa gets a visit from a Michigan team that is still smarting from an overtime loss to in-state rival Michigan State. Iowa and head coach Kirk Ferentz gets to show that beating Penn State on the road was no fluke and they are to be taken seriously. Michigan has found a QB in Tate Foricer.
A game to pay attention to is the #25 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the unranked, 2-3, fighting for their lives Florida State Seminoles. The Noles have been in the news all week but not for the rights reasons. There have been closed door meetings for head coach Bobby Bowden with administration, an angry Ann Bowden (Bobby's wife) and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees asking for Bowden to step down after this season. The players have said it is not a distraction but you have to wonder.
Another game of the radar and involving a ranked team is #13 Oregon and UCLA. The Bruins are a plucky bunch and Oregon is still trying to put behind them the opening night chaotic loss to Boise State. I'm calling this on my upset special for the week: UCLA wins.
Also, pay attention to the blog this weekend starting Friday evening as I will be spending some time with the Lenoir Ryhne University Bears football team as they get ready for their homecoming game against Wingate. Live blogging throughout Friday evening and all day Saturday. I'll be trying to give you,the reader, some insight into what these kids go through to get ready for a game.
#21 Nebraska heads to #24 Missouri. Nebraska has one loss on the season that coming against #13 Virginia Tech. Mizzou comes into the game undefeated at 4-0. They have yet to be tested though and the next three games will show what they are made of after the Cornhuskers they have #15 Oklahoma State and then #2 Texas.
The biggest game of the week sees the #1 ranked Florida Gators heading to Baton Rouge to take on the #4 LSU Tigers on a Saturday night. Gators coach Urban Meyer has said any decisions on injured quarterback and Heisman candidate Tim Tebow will be a game day decision. Sources close to the program are saying the Tigers will be getting a dose of both Gator QB's, Tebow and pocket passer and back-up John Brantley. LSU has shown some great defense all season and shined on the road against Georgia in a defensive slug fest. The LSU offense is suspect and can not afford a shoot-out with the Gators. A Florida loss and it gets real interesting in the polls for the top four.
#3 Alabama gets a true test this weekend against #20 Ole Miss. Many are calling Nick Saban's coached Crimson Tide the best team in the SEC and possibly the best team in the country. Ole Miss is out to prove they belong with the elite and Rebel QB Jevon Snead is trying to fight his way back into the Heisman conversation.
Another interesting game in the SEC is #17 Auburn at Arkansas. The Tigers are a much better team under Gene Chizik and Auburn QB Chris Todd has already thrown for 7 more touchdown passes than last year and 5 less interceptions. The Tiger offense is the 5th best in the country in total yards and boasts the #2 scoring offense. The Razorbacks will be gun slinging with QB Ryan Mallet. Saturday starts a tough three game stretch for the Razorbacks with Auburn, Florida and Ole Miss.
#9 Ohio State gets to see if they have fully recovered from an early season loss to USC as the undefeated, and getting no respect, Wisconsin Badgers come into town. This will also be a test for the Badgers to see, if they start their late season fade as they have historically done.
#12 Iowa gets a visit from a Michigan team that is still smarting from an overtime loss to in-state rival Michigan State. Iowa and head coach Kirk Ferentz gets to show that beating Penn State on the road was no fluke and they are to be taken seriously. Michigan has found a QB in Tate Foricer.
A game to pay attention to is the #25 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the unranked, 2-3, fighting for their lives Florida State Seminoles. The Noles have been in the news all week but not for the rights reasons. There have been closed door meetings for head coach Bobby Bowden with administration, an angry Ann Bowden (Bobby's wife) and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees asking for Bowden to step down after this season. The players have said it is not a distraction but you have to wonder.
Another game of the radar and involving a ranked team is #13 Oregon and UCLA. The Bruins are a plucky bunch and Oregon is still trying to put behind them the opening night chaotic loss to Boise State. I'm calling this on my upset special for the week: UCLA wins.
Also, pay attention to the blog this weekend starting Friday evening as I will be spending some time with the Lenoir Ryhne University Bears football team as they get ready for their homecoming game against Wingate. Live blogging throughout Friday evening and all day Saturday. I'll be trying to give you,the reader, some insight into what these kids go through to get ready for a game.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
End of an Era
Jim Smith, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Florida State University, has come out publicly calling for this to be the last season for Head Coach Bobby Bowden at FSU. This should really come as no surprise to many that follow college football, considering the product Coach Bowden has been putting on the field the last few years.
Coach Bowden has said that 2010 will probably be his last year and when asked during the the nationally televised loss to Boston College if he would be making another visit to Alumni Stadium he indicated he would not. That is a sign that next year will be his last.
Smith has said that the current situation with Jimbo Fisher, head coach in waiting, is not working. That Fisher does not have the power that many think he has and it is still Bowden's ship to captain. Smith also added that asking Bowden to step down is akin to putting down your favorite dog.
While I feel that the time is very close for Coach Bowden to step down I take some offense to the favorite dog comment. Bobby Bowden has given more to Florida State Univeristy than he will ever take away. He took a floundering football program and built it into one of the most admired programs in the country. Two national championships, Five trips to the National Championship game, 14 straight years of being ranked at the end of the season in the top five, 27 straight bowl appearances, 11 straight bowl game wins (1985-1995) and two Heisman Trophy winners (Charlie Ward- Chris Weinke). This is the same Bobby Bowden that spurned powerhouse Alabama to stay at FSU.
With all the success that Florida State has had in the past the last few years have been difficult for Nole fans. Not because FSU still goes to bowl games and have a winning record every year. Not because FSU flirts with being ranked in the top 25 every year. It has been difficult because Florida State fans are spoiled brats. Nole fans do not take defeat very lightly. Nole fans expect to be competing every year for a National Championship. Why?, because Coach Bowden set the bar that high. If Coach Bowden gets run of of Tallahassee he has no one to blame but himself for being to damn successful.
Success breeds expectations and Coach Bobby Bowden has set the expectations very high at the former all girls school. (though I'd throw that in). The expectations from Nole fans are playing for the National Championship or at least being in the hunt every year. They were accustomed to that. There are hundreds of college football programs that would love to be where Florida State is. But FSU fans do not see it that way. They want to win and win now, they will throw a legend to the wolves if it means competing for a National Championship.
They claim that Bobby Bowden is tarnishing his image and legendary status by hanging on too long and by letting the program slip into mediocrity. FSU fans claim that Florida State deserves better and that Bowden is just standing on the sidelines to chase Joe Paterno for most coaching victories. They claim he has lost touch with the college football world and his players.
If Nole fans would wake up they would see that FSU is not putting the same athletes on the field they used to. It all started when FSU moved to the ACC. The Atlantic Coast Conference, as does the SEC, has restrictions on the use of Proposition 48 players something that FSU did not have to deal with prior to joining the ACC as an independent. It is similar to what Miami has gone through and continues to struggle with. These Prop 48 players now go to schools that do not have those restrictions. Examples would be Big East schools. Now this is not an excuse but it is reality. In the glory years, FSU just put better athletes on the field than the other teams they played. They were able to out recruit and out talent many teams because of the use of Prop 48 players and the rule . Not anymore. Florida State has not been able to overcome that yet. (CORRECTION: I AM THE FIRST TO ADMIT WHEN A MISTAKE WAS MADE ESPECIALLY IF IT IT MY MISTAKE. PROP 48 WAS LAID TO REST IN TO 1990. IT REPLACED BY PROP 42 THAT WAS LATER REPLACED BY PROP 16. I KNOW THIS CONFUSES EVEN MORE AND CAN BE HARD TO FOLLOW) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ONE CAN GO TO NCAA.ORG FOR A FULL EXPLANATION OR CONTACT BY BY E-MAIL AT NUMETAL102@YAHOO.COM AND I WILL BE GLAD TO FORWARD TO YOU WHAT THE NCAA FORWARDED TO ME. THE END RESULT IS THE SAME I JUST HAD THE NAMES WRONG.
Another problem, that even Coach Bowden has pointed out, is the turmoil that FSU has had at the quarterback position. For many years in Tallahassee you did not play QB unless you were a junior or senior and worked your way through the program. That all changed when FSU went with a young unproven Chris Rix. Rix struggled and the Seminole football program has struggled since. One reason Bowden does want to hang on until the end of next year is because of Christian Ponder at quarterback. While FSU is not a national power, Bowden likes the maturity and leadership that Ponder is showing and is expecting great things from him next year.
Bowdens biggest blunder in his career at Florida State and one that I feel if he would call a mulligan on if he could was the hiring of son, Jeff Bowden, as his offensive coordinator. I don't think Bowden would ever say that he regretted the decision publicly but I bet if he had to do it all over again he would have brought in a more seasoned veteran to replace Mark Richt to run the offense.
Florida State football has had its problems on the field and off the field. Coach Bowden has taken criticism for off field behavior, academic scandals, nepotism accusations and now a sub par football program. Be certain though that Bobby Bowden's legend is secure, even if he is put down like Old Yeller. When ever anyone talks Florida State University football, Bowden's name will come up for generations. That is legend. When ever anyone mumbles "dadgum" in college football, Bowden's name will come up. That is legend. When ever anyone mentions, "wide right", Bowden's name will come up. That is legend.
In our lifetime we get to see see very few college football coaches who become legends and in the grand scheme of life it really doesn't matter. There have been a few though Eddie Robinson (Grambling), Paul "Bear" Bryant (Alabama), Bud Wilkinson (Oklahoma), Joe Paterno (Penn State) and yes Bobby Bowden.
Coach Bowden has earned the right to decide when he walks away from Florida State and if fans paid any attention since he arrived on the campus they would have to ask where would FSU be without him. Bobby Bowden made FSU Football what it is. Florida State fans should be honored that the college football world is asking, what happened to FSU? Because if they weren't asking that means FSU has never been there, on top of the college football world.
Coach Bowden has said that 2010 will probably be his last year and when asked during the the nationally televised loss to Boston College if he would be making another visit to Alumni Stadium he indicated he would not. That is a sign that next year will be his last.
Smith has said that the current situation with Jimbo Fisher, head coach in waiting, is not working. That Fisher does not have the power that many think he has and it is still Bowden's ship to captain. Smith also added that asking Bowden to step down is akin to putting down your favorite dog.
While I feel that the time is very close for Coach Bowden to step down I take some offense to the favorite dog comment. Bobby Bowden has given more to Florida State Univeristy than he will ever take away. He took a floundering football program and built it into one of the most admired programs in the country. Two national championships, Five trips to the National Championship game, 14 straight years of being ranked at the end of the season in the top five, 27 straight bowl appearances, 11 straight bowl game wins (1985-1995) and two Heisman Trophy winners (Charlie Ward- Chris Weinke). This is the same Bobby Bowden that spurned powerhouse Alabama to stay at FSU.
With all the success that Florida State has had in the past the last few years have been difficult for Nole fans. Not because FSU still goes to bowl games and have a winning record every year. Not because FSU flirts with being ranked in the top 25 every year. It has been difficult because Florida State fans are spoiled brats. Nole fans do not take defeat very lightly. Nole fans expect to be competing every year for a National Championship. Why?, because Coach Bowden set the bar that high. If Coach Bowden gets run of of Tallahassee he has no one to blame but himself for being to damn successful.
Success breeds expectations and Coach Bobby Bowden has set the expectations very high at the former all girls school. (though I'd throw that in). The expectations from Nole fans are playing for the National Championship or at least being in the hunt every year. They were accustomed to that. There are hundreds of college football programs that would love to be where Florida State is. But FSU fans do not see it that way. They want to win and win now, they will throw a legend to the wolves if it means competing for a National Championship.
They claim that Bobby Bowden is tarnishing his image and legendary status by hanging on too long and by letting the program slip into mediocrity. FSU fans claim that Florida State deserves better and that Bowden is just standing on the sidelines to chase Joe Paterno for most coaching victories. They claim he has lost touch with the college football world and his players.
If Nole fans would wake up they would see that FSU is not putting the same athletes on the field they used to. It all started when FSU moved to the ACC. The Atlantic Coast Conference, as does the SEC, has restrictions on the use of Proposition 48 players something that FSU did not have to deal with prior to joining the ACC as an independent. It is similar to what Miami has gone through and continues to struggle with. These Prop 48 players now go to schools that do not have those restrictions. Examples would be Big East schools. Now this is not an excuse but it is reality. In the glory years, FSU just put better athletes on the field than the other teams they played. They were able to out recruit and out talent many teams because of the use of Prop 48 players and the rule . Not anymore. Florida State has not been able to overcome that yet. (CORRECTION: I AM THE FIRST TO ADMIT WHEN A MISTAKE WAS MADE ESPECIALLY IF IT IT MY MISTAKE. PROP 48 WAS LAID TO REST IN TO 1990. IT REPLACED BY PROP 42 THAT WAS LATER REPLACED BY PROP 16. I KNOW THIS CONFUSES EVEN MORE AND CAN BE HARD TO FOLLOW) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ONE CAN GO TO NCAA.ORG FOR A FULL EXPLANATION OR CONTACT BY BY E-MAIL AT NUMETAL102@YAHOO.COM AND I WILL BE GLAD TO FORWARD TO YOU WHAT THE NCAA FORWARDED TO ME. THE END RESULT IS THE SAME I JUST HAD THE NAMES WRONG.
Another problem, that even Coach Bowden has pointed out, is the turmoil that FSU has had at the quarterback position. For many years in Tallahassee you did not play QB unless you were a junior or senior and worked your way through the program. That all changed when FSU went with a young unproven Chris Rix. Rix struggled and the Seminole football program has struggled since. One reason Bowden does want to hang on until the end of next year is because of Christian Ponder at quarterback. While FSU is not a national power, Bowden likes the maturity and leadership that Ponder is showing and is expecting great things from him next year.
Bowdens biggest blunder in his career at Florida State and one that I feel if he would call a mulligan on if he could was the hiring of son, Jeff Bowden, as his offensive coordinator. I don't think Bowden would ever say that he regretted the decision publicly but I bet if he had to do it all over again he would have brought in a more seasoned veteran to replace Mark Richt to run the offense.
Florida State football has had its problems on the field and off the field. Coach Bowden has taken criticism for off field behavior, academic scandals, nepotism accusations and now a sub par football program. Be certain though that Bobby Bowden's legend is secure, even if he is put down like Old Yeller. When ever anyone talks Florida State University football, Bowden's name will come up for generations. That is legend. When ever anyone mumbles "dadgum" in college football, Bowden's name will come up. That is legend. When ever anyone mentions, "wide right", Bowden's name will come up. That is legend.
In our lifetime we get to see see very few college football coaches who become legends and in the grand scheme of life it really doesn't matter. There have been a few though Eddie Robinson (Grambling), Paul "Bear" Bryant (Alabama), Bud Wilkinson (Oklahoma), Joe Paterno (Penn State) and yes Bobby Bowden.
Coach Bowden has earned the right to decide when he walks away from Florida State and if fans paid any attention since he arrived on the campus they would have to ask where would FSU be without him. Bobby Bowden made FSU Football what it is. Florida State fans should be honored that the college football world is asking, what happened to FSU? Because if they weren't asking that means FSU has never been there, on top of the college football world.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Just My Opinion
Every weekend events unfold on the football field that make you shake your head and make you wonder. This includes officials calls on the field, coaches or players decisions on the field or the things that some announcers say in the booth.
One of the readers of this blog sent me a message for me to chime in on some of the calls I witnessed over the weekend so I'll take that as an opening to voice some opinions on that and some other topics.
First thing, I would like to voice some displeasure about a comment that ABC's Brent Musberger made during the Miami/Oklahoma match-up Saturday night. Musberger said, and I'm paraphrasing here, "That only one player has been arrested on the Miami team since coach Randy Shannon took over the program." I know Miami has had its share of problems and many arrests over the years but come on. Is just one arrest something to be proud of and to talk about on national television? Don't get me wrong I believe that Coach Shannon is cleaning up the program but one arrest is too many for any college football program.
The excessive celebration penalty called against A.J. Greene of Georgia, after scoring late, in the LSU/Georgia game was a joke. I watched the replay over and over, thanks DVR, and could not see one time where there was an excessive celebration. Emotions are a big part of the college football game and it is why many fans prefer it over the professional version. All Greene did was gesture to the home crowd and then was mobbed by his teammates, excited and emotional yes, excessive no way. The officials should not determine the outcome of a game and they played a big part in setting LSU up with good field position, because of the penalty, to get the go ahead score. On the flip side of that, when LSU scored, running back Charles Scott scored and was also hit with and excessive celebration penalty. While Scott did throw both hands into the air and pointed his fingers towards the heavens I don't know if that would qualify as excessive celebration either. It seems it was just a payback to Georgia for the first call. One call, or two calls in this matter, do not determine the outcome of a game, but they sure can point it in the right direction.
The pass interference call late in the FSU/Boston College game was also a joke. First, many would have to question whether or not the pass was even catchable. Secondly, is it pass interference if the players feet get tangled up on a drenched foot ball field. The call came on third down and ten and the very next play BC busted off a 39 yard run. While the call didn't determine the outcome of the game, and again, it sure pointed it in the right direction.
I've seen a lot of defensive backs this year get called for interference when the fans, announcers and yours truly would agree that it was just good defense. I know what the rules says but it sure does open the door for a lot of interpretation on the field.
All weekend long, and it didn't matter which network you were watching, all the studio shows and game announcers could talk about was the Tim Tebow injury. I was sick of hearing about it by the end of the night. Hell, the Gators weren't even playing Saturday. I know that it was a big hit, I blogged about, but there were some other items of interest for the weekend. Even the ACC pre-game show on Sports South had a segment on Tebow and his damaged melon. Some analysts, Kirk Herbstreit (ABC, ESPN), were questioning if Tebow should even suit up next week against LSU. That took place during the Miami-Oklahoma thriller. Tebow got more coverage than 95% of the players who were actually playing Saturday and he didn't even take a snap. No one talked about Sam Bradford, reigning Heisman winner, when he went down. The love affair with Tebow continues. Wonder how much coverage Tebow gets when he turns pro and is stuck in Jacksonville playing for the Jags. That's a whole new blog post right there.
One of the readers of this blog sent me a message for me to chime in on some of the calls I witnessed over the weekend so I'll take that as an opening to voice some opinions on that and some other topics.
First thing, I would like to voice some displeasure about a comment that ABC's Brent Musberger made during the Miami/Oklahoma match-up Saturday night. Musberger said, and I'm paraphrasing here, "That only one player has been arrested on the Miami team since coach Randy Shannon took over the program." I know Miami has had its share of problems and many arrests over the years but come on. Is just one arrest something to be proud of and to talk about on national television? Don't get me wrong I believe that Coach Shannon is cleaning up the program but one arrest is too many for any college football program.
The excessive celebration penalty called against A.J. Greene of Georgia, after scoring late, in the LSU/Georgia game was a joke. I watched the replay over and over, thanks DVR, and could not see one time where there was an excessive celebration. Emotions are a big part of the college football game and it is why many fans prefer it over the professional version. All Greene did was gesture to the home crowd and then was mobbed by his teammates, excited and emotional yes, excessive no way. The officials should not determine the outcome of a game and they played a big part in setting LSU up with good field position, because of the penalty, to get the go ahead score. On the flip side of that, when LSU scored, running back Charles Scott scored and was also hit with and excessive celebration penalty. While Scott did throw both hands into the air and pointed his fingers towards the heavens I don't know if that would qualify as excessive celebration either. It seems it was just a payback to Georgia for the first call. One call, or two calls in this matter, do not determine the outcome of a game, but they sure can point it in the right direction.
The pass interference call late in the FSU/Boston College game was also a joke. First, many would have to question whether or not the pass was even catchable. Secondly, is it pass interference if the players feet get tangled up on a drenched foot ball field. The call came on third down and ten and the very next play BC busted off a 39 yard run. While the call didn't determine the outcome of the game, and again, it sure pointed it in the right direction.
I've seen a lot of defensive backs this year get called for interference when the fans, announcers and yours truly would agree that it was just good defense. I know what the rules says but it sure does open the door for a lot of interpretation on the field.
All weekend long, and it didn't matter which network you were watching, all the studio shows and game announcers could talk about was the Tim Tebow injury. I was sick of hearing about it by the end of the night. Hell, the Gators weren't even playing Saturday. I know that it was a big hit, I blogged about, but there were some other items of interest for the weekend. Even the ACC pre-game show on Sports South had a segment on Tebow and his damaged melon. Some analysts, Kirk Herbstreit (ABC, ESPN), were questioning if Tebow should even suit up next week against LSU. That took place during the Miami-Oklahoma thriller. Tebow got more coverage than 95% of the players who were actually playing Saturday and he didn't even take a snap. No one talked about Sam Bradford, reigning Heisman winner, when he went down. The love affair with Tebow continues. Wonder how much coverage Tebow gets when he turns pro and is stuck in Jacksonville playing for the Jags. That's a whole new blog post right there.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Lenoir Rhyne University Bears
Next weekend will be pretty special for the College Football Beat blog as I will be spending the weekend with the Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears football team. I will be updating the blog through out the day next Friday evening and Saturday with some insight of how a college team prepares for the game ahead. Head football coach Fred Goldsmith has granted me as much access that I need to give the readers of this blog a different perspective of Game Day. It will be homecoming weekend for the Bears as they prepare to take on the Wingate Bulldogs.
While for some this may not seem to be much of a deal at all, for me and this blog it is an opportunity to grow and get a behind the scenes look. While Lenoir-Rhyne is no University of Florida or Notre Dame, it is a chance to show you the reader what these student athletes go through to get ready . While just a weekend is probably not enough to truly reflect what it takes, it will be an eye opening experience for me and hopefully you the reader.
The Bears are coming of a 38-17 win over the Tusculum Pioneers on Saturday night. The win was the Bears 1st win ever at Tusculum. The Pioneers helped the Bears out by committing seven turnovers. L/R boasts the #2 rushing offense in the South Atlantic Conference and also ranks #2 in the country in Division II. The Bears are now 1-1 in conference play.
The Bears are coached by University of Florida alumnus Fred Goldsmith. Coach Goldsmith was named the 1992 Sports Illustrated Coach of the Year for his success at Rice University. In 1994 he was the Bobby Dodd Award for National Coach of the Year for Division I while at Duke University. Coach Goldsmith is in the middle of his third year as head coach. Goldsmith was also Head coach Slippery Rock. He has also been on the staff of Florida A&M, Air Force and Arkansas.
Goldsmith is trying to rebuild a program that has not had a winning season since 1993.
Things have not always been doom and gloom at L/R though as they were the 1960 NAIA National Chhampion with a perfect 11-0 season.
I did have a chance to ask Coach Goldsmith some questions during our meeting:
College Football Beat (CFB): How would you rate the season so far?
Coach Goldsmith (CG): We should be 5-0. We lost one game in overtime and then our second loss came because we gave up two big plays and couldn't overcome them in the pouring rain. It's tough to lose a game like that when you know you were the better team. It's tough to lose games like that when you are trying to rebuild a program.
CFB: Coach Goldsmith, having coached in the Football Championship Division what are some of the unique challenges that Lenoir-Rhyne poses?
CG: It's a complicated system here in D II. You are more of a GM and accountant than you are in the bigger schools. You only get 25 scholarships for 100 players so you need to work things out.
CFB: What are some of the positives of coaching at L/R?
CG: The travel is easy here in the South Atlantic Conference. Their are some schools in Division II that are taking six to eight hour bus rides to away games. Our longest ride is just over two hours. The size of the school is an enjoyment. This university is very selective of its students so we tend get better student athletes. We also have some great community support and that helps.
CFB: At the bigger schools a lot of players have dreams of moving to the NFL to you see much of that at this level?
CG: We have some kids that have those ambitions, and while you don't want to dampen their dreams, you need to stress the importance of getting their education. There are very few big school kids who make it to the NFL but there is always a chance. We stress that academics are related to their future.
CFB: What is the biggest problem you face in dealing with the student-athletes?
CG: If you can get them through the first two years they seem to take their academics more seriously. Something clicks late in the sophomore year for most of them. Upper classman lead by example though, that they need that education.
CFB: Is this the last stop on your coaching carousel?
CG: I though every place I coached at would be my last stop. I'm happy here. I'm 65 years old and I'm happy doing this. I want to do it. When I'm not happy doing it, I'll stop.
Lenoir-Rhyne University in 1891 and started playing football in 1907. L/R has an enrollment of 1600 hundred students. L/R is rated as one of the top private universities in the Southeast. It has a nationally recognized nursing program that currently is running at capacity with a waiting list. L/R is located in Hickory, North Carolina.
While for some this may not seem to be much of a deal at all, for me and this blog it is an opportunity to grow and get a behind the scenes look. While Lenoir-Rhyne is no University of Florida or Notre Dame, it is a chance to show you the reader what these student athletes go through to get ready . While just a weekend is probably not enough to truly reflect what it takes, it will be an eye opening experience for me and hopefully you the reader.
The Bears are coming of a 38-17 win over the Tusculum Pioneers on Saturday night. The win was the Bears 1st win ever at Tusculum. The Pioneers helped the Bears out by committing seven turnovers. L/R boasts the #2 rushing offense in the South Atlantic Conference and also ranks #2 in the country in Division II. The Bears are now 1-1 in conference play.
The Bears are coached by University of Florida alumnus Fred Goldsmith. Coach Goldsmith was named the 1992 Sports Illustrated Coach of the Year for his success at Rice University. In 1994 he was the Bobby Dodd Award for National Coach of the Year for Division I while at Duke University. Coach Goldsmith is in the middle of his third year as head coach. Goldsmith was also Head coach Slippery Rock. He has also been on the staff of Florida A&M, Air Force and Arkansas.
Goldsmith is trying to rebuild a program that has not had a winning season since 1993.
Things have not always been doom and gloom at L/R though as they were the 1960 NAIA National Chhampion with a perfect 11-0 season.
I did have a chance to ask Coach Goldsmith some questions during our meeting:
College Football Beat (CFB): How would you rate the season so far?
Coach Goldsmith (CG): We should be 5-0. We lost one game in overtime and then our second loss came because we gave up two big plays and couldn't overcome them in the pouring rain. It's tough to lose a game like that when you know you were the better team. It's tough to lose games like that when you are trying to rebuild a program.
CFB: Coach Goldsmith, having coached in the Football Championship Division what are some of the unique challenges that Lenoir-Rhyne poses?
CG: It's a complicated system here in D II. You are more of a GM and accountant than you are in the bigger schools. You only get 25 scholarships for 100 players so you need to work things out.
CFB: What are some of the positives of coaching at L/R?
CG: The travel is easy here in the South Atlantic Conference. Their are some schools in Division II that are taking six to eight hour bus rides to away games. Our longest ride is just over two hours. The size of the school is an enjoyment. This university is very selective of its students so we tend get better student athletes. We also have some great community support and that helps.
CFB: At the bigger schools a lot of players have dreams of moving to the NFL to you see much of that at this level?
CG: We have some kids that have those ambitions, and while you don't want to dampen their dreams, you need to stress the importance of getting their education. There are very few big school kids who make it to the NFL but there is always a chance. We stress that academics are related to their future.
CFB: What is the biggest problem you face in dealing with the student-athletes?
CG: If you can get them through the first two years they seem to take their academics more seriously. Something clicks late in the sophomore year for most of them. Upper classman lead by example though, that they need that education.
CFB: Is this the last stop on your coaching carousel?
CG: I though every place I coached at would be my last stop. I'm happy here. I'm 65 years old and I'm happy doing this. I want to do it. When I'm not happy doing it, I'll stop.
Lenoir-Rhyne University in 1891 and started playing football in 1907. L/R has an enrollment of 1600 hundred students. L/R is rated as one of the top private universities in the Southeast. It has a nationally recognized nursing program that currently is running at capacity with a waiting list. L/R is located in Hickory, North Carolina.
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