Just Some Random Thoughts

As the college football bowl season starts to get in full swing I'm seeming to get over my writers block that has been plaguing me for the last couple of weeks. I've seen some events transpire but couldn't figure out how to put my thoughts down on this keyboard. Well I seem to have found that second wind, so here we go.



The University of Texas administration made the right call in giving Mack Brown a $2 million raise a few weeks ago to raise his annual salary to $5 million a year. Those are some crazy numbers I agree but look what he has done for the university. Texas is the leading revenue producing football program in the country and has given over $6 million to the education fund over the last few years. Say whatever you want but that would not happen if Texas was losing football games. $5 million a year is outrageous, but if that is the going rate nationally for a winning college football coach than why should Mack Brown not be paid that much. One national championship under his belt and playing for another one this year.

The University of Florida seems to be going after some top notch student/athletes to play football for the Gators. Check out the myspace/facebook pages of lineman Leon Orr and defensive player Lynden Trail, these are some top notch recruits who have pics posted of themselves flashing gang signs and one poses with a gun. Gator fans can not say a word now about any other school and who they recruit and the thugs that are on the field. It seems that Urban Meyer may have a problem brewing in Gainesville and he better get it under control before it spirals out of control. Remember the almighty Tim Tebow is gone after the bowl game.

What the hell was ESPN thinking a week ago? On Saturday night they glorify the Miami Hurricanes teams of the 80's for brash behavior, hanging with drug dealers, having bounties put on opposing players heads and apparently owning the town and being totally out of control. The next morning they run a story on Outside the Lines that vilifies Florida State for their academic scandal and only give one side of the story.The two interviewee's were an advisor that is currently suing the university and a former player who lasted one semester. I'm not saying what happened at FSU was not wrong I'm saying it happens at almost every major college football school in the nation and does not need to just be fixed at Florida State but around the nation. But why the double standard? Did anyone know that the producer of the OTL story was a former Florida grad? What about ESPN's contract with the SEC? You mean this type of thing doesn't happen in the football factory conference of the SEC? I used to hold ESPN to a higher standard for expose stories but after watching the Miami story and FSU story, I have to wonder.

Speaking of Florida State and getting back to on field matters the Noles rise from the ashes may not happen next season but with recruits Jimbo Fisher is landing and the coaching staff he is assembling is may not be that far off. A return to national prominence may be in the future for the garnette and gold.

Bowl season is under way and the Mountain West Conference is coming out the gate strong and making some noise to be given an automatic BCS birth. With BYU destroying Oregon State and Utah putting away California the Mountain West has showed they can compete with the so called major conferences.