I'm getting the itch and it is only March. Spring practice and the eternal hope that comes along with it has a tendency to do that. I miss the game already. I keep reading the stories and wishing it was September already. I find myself looking forward to pre-season rankings just because I know the real deal is just around the corner.
The off season has been interesting so far and here are some quick tidbits. No, I'm not going real in-depth just going to graze the top:
What is happening in Oregon? Chip Kelly has his hands full with the misconduct of his Duck football players. After last seasons opening night fiasco you would have thought that Oregon had put come of these transgressions behind them.
Urban Meyer is back!!!! Just ask the Orlando Sentinel reporter who asked a question concerning John Brantley as quarterback over Tim Tebow.
Speaking of old Timmy. Seems he is drawing interest from some pro teams concerning playing quarterback in the NFL. I think it would be a shame if Tebow do not get a fair shot in the NFL after being one of the most highly decorated college football players of all-time.
Brian Kelly is working hard to get Notre Dame on the right track after the Charlie Weiss era came to and end. Kelly is preaching discipline. On and off the field.
Louisville is opening spring practice and new head coach Charlie Strong has come out and said, "We need some leaders". The first time head coach is trying to turn the program around after Steve Kragthorpe did not live up to expectations for the Cardinals.
Florida State is a different program. All the reports coming out of Tallahassee say everything about the program has a different feel to it under Jimbo Fisher.
All I have for right now but I will be picking up the pace over the next few weeks.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Recruiting
National Signing Day came and went and the University of Florida has seemed to come out the big winner with a recruiting class, that if you look at just ratings, is one of the best ever in college football.
Urban Meyer and his staff assembled 4- Five Star, 15 - Four Star and 7 - Three Star recruits among the 28 total signed. A great haul for the Gators, even though some questions still remain about the health of Meyer. While next year may be a slight down year for the Gators it looks like the future is very bright in Gainesville.
If you look at ESPN's ranking there are not a whole lot of surprises but there are a few. Texas and Alabama rounded out the top three behind Florida. Auburn surprised with a class that ranks #4 when the final tallies are completed.
The Tigers wound up with 1 -Five Star, 10- Four Star and 13- Three Star commits among the 32 strong signing class. Head coach Gene Chizik and his staff worked hard and and if everything goes as planned should contend in the near future in the SEC.
Oklahoma, no surprise, rounded out the top five but the sixth rated recruiting class is a little bit of shocker considering the 2009 record of 7-6 and the loss of a legendary head coach. Florida State and Jimbo Fisher proved that the staff he assembled can recruit and close some deals. The Noles assembled a class that includes 2 -Five Star, 9 - Four Star and 9 - Three Star among the 24 signees. The Noles were also able to get some much needed defensive help with 14 defensive recruits that include many of the higher ranked players.
The biggest shocker of National Signing day was where Tennessee finished, 9th. With Lane Kiffin leaving to take the head coaching job at USC many thought that this recruiting season would be a lost one for the Volunteers but Derek Dooley and his staff dug their heels in and pulled in quite a haul. The class included 10 - Four Star recruits and 6 - Three Star recruits in the total 25 signed.
The over all view of recruiting is that the SEC continues to get stronger with four schools ranked in the top ten and two more among the top 25. The PAC-10 fared well with two schools in the top ten and and three more among the top 25. The ACC has four teams among the top 25.
The biggest surprise may have been the Big 10, not having a school among the top and only three in top 25. Penn State came in 11th followed by Michigan and then Ohio State.
As with the NFL, recruiting is like the draft. They look good in high school and do well at the high school showcases but you still never know what you have until they buckle those chin straps up on Saturday and see some real game action. The funnel effect will start to take place. Some of these highly touted recruits will fade and never see the field and some who went unnoticed may some day find themselves winning a Heisman Trophy.
Taken a look back you have to think the big winner of course was Florida, because with the ability to recruit that much talent the odds will be in their favor for some of that talent to pan out and have an impact.
Urban Meyer and his staff assembled 4- Five Star, 15 - Four Star and 7 - Three Star recruits among the 28 total signed. A great haul for the Gators, even though some questions still remain about the health of Meyer. While next year may be a slight down year for the Gators it looks like the future is very bright in Gainesville.
If you look at ESPN's ranking there are not a whole lot of surprises but there are a few. Texas and Alabama rounded out the top three behind Florida. Auburn surprised with a class that ranks #4 when the final tallies are completed.
The Tigers wound up with 1 -Five Star, 10- Four Star and 13- Three Star commits among the 32 strong signing class. Head coach Gene Chizik and his staff worked hard and and if everything goes as planned should contend in the near future in the SEC.
Oklahoma, no surprise, rounded out the top five but the sixth rated recruiting class is a little bit of shocker considering the 2009 record of 7-6 and the loss of a legendary head coach. Florida State and Jimbo Fisher proved that the staff he assembled can recruit and close some deals. The Noles assembled a class that includes 2 -Five Star, 9 - Four Star and 9 - Three Star among the 24 signees. The Noles were also able to get some much needed defensive help with 14 defensive recruits that include many of the higher ranked players.
The biggest shocker of National Signing day was where Tennessee finished, 9th. With Lane Kiffin leaving to take the head coaching job at USC many thought that this recruiting season would be a lost one for the Volunteers but Derek Dooley and his staff dug their heels in and pulled in quite a haul. The class included 10 - Four Star recruits and 6 - Three Star recruits in the total 25 signed.
The over all view of recruiting is that the SEC continues to get stronger with four schools ranked in the top ten and two more among the top 25. The PAC-10 fared well with two schools in the top ten and and three more among the top 25. The ACC has four teams among the top 25.
The biggest surprise may have been the Big 10, not having a school among the top and only three in top 25. Penn State came in 11th followed by Michigan and then Ohio State.
As with the NFL, recruiting is like the draft. They look good in high school and do well at the high school showcases but you still never know what you have until they buckle those chin straps up on Saturday and see some real game action. The funnel effect will start to take place. Some of these highly touted recruits will fade and never see the field and some who went unnoticed may some day find themselves winning a Heisman Trophy.
Taken a look back you have to think the big winner of course was Florida, because with the ability to recruit that much talent the odds will be in their favor for some of that talent to pan out and have an impact.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Who is right?
There seem to be conflicting stories coming out of Lubbock, Tx, concerning the firing of Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach and conflicting stories coming out of Tampa Bay, FL concerning the firing of head coach Jim Leavitt.
First to Leach. Leach is contending that the accusations flying from Adam James all stem from James being demoted to third string and storming out of the coaches office after being informed. Leach contends that James slammed a door so hard while leaving the meeting, with assistant coach Lincoln Riley on hand, that over a $1,000 worth of damage was caused.
Leach further contends that phone calls from James's father. ESPN analyst Craig James, started flowing and messages were left with assistant coaches on the staff of Texas Tech. It also being reported that Craig James also approached an assistant coach prior to the Red Raiders bowl game letting him know that they were making a big mistake pertaining to his son. All this is being reported by ESPN.
Leach also contends that James put himself in the electrical closet, punishment in question, and took pictures with this cell phone.
It is also alleged that Craig James and Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance have a business relationship together away from football. It seems that university president Guy Bailey has brought this to light.
Leach was fired just days before he was set to receive a $850,000 bonus for staying on for one full calendar year.
The Leavitt saga seems to have more wheels than that involving Leach. Leavitt is accused of choking a player, Joel Miller, and slapping him in the face during half-time of a November 21 game against Louisville.
Leavitt says, he grabbed the player around the shoulder pads and tried to motivate him.
The players father at first said Leavitt struck his son but later recanted that and said Leavitt did indeed grab him by the pads and try to motivate him after receiving a penalty on special teams during the first half. Miller was also on the field when Louisville returned a kick for a touchdown.
The player at first said, that Leavitt grabbed his shoulder pads and did not strike him in anyway, during the initial interview trying to deflect attention away from the episode.
Miller has asked Leavitt for an apology. Leavitt is denying that is how everything unfolded. The university has conducted it's own investigation and has five witnesses who can testify that Leavitt did assault the player. USF also contends that Leavitt interfered with the investigation by having contact with Miller
Both Leavitt and Leach are now both unemployed and it is doubtful either one will be roaming any sidelines any time soon. And lawsuits have been filed. But the fact of the matter is all parties involved in both issues will come out as damaged goods. There will be no winners and the truth will eventually come to the surface.
I would like to add as far as Texas Tech is concerned, is this not the same school that has Bobby Knight coaching basketball?
First to Leach. Leach is contending that the accusations flying from Adam James all stem from James being demoted to third string and storming out of the coaches office after being informed. Leach contends that James slammed a door so hard while leaving the meeting, with assistant coach Lincoln Riley on hand, that over a $1,000 worth of damage was caused.
Leach further contends that phone calls from James's father. ESPN analyst Craig James, started flowing and messages were left with assistant coaches on the staff of Texas Tech. It also being reported that Craig James also approached an assistant coach prior to the Red Raiders bowl game letting him know that they were making a big mistake pertaining to his son. All this is being reported by ESPN.
Leach also contends that James put himself in the electrical closet, punishment in question, and took pictures with this cell phone.
It is also alleged that Craig James and Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance have a business relationship together away from football. It seems that university president Guy Bailey has brought this to light.
Leach was fired just days before he was set to receive a $850,000 bonus for staying on for one full calendar year.
The Leavitt saga seems to have more wheels than that involving Leach. Leavitt is accused of choking a player, Joel Miller, and slapping him in the face during half-time of a November 21 game against Louisville.
Leavitt says, he grabbed the player around the shoulder pads and tried to motivate him.
The players father at first said Leavitt struck his son but later recanted that and said Leavitt did indeed grab him by the pads and try to motivate him after receiving a penalty on special teams during the first half. Miller was also on the field when Louisville returned a kick for a touchdown.
The player at first said, that Leavitt grabbed his shoulder pads and did not strike him in anyway, during the initial interview trying to deflect attention away from the episode.
Miller has asked Leavitt for an apology. Leavitt is denying that is how everything unfolded. The university has conducted it's own investigation and has five witnesses who can testify that Leavitt did assault the player. USF also contends that Leavitt interfered with the investigation by having contact with Miller
Both Leavitt and Leach are now both unemployed and it is doubtful either one will be roaming any sidelines any time soon. And lawsuits have been filed. But the fact of the matter is all parties involved in both issues will come out as damaged goods. There will be no winners and the truth will eventually come to the surface.
I would like to add as far as Texas Tech is concerned, is this not the same school that has Bobby Knight coaching basketball?
2010
We are less than eight months away from the start of the college football season and about seven months away from pre-season rankings. The rankings don't mean a lot right nowor when the season starts but we can start the debate now. Here is how I think the Top-25 should look to start 2010.
1) Alabama - Plenty of talent still on hand. Defending National Champions.
2) Boise State - Time to give the Broncos some respect. Two BCS Bowl wins in last three years. A ton of returning players.
3) Oregon- Look what Chip Kelly did in his first year with the Ducks.
4) TCU - Head coach Gary Patterson got some wooing done by some other teams. Patterson knows what he has so that is why he stayed.
5) Nebraska - Defense. Enough said. Bo Pelini has the Huskers on a good path.
6) Ohio State - A Rose Bowl win now in hand and Terrelle Pryor leading the way.
7) Virginia Tech - Leader of the ACC. Beamer ball will hang tough in 10'.
8) Texas - The Longhorns regret not letting their freshman get some more mop up duty. The kid looked strong as the game progressed. It's still Texas and Mack Brown still has plenty of talent in the Lone Star state.
9) Iowa - Kirk Ferentz wants to finish what he has started.
10) Georgia Tech - Some talent leaving but hardly any team can figure out how to stop the hybrid option.
11) Wisconsin - Clamped down on Miami in Champs Sports Bowl. Plenty of returning talent to hang in Big Ten.
12)Arkansas - Not an elite SEC team yet but surging.
13)Florida - Too much talent leaving to warrant a top ten pre-season ranking.
14) Brigham Young - The Mormons will bring it again.
15) Oregon State - Mike Riley had a chance to leave but wanted to stay in Corvalis, there had to be a reason.
16) Pittsburgh - Dave Wannestadt has the Panthers getting some respect and wants to keep the program heading in the right direction.
17) Cincinnati - Should probably be ranked higher but after the Florida bowl beat down and a coaching change Bearcats will have an uphill climb in 2010.
18) Georgia - Mark Richt will be out to prove 2010 was an anomaly.
19) Miami - Randy Shannon is having a good recruiting season. Still has plenty of horses in the barn. Not the "U" yet but college football is becoming relevant again in Coral Gables.
20) LSU - Never that far off. LSU will have to step it up in 2010.
21) Utah - Another team that gets little respect. The Utes always seem to be hanging around though.
22) USC - Carroll gone. Kiffin in. Norm Chow says he'll stay at UCLA. It's still USC so we know they still have impact players as of now.
23) Stanford - Was 09' for real. Jim Harbaugh and the Cards are out to prove student/athletes are real.
24) Mississippi - After all the hype in 2009 and high rankings. The Rebels will be playing with a chip on their shoulders.
25) West Virginia - Third Big East entry in my poll. May be the best Big East team in 2010.
Some teams worth paying attention to but not quite Top-25: Oklahoma, North Carolina, FSU, Rutgers, Auburn, Texas Tech, Notre Dame, South Carolina, UCLA, Washington, Michigan and Navy.
1) Alabama - Plenty of talent still on hand. Defending National Champions.
2) Boise State - Time to give the Broncos some respect. Two BCS Bowl wins in last three years. A ton of returning players.
3) Oregon- Look what Chip Kelly did in his first year with the Ducks.
4) TCU - Head coach Gary Patterson got some wooing done by some other teams. Patterson knows what he has so that is why he stayed.
5) Nebraska - Defense. Enough said. Bo Pelini has the Huskers on a good path.
6) Ohio State - A Rose Bowl win now in hand and Terrelle Pryor leading the way.
7) Virginia Tech - Leader of the ACC. Beamer ball will hang tough in 10'.
8) Texas - The Longhorns regret not letting their freshman get some more mop up duty. The kid looked strong as the game progressed. It's still Texas and Mack Brown still has plenty of talent in the Lone Star state.
9) Iowa - Kirk Ferentz wants to finish what he has started.
10) Georgia Tech - Some talent leaving but hardly any team can figure out how to stop the hybrid option.
11) Wisconsin - Clamped down on Miami in Champs Sports Bowl. Plenty of returning talent to hang in Big Ten.
12)Arkansas - Not an elite SEC team yet but surging.
13)Florida - Too much talent leaving to warrant a top ten pre-season ranking.
14) Brigham Young - The Mormons will bring it again.
15) Oregon State - Mike Riley had a chance to leave but wanted to stay in Corvalis, there had to be a reason.
16) Pittsburgh - Dave Wannestadt has the Panthers getting some respect and wants to keep the program heading in the right direction.
17) Cincinnati - Should probably be ranked higher but after the Florida bowl beat down and a coaching change Bearcats will have an uphill climb in 2010.
18) Georgia - Mark Richt will be out to prove 2010 was an anomaly.
19) Miami - Randy Shannon is having a good recruiting season. Still has plenty of horses in the barn. Not the "U" yet but college football is becoming relevant again in Coral Gables.
20) LSU - Never that far off. LSU will have to step it up in 2010.
21) Utah - Another team that gets little respect. The Utes always seem to be hanging around though.
22) USC - Carroll gone. Kiffin in. Norm Chow says he'll stay at UCLA. It's still USC so we know they still have impact players as of now.
23) Stanford - Was 09' for real. Jim Harbaugh and the Cards are out to prove student/athletes are real.
24) Mississippi - After all the hype in 2009 and high rankings. The Rebels will be playing with a chip on their shoulders.
25) West Virginia - Third Big East entry in my poll. May be the best Big East team in 2010.
Some teams worth paying attention to but not quite Top-25: Oklahoma, North Carolina, FSU, Rutgers, Auburn, Texas Tech, Notre Dame, South Carolina, UCLA, Washington, Michigan and Navy.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Confusion Reigns Supreme
When the college football season hits the field for the 2010 season things will look different on the sidelines let's take a quick look:
Pete Carroll - Left USC to become head coach for Seattle Seahawks. Wonder if it had anything to do with sanctions, loss of talent or any other NCAA issues.
Lane Kiffin - Left "Rocky Top" in the middle of the night for USC. Kinda like when the Colts left Baltimore. Held a press conference but didn't answer any questions from the media. For a guy with a big mouth, that in itself was impressive. Said "USC" was his dream job.
Urban Meyer - Quit on Friday. Came Back on Saturday. Taking a leave of absence until August, sighting health issues. Word out of Gainesville, still business as usual. Meyer's footprint still all over program. Downside for Gators for next season, a lot of talent leaving.
Bobby Bowden - Retired, if you want to call it that, from Florida State. Won his last game upsetting West Virginia in Gator Bowl.
Jimbo Fisher - No longer the head coach in waiting at FSU. He is now the shizz. Has come out of the gate strong as far as recruiting concerned.
Charlie Weiss - Fired at Notre Dame and is now on staff for Kansas City Chiefs. Didn't take long.
Mike Leach - Learned an important lesson. Pirates are forced to walk the plank. Fired at Texas Tech for stepping over the line for punishing a player who was injured. Didn't help matters that player was son of an ESPN College Football analysts. Can you say awkward? Leach now heading to court with Texas Tech.
Eric Mangino - Fired at Kansas for being abusive to players. Heard a rumor going to be new spokesperson for Jenny Craig.
Jim Leavitt - Fired from University of South Florida for assaulting (choking/slapping) during half time of a game . Player, first denied it happened and is now asking for an apology from Leavitt. Just like Leach, Leavitt and USF will be having some litigation going on.
Charlie Strong - New head man at Louisville replacing the fired Steve Kragthorpe.
Brian Kelly - Takes Cincy all the way to Sugar Bowl undefeated but leaves town before game to take over at Notre Dame. Cincy gets waxed by Gators and Tim Tebow.
Rich Brooks - Retires from Kentucky. Replaced by Joker Phillips. I'm serious no joke. Sorry it was just to easy to pass up on.
Al Groh - Fired from Virginia. Replaced by Mike London.
Tommy Tuberville - Finds himself back on the sidelines replacing Leach at Texas Tech.
Mark Snyder - Resigns from Marshall. Replaced by "Doc" Holiday. No not making this stuff up.
Turner Gill - Brought Buffalo back to life now gets a chance at Kansas replacing Mangino. Gill, if you remember, was a standout QB at Nebraska.
Butch Jones - Resigns at Central Michigan to become head coach at Cincy. Is replaced at Central Michigan by Dan Enos.
The biggest question mark though will be who is going to replace Kiffin at Tennessee? Early names include the usual suspects, Gary Patterson (TCU), is saying no, Chris Peterson (Boise State), Jon Gruden, has ties to UT, Kippy Brown (Interim Head Coach) and no Phillip Fulmer will not be coming back.
Pete Carroll - Left USC to become head coach for Seattle Seahawks. Wonder if it had anything to do with sanctions, loss of talent or any other NCAA issues.
Lane Kiffin - Left "Rocky Top" in the middle of the night for USC. Kinda like when the Colts left Baltimore. Held a press conference but didn't answer any questions from the media. For a guy with a big mouth, that in itself was impressive. Said "USC" was his dream job.
Urban Meyer - Quit on Friday. Came Back on Saturday. Taking a leave of absence until August, sighting health issues. Word out of Gainesville, still business as usual. Meyer's footprint still all over program. Downside for Gators for next season, a lot of talent leaving.
Bobby Bowden - Retired, if you want to call it that, from Florida State. Won his last game upsetting West Virginia in Gator Bowl.
Jimbo Fisher - No longer the head coach in waiting at FSU. He is now the shizz. Has come out of the gate strong as far as recruiting concerned.
Charlie Weiss - Fired at Notre Dame and is now on staff for Kansas City Chiefs. Didn't take long.
Mike Leach - Learned an important lesson. Pirates are forced to walk the plank. Fired at Texas Tech for stepping over the line for punishing a player who was injured. Didn't help matters that player was son of an ESPN College Football analysts. Can you say awkward? Leach now heading to court with Texas Tech.
Eric Mangino - Fired at Kansas for being abusive to players. Heard a rumor going to be new spokesperson for Jenny Craig.
Jim Leavitt - Fired from University of South Florida for assaulting (choking/slapping) during half time of a game . Player, first denied it happened and is now asking for an apology from Leavitt. Just like Leach, Leavitt and USF will be having some litigation going on.
Charlie Strong - New head man at Louisville replacing the fired Steve Kragthorpe.
Brian Kelly - Takes Cincy all the way to Sugar Bowl undefeated but leaves town before game to take over at Notre Dame. Cincy gets waxed by Gators and Tim Tebow.
Rich Brooks - Retires from Kentucky. Replaced by Joker Phillips. I'm serious no joke. Sorry it was just to easy to pass up on.
Al Groh - Fired from Virginia. Replaced by Mike London.
Tommy Tuberville - Finds himself back on the sidelines replacing Leach at Texas Tech.
Mark Snyder - Resigns from Marshall. Replaced by "Doc" Holiday. No not making this stuff up.
Turner Gill - Brought Buffalo back to life now gets a chance at Kansas replacing Mangino. Gill, if you remember, was a standout QB at Nebraska.
Butch Jones - Resigns at Central Michigan to become head coach at Cincy. Is replaced at Central Michigan by Dan Enos.
The biggest question mark though will be who is going to replace Kiffin at Tennessee? Early names include the usual suspects, Gary Patterson (TCU), is saying no, Chris Peterson (Boise State), Jon Gruden, has ties to UT, Kippy Brown (Interim Head Coach) and no Phillip Fulmer will not be coming back.
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