Tonight's Pick

Although I am not a fan of a the decision to string along the January bowl games I am happy that the Cotton Bowl is getting some love with a Friday night showcase and an interesting match-up. Of course I would prefer that it opened the January 1 festivities like the old days, but that will never happen--or at least it will never be given its own slot unopposed by other games. so, we take what we can get.
I am predicting a close win by LSU--aren't they all--but will root for the Aggies. It should be a fun game.

Rather be Luck, Who is Good

As a unabashed fan of college football I am very happy that Andrew Luck is returning to the Cardinal for another year of outstanding play. College football needs to promote more guys like Luck who play well and hit the books. Unfortunately the media seems more enamored with guys like Cam Newton, who was a hired gun whether or not he was sold to Auburn. Shall we celebrate one year of a player, regardless of how good he was, or three to four years of another top player's career? And as for Luck's decision, he may or may not be leaving money on the table but there is something to be said for graduating from Stanford and getting to enjoy another year with the Cardinal instead of a crap season with Carolina? He does not need the money and enjoys the college experience. What is wrong with that? To be honest I was surprised the draft experts had him leaving.

As a fan of Notre Dame football I could be disappointed that we now have to face Luck at the end of the regular season. But I am excited to get to beat him one time, especially since such a win will clearly stamp the Irish as back (assuming they enter the game ranked high). And it will be refreshing to see a battle of two academic powerhouses shape up as a candidate for game of the year, but I am getting ahead of myself. Both programs will have a lot to prove between now and late November.

Bad News For Big Ten

Please excuse my delay in posting but I have not been able to overcome Randy Edsall calling the Maryland football head coaching gig his "dream job". But the bad news that the Big Ten has to deal with is that they no longer have Rich Rod to kick around anymore. The haves in the conference have feasted on Michigan the past three years and now have to actually be worried about the game (assuming the Wolverines hire a decent coach) as soon as the replacement gets the team in shape.
Of course the conference as a whole benefits from a reborn Michigan team. Then again, perhaps they need to fall further out of the spotlight. That was the problem with the January 1 massacre of conference squads. Because the conference supplies both television viewers and people willing to travel to bowl games, Big Ten teams are highly coveted for bowl invitations. And so they get invited to better games then they deserve. This was especially true of Michigan, but so too of a few others. Moving up in class because you deliver viewers is no way to win a bowl game (see Notre Dame prior to their recent two-game win streak--when they were not over-seeded).
And so the conference remains popular but disrespected nationally. Unfortunately the two go hand-in-hand.

Love For Luck

I cannot take it anymore. AHHHHHHHHHH! Jaworski and Gruden have to shut up about Andrew Luck. Yes, he is a good QB. But they talk about him as if he is the greatest player in college football history. It is the ESPN way: find the star and talk about him non-stop. It drives me crazy.

View From Bennett Avenue

In the middle of the overload of football games being played this week came the news that recent Pitt coaching hire Mike Haywood was arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman, who was the mother of his child, in his/their South Bend home. By the time he was released on bail, the charge was upped to a felony and he was out of a job. This is not a situation whereby one has to wait for a potential trial as just the fact that he put himself in a situation that got him placed in jail is enough of a reason to can him. Hopefully he will be proven innocent, or if guilty get the punishment he deserves and treatment.

The Panthers are back to square one. As we have already discussed here, their AD Steve Pederson has proven to be woeful when it comes to hiring coaches. Who does he turn to now? There is plenty of Internet chatter about Rich Rodriguez, should he be fired from his job at Michigan. But can Pitt fans embrace a former enemy? And don't we as fans need a year or two off from him? I know I do. Why not give a shot to K.C. Keeler (pictured), the head man at Delaware? He lacks fbs experience but is a Pennsylvania man and certainly knows how to win.

Great Game

Now that was a great Rose Bowl and fitting cap to excellent season for TCU. Both teams played well and the game was compelling from beginning, when the offense dominated, to end, when each first down was an accomplishment. The Horned Frogs seemed pretty happy considering that all those crying for a playoff will be upset for TCU. But they, like 34 other programs, will end this year with a win.
Wisconsin, like fellow conference rivals Michigan, Northwestern, Michigan State and Penn State, lost today in what will go down as a dark day for the Big Ten. The biggest problem is that all of these second tier bowls want the conference because its teams travel loads of alums. So mediocre teams like Northwestern and Michigan get to play on January 1 when more deserving teams sometimes do not.

Happy New Year

I hope everyone has a healthy and happy New Year.
Games are kicking off so let me say that I rolled with underdogs today, five of which are Big Ten teams. It should be a fun day.
Hopefully I can shake my hangover. I had to celebrate the big Notre Dame win.