It is the final day before college football begins and justifiably it is raining. I wouldn't mind getting some things done but they can wait. My mind is focused on football and that in mere hours the season will commence. If the weather cooperates I plan on going to Fordham's beat-down of Rhode Island, although it is tempting to stay home and watch the battle of the Carolinas. Either way it is college football and I will be happy.
I never did pick a national champion but will do so now with Alabama. The team has a ridiculously easy schedule and will be motivated by a desire to be undefeated national champions and to achieve everlasting glory by three-peating.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Poll Voting Copycats
Let me get this straight. A group of coaches voted for the USA Today preseason poll earlier this summer. Then a group of sportswriters, choosing from the same scores of possible college football programs, voted on their own preseason top 25. And the two polls came out virtually the same. How is that possible?
Up top I can understand because certain teams get a great deal more hype--and, well, talented players, than others. Agreeing on Alabama as the top team in the nation is no cause for alarm. Ditto Ohio state at 2 and even Oregon, Stanford and Georgia at teams 3-5. I personally would have it Stanford, Georgia and then Oregon but that's not quibbling about. The AP voters then "punished" Texas A&M one spot for Johnny Football's weekly shenanigans, flipping South Carolina ahead of them to differ from the coaches' poll. Clemson, Louisville and Florida then round out the top ten in both polls.
Teams numbered 11-14 are the same in both polls but their order is moved around. What was ND, FSU, LSU and Okie State in USA Today became FSU, LSU Oklahoma State and Notre Dame to the writers.
That both polls have the same 14 teams ranked in the top 14, although in slightly different order, is odd but what comes next defies belief. Texas, OU, Michigan, Nebraska, Boise, TCU,UCLA, Northwestern, Wisconsin, USC and Oregon State are in that exact order in both polls to fill out 14-25. That my friends is hard to do. How busy were the AP voters? Did they just pick up the coaches' poll, make a few adjustments and then mail it in? Sure seems like it. If it is some sort of protest against having preseason polls, then I am all for it but it screams more of laziness than resistance.
shake it up boys. It will get boring fast if there is too much agreement.
Up top I can understand because certain teams get a great deal more hype--and, well, talented players, than others. Agreeing on Alabama as the top team in the nation is no cause for alarm. Ditto Ohio state at 2 and even Oregon, Stanford and Georgia at teams 3-5. I personally would have it Stanford, Georgia and then Oregon but that's not quibbling about. The AP voters then "punished" Texas A&M one spot for Johnny Football's weekly shenanigans, flipping South Carolina ahead of them to differ from the coaches' poll. Clemson, Louisville and Florida then round out the top ten in both polls.
Teams numbered 11-14 are the same in both polls but their order is moved around. What was ND, FSU, LSU and Okie State in USA Today became FSU, LSU Oklahoma State and Notre Dame to the writers.
That both polls have the same 14 teams ranked in the top 14, although in slightly different order, is odd but what comes next defies belief. Texas, OU, Michigan, Nebraska, Boise, TCU,UCLA, Northwestern, Wisconsin, USC and Oregon State are in that exact order in both polls to fill out 14-25. That my friends is hard to do. How busy were the AP voters? Did they just pick up the coaches' poll, make a few adjustments and then mail it in? Sure seems like it. If it is some sort of protest against having preseason polls, then I am all for it but it screams more of laziness than resistance.
shake it up boys. It will get boring fast if there is too much agreement.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Savage to the Rescue?
The Pitt Panthers have officially turned to the oft-travelled Tom Savage to lead them at QB as they transition into the ACC. And why not? Savage was once--seemingly decades ago--a top prospect and now that he has had months of training under the Panther offense he should be ready to tap into some of his potential. Although the team did lose its leading passer, rusher and receiver from last season there is enough talent back to build on a successful second half of the season that saw Pitt become bowl eligible with victories over Buffalo, Temple, USF and Rutgers. They also played Notre Dame as tough as anyone during the regular season. And head coach Paul Chryst has had success with transfer QBs before, although expecting Savage to be as successful as Russell Wilson was at Wisconsin when Chryst was the offensive coordinator is too much of a dream.
While it is a good thing that Savage is getting another chance, he will need to be at his best if Pitt has any chance in game one versus Florida State. I would like their chances for a home upset if the situation with talented RB Rushel Shell had not blown up when he first asked to transfer and then decided to stay. I agree that he should have been shown the door--and he is now waiting out a year at UCLA--but there is no back on the roster that will keep the FSU pass rushers honest. As excited as Savage is to be back leading a team, he could be in for a long night on September 2.
While it is a good thing that Savage is getting another chance, he will need to be at his best if Pitt has any chance in game one versus Florida State. I would like their chances for a home upset if the situation with talented RB Rushel Shell had not blown up when he first asked to transfer and then decided to stay. I agree that he should have been shown the door--and he is now waiting out a year at UCLA--but there is no back on the roster that will keep the FSU pass rushers honest. As excited as Savage is to be back leading a team, he could be in for a long night on September 2.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Alabama's Scheduling Worries
Perhaps the most nervous program--after Texas A&M of course--about any potential Johnny Manziel suspension is none other than Alabama, the school whose sole blemish from 2012 was a direct result of Manziel's talents. Sure fans of Rice and Sam Houston state want to see Manziel on the field for the first two games of the season--if you are going to lose the game you might as well get a glimpse of Mr. Popularity--but Alabama needs Manziel on the field for its game against the Aggies on September 14.
Yes, Bama wants to avenge last year's loss and doing so with Manziel playing will be a lot sweeter. But that is not what is at issue here. Alabama's potentially weak schedule will be watered down even more if Manziel misses the game and therefore the team's margin for error for the season will be even tighter. Yes if Alabama runs the table they will be in the national title game. But the Tide have lost a regular season game in each of the last two title-winning seasons forcing them to be the second team chosen for the title game. To do that again will be problematic if they lose one of the few competitive games on their schedule.
Let's take a look at the actual games. Out of conference they play Virginia Tech in Atlanta and three teams that would have no chance against Alabama's second unit in Colorado State, Georgia State and Chattanooga. Folks are spinning the Hokies as a potential threat and possibly the team's third toughest opponent. But coming off a 7-6 season and with a ridiculously easy schedule the rest of the way, Virginia Tech will disappear from national attention for months if they do not upset Alabama. Tech not playing Clemson and Florida State hurts Alabama.
In conference Alabama does not play Georgia, Florida and South Carolina from the East. So they have to hope and pray that LSU and A&M remain good and that one of the other West teams improves. And if LSU comes into its match-up with Bama undefeated then they should be ranked number one having beaten TCU on a neutral field and then weathering a four-game stretch featuring road games against Georgia and Mississippi state, a home game against Florida and then a road game against Mississippi.
It is August and it is hard to get worried about future games. Plus based on its handling of the Cam Newton case, Manziel will probably be allowed to play. And, again, all of this does not matter should Alabama go undefeated. They certainly have the schedule to do so.
Yes, Bama wants to avenge last year's loss and doing so with Manziel playing will be a lot sweeter. But that is not what is at issue here. Alabama's potentially weak schedule will be watered down even more if Manziel misses the game and therefore the team's margin for error for the season will be even tighter. Yes if Alabama runs the table they will be in the national title game. But the Tide have lost a regular season game in each of the last two title-winning seasons forcing them to be the second team chosen for the title game. To do that again will be problematic if they lose one of the few competitive games on their schedule.
Let's take a look at the actual games. Out of conference they play Virginia Tech in Atlanta and three teams that would have no chance against Alabama's second unit in Colorado State, Georgia State and Chattanooga. Folks are spinning the Hokies as a potential threat and possibly the team's third toughest opponent. But coming off a 7-6 season and with a ridiculously easy schedule the rest of the way, Virginia Tech will disappear from national attention for months if they do not upset Alabama. Tech not playing Clemson and Florida State hurts Alabama.
In conference Alabama does not play Georgia, Florida and South Carolina from the East. So they have to hope and pray that LSU and A&M remain good and that one of the other West teams improves. And if LSU comes into its match-up with Bama undefeated then they should be ranked number one having beaten TCU on a neutral field and then weathering a four-game stretch featuring road games against Georgia and Mississippi state, a home game against Florida and then a road game against Mississippi.
It is August and it is hard to get worried about future games. Plus based on its handling of the Cam Newton case, Manziel will probably be allowed to play. And, again, all of this does not matter should Alabama go undefeated. They certainly have the schedule to do so.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
College Football 24/7
I am back from Canada, where there is very little interest in our favorite sport. Now I am ready to throw myself into college football, even if teams are just in camp mode. Forget those ridiculous preseason polls. Everyone is tied at 0-0. Forget those preseason predicted Heisman frontrunners (especially when many of them are in trouble for possibly selling autographs!) as everyone has a clean slate in August. You would have been laughed at if you had Notre Dame going to the national title game last year and you could have won a bundle betting on what's-his-name at A&M for the 2012 Heisman (actually you would have been stuck with a middling "field" bet). So get excited, buy some tickets (bought 2 for Rutgers-Arkansas today) and make viewing plans as the opening kickoff is 16 days away (am contemplating a trip to Columbia for the August 29 game between the Carolinas). Hooray!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Carlos Hyde Suspended
Urban Meyer suspended RB Carlos Hyde for at least the first three games of the season (Buffalo, San Diego State and Cal) for his actions at a Columbus bar. Whether or not you believe Hyde hit the young woman at the bar and whatever your feelings toward Meyer, some strong punishment had to be leveled. Men should not be striking women and a football player representing a university cannot be seen as a threat to the local populace. So Hyde should consider himself lucky that charges were not pursued by the woman and that he has a chance to play ball. As for Meyer, he is rightfully getting heat for running too loose of a ship and this moves smells of a poor attempt to get said heat off of his back. He is already under pressure to deliver another undefeated team this season. Now he'll have to do so while keeping his players out of trouble. He was unable to do that at Florida and in his first year at OSU. Can an old dog learn new tricks?
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Northeast Hosting Top College Football Programs
As a traditionalist I am not a fan of the many changes being made in conferences around the nation. But one of the benefits of said change is that a number of top-notch programs will be traveling to my neck of the woods for games this season and I look forward to taking a few short road trips. Here is a travel planner for the local RV owner:
Labor Day Weekend: After enjoying the Rhode Island at Fordham tilt under the lights at Rose Hill (shameless plug) on Thursday the 29th, head to the Meadowlands for the Penn State versus Syracuse battle as a homage to the old days of Eastern football. Then head west for Monday's Pitt-Florida State contest, their first pairing since 1983.
Next we jump to September 14 when a Stanford program that has become one of the stronger in the country travels to West Point to play Army. While the game should be a mismatch--but the Cardinal do have to travel cross country!--it will be a rare opportunity to see a team with top ten aspirations play at Michie.
The following weekend we have rare visits from not one but two major programs, although with differing expectations for 2013. Rebuilding Arkansas is the rare SEC West program allowed out of their region when they head to New Jersey to play a Rutgers team that beat them in Arkansas in 2012. On the same day Michigan will play UConn at Rentschler Field in Hartford, where an additional 2,000 seats are being put in to increase the total to a "whopping" 42,000. There are a large number of Michigan fans in this area but many will have too wait a season to see the Wolverines hit the East Coast as they are scheduled to play at Rutgers in 2014. Meanwhile I am not counting this one, but if tickets to those two games are too expensive go see UMass host an improving Vanderbilt.
On September 28 if you missed FSU week one you can travel to Boston for their road game against Boston College. Yeah I know that does not thrill me either. But you can then go to a local sports bar and watch possibly important AL East games as the Bosox are at Baltimore that evening.
The following week we have one potential top twenty team venturing to the far north for their first time and another that comes annually. Clemson travels to Syracuse for a game that will now be a strange rivalry--again I hate that Syracuse now plays teams like the Tigers but I can enjoy seeing Clemson play football live which I rarely get to do. If that is just too odd, then head to Philly and watch a Louisville team that is aiming for a 12-0 record take on Temple.
On October 12 we have another Michigan sighting, although more inland. The Wolverines play Penn State for the first time since 2010 and, well, since all of the madness out in State College. You'll get some gawkers.
Take a few weeks off to enjoy the national college football scene and major league playoffs. For the next few weeks there are no notable out-of-town teams paying our area a visit.
On the weekend on November 9 you have a chance for a fun weekend. On Friday November 8 you can enjoy the fun scene for a UConn home game when they host Louisville. Then on Saturday you may have to shake off your hangover as you have two options--both requiring a ride west. Notre Dame travels to Pitt, which they do often. But we also have another interesting option and that is Texas, another program that rarely heads up our way, traveling to Morgantown to play new "rival" West Virginia. Again I do not care for West Virginia moving to the Big 12 but I do not think that I have seen Texas live in 20 years or so. Both of the starting times for those games are to be determined. Oh, by the way, the Steelers play at home that Sunday against Buffalo.
To close out the fun we have Nebraska traveling to Penn State on November 23 and then if you are desperate for something Thanksgiving Friday, Miami traveling to Pitt on the 29th.
So there are a lot of options for some rare sightings. Get your field glasses and enjoy.
Labor Day Weekend: After enjoying the Rhode Island at Fordham tilt under the lights at Rose Hill (shameless plug) on Thursday the 29th, head to the Meadowlands for the Penn State versus Syracuse battle as a homage to the old days of Eastern football. Then head west for Monday's Pitt-Florida State contest, their first pairing since 1983.
Next we jump to September 14 when a Stanford program that has become one of the stronger in the country travels to West Point to play Army. While the game should be a mismatch--but the Cardinal do have to travel cross country!--it will be a rare opportunity to see a team with top ten aspirations play at Michie.
The following weekend we have rare visits from not one but two major programs, although with differing expectations for 2013. Rebuilding Arkansas is the rare SEC West program allowed out of their region when they head to New Jersey to play a Rutgers team that beat them in Arkansas in 2012. On the same day Michigan will play UConn at Rentschler Field in Hartford, where an additional 2,000 seats are being put in to increase the total to a "whopping" 42,000. There are a large number of Michigan fans in this area but many will have too wait a season to see the Wolverines hit the East Coast as they are scheduled to play at Rutgers in 2014. Meanwhile I am not counting this one, but if tickets to those two games are too expensive go see UMass host an improving Vanderbilt.
On September 28 if you missed FSU week one you can travel to Boston for their road game against Boston College. Yeah I know that does not thrill me either. But you can then go to a local sports bar and watch possibly important AL East games as the Bosox are at Baltimore that evening.
The following week we have one potential top twenty team venturing to the far north for their first time and another that comes annually. Clemson travels to Syracuse for a game that will now be a strange rivalry--again I hate that Syracuse now plays teams like the Tigers but I can enjoy seeing Clemson play football live which I rarely get to do. If that is just too odd, then head to Philly and watch a Louisville team that is aiming for a 12-0 record take on Temple.
On October 12 we have another Michigan sighting, although more inland. The Wolverines play Penn State for the first time since 2010 and, well, since all of the madness out in State College. You'll get some gawkers.
Take a few weeks off to enjoy the national college football scene and major league playoffs. For the next few weeks there are no notable out-of-town teams paying our area a visit.
On the weekend on November 9 you have a chance for a fun weekend. On Friday November 8 you can enjoy the fun scene for a UConn home game when they host Louisville. Then on Saturday you may have to shake off your hangover as you have two options--both requiring a ride west. Notre Dame travels to Pitt, which they do often. But we also have another interesting option and that is Texas, another program that rarely heads up our way, traveling to Morgantown to play new "rival" West Virginia. Again I do not care for West Virginia moving to the Big 12 but I do not think that I have seen Texas live in 20 years or so. Both of the starting times for those games are to be determined. Oh, by the way, the Steelers play at home that Sunday against Buffalo.
To close out the fun we have Nebraska traveling to Penn State on November 23 and then if you are desperate for something Thanksgiving Friday, Miami traveling to Pitt on the 29th.
So there are a lot of options for some rare sightings. Get your field glasses and enjoy.
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