We're watching- Update 6

Still following the NCAA Major coaching carosel to see if the ranks of African American head coaches grows.

Michigan State- Hire: Mark Dantonio (no)
Iowa State- Hire: Gene Chizik (no)
North Carolina- Hire: Butch Davis (no)
Cincinnati- Hire: Brian Kelly (no)
North Carolina State- Hire: Tom O'Brien (no)
Miami- Hire: Randy Shannon (yes!)
Arizona State- Hire: Dennis Erickson (no)
Stanford- Hire: Jim Harbaugh (no)
UPDATE: North Texas- Hire: Todd Dodge (no)
UPDATE: Tulane- Hire: Bob Toledo (no)
UPDATE: Louisana Tech- Hire: Derek Dooley (no)
Boston College- Hire: Jeff Jagodzinski (no)
Idaho- Hire: Robb Akey (no)
Florida International- Hire:Mario Cristobal (first Cuban-American head coach in 1A)
Air Force- Hire: Troy Calhoun (no)
Alabama
Central Michigan
UPDATE: Minnesota

'Tis the season...

Yup, it's Bowl Time, which means that 56% of eligible teams get to play in January. It must be Lake Wobegon, because all of our teams are better than average.

Nonetheless, with all of the money changing hands it would be irresponsible for the NCAA to take time off from controversy, this time involving the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Seems that the community of Akron wanted to hold a fundraiser to help pay air fair for the families of four tOSU members, so that they could see their sons play in the "National Championship Game Sponsored by Tostitos, with no actual money going to the people playing". Well, as you can guess, that may be a violation; families are not allowed to receive benefits either, and athletes are not allowed to attend these types of events.

I can understand this. Really, I can. You wouldn't want an athlete's parents to be profiting off of their son or daughter when that person was supposed to be an amateur. It would be easy for coaches or boosters to 'help' out someone's parents in order to influence them to come to a particular school.

So, the players left the event; the money was channelled instead to an Akron Pop-Warner league, and all (hopefully) is right. But if it's not, if the #1 team in the nation is without it's running backs because someone wanted to throw a spaghetti dinner while the NC2A makes a ton of money on the bowls, then that's just ridiculous. But I'm sure that Mile Brand and pals don't have anything else more important to focus on.

Not that we should expect anything less.

UPDATE: Like I said, all is fine. But it seems that I'm not the only one who sees the hypocrisy from the NCAA in all of this- great quotes from Dispatch writer Todd Jones:

Although suspensions aren’t expected to come out of the Scarlet-and-Gray Spaghetti Scandal, the incident does remind us of the hypocrisy inherent in the NCAA, which pays no taxes on its annual revenue of $7.8 billion because it’s billed as an educational, nonprofit organization.

While OSU and Florida are each set to earn $17 million Bowl Championship Series paydays for participating in the national title game, people in Akron were cobbling together a benefit dinner in a high school cafeteria to help the families of players afford to attend that game in Arizona. The NCAA says, how dare anyone be benevolent toward the families of the amateur players in regard to a national title game that Fox paid $320 million to televise from 2007 through 2009?

Pittman is supposed to be happy with his BCS gift, a satellite radio receiver set, and the likewise NCAA-approved $65 meal and incidental bowl per diem, while his coach, Jim Tressel, earns a $200,000 contractual bonus for OSU appearing in the national championship game.

Pittman is supposed to understand why OSU, expecting to earn more than $8 million in merchandise fees from this football season if the Buckeyes win the national title, is allowed to sell his No. 25 jersey while his family can’t benefit from a fundraising dinner so they can see him play in person.

As Walter Byers, executive director of the NCAA for 36 years, once wrote: "Collegiate amateurism is not a moral issue. It is an economic camouflage for monopoly practice."

We're Watching- Update 5

Still following the NCAA Major coaching carosel to see if the ranks of African American head coaches grows.

Current or recent openings and hirings:

Michigan State- Hire: Mark Dantonio (no)

Iowa State- Hire: Gene Chizik (no)

North Carolina- Hire: Butch Davis (no)

Cincinnati- Hire: Brian Kelly (no)

North Carolina State- Hire: Tom O'Brien (no)

Miami- Hire: Randy Shannon (yes!)

Arizona State- Hire: Dennis Erickson (no)

Stanford- Hire: Jim Harbaugh (no)

Boston College- Hire: Jeff Jagodzinski (no)

Idaho- Hire: Robb Akey (no)

Florida International- Hire: Mario Cristobal (first Cuban-American head coach in 1A)

UPDATE: Air Force- Hire: Troy Calhoun (no)

Alabama

Central Michigan

Quality Education

From Tuesday night

Yup, they're doing some good larnin' up Ann Arbor way. Not only does Desmond have the wrong team (Texas as opposed to A&M), but he talks about the great quarterback "Case" McCoy.

Um, it's "Colt". I'm glad you did your research on this one... Wonder what he would say about agame he wasn't excited to watch?

And yes, I know what Michigan fans' response to this post will be...

We're watching- Update 4

Still following the NCAA Major coaching carosel to see if the ranks of African American head coaches grows.

Current or recent openings and hirings:

Michigan State- Hire: Mark Dantonio (no)
Iowa State- Hire: Gene Chizik (no)
North Carolina- Hire: Butch Davis (no)
Cincinnati- Hire: Brian Kelly (no)
North Carolina State- Hire: Tom O'Brien (no)
Miami- Hire: Randy Shannon (yes!)
Arizona State- Hire: Dennis Erickson (no)
UPDATE: Stanford- Hire: Jim Harbaugh (no)
UPDATE: Boston College- Hire: Jeff Jagodzinski (no)
UPDATE: Idaho- Hire: Robb Akey (no)
UPDATE: Florida Internationa- Hire: Mario Cristobal (first Cuban-American head coach in 1A)
Alabama
Central Michigan

Sweet Merciful Crap.

Just when you thought that Oregon's uniforms couldn't get any more hideous, comes news that they're going with a different helmet for their bowl game. The color is supposed to change based on the lighting and the angle of the vieweer. Team members describe it as

"A couple of people said it looked like tennis balls," receiver James Finley said.

"Honestly, it's hard to say," fellow receiver Jordan Kent said. "I'm speechless as far as the color, I can't quite describe it. It's sort of a lightning yellow but then it fades to a kind of lime-greenish."

Well. Remind me not to watch that one, especially if I'll have to watch these:

What color is vomit?

That didn't take long

Now, from the world of college football, comes the big trend in Higher Education... Overinvolved Parents.

Check this post from Everyday Should Be Saturday, which points to an Arkansas parent's group which sat down with the Razorbacks Athletic Director to discuss the offense of the football team.

See, 'cause it didn't involve their kids enough. Seriously.

Some quotes-

Cleveland said the issue for the Springdale players and their parents is that the offense isn’t what they were led to believe it would be during the recruiting process.

We never would have committed here knowing that this was the offense, because we knew our boys wouldn’t be happy.

and my favorite (from the EDSBS Staff)-

Ask yourself: what would Woody Hayes have done in this situation? Answer: it probably would have involved a flamethrower, C4, and several hundred million dollars worth of damage.

This is what happens when people like Bobby Knight are told to "chill".

We're watching... Update 3

Still following the NCAA Major coaching carosel to see if the ranks of African American head coaches grows.

Here are the current or recent openings and hirings:

Michigan State- Hire: Mark Dantonio (no)
Iowa State- Hire: Gene Chizik (no)
North Carolina- Hire: Butch Davis (no)
Cincinnati- Hire: Brian Kelly (no)
North Carolina State- Hire: Tom O'Brien (no)
Miami- Hire: Randy Shannon (yes!)
UPDATE: Arizona State- Hire: Dennis Erickson (no)
Alabama
Stanford
Central Michigan
Boston College
UPDATE: Idaho

Awards time

Ok, I know I'm a bit biased, but the awards season has me befuddled.

Let me get this straight:

• Naguski Award (Best Defensive Player)- James Laurinaitas, LB tOSU
• Butkus Award (Best Linebacker)- Patrick Willis, LB Ole Miss
• Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year)- Paul Posluszny, LB Penn State

We've talked before about Posluszny; how he's not even the best LB on his team, and how last year he won the Butkus without being recognized as the best LB in his conference. But I digress... How can you have three players who play the same position all be the "best"? And it's not like the categories are dissimilar- "Best against the run" "Best against the pass" "Best in a 3-4 front", etc.

Also last night, we saw that:

• Davey O'Brien Award (Best Quarterback)- Troy Smith, QB tOSU
• Walter Camp All-American, Quarterback- Troy Smith, QB, tOSU
• Walter Camp Award (Player of the year)- Troy Smith, QB tOSU
• Maxwell Award (Outstanding Player)- Brady Quinn, QB, ND

Huh?? You're not the best QB, you're not a first team All-American, and you win the Maxwell? Wow... you know something is up when Michigan fans say that tOSU's QB got hosed. Or, as MGoBlog says it:

They need to get rid of whatever the Maxwell trophy looks like and replace it with a bridesmaid crying into her wedding cake if they're going to insist on giving it to Guy Who's Not Winning The Heisman Guy every year. If there's an award for "Best QB" and you don't win it, how do you win "Best All-Around Player"? Did I miss Quinn returning punts?

Normally, I wouldn't comment on these types of things (well, at least not here- my wife would still be blessed by my raving); there's only one game and one trophy that matters. But this is Brady Freaking Quinn we're talking about... the most overhyped and overrated quarterback since Ryan Leaf.

There have been a lot of statistical comparisons between Quinn and Smith, but none more telling than these:

• This year against Michigan, Quinn singlehandedly accounted for two wolverine scores: fumble recovery for a TD and interception for a TD.
• Troy is 3-0 and has over 1000 yards of offense against UM in his career.
• Quinn is 28-18 as a starter; 17-18 if you don't count games against BYU, Stanford or the Service Academies.
• Troy is 25-2 as a starter, and is 10-1 against ranked opponents.
• Quinn has never won a bowl game. Never. Especially not last year.

Let's look as some specific numbers from this season:

• Quinn:35 TD, 5 INT, 63.4%, 3278 yds. 65 yds. rushing, 2 TD
• Smith: 30 TD, 5 INT, 67%, 2507 yds. 233 yds. rushing, 1 TD
• Smith threw 297 passes this season; Quinn threw 432.
• Average yards per pass: Smith - 8.4, Quinn - 7.6
• Average yards per completed pass: Smith - 12.6, Quinn - 11.85
• Percentage of completed passes for touchdowns: Smith - 15.1, Quinn - 12.8

Statistically speaking, if Smith had passed as many times as Quinn (432 to 299), and completed passes at the same percentage and yards per completion throughout, he would have passed for 3,647 yards.

I know, some of this is apples and oranges given that they lead different offenses (with one of them not having a running game, or a defense, and having a coach that leaves them in during blowouts), but it's frustrating that an inferior QB would be accoladed in this way. Even the media have been trying to "spin" his career- just imagine, though, if all of Smith's passes had been caught.

Look, I realize that the Heisman is what most people remember and think about. It's just frustrating to me that all of these awards are rendered meaningless if they are not consistent or if there are too many of them. I guess that's what happens in a world where we worry about self esteem rather than someone's accomplishments.

So, as of now, I introduce you to the Quinn Award (it's even green!) for college "special-ness". Not as a reflection of how special someone is, but an award given to make sure they don't feel left out.

Awwww...

We're watching- Update 2

Still following the NCAA Major coaching carosel to see if the ranks of African American head coaches grows. I'm not optomistic.

Here are the current or recent openings:

Michigan State- Hire: Mark Dantonio (no)
Iowa State- Hire: Gene Chizik (no)
North Carolina- Hire: Butch Davis (no)
Cincinnati- Hire: Brian Kelly (no)
UPDATE: North Carolina State- Hire: Tom O'Brien (no)
UPDATE: Miami- Hire: Randy Shannon (yes!)
Alabama
Arizona State
Stanford
Central Michigan
UPDATE: Boston College

Stay tuned here for updates.

The gift that keeps on giving?

It's hard to say for sure what Husker fans will be getting under the tree on the 25th, but Coach Callahan has already sent part of their gifts. Yup, there's a big box of "Sorry" for each and every crimson and cream stocking.

While it would be nice to think that the Yule spirit had gotten into coach, it seems that this giving attitude was inspired more by the Oklahoma. At least, that's my interpretation of this article:

Callahan apologizes for coaching job against Sooners

I appreciate that Callahan (an outsider to the Husker family) understands the importance of the OU/NU rivalry, there are better ways to show that you value the importance of a historic conflict. The struggle, though, is that Coach has been second guessed ever since he arrived to Lincoln; none more publicly than after the USC game.

Hopefully things will turn around. It would be a shame to point out that the coach that was fired (Solich) has turned around Ohio University, and is taking their identical 9-4 record to a bowl game; or that the interim coach after Solich (Pelini) is going to a BCS game with LSU.

I just hope that we don't hear more of these types of things, especially if they sound like they were created here.

Random BcS

Just some quick updates on the happenings of the past weekend...

While I was pulling for the chance for the Buckeyes to kick the stew out of Pete Carroll and the Trojans, I was more than excited to see UCLA upset the spoiled students at U$C. A great game overall- you could tell that the Trojans were overlooking the Bruins, and had no answer for their QB. For me, there were three highlights:

The ENORMOUS hit on UCLA QB Cowen during the 4th quarter (excuse the crappy video)

The picture perfect tip drill moment to effectively end the game

And, the U$C cheerleader who was too dumb to know when it was appropriate to cheer. You'd think that they would have addressed this after last year.

(HT:MZone)

But I was nowhere near as excited as the folks who bought furniture at HR , who received all of it for FREE due to the Bruins' upset. What a great deal.

Ok, now let's talk about the BcS System. There's a ton that's been said about whether or not Florida or Michigan deserve to be there, so I won't add. You can check EDSBS, ESPN, MZone, MGoBlog for more on that. I will only add this- Michigan is the second best team in the country. They had their chance to play for the National Championship, and lost.

For the record, the "weak" Big T1e1n has three teams in the top 5, with a total of 2 in house losses between them. So, the "SEC is stronger, and they beat up on each other" line just does not hold water, in my mind.

Let's talk a bit about the BcS breakdowns, shall we?

• Championship- tOSU/Florida. Beatdown of epic proportions.
• Rose Bowl- U$C/UM. Best game of the holiday season; but the Trojans do not have a prayer.
• Fiesta- Oklahoma/Boise State. Not even close.
• Orange- Wake Forest/Louisville. This will get worse ratings than whatever is on QVC at the same time.
• Sugar- LSU/Notre Dame. Another hellacious beating.

Actually, I'm looking forward to this last one; Notre Dame has no idea what they are in for, the Weis myth and the Quinn phenomenon will both be exposed as frauds, and the Irish will have yet another bowl loss (which I think will be 6 in a row). Oh, and Weis will still not have beaten a quality opponent.

So, how in the heck did the "not playing anyone" Irish Republican Army end up in the BcS, even though they couldn't sell all of their tickets to last year's Fiesta Bowl? Well, it's like this- One loss, #5 Wisconsin and # 10 Auburn are hosed by the rules that state that there can only be two teams from a conference in the 5 BCS games, in order to allow the smaller conferences a chance to get in. Unless, of course, you're Notre Dame, when you only have to be in the top 12 to qualify. So, we get Boise State instead of Auburn, and the Tigers have the opportunity to play Nebraska. Notre Dame goes to face Bo Pellini, and 11-1 Wisconsin squares off against 10-3 Arkansas.

In the world of karma, though, Miami has the opportunity to travel to Boise for their bowl game. Hurricanes, yes; blizzards, no.

So, what would a (never going to happen) playoff look like? What about this? 8 team playoff

Oh, and if you're wondering how excited to get if your favorite college squadron is going to a bowl? Not too excited: 54% of all Division 1-A schools are doing just that. Yup more than half. But it is still an honor, right? Well, it depends on which bowl you're going to... this site helps: Bowl-a-rama!

Either way, be sure to play along.

We're watching- Update 1

Currently, there are three African American head football coaches at Division 1A 'major' programs (Big T1e1n, Pac 10, SEC, ACC, Big East, Big 12, MWC). Three. Karl Dorrell at UCLA, Ty Willingham at UW, and Sylvester Croom at Mississippi State. Three. You remember, we've talked about this before...

And now, with a number of firings on the way, it will be interesting to see if this number increases.

Here are the current or recent openings:

Michigan State- Hire: Mark Dantonio (no)
Iowa State- Hire: Gene Chizik (no)
North Carolina- Hire: Butch Davis (no)
UPDATE- Cincinnati- Hire: Brian Kelly (no)
Arizona State
North Carolina State
Alabama
Miami
Stanford
Central Michigan

Stay tuned here for updates.

AA: Final Word

Wanted to wrap up the Adrian Arrington situation that we discussed earlier.

To be fair, the case against him was dropped. Check it out here: Judge tosses out Arrington case

Although, to be honest, this was dropped on a technicality- the complainant did not appear for the final sentencing. As the article states,

Hiller said Ypsilanti Police Department personnel made numerous attempts to contact the woman to encourage her appearance in court, but were unsuccessful. The woman had accompanied Arrington to the downtown Ypsilanti courtroom twice for previous proceedings in the case.

So, his girlfriend was OK with the proceedings until this last day. I wonder what happened to make her change her mind.

And to think, if he hadn't had a rescheduling of his hearing date, UM would have missed out on his 5 receptions for 90 yards and a score.

I $till $mell $henanigan$...

Bowl Challenge

If you're interested, here's this year's REAL Bowl Championship Series...

• Will the Buckeyes win it all?
• Will Carrie get into a fight with Jake and Emily over the phrase "War Husker"?
• Will anyone watch Louisville and Wake Forest?
• Will the Fighting Irish Republican Army get beat by more than 20?
• Will Michelle finally beat Dan?
• Will we finally get a playoff?
• Will Cat remember to fill out an entry?

Only one way to find out: Enter here