After reviewing the Big XII and SEC, which division is stronger?
SEC East: Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky
Big XII South: Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma State
If South Carolina keeps improving under Steve Spurrier, the SEC East will have a slight edge. That is, unless Dennis Franchione gets the Aggies where the Aggies think they deserve to be. A&M drags the Big XII South down in this comparison, but Tennessee is starting to give them a run for their money. For whatever it's worth, Tennessee beat A&M like a rented mule at the Cotton Bowl two years ago.
At the bottom, Baylor and OSU are improving, as is Vanderbilt. Vandy loses their first round NFL draft pick at quarterback, though, and will have to rebuild (is there such thing as rebuilding at Vanderbilt?). Kentucky is just plain bad.
It's a tough call. OU and Texas have been in 4 of the last 6 BCS national championship games. That counts for a lot. Also, the improvement of Baylor makes up for the relative disappointment of A&M.
Coming up: We go out west for the Pac 10 and Mountain West.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Projections: SEC
That noise you hear is Phil Fulmer panicking over the latest development in the SEC: His nemesis and worst nightmare, Steve Spurrier, has elevated the South Carolina Gamecocks to the level of Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. Actually, there's not enough room at the top, as proven by the Vols' 5-6 season last year, and the Gamecocks passed the Vols in year 1 of the Spurrier era. Even bigger things are yet to come.
Urban renewal continues in Gainesville, as the Gators return to the top of the Eastern Division. They hold off Spurrier's Gamecocks toward the end of the season, and win a head-to-head tiebreaker. Georgia looks strong here, as well, but will wind up with losses to both the 'Cocks and the Gators. As for the Vols, they will improve to 7-5, good enough for a winning record and a bowl game. I'm not sure how excited they'll be about the Music City or similar bowl, but it'll be better than their stay home during bowl season last year.
In the West, the three-headed monster of Alabama, Auburn, and LSU lurks again. All three look strong, as usual. Alabama has the slight nod. They play at LSU, where they rarely lose in Tiger Stadium. Of course, Auburn visits Tuscaloosa, where they more than hold their own with the Tide. The Tide squeaks out in the Iron Bowl, and earn a trip to Atlanta for the SECCG (the national championship of the Confederacy), opposite the Gators.
East
Florida 10-2 7-1
South Carolina 10-2 7-1
Georgia 10-2 6-2
Tennessee 7-5 4-4
Vanderbilt 4-8 1-7
Kentucky 3-9 0-8
West
Alabama 10-2 6-2
Auburn 9-3 5-3
LSU 9-3 5-3
Ole Miss 6-6 3-5
Arkansas 5-7 2-6
Mississippi St 4-8 1-7
There are six teams in the conference that can play with anyone in the country: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, and LSU. Tennessee will be above average, but not on par with their teams in the recent past. Arkansas opens at home with a loss to USC, and will struggle with the conference heavyweights. I'm afraid Houston Nutt's days there are numbered. Surprisingly, I have Ole Miss with six wins. They have home games against Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, and a favorable non-conference schedule. Vanderbilt is Vanderbilt, and Mississippi State is Mississippi State.
Urban renewal continues in Gainesville, as the Gators return to the top of the Eastern Division. They hold off Spurrier's Gamecocks toward the end of the season, and win a head-to-head tiebreaker. Georgia looks strong here, as well, but will wind up with losses to both the 'Cocks and the Gators. As for the Vols, they will improve to 7-5, good enough for a winning record and a bowl game. I'm not sure how excited they'll be about the Music City or similar bowl, but it'll be better than their stay home during bowl season last year.
In the West, the three-headed monster of Alabama, Auburn, and LSU lurks again. All three look strong, as usual. Alabama has the slight nod. They play at LSU, where they rarely lose in Tiger Stadium. Of course, Auburn visits Tuscaloosa, where they more than hold their own with the Tide. The Tide squeaks out in the Iron Bowl, and earn a trip to Atlanta for the SECCG (the national championship of the Confederacy), opposite the Gators.
East
Florida 10-2 7-1
South Carolina 10-2 7-1
Georgia 10-2 6-2
Tennessee 7-5 4-4
Vanderbilt 4-8 1-7
Kentucky 3-9 0-8
West
Alabama 10-2 6-2
Auburn 9-3 5-3
LSU 9-3 5-3
Ole Miss 6-6 3-5
Arkansas 5-7 2-6
Mississippi St 4-8 1-7
There are six teams in the conference that can play with anyone in the country: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, and LSU. Tennessee will be above average, but not on par with their teams in the recent past. Arkansas opens at home with a loss to USC, and will struggle with the conference heavyweights. I'm afraid Houston Nutt's days there are numbered. Surprisingly, I have Ole Miss with six wins. They have home games against Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, and a favorable non-conference schedule. Vanderbilt is Vanderbilt, and Mississippi State is Mississippi State.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Projections: Big XII
The long awaited projections for the Big XII....
As has been the case in recent years, the balance of power in the Big XII Conference is in the South division. In the last six years, a team from the South has played in the BCS national championship game four times. In addition, Nebraska from the North has appeared there once.
It is really hard for me to be objective here, as I really, really like OU, and I really don't like Texas. I look for OU to move forward with quarterback Paul Thompson, thinking "Rhett who?". Texas will be good, as usual, but will sorely miss Vince Young, a once-in-a-lifetime talent. They have a problem in that they scheduled Ohio State this year. That's an "L" for them. Texas Tech will also be strong, and will beat the Longhorns in an ambush in Lubbock. Their talent level increases every year, and their worst luck is that OU and Texas are as good as they have ever been. The Red Raiders are knocking on the door.
North
Nebraska 9-3 6-2
Iowa State 7-5 4-4
Kansas 7-5 4-4
Missouri 6-6 3-5
Colorado 5-7 3-5
Kansas State 4-8 1-7
South
Oklahoma 11-1 7-1
Texas Tech 10-2 7-1
Texas 9-3 6-2
Texas A&M 7-5 3-5
Baylor 6-6 3-5
Oklahoma State 4-8 1-7
This year marks the return of the Nebraska Cornhuskers to the top of the Big XII North. They still won't be the caliber of their teams in the 90's, but they'll be good enough to win the North.
Where does the Oklahoma loss come? I really want them to go undefeated. But, I just don't see that happening. They'll lose somewhere they're not supposed to. I chose Kyle Field in College Station. This sets up an eerie parallel to 2002, the last season of R.C. Slocum in Aggieland. (Has R.C. been gone four years already?) As for the Aggies, they play two Louisiana schools (Tech and Lafayette), and two military schools (The Citadel and Army). Call it Cajuns and Corps. The Ags will struggle when they hit conference play, but will be able to get it together for one game against the Sooners at home. This will give them a winning record, and make them bowl eligible, but will it be enough to save Fran's job? Would they even want to go to the Texas Bowl in Houston?
Colorado has a schedule problem. They scheduled themselves out of a bowl, as they'll lose their home game with Arizona State, and between the hedges at Georgia. They're between a rock and a hard place, as it's hard for them to sell tickets for games against cupcakes when competing for entertainment dollars in the Denver metro area. They have to play decent teams to draw at the gate. Usually, they can hold their own, but they can't load up on lesser programs as other programs do in their non-conference schedule.
After 11 years, Oklahoma and Nebraska will finally meet in the Big XII championship game. Bill Callahan will drag the "hillbillies" comment back out, as he did on his last trip to Norman in 2004. Just as long as he doesn't call us "F'in" hillbillies again...
As has been the case in recent years, the balance of power in the Big XII Conference is in the South division. In the last six years, a team from the South has played in the BCS national championship game four times. In addition, Nebraska from the North has appeared there once.
It is really hard for me to be objective here, as I really, really like OU, and I really don't like Texas. I look for OU to move forward with quarterback Paul Thompson, thinking "Rhett who?". Texas will be good, as usual, but will sorely miss Vince Young, a once-in-a-lifetime talent. They have a problem in that they scheduled Ohio State this year. That's an "L" for them. Texas Tech will also be strong, and will beat the Longhorns in an ambush in Lubbock. Their talent level increases every year, and their worst luck is that OU and Texas are as good as they have ever been. The Red Raiders are knocking on the door.
North
Nebraska 9-3 6-2
Iowa State 7-5 4-4
Kansas 7-5 4-4
Missouri 6-6 3-5
Colorado 5-7 3-5
Kansas State 4-8 1-7
South
Oklahoma 11-1 7-1
Texas Tech 10-2 7-1
Texas 9-3 6-2
Texas A&M 7-5 3-5
Baylor 6-6 3-5
Oklahoma State 4-8 1-7
This year marks the return of the Nebraska Cornhuskers to the top of the Big XII North. They still won't be the caliber of their teams in the 90's, but they'll be good enough to win the North.
Where does the Oklahoma loss come? I really want them to go undefeated. But, I just don't see that happening. They'll lose somewhere they're not supposed to. I chose Kyle Field in College Station. This sets up an eerie parallel to 2002, the last season of R.C. Slocum in Aggieland. (Has R.C. been gone four years already?) As for the Aggies, they play two Louisiana schools (Tech and Lafayette), and two military schools (The Citadel and Army). Call it Cajuns and Corps. The Ags will struggle when they hit conference play, but will be able to get it together for one game against the Sooners at home. This will give them a winning record, and make them bowl eligible, but will it be enough to save Fran's job? Would they even want to go to the Texas Bowl in Houston?
Colorado has a schedule problem. They scheduled themselves out of a bowl, as they'll lose their home game with Arizona State, and between the hedges at Georgia. They're between a rock and a hard place, as it's hard for them to sell tickets for games against cupcakes when competing for entertainment dollars in the Denver metro area. They have to play decent teams to draw at the gate. Usually, they can hold their own, but they can't load up on lesser programs as other programs do in their non-conference schedule.
After 11 years, Oklahoma and Nebraska will finally meet in the Big XII championship game. Bill Callahan will drag the "hillbillies" comment back out, as he did on his last trip to Norman in 2004. Just as long as he doesn't call us "F'in" hillbillies again...
Monday, August 21, 2006
Preseason On The Road
Watching the Cowboys annihilate the Saints tonight in Shreveport, I was reminded of the days when pre-season games at neutral sites weren't that uncommon. In the past, a lot of preseason games were played in college stadiums, or in other places. Some cities have even used them in campaigns to attract an expansion team (example: Memphis). It's a good idea to have some of these games in places that would otherwise not even sniff a live NFL game.
Now, most NFL owners have the need to play these preseason games at home, so they can roll them into their season ticket packages and charge regular season prices for the opportunity to see some guys that will be working at Home Depot soon afterward.
Speaking of enterprising, I am reminded of when Jerry Jones took the Cowboys out to El Paso, and had them scrimmage in front of 40,000 fans against the Oilers (or was it the Raiders?). I think he took them to El Paso two years in a row, and also had them scrimmage in Shreveport against the Saints. It is great public relations for the team, and some extra money for the owner, but the players complained about the additional travel for a practice. The Cowboys are a big fish in the big pond of Dallas. In the smaller pond of El Paso, they are an even bigger fish.
Coming tomorrow: Projections for El Grande Doce (the Big XII).
Now, most NFL owners have the need to play these preseason games at home, so they can roll them into their season ticket packages and charge regular season prices for the opportunity to see some guys that will be working at Home Depot soon afterward.
Speaking of enterprising, I am reminded of when Jerry Jones took the Cowboys out to El Paso, and had them scrimmage in front of 40,000 fans against the Oilers (or was it the Raiders?). I think he took them to El Paso two years in a row, and also had them scrimmage in Shreveport against the Saints. It is great public relations for the team, and some extra money for the owner, but the players complained about the additional travel for a practice. The Cowboys are a big fish in the big pond of Dallas. In the smaller pond of El Paso, they are an even bigger fish.
Coming tomorrow: Projections for El Grande Doce (the Big XII).
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Projections: Big Ten
The Big 10 (ever wonder how these highly regarded institutions of higher learning forgot how to count?) never lacks for drama, as the teams pursue their holy grail, which is the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. National championships matter here (ask the folks in Columbus about 2002), but in these parts, the Rose Bowl is still the pinnacle of success and the ultimate goal.
Projections:
Iowa 11-1 7-1
Ohio State 11-1 7-1
Michigan 9-3 6-2
Wisconsin 9-3 5-3
Purdue 9-4 5-3
Penn State 7-5 4-4
Northwestern 7-5 3-5
Michigan St. 5-7 3-5
Minnesota 5-7 2-6
Indiana 5-7 1-7
Illinois 4-7 1-7
Iowa? What about Ohio State? Ohio State is getting a lot of love in preseason, as they should. They look pretty strong. I look for them to go into Austin and get revenge for Texas' win last year in Columbus. However, they will suffer their only loss when they venture into Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes will be pretty stout as well. They will be undefeated when they visit the Big House, where the Michigan Wolverines will ruin their perfect season.
As usual, Michigan won't be bad. Unfortunately for coach Lloyd Carr, they'll lose to Notre Dame, Penn State, and Ohio State. The reverse John Cooper effect could come into play, as continual losing to Ohio State is not tolerated in Ann Arbor. John Cooper recruited a ton of NFL draft picks, and beat everyone except Michigan, thus losing his job.
Look for the Hawkeyes to make a long-awaited return to Pasadena. Ohio State will appear in a BCS bowl, as well.
Also, further down in the standings, look for Purdue to bounce back into the bowl picture. Michigan State won't be so lucky, and will be looking for a new coach.
Projections:
Iowa 11-1 7-1
Ohio State 11-1 7-1
Michigan 9-3 6-2
Wisconsin 9-3 5-3
Purdue 9-4 5-3
Penn State 7-5 4-4
Northwestern 7-5 3-5
Michigan St. 5-7 3-5
Minnesota 5-7 2-6
Indiana 5-7 1-7
Illinois 4-7 1-7
Iowa? What about Ohio State? Ohio State is getting a lot of love in preseason, as they should. They look pretty strong. I look for them to go into Austin and get revenge for Texas' win last year in Columbus. However, they will suffer their only loss when they venture into Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes will be pretty stout as well. They will be undefeated when they visit the Big House, where the Michigan Wolverines will ruin their perfect season.
As usual, Michigan won't be bad. Unfortunately for coach Lloyd Carr, they'll lose to Notre Dame, Penn State, and Ohio State. The reverse John Cooper effect could come into play, as continual losing to Ohio State is not tolerated in Ann Arbor. John Cooper recruited a ton of NFL draft picks, and beat everyone except Michigan, thus losing his job.
Look for the Hawkeyes to make a long-awaited return to Pasadena. Ohio State will appear in a BCS bowl, as well.
Also, further down in the standings, look for Purdue to bounce back into the bowl picture. Michigan State won't be so lucky, and will be looking for a new coach.
Projections: Big East
The Big East enters their second year in their new configuration. Last year, West Virginia almost single-handedly saved the league's reputation with a win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. This year, the Mountaineers are looking for more. This is a surprisingly competitive league, though, so the 'Eers will find what Louisville found last year, after a pre-season full of hype: Don't take the conference lightly.
Projections:
West Virginia 10-2 5-2
Louisville 10-2 5-2
Pittsburgh 9-3 5-2
Rutgers 7-5 4-3
South Florida 6-6 4-3
UConn 7-5 3-4
Cincinnati 4-8 2-5
Syracuse 1-11 0-7
John, what are you thinking? West Virginia is good enough to go through their entire schedule undefeated. However, I am forecasting a wild scenario. West Virginia goes undefeated until they visit Louisville, when they visit Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Louisville wins the big game away from home. However, the Cardinals' fortune is short-lived, as they lose the following week on a trip to Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Panthers get off to a 6-0 start, before losing three of their next four. Their last two games are at home, in the muck and mire of Heinz Field, against archrival West Virginia and Louisville. Yes, you guessed it, Pitt wins those two games, forcing a three-way tie for the conference championship. In that scenario, Pitt would normally be the conference champion with wins over the two other tied teams, West Virginia and Louisville. However, the Big East, in event of a tie-breaker, gives their BCS bid to the highest-ranked team in the BCS rankings. That will be West Virginia.
Convoluted enough? To be fair, West Virginia and Louisville are both good enough to run the table, go undefeated, and end up in Glendale in January. Weird things happen during a season, though, and I look for something really weird to happen here.
Projections:
West Virginia 10-2 5-2
Louisville 10-2 5-2
Pittsburgh 9-3 5-2
Rutgers 7-5 4-3
South Florida 6-6 4-3
UConn 7-5 3-4
Cincinnati 4-8 2-5
Syracuse 1-11 0-7
John, what are you thinking? West Virginia is good enough to go through their entire schedule undefeated. However, I am forecasting a wild scenario. West Virginia goes undefeated until they visit Louisville, when they visit Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Louisville wins the big game away from home. However, the Cardinals' fortune is short-lived, as they lose the following week on a trip to Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Panthers get off to a 6-0 start, before losing three of their next four. Their last two games are at home, in the muck and mire of Heinz Field, against archrival West Virginia and Louisville. Yes, you guessed it, Pitt wins those two games, forcing a three-way tie for the conference championship. In that scenario, Pitt would normally be the conference champion with wins over the two other tied teams, West Virginia and Louisville. However, the Big East, in event of a tie-breaker, gives their BCS bid to the highest-ranked team in the BCS rankings. That will be West Virginia.
Convoluted enough? To be fair, West Virginia and Louisville are both good enough to run the table, go undefeated, and end up in Glendale in January. Weird things happen during a season, though, and I look for something really weird to happen here.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Projections: ACC
The first of the conferences I will project is the ACC. This is traditionally a basketball conference. The additions in recent years of Florida State, Miami, and Virginia Tech have brought its football to a whole new level. NFL scouts recognize this, as 12 of 32 picks in the first round of this year's draft came from the ACC. The heart and soul of this conference is still on Tobacco Road, and this is still basketball country. However, the Florida schools, Virginia Tech, and Boston College have brought football power as well as TV sets to the conference.
The ACC, as usual, has a lot of above average to very good teams. I do not see any of them, however, making an appearance in Glendale, Arizona for the national championship game in January.
Atlantic Division
Florida State 6-2 10-2
Clemson 6-2 10-2
Maryland 5-3 7-5
N.C. State 4-4 8-4
Boston College 3-5 7-5
Wake Forest 1-7 3-9
Coastal Division
Virginia Tech 7-1 11-1
Miami 6-2 9-3
Virginia 5-3 8-4
Georgia Tech 4-4 7-5
North Carolina 2-6 5-7
Duke 0-8 1-11
Upset of the year: Notre Dame visits Historic Grant Field at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Georgia Tech makes them wish they hadn't scheduled that trip to Atlanta.
Collapse in the making: Miami sets themselves up nicely with a win over Virginia Tech. However, they then make back-to-back trips to Maryland and Virginia, and lose both games, costing them a chance at an ACC championship and a BCS bowl.
Championship game: A rematch between Florida State and Virginia Tech. All that talent for FSU underachieved all season last year, but got it together in the championship game, and won a conference championship and a spot in the FedEx Orange Bowl opposite Joe Paterno and Penn State. Look for the Hokies to win a big game and get revenge this year in Jacksonville.
The ACC, as usual, has a lot of above average to very good teams. I do not see any of them, however, making an appearance in Glendale, Arizona for the national championship game in January.
Atlantic Division
Florida State 6-2 10-2
Clemson 6-2 10-2
Maryland 5-3 7-5
N.C. State 4-4 8-4
Boston College 3-5 7-5
Wake Forest 1-7 3-9
Coastal Division
Virginia Tech 7-1 11-1
Miami 6-2 9-3
Virginia 5-3 8-4
Georgia Tech 4-4 7-5
North Carolina 2-6 5-7
Duke 0-8 1-11
Upset of the year: Notre Dame visits Historic Grant Field at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Georgia Tech makes them wish they hadn't scheduled that trip to Atlanta.
Collapse in the making: Miami sets themselves up nicely with a win over Virginia Tech. However, they then make back-to-back trips to Maryland and Virginia, and lose both games, costing them a chance at an ACC championship and a BCS bowl.
Championship game: A rematch between Florida State and Virginia Tech. All that talent for FSU underachieved all season last year, but got it together in the championship game, and won a conference championship and a spot in the FedEx Orange Bowl opposite Joe Paterno and Penn State. Look for the Hokies to win a big game and get revenge this year in Jacksonville.
Coming Soon
I haven't forgotten about the blog..
In the next couple of weeks, I will have conference-by-conference projections for the BCS conferences, plus the Mountain West and Conference USA.
Stay tuned...
In the next couple of weeks, I will have conference-by-conference projections for the BCS conferences, plus the Mountain West and Conference USA.
Stay tuned...
Saturday, August 12, 2006
The Bad Thing About Living In Houston
Overall (contrary to what most in North Texas believe), Houston isn't that bad of a place. However, there is one drawback: the Dallas Cowboys aren't here.
The Cowboys' first preseason game is tonight. The Cowboys are popular throughout Texas, including Houston. However, the Cowboy game is not on TV in the Houston area tonight. It seems that Jerry Jones and Bob McNair have an agreement: Cowboy games won't be on radio or preseason TV in Houston, and likewise for Texans games in Dallas.
This doesn't apply to regular season games (property of CBS and Fox), as the Cowboys will be on TV every week in Houston, as long as their games are not played at the same time as a Texans home game. This will happen a couple of times this year. This is one of the results of the NFL's archaic TV policy: Fox cannot show a game at the same time that a home game in the home team's market is shown on CBS, even if said game is a sellout. So, if the Cowboys play at 12:00, and the Texans play the early game at home, the Cowboy game cannot be shown.
Last year, as the Texans were redefining the word suck, and the Cowboys were competitive, the Cowboys were drawing bigger TV ratings in Houston than the Texans. Obviously, that would change if the Texans improved on the field.
Why am I writing this? I'm in the state of Texas, and can't watch the Cowboys tonight. That's too bad.
I'll be able to watch the next Cowboy preseason game. It's on ESPN Monday Night Football, next Monday against the Saints, live from Shreveport.
The Cowboys' first preseason game is tonight. The Cowboys are popular throughout Texas, including Houston. However, the Cowboy game is not on TV in the Houston area tonight. It seems that Jerry Jones and Bob McNair have an agreement: Cowboy games won't be on radio or preseason TV in Houston, and likewise for Texans games in Dallas.
This doesn't apply to regular season games (property of CBS and Fox), as the Cowboys will be on TV every week in Houston, as long as their games are not played at the same time as a Texans home game. This will happen a couple of times this year. This is one of the results of the NFL's archaic TV policy: Fox cannot show a game at the same time that a home game in the home team's market is shown on CBS, even if said game is a sellout. So, if the Cowboys play at 12:00, and the Texans play the early game at home, the Cowboy game cannot be shown.
Last year, as the Texans were redefining the word suck, and the Cowboys were competitive, the Cowboys were drawing bigger TV ratings in Houston than the Texans. Obviously, that would change if the Texans improved on the field.
Why am I writing this? I'm in the state of Texas, and can't watch the Cowboys tonight. That's too bad.
I'll be able to watch the next Cowboy preseason game. It's on ESPN Monday Night Football, next Monday against the Saints, live from Shreveport.
Friday, August 11, 2006
The Fun of Preseason Football
I got a chance to watch a little bit of tonight's preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons. I tuned in after the starters had already gone to the sidelines, but CBS showed Tom Brady on the bench every time they had a chance. I think they would have hired him as a sideline reporter if they could have gotten away with it. Back to the title of the post: A lot of the fun of watching preseason games is watching guys try to live their dream and make an NFL team.
I was particularly interested in watching Patrick Cobbs. Patrick lived around the corner from my parents when he was in high school, and is, to my knowledge, the first and only graduate of Tecumseh High School to sign an NFL contract. He went undrafted, but the Patriots signed him as a free agent, after he finished his college career as the all-time leading rusher for the Mean Green of North Texas. Well, I'm sitting there watching the game, and, on his first play from scrimmage, he catches a 3-yard screen pass, and turns it into a 57 yard touchdown pass. Awesome!
I don't know if he'll make the Patriots' roster, but I hope other teams are watching. It would be really cool to have someone from Tecumseh in the NFL.
I was particularly interested in watching Patrick Cobbs. Patrick lived around the corner from my parents when he was in high school, and is, to my knowledge, the first and only graduate of Tecumseh High School to sign an NFL contract. He went undrafted, but the Patriots signed him as a free agent, after he finished his college career as the all-time leading rusher for the Mean Green of North Texas. Well, I'm sitting there watching the game, and, on his first play from scrimmage, he catches a 3-yard screen pass, and turns it into a 57 yard touchdown pass. Awesome!
I don't know if he'll make the Patriots' roster, but I hope other teams are watching. It would be really cool to have someone from Tecumseh in the NFL.
Monday, August 07, 2006
The QB Situation at OU
I guess I should comment on last week's dismissal of QB Rhett Bomar and OL J.D. Quinn from this year's Sooner team, for accepting illegal overpayments for work done as employees of Big Red Sports & Imports, a car dealership in Norman.
I don't have a whole lot to say on the matter. When I first heard it on the radio, I simply thought: "I'm sure glad Bob Stoops is our coach". Coach Stoops did what he had to do in this situation. The program has come too far and has become too clean to accept this kind of behavior.
I have confidence in Paul Thompson to lead the Sooners to a championship season this year.
I don't have a whole lot to say on the matter. When I first heard it on the radio, I simply thought: "I'm sure glad Bob Stoops is our coach". Coach Stoops did what he had to do in this situation. The program has come too far and has become too clean to accept this kind of behavior.
I have confidence in Paul Thompson to lead the Sooners to a championship season this year.
You Know You're Getting Old..
...when someone your age is getting inducted into a Hall of Fame.
I had to keep myself from feeling old on Saturday. I watched as Troy Aikman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Troy and I were born a week apart, but I graduated from high school a year later, as he started school in California, where the cutoff date was later than the one in Oklahoma, where I started school.
Troy's paths and mine have come so close together, yet so far apart. I didn't realize it, but I first saw him play when he was in 8th grade, and I was in 7th grade. My school used to play Henryetta, and I played football in 7th grade. Our team stayed for the 8th grade game, as we shared a bus, if I remember correctly. I first remember seeing him play when he was a sophomore, and we went over there to play them in the last district game of the year. I remember him being a freak athletic specimen (especially for what was then class 2A in Oklahoma), and being the best player on the field even then. I followed his career from there, and was in the stands that October 1985 day in Norman, when he tore up his knee in a game between the Sooners and the Miami Hurricanes. Both teams were full of NFL players, and Miami won the game that day, but OU went on to win their remaining games and their sixth national championship.
Troy went on to UCLA and was drafted by the Cowboys in 1989. His first year in Dallas was my first year in Fort Worth. There were 4,000,000 other people in the Metroplex at that time, as well. A few years later, I served on staff at a church in Henryetta. Troy goes back there from time to time to see friends, and we saw him from a distance at a high school basketball game one night. We didn't want to bug him, so we didn't even try to meet him. He and I have a lot of common acquaintances. Troy still speaks well of Henryetta, and they speak well of him. It's an awesome thing: a guy from a small town in Oklahoma winds up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The people in Henryetta should be proud, as they rightfully are.
Troy is obviously wealthier than I am. :-)
Back to the original topic: I'm not old enough to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, am I? Time flies...
I had to keep myself from feeling old on Saturday. I watched as Troy Aikman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Troy and I were born a week apart, but I graduated from high school a year later, as he started school in California, where the cutoff date was later than the one in Oklahoma, where I started school.
Troy's paths and mine have come so close together, yet so far apart. I didn't realize it, but I first saw him play when he was in 8th grade, and I was in 7th grade. My school used to play Henryetta, and I played football in 7th grade. Our team stayed for the 8th grade game, as we shared a bus, if I remember correctly. I first remember seeing him play when he was a sophomore, and we went over there to play them in the last district game of the year. I remember him being a freak athletic specimen (especially for what was then class 2A in Oklahoma), and being the best player on the field even then. I followed his career from there, and was in the stands that October 1985 day in Norman, when he tore up his knee in a game between the Sooners and the Miami Hurricanes. Both teams were full of NFL players, and Miami won the game that day, but OU went on to win their remaining games and their sixth national championship.
Troy went on to UCLA and was drafted by the Cowboys in 1989. His first year in Dallas was my first year in Fort Worth. There were 4,000,000 other people in the Metroplex at that time, as well. A few years later, I served on staff at a church in Henryetta. Troy goes back there from time to time to see friends, and we saw him from a distance at a high school basketball game one night. We didn't want to bug him, so we didn't even try to meet him. He and I have a lot of common acquaintances. Troy still speaks well of Henryetta, and they speak well of him. It's an awesome thing: a guy from a small town in Oklahoma winds up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The people in Henryetta should be proud, as they rightfully are.
Troy is obviously wealthier than I am. :-)
Back to the original topic: I'm not old enough to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, am I? Time flies...
Sunday, August 06, 2006
It's A New Year
It's a great day, because the NFL is back! Tonight is the first pre-season game, the Hall of Fame game from Canton, Ohio. The Oakland Raiders play the Philadelphia Eagles. The first quarter or so will be interesting, until the starters are benched in favor of reserves, draft picks, and free agents trying to make the team. By the end of the game, there will be several guys on the field that'll be working a regular job next week. But, it's awesome that they're trying to make it into the NFL.
Most notable: John Madden makes his opening appearance on his fourth network tonight, as NBC re-enters the NFL business, after a 7-year absence. The newest Hall of Famer began his broadcasting career with CBS, then moved to Fox when the NFC rights moved to that network. He later moved to Monday Night Football on ABC, and has moved to the new NBC Sunday night package.
Most notable: John Madden makes his opening appearance on his fourth network tonight, as NBC re-enters the NFL business, after a 7-year absence. The newest Hall of Famer began his broadcasting career with CBS, then moved to Fox when the NFC rights moved to that network. He later moved to Monday Night Football on ABC, and has moved to the new NBC Sunday night package.
Welcome
Welcome to my sports blog. My blog will primarily comment on the sports I like the most: college and pro football, and college basketball. Occasionally, I may delve into baseball, hockey, or the NBA. There'll be no poker here, as there is way too much poker on TV. Needless to say, there is also too much pool and darts on TV as well.
Teams I like: Oklahoma, the Dallas Cowboys, and whomever plays Texas.
Teams I dislike: At this moment, Texas and Notre Dame.
Thanks for stopping by!
Teams I like: Oklahoma, the Dallas Cowboys, and whomever plays Texas.
Teams I dislike: At this moment, Texas and Notre Dame.
Thanks for stopping by!
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