The Sports Frog

Peter Tom Willis, once a great FSU football player (and a member of the university's hall of fame) had been the analyst for FSU football games for a decade. Yes, "had". Because he got fired on Thursday, for, as near as I can tell, telling the truth. From the Palm Beach Post:

"Peter Tom Willis' intent was to call it like he saw it as the analyst for Florida State football. And when the program slips to consecutive 7-6 seasons, that means saying things people don't want to hear. Those opinions got Willis fired Thursday after sharing the radio booth with play-by-play announcer Gene Deckerhoff for 10 seasons. What are these? "They felt like I was too critical of the program and the team the last few years," Willis said Friday. "I hate that. That was not my intent. My intent was to call it like I see it for 10 years. "But if people are upset with me because I was telling the truth, if that's going to upset people, maybe I shouldn't be there."

Willis is a member of the FSU Sports Hall of Fame and a former quarterback who led the Seminoles to a 10-2 record and No. 3 ranking in 1989. He was critical of the offense under former coordinator Jeff Bowden, and said that he probably "stepped over the line" when he said the Seminoles resembled a "high school offense" during the 2005 game at Clemson. That comment upset coach Bobby Bowden, according to sources. "Anybody who listens to me on the radio knows nobody gets more excited when we are going well,'' Willis said. "If you do that you have to point out things that are going wrong."

That be true.

And, hey, Bobby Bowden? Getting rid of people pointing out ridiculously obvious flaws with your team doesn't really address the problem: namely, the ridiculously obvious flaws on your team. Just sayin'.

I don't get this.

LSU quarterback Ryan Perrilloux will not be allowed to play in the Tigers' spring game on Saturday, but he's been cleared by coach Les Miles to return to the team in full on Sunday.

What does that really prove? You're not really forcing him to miss anything of value. He's been with the team long enough that it's not like he is missing a chance to learn the playbook, or not going to be one of the best players on the team next year. You've basically just given him a "Get out of Practice" free card without inflicting any real punishment.

The only way to really get anything across, I imagine, is to take away playing time in real games, not practice.

And this is his third offense. Maybe Miles is taking the approach of the Bengals. You got two more, Perriloux!

Supposedly, he chose the school more ready to play for a nat'l championship (although apparently not actuall WIN one). So, no Pitt, no Penn State, and apparently no Michigan (although give Rich R. two years, and check back with me on UM for a nat'l title).

I guess that's as good a reason as any. Plus, those other schools could not match Ohio State's signing bonus.

Not Oregon.

That leaves Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State in the running for the alleged superman at quarterback. He is supposedly going to say what school it will be for all things Pryor tomorrow, and in the usual sign of the times:

"ESPNU and CSTV plan to carry Pryor's decision live. Sports Illustrated, the Washington Post and newspaper reporters from Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan also plan to attend. Although Pryor said he is not totally sure he will announce his choice tomorrow, Jeannette school officials are proceeding with plans to have a news conference. Jeannette principal Stu Albaugh said only media members and Pryor's invited guests will be permitted to attend the event. The public will not be allowed in the school.

Here is where the observer would ordinarily say something caustic about the priorities of education nowadays, but that won't come from me. If Pryor is as good as he is supposed to be, his future is not going to be behind a desk like normal people. And his earning potential is going to dwarf normal people as well. So, cameras it is, then. And normal people will not avoid work while posting on blogs in front of 100,000 spectators either. So, yeah, cameras for his decision.

I'm not buying it. He hasn't been getting coffee from Baldwin for at least a decade.

At any rate, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Penn State has pulled out its alleged big gun, Paterno, to try and convince apparent football superman Terrelle Pryor to waste his talents in Penn State's ridiculously outdated offense. And, no matter how much I try to get rid of the thought, I can't help but imagine Paterno as Izzy Mandelbaum from the classic Seinfeld episode, inviting Pryor to get aboard the pain train while throwing a medicine ball at him.

Regardless, good luck to Penn State in talking Pryor away from new hotness Rich Rodriguez at Michigan, away from the fun of Oregon's offense, or Ohio State. Well, he ought to be able to argue him away from Ohio State. The other two choices? Not so much.

C'mon Pryor! It's go time!

Stewart Mandel at si.com taking West Virginia to the woodshed over their continuing reactions to Rich Rodriguez's decision to bolt to Michigan:

"• As tough as this may be for you to swallow, Michigan is a better job than West Virginia. Period. Richer tradition, bigger stadium, better resources, more prestigious conference, wider recruiting appeal ... I'll refrain from piling on. It should hardly come as a shock to you that Rodriguez would leave West Virginia for Michigan -- the stunner would have been if he'd turned down the Wolverines."

Ouch. All true, except for the more presigious conference part. Big X needs to wake up of that won't be so true going forward.

Seems the Mountaineers can use your help building a database to track player information. On the heels of charges that former coach Rich Rodriguez has something to do with dozens of missing player files:

"If a player spoke to a school or did public service, we don't have a record of it,'' the source said, according to the newspaper. "If he broke a rule or missed class, we don't have a record of that, either. We don't have anything."

It doesn't even have to be elaborate. I'm guessing a simple Excel sheet would do the trick.

Funniest story of the day comes from rotoworld:

"Arkansas RB Darren McFadden was handcuffed by police at a piano bar Thursday after being involved in a 'pretty rowdy scene.' Uh...a piano bar? A disturbance broke out shortly after midnight at the bar and had spilled into the street. The Heisman runner-up and All American was not charged with a crime and released after merely being cuffed for a few minutes because police felt he was getting 'rowdy.' If McFadden declares for the NFL Draft, this shouldn't adversely affect him."

What happened? Did Bugs Bunny slam his fingers in the keys?

...very early 2008 Top 10:

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State (I know, I know, I almost hate to see it too. Just two seniors on the latest Ohio State team to get ripped asunder by an SEC team)
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. Missouri
6. West Virginia
7. Florida
8. Kansas
9. LSU
10. Wisconsin

Hmmmmm. Let me go ahead and pare that list down to the actual national title contenders:

Georgia
Florida
LSU

Sorry.

Sorry for inflicting that on the general population one more time. Sorry that in one years time, Jim Tressell and his coaching staff still have no idea how to stop anything when the offense they are facing doesn't line up in simple two or three receiver sets and just run down the field. Sorry that the concept of "bunched" receivers is so foreign. Sorry that Ohio State can teach its receivers to do nothing more than run straight down the field. Sorry that, for a second year in a row, Ohio State's quarterback has a profound inability to find his second read. Sorry for the initial "fast touchdown" followed by three quarters of bending over.

Oh, and sorry for the Big 10. That too. Sorry that for Tressell's entire run there, there has been a dearth of coaches willing to try someting different and push Tressell to not be such a non-creative stick-in-the-mud. Maybe Rich Rodriguez will help that. Maybe SEC reject Ron Zook will continue to force some change. It's no coincidence that Illinois also beat Ohio State with its somewhat exotic sets. Sorry that the rest of the Big 10 has not put the same emphasis on overall coaching excellence that the SEC has, thereby challenging all of its programs to get better, thereby allowing Ohio State to relatively skate to national title games on a too frequent basis.

Oh, and sorry for the current non-playoff BCS bullshit. Sorry for the randomness of a good but not nearly in-the-same-class Ohio State team being given the precious shot at a "title" over a team like Georgia, USC, or even West Virginia. No good reason for it. Sorry that we don't really know how good LSU is. Sorry that they were not tested better than that. Maybe the only good that can come of it is a hastening of an end to the awful BCS and some sort of playoff being instituted. Ohio State fatigue may be that strong.

So, sorry for all of it. If I could have talked them out of that game ahead of time, I would have. With any luck, it won't happen again next year.

Stewart Mandel on the carnage here at si.com.
Some local Ohio State flavor here. Note the absence of Tressell blame. That's stupid.

At any rate, sorry.

Full disclosure, in case you did not know, I am a Buckeyes football fan.

That said, the excitement about this game is, well, missing? Yeah, missing. It might end up being a good game. Or it might not. LSU will romp. Or they won't. But I don't know that anyone particuarly cares all that much in the greater scheme of things. Assuming my general thesis is right, here's my guess as to why:

1. The winner won't really feel like a true national champ. USC, West Virginia, and Georgia, at the least, have decent arguments to make that they are at least as good, if not better, than whoever wins tonight.

2. tOSU fatigue. After last year's false coronation, and then subsequent humiliation, there is plenty of legit skepticism to hurl Ohio State's way. And people don't usually get fired up about potential blowouts.

3. LSU doesn't have a lot of star power, all things considered. Ohio State too, for that matter. Plenty of talent, but nothing that really pops, for excitement purposes.

But, regardless, they will play a game tonight. And one team will hold a pretty trophy and call itself national champ. And we will all get used to calling the winner national champ. Even though, at the end of the day, no one will really know.

If only there was some way to settle this on the field...

Stewart Mandel of si.com with a guess at what will matter in the game. He thinks the now fully healthy Tigers will be at a distinct advantage. I guess there is no good reason to disagree, other than my partisan hope that he is wrong.

Hopefully, on behalf of Buckeye fans, Jim Tressell will not coach this year's alleged title game with his head firmly lodged up his sweater-vested ass. That would be a nice start.

Edited to add: I am apparently not the only one feeling less than fired up about this game. Head to the Swamp and this thread where all-infinity swamper bobp is on a similar road.

And the only explaination I can give for Michigan's performance yesterday is that Rich Rodriguez sat him down and explained that his offense could in fact attempt and even complete a pass longer than 5 yards. Could in fact run a screen and attempt some misdirection from time to time. Because that was the Michigan team most fans were waiting to see all year. Add in a couple of Adrian Arrington circus catches, the obligatory fumbles by Mike Hart (part of a -4 turnover day), and some truly inspired defense and that was the most I've enjoyed watching a Michigan game in the past couple of years.

Here's hoping that Coach Rodriguez is able to build on that win and do read the Free Press's Michael Rosenberg's description of the scene where the team decided they'd like to win one for the Lloydster.

Really, really, really good teams? Georgia and USC certainly. Throw Missouri in that mix. Oklahoma too. West Virginia for that matter.

Now, can anyone say with anything approaching certainty that LSU or Ohio State is more deserving of the title "national champion" than those schools? Ohio State played no one this year to speak of and managed to lose to Illinois, last seen being disembowled by USC in the Rose Bowl. Course, Ohio State did manage to beat Michigan who just beat Florida, an entrant from the beastly SEC. Missouri ripped Arkansas asunder, just six weeks after Arkansas beat LSU.

The entire thing is a farce.

Make. it. a. playoff.

There is no earthly good reason to keep passing off this current system as acceptable. And don't tell me about how it is not affecting college football's viewing or interest this time of year. My assuredly unscientific sample of "me" tells me that I watched about 49 collective minutes of bowl games yesterday. Maybe I am alone in that, but I am betting not (based, at least, in the lack of Swamp chatter regarding the Bowls yesterday).

By the way, I am betting a Hawaii/Illinois game would have been a lot of fun in something like the Holiday Bowl while a playoff involving good teams unfolded. You can have the stupid bowl system AND a playoff. This ain't rocket science. I don't understand why the powers-that-be make it so.

But I am sure Booty enjoyed his glorified scrimmage...

It remains one of the giant puzzles to me that the rest of college football lets themselves be highjacked by old men with a rose fetish. It is bad for your average sports fan on two levels:

1. As the system is currently set up, the insane desire for Pac10/Big 10 to the exclusion of almost all else in the Rose Bowl yields stinkers like yesterday's USC/Illinois fiasco. It was obvious to anyone who was conscious at the beginning of December that Missouri should be in a BCS game, but they were passed over because of the Rose Bowl's insane need to feed a tradition that no one really gives a shit about.

What should have happened yesterday? Missouri/USC in the Rose Bowl (and in that case, people might have actually watched more than three minutes before looking to see if Mythbusters was on) with Illinois in the Cotton Bowl against Arkansas. Instead, thanks to the shithole Rose Bowl folks, two crappy games were foisted on the country.

2. The second way in which college football has let itself be highjacked by the Rose Bowl is that the Rose Bowl (and the Big 10 and Pac 10 by all accounts) are the current primary obstacles to the playoff that 99.4% of the fans want. Getting from what was to what is (however unsatisfactory the current system is) took decades too long thanks to the Rose Bowl and its Pac 10/Big 10 obsession, and even now has yielded a system that really doesn't work.

So what should the rest of college football do?

My humble suggestion to start 2008:

Tell the Big 10/Pac10/Rose Bowl to go fuck themselves. If they want to be together that badly, let them. At least in any given year those two conferences will be guaranteed at least one bowl win.

Then, for the remainder of college football's conferences, put in a playoff that excludes the Big 10/Pac10/Rose Bowl. If the other conferences do that, I am guessing the silliness from those entities will end. For too long college football has ceded disproportionate power to Pasadena and two of its Big Six conferences. Time to take some back. In my admittedly pipedream scenario, the others come crawling back to the fold or can spend a decade or so playing its stupid pretend important game while the rest of college football does something meaningful and interesting.

I'd like to see that.

Who?

The outstanding freshman quarterback for Michigan.

Whither? Well, he's thought to be more of a classic drop back pocket qb (although he operated out of a shotgun in high school) and new Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez runs the spread. So the thought is that Mallet might be mismatched with Rodriguez and his system. Mallet, for his part, will make a decision following the Citrus (Cap One, whatever) Bowl. Interestingly, Lloyd Carr had this to say about talking with Mallet:

"It's a career decision for him," Carr said. "I will support whatever he does. Other than that, sometimes a guy gets caught in a coaching change and that really changes things significantly. What I advised Ryan to do when Coach Rodriguez was named was to sit down and talk with him and don't listen to all the things that are out there. You have a conversation with him and you'll know exactly what your feelings are."

Well worth tracking in the days after the January 1st. I know from several die-hard Arkansas fans down my way that the hope is that Petrino's arrival in Fayetteville will entice Mallet to leave and come to Arkansas in 2009.

Sorry for a local post, but enough is happening in the city I call home that it cannot be avoided.

The good:

Memphis Tigers basektball.

I was fortunate to score a ticket (and a free one at that) to the Memphis/Georgetown game yesterday. It was easily the most electric college baseketball crowd I have ever been a part of, and the noise was deafening at critical times. The Tigers have a genuine home court advantage at this point, supporting a very good basketball team. The game itself? Played at a very high level by both teams before Memphis' defense wore down and overwhelmed Georgetown. When Chris Douglas-Roberts is on his game along with Derrick Rose, Memphis will be tough to beat.

Hard not to be a part of that crowd and again despair at Memphis' being marooned in Conference USA. A parade of teams like Georgetown, Connecticut, Louisville, and the rest of the Big East through Memphis would be most welcome. Instead, scenes like yesterday are fleeting, as the realities of a parade of East Carolina, SMU, and Tulsa conference games will suck the life out of the proceedings.

The bad:

Memphis Tigers football. It is beyond me my Conference USA has six bowl tie-ins. Absolutely indefensible that a conference that plays as bad a football as C-USA does will be able to send legitimately bad teams to play one more game. And the Tigers were a legitimately bad team this year. Their reward? Yet another game against a Sunbelt Conference team having already lost in the regular season to Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee State. The outcome Friday night? Preordained as far as I was concerned. When you can't stop anyone, then for certain, you will lose. Apparently if the Tigers were adrift in the Sunbelt they would never win. If I were calling shots for Memphis, Tommy West would not have a job this morning. I'm not, so he does.

The awful/hopeful:

The Memphis Grizzlies in close games are awful. Actually, they are pretty damn awful in not-so-close games too. Another buzzer-beating loss last night, this time to the Sixers, adds to a series of gut-punch losses this year. It has reached laughable proportions. Then again, if they were not busy choking away 11-point 4th period leads, it might not come down to last second shots.

The hopeful part of the wasteland that it is NBA basketball in Memphis is Rudy Gay as he continues to make a definite leap. He's averaging 20 points a game with 6 boards and showing increased desire to be the man at the end of games. In fact, there is little question locally that the leader of the team is now Gay, as opposed to Pau Gasol. That, at the least, is something positive for a bad team to build on as it waits for its latest top five overall draft pick.

And the wait was more than likely worth it.

Rich Rodriguez is a nice fit for the program and will bring some of that 21st century offensive philosophy to a team that needed a jolt of creativity. Since we linked to fantastic MGoBlog a few times during the low points of Michigan's coach search, it's only fair to point people there for the happy resolution. Look for more in-depth analysis today from the best site on the 'net for Michigan stuff.

As for what this tOSU fan thinks?

Damn.

I was still holding out hopes for the somewhat comical Les Miles to end up taking the job, as I remain unsold on him as what Michigan needed. Plus, living in Memphis, the screaming down here from LSU fans in the heart of SEC country would have made the whole thing extra fun. Rodriguez on the other hand? He was on my short list of guys I didn't want in that position. I suspect he will very quickly yank Michigan into this century in terms of offensive philosophy, and, more imporantly for Michigan, will find defensive coaches who will have a clue on how to defend the spread. That by itself will go a long way toward fixing what has been ailing Michigan in the final years under Lloyd Carr.

To follow up on MB's follow up post on Petrino, it was interesting to hear just how publicly upset the Falcons were at not just the way Petrino left, but seemingly the entire Bobby Petrino 'era' in Atlanta.

Here's a sampling of quotes played on NFL Total Access last night.

Arthur Blank:

"You're asking me if I feel used at the moment. I feel abused at the moment."

Joey Harrington:

"To have him talk [at the Arkansas press conference] about family, to have him talk about team, to have him talk about commitment, and then to come in and have a form letter sitting on the stool at your locker after seeing him do the... his hog... you know, his pig suey, with the Arkansas faithful... that's not how a man acts. That's how a coward acts."

Arthur Blank, on a plaque Petrino put up in the team room outlining their 4 team goals:

"... And the fourth one is 'Finish'. I don't think leaving - quitting - after 13 games is equal to the word finish."

Warrick Dunn:

"He's definitely a liar... He had guys thinking 'I couldn't play football anymore', and thinking 'I couldn't run'. And it wasn't because I wasn't trying, it was because he was setting us up to fail. And when you look back on it, he wasn't in it."

And even the NFL Network's Spiro Agnew stepped out of his journalistic suit on Wednesday night to add his own thoughts:

"As many times as you see that Petrino press conference in Fayetteville, it just numbs your senses as to how badly he handled this situation."

So it's not like anyone is sad to see him go, they just seem more upset he ever came.

Where's D'Angelo Hall? He certainly has got something to say, doesn't he? Maybe he just figures he already said it back in October.

UPDATE: Found Hall's comments, though not as damning as Dunn's or Joey's. Hall saved some of his best comments for his 6+ minute phone call with Total Access the day before.

One part of me feels bad for Michigan nation that the coaching search to replace Lloyd Carr has been handled about as well as Fred Thompson's presidential campaign. The other part of me is delighted because it has spurred the consistently excellent MGoBlog to fantastic nearly unmatchable heights of excellence in the last month.

Head there again and read through the latest broadsides at AD Bill Martin, the latest in the Les Miles fiasco, and make certain to read down to the "Profiles in Cronyism" takedown of the inclusion of Ball State coach Brady Hoke in the search. Linger on that post for goodness like this:

"Overall Attractiveness: Awful. Awful, awful, awful. The worst possible candidate. The mere idea this guy -- who's never even been a coordinator anywhere and has his MAC team performing at a level well below the program's historical baseline -- could get the job is infuriating. Only at Michigan could this happen, and if it does I guarantee you that Bo is going to haunt the mofo that signs the contract."

The rest of it is even better.

...from nighty cap, I could have sworn last night, as I was drifting off to sleep, Bob Griese and Sean Salisbury on espnews came within an inch of putting new Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino into the same moral soup with:

Pol Pot

Hitler

Stalin

Perspective much? It's not like this just didn't happen one year ago with Nick Saban. I guess the extra games he "cheated" the Falcons of makes enough of a difference to take Saban completely off the hook. Oh, and apparently Jamaal Anderson, ex-Razorback and current Falcon, is doing nothing to smooth Petrino's way in Fayetteville. The Petrino letter to his players is not doing him any favors either.

The Atlanta perspective? Head to Braves & Birds. About the only thing that can possibly take the heat off of Petrino at this point? When Les Miles finally goes ahead and takes the Michigan job.

The Lord's reaction to Tim Tebow's Heisman win last night? Pure joy. And some relief. Said the Lord:

"It was a long campaign, but it is nice to see that my effort and focus on all things Tim Tebow wasn't for naught."

On criticism that the focus on Tebow meant neglecting actual problems in the world:

"Look, kids are always going to get cancer. The Arabs will always hate the Jews. The developed world will pollute the environment beyond recognition. But all of that pales in comparison to Tebow's needs. It's all about Tim Tebow."

On what is next for his chosen one:

"Another Heisman, I hope. And then 10 consecutive NFL MVP awards, each time ending with a reminder that me, God, has made it all possible for him. Tebow. Because you are not."

Fucked up. And, amusing, for pretty much everyone not associated with Michigan fandom. For those that are fans? Not so amusing.

At any rate, still not on the Les Miles plan, turned down by Greg Schiano, and drifting in the water, adrift, following some sort of pre--ordained process. Less than ideal. Particularly for a program as generally pleased with itself as Michigan is (and ought to be).

That all said, I am not a Michigan fan, and have not really been following the ins and out of this closely. But, and I promise you, I cannot sell you on this site enough, the spectacularly good MGOBlog most certainly has and, in a post mid-week entitled "We Must Detroit This Process to Save It", following further revelations about just how badly Michigan is bumbling the search, is among the more biting and wittily funny criticisms you will run across. Exhibit 1A in why the internets is the best place to turn (if you can find the goodness) for commentary that puts to shame that found in the mainstream media. Follow the link, scroll down (permalink isn't working) and have a read.

Enjoy.

So Florida State is ready to name their heir to Bobby Bowden? It seems so, as they've planned a press conference on Monday to apparently do such an act.

Great.

Bowden is 78. And unfortunately, he should have retired years ago. But the school has been loyal to his service and I can't fault them too much for that. After all, this is academia, not a business.

But Bowden just has not been able to adjust to the huge change college football has undergone over the past decade. And the recent, self-proclaimed reinvention of his style of football has been nothing but the equivalent of polishing of a turd.

So entered Jimbo Fisher, apparently now, for a while.

To me, this move is entirely reactionary. I think FSU saw what they lost when they lost Mark Richt and are compensating now to avoid the same mistake. And that's a mistake.

Richt, now head coach at Georgia, was the offensive coordinator at FSU from 1990-2000. He is a former college quarterback (UM) who with the Seminoles helped coached two national championship teams and two Heisman trophy quarterbacks.

From 1990 to 2000, with Richt around running the offense, FSU's combined record was 120-15-1 (88.9%). After Richt left for Georgia, FSU's record has been 58-31 (65.2%). Georgia's record under Richt is 71-19 (78.9%).

So, back to Jimbo Fisher, this whole annointing thing just seems to me like the boy who has a girlfriend because he's afraid to not have a girlfriend. And through his first year of dating, Fisher hasn't really been a miracle worker. Granted, he inherited a mess, but that just means he should be given more time, not the keys to the school.

John Romano, columnist for the St. Pete Times, seems to agree.

Here are some cherry-picked lines from Romano's column that echo my own sentiments:

"I'm not saying it's a mistake to hire Jimbo Fisher. I'm saying it's a mistake to limit yourself to Jimbo Fisher.

A year ago, Jeff Bowden was supposedly so wretched as an offensive coordinator that the university and boosters were willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to get rid of him. Fisher is supposedly so valuable as an offensive coordinator that the university is committing more than $1-million to keep him.

So how come the Seminoles scored more points when the other guy was in charge? How come FSU had 36 offensive touchdowns with Jeff Bowden, and is on pace to score 26 with Fisher?

A few years ago, LSU was looking for a head coach to replace Nick Saban. Fisher had been in Baton Rouge for five seasons, including the 2003 national championship season. And, yet, the Tigers hired Les Miles.

Last season, Fisher was a candidate to be the head coach at the University of Alabama-Birmingham but supposedly priced himself out of the job. The point is, how does he go from being a candidate at UAB to the head-coach-in-waiting at FSU after one season as offensive coordinator? "

So cheers to Florida State. For continuing to live in the past with how they operate.

From 1-32. Stewart Mandel with his now annual look at the inane bowl season here.

But, what? I was execting to see the fuck-awful Memphis v. Florida Atlantic game at #32. But he has it at #22. What say you, Mandel?

"New Orleans (Dec. 21): Florida Atlantic (7-5) vs. Memphis (7-5). This is the under-the-radar game of the year. Howard Schnellenberger's Owls are a team on the rise, while Memphis has two of the best receivers (Duke Calhoun and Carlos Singleton) you've never seen."

Well maybe. It is certainly true that Calhoun and Singleton have not been seen. And that goes for pretty much the entire metro Memphis population as well. The only reason to turn into that awful game? To see if Florida Atlantic will score 70. Memphis has the worst defense I have ever seen. Laughably bad. The only way that game should be watched is by coaches to learn what not to do.

The worst game according to Mandel? The New Mexico Bowl featuring New Mexico against Nevada. Well. Perhaps that's worse than Memphis/FAU. But I will have to not see it and read about it to believe it.

But thank G-d we have all these meaningful bowls and no icky playoff. Think of the horror of having a whole series of compelling meaningful games as opposed to just a highly questionable one. College presidents, I salute you for your stubborness and greed.

These are the salad days for those of us who hate the BCS. The wonderful mediocrity/parity/whatever that is college football this year has helped to shine light on the shambolic nature of the fucked up non-playoff system foisted upon the rooting public by the college presidents.

So, for the short term, happy days are here.

Now, can something helpful come from the chaos? That's the question. Will the pressure finally be sufficient on those who stand in the way of common sense that meaningful change will finally be fast-tracked?

Stewart Mandel in si.com on the carnage:

"But after all the excitement and intrigue caused by all those upsets the past 14 weeks, we've reached what should be the climactic point of the season, only to be treated to Ohio State-LSU and ... Virginia Tech-Kansas? USC-Illinois? Oklahoma-West Virginia? For that, the BCS will and should be held responsible. And in fact, this year's utterly unappealing postseason may finally bring some much-needed change to the way the sport decides its champion.

I've never been a playoff guy. I've always bought into the notion that the sport's regular season -- the most gripping regular season in all of sports -- is a de facto playoff. But that notion was based on a long history of regular seasons in which at least two teams distinguished themselves as being truly great over 11 or 12 games. That did not happen this season. Not in the slightest."

Mandel goes on to advocate for the current compromise-du jour, the +1 format. Which, I guess, would beat the shit out of the current mess. But it still doesn't give every team a chance.

Dan Wetzel at yahoo.com once again, on behalf of the countless millions who have previously made the same reasoned arguments, makes anew the compelling case for a 16-team playoff here (hat tip to JoeK715 in the Swamp for the heads up). Read it and join the movement to common sense.

For those of us who hate the BCS, this is like a holiday morning. There were always two scenarios that would lay the silliness of the system bare. Scenario 1: several quality undefeated teams. Scenario 2: multiple teams with losses on their resume and no clear way to distinguish them.

That would be "Scenario 2" this morning.

Let the guessing begin:

Stewart Mandel at si.com thinks it will be LSU who faces tOSU. Actually, he makes the argument for LSU. He yields that it all comes down to what the coaches and Harris poll voters do.

Dennis Dodd at sportsline.com also is guessing LSU will face tOSU. Again, it will come down to the voters making the Tigers a google-sized growth stock.

By the way, to all of you who are wondering why a relatively weak Buckeye team is given a wave into the title game when there appear to be more deserving teams who won't? Mandel captures it perfectly with this:

"Say what you want about the oft-criticized Buckeyes. They won a conference championship in one of the six recognized major conferences, and they were the only one of the six to make it through with just one loss. Like it or not, Ohio State has come the closest of any team to "earning" a spot in the title game."

That's pretty much it. Without a playoff system, such logic comes close enough to compelling to send the Buckeyes through. Bizarre. And, as usual, unfair. But, as always, is what it is.

As for what it should be? A playoff. How about this....a 12-team playoff? Take the champs of the BCS conferences, two more of the most deserving champs from the non-BCS conferences, add in four at-large teams, and have at it. That's pretty doable. Seed the teams 1-12, give the top four seeds a bye, and let's see who is the best.

It's really not that difficult. Everyone else does it. The question remains, year after year, just why do major college presidents hate us so? (and, yes, I know, greed. But it still doesn't make it right)

West Virginia loses is a world class shocker at home to heavy underdog Pitt.

Missouri down 11 with thirteen minutes to go in the 4th quarter to Oklahoma. IF Mizzou cannot come back, then 1 and 2 will have fallen on the last weekend of the college football regular season.

For those of us who hate the BCS, this would, of course, be absolutely a pleasure. In every respect.

If it comes to pass, then tOSU is in the title game again. Who would meet them there?

The candidates:

Georgia
USC
LSU
Va Tech
Oklahoma

Those are the best of the two loss teams. You would likely eliminate one-loss Kansas (beat no one, he said carefully, noting that tOSU's resume ain't all that great either) and Missouri (two losses to OU) from the discussion.

Of those five, who should go? Who knows? It's all frickin' arbitrary and ad hoc. Decent arguments can be made for each (except for maybe the Hokies).

My best guess? Look for the voters to engineer either USC or LSU to the sweet spot in the polls, and for one of those two to face the Buckeyes. Let's call it USC. Barely.

Maybe, hmmmm, perhaps, just a thought, a playoff might help with this? For the love of all that is holy, college presidents, just give us our fuckin' playoff already.

ETA: Now 35-17 with 10 minutes to go. OU almost cruising now. The barbarians are at the BCS gate.

Apparently so. In no uncertain terms. Quoth the current and apparently future LSU head coach today:

"Les Miles will remain LSU's football coach rather than bolt to Michigan. "I am the head coach at LSU. I will be the head coach at LSU," Miles said Saturday. "I have no interest in talking to anybody else." Wearing a purple tie, standing and gesturing, Miles angrily made his announcement two hours before the No. 5 Tigers played No. 14 Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Miles said an erroneous ESPN report that he was going to Michigan prompted him to speak to his players and the media. "I've got a championship game to play, and I'm excited about the opportunity of my damn strong football team to play," he said. "It's unfortunate that I had to address my team with that information this morning.

"I represent me in this issue, please ask me after. I'm busy," he said. LSU chancellor Sean O'Keefe chuckled as Miles charged off the podium. In an offseason that has seen several big moves, Miles did not want to jump on the coaching carousel. LSU athletic director Skip Bertman said the school and Miles were in agreement. "Coach Miles and the chancellor have already worked out a contract that they're happy with, but it hasn't been signed yet," Bertman said.

Well.

Guess this puts Michigan back at square one. Or back at Kirk Ferentz's door.

On a personal note as a Buckeye fan...damn. I sharply disagree with those who are impressed by what Miles gets done on game days, and was looking forward to having him at Michigan. Damn.

A Missouri win over Oklahoma.

West Virginia to hold serve at home against Pitt.

And a damn fine and highly entertaining Nat'l title game. In lieu of an actual playoff, a game that is practically guaranteed to 49-48 would be at least something to look forward to.

Both games are tonite. tOSU nation hopes for an upset. Everyone else? Hoping for wins by the top two teams (according to the lame system we have now).

College football fever. Catch it. Or try to, anyway.

Houston Nutt wasn't out of a job for long: He was hired as Southeastern Conference rival Mississippi's football coach just hours after resigning at Arkansas.

Nutt agreed to a contract late Monday night, and replaces Ed Orgeron, who was fired Saturday after the Rebels lost to rival Mississippi State to finish 3-9 and winless in the SEC.

No word if Donna Bragg will be relocating to Jackson, Miss or not.

Unsurprising:

Houston Nutt out at Arkansas. I'm officially on record as mocking Arkansas fans for forcing Nutt out. They're delusional if they think they're going to be able to entice a big name coach to Fayetteville and have Arkansas winning more games than Nutt won. This falls under the category of "being careful what you wish for." Hogs fans wanted Nutt's scalp and they got it. Now the hard part is finding a miracle worker who will be able to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse.

Chan Gailey out at Georgia Tech. Gailey was 0-6 against Georgia. That probably says all you need to know about this decision. Another failed experiment at trying to recreate the success of Pete Carroll by grabbing a mediocre NFL coach. Still, an overall amusing experiment since it led to the genius that is Charlie Weis.

Ted Roof fired at Duke. Yeah, it's probably the hardest place in college football to win, but six wins in four-plus years is just not going to get it done.

Pretty shocking:

Jeff Bower leaves Southern Mississippi. Bower had been at USM (his alma mater) for 17 years and had led the Golden Eagles to 14 straight winning seasons and bowl games for nine of the last ten years. That's a remarkable streak of consistency for a mid-major, even if it fell short of what a lot of USM fans would like. Those same fans are likely to rue this day.

Joe Novak at Northern Illinois. Unless Novak is leaving of his own accord (which is possible), this is a horrible decision by NIU. Novak turned a laughing stock (even by MAC standards) into one of the conference's premier programs in this decade. The Huskies slid to 2-10 this season, but a lot of that was due to injuries and being hit especially hard by graduations last season. NIU will be hard-pressed to replace Novak.

In:

Mike Sherman at Texas A&M. The Aggies didn't waste any time replacing Dennis Franchione. Kind of a surprising hire as Sherman has little college experience, but he was an underrated coach at the pro level and should be able to get the most of out whatever talent he's able to lure to College Station.

Bill Lynch at Indiana. Arguably the biggest feel-good story of the college football season, Lynch was rewarded for taking Indiana to its first bowl since 1993 and fulfilling the stated goal of late coach Terry Hoeppner.

...and we are just guests at the party. Missouri 36. Kansas 28.

First Big 12 North title in school history? Check.

Potential first time atop the polls since 1960? Check.

Coach who says all the right things? Check:

"Clutching a clear, square-shaped division trophy in his postgame news conference, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel remarked, "I like it, but now I want the round one." He was referring to the award given to the Big 12's overall champion. "We've got a picture of it in our locker room," said Pinkel. "That's how I know it's round."

Good one. And the correct perspective. Things I know from having seen them play in person earlier this year:

1. Their offensive sets are creative and hard to shut down.

2. Chase Daniel is the real deal at quarterback and will play on Sundays.

3. They have NFL caliber talent all over the field on offense, including a tight end in Martin Rucker that is a match-up nightmare for opposing teams. Oh, and having met his Dad in Memphis the night before the Ole Miss/Missouri game, I can tell you that he comes from a cool family.

4. Since the game in September in Oxford, the Tigers appear to have made some strides on defense, a must if they want to play for the national title.

And, if Missouri wins another to get to that title game, they will face a very good West Virginia team. Frankly, even as an Ohio State fan, I can acknowledge the Buckeye fatigue and skepticism that the country must be feeling, and rather hope that a fairly pedestrian Ohio State team does not play for the title this year.

If Missouri can get by Oklahoma and West Virginia takes care of business against Pitt, then a Missouri vs. West Virginia match-up has the potential to be extremely entertaining. And a game that might very well be won somewhere in the 45-44 region of the scoreboard.

Prior to today's game, the Mizzou/Kansas rivalry probably meant more to Civil War buffs.

Clearly, this is perhaps one of the most improbable big games in college football history. On a list of potential big games this season that might have been compiled back in September, it would probably have come in somewhere around 79th, somewhere around the Baylor/aTm game. At best. (hyperbole noted...but, still, this was not exactly a game that anyone really had marked as a big one back in the day)

And yet, here we are. Winner to #1 likely (or maybe #2 if Mizzou wins and doesn't leapfrog West Virginia) and on the cusp of an appearance in the national title game. Huh. At the least, on a cool note personally, if Mizzou wins its next two, I will have had the lucky privilege of seeing them live in the year they made such an improbable run. In hindsight, their thrashing of Ole Miss in Oxford back in September was what national title contending teams do to bad teams. I sure didn't analyze it that way at the time.

...after tOSU had become the latest #1 to fall, Sports Illustrated in their print edition went through the title picture and concluded that West Virginia and tOSU were too far back at #s 6 and 7 in the BCS to get into the title game.

Or, not.

After the latest carnage (Arkansas 50 LSU 48), with two wins, West Virginia gets to the BCS title game. And, if the Mizzou/Kansas winner trips up against Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game, tOSU gets there too. Hell, let WVa stumble too, and maybe Georgia could sneak into the title game with two losses. Why not? It's all FUBAR anyway this year.

Say, here's a thought. Rather than guess at the best team in college football this year (and that's all we have at this point, a guess), why not some sort of tournament? Maybe something where the conference champs from the SEC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 10, ACC, Big East + two others get together and see whose best? How about that? I bet people would be interested in that. Might even sell a sponsorship or two. Make a little money...

Lloyd Carr is retiring. I've read/heard enough in the past few days about how University of Michigan fans are not doing enough to laud Carr's 13 seasons at the helm. Sentiments like this from Lenn Robbins in the New York Post:

"Shame to the victors...Carr, 62, has lost four straight and six of seven to the Buckeyes, so, of course, it's time for a new Carr in the Motor City.

Forget the 121-40 record, the four Rose Bowls and Carr's commitment to Michigan since he became an assistant coach in 1980."

To which I say, a resoundingly polite: Poo.

In thirteen years at Ohio State John Cooper was 111-43-4. Eerily similar to Mr. Carr's record now wouldn't you say? Any second guesses whether Cooper should have gone? Cooper couldn't win the big game and his record against Michigan was dreadful 2-10-1. Since Tressel took over the helm and at his pep rally introduced a countdown clock to the next Ohio State/Michigan showdown he has had Carr's number. Carr's Wolverines have managed just one win against Tressel's Buckeyes in the past seven years. Unacceptable.

Hey Mr. Robbins. Imagine that the Yanks and Bo Sox hooked up for just ONE GAME a year. You think King George would have suffered losing six times in seven years? Didn't think so.

Carr has been passed by. It's time for new blood. Yes, thank you Lloyd Carr for the national championship and the four Rose Bowls. I wish Michigan could have shown up for more of those bowl games and for more of the games agains the Buckeyes in the last seven years. For better or for worse I will remember the defeats more than the victories. Appalachian State was horrible. There's no two ways around it. Oregon, as good as they were this year laying the smack down in the big house. 91 yards of offense against your hated rivals.

We're sorry Mr. Carr, it's time.

(And Ohio State's too)...

Why? Not just because they all won yesterday. But because Oklahoma lost. That, along with Oregon's loss Thursday night, puts them all in prime position to finish making a run at playing in the BCS title game.

The road ahead for the contenders:

LSU: Home to Arkansas, SEC title game against either Tennessee (if they beat Kentucky next week) or Georgia

The Tigers will be favored in each of those games, but neither game is anything approaching a pushover. Particularly if it is Georgia that meets LSU in Atlanta. But, with two wins, they get to the desert.

Missouri/Kansas: This one is simple. They play each other next week in one of the most improbable HUGE games in college football history. The winner likely faces Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game. Win that, and the Mizzou/Kansas winner might very well be in the desert.

West Virginia: Big road win over a quality Cincinnati team last night sets the Moutaineers up with games against UConn and hated rival Pittsburgh. Win those two, and West Virginia has a solid shot at the desert.

Ohio State: Watching and waiting, but nowhere near as long a shot to back into the title game as they were back on Wednesday. The Oklahoma and Oregon upsets have opened that door more than just a crack.

Stewart Mandel, at si.com, is once again your must stop on the day that was. Zip touched on it in his outstanding nighty cap last night, and Mandel picks up the thought with regard to Nick Saban and the suddenly 6-5 Tide:

"The honeymoon is officially over for Alabama's celebrated first-year coach, whose now 6-5 team suffered an inexplicable 21-14 loss to Louisiana-Monroe -- yes, you're reading that right -- in what was supposed to be a harmless little pre-Auburn tune-up Saturday. Yet as bad as both that and last week's Mississippi State loss must seem to Crimson Tide fans right now, the reality is, all will be forgotten if Saban can put an end to 'Bama's six-year Iron Bowl drought next week. . . .Win, and Saban will earn another year's worth of devotion from the Tide's ever-demanding faithful; lose ... and he finishes the regular season with the same record Mike Shula did last year."

Absolutely jaw-droppingly shocking result, Alabama's loss to La-Monroe. On every level.

By the way, remember Cal? They are now 6-5 after losing for the fifth time in their last six games yesterday. Those wins over Tennessee and Oregon were a long time ago, at this point.

I just saw a headline that Chris Leak was to play for Team Florida in the AAFL.

The what?

Turns out, there's a league being formed for ex-college athletes who have completed their NCAA football eligibility and also earned a 4 year degree. According to wikipedia, the league was slated to open in spring of 2007 but was postponed to spring of 2008. And Eric Crouch may be involved!

Teams will be located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas this first season and players will make $5k per game plus benefits.

The Leak move is a good one for Team Florida considering that their home stadium will be in Gainesville and their head coach is ex-Gator Shane Matthews.

NFL Europa, ftl.
AAFL, ftw!

Navy hadn't beaten Notre Dame in 44 years. Yesterday, they went to South Bend and beat the Fighting Irish in triple-overtime. That was the fifth-straight home loss for Notre Dame, a school record.

And Charlie Weis is clearly in there-are-things-in-life-more-important-than-football mode, as he focused on the death of one of his player's brothers. Of course, Weis is correct. And I'm sure the team has been a wonderful support for the family.

But his team didn't do its job. And when you get paid millions of dollars a year, people are allowed to be upset about it, and question you without getting moral posturing in response.

---Ohio State is good, good enough that people (even me) might have to forgive them for their wretchedness against Florida last January. If they run the table on their last three (Wisconsin and Illinois in Columbus, Michigan in Ann Arbor), they will deserve to be the title game. Hopefully, if that happens, Tressel will approach that game with a plan not developed with his head firmly up his ass.

---Georgia's mid-year resurgence is remarkable. Most observers left them all but dead a few weeks back, but they are all of a sudden a factor in the SEC East again, and would be a very real obstacle to LSU should they get to the SEC title game. Amazing how much better teams can get that rely on freshmen as those freshmen get experience. That in part explains Georgia's improvement.

---I want to be cynical about Arizona State, I do, but they keep winning. Down 13-0 early to Cal, they rallied to cruise to a 31-20 win. Impressive. Do that against Oregon and USC and I will stop doubting.

---If Ohio State were to win out, Oregon would need help to get to a title game, which is a shame. I can't help but wonder if they are not really the best team in the country (with apologies to LSU). Damn but I wish we had a playoff in college football.

As usual, I leave you with Stewart Mandel's running blog on the day's games at si.com. As always, the first and last word for looking back at a Saturday in college football. A snippet:

"In yet another development we never would have dreamed possible a couple of months ago, 7-1 UConn is suddenly the team to beat in the Big East. I'll admit it, I hadn't taken the Huskies particularly seriously to this point, but not only is Randy Edsall's team alone in first following Saturday's 22-15 win over USF (making the Bulls the second straight No. 2 team to not only lose, but lose again the following week, like Cal did), they're playing absolutely lights out on defense.

The Huskies entered the game third in the country in scoring defense (12.7 points per game), sixth in total defense (272.3 yards per game). Last week, they held Brian Brohm to his lowest production of the season by far; this week, they did get burned on the ground by Bulls QB Matt Grothe (25 carries, 146 yards) but they picked him twice and, most importantly, allowed just one touchdown all day. Remember when Connecticut and Kansas were basketball schools?"

Vaguely.

Ohio State's last regular season loss? Two years ago in (not so) Happy Valley to Penn State. Salient, because that's where the for-the-moment #1 team in the country plays tonight. That game will be on ABC opposite Game 3 of the World Series. I wonder what the head to head ratings will be? I would presume there was a time when it would no question be the World Series game. I don't think that's the case now.

As for the rest of day's slate in college football, the best of the best appears to be:

USC at Oregon---two top 10 teams with very realistic national title hopes still. The loser no longer can say that. Look for this one on FSN at 3:00.

Cal at Arizona State---the Sun Devils are still undefeated and ranked #7 overall. At 10:15 tonight on FSN, I think the now twice-bitten Bears send ASU from the ranks of the national title hopefuls.

Florida vs Georgia in the renewal of the erstwhile World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville. At #9 in the country, and still controlling their own destiny to the SEC title game and another shot at LSU, Florida needs this one to badly to lose to an up and down Bulldog team. That one is 3:30 on CBS.

West Viriginia at Rutgers. The Mountaineers, back up to #6 as they recover from their early loss at South Florida, hope to keep relevant in national title talk at what has become a very tough place to get a win. Look for that one at noon on ABC.

Really, a helluva day for the sport. That is, if you have not had your 6-year-old son's friend invite himself over for a sleepover that will begin at roughly noon and last for 24 hours. I think I will be spending a great deal of the day yelling "go outside". Either that, or end up missing a chunk of the goodness while at a bargain theater still showing the Transformers. I bet it's the latter.

Required reading: Stewart Mandel at si.com

If you are bored reading: ESPN's preview of the college day

You can file this under better late than never. Looks like the USC Band and Song Girls went to Lake Tahoe over the summer. Sorry if this was posted before. Actually ... no I'm not.

This is the final installment of a three part series about USF Football. Part one was about USF's football history. Part two was about the 2007 USF football team. Part three is about tonight's game at Rutgers. This is part three. UPDATE: For more Tampa perspective on all this Bulls stuff, go hyperlocal at Sticks of Fire.
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With a national audience watching, and while the #2 branding still shines fresh and clean, the South Florida Bulls will travel into the state college of New Jersey to visit the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in what could be their toughest road, regular season test of this season.

Why the toughest? Well, circumstances are stacking up against them. Like how just this past Saturday the Bulls dispatched their in-state rival Golden Knights of UCF in a game that saw the Bulls score more points in the fourth quarter than in any of the other three.

While I'm sure they wanted to get their backups some experience - especially quarterback Grant Gregory - the Bulls also wanted and needed to make a statement. First to UCF, who USF coach Jim Leavitt no longer wants to play on a yearly basis, and second to the BCS computers, who came out with their initial rankings this week.

The 64-12 UCF win was an emotional one for the Bulls. A week prior, USF traveled down to Boca Raton to play another in-state game against FAU. The Owls are a decent team, led by Howard Schnellenberger, and gave USF a tough fight. There's no discounting how much emotion goes into an in-state game like this and the Bulls were probably caught looking ahead a bit to the UCF game. Still, they pulled out the win and came home to Tampa listening to all the talk about how they didn't deserve their (then #5) ranking because of the way FAU hung around against USF.

So now that the UCF statement game has been laid down, South Florida has an even greater obstacle. Now #2, with 11 first place votes in the AP poll, the underdog is suddenly lining up on the other side of the field.

Right now, USF is a national title contender. But are they a national title contender?

It scares me that USF is coming off a big home win against a big state rival - a circumstance that always leaves a team vulnerable to a flat performance the following week.

On top of that, they are going into a hostile environment, with rain expected, on national tv, on short rest, against a team who defeated them in Tampa last year and against a team that is probably pissed off on how their season has gone so far.

Continue reading "USF Football at Rutgers tonight" »