Retweet of the Day - November 20, 2014

Reigning Heisman Trophy winner and defending national champion Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston is a lightning rod. He is also talented without limit on the gridiron. The FSU signal caller pulled the Seminoles through in the 4th quarter to a come from behind 30-26 win at their in-state ACC rival, the University of Miami.

The dramatic win extended the Seminoles' winning streak to 26 consecutive games. Florida State secured the ACC Atlantic Division title last Saturday while the loss put Miami's chances of an ACC Coastal Division championship on life support. Jameis Winston has never lost a game as a starting quarterback in college football.


BLAME JAMEIS

Of course, nobody walks on water and football fans outside of Tallahassee and not connected to FSU would just as soon dunk Winston in a tank of water. Winston, talent notwithstanding, is a knucklehead. The rap sheet is well known: accused of sexual assault (though no charges were ever filed), involved in an air gun fighting incident, shoplifted soda from a Burger King restaurant, shoplifted crab legs from a grocery store, and was videoed standing on a table in the Florida State student union shouting a vulgarity.

His off-field antics have drawn backlash from his fans and supporters at Florida State. The "#BlameJameis" Twitter phenomenon arose from all the repeated extensive media coverage of Winston's antics, most of which (save for the sexual assault accusation - which never warranted any charges) are typical of post-adolescent collegiate foolishness, albeit with increasingly unsettling frequency. In the #BlameJameis paradigm, anything wrong in the world is Winston's fault.

Today's retweet, by Cee Bee (@CoryBarry_) is sweet and simple and could be on the Mount Rushmore of #BlameJameis inspired tweets.

"Jameis Winston was responsible for 9/11"

I just KNEW Lee Harvey Oswald was just a patsy!

Image from barstoolsports.com 

Free Seafood University

Reports broke earlier today that Florida State University baseball player, quarterback, and 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston was cited for shoplifting crab legs from a Florida Publix grocery store week. Winston has to pay a $30 fine and serve community service. He has been suspended from the FSU baseball team. In late 2013, Winston was investigated for and cleared of any involvement in an alleged 2012 sexual assault. Winston was also involved in an on-field scuffle with fellow baseball teammates earlier this year. The Seminoles won the 2014 BCS National Championship Game.

What a dumb kid! Every grown man was young once and did dumb things, myself included. But most of us were never in position to make the world our oyster like Winston is. Winston was also reportedly listed in police reports involving B.B. gun fights and theft of soft drinks. One would think that being investigated in connection with a potentially serious felony, followed by winning college football's most prestigious individual award would bring the stakes of this young man's future into focus.

For his sake, I hope he does not need another swift kick in the pants to get serious about his limitless future potential as a professional athlete as a football players, baseball player, or both. Unfortunately, with antics like these continuing, I think Winston may need to have another bullet fired his way (and dodged) to grow up and get on track.

I thought college students wanted to avoid crabs!

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The BCS – Good Riddance

The final Bowl Championship Series Championship Game was played Monday night. It ended in a spectacular fashion. The Florida State Seminoles beat the Auburn Tigers, 34-31, at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA on a last-second touchdown pass from Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin.

The game secured an unbeaten year and the national championship of the 2013 season for the Seminoles. The BCS era of college football ended with a contest that could only be described as a timeless classic. It’s great to end on a high note. However, there will be no waxing nostalgic about the BCS among college football fans.

Even the logo has more integrity. 1

DON’T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU ON THE WAY OUT

The College Football Playoff will begin in January of 2015 to determine the national champion of the 2014 season.  The Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl will serve as national semifinal games with the winners advancing to the national championship game roughly two weeks later. Four teams…two games…everyone has to run a gauntlet to claim the ultimate prize in college football.

Gone are the days to conference one-upsmanship. Many detractors of the SEC’s reign of dominance will quickly point to the fact that the SEC Champion is a de facto participant in the National Championship Game. While I think that has been justified every year, I could also point to the 2004 season in which Auburn University finished 12-0, winning the SEC. Auburn was passed over for the 2005 Orange Bowl in favor of Pac-10 champion Southern California and Big XII champion Oklahoma.

My personal message to the BCS.... 3

BCS – Bull Crap/ S___

Gone are the days of incessant politicking by teams who didn’t cut it during the regular season, but whose BCS fates were decided by their Head Coach’s lifetime achievement and program reputation. SEC Eastern Division runner up Georgia had strong victories and a strong schedule in the 2007 season. They finished the regular season with two losses.

There were no unbeaten teams from major conferences left standing. Ohio State was the sole team near the top of the BCS with only one loss. Their opponent would be a two loss team. University of Georgia Head Coach Mark Richt made an impassioned plea through the media: he had to face Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina. SEC champion LSU lost to inferior competition, albeit in overtime. Richt was effectively told, “Sorry. If you don’t win your division, you can’t win the BCS title. Besides, Les Miles’ LSU team was ‘unbeaten in regulation’.”

Fast forward to the 2011 season. LSU is 13-0 following their SEC Championship Game win over SEC East Division champion Georgia. Among those 13 wins was a win over SEC West Division runner up Alabama at Alabama. Nick Saban made his case to the press. The first match with LSU was decided in overtime. Bama “truly” is the second best team in the country; they could whip any of the other conference champions.

Richt and Big 12 Champion Oklahoma State University Head Coach Mike Gundy had good cause to go to bed laughing at Saban. Richt’s Bulldogs finished second in the conference. Gundy’s OSU Cowboys won their conference. Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide couldn’t even win its division.

If this bull is headed north, the BCS was full of what comes out of the south end. 4

DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

 

SURPRISE! Alabama is handed a spot in the 2012 BCS Championship Game on the strength of human poll voters. The same team that couldn’t win its division or beat LSU at home received a rematch at a neutral site as if the first contest with LSU were an exhibition. Alabama won the rematch before a 50/50 LSU/Bama crowd in the Louisiana Superdome and hoisted the crystal football.

 In spite of finishing with an inferior record to LSU at 12-1 (LSU finished 13-1), in spite of failing to beat LSU in its own house during the regular season, in spite of failing to win its division and in spite of the fact that LSU was the champion of the Southeastern Conference, to which Alabama belonged, the BCS would have us believe that Alabama was a true national champion.

I wouldn't blame the guys in purple and gold for delivering a sneaky gut punch at the bottom of the pile. 2

 

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

There are several “BCS – BS” stories that many college football fans can share. But this time, the NCAA finally got something right. While I personally think that an eight team, three round playoff would produce the best result, few would argue that this new, four team, system is a head and shoulders improvement.

Teams finishing fifth and sixth in the new system may take exception to being left out of the dance, but not even that bridesmaid could argue that they should be #1 or #2. The college football season will allow more margins for an early season error, which often ends a team’s quest for a title in September. Finally, an exceptional team that was nipped in conference play, like the aforementioned 2011 Alabama team, can EARN its spot in a title game rather than receiving a handout on the strength on the program’s and the coach’s reputations.

I could beat up on the NCAA and college athletics for several shortcomings, especially rules governing the student-athletes. But even a broken clock is right twice per day. Getting rid of the BCS happened right on time. 

The NCAA powers must have signed off on the playoff system over dinner. 5

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Retweet of the Day - January 7, 2014

The Florida State Seminoles nipped the Auburn Tigers last night, 34-31, in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game, winning the national title of the 2013 college football season. The pass from 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston to Kelvin Benjamin with 13 seconds remaining in the game ended the string of seven consecutive BCS National Championship Game victories by teams from the Southeastern Conference. All good things must come to an end. And with it came a bruise to the pride of the SEC and its fans.

Sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon; sometimes the snow comes down in June. The SEC was bound to drop one eventually. Today's retweet, by Gator Content from (‏@OurTwoBits), should help bring SEC Guy from the ledge with a little perspective.

"#FSU will win a National Title over an #SEC team when hell freezes over! Current temperature in Tallahassee: 23 degrees."  

Much like snow in Florida, I wouldn't hold my breath until the next SEC defeat.

Image from www.tallahassee.com

Retweet of the Day - December 5, 2013

Willie Meggs, the prosecutor investigating accusations the Florida State University quarterback and Heisman Trophy frontrunner Jameis Winston announced that no charges will be filed against the star redshirt freshman. This ends an ordeal than began with an encounter Winston has with a woman one year ago and picked up attention in the media during the past several weeks. Winston is not the first high profile athlete, nor will he be the last, to be accused of violent crime and later cleared.

WELCOME TO THE PARTY PAL!

In the last decade, we've all been aware of allegations of sexual misbehavior by start athletes like Los Angeles Lakers gurad Kobe Bryant and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Today's retweet is one of a select few that found a clever and tasteful spin on this unsettling story. Charles Keith (@12thManChuck15) incorporates the incident into one of the oldest joke set-ups in the book:

"So Kobe Bryant, Ben Roethlisberger, and Jameis Winston walk into a bar..." 
 

I'm sure Kobe empathizes with Winston's position.

Image from www.huffingtonpost.com

Must See Sports - First Weekend of November 2013

Last week's advantage/disadvantage record, excluding series: 8-4 
Last week's advantage/disadvantage record in series: 1-0
2013 Advantage/Disadvantage Record, excluding series: 75-60

2013 Advantage/Disadvantage FINAL Record (series only): 22-13-4

Thursday, October 31


NBA

New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls

The Knicks will get a tougher challenge than in their opening night contest with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bulls are at home and not at the ring ceremony of the defending champs. Should be a low scoring contest and I will take Derrick Rose over Carmelo Anthony.

Advantage: Bulls


Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers

The Warriors left little pieces of the Lakers all over the floor, ringing up 125 points, including 38 from shooting guard Klay Thompson. These were the same Kobe-less Lakers that the Clipper could not stop on Tuesday night.

Advantage: Warriors

The Warriors already have Steph Curry, who can drop 40 at will. For the sake of everyone else in the West, they should hope that Thompson's 38 points against the Lakers were an anomaly. 6

Friday, November 1

NBA

Miami Heat at Brooklyn Nets

It could take some time for Kevin Garnett (8 PPG, 10 RPG) and Paul Pierce (17 PPG) to assimilate into their new surroundings in Brooklyn. Miami is likely waking up after coughing up 114 points in a loss at Philadelphia. The Heat were up for the Bulls and I expect them to be up for the Nets.

Advantage: Heat

I'm sure The Big Ticket can't wait to get reacquainted with Ray Allen (above) tomorrow. 5

Saturday, November 2

NCAA Football

#7 Mimai Hurricanes at #3 Florida State Seminoles

Game of the week! Florida State QB and Heisman candidate Jameis Winston (2,177 yds., 23 TD, 4 INT) will be on display again in his toughest test of the season. The Hurricanes have a chance to prove that they are a serious ACC contender and not simply the beneficiaries of good fortune and a good schedule.

Winston's favorite target, wide receiver Rashad Greene (39 rec., 690 yds., 8 TD) is going to pose a problem for the Canes. Miami has been susceptible against the pass against teams with legitimate deep threats. At the same time, Miami running back Duke Johnson (823 yds., 6 TD, 6.7 avg.) has been a one man wrecking crew who can deliver in clutch situations.

This game is being played in Tallahassee. FSU's defense has been just as overpowering as its offense while Miami has been in some close games against unremarkable opponents. FSU doesn't lose many battles in the trenches and can force multiple turnovers every week. The Canes only have one win against a ranked opponent this season. The Seminoles are battle tested after consecutive games, lopsided wins, against Maryland and at then-#3 Clemson.

Advantage: Florida State

"The U" hasn't faced the likes of Jameis Winston yet. 4

#18 Oklahoma State Cowboys at #15 Texas Tech Red Raiders

Texas Tech was handed a slice of humble pie in their first loss of the season at Oklahoma last week. Oklahoma State also has a loss. The loser is all but finished in the Big XII race.

Oklahoma State has some hurdles to clear. In spite of a spectacular 219 rushing yards performance by Desmond Roland (366 yds., 6 TD, 5.9 avg.) last week against Iowa, it remains to be seen that he isn't a flavor of the week. OSU has had quarterback issues last year. Cowboys QB J.W. Walsh (1,324 yds., 9 TD, 5 INT, 60% comp.) was benched last week for Clint Chelf (549 yds., 4 TD, 2 INT) who couldn't crack 100 yards passing. OSU head coach Mike Gundy said that he is sticking with Chelf.

Texas Tech's approach of pass first, pass second, pass third and when in doubt - pass, will probably be more effective against the Cowboys that it was against the more physical Sooners. Red Raiders QB Davis Webb (1,812 yds., 13 TD, 7 INT) passed for 385 yards, including two touchdowns, in spite of the loss to Oklahoma. The Cowboys' secondary will face its first high-powered challenge of the season.

The venue and the Cowboys' problems under center tip the scales slightly toward the Red Raiders.

Advantage: Texas Tech



Sunday, November 3

NFL

New Orleans Saints (6-1) at New York Jets (4-4)

The pickings are slim among the Sunday. The Saints and Jets are the most appealing item on the menu. The Saints rebounded following a loss in the final seconds to the New England Patriots and a bye week by clobbering the Buffalo Bills, 35-17. Saints quarterback Drew Brees (2,290 yds., 19 TD, 5 INT, 68%) threw five touchdown passes last week. The Jets had their manhood taken away in Cincinnati, losing by 40 points to the Bengals.

The Jets are still searching for an offensive identity halfway through the regular season. Still the Jets are at home and have a potent one-two punch in the backfield in Bilal Powell and Chris Ivory while the Saints can be a little porous against the run. If the Saints can force turnovers and score points early, it may neutralize the threat of the Jets' running attack. The longer the score remains close, the better chance the Jets have of pulling off the upset. I don't expect that to happen, but expect the tone for the game to be set in the first quarter.

Advantage: Saints

Graham (foot injury) returned to the lineup last week in "limited" action to catch two touchdown passes. Limited?

Monday, November 3

NFL

Chicago Bears (4-3) at Green Bay Packers (5-2)

The NFL's longest standing rivalry continues on Monday Night Football. In spite of a very good record, the Packers have their share of problems - teams have been able to pass the ball on them. They've been oppressive offensively however and appeared to have permanently found a solution to their rushing game with rookie running back Eddie Lacy (446 yds., 3 TD, 4.0 avg.).

The Bears are in need of a complete rebuild on defense. While the Packers will need to constantly account for Bears RB Matt Forte (553 yds., 6 TD, 3.9 avg.), who can bust a long run at any time, the Bears have no shot against the Pack at Lambeau Field without injured QB Jay Cutler (1,658 yds., 12 TD, 7 INT, 65% comp.) in the lineup. Cutler is still out with a groin injury.

If Cutler's wife, Kristin Cavallari (left) is a real keeper, she will invite The Hills co-star Audrina Patridge (right) over and help Jay rehab that groin injury to speed up his recovery. Though if she did, Cutler may have a relapse on a weekly basis. 2

Advantage: Packers

Wednesday, November 5

Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers

Indiana is at home and appears just a fierce defensively as last year. It appears that they are successfully working guard Lance Stephenson (18 PPG, 5 APG, 8 RPG) into the offense more. Derrick Rose will be in the building and the Pacers will be waiting.

Advantage: Pacers

Rose is back and it's on in the Eastern Conference! 1

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Must See Sports - Third Weekend of October 2013

Last week's advantage/disadvantage record, excluding series: 2-4  
Last week's advantage/disadvantage record in series: 1-0
2013 Advantage/Disadvantage Record, excluding series: 65-50

2013 Advantage/Disadvantage Record (series only): 21-11-4

Thursday, October 17

NFL

Seattle Seahawks (5-1) at Arizona Cardinals (3-3)

The Seahawks travel down to the desert for what could prove to be a pivotal NFC West matchup. It could be pivotal if the Cardinals win. I don't expect the Cardinals to win.

The Seahawks are some kookie breaks against the Indianapolis Colts away from being 6-0. The Cardinals are playing good defense, but have only one win against a team with a winning record. Still, they are battle-tested and have only been out of the game at the start of the fourth quarter once this year, at New Orleans.

The problem is that the Cardinals have not run the ball effectively and they face a solid top-to-bottom defense. Yet they appear to have a ball-control game plan each week. Seattle, especially running back Marshawwn Lynch (487 yds., 5 TD, 4.2 avg.) can run over anyone, though the Cardinals front seven has been stingy against the run this year. However, Cards defensive end Calais Campbell (18 tak., 2.5 sacks, 2 TFL, 1 FF) has been a disruptive force in the trenches and will not be 100% (leg) if he plays at all.

Advantage: Seahawks

Richard Sherman owned the Cardinals last year. He's gotten better. 4

Major League Baseball

American League Championship Series - Game 5
Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers
Jon Lester (15-8, 3.75 ERA, 177 Ks) - Red Sox vs Anibal Sanchez (14-8, 2.57 ERA, 202 Ks) - Tigers

Jon Lester has been "money" in the postseason but Anibal Sanchez has been mostly unsolvable all season. Sanchez got his "clunker" out of the way in the ALDS against Oakland. The Tigers are at home, and Detroit manager Jim Leyland's unconventional toying with the batting order proved to be the difference maker in Game 4. There's a reason Jimmy Smokes has won three pennants and two World Series.

Advantages: Game - Tigers, Series - Tigers

Don't expect to see much of Justin Verlander's ex, Kate Upton. In fact, don't expect to see much of Verlander either; he isn't starting until Game 7, if necessary. 1

Friday, October 18

National League Championship Series - Game 6
Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals
Clayton Kershaw (16-9, 1.82 ERA, 232 Ks) - Dodgers vs Michael Wacha (4-1, 2.78 ERA, 65 Ks, 64.2 IP) - Cardinals

Round one went to the rookie, Wacha. Round 2 goes to the master. The Cards have never come up with a timely solution to Dodgers pitching while the Dodgers have pushed Cardinals pitchers into uncomfortable situations, though the Cards have held it together in their three wins. The Dodgers aren't losing another game in which Kershaw starts.

Advantage: Dodgers (original series pick: Dodgers)




Saturday, October 19

Major League Baseball

National League Championship Series - Game 7 (if necessary)
Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals
Hyun-Jin Ryu (14-8, 3.00 ERA) - Dodgers vs Adam Wainwright (19-9, 2.94 ERA, 219 Ks) - Cardinals

Again, a rookie vs master situation. Ryu was absolutely brilliant in the critical Game 3. That lightning won't strike twice, not in a Game 7 in St. Louis. I expect there to be a Game 7 and I expect Wainwright to earn his millions and sent the Redbirds to their fourth World Series in 10 years.

Advantage: Cardinals


American League Championship Series - Game 6 (if necessary)
Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox
Max Scherzer (21-3, 2.90 ERA, 240 Ks) - Tigers vs Clay Buchholz (12-1, 1.74 ERA, 96 Ks, 108.1 IP)

Clay Buchholz had daunting regular season numbers, but all Max Scherzer does is win, win, win (no matter what)! I'll take the Cy Young winner with the retooled batting order over the Man with the Bad Perm, who has had a sub-par postseason (6.17 ERA).

Advantage: Tigers


NCAA Football

#9 UCLA Bruins at #13 Stanford Cardinal

Head Coach Jim Mora, Jr. has made the Bruins into the torch holders in Los Angeles and a legitimate BCS contender. Sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley (1,469 passing yds., 12 TD, 4 INT 68% comp.; 260 rushing yds., 3 TD, 4.3 avg.) has got to be on the "long list" for the Heisman at this point in the season. While UCLA running back Jordon James (463 yds., 5 TD, 6.3 avg.) is considered doubtful (ankle) for the game, the Bruins have sufficient firepower to outgun their intrastate conference rivals to the north.

Stanford's real strengths are in their running game, particularly senior running back Tyler Gaffney (570 yds., 7 TD, 5.3 avg.), and its defense. The problem for Stanford is that UCLA's defense has been stout all year and should be capable of containing the threat posed by Gaffney and should be able to neutralize the Cardinal's best receiving threat, junior Ty Montgomery (31 rec. 514 yds., 5 TD). He can't throw the ball to himself and he has just been "okay" against Arizona State and Washington, the other two ranked opponents that Stanford has faced this season.

Advantage: UCLA


#5 Florida State Seminoles at #3 Clemson Tigers

Four words: Game of the Week! The ACC Atlantic Division will be decided on Saturday. The ACC Champion has as good a chance as ever to send its champion to the BCS Championship game, so this game could be one to ultimately award all of the marbles.

I'm a believer in Clemson. I'm a believer in Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney and what he has done with the program. I'm a big believer in quarterback Tajh Boyd (1,783, 15 TD, 2 INT, 67% comp.) and his top target, Sammy Watkins (36 rec., 582 yds., 4 TD).Their defense is ridiculously good.

On the other hand, Florida State's defense has been bulletproof so far and their QB, Jameis Winston (1,441 yds., 17 TD, 2 INT, 12 YPA) has been as good this year, as illustrated when they blasted then-#25 Maryland, 63-0. The Seminoles have scored 40 or more points in every game this year. They have a stable of running backs averaging six yards per carry. And they have two burners in Kenny Shaw (23 rec. 466 yds., 3 TD) and Rashad Greene (23 rec., 405 yds., 5 TD) who just need to run one route to be a scoring threat: "straight".

On paper, FSU looks like they are too much. That's why they play the games. This game is at Clemson's Death Valley. The Tigers are have not lost at home in a conference game in over three years. The Seminoles haven't won there in over a decade.

Advantage: Clemson

A win on Saturday will make a lot of folks in Clemson happy. 2

Sunday, October 20

Major League Baseball

American League Championship Series - Game 7 (if necessary)
Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox
Justin Verlander (13-12, 3.46 ERA, 217 Ks) - Tigers vs John Lackey (10-13, 3.52 ERA) - Red Sox

I don't expect this series to go seven games but if it does, I will not pick against the Red Sox. The Detroit Tigers are an excellent team but they aren't the '86 Mets; they aren't even the '84 Tigers.

Advantage: Red Sox


NFL

Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) at Detroit Lions (4-2)

The Bengals and Lions have a significant meeting with playoff implications for, possibly the first time this century. I didn't research that; I'm just assuming.

What is not an assumption is that the Lions are going to have a lot of trouble stopping the Bengals' one-two backfield punch of "The Law Firm" Benjarvis Green-Ellis (295 yds, 3 TD) and Giovani Bernard (237 yds., 2 TD, 4.0 avg.). Detroit can do some exciting things in the passing game, but Cincinnati's defense is a step up from those of teams the Lions have dominated, like the Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins, and Chicago Bears.

On the other hand, the Lions did have a break through running the ball against the stingy Cleveland Browns, against whom they ran up 31 point at the Dawg Pound. Reggie Bush (376 yds., 1 TD, 4.8 avg.) has 78 yards on 17 carries against the Browns. Only Ardian Peterson of the Vikings has posted a greater rushing total (88 yds.) against the Browns.

Detroit is at home and playing well. But I am going to go with my gut and pick the Bengals. I simply think they are the better team right now.

Advantage: Bengals



Denver Broncos (6-0) at Indianapolis Colts (4-2)

Football fans have been waiting all week for Sunday night! You may not have heard, but Peyton Manning (2,179 yds., 22 TD, 2 INT, 74% comp.) is returning to Indy. It's gotten a little attention in the media.

The Colts' revamped defense, anchored by star defensive end Robert Mathis (26 tak., 9.5 sacks, 2 FF), may provide the toughest challenge the Broncos' QB has faced all year. But the ferocious pass rush hasn't helped the Colts running defense, next-to-last in the NFL. That's where Knowshon Moreno (373yds., 7 TD, 4.7 avg.), having a breakout year, can be the X-factor for the Broncos offense.

The big news for the Broncos defense: linebacker Von Miller (68 tak., 18.5 sacks, 6 FF, 1 INT in 2012) is back, baby! His presence should help fill in some of the holes in the Broncos Swiss cheese pass defense (last in the NFL). Numbers can be slightly misleading, though.

The Broncos have scored so many points and led for so much of the season that opponents will be forced to pass. But Broncos' struggles in the secondary, absent of cornerback Champ Bailey (61 tak., 2 INT, 9 PD in 16 starts in 2012) until last Sunday, have been glaring this season, big leads notwithstanding.Bailey plus Miller times the Manning factor equals too much for the Ponies.

Advantage: Broncos

♫ "It's so hard...to say goodbye...to yesterday." ♪ 3

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The NCAA Needs a Vacation from Vacations

"The only reason you continue to struggle with your 'old man' who is dead is because you foolishly believe a lie..."
-T.D. Jakes

The Penn State child sex abuse scandal is unquestionably the worst sports scandal of this century and arguably the most tragic in the history of American sports. If you are reading this blog, I need not lay out the background of what happened. Nor do I need to convince you or anyone of how heinous the crimes of former defensive assistant Jerry Sandusky were. I also need not discuss how callous and reprehensible the organized cover up of the atrocities involving the abuse of children was.

This is not about crime and punishment, right and wrong, or justice and injustice. Today’s piece is about fact and fiction. What was and what wasn’t.


LAYING THE SMACK DOWN

NCAA president Mark Emmert brought the hammer down on Penn State in an unprecedented manner. He bypassed the Infractions Committee and went directly to the penalty phase (he did not pass “Go”; he did not collect $200). Loss of 20 scholarships per year…$60 million fine…no postseason appearances for four years…current scholarship athletes may be recruited by other schools within Penn State’s conference, the Big Ten. Realistically, Penn State will not be able to compete on the gridiron at a Paterno-era level for a minimum of 10 years.

I have no problem with any of those penalties. The institution completely ceded control and oversight of the football program personnel to a handful of individuals who turned a blind eye to the most heinous of crimes to maintain a favorable public image and, possibly, keep their jobs. By sending a message to and making an example of Penn State, the NCAA has sent a message: you had better know what’s going on within your walls and you had better act when necessary.

The university was negligent to the point of depravity. As a member institution, it stained the NCAA’s brand. The NCAA made Penn State’s athletic future a very difficult one. These are all actions and reactions based on events that took place.

NCAA President Mark Emmert: Even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is thinking, "That man doesn't play!" 1

TIME TRAVEL REALLY DOES EXIST IN THE NCAA

As much as the NCAA is criticized in its handling of university discipline, most of the public sentiment that I have observed is that they got this one right. They took swift, decisive action against an institution that exhibited no control over a demagogue of a head coach who ran a football program that was as hallowed as a religion in State College, Pennsylvania. But, in my humble opinion, even when the NCAA got it right, they still got something wrong.

One of the unexpected and attention grabbing penalties forced upon Penn State is that all of its football victories from the 1998 through 2011 seasons were vacated. The vacation of over 100 wins under Joe Paterno moved him down from the all-time winningest coach in Division I football history to eighth all-time. This restored the late Grambling State University coach Eddie Robinson as the all time Division I winningest coach and long time Florida State University coach Bobby Bowden (who himself lost some wins to vacation in a NCAA improper benefit/recruiting infraction investigation) as the all time winningest coach among Football Bowl Subdivision (major program) coaches in Division I.

I am sure Coach Rob is partying from the grave. I am sure that Bobby Boweden, who was informed of this breaking news while on the golf course, ordered Cuban seed cigars and bottles of Crystal champagne for everyone in the country club upon learning he was the all-time FBS coaching king.

I am sure that Ohio State University ordered 2005 Big Ten championship rings for all of the players on that team; now, the Buckeyes never really lost, 17-10, to the Nittany Lions on October 8, 2005, really went undefeated in Big Ten play and really won the conference title instead of Penn State. I’ll bet they even got Penn State’s triple overtime victory over Florida State (and payout) from the 2006 Orange Bowl, since OSU really won the conference and secured the automatic qualifying BCS bowl invitation.

Insanity is doing the same thing the same way and expecting a different result. Apparently the NCAA knows something about DeLoreans and time travel that Creighton University (which was nowhere near "the top") doesn't. 2

BACK TO LIFE…BACK TO REALITY

Ohio State will not retroactively win the 2005 Big Ten championship. Florida State will not get the 2006 Orange Bowl trophy. And neither Eddie Robinson nor Bobby Bowden won more games as head coach than Joe Paterno won.

The vacation of wins in the NCAA record book is no more than a vacation from reality. It is an attempt by the NCAA to wash away the permanent stain left by this and other institutional transgressions. In recent memory, the University of Southern California football program vacated all of their wins from their entire BCS championship winning 2004 season and the University of Memphis basketball program vacated its Final Four appearance in 2008. There have been countless smaller, lower profile vacations of wins by NCAA member programs.

The problem is that while the record book says one thing did not happen on a given date in the past at an NCAA event (a win for the school being punished), it did happen. This does not change what happened during competition. Fans and writers can evaluate how much of an advantage a violating school did or did not have during the period in question. Sanctions can make a program feel tangible consequences for its impropriety. These are all results of deviating from the straight and narrow.

If Penn State didn't win, then these guys are stealing a bunch of oranges! I wonder if the cops will vacate their rightful ownership of the trophy and charge these guys with theft. 3

VACATION FOR VACATING

Vacating a school’s wins does nothing but distort the actual record of what happened on the field of play and insult the intelligence of the people who witnessed the actual events, yet have no official record referencing what they saw at the cost of a ticket or investment of time watching television and its advertising. It is White Out correction fluid that anyone can scrape away at and, once dry, see what was originally beneath when was being hidden.

I am all in favor of the NCAA enforcing its rules. I am completely in favor of Emmert taking unilateral expedited action against Penn State, under the circumstances. Don’t tell me that we didn’t see what we all saw.

I can only imagine that JoePa is relieved to have vacated Earth. 4

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1) Image from www.usatoday.com
2) Image from www.creightonian.com
3) Image from www.orbins.com
4) Image from http://allegedlyawesome.blogspot.com

Remember Angie Angel's Video to "Jerry" Lin?

Jeremy Lin is apparently on his way to the Houston Rockets after signing a 3 year/$25 million offer sheet. With a $15 million poison pill in year three that would trigger a luxury tax scenario for the New York Knicks in that year, appears unlikely that his current team will match the Rockets' offer.

With Lin's rise to big league, high seven figure salaries, it can be easy to forget that Lin went from being all but unheard of to overnight celebrity earlier this year. Everyone wanted to get in on the action, including this young woman who itentified herself as a sorority girl at Florida State University. The young lady said, among many (what I believe were intentionally) erroneous assumptions, that she wanted a date with the guy she heard about on Twitter, "Jerry" Lin.

  This girl is "dumb" like a fox. The video went viral and has received over 700,000 views on the original YouTube upload.

Video from www.YouTube.com

Tim Tebow...Peyton Manning...ENOUGH! Training camp is months away! Let's not forget that America's greatest postseason marathon is underway, March Madness!

Aside from the dramatic action and young athletes leaving their hopes and dreams on the court, the NCAA Tournament offers a host of unique and colorful mascots. Trees, oranges, horses, and unidentifiable blobs are just some of the fuzzy rally outfits we see on the sidelines of these games.

Shirley Zeilinger of Best Colleges Online was kind enough to share an article discussing these humanly animated sources of school spirit. So as we head toward the exciting conclusions of regional play, enjoy the following on college mascots. The original article can be found on the blog at http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/.

College Mascot Showdown

Posted on Thursday February 23, 2012
by Staff Writers

 

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College Football’s 10 Most Dramatic Rivalry Game Moments

If you checked in to the Hat Trick for more Joe Paterno coverage, you will not find it today. You won't have to try very hard to find it elsewhere. The victims deserve our attention, but the public could use a break from the tragic happenings in State College, Pennsylvania. There is another group that deserves our attention today: our veterans. God bless you and thank you!

I would, however, like to discuss a little college football today. Some of the season's pivotal games are being played tomorrow. Nebraska has a huge nationally televised Big Ten game on the road. And of course, the fate of the Pac-12 will likely be decided in tomorrow's game between #7 Oregon and #4 Stanford.

Today is a good day to discuss rivalry games. Jennifer Lynch of Top Online Colleges was kind enough to share an article with us about such matchups. The original article can be found on their website, toponlinecolleges.com. Special thanks to Jennifer. Enjoy!



College Football’s 10 Most Dramatic Rivalry Game Moments

College football elicits emotion unlike any other sport. The passion and devotion of the fans are most apparent during rivalry weekends, in which their teams face off with their most hated annual opponent, competing for regional and/or historical bragging rights. In many cases, these intraconference and intrastate clashes have been instrumental in determining conference and national champions, especially those including teams such as Alabama, Auburn, Michigan, and Ohio State. The following dramatic rivalry game moments double as college football's most dramatic moments due to their overall meaningfulness. Regardless of whether you're a fan of Cal, Miami, or some directional school not included on the list, you undoubtedly experienced goose bumps the first time you saw these pieces of college football history unfold.

1. Cannon's Halloween Punt Return — LSU vs. Ole Miss (1959)

   The recent drama in the LSU-Ole Miss rivalry was nothing compared to the drama that transpired during the '50s and '60s, when both teams were national powers. Ranked No. 1, the Tigers' most difficult test of the 1959 season came on Halloween night in Tiger Stadium. Down 3-0, the ball fell into the hands of the Tigers' playmaker, Billy Cannon, during a punt return. Seven broken tackles later, he found the end zone, scoring the game's only touchdown. The clutch play helped him claim the Heisman Trophy. But the defending national champs failed to repeat, as they dropped one to Tennessee late in the season, and the Rebels exacted revenge in the Sugar Bowl.
   

2. The Juice Breaks Loose — USC vs. UCLA (1967)

   Great players make big plays in big games, and no stage was bigger than 1967's edition of the "Game of the Century." The No. 1 Bruins featured Heisman frontrunner Gary Beban and the No. 2 Trojans featured Walter Camp Award frontrunner OJ Simpson — both were determined to lead their teams to "the championship of Los Angeles," an AAWU conference championship, a Rose Bowl berth and a national championship. Beban made the first clutch play in the fourth, tossing a touchdown pass to give the Bruins a 20-14 lead, but it was followed with a missed extra point. The door was left open for the Trojans to claim the lead, and Simpson responded with a game-winning 64-yard touchdown run in which he weaved through and burned numerous Bruins defenders. The Trojans finished the season as the national champions.
   

3. Punt Bama Punt — Auburn vs. Alabama (1972)

   The result of the 2010 Iron Bowl — in which the Cam Newton-led Tigers overcame a 24-point deficit to keep their national championship hopes alive — evoked memories of another comeback that occurred 38 years earlier. The favored No. 2 Tide, attempting to secure yet another national championship, had a 16-point lead with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. A Tigers field goal reduced the margin ever so slightly, but provided little encouragement to the Auburn faithful. On the ensuing Tide possession, the Tigers' Bill Newton blocked Greg Gantt's punt, enabling David Langner to scoop up the ball and carry it 25 yards into the end zone. The Tide got the ball back, and it happened again — Newton blocked the punt and Langer ran it back, giving the Tigers a 17-16 lead, the eventual final score. Fittingly, the series of events inspired cries of "Punt Bama Punt" from Tigers fans.
   

4. Run, Lindsay, Run! — Georgia vs. Florida (1980)

   Entrenched inside their own 10-yard line with the clock ticking on their perfect season, the No. 2 Bulldogs needed to convert on a third-and-long to keep hope alive. Not only did they make it happen, but Buck Belue's 25-yard pass to Lindsay Nelson quickly turned into an improbable 93-yard touchdown pass, as the receiver sprinted past the Florida defense. Georgia fans will forever remember radio play-by-play man Larry Munson's famous call: "Run Lindsay, 25, 20, 15, 10, Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott." Led by freshman phenom Herschel Walker, the Dawgs went on to win the national championship.
   

5. The Play — Cal vs. Sanford (1982)

   John Elway's final game as a Cardinal foreshadowed some of the early career heartbreaks he would endure in the NFL. Late in the fourth quarter, with his team trailing 19-17, he converted on a 4th-and-17 on his own 13-yard line and drove downfield, setting up a go-ahead field goal for Mark Harmon. Elway called timeout with eight seconds remaining before the kick, and four seconds remained after it occurred. A celebration penalty bumped Stanford's ensuing kickoff to the 25-yard line, giving the Bears enough room to execute a chaotic flurry of laterals. At some point near the 45-yard line, Mariet Ford received the ball, avoided a tackle and sprinted into the Stanford band, which had prematurely taken the field. As three Stanford players descended upon him, he tossed the ball to Kevin Moen, who ran into the end zone, memorably running into a trombone player. Today, debate still persists about whether or not a couple of the laterals were legal.
   

6. Goodbye, Hello Heisman — Michigan vs. Ohio State (1991)

   Michigan was clearly the better team in 1991, as evidenced by the manner in which they controlled the first half. The final touchdown of the second quarter would become the most memorable in the game, perhaps the rivalry, and one of the most memorable in college football history. Heisman favorite Desmond Howard fielded a Buckeyes' punt at the Wolverines' seven-yard line, weaved through OSU defenders, rocketed down the sideline and completed a 93-yard touchdown return. The play was capped off by his Heisman pose, which came right on cue with play-by-play man Keith Jackson's call: "Goodbye, Hello Heisman!" Michigan won the game 31-3, and Howard accepted the Heisman Trophy two weeks later.
   

7. Wide Right I — Miami vs. Florida State (1991)

   A missed field goal from this rivalry could occupy several spots on this list, but we opted to avoid the overkill and go with the original. The Noles were undefeated and ranked No. 1, with a marquee win over Howard's Michigan squad, and the Canes were undefeated and ranked No. 2. As expected, it was a hard-fought affair with neither team maintaining a comfortable lead for an extended period of time. Down 16-10 in the fourth, Gino Torretta led the Canes down the field, setting up a Larry Jones one-yard touchdown run. The Noles ensuing drive was assisted by a pass interference call on the Canes' Ryan McNeil, which put the Noles on the Canes' 18-yard line. Confident in his kicker — Gerry Thomas was three-for-three on the day — Bobby Bowden elected for the field goal on third down. The 34-yarder sailed wide right, and the Canes stormed the filed in jubilation. Miami finished the season undefeated, splitting the national championship with Washington.
   

8. Choke at Doak — Florida State vs. Florida (1994)

   The Noles' other rival has been the source of many great games, the best of which occurred during a year when both teams were extremely talented, but were late-season national championship long shots. Three touchdown passes and a touchdown run from future Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel gave Florida a commanding 31-3 lead early in the fourth quarter, but it was quickly relinquished. Spurrier uncharacteristically went conservative on offense, taking the wind out of Wuerffel's sails. A five-yard touchdown run from Zack Crockett put the Noles on the board. Danny Kanell led the team downfield during its two subsequent possessions, both of which ended with touchdowns. James Colzie's interception allowed the Noles to conduct a 60-yard touchdown drive to tie the game with 1:45 left. They would get the ball back yet again, but failed to score, and thus the game ended 31-31. It remains tied for the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in college football history.
   

9. The Superman Play — Oklahoma vs. Texas (2001)

   Before the Vince Young and Colt McCoy eras, the Longhorns struggled to win big games — the games they needed to win in order to capture a national championship. Their early-2000s affairs with the Sooners are prime examples, as they either lost in embarrassing or close fashion. This one was the latter, as both teams struggled to score points on the stout opposing defenses. Quentin's Griffin's 2-yard touchdown run in the first half gave the Sooners a 7-3 lead, which they held deep into the fourth quarter. Pinned at their own three-yard line with 2:06 remaining, the Horns' comeback drive ended just as it started. Chris Simms' first down pass was deflected by Roy Williams, who flew in over a blocker on the blitz. The ball fluttered into the hands of Teddy Lehman, who strolled into the end zone with the game-sealing touchdown. It was the second of five consecutive losses for the Horns in the Red River Shootout.
   

10. Bush Push — USC vs. Notre Dame (2005)

    Neither an intraconference nor an intrastate rivalry, the annual USC-Notre Dame matchup is heated because of the sheer mystique carried by both programs. Undefeated and surging toward a national championship repeat, the Trojans were tasked with fending off the upstart Irish, who were led by first-year head coach Charlie Weis. A back-and-forth slugfest, the Irish captured the lead late in the fourth quarter on a five-yard touchdown run by Brady Quinn. With less than two minutes to drive downfield, the Trojans converted on a fourth-and-nine pass from Matt Leinart to Dwayne Jarrett that put the ball on the Irish's 15-yard line. A Leinart scramble toward the end zone was stopped short at the goal line and the ball was knocked out of bounds. Time ticked off the clock, but the officials elected to place seven second back on it. The Trojans won the game on Leinart's plunge into the end zone with the assistance of Bush's Push. Of course, they lost to Texas in a classic national championship game.
    

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