"Milk & Cereal Go Together Like Scarlet & Gray"

The latest Buckeye merchandise to come out of Columbus is Buckeye Heroes cereal. Apparently, Buckeye fans can already purchase OSU pasta, chips, salsa, and hot dogs among other grocery items. What's next in-line for the Buckeye faithful? Milk - Brutus Buckeye milk, because "milk & cereal go together like scarlet & gray." How long before we see a licensed deals between the Buckeyes and the Goose and Schweppes? I think "vodka & tonic go together like scarlet & gray," might be a bit more appropriate for the Buckeyes (see the last sentence to the above link - I can't believe that made Wikipedia).

Some Bama Humor

From loyal reader, D. Kendrick:
A man showed up at a Bama game with a little dog with a red collar and a little red sweater with an "A" on the back. The gate guard said "Hey, that's a cute dog, but you have to have a ticket for him too."

The man replied, "Yes, I know. I take him to all the games. When we beat LSU, he will run from the top of the stands to the bottom, skipping every other step. When we beat Florida, he will walk up and down the aisles on his front paws. When we beat Tennessee, he will turn little back flips."

The guard smiled and said "Well, that's really something. What does he do when we beat Auburn?" The man looked down and said, "I don't know, he's only 4 years old."

From loyal reader, J. Simpson:
How do you get an Alabama fan to stop whacking off?

Paint his peter Orange and Blue - He won't beat it for four years!

Feel free to send in your favorites.....

What's Wrong With College Football?

Fortunately, few things are wrong with college football. However, unfortunately for college football fans, college football is a big-time business which leaves our pockets lighter than a gambler who takes advice from Greg Roberts and creates match-ups as exciting as the finale of "America's Got Talent."

Ticket prices for college games have escalated. Well not so much ticket prices, but the donations required to have the right to purchase tickets (similar to a PSL from an NFL standpoint). More and more colleges are requiring donations each year as the ones who have been playing the donation game continue to raise the minimum donation to have the rights to purchase season tickets.

While ticket prices continue to rise, fans are rewarded via some awful math-ups (I can't believe I'm actually linking a Pete Thamel story after his Auburn sociology story). Since the NCAA has moved to a 12 game D-I schedule, teams now have the opportunity to host 8 home games. Thus, it is rare that two top schools from different conferences will play. Why? Because these games generally entail a home-and-home arrangement, but the schools are not willing to give up the "home game" payday and play a home-and-home. So we are left with the likes of Buffalo vs. Auburn and Wisconsin.

As a passionate college football fan, as well as someone who understands supply and demand, I have no problems paying high prices for football games. I do have problems with paying high prices and having to suffer through some terrible games. My solution - I dropped my season tickets and will attend the games that I want to see, gladly paying the market price for that game.

Rabid Doesn't Begin To Describe Auburn Fans

As an Auburn fan, Brandon Fincher's piece, "Rabid doesn't begin to describe Auburn fans," brings a smile to my face. To quote Mr. Fincher, "A fair warning to Washington State fans who may think the Cougars’ upcoming visit to Auburn will be similar to treks over the years to Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee. While certainly humid hotbeds of football-crazed fans, a strong case can be made that the spectacles in those venues are distant runners-up to what goes on in east-central Alabama." Take Fincher's piece for what it's worth, realizing that the column is written by aPACc-10 man - I've been to high school games and games in Oxford, MS that are "more rabid" thanPACc-10 games, SC and Oregon included.

Comparing to another big name program, according to the folks at the M Zone, apparently things don't get too rabid in Ann Arbor either, unless you consider the key jingle rabid. And according to their site, the "key jingle" is a common practice at other college stadiums around the country.

With game week finally here, is there really any better atmosphere from top to bottom of a conference in the nation outside of the SEC?

The Best Pre-Season Predictors

I turn to another article from the WSJ that takes a look at what publication over the last 5 years has done the best job with its pre-season predictions based on the final rankings. Furthering the notion that Alabama is the nation's best college football state with two great programs and the greatest rivalry in college football, Lindy's, based in Birmingham, tops the WSJ list compiled by Russell Adams.

This year, Lindy's tabs Notre Dame to defeat Ohio State in Tempe.

Now that we have finally made it to the opening week of college football, is it just me or has the first few hours of work on Monday seemed like several days. Thursday evening can't get here fast enough.

Out With The Old, In With The New - Bye, Bye, Terry!

OLD MURAL OUTSIDE GATE 7 @ JORDAN-HARE


NEW MURAL OUTSIDE GATE 7 @ JORDAN-HARE

Auburn & Expectations

In the past, Auburn has failed miserably when expectations have been high. Well, expectations are higher than they have ever been this year. Realizing the Tigers have a favorable schedule with its tougher games at home, I am still not sold on this team due to its undersized linebackers, loads of inexperience at both safety positions and wide receiver, and a new defensive scheme. Auburn is strong from a talent level standpoint, yet I still think LSU has a small edge in talent, a better signal caller, and both their offensive and defensive schemes have been in place.

Not wanting to digress further, back to expectations and Auburn. Since Auburn has fared poorly when expectations are high, many AU fans don't like seeing the early season expectations set so high. However, these are the same fans that complained (me included with this complaining group) that Auburn didn't make it to the BCS title game in '04 because they started too low in the first polls. While it's great to be recognized as a top notch program with lofty expectations and strong preseason rankings, it's time for this team to put aside the expectations and turn this notion of a top notch program into a reality.

"Go to Auburn, be Forever Changed"

The '02 Auburn-Syracuse game was quite possibly the loudest game that I have ever attended thanks in part to an 8:00 start time and a very rowdy crowd. A great column for all Auburn fan's to read prior to the start of the season.

Reprint from the Syracuse Post-Standard dated October 3, 2002:

Go to Auburn, be forever changed
October 03, 2002
BUD POLIQUIN POST-STANDARD COLUMNIST
I have descended into college football's Grand Canyon. I have stood in its Alps. I have gazed at its ocean sunset. I have done all of these things and I've been changed forever. I knew, of course, that we were different up here. I understood that autumn Saturdays in our burg have never been given over to any kind of serious sporting fervor. I've accepted for a good, long while that a fair amount of our citizens regularly choose to pick apples or seal driveways rather than head to the Carrier Dome to watch the Syracuse University Orangemen at play. But, Lord have mercy on our college football souls, I've come to realize we're not merely quirky in these parts. And we're not just overly particular.

No, having attended a game in Auburn, Ala. - which is like going to Mass in Rome - I'm convinced that, by comparison, we're as dead as the flying wedge. "Let me tell you something," said Paul Pasqualoni, the SU coach who can recognize bedlam when he is forced to shout above it. "Being in that stadium with all those people - the noise level, the atmosphere - was exciting. It was a lot of fun. To me, it was just spectacular being there." He was speaking of Jordan-Hare Stadium, where four days earlier his SU club had lost to the Auburn Tigers 37-34 in an environment that was equal parts Woodstock, Mardi Gras, New Year's Eve and Madonna's last wedding.

And the Crimson Tide boys, those rascals from the other side of the state, weren't even in town, to say nothing of the Bulldogs, Gators or Razorbacks. Nah, it was just the Orangemen, a non-league bunch from somewhere up north ... with a losing record yet. But it didn't matter. This, because the cherished Tigers were on the other side, and that was enough for those Alabama locals to respond the way the French did when Patton's army showed up in Paris. "I missed my wife's birthday so I could cheer on my beloved alma mater against Syracuse," Brent Miller wrote in an e-mail addressed to me following the three-overtime affair. "But you know what? I would have been there if our opponent had been the state of New York's worst high school team." "Country, God and college football are usually our top three passions," e-mailed another Auburn guy, Steve Fleming. "But not always in that order." "I grew up in Denver in a family with season tickets to the Broncos games," e-mailed yet another believer, Rick Pavek. "I call Auburn home now and, take my word for this, Broncomania is nothing like Tigermania."

The point is, with the Orangemen returning to the gray Dome that is so often lifeless to play Big East Conference foe Pittsburgh on Saturday, it's clear that somebody's not getting it. Either the Auburn faithful - and people like them in Knoxville and South Bend and Lincoln and Gainesville and Columbus and Austin and elsewhere - are far too crazed or we're way too cool. Listen, down there in eastern Alabama they pass out full-color, high-gloss, 22-by-17-inch, two-sided, fold-out pamphlets titled, "The 2002 Guide To Game Day At Auburn University." And on Page 2 of each can be found the announcement that nobody is allowed to begin tailgating until 4 p.m. icthe day before the game.nm "You can't be anything but envious," said Jake Crouthamel, the Syracuse athletic director who was a wide-eyed witness to all of the SU-Auburn doings. "You can't be anything but envious when you have that kind of support. I mean, there were 84,000 people in the seats. And the RVs and house trailers were lined up five miles outside of town. When you talk about the epitome of what the college football experience is all about ... that's it. Auburn is the epitome. You couldn't possibly be unaware of the spectacle, even if you were trying to be unaware." The orange-clad zealots, who are in their seats fully 30 minutes prior to kickoff, thunder through choreographed cheers. The band, which is saluted upon its arrival by the big house with a standing ovation, blares. The PA system, which continuously blasts the sounds of a growling tiger, pipes in songs by the Dixie Chicks and interviews with the Auburn coaches.

Before the game, there is the great Tiger Walk during which the Auburn players march along Donahue Street through thousands of people, some of whom weep, and into the stadium. After the game, there is the mass papering of famous Toomer's Corner downtown. And between all of that, a golden eagle circles the place before landing on the field to a deafening roar. And us? Um, let's see. We can't fill 49,000 seats. We debate, ad nauseam, standing-vs.-sitting in the Dome. We give our tickets to takers at the door who had to be schooled in the art of courtliness. We regularly vacate the joint long before the final gun. We allow, in a good-idea-gone-bad, a bunch of vulgar louts planted in a thing called "The O-Zone" to chant expressions you'd never say in front of Mom at the dinner table. In other words to compare our college football experience to that of Auburn (and a lot of other places) is to compare a skillet of beans to a plate of Chilean sea bass. And while that might sound harsh, it doesn't make the words any less true. Believe me on this. Please. I have descended into college football's Grand Canyon. I have stood in its Alps. I have gazed at its ocean sunset. I have attended a game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. And I've been changed forever.

Bud Poliquin is a columnist for The Post-Standard. His column appears regularly on these pages. Additionally, he can be heard on WHEN-Am (620) Mondays through Thursdays between 5-7 p.m. He can be reached by telephone at 315-470-2213 or via e-mail at bpoliquin@syracuse.com

SEC Predictions

Things have been crazy at the office this week, so there has been very little time to find any articles with much substance. Needless to say, I am anticipating the start of the college season like a kid two weeks away from Christmas. To make up for my lack of time reading columns and articles, I thought I would post my predictions for the SEC below - not quite sure why I am doing this, could be a recipe for disaster.

While on the not quite sure and recipe for disaster thought, I registered for a 25k race (The BULLDOG Run) in Malibu Canyon this upcoming Saturday. The race includes an elevation gain of 4,000 feet, the temps will more than likely hit triple digits, and the Santa Monica Mountains are ripe with rattle snakes this time of year. I figure if I can survive this race, then I will have more than earned the 14 hours that I will spend on the couch next weekend with a cold beer in one hand at all times and some Memphis 'Que.

WEST:
1.) LSU, 7-1
2.) Auburn, 5-3
3.) Bama, 4-4
4.) State, 4-4
5.) Ark, 2-6
6.) OM, 1-7

EAST:
1.) UGA, 7-1
2.) UT, 7-1
3.) FL, 6-2
4.) USC, 4-4
5.) KY, 2-6
6.) VANDY, 0-8

LSU tops UGA in the Dome.

David Greene Gets Married

I recently came across some photos of David Greene's wedding this past weekend. I was shocked when I saw that he didn't marry David Pollack with Verne Lundquist as the best man. Has there ever been a larger "man love" triangle that existed with this trio?

Tiger's Mystique...Nothing From Me Today

A few good pieces today, but, in case you haven't heard of his power, I'm intimidated by Tiger Woods and unable to produce anything of quality today. Actually, I'm swamped in the office, but things will be nice in two weeks when my full time gig is done for the summer and I get back in the b-school swing of things.

In the meantime, I have found a youngster that Tiger might struggle to intimidate (thanks for the heads up on the article goes to dedicated reader, J. Guthrie) . Eat your heart out Danny Almonte.

Which Schools Develop The Most Productive NFL Players?

Often times, schools are evaluated on the number of NFL products that they produce. Sam Walker with the WSJ has done a nice piece on assessing what school's turn out the most productive NFL players, different from the schools that produce the most. Fortunately, the article is free to all. My theory that West Coast football is an awful product receives some validation with only 6 of the Top 30 schools in terms of producing successful NFL players hailing from the West Coast (Thank goodness for ESPN Gameplan). The list is dominated by the Big 10, SEC and ACC with 17 out of the 30, and throw Notre Dame in with this group, and you are left with the Top 12 schools in terms of producing successful NFL products.

The ranking also considers how teams are perceived via NFL teams in terms of the draft. For instance, North Carolina is highly underrated and Miami is highly overrated, meaning UNC players have a higher success rate than Miami players. This is a bit flawed because of the pure numbers that these teams put in the draft. It's interesting that Auburn ranks very highly (#2) in this category, and also ranks in the top 10 in terms of players getting drafted into the NFL.

Does Anyone want Willie?

Willie Williams has still yet to find a home. Yost over at the MZone did a great piece on what was thought to be Willie's new home (and yes I was amazed to see the fans in the Orange Bowl), unfortunately the fine folks at Pearl River will not get to watch Willie in their friendly confines. On Wednesday, Pearl River denied Willie admittance to the school. I didn't know people actually did not get accepted to community college - you must really have to suck to get denied. While some big name schools have taken chances with thugs and have yet to learn from mistakes according to Peter Kerasotis, columnist for Florida Today, it's interesting that a community college appears to have figured out where to draw the line.

Arkansas Names "Hard Working Hog" Starting QB

"I might be 2-5 as a starter, but I'm a Hard Working Hog."

Houston Nutt announced that Robert Johnson will be the starter for the Hogs' opener against USC.

This does not bode well for the Hogs. Plain and simple, Robert Johnson, although he was named the "Hard Working Hog" for the 2004 - 2005 academic year (not making this up, per the Razorback's website) is not an SEC caliber quarterback. Casey Dick did an admirable job last year taking over the reigns from Johnson after he led the Hogs to a 2-5 start. Unfortunately, Casey is banged up, so Johnson gets the nod over Freshman sensation Mitch Mustain.

I'm loving the Trojans at - 8 and am rapidly losing faith in the publicity the Hogs have been receiving. I'm not convinced that the Trojans lost that much and Arkansas is that improved for the Hogs to make up enough ground after a 52 point loss to the Trojans last year and I'm definitely not sold on Robert Johnson running an offense coached by a guy who was calling plays in a high school football jamboree this time last year. I hope Guy is ready for opponents to stack the line of scrimmage and force Robert Johnson to beat them with his arm.

Pack your bags, Houston - I hope you have enjoyed your time in Fayetteville.

Think Two-A-Days Are Tough

While this story of three Mexican fishermen is unrelated to football, I found it fitting given that most programs are wrapping up two-a-days. Back in my high school football playing days, I dreaded two-a-days and was thrilled when they were over. Two-a-days in the South were not fun - I'm still haunted by the enormous horseflies hovering over the damp grass, the blazing sun, and the humid air that you had to cut through. If the temps were in the mid-80's and the humidity below 60%, we were lucky. Isn't strange that the hottest days of the year always seemed to fall during two-a-days? Anyhow, I digress. I can only imagine how big of a pansy that I sound to these three fishermen.

The Billy Beanes of Recruiting

I came across an interesting article in today's Atlanta Journal Constitution about three economists that have developed a computer program to predict where the Rivals.com Top 100 players will end up. Having been involved in the recruitment of student-athletes at a younger age, I am not sold on the program, but neither are the three who developed it. Obviously, multiple intangibles that can not be included in a computer program play a role in recruits' decisions as do some of the variables that the three include. For instance, I imagine their program struggles mightily with predicting recruits to sign with Alabama, since it is unable to take into account Bama's going rate for top recruits.

While on the subject of Bama and the going rate for recruits, the Memphis Commercial Appeal recently published a nice article on Albert Means and his new career - probably a $150k pay cut from his days on the Capstone.

Beano Cook Makes BCS Prediction

"Notre Dame vs. Auburn"

I didn't realize that Beano was still kicking. Not to knock a man, but he looks like death (I actually don't think he appears on TV anymore). Anyhow, in a Sunday night radio conversation, Beano picked Notre Dame to beat Auburn in the BCS Title Game. Coming from Beano, I'm not shocked to see Notre Dame in the mix, but was surprised that he picked Auburn (what about Pittsburgh, Beano?). In my humble opinion, Auburn has a good team, but not great and are being over-hyped. Brandon Cox has yet to prove that he can carry the team on his back when the running game struggles and Auburn has big holes to fill on both sides of the line as well big question marks in the secondary. Throw in the fact that the linebackers are extremely undersized, although quick (remember the quickness didn't help as Wisconsin steamrolled Auburn) and Cox has 1 proven wide-out and you are left with inflated expectations. I sure hope I'm off, but am I ever wrong? See dark moments in football gaming post!

Bo Pelini - Talking Tough at LSU's Media Day

LSU held its media day on Sunday and apparently Bo Pelini was all jacked up. He even threw out "Tempe" over the course of his interview. Uh-oh. While LSU is very talented, it's an improbable task to beat Auburn, Florida, and Tennessee on the road. I totally understand that Bo is not predicting victories in these games, but mention of the National Title game during media days is bold.

While on LSU, does anyone else think that JaMarcus Russell is going to be really good? Actually, I think he is already a stud, but will be a superstar by the time his tenure at LSU is finished. This guy is totally being overlooked by the media and talk of a quarterback controversy is ridiculous. The guy is an absolute beast under center and has all the tools of an excellent qb. He has improved each year in Jimbo Fisher's system and boasts a 14 -2 record as a starter. If LSU makes it to Tempe, it will be on JaMarcus' back.

4 Dark Moments in My Football Gaming

As we approach the season, I thought it might be fun to recap some dark moments in my gaming history (I know others can relate) over the last several years.....Feel free to comment on your gaming experiences that we can now laugh about.

4.) Auburn vs. Virginia Tech (2005 Sugar Bowl) - After loosing a heartbreaker to a "spreadbuster" in the Alabama game (notice the "meaningless" touchdown with 1:26 left in the game), I was ready to make another wager on the Auburn Tigers by the time the Sugar Bowl rolled around. With Auburn a 6 point favorite, up 9-0, and in total control of the game at the half, I got cocky. Actually, not quite sure if cocky is the right word to describe the situation. Being at least 15 beers and several jack and cokes deep, I decided to give my friends at the World Sports Exchange a buzz. While the operator at WSEX could hardly translate my slurring words, he unfortunately deciphered my deposit and wager on the 2nd half line as I was shocked to hear it was a pick. Auburn quickly scored a touchdown within the first 5 minutes of the 3rd quarter and I was all smiles. However, with under 7 to go I suffered a scare when VA Tech punched one into the endzone, only to have their 2-point conversion fail - I was still covering both bets. Then, the inevitable happened and to this day, I remain angry at W. Herring. Herring slipped with 2:00 left in the game, allowing Josh Morgan to get behind him and Bryan Randall tossed him a perfect strike for their 2nd TD of the night as I witnessed my 2nd consecutive spreadbuster against the Tigers. Since the Sugar Bowl was a "guys only" trip, at least, I didn't have to answer the question from my wife after the Alabama "spreadbuster:" "Is that bad?:" Auburn 16 - VA Tech 13

3.) USC vs. UCLA (November 23, 2002) - No "spreadbuster" involved here. Interestingly, this game occurred the same day Auburn went into T-Town as a big underdog to the Tide and crushed Bama under the legs of the "Great White Hope" Tre Smith. I opted not to go to the game, but watch it on TV. Anyhow, the usual gaming crew consisting of J. Ekiss, T. Moore, J. Guthrie, and J. Gomes decided all to go deep on the infamous handicapper G. Roberts' 10-Star play (his highest rated play). Five minutes into the Auburn game, Tim Brando jumps in with an update and USC was quickly up 21 - 0 (the Bruins were catching 10 if I remember correctly). One word for this 10-star play - Tappage: USC 52 - UCLA 21

2.) Memphis vs. Mississippi State (September 3, 2001) - Myself, J. Gomes, J. Ekiss, J. Guthrie have T. Moore to thank for this Loser. After being the only folks in the Mandalay Sports Book, along with a very large man, to easily hit the Fresno State - Oregon State game that put Fresno on the map, we (T. Moore not included) decided to go deep on the underdog Memphis Tigers who were catching 19.5. 5 minutes into the 3rd Qtr., Memphis scores a TD to move ahead 10 - 0. State goes nowhere on their next series when T. Moore walks away from the table to go take a dump and says, "This one was too easy." Not that I'm superstitious, but the game soon took a turn for the worse. After 2 blocked Memphis punts, one for a State touchdown, and a boneheaded 4th down call by the Tigers, Memphis was suddenly trailing by 20. Of course, you never buy the hook at 19.5, so T. Moore wasn't the only person to drop a few pounds that Labor Day night: MS State 30 - Memphis 10

AND #1.) Baltimore vs. Tennessee (Nov. 13, 2001 - Monday Night Football) - This game was actually attended by J. Guthrie and J. Ekiss. Anyhow, I don't remember the exact spread (anywhere from the Titans catching 3 to a pick), I just remember the outcome was the most ridiculous finish of a game that ended up being a LOSER. The Titans, down 16-10, had driven to the Ravens' 6-yard line and faced third down. Steve McNair hit Kevin Dyson for a 5 yard gain (similar to their Super Bowl ending from the prior year) as the clock was running inside 10 seconds. The Titans scrambled to get a final play off and McNair ran in for the game-winner as the referees signaled touchdown and time ran out. It is at this time that J. Gomes calls saying "Hell yes, about time we had one go our way, we earned this one." In the words of Corso, "Not so fast my friend." Because after a five-minute discussion the refs ruled Baltimore was offsides. They said in this case the play should never have been allowed to run and that the Titans would get one play from the 1-yard line with no time left on the clock. Huh? McNair tried to run it in again, was stopped short, never really having a chance to get near the goal line. J. Ekiss makes the first call to me and it was one of those events that was so terrible, yet we were laughing so hard that we were crying: Baltimore 16 - Tennessee 10.

Recruiting a Math Teacher - A Potential Sociology Major

"The Math Teacher"

Lauderdale Lakes, FL Boyd H. Anderson Cobra, Josh Bynes, is hot on the recruiting trail. He currently is interested in Auburn, Iowa, LSU, Georgia, and Tennessee with Auburn the leader for his services. In his most recent interview with Allen Wallace of Scout.com, Bynes names Auburn his leader because "I also remember something about Auburn being the number one public school education and having the best graduation rate for athletes - which is great because I would like to be a math teacher."

Interestingly, Bynes currently has a 3.0 GPA and a 740/1600 SAT, so he is going to give the ACT a go come September. While his aspirations to be a math teacher are noble, based on his SAT, being a math teacher appears to be a longshot. I'm guessing that Bynes has his heart set on Sociology at Auburn with a few directed reading courses along the way. Apparently, while studying for his SAT or ACT, he overlooked the NYT article bashing Auburn's academics since he still rates them highly because of their strong academic reputation. Unfortunately, he must not have heard that Auburn is cutting down on the number of directed reading courses as a result of an investigation stemming from the NYT article. Here's to wishing Josh better success with his ACT.

NFL Preseason

Anyone else love the NFL preseason?

I absolutely love watching the 2nd half of these games. Watching the players fighting tooth and nails for roster spots produces some fantastic football - similar in my opinion to what makes the college game great. Usually at this point in the game, the stadiums are half full, the veterans are hanging out on the sidelines relaxing, giving interviews, yet the youngsters on the field are playing with emotion and determination.

On the Herd this morning, "The Compass" stated that he doesn't dig the preseason and he needs to save his football viewing credits from his girl for games that are more important and later in the season. My thoughts to Compass....

Drop some balls, man. By the time Preseason rolls around, I have endured 6 months of Grey's Anatomy, American Idol, The OC, and The Hills (I hate to admit it, but my bride actually has me hooked on this show and Laguna Beach). My wife understands what I have endured and she is willing to give me my time to watch football for 6 months (and she is actually good for about 6 hours of football viewing on Saturday now). The day you are given credits for watching football from a lady friend is the day the door needs to close on her.

Clarett's Friend

I'm sure most have read Tom Friend's piece on ESPN about Maurice Clarett by now. I was shocked not that I didn't make Clarett's calling list, but by Friend's inference that Clarett was going to "protect his baby girl."

Total absurdity. Plain and simple, Maurice is a thug. He had the world in front of him as a Freshman at Ohio State and blew it. He has since been given chances, but chose to spend his time hanging with rappers and the Goose. And after previous run-ins with the law, he evades the law when pulled over only to be found better equipped and armed than a Hezbollah soldier. If his "baby girl" was in danger, wouldn't a simple call to the authorities been a better solution?? While his story is sad (I would love to still be watching him carry the football so brilliantly as he did in his one year in Columbus), he is far from a victim. My hope is that Ohio State and the college football world can lay the Clarett saga to rest and focus on all things that make the game great.

The Michigan Experience

I venture a good bit north of the Mason-Dixon line today...

Driving to the gym this morning, I was listening to Bill King's Rivals Radio on Sirius. This show is not good which is disappointing given the high quality of Bill's Nashville radio show. This morning Bill had the Michigan AD, Bill Martin, on the show. I was shocked with what I heard him say.

Now, I have always wanted to watch a game in the "Big House," but after hearing the interview, I must admit my expectations for the gameday experience at Michigan dropped immensely. Bill stated that they don't like playing night games at Michigan because it tends to lead to fans tailgating too long and promotes excessive drinking. At Michigan, they prefer the noon to 3:00 start time.

I fully understand the game and action on the field is the most important aspect of a college football Saturday. However, watching a game is often much better via a television than in-person. The reason fans pack the stadiums and cities on gamedays is because of the atmosphere, and nothing can top the atmosphere both on campus and in the stadium of a night game. Tailgating on campus is one of many aspects of college football that makes the experience so great, and evening kickoffs create the ultimate opportunity for tailgating. Throw in the fact that Friday nights often entail a good time, and a noon start makes for a crowd that is often sitting on their hands hoping their cobwebs will clear.

College football was traditionally played between noon and 2:00. Had Bill Martin used that for the reason that Michigan, given the program's excellent tradition, plays their home games during that time slot, I would fully understand his reasoning. Throwing in excessive tailgating as the reason was bush league. So Michigan fans, take advantages of the night games in Happy Valley and Minneapolis.

Brent Schaeffer - A Savior?

First off, it's been awhile since a post....way too long. As we approach the start of the season, I fully intend to write much more (hopefully daily). Having spent a year on the Left Coast, these yahoos could care less about college football, so this portal will be my chance to "speak my mind." While I love it out here, I do miss the water cooler chats and the unproductive Fridays and Mondays at the office during the season.

Now, moving to Brent Schaeffer. I have yet to figure out why the Ole Miss faithful thinks that Brent will lead the Rebs to the Promiseland. Eli wasn't able to get them to Atlanta, so I don't think Schaeffer stands a snowball chance in hell of getting them there. He was unable to get the job done at UT, eventually losing the job to Eric Ainge. At UT he was surrounded by talent - at Ole Miss, the talent is in The Grove. In 8 games, he completed just under 49% of his passes with 2 touchdowns and a pick. He rushed for 66 yards on 33 attempts for an average of 2 yards per carry with 2 fumbles and a touchdown. I realize that he was a true Freshman, but I just don't see why all the hype is surrounding this guy. With the amount of pressure on his shoulders, lack of production and big game experience (although the Rebs play few big games), and previous off-the-field problems, I don't see Brent ever living up to expectations. If he doesn't pan out in Oxford, I hear Maurice has a few weapons available for him to add to his arsenal.