Day one is done. Upsets abound. Hearts broken. Survive and advance, that's the motto at this time of year. If you win, you continue playing. Lose and you go home. Tough biz this NCAA tourney.
Some thought as I look over the action...
Morehead State: Now the country is aware of Kenneth Faried. The guy is an absolute beast on the boards, but he can score as well. He didn't have his best offensive effort (4-17 shooting) against Louisville, but the Eagles didn't need it. The game was won at the stripe believe it or not. Louisville only made 7 of 16. But they can reach the Sweet Sixteen.
Why? Read on...
Vanderbilt: Three straight bids, three straight round of 64 exits (or first round if you're used to calling it). I hope Kevin Stallings isn't waiting on a so-called big job. Oh, he'll get you to the tournament. You just won't play a second game. The Commodores were bitten by the Spiders from Richmond.
The biggest winner from those two outcomes was Kansas. No Louisville and no Vandy. If the Jayhawks get by Boston University, they will play a double digit seed (either a 12 or 13 seed). Their road just became a little easier.
Florida head coach Urban Meyer is quickly dispelling any rumors that he is leaving Gainesville for South Bend.
I can see Meyer leaving for Notre Dame. If Florida wins the National Championship that would give the Gators three National Championships within the last four years. Wouldn't that be enough to compel anyone to stay where they're at?
Not necessarily.
Ponder this: Tim Tebow will be gone. Brandon Spikes will be gone. Besides, what more could Meyer accomplish at Florida escpecially if the Gators do win that third National Championship in four years? Meyer has spent time in South Bend, so he knows the landscape, both geographically and athletically. But could it be Notre Dame's academic standards that keeps him in Gainesville?
Silly to suggest that, I know. Or is it? All those "higher" standards do is present a greater challange to Meyer. And throw this into the mix.
Let's say Charlie Weis is let go and Urban Meyer does accept the job. What will become of Jimmy Clausen? Does he leave early for the NFL or does he stay for his senior year and get the chance to work with and learn from Meyer? Clausen would have an exceptionally hard decision to make.
And speaking of Clausen...You're out with your family having a meal and someone comes up and sucker punches you in the eye. An irate fan is alledged to have not only hit Clausen, but had some words for Clausen and a female attending the family get together at a South Bend establishment.
And to that "fan", I say...Get a grip. And I also say...Get a life. Just because the Irish have no met your (or Lou Holtz's) expectations gives you no right to hit any member of the team.
One last thing. You're not a fan. A fan would support his/her team no matter what the circumstances are.
Update: On November 4, Spikes informed a Gainesville publication that he was going to suspend himself for the whole Vanderbilt game. His reason for his self-promotion, I mean, self-suspension was to not be a distraction to the team.
You might remember (or might not) when the whole story about Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant hit the newswires. Almost all of us saw the video of Oregon's LeGarrette Blount after the Oregon/Boise State game. So this latest "thing" puzzles me even more. Take a look.
As the title of the video precisely describes, that was Florida Gator linebacker Brandon Spikes intentionally sticking his fingers into the front of the opponenets helmet and gouging at the eyes.
Georgia running back Washaun Ealey was defenseless from the attack by Spikes. Head coach and "sheriff" Urban Meyer announced that Spikes would be suspended for the first half against the Gators upcoming opponent, Vanderbilt.
Meyer on Spikes:
"I don't condone that," Meyer said. "I understand what goes on on the football [field], but there's no place for that. We're going to suspend Brandon for the first half of the Vanderbilt game. I spoke with him. That's not who he is. That's not who we are. He got caught up in emotion."
I smell something rotten in the Swamp...and in the SEC.
Look at what Bryant got for lying (granted, to the NCAA) and look at Spikes "punishment". I don't remember hearing of Bryant attempting to harm an NCAA investigator. Spikes systematically went after Ealey's eyesight. And he'll miss only a half against an inferior opponent. What if Florida were playing Alabama? Or even a top 25 opponent from a different conference? Do you honestly think any "punishment"/suspension would be levied?
Many excuses were made for what Spikes did. From an article on ESPN.com, check out this quote from Florida's QB Tim Tebow:
"I don't think that we did anything in that game that they didn't do," Tebow said Monday. "If you go back and look at it and study it, you can see it in the film, too. It was an intense game, both teams were very passionate about it."
All you are saying, Mr. Heisman, is that your teammate stooped to the same level as Georgia. And that's if the Bulldogs actually did as you are suggesting. It still does not warrant Spikes committing such a spineless act.
The SEC's commissioner Mike Slive has ruled that the suspension is OK by them. What if the eye gouge by Spikes was being done on, say, Alabama's running back Mark Ingram? Would this still be a legit "suspension"?
And here's where I'll revisit the LeGarrette Blount issue here. Blount was, at one time, suspended for th season during a couple of altercations in Boise after the Oregon/Boise State game. Blount has the possibility of returning to the Ducks this week after doing a "laundry list" of things administered by Oregon's Chip Kelly.
I have this for Meyer and Slive: Blount threw a punch in order to do harm to an opponenet. How are the actions of Brandon Spikes any different?
All this proves one thing. Slive doesn't run the SEC. Florida football does.
You knew it would happen. It pretty much happens every week with the BCS standings and how they will have a bit of a makeover after yesterday's games. All to get their chance at winning a National Chamionship Trophy similar to the one on the left.
#2 Alabama had week off but there were a few outcomes that will shake it all up...again. And the Crimson Tide could actually fall to #3.
#1 Florida and #3 Texas both won in convincing fashion. The Gators mashed the Georgia Bulldogs in Jacksonville, 41-17. The Longhorns went into Stillwater and toppled #14 Oklahoma State, 41-14.
The highest team to suffer a loss was #5 USC. The Trojans were on the road, but because the margin of victory was the largest in the Pete Carroll era. The #10 Oregon Ducks dealt the Trojans a 47-20 thumping in Eugene. But Oregon is not the only beneficiary of this win. The team to get the most from this game's outcome is #7 Boise State who defeated Oregon the first week of the season, 19-8. The Broncos defeated San Jose State, 45-7.
The next highest to be dealt a setback was #13 Virginia Tech...and they were at home and their ACC Championship dreams were dealt a severe blow. Two field goals in the last 4 minutes did the Hokies in, the last coming courtesy of a fumble at their own 25. The North Carolina Tar Heels got their first ACC win of the season, 20-17.
The biggest scare (on Halloween, no less) was #4 Iowa. It looked like the Indiana Hoosiers were well on their way to pulling off the upset. Then, the tricks began to happen to Indiana. First, a freakish interception by Iowa that was returned for a TD. It looked like Indiana had answered with a TD of their own, but the replay official overtruned the call. The Hoosiers then missed a field goal attempt. Did I mention that Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi threw 5 interceptions, and that 4 of those were in the third quarter? Wind had a lot to do with that.
To the 4th, and here...we...go! Stanzi goes 3- 3 in the 4th for over 180 yards and 2 TD as the Hawkeyes scored 28 in the final "stanza" and pull off a stunning win, 42-24. The Hawkeyes remain undefeated despite always having to come from behind...or so it seems.
The other undefeated teams, #6 TCU and #8 Cincinnati continued their winning ways. The Horned Frogs scored often in a 41-0 victory over UNLV. The Bearcats, once again with backup QB Zack Callaros leading the way, beat Syracuse, 28-7.
Here's the Top 10 plays from Saturday from ESPN.com
One last thing. Is it possible that Lane Kiffin may have taken the Halloween thing a bit too far. The Vols were in all orange for warmups. When Kiffin & Co. emerged from the tunnel to start their game against Steve Spurrier and the #22 South Carolina Gamecocks, the trick was on the "Ol' Ball Coach"...and those that also watched Tennessee take down the Gamecocks, 31-13. Opinions?
The first "issue" of the BCS standings were released yesterday, and while we know these will change from week to week, there's always a couple of interesting points to debate. It's no different this time around. A quick peek of the top 5.
1. Florida (6-0) - The Gators used a field goal with 0:09 left to escape an upset bid from Arkansas in its last game (at The Swamp). They also survived one of the toughest atmospheres in all of college sports by beating LSU at night in Baton Rouge, 13-3. QB Tim Tebow (right) has been slowly coming along since his concussion against Kentucky, but the Gators do need more offense. Next up for the Gators: they travel to Mississippi State to face former offensive coordinator and the Bulldogs' new head coach Dan Mullen. Think Mullen knows a thing or two about Florida's offense? Also down the road is the party in Jacksonville against the Georgia Bulldogs.
2. Alabama (7-0) - The Tide jumped over Florida in the AP poll, but that poll is not a factor in the BCS' crazy formula, b ut it still commands attention. Pardon the pun, but maybe the tide is turning in Bama's favor. If things hold up, and at this time of year you just never know if it will or not, the Crimson Tide is on a direct collision course with Florida in the SEC Championship Game with the winner most likely holding down the BCS #1 slot along with a shot at the National Title. Nick Saban and crew have a interestng games ahead: #9 LSU, at Mississippi State, and at Auburn to close out the regular season. I do have this question: Why is hardly anyone mentioning RB Mark Ingram (left) as a legit Heisman candidate? Just thinking out loud, I guess.
3. Texas (6-0) - The Longhorns went to the Cotton Bowl and defeated Oklahoma, 16-13, in the Red River Rivalry. Although it wasn't prtty, QB Colt McCoy (right) and the Longhorns found a way to get the victory. The road to a potential National Championship game doesn't come without possible bumps in Texas' road. This week, it's a night game in Columbia against Missouri. The following week is another road tilt in Stillwater to face the #15 Oklahoma State Cowboys. They have #25 Kansas in Austin and the final regular season game at Texas A&M. If they get by those lurks the Big 12 Championship Game. Lots a work ahead for Mack Brown and the boys..
4. Boise State (6-0) - The Broncos have the toughest task of any of the top 5 teams. QB Kellen Moore (left) and his Broncos teammates must run the table and have at least a handful of teams ahead and behind them stumble down the road. The hardest part of Boise State's schedule is somewhat behind them. Going to Louisiana Tech will not be a walk in the park despite the fact that Tech is only a 3-3 team. Two big home dates with Nevada and Idaho are games where quite possibly the Broncos can stabilize their ranking, but being at home may also hurt them as far as the BCS is concerned. Exactly how far can an opening week win at home against #16 Oregon carry these guys? It's got the Broncos this far and if the Ducks continue to play well, it can carry Boise State pretty far.
5. Cincinnati (6-0) - The Bearcats hopes could hinge on the health of QB Tony Pike (right) and his wrist. A plate was inserted in Pike's non-throwing wrist last year and during the Bearcats last game at South Florida, Pike took a ht and fell on that wrist. He was forced to leave the game and his chances of playing in UC's next game against Louisville was doubtful at best. That may change as UC head coach Brian Kelly tells The Cincinnati Enquirer that Pike may play. He states that fact at the end of the linked article. The Bearcats cn enhance their chances with games remaining against #23 West Virginia at home and at #20 Pitt. If yu read the article that I linked, you also read where some are saying that Cincy isn't legit. Win the rest of the games and there will be no question even if UC plays in the Big East.
Rounding out the top 10 are #6 Iowa (7-0), #7 USC (5-1), #8 TCU (6-0), #9 LSU (5-1), and #10 Miami (FL) (5-1).
The college football season starts today. And with it are bold predictions (Lou Holtz suggesting that Notre Dame will win the National Championship for one) and expectations. The obvious question: Will Tim Tebow win the Heisman Trophy?
The Heisman Trophy: college football's most coveted singular award. What I find almost irritating is the fact that some schools actually campaign for their "candidate" to win. Schools sending out "information" to voters about their "candidate", er, I mean player. Along with launching a campaign comes spending money on that campaign. There's politics involved in this on some level. Funny how the election of a Heisman winner has become so eerily similar to electing our nation's President.
Will Tebow win it? I ask you a better question: Does Tebow actually need a "campaign" in order to win it?
No way. He already has a free, organized Heisman campaign: the media.
Every week (if not every day) of the upcoming season, there will be a "Tim Tebow for Heisman" watch rather it's called that or not. All we will need to do is watch any sports network and there will be Florida Gator highlights with Tebow front and center. If we miss that, I'm sure we could get our fix via You Tube. The national media has Tebow so far hyped that those in Gainesville need not spend a single cent to garner votes for their guy. Even during the past offseason, every time college football was mentioned, so was Tebow.
I'm not suggesting that Tebow doesn't deserve the coverage. I'm not hating on Tebow and his obvious and immense talents he possesses as a football player. What I am suggesting is that Florida can issue the money they would've spent on Tebow's Heisman "junk" and redirect it to the school's general scholarship fund.
Image via Wikipedia
