You Can’t Spell Scum Without UM
Remember when Steve Spurrier was coaching the Gators and Florida generally always beat Tennessee. At the end of the season, Tennessee generally got stuck with the Citrus Bowl, while the Gators went on to play in a better bowl.
It prompted Spurrier to say, “You can’t spell Citrus without UT.”
After I heard and read about the Nevin Shapiro allegations last week, regarding the University of Miami football program. And after mentally sorting that information with all the other scandals and negative issues that have been associated with University of Miami football program for the past 30 years, I thought to myself, “You can’t spell scum without UM.”
I also thought of Miami’s new coach and I thought, “All is not golden in Miami.”
I didn’t say Al is not golden; I said all is not golden.
But right now, I have to believe that Al Golden is probably wishing he stayed at Temple instead of taking the job at Miami.
Miami has always been a strange school. Several years ago, the school dropped its basketball program. Not because of problems or scandals. But because the program was a big loser financially. No one went to the games.
I mean, no college ever drops its basketball program. Football, maybe, but not basketball. Later Miami resumed its basketball program and almost no one attends the games still.
Miami almost dropped its football program too. That was in the late 1970s just prior to Howard Schnellenberger’s arrival. The football program was a money loser too. But all changed after Schnellenberger came. The program began making money – in more ways than one.
Oh well, the latest scandal should be a boost for Florida and Florida State recruiting. UCF and South Florida too for that matter.
And Miami wasn’t the only football program that made the news last week. You probably heard or read about the fight at a bar in Baton Rouge, involving some LSU players. I figured the LSU players surely must have misunderstood coach Les Miles at practice last week. He probably told the players he wanted them to raise the bar this year. And they thought he meant ‘raze’ the bar.
We can never wait for the season to start, but there is never a dull moment during the off season either.
No sooner had Auburn defeated Oregon for the national championship in January and a few days later Jimmy Buffet fell off the stage while performing in Australia. I figure at the point when Buffet fell, he must have been singing the lyrics, “wasting away again in Margaritaville.”
Connecticut was in a heap of hurt last January. UConn booster Robert Burton, who had given the Huskies program $3 million, wanted his money back because he didn’t have a hand in selecting Connecticut’s new football coach. Heck, I’d want my money back too if I was a booster and my school had picked Paul “Pass the Baloney” Pasqualoni. Fortunately for UConn, the school smoothed out things with Burton.
Urban Meyer signed a contract with ESPN and Rich Rodriguez signed a contract with CBS Sports. Both to become college football analysts for their respective networks. I guess that’s the equivalent of former U.S. senators and congressmen becoming lobbyist.
The father of the wishbone formation died in February. Emory Bellard, the coach who introduced the wishbone formation to college football, died in Georgetown, Texas. He was 83. Bellard was the head coach of Texas A&M (1972-1978) and Mississippi State (1979-1985). But his biggest contribution came in 1968 when he was an assistant at Texas. That’s when he invented the wishbone offense. Texas won the national championship in 1969, running the wishbone and shared the title with Nebraska in 1970. Soon after, powerhouses like Oklahoma and Alabama began running the wishbone.
During Florida’s spring practice, Gator coach Will Muschamp announced that Justin Reed and Trey Burton, who were quarterbacks in 2010, had been moved to new positions – Reed to tight end and Burton to receiver.
Also in March, Murray Warmath, who coached Minnesota to a national championship and back-to-back Rose Bowls, died in Bloomington, Minnesota. He was 98. The Gophers have not won a Big Ten championship since Warmath coached them to the 1967 title. He coached Minnesota from 1954 to 1971 and had an 87-78-7 record. Warmath was born in Humboldt, Tennessee, and played for the Vols under Bob Neyland. He served in the Navy in World War II and was the head coach of Mississippi State in 1952 and 1953.
The next month, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, suspended his quarterback Stephen Garcia for the fifth time. Think Garcia will ever get the message? North Carolina radio play-by-play announcer Woody Durham, 69, announced his retirement, effective June 30. Durham had been the “Voice of the Tar Heels” since 1971, calling more than 1,800 football and basketball games.
Massachusetts, a Division I-AA (FCS) football school, announced it was stepping up to Division I-A (FBS) and would join the Mid-American Conference as a football only member.
South Carolina quarterback coach G.A. Mangus, arrested by police for intoxication and urinating in public, was suspended by Steve Spurrier. Wonder if Mangus learned that stunt from Garcia or vice versa.
It just wouldn’t be the off-season without a good story out of South Carolina. And the Palmetto state never fails us.
I have to tell you I was worried last week. Did you hear about the person who called 911 when they couldn’t find their remote? I thought, “Oh my gosh, Rockledge Gator. What have you done now?” I was relieved to learn it wasn’t Rockledge Gator, but a lady in Colorado. Police showed up at her house and she told them she had been burglarized. The police asked her what the thieves had taken and she said her television remote control. Police found the remote in a kitchen drawer.
Touchdown Tom
August 22, 2011Every year, I like to get my hands on all the preseason polls I can find and combine their results to create my Consensus Preseason Top 40. This year’s consensus poll represents the average team position from 10 different polls, including those from the preseason magazines, the AP, the Coaches and four sports Web sites.
Number 1 in this year’s Consensus Preseason Top 40 is (1) Oklahoma, followed very closely by (2) Alabama. (3) Oregon is a distant third, followed closely by (4) LSU and (5) Boise State. (6) Florida State, (7) Stanford, (8) Texas A&M, (9) Nebraska and (10) Oklahoma State round out the Top 10 in the consensus poll.
The second ten is led by (11) Virginia Tech, followed by (12) Notre Dame. (13) Arkansas and (13) TCU are tied for the 13th spot in the poll. (15) South Carolina comes in 15th. The bottom five in the top 20 are (16) Ohio State, (17) Wisconsin, (18) Michigan State, (19) Georgia and (20) Mississippi State.
The lower half of the poll begins with (21) West Virginia, followed by (22) Florida, (23) Penn State, (24) Missouri and (25) Arizona State. The remainder of the top 30 include (26) Texas, (27) Miami (Florida), (28) Auburn, (29) USC and (30) Air Force. The next five are (31) Iowa, (32) North Carolina, (33) Michigan, (34) BYU and (35) Utah.
(36) Pitt and (36) South Florida are tied at the 36th position in the poll. The two Big East teams are followed by (38) Southern Miss, (39) UCF and (40) N.C. State to round out the top 40. Just missing out on the Consensus Preseason Top 40 were (41) Clemson, (42) Northwestern and (43) Houston.
Eight of the 11 conferences placed teams in the consensus top 40, led by the SEC with eight teams and followed by the Big Ten with seven. The ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12 each placed five teams in the top 40. The Big East and Mountain West had three teams each in the poll. And there was a first – Conference USA placed two teams in the poll. There were also two Independents in the poll – Notre Dame and BYU.
The WAC, MAC and Sun Belt placed no teams in the top 40. The highest-placed WAC team was Hawaii at 58. Miami (Ohio) was the best MAC team at 67, while Troy at 77 was the highest-ranked Sun Belt team.
So, according to the consensus poll, Oklahoma should be playing Alabama in the BCS National Championship Bowl on January 9, 2012, in New Orleans. Then again, it could be a jinx for one or both of the teams. Last year, Alabama and Ohio State were first and second respectively in the consensus preseason poll. But neither played in the championship game. Instead, it was Oregon and Auburn. The Ducks were 10th in the poll and the Tigers were a distant 23rd at preseason.
Looking around the country at the individual conferences, we should be in store for some exciting races in each of the leagues. For starters, the Southeastern Conference should provide us with plenty of thrills in 2011. In the SEC West, Alabama is the odds-on favorite. However, LSU, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Auburn won’t be giving the Tide any time to relax. Anyone of those four teams could be breathing down Alabama’s neck all season. LSU figures to be Bama’s biggest threat, but don’t count out Arkansas or Mississippi State. Auburn is a bit of a mystery, but a dangerous mystery. Only Ole Miss isn’t given much of a chance of doing anything in the SEC West.
Over in the SEC East, South Carolina has a slight edge, but in general the East is wide open between the Gamecocks, Georgia and Florida. The Gators, however, are really kind of a mystery. Florida could go either way – up or down. And don’t count out Tennessee. Derek Dooley will have the Vols competitive. Kentucky and Vanderbilt are the bottom dwellers in the SEC East, with Kentucky the better of the two. Alabama is the favorite to win the SEC championship.
The Atlantic Coast Conference has two teams on track to clash head-on in the conference championship game in December – Florida State and Virginia Tech, a rematch of last year’s ACC title game. The Seminoles are the solid favorite to win the Atlantic Division of the SEC. If anyone is going to threaten FSU in the Atlantic, it would appear to be Clemson. Maryland, N.C. State and Boston College could pose a threat at times, but those three teams most likely will fight it out for third place in the Atlantic. Wake Forest doesn’t appear to be a threat to anyone.
In the ACC Coastal Division, it is pretty cut-and-dried from top to bottom. Virginia Tech is the overwhelming favorite in the Coastal. Then comes Miami, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Duke respectively. It’s unanimous. No if, ands and buts about it. We’ll see. Florida State is the favorite to beat Virginia Tech in the conference title game.
The Big Ten Conference begins divisional play (Legends and Leaders) this year for the first time, with a conference title game at the end of the season. Big Ten newcomer Nebraska is the general favorite to win the Legends Division of the conference. But Michigan State has its eyes on the division title too. The Spartans could easily spoil the Huskers’ plans. Then it’s anybody’s guess who will finish third in the division between Iowa, Northwestern and Michigan. None appear to be as strong as Nebraska and Michigan State, but competitive and dangerous in their own right. Minnesota is the unanimous choice as the division’s cellar dweller.
Early on, Ohio State was the hands-down favorite to win the Leaders Division of the Big Ten. But since Terrelle Pryor’s off-season departure Wisconsin is now the favorite to win the division. The loss of Pryor didn’t change the Buckeyes’ position much. Ohio State is slated to come in second. Penn State appears to be the third-best team in the Leaders Division. But watch out for the Nittany Lions. They could make some noise. Illinois and Purdue are evenly matched to compete for fourth place in the division. However, either Illinois or Purdue could be the surprise team in the division. Indiana is the division’s doormat. Most think Nebraska and Wisconsin will meet in the Big Ten’s first championship game. If they do, it will be a rematch, as the Huskers and Badgers meet October 1 in Madison.
Oklahoma is the overwhelming choice to win the scaled-down Big 12 Conference – scaled down from 12 teams to 10. Texas A&M and Oklahoma State have their sights on the conference championship too. Either one could surprise Oklahoma. Missouri and Texas are thrown in a mix for fourth place in the Big 12. After last season’s disaster, Texas is a real mystery team in 2011. The Longhorns could go up or down.
Texas Tech, Baylor and Kansas State, any of whom could be dangerous at times, figure to fight it out for sixth place. Iowa State and Kansas will struggle to stay out of the basement. Kansas appears to be the worse-off of the two.
In the Big East Conference, West Virginia is the general favorite to take the conference title. But Pitt and South Florida may have something to say about that. The Panthers and Bulls will certainly make things interesting at the top. Cincinnati is pretty much the unanimous choice to finish fourth in the Big East. The Bearcats could be the conference’s surprise team.
Syracuse and Connecticut are locked into a battle for fifth place in the conference. While Louisville and Rutgers will scratch and claw to stay out of the cellar. The Cardinals appear to be the stronger of the two.
Like the Big Ten, the Pac-12 Conference begins divisional play (North and South) in 2011, with a conference title game at the end of the season. And what exciting play for the division titles it could be too. In the North Division, it should be a race between Oregon and Stanford for the title, with the Ducks being slightly favored. Then Washington and Oregon State should make it interesting for third place in the North. And, either the Huskies or the Beavers could cause problems for Oregon and/or Stanford. California seems destined for fifth place in the North, while Washington State is a woeful last.
The South Division is going to be a rat race between USC, Arizona State and Utah, with the Trojans being the slight favorite. But USC will be playing for pride. The Trojans’ probation prevents them from officially winning the division, even if they finish with the best record. Utah is a newbie in the Pac-12 and would like to make a big impression. ASU will be out to save Dennis Erickson’s job. Then Arizona and UCLA appear to be tangled-up, fighting for fourth place in the South. Their coaches are in jeopardy too. Colorado, the other newbie, appears to be hopeless. Right now, the odds have Oregon playing Arizona State in the inaugural conference title game, with the Ducks being favored.
The Mountain West Conference appears to be pretty clear-cut for the top four spots in the league. Boise State is everyone’s favorite to win the MWC, followed somewhat unanimously by TCU, Air Force and San Diego State respectively. But any three of those teams could pop a surprise on the Broncos. Colorado State and Wyoming figure to slug it out for fifth place in the conference. Then UNLV and New Mexico are slated to finish at the bottom – one is as bad as the other.
Conference USA could have its best season ever. The conference may make its strongest statement on the national scene in 2011. Two teams – Southern Miss and UCF – finished in the Consensus Preseason Top 40 and a third team – Houston – just missed making the Top 40. And the races in C-USA’s two divisions should be donnybrooks as well. It all makes for an exciting time in C-USA.
UCF and Southern Miss are in a dead heat to win the East Division in C-USA. It couldn’t be any closer. Then East Carolina, UAB and Marshall are in a near-dead heat for third place in the East. Memphis is the only pathetic team in the division. Meanwhile, it’s going to be a barnburner between Houston and SMU for the C-USA West Division title. The Cougars are a slight favorite. And Tulsa is in the mix too. The Golden Hurricane can’t be written off. Rice, Tulane and UTEP are not in the mix and figure to finish fourth, fifth and sixth respectively. Oddsmakers have Houston playing either UCF or Southern Miss in the C-USA championship game.
Hawaii is a slight favorite to win the Western Athletic Conference in 2011. But the Warriors will have some stiff competition from Fresno State and Nevada. Louisiana Tech appears to be locked into fourth place, as does Idaho in fifth place. Utah State and San Jose State could make it interesting for sixth place in the WAC. Poor New Mexico State is destined for the basement.
In the Mid-American Conference, there is a real interesting picture shaping up in the MAC’s East Division. Miami, Ohio, and Temple are all three capable of winning the division and it should be quite a race. Kent State seems settled into fourth place in the East, but the Golden Flashes could be a surprise team. Bowling Green, Buffalo and Akron are the division’s weaklings.
Over in the MAC West Division, Toledo is the favorite. But the Rockets will be feeling some heat from Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. The Huskies or the Broncos could spoil the Rockets’ plans. Central Michigan appears suited for fourth place in the West. Then Ball State and Eastern Michigan will struggle with one another to stay out of the cellar.
There is a real race heating up in the Sun Belt Conference between Troy and Florida International. Troy is just barely a favorite, but either one of the two could easily win the conference. Then Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee should make it an interesting fight for third place in the Sun Belt. Anyone of those three could be a spoiler for Troy or FIU – but not likely.
North Texas appears destined for sixth place in the Sun Belt, followed by Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky. Louisiana-Lafayette is the conference doormat in 2011.
Notre Dame and BYU are the class of the four Independents, with ND the better of the two. Army and Navy are below the Irish and Cougars, but both should be competitive in 2011.
Three running backs lead the field at the start of the 2011 season. One was a Heisman finalist last season and the other two are from the Southeastern Conference. Oregon’s LaMichael James, a 5-9, 185, junior, finished third in the Heisman voting last year. James rushed for 1,731 yards, averaging 5.9 yards per carry and scored 21 touchdowns in 2010.
The two SEC running backs are South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore, a 6-0, 231, sophomore, and Alabama’s Trent Richardson, a 5-11, 224, junior. Last season, Lattimore rushed for 1,197 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and scored 17 touchdowns. Richardson, sharing the running duties with Mark Ingram last year, rushed for 700 yards, but averaged an impressive 6.2 yards per carry.
Just below James, Lattimore and Richardson on the marquee, but getting a lot of preseason attention in their own right are Boston College’s Montel Harris, a 5-10, 200, senior, and Texas A&M’s Cyrus Gray, a 5-10, 198, senior. In 2010, Harris rushed for 1,243 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Last week, Harris underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee and will miss the Eagles’ opener on September 3. Meanwhile, Gray rushed for 1,133 yards, scored 12 touchdowns and averaged 5.7 yards per carry.
The top five backs at preseason can’t afford to slow down any in 2011. There are a slew of other good running backs around the country, anyone of whom could steal their thunder. For starters, the Southeastern Conference has a few, in addition to Lattimore and Richardson. Ole Miss welcomes back Brandon Bolden (5-11, 221, senior) and Mississippi State returns Vick Ballard (5-11, 215, senior). Both rushed for 900-plus yards in 2010. Bolden averaged 6.0 yards per carry and Ballard scored 19 touchdowns.
Auburn lost a lot of talent off its 2010 national championship team, but the Tigers do return Michael Dyer (5-9, 205, sophomore). Dyer was a big contributor to Auburn’s season, rushing for 1,093 yards and averaging 6.0 yards per carry. Florida has a double threat in its backfield with Jeff Demps (5-8, 190, senior) and Chris Rainey (5-8,, 175, senior). Both are speedsters.
Aside from Montel Harris, the Atlantic Coast Conference doesn’t have a crew of big-name running backs at preseason. Three to keep an eye on are Clemson’s Andre Ellington (5-10, 190, junior), Miami’s Lamar Miller (5-11, 212, sophomore) and Maryland’s Davin Meggett (5-9, 215, senior). Last year, Ellington, Miller and Meggett all averaged 5.6 or more yards per carry. Florida State’s Chris Thompson (5-8, 190, junior) could have a break-out season in 2011. Thompson had 845 yards rushing, averaging 6.3 yards per carry last season.
In the Big Ten Conference, Wisconsin is loaded in the backfield with the tandem of James White (5-10, 202, sophomore) and Montee Ball (5-11, 214, junior). Last year White rushed for 1,052 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards per carry, while Ball had 996 yards rushing, with 18 touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.
Michigan State is also loaded in the backfield, led by Edwin Baker (5-9, 208, junior). In 2010, Baker rushed for 1,201 yards, scoring 13 touchdowns, while averaging 5.8 yards per carry. The Spartans will have additional help from Le’Veon “Rose” Bell (6-2, 237, sophomore). Big Ten newcomer Nebraska has a threat in the backfield with Rex Burkhead (5-11, 210 junior). Last year in the Big 12, Burkhead rushed for 912 yards.
Other than Cyrus Gray, the Big 12 Conference isn’t showcasing a lot of running backs at preseason. Two who could stand out are Kansas’ James Sims (6-0, 206, sophomore) and Texas Tech’s Eric Stephens (5-8, 192, junior). Of course, everyone will be looking out for Oklahoma freshman Brandon Williams (5-11, 189).
The two best running backs in the Big East Conference coming into 2011 are Cincinnati’s Isaiah Pead (5-11, 198, senior) and Pitt’s Ray Graham (5-9, 195, junior). Last year, Pead rushed for 1,029 yards and averaged 6.6 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Graham had 922 yards rushing, with 6.2 yards per carry. Two other backs, in the Big East, with good potential are Syracuse’s Antwon Bailey (5-7, 192, senior) and Louisville’s Victor Anderson (5-10, 189, senior).
Next to LaMichael James, the best back in the Pac-12 Conference would appear to be Chris Polk (5-11, 214, junior). As a sophomore, Polk rushed for 1,415 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Also in the Pac-12, watch out for Colorado’s Rodney Stewart (5-6, 175, senior). Stewart had 1,318 yards rushing in 2010.
The premier back in the Mountain West Conference is San Diego State’s Ronnie Hillman (5-10, 190, sophomore). Last season, Hillman tallied 1,532 yards rushing, with 17 touchdowns, while averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Boise State returns a star in Doug Martin (5-9, 215, senior). Martin totaled 1,260 yards rushing and averaged 6.3 yards per carry last year. Two other strong rushers in the MWC are TCU’s Ed Wesley (5-9, 200, junior) and Air Force’s Asker Clark (5-8, 185, senior). Both rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2010 and Wesley averaged 6.5 yards per carry.
Conference USA has several good running backs, led by SMU’s Zach Line (6-1, 230, junior). Line tallied 1,494 yards rushing in 2010 for the Mustangs. Three other strong backs in C-USA are Rice’s Sam McGuffie (6-0, 200, junior), Houston’s Bryce Beall (5-11, 209, senior) and UAB’s Pat Shed (5-9, 175, senior). All three rushed for more than 800 yards last year. Another threat in C-USA is UTEP’s Joe Banyard (5-11, 205, senior).
The best back at preseason in the Western Athletic Conference had to sit out last season due to an injury. But Utah State’s Robert Turbin (5-10, 216, junior) should be in good shape for the 2011 season. Two more top rushers in the WAC are Fresno State’s Robert Rouse (5-7, 185, junior) and Louisiana Tech’s Lennon Creer (6-1, 215, senior). Both rushed for more than 1,100 yards in 2010.
The star rusher in the Mid-American Conference appears to be Toledo’s Adonis Thomas (5-10, 185, senior). Thomas had a good year in 2010, rushing for 1,098 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Temple has a powerful runner in Bernard Pierce (6-0, 218, junior). Kent State’s Jacquise Terry (6-0, 183, senior) figures to have a good season.
The Sun Belt Conference has three outstanding rushers, led by Western Kentucky’s Bobby Rainey (5-8, 205, senior). Rainey rushed for 1,649 yards in 2010, scoring 15 touchdowns. The other two top backs in the Sun Belt are North Texas’ Lance Dunbar (5-9, 203, junior) and Florida Atlantic’s Alfred Morris (5-11, 222, senior). Dunbar has 1,553 yards rushing last season.
Among the four Independents, the two best backs are Army’s Jared Hassin (6-3, 235, junior) and Navy’s Alexander Teich (6-0, 217, senior). Hassin totaled 1,013 yards rushing last year and Teich averaged 5.9 yards per carry.
TT’s Top Ten Favorite Running Backs at Preseason:
1. Marcus Lattimore – South Carolina
2. Trent Richardson – Alabama3. LaMichael James – Oregon
4. Montel Harris – Boston College
5. Chris Polk – Washington
6. Cyrus Gray – Texas A&M
7. Ronnie Hillman – San Diego State
8. Ed Wesley – TCU
9. Robert Turbin – Utah State
10. Adonis Thomas – Toledo
And keep an eye on:
Montee Ball – Wisconsin; Edwin Baker – Michigan State; Isaiah Pead – Cincinnati; Chris Raney – Florida; James White – Wisconsin; Jeff Demps – Florida; Asher Clark – Air Force; Bobby Rainey – Western Kentucky; Bernard Pierce – Temple, and Alfred Morris – Florida Atlantic.
Among the best wide receivers in college football this season, three hail from the Big 12 Conference. They are Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon (6-1, 211, junior), Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles (5-11, 187, senior) and Texas A&M’s Jeff Fuller (6-4, 215, senior). The SEC has a pair of excellent receivers as well – South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffrey (6-4, 233, junior) and Arkansas’ Greg Childs (6-3, 217, senior).
The Pac-12 has two top receivers in Arizona’s Juron Criner (6-4, 210, senior) and Washington’s Jermaine Kearse (6-2, 205, senior). Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd has a pair of good hands. And the top wide receiver list wraps up with Florida International’s T.Y. Hilton (5-10, 183, senior), Iowa’s Marvin McNutt (6-4, 215, senior) and North Carolina’s Dwight Jones (6-4, 225, senior).
On the offensive line, two of the nation’s best centers are from the Big Ten Conference – Ohio State’s Mike Brewster (6-5, 293, senior) and Michigan’s David Molk (6-2, 288, senior). Two more of the top snappers are from the SEC – Alabama’s William Vlachos (6-1, 294, senior) and Georgia’s Ben Jones (6-3, 316, senior). Rounding out the top centers are Oklahoma’s Ben Habern (6-2, 291, junior), Connecticut’s Moe Petrus (6-2, 293, senior) and West Virginia’s Joe Madsen (6-4, 300, junior).
Among the best offensive guards, two are from the Pac-12 – Stanford’s David DeCastro (6-5, 310, junior) and Colorado’s Ryan Miller (6-8, 310, senior). Two more are from the SEC – Alabama’s Barrett Jones (6-5, 311, junior) and Kentucky’s Larry Warford (6-3, 340, junior). Texas Tech’s Lonnie Edwards (6-4, 322, junior) is a top guard.
The ACC has a pair of good offensive guards – Virginia Tech’s Jaymes Brooks (6-2, 307, senior) and Miami’s Brandon Washington (6-4, 320, junior). And the Big Ten has a couple of top guards – Michigan State’s Joel Foreman (6-4, 310, senior) and Wisconsin’s Kevin Zeitler (6-4, 317, senior). Last but not least, Pitt has a superior guard in Chris Jacobson (6-3, 290, senior).
Still on the offensive line, college football best tackles include Boise State’s Nate Potter (6-6, 300, senior), BYU’s Matt Reynolds (6-6, 322, senior) and Stanford’s Jonathan Martin (6-6, 304, junior). Also high on the list is Iowa’s Riley Reiff (6-6, 300, junior).
Two of the top offensive tackles are from the Big 12 – Oklahoma State’s Levy Adcock (6-6, 322, senior) and Iowa State’s Kelechi Osemele (6-6, 354, senior). And finally two more big-time OT’s are Georgia’s Cordy Glenn (6-5, 348, senior) and Florida State’s Andrew Datko (6-6, 311, senior).
Looking good at the tight end spot are Missouri’s Michael Egnew (6-6, 240, senior), N.C. State’s George Bryan (6-5, 265, senior) and Louisiana-Lafayette’s Ladarius Green (6-6, 230, senior). Also, Georgia’s Orson Charles (6-3, 241, junior) and Oregon’s David Paulson (6-4, 240, senior).
On the defensive side of the ball, the best defensive ends are Boise State’s Shea McClellin (6-3, 258, senior), Marshall’s Viny Curry (6-4, 252, senior) and Northwestern’s Vince Browne (6-5, 265, senior). Two of the top DE’s are from the ACC – North Carolina’s Quinton Coples (6-6, 285, senior) and Florida State’s Brandon Jenkins (6-3, 258, junior).
The SEC has a pair of top DE’s – South Carolina’s Devin Taylor (6-7, 248, junior) and Arkansas’ Jake Bequette (6-5, 271, senior). And the Big East can brag about West Virginia’s Bruce Irwin (6-3, 236, senior) and Pitt’s Brandon Lindsey (6-2, 250, senior). And finally Missouri is blessed with not one but two top defensive ends – Brad Madison (6-4, 265, junior) and Jacquies Smith (6-4, 255, senior).
The Big Ten Conference boasts three of the best defensive tackles – Nebraska’s Jared Crick (6-6, 285, senior), Ohio State’s John Simon (6-2, 270, junior) and Michigan’s Mike Martin (6-2, 299, senior). Another top DT is Boise State’s Billy Winn (6-4, 295, senior).
Two more of the best defensive tackles are Connecticut’s Kendall Reyes (6-4, 298, senior) and Texas’ Kheeston Randall (6-5, 295, senior). And last but not least, the top DT list includes North Carolina’s Tydreke Powell (6-3, 315, senior) and South Carolina’s Travian Robertson (6-4, 298, senior).
Two of the top linebackers this season are from the Pac-12 – Arizona State’s Vontaze Burfict (6-3, 253, junior) and Stanford’s Shayne Skov (6-3, 243, junior). Two more good linebackers are Boston College’s Luke Kuechly (6-3, 235, junior) and Florida State’s Nigel Bradham (6-2, 240, senior).
Four of the best linebackers come from the SEC, including two from the same school – Alabama’s Dont’a Hightower (6-4, 260, senior) and Courtney Upshaw (6-2, 265, senior). Also from the SEC are Kentucky’s Danny Trevathan (6-1, 230, senior) and Arkansas’ Jerry Franklin (6-1, 215, senior).
The remaining crop of good linebackers are Nebraska’s Levonte David (6-1, 220, senior), TCU’s Tank Carder (6-3, 237, senior), Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o (6-2, 255, junior), Miami of Florida’s Sean Spence (6-0, 224, senior) and Texas’ Keenan Robinson (6-3, 235, senior).
Three of the top corner backs in the country hail from the ACC – Virginia Tech’s Jayron Hosley (5-10, 170, junior), Virginia’s Chase Minnifield (6-0, 185, senior) and Florida State’s Xavier Rhodes (6-2, 205, sophomore). Two more big corner backs are West Virginia’s Keith Tandy (5-10, 200, senior) and Oregon’s Cliff Harris (5-11, 165, junior).
Two of the best corner backs are from the Big Ten – Nebraska’s Alfonzo Dennard (5-10, 205, senior) and Iowa’s Shaun Prater (5-11, 180, senior). The SEC has a top quartet in LSU’s Morris Claiborne (6-0, 171, junior), South Carolina’s Stephon Gilmore (6-1, 194, junior), Vanderbilt’s Casey Hayward (6-0, 185, senior) and Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick (6-3, 192, junior).
The SEC has two of the best safeties and both are from Alabama – Mark Barron (6-2, 218, senior) and Robert Lester (6-2, 210, junior). Three more good safeties are Boise State’s George Iloka (6-3, 216, senior), Oklahoma State’s Markelle Martin (6-1, 192, senior) and Miami of Florida’s Ray-Ray Armstrong (6-4, 215, junior).
Four of the top-notch safeties are from the Pac-12 – USC’s T.J. McDonald (6-3, 205, junior), Oregon’s John Boyett (5-10, 198, junior), Oregon State’s Lance Mitchell (6-2, 206, senior) and California’s Sean Cattouse (6-2, 213, senior). One more for the top list is Notre Dame’s Harrison Smith (6-2, 214, senior).
Among the best punters, two are from the Big 12 – Oklahoma State’s Quinn Sharp (6-1, 189, junior) and Oklahoma’s Tress Way (6-1, 221, junior). Two more of the country’s top punters are from the SEC – Georgia’s Drew Butler (6-2, 203, senior) and Mississippi’s Tyler Campbell (6-2, 227, junior).
The Pac-12 has two star punters in California’s Bryan Anger (6-4, 203, senior) and UCLA’s Jeff Locke (6-1, 210, junior). And one more ace punter is Rice’s Kyle Martens (6-6, 200, senior).
Three of the super placekickers are from the ACC – Duke’s Will Snyderwine (5-11, 190, senior), Boston College’s Nate Freese (6-0, 180, sophomore) and Florida State’s Dustin Hopkins (6-2, 183, junior). And two of the top placekickers hail from the Big Ten – Purdue’s Carson Wiggs (6-0, 206, senior) and Wisconsin’s Phillip Welch (6-3, 213, senior).
Georgia has a clutch placekicker in Blair Walsh (5-10, 185, senior). Three final excellent placekickers are Southern Mississippi’s Danny Hrapmann (5-9, 160, junior), Missouri’s Grant Ressel (6-2, 190, senior) and Notre Dame’s David Ruffer (6-1, 176, junior).
“This is Michigan. There aren’t going to be any excuses. If we don’t win the Big Ten championship, we failed them as coaches,” first-year Michigan coach Brady Hoke.
“His body language, his demeanor, his command of the team and the respect his teammates have for him. He understands the role he is in and I think he is embracing it. I think our team sees him doing a great job,” Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher, on his quarterback E.J. Manuel.
“If, and I say if, we have very unique circumstances where TV bans and death penalties are warranted, then I don’t think they are off the table and I would be okay with putting those in place,” NCAA president Mark Emmert, on the Miami situation.
“Wow, the price of gold is now nearing $1,900 an ounce. Reminds me of the price of a beer at an NBA game,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.
“Michael Vick tells GQ he wants to own a dog again because ‘I miss my companions.’ Did he really say companions? Wouldn’t ‘casualties’ be a better word?” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.
Elsewhere around college football . . . The Big Ten Conference announced last week that it has no plans to expand – now or in the near-term future – beyond its current 12-team membership. However, the conference wouldn’t rule out potential expansion in the long-term future.
On the Internet – College Football Week now has a Web site and can be found at www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com.
Touchdown Tom
Not directly college football related, but on a sad comment, there was one passing of note last week – Pete Pihos.
Pete Pihos, who played on two NFL championship teams with the Philadelphia Eagles, died last week in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was 87. The cause was Alzheimer’s. Peter Louis Pihos was born on October 22, 1923 in Orlando, Florida, but grew up in Chicago. He was an All-American end at Indiana University, served in the Army in World War II, then returned to Indiana in 1945 and won All-American honors again. Pihos played on the Eagles teams that won the 1948 and 1949 NFL championships. He retired from the Eagles after the 1955 season. Pihos was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970. After his playing days, he was an assistant coach at Tulane and a sales manager for a North Carolina construction company.
No comments:
Post a Comment