Pathetic

That is the only word to describe last nights Chik-Fil-A Bowl performance. The Oline got manhandled and QB looked like a deer in the headlights. Hats off to UGA.

Dick Pound

Great article by Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post. Shows what a tool Dick Pound of WADA is. I don't support doping but his convict first, no appeal methods smack of the Gestapo.

College Football Semi-Final

Well the college football season is at an end with the exception of the bowl games. What have we learned this year?

1. A BSC crisis and discussion in October is worthless. One vote matters, the last vote. I think that is why Florida jumped Michigan in the last week. The voters assessed the whole season with some thought versus the normal weekly robotic voting they normally do and determined a one loss Florida (SEC) team deserves a shot to play OSU more than a one loss Michigan (Big10) team did that already lost to OSU. I have no problem with that logic.

2. It is early but the Oregon bowl thumpin by BYU is not making the PAC 10 nor USC and its two losses look particularly good.

3. The ACC was down this year and I think Va Tech is the best team right now but October matters and so we play in the Peach Bowl (I refuse to call it the Chik Fil-A Bowl). Again, no problem with that outcome.

4. The Big 10 was strong but I am not sure how strong. We will see after the BCS Championship Game.

5. The SEC was deep but it is hard to tell if a great team exists. Many very good teams. Again, the BCS Championship Game will decide.

6. The Big 12 is getting deeper with the reemergence of Texas A&M and Nebraska and Ron Prince looks to be making strides in Kansas. These things run in cycles and they are due for a depth rebound.

7. My ACC Coaches Hotseat Poll was pretty accurate with 3 of the 5 mentioned getting the axe. Roof at Duke would have gotten it anywhere else but who would replace him? Friedgen is the only escapee and that is because he really turned the team from mid-October onward.

8. Bear Bryant must be turning over in his grave. In 1980 who would have ever thought the coach of Rutgers, West Virginia and South Carolina would turn down that job. As a noted radio host stated, "Alabama is like a woman who is a 7 but thinks she is a 9".

9. The Big East made its case with three fine programs in Louisville, WVU and Rutgers. Excellent coaching jobs at all three places. Now get someone to care in the Northeast and your TV contract will rise.

10. Enigma of the Year - Ga Tech. Led by Mr. Enigma Reggie "I look like Peyton Manning this quarter, and Ryan Leaf the next" Ball they soared when they should have struggled and struggled when they should have soared. I still contend the play caller should be fired for not throwing to Calvin Johnson 20 times a game. Long stretches with no looks his way were puzzling.

11. Feel Good Story of the Year - Wake Forest and Rutgers. Third smallest school in Div 1-A wins a conference championship and punks FSU at home. The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit of the ACC destroys the nay sayers and wins its first football championship in over 30 years. Schiano finally pulls through. Very good coach and recruiter.

12. Notre Dame still has no defense. Four year starter Quinn and and all but one senior Olineman and backfield is gone next year. Now we will see if Weiss can win with HIS players. I think he will but senior quarterbacks in College are very valuable.

13. Coach of the Year - Jim Grobe and Bob Stoops. Jim Grobe could win this every year. Bob Stoops wins because he lost his starting QB and a key lineman one week before the season starts and then lost Adrian Peterson late in the year and still won the Big12 and really only had one loss (to Texas) if that officiating debacle in Oregon is corrected.

14. Officiating is getting worse. The instant replay has made officials, scared, lazy or both. So many reviews, so many calls overturned.

Love to hear your comments on others I may have missed.

The Crusoe's by Martin Dugard

Excellent draft of a book by Martin. Start on the link above and then follow the chapter links on the right side.

In College FB This Game Would Matter!

For all the BCS bashers out there, think about this. Oral Roberts beating #1 Kansas would matter in college football A LOT. As it is no one is paying attention to college basketball this time of year and it barely gets mentioned. Is that what you want September and October to become in college football. A big ho hum until November and then the start of a December playoff?

Oh, and the loser of Michigan/OSU does not deserve a rematch. This week starts a defacto playoff and someone gets knocked out. My view is Michigan goes bye bye.

College Football Thoughts Week 6

Officially at the halfway point and the cream is rising!

PAC 10 – Da’ Bears are back baby! After getting the beat down on Rocky Top in Week 1 Cal has come sneaking back into the PAC 10 and National pictures. The beat down of a very good Oregon team served notice to a somewhat struggling USC to get ready to play on November 18. The Cardinal met their defensive standard for the year by allowing 31 points to the Golden Domers. Given the quality of O the Domers have that was probably a triumph. And don’t look now but it looks like the Curse of Stoops has followed brother Mike Stoops to Arizona as they currently sit 0-3 in the conference.

Big 12 – As expected Texas had more horses than the Sooners as they romped to a relatively easy victory. Colt McCoy is looking better and better each week. Baylor beat Colorado to send the Buffs to their longest losing streak in 117 years (isn’t that basically since the inception of college football as a game??). And don’t look now but mighty Missou is 6-0 and tied for the Big 12 North lead. Looking like its coming down to Missou and Nebraska for the right to get beat by Texas in the Big 12 Championship game.

SEC – Gators roll and have to be considered at least the 2^nd best team in the country right now. Undefeated and having played Tenn, Alabama and LSU in three of the last four weeks that is impressive. However, next two weeks bring Georgia and Auburn (away). That is a tough stretch. If they make through they will likely face the Razorbacks in the championship after they punked War Damn Eagle, Alabama. BCS talk in October is always a curse Tommy. As I suspected Georgia is not as good as people thought after Tennessee hung 50 on them at home. When was the last SEC game with 84 total points?

Lil E – WVU and Looelvle keep rolling and their match up on November 2^nd will decide the Lil E championship. I think the Cardinals have the edge because they can throw and run. If the WVU spread O gets the run shut down I don’t think Pat White can beat you. I say this although neither team has played a single conference game yet. South Florida, Cincy, Pitt and Rutgers are all capable of the upset.

Big 10 – Nothing really new. OSU romps, Michigan continues to impress and PSU lucks out against Minnesota. Hopefully you punters followed my logic last week and bet against Michigan State. The folding will continue.

ACC – Just keeps getting more discombobulated. NC State is rising (and currently leading the Atlantic Division) and again beat Papa Bowden probably dooming him to only his third year without an ACC championship. Duke put a scare into Alabama but alas got put away. Gah Tech survived Maryland (barely) and continues to lead the Coastal. UVA went down to Tobacco Road and lost to former AD Terry Holland’s ECU Pirates. Things in Hooville are not pleasant these days. Miami took care of UNC although it was not that impressive and Klempson had to struggle with 5-0 Wake before Wake imploded in the second half. Better talent decided to play I think. Hokies and Eagles were off as they get ready for their Thursday night tilt in Boston.

Coaches Hot Seat Poll: #1 Coker, #2 Bunting, #3 Friedgen, #4 Amato #5, Roof.

The Looking Good List

THE Ohio State University

Gators

Big Blue

Looelvle

West By God Virginia

Men of Troy

College Football Thoughts Week 5

Here we are coming up on the halfway pole and the picture gets ever clearer. Here is ole Hatcher’s view of the world.

Big 10 – In a tip of the cap to former colleague Cable the Big 10 seems to be the class of the conference buffet this year. Throw in honorary member number 12 Notre Dame and they appear to have the best team and the best group of the top 4. Iowa tried in vain to stop the machine formerly known as The Ohio State Buckeyes but alas did not have the firepower. Also it was probably predictable that Michigan State, after handing a game to Notre Dame last week, would puke up a loss to that powerhouse from Illinois. Jon L. and the Spartans seem to make a habit of folding after losses. Take their opponents and the points this weekend punters. Overall it appears the only thing stopping OSU is themselves or a perhaps a Lloyd Carr inspired Michigan squad (is that an oxymoron??).

PAC 10 – The conference that suffers from East Coast Bias (that is what happens when most of your games end after midnight Saturday when we East Coast media types are sleeping off the tailgate party) is alive and well. USC narrowly escaped a game Washington State group. That is what good teams do. Also coming into view is a very good Oregon squad that by virtue of the karma gods got the break(s) of a lifetime against Oklahoma and they appear ready to make the most of it. Those beauties notwithstanding, the Cardinal is hooorible (to quote Bill Walton). Defense is an unknown particle in Palo Alto as the Cardinal has given up 31 or more in each of their five games.

Big 12 – What can be said? There is Texas and maybe Oklahoma and Nebraska and nothing else. The Red River Shootout should be for all the marbles again and Texas looks like the favorite. Oklahoma has obviously pee peed on the karma gods because they seem doomed with the QB/Lineman loss right before the season starts and that Oregon game. Stoops needs to make an offering or something.

Little East – There is Louisville and WVU and maybe Rutgers (did I write Rutgers???). Like most of the mid-Atlantic Louisville and WVU took the week off by scheduling Open. I think the Little E has done a stunning job staying in the game after the Swofford Raid a few years back but I am still glad my Hokies are in the ACC. How many weeks until hoops season?

SEC – Florida pulls it out and is looking better and better. Damn if Alabama would ever locate an offense they would be dangerous. Auburn is tough but they don’t exactly roll up the points either. I see a Florida/Auburn showdown in the title game with the Gators having a touch more firepower. Tennessee appears to be back and Phillip may yet have something to say about that SEC race. Georgia is highly ranked but I don’t think they are that good. They eked out another close win against a powerhouse Ole Miss squad. Tailgating in the Grove may be like a trip to Mecca but football in Mississippi is definitely the hired help to the rest of the SEC gentry. In other words, do as you're told.

ACC – Since the majority of the conference decided to schedule Open this week and many teams struggled there is not much to say. As I feared my Hokies are too young and inexperienced in too many places to not make the critical mistakes. It was a well rounded Beamerball loss to a GAH Tech squad that was looking to make up for last year's beat down. However, some fine Italian sausage on a new grill made up for some of the pain. The only other conference game of note was the Hoos vs. the Dukies. The Hoos got rolling early and never looked back and 0-12 is becoming quite possible in Durham. Never fear my Southern aristocrat fans, Midnight Madness is 14 days away. All other ACC teams in action played horrible teams with the exception of Miami which eked out a win against a surprising Houston squad that is channeling David Klingler and Andre Ware. Coaches Hot Seat Poll: #1 Coker, #2, Bunting, #3 Amato, #4 Friedgen #5, Roof.

The Looking Good List

THE Ohio State University

Men of Troy

West By God Virginia

Looelvle

Big Blue

War Eagle

Ducks

Gators