#was aggy that greg was in for another season | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

junker-town · 5 years

Text

Which NFL replacement quarterback would you want?

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Daniel Jones? Gardner Minshew? Teddy Bridgewater? uh ... Colt McCoy?

2019 has been the year of the backup quarterback.

Nine different starting passers have been sidelined either by injury or ineffective play through just four weeks of the regular season — and that doesn’t count Jacoby Brissett’s ascent following Andrew Luck’s abrupt retirement. That’s been a crisis for some teams and an opportunity for others.

Some of these starters-by-necessity have exceeded expectations, like Gardner Minshew in Jacksonville or Daniel Jones in New York — each of whom is riding a two-game winning streak. Others, like Chase Daniel or Teddy Bridgewater, have failed to dazzle but have still done enough to lead their teams to victory.

So given what we know through four weeks, which backup passer who’s been pressed into a starting role would you build a team around?

Daniel Jones

I know, I know. I was probably very, very wrong about Jones when the Giants made him the sixth overall pick of last spring’s draft. I looked at him and saw a player whose measurables and collegiate production were separated by a gulf as wide as the Pacific Ocean. But after averaging 6.2 adjusted yards per pass over three seasons as a zero-time All-ACC honoree at Duke, Jones has revived the Giants, averaging 7.9 adjusted yards per attempt in his two starts.

More importantly, he’s looked like he’s belonged behind center as an NFL quarterback. Jones wasn’t overwhelmed in the pocket while leading New York back from an 18-point second half deficit against the Buccaneers in his first pro start, even without Saquon Barkley in the lineup.

His second start, which saw him throw a pair of interceptions in an easy win over a bad Washington team, wasn’t as strong statistically but was still somehow similarly inspiring. Jones looked light years better than Dwayne Haskins, the former Ohio State QB selected nine slots after him in April. While Haskins struggled under pressure and failed to get his timing right, Jones remained composed in the pocket, mostly made the right decisions, and used his legs to avoid pressure — he ran for 33 yards while not taking a sack all afternoon.

youtube

Jones seems to have a better innate feel for the NFL game than he did at the college level, and he’s used that to inspire hope in New York and potentially save head coach Pat Shurmur’s job. If I’m building an offense from scratch around one player who didn’t start in Week 1, the former Blue Devil is my guy.

I’m not the only one that feels this way, though there’s more than one correct answer (helllooooo, Mr. Minshew).

Danny Dimes is the best replacement QB that's starting right now, according to our readers. Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/SHb0tb3RK9

— SB Nation (@SBNation) October 3, 2019

— Christian D’Andrea

Gardner Minshew

There’s something to be said for anyone who fully embraces the idea that playing football for a living should be fun. Minshew Mania isn’t just about the mustache or the NSFW workout anecdotes, though. He’s a competitor who takes his job seriously (sometimes, maybe a little too seriously), while also approaching life off the field with a carpe diem attitude. Minshew is someone who can go hang out with Uncle Rico and then turn around the next day and march his team down the field for a game-winning drive.

That last part is important, too. A quarterback can’t just be a Cool Dude. He’s gotta wins games. Everything he’s done so far in his career suggests he’s up for that task.

When Minshew was called into duty in the first half of his first NFL game, he completed 13 straight passes and went toe-for-toe, at least for a little while, with Patrick Mahomes. In a game he wasn’t even supposed to play in, Minshew completed 22 of 25 passes for 275 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception that wasn’t in fault.

The next week, he put the Jaguars in a position to beat the Texans at home. With just over three minutes to go and down 13-6, Minshew came alive on a 14-play drive that included his pivotal 18-yard scramble on fourth-and-10. Two plays later, he hit DJ Chark with a touchdown pass. Despite Minshew’s clutchness, Doug Marrone opted to take the ball out of his hands on the two-point conversion attempt and it failed.

The next week, Minshew easily handled the Titans, a team the Jags had only one win against in their previous seven tries. The following week, he was instrumental in Jacksonville digging out of a 17-3 hole in Denver.

His most impressive moment of the day, and probably his career, was all the dancing he did to keep a play alive, with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb up in his business, until he found an open Ryquell Armstead for the touchdown:

TOP 3 PLAYS FROM TODAY PLAY #1: #Jaguars QB @GardnerMinshew5 ➡️ RB @track_chaser. Fantastic pocket presence. Evades pass rush. Finds open man in the end zone. pic.twitter.com/12hUK74JVh

— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) September 30, 2019

The Broncos took a one-point lead with a 1:32 remaining, but Minshew didn’t bat an eye. He helped get the Jaguars into field goal territory with two big passes: 32 yards to Dede Westbrook and 17 yards to Chris Conley.

The Jaguars are now 2-2 and could easily be 3-0 with Minshew as their starter, and they’re right in the thick of things in the AFC South. His performance through the first month has vaulted him to the top of the Rookie of the Year race.

There was a lot of reason to doubt Minshew coming in. He was a sixth-round draft pick. He looked shaky for most of the preseason. What’s the shelf life on a phenomenon like this anyway? But so far, he’s proved he belongs — and that he can enjoy every second of it. Sign me up. — Sarah Hardy

Kyle Allen

Yes, I’m sure you’re surprised that I didn’t pick Gardner Minshew, but someone claimed him before I could, smh. No, but seriously, what Allen has done over two weeks as the Panthers’ starting QB while Cam Newton rehabs a foot injury has been quite impressive.

Before getting into how he did, his backstory is pretty interesting, too. Allen is a former five-star recruit who started his career at Texas A&M. He started in five games as a true freshman, and split time with fellow former Aggie Kyler Murray before transferring to Houston. There, he played in just four games before declaring for the NFL Draft and signing as an undrafted free agent with the Panthers in 2018. He eventually started (and won) their Week 17 game and earned the backup job this preseason.

But back to what Allen has done so far in Carolina this year. In his first start against the Arizona Cardinals, Allen went 19-of-26 passing for 261 yards and a whopping four touchdowns to give the Panthers their first win of the season.

Curtco leaves him in the dust here #CARvsAZ | #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/GIxlPJcYR4

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 22, 2019

In Week 4 against the Texans, Allen completed 24 of 34 passes for 232 yards. His best play of the day came when he evaded this sack from J.J. Watt:

Kyle Allen avoided that JJ Watt sack!#KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/vZRfCwDHZk

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 29, 2019

Not only did that keep the drive alive, but it took some time off the clock and set the Panthers up for an easier field goal. They went ahead 16-10 with 31 seconds remaining, which only left the Texans (who had no timeouts) a chance to get to midfield and throw up a prayer.

Sure, it certainly helps Allen to have weapons like Christian McCaffrey, Greg Olsen, and Curtis Samuel around him, but stepping up like this with not a whole lot of college experience under his belt is really cool to see. — Morgan Moriarty

Teddy Bridgewater

With rookies like Jones, Minshew, and Allen all balling out, it’s hard to argue in favor of other replacement quarterbacks, but the rest of the list isn’t too shabby. One player who seems consistently overlooked is New Orleans Saints backup Teddy Bridgewater, so I’m going to say some words at your face about him and why he’d be good to build around.

First and foremost: Bridgewater has a lot of experience for his age. He’s still just 26 years old, but has played in 38 regular season games, including a full 16 games as starter for the Vikings in 2015. He was thrown into a difficult situation when he severely injured his knee in 2016, but he came out the other end in one piece.

Now, he’s playing for the Saints, who are without Drew Brees, one of the absolute best to ever throw the ball. The Saints are playing smart football with Bridgewater, not asking him to go deep a lot or win the game with scrambling. Some might consider that a lack of faith in Bridgewater’s abilities, but I tend to think it’s that it has more to do with how complete New Orleans is as a team.

In other words: the defense is good, and thus far, Bridgewater doesn’t have to put the team on his back. But he’s doing with the Saints need him to do and he’s now 2-1 as the starter this year. Given he’s played three tough teams — the Cowboys, Seahawks and Rams — with good defenses, that’s nothing to sneeze at.

Other than his experience, he’s also an efficient passer, completing 76.7 and 70.4 percent of his passes in his last two starts. In his full season as a starter for the Vikings, he went 11-5, completed 65.3 percent of his passes, threw for 3,231 yards, and made the Pro Bowl.

Bridgewater hasn’t blown anybody away this season, but he has all the tools of a successful quarterback: a big arm, good pocket presence, no fear, and he can always scramble if need be. I might be projecting a bit of my own expectations and prior feelings about Bridgewater here, but I think there’s still a ton to work with when it comes to the six-year (!) veteran. — James Brady

Those are just our picks. Maybe you prefer another replacement quarterback, like Mason Rudolph or Josh Rosen. Let us know in the comments.

0 notes

placetobenation · 5 years

Link

Welcome back to the Campus Hot Takes! The second big week of the 2019 season is behind us, and Clemson is still #1 but things will continue to simmer as the conference schedule kicks into high gear this coming weekend. Scott Criscuolo and Logan Crosland will take you back in time and give you the recap!

SCOTT:

The Champs advance: Trevor Lawrence threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score and the top-ranked Clemson Tigers won their record-tying 17th straight game with a 24-10 victory over the Aggies on Saturday. Many circled this game as the best chance to take down Clemson, given Texas A&M’s nail-biting two point loss to the champs last year. But it was Clemson’s relentless playmaking on offense and defense that held the Aggies to their fewest points in a game since a 19-7 loss at LSU in 2015 (More on LSU later). Who can stop them? Well Clemson next week heads to the Carrier Dome to face Clemson’s recent kryptonite, Syracuse.

A late night, but a big upset: Greg Thomas kicked a 17-yard field goal with 8 seconds left, and California beat No. 14 Washington 20-19 in a game delayed more than 2 1/2 hours due to severe weather. A severe thunder and lightning storm delayed the game early in the first quarter and left only a smattering of fans waiting out the lengthy delay when the game resumed at 10:30 p.m. and finally ended at 1:22 a.m (That’s 4:22am for us east coasters). “Certainly kicking too many field goals isn’t going to get it done for us. That was frustrating. Really frustrating,” Washington coach Chris Petersen said. Cal is 2-0 for the first time in a while and this win certainly opens things up in the Pac-12.

Speaking of the Pac-12 Trojans fans: Is there another Carson Palmer or Mark Sanchez in the works? No Trojans freshman quarterback has ever had a debut start like Kedon Slovis, who turned a tough matchup against Stanford into a celebration of his burgeoning talent. Slovis passed for 377 yards and three touchdowns in a commanding performance, and USC rolled to a 45-20 victory over the No. 23 Cardinal. Slovis went 28 of 33 and set the school record for yards passing in a freshman’s first start as the Trojans (2-0, 1-0 Pac-12) rallied from an early 14-point deficit to beat the Cardinal (1-1, 1-1) for the third time in the last four meetings. It’s been tough the past couple years for USC, but perhaps the corner may be re-turning. Mind you the Athletic office is still a mess as Lynn Swann resigned as AD. Perhaps they should hire someone who can actually do the job, instead of famous alums who bring donors and no progress.

Nebraska stumbles: Nebraska didn’t look too great in last week’s opening season win over South Alabama. This week the defense was excellent and the O-Line protected Adrian Martinez. But Colorado would not quit, and down 17-0 at halftime head coach Mel Tucker fired up his team and in OT James Stefanou’s 34-yard field goal gave Colorado its first lead and the Buffaloes beat the Huskers 34-31 when punter Isaac Armstrong’s 49-yard try sailed wide right. Martinez had a tale of two halves: He completed all nine of his passes for 180 yards in the first half. The second half included six sacks, an interception, and 7-for-15 passing for 110 yards. Scott Frost is now 0-6 on the road as Nebraska’s head coach.

Academies Update: Army almost pulled off an epic upset Saturday, forcing Michigan into overtime before the Wolverines survived 24-21. Army is 1-1 and this week is at Texas-San Antonio. Navy & Air Force had byes Saturday. This week Navy is home to East Carolina, while the Falcons will be at Colorado to face the Cinderella Buffs.

LOGAN:

Mississippi State Rolls Despite Injuries: The Bulldogs welcomed the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss into what was an extremely hot Saturday afternoon. Despite winning the week before against Louisiana, the Bulldogs had something to prove as it didn’t play up to its potential on either side of the ball. In this game though the Bulldogs were able to clean up a lot of the mistakes and play much much better. There were a few injury scares late in the first half as QB Tommy Stevens and RB Kylie Hill went down with injuries all in the span of about 5 plays. Hill would return and Stevens sat the rest of the rest of the game for precautionary reasons. These two will need to remain healthy for the Dogs to have the type of season they are hoping for and to face the stiff competition they have visiting Starkville next week, in the form of Kansas State.

LSU Wins Texas Shootout: With Gameday rolling into Austin, the Texas Longhorns has the ultimate chance to prove that they were in fact back, as QB Sam Ehlinger so eloquently put after their Sugar Bowl victory last season. Coming into town though was an LSU Tigers team that has a much improved offense and have finally found that missing piece QB in Joe Burrow that has plagued them in the past. This game lived up to all the hype that it had coming into it. It was extremely back and forth as you could tell neither QB wanted to let their team lose. In the end it was Joe Burrow and the Tigers who were able to outduel the Longhorns and score a huge early season win. These two teams are definitely ones you want to keep your eyes on.

Maryland Scores Dominant Upset: Speaking of Texas, I will now move on to the team that has been able to upset them two years in a row… the Maryland Terrapins. Maryland has made a habit of these early season upsets and were looking to continue that tradition as they welcomed in the 21st ranked Syracuse Orange. Syracuse came into the season with a lot of hype coming off a 10 win season last year. Syracuse failed to live up to that hype as they were utterly manhandled by the Terrapins to the tune of 63-20. Syracuse now gets to welcome the number 1 Clemson Tigers, whom they beat two years ago and played extremely close last year. If this game against Maryland tells us anything though, it could be a long day for the Orange. For Maryland it will be interesting to see if they can build upon this early season upset, something they haven’t been able to do the previous two years after the Texas wins. If the offense can produce at the pace they did in this game the rest of the Big Ten needs to be on notice.

The Struggle Bus, Part 1: Tennessee was one of the big stories coming out of week 1, coming off their embarrassing loss to Georgia State at home. This week they welcomed in BYU hoping to avenge that embarrassment and grab a victory before they head into an extremely difficult stretch of their schedule. The Vols would lead this game by 10 at the half and actually lead for all but 1 second of regulation before BYU kicked the game tying field goal to force over time. The two teams then traded touchdowns in the first overtime period. The Vols would then settle for a field goal, before allowing the Cougars to score the game winning touchdown, losing not only their second game of the season but their second home game. The Vols are in all kinds of trouble now as after next week’s game against Chattanooga, they will play Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, and Alabama. They will likely be looking at 1-6 after that stretch and that will not sit well on Rocky Top.

The Struggle Bus, Part 2: Another former power program that is dealing with early season struggles is the Florida State Seminoles. While last week’s loss to Boise State isn’t anything to be embarrassed about, it still doesn’t sit well with Seminole fans as they had a big lead at home and let it go. This week they welcomed Lousiana Monroe into Tallahassee hoping to get back on the right track. Just like in their week 1 game though, they built up a big lead only for the Warhawks to battle at the way back and force overtime. Unlike the Vols above though, the Seminoles were able to escape with a 45-44 victory due to a missed extra point. As much as they were ecstatic to come away with the victory, these Seminoles need to learn how to hold onto a lead or this is going to be a long year for them and Willie Taggart’s days as head coach may be numbered.

Now in the throes of the season, the conference schedules start busting open. Let’s take a look at the biggest games this coming weekend:

3:30pm: #2 Alabama at South Carolina

7pm: #9 Florida at Kentucky

7:30pm: #1 Clemson at Syracuse

#IFTTT #Place to Be Nation

0 notes

chestnutpost · 5 years

Text

Reverse hot seat — why these embattled coaches should stay

Minnesota’s Richard Pitino could be in trouble without a strong finish by the Golden Gophers.

7:10 AM ET

Myron Medcalf

ESPN Staff Writer

Covers college basketball

Joined ESPN.com in 2011

Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato

Jeff Borzello

ESPN Staff Writer

Basketball recruiting insider.

Joined ESPN in 2014.

Graduate of University of Delaware.

Most “hot seat” columns at this point in the college basketball season are fairly one-sided. Who might get fired, why he’s in this position — and then move on to the next guy. But what about the other side of the debate? The reasons to keep a particular coach for another season are rarely brought up when discussing the coaches at risk during the spring carousel.

Well, we’ll take a stab at it, giving you both sides of the argument: the case for keeping a coach and the case for replacing him. And we’ll leave it up to you from there.

Pat Chambers, Penn State Nittany Lions (121-137 in eighth season)

What his detractors would say: Not many high-major head coaches get eight seasons at the same school without making the NCAA tournament — and Penn State isn’t going to come close this season. The Nittany Lions enter Tuesday with just one Big Ten victory and are going to finish at the bottom of the standings. They’ve never finished above .500 in the conference during Chambers’ tenure.

Why his firing would be unjust: There were clear signs of progress last season, beating Ohio State three times to earn a spot on the NCAA tournament bubble and then winning the NIT. Chambers signed a contract extension last spring to keep him until 2022; why even give that in the first place if one down season after losing Tony Carr was going to seal his fate? This isn’t an easy job; the Nittany Lions have been to the NCAA tournament four times since 1965. — Jeff Borzello

Jim Christian, Boston College Eagles (59-94 in fifth season)

What his detractors would say: Christian has one plus-.500 season at Boston College (2017-18). This season’s team has won just two games since Dec. 22. Athletic director Martin Jarmond, who arrived in 2017 and did not hire Christian, might be interested in putting his stamp on the program by recruiting his preferred candidate.

Why his firing would be unjust: Coaches are charged with developing elite talent, and last year, Jerome Robinson was the school’s highest draft pick since 1982. Christian is navigating through a tough league with multiple national title contenders, too. Not easy to do. And due to injuries, only three players on this season’s roster have participated in all 22 games. — Myron Medcalf

Mike Dunleavy Sr., Tulane Green Wave (24-60 in third season)

What his detractors would say: It has been a truly dreadful season for the Green Wave. They haven’t won a conference game yet, and lost nonconference games to the likes of South Alabama, Southeastern Louisiana, Towson and Alabama A&M. They’ve won eight American Athletic Conference games total in three seasons. Dunleavy will be 65 in March; maybe he’s just not cut out for college.

Why his firing would be unjust: What did you expect when he was hired? Dunleavy had never coached a minute of college basketball before the Green Wave made the call. And he took over a program that went 3-15 in the league the season prior. There were some positive signs last season, and he has had some success on the recruiting trail since taking over. — Jeff Borzello

Steve Hawkins, Western Michigan Broncos (276-236 in 16th season)

What his detractors would say: It’s pretty simple: The Broncos haven’t won a game in the Mid-American Conference yet this season. They’re 0-10 heading into Tuesday. While Western Michigan has been competitive for most of Hawkins’ tenure, the Broncos have gone to the NCAA tournament only twice in 16 seasons and have finished .500 or below in MAC play in three of the past four seasons.

Why his firing would be unjust: Hawkins and the Broncos won the West division title two seasons ago and have won at least 20 games in seven of his 16 seasons at the helm. This season’s 0-10 league start is terrible, yes, but this will be just the fourth season since Hawkins took over that Western Michigan will finish below .500 in league play. What’s the rush? — Jeff Borzello

Wyking Jones, Cal Golden Bears (13-42 in second season)

What his detractors would say: It’s simple, really. Jones just hasn’t won enough games. Rather than conduct an exhaustive national search, the school handed him the job after Cuonzo Martin left for Missouri two years ago. But this outcome is even worse than anticipated for a team that has lost to Seattle, UC-Riverside, Chaminade and Central Arkansas under Jones.

Why his firing would be unjust: Money is a problem for Cal, which invested nearly $500 million in a football stadium renovation that will tie the school up in massive debt payments for decades. According to Bloomberg, the school’s debt payments will rise to $37 million per year beginning in 2039. Jones makes $1 million per season, a below-average sum for a Power 5 coach. Cal might not have the cash to pay a replacement for Jones. — Myron Medcalf

Maurice Joseph, George Washington Colonials (42-49 in third season)

What his detractors would say: A disastrous third season for Joseph, who won 20 games after replacing Mike Lonergan as an interim head coach in 2016, has turned into a free fall. George Washington, which is 7-16 overall, has one of the worst offenses in America, and it entered the week ranked 251st in the NCAA’s NET.

Why his firing would be unjust: He helped this program salvage its reputation after Lonergan was dismissed for his alleged verbal abuse of players. That has to count for something. And he’s only 33. When Mike Krzyzewski was 33, he finished 10-17 in his second season at Duke and then 11-17 a year later. Maybe Joseph just needs more time. — Myron Medcalf

Billy Kennedy, Texas A&M Aggies (146-111 in eighth season)

What his detractors would say: There were the Sweet 16 appearances in 2016 and 2018 … and nothing else. The Aggies have missed the NCAA tournament in five of Kennedy’s seven seasons in College Station, and they’re certainly not getting there this season. A&M is 2-8 in the league and 9-13 overall entering Tuesday, with a 15-point home loss to Texas Southern back in December. There’s too much talent in the state of Texas and on the current roster to be toward the bottom of the SEC.

Why his firing would be unjust: We just said it. The guy has been to two of the past three Sweet 16s. The Aggies are in the midst of a down season after losing three starters to the NBA draft and another to a season-ending injury. It’s hard to fault Kennedy for that. Throw in the fact A&M is bringing in a top-20 recruiting class next season while also having just one senior on this season’s roster, and the Aggies should be poised for a turnaround. — Jeff Borzello

Ernie Kent, Washington State Cougars (57-91 in fifth season)

What his detractors would say: We’re not asking him to be Tony Bennett, but come on, at least be competitive in a bad Pac-12. The Cougars haven’t finished with more than seven conference wins since Kent took over and haven’t come close to finishing .500 overall. He has won 20 total conference games in four-plus seasons. The former athletic director parted ways with Ken Bone after five seasons, and Bone had a couple of competitive seasons in there.

Why his firing would be unjust: Did you not see this past weekend? Washington State went on the road and swept the Arizona schools. The Cougars have arguably the best player in the league in Robert Franks. Kent is signed through 2022, and really, who is going to come to Pullman and have consistent success right off the bat? It’s not an easy job. — Jeff Borzello

Greg Lansing, Indiana State Sycamores (145-138 in ninth season)

What his detractors would say: The Sycamores are sitting in a tie for last place in the Missouri Valley Conference this season, their fourth consecutive season in the bottom half of the league and the fourth in a row below .500 in conference play. They haven’t finished with an overall winning record since the 2013-14 season, and Lansing saw his automatic contract rollover canceled back in 2017.

Why his firing would be unjust: Prior to the past four seasons, he was one of the better coaches in the Missouri Valley. The Sycamores went to the NCAA tournament in his first season in charge and finished .500 or better in the league in four of his first five seasons. It’s important to keep in mind that during Lansing’s first few years, there was a Creighton-Wichita State hegemony atop the league — that factors into his overall record — but both schools have moved on. — Jeff Borzello

Dave Leitao, DePaul Blue Demons (42-74 in fourth season)

What his detractors would say: He won nine, nine and 11 games in three previous seasons, without a hint of NCAA tournament consideration. And that problem is secondary to the testimony in federal court by Brian Bowen Sr., who alleged that assistant Shane Heirman and a grassroots program formerly run by fellow assistant Tim Anderson both paid him thousands of dollars for the services of his son, Brian Bowen Jr. Leitao’s losses and his hiring decisions could help end his time at DePaul.

Why his firing would be unjust: C’mon, man. Leitao’s squad is 13-9 entering Tuesday and 5-6 in the Big East after a two-game win streak. Plus, he has signed a top-25 recruiting class anchored by Romeo Weems and Markese Jacobs. This could be the class that changes things for DePaul. — Myron Medcalf

Danny Manning, Wake Forest Demon Deacons (63-86 in fifth season)

What his detractors would say: After an NCAA tournament at Tulsa, more was expected from Manning. Instead, the Demon Deacons have sandwiched four awful seasons around a First Four appearance in 2017. They’re 2-8 in the ACC this season, and lost to the likes of Houston Baptist and Gardner-Webb at home in the nonconference season. They’re sliding further and further behind the rest of the ACC.

Why his firing would be unjust: The talent is there. Manning is recruiting quality players to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, led by five-star Jaylen Hoard in 2018 and two other ESPN 100 players in the past three classes. Back in 2017, Manning signed an extension that keeps him at the school through 2025 — and it’s fully guaranteed. It’s going to take a lot of money to make a move and still hire a high-level replacement. — Jeff Borzello

Marvin Menzies, UNLV Rebels (43-45 in third season)

What his detractors would say: Do you see what’s going on in Reno? UNLV has taken a back seat to its in-state rival. Nevada has been getting better high school players, better transfers — and is ranked in the top 10 nationally. Menzies has failed to even get the Runnin’ Rebels in a conference title race in his first three seasons.

Why his firing would be unjust: One, it has been just short of three seasons. Two, it hasn’t been that bad in Vegas. The Runnin’ Rebels are above .500 in the Mountain West this season and have improved tremendously since an 11-21 (4-14 in the MWC) debut season for Menzies. They won 20 games last season, for crying out loud. It’s a different Mountain West than it was five to 10 years ago; it’s a one-team league for now, but that team won’t always be Nevada. — Jeff Borzello

Tim Miles, Nebraska Cornhuskers (110-108 in seventh season)

What his detractors would say: He’s gone from the fun coach who used to tweet at halftime to the coach whose team has experienced high turnover and won more than 20 games only once. Nebraska, which has only reached the NCAA tournament once under Miles, has lost seven in a row. Plus, Nebraska can shred the final year of his deal by paying him a $2.5 million buyout this offseason. The school would owe Miles nearly $4 million total if it made the move after next season.

Why his firing would be unjust: Nebraska has opened a great arena and practice facility within the past five years. The school has invested millions to rebrand itself as a viable basketball program. That’s not easy to do for a program that’s never won an NCAA tournament game. Firing Miles could erase the momentum the program has built during his time in Lincoln. — Myron Medcalf

Sean Miller, Arizona Wildcats (261-84 in 10th season)

What his detractors would say: Well, this one is easy. Three of Miller’s former assistants (Mark Phelps, Book Richardson and Joe Pasternack) have been connected to significant violations that could lead to hefty penalties for the program. That, coupled with the fact that Miller has never reached the Final Four despite securing multiple elite recruiting classes, could become justification for his dismissal at season’s end.

Why his firing would be unjust: He’s still here. After an ESPN report last season tied him to an alleged pay-for-play scheme involving Deandre Ayton, the school and its key supporters backed him. Those backers seem content to dismiss anyone but Miller, who has ESPN’s No. 1 recruiting class for 2019 in spite of the issues surrounding the program. He has also won 76 percent of his games as head coach in Tucson. Why would the school fire him now when it has fought so hard to keep him? — Myron Medcalf

Dan Monson, Long Beach State 49ers (194-193 in 12th season)

What his detractors would say: Monson hasn’t led Long Beach State to a Big West tournament championship since 2012 or a conference regular-season title since 2013. He took a $75,000 pay cut in the offseason after facing scrutiny for his unique contract, which last season allowed him to rack up more than $300,000 from nonconference buy games. Monson’s team is 1-6 in its past seven games following back-to-back losing seasons under the 57-year-old leader.

Why his firing would be unjust: Monson, who has been with Long Beach State since the 2007-08 season, when he won just six games, is the face of that program. His team has been able to schedule nonconference games against America’s best teams based on his ties within the business. And before last season, he hadn’t finished lower than fourth in league play since his first season on campus. — Myron Medcalf

Chris Mooney, Richmond Spiders (247-209 in 14th season)

What his detractors would say: John Hardt, Richmond’s athletic director, wouldn’t address Mooney’s status last week. “This is not the time,” he told reporters. “The focus right now is on the team and competing on the court.” That’s not a favorable response for a coach who hasn’t reached the NCAA tournament since 2011’s Sweet 16 run and has a 4-7 record in the Atlantic 10 this season.

Why his firing would be unjust: Few coaches can match his consistency. Before last season’s tumultuous 12-20 campaign, Mooney hadn’t had a losing season since 2007, when he finished 8-22 in the second year of his tenure. His top three scorers this season (Grant Golden, Jacob Gilyard and Nathan Cayo) are all sophomores, too. He can build on this. — Myron Medcalf

Chris Mullin, St. John’s Red Storm (55-67 in fourth season)

What his detractors would say: The Red Storm have arguably the most talented roster in the Big East this season — and they’re below .500 in the league, fighting for their NCAA tournament lives. They’ve yet to finish above .500 in the Big East since Mullin took over, and haven’t played in a postseason tournament yet. There have been questions about Mullin’s commitment level, and on the recruiting front, they haven’t been able to keep New York/New Jersey kids home for college.

Why his firing would be unjust: Despite Saturday’s loss to Providence, this team is still on track to make the NCAA tournament if the season ended today. Even if Shamorie Ponds leaves for the NBA, the Red Storm will still bring back most of the rotation, and they have three talented transfers sitting out. Athletic director Mike Cragg took over in September; his first order of business is going to be forcing out the school’s all-time greatest player? Stop. — Jeff Borzello

Jeff Neubauer, Fordham Rams (49-68 in fourth season)

What his detractors would say: Things are going progressively downhill at Rose Hill Gym. After winning 17 games overall and eight Atlantic 10 games in his first season, Neubauer now has the Rams with a 1-9 record in the A-10 and poised for a second consecutive season at the bottom of the standings. And even though basketball in New York City is down compared to what it used to be, the presence of just two players on the roster from New York is surprising.

Why his firing would be unjust: Did you see how it was when Neubauer took over in the Bronx? Tom Pecora had won 13 A-10 games total in five seasons, never winning more than 10 overall in a single season. Neubauer has shown he can win games at Fordham, even if hasn’t happened the past two seasons. — Jeff Borzello

Saul Phillips, Ohio Bobcats (78-71 in fifth season)

What his detractors would say: Saturday’s 20-point road loss to Miami (Ohio), Ohio’s chief rival, punctuated a 3-7 start in MAC play for Phillips, who hasn’t reached the NCAA tournament with the Bobcats. The Bobcats have had two losing seasons in conference play since 2010 — both under Phillips, who could endure No. 3 this season and lose his job.

Why his firing would be unjust: He won 43 games from 2015 to 2017, a promising start. He has proved he can win big at Ohio. And two of his best players, Teyvion Kirk and Jason Carter, are both underclassmen. The Bobcats are a top-100 defensive team, too. It’s not all bad at Ohio. — Myron Medcalf

Dave Pilipovich, Air Force Falcons (94-126 in eighth season)

What his detractors would say: His first full season as head coach in 2012-13 is the only winning season on his résumé. It was also the only season Air Force finished higher than ninth in the Mountain West during his tenure. This could be Pilipovich’s sixth consecutive losing season.

Why his firing would be unjust: It’s a difficult, complicated job. And Pilipovich, who has been with Air Force as a head coach or assistant for more than a decade, understands that. He has a growing young point guard in A.J. Walker and a modest 5-6 record in league play. That’s better than par for the course in a program with four NCAA tournament appearances in its history. — Myron Medcalf

Richard Pitino, Minnesota Golden Gophers (106-86 in sixth season)

What his detractors would say: He has made one trip to the NCAA tournament since he was hired in 2014. That he has even failed to duplicate former coach Tubby Smith’s modest success in Minneapolis is a problem for a guy who has had better resources, including an elite practice facility, but no home-run recruits. Multiple assistants have left the program. And the stain of Reggie Lynch, who was dismissed last year after facing multiple sexual assault allegations, remains.

Why his firing would be unjust: This isn’t Kentucky or Duke in terms of on-court expectations — Pitino’s team might reach the NCAA tournament if it can finish strong. And if that happens, it will be difficult for athletic director Mark Coyle to justify firing Pitino, who has actually become a more likable and approachable figure in the Twin Cities this season. His handling of the recent death of guard Dupree McBrayer‘s mother gave him an opportunity to display his softer side. — Myron Medcalf

Al Skinner, Kennesaw State Owls (40-78 in fourth season)

What his detractors would say: The Owls are headed for another finish in the bottom half of the Atlantic Sun, on Saturday winning just their third game over a Division I team this season. Since arriving in 2015, Skinner hasn’t finished above .500 in the league and hasn’t won more than 14 games in a season. This is a job you have to grind on the recruiting trail; is Skinner still up for that?

Why his firing would be unjust: The former Boston College and Rhode Island coach has been at the helm for four seasons — and Skinner has actually been a slight improvement on his predecessors. Jimmy Lallathin went 4-10 in the league in his lone season, while Lewis Preston won five Atlantic Sun games total in three seasons. Before this season, Skinner was 20-22 in league play. It’s Kennesaw State; you’re really going to fire him over that? — Jeff Borzello

The post Reverse hot seat — why these embattled coaches should stay appeared first on The Chestnut Post.

from The Chestnut Post https://www.thechestnutpost.com/news/reverse-hot-seat-why-these-embattled-coaches-should-stay/

0 notes

sportsgameqia-blog-blog · 5 years

Text

2019 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl Recap - NGSC Sports

New Post has been published on https://sportsguideto.com/trending/2019-playstation-fiesta-bowl-recap-ngsc-sports/

2019 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl Recap - NGSC Sports

No pregame fireworks necessary. Both the No. 11 LSU Tigers (9-3, SEC) and No. 8 UCF Knights (12-0, American) was straight hyped to kick this baby off. Bands loud, crowd loud, play loud. The whole package a New Year’s Day bowl game can bring. Say hello to the 2019 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.

If we weren’t sure how excited LSU would be to play a non-Power Five program that happens to be 25-0 throughout the course of the last two seasons, we found out on the opening kickoff.

Tiger running back and kick returner Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran the kick back 77-yards, putting the Bayou Bengals inside of the UCF 20-yard-line on the very first play. Inside of State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ, Tigers’ fans were in a frenzy.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire Getty Images

Looking to take a quick 7-0 lead, the Knights’ defense did just enough to hold LSU to a field goal. On their subsequent first possession, UCF brought their own fireworks. Nothing new to Knights’ fans over the last two seasons. A handful of plays later, including a trick play, throwback pass from Marlon Williams to quarterback Darriel Mack, Jr. had UCF finding the end zone via running back Greg McCrae’s 25-yard scamper.

A 7-3 edge for UCF in a football game with only 4:04 ticking off the first quarter clock. Seemingly more excitement than the Cheez-It and Arizona Bowl’s that I covered just before the New Year combined in 4-minutes of action. Wow.

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow led the next Tiger drive deep inside of UCF territory. Miscommunication between Burrow and his wideout ended with a pick-six for the Knights. Brandon Moore’s 93-yard pick-six to the heezy started making UCF and their fans feel like an unstoppable force. Not so fast. On the return, LSU’s Burrow was absolutely tattooed by 6-foot-4 and 270-pound defensive tackle, Joey Connors.

Tigers’ Head Coach Ed Orgeron went berserk on the sidelines, yelling at the referees for a targeting call. When the play was analyzed, Burrow was clearly a defenseless player who was straight-up blasted. The hit left several cuts under the right ear of Mr. Burrow, but there was no helmet-to-helmet contact on the play. Thus, it was correctly called as not a targeting penalty. When assessed this penalty, players are immediately ejected from the game and escorted off the field to their respective locker rooms. Targeting was a theme in this one as almost a handful of players were ejected due to helmet-to-helmet contact, and one LSU defensive back was tossed for throwing a punch at an opposing UCF player during a minuscule scuffle. Not smart. None of the targeting calls were malicious in my eyes. The speed of the game created the hat-to-hat blows.

The interception bolstered UCF’s tally to 32-straight games with a turnover. To put that into perspective, the Indiana Hoosiers rank second in the country while collecting turnovers in 18-straight games. Amazing.

Down 14-3 at that point in the first quarter, LSU certainly didn’t panic. In fact, it fueled their proverbial fire. The Tigers looked settled and decided to use their big ugly’s up front on the offensive line to push around the Knights’ defense. It worked.

When asked if they were up and ready for the Fiesta Bowl, Coach Orgeron and the LSU contingent expressed that they were basically jacked up. This was their time to show it. If there wasn’t already enough motivation to get their hands on UCF based on the Knights’ national championship celebration after last year’s 34-27 victory over the then No. 7 Auburn Tigers in the Peach Bowl, LSU was still pissed off after losing to the Texas A&M Aggies, 74-72, in seven overtimes. A game that ended the Bayou Bengals’ regular-season.

LSU coach Ed Oregon yells at the officials during overtime of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M on Nov. 24. DAVID J. PHILLIP AP

Central Florida’s perfect 13-0 mark a year ago felt legitimized after beating a formidable SEC opponent (Auburn). The College Football Playoff Committee left them out of the four-team CFP altogether, so why wouldn’t they celebrate their success. I honestly didn’t mind what UCF did, but LSU took exception to the gesture.

The next series for LSU culminated in a Burrow’s dime to wide receiver Justin Jefferson for six. Now down just 14-10, LSU’s next drive ended with a Burrow’s strike to WR Derrick Dillon who raced away from Knights’ defenders to the heezy. With the score now 17-14 in favor of LSU, the Tigers started playing with a little swagger. After throwing the pick-six to Mr. Moore and getting destroyed by Connors, Joe showed the world his mental toughness and physical fortitude.

Unfortunately for LSU, you can never count out the Knights. Down 24-14 with the first half coming to a close, wide receiver Gabriel Davis came down with a gargantuan 32-yard TD catch with 4-ticks left on the clock. The fantastic throw from Mr. Mack landed like a baby from the sky right into Davis’ soft hands. In full stride, Mr. Davis plucked the pigskin in the back of the end zone. The bananas 2019 Fiesta Bowl had LSU taking a slight 24-21 edge at halftime.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 01: Wide receiver Gabriel Davis #13 reacts with teammate wide receiver Dredrick Snelson #5 of the UCF Knights after scoring a 32-yard touchdown during the second quarter of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl between LSU and Central Florida at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Although the score indicated otherwise, LSU was in complete control of the Fiesta Bowl. They looked bigger, dominate, and faster on both the offensive and defensive lines. Secondarily, their skill position players were simply making more plays.

To start the second half, Burrow found freshman wideout Ja’Marr Chase who hauled in a difficult catch with both arms extended above his head. Running full speed down the left side of the field, Mr. Chase made the catch look easy. LSU was now in complete control with a 31-21 bulge early in the second half.

After that, a total of four field goals encapsulated all of the scoring until the tail end of this ridiculously entertaining contest. One by UCF, and three by LSU. The Tigers were in the driver’s seat with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, and a 40-24 lead.

With 2:24 left on the fourth quarter clock, the Knights had one last ditch effort to save their perfect season. A touchdown and successful two-point conversion had pulled them to within eight points of the Tigers, 40-32. After a great onside kick attempt by UCF, the Tigers’ Jefferson finally clutched the football to all but end the 2019 edition of the Fiesta Bowl.

Congrats to Coach Orgeron and the LSU Tigers on their 40-32 victory over the UCF Knights from the desert in Glendale. Another 10-win season for the Bayou Bengals, and a disappointing end to the Knights’ marvelous year.

(Photo: Michael Chow/The Republic)

Finishing 12-1 on the season, UCF has no reason to hang their heads. Plus, they now have a combined record of 25-1 in two seasons. Extraordinary.

That’s all from Glendale, ladies, and gentlemen. Until next year, have a fabulous New Year.

Key Player Statistics:

Key Overall Stats:

Extra Points:

Source

2019 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl Recap

0 notes

giantsfootball0 · 7 years

Text

Penn State RB Saquon Barkley Is The Complete Package

One of the first things NFL scouts do when looking at prospects in preparation for the NFL Draft is watch them against the best competition they faced in the previous season. This fall, we’re going to take a look at the best head-to-head matchups in this week’s slate of college football games. Every week, I’ll give you look at some key matchups to keep an eye on across the country, highlight a prospect who is on the rise, profile a small-school player to watch for next year’s draft, find a Philly connection, and give out a well-deserved game ball to a prospect who stood out in a big way the previous week.

Many pundits view this Saturday’s slate as a “down” week for college football, but when I look around the country I think there are a lot of fun games to study. This week on the College Draft Podcast with Ross Tucker, I broke down all the best matchups from some of the top games of the week, but here’s five more that fans should keep their eyes on this weekend.

Five Matchups To Watch

1. Penn State Saquon RB Barkley vs. Iowa LB Josey Jewell Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa – Saturday 7:30 p.m. – ABC

Saquon Barkley, to me, is arguably the best prospect in the country, regardless of position. At 5-11, 228 pounds, he’s been on an absolute tear to start the season, with five touchdowns and 548 yards from scrimmage in three games. Barkley is the complete package at the position as an explosive, powerful runner with contact balance and wiggle to make people miss. He’s a load to bring down in the open field, and with his combination of size and speed, he’s going to be tough for any defense in the country to stop.

Iowa always has a group of tough, instinctive defenders up front who will bring their best against the Nittany Lions on Saturday. The man to watch in the middle of that defense is senior linebacker Josey Jewell. At 6-2, 230 pounds, Jewell may not be a star once in the NFL, but he’s going to be a really solid starter for someone because of his ability to key and diagnose plays quickly as a run defender. I think he’ll transition well to the NFL because of his physicality downhill at the point of attack and ability to finish as a tackler (though he did have more misses in that department a year ago than I’d like to see). Jewell’s biggest weakness is in coverage, and I think that could be a key component to this game.

Prediction: Barkley extends his scoring streak when he connects with Trace McSorley on a wheel route down the sideline for a big play, and he adds at least another 135 on the ground as Penn State rolls to victory by more than two touchdowns.

2. Nebraska QB Tanner Lee vs. Rutgers’ D Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska – 3:30 p.m. – Big Ten Network

In a class that’s already being tabbed as one of the best quarterback drafts in recent memory, one senior who I think will be considered a riser throughout the pre-draft process is Nebraska’s Tanner Lee. A transfer from Tulane now in his first year starting for the Cornhuskers, Lee has NFL size at 6-4, 220 pounds. He has made headlines every summer throughout his career because of how he’s looked at the Manning Passing Academy. Lee started two years at Tulane before a coaching (and dramatic scheme) change forced his hand to leave his hometown Green Wave and join Nebraska. He’s now taken the reins after a transfer year. Lee has solid physical tools and a quick release. He looks the part of a pro passer, but a rough outing last week against Northern Illinois has many questioning the senior’s potential.

Rutgers has a few defenders who have turned heads of late. In the secondary, juniors Isaiah Wharton (6-1, 204), Blessuan Austin (6’1, 195), and Saquan Hampton (6-1, 207) certainly look the part. They’ll present a challenge for Lee on the back end. The player I’ll focus on, however, is pass rusher Kemoko Turay. The senior arrived on campus as a 210-pound track athlete who earned an offer at a Rutgers high school camp. In five years, he’s developed into a 252-pound pass rusher with great bend and flexibility, and a quick first step. He’s not a developed pass rusher right now, and he’s still not where he needs to be against the run, but players with his combination of length and athleticism typically don’t fall far on draft day. I’ve been studying Turay since his freshman season, and the Newark, New Jersey native is certainly a player to keep a close eye on in this game.

Prediction: Lee gets back on the horse this week against the Scarlet Knights. I think he throws for 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns with one interception, but Turay gets his first sack of the year. Nebraska wins the game at home, but I think it’s a win by 10 points or fewer.

3. Old Dominion WR Travis Fulgham vs. Virginia Tech Secondary Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia – 2 p.m. – ACC Network

This may seem like a throwaway game on the schedule, but don’t count out Old Dominion against the Hokies. The Monarchs have a player on the outside who has really caught my eye. Junior wideout Travis Fulgham (6-3, 214 pounds) is a physically imposing receiver who can attack downfield and win in the quick game. Fulgham leads the team with 10 catches for 183 yards and a score, and I’d feel even better about his abilities in this game if he had his partner in crime on the other side. Senior Jonathan Duhart (6-3, 221 pounds) stood out to me a couple of years ago, and had worked his way into one of the top seniors in the country, but was lost for the season two weeks ago due to injury. I’ve had multiple people text me about both players this fall, and it’s for good reason from the flashes I’ve seen over the last couple of years. This is the kind of game that can put Fulgham on the national radar.

The reason for this is because the Virginia Tech secondary is chock full of NFL talent at both corner and safety. Senior Greg Stroman, in my opinion, is the best football player (right now) in the group, while junior Adonis Alexander has the highest upside. At 6-0, 180 pounds, Stroman doesn’t have ideal quickness and speed, but I really like his instincts in both man and zone coverage. Senior Brandon Facyson, whom I’ve compared to former Eagles cornerback Byron Maxwell in the past, has size but his makeup speed is a concern. While ODU will be missing Duhart, the Hokies will be missing one of their stars in the secondary as well. Alexander, who missed last week’s game against ECU, has the physical traits that you would list as “ideal” in a perfect world at the position. He’s 6-3, 193 pounds, runs as well as anyone in the ACC, and has the quickness in and out of breaks to boot. Reports say he will miss this outing as well.

Prediction: Fulgham caught a 71-yard touchdown against UNC last week, and I think he follows that up with four catches for 58 yards and another score. It will be in a losing effort, however, as Stroman gets his second straight game with an interception as the Hokies win a close one in Blacksburg by nine points.

4. UMass TE Adam Breneman vs. Tennessee DBs Micah Abernathy/Evan Berry Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee – Noon – SEC Network

Local college football fans may recognize Breneman’s name, as the Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania native starred at Penn State early in his career before briefly retiring due to medical issues. The former five-star recruit took a year away from the game, serving as a campaign manager during the state senate race, and decided to reunite with his true love of football. One of his best friends happened to play for the Minutemen, so Breneman joined the team a year ago and is now hoping to reach the upside many thought he had with the Nittany Lions. At 6-4, 250 pounds, Breneman is one of the fastest tight ends in the country and has soft hands to impact the vertical passing game. His knees will have to be checked out, but I think he will absolutely be viewed as one of the best prospects at the tight end position in this class when it’s all said and done.

Senior safety Evan Berry had a lot to live up to when he arrived in Knoxville because his older brother Eric was one of the best players to ever play in the SEC and has turned into one of the best safeties in the NFL. He only started three games coming into this season and has been known more for his skills as a kick returner than as a defensive back. Junior safety Micah Abernathy is the starter to watch here, and with 16 tackles he’s one of the leaders in the secondary.

Prediction: After the heartbreaking loss to Florida last week, Tennessee comes back with a vengeance against UMass, but Brenemen gets his touches. I’m calling for five catches, 58 yards, and his first touchdown (which is surprising since he has 24 grabs for 369 yards already) of the season.

5. Arkansas C Frank Ragnow vs. Texas A&M DT Daylon Mack AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas – Noon – ESPN

A three-year starter with good size, strength, and a nasty temperament is always going to fare well in the lead-up to the NFL Draft, and Frank Ragnow is certainly one of those guys. The Razorback stands tall at 6-5, 317 pounds and he can line up at any of the three interior spots in the NFL. Ragnow has a strong anchor with the ability to handle a bull rush with ease. He looks very calm and comfortable in pass protection, showing the ability to read defenses after the snap and process what’s happening in front of him. I’m a fan of his game and see him as a high-floor prospect who should stick in the league for a long time.

From a high-floor player in Ragnow, Daylon Mack is a high-ceiling player on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Mack arrived at Texas A&M as a big-time recruit and earned playing time right away, but has been a career backup thus far for the Aggies. An explosive penetrating tackle who plays with natural leverage and a quick first step, Mack will need to rely on his superior athleticism to win when he’s matched up one-on-one with Ragnow. Mack will be in trouble if he gets locked up in hand-to-hand combat with Ragnow.

Prediction: I think Ragnow wins the battle, but Mack’s Aggies will win the war in a close-fought game between two struggling SEC teams. Ragnow didn’t allow a sack in all of 2016. I expect that to continue, but A&M wins by six.

Draft Buzz

Virginia linebacker Micah Kiser was highlighted by our friend Tony Pauline as a “riser” this week after a big performance against UConn. The senior is in his third year as a starter for the Cavaliers, and he wins with his size and strength. At 240 pounds, Kiser has the bulk to come downhill and thump blockers at the point of attack in the run game. The question with him will be his athletic upside and his play-recognition skills, which is the most important trait of all for a linebacker. I love Kiser’s motor and he’s a fun player to watch.

Small-School Spotlight

I mentioned Tanner Lee’s struggles against Northern Illinois last week, and one of the players at the forefront of that upset win for the Huskies was cornerback Shawun Lurry, who has been on my radar since he earned All-America honors in 2015 when he finished with nine interceptions. Largely undersized at just 5-8, 180 pounds, Lurry’s role at the next level will be limited to playing on the inside and on special teams, but he’s got all of the athletic traits needed to play in the NFL and his ball skills are very good. He won’t be a fit for everyone because of his measurables and he’s not a great tackler (which he will need to fix to play on special teams), but seeing Lurry shine against Nebraska was no surprise to me. Keep an eye out for this kid as the season progresses.

Philly Connection

It’s not often that there’s a player standing out for Alabama who has ties to the Northeast Corridor, but the best prospect on the roster (at least in my eyes) this year grew up not too far from Philadelphia. Defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick was the No. 1 player in the state of New Jersey out of high school. After his family was displaced by Hurricane Irene in August of 2011, Fitzpatrick and his family did everything they could for him to stay at St. Peter’s Prep, and it paid off in a big way. In his hometown of Old Bridge, New Jersey (roughly 90 minutes north of Philadelphia), Fitzpatrick grew up to be a motivated, inspirational, and, most of all, focused kid who is chasing his dream of playing in the NFL. On the field, Fitzpatrick’s instincts, athleticism, and versatility are some of his best traits. He can play any position in the secondary at a high level; and he’s been a starter since his true freshman year in the secondary for Nick Saban, which is not an easy task. He needs to do a better job of finding the ball late downfield and he has some things to clean up in terms of his technique in press coverage. But there is no doubt that Fitzpatrick is one of the 10 best players in the country.

Game Ball

Going into last week’s action, I had heard of Memphis wide receiver Anthony Miller but never had the chance to study him. I was very impressed with his performance against UCLA which the first time I watched him on TV or on tape. Reeling in nine passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns in an upset victory over the visiting Bruins certainly helped. He looked quick, confident over the middle of the field, and reliable at the catch point. I’m excited to dig more into Miller’s tape this year and take a closer look at his quarterback, Riley Ferguson.

Fran Duffy is the producer of “Eagles Game Plan” which can be seen on Saturdays during the season. Be sure to also check out the “Eagle Eye In The Sky” podcast on the Philadelphia Eagles podcast channel on iTunes. Prior to joining the Eagles in 2011, Duffy was the head video coordinator for the Temple University Football team under former head coach Al Golden. In that role, he spent thousands of hours shooting, logging and assisting with the breakdown of the All-22 film from the team’s games, practices and opponents.

The post Penn State RB Saquon Barkley Is The Complete Package appeared first on Daily Star Sports.

from https://dailystarsports.com/2017/09/23/penn-state-rb-saquon-barkley-is-the-complete-package/ from https://dailystarsports.tumblr.com/post/165647635866

0 notes

a4pocket · 7 years

Text

Wolford scores 3 TDs, Wake Forest beats Utah State 46-10

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Senior quarterback John Wolford threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score as unbeaten Wake Forest defeated Utah State 46-10 on Saturday.

Arkeem Byrd had 120 yards rushing including a 59-yard TD scamper and Tabari Hines had a career-high 129 yards receiving for the Demon Deacons, who opened the season 3-0 for the second straight year. It’s the first time in six years Wake Forest has had a 100-yard rusher and receiver in the same game.

Wake Forest led 30-0 at halftime after outgaining the Aggies 397-77 in the first half.

This one was never close.

Wake Forest seized the momentum early as Cameron Glenn intercepted a Kent Myers pass on Utah State’s first possession and returned the ball 43 yards for an apparent touchdown. The play was called back for an illegal block, but it didn’t matter as Wolford hit freshman Greg Dortch on a slant route on Wake Forest’s first offensive play for a 43-yard touchdown. Wolford made it 14-0 on the next series finding a wide open tight end Cam Serigne on a seam route for a 45-yard TD.

Wake Forest’s defense was dominant.

They limited Utah State (1-2) to 1.98 yards per play in the first half and Boogie Basham recorded a safety.

KNOCKED OUT: Myers was 9 of 23 for 54 yards for Utah State before being knocked out of the game in the third quarter when he was hit on the return of a pooch punt. Jordan Love replaced Myers and threw a 75-yard touchdown pass on his second throw.

DORTCHED HIM: Dortch became the first freshman in school history to catch a touchdown pass in his first three games. It was Dortch’s team-high fourth TD catch of the season and he leads the Demon Deacons in yards receiving.

NEW STREAK BEGINS: Serigne had his 37-game streak of consecutive receptions snapped last week at Boston College, but started another on Saturday when he showed his speed by exploding down the seam and hauling in a TD catch in the first quarter.

SUPER SPECIAL TEAMS: Wake Forest gave up a first down on a fake punt, but otherwise dominated on special teams. Punter Dom Maggio pinned Utah State at the 1-inch line leading to a safety on Utah State’s next possession and Jessie Bates had a 75-yard punt return that led to a 1-yard run by Matt Colburn.

THE TAKEAWAY:

Utah State: The Aggies looked like a jetlagged football team that simply didn’t show up one week after a 51-13 win over Idaho State. They were beat up front on both sides of the ball. The Aggies couldn’t get anything going on offense and their defense did little to stop the Demon Deacons, who averaged 7.6 yards per play in the first half. Myers struggled at quarterback, but Love provided some spark.

Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons may be a little better than some are giving them credit for this season. They’ve opened the season with three straight 200-yard rushing games and have outscored their opponents 141-27 so far. Their other wins came against Presbyterian and Boston College.

UP NEXT

Utah State: The Aggies look to get back on track when they travel to face San Jose State next Saturday.

Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons pack up and head to Boone, North Carolina to face Appalachian State on Saturday.

More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Source Article

The post Wolford scores 3 TDs, Wake Forest beats Utah State 46-10 appeared first on A4POCKET.

Read full post at: http://www.a4pocket.com/wolford-scores-3-tds-wake-forest-beats-utah-state-46-10/

0 notes

addcrazy-blog · 7 years

Text

New Post has been published on Add Crazy

New Post has been published on https://addcrazy.com/jewel-of-nature%e2%80%88tips-for-attracting-hummingbirds/

Jewel of nature: Tips for attracting hummingbirds

One of the joys of life is looking at nature. One of the jewels of nature is hummingbirds. Looking them hover over a flower taking in its sweet nectar is a pride. To peer them feed at a hummingbird feeder flying in, playing chase backward and forward is even more amusing. Closing summer season, my husband and I even gave each of them names as they visited us in the course of every day at our hummingbird feeders.

Hummingbirds are drawn to purple, crimson vegetation, purple components of a hummingbird feeder, a purple glazed flower pot, even the red hat or blouse of a non-suspecting gardener. They commonly arrive in March or April and leave in October or November.

If your gardening objective is to attract hummingbirds without a doubt plant some plants that appeal to them and offer a protein food plan of small bugs, placed up and maintain a hummingbird feeder and provide a water feature of some kind. If you need them to nest and locate refuge for your garden, encompass shrubs or bushes where they are able to find a home. To cause them to experience honestly welcome, offer a water source, along with a birdbath or water fountain, that gives a twig of water.

Once hummingbirds discover your red flowering flora, they may find flora of different colors in your garden which are similarly as delightful. In keeping with http://aggie-horticulture.Tamu.Edu, the plant life of preferred flora are “formed in this type of way that it can accommodate their whirring wings. The general structure of flower petals has a tendency to be thick enough to resist the beaks of different birds. Here are just a few flowers which might be suggested as proper hummingbird attractors and some they totally enjoy, even though they may not produce crimson blooms. For quick garden coloration, a few annuals are counseled. In line with the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, hummingbirds are interested in annual phlox (Phlox Drummond), Indian paintbrush (Castilleja individual), beebalm (Monarda citriodora), pink sage (Salvia cocaine). purple zinnias and orange-crimson marigolds will also attract hummingbirds due to their pink color. Those are only a few annuals which are suggested, there are numerous others that still will entice our playful friends.

There are hundreds of perennials that hummingbirds enjoy. Right here are some Texas natives that are earth kind and are easy to keep. Autumn sage (Salvia Greg), pass vine, coral honeysuckle, Texas lantana (Lantana corticoids), Turk’s cap, yellow bells (Tacoma sans), flame acanthus, and local hibiscus are listed inside the loose Texas Parks and Natural world Hummingbird lawn brochure to be had at Those Texas natives will be available on the Bell County Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, March twenty-fifth from eight a.M. to one:00 p.M. at the Bell County AgriLife Extension Workplace study room positioned at 1605 N. Principal, Belton, Texas.

Hummingbird feeders are with ease available at many shops and gardening centers. Make sure they have got crimson features. The food used to fill These feeders is an easy recipe of 4 components water and one part sugar (one cup of water and ¼ cup sugar). The water needs to be boiled earlier than measuring. it could also be boiled in the microwave for three mins earlier than including the sugar, stir until the sugar is dissolved. Permit the aggregate cool before filling the feeder. I like to make up a batch of greater than I want to fill my hummingbird feeders and put the relaxation inside the fridge for while the feeder needs to be crammed again.

The feeder wishes to be cleaned and refilled approximately two times every week or greater regularly if empty so that the combination does no longer sour. Do now not upload purple food coloring to this combination. It is believed that red dye is harmful to our feathered pals.

And an interesting bit of facts found on One of the hummingbird internet sites is that If you discover that your hummingbird feeder is not attracting hummingbirds otherwise you find that bees and wasps are playing the food you are imparting, attempt painting any yellow features in your feeder crimson. Bees and wasps are interested in the yellow coloration and stay far away from purple. I have no longer examined this but, however, I did a word that wasps had been attracted to my feeder Final summer.

With a touching attempt, you possibly can revel in the fruits of gardening and the visits of our stunning and playful tiny feathered buddies that help to pollinate flora as they soar from one flower to the next filling their tummies with scrumptious nectar.

Bell County Master Gardeners will have a sales space at the home and garden Show at the Bell County Expo Center this, weekend February 24 (evening), 25 & 26. Here you will discover licensed Master gardeners who can solution your precise gardening questions. There will be gardening brochures to be had and extra information about the upcoming Spring Plant Sale. There will also be seminars on gardening topics that you may enjoy.

Kottayam – Kerala’s Hidden Jewel for Nature-Fans

approximately 154-km within the Northwest of Thiruvananthapuram and approximately 65-km southeast of Kochi, amid charming mangrove forests and beguiling lush inexperienced paddy fields, there locates a small metropolis called ‘Kottayam’. As quickly as you approach the metropolis, it starts of evolved dating you with its unparallel herbal splendor and exotic geographical features. Lengthy stretches of coconut timber dotted with enthralling waterways, adorable plantations of tea, rubber, and pepper, huge open grass fields and unrelenting ranges of massive mountains; no surprise Kottayam draws hundreds of nature-Fanatics from a long way and wide. Moreover, uncommon species of vegetation & plants and scores of birds & wild animals make this location a heaven for eco-vacationers.

there are many locations of traveler interest in Kottayam. The religious concord in/around can leave anyone spellbound. The region has 50 temples, 70 churches and numerous mosques which provide grand nonsecular fervor and historicity to delight in. Cultural events and festivals which Kottayam celebrates are notable and pride attractions of a Kerala tour. some famous places of spiritual & cultural significance in Kottayam consist of famous Mahadeva temple, Shri Krishna Swami Temple, Bhagawati Temple, St. Mary’s Church and Panchalimedu.

There is lovely Kesari Falls placed among Kuttikanam and Murinjapuzha on Kottayam-Kumili street. The Vembanad Lake, about sixteen km from Kottayam, is another feather in the crown of Kottayam tourism and Kerala tourism. A repository of galore rivers, canals, and rolls, this place is gaining a massive reputation amongst nature-loving vacationers. Together with breathtaking scenery, this lake affords notable opportunities for fishing, houseboat cruise, and birding. On the bank of Vembanad, the famous Kumarakom Chicken sanctuary is any other entice for travelers. Come Here to discover a number of species of birds such as Siberian Stork, egret, heron and Darter etc.

An area of opulent records & cultures, an abundance of natural bounties and high desirable way of life, Kottayam is a surprise in itself. It’s been thronged by way of visitors all through 12 months; but the first-class time to plan a Kottayam tour is between September and March when the weather is comparatively cool and dry. Kottayam is nicely linked to the rest of the nation by means of tremendous avenue-rail-air-waterways. Nedumbassery, approximately ninety-km North, is the closest airport, at the same time as Kottayam itself has a railway station which has connectivity to almost entire Kerala nation. Ferry offerings are available to approach the city thru waterways.

For lodging, Kottayam has an array of picks to cater every need and finances. vacationers might also pick from luxury hotels & resort to budget accommodations and accommodations. a few famous lodges in Kottayam include the Pearl Regency luxurious Commercial enterprise Lodge, Kumarakom Lake lodge and Windsor Fortress. You could opt for homestays In case you want an accommodation at cheap costs. while planning for Kottayam tour, more than a few Kerala excursion programs are available in the marketplace. Looking online, You could discover a vacation package that suits your excursion fashion and finances.

https://addcrazy.com/

0 notes

junker-town · 5 years

Text

6 college football teams nobody really wants to play right now

The Top Whatever is a weekly ranking of only the teams that must be ranked at this exact second.

1. UCF. Still undefeated, still champs, can still go to Disney any time they want, haters.

Actually, this brings me to a terrifying point about Orlando and UCF: this exactly the city and team someone would have designed as an eight-year-old. UCF’s first shot at designing a mascot? Something an eight-year-old would make.

Their all-aluminum stadium that looks like an Lego Technic set and at one point included such childish oversights as “whoops, we forgot the water fountains?” Also clearly the work of an eight-year-old.

Being undefeated, yet unable to eat at the big kids’ table? Also a very Orlando thing, especially this year, when they could win the rest of their games and still not get any closer to the playoff because of their conference and schedule. But we got straight A’s! Yes, it’s third grade math, though, and Alabama is out here doing differential equations in their sleep.

That is not your fault, UCF. That’s just where you’re at in a very unfair world. Some consolation: no other team is both 20 minutes from Splash Mountain and in a community where you can pay traffic tickets in fruit snacks.

2. Clemson. Remember when Clemson won a close game at Texas A&M earlier this year? It was a 28-26 squeaker, definitive evidence of a lot of things people wanted to assume from one college football game.

For instance, after the Texas A&M game, Clemson’s starter was clearly Kelly Bryant and not upstart Trevor Lawrence, the Tiger secondary had serious issues, and Travis Etienne and the rest of the run game were going to struggle. A&M, meanwhile, was just two points away from joining the elite, and Jimbo Fisher’s $70 million guaranteed salary was already worth it.

It’s November now. Clemson’s run game has razed much of the ACC, averaging 265 yards a game and giving luxurious protection for Lawrence, the starting QB. The defense hasn’t allowed anything close to the yardage A&M earned in College Station that night and has only allowed one team to hit triple digits both rushing and passing in a single game. That was NC State, and Clemson won, 41-7.

Texas A&M just lost to Auburn, a team desperate to fire its coach with a gigantic buyout.

No one is getting anything from Clemson this year, not on the ground, not through the air, and not in turnovers or easy possessions from their offense. They move like a service academy on the ground, defend like an Alabama, and are grooming their next wunderkind QB in practice sessions everyone else calls “live conference games.” The ceiling for this team is theoretical, at an altitude high enough to require powerful telescopes to see.

Oh, and they’re not even close to that ceiling yet.

3. Alabama.

pic.twitter.com/wpRw6yIFbr

— Evil Greg Byrne (@EvilADByrne) November 5, 2018

I dunno. That’s Alabama, the team so unchallenged, other teams are resorting to desperate measures like “flying helmet-first into the apparently adamantine testicles of the immortal quarterback.”

Tua Tagovailoa described the hit by LSU as “right in the goodies,” and he had to come out for a minute. He had a mediocre night, at least on the Tagovailoa curve: 344 yards total offense, two passing TDs, one rushing TD, and his first interception of the season, which still worked out nicely for the Tide.

It is terrifying how far Alabama has come since Nick Saban’s arrival, but especially terrifying when the quarterback position is taken into account. Alabama won a national title with glorified placeholders like Greg McElroy at the helm, then turned to the workmanlike A.J. McCarron to run a standard pro-style offense for another pair of titles.

Someone named Jacob Coker won a national championship? I think that happened, though if anyone says there was anything particularly memorable about Jacob Coker, they are either a.) lying or b.) talking to Jacob Coker.

The final pivot is the really mindbending one. Alabama switched to what looked a lot like a spread run game, started a quarterback who was nothing like his predecessors in Jalen Hurts, and ran him to another shot at a national title before switching to the next coming of Football Jesus himself in Tagovailoa.

Switching styles of offense is one thing. It’s something teams don’t do much, much less without a head coaching change. But doing that in three or possibly four different variations over the course of a decade, with five or six differently styled players, all without losing momentum?

That’s something that would kill lesser regimes. It’s evidence that Alabama’s talent level is so absurd it can sustain decisions that have destroyed other teams. It’s also evidence that Saban, for all the jokes about how much he hates changing anything, is actually brilliant at managing change.

They’re all so good at it, in fact, that Tua’s worst night of the year ended up bottoming out somewhere around other starting QBs’ best. Play your best game, and you might see eye-to-eye with Alabama’s worst. GOOD LUCK.

4. Utah State. The Aggies are a combination of two things no one wants a piece of: overdue and over.

Utah State is overdue in the sense that injuries and bad luck limited their production in 2015 and 2016. Rollover points aren’t real, but they might be for Utah State, a team on an eight-game win streak in which they’ve averaged over 50 points a game and destroyed everything in their wake.

They’re over in the sense that they are literally over, beating the spread by 13 points a game in 2018.

Most of that is due to the players, but some credit should also go to offensive coordinator David Yost for his aggressive schemes, play calling, and hair.

Utah State's Offensive Coordinator David Yost has turned the Aggies into an offensive juggernaut. This is how he did it. https://t.co/wpdAEOiMmF pic.twitter.com/lshCR4GQLE

— The Salt Lake Tribune (@sltrib) October 19, 2018

Mostly his hair, tbh.

5. Michigan. The 127 Hours of teams. Play Michigan, and they’re going to take a limb and immobilize you. Not in a super flashy way, no, but brutally enough to let you know: you live out here now, and you’re not going anywhere.

Ultimately, to get away, your team will have to cut its arm off with a pocket knife. Only Notre Dame brought one this year, but fortunately, Brian Kelly regrows limbs like a starfish.

6. Iowa State. The Cyclones switched to freshman QB Brock Purdy after a loss to TCU on September 29th. Since then, Iowa State has upset Oklahoma State in Stillwater, dealt out one of the most lopsided asskickings of the year against West Virginia, and fended off a frenetic Texas Tech for a win.

They also beat Kansas, which was a team effort. We say that to differentiate the team win from Hakeem Butler getting KU’s coach fired with a single play. That was an individual effort, and Butler deserves credit for that.

Hakeem Butler just #Mossed a KU defender. Then #GetOffOfMe!! pic.twitter.com/i6uB71cLDa

— Sage Rosenfels (@SageRosenfels18) November 3, 2018

Is it possible to burn someone so badly it gets their boss fired? The evidence here seems to speak for itself.

No one wants to play Iowa State right now, and no one should, because after years of joking about how playing in Ames is a recipe for disaster — without a lot of real evidence to back that up — that reality has arrived. Don’t go to Ames. There are no funny accidents out there anymore, just dark, sinister farm country, where good teams actually do go to die at the hands of a gifted freshman QB and the Big 12’s best scoring defense.

0 notes

junker-town · 6 years

Text

Jimbo Fisher’s outlandish Texas A&M contract, and the 7 wildest other things to happen in college football on Friday

Conference championship weekend got overshadowed by college football going all COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

What are you doing over the next 10 years? Maybe you’ve got a 10-year plan to grow a business or get your life together. I’d imagine you’d like to make some money over that time period. That’s fair. But none of us has a 10-year plan quite like new Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher now does. Not even close.

He leaves Florida State after eight years at the helm and national championship in the trophy case. Leaving one of the country’s top jobs makes this story stunning enough.

But there’s more. Fisher agreed to a 10-year, $75 million contract on Friday. If that contract sounds huge, it’s because it is. It’s a record in the sense of total dollar-figure.

What’s even more, is it’s reportedly fully guaranteed, meaning he will receive every single cent owed, even if he goes 6-6 every year against a harder schedule, unless he gets fired for cause for some off-field reason.

I mean, imagine getting $20,548 a day for 10 years. And you could be bad at what you do and you'd still get it.

— Ben Kercheval (@BenKercheval) December 2, 2017

A&M seemingly has more money than God, with its massive stadium renovation and 2016’s highest-grossing athletic department in college sports. But the contract is still eye-popping, and sets up mammoth expectations for the Aggies from Day 1.

I spoke to an agent Friday evening who expressed a big concern within the industry: For a sport that sustains itself on incremental change, Texas A&M just threw a bomb into how salaries are structured at the top level. The game has changed.

And that was only arguably the wildest thing that happened Friday. Here are the others.

Ole Miss finally learned what its NCAA fate will be.

Through an investigation process that started some five years ago, the Rebels got their sanctions from the NCAA. These are the penalties:

An additional bowl-ban year (2018).

Because of that total two-year bowl ban, NCAA rules give Ole Miss seniors the freedom to transfer elsewhere without sitting out a season.

Probation running concurrently with current probation for a total of four years.

Financial penalties, added to self-imposed sanctions, and totaling $179,000.

A total scholarship reduction of 13 over a period of years. That’s in addition to the 11 over four years that Ole Miss self-imposed, which already meant three or four fewer scholarship players per year.

Every coach named in the NCAA’s investigation has received a show-cause (essentially an NCAA blackball for a period of time) of varying lengths. That doesn’t include new head coach Matt Luke, who wasn’t named. Former head coach Hugh Freeze would receive a two-game suspension, if hired elsewhere. Former assistant David Saunders’ show-cause runs for eight years. Former staffer Barney Farrar faces five.

Ole Miss says it will “vigorously” appeal the bowl ban, so this saga is not over.

And when this news broke it was totally overshadowed by Tennessee.

Tennessee had Mike Leach pretty close to being its head coach.

After nearly a dozen reported instances of the Vols narrowing in on a single coach candidate, AD John Currie went out to Los Angeles to meet with Washington State’s Leach, and the meeting went ”very well,” per Sports Illustrated. The report went on to say that there was mutual interest from Leach.

But there was something else swirling within the Vols athletic program since the bungling of the Greg Schiano hiring earlier this week. People have not been happy with Currie.

That came to a head on Friday.

Tennessee had a coup that ended up with Phillip Fulmer as new athletic director.

Former head coach Fulmer is back in charge after basically running an insurrection that ended up with now-former AD John Currie being ousted.

Fulmer was 151-52-1 in 17 seasons in Knoxville, winning a national championship in the 1998 season. Only [Robert] Neyland, who won 173 games between 1926 and 1952, won more football games leading the Vols. Fulmer left his job, reportedly under pressure, after the 2008 season. He still appears at Tennessee games and was a College GameDay guest picker (choosing the Vols) before 2016’s game against Florida.

Somehow, this guy wins the sweepstakes that is the Knoxvillian game of thrones.

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Remember that Fulmer was not well-regarded when he was pushed out in 2008, but time heals all wounds, and at least there’s a Vol to drive the bus, wherever it’s gonna go.

What’s on the rock today? This. http://pic.twitter.com/AWDXsB7GiA

— Donovan Long (@WVLTDonovan) December 1, 2017

Willie Taggart watch begins in Tallahassee, and the Oregon job might soon open.

Y’all have any idea what a Florida State coaching search looks like? If you do, then I guess 1978 was a fun time, because that’s the last time the school had one. The fanbase has its eye squarely fixed on Oregon coach Willie Taggart.

A native of Bradenton, Florida, Taggart began his head-coaching career where he played QB: Western Kentucky. He turned around that program after just the first of his three seasons and then brought back South Florida, where he registered win totals of 2, 4, 8, and 10 (in that order) from 2013-2016 before being hired by Oregon. Taggart is 5-1 with his starting QB this year, and 1-4 without. He’s an excellent recruiter who could seriously reinvigorate FSU’s fortunes in the Tampa area.

Taggart said before practice on Friday that he wouldn’t address any of the rumors, but they will certainly persist.

About an hour before FSU news broke, Jimbo’s Christmas tree became an instant meme.

#FSU coach Jimbo Fisher has put his Christmas tree outside his house to be picked up as garbage http://pic.twitter.com/N0pgrdL0bN

— Wayne McGahee III (@WayneMcGaheeIII) December 1, 2017

On any other day, a bowl giving itself a six-word name would’ve sustained college football fan jokes for hours.

You haven’t heard of Cheribundi either.

We told you we had some BIG news coming...We are thrilled to announce our new title sponsor: The 2017 Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl#CheribundiBocaBowl Cheribundi Builds Championshttps://t.co/MVVk7tRyiC http://pic.twitter.com/nPqIQf1Rck

— Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl (@BocaBowl) December 1, 2017

Everybody kind of forgot a Power 5 title game was happening right after all this.

Oh, yeah we actually played real American football on Friday as well. The Pac-12 title game was actually a thing that happened. It provided some wonderful symmetry to cinch up the day. USC beat Stanford, 31-28, to win its first Pac-12 title since 2008.

Isn’t she lovely? #FightOn http://pic.twitter.com/WWM9i4qCJc

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) December 2, 2017

Another thing that was happening in 2008?

This guy was head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers:

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

A tough day for trees and a wild day for college football comes to an end, with conference title Saturday, Selection Sunday, and plenty more Vols news still to go.

Sorry http://pic.twitter.com/rxmg4dgeiD

— SB Nation (@SBNation) December 2, 2017

0 notes

junker-town · 7 years

Text

Will Texas and Texas A&M play again? The post-breakup tracker

Realignment broke up one of college football's greatest hate-relationships, but the two won't stop eying each other. Let's keep track as they work their way to meeting up again. [Updated July 18.]

Texas and Texas A&M. It's a relationship that goes way back, but after an ugly conference realignment breakup, the two just can't seem to get back on the same page.

Here's a timeline of their trials and tribulations since splitting apart.

July 17, 2017

Texas' new head coach is on board!

Tom Herman on scheduling: "We don't play a rival at home ever. I don't know why we can't play A&M as our marquee non-conference opponent."

— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) July 18, 2017

THE HEAT SCALE, rating the flirtatious energy between Texas and A&M: 4. Texas' old head coach was also on board, and look where that got us.

June 28, 2017

"Their AD (DeLoss Dodds) at the time came out and said we will never play Texas A&M again, and they worked along with Baylor and the conference to have no one in the (Big 12) schedule us," former A&M AD Greg Byrne said. "There were other forces at work to make sure we didn't play."

THE HEAT SCALE: 4. That story has a bunch of disheartening stuff on this rivalry and Kansas-Missouri, but that particular quote is at least hot.

June 16, 2017

"Me, personally? I think over the course of time that's going to happen," A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said when asked, while also talking about how well he knows new Horns coach Tom Herman. "With our move to the SEC, scheduling has become a real issue."

THE HEAT SCALE: 3. Sumlin's been predicting a reunion for years now, not that we don't appreciate him doing so.

June 10, 2016

"They're trying to work something out right now where we're going to play the Aggies," Charlie Strong said at an event. A Texas spokesman said no specifics have been discussed, but we didn't even hear any of the words in this second sentence.

THE HEAT SCALE: 8. Do it.

April 14, 2016

A&M athletic director Scott Woodward, via DailyTrib.com in Texas:

Will the Aggies play the University of Texas in football again?

"We have to really assess what is our best path to winning the (Southeastern Conference) West," Woodward said. "I don't foresee anything happening in the near future. There are a lot of opinions well above my pay grade. Rivalries, I think, are healthy for the game.

"It'll be something we'll consider," he added. "It'll be a discussion I'll have to have. I have no objection to it. It's something that has to work for us and for folks."

HEAT SCALE: 5.

March 19, 2016

The two nearly played again in March Madness, but Texas had to go and lose to Northern Iowa on a buzzer beater. Aggies everywhere were torn between laughing at rivals and lamenting the chance to square off, but the likely A&M starting QB had the definitive opinion:

lol http://pic.twitter.com/S95xNzXEfi

— Jake Hubenak (@hubenak_j) March 19, 2016

HEAT SCALE: Unchanged. Laughing at your fallen rival is standard human behavior.

September 30, 2015

Texas A&M regent Tony Buzbee in a Facebook post, via the Austin American-Statesman:

I am going to advocate that the Aggies play Texas again in the near future. Because of our brutal SEC West schedule [...], the Aggies need some cupcake games to rest and heal. In my view, Texas is just as weak if not weaker than the non-conference games we play, so we may as well play them.

HEAT SCALE: 5. Buzbee is, as he mentions, only one regent, and regents aren't athletic directors, but eating pastries is often an enjoyable date activity.

June 18, 2015

Texas A&M chancellor John Sharp is quoted as saying this in response to Texas selling beer at games now:

A&M chancellor Sharp on alcohol at events: "Our athletic program has not reached the point where we require the numbing effects of alcohol."

— Gabe Bock (@GabeBock) June 18, 2015

HEAT SCALE: 3. These rivals can neither imbibe nor abstain without thinking of each other, but we already knew that.

May 8, 2015

A&M chancellor John Sharp took swipes at the Longhorn Network and Texas' recent on-field struggles in an interview.

We're hopeful that sometime in the future there will be a bowl game that we're able to play in, you know, if [Texas] gets there. But the great thing about playing us is that you can get on real TV if you play us.

HEAT SCALE: 2. Sharp ended with "of course I'm just joking about all of this." Stick to your guns, John!

April 16, 2015

When asked about renewing the rivalry, Strong joked that he wasn't pushing too hard for it yet because he wanted to win some games first. Specifically, he said "I don't know if I want to go walking into College Station right now."

That has caught on at A&M, including with incoming five-star defensive tackle Daylon Mack, who signed with the Aggies over Texas.

http://pic.twitter.com/A7D5F0TWex

— THEE MACK TRUCK (@DaylonMack) April 16, 2015

HEAT SCALE: 7. Twitter banter's usually a 2, but that shirt's a 5 by itself.

April 14, 2015

Oh my:

Texas' Charlie Strong and Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin both in the last week expressed to ESPN.com a desire to resume playing the longstanding rivalry after a three-year hiatus that coincided with the Aggies leaving the Big 12 and joining the SEC in 2012.

HEAT SCALE: 8.

July 23, 2014

Texas coach Charlie Strong on playing Texas A&M: "You would like to see us play each other"

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) July 23, 2014

HEAT SCALE: 7. We're cookin' now.

May 27, 2014

Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin on future games w/Texas: "Eventually I think it will happen"

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) May 27, 2014

HEAT SCALE: 6.

May 26, 2014

Texas and Texas A&M are playing again! In baseball. Postseason baseball, meaning they had no choice.

HEAT SCALE: 3. Baseball.

April 25, 2014

UT AD Steve Patterson told us ``unless there is a compelling reason,'' the football series between Texas and Texas A&M is dead.

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) April 25, 2014

HEAT SCALE: 2. There's no reason in love.

April 1, 2014

Texas AD Steve Patterson: Playing A&M "not at the top of my list."

HEAT SCALE: 3. /Patterson throws Strong into a cold shower

March 7, 2014

New Texas head coach Charlie Strong, sharing his thoughts on resuming the rivalry: "I'd love to play it."

HEAT SCALE: 11. Whoa, take it easy, Charlie. You can't come on so strong, that's just going to creep them out.

Nov. 20, 2013

A&M president Loftin: "There's no reason why we shouldn't play each other, if we want to. I think (Texas) will at some point in time feel like it's the right thing to do as well, and we'll get there."

HEAT SCALE: 7.

Nov. 6, 2013

After Texas hires Steve Patterson as AD, Texas A&M senior associate AD Jason Cook says the Aggies are not looking to renew the annual rivalry: "We hope to play them again in a BCS bowl or Playoff game at some point."

HEAT SCALE: 3. "I mean, if we run into 'em at a bar or something and they wanna hook up, we're totally down. But we ain't looking for a long-term thing. Just wanna keep it casual, ya know?"

Sept. 11, 2013

Texas A&M DB Toney Hurd Jr. takes to Twitter, proclaiming, "Texas A&M is the university of Texas." Then-Longhorns head coach Mack Brown responds to the media: "We are the university in this state, regardless of what some kid tweets."

HEAT SCALE: 2. They just can't let each other go, but man, it's getting nasty.

May 31, 2013

Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin: "It's not relevant to us anymore, that's the whole point. It's not an important issue."

HEAT SCALE: 3. "Who? Yeah, I think I remember someone by that name."

April 1, 2013

OH MAN THEY'RE GETTING BACK TOGETHER.

HEAT SCALE: 0. Wait. Awww dammit, April Fools' got us again.

March 18, 2013

Texas AD Dodds: "They're the ones that decided not to play us. We get to decide when we play again. I think that's fair."

HEAT SCALE: 6. It's not gonna be that easy, baby.

Jan. 29, 2013

Texas State Rep. Ryan Guillen proposes law forcing A&M and Texas to play.

HEAT SCALE: 0. Will you two give it a rest and get back together already. You're all each other talks about, and we're tired of seeing you like this. Jeez.

Nov. 19, 2012

Texas DE Alex Okafor, in the buildup to the Longhorns' new year-end game against TCU: "I feel sorry for A&M. We still have a big-time game on Thanksgiving. They're missing out."

HEAT SCALE: 8. "OH. OH OK YOU FOUND SOMEONE NEW? WELL WE FOUND SOMEONE NEW TOO AND WE'RE DOING JUST FINE." /Texas quickly puts its arm around the first school it can find, which happens to be TCU

May 30, 2012

Texas A&M and LSU reportedly agree to become annual end-of-season rivals.

HEAT SCALE: 6. A&M is moving on with its new life in a new place, but one has to think it's hoping Texas will notice the Aggies' sexy new companion.

Nov. 25, 2011

In the final scheduled meeting, Texas defeats A&M, 27-25, on a game-winning field goal as time expires.

HEAT SCALE: 10. Texas just came over to get that last box of t-shirts and CDs, and of course it turned into a raucous night of love-making, just like the old times. A&M was pretty mad when the Longhorns left an upper-decker before running out laughing, though.

Oct. 15, 2011

Texas AD DeLoss Dodds: "What we have right now is a full schedule."

HEAT SCALE: 1. "I can't on Friday. Saturday's no good, either. Neither is next week. Or next month."

Sept. 26, 2011

Someone creates a "Keep the Texas vs. Texas A&M Rivalry Game Tradition Alive - Drama Free" Facebook page. It garnered only 89 likes and, as we all know, didn't get the pair back together.

HEAT SCALE: 1. This isn't really a spark between the 'Horns and Ags. It's a desperate plea from their friends to give it another shot.

Sadness scale: 10. :-(

Aug. 29, 2011

Report surfaces Texas A&M is set to announce its departure from the Big 12.

HEAT SCALE: 1. It has been a long road together, but after one last big fight over A&M wanting its own space, the Longhorns and Aggies agree that they just don't have anything in common anymore, and it's best to go their separate ways.

Any more?

We'll update this as more of these arrive over time (and they certainly will). Did we miss any from the past?

0 notes