Random College Football Questions

Just sitting here with entirely too much time on my hands, so I just had to get some things out of my system.

1. Why is it difficult for marquee programs to find a head coach? Yes, I'm talking to you Florida, Miami, and possibly Michigan again.

2. Speaking of Michigan, don't you think that the reason they get turned down by others is because everyone in Ann Arbor keeps clamoring for a Michigan man?

3. Why does Auburn assistant Trooper Taylor get just as much face time as Cam Newton? I swear, if I didn't watch football, I'd think he was the coach. 

4. Why can't Houston get an invite to join the Big 12?  Please don't tell me it's about academics.

5. Is Temple's Al Golden holding out for the Penn State job?

6. Also, isn't the shine off of Rutgers' Greg Schiano and Fresno State's Pat Hill?

7. Won't the new Mountain West look like the WAC of the 1980's?

8. What happened to the days when an 8-3 record still got you a top 10 ranking and job security?

9. Why doesn't Texas Tech admit they made a mistake a bring back Mike Leach and his gimmicky offense?

10. Why did Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson take the Indiana job? I hope he's able to turn the Hoosiers into a bowl eligible program.

Chizik Can Feel Complete Redemption If He Wins Title

Remember when Gene Chizik was named the head coach at Auburn? I do. The decision was ridiculed from coast to coast. The "experts" thought he was the wrong guy. Charles Barkley even chimed in saying they should've hired Turner Gill and said Gill wasn't hired because he was black. They said he couldn't and wouldn't beat Nick Saban. Personally I thought it wasn't a good choice based on his 5-19 record at Iowa State. Especially since things got worse in Ames after he arrived. 

Well, Chizik is close to having the last laugh. He's headed to the BCS title game with the probable Heisman Trophy winner in tow. Everyone that said he wasn't the right choice and that Saban would rule the state of Alabama are now eating crow. Chizik will feel complete redemption if he wins the national championship. The Tigers have surprised everyone, including me. I knew Cam Newton was a difference maker, but damn, this kind of difference maker. Who knew? I know what everyone is saying now. Cam Newton has "made" Gene Chizik. Even though Newton has led the Tigers on some memorable comebacks, it's been a good marriage between the two. More specifically Newton and Chizik's most important hire, offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.

Of course for this story to have a happy ending they'll have to get by Oregon. Not impossible, but considering everything they've been through and what they've done all year I wouldn't doubt them now.

Why Is Every Duke Game Televised?

Since I do hate Duke basketball with a passion, it pains me to write this. But after flicking channels this afternoon I couldn't help it.

Duke is a very good basketball team, with or without super freshman Kyrie Irving.They probably will win the national championship again, but stranger things have happened. But why do we have to be treated to clunker games on television like the ones against Bradley and Saint Louis. I know Duke may be a ratings draw and we get to hear Dick Vitale preach the Blue Devil gospel, but we don't need to see that much of them. We know Bradley or Saint Louis had no real shot at winning those games. It's like watching the old Superstars of Wrestling on Saturday back in the day. You remember the matches like Iron Mike Sharpe vs. The Ultimate Warrior. You wanted to see Sharpe get over but also knew he had no real chance at winning. Same for watching the Bradley's of the world taking on Duke on national tv. The network's execs (the four letter network) could've picked a better matchup. I would've rather watched Missouri vs. Vandy.

But damn what I think, just keep feeding us Duke, like they give us the Yankees vs. Red Sox year after year.
Or in this case, King Kong Bundy vs. Ronnie Dee.

Welcome To The WAC Circa 1980

Not that it really matters, but Hawaii is jumping ship from the WAC (Western Athletic Conference) to join the Mountain West in football only starting in the 2012-2013 season. They will join the Big West in all other sports.

Well, I hate to say it but, who cares. The Mountain West lost all credibility when BYU decided to go all Destiny's Child by going Independent. Then Utah took off to the Pac-10 (or 12). After all that TCU went to the Big Least, er, Big East. The Mountain West did pick up Boise State, Fresno State and Hawaii. Now if the MWC held on to BYU, Utah, and TCU, I would say that the MWC would've been major players at the BCS table. I might've suggested they drop New Mexico, which would've put them at twelve teams. Instead they've been kicked back to the kids' table again. In 2012 here's how the Mountain West will look:  Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada, Hawaii, Colorado State, San Diego State, UNLV, New Mexico, Wyoming and Air Force.


This looks like how the WAC used to look back in the 1980's, along with BYU and Utah. It actually resembled an actual conference like the Mountain West. Now the WAC is struggling to maintain, at least football wise, an FBS conference with any shred of relevancy.

Vikings' Shiancoe Thinks The Lions Get Shafted By Refs

It's not normal for a professional athlete to have any sympathy for a rival team. The exception is Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. He thinks the Detroit Lions are getting shafted by the referees. Shiancoe tweeted the following regarding some dubious calls in the Bears/Lions game.

Lions get the short end of the stick alot.. i wonder whats really going on. Happens to much


Just seeing that unnecessary roughness call on #90 on Jay Cutler in the Bears/Lions game.. This isnt flag football ..man


Many Lions fans feel the same way.

It's Time For The Tigers To Lower Their Sights In Free Agency

Forget the Carl Crawford pipe dreams. The only way the Detroit Tigers improve their current roster is going to be through trades or lower cost free agents. I'm not going to get too much into it because I've described who I would go after. The problem I see with the Tigers is they want to operate like a big budget club. They don't have big budget dollars though. Then when things go terribly bad (see 2007) they end up having to cut costs.

My soultion is still to take flyers on low cost one or two year deals. Someone like Orland Hudson, Lastings Milledge, or Xavier Nady isn't going to cost you too much to see if they can play and cut bait if they can't. The team itself isn't getting any younger. I know they're trying to win now, but they need to be wise with their money. If they break the bank and fail then you have to start from square one and the Tigers don't have youth down on the farm to start over.

Urban Meyer Steps Down. Who's Next At Florida?

Urban Meyer is leaving Florida and this time its for real. I won't get into specifics or anything, all I know is he wants to spend more time with his family. Can't fault the man for that. There's gonna be plenty of speculation on who takes over.

The first name from everyone's mouths' was Mississippi State's Dan Mulllen. Mullen didn't know anything about Meyer leaving and texted Brad Locke of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal "news to me. Happy at State". He's still a candidate for the open Miami job.

Louisville's Charlie Strong could also be in the mix. He was Meyer's defensive coordinator and had Louisville bowl eligible this year. I personally think that won't happen.

Bob Stoops' name has been thrown into the mix but I see him leaving for an NFL job before jumping ship at Oklahoma.

Here's one name that I think could hit the ground running at Florida. Mike Leach. The offensive personnel seems to be tailored to his style of play. There's a pro style quarterback in John Brantley, who seemed an odd fit in Meyer's spread. Everyone knows Leach loves his qb's to chuck the ball around 50 times a game. There's speed to burn at the skill positions and those players are also highly thought of. He would have a solid defense. And he could recruit like mad with that crazy scheme he runs. His name isn't on the list but I wouldn't be surprised if he landed in The Swamp.