Bulls and Video Games

It's time for South Florida and Cincinnati to kick off their Thursday night game that the winner will control their destiny in the Big East. I made a comment on earlier saying that who would have thought a couple of years ago that these two teams would be the ones fighting for control of the conference. I was reminded by a Bulls fan that two years ago the USF Bulls climbed to number two in the BCS poll. I remembered that was the year South Florida upset Auburn to catapult them into the national spotlight. This is totally irrelevant to the game at hand but I wanted to share how South Florida's last couple of years have followed a video game.

Playing everyone's favorite college football video game I believe it was NCAA 05 I started a dynasty with USF. The first season my big out of conference game was Miami who promptly clobbered my team. In year 2 i scheduled a trip to Auburn, running my version of a spread option I upset Auburn and want on to upset West Virginia and ended up winning the Big East. In year 3 I traveled to Florida State and pulled another upset on the road. I was just thinking earlier how funny that the same teams that my virtual USF Bulls upset three or four years ago the real Bulls have also beaten the last couple of years. Now I later beat Miami and in year 4 of my dynasty i won the BCS championship with the Bulls. Now don't book your reservations just yet everyone but IF the Bulls were to win out this year they would have beaten then #18 FSU, Cincinnati, who is currently ranked 8th, and Miami who sits at 9th. They would need some other teams to lose ahead of them but anything is possible if USF can avoid what has happened in previous years where they start strong and then collapse sown the stretch.Of course before we look ahead we need to take care of this week. South Florida is currently down 17-10 at the half.

Well with South Florida losing to Cincinnati 34-17 I guess that the BCS is out of the question. However on the video game it was the year after the FSU upset so maybe next year...

The day games are over time for the night games to start, here are some observations from the day. In the SEC Auburn suffers their first loss of the year at the hands of Arkansas 44-23. Clearly not a warm welcome for Gus Malzahan. Alabama stays unbeaten by finishing off Ole Miss 22-3. Jevan Snead threw four interceptions to put the Rebel defense in plenty of tough spots. The Rebel defense played a great game holding Alabama to just 22 points, it could have been much worse. Alabama's only touchdown came on a 36 yard touchdown run by Mark Ingram on 4th and 1. Tennessee decides to play football today beating Georgia 45-19. This will make for some very unhappy Bulldog fans.

Oklahoma beats Baylor 33-7 in Sam Bradford's return game. Bradford was 26/48 for 386 yards and a TD. Bradford's 22 incompletions was a career high. With Texas coming up next week that has to improve. Oklahoma State beats Texas A&M 36-31.

Virginia Tech shuts down Boston College 48-14. Ohio State downs Wisconsin 31-13.

As Florida gets ready to take on LSU in Death Valley the news is that Tim Tebow is cleared to play it will be a game time decision for Coach Urban Meyer.

Monday, Monday

It's Monday, another weekend of college football is now history. No top 5 upsets this weekend, Oklahoma was upset by Miami but that wasn't a stretch. One potential BCS buster falls with Houston losing to UTEP 58-41. Boise State sits at #6 just waiting for their chance. I don't have a problem with a unexpected team sneaking into a BCS game but for some reason I find myself wanting to see Boise lose. I've been thinking about this all day, and I like their offense. They are a fun team to watch, fast paced, multiple sets, lots of scoring. All I can figure is it has to be the blue turf. Grass is supposed to be green, there is just something wrong with blue 'grass'. Then you put blue uniforms on top of it and all you see is blue. Not much of a reason but hey I can have my opinion. I could get on the subject of their schedule but now that season opening win over Oregon is starting to look impressive. I guess I'll just drop it for now.

Later this week...Has Charlie Weis gotten himself off of the 'hot seat' or is he still warm?

Four weeks into the 2009 college football season and every week has been crazy so far. Oregon implodes against Boise St. and then takes down Utah ending the nations longest winning streak now this past weekend they dismantle Cal. Miami beats Florida State then shuts down Georgia Tech then follows that up by getting stuck in the mud against Virginia Tech. Just like last year Iowa hands Penn State their first loss, and FSU isn't 'back' yet. Everybody already has their BCS buster opinions already, Boise St., TCU, Houston, BYU, but they already have one loss. Boise and Houston have impressive offenses but at least TCU has a defense. BYU even with the loss still has the most impressive win with the upset win over Oklahoma. Florida, Texas and Alabama are on top of things but after that it's a mess. It's going to be a fun year.

Links from Yahoo

Arkansas QB Mallett arrested

Tide booster awarded $5M wants new trial

2 Ohio St. OL plead not guilty on drugs

Oklahoma WR Wilson critically injured

Iowa DB Prater suspended after arrest

Paralyzed ex-USC FB Hemingway dies at 49

Rhode Island hires Trainer as coach

Andre, what are you thinking?

The NFL Draft combine is going on and after this past weekend's events my question is Andre, what are you thinking? Andre Smith, Alabama's star left tackle left the combine without warning. There was already question about what kind of shape he was in and about his suspension from the Sugar Bowl game. Now his work ethic is also in question. Andre, I've watched you push defensive lines around run down field blocking and even catch a pass for a touchdown. Highly recruited out of high school, a starter at 'Bama from game 1 and almost a lock as a top five draft pick. I said almost. Andre, are you thinking? One commentator I heard today estimated that you blew 25 million. Is it so hard to get up and work out for that much money? Linemen sometimes get the stereotype of a dumb jock, flushing 25 million might just prove it in this case.

Recruiting Drama

Well it's been awhile. I've missed commenting on the BCS championship, the Super Bowl, recruiting, and everything else. However since recruiting is a year round thing, here goes. According to Rival's Alabama finished with the 'best' class for the second straight year. This is despite loosing two key recruiters and defensive assistants, Kevin Steele and Lance Thompson. Thompson who is now employed by Tennessee, has made news by saying that 'Bama wouldn't get any more players out of Memphis. By the way Alabama's first 2010 commitment came from Memphis. Thompson's boss Lane Kiffin decided to stir up the Vol fans by saying that Florida coach Urban Meyer cheated by calling a recruit while he was on a visit to Tennessee. Well Meyer did nothing against the rules, but now Tennessee has admitted that Kiffin is guilty of minor violations. Now, this is no big deal but I think it is hilarious. Makes you wonder if Kiffin is cut out to be a head coach.

One other bit of recruiting news Bryce Brown, Rival's highest ranked player still has not signed an letter of intent a full week after signing day. He intends to make an announcement on March 12th. He is a Miami commit but is still considering Oregon, Clemson, Kansas State, LSU, USC and Tennessee.