FanHouse

Mack Brown Will Vote Texas No. 1

Brian Grummell — 2009-01-06T00:20:00+00:00

by Brian Grummell
FanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

Texas has just emerged victorious in a tensely fought Fiesta Bowl, 24-21. The Longhorns came back from a 21-17 last-minute deficit and scored a touchdown with just 16 seconds left, narrowly escaping defeat against much-doubted Ohio State. During the award ceremony, Texas coach Mack Brown had the following to say:

"I wasn't sure before, right now, in Friday morning I'm going to vote Texas No. 1 because I think this is the best team in the country"

No offense, Mack, but you barely got by Ohio State. Its a nice gesture to your team but its a little unfair to Oklahoma and Florida with the BCS Championship game yet unplayed. Amusingly, Brown will be bucking the Coaches Poll's agreement with the BCS to vote the BCS game winner at No. 1. Good luck getting that vote back next year.

I'm against a playoff in college football and have mixed feelings about the BCS, but would love to see the coaches' poll eliminated from the BCS. Brown's pending vote is part of the reason why. Add his opinion to the frenetic mix of discussion that abounds about college football's method of determining its mythical champion.

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Bowl Season '08: Please Excuse Terrelle Pryor, He Has a Bowl Game to Play

Brian Grummell — 2009-01-05T14:15:00+00:00

by Brian GrummellFanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

The Fiesta Bowl is tonight. You've probably seen some of the hype and discussion. Ohio State and Texas aren't exactly programs that can fly under the radar, particularly in a game worth eight figures for each school and conference. Both coaches own national championships, and the Heisman Trophy runner-up and quarterback of perhaps the best team in the land will be playing. So will many other great athletes you will see on Sundays.

So, too, will a true freshman quarterback with average numbers, and he's the source of this week's tempest in the teapot that is Glendale, Arizona. You see, Ohio State withheld their still-developing, perhaps immature phenom quarterback named Terrelle Pryor from a scheduled media event. Fiesta Bowl officials promptly flipped out.

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Oklahoma Sooners Win Race to Deliver First Bulletin Board Material, Target Tim Tebow

Brian Grummell — 2009-01-04T19:06:00+00:00

by Brian GrummellFanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

Death, taxes and pregame smack talk -- they're all inevitable. Oklahoma cornerback Dominique Franks delivered a doozy today ahead of Thursday night's BCS championship game, challenging Gators quarterback Tim Tebow and ripping the offensive talent in the SEC for good measure.

Exhibit A:

"With us being in Florida and playing against Florida, everybody's going to think Tebow should have won the Heisman," Franks said. "But the right person won the Heisman, and we're going to go out there and show everybody the reason why he won it."

Exhibit B:

"If you look at the three best quarterbacks in the country, they came from the Big 12,"

Exhibit C:

"The three best receivers in the country came from the Big 12. The three best tight ends came from the Big 12. So we've faced some great offenses, and a lot of people don't understand that other conferences don't have what we face."

And with that, ESPN now has more than enough filler for the next few days of idle chatter before the big game. This is nothing new for Oklahoma before a BCS Championship game -- more on that in a moment -- and frankly, Franks wasn't finished talking.

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Bowl Season '08: Utah Woodsheds Alabama in Sugar Bowl, Finish 2008 Season Undefeated

Brian Grummell — 2009-01-03T00:08:00+00:00

by Brian Grummell
Well there's your bowl shocker! Utah took SEC runner-up Alabama to the woodshed from the word go, running up a 21-0 first quarter lead on the way to a 31-17 Sugar Bowl victory in the belly of the SEC beast, New Orleans. In so doing, Utah finishes its season undefeated, 13-0, unblemished and mighty proud.

Oh, and they've shocked the entire college football world. A heartfelt congratulation. Not many programs can claim to have a pair of BCS bowl victories. Utah can, and has done so against two excellent programs -- Pitt and Alabama.

Wow.

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Bowl Season '08: Sugar Bowl Live Blog

Brian Grummell — 2009-01-02T20:15:00+00:00

by Brian Grummell
The 2008-2009 Sugar Bowl has arrived, featuring SEC runner-up Alabama and Mountain West champion Utah. Utah's attempting to win an improbable second BCS game and finish the season undefeated while Alabama hopes to springboard into a potential championship 2009 season with a victory.

The ghost of Bear Bryant is most certainly watching, you should too, particularly is Utah pulls a Boise State and slays one heck of a giant.

Live Blog/chat starts at 8:15 ET, chat application after the jump.

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Bowl Season '08: Texas Tech, Cotton Bowl Go Quietly Into the Texas Night

Brian Grummell — 2009-01-02T19:41:00+00:00

by Brian GrummellSay this much for the final Cotton Bowl at Cotton Bowl Stadium, it was lively. A boisterous 88,000 fans set an attendance record at the aging facility to witness a resurgent Ole Miss steadily dismantle Graham Harrell, Michael Crabtree and Texas Tech 47 to 34.

Texas Tech had a magnificent season, one of the best in program history but were whipped twice in their final three games inviting the inevitable catcalls and overrated chants. Texas Tech set the tone early with the game's first touchdown and an interception they returned for a score to grab a 14-0 first quarter lead. From there Ole Miss took over, outscoring the Red Raiders 38-7 in the second and third quarters that put them up 38-21.

The game's star was Ole Miss back/receiver Dexter McCluster who ran for 97 yards and a score and had another 83 in the air for an 180-yard afternoon. Meanwhile Crabtree and his gimpy ankle were shut down, recording just four catches and 30 yards.

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Bowl Season '08: USC Clobbers Another Big Ten Opponent

Brian Grummell — 2009-01-01T21:30:00+00:00

by Brian Grummell
FanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

In writing about Five Things To Get You Ready For The Rose Bowl, I said "Penn State is not your average Big Ten team". Yes ... and no. Having watched USC steamroll various Big Ten opponents under Pete Carroll, this Penn State team seemed superior to most if not all of them. Yet it wasn't enough thanks to a chaotic second quarter that saw USC surge from a 7-all tie to an insurmountable 31-7 lead.

Penn State fought valiantly against a bored USC in the second half, enough so that a late USC punting mistake in the last minute very nearly made it a ballgame again. But it was clear who was superior all afternoon, USC's lead peaking at 38-14 before things got silly on the way to a 38-24 victory.

Fitting for a west coast team, USC surged on the strength of its passing game and a handful of ill-timed Penn State penalties.

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Bowl Season '08: Rose Bowl Live Blog

Brian Grummell — 2009-01-01T15:45:00+00:00

by Brian Grummell
FanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

Its a college football thing, and we're here to enjoy it. The Rose Bowl, the Granddaddy of them all -- bless Keith Jackson's heart.

You know the story, 11-1 Penn State and 11-1 USC, both a few points away from appearing in a game involving a crystal football. Their loss, but Pasadena will most definitely suffice at least on this January 1 afternoon. Two tough defenses, two mobile quarterbacks, classic brand names and two fabled coaches roaming the sidelines competing for another bowl victory.

Please join us for the Rose Bowl Live Blog starting at 430 PM ET. Chat application after the jump.

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Ed Orgeron Returns to College Football, Gets Big Check, Old Boss Miffed

Brian Grummell — 2009-01-01T14:18:00+00:00

by Brian GrummellFormer Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron, most recently a defensive line coach with the New Orleans Saints, has accepted a position on Lane Kiffin's staff at Tennessee. He had mulled competing offers from LSU and Tennessee, both with big money dangled in front of him.

The LSU offer was reportedly worth $500k, while Tennessee reeled him in with that shiny $850k offer.

Being that his former employ was in the NFL, Ed Werder style gossip soon followed.

Apparently, some within the organization felt Orgeron was more focused on his coaching future than his current job, and Payton grew tired of Orgeron juggling phone calls from LSU and Tennessee.

The source also suggested that [Saints' coach Sean] Payton was not very pleased with the progress of the defensive line under Orgeron even before the LSU-Tennessee tug-of-war began, and he is looking forward to the opportunity to bring in a veteran defensive line coach with NFL experience.

Meeeeowwwwwwww. This isn't all that surprising, we are talking about the gossipy NFL here where if somebody isn't ticked at something they might as well stop breathing.

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Bowl Season '08: Five Things to Get You Ready for the Rose Bowl

Brian Grummell — 2009-01-01T05:30:00+00:00

by Brian GrummellFanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

New Year's Day has arrived, and with it the ritualized sloth all across America as college football fans settle in for a long day's worth of bowl games. No game more symbolizes the day, and carries more pageantry and pomp than the Rose Bowl.

This year's game will be a good one, matching two powerful teams that fit the game's tradition. Penn State and USC are both 11-1, champions of the Big Ten and Pac-10. Joe Paterno stars as the youthful and charismatic coach, his curmudgeonly foil Pete Carroll on the opposite sideline. Or maybe we have that crossed up. Yeah, yeah we do.

The game kicks off some time around 430 PM ET. Feel free to join our Rose Bowl Live Blog at that time.

Formalities over, let's get down to those five things that should have you ready for this great game.

1)Penn State is not your average Big Ten team

Mind you, Penn State's happy to play gruntled underdog, its motivation on the cheap. However, national opinion and the wise guys are pointing towards a solid USC victory. Hard to blame them when USC has been crushing every Big 10 foe in its path since Pete Carroll arrived.

That said, give Penn State its due.

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Video: LeGarrette Blount Touchdown Run Emphatically Closes Out the Holiday Bowl

Brian Grummell — 2008-12-31T03:15:00+00:00

by Brian Grummell
FanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

Purely ridiculous stuff here. Leading Oklahoma State just 35-31 with three minutes remaining, Oregon lined up at the Cowboys' 29-yard-line. What happened next was the stuff of legend.

From shotgun on first down, Oregon handed the ball off to six-foot-two, 230-pound tailback LeGarrette Blount. Oklahoma State's defense got tremendous penetration but Blount evaded the initial surge, made a cut to surge into open field and then strung together three great elements that will make this a famous run for many years.

First, he completely hurdled a defender at the 20-yard-line. We're talking soared right over him. Awesome stuff but we've seen that this year out of Beanie Wells and Knowshon Moreno.

Next, he maintained enough of a head of steam to power through a bloc of five defenders in front of, underneath and to the side of him.

Finally, the clincher. At the ten yard line, a final defender met him from the side, but Blount stuck out his left arm and held him off, stiff-arm style, the final ten yards while running diagonally. Brilliant stuff mixing so many great running elements from speed to power to stiff-arms to unteachable leaps. What great timing, as that run was the clincher that put the game away at 42-31. If you can't enjoy this you have no soul. Video after the jump.

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Bowl Season '08: Surprise! Oregon Emerges Victorious in Another Wild Holiday Bowl

Brian Grummell — 2008-12-31T00:37:00+00:00

by Brian GrummellFanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

It was a tale of two halves Wednesday night in beautiful -- and for college football, magical -- San Diego. Oklahoma State dominated the first half in taking a 17-7 lead that could have been much larger. Particularly potent was receiver Dez Bryant, who hauled in nine first-half receptions and 13 overall before several leg injuries left him hobbled and eventually on the bench.

Oklahoma State's fate seemed to fade the moment Bryant found the pine. Riding behind an energizing kickoff return and some powerful runs from stocky quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, Oregon surged to a trio of third-quarter touchdowns -- all by Masoli -- to go ahead 28-24. Bryant was scuttled soon thereafter, and battered quarterback Zac Robinson slowly lost his effectiveness as Oregon dominated the rest of the way for a 42-31 victory.

Jumbo Oregon tailback LeGarrette Blount made the play of the game, and the game-winner, hurdling a defender and then stiff-arming another for several yards on a 29-yard touchdown. It was ridiculous, and the kind of man among boys stuff you feel fortunate to witness.

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DeWayne Walker Becomes Seventh Black Head Coach in Division I Football

Brian Grummell — 2008-12-30T23:56:00+00:00

by Brian GrummellNew Mexico State has hired UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker to run its football program, making him the seventh black head coach in college football's top division. Walker's hiring was a few years in the making. The journeyman coordinator arrived nationally after stopping the USC offense cold in a 13-9 UCLA victory that prevented a certain USC appearance in the 2006 BCS Championship Game.

His impact was immediate, flipping one of the nation's worst defenses into a fast and aggressive unit that played tough and could stop the run. Subsequent seasons weren't as successful, but he added chops as a recruiter, bringing in a handful of players who will likely have NFL futures like defensive tackle Brian Price and cornerback Alterraun Verner.

Walker took his time, visiting Las Cruces for a while before accepting the Aggies' offer. His departure was expected, however, and his name has popped up as a central player in this week's man drama kerfuffle between USC and UCLA.

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Ken Norton Jr. Spars With UCLA

Brian Grummell — 2008-12-30T18:02:00+00:00

by Brian GrummellSparring, because his father was a pugilist, get it? Good. In a bit of a red on red turned cardinal and gold on powder keg blue and gold moment, USC linebacker coach Ken Norton Jr. aired grievances this week with dear old alma mater UCLA. Reports the Los Angeles Times:

[Norton] said UCLA has told prospective players that he would be joining Coach Rick Neuheisel's staff if defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker leaves for another job.

"It's coming from there and it's wrong and it's not true," said Norton.

He then threw another barb, saying:

"It's kind of a pattern of what happened in the past," Norton said in mentioning Slick Rick's latest alleged escapade.

Predictably, UCLA fans are in flames, treating Norton like some combination of Judas and Benedict Arnold. UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel took the unusual step of releasing a statement denying the allegations. Predictably, this followed:

"If DeWayne leaves, I would consider several candidates for the defensive coordinator job. Kenny probably would have been among those considered, with no guarantees. However, his quotes in the paper say he is staying at USC, so we wish him well."

Translation: good luck ever getting hired by UCLA. Ahhh, catty man fights. Usually this stuff is so NFL.

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Bowl Season '08: Chase Daniel Struggles Badly, but Goes Out a Winner in Alamo Bowl

Brian Grummell — 2008-12-30T00:42:00+00:00

by Brian GrummellFanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel has had a wonderful career, but tonight was not his night telling a sideline reporter "my teammates had to win this game in spite of me". Harsh but spot on, as heavily favored Missouri weathered Daniel's three interceptions in gutting out an overtime victory against Northwestern, 30 to 23.

Daniel's line was brutal, completing 27 of 44 passes for just 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns against three interceptions. His accuracy was off all evening, perhaps due to a tremendous defensive effort by Northwestern that held Missouri to just 311 yards, perhaps due to shocking last game jitters. Daniel did gather himself late, completing 5 of 8 passes for 42 yards including the game-winning overtime touchdown pass to teammate Jeremy Maclin.

Northwestern badly outplayed Missouri throughout the game, but was damned by a missed extra point and Maclin's electrifying punt return touchdown just before halftime that evened the game at 10-all.

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Bowl Season 08: Notre Dame's Golden Shower

Brian Grummell — 2008-12-28T01:34:00+00:00

by Brian Grummell
FanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

A brief moment of levity from college football's tense and exciting bowl season. Where else but the relaxed Hawaii bowl between Notre Dame and Hawaii for an announcer to compare a collision that released a flurry of gold paint from a Notre Dame players' helmet to something slightly, unintentionally inappropriate.

See the clip for yourself after the jump.

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Bowl Season '08: Jahvid Best Is Good

Brian Grummell — 2008-12-28T01:05:00+00:00

by Brian GrummellFanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

This much we knew -- speedy Cal tailback Jahvid Best rushed for over 500 yards in his last two games. So, too, did Miami. So, too, did his coaches. Among the two parties, only his coaches were able to hold him back at any point Saturday evening in a 24-17 close-fought Cal victory over Miami.

Best strung together a series of highlights runs among his 20 carries totaling an Emerald Bowl record 186 yards and two touchdowns. Cal's offense and oft-booed quarterback Nate Longshore was helpless without him, but Cal's coaches seemed reluctant to ride their star. The game's announcers got a gem of a quote from Miami's defensive coordinator basically calling Best Cal's entire offense. He also said backup quarterback Kevin Riley outperformed declared starter Nate Longshore this year, but that's for another time.

The suspension-addled, heavy underdog Miami Hurricanes win this game if Best hadn't played as he had.

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Bowl Season '08: Last Saturday of Bowls in December Live Blog

Brian Grummell — 2008-12-27T22:20:00+00:00

by Brian Grummell
Christmas is over, Hannukah's coming to a close, its not quite New Years Day but Saturday remains the traditional day of celebration of college football and we're here to discuss this special Saturday, a real holiday for college football fans everywhere.

We've seen West Virginia and North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, Wisconsin and Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl and we're now watching the day's headliner, Cal and Miami clash in the Emerald Bowl. Oh, happy day! Cal's electric tailback Jahvid Best, who piled up 500+ rushing yards in his last two games, is the headliner here. Miami will be without co-starting quarterback Robert Marve but it should be a blessing as Jacory Harris can play an entire game and maybe find a real rhythm and take over the Hurricane offense.

Grab some popcorn or reheat some leftovers, tune your television to ESPN and direct your computer to our live blog starting at 8 PM Eastern. Live blog after the jump.

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Bowl Season '08: Central Michigan Drops Virtual Home Game

Brian Grummell — 2008-12-27T05:00:00+00:00

by Brian GrummellYou have to hand it to Howard Schnellenberger -- he may be really, really old but he also is really, really good at winning bowl games. We're talking historic good. In defeating Central Michigan to capture the bailout-free Motor City Bowl, the wannabe Captain Kangaroo pushed his bowl record to 6-0.

No, it didn't come with a national championship as happened with Miami in the 1983 Orange Bowl, a 31-30 classic over Nebraska. However, it did come with the sweet feeling of restoration as this moustachioed legend guided awkward sounding football novice Florida Atlantic to its second bowl victory in four years of D-I play. For reference, Notre Dame's second most recent bowl victory prior to this week's triumph over Hawaii was in January 1993.

Last night's victory came about with a little good luck and some questionable decisions by CMU.

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Bowl Season '08: TCU Spoils Boise State's Perfect Season in Poinsettia Bowl

Brian Grummell — 2008-12-24T00:21:00+00:00

by Brian GrummellThe 12-0 Boise State Broncos came to San Diego with an eye on perfection. If they had studied history they would have known to exercise extreme caution. San Diego was where famed thoroughbred Cigar was felled after a 16-race win streak. He very nearly won the Pacific Classic at Del Mar but was passed not far from the finish line. Football teams aren't horses but they can suffer the same athletic tales of defeat.

And so it was for the previously unspoiled Broncos who held a lead for much of a tightly fought game before falling behind in the fourth quarter. At different points in the game TCU had outgained Boise nearly 3-to-1 and 2-to-1, but Boise also built a 13-0 lead before surrendering a touchdown just before halftime. TCU further carved into that, making it 13-10 in the third quarter before taking a 17-13 lead on the strength of a gamelong 278-yard ground assault marked by a ridiculous nine (!) third down conversions.

Boise State rallied to 17-16 after another field goal, but giving the ball to TCU with just over four minutes left was a bad choice as TCU chewed up over three minutes of clock to hold on. Coffee is for closers and after blowing a fourth quarter lead against Utah earlier in the year, TCU redeemed itself and got its coffee while Boise State wonders what 13-0 and several weeks of BCS complaining could have felt like.

This thing lived up to the hype, but not in a way most fans expected.

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