Sports Fan 4 » NCAAF

ECU's Game Winning Hail Mary

Adam — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:56:42 +0000

With five seconds left on the clock and ECU down by four, quarterback Dominique Davis tosses up a Hail Mary throw from mid-field that 6'8 receiver Justin Jones comes down with in the endzone.

Adam Schefter Retracts Tweet Courtesy Of Sportsfan4

Josh Gans — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:05:24 +0000

So here's the Tweet from ESPN's NFL Analyst Adam Schefter that started me off on the wrong foot yesterday afternoon.

Adam_Schefter Yet another reason to despise the NCAA RT @espn: USC juniors, seniors can transfer without sitting - http://tinyurl.com/24vslnn
about 24 hours ago via UberTwitter

After he tweeted, I then commented to him, resulting in the following tweets by Schefter and a conversation between myself and Chuck Hanf of Two Cents From Beantown who was also able to see the original tweet by Schefty that he later deleted after he got called out for being a jerk.

SportsFan4 @Adam_Schefter Do you think the KIDS that didn't do anything wrong should suffer for what Bush and Carroll did? Ridiculous if you do.
about 24 hours ago via web in reply to Adam_Schefter
TCFB_Chuck @SportsFan4 I totally agree w/you on that Gansie. 100%.
about 24 hours ago via web in reply to SportsFan4
Adam_Schefter RT @espn: USC juniors, seniors can transfer without sitting - http://tinyurl.com/24vslnn ... They ARE allowed to transfer. As it should be.
about 24 hours ago via UberTwitter
SportsFan4 @TCFB_Chuck Thank you sir. I agree the university should be penalized, but these kids trying to make a life for themselves shouldnt get it 2
about 24 hours ago via web in reply to TCFB_Chuck
SportsFan4 @Adam_Schefter ok, misunderstood you the first time, sorry. Thought you said you despised the NCAA for allowing them to do so.
about 24 hours ago via web in reply to Adam_Schefter
TCFB_Chuck @SportsFan4 I think he did mean that, but when you called him ridiculous he got scared and back pedaled. He wants no part of you. Good work.
about 24 hours ago via web in reply to SportsFan4
SportsFan4 @TCFB_Chuck I already double checked and he did say that at first, but it's possible that he "misspoke", it happens sometimes
about 24 hours ago via web in reply to TCFB_Chuck
SportsFan4 @TCFB_Chuck Although I'll feel good about it by acting as if I made him retract, even if it's just for a minute.
about 24 hours ago via web in reply to TCFB_Chuck
TCFB_Chuck @SportsFan4 haha.. He's a tool anyway. An informative tool, but nonetheless still a tool.
about 24 hours ago via web in reply to SportsFan4

Schefter Deletes Tweet

Now shortly after all of this conversing was finished, as you can see from his twitter page, Schefter deleted the initial tweet that he despised the NCAA for allowing college students that want to be successful in the future to transfer to a school where they can play in bowl games and bump their draft stock. I mean, I think it's ridiculous that they would allow them to transfer without any penalties since players and coaches from six years ago violated NCAA policies, don't you Schefty? That statement about despising the NCAA for giving innocent teens an opportunity to have a clean slate, really shows us what you are on the inside.

I expected Schefter to delete the tweet at some point, but I just also expected him to say something about the fact that he made an error or that I misinterpreted what he said initially, instead he just tried to act like it never happened. You know Schefty, if you had any common courtesy and just acknowledged the fact that you made a mistake, maybe you would have looked like less of a jerk than you do now.

Thanks to Ryan Lejbak for the photo of Adam Schefter.

It's Not A Coincidence That Pete Carroll Left USC

Josh Gans — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:16:01 +0000

Who could ever forget the 2004 undefeated USC Trojans. Coached by Pete Carroll, the Don of NCAA football during this generation, and led to a national championship by Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush. The 2004 USC Trojans football team had more potential All-Americans than most teams in the Pac-10 combined when looking at them on paper.

Protecting Pete Carroll

It seems awkward that there were issues concerning Reggie Bush during his draft year that he had accepted money, a home and a car for himself and his mother, yet nothing ever came of that situation at the time. The story seemed to just fall to the wayside and wasn't mentioned in the media. Reggie Bush never had follow up questioning and USC never received sanctions for the alleged violations.

What makes this even more concerning is that Pete Carroll left for the NFL and information regarding his 2004 USC team is now starting to come to light, yet won't affect Carroll in any way. It may put him in a bad light for some people, but his second chance career in the NFL is not going to be penalized for the actions that were taken at the collegiate level. There is no coincidence whatsoever that nothing was mentioned about these violations until Pete Carroll was completely disengaged from the university. The NCAA would not want to have anything of this nature come down on such a highly respected figure and amazing coach with credentials like his.

2004 USC Trojans Sanctions

It was announced last night that USC will be forced by the NCAA to forfeit their 13 wins from the 2004 season. The Trojans will also have a two year ban on any NCAA post season play and will also lose some scholarships over the two year period. When an institution does cheat, then there need to be consequences for doing so; however, these sanctions are affecting an entirely new group of coaches and players that were not involved in anything that may have gone on in 2004.

This is really going to hurt the Trojans for a few years after the sanctions are served as well. USC is going to have a tough time trying to recruit players that know they won't have an opportunity to play in a BCS bowl game and will also be looked down upon by fans, scouts and future potential agents. Imagine what the 2013 Trojans are going to look like coming out to take the field in their first game after two horrible recruiting years and a bunch of transfers that left for bowl games in their senior seasons.

Thanks to FH Alexander for the picture of Pete Carroll.

Poll Results : SportsFans Prefer The NFL Over College Football

Josh Gans — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:24:10 +0000

With their many similarities and differences among the rankings and structure, the readers have made their choice. You have expressed your love for the NFL above that of college football. Of the 88 total voters, here are the results.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

The NFL Reigns Supreme

With their strong structure and parody among the post season, the fans supported the NFL over NCAA football. Knowing what the readers prefer more helps with content for our page. Please feel free to hit the comment section below with your opinions on both the NFL and college football with ideas for the future.

Thanks to fragilebreath for the NFL logo.

Poll : College Football Or The NFL

Josh Gans — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:00:56 +0000

Something that I recently noticed was my lack of interest in college football and my weekly following of the NFL. It got me thinking of the four years that I was in college and followed not only college football, but also college basketball. In my four years at Utica, I watched college football every Saturday after our games and knew majority of the teams and players in the NCAA. After this years national championship, I knew about three players in the NCAA. Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Matthew Stafford, Dez Bryant and that defensive end, Suh, for Nebraska and the other Heisman hopeful, Toby Gerhart. As of right now, I could probably name every starter on both sides of the ball for 2/3 of the NFL.

My intentions are to find out what you, the reader, prefers more, college football or the NFL.

NFL

The NFL has 32 teams in 8 divisions of 2 conferences. A 16 game regular season that winds up in a three round playoff for the Super Bowl. Players are making top dollar and are expected to perform at the highest level of competition, always giving the viewer a closer push away from the couch toward the screen.

The NFL roster holds less players than an NCAA roster and players are rarely subbed in and out during a game. NFL players become household names and are idolized by young and old. An NFL playbook is far more larger than an NCAA playbook and the NFL players can devote every minute of every day to their team and themselves.

NCAAF

The NCAA has 119 Division 1-A teams. Conferences, weak and strong range from the all known SEC, Pac-10 and Big-10 down to the weaker, WAC, not so Big East and the MAC. College teams play an average of 12 games per season, plus a conference championship if eligible, followed by a computer/human projected bowl game.

The college football roster holds as many players as there are jerseys to wear, plus players that redshirt or miss the season due to injury. College football players make no money at the NCAA level, attend classes on a daily basis and also are expected to maintain a GPA above a C in order to be eligible to play for the team. Few college players are larger by name in the household around the nation, all playing for glory and a chance to play at the next level.

Which Do You Prefer?

The question stands, which do you prefer? The NFL or College Football?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

After your vote, please give us your input in the comments section below.

Thanks to Ed Yourdon for the photo of the penalty flag.

Poll Results; College Football Should Use A Playoff System

Josh Gans — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:00:08 +0000

With a fine end to the 2009 NCAAF season, Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide finished the season as National Champions. However, Boise State also finished the season undefeated with a 14-0 record and is ranked 4th in the nation, under #2 Texas (13-1) and #3 Florida (13-1). After asking you what your thoughts were, it is unanimous that college football should use a playoff system.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

There were some great ideas from our readers, with suggestions varying from a top 16 team playoff all the way to a 32 team playoff and even setting up the conferences as divisions similar to how the NFL runs their playoff system.

There were some great ideas for a college football playoff system from our readers and even more would be great. Now that you've spoken to the fact that there should be a college football playoff system, give us all of your ideas on how to get it done in the comments section below.

Thanks to chasingfun for the picture of the NCAA Football National Championship Trophy

Urban Legend

Josh Gans — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 08:00:50 +0000

Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer changed his decision to retire from coaching to taking an indefinite leave of absence. Meyer initially stated that he would be stepping down as the head coach of the Florida Gators due to health reasons, later determined to be his heart. It was initially reported that Urban suffered a heart attack after the SEC Championship against Alabama, but that was later discredited by Meyer. As for the time being, offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will be filling in for Meyer as head coach, keeping the team together and not allowing, "someone else to come in and change the culture" as Meyer put it during an interview on ESPN.

Wait A SEC

With Tim Tebow entering the NFL draft and Urban Meyer stepping out of the head coaching role for 2010, now is the time for Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide to step in and take complete control of the SEC. I mean, Alabama has won the SEC Championship most recently under Saban. Alabama is now in the drivers seat in the SEC for the blue chip recruits to continue their dominance. Not bad for a guy who walked out on the Dolphins.

The tide is turning in the SEC, no pun intended. On a more serious note, we wish Urban Meyer a speedy recovery and hope that he does return to coach again in 2011 or whenever, if ever he feels that he is able to. We send the best to him and his family and hope that they can offer him all the support he needs during this time. Good luck in the Sugar Bowl Coach Meyer.

Thanks to chasingfun for the picture of Urban Meyer.
Thanks to JLS Media for the pciture of Nick Saban.

Texas Tech Fires Coach Mike Leach

Josh Gans — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:00:15 +0000

Texas Tech fired head coach Mike Leach after suspending him, pending an investigation for his mistreatment of wide receiver Adam James, who also happens to be the son of ESPN college football analyst Craig James. I'm not saying that Leach did or did not have malicious intent in his alleged treatment of this kid, but I am going to say that the media, especially ESPN, is going to spin this in whichever direction they choose to based solely on the fact that one of their employee's son's is involved.

I believe that everyone from ESPN is going to make Mike Leach to be the bad guy. Everyone from Texas Tech, including the players, are already painting the picture of Mike Leach being a terrible person that had "negative vibes". There is one, Wes Welker, who had this to say to ESPN:

I can just go off my previous experiences from being at Texas Tech and Coach Leach and the rest of the coaching staff was always great to me, always great to my teammates and everything like that. It's unfortunate and we wish him the best.

Coming from a great professional like Wes Welker and a guy who has shown that he's always given 110% even when in college, he was told that he was too small and the rest, that shows and means a lot in defense of Mike Leach. Leach has done very well as the head coach of Texas Tech in his tenure with the Red Raiders. Coach Leach had an overall record of 84-43 and a 5-4 bowl record with the team. Leach has had a wining season and a bowl game in every season with Texas Tech.

Contract Cop Out

Texas Tech is seeming to forget about what Mike Leach has done to get the program to the point it is at. Texas Tech is using this issue as a reason to fire Mike Leach without actually looking into it and finding any real evidence as to what happened during those few days. So far, everything that I've heard and read about is all hearsay and speculation. The story from Adam James doesn't match what the team doctor has said and if James did have a concussion, how would he remember everything accurately anyway. I think James blew it out of proportion because Leach probably called him out for hiding in the trainers room and he got all emotional about it.

The university has taken this incident and found a loophole in paying Leach his $800 K bonus for being the head coach on December 31st and also by having cause to terminate him effective immediately they also won't have to pay him the $1.6 M for the remainder of the 4 years on his contract. Mike Leach is going to take legal action, as he should, and will most likely get paid in the end and start the rumor mill, Mike Leach could end up in the NFL before season's end. Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Washington, Detroit and some others would definitely want that type of coach on their team.

Mike Leach did what any Division I coach would do with a kid on their team with a concussion. Leach isolated Jones and kept him in a dark, quiet place. What could be better than a dark quiet place, while being monitored by a doctor, when you are concussed? Definitely not the practice field with lots of lights, noise and whistles when you can't be a part of the practice anyway. Suck it up James, no coach is going to want you on their team for the rest of your life, Leach on the other hand, will always have a job at a high level.

Thanks to bk1bennett for the picture of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Adam James #82 on the sidelines.

Poll; Should College Football Use A Playoff System?

Josh Gans — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:00:03 +0000

The yearly debate is going to come up again sooner than we think. Everyone will begin to voice their opinion as to whether or not the NCAA should have a playoff system for the National Championship or continue to use the BCS rankings to provide a bowl game schedule for the schools. I'd like to see what the sportsfans have to say about college football and the use of a playoff system.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It

Many people feel that the BCS ranking formula is already effective and provides the fans with the best 1 v. 2 game in the national championship year after year. The top two ranked teams based on the coaches poll, AP poll and computer rankings get the opportunity to showcase their talents in the final game each season.

Not since 2003 has a team that won the national championship (LSU) not been unanimously ranked #1 at the end of the season. USC was ranked #1 in the AP poll after the 2003 national championship that the Trojans didn't play in.

25 Team Playoff?

A playoff system in college football has many pro's and con's, just as the BCS ranking system does. The debate about a college football playoff system would truly decide the best head-to-head team in the NCAA that season. The bigger question would be, without a ranking system, how would the teams in this playoff system be seeded.

Three main questions I would have about a playoff system would be:

1. How many schools would be eligible to make the playoffs of the 119 NCAA Division 1A teams that we have?
2. How would the seeding be decided for those teams allowed in?
3. How can we compare different divisions competing against others when they don't play each other in the regular season?

If all of those questions could be answered fairly, I think a playoff system would be great. Without those decisions being made well in advance, I'm not sure the NCAA can make the leap from the BCS to the playoffs right away.

Thanks to Jon Fravel for the picture of the NCAA National Championship Trophy.

Charlie And The Unemployment Factory, No Excuses

Josh Gans — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:33:39 +0000

Poor Charlie. From superbowl winning offensive coordinator to a .500 and below head coach of one of the most storied and prestigious schools in college football, Notre Dame. Weis never stood a chance at Notre Dame. Weis came in after Ty Willingham was let go and the school had a future first round quarterback in Brady Quinn (the supposed next Tom Brady at the time) behind center. The ideal situation for any upcoming head coach, and great school with a great quarterback to build around. The other side to that story, Notre Dame made it to a bowl game and Brady Quinn was gone for the NFL draft immediately after. Game, set, match, Weis is now going to be exposed, not for being a bad coach, because he isn't. He's going to be exposed for not having any talent whatsoever now that Willingham's players are filtering out of the system.

Charlie Weis wasn't a great recruiter by any sense of the words. Jimmy Claussen is probably the best thing that could have happened to Charlie Weis, but he fell into their lap anyway. Claussen has just begun to shine and Weis is being pushed out the door for someone else to come in and capitalize on it. Guess what, they're also still going to have him throwing to Golden Tate, both in their senior seasons, unless they both enter the draft as opposed to playing under a new head coach.

So what lies in the future for Notre Dame and Charlie Weis, respectively? The head coaching position will be filled before the upcoming off season, and Charlie Weis will likely end up back in the NFL with an offensive coordinators position through someone he has worked with in the past, not New England. I wish both Weis and Notre Dame lots of luck and hope they can both move forward in a positive way and both be successful.

Thanks to larrysphatpage for the picture of Charlie Weis.