With realignment talk finally on the back burner for good (well, at least for now), let's look at three big matchups for today!
* Oklahoma State at Texas A&M
The Cowboys hit the road for a top-ten tilt that will give the winner a clear shot to challenge Oklahoma for the Big 12 conference title. Brandon Weeden has led the Cowboys to three straight lopsided wins over outmatched opponents, but has been inconsistent with a league-leading six interceptions thus far. Ryan Tannehill is still looking to quiet the doubters, sporting higher effeciency rating than Weeden (164.8/157.5) and only one interception.
The biggest question for both teams is arguably defense. Oklahoma State surrendered a jaw-dropping 365 yards rushing to Tulsa in their late night marathon a week ago, but most of those yards came with OSU playing out the string with a huge lead and Tulsa playing without their starting quarterback. A&M has played virtually no competition of much note, so how they will fare against Oklahoma State's high-powered passing attack remains to be seen.
It sez here that OSU on the road against one of the toughest home environments in college football will be just a bit too much for the Pokes to overcome. With A&M on its Big 12 Farewell tour, look for Texas A&M to post a wild 42-38 win over OSU this afternoon.
* Arkansas - Alabama
The Crimson Tide may have one of the the best defenses in the country, teamed up with one of the best pair of running backs in the country. So what's a Razorback fan to do? Still, Bama hasn't exactly blown out its first three opponents, but has never been seriously challenged, either. Arkansas did blow out its first two opponents, but found itself in a bit of a battle against Troy before prevailing 38-28. Neither team has enjoyed success in winning the turnover battle (Bama at -3, Arkansas at -4), and Bama's special teams - particularly in the FG department - has been less than special.
One interesting difference is offensive efficiency. While both offenses have been productive inside the redzone, Arkansas has been better at converting those trips into touchdowns, while 'Bama has been settling for field goals. The Razorbacks have converted 100% of its 13 trips into points, settling for field goals only three times. By contrast, Alabama has converted only eight into touchdowns. That highlights the potential risk for Bama should the game come down to one of trading TD's for field goals.
It sez here that, honestly, though, FG's and redzones won't matter. Playing at home, Alabama will use its defense to upend a solid but largely untested Arkansas offense, and secure a 27-14 win over the Razorbacks
* Oklahoma - Missouri
Last year, the Sooners went to Columbia as the #1 team in the country, but a mistake-prone Sooner offense stumbled its way to a 36-27 loss at the hands of Blaine Gabbert and the Missouri Tigers. This year, the Tigers visit Norman with a young, inconsistent quarterback, a nearly-as-young team, and a Sooner squad fresh off a national TV road win against then-#5 Florida State.
It seems too easy, doesn't it?
It seems impossible to think Oklahoma could enter its contest tonight with the same emotional intensity it showed against Florida State, and that gives Missouri an early-game opportunity to make things interesting. If Oklahoma's defensive tendency to play guts-and-blood defense 90% of the time while allowing an inexplicable big play the other 10%, Missouri has the offense to take advantage. The key: A great early start for Missouri quarterback James Franklin.
If the Oklahoma offense comes out and establishes tempo, Missouri will be in trouble. Combine that with Oklahoma's defense that held Florida State to 27 yards rushing a week ago, and Missouri had better pounce on any early game opportunities - or it could be a long day for the Tigers.
It sez here Oklahoma may have a sluggish early-game start, but the friendly confines of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium combined with a revenge mindset gives the Sooners every chance for a lopsided win. Look for Oklahoma to come away with a 41-20 win.
Showing posts with label college football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label college football. Show all posts
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
OU's Boren comments on Big 12
Oklahoma president David Boren, with fresh authorization in hand to determine the university's future athletic affiliation, had pointed comments about the status of the Big 12 yesterday. A few summary notes/highlights:
* The threat of litigation by some conference members was not a helpful way to keep the conference together.
* Oklahoma has no desire to be in a position to dominate a conference politically.
* The ongoing instability of the conference going forward into next and later years was, essentially, intolerable.
* Boren's options are the Big 12 or the Pac 12
* OU wants to be in a conference with equally shared revenue.
* Nebraska's departure last season was "regrettable."
* The Big 12 conference office bears some of the burden for the conference's condition
Although remaining in the Big 12 is an option, the criticisms Boren laid out make it hard to believe that remaining there is a realistic option.
Oklahoma City's KWTV-9 sports anchor Dean Blevins reasserted yesterday that the framework of a deal sending OU and Oklahoma State to the Pac 12 regardless of Texas' decision remains in place as it has been for nearly two weeks. All that remains to make it official is to wait for the "ink" to dry.
* The threat of litigation by some conference members was not a helpful way to keep the conference together.
* Oklahoma has no desire to be in a position to dominate a conference politically.
* The ongoing instability of the conference going forward into next and later years was, essentially, intolerable.
* Boren's options are the Big 12 or the Pac 12
* OU wants to be in a conference with equally shared revenue.
* Nebraska's departure last season was "regrettable."
* The Big 12 conference office bears some of the burden for the conference's condition
Although remaining in the Big 12 is an option, the criticisms Boren laid out make it hard to believe that remaining there is a realistic option.
Oklahoma City's KWTV-9 sports anchor Dean Blevins reasserted yesterday that the framework of a deal sending OU and Oklahoma State to the Pac 12 regardless of Texas' decision remains in place as it has been for nearly two weeks. All that remains to make it official is to wait for the "ink" to dry.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
We interrupt realignment to bring you some actual football
It's been a wild day of college football, so lets take a break from the dizzying rumors of realignment to talk actual games:
Clemson 38, Auburn 24 - We all knew that Auburn was probably the worst 2-0 team in the country, with last-gasp wins against marginal foes staking them to an unbeaten early start and a top 25 ranking. Clemson, however, exposed all that is wrong with Auburn, especially on defense. After falling into a 21-7 hole, Clemson reeled off a 38-3 rally that carved up the Tiger secondary like so much Thanksgiving turkey. Throw in a bushel-basket full of bad and broken arm tackles, and you have all you need to know about Clemson's win. Of course, Clemson being what it is, they'll try to make this win into something akin to an upset of the '74 Steelers, with Dabo Sweeney bellowing like a madman to the ESPN cameras in a post-game interview. C'mon, Dabo.
Iowa 31, Pittsburgh 27 - After staking the Panthers to a 24-3 lead early, the Hawkeyes pounded Pitt just as the ink dried on their application to the ACC. You know, since their national title in 1976 with Tony Dorsett, has Pitt really done anything of significance?
Texas 49, UCLA 20 - Okay, with Garrett Gilbert permanently on the sidelines and a guy named McCoy at the helm, Texas looks like a legitimate football team again. Then again, I think Paul Rhoads' Iowa State juggernaut could probaubly hang 30+ on UCLA. As Texas rolls, the one thing for Horn fans to worry about is that the Bruins' best weapon was - get this - running right at the Horns. Which was eerily like UT's biggest defensive liability last year, too. UT fans should be cautiously optimistic - they've got a QB, a RB, and they're already clearly better than last year. But temper that with the reality that UCLA will struggle to find a winning record this year. I can't believe a program like UCLA has allowed itself to get this bad.
Ugly Stat: In four years under Rick Neuheisel, UCLA is a dreadful 2-19 against teams that go on to finish at or above .500.
Seems to me a long year is ahead for the Bruins, and a new job is in Neuheisel's future. Despite his baggage, I still think Mike Leach would be a perfect fit for that job, football-smart to get the job done, wacky enough to fit into LA culture like a glove. Question is whether the support is there for UCLA football to get it back to its former level....who knows..
More commentary and updates as the mood hits...
Clemson 38, Auburn 24 - We all knew that Auburn was probably the worst 2-0 team in the country, with last-gasp wins against marginal foes staking them to an unbeaten early start and a top 25 ranking. Clemson, however, exposed all that is wrong with Auburn, especially on defense. After falling into a 21-7 hole, Clemson reeled off a 38-3 rally that carved up the Tiger secondary like so much Thanksgiving turkey. Throw in a bushel-basket full of bad and broken arm tackles, and you have all you need to know about Clemson's win. Of course, Clemson being what it is, they'll try to make this win into something akin to an upset of the '74 Steelers, with Dabo Sweeney bellowing like a madman to the ESPN cameras in a post-game interview. C'mon, Dabo.
Iowa 31, Pittsburgh 27 - After staking the Panthers to a 24-3 lead early, the Hawkeyes pounded Pitt just as the ink dried on their application to the ACC. You know, since their national title in 1976 with Tony Dorsett, has Pitt really done anything of significance?
Texas 49, UCLA 20 - Okay, with Garrett Gilbert permanently on the sidelines and a guy named McCoy at the helm, Texas looks like a legitimate football team again. Then again, I think Paul Rhoads' Iowa State juggernaut could probaubly hang 30+ on UCLA. As Texas rolls, the one thing for Horn fans to worry about is that the Bruins' best weapon was - get this - running right at the Horns. Which was eerily like UT's biggest defensive liability last year, too. UT fans should be cautiously optimistic - they've got a QB, a RB, and they're already clearly better than last year. But temper that with the reality that UCLA will struggle to find a winning record this year. I can't believe a program like UCLA has allowed itself to get this bad.
Ugly Stat: In four years under Rick Neuheisel, UCLA is a dreadful 2-19 against teams that go on to finish at or above .500.
Seems to me a long year is ahead for the Bruins, and a new job is in Neuheisel's future. Despite his baggage, I still think Mike Leach would be a perfect fit for that job, football-smart to get the job done, wacky enough to fit into LA culture like a glove. Question is whether the support is there for UCLA football to get it back to its former level....who knows..
More commentary and updates as the mood hits...
Saturday, September 10, 2011
MIchigan-Notre Dame finish what makes college game great
It was a slot machine that spun up three cherries three times in a row. It was lightning striking the same spot not twice, but three times - all in the span of 72 seconds. It was joy, heartbreak, joy, heartbreak, and for good measure, joy and heartbreak one more time - all in a span of timer shorter than your average infomercial.
It was Michigan 35, Notre Dame 31, a finish of epic proportions that would almost seem video game silly and Hollywood stupid if you pitched it as a Movie of the Week, with all the requisite bad fake football such cinematic encounters typically offer.
The great thing about it was that it was College Football at its emotional best. During the game, ESPN's Adam Shefter tweeted "I'd like to see the NFL come up with a finish like Notre Dame-Michigan." And I replied, "Not in a million years."
With three cross-country touchdown drives spanning the games final 1:12, a mass of 21 points flipped across the Michigan Stadium scoreboard and flipped what seemed a moderately comfortable Notre Dame victory suddenly into a Michigan upset. The epic and sudden shifts and turns roll at the very core of what makes college football so grand, and worthy of differentiation from its professional counterpart. Are Michigan and Notre Dame the stuff of championship caliber? Hardly. The Irish can't hold onto the ball inside the 10 yard line, and neither team sports much of a defense - that final span included close to 200 yards of offense, enough to make any defensive coordinator lose his lunch - but that was secondary to the emerging spectacle.
It was momentum's evil infidelity jumping sidelines like a malevolent gremlin, letting each team think it had won the game - only to jump across the field seconds later, and again still, until simply no more seconds remained. It was Michigan having overcome a 14-0 deficit early to lead 24-21 late; then, Notre Dame regaining the lead at 28-24 with but :30 to play; it was Michigan claiming the lead a final time at 35-31 only 28 game seconds later. For Michigan, truly the thrill of victory; for the Irish, truly, the agony of defeat.
Michigan fans stood 100,000 strong in Michigan Stadium for at least an hour after the game was over and the ESPN cameras had moved on, but even Brent Musberger and Kirk Herbstriet were struck by the epic, magical finish they had seen. No, it was not the most well-played game technically, but who cares? It was a great game, a great finish, part of what makes college football such a fun obsession. It reflected too well the exuberance of the youth that play it, and the exhausting joys among those that watch it.
Long live college football!
It was Michigan 35, Notre Dame 31, a finish of epic proportions that would almost seem video game silly and Hollywood stupid if you pitched it as a Movie of the Week, with all the requisite bad fake football such cinematic encounters typically offer.
The great thing about it was that it was College Football at its emotional best. During the game, ESPN's Adam Shefter tweeted "I'd like to see the NFL come up with a finish like Notre Dame-Michigan." And I replied, "Not in a million years."
With three cross-country touchdown drives spanning the games final 1:12, a mass of 21 points flipped across the Michigan Stadium scoreboard and flipped what seemed a moderately comfortable Notre Dame victory suddenly into a Michigan upset. The epic and sudden shifts and turns roll at the very core of what makes college football so grand, and worthy of differentiation from its professional counterpart. Are Michigan and Notre Dame the stuff of championship caliber? Hardly. The Irish can't hold onto the ball inside the 10 yard line, and neither team sports much of a defense - that final span included close to 200 yards of offense, enough to make any defensive coordinator lose his lunch - but that was secondary to the emerging spectacle.
It was momentum's evil infidelity jumping sidelines like a malevolent gremlin, letting each team think it had won the game - only to jump across the field seconds later, and again still, until simply no more seconds remained. It was Michigan having overcome a 14-0 deficit early to lead 24-21 late; then, Notre Dame regaining the lead at 28-24 with but :30 to play; it was Michigan claiming the lead a final time at 35-31 only 28 game seconds later. For Michigan, truly the thrill of victory; for the Irish, truly, the agony of defeat.
Michigan fans stood 100,000 strong in Michigan Stadium for at least an hour after the game was over and the ESPN cameras had moved on, but even Brent Musberger and Kirk Herbstriet were struck by the epic, magical finish they had seen. No, it was not the most well-played game technically, but who cares? It was a great game, a great finish, part of what makes college football such a fun obsession. It reflected too well the exuberance of the youth that play it, and the exhausting joys among those that watch it.
Long live college football!
Actual College Football!!
For those of you getting sick to death of realignment updates, take heart. Here's a post on ACTUAL college football for September 10th!
Later Games:
In one of the most phenomenal finishes you'll ever see, Michigan upends Notre Dame on a 18-yard Denard Robinson pass with 2 seconds left to propel the Big Blue to an absolutely stunning 35-31 win. Robinson's heroics capped an 80-yard touchdown drive in 28 seconds, taking possession at their own 20 after Notre Dame scored what appeared to be the game-winning touchdown themselves with 30 seconds to play.
This is one of the truly classic wins in CFB history.
South Carolina 45, Georgia 42: The seat couldn't get any hotter for Georgia coach Mark Richt, who just led the Bulldogs to their first 0-2 start in 15 years. Georgia came *that* close to rallying from a 10-point deficit and getting a final chance to close the gap late, only to miss an onside kick and allow South Carolina to pick up a game-sealing first down and run out the clock. Four Aaron Murray touchdown passes could not overcome turnovers and 68-yard run off a fake punt for the Gamecocks. This may be the beginning of the end for Richt.
Texas 17, BYU 16: With Garrett Gilbert looking lost an inept, throwing two early first-half interceptions, UT found itself in a 13-0 hole. Enter the tandem of David Ash and Chase McCoy, who sparked the Horn offense to life and two second-half touchdowns that staved off BYU's upset bid. The Cougars drove the ball deep into 'Horn territory twice in the first half, but settled for field goals both times; clock mismanagement just before halftime cost BYU at least a chance at another long-range FG. The decisive factor: No serious interior run game from BYU, and second-half defensive adjustments shut down the Cougar passing game. Most important takeaway: Gilbert's likely seen his last duty as Texas' starter.
USC 17, Utah 14: This game had the wildest ending you've probably never seen. Down only 3 with but seconds to play, Utah drove the ball to the USC 49. On 4th and 10, Utah completes a pass to the USC 38 for an apparent first down, only to have the officials mark the ball a full yard short of the receiver's forward progress. Measurement for first down comes up short, ball goes to USC - until a replay review puts the ball at the 39 (still short), and gives Utah a first down. Following a pass interference penalty, Utah tries a 41-yard field goal with 11 seconds left, only to have the ball blocked and returned by USC for a touchdown to give the ridiculously deceptive final score. USC escaped this one with its lives.
More updates later...
Arizona State 37, Missouri 30 - OT: Mizzou QB James Franklin's two-touchdown, 319-yard aerial performance against the Sun Devils fell short in overtime against Arizona State, as ASU upended the Tigers just as lightning approached Sun Devil Stadium. For ASU, it was the biggest win at home in years, against a ranked opponent from a name conference. For Mizzou, one can't help but wonder why coach Gary Pinkel purposely opted to call two straight timeouts just as his Tigers were lining up to kick a likely game-winning field goal - one that was finally missed (badly) left to force the OT. Gary, why ice your own kicker? Isn't that the other team's job?
Iowa State 37, Iowa 30 - 3OT: Paul Rhoads is quietly becoming a giant killer in college football. In his first three years, he's upended Nebraska, Texas, and now Iowa. Not bad on your coaching resume. The Clones simply refused to cave to conventional wisdom and razzled, dazzled, and threw their way to a thrilling three-overtime win against the Hawks. Where it seemed Iowa was content to muscle its way down the field, a late shift to a pass-oriented philosophy put the Hawks behind the eightball and the Cy-Hawk trophy into the hands of the folks in Ames.
Ohio State 27, Toledo 22: That Ohio State won isn't surprising. That Toledo had the ball with a chance to win with under 2 minutes on the clock most certainly is - which is almost as surprising as the fact that Toledo outgained the Bucks on offense - and all this coming in front a Buckeye home crowd at the 'Shoe. Methinks more games like this are ahead for the Bucks until their eligibility issue(s?) are sorted out, and the accountants run through all the receipts (sarcasm). Next up for tOSU: Miami. How poetic is that? Maybe we should call it the Ineligibowl. :)
Auburn 41, Miss 34: Gene Chizik must be getting his tacos and ridiculous luck from the same vendor as Les Miles. The Tigers pulled off yet another hold-your-breath finish, but this time courtesy of the defense, as Miss QB Chris Relf was stung at the Auburn goal line as time ran out to preserve the Tigers' second consecutive breathless victory.
More comments as they come...
Later Games:
In one of the most phenomenal finishes you'll ever see, Michigan upends Notre Dame on a 18-yard Denard Robinson pass with 2 seconds left to propel the Big Blue to an absolutely stunning 35-31 win. Robinson's heroics capped an 80-yard touchdown drive in 28 seconds, taking possession at their own 20 after Notre Dame scored what appeared to be the game-winning touchdown themselves with 30 seconds to play.
This is one of the truly classic wins in CFB history.
South Carolina 45, Georgia 42: The seat couldn't get any hotter for Georgia coach Mark Richt, who just led the Bulldogs to their first 0-2 start in 15 years. Georgia came *that* close to rallying from a 10-point deficit and getting a final chance to close the gap late, only to miss an onside kick and allow South Carolina to pick up a game-sealing first down and run out the clock. Four Aaron Murray touchdown passes could not overcome turnovers and 68-yard run off a fake punt for the Gamecocks. This may be the beginning of the end for Richt.
Texas 17, BYU 16: With Garrett Gilbert looking lost an inept, throwing two early first-half interceptions, UT found itself in a 13-0 hole. Enter the tandem of David Ash and Chase McCoy, who sparked the Horn offense to life and two second-half touchdowns that staved off BYU's upset bid. The Cougars drove the ball deep into 'Horn territory twice in the first half, but settled for field goals both times; clock mismanagement just before halftime cost BYU at least a chance at another long-range FG. The decisive factor: No serious interior run game from BYU, and second-half defensive adjustments shut down the Cougar passing game. Most important takeaway: Gilbert's likely seen his last duty as Texas' starter.
USC 17, Utah 14: This game had the wildest ending you've probably never seen. Down only 3 with but seconds to play, Utah drove the ball to the USC 49. On 4th and 10, Utah completes a pass to the USC 38 for an apparent first down, only to have the officials mark the ball a full yard short of the receiver's forward progress. Measurement for first down comes up short, ball goes to USC - until a replay review puts the ball at the 39 (still short), and gives Utah a first down. Following a pass interference penalty, Utah tries a 41-yard field goal with 11 seconds left, only to have the ball blocked and returned by USC for a touchdown to give the ridiculously deceptive final score. USC escaped this one with its lives.
More updates later...
Arizona State 37, Missouri 30 - OT: Mizzou QB James Franklin's two-touchdown, 319-yard aerial performance against the Sun Devils fell short in overtime against Arizona State, as ASU upended the Tigers just as lightning approached Sun Devil Stadium. For ASU, it was the biggest win at home in years, against a ranked opponent from a name conference. For Mizzou, one can't help but wonder why coach Gary Pinkel purposely opted to call two straight timeouts just as his Tigers were lining up to kick a likely game-winning field goal - one that was finally missed (badly) left to force the OT. Gary, why ice your own kicker? Isn't that the other team's job?
Iowa State 37, Iowa 30 - 3OT: Paul Rhoads is quietly becoming a giant killer in college football. In his first three years, he's upended Nebraska, Texas, and now Iowa. Not bad on your coaching resume. The Clones simply refused to cave to conventional wisdom and razzled, dazzled, and threw their way to a thrilling three-overtime win against the Hawks. Where it seemed Iowa was content to muscle its way down the field, a late shift to a pass-oriented philosophy put the Hawks behind the eightball and the Cy-Hawk trophy into the hands of the folks in Ames.
Ohio State 27, Toledo 22: That Ohio State won isn't surprising. That Toledo had the ball with a chance to win with under 2 minutes on the clock most certainly is - which is almost as surprising as the fact that Toledo outgained the Bucks on offense - and all this coming in front a Buckeye home crowd at the 'Shoe. Methinks more games like this are ahead for the Bucks until their eligibility issue(s?) are sorted out, and the accountants run through all the receipts (sarcasm). Next up for tOSU: Miami. How poetic is that? Maybe we should call it the Ineligibowl. :)
Auburn 41, Miss 34: Gene Chizik must be getting his tacos and ridiculous luck from the same vendor as Les Miles. The Tigers pulled off yet another hold-your-breath finish, but this time courtesy of the defense, as Miss QB Chris Relf was stung at the Auburn goal line as time ran out to preserve the Tigers' second consecutive breathless victory.
More comments as they come...
Monday, September 5, 2011
Big 12 Shuffling - Separating Fact from Fiction
Update 9/6/2011:
New info from several tweets:
1. Pac 12 doesn't want to expand. They're happy with current situation...but
2. If Big 12 explodes with A&M's departure, they would likely accept OU and OkState even without Texas. A&M must move first, however.
3. Academics are a concern among some schools, although there is no hard AAU membership requirement in the Pac 12.
4. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy was quoted as saying that it "didn't look like the Big 12 could be saved."
5. ACC denies last night's report that TX was joining their conference in non-football sports.
-----
Update 9/5/2011:
Last Update - 10:52PM - ACC commish denies TX membership pending.... Last tweet from Chip Brown @ Orangebloods says Texas in "intense" talks with OU to "save Big 12 - may work, may not." I personally think UT is going to try and bluff OU on status of OU-TX game should TX go ACC and OU go west to Pac 12. I think its all a bluff - OU needs Texas, Texas needs OU now that A&M is gone (or will be shortly). We'll see how it all works out, but my money for now still sits with the reports that seem to make the most sense - OU, Texas, Tech, and OSU to the Pac 12+, with a reworked LHN. We'll see. G'nite.
------------
Two reports emerging that indicate things are moving, but which direction is unclear. OKC sports reporter Dean Blevins from CBS affiliate KWTV-9 tweets that the Longhorn Network is the "only obstacle" to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas Tech moving to the Pac 12+, but that it "will be reworked."
The other report that tends to work against this is that of Chip Brown at Orangebloods.com, wherein he states that Texas is working to salvage the Longhorn Network, and may be entertaining a move to the ACC!
My personal opinion is that's a load of, ahem, "surplus bevo," with almost no chance of seeing the light of reality. Texas to the ACC makes no sense under nearly any theory. But we'll see. Ultimately, I think OU will lead the charge of the four named schools west in short order.
The ESPN (and other) message boards are rife with speculation about the final destinations of Texas, OU, and other Big 12 schools pending the apparent demise of that flailing conference. Amid the speculation is quite a bit of sheer nonsense, and I'd like to try to separate some of that fiction from the facts:
That's a summary of the biggest red herrings out there for the moment. Any others?
New info from several tweets:
1. Pac 12 doesn't want to expand. They're happy with current situation...but
2. If Big 12 explodes with A&M's departure, they would likely accept OU and OkState even without Texas. A&M must move first, however.
3. Academics are a concern among some schools, although there is no hard AAU membership requirement in the Pac 12.
4. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy was quoted as saying that it "didn't look like the Big 12 could be saved."
5. ACC denies last night's report that TX was joining their conference in non-football sports.
-----
Update 9/5/2011:
Last Update - 10:52PM - ACC commish denies TX membership pending.... Last tweet from Chip Brown @ Orangebloods says Texas in "intense" talks with OU to "save Big 12 - may work, may not." I personally think UT is going to try and bluff OU on status of OU-TX game should TX go ACC and OU go west to Pac 12. I think its all a bluff - OU needs Texas, Texas needs OU now that A&M is gone (or will be shortly). We'll see how it all works out, but my money for now still sits with the reports that seem to make the most sense - OU, Texas, Tech, and OSU to the Pac 12+, with a reworked LHN. We'll see. G'nite.
------------
Two reports emerging that indicate things are moving, but which direction is unclear. OKC sports reporter Dean Blevins from CBS affiliate KWTV-9 tweets that the Longhorn Network is the "only obstacle" to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas Tech moving to the Pac 12+, but that it "will be reworked."
The other report that tends to work against this is that of Chip Brown at Orangebloods.com, wherein he states that Texas is working to salvage the Longhorn Network, and may be entertaining a move to the ACC!
My personal opinion is that's a load of, ahem, "surplus bevo," with almost no chance of seeing the light of reality. Texas to the ACC makes no sense under nearly any theory. But we'll see. Ultimately, I think OU will lead the charge of the four named schools west in short order.
The ESPN (and other) message boards are rife with speculation about the final destinations of Texas, OU, and other Big 12 schools pending the apparent demise of that flailing conference. Amid the speculation is quite a bit of sheer nonsense, and I'd like to try to separate some of that fiction from the facts:
- Myth 1: OU is in secret talks to go to the SEC.
- Myth 2 - Texas really wants to go independent.
- Myth 3 - Texas can keep Oklahoma in check by threatening the future of their rivalry game
That's a summary of the biggest red herrings out there for the moment. Any others?
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Football loses a gentle giant: Lee Roy Selmon dead at 56
Two days after suffering a massive stroke, former Oklahoma Sooner great and Tampa Bay Buccaneer star Lee Roy Selmon has died.
Selmon, 56, apparently collapsed following a workout at his home in Tampa.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Selmon, but I had the privilege of watching him play some of the most dominating defensive football I've ever seen. Growing up as a Sooner fan in the 70's, I watched the Selmon brothers as they became as much the standard bearer for the Sooners on the defensive side as the wishbone was on the offensive side. Barry Switzer referred to him as the most talented football player he'd ever coached.
Football has lost one of its truly great ambassadors. Amidst a contemporary landscape of players seemingly always dodging trouble, the Selmons were and are simple, family-centered people, endowed with tremendous physical talent brokered by a sense of selflessness that never allowed an unchecked ego to compromise who they were as human beings first, and football players second.
Blessings to the Selmon family in this tragic loss.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
NCAA versus The Colleges: An OU-Georgia Legal Redux?
Most college football fans older than, say, 40, have at least a fleeting memory of the time when the NCAA controlled college football rights, and limited just about everyone to no more than two national TV appearances annually.
That's right, two.
Not quite thirty years ago, the universities of Oklahoma and Georgia grew tired of the NCAA's control, having started to realize the untapped value in the commercial sale of TV broadcast rights. Eventually, attorneys for one (or both) schools made a revelation - that the NCAA's control over broadcast rights was never part of NCAA membership, and that control was a violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The schools sued to get those rights back.
After some legal wrangling, the Supreme Court agreed, handing OU and Georgia a landmark victory in a case that quite literally reshaped the way college football is broadcast. The BCS itself, arguably, owes its very existence to the OU-Georgia lawsuit of not quite a generation ago.
Now, I can't help but wonder if a similar donnybrook is ahead, over what is arguably the purest expression of rights ownership - a university sports network.
This week, Texas launched its (in)famous Longhorn Sports Network, after a summer of arguing and fighting over the propriety of LHN carrying Texas high school football games. Members of the Big 12 screamed foul, pointing out a multitude of lesser promotional actions (such as showing a recruit on a scoreboard display) that have been nixed by the NCAA, meaning surely a television network can be held to no lower a standard.
For now, the Big 12 put its foot down (and, yes, I tried to say that without laughing), and told Texas, "no." And then the NCAA confirmed that ruling...and then, it didn't.
Almost without notice, the NCAA backtracked on that ruling, saying that ESPN could run "selected" high school highlights within its own content as partner for LHN. And I can't help but wonder what led to the NCAA's change of heart.
Methinks a flashback to OU-Georgia is part of their thinking.
If OU and Georgia successfully argued three decades ago that schools own their own broadcast rights, it doesn't take a great leap to say that no governing entity such as the Big 12 nor the NCAA can prevent Texas from exercising what it would argue were its First Amendment free speech rights - to broadcast on its own network anything it pleases.
It would start with Texas versus its own conference.
It would end with Texas versus the NCAA.
I'm no attorney, but my trick knee tells me that Texas would have a darned good chance to win that kind of fight. And if they did, there would be a free-for-all to follow regarding every other impingement of free speech that has capped certain recruiting activities for years - all gone at the drop of a gavel, along with any significant pretense on the part of any other school that the NCAA had any real enforcement powers over, well, anything.
I think the NCAA's about-face on an absolute prohibition of high school football on LHN is a tip of the hat to a more fundamental fear; that as rapidly as college football is growing, with newer and more creative ways found by the most powerful schools to slide craftily around the rules amid those who simply disregard them, that the NCAA is becoming an anachronism, a tip-of-the-hat to a bygone era when college football really was college football.
If the shadows of conference realignment cast by Texas A&M show anything, they demonstrate how quickly college football could reorganize itself and gravitate into a sport where the schools representing the top, oh, 50 elite programs simply consolidate, bid the NCAA and its byzantine rules farewell, and play ball with their own playbook.
Don't laugh. Surely, the NCAA isn't.
That's right, two.
Not quite thirty years ago, the universities of Oklahoma and Georgia grew tired of the NCAA's control, having started to realize the untapped value in the commercial sale of TV broadcast rights. Eventually, attorneys for one (or both) schools made a revelation - that the NCAA's control over broadcast rights was never part of NCAA membership, and that control was a violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The schools sued to get those rights back.
After some legal wrangling, the Supreme Court agreed, handing OU and Georgia a landmark victory in a case that quite literally reshaped the way college football is broadcast. The BCS itself, arguably, owes its very existence to the OU-Georgia lawsuit of not quite a generation ago.
Now, I can't help but wonder if a similar donnybrook is ahead, over what is arguably the purest expression of rights ownership - a university sports network.
This week, Texas launched its (in)famous Longhorn Sports Network, after a summer of arguing and fighting over the propriety of LHN carrying Texas high school football games. Members of the Big 12 screamed foul, pointing out a multitude of lesser promotional actions (such as showing a recruit on a scoreboard display) that have been nixed by the NCAA, meaning surely a television network can be held to no lower a standard.
For now, the Big 12 put its foot down (and, yes, I tried to say that without laughing), and told Texas, "no." And then the NCAA confirmed that ruling...and then, it didn't.
Almost without notice, the NCAA backtracked on that ruling, saying that ESPN could run "selected" high school highlights within its own content as partner for LHN. And I can't help but wonder what led to the NCAA's change of heart.
Methinks a flashback to OU-Georgia is part of their thinking.
If OU and Georgia successfully argued three decades ago that schools own their own broadcast rights, it doesn't take a great leap to say that no governing entity such as the Big 12 nor the NCAA can prevent Texas from exercising what it would argue were its First Amendment free speech rights - to broadcast on its own network anything it pleases.
It would start with Texas versus its own conference.
It would end with Texas versus the NCAA.
I'm no attorney, but my trick knee tells me that Texas would have a darned good chance to win that kind of fight. And if they did, there would be a free-for-all to follow regarding every other impingement of free speech that has capped certain recruiting activities for years - all gone at the drop of a gavel, along with any significant pretense on the part of any other school that the NCAA had any real enforcement powers over, well, anything.
I think the NCAA's about-face on an absolute prohibition of high school football on LHN is a tip of the hat to a more fundamental fear; that as rapidly as college football is growing, with newer and more creative ways found by the most powerful schools to slide craftily around the rules amid those who simply disregard them, that the NCAA is becoming an anachronism, a tip-of-the-hat to a bygone era when college football really was college football.
If the shadows of conference realignment cast by Texas A&M show anything, they demonstrate how quickly college football could reorganize itself and gravitate into a sport where the schools representing the top, oh, 50 elite programs simply consolidate, bid the NCAA and its byzantine rules farewell, and play ball with their own playbook.
Don't laugh. Surely, the NCAA isn't.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Texas A&M to the SEC - Update
Update @ 9:13 PM CST: Sporting News is reporting that stories of A&M joining the SEC are "just not true." However, considering the other stories that have come out tonight, this "high ranking SEC" statement is consistent with what we've known - that there cannot be a formal announcement until August 22.
Moreover, the SN story quoted their source as saying that various other leaders within the conference must be contacted before a formal invitation could be extended, which makes perfect sense given the 11 days between now and the reported August 22 announcement date.
It's all still fluid, and could still go by the boards, but right now I still stand on the side of A&M leaving. I keep wondering if we're going to hear rumors about contingency plans for OU, Texas, and the rest of the "Not Even Close to 12" should the A&M defection happen. Stay tuned.
Update @ 8:03 PM CST: Lots of media rumors and stories, hard to separate original reporting from reports-on-other reports. Newest source of fairly reliable information is coming from Orangebloods.com, link here, which says that A&M regents will vote on an SEC membership issue on August 22, and nothing official can be discussed before then.
Now, obviously, all of this is very fluid, and tons of hype is flowing everywhere, so all of this is subject to change, but the rumbling continue to suggest that A&M really is going to the SEC.
Update @ 7:47 PM CST: According to the Texas A&M Rivals site, A&M is going to the SEC!!! I must admit that I'm stunned. Read their story here. If this proves true, it almost certainly spells the end of what's left of the Big 12, and who knows where the dominoes will fall. Only time will tell!!!
Rumors on the Internet are like flies around the tail of a Texas horse - frequent, annoying, and generally swatted away.
Yet one such rumor - that of Texas A&M moving to the SEC - was promoted to full-fledged credible gossip when A&M president R. Bowen Loftin issued a curious statement pledging that he will always "look after" the best interests of the University.
You can read the entirety of the quote here.
Rumors of A&M to the SEC started last year as talks of a mass migration of teams from the Big 12 to the Pac 10 gained steam. Just as the move seemed an inevitability, an eleventh-hour deal among "interested parties" funneled more revenue to the conference and putting the kibosh on the move. Now the talks are, supposedly, starting up again.
There's only one problem. The SEC isn't going to accept just one team. If the SEC is serious about inviting A&M, it makes sense they're just as serious about inviting another, as yet unnamed school to compliment the Aggies.
The question is simple: What other school is in the SEC's gunsites? The only two high-profile programs that would seem likely candidates from the remnants of the erstwhile Big 12 would be Texas and Oklahoma; yet Texas with its new Longhorn Network hardly seems a fit for the SEC and its new ESPN contract. Oklahoma could be a legitimate second candidate, but chances are the Sooners would not move without a package deal including Oklahoma State.
The bigger fish is out there. Common sense says it has to be, with A&M serving only as the lure. That means that, as the Aggies deal with the SEC, they would do well to tread very, very cautiously. Why? If the second team on the SEC's agenda falls through, prospective talks with the Aggies could end abruptly, leaving A&M nowhere to go but back to league it, apparently, desperately wants to leave.
Let the rumors fly.
Update: Some media outlets have pointed out that the ONLY place from which the A&M-to-the-SEC rumors seem to be originating is College Station. There's been no vibe or rumor from any SEC outlets or sources, which means this may all be nothing more than disgruntled saber rattling by the Aggies....and, as of 5:30pm CST Thursday, College Station continues to be the only place other than the media talking this issue...
Moreover, the SN story quoted their source as saying that various other leaders within the conference must be contacted before a formal invitation could be extended, which makes perfect sense given the 11 days between now and the reported August 22 announcement date.
It's all still fluid, and could still go by the boards, but right now I still stand on the side of A&M leaving. I keep wondering if we're going to hear rumors about contingency plans for OU, Texas, and the rest of the "Not Even Close to 12" should the A&M defection happen. Stay tuned.
Update @ 8:03 PM CST: Lots of media rumors and stories, hard to separate original reporting from reports-on-other reports. Newest source of fairly reliable information is coming from Orangebloods.com, link here, which says that A&M regents will vote on an SEC membership issue on August 22, and nothing official can be discussed before then.
Now, obviously, all of this is very fluid, and tons of hype is flowing everywhere, so all of this is subject to change, but the rumbling continue to suggest that A&M really is going to the SEC.
Update @ 7:47 PM CST: According to the Texas A&M Rivals site, A&M is going to the SEC!!! I must admit that I'm stunned. Read their story here. If this proves true, it almost certainly spells the end of what's left of the Big 12, and who knows where the dominoes will fall. Only time will tell!!!
Rumors on the Internet are like flies around the tail of a Texas horse - frequent, annoying, and generally swatted away.
Yet one such rumor - that of Texas A&M moving to the SEC - was promoted to full-fledged credible gossip when A&M president R. Bowen Loftin issued a curious statement pledging that he will always "look after" the best interests of the University.
You can read the entirety of the quote here.
Rumors of A&M to the SEC started last year as talks of a mass migration of teams from the Big 12 to the Pac 10 gained steam. Just as the move seemed an inevitability, an eleventh-hour deal among "interested parties" funneled more revenue to the conference and putting the kibosh on the move. Now the talks are, supposedly, starting up again.
There's only one problem. The SEC isn't going to accept just one team. If the SEC is serious about inviting A&M, it makes sense they're just as serious about inviting another, as yet unnamed school to compliment the Aggies.
The question is simple: What other school is in the SEC's gunsites? The only two high-profile programs that would seem likely candidates from the remnants of the erstwhile Big 12 would be Texas and Oklahoma; yet Texas with its new Longhorn Network hardly seems a fit for the SEC and its new ESPN contract. Oklahoma could be a legitimate second candidate, but chances are the Sooners would not move without a package deal including Oklahoma State.
The bigger fish is out there. Common sense says it has to be, with A&M serving only as the lure. That means that, as the Aggies deal with the SEC, they would do well to tread very, very cautiously. Why? If the second team on the SEC's agenda falls through, prospective talks with the Aggies could end abruptly, leaving A&M nowhere to go but back to league it, apparently, desperately wants to leave.
Let the rumors fly.
Update: Some media outlets have pointed out that the ONLY place from which the A&M-to-the-SEC rumors seem to be originating is College Station. There's been no vibe or rumor from any SEC outlets or sources, which means this may all be nothing more than disgruntled saber rattling by the Aggies....and, as of 5:30pm CST Thursday, College Station continues to be the only place other than the media talking this issue...
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