Red Card Bowl Preview

Posted by Nick Verlaney on Dec 17, 2010 in NCAA Football | 6 comments

- Hey everyone, I hope that you had a good week since I last posted. There wont be a Top 10 this week, so here is just a quick heads up on the next few weeks of posting will go: next week will be my 25 Hottest Women in the World edition, and the week after will be an in-depth NFL playoff preview. Both will be fun, so look forward to reading them after a little holiday cheer

- A melancholy goodbye to Larry King , as his last show was Thursday. The man is a living legend, and after 25 years as a talk show host and many others as a journalist, he is hanging up his suspenders and retiring. If many journalists in this country had half of the wit, knowledge, and understanding that Larry King has, this country would be displayed in a very different light by the media. To one of the greats, I bid you adieu Larry King. You are the JoePa of journalism.

- TIME Magazine just named Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg as “Person of the Year.” He will be the second youngest person to ever win the award, right behind famous pilot Charles Lindbergh who was 25 when he first won it in 1927. The creator of the most engaging, addictive website ever should be recognized…..as a contributer to lower college GPA’s, ADD, and social awkwardness. Gotta love the FB.

- I would like to touch on Cam Newton winning the Heisman, and decisively I might add. I know that people will forever have a problem with him being ‘eligible’ even though there appears to have been attempts to have some sort of pay-for-play system in place by his father. The facts, as it stands right now, are that nothing that Cam Newton did made him ineligible to play at Auburn. They didnt find where, or if, money exchanged hands, or if any rules were broken in the process of his transfer to Auburn. Basically, they have nothing, AS OF NOW. If you are a Heisman, or major award voter, you have to live in the present. You cannot try and predict the future, and say “well, I think there is a good chance that he is guilty, so Im not going to vote for him.” Innocent until proven guilty also applies to these situations. Sure, think what you want to think, but dont let that cloud your judgement on who the best player in college football is right now, and that is Cam Newton. The guy is unstoppable. Im glad the voters, for the most part, used their judgement and selected him as the winner. And I will say this, Im 100% sure that he isnt the only Heisman winner to receive illegal benefits on his run to the Heisman, if indeed he did. Im sure somewhere in the last 40 years that numerous Heisman winners got a little something extra, but ‘that was so long ago’ that nobody will speak up about it now. Heisman winners in glass houses should not throw stones. I am also glad that his father didnt attend the ceremony. He forfeited that right when this whole cloud came up around him 2 months ago. I look at Cam the way I look at Reggie Bush, even if he did ‘cheat’, he will always be the Heisman winner to me. Id rather athletes take money, than use performance enhancing drugs. Money doesnt help players win championships, ask the Washington Redskins. P.E.D.’s do.

- I would also like to congratulate Alex Henery on being honored as a First Team All-American by both the A.P. and Sports Illustrated. At least they know who the best kicker in America is by far. Not having Alex win the Groza, is like Groza not winning the Groza Award. I do know Alex though, and I can tell you that he is the least affected by all the honors and the snubs. He will make it easy on Sunday’s.

- If you have read this blog, you remember that I posted about Eric LeGrand, the Rutgers DT that got paralyzed during the Scarlet Knights game with Army. Well, in a great move by the Orange Bowl Committee, they have decided to award LeGrand with the 2010 Discover Orange Bowl Courage Award. “Eric has displayed so much courage and determination throughout his injury and rehabilitation,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. “He has given everyone associated with our football family at Rutgers the strength to persevere through life’s challenges.” Well said coach, well said.

- Since the Bowls have been selected, lets take a look at the best and worst of the 35 game long bowl season. (And they think a playoff would make the bowl season too long???? RED CARD)

The Best:

1. #1 Auburn vs. #2 Oregon, BCS National Championship. This is easy. #1 and #2 battle for the National Title. Oregon looks to see if they can be the first to stop Cam Newton, or at least the first to out-score him.
2. #3 TCU vs. #5 Wisconsin, Rose Bowl. This game has all the makings of being a slugfest. Wisconsin has been destroying opponents the last half of the season, while TCU’s stingy defense is coming into the game #1 in points against.
3. #6 Ohio State vs. #8 Arkansas, Sugar Bowl. The obvious match-up to watch is Ryan Mallet and the ‘Hogs explosive offense against the hard hitting Ohio State defense. Im also looking to see if the Buckeyes can win 2 BCS bowl games in a row to reverse their previous trend.
4. #9 Michigan State vs. #16 Alabama, Capital One Bowl. Power vs Power. Can Michigan St. prove to the country that they deserved to be in a BCS Bowl Game? Will Alabama even care to be there after a disappointing season?
5. #4 Stanford vs. #13 Virginia Tech, Orange Bowl. Stanford is arguably playing the best football in the country right now. Virginia Tech has rebounded from their dismal start to the season. Character and Cruelty against Beamer Ball. Sounds fun.

The Worst:

1. #18 Nebraska vs. Washington, Holiday Bowl. Seriously? A rematch of Nebraska’s 34 point beatdown of Washington from earlier in the season? RED CARD.
2. # 7 Oklahoma vs. UCONN, Fiesta Bowl. No Big East team remotely deserved to be in the BCS this season. This will be over by the end of the 1st quarter.
3. #19 Utah vs. #10 Boise St, Las Vegas Bowl. Matching 2 non-automatic qualifiers against each other doesnt prove that either team can play against a big time school. STOP DOING THIS. RED CARD.
4. #12 Missouri vs. Iowa, Insight Bowl. With the lack of Mizzou fan support, and Iowa’s massive drug scandal going on, this match-up has lost a lot of its luster.
5. Notre Dame vs Miami, Sun Bowl. Catholics vs. Convicts is not the match-up it was 20 years ago. Both teams are pretty bad.

- Switching gears, let’s see what we know about the NFL through week 14.

• Looks like the cry for a new stadium in Minnesota is going to get real LOUD after the Metrodome collapsed last Sunday. After seeing it fold like a house of cards, I’d say its abooooooot time.
• Hey Vikings fans, you can volunteer your time this week digging out TCF Bank Stadium, and the University of Minnesota will even provide the shovels! Wow! What a great deal! RED CARD.
• It does look like Brett Favre’s career is over, and I hope it is for his body’s sake. This season was nothing more than a pipe dream for ‘ol #4. All the injuries finally stopped his iron man-like streak at 297 consecutive regular season starts. What a career. I hope Green Bay lets him retire a Packer.
• Wow, are the Patriots on a tear right now, or what? With seemingly little talent on the offense, they are putting up historic numbers, and through inclement weather no less. I hate to wax poetic about the Brady Bunch, but I have to say that I am impressed.
• Part of the Pats run on offense is Danny Woodhead. The running back has become such a cult hero in New England, that he is even out-selling Tom Brady in jersey and t-shirt sales in Boston. I root for Danny since he is a Nebraska kid. Im glad he has found a home, and more importantly, an organization that is willing to give him a chance in New England.
• The best nickname in the NFL goes to Patriots RB Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis: “The Law Firm.” Hands down.
• The Broncos finally fired Josh McDaniels last week. I backed the guy for as long as I could, but the results speak for themselves: 6-22 in the last 28 games doesnt get it done in  the NFL. Owner Pat Bowlen better find a coach that can get that team into shape, mentally and physically. He is as much to blame as McDaniels is for the last 2 seasons failures.
• John Elway is close to joining the Broncos front office. Thank God.
• Speaking of god, Tim Tebow should get the start Sunday against the Raiders. Im excited.
• Well, the Chargers are back in the playoff race. I dont understand how a team can just turn it on at the end of the year like they do every year, but they do. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs if they can get past the Chiefs in the division.
• Yeah, Houston…you may as well stop making extravagant 4th quarter comebacks if you cant close the game out. RED CARD.
• The Ravens sure seem average on defense right now, especially in the secondary. The only way they have a chance at the Super Bowl is if their defense plays lights out, because their offense is very hit or miss.
• So my prediction of the Redskins making the playoffs looks pretty dumb now huh? They need to address their locker room issues and skill positions over the off-season or next year will be a repeat of this year.
• Their main issue is Albert Haynesworth. The guy needs to go. He is not a team player. Biggest waste of 100 million ever. RED CARD.
• Michael Vick recently said he would like to own a dog again someday. Im sorry Mike, but I dont think you get to have that privilege anymore. The road to redemption is not spelled D-O-G.  RED CARD.
• Most likely, the winner  of the pathetic NFC West will have a below .500 record. There should be a rule that states that a team cannot host a playoff game with a record below .500. Its absurd to think that Seattle or St. Louis will get to host a 13-3 New Orleans or 11-5 Green Bay team. RED CARD.
• I think this is finally the year that Peyton Manning cannot do it by himself.
• Super Bowl Contenders: Patriots, Steelers, Chargers, Falcons, Saints, Eagles.
• Super Bowl Pretenders: Ravens, Jets, Chiefs, Packers, Bears, Bucaneers.

- Here is a fast-break on some NBA storylines:

• Yeah, the Heat struggled for a few games, but did you really think it would last? I didnt.
• D-Wade is the key to that team, not LeBron. LeBron will be the difference in the playoffs though.
• For everyone trying to say that LeBron is the next Jordan, shut up. But, after his behind-the-backboard shot on Tuesday, he may be the next Larry Bird.
• Blake Griffin may be the only player in the NBA capable of matching LeBron’s physicality. BEAST.
• Shhhhhhhh! The Spurs dont want you to know they have the best record in the NBA.
• The Celtics will be in the Finals again barring anymore major injuries. Rondo is playing out of this world right now.
• I watched the Celtics-Knicks game on Wednesday and came away very impressed with New York. Mike Dantoni has really turned that team around, and Amar’e Stoudamire is the MVP of the league right now.
• Raptors G DeMar DeRozan already has won the award for “Hardest Dunk of the Year.” Watch it here.

- Quickly, I’d also like to touch on MLB free agency:

• If the Phillies dont win 162/162 games next year, the season is an utter failure. Adding Cliff Lee to a rotation of Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels is unbelievable. That team should roll through everyone.
• When was the last time the Yankees offered someone $150 million and got turned down. Answer: never.
• The Red Sox were the favorites to win it all before the Phillies got Cliff Lee. Adding Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford will make them A.L. favorites.
• Side note: I guess not coming to Nebraska to play QB was a good move for Crawford, right? $142 mil says YES!
• Offense wasnt the Red Sox’s problem last year, injuries and pitching were.
• Watch out for the White Sox next year. They are quietly building a nice squad.
• Kerry Wood back to the Cubs will be a nice Swan Song for him.