Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category
Counterpoint: Split National Titles Are For People Not Willing to Rationalize a Playoff
Closed Published January 6th, 2009 on FanHouse
by Will Brinson
Filed under: Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Ohio State, USC, Utah, BCS, Big 10, Big 12, NCAA FB Coaching, NCAA FB Fans, General CFB Insanity, Bowl Games, FCS
My colleague Mark Hasty penned a piece yesterday calling for a split national title in college football. It’s a fun idea; it seeks to give credit to all the teams we believe deserve it (last week it was Alabama and Texas, this week it’s just Utah).
Now, MH does have a point — there is considerable distress in the world of NCAA football when it comes to picking who should be the best/last/triumphant team standing come January 6. This is typically a huge issue every year.
And, in fact, it’s an issue for the very reason that Mark pointed out — we (media, fans, coaches, everyone) always tend to be stone cold wrong about a few particular conferences and/or teams. Hawaii was a perfect example last year; many people actually thought they were good enough to beat Georgia. Whoops. Same thing with, apparently, Alabama — although I’m still not willing to concede that they aren’t an upper tier team, Utah just got the reverse treatment.
But here’s the thing: as long as the current setup for college football stands, this will always be an issue. There are several problems. First of all, preseason polls are a total and utter disaster. The need to rank teams as soon as a season ends begs and pleads for us to cave in and actually foster misconceptions about particular programs. See: the Big Ten, every freaking year.
Misconstruing the talent level of a particular program leads to the second issue; it’s nearly impossible for a team like Utah — with their conference, schedule and the inherent bias — to actually rise high enough in the BCS standings to get a shot at winning a national title.
Counterpoint: Split National Titles Are For People Not Willing to Rationalize a Playoff originally appeared on Fanhouse NCAA Football Blog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Utah Fans Are Shamelessly Spamming AP Voters in the Slim Hopes They Can Win a Title
Closed Published January 6th, 2009 on FanHouseby Will Brinson
Filed under: Alabama, Texas, Utah, BCS, Big 10, Big 12, NCAA FB Fans, NCAA FB Media Watch, NCAA FB Rumors, General CFB Insanity, Bowl Games, FCS
The Utah Utes just finished (another) undefeated season. They are, naturally, proud of this fact. Not quite as proud, though, as they are angry about a BCS scenario that will not enable them to win a national title.
This is because, of course, Oklahoma and Florida are really the only eligible title contenders. (Just don’t tell Mack Brown I said that.) But that fact certainly isn’t stopping the Thelma, Marvin and Provos of the world from saying their peace — just ask News and Observer reporter and AP voter J.P. Giglio, who lets us know that people in Utah can use e-mail.
Utah fans have been mass e-mailing AP voters, urging us to put the Utes, the nation’s only unbeaten team, No. 1 in the final Top 25.I’ve received no less than 100 e-mails from the Ute faithful, not to mention a Facebook wall post from a Ute alum.
Frankly, I can’t say I blame the Utah fans; go ahead and put me down for a mea culpa on the whole “Alabama is going to slaughter that little Mountain West team”. And it’s that same stigma (again, I’m sorry) that has caused puh-lenty of voters to simply ignore teams from smaller conferences.
The big problem is that there isn’t — and this is no real surprise — ever a consistent level of bowl performance from the Boise States and the Hawaiis and the Utahs of the world. Which pretty much means that the only solution that will ever work correctly is a freaking playoff. Not sure how many times it has to be said.
Utah Fans Are Shamelessly Spamming AP Voters in the Slim Hopes They Can Win a Title originally appeared on Fanhouse NCAA Football Blog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Broncos’ Domonique Foxworth: ‘I Could Start at Corner on Any Other Team’
Closed Published July 22nd, 2007 on FanHouse - Broncos
With training camps about to open, is there any position on any team that is more set than cornerback on the Broncos? With Dre Bly joining Champ Bailey, the Broncos don’t just have the best pair of corners in the league, they have one of the best cornerback tandems in NFL history.
But the arrival of Bly also meant that Domonique Foxworth knew he wasn’t going to start. And in an interview with Sports Illustrated, Foxworth didn’t sound all thta thrilled to have Bly on board:
“Having Champ and Dre’ is exciting but frustrating,” says Foxworth. “I could start at corner on any other team. To be honest, I think I can start at corner on this team.”
I don’t think anyone is going to agree with Foxworth on that last part, but it is a reminder that NFL players don’t necessarily want their teams to acquire great players. At least, not at their own position.
Filed under: Broncos, Buccaneers, AFC West, NFC South
The last time I mentioned Jake Plummer, he was retired, planned to stay that way, and was eager to participate in a handball tournament. Well, Plummer’s high school coach would like you to know — and by “you” I mean “Jon Gruden” — that he has no plans on un-retiring. Ever.
“I had one conversation with him in passing,” said Steve Vogel, coach of Capital High School in Boise, Idaho. “He said, ‘They don’t believe me down there (in Tampa), but I’m done.’ “
Oddly, according to the story, it’s unknown if Plummer “has formally submitted his retirement papers to the NFL.” But as Rick Stroud writes, it’s also irrelevant. That’s because Mr. Snake has three years and almost $16 million left on his deal, which was traded to Tampa Bay for a 2008 fourth-rounder (if Plummer returns to football) or a seventh-rounder (if he continues to pursue handball).
According to NFL procedures, if a player is under contract at the time of his retirement, it is his club’s responsibility to determine his roster status. The club’s options include, but are not limited to, the reserve/retired category.
Obviously, the Bucs would like to have Plummer in camp — right now, Jeff Garcia is the team’s starting quarterback — but according to Plummer’s peeps, the former Arizona State star isn’t interested in having to earn a job (yeah, only chumps have to earn jobs). He’s quite content to keep a low profile, even if it means passing up a $5-million-a-year salary to wear a visor and hold a clipboard.
And if you still have doubts Vogel offers this:
“He’s never led that extravagant lifestyle. Years ago I was with him and he bought a shirt at the secondhand store. He’s real practical. He didn’t have all the fancy cars and stuff and drives around in a Honda Element. It’s real practical and speaks to Jake’s sense of values.”
That’s right, the dude drives an Element and shops at consignment shops. I think that pretty much confirms that he has no business in the NFL.
New Bronco Brandon Stokley Sees Some Peyton Manning in Jay Cutler
Closed Published July 11th, 2007 on FanHouse - BroncosFiled under: Broncos, Colts, Denver, Indianapolis, NFL Free Agency
Wide receiver Brandon Stokley signed as a free agent with the Broncos this year after four seasons with the Colts, and he thinks his new quarterback, Jay Cutler, has a lot in common with his old quarterback, Peyton Manning.
“Jay and Peyton both have great arms. They both have a great feel for the offense,” Stokley explained. “That’s what you ask in a quarterback. They have to know the offense in and out. You can definitely see that Jay does.“And he’s a great leader out there on the field, like Peyton. You can definitely see the qualities.”
OK, OK, let’s not get carried away, Stokley wasn’t saying Cutler is or ever will be as good as Manning, he was just giving some encouraging words about the potential Cutler has to be a very good quarterback some day. Still, considering that Cutler is already bound to be measured against John Elway, inviting comparisons to another all-time great quarterback might not be the wisest idea.
Note: The linked Denver Post article refers to Stokley as “A possession receiver with sneaky speed.” Old stereotypes die hard.
Broncos’ Kenny Peterson Suspended Four Games for Steroids
Closed Published July 6th, 2007 on FanHouse - Broncos
Broncos defensive end Kenny Peterson has been given a four-game suspension for a violation of the NFL’s steroid policy.
Peterson is eligible to go through training camp and the preseason, but he may not practice with the team when the regular season starts or play in any of the first four games. In practice, that means he’s suspended without pay for the month of September.
Peterson went to Ohio State and spent his first three seasons with the Packers. Last year Green Bay released him in training camp, and he signed in the middle of the 2006 season with Denver, playing three games for the Broncos. Denver used its first two draft picks this year on defensive ends, so there’s a good chance Peterson won’t make the roster anyway. If the Broncos cut him, he’ll have to sign with a new team before he can begin serving his four-game suspension.
Filed under: Broncos, AFC West, NFL Fans, Denver
Miles, the Bronco mascot, claims to be the first NFL mascot to have a blog. And having a blog means he has a way to get something off his horsey chest. He found a Bronco fan rant that complained that the Broncos should only have one mascot, Thunder, who races across the field when the Broncos score and not a “silly clown in a horse-headed costume.”
Miles was not going to take this sitting down, because he’s a horse, and they like to stand:
“Let’s say this guy actually procreates. Being a hard core Bronco Fan, he’ll undoubtedly take his child to a game WAY before they can appreciate football. With all the stuff going on during gameday, what’s the kid going to probably take notice of? The horsey? Probably. Now, will Thunder come over and take a picture? Probably not, Thunder is very limited in where he can go on the field. Will Thunder sign an autograph picture that the kid will take home and put up on the wall that will then become their first Bronco fixation, only to grow into another hardcore Bronco Fan (to the delight of daddy)? Most likely not. Will Miles be something the kid can identify with, and be able to take the time to take pictures and sign autographs? YOU BET BABY!”
After reading Miles discussion of the merits of mascots, the Bronco fan apologized, but didn’t really back off his position that he likes just Thunder and no Miles. For the record, I’m pro-mascot as I believe in the good works they do, and well, I don’t want to get on Miles’ bad side.
Filed under: Broncos, Nuggets, Denver, Rockies, General NHL, Avalanche, Western, NHL Awards
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Filed under: Broncos, Buccaneers, Denver, Tampa Bay
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Filed under: Bills, Broncos, Buccaneers, Packers
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