Last night, my advisor suggested that I attend the NCAA Annual Meeting in Washington DC next January and approach the university administrators directly.  This idea hadn’t occured to me, but it’s certainly exciting.  I think the most like scenario is that I’ll approach various AD’s, explain my project, and then be politely brushed off, but it’s worth a try.

 I don’t know what I expect to accomplish, really.  But I hope that I find out something noteworthy that I can share with my fellow college football fans.  So, if I come across anything worth posting, you can bet your sweet ass it will be posted.  If nothing else, I’ll be sure post the final product.  So, if you fancy that which is dry and long-winded, then get at me in about a year!

College Basketball

It doesn’t even come close to college football, but college hoops does offer the occassional thrill.  I had the privelege of traveling to Indianapolis over the weekend, and while there, I took in a Butler game.  The atmosphere was incredible!  Though I did not have a dog in the particular fight, it was impossible not to be swayed by the crowd and cheer for Butler.  There’s also the tournament.  Everyone loves March Madness, and why not?  It’s prefect for gambling and it goes on for several weeks, which means there are lots of drama and storylines to follow. 

The downside?  The average regular season games doesn’t mean a damn thing.  Thus, you find yourself saying things like “Man, if Syracuse doesn’t win one of their last four games, they might miss the tournament!”  Who cares?  They’ll just have to play in one of the two (!) lesser tournaments instead.  Furthermore, the excitement of a live basketball game does not always carry over to television.  And don’t even get me started on the NBA….

 Boxing

I KNOW!  In its current form, boxing is a corrupt, convoluted mess.  But think of the potential!  As it is, I enjoy the occasional boxing match on television, but I suppose the main draw for me is how great the sport could be.  If some organization could unify boxing and clean it up (both would be miracles akin to Moses parting the Red Sea), think of how much fun that would be to watch!  There would be tournaments (brackets!), not to mention decent fights on network television for a change.  Plus, casual fans would probably have a better idea as to who the various fighters are.  Someone needs to clean up boxing…but I don’t want to do it.

That…is about it.  I pay a cursory interest to the other sports, but they are all fairly pointless until the playoffs roll around.  So, stick with me for the next few months as I wallow in my pointless existence (except, of course, for the occassional draft talk).  It promises to be as much fun as Stalin’s Five Year Plan, and will probably feel even longer.

 Anyway, I’m here now, so let’s just enjoy the time we have together.

 When it comes to the NFL, I have a love/hate relationship of sorts.  For the last 12 seasons or so, I have been a Cincinnati Bengals fan.  I have never actually been to Cincinnati, though I am sure that it is a fine city.  I was a military child, which has always kept me from possessing the strong regional identity that most people use as a basis for supporting a particular team.  This lack of a regional identity never seemed to effect my enjoyment of college football.  However, though I do thoroughly enjoy the NFL (and in particular the NFL Draft), and I will talk at length about how they are the most competantly managed league with the best product in professional sports, there is always a nagging voice in the back of my mind that I am something of an imposter…mostly because I have no REAL connection to Cincinnati or the Bengals.  My greatest fear is that they will one day become good, and that although I will resent all of the “fans” who jump on the bandwagon, am I really that different?

Last night none of that mattered.  

Last night, I was privileged enough to watch what will no doubt go into the Pantheon of All-Time Greatest Football Games.  You know the story – 18-0 Patriots….huge favorites…undefeated season….blah blah blah.  The game was treated as a formality by many media outlets.  However, it turned out to be anything but…

 You can read lots of accounts of the game here or here, among other places.  I won’t get into that.  The topic that I wish to present to you involves New York Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning.

Eli Manning has never really been taken seriously.  Coming out of Ole Miss in 2004, much of his hype seemed to be centered around the fact that his brother, Peyton, was arguably the greatest quarterback in the league.  On draft day, Eli turned off many fans by effectively refusing to play for the San Diego Chargers, who had the first selection in the draft, and used it to select him.  An hour later, Eli Manning was traded to the New York Giants for Philip Rivers and a few draft picks.

The media has also been rough on Eli.  He has had to endure endless comparisons with his older and more accomplished brother.  He was also seen as the weak link on the team during the final years of Tiki Barber’s (one of the most popular players on the team) career.  When Barber retired after last season, he heavily criticized Eli in his new role as an analyst for NBC.

My Lord, how the tables have turned.

I was too busy screaming during the game to properly analyze what I was seeing. However as I drove home to the sounds of Billy Joel – partially to honor the Giants, though one never needs a reason to listen to Songs From the Attic (Top 5 greatest live album?) – and later, as I watched highlights from the game, I couldn’t help but draw some comparisons with Eli, as many others have done throughout his career.  I was not comparing Eli to his brother, or to Tom Brady, or to any other quarterback.  In fact, I was not even comparing him to a real person.  The only comparison that seemed to be appropriate is one that transcends the boundaries of sports and fiction.

Eli Manning looked like a Jedi.

Eli played like a man who was confident that he would win, even in the face of insurmountable odds.  When the pocket would collapse on him (not unlike the garbage compactor scene aboard the Death Star), and everyone watching was absolutely certain that a drive-ending sack was imminent, Eli made something happen.  He looked calm – as though he could hear the voice of Obi-Wan in his head, comforting him, telling him to trust his feelings.  On that final fourth quarter drive, Eli Manning looked like a taller, dark-haired Luke Skywalker as he made his way toward the Death Star’s weak point (the thermal exhaust vent, of course), with Darth Vader and his cronies in hot pursuit.  This could be my imagination, but on that fateful play, with time running out in the fourth quarter and the Giants trailing 14-10 - when Eli appeared to be sacked, and somehow slipped away to launch a long pass to David Tyree - I thought I saw Eli discreetly touch the side of his helmet….most likely to turn off his targeting computer.

 We all know what happened after that.

The Force, it seems, was strong in him.

As a final consolation to the Patriots, I must impart the immortal wisdom of Han Solo:  “Travelin’ through Hyperspace ain’t like dustin’ crops.” 

I find your lack of faith disturbing, Belichick.

1. Hawaii (12-0)
2. LSU (11-2)
3. Oklahoma (11-2)
4. Missouri (11-2)
5. Ohio St. (11-1)
6. Kansas (11-1)
7. Southern California (10-2) 
8. Georgia (10-2)
9. Virginia Tech (11-2)
10. Arizona St. (10-2)
11. West Virginia (10-2)
12. Florida (9-3) 
13. Illinois (9-3) 
14. Tennessee (9-4) 
15. Cincinnati (9-3) 
16. Brigham Young (10-2)
17. Boise St. (10-2) 
18. Texas (9-3) 
19. Air Force (9-3)
20. Clemson (9-3) 
21. Virginia (9-3)
22. UConn (9-3)
23. South Florida (9-3)
24. Central Florida (10-3)
25. (tie) Arkansas (8-4), Auburn (8-4)

I realize that Auburn did beat Arkansas head to head, but Arkansas won on the road against LSU, thus, it deserves to be ranked also.

The BCS matchups are nigh unwatchable this year.  Will we ever be spared this garbage to see what we really want???  Playoffs!

1. Kansas                       -
2. LSU                            up 1
3. Missouri                    up 2
4. West Virginia            up 2
5. Ohio St.                     up 3
6. Arizona St.                -
7. Georgia                      up 2
8. Hawaii                        up 2
9. Oregon                       down 7
10. Boise St.                     up 1
11. Oklahoma                  down 7
12. Texas                          -
13. USC                             -
14. Virginia                       -
15. Boston College           up 2
16. Virginia Tech             up 2
17. Cincinnati                   down 2
18. UConn                         down 2
19. Florida                        up 1
20. Illinois                         up 1
21. Tennessee                  up 5
22. South Florida             up 3
23. BYU                             up 1
24. Texas Tech                 up 2
25. Air Force                     up 1

Dropped Out:  Clemson, Wisconsin, Penn St.

 On the Cusp:  Clemson, Wisconsin, Troy

Breakin’ It Down:

Clemson probably did not deserve to be completely dropped from the polls, but I did it anyway.  I can’t believe I allowed myself to be sucked in AGAIN!  It always happens.

Wisconsin also gets booted for struggling mightily with an awful Minnesota team.

Big-time matchups this week!  #1 Kansas vs. #3 Mizzou, #8 Hawaii vs. #10 Boise St., not to mention all of the rivalry games.  Don’t miss it.

1. Kansas                 -
2. Oregon                 up 2
3. LSU                       -
4. Oklahoma            up 1
5. Missouri               up 1
6. Arizona St.           up 1
7. West Virginia       up 1
8. Ohio St.                 down 6
9. Georgia                 up 2
10. Hawaii                   up 2
11. Boise St.                up 2
12. Texas                    up 2
13. USC                       up 3
14. Virginia                 up 4
15. Cincinnati             up 6
16. UConn                   down 6
17. Boston College     down 8
18. Virginia Tech       down 1
19. Clemson               up 3 
20. Florida                 up 3 
21. Illinois                  up 5 
22. Penn St.               down 1
23. Wisconsin            up 3
24.  BYU                    -
25. South Florida      -

Dropped Out:  Auburn, Alabama

On The Cusp:  Tennessee, Air Force, Kentucky, Troy

Breakin’ It Down:

As I said earlier, Michigan and Ohio St. both turned in lackluster performances over the weekend.  Since Michigan has been banned from my poll this season, that one didn’t effect our standings too much (although it did delight me to no end).  The Ohio St. loss, however, had huge National Championship implicaitons, as that will essentially eliminate them from contention.  I will now cheer them on, hoping they beat Michigan and therefore saving us from having to endure Michigan screwing up the Rose Bowl again.

I have Oregon and Kansas contending for the National Championship at the moment.  It would be a hell of a shootout.

Hawaii finally sneaks into the Top 10.  Their defeat of Fresno St. is really their first victory over a team with a pulse.  I am skeptical of their upcoming road trip to Nevada.  It is a game that they should win, but Nevada can put up tons of points….though they did also allow 38 points….to New Mexico St.  So how good can they really be?

The rest, as always, is a mess.

1. Kansas                   up 3
2. Ohio St.                 down 1
3. LSU                       up 2
4. Oregon                  up 2
5. Oklahoma             up 2
6. Missouri                up 2
7. Arizona St.            down 4
8. West Virginia        up 1
9. Boston College     down 7
10. Connecticut          up 3
11. Georgia                 down 1
12. Hawaii                   -
13. Boise St.                up 1
14. Texas                    up 1
15. Auburn                 up 1
16. USC                       up 4
17. Virginia Tech       up 2
18. Virginia                 up 3
19. Alabama               down 8
20. Penn St.                up 6
21. Cincinnati             up 5
22. Clemson                up 2
23. Florida                   up 3
24. BYU                       up 2
25. South Florida       down 9

Dropped Out:  Wake Forest, Kansas St., Troy, Purdue

On the Cusp:  Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, Air Force

Breakin’ if down:

South Florida continues their fall from grace.  I just couldn’t drop them out of the polls, considering that they won at Auburn and are the only team to take down West Virginia.

Kansas is currently the best team in the country.  They’ve played a schedule roughly equivalent to Ohio St., and have won more convincingly.  Rest assured, I will be rooting hard for Illinois to dethrone the horribly overrated Buckeyes.

While we’re at it, let’s hope Wisconsin puts an end to all of this Michigan nonsense.

This could finally be the year that the BCS comes crashing down….we need an Ohio St. loss and another LSU loss (I’m lookin at you, McFadden).

1. Ohio St.                -
2. Boston College    -
3. Arizona St.          -
4. Kansas                 -
5. LSU                     -
6. Oregon                -
7. Oklahoma           -
8. Missouri              -
9. West Virginia     up 1
10. Georgia              up 9
11. Alabama            up 2
12. Hawaii                up 6
13. Connecticut       up 11 
14. Boise St.             up 7
15. Texas                 up 7
16. South Florida    down 7
17. Auburn              up 8
18. Wake Forest     up 8
19. Virginia Tech    down 8
20. USC                   down 5 
21. Virginia             down 4
22. Troy                  up 4
23. Kansas St.         down 2
24. Clemson            up 2 
25. Purdue              up 1

Dropped Out:  Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, California

On The Cusp:  Illinois, Cincinnati, BYU

Basically, the entire SEC East dropped out of the poll this week.  It’s easily the toughest conference in the nation.  Still, I couldn’t justify leaving all of those 3-loss teams in the polls.

How about the Top 10 staying relatively the same, though?  That’s a first for this season.

Hawaii’s meteoric rise can be attributed less to my respect for their undefeated record, and more to the fact that everyone in the lower teens lost.  Boise St. benefited similarly.  We will see what Hawaii is made of in its final 4 games, though.  Fresno St. should provide a challenge this weekend, after which the Warriors will make their most difficult road trip of the season when they travel to underrated Nevada.  Assuming they reach the 10-0 mark, they will close with Boise St. and Washington, both at home.  The good news for Hawaii is that none of their remaining opponents enjoy playing defense, instead choosing to rely on high-scoring offenses.  So, assuming Colt Brennan is on his game, 12-0 and a BCS berth is within reach.

Anyway…

1. Ohio St.                 up 1
2. Boston College      up 1
3. Arizona St.            up 1
4. Kansas                   up 6 
5. LSU                       -
6. Oregon                 up 2
7. Oklahoma            up 1
8. Missouri               up 3
9. South Florida      down 8
10. West Virginia      up 2
11. Virginia Tech      up 7
12. Kentucky            down 5
13. Alabama             up 9
14. Florida               up 11
15. Virginia              up 5 
16. USC                    down 1
17. South Carolina   down 11
18. Hawaii                 down 1
19. Georgia              up 2
20. Boise St.            up 4
21. Kansas St.        up 5 
22. Texas                up 4 
23. California          down 9
24. Connecticut      up 2
25. Auburn             down 2

Dropped Out:  Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Tennessee

On The Cusp:  Penn St., Rutgers, Wake Forest

Breakin’ it down:

 I wanted to drop Cal all together, but they did win at Oregon, which is pretty impressive.  Still, they have been horrible for the last 2 weeks.

If Virginia Tech loses to BC at home this Thursday, I will drop them out of the polls faster than a sack of shit.

Some folks are starting to rank Michigan again, but for me, a home loss to a 1-AA team, not to mention being eradicated again at home the following week, is evidence that a team is not one of the 25 best teams in the country.  Better luck next year, Michigan.

Clemson will choke every season!

You can almost set your watch to it.  No matter how many lightning fast running backs they amass, no matter how many hard-hitting linebackers and defensive ends they stockpile, they will find ways to lose to inferior teams.  It occured to me that every conference has a Clemson….and so I present to you my list of Clemsons.  Under no circumstances should you EVER bet on a Clemson, nor should you pick them to win their conference (let alone a National Championship).

ACC

As you might have guessed, the Clemson of the ACC is Clemson.  I don’t know whether Tommy Bowden deserves the majority of the blame (probably he does), but I do know that this team will squander a 4-0 start by any means necessary – interceptions, fumbles, ungodly amounts of penalties….you name it.  There’s really nothing more that needs to be said about them.

Pac Ten

The Clemson of the Pac Ten is UCLA (also known as West Clemson).  Good God, does this team know how to ruin a seemingly good season.  Take, for example, this season.  They begin the season ranked in the Top 15, and then proceed to get blown out 44-6 by an 0-2 Utah team.  That is just pathetic.  And you just know every year, no matter how competent their offense looks, that their defense is just looking for the most back-breaking oppurtunity to collapse.

Big 12

The Clemson of the Big 12 is undoubtedly Texas A&M.  I mean DAMN!  How can you be a BCS brand name school located in the fertile recuiting grounds of west Texas, and be so underwhelming year after year?  Dennis Franchione is part of the problem, but A&M was bumbling long before he showed up.  We’ll see if Tommy Tuberville (supposedly the leading candidate) can turn this program around after Franchione gets canned this season.

Big Ten

I had some trouble with this one – only because there is a wealth of candidates.  Michigan State, perhaps?  Iowa?  Nope.  The Clemson of the Big Ten is Purdue.  Every year these guys are ranked in the teens by the all-knowing AP.  And why?  So they can go 5-0 against MAC also-rans before mailing in their Big Ten opener?  This year they really had everyone going after sending Notre Dame to an 0-5 record, but they looked bad against that awful Irish team.  Now they’ve suffered back to back lopsided defeats to Ohio State and Michigan!  How do they lose to Michigan when Joe Tiller supposedly invented the spread offense (presumably while Al Gore was inventing the internet)?

Big East

This isn’t an easy call, mostly due to the turnover that the Big East has suffered in recent years, but I am going to nominate West Virginia.  Unlike the other teams on this list, they actually have a decent coach, and are usually a solid team.  Their problem is that they are ranked in the top 5 every season, and then end up getting crushed as soon as they face a team that understands how to stop their spread option (note: they should probably schedule Michigan).  This year was no exception as South Florida’s defense just beat them up and down the field.

SEC

Tough call here.  The SEC has many a quality program, and the few that suck are usually not overrated.  However, I think a case can be made for Georgia.  Do you realize that they were ranked in the top 10 at one point this season?  With Matthew Stafford and that Lumpkin guy as their two best offensive players???  That’s pretty generous.  Didn’t they lose to Vanderbilt last year?  Didn’t they beat that aforementioned Vanderbilt team this year on a last second field goal and then proceed to celebrate until their coach yelled at them???  Ugh.  They typically have a great defense, but their offense hasn’t really scared anyone since David Greene left.  This is a team that media always loves, but once the World’s Largest Cocktail Party comes along, you can always pack in any SEC Title hopes.

 So those are my Clemsons for each BCS conference.  There are probably Clemsons in the Mid Major conferences too (Fresno St.?  Colorado St.? Notre Dame?), but I will leave that for another day.