NCAA Football FanHouse

Is Houston Next for Reality Check?

Terrance Harris — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:49:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Texas Tech, Big 12, Conference USA

HOUSTON -- Already today we've found out Miami and Florida State aren't quite back as much as we believed and Cal isn't quite the threat we thought.

Could there be another back-to-reality moment coming tonight with the 17th-ranked University of Houston Cougars host Texas Tech in a heavily anticipated matchup of high-powered offense. The Cougars, of the Conference-USA became BCS buster candidates two weeks ago when they went into Stillwater, Okla. as an unranked team and left with a stunning 45-35 win over then No.5 Oklahoma State.

Follow after the jump for the rest of Terrance Harris' live blog from Houston.

UH is trying to make it two Big 12 teams in a row tonight against the Red Raiders in a matchup of old Southwest Conference foes. But for the first time this season, the 2-0 Cougars will be facing a team that is strong both offensively and defensively. The Red Raiders are definitely a defensive upgrade over Oklahoma State, which create problems for Houston and quarterback Case Keenum.

The Red Raiders (2-1) are coming off hard fought 34-24 loss to No. 2 Texas last week in a game in which they gave Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Colt McCoy serious trouble at times. Tech's first-year starting quarterback Taylor Potts, who leads the nation in most major passing categories, also was impressive during the loss on the road to the Longhorns.

If the Cougars, who are favored to win, are able to come away with another Big 12 win, they will be considered a legitimate contender for BCS acceptance should they then make it through C-USA play undefeated.

Houston is expecting a sold out crowd to pack Robertson Stadium for what could be the biggest game the Cougs have played in the last 20 years. Kickoff has been pushed back to 9:26PM ET.

FIRST QUARTER

This isn't quite the start Texas Tech was looking for. On the Raiders opening drive, quarterback Taylor Potts fumbled the ball away at the Red Raiders 34 on the drop back.

The Cougars show showed their appreciation by converting the turnover into a score when Kennum connected with James Cleveland on perfectly placed slant pass for a six-yard touchdown pass that put them ahead 7-0 with 10:43 to play. Keenun also had a perfect sideline pass on a rollout to Cleveland that moved UH to the 22.

*************

Okay let the fireworks begin. Minutes after the Cougars scored their first touchdown of the night, Texas Tech responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with running back Baron Batch running around the left corner for a six-yard touchdown that made it 7-7 with 6:59 left in the first quarter.

**********

After two quick touchdowns early in the quarter, the first quarter morphed into a defensive struggle for both explosive offenses.. What' looked like a shootout in the making ended in a 7-7 tie.

SECOND QUARTER

The Cougars are still seeking their second touchdown of the night, but they did come away with 30-yard field goal by Jordan Mannisto after a promising drive died at the 13 yard line to give them the 10-7 lead with 8:52 remaining in the first half. Keenum took a costly sack with the Cougars within striking distance that could have re-energized the capacity crowd.

***********

So who says Texas Tech can't run the football? In a drive that began with a 35-yard end around by running Harrison Jefffers, the Red Raiders ran the ball down the throats of Houston. And it was only fitting that the drive end with a 11-yard run up the middle by Batch to give the Raiders their first lead of the night at 14-10 with 5:59 remaining in the second quarter. Tech ran the ball five times during the seven-play, 85-yard drive.

***************

Intent on establishing the run for the first time this season, Mike Leach makes his point with back-to-back long drives highlighted by gashing runs. That's right runs. Batch had a couple nice runs up the middle, but then it was Jeffers who raced up the middle breaking tackles along the way for a 13-yard touchdown run that gave the Raiders a 21-10 lead with 59 second remaining in the first half. All three of the Raiders touchdowns in the first half have come on runs.

The interesting thing on the most recent rushing touchdown, is it came right after a Houston timeout.

**************

The Cougars put together a scoring drive in the final 59 seconds that ended with a 50-yard field goal by Mannisto after some curious use of timeouts near the end. The Cougs went into halftime trailing 21-13.

************

Those who are expecting a shootout between the two high-powered offenses of Texas Tech and Houston have to be scratching their heads after the first two quarters.

It's been anything but the aerial attack this non-conference has been billed to be. The Cougars weren't able to get on track during the first half, scoring their only touchdown on a short drive following a turnover early in the first quarter. They've had to settle for two field goals in the second quarters.

Texas Tech, the most prolific passing offense in the country, has pulled the old bait-and-switch in the first two quarters. They've relied heavily on the run to completely confuse the Cougars. The Raiders have rushed the ball 19 times for 117 yards. They have just 145 yards through the air.

Baron Batch has been the workhorse with 76 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries in the first two quarters.

THIRD QUARTER

The Cougars finally get going offensively with an impressive third quarter drive that reduced their deficit to 21-20 when Beall plunged in from one-yard out with 7:14 remaining in the quarter. UH marched 87 yards on seven plays as Keenun's passing touch returned. The biggest of the pass plays was a 45-yard bomb to Tyron Carrier in which the reciver had to come back for the ball at the Tech 26.

***************

Who would have guessed it would haven taken Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts until the end of the third quarter to throw his first touchdown pass? Well with Leach fascinated with the run, Potts finally got his first touchdown pass with 4:19 remaining in the third when he hit Tramain Swindall on a short slant that turned into a tackle-breaking 24-yard touchdown reception that put the Raiders back in control with a 28-20 lead.

***************

UH doesn't appear ready to fold them yet. The Cougars keep fighting back. Sparked by the second Tech turnover of the night, the Cougars converted a 20-yard field goal attempt by Mannisto to pull within 28-23 of the lead with 12 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The Cougs final scoring drive of the third quarter has set up an interesting fourth quarter that is sure to produce some sparks.

FOURTH QUARTER

Leach might have made the biggest mistake of the night by electing to go for it on fourth-and-goal at the 1 instead of kicking the field goal that would have put the Raiders ahead by 8 points. Potts was stuffed on the quarterback sneak, turning the ball over on downs midway through the fourth quarter. Texas Tech has no timeouts remaining should UH reclaim the lead on the ensuing drive.

****************

Texas Tech appears to have stopped the momentum of the Cougars by coming up with a huge interception of a Keenum pass to Monroe over the middle. Backup safety Will Ford stepped in front of Monroe for the pick at the Tech 34 that stopped a potential go-ahead scoring drive by the Cougars.

************

Heading down to the sidelines for postgame interviews with the Raiders holding a 28-23 lead with 6:40 remaining.

The Cougars drive 95 yards on their final drive and Keenun runs in from four yards out with 49 seconds remaining for the decisive touchdown for the 29-28 win over Texas Tech. The 17th-ranked Cougards have now defeated two straight Big 12 opponents in a row.

Is Houston Next for Reality Check? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texas Tech, Houston Share More Than Offensive Flair

Terrance Harris — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Texas Tech, Big 12, Conference USA

HOUSTON -- Reclined way back with his feet kicked up on a table in the Houston Cougars' film room Tuesday and answering questions in a philosophical yet aloof way, Dana Holgorsen was channeling his inner Mike Leach without even realizing it.

The voice, the demeanor and delivery were all Leach -- albeit a younger, less clean-shaven Leach.

"I sat in the same room as him for many, many years," Holgorsen, the Cougars second-year offensive coordinator said when reminded of the similarity. "All of that stuff rubbed off, I guess."

Apparently much more than some not-so-subtle mannerisms rubbed off on Holgorsen throughout their time together -- including eight years on Leach's Texas Tech staff -- first as his receivers coach, and later as his co-offensive coordinator before heading to UH. Off and on during the last 20 years, Holgorsen has had a chance to learn firsthand the unorthodox way Leach approaches offensive football, spreading the field and using a quick-strike passing game to move the ball downfield much the way traditional offenses use the running game.

Holgorsen was like sponge until breaking out on his own last year.

Much of what Holgorsen has picked up from Leach will be heavily debated Saturday night when the 17th-ranked Cougars host the Texas Tech Red Raiders in what is expected to be a display of explosive offenses that very much mirror one another.

"At times there are going to be a lot of the same plays that are run that look incredibly the same," Holgorsen told FanHouse. "I think probably the biggest thing is what's called in certain situations is going to be probably the biggest difference.

"Part of it is he has five offensive linemen who are as big as that door. So he can just sit back and maul people. He's got a big tall quarterback, so [Taylor Potts] being able to throw it 60 or 65 times is a little more realistic than us at this point."

But that isn't to suggest the Cougars see themselves taking a backseat to Leach and his Raiders in this meeting of old Southwest Conference teams. UH has shown in two games this season that it's as explosive as Tech -- and in some cases perhaps more.

Led by an experienced quarterback in junior Case Keenum, the Cougars' 50.0 points per game in their first two contests lead the nation. Texas Tech ranks 19th in the country after averaging 39.0 points per game in its first three games this season.

Both offenses enter Saturday's game as two of the more prolific passing units in the country. The Raiders lead the nation in passing offense with 443.33 yards per game, while UH ranks fourth with 406.50 yards per game. Each offense will spread the field with four and five receiver sets and try to create mismatches in space with quicker receivers on slower defenders at a fast-break pace.

But interestingly, both sides seem to see as many differences as they do similarities.

"They are into motion more than we are," said Leach, who still remains close to Holgorsen. "They motion players around some, that would be the main thing. But there are a lot of similar plays, similar philosophy and stuff like that."

Motioning players is a wrinkle Holgorsen put into his version of the spread attack and quite possibly is something he suggested during his tenure at Tech that Leach elected to pass on.

"We're not scared to change some things up, not that he's scared," said Holgorsen, whose ties to Leach go back to the early 1990s when he played wide receiver for Leach's offense at Iowa Wesleyan. "He's not scared to change things, he's just reluctant to change things based on the fact it has worked for many, many, many years."

Second-year UH coach Kevin Sumlin admits to similarities in the two offenses but also insists there are major differences beginning with the ground attack. Leach has long used the rush as a means to keep defenses honest and as a change of pace.

The Cougars are much more committed to the run as evidenced by the production of running back Bryce Beall last season when he ran for 1,247 yards and 13 touchdowns on 198 carries as a freshman.

And that difference is already apparent this season with UH averaging 118.5 yards per game on the ground compared to just 28.7 yards per game for the Raiders.

"I think what we've been able to do is be a fairly balanced attack last year by creating a running game," Sumlin said. "It created a 1,300-yard rusher last year and he would have had more yards had I had sense enough to start him before the fourth game."

But Keenum also is capable of putting the ball in the air with speed guys like Tyron Carrier capable of getting open for big catches. It was Keenum's play two weeks ago that helped pave the way for the 45-35 upset of then-No. 5 Oklahoma State in Stillwater.

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COLUMBIA, SC - SEPTEMBER 24: Kicker Spencer Lanning #34 of the South Carolina Gamecocks tackles Marshay Green #8 of the Mississippi Rebels saving a touchdown during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on September 24, 2009 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marshay Green;Spencer Lanning

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COLUMBIA, SC - SEPTEMBER 24: Running back Brandon Bolden #34 of the Mississippi Rebels rushes against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second quarter of their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on September 24, 2009 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brandon Bolden

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South Carolina's Akeem Auguste (3) defends as Mississippi's Shay Hodges can't catch a pass in the end zone during the first half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)

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The Raiders, meanwhile, are coming off a 34-24 loss to No. 2 Texas in Austin during the Big 12 opener last week that may have done more to bolster the reputation of Potts. Facing his first real test as a first-year starter, the 6-foot-5 signal-caller won the respect of many as he stood in and made key throw after key throw under enormous pressure from the Longhorns.

Potts completed 46 of 62 pass attempts for 414 yards in the losing effort. Potts, who leads the nation in most major passing categories, has passed for 1,281 yards and 12 touchdowns in three games and is averaging 427 yards per game through the air.

The numbers seem to suggest when Keenum and Potts trot their respective offenses onto the field Saturday night that it will be bombs away.

"People thought that when we went to Stillwater," Sumlin said. "Somehow when we play, people bring that up. You would be crazy if you didn't think that way just based on statistics, but that's all I heard about that game - could we outscore them? We played decent defense against Oklahoma State and won the game.

"We are set up and built for whatever happens."

Texas Tech, Houston Share More Than Offensive Flair originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BCS or Bust for Houston

Terrance Harris — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:35:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Conference USA

HOUSTON -- It seems every football season there is the push to find the ultimate BCS buster.

And there have been some good ones to crash the "Members Only" party for the big boys of college football. The interesting thing is the club of little guys capable of breaking through has been even more exclusive than the club entry they seek.

Boise State. Utah. Hawaii. TCU.

But this year those teams might have a new member with the University of Houston putting together a potentially impressive resume for entry. The Cougars, coached by second-year man Kevin Sumlin, has already caused quite a stir in the elite college football landscape when they rolled into Stillwater and rolled over then No. 5 Oklahoma State 45-35..

That was enough to earn the Cougars instant recognition with an entry into the Top 25. But now the Cougars have a chance to show the nation just how much of a BCS threat they truly are with a chance to defeat their second quality Big 12 opponent in as many games when Texas Tech enters a sold out Robertson Stadium Saturday night.

Talk about a BCS or bust opportunity for these Cougs.

"It's not really a goal, but it's an unseen goal," UH senior center Carl Barnett said when if the team hoped to be one of the rare non-BCS teams to break through to a BCS bowl game this postseason. "We are trying to take every game one by one and will just try to win the next game. You can't see the future; you just have to play the game that is right in front of you, take it day by day, and do what we need to, to get to the overall goal."

Sumlin couldn't have said it better himself as he tries to keep his team focused on his mantra that it's a 12-opportunity season and no opportunity is bigger than the next. But that will be much easier said than done, especially if UH gets past a dangerous Tech teams that mirrors the Cougars in offensive explosiveness.

Should the Cougars get past the Red Raiders, only a Halloween showdown with Southern Miss stands out as an obvious potential stumbling block.

Already the campus is buzzing, the city of Houston is tuning in and the alumni are already thinking back to the Jack Pardee days in the old Southwest Conference when the Cougs were a feared team.

Sumlin said when his staff and players showed up for 6:30AM workouts recently, they were greeted by cheering students wrapped around the athletic building on campus.

"For us it's great, for the University it's great, but for our team we can't get too high or too low because no matter what happens Saturday, win or lose we've still got to out and play nine or 10 more times, at least," said Sumlin, whose team opened the season with an overwhelming 55-7 win over Northwestern State. "We're appreciative but what we would like to have for this to be the norm instead of just a once in a while thing. If we continue to do our part, if we put the right product on the field, it shows me what we are capable of doing."

So far, Sumlin and his staff have put out a very quality product that starts with junior quarterback Case Keenum and extends to players like running back Bryce Beall, receiver Tyron Carrier and linebacker Marcus McGraw.

Art Briles got things back on track at UH during his five-year tenure before bolting for Baylor. Now Sumlin, who was an offensive coordinator under Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum, has a chance to take what Briles started to the next level.

"He's doing fabulous, everyone recognizes that," Stoops said. "We're excited for Kevin and just really pleased that him and his staff are doing so well. Everybody here still remains close with Kevin and we are always following and seeing his scores. We're just happy for him and I'm sure he will continue to do well."

Sumlin's tenure got off to a great start in 2009 when one of the first hires he made was bringing in Dana Holgorsen -- a disciple of Texas Tech coach Mike Leach -- into the fold as his offensive coordinator. It wasn't long before the Cougs offense was putting up Red Raiders type offensive numbers.

Their confidence began to build with last season's 8-5 finish, which marked the programs fifth bowl berth in six seasons. But their belief in what's possible was cemented with the victory over an Oklahoma State squad that might still contend for the Big 12 title this season.

The Cougs (2-0) stood toe-to-toe with OSU and then swatted away a spirited comeback attempt in a hostile environment.

But instead of patting his team on the back for earning the program's most impressive win in years, Sumlin challenged his players to identify their mistakes and areas they needed to get better before their next opportunity.

"If we continue to get better, that's what I'm concerned with," said Sumlin, whose team had bye this past week. "The crazy thing about college football is we can play worse, too, particularly with a young team. It's our job to try to get better every week. If we can go out and play as well as we can play and it's not good enough that's alright.

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Louisiana State running back Trindon Holliday (8) is lifted by a teammate after making a touchdown against Louisiana-Lafayette in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. LSU wide receiver Chris Mitchell (86) joins the celebration. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

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PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 19: Bobby Bowden, Head Coach of the Florida State Seminoles, walks off the field after the win over The Brigham Young Cougars at La Vell Edwards Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bobby Bowden

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PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 19: Maxx Hall #15 of the Brigham Young Cougars calls out a play against the Florida State Seminoles at La Vell Edwards Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maxx Hall

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PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 19: Harvey Unga #45 of the Brigham Young Cougars runs against the Florida State Seminoles at La Vell Edwards Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Harvey Unga

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"But I think we are getting to a point now where we can tell our guys if we can play up to where our potential is and eliminate mistakes, I think we will be successful."

It already seems just three weeks into the season, the Cougs have experienced an unexpected level of success. They enter Saturday's game ranked while the Red Raiders (2-1), who lost on the road to No.2 Texas last Saturday night, have yet to enter the Top 25 this season. And UH will actually be favored against its Big 12 opponent.

But Sumlin isn't buying into such role-reversal anecdotes.

"That's for everyone else to worry about because three weeks ago they would have thought it would have been flipped," he said. "But timing is everything. The game was on the schedule three months ago, it didn't matter whether we were ranked, whether they were ranked based on what's going on in the game. It's an important game for both teams.

"Something tells me there were going to be a lot of people at this game no matter what happens so it just kind of adds to it."

BCS or Bust for Houston originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Tebow's Not Peyton Manning. Good.

Brian Grummell — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:40:00 EST

Filed under: Florida, Tennessee, Conference USA, SEC, Coaching, Media Watch, Heisman

Every week during college football's endless offseason, The FanHouse Walk will put last week's stories to bed and deliver the essentials to bridge that agonizing space between now and September.

Championship! -- Texas Tech coach Mike Leach gets credit for taking on the NFL's accepted wisdom when it comes to quarterbacks, and now there's some interesting data out there that found its way to ESPN college football writer Bruce Feldman's blog via former coach Jim Donnan. Its an interesting look into the surprisingly vast offensive divide between college football and the manufactured entertainment that is the NFL.

Since 1998, five Southeastern Conference quarterbacks have been the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. 1) Peyton Manning, Tennessee, 1988 2) Tim Couch, Kentucky, 1999 3) Eli Manning Ole Miss, 2004 4) JaMarcus Russell, LSU, 2007 5)Matthew Stafford, Georgia, 2009

The five quarterbacks were the primary starters at their schools for a combined 14 seasons, winning a total of one SEC title (Peyton Manning as a senior in 1997).

Since 1998, five Southeastern Conference teams have won the national championship. 1) Tennessee (Tee Martin), 1998 2) LSU (Matt Mauck), 2003 3) Florida (Chris Leak), 2006 4) LSU (Matt Flynn), 2007 5) Florida (Tim Tebow) 2008

The highest drafted starting quarterback for any of these national championship teams (obviously, the fifth is still undecided as Tim Tebow is back for his senior year at Florida in 2009), was Tee Martin from Tennessee, who was a fifth rounder.

So I asked the former UGA coach what he took from this little breakdown. "Go get a mobile quarterback!!!!! he e-mailed back.

Amazing. Not one of the five championship quarterbacks fits any kind of prototype. They've all generally been more mobile, unconventional and noodle-armed than what matters at football's highest level yet demostrated more winning ability in their college days than many decent NFL passers who are still getting paychecks.

Since the NFL is financially dominant it and its media partners set the narrative and there is much wringing of hands about these crazy college offenses and the skill players arriving from them. Perhaps though it should be the other way around as fans and media turn the table and ask why the NFL has become so cookie cutter, so generic, and uninspired compared to college football these days?

Tim Tebow is awaiting such a reply.

Corch Money -- With the jobhopping to Notre Dame talk not fading away, Florida doubled down this week in granting coach Urban Meyer a six year, $24 million contract extension making him the SEC's highest paid coach for 2009.

He's in the best preseason position of any coach since Pete Carroll in 2005 of leading his team to a national championship, which would be Meyer's third championship in five years. There's no reason for him not to be making that Carroll/Saban/Stoops/Weis (!) level money and today's news is a validation of that. Now just don't blow it particularly when the media swoonfest is in full gear. USC is still paying the price for that with fans years later.

Why Do People Hate The Regular Season? -- This is getting old. First the playoff movement, now the tired "Heisman vote after the bowls" discussion. People, people, people. The Heisman Trophy is a regular season award, just as college football is a regular season sport.

I love the bowl games but its often overlooked how strange they are relative to the regular season. Their outcomes often come down to which team is not necessarily superior but more motivated and aren't the same environment as the regular season which is more frenetic and week-to-week as opposed to having sometimes a month of preparation.

So our apologies to Vince Young, but the Heisman is meant to be won in the regular season.

On The Catwalk -- The Lane Kiffin Show does it again. Well played, sir, except for that Greg McMackin inspired bit at the end.

Overtime, Ball on the 25

-- ESPN College GameDay's Lee Corso says psssshhhhhtttttt, not so fast to this year's stroke taking him permanently off his game.

-- A look at offensive pace. Not the best measure of a team's offensive ability, but yet another piece of data that brings us closer to relatively explaining whats going on between the 120 teams in upper division college football.

-- Vanderbilt's performance last year has Phil Steele ever-so-slightly second guessing himself.

-- A surprisingly interesting discussion by and amongst wise guys about Conference USA team expectations this year.

-- The Rooney Rule is inching closer to passage in Oregon. I'm a huge supporter of the movement to bring more minorities into head coaching and athletic director positions, but there's just something not right about these kinds of measures being implemented in achieving that goal.

Tim Tebow's Not Peyton Manning. Good. originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Football Camp for 'U' Men

Brian Grummell — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:20:00 EST

Filed under: Florida, University of Miami, Sun Belt, Tennessee, Texas, Conference USA, Heisman

Every week during college football's endless offseason, The FanHouse Walk will put last week's stories to bed and deliver the essentials to bridge that agonizing space between now and September.

U've Been Bad -- It seemed dormant for a while with the mediocrity coming from Tallahassee and Coral Gables, but perhaps rivalry football in Florida is back. A University of Miami commit was kicked out of a Florida-run football camp last week for supposedly flashing Miami's famous "The U" hand signal after several drills. Its unraveled into a he-said he-said drama concerning Florida's handling of his alleged actions, and his right as a paying participant.

If you're looking for an opinion we strangely don't have one, feeling rather stupid defending either side. The easy way out here is to blame who started it and move on. In this situation its alleged perp lineman Tavadis Glenn (edit -- of Terry Parker High). Sorry, big fella, you've been bad but here's to us seeing you on Saturdays stoking the flames between those two programs.

Nevada of the East -- Delaware wants it some sports gambling, something to which the entire apparatus of organized sport is opposed. Apparently several of those bodies jointly filed a lawsuit last week to put the brakes on tiny Delaware's cash grab.

I understand the opposition to this and their arguments make sense, but at the same time we can't ignore that Nevada still has sanction for sports betting. And, personally, although sports gambling doesn't really interest me outside of the occasional day at the track, America is a big country and Nevada isn't what we would call easily accessible to a huge chunk of the population. Perhaps we should reconsider the various prohibitions and let slip another state or two.

More NCAA Worries -- Lets be clear, amateurism is dead. The NCAA has managed to effectively restrain most athletes from capitalizing on their own personal brand in the open market, but those days are dwindling. Dr. Saturday points out several pending lawsuits against the NCAA concerning their licensing of athletes' likenesses and other matters.

They may or may not win these and similar challenges, but they can't hold out forever. A reckoning is a long time coming and I hope for the organization's sake and that of collegiate athletics, they recognize it at some point in the near future and work effectively towards a new future that protects the athletes and preserves academic integrity but no longer pretends it can enforce amateurism.

2009 Is Great And All, But Lets Talk Next Year Already -- In a bit of a repeat of the 2004 "neutral" site meeting between USC and Virginia Tech, Boise State will travel east next year to open their season against Virginia Tech in the hornet's nest that will be FedEx field in Washington. If they thought Georgia fans were tough between the Hedges, wait till they experience the Hokie road show.

Meanwhile, LSU will challenge North Carolina in an SEC-ACC match for Chick-fil-A's College Kickoff.

He's Not 40, But He's a Man

The Lane Kiffin Show's taken a break from the animation ...

Overtime, Ball on the 25

-- The authority speaks, and doth proclaim Colt McCoy the early Heisman Trophy favorite.

-- Texas will honor former coach Darrell Royal by donning a special throwback uniform against rival Texas A&M.

Nike has designed a uniform that will be a special version of the traditional Longhorn white road uniform, including a patch honoring Royal and helmets in the style of Texas' first national championship team in 1963. The patch, featuring Royal's initials "DKR" will be on the players hips while the helmets will include each player's number above the Longhorn logo. The size of the word "Texas" on the front of the jersey also has been adjusted slightly to reflect the eras where the jersey numbers were larger and the school's name was not featured on the front

Amusingly, in its advanced stage of perpetual insecurity the program seeks to remind people unrelatedly of their 2005 championship in these releases, noting at the bottom:

Texas captured its fourth national title in 2005 when the No. 2 Longhorns knocked off No. 1 and two-time defending National Champion USC, 41-38, in the Rose Bowl.

That's great, and in the interval Florida, LSU and Florida again have won their own crowns.

-- USC folks are taking their digs at Lane Kiffin. Buyer beware.

-- Smart, if under the radar: The Sun Belt and Conference USA are offering full-color preview magazines. College football is a game of banter and discussion, conferences and programs need to be willing to fight in the PR game to get attention (without being over the top Kiffin at Tennessee level) and get notice or get left out.

No Football Camp for 'U' Men originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lane Kiffin Kiss and Make Up Week

Brian Grummell — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:14:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State, New Mexico State, Sun Belt, Tennessee, Conference USA, Mountain West

Every Monday during college football's endless offseason, The FanHouse Walk will put last week's stories to bed and deliver the essentials to bridge that agonizing space between now and September.

You Can't Be Bad All of the Time -- First-year Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin has built up a tremendous amount of antagonism this offseason. There's nobody to blame but himself, of course, but sometimes you have to give the Devil his due. For all his transgressions, try not to read too much into the story that Tennessee has been witness to 11 player departures. Wherever possible in college athletics, you want to look out for the best interest of the athletes but healthy, successful coaching transitions at big-time football programs almost require a good dose of roster turnover. Whether he's handled it right is up for debate but the raw numbers themselves should not be an indictment of Kiffin.

I would actually be more worried for Kiffin if after spring ball there was little player movement to be found. Any time you change from one executive to another, the remaining personnel aren't always going to be a good fit for the program, either athletically or temperamentally. The more unhappy folk that walk away, the less division there is later on as a roster is built with people who are willing to buy in. That is a good thing and gives the folks who wouldn't have a shot or might cause trouble a chance at peace elsewhere.

We Apologize In Advance -- Anyway, that's my modest peace offering, but if you're the Knoxville News, you put together a story about the Kiffin family, the struggles of their move, and put a video on the internet for all to see what a nice couple they are. Smooch smooch, please don't get mad at us when you get spanked by Florida and our columnists are up in arms criticizing you a few months from now coach, in other words. (Via Dr. Saturday)

Oh No, A Poll! -- BCS bashers everywhere, cover your eyes, its the attack of polls, ohmygodsoscary how dare those things invade our game, must defend self with ridiculous snark and over the top bashing. Right?

ESPN's Tim Griffin found a cool composite of preseason polls with a 'heavy Southern bent' at LSUFootball.net. The top three's fairly predictable with Florida, Texas and Oklahoma. Alabama's recovered from that beatdown against Utah to a healthy five spot and Oklahoma State is all the way up there at No. 6. Personally I think Ole Miss is vastly overrated at No. 10, that is fool's gold right there.

Progress -- USA Today digs into college football coaching data to find a rise in the number of minority head coaches and coordinators but is still unimpressed. The Black Coaches Association also has its say. Telling quote from first-year New Mexico State coach DeWayne Walker:

Having seen both sides, Walker says NFL teams are "more proactive and more open-minded" about minority head coaches and the hiring process is straightforward - "if the GM and the owner like you, they hire you." Colleges, he says, have more "political" concerns - "it's not just the AD and the president at the BCS schools, there are other factors."

Nevertheless, he says, coaches "almost have to be in the game from the college standpoint to get a college head coaching position."

And that's unlikely to ever change given how the money structure works in college athletics.

University presidents and athletic directors are charged not only with hiring someone who will put butts in the seats like an NFL owner or general manager, but hiring someone who can connect with big dollar donors who provide the major funds that help fund new facilities, stadium expansions, and so on. Hopefully that is something those interested in improving the lot of minority coaches are considering and working on, finding ways to systematically connect with what is most likely a largely white, wealthy, older group of people who have tremendous financial power at these programs.

As I've said repeatedly I think the most efficient and most rewarding path for minority coaches will be to flood the coordinator ranks which is something that appears to be accelerating the last few years. The vast majority of college head coaches are hired after stints as either offensive or defensive coordinators in the college ranks. The more we see minority names pop up as hotshot coordinators, the more difficult it is to ignore them in the hiring process as fans debate their merits and put pressure on a university to hire their favorite before a rival program scoops them up.

Overtime, Ball on the 25

-- A second bowl game is set for Las Vegas this year, the Maaco Bowl to be played on December 22nd. The Mountain West champion or first choice will be pitted against the fourth or fifth selection from the Pac-10. This is a horrible arrangement for the Pac-10 but should shut up the Mountain West fairness brigade if they find themselves regularly losing this thing. (Via CollegeFootballTalk)

-- Florida State President T.K. Wetherell is never at a loss for words. This week he's done the unusual in criticizing the disciplinary skills of receiver coach Lawrence Dawsey. Wow. (Via The Wiz of Odds)

-- Georgia is bringing the hammer down on two players, suspending them for multiple games for team rule violations.

-- ESPN's Graham Watson is fighting the good fight, publishing in-depth post spring breakdowns of Sun Belt and Conference USA programs. Do dig into those if you have the time.

Lane Kiffin Kiss and Make Up Week originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 11 May 2009 14:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lane Kiffin: Vols' Offense Stuck in '60s

Brian Grummell — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:36:00 EST

Filed under: Alabama, Army, Auburn, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Conference USA, Pac 10

Every Monday during college football's endless offseason, The FanHouse Walk will put last week's stories to bed and deliver the essentials to bridge that agonizing space between now and September.

Was He Even Alive Then? -- Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin dove back to the pre-disco era in describing his football team after a recent scrimmage. "I feel like we're in the '60s right now with our offense. We've got to run the ball and throw play-action right now. That's about all we can do. It's pretty scary right now."

Mercifully football has moved beyond '60s era mundanity, but Tennessee fans might welcome '60s results as the Vols snagged two SEC championships over the decade.

Not The Happiest Of Homecomings -- Charlie Weis is an enigma. He prides himself on consistency and honor and all that, but some days he's accessible and affable, others deeply moody and gruff. This time around, he's showing his accessible side, granting a 35-minute interview with the Chicago Tribune where he admitted he considered leaving beloved alma mater and dream job, Notre Dame.

"We talked about all that as a family, and we felt that we didn't want to leave that way. That would have been the easy way out. That's not why we came here".

Coaches' lives, for all the frivolity, are filled with serious pressure, so I understand Weis' sentiment. Just the same, its a surprising admission, I've always had this feeling that he'd have to be dragged away kicking and screaming from his lofty perch but then here he is saying he almost left.

Predictably, Nick Saban Is Irritated -- CBS has decided to broadcast the Iron Bowl, the rivalry game between Alabama and Auburn, on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The game has traditionally been played on Saturday but CBS moved it to Black Friday for 2009 and 2010.

Alabama coach Nick Saban is none too pleased.

"I really wasn't for moving the game, to be honest with you, to Friday," Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said. "I like to play it on Saturday."

Overtime, Ball on the 25

-- Fresh off a motorcycle DUI arrest in Hollywood, Oklahoma football legend Brian Bosworth may have begun to redeem himself. After speaking at an Oklahoma City school assembly about drunk driving as part of his mandatory community service, Bosworth may have helped save a life.

An official at the school recounts:

"I left school and was going south on Council and around 16th street, there was a long line of cars. I saw this motorcycle come between the lanes to the front. And when I saw who was driving I thought, 'that's him.' Then I drove ahead and I just happened to look over, and in the parking lot, there was a pick-up, two men standing there and a man laid out on the ground. I did a U-turn, and when I drove back, Bosworth was giving CPR to the man."

-- ESPN televised Georgia's spring game on Saturday. This time last year they were showing Florida's spring game and the Gators later went on to win the BCS Championship. Looks like redshirt senior quarterback Joe Cox will be the man to lead the Dawgs into 2009 play.

-- Former NFL coach John Gruden turned down an invitation by new Oregon coach Chip Kelly to be the Ducks' new offensive coordinator.

-- After the Pac-10 failed to provide a team for last year's Hawaii bowl, event organizers have dropped the conference and instead worked out a deal for a Conference USA team to play there.

-- Army has converted a 6'-10", 283-pound offensive lineman to a wide receiver. The early results are surprisingly encouraging.

Lane Kiffin: Vols' Offense Stuck in '60s originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rice's James Casey Declares for NFL Draft, But What Position Will He Play?

Michael David Smith — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:19:00 EST

Filed under: Rice, Conference USA, Prospects

The most intriguing pro prospect in college football, Rice's James Casey, has declared for the NFL draft. And if you've never heard of Casey and you're not sure why he's the nation's most intriguing pro prospect, let us count the ways:

1. He's 24 years old.
2. He only played two years of college football.
3. He's a ridiculously good all-around athlete, having spent four years as a minor league baseball player and one season as a javelin thrower on Rice's track team.
4. He was so versatile at Rice that he started his first spring practice at safety, then got moved to defensive end, and also lined up at quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, fullback and running back. Oh, and he also played special teams.

And it's that last one that is the most interesting of all, because we really have no idea what position the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Casey will play in the NFL. After setting a Conference USA single-season record for catches with 111 last year, one would assume he'll play wide receiver or tight end, but that's not necessarily the case.

For his part, Casey told the Houston Chronicle he really doesn't know where he'll be drafted or where he'll play.

"It's really just speculation, but I've heard anywhere from like the second to fourth round," Casey said of his draft stock. "I didn't really put too much weight on that because I am an underclassmen and a lot of stuff goes into the draft as far as the combine. Just being older, I'm excited about it and ready to get started.
"Some teams might see me as a tight end or an H-back, but that's just each individual team. Some of them might have in mind what they might like, but that's out of my control so I'm going to keep working hard."

My best guess is that an NFL team will try to bulk Casey up a bit and have him play tight end, but the most important thing to know about him is simply that he's a football player. Rice coach David Bailiff says of Casey, "He is the greatest player I've ever been around." That's the kind of endorsement NFL coaches will love to hear.

Rice's James Casey Declares for NFL Draft, But What Position Will He Play? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowl Season '08: LiveBlog Kick-Off

Chas Rich — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Brigham Young, ACC, Big East, Conference USA, Mountain West, Pac 10, WAC, Bowl Games

The beginning of the end. It's the time for bittersweet feelings. Finally some college football after a couple weeks of nothingness (no offense to the 1-AA and D-II and D-III playoffs).

At the same time, it is a countdown to the end of it all. When all there can be are obsessing over recruits and signing day, ridiculous speculation about who will be the team to beat in 2009, and spring games. As Lucy Van Pelt would remind us, "Try not to think about it, five cents please."

The bowls kicked off before lunchtime with Wake Forest beating Navy, 29-19. In case you need a reminder (all times Eastern):

New Mexico Bowl, Colorado St. - Fresno St., 2:30 pm, ESPN

magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl, Memphis - South Florida, 4:30 pm, ESPN2

Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl, Arizona - BYU, 8 pm, ESPN

We couldn't bring ourselves to spend the entire day liveblogging away. Instead, we will be liveblogging during the Las Vegas Bowl starting around 8 pm. A chance to discuss the game in progress, look back on the other three games and look ahead to games in the coming days.

Bowl Season '08: LiveBlog Kick-Off originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turkey Legs to Go: GMAC Bowl Travel Guide, Tulsa vs. Ball State

Will Brinson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Ball State, Tulsa, Conference USA, MAC, Campus, Coaching, Fans, Bowl Games

Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the GMAC Bowl (Mobile, Alabama), which pits Tulsa against Ball State.

Overview/Matchup: If you're Ball State, you are most likely doing your best David Byrne impression and wondering, "How did I get here?" This is not my undefeated season. This is not my BCS bowl. And so on. After Nate Davis and crew coughed up a horrid MAC Championship loss to Buffalo, they crushed any argument they had to go anywhere but Mobile. And waiting for them, in the next to last bowl of the year, is Tulsa, who just lost to East Carolina in the championship game. Third place is the second loser!

Hotels: Already one of the finest hotels in Mobile, the Renaissance Riverview Plaza is almost finished with a US$60 million overhaul that will make it one of the finest hotels in southern Alabama. Bowl travelers will also be happy with the hotel's proximity to the stadium; Ladd-Peebles Stadium is just minutes away.

On the opposite side of town from the Renaissance, there's a second clustering of hotels around I-65. The Drury Inn Mobile is a great option for travelers seeking midrange to budget accommodation. Located 10 to 15 minutes from the stadium, the Drury Inn offers excellent service and a surprising number of amenities and accommodations for the price. Just down the highway, the Ramada Inn I-65 offers even lower rates than the Drury but with fewer amenities and less consistent service.

Restaurants: If you're dining in the downtown area, try Wintzell's Oyster House. Wintzell's has been serving Mobile fresh gulf seafood for more than 70 years. For a cheap and delicious meal, head to The Dew Drop Inn Restaurant. The Mobile landmark -- where Jimmy Buffett said he learned to "love cheeseburgers" -- has been serving top-notch cheeseburgers, po-boys and hot dogs since 1924 and they're still crowded every day at lunch

Turkey Legs to Go: GMAC Bowl Travel Guide, Tulsa vs. Ball State originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turkey Legs to Go: Liberty Bowl Travel Guide, Kentucky vs. East Carolina

Will Brinson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: East Carolina, Kentucky, Conference USA, SEC, Campus, Coaching, Fans, Bowl Games

Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the Liberty Bowl (Memphis, Tennessee), which pits Kentucky against East Carolina.

Overview/Matchup: A strong finish by the East Carolina Purple Pirates -- including a Conference USA championship -- has them headed to a rare post-New Year's bowl game. Skip Holtz -- who already announced he would return to Greenville next year -- has a tough matchup in Kentucky, if only because the Pirates are so dinged up. It would be tougher but Wildcat signal caller Randall Cobb appears to be out for this contest, and that will make a Beale Street victory that much tougher to come by for UK.

Hotels: There isn't much in the way of luxury accommodation near the stadium, so downtown near Beale Street is the next best thing. The five-mile drive to the stadium is well worth it. The Westin Memphis Beale Street is a trendy new downtown establishment with modern design, luxurious guest rooms and good quality on-site dining. The Doubletree Hotel Memphis is a great midrange hotel with a good location. The guestrooms are comparable with the much ritzier Peabody, but at a much more reasonable price. Budget-minded travelers should stay at the Artisan Hotel. The hotel is just two miles from the stadium and offers rooms for less than US$100 per night.

Restaurants: If you're looking for fine dining, or just need a celebratory steak, try Grill 83 in the Madison hotel. Over time it's earned a reputation for serving the finest steaks in town. Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous (known in town as "The Rendezvous") is one of Memphis' all-time great barbeque restaurants and is known nationwide for its exceptional ribs and superior service. For a cheap delicious meal, head to Interstate Bar-B-Que. Many aficionados consider it the finest spot for a pork sandwich in the city.

Nightlife: While paying a visit to Memphis, taking in some live music is a must. Try B.B. King's Blues Club, Rum Boogie Café, or The Lounge for great Memphis blues on Beale Street. All of the clubs charge a cover (usually around five dollars unless there's a big name) but the money is well worth it for a true Memphis experience.

All travel related information provided by Professional Travel Guide.

Turkey Legs to Go: Liberty Bowl Travel Guide, Kentucky vs. East Carolina originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turkey Legs to Go: Armed Forces Bowl Travel Guide, Houston vs. Air Force

Will Brinson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Air Force, Houston, Conference USA, Mountain West, Campus, Coaching, Fans, Bowl Games

Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas), which pits Houston against Air Force.

Overview/Matchup: A strong performance from the Mountain West this year helped Air Force land in the Armed Forces Bowl (which seems pretty, pretty, pretty convenient) even though they lost their last two games against BYU and TCU, while Houston's 6-2 record was good enough for fourth overall in Conference-USA (yikes) and a spot in nearby Fort Worth.

Hotels: The top hotel in Fort Worth, the Renaissance Worthington Hotel offers a sophisticated atmosphere of polished wood and marble complimented by a courteous staff. The Renaissance is about four miles from the stadium. The Courtyard by Marriott on Riverfront Drive and the Days Inn on S. University Drive are each about a mile from the stadium. The Courtyard offers the best all-around value, balancing proximity to the stadium and quality of the hotel. The Days Inn will probably have rooms for less than US$100 per night, but you shouldn't expect the same quality amenities as the nearby Courtyard.

Restaurants: When it comes to dining in Fort Worth, there's only one place to celebrate a big win (that is assuming, a classy celebration is what you're after); Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House. Del Frisco's is the place to go for a world-class steak, but make sure you budget accordingly. Blue Mesa Grill is a local southwestern chain specializing in blue corn and green chilies. Reasonable prices and good portions make it a local favorite. One location is just north of Texas Christian.

Normally we've tried not to put two restaurants of the same variety in our guides, but Joe T. Garcia's deserves the exception. Joe opened part of his home as a restaurant in 1935. Thanks to recipes of his wife, Jessie, it's now one of Fort Worth's most renowned Mexican restaurants. The food is delicious and cheap, but be advised; it's a cash only establishment.

Nightlife: The major nightlife areas are in and around downtown and the Stockyard district. Billy Bob's Texas calls itself the "world's largest honky-tonk" and they're probably right. The massive bar/dance-hall/nightclub covers 7 acres. They offer live music, dancing, bull-riding and 32 different bars. If honky-tonk isn't your thing, look no further than City Streets. This massive 21,000 sq ft dance club, sports bar, pool hall, techno club and karaoke bar will have something for everyone.

All travel related information provided by Professional Travel Guide.

Turkey Legs to Go: Armed Forces Bowl Travel Guide, Houston vs. Air Force originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skip Holtz Rejects Syracuse

Chas Rich — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:42:00 EST

Filed under: East Carolina, Syracuse, Big East, Conference USA, Coaching

You know, for a program that had announced back in mid-November that they were looking for a new coach, Syracuse has really struggled to find someone, anyone to take the job. First Al Golden would rather stay at Temple than consider the Syracuse gig (though, that may not be entirely true). Now East Carolina's Skip Holtz has apparently rejected the Syracuse overtures.

East Carolina officials will announce later this afternoon that Skip Holtz has declined interest in the Syracuse University head coaching position.

The announcement is expected shortly before Holtz appears in Memphis for the Liberty Bowl press conference.

This is a big blow to Syracuse's coaching search. All signs pointed to Skip Holtz being the top target of Syracuse athletic director Daryl Gross. He met with Holtz at least twice in New York City the last couple of days, when Holtz was there for the induction ceremony of his father Lou Holtz to the College Football Hall of Fame. A couple days ago, the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician took note of a curious video running on the Syracuse Athletics website of Lou Holtz singing the praises of his son.

Just not a good thing for the Orange. Whether Holtz was the best choice or not, it seems clear that he was their top choice. Getting rejected on top of the dismal season, and after they had plenty of time to figure out their coaching search just suggests how screwed up Syracuse football is right now.

On the bright side, Auburn hasn't offered their job to Buffalo's Turner Gill yet. The Orange might want to move on that front soon. Of course if they were to be rejected by the head coach of Buffalo as well...

Skip Holtz Rejects Syracuse originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turkey Legs to Go: St. Petersburg Bowl Travel Guide, South Florida vs. Memphis

Will Brinson — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Memphis, South Florida, Big East, Conference USA, Fans, Media Watch, Bowl Games

Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the St. Petersburg Bowl (St. Petersburg, Fla.), which pits South Florida against Memphis.

Overview / Matchup: The St. Petersburg Bowl debuts this year as a Conference USA - Big East throwdown of mid-standing proportions, and is on the first day of bowl games thie year. In its inaugural game, Tropicana Field will be hosting a somewhat local team, South Florida. Memphis, meanwhile, beat Tulane in its final game to get bowl eligible, throttling the Green Wave 45-6.

Hotels: The Don CeSar Beach Resort is arguably the best hotel in St. Petersburg and offers excellent on-site dining. The building's flamingo-pink exterior helps it stand out against the blue water and white sand of Pinellas Bayway. Don CeSar's only downside: it's a 15-minute drive from the stadium. The Hilton St Petersburg Bayfront and Days Inn Central are both close enough to the stadium that you won't have to worry about timing. The Hilton is the best all-around value for bowl travelers, balancing accommodation, proximity and price. Budget travelers should head for the Days Inn Central. It's less than two miles from Tropicana Field and has rooms for less than $100 per night.

Restaurants: As for dining in the downtown area, Pacific Wave is known for great Californian style cuisine. Although the restaurant specializes in sushi, it is also known for top-notch duck and steak. Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant will offer the bar and finger-food atmosphere sports fans love with a more refined twist. From quail to Serrano ham, Ceviche will have something to satisfy everyone. El Cap is cheap, has great burgers, friendly service and is conveniently located on the way back to the airport.

Nightlife: For a refined evening, try the Havannah Room at Central Cigars. This luxurious bar offers a good selection of cigars, fine cognacs and leather couches. If you feel like doing some drinking, check out Ferg's Sports Bar. It's across the street from Tropicana Field and is always full of energy pre- and post-game. Sunday is "Buckets of Beer" night.

All travel related information is brought to you by Professional Travel Guide.

Turkey Legs to Go: St. Petersburg Bowl Travel Guide, South Florida vs. Memphis originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turkey Legs to Go: New Orleans Bowl Travel Guide, Southern Miss vs. Troy

Will Brinson — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Southern Miss, Sun Belt, Troy, Conference USA, Campus, Fans, Bowl Games

Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the New Orleans Bowl (New Orleans, Louisiana), which pits Troy against Southern Miss.

Overview / Matchup: Southern Mississippi, Brett Favre's alma mater, will have a short drive to the game; Troy, which won the Sun Belt with a win over Arkansas State in the league's championship game, won't have much further to go from in its campus in southern Alabama. The two teams meet down in the Byaou on Christmas Eve.

Hotels: The stadium is close enough to the center of New Orleans that you could stay anywhere in the French Quarter or central downtown and only be a short cab ride away. The Omni Royal Orleans Hotel features a rooftop pool that's open year round. Even if you're not much of a swimmer, the views are worth a trip topside. The Hilton New Orleans Riverside is located just across from the Harrah's and the Riverwalk Festival Marketplace. It offers the best all around value for bowl travelers. Budget-minded fans should consider the Chateau Dupre French Quarter. The Chateau has nice accommodations for the price and is adjacent to the House of Blues.

Restaurants: Our only advice about visiting New Orleans... eat, eat and eat some more. New Orleans is one of the only cities in America with a truly unique blend of cultures and cuisines you can't find anywhere else in the world. Bon Ton Café serves great Creole food, specifically crab, crawfish, redfish and bread pudding.

Brennan's Restaurant is a New Orleans landmark. The trout Almandine and shrimp Sardou are particularly superb. For dessert the Bananas foster is a must. For lunch, try a muffuletta at Central Grocery. They're spectacular and a half sandwich is more than enough for one person.

Nightlife: As for drinking, if you want a little southern decadence enjoy a cool cocktail on the porch at Columns Hotel. If it's a rowdier time you're after, head straight for Pat O'Brien's. Supposedly the New Orleans landmark sells more rum than any other bar in the world. Other than that, you shouldn't have much trouble going out in NOLA -- simply head for Bourbon Street and indulge in the general disarray and public excitement.

Turkey Legs to Go: New Orleans Bowl Travel Guide, Southern Miss vs. Troy originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowl Selection Special: BCS Selection Show Ends Up Panning Out in Pretty Anti-Climatically

Will Brinson — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Alabama, Boston College, Cincinnati, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Virginia Tech, ACC, BCS, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, Conference USA, Pac 10, SEC, Campus, Coaching, Fans, General CFB Insanity, Bowl Games, FCS

The thing that stinks about the BCS Selection Show is that, while it's always fun to see mysterious computer rankings unveiled to the public on national television, it's not like March Madness' seeding process, because we more or less already know who's going to end up where. To wit: most of what FOX had to offer in the way of entertainment involved fast-paced graphics, a little screaming, and ultimately the exact matchups we all thought we would see.

BCS National Championship -- Oklahoma Sooners vs. Florida Gators

The Sooners and Gators were named as the pair of teams that will compete for the BCS championship and nearly unalienable right to almost absolutely proclaim themselves the best team in the nation. But, all skepticism aside, it's worth noting that this will be a pretty spectacular game to watch, provided you enjoy seeing lots of offense.

Allstate Sugar Bowl -- Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Utah Utes

Talk about disappointing -- Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide went undefeated all season long until they finally lost a game to the Florida Gators ... in the pre-postseason SEC championship game. And, as a result of all their hard work, the Tide get to play Utah, who, as a non-BCS conference team, is back in the BCS mix again. This time they're without Urban Meyer, and pardon me for being a jerkstore, but an upset Alabama team (with only one loss and somehow unable to play for the championship) is going to throttle-job them.

Fiesta Bowl -- Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

Well, for the first time in three years, the Buckeyes don't have to go to the BCS championship game just to get blown out by an SEC team. But the bad news? They get to face an extremely angry Texas team that feels they're getting screwed out of a shot for a title. And say what you want about Ohio State and the Big Ten, but the reality is that, well, Texas is going to want to gather what Jimmy Johnson called a "small sympathy vote" for the Longhorns.

Orange Bowl -- Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Cincinnati Bearcats

The thing that stinks for fans of this game is that the Orange Bowl gets the last pick of all the BCS games, meaning that they get the "leftovers." That's not to take a shot at Cincy, who did win the Big East ... which, um, is somehow worse than the ACC. So, what I'm trying to say is that someone doesn't have to fail.

Rose Bowl -- USC Trojans vs. Penn State Nittany Lions

The earliest bowl that we found out about, there was literally no sort of climactic energy to this decision -- both Joe Paterno's Penn State team and Pete Carroll's USC squad won their respective conferences without having to worry about any sort of championship game finishing off their shot at a BCS bid.

Bowl Selection Special: BCS Selection Show Ends Up Panning Out in Pretty Anti-Climatically originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 20:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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East Carolina Overcomes Mid-Season Swoon, Beats Tulsa, Wins Conference USA Title

Will Brinson — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: East Carolina, Tulsa, Conference USA, Coaching, General CFB Insanity

I tell you what -- "East Carolina is your conference champion" is not a phrase I really planned on hearing (or wanted to hear, for that matter) in 2008. However, after the Purple Pirates defeated Tulsa, 27-24, on a late field goal to win the Conference-USA championship and a Liberty Bowl berth, it's just a phrase everyone is going to have to get used to hearing.

The Pirates, though, without delving into some ridiculous coming-of-age type of storyline, are once again fun to root for; the first few weeks of this season, the Pirates were America's sweetheart, rising up in the polls as they continued to upset bigger name teams.

And people whispered those magic "BCS" letters, because the Pirates, could have, conceivably, run the table in their Conference and landed in a big January bowl. They didn't make it all the way to the top, but a resurgent second half of the season has them headed towards the Liberty Bowl now (as I predicted elsewhere).

Oh yeah -- the game itself was interesting too.

David Johnson had a shot at breaking the single-season passer rating heading into this game and everyone and their brother with a prophetic mouthpiece was picking Tulsa to head towards Memphis.

But then Skip Holtz's defense happened, and Johnson, one of the most turnover-free passers in the nation (hence the rating) threw an insane five interceptions -- one of which was returned for a touchdown --and fumbled once. The Pirates still didn't blow out the Golden Hurricane, despite all the freebies from Johnson.

Patrick Pinkney was just good enough (10-of-24 with a pretty abysmal 5.1 YPP), especially compared with Johnson, and an interception returned for six by Travis Simmons was enough to push Petey's crew past the Canes.

East Carolina Overcomes Mid-Season Swoon, Beats Tulsa, Wins Conference USA Title originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You Don't Mess With June Jones

Chris Burke — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:42:00 EST

Filed under: SMU, Conference USA, Coaching

June Jones opted to leave a relatively cushy situation down in Hawai'i to try and resurrect the long-suffering Southern Methodist football team.

Suffice it to say, things have not gone as planned in Jones' debut season at SMU. The Mustangs are 1-9 - and now will play their final pair of games minus two of the best receivers in the country after Jones laid the smack down.

Three SMU starters - junior receiver Emmanuel Sanders, sophomore receiver Aldrick Robinson and linebacker Justin Smart - have been suspended for the final two games.
Sanders, Robinson and Smart were suspended under coach June Jones' "three strikes" rule. A player can pick up a strike for missing or being late to practice, team meetings and study halls, among other violations.

No word on exactly what Sanders, Smart and Robinson were guilty of, but none have had any publicized off-the-field trouble this season. Robinson has the fourth-most receiving yards in the nation with 1,047 and Sanders check in at No. 10 with 958.

SMU doesn't have anything left to play for but pride (the Mustangs close with a game at UTEP, then home vs. Southern Miss), but Jones deserves a round of applause here. It's taking more and more severe circumstances to warrant an in-house suspension in the NCAA football world these days, so Jones' strict adherence to the team rules - especially in the case of his two star players - is a breath of fresh air.

With or without Robinson and Sanders, the Mustangs were looking at a 1-11 finish. But Jones is banking on situations like these making his team better, and certainly more disciplined, down the road.

You Don't Mess With June Jones originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tulsa's Undefeated Hopes Dashed in Arkansas

Brian Grummell — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:17:00 EST

Filed under: Arkansas, Tulsa, Conference USA, SEC

It was a nice story -- aren't they all? -- but things aren't always meant to be. The boy doesn't always get the girl. Some Cinderellas don't get to ride in giant pumpkins. Tulsa won't get its undefeated, BCS dream season after falling to Arkansas 30-23.

The Golden Hurricanes' vaunted offense staggered early, trailing 17-7 before rallying to within three points at halftime, 23-30. The difference was an Arkansas kickoff return touchdown in the third quarter. Scoring was frozen after that as Arkansas' defense tightened. Tulsa did manage over 500 yards of offense but could not score in the decisive fourth quarter.

Although defeated, the Hurricanes' heads should be held high. Offensive Coordinator Gus Malzahn was unable to exact revenge against former employer Arkansas, but his team put up a ton of yards against an SEC defense and was a 4th and goal play in the final minute from tying the game and putting their 30th point on the board.

They should now return to dominating C-USA competition, finishing with Houston, Tulane and Marshall. They're still a threat to finish the year with a scoring average of more than 50 points/game, phenomenal by any standard.

They're good, they know it, just not BCS good and not quite good enough to take down a surging SEC team in their home stadium. This isn't the last we'll see of Tulsa.

Tulsa's Undefeated Hopes Dashed in Arkansas originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gruesome College Football Video Shows How Not to Break Your Leg

Brian Grummell — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:50:00 EST

Filed under: Houston, Marshall, Conference USA, Injuries, Video

In a game between Houston and Marshall tonight on ESPN, Houston freshman receiver Patrick Edwards added himself to the sports injury hall of fame while attempting to catch a pass.

The pass sailed just out of his reach in the back of the end zone and as he slowed down the proverbial unstoppable force met the immovable object -- in this case, an oddly placed metal cart a few feet from the back of the end zone.

A trip to the land of horrible ensued. Naturally, Edwards emerged from the carnage with a compound fracture of the leg. Unless snuff films and other assorted awfulness is your thing ('tis the season?), we're warning you this is ugly. Video after the jump.

This is why your state's department of transportation sets up those water barrels near exit ramps -- its better for your wayward car to smash some plastic than saw itself in half as it heads into several feet of solid concrete.

Edwards was afforded no such luxury.

Needless to say, Houston's miffed, Marshall's got some splainin' to do and the world is not a better place for this happening.

(Via Sports by Brooks)

Gruesome College Football Video Shows How Not to Break Your Leg originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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