NCAA Football FanHouse

Old School: The 1985 Ice Bowl

Adam Jacobi — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:45:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma Football, Oklahoma State Football, Big 12, NCAA FB Video

One of the most entertaining things about football is the sheer rarity of meteorological postponements; it usually takes a hurricane to move or reschedule a contest. In fact, some of the best games have been played in winter conditions that would derail any other sporting event. Especially golf.

During the home stretch of their sixth championship season, the Oklahoma Sooners had such a contest against their in-state whipping boys "rivals" Oklahoma State, who were #17 in the nation at the time. The 1985 game was the first in the "Bedlam" series to be played at night, which is probably a decision both schools deeply regretted at the time. The wind chill was near 0 at kickoff, and conditions steadily deteriorated throughout the game. Or in other words, this. was. awesome.

Oklahoma would win the game 13-0, then go on to capture the MNC with a 25-10 win over Penn State in the Orange Bowl. Oklahoma State, meanwhile, would do nothing of consequence for the millionth year in a row, a streak that survives to this day.

Old School: The 1985 Ice Bowl originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oklahoma The Latest to 'Suffer' the Slings and Arrows of Scheduling Woes

Charles Rich — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:06:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma Football, Big 12, NCAA FB Campus, Middle Tenn. State Football, Sun Belt

Poor Oklahoma. They had an unsigned agreement to have Middle Tennessee State come to Norman for a guarantee game, but instead MTSU took a better offer. The Blue Raiders got a home-and-home with Mississippi State -- the first time an SEC team will play MTSU on the road. Mississippi State agreed to this only because Central Michigan reneged on its visit to Starkville.

Since MTSU pulled out late, Oklahoma was forced to scramble and could only find 1-AA Tennessee-Chattanooga to fill the gap. Something that pissed off Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione when people then questioned why Oklahoma would play such a game.

Several factors go into making a schedule work, including corresponding dates, availability and the exorbitant amount of money BCS powers like OU are forced to pay I-A teams to play in Norman.

"Let's face it," Castiglione said. "There are some (I-A) schools that just don't want to play you regardless of the opportunity or the offer."

Yes, the opportunity to travel for a road beating with no reciprocal game. Of course, those same BCS teams helped create the market that they then decry. The BCS schools were happy to support the addition of the 12th game that increased the demand. They seek only guarantee home games whenever possible and only against teams they can handle. They happily poach opponents with the increased bids.
Ohio State, for example, will pay Navy $1.4 million for a single game in 2009.

Ohio State's Gene Smith calls the Navy payout a "special situation" and says he doesn't plan to pay that much at least until after 2014 because his schedule is set till then. The Navy payout came because another school pulled out of a contract with Ohio State, leaving the Buckeyes with a hole in their schedule. But Navy had to buy its way out of a contract in order to come. Ohio State's guarantee will in effect cover Navy's buyout as well.

In other words Ohio State got "jammed" by one school on their schedule, so they "jammed" another school to buy Navy.

It's hard to feel too much sympathy for Oklahoma, or any of the BCS schools that "have" to pay huge money for the guarantee games. It's the one time the non-BCS teams actually have any leverage and a position of strength over the BCS schools. Too many of the BCS schools want the extra home games rather than schedule more home-and-home series or even a few two-for-one series. Plus, if the BCS schools still weren't turning a profit on the guarantee games, they wouldn't keep paying the rising prices.

Oklahoma The Latest to 'Suffer' the Slings and Arrows of Scheduling Woes originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oklahoma's Compliance Department Costs $1.2 Million Annually

Brian Grummell — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:43:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma Football, USC Football

Cost of doing business? Is this normal?

Among Oklahoma's remedies to the Rhett Bomar/ J.D. Quinn money-for-nothing-gate situation, the school is banning employers from hiring more than five Sooner athletes at a time.

And this:

Oklahoma also informed the NCAA that it has expanded its full-time compliance staff from three to eight workers and also has two part-time staff members. As a result, the annual compliance budget has grown to $1.2 million.

Unlike Monopoly, Oklahoma's not getting out of jail for free. This action sort of raises the ante towards any kind of "get off our back" costs that will be associated with USC when/if the Reggie Bush and O.J. Mayo situations ever get resolved.

Oklahoma's Compliance Department Costs $1.2 Million Annually originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 28 May 2008 19:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former Lieutenant Governor, Wishbone Supermaniac Jack Mildren Passes Away

Adam Jacobi — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:22:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma Football, Big 12

The state of Oklahoma bows its head today as Jack Mildren, he of the first wishbone attack at Oklahoma, died yesterday at the age of 58.

Under Mildren, the Oklahoma offense racked up numbers you can't even reach on NCAA Football 08, even if you put it on, like, Varsity. The 1971 Sooners scored 44.5 points a game and rushed for 472 yards per game; the latter statistic still stands as an NCAA record.

Mildren's life, though unnaturally short, was still prosperous beyond belief. He was a Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, served as vice chairman of Arvest Bank, and hosted a daily sports talk show even after his diagnosis of stomach cancer two years ago. As Orson puts it in his obit at EDSBS, "you haven't even returned all your emails today, have you?"

This is, of course, a sports site, so we'll leave you with highlights of Oklahoma's other huge game of 1971. Much attention is given, and rightly so, to the Official Game of the Century between the Sooners and Nebraska, in which the Huskers prevailed 35-31. (because of that game, anybody who utters the name "Johnny Rodgers" inside state limits may be murdered without penalty). But six weeks prior, the annual Red River Shootout pitted a #4 Oklahoma against #3 Texas in each team's fourth game of the year. Texas had surrendered only 17 points on the season, a number that would rise quite drastically on that October afternoon.

The final score was 48-27, Sooners, and we like to think that Mildren crossed those pearly gates as he did in the final play of the highlight reel: knees high, untouched, and victorious. Godspeed, #11.

Former Lieutenant Governor, Wishbone Supermaniac Jack Mildren Passes Away originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 23 May 2008 16:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quarterback Carousel At Michigan... State

Brian Cook — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:44:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan State Football, Oklahoma Football

Brian Hoyer is lonely.

Anyone who pays the slightest attention to college football knows about Michigan's uncertain quarterback situation, but recent events have put the state's other Big Ten team in a similarly dodgy spot:

Out: Redshirt freshman Connor Dixon, a Pennsylvania native, decided to transfer a few days ago.

In: Michigan State picked up transfer Keith Nichol, who originally committed to Michigan State but decommitted when John L Smith was fired and Rhett Bomar pulled a Bomar, opening up the job at Oklahoma. Sam Bradford kinda slammed that door shut.

Out: Redshirt freshman Nick Foles, a Texan, announces he's going to transfer somewhere closer to home, specifically citing the crowded(?!?!) Michigan State depth chart as a reason to bolt.

As a result, MSU is left with starter Brian Hoyer, a fifth year senior, and redshirt freshman Kirk Cousins, an unrated recruit with one other BCS offer (Colorado). Past that it's walkons. The Spartans will have Nichol and incoming freshman Andrew Maxwell in 2009; in 2008 they'll be desperately hoping the mediocre Hoyer stays in one piece.

Quarterback Carousel At Michigan... State originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 21 May 2008 13:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe Pushing for Fifth Year of Eligibility

Jeff Adams — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Colorado Football, Kansas Football, Nebraska Football, Oklahoma Football, Oklahoma State Football, Texas Football, Big 12, Missouri Football, Texas A&M Football, Kansas State Football, Texas Tech Football, Baylor Football, Iowa State Football

The Big 12's annual meetings are currently taking place in Colorado Springs and league commissioner Dan Beebe has a lot on his plate. But one agenda item that he is pushing strongly is a fifth year of eligibility for football players. He hopes the proposed change will get some attention from the NCAA rules committee.

The proposal for a fifth year of eligibility would eliminate redshirting, instead giving college football players five years to compete on the field. Under current rules, players have a five-year window in which to complete four years of playing time. This isn't the first time this change has come up, but opponents have argued that eligibility rules need to standard across sports. Big 12 commissioner Beebe, disagrees.

Beebe, however, said he thinks football should be seen as unique because it has a high rate of redshirts and injuries.

"Injuries happen and coaches have players who could contribute, but they don't want to play someone on a limited basis and burn a redshirt year," Beebe said. "And you have kids during their redshirt year who are getting the heck beat out of them in practice every day with no hope of playing."

The rule change would certainly eliminate the need for coaches to agonize about redshirting decisions. In addition, it would seemingly end the need for athletes and schools to file medical hardships in the wake of injuries. Lastly, given that the average college football player takes around 4.7 years to graduate, the five-year eligibility window could help improve graduation rates.

Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe Pushing for Fifth Year of Eligibility originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 21 May 2008 11:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Old School: Highlights From Oklahoma's 1950 National Championship

Jeff Adams — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:35:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma Football, Big 12, NCAA FB History, NCAA FB Video

"Old School" is the College Football FanHouse's irregular look back at the rich history of college football, usually through the medium of embeddable flash video. Check out the Old School archive for more famous plays and infamous hair.

I have to admit, I'm a sucker for these newsreel type highlights of the best of college football's storied past. This video highlights the best of Oklahoma's 1950 national championship season. The 1950 season began with Notre Dame riding a 38-game unbeaten streak. However, the Irish struggled to beat North Carolina in their opener, and then lost for the first time in five years to visiting Purdue 28-14. Notre Dame would go on to lose three more times before the end of the season, finishing at 4-4-1 and failing to make the final Top 20 for the first time in 10 years.

Oklahoma, on the other hand, swept through the regular season with 10 wins on the way to its own unbeaten string of 31 victories. They were led by Billy Vessels (who would win the Heisman in 1952) and All-Americans Jim Weatherall and Leon Heath. Following their undefeated regular season, Oklahoma met 7th ranked Kentucky (then coached by Bear Bryant) in the Sugar Bowl. The Wildcats took a 13-0 halftime lead and eventually held on for a 13-7 upset. However, because the final polls were released before the bowl games at this point in history, the AP voted Oklahoma as national champions.

Old School: Highlights From Oklahoma's 1950 National Championship originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 20 May 2008 15:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eight Big 12 Defenders Placed On Nagurski Watch List

Jeff Adams — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:43:00 EST

Filed under: Colorado Football, Kansas Football, Oklahoma Football, Big 12, Missouri Football, Kansas State Football

The Watch List for the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been released by the Football Writers Association of America. The Nagurski Trophy is presented annually to the best defensive player in college football and is sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

According to the press release:

"The Charlotte Touchdown Club will hold the 2008 banquet on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte. For the eighth straight season, the FWAA will also pick a Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week beginning with games on Aug. 30 and running through the middle of November. And a Bronko Nagurski Legends Award winner will also be selected from the FWAA's 1967 All-America team.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been presented since 1993 and is awarded in memory of the legendary Nagurski, a former All-America lineman at Minnesota in 1927-29 and a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s."

This year's watch list includes eight players from Big 12 schools, led by Oklahoma, which places three Sooners on the list. The Big 12 players on the Nagurski Watch List are:

George Hypolite, Colorado

Joe Mortensen, Kansas

Ian Campbell, Kansas State (pictured at right)

William Moore, Missouri

Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri

Auston English, Oklahoma

DeMarcus Granger, Oklahoma

Nic Harris, Oklahoma

Since its inception in 1993, three Big 12 players have won the Nagurski Trophy. Oklahoma defensive back Roy Williams took home the award in 2001. The Big 12 then had back-to-back winners in 2003 and 2004 in Oklahoma's Derrick Strait and Derrick Johnson from Texas.

Eight Big 12 Defenders Placed On Nagurski Watch List originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 13 May 2008 14:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keith Nichol's Plan Sounded Good at the Time

Brian Grummell — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:26:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma Football, Big 12

Keith Nichol is a highly touted quarterback at Oklahoma. The Michigan native was all but set to enroll at Michigan State last year before throwing a curveball and choosing Oklahoma.

That didn't work out so well.

Third-string quarterback Keith Nichol plans to transfer from Oklahoma after just one season."We had a good conversation with Keith and certainly understand his desire to seek an opportunity in another program," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said in a statement Friday.

Nichol actually enrolled a semester early, and stood a decent chance of becoming the team's starter. The competition included a redshirt junior slotted to be a backup and a little-known redshirt freshman.

Slam-dunk, right? Errrrr. That redshirt freshman won the job and put together one of the best passing seasons in NCAA history for a freshman. Helloooo, Sam Bradford.

Goodbye Keith Nichol.

How does that go? "The best-laid plans are fraught with peril". Yeah.

Keith Nichol's Plan Sounded Good at the Time originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 12 May 2008 11:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No-Huddle Epidemic Continues to Spread Across Big 12

Jeff Adams — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:42:00 EST

Filed under: Colorado Football, Oklahoma Football, Big 12

Yes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but this is getting ridiculous. First, Colorado announced its intentions to utilize a no-huddle offense in 2008. Now we get more information about Oklahoma and their desire for a speedier offensive approach. These two teams join Missouri, Texas Tech and Kansas as other Big 12 teams running some version of a no-huddle approach.

The shift to a quicker offensive tempo is based in large part on the success that this sort of attack has had in recent years.

The top eight college football offenses in 2008 ran versions of a no-huddle. Four of those -- Missouri, Houston, Texas Tech and Tulsa -- ran more than 1,000 plays (OU ran 975). Tulsa (1,126) and Missouri (1,112) led the nation in total plays.

This means we can probably expect more in the way of outrageous scoring come Big 12 play. 76-39? 65-51? 59-43? But other than concession vendors who can complain about more plays and more scores per contest?

Back in Oklahoma, the Sooners have been slowly implementing the no-huddle this spring. In the team's most recent scrimmage the up-tempo attack led to "volatile" results.

Keith Nichol and Mossis Madu produced back-to-back gainers of 20 and 12 yards, then Nichol threw an interception to Jonathan Nelson.

Bradford hit Quentin Chaney for 19 yards on third-and-6, but was sacked three plays later.

Nichol hooked up with Chaney for 16 yards on third-and-10 and scrambled for 5 yards on third-and-2, but Justin Johnson lost a fumble on the next play.

"Today was about as game-like as we've had with the no-huddle as far as the referees and the clock and everything going," Bradford said. "I think we did move the ball pretty well. We did have some penalties that hurt us, but I thought our tempo was good today and guys for the most part, we were on the same page."

In Colorado, on the other hand, the defensive staff has realized the benefits that practicing against a no-huddle approach could have come fall.

"It's awesome," defensive coordinator Ron Collins said. "It's so good for us to get out there and have to face that every day because we're going to see a lot of it during the season."

We as Big 12 fans are going to see a lot of it too. Suddenly no-huddle is the new black, and everybody's wearing it.

No-Huddle Epidemic Continues to Spread Across Big 12 originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big 12 Walk-ons Garner Attention During Spring

Jeff Adams — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:51:00 EST

Filed under: Colorado Football, Oklahoma Football, Big 12, Missouri Football

Without a scholarship and without notoriety, hundreds of walk-ons are doing their best to carve out a spot on Division IA rosters. Spring practices, which take place without graduating seniors, and before the bulk of incoming freshman arrive, promise plenty of reps. If local media outlets are to be believed it seems a host of walk-ons are serving notice this spring in the Big 12.

At Oklahoma, tight end Trent Ratterree is living out his boyhood dream as he tries to earn the #3 spot on the TE depth chart.

"I'd been an OU fan all my life," Ratterree said. "I dreamed of it my whole life."

He came to Norman at 215 pounds and was thrown into Jerry Schmidt's boot camp.

"It's tough physically," Ratterree said. "Nothing can get you ready for Schmidtty."

But Ratterree got through it and was rewarded; he suited up for home games last season.

"I never felt, like you see in 'Rudy,' where they were pushing him around," Ratterree said. "They never made me feel like a low-down walkon. You're treated really good here."

"Rudy" was also mentioned at Missouri, where 5-foot-7, Titus Wonsey is trying to find a home in a crowded Tiger backfield. His efforts have not gone unnoticed by head coach Gary Pinkel (pictured at right).

"He's competitive," Pinkel said. "He gets after it. I love those guys."

However, Missouri has four to five running backs ahead of Wonsey on the depth chart.

"He's going against guys who are bigger, stronger," Pinkel noted.

Wonsey also has a message for all the kids out there.

"A lot of kids get discouraged," he said. "There's always someone bigger, someone always taller, someone faster. Trust God. Be persistent. I'm not done yet. I'm just starting my dream."

That type of attitude and hard work has finally paid off for Colorado walk-on running back Cory Nabors.

[Colorado head coach Dan] Hawkins told the team he didn't want players thinking he ever would overlook their hard work. He then asked walk-on running back Cory Nabors to stand up. When Nabors took a knee once again, he was no longer a walk-on.

Hawkins awarded one of the program's available scholarships to Nabors, who joined the program as an invited walk-on from Rangeview High School in Aurora in 2006.

Nabors was also the Buffaloes' second leading rusher in their most recent scrimmage.

It's hard sometimes as a football fan not to look at spring football as a meaningless tease killing time between college basketball season and the long-anticipated opening of fall camp. Stories such as these, however, remind us of the toils of the role players, the long snappers, the holders and the fifth-year senior walk-ons fighting for one more day as a college football player.

Big 12 Walk-ons Garner Attention During Spring originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spring at a Glance: Big 12 Running Backs

Jeff Adams — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Nebraska Football, Oklahoma Football, Texas Football, Big 12, Texas Tech Football

We've already checked in on the quarterbacks, so why not delve into what's new with the running backs of the Big 12.

We'll start at Texas, where the biggest question mark of the spring is who will replace Jamaal Charles? Charles led the Big 12 in rushing in 2007 on the strength of a fantastic second half of the season. Three backs will fight it out over the starting running back gig in 2008.

Sophomore Vondrell McGee will get first shot at the starting job after serving as Charles' understudy a year ago. When Charles was having consistency problems at midseason in 2007, McGee actually got more playing time, specifically on short-yardage and goal-line plays. He gained 297 yards overall and scored eight touchdowns.

Redshirt freshman Fozzy Whittaker and McGee share the same, low-to-the-ground build. Both resemble miniature linebackers.

Whereas McGee prefers the I-formation, Whittaker is more comfortable running out of the shotgun. That's how he made his yardage at Pearland High School, where he finished with the sixth-best rushing total in Class 5A history.

The third member of the committee is Chris Ogbonnaya, a well-known offensive commodity. The Longhorns often turned to Ogbonnaya on third-down situations last fall because he was as adept at running pass routes as he was at picking up the blitz. He caught 21 passes a year ago. To prepare for this season, the fifth-year senior dropped 12 pounds to improve his speed. He's now at 215.

We'll look elsewhere in the Big 12 after the jump.At Texas Tech, a familiar name tries to work his way out of a familiar place - Mike Leach's doghouse. The familiar name is Shannon Woods, who finally appears to be on the right track. That's good news for the Red Raiders and for Woods, who found himself on the scout team in 2007. Woods will be trying to return to his 2006 form, in which he rushed for almost 1,500 yards. So far, so good.

"Everything. Everything,'' Littrell said. "He has 18 (spring-semester) hours, making As and Bs. He hasn't missed class one time. He's been up here. He's been respectful. He's done everything we've asked of him so far. He's just got to continue to work and do it.

"Shannon's a good kid. I mean, he really is. There's a lot of speculation with what goes wrong and our relationship. Some of it's speculation. With me, it's all going to stay in-house.

"But he's done a good job. He's doing everything we've asked him to do.''

Nebraska appears to have its starting running back in Marlon Lucky who passed up the NFL Draft and is the top returnee in 2008 in terms of rushing yardage in the Big 12. Behind Lucky, however, the picture is less clear.

Cody Glenn who's shown flashes when healthy (a rare occurrence) recently made the move to linebacker.

"I don't know much. I know a little bit, still trying to learn and get things done," said Glenn, who got minimal reps. "It's hard to really do anything when you're thinking as much as I'm trying to think, getting everything down."

"It all comes down to me just trying to help the team out, wanting to win. I can't say we've won a lot of games since I've been here. So really, this is my senior year. Basically I just want to win. Whatever it takes, that's what I want to do."

The move is interesting given the fact that Glenn is a senior and seems unlikely to redshirt. He'll have the spring to learn some things, but better be ready to go by August if he hopes to see the field on the defensive side of the ball. Nebraska will be replacing all three of its starters at linebacker from 2007, so Glenn could get a chance to contribute.

Part of the reason behind Glenn's move could be the emergence of sophomore running back Roy Helu. Helu might be the most complete back on the team, and looks to have grabbed the backup RB spot with a strong spring.

Finally, Oklahoma has the their own concerns at running back, but they will likely be short-lived. The Sooners are missing their top two running backs - DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown - who are sitting out the spring with knee injuries. That has opened the door for guys like sophomore Mossis Madu.

"He's a guy not everybody has really had a chance to see a lot of. I made this comment to a lot of people: Mossis Madu can play for a lot of people," running backs coach Cale Gundy said. "I'm fortunate to be a coach at a position that has a lot of depth. It's good for him to get a chance to go through the spring with the No. 1 offense and show people what he can do."

Spring at a Glance: Big 12 Running Backs originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big 12 Teams Get Physical This Spring

Jeff Adams — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nebraska Football, Oklahoma Football, Texas Football, Big 12, Iowa State Football

Spring practice has always been a time of offensive and defensive scheme installation, fundamentals and player evaluations. But this year's spring practice also has Big 12 coaches channeling their inner Olivia Newton John. That's right, it seems everyone in the conference is getting physical.

At Texas, it has been new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp who has the Longhorns playing tougher.

"We've had the most physical practices we've ever had," [head coache Mack] Brown said. "We were more physical last spring, but this spring we've just continued. Obviously, Will's come in with some new defensive thoughts and we're working on those."

The players seem to be catching on:

"Every day, we're hitting, no matter where we are," cornerback Deon Beasley said. "Inside the bubble, outside, we're hitting. I think it's good for us to get some contact and for us to show that we're not only a fast team, but we're a physical one as well."

Nebraska's new head coach Bo Pelini also wanted the Huskers focusing on physical football.

Pelini labeled last year's defensive performance "irrelevant" and said he hasn't watched any of the tape from last year. He'll spend some time trying figure out what talent he has, and "tweaking" the scheme to the players. It will also be more physical.

"We're not gonna be out there playing tag, I promise you that," Pelini said.

It seems to be working, given his most recent post-practice comments:

"I thought the tempo was good," Pelini said. "It was physical. We made a lot of strides the first three days, especially defensively. They've got a lot to learn. But the tempo's good, the effort's good."

The same can also be said at Iowa State.

"It's getting real physical," [quarterback Austen] Arnaud said. "Not for me so much, just because I'm a quarterback. But I can see those other guys getting after it and working hard. Those pads are definitely popping out there."

And

[head coach Gene] Chizik said the team is stronger overall because of offseason work in the weight room and he hopes that translates into a more dominating presence on the field.

"Right now I'm really pleased," he said. "They're doing everything we ask them to do. They are very much trying to be a physical football team."

And finally, Oklahoma players went after one another in their first scrimmage despite a long list of guys sitting out with various injuries.

"There was some good physical hitting and we were around the football," defensive coordinator Brent Venables said.

This theme is of course be much funnier if you imagine as a sound byte montage a la John Stewart and The Daily Show, but you get the point.

Oh, and Olivia Newton John was hot, so there's always that.

Big 12 Teams Get Physical This Spring originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spring at a Glance: Big 12 Quarterbacks

Jeff Adams — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:04:00 EST

Filed under: Nebraska Football, Oklahoma Football, Oklahoma State Football, Texas Football, Big 12, Iowa State Football

With spring practices getting underway across the Big 12, why not check in with one of the high profile positions, the quarterback?

At Iowa State second year head coach Gene Chizik has a two-man race for the starting QB job as Austen Arnaud and Phillip Bates will battle it out.

"For me, it's just learning every day," said Arnaud, who is competing with Phillip Bates for the starting job. "You can make your share of plays, but if you're turning the ball over, it doesn't really matter."

Bates played wide receiver a year ago, but is a full-time quarterback for the time-being.

At Nebraska Joe Ganz begins the spring as the clear-cut number one QB after starting the final three games of the 2007 season. This is a new spot for Ganz who had spent three years in the program as a backup.

"It's weird," Ganz said. "It's going to be different."

"Now that I've gotten to where I want to, I'm just going to have to work that much harder to not let anybody take it from me," Ganz said. "I've worked too hard to let somebody come up and take the job from me, so I really don't need any more motivation than that."

In Stillwater, Zac Robinson also has the starting job locked down. The backup spot, however, is up for grabs. Sophomore Alex Cate and redshirt freshman Brandon Weeden will vie for the job.

"It's huge for those two guys," co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Gunter Brewer said about Friday's scrimmage and the three others that will take place this spring. "They have not had any live action. They found that out today. That's why live snaps are so much better than practice snaps. It's as close as you're going to get to a game against a defense that's throwing a lot of stuff at you."

At Oklahoma, Keith Nichol would like more playing time, but is apparently comfortable backing up Sam Bradford for the foreseeable future.

"I was disappointed, I'm not going to lie. But the team did really good and Sam played well. As an overall I was happy. From a selfish, personal standpoint, I was a little disappointed I wasn't playing. But at the same time the team is playing good and we're rolling, and I was happy about that. I had mixed emotions."

But backup quarterbacks at Texas might not be as happy, as internet rumors have Sherrod Harris and G.J. Kinne allegedly considering transferring. These rumors are news, however, to Mack Brown.

"There's been rumors for 100 years about players transferring, and it's always the third or fourth quarterback," Brown said. "That's 100 percent in my 33 years coaching.

"Neither one of them has said anything about it or discussed it. In fact, both took all the snaps in today's scrimmage and did really well.

"If anybody ever wants to transfer and has not come forward to us, we'd be the first to help them and get them a release anywhere they want to go. We've never asked a player to stay. We'll always give them a release to play against us, anywhere they want. We want happy players.

"I don't read the Internet, so you all will have to bring me the rumors so I can go ask them."

Spring at a Glance: Big 12 Quarterbacks originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keeping "The Man" Busy: Mystery Edition

Adam Jacobi — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:51:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma Football, Penn State Football, USC Football, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, Pac 10, Rutgers Football, NCAA FB Police Blotter

Here's why athletic directors are frowning today...

It's time to play Guess The Misdemeanor!: As a coach, Greg Schiano has to make decisions. Most of them are easy, like "should I blitz against Syracuse" (yes) and "should I sell an internal organ in order to bribe Ray Rice to stay" (yes again--the left kidney and a lobe of the liver).

When it comes to player discipline, the answers aren't so simple. So when Schiano found out defensive tackle Justin Francis was arrested, he suspended the young man, then informed the media. Nobody likes a secretive coach, after all. But he decided not to provide the specifics of the arrest itself, which we celebrate as an even better decision. Why? Because it allows us the opportunity to engage in reckless speculation! AOL cannot attest to the veracity of any of these rumors, of course--mainly because this author making them up right now--but we're confidently narrowing down the list of possible infractions to the ones listed below.

Riding a puma through the drive-thru at the local Arby's. Pumas are endangered, pal!
Running an illegal bronzer smuggling ring. Yes, it's Jersey, so the market's there, but get a permit, for crissakes.
Parking fifteen stolen cars on the tarmac at Newark International Airport. Pilots do not appreciate "obstacle courses."
Puma bombing. Again with the pumas!

Virginia is for lovers, and State College is for drunk drivers: Penn State tight end Andrew Quarless, who is probably to the point where you can confidently add "Troubled" to the beginning of all descriptions of him, was arrested early Sunday morning on suspicion of DUI. Though the charges weren't formally handed down until Thursday, he was suspended immediately after his arrest by Joe Paterno.

SPECIAL NCAA SHENANIGANS BONUS: According to the Penn State rivals.com affiliate, Quarless was driving a white BMW when he was arrested, and that may be a problem:

Multiple sources have told FOS that the car did not belong to him, but rather a friend he was with late Saturday night.

Yes, the NCAA ban on driving other peoples' cars is unfairly punitive. Who among us has never borrowed a car during college? But obviously, there's room for abuse, so the rule's existence is, on its face, a little understandable. That's why this author would like to reiterate a proposed Hoopty Clause: a player may borrow a car if its list value is below $4,000 and it will absolutely, positively not get a normal person laid. A Bimmer likely violates even that clause too, so expect the NCAA compliance bloodhounds to come sniffing around Penn State pretty soon.

Was that wrong? Should I not have done that?: Among Pete Carroll's myriad qualities and good deeds is his practice of visiting the inner city of Los Angeles late at night, to no fanfare or publicity. There's no way of knowing if he was out there Wednesday night, but if he was, he had clearly chosen the wrong neighborhood--elsewhere in Compton, recruit Maurice Simmons was getting arrested for armed robbery.

According to the police report, the alleged victim flagged down a police officer in the area, and Simmons and another suspect were apprehended shortly thereafter as they left the scene. With the stolen property. And a gun.

Simmons is in jail, held on $50,000 bail, and suspended from the USC football team.

Believe it or not, this is not a repeat: Here's a story about an incoming freshman at one of the top football programs in the nation, arrested in possession of stolen property and a gun. Again. This time, it was Oklahoma recruit Josh Jarboe, who gets an F-minus in both lawfulness and originality. Well, actually, F-plus--he at least got arrested at school, which is probably the worst place to bring a firearm, outside of a hospital nursery or the set of a game show where if you don't have a gun, they give you a million dollars.

There's been no word on whether Oklahoma has suspended Jarboe, but after two felony charges, the news can't be good--it's not like Bob Stoops is going to reward him with orange slices or a car full of money. Jarboe's future with the team is, shall we say, in doubt.

Kids these days, with their guns and robberies and rap music. Whatever happened to wholesome entertainment like Lawrence Welk?

Keeping "The Man" Busy: Mystery Edition originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCAA Returns 8 Wins to Oklahoma

Brian Grummell — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:38:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma Football, Big 12, NCAA FB Scandal, The Word

It's a good day for Oklahoma athletics. After facing several sanctions over the whole Bomargate auto dealership fake job thing, Oklahoma has successfully petitioned the NCAA to return the 8 wins declared "vacated" from the 2005 season.

"This decision is a great thing for those individuals involved with our 2005 team," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said in a statement. "Most of the players on our current roster were not on that team, but I know those victories mean a lot to the players and coaches who were here at that time."

The NCAA upheld all other findings against Oklahoma, but I'm sure the program is happy to have its wins back. Oklahoma could have better monitored the situation at that dealership, but has since severed its ties and the scheme never had any influence on their on-field performance. Good call here.

Previously at FanHouse
NCAA and Oklahoma at an Impasse?
Did a Third Oklahoma Player Violate NCAA Rules?
NCAA Tells Oklahoma Something It Already Knew

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NCAA Returns 8 Wins to Oklahoma originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Signing Day: The Morning After

Brian Grummell — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Alabama Football, Miami Football, Michigan Football, Notre Dame Football, Oklahoma Football, USC Football, NCAA FB Recruiting, The Word

Here's hoping your school isn't using whiskey as mouthwash thinking about who it woke up next to this morning

Themes

USC Soars Late, Pulls Shocker

Tallahassee Lincoln kids love to flirt, and they're never lacking for suitors. But when push comes to shove, the vast majority of them break hearts and stick with the hometown Seminoles. So it came as a complete shock to many people when highly regarded cornerback T.J. Bryant cast his lot with Pete Carroll and USC.

USC lost out on Alabama linebacker Jerrell Harris, but did pull in Bryant, Michigan linebacker Nick Perry and Los Angeles linebacker Uona Kavienga throughout the second half of the day to slide into 7th place in the Rivals.com rankings. It's been a great month of recruiting overall as USC recently got a pledge from the nation's top player for 2009 in quarterback Matt Barkley along with several other preliminary top 100 recruits. Damn.

Back To The Future

As expertly stated by EDSBS, the top of the recruiting rankings have a certain 1985 feel. Alabama, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Miami ... thank heaven for moth balls.

Miscellany

Notre Dame has a great deal to prove on the field after last year's disaster and two consecutive BCS flops. However, the Irish were magnificent in holding together their recruiting class and finding some decent guys in the trenches (at least on defense, anyway). The same can be said for UCLA after the departure of coach Karl Dorrell.

Jumpin' Sam McGuffie briefly flirted with California, but he's come home now and will stick with Michigan.

Signing Day: The Morning After originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pardon Me, Did You Happen to See a Good BCS Bowl Game?

Ryan Ferguson — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:47:00 EST

Filed under: Georgia Football, LSU Football, Ohio State Football, Oklahoma Football, USC Football, West Virginia Football, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, Pac 10, SEC, BCS, Bowl Games, NCAA FB Fans, Illinois Football, Hawaii Football

This whole BCS thing has me gritting my teeth again. Some of these bowl outcomes were predetermined before the first snap, but there were a few surprises.

Rose Bowl: USC 49, Illinois 17

That's what you get for your precious Rose Bowl tie-ins, Big 10 and Pac-10 fans. A total sham of a game. The Grandaddy? Not this year.

I know everyone's in love with USC after that dominating performance, but let's not lose sight of the fact that Illinois was probably overrated due to that win over Ohio State. A fact made even more obvious after the Bucks were hammered by LSU in the BCS title game. How great would it have been to see Southern Cal vs. Georgia in this game?

Sugar Bowl: Georgia 41, Hawaii 10

I'm all for giving the little guy a chance, but the Warriors had no business being in this game. Our valued Hawaii readers here at FanHouse have pointed out Hawaii's ascendance under June Jones and that the accomplishments of their football team showcase their rich cultural heritage. True, Hawaii's a powerhouse in the WAC nowadays, and that is something to be proud of... but it is the WAC, not the Pac-10 or SEC.

Regardless, this is the game I enjoyed the least. Why? Because my interest in the outcome of the game diminished as my fear for the physical safety of Hawaii's players grew. We here at FanHouse have the highest respect and appreciation for the island's tradition (how 'bout that Haka!), and we love the underdog. Love him! Warriors fans, you have every right to be proud of your team. But on the flip side, hey... it's college football. Bring it or shut up. Mahalo.

Fiesta Bowl: West Virginia 48, Oklahoma 28

This was a reasonably fun game to watch... for a half. Certainly the overwhelming favorite, Oklahoma, was upset by a surprisingly speedy and effective Mountaineer squad. (Even despite losing head coach Rich Rodriguez to Michigan!) But blowouts do get boring. I didn't see the final quarter. I don't blame this one on the BCS. I think.

Orange Bowl: Kansas 24, Virginia Tech 21

This one surprised me, but then again you're talking about two of the weaker conferences in the country this year squaring off. In terms of glamor and appeal, the Orange Bowl was sorely lacking. It was kind of a close game, I guess. Did anyone watch it? Kansas and Virginia Tech fans don't count.

BCS Title Game: I'll admit it, I grew nervous about this game after Michigan beat the Gators in the Capital One bowl; I actually called for a 1-point win for the Bayou Bengals. LSU clearly had a more talented team going into the game, but would Les Miles be able to get his team razor-focused and ready to play? Turns out I shouldn't have worried. This game was, for all intents and purposes, over after LSU answered the Buckeyes' opening salvo with 31 unanswered points.

The BCS, Playoffs, and +1

So how do you feel about this year's bowl matchups? With the exception of the Rose Bowl, I feel as though the BCS worked more or less as advertised: we got #1 vs. #2 in New Orleans, we had an at-large opponent not named Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, and Top 10 matchups involving West Virginia, Oklahoma, Kansas and Virginia Tech.

The problem, of course, is that although it 'worked', the system simply isn't very good, so neither was the final result. Between traditional bowl tie-ins (thanks for nothing, Rose Bowl!), corporate sponsors choosing teams based on their potential ROI rather than how good they might be, bowl politics and a mad-scientist formula which determines how a team is ranked, fans are more often than not robbed of an opportunity to see great postseason matchups.

Don't think I'm clamoring for a playoff. Please: I've studied this mess long enough to understand the business interests at the heart of college football easily trump what Joe Q. Football Fan and his buddies might want. Until we're all willing to stop paying for the product to get what we're asking for -- and trust me on this, none of us are -- we're not going to see a playoff. If anything, the controversy surrounding the BCS sweetens the pot for the suits making money on the whole deal.

Those suits love the current system. Love it. They're making money hand over fist. The universities aren't necessarily making a dime directly from their efforts -- a BCS appearance is often a break-even or lose-money proposition unless you're Notre Dame -- but the corporate sponsors, the bowls, and their supporting communities want it to stay status quo forever.

And it probably will. In all honesty, I don't think we'll ever see a true college football playoff in the fashion of the FCS or the NCAA basketball tournament. I've found it's easier to accept when you just decide to let it go.

It's important to remember that the current bowl system, and the BCS, isn't an entity. You can't call up the BCS on the telephone, or storm into their office building and demand to speak to the guy in charge. This system is a loose collection of hundreds of different entities, all with their own agendas and interests to protect. And it wasn't formed overnight: it took several generations of tweaking and twisting and turning and handshakes to get the "business" to this point. Things don't easily change, and when they do, it's only to make sure that the flow of greenbacks continues in the right direction and at the best rate possible. Do you think these people care about whether the right team is crowned a national champion? Their collective product -- college football's postseason -- is more successful now than it has ever been. You say playoff and they're not even listening. They couldn't care any less because business is great.

What I do think could work, eventually -- not this year, or next year, but maybe five or ten years from now -- is a +1 system. The +1 isn't perfect either, but it nicely fills almost all of the glaring holes left open by the current incarnation of the Bowl Championship Series. A +1 answers the problem of multiple undefeated teams vying for a championship slot, or in the case of the 2007 season, multiple defeated teams who all have reasonable claims to appear in the Big Game. Will someone always be left on the outside looking in? Yes, and that's too bad, but when you're talking about a total of 13, 14, or in the case of two teams under a hypothetical scenario like this one, 15 total games in a season, it's impossible to make everyone happy.

But even a +1 is a long shot.

The biggest problem, of course, is the set of "tradtional" bowl tie-ins. The Rose Bowl, in particular, doesn't want to see the Grandaddy become an "early round" bowl and the fear is that any type of playoff structure will diminish the importance of the event.

A fair concern for the Rose Bowl and the city of Pasadena to have, in my view.

If you'll recall, professional football attempted to run playoffs with a bowl type structure but crowds just weren't showing up for the games. Eventually the league went to a home-team stadium arrangement based on seeds from the regular season, and most of the professional bowls -- with the exception of 'Super' and 'Pro' -- died. Could that happen in college football? Well, if fans are unwilling to travel to a "playoff" bowl game and then turn right back around and fly to where the championship game is being held, then the answer is yes.

For proof, have a look in the stands at the regionals for the NCAA basketball tournament. Lots and lots of empty seats, even for the regional finals.

It's just too frightening a thought for the BCS, and the extended bowl system around it to bear. That's why even a +1 is a long shot and talk of an 8 or 16-team playoff is a complete and utter waste of breath. Isn't going to happen. Doesn't matter how much you like it, it's not good for business. So you're not going to get it. Ever.

One other thing which could help is a change in the method for how teams are selected. The Rose Bowl is once again at the center of the problem: they want a Pac-10 team facing off against a Big 10 team, period, and that's how we got the USC-Illinois debacle this year. If the bowls opened themselves up to bringing in any combination of teams, we'd potentially see better matchups. Of course, the same old dragon head pops up and breathes fire on the whole shebang: bowls don't necessarily want the best matchups, they want the best teams for their corporate sponsors. That's why Clemson made it to the Chik-Fil-A bowl (a travesty that it's no longer called the Peach Bowl, really) over Boston College, an overachieving squad whose fanbase just doesn't give a rip about them. (Did you see their attendance in the ACC Championship game? I'm guessing All-Tel stadium was about 40% full. No lie.)

Again, greenbacks trump good football. That is the bowl system. I don't see a change in this department either, and frankly, I don't really blame the bowls... it's a business, and creating consistently good matchups in this case is potentially bad for business.

So. What do you think? +1? Hellbent for leather on the playoff? Leave things as they are, but change the formula? Or just keep griping about it? Here's to better bowl games next season.

Pardon Me, Did You Happen to See a Good BCS Bowl Game? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bob Stoops Is Just Not a Good Bowl Coach

Brian Grummell — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 04:00:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma Football, West Virginia Football, Big 12, Big East, Bowl Games, NCAA FB Coaching, The Word

And with each passing year, Oklahoma's stunning 13-2 BCS Championship victory over Florida State looks like an outlier, if not an outright fluke.

Since that championship in his first bowl game, Bob Stoops has gone just 3-4 in postseason play after an embarrassing 48-28 loss last night to West Virginia. Stoops has notably suffered cruel defeat against Boise State (43-42 last year) and in the BCS Championship Game against USC (55-19) to go along with last night's disaster.

The Sooner defense was thoroughly embarrassed by a team that had just lost its coach and whose fan base was lukewarm about the trip to the desert after a humiliating defeat to rival Pittsburgh cost them a place in the championship game. What does it say for a team's level of preparation and concentration when it surrenders 9 yards/carry on the ground, 350 rushing yards overall and allows scoring plays of 17, 21, 30, 56, 65 and 79 yards?

Oklahoma looked sheepish with several curious decisions, notably failing on multiple mid-game two-point conversion tries and attempting a botched onside kick. West Virginia bludgeoned the Sooners for that mistake, taking the free yards and then scoring a quick touchdown that effectively put the game away.

For the second time in two seasons and three in the last four, Bob Stoops' Oklahoma Sooners have been bowl flops. It wasn't always that way as Stoops won his first three bowl games before falling in a very winnable BCS Championship game to LSU. The Sooners trailed and eventually lost 21-14, but had two late chances to at least tie the game and failed miserably.

What followed was a 17-14 Holiday Bowl victory over Oregon sandwiched by the three aforementioned embarrassments. Not good. Stoops' 4-4 overall bowl mark is decent enough, but no team outside of Notre Dame has embarrassed itself more in recent big bowl games.

Previously at FanHouse
Couches Will Be Burned
Rich Rodriguez Was The Problem All Along

Bob Stoops Is Just Not a Good Bowl Coach originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 04:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Couches Will Be Burned

John Radcliff — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:18:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma Football, West Virginia Football, Big 12, Big East, Bowl Games, The Word

I can't wait until the Youtube of Owen Schmitt being interviewed after the game comes out! Breaking down and crying on national television, calling West Virginia the greatest state in the Union (correctly so!), and the Mohawk to end all Mohawks.

West Virginia's big play ability came back to life after a conspicuous absence for most of this year. Every time Oklahoma came up with a big play in the second half, West Virginia was able to respond. Although the total yardage in penalties was 115-110 in favor of OU, the timeliness of the penalties was what really broke the back of Oklahoma. Their huge offensive line wasn't able to stay with the quicker West Virginia defenders, so they were forced to hold in order to save their quarterback.

On offense, the Mountaineers proved to be too quick as well. It seemed all too easy for Devine and White to get to the corners and eat up huge chunks of yards on the previously stingy Sooner defense. A large part of that credit has to also be given to the West Virginia offensive line and fullback Owen Schmitt.

For the West Virginia administration that is still in the midst of searching for a replacement for departed coach Rich Rodriguez, they might have just found their man. Interim head coach Bill Stewart has remained quiet about his desire to be the next head coach at WVU in order to not look like he was politicking for the position. But if actions speak louder than words, the job should be his. I can only imagine the uproar from Mountaineer fans if he isn't named the coach. I think it's safe to say that couches will be burned if there are any left in West Virginia after tonight.

Couches Will Be Burned originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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