NCAA Football FanHouse http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com NCAA Football FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif NCAA Football FanHouse http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Idaho Coach Speaks the Truthhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/idaho-coach-speaks-the-truth/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/idaho-coach-speaks-the-truth/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/idaho-coach-speaks-the-truth/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There aren't a lot of more intriguing stories this season than Idaho. After years of being in the abyss of college football, known more for seasons of double-digit losses than anything positive, the once-proud FCS program that has struggled virtually since the start of its time in the Football Bowl Subdivision is bowl-eligible.

This weekend, the Vandals travel to play in-state rival Boise State, an opponent Idaho hasn't beaten since 1998. No one would argue that the Vandals have any pressure, as Boise State needs to win out in order to have a shot at a BCS bowl. Idaho coach Robb Akey is fully aware, and he talked about it Monday.

As reported by ESPN.com's Graham Watson on Twitter, Akey made it clear that he hopes his team can be the "bad guy" this weekend, costing his conference (and school) a big bag of money.
"I want to be the least popular individual with all the WAC administrators ... If we take care of business, there will be no BCS bowl for the Boise State and no BCS money coming to the conference."
You have to love Akey's candor. His team has been a blowout victim over and over again in the last decade. The only time they were even remotely competitive was when former coach Dennis Erickson returned for a one-year stint after he got fired from another NFL job. He left, and things went quickly south as Akey tried to get the program on stronger footing.
Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook

Just 3-21 over his first two years, Akey has guided Idaho to a 7-3 start, including 4-1 at the Kibbie Dome, an old indoor facility in Moscow where the Vandals hadn't won more than twice in a single season since 2000.

With that as a background, Akey sees a chance to help gain visibility for his program this weekend. Boise State isn't just another game on Idaho's schedule. They're an in-state opponent, the only one the Vandals play on a regular basis (Idaho State is a Football Championship Subdivision program that sporadically shows up). More than that, Boise State is the benchmark by which the rest of the WAC is measured right now.

If Idaho can find a way to even keep it close on the smurf turf Saturday afternoon, Akey will have really accomplished something. And if his comments about ruining Boise State's BCS chances help fire his team up towards that goal, it was well worth saying on Akey's part.

When you are talking about coaches' dealings with the media, it's rarely a good idea to get on a guy for telling the truth. That's all Robb Akey has done here.

Idaho Coach Speaks the Truth originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>robb akeyBruce CiskieMon, 09 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST Sorry Boise State, Your Case Is Weak http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/22/sorry-boise-state-your-case-is-too-weak/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/22/sorry-boise-state-your-case-is-too-weak/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/22/sorry-boise-state-your-case-is-too-weak/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Kellen MooreUnless the NCAA takes the win away, Bobby Bowden just did college football a big favor. His Florida State team beat Brigham Young, knocking out a pretender to the throne.

Then Oregon beat fellow pretender Utah. Now if somebody could dump Boise State, we'll all have a merry Christmas.

That's not likely because the Broncos have already gone unbeaten in their one-game season. It's all over but the routing of San Jose State, Idaho, UC Davis, UC Chula Vista and UC Schwarzenegger.
More: BCS or Bust for Houston

Then comes a holiday season of griping about how the Little Guy got shafted, followed by a Utah congressman calling for the Justice Department to jail all BCS executives.

I'd have a lot more respect for Boise State if it played a real schedule. More importantly, the BCS would have a lot more respect if the Broncos had to get up for more than one game a year.

That's what's required of BCS conference teams. Which brings us back to Bowden and BYU.

The Cougars tried to act like a BCS team this season. They scheduled two dangerous opponents and beat Oklahoma 14-13 in their opener.

But with visions of Pasadena dancing in Sen. Orrin Hatch's head, in came FSU. Out went the Cougars, 54-28.

"There's a ton of stuff we can learn from this," BYU quarterback Max Hall said.

Yeah, like stop complaining about how six conferences get automatic bids to BCS bowls and five don't. The separation is easy to justify.

Haves -- Must play more than one great game a season.

Have Nots -- Must play one great game then be able to find Utah State.

Sure, Boise State beat Oklahoma in a thrilling Fiesta Bowl and Utah thumped Alabama in last year's Sugar Bowl. Nobody's saying the best from the Mountain West and WAC can't beat the best from the SEC and Big 12.

(Though let's face it, those bowl games were everything to Boise State and Utah. They were consolation trips to Oklahoma and Alabama).

Any good team can play great once. BCS conference survivors have to play great three or four times if they want to make it the championship game.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=515420&pid=515419&uts=1253668664
http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf
Latest College Football Photos
PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 19: Jarmon Fortson #80 of the Florida State Seminoles gets the touchdown against Andrew Rich #22 and Brian Logan #7 of the Brigham Young Cougars at La Vell Edwards Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jarmon Fortson;Andrew Rich;Brian Logan
Getty Images
Getty Images North America

Latest College Football Images

    Nebraska head football coach Bo Pelini reflects on last week's 15-16 loss to Virginia Tech during his weekly news conference, in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. With the exception of a few unguarded moments, Pelini refused to let his weekly news conference turn into a pity party. Pelini said that he and his Cornhuskers are going to turn the fallout from last week's crushing 16-15 loss into positive energy. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

    AP

    Penn State football coach Joe Paterno answers a question during his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, in State College, Pa. Penn State plays Iowa in an NCAA college football game on Saturday in State College. (AP Photo/Pat Little)

    AP

    In this Sept. 19, 2009 photo Mississippi tailback Brandon Bolden sprints past a Southeastern Louisiana defender on his way to a 44-yard run in an NCAA football game in Oxford, Miss. The fourth-ranked Rebels will need as much as they can get out from Bolden as they head into Southeastern Conference play. Their first big challenge of the season comes Thursday night against South Carolina and the SEC's No. 2 rushing defense. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

    AP

    Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee talks about his bandaged thumb, due to a splinter fracture, during a news conference in Lincoln, Neb., on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. Nebraska takes on Louisiana-Lafayette in an NCAA college football game on Saturday in Lincoln. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

    AP

    Penn State football coach Joe Paterno listens to a question during his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, in State College, Pa. Penn State plays Iowa in an NCAA college football game on Saturday in State College. (AP Photo/Pat Little)

    AP

    Nebraska head football coach Bo Pelini speaks during the weekly news conference, in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. Nebraska plays Saturday against Louisiana-Lafayette.(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

    AP

    In this Sept. 19, 2009, photo, Georgia quarterback Joe Cox (14) is greeted by fans after Georgia's 52-41 victory over Arkansas in the NCAA college football game in Fayetteville, Ark. Doing his best to cram a career's worth of statistics into one season, the Georgia's fifth-year senior quarterback is coming off a five-touchdown performance against Arkansas that has seemingly erased all questions about his health and arm strength. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

    AP

    PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 19: Darren Edwards #38 of the Florida State Seminoles goes up for the football 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 *** Darren Edwards

    Getty Images

    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

    Getty Images

    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

    Getty Images



Check out this week's Top 25. If Florida makes it to Pasadena , it will have to go through LSU, Georgia, FSU and the SEC title game.

Texas still has to play Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and the Big 12 championship opponent.

Poor LSU still has three top-five teams (Florida , Ole Miss and Alabama), as well as the SEC title opponent.

Cal's only Top-25 opponents are USC and Washington, though it plays Oregon this week. Yes, the same Oregon team Boise State beat in the season opener to essentially clinch an unbeaten season.

We all remember LeGarrette Blount being dragged off the blue turf kicking and screaming and punching away. Now it's nothing but tomato cans for the Broncos.

I like their blue turf as much as the next guy. And it would be great if Chris Petersen hoisted the trophy instead of Urban Meyer or Nick Saban.

I just want the Broncos to earn the title. All they'll earn with their schedule is snickering. The highest ranked opponent is Nevada, and you have to go all the way to College Football News' ranking and run your finger down to No. 74 to find the Wolf Pack.

All this makes for one easy bowl prediction. Boise State will be unbeaten and the BCS championship game will have at least one team with a loss. The Broncos will be media darlings and the people's champion.

We'll hear the same caterwauling as last year, when unbeaten Utah had to watch once-beaten Florida and Oklahoma play for the title.

That prompted a couple of Congressional hearings, which allowed politicians like Hatch to score big points with voters back home.

"There is an arrogance to the BCS that drives me nuts," he said.

If Hatch really wants to be driven nuts he should become LSU's offensive coordinator for the next two months.

"Championships should be decided by competition," Utah president Michael Young said. "Not by conspiracy."

To which all fans of fairness should say, "Hear, Hear!"

Let the pretenders compete on a regular basis with the contenders. We just saw what happened to BYU.

We don't know for sure that fate would befall Boise State. We do know Broncos fans are going to claim they deserve to be in the BCS championship game. They should answer a simple question.

Would you trade schedules with Alabama or Cal or Texas?

They would sure trade schedules with you.
Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook

Sorry Boise State, Your Case Is Weak originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Brigham YoungDavid WhitleyTue, 22 Sep 2009 18:45:00 EST Badgers Overcome Flu, Fresno Statehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/13/badgers-overcome-flu-fresno-state/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/13/badgers-overcome-flu-fresno-state/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/13/badgers-overcome-flu-fresno-state/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bret Bielema will tell you that Fresno State is tough enough. No additional challenges are necessary when the Bulldogs pop up on the schedule, because they'll give you all that you can handle.

The Wisconsin coach couldn't just steer his team past Fresno on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. He also had to deal with virtually-unprecedented circumstances during the week. It showed at times on the field, as Wisconsin twice fell behind by 14 points, but they were able to rally for a 34-31, double-overtime win.

Bielema wasn't shy after the win, talking boisterously about how much his team was able to overcome to pick up the win. He told Learfield Sports that 45 players missed practice during the week due to flu-like symptoms, as the virus rapidly flew through his team. He also relayed that sophomore defensive lineman J.J. Watt fell ill on the team bus ride to the stadium.

The fourth-year coach lauded the work of quarterback Scott Tolzien, who fought off the virus and threw for 225 yards while avoiding any turnovers.

It wasn't an easy day at all. Fresno State jumped to a 14-0 lead with two Ryan Colborn touchdown passes. One of those, a 70-yard bomb to Devon Wylie, came one play after a missed Wisconsin field goal. The Bulldogs responded to a Wisconsin touchdown with a long drive of their own, taking a 21-7 lead. Wisconsin was far from done, however. They cut the lead to 21-17 by halftime, thanks in part to a 57-yard field goal by Philip Welch.

It stayed 21-17 until the last few minutes of regulation. After Fresno State missed a crucial field goal, the Badgers took the lead. Running back John Clay rumbled virtually untouched through the Fresno defense for a 72-yard run. It gave Wisconsin their first lead of the game.

Fresno State forced overtime with a field goal in the final seconds, but Wisconsin won it in the second overtime. Chris Maragos intercepted Colborn on the first play of the second overtime, and Welch hit a short field goal for the win.

"I can't say enough about their tremendous effort, from individuals, coaches, the fans," Bielema said. He went on to talk about the willingness of his players to get the work in during the week, despite the run of illness that swept through.

"You know we don't usually practice on Fridays," Bielema said, "and I told the guys Thursday night because of the work we didn't get Tuesday we need to go out and practice and they didn't bat an eye. I told them today, they won today because they out-worked people. We weren't clean, there's enough things out there that we got to get corrected and I don't want to see repeated mistakes. And believe me, we did some things out there, we beat ourselves before the snap three or four times and we can't have that happen and win consistently."

The Badgers move to 2-0, and will host FCS member Wofford Saturday in Madison. Fresno State falls to 1-1, and prepares for a home game Friday night against WAC favorite Boise State.

Badgers Overcome Flu, Fresno State originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>bret bielemachris maragosdevon wyliejohn clayryan colbornscott tolzienBruce CiskieSun, 13 Sep 2009 12:15:00 EST LeGarrette Blount Just Sucker Punched His Way Out of College Footballhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/legarrette-blount-just-sucker-punched-his-way-out-of-college-foo/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/legarrette-blount-just-sucker-punched-his-way-out-of-college-foo/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/legarrette-blount-just-sucker-punched-his-way-out-of-college-foo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There's no other way to put this: Oregon tailback LeGarrette Blount straight lost his mind Thursday night, sucker punching a Boise State player and requiring physical restraint to leave the stadium after the Ducks' embarrassing 19-8 loss. Boise State's Byron Hout appeared to tap Blount on the shoulder during postgame interactions, before turning away, only to take a Blount sucker punch to his jaw that floored him. Broncos coach Chris Petersen rushed in to separate him from further incident.

Blount then hopped away, only to get into another altercation with several Boise State fans seated near the field. At that point several people had to restrain him and forcibly drag him down the tunnel into an unknown but probably dark future. It's not unreasonable to speculate that his college career is over. Blount was particularly atrocious in Thursday's game, netting negative five yards on eight carries including being on the wrong end of a safety.

(Video after the jump.)

LeGarrette Blunt sucker punch incidentHout is not immune from criticism in his role in the affair, but Blount crossed a line in punching a player who had turned away from him. His inexplicable escalation after arguing with some Boise State fans while leaving the stadium only further condemns him to a severe fate.

Boise State coach Chris Petersen, who was witness to the sucker punch, was more diplomatic, telling ESPN's Heather Cox that emotions had gotten the better of some players while turning attention to his team.

It's too bad, because, despite his bad game, Blount is a marvelous talent who would have done great things for Oregon this year. At this point he's just as likely to face a lengthy suspension or outright booting from the Oregon football program as he is to play again this year.

Of no small irony -- the American Football Coaches' Association had recommended full-team pregame handshakes to build sportsmanship in the game during opening weekend.

LeGarrette Blount Just Sucker Punched His Way Out of College Football originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Byron HoutChris PetersenLeGarrette BlountBrian GrummellFri, 04 Sep 2009 01:57:00 EST At Boise, Success Isn't Out of the Bluehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/02/at-boise-state-success-isnt-simply-out-of-the-blue/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/02/at-boise-state-success-isnt-simply-out-of-the-blue/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/02/at-boise-state-success-isnt-simply-out-of-the-blue/#commentsFiled under: ,

Jaron JohnsonCollege football fans know that recruiting is considered the most important element in order to build a successful program. That's why every February, so much attention is placed on letter-of-intent signing day when recruiting classes are broken down and analyzed by experts from all across the country. And every year, the same powerhouse programs dominate the final recruiting rankings from Florida and Texas to Oklahoma and USC to Notre Dame and Alabama.

There's one winning program, however, that never cracks college football's elite recruiting list. Boise State.

"It's true, we don't compare to when it comes down to attracting [elite] recruits from all over the country," said Boise State tight end Richie Brockel, a fifth-year senior from Greenway High in Phoenix, Ariz. "But that's what makes this program so special. They recruit good guys who love to play football, and the coaching staff is not afraid to develop them as people on and off the field."

It's a formula that seems to work based on Boise State's success on the field.

The Broncos, who will host Oregon Thursday in arguably the most anticipated opening game of the college football season, have won at least 10 games eight times in the past decade -- including a 12-1 record in 2008 -- and are 35-4 under Coach Chris Petersen.

While coaches like Urban Meyer, Mack Brown and Pete Carroll work with rosters stocked with five- and four-star recruits, Petersen has done it with plenty of overlooked players who did not have a lot of options coming out of high school.

Just look at the Broncos' most recent recruiting class. According to Rivals.com' 2009 rankings, Boise State ranked 73rd out of 112 schools in recruiting.

Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook
"That's OK with us because the players that come here enjoy the entire process and that's usually not the case at other places according to what I've heard," Brockel said about Boise State, which enters 2009 ranked No. 14 by the Associated Press, the highest preseason ranking in school history.

"Everyone that comes here seems to maximize their potential. I know that I have."

The NFL certainly has noticed. Over the years, Boise State has had 41 players drafted, including six over the last two years. Currently, there are nine former Broncos playing in the league.

But it's the total college experience that Boise State offers that sets Petersen's program above the rest.

"We definitely go after kids that fit a certain profile for our program," said Boise State assistant Viliami Tuivai, the team's director of football operations. "Our evaluation of [recruits] breaks down to three categories. The person, the student and then the athlete.

"The character, the integrity and the discipline part all have to be in place in terms of the person. Student-wise, we're looking for kids who come from families that it's more important for them to graduate than it is to us. When you get that, there's definitely academic discipline there. So we don't have to hold their hands to get them to go to class.

"The last aspect is the athletic part ... we look to see if they can function at the position that were looking for them to fill. Not the hype part. We just want to know if that kid can play football, which is not that hard for anyone to evaluate."

When looking at Boise State's roster, you will find a core of players from Idaho but there's also a high number of athletes from other places. There's Kyle Wilson, an All-American candidate from New Jersey; Aaron Burks, a talented freshman wide receiver from Texas; and several key contributors from Georgia and Arizona, including Brockel.

But the pipeline that runs the Broncos' program starts from a stream of California athletes, especially from the Southern California area.

"Obviously because of population, California has a lot of kids that can play," Tuivai said about the 34 California players on the roster. "They might not have the recruiting build-up, but the key is that they want to come here.

"And once they get here, we continue to recruit them. Our philosophy is to promote the players we have and that makes our place more attractive to future recruits ... we don't want them to just come here and exist. We want them to come here with all of the characteristics and social makeup of this place and be successful and strive. That's not easy."

Boise State, which is Idaho's largest university with nearly 20,000 students and has an average class size of 28 students, offers plenty of outdoor things unique to Idaho.

Near the top of activities is whitewater rafting.

During the offseason, Brockel helped organize a river trip with several teammates who had never sat in a raft before.

"It was such a great bonding experience," said Brockel about the trip that included Compton, Calif. native Jaron Johnson and Wilson. "It was the first time for a lot of guys who went and everything was cool until the raft flipped. They started freaking out like they were about to die.

"Once everyone settled down, we all started laughing together. It was just great experience for all of us."

Jaron JohnsonPromoting these type of experiences is something that Boise State's program does well. The Broncos realize that they do not have the money to match up with the nation's top programs, but they make up for that by creating a sense of trust within the Boise community and their growing fan base.

With their two biggest assets being Petersen and Bronco Stadium, which features a celebrated blue ''Smurf turf," the Broncos have not been afraid to make changes to stay competitive financially.

There's the "Bleed Blue" slogan adopted for this season, which was created to help exploit Boise State's football success. The Broncos also increased ticket prices by 17 percent and forced many season-ticket buyers who were previously exempt to join the Bronco Athletic Association in order to have access to their seats.

"The ideal goal would be to get a bigger stadium. That's the best way to get more people involved and not have to continually raise ticket prices," Petersen recently told reporters when asked about Boise State's revenue. "Nobody is happy about that -- the administrators, the coaches, the fans. Nobody wants that. But it is what it is.

"It's how it is right now for us to survive and do the things that we want to have done."

In Petersen, Boise State has one of the hottest coaching names in football. Whenever a top head coaching job opens up, Petersen's name is always mentioned. But so far, he has stayed true to Boise State.

"He's the key to everything," Brockel said about Petersen, who earned an automatic raise for the second consecutive year and who, according to his five-year contract, will make $1,112,650 this season.

"He sets the structure of the program. And I don't think that he wants to leave Boise because he has all the things he wants here. Family, great community support and a winning program."

And Boise State is looking to take another step forward this week against No. 16 Oregon. If the Broncos can defeat the Ducks for the second year in a row, don't blame Boise State fans if they start thinking about a BCS bowl bid. Just remember what the Broncos' dramatic victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl did.

"It's like starting out with a bowl game," Petersen said about facing Oregon to start the season. "It's a top-ranked team ... it's exciting. I don't think we've ever had this much buzz generated by a team coming here."

But Petersen also understands that a victory over the Ducks does not guarantee anything if Boise State falters in conference play.

"One game is not going to make or break a season," Petersen said. "I know as much as people make that a case, that's just going to be our mindset."

At Boise, Success Isn't Out of the Blue originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Lonnie WhiteWed, 02 Sep 2009 11:59:00 EST New Mexico State Introduces Snack Attack Offensehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/08/17/new-mexico-state-introduces-snack-attack-offense/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/08/17/new-mexico-state-introduces-snack-attack-offense/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/08/17/new-mexico-state-introduces-snack-attack-offense/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

New Mexico State logoIt's come to this.

Due to the recession and a subsequent budget crunch, New Mexico State's football team is requesting that fans donate snacks to the team. That's not a joke, not a point of satire meant to illustrate the difference between playing at a Big Six conference and being a member of the WAC. Nope, that's the unvarnished truth.

According to the AP, "New Mexico State's budget-conscious football staff distributed an e-mail this week asking fans to donate after-practice or late-night snacks for hungry players." Why are they doing this? To help close a $1.5 million budget gap. That's an awful lot of snacks.

So far players have received peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, watermelons, and, wait for it, trail mix from helpful fans. Hopefully, the donated snack fuel will help players finish games with more staying power. Last year's team was 3-9 overall, and a woeful 1-7 in the WAC. And that was back when the football team could afford snacks! Is this the sign of the college football apocalypse? I think so. But it doesn't have to be a lasting sign. We at FanHouse can also help the football team save money. Here's how.

As a preliminary point, more ridicule. I understand that tough times call for tough measures, but how much money can snacks really cost the football team? $30,000 a year, maybe? Maybe. So they only have to eliminate 50 other identical spending issues and the budget issue is fixed. This is the rough equivalent of a family deciding they're going to make the mortgage payment from now on by cutting out toilet paper.

And so, they've made the program look ridiculous.

You don't think a coach recruiting against New Mexico State might mention this, do you?

Coach: "Aw sure, you can head out to New Mexico State. But, lemme tell you something, they can't even afford to feed their players. They got fans giving them snacks." I can see a mother shaking her head right now, "Child, please," she'll say, "You're not going to be an Aggie. They can't even feed you."

And she'll be right.

Not to mention, do I even need to say it, you're trusting random fans to feed your football team. In this day and age when some people are completely crazy, is this really smart? Granted the result could be funny -- After all, how long could it be until a fraternity at New Mexico puts the pledge class up to loading snacks with ex-lax and delivering it to the Aggies? -- but it could also be scary. What if a crazy fan put something dangerous in the food? What if someone made pot brownies and the entire team violated the next drug testing? (This would be a convenient excuse for some guys.) It's just a dumb decision, one that doesn't even sound good in theory. This will now end the part of the column where I spend 15 seconds demonstrating why New Mexico State officials are idiots.

After all, I don't want to give the impression that I'm not sympathetic to the plight faced by the team. A life without snacks? What is this, Red China? Russia in the midst of the German invasion? Plainly, a football player divided from his snacks cannot stand.

Or tackle.

So here are nine other revenue saving measures that New Mexico State can adopt to tighten up the finances without requiring fans to provide snacks.

1. Make shoulder pads out of recycled Coke cans.

Lots of schools get pennies back on their soda dollars. Why not get shoulder pads instead? Sure, the pads would be brittle and break. But then when New Mexico State's quarterback gets sacked for the 19th time at Ohio State, he can have a legitimate excuse not to come back in.

2. Bring back Pistol Pete and auction off his pistol advertisement to the NRA or a gun manufacturer.

Proving that they are as adept at mascot imagery as they are at snack-wrangling, New Mexico State introduced a sideline mascot named Pistol Pete. Only a few years later they replaced his pistol with a lasso. And changed Pistol Pete's name to simply ... Pete.

3. Give up football and focus on men's basketball.

New Mexico state has had four winning seasons in the past 40 years. During that time they've won a single conference title, in 1978.

What would really be missing?

4. Based on my strong knowledge of Spanish, I believe Las Cruces is Spanish for "The Crosses."

The city's name owes its history to Roman times. While he was still hanging on the cross, Jesus was asked where he would least like to return to life.

"Las Cruces, New Mexico," He said.

Leading to a great fundraising idea. We already have Jump Rope for Heart. I bring you the newest fundraising craze: Who Can Carry a Cross the Longest in a New Mexico Desert?

5. Current Aggie fight song:

"Aggies, oh Aggies
We'll win this game or know the reason why!
And when we win this game
We'll buy a keg of booze"

Revised Aggie fight song:

"Aggies, oh Aggies
We'll win this game or know the reason why!
And when we win this game
We'll buy a keg of <insert beer sponsor name here>

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=515420&pid=515419&uts=1250519827
http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf
Latest College Football Photos
Louisville's Lincoln Carr, front, puts down a board to get ammo across without touching the yellow parts of the course during an Army leadership development exercise Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at Fort Knox, Ky. (AP Photo/Patti Longmire)
AP
FR75213AP

Latest College Football Images

    Louisville's Lincoln Carr, front, puts down a board to get ammo across without touching the yellow parts of the course during an Army leadership development exercise Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at Fort Knox, Ky. (AP Photo/Patti Longmire)

    AP

    Louisville's Lincoln Carr, front, puts down a board to get ammo across without touching the yellow parts of the course during an Army leadership development exercise for the Louisville football team Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at Fort Knox, Ky. (AP Photo/Patti Longmire)

    AP

    Louisville football players Victor Anderson, back, and Anthony Conner try to get the dummy across the obstacle during a leadership development course at Fort Knox, Ky., Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Patti Longmire)

    AP

    Louisville football players Daniel Brown, front, and Andrew Robinson try to get a dummy across an obstacle course called "Cate's Culvert" during a leadership development course Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at Fort Knox, Ky. (AP Photo/Patti Longmire)

    AP

    Staff Sgt. Dennis Kovalchick, center, gives instructions to the Louisville football team before a relay race course Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at Fort Knox army base in Kentucky. Members of the Louisville football team took part in an Army leadership development course. (AP Photo/Patti Longmire)

    AP

    Staff Sgt. Dennis Kovalchick, center, gives instructions to the Louisville football team before a relay race course Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at Ft. Knox Army Base in Kentucky. Members of the Louisville football team took part in an Army leadership development course. (AP Photo/Patti Longmire)

    AP

    Staff Sgt. Dennis Kovalchick, center, gives instructions to the Louisville football team before a relay race course Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at Ft. Knox Army Base in Kentucky. (AP Photo/Patti Longmire)

    AP

    Boston College quarterback David Shinskie, center, takes part in practice during NCAA college football media day, Friday, Aug. 14, 2009, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

    AP

    In this Oct. 25, 2008 photo provided by the University of Miami, Miami Hurricanes football player Chris Hayes (49) hugs his mother Kathie after Miami's win over Wake Forest. Hayes, a walk-on college football player gets word that his father, without warning, has taken his own life. He leaves the team to be at his mother's side for the funeral, is summoned back for game day so he can suit up for the first time, gets lost on the way to the stadium, is sent onto the field for the final play and is carried off atop his teammates' shoulders. (AP Photo/University of Miami, JC Ridley)

    AP

    Photo provided by University of Miami, shows Miami football player Chris Hayes (49) is carried off the field after the Hurricanes defeated Wake Forest Oct. 25, 2008 in Coral Gables, Fla. The low point in Hayes' life came on the previous Monday, when he got the phone call that his dad had committed suicide. The high point of this Miami walk-on's life came five days later when his team carried off the field. (AP Photo/University of Miami, JC Ridley)

    AP



6. Replace football coaches with chemical engineering professors.

Wait, this already happened in 2008?

Per Wikipedia: "The former quarterback Charley Johnson, who was then a chemial engineering professor at New Mexico State, was appointed as interim head coach during the search for a replacement."

7. Auction off the Aggies nickname to a corporation.

The only thing lamer than one school being nicknamed the Aggies is more than one school being nicknamed the Aggies.

Do you see how awesome this nickname is? It's short for agriculture! And agriculture is the 14 billionth coolest word in the English language. Right between photosynthesis and caterwaul.

What's even worse than this? Your top rival, New Mexico, is the lobos, which is perhaps the coolest nickname on the planet.

8. In a surprise move, double the recruiting budget for football. Emblazoned at the top of the page on all recruiting literature will be this phrase, "New Mexico State: We are actually in America."

Beneath that in smaller print, "You can drink the water (but you have to bring your own snacks)!"

9. Bring back Nazi POWs and have them work on farms growing snacks for the football team.

Some people have forgotten that Las Cruces put Nazi POWs to work on farms during World War II. Why did they ever allow these people to leave? The absolute least they could do for, after causing the death of tens of millions of people, is provide snacks for a hungry WAC football team.

10. New Mexico State plays at Ohio State on Halloween.

So the Aggies are already auctioning off football games to help fill the athletic department coffers.

Talk about two programs passing in the night. I think Ohio State football owns Nabisco and Kellogg. Meanwhile, the Aggies are begging their fans for half-eaten packages of wheat thins.

If every Ohio State student doesn't come dressed as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or other snack food, I've lost even more respect for Ohio State.

New Mexico State Introduces Snack Attack Offense originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Clay TravisMon, 17 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis Accepts Hawaii Coach's Apology -- Sort Ofhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/31/notre-dame-coach-charlie-weis-accepts-hawaii-coachs-apology/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/31/notre-dame-coach-charlie-weis-accepts-hawaii-coachs-apology/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/31/notre-dame-coach-charlie-weis-accepts-hawaii-coachs-apology/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Charlie WeisNo one could ever accuse Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis with being exactly gracious when it comes to accepting an apology.

A day after Hawaii coach Greg McMackin made a derogatory comment toward the Irish and their tradition and apparently minutes after the Hawaii coach called to personally apologize, Weis issued a statement about the whole flap on Friday. Weis, a naturally surly guy, said he accepted the apology and pretended to let bygones be bygones.

Weis said the comments were in poor taste but that he had moved on, but clearly he wasn't about to just let it go at that.

"Yesterday, Coach McMackin demonstrated poor judgment when, while making comments critical of our football program, he used a derogatory word," Weis said via a released statement Friday. "Speaking only for our program, we were offended by the remarks."

By now we all know that McMackin made a remark that is insensitive and a slur often targeted at gays. That was deplorable, and everyone from the Hawaii AD to WAC Commissioner Karl Benson to even McMackin has said as much.

Honestly, McMackin hasn't stopped apologizing since making the ill-advised remark during the WAC Media Day session Thursday in Salt Lake City. Late Friday night, McMackin was suspended for 30 days and has voluntarily taken a pay cut as a result of his actions with the 2009 football season just around the corner.

But it wasn't enough for Weis, who is usually incognito during the summer until his football team's media day in early August, as he took the time Friday to issue an official statement. But what was very interesting is that he took the time to somehow inject his young daughter Hannah, who suffers from an illness, into the equation.

"As a parent of a daughter with global developmental delays, I am especially sensitive to offensive characterizations like the one at issue here," Weis said. "But in no way do I believe Coach McMackin's comments were intended to be offensive."

Huh? Now correct me, I thought that is why Weis broke from his busy schedule and normal routine to issue a statement. McMackin also realized he made an offensive statement directed at the football program and Notre Dame and immediately began to apologize and then followed his statements up with a personal call to Weis on Friday.

"This afternoon I received a phone call from Coach McMackin and he apologized to me and asked I pass that along to my players and coaches," said Weis, whose Irish spanked McMackin and his Warriors, 49-21, in last season's Hawaii Bowl for ND's first bowl win in ages. "We accept his apology and we will move on.

"It is now time to put this incident behind us and return focus to the 2009 season."

Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis Accepts Hawaii Coach's Apology -- Sort Of originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>charlie weisgreg mcmackinTerrance HarrisFri, 31 Jul 2009 19:09:00 EST Hawaii's Greg McMackin Apologizes for Gay Slur Aimed at Notre Damehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/30/hawaiis-greg-mcmackin-apologizes-for-gay-slur-aimed-at-notre-da/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/30/hawaiis-greg-mcmackin-apologizes-for-gay-slur-aimed-at-notre-da/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/30/hawaiis-greg-mcmackin-apologizes-for-gay-slur-aimed-at-notre-da/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hawaii head football coach Greg McMackinGreg McMackin, the head coach at Hawaii, should probably call in sick to next year's WAC media day teleconference. For the second year in a row, he has said something regrettable during that event.

This year McMackin (pictured right) told a story about a banquet the night before last year's Hawaii Bowl, which pitted his team against Notre Dame. Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis told the crowd about his school's "clapping tradition," which frankly is even less exciting than you think: "WE ARE!" (clap, clap) "ND!" (clap, clap).

McMackin, it must be said, was not exactly impressed by this.

At today's media preview, McMackin referred to what the Domers did as "this little f****t dance." (Hear it for yourself here; obviously, this is not safe for work.) McMackin then went on to use the same term twice more in pleading with the media not to print what he had just said.

There is precedent for this. Last year McMackin, who was in his first season as head coach, inadvertently mentioned the name of a recruit during his question-and-answer session. He asked those in attendance not to print that he'd mentioned the recruit's name, since it was an NCAA violation for him to do so. The press complied, which was the right thing to do for a rookie head coach who has just committed a minor blunder. This time? No such luck, Coach.

You aren't being "politically correct" if you say that what McMacklin said about Notre Dame was wrong. Taste and tact far precede political correctness. What he said was both tasteless and tactless. His point would have been made just as well if he'd called it "a little wimpy dance." He then wouldn't have had to plead with the reporters not to report what he just said. And he wouldn't have had to tell them that he would deny having said it if they reported it.

To his credit, McMackin apologized for what he said, stating that "I'm really ticked off at myself for saying that" and blaming it all on an attempt to be funny.

Thing is, now he has a bigger problem. The next time there's something unflattering involving Hawaii football, and we read the words "Head coach Greg McMackin denied [whatever]," are any of us going to believe him?

Hawaii's Greg McMackin Apologizes for Gay Slur Aimed at Notre Dame originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>charlie weisCharlieWeisGreg McMackinMark HastyThu, 30 Jul 2009 15:54:00 EST San Jose State Is Tired of Cheap Pac-10 Dateshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/20/san-jose-state-is-tired-of-cheap-pac-10-dates/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/20/san-jose-state-is-tired-of-cheap-pac-10-dates/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/20/san-jose-state-is-tired-of-cheap-pac-10-dates/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Pac-10 has now been stood-up twice by San Jose State for dates in 2010. The Spartans are one of those programs that are willing to go out with one of those studly BCS programs and not expect a second date at home.

Just because San Jose is willing to go anywhere for a one-nighter, though, does not mean they are cheap. The Spartans have realized that their popularity with the big programs means it should be a first-class evening, one that makes it worth their while.

San Jose skipped out on its picnic with Stanford when Alabama came in with nearly $1 million for the night. Now the Spartans have decided to break off plans with Arizona State.

The Sun Devils' mere $450,000 for a one-nighter was no match for Wisconsin's full wine-and-dine of around $900,000. Even with the $250,000 buyout, San Jose State comes out ahead. Arizona State, however, is now looking for someone else to come to their place.

San Jose State Is Tired of Cheap Pac-10 Dates originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Chas RichMon, 20 Jul 2009 12:06:00 EST What the WAC Wrote to the BCS, Maybehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/14/what-the-wac-wrote-to-the-bcs-maybe/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/14/what-the-wac-wrote-to-the-bcs-maybe/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/14/what-the-wac-wrote-to-the-bcs-maybe/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Thomas PaineBuried in the details surrounding the BCS contract extension signed by the Mountain West and the WAC was this nugget in an Idaho newspaper: "The conference (WAC) will attach a letter 'that will lay out the concerns we have and basically express our strong objection to the current BCS structure,' Boise State president Bob Kustra said."

Yep, a bona fide letter. (Possible illustration, right). Thanks to the tremendous connections of the ClayNation column in conjunction with the awe-inspiring power of FanHouse, and the action news team that, er, located Gene Chizik's inaugural address to Auburn, we were able to artfully re-create this letter below:

"Dear BCS,

You are so wack. (The bad wack not the good WAC!) We hate you. Every single one of us. From Louisiana Tech (yes, that is an actual school) to Hawaii, every single person who has ever graduated from our football programs, all 28 of them, hate you. Or as the players say, "H8 u!!111"

We hate your pointy shoes, and your paltry money, and your BCS standings that are so complicated the rules might as well read, "Minus-488 points for not being in a Big Six conference." We hate the smugness of the Big Six, like those programs are all legitimate powerhouses. Have you been to Starkville, Mississippi? It makes Logan, Utah look like Beverly Hills. That's in California. You know, the same state where we have the 18th best football team in the Silicon Valley. (Not counting high schools.) San Jose State, baby. And San Jose State is loaded, baby.

You want millions.

They got 50 of them.

Yep, their entire endowment is $50 million dollars. Put it in a stack of singles and it would reach to Jupiter. Then, if we wanted to, we could push the stack over and it would make it rain all the way to Boise. Fifty millions, that's almost as much as Alabama makes from football each year, son. In the whole university.

And we've got a blue field. Do you have a blue field? Do you know how much technology that takes? I'll tell you, all the technology in Louisiana. That's why we brought in Louisiana Tech. Because, let's be clear, when you think, "Scientific revolution," you think, "Louisiana."

Seriously, though, a blue field. Do you know why it's blue? Because it's a metaphorical reflection of our inner soul. We're crying. Crying because you greedy bastards don't include us in anything. Do you know how long the WAC has existed? Since 1962. So what if all six of the original members of the WAC have left to join other conferences? So what if the first nine teams to join our conference all left to join other conferences too. WeBoise State's Smurf Turf still have Hawaii. They've been with us since the '79. These colors don't run. Instead, they get trampled.

You want television markets? We own Idaho. Own it. Count 'em off with me, one, two, three (if you count Utah State) teams in the same state. Bang. 1.5 million people. What's that? You want them to watch other teams play. Not happening. You just lost the 44th most dense population in the United States, suckers.

If we wanted to, we could keep potatoes from leaving the state of Idaho and the country would come undone. Try feeding your big money football players without starches. Yeah, watch their muscles dwindle, watch them crumble on the bench press. Idaho is the lifeblood of college football everywhere.

You want big crowds? We pack them in. Idaho seats 16,000. That's 16, and then thousand after it. The Kibbie Dome rocks. Even if it does sound a little bit like a place where they'd host the Puppy Bowl. Or where they used to film the television show Blossom.

You want more? If everyone of our nine stadiums was sold out on game day and teams would actually come play us in our home stadiums instead of paying us to come play in theirs, do you know how many people would be here? Yep, 286,000. That's almost as many as at Penn State, Michigan and Tennessee combined. That's commitment.

We know some say discretion is the better part of valor and some people will judge us for letting our emotions get out of control in this letter. We know that Abraham Lincoln used to write angry letters and put them in his desk and never mail them. But we aren't Lincoln. We're the WAC, son. And we won't be triflKibbie Dome, University of Idaho, in Moscow, Idahoed with. We'll just keep on truckin', keep on with our internal rivalries that are some of the best in the nation.

The Battle of the Bone, it means nothing to you, big ole BCS. But when Fresno State and Louisiana Tech throw down you better leave the women and children at home. (Also, the men if it's televised on Tuesday night on ESPN-8 live from Anchorage but that's another story). How about the Battle of the Milk Can? Did you know that California and Idaho are No. 1 and No. 4 respectively in dairy production? We bet you didn't, loser. Or that the Milk Can rivalry dates all the way back to 'aught five (you know, 2005). It's so big that the first year the milk can wasn't even ready yet. That's tradition.

Nope, you didn't know any of this BCS. Because you're too busy shafting us from angles that would make porn stars blush. The days of the WAC being your own personal ski-pole are over BCS, finished.

We hope this letter conveys how thoroughly steamed we are.

Sincerely,

The WAC!

(P.S. Kindly note that our return address has changed. We don't want to miss your checks.)

What the WAC Wrote to the BCS, Maybe originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Boise State HawaiiSan Jose StateClay TravisTue, 14 Jul 2009 19:15:00 EST Mountain West, WAC Take the BCS' Pieces of Silver and Runhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/13/mountain-west-wac-take-the-bcs-pieces-of-silver-and-run/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/13/mountain-west-wac-take-the-bcs-pieces-of-silver-and-run/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/13/mountain-west-wac-take-the-bcs-pieces-of-silver-and-run/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Utah celebrates its Sugar Bowl victory over AlabamaJust a few days after the monumental Senate committee hearing on whether the BCS violated antitrust law, the WAC and the Mountain West put pen to paper, extending their deal with the BCS. And by "their deal" I mean the "big six conference and Notre Dame deal" that happens to include all other teams by the magnanimous generosity of the entity known as the BCS. Even if, you know, that entity doesn't actually exist.

Yes, the BCS is like Prince, it's name is an unpronounceable symbol. Or a pronounceable curse word. Later this week, I'm going to do a column where we come up with a symbol to represent the BCS for the 2009 season since it doesn't legally exist. But before we can do that, I have to figure out how to unlock the symbol collection on my keyboard. And let's be honest that could take me months.

In the meantime, the real question to ask here is why did the Mountain West and WAC sign the agreement and has it strengthened or weakened their case against the BCS? Proceed, fearless reader.

In 1984, BYU won the national championship from outside a power conference. That year's team was nowhere near as accomplished as last season's undefeated Utah team. Don't believe me? The good Doctor at Yahoo has broken down its season. This was not a team that destroyed all competitors and left all others trembling in its wake. BYU beat four teams that finished the season with a winning record. None of the teams they beat finished ranked in the Top 25.

But in the last 25 years, no team from outside a big six conference has won a national championship. (Although Penn State won in 1986 before they joined the Big Ten in 1990.) Could this ever happen again? I'm going to tie this in as we look at the primary question: What happens if both conferences didn't sign on to join the BCS extension with ESPN?

To begin, they'd forgo the BCS television money in the new $500-million, four-year deal. The five non-big six conferences will receive a combined $13 million or so a year, an increase from the $9.5 million they were getting. So each conference nets in the neighborhood of $2.6 million. Divide that number by nine (the number of members of the Mountain West and the WAC) and you're talking about each school in these two conferences netting about ... wait for it ... $300,000.

300,000!

That's less than Matthew Stafford makes for playing a half for the Detroit Lions. What Ryan Seacrest makes for fifteen minutes of every American Idol.

Additionally, if everything goes perfectly and one of the nine schools in the Mountain West or the WAC nets a BCS berth, they'll get another distribution of around $13 million to share from the BCS.

What am I getting at by using these numbers? This isn't a seismic payout. Particularly if you assume that a non-BCS school will only make it into the BCS once every other year or so. (The odds of a team such as Boise State, Hawaii, or Utah going undefeated, as is essentially required to make one of the BCS bowls, is, at best, even. Likely much lower.) Even as a percentage of the overall football and athletics revenue at a school like Utah, which netted $12.1 million for football and $26.9 million overall in 2007-2008, does that money really make a huge difference? That's a little over two percent additional for football and less than two percBoise State fan at the 2007 Fiesta Bowlent of the overall athletics budget. And while Utah may be one of the most financially strong of the teams in these smaller five conferences, is anyone really joining a breadline without the BCS money? Money, by the way, that didn't even exist 15 years ago.

But it wasn't just the money. The Mountain West and the WAC both felt that if their teams were excluded from the BCS, they'd be doing their student-athletes a disservice. Of course, by accepting the money, they ensured that they were also doing their student athletes a disservice.

The lesson here: It's better to be complicit in the exclusion of your football programs than to withdraw from an unfair system that doesn't allow you to compete for the ultimate prize. Sin of omission, meet sin of commission.

The Mountain West issued this statement justifying its decision Wednesday.

"The Mountain West believes it has no choice at this time but to sign the agreements. If a conference wishes to compete at the highest levels of college football, and the only postseason system in place for it is the BCS, no conference can afford to drop out and penalize its football programs and student-athletes."

The WAC issued a similar statement. Only they took the additional step of attaching a letter spelling out their disagreements with the BCS extension. Seriously, a letter. An actual frigging letter! Man, ESPN and the BCS must have been quaking in their boots. Especially if it was on really fancy letterhead.

In the end, both rebel conferences concluded that they were more likely to bring about change by taking the BCS money than by refusing the money and playing outside the system. But is that actually correct?

No.

That's true, even if you accept the best argument that can be made on behalf of both conferences' decision: Being a party to the BCS agreement could actually strengthen the Mountain West and WAC's argument that the BCS violates the Sherman antitrust act. This line of thinking, which is no doubt being sold to the Department of Justice as we speak, would follow this path: The BCS is so powerful and corrupt that we can't even avoid participating even when everyone knows we hate it and it treats us unfairly. So we sign this while holding our nose.

But, and this is the flip side to the argument, doesn't taking money from a system that you find to be corrupt and, oh by the way, illegal under the Sherman Act, make you complicit in the crime? I think so. And I think it does something worse; it tells us exactly how much money per year it takes for a school to cede the moral high ground. Well, not actually how much money, we just know that a little over $5 million guaranteed per year to the WAC and the Mountain West is more than enough. In so doing, the conferences are sending their own message: Being right might be it's own reward, but it's better to be wrong and take the cash.

All of this means that the best chip the Mountain West and the WAC could ever toss on the table is removed. Namely, what if either conference had an undefeated team make a run like BYU in 1984? Or like Utah's undefeated run last year but the other teams surrounding them had dropped a few more close games? In any given season, the final two teams are a function of that team's accomplishments and also the season's wacky results. Stanford beating USC ring a bell? Put the undefeated Utah team from 2008 in the mix in 2007, when a two-loss LSU faced off against a one-loss Ohio State. Does Utah make a better case for inclusion in the BCS title game then? Maybe.



More importantly, would the BCS have hell to pay if their ostensible goal, putting the top two teams in a bowl game, didn't even include one of the top two teams in its ranking system? I think so. How valuable would the publicity hell that the BCS reaped then be? Worth more than $13 million total they toss off to the bottom five conferences? I think so again. Can you imagine how gleeful the media would be if an underdog team climbed the rankings without being included in the BCS's vaunted rankings.

It would be a public relations disaster for the BCS. (Even worse than existing in the first place.) The AP could reward a team with a national championship that wasn't even ranked in the top 25 BCS teams. Wouldn't that shake the BCS to its very core? Sure, it's not likely to happen, but the mere threat could be of extraordinary value. As is, that threat is removed for a sliver of the BCS's money pie. Meanwhile the WAC and Mountain West, like Judas, have to make do with slinking into oblivion with their own bags of silver.

What's the weight of a football soul? $2.5 million a year, give or take.

Mountain West, WAC Take the BCS' Pieces of Silver and Run originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Clay TravisMon, 13 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST MVC, WAC Reluctantly Agree to Stay With The BCS systemhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/09/mvc-wac-reluctantly-agree-to-stay-with-the-bcs-system/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/09/mvc-wac-reluctantly-agree-to-stay-with-the-bcs-system/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/09/mvc-wac-reluctantly-agree-to-stay-with-the-bcs-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Mountain West Conference has been dissatisfied with the Bowl Championship Series system for years and their disdain hit the pinnacle when Utah finished the 2008 regular season undefeated and did not rank in the top 2, preventing the Utes from playing in the BCS National Championship Game.

Utah soundly beat Alabama and finished as the lone undefeated team in America, and the MVC lobbied for an automatic bid in the BCS system. But negotiations with the MVC and the Western Athletic Conference never advanced, and both conferences signed an agreement to retain their same role in the BCS -- reluctantly.

"Today, the Mountain West Conference has executed the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) agreement and the attendant rights agreement with ESPN," the conference said in a statement on their Web site. "While the Mountain West has expressed serious concerns with the various fundamental flaws in the current BCS system, our various good faith initiatives to generate reform have thus far not been accepted."

The MVC admitted that negotiations with BCS officials weren't progressing. The current system invites a non-BCS conference team -- which includes the MVC and WAC -- into the bowl system if it finishes in the Top 12 in the BCS rankings. Utah finished in the Top 12 and therefore was invited to play Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

The rankings are based on strength of schedule and how opponents fare during the season. Given that MVC and WAC schools play lesser schedules, the possibility of a conference member being in the BCS title game is highly unlikely under the current system. MVC officials proposed an eight-team playoff system that would allow non-BCS teams a better opportunity for a national title, but it was shot down by the BCS conferences.

"The Mountain West believes it has no choice at this time but to sign the agreements," the statement said. "If a conference wishes to compete at the highest levels of college football, and the only postseason system in place for that is the BCS, no one conference can afford to drop out and penalize its football programs and student-athletes."

The current system expires in 2013, but the MVC made it clear it wasn't satisfied with the system.

"The Mountain West will continue its efforts for change," the statement concluded, "including a request for dialogue with representatives of the BCS. Our goal is to ensure the eventual outcome of these endeavors is what our universities and student-athletes need, what the vast majority of American sports fans want, and what is long overdue: an equitable system."

MVC, WAC Reluctantly Agree to Stay With The BCS system originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Gary WashburnThu, 09 Jul 2009 01:30:00 EST Expectations Still High for Boise Statehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/03/expectations-still-high-for-boise-state/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/03/expectations-still-high-for-boise-state/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/03/expectations-still-high-for-boise-state/#commentsFiled under: ,

Kellen MooreKellen Moore exceeded expectations last year when he became the first freshman quarterback to ever start a season opener at quarterback for Boise State.

Moore's poise and production also were off the charts, helping the Broncos come within two points of an undefeated season. He was named Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and second-team all conference in addition to being named Boise State's Most Valuable Offensive Player by a vote of teammates.

That's plenty of praise and hardware, but don't think for a second Moore is blinded by his success.

"We have high expectations here," Moore told FanHouse. "We go into each week with a game plan and I am expected to do what I do, whether it's throwing a certain route or whatever. We prepare in practice and nothing really happens brand new out on the field during the game."

Yes, it's not a surprise. Boise State, of course, is accustomed to winning.

The Broncos have gone 118-20, never winning less than eight games in a season and capturing eight Big West or WAC championships, over the past decade. Boise State swept its' 12 regular-season opponents before falling 17-16 to TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl last year. This season isn't expected to be any different. Boise State is a popular pick to win the WAC and be in the mix for a Bowl Championship Series bid as long it avoids any upsets.

Such is life in Boise, Idaho.

"The expectations are getting higher, and we look at it as our opportunity to keep it going and build on that success," Moore said. "I think it's awesome."

Moore was headed home to Washington for the Fourth of July weekend, a final opportunity to relax and visit with family and friends. The Broncos have been lifting, conditioning and holding player-only practices each morning. The tempo and intensity will increase following the holiday as the Broncos circle their testy season opener against Oregon.

"This is kind of like our final big break," said Moore, who completed 281 of 405 passes for 3,486 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. He ranked 12th nationally in passing efficiency (157.1) and second in total offense (265.8) and average passing yards per game (268.2).

"We've had a good off-season," Moore continued. "Everyone has been around this summer and it has just been a matter of everyone getting comfortable and on the same page. For me, it feels like a complete 180-degree turn. I am so much more comfortable, more confident from a year ago and I understand what's going on -- there are no ifs, ands or buts, no hesitancy in any of my throws.

"I have a better understanding of the guys who are on our offense and adjusting to their strengths and what they do best."

What Boise State does best is win -- specifically on its home blue "smurf turf," where it has won 19 straight games and 49 straight regular-season home games. The Broncos sell out those home games, too, averaging 32,275 fans per game last year.

Chris Petersen While Boise State continues to upgrade its talent level under head coach Chris Petersen, who is 34-2 overall in the regular season, the Broncos are not without question marks.

The most obvious one is: Who is Moore, who had four games with more than 300 yards passing and 11 with more than 200 yards in the air last season, going to pass the ball to this year?

Jeremy Childs, Vinny Perretta and Julian Hawkins were the top three receivers a year ago and now they are all gone. Austin Pettis will step into the staring role after catching 49 passes for 567 yards and nine touchdowns, and Moore's younger brother, Kirby, will be a freshman this year.

While the Broncos' offensive line features three returning starters, the defense must find replacements on the front line and at linebacker.

Moore, who redshirted in 2007 after being named the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Washington, has embraced his leadership role this offseason. He has studied game video from last year and is determined to be more efficient and make better decisions in the pocket.

Still, it's difficult to nit-pick his success last year.

Moore's 69.4 completion rate was tops in the WAC. His 3,486 yards passing was second-best and his 3,456 yards of total offense was third-best all-time at Boise State for a single season. In the Broncos' 41-34 win over Nevada that clinched the WAC title, Moore completed 29 of 48 passes for 414 yards.

Of course, TCU spoiled Boise State's bid for perfection for the second time in three seasons in the Poinsetta Bowl. The Broncos were outgained 472-to-250 in total yards, and, making matters worse, squandered an early 13-0 lead. While the defeat has served as a healthy gulp of motivation for Moore and teammates this summer, Moore says the Broncos learned from the game and are focusing on the future.

One game at a time.

Expectations don't change at Boise State. Ditto for Moore.

"You can't linger on one game," said Moore, a native of Prosser, Wash.

"We got plenty of teaching points out of it. We can't worry about it or look back. It's done. We also can't worry about the end-of-the-road type of stuff, like a BCS game. We've been working hard this summer. We have to concentrate on what's at hand, concentrate week-by-week and take care of business."

Expectations Still High for Boise State originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Austin PettisChris PetersenKellen MooreKirby MooreJim HenryFri, 03 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST Fresno State Gets Mysterious Donation http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/06/17/fresno-state-gets-massive-mysterious-donation/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/06/17/fresno-state-gets-massive-mysterious-donation/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/06/17/fresno-state-gets-massive-mysterious-donation/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Fresno State has just received the largest pledged donation in its history, $10 million dollars for the athletic department. Exactly how this pledge will be honored still seems shrouded in mystery.

The money is coming through a former Fresno State football player, Alphonso Bigelow, who played linebacker in the mid-90s. He got his MBA at Fresno State, and still lives in the city. He is also the CEO of a company called Nykel Bam International, LLC. That's where the mystery comes in, because what the company does seems purposefully vague.

Roughly, Bigelow says the company is involved in brokering private commodities transactions. Emphasis, apparently on the private since the company does not maintain any public Internet presence. According to Bigelow, while he decided on where to give the money, the company's board of directors decided the amount.
He says the board of directors came to him this year and said they needed to give away $10 million for tax purposes. He could choose to whom. Bigelow says that he and all the board members have a goal to someday give away 80 percent of Nykel Bam's earnings.
So in the largest recession in decades, there is a privately held company that no one really knows about that had to give away $10 million dollars for tax reasons?

Frankly the story being told sounds like something from a comic book or a cheap conspiracy flick.
So here's the story: A few years ago, Bigelow owned local group homes. He had a master's degree in business from Fresno State, so he was trying to do some brokering on the side. He flew to Hong Kong to try to complete a gold transaction, but couldn't get it done.

While at a cocktail party in Hong Kong, he started talking to an elderly man from London, who took a liking to him and started mentoring him on the ways of international brokering.

Bigelow did not tell this story at the news conference Tuesday, partly because he wants to keep his business and the details of how he makes money as private as possible. ("I don't need more competition," he says.) And, frankly, it would have been too much to explain. Maybe too much to believe.

The unnamed man from London got him started, introduced him to the people who are now the board of directors for Nykel Bam LLC.
Let's see. A mysterious, elderly Englishman takes the young, handsome, charismatic ex-jock under his wing to learn the mystic ways of private international brokering. Then set him up and introduced him to other individuals that ultimately became the unknown, unnamed board of directors for the new, private company with the young man as the public face. All the while, the company is virtually invisible with no internet presence or public awareness until this sudden gift.

What are they? A front for AIM? Hydra? An ancient order of commodites trading vampires? H.I.V.E.? SPECTRE? I think Dan Brown has the shadow organization for his next book.

Fresno State Gets Mysterious Donation originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Chas RichWed, 17 Jun 2009 23:07:00 EST Boise State Will Go on the Road for Cashhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/06/17/boise-state-will-go-on-the-road-for-cash/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/06/17/boise-state-will-go-on-the-road-for-cash/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/06/17/boise-state-will-go-on-the-road-for-cash/#commentsFiled under: ,

Boise State has made a national name for itself in college football, even as a relative newcomer being located in Idaho and in the WAC. They have done it by committing resources to the program, finding up-and-coming coaches and paying a competitive wage to promote the stability.

Economic times are tough, though. The funding has been cut and ticket sales and donations are down. Boise State, like plenty of other programs not in the SEC, is cutting back. They are eliminating printed media guides. Jobs in athletic departments are being cut. They still need to find a way to bring in more money.
Unlike a program like Fresno State, the Broncos have not followed an "anytime, anyplace" approach to scheduling. They have occasionally scheduled a guarantee road game over the past decade, but have not done so with any consistency. That appears to be changing as Boise State football needs the money.
[Athletic Director Gene] Bleymaier is considering a guarantee game for 2010, he said. The Broncos already have six home games next year.

"Right now, I'd go where I can make the most money," he said. "If I can play at home and make that much money, then I'm going to play at home. But it's difficult to make that much money in our stadium size. ... I've tried to avoid those (guarantee games). Now they're much more of a reality going forward."
No doubt seeing that some teams are getting close to $1 million for a single game has become too attractive for Boise State to ignore. The problem is, the Broncos are no patsy. They are not a guaranteed win for the paying program.

Unlike a Tulane, North Texas, Kent State, Eastern Michigan, FIU and the like, Boise State is in the spot of a Fresno State. A team that at worst is competitive. A team opposing coaches fear to play because they feel they are in a no-win situation.

They fear the public and media perception of the game. They are expected to beat a Boise State, so the reward for winning is not in proportion to the dangers if they lose to a team that is not a BCS conference program. No matter how good the Broncos may be.

Still, given that an increasing number of patsy schools are breaking contracts at the last minute for a bigger payday from another school, Boise State should be in a position to get decent money. At least from schools that do not want to schedule even lower with an FCS foe.

Boise State Will Go on the Road for Cash originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Chas RichWed, 17 Jun 2009 14:25:00 EST DeWayne Walker Becomes Seventh Black Head Coach in Division I Footballhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/30/dewayne-walker-becomes-seventh-black-head-coach-in-division-i-fo/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/30/dewayne-walker-becomes-seventh-black-head-coach-in-division-i-fo/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/30/dewayne-walker-becomes-seventh-black-head-coach-in-division-i-fo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

New Mexico State has hired UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker to run its football program, making him the seventh black head coach in college football's top division. Walker's hiring was a few years in the making. The journeyman coordinator arrived nationally after stopping the USC offense cold in a 13-9 UCLA victory that prevented a certain USC appearance in the 2006 BCS Championship Game.

His impact was immediate, flipping one of the nation's worst defenses into a fast and aggressive unit that played tough and could stop the run. Subsequent seasons weren't as successful, but he added chops as a recruiter, bringing in a handful of players who will likely have NFL futures like defensive tackle Brian Price and cornerback Alterraun Verner.

Walker took his time, visiting Las Cruces for a while before accepting the Aggies' offer. His departure was expected, however, and his name has popped up as a central player in this week's man drama kerfuffle between USC and UCLA.

He'll have a tough job ahead of him, reviving a long-dormant program that went 3-9 last year under Hal Mumme. Mumme ran an exciting offense but it wasn't potent enough and he ran into various legal troubles that left a bad taste in everyone's mouth.

Sadly, its still obligatory we mention the limited number of black coaches in D-I football. This year's seven are an improved but still low number. Walker joins Miami of Ohio's Mike Haywood, Ron English at Eastern Michigan and Mike Locksley at New Mexico, all hired for the 2009 seasons. Still standing are Miami Florida's Randy Shannon, Houston's Kevin Sumlin and Buffalo's Turner Gill who all appear relatively safe in their jobs although Shannon had to part ways with offensive coordinator Patrick Nix this week.

DeWayne Walker Becomes Seventh Black Head Coach in Division I Football originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>diversity isnt an old wooden shipDiversityIsntAnOldWoodenShipLas CrucesLasCrucesBrian GrummellTue, 30 Dec 2008 23:56:00 EST Bowl Season 08: Notre Dame's Golden Showerhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/28/bowlseason08-notre-dames-golden-shower/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/28/bowlseason08-notre-dames-golden-shower/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/28/bowlseason08-notre-dames-golden-shower/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


FanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

A brief moment of levity from college football's tense and exciting bowl season. Where else but the relaxed Hawaii bowl between Notre Dame and Hawaii for an announcer to compare a collision that released a flurry of gold paint from a Notre Dame players' helmet to something slightly, unintentionally inappropriate.

See the clip for yourself after the jump.


H/T: We Eat Children

Bowl Season 08: Notre Dame's Golden Shower originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 28 Dec 2008 01:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>BowlSeason08inappropriate commentsInappropriateCommentsBrian GrummellSun, 28 Dec 2008 01:34:00 EST Bowl Season '08: TCU Spoils Boise State's Perfect Season in Poinsettia Bowlhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/24/bowl-season-08-tcu-spoils-boise-states-perfect-season-in-poin/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/24/bowl-season-08-tcu-spoils-boise-states-perfect-season-in-poin/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/24/bowl-season-08-tcu-spoils-boise-states-perfect-season-in-poin/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The 12-0 Boise State Broncos came to San Diego with an eye on perfection. If they had studied history they would have known to exercise extreme caution. San Diego was where famed thoroughbred Cigar was felled after a 16-race win streak. He very nearly won the Pacific Classic at Del Mar but was passed not far from the finish line. Football teams aren't horses but they can suffer the same athletic tales of defeat.

And so it was for the previously unspoiled Broncos who held a lead for much of a tightly fought game before falling behind in the fourth quarter. At different points in the game TCU had outgained Boise nearly 3-to-1 and 2-to-1, but Boise also built a 13-0 lead before surrendering a touchdown just before halftime. TCU further carved into that, making it 13-10 in the third quarter before taking a 17-13 lead on the strength of a gamelong 278-yard ground assault marked by a ridiculous nine (!) third down conversions.

Boise State rallied to 17-16 after another field goal, but giving the ball to TCU with just over four minutes left was a bad choice as TCU chewed up over three minutes of clock to hold on. Coffee is for closers and after blowing a fourth quarter lead against Utah earlier in the year, TCU redeemed itself and got its coffee while Boise State wonders what 13-0 and several weeks of BCS complaining could have felt like.

This thing lived up to the hype, but not in a way most fans expected.

While many expected something of a shootout -- mind you between two very good defenses -- defense ruled the day. TCU did ring up over 450 yards, but did so slowly and methodically, and without much success putting points on the board. Boise State opened up on fire, then went into a shell when TCU scuttled their run game and put the entire Boise offense in the hands of capable, but young, redshirt freshman quarterback Kellen Moore.

Moore was solid, sometimes nearly spectacular in the face of constant pressure. However, when it counted with the game on the line late in the fourth quarter trailing by one point he almost immediately threw an interception to effectively end the game.

Of note, Ian Johnson did set a WAC career touchdown record with a 20-yard dash in the first quarter. That was about it for him the rest of the night, however, as TCU repeatedly stopped Johnson and his fellow backs at or behind the line of scrimmage. Boise State finished with just 20 rushing yards, freeing the TCU defense up to harass Moore all night.

As commentator Rece Davis said, neither team should hold their head in shame after this season and this game. It was entertaining and dramatic, a test of wills that went to the very last play. Both coaches, Chris Petersen and Gary Patterson, have shown once again why their names keep popping up for big openings around D-I football.

Bowl Season '08: TCU Spoils Boise State's Perfect Season in Poinsettia Bowl originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>BowlSeason08Brian GrummellWed, 24 Dec 2008 00:21:00 EST Bowl Season '08: Poinsettia Bowl LiveBloghttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/23/bowl-season-08-poinsettia-bowl-liveblog/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/23/bowl-season-08-poinsettia-bowl-liveblog/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/23/bowl-season-08-poinsettia-bowl-liveblog/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


This is the biggest non-BCS Bowl in Bowl Season '08. It is the one with national buzz and curiosity. In the abstract, writing that a battle between WAC and MWC teams, in a pre-Christmas bowl, would be one of the most anticipated bowls seems almost absurd. The reality is that this not only provides an intriguing match-up between two teams ranked in the top 11, but it is expected to be one of the most competitive and exciting of all the bowl games. A meeting between two well-coached, very good teams.

TCU's defense and Boise State's offense get the attention, but it isn't as if either team is a slouch on the other side of the ball. TCU has the 29th-best offense and Boise has the 16th-best defense in 1-A.

The game and the liveblog kickoff around 8 PM EST. Join us to talk about the game as it unfolds and the other bowl matchups for the rest of the week.

Bowl Season '08: Poinsettia Bowl LiveBlog originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Chas RichTue, 23 Dec 2008 19:47:00 EST Bowl Season '08: LiveBlog Kick-Offhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/bowl-season-08-liveblog-kick-off/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/bowl-season-08-liveblog-kick-off/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/12/20/bowl-season-08-liveblog-kick-off/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


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.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

]]>Chas RichSat, 20 Dec 2008 20:01:00 EST