NCAA Football FanHouse

Live Blog: Notre Dame-Navy

John Walters — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:57:00 EST

Filed under: Notre Dame, Daily Domer

SOUTH BEND, Ind -- Sunshine and Flowers. Two words not normally associated with South Bend in November are primary elements in today's game between Navy and the Fighting Irish. Outside the weather is sublime--and unseasonal--as an Indian Summer sky looms overhead with temperatures in the mid-sixties. This is the kind of weather you'd hope to have in a bowl game much less the first week of November in the Midwest.

Live Blog: Notre Dame-Navy originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

FanHouse Week 10 NCAA Football Chat

Brian Grummell — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:45:00 EST

by Brian Grummell

Filed under: General CFB Insanity

For at least one Saturday, college football's prime time doesn't carry the headliner. Instead, it's the mid-day shift featuring games between LSU and Alabama and Ohio State and Penn State. Wouldn't you know, those overlap with our weekly FanHouse Saturday chat.

Elsewhere, its a quiet weekend at first glance but 11 ranked teams are on the road, something worth monitoring. So, swing on by and join us and our writers in an ongoing discussion through the middle of the the day. Chat (3 PM Eastern) application after the jump.

FanHouse Week 10 NCAA Football Chat originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Collaros to Start, Pike Cleared to Play

Brett McMurphy — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:32:00 EST

by Brett McMurphy

Filed under: Cincinnati

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati senior quarterback Tony Pike has been cleared to play against UConn tonight, but sophomore quarterback Zach Collaros (right) will make his third consecutive start, Coach Brian Kelly said.

"Tony has been cleared to play, but we don't want to put him in a risky situation," Kelly said. "We'll really have to see how it plays out to decide when to put him in the game."

Collaros replaced Pike in the second half at South Florida on Oct. 15 and led the Bearcats to a 34-17 win against the Bulls.

Collaros to Start, Pike Cleared to Play originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Big East Picks: Tough Week for Orange

Brett McMurphy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EST

by Brett McMurphy

Filed under: Big East

Each Friday, FanHouse's Brett McMurphy will preview the Big East and make his weekly predictions.

So how was your week? Much better than Syracuse's, I hope.

Let's quickly recap the past few days for Syracuse.

Saturday afternoon, the Orange lost to Cincinnati 28-7 as the home crowd booed quarterback Greg Paulus.

Sunday morning at 5:30, four players, including star wide receiver Mike Williams, were involved in a car accident.

Monday, Williams quit the team and the other three players were suspended. That day in an emotional press conference, Syracuse coach Doug Marrone, fighting back tears, defends Paulus. The school announces that defensive end Jarred Kimmel will undergo season-ending knee surgery.

Also, the Syracuse Post-Standard reports that cornerback JohnMark Henderson left the team. Henderson was the 21st player to leave the team since Marrone was hired in December.

And then things really got interesting.

Big East Picks: Tough Week for Orange originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

All That and a Bag of Mail: Fat, Little Girlfriends Edition

Clay Travis — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:20:00 EST

Filed under: All That and a Bag of Mail

Our beaver pelt trader of the week is, be still my beating heart, my coaching crush Mike Leach. As if it weren't enough that he went on "Friday Night Lights" -- spoiler alert, I have to wait until January to watch the show because I don't have DirecTV -- after the loss to Texas A&M, Leach blamed the loss, partly, on the players' "fat little girlfriends." Given the status of bingo wings in Florida, Urban Meyer should file this excuse away. It's much better than blaming the flu for poor performances.

Not to be outdone, as reader Chris V. e-mails, "There is now a website up selling apparel at fatlittlegirlfriend.com.

Outstanding.

All That and a Bag of Mail: Fat, Little Girlfriends Edition originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ram Vela Stars as 'The Fugitive'

John Walters — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:47:00 EST

Filed under: Notre Dame, Daily Domer

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- Six months before Ram Vela's notorious sack of Evan Sharpley in the 2007 Navy-Notre Dame game, the Midshipmen linebacker was sacked himself ... by the Secret Service. At the White House.

Each spring the team that wins the Commander-in-Chief's trophy (the unofficial round-robin tourney between the Air Force Academy, Army and Navy) is invited to the White House for a reception. In the spring of 2007, Vela (No. 34 above) was a freshman who had not seen any varsity action the previous season.

"I hung near the back of the line as we approached the security gate," Vela, a 5-foot-9, 193-pound outside linebacker, recalled on Thursday. "I hadn't played so I didn't feel as much like I deserved to be up near the front. I was back with some of the higher-ranking officers, the Commandant and even the dean."

When Vela made it to the gate, a female agent looked him over and spoke into a radio, "He's here."

Ram Vela Stars as 'The Fugitive' originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Urban Meyer Fined $30,000 for Criticizing SEC Officiating

Clay Travis — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:24:00 EST

Filed under: Florida, SEC

On Friday, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive fined Urban Meyer $30,000 for criticizing the officials in the wake of the Georgia-Florida game. When questioned by the media about a non-call on a late hit against Tim Tebow, Meyer responded, "That should have been a penalty, in my opinion. Obviously, it should have been. You've got to protect quarterbacks. That's the whole purpose. It's right in front of the referee."

In announcing the penalty, Commissioner Slive stated as follows: "Coach Meyer has violated the Southeastern Conference code of ethics. SEC bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that the coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from public criticism of officials. The league's athletics directors and presidents and chancellors have made it clear that negative public comments on officiating are not acceptable."

Urban Meyer Fined $30,000 for Criticizing SEC Officiating originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When Tennessee-Alabama Became Grandpa's Game

Clay Travis — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:47:00 EST

Filed under: Alabama, Tennessee

On Oct. 24, Justin Paschall, a 13-year-old eighth grader at Southside Elementary in Lebanon, Tenn., went to his first Alabama-Tennessee football game. He traveled to Tuscaloosa with his grandfather, Ray Todd, as huge of an Alabama fan as there is in the Southland and two cousins, also Alabama fans. Justin says his first question upon being told that his grandfather had tickets for the game, his first ever Tennessee game, was, "Can I wear my orange jacket?"

Grandpa Ray Todd, Alabama born and bred and now residing in Tennessee, said that he could wear his orange, and on Friday the foursome traveled to Tuscaloosa for the game. Come Saturday, Justin woke up and took wearing orange to a whole new level.

When Tennessee-Alabama Became Grandpa's Game originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For Kansas State's Grant Gregory, Message Is Never Give Up

Terrance Harris — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:16:00 EST

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Kansas State, Big 12

The message never changes, but Kansas State quarterback Grant Gregory finds a note in his inbox every week of the college football season.

"Find a way to win."

The words of encouragement find their way to Manhattan, Kan., from hundreds of miles away in Mobile, Ala., where Grant's father, Greg Gregory, is the offensive coordinator of upstart South Alabama. But even in distance, dad seems to know exactly what his son needs to hear.

"I make sure to also put in there, there is always a way," Greg Gregory said, "your job is to find it."

For Kansas State's Grant Gregory, Message Is Never Give Up originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Big 12 Proposal Will Hurt Non-BCS Schools' Bowl Chances

Brett McMurphy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:07:00 EST

by Brett McMurphy

Filed under: General CFB Insanity, Bowl Games

The six BCS leagues already get most of the BCS bowl game slots and now there's a greater chance they'll start gobbling up all of the at-large bids to the minor bowls beginning in 2010.

Last week, the NCAA's Division I Board of Directors agreed to sponsor legislation that would treat football teams with .500 records the same as teams with winning records for bowl participation. If the legislation passes, it would allow a bowl, that has to go outside its conference affiliation to fill a spot, to select a more attractive 6-6 BCS school over a 7- or 8-win non-BCS school.

Which is exactly why the Big 12 proposed the legislation. Sources told FanHouse that the Big East and ACC support the legislation, while the other BCS leagues (Big Ten, Pac-10 and SEC) also are expected to support it.

Big 12 Proposal Will Hurt Non-BCS Schools' Bowl Chances originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

NCAA Rejects Dez Bryant's Appeal

Terrance Harris — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:33:00 EST

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Oklahoma State, Big 12

Let the Dez Bryant/NCAA debate begin.

Just or unjust? Excessive or just plain over the top?

Whatever side you fall on, the NCAA has made it's decision where Oklahoma State All-American receiver Dez Bryant is concerned. The governing body turned down the final appeal on the junior's one-year suspension for lying, likely ending his college career.

NCAA Rejects Dez Bryant's Appeal originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Slive & Gold: The Root of SEC's Troubles

Clay Travis — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: Florida, Tennessee, SEC

Last week Mike Slive, the Montgomery Burns of the SEC, threatened Lane Kiffin with a suspension and rewrote the SEC policy when it comes to commenting on officiating. All season, Slive has been besieged by officiating errors, coaches sniping at one another, and the continuing onslaught of media coverage having a brand new television contract and two top-ranked teams has brought.

Now, Slive (pictured right) is backed into a corner. Just a few days after Slive announced his new policy on officiating, Urban Meyer teed off on officiating once more, taking a shot at the non-call on a late hit that Georgia delivered to Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.

"That should have been a penalty, in my opinion," Meyer said, "Obviously, it should have been. You've got to protect quarterbacks. That's the whole purpose. It's right in front of the referee."

Slive & Gold: The Root of SEC's Troubles originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

ACC Notebook: Bowden Still Boss

Jim Henry — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

by Jim Henry

Filed under: Clemson, Duke Football, Florida State, Georgia Tech, UNC, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, ACC

It's becoming clear that Florida State's Bobby Bowden, who turn 80 on Sunday, wants to coach the Seminoles in 2010.

The feisty Bowden has tipped his hand many times since coming under fire from high-level boosters, fans and the media following a 2-4 start.

Consecutive victories over North Carolina and North Carolina State have helped quiet restless critics -- and a victory Saturday at Clemson would vault FSU into second place in the ACC Atlantic Division -- and Bowden said Wednesday he will make the final call on who replaces retiring Mickey Andrews as defensive coordinator.

However, Bowden also stressed that head coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher will make a strong contribution to the process, so don't expect a disagreement conspiracy between the pair.

ACC Notebook: Bowden Still Boss originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Midweek College Football Chat

Brian Grummell — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST

by Brian Grummell

Filed under: General CFB Insanity

In the middle of a troubled economic climate, most Americans aren't seeing green but the college football world definitely is after Oregon's complete destruction of once mighty USC Saturday night. Our daytime chat missed the wreckage but we're welcoming everyone back for a discussion of that seismic event this Thursday, starting at 2 PM Eastern. There's also this little matter of determining whether LSU is a legitimate stumbling block for suddenly shaky Alabama.

That may be the only marquee game of the weekend but overall this week eleven ranked teams will be playing on the road, an always dangerous event in the bloodthirsty fan atmosphere of college football. So please join us once again in our weekly Thursday discussion. Chat application after the jump.

Midweek College Football Chat originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Daily Domer: Pax de South Bend

John Walters — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:08:00 EST

Filed under: Notre Dame, Daily Domer

FanHouse writer John Walters is living in South Bend, Ind., during one of the most pivotal seasons in Notre Dame history. Check back daily for his dispatches on the Irish.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- When it comes to team bonding, victory is the greatest adhesive. These Irish are a tight bunch, and Charlie Weis conceded on Tuesday that "going through all those tight games at the end of the game has bonded the team even more."

The Irish have won five of their past six, and that one loss came down to one play. Or four. Or a mismanaged final 35 seconds (cue Glenn Frey's "Get Over It"). Whatever. The 6-2 record and the Alcoa "Fantastic Finishes" have certainly done more to unite this team than a trust-fall exercise. However, there is something else at work here: character at the top of the roster.

Daily Domer: Pax de South Bend originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Pickin' on the Big Ten: Let's Go Bowling

Mark Hasty — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST

by Mark HastyEvery Thursday, Pickin' on the Big Ten previews the weekend's games so Big Ten haters can get even more nervous.

I don't know if you've noticed, but the rest of the college football universe is sort of obsessed right now. They have a deep, lingering fear of Iowa winding up in the BCS Championship Game. That, to them, could only mean one of two things. The Hawkeyes could get blown out in a total snoozer. That would be bad. They could also win, which would be worse. Now what conference would they have to say is overrated? Their own?

Pickin' on the Big Ten: Let's Go Bowling originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Daily Domer: Naval Gazing

John Walters — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Notre Dame, Daily Domer

FanHouse writer John Walters is living in South Bend, Ind., during one of the most pivotal seasons in Notre Dame history. Check back daily for his dispatches on the Irish.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- While scouring the Navy roster on Wednesday afternoon, I came across the name Aaron Santiago, a sophomore slotback from Hawaii.

Santiago? The Navy? A tropical island?

"Did you order the Code Red?!?"

"You're goddamned right I did!"

As it turns out, Aaron Santiago is one of more than just a few good men on the Midshipmen roster. For example, how many other Irish opponents have a pair of high school valedictorians on their two-deep chart? Inside linebacker Tyler Simmons (54), who is second on the team in tackles with 53, was the valedictorian at Washington High School in Goldsby, Okla. Sophomore reserve right tackle John Dowd (68) also graduated No. 1 in his class from St. Peter's Boys High School in Staten Island.

Daily Domer: Naval Gazing originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Meyer Ups Spikes' Suspension to Game

FanHouse Newswire — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:17:00 EST

by FanHouse Newswire

Filed under: Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes has had his suspension for apparently trying to gouge the eyes of a Georgia running back increased to a full game.

Coach Urban Meyer says it was in the best interest of the team for Spikes to serve a full-game suspension when the top-ranked Gators play Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Meyer had faced some criticism for only suspending his All-American linebacker for only the first half the Vandy game. The Southeastern Conference accepted the original punishment.

Spikes stuck his hand into the facemask of Georgia's Washaun Ealey during Florida 41-17 victory against the Bulldogs last week. There was no penalty called at the time, but Meyer went back and looked at the play of tape and decided to punish Spikes.

Meyer Ups Spikes' Suspension to Game originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Big Ten Title Race Tightens Up

Mark Hasty — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST

by Mark Hasty

Filed under: Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Big 10

With three games left in the conference season, the Big Ten championship is seemingly up for grabs. I say "seemingly" because thus far Iowa has proved to be more resilient than Kevlar, cast iron, and Gary Busey. At this point it almost seems like the Hawkeyes could not even take the field until late in the fourth quarter and still win.

They've looked quite mortal at times, though, so it's worth looking at who still has a shot at the trip to Pasadena. There's even one team you'd think wouldn't be in it based on who they've lost to.

Big Ten Title Race Tightens Up originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.