Girl of the Weekend

Grace Park (Boomer on Battlestar)






College Football Must See TV! These will all be very good if not great games to watch. My picks are my personal preference - who I will be rooting for to win.

Texas v. Oklahoma
My Pick: Texas

LSU v. Florida
My Pick: LSU

Tenn. v. Georgia
My Pick: Georgia

Okla St. v. Mizzou
My Pick: Okla St.

Penn St. v. Wisconsin
My Pick: Wisconsin

The Ole College Try

This is your weekly wrap-up of the college football season, told from a couple of days distance simply to let some of the stories simmer a bit and to gain a bit of perspective. I did watch quite a bit of games this weekend, although the replay and coaching issues during the Miami game may have discombobulated me for a while.

Heisman Watch (Big 12 QB edition - well except for the Defense)

Favorite - Chase Daniel - He has to be the odds on favorite now, unless he completely underperforms in a big conference game. Here is the only stat you need to see: Since he has started at QB at Missouri, they have not had a single three and out. NOT ONE! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Sleeper - Colt McCoy - Texas - Normally a Texas QB could never be considered a sleeper, but with all the talented QBs in this conference, and since Colt McCoy is no Vince Young, this is where I will slot him for now. What? McCoy is leading the Longhorns in rushing? Probably not a good sign going into the Red River Battle, but is still impressive nevertheless.

Rising - Sam Bradford - Oklahoma - 372 yards and 2 TDs in a shellacking of Baylor. His yearly totals are 1665 yards and 18 touchdowns to date. You would think that he would be hard pressed to beat his freshman year 176.52 QB rating (which I think was the highest in college last year, but I am too lazy right now to look it up), except for the fact that his sophomore rating to date is 204.97. Read that again! Impressive huh?.

Falling - Todd Reesing - Kansas - He is having a nice season, and can no longer be considered an overachiever for last season. The same cannot be said about the Jayhawks, however.

Statistical Favorite - Graham Harrell - Texas Tech - There is a reason why I called this the Graham Harrell category earlier in the year. 454 yards and 6 TDs passing (plus 1 rushing) against Kansas State. He is also now the leading passing (yards) in Texas Tech history, having passed the prolific Kliff Kingsbury. Remember, this is the team that has passed every down for the past 33 years.

Defensive Leader - Nathan Peppers DT - South Carolina - Mississippi coming off its electric win over Florida, could have thought it was going to go on a roll to make it a very interesting SEC west battle. Peppers made sure that didn't happen by scoring on a 29 yard fumble recovery in the second quarter. This is all I can come up with, as I am holding this category for LSU's Ricky Jean-Francois Jean Luc Picard Rocket Richard Martin St. Louis Vincent Lecavalier makes good on his promise to hit Tebow really hard.

Player to Watch

Demaryius Thomas - Sophomore WR - Georgia Tech - He caught 9 passes for 230 yards in the Ramblin' Wreck's 27-0 shutout over Duke. But, more importantly, HE WAS THE ONLY YELLOW JACKET WITH A RECEPTION, as QB Jaybo Shaw completed 9 of 14 passes, all 9 to Thomas. I know a lot of receivers think that they are the only legitimate target when they step on the field. Apparently Thomas was correct. Jaybo, sounds like he should be my new favorite player.

My New Favorite Player

Sean Spence - LB - Miami - The Dude is absolutely everywhere. Just everywhere. Scored a very important TD against Florida State. Spence is going to be a star. Unless, of course, Ricky Jean-Francoise makes good on his promise. Then I'll have to retire this category.



Predicted BCS Championship Game Matchup

Oklahoma v. Alabama. With the continued emergence of Charles Scott, LSU should probably be here, and I would put them here now, but I just don't want to jinx them before this weekend's game. For now, song girls at play.


Rant(s) of the Week

1. Coaches that don't know how to work the clock when down more than 1 score. Randy Shannon had approximately a 40 yard field goal on fourth down with just over 2 minutes to go down 9. His kicker has been very good this year, and has been successful from over 50. He kicks the field goal, you try to get the onside kick, and if it is successful, you have 2 minutes to score a game winning TD. Instead, Shannon goes for it, ultimately scores the TD, but then only has 15 seconds left with no timeouts to score. The onside kick was unsuccessful anyway, but even if it was successful, no legitimate chance to score a TD. A field goal in that situation gives you the chance. Antone Smith's non-fumble call on the first TD drive notwithstanding. The play was reviewed, the ball was clearly on his hip well before going down. Ugggghhhhh!

Congratulations of the Week

To Utah - the Utes beat upstart Oregon State fresh off their upset of USC. Oregon State should have had the confidence to beat Utah, but yet, they maintained their chance at a BCS bowl with a 31-28 victory to go 6-0.

Underperformance of the Week

To Wisconsin - They failed to take advantage of a clearly underwhelming Ohio State team, losing 20-17.

Trivia Question of the Week

In honor of Bradford's atronomical, QB rating, ahem, Passing Efficiency Rating, who holds the highest single season PER and the career highest PER. This is for Division IA, folks.

Last Weeks Answer

The NCAA Division 1A record for most career games rushing over 200 yards is 11, held jointly by Marcus Allen, Ricky Williams and Ron Dayne.

Matchup(s) to Watch

1. LSU v. Florida - Two top 11 teams, LSU top 5 and undefeated, Ricky Jean-Francoise throwing down the Tebow gauntlet, 8:00 p.m. start time, the Swamp, plus, I'll be there. Definitely the matchup to watch. How and why CBS passed this game for the Tennessee - Georgia tilt, I will never know.

2. Texas v. Oklahoma - So maybe LSU/Florida isn't the most important game to watch this weekend. Showdown at high noon for Big 12 South supremacy, and an inside track to the national championship game.

3. Vanderbilt v. Mississppi State - Not because both teams are great or because this is a scintillating rivalry, but simply to see if Vandy can keep up its momentum and go 6-0 overall, and more importantly 4-0 in the SEC.

Pac Man Fever (Week 5 Edition)

Here are our stats for our man man Adam Jones, the Patron Saint of this here blog. He once again led the team in tackles, with 6 against the Bengals. He did drop a sure fire interception, that could have been a touchdown, though, on a play in which Carson Palmer was incredibly pissed at Chad Javon Johnson. ("His Mama call him Clay, Imma call him Clay"). Overall Pacman is 5th on the team in tackles with 20 (for a cornerback!), and tied for first on the team with 1 fumble recovery. He is only averaging 4.7 yards per punt return, having fielded 14 punts, with 1 fair catch.

Girl of the Week

Happy Monday everybody. Here is your girl of the week: Brazilian Carol Honorio.

Picks of the Week (Week 5 Edition)

Coming off my worst week of the year to date, I am looking for a big rebound. I also apologize for no NFL recap this week, as I was in the middle of a trial for the past two days, and thus, just didn't have the time. I look to reconvene that topic next week.

Here are your picks for Week 5 of the NFL. Remember, I will be keeping a running total based upon $100/game, 10% vig on all losses, and one $250 contest per week. Coming off an OK week, but lost my big bet, so we need to bounce back, and bounce back hard.

Indianapolis Colts -3 at Houston Texans
It just seems due for the old Colts to return to the NFL. Of course, the Texans played stronger than I suspected last week.

Tennessee Titans -7 at Baltimore Ravens
Tennessee is tough, and Kerry Collins gives them a veteran presence that, well, Joe Flacco doesn't.

San Diego Chargers - 6 1/2 at Miami Dolphins
The Chargers aren't the Patriots. The Dolphins would have liked to have had this game played last week. I think they lost their momentum during the bye.

Carolina Panthers - 9 1/2 versus Kansas City Chiefs
Carolina is the offensive juggernaut that Denver is, especially with their two starting tackles out this week, but neither are they the defensive liability that Denver is. Kansas City won't be able to score enough points to cover.

Washington Redskins + 6 at Philadelphia Eagles
I made last week's bet for the Eagles not knowing Westbrook was out, this week, he'll probably play.

New York Giants -7 versus Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks welcome back some receivers, but I don't think that will matter this week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers + 3 at Denver Broncos
The Buccaneers are much more talented (really?!) than the Kansas City Chiefs, and they have a much stronger defense. I'll take the points.

San Francisco +3 versus New England Patriots
I really don't know why, but that Miami loss had to sting.

Arizona Cardinals -1 versus Buffalo Bills
This game looks like an obvious Bills pick, so I am going the opposite way because I just have a bad feeling.

Dallas Cowboys -16 1/2 versus Cincinnati Bengals
Nobody wants Ryan Fitzpatrick to succeed more than I do, it's just not going to happen this week.

Jacksonville Jaguars -4 versus Pittsburgh Steelers
The injuries may just be too much for Pittsburgh to overcome. Both defenses are stout, it's going to be which team gets, or makes, its own breaks.

New Orleans -3 versus Minnesota Vikings
Too much offense for the Vikings and Gus Frerotte.

Bye

Bye

Bye

I hate byes. We need more football!

BIG BET OF THE WEEK

Chicago Bears - 3 1/2 at Detroit Lions
Some people would think that firing Matt Millen would have a karmic effect on the Lions, but I am not quite sure that is how it works. Homerism, do me proud.


Last Week's Record: 7-6
Last Week's Big Bet: 0-1
Year to Date: 35-20-4
Big Bet Year to Date: 1-3
Winnings (Losses) for the Week: ($125)
Winnings (Losses) Year to Date: $955

The Ole College Try

This is your weekly wrap-up of the college football season, told from a couple of days distance simply to let some of the stories simmer a bit and to gain a bit of perspective. Although you may have a different take on the past weekend, I can only truly comment on games that I have seen, and I didn't get to watch that many games. Damn work.

Heisman Watch (Running Back Edition)

Favorite - Donald Brown - Connecticut - 190 yards against Louisville in a nationally televised game. He has 906 yards and 11 touchdowns in just 5 games. His lowest total of the year was against Hofstra in week 1, 146 yards, but 4 TDs.

Sleeper - Charles Scott - LSU - Not very well known, yet, but he has gained 535 yards and scored 6 TDs in only 4 games, including 141 yards and 2 TDs last week against Mississippi State. He could be the reason that LSU coach Les Miles said that his Tigers could run on anybody.

Rising - Javon Ringer - Michigan State - 897 yards and 12 TDs, including 198 and 1 TD last week against Indiana. This must have been a let down for him after putting up 282 and 201 against Florida Atlantic and Notre Dame the past two weeks.

Falling - Knowshon Moreno - Georgia - Only 9 carries for 34 yards in Georgia's loss to Alabama.

Statistical Favorite - Shun White - Navy - Since I have already mentioned the two top rushers in the NCAA, Brown and Ringer, I thought I would just honor our academies and the nations rushing leader per attempt. White averages an amazing 9.4 yards per carry.

Defensive Leader - Terrence Cody DT - Alabama - Alabama's defense deserves a ton of credit after holding Knowshon Moreno to just 34 yards (after a scintillating performance against Clemson's Davis and Spiller). Cody gets selected because the middle of the line is always where it starts, and he has 3 1/2 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to go along with his 13 tackles this year. Plus, he's from Florida.

Player to Watch

I am going to leave this open b/c this award also goes to ...

My New Favorite Player

Jacquizz Rodgers, FR. RB, Oregon State University. The freshman rushed for 186 yards and 2 TDs against the heretofore vaunted USC defense, helping lead the Beavers to its upset victory over USC. Plus, his name is Jacquizz.



Predicted BCS Championship Game Matchup

Oklahoma v. Alabama. I am becoming a believer. I don't know if LSU could even run against that Alabama defense. Still a long way to go.

Rant(s) of the Week

1. Georgia's blackout - It isn't very formidable to have blackouts, brownouts, whiteouts, etc. when the other side knows that it is coming a week in advance. I know you can't keep that type of information a secret nowadays, but don't go out of your way to publish it.

Congratulations of the Week

To Alabama - for really waking everybody up to how good they really are. Also to Oregon State for a scintillating performance against USC, and a huge upset.

Underperformance of the Week

Wake Forest - who followed up its victory over Florida State with a 24-17 defeat at the hands of Navy.

Trivia Question of the Week

In honor of Javon Ringer's performance to date, this week's trivia question is, Who holds the Division IA record for most career games rushing for over 200 yards and how many games was it? Answers next week.

Last Weeks Answer

Brodie Croyle was the former record holder for TDs and total offense at Alabama until broken by John Parker Wilson.

Matchup(s) to Watch

1. Ohio State v. Wisconsin - Boring? Yes. But an important game nonetheless.

2. Oregon v. USC - USC must bounce back to have any chance of staying in the national championship picture. Oregon could smell blood in the water.

3. Auburn v. Vanderbilt - Important SEC tilt, as Auburn already has 1 loss in Conference, while Vandy is trying to move to 5-0.

High School Football Tragedy

Throughout the country you cannot find a bigger high school football rivalry than Pahokee High School in Pahokee, Florida and Glades Central High School in Belle Glade, Florida. These neighboring towns abut Lake Okeechobee in western Palm Beach County, Florida. These towns are incredibly small, poor, rural and rely on one thing for their survival, sugarcane. In the past few decades, these towns have become known for something else, Football. That is with a capital FOOTBALL.

Each of these two schools have won multiple state championships, in different divisions, and have many alumni who have gone on the star at the college and professional levels. Pahokee is the two time defending state champion for its classification, and its notable alumni include Arizona Cardinal Anquan Boldin and current Florida State Seminole Antone Smith. Glades Central has won 6 state titles in its classification, tied for second most in Florida, and has more football players in the NFL and NCAA than any other high school in the country. Some recognizable names include former Buccaneer and Gator Reidel Anthony, NFL and Seminole receiver Jessie Hester (their current coach), current Steeler Santonio Holmes, former NFL RB James Jackson, former Dolphin safety Louis Oliver, and current Jaguar Fred Taylor. In fact, immediately prior to beginning my freshman year of college my high school played a Glades Central team that started JaJuan Seider at QB (cup of coffee in the NFL), Taylor and Jackson at RB, and Reidel Anthony at WR. We were happy at the 40-0 score in that game.

Before I get to the crux of my story, you need to understand the town dynamics. The kids on both of these teams know each other. Relatives live in each of the neighboring towns. In fact, Pahokee senior captain's Norman Griffith's mother lives in Pahokee and his father lives in Belle Glade. These two towns are that intertwined.

These two high schools play each year in "The Muck Bowl", one of those games were the pre-game starts all week, businesses close in both towns on football Friday, tens of thousands attend the game even though their aren't that many seats, and a truly great time is had by all. It should be a great game again this year as both teams are state ranked and undefeated.

On Friday evening, Pahokee had its homecoming game against Jupiter High School, and the number 1 ranked Blue Devils won 34-10. Pahokee's undefeated season is still going strong with a legitimate chance at a third straight state championship. The aforementioned Norman Griffith and some teammates went to celebrate the victory by attending a dance held at the Belle Glade Community Center. While there, according to reports, several people approached Griffith upset that he was wearing Pahokee's colors. The situation seemed ripe to escalate, so Griffith and teammate Donald Johnson decided the best thing to do was to extricate themselves from the situation. After leaving and getting in Griffith's family car, a young male walked up and shot Griffith, killing him and injuring Johnson.

Just utter and complete nonsense, as Griffith is apparently dead because he wore his school colors to a community center dance after a football game. This is heartless, tragic and utterly reprehensible. Not that anything like this matters now, but Griffith was being recruited by Division I-A schools like Iowa State, Middle Tennessee State, Ball State and Buffalo. Football was indeed Griffith's ticket. That ticket is now denied because of at least one moron who thinks that what you wear is more important than anything else.

To be fair, local authorities are investigating the shooting as gang related, at least to the point that the shooter may have been involved in a gang. A rash of gun-related incidents among young men have sprouted in Belle Glade lately, including a Glades Central player, Byron Blake, being shot in the hand just last Monday after practice. He returned fire before suffering further injuries. However, none of the reports link Griffith to any gang activity whatsoever.

A great postscript to this story could be written on Friday night, as Pahokee High School travels to Byrnes, South Carolina, to play an interstate game on ESPNU. Incidentally, Glades Central also played Byrnes, High School a couple of years ago, when ESPN was starting its high school telecasts. The Pahokee players have decided to play the game, as it does not conflict with Griffith's funeral, which will be held on October 11. To Byrne's credit, they have offered to spray paint Griffith's number 7 on the field.

I remember playing sports in my younger day, and nothing was better than to play your best while beating your rival, especially in a small town atmosphere. Where I grew up there were 2 high schools. We saw the other school/team in church, at the beach, in the store, everywhere. Never, did the rivalry escalate into gun shots. Unfortunately for Norman Griffith, this is no longer the case.

Rest In Peace Norman Griffith. I never knew you, your family or any of your friends. But I do know people like you, who have managed to strap themselves out of situations, whether it be locale, station in life, family or otherwise. It's just a shame that you never had that same opportunity.