Bleacher Report - Articles by Adam Rothlisberger

College Football: Heisman Sleepers to Watch Out For

Adam Rothlisberger — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:23:09 -0400

In order for any of these players to have a chance at the Heisman trophy, their teams must perform well. But each of the players listed is blessed with the ability to carry his team on his back, as well as rack up some crazy stats during the course of the year.

Most of these guys are players you have probably heard of before. I am just pointing out the fact that if their teams do well, don't be surprised if you see one or more of them in New York City as a top candidate for the Heisman.

Most of the teams they are playing for are built around them and are going into this year as sleeper teams within their respective conferences.

1. Jake Locker - 6'3", 225, QB, Washington (So.)

This guy is probably the closest thing to Tim Tebow in college right now. If he were playing for a team like Florida, he would already be in all the early season Heisman talk.

In his first year in college, he threw for 2,062 yards and 14 TDs, along with running for 986 yards and 13 TDs.

2. Zac Robinson - 6'3", 205, QB, Oklahoma St. (Jr.)

Oklahoma State is supposed to be one of the teams to watch for in the 2008-09 season. If they can find themselves near the top of the Big 12, it will be because of the play of Zac Robinson.

Last year he threw for 2,824 yards with 23 TDs and ran for 847 yards and 9 TDs.

3. Willie Tuitama - 6'3", 206, QB, Arizona (Sr.)

Arizona is another team people have their eyes on as a team that can make some upsets this year. In order for them to win against teams like USC, Oregon, Cal, and UCLA this year, Tuitama has to show great senior leadership.

Last year he threw for 3,683 and 28 TDs. He's not a dual-threat quarterback, but he is a great pocket passer. Last year Arizona was only 5-7, but they had the 10th-best passing attack in the nation.

4. Javon Ringer - 5'9", 200, RB, Michigan St. (Sr.)

Ringer means as much to Michigan State as Beanie Wells means to Ohio State. Without the production of Ringer, MSU has no shot at making a run at the Big Ten crown.

Ringer ran for 1,447 yards but only six TDs last year. I see his touchdown numbers going up dramatically this year.

If Michigan State was a well-known team, then Ringer would already be placed within the same early season discussions as running backs Beanie Wells and Knowshon Moreno.

5. Josh Freeman - 6'6", 250, QB, Kansas St. (Jr.)

This is a quarterback that showed a lot of maturation as a quarterback last year. He increased his completion percentage from 52 percent his freshman year to 63 percent this past season. He is a huge quarterback and reminds me a lot of Byron Leftwich when he was playing for Marshall.

Freeman threw for 3,353 yards and 18 TDs last year. After seeing how much he matured last year, I can see him having a really great season with numbers like 4,000 yards and 30 TDs.

If Kansas State can beat Kansas and Missouri this upcoming season, then you will see them representing the Big 12 North in the Big 12 championship. They can't do it without Freeman.

6. Nate Davis - 6'2", 217, QB, Ball State (Jr.)

Realistically, a MAC player will probably never win the Heisman. But Ball State has quite the passing attack with Nate Davis under center. Ben Roethlisberger was almost invited to the Heisman award show, so it's not impossible for a MAC player to get the invite.

Last year he threw for 3,667 yards and 30 TDs and ran for 235 yards and five TDs.

7. Justin Willis - 6'1", 210, QB, SMU (Jr.)

With new head coach June Jones, SMU will have a passing attack that I predict nobody in Conference USA will be able to defend. Now to say that June Jones will turn the team completely around in one year, after they had a 1-11 record last year, would be stupid. But at the same time, this is only Conference USA.

Willis threw for 2,944 and 25 TDs, along with 699 rushing yards with three TDs.

Now the chances of any of these players actually winning the Heisman or even being invited to the ceremony are pretty slim. But who would have predicted Missouri doing what they did last year and Chase Daniel garnering Heisman consideration? I can ask the same thing about Kansas and Todd Reesing.

This list was intended to name a few guys that I feel are great college football players who deserved to be recognized for the impact they have on their teams.

Ohio State Football: Rebuilt and Ready for a Real Run

Adam Rothlisberger — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:06:19 -0400

By now everyone knows that Ohio State hasn't had the best of luck in the last two BCS National Championship games.

They were beaten so badly by Florida that the SEC fans immediately began to claim that Ohio State couldn't compete with the big boys in college football.

And last year against LSU, the rebuilding Buckeyes found themselves in another BCS Championship game—one that they probably should not have been in.

They were beaten easily by a very good LSU football team, which again made SEC fans go absolutely crazy claiming that the Big 10 had no speed and couldn't keep up with the teams in the SEC. (Even though a few days earlier the Michigan Wolverines beat Florida...the fastest team in the SEC.)

But as much as some people are mad at the fact that the Buckeyes were in the position to win the National Championship, it's not their fault that every team above them decided to lose their last game of the year and pretty much give Ohio State a bid in the BCS National Championship.

If Ohio State makes it for a third consecutive year, nobody can say they didn't earn it. They have a much better non-conference schedule, and the Big 10 as a whole will be a much better conference to play in than it was last year.

Here is my take on how each game should go.

8/30 vs. Youngstown State

Youngstown State won't be pulling off any miracles like Appalachian State did to Michigan last year. This game is more of a scrimmage for Ohio State.

The starters will only play for about a half. Beanie Wells should pull off a few big runs here and there, and get some stats racked up for his Heisman campaign.

Youngstown State scored six on Ohio State last year, so this year I look for them to probably shut the mighty Penguins out.

Ohio State 52 - Youngstown State 0

9/6 vs. Ohio University

The Bobcats from Ohio University have a great football coach in Frank Solich, and I see them playing their hearts out in this game. However, after about a quarter of football, the talent difference between the two teams will start to set in, and Ohio State will put themselves on cruise control as soon as they take the lead.

I think Ohio will have a surprisingly great season in the MAC, but they are no match for Ohio State.

Ohio State 38 - Ohio University 7

9/13 @ USC

In what could potentially be the most hyped game in Ohio State history, the Buckeyes find themselves traveling out to the West Coast to play in what might be an all-out war.

The Trojans will be coming off a bye week and should be pretty fresh. At the same time, this could play in the Buckeyes' favor because USC quarterback Mark Sanchez will only have one game of experience before playing against the extremely talented and experienced defense of Ohio State.

I see this game being a battle in the trenches as Sanchez won't be able to figure out the defense of the Buckeyes.

This will be the game that will either make or break Beanie Wells' Heisman run, as well as make or break the Buckeyes' National Championship hopes.

In the end this game will come down to who has the better defense and who has more want to.

Ohio State 24 - USC 17

9/20 vs. Troy

This is quite an intriguing game. Troy has shown the last few years that they can compete with some powerhouse teams in college football. What could hurt Ohio State is the fact that they are coming off of a huge high after defeating USC. They could easily not show up for this game and be stunned and upset.

But Jim Tressel will not allow that to happen, and neither will the experienced team that is THE Ohio State Buckeyes. Beanie will run all over Troy. This might also be the first time that Ohio State shows a few packages that include the highly recruited freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

Ohio State 37 - Troy 10

9/27 vs. Minnesota

Minnesota might have a bright future ahead of them with their very talented dual threat quarterback Adam Weber. But on this day in Columbus, Ohio State is going to be taking no prisoners.

This is the Big 10 season opener for the Buckeyes, and they will be coming out hitting hard and moving the ball at will. Beanie should rack up pretty nice stats in this one, as well as Todd Boeckman.

Again, look to see a few more packages with Terrelle Pryor in this one.

Ohio State 49 - Minnesota 6

10/4 @ Wisconsin

This will be the toughest test of the year for Ohio State. Some may say USC will be tougher, but the crowd at Camp Randall will be roaring in this primetime matchup. I look for the fans to do a "white out" or something similar in this one to help Wisconsin pull the upset.

Wisconsin will be on a high coming off a nice victory at Michigan the week before, and they better hope they don't have a hangover. This game will be a matchup of pure power and strength.

The Wisconsin running backs will have a good game as they rotate P.J. Hill and Zach Brown. Ohio State will have a tough time handling both running backs and will probably have their worst defensive game of the year.

Beanie Wells might have to carry the team on his back and hope that James Laurinaitis can force some turnovers for the Buckeye defense. Wisconsin will be playing their hearts out, and the game could easily go either way. In the end whoever turns the ball over less will be the winner.

Ohio State 24 - Wisconsin 28

10/11 vs. Purdue

This is the time of the year that the luck of Purdue usually changes. Purdue will probably come into this game with a 4-1 or 3-2 record looking to upset Ohio State.

Curtis Painter will have crazy stats already at this point in the season and will probably throw for quite a few yards on the Ohio State zone defense. But as usual, Purdue will have trouble scoring on the Buckeyes.

Last year Ohio State won with defense and special teams. Boeckman threw three interceptions in last year's match up, so I expect the senior quarterback to redeem himself and have a great game. The play action fake will work well against the inexperienced secondary of Purdue.

This should also be a breakout game for Malcolm Jenkins at corner, as this is the first real passing threat Ohio State will face this season.

Ohio State 34 - Purdue 7

10/18 @ Michigan State

Both teams could be entering this game undefeated and ready for a war.

The 2008 Spartans could very easily be the most underestimated team in the Big 10 this year. Javon Ringer is a great running back and quarterback Brian Hoyer is set to have a great senior campaign as well.

On top of that, ex-defensive coordinator for the 2002 National Champion Ohio State team Mark Dantonio is a great head coach for the Spartans and turning them around fast. Ohio State still runs the same defense he ran with them, and if anyone knows how to beat it, this is the man.

Ultimately this game will come down to who plays the better defense once again. Ringer will shock the Buckeye defense and probably have a pretty good game. If the Michigan State offensive line can play well, there could be an upset in the making.

I look for this to be the first time that Terrelle Pryor gets a significant number of snaps and helps the Buckeye offense with a huge change of pace that fools the Spartan defense. This could be the first highlight game of his career if he can help the Buckeyes escape from being upset against a very dangerous Michigan State squad.

Ohio State 31 - Michigan State 21

10/25 vs. Penn State

In what might be JoePa's last trip to Columbus as head coach of the Nittany Lions, I look for Penn State to come out playing Ohio State pretty tough.

This will be another game for Ohio State that will have to be won in the trenches—Penn State D-line vs. Ohio State O-line.

Beanie will break through the line a few times in this game and reel off some big runs past the slow but powerful defense of Penn State. Boeckman should also put up big numbers throwing to Brian Robiskie for a few scores on the decent but highly overrated secondary of Penn State.

Defensively for Ohio State, they play an absolutely stellar game and shut down everything that Penn State throws at them. Sadly for Paterno, he will leave The Horseshoe for the last time with a beat-up and battered football team.

We will always love you JoePa.

Ohio State 30 - Penn State 10

11/8 @ Northwestern

The only way that Northwestern has a chance in this game is if Ohio State is thinking about the following week against Illinois.

Beanie runs for over 200 yards and three touchdowns in one half. This won't even be a game.

Maybe someday Northwestern will leave the Big 10 to make it a true Big 10 again.

Ohio State 49 - Northwestern 7

11/15 @ Illinois

Last year Illinois upset the No. 1 ranked Buckeyes. Can they have an upset in store again this year?

Everyone seems to be asking if Juice Williams can get it done without Rashard Mendenhall. At this point in the year Juice will have made quite a name for himself and proved he can do it without Mendenhall. But can Juice spread the defense enough to dominate like he did the year before? The answer is no.

Beanie runs wild again in this one, and the defense plays good against Juice and his option spread. Also look for the Buckeye secondary to play a good game because everyone knows the year before they looked like garbage in this game.

The Ohio State team as a whole has something to prove in this matchup and shows it from the minute the ball is kicked off.

I won't go as far as to say Ohio State dominates the game. But they will surely let Illinois know that last year won't happen again anytime soon.

Ohio State 28 - Illinois 14

11/23 vs. Michigan "THE GAME"

Everyone knows that in this game, it does not matter who is the better team. Even Michigan fans will admit Ohio State has a way better team than Michigan this year, but at the same time, no Michigan fan will say their team won't show up for this game.

Me, knowing John Cooper is long gone, I'm not all that scared that someone from Michigan will have a Tim Biakabutuka-like game.

Ohio State has Michigan beat in every phase of the game in this one, especially coaching. I've said it before and I will say it again—Rich Rodriguez does not understand exactly what this rivalry is all about, just like John Cooper didn't quite get it. Michigan made the same stupid mistake Ohio State made and hired a coach that just won't get it.

Beanie Wells has a game like he had last year against the Wolverines and seals the deal to win the Heisman. On top of that, if this isn't a wet game like last year, Robiskie will burn the slightly talented (but not really) secondary of Michigan a few times as Ohio State dominates Michigan once again.

Better days might be ahead of you Michigan...just not against The Ohio State University.

Ohio State 27 - Michigan 9

So overall I have the Buckeyes going 11-1...but can see them going anywhere from 9-3 to 12-0.

If my predictions are correct, could the 11-1 record and a win over USC be enough to give them a third straight BCS Championship game appearance? Only time will tell.

GO BUCKS!!

Cleveland Curse: Believe It Or Not, It Is Real

Adam Rothlisberger — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:33:11 -0400

If you are a Cleveland fan in either football, baseball, or basketball, and can honestly say that there is no curse hanging over the entire city of Cleveland sports:

You're in complete denial. Which is fine. But honestly—just because you don't believe there is one certainly doesn't change the fact that there actually is.

You just started watching Cleveland sports. Which, again, is fine. Welcome aboard. The first thing you need to know about Cleveland sports is our slogan: "There is always next year"

You ignore the facts. And the fact is: Cleveland is a cursed city when it comes to sports. The facts, pictures, videos, stats, anything you need to look up to prove this curse is real. They are all available.

What I'm about to do is give you pretty much the entire rundown of everything that has happened to Cleveland over the years. This is a curse that surpasses anything that Red Sox fans claim they had, or that Chicago Cubs fans still cry about. This is truly a curse that may never be broken.

1. 1954 World Series: "The Catch"

If you are a baseball fan, you have seen "The Catch" replayed on ESPN, or some other sports program. It is called by many the greatest catch to ever be made in the Major Leagues.

"The Catch" was made in the top of the eighth inning, with Indians runners on first and second. The ball was said to have been hit 450 feet straight to center field, when Willie Mays made the over the shoulder catch that prevented any runs form being scored.

The Catch set the tone for the rest of the series. It was made in Game One and the Cleveland Indians preceded to be swept by the New York Giants.

2. 1981 AFC Playoff Game: "Red Right 88"

I'm so sorry, Cleveland Browns fans—but this is just the beginning of the football side of this curse.

In 1981 the "Kardiac Kids" started off their season a lousy 3-3 but hit a hot streak and finished the season 11-5. Brian Sipe, the MVP of the 1980-1981 season, had led the Browns to all kinds of miracle wins in this awesome year.

But in the first round of the 1981 playoffs, he was unable to pull off the miracle against the Oakland Raiders. The play he called was "Red Right 88." The play was meant to be a touchdown pass. Instead, it was thrown for an interception—which put the nail in the coffin for the '80-81 Cleveland Browns.

3. 1987 AFC Championship Game: "The Drive"

I don't need to say a whole lot about this one. If you have never heard of "The Drive," then I'm not sure what you are doing on a sports site to begin with.

What happened here was Elway working some magic—something Cleveland teams do not have.

With the Browns leading 20-13, Elway and his Broncos took over on their own two-yard line with 5:32 remaining in the game. Elway led his team all the way down the field and tied the game with little time remaining. The Broncos ended up winning in overtime by a field goal.

The funny thing was that sources say that when the drive first started—on the two-yard line—Broncos offensive guard Keith Bishop said of the Browns, "We got em right where we want em."

4. 1988 AFC Championship Game: "The Fumble"

One whole year after Elway led his team the entire length of the field in "The Drive," the Browns again found themselves in the AFC championship against the Broncos.

Down 38-31 with less than a minute to play, Earnest Byner fumbled, turning the ball over on the three-yard line, giving the game to the Broncos. For the second straight year, the Browns came home after a devastating loss to the Broncos in the AFC championship game.

5. 1989 NBA Playoffs: "The Shot"

Another classic that Cleveland sports fans can't seem to forget. Jordan hit a jumper with six seconds left to give the Bulls their first lead at 99-98. Following a Cleveland timeout, Craig Ehlo inbounded the ball, received a return pass, and scored on a driving layup to retake the lead with 3.2 seconds left.

Chicago then called a timeout. I am pretty sure most Cleveland fans already knew what was about to happen next. The inbound pass came to Jordan at the foul line, where he then shot the ball, sinking it, and sending the Cavs and the whole city of Cleveland home in complete agony.

6. 1995 World Series

Cleveland had arguably the greatest lineups of all time "on paper." After years of rebuilding, the Tribe finally made the World Series after winning over 100 regular season games, and winning their division by 30 games.

The series went to six games—and the Atlanta Braves took it.

7. November 1995: Art "Satan" Modell

Cleveland Browns fans, I'm sure you love to see that name. The only thing this man did was sell your team to Baltimore. Quite possibly the worst day ever, for most Browns fans at the time.

8. 1997 World Series: "Jose F*cking Mesa"

This one hurts the most for Indians fans. Cleveland was winning 2-1 to start the bottom of the ninth inning when Jose Mesa came in to save Game Seven. He blew the save and the Indians failed to score again.

The Marlins ended up scoring in the 11th inning—sealing up the World Series.

9. 2000: Indians Can't Resign Manny Ramirez

Manny recently became the newest member of the 500 home run club, and will be remembered as one of the greatest right-handed hitters in the history of baseball.

10. 2001: Super Bowl XXXV

OUCH! Remember that team that Art Modell took to Baltimore six years ago? Well, they just won the Super Bowl.

11. 2002: Indians Can't Resign Jim Thome

Big Jim will be remembered as one of the greatest Indians of all time, but the Indians didn't offer the guy enough money to keep him around.

12. 2002: NFL Wild Card Playoff Game

So the Browns finally make the playoffs after everything they have been through over the past seven years. Their first playoff opponent? None other than the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Browns were up 24-7 at one point. With three minutes left in the game, the Browns were still up by the score of 33-21. But we all know what happens next.

The Steelers cut the score to 33-28 with a 77-yard drive. The Browns failed to run the clock out, and eventually the Steelers score again. I'm not sure rather or not Browns fans were stunned—but they were crushed again, to say the least.

13. 2004: Carlos Boozer Leaves the Cavs

Crazy to think about how the Cavs could have eventually ended up with Boozer, Lebron and "Z" all on the court at one time.

14. Drew Carey Is Hired to Replace Bob Barker on The Price Is Right

Okay, this has nothing to do with the sports curse. But it has surely made people hate Cleveland even more than they already do.

15. 2007: ALCS

This one still stings a bit so I'll make it short and sweet. The young Tribe are leading the Boston Red Sox 3-1 in the best-of-seven series. Winner goes to the World Series. I can't say I was shocked, but the Indians fell apart and lost three straight. The Red Sox went on to win the World Series.

Do you really have it all that bad Chicago? I mean, you had your run with the Bulls, and at least one team in Chicago can win the World Series.

And Boston, you seem to have ended your curse. Not only have the Red Sox now won two World Series, but you also have the Celtics in the NBA Finals, and the Patriots have cheated their way to being the best team in the NFL.

The Cleveland Curse is the worst curse in sports today, and it flies under the radar because Cleveland fans hate to admit it. Or maybe it is that we don't see any sense in crying every time something bad happens to our sports team.

After all, "there is always next year."