Bleacher Report - Articles by Thomas Brown

Pac 10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football: I Knew It

Thomas Brown — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:01:27 -0400

The UCLA Bruins just stomped the Tennessee Volunteers.

What happens next?

I don't know, probably UCLA finishing 500 in the Pac-10 and Tennessee winning the SEC.

But I guess the SEC really is superior to the Pac-10.

A Tribute To The Good Guys of Bleacher Report

Thomas Brown — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:54:10 -0400

I would like to take some time out to discuss an ofttimes under-talked about topic on Bleacher Report. That is to express the gratitude we have towards our top editors, top writers, and top fans.

Among the best Bleacher Creatures I have ever seen is L.J. Burgess. He cares so deeply about the site and its best interest that he will stop nothing short of excellence to make sure it happens.

Burgess edits the controversial writers so that everyone will be happy. He encourages the young and inexperienced writers to keep writing and gives them tips so that they can eventually become stars.

Another man I would like to point out is Zander Fruend. He is constantly on the site watching for offensive comments or articles, and does what is in the best interest of the community.

I would also like to make a shout out to Senior Writer Alan Bass. He is one of the most talented writers on this site and deserves the top writer spot. He constitently puts out fantastic work and I look forward to reading a new article from him each time I turn on the computer.

All of these guys are great, and there are many more of you out there on Bleacher Report. Instead of writing about the players that play the games, I think it is important to point out the guys who let us, the Bleacher Creatures, to play our games.

What Can We Expect from LSU's Defense in 2008?

Thomas Brown — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:31:10 -0400

In the past three seasons, LSU's defense has been outstanding. Each year, they have been in the top five defensive units in the country.

This year, we can expect a bit of a drop-off. Not too significant, but some. It is hard to continually replace guys like Glenn Dorsey, Craig Steltz, and Ali Highsmith.

That being said, LSU's defensive line might be even bee tter than last year, even with the loss of Dorsey. Defensive end Tyson Jackson is going to ba star and cause havoc in offensive backfields.

As for the rest of the defensive line, Ricky Jean-Francois was developing into a star before his academics brought him down. He is back this season and ready to make an instant impact.

The linebackers seem to have some LSU fans worried, but not me. They have a returning starter in Darry Beckwith. Ali Highsmith won't be replaceable immediately, but eventually Kelvin Sheppard is going to step in and be a very similar player.

Even if Sheppard does not amount to what Highsmith was this year, he will in the future. On the opposite side, Perry Riley should be a reliable player for the Tigers.

The one point that LSU's defense is going to struggle with all year is the cornerback position. The secondary is the reason why they will not be the same defense they were for the last three years.

Jai Eugene and Chris Hawkins are both shaky as the projected starters. Both have little experience and questionable cover skills as of the spring.

They could have trouble against some of the elite wide receivers in the SEC.

In conclusion, the Tigers should have a pretty good defense, but will struggle against teams that have elite wideouts like South Carolina. Overall, the front seven should be great, and opposing running backs should be wary.

What Can We Expect from Alabama's Offense in 2008?

Thomas Brown — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:09:23 -0400

The Alabama offense was nothing to write home about in 2007. This year, I'm not so sure it will be different.

The Crimson Tide have a new offensive coordinator in Jim McElwain, who came over from Fresno State.

From watching spring practice, the Tide should throw shorter passes and run the ball more. This is good idea, considering John Parker Wilson's inaccurate play over the past couple of years.

The thing that Wilson brings to the table is experience and knowing what he's doing out there. The problem is that Wilson is nothing special. He won't hurt the team too badly, but he's not going to win games for the Tide single-handedly.

At running back, Terry Grant should be Alabama's main man, with some of the carries going to Glen Coffee. Again, there is good talent here, but nothing special. Grant could be electrifying out of the backfield in the passing game, however.

Both Grant and Coffee come with injury concerns, and that might be a problem down the road. However, it appears as if new offensive coordinator McElwain has a solid playbook, as Fresno State finished 14th in the country in rushing behind mid-major running backs.

Much like Alabama's quarterback and running backs, their wide receivers are nothing to write home about. That is, except for Julio Jones. If this superprep can step in and do the things he's capable of, he will BE the Alabama offense this year.

Both McCoy and Stover are good, solid receivers, but rarely make big plays and have little to no game-breaking ability.

Finally, the staple of a "good but not great" offense is a great offense line, which the Crimson Tide have. This O-line should be responsible for most of Alabama's success this season.

Andre Smith is the best blocker in the nation. Antoine Caldwell isn't far behind. The Crimson Tide should ride this unit's success all season long.

In conclusion, the Crimson Tide offense should be good, but not great again this season. Once Alabama can recruit a game-changing running back or quarterback, the sky is the limit. Julio Jones could become a star, if not this season then next.

Why The South Carolina Gamecocks Won't Fold Again

Thomas Brown — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:47:32 -0400

The South Carolina Gamecocks raced out to a blistering 6-1 start last year, including a road victory over the Georgia Bulldogs.

After that, the Gamecocks dropped off the table, losing their next five games to Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, and Clemson.

With the schedule set up the way it is, South Carolina looks to have similar struggles this season.

If South Carolina can beat Georgia once again, they have a very real possibility of starting out the season 7-0 before they face LSU.

Games with North Carolina State, Vanderbilt, Wofford, UAB, Ole Miss, and Kentucky should be relatively easy victories for the Gamecocks. The real test in their first seven games will clearly be the Georgia Bulldogs.

Since South Carolina is playing the Bulldogs in their third game of the season, Spurrier's quarterback controversy should be a thing of the past. He should have a solid starter by the opening snap of the Georgia game.

That paired with a great wide receiver in Kenny McKinley will lead the Bulldogs to all sorts of woes in their defensive secondary. Throw in tight end Jared Cook, and the Bulldogs are looking at a monster they are just hoping to contain.

Cook can really get out and run and catch the ball, as opposed to some tight ends in the SEC who focus mainly on blocking.

Mike Davis should be a viable threat on the ground, and I think that the South Carolina offense will cause Georgia fits in this game. Davis' strong legs and north-south power running style will wear down the Georgia defense, as opposed to some of these quick, smaller backs that do not.

The Georgia defense worries me in this game because they have good all-around players, but lack the big play-maker. Maybe Asher Allen will step up this year, but that is yet to be seen. I think the Gamecocks potentially steal one against the Bulldogs.

The second half of South Carolina's schedule is brutal. Games with LSU, Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, and Clemson round out the year. Four of these five teams, excluding Arkansas, are potential top 10 teams.

That said, I think South Carolina takes all of them but the LSU and Clemson games. Tennessee is at home, and I am not so impressed with the way things are shaping up in Gainesville. Too many injuries and too many off-the-field issues.

The reason I think that South Carolina is going to hold its own during the season half of the season this year is due to its defense. Last year, there were plenty of injuries to go around and I did not see the Gamecock defense gel.

This year, it should be a whole different story. I think South Carolina possesses one of the most explosive and dynamic defensive players in the SEC in linebacker Jasper Brinkley.

He is going to make offenses think twice before coming his way after sitting out last year with an injured knee. Eric Norwood should become one of the elite pass-rushers in the SEC this season.

For all these reasons, I believe South Carolina is going to be a team to watch for in the SEC this year. They could potentially finish the season with two losses.

Dave Wannstedt the Worst Coach Ever?

Thomas Brown — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:48:23 -0400

If Dave Wannstedt ever finds himself out of coaching, he should consider a job in the home demolition business.

In my era, I have never seen a worse coach. Anywhere he goes, he drives that football team right into the ground.

First, it was the Chicago Bears, next it was the Miami Dolphins, and now it's the Pitt Panthers.

Wannstedt boasts a whopping 13-19 record against FBS opponents since his arrival at Pitt. He has had three years of failure and the Panthers have yet to reach a bowl game under his regime.

However, prior to his arrival, Pitt had appeared in five straight bowls. Coincidence? I think not.

Everything that Wannstedt touches turns to garbage. He's got the Midas touch of sucking.

Some people might claim that Wannstedt has recruited well for the Panthers over his coaching regime, and that he has really built the program. I say, who cares if you can't win football games?

Wannstedt needs to have a bowl appearance this year, or he should be fired—even though he should have been fired a long time ago.

Since riding Jimmy Johnson's coat tails, Wannstedt has done nothing but bring pain to his fanbases.

This year doesn't look good for the Panthers either. Yes, they have McCoy. Yes, they are not decimated by injury as they were last season. But Wannstedt will find a way to lose. He's just that type of guy.

My Experiences With Ohio State Football

Thomas Brown — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:50:41 -0400

Most years, I go to the Ohio State-Michigan game by myself. I love to soak up the atmosphere before and after the game, just to live the college life all over again.

I especially love going to the bars after the game, particularily in Columbus.

Let me share with you some stories that I have encountered over the years of partying in Columbus.

A few years back, Michigan had just beaten the Buckeyes, and two Ohio State alums were yelling in a bar and I asked them why they were celebrating. The smart one said proudly that they had just finished a jigsaw puzzle and it only took them two months. “Two months?!” I exclaimed. The Buckeye proudly replied, “Yeah, the box said 4-6 years!”

Later that night, I went up to a kid at the bar dressed in all Ohio State gear. I asked, “Wanna hear a Buckeye joke?” The kid replies, “Well, before you tell that joke, you should know something. I am 6′ tall, 200 lbs. and I am an Ohio State student. The guy sitting next to me is 6′2″, 225 lbs., and he is an Ohio State graduate. The guy right next to him is 6′5″, 250lbs., and he is also an Ohio State graduate. Now, you still wanna tell me that joke?” And to him I replied, “No, not if I’m going to have to explain it three times.”

One year, way back, a Buckeye football player was killed in a tragic horse back riding accident. He fell from the horse and was trampled to death. Unfortunately, the manager of the Wal-Mart came out and unplugged the horse too late.

I happened to go to that young man's funeral. It was a sad day. On the gravestone it read: “Here lies an OSU graduate and a good man.” I could hear some whispering in the background—and the father was in clear turmoil. The father stood up and asked, "Gravekeeper, why did they bury two people in there?”

Why the Clemson Tigers Won't Be Top 10 By Season's End

Thomas Brown — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:55:00 -0400

1. Tommy Bowden is going to potentially start three freshman on his offensive line this season. The ACC produces prolific pass rushers, and this year should be no different. They are going to get run through like Jerome Bettis trying to be tackled by a plastic McDonald's cup. Like a anorexic, ballemic prostitute trying to lay a Sumo Wrestler. Here is an example of what an ACC defensive lineman will do to a petrified true freshman:

2. Just like most football teams nowadays, the Clemson Tigers have had issues with some of their players being in trouble with the law. We all know college football players are no good thugs who entertain us on weekends. DeAndre McDaniel has assult and battery charges against him. According to the Charleston Post and Courier, McDaniel will go on Pardon the Interruption television show, "to deal with his frustration without pounding on someone." Nothing like a lost cause...

3. Julio Jones. He is going to tear the Tigers apart in the season opener and leave Clemson wondering what could have been. That's what she said. It's all a landslide of a season from there.

Why I might be wrong:

1. C.J. Spiller and James Davis are going to be the most prolific rushing backs since Ronny B. and Cadillac W. back in 2004. Both of them are going over four digits rushing. They can't be called Thunder and Lightning, but I will call them Tank Truck and Boner Biter. They run through defenses like bullets penetrate plexiglass.

2. Cullen Harper is a good quarterback unfortunately. He is a man of a man and will show all of it on the field. Potential Heisman hopeful if the Tigers can pull out some wins, which I hope they don't so I can be right about them.

Getting to Know Gus Hansen

Thomas Brown — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:27:18 -0400

Gus Hansen first started out as a witty, athletic young man in Denmark's capital city, Copenhagen. The Copenhagen Conman excelled at soccer and tennis before he discover the battleiforous game of Backgammon in high school. No doubt he was a better athlete than Michael Phelps.

He loved backgammon so much, even more than Romeo loved Juliet. Juliet loved Romeo more than Gus loved backgammon, however.

Anyways, Hansen turned a professional backgammon player once he exited the tumultuous years that we so fondly name high school.

Finally, Gus moved to Santa Cruz, California, most likely for the ganja. High as a kite, he would play games with Californians from all across the world. Hansen knew little of the English language, so he had to rely on players emotions to tell him what was going on.

Interestingly enough, I think I saw Hansen once before he was famous in one of those casinos. Hansen learned from skilled players such as myself, before he was deported back to Denmark.

He was required to serve a year in the Denmark national guard. He did not do it because it was required, however, he did it because he was told to do so. Hansen truly is a great man and a Denmarkian national hero.

His career is one of growth: in the 1996 World Series of Poker, he was knocked out early. He was almost as quick to get out as I was last night.

Gus' greatest accomplishment is winning the 2007 Aussie Million Main Event, which was a 1.5 million dollar pay-day.

Hansen has become known around the poker world as a player to watch out for. He plays as loose as a prostitute, but calculates his odds like a pot dealer. He entertains like a stripper and gets paid like an executive.

One other key to his success might be his uncanny resemblance to a chipmunk.

He is truly one of the great poker players of our era.

Why The Miami Hurricanes Will Never Be Good Again

Thomas Brown — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:42:01 -0400

Over the past couple of years, the Miami Hurricanes' football program has rolled downhill faster than a Lena Horne clone bobsledding naked in the Candian Olympics.

Brian Pata was killed. Miami had their on-the-field skirmish with Florida International. Sean Taylor was murdered in, what once was rumored to be, a drug-related incident. Too many off the field incidents to discuss.

Now Randy Shannon is in and Larry Coker is out. And nothing could be worse for the Miami football team. Shannon is as loose as a hooker with his players, and obviously when you already recruit convicts, you're going to have a problem there.

Not to mention the terrible recruiting job, signing over ten players from one high school, Miami Northwest. That is ridiculous. When Coker had Miami as contenders, they recruited nationally. If they ever want to become the Miami of old, they need to recruit nationally, not from just one high school.

USF and UCF are on the rise within their own state, and that is the cause for some recruiting battles they would have never had before.

They have just restarted the annual rivalry with Florida. So they have automatically added another loss to their record each year.

Miami is now a middle-tier team in a middle-tier conference.

The future is bleak for Miami football. Shannon is a terrible coach and moving the Hurricanes in the wrong direction.

The athletic facilities at Miami are falling behind the times when compared to the rest of the country. Even teams not in the top 25 have a nicer weight room than Miami. Shannon has complained that they are not a state school, and that Miami's biggest donors focus on academics when pushing their money.

Jarvarris James is even been quoted as saying, "My job is to make sure Cooper knows enough to beat me out, but I've also got to be the best that I can be to keep Cooper on the bench.' That's the mentality we need to have.

In turn, if we've got two guys that are equal we're going to wear people down. That's how it's SUPPOSED to be! It shouldn't be a deal where, 'I'm the starter, I'm not worried about anybody. This is my spot.' That ain't Miami!"

If this is the team atmosphere that is being promoted by coach Shannon, that is terrible. It is great to have players competing for positions, but under this philosophy, there is animosity.

There is a dark road ahead for the Hurricanes.

Thanks for reading.

Bolt To Phelps: I Am Better Than You

Thomas Brown — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:14:38 -0400

There are one thousand reasons why Usain Bolt is better than Michael Phelps.

Firstly, the names.

You know Bolt just sprung up out of the heart of a Civil War genocide hungry and starving as an orphan in the middle of Africa. It's not hard to tell that by his name. By the time Bolt was a three-year-old, he was running from the cheetahs to not be eaten alive; and that's why Bolt is so damn fast. That's what she said. But anyways, that is Bolt's story.

Let's move to Michael Phelps. His name clearly tells me that he is a suburban white kid who probably went swimming in his country club's pool at the age of four. By the time he was six, his parents were paying a swim instructor $200-a-hour to teach Michael to swim. Michael lived a life of privledge, and probably sipped on margaritas during the summertime.

Bolt said after his stellar 200 meter performance that, "I just blew my mind. I blew the world's mind."

When you can blow yourself, you know you are talented. He also took the rest of the world on a joy ride to bliss.

I have heard nothing of Phelp's sexual escapades during the Olympics, nor anytime before. I try to find Phelp's girlfriend, but she is nowhere to be found. Even Amanda Beard when addressed with the question of if she was Michael's girlfriend said: "Ew."

I have sneaking suspicions as to why Phelps does not have a girlfriend, none of them not being that he is a homosexual. I know Bolt is seeing someone, because he can blow even his own mind by himself. He has nothing to worry about.

Bolt wins everything, just like Michael. The only difference is that there are actual athletes competing in the track and field events at the Olympics. There's a reason why more countries can compete in track and field: you can run anywhere in the world.

To train for swimming you ask? Basically only Europe and the United States. Also, how many track events can you run? Never eight. I think your record is safe, Mike. Congratulations on playing a sport that has the 100 meter backstroke, 110 meter backstroke, 120 meter backstroke, 100 meter free style, 114 meter butterfly all counting as different medals. Great job out there.

Bolt is also flashy, and never even comes close to losing. Why do we say Phelps is even better because he won in a variety of ways: close finishes, run-away victories, as a team, individual? Bolt just goes out there and kills everyone, possibly a trait learned from the genocide in his country.

Bolt showboats. He knows hes the best, and he wants to show the world. He wears gold shoes, just like Michael Johnson. He doesn't cheat and wear a more wind-resistant suit than previous winners. Michael Phelps does. If Spitz were wearing Michael's suit, he would beat him right now. In Spitz's prime, he would have been finished before Michael touched the first wall.

Bolt is the King. And he will be forever in the history of Bejing's 2008 Olympics.

With God on Their Side, Notre Dame Will Always Be the King of College Football

Thomas Brown — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:14:02 -0400

The world has always hated Notre Dame. If you are amongst those people, I would run for cover.

Even the Bible supports Notre Dame football. Exodus 22:20 states: "He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed."

The Lord in this case, is Touchdown Jesus. Maybe that's why they've won 76 out of 110 games in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus since 1990.

In 1909, Notre Dame slaughtered Michigan, and the Wolverines refused to play the Fighting Irish for 33 years. John 7:37 says that, "Jesus stood up and shouted, "If you are thirsty, come to me and drink! Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you."

The Fighting Irish have been drinking God's water on the sidelines for centuries of football games.

In the 1913 game against Army, Notre Dame slew the Black Knights using the power of God himself. The press would later say, "In an afternoon, the university had acquired intense emotional commitments from a whole generation of Catholic working-class supporters and defenders that would endure for years."

Notre Dame does not just have the power of God working for them: They have the power of the people.

What the general American public believes in is correct—and that is why Notre Dame football is on national television. Even when they play the Duke Blue Devils, there is national coverage of the game.

This is despite the fact that John 8:44 tells them to kill all members of the Duke team: "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

And Notre Dame fans want to win. I remember before the national championship game in 1989, my neighbor, a longtime fan and alumni of Notre Dame, sacrificed his family dog before the game.

The LORD demands it, and Notre Dame alumni shall obey: "Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will point out to you."

Exodus 21:20 also states that: "When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property."

This probably explains why Notre Dame holds a 73 percent winning percentage against the SEC since 1920.

Pac-10 Week One Predictions: Pac-10 Rolls

Thomas Brown — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:30:08 -0400

Thursday, August 28

9:00 PM Oregon State at Stanford

Again, look for the Beavers to be a silent killer in the Pac-10. They never get respect and always have quality seasons. Also, I have a sneaking suspicion something is wrong with Stanford WR Sherman.

Saturday, August 30

3:30 PM #3 USC at Virginia

The #1 Trojans will have a much easier time than people expect, with or without QB Sanchez. Trojans by 40.

3:30 PM Oklahoma State at Washington State

Oklahoma State QB Robinson will just be too much for the futile Cougar defense.

8:00 PM Michigan State at California

Best should emerge as one of the elite tailbacks in the nation and run all over the Spartans.

10:00 PM Northern Arizona at #15 Arizona State

Just a tuneup game before they slay the Bulldogs.

10:00 PM Washington at #21 Oregon

The Ducks will bring some firepower on offense after losing Dixon from last year. The start of a miserable year for the Huskies.

10:00 PM Idaho at Arizona

Arizona's first game on the road to starting the season 6-0. A game similar to last year's Idaho-USC game.

Monday, September 1

8:00 PM #18 Tennessee at UCLA

The Vols will head into California once again and get destroyed. UCLA should be a middle-tier Pac-10 team this year, but then again, so was California last year.

Why Fresno State's Tough Scheduling Ultimately Hurts the Bulldogs

Thomas Brown — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:24:46 -0400

I've written many opinionated pieces on the weak non-conference scheduling of the SEC. However, in all reality, it makes perfect sense to schedule cupcakes.

A mid-major team like Fresno State should never schedule a top-tier BCS program in their non-conference schedule because it does more harm than help.

When you have the philosophy that you will take on anyone, it hurts you. If you schedule three BCS teams in the non-conference per year, you are bound to lose one.

In 2002, Fresno State played tough non-conference games against Wisconsin, Oregon, Oregon State, and No. 21 Colorado State. They lost three out of four (they beat Colorado State) of those games. They were a solid team in 2002, showing that by beating Georgia Tech in the Silicon Valley Bowl.

Although they were worthy of a quality season, they finished 9-5. That record would have been much better had they scheduled some mid-majors in there.

In 2003, the non-conference schedule got even tougher. The Bulldogs scheduled No. 7 Tennessee, Oregon State, No. 3 Oklahoma, and Colorado State. They managed to beat the Beavers by two but lost the rest of their games. Despite beating UCLA in their bowl game, their record was again 9-5.

2004 is the best example of how a tough non-conference schedule kills you, even if you win the games. Fresno State scheduled Washington (won 25-16) and No. 14 Kansas State (won 45-21) in the first two games of the season. Following those two games, there were letdowns in consecutive weeks at Louisiana Tech, home against UTEP, and at No. 16 Boise State.

Playing tough non-conference foes in the preseason forces you to play with banged-up players in the games that really count. The Bulldogs had their best team in 2004, but their 9-3 final record didn't truly reflect that due to poor non-conference scheduling in the preseason. The Bulldogs showed their prowess by beating No. 23 Virginia (8-4), 37-34, in the MPC Computers Bowl.

It was a shame that Pat Hill wasted all his talent by scheduling tough preseason games, because his 2004 squad could clearly play with the best of them.

2005 was almost an exact copy of what happened to the Bulldogs in 2004. Although the preseason was easier with Weber State, Oregon, and Toledo, a tough non-conference game again blemished the Bulldogs' record. A late-season battle with No. 1 USC in Los Angeles again killed Fresno State's lineup and caused them to collapse down the stretch, losing their next three games to Nevada, Louisiana Tech, and Tulsa.

A team that takes No. 1 USC down to the wire, losing 50-42, should not be losing to these types of teams.

Again in 2007, Fresno State scheduled a nearly impossible non-conference schedule and paid for it by losing its games. Included in that schedule were No. 23 Texas A&M and No. 19 Oregon. The Bulldogs lost both games, plus two in conference, to finish the season 9-4.

This year is more of the same, as the Bulldogs have scheduled powers Rutgers, No. 13 Wisconsin, and UCLA as a part of their non-conference schedule. Again, it will probably prove deadly.

It's a shame that Pat Hill won't loosen up a bit and schedule some cupcakes in his non-conference schedule. Instead of being a mediocre eight- and nine-win team year in and year out, the Bulldogs would find themselves with 11 or 12 wins each year, placing them among the nation's best.

In this case, you don't have to beat the best to be the best. Just ask Hawaii.

SEC Week One Predictions: Alabama, UCLA Primed for Upsets

Thomas Brown — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:03:02 -0400

Thursday, Aug. 28

7:30 p.m.—Vanderbilt at Miami (OH)

Miami (OH) has a promising starting quarterback in Clay Belton, and its defense is anchored by three linebackers on the Dick Butkus watch list. Vanderbilt quarterback Mackenzi Adams should be shaky at best, especially with the offseason loss of wideout Earl Bennett to the NFL.

8:00 p.m.—North Carolina State at South Carolina

The South Carolina offense will have a solid game, and the South Carolina defense will stiffle the unexciting North Carolina State offense.

Saturday, Aug. 30

12:30 p.m.—Georgia Southern at No. 1 Georgia

Georgia Southern is good, but Georgia is better.

12:30 p.m.—Hawaii at No. 5 Florida

Hawaii has fallen off quite a bit from a season ago. Even so, we all saw what happened in the Warriors' Sugar Bowl matchup with Georgia.

5:00 p.m.—Appalachian State at No. 7 LSU

As much as I hate to say it, LSU is going to be too much for Appalachian State to handle. In my opinion, coach Lloyd Carr took the game way too lightly last year with Michigan and had the Wolverines wholly unprepared. Les Miles is not going to let that happen.

6:45 p.m.—Mississippi State at Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech be a middle-tier WAC team this year. Mississippi State will just put better players on the field and win off athleticism (if that's possible to say with MSU).

7:00 p.m.—Louisiana-Monroe at No. 10 Auburn

Auburn's going to have a strong team this year, especially in the front-seven of the defense. I don't think they're going to pull an Alabama. Louisiana-Monroe won't run through Auburn like butter like they did with Alabama.

7:00 p.m.—Western Illinois at Arkansas

I don't even know why this game is being played.

7:00 p.m.—Memphis at Mississippi

This should be a close matchup, but I think that Ole Miss' running game will ultimately be the difference. Memphis could potentially make this an upset game. This is one pick I am uncertain of.

8:00 p.m.—No. 24 Alabama at No. 9 Clemson

Alabama will win this game for two reasons: Clemson is overrated and Alabama is underrated. I believe that Julio Jones will be this year's Michael Crabtree. Watching the Alabama scrimmages, he is simply the best player on the field as a freshman.

Sunday, Aug. 31

3:30 p.m.—Kentucky at Louisville

Kentucky will beat a struggling Louisville team. Louisville's defense was atrocious last year and might continue a similar trend this season. Maybe it will line up correctly this year.

Monday, Sept. 1

8:00 p.m.—No. 18 Tennessee at UCLA

The Vols will head into California once again and get their asses handed to them. UCLA should be a middle-tier Pac-10 team this year, but, then again, so was California last year.

How Would The Auburn Tigers Have Fared Against The USC Trojans in 2004?

Thomas Brown — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:22:38 -0400

I thought it would be interesting to take look at how the 2004 Auburn Tigers would have fared against the 2004 USC Trojans. Many fans to this day believe that Auburn should have been playing for the national title that year.

Let's take a look at some of the games that Auburn played that make me question whether Auburn would have put a game together had they played USC in 2004.

The first one that jumps out at me is the 10-9 win over LSU in Week Three. I am not saying by any means that LSU was a bad team that year, but LSU finished the year 16th in the AP final poll.

LSU needed somewhat of a miraculous finish against Oregon State at home in overtime against the Oregon State Beavers. USC only won their game against Oregon State 28-20, but the weather was foggy and cold in Corvallis on that night, advantage Beavers.

Another thing that jumped out at me from the 2004 LSU team was that they lost in all of their big games (minus Florida). They played four ranked opponents all year: Auburn, Florida, Georgia, and Iowa. Georgia beat the Tigers 45-16. Iowa beat LSU 30-25 in a Bowl game. And of course, Auburn beat them 10-9.

Auburn also had impressive wins over Georgia and Tennessee (twice) in 2004. Tennessee was a strong team all year minus the slip at Neyland Stadium to the Fighting Irish 17-13. Georgia was also impressive, only losing to Auburn and Tennessee that year.

The thing that makes it hard to think that Auburn would have played USC tough in 2004 was the sheer power of that offense. The Trojans would just annihilate teams.

Only five teams came within 30 points of winning the game in 2004 (Virginia Tech, Stanford, California, Oregon State, and UCLA).

Auburn beat Virginia Tech 16-13 in their Bowl game while USC beat that same team 24-13 in Week One. It should be mentioned that Virginia Tech scored 13 points in the fourth quarter however.

I think that Auburn would have put up a game in the first half while USC pulled out a touchdown or two lead in the second half to win the game.

I think if they played each other for the national championship 10 times in 2004, Auburn would have won twice.

I'm Back: Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football (Part Three)

Thomas Brown — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:40:00 -0400

2004
Auburn	10	2	u
Cal	16	9	u
Arizona State	nr	19	u
USC	1	1
Tennessee	13	13
Oregon	23	nr	d
Georgia	3	7	d
LSU	4	16	d
Florida	14	nr	d

2003
Washington State	nr	9	u
Ole Miss	nr	13	u
LSU	14	2	u
USC	11	1	u
Georgia	10	7	u
Florida	23	24	d*
Tennessee	13	15	d*
Alabama	23	nr	d
Washington	12	nr	d
Auburn	5	nr	d

2002
Alabama	23	11	u
USC	18	4	u
Auburn	nr	14	u
Georgia	9	3	u
Washington State	14	10	u
LSU	15	nr	d
Oregon	13	nr	d
Washington	12	nr	d
Florida	6	nr	d
Tennessee	5	nr	d

When you take a close look at these polls, it becomes clear that SEC is overrated every year in the pre-season polls. If you disregard teams which only moved 3 positions or less (the teams with *’s), you come out with the following:

SEC teams have risen from their pre-season poll position 12 times. They have fallen 15 times.

Pac-10 teams have risen from their pre-season poll position 12 times. They have fallen 9 times.

When you start the season in the Top 10, you expect great things from that team that year. A pre-season Top 10 SEC team has failed to finish in the Top 25 four times since 2002. Tennessee and Florida started 2002 as the No. 5 and 6 teams in the country, respectively.

Auburn entered 2003 at No. 5, and Tennessee entered 2005 as No. 3. All of these teams finished unranked by the end of the season. That has never happened to a Pac-10 school.

This should make you raise your eyebrows, SEC fans. Why do so many pre-season Top 10 SEC teams fall completely off the radars into miserable seasons?

The answer is that SEC teams are vastly overrated by the media and so they crash and burn once they put on their helmets.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Pac-10 teams are vastly underrated to start the season. A Pac-10 school has started the season unranked and finished in the Top 25 a whopping eight times since 2003. The SEC has had three teams accomplish that same feat since 2002.

The bottom line is that if the media sees any SEC team with any talent whatsoever, they will be in the pre-season Top 25. This is why so many SEC schools crash and burn after receiving high pre-season rankings, and it is also why so few SEC schools jump from not being ranked to being in the Top 25 by season’s end.

On to Part 4.

I'm Back: Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football, Part 12

Thomas Brown — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:45:00 -0400

Now let me read your mind, SEC fans—you’re going to tell me, “Well, this is only at the skill positions, and what really kills teams is that speed on defense, especially at defensive end. That’s what killed Ohio State.”

Well, I have some poison for your eyes. Here are the results for the 40 times out of high school for starting defensive ends in both the Pac-10 and the SEC.

RE	40 Time	LE	40 Time
Bequette	4.85	Davis	4.50
Goggans	4.63	Coleman	4.88
Dunlap	4.60	Cunningham	4.90
Deaderick	5.00	Greenwood	4.80
Jarmon	4.85	Jenkins	4.70
Battle	4.70	Lomax	4.65
Matthews	4.70	Lindsey	4.70
Tillman	4.65	Lockett	4.80
Brown	4.85	Ayers	4.68
Stewart	4.69	Stone	4.80
Jackson	4.80	Pittman	4.60
Cooper	4.80	Bailey	4.90
AVERAGE	4.76	AVERAGE	4.74


RE	Time	LE	40 Time
Davis	4.90	Vasquez	4.89
Davis	4.70	Alualu	4.70
Bosworth	4.75	Blake	4.80
Griffen	4.56	Moore	4.73
??		??
Mattingly	4.90	Mullennix	4.65
Udofia	4.75	Egboh	4.80
Butler	4.60	Norris	4.53
Elmore	4.70	Reed	4.75
Reed	4.60	Tukuafu	4.85
AVERAGE	4.72	AVERAGE	4.74

Both SEC left ends and right ends are slower than Pac-10 in terms of average for the entire conference. When it comes down to it, the Pac-10 is simply a faster league.

Go ahead, SEC fans, shower me with opinions and bias—but I just presented you with the facts.

The truth is that your league is inferior to the Pac-10 in every way. I’ve heard it all, but hopefully I have shut all of you up once and for all.

I would appreciate if you wrote an article as a response. I do not want to read some comment that took you five seconds to write with no facts in response to this article.

This is the best article that will ever be written on Bleacher Report: Treat it that way.

I'm Back: Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football (Part Eleven)

Thomas Brown — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:43:00 -0400

Now let’s move on to receivers. I compared the top two wide receivers on each Pac-10 and SEC school’s depth chart and sorted them by speed.

SEC Team	WR	40 Time
Alabama	McCoy	4.40
Ole Miss	Wallace	4.40
Alabama	Jones	4.40
Georgia	Massaquoi	4.43
Tennessee	Jones	4.47
South Carolina	LeCorn	4.48
Vanderbilt	Walker	4.49
Arkansas	Crawford	4.50
LSU	Byrd	4.50
Arkansas	Wade	4.50
Auburn	Swinton	4.50
Georgia	Harris	4.50
LSU	LaFell	4.50
Mississippi State	Riley	4.50
South Carolina	McKinley	4.53
Florida	Murphy	4.54
Auburn	Smith	4.55
Vanderbilt	Graham	4.58
Mississippi State	Smith	4.60
Florida	Cooper	4.65
Ole Miss	Hodge	4.69
Kentucky	Lanxter	4.70
Tennessee	Taylor	4.71
Kentucky	Lyons, Jr.	4.75

AVERAGE = 4.54 SECONDS

Pac-10 Team	WR	40 Time
Oregon	Holland	4.35
UCLA	Everett	4.40
USC	Hazelton	4.40
Oregon State	Stroughter	4.40
Stanford	Baldwin	4.40
Oregon State	Catchings	4.40
UCLA	Johnson	4.45
Washington State	Gibson	4.46
California	Calvin	4.49
California	Ross	4.50
Washington	Goodwin	4.50
Arizona	Turner	4.50
Oregon	Williams	4.50
Arizona	Reese	4.50
Washington State	Anderson	4.55
USC	Turner	4.55
Stanford	Sherman	4.56
Arizona State	Jones	4.60
Arizona State	McGaha	4.60
Washington	Logan	4.70

AVERAGE = 4.49 SECONDS

Again, the Pac-10 again is faster at the wide receiver position. In fact, their 4.49 average is the exact same as the NFL Combine results above.

The SEC’s 4.54 second average is the same as the NFL Combine results above as well. This might indicate that the NFL Combine results actually are representative of the speed in the league.

Let’s take a look at the wide receivers breakdown graphically.

Again, the Pac-10 possesses more speed at the top of the elite. However, unlike the running backs, the Pac-10 wide receivers do not fall off. Pac-10 receivers are faster at the top (top 15 wide receivers in terms of speed) and remain equal with SEC receivers in the middle-bottom tier of receivers in terms of speed (the 15-25 positions).

On to Part 12.

I'm Back: Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football (Part Ten)

Thomas Brown — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:42:00 -0400

The top four running backs in the Pac-10 are faster than the top four in the SEC. From that point, there is a big drop off in the Pac-10 by a tenth of a second. The SEC gradually continues upwards at a consistent pace.

We can gather that the Pac-10 has better speed in its elite backs, but the SEC has pretty good speed at every team.

However, it should be noted that the two worst running backs in the SEC in terms of speed (LSU’s Scott and Mississippi State’s Dixon) are slower than the Pac-10’s two worst (Arizona’s Grigsby and Oregon’s Johnson).

On to Part 11.

I'm Back: Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football (Part Nine)

Thomas Brown — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:42:00 -0400

Next, let’s compare cornerback speed in each conference.

SEC CB	40 Time	Pac-10 CB	40 Time
Castille, Alabama	4.7	Cason, Arizona	4.49
Jackson, LSU	4.58	Fontenot, Arizona	4.49
Richardson, Arkansas	4.7	Thomas, USC	4.49
Wilhite, Auburn	4.38	Nelson, Oregon	4.48
Zenon, LSU	4.56	Frampton, Washington State	4.54
Houston, Arkansas	4.32	Piscitelli, OSU	4.47
Irons, Auburn	4.44	Brackenridge, Washington State	4.58
Bennett, South Carolina	4.46
Smith, Florida	4.51
McBride, Ole Miss	4.58
AVERAGE	4.53	AVERAGE	4.51

Once again, the Pac-10 has faster players than the SEC.

I have proven that Pac-10 players generally have more speed that SEC players that are considered in the NFL draft over the past two years.

I know exactly what comes next from an SEC fan’s mouth: that’s not a fair judge of speed, because you are only comparing the most elite players from each conference.

The reason I chose to compare the two’s NFL Combine results was because we know it is accurate. However, if SEC fans want to know who is faster this year, the only reliable source is Rivals.com or Scout.com combines out of high school. To say that is reliable is a joke. Kids lie about their 40 time all the time on those sites.

But if SEC fans are going to make the argument that their conference is faster from top to bottom, let’s take a crack at it. I am going to compare the projected starting running backs for this season’s 40 time out of high school for each school in each conference.

I am aware that schools develop talent and speed in the weight room. However, there is no quantitative method to measure speed other than player’s 40 times out of high school. In all reality, they cannot change by that much.

I know I will hear a story from someone who heard of a player going from a 4.7 to a 4.4, but the reality of the situation is that it does not happen that often. When you are that fast coming out of high school, you generally can only decrease your time by a tenth or two at the most.

On to Part 10.

I'm Back: Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football (Part Eight)

Thomas Brown — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:41:00 -0400

Another thing I am tired of hearing about is how fast the SEC is. I have some news for you: the Pac-10 is faster. You guys just probably miss all the action because you are too drunk from your tailgating. Let me hit you with some stats.

The following is a table from the past two NFL Combines (2007 and 2008). It includes every Pac-10 and SEC running back that chose to run a 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine.

SEC RB	40 Time	Pac-10 RB	40 Time
Jones, Arkansas	4.47	Bernard, OSU	4.83
Boyd, South Carolina	4.51	Stewart, Oregon	4.48
Brown, Georgia	4.55	Torain, ASU	4.64
Green-Ellis, Ole Miss	4.63	Henry, Arizona	4.4
Lumpkin, Georgia	4.64	Lynch, Cal	4.46
McFadden, Arkansas	4.33
Stewart, Auburn	4.69
Anderson, Tennessee	4.69
Wynn, Florida	4.48
Darby, Alabama	4.64
Irons, Auburn	4.45
AVG	4.553	AVG	4.562

As you can see, the SEC’s runningbacks averaged only slightly faster times than their Pac-10 counterparts. If not for McFadden’s 4.33, the SEC’s average would be much higher. What you can gather from this chart is that the Pac-10 and SEC running backs have similar speed.

Next, let’s take a look at how the Pac-10 and SEC wide receivers' times compare to one another.

SEC WR	40 Time	Pac-10 WR	40 Time
Bennett, Vanderbilt	4.48	Bradford, Stanford	4.69
Burton, Kentucky	4.43	Breazell, UCLA	4.47
Caldwell, Florida	4.37	Hawkins, Cal	4.56
Hall, Alabama	4.55	Jackson, Cal	4.35
Johnson, Kentucky	4.57	Hill, Washington State	4.32
Monk, Arkansas	4.57	Smith, USC	4.44
Taylor, Auburn	4.5	Steptoe, Arizona	4.52
Davis, LSU	4.46
Baker, Florida	4.62
Bowe, LSU	4.51
Swain, Tennessee	4.67
Cornelius, Florida	4.5
Meachem, Tennessee	4.39
Rice, South Carolina	4.53
Newton, South Carolina	4.68
AVERAGE	4.52	AVERAGE	4.47

Although there are considerably fewer Pac-10 wide receiver draft candidates, they are also considerably faster than SEC wide receivers by five hundredths of a second.

The SEC has a lack of burning speed, with only two players (Meachem and Caldwell) breaking the 4.4 mark. Only four SEC players even broke the 4.5 mark. SEC wide receivers seem to have decent speed, but lack elite speed like the Pac-10.

Meanwhile, in the Pac-10 there is elite speed. They have two players under the 4.4 mark in DeSean Jackson and Jason Hill. They also have four players under the 4.5 mark.

On to Part 9.

I'm Back: Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football (Part Seven)

Thomas Brown — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:41:00 -0400

Erick England pointed out sarcastically that, “I guess the fact the LSU continues to schedule the PAC-10 for out-of-conference games (home and home with ASU, AU, and Washington, and OSU three years ago) is only more proof that the SEC does indeed schedule weak out-of-conference.”

I guess the fact that Arizona was 2-10 and 6-6 in 2003 and 2006, respectively. Oregon State was 7-5 in 2004 and LSU won in overtime. Arizona State was 7-5 in 2005 and LSU beat them 35-31. LSU plays Washington in 2009; Washington has gone 2-9, 5-7, and 4-9 the past three seasons.

There’s a reason that LSU only schedules certain Pac-10 teams: they are the bottom of the league.

My favorite friend Jordan Coleman said, “The Pac-10 has to schedule a couple good out of conference games because the conference games are pretty weak at best compared to the SEC. The SEC always has 5-7 teams ranked in the top 25 in conference so it all equals out.”

This is maybe the argument that makes me the most upset out of anything. As my main man Terence Moore at AJC.com puts it: “There are 12 SEC teams, and the only thing brutal about half of them (South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Kentucky and Vanderbilt) is the way that they’ve played in recent years.”

There are also arguments that an individual SEC team will never play all the top SEC schools in a single season due to the SEC’s 12-team format. For example, this year Mississippi State does not even have to play Florida or South Carolina.

SEC fans want to believe they play a tough in-conference schedule week in and week out, but the truth of the matter is there are weak teams in the conference. The other truth is that SEC teams do not even play all the other SEC teams, so they do not play as many “tough” games as SEC fans claim they do.

SEC fan Stephen Williams, who is apparently going to earn a “degree” from Union College (what are professor credentials there, a pre-school education?), said the following: “The Pac-10 has been a top-heavy conference riding the success of USC.

"Other than them, none of the other schools have consistently competed for a national title year in and year out, as opposed to Florida, Georgia, and LSU, who are always in the hunt for the national title.”

Stephen, Georgia is not a perennial national championship contender. Maybe in the last couple of years, but not always.

You named three SEC schools that have been high in the rankings the past couple of years (even though Georgia is questionable). Let me name you three Pac-10 schools: USC, Oregon, and California. USC is obvious.

Oregon finished the year at No. 2 in 2001. They would have won the national championship last year had Dennis Dixon not gotten injured. Oregon finished #10 in 2005. California was up to No. 4 in 2004, and No. 2 before their giant landslide last year. Case closed.

Beyond the top three, there have been arguments that the SEC is somehow a deeper conference than the Pac-10. With schools such as Auburn, South Carolina, and Tennessee, the SEC is rolling deep.

But not as deep as the Pac-10. Arizona State finished 9-3 last year and was ranked No. 6 at one point. Oregon State has finished with 9-4 and 10-4 records in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

Even when you look at the bottom, it is clear that the Pac-10 is better from top to bottom. Last place Stanford took down USC. Ole Miss had zero conference wins. That is not parity in the SEC, when your last-place school has zero conference wins.

On to Part 8.

I'm Back: Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football, Part Four

Thomas Brown — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:35:00 -0400

Let’s take a look at some graphs so that we can understand the exact relationship between the preseason AP poll and the final AP poll.

The following is a graph of how many SEC schools started and ended in each Top 25 position since 2002. For example, if you take a look at number seven, one SEC team has started the year ranked seventh, while SEC schools have finished number seven in the final AP poll on two separate occasions.

As you can see, there is a clear rightward shift in the final AP poll rankings. SEC schools start very high in the polls, but oftentimes fall back.

There is a cluster of preseason rankings in the 5-10 positions, but the final rankings cluster around the 13-15 range. This means the SEC normally falls back from its high preseason positional rankings.

Now let’s take a look at the same graph from the Pac-10.

In this graph, there is a leftward shift towards a team becoming better than its preseason ranking by season’s end. The Pac-10’s preseason rankings seem to cluster around 11-14, but there is a large cluster of final AP rankings in the Top 10. The teams that were originally ranked in the teens moved themselves up into the Top 10 by season’s end.

Presumably, these same teams would have been already ranked in the Top 10 preseason had they been in the SEC.

These graphs demonstrate that the preseason poll is biased towards SEC teams. SEC school oftentimes fall short of preseason expectations and rarely ever come out of nowhere to shock anyone, with the possible exception of Ole Miss in 2003.

This preseason bias leads to SEC fans thinking that their teams are great. LSU’s community leader, Justin Goar, states, “LSU played eight ranked teams last year. Eight. Use whatever rankings you want, but I'm willing to guess without actually looking it up that no Pac-10 team approached that number last year.”

David H. quickly put this issue to rest. Out of those eight schools, only five of them finished in the top 25 (South Carolina, Kentucky, and Alabama dropped out). Out of those five ranked schools, Florida got embarrassed by unranked Michigan and Virginia Tech got stomped by Kansas.

The SEC fan’s love affair with claiming they play so many ranked teams is a direct result of the SEC’s high preseason rankings.

Now that it's a clear fact that the SEC is overrated by the media from the beginning of the season, let’s take a look at some of the other preposterous statements made by Brian in his article.

On to Part Five.

I'm Back: Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football (Part Two)

Thomas Brown — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:34:00 -0400

Let me show you just one example of how overrated the SEC is. The following charts show the pre-season AP poll rankings and the final AP poll rankings of both Pac-10 and SEC teams going back to 2002.

Also shown in the third box is a “u” for if the team moved up from its pre-season poll position, and a “d” if they moved down from it. A “*” is placed next to the u or d to show that the team only moved up or down 3 or less positions. Therefore, a team with a “*” next to it basically finished where it was predicted in the pre-season AP poll.

2007	Pre-season	Final
Georgia	14	2	u
Arizona State	nr	16	u
Auburn	18	15	u*
Oregon	nr	23	u
LSU	2	1	u*
Oregon State	nr	25	u
Tennessee	12	12
Arkansas	24	nr	d
USC	1	3	d*
Florida	6	13	d
UCLA	15	nr	d
Cal	13	nr	d

2006
Arkansas	nr	15	u
LSU	9	3	u
Florida	6	1	u
Oregon State	nr	21	u
USC	5	4	u*
Cal	13	14	d*
Oregon	25	nr	d
Tennessee	23	25	d*
Auburn	5	9	d
Arizona State	22	nr	d
Georgia	16	23	d

2005
Oregon	nr	12	u
Alabama	21	8	u
UCLA	nr	15	u
Auburn	17	14	u*
Georgia	13	10	u*
LSU	7	6	u*
Cal	24	25	d*
USC	1	2	d*
Florida	9	13	d
Arizona State	19	nr	d
Tennessee	3	nr	d

On to Part 3.

I'm Back: Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football (Part One)

Thomas Brown — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:33:00 -0400

Fans of the SEC, I have returned with the riveting truth about the superiority of your conference: it sucks.

I have been compelled over these last couple fortnights to ascertain my presence on this planet. I was forced into solitary confinement for a period of time. Let it be known that this time off from Bleacher Report has only made me stronger.

In my time of solitary confinement, I have learned to recognize my place on this earth, and my ultimate goal: to shut up all you SEC fans who will have your little southern, God-fearing, cotton-picking hearts broken this season. It’s time to reveal the facts.

This time, I actually did some research. Before, I just knew that the Pac-10 conference was superior in every way to the SEC. I could get some simple statistics in three minutes and conclude that the Pac-10 was far superior to the SEC.

However, some of you Southerners just do not understand the simplicity of my argument. Out on the West Coast, simplicity is zen. But you guys just did not get my series, “Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football.”

I am going to call out the Bleacher Report users that I feel need to be called out in this debate. I am going to prove you wrong. Everything you write on Bleacher Report, I read. Every wrong statement you make, I place in my little memory box. So be scared.

If I call you out, it is meant to be offensive. And it should be embarrassing for you. But all of you here at Bleacher Report have embarrassed me. But I do not take it personally, as even Jesus’ people kill him. As the great Bob Udkoff once said, “Hate is such a luxurious emotion, it can only be spent on one we love.”

After conducting my research this time, I now know in my heart of hearts that Pac-10 is “The King of Conferences” (I appreciate the joke of an article though, Brian Scott).

In each one of my arguments, I’m going to lay all the data on the table. Unlike many of you SEC fans who do not want to put the data on the table, I’m going to. Say that I’m wrong, and it only makes me stronger.

Somewhere in the Bible it says, “Give, and it shall be given to you. For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return.” Boy, I hope so, because tonight I am laying the smackdown.

In Brian Scott’s article entitled, “SEC Fans: The Force Behind the King of Conferences,” he makes some ridiculous claims that the SEC is the best conference.

From the very beginning, he is correct: “It’s not clear why the sports media spends so much time debating which of the BCS conferences is the best. On paper, the answer is simple.” I say this is correct because the SEC does look like the best conference in the country on paper.

One of the first things that comes to mind when I think about the SEC is that they are vastly overrated. By the media, by the fans, and by themselves. Therefore, the SEC does look like the best conference on paper.

Go on to Part 2.

I'm Back: Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football

Thomas Brown — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:11:00 -0400

Fans of the SEC, I have returned with the riveting truth about your conference: It sucks.

I have been compelled over these last couple of fortnights to ascertain my presence on this planet. I was forced into solitary confinement for a period of time. Let it be known that this time off from Bleacher Report has only made me stronger.

In my time of solitary confinement, I have learned to recognize my place on this earth, and my ultimate goal: to shut up all you SEC fans who will have your little Southern, God-fearing, cotton-picking hearts broken this season. It’s time to reveal the facts.

However, some of you Southerners just do not understand the simplicity of my argument. Out on the West Coast, simplicity is zen. But you guys just did not get my series, "Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football."

If I call you out, it is meant to be offensive—and it should be embarrassing for you. All of you here at Bleacher Report have embarrassed me. But I do not take it personally, as even Jesus’ people kill him.

As the great Bob Udkoff once said, “Hate is such a luxurious emotion, it can only be spent on one we love.”

After conducting my research this time, I now know in my heart of hearts that the Pac-10 is "The King of Conferences" (I appreciate the joke of an article though, Brian Scott).

In each one of my arguments, I’m going to lay all the data on the table. Unlike many of you SEC fans who do not want to put the data on the table, I’m going to. Say that I’m wrong: It only makes me stronger.

Somewhere in the Bible it says, “Give, and it shall be given to you. For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return.” Boy, I hope so, because tonight I am laying the smack down.

In Brian Scott’s article entitled, “SEC Fans: The Force Behind the King of Conferences,” he makes some ridiculous claims that the SEC is the best conference.

One of the first things that comes to mind when I think about the SEC is that they are vastly overrated: by the media, by the fans, and by themselves. Therefore, the SEC does look like the best conference on paper.

Let me show you just one example of how overrated the SEC is. The following charts show the preseason AP poll rankings and the final AP poll rankings of both Pac-10 and SEC teams going back to 2002. Also shown in the third box is a “u” if the team moved up from its preseason poll position, and a “d” if they moved down from it.

A “*” is placed next to the u or d to show that the team only moved up or down three or fewer positions. Therefore, a team with a “*” next to it basically finished where it was predicted in the preseason AP poll.

2007	Pre-season	Final
Georgia	14	2	u
Arizona State	nr	16	u
Auburn	18	15	u*
Oregon	nr	23	u
LSU	2	1	u*
Oregon State	nr	25	u
Tennessee	12	12
Arkansas	24	nr	d
USC	1	3	d*
Florida	6	13	d
UCLA	15	nr	d
Cal	13	nr	d

2006
Arkansas	nr	15	u
LSU	9	3	u
Florida	6	1	u
Oregon State	nr	21	u
USC	5	4	u*
Cal	13	14	d*
Oregon	25	nr	d
Tennessee	23	25	d*
Auburn	5	9	d
Arizona State	22	nr	d
Georgia	16	23	d

2005
Oregon	nr	12	u
Alabama	21	8	u
UCLA	nr	15	u
Auburn	17	14	u*
Georgia	13	10	u*
LSU	7	6	u*
Cal	24	25	d*
USC	1	2	d*
Florida	9	13	d
Arizona State	19	nr	d
Tennessee	3	nr	d

2004
Auburn	10	2	u
Cal	16	9	u
Arizona State	nr	19	u
USC	1	1
Tennessee	13	13
Oregon	23	nr	d
Georgia	3	7	d
LSU	4	16	d
Florida	14	nr	d

2003
Washington State	nr	9	u
Ole Miss	nr	13	u
LSU	14	2	u
USC	11	1	u
Georgia	10	7	u
Florida	23	24	d*
Tennessee	13	15	d*
Alabama	23	nr	d
Washington	12	nr	d
Auburn	5	nr	d

2002
Alabama

Alan Bass: How Misinformed Are You?

Thomas Brown — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:49:17 -0400

Dear Alan Bass,

I just read your article titled "B/R Will Never Be Official, Unless We Change Our Ways."

After reading through that so-called "article" of yours, I was sick to my stomach. My new course of action was to think to myself, "How ridiculous can one person be?" Of course, that was after I edited it six times to get some writer points.

The answer to my question was this: "Alan Bass is gold standard of ridiculous."

How you get a Pick of The Day award from that garbage amazes me.

I'll write as aimlessly as I want to and I'll tag my college football articles with MMA just so that people will read it. That's my right.

Do I want to promote my name? Hell yeah, I do. I think everyone else here wants that, as well. It's much more fun to write an article when people actually read it (which you know nothing about, but that's another story entirely).

You go on to say in your article that, "I will not name any specific people in this article, as that is extremely unprofessional." Come on, Alan...since when are you a professional? Do you get paid to write? Is this your job? The answers are since never, no, and no, respectively.

If you want to be a professional writer, go write for ESPN or something. Don't write on a site that is free to sign up for and anyone can write for. It's like Roger Federer going to a public park to play tennis and complaining the competition isn't stiff enough.

You also say that, "I read others' articles in order to let them know how well they are doing, and how to improve their writing." Who made you the king of writing?

I remember Jameson Fleming mentioning you in his article, "My Bleacher Report Review." And I quote, "No disrespect to him, but I didn't think he was a very strong writer when he first started contributing to the site. I thought he was writing things for the sake of writing things. So I stopped reading him."

So how are you so great to tell other writers whether or not their writing is good?

Do you have any professional writing experience? No. Do you even major in journalism at college? No. Do you have any aspirations as a professional writer? According to your profile, no. So why are you in a position of greatness?

You, Mr. Bass, seem to be a little cocky for your writing, too, going to state that, "People like me, Ken Armer, Bryan Thiel, Greg Caggiano, and many more (I can name probably 30 great writers on this site, but it would take forever) work very hard to put fantastic articles on this website for all to see. Yet there are others who publish articles that wouldn't even pass as a kindergarten project."

Those are some pretty harsh words coming from a kid who just graduated from high school...

And people talk about you, too, Alan. As my main man L. J. Burgess points out on BabyTate's wall:

"That said, Alan drifts into 'quality' of writing with only vague notions of what is acceptable and what is not. And to be honest, until I did a final edit on the piece, it violated most of the very standards Mr. Bass was pontificating on. A peek at the first draft will confirm that."

Finally, you ask, "I know I don't just blog aimlessly on this website. Do you?"

I do what I want, and there's nothing you can do to stop me.

P.S.: I tagged every possible thing I could so that more people would read this.

Thanks for your time,

Thomas Brown

I'm Back: Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football (Preface)

Thomas Brown — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:21:55 -0400

Dear Beloved Thomas Brown Fans,

I have returned, and brought forth to ye a series of Twelve parts for your enjoyment.

The article I wrote was 18 pages in a word document, and Bleacher Report was unable to publish it all into one article. That is how great I am.

I have come to denounce the procession of Equinoxes and slaughter all my foes.

It is time for It to come forth, the All-Mighty truth of the world!

Let the journey begin: On to Part One.

Sincerely,

Thomas Brown

Thomas Brown's Resignation Speech

Thomas Brown — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:30:05 -0400

Good evening.

I was born in a small town off Route 33 in rural Idaho. I never had much as a kid, and I had to work in the field. I don't think my parents liked me too much.

This is the 53rd time I have spoken to you from this computer, where so many articles have been made that shaped the history of Bleacher Report. Each time I have done so to discuss with you some matter that I believe affected the sports fans' interest.

Throughout my life, I have always considered myself a sports fan. I never had a computer or television when I was growing up, my daddy said they were too expensive. I listened to Ohio State and Iowa football games on the radio on Saturday afternoons when my father wasn't making me pick the fields.

I got my first computer when I was 23 years old, and I discovered Bleacher Report just three score days ago. You have no idea how much joy it has brought me producing articles for you B/R users to read.

In all the decisions I have made in my public life, I have always tried to do what was best for both myself and Bleacher Report. Throughout the long and difficult period of yesterday night, I have felt it was my duty to persevere, to make every possible effort to write the best material on Bleacher Report.

In the past few days, however, it has become evident to me that I no longer have a strong enough social base on Bleacher Report to justify continuing that effort. As long as there was such a base, I felt strongly that it was necessary to produce great, thought provoking articles, that to do otherwise would be unfaithful to the spirit of Bleacher Report.

Many of you have called for my head. Contrary to the spirit of a free open sports network, you have driven me from Bleacher Report using guerilla methods. Contrary to free speech, you have driven me to close my mouth. From this point on, I will never come back to comment or write an article on Bleacher Report.

To all my fans, you know what voicing your opinion is all about. It is not agreeing with politically correct statements, it is pushing the envelope and making people think about their social norms.

I would have preferred to carry on writing articles, whatever the personal agony it would have involved, and my family unanimously urged me to do so. But the interest of Bleacher Report must always come before any personal considerations.

From the discussions I have had with Zander Freund and other Bleacher Report users, I have concluded that because of the hatred I face everyday, I might not have the support of the Bleacher Report users that I would consider necessary to back the very difficult opinions I put out on the line day in and day out.

I have never been a quitter. To leave Bleacher Report before my own liking is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as a great man, I must put the interest of B/R first.

To continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would almost totally absorb the time and attention of both the B/R users and me in a period when our entire focus should be on the great issues of college football.

Therefore, I shall resign from Bleacher Report effective immediately.

As I recall the high hopes for B/R with which I began this month, I feel a great sadness that I will not be here to achieve those hopes in the upcoming months. But in turning over direction of B/R to the great mass of B/R users, I know, as I told the B/R users when I first came on the scene, that the leadership of B/R will be in good hands with Zander Freund.

As we look to the future, the first essential is to begin healing the wounds I have left, to put the bitterness and divisions of the recent past behind us, and to rediscover those shared ideals that lie at the heart of our strength and unity as a great and as a free B/R community.

By taking this action, I hope that I will have hastened the start of that process of healing which is so desperately needed here.

I regret deeply any injuries that may have been done in the course of the events that led to this decision. I would say only that if some of my judgments were wrong, and some were wrong, they were made in what I believed at the time to be the best interest of Bleacher Report.

To those who have stood with me during these past difficult days, to my family, my friends, to many others who joined in supporting my cause because they believed it was right, I will be eternally grateful for your support (L.J. Burgess, Mosang Miles, Peter Fleischer).

And to those who have not felt able to give me your support (Zander Fruend, Lauren Green, Brian Hood, Thomas Leemon), let me say I leave with no bitterness toward those who have opposed me, because all of us, in the final analysis, have been concerned with the good of Bleacher Report, however our judgments might differ.

I shall leave B/R with regret at not writing the college football season, but with gratitude for the privilege of serving as your best writer for the past two months. These months have been a momentous time in the history of B/R. They have been a time of achievement in which we can all be proud, achievements that represent the shared efforts of the B/R Administration, myself, and the B/R users.

Sometimes I have succeeded and sometimes I have failed, but always I have taken heart from what Theodore Roosevelt once said about the man in the arena, "whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again because there is not effort without error and shortcoming, but who does actually strive to do the deed, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumphs of high achievements and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly."

I pledge to you tonight that as long as I have a breath of life in my body, I shall continue in that spirit. I shall continue to work for the great causes to which I have been dedicated throughout my years as a college football writer.

There is one cause above all to which I have been devoted and to which I shall always be devoted for as long as I live.

With this resignation, my heart is crushed and I no longer know how I will live. All I can say is good luck in all of your future endevours, B/R users.

To have served you as a B/R writer, I feel a great sense of kinship towards each and every one of you. In leaving it, I do so with this prayer: May God's grace be with you in all the days ahead.