Bleacher Report - Articles by Kevin Paul

Penn State Football: Take a “Special” Page Out of Pete Carroll's Book

Kevin Paul — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:17:23 -0500

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – “Misadventures in Happy Valley”–that would be a catchy and fitting title to a new movie starring the Penn State special teams unit.

Well, that and the fact that “Waiting to Exhale” was already taken.

During a season where Penn State football began with many question marks, from offensive line, to wide receivers, to a young and inexperienced secondary, the biggest issue in the end has been special teams.

“Special”…not so much.

Call it the “Benny Hill Show” set in a football atmosphere. That’s the best way to describe Penn State’s special teams play against Indiana on Saturday.

We’re talking to the point that a successful fair catch in the second half (by WR Graham Zug) was greeted with a sarcastic cheer by just about every single one of the 107,000+ fans that watched the game in Happy Valley.

The funny thing is, Penn State’s special teams play has been an adventure all season long, so much that head coach Joe Paterno has been dodging questions on the subject matter sporadically throughout the year.

When recently asked about the program’s philosophy at splitting up the special teams coaching, Paterno replied, “That’s the way I like to do it. We’ve always done that. I grew up with that when I played in college. I grew up with it when I came here as an assistant coach.”

Many critics may think to point to an old-school program that is reluctant to change.

But as Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast, my friends.”

The Nittany Lions have made plenty of changes over recent seasons. Two examples come to mind, such as recently playing true freshmen more often than in the past, and even implementing the Spread HD offense, much different than vanilla Penn State offenses of yesteryear.

Change can and does happen in Happy Valley.

But, with a change to special teams–there’s a catch.

“You know, I think when they limit you to nine full-time coaches, you got to be careful you don’t take one out of the mix and doing nothing but working with special teams.”

Paterno makes a solid enough point, up until the time that the “straw broke the camel’s back.”

After Saturday’s fumble parade against Indiana, it became more glaringly obvious–just not to Paterno.

“I thought the special teams did well except for the two punts that we mishandled,” Paterno said. “I thought we did pretty well. Again that kid (Hagerup) did a good job. We had one good return that we fumbled the ball and gave it up. As I said last week, it was not a question of coaching and it wasn’t a question of tactics. I think it was a question of not having the right combination of people in there and we made some switches. I thought we did a pretty good job.”

Only, let’s let the stats do the talking, shall we?

Entering Saturday’s game against Indiana, Penn State was 114th in the nation in kickoff return average and 64th in opponent kickoff return average. On top of that, the Nittany Lions were 108th in the nation in punt return average and 117th in opponent punt return average.

That’s ugly with a capital “U,” right there.

It’s about time Penn State football made another change.

Here’s a solution–why not take a page out of Pete Carroll’s book?

This year, Carroll hired Brian Schneider as the new special teams coordinator for USC. Schneider, carrying 15 years of experience entering the job, was USC’s first full-time special teams coordinator since 2001.

So far, so good–just look at the facts.

Entering this weekend, the Trojans were fifth in the country in punt return average, compared to 72nd from last season. On top of that, USC is ranked fourth in opponent punt return average, up from 78th in 2008.

That’s a significant jump–especially in a category like special teams, arguably the most important aspect of a team’s game.

If you don’t buy that, then look at “Beamerball.” If you have even a middle-of-the-road knowledge of college football, you’ve heard of “Beamerball”, a.k.a. Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, and his supreme ability to not just preach, but execute solid special teams play on a regular basis–to the point that the philosophy has vaulted the Hokies to a great deal of success over the last decade and a half.

And while Penn State is bringing in loads of talent, it’s the inconsistent play of the special teams unit that is stealing away victories–and titles.

No bigger point can be made with Penn State’s two losses of the season, which featured significant big plays on special teams by both Iowa and Ohio State.

Therefore, it’s about time that Penn State made a change, because the special teams play has been enough of a red flag that the Nittany Lions should give in and raise the white flag on its old-school experiment and hire a coordinator.

Until then, Penn State fans will have to hold their breath until blue in the face.

* All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com

Top 10 Games in the Ohio State - Penn State Rivalry

Kevin Paul — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:09:06 -0500

Saturday’s game at Beaver Stadium marks the 25th time the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes have faced off, and in recent memory, the rivalry has seen a significant spike in growth, especially with the recent drop-off of Michigan football. The series is all knotted up 12-12, featuring a number of exciting matchups over the years. To further prove that fact, what better way to do so by taking a look at some of the top moments in recent history between Penn State and Ohio State… specifically the top ten games in the rivalry, featuring – what else – but 5 wins by the Nittany Lions and 5 by the Buckeyes, while including a famous name hat played in the game during that season. Top 10 Games in the Ohio State – Penn State Rivalry

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Lazy Halloween Costumes for Sports Stars: 2009 Edition

Kevin Paul — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:59:26 -0400

In honor of Halloween, I’ve come up with a list of Halloween costumes that can be easily put together for the sports stars of the world. Why? Well, plain and simple, they look like them, so each individual can be lazy and basically go as themselves—er...the other celebrity that they look like. Without further ado, I give you... Lazy Halloween Costumes for Sports Stars: 2009 Edition*

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Penn State's Derek Moye: The Big Ten's Most Under-Appreciated Receiver

Kevin Paul — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:41:04 -0400

Drop the talk about Arrelious Benn of Illinois or Keith Smith from Purdue. Say goodbye to Eric Decker. It’s time to say hello to the most under-appreciated receiver in the Big Ten, and perhaps all of college football.

Some fans in Happy Valley like to call him “D. Moye.”

And while in real life, the “D” is short for Derek, more and more each day the true meaning of the “D” would be more fitting as “disrespected.”

Whatever it’s short for, there’s nothing short about the young man.

Moye, a 6’5”, 195-pound redshirt sophomore receiver, has made a splash in 2009 (27 receptions, 472 yards and 4 TD’s), breaking onto the scene and filling a major void left by arguably the best trio of receivers (on one team) in college football last season.

Yes, while Derrick Williams, Deon Butler, and Jordan Norwood are all gone… it’s safe to say that Nittany Nation doesn’t miss them as much as they thought they would.

But as the season moves along, Moye’s name keeps hitting the stat pages, but never the headlines. Heck, when the season began, Moye wasn’t even projected as a starter in most college football publications (e.g. Phil Steele, who usually nails everything).

Currently third in the Big Ten in yards per catch (17.48 average), Moye leads a balanced Penn State passing attack that features four players with 20 or more receptions. And while his name may be climbing the Big Ten’s receiving leaderboard, Moye and the Nittany Lion receivers are channeling their inner Rodney Dangerfield...by getting no respect.

But if you ask Moye himself, he doesn’t mind one bit. In fact, when asked about all the focus being on Eric Decker in last Saturday’s matchup against Minnesota, Moye had a simple response. “He’s a good player, and our defense did a great job against him, but it has nothing to do with me.”

It’s safe to say that Moye has no problem with being an unknown commodity that is seldom talked about by other teams.

Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster drove this point home, but not without trying. “He’s just a big body,” Brewster said. “He doesn’t run real fast, but he does a great job of using his body and shielding his body. We had a smaller corner on him and he used his 6-6, 230-pound body on a much smaller defender.”

First off coach, he’s an inch shorter and about 35 pounds lighter.

Trust me.

Okay, so maybe it’s nitpicking a tad because a coach has to recall the size of all kinds of players, but one would assume that if a coach studied a player significantly, perhaps the young man’s statistics would be glued to the brain.

On top of the size, there’s also Derek’s speed. Moye just isn’t a big target, but is sneaky quick.

“He has great speed and great height, and he has real good judgment on the ball,” Penn State Quarterbacks Coach Jay Paterno said. “People don’t realize because of his speed that he’s a guy who runs sub-4.4.”

Size? Check.

Speed? Check.

Okay, so what about work ethic?

“He practices hard every single day,” teammate Graham Zug said of Moye. “He gives a lot of effort and that’s why he’s getting so good.”

Combine the aforementioned size and speed in the body of a redshirt sophomore, add in some solid work ethic, and you have yourself a talent that will wreak havoc on the Big Ten for years to come.

And as much as the growth has been visible in Moye’s game, most notably his acrobatic touchdown catch near the end of the first half against Minnesota last Saturday, it becomes easy to feel comfortable tossing out statements about how talented this young man is.

Yes, Moye is certainly coming into his own very quickly.

In fact, when asked if he was ready to be the top wide receiver for Penn State, Moye responded by saying, “There are other guys who are just as capable as I am.”

Okay, so let’s recap: Moye’s got size. He’s got speed. He has the work ethic, plus runs great routes…and to top it off, he’s a class act on and off the football field.

Just don’t tell him that.

But someone may want to drop a call to the rest of the Big Ten, in case they haven’t noticed yet.

Penn State fans: Have an opinion on Terrelle Pryor? Here’s my two cents :

Terrelle Pryor: Halfway to Becoming the Next Ron Powlus

Kevin Paul — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:37:08 -0400

Terrelle Pryor, now over a year after being named Ohio State’s brand spankin’ new poster child for success in college football, is instead now nearly halfway to becoming the equivalent to Notre Dame’s Ron Powlus.

That’s right, the same Ron Powlus that Beano Cook claimed would be the first player to win multiple Heisman trophies since Archie Griffin.

The same Ron Powlus that had moments of success at Notre Dame, but all in all never met the hype that was generated around his exit from high school football and apparent ascension into college football history.

The same Ron Powlus that was a part of an Irish football team that made three bowl games, only to lose each and every one of them.

That, my friends—to this point—has described this Buckeyes quarterback “in a nutshell” —a boatload of hype, but only a handful of brilliant moments drowned out by a number of Titanic-like collapses.

Don’t buy it? Look at the facts.

Pryor, named the Big Ten’s preseason offensive player of the year, instead has just been plain offensive.

For starters, Pryor is ranked 84th in QB rating in the country through Ohio State’s first seven games, while throwing eight interceptions.

This is also the same Pryor that last year against Penn State attempted to play the role of hero by turning a QB sneak into a run to the outside, only to lose a fumble that eventually led to a game-winning Nittany Lions touchdown drive.

This is the same Pryor that followed a cool as a cucumber Matt Barkley scoring drive with an intentional grounding penalty and a frantic rush up the middle on the next play—eventually following that with an incomplete pass that led to a turnover on downs—and a USC Trojans victory.

Let’s not forget about the four-pack of turnovers in a loss to a Purdue Boilermakers team that had one win entering last weekend’s game against the Buckeyes.

And most recently, an Associated Press report has now linked LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers to speaking with Pryor, and attempting to help him out. So on top of it all, does this mean that if another poor performance by Pryor rears its ugly head, will we spy Terrelle not shaking hands after a game, or perhaps bolting out on the post-game press conference—like LBJ himself?

One can’t resist but consider such a chapter to emerge in this part scarlet, but mostly gray novel—a novel that seems destined to become a tragedy.

But hey, look at it this way—LeBron’s name would still look better than Michael Vick’s when inked on Terrelle’s eye black.

Still backing Pryor, now?

Fine, apologists can feel free to pop in and drop an "a-bomb" on this theory, screaming obscenities on how Pryor's still just a kid.

One word: BULL.

The day Pryor dragged four contending schools (plus the media) along his little delayed signing day circus is the same day that he waved all rights to be "just a kid."

The day Terrelle Pryor took the reigns of one of the most prestigious programs in college football history was the official day that he waved this right.

And when success seemed destined to shine down on Terrelle Pryor, the young man instead appears to be on a steady pathway to being the sequel to Powlus.

But the way this young Buckeye has been waving the white flag lately, perhaps it’s more fitting to refer to him as “Powlus Part Deux."

Who knows, maybe Terrelle Pryor will right the ship. If anyone could move in and help avoid the kid’s sinking into the college football history books, it is a man with great character like Ohio State coach Jim Tressel.

For now, Ohio State’s future hangs in the balance.

Handing Out Hardware at College Football's Halfway Point

Kevin Paul — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:26:20 -0400

Prepare those speeches and clear some space on the mantle, because it’s time to hand out some midseason hardware for the 2009 college football season:

College Football’s Midyear Awards

Coach of the Midyear
…the nominees are:
Kirk Ferentz (Iowa), Brian Kelly (Cincinnati), Nick Saban (Alabama)

Brian Kelly has the Bearcats staring the BCS in the face again while returning only one starter on defense and Alabama, entering the season with a question mark O-line, has opened huge holes for Mark Ingram and the running game.

But while many saw Iowa as an afterthought in the Big Ten (especially with such a brutal road schedule) the Hawkeyes are 7-0, already knocking off both Penn State and Wisconsin away from home.

Iowa’s toughest remaining test is facing the Buckeyes in Columbus on Nov. 14.
Winner: Kirk Ferentz

Hottest Coaching Seat
…the nominees are:
Al Groh (Virginia), Charlie Weis (Notre Dame), Ron Zook (Illinois)

Groh again has the Cavaliers on a tear after a painfully slow start, while Zook and the Illini are a dismal 1-5 after being listed by many as a potential darkhorse in the Big Ten.

Still, the spotlight is on Weis. While the Irish are holding their own, Notre Dame still has no signature wins in 2009, and you know what that means: no need for the hand warmers Charlie, this seat is toasty warm until further notice.
Winner: Charlie Weis

Offensive POMY
…the nominees are:
Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame), Toby Gerhart (Stanford), Case Keenum (Houston)

Gerhart has carried Stanford, averaging over 120 yards and adding a dozen touchdowns. Meanwhile, Clausen has 14 TD’s and only 2 INT’s, adding 1,800 passing yards and a QB rating that is second only to Boise State’s Kellen Moore.

None can match Houston’s Case Keenum, the junior QB who has led the Cougars into the polls, while throwing 410 yards per game, adding 19 TD’s and 4 INT’s, including 801 passing yards in two games against ranked opponents.
Winner: Case Keenum

Defensive POMY
…the nominees are:
Greg Jones (Michigan State), Jammie Kirlew (Indiana), Von Miller (Texas A&M)

Definitely a tough call, as Greg Jones leads the nation in tackles with 85, plus Indiana’s Jammie Kirlew has forced five fumbles, while adding 5½ sacks.

But the biggest standout is Von Miller, currently fifth in the nation in tackles for a loss (12½) and second in the country in sacks with 10: impressive, and worth defensive player of the midyear.
Winner: Von Miller

Top Freshman
…the nominees are:
Matt Barkley (USC), Tate Forcier (Michigan), Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh), Ryan Williams (Va. Tech)

Barkley has signature wins in South Bend and Columbus, but USC has been a “plug and play” system over recent years.

Dion Lewis has made the Panthers not miss LeSean McCoy too much, while Ryan Williams has filled in nicely after former starter Darren Evans was injured.

In the end, it’s the exciting and fiery play of Tate Forcier that has the Wolverines back on the map much quicker than many thought they would be.
Winner: Tate Forcier

Biggest Surprise
…the nominees are:
Boston College, Iowa, Miami (FL), Washington

Many had the Eagles in the ACC cellar, but BC (5-2) is on top of the Atlantic division. The Hawkeyes are perched at the top of the Big Ten, but many felt they would be a solid team after returning 14 starters from the ’08 squad.

Miami, always able to recruit talent, appears to be back on the map and playing well, but the biggest surprise has to lie in the Pacific Northwest, as Coach Sark, in his first season, has the Huskies 3-4 after a winless 2008 campaign.

Included in this year’s schedule are an upset win over USC, plus close losses to LSU and Notre Dame.
Winner: Washington

Biggest Disappointment
…the nominees are:
California, Florida State, Illinois, Oklahoma, Ole Miss

Take your pick here, as teams like Cal (1-2 in Pac-10), Ole Miss (1-2 in the SEC West), Illinois (1-5 overall), and Oklahoma (3-3 overall) have all disappointed.

But the biggest disappointment can be found in Tallahassee, where the Seminoles are 2-4 overall, including 0-3 in the ACC. It’s a shame that Bowden has been under such scrutiny, but this Florida State team has been abysmal.
Winner: Florida State

Bonehead Move of the Midyear
…the nominees are:
Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State), LeGarrette Blount (Oregon), Mike Gallett (Nevada)

Gallett is yet another player to be suspended for the year due to a violation of team rules and then there’s Dez Bryant, whose “pants were on fire” earlier this season.

But the biggest bonehead move of the year belongs to Blount, and who could forget how he first talked trash, second, didn’t back it up, and finally lost his cool and punched a Boise State player on national television.

In the end, Blount was suspended for the year and don’t worry, he won’t be sent an actual award.

Winner: LeGarrette Blount

Game of the Midyear
…the nominees are:
Notre Dame vs. Michigan, USC vs. Ohio State, Central Michigan vs. Michigan State

The Big Ten dominates this category, mostly due to the conference featuring a plethora of tight games during the first half of the season.

The wildest game of the three had to be Central Michigan’s 29-27 upset of Sparty, which was in dramatic fashion after a late two-point conversion attempt for the lead failed, only to have a recovered onside kick and game-winning field goal follow shortly thereafter.

After the game, a number of college football fans caught themselves a bad case of “LeFevour”.
Winner: Central Michigan vs. Michigan State

Heisman Trophy
…the nominees are:
Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame), Mark Ingram (Alabama), Colt McCoy (Texas), Tim Tebow (Florida)

It seems like forever ago that Bradford, Tebow and McCoy were the guaranteed trio to show up at the ceremony, but let’s face it, if you want to win the Heisman, recent history states that one needs to play for a high profile school that is also among the nation’s elite teams.

Look at the winners over the past decade and a half: Oklahoma, USC, Florida, Ohio State, the list rolls on.

Tebow missed time due to the concussion. Clausen has the gaudiest and most impressive numbers, but the Irish have two losses and zero signature wins. That leaves McCoy and Ingram.

Look at each in games against ranked teams. Versus Texas Tech and Oklahoma, McCoy has 332 passing yards, with 2 TD’s and 3 INT’s. Ingram, against Virginia Tech and South Carolina, had 50 carries for 396 yards and 2 TD’s.
Winner: Mark Ingram

National Championship
…the nominees are:
Alabama, Boise State, Cincinnati, Florida, Iowa, Texas, USC

Count out Cindy and the boys from Boise, because with schedules like each has, help will be needed to reach the title. The Trojans, with one loss, still have to travel to Oregon, plus have other tricky matchups against Pac-10 foes.

Iowa’s toughest remaining game is at Ohio State, but they’ll likely be on the outside looking in while Texas has its toughest remaining game on Halloween at Oklahoma State.

That leaves ‘Bama and the Gators, who will likely duke it out for a NC spot in the SEC title game. Call me crazy but… ‘Bama has been the most consistent team.
Winner: Alabama vs. Texas

Stats courtesy of cfbstats.com

A.J. Wallace Has Coming-Out Party As Penn State Shuts Down Minnesota

Kevin Paul — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:34:29 -0400

STATE COLLEGE, PA – On a day first owned by Mother Nature, Penn State and senior cornerback A.J. Wallace put in a dominating performance of their own, shutting out Minnesota 20-0 on a rain- and snow-soaked Homecoming evening.

For some, the road of life features more twists and turns, rises or falls, than others.

Take A.J. Wallace, for example.

While Wallace has at times been a factor ever since his freshman year, one could easily argue that Saturday’s Penn State / Minnesota matchup was his official coming-out party.

And considering where Wallace stood amongst the coaching staff when the season began, this performance emerged as a very pleasant surprise.

Entering the 2009 season, Wallace made his home in Joe Paterno’s doghouse, staring a suspension in the face due to skipping classes, a major no-no in JoePa’s eyes.

“He does have ability and he’s bright,” Paterno said. “He just wasn’t working at it in the classroom or on the practice field.”

And that’s when Wallace finally began to turn things around.

Often mentioned as the headliner in a fairly inexperienced secondary when the 2009 season began, the Nittany Lions called upon Wallace to take on an even bigger task: covering the Big Ten’s leading receiver in Minnesota’s Eric Decker.

Decker entered Saturday’s matchup with Penn State averaging nearly seven receptions a game.

Because of his big-play ability, Penn State obviously needed a strategy in place to keep him in check.

“We felt that A.J. was one of the guys that could hang with Decker and jump balls,” said defensive coach Tom Bradley.

Coach Paterno mentioned the same point, adding that cornerback Knowledge Timmons didn’t have the height that Wallace has.

“What we had to do, what we felt we had to do, was to get pressure on the quarterback without sending a lot of people, where we would have to go one-on-one with Decker,” Paterno said.

Obviously, Wallace would have help on defense, but the challenge was there. This matchup started with him.

“I tell him, ‘you have to step up to the plate’,” said linebacker Navorro Bowman.

And step up to the plate he did.

Decker finished the day with just one catch for 42 yards, well below his season average.

“He [Decker] didn’t get too much,” said safety Drew Astorino. “He got one catch that was on me and Sukay, that was our fault, and A.J. played a great game.”

Wallace finished the day with four tackles, and that’s a solid day considering the fact that Minnesota ran only 40 offensive plays, the fewest by a Penn State opponent since 1977.

Most notable was the touchdown-saving tackle that Wallace made along with Bowman at the goal line late in the second half.

The play, a fourth-and-goal run by Minnesota’s Kevin Whaley, was a run to the outside, where both Bowman and Wallace showed determination and significant closing speed to keep the Golden Gopher back out of the end zone.

It just goes to show you that it’s never too late to turn things around.

Four tackles, an assist in a goal line stand, plus being a major piece in holding one of the nation’s best receivers to just one reception.

Now that’s a performance that can not only help a coaching staff forget how about past mishaps, but also build a lot of confidence for a player… and a football team, too.

And what does Wallace have to say about that?

“It gives you a boost of confidence but you can only do that for a 24-hour span,” he said. “You can’t hold onto it long. Come Monday, you’ve just got to forget about it and work on the next team.”

Watch out, Michigan. You’re next.

Penn State Secondary Will Get First True Test with Minnesota's Eric Decker

Kevin Paul — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:27:09 -0400

Entering the 2009 season, one of the biggest question marks for Penn State was the team’s secondary. Entering the season, Penn State lost significant experience from the 2008 roster, with players such as Anthony Scirrotto, Tony Davis, and Lydell Sargeant all moving on.

Left was a talented yet inexperienced bunch, featuring only a handful of returning starts—all from two players, in senior A.J. Wallace and sophomore free safety Drew Astorino.

Midway through the season, this group of Lions has held its own, but it goes without saying that the Penn State secondary has barely been tested to date.

Until this weekend, that is, when a more consistent Minnesota offense comes to town, led by the Big Ten’s leading receiver Eric Decker (46 receptions for 689 yards and five TDs).

Ignore the fact that Minnesota is ranked 75th in passing (205.2 yds/game) and Penn State is 25th in pass defense. These numbers don’t reflect the truth.

Decker is the real deal, and Penn State’s first true test.

When asked about the star receiver, Penn State head coach Joe Paterno reiterated the same point.

“Decker is a great football player,” Paterno said. “You've got to know where he is all the time. If you don't, he'll catch seven, eight, 10 passes for a lot of yards and a couple scores.”

As the Nittany Lion faithful get ready to have a big party for Homecoming this weekend, the Golden Gophers look to be party-crashers—much like that painful Homecoming day for Penn State a short decade ago. Just hearing the number 1999 sends a chill down every Penn Stater’s spine.

In order to prevent another Homecoming nightmare, the Nittany Lions will certainly need more improvement from the offensive line and more consistency in the red zone by the offense. But most importantly, they need a solid performance from the young secondary.

While Paterno dropped his usual wit with lines such as, “ae may put four corners on him” (regarding Decker), the 82-year old head coach—as always—showed he has the game and opponent in perspective.

“In the clutch, it's a one-man show maybe, but it's not a one-man show the entire game," he said. "You can go overboard trying to cover Decker. They can hurt you other ways.”

While this may be true, in the end Penn State’s success will start with containing Decker as much as possible.

What would make the most sense is for the Nittany Lions—who have yet to face many major offensive tests—to focus on playing zone while doubling up on Decker, adding timely blitzes to make Minnesota QB Adam Weber uncomfortable in the pocket.

And the blitzing aspect is key, considering that the Golden Gophers are 101st in the nation in sacks allowed. Keep in mind Penn State has had success in sacking opponents (tied for fourth in the nation), though the Nittany Lions faced a number of cupcakes during the early weeks of the season.

These facts alone point to the reason Adam Weber has more interceptions than touchdowns so far this season (eight vs. six). Teams have been disrupting him while attempting to focus their attention on Decker.

All in all, it should be an interesting game in Happy Valley this Saturday—and likely a much closer game than many prognosticators may expect. Minnesota has talent on both sides of the ball, and this is a team that gave Cal all it could handle for three-plus quarters.

In the end, though, it all comes down to a Penn State secondary that will need to be playing with a full deck—not one that’s full of Decker.

Top 10 Storylines for the Upcoming Weekend in Big Ten Football

Kevin Paul — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:35:29 -0400

It may not be the sexiest list of games slated for the Big Ten this weekend, but it’s a week that nevertheless features enough potentially important storylines. Take the following, which this writer feels could be the most intriguing as the weekend approaches:

10. Will The Real Iowa Please Stand Up?

Facing an improved Michigan team, the “Jekyll and Hyde” Hawkeyes will have their hands full, but which team will show up—the Iowa team that squeaked out wins against Northern Iowa and Arkansas State or the team that upended Penn State in Happy Valley?

09. The Paterno / Bowden Chase—Is the End Near?

What a difference a few weeks can make. The Seminoles were riding high after a blowout win vs. BYU, but after back-to-back losses to South Florida and Boston College, coach Bowden is hearing the retirement whispers yet again. And what does that leave with the chase for the most career victories? Could Paterno have a padded lead by season’s end, and could this race be nearing its conclusion?

08. Juice Gets Squeezed

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be…not for Juice Williams (one TD and four INT in ‘09) and not for the Illinois offense. Now, with Williams being benched for Eddie McGee, the question remains whether this is the end for Juice and a career that once yielded so much promise.

07. Buckeye Run Game—Where’s the Consistency?

The Ohio State running game may be ranked 35th in the nation, and while they spread it around to Saine and Herron, plus Pryor, one could argue as to where the consistency is. After all, Pryor leads the team in rushing, with 298 yards. But one should expect a ranking much higher after playing four of five games against the likes of Navy, Toledo, Illinois, and Indiana. In the one big game against USC, the Buckeyes had a measly 88 yards on 30 attempts. Want to land in the BCS? Then this needs to improve, starting with the Badgers this weekend.

06. O’Brien Schofield Overlooked

All this talk about guys such as Corey Wootton and Jammie Kirlew, when is the world going to take notice on O’Brien Schofield, defensive lineman for the Badgers? Well, take notice now, because the young man has been a force this year, with 4.5 sacks and 11 tackles for a loss (which is tops in the nation).

05. Penn State Schedule in the Spotlight Again

The Nittany Lions schedule critics are popping out of the woodwork again, as cupcake Eastern Illinois comes to town this Saturday. While Coach Paterno frustratingly snapped back question after question on the subject, this much is true, Penn State’s title hopes were likely dashed against Iowa a few weeks ago. This schedule won’t cut it and a miracle is needed now, including Iowa remaining strong all season, plus a number of SEC teams losing. Even then, it still likely won’t be enough.

04. Zooker’s Seat Getting Hotter—Or It Should Be

One has to feel for Coach Zook, but there’s no doubt that he could be on the hottest seat in coaching to date, what with Illinois being hyped up as a dark horse in the Big Ten for the season, led by an offense that was supposed to be the most explosive in the conference. Sure, there have been injuries, and Juice Williams has struggled too, but in the end, the coach is the one that always takes the fall.

03. Clay Is A Rock

At the beginning of the season, Wisconsin running back John Clay wasn’t even named the starter. But as the season has progressed, Clay has accumulated 582 yards and seven TDs in the first five games. The Badgers, sporting 217 plus rush yards per game (14th in the nation), now face a talented Buckeyes defense—and if Clay can put up a big performance against Ohio State, there should be an argument to include him in a Heisman race that is becoming surprisingly more wide open as the season progresses.

02. Playing with a Full Decker

During the preseason, the talk surrounded Arrelious Benn of Illinois as the big gun of receivers in the Big Ten, also included among the nation’s best with the likes of Dez Bryant, etc. But while many acknowledge the solid career of Minnesota’s Eric Decker, one could easily argue that he still doesn’t get enough national recognition…and that has to change. Decker, heading into this weekend’s game against Purdue, leads the nation with 639 receiving yards. It’s time to put this kid among the nation’s elite for good.

01. Big Ten Saggin’ via the Sagarin

In the latest Sagarin NCAA football ratings (via USAToday.com), the Big Ten conference is sixth among the BCS conferences. And yes, even the Big East is ranked ahead of the Big Ten, which isn’t exactly painting a pretty image among college football nation, but instead more of an abstract mess. While it all may be subjective… talk about fueling the backlash that the Big Ten has been receiving in recent memory.

Ohio State-USC: Top Ten Things You Won't Hear During the Game (Humor)

Kevin Paul — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:53:29 -0400

When the Buckeyes and Trojans hit the field this weekend, it won’t just be one of the biggest games of the week, but also the entire season.

And while there are a lot of things you will hear before, during and after this matchup, here’s a list of ten things you most definitely will NOT hear:

Top 10 Things You Won’t Hear At Ohio State v USC Game this Weekend

10. Dane Sanzenbacher: “Boy, I can’t wait to meet Taylor Mays on the field.”

9. Pete Carroll: “I’ll never chance it by going for it on fourth and short.”

8. Matt Barkley: “John David Booty has been giving me advice on his recent experiences on how to handle the continuous influx of media.”

7. OSU Linebackers: “Joe McKnight? Piece of cake…we handled Ricky Dobbs last week.”

6. Terrelle Pryor: “No time to talk, I have been hired to be President Obama’s new press secretary.”

5. Taylor Mays: “When away from football, I enjoy knitting, reading romance novels, and long walks on the beach.”

4. Mitch Mustain: “I’m gettin’ some tonight.”

3. Jim Tressel: “Let’s do a double-reverse, fake flea flicker.”

2. USC Trojans: “Let’s celebrate a score with a golf clap and a nonchalant handing of the football to the official.”

1. Ohio State Sports Information Department: “Mr. Maurice Clarett will be dotting the “i” today.”

** Obvious Disclaimer: None of the above quotes are real, but instead an attempt at humor

Big Ten Predictions: Can You Top Our Trio?

Kevin Paul — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:17:09 -0400

College football is here and if you haven't heard already, the boys at First and Big Ten (featuring B/R writers Tim Cary, Kristofer Green, and Kevin Paul) are celebrating by having a little contest on Big Ten football.

It's not too late to play - deadline for the first week is Saturday at 7am. But since the season starts tonight with Indiana taking the field against Eastern Kentucky, we are going to post our picks now.

Here's a recap of the 10 questions for Week 1, plus our predictions:

1. Predict the winner: Toledo at Purdue

TC: Purdue
KG: Purdue
KP: Purdue

TC’s Take: I've got the Boilers over Toledo by a touchdown in Danny Hope's debut; since Joe Tiller lost his first game as Purdue coach against the Rockets, there's no danger of the home team overlooking this opponent.

2. Predict the winner: Navy at Ohio State

TC: Ohio State
KG: Ohio State
KP: Ohio State

KG’s Take: The Buckeyes could have problems with Navy's triple option... for a quarter. Ohio State just has too much on both sides of the ball.

3. Predict the winner: Western Michigan at Michigan

TC: Western Michigan
KG: Michigan
KP: Western Michigan

KP’s Take: My opinion on this game can be found here. In a nutshell, the Broncos have a ton of talent returning on offense, while the Wolverines are not only battling distractions, but also feature many players at key positions playing in their first college game.

4. Predict the winner: Minnesota at Syracuse

TC: Minnesota
KG: Minnesota
KP: Minnesota

TC’s Take: Most people are talking about Greg Paulus in this game, but it will be the other quarterback, Adam Weber, that makes enough plays to get his team the W.

5. Predict the winner: Missouri vs. Illinois (at St. Louis)

TC: Illinois
KG: Illinois
KP: Illinois

KP’s Take: The Fighting Illini arguably have the most explosive offense in the Big Ten, featuring stars like QB Juice Williams and WR Arrelious Benn. Meanwhile, Missouri lost significant weapons on offense (to the NFL), including QB Chase Daniel and WR Jeremy Maclin.

6. Which Big Ten defense will force the most turnovers this week?

TC: Penn State
KG: Michigan State
KP: Michigan State

TC’s Take: Happy Valley isn't a happy place for visitors, and Penn State's whiteout, coupled with an opportunistic defense, will cause a number of Akron miscues on Saturday.

7. Which Big Ten quarterback will lead the league in passing yards this week?

TC: Juice Williams
KG: Juice Williams
KP: Juice Williams

KG’s Take: Juice Williams will be amped for this final scheduled meeting between the long time rivals. The Illini will be throwing the ball all over the field.

8. Which Big Ten team will kick the longest field goal this week?

TC: Purdue
KG: Ohio State
KP: Ohio State

TC’s Take: Purdue's Carson Wiggs has the big leg most kickers dream of: his first made field goal for the Boilers was a school-record 53-yarder last season.

9. Which Big Ten player will have the most sacks this week?

TC: Mike Neal (Purdue)
KG: Thaddeus Gibson (Ohio State)
KP: Jammie Kirlew (Indiana)

KG’s Take: Thaddeus Gibson has been waiting for this. This offseason the defensive end developed a motto: "kill everything moving." Bad news for the Midshipmen.

10. Which Big Ten player will have the most tackles this week?

TC: Austin Spitler (Ohio State)
KG: Navorrow Bowman (Penn State)
KP: Obi Ezeh (Michigan)

KP’s Take: Ezeh (98 tackles in ’08) will likely play the entire game, while Michigan battles the Broncos to the bitter end, therefore leaving him with more opportunities compared to others in the Big Ten that may be sitting by the 3rd quarter.

Rich Rodriguez's Hell Week Could Continue Against Broncos

Kevin Paul — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:49:57 -0400

Quite a week-long stretch for Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez, isn’t it?

Just in case you’re living in a bubble, let’s recap some of Rich Rod’s recent adventures...

Playing three quarterbacks during the opening week—check.

Referring to Michigan’s three-QB system as “neat”—check.

Having former players accuse you of overworking them in the form of more than 20 hours per week, which would be an NCAA violation—check.

Having the school administration investigate the aforementioned allegations—check.

Being sued over a condo project—check.

Finally, through all those press conference tears, not even managing to pick up a TV endorsement from either Puffs Plus or Kleenex.

Chalk that up as one last painful check.

Life truly isn’t fair.

But don’t feel for Rodriguez just yet—because believe me, his week could still get worse, specifically on Saturday, when the Broncos come to Ann Arbor.

That’s right...Michigan is opening at home, but only as a 12-and-a-half-point favorite.

12-and-a-half points? That’s it? Even over a “directional school” such as Western Michigan?

Surely there must be some kind of typo.

Can anyone say “upset special”?

Upset special!

Very good!

Listen, the Broncos are a good football team. Returning seven starters on offense from last season’s team that went 9-4 (and played in the Texas Bowl), Western Michigan is nothing to shake a stick at.

There’s senior leadership on offense, both in the running and passing game. Senior QB Tim Hiller is ready to lead the team after passing for 3,725 yards and throwing for 36 touchdowns.

While some may argue that Hiller lost his two top receiving weapons in Jamarko Simmons and Schneider Julien, the Broncos still return plenty of talent, including a combined 95 catches between WR Juan Nunez and RB Brandon West.

Think you can stop the pass game, Wolverines? OK, then deal with West (another senior) on the ground, who was a thousand-yard rusher in 2008.

Wait, there’s more!

The offensive line has four players returning with eight-plus starts from last season. That spells experience, and this is most certainly an offense that is going to give Michigan headaches.

Oh, and by the way, did you think I was done?

Think again.

Over each of the last three seasons, Western Michigan has pulled off at least one upset victory over an FBS school (Virginia in ’06, Iowa in ’07, and Illinois in ’08).

Feeling maize and blue yet?

If the Wolverines are going to get to the Broncos, it will be have to be attacking the defense, which only returns three starters.

But even that won’t be easy, what with the three-QB system still being a question mark, plus experimenting with two freshman QBs playing in their first college game. Combine that with the overall distractions that the program has encountered recently, and you have the potential for a black cloud ready to open up and pour down on the Wolverines.

Don’t tell me none of this is a distraction for the current players, because plain and simple, it is. These kids aren’t Tiger Woods—they can’t just shove this all aside immediately.

So, Rich Rod, it’s been a tough week, a hell week that a fraternity would be proud of.

But hold on tight; the football season hasn’t even started yet—and the Broncos are waiting with Appalachian State memories fresh in their minds.

Stop by and talk college football at FirstandBigTen.com, a site on Chicago Now, run by Bleacher Report and Chicago Tribune, featuring three B/R writers (Kristofer Green, Tim Cary, and yours truly).

Seven Fan Types That Drive Me Crazy

Kevin Paul — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:13:55 -0400

There’s a certain breed of fan out there—a group very much unlike the rest of us. C’mon football fan, you can name plenty of fans that are like “nails on a chalkboard” to you.

Allow me to go all “Lewis Black” on this blog and explain what I mean, in the form of the top seven types of fans that drive me crazy...**

7. The D-Fence Fan

Signs are a common sight at sporting events. People want to express their right to free speech, show support for their team, or get on TV. I get it—but the next time you're making a sign, how about some creativity?

Signs like "SportsCenter is next" or whatever else...those are getting older than Brett Favre's coming out of retirement parties.

The most annoying of all is the twosome that sits in the stands, one holding up a "D" and the other a fence. At every football game in modern history, you see one of these.

The key here is that this is a joint effort. If your boy has to hit the restroom, you may want to pass the "D" to someone else. If not, well...then you get something even more ridiculous than the concept itself. Yeah, go fence!

6. The Clueless Fan

Ever watched a game with a clueless fan? Trust me, you have. In many cases, the clueless fan is someone we really care about, but that doesn't mean that his/her responses don't drive you less crazy.

These fans ask the most off-the-wall questions—at the most inopportune times. I'm talking about the types of questions that you can't answer, such as, "Hey, why exactly did those refs decide to put black stripes at that particular angle on their sleeves?"

Those questions always throw us off and ALWAYS occur on a fourth-and-goal play with one minute to go in a tie game.

You know it. I know it. Admit it...it spells pain!

5. The Lightweight Fan

I know you have encountered these people at stadiums across the country. In fact, some of you probably have been this person from time to time.

Listen, I'm all for having a few drinks before, after, or during a game, as it sometimes can help enhance the game experience.

In the case of the "Lightweight Fan," this person will have a few at a time, and more unfortunate for you, a few too many. This fan always ends up in your row, and as they're attempting to carry a drink, these fans believe they are sober.

I honestly know the real reason they have to keep going back for more. By the time they sit down, they have two beers that are half full. Half of one is on my lap, and half of the other is on my head—and that really grinds my gears.

4. The Stadium Club Girl

Somebody explain this type of fan to me. How many times have you seen a female show up at a game in high heels and a short skirt? Why?

OK, so from a male's standpoint, it isn't entirely a bad thing—but let's face it, ladies, the men are there to watch their team play. They're fine with having the women around, and most men don't mind a good-looking woman at a ball game with a t-shirt and jeans on; a casual look can be striking too.

The majority of us think you're ridiculous to show up to a game looking like Pacman Jones visited you earlier in the evening—and that's a fact.

3. The "Deer in the Headlights" Fan

This is the type of fan who is doing anything possible to get on camera so they can enjoy their one single minute of fame on television.

What's the obsession with getting on camera anyway? Because by the time this fan gets on screen, they haven't the foggiest idea what to do. In the end, this fan stands there motionless, with a blank stare, almost like a deer in the headlights.

In the end, all the fan can come up with is to hold up his/her finger and whisper, "Number one...we're number one." That's it; that's all they got.

Their team could be ranked 110th in the country in college football, but they're still No. 1 for that moment in time, and I think that's ridiculous.

"We're number one" can take a long walk off a short pier, as far as I'm concerned.

2. The "Glass Is Overflowing" Fan

We all know the type. This person was a cheerleader in a former life, or maybe just a few years prior. The glass is definitely not half empty, but it isn't half full either—it's overflowing. It could be Indiana taking on USC in college football, and this fan is hyping up a 20-point victory by the Hoosiers.

I don't know about you, but this fan makes my eyes roll back into my head, to the point where I'm frightened I can't get them back. I'm fine with having some faint hope when my team is a major underdog, and if the team I'm rooting for can pull it off, it's that much more satisfying.

But this person needs to get a clue.

Please don't tell me how your cupcake squad is going to win the national championship. We don't want to hear it. Someone get some duct tape please...and while you're at it, I could use some Advil, too.

1. The Bandwagon Fans

These fans make life miserable for all of us. It's because of them that we often get accused of being one of their kind.

I'm talking about the bandwagon fan. They sported the Laker hat during the Shaq and Kobe era and the Tim Duncan jersey after. This fan's "sox" were red in 2004 and suddenly white in 2005. In college football, it was Pete Carroll and the Trojans to Tim Tebow and the Gators.

The bandwagon fan's team doesn't perform, and they disappear. They improve, and the fan returns. I loathe you, bandwagon fans...take your wagon elsewhere, and leave the real sports fan alone.

Please chime in and share the types of fans that drive you crazy...

** This is the third version of this blog (previous two were posted by KP on Feb. 27, 2007 and Oct. 7, 2008.)

A Six-Pack of Trap Games Facing Big Ten Teams in 2009

Kevin Paul — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:51:14 -0400

Coaches preach to the high heavens that a team never, ever looks ahead to a big game, but instead focuses on the current opponent.

Right, and Brutus the Buckeye has a tiny head.

For every hyped-up “game of the year” such as Trojans vs. Buckeyes or Ohio State and Penn State, there’s a trap game lying in the weeds, ready to up and pounce on the college football world, sending shock waves far and wide.

Take the following six-pack of examples, which could serve as trap games in the Big Ten for 2009.

Michigan Wolverines

Trap Game: Western Michigan (Sept. 5)

Stop eyeing the Irish the following week, Michigan—the Broncos (9-4 in 2008) are no slouch. Western Michigan returns seven starters on offense in 2009, including QB Tim Hiller, who threw for 36 TDs and over 3,700 yards last season.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Trap Game: Air Force Falcons (Sept. 12)

Minnesota will have trouble not getting fired up for a battle with Cal on the 19th of September, but before getting ready for the Golden Bears, the Gophers need to not overlook Air Force.

The Falcons, 8-5 last season, return six starters on both offense and defense. This was a team that gave Utah all it could handle last year, and they feature nothing but juniors and seniors across the entire linebacker group and defensive line.

Michigan State Spartans

Trap Game: Central Michigan Chippewas (Sept. 12)

The Spartans usually start the season out strong, but with a road trip to South Bend looming on Sept. 19, it’s possible this team could overlook the Chippewas. But that would be silly, considering that Central Michigan has made it to the Motor City Bowl three straight years and returns 16 starters, including 10 on defense.

Plus, one shouldn’t overlook the offense, led by talented QB Dan LeFevour, who had 21 TDs and only six INTs in 2008.

Iowa Hawkeyes

Trap Game: Arizona Wildcats (Sept. 19)

The Hawkeyes have Arizona at home in late September, but this game is sandwiched in between a road trip to in-state rival Iowa State, plus a trip to Happy Valley to take on the Nittany Lions afterward. Kirk Ferentz will need to have his team focused in order to avoid a letdown.

Wildcats head coach Mike Stoops took the team to its first bowl game in a decade last season, a 31-21 victory over BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. This season, Arizona loses only 13 lettermen from last year’s squad that finished 8-5.

Ohio State Buckeyes

Trap Game: Toledo Rockets (Sept. 19)

Before you think this one is off the deep end, look at the situation.

First off, this is following one of the most hyped-up games of the year, where Ohio State will have faced USC the previous week. In comes Toledo, a team sparked by a brand-new head coach in Tim Beckman, and which also returns 1,700-plus yards rushing (between Morgan Williams and DaJuane Collins in '08).

On top of that, the game is being played at a neutral site in Cleveland Browns Stadium. Most important of all, Toledo returns 18 starters from last year’s team, including only seven lettermen lost—an astonishing number.

This Toledo team could easily be a headache for Ohio State, much like Ohio was the previous season.

Penn State Nittany Lions

Trap Game: at Northwestern Wildcats (Oct. 31)

Finally, there’s Penn State, a team that has lost some significant starters on both sides of the ball. Yes, the non-conference schedule is soft in 2009, but there are a few Big Ten trap games later in the season, none more noticeable than Northwestern, a game that is nestled in between a trip to Ann Arbor (Oct. 24) and the big game against the Buckeyes on Nov. 7 at Beaver Stadium.

This is the first time the Nittany Lions have had to face Northwestern since 2006, and the teams have split the last four meetings. Also, the last four matchups in Evanston have been close (by an average of five points per game). Pat Fitzgerald always has the Wildcats ready to play and will no doubt be giving Penn State headaches all game long.

Enjoy talking about college football? Stop by First and Big Ten, where yours truly, plus two others from B/R (Kristofer Green and Tim Cary), love to do just that...

Dear Rich Rodriguez and Michigan: Three's a Crowd at Quarterback

Kevin Paul — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:35:16 -0400

Dear Rich Rod,

There’s a realization that you and your brethren in maize and blue are confident that the incoming talent is overflowing from the sideline and soon to the goal line.

Upon your slight delusions of grandeur, there’s an outpouring of music humming throughout camp—perhaps it goes something like this...

Come and dance on our floor...
Take a step that is new...
We've a lovable space that needs your face,
Three's company too.

Keep whistling that tune as you push towards an opening match with Western Michigan, where you will use three quarterbacks: freshman Tate Forcier, freshman Denard Robinson, and junior Nick Sheridan.

Only, three’s a crowd.

Maybe with four starts under his belt in ’08, you feel Sheridan has earned the right to take some snaps. Perhaps it was QB coach Rod Smith’s quote (via Phil Steele) on Forcier, stating he has “some of the best mechanics from a high school kid in a while.”

Or maybe you feel you need a spark from Robinson, a lightning-quick QB who chose you over Urban Meyer and Gator Nation.

Wake up and smell Mr. Roper.

A three-QB system? This doesn’t paint a picture of success, but instead an inkblot of Big Ten obscurity.

Look at past history in college football. Heck, even a two-headed monster at the quarterback position has resulted in more problems than accolades.

While most may want to point to the Tim Tebow-Chris Leak combo that brought home championship hardware, others should look at the problems first.

Look within the Big Ten conference for starters, with combos like Justin Zwick-Troy Smith at Ohio State and Daryll Clark-Pat Devlin at Penn State. With the Nittany Lions alone, Devlin, after not getting nearly enough snaps, decided to transfer to Delaware in the most recent offseason.

First off, in today’s sports world, so many athletes come as a package deal: skills plus ego. A player’s ego gets a boost by an assortment of promises spouted out by coaches (in order to help bring a recruit home). Plain and simple, in this day and age, empty promises lead to disappointment and frustration—not always, but often enough.

Any of these quarterbacks could become frustrated with this situation and bolt for another school.

Look at point two, familiarity. Every player plays with a different “style.” Look at the NBA star who can only drive to the right; it’s the same in football, only worse.

Think about it in the QB world. An offensive line has to adjust too. Players get accustomed to hard counts, plus changes in rhythm that emphasize an audible coming up.

By changing the signal caller so frequently throughout a game, a team is just asking for a sloppy performance, chock-full of illegal procedures, blown plays, and false starts.

Take three, in the form of leadership. One example can be swiped from last night’s NFL Jets-Ravens preseason game, where Jets coach Rex Ryan discussed how announcing a quarterback sooner than later is important for building a leader and a voice for a team.

Where would the leadership be with the Wolverines in this situation? One guy’s in, he’s pumping the offense up and leading a drive, and then...out he goes. Next guy in, incomplete. Third guy, a QB draw for three yards. The beat goes on.

So do the Ann Arbor faithful a favor, Rich Rod, and make a decision on who Michigan’s starting quarterback is...and do it now, instead of telling the AP that playing three guys “would be neat."

You aren’t Brett Favre here; this decision should be easy as one, two, three.

Enjoy talking about college football? Stop by First and Big Ten, where yours truly, plus two others from B/R (Kristofer Green and Tim Cary), love to do just that...

Big Ten Football Preview: Team Themes That Are Music to My Ears

Kevin Paul — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:09:41 -0400

Each season, a team earns a clean slate, and 2009 will be no different. Whether a program likes it or not, everyone earns a reputation and a theme even before the season begins.

Call it a Big Ten preview set to music (featuring all 11 schools) and the theme song each should have blasting over the loudspeakers in the locker room this week.

BIG TEN PREVIEW

Penn State Nittany Lions
“Secondary” – Brand New

“Secondary… And it comes down to you.”
The Nittany Lions have an extremely talented team in place for 2009, yet suffered major losses from last season on the o-line, at the wide receiver position, and in the secondary.

The offensive line has two anchors in place to help the others grow (Landolt and Wisniewski), while experienced QB Daryll Clark combined with a solid running game led by Evan Royster should help a group of talented receivers.

That leaves the inexperienced secondary, which enters the season with zero starters from 2008. This new bunch is going to have to grow fast, especially with an explosive offense like Illinois on the schedule fairly early in the Big Ten season.

Top Returnee: QB Daryll Clark (2,592 yds passing, 29 total TD’s, 6 INT’s in 2008)

Ohio State Buckeyes
“Five On The Five” – The Raconteurs

“…and I guess we’re doing fine, but I’m scared of something more that is on the line.”

For the Buckeyes, it’s now four straight years of at least having a share of the Big Ten Championship, and this season would make it five. There are significant losses at positions such as linebacker and wide receiver, but Ohio State has significant talent waiting in the wings, and a gifted player under center in Terrelle Pryor.

If one were to talk to Jim Tressel, he would state to take it “one game at a time,” but after some recent BCS struggles, everyone knows that there’s “something more that is on the line”.

Top Returnee: QB Terrelle Pryor (1,942 total yards, 18 total TD’s, 4 INT’s in 2008)

Michigan State Spartans
“Big Crash” – Less Than Jake

“Just hold your ground, and don’t give up, in what you believe.”
Mark Dantonio has done some special things at Michigan State in his first two seasons. For this year, there are high expectations, because even with the loss of star Javon Ringer, the Spartans return 15 starters.

The focus this year for Michigan State is going to be on the big games, as last year, Ohio State and Penn State won in blowouts.

In 2009, the Buckeyes are off the schedule, and Dantonio needs to find a way for the boys in green to win the big games, instead of taking a “big crash”.

Top Returnee: LB Greg Jones (127 tackles, 12 tackles for loss in 2008)

Iowa Hawkeyes
“Roadblock” – Rancid

“When the roadblock’s in the way, we’re gonna run around it.”

2008 was a successful season for Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes, tallying nine wins, including the Big Ten’s only bowl victory. Heading into 2009, RB Shonn Greene (off to the NFL) will be missed, but losing his talent isn’t the biggest issue for Iowa.

It’s instead the road schedule, which is brutal, featuring rival Iowa State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State. With plenty of talent returning to Iowa City, the question remains instead, how many times the Hawkeyes can avoid a “roadblock.”

Top Returnee: LB Pat Angerer (107 tackles, 5 ½ tackles for loss, 5 INT’s in 2008)

Northwestern Wildcats
“The Beast In Me” – Johnny Cash

“The beast in me is caged by frail and fragile bars…Restless by day and by night”

Northwestern returns only five starters on offense in 2009, featuring a number of questions led by the multi-talented QB Mike Kafka. The real story (and strength) for this year’s Wildcats squad is the defense, led by a beast in DE Corey Wootton, who decided to return for a fifth and final season (after getting injured in last year’s bowl).

With seven other starters returning on defense, coupled with a schedule free of Ohio State and Michigan, it could be an interesting and rewarding year for the Wildcats.

Top Returnee: DE Corey Wootton (10 sacks in 2008)

Minnesota Golden Gophers
“Long Road To Ruin” – Foo Fighters

“Long road to ruin there in your eyes, under the cold streetlights, no tomorrow, no dead end in sight…”

There are a lot of reasons to be positive in Minnesota… brand new stadium, a team returning 17 starters, plus an above .500 season and bowl appearance after winning only game during the previous year.

Combine that with some powerful weapons on offense including Adam Weber and Eric Decker, and there’s a lot to anticipate.

Then there’s the schedule. Give the Gophers credit for scheduling tough opponents such as Cal, but with a schedule that ranks as one of the toughest in the country, the season, with all its positives, could still wind up as a “long road to ruin.”

This is especially true in a month-long stretch that includes road games against Penn State and Ohio State, plus home games vs. Michigan State and Illinois.

Top Returnee: WR Eric Decker (84 rec.1074 yds, 7 TD’s in 2008)

Wisconsin Badgers
“Run” – Collective Soul

“Have I got a long way to run… Have I got a long way to run…”

One figure is true, the Badgers under Bret Bielema have been under a slight decline over the last few seasons, falling from 12 wins, to 9 wins, to just 7-6 last season. But that won’t change a thing with the way Wisconsin runs its offense in 2009.

It’s going to be a steady diet of the same, that being the running game, this time led solely by the talented John Clay, who combined with P.J. Hill in 2008 to run for over 2,000 yards.

On his own, Clay ran for 884 yards, adding nine touchdowns, and this season the Badgers will be expecting much more out of him.

Top Returnee: RB John Clay (884 yards rushing, 9 TD’s, 5.7 yds per carry in 2008)

Illinois Fighting Illini
“When The Levee Breaks” – Led Zeppelin

“…prayin’ won’t do you no good, when the levee breaks, mama, you got to move.”

Illinois had a bit of a down year in 2008, going 5-7 and missing out on a bowl after playing in the Rose Bowl in 2007. 2009 should be interesting, as the Illini have a potent and experienced offense, led by QB Juice Williams and WR Arrelious Benn.

On defense, the team is still somewhat inexperienced, and will need to improve after last year’s unit fell victim in a number of shootouts.

One could say that with this year’s team, it’s all about “when the levee breaks, whether it be the offense breaking loose against an opponent, or the defense caving in and faltering against another conference opponent.

If Illinois can minimize the latter, they could be a pleasant surprise in the Big Ten.

Top Returnee: WR Arrelious Benn (67 rec., 1055 yds., 3 TD’s in 2008)

Purdue Boilermakers
“New Kid In Town” – The Eagles

“Johnny come lately, the new kid in town, everybody loves you, so don’t let them down.”

The Boilermakers have a younger team that many feel should finish near the bottom of the Big Ten, but don’t say that to new head coach Danny Hope, who thinks this squad could surprise in 2009.

Hope himself is the story for this team, and all eyes are on him. He certainly has big shoes that he has to fill as Joe Tiller departs, and with players returning such as talented RB Jaycen Taylor, who knows, stranger things have happened.

Top Returnee: FS Torri Williams (83 tackles, 2 INT’s, 6 passes broken up in 2008)

Michigan Wolverines
“Come Back” – Pearl Jam

“Under this broken roof, it’s only rain that I feel, been wishing out the days, come back.”

2008 was rough for the Wolverines, but for Michigan fans that haven’t seen such a tumultuous year in decades, there’s plenty to hope for leading into 2009. After all, look back to Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia, where year one was a similar disaster, followed by significant improvement.

Rodriguez has a number of new recruits that will fit his system and combined with the current roster adding experience, there could be a similar turnaround in Ann Arbor this year. Don’t expect an elite finish just yet, but definitely look for a “come back.”

Top Returnee: DE Brandon Graham (10 sacks, 10 tackles for loss in 2008)

Indiana Hoosiers
“Lost!” – Coldplay

“Just because I’m losing, doesn’t mean I’m lost, doesn’t mean I’ll stop.”

Give Bill Lynch credit, as the Hoosiers are trying to find ways to improve and win games. This season, Indiana is switching to the Pistol offense, in an attempt to assist QB Ben Chappell and the offense.

On the defense, the Hoosiers have a very talented line, led by Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton. But all in all, the Hoosiers still have a way to go.

Where they lack in talent, they are trying to replace in creativity...give the staff credit. As Chris Martin’s lyrics go, “just because I’m losing, doesn’t mean I’m lost”… and the Hoosiers won’t stop trying to improve, either.

Top Returnee: DE Jammie Kirlew (74 tackles, 10 ½ sacks in 2008)

Talk Big Ten football at firstandbigten.com

Football Is Coming, So Get Up and Make Some Noise Already!

Kevin Paul — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:09:04 -0400

Put on that game face. Football is coming.

I CAN’T HEAR YOU.

Aren’t you in pain from a summer of So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Got Talent? Sure you are, but quit crying over that open wound left from excessive Gosselin gossip.

RUB SOME DIRT ON IT.

College football is just a hair over two weeks away—a stone’s throw from a heck of an opener between No. 14 Oregon and No. 16 Boise State—on the “Smurf Turf”. If the coma-inducing jerseys and field aren’t enough, just look at the talent and implications of game one, as the Ducks could easily challenge USC for the Pac-10, while the Broncos could be this year’s BCS darling. Heck, one dream alone can be crushed before the opening weekend.

Can I get a “Statue of Liberty” play? Don’t roll your eyes at me, Bob Stoops.

If the Thursday opener on Sept. 3 isn’t enough, then look no further than two days later, when No. 5 Alabama faces No. 7 Virginia Tech, No. 3 Oklahoma takes on BYU, and No. 13 Georgia clashes with No. 11 Oklahoma State.

OK, so to rehash, that’s an intense Nick Saban leading ‘Bama against the Hokies and Frank Beamer, two Heisman candidates facing off in Max Hall (BYU) and Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), and a Stafford-free Georgia squad going against the Cowboys and Mike Gundy…the man, who’s now 42.

Are you fired up now, football fan?

If not, then look at the implications of these big games—not just to each school playing in these games, but other conferences.

Take the Big Ten for example, a conference that opens the season with three teams in the Coaches Top 25 (No. 6 Ohio State, No. 8 Penn State, and No. 21 Iowa).

Fine, the Nittany Lions open with Akron—not exactly a blockbuster movie with shoot ‘em up action, I get it. The Buckeyes have Navy—yeah, the Midshipmen will likely be sunk. Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes have Northern Iowa—right, not the sexiest matchup on paper.

But it’s football, it’s big time games, it’s big time matchups with major implications.

BCS implications—because a number of the prognosticators have the likes of Oklahoma, BYU, Boise State, Oregon, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, and Alabama, all in heavy contention for a BCS berth by season’s end.

When top-notch teams face off this early, some dreams could take a major hit, heck, just ask Clemson last season. The result is a doorway for teams in the polls (like the aforementioned Big Ten trio) to move on up—as well as open the doorway for other unranked teams such as Michigan State, Illinois, or even Minnesota.

This is your TV now, football fan. Mowing the lawn can wait, are you kidding me?

I want you to grab your leather chair. I want you to get an ice-cold beer. I want you to have the remote in your hand, and no one else’s.

Your time is now.

Turn on that high-def channel and suck yourself in—put yourself there trampling through the grass, the mud, the rain, the snow—the elements.

I want you to grab your tailgate gear, toss it in your truck, litter the back of your car with school pride, and take off for the stadium. I want you to toss a steak on the grill, and cook it up until the neighbors salivate in unison around you.

Nittany Lions fans, can I get a “WE ARE PENN STATE”? Michigan crew, can I get a “Go Blue”? Buckeye faithful, can I get a, “O-Hi-O”?

This is your time, football fan.

Football is upon us, so get up off your feet and make some @#$% noise already!

Yes, Ohio State Can Beat USC

Kevin Paul — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:29:40 -0400

One of the most hyped up games of the upcoming college football season is now just less than a month away.

Yes, football fans, grab those foam fingers, wash that jersey, and fill that fridge with cold ones, because Ohio State and USC are meeting at “The ‘Shoe” on September 12.

While many prognosticators see the Trojans rolling through Columbus with reckless abandon, this writer sees it a little differently—and there are a few reasons why Ohio State knocking off the Trojans isn’t such a far-fetched idea…

The Lucky Horseshoe

Let’s start with the obvious, shall we? Home field advantage. Let’s face it, it’s a nightmare for opponents to play at the ‘Shoe. Just ask anyone that’s had to go in there and deal with the noise. In fact, Vince Young once referred to Ohio Stadium as “the loudest place I’ve ever played.”

If the Trojans are going to have trouble traveling to a place like Corvallis—sporting its capacity crowd of just over 45,000—try dealing with Ohio State’s humble abode, chock-full of electricity, an “unwelcome mat” and a crowd of 100,000 plus.

On top of all that, the Buckeyes are 46-1 at home against non-conference teams, with the only loss being against Texas in ’05 (a close 25-22 game). This is the same Texas team that eventually won the National Title (eventually defeating… yep, you guessed it…USC). And, oh yeah, the Bucks beat Texas on the road the following season.

The Big Ten Entrenched

Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes play a style like most of the Big Ten, focusing on the trenches, preaching solid defense, and controlling field position via a solid special teams group. While the Buckeyes return only 12 starters, this team does bring back some big weapons on special teams as well as its entire defensive line.

Included on this defensive line are four returning starters, two seniors and two juniors—all have the experience to help try and wreak havoc on Aaron Corp, the talented but inexperienced USC QB that has been tabbed as Mark Sanchez’s successor.

Last year’s OSU defense was consistent, ranking 18th in rush defense and 25th in pass defense. This D-line can plug up the running game, forcing Corp to try and beat them through the air while dealing with the crowd noise.

Having “Pryor” Experience

Terrelle Pryor may only be a sophomore entering this season, but he will be the QB with experience in this game. While Pryor made his share of freshman mistakes, he most certainly will be a better player in ‘09.

The former top-rated recruit has a ton of talent, both throwing and running. Pryor’s mobility is what is going to be key here, because with Ohio State’s question marks in the running game, having Pryor as a dual threat should at least help in keeping USC’s defense honest.

With a number of its offensive weapons departing, including WR Brian Robiskie, WR Brian Hartline, and RB Chris “Beanie” Wells, Pryor is not only going to need to put this offense on his back, but a number of other talented players are going to need to step it up.

“Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better…”

Recent football chatter has been how when a handful of Trojans depart for the NFL, it never matters because Pete Carroll and his staff just restock and reload. Yes, USC stockpiles talent but critics need to take a step back and look at the big picture. USC is not alone in this department.

In fact, the Buckeyes (under Tressel) have recruited exceptionally well. In fact, according to the 2009 class rankings on Scout.com, the Buckeyes are the No. 1 class, with USC landing in the No. 9 slot.

Sure, the Trojans managed 10 players from the Top 100 and four five-star recruits, but the Buckeyes were not far off, landing seven Top 100 players and three five-star recruits. On top of that, the Buckeyes also rated ahead of the Trojans in 2008.

So while both teams are in need of some retooling, Ohio State is reeling in as much talent as USC. While recruiting is an inexact science, both teams will likely feature emerging young stars in 2009 and going forward. Just don’t be so fast to say that USC is the only team restocking with ease.

“Coach Klein” That Playbook

We all know how Coach Tressel likes to try and control a game. But with USC, the Buckeyes really need to open up the playbook more—say, in “Coach-Klein-like” fashion, as in the coach from The Waterboy, who loved to call some borderline absurd trick plays. But the fictional Klein gets pushed as a reference because he was far from vanilla.

Vanilla won’t fly with the Trojans, as USC just has too much talent, coupled with Carroll’s experience. So instead, catch USC a little off guard, maybe with a fake punt, a fake field goal, or a few trick plays that help open up Pryor for a big play or two.

It can work against USC—just look at Penn. State in last season’s Rose Bowl. Fine, the Trojans put a hurting on Penn State in the first half, but the Nittany Lions did move the ball and score on a USC defense that was significantly more lethal than its 2009 unit, which still lacks experience (the Trojans lost eight defensive starters).

With Penn State, it was the “Spread HD” offense, and Tressel needs to pull a few tricks from that sweater vest sleeve, or this game could possibly get out of hand.

In Conclusion

The game is a month away, yes. But with names like Ohio State and USC, the hype should begin now.

I’m not here this soon to toss out plays and techniques, but I’m here to tell you a few basic reasons why the Buckeyes could leave that September night with a tally in the win column.

The homefield advantage, the talented QB with a year under his belt, the defensive line experience, the special teams weapons, maybe a few trick plays, and the Buckeyes could be driving USC “nuts” and setting the stage for another off-the-wall college football season.

** Original version of this blog posted by KP on May 31, 2009

A Big Ten Football Tribute to John Hughes and His Movies

Kevin Paul — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:18:14 -0400

John Hughes was a genius, a one of a kind talent who blessed the world with comedic gems such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, National Lampoon’s Vacation, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Mr. Mom, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Home Alone, Uncle Buck, and more.

Sadly, Hughes left the world prematurely after dying of a heart attack at age 59 just a few short days ago. The writer/producer/director had ties with the city of Chicago, and the people who lived there loved him like they love deep dish pizza, the Wrigley Field ivy, Ozzie Guillen’s potty mouth, and Big Ten football.

That’s where this piece comes in—to provide a Big Ten football tribute to the passing of John Hughes, by providing a list of famous quotes from many of his movies, and providing the Big Ten football personality that fits the quote the most.

“A: You can never go too far. B: If I’m gonna get busted, it is not gonna be by a guy like that.”—Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Justin Feagin (Ex-Michigan WR)—cut from the team after news of him arranging a cocaine deal.

“Two hits. Me hittin’ you, you hittin’ the floor.”—The Breakfast Club

Jammie Kirlew (Indiana DE)—10 ½ sacks in 2008, tied for 2nd in Big Ten behind Maybin (PSU).
Corey Wootton (Northwestern DE)—10 sacks in ’08, also had 16 tackles for a loss last year.

“The guy’s a predator and you’re his prey.”—Uncle Buck

Greg Jones (Michigan St. LB)—127 tackles in ’08, tops among Big Ten returnees.
Sean Lee (Penn State LB)—returns from injury in ’09, had 138 tackles during ’07 season.
Brandon Graham (Michigan DE)—10 sacks in ’08, led Big Ten with 20 tackles for a loss.

Clark Griswold: “Burn some dust here. Eat my rubber.”
Rusty Griswold: “Dad, I think you mean burn rubber and eat my dust.”
Clark Griswold: “Whatever, Russ. Whatever.” – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Stephfon Green (Penn State RB)—4.29 speed and the compliment to teammate Evan Royster.
Brandon Saine (Ohio State RB)—4.35 speed the main reason he’s known as “Zoom”.
Hayo Carpenter (Minnesota WR)—JuCo with 4.37 speed a nice compliment to Eric Decker.

“Was that seat hot or what? I feel like a Whopper. Turn me over, I’m done on this side. I’m afraid to look at my ass. There’ll be griddle marks.”—Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Rich Rodriguez (Michigan Head Coach)—If there are no signs of improvement this season, the hot seat could be a lot toastier for Rich Rod after ’09.

“Look, we’ll just go with the situation okay? And I’m sure by Sunday you’ll think of something. You’re a very bright guy. I have a lot of faith in you okay?”—Weird Science

Danny Hope (Purdue Head Coach) – Many critics think Purdue could be in the cellar by the end of the season, but the Boiler faithful have confidence in Hope and the daunting task he has of replacing Joe Tiller.

Andie: “May I admire you?”
Duckie: “If you wish.”—Pretty in Pink

Juice Williams (Illinois QB)—Plenty to admire, as Juice is already 5th in total passing yards in school history, plus he led Big ten in total yards per game last season (324.3).
Jim Tressel (Ohio State Head Coach)—Say what you want about the big losses in the National Championship, Tressel has the Buckeyes to BCS games in 6 of 7 years and at least a share of the Big Ten title for the last four seasons.

Rusty Griswold: “Dad, you must’ve jumped this thing 50 yards!”
Clark Griswold: “That’s nothing to be proud of, Russ.”
Clark Griswold: [whispering to himself]“Fifty yards.”—National Lampoon’s Vacation

Daryll Clark (Penn State QB)—Can sling the ball down the field, and in ’08, put up nearly 2,600 yards passing, while throwing for 19 TD’s and only six interceptions.
Adam Weber (Minnesota QB)—Often not mentioned in the mix of elite QB’s in the Big Ten, Weber had 410 pass attempts last year—his arm is relied upon heavily in Gopher country.

Long Duk Dong: “Very clever dinner. Appetizing food fit neatly into interesting round pie.”
Mike Baker: “It’s a quiche.”
Long Duk Dong: “How do you spell?”
Grandpa Fred: “Well you don’t spell it, son, you eat it.” – Sixteen Candles

Good luck spelling it, but also good luck getting the pronunciation correct as well… without proper coaching, of course…Mike Hoomanawanui (Illinois TE), Chimdi Chekwa (Ohio State CB), Derrell Johnson-Koulianos (Iowa WR), Louis Nzegwu (Wisconsin DE) and Derrick Onwuachi (Minnesota DE).

And finally…

“OK forget Rocky. The point is… when you’re down, not exactly out… I mean, I mean you gotta hang tough… I don’t know.”—Mr. Mom

Michigan football—streaks ended last season include: non-losing year (40 years), bowl appearance (33 years) and winning Big Ten year (40 years).

R.I.P. John Hughes… and here’s to college football, less than a month away until kickoff!

Find this blog and more like it at "First and Big Ten", where I also write for Chicago Now and B/R - twitter: @firstandbigten - RT it!

Big Ten Football: The Weak Spots

Kevin Paul — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:16:00 -0400

Take a look around—it’s true. Look at Jon Gosselin’s love life, Lindsay Lohan’s driving record, or Kevin Federline’s waistline.

Nobody’s perfect.

The Big Ten is no different as the 2009 football season steadily approaches. On one end, there’s a Buckeyes team that owns a share of the Big Ten title over the last four seasons. On the other, an Indiana team, who according to head coach Bill Lynch, spent time traveling to sororities and fraternities attempting to find ways to get more students to attend football games.

But as a whole, each team in the Big Ten is similar. Each has its Achilles’ heel—some more than others. Here’s what could end up hurting each team’s chances in 2009.

The Achilles’ Heel of Each Big Ten Team Entering 2009

Indiana—Offensive Line

Coach Lynch has mentioned returning 84 total starts on the offensive line—but it’s still a group that allowed 2.33 sacks per game last season. That will need to improve—and that’s also likely why Lynch is switching to a pistol offense, which will allow QB Ben Chappell to get the ball out of his hands much quicker.

Michigan—Inexperience at Quarterback

The coaching staff loves freshman Tate Forcier, but hey, Notre Dame loved Jimmy Clausen when he showed up in a stretch limo to announce he was going to run the Irish offense. Forcier will face growing pains and adversity, similar to what Clausen faced as a true freshman—especially when playing in a bruising Big Ten that will send countless big bodies at him play after play.

Purdue—Recruiting / New Staff

The Boilermakers have a number of holes as the team attempts to rebuild under a new coaching staff that has to deal with the stress of replacing arguably the most successful coach in school history. When Danny Hope was asked about replacing Joe Tiller he simply said, “You have to be your own man.” True, but the departure of Tiller has also put a hit on recruiting, as per Rivals.com, the Boilermakers only have one four-star recruit (or higher) in each of the last two recruiting seasons.

Illinois—Defensive Line

The Illini lost their two top sack leaders from last season in Brit Miller and Derek Walker. Last year's team was in enough shootouts as it is, and with an inexperienced D-line, Illinois could find themselves struggling to get pressure on opponent QBs—therefore leading to—you guessed it, more shootouts.

Wisconsin—Linebackers

Jaevery McFadden is the only member of the Badgers to return with significant starting experience at the linebacker position. Culmer St. Jean and Blake Sorensen, the other two projected starters, only have a handful of starts between them. On top of that, the Badgers lost three D-linemen from last year’s team.

Minnesota—Strength of Schedule

The Golden Gophers will be proud to open the new TCF Bank Stadium, but don’t be surprised if there will be adjustments playing outdoors in the cold as opposed to indoors on the turf. On top of that, Minnesota has one of the toughest schedules in the country, which is an even bigger roadblock. Included in the list of opponents are Cal and Air Force as non-conference foes, plus back-to-back road games against Penn State and Ohio State.

Northwestern—Offensive Inexperience

Sure, new QB Mike Kafka set a Northwestern record by rushing for 212 yards in a game last year, but this Wildcats team, fresh off its nine-win season, returns only five starters on offense. Among the departed include QB C.J. Bacher and RB Tyrell Sutton, and there are sure to be some growing pains heading into the season. Having Michigan and Ohio State off the schedule may help to some degree, but matching last year’s record could be a tough feat.

Iowa—Road Schedule

The Hawkeyes are going to miss workhorse back Shonn Greene, who put last year’s team on his back before leaving for the NFL. But the departure of Greene won’t be Iowa’s biggest roadblock—the Hawkeye road schedule will be, featuring away games against in-state rival Iowa State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State. Ouch.

Michigan State—Running Back Position

The Spartans lost Javon Ringer’s 1,600+ rushing yards and 22 TD’s. Dantonio reported that true freshman Edwin Baker (four-star recruit with 4.4 speed—Rivals.com) will play. Baker may be talented, but he has a history of knee injuries. Andre Anderson is the individual on the roster with the most returning yards on the ground from last year—a measly 97 over 26 carries.

Ohio State—Inexperience of Wide Receivers

Everyone knows that the Buckeyes have retooled with new weapons on both sides of the ball, but it still takes time for players to adjust to the college game. With the departure of Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline to the NFL, Ohio State should feel some growing pains at the receiver position. Senior Ray Small (18 catches in ’08) was the slated returnee with the most experience, but there have been issues with him, as he was suspended late last season. Players like DeVier Posey and Lamaar Thomas will have to step up their game quick with USC on the schedule a few weeks in.

Penn State—Non-Conference Schedule

Yes, losing the talented receiving trio of Williams, Butler, and Norwood stings. Losing most of the secondary will cause growing pains, too. But this is a reloaded Penn State team that many expect to challenge for another Big Ten title. What really could bite this team is its non-conference schedule, featuring home games against Akron, Syracuse, Temple, and Eastern Illinois. When BCS time rolls around—if the Nittany Lions are in the picture, this schedule could be what keeps them from a dream.

Find this blog and more like it at "First and Big Ten", where I also write for Chicago Now and B/R - twitter: @firstandbigten

Big Ten Football Needs to Walk the Talk

Kevin Paul — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:34:24 -0400

It’s a broken record...the movie Groundhog Day in football form.

The SEC owns the Big Ten.

The SEC owns college football.

Big Ten fans respond by grabbing a dull spoon and making a twirling motion towards their chests.

If you’re a die-hard Big Ten football fan, then you likely dabbled in watching the Media Day coverage a number of days back. Yours truly did. And if you noticed, there was an intruder in the back room, with a southern accent, occasionally peppering questions that were borderline toying with that naughty three-letter word...

S – E – C.

If it wasn’t for those Iowa Hawkeyes last season, the Big Ten would have laid the proverbial bowl goose egg.

Look forward to the future, a day when the Big Ten can become relevant again. Instead of barking about how the conference has good teams, let the play on the field do the talkin’.

First off, get rid of the cupcakes. Michigan not just scheduling Appalachian State, but losing to them, was a major hit for the Big Ten. The Penn State 2009 non-conference schedule is one of the more popular topics of the year.

To some degree this is a work in progress. The Nittany Lions have Alabama in the very near future, plus Nebraska down the road. Ohio State has USC again this season. Heck, even Indiana had South Florida on schedule this year, but it had to be moved to a few years down the road. But this needs to be more consistent—go out and flex your muscle, Big Ten.

Flex your muscle and recruits will come. There has to be a counter to the Sun Belt phenomenon. Let’s face it, a lot of kids feel the lure of sun, warmth, and girls. I’m just sayin’. But it’s a known fact that recruits get excited by big-time matchups and national TV audiences. The Big Ten needs to schedule these conference powers, get on TV, and pepper it in with some history and tradition.

Focusing on the recruiting, I want to see the Big Ten focus more and more on bringing in the marquee quarterbacks. Sure, the Terrelle Pryor’s and the Tate Forcier’s are here, but in this case, there needs to be quantity and quality. Look at the quarterback position—it’s the sexiest, most talked about position.

What do fans talk about? Quarterback.

Who ends up the top pick more often than not in the NFL Draft? Quarterback.

The Big Ten needs to focus on recruiting more big-time quarterbacks. Heck, there hasn’t been a Big Ten QB first-rounder in nearly a decade and a half. It’s a joke.

And what’s worse, the Big Ten needs to focus on giving its players the best possible chance to win the big-time bowl games in January. This was the most popular topic at Big Ten Media Day—the schedule dipping into early December.

The majority of Big Ten teams feature a bye-free schedule that not only tires out its players, but also sends them on a six-week hiatus leading into Bowl week.

Teams like Wisconsin and Illinois have already begun to adjust this schedule to give its players more of a fighting chance. For example, the Illini have two bye weeks during the season, an open date on September 19 before traveling to Columbus, and an open date on November 21 before its final two games, both non-conference, at Cincinnati on November 27 and vs. Fresno St. on December 5. The result—a shorter break.

Stemming off the early December games, Big Ten, let’s close the door and work on the conference expansion. What’s the big holdup...seriously? Can you not come up with a good enough design to have a sneaky image of a “2” within the words “Big” and “Ten”?

Plain and simple: Conference championship equals more national exposure. More national exposure equals more recruits, more visibility to the voters that matter, and so on.

The writing is on the wall. The Big Ten still has talent, but it can have so much more.

C’mon Big Ten—your bark has always been there. Rip off that muzzle and let’s see that bite.

Be sure to check out blogs like this and more over at firstandbigten.com

Illinois: The Big Ten's Darkhorse for 2009

Kevin Paul — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:22:41 -0400

Prognosticators across the country are all taking a similar stance in this year's Big Ten race, with Ohio State or Penn State hoisting up another championship banner and a BCS bowl berth.

Don't get me wrong, the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions both are loaded with talent, but if I may borrow a Lee Corso gem for a moment...

"Not so fast, my friends."

Slowly step away from the Buckeye kool-aid... hands off the Nittany Lion nectar. Rummage through the Big Ten fridge... Sunny D, purple stuff... nothing beats a nice big glass of "Juice".

Juice Williams, that is. The Illinois senior quarterback, with school passing records in reach, is back for another go at it, and he's accompanied by an offense that's loaded.

Coming off a 5-7 bowl-free campaign in '08 (3-5 in Big Ten), Illinois is flying a little under the Big Ten radar, taking a backseat to not just Penn State and Ohio State, but also Michigan State—and heck, in some cases, the Golden Gophers, too.

But there are plenty of reasons to like Ron Zook and Illinois this year, starting with a veteran-laced explosive offense.

First, there's Williams, the senior QB who averaged nearly 325 yards of total offense per game last season, which was 80+ yards a game more than Northwestern's CJ Bacher, who was second in the Big Ten. Don't forget WR Arrelious Benn, arguably one of the best receivers in the country.

In fact, college football guru Phil Steele has Benn, who had 1,055 receiving yards in '08, ranked as the top WR in the nation. The Fighting Illini are not just a 1-2 punch however, as the team returns eight starters on offense. Other impact players include senior TE Michael Hoomanawanui, who was recently named to the 2009 John Mackey Award watch list.

There's plenty of additional senior leadership on the offensive side of the ball, including WR Jeff Cumberland, WR Chris Duvalt, RB Daniel Dufrene, RG Jon Asamoah, and C Eric Block. The offense was not the issue last year, for a team that was second in the Big Ten in YPG differential—and this season, they'll be even better.

One of last year's question marks was the defense, which ended up being on the sour end of a number of shootouts, including a 52-42 defeat at the hands of Missouri, 38-24 loss to Penn State, and a 30-20 loss to Ohio State. In fact, Indiana was the closest Illinois came to holding a team to single digits, allowing 13 points to the hapless Hoosiers.

Many critics may be quick to point out the team's two sack leaders (Brit Miller and Derek Walker—each with 6) have moved on, plus that fact that Illinois only returns five starters on defense, but there are plenty of positives with this young unit.

Zook and his staff have beefed up the defense by adding six four-star recruits (according to Rivals.com) over the last two recruiting seasons. Included in that mix is talented sophomore DT Corey Liuget, who will look to replace some backfield presence left by Miller and Walker. FS Donsay Hardeman, a JuCo recruit in 2008, should be in the mix despite missing the spring with a neck injury.

Early projections have three senior starters on defense (including Hardeman), therefore this is a team that will gain confidence and experience as the season progresses. If the pieces fall into place, there's enough talent present for this Illini defense to frequently get the ball into the hands of the explosive offense.

Finally, offense and defense aside, take a look at the Illinois schedule for 2009. The Illini open up the '09 campaign at a neutral site, taking on a Missouri team that has lost significant talent, including QB Chase Daniel and WR Jeremy Maclin, who are off to the NFL. The second non-conference game is against Illinois St., a team that went 3-8 last season.

Chalk up a 2-0 start right there.

Following that, Illinois gets a bye week before a brutal trio to open the Big Ten schedule. A rested Illini team will open at Columbus and follow that roadblock with Penn State and Michigan State, both of which are home games. It's very possible that Zook and Co. could escape with two wins in this stretch, and then follow with five "easier" conference games, with the biggest challenge potentially being a trip to Minnesota to face the Golden Gophers, a team Illinois has struggled against in the past.

One more bye week, and it's two more non-conference games, with the headliner being a trip to Cincinnati to take on Brian Kelly's Bearcats, a team that made a BCS appearance in '08. Looking back on the schedule, Illinois has two well-placed bye weeks against two schools that were a part of the BCS last season. On top of that, Illinois has a favorable home schedule, facing the Nittany Lions, Spartans, Wolverines, and Wildcats all at home.

While an undefeated season is highly unlikely, there's no reason to believe Illinois couldn't finish the season on December 5th with two losses, enough for a possible share of the Big Ten title and a BCS berth.

All in all, the football critics need to take a step back and look at Illinois when thinking of the cream of the crop in the Big Ten. Ignore last year's 5-7 record—this is a team that won nine games and played in the Rose Bowl in 2007. Illinois is loaded with talent, specifically on offense. The Illini are going to cause headaches for Big Ten teams that are not comfortable with a run and gun style of play.

If a team is going to beat them, it will first have to attack the two-headed monster in Juice Williams, then follow up by trying to put an air assault on a defensive unit that lacks experience, but doesn't lack in talent. The key to this team's success is going to lie in the hands of Juice, who is just 2,300+ passing yards from eclipsing Jack Trudeau's record at Illinois.

Toast 'em up Champaign, grab a glass of "Juice", Zook and the boys are back.

Expect big things.

Be sure to check out blogs like this and more over at firstandbigten.com

Throwing Tomatoes: Targets in Sports (June 24, 2009)

Kevin Paul — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:09:33 -0400

Vine ripened, sliced, diced, tossed on a burger—sounds damn good for a warm summer day.

Just not today.

I’ll take my burger medium, with cheese, and lycopene-free, because these tomatoes are being saved for the sports world, my friends...

Throwing Tomatoes: June 24, 2009

Spain Soccer

Can I get a little “U-S-A! U-S-A-!”? The United States pulls off the shocker, knocking off Spain 2-0 in the semis of the Confed Cup. Yes, the same Spain that had won 35 straight and was the #1 ranked team in the world.

Funny, I always thought France was the country that surrendered that easily.

Speaking of surrendering...

Maria Sharapova

Sharapova surrendered early at Wimbledon (the second round), at the hands of Gisela Dulko (6-2, 3-6, 6-4). Not much more to be said, but it does present a nice opportunity to present a visual to you (pictured).

Speaking of visuals…

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Angels recently posted a list of blunders as long as the team’s name – in the form of six wild pitches in one game, tying a club record.

And only one visual comes to mind for me… yep, Ricky Vaughn – “juuuuuust a bit outside”. “Wild Thing, you make my heart sing, you walk everything…”

Speaking of outside…

Terrell Owens

Owens got lit up by supermodel Joanna Krupa after getting stuck outside on an obstacle course, eventually losing on The Superstars to David Charvet (Baywatch) and Jennifer Capriati (Tennis).

In a related story, Tony Romo called Krupa and asked, “What’s your secret?”

Speaking of superstars…

Big 12 vs. SEC

Congratulations to the LSU Tigers, your College World Series superstars of 2009.

Once again, somehow the Big 12 STILL can’t get the job done against the SEC in a championship game. The SEC fans would likely banter and joke that they can’t handle the pressure. Just as long as they don’t wear those LSU yellow jerseys, I’m OK with it.

Speaking of pressure…

Legends: Their Kids Quitting Sports

Another shocking story about a young man backing out of sports, as Jeff Jordan (MJ’s son) has decided to leave Illinois b’ball after just two seasons.

If you’ll recall, John Elway’s son left Arizona State football fairly recently.

FYI to Nick Montana: You can’t escape the spotlight in Washington. You’re still within reach, we aren’t talking anywhere near Russia here, just ask Sarah Palin.

Speaking of backing out…

Jarrett Stoll

As reported by FOXSports.com, the L.A. Kings hockey player has canceled his wedding plans – 1) to a supermodel in Rachel Hunter and 2) over email.

Email? Yikes, that’s a five-minute major and a 500kb spam message to boot.

Seriously, this brings new meaning to a hockey player getting cold feet. OK, can’t end on a joke that bad…

Speaking of plans…

Chris Johnson

Finally, Titans RB has been inquiring via Twitter about TD celebrations. The young gun wants to top some of the best celebrations, say from Ochocinco, among others.

Hey, here’s a crazy idea...wait for it...how about handing the ball to the ref, heading over to the sideline, and focusing on winning the game...and a Super Bowl.

What a concept.

This has been “Throwing Tomatoes”… where we suggest to avoid Angels pitching for the assist., that is, if you want to hit your target.

US Open: Mother Nature Rains on Bethpage Parade, Work Attendance

Kevin Paul — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:31:41 -0400

If you’re a golf nut like me, you feast off of the game’s majors—watching shots, seeking drama unfolding, searching for a story to emerge.

At the 2009 U.S. Open, the doorway was open for a number of big time stories to walk right through—from Tiger Woods, the favorite, to creep one closer to Jack’s record, to Phil Mickelson buckling down and winning one for his wife and family, who have fallen on tough times.

What did we get? Mother Nature, rearing her ugly head and laughing hard as the sky cried on every golf fanatic’s fun.

Yes, the 2009 U.S. Open spent the majority of its weekend underwater. But while the sun failed to shine, the dampening monotony of this weekend would not take away our spirit as fans.

The gallery tossed out visual proof of this spirit, begging for golf balls, showering the audio skies with “you da mans” and “get in the hole” one-liners, as absurd as they have become—they still showed that every fan would not let Mother Nature win.

That is, until the Bethpage alarm sounded, spearing a painful echo to each golfer’s brain, like that of a daily alarm clock.

Play was suspended. Until Monday—when most of us, including yours truly, are stuck at a desk job—toiling with Lumberg-like folk as opposed to watching a potential historic finish to one of golf’s biggest dances.

Quick, lick the bottom of the fridge and get a sickness. Or don’t be that drastic, just do your best impression of the fake hacking and dreary voice that tells your boss that a sick day is on the horizon.

Why? Ask Shooter McGavin—because “This is golf, people!”

Because Monday morning, the Bethpage Black bonanza resumes—and it’s just gettin’ good.

Only seven players remain in red figures, and one shouldn’t be swayed by Lucas Glover and Ricky Barnes sitting on top of the leaderboard, five shots ahead of the rest of the group. Each of the two, while talented, have never been on a stage like this, and the pressure is likely to mount with each shot.

There was living proof of that as the final round began, as Barnes’ tee shot on two was not his norm, but more something out of the Charles Barkley book of golf.

Phil Mickelson (-2, five back) was solid on his first two holes, presenting himself with two great birdie chances, both of which he missed. Still, there was a look of determination in Lefty’s eye, and one could sense that he won’t go quietly in the night.

Heck, even David Duval is back for a little fun, sitting at -2, tied with three others, including Mickelson. Duval can come into this dance with less pressure than in the past, when the media was desperate to place him in golf’s center ring with Tiger.

Then there’s Woods himself, lurking at even-par, after staying out in the darkness and draining a birdie on the seventh. Woods, having a few un-Tiger-like-breaks in the early going, has momentum leading into the a.m., plus five additional holes inked on his card over the leaders.

And look at it how you want, but on the final day of a major, it’s often the fact that a player has escaped unscathed, while the leaders come back to the pack. It would come as no surprise to see Woods or Mickelson (or both of them) to post a -4 or -5 number, leaving Barnes (who has a shot in the deep stuff waiting for him in the morning) and Glover to scramble to survive the lengthy Long Island course.

Aside of the dewy rain and moldy-damp scents of the State Park’s Black course, this tournament certainly has the smell of another one of those trademark major championship endings—only on a Monday: a work day.

Damn, I think I’m coming down with something.

Throwing Tomatoes: The Latest Targets in Sports

Kevin Paul — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:28:22 -0400

Usually the tomato throwing is a piece of cake.

While playoff games have reached a boiling point with both the NHL and NBA reaching finales, the rest of sports has been tepid at best.

Even with the drama down, there are plenty of situations up and available for discussion over the last week. Take the following lycopene-enriched examples…

Throwing Tomatoes: June 5, 2009

NBA Finals Not Final Yet

Keep Your Brooms in the Closet – Let’s not all jump the sweep bandwagon just yet. The Magic got a ton of open looks in Game 1, missing most of them.

Orlando Magic – Rashard Lewis admitted they “stunk it up”, and if Orlando can improve on the glass, along with getting hotter from the field, they could get right back into the series.

LeBron James – Yes, all the talk is still surrounding King James and how he bailed on the end of the Eastern Conference Finals. But the side story…

Recently, it was reported that James had a growth removed from his mouth. Fortunately, it was benign. I think it’s safe to say that whatever it was, he didn’t get it while swallowing his pride.

Twitter & Tony

If you haven’t heard, Tony LaRussa sued Twitter due to a case where someone created an account and impersonated the Cardinals coach, saying inappropriate things about his past and “causing emotional distress”. Hours ago, Twitter and LaRussa have come to a settlement.

The biggest tomato obviously goes to the idiot who had no life and felt the need to impersonate someone else in a negative way. Meanwhile…

Twitter was having trouble issuing a statement on the matter, because they’re only allowed 140 characters or less to send a message.

Big Papi’s Big Slump

Boston is still reeling as David Ortiz continues to struggle. It’s tough when a legend begins what appears to be a decline, especially one this rapid. And the latest…

I heard Ortiz is going to be getting an eye test. The good news, apparently he got a recommendation from one of the umps. Fine, it’s true, that last part Is fabricated.

Four Scores, Maybe Seven Years Ago?

Also mentioned via a Yahoo Sports blog a few days ago, if you haven’t heard, the Notre Dame Stadium scoreboard is up for sale. One can buy it here… get it while it’s hot!

Either way, it could be a bargain. After all, the scoreboard has been barely used in recent years. Dang, it’s like shootin’ fish in a barrel – just couldn’t resist.

That’s all for now, friends. Enjoy the NBA Finals, the Stanley Cup Finals, etc. As always, audience tomato participation is encouraged.

The Misadventures of Growing a Playoff Beard (Humor)

Kevin Paul — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:09:48 -0400

Recently, yours truly dabbled in the art of playoff beard growth.

Call it in the honor of sports, from the NHL, where players make it a point to get as scraggly as a wildebeest, to the NBA players that do it – though besides the occasional Pau Gasol, the pro ballers would likely choose the way of a “tat growing” contest instead.

Or maybe it was in the honor of baseball, but only for the franchises that allow such a thing, such as the Red Sox, featuring guys like Kevin Youkilis, who could likely hide a few small woodland animals in his face.

Call it pure laziness, where a day that a misplaced shaver turns into a day where a found shaver with no charge in it, to a landscape of stubble that really wasn’t stubble at all but more of a mixture of sandpaper and skin.

And poof! A contest is born… but what type of playoff beard could be grown? Here’s to hoping I can make the men of sports proud with these hair-filled concoctions…

The Griffin Bird Beard

Give it some time and maybe a bushy circular mass could be formed, say resembling Peter Griffin’s character on Family Guy, specifically in the episode where he eventually had an endangered bird make a nest in his beard. As a result, he couldn’t harm the bird, and couldn’t eat either.

Yeah, sounds tasty.

The Speedy-Sein Beard

Hey, if you want to resemble a true gritty sports player, one must grow with authority, say like Jerry Seinfeld on his show, during the episode with the Wolf-mocking scene at the end. This was also the muffin tops show, where Jerry would get a five o’clock shadow quicker than one could say “quarter past my skin”. In the end, he began shaving for a woman, because she loved everything hairless.

Dang, that would help the cause.

The Una-Phoenix Beard

Then there’s the beard type that comes across as not the least bit well groomed. Take Joaquin Phoenix’s latest look, where he made an appearance on David Letterman’s show and Dave tossed a “Unabomber” zing in his direction. This beard needs grooming, and it’s one that Alex Ovechkin would be jealous of.

Messy and wayward, but quite effective.

Polling the Community

As a fan of sports, and someone who has witnessed the art of the playoff beard, I want to poll the community – have any of you grown a playoff beard or done anything crazy or insane to support your team? If so, what? I want to hear about it!

There are a lot of teams out there that have promoted such things – in fact, the Washington Capitals had a playoff beard growing contest during the most recent NHL Playoffs.

In the End: The McBeard

In the end, in regards to my beard, days went by and it was more a “Josh-McDaniels-like” face that resulted… more of a McBeard if you will… the hair was there, but it was more of a baby’s bottom than anything else.

Heck, who am I kidding? McDaniels could probably take me.

Maybe I should contact the Olympics committee, maybe we’re onto something here.

Then again, maybe not.

Shaver, you win. This thing itches like hell anyway.

KP Vs. Lisa Horne: Who Wins the USC at Ohio State Game?

Kevin Paul — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:57:57 -0400

The “College Football Queen” herself, Lisa Horne—contributing writer at Fox Sports—has decided to team up with yours truly in a little series we like to call “You’re Right, I’m Wrong.”

For the old school bloggers in the Fox Sports community, you will recall “He Said, She Said,” a little series with a similar flavor that teamed up Reverend Rhythm and Bluegrass Lady.

As Lisa mentions on her blog, Straight Talk from the Left Coast, we hope to debate a new topic every week. Suggestions are encouraged, especially if it’s regarding a topic I know very well.

This week’s topic: September’s college football grudge match between USC and Ohio State.

Lisa will be drawing a line in the sand and taking USC—to quote Gomer Pyle, “Surrrrrprise, surrrrrprise!” That leaves me, and you guessed it. I’m going with the “Fightin’ Sweater Vests,” the Ohio State Buckeyes, and here’s a few reasons why Columbus will be rockin’ after the smoke clears.

The Lucky Horseshoe

Let’s start with the obvious, shall we? Home field advantage. Let’s face it, it’s a nightmare for opponents to play at the ‘Shoe. Just ask anyone that’s had to go in there and deal with the noise. In fact, Vince Young once referred to Ohio Stadium as “the loudest place I’ve ever played.”

If the Trojans are going to have trouble traveling to a place like Corvallis—sporting its capacity crowd of just over 45,000—try dealing with Ohio State’s humble abode, chock-full of electricity, an “unwelcome mat” and a crowd of 100,000 plus.

On top of all that, as Lisa mentions on her post, the Buckeyes are 46-1 at home against non-conference teams, with the only loss being against Texas in ’05 (a close 25-22 game). What Lisa fails to mention is that this is the same Texas team that eventually won the National Title (eventually defeating… yep, you guessed it…USC). And, oh yeah, the Bucks beat Texas on the road the following season.

The former top-rated recruit has a ton of talent, both throwing and running. Pryor’s mobility is what is going to be key here, because with Ohio State’s question marks in the running game, having Pryor as a dual threat should at least help in keeping USC’s defense honest.

With a number of its offensive weapons departing, including WR Brian Robiskie, WR Brian Hartline, and RB Chris “Beanie” Wells, Pryor is not only going to need to put this offense on his back, but a number of other talented players are going to need to step it up.

In fact, the Buckeyes (under Tressel) have recruited exceptionally well. In fact, according to the 2009 class rankings on Scout.com, the Buckeyes are the No. 1 class, with USC landing in the No. 9 slot.

Sure, the Trojans managed ten players from the Top 100 and four five-star recruits, but the Buckeyes were not far off, landing seven Top 100 players and three five-star recruits. On top of that, the Buckeyes also rated ahead of the Trojans in 2008.

So while both teams are in need of some retooling, Ohio State is reeling in as much talent as USC. While recruiting is an inexact science, both teams will likely feature emerging young stars in 2009 and going forward. Just don’t be so fast to say that USC is the only team restocking with ease.

“Coach Klein” That Playbook

We all know how Coach Tressel likes to try and control a game. But with USC, the Buckeyes really need to open up the playbook more—say, in “Coach-Klein-like” fashion, as in the coach from The Waterboy, who loved to call some borderline absurd trick plays. But the fictional Klein gets pushed as a reference because he was far from vanilla.

Vanilla won’t fly with the Trojans, as USC just has too much talent, coupled with Carroll’s experience. So instead, catch USC a little off guard, maybe with a fake punt, a fake field goal, or a few trick plays that help open up Pryor for a big play or two.

It can work against USC—just look at Penn State in last season’s Rose Bowl. Fine, the Trojans put a hurting on Penn State in the first half, but the Nittany Lions did move the ball and score on a USC defense that was significantly more lethal than its 2009 unit, which still lacks experience (the Trojans lost eight defensive starters).

With Penn State, it was the “Spread HD” offense, and Tressel needs to pull a few tricks from that sweater vest sleeve, or this game could possibly get out of hand.

In Conclusion

The game is three months away, yes. But with names like Ohio State and USC, the hype should begin now.

I’m not here this soon to toss out plays and techniques, but I’m here to tell you a few basic reasons why the Buckeyes could leave that September night with a tally in the win column. The homefield advantage, the talented QB with a year under his belt, the defensive line experience, the special teams weapons, maybe a few trick plays, and the Buckeyes could be driving USC “nuts” and setting the stage for another off-the-wall college football season.

"You’re Right, I’m Wrong" – Lisa Horne Takes USC

Throwing Tomatoes: Who in Sports Should See Red?

Kevin Paul — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:45:12 -0400

Let's keep the tradition alive by throwing tomatoes at the individuals in sports that deserve them most, such as this week’s unfortunate targets.

Calvin Borel—for bailing on Mine That Bird.

What makes horse racing enticing besides the betting? Yes, it’s the elusive Triple Crown. A horse gets close, and people get pulled in by an underdog story.

One lucky jockey is along for the ride. Calvin Borel was that jockey this year, helping push 50-1 shot Mine That Bird to a Derby victory.

Why does that deserve a tomato? Borel bailed, choosing Rachel Alexandra, instead, leaving us with just some funny looking hat to wear.

NASCAR Driver Jeremy Mayfield—for failing a drug test.

Reports say officials figured it out when Mayfield had left his right turn signal on.

At least Mayfield, who is suspended indefinitely, wasn’t guilty of taking the same banned substance as Manny Ramirez. Why? Well, there could be some confusion as to where the stick shift is—yes, I went there.

Tim Floyd—but only if the report that he paid an OJ Mayo associate is true.

Yes, reports are surfacing that USC basketball coach Tim Floyd paid an associate of OJ Mayo big bucks to help get the phenom to play hoops with the Trojans.

C’mon Tim, maybe you should have stuck with recruiting the grade school kids, where you could pay them off in toys and candy. Seriously, didn’t anyone ever teach you to “hold the Mayo?”

Tony Romo—for trying to qualify for the U.S. Open.

Hey, more power to you, Tony, for being able to play well at multiple sports. But why not focus on improving your football game more instead of trying out for another U.S. Open?

The FoxSports.com report discusses how Romo shot an even-par 36 on the front nine, but faltered mightily on the back, shooting a 44. Yeah, that sounds about right. Wait, he didn’t fumble any balls heading to the 18th tee box, did he?

Orlando Magic—for faltering at another critical moment in the playoffs.

Orlando really lacks closing power this year. Blowing multiple leads throughout. The Magic’s toughest loss may have been the recent Game Five against Boston, where Orlando failed to make a point over the last five minutes.

Boston is one win away from a date with LeBron and the Cavs, while Orlando is fading more quickly than you can say, "Marcin Gortat."

Former Nebraska QB Sam Keller—for suing EA Sports and the NCAA.

A recent AP report discusses how the former Cornhusker is suing, saying, “the video-game maker wrongly uses the names and likenesses of college athletes in its products and that the NCAA sanctions the practice.”

OK, who else thinks the guy’s a little bitter about having a 38-speed rating and a noodle for an arm? Yeah, that’s what I thought—me too.

Cherry tomato throws—small but effective.

Brett Favre

Because the media exposure is back and it feels like the movie Groundhog Day

Manny Ramirez

Ugh, let’s call it Groundhog Day, Part II

Anyone NOT watching Pens-Caps in the NHL Playoffs

Or as I like to call it, “Celtics-Bulls on Ice.”

Top 10 Signs Brett Favre will Choose the Vikings over Retirement (Humor)

Kevin Paul — Tue, 05 May 2009 22:43:51 -0400

Light up those citronella tiki torches and crack open a Leinie’s Red Minnesota, because Brett Favre is talking with the Purple People Eaters… again.

Yes, the NFL’s “bad penny” is turning up in the news again. Talking to Coach Childress or not, here are the signs that Brett will be donning purple this fall.

Read ‘em and weep.

Top 10 Signs That Point to Brett Favre Choosing the Vikings Over Retirement +**

10 – Brett has been spotted at local libraries reading up on Scandinavian American culture.

9 – The University of Minnesota is now teaching the proper pronunciation of “Favre” in their English 101 course.

8 – Tarvaris Jackson reportedly sent Favre a text message saying “BTFO.”

7 – At Brett Favre’s Steakhouse, the top selling appetizer is now “Herring on a Stick.”

6 – Favre contacted Bjork about starring alongside him in a sequel of Nanook of the North, but only if she brings the swan dress from the 2004 Academy Awards.

5 – Suddenly Deanna Favre is lactose intolerant, won’t touch apples or Milwaukee’s Best – but instead is all about Grain Belt Beer.

4 – Brett Favre was seen buying a purplish color pair of Wrangler jeans.

3 – Brett’s kids were spotted planting a Norway pine in the backyard.

2 – Brett’s southern accent has been replaced by a plethora of “yah’s” and “don-chya-no’s.”

1 – Faint sounds of a deep horn have been heard at Favre’s estate in Hattiesburg, MS.

+ This is a repost (from last July) featuring slight changes. Last year it poked fun at the tampering charges with the Favre-Vikings-Packers drama.

** Please Note: None of these rumors are true. Instead, this post was meant strictly to poke fun at the latest of a line of rumors involving Brett Favre avoiding retirement. Good day - yah!

Ovechkin vs. Crosby: The NHL Gets Its Wish

Kevin Paul — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:34:42 -0400

“When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are. Anything your heart desires will come to you.”

Alexander Ovechkin, “Ovie” to many, the human highlight reel and scoring machine for the Washington Capitals, was the first overall draft pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Sidney Crosby, “Sid the Kid” to many, a points accumulator and a “can’t miss” talent, was the first overall draft pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Enter the league labor stoppage during the 2004-2005 season, and the result is each playing his first game as a rookie during the same season.

Neither disappointed, and while Ovechkin was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy that year (for top rookie), the Kobe-or-LeBron-like argument would begin—NHL style.

A few short seasons later, each not only had lived up to the hype of being a top draft pick, but also have been tabbed the future of the NHL.

And the future became now, with each franchise vaulting itself back into the playoff world rather quickly.

“If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme. When you wish upon a star, as dreamers do.”

And with the renewed rise of relevant hockey in Pittsburgh and Washington, along came the endless drooling attacks from the NHL’s top execs.

This was a dream match...a marketer’s dream...not just matching up two young superstars, but two franchises that once duked it out during some intriguing playoff battles in the late 90’s.

If only they could meet on the big stage.

Alas, the 2008 playoffs came and went, and the matchup wasn’t meant to be.

The Penguins moved on (eventually reaching the Stanley Cup Finals where they lost in six to Detroit), the Caps faltered in an overtime early round Game Seven against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The dream was gone quicker than you can say “zamboni.”

“Fate is kind. She brings to those who love the sweet fulfillment of their secret longing.”

Enter the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with Washington in as a two seed and Pittsburgh a solid four.

After recently overcoming a 3-1 deficit to the New York Rangers, the Caps took Game Seven with a game winner by Sergei Fedorov with under four minutes to go, sealing Washington’s advancement to the next round.

The Penguins were moving on too, after taking out the Flyers in six games.

But the matchup of "Ovie" and "Sid the Kid" looked likely to need another two series victories to happen, including a Pittsburgh defeat of top seeded Boston as the Devils had themselves a one goal Game Seven lead with a minute and a half to play.

Yes, it looked like a choke bigger than the Sharks would be needed.

“Like a bolt out of the blue, fate steps in and sees you through. When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true.”

Ironically, in a storm-like occurrence, the walls came crashing down on the Devils.

Carolina had stolen away Game Seven from New Jersey, scoring twice in the final 80 seconds.

Game, set, match.

The Canes move on to play Boston and Pittsburgh will face Washington.

Crosby will face Ovechkin in the playoffs.

So here we are, the NHL gets its wish with Ovechkin (second in the NHL in points and first in goals) facing Crosby (third in points and second in assists this year).

And while it may only be the semifinals, hockey has a matchup that it can promote in hopes to generate some much needed pub in a time when many are focusing on the likes of Kobe, LeBron, the NBA, Major League Baseball, or just the overall thawing of the country as summer begins to present us with it's friendly face.

No, the NHL wants you to go cold my friends.

Pop open a cold one, kick your feet back, and put your life on ice.

Enjoy hockey for a change.

Take in Ovechkin vs. Crosby in a playoff atmosphere.

The only thing better would be these two going head to head in the Cup Finals, but hey, that simply can’t be.

The next best thing?

It’s seven games and a PR dream that can help try and put the NHL back on the map in any way, shape, or form.

The NHL didn’t just wish upon a star, but two stars—and hockey will get it's wish as Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin will face off in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The madness begins this Saturday, when the Pens and Caps face off in Washington.

The question remains, are you intrigued enough to watch?