Bleacher Report - Articles by Colin Flosi

Ron Artest To Get Trash Talk Designed into Haircut To Avoid Repeat Ejection

Colin Flosi — Fri, 08 May 2009 02:01:18 -0400

After being ejected from Wednesday night’s game, Ron Artest is going to make sure he doesn’t make the same mistake twice.

“I realize now that you aren’t allowed to say anything or get into Kobe Bryant’s face, for fear of ejection and further punishment,” Artest said hours after the game.

So now Artest is doing something that he hopes will keep him out of trouble.

Getting all of his trash talk shaved in as a design in his haircut.

“In the past, I may have been more immature, and actually you know, tried to talk it out with Kobe, but now obviously throwing elbows is the only way you’re allowed to communicate without being ejected.

“I’d like to refrain from that, but if I’m not allowed to approach Kobe and give him a piece of my mind without being reprimanded, I suppose I’ll have to get creative.”

Artest was unsure of how much trash talk he would be able to fit on his head, and he didn’t want it to interfere with his Rockets logo.

Kobe, upon hearing the news, was excited, yet disappointed at the route that Artest was taking.

“This is playoff basketball, if he doesn’t want to throw elbows, or wind up and drop somebody setting a pick like my boy D-Fish did, I really question his heart and his love for the game.”

Artest has said that to avoid ejection next game, he will neither open his mouth, nor try to rebound the basketball.

“I’m obviously not a very good rebounder, and I must have had myself out of position, perhaps being in the paint means it’s a foul on me when I got elbowed? I’d like to apologize to my team, as I must need to brush up on the rules or something.”

One Rockets’ player coming to the defense of Artest was big man Dikembe Mutombo.

“If Kobe wants to throw elbows, perhaps he should come to me. I have elbows like daggers! He will bleed out on the court if I accidentally poked him with one of mine.”

And if a pointy elbow doesn’t scare Kobe, Mutombo ended his interview with a question to Kobe, perhaps a rhetorical one.

“Do YOU want to sex Mutombo?”

In Attempt to Steal Bases, Braves Ask Opposing Pitchers For Head Start(Satire)

Colin Flosi — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:49:17 -0400

In an attempt to steal more bases, Braves manager Bobby Cox has been approaching opposing pitchers and requesting something quite odd from them.

A head start.

Through Wednesday, the Braves had only five steals through 27 games.

Not exactly burning up the basepads, right?

It gets worse when you realize that 22 others have more steals than them. No, not 22 teams, but rather 22 players have more steals than the entire Braves team. Five different players are tied for the team lead, with one stolen base.

Though, when asked about their lack of stolen bases, Cox didn't seem to be worried about it at all.

"We just need to catch a few breaks, as in, a shortstop breaking his leg while trying to cover the bag and get the throw. If that happens, I can see a few more steals in our future."

This is nothing new for the Braves, as they rank near, or at the bottom of the league in steals every year. When Chipper Jones is one of your best baserunners, you realize you may be in a bit of a bind.

Though recently, Cox has come up with a plan that he hopes to implement in the upcoming games, with the cooperation of opposing pitchers.

"Basically, i'm just going to go to each pitcher before the game and ask for a bit of a favor," Cox said. "Nothing too big, just something so we can get a bit of confidence and hopefully swipe a bag or two early."

"I basically just ask the pitcher to close his eyes for 3-4 seconds before he starts his wind up. And if that doesn't work, I just ask for them to start their wind up, and when they get their leg in the air to deliver the pitch, just hold it in the air. Count to three Mississippi, and then you can throw it".

Cox doesn't think the request is odd in the least.

"What, you don't think Rickey Henderson got head starts? You honestly think a man could steal that many bases without the opposing help from the other team? Ha!"

Upon hearing the news, Braves third basemen Chipper Jones became downright giddy.

"Oh man i'm excited! It's been a long time since I had the confidence to steal a base, this way, with the pitcher letting me get halfway to second before he pitches the ball, now all I need is for the catcher to drop the ball, and I may actually be safe!"

The Braves square off against the Marlins tonight, and we'll have to see how well the Braves plan works, but I for one can't wait to see the experiment in action.

Rafer Alston Explains Slapping Eddie House: "I Thought I Saw a Bug"

Colin Flosi — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:27:25 -0400

In an unusual incident Wednesday night, Magic point guard Rafer Alston decided it would be a great idea to slap the Celtics' Eddie House in the back of his head.

The Internet has gone wild because of the slap, insisting that Alston should be suspended for a game for what seemed to be a pretty girly way to hit somebody.

It has come to light, though, that Alston was in no way trying to injure House, and he came out saying he did indeed have a good reason for the slap.

"I could have sworn there was a giant insect on his headband, a real nasty, bloodsucking-looking thing," Alston said after the game.

"I was merely looking out for his safety, and I think that says a lot about my character. After all, he was embarrassing us out there. How many other players would protect an opponent from a killer insect after they just hit a three in their eye? Exactly."

When House was asked about the slap, he had nothing but praise for Alston's efforts.

"At first, I had no idea why he slapped me, but after hearing his explanation, I am satisfied, and I want to thank him."

House even went as far as complimenting Alston.

"When I felt something on the back of my head, I thought somebody had hit me with a pillow. I have to applaud Alston for having the softest hands I have ever felt from a man. I think Kevin Garnett needs to take lotion advice from him."

While the bug excuse may not fly with some people, Alston gave reporters a bit of a back story to help explain why it would make sense.

"I'm originally a street baller, so I am used to be playing at night on these outdoor courts that at times were overrun with bugs," Alston explained.

"You should have seen some of the roaches that used to share the courts with us—absolutely repulsive. If you had seen some of the things I have, you might understand."

For now, Alston is waiting on the NBA's decision on whether or not he will be suspended. But after hearing him plead his case, I just do not see how you can suspend a man for saving a fellow player from serious danger.

Rockets Look To Move McGrady To Fill Urgent Need: Team Barber (Humor)

Colin Flosi — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:35:25 -0400

It has been reported that the Houston Rockets are once again interested in moving Tracy McGrady in order to bring in what could be the missing piece on their quest to a championship: A team barber.

One who will bring steady hands and a reliable set of clippers to the team, something the Rockets hope will get them over the hump and help bring home a championship to the city of Houston.

McGrady has been sidelined since February 9, and it looks as though his career in Houston may be over after opting for microfracture surgery right before the trade deadline this season.

So why shouldn't the Rockets try and get something in return for him and his bum knee?

In light of recent hairdos, a qualified team barber could be crucial to the Rockets' success as a team.

Von Wafer is an excellent scorer and energy guy off the bench, but imagine how much he would struggle if his mohawk were uneven, or if his ear was nicked during the haircut?

Even more importantly, with Ron Artest joining Wafer with a mohawk and designs in the side of his head, an experienced barber becomes an even bigger neccessity.

If Artest were to come out onto the court with a subpar haircut, a fan may heckle him for it, and who knows, Artest may run into the stands to show him that his haircut is much better than just subpar.

The Rockets went to a local barber college to scout the talent before they opened their series with the Lakers, and were unable to locate what they were looking for.

Plenty of barbers seemed to be promising pickups, but when it came time for them to give Brent Barry a clean cut, they were flustered.

"That's a goofy white boy, what am I supposed to do with that hair?!" said Vernon Maxwell, a student at the barber college.

Barry, who had requested a high-top fade, was offended, saying, "I'll have you know that I won the slam dunk contest many years ago. I'm not a normal white boy!"

When asked about the possibility of a trade, Rockets coach Rick Adelman acknowledged that "It would do a lot for this team to bring in a qualified barber. After all, you know how tough it is to keep [Shane] Battier's head looking as ridged as a Ruffles chip? Hard work indeed."

Upon hearing the news of his possible departure, McGrady tried to defend himself.

"I think the city is really underestimating my value. After all, because everybody hates me so much, it is much easier to like the rest of the team.

"If i'm gone, who are you going to hate? Aaron Brooks? He looks like a 9-year-old with a beard. Luis Scola? You don't want to get on his bad side. If he hair whips you, you'll drown in the sweat and grease trapped in there.

"The worst I could do when I get mad is give you a sort of half glare, half lazy eye, and that just makes you hate me even more!"

The Rockets front office has been frantically calling SportsClips around the city, asking if they would be interested in picking up McGrady's contract. Not one call has been returned.

More updates to come as information is made available.

Atlanta Area T-Mobile Store: "Wade Cardboard Cutout on Floor Injured"

Colin Flosi — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:33:41 -0400

Late last night, an Atlanta area T-Mobile store reported that their star player, a cardboard cutout of Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, was "injured."

"Last night, around 7:30, a man sneezed on his way out of the store, and the Wade cutout hit the floor hard," said John Edwards, the manager at the store. "I wasn't sure what happened, but I didn't hear a whistle, so I don't know what he was trying to do just laying there."

This isn't the first injury report at T-Mobile retailers around the city, as Wade cutouts have been having a tough week, it seems. Sneezes, mosquitoes, strong breezes, even loud noises have all been linked to cutouts going down.

"It has been terrible; we're losing cutouts left and right, and for some reason, all of these incidents have come in the close vicinity of customers wearing striped shirts," says Matt Freije, a junior representative at one store. "It is taking a toll, and it definitely isn't helping the team."

While some may find these occurrences to just be a coincidence, perhaps something more is at work here?

Esteban Batista, a frequent customer of one T-Mobile location, says this isn't the first time he has run into trouble at a T-Mobile store. "Just a few months ago, I bumped into a Charles Barkley cardboard cutout, and for the rest of the day, I stank of whiskey. It was weird.

"But that wasn't the end of it; after I bumped into it, I went to checkout, and when I turned around, the cutout was gone, along with my car!"

In order to combat the bad luck the Wade displays have had, T-Mobile has hired former NBA referee Tim Donaghy.

"I'll make sure that these Wade advertisements are given the fair treatment they deserve; I'll protect the integrity of the store, you can bet on that," Donaghy said this morning when we ran into him behind the store rolling dice.

When asked about the odd happenings surrounding his carboard likeness, Dwyane Wade said he was insulted.

"I am Dwyane Wade. If my cutouts are falling over, obviously they are being manhandled. If this goes on any further, I may have to send Jamaal (Magloire) over there to protect them," said Wade.

But for now, T-Mobile will have to wait out the storm, thought at least one employee thinks they need to change spokesmen.

"I would love to have a Zaza cutout in the store, those would never fall down. Sure, they may not be as attractive, but nobody would dare knock it over," said Donta Smith, assistant manager in charge of promotion.

Here's to you, Dwyane. I hope you aren't insulted.

Hawks' Intensity Creates Problems, Places Heat on Miami To Stay Alive

Colin Flosi — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:34:54 -0400

After backing into a two-to-one series deficit, the Atlanta Hawks have responded wonderfully, defeating the Heat convincingly in the last two games.

The Hawks have played with the intensity, the heart, the athleticism and, for lack of better word, the swagger necessary to advance in the NBA Playoffs.

They have frustrated Miami, their coach, and many experts around the league hoping for a Wade/LeBron second-round matchup.

Zaza Pachulia has gotten his hands on every loose ball, taking multiple elbows for his troubles, yet still dives into dangerous territory every possession, undeterred by the contact.

Even Solomon Jones got into the action last night and didn't back down from Jamaal Magloire or Dwyane Wade after the two stumbled off the court still holding each other.

Josh Smith is slowly learning how dangerous he is when he takes the ball to the basket, returning to his slam dunk roots. From his attempted throw-down over both Jermaine O'Neal and Michael Beasley from what seemed 15 like feet away from the basket to his botched between-the-legs attempt with the game in the bag, "Smoove" was trying to throw down.

When asked about the failed dunk after the game, both Wade and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra were incensed over the play. Dwyane for one thought it was unnecessary.

“Yes, we were very insulted,” Wade said.

So was Spoelstra.

"There at the end, it turned into a highlight show. A pickup-game highlight reel, really trying to embarrass us," Spoelstra said. "Now, we've played five games against each other. I don't think anybody on either side likes each other anymore."

Were the Heat not embarrassed enough after another blowout? A missed dunk was what ticked them off, not the 23-point deficit at halftime or eventual 15-point loss?

Seems as though they are a bit confused to me.

The game got off to a rough start, as Wade and Smith collided early in the first quarter while both were going for a loose ball. The play left the man they call "Flash" reeling on the ground after hitting his head on the court, and he stayed down for a few minutes.

When he was finally helped up and off the court, he headed straight to the locker room, where he stayed while being checked out. D-Wade was eventually given the green light to return and came back, though he didn't really get anything going until after the game had slipped away.

NBA commissioner David Stern was in the stands to watch the game, but that didn't exactly stop the players from getting even more physical.

Solomon Jones, in the game due to foul trouble for Al Horford and Zaza Pachulia, committed a foul on Wade driving to the basket. Both players held onto each other as they tumbled off the court and shared glares and words as they got into each others' faces after the whistle.

Jamaal Magloire, who has seven fouls to go with zero points and only three rebounds this series, then came out of nowhere and shoved Jones. The Hawks' Smith came into the picture to protect Jones, and all four players involved received technical fouls.

And almost directly following that play, on a breakaway by Maurice Evans, Wade (with a "seriously" hurt back and head, remember) somehow caught up and fouled the Hawks' spot-starter from behind as he went up for the dunk. Both players went to the floor hard, and a flagrant foul was called on Wade.

Bu that would be the the last moment of excitement for the half, as the Hawks made it to halftime with a 23-point lead.

Wade, who had 17 of the Heat's 30 third-quarter points and finished with 29 for the game, helped the Heat cut the deficit down to 15 heading into the fourth quarter.

But Miami was unable to cut the lead down much more, and Dwyane once again found himself playing 40 minutes in a double-digit loss. It was strange considering how banged up he has been all series.

The Hawks are just a game away from advancing to face Cleveland and hope to close out the series on Friday in Miami, though they will once again have to do it without Marvin Williams.

Also, after spraining his ankle in Wednesday's game, Al Horford will be a game-time decision, and if he can't go, Solomon Jones will get the start in his place.

The Heat, who were so offended by Josh Smith's "antics" near the end of the game, can perhaps use it as some motivation. They need to play with some intensity at home, or will be taking the rest of the Playoffs off.

James Jones and Jermaine O'Neal have both stated that their team will be coming back to Atlanta for a Game Seven, though.

“We’ll be back,” said Jones shortly after the Game Five loss, while Jermaine O'Neal told a reporter “Don’t make any plans for Sunday, I promise you, we’ll be back here Sunday.”

If the Hawks have any say in it, the only reason Jones or O'Neal will be back in Atlanta this weekend is to party their pain away somewhere in Atlanta's crowded night scene.

Zaza-Palooza: Pachulia Keeps Hawks' Hopes Alive In Miami

Colin Flosi — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:11:52 -0400

With the Atlanta Hawks trailing the Miami Heat two games to one, and Game Four being played in Miami, the team realized they needed to bring a sense or urgency and energy to the court.

Zaza Pachulia provided all of it while proudly sporting the black eye he earned during Game Three.

In a Herculean effort off of the bench, the 6'11" big man helped the Hawks even the series, pulling down 18 boards to go along with 12 points (on 5-8 shooting, a healthy improvement from his 6-19 in the previous three games of the series.)

In fact, if two loose ball fouls on the Heat hadn't negated two rebounds already reeled in by Pachulia, he would have finished with 20 for the game.

Due to Al Horford's foul trouble, Pachulia entered the game early and proved to be the greatest move that Atlanta coach Mike Woodson made all night.

Atlanta raced out to a 44-23 lead due in large part to Pachulia's interior presence—before Woodson called a timeout allowing Pachulia to head to the bench and catch a breather after 16 straight minutes on the court.

But a win wasn't going to be that easy to come by if Miami could help it, and they didn't go quietly.

The Heat used a 19-2 run to close the first half, including back to back four point plays by Heat swingman James Jones, the latter coming only 11 seconds after the first, due to an offensive foul on Mike Bibby during an inbounds play.

The Hawks lead had been cut to 46-42 heading to the locker room, and many feared that the Hawks had lost their grasp on the game due to the let up at the end of the Second Quarter.

But the Hawks came out strong, or at least stronger than the Heat in the second half, and the lead was never cut to less than three after the intermission.

But it wasn't luck that let the Hawks leave the building with the victory.

Pachulia's strong effort kept Miami disrupted all night, from chasing down a loose ball that left Dwyane wade sprawled on the ground pleading for a foul, to ending up in the Heat bench while saving a loose ball.

Pachulia was everywhere.

“They made all the plays,” Jones said. “Zaza was the guy who every time they needed a big play, he made it. Whether it was a rebound, a tip or a layup, he was the momentum breaker tonight and I think he kind of sealed our fate.”

Pachulia's 18 rebounds were more than Jermaine O'Neal, Udonis Haslem, and James Jones combined for in the Miami frountcourt, and his six offensive rebounds were just one less than the Heat had as a team.

Wade was basically quiet most of the game, ending the first half shooting just 4-17, on his way to finishing 9-26 shooting night...He heated up late in the Fourth Quarter, but by then the Heat had run out of time and energy it seemed.

Jermaine O'Neal and James Jones were the only other Heat members who added anything on offense, adding 20 and 19 respectively.

Jones' 19 points came on just 4-5 shooting, including 3-4 from three point range and 8-9 from the free throw line.

While the Hawks had balance offensively, tonight's effort won't go down in history as unstoppable.

Six Hawks players scored in double figures led by Mike Bibby with 15, followed by Joe Johnson's 14, Josh Smith with 13, and Pachulia's 12. Flip Murray added 11 off the bench, and Maurice Evans finished with 10 despite fighting foul trouble the majority of the game.

Al Horford had just four points and three points, playing only 17 minutes due to foul trouble but was not missed due to Pachulia's emergence.

The Atlanta Hawks wanted energy, and Pachulia made sure his team didn't head home in a three games to one hole.

I'm sure Pachulia is hoping that some of his energy will rub off on his teammates in time for Wednesday night's game.

Extended Notes-

The Hawks bench outscored the Heat's 25-2, and out rebounded them 24-8.
Dwyane Wade is reported to have been experiencing back spasms throughout the game, though he was also seen nursing his hip and legs.
Pachulia set playoff career highs in points, rebounds, and minutes.
Six players scored in double figures for the Hawks, while only six players scored for the Heat including a combined 10 points from Haslem, Chalmers, and Michael Beasley.

The 10 Players With the Most to Gain This Postseason

Colin Flosi — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:04:22 -0400

Every year when the playoffs roll around, there are a good amount of players that have a lot to gain from a strong showing in the postseason. This season is no different.

Here is a look at 10 of the players who look to gain the most from a strong showing this postseason, whether it be respect they are playing for, or a contract.

10. Stephon Marbury

Believe it or not, Marbury could very well still have some good years left in him, but if he does, this is his chance to show it.

Boston took a chance on him and signed him to a contract late in the season, and he will be getting a steady 10-18 minutes per game throughout the playoffs, and if he is able to play team ball and be effective, he could very well play himself into a contract.

9. Aaron Brooks

After the trade that sent Rafer Alston to Orlando, many Rockets fans were unsure of the production they would receive from the point guard position.

A combination of Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry proved to be inconsistent, yet promising during the Rockets' end of the season run, and Brooks has a chance to cement his position in the postseason.

It was said by many college coaches that Brooks always showed up for big games in at that level, and it proved true during game one of the Rockets and Blazers series on Saturday night.

Brooks played amazingly, dropping 27 points to go along with seven assists. If he keeps that up throughout the series, Houston will be tough to beat, and Brooks will have the whole city behind him.

8. Greg Oden

Oden, who missed his whole first season due to an injury, is faced with the tough task of facing Yao Ming in the first round.

Though, to help him, he does have Przybilla picking up the bulk of Yao's early work. If Oden is planning on making a statement in the playoffs, it will have to be soon.

Oden can do a lot for himself with a strong series, especially against such a superior opponent as Yao Ming.

Get by him, and he is faced with the tough task of Andrew Bynum/Pau Gasol. Nobody said it would be easy, but, no challenge, no glory, right?

7. Dwyane Wade

After an MVP-caliber season, Wade has led his team back into the playoffs, rebounding from an abysmal season last year.

Wade already has the 1-0 championship edge on LeBron, so he isn't playing to overcome the stigma of not winning big games. But rather, he is playing to prove that he deserves to be mentioned in the MVP talks.

Wade is surrounded by an inexperienced team, and they need to step up and prove that they can play with the best in the league, or else, who knows, maybe Wade won't be around Miami for as long as people thought.

A strong playoff performance by both Wade and the team, ensures that Wade isn't dismissed as the only scorer on a poor team, and that Wade doesn't walk.

6. Jermaine O'Neal

A curious case for a while now, Jermaine O'Neal seems to be in do-or-die time. Miami fans are skeptical that he can make an impact, and his contract next year is a ridiculous burden on their payroll.

If Jermaine is able to show his legs still have life left in them, not only will Miami have a better chance of moving his contract for cap flexibility, but he may be an intricate part of some team's playoff run next year as well.

Matching up in the first round against the fresh legs of Atlanta isn't a dream matchup for O'Neal though, and in game one, he looked lost on the court. That will have to change, or else Jermaine may find himself an unwanted, overpaid, team killer next season.

5. Zaza Pachulia

Made famous last year by butting heads with Kevin Garnett, Pachulia is in the final year of his four-year, $16 million contract, and is surprisingly, due for a raise.

Just 25 years of age, Pachulia is in his sixth season, and has proved to be a spark off the bench, an enforcer, and a big man who can change the game with his hustle, regardless of how much he resembles a bull in a china shop.

Remember the contract Jerome James commanded after his showing in the playoffs a few seasons ago?

Pachulia already recorded a double-double in game one of the series, and looks to be able to rebound easily on Miami if all they do is throw Jermaine O'Neal and Joel Anthony at him.

4. Yao Ming

Unable to advance past the first round for his whole career, Yao Ming is at a critical crossroads.

With Tracy McGrady out for the season, the load is now squarely on Yao's shoulders, with a slight helper in Ron Artest.

But Yao has been around for all those first-round exits, and the city realizes that.

He is now the No. 1 option, and I expect him to relish the opportunity, judging by his Game One performance.

He finally seems to be healthy, and that is bad news for Greg Oden, Joel Przybilla, and whoever else has doubted the big man's ability to take over.

3. Dwight Howard

Criticized recently for being "too nice", Dwight Howard can change all that in one postseason. Even Stan Van Gundy has told Dwight Howard that he needs to develop that mean streak if he wants to intimidate his opposition.

It is hard to criticize a guy who was an absolute beast during the regular season though, and if averages of 25 points and 12 boards in the playoffs makes him a nice guy, nobody is going to want to burn him at the stake.

But in a league full of stars who exhibit that killer instinct when necessary, is this the year that Dwight Howard sees what he needs to do?

Another team with too many early playoff exits, they will need Howard to step up, and Howard could very easily develop a much scarier reputation around the league if he comes out with that fire in his eyes that so many want to see.

2. LeBron James

Time is running out for LeBron James in Cleveland, and don't think that he doesn't realize it.

Sure, the Cavs had the best record in the NBA this season, their coach won Coach of the Year, and LeBron could very well be on his way to taking the MVP honors, but the championship is what is needed to keep him planted firmly in Cleveland.

Anything less, and the Cavs have but one more chance next season to convince him that Cleveland is where he should be. A championship this year all but keeps him in the Cavaliers uniform. You don't think they all feel the pressure in Cleveland?

1. Joe Johnson

For the last four seasons, Joe Johnson has been a quiet star in Atlanta, making three consecutive All-Star teams, but not really being recognized for it. Well, this year he was given the perfect matchup to change that.

Johnson faces a first-round meeting with Dwyane Wade, and a possible second-round matchup against LeBron James. What better way to have a coming-out party than by inviting two of the best at your position and outplaying them?

Johnson has the combination of offense and defense that makes it possible for him to outplay Wade on offense, and, be the one to shut him down on defense. If he succeeds in that, he can't go unnoticed for long.

So many analysts around the country criticize Johnson for playing too much isolation, and not having what it takes to lead his team to elite status.

But what will they say if he is able to ruin ESPN's dream matchup of Wade and LeBron, or even worse, LeBron and Kobe? What, he didn't do it convincingly enough?

Ideas/Suggestions For The Improvement of the NBA Community on Bleacher Report

Colin Flosi — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:23:58 -0400

Over the last few days, I have been trying to brainstorm at least a little bit for ways to improve, or just add a few features to Bleacher Report, and in particular right now, the NBA section.

Bleacher Report is an amazing congregation of sports knowledge, creativity and enthusiasm, so why not try to take advantage of it... Right?

A few of the ideas are just ways of the community writers working together, while others are things that could be added to the site to open it up to more possibilities in that writing.

Here we go...

The Double Slideshow

Perfect for comparisons between two players or teams, the double slideshow allows the writer to compare and contrast two players, teams, events, anything side-to-side. Especially valuable during the playoffs, comparing fantasy matchups, or even draft picks, it would be a great addition, and one that would be used quite often I would think.

Creature Vs. Creature Team Previews For Later Rounds Of The Playoffs

There are plenty of writers on here with strong allegiances to a certain team, and what better way to preview a playoff series. Pick one writer for each team to write a preview of their team, fully equipped with their strengths, weaknesses, and how they will match up with the other team.

This would be a popular series, especially when it reaches the finals, you could easily have multiple write-ups receiving good reader traffic, each offering a in-depth look, complimented by the rival teams take on the series.

It could work for the whole series, each writer, or even multiple writers giving their take/recap of each game. Classify the articles together, and when the series is over, archive them together so we can all look back and see what the series was like from each teams fan's point of view.

I truly doubt we will have a problem finding Cavs, Lakers, Magic and etc's fans.

Writer Of The Month Award/Top New Writer Rankings?

In an attempt to allow more writers to showcase their work, why not create a list of the most promising new writers in the section?

Obviously it takes a while to reach the top of the writer rankings, and I am sure a lot of great articles are going unread due to a someone's new writer status on the site. Why not create a separate list, or at least spotlight one or two writers from time to time who have made an immediate impact with their work on the site?

Also, why not highlight a writer every month for their exceptional work? Turn it into a title they can place on their writer profile page under their number of articles written and comments posted. That will look good on any profile, and definitely encourage people to check out their work.

Perhaps even next season, we can keep track of a writer's work for the whole season and have a sort of MVP contest for the writers until the end of the season?

Player Rankings/Team Rankings Before Next Season

Before the next NBA season starts, why not pull together the whole community to place their votes on the team rankings, and player-by-position rankings?

It can be a wonderful way to start the power rankings for the preseason, and even a great in-depth fantasy guide for plenty of people. Create a generic form, email to it to each contributing member, or just write an article, and open up the comment box for everyone to rank the players and teams.

This way, the community can come together before the season and start it off right. Even beyond that, why not pick the most qualified writer from each team, and have them right a season preview for their team, and when all is done, post them all in the same archive and allow you to view each team one by one if you so please.

That is guaranteed to bring traffic to B/R, as I look for that every offseason, and i'm sure others do as well.

Open In-Game Discussion on Articles

This is one that people may have seen around various sites, but I think it is a great idea to increase traffic and activity on the site during games. At this point, there is very little discussion on certain parts of the game, because as we all know, b/r is not a message board.

But by opening a single game thread/article, it enables the comments to be a sort of message board for interaction during the game.

The article could be just a short preview of the game, with the listed starters, and all the basic stuff, but it could increase traffic if done correctly, and allow some people to share their thoughts without having to write a whole article about it after the game.

Bleacher Report has the ability to turn into something extremely special, the number one spot on the web for user content obviously, but also, the number one spot for personalized coverage! We are a community of passionate, intelligible fans who are all trying to either, express ourselves, or find great sports coverage.

The growth has been rapid, but the limits are nowhere in site, the potential is there, and we just need to take advantage of it. For every step Bleacher Report takes as a site, the more we are doing for the sports media world.

No reason for us fans to be stuck with the bias coverage, sometimes to the point of nausea that basic media has left us! We have the ability to get the word out, and bring true media back to the world!

I'm ready, aren't you?

Mike Brown To Hand Over Coach of the Year Award to Lebron James

Colin Flosi — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:35:32 -0400

The NBA announced today that Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown was the winner of the Red Auerbach Trophy as the 2008-09 NBA coach of the year.

This news was expected by some, as Brown led the Cavaliers to the best record in the NBA. But he won the award in a landslide, more than doubling the points Rick Adelman, (the second-highest vote-getter) received, 355-151.

Stan Van Gundy finished one point behind Adelman with 151, and was followed by Nate McMillan (127) and George Karl (117) to round out the top five.

Also receiving first place votes were Jerry Sloan, Erik Spoelstra, Mike Woodson, Phil Jackson, Doc Rivers and Vinny Del Negro.

Surprisingly, somebody who voted felt that Scott Skiles was the third best coach in the NBA and he tied for 13th overall with one point from that third-place vote.

What was really surprising about this day was Mike Brown admitting to the public of the deal he has had in place with Lebron James since taking over as head coach.

Not only does Brown have to hand over his COY award to Lebron this season, but many of the future joys of his life as well. He gives all of this in return for Lebron's services and friendship.

The highlights of this "contract" with Lebron will be surprising to some. Mike Brown has to hand over his first-born son (Lebron doesn't care for daughters much, I suppose), he must share his wife at least once a month, and can never drink the last Hi-C on team flights.

He is also obligated to massage and lotion every new tattoo that Lebron receives, and has been coaxed into brushing Anderson Varejao's hair upon Lebron's request.

This deal may seem odd to some, but Brown considers it normal—almost necessary for his career.

"I don't think it's odd at all", Brown said. "I wanted to have success in the NBA, and having Lebron makes that goal much easier. After all, who needs a faithful wife when you have an MVP on your team. I'm not really a fan of Hi-C anyway, i'm more of a Capri Sun kind of guy, so that was easy to agree upon."

While Brown is used to this arrangement by now, at times it can cause problems in the locker room.

Upon seeing Brown massage Lebron after one game in February, Wally Szczerbiak felt as though he was being forgotten, and admitted that "Sometimes I want massages too!"

Upon hearing this, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, known by many as a superb masseur, came to the rescue and kept the locker room a friendly atmosphere for at least a while.

Upon hearing of this deal between Brown and James, perhaps the New York Knicks will offer Lebron an even better arrangement if he were to come to play for them.

You want to adopt Nate Robinson as your son? Done!

While the future is unclear, Brown can at least celebrate this award for the moment.

I hope you have the lotion ready though, Mike...

Hawks-Heat Game One: Miami Fans Will Try to Forget

Colin Flosi — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:55:18 -0400

After Dwyane Wade's dunk off of a screen to start the game, the Miami Heat had very little to celebrate in their Playoff-opening loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.

Josh Smith was flying above defenders and catching alley-oops headed for the nosebleeds. Joe Johnson was playing within the flow of the game for a change. Al Horford was protecting the paint and hitting his open jumpers. Zaza Pachulia was diving for loose balls despite the Hawks' 25-point lead. Marvin Williams played efficiently, and Mike Bibby looked like a real point guard.

Dwyane Wade flopped, turned the ball over, and forced up shots. Michael Beasley forced up even more and never passed. Mario Chalmers looked like a rookie, and Jermaine O'Neal like a senior citizen. James Jones couldn't play defense, and Erik Spoelstra didn't know how to manage his lineup. Jamaal Magloire didn't play, and Jamario Moon made just a short appearance.

The Heat's player of the game? Probably Joel Anthony, who had a nice battle inside with Zaza.

The Hawks took advantage of their home-court advantage and looked like a team on a mission.

The Heat? They didn't even look like an NBA team.

All night, Atlanta played within themselves, limiting the isolation plays, setting up suffocating defense, and frustrating Miami into submission. From the end of the first quarter until the end of the game, Atlanta controlled the pace and the scoreboard.

It is hard to determine just what came over the Hawks, but there are plenty of possibilities, that is for sure.

Hearing all week that Dwyane Wade could single-handedly beat them in a seven-game series, being told that they are without a player who can take over a game when needed, having to fight the NBA's plans for a Wade-LeBron second-round matchup; whatever it was, it motivated the Hawks to embarrass the Heat Sunday night.

But it's even harder to tell what came over the Heat. Perhaps the flu?

They played what could easily be described as their worst basketball of the season, and seemed to give up after halftime. That's something that should never happen in the Playoffs, especially when only down 20. Just look at what the Sixers did on Sunday for proof!

Wade shot just 8-of-21 for 19 points, 11 below his season average, and accompanied his poor shooting with eight turnovers. It was one of his poorest showings of the season.

The only other Heat player in double figures was Michael Beasley, who recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds but on a poor 5-of-15 clip.

The most troubling part of the night for the Heat? A halftime speech from Udonis Haslem, meant to affect his team positively, seem to have struck a nerve with Dwyane Wade, who didn't attempt his first shot of the second half until 10 minutes had passed in the third quarter. Wade was quoted after the game as saying, "I'm criticized if I take all the shots, [and] I'm criticized if I don't.''

Game Two of this series is Wednesday night, and if the Heat hope to steal one on the road, they will have to make adjustments on both offense and defense. In Game One, they lacked physicality in the lane and were unable to stop Josh Smith from getting to the basket. They were outrebounded 50-35 and gave up countless open dunk attempts and alley-oops. They allowed the Hawks to dictate the pace of the game, letting them run up and down the court all night.

On offense, the Heat were hesitant to attack the basket, and settled for too many contested jumpers and long-range shots. They were just 4-of-23 from beyond the arc and committed 18 turnovers to just 12 assists. Their 64 points were a franchise postseason low, and they scored just seven points in the fourth quarter despite the Hawks letting up on defense.

The Heat need to make changes, and quick.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat: (Insert Flying or Burning Pun Here)

Colin Flosi — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:07:09 -0400

The four-seed versus five-seed matchup is usually the most competitive and most exciting series of the first round, and barring a great upset, this year's NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs should be no different.

The Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat battled most of the season for home-court advantage, and the Hawks held on despite an injury to Marvin Williams.

Not that Miami is completely healthy, either. Udonis Haslem missed the end of the seon with a thumb laceration, and Jamario Moon is ailing as well. And those are just the listed injuries; knowing the Heat, Dwyane Wade probably has bruises covering 93 percent of his body, and Jermaine O'Neal is one bad jumpshot away from something debilitating.

While Marvin Williams returned from his back problems for the last few games of the regular season, he played sparingly, and nobody is sure of his health or what role he will play in this postseason.

Zaza Pachulia and Acie Law are both nursing bad backs as well, though I doubt Acie Law would see much time anyway, even if healthy. Pachulia returned for the last game of the season, and should be near full strength.

It has been funny reading all of the previews of this series. Everyone thinks that Dwyane Wade can single-handedly beat the Hawks; one columnist even stated that "Dwyane Wade will outplay the Hawks starting five, even on a bad night."

Whatever you say, but in my mind, somebody else will have to step up for the Heat, whether it be Chalmers, Beasley, Haslem, Jermaine, Cook, Quinn, or even Harold Miner!

Positional Breakdown

Point Guard

Mike Bibby (14.9 PPG, 5 APG, 1.6 TOPG) vs. Mario Chalmers (10.0 PPG, 4.9 APG, 2.0 TOPG)

The rookie Chalmers lacks Playoff experience, while Bibby has been here before plenty of times in the past. Bibby has the slight edge in nearly every statistical category, including FG percentage, three-point percentage, FT percentage, and A:TO ratio, though Chalmers easily beats him in steals.

Everyone knows that Mike is a streaky shooter and struggles on defense against quicker guards. Chalmers has played pretty well against the Hawks this season, but while Bibby has struggled, he has the edge.

The Hawks will need Bibby's shot to be on, and clutch.

Advantage: Hawks

Shooting Guard

Joe Johnson (21.4 PPG, 5.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 36 percent 3FG) vs. Dwyane Wade (30.2 PPG, 7.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, 31.7 percent 3FG)

Dwyane Wade will be the best player on the court in this series, and everybody knows that, so there's no need to debate between the two two-guards. But the dropoff isn't as huge as one would think.

Yes, Wade shoots a much better percentage than Johnson (five points better, actually), gets to the line twice as often, and steals twice as many balls.

The intriguing thing about this matchup will be how often Johnson actually plays man defense against Wade. I am guessing that the Hawks will be using a three-man rotation for "Flash," with Johnson, Marvin Williams, and Mario West splitting time guarding him.

When it comes to clutch time, expect it to be Johnson on Wade, and (hopefully for the Heat) Wade on Johnson.

The Hawks can afford to let Wade get his 25 to 30 points a game, but anything more than that could be trouble. More than 30 usually means he's gotten to line extra times, and when the Hawks are in foul trouble, they have to reach past their eight-man rotation.

Johnson needs to limit his isolation plays and keep the offense flowing for the Hawks to stay in rhythm. Wade just needs to do what he does: drive the lane, take over the contest...you know, the usual night from him.

Advantage: Heat

Small Forward

Marvin Williams (13.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG) vs. Michael Beasley (13.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG)

Maurice Evans (7.2 PPG, 39.5 percent 3FG) vs. Jamario Moon (7.1 PPG, 37 percent 3FG)

To tell the truth, I actually have no idea who is going to be starting at the three for these two clubs. Heck, Diawara could be starting for Miami, but I am just going to focus on the Williams-Beasley matchup.

Beasley came on strong at the end of the year, playing arguably his best ball of the year, whereas Williams missed most of the final stretch, returning only for the last few games. He is reported to be at full strength, though it is still unsure whether he will be starting. I'm sure he'll get minutes, regardless.

Williams is more of an outside threat, as he hit more threes during the season, but Beasley shoots a slightly higher percentage. Williams gets to the line more often, though doesn't create his own jumper as frequently.

The Heat will be out of luck if Beasley starts chucking shots, and the Hawks will be in trouble if Marvin isn't fully healthy or afraid to make his own shot.

Advantage: Even

Power Forward

Josh Smith (15.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 49.2 percent FG) vs. Udonis Haslem (10.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 0.3 BPG, 51.8 percent FG)

Haslem is coming back from a lacerated thumb, but he is expected to be 100 percent, so I assume he'll be starting at the four.

Josh Smith has game-changing ability on both offense and defense. While he still takes a few too many ill-advised jumpers, his ability to play above the rim can fire up both the crowd and his teammates with just a single play.

Haslem has a better post-up game and is an all-around more solid defender, but he isn't a threat from outside and has a more relaxed offensive game.

Basically, you know what you're going to get from Haslem when he is on the floor: hustle, controlled offense, and stellar defense and rebounding.

Advantage: Hawks

Center

Al Horford (11.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 53 percent FG, 1.4 BPG) vs. Jermaine O'Neal (13 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 47.5 percent FG, 1.9 BPG)

Al Horford has been in a groove in the second half of the season and ended the campaign averaging 15 and 10 in the month of April. Jermaine is a seasoned veteran, so it is unlikely that he will just back down from Horford, but Horford's athleticism may cause problems on both sides of the court.

Horford doesn't have the most refined offensive game and gives up at least an inch to Jermaine, but he has speed around the basket and is always dangerous coming off pick-and-rolls. Jermaine may have the more consistent back-to-the-basket game, but he loses his edge in rebounding and will have to get some fresh legs if he hopes to keep up with Horford.

Advantage: Hawks

Bench

Flip Murray, Marvin or Mo, Zaza Pachulia, and Mario West vs. Daequan Cook, Yakouba Diawara, Beasley or Moon, Jamaal Magloire, Luther Head, Chris Quinn, and Joel Anthony

The Heat have much more depth, and depending on whether or not they bench Beasley and the Hawks start Williams, the Heat will have the edge.

The Hawks for the most part will go eight deep, with Flip Murray as their sixth man, Zaza as their first big off the bench, and either Williams or Evans the resident small forward off the pine. Mario West will be used sparingly, maybe for 15 total minutes in the series as a defensive stopper.

It seems like the Heat have a never-ending supply of shooters off the bench, which makes it a deadly group. Then again, on a cold night, they're more just dead.

Daequan Cook has a shot that can make the Hawks pay. If Beasley comes off the bench, I bet Marvin will too. Jamaal Magloire will play a large part in containing Zaza Pachulia on the offensive boards.

Advantage: Even (Heat if Beasley comes off the bench and Marv doesn't)

Intangibles

Athleticism, intensity, and home court vs. Wade's Heroics (AKA referee help)

The Hawks play above the rim, run a lot, and will have the home-court advantage. But that could all be cancelled out by Dwyane Wade and, well, everything that makes him him.

Advantage: Even (unless Wade gets too many calls)

Prediction

Hawks in six.

Hawks/Heat, Hawks/Cavs? Joe Johnson's Chance to Become a Household Name

Colin Flosi — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:41:36 -0400

For the last three seasons, Joe Johnson has been an All-Star and the leader of a young Atlanta Hawks team.

For the last three seasons, he's also been struggling to get respect around the league, from the casual fans as well as his own.

Well, the time has finally come for Johnson to gain that respect, and a fanbase along the way.

How can somebody average 21 points, six assists, over four rebounds, and lead a team with home court advantage into the playoffs, yet be so unknown?

The Atlanta Hawks kick off their first-round series with the Miami Heat this Sunday, and the whole world will be focusing on Dwyane Wade. That is fine, Joe Johnson is used to being an anonymous star, never mentioned in the same breath as the true "stars" in the league.

Countless times, opposing teams' announcers are surprised by Johnson's stats, his All-Star appearances, and his age. Wade is always praised for being so dominant at his age, yet none of that same talk is ever directed toward Johnson.

Both Wade and Johnson are just 27 years old, though Johnson has been in the league three more years. He finally became a full-time starter the same year Wade came into the league.

I'd like to just compare their careers, but I can't because Wade is easily the better player between the two, and I'm not arguing that in the least.

A national spotlight will be on Wade this weekend, and this is Johnson's chance to steal a bit of it.

As badly as ESPN, the NBA, and fans want to see Wade battle Lebron James in the second round, Johnson can stop that from happening.

Johnson could be the one to knock Wade's Heat out of the playoffs. Johnson could be the one to have the showdown with James.

For four years, Johnson has been a quiet leader in Atlanta, averaging 20 points or more, waiting for the pieces to come together. Last year, there were sparks of intensity, athleticism, and potential throughout the series with Boston.

But it wasn't enough.

You want to know how overlooked Johnson is? Last season in the Boston series, Zaza Pachulia took the press coverage for his head-to-head battle with Garnett, despite Johnson averaging more than 20 points, including 35 in a Game 4 win.

The whole series was either about Boston or Pachulia. How can you be the leading scorer on a team that almost upsets the No. 1 seed, yet not garner any recognition?

Well, this is his chance to gain that recognition throughout the playoffs. If he is able to outshine Wade and ruin ESPN's dream matchup, he will have the chance to stare down James and the Cavs in the next round.

Now, nobody is saying that Johnson will definitely outplay James and lead the Hawks into the Eastern Conference finals, but who is to say he won't?

And after that, what happens? A shot to take down Dwight Howard? A rematch against the Celtics? What if Joe Johnson does ruins the NBA's dream matchup and barrels the Hawks into the finals?

Every year, a star is born in the playoffs, a new household name is made. Why not Johnson? For years, he's sat back, waiting for his chance.

Well, here it is, all for the taking.

Hawks/Heat Playoff Preview Coming Soon!

Kevin Garnett Injured?: No Worries, Just Body Swap with Brian Scalabrine

Colin Flosi — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:37:02 -0400

Many Celtics fans the world over heard the news of Kevin Garnett's injury and were worried that it might affect the Celtics' chances of repeating their title run.

Do not fear, Boston faithful, you have nothing to worry about in the least. After Garnett discovered that his body was not in good enough shape to survive the rigors of the playoffs, he merely sought out a new body to use.

Who better than resident redhead Brian Scalabrine?

Garnett approached Scalabrine in the locker room late one night to present the idea, and although Scalabrine was a bit skeptical, he realized that he needed to do whatever was best for the team, and finally agreed to the body swap.

The procedure was completed just last night, and Garnett says that he feels comfortable in his new body, despite the magical fire crotch that he now possesses.

Scalabrine on the other hand, is quoted as saying, "I finally have the confidence to talk to ladies, and Glen "Big Baby" Davis no longer gives me wedgies in the locker room!"

Now that Garnett finally has a healthy (albeit slightly unathletic body) at his disposal, you can expect the Celtics vs. Bulls series to have a new X-Factor! While it may be a surprise to see Kevin Garnett on the bench in street clothes, remember, he will actually be on the court, trying to intimidate the Bulls.

While some would say that Garnett has been at times a racist, picking only on white people around the league (Calderon, Przybilla, Pachulia, etc...), now that he is the proud owner of a new Caucasian body, he has also eliminated the racism and it is now white on white violence. What a role model!

Doc Rivers, on the other hand, must continue the cover up, and his first step was to announce to the press that Garnett would most likely miss the entire playoffs.

While this means that Scalabrine (in Garnett's body, mind you) will have to sit out for the ploy to continue, he is willing to sacrifice himself for the well being of the team, the adoration of his peers, and the one-month rental of a body that isn't covered completely in freckles and red hair.

This whole, Garnett/Scalabrine body swap definitely gives the Celtics the upper hand in the series once again, and when the time comes I'm sure it will cause nightmares for the Chicago Bulls.

Just imagine: "Hello there folks, this is Marv Albert broadcasting tonight's Celtics/Bulls game, live from Boston. The score is currently tied at 104 a piece, and eight seconds remaining in regulation. Boston has the ball, and they run an isolation play for... SCALABRINE?! The Bulls have no idea what to do, and with time running out, the pasty Scalabrine is driving the lane, and what is he doing!? A 360 reverse windmill jam at the buzzer to win it!!"

"Somebody pinch me, Scalabrine has just won the series for the Celtics! The Bulls are stunned, Vinny Del Negro is on the court throwing up, Aaron Gray is questioning why he doesn't get the ball in clutch time, and Kevin Garnett is sitting on the bench doing the the chicken dance, and very poorly might I add! Something strange has happened here tonight folks, that is for sure..."

That is just one of the many possible highlights from the upcoming series that you can expect if all goes as planned with the body swap. But to tell the truth, that is nowhere near the end of the positive press that Scalabrine will receive, and the problems that it will cause around the league...

After witnessing his sheer domination in the playoffs, the New York Knicks will offer Scalabrine a max contract in the offseason, and give up on trying to sign LeBron James next summer.
Pale, freckled white boys around the country will give up their respective dreams and all try to become the next Scalabrine, depleting the World of Warcraft ranks and forcing the company to file for bankruptcy.
Scalabrine will be the new spokesman for Gatorade, and be in the most awkward "Where will amazing, and absolutely impossibly retarded happen next?" commercials you have ever seen.
Brian Scalabrine will have 1,000,000 followers on Twitter. Yes: one million.

But alas, the playoffs have not even started yet, so basically anything could come of the body swap at this point. But don't say that I didn't warn you. The face of the NBA is about to change forever, so be prepared.

Next up on the body swap list: Glen "Big Baby" Davis is slated to switch bodies with the Stay Puft Marshmallow man.

Mining the Community: Teamwork Is the Key to Bleacher Report's Future Success

Colin Flosi — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:38:41 -0500

The potential of Bleacher Report, as I have stated before, is nearly limitless. The community involvement obviously is the key to the future growth and success of the site though. Bleacher Report will go as far as its players take it.

Of course you can have a great coach (Zander & Co., Bear Bryant), but if they are leading a bad team (Washington), the results will be less than productive. This is where the players (the B/R community) need to show their worth and push the site in a positive direction, towards success and growth in the future.

While this is the part where MiamiMitch pops in and says, "It won't work Colin. I come here for light reading. You need to go somewhere else for more serious journalism"—I will stand up to Mitch and tell him I have faith in the site to become something special.

Sure, we may not all be professional journalists with the cleanest writing style and press box credentials, but the community is full of educated, enthusiastic fans who obviously want to write, or else they wouldn't be here (EXCEPTIONS: RedRaider Red and 12, who are pretty damn awesome from just comments).

That being said, I have been a bit disappointed the past few weeks. Nobody has come forward to rally the community into creating a community Heisman ballot, or a Creature Vs. Creature, or a formal debate on the topic of Big 12/SEC.

We have writers who are obviously passionate about the debate, yet nobody has gotten the ball rolling and started a serious debate through anything more than comments.

This past week, I was looking for somebody to rival me in a C Vs. C: Texas Tech/Oklahoma, and was unable to find one. The No. 5 team in the nation, with a huge fanbase such as the Sooners', and I couldn't find one to participate with me.

That alone convinced me that we need to take a few steps at Bleacher Report as a community, and so I present a few ideas—minor, unrelated ones first, followed by more important, relevant ideas.

Here are a few minor ideas I would like to see put into play around the site, and I would be willing to help with any development issues that I can.

* Make it possible to see stats on the team page. In addition to just articles, why shouldn't the team pages have stats? Also, have the team's schedule, and after each game has been played, add the results and a link to find a quick recap of the game, AS WELL AS an archive of all the recaps and write-ups from that game from the various B/R authors.

* In a corner of an author's profile page, perhaps there could be a box chronicling his own Top 25 that he submitted to the weekly poll. This would allow everyone to see how everyone voted without checking all 25 teams' comments or making the author publish an article every week.

* Each week, or few weeks, shine the spotlight on a certain writer who has been doing exceptional work as of late—a sort of Writer of the Week, or Spotlight Writer, that could also be an award on their profile. Other than that, perhaps chronicle where they are currently ranked in Writer Rankings on their profile, such as:

Colin Flosi
28 Articles Written
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
No. 6,432 Ranked College Football Writer
No. 1,233 Ranked Big 12 Writer
No. 69 Ranked Texas Tech Writer

Those are just minor musings by me I wanted to get out. Here we move on to a bit more important matters...

* Increase the recruiting efforts. I have been getting the word out everywhere I go, not spamming obviously, but letting people know about this up-and-coming site called Bleacher Report—somewhere you can go to find intelligent football discussion and have the opportunity to present your opinions and editorials in an organized manner.

I am proud of the community of this site, and the more it grows, the more impressive the articles and discussion will be. There are teams here who have fans out there that are largely unrepresented here. That needs to change. Do you know a fan of a team lacking the fanbase on BR? Invite them over—we don't bite.

* The writer rankings are wonderful, especially when it comes to the team sections. Having those rankings make it easy to decipher who are the head honchos in that area, who you can go to in the event of wanting to do a creature/creature article even. BUT I think strengthening the accuracy of those lists is a must in the future.

Of course tagging the Longhorns in a creature/creature article about Texas Tech/Texas is necessary, but I don't want to see a UT writer in the top five for Texas Tech writing because of that. I suggest that in addition to, and created using, the writer rankings, each team AND conference have a clear community leader.

Of course this is already in effect for some of them, but it would go a long way in enabling future collaborations between different writers.

* That is where my next idea comes into play. I would love to see each community leader from his/her team put something out every week, and we can put it all together into one article—a quick blurb about the game that weekend, coupled with the impact player, for every FBS game played in a weekend to be published shortly after the week's games are through.

This will make a nice, organized source for all the weekend's action, and I will even be the one to put it together.

I would love to implement this by bowl time and put it into full effect next season. The uncertainty among writer rankings for the teams make this hard at the moment, or else this may have already come to fruition.

Also, I would LOVE to see multiple Creature/Creature articles every week, and perhaps they could be their own category on the site so that they all are archived together?

* This upcoming college football season is where I expect to see Bleacher Report grow exponentially, which means that B/R will need to find a way to not only recruit before then, but also come out with something that will, excuse me for the lame phrase, "change the game". The college football offseason is such a long period of time that the possibilities are endless.

The BRCS did a lot to make things more exciting this season, but next year has to bring out something nobody has seen before. We have the minds of thousands of fans working together. How can we not brainstorm a worthy idea?

There are many potential improvements that can be made, but more importantly, there is so much more the community can do to improve this site. The activity has been wonderful, but that doesn't mean we can quit and be content with what we have. Never quit trying to better yourself or your surroundings, because one day, your determination will inspire somebody else.

We have the opportunity to be a part of something special. Let's not be content with what we have. Let's make Bleacher Report a household name.

(Sorry for the lack of organization in this article, and perhaps the lack of writing skill. I am writing this without sleep for the last 60+ hours and wanted to get it out)

The Neverending Shootout in Norman: Eight Keys to Texas Tech Defeating Oklahoma

Colin Flosi — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:00:14 -0500

We all know a couple things about these teams. Basically, they love to score, usually by getting into rhythm on offense to keep the defense out of whack. So does that mean that the two gameplans cancel each other out?

If one were to chronicle these two teams' seasons, they would seem pretty similar, and would look to be in the same situation. Both have dominated nearly every game this season, with the slight advantage to Oklahoma in terms of dismantling teams throughout.

Both teams also started strong in their marquee games, both against Texas. The only difference is that Oklahoma was unable to counter the late rush by the Longhorns, while Texas Tech was. There lies the difference between the two seasons. Oklahoma could be undefeated just as easily as Texas Tech could have a loss.

But that isn't how the games played out, and Texas Tech is the one in the driver's seat, although they will most likely be the underdogs heading into Norman next weekend. There are a plethora of things that Texas Tech has to do to win, and I will point out the eight most important. 8 > 7.

1. Do not give up the big play, especially early. Force Oklahoma to work their way down the field.

It is no secret that Oklahoma can score, and they are definitely not trying to hide it. They have jumped out to early leads in each of their last three conference games, scoring at least 28 points in the first quarter of all those games.

Tech would be doing themselves a huge disservice by allowing Oklahoma to score on or even have a big play. The more that you make Oklahoma work down the field, the more chances there are for mistakes. The Tech defense has been opportunistic and has successfully employed the bend don't break defense so far this year, and this game should be no exception.

Ten of Sam Bradford's 38 touchdown passes have been of 40 or more yards, which, for those bad with numbers, is an average of one a game. Every big play—whether it be a return, run, pass, anything—will get the crowd into the game, which is exactly what Tech wants to stop from happening. Take the crowd away, even the playing field...

2. Don't just take the crowd out of the game—DO NOT allow them to get into it...

Now, by don't allow the crowd into the game, I don't mean lock the gates so spectators are denied entry. That wouldn't be very nice. Rather, Texas Tech needs to jump ahead early, because a crowd loves nothing more than a lead and a sense of security.

There are so many things that could get the crowd involved that Tech needs to eliminate, or at least lower the chances of occurring. While there are things that Tech cannot control that pump up a crowd (big hits, embarrassingly Madden-like juke moves), there are plenty of things that they can.

Turnovers, sacks allowed, big returns on punts and kickoffs, large gains, and getting caught on camera eating boogers are just a few. It is unlikely that Tech can eliminate every one of these elements from the game, but the more successful they are, the better their chances of winning on the road.

3. Forget about the past, whether it be 2005, 2007, or the last 10 wins...

Texas Tech cannot go in with the idea in their heads that just because they've beaten them two out of the last three years, they will win this game. So far this season, Texas Tech has done a wonderful job of looking not at the past or the future, but rather at the present only.

If Texas Tech wants to look at anything, it should be the fact they will most likely be the underdogs. The bye week will do a lot for both teams to allow them to either get their heads clear, or over-think the situation, so most likely whichever team comes out most focused on this field alone will have the advantage.

All Texas Tech fans would love to think that it can't happen, but you never know. The truth of the matter is that Texas Tech has never been in this situation before. We are unsure of how they will handle the pressure, but they sure have done a good job of misdirecting that same pressure in the past few weeks, haven't they?

4. Put pressure on Bradford and CONTAIN the run with just the front 3-4...

To be able to defend both the pass and the run, Tech needs to be able to get to Bradford with just the basic pass rush. Having to blitz to pressure him will allow him to pick apart the defense for bigger plays, which we already targeted as one of the keys to winning.

Even more important perhaps will be controlling the line of scrimmage and containing the run with that same line. We saw it last week, and I hope to see it again in this game. Colby Whitlock has been an absolute beast the last few weeks and even made a tackle with his back last week—just one sign of the scrappiness of the front line that Tech will need to employ to win the battle against the run.

Although it would seem crazy to play into Oklahoma's strengths and make them pass, it will be necessary. Texas was able to do it and forced Bradford to win the game by himself, and he wasn't able to do it, although I am sure he is capable of it. The quicker that Oklahoma has to abandon the run, the quicker Texas Tech can fall back and play a more consistent scheme.

5. Be the more efficient team on offense and control the pace, even if both teams are trying the same thing...

Both teams want to score, and both teams want a quick, steady rhythm to do it. Which means the Sooners will put their defense on the field A LOT, right? WRONG. If Texas Tech does the same thing, both teams' defenses will be in the same predicament.

Ideally, both teams would love to control the clock to win the game, but with both offenses clicking, neither coach will want to disrupt the flow. The team who is able to dictate the flow, even if the difference is minuscule at first inspection, will have the better chance to win.

Texas Tech ran their offense perfectly last week with long drives that were still relatively quick—a perfect gameplan to employ in this game as well.

Efficiency will go a long way towards deciding the winner. The ability to gain yards on every play and avoid incompletions will be key. In a game like this, momentum and efficiency go hand-in-hand. Tech cannot allow what Oklahoma does on offense to disrupt what they are doing. After all, they are playing against the Sooners defense, not their offense.

6. When/IF Texas Tech takes a lead and is in evident control of the game, do not take your foot off the gas...

Last season we saw it. Texas Tech was outplaying Oklahoma, with the game in hand, and they stopped trying to score... Against Texas, Texas Tech got a bit too conservative and found themselves unable to move down the field in the second half. If Texas Tech jumps out to a halftime lead, that is not an excuse to come out flat and conservative.

Continue to attack on offense, continue to be aggressive on defense, and don't force yourself to win the game late if you have the game in hand early. Every possession is a statement in this game and cannot be approached lackadaisically. This has been my only gripe with Leach, as he tightens up when given the lead, and it is detrimental to keeping that same lead.

Sure, try to control the clock, but don't change your gameplan to do it! If you are completing passes, the clock will keep running, Mike Leach. Have you forgotten that?

7. Here is a basic one...win the turnover battle.

Sure, last weekend the fumble on the opening drive didn't come back to haunt the Red Raiders, but on the road, it surely will. Like I stated earlier, turnovers are a momentum shift and a reason for the home crowd to get involved, two things we cannot give the Sooners.

More importantly, it is a lost possession. In a defensive battle, turnovers are important but not crucial, but in a game where teams have the ability to score every time they have the ball, every possession you give up will make a difference. If you're going to lose a possession, at least make it a punt deep in their zone, forcing them to work their way down the field.

Graham Harrell has been perfect the last three games (excluding the fumble last game), not throwing an interception since the A&M game. That right there is one of the reasons that we are realizing success that has been hiding for years. A team with an offense like Tech's is scary enough, but one that throws 50 times a game without interceptions or sacks is just ridiculous.

8. Look for Michael Crabtree in the Red Zone, but do not force it to him...

Every fan of Texas Tech knows that Michael Crabtree is money in the red zone, on pace to score even more touchdowns this season than he did in his record-setting freshman year. That having been said, it is also a known fact to the opposition that Michael Crabtree is money in the red zone...

Crabtree scored three touchdowns last week despite having under 100 yards receiving. One part of Michael Crabtree's game that makes him the most valuable to this team is his value as a decoy. Having Crabtree on the field opens it up for every other receiver out there with him, so don't be afraid to look their way Graham...

If Crabtree is being keyed on, then spread it out. Eric Morris, Detron Lewis, Tramain Swindall, Edward Britton, and both running backs are all threats to score, as we've seen in the past. Having Crabtree in the red zone will help the team, but not just because of his ability to score touchdowns.

I am still wary of the time Graham Harrell tries too hard to get it to Crabtree, forcing a pass in there and getting intercepted in the red zone...

Well, there are eight facets of the game that Texas Tech will need to capitalize on to win this game in a hostile environment. Of course there are more, obvious battles they need to win (outgain, outbalance, outsack, outscore, outplay, and out-own), but these are what I see as the keys...

After all, this win will go a long way in defining Tech's future. Whether or not we capitalize on the opportunity has yet to be seen, but frankly I have all the faith in the world in this team.

Guns up!

Grading The 5-0 Atlanta Hawks By Player: Finally Soaring, or Flying Flukes?

Colin Flosi — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:02:02 -0500

After the Atlanta Hawks' 5-0 start, they are alone at the top with the Los Angeles Lakers as the only undefeated teams remaining in the NBA. Most Hawks fans are ecstatic, thanks in part to a bench that has stepped up in response to Josh Childress's departure to Europe in the offseason.

Let's take a look at, and grade, the individual performances by player:

GUARDS

Mike Bibby (14.2 PPG, 5.6 APG, 2.4 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 1.6 TOPG. 40.3% FG, 37.9% 3PT, 76.9% FT)

Bibby has been inconsistent, having his two best games at home against Toronto and Philadelphia. On the good nights, he runs the offense well, and refrains from taking possession-wasting bad looks. He has attempted at least four three-pointers in every game, and has only one game with over four assists.

Still not a typical court general, Bibby needs to continue to feed the ball inside before pulling up for a contested shot. He has been streaky, and at times has stalled the offense's fluidity. Bibby is the leader, but Joe Johnson is the one with the ball bringing it up the court when the game is on the line.

Grade: B

Acie Law (1.8 PPG, 2.0 APG, 1.8 RPG, 0 SPG, 0.6 TOPG, 4-16 FG, 0-7 3PT, 1-2 FT)

Law has been inconsistent in his short amount of time. He has shown that he can run the offense, but still makes mistakes that should be eliminated soon if he wants to increase his playing time. His shot has not been falling, which is understandable due to the small sample sizes.

His awareness is improved from last year, but still does not look comfortable on the court for most of the game. He drives to the basket well, and his passing is strong, but he is nowhere near ready to lead this team.

Grade: C-

Joe Johnson (25.2 PPG, 3.8 APG, 5.2 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 2.8 TOPG, 50.5% FG, 44% 3PT, 79% FT)

Joe Johnson has come out once again this season and shown that he is capable of being the go-to guy on a playoff team. He has been his best in the fourth quarter, and is perhaps the most important reason that the Hawks are without a loss.

His shooting has been consistent all year, barring the 9-25 performance against OKC, perhaps due to forcing too much with Josh Smith being out. If the Hawks wants to keep their current pace while Smith is out with a sprained ankle, Joe Johnson will have to continue his production.

He is on the fringe of proving his status as a superstar, and this is the time to do it. When Joe Johnson is off the court, the team is entirely different, yet improved from last season. One particularly confidence-boosting statistic for Joe Johnson this year is that he has only played over 40 minutes in two of the five games this season—a noticeable improvement from last year.

Joe Johnson's ability to hold up over the course of the season will do a lot for the Hawks' playoff chances.

Grade: A

Ronald Murray (12.4 PPG, 2.2 APG, 2.6 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 1 TOPG, 41.5% FG, 41.2 3PT%, 57.9% FT)

Ronald Murray has provides offense off the bench, which is exactly what Hawks fans expected with his signing. What some didn't expect, though, was the stomach pain you get from watching him. It is true—Flip Murray has no conscience, and will shoot until his arm breaks, which is hell on a fan.

But up to this point, he has made the shots when they counted, and been a big clutch shooter in the fourth quarter. He will be a fan favorite as long as he is hitting, but once those shot-a-minute jumpers stop falling, his party may be over.

For now, we'll appreciate the scoring.

Grade: B+

FORWARDS

Marvin Williams (10.8 PPG, 1.3 APG, 6.0 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 1.5 TOPG, 46.2% FG, 4-7 3PT, 75% FT)

So far this season, Marvin Williams has hit FOUR times more three-pointers than he did last season. After draining only one shot from long range last season, it looks as if, yes, Marvin actually did improve his range during the offseason.

Williams has been a steady source of offense, defense, and work on the boards, but not as much as many Hawks fans hoped. Facing expectations a breakout season, he has been disappearing on offense for long stretches of time mysteriously. After a rough start to the season, he has scored over 11 points in each of the last three games, and has finally been taking enough shots to be considered a part of the offense.

As long as Williams continues to get the looks, and hit them, his points will improve. His new approach on offense will be integral to his future with this team. As long as he has confidence in his shot, Hawks fans should too.

Grade: B-

Josh Smith (12 PPG, 1.3 APG, 8 RPG, 2.3 SPG, 2.5 BPG, 2.5 TOPG, 42.6% FG, 36.4% 3PT, 57.1% FT)

Josh Smith's injury will show us what the Hawks are made of. An absolute beast on offense, Smith is the playmaker on the offense, and improving his offensive game more and more every game. In terms of excitement, Smith's swats and rim-rocking dunks are motivation for the Hawks every time.

Before the injury, Smith was coming into his own on offense, despite his misguided affection towards the three-ball. Smith is at his best when he attacks the basket, but too many times he settles for a three, or deep jumper. He thinks he has Joe Johnson's shot, but the airballs prove that is not the case.

He will be needed, and when the ankle heals, let's hope he begins to attack the basket more. The more jumpers Smith takes, the less effective—and easier to defend—the Hawks offense is.

Grade: B

Maurice Evans (8 PPG, 0.6 APG, 3.4 RPG, 1 SPG, 1.6 TOPG, 44.1% FG, 43.8% 3PT, 3-3 FT)

Evans, the acquisition most likely to replace Childress, has been up and down in his first five games as a Hawk. His shooting since the first game has been strong, and his defense helps him win minutes from Flip. But whenever I watch Evans, I miss Childress more and more.

He was nearly transparent in the game against the Thunder, and seems lost at times on offense, unsure of his role. Just when you think that he should be benched, he'll do just enough to stay in the game. Overall, he has been solid off the bench, but most Hawks fans would love to have Childress back.

Grade: B-

CENTERS

Al Horford (8.8 PPG, 3.2 APG, 8.8 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 1.2 TOPG, 48.5% FG, 60% FT)

Horford has been consistently stable all season, just as he was last season. While most Hawks fans would love to see him develop more inside moves, he is doing what is asked of him, and crashing the boards well.

Even more importantly, he has only been in foul trouble in two games this season—crucial, due to the Hawks lack of frontcourt depth. Horford needs to continue to crash the boards and take what the defense gives him. If he plays with intensity, and stays out of foul trouble, the Hawks will be much more confident in their frontcourt's depth.

His midrange jumper is money from 17 and in, and his intensity is a plus for a team still fighting for respect.

Grade: B+

Zaza Pachulia (4.2 PPG, 0.8 APG, 5.2 RPG, 0.6 TOPG, 40.9% FG, 3-6 FT)

Pachulia, made famous by last year's headbutt battle with Kevin Garnett, is a target of both love and hate. He plays with hustle and intensity on a higher level than anybody on the Hawks, and perhaps the NBA. But, along with his intensity, he plays sloppily and raw.

On offense, when he should be going towards the basket strong, he tries too hard to draw a foul, and hurts the team. On defense, though the best flopper in the league, he fouls too easily—and lacks not only control, but also a vertical leap.

Zaza crashes the offensive boards better than anyone on the team, and isn't afraid to go against anybody. His presence will be crucial with Smith out, due to Solomon Jones' inexperience and lack of any sort of offense.

If Zaza plays with the intensity he had the playoffs, the Hawks will be in a much better position than if he plays as he did in the regular season last year.

Grade: C

Solomon Jones (3.3 PPG, 0.7 APG, 6.7 RPG, 1.7 BPG, 40% FG, 75% FT)

Solomon Jones was expected to see "some" time this season., but due to Josh Smith's injury, his role has been expanded. Coupled with Zaza Pachulia's inability to not foul everyone with the ball, Jones has played two games with substantial minutes and showed he is a force to be reckoned with on defense and on the boards.

Offense, on the other hand, is a completely different story. Lacking any sort of moves other than running towards the rim and dunking, Jones will need to think of something new to become a legitimate third center for the Hawks.

Jones has a chance to prove that he may deserve playing time, even after Josh Smith returns. These next few games will be big for his confidence, and his development.

Grade: B+ (Defense), Incomplete (Offense)

The Hawks have been successful this season due to a myriad of factors, mostly, their own confidence. They have the mindset that they can beat everyone—and while in past seasons that wouldn't have been true, now it is.

Joe Johnson is the undeniable leader of this team, and the pieces are in place around him. Now it's all about them falling together and finishing the puzzle.

Here is to the 5-0 Atlanta Hawks! I predicted 46 wins this season, and I hope they prove me right. For once, they have the team to do it.

Quaterback Rating: Not an Accurate Judge of Performance?

Colin Flosi — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:33:51 -0500

Week after week, I have been checking back on the NCAA FBS passing leaders, keeping an eye on the quarterback rating leader boards, and have been surprised to see its results over that period of time.

Obviously, all football fans know that stats can't always tell the story of how good a player is, but that isn't where my quarterback rating complaint lies. It is a stat, and still doesn't give a proper rating based on the other stats.

The formula is legitimate, and that is not where I have the problem. What i take exception to, is the fact that touchdowns thrown per pass attempted is weighed too heavily. For this season's examples, we will use Tulsa quarterback David Johnson, and Texas Tech passer Graham Harrell.

David Johnson

172-258, 66.7 %, 331 YPG, 33 TD, 10 INT, 11.6 YPA: xxx.xx Rating

Graham Harrell

332-463, 71.7%, 407 YPG, 36 TD, 5 INT, 8.9 YPA: xxx.xx Rating

Johnson has a 2.7-yard advantage in each attempt, which gives him a nice boost. But Harrell leads him in completion percentage by five (5) percent, the much better TD/INT ratio, and the more yards per game. So who do you think would have the better quarterback rating?

Due to Johnson's YPA advantage, you would think he would have a bit of an advantage, perhaps able to even out his deficit in completion percentage and TD/INT ratio, and most would guess they would be neck-and-neck in rating, right...?

WRONG.

Maybe Johnson would even be able to boost the lead to a few points due to the number of touchdowns he threw in a lower amount of attempts. Well, what are the real rating you ask?

Johnson: 198.25

Harrell: 169.18

A nearly 30-point advantage for Tulsa's David Johnson due to the emphasis placed on touchdowns per attempt, even more so than placed on interceptions. Examining the formula has led me to create a scenario to see which quarterback would have the better quarterback rating...The formula for the rating is below...

Quarterback A: 10-24, 176 Yards, 4 TD, 2 INT.

Quarterback B: 30-49, 300 Yards, 2 TD, 0 INT.

I was hoping all of the scenarios I concocted would fail, thus making my article irrelevant and letting me save some time, but alas, that was not the case.

The first quarterback completed just over 40% of his passes, for 7.5 yards per attempt, and 4 touchdowns, which isn't bad. But two interceptions which essentially kill drives and push momentum the other way.

The second quarterback completed 20 percent more of his passes, but at a bit lower yardage per attempt, just over six. Common sense would tell you that completing two more passes out of every 10 would make up for the difference in average per attempt, though. He threw only two touchdowns, but was without an interception.

Due to the second quarterback's low number of touchdown passes in twice as many attempts, he ends up with the lower rating (141 to 140, basically).

While the difference is rating is not that drastic, and the quarterback may not have had the best game, I still feel the formula needs some tweaks. The emphasis placed on touchdown passes per attempt, in comparison to the negative impact of interceptions needs to be altered, or at least tweaked.

Just a fun fact: Sam Bradford's rating in the game against Texas? 187. Graham Harrell's rating in the game against Texas? 155.

Texas Tech Keeps Silencing Doubters: What Must Be Done to Earn Respect?

Colin Flosi — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:35:55 -0500

Three weeks ago, we all heard it: "Texas Tech will get blown off the field by Kansas and crawl back into obscurity." So what happened there? A 63-21 victory that many chalked up to Kansas being overrated. Tech was the underdog in that game, embarrassed the Jayhawks at their homecoming, and got no respect.

That's fine. We'll earn it against Texas then.

So, the nation is all set for the showdown in Lubbock between Heisman front-runner Colt McCoy and overshadowed also-ran Graham Harrell. Harrell outplays McCoy and Tech outplays Texas early, dominating the line of scrimmage and playing the better defense.

Texas comes out strong in the second half and puts a scare into Texas Tech. Here is the letdown, right?

Wrong.

Texas Tech answers the Longhorns' scoring drive and scores on the play of the year so far, one we have all seen, so no need to bring it up (after all, I don't want all the UT fans reason to tear up again). Some analysts, pundits, and so-called journalists give Tech kudos for the win, yet point to UT coming out flat as the reason.

So Tech didn't win the game—Texas just lost it? Of course, I understand.

Fans all around the country begin to PERHAPS think that Texas Tech may be a legit team, but obviously not BCS worthy. They will lose to OSU or OU, most likely both, no need to worry. Which is fine—Tech would love to prove it to you against Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.

Texas Tech comes into the Oklahoma State game being told that they will lose one of their next two games, and probably both. This is the general consensus from Alabama fans, Penn State fans, Texas fans, Oklahoma fans, Florida fans, and fans of Richard Simmons.

How does Tech respond to all of the doubters out there? They have THE most dominant performance of perhaps any team this season. They showed dominance from the start just as Texas did against Missouri but didn't allow them to score as much in the second half.

They dominated a top 10 team, holding them 20+ points under their season average and picking apart the defense as all of us Tech fans knew they would.

I am going to be honest. I wasn't scared of this Oklahoma State game at all. I knew that we were the better team and had more momentum, and having it at home did a lot. To most people I knew, I projected 49-24, and I was actually a bit off. It's all right though—Tech's dominance is the best exterminator of ignorance I have ever seen.

You would think that NOW people would take Tech seriously, because had Texas done that to Oklahoma State, the world would have said that UT was the best team in the history of ever. But no, people choose to point out that Tech will DEFINITELY lose to Oklahoma in a few weeks.

Yes, it is our hardest game. From the beginning of the season, it was the game I was scared of, even more than the game against the Longhorns. BUT the choice to ignore our last two performances and focus on our upcoming game is ridiculous to the point of stupidity.

Every team in the nation gets more respect than Texas Tech it would seem, even UT—no, not Texas, Tennessee (Oh sweet dude, did you see that play? The Tennessee QB threw an interception AND got trucked trying to tackle the guy who intercepted it, that takes heart! That loss against Wyoming will just prove how well this team can rebound.).

Due to these recent occurrences, I have compiled a list of things that Texas Tech must do in order to gain respect from the college football world.

Oh dang, Mike Leach is going to leave Lubbock for a new job because obviously he hates it here. SO, just fire him and the staff now. Play the rest of the season with no coach, just a floating clipboard. Oh, that wouldn't get us respect? "It is a system offense anyway, no need for coaches OR players." DUH, I should have known. Sorry.
Compete for a Big 12 championship and a National Championship without any five-star recruits...oh wait, we're already doing that? Oops.
Don't field a team on defense. People always say the Big 12 has no defense—let's see the literal result. (Note: For this idea to work, we may need SEC officials out there making tackles.)
Create a new offensive scheme and abandon the spread since we've made it a household name. I suggest something along the lines of a bunch formation, where instead of throwing it, you line up 11 players in the middle of the field, right up against the 11 defenders and run it right into the middle of the wall. Oh, three-quarters of the SEC does this every game? Sorry, I'll start brainstorming.
Get President-Elect Obama to state that hating on Texas Tech, just like the BCS, is bad for college football.
Play in the SEC.
Beat Oklahoma. But wait, then most would say it doesn't matter, that was an overrated OU team. Beat Baylor. Win the Big 12 CG, but wait, Missouri is overrated, right? Win the NCG, oh, (insert SEC team here) was overrated? Darn. Only 14-0? You guys suck, plus you are historically irrelevant. Maybe if you won more games in 1930 we could take you seriously.

Just a note to you all: It has nearly gotten to the point of surrender. I have won over $xx,xxx in the last two weeks on Texas Tech due to your skepticism, yet it just isn't satisfying.

The teams' fans that talk so much more trash—UT, SEC, Penn State—can earn respect because they can attack people and try to make their so-called points with insults. Yet the Texas Tech fans who sit back and let our team do the talking cannot get any.

While it is true that you shouldn't let the media and casual fans' perceptions of your team affect your feelings, it isn't very fun rooting for a team that is rarely recognized, even when they are the best...

So while you all are figuring out the formula for the NCG ONCE Tech loses to Oklahoma, you may want to second-guess yourself. After all, Texas Tech is in control of their own destiny, even if you're trying to take away their remote.

We'll survive and stay happy regardless. After all, nobody took us seriously at the beginning of the season. Why should we ever expect differently?

The Progression of a Gunslinger: Profiling Graham Harrell's Season to Date

Colin Flosi — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:21:42 -0400

The suspense of this weekend's upcoming game is killing me, so I am writing to pass the time, forgive me. I am going to focus on Graham Harrell's season to this point, giving brief recaps of what I saw in every game. (Boy, remember the younger Harrell in that picture?)

QUARTERBACK

Graham Harrell

Harrell has finally grown into what we all hoped he would become. Throughout the last 2.5 years, Harrell has not only become more confident in the pocket, but more confident changing plays at the line when necessary. That, to me, has been the big difference this season, as his improved reads have contributed a hell of a lot to our offensive success.

Harrell has not only improved himself, but also the players around him. He has developed parts of the game he lacked as a sophomore and improved skills he already possessed. He has this team thinking about a national championship.

Game One vs. Eastern Washington

43-58, 536 Yards, two touchdowns, one interception, 74.1 percent, 9.2 YPA, one rushing TD

He started the season with a strong game yardage-wise against EWU but looked off his game a bit. His passes weren't that sharp, and an interception against a FCS school in the season opener surprised more than a few people. He spread the ball out nicely, and most people saw the yardage total and chalked it up as a good day, while the rest just shrugged it off as early season rust.

Harrell led the offense to scores on 50 percent of their possessions (7/14), although two missed field goals added to that low percentage. The rushing game, though amassing 100 yards, struggled mightily to stay consistent and alleviate the rush off Harrell. A decent game to start the season, though the game was closer than many would have hoped. B-

Game Two @ Nevada

19-46, 297 Yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, 41.3 percent, 6.5 YPA

A road game against Nevada only got worse for Graham, as he had arguably the worst game of his career. His passes were flying off target, mostly overthrows, and he looked lost in the pocket and never got into rhythm in a game that should have been an easy win. He completed only 41 percent of his passes, a career low, and threw two interceptions coupled with just a single touchdown.

In a game that Tech should have used to show that they could actually beat their only "decent" OOC opponent, the offense struggled, with Harrell in the middle of the struggle. I have to say, it looked like the sophomore Graham Harrell out there, and at that point I doubted Tech would contend at all in the Big 12. In fact, I was scared we might not even come away with a victory.

Harrell led them to scoring drives on four of their 13 possessions, though no two were bigger than on Tech's first drives of the fourth quarter, effectively putting the game away. Harrell was an unimpressive 5-12 for 114 yards, one touchdown, and an interception in the fourth quarter, but luckily it was enough to sneak away with a victory. Easily Graham's worst game of the season. D-

Game Three vs. SMU

31-48, 418 Yards, five touchdowns, zero interceptions, 64.6 percent, 8.7 YPA

A game that Mike Leach publicly criticized his offense after, Harrell had his best game of the season statistically but still wasn't as good as he was at the end of the 2007 season. There were too many off-target passes, and he was taking too much time to get the ball off. Because the game was never in doubt from the beginning, though, it didn't matter much in the end.

Harrell and Crabtree together had another big game, but it seemed that Harrell was trying to force it to Crabtree too often. He was far too zoned in on a single receiver and let the defense know it. It's a good thing that SMU is no defensive powerhouse.

The ease with which Harrell was able to pass can be attributed to the successful run game. The first in a streak of efficient games running the ball, it helped take the pressure off Harrell early and often.

Harrell was steadily improving, but when even your coach publicly calls you out for having a big head, you realize something needs to improve. B

Game Four vs. Massachusetts

27-34, 322 Yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions, 79.4 percent, 9.5 YPA

The first game where Harrell and the receivers seemed to all be on the same page. This game was won early, and Harrell was able to relax and settle into the pocket unlike in earlier games.

A weak defense made him look better than he was, but it was Harrell's best game of the season up to that point. He was efficient in getting rid of the ball, never taking unnecessary time in the pocket, and his reads were accurate all night.

Sadly, as somebody hoping that Harrell could pad his stats in order to make up for the poor showing against Nevada, it wasn't happening. Before the season, everybody was so set on 6,000 yards—yet now that we are undefeated, isn't it funny that it is no longer a big deal? B+

Game Five @ Kansas State

38-51, 454 Yards, six touchdowns, zero interceptions, 74.5 percent, 8.9 YPA, one rushing TD

Harrell could not have had a more perfect day passing the ball and leading the offense down the field. True, ALL OF US could score on the KSU defense, but Harrell silenced most naysayers with this game. He could have finished with 600 yards and nine touchdowns, I have no doubt in my mind.

He was releasing balls quickly in the pocket, hitting receivers just as their routes were materializing, leading Crabtree perfectly to burn the defense, and checking out of plays left and right. This game gave me confidence that we could be for real and Harrell could be even more legitimate. He found a way to play to Lyle Leong's strengths and get him into the end zone three times.

It was even more impressive than his game last season against Oklahoma State (though I now pretend that game never happened). A+

Game Six vs. Nebraska

20-25, 284 Yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions, 80 percent, 11.4 YPA, one rushing TD

Not much to say about Harrell in this game. He rarely saw the field but was exceptionally efficient when he did. Extra points for the great pass on fourth down to Crabtree, and even more points for keeping his composure where, in the past, he would have been frustrated being on the sidelines so long and would have tried to force something.

Having the discipline to come out and run the offense with poise and no sense of urgency in a game where it was obvious they should be worried was a pleasant surprise. Watching Harrell mature throughout the season has been one of the joys of this Texas Tech team.

Also, noticing Crabtree's ability to open up the field has been a plus. Multiple times in this game, Harrell pumped or head-faked to Crabtree and got a defender to bite, opening up a pass somewhere else.

Another learning experience not only for Tech players, but for fans as well, was the sign that this really may be the season we don't let an easy win slip away. A-

Game Seven @ Texas A&M

44-56, 450 Yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions, 78.6 percent, 8.0 YPA, two rushing TDs

This game was up and down in many aspects. He threw two interceptions but also completed passes at a high percentage and spread the ball well. It was obvious Harrell was seeing the field well. Being able to stand in the pocket for 10 seconds every play will do that for you sometimes, am I right?

After Crabtree went out with an injury, I was afraid our offense would fall apart, but the other receivers did a nice job of filling in, and Harrell did a wonderful job acting as if Tramain Swindall was actually Michael Crabtree.

The first interception was the worst play of the season, by far. It is the pass that Harrell has made in both his sophomore and junior seasons that comes back to haunt us. Instead of taking a sack or throwing it away, he throws it, well, UP. I never want to see it again.

The second interception was actually a dropped ball by Crabtree that ended up being grabbed from off his arms by an A&M defender, and I was hoping that they would rule it as a fumble, but didn't.

Harrell was efficient in the red zone and took advantage of the time given to him to find the open receiver. He still had a few forced passes, and it looked reminiscent of the game against EWU at times, but he played well when it mattered, and Tech came away with a win. B

Game Eight @ Kansas

34-42, 386 Yards, five touchdowns, zero interceptions, 81 percent, 9.2 YPA, one rushing TD

The game that many analysts looked at and gave Harrell credit as a potential Heisman candidate. The second-best game of the year, other than the showing against Kansas State, Harrell was firing on all cylinders (never used that expression before and wanted to get it out there to make myself seem more knowledgeable—did it work?).

He read the field exceptionally well, especially to start the game with the pass to Britton. He was quick with his decisions, never hesitating, which is what the spread requires: mistake-free, hesitation-free quarterbacks, able to take advantage of a slight opening and hoping to turn it into more.

Though he missed a few open receivers downfield, in a game as lopsided as this one turned out to be, you can't blame him.

Once again, he didn't miss a beat when Crabtree was out of the game, and he used the screen pass more sparingly, which I think makes it even more effective. This is the type of game we want Harrell to play as the season goes along. Don't repeat too many packages—variety will be the key to success against Texas. A

Things Harrell Still Needs To Eliminate

The chunk-up and the repetition of plays.

Things Harrell Has Improved Mightily

Pocket composure and changing the play at the line of scrimmage.

My Overall Take on Harrell This Season

Extremely positive. He's playing, at this point, better than I hoped he would be. The sky is the limit, though these next three games will make or break his career.

GUNS UP!

Passing The Time: Eight Ways Mike Leach Will Spend Week Leading Up to the Game

Colin Flosi — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:42:33 -0400

We all know that Mike Leach cannot sit around all week patiently waiting for the game to come. We also know that he will keep it interesting, making sure to enjoy his time while the rest of the world stresses the importance of this game. I imagine his week will look something like this...

1. Start re-examining the treasure map he uses to find quarterbacks to run his system.

This week, Mike Leach can take a bit of time, and start looking for his next quarterback to lead this Red Raiders team. Sure, he has Taylor Potts, Steven Sheffield, Stefan Loucks, and Jacob Karam incoming, but those seem so plain. So, he will spice it up a bit i'm sure.

You've heard of Tim Tebow, haven't you? Good. Well, perhaps next year, Mike Leach will introduce you to Tito Tebow, Tim's Guatemalan half-brother. It has been said that his greatest asset is his ability to Salsa through a cluttered dance floor. Which means, you guessed it, Texas Tech may have their most mobile quarterback in recent memory coming in.

2. Write well-worded letter to "Pirates of the Caribbean" producers, asking to be included in the next movie.

We all know that Mike Leach loves pirates, perhaps a little too much. So doesn't it seem logical that he would try to research and interact with them as much as possible? Johnny Depp may not be Blackbeard, but I'm sure even Mike has to admire how he is able to get so close to Kiera Knightley...Now that is some pirate "booty" Mike should pursue!

3. Visit local Academy in search of new, no-itch Texas Tech polo shirt.

Last weekend was the first time all season that Mike didn't look itchy in his shirt. Sure, you could say that it has been the Red Raiders inconsistency that has made him squirm, but I'm thinking it may be the shirts.

While he's there, he may be on the lookout for new Under Armour moisture-resistant shirts for Mark Mangino, that underbreast sweat last weekend needs to be improved. Although, perhaps it was the Tech offense making him sweat?

4. Stand in mirror and practice his facial expressions.

A recap of Mike Leach's facial expression goes a little something like this.
Touchdown- :-l
Interception- :-l
Stopped on fourth down- :-l
Big game win- :-l
Big game loss- :-l
Hey Coach, You're QB is just a "System Quarterback"- :-l, followed by "stfu moron"

It's good to see that he can keep himself calm, but I'm afraid that after Tech wins the game against Texas, he still won't change his expression. Forcing us all to wonder whether perhaps, he is a bit crazy.

5. Head over to Party City to get Halloween costumes for him and his team.

I'm thinking a combination of Blackbeard and Dr. Jekyll. Imagine the eye patch and beard of the famous pirate, mixed with the top hat and sharp suit from the Doctor. Perhaps a bit of face paint from Brandon Carter, and all is set. My favorites would be Eric Morris getting an elf costume, and Harrell covered in metallic paint, doing the Heisman pose all night.

6. Join Bleacher Report, see my undying support for him, and add me to the staff.

Unlikely, sure, but you underestimate the mind of a genius. He doesn't have time to read about all of the stupid BCS discussions and whatnot, so he'll spend time reading articles by me. After all, I just gave him the perfect idea for a Halloween costume, did I not?

7. Plan more halftime contests in hopes of eliminating recruiting completely. It worked with the kicker, why not the whole team?

Planned contests include, but are not limited to:

Staring contest against Brandon Carter—You're the new D-Lineman
Tackle Michael Crabtree in the open field...Without using your hands—You're the new cornerback.
Convince Mike Leach why he shouldn't go for it on fourth down every time—You're the new punter!

Now that Leach knows that there is talent hiding everywhere, I can see him giving everyone in Lubbock a look...That guy who caught the t-shirt during halftime is looking like a four-star WR recruit.

8. Write a letter to all NFL teams, giving reasons not to draft that Crabtree kid they've been hearing so much about.

Dear Cincinnati Bengals,
Sure, Michael Crabtree is good, but psh, why would you want him? He is a perfect role model for the youth of today. He won't get arrested, change his name for publicity, or even drop passes every game, definitely not the type of guy you're looking for.
Sincerely,
Michael Leach (Attorney at Law)

After all, don't we want him back next year?

Creature Vs. Creature: A Red Raider on Texas-Texas Tech

Colin Flosi — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:58:44 -0400

This is written from a Texas Tech Red Raider fan's point of view, to read the article from a Texas Longhorn fan's point of view, check it out "here"

Game Preview

It's that time of the season. No, not the National Championship, or even the Big 12 Championship, but rather the Texas Tech's annual match-up against the Texas Longhorns. Every season, it seems as if the red Raiders come into this game with high expectations, and every season, it seems as if that never happens.

Because it pretty much hasn't. The Longhorns have won the last five games, most of them in convincing fashion. Last season, Texas came away with a 59-43 victory in Austin, thus continuing their historical, as well as recent dominance of Texas Tech.

Texas Tech is coming off a road, homecoming-ruining 63-21 victory over Kansas last weekend, in a game that saw Tech's offense and defense dominate throughout. Graham Harrell completed over 80 percent of his passes for 386 yards and five touchdowns through the air, while sneaking another one in on the ground.

Meanwhile, the Longhorns held off Oklahoma State in Austin, in a game that saw Colt McCoy show he was, indeed, human. McCoy played very well, but struggled to put the game away in the fourth quarter with a crucial interception and fumble.

The defense faced a tough running team in Oklahoma State, and for the first time in all season, their run defense didn't look like a brick wall. The Cowboys were able to run for 217 yards on 37 carries, an impressive six yards per carry.

Both teams come in undefeated, yet in two very different situations. This will be the last game in the dreaded four-game stretch for Texas, and they may be getting worn down nearing the end. Texas Tech began their own stretch just last week, and this game is easily the biggest of the season so far for them.

The Longhorns are the top ranked team in the nation, while the Red Raiders are ranked between No. 5-7, depending on which poll you are looking at. (AP No. 6, USA No. 5, BCS No. 7) Which makes them the lowest ranked of the remaining undefeated teams from major conferences. Texas Tech is desperately seeking respect, and a win in this game may be the only way they receive it this season.

I’ll limit the stats for this one, as my counterpart in this exercise has quoted Will Muschamp as saying “stats are for losers”…

Texas Tech will win if...

The defense can disrupt the short completions and keep Colt McCoy out of rhythm.

Every game so far this season, Colt McCoy has been able to build confidence by completing early screen passes and quick slants. Once he has been able to get into that rhythm, it has been a steady onslaught of completions and efficiency. The earlier that McCoy has to rely on the longer passes, the better chance Tech has to force turnovers.

Even more importantly, if they can keep him out of rhythm, and stop Texas from extending drives, the time-of-possession will be a much closer battle. The longer that Graham Harrell has to sit on the sidelines, the more trouble Texas Tech will be in. They cannot play another game like Nebraska, and expect to come out with a victory.

Neutralizing the short passes early is essential to Tech's gameplan, they need to pressure Colt McCoy early and often. The quicker he is able to get rid of the ball, the less opportunities for pressure. Too often this season, Texas has been able to gain yards on every play consistently, helping them to either avoid third down, or face short yardage situations.

Texas Tech is ranked No. 2 in the Big 12, and No. 21 in the nation holding their opponents to just a 30 percent third-down conversion percentage. The longer the yardage needed for the conversion, the much better that percentage becomes, as you would assume. Last week, Texas was able to convert third downs at will, extending drives and keeping Oklahoma State's offense off the field.

Texas Tech leads the Big 12, and is third in the nation in interceptions, with 14, so forcing McCoy to make longer passes plays into their strength. Tech also leads the Big 12, and ranks second in the nation in passes defended, averaging 7 pass breakups a game, a testament to their much improved secondary.

While Colt McCoy has been amazing this season regardless of the opponent, on the road, his quarterback rating falls 25 points, and his completion percentage falls nearly 10 percent, down to 73 (Still not exactly what many people would call bad). Disrupting his rhythm, coupled with the crowd could do a lot to force him into mistakes.

They come out strong and play a complete, balanced game.

Texas Tech has been susceptible to slow starts and not playing to their potential for several games this year. They either struggled to get into rhythm offensively (See: Nevada), or they have struggled to play tough defensively for parts of games (See: Nebraska and Texas A&M). But just as often as they have struggled, they have played games to their potential, and come away with easy victories. (See: Kansas State and Kansas)

In order to win this game, Tech cannot fall behind early and allow Texas to control the pace of the game. Every touchdown that Texas scores, needs to be in response to a Tech touchdown, otherwise Colt McCoy can lolly gag down the field and attempt to get their running game started, enabling the Longhorns to control the clock and the momentum.

With Mike Leach's game plans, it is likely, that if trailing, he will start to lean more heavily towards the pass. Though, early in the season, I was critical of Leach's play calling, during conference play I have to admit that he has called near perfect games. He has recognized each receiver and running back's strengths, and started to use them all in roles that suit their ability best.

Scoring first is a must for Leach in every game he coaches. If he wins the toss, he always elects to receive, and his gameplan for defense on the first drive is always the most motivated (though that may be Ruffin McNeil's doing). In a game of trading touchdowns, you always want to be the team to score first, and have the ball last.

Ignorance, by people who do not watch Texas Tech, still leads them to believe that Tech is still a one-dimensional team. Every year, I am forced to point out that short passes, such as what Colt McCoy is doing this year, is just as efficient as a running game, but this year, I’ll avoid that and touch on the running backs efficiency on the Red Raider squad.

Baron Batch is averaging an outstanding 7.6 yards per carry, good for fifth in the nation among running backs. Batch also averages more than 13 yards per catch, good for 40 receiving yards per game, which ranks him second in the nation in receiving out of the backfield. Batch splits time with Shannon Woods, who averages 60 rushing yards a game on a stellar 5.5 yards per carry.

The efficiency of the running backs, both running the ball, and receiving out of the backfield will be the key in keeping the offense balanced and productive. But the most important part of these two running back's games isn't seen when they have the ball, but rather when they are blocking for Graham Harrell.

Stellar blocking by these two is one of the reasons why Harrell is rarely knocked down, let alone sacked. They will need to keep that going this week, as Texas is the best pass-rushing team that Tech has faced, by a long shot.

Texas Tech will lose if...

They shoot themselves in the foot with turnovers.

Texas Tech ranks number 10 in the nation in turnover margin, with +9, a vast improvement over their -5 last year. While Texas is ranked at number 46 with a turnover margin of +3. Texas is only 91st in the nation in interceptions, having only intercepted five passes, which improves my hopes of a turnover free day for the Red Raiders.

Turnovers and wasted possessions become even more important in shootouts, where matching your opponent touchdown for touchdown is necessary. Harrell has thrown only 5 interceptions all season, most notably though, two against Nevada, his worst career game, and a game where he struggled to get into a rhythm. Limiting the mistakes, whether it be fumbles, interceptions or sacks allowed, Tech needs to play the cleaner game to come away with a win.

Colt McCoy has been even more accurate, throwing only four interceptions, so you cannot count on him to turn the ball over just because you want him to. Every turnover is a momentum killer, and in a game which will rely heavily on getting the crowd involved, that is exactly the opposite of what you need.

They allow Texas to dominate Time of Possession, dictate the pace of the game, or if the two teams combine for less than 60 points.

The longer that Texas Tech's defense is on the field, the less effective they become. Every seven-minute drive they have to defend lowers Tech's chances of winning.

Against Nebraska, they were too tired to be effective—sloppy tackling, slower reactions, and less energy on the lines. Tech can win a shootout against Texas, but not if they have to spend two-thirds of the shootout without a gun in their hand.

Mike Leach still refuses to take his time on offense just to give his defense a rest, which I can respect, but at times, it may be necessary. This is the game where Texas Tech needs to come out with intensity, to let it be known they won't allow four yard gains on every play. They cannot play zone all let Colt McCoy pass away to open receivers. When it comes down to it, they can't expect McCoy to make mistakes, they need to force him into making them.

Last weekend, Kansas tried to make short passes, trying to see how much Tech would give them, and on the first screen pass, Texas Tech stopped the Kansas receiver for an eight-yard loss. They need to come out that way again this week. Force McCoy to try and make the big pass, rather than complete six straight passes for the same amount of yardage.

Texas Tech is designed much better to win a shootout, along the lines of the UT/Oklahoma game, rather than a game played the way the UT/Oklahoma State game was. If they are forced to rely on their kicking, or stop defense, rather than their offense, their chances of winning drop drastically. I am much more confident in the offense needing a touchdown, than the defense needing a stop.

It is understood that Colt McCoy can lead the Texas offense down the field, taking time off the clock, as every completion keeps the clock ticking. They need to force him into incompletions, and keep him from wasting a whole quarter on one possession. If the number of six-plus minute drives is greater than the number of times Texas is forced to punt, I don't think Texas Tech will be able to stay with them.

The Tech defense needs to limit McCoy to under either a 75 percent completion percentage or 7.5 yards per attempt. Only UTEP was able to limit Colt McCoy to under 70 percent completions, and FAU and Oklahoma were the only teams to limit him to under 8 yards per attempt.

Tech needs to limit this aspect of his game in order to disrupt the UT offense.

The X-Factor

Mike Leach's whole tenure at Texas Tech has been building up to this one game. He has played spoiler to UT and Oklahoma in the past, but this is the one season that Tech has a chance to play spoiler to the nation's preconceived notion that only defense can win championships. The most eccentric coach in college football has a chance to shake EVERYTHING up.

For a man who admires pirates, this may be the biggest booty Mike Leach will ever have a chance at procuring. A win in this game, though just the start of it all, could be the signature game for Mike Leach's career, a win will say mountains about what he has done here at Tech. A loss, well, they're right back where they were before the season, nothing but a footnote in the Big 12.

His coaching style is what could win or lose this game. How he manages fourth downs, field goals, the balance on offense, every aspect of this game is in Coach Leach's hands. The season, as we know it, is in his hands, and I for one, think he is the perfect man for the job. He may not care about the "dumb" BCS as he is quoted, but we know he cares about winning.

You have to think that Longhorns fans are scared of a coach who is never afraid to go for it on fourth down, regardless of the spot on the field. How could you not be? I'd fully expect to see something monumental and unbelievable happen in this game, after all, isn't that the Mike Leach we all know? It's the biggest game he's coached, why wouldn't he pull out his biggest surprise?

Texas Tech has been able to avoid the letdown loss, and now they need the signature win, or rather, the first of three signature wins needed this season to reach the Big 12 Championship.

Prediction

I was unsure of this game a few weeks ago. But after watching Texas struggle to put Oklahoma State away, and Texas Tech play a full game against Kansas, I have seen the light. The Texas Tech offense is the best in the nation.

The Texas Tech defense may ACTUALLY be improved this time, regardless of the fact that they say that every year. Graham Harrell is a legitimate Heisman candidate, and just having Michael Crabtree on the field opens it up for everything.

Texas is the most consistent, dominant team in the Big 12, but this stretch has really worn them down. Colt McCoy is a legitimate Heisman candidate, and at this moment, he is the winner.

But, you cannot expect Colt McCoy to lead the Longhorns at an absolute record pace forever. If the defense doesn't improve, and the running game doesn't become more consistent, his shoulders may shatter from all the hopes of the team, the city, the nation riding on them.

This game is going to be a shootout, I will guarantee you that. I was unsure of whether Oklahoma State and Texas would really score that much last week, and they didn't. I think that Texas will lose if they play as they did last weekend.

Those mistakes in the fourth quarter will not go without consequences against Texas Tech, every turnover will be a gamebreaker.

This is the spotlight that nobody believes Texas Tech should be in. Keep on talking, keep on giving them motivation, they love it. Underdogs against Kansas, that's cool, they'll just embarrass them at their homecoming. Undefeated only because they haven't played anybody?

That's okay, we'll just win every game. This is the moment Texas Tech wants, whether or not you think they belong.

Texas Tech over Texas- 45-35

Red Raiders Turn Expected Shootout Into Massacre: Random Musings.

Colin Flosi — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:13:01 -0400

I know how terrible it is not having much new, original content to read as Red Raider, and Big 12 fans, so i'll just throw out some scrap notes, and post them up as musings.

After all, I get tired of reading nothing but recaps all day stating the same statistics and 'opinions' if you can call them that.

1. Stopping Kansas with a three-and-out on their first possession was a great way to start the game. Even though the Jayhawks answered Texas Tech's first two touchdowns, by the middle of the second quarter, Mark Mangino had to have been sweating butter.

He just couldn't find a way to be as efficient as Tech was on offense.

2. Graham Harrell only had one bad pass all game, and that was the overthrown wide open touchdown in the third quarter, and you could tell he was mad about it. Also, it looked as if he were lobbying to stay in the game for one more drive.

He must have wanted to throw for the 400 yards I guaranteed he'd throw for while watching the game with my friends... Thanks Graham, you're a good friend.

3. It was funny the first few times that they did it, but now, every time Adam James comes into the game or catches a pass, there is no reason to take your attention away from the game and talk about his dad... I don't understand why Adam, AND Craig James, get more mention than Michael Crabtree does.

4. Mike Leach, though very down to earth and relevant in his postgame interview, needs to work on his grammar and word usage. Most notably, no, Texas Tech did not play good... They either played great, or well. Sorry, a nerd has to point it out at some point.

5. Taylor Potts needs to work on his beard. Looks like a dead stray animal is nesting comfortably in his undercheek.

6. This is the best blocking team in the nation. Receivers on screens, running backs protecting the quarterbacks, offensive lineman all over the field, that is what makes the passing game so efficient. If I saw Brandon Carter running down the field at me, I would play dead.

7. I don't know what to think about Crabtree at the moment. Tech uses him on so many short passes, that he is taking unnecessary contact, especially trying to do so much in a short space with his ankle. I know his open-field moves are what make him the most dangerous, but could his ankle have something to do with their unwillingness to go deeper to him last game?

8. The coverage, journalistically, for the Tech/Kansas game was non-existent. A Big 12 game, between an undefeated team and the leader in the opposite division received very little exposure. The big thing, in my eye that motivated Tech was being listed as underdogs to a 2-loss team, regardless of the location.

9. Perhaps Harrell should be getting a schedule ready for his trip to New York a little later... I kid, I kid. Or do I?

10. Perhaps Crabtree should be getting a schedule ready for his trip to New York a little later... I kid, I kid. Or do I?

11. Perhaps Brandon Carter should be a costume ready for Halloween. Wait, all he needs is two globs of black and white paint and a bucket of hair gel? I believe it.

12. Mike Leach never gets excited, it's official. I think the only time his expression changed all game was when they fumbled the ball away mere yards away from another touchdown late in the 4th quarter. You know he wanted 70, it just looks so much more badass than 63.

13. Anyone in Houston want to get together and watch the game Saturday night? I don't know if i'll be able to survive going out and being surrounded by nothing but burnt orange. I'm afraid they will resort to their previous wins in the series if Tech comes away victorious.

"Yeah, you won this time, but we've been the better team in the past, so it's just like we won".

14. I wish Baron Batch would get more touches—he is more explosive than Shannon Woods, and has a running style that is much more efficient. While Shannon Woods tries to spin out of tackles, Baron Batch puts his head down and trucks for extra yards EVERY time.

15. I hope we don't have to kick any field goals next week. I never actually thought I would miss Keith Toogood, but now, even he would be an improvement.

16. I wonder if I keep mentioning how I'm facebook friends with all the Tech players, if they'll unfriend me? Crabtree unfriended me last year, I don't want Harrell to do the same.

17. The tiptoe catch by Eric Morris was magnificent, absolutely perfect recognition of where he was on the field. The ref was so impressed, he tried to do it himself and ended up hurting himself... Tsk, tsk.

18. Is there any chance we could find a way to negotiate another year of eligibility for Graham Harrell?

19. Why does Rivals cost money? They always have the most intriguing articles, but I can never access them. They do it on purpose, their titles are probably so much cooler than the articles anyway.

Seriously, how can you live up to "Texas Tech players lured to Kansas locker room, encounter Mark Mangino stirring a rather large pot full of hot water while chopping carrots"

20. How many Penn State fans are going to be rooting for Texas Tech this weekend?

21. Detron Lewis has better hands than Michael Crabtree. Yes, I said it.

22. Why does Tech always play better at somebody else's homecoming? It's rude. By the middle of the third quarter, there were more students outside playing beer pong than there were inside the stadium watching the game...

23. If you were the Texas Longhorns, how would you plan for the Red Raiders this weekend? Do they switch up their gameplan and try to run the ball more effectively to play keep away from Texas Tech? Or do they keep their original gameplan they've been using all season, and let McCoy run the offense however he sees fit?

I think the more changes UT makes, the more afraid they are of this team.

24. If a random student can end up playing kicker for this team, can I at least be the guy on the sideline playing catch with Graham Harrell in between possessions? It seems like the dream job, unless you throw it back to hard and break one of his fingers...

17 Signs That I'm Too Excited About Texas Tech's Game This Weekend

Colin Flosi — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:30:53 -0400

There are a few ways to tell whether or not you are overthinking your team's current matchup on Saturday. I'll list of a few of the signs that showed me I needed to relax...

1. I have my pre-game meal in the microwave already. The problem is, it's still Friday... How long does it take to cook a hot pocket these days?

2. I've wasted a whole 120-page notebook just by doodling Mark Mangino's head casually. True, it doesn't help that his head takes up multiple pages, but...

3. I've already picked out my primary location to watch the game (Buffalo Wild Wings), as well as a backup location (Best Buy) in case the Kansas-to-Tech fan ratio is not to my liking...

4. I've already planned for a cover-up, in case Tech loses and I inadvertantly start to cry. I will keep a basket of "Ty Willingham Hot-Seat Wings" within reach to take the blame...Sheesh, those are some hot wings.

5. The suspense already has me queasy, and I haven't drank any pre-game, tailgate, Keystone Light yet.

6. I've sat at the computer 48 hours straight, refreshing the lines for the weekend, waiting to see if Tech is the favorite yet. Sadly, not only is Tech still the underdog, but I got hot pocket on the F5 key. Damn ham and cheese.

7. I was so busy thinking about Crabtree's ankle injury, I forgot to go to work.

8. I was so busy thinking about Crabtree's ankle injury, I forgot I don't have a job.

9. I've been so oblivious to everything else, "I Touch Myself" by Blondie is now somehow my most played song on iTunes.

10. I've been secretly waiting for Graham Harrell to log onto Facebook Chat so I can wish him good luck (no, he hasn't unfriended me yet).

11. I contemplated driving to Kansas to go to the game, just to have my "Which was a nastier roll, Crabtree's ankle last week, or Mangino's chin?" sign seen.

12. I almost created a new Bleacher Report account, just to write another preview of the game for myself to read.

13. CORRECTION, I have now started pregaming with Keystone, T-Minus nine hours until gametime.

14. I've already written the Game Recap to post after the game is over, leaving blanks to insert players names. ________ had a good game on the ground today, and proved that _____________ was the better team. ________________ coach __________________ proved he has what it takes to be a ________________ in the league.

15. I've played 21 games of NCAA 2009 in the last five days, and all 21 of them have been Texas Tech Vs. Kansas.

16. I haven't showered, hoping to score myself a great table by myself at Buffalo Wild Wings due to my unbearable stench.

17. This whole article was actually true.

Texas Tech-Kansas: The Biggest Game of the Season (Until Next Week)

Colin Flosi — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:56:06 -0400

Texas Tech stumbles into Kansas after sub-par showings and mixed reviews from their first two conference games. They struggled stopping the ball-hog approach employed by Nebraska and had trouble getting on track in the first half against Texas A&M last weekend.

This weekend, Tech faces their first test of the season, one of four in a row coming up in the next month. Traveling to Kansas to face a Kansas team that has lost both of its games against Top 25 opponents, I find it funny that nobody has pointed out Kansas's inability to beat a ranked opponent.

Texas Tech is discounted due to their avoidance of Top 25 foes so far, yet Kansas has played two ranked teams and lost both games.

This weekend, Tech tries to keep their BCS and National Championship hopes alive, while at the same time Kansas tries to save their season.

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks

Both quarterbacks are called upon to be their teams' primary source of offense, and both are extremely efficient. Harrell leads the nation in passing yards per game, while Reesing comes in at seventh. Reesing has a bit better mobility around the pocket, though Harrell is rarely forced to move due to the strong play of the offensive line.

The blocking from Texas Tech's running backs and from their receivers will make the difference, enabling Tech to run screens throughout the game.

Advantage: Texas Tech

Running Backs

Texas Tech comes in with the two-headed rushing attack of Shannon Woods and Baron Batch, both with over 400 yards so far this year and a combined 12 rushing touchdowns. At this point in the season, Kansas relies on Jake Sharp to carry the load, who has just under 400 yards and five touchdowns.

Texas Tech averages 5.5 yards per carry, compared to 3.5 for Kansas, and is much more effective receiving out of the backfield.

Advantage: Texas Tech

Wide Receivers

Both teams have a strong receiver corps, highlighted by the two sophomore playmakers, Michael Crabtree and Dezmon Briscoe. Crabtree is coming off a two-touchdown performance against A&M, though he was noticeably absent most of the game after sustaining an ankle injury returning a kick.

Briscoe had the game of his career against Oklahoma last weekend, amassing 269 yards on 12 catches and turning two of them into scores.

In Briscoe and Kerry Meier, Kansas has a strong receiving duo. Meier, who leads the Jayhawks in receptions, is averaging eight catches and 90 yards per game. But outside of those two, Kansas is inconsistent at the position. Number three receiver Jonathan Wilson has only two catches in the last three weeks.

Texas Tech has four receivers other than Michael Crabtree who have at least 20 catches and 250 receiving yards. Tramain Swindall and Detron Lewis had big games last weekend while Crabtree was on the sideline and should continue their success this weekend. Texas Tech's depth at receiver is what sets them apart from Kansas.

Advantage: Texas Tech

DEFENSE

Rushing Defense

Both teams are coming off memorable games last weekend, though for different reasons. Kansas allowed a season-high 206 yards on the ground to Oklahoma last week, while Texas Tech held Texas A&M to 20 rushing yards, less than one yard per carry.

Though Tech has had problems controlling the tempo of the game against a team who tries to run consistently, I doubt rushing will be what decides this week's game.

Advantage: PUSH

Passing Defense

Both teams have nice interception numbers on defense, yet for the most part have had trouble stopping the pass in conference play.

Kansas was ripped apart by Sam Bradford last weekend to the tune of 468 yards and three touchdowns. Texas Tech struggled to stop Jerrod Johnson of A&M in the first half and have just one interception in conference play, despite having 10 out of conference.

This game may come down to which team can prevent the big play and keep the field in front of them.

Advantage: PUSH

What really set the two defenses apart are the front lines for each team. Kansas has had trouble pressuring the quarterback all season, and against a Texas Tech offensive line that has only surrendered one sack in seven games, that doesn't seem likely to change.

The front four for Tech have done a good job of getting through the line all season, and against a struggling Kansas offensive line, I expect a lot of situations forcing Reesing to move around.

Special Teams

This just in...Mike Leach has appealed the NCAA and been awarded one year of eligibility, Coach Leach is expected to suit up this weekend at placekicker for Tech, wearing #000.

Advantage: Kansas

Prediction

This game will come down to offensive efficiency. Limit the turnovers and get your playmakers involved for big momentum-shifting gains, and you will win the game.

I expect Crabtree to come out healthy and find holes in the Kansas secondary. The home field advantage will be a big boost to Kansas's hopes, but if your defense can't stop anybody, your crowd can't be too involved...

Texas Tech Wins, 47-34

Pleading to Fellow Big 12 Fans: Spread Your Journalistic Seed Around B/R!

Colin Flosi — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 19:15:57 -0400

As I look around Bleacher Report, I can't help but notice the Big 12 section of the site to be a bit lacking. So, here, in this article, I will formally petition to you all to get your writing out into the community!

I am tired of hearing all of the "Which Conference Is Better: SEC Or Big 12?" discussions, but it would seem, from the amount of work displayed on this site that the SEC holds a commanding lead.

The Big 12 is the most exciting conference in the nation, yet it seems that 96 percent of the articles coming out with a Big 12 tag on them are nothing more than game recaps sharing no new information.

I know that there is potential in all of you, to release interesting, original, thought-provoking work that flexes not only your journalistic muscle, but also your creativity.

I, for one, am always looking for a nice mix of information and humor in articles, and it seems more and more these days, that repeated facts are all that is being posted...

Don't get me wrong, that is fundamental in the beginning, but after a while, it is necessary to take a risk, and put some work out there that is different than the norm.

Originality is not your enemy, it is your companion that you can harness to lead yourself to a Senior Writer ranking. The longer that you wait to take that first step, the longer you'll be unsure of your talent and potential.

All I ask is that the next time you sit down to write an article, compose your thoughts, and think of an idea that you'd love to see written. Because, most likely, when it comes down to it, unless you take the first step and write that certain article, you will never see it come to fruition.

Game recaps, and consensus lists are fine, but the next time you even put one of those together, make sure to add a signature style to your writing. After all, how else will you be able to differentiate yourself from the general public if your work is a near-carbon copy of theirs?

Admit it, you would love to see an influx of new articles based not on the standard, but on their own set of rules, as much as the next sports fanatic, so why don't you get it started?

Everybody wants to be a leader anyway, and I am sure, that with the right steps being taken, there will be plenty of followers, plenty of writers taking your lead and running with it.

Because, face it, that's the only running us Big 12 fans will see for a while.

I'll even start it off, and give you a couple of ideas to toss around and help you come up with your own.

Rank the Big 12 teams, based on their appeal to fans, using your own ideas to build your list.

Is Colt McCoy's name really Colt? Or is it some man-made hoax to make us love him even more?

What would happen if Texas Tech played in the SEC? Former Tech QB Chris Todd had a very rude welcome, would Graham Harrell face the same fate?

Research all of the teams from the Big 12, in the last decade. Which team has been the most consistent, and who is the surprise bottom feeder?

Shoot, I would read any article published, relating to the Big 12 as long as it were original content.

Which Big 12 quarterback has the best hair?

More Big 12 Power Rankings. Everybody has an opinion, why are you afraid to put it out there?

There are plenty more ideas out there, as those are only basic topics to put your mind into motion. You all want something better to read, something to make this community one-of-a-kind, so let's get the movement started!

Here's to a (hopefully) surge in original articles, I'm really looking forward to seeing the " Consensus Best Hair"... Oh em gee, does anybody know what Colt uses? It's like a blond cloud of quarterback efficiency on his head!

The Top 10 Best FBS Schools By Team Mascot

Colin Flosi — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:01:03 -0400

I thought there would be much more variety in names, but alas, the good names must all be hiding in FCS somewhere. But, without further ado, here are the rankings. Teams were graded on a variety of categories.

Intimidation Factor
Originality
Practicality
The "Cool Factor"
The Mascot Itself
Joke Potential
Inspiration Factor

1. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8.85)

I don't know how any of you can list the DD's as a bad name. It is the most unique in the nation, and frankly, ask Barack Obama; he has had a run in with one of them. The mascot itself has a very nice butt chin, and I would love to just tickle it during halftime. Won due to its strong showing in the originality category.

2. North Texas Mean Green (8.82)

Most fans are probably scratching their heads with this pick, but I am a bit of a sleuth, and have figured out what UNT was going for. They were facing a big deficit, all the way down at No. 117, until the intimidation factor came around, and they hit it big right there. When North Texas mentions the "Mean Green," they don't mean an angry color, they obviously mean diarrhea. "Oh man, that chili cheese sauerkraut dog is coming back on me, i think i'm gonna have the Mean Green!"... Tell me a halftime splasher doesn't sound intimidating... See my point?

3. Texas Tech Red Raiders/Middle Tennessee St. Blue Raiders (8.44)

The Blood Vs. Crip battle within college football; each of them have famous fans I am sure. Can't you imagine Snoop Dogg showing up on Middle Tennessee State's sideline cheering them on? With The Game, and/or Lil Wayne soowooing from the opposite side of the field?

4. Akron Zips (8.33)

In nearly the same predicament as North Texas late in the research, I finally broke the code Akron had been trying to hide from us. If you thought that was actually a Kangaroo in their logo, you would be right, but it has hidden meaning.

The Kangaroo is meant merely to remind us to cherish what is in our "pouch," after all, you don't want to underestimate the Zips, and end up with a "There's Something About Mary" moment, do you?

5. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8.20)

A knight, by itself is a good sign of nobility in the world, but a scarlet one? That is just too much awesomeness to contain.

You know what makes a knight scarlet, don't you? The layers of fresh, dripping blood they have been covered with recently. If only Rutgers were slaying opponents these days, it would have much more meaning.

6. Army Black Knights (8.01)

Wait, didn't Martin Lawrence already try to make this funny, and fail?

7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7.99)

A very simple name, and a surprise entry on this list. While the Fighting Illini are stuck in the basement, the Irish are in the Top Ten.

Why, you ask? It's a very straight to the point, practical name. Ever met a Notre Dame fan? He wanted to fight you, didn't he? Didn't he!? Exactly.

8. Duke Blue Devils (7.41)

Score another one for Snoop. Took a big hit in the inspiration area of the rankings, but less than you'd think.

There are quite a few worshippers of the frostbitten devil out there. Let's hope they don't play Boise State for a while, or else this ranking goes out the window...

9. Kent State Golden Flashes (7.26)

Golden Flashes? Sounds like menopause to me.

10. Michigan X-Men 4 Presents: The Rise Of Wolverine (7.00)

Oh, they're still just the Wolverines? Well, pretty soon they'll be looking for extra revenue to buy Rich Rodriguez out of his contract. Why not this way?

Honorable Mention

Arizona State Sun Devils (6.99)

This is what a Devil should look like, parched and sunburnt.

California Golden Bears (6.99)

The most used color in mascots, gold helps boost Cal past Baylor and UCLA, due mainly to the fact that Golden Panda is my favorite Chinese buffet.

East Carolina Pirates (6.98)

True, their pirate looks a bit, err, too colorful to be straight, but the name gains extra points for describing ECU so well at this point. A sunken ship.

Kansas Jayhawks (6.89)

Well, they WERE the Jawhawks until Mark Mangino mistook the mascot for KFC. Now, sadly, they are the Kansas skeletons, and/or acid reflux disease.

TCU Horned Frogs (6.67)

Is that what Anna Nicole Smith had to kiss to get her 86-year-old prince?

Ranking The Big 12 At The Halfway Point Of The Season: Can A&M Make The Top 12?

Colin Flosi — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:55:26 -0400

The first half of the season has come and gone, with RELATIVELY little shakeup in the Big 12, barring last week. All of the teams hyped up before the season are still hanging around their original rankings, with Missouri suffering the most after a letdown against the surprising Cowboys of Oklahoma St, who many would call the surprise of the year...

Let's get to the power rankings.

No. 1 Texas Longhorns

Coming off a very tough sophomore season, Colt McCoy could have locked himself in his room for the time off, eaten tubs of ice cream, and pouted, all while watching "Air Bud: Golden Receiver" wishing he could get that type of support from his crowd. But he didn't, well, at least I don't think he did.

He has come out in 2008, and led the Longhorns like a changed man, at least for the time being. He showed composure, and made few mistakes in an upset of No. 1 Oklahoma last weekend in the Red River Friendship (Come on! They changed the name from shootout to rivalry to be more polite, pretty soon, it could be the RRF, complete with slumber parties between the two quarterbacks).

Completing passes at nearly 80 percent, McCoy's efficiency has been his greatest asset, regardless of who the games were against. Chris Ogbonnaya showed promise in the OU game, and Cody Johnson is the new Ron Dayne perhaps. But what frightens me much more than the UT passing offense excites me, is their pass defense.

You know that McCoy guy I was telling you about, blonde hair, great stats (1557 Yards, 17 TD, 3 INT)?

Well, the stats of opposing quarterbacks against UT are startlingly good as well (1607 Yards, 10 TD, 4 INT, the worst defensive TD/INT ratio in the big 12)...

Yes, McCoy has been out-passed by his competitors, all six games being wins. In a conference full of quarterbacks that are known to pick sub-par defenses apart like cornbread, the Longhorn secondary is looking mighty flaky right now...

High Point- McCoy's maturity.

Low Point- Pass Defense.

What's Ahead?- Missouri. Texas Tech. A bill from Blockbuster regarding a late fee on a certain air bud movie which was never returned. Colt...?

No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners

The near-unanimous number one after manhandling their out of conference opponents, Oklahoma came into the annual Red River game with high hopes. But those hopes were crushed, along with the punter, Mike Knall.

What!? You didn't see it? Mike Knall took an absolutely MONSTER hit, I was surprised he was even able to get up after bone-tickling, err, rattling knockdown. Here's to you Mike, it took a lot of heart to walk off the field before the audience threw flowers at you.

Sam Bradford played well enough to warrant a victory, yet unfortunately for him, the rest of the team was nowhere to be found as the game wound down. The route running was shabby at times, the running game was missing all day, and the defense took a big hit when Ryan Reynolds left the game.

Oklahoma has a lot going for them, Sam Bradford, Bob Stoops, a Tony-Nominated punter, and, following this weekend's game against Kansas, a three week stretch against Kansas St, Nebraska & Texas A&M, followed by a bye week to prepare for back-to-back games against Texas Tech and Oklahoma St. to end the season. Here's to hoping that everyone else in the Big 12 beats each other up before then.

High Point- Sam Bradford is only a sophomore, and WILL be the best quarterback in the Big 12 very soon.

Low Point- The safety allowed against Chattanooga, they were lucky they snuck away with that win...

What's Ahead?- They need to flex their muscle and pound Kansas into the ground, hopefully developing a running game along the way... Let's hope Mike Knall doesn't jet the Sooner State for Hollywood just yet either, has anyone seen him lately...? Mike?

No. 3 Texas Tech

The anomaly of the conference it would seem, Tech breezed through conference play, if you can call it that, and silenced most critics after an offensive clinic at the expense of Kansas State on the road. They followed that up by almost choking away their homecoming to an inspired Nebraska team.

Tech was out-gained by Nebraska in a game that saw Tech run 32 plays less than Nebraska. It's not that Tech had a bad game offensively, it's just that Tech saw the field less than Joe Paterno when he takes his glasses off. Harrell had another efficient game, and proved he is a leader capable of taking Tech to the next level this season.

Mike Leach called a memorable play on 4th-and-4, though it is still being disputed whether they would have actually run the play had the defense not jumped. Regardless, it worked out, and Jamar Wall let Donnie Carona off the hook by intercepting the second play of overtime to seal the victory.

Baron Batch is proving every week that he should touch the ball more often, and Crabtree is always hiding somewhere ready to make the big play. As long as Leach goes against the grain, and Tech doesn't have to rely on their kicking to win games, they are in good position.

High Point- Harrell-to-Crabtree. Crabtree has caught half of Harrell's 20 touchdown passes. Not to mention the play of Baron Batch (2nd in the Big 12 in yards per carry.)

Low Point(s)- Extra Points. This week Tech announced that senior Cory Fowler would handle extra point duties for the time being. Bad news for referees. Honestly, it has to be the greatest feeling in the world to be able to look towards a kicker after an extra point and wave your arms adamantly NO GOOD to kill his self esteem even more.

What's Ahead?- After A&M, Tech faces a killer stretch, @ Kansas, Vs. Texas, Vs. Oklahoma State, and @ Oklahoma. As long as Harrell and Crabtree are here though, the unexpected can happen... Hey, why is Crabtree wearing a Rams hat? Michael...?

No. 4 Oklahoma State Cowboys

The surprise team in the Big 12 this year, stunning most of the skeptics with a 28-23 road victory against a Missouri team so many picked to go undefeated through conference play. They like to run, but that doesn't mean that they can't pass either. Zac Robinson is a better passer, and a worse runner than the casual observer would assume.

Oklahoma State has three running backs with at least 250 yards, all of which average 6.6 yards per carry or more. Led by Kendall Hunter, averaging 144 yards per game topped off with nine touchdowns. Keith Toston, a relative non factor in the Missouri game, averages half of that, at 72 yards per game, but an even more impressive eight yards per carry.

Cowboy receiver Dez Bryant is quietly averaging more yards per game than Michael Crabtree, and is doing it on a team known for their running. I guess people forget that Zac Robinson has the No. 3 passer rating in the nation... No other Oklahoma State receiver even has 10 catches.

High Point- While Bobby Reid is here in Houston playing for Texas Southern, Zac Robinson is proving Mike Gundy a smart man for giving him the starting job last year.

Low Point- Missouri State's quarterback completing more passes than Zac Robinson in OSU's 57-13 victory. True, Robinson was 2-4, and MSU's Cody Kirby was 3-15, but I can guarantee somebody has tried to use it as a downer to the Cowboys, so why can't I?

What's Ahead?- Three even harder games, including road games against Texas and Texas Tech. This sure was a bad year to all of a sudden to contend, don't you think? Don't worry Mike Gundy, you're still my boy, I mean, errr, man... Where you going? Mike...?

No. 5 Missouri Tigers

A costly slip-up at home last weekend doesn't necessarily knock Missouri out of the national championship picture, and definitely not the Big 12 championship. Chase Daniel looked human, not to mention a bit hairy last weekend, and threw three costly interceptions in the loss to Oklahoma State.

They still have an offense that can compete with anybody, and one of the only three out of conference victories by the Big 12 over a once-ranked opponent. In a year where they play neither Oklahoma nor Texas Tech, who would have thought that Missouri would have lost a game to a Big 12 south opponent other than the Longhorns?

Their pass defense is atrocious, the worst in the Big 12 in yards allowed, and they have allowed the second most passing touchdowns in the conference. So perhaps this was the perfect year to avoid Oklahoma and Tech. But do not worry Missouri fans, you have something that nobody else in the country has, two quarterbacks named Chase!

Incidentally, the Tigers could lose this weekend to Texas, and end up in the Big 12 championship game just by ending their season with a win over division-rival Kansas. Have hope Mizzou fans, you can still stumble your way into a BCS bowl!

High Point- A season opening 52-42 win against Illinois. They showed they can score, both in the air or on the ground.

Low Point- A season opening 52-42 win against Illinois. Giving up 42 points to a team who was held to 24 or less in their other two games against quality opponents (Penn State & Minnesota). A passing defense that will not hold up in conference play if it doesn't improve.

What's Ahead?- In between must-win games against Texas and Kansas, is a 4 game stretch against four of the worse teams in the Big 12, Colorado, Baylor, Kansas State & Iowa State, four teams with a combined record of 12-12.

Missouri can play themselves back into the national championship race if they stay hungry... Chase, why is your finger in your nose? You better not be putting that in your mouth. Chase...?

No. 6 Kansas Jayhawks

I can't really say anything about Kansas other than they let me down... It's like one kid from a school (Kansas, Big XII) gets sent to spelling bee (To play a ranked opponent), and they get an easy word perhaps ointment (A favorable matchup), and they start off well, O-I-N (Take the lead), when you think they have the word spelled, O-I-N-T-M (The game won), they choke, and somehow misspell the word O-I-N-T-M-I-N-T (Lose the game to an overrated South Florida team) and it makes your school look stupider (The Big 12 look weak)...

Todd Reesing is a smart, efficient quarterback that can lead the Jayhawks to a good bowl this season, but i doubt he will be able to recreate the success from last year due to a tougher schedule. The Jayhawks' running game is second worst in the Big 12, averaging only 3.4 yards per carry, and 124 yards per game. Surprisingly, their longest run of the season was only 20 yards...

Kansas can put themselves firmly in the Big 12 championship discussion with a road win against Oklahoma (Unlikely), or a home win against Texas Tech (More Likely).

Their run defense is their strong point, too bad for them there won't be much running in either of those games... Look for Kansas to finish 8-4.

High Point- Mark Mangino's cholesterol...

Low Point- The 1st half against Iowa State. That was definitely not the first half a team hoping to win the conference should play.

What's Ahead?- Frankly, it would be a successful season if Kansas can win 1-out-of-4 from Oklahoma, Tech, Texas and Missouri. A down year compared to last year sure, but don't expect to see Mark Mangino on the hot seat after the season is over, unless he farted in it. Hey, what's that smell coach? Mike...?

No. 7 Nebraska Cornhuskers

This was supposed to be the year that re-energized Cornhusker football. The year that brought them back to relevance, and this is just one more example of a team picking a bad time to try and improve. Bo Pelini will be fighting for a bowl, not a conference championship this season, and he will have to earn it.

After winning their first three games against teams that didn't put up much of a fight, Nebraska had their first chance to prove themselves on national television against a lackluster Virginia Tech team.

Their defense was exposed, and the season was starting to look a bit less exciting. They followed that letdown with an embarrassing loss to Missouri where there defense was further exposed.

They did nearly shock the nation with a close game in Lubbock, where they held on to the ball twice as long as Texas Tech did, but when it looked like they might come away with the win, Joe Ganz threw an interception to end the game in overtime, a heartbreaking end to a game they looked destined to win.

Ganz is a quality quarterback, but is only the eighth best in the conference, and that won't do. The Cornhuskers have a three-headed rushing attack, with Marlon Lucky, Roy Helu, and Quentin Castille. The only problem is, they would be better off giving either Lucky or Helu the ball everytime.

Lucky is the only one out of the bunch who is a playmaker, and he was even stuffed by the only good defense he faced. Helu is the most consistent of the bunch, more aware around the line of scrimmage. Castille, the third head is merely a change of pace back, that changes the pace from gain, to not so much of a gain...

Nebraska cannot slip up against any of there unranked opponents, or risk missing out on a bowl this season. They host Kansas on November 8th, and if Cornhusker fans want a statement victory this season, it has to be that one...

High Point- Coaching againt Texas Tech. They had a good game plan, and the players executed it to perfection. Kudos to Bo Pelini, the better team just won that day.

Low Point- Everything defensive against Missouri. Ugly was the only way to describe it.

What's Ahead?- A must-win game @ Iowa State this weekend. A loss here would all but kill the Cornhuskers' bowl dreams. Nebraska is one of the most penalized teams in the nation. They need to limit their personal fouls and stupid mistakes to win games. As long as they play smart, they can keep their hopes alive. Bo, did you just kick Mark Mangino in the love handle? I don't think you're allowed to do that. Bo...?

No. 8 Baylor Bears

A freshman quarterback, and a new coach have the Baylor Bears thinking about going to the lanes this season, err, bowling, you get it? Robert Griffin and Art Briles have brought energy to a team that has lacked it for years.

Since winning the starting spot, Griffin has been spectacular. Accounting for 250 yards of total offense a game, throwing for nine touchdowns without an interception, and rushing for eight more touchdowns on the side.

After being the only bright spot for the team in a season-opening loss to Wake Forest, Griffin has led the team like he's been the starter for years. After winning their first Big 12 game in 13 tries, the sky is the limit... Well, perhaps not the sky, but hey, it sure does feel good to be out of the cellar.

Although playing in a bowl game would require beating either Oklahoma St, Missouri, Texas Tech or Texas, not to mention beating Nebraska and Texas A&M, crazier things have happened. Griffin is the last starter left in the Big 12 not to throw an interception, and is a much more dangerous dual-threat than Zac Robinson of Oklahoma St...

I would already say that this season was a success, for a team that I predicted to be 1-11, to be eighth in the Big 12 right now has to be gratifying.

High Point- Robert Griffin being named the starter, followed by posting back-to-back wins out of conference.

Low Point- Wasting the first game of the season against Wake Forest before naming him the starter. Having to play in the Big 12 south.

What's Ahead?- A showdown at home against Texas A&M, which will most likely decide who wins 5th place in the Big 12 South. I recently became facebook friends with Robert Griffin on facebook. Our facebook chat conversation went as follows: Hey Robert, great job against Iowa St. you're my hero. My absolute hero. You know that? My hero. Robert...?

No. 9 Kansas State Wildcats

A team with two playmakers, and not much else. QB Josh Freeman is a physical specimen to view in awe, and his stats would show that he is a top-tier quarterback, right?

Completing 66 percent of his passes, for 250 yards per game, 12 touchdown matched up to only 2 interceptions, seems stellar right? Add in his 12 rushing touchdowns, and the answer is obvious, isn't it?

Sure, Freeman is a good player, and has the size and skill set to be a first day NFL prospect. But from watching him, you can still see the flaws in his game rather easily. He has a rocket arm, but lacks accuracy, and with only one playmaker on the offense other than him, WR Brandon Banks, the hail mary doesn't go far. He becomes flustered too easily, and struggles when the defensive scheme changes.

The Wildcat running game is nearly non-existent, and consists mostly of short 1-2-3 yard gains to calm Freeman down. The defense is at the bottom of the Big 12, and looks only to be shredded more the deeper we head into conference play. Until Kansas St. can surround Freeman with talent on both sides of the ball, this will not be a contender.

They may still go bowling this season, needing only two wins to reach eligibility. With home games remaining against Nebraska and Iowa St, plus a visit to Colorado, reaching a low-tier bowl game is not that far-fetched.

High Point- Josh Freeman's playmaking ability. He is a special athlete, let's hope he hones his skills enough to parlay it into an NFL career.

Low Point- Everything else. Giving up five touchdowns to Graham Harrell in the first half, it could have easily been 10 for the game had Tech not pulled off.

What's Ahead?- Hopefully a new defensive coordinator? A midseason recruiting class? This team needs a lot of work, perhaps Freeman will figure out a way to pass to himself... Josh Freeman Drops back, throws it deep, to... Josh...?

No. 10 Colorado Buffaloes

Cody Hawkins, bless his soul, is the worst quarterback in the Big 12, yet most likely better than most of the SEC quarterbacks. He is still young, so he has time to improve, but right now, it just isn't working. You can't blame him though. The Colorado running game is poor, very poor, like third-world country ghetto poor.

Colorado's running backs have combined for one rushing touchdown this season. You read that right, one rushing touchdown in 170 rushes, with no carry going for more than 22 yards... No wonder Hawkins is struggling so much, whenever they actually want to score, defenses can drop 11 into coverage and still not be vulnerable to the run.

At least they still have that early season win over West Virginia to celebrate. If nothing else, they can celebrate that win when they're left home from bowling.

High Point- One of three wins against a ranked opponent out of conference. I'm sure they'll rub that in later.

Low Point- Father/Son Relations. You know you have to feel bad when you bench your son.

What's Ahead?- You think Dan Hawkins is going to ground Cody if he ends up losing him his job? "Son, no football for 3 years!" "But dad, I wanna be a 7th round draft pick!" "I said NO SON!" "Dad, what are you gonna do with that belt?" Dad...?

No. 11 Iowa St. Cyclones

Well, at least they still have their academics, right?

Austen Arnaud isn't a bad quarterback, and I will guarantee that Iowa State wins one of their remaining games, most likely at home against Texas A&M. They had a meltdown against Kansas, but still showed that they can compete, even if only for a half. They fought hard even trying to come back, which does count for something.

Arnaud is good on his feet, but tries to force it too often. He doesn't have the big play ability of a Robert Griffin, but is still a danger to take off just for the hell of it.

High Point- The first half against Kansas.

Low Point- Missing jeopardy due to actually staying in the game against Kansas into the second half.

What's Ahead?- The Science Fair. Hey coach, is this lava coming out of this volcano supposed to burn my hand? Coach...?

No. 12 Oklahoma Sooner Scout Team

Hey, I have more faith in them, without a coach, than I do in the Aggies, with a highly-touted one.

High Point- Once picked off Sam Bradford.

Low Point- The interception came in the shower when they snagged a soap toss from across the room. Accidental meatgaze, 15 yard penalty.

What's Ahead?- We get to suit up, woohoo! Hey Sam, when do I get to see you in the shower again? Sam...?

No. 13 Texas A&M Aggies

Believe it or not, they could actually be 0-6 right now. Without trying to be rude, or make jokes, they are making the Big 12 look bad. I was talking to a casual fan the other day, telling him who A&M's first loss was to, and he was like, what!? Arkansas?!

They suck this year. Until I corrected him, no, not Arkansas, Arkansas State... That is where the conversation stops.

Jerrod Johnson is really coming into his own as a quarterback while McGee heals, and I hope that they let him play out the season. It would be a mistake to take the job away from him now as he continues to try and gain confidence.

The Aggies have the No. 1 pass defense in the Big 12 so far this season, but that is understandable, seeing as how even Jovorskie Lane could run on them. I kid, I kid. The run defense isn't THAT bad.

Needs a win at Iowa St. to keep themselves out of the cellar.

High Point- The day they hired Mike Sherman.

Low Point- The day after.

What's Ahead?- This weekend at Texas Tech. A win could salvage their season and give them trash-talking subject matter for years to come. The following exchange between a reporter and Jovorskie Lane... "Hey Jovorskie, wanna guarantee any victories this season?" Jovorskie...?

Bleacher Report Sweeping the Nation! The Possibilities Are Endless

Colin Flosi — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:45:37 -0400

Recently, I was tossing around the idea of Bleacher Report expanding and becoming the number one source for sports information, coverage, and editorials on the web. It isn't out of the question—just look at the makeup of the site...

Legitimate fans of the sports, passionate about their teams, the integrity of the game, and the pursuit of intelligent conversation and coverage...

Plenty of young, inspired writers, most of them hoping to pursue a career in sports journalism through any of the countless specialty areas...

Experts on so many different sports, and areas of those sports. Just in college football, you have the die-hards of nearly every team and conference. Every facet of the game seems to be covered here by a writer with amazing insight into the subject.

Of course, the site isn't perfect, and that is understandable. There are writers who are too passionate, perhaps to the point of them not being taken seriously by their target audience, but that shows their loyalty. The die-hards are what make this site so good for conversation and debate.

The setup of the site is clean and easy to navigate, which is definitely a plus. It's possible for the highest rated writers' work to be seen more easily by the masses. The tags make it easy to find articles pertaining to your team or conference, and make it so your articles are found by the audience you'd like them to be seen by.

Another plus is the fact the placement articles receive in Google searches. It seems they all pop up on the first page when I search for something. That is a very valuable asset BR has in their back pocket. That in itself should lure more writers to the site as time passes.

To get away from the praise (I would hate to give everyone TOO big of a head, haha), let me get to a couple of ideas that could be implemented in the future to perhaps improve and spread the site out...

Bleacher Report Fantasy Sports

BR may not be at the point, membership wise, to make fantasy sports a possibility, but it could be an idea to consider in the future depending on the site's growth. The convenience of it could do a lot to recruit people.

I visit this site much more than I visit Yahoo or ESPN (which loads terribly slowly on my computer, for the record), which would make it a much more suitable choice for myself, especially seeing as how the Yahoo and ESPN formats are getting a bit boring to me.

True, it would take a lot of extra work to set up, and it wouldn't bring revenue directly, but I am wondering if anyone has broached the subject. An eye-catching format, in essence, could cause a stir in the fantasy sports world.

Bleacher Report Message Boards

True, the discussions on articles could be viewed as a message board as themselves. BUT, there have been many times in the past where I just wanted input on a subject and didn't want to have to write an article to get opinions. Not to mention, it is hard for new writers to have their work read in the beginning, making it hard for them to rise in the rankings.

Perhaps the message boards could be added in each conference page, or team page, making it easy for fans of the same team to share information more easily. A central boards with the subdivisions of the conferences and perhaps teams could also work.

After all, the heated debates and discussions are what keep a lot of us here. Why not expand the possibilities?

New Writer Spotlights

On first registering for this site, I thought I wrote a clever, unique, splendid piece of work, and it went relatively unnoticed. I finally got one of my articles read, but I still had trouble getting my work out there.

There are rankings for the best writers on the site—perhaps it would be possible to do the same thing for new members. After all, the site is supposed to encourage you to improve your work by learning from piece-to-piece... That is quite difficult when nobody reads your earliest works.

Enable new additions to the community to gain exposure more easily before they become disheartened.

Increasing the Recruiting Effort

I'm unsure of what it would take to increase traffic drastically to the site, but there must be something out there. After all, BR caters to a very passionate crowd (sports fans) that is always willing to engage in discussion, regardless of the other party in the debate.

No longer do people have to settle for the same limited, repetitive, at times ignorant, and dispassionate sports coverage that ESPN and other large-scale media sources release. We have legitimate fans who know the game, and who want to get their work read, just as much as the public wants new opinions.

Further Categorizing Of Articles

It is a great feature to be able to tag your story to a specific conference, team, player, etc., not to mention being able to label it as an editorial, recap, humor piece, and so forth. But perhaps after an article loses a bit of its immediate relevance, you could file it under another, more specific category.

Perhaps after a certain game, let's say between LSU and Florida, a few weeks later you could go to the LSU or Florida team page and be able to click a single link to be taken to all of the articles recapping that game. The same could apply with profiles of a single player and so forth, ranking them so you can pick the best of the bunch.

There are so many articles about the same thing sometimes, it is ridiculous. This will make it easier to navigate.

Quick Recap of Every Game of the Week

Before the games begin for the week, choose a single user to cover one game and publish a short write-up pertaining to their one game. At the end of the week, gather up all of the works by the authors and publish it into one article.

I understand that people do that for fun in their own articles, but so many of those times, they try to give coverage on a game that they did not watch, nor really care about.

Bleacher Report Player and/or Game of the Week

AT&T has their player of the week that the nation votes on—why doesn't BR vote on their player and/or game of the week? I imagine that this site will have a wonderful take on the Heisman when that time comes around. Who is to say that we can't start that right now? Weekly Heisman polls...we do it for the top 25, after all.

Personalized Journalistic Mentoring

It is obvious that there are superb writers on the site, and there are plenty of writers working to improve every week. Yes, I know that plenty of the senior writers give their input every week to help those writers improve, but sometimes it isn't enough.

The editing and suggestions from those editors are a lifesaver to a lot of writers, but it seems as if there aren't enough of them out there. For the newcomers, being able to go to one person for advice could go a long way toward improving the overall community and level of work published on the site.

Article Vs. Article Debates

This is something that could be done without the site's blessing: just two writers approaching a topic and stating their opinion in an article of their own, to be voted on or just read by a panel of judges, or just the general public.

The passion of the writers on this site is spectacular, as you can tell by the article increase since the announcement of the B/RCS contest. The debates that could be approached by two different writers with varying opinions could be fantastic. Perhaps one writer could argue for the playoff system, and one against it, each giving his or her take.

The best quarterback in the Big 12? The best CFB team in the last 10 years? The possibility for one on one debates is endless!

Those are a few of my ideas on how to improve the site for the time being. This is in no way saying that the site isn't stellar at this very moment—I'm sure just like the writers of their community, the founders of Bleacher Report would love to improve and master their pieces of work...

Who knows? Perhaps by this time next season, BR will eclipse ESPN as the worldwide leader in sports coverage. The possibilities really are endless as long as sports continue to enthrall us and inspire our passion to write...

Around The Nation: The Top 25, Team-By-Team Analysis and Random Musings.

Colin Flosi — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:49:30 -0400

No. 1 Oklahoma—Oklahoma has been challenged for a total of perhaps 35 seconds this season, in the first half against Cincinnati. Sam Bradford is just like all of the other Big 12 quarterbacks, except younger, which, in case you don't realize spells dominance for Oklahoma as long as he is in school. It's a shame for the rest of the nation that the Sooners three hardest games are all at home, still the class of the south.

No. 2 Alabama—Would have been No. 1, but I'm a sucker for offense and I still don't believe Alabama is the class of the SEC. The Crimson Tide will not get past LSU and Auburn at the end of the season. John Parker Wilson has impressed me, but I don't think he is a top tier QB and in a situation where Alabama needs to come back they will have trouble scoring quickly. 18 straight four-yard passes take a bit of time.

No. 3 Missouri—True, they lack the defense, but so does every team in the Big 12, it would seem. Not having to face Oklahoma or Texas Tech this season will save them. They do face Texas in Austin, but I heard Chase Daniel is still mad about being denied entry to his favorite roller coaster at AstroWorld due to not meeting the height requirement. He will get his revenge against the Longhorns.

No. 4 LSU—Didn't dominate against Mississippi St. and their quarterback play is still shaky, but they do have Brandon Lafell. He sat across from me in Health class in High School, which basically makes us best friends. Seriously, who would lose to Florida, thus making their best friend look like a bad college football analyst? Nobody, which is why LSU stays here for now.

No. 5 Texas Tech—Tech sits ahead of Texas. For the first time ever, I can say that Texas Tech has the better defense suited for the Big 12. The Red Raiders have been absolute turnover-forcing machines. Tech's TD/INT ratio on defense is an astounding 3/10, compared to Texas' 3/2.

They are giving up the close to the same amount of yards per game. In a conference where passing rules and momentum is everything, Tech's ability to force turnovers could be the ultimate game changer. Graham Harrell hasn't been amazing, but he has put up solid numbers. Mike Leach needs to improve his play-calling as the season progresses though.

No. 6 Penn St.—Two tough games coming up this month, at Wisconsin and at Ohio State. Don't forget about Michigan in between those two. Hopefully Joe Paterno doesn't try to look past those young whippersnappers.

No. 7 Auburn—The Tigers scored three points against Mississippi St and yet I have them at No. 7? They hung with LSU and did what they needed to do against Tennessee.

Their defense is perhaps the best in the SEC and their two hardest games are at the very end of the season, which is hopefully enough time for them to learn how to score more than three points. They will show up strong against Vanderbilt this week and prove they are perhaps the best one-loss team in the nation.

No. 8 Texas—Colt McCoy was good against the terrible teams the Longhorns played out of conference, but he is still the third best QB in the Big 12 South! Until Texas can learn to stop the pass, every week will be a nail biter against a good offense. They WILL lose against Oklahoma, which means that they will need a miracle to reach the Big 12 championship this year.

No. 9 USC—They lost, yes. But, they have an easy road to an 11-1 season. They at least have a decent win over a banged-up Ohio St. team. Watch out for November 1. Washington comes to town. They may not lose to Ty Willingham, but you better believe if they win by too much, they will be called racist for doing so, tsk tsk.

No. 10 Ohio St.—A healthy Beanie Wells makes them a Top-10 team. Terrelle Pryor is still just a freshman though, and I am excited to see how he handles the big games that Todd Boeckman could never win.

No. 11 Georgia—They were embarrassed by Alabama and their remaining schedule is brutal. However, if Knowshon Moreno can get healthy and they can get a lead, enabling him to run, they are VERY dangerous. Don't underestimate Matthew Stafford though, I would still take him over John Parker Wilson if I needed quick scoring.

No. 12 South Florida—Has a good win over Kansas, but struggled against two less-than-stellar opponents in UCF and FIU. The balanced offense is strong and the schedule shouldn't be hard to navigate through, but for the good of college football I hope they don't bust the BCS.

No. 13 Florida—Tim Tebow's running has been absolutely shut down this season. One overlooked stat is that he hasn't thrown an interception in his first 102 attempts. He needs to return to his playmaker form if Florida wants to rebound after a loss to Mississippi.

Percy Harvin is showing more flashes of dominance. It feels weird ranking SOUTH Florida ahead of Florida though...As if something is wrong with college football.

No. 14 BYU—The most overrated team in college football. Max Hall sounds like a seventh grade quarterback, not a Heisman hopeful. Remember, they are one lucky whistle away from being tied and perhaps falling to Washington in a game they were nearly being outplayed in.

Watch for Utah St. to challenge them Friday. Remember, this season is just a tune-up for the bigger game...Mormon Mission, woo!

No. 15 Boise St.—Should be undefeated before they meet Fresno St. in the season finale. I'm still angry at them though. I was there last season scoping out the field and I happened to drop my favorite Sonic the Hedgehog clip-on pin. I was never able to find it.

You think maybe if Boise St. gets into the BCS this season, Ian Johnson will propose to the whole BCS committee? I can just imagine the honeymoon in hell. Is Boise the 51st state?

No. 16 Kansas—The Jayhawks were also-ran in last year's Big 12 North. This year, well, it's the same-thing. They Lost their only tough game against USF and face an impossible conference schedule. I doubt Kansas will be ranked in the top 20 at the end of the season. Maybe it's time for Mark Mangino to swallow his pride, well after he finishes those Doritos that is.

No. 17 Wisconsin—An absolute Jenna Jameson against Michigan damaged their BCS hopes, but two tough upcoming games will decide their season early. If only this were the early 1900's before passing had really been invented, Wisconsin would be unbeatable.

No. 18 Vanderbilt—They give up a lot of passing yards, but they are turnover-forcing machines in the secondary. They are a running team, averaging only 80 passing yards a game, but they are efficient when they do pass. They don't have the defense to keep up the conference wins, but don't discount them.

No. 19 Virginia Tech—Their quarterbacks have a 1-to-5 TD-INT ratio and they are No. 19? With Tyrod Taylor at the helm, I don't see a game on the schedule that Virginia tech will lose this season. There one loss wasn't looking too bad, until ECU was exposed, now it looks like Sean Glennon really did just suck.

No. 20 Oklahoma St.—It won't hold up, but as of right now their offense has been unmatched. They could challenge in every game they play due to their unbelievable ability to run and run and run and play action pass and run.

No. 21 Ball St.—Is Ball the 52nd state? Awww, they don't play on cool colored turf? Then why are they in my top 25? Because I didn't want all the comments on this article to be about leaving them out.

No. 22 Connecticut—UConn plays UNC this week, I can't wait! Tyler Hansborough is such a cutie!... Oh, it's football? Donald Brown FTW!

No. 23 Mississippi—No, not just because of their win over Florida. Also because Jevan Snead has three more showcase games to prove that he is a GOOD quarterback. I can't wait for the Snead/McCoy comparisons.

No. 24 Wake Forest—Yes, they have a better record AND they beat Mississippi, but they lost a must-win against Navy.

No. 25 TCU—Yes, they lost to Oklahoma, but they are still better than Utah. TCU will be the best team in their conference by the end of the season. Have you ever seen a horned frog? Me neither, they are too busy getting licked by princesses.

Upset Alert—BYU @ Utah St.

PRETENDERS:

Texas/Texas Tech. One of these teams will have three losses this season. The South is too loaded and whoever cannot stop the long ball will face downfall.
BYU/Utah. One of these teams will be forgotten by the end of the season.
Oregon St/Michigan. Mississippi was the best unranked team to upset somebody last week.
Terrelle Pryor. He will be good and lead OSU to big wins, just not this year.
Texas Tech's Rushing Attack/Big 12 Passing Efficiency Outside Bradford/Daniel/Harrell.

I will also call it RIGHT NOW. The Heisman will go to a Big 12 player on whichever team wins the Big 12.

I love college football. I won enough last week on Mississippi/Florida to not have to go and get a job for another year, don't you love it?

Vanderbilt passes for 80 yards a game...The same as...NAVY! I kind of want to go play QB at Vandy now.

Sam McGuffie denied my Facebook friend request again. I still hate Michigan.

I talked to Texas Tech running back Baron Batch on a Facebook chat and got invited to Bible Study.