Bleacher Report - Articles by Heath McGuff

Hey Alabama Fans, Watch Out For the O—line: This Might Be a Problem!

Heath McGuff — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:40:14 -0400

All Alabama fans know the story as I'm sure you have heard a lot of talk lately about how the Bama O-line is going to have a ton of problems in '09. Yes, we are going to have our share of problems with the O-line but not for the reasons people are saying.

Last season the Alabama offensive line was very strong, quick and able to control the line of scrimmage. All three of these might pose a problem for the Tide next year. We lost key players in center Antonie Caldwell and left tackle Andre Smith both who entered into the NFL draft after the end of the '08 season.

We have a few guys who could try and fill both of these guys shoes but trust me this will be no easy task. Evan Cardwell who is a great offensive lineman is most likely not going to be around for the '09 season.

Cardwell is suffering from severe back pains and is most likely going to be on the side lines watching most of the season from there.

Evan Cardwell is a very strong talented O-lineman who benches over 350 and squats over 430. He has seen time at the center position both of his two year's of eligibility at Alabama. In 2007 Cardwell started the last eight games and made some great blocks for the Tide, he is going to be a big loss for the Tide next season.

Another key loss will be converted defensive lineman Brian Motley. He has been fighting a few injuries since preseason camp of '07. Some of the injuries being a broken ankle right after he gained the starting noseguard position.

The other was a wrist injury that required surgery. Motley red shirted his first season in '09 Motley will be a junior.

Evan Cardwell and Brian Motley are two guys the Bama O-line will miss next season. If Motley can get healthy their is a chance he could play some. As for Cardwell its almost positive he will not be able to play he has been suffering from this back pain since the '07 season and can't fight it anymore.

There is no doubt there will be big losses to Alabama. With the down side out of the way lets talk about two guys on the offensive line that will not let this team get down on themselves.

The first of the two is Mike Johnson. Johnson a very solid offensive line player for the Tide in both '07 and '08. He has saw his fair share of playing time under Saban and has done fairly well. Johnson has also had to play a few different spots on the O-line with some suspensions in '07 and that made him a more well rounded player.

Andre Smith and Mike Johnson are the only two players to start in all 13 games in '07.

Mike Johnson has had the privilege to play with two great Alabama offensive lineman both of his starting years, Andre Smith and Antonie Caldwell. I know he has taken a little something form both of these players and I'm sure he will be a awesome lineman for the Tide in '09.

The second of the two is Drew Davis he had some great playing time last season and in '07. Many say he could use some more bulk on the O-line but I think he should be fine. Drew Davis was a high school standout and won AISA lineman of the year in high school and started on the high school D-line when he was in the eight grade.

Davis is a very physical player and was one of the few players who needed last season as a building season for '09. He was really the only question mark the Tide had going into the '08 season. Although he did beat out Taylor Parr to win the first string spot.

Mike Johnson and Drew Davis should be great offensive lineman for the Tide and if anything they will teach the younger guys all they know to prepare them for the '10 season. With all the talk brought about the O-line I just hope and pray that these two can stick together and bring Alabama a SEC championship.

So that wraps up today's article about Alabama and its offensive line problems, please share with me your thoughts about who you think will help contribute to the offensive line in '09.

Ponder These Questions: Tebow the New Coach of the Florida Gators?

Heath McGuff — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:11:14 -0400

As a fan, you thrive off of your team's success. If your team goes out on a high note, then you are probably going to be pretty satisfied with your team when next season roles around.

As a player, I think they also thrive off of the last game more than anything else. Lose or win, that last game is a tremendous motivator for the next upcoming season. Like in Alabama's case, we got embarrassed in our own back yard, basically.

Don't get me wrong, Utah beat us fair and square; they played better oe were more prepared than our Bama squad was.

Then there is the case like Florida and LSU have.

Florida ending a great season by beating Alabama in the SEC championship and then going on to defeat Heisman winner Sam Bradford and his Oklahoma Sooners and then LSU coming off of a two game losing streak to Ole Miss and Arkansas and putting up probably their best game against foe Georgia Tech in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.

They saw some promising play out of Jordan Jefferson in that game as he completed 16-25 passes for 142 yds, with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

So, as you can see, whether a loss provides motivation to play well next season or a going out with a win provides great things for the next season.

With that being said, let's take a look at a few things surrounding the SEC.

Jordan Jefferson and the Tigers have my respect.

The reason I say they have my respect is because their record in '08 does not truly show how well they played. They were in close games with Alabama and Arkansas but they finished with a record of 8-5 which is ah...ok I guess.

LSU had a big losing streak coming into their bowl game. They lost to the up and rising Ole Miss Rebels and to Bobby Petrino and his Pigs. Those two loses looked to cripple LSU but they ended up puttting a spanking on GT beating them by more than 30 points.

In that game they saw solid play form the backfield and the QB role which was not prevalent at all before that game.

LSU '09 grade= B+

Jevan Snead cannot beat Tim Tebow in the race for the Heisman.

Last season, as I watched the Ole Miss Rebels roll into Tuscaloosa and almost beat us, I felt almost sick! I could not believe that this team just came to my team's stadium and put up that good of a fight...

They would then go on to every single team they played from that point on some including: Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, and Texas Tech! They truly did impress me after the Texas Tech beat down.

But their downfall will be all this hype they are going to have to live up to. I can't think of a possible way that Jevan Snead will be able to compete against senior quarterback Tim Tebow and win the Heisman.

Tebow has more skills than Snead in every aspect of the game. They both are great QB's but I can't see any way that Tim Tebow will be denied a trophy if he has another "Superman" quality season.

Ole Miss '09 grade= A-

Will Kodi Burns or Neil Caudle be the QB for the Auburn Tigers?

In the A-game for the Auburn Tigers I don't know if this team got any closer to naming their starting QB or still trying to develop Kodi Burns into a dual-threat QB.

Last season Kodi Burns was very much troubled by his ability to throw the ball through the air. He struggled mightily with the passing game, and finished the season with only two touchdowns via the passing game.

On the other hand, Burns did show some great ability on the ground and was the Tigers' second leading rusher with 411 yds on only 98 carries. He has the ability to scramble out of the pocket but often leaves the pocket before it collapses.

The coaching staff at Auburn really need to be concerned with this young man's ability to become a great player for this team.

As for Neil Caudle, he had a solid spring game and turned many heads, and the coaches say Caudle is not very far behind Burns.

But that have said Burns would more than likely get the starting position in the spring but I look out for Neil Caudel to maybe take over in the fall...

Auburn has room for improvement on the offensive side of the ball, but their is no doubt Gene Chizik will patch up all the holes in the offense.

Auburn's '09 grade= C-

Urban Myer's retired, Florida names Tim Tebow new head coach...

When you watch Tim Tebow play, it's almost like he is amongst a group of small children. He is massive in size and has great down-hill running ability. Last season, he was made to shy away from defenders and learn it's ok to gain 20 yards rather then run out of bounds.

Tebow is a very smart QB, with one of the best, if not the best, football IQs in the game at this day and time. He is very tall, which gives him the ability to read the whole field and is deadly when able to sit in the pocket and pass the ball.

If he feels the pressure, he can also take the ball into his own hands and almost always reach the sticks on the ground.

Tebow is a great quarterback, and if he puts up his usual numbers, I don't see any way possible they could deny him his second Heisman in three years.

Time Tebow shows leadership on and off the field. What makes this guy so great is when he steps on the field all the teams stop to watch Tebow this is what makes this guy so great.

Florida's '09 grade=A+

Julio can not be Alabama's only receiver in '09, so who will contribute some help?

Last season, no matter what team Alabama was scheduled to play, it seemed no one had a answer for wideout Julio Jones. When he was not drawing double teams, he was making terrific catches on some of the best defenses in the SEC.

He proved himself early on in the season. I would not say he proved himself completely in the Clemson game, but he did put on a great show. He, however, did prove himself against conference foe LSU and at the end of the season Florida.

In the overtime game vs LSU, Julio Jones racked up 128 yds on seven catches and averaged 18.3 yards a catch. In the SEC championship he had almost identical numbers. Jones recorded five catches for 124 yards and averaged 24.4 yds a catch.

In '09, Julio will most likely get a lot of help from senior Mike McCoy and the small but lightning fast Marquis Maze. These three guys should be able to catch anything that McElroy can throw at them. Maze is said at this time to have some of the best hands on Alabama's team including Julio, as says T1derollsonU.

Alabama's '09 grade= A-

So that about wraps it up for my take on who gets the best grade in the SEC. I look for Florida to make it far again this year but if they were to repeat that would be something very special for that program as well as the SEC.

Leave some feedback and tell me who your favorites are to win the SEC West and East.

Why Eddie Lacy and A.J. McCarron Could Be the Next Alabama Greats

Heath McGuff — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:17:00 -0400

Nick Saban has always had the ability to recruit some of the best high school athletes in the game of college football. This trend carried over into the 2009 recruiting class.

The Tide ranks first among all teams in landing four five-star players and 14 four-star players. They have accumulated 2,786 points, while SEC opponent LSU is in second with 2,581.

Saban is no doubt a coach most all high school players would love to play for. With that being said, I have two great players who are not the highest-rated commits but who can make a great impact for Alabama in the years to come.

With all the hype going to future star Trent Richardson, a guy by the name of Eddie Lacy may not ring a bell for you. But hey, let me give you a few reasons why this guy may just be a force to reckon with once he straps on that crimson red helmet with that solid white line.

Lacy was the guy all the players on the Dutchtown High School football team wanted to be like. As I watched some of this guy's highlights, I could see some of the bench warmers just look on in awe as the stocky Lacy would make eye-opening runs for long touchdowns.

He would often avoid several tackles or make two or sometimes even three guys miss a tackle. Eddie was often making great runs with at least one of the opposing team's players either hanging onto his jersey or carrying them like he owned them down the field for touchdowns.

He is not the flashy back Reggie Bush was, but he is said to be a very good downhill runner who will find a way to reach the sticks.

Lacy has that strong, thick body that will allow him to carry the rock many times at the next level. He is a very strong back with great lower body strength but is said to have a little more room for some more bulk on him.

Lacy is often referred to as a power back, but he is able to burst through a seam and very quickly reach his top speed.

In no way am I saying this guy is as great as Richardson might be, because I have seen neither of them play college ball, but I'm saying this: Eddie Lacy is going to be a great back for Alabama. Mark my words.

The second of the two players is A.J. McCarron. The reason I think this guy will develop into a great QB for the Tide is simple: He is a great pocket passer who has not yet grown into his very lanky body.

Over time, I see this guy becoming a great QB for the system that Saban likes to run.

If any fans remember Tyler Watts, then this guy is someone you can compare him to. He is great in the pocket and can make some great passes, but if made to scramble, then you almost have to wish for the best.

There are a few concerns with his weight and ability to force plays. He is only 189 pounds with a 6'4" frame and has a ton of room to add muscle and bulk up a little.

He showed the ability to throw the deep ball with accuracy and precision in high school. He also put enough zip on the passes to the numbers and in the short passing game.

If able to sit in the pocket, he is tall enough to scan the whole field and able to make a very good decision with where he wants the ball to go. He is best when his feet are set but showed very little ability to throw the ball with much accuracy while on the run.

McCarron also had a problem last season with forcing some early passes when he thought there was pressure.

These are some things McCarron has room to improve, but overall he is projected to be a great QB at the next level and is rated an 83 overall player by ESPNU.

McCarron was also being recruited by Miami, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Auburn before signing with Alabama.

In '07 McCarron completed 145 of 232 passes for 2,532 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only three interceptions. McCarron committed during his junior year in '07.

I often find myself looking at Alabama football on BamaOnline.com, and this is where these two young men stood out to me. I watched both of their highlight reels and thought to myself: I must expose these two great players to the Tide Nation.

I hope you enjoyed.

Looking Ahead: Who Will Be the Best Running Back in the SEC in '09?

Heath McGuff — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:50:10 -0400

As the 2009 football season creeps a little closer ever day, I get more anxious to see the most talented football players in all college football compete, those players being in the SEC.

I think the running back position is the second most fun position to watch in all college football behind that of the QB role. We all know the SEC has it's fair share of talented quarterbacks but often the many talented RBs are left out?

So I would like to take a little time and list just a few guys who have what it takes to make a good SEC team a great team.

Now I know I might leave a guy or two off who you think deserves to be on this list, but know that their are many to chose from. So if I do indeed leave off your favorite running back please just ask why I did this or make me aware of who it is, as I am not aware of all the many RBs in the SEC.

So with that said, I would like to list five guys who I think has what it takes to help their team in a great way in '09.

The first is Michael Smith: Smith was more or less a third string guy most of his career at Arkansas until he was brought into the spotlight in '08. Michael played behind two great players in the two-time Doak Walker award winner Darren McFadden and well rounded back Felix Jones.

Smith turned gained much confidence in the '08 spring game where he put up some great numbers in the red vs white spring practice game. The football season soon followed and so did the emergence of star Michael Smith. Michael had some great games in '08 but almost none better than the Kentucky game that came down to the last seconds.

Kentucky did not have an answer for explosive Smith, he was the Pig's leading rusher and receiver in that game. Smith had a total of 192 yards rushing and 33 yards receiving for a total of 225 total yards. Smith had some great runs in that game but Kentucky's Mike Hartline helped his team to a one point win that made the score 21-20.

Michael Smith also made a strong finish to the '08 season gaining 630 yards in a four game stretch against foes Florida, Auburn, Kentucky and Ole Miss.

In '09 look for Smith to take the led and help bring this team back to the top of the SEC. Michigan State transfer Ryan Mallet will also be a big help as he is said to have a great football IQ.

Smith will help carry his team to the top of the SEC and Bobby Pertino and Ryan Mallet will only make the process that much easier for him. Smith is going to get a lot more carriers this year and will look to impress some scouts in '09.

The second is Charles Scott: Charles Scott maybe the most well rounded back in the SEC in '09. He is not a very fast guy but has the ability to turn on the speed once he hits the edge of the line. Scott has a very nice frame he stands 5'11'' tall and weighs 233 lbs.

This is a guy teams have to build their game plan around when they face LSU. He has the ability to make a short and inches dive play turn into a 20 yard first down. Scott is a very hard working kid who gets most of his yards between the tackles. Scott is one of LSU's most productive running backs in school history with 1,775 career rushing yards to go along with 28 TDs.

Scott runs with out standing power along with the fact he has great balance in his game. Scott is also one of the most versatile backs the SEC has to offer.

Scott brought a lot to the table last season and he had to with the inconsistent play for the QB position he was often the only answer LSU could come up with to sustain a very good dive. Others like Brandon LaFell and Demetrius Byrd also helped the Tigers stay in late games with their great play making ability.

Thankfully the Tigers saw some great play out of Jordan Jefferson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, he connected on 16-25 passing and totaled 142 yards in that game.

In '08 Scott rushed for 1,174 yards on 207 car. He averaged 5.2 ypc and had a total of eight touchdowns. I look for Scott to be a major part of the Tigers offense again in '09. He will have more help this year, knowing Les Miles he will not allow the poor play for the QB position and the rest will fall in place.

The third is Anthony Dixion: Anthony Dixion is a guy who will line up in front of you and flat out run your tail over. It's obvious that he is not afraid to take a lick mainly because everyone is afraid to lower their head and take on Dixion one-on-one.

He has the power and agility to make some highlight plays as we saw in '07 when they spoiled the hopes of Ole Miss to win the Golden egg trophy. Dixion and Mississippi went on the beat UCF in the Liberty Bowl to break their very long none bowl game streak.

'07 proved to be Dixion's best year of his career as he gained 1,007 yards rushing on 287 car.

But in '08 he was not a let down, with the big bowl win and coming off a winning season the Bulldogs looked to make some noise but the only noise they heard was the screaming of Croom at half time. The Bulldogs often found themselves down late in games and finished the season with a 4-8 regular season record.

In '08, Dixion had 197 car. for 869 yards, he averaged 4.4 ypc and totaled seven touchdowns on the season. Dixion's rushing attempts went down almost 100 attempts for the '07 season, this could maybe be a reason why the Bulldogs were not successful in '08?

In '09 with their new head coach in tact I think the Bulldogs will have a improved season but none the less a rebuilding year for this team. With the improved play from QB Tyson Lee the Dawgs have a chance to redeem themselves for the horrific let down in '08!

The fourth is Mark Ingram: Ingram was just a freshman last season and played more like a veteran in some most of Bama's games. Myself being a Bama fan loved the style of running Ingram brought to the table.

I never saw him lose his composer and I think that is why he was a great runner down the stretch, he never complained and never got down when Coffee would come in when he was just warming up. When Julio and Ingram made their freshman debut in '08 at the Georgia dome against ACC foe Clemson I knew Julio and Ingram were special.

These two played so well I think Clemson could not believe what hit them. Ingram out rushed both Spiller and Davis. CJ Spiller and Davis combined for a total of 20 yds. Ingram had a total of 96 yds. and out rushed them by 76 total yards all together.

Ingram had some amazing runs last season and put of phenomenal stats for a Alabama freshman, especially under coach Nick Saban. With such great success in '08 I think Saban will let Ingram run the rock just like he did Coffee, Ingram will have his share of time and probably split time with Trenton Richardson.

Nick Saban being a guy who loves to ground and pound the ball right down to the goal line will have to fill the spots on the O-line first. In '09 look for Ingram to have a great year and break the 1,000 yard mark. Last season Ingram totaled 143 car. for 728 yards and an amazing 12 TDs.

The fifth and final player is Chris Rainey and Jeffrey Demps: Rainey who stands 5'9'' tall is probably one of the of the best and most versatile players for the blue and orange. Jeffrey Demps and Chris Rainey are a part of the best team in college football, the Florida Gators.

Rainey and Demps who run 4.42 and 4.46 forties are what helped the gators combine for the most dangerous ground game in the SEC and probably in Division I football last season. Rainey is surprisingly able to make most of his huge gains running straight up the centers but! He manged to rip off many gains last season by running the ball right up the middle and once he is past the linebackers he is not going to be caught.

Emmanuel Moody the USC transfer was supposed to be the next big thing Florida fans had seen in a while but saw very limited action in '08? My only guess is that Moody had some kind of injury, I did not do extensive research to find that out. Last season Demps and Rainey combines for a amazing total of 1,257 yards on 162 car. with 11 TDs and a combined total of 15.6 ypc!

Their is not a doubt in my mind or anyone else's mind that these two players are going to be the best running back duo the SEC and the NCAA has to play in '09. These two players have speed, agility, strength, and the will to win any game they play.

So in '09 look out for lighting in Chris Rainey and Jeffrey Demps and right when you think there will be no thunder Tebow will launch a huge pass for six or run a linebacker over for a first down.

I hope you agree with most of these picks I have selected, I think these players are the best the SEC has to offer at the running back position. I think I might try and break down a few more positions: quarterback, wide receiver, etc...

Please leave a comment and tell me what you though of these seletcions!!

Thursday Night's Random Thoughts: SEC Football Talk, Teams, and Players

Heath McGuff — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:34:48 -0400

This will be my first-ever post on Virtual Sports Network. Most of my work is posted on Bleacher Report, another great site of devoted sport fans.

I would like to start by saying that I love college football more than I do anything else! I also have a wide range of knowledge about a ton of college football teams.

I currently play high school football and basketball; football is my true love though.

So now I just want to touch on a few thoughts that came to mind today when I was thinking about the highly anticipated arrival of college football.

Being an Alabama fan, I can't wait for Sept. 5, when the Tide play their first game against VT in the Georgia Dome.

So since we are talking about Alabama, that is where I will start.

Alabama: Fill the holes in the O—line please.

With the biggest loss in Antonie Caldwell, the Tide has a major gap to replace. Caldwell, who played center, guard and tackle in his three years as a starter, leaves a major hole in the Alabama O-line.

Mike Johnson pretty much has a position locked in somewhere on the O-line most likely at Left guard.

Senior Drew Davis is another; he will almost for sure be the starter at right tackle on Sept. 5 against Virginia Tech.

Last season, the O-line was a great focus point for the Tide, they would pound the rock right down the opponent's throat and almost always scored points their first possession.

In '09, the Tide will need to grow at this position and mature to be able to sustain long drives and run the ball successfully.

Ole Miss: Jevan Snead?

Ole Miss, I can't think of a team in the SEC besides Florida that has got more hype in the offseason. Don't get me wrong, I think they SHOULD be a good team.

Jevan Snead, without second-guessing, is a awesome quarterback. He proved to be a reliable and efficient QB for Ole Miss, just look at the Texas Tech game, he was awesome. He completed 18-of-29 attempts for 292 yards and three touchdowns...

But ask yourself one question: Does this guy have the raw athletic ability like Tim Tebow or the great precision that Bradford has to be a Heisman candidate next season?

I compare this guy to Graham Harrell and look what he did last season, but somehow he came up a little short of even being at the ceremony?

I think overall this team will settle with a 9-3 or a 9-2 record losing to these teams: LSU, Alabama and maybe even Tennessee.

So with all this hype, I look for Ole Miss to be a bust in '09. Jevan Snead needs to have a great great year to land a prestige Heisman trophy as well.

South Carolina: Play as a team!

Need I say more? No, I'm just kidding.

In '08, I think they had free admission for the fans just so they would come.

But on a more serious note, they did have a ton of trouble at the QB position before Spurrier found his man at the end of the season, Stephen Garcia.

Garcia, still not named the starting QB, showed some promising ability last season with limited play.

He also has not lived up to expectations once he arrived at SC. He has been in trouble a few times and was part of the leading team in interceptions last season (27).

This position is not the only concern for SC fans, the big O-line was not a tremendous help last season either.

This is a great group of very good SEC talent but they must learn not one player can carry this team. Garcia can't do it without the line and the line can't do anything with out a good QB.

If the big uglies don't improve it will not matter who is running this team, Garcia or not.

So overall I think the Gamecocks will settle for another down season and look to rebuild, at least we will get to see Steve throw his hat a few more times.

Auburn: QB battle

With the arrival of their new head coach, Gene Chizik, the Tigers will be on the hunt this year for some of the spotlight in the SEC.

The Tigers have some great talent in Kodi Burns, although he did have a major struggle throwing the ball last season, only completing two touchdowns through the air.

Burns did show his great ability to run the ball; he will be a threat, if he has improved his passing game this offseason.

Burns might have a good challenge for the starting spot in the fall with Neil Caudle not to far behind. Neil had a very solid spring game and turned some heads in during that practice.

Look for Chizik to instill some great values in this team, and if they buy into what he is motivating them with, then this team could be on the verge of exploding in '09.

Arkansas: Where to now?

Last season was an...ah...okay year for Razorback fans, I guess you could say; not a rebuilding season but not a great one either.

With Bobby Petrino in charge came a lot of change for this team. When you think Petrino you might think offense and that's what he brought to this team in '08. But unlike Nutt, Petrino brought the whole 90 yards from run game to pass game.

Nutt, being a run-first type coach, he based the Arkansas offense off of their ability to run the ball. When Petrino arrived this all changed and Casey Dick and the Razorbacks finished second in the SEC behind Georgia in passing.

They also found a great speedy back who was not afraid to take a lick in Michael Smith. Smith will be hang around for '09 and probably carry the rock more than he did in '08.

The Pigs also have Michigan State transfer Ryan Mallet, who is said to have all the great tools of a well-rounded quarterback in the SEC. Ryan also has the potential to be one of the best signal callers in the SEC.

The only question I have for this guy is, are you ready for the aggressive, physical style of defense the SEC has to offer?

Vanderbilt: Should they even be in the NCAA?

I have pondered this question my entire life as a college sports fan...I often find my self asking other people what do you think about that team Vanderbilt? Most of the time the time they reply with "Well, they are a okay team."

This tells me one of two things. They either don't know they are even a college football team or either they amount to nothing in the college football world.

I myself think Vanderbilt is a great team, because when Alabama plays them I go ahead and put down a big W beside that game.

But for real, do they even recruit the kind of talent you HAVE to have in order to make a serious run for a SEC title, or do they just have a team for looks?

I know, I know they did beat Auburn last season but what does that tell you? I personally think that if you are not in the game to win it all, then you might as well sit back down.

I mean come on Vanderbilt get with the program, either play the game or hang it up. This is a topic I would like to hear some feedback on, does this team even amount to JSU or Tulane?

Well that will wrap it up for the all of a sudden random thoughts for Thursday.

Keep checking out my page I have a few more topics I look to include in my next article on a few more interesting subjects and teams next week some time.

Crimson Tide Legacy Profile Part One: Paul William "Bear" Bryant

Heath McGuff — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:20:57 -0400

Paul William Bryant was born September 11, 1913. Bryant was the 11th child of 12 and was born to William and Ida Bryant.

Bryant and his family lived on a farm in Moro Bottom, Arkansas. Paul earned his nickname "Bear" at the young age of 13 after agreeing to wrestle a live bear.

This nickname would carry on just as far as his legacy has today.

In the eighth grade, Bryant stood 6'1'' tall and played varsity football for Fordyce High School in Fordyce, Arkansas.

Coming up through the program at Fordyce, Paul and his team had grown, and finally won the 1930 Arkansas High School State Championship in Bryant's senior year of high school.

The way "Bear" Bryant was playing ball, it appeared his football career had just been laid out for him.

Just before graduation, "Bear" Bryant had left Fordyce High school without receiving his diploma!

Oddly enough Bryant was offered a full scholarship to the University of Alabama to play football.

However, this posed a major problem. Bryant, knowing you could not get into any college without a high school diploma, returned to Tuscaloosa County High School in the fall of 1931 to finish his requirements to graduate.

Bryant almost missed his shot to play for 'Bama, but the Jordan twins saved him.

The coach at the time, Hank Crisp, was recruiting the Jordan twins from Fordyce High School. After the Twins went to Arkansas, Crisp returned to 'Bama with the not-so-popular Bryant.

When Bryant did not have his face stuffed in books or homework, he could be found practicing with the Tide to prepare him for the college level.

This turned out to be great for Bama, as they went on to win the 1933 SEC Championship. Then in 1934 the team went 10-0 and defeated power house Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

Bryant eventually fell in love with Mary Harmon Black, and they had a secret wedding. Bryant feared Crisp would not approve of such actions.

The following season, Bryant led the Tide to a win over Tennessee with a broken bone in his left leg.

Form 1936 to 1941, Bryant served as an assistant coach for three different schools, including 'Bama.

Later in 1941, Bryant entered the Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Although he never saw the front line, his training skills were used to a great extent in WWII.

After the war he returned to the U.S.A., and was coach of three different teams before coming back to his alma mater, the Alabama Crimson Tide, for one of his 25 seasons with there.

In Bryant's 25 years with the Tide, his record totaled 232 wins with only 46 losses!

Bryant was a ten-time SEC Coach of the year and a four-time National Coach of the Year.

Later the name was changed from National Coach of the Year to the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award.

Bryant also led the Tide to 31 bowl appearances, 24 of them being in consecutive years. Bryant announced he would retire after the season of 1982.

In "Bear's" career with the Tide, he claimed six national championships and 13 conference championships. He has gone down as the greatest coach in 'Bama football history.

No later than a year after Bear retired, he checked into a Tuscaloosa hospital with complaints of chest pains. Bryant passed away on January 26, 1983.

Paul W. Bryant Museum, Paul W. Bryant Drive, and Bryant Denny Stadium were all named in honor of "Bear" Bryant. Bryant once said, "There's a lot of blood, sweat, and guts between dreams and success."

There is no doubt in a 'Bama fans' mind that Bryant's legacy does not exist, from fans to alumni that he is still with us.

Paul William "Bear" Bryant and his legacy affected more than just Alabama football, it made an impact on the whole state of Alabama.

"Bear" Bryant will forever be remembered, not only by his legacy, but what a great man he was. Without a doubt, Bryant will never be forgotten.

A Few Good Thoughts About Alabama Football in '09

Heath McGuff — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:26:37 -0400

The whole Alabama book scandal has Bama fans in a tight situation with no light at the end of the tunnel.

Is it only me, or does it seem like every time Alabama reaches national prominence they always fall back down the ladder twice as fast as it took to climb it?

If the charges are true, though, I think the NCAA has actually served Alabama with the correct punishment—with the exception of taking away the wins. Let's not forget this involves all Alabama athletics, not just football!

This whole situation has got me angry, tired, and even more upset with Mal Moore than I usually would be.

I have seen numerous articles about Alabama has cheated again, and they all deal with football. What about the great softball team we have had in the past three years? I know some of the players on the softball team had to be in on this whole deal.

So with all that said, I would like to share with Alabama fans a few things that make me excited about the Crimson Tide in '09.

1. Terrance Cody

I would hope all Alabama fans know Terrance Cody by "Mount" Cody. This nickname describes him well. He is a massive D-lineman with great foot work and agility. He can plug many running lanes and often takes two men to make a successful block on him. I look for Cody to make a big impact on the Alabama defense in '09.

2. Rolando McClain

Another very talented defensive player for the Tide—and one that can change a game in a heartbeat. McClain is a guy who can cover a wideout and stop a 200-lb. running back in his tracks.

McClain has proved to be a linebacker not many teams have a answer for. In this man's two-year career with the Tide, he has 169 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, and three interceptions. It all starts with this man next year.

3. The 'Bama O-line

This is going to be where the Tide will have most of its problems. With great pass rushers like Greg Hardy (Ole Miss) and speedy linebackers like Brandon Spikes (Florida) I expect a lot of blitzes and disguises to trick this young 'Bama O-line.

As the season progresses, this will not be as much a problem as it will be early on in the season.

4. Mark Ingram and Trenton Richardson

Mark Ingram—what a great year he had in '08! He was a great counter back to Glen Coffee. As a freshman, Ingram had 728 yards rushing for a total of 12 touchdowns. Lets see if his momentum can carry over into the '09 season.

As for Richardson, he will have to do what Ingram did last year. He will need to play consistently—and when he gets his shot he will have to prove he is capable of playing college football.

5. Julio Jones and other receivers

Julio Jones is without a doubt the best offensive thereat Bama has coming into the '09 season. I know he will not disappoint this year.

Jones proved last season he was capable of making big plays during crunch time. Also, I think with the departure of Nick Walker, another receiver must step up and help Julio carry this team.

6. The quarterback position

Greg McElroy will have to prove to me he will not try and thread the ball into a airtight zone before I put my faith in him. During the spring game, McElroy had many mental mistakes that made me question his ability to throw the ball.

I do see McElroy developing into a more consistent QB over the season. I would not be surprised to see Start Jackson in the mix either.

These are just a few things for 'Bama fans to think about. I hope the textbook scandal soon comes to a close and we can all settle back down and hope for the best next season.

The last thing I want to say to Alabama fans is Roll Tide Roll—and lets go whip Auburn's a**!!!

How Much Does LeBron James Mean to the City of Cleveland?

Heath McGuff — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:58:31 -0400

To some, LeBron James is the best basketball player on the planet, and he rightfully deserves to be. LeBron James has done some amazing things since entering the league in '04.

If you ask any coach they will tell you, it is virtually impossible to guard LeBron James for a whole 48 minutes. You cannot stop him from getting his points, you can only limit how many he gets.

LeBron is one of the best built small forwards in the NBA and it shows when he is on the court. James often has the mismatch against whoever has the daunting task of trying to guard him.

After the playoffs, all the talk was about LeBron and if he would be leaving the Cavaliers after the horrific ending to their playoff run.

I'm sure if you asked any Cavalier player they never thought they would have been in that situation.

LeBron led the Cavalier past the Pistons and the Hawks in only eight games, combined. The Magic arrived in Cleveland coming off a tight series with Boston.

Who would have thought they had enough left in them to whip up on the king on his own home court? I know I didn't.

So the question I want to ask is what does LeBron James mean to the Cleveland franchise?

All who know the history of King James know that he was the best athlete coming into the NBA in the '04 season. James was named the National High School player of the year in '02 and in '03 he became the first to repeat winner in the award's 47-year history.

LeBron made a huge impact on the town of Akron, OH. He led St. Vincent- St. Mary to three High School championships in four seasons.

LeBron also was Mr. Basketball of Ohio for three straight years beginning when he was a sophomore in high school.

LeBron totaled 2,657 points, 892 boards, and 523 assists in his four years as a high school player.

LeBron made a huge impact on the City of Akron. So that's what he meant to them in high school. What does he mean to them now?

In his rookie season, James started in 79 games and averaged 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists.

Their is no doubt he is the face of the Cleveland franchise. In '08 Ohio had one of the highest unemployment rates in America. LeBron brought so much to the table in the '07 finals in '08 the ticket sales were tremendously boosted and more Cleveland merchandise was starting to be purchased.

LeBron has stated that he will remain a Cavalier for the '09 season.

Was this the right thing to do at this point in his career? He has been with Cleveland since coming into the league in '04 and has yet to get a ring even though he is one of the best players?

So their is no doubt he means a ton to this town and to the franchise. But look where he is now. At home watching the Lakers and Magic fight for his dream!

So if you were LeBron would you continue to gain the fame and have Cleveland right in you hand or go to another franchise on the verge of winning a NBA title?

So what does LeBron do next year if he were not to win a title with the Cavaliers? Should he ask to be traded or should he stick around be willing to let Mike Brown build a team around him?

Tell me what you think as a NBA fan, do you like James in Cleveland or should he be some where else?

Should The Wolverines Turn to Brandon Minor and Lloyd Carr For '09 Tips?

Heath McGuff — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:58:57 -0400

Since 1879 people have supported the Maze and Blue and for a good reason. Michigan fans have only experienced eight losing seasons out of 129.

Michigan has the most wins ever with 872 and the highest winning percentage in Division I-A football history (.740).

They have 25 undefeated season as a football team, they also hold a winning record verse every NCAA conference including Independent team such as Notre Dame.

Michigan claims 11 National titles, 42 conference titles, three Heisman winners and 150 All-Americans. The '08 season was one of the worst seasons for Ann Arbor fans.

Rich Rodriguez was named head coach and came into Ann Arbor as one of the most winning coaches of all time. Some how he would leave the field in '08 with the worst winning percentage as a head coach in their first year at Michigan with a .250.

Rich led the team to a sloppy 3-9 season in '08, their only wins coming against Miami of Ohio, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Opponents averaged 28.9 points per game against the Wolverines and 336.9 yards of total offense.

Brandon Minor was a great asset to this team last season and was arguably the best player on the offense. The Wolverines lacked in the QB position.

Nick Sheridan only connected on 63 of 137 passes for a total of 613 yards, five interceptions and 2 TDs.

For '09 they have freshman sensation Tate Forcier listed as the starting quarterback for the Wolverines.

In '08 Brandon Minor racked up only 533 yards on 103 carries for nine touchdowns. I expect Minor to have a great senior season and led the Wolverines back to a bowl game.

I also think the Wolverines should get Brandon Minor into the offense more and allow him to make plays for himself. Brandon Minor is a truly talented running back in the Big Ten.

Could Rich take some advice from Lloyd Carr and maybe have a better season in '09? Lloyd Carr was head coach of the wolverines for 13 seasons.

In those 13 years Carr's record was 122-40, he had five conference championships, won 13 bowl games and claimed one Notional Championship.

Lloyd's conference record was 81-23 as head coach at Michigan. Carr also coached the only primary defensive player to ever win the Heisman, Charles Woodson.

Their are many great things to come Michigan's way, with nine new players on defense and only five returning starters on offense. They will be a young team loaded with talent.

The only question is where does Rich Rodriguez need to start, or should he even be a coach after miserably failing last season. These are just a few things I have heard from Michigan fans. Some support Rich and others want his head.

So as a Michigan fan what do you do? Were do you start? Who do you start with?

These are just a few questions to ponder upon this summer.

I would love to hear what all Michigan fans have to say about the '09 season and what you think is in store for Michigan...

Should Miami Hurricane Fans Be Worried About Jacory Harris in '09?

Heath McGuff — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:42:35 -0400

Miami Hurricane football: what a great tradition.

Since 1926, the Canes have had some of the most remarkable seasons of any Division I football team. The 1977-78 seasons were the Lou Saban era...During these two years Lou brought Miami to National prominence.

The Hurricanes are currently led by Randy Shannon, one of six African-American head coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

In 2007, Shannon's first year, the Canes were 5-7. In '08 Shannon led Miami to a 7-6 season barley breaking .500.

Shannon's overall record with the Canes is 12-13(two years).

Since 1926, Miami has obtained nine ACC conference titles, five National Championships, two Heisman winners, 81 All-Americans, and eight college football Hall of farmers and the longest home winning streak in the NCAA(58).

Last season Miami finished the regular season on a bad note losing to North Carolina State by a score of 38-28. Jacory Harris was 12 of 20 for 138 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

Following this loss, the Hurricanes lost in the Emerald Bowl to Cal by a score of 24-17.

Despite Harris connecting on 25 of 41 passes for 194 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception, the Canes still lost.

In the three losses against Florida, Florida State, and North Carolina, Harris only completed nine of 17 passes for a total of 81 yards and one interception.

Yikes, that's not good.

Harris was a freshman in '08 and no one expected him to be perfect, although he did shatter many records in his high school career.

Harris particularly struggled against top-25 teams.

Harris' best performances came against Charleston Southern and Duke.

Against Charleston Southern, Harris connected on 16 of 26 passes for 190 yards, one touchdown, zero interceptions, and had a passer rating of 61.5.

Against Duke, Harris completed 18 of 28 passes for 185 yards, with four touchdowns, and two interceptions, finishing the game with a passer rating of 64.3.

Harris, who finished the '08 season with a very respectable 125.8 passer rating, completed 118 of 194 passes for 1,195 yards, 12 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and averaged 6.2 rushing yards per attempt.

Harris' stats may be misleading because he only had five regular season games with ten or more completions and did not complete more than 18 passes in any game, while splitting quarterback duties with Marve.

I think all Cane fans saw that last season Harris would crumble during some of the most important games and could not handle the pressure very well.

So Cane fans, will Harris be a factor next season?

Should Miami be trying to find a new QB or let Harris prove he is capable of doing better in '09?

Tell me what you think....

Planning For The Future Pt. 2: Draft Time, Pick Up The Post Player!

Heath McGuff — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:00:59 -0400

Tyler Hansbrough the 6'9'', 250 lb power forward could be the answer the Chicago Bulls weak post play over the past few years.

Tyler Hansbrough averaged over 19 points per game in his senior season and eight rebounds per game. In the '08 NCAA National championship Hansbrough had 18 points, seven boards, and two assists.

Tyler Hansbrough was coached by one of the all time greatest in Roy Williams. Sure Tyler was a good player coming out of high school where he averaged 28.2 points per game and 13.4 rebounds as a senior in, but there is no doubt that coach Roy Williams turned Tyler into a great player. Roy Williams has a career record of 594-138 (.811) winning percentage, and was inducted into the Basketball hall of fame in '09. There is no question, Williams is a great coach.

Tyler Hansbrough has been apart of three National championship teams from '07-'09. In addition, Hansbrough was the '08 National player of the year. Hansbrough has dominated at the collegiate level of play, he is very physical and would be a good fit at the Chicago Bulls.

If Chicago were to draft Tyler Hansbrough I'm willing to bet he sees a pretty fair amount of playing time next season.

The next player the Bulls should go after in my opinion is DeJuan Summers. DeJuan Summers is a very versatile player with great touch and post moves.

Summers is very agile for 6'9'' and 240 lbs. He can run the floor better than Hansbrough and would be more of a NBA type player. I think DeJuan would also make a faster transition to the NBA.

Although Summers only averaged 13.6 points per game and 4.1 boards per game he is still in my opinion going to be the better NBA player. Summers can put the ball on the floor a little better than Hansbrough, and can make more moves to the basket unlike Hansbrough.

For the Chicago Bulls to return to the Jordan era they must build around point guard D—Rose, and DeJuan Summers is a better fit for Chicago than Hansbrough would be. Rose could get the ball up the floor faster and maybe get more transition points with a faster guy like Summers.

Overall either one will be a great pick up for the Chicago Bulls. I think the Bulls should have tried to secure a higher draft position but that's too late now. So I look for the Bulls to draft Tyler Hansbrough or DeJuan Summers.

What do you Bulls fans think? Should they go after Summers the more versatile shooting forward/power forward or the more post savvy Tyler Hansbrough?

Tell me what you think of the part two of the planning for the future. If you have not checked out part one, it is entitled is Planning for the future part 1: Derrick Rose special, go check it out too..

Clark, Royster Return to Penn State

Heath McGuff — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:09:01 -0400

Daryll clark and Evan Royster return for their Senior and junior season, how could the Nittany Lions not play good? I think the answer to this question is simple, they cant.

Joe Paterino led the Penn State Nittany Lions to an impressive 2008 season with a record of 11-2. In 2009, two of the Penn State's best players return with the BCS championship in sight.

Evan Royster was a prolific lacrosse player in High school and was a huge part of his high school football team. In Royster's sophomore season of high school he ran for 1,690 yards and 22 TDs. In his high school career he ran for a sensational 6,384 on 750 carries and 90 touchdowns.

In 2008, Royster did not disappoint either, he ran for 1,236 yards on 191 carries and scored 12 TDs. I think in the 2009 season Royster will have more experience under his belt and will come out each game and tourch teams will is physical running style.

Daryll Clark who looks to take over for Penn State in the '09 season will have nothing less than a great season. Last season Clark scored 19 touchdowns and threw for 2,592 yards. In '08 Clark had a passer rating of 143.44.

As a Nittnany Lion Clark has 2,739 yards passing. Clark first proved he could be a great player for this Penn State team in the 2007 Valero Alamo Bowl. Coach's turned to Clark to provide a spark for Penn State, Clark entered the game and turned it around. The Penn State team walked away with a victory...

So if your a Penn State fan how can you go wrong in 2009 behind two talented players in Evan Royster and Daryll Clark?

I think Penn state could go far, and I would love to hear what expectations Penn State fans have for them next season.

The SEC East's Five Best Players In '09: From Top to Bottom!

Heath McGuff — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:19:35 -0400

With such great success form my recent article—The SEC West's five best players in '09: From top to bottom!—I have decided to rate the five best in the East. I hope you enjoy.

The SEC is among the elite conferences in the college football world and the same applies to it's players. The SEC has some of the most talented football players in the world and a great majority are drafted into the NFL after their senior season.

The SEC is split into the East and West and the East teams are: The Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Tennessee Volunteers, Vanderbilt Commodores, South Carolina Game Cocks and the Kentucky Wildcats.

To say the very least, all these teams have a great football history. To play in the SEC you have to be some of the best athletes in the NCAA and I think these guys I'm about to list are just a few of the most dominate players that are going to be in the SEC East in the '09 season.

5. Joe Haden, Florida

Joe Haden is one of the best defensive backs in the SEC—if not the best. In '07 Haden was privileged to be the first true freshman to start at cornerback on opening day in Florida Gator history.

Haden has started 26 games in his collegiate career with Florida. Haden has collected 140 tackles, forced one fumble and has four interceptions as a Gator.

In '08 Haden had 87 tackles (tied for second on the team) and led the secondary in tackles. Haden was first among Gator defenders in the SEC championship collecting eight tackles (six solo), one interception, and two pass break-ups. Haden also led the Florida defense in the BCS championship game with 10 tackles and two pass break-ups.

4. A.J. Green, Georgia

I debated over this spot for several moments before giving into A.J. Green's amazing stats! If you thought Alabama freshman sensation Julio Jones was good, then this guy was great.

The 6'4'', 200 pound wide-out can cause many problems and often draws double coverage as does Jones. In '08 Green was named SEC Freshman of the Year and that's just a start to what else he accomplished.

Green set a freshman reception record with 56 receptions and Stafford and Green torched the Arizona Sun Devils with Green going for 159 yards. There is no doubt in my mind or anyone else that A.J. Green is going to be in the Heisman race within the next few years if not in '09.

3. Brandon Spikes, Florida

Brandon Spikes has appeared in 35 games with 27 starts as a Florida Gator. In Spikes first season with Florida he accounted for 25 tackles for a loss, and had 3.5 sacks. His sacks stat are better than most linebackers do in their senior season.

Spikes has a career total 239 tackles (142 being solo) and he also has four interceptions which he returned for 93 yards and two touchdowns. In Spikes sophomore season, he started in all 13 games and led the team in tackles in 10 of 13 games and was a first-team All-SEC defensive player.

In Spikes junior season, he recorded 93 tackles (52 solo) and was one of the best players on the talented Florida Gators team in '08. This guy deserves this spot.

2. Eric Berry, Tennessee

In Berry's freshman year he replaced fifth-year senior Jarod Parish after the second game of the Vols season. He's never looked back. He finished his freshman year with five interceptions for 222 yards and one touchdown.

Berry was named SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year by Sporting News in '07. Berry also was SEC Freshman of the Week twice in the final three weeks of the '07 season.

In '08 Berry broke the record for interception return yards with 487 yards on 12 interceptions and three touchdowns. Berry accounted for 72 tackles, six pass break-ups, three sacks and two touchdowns on defense in '08. He is regarded by many fans and sport analysts as the best defensive player in Tennessee history.

1. Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow is the best quarterback in the SEC and could be the best of all-time. He has many impressive stats on his resume, the most impressive being the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy.

Some of his other awards are: Sullivan Award, Davey O' Brien Awards, and the Maxwell Award as well. Tebow has won the Maxwell in back-to-back seasons in 2007 and 2008. Tebow is also the first sophomore in Florida Gator history to be named an All-American.

Tim Tebow is without a doubt one of the smartest quarterbacks on the field when gametime comes around, but Tebow has also proved to have the smarts in the classroom as well. Tebow was the first named first-team Academic All-American and first-team All-American team in over a decade! Tebow is the only player in college football history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in a season. I think without a doubt Tim Tebow will go down in history as one of the best all-time college football players.

Did I get it right? Let me know what you think.

No Luck Needed Next Year—Irish Will Be Ready: Three Key Players in '09

Heath McGuff — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:59:13 -0400

Notre Dame one of the most storied and successful franchises in the history of college football will be ready for the '09 season. Head coach Charlie Weis and the fighting Irish finished the season strong breaking a NCAA record nine-bowl game losing streak.

Charlie Weis was on the hot seat at the end of the '08 season and their was speculation that he was going to get fired after their combined 15 losses from '07-'08 marked the longest losing streak in any two year. Notre Dame intends to keep Weis for the '09 season despite their 7-6 record in '08.

Weis has had three winning seasons in his fours years as the Fighting Irish head coach. Last seasons bowl victory put the franchise 7-6 which led the Irish to it's 102 winning season in 120 years of football.

There have been seven Heisman trophy winners in the Fighting Irish history and Jimmy Clausen or Golden Tate could be the next?

The '09 season is going to bring many things the Irish's way, they could be good or bad depending on what these three guys I'm about to list contribute to this ball club.

Jimmy clausen, Golden Tate and Ian Williams are going to be three great players for the Irish next season.

Jimmy clausen: The highly talented QB from California is nothing short of great. He lead his team to an impressive 42-0 record as the starting QB for the Westlake Lions in High school. Clausen started in the second game of his freshman year making him the earliest starter for a Notre Dame QB since 1972.

Clausen's freshman season he completed 138-245 passes and gained 1,245 yards and seven touchdowns through the air. In '08 Clausen connected on 268-440 passes for a total of 3,172 yards and 25 TDs with only 17 interceptions. Jimmy Clausen is the number one piece to the Notre Dame offense.

Golden Tate: Clausen hooked up with Golden Tate a few times last season and when they did it was effective. Tate still polishing his receiving game up a little in the off season because he primarily played running back in high school and is trying to make the best transition to wide receiver as possible for the '09 season.

Tate played in all 12 games last season as a freshman making him one of eight freshman to start for Notre Dame. Tate gave the Irish a true deep threat last season as well as a excellent kickoff return man. Tate started verse both UCLA and USC and recorded six receptions for 131 yards(21.8 avg.) and one TD.

Tate also averaged 21.7 yards per kick off return in those two games as well. In the '08 season Tate caught 58 rec., for 1,080 yards and ten TDs. Golden Tate needs to be truly breath taking next season to give the Irish that extra surge on offense.

Ian Williams: As a freshman Ian Williams appeared in all 12 games only one of four players to do that. Ian Williams was ranked sixth on the team and second on the Defensive line in tackles his freshman season despite coming off the sidelines most of the year. Williams recorded 45 tackles(19 solo), and 1.5 stops for a loss.

Ian Williams recorded third most tackles by a freshman D-lineman in Notre Dame school history. I think Ian Williams can be a big part of the Notre Dame defense next season. Williams can physical dominate an offensive line and block several running gaps.

I think these are just a players of the talented Fighting Irish, there are a few other guys to mention like Kyle McCarthy, Armando Allen, and that's just the start of a long list.

I would like to hear what all Notre Dame fans have to say about next season and what they have to do in order to achieve the franchise 103 winning season in 121 years as a football team. I hope you agree with most of the players I have chosen as key players.

Sam Bradford: the Messiah Returns to Oklahoma for Another Super Season!

Heath McGuff — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:51:02 -0400

Sam Bradford is one of the most talented quarterbacks that has came through Oklahoma in years.

Bradford was ranked 17th overall among high school quarterbacks in '06. A main reason was some of the best QBs in the NCAA were playing at the same time as Bradford, including Florida's Tim Tebow and Georgia's Matthew Stafford.

In high school, Bradford starred in football, basketball and golf.

Bradford's senior year in high school, he averaged a triple double in basketball.

In his senior season as a quarterback, he racked up 2,029 yards and 17 TDs in only 12 games.

Now if you look at Bradford, there is no doubt he is one of the elite QBs in the NCAA and probably the best in the Big-12, next to Colt McCoy.

With some injuries in to the Oklahoma Sooners in Bradford's first season, he was able to contribute a few good stats.

In Bradford's first game, he completed 21-of-23 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns.

In another game, Bradford broke the record for passing yards in a half previously held by Josh Heupel.

In the next game, Bradford broke Heisman Trophy winner Jason White's record for consecutive passes completed, with 22. In the second week of Bradford's career, he was named the National Offensive Player of the Week!

Bradford is also tied for the most touchdowns in a single game with five. One of the most impressive stats Bradford holds is the most touchdowns as a freshman, with 30.

In Sam's first season as a Sooner he gained these awards: Freshman All-American, Big-12 Player of the Year, and led all QBs in passer rating with 176.53, beating Tim Tebow.

Bradford was also No.6 in the nation in '07 for completions, No.5 in total offense and No.2 in completion percentage.

In the '08 season, Bradford averaged 14.78 yards a completion. He was ranked No. 1 nationally with 48 touchdowns.

He was also ranked No.1 in passing efficiency, and set the record for most yards in a single game, with 408. Bradford broke the record for the most touchdowns in a freshman and sophomore year with 84.

Bradford averaged one touchdown every nine passes.

He averaged one interception every 73.7 attempts. This is one of the most awing stats I know of for Bradford.

Bradford had multiple touchdowns thrown in 23 games as a Sooner.

He has won some of the most prestigious awards, including the Davey O' Brien Award, the Hesiman Trophy and National Player of the Year.

These stats show why Bradford is the leader on this team. I think Bradford is often overlooked when talking in the aspect of quarterbacks. In my opinion, he is one of the best to play in college football.

Sam Bradford will be working behind a great O-line this season, one of which is a key returner from '08, Trent Williams.

Williams started six games as a freshman and was named to the Sporting News Freshman All-American Team in '07. Williams is going to be the anchor of the Sooner O-line.

So, you decide: will Sam Bradford be thought of as a legend once his career is over at OU or will he be forgotten?

I want to hear what all Oklahoma fans have to say. Is Bradford the messiah of this Oklahoma team or is he just another great player? You decide...

The SEC West's Five Best Players in '09: From Top to Bottom!

Heath McGuff — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:59:37 -0400

The SEC is arguably the best conference in the NCAA. They have a big majority of the best talent in college football also. The SEC is one of the most physical conferences of them all as well.

There are two sides of the conference: the SEC East and the SEC West. The SEC East is composed of the following: the defending champion Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Tennessee Vols, Vanderbilt Commodores, South Carolina Gamecocks, and the Kentucky Wildcats.

The SEC West is composed of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Ole Miss Rebels, LSU Tigers, Arkansas Razorbacks, Auburn Tigers, and Mississippi State Bulldogs.

In my opinion this is the strongest group of teams in college football.

It's going to be hard to pick the five best, but I think I can do it. I'm not going to use just all stats, so if a player is better in the category of stats, more power to them. I will try to judge by all-around ability and raw talent.

5. Dexter McCluster

McCluster is one of the smallest but deadliest players in the SEC West! He poses a dual threat, as Ole Miss uses him in that unique style of the original "Wild Hog" formation. He is listed as a wideout but was among Rebel leaders in rushing yards and attempts.

McCluster was the offensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl and the sixth rated multi-purpose player in the SEC! He is a good choice to fill up this spot. He will be a leader next season for the Ole Miss Rebels.

4. Charles Scott

This 5'11'', 233-pound powerhouse is what fuels the deadly LSU Tigers! Going into his senior season, Scott has racked up 1,775 yards and 28 TDs. He has rushed for 100 yards seven times. Only five other LSU Tigers have done this.

Scott was named to the All-SEC team in the '08 season and is only the 12th Tiger to rush for over 1,000 yards in LSU history! Scott is more than likely going to produce just as good or better numbers in '09 than he did in 2008.

3. Greg Hardy

Hardy was a key part of the Rebels' 9-4 regular season record and 5-3 record in the SEC. Although he missed the first three games, he recorded 64 tackles, and 18.5 were for a loss!

Hardy was awarded All-SEC teams honors in the '08 season. Hardy was the SEC's 2007 sack leader (10). He is said to be ready for the NFL but decided to stick around for his senior season.

Scouts say experience is not a problem for Hardy, as he started in nine games as a freshman. Scouts also say that Hardy could step into any NFL team and make an impact.

Hardy stands 6'4'' and weighs 265 lbs. but can run the 40-yard dash in under 4.7 seconds!

This is a key reason why I picked Greg Hardy for the No. 3 spot in the best of the West!

2. Rolando McClain

McClain is coming off a great season, racking up 95 tackles, 48 being solo. McClain is a very good all-around player. He can be one of the best coverage linebackers in the SEC.

McClain can do it all, and in his freshman season with the Tide, he did many things. Some of them were 75 tackles, five tackles for loss, nine sacks, four pass breakups, three QB hurries, and two interceptions.

Rolando McClain will lead one of the nation's top linebacker corps into the '09 season with the expectation bar to be set very high!

1. Julio Jones

In his first season as a Crimson Tide player, Jones was nothing short of breathtaking! He made some plays Alabama had not seen in a long time! He brought the spirit back to the Tide in '08.

Jones was named to the All-SEC team in his first year as a player in the NCAA. That's a great accomplishment in any conference, but especially in the SEC with all the hard-nosed D!

In Jones' freshman season he caught 58 passes for a total of 924 yards, and he also recorded four TDs.

He will be the X-factor for Bama in '09. There is no doubt in my mind or anyone else's mind that Julio Jones and A.J. Green will within the next few years be favorites to win the Heisman, if not in '09!

Provided this information, I think I have fairly rated the SEC West and its players. I hope to do the same for the East if I have success with this article...so please comment and tell me how you feel about the players and where they are ranked.

Will Bama Be Bowling with the Trojans in Pasadena or Repeating '08?

Heath McGuff — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:19:32 -0400

It's clear that Alabama has one of the most storied franchise in the history of college football.

Many people often ask me what makes Alabama football so great? I reply championships and the bowl games.

Over the program's 112 year history, Alabama has the seventh most victories in Division I with 799, for a sixth best (.709) winning percentage.

The Tide has won 25 conference championships, (four Southern conference and 21 SEC championships) and has made an NCAA-record 56 postseason bowl appearances, which includes a record 31 victories.

Some other notable records include eight perfect seasons, 21 10-game win streaks, and is only second to the Oklahoma Sooners with 29 10–win seasons.

The program has six SEC West Division titles, which leads the West Division with six appearances in SEC Championship games.

Alabama currently holds a winning record against every SEC team!

Now that's saying something...

Let's look at what bowl's I would like to see Alabama in next season.

Rose bowl: The Rose bowl is the granddaddy of them all, this would be and exciting game to be playing in.

Knowing that USC is going to be a very good team this year I doubt they will be on there home court in Pasadena, or wherever the Rose Bowl will be held.

I would bet USC ends up in the BCS championship, that another story though.

But it would be awesome to see Alabama and USC face off on one of the most prestigious stages of them all!

This would be a very good game to see Alabama play in, in '09.

All state Sugar bowl: I don't think any Bama fan need be reminded of last years horrific finish!

We took an a** whipping in a dome which is pretty much in our back yard.

The Utah team came prepared to plead the case that not all non conference BCS teams are horrible, in fact they are becoming some of the best.

If Alabama played in the Sugar bowl I would like them to play some one from the ACC.

You can't have a bad game when the SEC faces the ACC.

Especially if it were some school like Florida State or Miami!

Any of the ACC teams would be a great matchup for Alabama. I LOVE to see the SEC vs ACC battles.

Fiesta bowl: This is one of my many favorite bowl games to watch.

Last year it was nothing short of spectacular. Texas and Ohio State took that game down to the wire!

I would like to see Alabama play a top notch school in this game, so maybe Penn state or West Virgina?

I like Bama the most when they are going up against very good teams where all the pressure is on the Tide!

Alabama plays great when on the verge of defeat.

when they were having to come form behind in the SEC championship they started to come back, but when the game was tied Bama struggled.

BCS Championship: I lied this is where I want to see Bama next season, I figure if we make this far we will be facing top notch school USC or the Big 12 power house Texas.

Whoeever we play I think we will win, I'm not being baised I have a lot of confidence in the Tide this year. Last season was a great season for our freshman and I think they will be looking to go all the way.

I would preferably like to see Alabama play USC just because they have the slightly better team over Texas.

Only time will tell who will be next years BCS champion but my money is riding on the SEC!

I think these are just a few games that would be intersting to see Alabama Crimson Tide to play in.

So what do you think would Alabama play well on any of these grand stages next season or would they get cold feet and lose miserably?

You tell me what you think would happen I gave you my input now you give yours.

Oregon Football: Three Ingredients to a Successful Season for the Ducks

Heath McGuff — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:02:48 -0400

Oregon looks to make some noise this season in the Pac-10. With Mike Bellotti taking the job as Athletic Director, Chip Kelly has taken over the Ducks and is looking to stay involved with the offense.

Last season Kelly transformed Jeremiah Masoli into a confident passer. Unlike 2007, when Chip Kelly was working with Dennis Dixon before his injury, Jeremiah will return for another year.

In '08 the Ducks went (10-3) overall and (7-2) in conference play. The only losses for the Ducks last year came to powerhouse USC, the Golden Bears of Cal, and Boise State.

Their receiving corps lost two starters but in the midst emerged Jamere Holland. Junior college transfer Lavasier Tuinei and Tyrece Gaines are also expected to help the Ducks next season.

For the Ducks to have a successful 2009 season, they will need significant contributions from three key positions.

3. Quarterback

Jereimah Mosli advanced from potential redshirt and the fifth quarterback in camp to a 10-game starter and the Pac-10’s third-most efficient passer—45th nationally in 2008! He has great talent coming from Junior college and being so efficient. Masoli is going to have to be consistent next season for the Ducks beat teams like USC and the California Golden Bears.

2. Safety

T.J. Ward, Oregon's leader in tackles (101), tied for fifth in the conference (7.8 avg.) as a first-year starter. He earned third-team (Phil Steele Publications) and honorable mention (coaches) Pacific-10 all-conference accolades.

Ward tied for second on the squad with eight pass breakups. His 5.5 tackles for loss were the second most by a defensive back! He made 10 or more tackles on four occasions, including a career-best 14 vs. Stanford. Ward also forced a pair of fumbles at California while recording 10 tackles! He also contributed 11 tackles against UCLA as well as 10 vs. Arizona.

I think it's clear why this guy is the second key to a lot of wins for Oregon.

1. Running back

LeGarrette Blount is the heart and soul of this Oregon Ducks team. He was the leading rusher last season on this Oregon team with 1,002 yards. LeGarrette is a big returning guy for Oregon, after flirting with the NFL in the off season, he was suspended for missing classes and workouts.

There is no doubt about it, Blount is a physical style running back that will lay down the wood. It will be interesting to see how this healthy team can do in the 2009-2010 season.

Overall

These are just a few players to mention. I was thinking about Casey Matthews, one of Oregon's best linebackers, or Walter Thurmond, who recorded five picks last season.

There is no doubt that other talented players on this team are worth mentioning, but these are the biggest.

I would love to hear what Duck fans have to say about next season and who will be the leader of the team?

Michael Jordan Created The Past And Derrick Rose Is Creating The Future

Heath McGuff — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:51:44 -0400

There is no doubt about it. Micheal Jordan was and is the greatest of all time.

He electrified Bulls' fans with his amazing hops and extraordinary dunks. He was the master of ball.

He was the idol all youngsters looked up to. He was the one individual every person who played basketball wanted to be like.

Micheal Jordan has six championships rings. Many say if he had not retired he could have led the Bulls to possibly seven straight NBA championships.

He was the LeBron James of the 80's, the poster boy all the company's wanted to have. He was the best thing the world had seen and they where in shock. Some even refused to believe he was really that good.

Some said he was overrated, some said he was too good to be true.

Michael Jordan caused all kind of problems for other teams, so at one point in his career other teams started to use the " Jordan rules". A set of rules the "Bad Boys'' used to guard Jordan.

Since they could not guard him, they started to just foul him almost every time he touched the ball. They would almost use a whole team to make sure Jordan did not get to the hoop.

He made the game so much better and more fun to watch. He just played the game with such great ease.

I was not around when Jordan was playing, but I have looked into his career and watched all the games of him I could.

Michael Jordan ruled the Bulls. He was the most dominate player to play the game.

MJ is now a living legend and will always be remembered by his great D and all his great shots over some of the best players.

Jordan played in a era where hand checking was legal. I think Jordan is and will forever be in his own league. MJ left a great legacy in the past and, for Bulls' fans, it is just now being picked up by point-guard Derrick Rose.

I like to watch Rose tease players with his sick cross over. He dribbles the ball out in front of him to make the ball appear to be in close enough range to swipe at it. Then before you look up he just blew by you and laid it up!

D—Rose is a different type of point guard. Often analysts compare his style of play and body type to that of Utah's Deron Williams. I think of D—Rose as the type of guy that is big, strong and at the same time has a soft touch.

He is unlike Deron Williams because of his supporting cast. D—Rose does not have a "great" team behind him. Deron Williams has Boozer, Okur just to name a few.

D—Rose has to go out in the playoffs then average 14 something points and a few assists or they will lose.

Derrick Rose is the beginning of a new legacy. One that I think will be remembered by many exciting plays like that of the Jordan era....

I see D—Rose doing many things for the Chicago Bulls down the road. In a few years I think D—Rose can be in his own league of point guards.

I think he will be one of the toughest point guards in the NBA to guard because his body allows him to take it to the hole against bigger defenders while also being able to knock down that smooth jump shot.

Michael Jordan created a legacy that will never be forgotten by Bull's fans. D—Rose is just beginning to help everyone see that he is picking up right were Jordan left off.

What do you think: is Derrick Rose ever going to be able to fill Michael Jordan's shoes in Chicago or will he just be there to help contribute to the storied past?

100 Reasons Why Colt McCoy Is Better Than Florida's God, Tebow!

Heath McGuff — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:06:24 -0400

Tim Tebow is arguably the best quarterback in Florida history...

He was the one of the very few to every win the Heisman trophy his sophomore season. Tebow has been a crucial part of three national championship teams, and has started in two of those games.

The only game he did not start he was the x-factor of the game. He was used for decoys, short yardage plays, etc.

But don't forget last season when the Rebels spoiled your season, when they beat you on your home field!

Last season Junior QB Colt McCoy led the Texas Longhorns on a great adventure that ended in the dumps. McCoy was just on a different level last season, most would say.

He faced some of the biggest losses of his career, one against in-state rival Texas Tech. He was very close the whole year in the race for the Heisman trophy.

I just want to compare a few things between these two players.

Completed passes and attempted passes

Tim Tebow: 192-298

Colt McCoy: 332-433

* Colt McCoy had over 140 more completed passes than Tebow.

Passing yards

Tim Tebow: 2,746

Colt McCoy: 3,859

*Colt McCoy had 1,113 more passing yards than Tebow last season.

Completion percentage

Tim Tebow: 64.4%

Colt McCoy: 76.7%

* Colt McCoy completed 12.3% more passes than Tebow.

Yards per catch

Tim Tebow: 9.22

Colt McCoy: 8.91

* Tebow had .31% better yards per catch average that McCoy.

Touchdowns

Tim Tebow: 42

Colt McCoy: 44

* McCoy had two more touchdowns than Tebow.

QB rating

Tim Tebow: 172.4

Colt McCoy: 173.8

* McCoy had a 1.4 better passer rating than Tebow last season.

Career passing yards as a starter

Tim Tebow: 6,032(2 seasons as starter)

Colt McCoy 9,732(3 seasons as a starter)

* McCoy has 3,700 more yards than Tebow in his career.

Career touchdowns as a starter

Tim Tebow: 97

Colt McCoy: 101

* McCoy has four more touchdowns than Tebow in his career.

I think this is enough to state my case Colt McCoy has been over looked for to long, while Tebow is like god to Gainesville.

All the fans worship him like he is something so great or the next best thing since Michael Jordan.

Wake up Florida!!! No matter how many championships Tebow has, Colt McCoy is still better than him.

McCoy is just better, period. He has more experience than Tebow, more wins than Tebow, probably more everything!!!

So next season you will probably be facing Colt in the BCS championship since your team has God (Tim Tebow).

Good luck to your Gators next season because Colt McCoy is rising to the top!

National Forecast: Five Players That Show USC Is the Best Team Hands Down

Heath McGuff — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:49:43 -0400

The Carroll streak of seven consecutive years of 11-plus victories, Pac-10 titles, and BCS bowl bids may be at risk this year with all the changes going on around USC.

With the new offensive coordinator John Morton, defensive coordinator Rocky Seto, and the new flashy quarterback in Aaron Corp, it will be a lot different this year for Pete Carroll and the staff at USC.

My take on the situation is simple: USC will still dominate the collegiate world.

Last season the Trojans were first in both defensive scoring with (9.0) ppg, and passing holding opponents to under 140 yards per game.

The Trojans also ranked second in the nation in total defense with (221.8) total yards per game.

As you can see last season the Trojans were know for their outstanding defensive unit. This year I think it will be a little different.

I have five key players that will make this USC squad the team to beat:

Joe McKnight

I think McKnight will be one of the best premiere backs that USC will use in the 2009-10 season. He can light up the scoreboard in a hurry with his unique running style and fancy footwork. He will be one of the top scorers for this Trojan team. Joe McKnight only had 89 carries for 659 yards and averaged seven yards per carry last season.

Taylor Mays

This two-time All-American safety Taylor Mays will have the role of leading one of the best Carroll has ever had. Mays is one of a few returning leaders.

Last season, Mays recorded 53 tackles, 38 solo. He is a tremendous athlete with raw ability. I'm putting my money on this guy next season to make some of the biggest plays on this USC defense. If this guy does not show up the secondary will look like the Cleveland Cavaliers without LeBron James.

Damian Williams

He is one of the most talented wideouts in the Pac-10 in my opinion. He made some jaw-dropping catches last season. He was limited in the Rose Bowl due to a shoulder injury.

Jones was the leading receiver last season with 58 receptions, 869 yards and 9 TDs. He was the biggest target last season for Trojan QB Mark Sanchez. Williams stands 6'1", 190-pounds so its not a problem for him to catch the fade ball or any other ball for that matter.

Notable mention is that Williams played in the SEC before transferring to USC. The SEC is known for their physical defense, so being physical is not a problem for Damian Williams.

Everson Griffen

He's powerfully built at 6'3", 265 pounds, but he runs like a tailback. He's been clocked under 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He is one of those guys who just loves to hit people and is not scared of anyone. He had this to say last season after a harsh hit on Oregon State quarterback:

"I don't know how to explain it, because it's the greatest feeling in the world. When you're coming off the edge and the quarterback doesn't see you, it's like a free shot to heaven."

I think it's clear why this guy recorded (4.5) sacks last season.

Stafon Johnson

I almost left this monster out! I was so caught up in McKnight I forgot about the leading rusher on the USC team. Stafon Johnson rushed for 705 yards on 138 carries, with 9 TDs. Stafon is a very physical running back with that killer instinct. He comes to play every game like it was his last.

I think the talented running backs in Stafon Johnson, Joe McKinght, and C.J. Gable—each of whom could start for almost any NCAA team—are going to light up the scoreboard this season.

These are a few national players who I think are going to contribute a ton to this USC team this season.

I would love to hear who you might like to see help this USC team to another BCS berth. If you feel I left out some key player please inform me. I will be looking forward to hearing all feedback: good or bad.

Calling All Saban Haters: Nick Saban Is a Better Coach Than Les Miles, Period

Heath McGuff — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:05:14 -0400

Of late I find myself often reading articles on B/R about how LSU is now Les Miles' team.

One writer on Bleacher Report had this to say: "LSU has officially begun the Les Miles years.

"What I mean by that is the very last few players on Les Miles' team that Nick Saban recruited are gone."

We all know that Nick Saban is a great coach and that he never had any negative feelings toward Miles and his LSU team, but they seemed to have a lot against him.

When Alabama arrived in LSU last season, they were happily greeted by a giant billboard with some harsh feelings expressed toward Saban and his team.

Why Les Miles would allow this to happen, I have no idea.

So my thought would be he felt just as his team felt, and that feeling I think was this.

They thought Nick Saban had left LSU and ran to Alabama and they felt betrayed!

Well, LSU fans, if you did not notice, he was an NFL coach for a year before being interviewed by any Alabama coach...

So why are y'all still mad?

I don't know the answer to this, and I doubt you do either.

I thought the problem was resolved after last season when the Tide went into Baton Rouge and defeated LSU and Miles, but I guessed wrong.

This only fueled the Tigers and their coach, and it has been just as much of a battle as before.

Last season was just one in which I'm sure will be a heated rivalry as long as Saban is coach at Alabama.

I just wanted to compare these two coaches and see what we get.

Les Miles' accomplishments

Record as a head coach: 70-31

Championships: One National Championship (2007), one SEC championship (2007), two SEC Western Division Championships (2005 and 2007)

Has held coaching jobs with seven different teams.

Nick Saban's accomplishments

Record as a head coach: 110-50 (That's 40 more wins than Miles!)

Championships: One National Championship (2003 with LSU), two SEC Championships, four SEC Western Division Championships (2001-03, 2008) (That's two more division championships than Les Miles has.)

Awards: 2003 AP Coach of the Year, 2008 AP Coach of the Year, 2003 Paul "Bear" Bryant Award, 2003 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, 2008 SEC Coach of the Year (AP, Sporting News, and SEC coaches), 2008 Home Depot Coach of the Year, 2008 Walter Camp Coach of the Year, 2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year, 2008 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.

Has held coaching jobs with 14 different teams.

Well, if I were an LS-WHO fan, I might think to myself, "Why are we mad at Nick Saban? He has the better résumé and is overall the better coach!"

If I were an LS-WHO fan, I would feel dumb for last season putting up a billboard with such nonsense about Saban!

The last thing I would do if I were an LS-WHO fan is throw out the purple and yellow and rep the Red and white of the Alabama Crimson Tide, baby!

I could go on all day about how Alabama is going to be an overall better team than LSU, but I think I have gotten my point across.

Nick Saban is the better coach.

If you want to argue Les Miles' case, the comment board is open for discussion all day and night!

Stephen Curry: Available at Pick No. 12?

Heath McGuff — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:44:15 -0400

Don't give you hopes up just yet Bobcats fans.

Yep, that's right Charlotte might have a shot at Davidson guard Stephen Curry.

Stephen Curry was back in his hometown of Charlotte June 4th taking shots in the practice gym, with his father courtside.

The practice gym is only a few miles away from where he grew up and about 30 minutes from where he was a college star at Davidson.

The Davidson guard netted an amazing 414 three-point shots in three seasons with the Davidson Wildcats.

Also, Brown and other coach's dismissed the regards of him being too scrawny to play a 82 game schedule in the NBA.

Coach Brown was also impressed with how quickly Davidson guard Stephen Curry picked up concepts on offense and defense that he introduced during workouts.

Curry said this after the workout, “I have a great IQ for the game. The terminology, picking up things and the footwork, things like that, I can pick it up pretty easily. That’s going to make me a better player down the road.”

These are the signs of a very confident player.

He thinks wherever he may go he can make a positive impact in his first season.

After his workout with the Bobcats he also said, “If I could be picky, yeah, it would be nice to have that kind of setting: Madison Square Garden.

I wouldn’t mind being home here in Charlotte or anywhere else. New York would be fun with the legacy up there, trying to turn that team around.”

He also made it clear to everyone that playing for New York Knicks and coach Mike D’Antoni’s fast-paced offense is his top choice.

Many people also doubt that he will be around for the No. 12 overall pick which the Bobcats have, with his performance in the combine and his great perimeter shot.

So if the Bobcats don't acquire Stephen Curry then who will they draft?

Well, the Bobcats have shown interest in Pittsburgh's big man Dejaun Blair.

He would be a great compliment to Boris Diaw and the other post players of the Charlotte Bobcats. Who ever Coach Brown and the Bobcats decide on I think that they can come in an immediately make a impact on this franchise.

I would like to hear all your regards to how you feel about Stephen Curry coming to the Bobcats as well as Dejaun Blair.

Do you think either one would be a good fit for this team?

Planning For The Future Part 1: Derrick Rose Special

Heath McGuff — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:06:05 -0400

Does LeBron James actually think he is the only player to have witnesses? Well if he does then he is sadly mistaken.

D-Rose is one of the most unique players to watch. When I watch him I often find my self drooling over his style of play and how smooth his game is. I even bet you do this as well.

As a sports fan I pick up on little things like attitude and body motion and things like that. When I watch Derrick Rose he keeps his composer no matter what obstacle is thrown at him.

In Game Seven of the Bulls vs Celtics series, D-Rose could have lost it and walked off the court with out congratulating the Celtics...Sound familiar? Well he did not do this despite playing well, he congratulated the better team.

Despite Rose's efforts, the Bulls still lost the series, even after a Game Six performance where he packed the perennially All-Star Paul Pierce to force a Game Seven. He shot the ball well and made some great passes against last year's defending champions the Boston Celtics.

I'm now going to explain why rebuilding for the future starts with Rose.

Number one, D-Rose can score just as many points as any NBA point guard and will out hustle any point guard in the league! He will dive for a loose ball and also is not selfish like superstar Ben Gordon of the Bulls. He is willing to score zero points as long as his team comes away with a victory.

The second reason D-Rose is the place to start is this, he played some of his best basketball in his caree rin the playoffs—this says a lot of things.

First, it says he is more than NBA ready he is already on his way to becoming a superstar.

Second, it says he is consistent and did not show any sings of fatigue while having to play a seven game series against one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.

Third, this says no matter what he is going to score, and you are not going to stop him!

D-Rose scored an amazing 227 points in seven games, along with 45 assists and 44 rebounds—let's remember that he is a point-guard now.

The closest person to these stats as a rookie last season was Michael Beasley, he also played seven games, but only had 143 points, 51 rebounds, and seven assist. If you compare them its not even fair to Beasley!

The third reason Rose is the place to build for the future is simple: He was a guy the Bulls look too in his first season as a player.

Thats says a lot for a rookie to come in and dominate like Rose did. He also was the leader of this young bulls team.

They had a first year starter in D-Rose a second year starter in Joakim Noah and a third year starter in Tyrus Thomas!

I know that does not sound that amazing, but come on they played really well, you have to give them that.

Let's not forget that D-Rose won the NBA's Rookie of the Year award. If you watch or listen to Bulls basketball, did you ever notice Rose comes off the bench last?

Well if you didn't then you do know. This was something a legend at the Bulls first did, his name was Michael Jordan.

The fourth reason why D-Rose is the future of this program is this, he is a player like no other. He plays the game so smooth and made one of the best transition to the NBA than anyone has in a while.

His skills can only progress form here. His jump shot is mechanically good and he does not have a problem getting his shot off over defenders since he stands 6'3" tall and weighs 190 pounds.

He can drive to the hoop with great success and often drawing the foul or the double team. He shoots a great percentage from the charity stripe (.800), and he also made two clutch free throws enroute of them winning Game One or Two—I'm not sure which one.

The fifth and final reason D-Rose is the future of the Bulls is this: he is a young versatile player, who can run in transition and make easy baskets.

He can spot up and knock down that 15-foot jumper he has the ability to drive the ball and either finish with a dunk, draw the foul, or dish the ball out to the perimeter players who can nail a 3-pointer.

Rose is going to be the best weapon the Bulls are going to have next season along with Miller and Noah.

The Bulls are going to have a legit shot at making it further in the playoffs than they did last season, mainly because D-Rose is going to mature a tremendous amount in the offseason and his jump shot is going to be a great weapon at his disposal along with his array of dribbling skills that we saw last year during the all-star weekend when he won that competition.

I liked to refer to the Chicago Bulls as the "baby Bulls" last season, this season I see this team coming together and putting a whipping on the teams in the Eastern conference.

I think the Bulls are going to be one of those teams to keep a close eye on late in the season as they try to make a run for a championship.

With all the mismatches they could possibly create with Tyrus Thomas and John Salmons, I can see this team advancing far into the playoffs next season maybe into the finals if they play as a "team."

I would love to hear what you have to say and think about who or what is the next piece of the puzzle for the bulls? Is it a player a coach or is it a mental thing? Give me all the feedback good or bad.

The Crimson Legacy: Eli Gold and Bear Byant Define Alabama Football

Heath McGuff — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:42:52 -0400

We all heard the legends as young boys growing up, about how good a coach Bear Bryant was.

We never knew how or why he was so good, we just knew he was a legend. Now a days when I look back and read articles about Bryant, I get chill bumps because he was not just a great coach he was a great man.

Now a days when young boys hear Bryant's name, they think of 12 national championships, 13 conference championships and his 25 year tenure as Alabama's head coach.

There is no doubt about it he was a hard-nose type coach who demanded the best out of all his players.

He would not tolerate any type of disrespect towards himself or let the players disrespect each other. One of his famous lines was: "If you don't have discipline, you can't have a successful program."

He was a living legend in his last years as Alabama's head coach. He accomplished many things at the University of Alabama and instilled a tradition that lives on in him today and that's Alabama football.

Another great thing Bryant accomplished during his legacy at Alabama was this: During his career as Tide head coach, there was much racial segregation, Bryant did not believe in this and often stood up for African-Americans.

For years, Bryant defended charges of racism by saying the social climate didn't allow him to go after black players. He finally was able to convince the administration to allow him to do it after scheduling the Tide's 1970 season opener against a strong University of Southern California team led by African-American fullback Sam Cunningham.

By 1973, one-third of the team's starters were African-American.

Now that we have taken a look at the past, let's look at someone who has made a lasting impression on Alabama football today.

His name is Eli Gold, he has been a sports broadcaster for years. In 2003 he joined the Sports USA Radio Network as a play-by-play announcer for NFL and college football games.

He has received many awards over the years, with one of the most impressive being named a four-time "Alabama sportscaster of the year."

For years, Gold has changed my view of Alabama Crimson Tide football. When I watch Alabama football, I turn off the volume of the TV and turn on the radio to hear Gold's play-by-play.

He will truly be missed by many when he retires soon, and I'm sure others will love to see him go.

I just can't wait to hear him next season, he electrifies the game with his great sayings and peculiar ways to phrase things.

I think Bryant and Gold have made their marks on Alabama football and created the start of a legacy forever to be remembered.

A Crimson Special: A Breakdown of the Crimson Tide

Heath McGuff — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:56:15 -0400

Alabama football, what a great tradition it has been over the many years. Last season was a remarkable one for Bama fans, as we got to experience one of the SEC's best wide receivers do his thing.

We were able to see a mixture of promising running backs as well. Ingram started off his first season with the Crimson Tide strong. He showed some great qualities a back in the SEC must have to be "great."

I'm hopeful that all true Bama fans have seen or heard of the truly amazing freshman from Pensacola's Escambia High School. He was remarkable, talented, and showed off many skills. Richardson said earlier this summer:"I'm real excited, ready to go."

I truly can't wait to see this amazing athlete work his wonders. I have my doubts about Richardson, as well. He says he will remain confident and not get a big head—that he is just going to be himself.

Richardson did rack up some amazing stats during his '08-'09 season. He had 2,090 yards on 225 carries, averaged almost 9.3 yards a carry, and had 26 touchdowns on the season.

There are more athletes like him to take into consideration, but I'm trying to concentrate on the ones who will most likely make an impact next season.

Now let's move on to the quarterback of this team next season.

The 6'2", 220 pond quarterback Greg McElory could be a great team leader and spirit lifter this season for the Tide. He has served as John Parker Wilson's back up the past two season.

Although, as a high school senior in Southlake, Texas he racked up 4,687 yards with 56 touchdowns and only nine interceptions in his one year as a starter.

Let me also mention he palyed behind the 2004 National High School Player of the year, Chase Daniels, who went on to start for Missouri.

McElory had a good attitude going into the spring saying, "I'm ready to go. I'm taking my cleats home right now and getting ready to prepare this spring and prepare myself accordingly to lead this team and get us back to where we were this year."

On the defensive side of the ball, big man Terrance Cody is a beast.

I think this name speaks for itself. He is like a crimson blob on that field when those lights come on at Bryant Denny Stadium.

He electrifies the whole team when he makes a big play and chest bumps the little safeties to the ground. He stands 6'5" and a incredible 365 pounds. Although Alabama only uses this man when there is a threat in the running game, he recorded a amazing 31 tackles and 3.5 sacks last season.

I think he will be a great player for Nick Saban next season and the Tide's 3-4 defense. He is also suspected a first-round draft pick in the 2010 NFL draft.

Don’ta Hightower, a well-rounded linebacker, will also be a crucial part of this Alabama defensive unit next season.

Hightower was Class 3A Mr. Football in Tennessee and collected many other awards and was selected to many award teams.

The final piece of this Alabama Crimson Tide football team is none other than the electric wide receiver, Julio Jones.

Jones had an amazing freshman season with the Tide, and I don't even know where to start with this guy! He is one of those players that can make one play and change the impact of the entire game in a few seconds.

He never caught over 10 balls in a single game last season and still manged to rack up 924 yards on 58 receptions. Let me also state that I was informed that he had some slightly strained groin muscles, which contributed to his lack of receptions.

I'm also tired of hearing "Julio Jones is overrated. He did not show up big in the SEC championship game!" Man go look up your stats! Julio Jones caught five balls and had his second highest receiving game with 124 yards.

Yes, against Utah Julio did not have a great game, but he was drawing double coverage, so he was mainly a decoy and by then his groin strain had worsened.

Julio Jones is a great player and athlete. He contributed to the Tide a ton last season and will continue to his entire career at Alabama.

From the looks of the Tide's spring game, I would expect to see more of the fade balls thrown his way, and I'm sure his numbers will improve drastically.

For an overall team, I just hope that our offensive line can hold up and stay healthy this season. With key losses, like Antoine Caldwell and Andre Smith, the offensive line may be a little weak, but I believe in the Tide and I know they will be great next season.

I also have concerns on the special teams part—they play a crucial part on a football team. One mistake on a specialty play, and the whole game can change.

I know Javier Arenas will show up for the kickoffs and punts. He will also be a key player, I just feel he is more of a "Once in a while play maker," and not an every down type guy.

I hope the Tide can pull together and find those special keys like they did last year. But this year I will be looking for them to go all the way. I think I have listed some of the most important players for next season. I would like to hear anything you have to say, good or bad. Do you think someone else plays a big part on this Alabama team that I left out?

Let me know what you have to say.

Kobe Bryant Will Not Be Denied a Title

Heath McGuff — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:08:38 -0400

This will be one of many articles I hope to write during the NBA finals.

Don't call me a hypocrite for writing a article about why the Magic will win and then saying Kobe will not be denied a title.

I have neither purple and gold glasses on or white and blue, I'm just a fan of them both.

This one just happens to be about Kobe Bryant and his LA Lakers. Kobe Bryant said this after he and his team defeated the Nuggets in Game Five:

"I've been waiting for this moment for a while."

You can interpret this how ever you please, but I take this in two different contexts.

The first is "I, Kobe Bryant, want another ring period!"

The second being, "Let me show all these dumb ass idiots that I can win a ring with out Shaq! Then when I do this, I will make a damn rap about Shaq and all the people who think I'm not capable of winning without that old man."

Now if Kobe did this, I would not be surprised—but I highly doubt he bring himself down to that level.

Now that I have said what I personally need to say lets get on with the article.

The first reason why Kobe Bryant will not be stopped is because of his killer instinct. He has that thing about him where he just knows when it is time to take his game to the next level.

The second reason why Kobe will not be stopped is because late in the game he can trust on his teams defense to make stops, so then that takes some pressure off him in close games where he does not have to do all the scoring himself.

The third reason why Kobe will not be stopped is because in close games his team will almost always find some way to pull out a victory. I think with a leader like Bryant on your team, he does most of the coaching in close, late games, and gives the Lakers that extra surge to beat teams in late close games.

The fourth reason why Kobe will not be stopped is his game is on another level than everyone else on the court, at all times! The best thing about Bryant's game is he is always looking to make that extra pass, but on the other hand he can almost always score at will.

The fifth and final reason is simple—Bryant is the best player to play the game since Michael Jordan and a few others. He can lead probably any team into the NBA finals and have a positive result. He has experience and a team.

I don't see any way the Magic can account for Kobe this entire series. I think Kobe will come out hot and ready in game one of the NBA finals. He most certainly will be ready to pass and defend.

I still think Kobe can not do it all by himself. So I'm still saying the Magic in five to six games, but just know Kobe Bryant can almost taste the blood of another title. I don't see any way in the world how Kobe will be denied another NBA title if he comes out at least the first three games and puts up his usual numbers and dominates the Magic...

You can think what you want too Magic and Laker fans—but hold on tightm because neither team is going down without a fight. It will be a great series to watch, and I can't wait to see what happens win it is all said and done.

So you decide—who will win the series? Will the Black Mamba capture a title without the presence of Shaq, or will Superman crush his hopes and win his first ever NBA championship? Let me know what you think about Kobe and his dreams!

Lakers: Six Reasons Why They Will Lose in the Finals

Heath McGuff — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:03:40 -0400

We all know the difference between the Lakers and Magic—the Magic are just better!

But not all of us think the Lakers are going to lose. As a matter of fact, I can almost bet half the people on B/R want the Lakers to win.

I, personally, don't care who wins the Finals. I do think the Lakers are going to lose, though. This opinion is based on how good the Magic are, how bad the Lakers are against the Magic, and how bad the Lakers start off in important series like this.

Going into the Nuggets series, I think the Lakers did the same thing they did against the Houston Rockets—thinking they already won the series! The Lakers came out and played well in Game One of both series, only to let the other team even up the series by winning Game Two.

I would look for this same thing to happen in the Finals. I look for the Lakers to come out and put the Magic away in Game One as they often do. But the difference in this series is that the Magic are going to fight back.

The Magic tend to play just as well at home as they have away. This is the first reason I believe that the Magic win the series. The Magic might have beaten the Cavs in five games if LeBron James had not hit that amazing shot, evening the series at one a piece.

The second reason—Kobe Bryant is going to be so tired that he will not keep up with the Magic, he'll be running up and down all night. The Magic will frustrate Kobe early, with their money shooting, and Howard's defensive presence in the paint.

In the Denver series, 'Melo played on and off, like he tends to do. If he had not, the series would have turned out completely different. Rashard Lewis is the 'Melo of this series, but he almost never has a bad game. He is always calling for the ball, and consistently comes through when it's needed most...

The third reason is Hedo Turkoglu is a huge mismatch against the Lakers. Who are they going to put on him? Trevor Ariza? This would be great for the Magic, because then the Magic swing the ball around the perimeter and find open threes all game long!

So, with Ariza on Hedo, that puts Bryant on Rashard. This way, Rashard can just go to work and wear down Kobe so that he will not be as effective on the offensive side of the ball.

The fourth reason—Lamar Odom is a no-show! He comes to one game all hyped up, then the next he comes looking like a slug. Lamar Odom might just be one of the key reasons why the Lakers are going to lose.

He is lazy on defense and, most of the time, he is not aggressive on offense. Maybe he just ran out of candy in the beginning of the Nuggets series, or he did not feel like showing up. But for whatever reason, he was not effective until Game Five.

If the rumors are indeed correct, the Magic will have another weapon at their disposal in Jameer Nelson. Jameer might be checking in late and hitting a big shot, giving the Magic all the momentum. Rafer Alston is a great guy to have as well, and there is no way that Fisher is going to be able to contest his shot, and chase him all this series.

The fifth reason the Lakers lose is because Dwight Howard is going to kill the Lakers' big men. There is no way that Pau or Bynum are going to be able to guard Howard!

If Howard plays like he did in the Cleveland series, he will score at will—and often. He can run the floor faster than the Lakers' post players, and he is most effective when he is going right at the basket. He is going to get the Lakers into early foul trouble, Pao or Bynum will go to the bench, and that's when the Magic will take over.

The sixth reason the Magic will win is because they are a second-half team. No matter how they do in the first half, they come out in the second and dominate the boards, and light up the scoreboard!

Rashard Lewis is a second-half type guy who scores most of his points in the second and third period. He will be a big factor for the Magic, and I see no way the Lakers can account for all the weapons the Magic have in their arsenal!

During the regular season, the Magic won both of the matchups, despite Bryant having, at the time, a season-high 41 points, and making all 11 of his free throws. Then, the next meeting, Fisher scores 27 points along with four assists—and they still lose?

This just shows that Bryant can't do it all by himself like he did in the Denver series, and if Bryant does not do well, they still lose!

Fact of the matter is, the Magic are just plain better than the Lakers. They are playing better, they are doing better as a team, they have more mismatches, and they are just the better team.

Don't get me wrong about this article. Kobe Bryant is a great player, but we saw this last year, too; the Lakers are just not ready to play when it comes to the NBA Finals. I would love to see Phil or Kobe capture another ring, but this is not their year.

So my prediction for the NBA Finals—the Magic win the series in five games, and Dwight Howard walks away as the Finals MVP!

Charlotte Bobcats: Five Free Agents That Could Make Them a Contender

Heath McGuff — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:43:35 -0400

Well let me just say this: The Charlotte Bobcats are one hell of a team.

Gerald Wallace is a great teammate and a great player. He has an authentic basketball style and his jump shooting is not bad either. He is a key leader on this Charlotte team.

They have great players and a great coach in Larry Brown. He, as a coach himself, has had some huge turnarounds in his NBA career.

When he took over the Detroit Pistons in the 2004-05 season, he turned them into a championship-caliber team.

When Brown took over, the team's previous season record was 50-32. The next season, Brown led the Pistons to the NBA Championship with a overall record of 54-28.

But don't get me wrong, Brown also has had his ups and downs like all coaches. In the 2005-06 season, he took over the New York Knicks and finished 23-59. He was fired after one season with the Kicks.

Now to the top-five free agents the Bobcats could acquire to make them a "great" team.

Josh Howard: Howard is a strong, physical guard who can put the ball on the floor, and he has great range as well. Howard would be a great all-around swingman to assist Wallace. These two on the same court could cause several matchups that would favor the Bobcats. Howard is also a great finisher and an electrifying player. I think this would also be a crucial pick up for the Bobcats.
Allen Iverson: A.I. is one of the best at drawing fouls and penetrating from the perimeter. I think with a guy like Iverson on a team where Felton is the best ball handler, Iverson could do some great things for Charlotte. Also, I think Iverson has always had to be the one to step up in crunch time, and with Wallace on this team, I would think he is the late go-to man. Iverson would play well with Wallace.
Jamal Crawford: Crawford would be another good fit for the Bobcats. He's a versatile wing man who can shoot, find space in a defense and also defend well. I think Crawford could add a little intensity to a team like the Bobcats. Jamal has also been known to take shots early in the shot clock. I think with this team, though, he would have many chances to touch the ball and contribute to the offense.
Ron Artest: Wow! I don't think I have to say much about this guy. He is a straight-up die-hard player. He can lock down an offensive threat, he can handle the ball well, he can shoot over someone. He can do it all! I think for Charlotte to land him, it would take a lot, but man if he came to the Bobcats they would be a power house. Artest is a player who is humble, who is all about winning and at the same time a leader. He and Wallace are similar in their ways, but Artest is one of the all-time best.
Al Harrington: Harrington to me is a great player. He is one of those non-traditional power forwards. He can step out and knock down those easy jump shots, or he can put one of those low-post moves on you. That's why I think he is one of the league's premier power forwards. He is a tremendous rebounder and and has a ton of putbacks each game. I think he would be a great land for the Bobcats. He is a great all-around player and will do what is asked of him and then some more.

These are just a few players that could contribute to the Bobcats in my opinion, if you can think of some more, or if you think some of these would not make a good fit for the Bobcats let me know. I think with one of these players, the Bobcats could potentially be a good contender next season.

The Baby Bulls: Can Vinny Del Negro Return Them to an Elite Francise?

Heath McGuff — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:31:19 -0400

You may be thinking "baby bulls"? Come on. I know, I know the bulls made it to the playoffs, but then what happened?

Coaching:

Has anyone ever questioned the coaching of Vinny Del Negro? Well I have. I feel during their epic battle with the Celtics, Vinny did a poor job in my opinion of rallying the Bulls when the Celtics were getting all the breaks.

Let me further explain my self, when Ray Allen hit those unbelievable shots to push the Celtics past the Bulls, I thought Del Negro did not do a good job of keeping the Bulls' spirits high.

At least I thought there was a lack of focus a few times. I saw Rose commit numerous turnovers and Gordon was playing out of control. Salmons made a few mental errors and the post did not get many second chance opportunities for the Bulls. Tyrus Thomas was settling for the jump shot and not attacking the hoop. They just seemed to not be focused. This is where I'm deriving the term "baby bulls."

I know they have truly amazing talent on both ends of the floor, and they are extremely young with the exception of Gordon in that starting lineup.

So coaching was a reason I think they did not make a very great run in the finals.

I don't see this happening again next season. I think that Vinny Del Negro is also a "baby bull" to the NBA. He was a man hired to a team in desperate need of a savior.

When Vinny took over he said this, "My efforts are going to be geared specifically toward getting the best out of each player – whatever their particular strengths may be that make them most successful,"

He made a few key trades to bring Brad Miller and John Salmons to Chicago. He sent Andres Nocioni and Drew Gooden to the Kings.

The Bulls were plagued with injuries during their playoff run which caused some problems with their lineup. These are a few reasons why I think they did not make it far in the playoffs.

Attitude:

The bulls have had a problem with attitude over the years, mainly concerning their rookies. They had problems coming from Joakim Noah in practice when he was a rookie.

There were concerns with Rose after winning the rookie of the year award, as he only said a few words when receiving that award. Many fans question the demeanor of Rose while addressing the media, in my opinion he is just a humble, and gracious guy.

Who is the leader of this team? I'm not sure i can answer this question directly because I did not see a leader on the Bulls team last season.

Overall team:

Now I think the Bulls are going to have one of the best lineups in the NBA next season. They have some of the most versatile athletes in John Salmons, Tyrus Thomas and Ben Gordon.

Thomas is the big, tall, man that can put the ball on the floor and find his shot. Salmons is a guy who can dribble, pass, and also shoot the ball well. Gordon can can do it all too.

I know the Bulls are looking into maybe keeping Gordon, but if he wants to go I say let him go. There are many superstars whose contracts will be expiring soon and others that I think bring about interest. Kyle Korver, DeShawn Stevenson, and Lamar Odom are players that I find have a lot of promise and interest me.

Overall the Bulls are going to be a great team no matter what happens with the free agent deal. I also feel the "baby bulls" will have matured more in the off season and the team chemistry will be better.

I see a bright future for this young, talented team. Many great things will come Chicago's way in the next few years.

Championship Run:

I think the Bulls will not be denied a playoff birth next season, they will be one of those teams that just creates difficult mis-matches. The bulls will keep maturing and find a way to defend better.

The young starters will confide in each other this off season and find a way to grow as a team, look for them to come out next season and be ready to return this franchise where it belongs: among the elite.

To conclude, I would just like to say this, the Bulls are a team that will be kept under close watch by many. They will be a force to reckon with in the next few years.

I see this team returning among the elite teams in no time, and returning to the playoffs next season with the mind set to win it all. They have great talent and great players, they have what it takes to win a golden ball and I'm sure it will happen soon.