Bleacher Report - Articles by L.C. May

SEC Breakdown 2009: How Will LSU Fare This Season?

L.C. May — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:57:28 -0400

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. So, how is Les Miles and the LSU Tigers going to fare this coming season?

One of the main things people watched for in LSU this year was recruiting. Well, if you're an LSU fan, then you became quite happy after this past recruiting season. Les Miles and his coaching staff were able to recruit players like Russell Sheppard, Rueben Randle, Craig Loston, Chris Davenport, and Michael Ford. Most of these recruits should make an impact this year.

In the quarterback position LSU had a few troubles. Jordon Jefferson did a fantastic job at quarterback, but unfortunately, LSU did not put him in until their bowl game.

This year LSU will not have a problem at quarterback simply because they have two options, and they are both pretty good ones.

The first is to let Jordon Jefferson start, and the second is to let Russell Shepard start. Despite the quick moves of Shepard, the best choice should most likely be Jefferson.

Not only does he now have experience, but all LSU fans trust him because they have seen him play in a college football game. This is probably unlikely, but LSU might decide to have a duo at the quarterback position. Whatever LSU chooses to do, they will be a very powerful team quarterback wise.

As for the rest of the offense, LSU is looking pretty good.

They have a strong wide receiver core, including incoming freshmen such as Reuben Randle. LSU's running back system is a go because of speedy Trindon Holiday. The offensive line is the only thing that people should worry about—especially when the offensive line leads your team.

Most of LSU's offensive line are incoming freshmen or inexperienced sophomores. Most of LSU's strong linemen have left or graduated. I have a feeling that they will not be the worst offensive line in the SEC—just the most inexperienced.

On the defensive side of the ball, LSU not only has some very strong incoming freshmen, they have experienced players. LSU's defense should be one of the best in the SEC. Players that will most likely play in the 2009 season for LSU on defense are Jacob Cutera, Johnathon Nixon, Zack Elkins, and many others.

On special teams, LSU lost Colt David, which was arguably one of the best kickers in LSU history. They will be just fine on special teams though—just like every other team in the SEC.

So, how will LSU fare in the 2009 season? They will be one of the best in the SEC west and are one of the top contenders to go to the SEC Championship. They might not go undefeated, but with great recruiting classes like this past year's, they are on their way.

SEC Breakdown 2009: How Will Arkansas Fare This Season?

L.C. May — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:38:35 -0400

The 2009 season should be one of the most exciting seasons ever. The first week will be very exciting because of games like Alabama vs. Virginia Tech in the Georgia Dome.

Personally, Arkansas comes to mind when you think of the upcoming season.

After the 2007 season, Houston Nutt was fired from Arkansas. He didn't have to go far, because shortly after that, Ole Miss hired him.

Bobby Petrino became the third SEC coach to leave the NFL and come to the SEC. If you can not figure out the coaches, then you now know that the three are Nick Saban, Petrino, and Steve Spurrier.

Arkansas started the season with very curious fans. They were wondering how Petrino would fare in his first season.

Well unfortunately for them, Arkansas started out the 2008 season rough, with a very tough loss to Alabama and barely beating Western Illinois and Louisiana Monroe.

However, they regained their fans' trust by beating teams like Auburn and LSU. So is there hope for Petrino and the Arkansas Razorbacks?

The answer is most likely yes.

Despite quarterback troubles in the past, Michigan transfer Ryan Mallet should make an immediate impact at quarterback. He might have to get use to Petrino's offense, but he should be fine. They should also be fine on offense all around.

Arkansas should be very impressive on the offensive line and receiving core. The only thing to worry about on offense is running backs.

When Daren Mcfadden and Felix Jones entered the NFL Draft, it really hurt the running back core. They should be able to recover due to good recruiting.

On the defensive side of the ball, Arkansas should look pretty good. One of the biggest problems for Arkansas last year was their defense.

Allowing an average 26 points per game, the defense should be much better this year on that side of the ball.

Basically, what I am saying is Petrino will lead Arkansas to some glory days. I am also saying they should be much better than last year so watch out for the Arkansas Razorbacks in the SEC West.

SEC Breakdown 2009: How Will Auburn Fare This Season?

L.C. May — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:21:39 -0400

The Auburn Tigers are entering the 2009 season with a coaching staff that is new. Following the 2008 season, Auburn fired head coach Tommy Tuberville. They did this mostly because of his 5-7 record and the spread offense fiasco. This, in my opinion, was the worst possible thing they could have done considering how good of a coach he was.

What is even more embarrassing for the complete athletic department was the hiring Gene Chizik. I do not have a problem with Chizik because he was a great defensive coordinator. But, my opinion on him being a head coach is different, all you have to do is look at his record at a school where he should have done better than he did.

Firing a man that won five games in one season and hiring a guy that has won five games in two years was not a wise choice. Do not get me wrong—Chizik already turned some heads when he was able to round up a pretty good assistant coaching staff, but that might not help Auburn as much as they need.

Auburn, I predict, will be lucky to be able to go to a bowl game. That might sound a little harsh, but Auburn is just having too many problems.

First off, they are having quarterback problems.

Kodi Burns is a very athletic quarterback but is not bringing enough to the table. Burns stepped in and did a good job. He just didn't perform up to Auburn standards. I predict he will have a good season, but not as good of a season as many sports reporters have predicted.

Secondly, on defense, they will not be terrible, but they will not be amazing either. The loss of Sen'Derrick Marks hurt the defense more than anything. The defense will be fine, if they just work on stopping the running game.

Thirdly, Chizik will not be able to deliver at the Auburn University. He will win games, and if they give him enough time, he might take them to a small bowl. Despite that, he will not be very successful at Auburn. He will be better than some people expect, but he will not be able to get a struggling offense on track again.

If there are two things I feel Auburn will be powerful in, it would be special teams and running backs.

I know, when you go up to most people and ask, "What do you think about Auburn's special teams," they say it isn't good because of all those field goals Auburn missed against LSU that year. If you ask me about Auburn's special teams, I think of their good punter and their pretty good kicker.

Auburn has always been a strong team, when it comes to running backs, simply because they have at least five, and every one of them is good. Therefore, I think Ben Tate will probably lead the running back core.

So tis is what I believe will happen to Auburn in the 2009 season. Feel free to comment.

SEC Breakdown 2009: How Will Alabama Fare This Season?

L.C. May — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:14:10 -0400

I have decided to break down each team in the SEC, starting with the West and then working my way down to the East.

I will start off with Alabama.

Alabama had one of the biggest surprises of the year just by going undefeated in the regular season. That proved that Nick Saban is capable of doing any thing if he's just given the time. In that case though, he only needed two years.

So, will Alabama be as successful as they were in the 2008 season or will they have to wait another year to be successful?

Alabama is going to have a rough time on offense. This is very tough for me to say simply because it sounds like I am not giving Greg McElroy enough credit.

I believe he will do great things at Alabama, but it might take him a year to do it. We should not be terrible—I mean you have stars like Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, Mike McCoy, and Roy Upchurch.

Do not get me wrong; I am not just saying that we might not be as successful on offense just because of our new quarterback. We also have many things to worry about on the offensive line.

It is extremely hard to replace people like Andre Smith, Antoine Caldwell, Marlon Davis, Nick Walker, and Travis McCall. It will take some time to see how well we will do with the offense we have now, but we will surprise some teams.

On the defensive side of the ball, we are basically loaded. We have almost every one of our starters returning, including All-SEC linebacker Rolando McClain. The few players we did lose on defense are being replaced by some very talented guys such as Lorenzo Washington.

We will be very successful on defense and probably will have one of the best in the nation. So let this be an early warning for all teams that are playing Alabama this year—get ready for the defense to come at you.

On special teams, we will be the same as last year, despite Leigh Tiffin getting assaulted. P.J. Fitzgerald is not the best punter, but I think he will be good enough to get us through the season without messing up.

So, here is my first breakdown of an SEC team. There will be more to come, and I hope you enjoy.

Breaking News: Alabama's Leigh Tiffin Assaulted...but Why?

L.C. May — Sat, 09 May 2009 11:31:20 -0400

There were jokes that something like this would happen to Leigh Tiffin, after he missed all those field goals against Arkansas in 2006. No one thought it would actually happen, but it did. Why would someone want to assault the son of legendary Alabama kicker Van Tiffin?

According to the Tuscaloosa police department, Tiffin was assaulted in downtown Tuscaloosa on Wednesday. According to witness reports, he was walking down the street when he was assaulted by at least two people. The witness called 911 and Tiffin was admitted into the hospital at 2 a.m.

Now before I discuss this issue, don't worry, all injuries were minor. The injuries were to his right hand, right leg, and both his feet. He is no longer in the hospital and is expected to recover from the injuries.

So, why would anyone want to assault him? Was it Alabama fans that were possibly under the influence and did it for the fun of it? Was it Auburn fans doing it to try to get "respect" from other Auburn fans? Or was it just thieves trying to get money from Tiffin?

Well, I will go ahead and knock the last option because according to police reports, nothing was taken from him at the time of the assault. So, was it a crazed, drunken Alabama fan just assaulting him as revenge for all the critical field goals he has missed?

Well, I believe that this is a possibility, but if this was the case, most likely, the fans were under the influence. I would also like to say that if this is the case, the fans that did it need to realize that assaulting Tiffin is not going to help him be a better kicker.

Also, for anyone that does ever get mad at Tiffin, just do what I do and remember all the good field goals he made and everything his dad did at Alabama.

So, was it an Auburn or Tennessee fan trying to assault Tiffin just to feel like a "hero" to other fans? Well, if this is the case then that was a pretty low thing to do—even though I do not believe this was the case, considering that assault took place in downtown Tuscaloosa.

So, what was the case in this terrible assault? I guess no one will know until the Tuscaloosa police department catches the assaulter.

I know one thing for sure—this was intentional. It's pretty weird for a kicker to get assaulted, and the injuries are sustained to his feet and kicking leg.

I would now like to ask everyone to please keep the Tiffin family in your thoughts and prayers. It must be really scary knowing that someone is trying to hurt your son. So once again, keep them in your thoughts and prayers, and let's hope that Leigh can bounce back and have a great year for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

2009 NFL Draft: Top Three Former Alabama Players To Make an Impact as Pros

L.C. May — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:47:32 -0400

This year's NFL Draft was like any other. Former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford being the No. 1 overall pick was quite exciting—only because he signed one of the largest contracts in NFL history.

Now, the reason I say this is because some of this year's best prospects for the draft came from the SEC. So out of all those great prospects from the SEC, which ones from Alabama will make an impact?

Out of the nine players that played for Alabama that were drafted, which ones will have a chance to make an impact or have playing time?

I am going to start with No. 3 and work my way down to No. 1.

3. Rashad Johnson

Johnson was drafted No. 95 overall by the Arizona Cardinals. He was one of my favorite players while playing for the Tide, mainly because he was a walk-on that had a definite impact during his tenure at Alabama.

I believe he will work his way up to starting, if he tries as hard as he did while he was at Alabama. He is fast, physical, and can make a big play. If you do not think he can make a big play, watch every defensive play, when we played LSU, and you will change your mind.

2. Antoine Caldwell

One of the most recognized centers in Alabama history was drafted No. 77 overall by the Houston Texans. As we all saw in the combine, Caldwell is a very hard working person.

He will start eventually, if not in his rookie season. Caldwell is strong, physical, and gives up very few blocks. He should be able to help out the Texan's offensive line.

1. Andre Smith

It wasn't hard to guess who I was going to put at No. 1. But who can blame me? I know he did horrible at the combine and made a bad reputation for himself. If he wouldn't have done that, he probably would have been the No. 2 draft pick overall, but instead, he was drafted No. 6 overall by the Bengals.

He may have performed badly at the combine, but if you give up one sack in your career, you're going to start in the NFL. He also had one touchdown which adds to his amazing stats. He will start...trust me.

Well, there are my top three, and I believe they will have the biggest impact in the NFL. I hope you enjoyed the read.

Five Alabama Players That Will Surprise For the Tide in 2009

L.C. May — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:35:13 -0400

After watching Alabama's spring game, I noticed something. I noticed that there were players who hardly played last year making an impact at A-Day.

These players didn't look like they had just stepped up to the plate, instead they acted like they had been playing first string their whole career.

I have decided to choose five players who I believe will be a surprise at Alabama, despite never starting as freshmen or sophomores.

These players, I believe, will prove that there is always a player worth starting.

5. Earl Alexander, WR

Earl Alexander has had his moments in the sun while playing for Alabama. He has gotten to play some, but anytime he got to play they never threw him the ball.

He is a big, physical wide receiver who can make plays. He might not be the fastest guy on the field, but if you ask any wide receiver in the NFL, they will tell you it is about technique, not speed.

4. Lorenzo Washington, DL

Lorenzo Washington has gotten to play his share of games during his tenure at Alabama. He impressed me in several games that he got to play in, yet he has not been able to play as much because Bobby Greenwood was starting ahead of him last season.

Bobby Greenwood graduated, and Lorenzo Washington is a strong, physical defensive lineman that is not afraid to get in the game and make a play. He should not really be a surprise, but he should show us how good he is for the first time by starting.

3. Ali Sharrief, DB

Ali Sharrief has gotten to play very few games in his tenure at Alabama because Rashad Johnson always beat him out for the spot. Now Rashad Johnson is gone, so Ali Sharrief has stepped up to the spot.

He looked pretty good at A-Day, but I believe he will be a surprise at Alabama. He won't make an immediate impact, but about the second or third game of the season he will start making an impact.

2. Brian Motley, OL

Brian Motley has not been able to play much in his career at Alabama, except on special teams. Yet, the Brian Motley I saw at A-Day really impressed me. He had some great blocks during the game.

I think he will make a huge impact during the 2009 season. He will finally get his chance to prove that he is just as good as any other linemen.

1. Marquis Maze, WR

Marquis Maze impressed me more than anyone at A-Day. Whether it was his speed or technique, he was impressive. I think everyone best knows him as the guy Greg McElroy threw his first touchdown pass to during the Iron Bowl.

I think he will get to play a lot at wide receiver, and I also believe they will put him at running back during certain plays. He will be the biggest surprise for Alabama during the 2009 season.

I think all these players will be a surprise at Alabama. They will prove that all players in the NCAA have a chance to start if they keep trying their hardest.

Game Recap: How Alabama Fared In Its Spring Game

L.C. May — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:39:27 -0400

The game that so many fans anticipated started out with some rain drops, but is that going to stop Alabama fans from coming to the spring game? I think not.

The 84,500 fans that were there all saw something special from the get go. They got to see former players in a flag football game before the game started, and one of those players was Tyrone Prothro.

I was very impressed with Prothro's speed after recovering from a badly broken ankle.

Besides seeing Tyrone Prothro in action again, I saw some things I liked and didn't like at the A-Day game.

One of the first things I noticed at the game was the secondary. We were extremely weak in that area which doesn't look good when the rest of the defense looks good.

Kareem Jackson hasn't looked too good since the 2007 Tennessee game, and Justin Woodall did OK. Those are the two players I am referring to when I say that the secondary didn't look to good.

If Nick Saban wants his defense to be indestructible, he needs to be working on his secondary, and soon.

On the offensive side of the ball, I was quite impressed with the tight ends, despite the fact that they are first-year starters. They really impressed me with all the catches they had.

Quaterback Greg McElroy was also pretty good, considering he was 16-for-30 for 189 yards and two touchdowns. The only thing I believe McElroy needs to work on is his accuracy under pressure. When someone like Rolando Mcclain or Dont'a Hightower pressured him, his throws were not accurate and the receivers would miss the ball.

I think that this can improved by the time the team kicks off the season against Virginia Tech.

The receivers, however, were impressive, considering that one of them is Julio Jones.

I didn't focus on the offensive tackle spot too much because I still believe that DJ Fluker will start at that position as a freshmen. However, the rest of the offensive line looked pretty good. They had some really good blocks, especially Brian Motley, who I felt did a great job blocking Terrence Cody.

Running back Terry Grant got the start because Mark Ingram and Roy Upchurch are battling injuries, but Grant wasn't too impressive. I think Grant will never have a season like he did in 2007.

Like offensive tackle, it looks like I am going to have to wait to the season opener to watch running backs like Mark Ingram, Roy Upchurch, and Trent Richardson in action.

On the second string offense, I was quite upset that they didn't play QB Star Jackson too much. He played some, but not enough for me to comment on his accuracy, strength, and throws under pressure.

On the second string, the player that impressed me the most was Marquis Maze.

Almost every pass thrown to him by the second string QB was caught. I know he will get to play a lot during the season, but I believe he should start. I know he is not tall, but he is quick and has quick feet. I also think they should put him at running back during certain plays.

On the defensive side on the ball, like I said earlier, the secondary really upset me. They were not covering well at all.

Our linebackers, meanwhile, looked exceptionally talented. Rolando Mcclain put it to his offensive tackling target, and Dont'a Hightower had the power to break through the line and pressure the quarterback. Cory Reamer surprisingly wasn't that bad.

I will say that, out of the whole secondary, Javier Arenas had some great coverage, but also had his bad times. I just try to remember that, if Javier Arenas intercepts the ball, he is gone.

Our defensive line looked strong, but simply because they are being led by Terrence Cody.

On special teams, I am proud to say that P.J. Fitzgerald did not have that bad of a game. Leigh Tiffin was inconsistent on some of his field goals, but he wasn't that bad either.

Javier Arenas and Julio Jones led the special teams' effort, but that isn't too much of a shock.

So, there were good things and bad things that I noticed at A-Day. There were strengths and weaknesses that we need to work on, but other than that, I think that A-Day was quite successful and I hope that ESPN will be back next year.

As We Look Back: a Tribute to the Captains of the 2008 Alabama Season

L.C. May — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:24:50 -0400

The time is getting closer for the A-Day game, which means more than just watching the players or getting some of the delicious Dreamland BBQ. It means it is time for Alabama to pick the captains for the 2009 football season. This is a very important thing in Alabama football, simply because the captain is the leader of the team. Usually they pick the captains and the day before A-Day, they put their hand prints and footprints around Denny Chimes.

I am not sure who the captains will be for the 2009 season, but I would like to reflect on last year's captains and what impact they had on Alabama. If you do not already know, the 2008 captains for Alabama were John Parker Wilson, Antoine Caldwell, and Rashad Johnson. I will explain what kind of impact they had on Alabama.

I will start first with John Parker Wilson. I have heard many Alabama fans themselves say that they could not wait for John Parker to leave. I think that he might have not of been the most famous quarterback in Alabama football history, but he has written his name in the record books quite a few times. I think that his 6,796 career yards also make people think of him as a good quarterback. Hew was more than just a quarterback though, he was a leader. He might have had his bad times in his career, but doesn't every quarterback have at least one time in their career. I'll give a perfect example: Peyton Manning, a great quarterback for the Colts and considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of this generation. Yet I seem to remember one of the first games of the 2007 season, where Manning threw four interceptions and only had 88 passing yards. If you look at any highlights in John Parker's career, you see that he never gave up and always encouraged his teammates in the huddle. So I think that we need to give a salute to John Parker Wilson for his leadership throughout his career.

Next is Antione Caldwell. Antione is arguably one of the best centers Alabama has ever had. Not only was he a good center, but he is also recognized because he was one of the best players out of Alabama's great 2008 offensive line. Some would say Andre Smith was the best, which honestly I think he was, but Antione is working harder than Smith is in the draft right now. I was told that Caldwell wasn't a good captain because of his influence on the players after his suspension. Yet I disagree because he was a great leader and was a good influence on the team. Despite his suspension, he was a good influence by graduating earlier than anyone else, and influenced other players to try there hardest. So this is why I believe we should give Antione Caldwell a salute for his leadership as a captain and his great leadership and influence on the team.

Next is Rashad Johnson. I personally like Rashad Johnson because he was a walk-on who started and became captain of a great football team with a rich tradition. He has had many memorable moments and led Alabama's defense to many successful games. He never got in trouble, had good grades, and showed that anybody can make an impact if they just try hard and never give up. He has always been a guy that encourages players in the huddle. This is why I think we need to give a salute to Rashad Johnson for all his hard work.

Yes, I know that all these captains had the same qualities that made them great players and momentum changers. Yet these ARE all the reasons that made them this way. All of these captains had great careers at Alabama. So I wrote this to salute them and thank them for encouraging all the other players to work hard because they worked hard. Feel free to comment on this piece.

Can He Help Coaches Too: How Tim Tebow Might Help Coaches In Recruiting

L.C. May — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:15:28 -0400

Tim Tebow has done it all. He has become one of the greatest quarterbacks in Florida football, he has helped people in less fortunate countries, and he has made every Alabama fan in country jealous that he chose Florida over Alabama.

Now, after all this, he might help coaches recruit players that probably would not have got a chance to play. How can he possibly do this?

When Tebow played for Neis High School in Florida, he was still being home schooled. He did this by just playing football and nothing else.

Now other states, including Alabama, have decided to try to make what is going to be known as the Tim Tebow Bill.

This bill will give people that are home schooled and people that go to a private school, the right to play a sport at a public school, but not go to school there. I personally think that this is amazing, that one person can encourage a bill like this.

So here is the question, how can Tebow effect the recruiting process for coaches, by having a bill passed?

Well if you think about it, imagine how many people there are that do not get a chance to play the game of football because they are home schooled.

Also, think about the extremely talented people that play for a private school, and get overlooked because their school is not on the map. If this bill were to be passed, then coaches would get the opportunity of recruiting players that might be the future NFL Hall of Famers.

Some people do not agree with this bill because they think that if people want to play football then they can just attend the school. I can see where there coming from though. I still think that they need to give these players a chance to play.

I bet if you asked any major college football coach in the country, they would agree to this bill so they could have a bigger list of talented football players to choose from.

They probably would love for this bill to be passed just to see what kind of people make an impact in a high school that doesn't know how good someone is going to be.

So, is Tebow going to help coaches recruit from a wider range of players by just help pass a bill named in his honor?

I guess you can say he is but everyone has different opinions. So I guess we will just have to see how far this bill goes in different states. I just hope that these players that do not get a chance to play, get to show that they can play just like any other player in the country.

How Tim Tebow's Choice Changed Alabama: Where Would We Be Now?

L.C. May — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:25:08 -0400

When Tim Tebow was coming out of Neis High School in Florida, he was recruited by some of the top colleges in the nation. He narrowed it down to two schools: Alabama and Florida. Both schools would have given anything to get him. Unfortunately for Alabama fans, Florida got him.

I have now personally seen the things Tim Tebow can do on a football field. Every time I see him play, the one and only thing that runs through my mind is: where would Alabama be if they would have signed Tim Tebow? Another thing in the back in my mind is: how come he didn't sign with Alabama?

The first question I am going to try to answer is why he didn't sign with Alabama. Tim Tebow loved both Urban Meyer and Mike Shula (who was the coach at that time), which made it a difficult decision for Tebow. At that time, I thought Tim Tebow was going to choose Alabama after the fans cheered his name at a game in October of 2006. I thought it was unanimous after Mike Shula spent 12 hours at Tebow's farm in Jacksonville, Florida. Yet Tim Tebow still chose the Gators over the Tide. Tebow said he chose the Gators because he wanted to stay close to his family. Tebow also said that he has always been a big fan of the Gators. So even though he has the usual reasons someone has when they decide to choose their home state school, I think that Tebow wasn't smart in his decision to choose the Gators. Alabama fans would have basically done anything he wanted, and Mike Shula spent more time on him than on any other recruit he had.

So the next question is where Alabama would be if it would have signed Tim Tebow. I honestly think that if Tim Tebow would have signed, Mike Shula would still be at Alabama. I know that one person isn't a whole team, but Tim Tebow is more than an athlete; he is a leader. Tim Tebow has amazing stats that might have won us a few more games under Shula, which might have caused the University of Alabama not to fire him. Another thing that that might have changed is the type of offense we would have run. If Alabama was smart, they would have ran a type of offense that would let Tebow go wild.

Despite the fact that Tim Tebow didn't sign with Alabama, I think that it was a win for Nick Saban to come to Alabama. Look where we are now: we've got a coach who can win all his regular season games in only his second year at the capstone. So even if you disagree with me, I would rather have Nick Saban than Tim Tebow.

Alright, so here is my article... feel free to comment.

Stealing All The Spotlight: The Top 10 Athletes That Flooded ESPN

L.C. May — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:32:25 -0400

Every sports fan in the world has heard of ESPN. If you are a sports fan and you have never heard of ESPN, then you must live at the bottom of the ocean because I know most people are familiar with ESPN.

With that in mind, I have decided to write about the 10 most talked about athletes on ESPN, and I will work my way up the list to the most recognized athlete.

10. Brett Favre

Yes, I know, he is now retired from the NFL, but he was mentioned on ESPN hundreds of times throughout his career. He was especially mentioned on ESPN when he came out of retirement to play one more of year of football.

ESPN mainly talked about what teams were interested in him, and this went on for two weeks straight, which puts Favre on my list.

9. C.C. Sabathia

As one of the most popular pitchers in the MLB right now, Sabathia was talked about on ESPN for at least two weeks or more, and is still till this day being mentioned on ESPN at least twice a week because of different things.

He was mainly talked about during his deal with the Yankees, but also received some talk time during his time at the Brewers at the end of last season.

8. Albert Haynesworth

Haynesworth has made it to my number eight simply because he was the most talked about free agent, along with someone else, whom I will mention later.

He was discussed on ESPN because of all the teams that wanted him, and was further mentioned after he signed a six year, $100 million million dollar deal with the Redskins.

Today, Haynesworth is mentioned yet again, but this time as part of the allegations the Titans are filing against the Redskins for their improper pursuit of the former Tennessee lineman.

7. LeBron James

James has not really had anything big happen to him, yet he is talked about on ESPN more than any other NBA player. The main reason he is talked about is because he is arguably the best player in the NBA right now.

6. Terell Owens

Because of all the drama behind Terrel Owens, he has found himself at No. 6 on my list.

He was talked about on ESPN because of his attitude during his late-season spat with the Cowboys, his time as a free agent and what teams anted him, and how the Bills were going to be his fourth NFL team in his career.

ESPN had a field day with Owens.

5. Tiger Woods

Now, it isn't hard to figure out why Tiger Woods made it to No. 5 on my list. With his comeback in the Arnold Palmer tournament, and his return in golf had ESPN mention him every day.

ESPN does not talk about golf much, but when they do, there is a 95-percent chance that they will mention Tiger Woods.

4. Roger Clemens

He might not be a pitcher anymore, but ESPN has gone crazy ever since he was linked to steroids.

Every time you hear about steroids, you hear all about all the drama wrapped around Roger Clemens. I can promise you that Clemens has been talked about on ESPN for two years because of steroids.

3. Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps made it to No. 3 because he won eight Olympic gold medals in the 2008 Summer Games, which broke the previous record. ESPN mentioned him several times because of this.

Unfortunately though, his shining moment on ESPN was not for his medals in the Olympics, but instead, ESPN a field day when a British tabloid published a picture of the great Michael Phelps smoking a marijuana pipe.

This extensive coverage by ESPN's consisted of Phelp' sponsorship loss, his suspension, and the disappointment of his fans.

2. Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds made it to number two because of the countdown ESPN had for him before he broke the home run record. They had coverage of him for several weeks because of that, and because of the fact that he was being accused of steroids.

To this day, ESPN discusses if Barry Bonds deserved the home run record.

1. Alex Rodriguez

The time is here for me to name Mr. Recognition. And the award for the most storied athlete goes to....

A-Rod.

Whether ESPN was discussing whether or not he might break Barry Bonds's home run record, or how he admitted to taking steroids, or his recovery after his recent hip surgery, and analysts even discussed the rumor he and Madonna were dating.

I hope you liked my choices, but feel free to comment and let me know who you think are the 10 most talked about athletes on ESPN.

The Tirade Continues: Nick Saban Still Unhappy With Progress In Spring Practice

L.C. May — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:27:37 -0400

Here we go again. Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban is still not pleased with Alabama's progress in spring practice. After Alabama's fifth spring practice, Saban still seemed not happy.

Now you might have not read my other article about Saban being angry at his team. If you haven't, go to my profile and read: "Nick Saban Goes on Tirade: Can anyone blame him though?"

Now we all know that Saban is a fantastic coach, and out of all the candidates Alabama had during their time of not having a coach, I wouldn't have wanted anybody more than him. We also know that he has an extremely short fuse.

Like I discussed in my last article, I believe that Saban had every right to be upset at his players. In this article though, I will be discussing what causes him to get upset at his team.

The top thing that I think his causing his anger is stress. When your a coach at the University of Alabama, you are compared to Bear Bryant, so he is trying to be the best coach he can be. So far, I think that he is doing pretty good, but that's not the point.

He is also stressed because he has holes to fill on the offensive line.

While he tries to find the best candidate, it is hard to scout and correct everything else. Yes, I know that is what assistant coaches are for, but he is the main person that has a say in it.

Saban has to try and find leadership and chemistry in his team, which also can be very stressful. So is it stress that is causing Saban's anger towards his team.

Another thing that can cause anger in a coach like Saban, is the fact that his players are just slacking off.

So what is it, stress, players slacking off, or both?

If you want to know my opinion, I think it is both, but mainly stress.

So will Saban's anger continue?

Will he find leadership in his team?

Can he handle the stress of being the University of Alabama's head coach?

All these questions will have to be answered after a little more close watching by the fans.

So here is my article, I know that this is a short and sweet article, but I just think that when it comes to a topic like this, there is not much to say without answering everything. So feel free to leave comments and tell me what you think.

Stepping Up: The Top Five Freshmen to Make an Impact at Alabama In 2009

L.C. May — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:34:13 -0400

Alright, I know its is still March and more people are worried about March Madness, but I have decided to write about the top five freshmen to make an imediate impact at Alabama in 2009.

I will start with No. 5 and work my way down to No. 1.

5. Quinton Dial

Quinton Dial is from Pinson, Alabama and for the people that do not know,he is a defensive tackle.

I expect Quinton Dial to make an impact as a freshmen. I never said he would start but I feel Nick Saban will put him in certain defensive schemes. Dial is a strong, quick defensive tackle that is able to get to the ball. I think he has the talent to impress Saban enough to make him a impact on defense in the certain defensive schemes I mentioned.

4. Nico Johnson

I have a feeling that you have heard of Nico Johnson. If you haven't then you need to because he was one of Alabama's five-star recruits and should make an immediate impact as a freshmen.

He should play alongside Rolando McClain and get to play a lot as a freshmen. He is extremely talented and quick so he should make an impact. I especially think he will switch out in Cory Reamer's position.

3. Trent Richardson

I also believe that you have heard of Trent Richardson also. He is the five-star running back from Pensacola, Florida heading to Alabama.

I am glad they got him since Glen Coffee left for the draft. I have put Richardson at No. 3 because I feel that Alabama will put him in behind Mark Ingram. I think Alabama liked the double running back scheme this past year and since Roy Upchurch got injured they should use Richardson right from the start.

2. Dre Kirkpatrick

I have placed Dre Kirkpatrick at No. 2 simply because he has a great chance to start since Rashad Johnson has graduated. I think that he is basically another Rashad Johnson except that Dre Kirkpatrick was recruited and Rashad Johnson was a walk-on.

I think that he might start as a freshmen because that spot at safety is available. He should be part of the freshmen All-American team also if he starts.

1.D.J. Fluker

I know this is probably not a shock, but since Andre Smith left for the draft, D.J. Fluker is probably the best bet.

He is probably the closest, if not the better version of Andre Smith. He is quick and extremely strong and should start and make the freshmen All-American team. I know James Carpenter might replace Smith, but I feel Fluker will beat him in the spot for it.

So there you have it, I know it was a short article, but there is not to much to say most of them. They are just amazing athletes and have already proven themselves.

I don't think people realize how hard these players work to get at the certain spot on the team. I just believe deeply in my heart that these guys will try their hardest. Feel free to comment and express your opinion.

The Big Breakdown: Breaking Down Each Regular Season Game for Alabama

L.C. May — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:31:13 -0400

I know that it's still March, and in the future, I might write another one—except with different opinions. It's just that I cannot wait for the season to start, so this is kind of a really early breakdown of the schedule. I will give the team, date of the game, and the difficulty level of the game based on a 1-10 scale.

Virginia Tech/Sept. 5/Level of Difficulty: 8

Alabama kicks off the year in the Georgia Dome for the second year in a row, only this time against Virginia Tech. I put this at eight on the difficulty scale, because it is always hard to start the season off against a strong opponent such as Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech has Tyrod Taylor who is an excellent quarterback and has been compared to Michael Vick. If Alabama wants to win this game, they need to step up from the get go with their defense. I am not worried because Nick Saban knows his defense and will find a way to stop Taylor.

Florida International/Sept. 12/Level of Difficulty: 3

I think that the level of difficulty should be three with Florida International, mainly, because they are one of the weaker opponents Alabama has. Do not get me wrong, we shouldn't underestimate anybody, ever since we lost to Louisiana-Monroe, which, by the way, is in the same conference as Florida International. I still think Alabama should not have trouble with them though.

North Texas/Sept. 19/Level of Difficulty: 3

I think that it will be just about the same result in the North Texas game as in the Florida International game. Like I said before, we still should not underestimate them. Either way, this should not have to be a challenge for Alabama.

Arkansas/Sept. 26/Level of Difficulty: 6

I think this deserves to be a six because, even though Bobby Petrino is a great coach, he will not start having success until his third year. I still think that this will be a challenge, because Arkansas is an SEC opponent and will bring it to you when you least expect it. So this one could change, but I think Alabama can handle it.

Kentucky/Oct. 3/Level of Difficulty: 5

I know Kentucky is a great team, but now that Andre Woodson and last year Kentucky needed him, I think that they will be a weaker opponent in the SEC. I think they have a great coach with a lot of experience but not enough to beat Alabama. Since the game is away though, I feel Kentucky might put up a fight.

Ole Miss/Oct. 10/Level of Difficulty: 8

I know eight is an extremely high number for a team that has been a weak opponent in the SEC in the past, but Ole Miss has a great football team. I think, after the upsets Ole Miss pulled last year, they have already proven themselves. I still know a few people that doubt Ole Miss, but I can guarantee you that they will be a tough opponent and have a great record.

South Carolina/Oct. 17/Level of Difficulty: 7

This is the game that has worried me deeply. I have put this game at seven simply because we chose an SEC opponent like South Carolina as our homecoming. To me, that is a slap in the face, and that's what gets a team fired up. South Carolina also has a great team and a legendary coach. This will be a tough game for the Tide, trust me.

Tennessee/Oct. 24/Level of Difficulty: 6 1/2

I know Alabama vs. Tennessee is a big rivalry, but with Tennessee having a new coach, I can't have too much confidence in Tennessee. They will still bring a good game to Alabama like they always do, but nothing is going to change the fact that they have a young team.

LSU/Nov. 7/Level of Difficulty: 7 1/2

I know that this will be a tough game, do not get me wrong. There is one reason though why I put seven and a half; Alabama gets their bye week the week before that game. I think Saban will know to make sure to improve on things before this game, so I am giving a look out warning to Les Miles.

Mississippi State/ Nov. 14/Level of Difficulty: 6

I am predicting Alabama beats Mississippi State, but it won't be easy, because despite it being Dan Mullen's first year, Mississippi State is going to have a pretty good football team. Alabama needs to watch out for this opponent.

Tennessee Chattanooga/Nov. 21/Level of Difficulty: 2

I know two is a very low number when you have schools like Tennessee Chattanooga. You have to remember they are not able to get strong recruiting classes. So, I think that Alabama will not have too much trouble with this opponent.

Auburn/Nov. 28/Level of Difficulty: 6

I do not think Auburn will be a tough challenge only because of first year head coach Gene Chizik. I think Alabama should still play their butts off in this game though, or they will get beat.

So there you have it. Please comment and leave your opinion.

Nick Saban Goes on a Tirade: Can Anyone Blame Him Though?

L.C. May — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:21:34 -0400

Well, it finally happened. But who wasn't expecting it? I mean Nick Saban has every right to be mad, after his players' lack of performance in spring practice. If I were him, I would be mad too, because he knows and everyone else knows that they are expecting big things out of that team.

If you want me to explain what I mean by tirade, I will. Here are just some of the things Saban said in his press conference.

"The focus wasn't what it needed to be, mental energy wasn't what it needed to be. Rather than trying to endure practice, get through it, stay one step ahead of the posse so you don't get...in trouble with a coach or get reprimanded for doing something wrong.

Try to do it right. I am not pleased with where we are, and I think this team needs to develop a chemistry in attitude and leadership and understand what they are trying to accomplish, how important it is to them. And make the investment they need to make to do that.

You know, when you build a house and you make it hurricane proof, you're getting prepared for what? A hurricane that may or may not ever come, but we're going to have 12 hurricanes next year. We know they're coming."

Now after all that, I believe you can see that he wasn't a happy guy. After all this, I think the only thing he can blame on himself is moving a practice that was originally scheduled for a day before Easter to Mar. 13; he should have known that wasn't going to work out well.

But, the point I am trying to prove in this article is: Should we blame Saban for being mad.

I, 100 percent without a doubt, do not blame him. My reason why is that from what I have read, Alabama has been slacking off a lot. I also hear that Virginia Tech's spring practice is going good. So if we stay on this track, we are going to get our butts kicked.

But Saban did say that he was proud of the progress we had in just shorts and helmets and with only a few linebackers to practice with due to the Brandon Fanney suspension. Middle linebacker also missed, but from my understanding, is suspended indefinitely.

So now, after the fact that Saban has done all this, I want you to vote and tell me if you're on his side or does he not have a reason to be mad? I also would like you to comment and tell me the main reason he had the right to be mad.

Alabama Spring Practice: Predicting A-Day Game and Who Will Start

L.C. May — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:11:29 -0400

The time for spring is here and that only means one thing for me...I am one step closer to walking through the gates of Bryant-Denny Stadium. I still have a time to wait until A-Day, which by the way for you fans that do not already know the game is April 18.

Now before the time comes where I get to sit down and scout the players while eating my Dreamland BBQ, I am going to predict the starters and main players in the spring game.

Quarterback: After much review of this position there is not a doubt in my mind that Greg Mcelroy will start at this position. I think this because he has played the most at quarterback and according to Nick Saban, he says, "I feel Greg Mcelroy has the best discipline and attitude". So I know McElroy should take JPW's old spot.

Running Back: Now that Glen Coffee has entered the draft (which I think he did too early) there is no doubt in my mind that Mark Ingram will get the main spot with Trent Richardson backing him up much like Ingram did last year behind Coffee.

Fullback: Just like last year, I think that Baron Huber will start again despite the fact that there are not many plays that he is in on. In his defense he is a pretty good blocker and physical if he touches the ball.

Center: After much research and consideration on this certain position I have decided that the top two candidates are Evan Cardwell and Mike Johnson. If Johnson can prove he can play the position than I believe they will move him over to center, but he has to prove he can play the position first.

Right Guard: After much consideration I have decided, despite the disagreement I have received on this, that David Ross will take the starting position due to the fact that I have seen him work out and he works hard and is a great blocker.

Right Tackle: Nothing much will change in this position because I think, like last year, that Drew Davis will start again. He is physical on the line and is a great blocker.

Left Guard: After watching the Sugar Bowl I believe it would be smart to move sophomore John Michael Boswell over to left guard. He was one of the few that tried there best during that game so I think he should start here.

Left Tackle: If you didn't already know I have already written an article on this subject. If you have not read it go to my profile and find "Who will replace Andre Smith" and read it. I think in this position it is a toss up but as seemingly unlikely as this is, I think James Carpenter and D.J. Fluker will switch at this position.

Tight End:I think there are a few players that will switch at this position like Travis McCall and Nick Walker did, but the main guy in this position should be Brad Smelley because he was able to play pretty well at this position last year.

Wide Receiver No. 1: It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Julio Jones will start at this position due to his dominating performance last year.

Wide Receiver No. 2: I think Alabama will put several wide receivers at the other end of the field such as Mike McCoy, Earl Alexander, Marquis Maize, B.J. Scott, and Chris Jordan.

Strong Outside Linebacker: Like last year I believe Cory Reamer will play at this position. He might not have had the most tackles but he is a physical guy thats not afraid to get in there.

Defensive End No. 1: Now that Bobby Greenwood is gone it isn't hard to figure out that Lorenzo Washington should play at this position because of his experience at the there and because of his great strength.

Nose Guard: Without a doubt Terrence Cody will play at this position and Josh Chapman will get to come in there when Cody is tired. You have to remember that Cody is listed at 370 pounds.

Defensive End No. 2: I don't think that this position will change much and Brandon Deaderick should be playing at this position like last year.

Weakside Linebacker: Recent troubles with the university will not affect Brandon Fanney from playing this position this coming up year.

Middle Linebacker: I don't think it takes a football fan to figure out that Rolando Mcclain will play at this position yet again and should be one of the team's leader in tackles.

Strongside Linebacker: Nothing will change for this freshmen All-American as Dont'a Hightower should step up and play just like last year on defense.

Right Corner: His two interceptions in the 2007 Tennessee game should be enough to make Kareem Jackson a top choice for this position.

Left Corner: The speedy punt returner, who by the way should be playing that postion again, should be playing corner just like last year.

Strong Safety: He has had his good games and bad games but he should start next year and that "he" is Justin Woodall. His performance agasinst Arkansas is a prime reason why he will be starting at strong safety this year.

Free Safety: Ali Sharrief should get the start here due to his experience last year despite being behind Rashad Johnson.

Kicker: I think Leigh Tiffin will start but Corey Smith will get to play also.

Punter: P.J. Fitzgerald, despite the fact that he is not the greatest punte, should be next years starter.

So here you go please comment if you disagree on anything.

Has It Stopped: Has Alabama Returned To The Glory Days

L.C. May — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:44:01 -0400

The nation is going nuts right now. Can you blame them? I mean the World Baseball Classic is in play, the NCAA tournament is about to officially begin, College Football teams have started spring practice, and Tiger Woods is trying to get back to his old self has he returned. But with all this chaos going on I can still only focus on one thing....has Alabama's luck turned?

So let me emphasize on this. What I mean by changing their luck is all their football trouble. It all started when Alabama got half ther wins taken away in 1993 a year after their National Title, then Alabama was put on probation and was not able to go to any bowls for I believe two years, and the we lost Dennis Franchione.

I am not even near done we also hired Mike Price who was fired so we forced to hire Mike Shula, and then we lost six times in a row to Auburn. I finally finish this by saying that even though we have received good recruiting classes we have been hustled down by the NCAA for the selling the books incident.

After all this Alabama has still been able to overcome adversity by hiring a new coach, get a great recruiting class, and win 12 games in Nick Saban's second year. Does this mean that Alabama has returned to the glory days?

I believe that they partially have but aren't all the way there yet. The reason I say that is we can mark new coach, great recruiting class, and great coaching staff of the list, but we have not yet been able to win a conference title or national title.

Yes I know it was Nick Saban's second year and you can't expect that kind of stuff in only two years especially with all the stuff he had to deal with. But I am just saying that even though I am a huge Alabama fan I can not say that Alabama has returned to the glory days just yet. I can promise you though that we will be back in the glory days within the next two or three years, trust me.

So to answer this question more easily, no we have not quite yet returned to the glory days. But we have overcome the tough adversity and been able to cope with the NCAA. We are on are way to the glory days though trust me.

I would like to apologize for my absence and me not being able to right articles for several weeks. You have to remember I am only 14 and I still have to go to school.

Andre Smith: Who Will Replace His Big Shoes?

L.C. May — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:30:23 -0500

OK, thus far Andre Smith is doing horrible to make himself look good in the NFL Draft.

Well it's too late to come back now, so the question Alabama fans are wondering is who will replace him.

Right now—in my opinion—there are two top candidates for the job at offensive tackle.

The No. 1 candidate is James Carpenter. If you haven't heard about him, you will.

Carpenter is a junior college transfer, just like Terrence Cody is. He is extremely under estimated, just like Mount Cody was.

Do you want me to be honest?

I read Cody's bio before he came to Alabama, and I didn't think he would start. But boy was I wrong.

Carpenter is exchanging from Coffeyville, Kan. He is 6'5 and weighs 305 pounds.

Yes, that is 25 pounds less than Smith, but he benches 355 and squats 455—which is about the same as Smith.

I believe Carpenter—who has the most experience—is the best bet to take the starting position, even though the other candidate I am about to mention is just as good.

The other candidate, I feel has a good chance of starting is Foley High School's DJ Fluker.

The reason I feel he has a good chance to start, is because he is bigger and stronger than Carpenter.

Fluker weighs 350—45 more pounds than Carpenter—and he benches 375 and squats 525.

So if he steps up, he could get it hands down.

So who gets the job of offensive tackle?

I guess we will have to find out in the Georgia Dome against Virginia Tech.

Guys remember: If you become a fan of me, then I will become a fan of yours.

Adding Some Swagger: Does Alabama's Recruiting Class Guarantee a National Title?

L.C. May — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:50:47 -0500

It has happened again. Alabama is crowned with the No. 1 recruiting class for the second consecutive year.

I know that it is only rated the No. 1 class according to Rivals.com, and the other major college sports websites such as Scout.com and ESPNU.com have rated LSU as the No. 1 recruiting class. But if you look at the statistics, Alabama signed four five-star recruits along with LSU, and Alabama signed 14 four-stars when LSU signed only 11. Alabama signed a total of 27 and LSU signed a total of 24.

Well, I could sit here all day and argue about how Alabama really is the No. 1 class, but my topic for this article is with Alabama's great recruiting classes, does that guarantee them a national title within the next five years? My answer to this question is simply yes.

I think this because Alabama has one of the best rising coaches in the country along with an amazing coaching staff. They have been able to recruit great players such as Julio Jones, Dont'a Hightower, D.J. Fluker, Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, and Dre Kirkpatrick, and they have a great athletic department that just approved an expansion of Bryant-Denny Stadium, which will increase not only the seating chart to over 101,000, but will also increase the already hostile environment Tuscaloosa has.

These are not the only reasons why I think they will win a national championship within the next five years. I also believe that they will do so because of the great weight room facilities and fanbase at the University of Alabama.

There are several reasons why I think that they will win the National Championship in five years, but to be honest, even if we would not have gotten this recruiting class, I think that we still would have won a national title within the next five years.

Also, another thing I would like to be honest about is that without the hiring of Nick Saban, Alabama would have been heading in a deeper hole than they were already in.

Also, if you do not understand the headline "adding some swagger," I put that because before Dre Kirkpatrick signed with Alabama, he said the Texas hat didn't have enough swagger, and that is when he put on the Alabama hat, which was really an Atlanta Braves hat.

The Next Big Step: Who Will Take Over at Quarterback for Alabama?

L.C. May — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:25:58 -0500

The question Alabama fans are wondering now that the 2008 season is behind them is who will be the next starting quarterback.

I mean after all, Alabama is going to need an elusive quarterback who is accurate, can run the ball under pressure, and throw out of the pocket.

The top three choices right now to replace John Parker Wilson are Greg Mcelroy, Star Jackson, and Alabama commit AJ Macarron.

I will start by saying that Greg Mcelroy is really the top candidate. He has the most game experience thus far in his career starts at Alabama. He is extremely accurate—after all he did play for the famous Southlake High School in Texas. And I feel that he can still be accurate in or out of the pocket.

The next candidate that I feel out of my top three is Star Jackson. He has good feet and can run under pressure, and he is also extremely accurate. He will only be a sophomore, and if he were to start next year he would be a four-year starter because he was redshirted this past year.

In my opinion I would like for him to start because of his good moves and accuracy, but I feel as if Alabama will choose Greg Mcelroy over Star Jackson, and that's why I put Greg Mcelroy at number one.

My last candidate that I think will start at quarterback is A.J. Macarron. I know that he is yet to sign to Alabama, but he will in a few hours. He is committed with a solid verbal and he lives in Alabama, so I think it's a safe bet he will sign.

I know it is rare for freshmen to start at Alabama, but I feel that he has a chance to start because he is just as accurate as Greg Mcelroy and Star Jackson. He also, along with Jackson, has a pretty good set of feet.

Now this prediction is just a toss up I haven't done too much research, because no one really writes about it.

However, I think that offensive coordinator Jim Mcelwain should try to not start one quarterback—but two quarterbacks. I think he should play Greg Mcelroy and Star Jackson in a double quarterback type deal. Put Greg Mcelroy in passing situations and Star Jackson in a scramble situation.

I know that is unlikely, but I think anything can happen in the crazy football world we live in today.

Top 10 College Football Upsets of 2008

L.C. May — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:52:17 -0500

These are what I believe were the top upsets of 2008.

10. Vanderbilt upsets Auburn

I believe this deserves to be the No. 10 upset in the nation in 2008, simply because just like every year in college football no one expects Vanderbilt to do anything.

But can you really blame those people? I mean, before this year, the last time the Commodores went to a bowl was, what, like 1988.

After this game, they proved themselves by upsetting Auburn en route to winning the Music City Bowl. In this game, Mackenzi Adams threw for 153 yards and two touchdowns in the victory over Auburn, 14-13.

9. Texas upsets Oklahoma

I know some people believe this game should be higher in the Top 10, but I believe it only deserves to be No. 9. It was a great game, and it proved that Texas deserved to be a top team in the country.

But the reason I do not think it was that big of a upset is because people predicted Texas to win, and the Longhorns completely dominated on offense, with starting quarterback Colt McCoy leading them to 308 yards of total offense and a 45-35 victory over the No. 1 team in the land at that time.

8. Alabama upsets Clemson

I think this game deserves to be No. 8 because Clemson was completely overrated in the preseason polls, and they were predicted to beat Alabama by 10 points.

Alabama went into the Georgia Dome prepared and beat them until they could not take it anymore. I think this deserves to be No. 8 because this game started Alabama's great season.

7. Arkansas upsets LSU

I know what you're thinking: How could this be No. 7 out of the Top 10 upsets of 2008? Well, the reason I think this deserves to be No. 7 is because Arkansas started out with a rough season, especially after the 49-14 loss to Alabama at home.

I still had faith in them after they beat Auburn, but I don't believe anybody else did. Well, they proved themselves after beating the defending national champion for the second year in a row, after a final score of 31-30.

6. Utah upsets Alabama

As much as I hate to admit it, as an Alabama fan, I must admit that Utah beating Alabama deserves to be No. 6. The reasons why are simply because Utah was completely underestimated and went in that game more prepared.

I mean, I basically stopped watching the game after Brian Johnson helped rack up three touchdowns in the first quarter. Johnson also threw for 336 yards, leading Utah to upset Alabama, 31-17.

5. Ole Miss upsets Texas Tech

I think this deserves to be No. 5 for one main reason: Ole Miss was an underdog who was predicted to get beat by 14 and 92 percent of the nation predicted Texas Tech to win.

The main reason Ole Miss won is because they were able to rack up over 500 yards of offense. Jevan Snead helped with 292 passing yards as Ole Miss beat Texas Tech, with a final score of 47-34.

4. Texas Tech upsets Texas

I think that this deserves to be No. 4 because before the game, Texas was predicted to win the Big 12 and go to the National Title Game. Texas Tech ruined all chances of that when they upset the Longhorns.

I believe a big part of the reason they won was the home-field advantage. But I also believe Graham Harrell's 474 passing yards helped, along with Michael Crabtree's touchdown reception with the clock winding down. This was the best victory Texas Tech had as they went on to beat Texas 39-33.

3. Iowa upsets Penn State

I believe this game deserves to be No. 3 because if Iowa would not have beaten Penn Sate, then Penn State would have gone to the National Championship. I think it was a very special game that Penn State just wasn't prepared to play.

What boosted Iowa to a victory mainly is because a backup kicker named Daniel Murray booted a 31-yard field goal in the final seconds of the game to win 24-23 over what was at that time the No. 3 team in the nation.

2. Ole Miss upsets Florida

This game definitely deserves to be No. 2 because Ole Miss came in unranked and was playing the No. 4 Florida Gators in the Swamp.

With players such as Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, and Brandon Spikes, you would think this is going to be a blowout. Florida was predicted to win by a whopping 17 points.

After a back-and-forth game, Ole Miss blocked an extra point and stopped Tim Tebow on 4th-and-short to make a huge upset in college football.

Yes, Florida still won the National Championship, but Ole Miss still played one heck of a game. I believe this was one of those games that only happens every few years. So this my No. 2 upset of the year after Ole Miss beat Florida 31-30.

1. Oregon State upsets USC

This game is my No. 1 because after this game, this left the BCS wide open. Oregon State made the biggest upset of 2008 by beating the No. 1 team in the nation, USC.

USC had more total offensive yards and passing yards, but it wasn't enough, as Oregon State was more prepared and was able to force turnovers and have the ball for a total of 33:11.

As a result, they were boosted up to beat the No. 1 team in the land and everyone's pick for national champion, USC, 33-31.

How Will Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno's Absence Effect Georgia?

L.C. May — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:57:30 -0500

After beating Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl Georgia comes home upset to find out their two best offensive players have decided to enter the NFL draft.

Both quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno have announced they will enter the NFL draft. Matthew Stafford is predicted to be drafted number one over all in the first round by the Detroit Lions.

It was between Sam Bradford and Matthew Stafford but Sam Bradford has decided to stay at Oklahoma. It depends on what mock draft you look at but there has been three I have looked at and they all say that Knowshon Moreno will be drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the late first round.

Now that Georgia has lost there two star players the question is who will replace them? Now I am not quite familiar with Georgia is thinking about replacing Matthew Stafford with so if you comment on this article. I also do not know who is predicted to replace Knowshon Moreno at running back.

But the things Georgia needs to focus on if they want to remain a top team even without there star players is getting a strong offensive to protect the first year starter that will start next year. The offensive line for Georgia will also need to open holes for the running back that will replace Knowshon Moreno.

Another thing Georgia needs is a pro style quarterback just like Matthew Stafford. One that can scramble out of the pocket but still make accurate passes. The quarterback will also have to be able to throw under pressure. These are the traits Matthew Stafford had and now he is going first round as a junior.

The main thing they need is a running back that can juke and break tackles like Reggie Bush or Chris Wells. Because of most of you already know Mark Richt prefers small speedy running backs over big stocky running backs like Glen Coffee from Alabama. The running back will have to be aggressive and find the holes quick due to this growing offensive line Georgia has.

Now in the preseason poll for next year according to Rivals.com Georgia is number eighteen in the preseason. The only reason they are that low is because there two star players left for the NFL draft.

Now I will go ahead and tell you Georgia will lose games this year but in the future they are going to be hard team to beat with players like A.J. Green playing and starting as a freshman.

One last thing is that Georgia needs a good recruiting class and right now they got the number seven recruiting class in the nation. So Georgia will have a bumpy road because they lost there two star players but they will have a strong team.

Does Florida's National Title Win Mean the SEC Is the Best Conference?

L.C. May — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:15:14 -0500

Florida won the National Championship for the second time in three years. Does this mean the SEC is the most dominant conference? Well, there are several people in the country that would argue, but I say that the SEC is the best conference in the country.

I have several reasons for my reasoning on this decision, so I am going to name all of them because I know that someone is going to disagree with me.

The number one reason as of right now is that an SEC team has dominated in the past three National Championships against two different conferences. If you want me to name them, well here you go. In the 2007 National Title Game, Florida dominated Ohio State 41-14. The very next year Ohio State got dominated again, but instead by LSU. Then this year Oklahoma got dominated in the fourth quarter by Florida in the 24-14 loss.

The number two reason is that we have the tougher teams. I know the Big 12 has Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech, but Texas Tech got killed by Ole Miss, an SEC team, Oklahoma lost to Florida, an SEC team, Oklahoma State got beat, and Texas barely won.

So not to be insulting, but the SEC has Florida, Georgia, Alabama, LSU, and Auburn (I know they were horrible this year, but they have been good), so the SEC has tougher challenges.

The number three reason is that the SEC has the best tradition and history of national titles, conference titles, players, coaches, and Heisman winners.

So yes, I do think that the SEC is the best conference because of these reasons. Feel free to comment.

Things to Look for in the SEC in 2009

L.C. May — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:08:41 -0500

Well, the first thing you can expect in the SEC in 2009 is that next year it is going to be one of the hardest years in SEC history to predict who is going to the SEC Championship.

But I will say that you will have at least two teams that are going to have worse seasons than people think. Who are those two teams you ask....Auburn from the SEC West because of new coach Gene Chizik, who needs to stick to being a coordinator, and he has little time to make a football team. But give him props; he has made some good hires.

The other bad team in the SEC is from the East, which is Tennessee. I know people predict Lane Kiffin to be pretty good, but I am telling you right now that he is not going to be good.

Yes, I know he has a pretty good staff with a defense that is led by Eric Berry, but I think that their offense is going to fumble and throw interceptions, which is going to tire the defense, causing a loss.

Now if I had to pick out of those two teams where I could be wrong, it would be close but I would say Tennessee, because they could surprise someone like Ole Miss did this year.

Now who do I predict to be in the SEC championship game? Well, I did a lot of research and the top two teams going for it in the West are Alabama and Ole Miss. I know Alabama will have a new quarterback, but I think they will have some losses but still be at the top of the list to go.

The team I think might surprise and sneak up in the championship game in the west is Arkansas. I think they are going to upset some teams, leading them to the conference championship.

Now the teams I predict from the east is Georgia and Florida. But if Tim Tebow goes pro, then I might change my opinion.

Now the team I believe will will surprise people in the east is Vanderbilt. I know they just won their first bowl game since 1957 this year, but they are getting better every year. Georgia is also pending if Matthew Stafford goes pro.

So now I am going to give you a quick rundown of every SEC team. Alabama will be a top contender for the SEC West title. Ole Miss is also a top contender for the SEC West title. Arkansas will most likely upset big teams, but will not go to the SEC championship.

Auburn will have a non bowl appearance just like this year. Mississippi State will make a few upsets but will not be a contender until 2010. LSU will be better next year but will not be a top contender until 2010.

Now here is my rundown for the East. Florida will have a good year like always and possibly go to the SEC championship. Georgia will be the same as Florida, and the annual Georgia-Florida game will actually be exciting.

Vanderbilt will make some upset and might sneak their way in to the SEC championship game. South Carolina will upset Florida, but that will be their best victory. Tennessee will not be too good this year due to its new head coach. Kentucky will make some upsets but will just go to the same bowl as they did this past year.

So this is my rundown of the SEC in 2009, so please comment.

The BCS Is a Mess: Several Reasons Why We Need a Playoff System

L.C. May — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:48:18 -0500

The year 2008 has proved to the BCS that college football needs a playoff system.

There are several reasons why college football needs a playoff system, and I could sit here all day and name them, but instead I am just going to name the main reasons why.

Number one: As you saw in the Rose Bowl, USC completely dominated Penn State, which shows that the USC vs. Oregon State game was just a complete upset.

Number two: Utah proved they were a BCS contender by going undefeated and beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. This proves that we need a playoff system because I guarantee you that one of the teams that went to a BCS bowl could beat one of the teams that are going to the national title. Texas already beat Oklahoma one time, and I bet they wish there was a playoff system so they could beat them again.

Another reason why we need a playoff system is because new president-elect Barack Obama has already stated that he is going to make a playoff system if at all possible. The way I believe the playoff system should work is that the BCS bowls still take place, but whoever wins each BCS bowl advances to play someone else.

So do you think USC proved they could beat anybody in the country? Do you believe Utah made a point that there should be more BCS busters? Did both these teams prove that there should be a playoff system in the BCS, and will new president-elect Barack Obama bring a playoff system into college football?

I believe that there should be a playoff system because of those two games and because most likely Barack Obama will get a playoff system.

Another main reason why is if you go up and ask any coach in the nation, they will say they want a playoff system. So do you think we will ever get a playoff system, or will the BCS stay a mess and make teams that deserve to go to the national championship go to a BCS bowl or worse, just a regular bowl?

Utah Shocks Alabama With a Dominating Performance In The Sugar Bowl, 31-17

L.C. May — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 11:18:04 -0500

It was a shocking day in New Orleans as the Utah Utes came in and just totally dominated the Alabama Crimson Tide, winning bya score of 31-17.

The Crimson Tide could not block a single defensive lineman and their offense did poorly as Utah beat the Crimson Tide. It started with three touchdowns by Utah in the first quarter, all in which came in under two minutes. It was basically over from there but Alabama did not give up as a punt return from Javier Arenas helped boost up the players spirits, but it was not enough.

What I believe were the main keys to Utah's victory were Andre Smith's suspension, Mike Johnson's injury, who by the way replaced Andre Smith, Utah's determination, Utah's no-huddle offense, anger which was fired up when Nick Saban said, ''Alabama was the only team to go undefeated in a real BCS conference, and the fact that Alabama just pure under estimated Utah.

But now the season is over with Utah being the only FBS team to go undefeated. Now Alabama has to start fresh and what I mean by that is, with John Parker leaving, Alabama has to get a new quarterback and with people believing Andre Smith is going to be leaving, we need someone who can fill those shoes.

So will Alabama have a good season next year? Will Nick Saban be able to take Alabama to their first national title in over 17 years? How will Nick Saban be able to explain the loss Alabama suffered to Utah? Will they beat Virginia Tech? Who will replace John Parker Wilson at quarterback?

These are all the questions are going through Alabama's fans heads. So I guess we won't know to next year but Alabama sure did not prove they were a national contender when they got beat by Utah.

SEC Championship: The Game That Shook Up the BCS

L.C. May — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:40:30 -0500

It was one of the most anticipated conference championship games in the country. It was simple: You either won big or went home. What game is this, you wonder? It's the SEC Championship. Alabama went in an underdog and came out with their tail between their legs.

Alabama, who was ranked number one in the country, had to face off against Florida, who was number three in the country. Whoever won went to the BCS National Championship—whoever lost got to go several hundred miles away to New Orleans.

Now I know I am a huge Alabama fan, but Florida simply just played better than my team. Alabama, I believe, has the better team—they just did not play like it. Florida's spread offense could not be stopped by Alabama's 4-3 defense.

Now this is the game that shook up the BCS because now they had to decide who goes to the national title game. Of course Florida went, but in my opinion, if Alabama and Florida played again, I think Alabama would pull out a slim victory.

My reason for saying this is because Alabama had the completely wrong kind of coverages, our passing game was not doing good, and our special teams did terrible. So that's why I say if this game was played again it would go the other way because of this. But there is no turning back and now Florida is most likely to win the BCS National Championship.

So basically what I am trying to say is that this is the game people waited for. It was the game that decided it all. It was "THE GAME." So for all this reasoning I am basically saying Alabama should have won and that I believe this was one of the most important games of the season.

Crimson Tide-Utes: Glen Coffee, Mark Ingram Are Ready for Utah Defense

L.C. May — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:42:49 -0500

As the time nears for Alabama to take on Utah in the Sugar Bowl, people are starting to wonder if the Utah defense can stop the great duo of running backs in Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram?

According to the Salt Lake Tribune starting linebacker for the Utes Mike Wright said, "Coffee is quick and powerful and we understand it's a big challenge for us. But also a big opportunity."

The Utes defense enters the contest with a rushing game that has stopped great running backs such as Colorado State's Gartrell Johnson, who was held to only 95 yards on 20 carries and zero touchdowns. The Utah defense also held TCU to just 15 yards in the third quarter and Air Force to 53 yards the whole game.

If you do not know already, Utah likes to run a basic 4-3 defense that Alabama has seen many times already. Incoming defense coordinator Kalani Sitake said, ''We are focusing on wrapping Glen Coffee up and corralling him before he can get going."

Coffee averages 6.1 yards per carry while Ingram averages 5.5 yards per carry. Not only are those two dangerous, but Roy Upchurch is there and they like to throw screens to him.

Will Utah be able to stop this great rushing attack?

They do have great players that would be able to make big plays such as Mike Wright, Greg Newman, Paul Kruger, and Koa Misi. Those are some talented players, but with Alabama having a great offensive line and knowing how the 4-3 works, I don't think the 4-3 will give those great game changers enough room to wrap up Coffee. If Utah blitzes too many men, Alabama has a quarterback that does not have a bad arm.

So will Utah be able slow down the rushing game? Yes, but not enough to keep Alabama from pulling away with a victory. Utah is going to bring a heavy blitzing scheme into play to try to stop the rushing attack.

If my analysis is right and Utah brings the blitzing attack they might try to force some fumbles which may cause a very close game. Alabama needs to refresh their memories of the 4-3 and get ready because Utah has won their last eight bowl games including one that was a BCS bowl.

So a warning right now goes to Alabama: Make sure to protect the ball or else we will see a replay of the Oklahoma vs. Boise State game.

Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite: The SEC's Three Sleeper Teams for 2009

L.C. May — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:08:46 -0500

It has been another great year in the SEC with great upsets, big wins, and a lot of great players. Now I think everyone would agree Ole Miss upsetting Florida was the upset of the year in the SEC, and arguably the best upset in the country.

Next year should be another great year in the SEC. I have three top sleepers in the SEC for the 2009 season.

My number three choice is Vanderbilt because they are getting better every year and are going to their first bowl game since 1987. Also Vanderbilt has a great coach who has been offered head coaching jobs at several other great colleges throughout the country, and along with that coach they have a great quarterback that doesn't get injured and is about as tough as Tim Tebow.

My number two choice is Mississippi State. The reason why is because of their new coach. Yes, I know next year will be his first year as the head football coach, but Houston Nutt coached a great ball team this year, and it was his first year as Ole Miss's head coach. Also, Mississippi State has some great running backs on board, and if they can find a pro-style quarterback, they will be a great team.

My number one sleeper team in the SEC is Ole Miss. I know that they have a great team this year, but I have heard three of the top professionals say that Ole Miss will not have a good team next year, and I 100 percent disagree with them. Ole Miss has a great coach, and they have speedy players to run the Wild Rebel formation with, so basically Ole Miss has a great team on their hands.

So these are my top three sleepers for 2009 in the SEC, and I believe by the way I look at it these teams do not need to get underestimated, or someone is going to get upset.