Bleacher Report - Articles by B.J. Cepeda

BJ's Food for Thought: No. 1

B.J. Cepeda — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:36:20 -0500

Check this out: Tom Bowl.

It's the only major college football bowl not accredited with the NCAA. Who else thinks this guy is wacky out of his mind? By the way no team has showed up in the history of the game.

Laval Lucas Perry showed Michigan he will be another threat in the arsenal. Going off for 14 points in his first game since transferring from Arizona last season, Perry looked as if he had been playing with the team all year. He will be a big help in the race for the Big 10 Championship.

Finally the High School Football Championships are over in every state. According to Rivals.com they have announced the 2008 Top High School Football team. St. Thomas Aquinas out of Fort Lauderdale, FL won the mythical Championship.

Finally, what's up with football referres giving players forearm shivers? It happened earlier this year in an NCAA game. Then it happened this week in an NFL game as a Saints running back was taken out. All you refs out there, they have semipro football still if you're interested in hitting again.

This is the first installment in many more food for thoughts to come.

2008: The Year of Sports

B.J. Cepeda — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 11:57:50 -0500

O what a year! Championships were won, legends were lost. With the economic downfall only one thing has kept America together, Sports! Let's make a toast to the great sports year that was 2008, and to 2009 the year of great opportunity. Take a look at this slide show that features a variety of different great Sports stories in the great year of 2008.

Begin Slideshow

UMichigan QB Commit Shavodrick Beaver Decommits, Heading To Tulsa

B.J. Cepeda — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:15:07 -0500

According to Rivals.com, University of Michigan top quarterback recruit Shavodrick Beaver from Wichita Falls, Texas has decommited and is heading to the University of Tulsa.

This defiently hurts Michigan in some sort. Still, Tate Forcier, another Michigan quarterback recruit is good enough to step in and produce early results. Earlier this week, Beaver was quoted as saying he was still coming to the University of Michigan.

Losing Beaver, a four star recruit, will hurt Michigan which in their offense the quarterback takes multiple hits a game. Coach Rodriguez believes it's always good to have a few quarterbacks. With the loss of Sam McGuffie earlier in the week, the Wolverines dismal woes keep on keeping on.

Only two of the top eight dual-threat QB prospects are still undecided, No.2 quarterback Tyrik Rollison and No.3 quarterback Tajh Boyd, but they both aren't interested in the University of Michigan.

Hard Work Pays Off for Central Michigan QB Brian Brunner

B.J. Cepeda — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 09:09:31 -0400

Brian Brunner is a perfect example of hard work paying off. Ranked as the 10th best quarterback in the Midwest by Scouts Inc. in 2004, he had his sights set on guiding Central Michigan to multiple bowl games.

Brian joined the team in 2004, and was redshirted. Although he did receive the Offensive Scout Team player of the year. In 2005, he saw action in three games completing all of his pass attempts for the Chippewas.

2006 was Brian Brunner's year.

He came into preseason camp as the projected starting quarterback but had some competition from redshirt freshman Dan Lefevour.

He eventually won the starting quarterback job, and was to start the season vs. Boston College at Kelly Shorts Stadium.

On the second play from scrimmage for the Chippewas, Brunner suffered a severe concussion. Although he didn't know it then, his backup would be one of Central's best quarterbacks ever. Dan Lefevour almost led the team back to a win versus a very good ACC team.

Brunner then saw action versus Eastern Michigan coming off the bench, and rallying them to a win. Brunner thought he had a chance to redeem himself and start the next week, but to his surprise he was done being a starting quarterback for 2 years. He appeared in a couple of games for the Chippewas in 2007 but only threw 12 passes.

His big opportunity came in 2008.

He was given the chance to come into the game after Lefevour hurt his ankle in the Temple game. Brunner guided the team to a big win on CMU's Homecoming.

The next week versus Western Michigan, Brunner got his first start in two years, guiding Central to a big rivalry win throwing for 341 yards and running for 36. Leading CMU to a 38-28 over WMU.

Brunner has always been a active person. Helping with football camps, going to various schools for recess with the Chippewas, and participating in a host of other activities.

He is also a very good leader with his team as he was voted team captain for the 2008 season as a backup quarterback.

He has also been academic All-MAC several times. He received the Boyden award, which embodies everything previously mentioned.

Most importantly, Brunner is an all-around great person who will be remembered as a leader and good athlete at CMU.