i just finished reading this article on the sporting news web site & although that there is nothing surprising in this article, i thought that some here might enjoy it....
btw...am i the only one who thinks that the miami fl. head coach is in over his head...how do they lose 48-0 to a mediocre virginia team ?
Winners & Losers: Big 12 is full of contenders
November 12, 2007
Matt Hayes
Winners: The Big 12
That little test for Kansas at Okie State? Just like the rest. Maybe, just maybe, it's time to start taking the Jayhawks seriously.
We've yet to hear a Mack Brown/Urban Meyer-type stump speech from KU coach Mark Mangino, but if the Jayhawks beat Iowa State this week and roll into Kansas City 11-0 -- to play 10-1 Missouri -- somebody has to say something.
Dan Beebe is in his first year as commissioner of the Big 12, and while he doesn't want to upset his fellow BCS honchos, he sees the reality of the situation. At some point, we all have to stop whining about KU's non-conference schedule and embrace the beauty that is Manginotown.
"I know Kansas is aware of the concerns about their non-conference schedule," Beebe says. "I have full faith that the next three games, against top quality competition, will probably show that if they go undefeated, they deserve to play in the national championship."
So it's not a rousing stump speech. Then again, can you blame him? The Big 12 has three -- yep, three -- teams still alive in this wacky race. As commish, you can't push for one full throttle, watch something crazy happen, and then jump on another horse.
A quick breakdown for Big 12 teams:
Kansas: The Jayhawks control their destiny. The numbers in the BCS ratings are fluid, people. They're based on opinions, remember? If KU beats Missouri (No. 5 in the BCS) and Oklahoma (No. 4 in the BCS), they'll jump everyone -- that's right, SEC snobs, even LSU -- all the way to the No. 1 spot.
Missouri: Needs LSU or Oregon to lose, and victories over Kansas and Oklahoma.
Oklahoma: As quirky as it sounds, the Sooners are in the worst shape of the three -- if only because of perception. If OU beats unbeaten Kansas in the Big 12 Championship game, well, it had to end at some point for the "overrated" Jayhawks. And if OU beats Missouri, well, the Sooners already beat the Tigers earlier this year. What does that prove? It ain't fair; it's opinion based on perception. Bottom line: Sooners need LSU or Oregon to lose.
Losers: Ohio State
It's bad enough the Buckeyes lost at home on Senior Day, a breath away from playing for it all against hated rival Michigan. It's bad enough that Ohio State now needs what amounts to an act of God -- in Columbus, they call Him Woody -- to get back into the BCS Championship race (hey, stranger things have happened).
The worst part of the loss to Illinois? Ohio State proved, yet again, it can't compete with SEC teams. Which leads us to ...
Winners: Illinois
Don't kid yourself, Illinois coach Ron Zook has built himself an SEC team in Champaign.
The speed, the athleticism, the audacity. And now, everyone, the Zooker has a little SEC coach in him, too. Fourth-and-short with the game on the line -- deep in the negative side of the field. And he goes for it.
What we have witnessed, everyone, is the birth of game-day acumen for the Zooker.
Hallelujah.
Losers: Joe Glenn
There are few guys I like more in the coaching business than Wyo coach Joe Glenn. A down-home, friendly, hard-working dude doing whatever he can to get the best out of the least.
And now there is this: Glenn is all over the Internet for his inappropriate gesture during this weekend's game vs. Utah.
This is what happens when you guarantee a win to a bunch of boosters who hang on your every word, and the guarantee gets out. And the other team gets juiced.
The next thing you know, you're down 43-0 in the third quarter and the other guy is trying an onside kick. I don't have any problem with Utah running up the score or trying an onside kick. Or with Glenn telling Utah coach Kyle Whittingham he's No. 1 in his heart.
My question: Where has this Utah team been all season? Losses to Air Force and UNLV are unforgivable, and cost the Utes a Mountain West title.
Winners: Jake Locker
You may not have seen this because the game ended well past 1 a.m. East Coast, but there was one scary moment Saturday night in Corvallis.
Midway through the second quarter of a loss to Oregon State, Washington QB Jake Locker lay motionless on the carpet at OSU after the helmet-to-helmet hit. Thankfully, the extent of the injury is this: a stinger and a strain of the trapezius muscle.
Locker, one of the game's most dynamic -- and tough -- players, says he wants to play against Cal this week. Don't count him out. It's not like he hasn't endured questionable hits once or twice this season.
Losers: Boston College
One minute, you're talking about national titles and Heisman Trophies and everything is peachy.
Two weeks later -- after ugly losses to Florida State and Maryland, not exactly the elite of the ACC -- you've fallen behind the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, Revolution and any other pro team with a pulse in New England and you'll be fortunate to play in the Music City Bowl.
btw...am i the only one who thinks that the miami fl. head coach is in over his head...how do they lose 48-0 to a mediocre virginia team ?
Winners & Losers: Big 12 is full of contenders
November 12, 2007
Matt Hayes
Winners: The Big 12
That little test for Kansas at Okie State? Just like the rest. Maybe, just maybe, it's time to start taking the Jayhawks seriously.
We've yet to hear a Mack Brown/Urban Meyer-type stump speech from KU coach Mark Mangino, but if the Jayhawks beat Iowa State this week and roll into Kansas City 11-0 -- to play 10-1 Missouri -- somebody has to say something.
Dan Beebe is in his first year as commissioner of the Big 12, and while he doesn't want to upset his fellow BCS honchos, he sees the reality of the situation. At some point, we all have to stop whining about KU's non-conference schedule and embrace the beauty that is Manginotown.
"I know Kansas is aware of the concerns about their non-conference schedule," Beebe says. "I have full faith that the next three games, against top quality competition, will probably show that if they go undefeated, they deserve to play in the national championship."
So it's not a rousing stump speech. Then again, can you blame him? The Big 12 has three -- yep, three -- teams still alive in this wacky race. As commish, you can't push for one full throttle, watch something crazy happen, and then jump on another horse.
A quick breakdown for Big 12 teams:
Kansas: The Jayhawks control their destiny. The numbers in the BCS ratings are fluid, people. They're based on opinions, remember? If KU beats Missouri (No. 5 in the BCS) and Oklahoma (No. 4 in the BCS), they'll jump everyone -- that's right, SEC snobs, even LSU -- all the way to the No. 1 spot.
Missouri: Needs LSU or Oregon to lose, and victories over Kansas and Oklahoma.
Oklahoma: As quirky as it sounds, the Sooners are in the worst shape of the three -- if only because of perception. If OU beats unbeaten Kansas in the Big 12 Championship game, well, it had to end at some point for the "overrated" Jayhawks. And if OU beats Missouri, well, the Sooners already beat the Tigers earlier this year. What does that prove? It ain't fair; it's opinion based on perception. Bottom line: Sooners need LSU or Oregon to lose.
Losers: Ohio State
It's bad enough the Buckeyes lost at home on Senior Day, a breath away from playing for it all against hated rival Michigan. It's bad enough that Ohio State now needs what amounts to an act of God -- in Columbus, they call Him Woody -- to get back into the BCS Championship race (hey, stranger things have happened).
The worst part of the loss to Illinois? Ohio State proved, yet again, it can't compete with SEC teams. Which leads us to ...
Winners: Illinois
Don't kid yourself, Illinois coach Ron Zook has built himself an SEC team in Champaign.
The speed, the athleticism, the audacity. And now, everyone, the Zooker has a little SEC coach in him, too. Fourth-and-short with the game on the line -- deep in the negative side of the field. And he goes for it.
What we have witnessed, everyone, is the birth of game-day acumen for the Zooker.
Hallelujah.
Losers: Joe Glenn
There are few guys I like more in the coaching business than Wyo coach Joe Glenn. A down-home, friendly, hard-working dude doing whatever he can to get the best out of the least.
And now there is this: Glenn is all over the Internet for his inappropriate gesture during this weekend's game vs. Utah.
This is what happens when you guarantee a win to a bunch of boosters who hang on your every word, and the guarantee gets out. And the other team gets juiced.
The next thing you know, you're down 43-0 in the third quarter and the other guy is trying an onside kick. I don't have any problem with Utah running up the score or trying an onside kick. Or with Glenn telling Utah coach Kyle Whittingham he's No. 1 in his heart.
My question: Where has this Utah team been all season? Losses to Air Force and UNLV are unforgivable, and cost the Utes a Mountain West title.
Winners: Jake Locker
You may not have seen this because the game ended well past 1 a.m. East Coast, but there was one scary moment Saturday night in Corvallis.
Midway through the second quarter of a loss to Oregon State, Washington QB Jake Locker lay motionless on the carpet at OSU after the helmet-to-helmet hit. Thankfully, the extent of the injury is this: a stinger and a strain of the trapezius muscle.
Locker, one of the game's most dynamic -- and tough -- players, says he wants to play against Cal this week. Don't count him out. It's not like he hasn't endured questionable hits once or twice this season.
Losers: Boston College
One minute, you're talking about national titles and Heisman Trophies and everything is peachy.
Two weeks later -- after ugly losses to Florida State and Maryland, not exactly the elite of the ACC -- you've fallen behind the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, Revolution and any other pro team with a pulse in New England and you'll be fortunate to play in the Music City Bowl.
