Clay Matthews: The second coming of Ray Nitschke.

In just his second year, Clay Matthews has developed a reputation as one of the best linebackers in the NFL.  He's big, strong, fast and very athletic; simply put, the man is a BEAST!!  He is slowly but surely establishing himself as a Packer legend, following the footsteps of one the best players to ever wear the Green and Gold; Ray Nitschke.

I'm not a Green Bay Packer fan, cheesehead or whatever it is they call themselves.  I'm not steeped in the tradition, or even know much about the Lambeau mystic, the Frozen Tundra and all that stuff.  What I do know however is that Ray Nitschke is one of the best to have ever played the game.  If you're a Green Bay fan reading this, and there's something you think I ought to know, feel free to educate me.

The man could use a good dental plan.

The list of great linebackers goes deep.  You've got "Hollywood" Henderson, Mike Singletary, Lawrence Taylor.  Then it gets deeper with Chuck Bednarik, Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert and Ray Nitschke.  That's old school and it's as good it gets.

Drafted out of Illinois in 1957, Nitschke was a key player during the Packers dominance in the 1960's.  While he was known for his hard hits, he was a good all-around linebacker, intercepting 25 passes during his career.  Along with the NFL Championships, Super Bowls, All-Pro selections and Hall of Fame honors, Nitschke is one of only 5 players to have their numbers retired by Green Bay; not bad considering how many great players have come through.

Along with Penn State, USC takes a lot pride in the moniker "Linebacker U" due the number of great players at that position over the years.  Junior Seau, Willie McGinest, Chris Clairbone, Lofa Tatupu and Keith Rivers are just to name but a few.  It definitely wouldn't hurt to add Clay Matthews to that discussion.

The three amigos prior to the NFL draft.

Matthews teamed up with Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Kaluka Maiava to form one of the best linebacking units in the country.  From 2006-2008, USC faced Michigan, Illinois (who should have never even been there in the first place) and Penn State in three straight Rose Bowls.  Not only did the Trojans win all three games decisively, but they were dominant in every sense of the word; thanks in part to the aforementioned gentlemen. 

In this era of parity, winning one championship is probably more than enough because it's not as easy for teams to dominate an entire decade like they used back then.  Should Green Bay win Super Bowl XLV, and Matthews goes on to a lengthy career, it wouldn't be a bad thing if he were to considered in the same breath as Nitschke.

6, is the loneliest number.

I decided to do a little remix to the Harry Nilsson classic "One", after the Conference title game concluded on Sunday.  I would have typed the entire song on here, but this is not a karaoke blog.

Jay Cutler couldn't have picked another day to have a bad game.  If the Bears were to advance to the Super Bowl, he was going to have to play above and beyond his best.  While Aaron Rodgers is just as important to his team, the Bears usually suffer more when Cutler plays poorly. 

Cutler who never even got off the blocks left in the 3rd quarter because he sprained his left knee.  Looking at his body language on the sideline, he seemed like he was more suited for a spot on the "Wanna Get Away!!" Southwest Airline promos.  Now you've got people questioning his toughness, and whether or not he bailed on his team.  I'm not going to even get into that because apparently, it's easier to kick a person when they're down.  If he wasn't able to continue, why would he want to set his team back any further than they already were?

Mark Sanchez looked like a "deer in the headlights" during the first half.  This was clearly not the same the guy who led the Jets to win over the Steelers last December.  He rebounded in the second half and had the Jets won, they would have overcome the largest deficit in a conference title game.  However, their second half effort while good, wasn't enough to get it done.  The Steelers now head off to their record-tying 8th Super Bowl.

While both Sanchez and Cutler failed to lead their teams to Jerry's World, to be fair, it really wasn't all on them.  Both Green Bay and Pittsburgh made big plays early in the game to get ahead, and late in the game to seal their wins.  I would have really loved to see a Jets-Bears rematch in the Super Bowl, after the Bears won 38-34 in what was a very entertaining game.

Hopefully, both Chicago and New York still have enough talent to make it back to the playoffs next year.  Until then, they'll be watching the Super Bowl like the rest of us; at home!!

Joe Flacco vs the Steel Curtain.

Joe Flacco has accomplished a lot of neat things in just a short NFL career.  He recently became one of only four quarterbacks to lead his team to the playoffs in all of his first three seasons (he has a 5-3 record in the post-season).

The one thing that Joe Flacco has not been able to figure out so far, is how to solve the Steel Curtain.  For the second time in three seasons, Baltimore's Super Bowl hopes have been ended at the hands of the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.  In their most recent matchup, the Ravens lost 31-24 after going leading 21-7 at half time.

In his rookie season, Flacco played a key role in helping the Ravens get to the AFC Championship.  In a close affair vs Pittsburgh, he was intercepted 3 times; the second of which was returned for the game clinching touchdown by Troy Polamalu.  In that game, you could have chalked it up to his inexperience.  You could have said that maybe the whole situation was a little more than he could handle.

Flacco was sacked 5 times by Pittsburgh

Rarely does Baltimore ever give up a 14 point lead, or any lead for that matter.  What happened however, was a classic "second half collapse" in the playoffs.  Pittsburgh turned up the heat in the second half, while the Ravens just faded away.

Flacco overthrew teammate Todd Heap, only to be picked off by Pittsburgh's Ryan Clark.  Later on, a botched exchanged between Flacco and center Matt Birk resulted in a fumble that was recovered by the Steelers, resulting in another score. 

Granted, it really wasn't all on Flacco.  Anquan Boldin dropped a sure touchdown pass that would have put the Ravens up 28-24, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh dropped a perfectly thrown pass on "4th & 19" that would have kept a possible game-tying drive alive.

Flacco, in his days as a Fighting Blue Hen

What's ironic here, is that this is the same field where Joe Flacco's collegiate career began.  As a Pittsburgh Panther, he redshirted in 2003 and saw limited action in 2004.  Looking for more playing time, he transferred to Delaware, a 1-AA school that has produced NFL quarterbacks such as Jeff Komlo and Rich Gannon (2002 NFL MVP).  At Delaware, he set several school records and led the Fighting Blue Hens to a runner-up finish in the 2007 1-AA playoffs.

Joe Flacco has more than filled Baltimore's search for a franchise quarterback.  In the team's short existence, mostly journeymen have filled the position; Vinny Testaverde, Jim Harbaugh, Tony Banks, Trent Dilfer (I know what you're thinking), Elvis Grbac, Anthony Wright, Steve McNair. 

In 2003, the Ravens drafted Kyle Boller, hoping that he would be the franchise quarterback, but he never panned out.  During his time at Baltimore, he was on two playoff teams (2003, 2006), but he NEVER really led them to the playoffs.  Anthony Wright supplanted Boller in 2003, while in 2006, he was Steve McNair's backup.

For his career, Joe Flacco is 2-6 all-time against Pittsburgh (0-2 in the playoffs).  When all is said and done, he will have rewritten any and every franchise record at Baltimore.  However, until he can figure out how beat Pittsburgh in the playoffs, Trent Dilfer will most likely remain the best quarterback to have played for the Ravens (I can't even say that with a straight face!!).

If it's any consolation, it was once thought that the only way Peyton Manning would EVER win a Super Bowl, was if he could beat New England in the playoffs.

And it's on to the next one.

Cam Newton has decided to call time on what has been arguably the greatest "one & done" season in college football history.  He has had an interesting journey over the last three years; starting in Gainesville, FL through Brenham, TX and finally stopping in Glendale, AZ.

His decison to turn pro isn't exactly a surprise; hardly anyone expected him to return for his senior season.  With Andrew Luck opting to return to school for another year, the chance that Newton might be drafted 1st overall have probably increased.  The only quarterback rated higher than him in the draft is Missouri's Blaine Gabbert. 

No offense to Gabbert, but if he and Newton were to switch teams (coincidentally, both Mizzou and Auburn are nicknamed "Tigers"), I don't see Auburn lifting the crystal football.  The #1 spot could be snapped up by Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who has yet to decide whether or not he'll go pro.


Bo knows Heisman (1985); Pat Sullivan circa 1971

Neither the defenders on the field, nor the scandals off it could prevent Newon from becoming the third Heisman trophy winner from Auburn; joining Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson.  There is no denying that he will be considered as one of the best quarterbacks to have played the collegiate game.  He has been to Auburn what Vince Young was to Texas in 2005, and Tim Tebow was to Florida in 2008.

Bo, Cam & Pat: the Auburn trinity

How high he goes in the draft might depend on how he performs at the NFL workouts.  A lot of experts feel that he may have been better served by another year in school.  He may not have the mechanics or timing down (the so called "intangibles"), but these are things that good coaching will usually fix.  Intangibles or not, Newton is a proven winner and he is the kind of player any coach would want to have on their squad.

The rule of thumb regarding the NFL draft is to always go when you're "hot".  If you feel that you're both physically and mentally ready, you make the move.  If you feel that there's things you can improve on or goals to accomplish, you stay. (You can also to check out my article A little bit of defense; a whole lotta Luck to read my thoughts on Stanford QB Andrew Luck; who had yet to make his decision at the time)  

A great college career doesn't always translate into a great a pro career.  I'm sure a lot will be expected from Newton at the next level, and only time will tell whether or not he comes through.  I'm not predicting any future success or anything like that, but I won't be surprised if his star continues to shine in the NFL.  

Coming back to a city near you: by public demand!!

Cowboy Nation can now breath a sigh of relief, because Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon will be returning for another season.  While it was almost certain that Weeden would be coming back, no one would have been surprised had Blackmon declared for the NFL draft; where he was guaranteed to be a first round pick.

Both Blackmon and Weeden had sensational seasons, while helping lead Oklahoma State to it's best season yet.  They set individual school records in passing and receiving, breaking records that were set by Josh Fields and Rashaun Woods in 2002; who weren't too bad of a dynamic duo themselves.  They also earned first team All-Conference honors.

Brandon Weeden started off as an unknown, and by season's end, he was a first team All-Conference quarterback; the first from Oklahoma State since Clarence Highfill in 1932.  It is safe to say that everybody now knows who he is. 

Justin Blackmon, the Biletnikoff Award winner and first team All-American, was a highlight reel in motion.  He was so explosive that the only person who's been able to stop him so far, was the Carrollton (TX) Police Officer who arrested him in late October.  Defenders who tried to "single cover" him, could only recall the name and number on the back of his jersey while he sprinted toward to the endzone for another score.

In 2002, Fields and Woods helped lead OSU to it's first Bowl game since 1997

What this means is that Oklahoma State will likely earn a high pre-season ranking, that would put them in a position to contend for both a conference title and a possible BCS Bowl berth.  Since there won't be a conference championship game to worry about, this feat should be a little bit easier.

With a lot of starters returning on both offense and defense, and Bedlam returning to Stillwater for the second year in a row, I would highly encourage you to go out there and get your tickets now.  You wouldn't want to miss this show.

Miles won't say "adieu" to the Bayou!!

For some who apparently likes to eat grass, the turf in Ann Arbor didn't look that much greener.  For the second time in three years, Les Miles turned down an offer to coach his alma mater.

It was reported that Miles would accept the job if it were offered to him, but as we have now found out, that is not the case.  I'm sure Michigan were willing to break the bank to bring back one of their own.  Miles played for the legendary Bo Schembechler and even worked as an assistant coach for both Bo and Gary Moeller.  That would surely make him Michigan Man, right?

Here's an interesting fact to ponder, maybe some trivia if you may.  Les Miles has recorded as many wins over Ohio State as Michigan since 2001; one!!  This came courtesy of a 38-24 win over the Buckeyes in the 2007 BCS title game.  Consider yourself guidanced (I borrowed that line).

Who's that guy next to Bo?

In my opinion, I think Les Miles made a good decision to stay in Baton Rouge.  Louisiana is a state that is full of talent and unlike states such as Florida, Texas, California and Pennsylvania; LSU doesn't have a "big-time" in-state rival, which means that he will get the best players year in and year out.  The number of top rated recruiting classes he has brought in during his time at the Bayou will serve as evidence.

At Michigan, he would have to fight Ohio State for talent in Ohio, Penn State for talent in Pennsylvania, Michigan State for in-state talent, Illinois for talent in that state, Virginia Tech and Virginia for their talent and so on.  We also know what would happen if losses to Ohio State keep mounting.  Michigan fans might not want to admit it, but Ohio State have OWNED the Wolverines in this decade; that's just real talk.

Michigan are in a "win-now" mode.  They want results right now and there is no doubt that Miles can deliver.  He is in his 10th season as a head coach and he has proven that he can beat the big boys.  In 2001, he led a 3-7 Oklahoma State team to an upset victory over Oklahoma, the defending national champion.  He compiled a 28-21 record during his time in Stillwater, which was highlighted by 3 consecutive winning seasons and 3 straight bowl games.  Oklahoma State had not enjoyed that much success since the 1980's.  And even though Cowboy nation might try and deny, Les Miles kick-started the run of success that has trickled over into the Mike Gundy era.  And that is how, as Les Miles would say, you let 'er rip!!

The Mad Hatter with the mad bling

When Nick Saban left the Bayou for South Beach after the 2004 season, Les Miles took over the program and continued to win.  In six seasons, he's led LSU to: four 10-win seasons, at least 13 wins over ranked teams, 2 SEC title games (including a win in 2007) and a 5-1 record in bowl games; starting with a 40-3 massacre of Miami in the 2005 Peach Bowl (Miami hasn't quite been the same since), through the 2007 national title, and a Cotton Bowl win over Texas A&M (LSU's first since 1966).

While you can question his clock management skills (don't even get me started), the one thing you can't questions is his ability to recruit, coach and win.  At LSU, he's in a much better position to contend for and win a national championship, than at Michigan.  No disrespect to Michigan, but the man has a good thing going on at LSU and I don't know that many people who would want to trade in a good situation for a supposedly "better" one.  Actually, I do; Rich Rodriguez (see my article Coach, interrupted, which talks about how in three seasons, he turned Michigan from a storied program into a Big Ten punching bag).

So the next time Les Miles feels like chomping the turf at Tiger Stadium, you can at least be assured he knows that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Tiger Paradise

Auburn and Oregon, while known for the high flying offenses, didn't disappoint in a defensive showdown.  I had the feeling that this is probably how the game would play itself out.  Auburn are national champions because they were more suited to this kind of game.

They had won 6 games this season by 8 points or less (this game would make it 7), three of those wins came against ranked teams.  Another point to note is that all those six teams played in bowl games, finishing with a combined 3-3 record.  This team mirrors the 2002 Ohio State team as well as the 2003 LSU team; both teams won the national championship because they knew how to grind it out in the close games.

What Heisman jinx?

Oregon can hold their head up high even in defeat, because there is no shame in losing to a team that is just as good as you are, if not better.  Auburn seemed to have a little more gas in the tank and were able to make the extra plays needed for the win.  Oregon should be able to make another title run with both LaMichael James and Darron Thomas returning to school for another season.

Cam Newton may not have had his best game, but he surely did enough to get the Tigers over hump for the program's first national title since 1957.  His passing was off at times, but he connected on a couple of long touchdowns and broke off a big run every now and then.  When Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews forced a fumble off Newton, it seemed that Heisman jinx was back at work.  Oregon ended up tying the score, but Newton will be thanking Michael Dyer, the game's Offensive MVP, for saving the day, when he broke off runs of 37 yards and 16 yards to set up Wes Byrum for the game winning field goal.

Wes Byrum putting his foot down on matters.

The play of the game came when Nick Fairley and the Tigers defensive line stuffed Kenjon Barner on a "4th & Goal" play from the 1 yard line.  It was enough to turn the tide in Auburn's favor.  Had Oregon scored the touchdown or a field goal, there is a chance that they might have won the game.  Decisions, decisions; why do they have to be so hard.  Auburn's defensive line worked excellently, constantly pressuring Darron Thomas into throwing the ball early and stuffing LaMichael James at just about every opportunity they could get.  Along with Michael Dyer, they get my vote for the game's MVP.

As far as that Heisman Jinx is concerned (I covered this in an earlier article), we'll have to worry about it next year.  I gotta hand it to Cam Newton; this guy is just a winner.  Forget about all the NCAA investigations and whatnot.  He has won at just about every place he has been.  He won a national championship at Florida (as a backup to Tim Tebow), he led Blinn College to the juco national championship and lifted Auburn to national title.

With the kind of season that he's had, I think he's about ready to cash in on his talents (you can take that in any context that you'd like).  He should most likely go #1 overall, since Andrew Luck opted to return to school for another year (I kind of didn't see that one coming).  Should he leave, it would be wise to say that not only will we be crowning a different champion next season, but it likely won't come from the SEC. 

So in parting, I would like to congratulate Auburn on their great season.  Enjoy and hopefully, it won't be another 53 years before your next title.

Rose Bowl revisited: The curious case of Andy Dalton

TCU's win over Wisconsin saw them become the first non AQ (automatic qualifier) school to win the Rose Bowl, joining Utah who won the 2005 Fiesta Bowl and the 2009 Sugar Bowl.  No redemption could have been greater, especially after Ohio State president Gordon Gee dissed them and compared their schedule to the "Little Sisters of the Poor".

Tank Carder made what proved to be the biggest play in the Horned Frogs season, when he batted down a pass on two point conversion attempt, that would have surely sent the game into overtime.  That was just one of the many plays that he made for TCU.  He was no doubt the man about town that day.

While Carder's efforts could have earned him the game MVP, and rightfully so, that honor deservedly went to Quarterback Andy Dalton.  A four year starter, Dalton seemed nothing like the player from last year's Fiesta Bowl.  In that 17-10 loss to Boise State, he was picked off 3 times in what was agreeably one of the worst games of his career.

Dalton scoring on a quarterback keeper in the first half

In this trip, following another stellar showing in the regular season, he saved his best game for last.  He passed for a touchdown, ran for another and helped TCU control the game long enough to pull off the historic win.

His 42-7 record makes the him the school's career leader for wins by a starting quarterback.  What makes this even more impressive, are the names on that list; Sammy Baugh and Davey O'Brien.  Should Andy Dalton be considered the best quarterback to have played for TCU?

Slingin' Sammy Baugh was a two time All-American in 1935 and 1936.  He went on to a 16 year career in the NFL, all with the Washington Redskins.  The Sammy Baugh trophy, awarded to the nation's top passer, is named in his honor.  He was enshrined in both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame. 



Baugh & O'Brien were legends at TCU and in college football too.

Davey O'Brien won the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award and Heisman Trophy; becoming the first player to win all three awards in the same season.  In that same season, 1938, he led TCU to an undefeated season and a national championship.  Some of the records he set still stand to this day.  The Davey O' Brien Award, which is awarded to the nation's best quarterback, is named in his honor.

There has been many a legend that has passed through Forth Worth; Larry Brown (a three time Super Bowl winner with the Dallas Cowboys), LaDainian Tomlinson (Doak Walker Award winner who led the nation in rushing in both 1999 & 2000), Dutch Meyer (played for TCU and coached them to National Championships in both 1935 & 1938)...... this list could go on.

It would not be far fetched to say that Andy Dalton has more than secured his legend at TCU.  By the time the program has its next great quarterback, we might have a college football playoff in place.  Now that might be far fetched.

 



Big baller, play caller.

Jason Garrett officially became the 8th head coach of the Dallas Cowboys this week,  after having served the last three and a half seasons as the offensive co-ordinator.  We also know the "great" job that he did as the "interim" coach; leading the Cowboys to a 5-3 record after the horrendous 1-7 start, in a season they were expected to play in February's Super Bowl that will be hosted in Jerry's World.

In the offseason, Dallas extended Wade Phillips' contract by 2 more years, on the heels of a strong finish that saw them not only win a division title, but a playoff game for the first time since 1996.  After a reality check beatdown by the Vikings, probably the last good game by Brett Favre, you kind of hoped that they would come back stronger in the next season.

Now this isn't a secret to anyone familiar with football, and the Dallas Cowboys to be precise.  The only thing that Jerry Jones really, really wanted, was to hoist the Lombardi trophy at the 50 yard line in his own stadium.  Anything short of that, and Wade Phillips would be gone.  It didn't matter if Dallas went 16-0, won the NFC title but lost in the Superbowl.  It had to be this season, or else.

Wade was sent packing after a loss to the Packers

Wade Phillips is a different kind of cat.  He's not going to get on the podium and give you sound bites like Jim Mora, or maybe even Herm Edwards.  He's not going to rip into players on the podium or even get in their face on the sidelines.  And he's definitely not the "fire and brimstone" kind of a coach.  You can call his style maybe soft, or whatever.  Just don't expect to get much from this guy. 

I guess the players eventually just stopped responding, and went out there doing their own thing.  The season just started out as a joke.  When the offensive line wasn't busy holding, they were being penalized for false starts.  The secondary couldn't stop anybody, you had Mike Jenkins (a pro bowler the previous season) bailing out on tackles; this team was a comedy of errors.

While Phillips dismissal was imminent, the problem that I have with his replacement is this; who was the offensive coordinator during the team's 1-7 start?  And why is it that offensive production goes up, just after Phillips was fired?  Certain things don't require a trained eye and this is one of those things.  A few other columnists have brought this up on national TV, so I guess I'm not alone in wondering whether there was possible sabotage.  Whenever an offense sputters, the offensive coordinator is usually demoted or fired; but you can't fire a guy that's about replace you, especially when he's got the full faith and credit of the team owner.

Garrett made his career as a backup QB

What's done is done.  Garrett is the new sheriff in town and he has been charged with the mission of leading the Cowboys to success, much like he enjoyed during his stint as a backup quarterback.  He was on 2 Super Bowl winning teams and is fondly remembered for leading the Cowboys to a Thanksgiving day win over Green Bay in 1994.  He still retains his play-calling duties and has full control of personnel matters; so there isn't a player who will be on that team without his approval.

I'm sure if Jerry Jones could have had it any other way, maybe Garrett would have been head coach sooner, instead of the soap opera that unfolded when Bill Parcells had left.  However, if there is a team capable of playing out a soap opera, it can only be Dallas.

Coach, interrupted.

If he only knew.

The "suspense" is finally over, as Michigan pulled the plug on the Rich Rodriguez Experiment, ending one of the worst 3 year runs in school history, in which the Wolverines posted a 15-22 record.  The most important stat during this period is the 0-6 record against Ohio State and Michigan State.

Bo Schembechler once said that "Only a Michigan man will coach Michigan".  According to various interpretations, I have come to understand that it means someone who identifies and understands, what it means to be associated with the University of Michigan.  I'm not really sure, but that's the vibe I get.  Of course I could be wrong, and if so, will the real Michigan men please stand up and educate me.

What I do know however, is that if you're the head coach at Michigan, you have to BEAT Ohio State.  If you're the coach at Ohio State, you do not lose to THAT SCHOOL UP NORTH!!  Failure to beat the other consistently could result in you looking for another line of work.  It's just that simple; anything less is unacceptable.  Ask John Cooper or Lloyd Carr how it worked out for them.

After Bo, there was Gary Moeller, then Lloyd Carr; Michigan Men.  So when it became news that Rich Rodriguez would be the next man to lead Michigan, that just didn't sound right.  First of all, he's a Mountaineer through and through, having played for West Virginia.  Secondly, he just didn't look like he fit the bill of a "Michigan Man".  He bled West Virginia "blue and gold" and not Michigan "maize and blue".  It was doomed from the start.

Rich Rod had taken West Virginia from the middle of the pack in the Big East, to one game short of playing for the national title.  Over his final three seasons, he had a 32-5 record and the Mountaineers were not only contending for Big East titles but BCS Bowl games as well.  From the looks of it, he had a good thing going on at Morgantown and had attained a cult hero status.

All that changed when he bailed on his team three weeks before the Fiesta Bowl, to become the next coach at Michigan.  As doomed as it seems, I can't fault him for taking the job.  How often does a job like this become available?  Whatever it is that West Virginia had, Michigan had more of it or just better; history, facilities, recruiting pool, money.  Michigan even helped buy out his contract at West Virginia.

However, once he landed in Ann Arbor, you knew things weren't going to work out when: your star quarterback transfers because he can't see how he would fit your offensive schemes, you star receiver opts to enter the NFL draft (probably because he just doesn't want to play for you) and a key lineman transfers to - get ready for this - Ohio State!!  In case you're wondering, I'm talking about Ryan Mallett, Mario Manningham and Justin Boren (in that order).

When Terrelle Pryor, then a highly recruited quarterback who would have fit Rich Rod's offensive scheme perfectly, chose Ohio State over Michigan, it really killed any chances of Rodriguez making an immediate impact in his first season.  Seeing the kind of player Pryor has turned out for the Buckeyes, you can see why his services were in high demand.

Everything else pretty much went haywire after that.  Where do you start, the back to back losing seasons?  The NCAA Violations?  The fact that his "run-first spread option" offense just wasn't getting it done (even though Denard Robinson ran it like a natural)?  Or even worse; a school that had built a reputation for being one of the better defenses in the country, couldn't even stop a 1-AA team?  If they had anything resembling a defense, they might have been better than the 7-5 record they posted in the regular season.

Having gone lost to Michigan State and Ohio State in his three seasons, the 52-14 beatdown his team suffered at the hands of Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl had all but sealed his fate.  By then, everyone had seen enough and it became a matter of just how fast can they fire this guy.  This whole situation was taking it's toll on him.  The guy was breaking down in banquets, quoting Bible verses and lines from Josh Groban (and this is when you know you can't get any lower).  In the press conference after the Gator Bowl, when reporters kept asking him about his future, his response was , "you're asking the wrong guy."  Knowing what happened next, they probably figured who the right guy was.

For what it's worth, at least he gave it a try, but it just didn't work out.  Maybe he's better off now and I'm sure he'll get another chance sometime.  Whatever direction Michigan goes from here, you can at least hope that they'll try and get it right this time.

Sugar coated truth.

Celebrating ill gotten gains.

Ohio State finally ended their 9 game losing streak in bowl games against SEC teams.  They can thank the NCAA, who allowed their five "suspended" players to particpate.  

The NCAA couldn't "contain" him, neither could Arkansas

Terrelle Pryor, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas were allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl, after they "promised" coach Jim Tressel that they would all return next season to serve their 5 game punishment that was levied by the NCAA.  I don't know about you, but that just doesn't sound right to me.  So as the story goes, Tressel asked whether he should punish them now, or punish them later.  If you were any of these players, what would you do?

So not only did they play, but they all impacted the outcome of the game.  Check this out;
Terrelle Pryor: 221 passing yards, 2 TDs and 115 rushing yards.
Dan Herron:  87 rushing yards, 1TD
DeVier Posey:  3 catches for 70 yards, 1TD
Solomon Thomas: The lesser known of the five, his interception won the game for the Buckeyes.

Solomon Thomas' game winning play

Granted, Arkansas still had to go there and play the game, but I would love for anyone to tell me that Ohio State would have won without their players.  We can't deny that they benefited from the preferential treatment handed to them by the NCAA and their head coach.  It's been said a thousand times before and I'll be happy to say it again; these guys should have never even made the trip to New Orleans.  So if there was anyone who really got punished, it was Arkansas.



Mallett couldn't catch a break all night long.

That being said, this was one of the better BCS games so far; we'll still have to wait and see how the Auburn-Oregon game turns out.  When Ohio State went up 28-7, I was tempted to write off any hopes Arkansas had of winning the game.  Football however is a game of 2 halves and the Razorbacks made a game of it and almost pulled off the win. 

They had more than enough chances to do so, but the Buckeyes played well defensively; constantly harassing Ryan Mallett.  Whenever his offensive line managed to hold up, his receivers didn't help him out at all.  I lost count on how many passes they dropped.  They couldn't have picked a bigger game or stage in which not to show up.  Mallett constantly hit them on the numbers but they couldn't come through. 

Probably the biggest mental error of the game, was when Colton Miles-Nash blocked a Buckeye punt and Julian Horton fell on the ball to recover it, when it seemed a lot easier to pick it up and run it in for the score that would have probably won the game for Arkansas.  Two plays later, Solomon Thomas picked off Mallett to clinch an epic victory for Ohio State.



Cameron Heyward had an MVP type performance

My personal MVP for the game was Ohio State defensive lineman Cameron Heyward.  He gave the Arkansas Offensive line fits.  I don't think either of the offensive linemen or Ryan Mallett will be forgetting him anytime soon.  Heyward was disruptive on just about every snap and I'm sure the pro scouts anticipate that he'll be doing the same at the next level; he will certainly be a first round pick, probably in the top ten.

After the game, the story turned to whether any of the "suspended" Ohio State players intended to honor their vow and return next season.  While they all acknowledged that they'll be back, I won't be surprised if "circumstances" change, "forcing" them to leave for the NFL.  Everybody plays the fool sometimes.



Leaders, legends....LOSERS!!!

In case anyone was even paying attention, the Big Ten opened the New Year by going 0-5 in their respective bowl games.  It could be 0-6 if you want to count Nebraska, judging by the way they played against Washington; a team who they routed 56-21 in Seattle, earlier in the season.  The Cornhuskers aren't officially in the Big Ten, but they might as well be.

Let's look at how it all went down.

1. Texas Tech 45, Northwestern 38: The Red Raiders jumped to a big lead and were able to withstand a late rally by the Wildcats.
2. Alabama 49, Michigan State 7: This game was effectively over when the Tide went up 28-0 at the half; thanks to a 21 point second quarter.  Mark Ingram and Julio Jones put on quite a show in what could possibly be their final collegiate game.  And Nick Saban, way to stick it to you former employers.
3. Florida 37, Penn State 24: The Nittany Lions held a 24-20 lead going into the final period, but Florida put up 17 points including Ahmad Black's interception return for a touchdown to seal the game.  Urban Meyer got to sign off on a winning note.
4. Mississippi State 52, Michigan 14: The Wolverines led 14-10 at one point in this game.  Fortunately for Miss St, Michigan didn't have a defense; and that explains where the 42 unanswered points came from.  This pretty much was the final nail in Rich Rodriguez' coffin.
5. TCU 21, Wisconsin 19: In their first ever Rose Bowl (something that Brent Musburger didn't fail to point out every other minute), the Horned Frogs did enough to hold off the Badgers.  First, they stopped Wisconsin on a 2 point conversion attempt that would have tied the game, then recovered the ensuing onside kick; winning the Granddaddy of them all for every little school out there.

Just based on these results, would it be fair to say that the Big Ten is overrated?  I'll let you decide.

A little bit of defense, a whole lotta Luck!!

 

Stanford made every minute of the 3,000 mile trip to the Orange Bowl count in their beatdown of a resurgent Virginia Tech team.  As the game wore on, the talk became less about the game and more about whether Andrew Luck would declare for the NFL draft.  This in addition to speculation that Jim Harbaugh was coaching his last game for the Cardinal.

First things first, I've got to give Virginia Tech their due credit.  Following losses to Boise State and James Madison (a 1-AA team), they put together an 11 game win streak to earn their 3rd ACC crown in 4 years, largely behind the performances of running back Ryan Williams, quarterback Tyrod Taylor and a dominant defense.  With Williams nursing an injury going into the Orange Bowl, the Hokies offense lacked the edge they needed to compete against a physical Stanford defense.


 Plunkett & Elway were both drafted #1 overall

Behind a power run game and multiple tight-end sets, Andrew Luck was able to showcase his talents to NFL scouts, who have him locked in as the #1 overall pick, should he decide to make the jump to the next level.  That will see him join the elite company of former Stanford greats Jim Plunkett and John Elway, who were both drafted #1 overall in their respective drafts and won Super Bowls during their outstanding NFL careers.  Plunkett and Elway were also in attendance.  It wasn't only the scouts who were drooling over Andrew Luck, but also analysts John Gruden and Ron Jaworski as well, who couldn't seem to run out of words to describe this kid's greatness; as if we didn't know already.


The last hurrah?  

I'll tip my hat off to the Cardinal defense.  They harassed Tyrod Taylor and shut down Hokies running game.  What was more impressive was that they pitched a second half shutout against a team that had always found a way to get back up after getting knocked down.  It goes to show that their meltdown in against Oregon - a game in which they led 21-3 at one point only to lose 52-31 - was a one time thing.  Linebacker Shayne Skov put on quite a defensive show and Owen Marecic a.k.a "The modern day 60 minute man", helped himself to a score on offense and a quarterback sack.  Marecic also delivered a key block that paved the way for the game's opening score; a 60 yard touchdown run by Jeremy Stewart.

After the dust had settled, questions came in left and right as to whether this was indeed the last game for both Luck and Harbaugh.  Both did everything they could to deflect the questions which will only keep coming in the days ahead.  Jim Harbaugh seems destined to coach in the pro ranks, just like his brother, John, who has had some success with the Baltimore Ravens.  It may be that both Luck and Harbaugh are waiting to see what the other will do; more like a "I'll stay if you stay" kind of a deal.

With NFL jobs opening up like a Starbucks drive-thru lane after a morning rush, Harbaugh is definitely spoilt for choice.  One place that he won't end up however is Michigan, where he once starred as a quarterback.  The story goes that he was at one time interested in the quarterbacks coach job, but the Wolverines took a pass on him (no pun intended).  He's never forgotten that slight by his alma mater, and will likely turn the down the head coaching job if and when it's offered to him.

Andrew Luck on the other hand is most likely to be the next great quarterback out of Stanford since John Elway.  Having led Stanford to its best season in school history and first bowl win since the 1996 Sun Bowl, there really isn't anything else left for him to prove.  Should his draft stock go any higher, it will probably hit the stratosphere.

I have every reason to believe that in the days to come, both Luck and Harbaugh will be preparing to take their talents elsewhere.  As it is, the Carolina Panthers, who just recently fired John Fox, hold the #1 pick in next year's draft.  Could it be that maybe both teacher and disciple will re-unite in Charlotte, NC?

Fiesta indeed



When Oklahoma was matched up with Connecticut, we already knew two things would happen; the Sooners would end their 5 game losing streak in BCS games, and it would also be a blowout against an over-matched opponent.  They delivered on both accounts.



Fleming's return that effectively iced the game.



Oklahoma executed on both offense and defense, delivering a win that was long overdue.  When Landry Jones found Cameron Kenney in stride for 59 yard touchdown, followed by Jamell Fleming's interception that he returned 55 yards for a score on the next series, it pretty much put the game out of reach for Connecticut; who returned the subsequent kickoff for a touchdown.  I'll give the Huskies credit though, for hanging in and trying to make the scoreline respectable.

Connecticut hadn't scored an offensive touchdown in 7 quarters of football, and even though the outcome of the game was no longer in doubt, Oklahoma still had enough gas in the tank to stuff Jordan Todman on a 4th & goal from the 2 yard line.  The way the Sooners played, you'd have thought that game was in Norman.  They moved the ball really well on offense, seeming at will sometimes, and their defense played as good as they could have at anytime this season in their run to another Big 12 Championship.

Immediately after the game, UConn running back Jordan Todman declared for the NFL draft.  The next question becomes whether OU stars Ryan Broyles and Travis Lewis will follow suit.  Broyles has set just about every receiving record at Oklahoma.  I've said this time and time again; he is the second coming of Mark Clayton.  Lewis has been a standout at the linebacker position that has featured names such as Rufus Alexander, Curtis Lofton, Lance Mitchell, Teddy Lehman, Rocky Calmus & Torrance Marshall et al.  Whether they return or not, it is likely that Oklahoma will be a preseason top 5 team.  They have a lot of returning starters on both sides of the ball, who were key players this past season.



Offensive MVP, Landry Jones

Landry Jones, along with the MVP honors, became the 3rd quarterback in the Stoops era to win a BCS game, joining Josh Heupel (2001 Orange Bowl) and Nate Hybl (2003 Rose Bowl).  He also joins Nate Hybl (who started in 2002 Cotton Bowl) as the only QB's in the Stoops Era to win 2 bowl games.  While his play has been sometimes superb and sometimes shaky, he can only get better as Oklahoma prepares for a run at the national championship next season.

While Jones played exceptionally well, my personal MVP of the game was receiver Cameron Kenney.  A juco transfer, Kenney was the culprit behind a number of dropped passes last season and this season; that saw him move down the depth chart.  He redeemed himself, making crucial catches in the Bedlam and Big 12 championship games and he closed out his OU career with 154 yards and a touchdown on 7 catches; a career night indeed.  Way to go, Kenney!!

The good thing is that now, we don't have to hear about that losing streak in BCS games anymore.  The bad this is that we'll always hear about how Connecticut should have never been in this game to begin with.  I guess that just comes with the territory.