Rumors are swirling that Maryland plans to attempt to leave the ACC and join the Big Ten Conference (why??). It they do, Rutgers is set to follow and leave the Big East. That would give the Big 10 fourteen teams and then supposedly U Conn would wind up leaving the Big East and join the ACC. One problem in the whole deal may be the huge increase in the exit fee schools must now pay to leave the ACC, a mere $50 million, up from the previous deal of $20 million!
Change, change and more change???
Johnny “Football” Manziel can do an awful lot, but can he kick too? Well, not today. He threw three TD passes and ran for two touchdowns, totaling 367 yard of offense in #8 Texas A & M’s victory over Sam Houston State, 47 – 28. Late in the game he actually lined up to attempt to kick the extra point after a touchdown, but, alas, it was no good. Oh well, he can run and he can throw (and he beat Bama!)
It was Senior Day throughout the country, and it was Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day in the ATL. Georgia Tech rolled over Duke, 42 -24, and became bowl eligible. Moreover, they remain alive in the race for the Coastal Division in the ACC. They need Duke to beat Miami next weekend, or have Miami decide to self impose a postseason ban on themselves (now that they are also bowl eligible after defeating South Florida 40 – 6). If Miami does not choose to do so (as NCAA investigation continues to loom over them), and they beat Duke next weekend, Miami wins the Coastal Division. If Duke wins, GT wins Coastal Division. FSU has already defeated both Miami and Duke, why not let GT take them on???
In Atlanta, senior quarterback Tevin Washington broke the ACC rushing TD record for a quarterback, (36) previously held by former GT quarterback Joshua Nesbitt. Washington played most of the game, Vad Lee made a brief appearance, and Tevin scored one rushing TD and threw for two touchdowns. The kicking game looked somewhat weak, with Chris Tanner taking over again this week due to injuries. Otherwise, Georgia Tech looked really good. The defense, now simplified and no longer in the 3 – 4, seems to be adjusting and performing better. Duke is no slouch so things have gone in the right direction since a few weeks ago when they looked downright bleak. Next up, UGA in Athens. The dawgs got to practice against Georgia Southern’s version of the triple option today, but GT will bring a much more powerful and talented bunch to Athens. Hopefully, it will be a good one (do not want GT to get embarrassed!!!!) We shall see…will be interesting to see who plays at QB, likely both Tevin and Vad.
Elsewhere: 11 Clemson overcame a very slow start and steamrolled N C State, 62 – 48; 3 Notre Dame remained undefeated having no trouble with Wake Forest, winning 38 – 0; 7 LSU had a whole lot of trouble with Ole Miss in Baton Rouge, scoring a winning TD with 15 seconds remaining in the game to prevail, 41 – 35; 24 Oklahoma State pounded 23 Texas Tech, 59 – 21 (Wow!); and in Los Angeles on a rare rainy day, 17 UCLA beat 18 USC, 38 – 28. UCLA wins the Pac-12 south and will await the results of Oregon’s games to see who they play in the Pac 12 Championship game. A once promising season for USC, return of Matt Barkley, who was injured late in the game, preseason number one ranking, and tons of talent with Lee and Woods, has absolutely gone to heck in a hand basket. Have to wander how this will affect the future of Lane Kiffin with all the recruiting limits still to be dealt with in the next years due to NCAA penalties! A bit of a shift in the balance of power out in LA with Jim Mora, Jr. in his first year at UCLA (son of former Falcon’s coach).
Ohio State is now 11 – 0 after surviving Wisconsin, 21 – 14 in Urban Meyer’s debut year there. They are not eligible for post season play or being ranked in the BCS.
Two big games tonight: 13 Stanford at 2 Oregon and 1 Kansas State at Baylor.
Until later…
First of all, let’s start with this; you just got to love the SEC and their scheduling. Notice the three exhibition games all scheduled by SEC schools prior to their big rivalry games next week. This was perfected by Urban Meyer while at Florida…Anyhow…
4 Alabama rolls over Western Carolina 49 – 0. Next exhibition game, 9 South Carolina overcomes Wofford 24 – 7, after being tied 7 – 7 early. Then, 6 Florida defeats Jacksonville State, 23 – 0. Finally, 5 UGA, in the tune up for next week’s date with GT and the triple option, takes care of Georgia Southern 45 – 14. In other SEC action, Mississippi State pounded Arkansas, 45 – 14.
In ACC action, FSU clinched the Atlantic Division title and a berth in the ACC Championship game with a 41 – 14 victory over Maryland. Virginia Tech need OT to defeat Boston College 30 – 23 in Chestnut Hill. VT will need to win their rivalry game next weekend against Virginia to become bowl eligible. Hard to imagine there is a question about VT being bowl eligible, but that is the kind of year it has been in the ACC.
More updates coming…
College Game Day is live from Eugene, Oregon. Tonight’s game between 13 Stanford and 2 Oregon, a BIG one!!
Last night, Hawaii fell to Air Force, 21 – 7. Immediately after the win, Air Force was extended invitation to the Armed Forces Bowl. Congrats to the Air Force Academy!!
Just so you know, today is Military Appreciation Day at Georgia Tech – Duke game. Look for the Jackets to break out a bit of camouflage in their uniforms!!
Also, in NBA, Lakers win over Phoenix, 114 – 102. Kobe had 31 points. Nice….
Back later with update on all the College Football afternoon action…
Buster Posey of the World Champion San Francisco Giants was named National League MVP. He is the first catcher in seventy years to win the National League batting title. This is a huge accomplishment for him coming back from the devastating injury he suffered last year.
Triple Crown Winner Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers was named American League MVP.
Cy Young Award Winners are David Price of Tampa Bay for the American League and R A Dickey of the New York Mets for the National League. Dickey is 38 years old and is missing a ligament in his elbow. He almost quit baseball two years ago but finding his excellent knuckleball saved him and prolonged his career. He has just published his autobiography this year, Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball. In his memoir, he reveals he was sexually abused as a child and contemplated suicide in his 30’s. Quite a comeback. This is a “feel good story” for sure!!
Thursday night College Football action: North Carolina 37 – 13 over Virginia. UVA is not yet bowl eligible and will need a victory over rival Virginia Tech to become so. Ironically, at 4 – 6 Virginia Tech will not be bowl eligible this year.
NFL action saw Buffalo defeat Miami 19 – 14 (yawn!).
Tonight’s College Football game features Hawaii at Air Force on ESPN2 at 9:30 pm EST.
In more NFL news, two quarterbacks will not be in action this weekend due to concussions suffered in last weekend’s action. Micheal Vick will not play in Sunday’s game for Philadelphia and Jay Cutler will sit out Chicago’s game on Monday Night Football.
Magic Johnson, former mega superstar with LA Lakers, has spoken out about the hiring of Mike D’Antoni. Apparently, he is not a fan of this hire. Magic was very disappointed that owner Jim Buss did not in fact follow through with the negotiations conducted with former Lakers’ coach Phil Jackson and make what he felt like was the “right hire”. Magic further goes on to say that the organization is being mismanaged under Jim Buss, saying this was not the path former owner Dr. Jerry Buss would have wanted for this megawatt organization. But, as Magic went on to say, his mama always told him, ”if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”! Let’s wait and see, D’Antoni has not had a chance to get started yet.
Speaking of former Lakers stars, did anyone happen to catch a glimpse of Andrew Bynum’s hair? What is up with that???
Update: D’Antoni is expected to coach his first game for the Lakers this Sunday (he has been recovering from knee surgery).
Magic Johnson, former mega superstar with LA Lakers, has spoken out about the hiring of Mike D’Antoni. Apparently, he is not a fan of this hire. Magic was very disappointed that owner Jim Buss did not in fact follow through with the negotiations conducted with former Lakers’ coach Phil Jackson and make what he felt like was the “right hire”. Magic further goes on to say that the organization is being mismanaged under Jim Buss, saying this was not the path former owner Dr. Jerry Buss would have wanted for this megawatt organization. But, as Magic went on to say, his mama always told him, ”if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”! Let’s wait and see, D’Antoni has not had a chance to get started yet.
Speaking of former Lakers stars, did anyone happen to catch a glimpse of Andrew Bynum’s hair? What is up with that???
Update: D’Antoni is expected to coach his first game for the Lakers this Sunday (he has been recovering from knee surgery).
A bit of celebrity, pop culture gossip, rumors??? There are some reports that Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe are “getting back together”. This comes on the heels of the news of his separation from his wife Danielle Spencer (and mother of their two sons). Really??? Meg has by all accounts been in a relationship with John Mellencamp for almost two years now. They seem to be inseparable. Supposedly, Meg contacted Russell soon after the news of his split, though perhaps to ask him about being involved in a project she was directing and working on, but perhaps wanting more? Did it ever occur to anyone that perhaps she was a concerned friend, reaching out to someone going through something that is always difficult and painful? I am just saying…people’s intentions can sometimes be good ones!!
