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Taking a Step Back: Urban Meyer Quits Coaching Florida






Taking a Step Back: Urban Meyer Quits Coaching Florida
By Dr Bill Chachkes-Managing Partner/Executive Editor-Football Reporters Online


The shock waves are running deep in the world of football tonight. The current “Godfather of the spread option” is hanging it up. Urban Meyer has announced that he would step down as head football coach at the University of Florida after two plus decades in college football.

His record speaks for itself. 95-18 and 5-1 in bowl games as a head coach. An 84.1 winning percentage as a head coach in the regular season, 2 SEC titles (and three division titles), 2 mountain west titles. 2 BCS titles, twice voted coach of the year, 41-13 in conference play. He is #2 in victories among active coaches with 5+ years in the FBS. Meyer is the only coach ever to reach 50 victories in less then 60 games.

He spent 15 years across 4 different programs (Ohio St., Illinois St. Colorado St. and Notre Dame) sharpening his skills as an assistant before getting the head coaching position at Bowling Green University in 2001. He managed to accomplish all of this in just 23.5 years in the coaching profession, after a playing career with the Cincinnati Bearcats from 1983-1986, and at the age of just 45 years old.

It is said that he had ignored his health for many years until recently, but checked into a hospital a day after The Gators lost the SEC title game to Alabama, citing health reasons at that time. He had always said that becoming the head coach at Notre Dame would be his “Dream Job” since he was a devout follower of the Roman Catholic faith, but when the Job became available several weeks back, he quickly held a press conference and proclaimed that he would be the coach of the Gators “for as long as they will have me.”

Already the vultures of sports media are circling around the story wondering “just how serious is his health crisis,” although there are no reasons as of yet to believe that his health is in immediate danger at this time.

Could it be that at 45, Meyer feels it’s time for a short break to “recharge” the batteries? He has reached the pinnacle of success as a football man. You can’t say that he was hurting for the cash. The only coaches who earned more them him in 2009 were Pete Carroll and Charlie Weis. So why not take a break for a bit? He’s earned it, hasn’t he? His family sure feels he does.

BOSTON COLLEGE GETS ITS SHOT AT STRUGGLING POWERHOUSE USC IN THIS YEAR’S EMERALD BOWL




BOSTON COLLEGE GETS ITS SHOT AT STRUGGLING POWERHOUSE USC IN THIS YEAR’S EMERALD BOWL-By William Queen for Football Reporters Online

(photo: © BrokenSphere / Wikimedia Commons) 
Where has the season gone? Looking at this bowl game, I feel like I’m stuck in a college football nightmare. It wasn’t long ago that USC seemed like they owned the Rose Bowl and Pete Carroll said that every year’s team was his “best ever”. The Emerald Bowl doesn’t exactly cut it. It’s really just a lame attempt of making it sound like it’s a relevant bowl, so you can bet that Trojan nation is not too happy about this one.
 
Yet, what a great opportunity for Boston College. For what has been a powerhouse of a football team, USC finally falls down to a December bowl game and the Eagles are faced with a chance at history.
 
Current Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez fled to the NFL following his junior season at USC and after some media attention between him and Pete Carroll, top high school prospect Matt Barkley was the one lining up under center. Despite all the hype, Barkley is still a freshman and led the Pac-10 with 12 interceptions. And though the Trojans 23rd in the nation defensively, the main problem has been consistency. Two of their four losses consisted of their opponent scoring 47+ points; not the defense we’re used too.
 
Boston College, on the other hand, has a forceful 18th ranked defense and looks to keep Barkley’s struggles at a high. And because of a 14th ranked rushing defense, I expect the Eagles to force the game out of the hands of USC’s talented backs and into Matt Barkley’s, a tough challenge for the freshman’s first bowl game. When it comes to defending the pass though, that’s where the Eagles fall through the cracks. Allowing 2,568 passing yards this season, this may be USC’s best shot at moving the ball. If they can do that, Boston College is in trouble.
 
Not exactly the most reliable offense, Boston College doesn’t have a consistent quarterback in Dave Shinskie and will have to rely heavily on running back Montel Harris to carry them through this game. With 13 touchdowns this season, Harris is most defiantly their best shot at outscoring Barkley and the USC offense. However, Harris can’t do it alone. As I mentioned earlier, Dave Shinskie is a concern and he’s going to have to step up it up through the air if they want to have a realistic shot at pulling off the upset.
 
History shows that since 2001, both teams win 82% of the time when scoring 20+ points and tend to struggle when it’s a low-scoring game. So expect this one to be a battle of field position; whoever can take advantage of end-of-half field goals and turnovers will have a definite edge. 
 
For a prediction, I think that Boston College will hang tough most the game, but will slip away as it gets late in the game. Barkley will have a solid performance with 3 touchdowns and an interception, two being to tight end Anthony McCoy and the other to receiver Damian Williams, and back Joe McKnight will score one on the ground, all leading to a 31-17 Trojan victory.

BYU Thumps Oregon State

BYU Thumps Oregon State

By John Kelly
Football Reporters Online Senior Writer
Midwest/Northeast Correspondent

Whatever happens in Vegas tends to stay in Vegas for BYU. However, their dominance in the Nevada desert is no longer a secret.

Senior quarterback Max Hall went out in style during his final visit to the Sin City throwing for 192 yards and three tds in No.14 BYU’s 44-20 rout of No.15 Oregon State Tuesday night.
"I love my years at BYU," Hall said. "We wanted to end it well."
It marked the first time the Las Vegas Bowl had hosted a matchup.
It was the Cougar’s third bowl win in 5 tries in the city of Lights. They ended a 5 game bowl-winning streak by the Beavers.
Cold whipping winds and a near miss of the Rose Bowl seemed to cloud the focus of Oregon State. Offensive Guard Gregg Peat didn’t see it that way.

"Emotionally we were ready for this game. We came in here and expected to win. It didn't work out that way," Beavers guard Gregg Peat said. "That's a credit to BYU. They came ready to play. There are no excuses for the loss."
Sean Canfield led off the scoring with a one-yard td run. Late in the first quarter BYU started to change the direction of the game.

Harvey Unga tied the game after he pounded it in from a yard out.
On the ensuing possession on a lateral Jaquizz Rodgers fumbled the ball and Matt Bauman returned it 34 yards for the score.
The fumble was Rodger’s first fumble of his college career and his first in 621 touches. Rodgers finished the game with 19 rushes for 70 yards and TD.

After a Mitch Payne 28 yard field goal made it 17-7 for the Cougars Max Hall went to work. Hall hit Luke Ashworth on a 25-yard touchdown strike to give BYU a 24-7 halftime lead. Hall had 139 yards passing at the break.

Hall started off the second half with a bang connecting on two more touchdown passes. He hit Dennis Pitta for a 17 yard score and Manase Tonga from 15 yards out.

Jaquizz Rodgers would punch it in from one yard out to cut the deficit to 37-13 but the Beavers were too far behind.
Harvey Tonga responded right back rumbling 18 yards to extend BYU’s lead to 44-13.
The 44 points were the most allowed in Oregon State history.

With Wyoming and BYU in the clubhouse with two wins for the Mountain West they are two games away from being the first non-BCS conference to claim the bowl title in Division 1A.

If that does not earn you a BCS bid I don’t know what does.

UNC FACES HUGE CHALLENGE, PITTSBURGH, IN THE CAR CARE BOWL

UNC FACES HUGE CHALLENGE, PITTSBURGH, IN THE CAR CARE BOWL
By William Queen for Football Reporters Online
 
This year’s Car Care Bowl features two very underestimated forces. UNC, coming out of the ACC, has one of the most unappreciated defenses in the nation. As Pittsburgh, coming out of the Big East, would like to be in a more respectable bowl after losing their last two games in the final seconds.
 
Needless to say, UNC has something to prove, while Pitt could have hoped for a better bowl bid.
 Two very prestigious defenses will be battling it out this Saturday; meaning that whoever can take advantage and convert off turnovers will most likely come out on top. Allowing 16.9 points per game, the Tarheels are ranked 13th in the nation defensively, while the Panthers finished not too far behind, ranking 21st with only 20 points per game.
 Though, statistics can sometimes be misleading. If you count the Panthers season finale vs. Cincinnati as a mulligan for their defense, then they’ve only allowed 17.7 points per game, cutting their statistical defensive deficit to less than one.
 My key match-up this game will be the UNC offense vs. the Pittsburgh defense. Though the Tarheels are stellar up front, I think that the Panthers, led by freshman running back Dion Lewis, will be able to move the ball just enough to put points up on the board. So this leaves UNC quarterback TJ Yates in a showdown with a tough Pittsburgh defense.
 TJ Yates has maintained a sub-par TD-INT ratio of 12-14 and hasn’t played many challenging defenses through the course of the season. So, most are assuming that he will be overpowered during the course of this game. But on the other hand, Yates may not struggle nearly as much as people think. Though the Panthers have an exceptionally tough defense, defending the pass may be their sole weakness. Ranking behind schools such as Buffalo, Louisiana Tech, and Middle Tennessee State in defending the pass, Yates may actually have a shot.
 UNC’s offense relies very heavily on the play of Yates, as they don’t have an all-purpose back that they can trust giving 20-30 carries a game. Below is a chart explaining just how much the Offense is affected by number of interceptions by TJ Yates.
 

Now for a prediction. I say that Pittsburgh maintains a low scoring one-possession lead through the first three quarters, but turns the ball over and gives the Tarheels a short field to work with, sending it into overtime at 17-17. There, Pitt will prove to be the more well rounded team and win 20-23.

The Sod Father (Or, Anything Goes With Spades & Hoes)

The Sod Father (Or, Anything Goes With Spades & Hoes)
By Michael – Louis Ingram Associate Editor-Football Reporters Online/Contributing Writer- Black Athlete.com
BASN/FRO
 
A BASN (in the) BLACK PAPER:
 
PHILADELPHIA (BASN/FRO) From the halls of the biggest money – making not for profit entity in America, the NCAA (aka Not Conforming to Actual Application) it’s time once again for another edition of “As The Twirls Turn.”
 
You don’t need the O’Jays bringing that wicked bass riff to know what the Bowl Game Championships are about; and when those turnstiles twirl with asses rolling in to stadia across the country, there is not a “cha-ching” to be found; because electric and paper money - makes no noise - when it falls to the ground…
 
But the $64 dollar question (and by the way, that same $64 will get you a ticket to an Ohio State football game, but won’t cover your parking) is - just how much money are we talking about?  In this BASN Special Report, we’re about to find out.
 
My colleague, L.A. Batchelor has long contended about college football being ruled by the “Five Families” – the five most competitive, if not powerful, football conferences in the nation: the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the Big Ten Conference, the Big 12 Conference and the Pacific 10 Conference.
 
 
Convoluted computer concoctions calculate cryptic credentials, causing conflict and cacophonous crowing over collecting cash – and who gets the biggest piece of sweet potato pie.
 
With the current bowl schedule now in effect, it’s now time to break out the BASN “abracadabracus” – and see how money disappears into the Five Families’ coffers.
 
Below, we provide a list of the bowl games, teams and their respected conferences; along with the estimated amount of cash both sides are to receive:
 
New Mexico Bowl: Won by University of Wyoming (Mountain West Conference), 35-28 over Fresno State (Western Athletic Conference); both schools get $750K. 
 
St. Petersburg Bowl: Won by Rutgers University (Big East Conference) 45-24 over the University of Central Florida (Conference USA); both schools get one million dollars.
 
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Won by Middle Tennessee State (Sun Belt Conference) 42-32 over Southern Mississippi University (C-USA); both schools got $325K.
 
Papajohns.com Bowl: Connecticut (Big East) vs. South Carolina (SEC); both get $300K.
 
MAACO Las Vegas Bowl: Oregon State (Pac – 10) vs. Brigham Young University (Mountain West); both get one million dollars.
 
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: Utah vs. California (Pac – 10); both get $750K.
 
 
Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl: Nevada (WAC) vs. Southern Methodist University (C-USA); both schools get $398K.
 
Emerald Bowl: Boston College (ACC) vs. University of Southern California (Pac – 10); both schools get $850K.
 
Meineke Car Care Bowl: North Carolina (ACC) vs. Pittsburgh (Big East); both schools get one million.
 
Little Caesars Bowl: Ohio University (Midwest Athletic Conference) vs. Marshall (C-USA); both schools get $750K.
 
Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl: Kentucky (SEC) vs. Clemson (ACC); both get $1.6 million.  
 
Independence Bowl: Texas A&M (Big 12) vs. Georgia (SEC); both get $1.1 million.
 
Champs Sports Bowl: The University of Miami (ACC) vs. Wisconsin (Big 10); both get $2.25 million.  
 
Eagle Bank Bowl: UCLA (Pac – 10) vs. Temple (MAC); both get one million.
 
 
Pacific Life Holiday Bowl: Nebraska (Big 12) vs. Arizona (Pac – 10); both get $2.35 million.
 
Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl: Idaho (WAC) vs. Bowling Green (MAC); both get $750K.
 
Texas Bowl: Missouri (Big 12) vs. Navy (Independent); both get $700K.  
 
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force (Mountain West) vs. Houston (C-USA); both get $600K.
 
Brut Sun Bowl: Stanford (Pac – 10) vs. Oklahoma (Big 12); both get $1.9 million.
 
Insight Bowl: Minnesota (Big 10) vs. Iowa State (Big 12); both get $1.35 million.
 
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Virginia Tech (ACC) vs. Tennessee (SEC); both get $3.005 million.
 
Outback Bowl: Northwestern (Big 10) vs. Auburn (SEC); both get $3.3 million.
 
Capital Bowl: Penn State (Big 10) vs. Louisiana State University (SEC); both get $4.25 million.  
 
Konica Minolta Gator Bowl: West Virginia (Big East) vs. Florida State (ACC); both get $2.5 million.
 
Rose Bowl: Ohio State (Big 10) vs. Oregon (Pac – 10); both get $17 million.
 
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Florida (SEC) vs. Cincinnati (Big East); both get $17 million.
 
AT&T Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma State (Big 12) vs. Ole Miss (SEC); both get $3 million.
  
Auto Zone Liberty Bowl: East Carolina (C-USA) vs. Arkansas (SEC); both get $1.7 million.
 
International Bowl: University of South Florida (Big East) vs. Northern Illinois (MAC); both get $750K.
 
Valero Alamo Bowl: Texas Tech (Big 12) vs. Michigan State (Big 10); both get $2.25 million.
 
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Texas Christian University (Mountain West) vs. Boise State (WAC); both get $17 million.
   
FedEx Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech (ACC) vs. Iowa (Big 10); both get $17 million.
 
 
GMAC Bowl: Central Michigan (MAC) vs. Troy (Sun Belt); both get $750K.
 
 
Citi National Championship: Texas (Big 12) vs. Alabama (SEC); both get $17 million.
 
 
The Tab
 
For the Five Families, the amount of potential revenue earned for the bowl games comes out to a whopping $183,005.5 million bucks (damn!) with a breakdown as follows: $25.1 M for the Pac – 10, $28.305 M for the ACC, $29.650 M for the Big 12, $47.4 M for the Big 10 – and $52.5505 M for the SEC.
 
The combined revenue of the other conferences antes up to $68.506 M. Three other conferences – the Mountain West ($18.95 M) the Big East ($22.5 M) and the WAC ($18.9 M) took bigger bites out of the pie than the families would like; an aberration when you consider only two teams - TCU and Boise State – were preseason Top 25 ranked teams, and no team from the Big East got any pre-season consideration, making Cincinnati’s run all the more impressive.
 
College basketball has seen the future in this, and has headed its focus in the same direction, turning the NCAA Basketball Tournament into the Five Families Invitational (with cameo appearances by the Big East). Here Cinderella will not be invited to the ball; and if she tries to slide in or smile and flash her ta-tas at the doorman, he will toss her skank ass out…
 
With everything said, however, it still comes back to these two realities: how long will the NCAA continue to perpetrate “values” on their 100 yard plantations, depriving the most valuable assets – the players – a share of the profits they earn?
 
And what incident or ruling (perhaps the EA Sports lawsuit) will be the eventual breakthrough in determining where the arguments for not paying the student-athletes stop – and the check writing begins?
 
So in spite of the fact Pimp Flava Supreme has split the scene, those turf plantations get hoed, plowed and ready to serve over the next two weeks.
 
After all, anything goes when it comes to hos; ‘cause pimpin’ ain’t easy…
 

mike@footballreportersonline.com
 

FRO Teams up with CDS for another Great Radio Show

FRO Teams up with CDS for another Great Radio Show

Administration Errors Caused End Of An Era




Administration Errors Caused End Of An Era

By Jon Wagner-Sr. Writer at Large Football Reporters Online

It was a Thursday night, not that long ago (on October 8, 2009), when former Hofstra University head football coach Dave Cohen joined my Football Reporters Online colleagues and I as a guest on our weekly “FRO Show,” just four days after one of the biggest victories in the history of the Hofstra football program.

Coach Cohen was looking forward to a homecoming game against Maine after his team’s 24-17 upset win over then seventh-ranked, defending Colonial Athletic Association champion James Madison, a program rich with success over many years at the I-AA level, whether under that label, or more recently, under its current moniker, the Football College Subdivision.

“Certainly, we’d like to emulate some of the success they’ve had from winning a national championship to being a regular in post-season play,” Cohen said of JMU.

Sadly, neither Cohen nor any of the players he coached this season at Hofstra will get that chance.

On December 3rd, exactly seven weeks after Cohen made that comment on The FRO Show, the Hofstra board of trustees backed Hofstra president Stuart Rabinowitz’s recommendation to drop the Hofstra Pride football program after 72 proud (pun appropriately intended) years of existence.

Although JMU had a disappointing and rare, 6-5 non-playoff season this year, the Dukes still stand at 29th in the latest FCS Coaches’ poll, and the Pride’s historic win over them was something that Cohen believed would not only propel his team, but the following of Hofstra’s football program.

“Hopefully it’s added confidence and excitement and enthusiasm around campus,” he said.

It should have, but unfortunately, it didn’t.

Only 2,751 fans attended the JMU game at Hofstra’s 15,000-seat James M. Shuart stadium, and while attendance more than doubled to 5,433 the following week in a disappointing 16-14 homecoming loss to Maine, only 3,386 and 2,549 fans showed up respectively, for Hofstra’s final two home games of 2009, a season in which the Pride averaged just 4,260 fans per game.

Last year marked the bottom of a steady decline in attendance, with an average of just 3,604 coming to cheer on the Pride. That was a drop from averages of 4,955 per game one year prior, 5,101 in 2006, and 5,263 in 2005.

As a result, Hofstra’s attendance drop-off directly led to the dropping of its football program.

Or, at least that’s the only picture that the Hofstra administration wanted to paint for the general public.

Many skeptics believe that Rabinowitz simply never liked football, and ever since he took over for Shuart (the former Hofstra football player and university president for 25 years, who Hofstra’s stadium is named after), he was aiming for the day when he could cancel the program, in part to fund Hofstra’s new medical school set to open in 2011, and other worthwhile academic endeavors.

And, since I personally trust no exclusive group when power and money are involved, I have my own conspiracy theory, that perhaps the CAA might have worked out a backdoor deal with both Hofstra and Northeastern University, which dropped its 74-year-old football program just ten days earlier, on November 23rd.

Consider the circumstances: Northeastern just completed its sixth consecutive losing season; the Huskies and Pride again ranked as the bottom two in CAA attendance for the third time in as many years, ever since the CAA took over the Atlantic 10 operation in 2007; the CAA has its league offices based in Virginia; and, southern schools Old Dominion and Georgia State (each, CAA basketball schools) will be joining the conference over the next two years.

Given all of those conditions, it’s quite possible that it would have been in the best interest of the CAA to have made on an offer to Northeastern and Hofstra to prevent the CAA from becoming too crowded with the additions of ODU and Georgia State football, while giving the CAA more of the southern flavor to match its roots as a conference before it began expanding northward.

Maybe, it was something along the lines of “Since you’re not very profitable, here, take this money and go away quietly. Northeastern, you can fund your other programs, and Hofstra, you can build your med school and fund whatever else you like, while we keep CAA Football primarily down south.”

I realize that could all be extremely far-fetched. Yet, perhaps there’s some truth to one or both of the aforementioned conspiracies.

Terence Thomas, of College Sporting News, who covers the entire CAA football conference very closely, was a guest on The FRO Show hours after the official word came down about the canceling of Hofstra football, and he seemed to back me up on my Oliver Stone-like thoughts about the CAA and its willingness to sp easily lose its biggest market in New York.

“You wonder if they are concerned with markets,” he said, “Or if they’re trying to move the league south and have a Virginia-based league, because all of their offices are down there. You don’t really know where the loyalties lie.”

Until proven otherwise however, let’s stick with the facts, which by themselves, still don’t show Rabinowitz nor the 22-member Hofstra board, of which only 12 are Hofstra alumni, in a very positive light in this matter.

Ultimately, Rabinowitz cited the high cost and low interest as primary reasons for the sudden and abrupt canceling of Hofstra football.

Certainly, there’s no denying that those two factors existed. We’ve already gone through the poor attendance figures above, and the cost for running the Hofstra football program, with its minimum of 63 required NCAA Division-I scholarships, stood at $4.5 million per year.

However, there’s more to the Hofstra administration’s verdict than what appeared on the surface.

To back Rabinowitz, the board’s vote was officially a unanimous one to portray a unified front to the public, but those who have closely followed Hofstra athletics and Rabinowitz’s tenure at Hofstra know that many members of the board must have voted against their will to cancel an institution which had been around since Hofstra’s founding in 1937, without so much as a warning to anyone else who had been in or who still remains a part of the Hofstra community.

And, it could hardly be something that Hofstra athletic director Jack Hayes argued for vehemently.

The decisions to drop football at Northeastern and Hofstra came after each school’s two-year cost/benefit analysis of their entire athletic programs.

The difference though, was that Hofstra had at least attained a level of success which Northeastern had failed to achieve, and unlike Northeastern, Hofstra also had the infrastructure in place (and still does), having poured millions of dollars into stadium expansion and upgrading Shuart Stadium’s surrounding facilities, beginning in 1996.

The problem with that however, was that Hofstra while believed in a “build it and they will come” mentality, the reality was that the local area interest paralleled that of Northeastern’s football program.

And, when Shuart, one of Hofstra football’s biggest proponents was out of the picture, the push to generate interest lagged even more under Rabinowitz.

Let’s go back to the cost/benefit review.

A two-year study, and yet over that entire time, there were no public calls on behalf of Rabinowitz’s administration to save Hofstra football.

No letters sent out to Hofstra alumni or season ticket holders in support of the program.

No reaching out to National Football League Hofstra alumni like Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ head coach Raheem Morris, New Orleans Saints’ star wide receiver Marques Colston, defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steeler and starting offensive tackle Willie Colon, New England Patriots’ cornerback Kyle Arrington, Dallas Cowboys’ defensive end Stephen Bowen, or former eleven-year New York Jet Wayne Chrebet, for either financial assistance or at the very least, public relations support which might have helped greatly.

And certainly, there was a severe lack of any earnest attempt to put out an effective marketing effort in order to increase attendance and fan interest enough to save Hofstra football.

As Thomas pointed out, that type of pledge from Hofstra to its football program existed marginally at best.

“It starts with the administration being committed to football,” Thomas said. “If the commitment is there, they will go out there and they’ll publicize the game. They’ll have Band Day, they’ll have Pop Warner Day, they’ll have all these advertisements to get people to come to the games. You had JMU up at Hofstra, which should have been a sold out game. I mean, I admit the weather was poor that day and there may have been other things going on in New York, and New York is a hard sell, but then you have to be that much more aggressive to get people to come out to your games.”

Instead, Rabinowitz and the Hofstra administration basically sat idly by and watched a more than seven-decade-old program quietly die behind a secretive two-year study.
Morris, who played at Hofstra from 1994-97, called the move a "sad state of affairs.” He added, “It was weird because it kind of happened out of nowhere."
Colston said, "I am both saddened and shocked to hear the news that the Hofstra University football program has ceased. I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to the university, my coaches and my former teammates and I am sure that they share in my disappointment."

Chrebet said he “was shocked” at hearing the news.

Dr. Bill Chachkes, the managing partner of F.R.O. and the main host of The FRO Show, who covered the JMU-Hofstra game with me, put the announcement about Hofstra football’s cancellation in perspective. “We were at that game, both Jon and I,” he said. “That was a thrilling game and we were talking to Jack Hayes, and you would never know that not even two months later, we would be talking about Hofstra closing the program down.”

And, one of my FRO Show co-hosts, Bill Carroll, from Consensus Draft Services, said during the same segment on which Thomas appeared, “I was not shocked about Northeastern. I had heard at least rumblings… Hofstra was more of a surprise because although there were issues in terms of drawing crowds, the product seemed to be solidified. The kinds of kids they were getting, the level of play seemed to be on the upswing. That seems to be almost disconnected from their other issues.”

Another disconnection is Hofstra’s public statement about what an integral part Hofstra athletics supposedly plays at Hofstra, juxtaposed against the reasons Rabinowitz gave for dropping football at his school.

On Hofstra’s own website, a statement reads “The exciting action and competitive spirit of Pride athletics is a significant part of campus life at Hofstra University.”

But, who’s kidding who? If any sports programs at Hofstra were a “significant part of campus life at Hofstra University” it was two: men’s basketball (which still is) and football (which was, until it was unceremoniously shoved out the door like an unwanted house guest which overstayed his or her welcome).

Rabinowitz and some of the spineless board members who voted in step with what the president wanted regarding Hofstra football claimed that the football program had to go because of its cost relative to the financial return brought in by the program.

While it’s true that Hofstra football cost far more than any of the remaining seventeen athletic programs at Hofstra, by that same criteria, the other seventeen Hofstra sports combined, are as much of a financial drain as football, yielding as little in return, as what football provided.

Low interest in football? Really… No disrespect to the great student athletes and coaches who play or coach the following sports (and I sincerely hope that none of them are the next to go at Hofstra), but who exactly is stepping over themselves to buy tickets to see Hofstra baseball, tennis, golf, cross country, or field hockey?

That’s just one way in which this decision was hypocritical on the part of the Hofstra administration.

Another is the failure to realize that most FCS programs don’t make money, yet they can still provide significant value to a school. In fact most Football Bowl Subdivision programs, and even most college athletic programs in general, lose money.

So, why do they continue to exist? Because there’s something inherently valuable to maintaining them, not only for the life lessons gained and opportunities created for student athletes and their coaches, but also for the identities created by such programs with the schools that run them -- which ironically, all leads back to money, anyway.

In that regard, Chrebet clearly mentioned how Hofstra football helped Hofstra University, “We got to be a ranked team. We got a couple of guys in the pros. Hofstra got to be a well-known school.”

Instead, Hofstra was unfortunately known just as well in a negative way.

At one point, just a few hours after Rabinowitz’s announcement, Hofstra was listed as the top Yahoo! search on the internet, and two days later, ESPN's college football preview show had Hofstra dropping football as a main story of the week after not long after a story on the SEC championship game between No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Alabama, and another on other bowl selections.

Addressing the poor attendance leading to the Hofstra football program being dismissed, one Hofstra football fan at the popular CAA message board CAAZone.com, summed up the situation well, saying “I am sure you don't go over your (insert old relative here)'s house every day, but when she is gone you probably aren't going to say good riddance, her medical bills were expensive, why were we even keeping her alive, now I can spend that cash on some books and a new PS3.”

Yet, that was pretty much the stance taken by the Hofstra administration.

Perhaps the biggest reason though, why that position was egregiously insincere was that many of the same Hofstra board members who voted Hofstra football out based on financial reasons, previously irresponsibly voted to approve expensive football facilities upgrades before the football program was truly ready for them.

A huge project was put into place (in fairness, mainly before Rabinowitz’s tenure began, but tweaked and continued under his watch) including the expansion of the seating capacity from 7,000 to 15,000; the installation of a network-quality lighting system for television broadcasts; an Athletic Department office building, which includes a press level and a club suite level; two entrance plazas on the south and west sides of the Stadium; a facade around the outside of the Stadium; additional parking and landscaping; a pavilion in the southeast corner of the Stadium; concession and souvenir areas; two locker rooms; the installation of a state-of-the-art scoreboard in the south end zone; a new scoreboard in the north end zone; and new FieldTurf.

The price tag for all of that?

A cool $9 million, which ironically equals the same cost of the Hofstra football program that was deemed too high by many of the same board members, over their secretive two-year cost/benefit analysis.

How’s that for being hypocritical?

Additionally, let’s look at the current high tuition at Hofstra. At about $46,000 per year for a full-time undergraduate student, it would have taken an increase of 98 such students annually to cover the cost of maintaining Hofstra football.

That’s only an 0.81 percent increase of the 12,100 total student enrolled, or a 1.33 percent increase on the 7,327 full-time undergraduate students who currently attend Hofstra.

I’m obviously not in the business of doing anything with a university budget, but I would think small percentages such as those would be realistic targets for a decent-sized private school to shoot for on and annual basis, and if it can’t achieve those seemingly relatively small increases, they might not be managing their money well across the board (or should I say, across the board of trustees?)

Moreover though, it was the initial planning with grand visions (nothing wrong with that in itself) combined with either the unwillingness or incompetence to see that through which unfortunately led to demise of Hofstra football.

There’s nothing wrong with shooting for the stars. Go ahead, have a great stadium, great facilities surrounding it, all while improving your academic status and having a medical school. In fact, it can be agreed even among the most staunch Hofstra football supporters, that the latter two are probably significantly more noble and more important undertakings.

However, if done right, Hofstra could have had it all.

You don’t pour $9 million into a program costing $4.5 million per year before you have any clue that the interest was there to justify the $9 million upgrades.

What would have been so terrible with gradually building in small steps, having some success, building upon that, then slowly funding smaller expansion, and having further success and further growth, in football, or in all areas?


Rabinowitz can blame Long Island fans for not showing up all he wants, but this was years in the making. Hofstra’s constant need to rush and push itself beyond what it’s ready for, ultimately caused the end of Hofstra football.

Well that, and once the decision was made to go that route, the lack of effort placed on effectively marketing what Hofstra created. With nice facilities, and no team, they’re basically now, all dressed up and nowhere to go.

And, the accountability for that?

Good luck finding it at Hofstra.

Cohen and his entire staff lost their jobs. Some of them were even on the recruiting trail when they found out. And, Hofstra football players who trusted that they would finish out their four years playing college football in the best FCS conference in the nation, near the greatest city in the world, have to scatter and quickly hook on somewhere else.

Let’s be realistic for a moment. Many kids who want to, can’t attend college at all, and Hofstra’s former football players still have the opportunities to keep their scholarships and finish out school should they choose.

Still, they’re in a lot tougher position than they needed to be all because of a president and his board.

If they’re lucky, those players will all learn a new system quickly and compete all over again for playing time in a foreign environment, while having to develop the level of chemistry. And, that’s just the athlete part of “student-athlete.” The strain of having to adapt in a new school academically will be added pressure.

But, the members of Hofstra’s board of trustees who voted for the football facilities upgrades rolled the dice big time with some bad miscalculations which worked out terribly, yet those same board members still have their jobs, and they’re free to keep spending or “reallocating resources” as they see fit.

It’s funny how the word “trustee” begins with “trust,” yet that was the thing which Hofstra’s football players couldn’t rely on in the end.

If it truly came down to finances, what that board or president Rabinowitz didn’t consider is a possible ripple effect.

Take a program like Hosftra basketball, for instance, the only athletic program left that’s realistically still “a significant part of campus life at Hofstra University.”

Dropping a football program, even to prospective athletes in other sports, could make Hofstra appear small-time.

The next great basketball player to come to Hofstra, maybe the next local budding star to follow in the footsteps of Hofstra star Charles Jenkins (the 2009-10 CAA Preseason Co-Player of the Year), might look at the decision to drop Hofstra football and wonder just how strong the Hofstra athletic program really is, or if Hofstra’s board or president has other future agendas, such as deciding to drop the basketball program in favor of future academic scholarships.

The possible net effect that the Hofstra board or Rabinowitz probably didn’t count on in a case like that?

That player goes somewhere else, and Hofstra basketball fails to generate possibly even more revenue over time, in missed NCAA or NIT tournament bids (plus the national attention and public relations boon that go along with something like that), than the amount it would have cost to keep Hofstra football alive and strong.

Oh, but that’s right. That’s why most universities have a men’s basketball and football programs to begin with, to make money for the school in other areas, not to make a return on those programs themselves.

To truly appreciate the saddest thing in this whole situation, you have to look back one decade.

Yes, the 1999 season, when Hofstra was played under the great Joe Gardi, eight years before joining the CAA in 2007.

As hard as it is to believe that Hofstra football was no more just 61 days after its win over JMU this past October, it’s even more difficult to fathom all of the schools Hofstra beat, all in that same 1999 season, and where those football programs are today, relative to Hofstra’s newly ceased program.

The following isn’t meant to depress Hofstra football fans (and that’s my official disclaimer), but it’s interesting to note who Hofstra defeated during their 9-3 season which ended with a I-AA playoff berth:

Hofstra opened the 1999 season with an easy win 56-17 win at UConn, which is now a thriving program at the FBS level in the Big East. Speaking of current successful Big East programs, Hofstra also won at South Florida, 42-23, that year. They won too, at Buffalo, now an FBS member of the MAC. Throw in a 21-9 victory that year over Elon, which is currently ranked eight in the FCS coaches poll.

And, then there are the schools that were all former CAA conference mates only weeks ago, and mostly, very good ones. JMU? Yup, beat them that year at home, just like this year, and handily (34-16). Perennial FCS and CAA contender UMass (except for this year)? That was a comfortable 27-14 win on the road. Former CAA foes Maine and Rhode Island? Beat them both on the road, defeating the Black Bears, 27-19, and the Rams, 28-13.

Even one of the losses looks good today: a 31-21 defeat, in which Hofstra led 21-14 after three quarters, against current CAA member Richmond, last year’s FCS national champion.

So many good programs that went on to much bigger and better things while Hofstra’s football program was allowed to just casually fall by the wayside by an administration that did little to save it, let alone make a real attempt to match any of the programs Hofstra beat soundly just ten year ago.

There’s always the possibility that Hofstra football could still return, perhaps in a conference like the Patriot League, one that would be befitting at least, of the types of academic institutions that Rabinowitz aims for Hofstra to become.

However, as Thomas says, that might be difficult once a decision is made to cut a program. “If Hofstra does try to bring back football in a couple of years,” he said, “I have a tough time believing that the alums, and others who supported Hofstra Football would buy into it, because you’ve broken their hearts, and you broken their trust. Especially. because they are capable of going to the playoffs. This year they lost some close game that they could have won, and they could have been there. They were a good program and they had all the makings of a team on the rise, they just had some bad bounces.”

Still, such a comeback is not without precedent. Hofstra need look no further than its own former conference, and to a team which has a very close relation to Thomas, himself.

On Friday night, at 8pm EST, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Villanova Wildcats (who lost to Hofstra in 2003) and Thomas’ son of the same name (playing linebacker, as his farther did at Whittier College), will be competing in the 2009 FCS national championship game against Montana (another team that Hofstra beat on the road several years ago).

Ironically, the day before Hofstra officially dropped football, Chrebet was named as the inaugural ambassador of Friday night’s title game. That’s about as close as Hofstra will get to the title game now.

However, Villanova’s situation offers hope through action, though it took some time.

In 1981, Villanova’s board of trustees, also citing economic reasons, discontinued the Villanova football program. And, that was a football institution which had been around since 1894, making Hofstra’s long tradition look young by comparison.

Less than a year later, Villanova’s student government released results from a student survey indicating that over 96 percent of students who responded to the survey, wanted football to return.

Just 41 days later, the Villanova board agreed to review its position on football, and almost one year to the day after that, Villanova’s president announced that the board elected to restore football at the university.

In 1984, Villanova hired head coach Andrew Talley, who last year, in his 25th season at Villanova, became the all-time winingest head coach in CAA history.

Along the way, Villanova returned to the I-AA playoffs in 1989, 1991, 1992, and 1996 out of the small Yankee conference, before joining the Atlantic 10 when Hofstra was there. The playoff loss in 1991 was a narrow 17-16 first-round decision against eventual national champion Youngstown State.

By 1997, Villanova recorded its first I-AA playoff victory, and the Wildcats won two playoff games in 2002. They joined the CAA with Hofstra in 2007, going 7-4, then 10-3 last year, and are now 13-1, on the brink of reaching the FCS pinnacle, with just one more win standing in their way.

Viewing Villanova’s rise to success is the shame of it all for Hofstra. The Pride was already well on its way toward making the climb that Villanova has made in the past few years of its 25-year journey since coming back from the abyss.

But instead, if Hofstra is ever to attain what Villanova has thus far, it will have to start all over again from scratch, as Villanova did in the 1980’s.

Would it take as long for Hofstra? Maybe not. But, as of now, it may not happen at all.

The problem from a football standpoint this past season was Hofstra’s offense, which struggled to help a defense that was solid for most of the season.

Cohen opened things up though in Hofstra’s final game of the year, perhaps its final game ever.

For one day, it gave hope in a lost season.

Senior quarterback Cory Christopher went out with a bang, passing for a career-high 484 yards, while junior wide receiver Aaron Weaver, from nearby Freeport, NY, caught a career-high 15 passes for 191 yards.

A team that was averaging just 18 points per game, erupted for a thrilling 52-38 shootout win over UMass.

It should have been a game to build on for next year.

But, in one ten-minute press conference, Rabinowitz changed everything.

“Hofstra has a nice victory in their last game… and they get the rug slipped out from underneath them,” said the more senior Thomas.”

Instead of hope for next season, Hofstra football fans and alums simply wish Hofstra football can someday return.

And, rather than seeing how lessons learned from that final game can be used for next season, Cohen just hopes he can find a new job.

He’s currently rumored to have defensive coordinator offers at Western Michigan, Georgia Southern, and Bowling Green. "I don’t know what I’m going to do," the still-disappointed 43-year-old coach said. "I’m just sitting on [the offers] right now."

In the meantime, an effort on the part of some former Hofstra football players who are seeking reinstatement of the program, has already taken shape.

Once such player leading that charge is Dave Gerstman, who played Hofstra football from 1986-89.

Today, Gerstman is a high-powered lobbyist who has posted the following on his Gotham Government Relations website, at http://gothamgr.com/save-hofstra-football:
“I am deeply upset about this decision, As an alumnus, former football player and a member of this community, I will personally seek clarification and details on why this occurred. I hope that the University will reconsider this irresponsible decision that ultimately will impact the region in a very profound way, from Long Island high school football players to current Hofstra football players and fans, and many others.”
“The University is part of the fabric of Long Island and I believe this is damaging to Long Island and the reputation of the school.”

Will actions such as Gerstman’s ultimately help to re-establish Hofstra football?

Time will tell, but if you’d like to hear what Gerstman has to say, he will be a guest on The FRO Show this Thursday night, December 17th, at 9pm EST.

All episodes of The FRO Show can be heard live, weekly at that time, and replayed at any time, at:
www.blogtalkradio.com/football-reporters

Though an administration showed little pride in Hofstra football, there may yet be a significant movement to restore football to the Hofstra Pride.

Stay tuned.

An ol’ Irishman takes the reins at Notre Dame

An ol’ Irishman takes the reins at Notre Dame

By John Kelly
Football Reporters Online
Senior Writer
Midwest/Northeast Correspondent

AD Jack Swarbrick accomplished something his past predecessors didn’t. He identified a top coaching target and finally closed him. Former Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly was introduced as the 29th Football coach at Notre Dame Friday.

The job was a lifelong dream and he was up to the challenge of restoring Notre Dame’s glory.
“When I refer to the challenge, it's strictly getting to that high bar that's been set at Notre Dame," he said. "We've got challenges, but we'll go to work on those right away."


He also didn’t flinch at the idea of National Championships either.
"Those aren't 8-4 years. Those are national championship years," he said. "So any time you're talking about restoring a program and the challenges, it's not about winning the conference championship, it's about winning championships and being in the BCS and being nationally prominent. That's a challenge. We've got to get to work on that."
After beginning the season unranked in 2009, Kelly led the Bearcats to a 12-0 record, a Sugar Bowl berth, and number 3 ranking in the BCS. Kelly will not coach the Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl vs. Florida.

Kelly takes over for Charlie Weis and inherits a team that didn’t fulfill the exact aspirations of his former team. Kelly also implied about the aura of Notre Dame as an institution.



"Nobody does it better than Notre Dame,'' he said. "The excellence in academics and in the athletic arena is second to none.''


Kelly has produced 18 winning seasons in his coaching careers at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, and Cincinnati compiling a 171-57-2 record. His only losing season was his first for the Chippewas.

Notre Dame’s 16-21 record the last three years hasn’t garnered the same muster as Kelly’s. Still he believes their mindsets aren’t any different from his past teams.

After weeks of rumors ranging from Bob Stoops to Brian Billick there was no doubting whom the Irish were targeting from day one. According to a local athletic department source Kelly was the only candidate Notre Dame was seriously pursuing.

“It was always Kelly,” said the source.

AD Jack Swarbrick reinterred that statement.

“Kelly was the first guy we spoke to and the only one we offered.”

"These young men want to win, and that's why I'm here at Notre Dame," he said. "I want to be around men that are committed, and we can't trade anybody. There's no waiver wire. We're going to develop our players, and they're going to play their very best for us. That to me has always been the most important principle. Let's go. Don't tell me what you don't have. I don't want to know about it. Tell me what you can do to help us win."

Kelly has got it done at his recent stops but he will have to recruit nationally to experience success in South Bend. Still, that doesn’t mean he is scared to public express his sales pitch.

“I would tell recruits that you’re coming to Notre Dame to restore the glory and develop as a football player and a person,” he said. “You ready to Go?”

Kelly seemed happier than a kid a Christmas standing at the podium. He gave the media respect and didn’t make a herculean promises. Kelly used his wits to tell the media and NDNation what they need to hear.

In order to be successful they will have to get work immediately. On Monday that journey truly begins.

Strong heads to Louisville

By John Kelly
Football Reporters Online
Senior Writer
Midwest/Northeast Correspondent



Defensive Coordinator Charlie Strong was the architect of a dominant Florida defense the past 5 seasons. coordinator. Now he will channel that energy towards Louisville as their next Head Coach.

Strong was hired by Louisville Wednesday to help revitalize a program that lost its shine under former coach Steve Kragthorpe.
Strong has been one of the hottest coaches in the country the last few seasons. His defenses were energetic and terrifying for opposing foes in the SEC.

Strong will have his work cut out for him. He has to restore the luster of a nomadic fan base that mailed it in during the Kragthorpe era. The Cardinal’s struggles the last three seasons led to Kragthorpe’s dismissal on Nov. 28.
According to Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich the defining factor in Strong’s hire stemmed from the devotion and enthusiastic nature he exhibited with his players
"I've done a lot of homework with this hire, and I was amazed how well-respected and revered Charlie Strong is throughout the country," Jurich said. "He commands a lot of respect from people within the game, including ex-players and coaches around college football."

Strong's contract is not yet completed and his plans to coach in the Sugar Bowl are up in the air as well.
It funny to think that just three years ago Louisville was a team that won the Orange Bowl and finished 6th in the nation. Jurich hopes Strong can restore the program to those heights and especially bring back support that grew disenchanted. If you need anymore proof check the attendance at the season finale.

A crowd of 23,000 turned out for the Rutgers game and with Papa John’s stadium expanding to 55,000 seats they must show signs of filling up before next year's opener against rival Kentucky.
Florida’s defenses ranked top-20 national in 10 statistical categories under Strong. This same defense helped Florida capture two national titles.

The Gators have not missed a beat this fall finishing third in the nation in scoring defense and fourth in total defense.
He'll have to get work immediately as Louisville’s defense is far from dominant. It was one of the reasons the Cardinals fell from the Big East penthouse to their cellar.

Louisville ranked 67th nationally in both total defense and scoring defense this year despite significant improvements.
Jurich took his time looking for a replacement unlike back in 2007 after Petrino bolted for the NFL.
Strong was considered Jurich's top candidate all along and waited until Florida was done with their regular season before they contacted him. While Strong was on the top of list other candidates received contact as well.
Jurich also talked with former Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer about the job a week ago.

Despite bringing a strong defensive mind to Louisville, Strong also carries deep recruiting ties in the South that would welcome future blue chippers to Louisville. Kragthorpe looked west for prospects instead of raiding the bluegrass and sunshine states.
Strong becomes the 11th black head coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision and the fourth one hired in the last month.

Ianello the New Boss at Akron

Ianello the New Boss at Akron

By John Kelly
Football Reporters Online
Senior Writer
Midwest/Northeast Correspondent

Akron turned to Notre Dame Wide Reciver coach Rob Ianello to lead their program.

The a press release was sent out late Wednesday night by the school said Ianello would be introduced as the Zips' new coach at a Thursday news conference.

Ianello replaces J.D. Brookhart, who was dismissed last week after Akron went 3-9.

Ianello, 44, spent the past three seasons working for Charlie Weis and the Fighting Irish. He coached the wide receivers and served as recruiting coordinator.

Ianello’s ability to be one of the Irish’s top recruiters will surely bring some excitement to the Akron program. He began at Notre Dame in 2005 after coaching stops at Arizona and Wisconsin

Clausen and Tate take their Games to Sundays

Clausen and Tate take their Games to Sundays
By John Kelly
Football Reporters Online
Senior Writer
Midwest/Northeast Correspondent

Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate sat before the media hearts thumping and their emotions heavy. In between them former coach Charlie Weis was all smiles. With the flashing bulbs illuminating over their life size posters, both declared for the NFL draft during a Monday news conference.

They had talked about their intentions with fired Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis on Friday. Jimmy Clausen decided took his next step towards childhood aspirations.

"Growing up as a kid, one of my lifelong dreams has been to play in the NFL and with that being said, with the support of my family and coaches I will be forgoing my senior year and entering the 2010 NFL draft," Clausen said in a release handed out by the school before his news conference.

The decision was much harder for Tate. His relationships on the gridon and the diamond made it even tougher.
"But after talking with my family and coach Weis, I am going to pursue my dream and enter next year's NFL draft," he said.
Clausen came to Notre Dame from Westlake, California in 2007 and enrolled early. He was most-hyped Notre Dame quarterback since Ron Powlus back in 1993. Clausen was known for infamously announcing his decision to attend Notre Dame at the College Football Hall of Fame, arriving in a Hummer limo and flashing three high school championship rings. He came to South Bend claiming he would add 4 national title rings to his collection.

His career was one of high aspirations unfulfilled. Clausen never directed the Irish to a single Bowl Championship Series game. He did help the Irish break their 9 game bowl losing streak with a 49-21 victory in the Hawaii bowl in which he was the MVP.
He made 34 starts for the Irish compiling a 16-18 record. He finished 2009 ranked second in the country in pass efficiency behind Boise State's Kellen Moore. Clausen threw for 3,722 yards and 28 touchdowns this year. He only threw 4 picks, which was his biggest problem and averaged 310 yards a game passing.

Tate on the other hand was never thought to leave this early after barely finding the field as a freshman. Tate came in to South Bend as a running back and struggled to adapt to the precise route running necessary for Charlie Weis’s scheme. He only had six catches for 131 yards that season.

Last season he was the most improved player on the roster, leading the Irish in all-purpose yards with 1,754. He snagged 58 passes for 1,080 yards, an averaged 18.9 yards a catch. But he came of age this season becoming more of a well-rounded receiver and made highlight reel catches. After the Michael Floyd injury he repeatedly beat zone coverage’s, ran the ball from the wildcat, and increased his production game to game.

Tate was even talked about as a possible Heisman Trophy contender until the Irish lost their last four games.
The 5-11, 195-pound junior from Hendersonville, Tenn., finished the 2009 campaign with 93 catches for 1,496 yards and 15 touchdown receptions. He also added two scores on the ground and one on a punt return for a touchdown. He finished third in the nation in receiving yards per game (124.67), seventh catches per game (7.75), and is a Blinkoff Finalist for the nations best receiver.

According to most draft experts Clausen and Tate are top 15 picks. In the eyes of the Fro Tate is easily the best receiving prospect while Clausen presents mixed feelings towards his ranking.

The 2009 SEC Championship: Of Sugar, Roses and Inner Peace




The 2009 SEC Championship: Of Sugar, Roses and Inner Peace
By Drew Moss-special to Football Reporters Online
 
Photo: Tim Tebow with his 2007 Heisman. Does he get to win another one?? (by Dr. Bill Chachkes)

Judging by his spiritual eye black (consult your nearest Good Book for John 16:33), Florida Gators southpaw phenom Tim Tebow has an inner fortitude usually reserved for monks and wise men. 
 
After yesterday's heartbreaking 32-13 pasting at the hands of Nick Saban's methodical, mechanical Alabama Crimson Tide, he's going to need it.
 
Previously ranked #1 Florida will have to settle for a bridesmaid's Sugar Bowl matchup with Big East comeback kids Cincinnati in New Orleans on New Year's Day, while Saban's well- oiled, fine tuned "big red machine" gears up for it's shot at the BCS Championship on January 7th in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA vs. Heisman hopeful Colt McCoy the #2 ranked Texas Longhorns, who eked out an ugly 13-12 win over Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship.
 
Tebow may very well have the All-American profile, the off-season integrity, the matinee looks and the gridiron goods to back it all up, but Saturday night's SEC Championship belonged to Saban, his stubborn, disciplined defense and his offensive playmakers. 
 
Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy matched Tebow and then quickly bested him, with a highly efficient 12-18 passing performance for 239 yards and a touchdown.  But perhaps most telling was McElroy's high wire sideline hustle for a first down with 8:30 remaining in the first half.  It was an athletic, determined and tone setting play that sent the Tide's - and Saban's - overall message:  Alabama was not to be denied.
 
"We had a meeting (last offseason and told the players) everything you do, every time you go to work, every time we lift weights, it's not to be as good as the guy you're playing against, it's to be as good as the guy you have to beat to be the champions," Saban said.
In yesterday's SEC Championship, that proverbial "guy" was Tebow and the Gators.
 
A chance to play for the National Championship was not all that may have brought Tebow to post-game tears.  His 4th Quarter coffin closing pick combined with Alabama running back Mark Ingram's big day in a big spot (28 rushes for 113 yards and three touchdowns) did everything to hurt Tebow's chances at snagging his second Heisman Trophy - and everything to help Ingram's chances for a first.
 
Not that he's thinking about it.  Saban would never have it and Ingram seems to know it.
 
"Coach Saban has a philosophy of hard work and discipline," Ingram said. "And you can't have self-indulgent behavior.  It's about doing everything you can, every chance you have, to make the team better."
 
On Thursday night January 7th in Pasadena, while Tebow's already done "sugarcoating" and meditating on his very bright future; Saban, McElroy, Ingram and the Tide will forget about getting better - they will be looking to be the best.

Does Jake Locker Return For One More Year?




Does Jake Locker Return For One More Year?
(photo via Wikimedia Commons)
By Nick Haswell –Contributing Writer-Northwest Football Reporters Online

If last Saturday’s game versus California was Jake Locker’s last game as a Washington Husky, then he turned in quite the finale as a collegiate athlete. Locker completed 19 of 23 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns. For good measure, he added 77 yards rushing and another two touchdowns. Locker displayed an NFL ready arm and athletic ability on several occasions on Saturday. His first pass of the game was a beautiful 40 yard touchdown on a post pattern to Jermaine Kearse. Early in the third quarter, Locker connected with Devin Aguilar for a 21 yard touchdown that was perfectly delivered on Aguilar’s back shoulder on a fade pattern. And then, Locker showed his great athletic ability on his 19 yard touchdown run in the second quarter in which he outraced the Cal defense down the sideline once he turned the corner on a designed draw play.

Based on his early season production and his performance in his past two games, one can see why Jake Locker is held in such high regard by NFL scouts and personnel people. But he also is far from a finished product. Although he did greatly improve his accuracy from his first two seasons, Locker still only completed just over 58% of his passes in 2009. His decision making was a little inconsistent during the season, especially during the middle of the 2009 season. His 11 interceptions were second most in the Pac 10, only trailing USC true freshman Matt Barkley (12). All being said, Locker still has a bright future as an NFL signal caller. Whether his NFL career begins in 2010 or 2011 remains to be seen. Let’s take a look at the pros of Locker deciding of returning for his senior season at Washington versus the pros of him declaring himself eligible for the 2010 NFL Draft:

Pros for Returning to UW
1. Locker has the opportunity to learn for another year under Steve Sarkisian’s pro-style offense. Sarkisian has coached NFL quarterbacks in Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, John David Booty, and Mark Sanchez while at USC and can provide Locker a better opportunity to succeed when he reaches the NFL under Sarkisian’s tutelage.
2. He will get another year of game experience at UW, which would be much more beneficial to him to be an NFL ready starter at QB. At this time, Locker is still raw as a quarterback, and I do not see him being ready to start right away as a quarterback in the NFL.
3. Locker will be able to finish what he started in turning around the Husky football program. Locker came into the Husky program and was immediately labeled the “Savior” of the Husky football program. The Huskies have not reached a bowl game since 2002, and Locker was expected to lead the team back to one. He has yet too. If he should return, he would have a great opportunity to lead the Huskies back to a bowl game in 2010 after the Huskies 5-7 season in 2009.
4. He would be a leading candidate for the 2010 Heisman Trophy.
5. Although, he could be a top draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, he could cement his status as a number one NFL prospect in 2011 by returning to UW and having an outstanding season in 2010.
Pros to Leaving for the NFL
1. Money, money, money. Last year’s number one pick, Matthew Stafford, signed a six year contract where he will receive about $12 million per season, with $41.7 million guaranteed. Number 17 overall pick, Josh Freeman, signed a five year contract that will pay him more than $7 million per season, with $10.245 million of it guaranteed. There’s no reason to believe that Locker would not be picked somewhere in the range of 1 to 17 overall and could earn a similar contract.
2. Locker is a NFL talent and will be drafted in the first round. Why should he chance that by returning for another season and possibly getting injured? Look at what happened to Sam Bradford. Had he came out in 2009, he possibly could have been the top pick. Now, for the 2010 NFL Draft, he is still a first round draft pick, but he put draft stock in jeopardy by returning and getting injured.
Jake Locker has until January 15 to declare for the 2010 NFL Draft. It will be interesting to see what Locker decides to do in the next six weeks.

Strong to take the Helm at Louisville





Strong to take the Helm at Louisville

John Kelly
Football Reporters Online
Senior Writer
Midwest/Northeast Correspondent

A source close to the Louisville coaching search, said the school is on the brink of hiring and naming Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong as its new head coach
A meeting has been called on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. ET, for the personnel committee of the Louisville Athletic Association Board of Directors board to approve the hiring of Strong,
On Sunday, Strong and Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich conducted an interview in Gainesville. Louisville expects to introduce him on Wednesday.
Louisville is replacing Steve Kragthorpe, who was fired after three seasons. The Cardinals had come off an Orange Bowl berth prior to his first season.

Gator chomp gets rolled by Tide. Alabama wins SEC for first time since 1992.

Gator chomp gets rolled by Tide. Alabama wins SEC for first time since 1992.
 
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer Football Reporters Online
Southeast Region
 
Alabama 32 Florida 13
All season long this was the match up everyone wanted. No other team in the conference looked like they would compete so the best were at it Saturday in Atlanta. There were story lines like the next to last game in the career of AT&Tebow. Could Mark Ingram make his case for the Heisman? Would Greg McElroy start quick or work from behind? Which one of these defenses would step up when it mattered most? There could be a host of other questions but these were the burning ones. AT&Tebow has had a collegiate career that will be talked about for years to come. He has built so much respect from his peers that it appeared like he was almost untouchable. In the SEC championship game Alabama made sure he was touched plenty. He had been able to dodge every bullet and come out a winner for so long he knew no other way. That was until he lined up against an Alabama team that was playing for so much more than an SEC or BCS title. They were playing to be kings of the mountain again. They were playing for a coach that took this job with one thing in mind. That was to bring this program back to national prominence and to another national championship. Anything less would be complete failure for a coach some don’t like but can’t help respect. Coach Nick Saban took a lot of heat when he left Baton Rouge for the southern hospitality of Alabama. This was one that the Tide have been working on since the last one in 1992. So Tebow did his best to keep his team in the game but a drive in the first quarter stalled and ended in a field goal. When he hit David Nelson from 23 yards to make it 12-10 that was just answered by Ingram a minute later when he ran in from three. That scoring run would be all the Tide would need and Tebow would fall short on his last try in this conference of champions. He would finish 20-35 for 247 yards with an interception as well as the touchdown pass. He would finish the way he did not plan when he decided to come back for his senior year to get this SEC title as well as the BCS trophy. Now it’s on to the NFL and see if he can find a place among the big boys of the sport he loves so much. Mark Ingram came into the season well known by the SEC but still had questions to answer. What he did Saturday was put his stake in that Heisman argument running for 113 yards on 28 carries. He did his most damage where it hurt the Gators the most, in the red zone. He would have touchdown runs of seven, three and one yard. He kept the Gator defense off balance all day, as they could not contain him. He ran left and right as well as off-tackle. He gave his quarterback the time to throw the football and make his own case too. McElroy had never lost a start before this one and he put on an MVP performance going 12-18 for 239 yards and no interceptions. He needed to start quickly with Ingram running the ball well to be effective. So with his running game giving him 251 yards he was able to hurt Florida. He hit his receivers when he needed and was accurate in doing so. His timely passing and determination gave him the MVP and maybe a bright future to look forward to. The last question was about defense and Alabama flat out shut down the bite of the Gators. They were held to 13 first downs and 88 yards rushing. Bama held the ball for almost 40 minutes and the Florida offense was just 4-11 on third down conversions. When the Gators were trying to threaten Javier Arenas picked Tebow off and the game was done. It was as dominating a performance as you could get in this epic. Two teams on a collision course from opening day, and now only one was left standing. So it is the Tide of Alabama that moves on the BCS game against Colt McCoy and the Longhorns. It will be a game, but in the end I have to stick by what I have said all year, the SEC is king of the college football world and when it’s all said and done the Tide of Alabama will sit on top as BCS champions.

AFTER A CLOSE ACC FINISH, GEORGIA TECH’S HEADED TO THE ORANGE BOWL





AFTER A CLOSE ACC FINISH, GEORGIA TECH’S HEADED TO THE ORANGE BOWL

By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer
Southeast Region and
William Queen
Contributing Writer
 
Winning a 39-34 thriller over Atlantic champs Clemson, the Yellow Jackets are enjoying their first conference title in 19 years and their first BCS bid in school history. This game was perhaps a little too close for comfort, as Georgia Tech just simply didn’t have an answer for versatile phenomenon CJ Spiller. Receiving the ACC player of the year award, the Yellow Jackets knew coming in that it wouldn’t be easy slowing Spiller down. With 20 carries for 233 yards and four touchdowns, Spiller may have had the best performance of his career Saturday night vs. the Yellow Jackets. Scoring in every quarter of the game, Spiller had 65,000 fans wondering just how he did it. It seemed that every time Georgia Tech would methodically drive down the field, Spiller would have an answer. First drive of the game, Spiller scored on a three-yard run. Then, scoring three straight times (one touchdown and two field goals), Georgia Tech looked to be running away with the game. However, Spiller answered at the last possible second with a 41-yard run with just under three minutes left in the half. At the start of the third quarter, I was paying most of my attention to the kicker. Because while Spiller was exciting and suspenseful to watch, Georgia Tech kicker Scott Blair had scored 10 of their 16 points thus far and was secretly proving to be a valuable weapon. However, quarter back Josh Nesbitt managed to convert those field goals into touchdowns, accounting for both a rushing and passing score in the third quarter. Up by 13 heading into the fourth, Clemson made its last, desperate attempt at pulling off the game. And given the ball with 1:20 to go, and given freshman quarterback Kyle Parker’s success this year, they had a shot. A holding penalty and a string of incompletions later the Tigers were forced into a clutch fourth and two situation. In then end, defensive end Derrick Morgan showed the nation why he’s considered one of the best linemen in the country, tackling Parker for no gain.  Looking ahead, Georgia Tech will be facing off against Iowa in the Orange Bowl, a very intriguing match-up if you ask me. Earlier in the season, Iowa was one of the undefeated “BCS buster” teams and looked to make a run at the national championship. But after back-to-back Big ten losses vs. Northwestern and Ohio State, Iowa’s very fortunate to be sitting where they are now. And really, looking back on their schedule, Iowa’s only signature win all season was Penn State. So, considering that most of Iowa’s wins were thrilling comebacks, I think this will be perhaps the biggest test for the Hawkeye’s thus far. Allowing only 15 points per game, Iowa has a very tough defense. But then again, they allowed 42 points to 83rd ranked offense Indiana and the only team they shut-out is the 98th ranked offense in Minnesota. Looking in on rush defense, Iowa is the 32nd ranked rush defense and has played a few tough running games in Wisconsin and Ohio State. However, no Wisconsin or Ohio State running attack would match up even close to the magnitude of Georgia Tech’s. Ranked second in the nation in rushing yards; this will be the match-up of the game.
Some quick stats; Iowa averages 23 PPG and allows 15 PPG, as Georgia Tech averages 35 PPG and allows 24 PPG. For a prediction, I say Georgia Tech pulls out a exhilarating 27-24 win in OT.

Can we get the real "story" about why Hofstra ditched it's Football Program?

Can we get the real "story" about why Hofstra ditched it's Football Program?

By Dr. BIll Chachkes-Managing Partner/Executive Editor-Football Reporters Online
It first came to our attention Friday morning that we weren't the only ones on Long Island scratching our heads as to why there would be no more College Football played at Hofstra University. I had been on the CAA Media Conference all Thursday afternoon where Tom Yeager had given his statement as "the Commish" of the conference. As nice a man as he Is, It didn't seem like he was all that broken up about this or felt the need to do too much damage control. He probably didn't know anything on Saturday the 21st of November, as the Pride were taking It to The Minutemen of U Mass.(Final Score of The Pride's last game in recorded history-52-38 Hofstra, and It wasn't even as close as the score Indicated!)

I am usually on one of two Long Island Railroad trains In the morning each weekday. On each train I have "regular" cronies I stand with on the platform and ride Into penn station with. We always talk football, weather it's of the pro variety or about local college programs like Hofstra & Stonybrook. It wasn't easy to answer my travel friends questions regarding the announcements of the day before. "So why did Hofstra Kill off Football?" one of them asked me. I still can't figure out why either, except that there Is an 800 pound university president In the house, and he stole the presents out from under the tree, or menorah.

Then I get an E-mail this past weekend about an Alum who Is also a former player and he wants answers. So through an e-mail I get connected to Brad Gerstman, a former Prosecutor who Is now a partner at Gotham Government Relations. It seems he Isn't the only one. About 40 other former Hofstra football players who are now successful businessmen want answers as to why this was done. Why was Hofstra Football taken out back and shot?

"We are requesting restitution of the football program" said Mr. Gerstman. "Mr. Rabinowitz and the board of trustees are caretakers of the university, not it's owners" Indeed, Hofstra may well be a private university, but it receives Public funding from the state of New York, as well as the generosity of alumni like Mr. Gerstman and many other former players. Some of them are current or former NFL players. These men want answers, and they deserve to get them.

So fast forward to yesterday, and I'm at a press conference at the Public House on Manhattan's east side. "It just seems like this was done under the cover of darkness" said  Chris Colozizielro, class of 1991, who took the podium after Gerstman. "Why would you want to shut down a program that has produced NFL players like Wayne Cherbet. Marques Colston, and Willie Colon?" he asked. I can't see the reason behind that either. Sure, we all understand the reality of the current economic times. But the university Isn't hurting so much for money, as It wanted to "re-allocate" funding to give scholarships to 'the needy," and to help get the medical school up and running. So none of the football players were needy? Someone should have gone over the hardships the freshman Running Back Miguel Maysonet had been through while attending Riverhead H.S. He was only the MVP of the 2009 Outback Steakhouse H.S. All Star Game, which by the way, Is played at Shuart Stadium, Where the Pride would have been playing their 2010 season If someone hadn't stolen their program by re-allocating funds.

In fact, as recently as a month ago, the alumni fundraisers were still looking for donations to the program. Coaches were out recruiting as recently as last Monday. "No options were ever discussed" the press conference went on. "We clearly understood that this president does not support athletics"

"Every college understands the value of a football program." Except for this one. Jon Camera from the class of 1995 also spoke. "We gave whatever we could financially whenever we were asked" "as well as mentoring current students."
So we see that this fight Is far from over. We may never get all the answers either, but this is another story that we will "Dig Deeper" Into.

Mostly I feel bad for the Maysonet's, the Steve Probst's, and the Joe Sidaris's of the team. All three could still have promising careers at the next level. But they won't be known for having played  In Hempstead, but rather for having transferred somewhere else.

I also feel for Coach Dave Cohen. There are a few quality men in this business, but few could be thought of as your second(or only) Father. Dave Cohen Is that man. If I had ever gotten to play college football, I'd have wanted my coach to be like Cohen.

FRO's Week 14 NCAA predictions

Week 14 NCAA predictions
By Max Baez
Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online

Florida vs. Alabama

The two best defenses in the country face off in Atlanta. Will Alabama get their revenge on Florida? This game couldn’t possibly be any bigger. We all know about both teams, very strong all around. My feeling on this one is that Florida is likely to win it. I’d say the biggest advantage that Alabama has on Florida are better running backs, but Tebow is certainly better than McElroy, and Florida has no problems gaining yards on the ground as well. Two great teams, and probably the two best in America, but Florida is going to repeat as SEC champs.

Florida 24, Alabama 14


Texas vs. Nebraska

Does anyone think Nebraska is going to win this game? No, I don’t either. The Cornhuskers have put together a nice season. I mean, it’s not that hard when you’re in the Big 12 North, but Nebraska was significantly better than they have been in previous seasons and the future looks bright in Lincoln, even though the team will never meet the expectations of fans, as Nebraska is simply not situated in a place where it can win national championships in today’s age. Texas will win this year because they are significantly better, and go off to the National Championship game.

Texas 28, Nebraska 10


Clemson vs. Georgia Tech

The SEC East fifth place game, oh, wait, I mean the ACC Championship game. Both of these teams are coming off losses to their in-state rivals, showing how good the ACC is in comparison with the SEC. These teams both looked quite weak last week, especially Clemson, and in this game, I expect Georgia Tech to take it. They have been the better team all season, and their option offense will give Clemson fits. Paul Johnson has done a hell of a job with the Yellow Jackets, and their reward is a BCS game.

Georgia Tech 27, Clemson 17


Arizona @ USC

Why these two teams are playing the last week of the season, I have no idea. Arizona looked unimpressive in beating mediocre ASU last week, while USC took care of UCLA. This game is a matter of how seriously USC takes Arizona. If they overlook Foles and the Arizona offense, the Cats could take it. However, it’s the last week of the year, and the Trojans will be in the Emerald or Las Vegas Bowls with a loss, so I have a feeling USC will win and get into the more respected Holiday Bowl.

USC 28, Arizona 20


Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh

The default Big East championship game, whoever wins gets the title. Pitt lost the Backyard Brawl last week to West Virginia, taking a little bit of luster off this game. Both have been great all year, but Pittsburgh doesn’t have a very good home field advantage and Cincinnati has been rolling on offense all year. I simply think Cincy is too good, and will take care of the Panthers. Their offense is just clicking too well, and they are so close to going undefeated – so I’m confident they will get it done pretty easily.

Cincinnati 38, Pittsburgh 13

Sadly-Hofstra Football Program comes to an End after 69 years




Sadly-Hofstra Football Comes to an End after 69 years

(press release from Hofstra University Athletics-Our comment at the end)

Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y. - Hofstra University's Board of Trustees has decided to eliminate Hofstra's Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS, formerly known as Division 1-AA) intercollegiate football program, and reinvest those resources into new academic programs and need-based scholarships, President Stuart Rabinowitz announced today.

The Board, acting on a recommendation from Rabinowitz, voted unanimously to end the football program, effective immediately, at a meeting on Wednesday night. The decision was the culmination of a comprehensive review of all university spending to determine the best ways to build on Hofstra's successes and reach the highest level of academic excellence, nationally and internationally.

"As we continue to improve our academic programs and reputation, and plan the University's future, we have to consider the investment we make in all of the University's programs," Rabinowitz said. "The cost of the football program, now and in the future, far exceeds the return possible from an FCS program, which does not generate significant national interest. Given that, along with the low level of interest, financial support and attendance among our students, our alumni and the community, the choice was painful, but clear."

"In the long run," Rabinowitz said, "we can touch and improve the lives of more students by investing in new and enhanced academic initiatives and increasing funds for need-based scholarships."

Rabinowitz said there are no plans to cut any other sports. Hofstra will continue to compete in 17 intercollegiate Division I sports, at a national level, as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. "We know this is a difficult time for our football team members, their dedicated coaches and loyal fans, and we will do everything we can to help them navigate this transition as smoothly as possible."

"Athletics is a vital part of campus life, and we are proud of the contributions all our student-athletes make to our community," Rabinowitz said. "This was not an easy call, but for the future of the University, we believe it was the right one."

Marilyn B. Monter, chair of the Board of Trustees, said that the Board had recently concluded a two-year study of the athletic program, and she noted that nationwide, many colleges and universities are examining spending on sports. "Hofstra is not alone in taking a hard look at athletic spending, and we have a concrete plan for reinvestment in academics," Monter said. "This isn't about spending less money, it's about how we allocate our resources and invest in all of our students."

All current football team members who remain at Hofstra will keep their scholarships, and those who transfer will be eligible to play immediately. The football team has 84 student-athletes from 15 states, and 11 coaches. The net cost of the football program is approximately $4.5 million, including scholarships, and the savings generated will be redirected to fund new faculty lines, academic programs and need-based scholarships.

Athletic Director Jack Hayes met with team members and coaches this morning to inform them of the decision and to discuss how the University would assist them during the transition. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the President, he thanked them for their efforts and loyalty to the University.

"My priority is to implement a plan that assists the student-athletes and coaching staff with their efforts to move forward," said Athletic Director Jack Hayes. "We recognize that some team members will choose to complete their degree at Hofstra, and we encourage them to do so. Others may choose to continue their playing careers at other institutions. Whatever their decision, we are here to assist them."

The football team finished this season 5-6, with a 52-38 win over the University of Massachusetts on Nov. 21 at James M. Shuart Stadium. The timing of the decision was made to give team members, prospects and staff a chance to make future plans. The University will honor head football Coach David Cohen's contract, and all assistant football coaches will receive assistance with their job transitions.

Football began at Hofstra in 1937. In 1991, Hofstra moved up from Division III to Division I, and 2009 was the University's third in the CAA.

FRO will have more on this story shortly. We do want to take this moment to offer our support to the Hofstra community at this time. Regardless of the Trustee's decision, we at FRO have been covering Hofstra Football since Coach Cohen had come aboard, and much further back while working for past publications when Coach Guardi was here as well. The Program put many Players Into the NFL who are now or were successful during their playing careers. We wish coach Cohen well, and hope he finds a new coaching position soon. We are also hopeful that the Pride Players with the option to transfer and continue to play football do so successfully.

Dr. Bill Chachkes

Managing Partner/Execuitve Editor-Football Reporters Online

Week 13 NCAA Predictions

Week 13 NCAA Predictions

By Max Baez
Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online

Alabama @ Auburn

The Iron Bowl. No one outside of Auburn thinks the Tigers have a shot, and for good reason. Auburn has lost four of six, with the defense being a bit shaky down the stretch. Alabama coming into town is certainly not good news, as they excel in every area of the game. Mark Ingram and the Crimson Tide should cruise to victory and then get ready for the biggest game of the year next season, when Alabama will play Florida for a shot to go to the BCS Championship Game.

Alabama 31, Auburn 20


Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma

This is unbelievable, but a loss here means Oklahoma is a 6-6 team. Quite the fall for a team that was in the national title game last year and started the season ranked in the top 5, but injuries have clearly played a role. Oklahoma State has really had a great season, going 9-2 so far, even with the loss of their best player, Dez Bryant. Oklahoma’s defense has not been particularly strong this season, which is good news for the potent Oklahoma State offense. For whatever reason, Oklahoma is an 8 point favorite this week – guess reputation can go a long way sometimes. Okie State will go into Norman and claim victory.

Oklahoma State 35, Oklahoma 27


Utah @ BYU

Another episode of a vicious rivalry, which doubles as a culture war. Both teams are real solid this year, as has been the case most of the past few seasons. However, it has always felt like BYU has been a little better this year, even if they both have the same record. I like BYU in this one because of their explosive offense. Expect a solid day from QB Max Hall.

BYU 28, Utah 16


Georgia @ Georgia Tech

Georgia has had a disappointing year, Georgia Tech has not. The Yellow Jackets, playing in the ACC Championship Game next week, would certainly love to beat their in state rival for the second straight year. Considering how mediocre Georgia has been all season, that won’t be too tough a task. With the wishbone offense and some tough defense, Georgia Tech wins and prepares for the chance to make a BCS bowl game.

Georgia Tech 24, Georgia 10


Notre Dame @ Stanford

Will this be Charlie Weis’ last game? Will they let him coach the bowl game? It’s pretty clear to most that he needs to get fired, and this game will show exactly why. Stanford, with less talent, and a coach that has been there for less time, is going to absolutely work the Irish. Stanford had a tough break last week in the Big Game, but they still have an offense that will give Notre Dame fits – and the Irish are going to have a ton of trouble stopping Toby Gerhart. Notre Dame should put up good offensive numbers, but the Cardinal will pull away in the second half.

Stanford 44, Notre Dame 24


Five other games to watch: Nebraska @ Colorado, Pittsburgh @ West Virginia, Florida State @ Florida, Arizona @ Arizona State, Arkansas @ LSU

Write the Check Jack

Write the Check Jack
By John Kelly
Football Reporters Online
Senior Writer-Midwest/Northeast Correspondent

Mr. Swarbrick, remove the checkbook from your dapper business suit and get it over with. Put that shiny ballpoint pen and University letterhead to use. Cut Charlie his check, list some replacements, and move forward.
Since 1996 Notre Dame football is no longer relevant. The Irish have garnered more tabloids than National Titles the last 15 years.

When Weis took over he claimed that his previous predecessors made excuses. However, he was only half right.
Bob Davie and Ty Willingham said the University no longer could recruit elite athletes because of academic rigors.
In 5 years Weis has disproven some excuses but not all of them. He brought in three top ten recruiting classes. His third was number one in the country. Skill players are loaded throughout the roster.

Weis recruited with the big boys and beat them out for blue chip talent. Manti Teo and Michael Floyd turned down powerhouses USC and Ohio State for an education and eventual football glory.

However, other demons have never seemed to cease from South Bend. An arduous schedule during the Davie and Willingham tenure saw better results than the watered down ones of last two years.

Davie opened his final season with a Nebraska team that played for the national title. Willingham closed his tenure beating two top ten teams Tennessee and Michigan. The Wolverines went to the Rose Bowl that year as well.

Weis is 1-10 versus ranked teams, 0-5 versus USC, 3-10 in November, and now 0-3 the last two years versus the lowly Big East. He opened his last two seasons with WAC teams and pounded another to eradicate a 7 game bowl-losing streak.
Weis has not had to play the SEC and Big 12 powers like his past predecessors and couldn’t get improved results with players twice as good.

The last two Senior Days have been disgraceful. Tears normally reserved for a final goodbye were wasted on inexcusable losses. After 4 years Senior Days were designed for a proper send off. Instead those seniors were pelted with snowballs and booed during their own Alma mater and 1812.

Weis never had a quality defense during his tenure in South Bend. The defense has been exposed repeatedly game after game. This year it has finally gotten out of control. Weis tried two new coordinators and brought in defensive genius Jon Tenuta.
Yet, all recruiting cycles never registered elite defensive ends or linebackers capable of running a dominant defense.
Every Quarterback has looked like Johnny Unitas versus this defense and they clearly lack the defensive skill or coaching to stop anybody. When Navy runs 40 yards up the middle consistently with a fullback then you are that bad.
Weis’s staff countered that by calling the Midshipmen classy and dirty.

Notre Dame has been the same story since Weis arrived. Yet, these deficiencies have reared their ugly head the last two years. The Irish put up gaudy offensive stats and 30 points in a lot of their contests and cannot come out on top.
Like in 2001 and 2004 the spotlight is on the Notre Dame AD.

When adversity stared former AD Kevin White in the face he panicked. George O’Leary resigned and Ty Willingham was unjustly cast as the next head coach. Charlie Weis debuted better than expected and name came NFL rumored fudges a ridiculous contract extension.

Its all on you Jackie boy and this move will make or break your alma mater. Again you intend to wait until the end of the year instead of acting now.

Didn’t your past predecessor make the same mistake? Don’t you remember him whiffing twice on his top candidates?
Mr. Swarbrick past history has always produced a sour outcome and this situation won’t be any different. Apply the ink on the page and inscribe the necessary zeros.

If you dare reach for anything make sure it’s your checkbook Jack. Not for another potential disastrous hire.
This time lets get it right.
 

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