Urban Meyer's freak out not his best move

Urban Meyer didn’t scream his age or declare his manhood like Mike Gundy, but the Florida coach certainly made waves when he confronted an Orlando Sentinel reporter earlier this week.

Jeremy Fowler quoted Gators’ wide receiver Deonte Thompson in his blog as saying “You never know with Tim. You can think he’s running but he’ll come up and pass it to you. You just have to be ready at all times. With (New quarterback John) Brantley, everything’s with rhythm, time. You know what I mean, a real quarterback.”

Meyer didn’t take too kindly to the story, and during the post-practice confrontation, told Fowler “If (Thompson) was my son, we’d be going at it right now.”

Obviously Thompson has been embarrassed by the remarks, saying he did not mean to take anything away from Tebow.

It’s no secret how close Meyer and Tebow’s relationship became by the end of Tebow’s career, so it’s no surprise that a quote involving the former Heisman winner has Meyer fired up.

Throughout his career, I have been a huge fan of Meyer, dating back to his days as the Bowling Green head coach in 2001.

I even gave him a pass when his retirement-turned-leave of absence-turned-glorified vacation unfolded this winter.

But this time, Meyer may have overstepped his boundaries.

I applaud Meyer for protecting his player, who was obviously disturbed by the situation.

However, Fowler did nothing wrong by using Thompson’s direct quote in perfect context.

Fowler’s blog was supposed to be about Thompson hopefully breaking out after a couple of disappointing seasons in Gainesville.

Where Meyer should have directed his frustration is obviously with the player, and giving the kid a tutorial on word choice.

After Meyer nearly retired due to health concerns stemming from dangerous levels of stress, he doesn’t seem to be pulling any punches already.

This really brings about the question of just how much Urban truly cares about his health.

Whether he admits it or not, getting so frustrated and visibly violent in a situation as petty as this one doesn’t exactly say, “I’m handling my stress issues really well.”

What began as a simple misuse of words by a underachieving junior wide receiver has blown out of proportion, and will turn the eyes of critics far and wide directly to Meyer.

College Football 2010 Top 10 – earliest look

There is no time like the second week of January to begin looking ahead to the next college football season. The memory of Alabama's victory over Texas in an unusually thrilling national championship game is still fresh in everyone's minds, but that is no reason to start taking a look at who could lift the trophy a year from now.

1. Alabama

Virtually the entire offense returns for the Crimson Tide, including Heisman-winning running back Mark Ingram.

Greg McElroy had his ups and downs in his first season as the starting quarterback, but he should be more consistent as a senior.

Trent Richardson will spell Ingram at tailback, and it’s not too crazy to say he may be more talented than Ingram. In fact, Ingram himself has said before that Richardson has more natural ability.

Julio Jones figures to have his best season ever with such a loaded backfield, which will force opposing defenses to play a lot of man coverage while loading the box to stop the run. He is easily one of the early favorites for the 2010 Fred Biletnikoff award.

On defense, many pieces will need to be replaced, including Terrance Cody, Javier Arenas, and Rolando McClain. D’onta Hightower figures to replace McClain at linebacker; McClain is probably the biggest loss from this year’s national championship team.

A tough departure for Alabama will be kicker Leigh Tiffin, the program’s all-time leading scorer.

As long as there is experience on offense and Nick Saban on the sidelines, any team with that situation is in great shape.

2. Ohio State

Terrelle Pryor finally validated himself with a two touchdown, 266-yard performance in the Buckeyes’ Rose Bowl victory over Oregon. After all of the criticism that, fair or not, came his way in his first two seasons in Columbus, Pryor put out most of that fire with the stellar game in Pasadena.

Brandon Saine and Daniel Herron, who rushed for 739 and 600 yards, respectively in 2009 both return next season, giving Ohio State one of the most feared backfields in the country. Inexperience plagued that unit this season, but next year it will turn into the team’s strongest link.

The Buckeyes return six starters on defense, including Cameron Heyward at defensive end. He will be the star of that side of the ball in 2010.

3. Oregon

Ducks’ coach Chip Kelly is quickly becoming one of the most innovative offensive minds in the game. His Oregon team broke through this season with the first Pac-10 championship in eight years by a team not named USC. He returns rising sophomore phenom LaMichael James at running back, and thick-skinned Jeremiah Masoli at quarterback.

Oregon suffered a disappointing loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, but leave it to Kelly to let that defeat serve as the driving force behind his team’s off-season preparation for 2010.

4. Boise State

Poor Kyle Wilson. The Broncos’ star cornerback in 2009 will be the only starter from this past year’s team not to do it again in 2010. Every other starter is back, including rising junior quarterback Kellen Moore, who finished second in the nation in passing efficiency behind only Tim Tebow.

Boise State faces Oregon State and Virginia Tech in the first month of the season, giving it all the opportunity it needs to prove to the country that it belongs in the national championship game once and for all should they go unbeaten.

5. Nebraska

This may surprise some folks, but make no mistake about it: Nebraska is back. Starting quarterback Zac Lee returns, continuing the trend set by the first four teams in this list. After nearly being benched during a midseason cold streak, Lee bounced back to finish the year strong in 2009.

A 33-0 drubbing of Pac-10 runner-up Arizona in the Holiday Bowl was proof enough that Nebraska was a force to be reckoned with. The Huskers were literally seconds away from beating two top-10 teams in 2009. They lost to Virginia Tech on the road in the final minute 16-15, then allowed a last-second field goal by Texas to lose 13-12 in the Big 12 Championship Game.

They lose all-world defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who is likely to be the first player taken in April’s NFL Draft. Jared Crick will fill his shoes. Crick is a rising junior who has high expectations within the Husker community. While nobody can fill the gargantuan shoes of Suh, Crick could eventually help the memory of Suh fade if he lives up to his potential.

6. Virginia Tech

The Hokies return every skill player on offense, and they also will receive the services of running back Darren Evans, who in 2008 set the school record for rushing yards in a season by a freshman. He suffered a torn ACL in fall practice, though, setting up Ryan Williams to shatter record after record, including the mark set by Evans.

Tyrod Taylor has come a long way from the freshman scrambler whose confidence throwing the ball was comparable to the high school science fair champion asking the prom queen for a date. In 2009 he made great strides with his patience in the pocket, as well as his accuracy, and he should have his best year yet in 2010.

The defense replaces seven players with starting experience, but leave it to Bud Foster, one of the most well respected coordinators in America, to have his bunch ready to go come September.

7. LSU

The Tigers better live up to this projection, or there will be Bedlam in Baton Rouge. Ironically, Bedlam is the nickname given to the rivalry game at head coach Les Miles’ former school, Oklahoma State. Since arriving at LSU, Miles has won a national championship, but lost nine games in the following two seasons.

Jordan Jefferson must improve at quarterback; he was much too error-prone and never seemed to have command of the team like a starting quarterback should. That is a problem that can be solved with off-season development, but how committed Jefferson is to improving is anyone’s guess.

Russell Sheppard was a highly touted athlete in the Percy Harvin mold, but never saw significant action in 2009. The coaching staff said he was having trouble adjusting to the speed of the game mentally, and he was not ready to handle the schemes the Tigers implored. Scary note for the rest of the SEC: the Virginia Tech staff said the exact same thing about Ryan Williams during his redshirt year in 2008. You see how that turned out.

8. TCU

Gary Patterson has developed a mini-dynasty in Fort Worth, mostly because of great defense. Next year, however, it will be his experienced offense that will be his strongest unit. Andy Dalton will be a senior at quarterback, and for most of 2009, he was everything the Horned Frogs needed him to be: a leader and an efficient passer. Next season, his role will take a big leap, as he will be called upon to make more plays.

The defense will be solid, despite losing end Jerry Hughes, arguably the best player to come through the program since LaDanian Tomlinson. Patterson always has a respectable unit on the field, and 2010 will be no different. It could be scary to think how good they could be given the experience returning on offense.

9. North Carolina

Sleeper Alert: North Carolina may have the best defense on paper coming into next season. Quann Sturdivant, Robert Quinn, Marvin Austin, Kendrick Burney and Deunta Williams are all back for another season to play for what was already the best defense in the ACC in 2009.

They allowed an average of 15.5 points per game last season, and with most of the players returning, they should shut down most of the teams in a conference that does not lack for meek offensive attacks.

T.J. Yates will be in his fourth season as the starting quarterback after a rough 2009. He showed promise during his sophomore season before being lost to injury, then this past season he threw more interceptions (15) than touchdowns (14).

With Greg Little back at receiver and Ryan Houston back at running back, he will have plenty of help and set up for a surprisingly strong farewell campaign in Chapel Hill.

10. Texas

Garrett Gilbert’s performance in the second half of the BCS National Championship Game told everyone all they needed to know about the fate of the Longhorns’ program. He shredded the nation’s best defense in Alabama for back-to-back touchdowns, nearly leading one of the most memorable comebacks in college football history.

Although Texas would have traded nothing to have had Colt McCoy healthy for the game and taken home the national title, the experience Gilbert gained from that game was invaluable.

The running game should be a strong point next season in offensive coordinator Greg Davis’ zone-read attack, and with Gilbert they will have the best pure passer the Longhorns may have ever seen. Colt McCoy was an accurate short to mid-level passer, but Gilbert’s arm is twice as strong and is a much more polished quarterback at the same stages in their careers.

Beamerball or Fosterball? Hokies' identity slowly changing

In the 1990s, Virginia Tech established a reputation on the football field for its unmatched success with special teams. Blocked kicks, punts, and touchdown returns became the trademark of the program, and soon became known as “Beamerball”, after its head coach Frank Beamer, who oversees the special teams himself.

During the 90’s, Tech averaged more than six blocked kicks per season, easily the best in the country.

Since then, the block party has become more of a casual gathering. From 2003 until 2005, the Hokies blocked only 11 kicks, half of the season average from the previous decade.

In 2009, the Hokies came up with a single blocked kick, when Jacob Sykes blocked Matt Bosher’s punt against Miami, leading to Matt Reidy’s recovery in the end zone for a touchdown.

It was well publicized for the longest time about the Hokies dedication to special teams, more specifically coach Beamer’s contributions to the success.

However, a few changes in recent years have led to the Beamerball demise.

First of all, virtually every Tech opponent began developing unique schemes in their alignment to confuse the Hokies.

In a 2002 game against Temple, the Owls spread all ten men besides the punter from one sideline to the other, forcing the Tech defense to spread their men out as well. That was one of the first games in which the Hokies’ opponent clearly made an effort to not succumb to the Tech trademark.

Since that point, many other formations and adaptations to the typical special teams strategies have kept the Hokies from blocking so many kicks.

Another reason the blocks are fewer and farther between now is coach Beamer isn’t the only man paying special attention to that area of the game, no pun intended. Many head coaches, including Urban Meyer at Florida, take care of the special teams themselves, or if they don’t they hire a very strong special teams coordinator to do the job.

Before this shift in emphasis to the kicking game, Beamer was one of the few guys on the block (man, I’m getting carried away with the play on words here) that spent a significant amount of time practicing special teams. He’s simply not on his own anymore.

The other part of the Hokies’ games that fell under the “Beamerball” classification was the team’s knack for opportunistic defensive play. Forced fumbles and interceptions are the mark of a great football team, but no team scored as many points on defense as the Hokies did during the 90’s, and that tradition continues today.

For those of you still following along, that means that the special teams, coached by Beamer, has seen a dip in productivity in recent years, while the defense, coached by Bud Foster, remains on top of its game.

Maybe it’s time to shed the Beamerball image and adopt Fosterball instead.

Let’s face it; the Hokies won back-to-back ACC championships in 2007 and 2008 thanks to a defense that was ranked in the top five nationally. Neither year was the offense very productive, ranking in the bottom 30 in total yards both seasons.

2009 saw a spike in offensive productivity, and a slight statistical dip from the defense, thanks in large part to an inexperienced front seven. Despite the early season struggles from Foster’s unit, they responded in the final five games of the season to allow exactly zero points in the second half of all those games.

Foster has been sought after by other programs year after year. Two years ago, West Virginia courted Foster for its head-coaching job. In 2008 it was Clemson doing the same thing. Just last month, Georgia head coach Mark Richt offered Foster the defensive coordinator job with his program.

In each instance, Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver tossed a sizable raise Foster’s way to keep him in town. This year, he signed Foster to a five-year deal worth over $2 million, making him one of highest paid at his post in the country.

The one item that stands above all in the Tech program is the lunch pail, a Foster establishment representing the hard work that goes into every practice, workout, and game for his defense.

It has come to be the adornment of Hokie Nation, and it will forever remain a symbol of what the program stands for.

How much clearer could it be that Foster has become the heart and soul of this program?

If he wanted to leave for a head-coaching gig, he would have done it by now.

Beamer has told me before that he will stick around as the Hokies’ coach until “the time is right,” but logical thinking says that won’t be too awfully long. Foster, 50, seems primed to hold tight in Blacksburg for another five years or so before taking over for Beamer.

The defense in 2010 will undergo a major overhaul; replacing seven players with starting experience will be no small task. But anyone who’s been around the Tech program, namely Foster, knows he will stop at nothing to have the lunch pail tradition upheld with honor.

There is not a Hokie fan on the planet that has any doubt in Foster, and that’s the mark of a program linchpin.

Tournament of the Decade

Pardon me as I channel my inner Martin Luther King/Brent Musberger:

"I have a dream, that one day you will be looking live at a sold-out Orange Bowl, as the 2001 Miami Hurricanes prepare to face the 2006 Boise State Broncos in the first round of the Team of the Decade Tournament!"

That's right, we're going way outside of the box to determine who is the best team of the decade. Here's the best part: I assume the role of selection committee, but you determine the results. What you are about to see is the 16-team field of the best squads in the past 10 years.

In the following days, match-ups will be broken down one-by-one, and you the readers will vote for who you think would win that game. In a few weeks, we'll know who YOU guys think is the best team this decade.

And the bracket looks like this:

(1) – 2001 Miami vs. (16) – 2006 Boise State

(8) – 2005 USC vs. (9) – 2006 Florida

(4) – 2008 Florida vs. (13) – 2000 Oklahoma

(5) – 2002 Ohio State vs. (12) – 2002 Georgia

(6) – 2002 Miami vs. (11) – 2003 USC

(3) – 2005 Texas vs. (14) – 2009 Alabama

(7)- 2004 Auburn vs. (10) – 2003 LSU

(2) – 2004 USC vs. (15) – 2004 Utah

Outside looking in (by year)

2000

Miami

Virginia Tech

2001

Oregon

2002

USC

Iowa

2003

Miami (Ohio)

2004

Louisville

2005

West Virginia

Penn State

2006

Ohio State

2007

LSU

2008

USC

Utah

Texas

2009

Texas

TCU

Boise State

On the Docket - Sun Bowl: Oklahoma (7-5) vs. Stanford (8-4)

Synopsis:

This game lost a bit of its luster when an announcement came that Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck is doubtful to play following surgery to repair a broken finger. Still, this game is a great opportunity for Stanford to take down yet another dominant program this season, having already defeated USC and Oregon.

Oklahoma must have walked under thirteen ladders, broken thirteen mirrors, and slept with a baker’s dozen black cats before the season, because they have come across the worst luck any team has seen in recent memory. Both of the team’s top NFL prospects, quarterback Sam Bradford and tight end Jermaine Gresham, missed virtually the entire season due to injury. With those two players healthy, the Sooners could have potentially been a top-five team.

Player to watch: Toby Gerhart is the star of the Cardinal’s team, but the key player in this game will be Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard. Pritchard is most fondly remembered in the hearts of Cardinal nation for leading his team to an improbable upset of USC in 2007. With Luck’s status uncertain for the game, Pritchard will start and most likely play the whole game under center. All coach Jim Harbaugh will ask him to do is manage the game and let Gerhart carry the load.

Who has the edge?

Stanford is a blue-collar team in the mold of its coach, and they will be fully prepared for this game. Oklahoma has dealt with too many distractions to count this season, and are more than ready to put the 2009 season behind it.

Prediction:

Stanford 31

Oklahoma 24

On the Docket - Humanitarian/Holiday Bowl

Humanitarian Bowl: Bowling Green (7-5) vs. Idaho (7-5)

Synopsis:

Yes, they are playing this game, and yes, it will be televised outside the state of Ohio and Idaho. The Vandals are actually quite a story this season under head coach Robb Akey. This will be the first bowl game for Idaho since 1998, the only other time the Vandals made a postseason appearance. The Vandals come in as losers of four of their last five after starting the season 6-1.

Bowling Green is making a return to the bowl scene under first-year head coach Dave Clawson. The Falcons went 6-2 in conference play, and can lay claim to wins over Troy and Buffalo. They only lost by a touchdown at Missouri in September.

Player to watch: DeMaundray Woolridge saved his best season for last at Idaho, rushing for 854 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2009. He topped the century mark in rushing yards twice this season, including a 143-yard output against WAC champion Boise State. He would love nothing more than to end his career with a few more highlight reel-worthy touchdowns in the bowl game.

Who has the edge? Bowling Green is the more accomplished team, and Idaho is coming in on a bit of a losing skid. Idaho does have the advantage of a virtual home game in Boise, and may not be affected by the blue turf, since they play on it every other year during the regular season. Still, Bowling Green is just that much better than Idaho at this point in time.

Prediction:

Bowling Green 37

Idaho 28

Holiday Bowl: Arizona (8-4) vs. Nebraska (9-4)

Synopsis:

This may be the most intriguing matchup of any bowl game on this year’s slate. Both teams are defined by great defenses. Mike Stoops at Arizona and Bo Pelini at Nebraska have built their respective programs around shutting down opposing offenses. The Wildcats entered November controlling their own Rose Bowl destiny. The Huskers nearly knocked off Texas in a controversial Big 12 championship game. This game will be the ultimate chess match between two of the game’s best defensive minds.

Player to watch: Ndamukong Suh is the best defensive tackle prospect to play college football since Warren Sapp in the mid-1990s. He wreaks havoc in every opposing backfield he faces. The fact that he was named a Heisman Trophy finalist speaks volumes for the respect he has earned by the national media as a force on the interior defensive line. This is a big-time NFL audition for Suh, who could be the first player selected overall in next April’s draft.

Who has the edge?

Nick Foles has come on strong as the Arizona quarterback in the latter part of the season, and has helped the Wildcat offense score enough points to support their great defense. He has not faced a defensive lineman anywhere near the caliber of Suh, however, nor a defense like Nebraska’s. The Huskers proved in the Big 12 championship that they could stop any offense put in front of them.

Prediction:

Nebraska 23

Arizona 18

On the Docket - Champs Sports Bowl, EagleBank Bowl

EagleBank Bowl: UCLA (6-6) vs. Temple (9-3)

Synopsis: The Owls, more commonly known as the laughing stock of college football, have made a resurgence under head coach Al Golden. They were one game away from playing for the MAC championship, and are easily one of the better stories of the year. After opening the season with losses to Villanova and Penn State, the Owls did not taste defeat again until the final game of the season against Ohio.

UCLA, on the other hand, started off hot, winning its first three games before enduring a five-game losing streak, all against Pac-10 opponents. There have been inconsistency issues at quarterback that have plagued the Bruins all season long.

Player to watch:

Bernard Pierce is the Owls’ top rushing threat. For the season, he has carried the ball 224 times for 1,308 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was named first-team all-conference, and is the primary reason for the Owls’ surprisingly strong season. UCLA has had trouble stopping the run this season, and Pierce should be relishing the opportunity to showcase his skills against a program like UCLA’s.

Who has the edge?

Temple, similar to SMU, is simply happy to be playing in a bowl game. However, Al Golden is of a different mold than June Jones, and you can bet he will have his team looking sharp in the mindset to take down the Bruins and make a statement for the Temple program. The Bruins have limped to the finish line this season, and simply are not that much better than Temple, if at all.

Prediction:

Temple 28

UCLA 17

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Champs Sports Bowl: Miami (9-3) vs. Wisconsin (9-3)

Synopsis:

The Hurricanes endured a rollercoaster of expectations this season. Prior to the season, critics were saying they could start the year 0-4. After winning its first two games, Miami was then proclaimed to have returned to the national scene. At season’s end, the ‘Canes seemed to have fallen somewhere in the middle of those expectations, finishing third in the Coastal Division but with an opportunity for a double-digit win total.

Wisconsin took advantage of all of its weaker opponents, but fell at the hands of all its superior opposition. Brian Clay is a bruising running back tailor-made for this offense, and can punish any defense over the course of a game.

Player to watch: Jacory Harris has been at the epicenter of the Hurricanes’ fortunes this season. When Miami sprinted out of the gates, Harris was touted as one of the nation’s finest young passers. On the contrary, when Harris endured a mid-season slump, Miami lost a few surprising games and some national credibility at the same time. As Harris goes, so does Miami. This game is important for Harris and the rest of his team to give them momentum heading into 2010.

Who has the edge?

Miami has the better athletes, and the better record in games against credible opponents. Wisconsin’s best win came against either Michigan State or Fresno State. Miami beat Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, Florida State, and South Florida. They will have plenty of confidence entering this game.

Prediction:

Miami 34

Wisconsin 24

On the Docket - Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl: Clemson (8-5) vs. Kentucky (7-5)

Music City Bowl: Clemson (8-5) vs. Kentucky (7-5)

Synopsis: This is far from where the Tigers would like to be playing, and coach Dabo Swinney has been very vocal about it. Clemson rode a six-game winning streak to a division title, before losing its final two games of the season. They were one minute away from winning the ACC championship, but instead allowed a late touchdown by Georgia Tech to hand the Jackets the title.

Kentucky is one of several SEC teams with a 7-5 record, but the Wildcats took advantage of weaker opponents for much of the season. They did salvage two mildly impressive victories against Georgia and Auburn, but besides that they struggled to keep up with better competition.

Player to watch: C.J. Spiller. If you have not heard of the Tigers’ do-it-all running back before now, it’s time you start watching college football. Spiller is the best professional prospect at the running back position in the nation, and for good reason. In the ACC title game, he ran for a career-high 233 yards and four touchdowns. He does most of his damage in the return game however, with his 4.3 speed proving to be out of reach for many defenders.

Who has the edge? Clemson is clearly the more talented team in this game, but that is true much of the time the Tigers hit the field, yet they do not always win. Kentucky makes a habit of giving teams trouble in the postseason, and Clemson is devastated that they fell this far in the bowl selection process. That being said, the Wildcats have no answer for Spiller.

Prediction:

Clemson 27, Kentucky 21

On the Docket - Emerald Bowl: Boston College (8-4) vs. USC (8-4)

Synopsis:

You can’t find a game in the country this season pitting two teams with more polar opposite expectations/results of their respective seasons. USC is the dynastic program of the decade, winning seven straight conference titles and churning out NFL prospects annually.

Boston College, on the other hand, lost two linebackers, one of them to cancer, its quarterback and head coach in the off-season, leaving many skeptics wondering if this team could win more than a couple games.

Instead, head coach Frank Spaziani and his team rallied around the inspirational story of Mark Herzlich, who was diagnosed, battled, and eventually defeated cancer all in the past year. The Eagles were one game away from the third straight ACC title game appearance, but that doesn’t damper the success of this team in the least.

Player to watch: David Shinksie is the Eagles’ 25-year-old quarterback who spent more than five years playing minor league baseball. The rust was apparent much of the year, as the better defenses in the ACC abused the elder statesmen of the league. USC has little motivation to be playing in this game, but their defense is still one of the best Shinskie will see all season. How he responds to that will be the pivotal factor of the game.

Who has the edge? On paper, USC wins this game running away. But the Eagles have shown this season just how little the phrase “on paper” really means. USC has shown down the stretch that it is national championship or bust for that program, so its hard to believe there is any life left in this team.

Prediction:

Boston College 17 USC 14

On the Docket - Meineke Care Bowl: Pittsburgh (9-3) vs. North Carolina (8-4)

Synopsis:

Both of these teams were red-hot heading into the final week of November, before cooling off in the final weeks. North Carolina reversed the fortunes of its season after upsetting Virginia Tech 20-17 in Blacksburg, also beating Miami and Duke in the following weeks.

Pittsburgh was 9-1 entering its game with West Virginia, before losing to the Mountaineers on the final play of the game. The heartbreak wasn’t over for the Panthers, who blew a 21-point lead to lose in the final minute against Cincinnati in a game that decided the Big East championship.

Player to watch:

Robert Quinn was overshadowed in the ACC this season by other big-name defensive ends like Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech), Jason Worilds (Virginia Tech), and Ricky Sapp (Clemson). Quinn may be the best of the bunch, however, and will soon be playing on Sundays. Expect Quinn to make a big statement in the season finale.

Also worth watching is Pitt’s super-freshman Dion Lewis. The Panther running back toted the ball 47 times in the loss to Cincinnati for nearly 200 yards. The Tar Heel defense is one of the most underrated in the country, and stopping Lewis will be its primary objective for this game.

Who has the edge?

North Carolina’s defense might be one of the few in America capable of containing Lewis. Furthermore, it’s hard to imagine the Panthers being excited to play in this game, when they were 30 seconds from playing in the school’s second-ever BCS bowl game. The Tar Heels would love the opportunity to finish the year 9-4 after such a slow start.

Prediction: North Carolina 23, Pittsburgh 21

On the Docket - Little Caeser’s Bowl: Marshall (6-6) vs. Ohio (9-4)

Synopsis: This is a reunion of a former MAC rivalry, ceasing after Marshall left for Conference USA a few years back. The Thundering Herd are without their head coach, Mark Snyder, who was fired at the end of the regular season. Marshall is led by running back Darius Marshall, who after serving a one-game suspension to start the season has had a fine year.

The Bobcats have become a prominent program (in MAC standards) since the hiring of former Nebraska coach Frank Solich. Solich has built the Ohio program from the ground up, and this year the Bobcats were the East Division champions. They lost to Central Michigan 20-10 in the conference championship game, but there is no doubt that Solich has this program moving in the right direction.

Player to watch: Theo Scott has made his only season as a starter at Ohio a memorable one, passing for 19 touchdowns and completing nearly 60% of his passes. Scott has accounted for 22 touchdowns altogether for the Bobcats. His best game came earlier in the season against Tennessee, when he threw for 319 yards and a touchdown in a 34-23 loss.

Who has the edge? Marshall is struggling down the stretch missing Darius Marshall and its other top playmaker, tight end Cody Slate, not to mention the firing of coach Snyder. Ohio is clearly a program on the upswing, while Marshall seems to have scrapped the foundation from within before the season has even concluded.

Prediction:

Ohio 24

Marshall 14

On the Docket - Hawaii Bowl: SMU (7-5) vs. Nevada (8-4)

Synopsis: This is a homecoming for Mustangs’ coach June Jones, who left Hawaii after a successful run as head coach for SMU. After finishing 1-11 in 2008, Jones resurrected the Mustangs in his second season with the team, finishing 7-5 in the regular season. SMU boasts a 1,000-yard receiver and rusher, plus two 1,000-yard passers.

Nevada has a few guys top quadruple-digits as well. The Wolfpack became the first team to have three players rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. Colin Kaepernick, Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott all reached the milestone in 2009 in the Nevada backfield. The Wolfpack began the year with three straight losses before ripping off eight straight wins, then falling in the season finale to Boise State.

Player to watch: Kaepernick, a junior, is an offensive weapon few people know much about. As quarterback in coach Bill Ault’s pistol offense, his dual-threat abilities are utilized perfectly, and he is an entertaining player to watch. His tall frame and strong arm will earn him at least a look by some NFL teams after he graduates.

Who has the edge? Nevada has played a much more difficult schedule, and is used to playing in big games. SMU is ecstatic simply to have made it this far; beating Nevada would simply be a bonus. Expect the Mustangs to play very loose in this game. In the end, Nevada’s rushing attack will be too much for SMU to contain.

Prediction:

Nevada 41, SMU 28

On the Docket - Las Vegas Bowl: Oregon State (8-4) vs. BYU (10-2)

Synopsis:

The Beavers were closer than a three-blade shave to playing in the Rose Bowl as champions of the Pac-10. Instead, they fell 37-33 to rival Oregon and plummet in the bowl selection process to this game. Although this bowl game isn’t exactly shimmering with prestige, the match-up with BYU will be an interesting one.

Max Hall leads BYU on offense. Prior to the season, Hall was mentioned as a darkhorse Heisman candidate. Speaking of the Heisman Trophy, one of the early favorites for next season’s award is Beaver running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who has scored 20 touchdowns on the ground in 2009.

Player to watch:

Sean Canfield has been the unsung hero for Oregon State, passing for over 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns. He handled the tough environment in the Oregon game remarkably well, and has an opportunity to end his career as a Beaver on a high note after the bitter loss in Eugene.

Who has the edge?

The over-under line for this game could reach 100 points, as both teams boast tremendous offenses to go with lackluster defenses. Hall and Canfield are two excellent field generals for their respective teams, but the difference will be Rodgers. BYU’s running game, led by Harvey Unga, is not quite at the level of the Beavers with Rodgers and his older brother, James. That slight edge for Oregon State will enough to get them by the Cougars.

Prediction:

Oregon State 44, BYU 38

All-Decade Team: Video (includes unveiling of the Coach of the Decade)

2000-2009 All-Decade Team

Ten years is a long time. 

Ten years ago this time, I was a four-foot, ten-inch fourth grader celebrating my two-week holiday break from school.

Ten years ago, Michael Vick had taken the sports world by storm, carrying Virginia Tech to an unbeaten season and national championship berth against mighty Florida State.

Ten years ago, Ron Dayne broke Ricky Williams' all-time record for rushing yards in a career. Eleven years ago, Williams set that record. 

In the decade since that season, there have been many household names to come through college football, so it is only natural to name an all-decade team.

Even Al Groh couldn't screw this bunch up:

2000-2009 All-Decade Team

Offense

QB- Tim Tebow (Florida)

·      Arguably the best player of the decade, certainly one of the most decorated.

RB- Adrian Peterson (Oklahoma)

·      Outstanding freshman season was enough to get him on this team despite injury-plagued sophomore and junior campaigns.

RB- Darren McFadden (Arkansas)

·      The original “Wildcat”, he dominated a game unlike any other player this decade.

FB- Owen Scmitt (West Virginia)

·      One of the few players who was able to draw TV time from the sideline with his insane helmet head-bashing rampages.

WR- Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech)

·      He never played a season in which he didn’t win the Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s best receiver.

WR- Calvin Johnson (Georgia Tech)

·      The best combination of unhuman strength and speed in a 6’4’’ frame maybe ever.

WR- Larry Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh)

·      There has never been a better threat for the fade pass in the history of the game.

TE- Kellen Winslow II (Miami)

·      Very versatile at this position, definitely more of a pass-catcher, but no tight end did it better than him.

OL- Robert Gallery (Iowa)

·      A fierce pass protector helped Iowa to its first BCS bowl in 2002-03.

OL- Bryant McKinnie (Miami)

·      Was the blind-side protector for Ken Dorsey during the Hurricanes’ 34-game win streak in the early part of the decade.

OL- Jordan Gross (Utah)

·      Did not allow a sack in his final two collegiate seasons.

OL- Jake Long (Michigan)

·      The only offensive linemen to be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft this decade.

OL- Joe Thomas (Wisconsin)

·      Extremely athletic tackle was a great run blocker and pass protector for the Badgers.

UTILITY- Reggie Bush (USC)

·      Simply the most electrifying player in recent memory.

Defense

DE- Terrell Suggs (Arizona State)

·      Sack artist brought the quarterback down 24 times in his junior season.

DE- Elvis Dumervil (Louisville)

·      Similar player to Suggs, emerged from nowhere to be win numerous awards before turning pro.

DT- Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)

·      Nearly became the first defensive linemen to win the Heisman in 2009; no tackle changed a game like he could.

DT- Vince Wilfork (Miami)

·      A run-stuffing giant made it hard for teams to gain any ground against the Hurricanes.

OLB- A.J. Hawk (Ohio State)

·      Helped lead the Buckeyes to an undefeated 2006 regular season, how he never won the Butkus award will forever be a mystery.

MLB- Dan Morgan (Miami)

·      One of the hardest-hitting linebackers to ever wear a Miami uniform…hope Ray Lewis doesn’t read this!

OLB- Teddy Lehman (Oklahoma)

·      Four-year starter made Sooner fans forget about the great Rocky Calmus.

CB- Terrence Newman (Kansas State)

·      Probably the fastest player at this position at the collegiate level since 2000.

CB- Chris Gamble (Ohio State)

·      Gamble made big play after big play on both sides of the ball in the Buckeyes’ 2002 national title run.

S- Roy Williams (Oklahoma)

·      If you don’t remember how ridiculous this guy was in college, YouTube search “Roy Williams jump sack”; prepare to be amazed.

S- Ed Reed (Miami)

·      Before he scored touchdowns for the Ravens, he changed games with defensive scores in southern Florida.

Special Teams

K- Mike Nugent (Ohio State)

·      The strongest leg of any kicker eligible for this honor.

P- Daniel Sepulveda (Baylor)

·      Ray Guy award winner in 2004 and 2006, clearly the only choice for this award.

KR- C.J. Spiller (Clemson)

·      Seven kicks returned for touchdowns in his career rank him second all-time.

PR- Antonio Perkins (Oklahoma)

·      Tied for first place all-time with eight punt returns for touchdowns.

 

On the Docket - New Orleans Bowl: New Orleans Bowl: Middle Tennessee (9-3) vs. Southern Miss (7-5)

Synopsis: Middle Tennessee can lay claim to a victory over an ACC opponent, albeit the moribund Maryland Terrapins. It’s the first bowl appearance for the Blue Raiders since 2006. Seven of their nine wins came by more than a touchdown, but their three losses were by a combined 68 points.

Southern Miss finished 6-0 at home, while going 1-5 on the road. Its five losses were by a combined 34 points, half as much as the Blue Raiders. Running back Damion Fletcher has overcome adversity this season, including a suspension prior to the season, to rush for nearly 1,000 yards on the year.

Player to watch: MTSU quarterback Dwight Dasher (pictured) lives up to his surname as a truly dual-threat option under center. He needs just 47 yards to reach 1,000 for the season, and has accounted for 32 touchdowns total in 2009. If he continues his great play in the bowl game, the Blue Raiders could put a great finishing touch on a successful season.

Who has the edge? The Golden Eagles have played a much more difficult schedule despite the worse record entering the game, and are much more battle tested. The biggest advantage for MTSU is the intangibles of playing in a bowl game, which is a much bigger deal for their program than for Southern Miss.

Prediction: Southern Miss 28, MTSU 20

On the Docket: St. Petersburg Bowl: UCF (8-4) vs. Rutgers (8-4)

Synopsis: It’s the battle of the uniquely colored Knights in this match-up. The Golden Knights of Central Florida will most be remembered in 2009 by its 37-32 upset of Houston in mid-November. They are led on offense by quarterback Brett Hodges, who transferred from Wake Forest last spring. Hodges has thrown for 2263 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.

Rutgers struggled out of the gate this season with a 47-15 loss to Cincinnati, before ripping off five straight wins. True freshman Tom Savage has started all but one game for the Scarlet Knights at quarterback. He has had a successful season for his first year on campus, completing 54.5 percent of his passes while throwing 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Player to watch: Tim Brown finally lived up to his potential in his senior season, topping the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career. Central Florida has been able to slow down some of the better passing attacks it has faced this season, and keeping Brown at bay will be the key to the Golden Knights’ hopes in this game.

Who has the edge? Central Florida is capable of scoring plenty of points, and that trend should not change now. Rutgers has not been as effective away from home this year, and it can’t hurt the Golden Knights’ chances to have a fifth-year senior under center, rather than a true freshmen for Rutgers.

Prediction: Central Florida 30, Rutgers 28

Let it snow

Weather has a funny way of changing the landscape of sports, as we know it. Rain delays in baseball are as common as three-run homers. Blustery days can turn a pass-happy offense in football into a power-I smash mouth team. Watching sporting events in the elements is one of the more thrilling parts of fandom.

As Blacksburg is in the midst of its worst snowstorm this millennium, this brought to mind some of the more exciting “blizzard bowls” in recent memory.

1999 Independence Bowl: Mississippi State 43, Texas A & M 41 (2OT) – December 31.

Dubbed “The Snow Bowl” in Starkville and College Station lore, the Bulldogs and Aggies were hit just hours before kickoff with a powerful snowstorm. The game pitted two teams that both relied on strong running games already; it was a busy night for Ja’Mar Toombs of the Aggies and Dontae Walker for the Bulldogs.

The Aggies jumped out to a seemingly commanding 14-0 lead in the first quarter, thanks to a score from Toombs and one from Richard Whitaker. Missisippi State recovered, scoring back-to-back touchdowns to even the game, before an Aggie just seconds before halftime made it 20-14.

By this point, the surface resembled more of a hockey rink than a football field, with the snow falling far too fast for the groundskeepers to clear away. Nearly half of the nearly 37,000 fans in attendance left during halftime.

Those fans might have been warm for an extra two hours, but they missed one of the most fantastic finishes to a bowl game ever.

The Bulldogs led 21-20 heading into the final quarter, but two Aggie touchdowns made the score 35-21 with the time dwindling away. Walker would score on a 32-yard run with over three minutes left to bring the Bulldogs within a touchdown.

On the ensuing Aggie possession, Bulldog safety Macro Minor intercepted a Mark Farris pass on the A & M 5-yard line, setting up a 3-yard pass from Wayne Madkin to Donald Lee for the game-tying touchdown.

At 35-35, the game went into overtime, and only then did true chaos ensue.

On the first play of the extra session, Toombs took the handoff and rumbled 25 yards for a score. On the extra point attempt, Willie Blade broke through the line of scrimmage and blocked the kick; Eugene Clinton scooped the ball off the powdery ground for the Bulldogs. Just as he was being tackled, he tossed the ball aside to teammate Jul Griffith, who ran untouched the rest of the way for two points, making the score 41-37 in favor of A & M.

Madkin carried the ball around the edge on the first offensive play for the Bulldogs and was not brought down before reaching the six-yard line. After Walker was brought down for a loss on the next play, Madkin carried the ball again, this time racing into the end zone, diving across the barely visible goalline, for the game-winning score.

Madkin’s touchdown capped off a once-in-a-lifetime game, and turned out to be the final score of the 20^th century.

There’s an answer to a trivia question someday.

Race for the Heisman – Mark Ingram

Season statistics: 249 carries, 1,542 yards (6.2 yards per carry), 15 touchdowns

Why he deserves to win:

With an untested quarterback starting for Alabama this season, Ingram put the offense on his back in most of its games, leading the Crimson Tide to a 13-0 season.

From the opening game against Virginia Tech in Atlanta, where he ran for 150 yards and scored one touchdown both rushing and receiving, Ingram was clearly the best player on the best team.

He is not the flashiest player in the country, but he is as versatile as they come in terms of his ability to run both in between the tackles and on the perimeter.

Why he wouldn’t win:

If the voters want to select the player who had the most outstanding season, it’s Toby Gerhart. If they want to select the most dominant player, it’s Ndamukong Suh. If they want to select the player who did the most for his team, there’s an argument for Ingram.

However, his two backups, Trent Richardson and Roy Upchurch, both ran with great power when they were in the games and were arguably nearly as impressive as Ingram.

While Ingram had a great season, playing his best football against the best opponents, he simply never stood out above the rest.

Best game of 2009:

Like Suh, Ingram saved his best game for last. In the same building where the Tide started the season, Alabama rolled the top-ranked Florida Gators 32-13 for the SEC championship.

Ingram scored three touchdowns in that game to lead the way while rushing for 113 yards on the ground. It is always an advantage to leave the voters with your best game fresh in their minds as they fill out the ballot. For Alabama to have knocked off a-Florida, and b-Tim Tebow thanks in large part to Ingram, it gives him a great shot at having his named called around 8:58 p.m. Saturday night. 

Race for the Heisman – Colt McCoy

Season statistics: 330-468 (70.5% completion percentage), 3,512 yards, 27 touchdowns, 12 interceptions.

Why he deserves to win: There is no Deadly Accurate Tree from which quarterbacks grow, so McCoy is a rare breed. For the second straight season, his completion percentage broke 70 percent; a remarkable statistic given how much Texas relies on its passing game.

McCoy has led the Texas Longhorns to the BCS national championship game and a 13-0 record. History is on his side. Three of the past five Heisman winners were quarterbacks gearing up for the title game that year.

Why he wouldn’t win: It’s tough to envision McCoy winning the award for a couple reasons. For one, his production in 2008 was unparalleled, and this year he simply did not live up to that standard he set for himself.

Second, in the two games the Longhorns played in with the biggest national audience, McCoy floundered. Against Oklahoma and Nebraska, he completed only 54 percent of his passes, and the offense only scored an average of 14.5 points per game. For many voters around the country, those two games may have been their only chance to see McCoy play this year.

Because the Nebraska game was this past Saturday, and fresh on the voters’ minds as they turned in their ballots Sunday afternoon, it puts McCoy in a tough spot. He will probably lose a lot of votes in the Big 12 area to Nebraska’s Ndamokung Suh, who outplayed McCoy by miles on Saturday.

Best game of 2009:

The week before the Nebraska debacle, McCoy had seemingly put himself in the forefront of the race with the most complete performance of his season against Texas A & M.

Early on in the game, McCoy dashed 65 yards for a touchdown, setting the tone for a big game.

He would throw for 304 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions….and that’s not all. He also ran for 175 yards on 18 carries in the ‘Horns 49-39 win. Had he not flopped the following week in the championship game, this would have easily been his signature Heisman-winning moment.