Go Bears!!

On September 1st this fall, my favorite team will be the California Bears for approximately 4 hours, give or take:

ABC Sports announced today that it will televise Tennessee's season-opening contest at California Sept. 1 in prime time to kick off the second season of ESPN on ABC's Saturday Night Football. The telecast will kick off at 7 p.m. and be offered in high definition on ABC HD. Since 1997, UT's season-opener has appeared on national television every year except 2005, when the Vols' game against UAB was broadcast regionally by Jefferson Pilot Sports. UT has won its last 12 season-openers.

Tennessee last appeared on ABC in 2003, when the 18th-ranked Volunteers defeated sixth-ranked Miami 10-6 Nov. 8. The Vols have only appeared on ABC 11 times since 1995, but Tennessee has been victorious in nine of those contests. The Big Orange fans have traditionally traveled well to the West Coast. Tennessee expects to sell all of its 7,500 ticket allotment. The Vols opened the 2006 season with a 35-18 win over California at Neyland Stadium.

Sorry to make you revisit your painful past, Coach Bando, but The Tennessean brought it up, not me. ;)

Vandy Chomps Gators!!!

What a game! Vandy men's basketball dominated #1 Florida this weekend in an amazing game. The atmosphere in Memorial Gym was great. If you weren't one of the 14,000+ fans in the building, you missed out.

2007 Rule Changes?

Found this on ESPN today about possible rule changes for 2007.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2765817

Here's a quick overview.
To make up for the time being added back into games, the rules committee proposed some changes aimed at speeding up the game that included using a 15-second play clock immediately after timeouts instead of a 25-second clock (Vandy could be in trouble on this one), reducing the time teams have for timeouts from 65 seconds to 30 seconds, kicking off from the 30-yard line instead of the 35 to cut down on touchbacks, and limiting the amount of time officials have to review a replay to two minutes. Clark said the average time used by officials last year was one minute, 49 seconds.

The rule changes need to be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on March 12.

Brandon's Favorite QB

As discussions have started up this week regarding season tickets for the fall, road trip games, and football in general, it's become evident that Brandon has a favorite QB that he'll be following over the next couple of years.
Tim Tebow has drawn the attention of Coach Bando with his running ability.
For a quick background on this Tebow character, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Tebow

Colt loves GQ, too

There's nothing so painful as unrequited love. Coach GQ is happy to learn that his lovefest with Hawaii QB is not a one-way relationship. Brennan decided yesterday to return to Hawaii for his senior season.

"I know what I'm passing up," Brennan said at a news conference. "My heart lies right here in Hawaii."

I think I just saw a tear in GQ's eye.

What Pass Interference?

As a Miami Hurricane fan, Brandon will be very fond of this poster. Was it a phantom pass intereference call in the 2002 National Championship game? Maybe, maybe not, but photos don't lie. You be the judge.
Brandon, do you want this for your birthday, or Christmas?
http://www.robsts.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=3

The poster is a breathtaking shot of the Pass Interference call in the second half of the first overtime. Miami had already scored a touchdown and only needed to stop the Buckeyes from getting a first down to become repeat national champions. It was 4th and 3 from the 5-yard line. OSU overloaded the left side of the field in an effort to get Chris Gamble in one on one coverage. The philosophy had worked, leaving Gamble in great position to beat the single coverage. Krenzel threw the ball just before getting hit. As the ball flew towards the end zone, Miami’s cornerback Glenn Sharpe grapples Gamble. The late but accurate Pass Interference penalty enabled Krenzel to tie the game with a 1-yard plunge to pay dirt 3 plays later. In the second overtime, Clarett scored on a 5-yard run. Then OSU’s tenacious defense shuts down Miami’s offense one last time to end the best season in Ohio State’s storied history.

NOTE - Poster does not have the yellow markings on it. They have been added to this image for description only.

Oh no, Coach GQ!

Colt Brennan is likely headed to the NFL.

First of many offseason moves

Let the shake ups on Rocky Flop begin.
Safety Demetrice Morley has been dismissed from the team already, and the season has only been over for one week. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/01/12/vols.morley.ap/index.html

Bando was celebrating, until...

It's been a rough week for Coach Bando. First, he loses the championship game to Coach Rob. Then, his Buckeyes disappoint him on the hardcourt by losing to Wisconsin. When Ohio State made up for the loss by knocking off the Vols yesterday, Bando thought things were turning around. Learning that ESPN2's Quite Frankly was canceled this week, Bando thought his luck was truly on the upswing again. Then he read the end of this post, a quote from Smith:

This is not an end for me. This is just the beginning. I’m just getting started.

Sorry, Bando. Stephen A. will find a new format and continue to annoy you.

Typical Ohio State

How did Ted Ginn, Jr get injured in the game? check out this tackle on the opening kickoff td return.

See ya later, say Gators

Coach Rob's Florida Gators thumbed their noses at conventional wisdom (and ESPN's SportsNation) by thumping Coach Bando's Ohio State Buckeyes 41-14 last night in Glendale. We now know that the Gators own the trophy, Rob has claimed the FP title and Coach Woody has reluctantly accepted the dreaded hat. After last night, we also know that:

• Friends of the FP Jason and Krista have a beautiful home, complete with pool, arcade games, a widescreen TV and a dojo.
• We already knew this, but Woody makes some mean homemade ice cream.
  
• Wearing team shirts backfires, unless you don't have a dog in the hunt. (Rob with Texas 0-1, Bando with OSU 0-1)
• GQ has a future in desktop publishing.
• Arkansas is ranked higher than Hawaii, but Coach GQ finally has a second wife, Bobblehead style.
• Rob still has pinkeye.
• Woody can't wait until August.
• The matchup combination of Bando's first pick, Rob's third pick and a game featuring Ohio State located in the state of Arizona does not bode well for Bando.

It will be a long spring and summer as usual for the FP, but draft day will come. I am pleased to announce that Coach Rob is on the clock. Here's to another fun year ahead for the FP in 2007!

It's (almost) time!

It all comes down to one game for the FP Championship. Coaches Bando and Rob are ready, and we'll see whether the Gators and Buckeyes are shortly.

If you get bored during the game (hopefully you won't), you can now bet on every single play:

BodogLIVE will give you the opportunity to bet on every play (whether it be Incomplete Pass, Complete Pass, Rush, or Turnover), every drive (Field Goal, Touchdown, No Score) and every kick off (Over/Under 20-plus yards).

SportsNation is picking the Buckeyes, but we'll have to wait and see who wins:

1) Which team will win the BCS Championship Game?
35.1%	Ohio State in a blowout
33.1%	Florida in a close game
23.4%	Ohio State in a close game
8.5%	Florida in a blowout

I don't know German...

...but sometimes I can translate. Here are my takes on excerpts from this blog post about tonight's BCS Championship Game:

Urban Meyer gilt als ein Offense-Guru der keine Scheu hat, Trickspielzüge auszupacken.
Urban Meyer is good. He likes trick plays.

Das Laufspiel gilt als anämisch und das Schießen von Field Goals als Schwachpunkt (4 von 13 durch Chris Hetland, 1 von 7 bei 30-39yds!).
Florida must always go for it on fourth down.

Headcoach der Ohio State Buckeyes ist Jim Tressel, ein Vertreter seiner Zunft, so konservativ, dass es schon an Weltfremdheit grenzt.
Jim Tressel makes Joe Paterno look innovative.

Das Sportereignis das heute in den USA alles in den Schatten stellen wird, ist das “Meisterschaftsspiel” im College Football.
College football should have a playoff.

Goff Back

http://vucommodores.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010507aaa.html

Nashville, Tenn. - Jonathan Goff, the leading tackler and defensive co-captain for the Vanderbilt Commodores, will return for his redshirt senior season next year, Vanderbilt Head Coach Bobby Johnson said.

"On the field, Jonathan gives you everything he has, is an exceptional worker who wants to get better, and is a great teammate. Away from the football field, he is just an outstanding young man." -- Bobby Johnson
Goff, named as a second team All-Southeastern Conference linebacker by the league coaches in December, informed the Vanderbilt head coach Friday afternoon by telephone. Goff is out of town, and not expected back in Nashville until Jan. 10, the start of Vanderbilt's spring semester.

Goff, a 6-4, 240-pound two-year starter, made the decision after receiving a preliminary evaluation of his 2007 NFL Draft projected status. Two years ago, Commodore quarterback Jay Cutler learned his probable draft status, came back for a banner senior campaign, and was selected by the Denver Broncos with the 11th overall NFL pick last April.

Child abuse

This is not for the faint of heart. I'm resisting the urge to vomit. It is sad to see the indoctrination and brainwashing begin so young.

Happy New Year, Phil!

Thanks, Penn State, for helping ring in 2007 in good fashion. The Nittany Lions dispatched the hated Vols 20-10 today. I think I can safely speak for the entire FP in saying that this is a wonderful way to open the new year. Here's hoping for more of the same (UT losses) this fall! Go Vol opponents!

They are everywhere!

Study the picture and tell me what you see.
This picture was taken in a Chinese restaurant in dountown Cleveland over Christmas. There should be NO ORANGE HATS in that area. Gosh. I can't get away from them!

Vanderbilt 2006

VUCommodores.com has a great list of Vanderbilt's top-10 moments in 2006. It's a little sad that the bowling team landed at number five, but there are some great achievements, too. It's amazing to see basketball player Mike Meyer saving fellow hoopster Davis Nwankoo's life making the list, although I imagine it is number one rather than number nine to Nwankoo. Nonetheless, that is an accomplishment to be thankful for as we approach 2007. Go Dores!!

Colt = TD

Hey Chris,

Don't you wish you had taken Hawaii instead of ASU this year? The hat would be Brandon's if you did.

I told my bro-in-law the Warriors would score close to 50 points. When they only had 3 at half, I told him not to worry and that they would turn it on.

HONOLULU - The largest crowd in Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl history (43,435) saw Hawai'i score 38 second-half points to defeat Arizona State, 41-24, Christmas Eve at Aloha Stadium. The win gave the Warriors their 11th victory of the season, tying a school record set in 1992. http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu/recap.html?rid=14753&p=3

Dudley Field

Here's a great history page with details about Dudley Field. The photo above looks a lot different than the current view from West End Avenue. Wow. Go Dores!!