Tag Archives: NCAA

Crib Sheet: Blowing Our Noses to Divas

Quick somebody get us some facial tissue and some decongestants.  It’s allergy season here at the KCCGD Headquarters!  We’re sneezing our heads off and we’re barely making it through the week.  That’s not stopping us from delivering your favorite weekly news roundup:  The Crib Sheet!  It’s chock full this week with a ton of diva grandstanding from college conference officials.  It’s a good thing our noses are stuffed because we think alot of that talk stinks.  On to the Crib Sheet:

  • So the graduation rate for college athletes are on a curve.  The College Sport Research Institute factored in longer years and lighter classloads to determine that the reported 79 percent rate is actually 54.8 percent, compared to 73.7 percent of other students.  Looks like the NCAA needs to take some more math classes.
  • All the hype leading up to the commissioner meetings this week was whether or not the Big 10 would accelerate expansion plans.  Big 10 commissioner Jim Delany came out of the meetings to speak on this rumor to reporters.  “Nope” was pretty much all he said.  Crisis averted.
  • Northwestern will play Illinois at Wrigley Field.  Finally!  All those people in Chicago will have an opportunity to root on two disappointing local teams that don’t play baseball.  Way to go guys!
  • The BCS came out with a 3 pronged formula to help determine who gets an automatic bowl bid after the 2012 season.  They take the highest ranked BCS team, the total BCS numbers for the conference, and the number of teams in the top 25 to determine who gets the nod.  This is an obvious gesture to the Mountain West Conference, whose Boise State team has been rolling the last couple of years and has an opportunity to start in the top 3 once the preseason rankings come out.  It will be interesting to see how this adds to the pressure and expectation the Broncos have this year.
  • So the first round highlights of the NFL Draft include Tim Tebow going to the Denver Broncos.  Huh?  What is he gonna do?  Be a running back.  Good thing the Big 12 represented big time with 9 picks going from the conference, including the top 4.  Way to go Big 12!
  • Bill Snyder 2.0 is weighing the decision to get surgery on his torn ACL and MCL.  More and more we’re thinking that Snyder 2.0 is a cyborg version of the original.  It’s only reason we can come up with to answer Snyder’s statement that it doesn’t hurt much.  What’s up with that?  A jammed finger hurts like hell.  This guy just walks it off.  He’s hiding a gun in his leg, we swear.
  • The NCAA approved two more bowls for a total of 35, including the Yankee Bowl and the Dallas Football Classic. The later is the former Cotton Bowl and will have a place on New Year’s Day.  Huzzah!  This is the kind of expansion we enjoy here.  Not the kind where you at more teams to the playoff.  New Year’s Day next year will be mega stuffed with more football.
  • We probably should let everyone know that if an expansion from the Big 10 happens, expect the SEC to counter move.  Yeah, it’s going to domino all over the place.  We really just need two conferences.  That way we can determine a champion the easy way.
  • Coming back to the somewhat near future, ESPN announced its 2010 College Football Primetime schedule and we have a whole bevy of games from the Big 12.  The Lonestar Showdown with Texas A&M and Texas on Thanksgiving should be a treat.    So’s the rematch between Nebraska and Kansas State on Oct 7th.  Football can’t get here anytime sooner.

Crib Sheet: I Feel A Draft in Here

Welcome to this week’s Crib Sheet where we give you wall to wall coverage of the NFL Draft!  Well, maybe not.  This post will be about as much as we will put into the pros and their cherry picking of primo college talent.  After this weekend, college football reloads and we are one more week closer to the start of the best sport ever.  No, not the National Football League, but college football!  So kick back, relax, and enjoy some Crib Sheet tastiness:

  • No more fun for you football players out there!  No more hidden shout outs on your black eye tap!  No more wedge blocks?  Okay, so the NCAA approved a couple of rules that tightens taunting on touchdown plays and removing points from the board, restricts players from putting messages on their black eye tape, and making the wedge block on kick offs illegal.  Um, where did all of the fun go?  If they were concerned about player safety or individuality like the pros, then they should pay them like a pro.
  • Chris Harper, the Oregon transfer, is pumped to switch to full time wide receiver for Kansas State.  Back at Oregon, he tried to fulfill his dream of being quarterback and played a dual threat role.  Ever since the Bill Snyder 2.0 coaches pulled him aside and said he could pull pro money if he went full time receiver, he’s been catching balls and being content.  All it takes is the potential of major cash to change some one’s mind.  America!
  • Welp, Mike Leach’s attorneys finally filed a lawsuit claiming his firing was all a big conspiracy.  This was pretty much expected, unlike his firing.  Isn’t he in Key West?  Is he really in a hurry to get back to coaching?  Maybe the pirate is trying to pilfer and plunder a couple of extra gold coins here.
  • Boise State will replace their beloved blue turf for ….. more blue turf!  The glare from the light reflecting from the turf bothered everyone in the stands.  The blue field itself still bothers us on the television.  What could’ve been an advantage over opposing teams may seem like dressing for their rumored top 3 debut in the BCS Standings later this year.
  • Former Kansas State quarterback Dylan Meier died in a hiking accident in Arkansas.  He was the quarterback from 2002-06.  Our condolences go out this his family and friends.
  • McFarlane Toys will be coming out with some college football themed action figures.   This is their second time around with this idea.  The idea is to take big NFL stars and showcase them in action from their college days.  So far there hasn’t been a Big 12 player immortalized in toy form yet, but we like the Drew Brees one alot.

Crib Sheet: Conference Mushroom Power Up

The big talk the last week or so has been conference expansion.  Well, never fear, because here at the KCCGD headquarters, we are perfectly happy with out size.  Now there have been some talks of expanding out to St. Louis or up into Omaha, but does KC St. Louis Omaha College GameDay sound great?  We say no.  Granted, the barspots might be a little more glorious if we end up at an Old Chicago in St. Louis, but for now we are perfectly satisfied with what KC has to offer in bars and feel no pressure to hitch up and roll out every week.  That said, here’s this week’s Crib Sheet:

  • What is the deal with other conferences wanting to poach schools from the Big 12?  First it was the Big 10 and Missouri and now it’s the Pac 10 and Colorado.  Yes it makes sense for both side to get the television markets.  What this will signal is some massive changes (and payouts) to all the schools in the Big 12.  Do you honestly believe Nebraska will go to the Big 10?
  • So we know about Missouri, but the Big 10 talking with Texas?  Huh?  Okay, no we’re thinking other conferences want to consolidate into just one big conference with all of the television markets.  That’s the only way that makes sense.  Texas won’t have an easier challenge up there.  Just strange.
  • Goodbye Tim Griffin.  We used his quick news on the goings on for news here at the KCCGD headquarters and we’re sorry to see him go.  We wish him the best and we hope to see him or hear from him real soon.
  • The NCAA rolled out a rule severely limiting recruiting by coaches who are deemed as the successor in the head coach line at colleges.  Naturally, Texas is not happy with this.  What are they worried about?  They are Texas.  They get the best kids in Texas.  Recruits do not need to promise of some other coordinator to tip scales for them.
  • JoePa will get lasers shot into his eyes.  Yup, no longer will we see the iconic, thick-framed, bespectacled Joe Paterno, but now we will see the I big nosed, mega old dude on the sidelines.  Hey, it just goes to show that you’re never too old to get procedures done to your body.  Let’s hope he doesn’t get pectoral implants next.
  • The NCAA wants to take away touchdowns for taunting.  Okay, we get it.  Sportsmanship is truly a noble attribute.   But doesn’t it say something about society as a whole when we have to legislate it?  Why take a away a touchdown?  A penalty assessed on the kickoff or extra point should be enough.  Those are kids out there and they have a hard time controlling their emotions.  The NCAA needs to focus on making the kids safer first.
  • Bo Pelini got yet another raise.  He goes up to $2.1 million per year through 2015.  Congrats to everyone’s favorite gum chewing Cornhusker.  That’s gonna buy him a load of Bubble Yum.
  • Here’s this week’s police blotter:  Frosh Mizzou quarterback Tyler Gabbert got the Owen Wilson treatment and broke his nose in a fight inside a Gumby’s Pizza.  The ladies still find Owen hot, somehow, so he should be good.  Meanwhile, LaMichael James, the Frosh offensive player of the year for the Pac 10, is in jail for strangulation, assault, and menacing.  Welp, we might have a LeGarrate Blount situation here.  Only difference was one was on a field against a dude and the other was off the field against lady.  Oregon should kick this guy off the team.

Bowl Pick It Standings: Xmas Snow Blows

Welp, we’ve kicked off the snow from our shoes after a long day of sludging through the snow to bring you the Bowl Pick It update.  If you have been anywhere near Big 12 country in the last week or you, you know what we mean.  Whoever dreamt of white christmas this year turned it into a nightmare.  We made it around safe, but it was some sloooow driving and tons of time scrapping and brushing.  It’s a big pain, but it’s worth it for the snow.  Speaking of being worth it, we got our fisrt update for picks!  Some people remembered, some forgot, and some rolled the dice.  Here’s the first real wave of update:

Continue reading Bowl Pick It Standings: Xmas Snow Blows

Bowl Pick It Standings: Quick Hit Edition

It was Bowl Season kick off over the weekend but it was hard to tell from all of the NFL action going on.  That’s okay as we already are kicking up points for the Bowl Pick It and Stick series.  We only have 3 games on the dockett so we’ll make this one short.  Look for actual team picks on succeeding Mondays but for now, here’s where everyone stands.  I Miss Manhattan has the confidence behind him and the lead at 12.  Everyone else is within striking distance of each other.   Some people forgot picks but if you were gonna do it, last weekend was the time to do so.  We have a long ways to go and we’re just getting started.  Here’s the standings:

Rank
Pick Set
Correct Picks
Points
Possible Points
1 I Miss Manhattan 1 of 3 12 12
2 I Am The Man 1 of 3 3 3
3 U wish u were as good as ME 1 of 3 2 2
3 Purple Yeti 1 of 3 2 2
5 Where’s KU? They were 5-0 1 of 3 1 1
5 Picky McPikertons 1 of 3 1 1
7 Giggety 0 of 3 0 0
7 Krizzou 0 of 3 0 0

Crib Sheet: Back and Ready to Go Bowling

bowling2009

After a well deserved week off, we are back to bringing you some tasty college football.  Alot happened during our mini hiatus so we are playing catch up with the Crib Sheet.  We have alot to get to here with the start of bowl season this weekend.  Tune in soon for a couple of year end reviews, bowl picks, and some bowlspots.  Until then, here’s a very chunky Crib Sheet:

  • Alabama took the high road when it announced that they will cancel classes for the BCS National Championship.  That’s nice for football fans, but the last time I remembered there are people who actually don’t like football AND go to college.  It seems kinda chintzy to lob off classes for everyone during the bowl game.  Then again, this is South and it is football.
  • Congress will crack the whip on the BCS soon and vote on a bill to ban promotion of the NCAA division I football series unless they get a playoff.  The argument against it is that they have better things to do (health care bill, anyone).  The argument for it is that the NCAA is a business and they should treat the conferences like companies in an industry.  Problem with that one is that then the argument will come up that the students should get paid then (on top of free college).  The slippery slope just got some juice.
  • Charlie Strong is you new Lousiville head coach.  This guy was rumored for the Kansas job, but right now the hot note is Buffalo’s Turner Gill.  Anywho, back to Strong.  This guy was co-defensive coordinator for Florida and looks to be a real good hire.  Good luck to Cardinals.
  • Tennessee confirms that there is an investigation into their Orange Pride group and possible recruiting violations.  Basically, the Orange Pride comprises mostly of very attractive Volunteer females that drive around and persuade recruits to join the program.  They would even friend them on Facebook.  Did they break any rules?  Who knows?  This has been going on for a long time, however.  The power of gender persuasion is a might force, my friends.
  • Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh hired his dad Jack to be interim running backs coach for the Sun Bowl.  It’s nice to see that the Harbaughs like to keep in the family.  His dad won some titles in Division II and his brother John just happens to the head coach of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.
  • Notre Dame took the plunge and finally hired a head coach.  His name?  Cincinnati’s Brian Kelly.   It’s a good fit for the Domers.  They guy won the Big East the last two years and has won at least 10 games the last three.  Let’s hope the boosters expectations aren’t too high this time around, otherwise we’ll be seeing this dance again in three years.
  • Mack Brown from Texas is getting an extra $2 million per year on the rest of his contract for doing such a great job.  The guy now will make about $5 million per year.  Meanwhile, an Iowa senator complains that coaches are being paid too much.  Nevermind that Texas brings in about $100 million a year via the athletic department.  Oh and don’t let Kirk Ferentz or Paul Rhoads hear this guy.  They might  go somewhere else and the voters will vent on their frustration in the voting booth.
  • Colt McCoy wants a bowl playoff.  He’s thought about long and hard.  Did he think about it while he almost blew the game for the Longhorns at the Big 12 Championship?  Maybe that’s why he wants playoff.  It would’ve covered up his mistake.  Doh!
  • A handful of awards were handed out on ESPN last week to college football players.  We’re not going to go through the whole list but we will say that Big 12 was represented very well.  Congrats to Colt McCoy and Ndamukong Suh.
  • So Kansas ended its coaching search over the weekend.  Some people thought it was Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, but that was denied big time.  So the Jayhawks fell to their 2nd choice, Turner Gill.  This guy turned around Buffalo from perennial losers to a decent MAC team, even winning the title last year.  Some people have overlooked that and started a fire-this-guy website.  Oh well, beggars can’t be choosers.
  • Congrats to Northwest Missouri State who became the Division II champions over the weekend.  It was their first title since 1998.   Good job guys!
  • Mark Ingram won the Heisman over the weekend as well.  The race ended up being the closest ever with Ingram taking it over Gerhart, McCoy, Suh, and Tebow respectively.  The sexy pick leading up to it was Suh, but that’s why it was sexy.  No chance of winning and you get to appear smart.  That said, there was no clear leading guy running up to it, so it’s no surprise it was this close.
  • Kansas State special teams stand out Brandon Banks was released from jail after beating a women while stoked on some stimulants.  Ruh Roh.  At least there’s no bowl to damage for the Wildcats.  Hopefully this guy will get his act together and salvage his draft status, if there’s any left.
  • Looks like Illinois will hire Kansas State co-defensive coordinator Vic Koenning to be their sole defensive coordinator.  He was with Clemson for a couple of years before his one year stint with the Wildcats.  Hopefully the Wildcats defense won’t suffer that much.
  • Looks like the Big 10 will finally come into the century and explore a possible 12th team and conference championship.  Who will it be?  Some say Missouri or Iowa State.  We know Missouri would listen.  Others are point toward the Big East and Syracuse, Rutgers, or Pittsburgh.  Let’s hope they keep it Big East for the east coast television money too.
  • The NCAA, following the lead of the NFL, will recommend keeping an athlete out of the game if they lose consciousness or show signs of a concussion.  Head trauma is big news nowadays and the NCAA is quickly stepping in to cover their own heads with this rule.  Now I get the old folks harping about leather helmets and poor pads being a better sport.  We’ll be talking like that in a c0uple of years.

Crib Sheet: Working That Turkey Out

getty_rr_photo_of_seniors_on_treadmills

We’re getting back on the treadmill to work off last weekend’s Turkey gauntlet.  The timing is perfect as he have lots to feast on this weekend with conference championships going on all over the place.  Hopefully the belt won’t be too tight to enjoy the big games filling up the screens.  As an appetizer to the weekend, we have a Crib Sheet spilling over with news this week. So without further ado, here’s this week’s Crib Sheet:

Continue reading Crib Sheet: Working That Turkey Out

Crib Sheet: Who’s Next?

WCW.WWEGoldbergWhosNext

The line for the BCS title  is thinning as the number of undefeated teams are going down week by week.  Last week it was both Iowa and Oregon that lost their ticket.  Who will go down this week?  We don’t know. But that question singularly defines what college football is and how unique it is to other sports.  It truly is a complete playoff system.  Now some others may not grasp it, but when you look at it year by year, the best teams usually bubble up.  So tune in and see who goes down this weekend.  Until then here’s this week’s crib sheet:

  • Brandon Spikes was already suspended  for one half of the Florida vs Vanderbilt game, but now he went and suspended himself for the other half.  It’s a good thing it’s Vanderbilt because they probably didn’t need him.  Kudos to Spikes, even though it is a big PR move.
  • Meanwhile, Urban Meyer sent video to the SEC officials for a missed late hit on Tim Tebow during the Georgia game.  Okay, it’s football.  Florida is turning it into a big wussy game.  Southeaster Conference:  Home of the Using Video Evidence to Justify Being Whiners.
  • Dez Bryant’s appeal to the NCAA was rejected and now he’s going to the NFL Draft.  This kid got the shaft big time.  If the NCAA was to make an example out of someone, do it to someone who actually did something wrong.  From now on the NCAA will be called the NC-SS.
  • Texas fans are already booking flights and reserving hotels for Pasadena.  Longhorns, the season isn’t over yet.  Don’t jinx your team now.  If you do, I’ll buy a couple of tickets off you for half the price.
  • Jahvid Best suffered a more serious concussion last weekend in a touchdown dive for California.  This first one happened the week before and this lost him consciousness.  Sit him for the rest of the season, coach.  Let him recover.
  • The Pac 10 approved Oregon’s request to reinstate LeGarrette Blount.  I guess it took a major loss to okay him back to the field.  Hopefully, he’ll learned his lesson and help the Ducks punch their way to the Rose Bowl.
  • Welp, it took being ranked 4th in the BCS Standings for TCU to sell out a home game.  Granted, it’s against top 16 ranked Utah, but this is first time since 2006 that they had a sellout.  This is why mid-cons don’t get respect.  The fans need to show up for the games to help support their teams.  Then they can get the big tv time and respect.  At least they got some cool new uniforms.
  • Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz tells us that Ricky Stanzi is out until bowl season.  This is a big blow to Iowa as they had BCS title chances before he went down and now they are just struggling to make a BCS bowl.  At least there will be no Big 10 team in the title hunt this year.

Crib Sheet: Going Prime Time

prime time

Hey guess what?  The Crib Sheet is BACK for the regular season.  We enjoyed digging up some tasty news nuggest during the offseason so much that we are going to roll it into the regular season rotation.  That’s great news alone.  So for those of you not familiar with the format, let us explain what the Crib Sheet is all about:  We scour the interwebs for stories not hears too well and stories that are local to the Kansas City area, adding our unique twist on it.  So rejoice in its return and enjoy this week’s Crib Sheet:

  • Indiana is cashing in big time by giving up a home game in 2010 and playing Penn State at FedEx Field, home of the NFL Washington Redskins.  It looks like this trend is here to stay with college teams playing in pro football (and baseball) stadiums.  I guess it will work out for schools that get major payouts, $3 million for Indiana, but it still sucks that hometown fans have to travel or miss out on games.
  • Tennessee running back Bryce Brown is cleared of any NCAA violations for questions in his recruiting process.  Now he can focus on becoming yet another highly touted athlete with a dark, questionable past.  Sometimes the news just writes itself.
  • John Malkovic: Actor chimes in on the upcoming college football season.  He doesn’t say anything too outrageous and we’re glad to see that hoity toity actors can enjoy the grid iron as well.  We’re not so sure, however, how coaches turned actors will fare.  Yikes!
  • So, everything is big in the new Cowboys stadium.  Check.  Tons of college football teams are playing there as well.  Check.  The Oklahoma vs BYU game is sold out.  Check.  $25 for outside concourse access only.  WHAT?  We get that the mega stadium will draw mega bucks, but when you’re not even in the dang stadium, you shouldn’t have to drop that chunk of change just to be there.
  • Mike Gundy’s blackout to prepare for Georgia led to an arrest for one player and another leaving the team.  Doh!  It looks as though locking things down loosened up the team a bit.  Will they get it together before their big opener?  Tune in this weekend.
  • St. Paul, a division II school, canceled its season opener because they don’t have helmets or pads.  WHAT?  It’s not that they couldn’t afford it, but the numnuts who ordered waited a little bit too late.  They should put that guy in a tackling dummy and let the team try out the new gear on him.
  • Blaine Gabbert locked up the starting job at Missouri.  Now the fight for number 2 just got easier.  The other Blaine, Blaine Dalton, was booted off the team for a DUI arrest.  That’s alright, though, as it sounds like the Tiger’s focus this year may be more running intensive.
  • The Alamo Bowl replaced the Big 10 opponent in favor of a Pac 10 number 2. That should heat up the competition for the Big 12 and give more legitimacy as big time conferences for both parties involved.
  • Apparently Jim Harbaugh, with help from a booster, now has a $50-$70k toilet to do his business in at Stanford.  So I guess when their season goes into the crapper, at least it will be comfortable and plush.
  • Bill Snyder 2.0 named Carson Coffman as his starter going into the opener for the Kansas State Wildcats.  Competition is a good thing, but he’s being consistent on this one.  If anything, Snyder 2.0 is known to switch things up and play people in rotations.  Grant Gregory, you still have a shot.
  • Rich Rodriguez is taking it from all sides these days.  We find out that current and former players are complaining about working too many hours for the football team, even though everyone does it and they he has an ally in Ohio State Buckeye players.   An investigation is coming to get to the bottom of a rule no one follows.  Now we hear him getting sued in a failed deal for land development in Virginia.  Notice that the piece came from the Ann Arbor news website.  Seriously, wait until half the season is over when they are looking to finish the same way they did last year.  By then RichRod won’t be able to fight back the tears.

Crib Sheet: Strapping It On

football_helmet_lg

Here we go people!  We’re strapping on the helmet and hunkering down for another season of college football.  To get us ready, we have a cavalcade of previews and a new redesign coming down the pipe.  Until then we’ll produce another news heavy Crib Sheet for all of you to digest.  Depending on the schedule, we may be dropping the Crib Sheet  here and there during the season.  There’s always news to munch on.  So grab a bib and some silverware and chow down on this week’s Crib Sheet:

  • It’s the wave of the future for the Texas Longhorns and monitoring football players.  They make select players swallow temperature pills to make sure their body temperature doesn’t get too high during practice.  The NCAA should take a look at these little doo-wops for all of the players that have a high risk for sickle cell disease.
  • There’s a big jumble and shuffle going down in Manhattan.  Kansas State coach Bill Snyder is moving around transfer Daniel Thomas from quarterback to running back, among other movements that also saw running back Logan Dold moving to safety.  It seems that ‘Wildcat’ might mean more than just a team this year in Snyder-land.
  • It seems Florida State is getting a head start on the 2 game series with Oklahoma by being the snitcher on old guy type linebacker Mike Balogun.  Balogun is suing the NCAA for eligibility because of some issues with semi-pro playing before he joined Oklahoma.  One of the Seminole officials noted the story of Bolgun during last year’s national championship game and dug further after the Big 12 was okay with Oklahoma’s ‘light’ investigation.  Ruh roh.  Seems like there will be some major unsportsmanlike penalties in this two game series.
  • Oklahoma State has gone dark until the week of their opener against Georgia, at least to the media.  They need to prepare all they can for the big game because it will set the tone for the Cowboy’s whole season.  It should be a great game and has the potential for being the game of the week.
  • Oklahoma backup linebacker Tom Wort went down with an ACL injury and is out for the season.  Combine that with the questions of Tom Balogun’s eligibility and we’re looking at a depleted linebacking core for the Sooners.  This may affect their chances of going all the way this year.
  • Joseph Kassanavoid, redshirt freshmen quarterback for Kansas State, up and got arrested for domestic battery.  Officials for Kansas State stated that the incident will be handled internally.  We won’t be surprised if this guy gets booted from the team.  Tune in to find out.
  • The Associated Press Top 25 Preseason Poll came out over the weekend and in the biggest non-surprise of the year, the Florida Gators are number one, followed by the Big 12’s Texas and Oklahoma.  Everyone and their mother are picking the Gators but the ball is up in the air for who will meet them in the title game.  We’re not sure who will be there, but tune in for our preview in the next couple of days.
  • Meanwhile, Lou Holtz gives his analysis on the AP poll and pulls a prediction of all predictions out of his always sounding drunk mouth.   According to Holtz, Notre Dame will be in the national title game.  Give to Lou for being a homer.  He makes a good case pointing to 11 returning offensive starters, 7 home games, and a weak opponent’s schedule.  The schedule is going to kill them and we’re not to sure they are that big on offense.  Nice to hear Lou slur his words again, though.
  • Husker running back Quentin Castille was dismissed from the Nebraska squad due to team rule violations.  That’s a shame as it will hurt their chances to live up to the preseason Big 12 North title prediction.  Even ESPN Big 12 blogger Tim Griffin is switching his prediction.  Indeed, maybe the media were drinking the red kool-aid, but there are questions all over the North this year.  Again tune in for our Big 12 predictions in the next couple of days.

Crib Sheet: Going Over the Game Plan

football_strategy

Here at KCCGD headquarters, we are drawing up game plans and doing walkthroughs for the upcoming football season.  We have some goodies coming up in the next couple of weeks, including analysis, predictions, and some new looks.  We’re busting a major sweat and pouring it out into everything we do here to make KCCGD the best place to go for you Kansas City college football needs.  Be on the lookout.  Until then, here’s this week’s Crib Sheet:

  • Kansas State’s lawyers are bringing the full “he said, she said” stating that no such attempts were made to quiet Ron Prince, which his lawyers accused the school of.   This is a real bad case of a coach and school parting ways.  It’s only gonna get worse.  Please remember to hug a coach and a school official today.
  • Backup Nebraska quarterback Cody Spano is out for the year with a torn ACL.  The Husker’s projected starter is Zac Lee and if he goes down there really is nobody left behind him.   Plus, it’s his first year as a starter.  Husker fans need to hope Zac stays healthy if they want to live up to the pre-season hype of a projected Big 12 North title.
  • 15 Duke football players have symptoms of the swine flu.  Usually colds and flus make their way through teams and then move on.  What’s interesting about this article is that Heather Dinich called it the swine flu.  Not H121.  Way to go Heather!  We like realistic names and not ones deemed okay to say by Congress.
  • Oregon football players (or as new ESPN sportscaster Jon Gruden calls it, OrEEgon) are now wearing cameras on their helmets during practice.  The more tape, the better.  Our guess is the next step in the evolution of video games will include this footage.  Then, in turn, football players could practice by playing the video game.  Geekery abound!
  • Colorado cornerback Ben Burney had his blog axed after the first draft.  Being the blogging realm we are disappointed to see such speech revoked.  Although the kid probably shouldn’t have touted how well in the sack he is.  That’s not quite the inside look people are looking for in football.
  • New Mexico State is asking fans to pitch in for snacks for the football team after practice.  Seriously?  We know the economic downturn is affecting everyone, but what’s the deal with a school not springing for orange slices and Capri-Sun after a workout?
  • Mike DeArmond from the Kansas City Star profiles Missouri’s defensive secondary.  They were the worst in the Big 12 last year and are looking for a turnaround.  With many of the offensive players from last year drafted away to the NFL, the defense needs to step up and help shoulder the load (and transition).
  • Speaking of defense, bot the Topeka Capital Journal and the Manhattan Mercury talk about Kansas State’s defense.  There’s no place to go but up for the defense as they ranked below 100 in the terms of total defense last year.  To help the attempted turnaround, they are featuring nickel defense much more this season.  Hopefully that will help counteract the explosive offense most of the Big 12 teams bring into the year.
  • Former Duke basketball starter Greg Paulus will now be the starter for the Syracuse Orangemen.   We’re not sure if it’s because he’s super talented (he was a five star football recruit in high school) or if the rest of the quarterbacks on the team stunk.  At any rate, the school will sell more tickets because of this guy and that’s a good thing.
  • Former Rivals #1 recruit Bryce Brown and Tennessee are under investigation by the NCAA for alleged violations in his recruitment to the university.  The question is whether funds raised for Brown’s trip out to Tennessee was legit or not.  Brown, a Wichita native, tread the news waters earlier this year when he was waffling back and forth between schools after his commitment to Miami expired, including Kansas State.  This guy smells like trouble and chances are he won’t turn out well.

Crib Sheet: Running Some Gassers

footballpractice

Practices are rocking this week as the schools are getting ready for some real hitting here in a couple of weeks.  Some may think that we’ve been practicing every week in this but column but it’s been prime time, every time.  We are still deliberating as to whether or not we’ll continue the Crib Sheet in the regular season.  Feel free to drop a comment below to let us know.  Here’s this week’s Crib Sheet:

  • The Michigan Defense couldn’t mow him down last year, so Appalachian State’s quarterback Armanti Edwards did it himself.  Yup he’s out a couple of weeks with a foot injury.
  • The 12th Man talked a Montana punter to transfer to Texas A&M.  Ken Wood was big on the NFL Seattle Seahawks and when A&M sued them for the use of the 12th Man moniker.  Wood saw this and fell in love.  It’s great, too, because the punter will probably be the MVP on that team this year.
  • The USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll for the preseason came out today and Florida eats the top spot.  Big 12 wise we have Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Nebraska at 2,3, 11, and 22 respectively.  That’s great and all, but the better poll/list for the week was put out by Fox Sports in their Top 10 most annoying fans list.  Oklahoma’s number 4 on that one.  It’s a good list even though it trends to teams that have been traditional powerhouses, sans Clemson.
  • Speaking of Clemson, they are docked two practices for a non conforming uniform modification under NCAA rules.  The crime?  Wearing girdles at  practice.  Let’s hope they don’t catch them wearing leggings or panties.  Yikes!
  • Dezmon Briscoe from Kansas is no longer stupid.  Er, no longer too stupid not to play football that is.  He completed summer courses and can play this fall for the Jayhawks.  He’s sorely needed, too, as he is expected to be a top receiver in the conference this year.
  • Bobby Bowden wants another national title before he retires from Florida State in a couple of years.  Bobby, it’s not gonna happen but we wish you the best of luck.  If only your conference was stronger.
  • There’s a great article about Kansas State quarterback Carson Coffman.  Carson comes from a long lineage of NFL tight ends, with his dad Paul and now his older brother Chase.  So this version of Coffman will try his hand a quarterback this year, but don’t be too excited because he has alot of transferred competition coming his way.
  • Utah spend the offseason crying to everyone that would listen about how they were screwed out a title game and now they a shutting off communication for ‘instantaneous reports’ from any staff and media.  BYU is doing it too.  So, are they breeding whiners or hypocrites up there?
  • Everybody is high on Notre Dame this year, but Charlie Weiss is more interested in walk than talk.   That’s kinda paradoxical when you think about it.  Then again, he was running his mouth from day one so let’s see if a quieter Weiss will help the Fighting Irish live up their hype.   Maybe he’s learning all about walking from his new-found buddy, St. Louis Cardinals’ player Albert Pujols.
  • Ron Prince and his lawyers are asking for an additional $3 million on top of the $3 million he’s already owed by Kansas State after they canned him last year.  The reason?  They state that the school knew of the buyout terms and even went as far as saying that the school wanted Prince to keep terms of the contract confidential.  With that much money on the table originally, it would seem very weird that top brass overlooked that.  Plus it’s punitive.  The way K-State is trying to weasel out of the deal forced Prince’s hand.   This is very ugly indeed.  A contract is a contract no matter how insane it is.  The quicker this goes away the better it will be for the school.  With this lawsuit, the chances are it will stick around for a long, long time.

Crib Sheet: Better Late Than Never

late

It seems recovery from the float trip took longer than expected.  Well, that and KCCGD headquarters purchased a new laptop that’s in the middle of indoctrination.  The radio shows are starting to talk more college ball and the preview magazines are popping up on the stands.  We have about a month and a half to go for the big show and the new laptop will help us in getting ready for the relaunch.   In the meantime, here’s this week’s belated Crib Sheet:

  • Looks like people are making bank from student athlete autographs on eBay.   The NCAA is trying to lock it down but we don’t see the issue.  They are already building a fortune off of these kids, why not let some other small entrepreneur make a couple of bucks from an autograph?
  • As expected, the cheap ticket deal for K-State and Bill Snyder’s return blew up all over.  John Currie commissioned more tickets and it looks like they were snatched up fast too.  I’ve been to games there and a $9 ticket versus a $50 tickets makes a world of difference.  Currie should really do more tickets because the game wouldn’t sell out otherwise.
  • Erin Andrews will now skirt the sidelines in video game form for EA’s NCAA College Football 2010.  Apparently she spend days recording insightful comments to be dropped during the game.  That’s great.  We wonder if they did her up a 3D modeling suit for better precision on microphone holding.  Oh to be that suit…….or in the hotel room.
  • Graham Harrell is heading to Canada.  After not getting a sniff from the NFL, he will be smelling the brisk Canadian air for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.  Many say he’s a product of the Texas Tech system but we’d like to think his career path is going down the same road that Warren Moon went.
  • Get your tickets fast, folks, Notre Dame will play Army at Yankee Stadium.  This has been rumored before and now they will play in 2010.  Around the Kansas City area, Arrowheads plays host to some college games as well as the Big 12 Championship every once in awhile.  Hopefully this will lead to more and more big time games being played in a large enough stadium.
  • University of South Florid kicker Maikon Bonani fell 35ft off a Busch Gardens ride.  An employee was injured too while holding on to the door that he thought was unlocked.  Apparently the ride took off and Bonani and the employee fell.  Yeah, the Purple Yeti will not go on roller coaster rides.
  • Ron Simmons, former WWE and WCW wrestler, is now in the college football hall of fame.  He used to play for Florida State and ended up being an All American.  We here at the KCCGD congratulate Ron and wish him a big ole DAMN.

Crib Sheet: Keep on Chooglin’

Creedence-chooglin-peru

Independence Day came and went and we escaped with a couple of scratches, bruises, and about six pounds of weight.  While we are recovering, we are reminded that we are inching ever closer to start of the new college football season.  Sooner or later, I have to get started on some site improvements and my previews.  Until then, we keep on chooglin’ to another Crib Sheet:

  • Former Hawaii, and record breaking, quarterback Timmy Chang was arrested for robbery.  I completely forgot the guy.  When that happens, one can guess that crime is heading their way.  Especially since he fizzled out like he did.  It’s pretty terrible that a record holding qb gets released from a Canadian football team.
  • The New York Times is now profiling the case that Sam Keller filed against Electronic Arts and the NCAA.  He makes a good point about players being used to take in bucket loads of cash for EA Sports and the NCAA.  If he wins, it may open the door to some other types of compensation for the players.
  • ESPN’s Tim Griffin points us to a company that sifted through the stats to produce the five common traits BCS Championship teams and which teams fall under that for this year.  Texas is in the mix but so is Iowa, surprisingly.  Florida’s there too, however.  The safe bet I guess is Texas vs Florida this year.
  • So another hearing on Capitol Hill took place the pitted Senator Orin Hatch from Utah against the BCS.  It stunk very much of grandstanding, and nothing came of the hearing.  Many columnists gave their reaction, so I will give mine.  This will continue on until the start of the college football season and then it will go away.  Hatch is rattling swords for his state and really thinking so much of the other smaller schools.  The best part, that Tim Griffin pointed out, was when Hatched asked Nebraska  chancellor Harvey Perlman what more could Utah do and Perlman suggested that Utah play a tougher schedule.  Utah president Michael Young responded that the school wishes Nebraska would play them.   Tim Griffin points out that Utah backed out of a chance to play Texas last year.   End of story.  Case closed.  The roar of the crowds on opening day will overcome the whimpers and cries coming from the state of Utah.

Crib Sheet: Go Forth on the 4th

fireworks accident

It’s Independence Day weekend coming up and we’re getting ready to rock out and blow up some cans with Black Cats.  So in preparation of the the fireworks menagerie,  we’re gonna give you more bang for your buck on this week’s Crib Sheet.  Before everyone goes out to stick explosives into other containers and shoot bottle rockets off, please remember to be careful, especially your hands.  They need to be healthy to handle the frosty beverages over the weekend and later on in the fall for college football.  Now here’s this week’s Crib Sheet:

  • Mark your calendars, the Michigan vs. Notre Dame game September 12 at 3:30 pm ET.   Both programs are looking to rebound and we should be witnessing a treat as two boisterous head coaches fight for their jobs.
  • To no surprise, the BCS rejected the Mountain West’s proposal of an eight team playoff.  Hopefully this will end the playoff talk for awhile.  We all know this is not going away forever.
  • Texas student assistant coach Matt Nader got a big ole gun pulled on him at the golf course last week.  Apparently he was arguing with a Texan and he later showed up with a gun ready to go.   Seeing as this all took place in Texas, I’m not too surprised.  Crazy thing was the gun toting Texan was 73, talk about a cranky golfer.
  • After another death and settlement from complications due to sickle cell traits at Rice University, the NCAA will start recommending that test for sickle cell issues be conducted at universities.  After this and the death of former Missouri Tiger Aaron O’Neil, it would make more sense to require the testing of  players for these issues.  The NCAA and schools make bank off of these kids, let’s make sure they get taken care of while they promote the schools on the field.
  • Look out Missouri Tigers, the kid of a maybe future NFL Hall of Famer is coming your way in Derrion Thomas.  He wasn’t high up on anyone’s radar due to only one year of playing high school ball, but he does look and play like his dead dad.  Let’s hope this walk on will do well over in Columbia.  My advice to Derrion:  remember to wear a seat belt.
  • USA Today has a profile of Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing.  It looks like it’s another one of those, short Big 12 quarterback come from behind stories.   The difference this time is Kansas might actually have what it takes to win the big game.  They did it on the Orange Bowl, maybe it’s their year this year.  Sorry Chase Daniels, have fun trying to play for the Redskins.