Tag Archives: USC

College, Football, News

Crib Sheet: Icing It Down

Leave a comment

kneeinjuryicing_Full

Much of the staff for the KCCGD (all one person of it) is knocked down under injury this week.  Lower back pains are not an easy ailment to handle.  Granted it’s no puke inducing concussion, but we know how limiting an injury can be.  Usually a team would be lucky enough not to have any of their stars miss a game or two during the season.  Usually you rest them at halftime or have them skip the easy games.  In this BCS culture today though now you have to play your top guys all the time, even when hurt.  So in that spirit, we achingly bring this week’s Crib Sheet:

  • The College Football Hall of Fame is moving from South Bend to Atlanta.  The promised attendance was never met in Irish-land and now they are moving down to Bulldog country.  So let’s get this straight, they are moving from one program where expectations of a once great team were never met to another place where expectations of a once great team were never met?  Hey, at least they’ll avoid nasty winters.
  • Michigan University will no longer allow purses into the stadium for games.  Sorry, RichRod, you will have to find something else to carry all of your crying tissues.
  • The college football world gasped a big ole sigh when Tim Tebow went down with a concussion over the weekend against Kentucky.  Apparently he was aleady sick when he took a sick hit from a Kentucky player.  It’s a good thing Florida has the week off.  Not for Tebow to recover, but the for the rest of the sports media to talk about the games.  Hopefully.
  • Sports Illustrated is attempting to bring playoff brackets into the mainstream with a half-cocked bracketing system to rank the top 16 teams and then place them in a bracket.  Are they bummed that USA Today has the Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, the AP has their own poll, but they have nothing?  That’s what we think.  And this is the only ink we’ll give them.
  • Baylor’s hope for a rise to bowl-dom blew up in their face Saturday when Robert Griffin went down last Saturday with a torn ACL in his knee.  A veteran QB in Blake Szymanski will take over the helm as Baylor gets ready to head into conference play October 10.  It really sucks for the Bears but will make thing easier for the North teams playing Baylor this year.
  • Twitter rears its ugly head again as a couple of tweets from some Texas Tech players caused Mike Leech to ban it from the team.  This was, of course, in reaction to some awesome tweets from newly suspended offensive lineman Brandon Carter and linebacker Marlon Williams.  We miss it already.
  • Speaking of Twitter, Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin is using his handle to retrieve 3 helmets stolen from Cougars players while storming the field during Houston’s dramatic win over Texas Tech.  Twitter and Texas Tech just does not mix.
  • Stafon Johnson, tailback for USC, had emergency surgery on his throat after a freak weightlifting accident.  I’ve seen some bars fall with very heavy weight on them in the gym and it does not look pretty.  How did it get on this guy’s throat?  We hope he turns out okay.
  • New Mexico head coach Mike Locksley pulled a Buddy Ryan (or a Tom Caple) on his assistant and busted his lip.  We’ve seen some punches so far on the field at least once a week during the season, now we’re seeing it during coaches meetings.  Oh wait, football is a violent sport.  Check.
  • Kansas will have condominiums in the stands in the form of seat mortgages.  So while the kids are fighting on (and off) the field, the snooty rich people will be in the stands.  Live sport spectating is becoming the privilege of the elite.  This isn’t good at all.
  • Ladies and gentlemen, we present the Yankee Bowl.  The Big East #4 team and the Big 12 #7 team are signed up to meet at Yankee stadium beginning in the 2010-11 season.  Granted they still need approval, but if you have the mayor of New York and the owner of the Yankees behind it, the proposal should pass.  I for one wish that any ‘home’ team in New York gets beat.
  • Missouri gets the dunce cap this week as the athletic department sold a box of old cell phones.  Without wiping them.  Hey, hook me up with an email address or phone number over here.   I want some coaches to know about the blog.
Picks

Pick It and Stick It: Wiping It Clean

Leave a comment

nose4

Okay, everybody is fairly settled in on the new changes for Pick It and Stick It.  Now we get a chance to turn our focus from the rules of the game on to the actual game itself.  Usually you see pick sets float around the office or in the college dorm.  Typically on top of that you will see a wager attached to sweeten the deal.  What we like to do here is get feedback from you to see what the wager or prize should be.  Now it can be a pitcher of beer, or it could be making the loser(s) wear the other team’s colors.  So read on through and drop us a comment to let us know what you want as the prize for the champion this year.

Continue reading Pick It and Stick It: Wiping It Clean →

Picks

Pick It Standings Week 3: Upsets Abound

Leave a comment

johnmadden

Week 3 came and went and we are finally getting adjusted to the new points system.  I can say with confidence that I finally understand confidence.  So now that we are all settled in, college football gets all turned upside down.  So USC and BYU bit it hard.  Who’s next in the sights for the upset bullet?  Ah, this is why we have pick it and stick with the added bonus of confidence points.  I don’t know who coined the phrase, but whomever it was they were correct in saying that college football is the only sport where the playoffs start in week 1.  Now THAT’S a bracket I can have fun filling out.  Here’s the abbreviated version:

Continue reading Pick It Standings Week 3: Upsets Abound →

Bar Games, College, Food, Football, Live, Sports Bars, Waitresses

It’s not Atlanta, but We’re Doing the Dirty Birdie’s

Leave a comment

Some weeks, you don’t know what you’re going to run into when you pick a place you’ve never been to before.  So when we strolled up to Birdie’s Pub and Grill,  we weren’t expecting much.  They didn’t have a website and the only information we got about the place was on Google Maps.   Walking in, however, things turned completely different.  Yes, it was bigger, but for some aspects it wasn’t necessarily better.  The goal of the week was to watch some Nebraska vs Virginia Tech and head to a BBQ.  We accomplished the mission.  Here’s the report.

Continue reading It’s not Atlanta, but We’re Doing the Dirty Birdie’s →

College, Football, Miscellany

GameDay: Quick Thought About Rekindled Rivalries

Leave a comment

rivalries

Perusing the news feeds throughout the week, I couldn’t help but notice the over abundance of items talking about the renewed rivalry of Notre Dame and Michigan.   That rivalry is one built with years of contests and traditions.  But most of the articles talked about how it was renewed.  How?  They play each other every year.  Is this because Notre Dame is ranked and looking for a BCS run?  Usually the shoe is on the other foot with Michigan pushing through the Big 10 and gunning for BCS.   So why is it getting so much press this week?   It’s very simple.  Because college football needs this rivalry.

College football is what it is today because of schools playing each other every year for over 50 years.  The tradition of going against a familiar foe and claiming bragging rights for your school is why college football draws the bank that it does.  So when Notre Dame and Michigan suit up today for the 37th time, remember that they first played each other in 1887.  That’s about 122 years ago.  So when they trot on that field today, they carry on their shoulders a history of competition older than Brent Musberger.   This is the linchpin of college football.

Of course, we would be remiss to mention that there really isn’t any other big games going on this week.  Most rivarly games are played another week.  For the ranked teams, the only marquee match up is USC heading to the horse shoe and playing Ohio State.  So the pick of teams to talk about this week is pretty weak.  Especially because of the big games from last week.   There were Top 20 upsets and down to the wire games for BCS contenders last week.  This week seems pretty lame comparatively..

But college football needs these two teams.  We were lucky enough that it is quiet enough to hear about the Wolverines and the Fighting Irish.  For the Wolves, they need to get better fast.  The Big 10 needs them to be elite much more than college football.  Nowadays, people talk about how weak the Big 10 is.  Sure they have Ohio State and sometimes Penn State, but without Michigan and their tradition (the winningest team in history) people will always scoff at the Big 10 and turn their noses at them.  As for the Irish, it’s been years since they even mattered.  There’s no patience up in South Bend.  Just look at Ty Willingham.   So the vaunted Charlie Weiss led Notre Dame Fighting Irish need to manufacture a BCS trip or face falling back in mediocrity.  It’s been way too long for them.  They even set up a cupcake schedule because they know they’ll make it on name alone.

That’s where we are at today.  In a couple hours, the whole nation will watch an 18th ranked team travel to an unranked team’s home and play football.   Usually in a bigger week with tougher matchups, this game would be overlooked.  Usually teams with higher rankings would get the national rub and this one would be pushed to regional action.  But this is Notre Dame.  This is Michigan.  This is a history rich in competition.  This is college football.  We’re lucky enough to see it.

Picks

Pick It and Stick It: Confidently Digging In

Leave a comment

picking-nose

Here we go strolling into the second week of picks for the KCCGD crew.  Last week saw some impressive (and embarrassing) numbers.  With a new confidence system on top of the picks, we’ve found getting used to it somewhat challenging.  Nevertheless, this week finds the matchups a little easier to swallow.   There aren’t as many ranked teams going against each other.   We were treated to an upset or two last week.  Will we see it again?  We’ll find out over the weekend but until then set your picks and assign confidence to them.  Heeeyaw!
Continue reading Pick It and Stick It: Confidently Digging In →

Barspotting, College, Football, Iowa State

Barspotting: Johnny’s Tavern Tries to Save the P&L

Leave a comment

Johnnys Tavern

This week we’re going back to the Power & Light District and more specifically Johnny’s Tavern.  One of the other overly expensive bars there closed downand Johnny’s swooped in to take the torch.  Now, we aren’t fans of the P&L, especially for sports, but we want to give Johnny’s Tavern a chance to totally save the day.  Johnny’s Tavern is a namesake dedicated to sports bars, especially for the Kansas fans out there.  So we’re sure they will make a decent attempt of fielding a proper sports bar Downtown.  We’ve been to a different Johnny’s before so we are pretty sure we’re gonna have a good time.  See you there.

When: Saturday, September 12 2009
Time: 12:00 pm-ish (we’ll try to make the rivalry)
Where: Johnny’s Tavern in the Power and Light District. 1310 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri 64106 816.268.2260


View Larger Map

Games:

The second week of college football has calmed down a bit.  We needed it too, last weekend was a huge blast off and we need to clean the ash off our faces.  This week is not without its sparklers, however.  The Cy-Hawk Trophy is up for grabs again in the great Iowa vs Iowa State rivalry.  It’s also been a long time since college football was as pumped as it is this year for the Michigan vs Notre Dame game.  The only Top 25 meeting is USC vs Ohio State and it should be epic.  The rest of the Big 12 looks like mop up work, but don’t be surprised if a few more upsets come that way.  We’re looking at you Colorado and Kansas State.  Anyway, it should be fun and we hope to see you out this weekend.

For what it’s worth, here’s the result of poll from the Facebook Fan page.  Next week’s poll should be up alot earlier next week.

bswek2

College, Football, Iowa State, News, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech

Crib Sheet: Licking Our Wounds

Leave a comment

tiger licking

We made it through the first week of college football, but not without some bumps and bruises.  Injuries were all over the news in the last week, including the Purple Yeti’s back issue.  Fortunately he has a myriad of pills to numb any pain.  Oklahoma Sooners fans are probably still numbed from last Saturday’s upset loss.   So we will dedicate this week’s Crib Sheet to recovering from any mental and physical injuries.  5 out 7 doctors agree the Crib Sheet has soothing properties.  Kick back, relax, and enjoy:

Colorado, Football, Picks

Spit Ball Predictions for 2009

Leave a comment

spitball

We can take a couple of more days to draw up a preview of each conference and then roll the dice on how the bowls will shore up but that would take way too much time and reach far out of our happy little niche.  So what we are going to do instead is spit up some predictions for what’s going to happen this year in college football.  We may talk about your favorite conference, we may not.  Chances are we’ll predict the title winner, but we may over look the Outland Trophy Award winner.  Who knows?  We’re loading up our straws (or empty pens) and seeing what sticks to the wall for 2009.

Continue reading Spit Ball Predictions for 2009 →

College, Football, Kansas, Miscellany, Nebraska

Crib Sheet: Red Hot Burn

Leave a comment

sunburn

Usually when  the tempature gauge rockets into the 90’s, it tells you many things.  First, time to turn on the A/C.  Second, time to hit the pool.  Lastly, college football season is right around the corner.  So while you are out there baking in the sun, please remember to wear sun screen and to think of the short time left before kickoff.  Here’s this week’s Crib Sheet:

  • Looks like the Nebraska Cornhuskers are getting support from all sides as Tim Griffin reports on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ love for the Huskers and his influence on recruits.   Judge Thomas sounds like he know about more about the Huskers than the law, unless he thinks they rule or something.
  • Still on the Nebraska side, Bo Pelini is standing up for his hometown fellow, LeBron James.  It seems LeBron was a little unsportsmenlike when he choked away the playoffs last week.  People have been ragging him since and Bo decided to stand up for King James and defend him, in all of his open mouthed, gum chewing glory.
  • Ivan Maisel did a little piece about smaller schools taking big cash for playing major opponents from major colleges.  It does tilt the competition in the favor of the major schools.   The smaller schools do get money they would otherwise not see for their athletic program.  The shadiness of the AD’s not having confidence in their team does seem to be a concern.  But then again we wouldn’t see major upsets like Appalachin State over Michigan.  It can happen you know.
  • Kansas and Georgia Tech will meet for the first time since 1948 for the next two years.  This should beef up their non-conference schedule.  They aren’t exactly pulling a K-State, but they are following toe in line for what many of the major FBS conferences are doing.
  • Joe Montana’s kid Nick will commit to Washington.  Looks like the Steve Sarkasian rub is working full time up there.  Will USC miss Steve?  Who knows, but it will be interesting to see if Nick can live up to his dad.  It’s a lofty task and other former NFL quaterback kids usually don’t live up or beyond, with the exceptions of the Mannings.  Chris Simms anyone?
BCS, Big 10, Big 12, College, Football, Nebraska, News, Oklahoma, SEC, Texas Tech

The Crib Sheet: The Boys Of Summer Will Soon Be Gone

Leave a comment

baseketball

In case you didn’t notice, the professional baseball season is under way.  Isn’t that great!  Just like what Beano Cook says, it just means that the football season is getting closer!  We here at the KCCGD do not cover college baseball but we’re sure it’s really exciting.  If the major leagues didn’t draft all of the real talent first, we’re sure it would be better.  This is the same problem basketball suffers from.  Which we don’t cover too (yet).  At some point, once the staff gets filled out, we’ll cover the more important college sports for the Kansas City area.  Until then, here’s this week’s college football news:

  • The vaunted, Charlie Weiss led, Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Head Coach, er, Charlie Weiss confirmed that we was thinking about leaving the program.  He asked his family about after weighing options and a major lumping from USC to close out last season.   Last year, they were 7-6.  If they can bump that up a win or two and win the bowl, he should be safe.  If he dips, he’s a goner.
  • Michigan was offering Greg Paulus a chance to vie for quarterback this year.  Paulus, who didn’t even toss a ball around when he was visiting the campus, now has the option to join the graduate program and the football team.  This is turning into a crazy situation.  Is Rich Rodriguez desperate?  Or does he see a golden opportunity.  This story wasn’t done, however.  Paulus skipped the Wolverines and now is visiting both Nebraska and Syracuse.  Good luck to whoever wastes their time on the guy.
  • The Big 12 comes in at number 3 in terms of attendance broken out by conference last year.  It’s a 3% jump whereas number 1 SEC grew by about 2% and number 2 Big 10 dropped by about 1%.  It looks like that trend may continue next year, which will keep this writer happy and bring hope to eventually passing the Big 10 in attendance.
  • Oklahoma can’t surf the internet as much, due to NCAA voliations and a new policy from the administration.  If you are an Oklahoma Sooner, athlete or alumni, this site is safe to use.  Tell your friends and family.  We are So0ner friendly.  Kinda.
  • Colby Whitlock from Texas Tech gives major props to wrestling, as Tim Griffin writes.  As a former high school football player/wrestler I can attest to how much more an athlete can gain by participating a wrestling.  Balance, speed, and endurance will raise up, which is important for the the fat middle guys like myself.  The actual wrestling part I didn’t like, but the condition part was great.
  • The Mountain West Commissioner did a song and dance to argue for the proposed playoff structure for the BCS.  It seems Utah won’t let this go.  Hopefully a nice little press release will send this one away.  Methinks it won’t go, but one can hope.
Big 10, College, Mascots

Mascot Monday: Sparty

1 Comment

Sparty in the USA

We lucked out in picking the University of North Carolina’s Rameses as last week’s Monday mascot.  The Tar Heels made it to the final game and they will face Michigan State in their almost home court of Ford Field in Detroit Michigan.  So, in celebration of the underdog Big 10 making it this far, we will take a look at their mascot, Sparty.  Good luck to both the teams tonight as we look forward to getting basketball out of the way in preparation of football.  But for now, here’s Sparty.

Continue reading Mascot Monday: Sparty →