Now this is a Big 12 and Kansas City blog but today we are going to dip into the hype and look at the SEC. Everyone in the country says the Southeastern Conference is the best college football conference on the planet. Many people, especially around here pooh-pooh that notion. But when looking at the numbers and opening conference play this week, it’s kind of hard to argue against that. The SEC has 4 undefeated teams. Every other conference has at most 2 (including the Big 12 and the Big 10). Now you might complain that the non conference schedule for the SEC has been weak, but they handled teams like Virginia Tech and the some what surprising Washington. Even so, they didn’t trip up like the other conferences and beat the teams they are supposed to. Yet they still get the ire of others. That kinda reminds me about how little brothers look at big brothers.
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?
It’s signing day and the Crib Sheet is trucking along. Apparently this is like the NFL draft for colleges. What I’m thankful for is Mel Kiper is busy preening his hair to care about the high school kids. This is the first time we’re covering signing day and there is an interesting culture surrounding the event. One thing I noticed was how the scouting reporter guys on the sports radio all sound like they lived in the trailer next ot Randy the Ram from the movie The Wresltler. Here’s the sheet:
Bobby Bowden’s got another year in him. Florida State made it to a bowl this year and things are looking up. His contract expired and they brought him on for another year. But seriously, I think it’s some kind of sick bet between Bobby and Joe Pa to see who will kick the bucket on the field first. Tune in next year I suppose.
Jim Halley reminds us signing day is more like signing year. The interesting thing to note is that the number one recruit for running backs, Bryce Brown, committed to Miami o’ Florida, but he’s still shopping around colleges. Yup he’s from Wichita, so K-State still has a chance. I’m not holding my breath.
Another violation by Sarkisian and Washington. They’re saying that this time it’s minor but the demerits are already piling up. Yeah the Huskies were winless last year, but are they going to be handcuffed from winning a game next year?
Walk ons are back for the Nebraska Cornhuskers agian. It’s good to see they are bringing back that tradition. It’s no Rudy, but hey, the whole state is Big Red so you might as well bring some kid on that has the passion.
Now that Bowden’s back, the players are celebrating in the tradition of Florida State football players and getting arrested. Preston Parker fell asleep at the wheel in a McDonald’s drive thru around 5am on January 24th. He blew under the limit, but admitted being drunk and stoned to the cops. He didn’t hurt anybody so this is hilarious.
The Sporting News counted down the top recruits for 2009. Bryce Brown is number one and no one else close to the KC area is in the Top 25. We should be seeing many of the top guys sign today but rumor has it Bryce is holding out a little bit longer.
Ohio State lineman Alex Boone pulls a ‘Don’t Tase Me Bro!’ after yielding a tow truck cable tyring to break stuff. Yup he was D-Runk. I’m not sure if this guy’s stock will fall in the draft this year. Maybe the Dallas Cowboyws will pick him up.
A clinical study shows that football players out of high school are getting bigger, the Homer Simpson way. Instead of doing the GNC Multi Grain Protein Gut Buster, they’re pigging up on fatty food. Unless they’re doing the Atkins, the study says they are on the way to big time shock. Good thing college programs straighten out. Still, the graph’s pretty cool about how big theses guys are getting
Condi Rice says no to the Pac 10 and keeps making the cheddah on the speaker circuit. That makes sense, get money for fluff instead of defending the ridiculous position on the Rose Bowl year in and year out. Please let’s keep politics out of college football. I’m looking at you President Obama.
We kicked off the off season with our first Mascot Monday here at the KCCGD and now we’re continuing the trend with our first edition of the Crib Sheet. Yup, it’s a weekly news round up of college football with our own little Jamaican Jerk style spice tossed on top. Much like how a good number of student-atheletes need a crib sheet to get by the student part, well lay out what you need to know for college football news wise. Chances are you’ll get better news elsewhere, but you won’t walk away from it with a minty fresh feeling like you would hitting up the Sheet. So buckle up because here we go:
Kansas names Kerry Locklin as their new D-Line coach. He replaces Joe Bob Clemens as Joe Bob comes back home to K-State. Hopefully it was part of some ellaborate, Bill Snyder led, recon mission to sniff out the Jayhawks scheme so the Wildcats can notch a win in forever against the Hawks.
Michigan hires Greg Robinson as the new Defensive Coordinator. Whoah, so Syracuse dumps him after the Kansas City Chiefs dump him, and now Rich Rodrieguez wants him? I say take him. Let’s hope the tradition of losing carries over to the Wolverines just enough to keep them mediocre.
Recruiting sucks for the Big 10 this year. Apparently 2 schools can claim five star recruits (Ohio State and Michigan duh). Is this the beginning of the end? Chances are the Big 10 tanking will break the stranglehold on the Rose Bowl.
Finally, Former Missouri Quarterback Chase Daniel is a superstar at ESPN. Source indicate he will also film a commercial with Pittsburgh Steelers quaterback Ben Roethlisburger. Chase will play Ben’s younger, less talented brother while they take turns throwing a football at the back of Stuart Scott’s head. Who will knock out the glass eye first? Tune in and find out.
Welp that’s it for round one of the Crib Sheet. Well be back every Wednesday to spit up nuggets of news we chowed down on from previous week. Until then, eat your vitamins and say your prayers, brotha. Yup, the Yeti’s filling his time by watching a lil wrasslin’ Sunday by way of the Royal Rumble. Hey, you gotta pass the time in the off season somewho. As Ric Flair would say, “WHOOOOOOOO!”
