Randomness:
- Robert Griffin III was the first Baylor player to win the Heisman and the fifth Big 12 player to win the award: Ricky Williams (’98), Eric Crouch (’01), Jason White (’03), and Sam Bradford (’08) were the first four. Congrats and, as I tweeted Saturday night, please pack your stuff and move on to the NFL.
- I like that the voters didn’t just take the best player on the best team as it seems they do so many times. RGIII was the best candidate and the most important to his team. It’s nice when they get it right.
- NFL Magazine named Peyton Manning the MVP for 2011/12 NFL season. I thought it was ridiculous, too, but then I read the article. The only noticeable difference between the 2010 Colts that lost by one point to the Jets in the first round of the playoffs and the 0-13 Colts of 2011 is the loss of Peyton Manning. If that isn’t an MVP, I don’t know what is. Can’t make the other 54 guys on that roster very happy, though.
- I am firmly on the Tim Tebow bandwagon. It isn’t that I love Tim Tebow, because the guy was oversaturated in college and I hate Florida, but I really enjoy watching the nonsense his success is causing. NFL people have this stunning arrogance and stubbornness when something doesn’t fit into their small philosophical window of what works in their league, and it seems all of them have the same opinions. So many times I’ve heard analysts say things like “…that won’t work here. That’s college…” or some other ridiculousness. If it works, it works, right? Sure, he doesn’t have Peyton Manning’s size or Josh Freeman’s arm, but he wins and guys follow him. Why is that so hard to understand? The “it” factor is a measurable in college, but not in the NFL? The guy is going to take his team to the playoffs and win his division (actually a great defense and a NAILS kicker are doing the work, but everyone focuses on Tebow) and still I keep hearing that “it won’t work.” It is working and I, for one, enjoy watching the blowhards try and explain it away.
- The Horns added commitments No. 24 and 25 over the weekend as they hosted most of the current commits and several prospects in town for the football banquet. Kevin Vaccaro, brother of Kenny, and Adrian Colbert, a super athlete that just recently got on the radar for the big boys, were the two that committed.
- There are still a few very, very big names floating around that have interest in Texas and the staff will now dedicate its full attention to getting them locked down.
- The 25-man class of 2012 is probably the No.1 recruiting class in the country. Seeing what Texas is doing on the recruiting trail, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that “sources in the coaching world” were saying Mack Brown would retire as soon as the season was over. They have to try to stem the tide somehow, right? It certainly isn’t right and I’m not condoning it, but it happens.
- And I completely understand the rest of the league getting a little nervous about Texas, because not only are they killing it and piling up talent, they are doing in ways they didn’t before. Two junior college players and a guy in Colbert that no one knew about last summer are not typically on Texas’ radar as Mack Brown usually gets the majority of commitments in the summer, but Brown is listening to his staff and trusting their judgment. The M.O. has changed and that has caused a stir. And yes, Texas is only 12-12 in the last two years, but the amount of young talent on the team and the talent coming in has to be alarming for some other schools in the Big 12.
- Peeking ahead to next year, Texas has 10 starters returning on offense and seven on defense. Of the 64 players that start/get significant snaps on the Texas depth chart, 52 are back in 2012, and I think about 45 are back in 2013. And that isn’t taking into account guys like Jonathan Gray, Caleb Jones, Conner Brewer, etc. … that are coming in this fall. Yes, I’d be looking for a way to slow Texas down, too.
- Kansas hired Charlie Weis. OK, then.
- Some Longhorn fans are wondering if Notre Dame quarterback and soon-to-be graduate Dane Christ would be interested in coming to Texas and playing for one year, like Russell Wilson has done at Wisconsin. My guess is he’s starting for Kansas next year, playing for the guy who recruited him to Notre Dame.
- I won’t be surprised if Texas does bring in a junior college quarterback to give some upperclassmen leadership to a very, very young and inexperienced position.
- And on the quarterback front, it seems superstar qb Connor Brewer is graduating high school early and will go through spring training with Texas next semester.
- I wonder how long Tech will be happy with Tommy Tuberville? They were terrible this year. Tubs needs a big 2012.
- You know any success Mike Leach has at Washington State is going to make Tubs’ job that much harder.
- Two new roomies moving in next year in West Virginia and TCU as the Ags and Mizzou move out.
- I wish they were both gone now.
- I can’t wait for the first trip to Morgantown. That will be fun.
- Speaking of the Ags, I am very interested to see how that high wire offense of Kevin Sumlin will work in the hallowed SEC, where defense typically rules the day.
Texas and Cal are two weeks away and I cannot wait. I love the bowl games, every single one of them, and I told myself before the season started that I was going to not take anything for granted and I would enjoy all the wins this year. I’ve done that and I now I plan to enjoy the Horns and the Bears playing in San Diego. We will get all over that matchup next week, but this week let’s take a look at the rest of the league and how they match up in their bowl games. Back next Wednesday with the Holiday Bowl breakdown.
BIG 12 BOWLS
You won’t get analysis like this just anywhere, folks.
INDEPENDENCE BOWL
December 26th
4 pm
ESPN2
Missouri Tigers (7-5/5-4) vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (7-5/3-5)
You probably didn’t even notice that I didn’t bold and all caps Missouri, did you? I only do that for conference teams, Mizzou, and as far as I’m concerned you and your shady-voting coach and your terrible, career-threatening field can move to the SEC now. Mizzou comes in hot, winning their last three, while UNC comes in ice cold, going 2-6 in the second half of the season. Former Texas db coach Everett Withers is the interim coach at North Carolina, so that’s something.
I think Jimmy Franklin and the Mizzou offense will do enough to score points and give their defense enough of a lead so they can hang on. I imagine with both teams in the top 10 in basketball and this game being the day after Christmas in Shreveport, there will be tens of people in attendance.
Tigers win a high-scoring game, but I will be rooting for Carolina because I am petty and juvenile.
HOLIDAY BOWL
December 28th
7 pm
ESPN
No.24 TEXAS (7-5/4-5) vs. California Golden Bears (7-5/4-5)
It’s crazy how much these teams mirror each other on the stat sheet, which makes what I think will happen crazier still. More on this one later.
ALAMO BOWL
December 29th
7 pm
ESPN
No.12 BAYLOR (9-3/6-3) vs. Washington Huskies (7-5/5-4)
The Bears are going to take over the Alamo Dome. Washington had a nice season, but it will be hard to repeat the magic of the Holiday Bowl win over Nebraska last year; and San Antonio is a long, long way from Seattle; and there have to be some UW fans that aren’t really sure who Baylor is. The Huskies are limping into the bowl, and this is probably going to be RGIII’s last game as a college player. With Baylor three hours up the road, and the majority of their alumnus living on/near the I-35 corridor, it will be a sea of non-dancing green in San Antonio. Griffin & Co. will annihilate Washington and get to 10 wins for the first time since the Romans built Hadrian’s Wall in northern Britain.
I expect a Ricky Williams-esque Heisman pose after a long second half touchdown run by Griffin and the fans serenading him with “one more year.” Don’t listen to them, Robert. GO.
PINSTRIPE BOWL
December 20th
2:20 pm
ESPN
IOWA STATE (6-6/3-6) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-4/4-3)
I know I sound like a broken record, but I love me some Paul Rhoads. He’s got fire and energy and his post-game speeches are the BEST EVER. Seriously, check this one out from the win over Oklahoma State earlier this year (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKCx_XyN9g4) or this one from 2009 when they beat Nebraska (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAcKiMy0Gp4). That is AWESOME.
Famous alumni fisticuffs: James Gandolfini vs. Russell Stover. Stover, the candy guy, is an Iowa State grad and Gandolfini is a Rutgers grad. This one isn’t even close. Tony buries the candy guy. And I expect similar results on the field, but who knows? Come on, Cyclones, let’s get one for the Big 12.
2:20 pm? Can you be a little more specific?
INSIGHT BOWL
December 30th
9 pm
ESPN
No.19 oklahoma (9-3/6-3) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5/4-4)
In this corner, from the University of Iowa, Ashton Kutcher. Kutcher is the famous replacement for Charlie Sheen, famously getting divorced and the star of Punked; but he’ll always be Kelso to me.
In this corner, representing oklahoma, is Katy Perry. I know she isn’t from oklahoma, but I can’t stand her and I shall not bother looking up anyone because I just don’t want to. Her songs sound like the songs they make up for cop dramas involving a murdered groupie or some sort of assault on the band member. Like, Benson and Stabler from SVU are going to walk in to the studio to interview a singer and that singer would be singing something awful, like Last Friday Night. Is it just me? It can’t be.
I’ll bet Kelso would win the alumni fisticuffs with Katy Perry, but Katy Perry seems like a nice person, even though I can’t stand her music. You know who else went to ou? Kim Kardashian. And Lindsay Lohan. And Jersey Shore. I’m pretty sure that’s true … I forgot what we were talking about? This has gotten away from me.
TEXAS BOWL
December 31st
11 am
ESPN
Texas A&M Aggies (6-6/4-5) vs. Northwestern Wildcats (6-6/3-5)
Whoop! Whoooooooop! The SEC is going to show Northwestern how football is played. We are going to show the speed, the power, the elite athletes that we have in the SEC and we are going to … Can I ask a quick question? Northwestern is not thinking about coming to the SEC, right? I mean, they aren’t on the short list to get in, are they? And they are the purple ones in Chicago, yes? And they are not moving to the Big 12, either, right? We haven’t fared well against the SEC, prospective SEC, or the Big 12. So you’re sure, then? OK, thanks …. WHOOOP! SEC Power will show through! We will win this game ( probably) and then scream “SEC! SEC! SEC!” and it will be glorious! Going to the SEC is in no way a bad decision! A new coach to pay and an old coach to pay! Exit fees! We are moving out of the shadow of the Texas Longhorns and into the bigger, larger, and meaner shadow of LSU and Alabama! Recruiting wars await! We are not at all regretting opening the door for the SEC East to get into Texas because we weren’t getting those guys, anyway! Win No. 7 is imminent! I’m pretty sure.
FIESTA BOWL
January 2nd
7:30 pm
ESPN
No.3 OKLAHOMA STATE (11-1/8-1) vs. No.4 Stanford Cardinal (11-1/8-1)
I can’t tell you how happy I am that Fox is no longer carrying this game. The broadcast was just awful, and say what you want about ESPN; they do a great job of producing these games. I’ll be curious to see how Oklahoma State handles the media of this circus. Stanford has been there before, but Oklahoma State hasn’t, and while this is their first BCS trip, there has to be some “what if” moments about not being in the National Championship game. I think the Okie State fans will take over Arizona, but I wonder if the team is going to be ready for this game? We’ll see.
My guess is both teams struggle early with the layoff and the defenses control the first half. The Cowboys force a lot of turnovers and I see a few first half turnovers leading to points. I think the offenses pick it up in the second half and it turns into a shootout. It’ll be the last game for Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden, and I think they go out with a thrilling, high-scoring win.
01/07: COTTON BOWL
January 7th
7 pm
FOX
No.8 KANSAS STATE (10-2/7-2) vs. No.6 Arkansas Razorbacks (10-2/6-2)
I said this last week and I’ll say it again: Arkansas better come ready to play. K-State doesn’t do much well, but they always seem to win. Listen to me, Backs: their quarterback is a Rocky Balboa-type guy that doesn’t mind getting beat up and will physically wear you down. You are watching him on film and thinking, “he doesn’t look so bad” and you are wrong. Dead wrong. Trust me.
It’s going to be a rockin’ good team as both teams will bring a ton of fans, and this is a BCS-level game considering both are in the top 10 and both can finish even higher with a win. Arkansas is going to throw the ball all over the field, but Klein and The Purple are going to run it. I’ve seen them both in person and I think K-State can win this game on the ground. I think they will. K-State shocks everyone again and moves to 11-2, and Collin Klein is a Heisman candidate going into the 2012 season.
That’s it, folks. Back next week with the Holiday Bowl break down. |
