Budding Stars Who Will Soon Cash In

With the NBA's age limit forcing most elite prospects to spend at least one year in school, the NCAA is rapidly becoming a freshman-dominated league. Who is this year's Kevin Durant or Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley? Well, maybe there aren't any players as dominant as those freaks, but here are three freshmen from the 2008-2009 class who are making a push for the top spot among their peers.

1. Willie Warren, G, Oklahoma
Warren is full of confidence and backs it up with his athleticism. He is averaging 15.1 ppg while shooting 38 percent from deep. Warren stepped up big in the Sooner's two games without Blake Griffin has had continued his high level of play even with the big man's return. His 6-4 frame makes him a huge PG in comparison to the rest of one-guards in the league. He is no doubt a legimate contender for Freshman of the Year and one player to look out for in the NCAA Tournament.

Off Season Forecast: Top 10 Pick (Indiana Pacers?)

2. Al-Farouq Aminu, F, Wake Forest
The Deamon Deacons are a freshman heavy team but no player stands out more than Al-Farouq Aminu. With his blend of pure athleticism and intangibles, Aminu is a star in the making. If he can improve his 3-point shooting, he will be impossible to guard. Aminu runs the floor and rebounds very well. He is almost averaging a double with 12.7 ppg and 8.2 rpg, while helping lead Wake to a possible Tournament berth.

Off Season Forecast: Top 7 Pick (Toronto Raptors?)

3. Tyreke Evans, G, Memphis
Evans is an all-around basketball player as evidenced by his season averages (16.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.1 spg). He has fill in nicely at the point guard position for coach John Callipari and is on the verge of leading the Tigers to yet another #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He is another big PG, and is even taller than Warren. Evans is my pick for Freshman of the Year.

Off Season Forecast: Top 15 Pick (Philadelphia 76ers?)

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I think we can all agree that these three players are some of the best that the college game has to offer... and will all soon be cashing in.

Cory Guinn

cryguinn@yahoo.com

FANdemoniumsports.blogspot.com

Two Man Race to the Top

After very impressive performances from Blake Griffin and Hasheem Thabeet, two of the countrys top college basketball players, on Saturday, I began to think about the race for this year's NCAA Player of the Year. At the beginning of the season it looked as though the race for PoY would be between a number of players including Notre Dame's Luke Harangody, North Carolina's Tyler Hanbrough, and Davidson's Stephen Curry.

Curry has put up big offensive numbers, Harnagody has dominated but has not led his team to wins, and Tyler Hanbrough has underchieved just a bit. The way I see it, the race is between two players in Griffin and Thabeet.

Let us look first at Oklahoma's outstanding big man Blake Griffin. He has the size (6' 10", 250 lbs) to bang inside and the athleticism and finesse to take his game to the perimeter. With averages of 22.8 ppg and 14.2 rpg, he knows how to take over a game at any point. Griffin is expected to leave school after this year and enter the NBA Draft where he is sure to be one of the top two players off the board.

Now for Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet who is arguably the country's most dominant inside presence. The 7' 3" Thabeet controls the game on the defensive end more so than the offensive side with his 4.4 blocks per game. He also has averages of 13.5 ppg, and 10.8 rpg which shows that he does have some presence on offense. Having only been playing organized basketball for a few years Thabeet is expected to be one of the top two pick in the draft along with Griffin.

These two players have led their teams to #1 and #2 in the season rankings and I expect for them to be matched up against one another come tournament time in March.

Cory Guinn

cryguinn@yahoo.com

http://fandemoniumsports.blogspot.com/

Midseason Honors

We’re about halfway through the season, and soon the fun will begin. As we approach the final stretch, let’s think as if we are already there. If the season ended today, what would the awards look like? One of my favorite things to do as a sports fan is awarding players, often well before the actual titles are handed out.

Note: These awards have nothing to do with pro-potential and all that mumbo-jumbo. Simply this year’s performance and the impact/value that the player brings to his team.


ALL-AMERICAN 1ST TEAM

G- Stephen Curry, Davidson
The most explosive player in the country just continues to do his thing. Unarguably the best junior in the Nation. Curry leads everyone in points/game, he is 5th in steals/game, 5th in assists/game, and he is making 38% of his threes. I could go on and on with stats but we all know that this guy should be on this list, no questions. He has had some off days when teams get smart and put (usually) two long-armed defenders on him to disrupt his shot, but then he will come out and light up the court again that next game. However, even when he does have an off night, you can still bet on him dropping 30. He is a scoring machine anywhere on the floor.

G- James Harden, Arizona State
This guy, as well as his team, has kind of gone under the radar all season. Before researching for this post, I didn’t even know a ton about him. That surprises me though. He is the leader of the #15 team in the Nation. Averaging 22 PPG, along with six rebounds, and four assists, the best thing about this guy is he is so young. Whether he will be back next year or not I do not know, but this sophomore is dominating the Pac 10. He shoots with a better percentage than Curry does – 54% FG and 42% from beyond the arc. Considering he has a ton of room to improve, he is one of the best that I have seen at the “and 1”. He has it down to a science, and when he goes to the line he knocks it down. He is used to being double or triple teamed and it just shows his maturity, unselfishness, and poise.

F- Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Say hello to the accolades, Mr. Griffin. This guy is just a ridiculous athlete, and will soon hear his name announced as the #1 player picked in the upcoming draft. He is a big, strong guy that dominates the post with his points and rebounds. He should get the rebound title this year, averaging 14/game. His 6’10” 250 lb frame lets him do whatever he wants in the paint. There is nothing wrong with this guy… Perfect low-post size, great hands, very athletic for a near- 7-footer, scrappy kind of player, battles on every play, he is able to get on it and run the floor, good enough ball handling to dribble on fast-break, still a good passer (3 assists per), is there anything else you need???

F- Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Even though “Physco T” was out the first couple games, and got off to a slow start, he has still done plenty to get on this list. Heck, he would make my All-Decade team. He is the heart and soul of the best college basketball team, possibly, we have seen in a while. He is the most intense (borderline insane) player that I have ever witnessed play in the collegiate level. He is a big-time scorer, a big-time rebounder, in a big-time conference. He is the perfect example on why players should hang around in college instead of leaving after their freshman, sophomore, or junior seasons. Due to him staying at Chapel Hill for the full four years, his game is more polished and he is a more mature player than the good majority of the Country. He is very experienced and comes through in the clutch better than most, which can also have to do with hanging around. North Carolina has had one of the toughest schedules of all the #25 teams, but still Hansbrough puts in 23 & 8 every night.

C- Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut
Thabeet is arguably the best pure center in the NCAA and has undoubtedly the coolest name. Thabeet is averaging a double-double and is an anchor in the third ranked Huskies squad. Thabeet better be looking over his shoulder because Arizona State’s Jordan Hill is gaining on him at the center position. He is improving constantly and still has plenty of room to grow. He does exactly what any team would ask of somebody like Hasheem. He clogs up the paint, takes care of the boards, and drills the hook shot. Teams do not go into the paint when playing UCONN because of this dude. If you drive, it is inevitable, he will block you. He averages 13 points/game, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, and makes his shot at a 67% rate. Last year’s Roy Hibbert is the closest that I can compare him to… but Thabeet is much better.

2ND TEAM

G- Darren Collison
G- Ty Lawson
F- Luke Harangody
F- Sam Young
C- Jordan Hill


PLAYER OF THE YEAR

F- Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Say hello to the accolades, Mr. Griffin. This guy is just a ridiculous athlete, and will soon hear his name announced as the #1 player picked in the upcoming draft. He is a big, strong guy that dominates the post with his points and rebounds. He should get the rebound title this year, averaging 14/game. His 6’10” 250 lb frame lets him do whatever he wants in the paint. There is nothing wrong with this guy… Perfect low-post size, great hands, very athletic for a near- 7-footer, scrappy kind of player, battles on every play, he is able to get on it and run the floor, good enough ball handling to dribble on fast-break, still a good passer (3 assists per), is there anything else you need???

Honorable Mention:
G- Steph Curry, Davidson


FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

C- Greg Monroe, Georgetown
Considering the way he has played, what he offers to Georgetown, it is no stretch to call Monroe the best freshman in the Nation thus far. Greg has stepped up and contributed consistently for the Hoyas since day one, filling the Hibbert void. He has established himself as arguably the most important piece to the #12 Hoyas’ puzzle, and erasing any doubts that people had of him coming out of high school. In the game against UCONN, he owned the game that I put on the All-American team in Monroe’s position. On both ends of the floor, he showed everyone that he has the versatility, skill-set, and feel for the game better than most college vets. I have him as the #3 big-man in the NCAA, behind Thabeet and Hill.

Honorable Mention:
G- Willie Warren, Oklahoma


MAJOR CONFERENCE WINNERS

ACC- North Carolina Tar Heels
Big 12- Oklahoma Sooners
Big East- Pittsburgh Panthers
Big Ten- Minnesota Golden Gophers
Pac 10- Arizona State Sun Devils
SEC- Florida Gators


FINAL FOUR PREDICTION

I will leave the rest for you, but here will be the final four teams remaining. I hate to just pick the favorites so do not hate me if I go on a limb on some or all of these four.

Midwest- Clemson Tigers
West- North Carolina Tar Heels
East- Syracuse Orange
South- Wake Forest



If you wouldn’t mind, I would love to hear your thoughts on this post. All you have to do is write a comment and submit. There is no subscribing to anything. Just write one or two sentences and click.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.thejaystick.blogspot.com

BCS Bowl Preview

Well, Happy New Year! The New Year means different things for some people. For some, it means a new start. Some people have New Year’s resolutions that last until April. In the sports world, it means that Conference games start soon in College Hoops. As well as, the start of the NFL Playoffs. MLB teams start to sign big-name players and set their teams for the start of Spring Training in a couple months. More importantly, however, is the beginning of the BCS Bowl season. Tonight marks the very start of the only bowls that count. I know this is meant for a different article but, do we really need 34 flipping bowls? I mean, come on, the San Diego County Credit Union Bowl? That is for another time though.

I was thinking of something to write about today on my day off and what better than running through the BCS Bowls? As the Rose Bowl starts as I speak, I will run through the BCS matchups while giving you constant updates.


First, as they sing the National Anthem, the Rose Bowl:

#5 USC vs. #8 Penn State. We finally have a great matchup for the Grand Daddy of them all. There are many times were the winner of the Pac10 or Big10 are playing in the BCS National Championship, but this year both teams will meet in the Rose Bowl.

Make no mistake about it, besides the Championship game; this might easily be the best matchup of all the bowls. Both teams are very similar. While having on-and-off offenses, both teams’ defenses are unbelievable. Both teams rank in the top-15 in all major defensive statistical categories.

You know Joe Pa is looking at the Oregon State game and what they did to get USC into the 4th quarter. Penn State will try to spread things out and throw the ball. Penn State must avoid the linebacking crew, however. Those three will destroy you if you let them.

As I am watching the game right now, USC is already showing that they will be firing down field all game. That being the only breaking point in the Penn State D... the pass defense. USC will lull you to sleep with running it to the outside, and then Sanchez will gun it downfield.

IF Penn State is with USC in the 4th quarter, I think that they will have a shot with an arguably better offense.

Jay’s Prediction: USC- 23, Penn State- 17


USC strikes first, 7-0. Now let’s look at the Orange Bowl:

#12 Cincinnati vs. #19 Virginia Tech. In another battle of Conference Champs, the Big East will take on the ACC. While those Conferences may not be the best all-around in the BCS, both of these teams have had impressive victories and deserve their spot here.

This will be a very interesting matchup in what is, honestly, not the most hyped-up BCS bowl this season. The high-powered Bearcats’ offense (led by Junior QB Tony Pike), will take on the stout Hokies’ defense. One has to give and I, personally, will be excited to see which one does.

The Hokies will have to get some serious production from Tyrod Taylor if they expect to keep up with Cincinnati. Turnovers have been a big problem for the Bearcats. VT will also have to force some interceptions, fumbles, etc. to hang around. With Tech only averaging 175 passing yards per game, they will have to find a way to move the ball.

Cincinnati simply has to do exactly what they have done throughout the season. Move the ball and score. If they can consistently move the ball, they will not have a problem with the Hokies’ shaky offense. Just take it to them and it will be all good. Let’s not forget to mention the Bearcat defense. The D-Line is what has done it for the Cats this season. They have led the Big East in sacks all season long.

Jay’s Prediction: Cincinnati- 24, Virginia Tech- 13

USC in control and driving, 17-7. How about some Sugar?

#4 Alabama vs. #6 Utah. The Crimson Tide will take on an undefeated Utah Utes team that dominated the MWC this year. They will be doing it without, arguably, their best player. An offensive lineman, Andre Smith was suspended for violating the team’s weight-control rule.

The guy will likely be the #2 pick in the NFL Draft, so this makes a huge impact on the game. John Parker Wilson will be forced to get rid of the ball quickly and make smarter, more accurate throws.

Smith will not affect Alabama’s MO, their defense. The Tide has dominated on that side of the ball all year, ranking in the top-6 in both total defense and total scoring defense. This matchup is very similar to the Florida game. The Utes have an extremely similar offensive attack to the Gators, led by star Quarterback Brian Johnson (2700 yards, 24 TDs).

To win, Utah will have to shun all doubters and defeat ‘Bama’s defense. Not to mention, shut down star WR Julio Jones, and put pressure on Wilson.

Alabama just has to keep their cool and don’t let the “heavy favorite” title hurt them. Utah is coming to play, so do not let a Boise State-upset occur. They need to contain Johnson while on defense and make smart plays on the other end. Hand the ball off, and then launch it to one of my favorites… Julio Jones.

Andre Smith won’t completely derail Alabama’s train.

Jay’s Prediction: Alabama- 30, Utah- 21


At the half, it is ALL USC, 31-7. Now a peek at the Fiesta Bowl.

#3 Texas vs. #10 Ohio State. For the 5th time in the past eight seasons, the Buckeyes are going to be hanging around Glendale, Arizona.

The last time that Ohio State was in Glendale, they got shackled 41-14 in the National Championship against the Florida Gators two years ago. It wasn’t the last time that the Bucks were embarrassed. In the only big games that Ohio State played this year, they were smacked around. The USC game looked like it was over before it began, and Penn State looked like the ’85 Bears.

Ohio State will be out to prove their self in another big game. The Ohio State/Texas matchup has always seemed to be a good one and, hopefully, Ohio State will look for some redemption. I am anxious to see how they respond to being the underdog.

The Buckeyes will need to score early and often in order to stay around. Nobody honestly expects the Buckeyes to win this game so why not open up the playbook and look to score, score, score.

They need to score a ton to win this game, but do not be fooled… Scoring 45 points does not necessarily mean you will win against this Texas team. The ‘Horns have a stellar offense anchored by Heisman-runner up Colt McCoy. Does anyone remember the last time a Longhorn was runner up for the Heisman? Do you remember what he did in his respective bowl game? Yeah.

Ohio State is going to be focused on Colt McCoy, and why not? Colt shattered the Comp % record with his 79% completion percentage to beat Daunte Culpepper (if my memory serves me right). The QB is amazing, we all know that… Texas needs to use some play action plays. The Buckeyes are going to be so focused on McCoy, they will get so confused when you throw some play action at them. Plays of that nature are used to get the defense sold on the run when, actually, the QB has it. Ohio State may be anticipating that too much and it, in a way, counteracts itself.

Ohio State will play great, they will play amazing in fact… but a few late turnovers doom the Buckeyes and Texas will sneak out of it with a W.

Jay’s Prediction: Texas- 31, Ohio State- 27


As USC continues to dominate the Nittany Lions, 38-17, here comes my outlook on the BCS National Championship.

#1 Oklahoma vs. #2 Florida. Every single year there are people whining about the BCS and I have expressed my thoughts on that, but this is the system they choose to use and this is the Championship. End of story. So let’s sit down and enjoy the game, because it will be a good one.

The College Football world hasn’t seen as much hype and buildup media-wise since 2005 when, my man, Vince Young squared off against Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush. You can only hope that this year’s game is anywhere close to the ’05 game.

Although Oklahoma is the #1 team in the nation according to rankings, history and the numbers show Florida as the favorite. First let’s look at the Heisman. Sam Bradford won it and numbers show that the Heisman winner, in most cases, do not win their bowl game. Heisman trophy winners are 2-6 in their respective bowl games since 2000, including 1-5 in the National Championship game.

We can talk about the Heisman “curse” all we want, and some people say it is irrelevant all considering, but check out Bob Stoops. Oklahoma’s head coach straight up struggles when it comes to winning BCS Bowl games. Since taking over in 2000, Stoops is 4-4 in bowl games. More importantly, he is 2-4 in BCS Bowl games and 1-2 in the National Championship.

The Sooners are statistically the underdog but if they are going to win, they need to keep to Sooner-football this season and what they did to win. Let’s be honest, there isn’t a decent defense in the entire B12 Conference. Bobby, I’m not going to tell you to not worry about defense… but do not think you are going to have a good defensive game because you won’t. This is going to be a showdown. A very high-scoring affair. Just do what you did to my Mizzou, Oklahoma State, etc, etc, etc and run up that scoreboard like no other. Just let Bradford do his thing. Your star RB is out but maybe it isn’t a bad thing.

Florida, obvious, MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST stop one of the best offenses in NCAA history (if not the best). They need to buckle down on defense and get to work. You have watched the tape, prepared, done whatever you need to do; you know what needs to be done to win. All you got to do now is execute. On the other end, don’t you worry… Oklahoma is going to score. Hopefully not 60+ like usual, but they will score, and you will have to match that.

Wow, it is going to be a good one. Oklahoma is just going to do their thing. Florida will put up a fight, but won’t keep up.

Jay’s Prediction: Oklahoma- 42 (nope, not 62), Florida- 35


Oh, what perfect timing. USC denies a Penn State comeback and continues Trojan tradition, 38-24.


Let me hear your thoughts in the comment section below. Please feel free to fill the board up, I appreciate them all.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.thejaystick.blogspot.com

Too Early To Look at 2009's Heisman Race?

Midst a season in which the Big 12 South Champion had to be decided on the 5th tie breaker of a 3-way tie, I consider it very fitting for this year’s Heisman race to be the closest since 2001 when Nebraska’s Eric Crouch won the most prestigious award in all of sports.

In the end, when all of the votes were tallied, Sam Bradford of Oklahoma became the 74th winner of the Heisman Trophy. Following Bradford, Colt McCoy of Texas was the first runner up and, last year’s winner, Tim Tebow got 3rd.

When the final votes were counted on Saturday night, it was Florida's Tebow, the award's defending winner, taking home 309 of the 904 first-place votes; nine more than Bradford. But it was Bradford, the soft-spoken humble kid from Oklahoma City, hoisting the award in the end. The Sooners’ QB joins Paul Hornung and Billy Sims as the only players to win despite getting 2nd in first place votes.

With first place votes being worth three points, second place votes worth two, and third place being worth one, the system added Bradford – who finished #1 in the Northwest, Mid-Atlantic, Southwest, and Far West regions – to the illustrious company. McCoy, who took the crown in the Midwest and finished right behind Bradford in the Southwest and Far West portions, came in 122 votes short. Tebow finished 151 votes behind Bradford and 29 votes away from silver despite dominating the South and receiving second in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

After all is through, this may very well be how we remember the 2008 campaign. The memorable and to-close-to-call Heisman Race featuring the nation’s elite. I think that is safe to say that if it was any other year, and there was only one of either of these guys, they would have blown away the competition. All three of these Quarterbacks are Heisman material.

What I think is kind of strange is the eerie pattern of everything going Oklahoma’s way. From Oklahoma getting the BCS rank they needed to jump Texas and compete in the National Championship on the 8th, to the freak 35-yard pass from Herrell to Crabtree to put Oklahoma back in the drivers’ seat, to McCoy beating Bradford out for the All-America team, to even McCoy schooling Bradford ON THE FIELD in the regular season matchup.. yet Colt is heading to Arizona to play the two-loss Buckeyes in the Fiesta bowl vs. Bradford who has a plane ticket to Miami and the Heisman Trophy as his carry-on to play for the BCS National Championship. See a common theme?

One thing I am starting to hate is hearing Longhorn fans bitchin’ and moanin’ over it all. Guess what guys? If your precious team would have taken care of the Red Raiders in Lubbock, McCoy would have had the Heisman and the game. And another thing, UT fans… Nobody can argue with the Bradford decision as Heisman. Oklahoma had the best offense in the history of the NCAA. He was the heart and soul of arguably the best college football offense to ever take the field. If you really look at it, Samuel may have had the best season EVER by a Quarterback in a BCS Conference.

Bradford, with the grace and confidence of a seasoned veteran, led the nation in touchdown passes (48) and passing efficiency (186.28). He didn't exactly do it against a soft schedule, either. When it mattered most — in three nationally televised games against Top 20-ranked opponents with a BCS title game berth on the line — Bradford soared to new heights. Consider these numbers in the Sooners' final three contests, each one in widely viewed primetime ABC/ESPN Saturday night affairs:

--14-for-19, 304 yards, four touchdowns in 65-21 win over No. 1 Texas Tech
--30-for-44, 370 yards, four touchdowns in 61-41 win over No. 12 Oklahoma State
--34-for-49, 384 yards, two touchdowns in Big 12 Championship Game win over No. 19 Missouri

His last seven games are the ones that set him away from the rest of the pack and earned my vote. In 257 attempts (remember that number), he threw 1 interception. Against teams that he played in those final seven games, only 1 INT in 257 attempts is straight up phenomenal. In those final seven freak games, the Sooners beat teams by a combined score of 419-205.

Really for me though, this year’s Heisman Race was set apart from every other one. It was about sometime more important that football statistics and records. These three men are very similar. I’m not talking about pass accuracy or throwing power, or touchdown passes. I’m talking about these guys as men. The crazy thing about the freak stats is that on the totem pole, they put themselves at about #4. For all of these men it is: Family, Teammates, and Faith in no particular order… then they worry about their self. During the entire presentation these three praised each other on how either of them could of received it and every one of them earned it. There was a very common theme, and that was mutual admiration. This year, there were a record number of votes submitted (904 of 926 ballots were processed). That’s because this year was different than all the others. I can only wish the best to all three of these men.

All of that, believe it or not, brings me to a question I asked myself on Sunday afternoon before I started writing all of this. Is it too early to start looking forward to 2009’s Heisman Race? Can it be even close to anything we had this year? Will any or all of these guys be back? Unfortunately that is very unlikely, but let’s take a look at what we, most likely, will have.

Most of the top players that would be Heisman candidates in 2009 will leave early, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of interesting prospects in the race. Here are the top 10 contenders for the 2009 Heisman chase among guys almost certain to stay in school.


10. Todd Reesing, QB Kansas
Todd Reesing deserves to be on this list. He may never win since he doesn`t go to a Heisman school but he`s every bit as good as any of the QB`s on this list and you could argue that he`s better because he has not had the supporting cast that any of these guys have had. With that said, Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier combined for over 2000 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2008. Both are coming back… I will leave it at that.

9. Dan LeFevour, QB Central Michigan
In what seems like it will be his 7th year at Central Michigan, Dan will use his arm and his legs to score and try to lead his Chippewas to their third straight MAC title. He will need a Brennan-like season, meaning a perfect record and somewhere in the neighborhood of 55-60 total touchdowns, to compete for the award. As a junior in 2007, LeFevour passed for 20 touchdowns and added another 20 on foot so it isn’t out of the question.

8. Nate Davis, QB Ball State
Look for a monster year from Davis as Lewis and other RBs took away from his Heisman-potential season in 2008. His RBs are gone and he is the centerpiece. The coaches will expect and ask more out of him and they will get it. He'll put up the stats, the team will win, and he'll be the cause celebre for those looking to get a non-BCS player back into the mix.

7. Zac Robinson, QB Oklahoma State
I love this guy and I love this guy’s potential at the collegiate level and, if I could I would easily put him higher. He will, no-doubt-about it, be in the mix. He has RB Kendall Hunter and star WR Dez Bryant coming back so expect an even more explosive offense this coming year. With most of the BCS-Conference QB stars moving to the next teir, it is time for Zac Robinson to step in and take the heat.

6. Mark Sanchez, QB USC
It is hard to put any Trojan QB any lower than this considering the history and what they have done in the past. He should be higher, but he can blame the bust season that USC’s offense put together. The Men of Troy had to rely on their defense and, although it worked to an extent, it wasn’t good enough. He has stars coming back (ie Joel McKnight) and we will see if his natural talent turns into numbers.

5. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB Oregon State
For any of you people that think this kid shouldn’t be on this list, I will personally find you a tape of the USC/OreSt game of a couple months ago. If a dude can straight up slither his way through THAT defense and make his way into the endzone twice with 190 yards, you are something special. He was a f-r-e-s-h-m-a-n this year and was still the best playmaker in the Pac10. Before getting hurt he had 7 straight games of 100+ yard outputs, and totaled 1255 yards and 11 touchdowns… in seven games. I watched him during the USC game and immediately wrote his name down for two reasons: I knew he would be on this list and I knew I would forget how to spell his name.

4. Max Hall, QB BYU
Do I have him too far on the list? Well if I do then comment below but I would think not. This guy was a Heisman finalist if he and his team didn’t have huge meltdowns against TCU and Utah on their way to a perfect season and BCS buster. He had 3500+ yards in his junior year to go with 35 touchdowns. Let’s not forget that his main man and the nation’s leading WR, Austin Collie, are both coming back for another shot at perfection. Don’t tell anybody but next year… Max is spelled S-A-M.

3. Terrell Pryor, QB Ohio State
No matter what happens this upcoming year, Pryor will get the Heisman at some point. Why not 2009? He would be the Tim Tebow duplicate, winning it in his sophomore year. Not to mention, his game is pretty much exactly like Tebow’s. Beanie Wells is, most likely, heading to the NFL and it is now Pryor’s time to shine. He is the now the entire offense and the coaches will, while holding back in 2008, unleash him in ’09. He is a freak prodigy and now the nation’s newest super-star.

2. Colt McCoy, QB Texas
Colt SAYS that he is coming back but, come on, we know exactly how that stuff goes. It really all depends on what other QBs like Sam Bradford and Matt Stafford decide to do (both are heavily predicted to hit up the big leagues with Lions and Chiefs, YIKES!). If he does come back for his senior year, it would set up a wild ride from start to finish that featured two of the best we have seen in a while… Tebow vs. McCoy. Which could almost be titled “the most anticipated Heisman Race ever.”

1. Timothy Tebow, QB Florida
Who could have, in a million years, guessed this one? Timmy will be out for one goal in his senior season. That is showing that he is a becoming a better NFL passer and actually has potential after college. He is football’s version of Tim Hansbourgh. Tebow will, however, have pretty good passing numbers as he tries to prove himself to scouts. Another thing he will have to overcome is the media. I will say right now that he will not win it unless he matches the off-the-chart attention that the media gives him going into his super-year. Bottom line is that his career may just be too good to not be a two-time winner.

Time can only tell what next year brings. We are kidding ourselves if we think that these are the only people in the running. This is just a rough estimate, what do I know? We can only sit back and enjoy the show. It promises to be another good Race to the finish.

Please tell me what you think in the comment section below. Thanks!

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

www.thejaystick.blogspot.com

www.collegesports-fans.com Mizzou/SLU Correspondent

Big-12 Championship Preview

One of my keys that I follow when I am writing is backing my statements up. When I decide that I am going to post an article out here, I first find out what I will write about, I get my notebook that is full of side notes about the topic that I choose to write about, and I just write about whatever I know about the subject. If I feel that I need to know more or I do not have enough to create a solid post, I research and read article after article on the subject. At the top of every page of notes, I write in all caps “BACK IT UP” and underline it. I do this to remind myself that it is one thing to have an opinion, it is a complete other thing to prove your opinion, to provide details and examples of what your talking about, throw out stats (nobody can argue numbers), just back it up. It, in a way, ties into Billy Packer’s famous quotes, and one of my favorites, “I may be wrong, but I am never in doubt.” Packer knows what he’s talking about and that is a simply brilliant quote. In sports, team are tagged with certain titles and it is that team’s choice to back the notion up or to just let it hang their and it gets taken right from under you.

Back to subject. In case you weren’t aware of the big college sports weekend ahead, there are some huge games that will decide the layout of the BCS bowls announced on Sunday. One of those games is the Mizzou vs. Oklahoma game that airs on ABC at 8:00 pm. The bad news is I have a Championship basketball game to play in at 8:00 pm tomorrow night.

Although I cannot join the Texas Longhorn fans in watching the game, I can tell you that I am sick and tired of hearing people moan that the right team was not picked in the South division. I mean, come on what’s the point? There was a system in which you pick the team in case of a tie. In this case there was a 3-way tie and it then went down to the team’s BCS rank. Oklahoma had the better rank of the 3 teams and they made it in. End of story. Whether you agree with the whole situation or not, that’s the way it goes. If you wanted in so badly, Texas, you shouldn’t have lost to Tech in Lubbock on a 35 yard, final second, miracle play. If you would ask me, I would tell you that the best team got in and leave it at that.

You have to understand, this is a very hard blog to write keeping in mind that I am a die-hard Mizzou fan and have watched them throw a great opportunity away. It is difficult to admit but I can’t lie, Oklahoma appears to be in the driver’s seat leading to the BCS Championship game. They are in the fast line but let’s not sleep on #20 Mizzou.

Oklahoma has put on an absolute clinic this season, scoring at will. It is a weekly show and, no matter who you are or what team you root for, you gotta love tuning in to see OU bust through teams like it’s nothing. They have literally scored like no other team has.. Ever. Just take a look at the past three games. 61 points vs. Oklahoma State, 65 vs. Texas Tech, 66 vs. Texas A&M, 62 vs. Nebraska. I mean, seriously? Four straight 60+ point games? No way. Yes way, and it has almost become a joke. It is way too easy and, heck, how can you say defense even matters when you just cannot be stopped. For example, the game against OKST.. I sat there and watched Oklahoma score on six straight possessions thinking you gotta be kidding me. OU is averaging 53 points/game and 560 yards/game. With the dynamic offense, a nation’s top-3 o-line, and a defense that can at least hold a team under 60 the question may be asked.. Can they be stopped by anyone? According to the “experts”, not by Mizzou. Vegas has Oklahoma favored by 17 points and who can blame them?

Meanwhile, Missouri, who saw it's national title dream go up in a puff of smoke, or more like a Curtis Lofton big play, in last year's 38-17 Big 12 dream matchup title game loss to Oklahoma, can't stop anyone's passing game, and is coming off a loss to a mediocre Kansas team even though that was the best game I’ve seen this season. The best win this year was over a Nebraska team that hadn't quite hit its stride, the second-best win was against an Illinois team that's not going bowling, and against the two big boys on the schedule from the South, Oklahoma State and Texas, the Tigers lost in back-to-back weeks. Let’s be honest with ourselves here.. Is it possible that my Tigers are a tad bit overrated? In my mind there is a fine line between wasted potential and just straight up overrated and Mizzou is right on it.

So, with that in mind, the game is a blow out right?

Well how about we just keep our pants on here. Does anyone remember the 2003 B12 Championship between #1 OU and Kansas State when Darren Sproles lead the Wildcats to a stunning 35-7 victory? How about the 2001 title game when Chris Simms flushed the Longhorns right down the toilet with about 20 pick-6’s that led to a Colorado victory? Same thing with the Championship games of 1998 (A&M vs. K State) and 1996 (Texas vs. Nebraska). Unlike the SEC Championship which generally follows the chalk, the B12 has a history of wild upsets. Guess what.. Missouri has the potential to do the same exact thing as these other teams have accomplished.

Last year, Mizzou played as the #1 team in the nation and fell under the spotlight. This year’s game isn’t as sexy and, nobody is picking Mizzou even with the 4th best offense in the country averaging over 500 yards/game. Nobody is picking the team with nothing to lose over the team that has everything to lose. Everyone is expecting a 60-point rout but do not sleep on Mizzou. All bias-ness aside, MU has the potential weapons and talent on both sides to weasel their way into a football game. Oklahoma has only won the last three games of the regular season once since 1980. Realistically, Missouri will need its fair share of luck tomorrow going against Bradford with the worst pass defense in the B12 and we didn’t even see the big-3 (Herrell, McCoy, Bradford). With that said, Bradford had trouble with Missouri last year and (unlike the past year) the spotlight is on him and everyone is expecting SAMUEL to perform like the Heisman candidate he is. Very, very similar to last year’s game just switched roles.

It's the official end of the Big 12 campaign after the conference, more specifically the South, saved the college football season. One way or another, it'll be a show with lots of offense and plenty of big plays. It'll be fun no matter what happens. With these two offenses, it has to be.


Mizzou will win if…

...Oklahoma’s linebacking crew struggles. In OU’s only loss of the season to Texas, the Longhorns picked the back-up linebackers apart after the first string was injured and it ultimately led to a Texas victory.
...They can keep Sam Bradford off of the football field. We all know what happens when he is on it, and I can’t see him playing much DB. Missouri needs to ruin his Heisman campaign to have a shot.
...They can convert on 3rd downs (both sides of ball). Missouri has been a wash with 3rd downs on offense and defense. OU was 12 of 18 on 3rd downs against OKST and was one of the reasons they scored 60+.
...They can, of course, spark something in the secondary. If they play as badly on defense as they did in the Kansas game.. Consider it over with fellas.

Oklahoma will win if…

...They don’t let their guard down. If they are looking forward to that Championship game against ‘Bama or Florida then they better get their heads straight before it’s too late or it will be Texas playing them.
...Chase becomes a running back instead of a quarterback. The games that Chase had a significant total of rushing yards were two of the three games that Mizzou has lost so far. He had a 103 yard performance vs. KU and we lost. As well as the 50 yard total against Oklahoma State. If you want to win, Chase, do your job. And that is to say hike and get it into the hands of our playmakers (Maclin, Coffman, etc).
...They simply take what the shaky Tiger defense gives you. The secondary has been in a comma all season. Get the ball and chuck it to wide open defenders and move the ball down field.


Prediction:

Missouri will play well, but not well enough. It'll be a continuous trade of big blow after big blow with the Tigers hanging around after three quarters, but Daniel will make a few key mistakes and Bradford won't. The Sooners will open it up late and Bradford will have his Heisman stats padded enough to answer Tim Tebow's big game earlier in the day against Alabama. Oklahoma is going to BACK UP the notion that they are the team to beat.

58-45, Oklahoma

Please tell me what you think in the comment section below. Thanks!

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.thejaystick.blogspot.com

Ranking the Big-12 Quarterbacks

This is, officially, the year that the Big-12 passes the SEC in conference dominance. This could possibly be the best Big-12 class that has ever been put together, and it shows. All this due largely in part to the Big-12 Quarterbacks who have been simply astonishing. It is almost guaranteed that at least 3 of the Heisman finalists will be from the B-12 and will be QBs. The Quarterbacks are so good that a guy like Oklahoma State’s junior Zac Robinson, one of only three quarterbacks in the nation to rush for more than 800 yards and throw for more than 2,800 last season, can't get a sliver of national attention. When it comes to QB rating, the Big-12 owns 4 of the top 5 spots, 3 of 5 in passing yards, 3 in completion %, 4 in TD passes, and on and on and on. The Big-12 Quarterbacks are simply blowing away opponents and putting up some hefty numbers doing so.

The proven talent at this position goes way deep in the conference. Yet each of them has something to prove either as an individual or as the leader of a team for the rest of this college football season. For example, Mizzou’s Chase Daniel(no ‘s’) must beat Texas and win in the Big-12 Championship to have a shot at the National Championship, as well as the Heisman Trophy. If 2008 continues to fulfill its headline as The Year of the Quarterback in the Big 12, it will be because these 12 players have overcome the hurdles that await them.

With that said, I have brought it upon myself to rank the top-5 Big-12 QBs from best to “worst”.

Note: These rankings have NOTHING to do with NFL potential or readiness but to do with their ability in the NCAA and how they conduct themselves on the football field.


1. Colt McCoy
In 2006, McCoy surpassed all expectations for a redshirt freshman. He even set a then-NCAA first-year record with 29 touchdown passes. Last season, that number fell to 22, while his interceptions rose from seven to 18. Mack Brown took all responsibility of McCoy’s “decline” saying that they put too much on him, asking him to lead that team as a sophomore, and also pointed out the Colt was simply not ready to be that guy that everyone thought he was.

After a year of maturing and preparing to become the leader of his team, McCoy is pwning everybody. Halfway through the season, you would have to admit that Colt has the Heisman firmly in grasp. McCoy, like Matt Stafford of Georgia, can combine the benefit of two years' experience with an easier brand of leadership that comes with age.


2. Sam Bradford
Bradford led the nation in passing efficiency as a freshman with a rating of 176.5, which was a tie for the seventh-best single-season rating in history. He threw 36 touchdowns and only eight interceptions, and he completed 69.5 percent of his passes. I would say Bradford has more than proven that he has received his vaccine for a sophomore slump.

Bradford is 2nd in the nation in TD passes and leads in QB rating, the list goes on and on. Sure, his team lost to Texas this past week, (which was why I flip-flopped him and McCoy) but Bradford still threw for a mind-blowing 390 yards and 5 touchdowns. His only Achilles heal might be interceptions. He threw 2 against Texas and is on pace for 12 on the year which might be a little more than desired when you consider he really isn’t throwing that much.


3. Chase Daniel
The senior from Southlake, Texas, has played his entire career as if he has needed to prove something. He had to prove Texas wrong after they stopped recruiting him after his Junior year in high school. He had to prove that a man of his size (6-0, 225) could play big-time quarterback. He had to prove that Missouri should be taken seriously in the conference and on national stage. Daniel has done all of that. He has thrown for 10,235 yards, 78 touchdowns and only 27 interceptions (all Mizzou records). Last season, he was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and finished fourth in the Heisman vote.

Now, he needs to prove that he can rebound himself and his team from an embarrassing loss to Oklahoma State that should have never ever happened. Daniel threw the ball 52 times for 390 yards, 1 TD, and (oh my) 3 INTs. Some think that the OKST game draws a close to all Heisman hopes for Chase but I would have to disagree. With big wins over Texas, Kansas, and then the B-12 Championship, not only would Chase become the front-runner again but would also propel his team back toward #1.


4. Graham Herrell
Like his predecessors in Lubbock, Harrell has stats on steroids. In 2007, Harrell threw for 5,705 yards and 48 touchdowns, both of which led the nation. But, like Kliff Kingsbury, B.J. Symons, Sonny Cumbie and Cody Hodges before him, Harrell has garnered more stats than he has respect. Unfortunately, the skepticism will continue even while the Red Raiders challenge for the Big 12 South championship.

Most skeptics think the way they do because, yes, Texas Tech throws the ball like nobody out there. Herrell threw it 713 times last year and is on pace for 600 this year. He already has more attempts than most teams will gather all season. However, this year is different than last for Herrell. Herrell has only thrown 3 interceptions so far compared to last year’s 7 at this point in time. He finished with 14 last year and will be around 6 this year. That will grab many voters when they case their ballot. It takes an extremely good QB to only throw 6 interceptions on 600 pass attempts.


5. Todd Reesing
The Jayhawks went 12-1 last season in no small part because of Reesing. He is listed at 5-11, which must be in his platform cleats, yet Reesing threw for 3,486 yards, 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He also proved, as Texas Tech coach Mike Leach has said all along, that the spread offense doesn't need tall quarterbacks, only smart ones.

Todd is off to a very familiar start for himself in his Junior year, on pace for more pass yards but three fewer TDs. However, it is evident that the Jayhawks are not quite as good as their team last year but still has a respectable 16th ranking. He will have to show what he is made of with some ridiculous games left that include: #1 Texas, #4 Oklahoma, #7 Texas Tech, #11 Mizzou, as well as Nebraska. That means that Kansas only has two games left that they will be favored in and only one sure-thing win. Pretty stupid of me to say that though, as this season has been anything but sure-thing.


There you have it. There aren’t many (if any) conferences out there that can say their #5 QB is as good as Todd Reesing is, and there aren’t any that can say they have 5 QBs as superior that these men are.

Please tell me what you think at the comment section below.


Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com