Sunday Debate: Which Team Will Pull the Trigger on Mark Sanchez?

Welcome to the newest FANdemonium Sports segment. It is called Sunday Debates. Every Sunday, I will think of a hot topic subject in the world of sports. Today’s subject argues one thing. Where will NFL prospect Mark Sanchez be drafted this upcoming Saturday?

So I will show and analyze some of the teams that are considered top candidates to draft him and then give you where I think he will end up..If you want to view my take on any topic that is suitable for a Sunday Debate, let me know about it. Email me any suggestions (along with anything else you want) at StLDieHard24@gmail.com.I will make a “Sunday Debates” section on the right side of the page under the “It’s FANdemonium, baby!” section. There you will be able to view all of the Sunday Debates. Let’s get started with the fourth Sunday Debate.
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T-minus six days until the NFL Draft and things are starting to fall into place. Matthew Stafford will go first, Jason Smith will go second, there’s a 90% chance Aaron Curry will go to the Chiefs with the No. 3 pick, but then it gets a little hairy.

The reason for that is because teams ahead of you may take your guy and you have to change your entire view on your upcoming pick. It goes the other way as well. If the Lions, for some reason, take a player that doesn’t have the name of Stafford, St. Louis then has an entire different approach with the second pick. Do we stick with Smith and address what we need? Or do we take one of the best ever QB prospects to come out of the draft with a best-value approach?

After the first couple picks there are tons of questions as to what happens. WR Jeremy Maclin could go in the top ten, or he could fall into the Rams’ hand at the 35th pick. QB Josh Freeman could go in the first round, but he could also fall into Day 2! However, probably the biggest question on Draft day lies in quarterback Mark Sanchez.

He has been impressing scouts since the day he declared. Some may say that he has a better future than Mr. Superstar that will go to Detroit. Just the way he carries himself awes people. I listened to him on 101ESPN last week, and was flatout impressed. I do not like the Trojans, and was never a huge fan of Sanchez while he was in So Cal, but after hearing him talk with the guys on 101… I’m pulling for the guy all the way. I would love to see my Rams trade to get a spot where they would be able to draft him after their second pick. I think he can turn a franchise around as soon as he walks in. He’s a winner, on and off the gridiron.

With that said… who will draft him?? I don’t think anybody knows (unless Detroit wants him), but we can all give it a shot as to who will land Mark. There are a few candidates, so let’s take a look.


St. Louis Rams, 2nd pick
As a huge Rams fan, do I not condone this, but it is a possibility. Bulger is a pretty decent quarterback when he has a good line. Actually he is – statistically- a great QB with a good line. There lies the problem though. The Rams have no line. If you think Sanchez will be any better, still without an offensive line, you are wrong. STL needs to build from the inside out in this draft. The Rams will have to pick a QB at some point, but I don’t think Sanchez is that man. Look for the Rams to go hard after Josh Freeman in the second round, or trade up to get a mid-late first round pick to get him. Even with that in mind, I would not be surprised if the Rams really consider the USC QB.

San Francisco 49ers, 10th pick
The ‘Niners need a lot of positions in this Draft. Quarterback highlights the list. Who do they have now? Think about it… do you know? Most don’t. Well, it’s Shaun Hill and JT O’Sullivan. Two guys that would likely struggle as a high school QB… Lol sorry guys. Seriously though, that is sad and the 49ers won’t win more than four games without a new QB. The problem is, with San Fran drafting at the 10 spot, Sanchez may not be available. But if he is, you can bet that the 49ers will take him.

Seattle Seahawks, 4th pick
Mark Sanchez will likely be out there when the fourth pick comes around. So, the question is whether the ‘Hawks should take an offensive lineman or somebody to back up the aging Matt Hasselbeck. If they were to take Mark, he would probably be holding the clipboard for at least a year – baring injury. Sanchez could very well find himself in Seattle by the end of this week. This may be the best fit for Sanchez. If you look at it, there are more Ryan Leaf’s than there are Peyton Manning’s. What I am saying is, if you push him into the starting position… who knows how he will respond. He could be Matt Ryan, but he could also be a train wreck. Again, in Seattle, he would be on the sidelines for at least a year. Realistically, that may be the best thing for him.

Jacksonville Jaguars, 8th pick
If the Seahawks do not pull the trigger on the former Trojan with the fourth pick, he will “fall” to the Jags with the eighth, and I don’t think they can pass it up. David Garrard is the current QB, but people aren’t really sure what to think about that. He is by no means a franchise QB. It does kinda seam like he is just there until the Jags find the franchise guy they are looking for. That guy may just be Mark Sanchez. I’m not real sure about the situation if they take Sanchez and who would start the season as the first-stringer. My bet would be that they would have an “open competition” for the spot. Mainly just between those two. During Training Camp, if Sanchez excels, he may start the season. If not, he could be on the sidelines for the season, or until Garrard slips up. David Garrard really regressed last season and Jacksonville will likely pull the trigger on Sanchez for some insurance. You could chalk it up as lack of weapons, and Garrard simply not having any help, but he just did not seem the same as he did in his stellar 2007 season.

This Draft is full of questions, but I did my best to answer the No. 1 ‘?’ heading into Saturday. When it is all said and done, I really think Mark Sanchez will become a Jaguar.

*comment section below this article, post a review at the bottom of the home page, follow on right sidebar under the article archive, and subscribe by sending me (StLDieHard24@gmail.com) your email*




Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

Which Team Will Pull the Trigger on Mark Sanchez?

Sunday Debate: Who Will Be USC's Starting QB?

Welcome to the newest FANdemonium Sports segment. It is called Sunday Debates. Every Sunday, I will think of a hot topic subject in the world of sports. Today’s subject is the USC QB competition. So I will show and analyze some of the top candidates and then give you, what I think is, the 2009 starter for the Trojans. If you want to view my take on any topic that is suitable for a Sunday Debate, let me know about it. Email me any suggestions (along with anything else you want) at StLDieHard24@gmail.com.

I will make a “Sunday Debates” section on the right side of the page under the “It’s FANdemonium, baby!” section. There you will be able to view all of the Sunday Debates. Let’s get started with the second Sunday Debate.
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As college football gets started with their own “spring training” portion, there are very few big stories. There is one however, and it has somewhat been overlooked for a few months. Now that it has surfaced, it really is an intriguing discussion and everybody will have a close eye on USC from here on out.

Who's the next great USC quarterback? The battle to take college football's highest profile position began over the weekend. It's not as sexy as it has been over the years, but the Trojans have some big holes with their specialists.

The moment Mark Sanchez announced he would forgo his fifth year of eligibility and enter the 2009 NFL draft, the seeds were planted for a captivating quarterback competition. The combatants took the field for the first official spring practice this past Saturday striving for the starting spot.

It is the most sought after gig in the sport. People would do unforgivable things to be the Trojans’ QB. Every single starting QB that has played for Pete Carroll has been drafted. No other coach can say that.

Not to place anymore pressure on the quarterbacks in the mix, but consider the following: Sanchez threw 34 touchdown passes in helping the Trojans to their seventh consecutive Pac-10 title and 11-plus-victory season. That has never happened before Sanchez.

Again, I do not mean to any more undue pressure on these guys, but they have to fill the shoes of recent stars including: Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Matt Cassel, John David Booty, and Mark Sanchez. If you noticed, Carroll had a guy waiting every time. When Palmer left, Leinart was waiting, etc.

I am pretty sure that he did not have somebody waiting after Sanchez left. If he did have somebody on hold, we wouldn’t be talking about this four-man race. Whether it was bad recruiting or something else, the bottom line is one of these four men will have the best job in College Football. They are expected to do some sick things. Let’s meet the panel, shall we?


Aaron Corp, Sophomore
When you are asked this, you probably think well who was the guy that backed up Sanchez and is he still in the system? The answers are Corp and yes. In fact, he is a third-year sophomore. He has some experience, which is why some believe he is a front-runner for the position. The speedy Corp, who was Sanchez's backup at the end of 2008, would be the most athletic quarterback to play for Carroll.
Career stats: 79.4 rating, 14 yards, 0 touchdowns – impressive

Garrett Green, Senior
The last guy being talked about here is Green. He has the most experience, and he is the most athletic out of all of the choices, but he is more of a receiver now after being a QB all his life. He will probably start the season as the fourth QB on the depth chart, but again, he is so versatile and athletic that we may see him at some point in time.
Career stats: 716.60 rating – oh yeah!, 34 yards, 1 touchdown

Matt Barkley, Freshman
This prodigy freshman killed in high school, so he was granted the top quarterback recruit of 2008, and where did he go? He went where everybody else would have gone. He graduated early from Mater Dei just so he could participate in spring practice. He is a dedicated, strong, tall superstar who will eventually make his way to greatness. The question is… Do you start him as a freshman? Or do you wait until he has matured into a freak? He went to the same high school as Matt Leinart and may be as equally good.
High School stats: 122.55 rating, 9487 yards, 79 touchdowns

Now, the what-will-be USC Starting Quarterback. Drum-roll please…

Mitch Mustain, Junior
Mustain, like Corp, is entering his third year and has the experience advantage. He is the man most used to the system they run over in Pasadena. Mustain has raw talent, unbelievable talent; He was the 2005 National High School Player of the Year unanimously. However, he often forces the ball into windows that are just not there. He is the type of guy that will throw 30 touchdowns, BUT will also hurl some 20 interceptions. Mitch was the highly-touted started at Arkansas before transferring. I believe that Mitch Mustain will be the started because of his experience in the system, his potential, and because USC does not want to push Barkley into the role before he is ready. Barkley is the best QB of the group, but you HAVE to be careful in these situations.
Career stats: 142.06 rating, 1057 yards, 12 touchdowns

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

NCAA TOURNAMENT: Round One Recap

Round 1 is complete and it has been everything anyone could have asked for. If it is a little bit of chaos you crave… well it has arrived. There were some incredible games, and incredible performances. Let’s run through and recap what all went down in the historic Round 1.


Biggest Upset
This was almost East Tennessee State or North Dakota State, but Pittsburgh and Kansas prevailed. No doubt about this one though, folks. Cleveland State shocked EVERYONE. Thirteen seeded Cleveland State got off to a quick start. They scored early, and they scored often. After a 17 point lead right off the starting block, they did not look back. When it was all said and done, Cleveland State killed Wake, 84-69. Cedric Jackson controlled the Demon Deacons with a near triple double (19, 7, 8).

Best Game
Well this one just got over about an hour or so ago. The Siena – Ohio State game was definitely the game of the first round. I said on Twitter (www.twitter.com/JHulsey) that this game would end with fireworks and was I ever right! Ronald Moore hit a 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left in the second overtime— from the identical spot he made one at the end of the first OT—as the Saints beat eighth-seeded Ohio State 74-72 on Friday night.

Best Player Performance
A 16 has never beaten a one seed. Some say it is impossible, but I assure you that it will happen; sooner than later. Without this guy, we would be talking about East Tennessee State beating Pitt. Without Dejaun Blair, Pittsburgh would have been screwed. He is a presence in the paint, and he did what he wanted to do all day versus the 16. When Pittsburgh finally rose from the ashes, Blair was flexing his muscles once again with 27 points and 16 rebounds.

Most Impressive Team
After winning their first Pac 10 title ever, the Trojans marched in with swagger and confidence. They are playing with a healthy starting five for the first time since 2008. USC is big with a few 6’10”+ and a ton of 6’9”s. They can dominate block to block, but can also kick it out to hit the J. With their defense and athleticism, they have gone completely under the radar. I would not be surprised if DeRozan and Gibson pull off the upset against Michigan State.

Most Disappointing Team
Well I didn’t even have to research this one. It is Wake Forest, by far. This team has the talent to win a National Championship. They have some of the best athletes in the Nation on their team, but have gone only 7-6 since they beat Duke. Jeff Teague is a man among boys when he is on his game. The whole team has NBA players on it, but it seems as if they cannot gel to win games. Something is going on behind the scenes. Whether it is coaches vs players, players vs players, or whatever it may be… they can’t win with crap like that going on.

Most Dangerous Team
I mean, out of all the teams left, which team (other than seeds 1-4) is in the best place to win five more. Which team is the most dangerous? I’ll tell you; it is Arizona. Arizona has a 13 vs 12 game on Sunday against Cleveland State. If they win, and I predict them to, they will take on a Louisville (or Siena J) that they CAN beat. When evaluating teams, you look for a great PG, wingman, and post player. Nic Wise, Chase Budinger, and Jordan Hill. They have a great big three that can give problems to anybody. Watch out for the Wildcats… They are very dangerous.

Expect a similar article on the 2nd Round on Sunday or Monday! Stop back by then and check it out.

OH... Almost forgot. My bracket is still very in tact. I am 26-6 so far, I have all Final Four teams out there, but the Florida State and Wake Forest upset games killed me. I had both teams going to the Sweet Sixteen.

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

CollegeSports-Fans.com A10 Correspondent

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

National Signing Day Recap

February 4 is just another day of the year for most folks but among high schools and colleges around the nation it is considered a national holiday. Feb. 4 is National Signing Day, a day where top high school football players hold press conferences in order to announce where they will be playing their football next season. In years past there have been many surprises and 2009 was no different.

Let us review the top 12 players and where you will be able to watch them display their talents in the upcoming seasons.

#1. Quarterback Matt Barkley, USC
The Trojans once again land the top recruit and continue their tradition of promising young talent at the quarterback position. Barkley had great size (6' 3", 222 lbs) and accuracy. His strengths are in his polished mechanics and footwork, also his ability to read and pick apart opposing defenses.

#2. Outside Linebacker Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
Te'o shocked scouts and colleges alike with his decision to attend school in South Bend. Most experts believed he would choose either USC or UCLA, but Te'o wanted to play for coach Charlie Weis. He is a great pass rusher who plalys sideline to sideline and never gives up on a play.

#3. Athlete Russell Shepard, LSU
Les Miles stole away another top recruit from his SEC foes. Shepard was looking at Florida but chose to stay close to home and become a Bayou Bengal. He lined up at quarterback in high school but most college scouts believe him to be more in the mold of a running back because of his great speed and quickness.

#4. Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
Kirkpatrick has no noticeable flaws in his game and has tremendous coverage skills. With his height (6' 2") he is taller than most plalyers who play at his position. His talent in zone and man coverage are sure to keep Aabama atop the rankings for the next few years.

#5. Defensive tackle Jacobbi McDaniel, Florida State
A little small for a lineman (6', 267 lbs), McDaniel is quick, smart, and very productive. He is a solid prospect at the defensive tackle position but also has the ability of play guard on the offensive line. He may become one the rare two-way players in college football and become an even better athlete in the process.

#6. Running back Trent Richardson, Alabama
Richardson chose the Crimson Tide over Florida and LSU simply because of his playing style and ability. He has the power to run between the tackles and also possesses the speed to outrun defenders. With his compact frame and downhill running style, Richardson will be a high carry back who wears down defenses game in and game out.

#7. Safety Craig Loston, LSU
The SEC got the cream of the crop in recruiting classes and will continue to be the best football conference in America. Loston chose to go play for an LSU defense on the rise over Alabama and Texas A&M. He shows his versatility with his ability to play safety, wide receiver, and be a return specialist.

#8. Bryce Brown, Miami (FL)
Brown's ability to hit the hole with power and vision make him a promising young player. The Hurricanes needed an every down type of player in the backfield and found what they were looking for here. His thick frame and workhorse mentality ensure that Brown will contribute immediately in Miami.

#9. Outside Linebacker Jelani Jenkins, Florida
The main focus for Urban Meyer and his Gators this offseason was to build a defense that mirrors their fast paced, high-scoring offense. Jenkins is a bit small for linebacker ( 210 lbs) but he has the speed and play making ability to contribute right away for the defending National Champions.

#10. Wide receiver Rueben Randle, LSU
Randle's height (6' 3") make him and immediate impact receiver even if it is just in the redzone. The offense in Baton Rouge runs on speed and quickness and they receive both abilitys in this one players. Look for Randle to have the type of immediate impact that Georgia wide receiver A. J. Green had last season in the SEC.

#11. Quarterback Garrett Gilbert, Texas
The Longhorns may have found a predecessor to senior quarterback Colt McCoy by signing Gilbert. His strong arm and pocker pressence show that he has all the tools to be a college quarterback in the always challenging Big 12. Along with his ability to throw the deep ball, Gilbert's speed and scrambling ability must be respected by opposing defenses.

#12. Offensive tackle D. J. Fluker, Alabama
Fluker is the top prospect at tackle but plays on the defensive side of the ball as well. He is a mammoth of a man ( 6' 7", 325 lbs) who has better athleticism than you would think at first glance. With as great an upside and Fluker possesses, look for him to dominating the line for years to come for Nick Saban and crew.

Here is the list of the top five recruiting rankings by team:

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Texas
4. USC
5. Florida

Cory Guinn

cryguinn@yahoo.com

www.thejaystick.blogspot.com General Sports Writer

Carroll Embarrasses Himself

On one of the biggest days of young Mark Sanchez’s life, classless Pete Carroll decided to voice his opinion. The man who coached Sanchez to four Rose Bowl wins (Mark sat the bench during the 2006 National Championship), 2008 First Team All-Pac10 honors, 2008 First Team All-American honorable mention honors, and a bright NFL future, really put a dent in a day that should have been one of Sanchez’s finest.

Before yesterday, I really looked up to Pete Carroll. I thought he was on a certain pedestal when compared to other coaches. It would be hard to argue that he isn’t the best coach in the college game today. He is USC’s coach, the most decorated team in NCAA history. They have a hard time losing, and year in and year out they have a title-contending team. By all means, do not get me wrong, I think Carroll is one of the best college coaches to grab the clipboard. But as a man, things are different.

The dude gets what he wants, when he wants it. Out of all of the college coaches the currently hold the job, he has a higher winning percentage than all of them. I cannot imagine the percentage of players he lands after recruiting them. I know if I was Mr. Superstar football player, USC would be right at the top of my list for where I wanted to go to school. For those reasons, you usually see Pete Carroll jumping up and down with a huge smile on his face like a little school girl. Life is good for Pete. However, yesterday, we saw him whining like a little school girl.

What he did was low, and he embarrassed himself.

It doesn’t happen often, but when Carroll has a bad day, apparently you know it. His star Quarterback left for the NFL before his senior season and he did not like that one bit. Like I said before, he acted like a girl in his press conference following Sanchez’s announcement. As Carroll sat only five feet away from Sanchez, he decided to completely rain on what should have been a joyous day for Mark.

What proved to be a very awkward press conference concluded with Carroll treating his former QB like some kind of traitor. "We don't see this decision the same," Carroll said. "Mark's going against the grain on this decision and he knows that. He knows coming out early is a tremendous challenge for a quarterback and the statistics don't back up that it will be easy the way he's going about it. I am disappointed in that the information that we have wasn't compelling enough to make it clear to him," Carroll said. "Our view of it is, and as you guys will see as you dig into this a little bit more, you'll see that these early entry quarterbacks are less than 50-50 successful."

After his statements, Carroll wanted nothing to do with Sanchez. He got up and walked out, not supporting Sanchez what-so-ever like he did with numerous of players prior. He treated Sanchez as if he was statistics, instead of a person. Like he was numbers, instead of an excellent Quarterback.

“Congratulations, son. You deserve this. You’ve earned your chance. You are ready for the next level. You made my life as a coach a tad bit easier, and I can’t wait to see you excel in the big leagues. Good job.” Carroll could have said a number of things to that effect. For Christ sake, congratulate the dude. HE brought YOU your Rose Bowl this year. I don’t care if you mean it, but the least you could do was say good job. Yet, it almost sounds like he doesn’t want Sanchez to do well in the NFL. He went as far as to post a big ole article about why Sanchez is making a bad decision, like he hopes to prove Sanchez wrong.

That press conference was live, in front of tons of people. Can you think of what the conversation is like between the two behind closed doors??

It was understandable for Carroll to say whatever it took to get Sanchez to come back to school. Whatever he said to Taylor Mays amazingly kept him on campus for another year. But once Sanchez made his decision to go pro, Carroll should have respected his decision and saved his "50-50 failure" talk for another underclassman down the road. The fact that he couldn't resist taking one last public shot at Sanchez's decision before leaving the press conference early says a lot about the kind of man Carroll is when things don't go his way. Luckily for him, those moments are few and far between.

Unlike your former coach, Mark Sanchez, I will be rooting for you. Well wait, I will be unless the 49ers take you at #9. Have fun in San Fran or anywhere else you land. I wouldn’t mind one bit seeing you play for my Rams at some point, and I wouldn’t go on a rant if you left.



Please let me hear your thoughts via the comment section below. It is very simple and does not require any kind of blogger.com subscription so feel free.

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