Classic Cars of NFL Stars

Classic Cars of NFL Stars
FROM www.yahoosports.com

NFL players have a reputation for driving the latest luxury cars and sport utility vehicles, but a trend is spreading across the league that has many of them clamoring for classic cars. They’re collecting and customizing “old-schools” to park alongside their newer Mercedes-Benz sedans and Rolls-Royce Phantoms.
“More guys are starting to get into it,” says Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu, who owns a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle and a 1966 Pontiac GTO. “Out of 63 guys [on the Panthers team], probably a good 30 have old-schools. We talk about the cars all the time – who has the fastest car, the nicest car – and we have fun with it.”
Players attend auto auctions, scour car shows and search the Internet for classic rides to customize. They often ship what they find to shops that add aftermarket gloss like bright paint jobs, thumping stereos and shiny wheels.
Will Castro owns one of those shops, Unique Auto Sports in Holbrook, N.Y., the subject of cable-network show “Unique Whips” on the Speed Channel. “We just finished Larry Johnson’s ‘66 Lincoln Continental from the Kansas City Chiefs,” says Castro, whose shop has worked on more than 20 NFL players’ cars. “We’re doing a lot of old-school for ball players. They’re getting into them a lot more. I think what’s different about them is they know what they want.”
Part of what they want is to stand out from their teammates, and customized classics make that possible. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck isn’t a classic-car owner, but even he understands the motivation. “One of the unspoken rules is that you don’t get the same exact car as another guy,” he says.
Hasselback owns a 2009 Infiniti FX50, a 2008 Infiniti QX56 that his wife drives, and a Volkswagen Phaeton his younger brother often borrows. “In our parking lot, I’ve got teammates that drive Maseratis and Bentleys, and I put my car next to them,” he says.
NFL locker-room talk often turns to cars, and as players move throughout the league, traded from one team to the next, word about their rides travels with them. Former Washington Redskins defensive end Renaldo Wynn built a reputation as a car buff long before he was traded to the New York Giants this season.
With encouragement from his brother-in-law, Wynn bought his first classic car – a 1961 Chevrolet Impala convertible – in 1997, the year he was a first-round draft pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars. “I bought a project car and then I was like, ‘What the heck did I get myself into?’ It had rusted floors and dirt in the motor. It was dropped off at the stadium and guys were laughing,” Wynn says.
But that didn’t deter his vision. “I became obsessed. I purchased all the parts,” he says. “When I got the finished product, it was immaculate. It was everything that I wanted, done the way I wanted it.”
While playing for the Redskins, Wynn put his passion to good use by hosting a car-show fundraiser called Redskins Rides last summer that drew fans and media members. It benefited the Easterns Charitable Foundation and Washington Redskins Charity.
Though Wynn has moved on, Redskins players keep the team-themed car show alive.
Defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin is among the Redskins’ most avid collectors. He won last year’s show with his 1964 Chevrolet Impala convertible.
Griffin has 15 cars, 11 of which are classics, including five Pontiac GTOs, a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro and a 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS. While he owns a luxurious 2007 Mercedes S550 and a 2007 Ford Shelby GT500, Griffin prefers classic Chevrolets.
“I could buy a Mercedes any day of the week, but it’s hard to find a muscle car that’s a convertible,” Griffin says. “I drive them anywhere. Chevelles you hardly ever see them. The older they get the rarer they’ll be.”
Some players’ fascination with classic cars is nostalgic. Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Michael Bennett bought his 1973 Chevrolet Caprice in memory of his grandfather. “My grandfather had that car when I was a young kid,” he says.
Bennett’s busy creating a legacy of his own with a stunning car collection that includes a 2007 Bentley Continental GT, a 2008 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, a 2007 Range Rover Sport and a 2007 Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Pittsburgh Steeler Tyrone Carter’s 1975 Chevy Caprice convertible and 1976 Chevy Caprice hardtop also remind him of his grandfather, as well as the era in which he was born. “They all had Chevy Caprices back in the day,” he says. “I learned how to work on cars, too. If something needs to be changed, I can do that myself.”
Carter drives his 2008 Ford Super Duty truck the most, but his Chevys can’t be matched for their allure. “I like trucks when I’m pulling my boat, going fishing or taking kids on dirt bikes,” he says. “But my Chevys got speed.”
Not all NFL players are drawn to a particular classic car. Some look to teammates who have experience collecting them for guidance on what to buy. New York Giants players not only find such guidance in teammate wide receiver Mike Jennings, but they also benefit from his expertise in customizing old-schools at Boi Slim Customs, a Jacksonville, Fla.-based shop he co-owns with his best friend from childhood. “The main word that separates us is ‘sway,’” he says. “When people see our cars they want them.”
Jennings prefers ’90s models like his 1995 Chevrolet Silverado, 1995 Chevrolet Caprice and 1995 Chevrolet Impala, but his business focuses on older cars. “It’s always been a passion for me and my best friend,” Jennings says. “In my spare time I go floating in my car, like a leaf when it falls out of the tree. Everybody knows that Mike Jennings is always talking about Chevrolet.”
His uncle does most of the work for clients, adding high-gloss paint, lifted suspensions and custom wheels. Boi Slim Customs projects for Giants players include a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle for wide receiver David Tyree, a 1964 Chevrolet Impala Convertible for wide receiver Plaxico Burress, and a 1963 Lincoln Continental for retired defensive end Michael Strahan.
Nicknamed “the JFK car” after the Lincoln limousine President John F. Kennedy used, Strahan’s Continental is Jennings’ biggest project to date. He picked up the car in Michigan, refurbished the interior, gutted the rat-infested engine bay, rebuilt the engine, and added a GPS navigation system and suspension hydraulics.
The ‘63 Lincoln is Strahan’s first classic car. It joins a formidable stable of newer rides, including an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, two Bentleys and a Maybach, just to name a few. “It’s a whole different vibe,” says Strahan, who retired this year and co-hosts Fox’s NFL Sunday show. “You’re not going to sneak anywhere. It’s such a big car; it’s so obvious. It throws people back.”
Nostalgia notwithstanding, that head-turning uniqueness is what makes classic cars so appealing to NFL Stars. “Nothing quite gets the attention like the old-school,” Strahan says.
Click on the click here for strahan's and many more photos of nfl players classic cars
Michael Strahan's Classic Cars click here
Maake Kemoeatu's

College Gameday Final Recap

Pitfalls avoided, but some hurdles remain for top teams


College football's top three teams each avoided potential pitfalls Saturday, with two having much closer results than they probably wanted.
While No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Alabama still face potential roadblocks during the regular season, No. 3 Penn State cleared what should have been its last major hurdle, winning 13-6 at No. 9 Ohio State on Saturday night.
The Nittany Lions, who rallied from a 6-3 deficit in the fourth quarter, have only three regular-season games left and, of course, don't have to play in a Big Ten championship game. Penn State plays at Iowa on Nov. 8, and then plays host to Indiana and Michigan State in its last two regular-season games.
Even if the Nittany Lions finish the regular season with an unblemished 12-0 record, they might still need Texas or Alabama to lose to guarantee themselves a spot in the Jan. 8 BCS Championship Game in Miami.
The Nittany Lions' nonconference schedule included victories over FCS opponent Coastal Carolina, Oregon State, Syracuse and Temple. Only one of Penn State's opponents -- the Buckeyes -- is currently ranked.
After beating Oklahoma State 28-24 in Austin on Saturday, the Longhorns still aren't out of the woods yet. Texas finishes a grueling stretch of four consecutive games against ranked opponents Saturday at Texas Tech.
At least the Longhorns showed they can win even when Heisman Trophy candidate Colt McCoy isn't perfect. McCoy threw an interception and lost a fumble in the second half, but Texas' defense limited the Cowboys to only a field goal in the fourth quarter.
Two of the Longhorns' last three games will be played at home -- against Baylor on Nov. 8 and against rival Texas A&M on Nov. 27. The home games are sandwiched around a road game at Kansas on Nov. 15.
If the Longhorns win the Big 12 South, they would probably face Missouri or Kansas in the Big 12 championship game in Kansas City. Texas routed the Tigers 56-31 in Austin on Oct. 18.
The Crimson Tide, the only unbeaten team left in the SEC, finally put together a complete game in their 29-9 victory at Tennessee on Saturday night. Alabama plays host to Arkansas State on Saturday, then plays at LSU on Nov. 8. The LSU game will be Nick Saban's first trip to Baton Rouge, La., as Alabama's coach.
The Crimson Tide finish the regular season with consecutive home games -- against Mississippi State on Nov. 15 and Auburn on Nov. 29. The Bulldogs upset Alabama in Saban's first season in 2007, and Auburn has won six games in a row against the Tide.
Alabama would probably face either Georgia or Florida in the SEC championship game in Atlanta's Georgia Dome.

Definitive Response
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Despite the dominant victories, the emerging stars and the climb up the national rankings, No. 3 Penn State continued to generate a mixture of doubt and curiosity.
The Nittany Lions' late surge in the fourth quarter wasn't the first time they've overcome adversity.
How would the Nittany Lions respond to adversity? Not first-half adversity against a significantly inferior Michigan team. Real adversity. The kind that comes on the road against a quality opponent with the clock winding down.
Head coach Joe Paterno was the most curious. He liked his team and its potential. But he couldn't get a true gauge on how good the squad could be until it was placed under extreme pressure.
A fourth-quarter deficit at Ohio Stadium certainly qualified, not to mention having starting quarterback Daryll Clark standing on the sidelines with a head injury.
"We've got a good football team," Paterno said definitively after Saturday night's 13-6 win against No. 9 Ohio State.
Defensive end Josh Gaines knew the truth about Penn State before the season began. And though the Lions didn't face adversity on the field until Saturday night, they had faced plenty off of it.

Blue-Collar Effort
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Alabama coach Nick Saban says it with pride, and his players nod their heads confidently when they hear it.
"We're a blue-collar team," Saban said. "We've got to play good defense. We've got to be able to run it. We've got to be able to throw it. We've got to have balance."
The Crimson Tide had all the above and more Saturday night in making the kind of statement all championship-caliber teams make this time of year in a 29-9 bludgeoning of Tennessee.
They're in this thing for the long haul.
With LSU losing Saturday, Alabama (8-0, 5-0) now has a two-game lead in the Western Division race. The Tide could lose their game at LSU on Nov. 8 and still get to the SEC championship game by winning their remaining two games against Mississippi State and Auburn.
But all anybody wanted to talk about outside the Alabama locker room on Saturday night was the here and now. Sophomore middle linebacker Rolando McClain huffed when somebody brought up the fact that LSU had lost earlier in the day.
"We don't really care about LSU," McClain said. "We'll get to them whenever we play them. Right now, we'll enjoy this for 24 hours and get ready for next week."

Is This The Year?
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- They are already breathlessly calling Texas Tech's game with Texas next week the biggest game in the history of the school.
If there's an offense that can outscore Texas, it's Texas Tech.
First place in the Big 12 South will be up for grabs in the battle between two 8-0 teams. And still, Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree isn't caught up in the excitement yet.
"I don't feel hype, I just see footballs," Crabtree said. "Whatever they say, I don't listen to it."
Crabtree's attitude, although rather simplistic, might be the reason why this Tech team is suited to slay the monster from Austin better than most of coach Mike Leach's recent teams.
The top-ranked Longhorns have beaten Tech six out of the seven times they have met under Leach. It almost seems like the Longhorns have gotten into the Red Raiders' heads with the way they have dominated Tech along both sides of the line of scrimmage during the recent run.
Texas has averaged nearly 46 points in the past seven games against Tech, including 59, 35, 52 and 51 points in the past four games.
But if Tech can follow the formula that marked its 63-21 victory over Kansas on Saturday, the Red Raiders are the team best suited to beat the Longhorns among Big 12challengers.

Building Momentum
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- One of the last things the Louisville football players see as they leave their locker room and head to the field is a sign that reads "Find a Way."
"Coach [Steve Kragthorpe] is big into that," defensive tackle Earl Heyman said. "Whether it's ugly or bad, just find a way to win. That's the only statistic that matters."
The motto might not carry the same inspirational tones as "Play Like a Champion Today," but it's appropriate for this team. Last year, the Cardinals hardly ever found a way to win big games, going 6-6 in Kragthorpe's first year and losing five of those games by nine points or fewer.
This year, they are looking like one of the Big East's most pleasant surprises. Saturday's 24-20 upset over No. 16 South Florida was probably the biggest win of Kragthorpe's two-year tenure, and it marks his first three-game winning streak at Louisville. At 5-2 and 1-1 in the conference, the Cardinals are in as good a spot as anybody in this wacky Big East race.
"This means we're a contender again," center Eric Wood said. "If we lost this one, it would have been really tough to win [the league]. We stayed in contention."

Close Doesn't Count
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona was close again against USC. And close felt like taking a horseshoe to the head.
The way tight end Rob Gronkowski saw it, the Wildcats came up an inch short -- as in that critical fourth-down play near midfield when a quarterback sneak from Willie Tuitama didn't gain bubkes.
But an inch felt like a mile as Gronkowski thought about Arizona's 17-10 defeat in front of a packed and frenzied crowd hoping for a breakthrough moment in Arizona Stadium.
"We have to be able to get an inch," he said.
Arizona entered the game with a flashy offense and a no-name but fairly effective defense. But the offense showed little flash, producing just one play over 14 yards while gaining a measly 188 for the game.
Meanwhile, the defense mostly held the Trojans in check. USC averages nearly 42 points per game.
"I think we left a good opportunity out there and I was shocked we couldn't play better offensively," coach Mike Stoops said.

50 Sense
Knowshon Moreno ran past LSU on Saturday.
Whatever happened to the LSU defense? In a 52-38 loss to Georgia, the Tigers gave up 50-plus points at home for the first time in 15 years, and combined with that 51-21 disaster at The Swamp a couple of weeks ago, they have now yielded 103 points to the two Beasts of the East. It's the first time in school history an LSU team has given up 50-plus twice in the same season, and also the first time a defending national champion has done so. But that's not the fun part. Get a hold of this: From the start of the AP Poll era in 1936 through last year, only two defending national champions ever gave up 50 or more points even once in a season. Both cases involved Notre Dame, and both should give plenty of hope to Florida and Georgia fans.

The only defending champs to give up 50-plus were the 1944 Notre Dame team, which lost 59-0 to Army, and the 1974 Notre Dame squad, which lost 55-24 to USC. Why is that good news for the Gators and Bulldogs? Army eventually won the 1944 national title and USC eventually won the 1974 national title. Florida and Georgia square off Saturday.

1. Has any team made more progress since the beginning of the season than Virginia? The Cavaliers were blown out by USC 52-7 at home and lost at Duke 31-3. But now Virginia has won four games in a row, including Saturday's 24-17 win at Georgia Tech, and moved into first place in the ACC's Coastal Division.

Teel 2. Where has Mike Teel been all season? The Rutgers quarterback was booed often by his own fans earlier this year, but he threw a school-record six touchdown passes in a 54-34 rout of Pittsburgh. That is how coach Greg Schiano envisioned his offense playing all season.

3. If Georgia's defense doesn't learn to tackle better, the Gators might hang 100 points on the Bulldogs in Saturday's game in Jacksonville, Fla. The game figures to be a track meet, anyhow, with both offenses finally hitting their strides.

HELMET STICKERS
RECE DAVIS
Oklahoma State is a losing team from Saturday that shouldn't move down in the polls. I was really impressed with the Cowboys' showing in Austin. They went toe-to-toe with the unanimous No. 1 and proved they belong.

Helmet Stickers Go To:
• LB Navorro Bowman, Penn State
10 tackles, pass breakup, fumble rec vs. Ohio State
• QB Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
34-42, 386 yards, 5 TDs

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOU HOLTZ
I've been saying it for a month now: Look out for Florida State. The Seminoles are a very quiet 6-1. The key is they're starting to play physical football again.

Helmet Stickers Go To:
• WR Jimmy Young, TCU
5 rec, 226 yards, 3 TDs vs. Wyoming
• RB Javon Ringer, Michigan State
194 yards, 2 TDs vs. Michigan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARK MAY
Penn State's defense might've been the story of the day. Tom Bradley had a terrific game plan and shut down the run game of Ohio State, holding the Buckeyes to 61 yards on the ground. What a performance.

Helmet Stickers Go To:
• LB Darryl Gamble, Georgia
13 tackles, 2 INT returns for TDs vs. LSU
• QB Mike Teel, Rutgers
361 yards, school-record 6 TDs vs. Pitt

08-09 Guide to the NBA Season

5 Minute Guide to '08-09 season Story Highlights
www.si.com
Look for Kobe Bryant and LeBron James to duel for the MVP award
How will the Ron Artest experiment play out for the Rockets?
Allen Iverson and Vince Carter could become available on the trade market

7 postseason honors
Most Valuable Player: Kobe Bryant, Lakers
The rivalry between Bryant and LeBron James for the title of world's best player gets even hotter, but thanks to his team's superior record, Bryant retains the crown.
Runner-up: James, Cavaliers

Rookie of the Year: Michael Beasley, Heat
A matter of supply and demand: Beasley provides scoring to a team that desperately needs it. Runner-up: Greg Oden, Trail Blazers

Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Garnett, Celtics
At 32, KG continues to set the standard for the league's top defensive team. Runner-up: Ron Artest, Rockets

Sixth Man Award: Lamar Odom, Lakers
Reluctant to accept this new role, the versatile Odom quickly finds that he thrives in it.
Runner-up: Ben Gordon, Bulls

Most Improved Player: Andrew Bynum, Lakers
To restore its defensive backbone, Los Angeles turns to a 21-year-old 7-footer -- and he delivers.
Runner-up: Rodney Stuckey, Pistons

Coach of the Year: Nate McMillan, Trail Blazers
Portland makes a big jump in the wins column, earns a playoff spot and develops a D that can key an eventual title run.
Runner-up: Rick Adelman, Rockets

Executive of the Year: Kevin Pritchard, Trail Blazers
The 41-year-old GM has overhauled not only the roster but also the team's image -- with cap space left to sign a major free agent next summer.
Runner-up: Daryl Morey, Rockets

6 major storylines to follow
The Artest Experiment
The Rockets are asking Mr. Volatility, Ron Artest, to provide championship chemistry and be the reliable third star they need to match up with the Spurs' and the Celtics' Big Threes. But who on this roster will coax Artest back in line if he acts up?

Argentine Ankle Watch
A healthy Manu Ginóbili is the key to the Spurs' extending their streak of winning every other championship, dating to 2003.

LeBron's Courtship
The Cavaliers have to continue to build a roster compelling enough to entice their own star to stay past the summer of 2010.

Sad Days in the Desert
While coach Mike D'Antoni takes his exciting Seven Seconds or Less attack East to the Knicks, Suns starters Steve Nash (35 in February), Grant Hill (36) and Shaquille O'Neal (37 in March) set in the West.

Referee Transparency
With Tim Donaghy in prison, the NBA is finally promising fundamental reform in its oversight of officials, including posting assignments on the morning of games. But this has to be more than a p.r. initiative; fans have already grown too cynical about the refereeing to be satisfied with anything short of substantive change.

Financial Woes
Will any owners be forced to sell their money-draining teams because of cash flow problems?

8 coaches with a big challenge
Mike D'Antoni, Knicks, and Lawrence Frank, Nets
Each must improve his team while the front office reshuffles the roster, laying the groundwork for a run at LeBron in 2010.
George Karl, Nuggets
He has to convince his defense-challenged players that they can stop teams without longtime stopper Marcus Camby.
Marc Iavaroni, Grizzlies
He was rumored to be in trouble when he had Pau Gasol and Mike Miller. How can he survive with the West's least-talented roster?
Scott Skiles, Bucks
He wants his shoot-first team to make D the priority. Unfortunately, he has no lockdown defenders.
Larry Brown, Bobcats
He seems curiously drawn to difficult situations. At least this job will go more smoothly than his last one, in New York.
Eddie Jordan, Wizards
What could he do if his guys stayed healthy? We may never know, as Gilbert Arenas begins the year on the sideline.
Mike Woodson, Hawks
He earned some goodwill during the playoffs, but with a poor start he'll be feeling heat again.

10 intriguing rookies
Greg Oden, Trail Blazers
Portland's other young talent relieves pressure on him to be a savior. But imagine if he is.
Michael Beasley, Heat
Questions about his reliability and character take a backseat to his All-Star numbers.
Derrick Rose, Bulls
His speed is stunning, but his decision-making must improve after just one year in college.
D.J. Augustin, Bobcats
He has the skills to be a steal at No. 9 -- provided he can survive Larry Brown's boot camp.
Donté Greene, Kings
Size, a vintage shooting stroke and three-point range offset his inexperience.
Anthony Randolph, Warriors
He's skinny and raw, but his length and open-floor ability could make him a star.
Kevin Love, Timberwolves
Kevin McHale coveted his skills, but Love must prove he can complement Al Jefferson.
Jerryd Bayless, Trail Blazers
He'll be the microwave for Portland's second unit.
Robin Lopez, Suns
His athleticism will enable him to make an impact more quickly than his twin, Brook.
Mario Chalmers, Heat
Just how important is the NBA's rookie seminar anyway?

3 All-NBA teams
First Team
G Chris Paul, Hornets
G Kobe Bryant, Lakers
F LeBron James, Cavaliers
F Kevin Garnett, Celtics
C Yao Ming, Rockets

Second Team
G Deron Williams, Jazz
G Tracy McGrady, Rockets
F Carlos Boozer, Jazz
F Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
C Dwight Howard, Magic

Third Team
G Steve Nash, Suns
G Dwyane Wade, Heat
F Paul Pierce, Celtics
F Tim Duncan, Spurs
C Andrew Bynum, Lakers

6 contenders looking for a good buy
Cavaliers: Either of their big expiring contracts (Wally Szczerbiak, Eric Snow) is likely to be shopped for a costar to help LeBron reach the Finals.
Pistons: They could dangle Rasheed Wallace and his expiring $13.7 million deal -- and/or another of their starters -- to reenergize the franchise.
Celtics: The champs will seek at least one cost-efficient vet (à la P.J. Brown last year) to replenish their front line heading into the playoffs.
Lakers: They need experience and toughness off the bench, and a smart midseason move could make the difference between a title and coming up short.
Mavericks: Having gambled big on Jason Kidd last February, they will be aggressive if a player who could put Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki over the top is available.

6 good buys to be had
Trail Blazers: Instead of waiting for next summer's free-agent crop, they could package Raef LaFrentz's expiring $12.7 million contract for help this season.
Allen Iverson, Nuggets
Other expensive teammates could join Iverson and his expiring $20.8 million salary on the market if Denver goes south (as expected).
Shawn Marion, Heat
Miami will not move Marion, who is owed $17.8 million in the final year of his deal, unless it receives a major star in return.
Michael Redd, Bucks
A rebuilding Milwaukee can be persuaded to trade Redd and the $51 million (over three years) remaining on his contract.
Vince Carter, Nets
The declining star is a bad fit on New Jersey's young roster, and a team could get him on the cheap since he's owed an onerous $67 million over the next four seasons.
Mike Bibby, Hawks
A good start by Bibby, who is making $15.2 million in the final year of his contract, could pique interest from a contender seeking short-term help in the backcourt.
The Entire Roster, Knicks
Team president Donnie Walsh will take calls from any team about any of his players. Make your best offer! Someone? Anyone?

NBA Rookies: Teams and Fans NEED to Practice Patience

from www.cbssportsline.com

O.J. Mayo has star potential, Marc Gasol is considered a lottery talent and Darrell Arthur just led Kansas to a national title. That's a solid group of rookies the Memphis Grizzlies have assembled.
But the fact that coach Marc Iavaroni will depend heavily on at least two of them this season suggests Memphis is going to stink because multiple rookies in key roles does not usually translate into NBA success.
That's the weird thing about the NBA Draft. It's a glamour event live from New York City that excites everybody. Fans throw watch parties, drink heavily, cheer loudly and hope their general manager doesn't spend his first pick on Renaldo Balkman. If that happens, they boo.
But more times than not the diehards come away enthused and dreaming about the possibilities of this pick or that pick because their team is suddenly loaded with young talent.
And then the season begins. And then the losses come, one after another.
Take the Grizzlies, for example.
They are likely to start a trio of the very best players to exit college the past three seasons -- namely Rudy Gay, Mike Conley and Mayo. All three were arguably the top prospects at their positions the year they entered the draft. Meaning, if the Grizzlies were drafting strictly to fill needs at point guard, shooting guard and small forward it is reasonable to suggest they could not have done a better job the past three years.
And guess what? They'll be lucky to win 25 games because young guys -- regardless of their talent level and potential -- almost never accomplish much when they are on the court together, learning together, trying to lead each other when nobody is really comfortable leading.
"We are all around the same age, so it's tough when you are trying to balance the leadership between guys," Conley, the second-year point guard from Ohio State, said Friday after the Grizz recorded their first preseason win against Charlotte (though it's worth pointing out that Memphis played three starters at least 27 minutes to notch that win while the Bobcats had nobody play 27).
"Some guys who are the same age as you may not take it as well if you talk to them a certain way," Conley added. "We are all so young and in the same group."
Which is not a good group to be in.
And that's the larger point -- not that the Grizzlies are going to struggle (you knew that already) but that almost any franchise that finds itself relying heavily on rookies will lose.
For proof, consider that eight of the past 10 Rookies of the Year have played for teams that won less than 40 games. The only exceptions are Mike Miller in 2000-2001 (Orlando Magic) and Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns) in 2002-2003, but it should be noted that Miller and Stoudemire were both surrounded by veterans and the third-leading scorers on their teams.
That's the way to do it: have a good rookie play a small part. The alternative is having a good rookie play a major role, like last season when Kevin Durant averaged more points (20.3) than his team tallied wins (20). There is a connection there, trust me. And that's what fans of teams should take away from this, that there's a better chance of your 401(k) bouncing back strong this year than there is of a first-year player drastically affecting the win column of your favorite team.
If the Bulls get way better, it'll be because of Ben Gordon and Luol Deng. Not Derrick Rose.
If the Heat get way better, it'll be because of Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion. Not Michael Beasley.
Why?
Though those picks might well develop into stars and lead their franchises to greatness some season, rest assured it won't happen in this first season, if only because it rarely does.

Recent history hasn't been kind to Nittany Lions in Columbus

www.espn.com
What's the biggest story of this college football season so far?

I've been getting that question recently.
The answer is pretty easy: Teams rising from nowhere to national-title contention in a month and a half.
The symmetrical flip side is that three teams pegged for big things (Auburn, West Virginia, and Clemson) have plummeted from the preseason top 10 to oblivion. None of these teams is receiving a single poll point. This sort of complete collapse is unusual, too. Thus, Tommy Bowden has been forced out and Tony Franklin has been sent packing. But let's return to the "good" stories.

"College GameDay"

Set your alarm clock Saturday. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and the rest of the "College GameDay" crew will be in Columbus for Penn State-Ohio State. Tune in to find out about the Nittany Lions, Buckeyes, all the Week 9 action and everything else in college football.
When: Sat., 10 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Where: Columbus, Ohio
The top three in the first BCS standings had an average preseason AP ranking of 19th (Texas 11th, Alabama 24th and Penn State 22nd). That's amazing actually. The fast, unexpected rise of any one of these traditional powers would have been a pretty big story, but to have all three jockeying for the top positions is historic. In every year since the birth of the BCS, at least one of the top three in the first edition of the standings started in the AP top three. This year, all three were long shots in August.
Throw in No. 6 Oklahoma State, which did not get a single preseason vote, and you've got an even less likely race for the title.
What makes it more interesting is that it's a throwback threesome. The last time the Longhorns, Crimson Tide and Nittany Lions were all in the top five at the same time was 1979. Plus, nobody in this group looks like an impostor. Last season, when USF and Boston College found themselves somehow positioned at No. 2 in the BCS, it felt false. The swoon by both teams bore that out.
I don't see any of these three spitting the bit. I also don't see the order of these three changing until one of them loses. Penn State will not convince enough pollsters it belongs above either Texas or Alabama to overcome a significant edge in the six BCS computers. The Lions' computer average is No. 7, which ranks below three teams with one loss.
The Horns and Tide aren't going to drop if they continue to navigate the two toughest conferences. If Penn State gets out of the Horseshoe with a coveted signature win, the Nittany Lions' fans will have to start pulling hard for a Texas or an Alabama loss. Or else start dreading a repeat of '68, '69, 73 and '94. In those seasons, Penn State teams with perfect records were left out of the championship picture.
Penn State fans have a right to be anxious. Many are blaming Ohio State for the tarnished national image of the Big Ten, after lopsided losses to Florida, LSU and USC on very big stages.
Those fans are missing the point. The Big Ten is viewed as a pretty weak conference, but it has been a team effort. Mediocrity reigns. A key blow is that Wisconsin (with four straight losses) now ranks among the nation's most disappointing teams. The Badgers' meltdown and Michigan's struggles are depriving Penn State of quality wins. Not playing Minnesota, of all teams, removes the chance to face a bowl-bound Big Ten squad. Who'd have thought that?
The Big Ten's 2008 performance could certainly haunt Penn State far more than Ohio State's recent misery against heavyweights. I just disagree with pundits who claim pollsters are somehow biased against the Lions because of the Bucks' flops. Alabama was the first fast riser to gain attention. The win over Clemson has been devalued just a bit, but remember it was the Tide who started the Tigers' tailspin.
Bama's first half at Georgia remains one of the season's most impressive 30 minutes of football. Being the strongest first-half team in the nation (its average lead at half: 21 points) helps perception, too. The Tide have played some close games, but haven't had to rally from behind to win, a fact that also strengthens their image.
Texas' resilience against Oklahoma and dominance of Missouri make the Horns a clear No. 1 for now. Games with the Pokes and Red Raiders (and a road game at Kansas) guarantee they will stay put if they keep winning.
Penn State's one chance at a signature win is Saturday night in the Shoe (ABC, 8 ET). This Nittany Lions group has answered each challenge so far. It certainly seems ready for this one.
In a matchup of gifted QBs who have each crossed state lines and will face their home-state schools Saturday night, Daryll Clark gets the clear edge on Terrelle Pryor. Clark has not started that many more games than the freaky freshman, but he has had significantly more time in college football.
This is Game 9 for Clark as "The Man," but he's been a quick learner. He's been a big upgrade from Anthony Morelli in the red zone so far. Last year's Lions QB would press and make poor decisions in the clutch. Clark has avoided that, although this week brings a heightened challenge, for sure.
Penn State has been in the red zone a staggering 41 times, scoring touchdowns on 32 of those trips. Clark has thrown seven red zone TDs, with just one pick. If the Lions maintain that efficiency this week, I love their chances.
Clark also avoids the negative plays which destroy drives. He is excellent at throwing away the ball and avoiding sacks. Pryor, on other hand, has been trapped a lot. It's totally logical. His decision-making is not as quick as it needs to be, but it's improving. Against Aaron Maybin and the Lions' rushers, Pryor will have to read and react and make the proper throw faster than he has so far. Frequent sacks would kill Ohio State's chances.
The Buckeyes have surrendered a whopping 21 sacks, one for every eight passes attempted. Penn State has allowed just six sacks, one for every 38 attempts!
Running the ball is an obvious priority for both offenses. Ohio State said that Penn State's tackles were mashed by Michigan in the first 20 minutes, before adjustments were made, and the linebackers reshuffled. The changes were dramatic. Until the meaningless final possession, Penn State smothered Michigan's offense on eight straight possessions after the defense's drowsy start.
The Bucks' embattled O-line will try to show that Maybin's transformation from a third-down specialist to an every-down DE is not yet complete. Simply put, Beanie Wells must create a bunch of 5- and 6-yard runs and a long gallop or two. Pryor will have to freelance and make a big throw or two as Brian Robiskie, Ray Small and Brian Hartline work free against the Lions' zone defense.
This year, the bigger concern for Penn State is the defense.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Wilson's knee injury robs the Bucks of their best edge pass-rusher. OSU is not known for creative pressure packages, so it will be interesting to see how (and if) it can get near Clark. Relying on an excellent secondary to cover Derrick Williams, Jordan Norwood, Deon Butler and the tight ends all night won't work. Can the Bucks create enough pressure on third downs with power pass rushes?
A nightmarish history of offensive failure in Penn State's visits to Columbus creates an intriguing backdrop Saturday night. In the seven straight losses at the Shoe, the Lions' offense has never topped 10 points! Ohio State has produced a staggering eight nonoffensive TDs in those seven games!
Penn State's brain trust faces an interesting challenge, too. With Joe Paterno seated in the press box, headset tilted forward on his head, he is just a few feet away from the play-calling tandem of his son, Jay, and Galen Hall. In the past, Joe never spent much time on the headset, until he decided to jump on to second-guess the play-calling philosophy.
These days, hearing the communication between Dick Anderson, Hall and JayPa, Paterno has actually pulled back and is doing less second-guessing. The unusual method of collective play-calling is working well. But with Joe so close, it had better be decisive and quick again Saturday night!
To outsiders, Penn State arrives with more at stake. But this feels like a "circle the wagons" game for Ohio State, which found a different gear last week. The Bucks will be a very tough out.

It may gall the patrons of High Street to hear it, but the nation wrote off Ohio State six weeks ago.

From www.espn.com

It may gall the patrons of High Street to hear it, but the nation wrote off Ohio State six weeks ago.
That would be about the time the Buckeyes trudged off the grass and up the concrete tunnel at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, singing that song from the musical "Wonderful Town," the 2003 Broadway revival.
Why oh why oh why oh
Why did I ever leave Ohio?
Typical American college football fans know about Script Ohio and The Horseshoe and The Ten-Year War. They know that Ohio State long ago received membership in the sport's elite. They know that even with all that glory, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel is in the midst of the most successful run in the history of the scarlet and gray.
It's just that the typical American college football fan these days is scared to death that Ohio State will win the rest of its games and play in the BCS Championship Game again. The Buckeyes have played in the past two, and FEMA is still trying to assess the damage.
So when this season started, and USC defeated Ohio State 35-3 in the Buckeyes' third game of the season, you could hear the sighs of relief from downtown Los Angeles to downtown Tuscaloosa. It looked as if the national championship party could be held without the Buckeyes around to pour vinegar into the punch bowl.
To coin a phrase: Not so fast, my friend.
The Team That Won't Go Away has come back. With five straight victories, topped off by a -- go ahead and say it -- BCS-worthy, 45-7 rout on the road of Michigan State, Ohio State has played well enough to return to the top 10. That leaves it in the championship waiting room, poised to pounce the minute Texas, Alabama and, yes, Penn State should fall from the ranks of the unbeaten.
That is the beauty of Ohio State's game on Saturday night (ABC, 8 ET). The No. 9 Buckeyes (7-1, 4-0 in Big Ten) will play the No. 3 Nittany Lions (8-0, 4-0). With an upset victory at Ohio Stadium, Ohio State may no longer be met with universal eye-rolling.
Anyone who has heard the disciplined messages of Tressel will understand that this is not a subject he has broached with his team.
"We never mention it," Tressel said. "In August, we talk about an ultimate goal: See if we can earn our way into the top two teams in the country, play for that championship, see if we can become champions. After that, it's never mentioned again."
It usually isn't difficult for Ohio State to knock off Penn State. The Nittany Lions are 0-7 in The Horseshoe since they joined the Big Ten Conference. Penn State last won at Ohio State in 1978, when the Buckeyes started a freshman quarterback who played beyond his years. Terrelle Pryor, based on early returns, is expected to have a more productive career than Art Schlichter.
This Penn State team has been one of the bigger surprises of the 2008 season, at least to those outside of the Nittany Lions' football building. Quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno said Thursday that, by the end of spring practice, this team gave off a vibe that felt a lot like the 2005 team that went 11-1.
You remember that season. Veteran coach Joe Paterno, hounded by critics who believed he had passed retirement age long ago, came within a last-play loss to Michigan of his fifth undefeated record.
Three years later, Paterno, 81, is in the last year of his contract. He began the season again confronted by questions of how long he would coach; that's what happens after consecutive records of 9-4, with a cumulative record of 9-7 in the Big Ten.
The president of the university has not committed to allowing Paterno to stick around for 2009, which would be his 60th season of Penn State football and his 44th as head coach. His right hip hurts so bad that Paterno is reduced to sitting in the press box for games.
And if eight games are any indication, Paterno has his best team since 1994. Those Nittany Lions went undefeated and had three of the first nine picks in the NFL draft the following April. The new Spread HD has been the ideal vehicle for a smart, experienced offense led by late-blooming redshirt junior Daryll Clark.
If Joe Paterno is measured not by the calendar but by the same criteria by which his peers are judged -- wins -- then he has defied his critics once again.
That may be the best way to look at the game Saturday night:
The Team That Won't Go Away is playing The Coach Who Won't Go Away.

Five most infamous assistant coaches

from www.si.com

Five most infamous assistant coaches
When the Dodgers and Phillies almost came to blows this weekend, it turned out the players weren't the ones most in danger of losing their cool: It was assistant coaches Davy Lopes and Larry Bowa. It was also Bowa, you may recall, who was suspended three games earlier this season after being ejected for ignoring an umpire's warnings not to leave the third base coaching box. As integral as assistant coaches are, one of the key elements of their job description is to stay out of the headlines. Most do, some don't. Here's our list of the five most infamous assistant coaches ...

1. Don Zimmer: Just ask Pedro Martinez.

2. Rick Mahorn: The former Bad Boy was known as a physical player during his years with the Pistons. But this past WNBA season, as an assistant with the Detroit Shock, Mahorn set a new standard when he got tangled up with L.A.'s Lisa Leslie during a bench-clearing brawl.

3. Rick Tocchet: After a long career in the NHL, Tocchet was working as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Coyotes when he was accused of helping finance a nationwide gambling ring.

4. Joe Cullen: The defensive line coach for the Detroit Lions is probably better known for allegedly hitting a Wendy's drive-through window while under in the influence. Also, he was nude.

5. Dwane Casey: The former Kentucky assistant was essentially exiled from basketball for years after he was implicated in a recruiting scandal involving Chris Mills. Casey later made it back and had two runs as a head coach in the NBA.

Ranking the 50 highest-earning/paid athletes in the U.S.

Ranking the 50 highest-earning athletes in the U.S.

By Jonah Freedman, SI.com
REMEMBER THIS IS THEIR INCOME FOR A YEAR, NOT THEIR TOTAL CONTRACT

Five years ago, Sports Illustrated first set out to find the 50 top-earning American athletes (taking into account on- and off-the-field income). We discovered a few basic facts, and as the Fortunate 50 turns five, some things have remained dead-on consistent:
No one can touch Tiger Woods, the runaway No. 1 for the fifth year in a row. Tiger's near $128 million haul is more than double his closest pursuer, Phil Mickelson at $62.4 million. As usual, hoops dominates the 50: More than half this year's list is made up of NBA players. There are 10 baseball players, seven football players, three NASCAR drivers, three golfers and one boxer -- and yet zero women.
Meanwhile, our International 20 list has seen a huge bump in average paycheck, thanks to the weak American dollar: 12 of the athletes earn their bread in foreign currencies from leagues outside the U.S. In the futures department, we tab the likes of Danica Patrick, Chris Paul and Joba Chamberlain to someday soon make the 50 in our Future Fortunates photo gallery.
As always, we limited our estimates to salary, winnings, bonuses, endorsements and appearances. Candidates for the 50 had to be American citizens. For an in-depth analysis of who's on the fifth annual Fortunate 50 and why, click here.

1
Tiger Woods
Pro Golf
Last Year's Rank: 1$22,902,706
$105,000,000
$127,902,706
With close to $800 million in total earnings on and off the course over his 13-year career, Tiger should become the first billion-dollar athlete in the next two years -- and he's still only 32. See Tiger's sponsors.
2
Phil Mickelson
Pro Golf
Last Year's Rank: 3$9,372,685
$53,000,000
$62,372,685
Lefty's numbers jump thanks to an extra $2 million in FedEx Cup points in '07 and lucrative appearance fees for his first participation on the Asian Tour in Singapore and Shanghai. See Phil's sponsors.
3
LeBron James
Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 6$12,455,000
$28,000,000
$40,455,000
King James has earned $167 million during his five seasons in the NBA, and has his eyes on serious entrepreneurship: He counts billionaire Warren Buffett as a role model and friend.
4
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Boxing
Last Year's Rank: 21$20,000,000
$20,250,000
$40,250,000
It's been a monster year for Pretty Boy, who made $20 million in purse and pay-per-view shares for his fight with Ricky Hatton and another $20 million for his foray into professional wrestling.
5
Kobe Bryant
Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 5$19,490,625
$16,000,000
$35,490,625
How's that for a change of tune? He once criticized his teammates; last month Bryant bought each of them $9,000 Swiss watches as a thank you for helping him win his first MVP award.
6
(Tie)
Shaquille O'Neal
Phoenix Suns (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 4$20,000,000
$15,000,000
$35,000,000
Shaq finally unloaded his 2.5-acre Miami estate last fall after having it on the market for more than two years. The buyer? Miami-native (and No. 7) A-Rod, for a reported $27 million.
6
(Tie)
Alex Rodriguez
New York Yankees (MLB)
Last Year's Rank: 11$29,000,000
$6,000,000
$35,000,000
Assuming A-Rod plays out his new mammoth 10-year, $275 million deal, he'll have earned $445 million in base salary alone over the course of what would be a 24-year career.
8
Kevin Garnett
Boston Celtics (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 7$22,000,000
$9,000,000
$31,000,000
KG is the highest-paid of the Celtics' Big Three; at a total of $56.1 million in salary this season, the trio makes up 74 percent of the Eastern Conference champs' entire payroll in '07-08.
9
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts (NFL)
Last Year's Rank: 12$17,500,000
$13,000,000
$30,500,000
Hide the Lombardi Trophy. Football's leading endorser is still king of NFL pitchmen, but little bro Eli -- with whom he now regularly shares screen time in TV ads -- is creeping up fast.
10
Derek Jeter
New York Yankees (MLB)
Last Year's Rank: 8$22,000,000
$8,000,000
$30,000,000
The Yankee captain cut a deal with the tax man in February that allowed him to avoid paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes on his $13 million Trump World Tower condo.
11
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Auto Racing
Last Year's Rank: 10$5,221,970
$22,000,000
$27,221,970
Maybe try one meeellion next time? Junior laughed off Eddie Gossage's $100,000 offer to race in the IndyCar series, calling him Dr. Evil: "His first estimate ... was a little underfigured."
12
Allen Iverson
Denver Nuggets (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 11$20,109,375
$7,000,000
$27,109,375
The Nuggets are reportedly willing to sign A.I. to a multi-year extension (for less money) if he opts out of the last year of his six-year, $71 million contract -- he'd earn $21.9 million in '08-09.
13
Kevin Durant
Seattle SuperSonics (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: NR$4,300,000
$21,650,000
$25,950,000
The 2007-08 Rookie of the Year will have to wait three more seasons for a giant contract, but his $7 million-a-year deal with Nike included a $12 million signing bonus.
14
Jeff Gordon
Auto Racing
Last Year's Rank: 16$10,926,687
$15,000,000
$25,926,687
Despite a second-place finish in the NASCAR standings, Gordon collected a career-high in racing money in '07: $7.1 million in track winnings and another $3.3 million from the points fund.
15
Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)
Last Year's Rank: NR$22,700,000
$2,500,000
$25,200,000
It's the gift that keeps on giving. Big Ben rakes in $20.2 million of his $25.2 million signing bonus during calendar-year '08; the rest is due next season, plus a $3 million roster bonus.
16
Dwyane Wade
Miami Heat (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 40$13,041,250
$12,000,000
$25,041,250
D-Wade just raised the bar for sons everywhere: For Mother's Day, the Heat star bought his Baptist pastor mom, Jolinda, her very own church on the South Side of Chicago.
17
Tracy McGrady
Houston Rockets (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 13$19,014,187
$6,000,000
$25,014,187
T-Mac is reportedly looking to graduate from his 18,000-square foot home in suburban Houston, which boasts seven bedrooms, 8½ bathrooms, an elevator, a boat dock and an indoor court.
18
Carmelo Anthony
Denver Nuggets (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: NR$13,041,250
$9,500,000
$22,541,250
Construction got underway last month on the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center practice facility at Syracuse University, thanks to a $3 million donation from its famous namesake alum.
19
Tim Duncan
San Antonio Spurs (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 18$19,014,187
$3,500,000
$22,514,187
Duncan reportedly accepted $10 million less than what he was eligible for in his two-year, $40 million extension signed in October so the Spurs would be able to chase free agents.
20
Manny Ramirez
Boston Red Sox (MLB)
Last Year's Rank: 20$20,000,000
$2,500,000
$22,500,000
The World Series champs have a $20 million option on the enigmatic Manny for the '09 season; if they decline it, they'd have to deal with his new agent: infamous hardballer Scott Boras.
21
Michael Finley
San Antonio Spurs (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 19$21,698,750
$500,000
$22,198,750
The only active player who's still under the same contract from 2005's "amnesty clause," Finley earned $18.6 million this season from the Mavericks in addition to $3.1 million from the Spurs.
22
Dwight Howard
Orlando Magic (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: NR$6,061,273
$15,500,000
$21,561,273
Howard makes his debut thanks to a heavy bonus from his multi-year deal with Adidas; his salary jumps to $13 million next season, the first of his five-year, $85 million extension.
23
Jason Giambi
New York Yankees (MLB)
Last Year's Rank: 19$21,000,000
$500,000
$21,500,000
So was he worth all that dough? Giambi, in the final year of his $120 million deal with the Yanks, has never matched his 2000 AL MVP numbers during his seven seasons in pinstripes.
24
Jason Kidd
Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 25$19,728,000
$1,500,000
$21,228,000
Re-acquiring the All-Star point guard gave Mark Cuban the highest payroll in the NBA this past season ($105 million) and puts him on the hook for Kidd's $21.4 million salary next year.
25
Stephon Marbury
New York Knicks (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 26$19,012,500
$2,000,000
$21,012,500
The honeymoon between Steph and his hometown team is long over, but he's a huge asset as a tradeable, expiring contract next season, the last of his four-year, $77 million deal.
26
JaMarcus Russell
Oakland Raiders (NFL)
Last Year's Rank: NR$20,275,000
$600,000
$20,875,000
Besides that fat $19.9 million bonus check he got in March, Russell can earn as much as $30 million more in incentive bonuses over his six-year deal for taking most of the Raiders' snaps.
27
Jermaine O'Neal
Indiana Pacers (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 27$19,728,000
$750,000
$20,478,000
The Pacers All-Star bought a $3.6 million home just outside Las Vegas so he could be close to the Abunassar Impact Basketball facility, where he's been rehabbing his injured left knee.
28
Torii Hunter
Los Angeles Angels (MLB)
Last Year's Rank: NR$18,500,000
$500,000
$19,000,000
Hunter rejected offers from the White Sox, Rangers and Royals last November in favor of the Angels' monstrous proposal, the most lucrative he received: five years for $90 million.
29
Baron Davis
Golden State Warriors (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 32$16,440,000
$2,500,000
$18,940,000
A budding independent-film producer, Davis reportedly may opt out of the final year of his six-year, $84 million deal to become a free agent; he'd be leaving $17.8 million on the table.
30
Jimmie Johnson
Auto Racing
Last Year's Rank: 31$15,663,920
$3,000,000
$18,663,920
The back-to-back Nextel Cup champion collected a points-fund award of $7.3 million on top of his '07 on-track winnings; he's earned nearly $60 million during his eight-year NASCAR career.
31
Steve Francis
Houston Rockets (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 46$16,800,000
$1,400,000
$18,200,000
The man they once called "The Franchise" will earn a total of $31 million from the Blazers, who bought out the rest of his contract last July; he has a two-year, $6 million deal with the Rockets.
32
(Tie)
Vince Carter
New Jersey Nets (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 23$13,000,000
$5,000,000
$18,000,000
Vinsanity donated $2.5 million to his high school in Daytona Beach, Fla., which went toward a new athletic center. Recently unveiled out front was, of course, a life-size statue of the star.
32
(Tie)
Tom Brady
New England Patriots (NFL)
Last Year's Rank: 47$8,000,000
$10,000,000
$18,000,000
Live under Brady's roof, just don't expect him to be there for the Super Bowl party: Pats QB sold two of the units in his Boston brownstone condo building he bought for $6.2 million in '06.
34
Paul Pierce
Boston Celtics (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 37$16,360,095
$1,500,000
$17,860,095
Pierce's reign as the Celtics' highest-paid player lasted exactly two seasons, but he'll start outearning Kevin Garnett in '09-10 by $3.4 million, when he's set to make $19.8 million.
35
Larry Fitzgerald
Arizona Cardinals (NFL)
Last Year's Rank: NR$17,100,000
$250,000
$17,350,000
Of the wideout's new four-year, $40 million deal signed in March, $30 million is guaranteed, including the $15 million signing bonus and a $5 million option bonus payable in '09.
36
Shawn Marion
Miami Heat (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 42$16,440,000
$600,000
$17,040,000
One and done? The Matrix has a player option for next season, the final year of his contract. If he declines the $17.2 million salary, he's free to close the book on his 16 games with Miami.
37
Todd Helton
Colorado Rockies (MLB)
Last Year's Rank: 35$16,600,000
$300,000
$16,900,000
Currently in the fifth year of his nine-year, $121 million deal, the first baseman's '08 salary is more than $7 million higher than his next closest teammate, '07 NLCS MVP Matt Holliday.
38
Ray Allen
Boston Celtics (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 43$16,000,000
$750,000
$16,750,000
Once upon a time, Allen was part of another "Big Three" in Milwaukee, along with Glenn Robinson and Sam Cassell. All three combined earned a paltry $24.2 million in '01-02.
39
Rashard Lewis
Orlando Magic (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: NR$15,600,000
$1,075,000
$16,675,000
Lewis joins the 50 this year thanks to the sign-and-trade deal he inked with Seattle last summer before the Sonics shipped him to Orlando: a six-year contract worth $118 million.
40
Antawn Jamison
Washington Wizards (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 45$16,360,095
$270,000
$16,630,095
Falling dominoes in D.C.? Jamison is officially a free agent now that his six-year, $80 million contract is up. Teammate Gilbert Arenas says he'll opt out if the Wiz don't re-sign his pal.
41
(Tie)
Albert Pujols
St. Louis Cardinals (MLB)
Last Year's Rank: 44$13,000,000
$3,500,000
$16,500,000
The Cards' four starting infielders, Pujols, Adam Kennedy, César Izturis and Troy Glaus will cost the team about $32 million in '08 -- or around one-third of St. Louis' entire payroll.
41
(Tie)
Carlos Delgado
New York Mets (MLB)
Last Year's Rank: 48$16,000,000
$500,000
$16,500,000
The Marlins are reportedly paying $4 million of Delgado's salary this year as part of the '05 trade that sent him to the Mets -- more than any current Florida player earns.
41
(Tie)
Andy Pettitte
New York Yankees (MLB)
Last Year's Rank: 38$16,000,000
$500,000
$16,500,000
Five years ago, Pettitte was part of a five-man Yankee rotation earning a combined $45 million. Now, he and Mike Mussina (at $11 million) are the only ones making more than $4 million.
44
Jared Allen
Minnesota Vikings (NFL)
Last Year's Rank: NR$16,250,069
$150,000
$16,400,069
The talented defensive end's off-the-field troubles didn't scare off the Vikings, who signed Allen to a six-year, $72 million deal, including a $15.5 million up-front signing bonus.
45
Ben Wallace
Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 36$15,500,000
$750,000
$16,250,000
The Cavs shot-blocker's new sneaker, which was released last November, is manufactured by Stephon Marbury's discount "Starbury" brand -- the "Big Ben" retails for $15.
46
Jason Schmidt
Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)
Last Year's Rank: 41$16,000,000
$250,000
$16,250,000
Schmidt, Rafael Furcal and Andruw Jones -- the Dodgers' three highest-paid players at a combined $43 million in '08 -- have each spent at least two weeks on the DL this season.
47
Elton Brand
Los Angeles Clippers (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: NR$15,344,000
$500,000
$15,844,000
Rescue Dawn, the $10 million indie film starring Christian Bale that Brand co-produced, couldn't break even in theaters -- but is a cult hit on video. It's made around $20 million in DVD sales.
48
Amaré Stoudemire
Phoenix Suns (NBA)
Last Year's Rank: 50$13,260,000
$2,500,000
$15,760,000
From one Valley of the Sun celeb to another: Amaré bought Cardinals QB Matt Leinart's home for $1.9 million last November, to add to his three other Phoenix-area properties.
49
Jim Furyk
Pro Golf
Last Year's Rank: NR$4,754,046
$11,000,000
$15,754,046
Furyk becomes the first golfer to break the Tiger-Phil duopoly on the 50 thanks to endorsement deals that include Marquis Jet, Johnny Walker Collection and electric-utility company Exelon.
50
Eli Manning
New York Giants (NFL)
Last Year's Rank: NR$8,450,000
$7,000,000
$15,450,000
The Fortunate 50's Mr. Irrelevant? Hardly. After his Super Bowl XLII MVP performance, Eli's handlers say he has opportunities on the table to more than double his endorsement portfolio.

College Gameday Final Recap

A couple of teams looked championship ready -- and one was Ohio State
Guess Who's Back?
Alabama coach Nick Saban spoke after the No. 2 Crimson Tide's 24-20 victory over Ole Miss on Saturday about his team's lack of self-discipline.
"Discipline is doing what you're supposed to do the way you're supposed to do it when it's supposed to get done," Saban said. "But self-discipline means you can do it in any circumstance whether you feel like it or not. You make yourself do it."
Listen to the coach. Don't give in to the dread in the pit of your BCS stomach that the Big Ten champion and the Pacific-10 champion have reasserted themselves in the national championship race.
You know you want to scream, "Not Ohio State! Not again!" Don't do it.
You know you want to penalize USC, not reward it, for winning at Washington State 69-0. Don't do it. Had the game been in Los Angeles instead of Pullman, the score may not have gotten out of control. Trojans coach Pete Carroll could have emptied his bench. With only 64 players on the USC travel roster, per Pac-10 rules, Carroll didn't have a bench to empty.
But let's get back to Ohio State. The fear that the Buckeyes have rewritten their name on the short list of BCS Championship Game contenders is based not only on their back-to-back losses in the past two of these games, but also the 35-3 beatdown Ohio State suffered against USC last month. Your fears may be valid. But consider:
First of all, Ohio State beat a very good Michigan State team 45-7 in East Lansing. As much as it may hurt to say it, the Buckeyes on Saturday looked like one of the best teams in the country.
Second of all, Ohio State next plays Penn State. The winner of their game in Columbus on Saturday night will be one of the best teams in the country, even if it's leading the Big Ten.
And third, with Missouri and BYU eliminated from the national championship race, there is that much more room for an Ohio State to re-enter the discussion.
The Nittany Lions overcame a sluggish start, scoring the last 39 points of the game to defeat Michigan 46-17. Penn State performed the mirror image of Alabama by starting slow and finishing fast. That will always be more impressive than a team that starts fast and hangs on.
"We're not just focused on winning," Saban said after the game. "We're focused on how we win."
If it will make you feel better, concentrate on the way Texas toyed with Missouri in a 56-31 victory Saturday night. When the Longhorns ascended to No. 1 last week, they earned a combined 83 of 126 first-place votes between the AP and coaches polls. Between their performance and that of the Tide, the Longhorns received 123 of 126 first-place votes Sunday. One team looked championship-ready again this week. Ohio State did too, and if the Buckeyes find a way to upset Penn State, you may as well get ready to deal with them again.
A New Way Of Offense

It wasn't exactly how Barry Switzer would have called the offense.
There were no wishbone elements in Oklahoma's offensive attack. But other elements of the Sooners' offensive onslaught were eerily reminiscent of how "The King" would have done it -- mainly in its sheer domination.
Oklahoma erupted for 674 yards of total offense -- its best performance in more than 20 years -- as the Sooners cruised to a 45-31 win over Kansas.
But unlike some of Switzer's run-heavy efforts back in the day, this one was a bow to modern offensive philosophy. Sam Bradford threw for a school-record 468 yards and the much-maligned offensive line paved the way for 206 rushing yards as the Sooners cruised to a convincing victory.
"We always want more," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said of his team's 97-snap offensive binge. "I would have liked to have had three more snaps and just kept moving and gotten to 100. I would have liked to have had a couple of plays back. But I guess that's being a little greedy."
Bradford broke the previous school record of 429 yards set by his quarterbacks coach, Josh Heupel. But Bradford was happier about his team's ability to bounce back from its late struggles last week against Texas than any individual accomplishment.
"Obviously, getting the numbers are nice, but the most important thing is come out here and get a win," Bradford said. "Our offensive line did a great job, we got the running game going and I had all the time in the world back there to pass."

Harper's Return

Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper said he was told one thing by his new coach before he took the field against Georgia Tech on Saturday: "Go out there and lead."
Easier said than done.
In less than a week, the Tigers had lost just about all of the offensive leadership they had, and in less than a quarter on Saturday, they lost their starting quarterback. Again.
Harper, who was benched in one of the final decisions former coach Tommy Bowden made for the program, took over for an injured Willy Korn and made enough plays for his team to beat Georgia Tech. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they also made enough mistakes not to.
Despite the 21-17 home loss to the Yellow Jackets, interim head coach Dabo Swinney said Harper earned the starting job back for their Nov. 1 trip to Boston College.

McCoy's Cold Shoulder
In a team meeting Thursday night, Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt gave LeSean McCoy a little history lesson.
He told McCoy that Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is where Tony Dorsett set the all-time NCAA career rushing record in 1976. Wannstedt wasn't just trying to further his sophomore running back's education; the implication that McCoy needed a big game on the same turf was pretty clear.
McCoy didn't set any records in Saturday's 42-21 win over the Midshipmen. But maybe he would have if he could have caught his breath. The man they call "Shady" overpowered the Midshipmen, rolling to a season-high 156 yards and three touchdowns on just 18 carries.
All but 28 of his yards came in the first half. Dealing with a chest cold, he touched the ball only four times in the second half and sat out the entire fourth quarter.
"I couldn't breathe tonight," he said. "I was gasping for air. It sucks because I really couldn't get in there too much."

THREE OBSERVATIONS FROM THE WEEKEND
1. Lane Kiffin is going to Clemson, unless it's Syracuse, Tennessee, Washington or campuses yet unnamed. Listen, Kiffin performed well as an offensive assistant at USC. He's a personable guy. But just because he became the latest victim of the Al Davis Freak Show, he is the hottest head-coaching candidate? Kiffin took the Raiders job! That's a question about his judgment. Kiffin lost in Oakland. If I'm an athletic director, explain to me again why I'm chasing him.

2. Wake Forest, Boston College, Florida State and Maryland are tied for the ACC Atlantic lead with 2-1 records. BC is the only one of the four that hasn't yet played any of the other three, and two of those three games will be on the road (at FSU, at Wake). The Seminoles and the Eagles have played the most consistent football of the four. Their game is in Tallahassee on Nov. 15.

3. UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow has coached three Heisman winners, but his work with former third-stringer Kevin Craft may be the best of a distinguished career. The Bruins are 3-4 after beating Stanford 23-20, scoring 10 points on two-minute drives. They ran 13 plays in 2:30 before halftime to go 88 yards and pick up a field goal. They went 87 yards in 10 plays over 2:21 to score the winning touchdown, a 7-yard pass from Craft to Cory Harkey, with 10 seconds to play. That's good coaching.

HELMET STICKERS
RECE DAVIS
McCoy The numbers Colt McCoy has put up against Oklahoma and Missouri the past two weeks are just plain sick. I don't remember anybody operating at such an efficiency level as he is right now.

Helmet Stickers Go To:
• QB Brian Brunner, CMU
20-28, 346 yards, TD vs. WMU
• QB Mike Hartline, UK
239 yards, 2 TDs in final 4:15 vs. Arkansas

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOU HOLTZ
I just feel like there's something special about this Penn State team. They're as balanced as any team in the country. They play smart, have a precision passing game, can run the ball and play great defense.

Helmet Stickers Go To:
• WR Brennan Marion, Tulsa
233 rec yards, 3 TDs vs. UTEP
• QB Chris Turner, Maryland
28-41, 321 yards, TD vs. Wake Forest

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARK MAY
To me, Texas Tech still has major problems on defense. Of all the top 10 teams that have a good chance of falling off in the second half, I think the Red Raiders are the leading candidate

Helmet Stickers Go To:
• QB Colt McCoy, Texas
29-32, 337 yards, 4 total TDs vs. Missouri
• RB Shonn Greene, Iowa
217 rush yards, 4 TDs vs. Wisconsin

The Best and Worst from the 1st Half of the College Football Season

The Best and Worst from the 1st Half of the College Football Season

from www.rivals.com
my picks are in bold!!!!
Consider this a return of tradition.
If last year represented the season of the upstart, with Missouri and Kansas challenging for national supremacy, this year represents a major show of force from the old guard.
Midway through the season, Texas, Alabama and Penn State fill the top three spots in each of the two major polls. Anyone who hadn't been paying attention to college football since the late 1970s could open their newspapers and figure that nothing has changed over the past 30 years.
In reality, plenty has changed in the past three months. Here's a look at some of the major happenings – good and bad – over the first half of the 2008 season.


5 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE'VE LEARNED
1. THE BIG 12 IS THE NATION'S BEST CONFERENCE. Yeah, yeah, defense wins championships. But the offenses in this conference would cause a video game to short-circuit. Never before has one conference had so much firepower. As we turn the corner on the halfway mark, the Big 12 has four teams –Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State – ranked in the top 10. And Missouri and Kansas are in the top 20.
2. ALABAMA IS BACK, BABY! In only his second season in Tuscaloosa, Nick Saban has the Crimson Tide in the thick of the national title chase. This decade, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops (2000), Ohio State's Jim Tressel (2002) and Florida's Urban Meyer (2006) won BCS titles in their second seasons on the job. Hmmm.
3. THE BIG EAST IS A BUNGLED MESS. After two over-the-rainbow, yellow-brick-road fantasy seasons, the Big East has turned into a pumpkin. There will be no Cinderella this fall – just a bunch of average-looking stepsister teams. Is it too late to take away that automatic BCS bid?
4. WE HAVE A BCS-BUSTER IN OUR MIDST. And it likely will be either BYU or Utah. The two meet Nov. 22 in Salt Lake City in a season that has seen several other non-"Big Six" squads also cause some heads to turn. Boise State, TCU, East Carolina, Fresno State and Ball State are either currently ranked or have been at some point this season, and Tulsa is another that could have a perfect regular season.
5. THE NEW 40-SECOND PLAY CLOCK HAS HAD AN IMPACT. The folks cfbstats.com have figured out that the average number of plays per game is down about nine from last season, and games are about 13 minutes shorter.


5 THINGS WE'RE STILL WAITING TO LEARN
1. WILL THE BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME FEATURE TWO ONE-LOSS TEAMS? Last year, two-loss LSU found itself playing for the title – and winning. We don't think a two-loss team will make it to Miami this January. But there's a good chance the BCS Championship Game will have at least one one-loss team.
2. IS NOTRE DAME BACK? The Irish are 4-2. But, honestly, who have they beaten? Even if the Fighting Irish march on to finish 9-3, we won't know how good this program is until next fall.
3. WHO IS THE HEISMAN FRONT-RUNNER? It's a free-for-all right now with no clear front-runner. Here's a good bet: The winner likely will come from the Big 12, which features more candidates than any league in Texas' Colt McCoy, Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, Missouri's Chase Daniel, Texas Tech's Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree and Oklahoma State's Zac Robinson.
4. WILL MICHIGAN SHOW A PULSE? Everyone knew the Wolverines would struggle as the program transitioned to Rich Rodriguez. But no one envisioned the muddled mess that has unfolded. Michigan's 33-year bowl streak looks poised to end.
5. WHO'S THE BEST TEAM IN THE NATION? Texas is the current No. 1. But Georgia, USC and Oklahoma also have held the top spot, and this game of hot potato likely continues in a season that doesn't appear to have a dominant team.


5 BEST MOVES
1. PENN STATE GOES BACK TO THE FUTURE. The introduction of the "Spread HD" offense with Daryll Clark at quarterback looks an awful lot like the attack that helped Michael Robinson lead Penn State to a Big Ten and Orange Bowl title three years ago. Penn State has returned to national title contention thanks in large part to a high-powered, multi-faceted offense that is averaging 45.3 points per game.
2. OHIO STATE HANDS ITS OFFENSE TO TERRELLE PRYOR. It took some guts to hand the starting quarterback job to a true freshman, particularly since incumbent starter Todd Boeckman had directed the Buckeyes to a BCS Championship Game appearance. But Ohio State has looked like an entirely different team with Pryor at the helm.
3. BOISE STATE PUTS ITS FAITH IN A FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK. Redshirt freshman Kellen Moore wasn't the most experienced candidate for the Broncos' starting quarterback position, but he clearly was the best guy for the job. Moore ranks sixth in the nation in passing efficiency and has Boise State in the hunt for a second BCS appearance in the past three seasons.
4. TEXAS TECH COACH MIKE LEACH'S FOURTH-DOWN GAMBLE AGAINST NEBRASKA. Texas Tech faced fourth-and-5 from its 36 in a tie game late in the fourth quarter against Nebraska. Just about anyone else would have punted in that situation, but Graham Harrell instead threw a 47-yard completion to Michael Crabtree to set up a go-ahead touchdown. The play didn't decide the game – Nebraska scored a touchdown of its own before losing 37-31 in overtime – but it symbolized the go-for-broke approach that has made Leach such a success.
5. VIRGINIA TECH SWITCHING GEARS AND HANDING THE QUARTERBACK JOB TO TYROD TAYLOR. The Hokies should have never considered redshirting Taylor in the first place, but give Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer credit for changing his mind instead of stubbornly sticking to a mistaken preseason decision. The Hokies are playing as well as anyone in the ACC now that Taylor is running the offense.


5 WORST MOVES
1. AUBURN SWITCHING TO THE SPREAD OFFENSE. Auburn has the type of championship-caliber defense that could have made the Tigers a top-10 team as long as their offense was merely competent. Switching to the spread when you don't have players suited to that offense assured Auburn would waste all the talent it had assembled on the other side of the ball.
Auburn's experiment with the spread offense ended sooner than expected when coordinator Tony Franklin was dismissed following a lost to Vanderbilt.
2. VIRGINIA TECH'S PRESEASON DECISION TO REDSHIRT TYROD TAYLOR. Virginia Tech might be undefeated right now if it had played Taylor in its season-opening loss to East Carolina. At least the Hokies realized they made a mistake and corrected themselves early in the season.
3. WEST VIRGINIA'S CLOCK MANAGEMENT AGAINST COLORADO. West Virginia was driving for the potential winning score late in the fourth quarter against Colorado, but the Mountaineers allowed too much time to tick away and had to settle for overtime. The Mountaineers' eventual loss to Colorado put even more pressure on first-year coach Bill Stewart.
4. SOUTH CAROLINA'S DECISION TO GIVE THE STARTING QUARTERBACK JOB TO TOMMY BEECHER. Giving the job to Beecher at the start of the season only created more uncertainty at a position that has caused plenty of headaches for South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier. The Gamecocks' quarterback carousel kept on spinning after Beecher threw four interceptions in a season-opening 34-0 win over N. C. State. He's now the third-teamer.
5. THE ACC MEDIA MAKING CLEMSON AN OVERWHELMING CONFERENCE FAVORITE AND NAMING CLEMSON QB CULLEN HARPER THE PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR. Both these choices seemed obvious at the time, but the moves look rather foolish – and for obvious reasons – in retrospect.


5 BIGGEST SURPRISES1. ALABAMA IN THE TRENCHES. The Crimson Tide would be in the national championship game if the season ended today thanks to offensive and defensive lines that dominated Clemson and Georgia. The offensive line was supposed to be good – but not this good. The defensive line, though, has performed way above expectations because of junior tackle Terrence Cody.
2. PENN STATE'S OFFENSE. Quarterback Daryll Clark is becoming the best Heisman candidate outside of the Big 12, Derrick Williams is looking like the No. 1 overall prep prospect he was coming into college in 2005 and the Nittany Lions are a national title contender.
3. THE GEEKS SHALL INHERIT THE TURF. Vanderbilt and Northwestern started 5-1, Duke is 3-2. Stanford is 4-3. Finally, schools that can say the phrase "student-athlete" with a straight face.
4. CLEMSON'S COLLAPSE. Should this really qualify as a surprise? Unmet expectations have cost Tommy Bowden, Rob Spence and Cullen Harper their jobs.
5. AUBURN'S OFFENSE. The Tony Franklin experiment failed miserably. The Tigers were a top-10 team in the preseason, but they have lost three of the last four, including losses to Vanderbilt and Arkansas.


5 HOTTEST SEATS
1. JOE GLENN, WYOMING. He's ready to join a growing club of failed Cowboys coaches since Joe Tiller left in 1996. To be fair, this is one of the most difficult jobs in America.
2. TYRONE WILLINGHAM, WASHINGTON. It's not if but when he will be asked to turn in his keys. When he leaves, Willingham can know he has left the place better than he found it.
3. GREG ROBINSON, SYRACUSE. Mercifully, one of the most painful eras in this glorious school's history will end – with a thud, of course.
4. TOMMY TUBERVILLE, AUBURN. Less than a year ago, Tuberville signed an extension. Now, a torch-carrying mob is on his doorstep following an epic offensive meltdown.
5. PHILLIP FULMER, TENNESSEE. It's painfully obvious this program is a notch below the SEC elite – and has been for a few years. But how do you deftly show a school icon the door?


5 HOTTEST COACHES
1. WILL MUSCHAMP, TEXAS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR. Meet this year's "it" assistant. He will be a head coach somewhere this time next year. Clemson? Washington? Auburn? It's good to be Muschamp.
2. LANE KIFFIN, UNEMPLOYED. He's the only coach on this list who doesn't currently have a job. But that should work in his favor. He presumably can pick and choose the best fit. He has a great coaching pedigree and did great work as a USC assistant before heading off to the dysfunctional mess that is the NFL's Oakland Raiders. Getting fired by Al Davis last month means Kiffin is available now.
3. MIKE LOCKSLEY, ILLINOIS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR. Have you seen quarterback Juice Williams and the Illini's offense? The big-time production is because of "Locks," who doubles as a standout recruiter.
4. TODD GRAHAM, TULSA. First, he took Rice to its first bowl since 1960 in his only season (2006) with the Owls. Now, he has Tulsa poised to finish unbeaten in just his second season with the Golden Hurricane.
5. KYLE WHITTINGHAM, UTAH. First it was Urban Meyer. Now, it's Whittingham. He has perhaps the top non-"Big Six" program in the nation and his Utes are primed to go unbeaten.


5 KEY INJURIES
1. TB CHRIS WELLS, OHIO STATE: Wells injured his right foot in the opener, which caused him to miss the USC game. It seems extremely unlikely his presence would have meant a Buckeyes win in Los Angeles, but the final score wouldn't have been as embarrassing.
2. QB JAKE LOCKER, WASHINGTON. The Huskies were bad with Locker. With him out until at least November, Washington's season is unsalvageable – along with Ty Willingham's job security.
3. LB QUENTIN COTTON, EAST CAROLINA. The Pirates have lost three in a row and allowed 19 more points per game after Cotton's season-ending knee injury. Coincidence? No.
4. LB REED WILLIAMS, WEST VIRGINIA. Williams never made a full recovery from two offseason shoulder surgeries, but the Mountaineers already had lost twice by the time they decided to redshirt him.
5. WR DANTE LOVE, BALL STATE. Love, the nation's leading receiver at the time of his injury, suffered a frightening spinal injury against Indiana on Sept. 20. Ball State is undefeated, but Love won't play football again.


5 BEST GAMES
1. TEXAS 45, OKLAHOMA 35, OCT. 11: The Sooners kept taking the lead and the Longhorns kept rallying. OU led 35-30 midway through the fourth quarter, but the Longhorns scored two touchdowns to clinch victory in the highest-scoring game in the history of the series. Texas senior wide receiver Jordan Shipley had the best performance of his career with nine catches for 122 yards and a 97-yard kickoff return, and quarterback Colt McCoy passed for 277 yards. OU quarterback Sam Bradford threw five touchdown passes in the loss.
2. SOUTH FLORIDA 37, KANSAS 34, SEPT. 13: USF rallied from an early 20-3 deficit, then Kansas stormed back from a 34-20 deficit in the fourth quarter. But with the score tied, Jayhawks quarterback Todd Reesing – who threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns – was intercepted by Nate Allen, who returned the pick 40 yards to Kansas' 27 with just 30 seconds left. Freshman kicker Maikon Bonani, who was making his college debut, converted a 43-yard field goal as time expired.
3. UTAH 31, OREGON STATE 28, OCT. 2: Aiming to follow up on an upset of USC the week before, Oregon State led 28-20 after Lyle Moevao hit Brady Camp with a 2-yard pass with just 2:18 remaining. But Utah quarterback Brian Johnson rallied the Utes to 11 points in the final two minutes – the last three coming on Louis Sakoda's game-winning 37-yard field goal on the final play.
4. BYU 28, WASHINGTON 27, SEPT. 6: Neither team led by more than seven points, and Washington was on the verge of forcing overtime when quarterback Jake Locker capped a 17-play, 76-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run with two seconds remaining. But Locker threw the ball into the air in celebration and was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, forcing the Huskies to attempt a 35-yard extra point try to force overtime. BYU defensive end Jan Jorgensen blocked the kick, allowing the Cougars to escape.
5. LSU 26, AUBURN 21, SEPT. 20: Strange occurrences and big plays are a staple in this series, and that trend continued. Auburn took a 14-3 lead when defensive end Gabe Mckenzie intercepted a pass by freshman Jarrett Lee and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter. LSU rallied to take the lead, but Auburn re-took it at 21-20 on Robert Dunn's 15-yard touchdown catch with just over six minutes to play. LSU, though, came back and Lee passed 18 yards to Brandon LaFell for the game-winning touchdown with 1:03 left.


5 BIGGEST UPSETS
1. OREGON STATE 27, USC 21, SEPT. 25: Freshman running back Jacquizz Rodgers knifed through USC's usually stingy defense for 186 yards and two touchdowns. The Beavers held off a late USC rally to post their first win over a top-ranked team since beating the Trojans in 1967.
2. OLE MISS 31, FLORIDA 30, SEPT. 27: Rebels defensive end Kentrell Lockett blocked a potential game-tying extra point in the fourth quarter, and the Ole Miss defense stopped Tim Tebow on fourth-and-1 in the final minute to topple the Gators. Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead rushed for a touchdown and threw two touchdown passes, including an 86-yard connection with Shay Hodge for a 31-24 lead with 5:26 left.
3. MARYLAND 35, CALIFORNIA 27, SEPT. 13: The Terrapins started the season by eking out a win over Delaware and losing to Middle Tennessee State. California opened with an impressive victory over Michigan State and a blowout of Washington State. So what happens? The Terps don't allow a touchdown in the first three quarters and take a 35-13 lead before the Golden Bears score two late touchdowns to make it close.
4. UNLV 23, ARIZONA STATE 20 (OT), SEPT. 13: Maybe the host Sun Devils were looking ahead to a matchup with Georgia. Or maybe they just didn't take UNLV seriously. After all, UNLV had lost 21 of its past 22 games. Whatever the case, Arizona State blew a 10-point lead and Phillip Payne's touchdown reception with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter forced overtime. Then, UNLV's Malo Taumua blocked Thomas Weber's field-goal attempt in OT to finish off the upset.
5. TOLEDO 13, MICHIGAN 10, OCT. 11: While this certainly isn't an elite Michigan team, this season's Wolverines certainly shouldn't have lost to this season's Rockets – especially in Ann Arbor. Toledo came in with one win and had lost by 19 at home to Florida International. Michigan's offensive problems were on full display against a bad Toledo defense.

5 MUST-SEE GAMES THE REST OF THE WAY
We're listing these chronologically:
1. GEORGIA AT LSU, OCT. 25: This is one of three big SEC games the rest of the way. But this also is the only one of those three that is guaranteed to have the winner staying in the national title hunt and the loser falling out of that same hunt. The others are Florida vs. Georgia in Jacksonville on Nov. 1 and Alabama at LSU on Nov. 8. Potentially, of course, Alabama-LSU could be a Southeast version of Armageddon – as long as you can drink Dixie beer and eat crawfish at Armageddon.
2. PENN STATE AT OHIO STATE, OCT. 25: Penn State looks to be the only team in the Big Ten with a realistic shot at playing for the national title.
3. TEXAS AT TEXAS TECH, NOV. 1: The Big 12 still has numerous big games left, but this could be the biggest Longhorns-Red Raiders game ever if both are unbeaten when they meet.
4. BYU AT UTAH, NOV. 22: If BYU wins Thursday at TCU, it appears as if this heated rivalry will feature two unbeaten teams. The Mountain West Conference would be on the line – and a BCS berth likely would be up for grabs, too.
5. OKLAHOMA AT OKLAHOMA STATE, NOV. 29: This one is a long way away. But can you imagine the, well, bedlam if Oklahoma State is unbeaten and playing its archrival in the "Bedlam Game"?