Friday, January 30, 2009

2009 NBA All-Star Reserves

I cannot believe that Orlando has three on the roster and the Cavs have LeBron and that is it. I believe the last time I checked, the Cavs have one of the top 2 records in the NBA. One player in the all-star game? How could anyone overlook Mo Williams and the year he is having? Plus, he just put up 41 the other night. He has taken a good Cleveland team and made them great. Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson, come on, they don't compare to Mo Williams this year.



2009 Reserves

EAST
Player Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Sel.
Paul Pierce Boston F 6-7 235 7th
Chris Bosh Toronto F/C 6-10 230 4th
Joe Johnson Atlanta G 6-7 235 3rd
Danny Granger Indiana F 6-8 225 1st
Devin Harris New Jersey G 6-3 185 1st
Rashard Lewis Orlando F 6-10 215 2nd
Jameer Nelson Orlando G 6-0 190 1st
Coach: TBD
WEST
Player Team Pos. Ht. Wt. Sel.
Dirk Nowitzki Dallas F 7-0 245 8th
Pau Gasol L.A. Lakers C 7-0 250 2nd
Tony Parker San Antonio G 6-2 180 3rd
Brandon Roy Portland G 6-6 211 2nd
Shaquille O'Neal Phoenix C 7-1 325 15th
Chauncey Billups Denver G 6-3 202 4th
David West New Orleans F 6-9 240 2nd
Coach: Phil Jackson, L.A. Lakers

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

2009 NBA All-Star Votes




Final NBA All-Star balloting
EASTERN CONFERENCE


Forwards: x-LeBron James, Cleveland, 2,940,823; x-Kevin Garnett, Boston, 2,066,833; Yi Jianlian, New Jersey, 1,813,829; Paul Pierce, Boston, 1,238,763; Chris Bosh, Toronto, 1,101,052; Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando, 632,051; Shawn Marion, Miami, 405,573; Danny Granger, Indiana, 365,810; Josh Smith, Atlanta, 321,129; Tayshaun Prince, Detroit, 274,540; Michael Beasley, Miami, 273,471.

Guards: x-Dwyane Wade, Miami, 2,741,413; x-Allen Iverson, Detroit, 1,804,649; Vince Carter, New Jersey, 1,239,613; Devin Harris, New Jersey, 1,182,406; Luke Ridnour, Milwaukee, 1,039,902; Ray Allen, Boston, 851,205; Gilbert Arenas, Washington, 635,540; Derrick Rose, Chicago, 474,384; Jose Calderon, Toronto, 445,584; Joe Johnson, Atlanta, 420,210; Jameer Nelson, Orlando, 354,773.

Centers: x-Dwight Howard, Orlando, 3,150,181; Kendrick Perkins, Boston, 621,709; Rasheed Wallace, Detroit, 402,991; Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia, 396,119; Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee, 357,997; Jermaine O Brendan Haywood, Washington, 291,490; Ben Wallace, Cleveland, 263,862; Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland, 219,697; Emeka Okafor, Charlotte, 212,539.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: x-Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 2,578,168; x-Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix, 1,460,429; Bruce Bowen, San Antonio, 1,392,398; Ron Artest, Houston, 1,362,565; Carmelo Anthony, Denver, 1,337,519; Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas, 1,107,926; Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers, 948,301; Shane Battier, Houston, 694,112; LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland, 497,550; Luis Scola, Houston, 405,851; Josh Howard, Dallas, 298,810.

Guards: x-Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers, 2,805,397; x-Chris Paul, New Orleans, 2,134,798; Tracy McGrady, Houston, 1,678,516; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 1,642,350; Tony Parker, San Antonio, 1,084,361; Steve Nash, Phoenix, 677,211; Jamal Crawford, Golden State, 665,038; Rafer Alston, Houston, 550,199; Jason Kidd, Dallas, 477,792; Brandon Roy, Portland, 468,688; Chauncey Billups, Denver, 466,073.

Centers: x-Yao Ming, Houston, 2,532,958; Shaquille O'Neal, Phoenix, 1,850,018; Andrew Bynum, L.A. Lakers, 549,131; Mehmet Okur, Utah, 437,106; Greg Oden, Portland, 359,318; Andris Biedrins, Golden State, 357,984; Al Jefferson, Minnesota, 310,643; Tyson Chandler, New Orleans, 242,356; Chris Kaman, L.A. Clippers, 231,928; Marcus Camby, L.A. Clippers, 158,491; Nick Collison, Oklahoma City, 154,309.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Big Ten Men's Basketball Standings and Statistics





BIG TEN Men's Basketball Standings - 2008-2009 Standings Through games of Jan 19, 2009

CONFERENCE OVERALL

School W-L PF PA W-L PF PA STRK
Michigan State 5-0 355 312 15-2 1305 1122 W11
Minnesota 4-2 400 385 16-2 1297 1124 L1
Illinois 3-2 334 300 15-3 1262 1026 L1
Ohio State 3-2 327 311 13-3 1083 934 W3
Purdue 3-2 334 304 14-4 1299 1032 W3
Wisconsin 3-2 338 310 12-5 1137 1026 L2
Penn State 3-3 386 398 14-5 1340 1183 W1
Michigan 3-3 380 383 13-5 1277 1130 L2
Iowa 1-4 281 319 11-7 1121 1029 L3
Northwestern 1-4 303 340 9-6 973 868 W1
Indiana 0-5 279 355 5-12 1022 1191 L8

Big Ten Men's Basketball Statistical Leaders
Winter 2008-2009

FG 3PT FT REBOUNDS MISC GAME HIGHS
PLAYER TEAM G GS PPG M A % M A % M A % OFF DEF TOT AST TO STL BLK PF Min. PTS AST REB
Harris, Manny MICH 18 18 18.8 105 236 .445 28 82 .341 101 116 .871 2.3 5.3 7.6 4.8 3.2 1.2 0.5 2.0 33.3 30 13 16
Battle, Talor PSU 19 19 18.6 108 246 .439 52 129 .403 85 122 .697 0.9 4.8 5.7 5.4 2.1 1.4 0.1 2.1 36.8 26 9 12
Turner, Evan OSU 16 16 15.9 85 173 .491 8 14 .571 77 102 .755 1.6 5.4 7.0 2.9 2.9 2.2 0.7 2.7 33.6 28 6 13
Sims, DeShawn MICH 18 12 15.6 114 229 .498 14 45 .311 38 53 .717 2.8 5.1 7.9 0.7 1.3 1.3 0.9 1.9 31.2 28 3 20
Morgan, Raymar MSU 17 16 14.8 92 155 .594 4 15 .267 63 89 .708 2.4 4.6 7.0 1.5 2.3 0.7 0.4 2.6 27.4 29 5 13
Cornley, Jamelle PSU 19 19 14.7 113 222 .509 8 17 .471 46 79 .582 1.9 4.7 6.6 1.2 1.8 0.3 0.2 1.7 34.4 26 3 12
Coble, Kevin NU 15 15 14.6 80 183 .437 24 64 .375 35 50 .700 0.7 4.5 5.2 2.4 1.1 1.4 0.7 1.6 33.9 25 7 8
Pringle, Stanley PSU 18 18 14.4 92 191 .482 39 78 .500 37 47 .787 0.6 2.2 2.8 3.3 1.6 1.4 0.2 2.2 29.9 26 7 5
Moore, Craig NU 15 15 14.1 70 149 .470 50 111 .450 22 30 .733 0.5 2.9 3.4 2.8 1.6 1.3 0.3 2.3 35.5 31 6 7
Westbrook, Lawrence MINN 17 12 14.1 77 170 .453 30 76 .395 55 65 .846 0.6 1.8 2.4 1.7 2.0 0.9 0.2 2.2 23.9 29 5 8
Moore, E'Twaun PUR 18 17 13.9 91 223 .408 27 79 .342 41 53 .774 1.0 3.8 4.8 2.9 2.9 1.3 0.5 2.5 31.8 22 7 11
Hummel, Robbie PUR 16 15 13.8 75 159 .472 31 76 .408 39 44 .886 1.8 6.1 7.9 2.4 1.1 1.0 0.6 2.9 29.0 25 4 14
Lucas, Kalin MSU 17 17 13.7 69 187 .369 18 45 .400 77 96 .802 0.4 1.5 1.8 5.4 1.3 1.1 0.2 1.4 30.8 24 10 6
Landry, Marcus WISC 17 17 13.1 85 168 .506 16 41 .390 37 56 .661 1.4 2.8 4.2 1.5 1.7 0.8 1.6 2.1 31.6 23 6 8
Dumes, Devan IU 17 16 12.5 70 180 .389 33 101 .327 40 60 .667 0.5 2.2 2.8 1.5 3.3 0.8 0.1 2.8 28.4 21 3 7
Johnson, JaJuan PUR 18 16 12.5 87 157 .554 0 1 .000 51 74 .689 2.2 3.4 5.7 0.6 0.9 0.6 2.3 1.6 24.4 21 2 15
Pritchard, Tom IU 17 17 12.4 78 150 .520 0 1 .000 55 89 .618 3.7 3.6 7.4 1.1 2.8 0.6 1.0 2.9 30.1 23 4 14
Hughes, Trevon WISC 17 17 12.2 65 152 .428 31 70 .443 47 65 .723 0.4 2.8 3.2 2.9 1.7 1.1 0.1 2.5 31.6 22 5 6
McCamey, Demetri ILL 18 16 11.8 78 181 .431 31 96 .323 25 31 .806 0.4 2.3 2.7 4.9 2.4 0.8 0.1 1.4 29.5 23 11 5
Meacham, Trent ILL 18 18 11.7 69 147 .469 41 91 .451 31 35 .886 0.4 2.2 2.6 2.7 1.1 0.8 0.1 2.3 30.6 23 6 6
Tisdale, Mike ILL 18 18 11.7 88 164 .537 1 1 1.000 33 42 .786 1.7 2.6 4.3 0.6 1.3 0.4 1.3 3.0 23.6 25 2 10
Bohannon, Jason WISC 17 17 11.5 58 143 .406 33 92 .359 46 57 .807 0.7 2.5 3.2 2.0 1.3 0.3 0.2 1.6 31.5 20 5 6
Davis, Mike ILL 18 18 11.3 86 162 .531 0 0 - 31 41 .756 1.6 5.7 7.3 1.7 1.2 0.7 0.4 1.8 28.7 28 5 14
Diebler, Jon OSU 16 16 10.8 55 132 .417 41 102 .402 22 30 .733 0.3 3.1 3.4 2.8 1.6 1.3 0.4 1.1 33.8 27 8 6
Gatens, Matt IOWA 18 18 10.7 64 127 .504 33 60 .550 32 33 .970 1.3 3.0 4.3 2.6 1.6 0.7 0.3 2.3 31.4 22 7 10
Buford, William OSU 16 8 10.6 62 141 .440 21 59 .356 25 28 .893 1.1 2.6 3.6 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.3 1.3 24.1 19 3 7
Tucker, Anthony IOWA 14 8 10.4 49 112 .438 38 89 .427 9 12 .750 0.6 2.4 3.0 0.6 0.9 0.5 0.0 0.9 21.1 24 2 10
Lucas-Perry, Laval MICH 9 5 10.3 26 65 .400 18 46 .391 23 32 .719 0.4 1.9 2.3 1.6 1.3 0.8 0.3 1.0 26.3 18 5 5
Leuer, Jon WISC 17 0 10.1 68 133 .511 10 28 .357 26 46 .565 1.7 2.7 4.4 0.8 1.2 0.7 0.9 2.1 20.2 19 2 8
Allen, Chris MSU 17 4 9.8 57 147 .388 30 84 .357 23 31 .742 0.8 1.8 2.5 1.4 1.2 0.5 0.0 1.5 19.9 21 4 7

Game Highs as of January 20th, 2009
-Craig Monroe from Northwestern has the game high for points with 31!
-Manny Harris from Michigan has the game high for assists with 13!
-DeShawn Sims from Michigan has the game high for rebounds with 20!
-

Friday, January 23, 2009

VIDEO OF PRESIDENT OBAMA BEING SWARN IN AS THE 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Video of President Obama taking the Oath of Office. Notice the slip up! Obama took it again later in the White House just to be sure.







Thursday, January 22, 2009

NBA MVP Race as of January 16th, 2009

I have to agree with hollinger's top 4 picks, but not the particular order he has them in right now. Obviously, LeBron is number one in almost everyone's mvp poll. I cannot agree with Chris Paul being number two. I saw him in action Friday night versus LeBron and company. CP3 did not compare to be on the same level as LeBron. maybe James is that good right now, but Paul is not close to number two on my ballot. Kobe should be number two and should of gained some votes after the thumping they put on the Cavs. Everyone I agree with, but I would give Danny Granger some props right now for MVP.


John Hollingers Picks for NBA MVP as of Jan. 16th. www.espn.com
Choose this season's All-NBA team, and it's pretty much cut and dried which five names you'll settle on: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. Sure, you could nitpick about the lack of a true power forward and argue for Tim Duncan or Chris Bosh, and you might hem and haw for about 0.8 seconds about somebody like Brandon Roy for the backcourt, but ultimately, these are the five on which you'll settle. Since we're almost halfway through the NBA season, it seems like a good time to examine the MVP race -- because these four are likely to be 1, 2, 3 and 4, in some order, on nearly every MVP ballot come April.
Here's how I size it up at the halfway post:

4. Kobe Bryant, Lakers. Right now, he's No. 4, but it comes with one big, fat asterisk we'll talk about in a moment.
First, the facts: Bryant is fifth in player efficiency rating going into Friday's games, with the three other players on this list all outpacing him, and while he's been an asset at the defensive end, he hasn't been the imposing force Orlando's Howard (or, I would argue, James) has become.
The best line on his résumé right now is 31-7 -- that's L.A.'s record, the best in the league. Should the Lakers beat Orlando on Friday night and Cleveland on Monday, they'll have a strong leg up in the race for the top overall playoff seed.
On the other hand, the Lakers are only fourth in the power rankings, which is a nice way of saying they probably need to play better if they want to keep the Magic and the Cavs in their rearview mirror.
Now, about that asterisk -- one reason Bryant has a shot at repeating as MVP is his strong second-half trend throughout his career. Check out his splits over the past several seasons, and you'll see he consistently plays much better from January to March than in the first couple of months.
As much as any player in the league, Bryant manages himself during the season and slowly dials it up as the season progresses, then takes it down a notch in April to warm up for the playoffs. If he follows that trend this season, and if the Lakers finish with the league's best record, he has a shot at repeating.

3. Dwight Howard, Magic. Howard is ahead of Bryant in PER by a smidgeon, but the bigger reason to rate him ahead of Bryant is his defense. While three of Orlando's five starters aren't exactly renowned for being shut-down defenders, the Magic are third in the league in defensive efficiency.
That's a tribute to Howard's ability to shut down the middle and dominate the boards -- he is second in rebounding and leads the league by a wide margin in blocks. Plus, he's been able to do it while avoiding fouls and staying on the court. Howard averages 36.2 minutes per game -- just as many as Bryant -- which is rare for a big man.
And of course, he's as important to the offense as to the defense. Even when he isn't scoring, he's allowing the Orlando 3-point brigade to bomb away because of all the attention he draws in the middle. Now if he could just make foul shots -- that 58.0 percent from the stripe might keep him from the MVP award.

2. Chris Paul, Hornets. I felt a little weird about this one because the Hornets haven't quite lived up to the expectations some had for them this season … and because the three other players on this list are on the teams with the league's three best records … and because Paul, defensively, isn't on par with the three other players, even though he leads the league in steals.
But I have to put him here anyway, because he's been so spectacularly good in carrying the Hornets to what might be the No. 2 seed in the West -- even though the bench is terrible, Tyson Chandler is having a bad season and he has no backup. The Hornets somehow are No. 5 in the power rankings despite all that, and while it's a distant fifth, it would be more like 20th if Paul weren't around.
He is second in the league in PER and, in fact, his 30.53 mark will be among the best of all time if he can maintain it the entire season. In addition to leading the league in assists and steals, his true shooting percentage of 60.1 is phenomenal, considering how much offensive responsibility he has, while his 8.8 rebound rate is unbelievable for a 6-0 point guard -- he's outrebounding Danny Granger, Bryant, Wade, Ron Artest, Vince Carter, Roy, Thaddeus Young, Hedo Turkoglu, Richard Jefferson and Josh Howard, among others.

1. LeBron James, Cavaliers. Because James is playing fewer minutes than usual, people might not realize what a historic season he's having. The decline in playing time has resulted in a dip in his per-game averages, but in terms of efficiency, he's never been better.
In fact, one could argue nobody has ever been better.
At 32.09 going into Friday's games, James is on pace to put up the best PER of all time. Yes, better than any of Michael Jordan's seasons (his 31.70 in 1987-88 is the current gold standard). We're halfway through the season now, so we can't just write it off to a hot start -- James has a serious shot at setting a new mark.
He also is the lone star on the team that is No. 1 in the power rankings, tops in the Eastern Conference standings over the NBA champs and set to post one of the top all-time scoring margins (the Cavs currently are winning by 11.9 points per game; Jordan's 1995-96 Bulls and the 1971-72 Lakers were at plus-12.3).
The Cavs also are the league's top defensive team, and James has been a huge part of the success there as well -- he is averaging 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks, and has improved by leaps and bounds as an individual defender, as everyone saw when he shut down Paul Pierce in the showdown against Boston on Jan. 9.
So while his team doesn't have the league's best record at the moment, and while James' scoring average is down nearly three points from last season, don't let it fool you. Both he and his team have posted a truly historic first half of the season, and if they keep it up for three more months, there's little doubt who will be the MVP.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

NFL 2009 Mock Draft Projections as of January 19th

1. Detroit Lions: Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia

This is going to be a very tough pick any way you swing it. Some people love Stafford as the top QB in the 2009 NFL Mock Draft because they say he is the most NFL Ready. Another pick people are saying a lot is the top OT in the draft be it Andre Smith or Michael Oher. I like both of these options but I think they need someone to be the face of their team in the 2009 season and I think Stafford will be the best at that. For a while I had Bradford as the top QB and player in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft but I don’t think he has the attitude the Lions will be looking for with the face of their franchise..

2. St. Louis Rams: Andre Smith, OT, Bama

The Rams really need a great offensive Tackle to Anchor their O-line and replace the great Orlando Pace for the 2009 NFL Season. You saw how much Bama struggled without him in their bowl game. I have him ranked as the top O-Line in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft and personally I think he is the best player in the 2009 NFL Draft.


3. KC Chiefs: Everette Brown, DE, FSU

The Defensive end out of Florida State looks to be the best Defensive end in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Chiefs were awful last year in rushing the passer and he could be a great presence off the end. This is why I have Brown as the first Defensive end and 3rd overall pick in my 2009 NFL Mock Draft.


4. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Crabtree, WR, TTU

Seattle has struggled this past year and a lot of it was due to a poor offensive line and lack of talent at the WR position. So I have them taking an awesome play maker in the 2009 NFL Draft. He will be a great weapon no matter where he goes because he is both big and fast with awesome hands.



5. Cleveland Browns: Aaron Curry, OLB, WF

The Browns have not fixed their secondary in the last couple years and this is one of their biggest problems. However, I don’t think their is a CB good enough to go this hi so I have them taking a freakish athlete here. Curry can put his hand down and play end as well as play OLB in the 2009 NFL Season.









6. Cincinnati Bengals: Eugene Monroe, OT, UVA

The Bengals could go one of many ways but I say they need to build their line and protect their QB before they make any other adjustments. I think the Bengals have a lot of potential they just need to improve their protection and get their running game going in the 2009 NFL Season.


7. Oakland Raiders: Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss

The Raiders actually make a smart choice in the 2009 NFL Draft for once and they take an offensive line to help protect all of their potential stars. I think that Oher could be a great pro for years to come and could really help the Raiders this up coming year.


8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Mizzou

The Jaguars don’t have any great play makers at the WR position for Garrard to throw to. I think that Maclin is not only a good player but he is a tremendous athlete. He can run reverses, return kicks and beat corners deep for Td’s. This may be a little high to take him but the Jags really need a play maker like Maclin to be good in 2009.


9. Green Bay Packers: Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, PSU

The Packers are getting older in their secondary as well as along their defensive line. Aaron Maybin has the skill set to both play Defensive end as well as OLB in the NFL. I have him ranked as my second defensive end in the this 2009 NFL Mock Draft. If he can get up about 20 lbs he could be an elite NFL Player.


10. San Francisco 49ers: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

The 49ers get a great QB who could be the top pick in the NFL Draft with the 10th overall Pick. They don’t have a QB for the future but Mark Sanchez is at the top of his game right now and looking to be a top 15 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. I have him as the second best QB in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft.

11. Buffalo Bills: Brian Orakpo, DE, UT

The Bills get one of the best Defensive ends in the 2009 NFL Draft here. I have Orakpo ranked as my third best defensive end in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft. However, he is more of a 4-3 defensive end and Aaron Maybin is more of a 3-4 defensive end.

12. Denver Broncos: Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC

Ok everyone is telling me that the Broncos are going defense with their first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. In this 2009 NFL Mock Draft I believe that they will go defense but I wouldn’t be surprised if they went after one of the top RB’s in the 2009 NFL Mock Draft.

13. Washington Redskins: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

The Redskins get a very good Offensive Tackle with this pick for the 2009 NFL Season. He will both help them in the passing and running game with his size and quick feet.

14 . New Orleans Saints: James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio St.

The Saints get one of the best ILB in the 2009 NFL Mock Draft. This 2009 NFL Mock Draft has the Saints building their defense from the inside out in the 2009 NFL Draft.

15. Houston Texans: William Moore,S, Mizzou

Moore is a great Athlete who will be a big Play Maker in 2009. The Texans find a great player here for a steal.









16. San Diego Chargers: Duke Robinson, OT/G, OU

The Chargers get a very Good Offensive Linemen here who could play RT until Mcneil is done and then move over to Left Tackle. Also with all the talk of Sproles leaving and LT’s time running out I wouldn’t be surprised if they went after one of the top RB’s in the 2009 NFL Draft.

17. NY Jets: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

The Jets need to build the interior of their defense for the 2009 NFL Season. However, Knowshon Moreno is a great RB who is excellent value at the 17th overall pick. In this 2009 NFL Mock Draft it has Moreno falling but I could definitely see him going higher in the draft their just isn’t a great need higher in the 2009 NFL Draft.

18. Chicago Bears: Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, MD

The Bears defense is getting older but I think they go after a playmaking receiver to help their QB in the 2009 season. Bey is supposed to run in the 4.3’s in the 2009 NFL Draft Combine. He is ranked as my 3rd best WR in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft because of his size and speed.

19. TB Buccaneers: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

The Bucs get a very good play maker here in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft. Harvin is considered as most to be a WR but he can also help in the running game as well as the return game. He can line up in nearly every position to help the Buccaneers offense attack in the 2009 NFL Season.

20. Detroit Lions (Dallas): Clint Sintim, OLB, VA

The Lions get a very good player here to help them on the defensive end of the ball. They just hired a defensive minded coach so they will probably go defense with quite a few picks in the 2009 NFL Draft.

21. Philadelphia Eagles: Eben Britton, OT, AZ

The Eagles get a very under rated OT here from a very good college program. They could potentially lose both of their OT’s in the offseason so they need some Tackles for the 2009 NFL Season. Britton has built his stock recently because of the OT’s going back to school. He is now rated as a first round pick in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft.

22. Minnesota Vikings: William Beatty, OT, UCONN

The Vikings Offensive line isn’t getting any younger and they could lose some guys in the offseason. Beatty stock has increased because all the OT’s that have decided to go back to school for their senior season.

23. NE Patriots: Malcom Jenkins, CB, Ohio St.

The Patriots could go with another ILB to match up with Jerod Mayo the beast from Tennessee. However, their isn’t really someone of that value on the board. So they get the best ranked CB in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft with the 23rd pick overall.

24. Atlanta Falcons: B.J. Raji, DT, BC

The Falcons take the best defensive tackle in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft here. He is a big guy that will help stuff the run and improve the Falcons for next season. They could also go TE with this pick because Brandon Pettigrew the best TE in the 2009 NFL Draft is still on the board.


25. Miami Dolphins: Brian Cushing, OLB, USC

Whatever Parcels decides to do in the 2009 NFL Draft I will agree with I am just guessing. Terrence Cody is HUGE and I think he will be a big run stopping influence immediately.








26. Baltimore Ravens: Vontae Davis, CB, ILL

The Ravens get a very gifted CB here in Vontae Davis. He is my second ranked CB in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft though he might be the most athletically gifted. I think if you put him in the secondary with Ed Reed they will be even scarier in 2009 then they are right now.

27. Indianapolis Colts: Perria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss

They Colts once again had problems stopping the run this year. They get my second ranked DT in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft with the 27th overall pick. Jerry could be an immediate impact in the middle of the Colts defense and helping with the run in the 2009 season.

28. Eagles (Carolina): Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Ok. St.

The Eagles get the best all around Tight End in the 2009 NFL Draft. I have Gresham going higher then him because he is a little faster and more of a receiving TE then Pettigrew. However, Pettigrew is better all around because he is a great blocking TE as well as a great receiving one.

29. NY Giants: Michael Johnson, DE, GT

The Giants have great defensive ends but they did lose Strahan last year and you can never have to much depth at this position. Johnson is one of the top DE’s in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft.

30. Tennessee Titans: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU

The Titans had injuries at the Defensive end position this year so they could use some great depth. Jackson is a great end that will fit in very well with the Titans 4-3 scheme in the 2009 Season.

31. Arizona Cardinals: Beanie Wells, RB, Ohio St.

The Edge has looked pretty good in the post season but he isn’t getting any younger. I think Beanie Wells is pretty evenly balanced and the 2nd best running back in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft. He will help them run the game and pair up well with Hightower.


32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Unger, C, Oregon

The Steelers get the versatile interior linemen they have been missing for the last couple of years. Unger has the potential to play both Guard and Center in the NFL and has surpassed Alex Mack as the top rated C in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Espn's Super 60 Top Basketball Recruits for 2010


Espn's Super 60 Top Basketball Recruits for 2010


1 Jared Sullinger PF 6'8" 250 OH 98 Ohio State
2 Brandon Knight PG 6'3" 175 FL 98 None
3 Tristan Thompson PF 6'9" 215 CAN 98 Texas
4 Joshua Smith C 6'9" 280 WA 98 None
5 Harrison Barnes SF 6'6" 190 IA 98 None
6 DeShaun Thomas SF 6'7" 225 IN 98 Ohio State
7 Jeremy Tyler C 6'8" 220 CA 98 Louisville
8 Roscoe Smith SF 6'7" 185 MD 98 None
9 Jereme Richmond SF 6'6" 185 IL 97 Illinois
10 Dion Waiters SG 6'3" 195 PA 97 Syracuse
11 Andre Dawkins SG 6'5" 185 VA 97 Duke
12 Doron Lamb SG 6'4" 190 NY 97 None
13 Reggie Bullock SG 6'6" 185 NC 97 North Carolina
14 Joshua Hairston PF 6'8" 210 VA 97 Duke
15 Jelan Kendrick SG 6'6" 185 GA 97 None
16 Joe Jackson PG 6'0" 160 TN 97 None
17 Josh Selby PG 6'2" 165 MD 97 Tennessee
18 Tobias Harris PF 6'7" 220 NY 97 None
19 Ralston Turner SG 6'5" 190 AL 97 None
20 Phil Pressey PG 5'8" 150 TX 97 None
21 Nate Lubick PF 6'8" 220 MA 97 Georgetown
22 Dominique Ferguson SF 6'9" 205 IN 97 Kentucky
23 Gerard Coleman SG 6'3" 185 MA 97 None
24 Evan Anderson C 6'11" 250 WI 97 Wisconsin
25 Adreian Payne PF 6'9" 215 OH 97 None
26 Travis McKie SF 6'7" 190 VA 97 None
27 Trey Zeigler SG 6'5" 190 MI 97 None
28 Terrence Jones SF 6'7" 215 OR 97 None
29 Kyrie Irving PG 6'1" 160 NJ 97 None
30 Crandall Head SG 6'3" 180 IL 97 Illinois
31 Kendall Marshall PG 6'3" 180 VA 97 North Carolina
32 Anthony Brown SF 6'6" 187 CA 97 None
33 Dan Bejarano SG 6'5" 200 AZ 96 Texas
34 Taran Buie SG 6'3" 180 NY 96 None
35 Anthony Johnson SG 6'4" 180 IL 96 Purdue
36 Josh Langford SF 6'6" 210 AL 96 Louisville
37 Casey Prather SF 6'5" 190 TN 96 None
38 James Bell SF 6'5" 205 FL 96 Villanova
39 Jordan McRae SF 6'5" 175 GA 96 Tennessee
40 Ray McCallum PG 6'1" 160 MI 96 None
41 Jordan Sibert SG 6'3" 180 OH 96 Ohio State
42 Jason Morris SG 6'5" 190 CT 96 None
43 Terrance Ross SG 6'6" 180 OR 96 None
44 Flavien Davis SF 6'6" 190 WI 96 None
45 Jayvaughn Pinkston PF 6'6" 230 NY 96 None
46 Mychal Parker SG 6'6" 190 VA 96 None
47 Perry Jones PF 6'10" 215 TX 95 Baylor
48 Allen Crabbe SG 6'4" 185 CA 95 California
49 Okaro White PF 6'8" 185 FL 95 Florida State
50 Patric Young PF 6'8" 215 FL 95 Florida
51 Juwan Staten PG 5'10" 160 OH 95 Dayton
52 Lenzelle Smith, Jr. SG 6'5" 220 IL 95 Ohio State

53 C.J. Leslie PF 6'9" 190 NC 95 North Carolina State
54 Cory Joseph SG 6'3" 180 CAN 94 None
55 Keith Appling PG 6'3" 180 MI 94 Michigan State
56 Dwayne Polee SF 6'7" 190 CA 94 USC
57 Pe'Shon Howard PG 6'2" 195 OH 94 None
58 Trae Golden SG 6'2" 170 GA 94 None
59 Russell Byrd SG 6'7" 190 IN 94 Michigan State
60 Noah Cottrill PG 6'1" 180 WV 94 West Virginia

Monday, January 12, 2009

Awful Videos of Football Players and Wrestlers Breaking their Legs

Recent videos that I think are worth watching!!!
- Southern Miss. football player breaks ankle!!! Worst one I have ever seen!





Sid Vicious breaks leg jumping off top rope!







Joe Theisman breaks leg!!!

Friday, January 9, 2009

2009 College Football Predictions






www.espn.com's Mark Schlabach makes his 2009 College Football Predictions
I agree with some of his predictions and have a few of my own. I do think Terrelle Pryor will be a Heisman Candidate, but only if he beats USC early in the year. I do think Steve Spurrior will be gone as South Carolina's coach. I don't think Florida will win the national championship. I think USC will! So that means that I totally disagree with his prediction that USC will not finish in the top 10. I think they have a better chance finishing in the top 10 before Notre Dame finishes in the top 25 with Charlie Weiss as their head coach. I think Alabama will beat Virginia Tech in the first game of the season. I don't think Tebow will win a 2nd Heisman, just because the voters won't let it happen. I agree that Mack Brown will ride off into the sunset after Usc beats them in the National title game. I agree 100 percent that Taylor Potts or any quarter back at Texas Tech will throw for 4000 yards. Pitt will not win the big east because their coach is awful. Northwestern will not make a run for the roses because they are Northwestern. Bowden will not catch JoePa because Penn State will be chalanging the Buckeyes for the big 10 title. Auburn will completely fall apart while Buffalo and Turner Gill head back to the top of the MAC. I hate to say this, but Michigan WILL win their 1st game versus Western Michigan. I don't think Arkansas is the team to watch, I think Ole Miss. will be the team to watch. **Remember, Ohio State's success all depends on whether or not Coach Tressel makes some coaching changes this off-season. If not, then they will be the same ole Buckeyes. (Get to a BCS game and get out-coached)


1. Florida will win back-to-back national championships
After beating Oklahoma in the Jan. 8 BCS Championship Game in Miami, the Gators will start the 2009 season ranked No. 1 in the country. Florida will go wire-to-wire at the top of the polls and will win its third national title in four seasons. Juniors Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin will return to school for their senior seasons, and speedy freshmen tailbacks Jeffrey Demps and Chris Rainey will be back. Every starter might come back on defense -- if junior linebacker Brandon Spikes doesn't enter the NFL draft. The Gators will play eight games in the state of Florida in 2009, but will have must-win road games at LSU and South Carolina.


2. It will be Mack's last dance in Texas
Quarterback Colt McCoy and a big offensive line will lead the Longhorns to a Big 12 championship after they beat Oklahoma (the teams will be tied, fittingly, at the end of regulation). Texas will take advantage of its soft nonconference schedule (Louisiana-Monroe, Wyoming, Central Florida and UTEP) to finish No. 2 in the country. After losing to the Gators in the BCS title game, coach Mack Brown will retire and turn the reins over to defensive coordinator and coach-in-waiting Will Muschamp.


3. Notre Dame will be a Top 25 team
The Fighting Irish showed how explosive they can be in their 49-21 victory over Hawaii in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. Thanks to its watered-down schedule in 2009 -- it has only four road games (Michigan, Purdue, Pittsburgh and Stanford) and one neutral-site game (Washington State in the Alamodome) -- Notre Dame will finish 8-4, which will be good enough to save coach Charlie Weis' job.


4. The Big 12 will still be the best conference
Texas Tech and Missouri will be rebuilding in 2009, but the Big 12 will still have three national-championship contenders: Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The SEC will be the country's second-best conference, but traditional powers Auburn and Tennessee will have big rebuilding jobs under new coaches. Georgia will take a step back, too, after quarterback Matthew Stafford and tailback Knowshon Moreno enter the NFL draft.


5. Bobby Bowden will catch Joe Paterno
Paterno has a one-game lead over Bowden in career victories heading into the 2009 season. Florida State will continue to get better in 2009, with all five starters expected to return to one of the country's youngest offensive lines. Even after passing Paterno in career victories, Bowden will stay on the sideline in 2010, which will keep coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher waiting and waiting.


6. Virginia Tech will beat Alabama to start the season
The Hokies will open the 2009 season by upsetting Alabama in Atlanta's Georgia Dome. The Hokies were one of the country's youngest teams in 2008, and quarterback Tyrod Taylor and tailback Darren Evans will lead an improved offense. After beating Alabama, Nebraska and East Carolina, the Hokies will be legitimate national-championship contenders.


7. Oklahoma won't match its 2008 success
Quarterback Sam Bradford will return to school for his junior season, but the reigning Heisman Trophy winner won't be as effective in 2009. The Sooners lose four starters from the country's best offensive line, as well as receiver Juaquin Iglesias. Junior tight end Jermaine Gresham also is expected to enter the NFL draft.


8. Alabama will win the SEC West
The Crimson Tide will lose their opener against Virginia Tech, but will recover quickly to win the SEC West. Alabama will probably have to replace its two best offensive linemen, center Antoine Caldwell and left tackle Andre Smith, along with quarterback John Parker Wilson. But as many as nine starters could come back on defense -- if nose tackle Terrence Cody returns for his senior season.


9. Terrelle Pryor will be a Heisman Trophy candidate
Pryor will be much better as a sophomore, especially if tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells returns for the 2009 season. Even if Wells enters the NFL draft, Pryor, currently a true freshman, is capable of carrying the Buckeyes to another Big Ten championship. Pryor will lead the Buckeyes to a victory over USC on Sept. 12, thrusting the sophomore quarterback near the top of the list of Heisman Trophy contenders.


10. USC won't finish in the top 10
The Trojans face the prospect of losing 10 defensive starters from 2008 if junior safety Taylor Mays and others enter the NFL draft. As many as 10 starters might be back on offense, but USC's defense is what made the Trojans so special this season. The Trojans' schedule flips in 2009, so they'll play road games at Ohio State, California, Notre Dame, Oregon and Arizona State.


11. Tim Tebow will win a second Heisman Trophy
As a senior, the quarterback will become the second player to win the Heisman Trophy two times, joining former Ohio State tailback Archie Griffin. Tebow's main competition will come from Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant, Pittsburgh tailback LeSean McCoy, Bradford, Colt McCoy and Pryor.

12. Iowa fans will be nervous
The Cleveland Browns will inquire about hiring coach Kirk Ferentz, who might finally be ready to bolt to the NFL. After a couple of not-so-good seasons with the Hawkeyes, Ferentz showed us again why he's one of the best in the business.


13. Taylor Potts will throw for 4,000 yards at Texas Tech
The Red Raiders won't be national-championship contenders after losing quarterback Graham Harrell and receiver Michael Crabtree, but they'll still be a tough out in the Big 12 South. In his first year as the starter, Potts, currently a sophomore, won't miss a beat in Mike Leach's spread offense, and will throw for more than 4,000 yards. Leach will spend most of his summer trying to figure out who shot J.R.


14. Arkansas will be the most improved team in the country
Whether you love him or hate him, Arkansas' Bobby Petrino is one of the country's best coaches. The Razorbacks probably exceeded expectations in his first season, and it won't be long before he has the Hogs in contention for an SEC West title. With Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett leading the offense, and as many as 11 starters possibly coming back on defense, Arkansas will be one of the country's most improved teams. A difficult schedule -- road games at Ole Miss, Alabama, Florida and LSU -- provides plenty of upset opportunities.


15. Steve Sarkisian will win a game at Washington
The Huskies won't go winless again in 2009 under the former USC offensive coordinator. Sarkisian will lose his Sept. 5 debut against LSU, but the Huskies will beat Idaho the next week. Things won't get much easier from there, with a home game against USC and road games at Stanford and Notre Dame the following three weeks.


16. O'Leary will be on the hottest seat
Nearly a dozen coaches will enter the 2009 season on the hot seat, and at least half of them will be fired after their teams again fail to meet expectations. Among the coaches who probably need marked improvement next season: Louisville's Steve Kragthorpe, Virginia's Al Groh, Indiana's Bill Lynch, Central Florida's George O'Leary, Texas A&M's Mike Sherman, Colorado's Dan Hawkins, North Texas' Todd Dodge, Maryland's Ralph Friedgen, Marshall's Mark Snyder and UTEP's Mike Price.


17. Auburn will name Gus Malzahn its coach-in-waiting
After the Tigers lose their first three games against Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State and West Virginia, Auburn will name offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn its coach-in-waiting to succeed recently hired Gene Chizik. USC quarterback Mitch Mustain, who played for Malzahn in high school and briefly at Arkansas, will transfer to Auburn.


18. Michigan will open the 2009 season with a loss (to Western Michigan)
The Wolverines won't be much better in their second season under coach Rich Rodriguez, who still won't have the right personnel to run his spread offense. For the third straight season, Michigan will start its schedule with a stunning loss in the not-so-Big House, falling to Western Michigan.



[+] EnlargeJohn David Mercer/US Presswire

Will 2009 be Steve Spurrier's swan song?
19. Spurrier will hang up his visor
After believing South Carolina was ready and capable of challenging Florida and Georgia in the SEC East before each of the past two seasons, Steve Spurrier's patience has to have nearly run out. The Gamecocks will again have high expectations heading into 2009. And once again, South Carolina will fall short of its lofty aspirations. Spurrier will become so frustrated he'll bench scholarship quarterbacks Stephen Garcia and Tommy Beecher and start walk-on Zac Brindise in the SEC opener.


20. LSU will bounce back
After a disappointing encore to its 2007 national championship, LSU will once again be a title contender. Former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis will make the Tigers more fundamentally sound, and quarterback Jordan Jefferson will stabilize the offense. LSU's 38-3 demolition of Georgia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl showed us Les Miles can coach.


21. Boise State won't go undefeated
The Broncos won't have to worry about taking a 12-0 record into a bowl game in 2009. Boise State will lose to Oregon on its home field in the Sept. 5 opener. The Broncos will still finish the regular season with an 11-1 record.


22. The Big 12 South will finish in a three-way tie
Once again, the Big 12 South will be a jumbled mess at season's end. Texas will beat Oklahoma. Oklahoma will beat Oklahoma State. The Cowboys will beat the Longhorns. Texas will get the nod over the Sooners because the Longhorns will be the highest-rated team in the BCS standings. Under the league's new tiebreaker rules, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State receive a consolation prize: They get to play Missouri's defense again.


23. Pittsburgh will win the Big East
West Virginia will take a big step back without quarterback Pat White. Rutgers and Cincinnati will challenge Pittsburgh for the Big East title, but McCoy will run for 1,500 yards and lead the Panthers to the Orange Bowl.


24. Chip Kelly will be Oregon's head coach
For the first time in 15 years, Oregon will open the season without Mike Bellotti on the sideline. Bellotti will retire as coach sometime in February, and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will take over the program.


25. Northwestern will make a run for the roses
The Wildcats will have to replace quarterback C.J. Bacher, tailback Tyrell Sutton and the bulk of their receiver corps, but their 9-4 finish in 2008 wasn't a fluke. Mike Kafka is waiting to take over at quarterback, and much of the defense will be back. Ohio State and Michigan aren't on the 2009 schedule, and Northwestern plays Penn State and Wisconsin at home. Pat Fitzgerald can flat-out coach, and will have his team in position to play for a trip to the Rose Bowl.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

2009 NFL Draft Projections as of January 4th, 2009

www.sportsprojections.com

2009 NFL Draft Projections as of January 4th, 2009



1. Detroit - Matt Stafford QB Georgia

2. St. Louis - Andre Smith OT Alabama

3. Kansas City - Sam Bradford QB Oklahoma

4. Seattle - Taylor Mays S USC

5. Cleveland - Malcom Jenkins CB Ohio State

6. Cincinnati - Aaron Curry LB Wake Forest

7. Oakland - Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech

8. Jacksonville - Michael Oher OT Ole Miss

9. Green Bay - Brian Orakpo DE Texas

10. San Francisco - Eugene Monroe OT Virginia

11. Buffalo - Michael Johnson DE Georgia Tech

12. Denver - Tyson Jackson DE LSU

13. Washington - Jason Smith OT Baylor

14. New Orleans - Vontae Davis CB Illinois

15. Houston - DJ Moore CB Vanderbilt

16. San Diego - Rey Maualuga LB USC

17. NY Jets - Brandon Spikes LB Florida

18. Chicago - Mark Sanchez QB USC

19. Tampa Bay - Darrius Heyward Bey WR Maryland

20. Detroit (from Dallas) - Duke Robinson OL Oklahoma

21. Arizona - Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia

22. Philadelphia - James Laurinaitis LB Ohio State

23. Minnesota - Percy Harvin WR Florida

24. New England - William Moore S Missouri

25. Atlanta - Terrence Cody DT Alabama

26. Miami - George Selvie DE South Florida

27. Baltimore - Jeremy Maclin WR Missouri

28. Philadelphia (from Carolina) - Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma State

29. Indianapolis - Peria Jerry DT Ole Miss

30. Pittsburgh - Chris Wells RB Ohio State

31. NY Giants - Alfonso Smith CB Wake Forest

32. Tennessee - Brian Cushing LB USC

Ohio State's Coaching Decisions in Critical Moments helps Decide Outcome of Fiesta Bowl



Here we go again. Another BCS Bowl and another loss for the Buckeyes. This is the first real time that I think that Tressel needs to make some changes throughout his coaching staff. There are plenty of coaches out there who would love to coach the talent that OSU has right now.
Playing ball control and field position does not work anymore against good teams. Tressel should know this by now after playing in all the recent BCS games. Fieldgoals will not win you games. Not showing any guts on some 4th down calls will not help the cause either. Calling an all out blitz with 20 seconds to go in the game when a team has to score a touchdown will def. not win you a big game.

- I think Tressel needs to give up the offensive play calling
- I think Heacock needs to go as def. cord.
- I think Tressel needs to put Pryor in a spread offense
- I think Beanie Wells needs to go Pro and be somebody else's baby

That's my thoughts and I am sure they don't count for much, but seriously!, Beanie Wells???????? Has he ever been there in big games throughout his career? NO! I like what Demetrious Stanley said after the game on Sports Etc... He said that if Wells was a teammate of his he could not count on him to be there for him when it counts, injuries or not he seems to hide throughout big games. I am not a pro. g.m. and this is just my opinion if I had to decide on a running back to pick for my team. There is no way I could take Wells high in the first round due to his injuries and mental toughness. Note that I said MENTAL TOUGHNESS, not Physical Toughness. If I already had an established running back then I would take a chance on him in the 2nd or later rounds. I just couldn't see myself paying him top dollar right now. If he were to stay in school and finish his senior year healthy then I could see him go very high in the draft.





Here are all of the different articles from the game. www.rivals.com, www.sportsline.com, www.espn.com


GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)—Left out of the national title game, Colt McCoy and Texas made the most of their trip to the Fiesta Bowl.
They just hope they did enough to impress poll voters.
McCoy hit Quan Cosby for a 26-yard touchdown with 16 seconds to play, lifting the third-ranked Longhorns to a 24-21 victory over No. 10 Ohio State on Monday night. The dramatic strike capped an 11-play, 78-yard drive that took only 1:42.
“It doesn’t feel any better than to come from behind and win,” Texas coach Mack Brown said. “It was just a classic, really, between Texas and Ohio State, the way it should be.”
When it ended, Texas players rushed onto the field, then gathered in front of the band and sang “The Eyes of Texas” with jubilant fans.
As exhilarating as the victory was, it may not have been dominant enough to persuade voters that the Longhorns (12-1) deserve a share of the national championship. Because they were locked out of the Bowl Championship Series title game, Texas’ only chance is The Associated Press Top 25.
McCoy had a message for the pollsters: “I don’t think there’s anybody in the country who can beat us at this point.”
The Buckeyes (10-3) nearly did.
They flirted with the upset behind quarterbacks Terrelle Pryor and Todd Boeckman but instead went down to a third straight BCS bowl loss—a defeat that left the Big Ten 1-6 in this postseason.
It didn’t help that Buckeyes tailback Chris “Beanie” Wells, who rushed for 106 yards on 16 carries, missed much of the second half with a concussion.
“That’s the problem in tight ballgames like this,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. “Two outstanding teams, sometimes you finish it (and) the game ends when you are the one ahead, and sometimes the game ends when you’re not.”
The Longhorns rebounded after Ohio State had taken a 21-17 lead on a 15-yard run by Dan Herron with 2:05 to go.
That score came five minutes after Boeckman hit Pryor for a 5-yard score to cut Texas’ lead to 17-15. Pryor’s pass on the 2-point conversion was incomplete.
Boeckman completed five of 11 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Pryor was 5-for-14 for 66 yards, and also ran for 78 yards on 15 carries.
Brown, who once coached Vince Young to a national title, was impressed by Pryor, a rangy freshman.
“He will be a guy that’s in a Heisman race, and it may be sooner than we think because he is a leader,” Brown said.
But this night belonged to McCoy, himself a Heisman Trophy runner-up. He completed a school-record 41 of 59 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns, ran for a score and was picked off once.
McCoy may have launched his candidacy for the 2009 award with a memorable march through the din of sold-out University of Phoenix Stadium, which was split between fans wearing burnt orange and others decked out in scarlet and gray.
Down 21-17 with 2:05 to play, McCoy calmly led the Longhorns down the field. He said he never doubted they would score.
“I can’t think of a better place to be at that point,” McCoy said.
On the touchdown, Cosby caught a short pass, slipped a tackle and sprinted toward the goal line before diving into the end zone.
“He made a play. I gave him a good ball,” McCoy said. “I can’t explain the feeling that we have right now. To have the faith and confidence in each other that we do, man, that was awesome.”
McCoy completed seven of 10 passes for 76 yards on the final march and ran for the other 2 yards.
Before the touchdown, the biggest completion came on fourth-and-3 to James Kirkendoll at the Ohio State 40. The Buckeyes demanded a review, but the spot was upheld, setting the stage for the winning touchdown.
“The (official) closest to the ball spotted it one place and the guy from the other side said he had a better vantage point,” Tressel said.
For most of the night, the Buckeyes stifled the high-powered Longhorns, who averaged 43.9 points this season but mustered only a field goal in the first half. They didn’t lead until a nifty third-quarter touchdown run by McCoy.
The Longhorns finished in a three-way tie atop the rugged Big 12 South and thought their 10-point victory over Oklahoma should have put them in the conference title game. But Oklahoma was declared the division winner on a BCS standings tiebreaker, and the Sooners ripped Missouri in the Big 12 playoff to earn a trip to the national championship.
“This team started this way and finished this way, and they’re obviously one of the best teams in the country if not the best,” Brown said.
The Longhorns didn’t look like it early on. Texas brought Bevo, its steer mascot, but left its offense back in Austin, at least in a sluggish first half.
The Longhorns failed to score in the first quarter. Texas was shut out in only four quarters all season—and only once in the first quarter, in a 39-33 loss at Texas Tech on Nov. 1.
Ryan Pretorius’ 30-yard field goal with 5:39 left in the second quarter sent Ohio State to a 6-3 halftime lead.
Texas’ best chance came late in the second, when McCoy smartly marched the Longhorns from their own 9 to the Ohio State 16 in 47 seconds.
But on third-and-2 at the Buckeyes 16 and 9 seconds to go, McCoy threw perhaps his worst pass of the season. McCoy lobbed the ball toward Cosby at the goal line, but safety Anderson Russell picked it off to kill the threat.
Had McCoy thrown the ball into the seats, the Longhorns would have had time for a chip-shot field goal. But they went into the dressing room still down by three.
It didn’t take McCoy long to atone for the miscue.
On Texas’ first possession of the second half, he scored on a terrific 14-yard run to give the Longhorns their first lead. Taking a shotgun snap, McCoy bolted through the right side of the line, broke to the sideline and then spun past charging cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, who came up with nothing.
Seven minutes later, McCoy found Cosby in the back of the end zone to put the Longhorns up 17-6.
“He is strong-willed and he is a guy that’s very confident, and he never thinks he is going to lose,” Brown said.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Left out of the national title game, Colt McCoy and Texas made the most of their trip to the Fiesta Bowl.
McCoy hit Quan Cosby for a 26-yard touchdown with 16 seconds to play, lifting the third-ranked Longhorns to a 24-21 victory against No. 10 Ohio State on Monday night. The dramatic strike capped an 11-play, 78-yard drive that took only 1:42.
"It doesn't feel any better than to come from behind and win," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "It was just a classic, really, between Texas and Ohio State, the way it should be."
When it ended, Texas players rushed onto the field, then gathered in front of the band and sang The Eyes of Texas with jubilant fans.
As exhilarating as the victory was, it might not have been dominant enough to persuade voters that the Longhorns (12-1) deserve a share of the national championship. Because they were locked out of the Bowl Championship Series title game, Texas' only chance is the Associated Press Top 25.
McCoy had a message for the pollsters: "I don't think there's anybody in the country who can beat us at this point."
The Buckeyes (10-3) nearly did.
They flirted with the upset behind quarterbacks Terrelle Pryor and Todd Boeckman but instead went down to a third consecutive BCS bowl loss -- a defeat that left the Big Ten 1-6 in this postseason.


Texas: Most Passing Yards (Game)
Yards Player Opponent Date
473 Major Applewhite Washington 12/28/01
419 Chris Simms at Nebraska 11/2/02
414 Colt McCoy Ohio State 1/5/09
408 Major Applewhite Oklahoma State 11/7/98
397 James Brown Texas Tech 11/8/97
391 Colt McCoy Oklahoma State 10/25/08
383 Chris Simms Texas A&M 11/24/00


It didn't help that Buckeyes tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells, who rushed for 106 yards on 16 carries, missed much of the second half with a concussion.
"That's the problem in tight ballgames like this," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "Two outstanding teams, sometimes you finish it (and) the game ends when you are the one ahead, and sometimes the game ends when you're not."
The Longhorns rebounded after Ohio State had taken a 21-17 lead on a 15-yard run by Dan Herron with 2:05 to go.
That score came five minutes after Boeckman hit Pryor for a 5-yard score to cut Texas' lead to 17-15. Pryor's pass on the 2-point conversion was incomplete.
Boeckman completed 5 of 11 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Pryor was 5-for-14 for 66 yards, and also ran for 78 yards on 15 carries.
Brown, who once coached Vince Young to a national title, was impressed by Pryor, a rangy freshman.
"He will be a guy that's in a Heisman race, and it may be sooner than we think because he is a leader," Brown said.
But this night belonged to McCoy, himself a Heisman Trophy runner-up. He completed a school-record 41 of 59 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns, ran for a score and was picked off once.
McCoy might have launched his candidacy for the 2009 award with a memorable march through the din of sold-out University of Phoenix Stadium, which was split between fans wearing burnt orange and others decked out in scarlet and gray.
Down 21-17 with 2:05 to play, McCoy calmly led the Longhorns down the field. He said he never doubted they would score.
"I can't think of a better place to be at that point," McCoy said.
On the touchdown, Cosby caught a short pass, slipped a tackle and sprinted toward the goal line before diving into the end zone.
"He made a play. I gave him a good ball," McCoy said. "I can't explain the feeling that we have right now. To have the faith and confidence in each other that we do, man, that was awesome."
McCoy completed 7 of 10 passes for 76 yards on the final march and ran for the other 2 yards.
Before the touchdown, the biggest completion came on fourth-and-3 to James Kirkendoll at the Ohio State 40. The Buckeyes demanded a review, but the spot was upheld, setting the stage for the winning touchdown.
"The (official) closest to the ball spotted it one place and the guy from the other side said he had a better vantage point," Tressel said.
For most of the night, the Buckeyes stifled the high-powered Longhorns, who averaged 43.9 points this season but mustered only a field goal in the first half. They didn't lead until a nifty third-quarter touchdown run by McCoy.
The Longhorns finished in a three-way tie atop the rugged Big 12 South and thought their 10-point victory against Oklahoma should have put them in the conference title game. But Oklahoma was declared the division winner on a BCS standings tiebreaker, and the Sooners ripped Missouri in the Big 12 playoff to earn a trip to the national championship.
"This team started this way and finished this way, and they're obviously one of the best teams in the country if not the best," Brown said.
The Longhorns didn't look like it early on. Texas brought Bevo, its steer mascot, but left its offense back in Austin, at least in a sluggish first half.
The Longhorns failed to score in the first quarter. Texas was shut out in only four quarters all season -- and only once in the first quarter, in a 39-33 loss Nov. 1 at Texas Tech.
Ryan Pretorius' 30-yard field goal with 5:39 left in the second quarter sent Ohio State to a 6-3 halftime lead.
Texas' best chance came late in the second, when McCoy smartly marched the Longhorns from their own 9 to the Ohio State 16 in 47 seconds.
But on third-and-2 at the Buckeyes 16 and 9 seconds to go, McCoy threw perhaps his worst pass of the season. McCoy lobbed the ball toward Cosby at the goal line, but safety Anderson Russell picked it off to kill the threat.
Had McCoy thrown the ball into the seats, the Longhorns would have had time for a chip-shot field goal. But they went into the dressing room still down by three.
It didn't take McCoy long to atone for the miscue.
On Texas' first possession of the second half, he scored on a terrific 14-yard run to give the Longhorns their first lead. Taking a shotgun snap, McCoy bolted through the right side of the line, broke to the sideline and then spun past charging cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, who came up with nothing.
Seven minutes later, McCoy found Cosby in the back of the end zone to put the Longhorns up 17-6.
"He is strong-willed and he is a guy that's very confident, and he never thinks he is going to lose," Brown said.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Left out of the national title game, Colt McCoy and Texas made the most of their trip to the Fiesta Bowl.
They just hope they did enough to impress poll voters.
McCoy hit Quan Cosby for a 26-yard touchdown with 16 seconds to play, lifting the third-ranked Longhorns to a 24-21 victory over No. 10 Ohio State on Monday night. The dramatic strike capped an 11-play, 78-yard drive that took only 1:42.
"It doesn't feel any better than to come from behind and win," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "It was just a classic, really, between Texas and Ohio State, the way it should be."
When it ended, Texas players rushed onto the field, then gathered in front of the band and sang "The Eyes of Texas" with jubilant fans.
As exhilarating as the victory was, it may not have been dominant enough to persuade voters that the Longhorns (12-1) deserve a share of the national championship. Because they were locked out of the Bowl Championship Series title game, Texas' only chance is The Associated Press Top 25.
McCoy had a message for the pollsters: "I don't think there's anybody in the country who can beat us at this point."
The Buckeyes (10-3) nearly did.
They flirted with the upset behind quarterbacks Terrelle Pryor and Todd Boeckman but instead went down to a third straight BCS bowl loss -- a defeat that left the Big Ten 1-6 in this postseason.

Fast Facts

• Quan Cosby's 26-yard touchdown reception with 16 seconds remaining gave Texas its fifth straight bowl victory, tied for the second-longest active streak in the FBS.

• The Longhorns (3-0) are one of five schools undefeated in BCS bowls (minimum two games), joining LSU (4-0), Wisconsin, West Virginia and Utah (all 2-0).

• Ohio State has now lost three straight BCS bowl games, and the loss is the Buckeyes' first in four Fiesta Bowls under Jim Tressel.

• Chris Wells led the Buckeyes with 106 rushing yards, but only 10 came after halftime.


It didn't help that Buckeyes tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells, who rushed for 106 yards on 16 carries, missed much of the second half with a concussion.
"That's the problem in tight ballgames like this," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "Two outstanding teams, sometimes you finish it [and] the game ends when you are the one ahead, and sometimes the game ends when you're not."
The Longhorns rebounded after Ohio State had taken a 21-17 lead on a 15-yard run by Dan Herron with 2:05 to go.
That score came five minutes after Boeckman hit Pryor for a 5-yard score to cut Texas' lead to 17-15. Pryor's pass on the 2-point conversion was incomplete.
Boeckman completed five of 11 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Pryor was 5-for-14 for 66 yards, and also ran for 78 yards on 15 carries.
Brown, who once coached Vince Young to a national title, was impressed by Pryor, a rangy freshman.
"He will be a guy that's in a Heisman race, and it may be sooner than we think because he is a leader," Brown said.
But this night belonged to McCoy, himself a Heisman Trophy runner-up. He completed a school-record 41 of 59 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns, ran for a score and was picked off once.
McCoy may have launched his candidacy for the 2009 award with a memorable march through the din of sold-out University of Phoenix Stadium, which was split between fans wearing burnt orange and others decked out in scarlet and gray.
Down 21-17 with 2:05 to play, McCoy calmly led the Longhorns down the field. He said he never doubted they would score.
"I can't think of a better place to be at that point," McCoy said.
On the touchdown, Cosby caught a short pass, slipped a tackle and sprinted toward the goal line before diving into the end zone.
"He made a play. I gave him a good ball," McCoy said. "I can't explain the feeling that we have right now. To have the faith and confidence in each other that we do, man, that was awesome."
McCoy completed seven of 10 passes for 76 yards on the final march and ran for the other 2 yards.
Before the touchdown, the biggest completion came on fourth-and-3 to James Kirkendoll at the Ohio State 40. The Buckeyes demanded a review, but the spot was upheld, setting the stage for the winning touchdown.
"The [official] closest to the ball spotted it one place and the guy from the other side said he had a better vantage point," Tressel said.
For most of the night, the Buckeyes stifled the high-powered Longhorns, who averaged 43.9 points this season but mustered only a field goal in the first half. They didn't lead until a nifty third-quarter touchdown run by McCoy.
The Longhorns finished in a three-way tie atop the rugged Big 12 South and thought their 10-point victory over Oklahoma should have put them in the conference title game. But Oklahoma was declared the division winner on a BCS standings tiebreaker, and the Sooners ripped Missouri in the Big 12 playoff to earn a trip to the national championship.
"This team started this way and finished this way, and they're obviously one of the best teams in the country if not the best," Brown said.
The Longhorns didn't look like it early on. Texas brought Bevo, its steer mascot, but left its offense back in Austin, at least in a sluggish first half.
The Longhorns failed to score in the first quarter. Texas was shut out in only four quarters all season -- and only once in the first quarter, in a 39-33 loss at Texas Tech on Nov. 1.
Ryan Pretorius' 30-yard field goal with 5:39 left in the second quarter sent Ohio State to a 6-3 halftime lead.
Texas' best chance came late in the second, when McCoy smartly marched the Longhorns from their own 9 to the Ohio State 16 in 47 seconds.
But on third-and-2 at the Buckeyes 16 and 9 seconds to go, McCoy threw perhaps his worst pass of the season. McCoy lobbed the ball toward Cosby at the goal line, but safety Anderson Russell picked it off to kill the threat.
Had McCoy thrown the ball into the seats, the Longhorns would have had time for a chip-shot field goal. But they went into the dressing room still down by three.
It didn't take McCoy long to atone for the miscue.
On Texas' first possession of the second half, he scored on a terrific 14-yard run to give the Longhorns their first lead. Taking a shotgun snap, McCoy bolted through the right side of the line, broke to the sideline and then spun past charging cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, who came up with nothing.
Seven minutes later, McCoy found Cosby in the back of the end zone to put the Longhorns up 17-6.
"He is strong-willed and he is a guy that's very confident, and he never thinks he is going to lose," Brown said.

Monday, January 5, 2009

College Football Comes Easy for Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor



good article on Pryor from www.espn.com

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- More than once after a game this season, Terrelle Pryor noted how college football isn't all that different from the Pennsylvania high school scene he dominated as the nation's No. 1 recruit.
After helping Ohio State stomp Michigan State, 45-7, on Oct. 18, Pryor told reporters, "It's just like high school." The line became Pryor's trademark this fall as he won Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors and led Ohio State to another BCS bowl appearance as the starting quarterback.
"Liar," Buckeyes senior tight end Rory Nicol said. "But Terrelle's from PA [Pennsylvania], I'm from PA, too, so I'm allowed to say that. He's a good athlete, man."
Such a good athlete that Pryor's transition from high school to college has been smoother than many had expected, even for a freshman who came to Ohio State with unparalleled hype. Pryor has had his growing pains, but he led the Big Ten in pass efficiency (152.1) and posted an 8-1 mark as the starter.
With small-forward size and a smooth, seemingly effortless running style, Pryor at times looked like the best player on the field, just like he was at Jeannette Senior High School.
Could it really be that easy?
"You can't really argue with him," senior cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said. "He was just in high school last year, so he comes in, he's doing amazing things as a freshman. It kind of is just like high school."
During summer workouts, Jenkins did his part to make Pryor realize he wasn't in high school, but the freshman met the challenge.
"The first time we did 7-on-7 with Terrelle, I was calling him out, like every play, and he didn't back down," Jenkins said. "He threw the ball at me like six times in a row, didn't complete any, but he's just that type of guy. He's not going to back down."
Pryor's ability to perform in the spotlight at Ohio State enhances his claim that the jump from high school isn't as big as many suggest.
Despite Ohio State's poor performance against USC on Sept. 13, Pryor didn't flinch, completing 7 of 9 passes. He was at his best on the road in Big Ten play, leading a game-winning touchdown drive in the closing minutes at Wisconsin and showcasing his skills and maturity against Michigan State, Northwestern and Illinois.
In five road games, Pryor accounted for eight touchdowns (5 pass, 3 rush) and threw only one interception.
"As each game went along and he went through different things, we got to see him react," fullback Brandon Smith said. "That definitely helped us gain confidence in him, and I'm sure it helped him gain confidence in himself. Each week has been a steppingstone for him. Hopefully, he can put it all together for this one."
The spotlight on Pryor has never been as bright as it will be Monday, when he leads No. 10 Ohio State against No. 3 Texas in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Fox, 8 p.m. ET). The heavily favored Longhorns lead the nation in sacks and boast arguably the nation's top pass-rusher in end Brian Orakpo.
This ain't high school.
"I'm sure he'll feel a difference this game," Buckeyes wide receiver Brian Hartline said.
Pryor's presence strengthens the link between Ohio State and Texas, who split two meetings in 2005 and 2006. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound freshman is most often compared to former Texas quarterback Vince Young, the dual-threat maestro who led his team to a national title and finished as one of the greatest players in college football history.
Texas coach Mack Brown mentored Young and recruited Pryor, a players he calls a "game-changer."
"I don't think anything's fair in comparison except when you go back and look at the same stage," Brown said. "I was able to see Vince at this stage and Vince wasn't playing at this stage, so really, Terrelle's ahead of him at the same time frame. We thought it was good for Vince to get a year to redshirt.
"If you've got a trigger guy that can [take] you all the way, he's the type of guy that can do that if he keeps progressing as a player and stays healthy."
Texas senior defensive tackle Roy Miller sees similarities in Pryor's running style and that of Young. But after seeing No. 10 as the finished product in burnt orange, Miller knows Pryor has a long way to go.
"He's one of the greatest players who ever played college football," Miller said of Young. "I'm not saying Pryor couldn't be and he may. He has all the tools to be Vince Young. He has a lot of potential to be a great quarterback, but we'll see. Only time will tell.
"Who knows? He might show up as Vince Young on Monday."
Pryor didn't show up Friday, one of two freshman starters coach Jim Tressel declined to bring to Ohio State's media day. It was a reminder that Pryor, despite already being one of the faces of the program, remains a college freshman.
The quarterback has had his share of freshman moments, holding the ball too long and trying to make the big play when the safe one would suffice. The latter hurt Pryor in an Oct. 25 loss to Penn State, as his fourth-quarter fumble sparked a Nittany Lions rally.
Pryor also showed his age after the game, blaming himself and taking the loss especially hard. His first bout with failure served as an important step for not only Pryor, but his teammates.
"I was interested to see how he'd bounce back from that," Hartline said. "I was glad he did take it to heart, though. It showed that there's passion for the team as a young guy, but I was never really worried as far as him bouncing back."
When reminded of Pryor's line about the high school-to-college jump, Hartline smiled and shook his head.
"I've heard that," he said. "Terrelle's a good guy, a funny guy. He didn't really mean it in a cocky way. He was probably just being dead honest, like, 'I don't know any difference.'
"It's obviously not easy for some, but hey, if he thinks it's easy, I'm glad. I'm glad he's my quarterback."

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Bowl Games Give Plenty of Gifts to those that Play in them

This is very interesting! I know that a lot of these gifts never make it back home simply because the athletes sell them on the streets before or after they play. I happen to know a player for Southern Miss and he was home for the Holidays and did have everything that it said he was to receive on here. Anyways this is neet to look at and rivals.com did a nice job finding all of this out.




Ask any college football player about whether there are too many bowl games and you might get a puzzled look. After all, you haven't seen some of these bowl gift packs.
Go ahead and scoff at the St. Petersburg Bowl between USF and Memphis. The players just ran off with mini camcorders and noise-canceling headphones.
Bowls are permitted to give players $500 worth of bowl gifts. They range from standard-issue bowl souvenirs such as hooded sweatshirts and mini-helmets to nifty electronics such as iPods and Nintendo Wiis.

Here's a list of all the bowl goodie bags this season:

EAGLEBANK
Navy-Wake Forest, Dec. 20 in Washington

The gear:
Sony portable DVD player
Embossed leather DVD carry case
Commemorative football
Custom die-struck medallion (same one was used for the coin toss)
Custom woven afghan
Embroidered beanie
Warm-up suit
T-shirt
Jacket
Sneakers
Gym bag
The verdict: Nearly every bowl gives out logo-laden swag such as hoodies, footballs and watches. The medallion used for the coin toss and the afghan are a change of pace … but not necessarily for the better.

LAS VEGAS
Arizona-BYU, Dec. 20 in Las Vegas

The gear:
Nintendo Wii sports bundle package
Oakley Holeshot Watch
Hat
The verdict: Who would have thought going 7-5 in the Pac-10 would land you a highly coveted Wii Sports Pack? Seriously, this thing comes with a wireless Nunchuk Kit!

ST. PETERSBURG
Memphis-South Florida, Dec. 20 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The gear:
Flip Mino camcorder
Noise-canceling headphones
Floppy hat
Ogio bag
The verdict: Don't underestimate the value of noise-canceling headphones on long road trips, particularly if Jim Leavitt is in your travel party.

NEW MEXICO
Colorado State-Fresno State, Dec. 20 in Albuquerque, N.M.

The gear:
Oakley backpack
Oakley watch
RCA video recorder/camera
Oakley beanie
Personalized commemorative football
New Mexico Bowl pen
New Era cap
One-year subscription to ESPN the Magazine
The verdict: You want an easy way to spot the bowls ESPN has a hand in running? ESPN the Magazine is a bowl gift.

NEW ORLEANS
Southern Miss-Troy, Dec. 21 in New Orleans

The gear:
Player's choice of Nike apparel
Bowl ring
Bowl watch
The verdict: Troy players would probably give up their gift bags to erase their overtime loss.

POINSETTIA
Boise State-TCU, Dec. 23 in San Diego

The gear:
Tommy Hilfiger watch
iPod Touch
Best Buy gift certificate
Hooded sweatshirt
The verdict: Is Tommy Hilfiger still cool?

HAWAII
Hawaii-Notre Dame, Dec. 24 in Honolulu

The gear:
Kicker iKick500 iPod/iPhone Dock
Silk tie
Oakley sunglasses
Kahala aloha shirt
Beach chair
Beach towel
T-shirt
Calendar
Hat
Visor
Backpack
Luggage tags
The verdict: The iPod dock looks like something out of the Batcave. The Hawaii bowl tie and Aloha shirt screams "re-gifting" for Father's Day. And those beach chairs and towels sure will come in handy in South Bend.

MOTOR CITY
Central Michigan-Florida Atlantic, Dec. 26 in Detroit

The gear:
Motor City souvenir watch
Two-piece leather travel set
The verdict: FAU begged for a bowl bid for this?

MEINEKE CAR CARE
North Carolina-West Virginia, Dec. 27 in Charlotte, N.C.

The gear:
Flip Mino digital video recorder
Fossil watch and sunglasses set
Personalized commemorative football
Laptop backpack
Racing-themed baseball hat
The verdict: Only a bowl in Charlotte would think about giving a "racing-themed baseball hat."

CHAMPS SPORTS
Florida State-Wisconsin, Dec. 27 in Orlando, Fla.

The gear:
$400 shopping spree at Best Buy during the bowl trip
Watch
Goodie bag
The verdict: What a genius bowl gift. The players get exactly the electronics they want with the shopping spree and the bowl officials can skip some of the legwork.

EMERALD
California-Miami, Dec. 27 in San Francisco

The gear:
Sony noise-canceling headphones
Armor Gear rolling duffel bag
Fossil watch
Emerald Bowl baseball cap
The verdict: Standard fare: Electronics, luggage, watch, souvenir item.

INDEPENDENCE
Louisiana Tech-Northern Illinois, Dec. 28 in Shreveport, La.

The gear:
Trek mountain bike
Baseball cap
Timely Co. watch
Souvenir football
The verdict: The mountain bike is probably the most unique gift of the bowl season. But do football players want mountain bikes?

PAPAJOHNS.COM
N.C. State-Rutgers, Dec. 29 in Birmingham, Ala.

The gear:
Flip Mino digital video recorder
Sony noise-canceling headphones
Knit cap
Ogio bag
The verdict: Another bowl giving away digital video recorders. A helpful reminder to all athletes with one of these new toys: Fans will be scouring your Facebook and MySpace pages for embarrassing videos.

ALAMO
Missouri-Northwestern, Dec. 29 in San Antonio

The gear:
80-gigabyte Sony PS3
NBA Ballerz PS3 video game
Fossil watch
Mini-helmet
The verdict: Playstations and PSPs have been hot items in years past. Not so much this year. Even on a PS3, Missouri's defense still won't be able to stop Oklahoma.

HUMANITARIAN
Maryland-Nevada, Dec. 30 in Boise, Idaho

The gear:
Sony camcorder
Winter jacket
Gloves
Hooded sweatshirt
Skullcap
Baseball cap
The verdict: There are some useful items here, but all the winter gear just reminds the ACC team it's closer to Siberia than the Orange Bowl.

TEXAS
Rice-Western Michigan, Dec. 30 in Houston

The gear:
$350 Best Buy shopping spree
Swisstek watch
Under Armour HeatGear long-sleeve tee
Under Armour twister pants
Under Armour tech cap
Toppers backpack
Commemorative belt buckle
The verdict: Nothing says Texas like a commemorative belt buckle. Plus, here's another shopping spree.

HOLIDAY
Oklahoma State-Oregon, Dec. 30 in San Diego

The gear:
Insignia 19-inch HD TV with DVD player
Tourneau watch
Hooded sweatshirt
Best Buy gift certificate
The verdict: A small but thoughtful gift pack. Did you notice the TV is dorm-sized?

ARMED FORCES
Air Force-Houston, Dec. 31 in Fort Worth, Texas

The gear:
Flip digital video camera
Commemorative watch
Rolling luggage
Commemorative football
Mini football helmet
T-shirt
Luggage tags
The verdict: Nothing out of the ordinary here. And we're running out of pithy comments for Flip digital video cameras and assorted swag that carries a bowl logo.

SUN
Oregon State-Pittsburgh, Dec. 31 in El Paso, Texas.

The gear:
Sony DVD Handycam
Timely silvertone watch
Travel bag
Fleece pullover
Hair dryer
Cap
Sun Bowl souvenir coin
The verdict: Brut is the title sponsor and routinely supplies its bowl participants with hair dryers. Dave Wannstedt might be wondering if Brut makes moustache groomers, too.

MUSIC CITY
Boston College-Vanderbilt, Dec. 31 in Nashville, Tenn.

The gear:
Noise-canceling headphones
MP3 player
Fossil watch
Adidas fleece jacket
Armor Gear backpack
The verdict: If the players don't like country music, they can use their noise-canceling headphones and the MP3 player.

INSIGHT
Kansas-Minnesota, Dec. 31 in Tempe, Ariz.

The gear:
Vizio 26-inch LCD HD TV
Insight Bowl watch
Snack pack
Hat
The verdict: The Insight Bowl gets the award for best TV gift, beating out the Holiday Bowl by seven inches.

CHICK-FIL-A
Georgia Tech-LSU, Dec. 31 in Atlanta

The gear:
$300 Best Buy gift card
Watch
Travel bag
Souvenir football
Two hats
The verdict: Seriously, one Chick-fil-A Bowl hat is enough. How about a year's supply of waffle fries instead?

OUTBACK
Iowa-South Carolina, Jan. 1 in Tampa, Fla.

The gear:
Flip Mino digital video recorder
Ring
Fossil watch
The verdict: An Outback Bowl ring just doesn't have the same "wow" factor as a Super Bowl ring.

GATOR
Clemson-Nebraska, Jan. 1 in Jacksonville, Fla.

The gear:
Oakley Split Thump MP3 sunglasses
Bulova watch
Jostens ring
Fitted cap
Mercury Luggage rolling duffel and sling bag
The verdict: There's actually a set of the Oakley Thumps in Nebraska's trademark white and red. Apparently, anything in orange and purple isn't big seller outside of Clemson, S.C.

CAPITAL ONE
Georgia-Michigan State, Jan. 1 in Orlando, Fla.

The gear:
$400 shopping spree at Best Buy
Watch
Goodie bag
The verdict: Another Best Buy shopping spree. Heck, bowl season might have been able to save a few Circuit City stores.

ROSE
Penn State-USC, Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif.

The gear:
Sony DVD camcorder
Fossil watch
Ogio backpack
Hat
Plaque
Autographed football
One-year subscription to ESPN the Magazine
The verdict: Rose Bowl officials would like to remind you that bowl gifts would not be possible without the bowl system. Chew on that, playoff fans.

ORANGE
Cincinnati-Virginia Tech, Jan. 1 in Miami

The gear:
$300 Sony Gifting Suite
New Era fitted hat
Torneau watch
Crocs
Ogio backpack
Luggage tags
The verdict: The Orange Bowl needed the $300 Sony shopping spree to offset the lameness of a pair of Crocs.

COTTON
Ole Miss-Texas Tech, Jan. 2 in Dallas

The gear:
Unknown
The verdict: The Cotton Bowl's lips are sealed. It won't reveal its bowl gifts until after the players arrive in Dallas. With this much secrecy, the gifts better be darned good.

LIBERTY
East Carolina-Kentucky, Jan. 2 in Memphis, Tenn.

The gear:
Fossil watch
Camcorder/media player
Game ball
Nike running shoes
Nike sports sandals
Nike sports band
Nike sunglasses
The verdict: Talk about brand loyalty: East Carolina and Kentucky have deals with Nike for team merchandise, too.

SUGAR
Alabama-Utah, Jan. 2 in New Orleans

The gear:
Sony Blu-ray player
Sony Walkman digital MP3 player
Custom watch
The verdict: This definitely is one of the better gift packs of the bowl season … until Nick Saban makes Crimson Tide players break down game film in Blu-ray.

INTERNATIONAL
Buffalo-Connecticut, Jan. 3 in Toronto

The gear:
Football
Watch
Rolling duffel
Computer backpack
The verdict: This is the "You Should Be Happy Just To Be In A Bowl" gift bag. And, presumably, all this stuff is easy to get through Customs.

FIESTA
Ohio State-Texas, Jan. 5 in Glendale, Ariz.

The gear:
MyVu Personal Media Viewer
iPod Nano
Watch
Snack pack
Game hat
The verdict: The MyVu viewer lets users watch video from their iPods in a pair of sunglasses. The Longhorns won't know whether to laugh or cry when it's preloaded with highlights from this year's Red River Shootout.

GMAC
Ball State-Tulsa, Jan. 6 in Mobile, Ala.

The gear:
Ring
Watch
Hat
Football
Luggage tags
The verdict: Geez. Talk about a no-frills gift pack.

BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Florida-Oklahoma, Jan. 8 in Miami

The gear:
$300 Sony Gifting Suite
New Era fitted hat
Torneau watch
Championship Crocs
Ogio backpack
Luggage tags
The verdict: Same gear as the Orange Bowl, different logos. Doesn't seem fair, does it?