This keeps getting better and better and the college football season is still six months away. As I stated in my last blog, an Orlando Sentinel reporter quoted UF wide receiver Deonte Thompson saying that John Brantley is a “real” quarterback, alluding to and potentially dissing former Gator QB Tim Tebow. The kid said what he said and there’s no taking it back. Let the ham and eggers at the water cooler bump their gums and make jokes about it then let it be. Well, University of Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer made matters worse. Way worse.

After Wednesday evening’s practice, Meyer bee-lined it straight to Orlando Sentinel beat writer Jeremy Fowler and confronted him about his blog regarding Thompson’s Brantley/Tebow reference. This is the direct quote from the Orlando Sentinel: “You're a bad guy, man. You're a bad guy,” Meyer said to Fowler. “If that (Thompson) was my son, we'd be going at it right now. You'll be out of practice -- you understand that? -- if you do that again. I told you five years ago: Don't mess with our players. Don't do it. You did it. You do it one more time and the Orlando Sentinel's not welcome here ever again. Is that clear?” Holy crazy contraband, Batman!

So, Urban takes a sabbatical because the stress of college football was becoming too heavy for him and this is how he returns? Hey, Meyer, Fowler was doing his job and was quoting YOUR player. If you have a problem with anyone it should be YOUR guy. Fowler didn’t do anything wrong. He gets paid to interview and quote athletes. What, is he not supposed to print something as golden as, “…a real quarterback?” It’s brilliant. Threatening him was classic too. Way to keep your composure. Iron Mike telling Lennox Lewis he’ll eat his children thinks you went overboard. You can’t threaten the media, especially a periodical like the Sentinel that is Gator honk central. Yeah, it’ll go over real nice with them. It’s not like Fowler misquoted Thompson or made something up. Thompson said it, Fowler printed it, and we all laughed and discussed it because Timmy’s facing these issues with NFL scouts and organizations as we speak. You, Coach, made it worse by blowing up for no reason whatsoever.

Does Meyer feel so entitled and privileged that he can bully whomever he wants and think he’ll get away with it? I understand that he’s currently the king of Florida with the absence of a solid Miami and Florida State team, but you’ve got to draw the line somewhere. No one should be above any school or the media.

School Editor, fair warning, Urban’s coming to get you. Stay classy, Coach.

tampaknucklehead@gmail.com

What a way for Urban Meyer to make his triumphant return to the gridiron from his leave of absence. The weather in Gainesville has been pristine, the players are fit and prepared to practice, most of them have been cleared by the courts for good behavior, and the coaches are fired up for what appears to be another National Championship run at the University of Florida. The talent level is among the best in all of college football and there’s no reason why the Gators shouldn’t be contending for at least an SEC Title.

Pretty much every UF fan, and even some players are interested in seeing how the post-Tebow era will turn out. One such player has sent a shot across the college football world that has talk show hosts laughing and fans chatting about more than just spring ball.

Florida Junior wide receiver Deonte Thompson hasn’t lived up to the hype that he had following him to Gainesville. The speedy wide out was highly recruited and was considered one of the top receivers in the nation coming out of high school. He’s being called upon to step up and fill in for an inexperienced and thin wide receiver corps at Florida and he’s thrilled to have Tebow’s replacement, Junior quarterback John Brantley, throwing him the ball. According to Thompson, Brantley’s a “real” QB. “You never know with Tim,” Thompson said. “You can bolt, you think he’s running but he’ll come up and pass it to you. You just have to be ready at all times. With Brantley, everything’s with rhythm, time. You know what I mean, a real quarterback.” That is hilarious.

Thompson hasn’t even come close to living up to his billing, being better known as a pass dropper than a pass catcher. Thompson has alligator-armed the ball on multiple occasions so much so that he was completely underutilized and nearly phased out from the mid-point to the end of the ’09 season. He had some flashes, especially during the Sugar Bowl game against a weak Cincinnati team.

Meyer has done an excellent job throughout his UF career of keeping his kids quiet…unless, you know, they were being picked up in a squad car, but that’s beside the point. He let Tebow talk all he wanted because the media ate it up, plus Tim wasn’t going to say something he first didn’t think through. Where does Thompson get off on saying something this stupid? Whether or not he meant it as a slight or not is completely irrelevant at this point because everyone’s talking about it. Is it Tim’s fault that you were burning guys deep and let the ball fall right in front of you? Is it Tim’s fault that he’d scramble to make a play and launch a ball in your direction when you weren’t prepared for the rock? I understand he’s a college kid and chances are he was nervous during the interview, but Meyer needs to step in and explain to his players that they need to keep the answers fairly Vanilla.

When it’s all said and done, Thompson may be right and Brantley will be a better “quarterback,” but he’s not a better athlete than Tim. Deonte needs to keep quiet and learn how to properly catch a football, something that plagued the entire team last season. Welcome back, Coach Meyer. Your work’s cut out for you.

tampaknucklehead@gmail.com

Let me preface this with: Proceed With Caution. Please do not get yourself fired from work, in trouble with your spouse/girlfriend, or any other negative effect that may ensue from this blog. . .

You worked your butt off all year long and it’s “guy” time. You know, sit around, watch TV, drink adult beverages, rag on one another, so on and so forth. March Madness is a perfect time for guys to get together. Here are a few factors to apply when you conduct your masculine gathering.

First off, find out when the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament begin. Make sure you take vacation time and ask for it months…MONTHS in advance. Too many guys coincidentally call in sick the Thursday the Tourney begins. Do you really think your boss is that stupid? They know and I promise you’ll have a “private” meeting with them the Monday you get back to work. It’s not that hard to find out when the Dance begins. The Internet is a hell of a tool. Look it up in November. I used Google. Then either vocally or in a written form tell your boss, “I need Thursday March 18th and Friday March 19th off and I’d like to use my vacation days.” Done and done. No worries after that. If you’re scrambling towards the 18th and you’re worried about what to do, you’re screwed.

Make sure it’s cool with the wife/girlfriend. This will, I promise you, undoubtedly lead to a fight 9 out of 10 times unless you plan and propose the event to your significant other at least 6 weeks in advance. Stay calm, cool, and collected and let her know, “Honey, the boys are planning a get together for a few days. Is it okay that I go?” Don’t come off as scared and don’t act like a jerk either. Stay casual. Also, tell her your friend’s wives/girlfriend’s will be there also and try and make it as if you planned a weekend trip for everyone to get together. They go out shopping and get pedicures while you and the fellas hang out and watch basketball. The only setback with that is you’ll all have to eventually get up off of the massively indented seat and throw on nice clothes because they’ll want to do a fancy dinner. I suggest trying to leave the ladies at home, but if she’s cool enough with the whole thing then the more the merrier.

Stock up! Adult beverages are a staple. Make sure you have enough for three days. Yes, three. Trust me, you’ll go through more cases of beer than Tiger runs through skanks…allegedly. Stay hydrated too. Water and Gatorade should be mixed in throughout the day. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Munchies are also a must get. Combos, Cheetos, pretzels, cookies, anything bite-sized and easily accessible and tasty need to be in close proximity because you’re not going to want to get up from the giant screen TV when a solid game is in action. No one wants to miss a buzzer-beater for Doritos. 

You’ll need a little exercise, so outdoor games are fun. After sitting inside all day you start to get funky. Fresh air helps. Beer pong and corn toss are two popular games and are convenient because you can still hold a pop in one hand and the ball/bag in the other. Make your own tournament style games to get into the March Madness spirit. Talk junk, smoke fools, and belch out a hardy, “Yeah!” when that ping-pong ball hits the bottom of the last cup.

It is extremely important to take that Sunday off from everything. You’ll need it to recoup and to get mentally prepared for work the next day. In my case, I have to drive 2-hours home. My face will most likely hit the pillow after that.

This is the “Guys guide to March Madness.” I hope this has helped in some form or another. E-mail me at tampaknucklehead@gmail.com for thoughts and/or adding ideas.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe NCAA Tournament experience!

This is an awesome time of year. The NFL Draft is right around the corner, NHL hockey playoffs are nearing, MLB spring training is underway preparing for the regular season, and the Big Dance is here!

The NCAA Tournament is such a monumental sporting spectacle. It’s the only time we get to witness so many great teams go at it in a 4-day span. You don’t get this kind of excitement with the NBA playoffs and we rarely get the kind of upsets and storylines with the NHL that follows the college game around. We sit glued to the television praying for buzzer-beaters and Cinderella’s to down the big boys. That is college basketball at it’s finest.

The Florida Gators squeak into the Tourney even after losing 4 of their last 5. They received a 10 seed and will face 7 seed BYU in the West Region on Thursday afternoon. I was surprised to see UF get an invite, as I’m sure most Gator fans were, but I’m also happy for the boys from Gainesville. Mississippi State has a case for getting hosed considering they beat the Gators in the SEC Tournament, but the same can be said for the Gator who beat the Bulldogs during the regular season. Which carries more weight though? To me, the regular season because anyone can get hot at the right time during a tourney run (see 2007 Georgia Bulldogs). UF did it week in and week out during the regular season. Critics want to blame a weak at-large field, but that isn’t Florida’s fault. They did the job they were supposed to do and got rewarded. I fully expect UF to take it to BYU and move on and potentially face Kansas State on Saturday, but their dreams most likely end there. You never know though. That’s the beauty of the NCAA’s. Sophomore guard Erving Walker will play a pivotal role in the upcoming game. His decision-making will be key if the Gators want to succeed. When he’s on the Gators flourish. When he’s off, well, can you say, “One and done?”

Florida State played lethargically on offense this past Saturday night against North Carolina State and lost in frustrating fashion, something FSU fans have grown accustomed to this season. Defensively, the Seminoles will shut down anyone. Yes, anyone. It’s their terrible offense that needs a life injection. ACC Defensive Player of the Year Chris Singleton is a small notch away from being a dominant offensive player. He needs more confidence in himself and once the slumbering lion is awakened he will be a fun player to watch. The 9th seeded ‘Noles will duke it out with the 8th seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs in the West Region on Friday evening in a classic 8/9 match-up that has notoriously been some of the most exciting games in past Tourney’s. This also pits the ideal offense v defense scenario. FSU’s 19th ranked D versus the ‘Zags 29th ranked O. The number 1 ranked defense against field goal percentage versus the number 5 ranked field goal percentage shooting team. This battle will be epic.

The South Florida Bulls made a valiant effort to push themselves into the Tourney, but fell a little short. Bulls fans need not fret because some of the current top contenders had to start somewhere and getting valuable experience for a young and talented team in the NIT is key to building a winner. USF hosts the North Carolina State Wolfpack Tuesday night at the Sundome in a game that I believe is flying under the radar. The argument has always been, “Who’s a better basketball conference? The Big East or the ACC?” This game certainly won’t answer that question, but it will make for a great game with conference bragging rights. NC State is scrappy and loves to frustrate their opponents with full court pressure, but USF has faced and beaten some stiff competition. Junior guard Dominque Jones will be the focal point of NC State’s defense, so expect a big game out of sophomore guard Chris Howard. Whether or not the Bulls make it far into the NIT is irrelevant. It’ll be nice, but no one really wants to crow about the NIT. Instead, the experience and growing factor is what makes this the perfect situation. With that said, USF in a blow out.

The field is set, so get your snacks and beverages ready because this is shaping up to be one exciting NCAA Tournament!

The college basketball conference tournament games begin this week and the NCAA Tournament field is slowly starting to shape up. I’ll give a quick breakdown of the teams in the state of Florida that have a chance and why they will or will not be Dancing. First up, the Florida Gator . . .

Update: American lost to Florida in Gainesville by a substantial margin. My research was incorrect and I apologize to my readers.

University of Florida
Strength of Schedule: 40th
RPI: 53rd
Good wins: Florida State, Michigan State, and Tennessee
Bad losses: South Alabama, American, and at Georgia

The University of Florida started the college basketball season off on a serious strong note beating tournament teams in Florida State and Michigan State, but then losing two in a row to a couple of bad teams in South Alabama and then getting blown out by American. If the Gators are held out of the Tournament it’s because of those two games. Their good wins all come at home and the selection committee will definitely take notice. They don’t frown upon those wins, but they see them as games UF was supposed to win because they were at home. Losing three in a row to end the season doesn’t help either. What’s saving the Gators right now is they finished above .500 in the SEC and their conference bracket sets up beautifully for them. Beat Auburn on Thursday and the Gators are most likely in. Beat Auburn then beat Mississippi State on Friday and it’s a lock. Lose to Auburn and they’re packing for the NIT. Florida has beaten both of these teams earlier this season. Of course, we can forget about all of these scenarios if the Gators just win the SEC Tournament, but I really don’t see that taking place, but you never know.

Chances of making the Tournament: 60%

Florida State University
Strength of Schedule: 43rd
RPI: 32st
Good wins: Marquette, Georgia Tech (twice), and Virginia Tech
Bad losses: North Carolina State

Florida State basketball is deadly on defense, but may be one of the most frustrating teams to watch offensively and it’s their offense that has cost them games this season. It doesn’t matter because the ‘Noles should be in no matter what the situation. Finishing 10-6 and 3rd in the tough ACC is going to look good to the selection committee. FSU will be facing either Clemson, who beat the Seminoles twice during the regular season, or NC State, which beat the ‘Noles as well, on Friday and that doesn’t make matters easier for the kids from Tallahassee to succeed in the ACC Tournament. The offense needs to wake up in order to compete or else it’ll be an early exit for the ‘Noles. FSU won five of their last six games.

Chances of making the Tournament: 99%

University of South Florida
Strength of Schedule: 54th
RPI: 65th
Good wins: Pittsburgh, at Georgetown, and Connecticut
Bad losses: Central Michigan and St John’s

The University of South Florida has been up and down this season going on strong conference runs winning at Providence, against Pittsburgh, and at Georgetown and then falling hard losing four of their next five, including St. John’s in Tampa. The major positive for the Bulls is they finished their Big East conference record at 9-9, which is an enormous feat because most experts consider the Big East the toughest basketball conference and USF was picked to finish 14th. They also finished the season winning three in a row. Here’s the major negative: they probably have to get to the Big East Tournament semifinals to have a chance to go Dancing and in order to do that they’ll have to beat DePaul, which isn’t their concern. No, their concern has to then beat Georgetown and if they somehow pull off that upset then they’ll have to take down Syracuse. I’m just not seeing it, but stranger things have happened especially in a weak at-large pool this season.

Chances of making the Tournament: 10%

There we have it. This is going to be an exciting week of basketball and I hope there’s upsets galore. Enjoy!

Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s General Manager Mark Dominik has a lot on his mind, especially with the upcoming NFL draft. His scouting department is working tirelessly reviewing film and interviewing NFL prospects. One such prospect has intrigued the sporting world due to his straight-laced character and inexhaustible work ethic.

Florida State safety Myron Rolle’s dream is to one day be a brain surgeon, but before he begins that route he wants to help build a solid defensive foundation for whoever drafts him. The young man graduated FSU early and with honors and was nominated to study in Oxford as a Rhodes scholar, a task he achieved with flying colors. He represents his university well and is someone every NFL team not only wants, but also needs due to the shoddy image players like Pacman Jones, Matt Jones, and Terrell Owens have given the league over the years.

Dominik recently interviewed Rolle and the story goes something like this: “How did it feel deserting your team?” referring to Rolle leaving his senior year at FSU to study in Oxford. Dominik says the quote has been taken out of context, but admits to using the word “desert” in the interview…a stupid, stupid word to use, especially in this situation. Dominik asked the question because he believes Rolle will split from the NFL in a few short years to follow his dream, but Rolle has said over and again that he intends to play football for at least 10 years.

So, what Mark is trying to say here is he’d rather have a player who stayed all four years in college then, correct? Didn’t the entire junior class desert their teams also? Better not grab Joe Haden, Gerald McCoy, or Rolando McClain, all of which play positions the Bucs desperately need. They clearly deserted their teams and would not be a fit in Tampa’s grand scheme of things, according to Mr. Dominik.

This definitely isn’t the reason why Tampa Bay’s going downhill in hurry, but without question, it doesn’t make matters better. Keep it classy, Dominik.

We all did it. We all geeked out and bought into the hype. The local media did their job by building up South Florida basketball after their 4-game run, including upsets over powerhouses Pittsburgh and Georgetown, and we all got complacent and assumed they were going to be dancing come the end of March. The St. John’s loss all but shut the door on any NCAA tournament hopes and most of us are crushed.

Tournament teams can’t do that. They can’t go on stretches by beating solid squads and competing with the big boys then losing to a bottom-dweller like St. John’s. Maybe this team plays to their level of competition. Maybe the unfamiliarity of actually being in a post-season discussion weighs heavy on this young Bulls team. Regardless, these kids are still going out there and doing an incredible job. The more battle tested and the more mature they become the better their odds are for the future.

Don’t get me wrong, there is still a chance, but I have a difficult time seeing USF upsetting Villanova in their house as well as a resurging UConn team at the Sun Dome. Winning two of their next four means they’ll finish the regular season Big East schedule 8-10 and the NCAA selection committee isn’t too kind to teams that have a below .500 conference record. If the Bulls want to make a serious splash and play in the NCAA tourney then they need to not only finish the regular season .500 or better, but go deep into the Big East tournament. Yeah, it’s a lot to ask for, but there are still plenty of us who are hopeful of seeing this exciting team represent the great city of Tampa in the “Big Dance.”

Fear not, USF fans. The future is truly a bright one for South Florida basketball. If Dominique Jones makes due on his promise to return for his senior year then you’re in serious business. This kid is proving to be unstoppable, is the go-to guy, and is a leader on the court, but he needs help…big time. Big men Augustus Gilchrist, who’s second on the team in scoring, and Jarrid Famous, which is a sweet name and is third in scoring, ought to return, which will take a tremendous amount of pressure off of Jones. Gilchrist missed eight games this season due to injury and hasn’t been the same since his return. A fully healthy Gilchrist spells trouble in the paint.

Are we going to hold up signs at the Sun Dome that read, “We Believe” or any other lame cliché? I’m sure some of us will, but know you’re wasting your time. This is an up and coming squad. They’re not there yet, but by this time next season they will be. I’m not guaranteeing anything, but look for the Bulls to contend in the already brutal Big East.

Spring Training is about to be under way. Pitchers and catchers from every MLB team have reported and the rest of the squads are in route. Arbitration hearings for many big time players, including San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum, have concluded and the time for baseball is nearing. One such Bay area player can’t seem to keep his mouth shut though…again.

Tampa Bay Rays centerfielder BJ Upton believes he can do and say what he wants. We witnessed him lackadaisically misread routine flies and grounders that played his way in 2009. We cringed and yelled when we saw him jog through 1st base. We all got up in arms and booed the talented youngster when he cried about his demotion to Jason Bartlett from batting 1st to 9th. Crying about a demotion is one thing, but to try and dog your teammate, who was clearly playing better than you, is another.

Upton is an unbelievable ball player and we’ve seen him accomplish amazing feats like throw guys out at home plate with that rifle arm or the unforgettable walk-off win against Cleveland at home last season. We’re all extremely thankful to BJ for carrying the team through the 2008 playoffs, but these accomplishments do not get you pass for being a jerk.

Upton went to arbitration when the Rays couldn’t come to an agreement on a deal. The arbitration committee favored the Rays and that was supposed to be the end of it. Suit up and let’s play ball. No, Mr. Upton can’t keep quiet and fans are once again upset. BJ was quoted as saying, “Congratulations to the Rays” after the hearing was finalized. The 25-year old has said some dumb things in the past, but this may take the cake.

I’m trying to figure out why this kid feels so entitled and untouchable that he can do and say what he wants. It’s as if he embraces segregating himself from others. Most Rays fans are okay with trading him and I’m with them. I might’ve given BJ a pass last season because he had shoulder surgery and he fought his way back playing extremely well the last few weeks of the regular season. I’m hard-pressed to give up on such a gifted athlete also, but the cons currently far outweigh the pros. This is a humble team and organization that just goes out and gets the job done. No need to sully it with ridiculous quotes and reason for controversy.

Upton, please, keep quiet this season and do what we all know you’re capable of doing. Play solid ball. Be that hero we all expected you to be when you were the 2nd overall pick in the 2002 draft. Help us get excited again. Make us believe.

National Signing Day has come and gone and four of the major universities in the state of Florida did an outstanding job of not only filling needs with talented prospects, but also receiving letters of intent from good character students who look to make their new destinations proud. I’m going to break down these schools and their prospects…

University of South Florida

The Bulls typically get FSU and UF’s leftovers, but the South Florida staff has gotten extremely aggressive the past few seasons, stealing top defensive end recruit Ryne Giddens from Florida last season and ripping top cornerback Terrance Mitchell this season from Florida State. Mitchell is the top recruit in this class for USF and I expect him to compete for immediate playing time. Todd Chandler, from Miami, Florida, was once a University of Miami commitment, but signed his letter of intent with the Bulls. If Skip Holtz can establish a relationship with in the south Florida region, he’ll continue to build solid recruiting classes. The talent down there is unbelievable. Jamius Gunsby from LaGrange, Georgia, didn’t have the biggest offer sheet, but this kid can no doubt play quarterback. Rivals has South Florida ranked 64th and Scout has them ranked 50th. Don’t let these rankings discourage. This is a good 1st class for Holtz and they’ll only get better.

University of Miami

The ‘Canes are known for bringing in top tier talent without even trying and this season is no different. They can recruit central and south Florida and easily compete in the ACC, but if they want to make a splash on the national level they have to be able to get the elite talent from both the state of Florida and the nation. Offensive lineman Brandon Linder is the top prospect in this seasons class. Linder is a physical specimen (6’6”, 290 lbs) and can play any position on the offensive line. His St. Thomas Aquinas teammate, Keion Payne, is a big cornerback and has the tools to face some of the taller wide outs in college. Running back Storm Johnson is a man among boys. This young athlete looks NFL ready now with his physical stature and speed. Expect him to be the opening day starter if Greg Cooper struggles rehabbing from his knee injury. Rivals ranks UM 24th and Scout has them at 17th. This’ll be the class critic’s look back at if Shannon fails a year or two from now.

Florida State University

The Seminoles seem to have a knack for recruiting incredible high school athletes that don’t pan out. Whether it’s coaching or the player, new head coach Jimbo Fisher is making it his mission to get these kids prepared for the collegiate level. Linebacker Christian Jones is the prized jewel of this seasons class. This kid is a beast of a football player. Size, speed, moves laterally with ease, and will absolutely lay the lumber on opposing running backs. Problem is he’s a big kid (6’4”, 220) and may grow into a defensive end. Regardless, it’s a good problem to have. Lamarcus Joyner from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, is considered to be one of the top 1 or 2 cornerbacks in the nation and is such a phenomenal athlete; most expect this young dynamo to play both sides of the ball. An intriguing prospect is defensive lineman Bjoern Werner. Werner hails from Germany and came to the United States three years ago as part of an international exchange program set up by USA Football. ‘Nole fans are excited to see what this young man will accomplish in the future. Rivals and Scout ranked FSU 10th and ESPN ranked them 6th. Jimbo Fisher put together a great 1st class and most of these kids will contribute in 2010.

University of Florida

Ever hear of the term, “The rich get richer?” Florida pulled in an unbelievable class. Basically, take all of the top talent at pretty much every position and place them at UF. That’s how astonishing this class is for the ’08 National Champs. I’d love to give you a few names like I have for every other school, but literally every prospect has superstar potential. Once Meyer comes back from his leave of absence, he can take his pick of who’ll play and who’ll redshirt, which is not a bad thing at all. The Gator’s depth with be something every school fears. Both ESPN and Rivals consider Ronald Powell out of Moreno Valley, California, the top overall prospect in the nation and he can play multiple positions, including defensive end, linebacker, or tight end. A “freak” sums this kid up. Matt Elam out of West Palm Beach is another athlete who can play many positions. He has been compared to FSU and Buccaneer legend Derrick Brooks, but linebacker is only one of many positions he excels at. Safety may be his final destination, but he is an established running back as well. Rivals has UF ranked 2nd and Scout and ESPN have the Gators as the top recruiting class in the nation. Like I said earlier, Meyer can redshirt all of these kids and it’ll not affect his program. The best athletes will get on the field though.

That’s about it. Check out the aforementioned sites and research your favorite team(s) to learn more about your incoming classes. Just think, only 6 more months until college football starts back up. Ugh…

No, really, is it? Is there anything more meaningless than seeing some of the best players in the NFL go half-speed and pretend to be enjoying themselves? Is it even really the best players in the NFL taking part of this game? Hasn’t the Pro Bowl become more of a popularity contest than anything? Manning and Brees weren’t participating. I know they’re playing in the Super Bowl, but then the NFL shouldn’t label the Pro Bowl as an “All-Star” game. Heck, some of the guys elected to the Pro Bowl didn’t even want to play in the game. How is that supposed make fans watch? Seeing superstars like Matt Schaub and Johnny Knox made the game so compelling and competitive, I didn’t want to switch to the Grammy’s at all. William Hung thought that some of the players weren’t talented.

Hasn’t the NFL gone too far with this Pro Bowl stuff? No one cares and they’re shoving it down our throats. I guess we should be grateful because it’s football and the season’s almost over and we should take what we can get, but no one even attempts to compete during the game. You’re trying to tell me Asante Samuel easily bit on a double-move by Andre Johnson. Samuel has seen that act a thousand times. I’m pretty sure he wanted to get in the game for a few series, do as little as possible, and bench himself before he could potentially get hurt.

If the NFL is that serious about having competitive football before the Super Bowl than here’s my advice: have a Pro Bowl team, but make it more of an honor than an actual game. Then, the week before the Super Bowl, have the collegiate Senior Bowl played at the location of the Super Bowl. I believe the NFL holds the rights to the Senior Bowl anyway. Fans will actually get a chance to see kids who WANT to compete for obvious reasons and it would be somewhat enjoyable. And before you say, “You can’t make money off of these kids. That’s an NCAA violation.” If you really think the NFL doesn’t exploit and make money off of these kids then you’re not exactly the brightest crayon in the box. Once a collegiate player’s eligibility is up, they’re fair game. Maybe my idea’s stupid. I don’t know. The Pro Bowl is just as dumb of an idea. Get rid of it. No one cares. Now, I’m going back to watching the Grammy’s.

ItNational Signing Day is coming up and for college recruiting message board dorks…uh, followers it’s a holiday. Take off of work, sit back and relax with your coffee while watching ESPNU’s live broadcast, continue to hit the refresh button on your lapper, and argue with rival fans on the Internet about why “so and so” recruit will suck for one school, but not the other, which is totally mature and doesn’t make you a loser at all. The decision of 17 to 18 year old kids will make or break a college football fans day.

With that said, the departure of multiple coaches has left many big time recruits confused and wondering if they should stick with the commitments they have given certain programs or if they should look elsewhere. I believe the latter is the more popular choice, especially when we’re talking about Lane Kiffin and the University of Tennessee.

Kiffin up and departed Tennessee for Southern Cal on the drop of a hat and I’m not going to rip the man for it. I’m sure he’s getting a bigger payday and he’s more comfortable in California than he is Tennessee. But for months Kiffin has been recruiting top-tier talent and persuading them to come to UT with loaded phrases like, “family,” “honor,” “trust,” “faith,” et cetera. He asks recruits to believe in him and he’ll take him to the Promised Land, which is the NFL for 99% of these kids. If they don’t make it to the big leagues, he guarantees them a 4-year degree from an accredited university that’ll land them a job in no time making a comfortable living. What do you tell them now?

I understand that Lane has to do what’s best for Lane and his family, but there has to be some sort of punishment thrown in his direction and these kids should be allowed to get off of the hook, especially if they’re early enrollees. If a student-athlete is enrolled at Tennessee and he wants to leave because Kiffin departed, then they should be able to go without penalty, but they rules state that if the athlete leaves school he has to forgo a season. Apparently, the student-athlete’s football career begins the second that teacher walks into their first class no matter what semester it is. I think if a senior wants to leave to go to another school because his coach exited the program he shouldn’t have to sit a year. Kiffin was allowed to leave without saying a word. Why can’t these kids? Why should they be punished because their coach had a change of heart? How is that fair?

Brian Kelly and Pete Carroll are also great examples. They’re doing what’s best for them, but it hurts the recruits in the long run. I truly hope these kids pledge their allegiances to a school and not a coach or else they could be in serious trouble.

In the end, the integrity of college coaches is a major issue in today’s sports world. They will all, and I mean ALL tell a recruit lie after lie to get them to sign their letter of intent and blindly pledge their devotion to a university and all the kid can do is hope and pray that the coach doesn’t leave. Is this teaching our future generation a lesson in life or jading them?

It’s truly tragic and it honestly makes me wonder if this could’ve been avoided. I’m not here to place blame on anyone or anything. Accidents happen. People die every day due to misfortunes and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Once again, I ask, Could this have been avoided?

The NFL is a multibillion-dollar business with rigorous drug and physical testing. Recently, concussions have made a splash in the media regarding the NFL and how they’ll handle the situation, and, although I’m not sure if they’re heading in the right direction with their studies, at least they’re being proactive and attempting to correct matters. Adams didn’t die of a concussion.

Instead, an enlarged heart is what killed the young man who was a former first round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I have a difficult time believing team physicians missed on this. An enlarged heart is easily detectable through a relatively simple procedure known as an echocardiogram. The test is painless and only requires the patient to lightly jog on a treadmill under close supervision and a specialist uses an ultrasound device, the same device used on pregnant women, which takes pictures of the heart.

Aren’t these athletes closely monitored? Did doctors and team physicians just miss this aspect of his well-being? Did Adams avoid signs of his failing health? Like I said earlier, I’m not trying to place blame. I just want to understand why, but maybe I answered my own question earlier when I stated, “Accidents happen.”

I hope the NFL takes the same approach when it comes to their player’s hearts as well as their heads. I pray they avoid future situations.

I offer my sincerest condolences to the Adams’ family. May Gaines Rest In Peace.

June 8, 1983 – January 17, 2010

No, not Lou Holtz, although that would be hilarious to see reporters wearing rain coats and holding umbrellas to shield themselves from sprays of saliva, but that’s neither here nor there. It’s actually his son Skip Holtz who was the head coach of Eastern Carolina for the past five seasons.

This is a great hire for the University of South Florida. Critics will want to scold the hire because in their minds there were much better candidates out there, but I think USF jumped on this hire at the right time. Holtz would’ve gotten a more prestigious gig than USF if he stayed at ECU another season, especially if he kept with the success he was having. He won two conference titles in five seasons and has been to three bowl games (1-2). One of his most notable accomplishments was upsetting then #17 Virginia Tech and the next week putting a beat down on then #8 West Virginia.

Holtz is far from a second- or even third-tier coach. He has an incredible pedigree serving as a graduate assistant under Bobby Bowden at Florida State from 1987-1988 and then wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator at Notre Dame from 1990-1993. He went 10-3 during his final season as head coach at Connecticut in 1998 then jumped to South Carolina to offensive coordinate with his father until 2004. He then took the reigns at ECU from ’05-’09.

He’s a player’s coach and a relentless recruiter as well as a tremendous developer of talent. Just ask Tennessee Titans running back and NFL Offensive Player of the Year Chris Johnson how good his coaching abilities are. He’s young, the kids will relate well with him, and he’ll be able to recruit the players that Florida and Florida State miss on. He needs to establish himself in the South Florida area and hopefully he’ll hire a positions coach that knows the region well.

This was the type of guy USF needed 2 or 3 years ago. I fully expect the dynamic and attitude of this team to change for the better and I almost want to guarantee a conference title by year 2. I said almost. Bulls fans, you’re getting a solid coach. Forget “what’s his name” and be excited about the future.

Former USF Head Coach Jim Leavitt addressed the media today regarding his dismissal and alleged altercation with a student-athlete. It was an emotional conference, but one that I found to be fairly meaningless and I’ll explain why.

Leavitt is basically begging for his job back, but clearly the findings by South Florida Athletic Director Doug Woolard warranted the firing. Leavitt has now seeked legal counsel and is threatening to sue USF unless they give him his job back. Leavitt claims he’s doing it for the kids and that he’s always taught his players to fight and now it’s his turn to fight for his job. Sounds to me like Leavitt wants a pay day and will turn to any means necessary, and in my opinion, is a pretty low move.

I’m not faulting the man for wanting to get paid. Good for him. It’s the way he’s handling it that troubles me. Does he really think the University will bring him back now under these conditions and circumstances? Yeah, that’ll make things comfortable for everyone. I can only imagine what the looks he’ll give South Florida President Judy Genshaft while walking down the hallway.

Leavitt also knows that he now has a reputation, one that may never be mended, and he may never get a head-coaching job again. He’ll have to go elsewhere and be a coordinator and pray that this debacle blows over.

This is a horrible move by Leavitt and it’s one that’ll accomplish nothing, but give the school a black eye. Leavitt claims the findings were misreported and he shouldn’t have been fired because of the accusations, but I think he was let go for more than that. He spoke with players he wasn’t supposed to during the investigation and his story changed and didn’t line up with others. He’s now crying and clearly upset, but it’s an absolutely horrible idea for him to hold the University hostage and I hope that Genshaft and company fight back.

This one is going to get uglier than I thought. Stay tuned…

We still don’t know if the allegations of former USF Head Coach Jim Leavitt choking and striking a player are true, but after careful investigation, USF President Judy Genshaft and Athletic Director Doug Woolard have dismissed the only head football coach in South Florida history. Woolard explained to the media that Leavitt’s story toward the student-athlete in question was consistently uncorroborated by credible witnesses and the former coach injected himself into the investigation by coming in contact and speaking with material witnesses in the alleged incident.

Leavitt has been quoted as “disappointed” at the findings of the investigation as well as continuing to say that the allegations are completely untrue.

Regardless, Leavitt has been let go, and USF needs to start looking for a new head football coach and quickly, especially with National Signing Day only a few short weeks away.

I’m still unsure whether to believe Leavitt and I’m certainly hearing conflicting reports. There has been plenty of drama involving coaches and players this season, including former Kansas Head Coach Mangino hitting a player and having it caught on film as well as former Texas Tech Head Coach Leach locking a player in a dark room for having a concussion, which still makes zero sense to me. I guess Woolard found what they needed from their investigation and instead of a lingering media debacle shadow the University, he decided it best to let Leavitt go.

Was this a situation where the AD just wanted to show Leavitt the door and capitalized at the opportune moment? Some have certainly gotten that impression. It isn’t farfetched considering Leavitt has underachieved since South Florida joined the weak Big East and never came close to a conference title. Leavitt struggled to win in December and couldn’t get his team over the hump even after reaching #2 in the polls just a few shorts years ago.

Suitors for the Bulls next head coach are Florida’s defensive line coach Dan McCarney, former Auburn Head Coach Tommy Tubberville, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Special Teams Coach Rich Bisaccia.

It’s weird for me to write this because his title was always Florida State “Head Coach” Bobby Bowden, but the 34-year ride has come to an end with an emotional 33 to 21 victory over West Virginia in the Gator Bowl on New Years Day. The 80-year-old Bowden has officially stepped down and did so in a nonchalant, classy fashion chalk full of post-game jokes and a heart-felt good bye.

It should have ended that way. It should have ended on a high note and the man who took a program from nothing to prestige should have walked off into the proverbial sunset and not have to ever look back. Alas, it isn’t so for the mythical coach. The NCAA has put a wrench into what could have been a glorious ending to a fabled career. It pains me to write this, but former Florida State Head Coach Bobby Bowden will have multiple games stripped from his record leaving him with 375 career victories due to the violations FSU reported to the NCAA back in 2007. The offenses were documented, investigated, and have been well publicized as well as criticized/defended throughout the sports world. My question to you is, “Does Bobby deserve this?”

Whether you love Bowden or hate him, the man gave his all to the University and did something unbelievable by taking a program on the brink of disbandment to national power and did so in only a few short seasons. I’m absolutely appalled and disgusted by the NCAA, who, similarly enough, operates much like the Soprano’s. Florida State hasn’t been making the NCAA money the way they used to and they’re now taking it out on the University and Bowden. FSU had much bigger troubles in the ‘90’s and not a single infraction took place, and if there were violations they were slaps on the wrist. The ‘Noles were also winning big games and National Championships. So why attack now?

Take a look at what’s going on at Southern Cal or Tennessee. The Trojans have been on top of the college football world this past decade and have been associated with many alleged wrong doings. Reggie Bush and OJ Mayo immediately come to mind. Google it if you’re not sure what I’m talking about. The NCAA has to protect its prized conference so nothing will come out of Tennessee even with multiple arrests. And not just “caught with marijuana” type arrests. These are student athletes with gun charges, aggravated assault, so on and so forth, and not a whisper from the NCAA.

FSU notified and reported themselves to the NCAA. They even suspended players for the Music City Bowl back in 2007, which probably cost them the game, due to these transgressions. Of course rival fans are going to cry, “Bobby should have known what was going on. It’s his fault.” How? How in the world is one man supposed to know what all his players are doing at all times? Did Meyer know where Dunlap was when he received his DUI? How about Lane Kiffin and his posse who robbed a man in his car at gunpoint like a pack of hoodlums? You’re kidding yourself if you truly think these coaches know what their kids are doing at all times. And you’re absolutely in denial if you think this doesn’t happen at every university. Yes, people speed every day and don’t get caught. It still doesn’t make it right and I’m going to laugh when it eventually catches up to your school.

Bobby Bowden still walks away with his head held high and he can still win a room with his southern charm and quick wit. He stole the hearts of Seminoles fans, as well as college football fans everywhere. This will certainly tarnish his legacy, but at no fault of his own. Bobby did what he was supposed to do and got reprimanded anyway. The United States is a forgiving country and this will all blow over in a few years. If anything, it’s good it finally came out now so the school can move on. Something I can never forgive is the NCAA and their sleazy operation. Thank you, NCAA. You killed a legend.

The Jim Leavitt Saga continues with two more accounts of the Joel Miller incident. The situation becomes more bizarre and has taken a life of its own with two USF players speaking out.

Senior wide receiver, Colby Erskin, may have an axe to grind with South Florida Head Coach Jim Leavitt and Erskin is the reason why the alleged altercation has been revived. Erskin told AOL Fanhouse, who first broke the Leavitt accosting Miller story, that everything Joel Miller said was true. Erskin was part of the five unnamed sources that Fanhouse originally posted. According to Erskin, none of the “sources” wanted to speak out in fear of losing their scholarships. The senior broke his silence after Jim Leavitt supposedly emptied his locker and threw all his belongings into a trash bin. The equipment manager confirmed it was Leavitt that did it personally.

Erskin claims that Miller approached him for answers on how to handle the Leavitt situation a few days after it happened and Erskin advised him to seek Athletic Director Doug Woolard and tell him everything. As we all know, Miller was too afraid to say anything because he was afraid of being kicked off of the team. The Fanhouse story broke from that point and we know the rest from there. Leavitt supposedly emptied Erskin’s locker in retaliation for giving Miller counsel.

Now we have someone finally defending Jim Leavitt. Sophomore safety Jerrell Young says that everything Erskin and Miller have reported is bogus because Young was in the room when the alleged slap took place. According to Gary Auman of the St. Pete Times, when asked why more players haven't spoken out in support of Leavitt, Young said the players were specifically told by athletic director Doug Woolard not to speak publicly about the incident.

See, this is where the whole situation becomes ridiculous. If erroneous allegations are made about my head coach whom I respect and admire, I come out right away and back him up. The fact that USF football players were quiet throughout this whole process makes me believe that there’s actually something to this story. Why would Miller come out and accuse Leavitt of wrong doings then retract his statements the next day? Only one person saw what really happened and has the guts to speak out? Where are these other five “sources” that secure Miller’s side of the story?

This thing is far from over and I fully expect there to be more players that defend both Miller and Leavitt. Grab your popcorn, folks. This is will get interesting.

UPDATE: Jim Leavitt Fired! more to come . . .

This Urban Meyer situation has become quite confusing and actually pretty shady. If you’ve been eating too much turkey and lost in the Holiday spirit, let me give you a quick rundown…

University of Florida head football coach, Urban Meyer, resigned the day after Christmas, citing “health reasons” as well as “wanting to spend more time with family.” Meyer was admitted to a hospital after the SEC Championship game, suffering from chest pains, but was released with the diagnosis of “dehydration,” which most people thought was fishy. Now, it comes out that Meyer has a faulty heart valve. It’s completely non-life threatening and is more of a scary annoyance than anything else. After some research and talking to a few health professionals, I’m under the assumption that the symptoms are almost exactly the same as anxiety attacks.

In a world surrounded by tabloid, trash media and rumors that spread like wildfire, why has this never come out before? Meyer says he has had this condition for a long time, yet this is the first any of us are hearing of it. Maybe Meyer had a massive panic attack after the SEC Title game and it terrified him. Perhaps he didn’t want the media to know that he suffers from anxiety, so he kindly asks the doctors to say it’s dehydration. I’m not trying to instigate garbage. I’d like to know the honest truth and we’re clearly not receiving that information.

So, Urban resigns after talking it over with his family. This is obviously something that takes weeks to consider and no one wants to come to a resolution without careful thought and peace of mind. There has to be plenty of soul-searching and discussion for Meyer to consider the conclusion he decided on, which, at the time, was to step down as the Florida head coach. What made him change his mind and why was it done so hastily?

Apparently, Meyer had an epiphany when he stepped out onto the practice field Sunday morning and weeks of consideration and chatting with his family, whom he wanted to spend more time with, is now vaporized. Urban has decided he needs a break from the coaching gig because it’s too “stressful” on his life, which furthers my speculation that he suffers from anxiety, but he will eventually return to head coaching duties on a later date. This leads me to my, “Why he changed his mind…again” theory: Recruiting.

This is the time of year where schools are running mad getting their commitments locked up and in order. According to my sources, multiple UF commitments, including the State of Florida’s top athlete, and arguably the top recruit in the nation, Matt Elam, opened their recruitment process back up after hearing the Urban Meyer news. This has to make UF athletic director, Jeremy Foley, unhappy, and I bet a conversation between the two went something like this:

Foley: Urban? Hey, is Jeremy. How’re you feeling?
Meyer: Pretty good. I’m really sorry to have to do this to the university, but I really do need to get my health in order.
Foley: Yeah, about that…it’s not life threatening, correct?
Meyer: Well, no, but…
Foley: See, I hear that some of our solid commitments are looking elsewhere because of this debacle, uh, announcement and we just can’t have top talent looking at rival schools. Understand?
Meyer: Jeremy…
Foley: Call me, “Mr. Foley.”
Meyer: Um, Mr. Foley, I’ve already discussed this with my family and I need time away to get my health in order.
Foley: Yeah, I’m going to need you to come in on Sunday…that’ll be great.

Hopefully some of you get the joke, but it is odd that Meyer seemed pretty content with his decision to resign, but had a quick change of heart, even after one of his daughters was quoted as, “Happy to have her father back.” Has to be pretty tough to turn your back on that. Now that Meyer has announced he’ll be back, the commitments appear to be firm again.

Whatever his situation and condition is, I truly hope it’s resolved and cared for. I wish Urban Meyer and his family the best. He and Pete Carroll are definitely this decade’s best coaches and have put out the most dominating teams, by far. There’s no doubt in my mind that Meyer will return to the game and pick up his Hall of Fame career where it left off, but I hope he does it on his terms and not someone else’s.

The Florida State Seminoles had a lot of coaching holes to fill when Mickey Andrews decided to step down from his defensive coordinator duties after 26 seasons in Tallahassee. With Jimbo Fisher taking full reigns of the FSU staff, the future head coach hired former University of Arizona defensive coordinator, Mark Stoops.

Stoops certainly has the experience working with some great defensive minds over his college-coaching career. Stoops coached defensive backs under head coach, Jim Leavitt at South Florida in 1997 and served under Randy Shannon, while Shannon was the defensive coordinator at the University of Miami, from 2001 to 2003. Stoops developed greats such as Antrel Rolle, Mike Rumph, and Ed Reed. He also has the pedigree being the brother of Oklahoma head coach, Bob Stoops, as well as Arizona head coach, Mike Stoops. But is Mark Stoops truly what the Seminoles need to revitalize a lagging defense?

The defensive side of the ball was a Florida State staple for many years. Teams took close notice of FSU’s fast-paced, all out blitz style defensive schemes that rendered opposing quarterbacks paralyzed with fear. Today’s offensive linemen are too athletic and wide receivers are too speedy for this strategy to work anymore. The spread offense, which is designed to confuse defenses and get the ball out as quickly as possible, annihilates this form of old-school “bump and run.” Stoops pilots a “bend don’t break” version of the zone system, similar to what Monte Kiffin runs in Tennessee. This ought to keep opposing offenses from throwing 50 yards down field past the safeties, something FSU defenders did on a weekly basis.

We have to look at Stoops body of work while he was at Arizona the past few seasons. I’ll give him credit that he’s coming from an offensive-minded conference in the Pac-10 and he fared very well, having a top 20 defense the past two seasons, although his scoring defense was ranked 46th in ‘09. How did he do against teams that run the Spread Option? I ask because folks in Tallahassee are tired of losing to the hated Gators and Stoops will be judged almost solely on what he does against the boys from Gainesville. I know it doesn’t sound fair, but FSU’s defense was atrocious last season. They compete in the ACC where they came very close to playing for a conference championship with zero cover. I have no doubt Stoops will make the ‘Noles defense better because it couldn’t get any worse, but against Florida is where he’s going to make his money.

Oregon plays nearly the exact same style of offense the Gators play. In 2009 against Oregon at home, Stoops’ defense allowed 31 points in regulation (Arizona lost in overtime) and 459 total yards of offense. It isn’t any better in ‘08, allowing 508 yards of total offense and 48 points (Oregon scored 55 points, but one of the Ducks’ touchdowns was a pick 6) while in Eugene. This shouldn’t strike FSU fans with confidence and I’m sure Gator fan is smiling knowing that seven in a row is almost a sure thing.

The old adage, “time will tell” fits perfectly in this situation whether Stoops is the right hire or not. Personally, I think he’ll be a guy that’s on Florida States staff for a couple of season then bolts for a head coaching gig and I certainly cannot fault him for it. For the sake of FSU fans, I hope Jimbo knows what he’s doing. He’s already going to be under a very condensed microscope this upcoming season.

Recruiting season is in full swing and it looks like Florida, Florida State, Miami, and South Florida are all shaping up to once again have excellent classes. Every year there are student-athletes who become ineligible because of grades or other outside influences/circumstances. Will this season be any different?

I’m not sure if this will affect there chances of entering UF, but these pictures of highly touted defensive lineman, Leon Orr and Lynden Trail, have to make college football fans wonder, “What in the world is Urban Meyer doing?”

The Gators have been plagued with arrests since Meyer took over in ’05 and rival fans love to remind the Florida head coach about his, “Top 1% of 1%” comment, which was seriously a stupid, stupid remark. This season has not been without its lack of drama for the Gators with senior linebacker, Brandon Spikes, eye gouging a Georgia running back, as well as junior defensive end, Carlos Dunlap, getting himself suspended for the SEC Championship game for suspicion of DUI.

Before Gator fan jumps on me and says FSU and Miami were recruiting these kids too:

1. I’m impartial and could care less if they did because I’m just throwing out my opinion and…
2. Not according to my sources. Both schools eased up on their recruitment way before these pictures surfaced. I’m pretty sure it had little to do with character issues and more to do with them being pretty firm on UF.

For the sake of these kids, I honestly hope that the pictures are just a joke. I would never wish ill will on any child and I seriously expect nothing, but good things to come for these guys in the future. Still, it has to make you wonder where Meyer’s head is?

I’m sure most of us have heard by now about University of South Florida Head Coach, Jim Leavitt, allegedly accosting one of his players during halftime of the Louisville game a few weeks back. According to sources, Leavitt grabbed and choked sophomore walk-on, Joel Miller, due to a couple of mistakes Miller made on special teams, one of which the sophomore was flagged for. Leavitt then struck the young man twice.

These are serious allegations considering the investigation that took place at Kansas that cost Mark Mangino his head coaching job. Ironically enough, Mangino and Leavitt were both assistants together at Kansas State.

I’m not exactly sure what to believe and I’m certainly not going to pass judgment until all of the facts are present, but there’s definitely a ton of smoke to waft through. Leavitt refuses to comment on the claims and says he’ll only talk about recruiting, not the alleged incident.

Miller proclaims five witnesses and an unnamed source has been interviewed on the situation, but there are still many facets that do not make sense. Like, why did Miller come forward about the incident nearly three weeks later? Miller says it’s because he was afraid that if he approached Leavitt about the episode, Leavitt would bench him, or worse, kick him off of the team. Also, this is a pretty unique circumstance and the story acknowledges that it happened in the locker room at halftime, so why are there only five witnesses and not eighty? This is a major event and you’d think an assistant coach or teammate would’ve tried and pull Leavitt off of Miller if this was true.

It has been documented that Leavitt called Miller into his office after Mangino resigned from Kansas stemming from the live television broadcast of the former Kansas head coach assaulting a player. No one knows what was said, but it’s pretty ironic Leavitt wanted to speak with his player after his old coaching mate was under heavy scrutiny for a similar situation. Problem is, the Mangino hit is a youtube sensation, while Leavitt’s alleged strike happened behind closed doors.

In the court of public opinion, Jim Leavitt is already seen as a “bad guy.” We’ve all seen his tantrum’s on the sidelines. Yelling at his players, grabbing their facemasks, scowling, and making his presence known through intimidation, but we can’t judge him on those exploits alone. There will obviously be an internal investigation and USF better do a perfect job because if the NCAA isn’t happy with South Florida’s findings they’ll inject themselves in the investigation and that is the last thing the University needs, especially now when it’s a crucial time in football recruiting. The school also doesn’t want to screw anything up, potentially costing an innocent man his career as well as even being considered for future jobs. Stay tuned…

I’m trying to figure out when the four-letter network sailed away from compelling sports journalism to pit bull-like, shady gossip columns. We’ve seen the recent events with Tiger Woods and it’s become a witch-hunt and a soap opera lovers dream. Rich, handsome sports figure allegedly having an affair with multiple women while his super model wife slaves all day over a hot stove and tends to the children. All we’re missing now is for someone to say to Tiger, “I’m your long lost half-sister” and then a patron from Tiger’s past mysteriously returns to his life with a case of amnesia. It’s totally daytime television and only a person with a marginal IQ gets sucked into the drama.

I’m not here to talk about Woods or his thirty mistresses…allegedly. I’m here to talk about that appalling OTL piece on the state of affairs at Florida State University. What a serious load of garbage that bit of so-called “journalism” was. To say that there isn’t an obvious agenda against the University and it’s employees is laughable.

First off, I’d like to know whom the Mensa member was that actually thought former Florida State wide receiver, Fred Rouse, was a credible source? For those of you who aren’t sure who Rouse is, I’ll give you a quick 411: Fred Rouse was a highly recruited receiver coming out of Tallahassee Lincoln. He signed his letter of intent to play at Florida State and was kicked off the team towards the end of the ’05 season for supposedly failing drug tests as well as the ever so vague, “conduct detrimental to the team.” Maybe a few weeks after his departure from the university, Rouse, and another former teammate, broke into Lorenzo Booker’s apartment and stole multiple items, including electronic equipment. He later transferred to the University of Texas-El Paso where he left the team due to “personal” reasons and now plays at some college no one cares about. This guy? This is OTL’s reliable, credible source? Once again, people with a marginal IQ will buy it while snacking on bonbons.

And to make it even funnier, Rouse attacked former FSU cornerback, Antonio Cromartie, saying, and I paraphrase, He could barely read. According to Pro Football Talk, Cromartie’s agent isn’t too pleased with the segment and how his client is being portrayed and I wouldn’t be too surprised to see a lawsuit filed against the four-letter network. Not like it would matter with their room full of lawyers. Gary Wichard, Cromartie’s agent, says he never commented for the OTL story, but the piece features a negative quote from the longtime agent. The “he said, she said” battle will ensue and this will get ugly.

Their “other” plausible source is a disgruntled ex-employee. What, Paula Jones wasn’t available for comment? She would’ve been just as dependable. When is a disgruntled, former hireling ever going to talk nice about their onetime employer, especially when they leave on bad terms? Brenda Monk and her comments, in my opinion, are off base and personally meant to be malicious with shady facts and a sketchy timeline. Yeah, I do my research. That’s good journalism? Finding someone who loathes their old boss and wants to take pot shots? But it gets better…

The one conducting the story is a University of Florida grad, and before you think that has nothing to do with anything you’re wrong. Throwing haymakers at your school’s rival, especially when they’re seen in a bad light like they are now with the Bowden situation as well as the academic scandal, is what a journalist hopes to one day accomplish. Is there a personal vendetta? No, but you think the reporter is going to turn down an opportunity like that? I don’t fault the guy. He did an excellent job. It was Star worthy and scummy, but brilliant.

To say these things don’t happen at every school is a joke. They do. I personally have friends, while receiving their Master’s Degrees at prominent universities, told me that they gave test answers to the football and basketball players. I have friends that have received test answers from student-athletes that were given the exams prior to finals that their tutors handed them. You can be blind and think up any silly story that comes to mind, but this is a blatant act to kick someone while they’re down. I’m not one to believe blab.

Tim Tebow has taken much notice over his four-year career at the University of Florida. He was a celebrity even before he stepped on campus. Tim was one of the most sought after high school athletes of all-time and signed his letter of intent with a team that was on the rise. Florida fans were getting tired of the Chris Leak project and most knew that Tebow fit Urban Meyer’s spread offense to the T, making for a much anticipated debut for the then freshman quarterback. Although he wasn’t considered the starter during the ’06 National Championship season, Tim had an integral role that helped the Gators achieve number 1 status.

Tim gives and contributes his time and efforts to the community and is a devout Christian. He goes over seas and participates in missionary work as well as other charitable events. He has been part of multiple academic awards teams for his stellar work in the classroom. He has been extremely successful in the college football world, winning two National Titles and a Heisman trophy. Tim plays the game the right way…full tilt and hard-nosed.

So, why is Tim Tebow hated amongst rivals and even the casual football fan? Two reasons: everyone despises the winner/good guy and the four-letter network built him up as a deity and no one likes the same material rehashed and shoved down their throats. Then why did the “World Wide Leader” take a shot at his sideline show of emotion after the SEC Championship loss?

I’m not here to rip the kid. I honestly believe he is one of the greatest college athletes to play the game and that he’ll go down in history as a top 5 collegiate quarterback. I’m taking the Devil’s Advocate position. Now, ask yourself, are Tim Tebow’s tears genuine? I ask because we have seen him do it on multiple occasions and he does it every time after a loss. Are they for show? Has he bought into his own celebrity and is he trying to exploit himself in this ever organically growing heroic tale? When is it heart felt and bona fide and when is it just being a crybaby?

We’ve seen over the years, and even recently, famous players in all sports cry on national television. Allen Iverson did it in his return to the Philadelphia 76ers. Terrell Owens has done it after a playoff loss, while defending his quarterback. Why were their tears seen as authentic and received little, if any, criticism?

The four-letter network took their shots at Tebow because they’ve now taken he stance of the “hater.” They’re trying to stir up controversy so we all have something to chat about until the bowl season arrives. If Timmy loses to Cincinnati and cries again, they’ll go ahead and have a, “We told you so…we were right” segment and justify their malicious notion. If Tim goes out on a high note, which I expect he will, the pundits will quickly change positions and return to the mythological saga again.

Gator fans should rejoice in this spotlight. At least you’re being talked about. It could be worse. You could be Miami and then no one really cares.

The Crimson Tide faithful stuck around the Georgia Dome and watched their players celebrate a dominating victory over the then #1 Florida Gators. Chants, mock chomps, and crimson flags flew high as the Tide won 32-13 in front of a packed arena

No matter how Gator fan wants to spin it, it was a beat down. Urban Meyer was out-coached. Tim Tebow was out-played. And Florida’s legendary defense was out-matched. I keep hearing this obnoxious saying from the UF following, “The better team lost.” I’ve got news for you: the better team never loses.

Let’s start with the offense. I’m not sure what Addazio, Florida’s offensive coordinator, was thinking. Down 26-13 in the second half, Florida completely abandoned the run. That shows me Meyer and company coached scared and felt the need to play the “catch up” game even though they were down by two possessions. UF has three stud running backs, not including Tebow, and they were absolutely underutilized. Even if ‘Bama stops Rainey for a one yard gain on multiple chances, Florida has to continue to try and pound the ball to wear their defense out. The Tide’s D was fresh all game, while the Gator’s looked gassed.

Before the game even started, we all knew ‘Bama was going to try and make Tebow uncomfortable by blitzing him, et cetera, but he was never really pressured. Instead, Alabama’s defense kept him in the pocket and I saw a troubled QB unable to get the ball to the receivers he wanted to. Tim’s a much better quarterback out of the pocket and Saban’s defense was very well-disciplined by keeping Tebow from getting outside.

Florida’s receivers once again did not help Tim at all. I said it from the very 1st game of the season: If the wide outs didn’t correct their dropping problem, it was going to become an epidemic for the rest of the season. We all saw the results.

Now on to Florida’s defense. Ingram tore UF’s defense apart, both rushing and receiving. ‘Bama had the ball for 2/3rd’s of the game. Their offense was going to hold onto the ball, kill clock, and not allow UF’s offense to get on the field to get into any kind of rhythm. Greg McElroy surprised me with his poise and composure. He looked like a man on a mission, carving UF’s stout secondary for 239 passing yards. He doesn’t get those stats without the game’s MVP, Mark Ingram, who rushed for 113 yards and also had 76 receiving. I personally think that seals the Heisman for the kid, but that’s a topic for another day.

Like I said earlier, Florida’s defense looked tired. In the second half, they were uncharacteristically missing tackles and getting blown into the backfield by ‘Bama’s offensive linemen. I watched Tide’s center, Williams Vlachos, own Brandon Spikes on many occasions. Would a Carlos Dunlap have helped in this situation? No. Alabama was never in a spot where they had to throw the ball. The Tide just ran it down the Gator’s throats, and, although Dunlap is a phenomenal player, he isn’t as stout in the run game as he is the passing game. Was it a distraction? Maybe, but Charlie Strong, Florida’s defensive coordinator, needs to make sure his men are focused and prepared to play. They weren’t and we see what happens. I’m not placing the blame on Strong at all, but his second half adjustments were horrible. I think Strong talking to Virginia and Louisville was more of a distraction to UF’s defense than Dunlap was, but I digress…

Be proud, Gator fans. You had an incredible run and you’ll arguably be considered for the “Team of the Decade” award come season’s end. Hold your heads high because your team accomplished something few have. Quit with the baby excuses and get ready for Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl. Good luck!

Florida's Secondary v Alabama's Wide Receivers

Edge: UF

Florida's secondary struggled once this year and that was against an Arkansas team that thrives on passing the ball. Julio Jones will be blanketed by potential All-American candidate and Jim Thorpe finalist (Nations best defensive back), Joe Haden. Jones hasn't lived up to his freshman campaign, but that may have something to do with 'Bama's QB situation and the offense running the ball like crazy. Look for the Tide's Marquis Maze to see a ton of balls thrown his way.

Florida's Linebackers v Alabama's Running Game

Edge: UA

Teams have stuck 8 and 9 in the box on the Doak Walker finalist and Maxwell finalist (Nation's best running back and all-around player) and Mark Ingram still finds holes to burst through. Florida's linebacking core is arguably the best in the nation, returning all 3 starters from a year ago, including Bednarik finalist (Nation's best defensive player), Brandon Spikes, who is the heart and soul of this UF defense. The one-two combination of Ingram and freshman power-load, Trent Richardson, is a lot to handle, even for the great Florida defense. The Gators have struggled a few times against the power running game this season, especially to Tennessee and Arkansas. Ingram was bottled up against Auburn recently and sustained a minor injury.

Florida's Defensive Line v Alabama's Offensive Line

Edge: Even

I would've given the edge to Florida, but Carlos Dunlop got himself suspended for the title game due to suspicion of drunk driving. Justin Trattou is a load and a very aggressive player, but he has big shoes to fill replacing Dunlop. 'Bama's offensive line isn't the biggest bunch, but they're extremely athletic and do an amazing job working their way to the second level allowing for massive lanes. Their pass protection could be better, but that may be because Alabama quarterback, Greg McElroy, holds on to the ball much longer than he should. Florida's front 4 is very active with their stunts and carry a ton of depth. This match-up will determine who wins or loses this ball game.

Alabama's Secondary v Florida's Receivers

Edge: UA

Other than Aaron Hernandez, Florida's receivers haven't exactly been dependable at times, dropping the ball on multiple occasions. Alabama's secondary, led by corner back, Javier Arenas, is a very aggressive group. Each defensive back covers well and will flat knock a player out. Auburn caught ‘Bama napping a few times, but I fully expect them to remedy that. Riley Cooper, the Gator's top pass catcher, will need to play huge if Florida is to succeed. Don't count on the deep ball being effective, so sit Deonte Thompson if he's on your fantasy team. Look for David Nelson to have another big SEC Championship Game day.

Alabama's Linebackers v Florida's Running Backs

Edge: Even

Alabama has some great linebackers on this squad, including Rolando McClain who'll cover, blitz, shadow, and do whatever you ask him to. The Tide's 4 linebackers can all get to the ball carrier and don't miss tackles. With that said, Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps make a living on making tacklers miss and, if they do miss, it's touchdown. Tebow's lumped into this group too. His running abilities this season have evolved due to his lack of a pass catcher at wide out. Look for the stretch play to work against an over-aggressive 'Bama 'backer group.

Alabama's Defensive Line v Florida's Offensive Line

Edge: UF

Alabama's front 3 is nasty, led by Bednarik finalist, nose tackle, Terrance Cody. All 3 guys are big space eaters, including their defensive ends, and are extremely disciplined. The problem is Florida's offensive line has seen them before and handled them very well in last years contest. Florida's depth is an issue with a few guys out and a couple of others nicked up. Expect the Pouncey twins to double "Mount" Cody. Watch for Gator left tackle, Marcus Gilbert, to receive help, whether that is a running back or tight end, with whichever defensive player lines up against him. It's basically a, "pick your poison" for the freshman tackle.

Quarterback's

Edge: UF

McElroy has struggled getting the ball to his receivers down field this season. He's had time, but his decision-making is too slow. You can see the frustration on Julio Jones' face a few times during the games this year. Tebow is a game-changer and will put a team on his back and will them to victory. We've all heard it a milliontimes, but it's true. Check out both QB's stats. Very comparable.

Special Teams

Edge: UA

Arenas is in the top 10 in both kick returning and punt returning yards. The kid's a touchdown waiting to happen, if teams kick to him. Alabama's Leigh Tiffin is the best kicker in the NCAA. Brandon James isn't the same young man from his freshman and sophomore years. He's still dangerous, but I think teams have got him figured out. Caleb Sturgis has struggled.

Intangibles

Edge: UF

Urban Meyer is money in these big games. He knows how to get his teams well prepared, especially when the odds are against him (even though they're favored by 6). Nick Saban is also a great big-game coach and he'll want redemption for last year.

Final Prediction

Florida: 23, Alabama: 24