By now you have probably heard that Kyle Parker is returning to Clemson as the starting QB. For those unfamiliar with all of the Parker drama over the last few months here is a quick run down of the situation.
Parker was a red shirt freshman QB last year that had over 20 TD's, 2500 yards passing, seven straight games with a touchdown pass and led the team to a division title. Needless to say he is a great QB. What is more astounding is that he is a better baseball player than he is a football player. This season Parker hit 20 home runs and led the team to a division championship to the Semi-finals in the CWS. In the middle of all of this he managed to be a first round draft pick to the Colorado Rockies. Most people (including myself) thought he would be in Colorado by now and the tigers would be biting their nails with Tajh Boyd at the helm. Instead the public was informed that the Rockies and Parker could not come to terms, contractually speaking, and Parker would be returning to Clemson. While this sounds great for Clemson we are not out the woods just yet. The signing deadline for Parker and the Rockies is not until August 16, so until then nothing is really final.
If Parker stays then Clemson could potentially do some real damage in the ACC this year. All of the off season questions center around offense. Who will the QB be? Can we have a solid running game without Spiller? Who will step up at receiver without Spiller, Ford and Palmer? With Parker staying the QB question has been answered. Everyone seems to agree that Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper could be the next Thunder and Lightening. Only One Major Question remains: Who will catch the ball? if the receiving corp will step up then Clemson should do some damage this season!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wanted: Replacement for USC
The days of USC having its way in the Pac-10 are over. I say this for two reasons 1. coaching changes. Pete Carrol's departure was bad enough, but the hiring of Lane Kiffin made things worse. I don't understand why USC gave Kiffin a contract worth more than four million dollars. Prior to his arrival at USC, Kiffin had one mediocre year at UT and a pitiful year and a half at the Oakland Raiders , at best he is unproven. Another strike against him is the fact that he brings trouble with him wherever he goes. In the SEC he made enemies with everyone before the season even started and then managed a mediocre 4-4 conference record. After arriving at USC he manged to get them in trouble by committing a secondary recruiting violation. So I guess my question is: What is so great about Lane?
The second reason I think that the reign of USC is over is because of the NCAA sanctions which include two years of no bowl games, they are ineligible for the Coaches Poll and they lose twenty scholarships. Kiffin will not be able to recruit well over the next year or two because of this. They have already lost a few of their commits due to this, most notably the number one recruit Seantrel Henderson who is reportedly leaving for the U. This will not be the last impact these sanctions have on recruiting.
In short, an unproven Coach with limited recruiting ability coming off of a 9-4 season will most likely result in a few down years for the Trojans.
This would mean that Oregon would be the heir apparent in the Pac-10 over the next year or two and with good reason. But The Pac-10 underdog that could benefit from all of this is the newly added Utah Utes. This program has surprised us a few times over the last decade with two BCS bowl wins over Pitt and Alabama (neither of which was a fluke). Even though it will be another year Before Utah Plays a Pac-10 schedule they and Oregon should be the top two contenders to replace USC at the top of the Pac-10.
The second reason I think that the reign of USC is over is because of the NCAA sanctions which include two years of no bowl games, they are ineligible for the Coaches Poll and they lose twenty scholarships. Kiffin will not be able to recruit well over the next year or two because of this. They have already lost a few of their commits due to this, most notably the number one recruit Seantrel Henderson who is reportedly leaving for the U. This will not be the last impact these sanctions have on recruiting.
In short, an unproven Coach with limited recruiting ability coming off of a 9-4 season will most likely result in a few down years for the Trojans.
This would mean that Oregon would be the heir apparent in the Pac-10 over the next year or two and with good reason. But The Pac-10 underdog that could benefit from all of this is the newly added Utah Utes. This program has surprised us a few times over the last decade with two BCS bowl wins over Pitt and Alabama (neither of which was a fluke). Even though it will be another year Before Utah Plays a Pac-10 schedule they and Oregon should be the top two contenders to replace USC at the top of the Pac-10.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Conduct Unbecoming
Things aren't getting any better for the Georgia Bulldogs this week. Not long after the arrest and resignation of A.D. Damon Evans, two Bulldog players have been arrested on alcohol-related charges. This on the heels of the arrest of Tennessee Volunteers players who took part in a bar-room brawl in Knoxville, at least one of whom has been dismissed from the team.
It hardly needs to be said that there are two major issues here, which are not completely related. First of all, these two teams will be severely hampered by the loss of these athletes on the field. Tavarres King, receiver for the Bulldogs, has shown some ability in the preseason and Dontavius Jackson would be necessary for depth at the running back position. And this Tennessee Volunteers thing is going to significantly hurt their defense, with Darren Myles (a cornerback) gone and Marlon Walls (defensive line) and Greg King (linebacker) still waiting on their verdicts. So you have two teams in the SEC East, one which expects to make a run and the other trying to rebuild, who are now having to find new people who can contribute immediately.
Second of all, there is a more important issue of character. The purpose of this blog is not to pass judgment or to comment on social issues. However, we cannot ignore the fact that this kind of thing has been happening more and more frequently throughout college football. There is no doubt that young student-athletes must learn from their own mistakes and be given the freedom to live the college life. But what has happened to the concept that football is a tool that teaches life skills and that character is an important part of life? It is one thing to allow students to party and enjoy themselves, it is quite another to encourage them to believe that there are no consequences to their actions and to living like thugs. The "glamorous life" is a privelege, not a right. So, I say, stop acting like kids and start acting like young men...and let's play football.
It hardly needs to be said that there are two major issues here, which are not completely related. First of all, these two teams will be severely hampered by the loss of these athletes on the field. Tavarres King, receiver for the Bulldogs, has shown some ability in the preseason and Dontavius Jackson would be necessary for depth at the running back position. And this Tennessee Volunteers thing is going to significantly hurt their defense, with Darren Myles (a cornerback) gone and Marlon Walls (defensive line) and Greg King (linebacker) still waiting on their verdicts. So you have two teams in the SEC East, one which expects to make a run and the other trying to rebuild, who are now having to find new people who can contribute immediately.
Second of all, there is a more important issue of character. The purpose of this blog is not to pass judgment or to comment on social issues. However, we cannot ignore the fact that this kind of thing has been happening more and more frequently throughout college football. There is no doubt that young student-athletes must learn from their own mistakes and be given the freedom to live the college life. But what has happened to the concept that football is a tool that teaches life skills and that character is an important part of life? It is one thing to allow students to party and enjoy themselves, it is quite another to encourage them to believe that there are no consequences to their actions and to living like thugs. The "glamorous life" is a privelege, not a right. So, I say, stop acting like kids and start acting like young men...and let's play football.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Get It Over With...Hopefully
All right, let's try to get this realignment bull out of the way. I know there will continue to be questions about who might go where in future years, how conference championships (and the BCS) might play out with the changes. But can we please get past this year's round of adjustments?
Nebraska goes to the Big Ten. I see no reason why they shouldn't dominate. Let's be honest, they fit pretty well in that conference's dynamic. Traditionally, they focus on running the ball well out of the I-formation, throwing when they need to, and defense. Sound familiar (Wisconsin, Michigan, you know)? But they come from a conference where all the power was in the South and they still won championships and competed every year. And for most of us, the only two teams worth paying attention to in the Big Ten were Michigan or Ohio State depending on if you loved or hated one or the other. So I personally believe Nebraska will shake things up right away, which of course is what they want to do. All the conference has to do is institute a Conference Championship game and the Midwest will lose its mind.
The Pac-10 added two teams, Colorado and Utah. That was good because now they could institute a Conference Championship game, but now that USC is under an NCAA ban, the possibilities really open up. Colorado was a nice add since it took strength away from the Big 12, but really what else is Colorado going to do for the conference? I don't think they'll do much because they really haven't been that big of a factor in national conversation for awhile...I could be wrong. Utah, on the other hand, is in prime position to shake up the conference. They come in with a program that has had some big "upsets" the past couple of years and can compete immediately, not to mention the recruiting they'll be able to do with the Trojans' hands being tied.
It seems to me that of all the shifters, Colorado and Boise State gained the least. Colorado might get more money or more air time, but can they compete? (Then again, the Pac-10 isn't exactly Goliath, is it?) I should imagine that Boise is going to have a slightly tougher time in the Mountain West than it did in the WAC, what with Air Force and BYU being there. But even if they win out, they're going to be in the same types of bowl games as they were before, with little to no change (see Utah or BYU of the last couple years).
So anyway, there it is. Teams have shifted, but honestly aside from the implementation of a couple of new Conference Championships (which were needed) and a weaker Big 12 Conference, not much has changed.
Nebraska goes to the Big Ten. I see no reason why they shouldn't dominate. Let's be honest, they fit pretty well in that conference's dynamic. Traditionally, they focus on running the ball well out of the I-formation, throwing when they need to, and defense. Sound familiar (Wisconsin, Michigan, you know)? But they come from a conference where all the power was in the South and they still won championships and competed every year. And for most of us, the only two teams worth paying attention to in the Big Ten were Michigan or Ohio State depending on if you loved or hated one or the other. So I personally believe Nebraska will shake things up right away, which of course is what they want to do. All the conference has to do is institute a Conference Championship game and the Midwest will lose its mind.
The Pac-10 added two teams, Colorado and Utah. That was good because now they could institute a Conference Championship game, but now that USC is under an NCAA ban, the possibilities really open up. Colorado was a nice add since it took strength away from the Big 12, but really what else is Colorado going to do for the conference? I don't think they'll do much because they really haven't been that big of a factor in national conversation for awhile...I could be wrong. Utah, on the other hand, is in prime position to shake up the conference. They come in with a program that has had some big "upsets" the past couple of years and can compete immediately, not to mention the recruiting they'll be able to do with the Trojans' hands being tied.
It seems to me that of all the shifters, Colorado and Boise State gained the least. Colorado might get more money or more air time, but can they compete? (Then again, the Pac-10 isn't exactly Goliath, is it?) I should imagine that Boise is going to have a slightly tougher time in the Mountain West than it did in the WAC, what with Air Force and BYU being there. But even if they win out, they're going to be in the same types of bowl games as they were before, with little to no change (see Utah or BYU of the last couple years).
So anyway, there it is. Teams have shifted, but honestly aside from the implementation of a couple of new Conference Championships (which were needed) and a weaker Big 12 Conference, not much has changed.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Heather Dinich Betrayal
As my esteemed colleague alluded to, this blog is partly a response to those writers, analysts and commentators who have not given our teams the respect that they deserve. A recent example of this surfaced on the ESPN ACC Blog. Normally I have no objections to Heather Dinich or her posts. There was however a recent installment in which she counted down the top 25 players in the ACC. In this countdown only one Clemson player made the list. I believe that in this count down HD dropped the ball. So I would like to put forward some names that should have easily made the list
Da' Quan Bowers DE: HD admitted that the reason Bowers did not make the top 25 is because his playing time in 2009 was cut by injuries and therefore he did not accumulate impressive stats. Despite these set backs he managed to make the Lombardi watch list (top lineman on either side of the Ball) and the Nagurski watch list (top defensive player of the year). Bowers was a key member of the 2009 defense that was ranked in the top 20 nationally.
Dalton Freeman C: Freeman is just a sophomore (I believe) who made the Rimington watch list. This award is give to the nations top center.
Jarvis Jenkins DT: Jenkins is on of the best interior lineman in the country. Jenkins is also on the Nagurski watch list and the Outland watch list (top interior lineman).
Honorable Mention: RB's Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper. Both averaged 5 yards per carry, while living in the shadow of C.J. Spiller. Malliciah Goodman DE had a good freshman season in 2009 and should fill the shoes of Ricky Sapp nicely.
Da' Quan Bowers DE: HD admitted that the reason Bowers did not make the top 25 is because his playing time in 2009 was cut by injuries and therefore he did not accumulate impressive stats. Despite these set backs he managed to make the Lombardi watch list (top lineman on either side of the Ball) and the Nagurski watch list (top defensive player of the year). Bowers was a key member of the 2009 defense that was ranked in the top 20 nationally.
Dalton Freeman C: Freeman is just a sophomore (I believe) who made the Rimington watch list. This award is give to the nations top center.
Jarvis Jenkins DT: Jenkins is on of the best interior lineman in the country. Jenkins is also on the Nagurski watch list and the Outland watch list (top interior lineman).
Honorable Mention: RB's Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper. Both averaged 5 yards per carry, while living in the shadow of C.J. Spiller. Malliciah Goodman DE had a good freshman season in 2009 and should fill the shoes of Ricky Sapp nicely.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
A Saturday Religion
I don't know about you, but where I come from College Football is huge. In the South, Sundays are a good day but Saturdays are when people live and die. Sunday is mainly for discussing Saturday and the whole week is for speculating and arguing about the other two days. Church is important, but the closest thing to a second temple is the football stadium. This is why we have named this blog "A Saturday Religion." While football is big in other parts of the country, it is especially revered in the South. And so, while we will look at College Football as a whole, we will focus on what takes place in the Southeastern Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference.
It is important to note that we also write this blog for those people who feel they have gotten the short end of the stick in football antiquity. You should know that one of our writers is an Arkansas Razorbacks fan, another is part of the Clemson Tigers nation. This means that there is an understanding of football traditions, a yearly feeling of optimism, and an understanding of painful feelings when your team gets shafted or self-destructs or whatever causes teams (and fans) to have nightmares.
Therefore, in honor of the sport that we love so much and in honor of those who have made us feel betrayed (including writers, commentators, coaches, etc.) we present to you "A Saturday Religion." We hope you enjoy.
It is important to note that we also write this blog for those people who feel they have gotten the short end of the stick in football antiquity. You should know that one of our writers is an Arkansas Razorbacks fan, another is part of the Clemson Tigers nation. This means that there is an understanding of football traditions, a yearly feeling of optimism, and an understanding of painful feelings when your team gets shafted or self-destructs or whatever causes teams (and fans) to have nightmares.
Therefore, in honor of the sport that we love so much and in honor of those who have made us feel betrayed (including writers, commentators, coaches, etc.) we present to you "A Saturday Religion." We hope you enjoy.
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