I Can Throw This Pigskin Over That Mountain...

First of all, Pirates Magic Number to get to 100 Losses: 6. I have faith in my boys. The Bucs Record in their last 25 games: 3-22. Pirates 2009: What Light at the End of the Tunnel??

This woman is doing an impression of Southern Cal's National Title hopes...




Still, everybody ready to bury SC this year must not have been paying attention the last 3 years when the exact same thing has happened, and SC ended the year beating up on some poor Big 10 team, and whining about how they got the shafts in the BCS Title Race. This year will be no exception.

Great article about Washington's win/why college ball is superior to pro ball...

I mean I understand that Pro Football is king. I understand how great fantasy football is, and I am getting close to giving up trying to convince people who have a pole up their backside for the NFL, that in fact college football is better, but come on, this happened...



Then like 2 minutes later this happens...



I understand that there are fantastic finishes in the NFL, too, but don't tell me that the feeling and excitement in the stadium are the same. They are not...

I love Fowler...



This should happen at football games WAY more often...




This is clearly the best drunk/nearly dead guy in College Football. I mean he is from the SEC, everything there is the best...



Lingerie Football...It's FAN-tastic

















Speaking of that kind of thing...Wholly Disappointing...

Now, without further ado, here is the the stone cold, not quite convinced about Miami and Houston, Top 25.

1.) Florida-OK, so they didn't win by 100...The Gators struggles against Tennessee was great news for College Football, becasue it does not appear that they will run away with neither the SEC nor National Championship.










2.) Texas-OK, so they didn't win by 100, either...The Longhorns still do not have a reliable running back, and until they do, it will all be on the shoulders of Colt McCoy, not that opposing defenses don't know that already... By the way, good job by Jordan Shipley for arousing this big guy...









3.) Alabama-Almost overnight, people around the country realized that the Tide was really good and capable of a National Championship. Only the Hogs and Mississippi State stand between 'Bama and a chance to show upstart Ole Miss that 'Bama rules the SEC West.










4.) California-Almost overnight, people realized that the Bears were not only capable of usurping SC's from the top of the Pac-10 standings, but that Jahvid Best might be the man for the Heisman, this year. Autzen Stadium is a REAL tough place to win (ask Utah), the Ducks seem to have things going. If Cal does not realize these things, their game against SC won't mean half as much as it does, right now.














5.) Ole Miss-We know nothing about how good the Rebels are. That will no longer be an issue after Thursday. Thursday night games are perfect traps (see: 2008 Oregon State v. Southern Cal), it is at South Carolina, and the 'Cocks can take an equally huge step forward by beating Nutt's team.













6.) Penn State-We know nothing about how good the Nittany Lions are. That will no longer be an issue after Saturday Night. The injuries to stud LBs Navorro Bowman and Sean Lee throw the future of Joe's team up in the air. Still, on Saturday night, it will be 110,011 v. 11.











7.) Louisiana State-That win against Washington looks a whole lot better now, doesn't it?? That game against Florida looks a whole lot more winnable now, doesn't it? Everything seems to be falling in place for Les Miles' team very nicely.











8.) Oklahoma-This is probably too high to put the Sooners, after their 1 loss, BYU, was absolutely crushed by Florida State, last week. Still, Landry Jones is making Sooner fans forget about that guy who won the Heisman last year, what's his name?? With Miami and Texas coming up in their 2 of their next 3 games, it won't take long to tell where Stoops' team stands, nationally.









9.) Southern Cal-Well, it's Groundhog Day...again, and Southern Cal has lost to some team that won 0 games, last year. Are the Trojans still going to win the Pac-10 and the Rose Bowl? Let me put it this way, you have to knock the champ out. Hurting him is not enough.













10.) Ohio State-Why does Senator Tressel get ripped for losing the big games, but Pete Carroll gets almost no flak for losing to nobodies?? By the way, Pryor still can't pass.














11.) Boise State-The toughest team remaining on the Broncos schedule, Tulsa, lost 45-0 against Oklahoma, and the Sooners were using their untested backup QB. Yep, Boise really doesn't play anybody...

12.) North Carolina-After 2 weeks of unimpressive wins and slipping down my poll, Butch Davis' team put in a solid effort against a good East Carolina team. Facing a wounded Georgia Tech team in Atlanta will be a stiff test for UNC, though.

13.) Virginia Tech-And Tyrod Taylor is still in the pocket looking for an open receiver. The Hokies QB should not bank on that kind of time against Miami's nasty D.

14.) Miami (FL)-OK, Coach Shannon, you have put Miami back on the radar. Now, make it stick. Based on what we have seen so far this year, #14 is too low for the U. Still, I cannot understand why people squabble over where teams are ranked at the end of September. I am not ready to put the 'Canes #1, but wins over VA Tech in Blacksburg and then over Oklahoma might change that.

15.) Cincinnati-Another team that has been tremendously impressive this year, with two big road wins against Rutgers and Oregon State. While I am not ready to put them in Pasadena, with their toughest game remaining (at Pitt) not being until December 5, you had better be prepared to see the Bearcats in the National Title talk, all season long.

16.) Texas Christian-OK, Frogs, Brigham Young fell through the trap door, and Utah was dragged off stage, so the ball is in your court. Now go to Death Valley, beat a good Clemson team, and then dodge the Y and the Utes. No pressure...

17.) Oklahoma State-Maybe they really aren't that good. Rice is a bad team, but they hung in the game with the Pokes until late. Grambling will give Gundy's team a welcome week off, but then it is a trip to Aggieland, and did we mention that trip to Norman for the Bedlam game??

18.) Kansas-Kansas over Duke. Would have been great on the hardwood, but on the gridiron, not so much. Beware Southern Miss, though. Damion Fletcher and the Golden Eagles are undefeated and want in on the BCS-buster talk. A KU win would likely mean the 'Beakers will be undefeated, themselves when OU comes to Lawrence in late October.

19.) Georgia-Defense has been optional in UGA's last two wins (41-37 over South Carolina, 52-41 over Arkansas), but they are both good SEC wins. Now, with the Sun Devils coming to Athens, this week and LSU coming to town, next week, the 'Dawgs can re-enter the SEC and National Championship picture with or without D.

20.) Michigan-The world is spinning on its axis again, the Maize and Blue are 3-0.

21.) Brigham Young-Ouch. The Seminoles could have scored 100 on Bronco's team if they wanted. It is not an easy bounce-back game, either, with an undefeated Colorado State team coming to Provo. We have not mentioned that TCU and Utah are still on the slate, as well.

22.) Notre Dame-It wasn't pretty. It wasn't easy. But the Irish held on against Michigan State, a team that has given ND enormous headaches recently. But, that game against Washington, next week is no longer a sure W, and SC comes after that. With game-breaking wideout Michael Floyd out for the year, all is far from well for Regis' favorite team.

23.) Auburn-War Eagle. THIS was the Auburn team we were supposed to see last year. The defense forced 6 West Virginia turnovers. QB Chris Todd is looking solid, and they have a stable of running backs. Did I mention that 'Bama has to come to Auburn, this year??

24.) Pittsburgh-The Panthers handled a Navy team that game Ohio State real trouble. Dion Lewis seems to be filling LeSean McCoy's shoes quite nicely, and the Panthers get Cincinnati at home to end the year. But, whenever anybody jumps on the Pitt bandwagon, the cart tips over. A game like the one this week at N.C. State would be a huge trap for recent Wannstedt teams.

25.) Houston-I am giving UH some love, but not too much. For some people to have the Cougars in their top 10 is way over the top. But a win over a Texas Tech team that looked good against Texas would give Sumlin's team 2 wins over teams from the Big XII South, and really fuel the Houston BCS talk.

5 Who are Close:

26.) Florida State

27.) Iowa

28.) Missouri

29.) Oregon

30.) UCLA

There you have it. Please remember this is only September. If you have an issue with my Top 25+5, I do not want it to end like this...

Dedicated to Carl Everett

Did you hear? Sam Bradford's arm is gonna fall off...

This is actually the sound S. Bradford made after he was hit by that guy from Brigham Young...



I didn't know how Brigham Young came up so big in Saturday Night's game, then I heard they had this kid come in a give the pre-game pep talk. I now have my answer...




Why is there not an outcry that Boise is dealing with their guy who precipitated the LeGarrete Blount incident "internally?" So, he'll have to run the stairs of Bronco Stadium a few more times...Big deal. I mean, L. Blount is out for the year and dotted as a punk for the rest of his football career, and this dude has to do a few more gassers. Yet another reason to dislike Boise.

It really never gets old, though...



What a great game, last night. THAT was a Florida State-Miami game. After years of subpar, downright boring games, the U and the 'Noles rose to the occasion with the whole nation watching. Both teams were in midseason form on Labor Day. It wasn't quite to this level, but it was close...



That Miami-Oklahoma game, in a few weeks, just got a lot more interesting. Same with Florida State/Brigham Young...

This is kind of fun. Be sure you can add, though...

Anything that rips/makes fun of the Cubs, I am all for it...

By the way, my favorite team in Professional Sports has set a record for futility. I am so proud of my boys.

Anyway, here are 10 Observations from watching every game I could from Thursday-Monday:

10.) This is not Greg Robinson's Syracuse team

9.) This is not Ty Willingham's Washington team

8.) I love that Brigham Young's win trumped Boise's "breakthrough" win against an Oregon team that I, and everybody else painfully overrated. Boise beating Southern Cal would be the only equitable thing to Brigham Young beating Oklahoma.

7.) In the long run, Ohio State sneaking past Navy is no big deal because they always struggle in a non-conference game ('02 v. Cincinnati, '04 v. Marshall, '08 v. Ohio U.) and they will handle their business in the Big 10, but it is bad news (and I mean real bad news) for Saturday's game with SC.

6.) ESPN having Kenny Chesney sing the bumper music gets me fired up to go gardening, not play football.

5.) Virginia, Duke, N.C. State, Maryland. ACC-Ouch

4.) Michigan and Notre Dame fans...realize that you are Michigan and Notre Dame and they are Western Michigan and Nevada. You both will be better, but you are not ready to play the Steelers.

3.) Welcome back to the sidelines, JoePa.

2.) The Big East was up for grabs in the pre-season. One "Cincinnati 47-Rutgers 15" later, and we have our favorite.

1.) I have found my favorite coach in the country, and his name is Bronco.




Now, when I had Oklahoma as my pre-season #1, and Oregon as a Rose Bowl team, someone should have laughed in my face, kind of like this girl...



So, I am going to an old, reliable place for my new #1...

1.) Southern Cal-They will prove why on Saturday in Columbus





2.) Florida-If a Big 10 team scheduled Charleston Southern, they would be ridiculed to no end. Florida does it, and it is viewed as kind of funny and amusing. Urban v. Lane smackdown countdown clock: 11 days.




3.) Texas- Their biggest competition for the Big XII South will come from the state of Oklahoma. Just not from Norman, OK.




4.) Alabama-Roll Tide. Did you see the 'Bama defense?? The final against a top 10 team was 34-24, but it really was not that close. It could be deja vu in the SEC with a 12-0 'Bama team facing the fighting Tebows in the SEC Title Game.




5.) Oklahoma State-If the Pokes can play defense the way they did in wearing down UGA, look out. They get Texas at home, too...




6.) Ole Miss-The Rebels were flat for three quarters, but when the lightbulb went off in the 4th quarter, they looked every part of a top 10 team. That game against Alabama on October 10 might be the biggest in school history.



7.) Penn State-For one half, JoePa's team looked like world beaters. For the other half, they looked like Indiana. Fact is they are probably somewhere in between. Syracuse will be a better test than first anticipated...



8.) Ohio State-Phew...whether it was letting up on the Naval Academy or the Buckeyes aren't as good as first thought, the Senator needs to iron things out before Saturday or the Big 10's name will be dragged through the mud (again...) By the way, T. Pryor still can't pass...





9.) California-Those who stayed up to watch the varsity (Cal) pound the JV (Maryland) may have seen the best team in the Pac-10. Jahvid Best is the best kept secret in the country. SC comes to Berkeley this year. The people in the trees of Strawberry Canyon will be buzzing (or buzzed, either one...)



10.) North Carolina-I am still out on a limb with my Tar Heels, and they didn't give me a reason to jump off their boat. Ok, so it was only The Citadel, but have you seen the ACC?? You mean that these guys can't navigate those relatively calm waters??



11.) Brigham Young- Wouldn't it be something else if the Cougars run to the National Championship Game is aided by the goodwill from their arch-rival Utah's ultra-successful season, last year? With Florida State, TCU and Utah all having to visit Provo, this could be one of those years for the Y.

12.) Boise State-Don't worry, once their titanic WAC schedule kicks in, they'll be slipping down my poll. If Nevada is the 2nd best team in the WAC (ahem, 35-0 loss to ND) then Boise should have no trouble the rest of the year.

13.) Louisiana State-Give LSU credit, they went a long road trip, faced a redemption-hungry Washington team, fell behind, had to struggle, and still came out on top. Handling tough situations and loud crowds will be vital once the SEC season starts.

14.) Virginia Tech-It was not a Clemson-like performance for Beamer's team against Alabama, but it was clear that VA Tech still has a ways to go before they can seriously contend for a National Championship. The ACC is up for grabs, though, and no team has taken the bull by the horns in that conference like the Hokies (3 ACC Titles since'04)

15.) Oklahoma-I don't think that Stoops will be able to make up for this loss by hanging up 60+ the way he did after losing to Texas, last year. OU will have to win by running the football with Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray, and leaning on a defense that was almost able to make 10 points stand up on Saturday.

16.) Texas Christian- Utah went 13-0 last year and Brigham Young had the biggest win of opening weekend, but the most solid, consistent Mountain West team has been the Frogs. With Clemson on the road in a few weeks, Gary Patterson's team will have a chance to have some of the spotlight on them.

17.) Tennessee-OK, Lane, good job making me look good in Week 1. Now, though, a real team comes in with UCLA. A win there would make the Urban v. Lane show on the 19th important in real life, not just in the tabloids.

18.) Notre Dame-That is how Notre Dame should beat Nevada. If the Irish can win these next two games (at Michigan, v. Michigan State), the National Championship talk could be a little bit more than hot air and Notre Dame hype (at least until they play SC).

19.) Cincinnati-I stuck by the Bearcats amidst all of the hubbub over Rutgers, Pitt, South Florida and West Virginia, and they repaid me and then some. Their 47-15 beatdown at Rutgers made them the clear cut favorite in the Big East.

20.) Kansas-The Jayhawks overwhelmed some poor nobody, but I hope that Mangino and the rest of the Big XII North was paying attention to Mizzou's pounding of Illinois. This could make both division races in the Big XII wide open and interesting.

21.) Nebraska-The Big Red have now won 24 straight season openers, and with the running game of Roy Helu, and the Blackshirts playing takeaway, this could be a real season of redemption in Lincoln.

22.) Georgia Tech-While everybody is caught up with the big games this weekend, like Notre Dame-Michigan and Southern Cal-Ohio State, keep an eye on Clemson-Georgia Tech, with the ACC wide open, Clemson looking for respect and redemption after last year's disappointment, and Georgia Tech trying to take the ACC by the neck, it should be a fun Thursday Night at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

23.) Georgia-There is no shame in going on the road and losing to a Top 10 team, but it was pretty clear that there will be some issues and growing pains for UGA, this year, offensively. However, their defense showed that the 'Dawgs are not going to drop off too far in the SEC and may even sneak up on some people (ahem Gators).

24.) Utah-Everybody wants to pay attention to Brigham Young, Boise State and even the real heavies like Texas, Southern Cal and Florida, but the Utes just keep adding on to the nation's longest winning streak, which is now at 15.

25.) Texas Tech-Leach's team playing North Dakota, South Dakota and UMass-there are some traditions of College Football that I am not the biggest fan of. That said, Leach is still the man.

5 Who are Close:

26.) Miami (FL)

27.) Clemson

28.) Michigan State

29.) Pittsburgh

30.) Auburn

Finally, with the NFL season opening on Thursday, hopefully with a Steeler beatdown of the big blowhorn, LenDale White, I present one of the few redeeming things about the NFL.



By the way, LenDale, if you do stomp on the Terrible Towel, again, Steeler fans may have a hard time hearing it, because there will be 6 Super Bowl rings plugging their ears.