Kegeratornation

I recieved this today in my e-mail as a subscriber to Red.com...

Dear Fans,

Thank you for your loyalty and support of the Cincinnati Reds. You are extremely vital to the success of the Reds, and it is important we share with you the thinking behind our recent personnel decisions.

Since taking ownership of this franchise, we have aggressively tried to improve our Major League roster for the purpose of restoring championship baseball to Cincinnati. We have sought and signed proven players. We have extended the contracts of select current players. We added Dusty Baker, a proven winning manager. And, we have capitalized on our burgeoning younger players like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Johnny Cueto.

We had high expectations for the 2008 season. Unfortunately the team has not played up to our expectations and we have sustained injuries to key players within our starting lineup and rotation.

We opted to trade Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn at this time because we believe it provided the best outcome for the long-term success of the organization. By executing these inevitable changes now, we secured more players as part of our focus towards building a deeper, stronger inventory of young talent.

We are pleased that the trades allow Griffey and Dunn the opportunity to play for teams in tight division races. Both Ken and Adam made significant contributions to the Reds and we are extremely proud and grateful they wore the Reds uniform.

While the run production generated by these two veterans will not be quickly replaced, we chose to endure the short-term ramifications for the sake of building a strong, competitive team for 2009 and many seasons to come.

The vast majority of our 50 draft picks were signed, culminating last week with first-rounder Yonder Alonso and a pair of talented pitchers. Our expanded scouting operations also signed Juan Duran from the Dominican Republic and Yorman Rodriguez from Venezuela, who are arguably the best amateur free agent position players from their respective countries.

As we near September, we will continue to provide valuable playing time to our young players and new acquisitions who we feel can become significant contributors at the Major League level. We ask your continued trust and patience as we build the roster that will get us back on top. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you at the ballpark.

Sincerely,

Chris “Stupid Motherfucker” Henry.

How many poor and mixed messages can the Bengals be sending by bringing back this pile of human excrement???

Let’s see, let me count the ways…

I hate this guy.

by Mike Zimmer, Bungholes fan

Bengals brought back Chris “Stupid Motherfucker” Henry today.

Interpretations: (and let me save the widespread belief about the injury to Ocho Stinko until last)

1.) The Bengals fucked up in the draft.

Yes, the Bengals reached in this past spring’s draft and chose a bunch of garbage.  That includes 2nd Round pick Jerome Simpson who was a MAJOR reach at that spot and could have been had later in the draft instead of taking Limas Sweed of Texas who is destined to be what Chris Henry always should be while playing for rival Pittsburgh.

Simpson is apparently well behind the learning curve and not up to speed on the offense despite his obvious talents.  That’s why he was at Division 1-AA Coastal Carolina and not considered more than perhaps a 3rd or 4th round pick if that.   

The guys that the Bengals have behind Ocho Stinko and T.J. Houshmandzadeh obviously aren’t gettting it done or they wouldn’t have brought the turd that is Henry.  Add in that Andre Caldwell is now hurt and late round Mario Urrutia has been MIA and the drafting of these guys was a bust.  Nevermind the fact that Glen Holt and Antonio Chatman are filler (in the case of Chatman, a dud) and merely special teams kind of guys.  Henry, even with his baggage, his poor example, his so-so play is still better than the other options that the team currently has.

So, Henry will once again (mind you if he isn’t arrested in short order here soon, which I’ll put the odds at better than 70% or let’s say 3-to-1) will be the #3 WR to help the offense which has dearly missed him.  This of course after he once again sits out and costs the Bengals in his absence.

2.) It’s OK to get a 6th or 7th chance if you can help us win, no matter if we publically assasinated you a couple of months ago when you got in trouble yet again.

Oh, yeah…the Bengals image was going to change right?  The issues in the locker room with bringing in bad people, cancers if you will, was supposed to end.  They did the right thing when they got a whiff of yet another entanglement with the law that this Stupid Motherfucker got all wound up in. 

Gimme a break on the charges were dropped and the city decided not to pursue the case.  Henry is/was guilty as sin and everyone knew it.  The problem?  Well, college kids aren’t exactly credible or reliable all the time now are they (Thank God too, there’s hope in this year’s election).  And, of course the city thought they were done with this turd after the Bengals cut him.  They figured that, well, hey atleast he won’t be comitting any more crimes around here, he’s someone else’s problem now.  OOOPS!  Once again the Bengals screw the city!!!

Henry’s signing sends a real mixed message to the locker room once more.  Marvin was all about ’moving on’ and that ”the NFL is a priviledge, not a right.” in not wanting to even touch this guy even after he was cleared of those charges back in April.  He’s back, and now the locker room once again will be blessed by his criminality, his cancerous infection of not learning any lessons and being able to basically run amuck and not be held accountable (other than, of course, the fact that he once again will be suspended for 4-more games).  Way to go Bengals front office, you’ve given this piece of crap a 7th chance.

It was made even more disgusting to hear the defensive captain of the football team in John Thornton quoted in mentioning that it was good that he was getting another chance in light that he had his home in Northern Kentucky foreclosed on and his fancy ride reposessed outside the courthouse while he was once again in front a judge.  Too bad, and too lame.

3.) Chad’s hurt and it may be something that is an issue all year long even if Ocho Stinko says he’ll be alright.

And now the obvious.  Chad Johnson got jacked up against Detroit in their last exhibition game and he’s now nursing a bum shoulder.  Ocho Stinko suffered something called a subflexawhosadoctor or something or other where the shoulder may pop in and out of the socket from time to time and when it does, cause damage as it does.  That’s great isn’t it?

With the team adding Henry, they’re taking out an insurance policy of sorts in case Chad’s not able to go at certain times or eventually has to shut it down.  The injury is very similar to what happened to Clinton Portis a few seasons ago and he was eventually useless at certain times in the season.

All in all, I’m torn on this in a major way.

He’s a stud with talent when he’s on the field.  He can fly, he’s got freakish size, speed and agility.  He eventually would have landed somewhere else when a team got desperate enough to take a chance on him because of this.  It wouldn’t have suprised me that maybe even Cleveland (considering that Braylon Edwards is a dumb ass and cut his foot and will soon have a staph infection) or maybe even a team that might compete like Dallas taking a flyer on the guy.  So, I guess I’m saying that it’s better to have them than have him play against us.

On the other hand, he’s got a million dollar body, and a ten-cent head.  He’s not a go-getter on the field.  He runs wrong routes, he misses assignments, he will not dive or go after balls.  Rarely will he go into traffic and never will he take a hit to make a catch.  He’s an on-field Rain Man who if you can catch him in the open field is then made a clear option.  Otherwise, he’s clearly never going to be anything better than a #3 because he’s too god damned stupid.

But the precedent set by once again bringing a turd into the locker room who has repeatedly let you down, has repeatedly mis-used and thrown away any kind of trust and is the worst example of a human being to be an example of the team to the community is just heinous.

Fuck Chris Henry.  I hate that guy.  Now, I hope he can help us beat the Steelers.  

Virginia Tech CB Victor “Macho” Harris.

And now for the Coastal Conference of the ACC with such Coastal locations like Charlottesville and Blacksburgh, Virginia, Chapel Hill and Durham, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia…

And some farm village called Miami, Florida???

Yeah…that’s lame.

by Mike Zimmer, Terp

Where were we?  Oh yeah, I was beating on the ACC.  So, perhaps I was a bit harsh in my critique of the ACC and specifically Atlantic Division schools.  Well, unfortunately for the ACC, the good teams are in the Atlantic.  There is one decent team and that’s a lot of crap lumped in with Virginia Tech.  Away we gooooooo….

 1. Virginia Tech Hokies
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Head Coach: Frank Beamer (22nd yr.)
Last Season: (11-3, 7-1, Lost Orange Bowl to Kansas)

The Gobblers are probably still the best team in the ACC Coastal Division, but with graduation taking it’s toll and the offense still a mess, they might have come back to the group a little bit.  Then again, they really don’t have the toughest set of foes in the scrub division.  Va Tech still plays tough defense and they seem to reload instead of rebuild on that unit year-in and year-out.  They hope that’s again this year as they only return 4-starters from 2007.  The Hokies will win this putrid part of the ACC but, they probably won’t be as convincing in doing it unless they play waaaaay above their station on offense with less than they had last season.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
With the defensive attrition lost to the NFL and graduation, the Hokies have to make some serious adjustments.  They do have a pair of returning DB’s in Macho Harris and Kam Chancellor and that has been a staple of Hokies defense to play tough in the secondary.  But the Hokies make their mark by stifling teams run games and they lost virtually all of their line and their LB corp.  Answering the question of who steps into those spots and if they are able to reproduce the efforts of previous VaTech defenses is the great mystery of the season.  On offense, well, let’s put it this way, they can’t get much worse considering the talent they have right?  They had trouble in all phases especially in the line where they allowed 54-sacks and struggled to move the football.  Both QB’s including Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon are back but they will have no expirienced pass catchers to throw too.  In fact, today, they lost Zach Luckett after he was popped for DUI.  Also gone is RB Brandon Ore who finally wore out Frank Beamer and was kicked off the squad.  Expect more of the same of the Hokies recipe for wins the last couple of years: a feisty defense that scores off of turnovers, great special teams and a very conservative offense that occasionally can get out of it’s own way to hold down wins.

Key Games:
Aug. 30th  vs. East Carolina
Sept. 20th  at North Carolina
Sept. 27th  at Nebraska
Yep, Va Tech’s toughest games are early and then it’s a matter of outlasting the remainder of the sad bunch in their division.  East Carolina is a good team and might spring a suprise on the Hokies, you never know.  It was close last year at only 17-7 in the Hokies favor.  North Carolina accounts for the toughest test in their division and that game is on the road.  As is their other big non-conference test in Lincoln to play the Huskers of Nebraska.  The slip up games could include at FSU and home to Maryland.  Otherwise, a poor, over-rated Virginia Tech team will be headed to a January Bowl.

2. North Carolina Tar Heels
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Head Coach: Butch Davis (2nd yr.)
Last Season: (4-8, 3-5)

Another team with a terrible offense including a below average QB spot and issues as to who is going to run the ball for them lies down Tobacco Road in North Carolina.  That belies the Tar Heels defensive unit that was respectable all season long and returns as many as 8 starters including the entire secondary.  Butch Davis is doing a decent job of putting UNC on the football map after decades of obscurity.  They are on the right track down there but still well behind the curve.  Davis is still too many athletes away from being a serious threat with UNC to the ACC and therefore the nation.  Can the Heels make a bowl this year?  Well, if they can handle the rest of the Atlantic Division rubbish, sure.  But they get no breaks from the schedule maker.  If the offense can be better, run the football some and turn the ball over less–then they’ll be over .500 and certainly in a bowl.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
The good news is that the Heels return almost their entire offense from last season and they were green and inexpirienced during their humble start a year ago.  Soph. QB T. J. Yates tossed 14 TD passes and for over 2,600-yards in his first year.  But, he also threw 18 INT’s and was not helped at all by a dismal rushing attack.  Overall the offense will be tested too with having to replace almost all of their specialty players in the special teams area.  Defensively this is a solid unit led by a stiff front line.  Overall however, they’re decidedly second tier when it comes to thinking about asperations in the ACC.

Key Games:
Sept. 11th at Rutgers
Sept. 20th vs. Virginia Tech
Oct. 11th vs. Notre Dame
Nov. 29th  at Duke
A tough road test at a very expirienced and hungry Rutgers team will challenge this team a bunch.  But, they get 9-days to either try and recover or revel in their success before they must host the Hokies in their ACC opener.  And, it’s their shot at the big boy right away.  Meanwhile, they’ll host Notre Dame and should be tested by the improve Irish, but it’s one way to improve by beating a team that is hyped and will be highly over-rated come their visit to Chapel Hill.  Meanwhile, not in a long time has their rivalry game against Duke meant anything–but this year–it could.  You never know.

3. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Location: Atlanta, GA
Head Coach: Paul Johnson (1st yr.)
Last Season: (7-6, 4-4 Lost to Fresno State in Humanitarian Bowl)

It’s back to the future time at a major college football program.  New Head Coach Paul Johnson has come over from Navy where he ran the “Flex-Bone spread” to impressive numbers and rediculous rushing averages with lesser football talent than in most of the country.  He’s intent on running it at Georgia Tech.  Yes, option football is back at a big school in a major conference and dang it, it might just work.  Call me nostalgic, call me crazy, call me a fan of Paul Johnso–I think it might work and catch the ACC by suprise.  The Ramblin’ Wreck are rebuilding the program though and it’ll take time and it’ll take a year or two for them to be serious threats.  Until then, they can surely be a thorn in teams sides and be a tough team to prepare for each week as they blow ahead with a running attack that at Navy was almost unstoppable.

The Skinny/Key Players:
Only five starters are back on offense and only 4 on defense.  Offensively, it may not be a big deal as the team adjusts to a scheme that is used to using skill and scheme over sheer talent.  They won’t pass the ball much and probably won’t need to.  But, they do have an expirienced QB coming back in Josh Nesbitt who is adept at moving the ball on the ground.  Defensively however, it’s not so certain they’ll be able to keep up such hopes.   They were 20th in the nation last season but lost 7-starters to graduation.  This squad does have talent though with a good front including All-ACC DT Vance Walker and Darryl Richard as run clogging enforcers.  Also back are LB Shane Bowen and Safety Jahi Word-Daniels.

Key Games:
Sept. 6th at Boston College
Sept. 13th  at Virginia Tech
Sept. 20th vs. Mississippi State
Nov. 20th vs. Miami
The new look Jackets will get to show their wares off against a sub-par B.C. team and they need to win that to perhaps hope for a winning record or even .500 and a possible bowl birth.  They might have the eliment of suprise and scheme that allows them to suprise some teams and starting out against a team like B.C. would help.  They must travel to Virginia Tech a week later and that may tell them how far they have to go.  A game against Mississippi State is intriguing too.  Staying ahead of Miami in the division race may be the more realistic hopes for the year and they host the ‘Canes.  I say they can sneak up on some teams and win 6.

 4. Miami of Florida Hurricanes
Location: Coral Gables, FL
Head Coach: Randy Shannon (2nd yr.)
Last Season: (5-7, 2-6)

What an utterly ugly year the Hurricanes had last year and what a bleak outlook they have this season in my opinion.  Don’t give me all that bull about who they have coming in and all that jazz including a top-rated recruiting class.  They supposedly already had plenty of talent on hand to have been better.  With all that was expected last season they lost not only games in conference, but to the dregs of the conference.  An abysmal offense that finished 110th in the nation lacks identity entering this season.  With no QB that has taken a single snap in a game, no reciever with more than 11-receptions expected to play and injury concerns at the RB spot–I can’t see them getting spectacularly better and being remotely close to competing in the ACC.  Defensively they’ll be more than respectable (and how can they not in a league full of offensive ineptitude?) but still, get them in a stadium with good teams and they turn tail (note big losses to Oklahoma, Virginia and Virginia Tech a year ago).

The Skinny/Players to watch:
Sure, that recruiting class may be golden.  But not this year.  QB Robert Marve is supposed to be a freshman phenom as is WR Aldarius Johnson.  Fine–let’s see em against Florida in week 2.  Their hope is that they’ll be able to run the ball effectively enough to give their passing game a shot.  RB’s Javaris James and Graig Cooper are not Edgerin James and Willis McGahee but they are talented speedsters who got plenty of playing time last year.  Defensively, important pieces come back including both starting CB’s and pass rushing DE Eric Moncur.  The LB’s are good too with LB Colin McCarthy a possible game changer.

Key Games:
Sept. 6th  at Florida
Sept. 20th at Texas A&M
Oct. 4th  vs. Florida State
Nov. 20th at Georgia Tech
The ‘Canes can expect a good old fashioned butt whooping at the Swamp against Florida as they renew their rivalry with the Gators.  How they come out of that game may help tell you about their next few after that.  A trip to Texas A&M and then hosting Florida State in back-to-back games will be tough.  Later in the year, if they’re better than at the start of the season, they’ll have to go up to Atlanta to try and avenge a loss last season to Georgia Tech to try ans keep pace in the division.

5. Duke Blue Devils
Location: Durham, NC
Head Coach: David Cutcliffe (1st yr)
Last Season: (1-11, 0-8)

There is hope for Duke.  Though it’ll never be more than a minor football outpost and shouldn’t be expected to be a true spot on the map, they might be able to grow under new HC David Cutcliffe.  Cutcliffe was the mentor to the Manning’s: As OC for Peyton and as HC for Eli at Ole Miss.  He’s vastly under rated for what he did at Ole Miss too considering they were in football no-man’s land without him before and until they fired the guy they replaced him with.  He’s used to making offenses better and making QB’s better.   Duke will be better.  Not much, but they’ll be better.  It’ll be baby steps considering that Duke has won just 4-games since 2004 and 12-games in 8-seasons.  How bad have they been?  How about (22-125) since 1994 including (9-95) in the ACC.  If they hadn’t beat Northwestern last season they’d be riding a 32-game losing streak to boot.  Funny they beat the Wildcats too, because Northwestern held the all-time record at the D-1-A level at 34.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
Getting blood from a stone?  Maybe.  But QB Thaddius Lewis did toss 21TD passes last season and for over 2,400-yards on an offense that was dreadfully inept at 117th nationally.  Defensively, they’re equally bad but they do return 9-starters and change to a blitzing scheme that could have them able to suprise a few teams and cause some turnovers.  It’s going to be a process for Cutcliffe and Duke.

Key Games:
Sept. 6th vs. Northwestern
Sept. 13th vs. Navy
Sept. 27th vs. Virginia
Nov. 29th vs. North Carolina
Northwestern will have revenge on their minds when they come to visit Durham.  That’s a week after they should match their win total from a year ago by beating James Madison, a Div 1-AA team.  Navy outscored the Devils last season at home 46-43, so it’s another shot at a game to surpass their win total.  Virginia comes calling the week after, and I’m saying they win that and finish ahead of the Wahoos on the season because of it.  Meanwhile, although they are (1-17) vs. their rival North Carolina since 1990, this is a shot at perhaps ruining the Tar Heels season and it’s not like they haven’t been close.  Last year’s game went to OT while they’ve been beat 45-44 the year before and 24-21 the year before that.

6. Virginia Cavaliers
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Head Coach: Al Groh (8th yr.)
Last Season: (9-4, 6-2 Lost to Texas Tech in Gator Bowl)

What a difference a few bounces the other way would have made for Virginia last season.  They won close game after close game and managed to get to 9-wins some how, finished 2nd in the divison and played on New Year’s Day.  Amazing, simply amazing.  Now, take away perhaps the best defensive player in the country (not to mention 5 other starters), most of the offensive line, the QB and what you have is the team Virginia might have been a year ago.  Bad.  How bad?  Well, some how the Wahoos did things offensively with smoke and mirrors because they were 101st nationally and that includes being 79th rushing and 91st passing–bad.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
What to do on offense is going to be a big issue as they will miss the departed QB Jameel Sewell who is gone due to academic issues.  They so have a pair of expirienced RB’s back but they don’t have the line in front of them to help them along.  Defensively they have massive holes up front and question marks in the secondary.  In other words, the cupboard is a bit bare and Al Groh will have to pull off another miracle season just to get the team to .500 let alone a bowl game.

Key Games:
Aug. 30th  vs. USC
Sept. 27th at Duke
Oct. 11th vs, East Carolina
Nov. 1st vs. Miami
Getting your feet wet with new personel against a team like USC cannot be good for morale, but that’s what they have to do in front of the home folks.  Playing at Duke represents a game they must not lose but just might and that’s why I pick them behind the Blue Devils.  Meanwhile, ECU will test them too as another out of conference game.  Their game against Miami might be their struggle for respectability within the conference, but they whipped the ‘Canes 48-0 last year and Miami might be seeking major revenge. 

Wake Forest QB Riley Skinner.

Decidedly mediocre Atlantic Coast Conference will once again be over-rated and under qualified for the BCS…

Conference full of star coaches that out shines star players…

Remember when FSU and Cryami used to be good?  Neither do I.

by Mike Zimmer, Terp

Remember when the ACC added Miami, Va Tech and Boston College to finally form a super conference?  Remember that the talk was how Florida State and Miami would year-in and year-out battle for the title with Virginia Tech occasionally popping up to ruin one of those teams title shot?  Yeah, well, that’s a long time ago seemingly.  It’s hard for me to believe that since the ACC went to a 12-team format and added in the ACC Championship game just a few years ago, that both FSU and Miami would virtually be non-factors and also rands.  Meanwhile, the league has produced 3-different champs and it’s been an interesting mix of teams and scenarios that produced their entry into the BCS.

The league seems to me, to once again be a conference full of star coaches names instead of players.  Sure, sure, theirs impact players in the ACC but, really, outside of Clemson’s Cullen Harper (that was a stretch wasn’t it?) , name me another house hold named college football player currently in the ACC.  Now, name me some of their coaches: Frank Beamer, Bobbty Bowden, Tommy Bowden, Butch Davis…those come to mind pretty quick don’t they?  

With such a devoid of star power and another jumbled year of no clear cut national power, the ACC is destined to be the weak sister once again to all of the big conferences. In fact, if the Big East were bigger and included Army, Navy and let’s just say for shits and giggles Notre Dame, I’d say they were accross the board betterthen the ACC.  Yes, I said it Tobacco Road fans.  Your league is weak to me.

What is worse is, the the favored teams coming into this season are so decidedly mediocre when it comes to looking at them versus the national scene.  Clemson and Virginia Tech once again lead the list of teams that SHOULD win the ACC.  But, they are both very flawed.  Clemson, perenial choke artists that they are will surely garner national ranking while Virginia Tech waits in the wings just a bit further back from them, you wait.  However, both of those teams will find a way to lose games they shouldn’t, look poor against teams they shouldn’t and both could find themselves on the outside of the ACC title looking in.

That being said, I’m thinking that this year’s ACC could come down to the final weeks and the war of attrition being the deciding factor in who wins.  And with that, I think that this could be perhaps the most wide open competition in ACC memory.

Tonight I’ll give you the Atlantic Division and be back with the Coastal side tomorrow.

Atlantic Division

1. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Head Coach: Jim Grobe (8th yr.)
Last Season: (9-4, 5-3 Beat UConn in Meineke Bowl)

That’s right, I’m picking Wake Forest.  Why not?  We all know that Clemson will slip up and lose a game they shouldn’t, knocking them out of the ACC title game.  That being said, I bet Clemson beats Wake Forest head-to-head.  Jim Grobe may have his best complete team coming into 2008 even if he’s replacing 5-starters on an offense that isn’t exactly something to behold.  He’s done an exceptional job at Wake Forest and the team routinely over-achieves and plays with a chip on their shoulder.  The Demon Decons have the right mix of players coming back, a schedule that isn’t brutal for the most part and smooth sailing their final 5 or 6 games, meaning if they can weather FSU and Clemson (not to mention Maryland) early, they’ll be right there waiting to inherit the Atlantic Division’s birth in the ACC title game.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
Grobe rebuilt the program at Wake Forest by instilling a hard work ethic in his club and stressing fundementals.  They’re not flashy but they sure know how to solid if not spectacular defense and usually have decent special teams.  They typically don’t beat themselves with penalties or turnovers–again, fundementals.  Offensively, they’ll be challenged at times to put up a ton of points and sometimes they’ll even look a bit ugly in that department.  This isn’t exactly something that can keep you from winning the ACC though, as they did very much the same thing in 2006 that way.  The key is the backfield and the leadership of mobile and tough QB Riley Skinner who must improve on is (-1) TD/INT ratio from a year ago.  Defensively they return a unit of 9-starters from a group that finished 27th in the nation and gobbled up turnovers. 

Key Games:
Sept. 20th  at Florida State
Oct. 9th vs. Clemson
Oct. 18th  at Maryland
The Demon Decons non-conference string isn’t something to sleep on as they do have Baylor, Ole Miss, Navy and finish the year at Vanderbilt.  Not good teams at all, but challenges.  The season will boil down to a stretch of ACC games over 4-weeks that starts with a return to Tallahassee where last time, they beat the Seminoles 30-0 in 2006.  They also beat FSU last year 24-21.  The league title could come down to Oct. 9th’s game with Clemson, a team they were beat 44-10 by last season.  Follow that up with a visit to College Park to take on the Terps.  But the rest of the way?  At Miami, Duke, Virginia, At N.C. State, B.C. and then Vandy.  That’s smooth sailing brother.  I’ll take the Decons to sneak up and take the ACC Atlantic.

Clemson QB Cullen Harper.

   2. Clemson Tigers
Location: Clemson, SC
Head Coach: Tommy Bowden (10th yr.)
Last Season: (9-4, 5-3 Lost to Auburn in Chick-fil-A Bowl)

Clemson has everything this year: A senior QB, two quality RB’s, 8-starters coming back on a defense that was 9th in the nation last season and of course all sorts of expectations for something great.  National rankings all say they’re a top 10 team and perhaps a national title contender.  There in spells their disaster.  The Tigers have proven time and time again that when the chips are down they’ll come up snake eyes.  Inexplicable losses to lesser teams (Lost to Georgia Tech 13-3 last year), lapses in play (B.C. scoring with 1:45 to play to beat them at home last year), big wins  (Thumping Maryland and Wake Forest) followed by silly defeats and of course then lamenting about it over and over and talking about next year.  Tommy Bowden has yet to produce a true contending Clemson squad in his years in South Carolina.  And, this team will be no exception even if they are perhaps the best, most talented team in the ACC Atlantic.  I don’t and will NEVER drink Clemson Tiger Kool Aid.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
Senior QB Cullen Harper threw for almost 3,000-yards and 27 TD’s last season and is the best looking Clemson signal caller I can recall.  He’s got size and a big arm and scramble a bit too.  This is Clemson’s best ariel attack in years and it’s key to the Tigers being successful.  For some reason the running game with a pair of talented backs in James Davis and C.J. Spiller were slowed up at the wrong times (89-yards total in 3 losses to Va Tech, B.C. and Georgia Tech last season).  Otherwise they’re very talented.  Every time they met a good defense, they turned into a team that got pushed around and overmatched.  That won’t fly in being a national contender.  But, it’s the stingy defense that is where Clemson can make their case in each game.  That unit is lead by beef up front (NG Dorell Scott 6′4 320lbs) and speed from the edge (DE Ricky Sapp 6′4 240)  They finished 9th nation last year and should be just as nasty this season if they can replace their LB corp.

Key Games:
Aug. 30th vs. Alabama
Oct. 9th at Wake Forest
Nov. 1st at Boston College
Nov. 8th at Florida State
I’m calling for the outright upset in the first week of the season when Alabama and Clemson meet in Atlanta.  That’s a tough SEC team and they’ve lost to lesser SEC teams in the past (not counting rival South Carolina).  That means that they will have to handle things in conference to get respect nationally.  At Wake Forest may be tougher than last year but I think they can beat the Decons.  Meanwhile, they haven’t beated Boston College since 1958 and are (0-3) in ACC play against them.  B.C. is Clemson’s White Whale.  Meanwhile this year’s Bowden Bowl may be the last and it would be so typical for them to lose that one wouldn’t it?

    3. Maryland Terrapins
Location: College Park, MD
Head Coach: Ralph Friedgen (8th yr.)
Last Season: (6-7, 3-5 Lost to Oregon State in Emerald Bowl)

The Terps were decimated by injury a season ago and were lucky to scrap together enough players and wins to get to a bowl game.  Head Coach Ralph Friedgen is once again under the gun to get the school turned back towards the magnificent results from 2001-2003 where they won 10+ games and it’s now expected.  The team is talented in all phases but they must remain healthy and get some big playes out of a defense that only returns 5-starters.  But, first things first, they need to decide on one of 3 possible QB’s for the offense to work.  Friedgen, an offensive guru when he went to Maryland has seen that group under-achieve and has now turned over the reighns to someone else to run it and improve it from a putrid 92nd national ranking a year ago.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
The backfield is a bit of a mess at the moment but there isn’t a lack of talent.  Maybe there is a glut and no clear cut leader/favorite though.  The QB situation is muddled with incumbancy a matter of health.  Last year’s opening day starter Sr. Jordan Steffy had injury and consistancy issues and was replaced by Jr. Chris Turner.  Turner is a traditional drop back passer but has an athletic and freakish talent in Josh Portis pushing him.  It’s a mess.  They have to get Portis on the field some how with his talents but must get the most out of the passing game.  They do have all of their offensive line returning however and perhaps one of the ACC’s best WR corps as well.  The RB situation is again muddled with youngsters by comittee fighting for playing time.  Defensively the Terps were very respectable at ranking 40th in the nation last year.  But, that unit was hit by graduation pretty hard, mostly the secondary.  The middle is tough though with a full stock of athletic LB’s that could keep the defense on track.

Key Games:
Sept. 13th  vs. California
Sept. 27th  at Clemson
Oct. 18th vs. Wake Forest
Nov. 22nd vs. Florida State
The schedule is managable for Maryland.  Missing their border war with West Virginia also will help them avoid being beaten by a much more talented team early.  They will get tested by Cal though who is pass happy and will surely test that young secondary.  League games wise they get toughies Wake and FSU at home but must play at Clemson whom they are just (5-16) against in their last 21 though they won at Death Valley in 2006 by the score of 13-12.

  4. Florida State Seminoles
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Head Coach: Bobby Bowden (33rd yr.)
Last Season: (7-6, 4-4, Lost to Kentucky in Music City Bowl)

This may be Bobby Bowden’s last season as head coach at FSU after a long, colorful and successful career.  However, that combined with “promise” of a strong recruiting class cannot be the only reason that FSU is getting so much attention as a team that could possibly return to prominance.  This is a program in decline and everyone else has caught them now.  Father time caught up with Bowden and he cannot corner all the talent in Florida along with the Gators and Cryami, they just can’t.  Over the past 4-seasons they’ve just been plain average and especially the last 3, they’ve been mediocre.  Living off the idea that they’re Florida State isn’t going to win them games or recruits anymore.  I cannot imagine this team competing for the ACC title, I just can’t.  Call me crazy but the offense is weak, the defense ordinary and they just don’t scare anybody anymore.

The SKinny/Players to watch:
An 80th ranked offense returns 6-starters and unfortunately for ‘Noles fans that includes QB Drew Weatherford.  He has been an injury plagued, inaccurate and just plain underwhelming in his time in Tallahasse and his “back up” and athletic bail out Xavier Lee is gone.  The offense got an overhaul last season and should be somewhat improved again this year, but man it wasn’t anything to behold as they didn’t run the ball very well at all.  Antone Smith returns as the lead rusher from last season and the hope for this.  Defensively, well, that’s still a stong part of the ‘Noles game.  However, that group was mediocre at times last year especially against the pass.  That comes mostly from a smallish line up front getting no pressure on opposing QB’s.  However, speed is speed and that’s something that cannot be under accounted for and they do have that still.  This is still a dangerous team mostly because they play a soft schedule and the fact that all their toughies are at home.

Key Games:
Sept. 20th  vs. Wake Forest
Sept. 27th  vs. Colorado
Oct. 25th vs. Virginia Tech
Nov. 8th vs. Clemson
Nov. 22nd at Maryland
After a couple of scrimmages against a pair of Division I-AA teams the ’Noles must play a tough Wake Forest team at home that has beat them in back-to-back years including a 30-0 beat down in 2006.  A week later they will play Colorado in Jacksonville and that could be a trap game before they get into the meat of the ACC schedule.  They only beat CU 16-6 last year in an ugly one.  They do host Clemson in what could be the last Bowden Bowl.  Meanwhile whether they edge Maryland or not could come down to their game in College Park lat in the year.  No, I didn’t mention either of their in-state games and here’s why.  They SHOULD beat Miami even though they lost to them last year.  Meanwhile, Florida will more than likely beat them for the 5th straight time and badly once again.

    5. North Carolina State Wolfpack
Location: Raleigh, NC
Head Coach: Tom O’Brien (2nd yr.)
Last Season: (5-7, 3-5)

In the second year of Tom O’Brien re-buiding after Chuck Amato, the Wolfpack will more than likely continue to struggle to contend but get better overall.  The team is lacking in offensive punch still as he tries to assemble tough players like he did at B.C.  Meanwhile, playing solid, fundemental defense and good special teams, this is a team that isn’t far away from being resurrected some.  They will more than likely slip back on defense however after graduation took it’s toll.  Settling on a QB and cutting down on turnovers and things to beat themselves is another issue that they’ll have to figure out in 2008 as well. 

The Skinny/Players to watch:
The talent pool is a bit shallow still in Raleigh and the Wolfpack are decidedly thin on skill players when it comes to their defense after the starting 11.  They do have some talent on the line though with run stuffer Alan-Michael Cash and steller pass rusher Willie Young up front.  The secondary too has a pair of returning CB’s that helped the Wolfpack play well against the pass.  Meanwhile they were chewed up on the ground.  Offensively the Wolfpack shot themselves in the foot with turnover after turnover and that has put the QB job open for competition.  Returning starter Daniel Evans will be pushed for the starting gig by a pair of QB’s including prospecitve star Mike Glennon.  Running the football was another non-forte as the Wolfpack were a pitiful 110th nationally moving the ball on the ground.

Key Games:
Aug. 28th  at South Carolina
Sept. 20th vs. East Carolina
Oct. 4th  vs. Boston College
Nov. 8th at Duke
One thing you don’t want to do is under-estimate Tom O’Brien.  He routinely did more with less at Boston College.  That being said, if this season is to be one where NC State competes they must get off to a good start because it’s uphill from there.  Opening at South Carolina might tell them alot about who they are and what they are going to have to do during the season to win.  Playing what is a better ECU team at home is a game they don’t want to lose and lost momentum in.  Assuming they won’t win games against the upper echelon teams, they better focus on the teams of their ilk and that now includes Boston College and Duke, games they cannot sleep on.

6. Boston College Eagles
Location: Chestnut Hill, MA
Head Coach: Jeff Jagodzinski (2nd yr.)
Last Season: (11-3, 6-2, Beat Michigan State in Champs Bowl)

A year after no one expected them to compete and they were picked by many to finish last in the ACC Atlantic, Boston College WON’T compete and WILL finish last.  What was discounted a year ago was how talented QB Matt Ryan was and how much expirience they had.  What is very obvious this year is how empty the cupboard is and how far they will have to go to rebuild it.  With only 6-starters coming back on offense, only one of which is a skill player and a defense that returns only 4-starters and is green in reserve it’s going to be a drastic change for the Eagles in 2008.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
The QB situation is the first thing to address considering so much offense went to the NFL Draft with Matt Ryan.  Senior Chris Crane steps into those big shoes and will be under center.  He had 4 pass attempts last season.  That and no rusher returns that saw hardly any playing time.  A good offensive line and a deep bunch of WR’s could help out the QB spot though.  Defenisvely, this again is a team gutted by graduation.  After finishing 19th nationally and being very stingy against the run (2nd in the nation) they will be hard pressed to repeat that.  They do have good LB’s and D-line players still but the entire secondary needs replacing as does the bulk of their LB corp.

Key Games:
Sept. 6th vs. Georgia Tech
Oct. 4th at N.C. State
Nov. 8th vs. Notre Dame
Look, I’m just saying, this isn’t going to be the same team and there is so little known about whether or not the 2nd year HC has got a hold of the program that was mentored by Tom O’Brien of N.C.State before him.  They must not lose to a rebuilding Georgia Tech team early that’s for sure.  They do get to pay Tom O’Brien a visit down in Raleigh however mid season.  Hosting Notre Dame might be their Bowl game this year as they can probably still hang with the Irish.

EA taking a peak at Red Sox side liner Heidi Watney in Boston this past week.

Battle of the Blond Bit Broadcasters in Beantown…

This is what we call filler fellas.

by Mike Zimmer

I’m fishing here.  Gimme something, anything won’t you?  What?  Is the weather that great back in the states?  Tell me?  I’m reduced to cheap gimmackery to try and get a few peaks here and there from the masses and perhaps some comments.

This screen capture was on www.barstoolsports.com earlier this week and shows local smoketacular sideline reporter Heidi Watney seemingly getting her backsided checked out by none other than ESPN’s Bit Piece Beat Reporter and Blond Hottie Erin Andrews.  I have to dig EA even more if she’s doing there what all of us guys do every day.  You know, look for the whale tail, the tight outline of a nice pair of thongs underneath tight pants, or in fact wondering why there isn’t an outline, meaning that it’s either the sexier g-string or perhaps…gasp…Heidi’s gone commando.

Watney, who barstoolsports.com is still waiting to really come on and sexify it all up, has been chronicled on the site all season.  They typically want the blond hottie to step up the wardrobe and sex factor that’s for sure.  However, another rumor stated there says that perhaps she’s not worried about what everyone thinks of her sexiness other than Red Sox Catcher Jason Varitek who she rumored to be knocking boots with.

So go ahead, don’t comment on this.

Funny, I have to do the same thing right now.

Funny or juvenile?  It really is the same to me.

Don’t you love the ‘lympics?  Funny names, strange sports you don’t care about and the occasional revolting injury or devastating emotional loss.  Oh yeah, and Gold medals and stuff. 

I do have to admit, I stayed up until 4:30am to watch Michael Phelps win his 8th Gold.  I’ve made precious little mention of this aquatic freak of nature out of respect to his rediculous talents and that he is an American and that’s what is important first.  But, and this is the ultimate but in my book, He is a Wolverine.  Yes, he attends Meatchicken.  I puke in my mouth a little bit everytime I think about that.  It almost wants me to root for France.  In fact, if this was him racing for the Wolverweenies and not the United States, I would in fact root for France.

That and am I the only one that keeps thinking that at any moment the bottom could fall out of this too good to be true story and this cat is doped out on all sorts of cutting edge steroids, human growth agents?  A little crystal meth maybe?  Damn our jaded sporting society and thinking now that everything that sounds too be good to be true, isn’t.  I blame McGuire, Sosa and of course Baroid. 

Top Sunday Morning Surfing:
1. www.thedirty.com
2. www.profootballtalk.com
3. www.collegefootballtalk.com
4. www.collegefootball.rivals.com
5. www.wvmountaintop.com

Yes.  True.  But what if you are stuck in a foreign country and are subject to it’s relentless existance?

Living abroad is giving me another view of sports, but isn’t really swaying me towards ‘footy’…

Opening days in sports are supposed to be a big deal, but apparently when you play 9,000-games and 423-cups a year, it’s not that big of a deal…

If I must be subject and therefore punished by this game, I must pass this on.  Call it, pooping it forward.

by Mike Zimmer, Hooligan

For reasons inexplicable, I failed to notice or witness opening day of the soccer season here today in England.  I didn’t realize that this was the first weekend of the season until well into the day.  So much for the English Premier League and soccer being the most important thing in the world or the greatest league of any sport in the world. 

I’m not sure I understand how this happend either.  I mean, it’s not like this country isn’t obsessed with the sport, they are.  The area in which I live perhaps isn’t though which could have some baring on my influence and subjection.  The thing is, it really didn’t occur to me and it’s not like I was intentionally NOT paying attention.  There just wasn’t this big to-due about it or any special importance put on the fact that the new season was upon us (like a cold we can’t get rid of).  I mean, it just occured to me as I was watching the news this evening that, oh yeah, the season of the biggest league in England and supposedly the world had started today.  Though I knew it was coming (like a swarm of locusts), the day escaped me and I failed to see/watch/listen or even hear anyone talk about it’s return.  Strange.  Perhaps it’s the British way to be understated about things, I don’t know.  It just came and went without much fanfair.  No one was talking about it at the pub last night, the television may have mentioned it some…but…I didn’t notice.

All I do know is, that when a new season of something important and all mighty is back in the states, it comes back with avengance.  And that to me is a good thing.  I mean, even to those non-NFL fans out there, you can’t NOT tell that it’s a new season upon you.  There’s magazines on every shelf in abundance, beer displays with football themes, relentless TV comercials flashing every advertisment for every possible game to be played, when, where, what time and whether or not it’s in HD.  There’s a buzz, a feeling, something special is in the air.  Opening weekend of college and pro football is something special in the states.  Wives are widowed,  Saturday’s and Sunday afternoons are off-limits to and plans are altered until February and everyone knows where others will be when those roll around. 

Not here I guess. 

Look, I’m an America and by birth right I am allowed to hate soccer if I choose.  There are so many aspects of the game I hate.  Maybe it’s the boring ass eliments of games that rarely produce much scoring or excitement.  Maybe it’s the fact that it’s “The Worlds Game” and I resort back to those hard to break binds of being an American and intentionally not caring what the world thinks.

Maybe it’s the flopping and agony the players show when a stiff breeze knocks them over on the field…er…sorry…pitch and they’re ”fouled” and must be removed on a stretcher only to have some team doctor put magic cold spray on them and have them burst back onto the field as if they were reborn or something.  I don’t know what it is, but the game has never really grabbed me so to speak. 

I’m not totally against it, I’ll watch it, I understand it (what’s not to understand?).  I am a lover of all things sports and I am eager and hungry for it in pretty much any form.  Hell, I’ve watched more of the Olympics this year mostly because over here they show a heck of a lot more sports on their telecasts that you never see back in the states.  Mostly because we don’t have an appetite for field hockey, hand ball or fencing in the states.  But, I’ve watched because I could.

Heck I’ve been a defender of the English Premier League to a certain extent.  It’s the “best” soccer I’ve ever seen.  More talent, more speed, more skill and of course you have the history and prestige of it all.  Most of these teams over hear have been playing organized leagues since the late 1800’s for goodness sakes.  I am able to tell the difference between it and watching the grass grow…er…watching MLS back in the states.  It’s a completely different animal, it’s the best league in the world talent wise, especially versus the American counterpart which would be the equivalent to A or AA if it were baseball we were talking about.  David Beckham went there for a payday and to be able to be the best player in a shit league, trust me.

However, now, I’m stuck with it.  I’m stuck here in England and I have to endure it.  But, the thing is, it isn’t like it’s being shoved down my throat here.  Yet. 

Like I said, perhaps it’s the area in which I live: it’s mostly countryside and kind of posh and old money rich.  It’s not a football mad city center or area for some reason.  There also isn’t a big team locally to support in the big leagues.  Aston Villa is about an hour away and that’s it.  The closest team on a large professional level is in Peterborough (amazingly nicknamed, The Posh), which is about the size of Dayton, Ohio.  Their team is in the equivilent of AA or two levels below the Premier League which is the NFL of soccer.

The jamming of the sport down my throat may be coming.  Perhaps their delayed enthusiasm for the sport is that they just completed their season like a week ago.  OK, fine, it was early June.  Yes, their “season” is nearly 10-months long though they only play 38 league games.  The problem with that decieving number?  Well, they play relentlessly.  Cups, friendlies, tournements, it’s all just a consistant ploughing thru games and it’s hard to keep track sometimes.  They don’t only play the teams in their league, they play teams from lesser leagues and levels, they are in tournements with their league foes in games that don’t count towards the season, but are in Cups.  The goal here as much as winning the whole shebang is to earn ”Silverware” or cups and trophies.  It’s inane.

 
Raphiq Doodlemeyer takes it from behind from Sven Svendrickson.  Arsenal won 1-0.

But if I’m trapped here and I must endure it all, I figured I better get to know about it a little bit and then of course, pass this all on for you to have to see here on the site.  You see, it was Woody Hayes that had this concept he wrote and spoke about at events called, ’Paying it forward’.  Well, in honor of Woody and an American football fan being stuck in the land of soccer, I will “Crap it forward” to tell you of my agony or interest in ”The Worlds Game” and “The Premier League” of the world.

So, stayed tuned as I occasionally post articles about soccer.  Look, I won’t bore you with the details and all the ins-and-outs, teams and players all that much, I know you don’t care.  But, what I will bore you with is my expirience with it and my exposure to it.  They do it on Deadspin. 

Your welcome.

South Florida QB Matt Grothe.

After banging relentlessly on the Big East, I have to admit that this year’s crop looks promising if not yet ready for Prime Time again…

Can Rutgers wiggle into the BCS conversation along with WVU and USF???

How will WVU respond without Dick Rod???

by Mike Zimmer, Bull

I drank the Kool Aid last season on South Florida.  I liked their team.  Tough defense, exciting and speedy special teams and an offense that grinds it out with a tough QB.  I drank mostly out of my loathing of WVU too and the need for the Big (L)East to exit the national title talk.

It was clear that WVU was talented and perhaps far and away the best team in that conference last season.  USF stole their thunder and for a time after they beat the Mountaineers looked like they could be a serious Cinderella to the National Title.  Thus, I sipped of the Surfin’ Berry Punch and the Kool Aid Man appeared by breaking down my living room wall.  And then said, “OH NOOOOO!!!!” as USF lost to Rutgers, Cincinnati and UConn in a 3-game slide.

Heading into this year, I will not have to patch up that big hole in my living room, for one I moved and the other is that he’s not coming this year.  I think the Big East will be wide open and competitive with Louisville rebounding some, Pitt improved and Cincinnati the wild card that could gunk up the works for everybody.  Rutgers may have their best overall team in Schiano’s tenure in New Jersey too.  But, this is still about USF and WVU and they won’t play until the final week of the regular season.

1. South Florida Bulls
Location: Tampa, FLA
Head Coach: Jim Leavitt (12th yr.)
Last Season: (9-4, 4-3 Lost to Oregon on the Sun Bowl)

Once again I stand ready to drink the Slammin’ Kiwi-Strawberry punch.  But, alas, I won’t.  South Florida however is still going to be there knocking on the door this year as a possible national contender.  They’ll get their shot too if they can manage a schedule that does include Kansas and playing on the road at Big East Contenders (WVU, UC and L’Ville).  If they can pull that all off and avoid the let down game too, they’ll be ranked high and a plausable candidate come BCS time.  However, that may be a tall order.  Not so tall that they win the Big East, but do it in a fashion that has them talking big time just yet. 

The Skinny/Players to watch:
I keep hearing QB Matt Grothe called “the poor man’s Tim Tebow”.  It’s a fair description of USF’s top rusher and signal caller.  He runs the Bulls grind it out version of the spread and most often takes the game upon himself offensively.  That’s good when he’s running because he’s an effective and elusive bull dozer in that department.  It however spelled disaster in the passing game and he had 14INT’s to 14TD’s.  He needs to improve and use the weapons he has better.  That may include his 2-straight seasons of being the Bulls leading rusher end with Soph. Mike Ford carrying the rock more.  The real strength of South Florida lies in their tough defense and special teams.  HC Jim Leavitt takes pride in these units and they keep USF as a dark horse challenger.  With all the Florida speed and skill they are able to garner, would you expect any less?  They do have to replace both starting CB’s from a defense that ranked 28th Nationally last year, but most indicators say they’ll be just fine on that side of the ball once again.

Key Games:
Sept. 12th  vs. Kansas
Oct. 30th  at Cincinnati
Nov. 15th  vs. Rutgers
Dec. 6th  at West Virginia
Other than Kansas, the non-conference schedule includes light weight material in a Div I-A school, UCF, Florida Int’l and N.C.State.  So, that game against a good Big XII team at home is critical.  If they can winn that and stay true to last year’s form they could be (8-0) heading into a pay-back game against Cincinnati who beat them at home last year 38-33.  They also owe Rutgers back for an upset on the road.  And if i’m correct that WVU slips up, this could be the deciding game in the Big East title.  That is all a lead up to what I think could be the defacto Big east Title Game in Morgantown against the Mountaineers.

West Virginia QB Pat White.

2. West Virginia Mountaineers
Location: Morgantown, West By God
Head Coach: Bill Stewart (1st yr.)
Last Season: (11-2, 5-2 Beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl)

No more Steve Slaton.  No more Owen Schmitt.  And, of course, no more Dick Rod…er…Rich Rodriguez.  However, it’s not like Tricky Dick left the cupboard bare in Morgantown.  Whether or not Hillybilly Bill Stewart and his quesitonable prior race insensitivity can harness what is left is a big question though.  He’s never been a HC before at this level and he was an emotional hire after he helped lead the Mountaineers to their bowl victory when Dick Rod bolted for Ann Arbor (Who is a whore you know).  Pat White, Noel Devine and many other pieces and parts that made WVU a national power are still there and this will be their swan song season for a program that may suffer in years to come in the wake of Dick Rod’s departure.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
Nevermind that the Mountaineers were 114th passing the football nationally last season.  They had the 3rd most yards on the ground and it comes from their spread offense lead by Pat White.  And that included almost 300-yards of running the ball per game last season.  All that the QB did last season was run for 1,423-yards and pass for 1,724-yards.  For all the knocking against their passing game, White had a 14-4 TD/Int ratio and was high percentage all season with one exception–that being the USF game.  Though they’ve lost Steve Slaton to the NFL, Noel Devine is a super Soph in wait and had 660-yards on his own last year and has blazing speed.  Defensively, it’s not so simple.  A group that was 7th nationally a season ago returns only 4-starters.  Luckily for them it’s the heart of the defense in a pair of talented LB’s.  The Mountaineers won’t have the same swagger as they had the last two seasons, but they may be able to outscore teams like they used to and be just as effective.

Key Games:
Sept. 6th  at East Carolina
Sept. 18th  at Colorado
Nov. 22nd  at Louisville
Nov. 29th  at Pittsburgh
Dec. 6th vs. South Florida
Normally I would say nevermind that 4 of the 5 games I have listed are on the road.  The Mountaineers are typically pretty good on the road.  However, these are all interesting match-ups.  They beat down East Carolina last season, but it’s an early test for them.  As is a game they should win at Colorado.  But they better not sleep on those games.  The trio of games to close the year are the real interesting ones.  They lost at Louisville a few years ago and the games have been tight between them and the Cards.  They will have revenge on their minds at Pittsburgh a week later though, another reaon not to sleep on Louisville.  And, if they can get out of those games clean, they’ll more than likely be playing for the Big East title at home vs. South Florida to close the year.

3. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Location: New Brunswick, NJ
Head Coach: Greg Schiano (8th yr.)
Last Season: (8-5, 3-4 Beat Ball State in International Bowl)

I really want to think that Rutgers can compete for the Big (L)East title for some reason.  However, I think they’re still a step below USF and WVU and have too much to replace after graduation took some key parts to their team.  On the upside, they have a proven and now healthy QB in Mike Teel and a solid defense that returns 8 starters after finishing 17th in the country in total defense.  They are also going to get their fill of challenges with a tough schedule and figuring out who will fill the shoes of the departed Ray Rice as well as 3-offensive linemen.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
With all-time Rutgers rusher Ray Rice gone, the Scarlet Knights must repace 2,000-yards of running game from a year ago.  However, the Rutgers passing game may finally be able to blossom into the force this year with a Sr. QB in Mike Teel and three talented WR’s.  Sr. Kenny Britt and Jr. Tiquan Underwood have speed, size and big play ability.  Add in speedy litle guy Tim Brown and the passing game will be the best of the conference.  They will need to find the runner to replace Rice, but they can rely more heavily on the passing game now.  Defensively they’re intact so, they won’t have to panic that’s for sure.

Key Games:
Sept. 1st  vs. Fresno State
Oct. 4th  at West Virginia
Oct. 11th at Cincinnati
Nov. 15th at South Florida
The Scarlet Knights will get tested right out of the gate with BCS and WAC hopefull Fresno State who is tough.  They should win, but, it will be a test.  A week later they also play an improve North Carolina team.  But, it’s the Big East games on the road that will matter most to Rutgers.  Starting League play in Morgantown is a huge mountain to climb.  They will then need to avenge a loss to UC the very next week on the road.  Late in the year, if they are still in the hunt the Big East could be won or lost when they pay a visit to Tampa to play USF.

4. Cincinnati Bearcats
Head Coach: Brian Kelly (2nd yr.)
Last Season: (10-3, 4-3 beat Southern Miss in Papa Johns Bowl)

There are some questions about UC for sure.  Like who is going to play QB and who is the solid starter at RB.  Defensively they have some holes to fill too including at DE and in the Secondary.  However, I still think they’re ahead of Pittsburgh who’s proven nothing in recent years and Louisville who we’re finding out may be on the decline.  HC Brian Kelly is a winner and has brought with him to Cincinnati a swagger.  Now, the Bearcats believe they belong and could compete at the highest level of play in the nation.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
Brian Kelly’s hope is that Notre Dame transfer Demetrius Jones can run his version of the up tempo spread option.  With an athletic QB in this spot it will open up the running lanes for Junior RB Jacob Ramsey.  The rest of the offense is in place to be just as good as last season where they finished 30th nationally.  Talent at the WR’s position and a solid offensive line will mean whoever is in the backfield will have an easier time.  Even if Jones doesn’t work, the Bearcats have the luxury of having a kid that ran the offense in Dustin Grutza.  In fact, you could see both QB’s.  Defensively, UC is stout and aggressive with a pair of DT’s that can clog running lanes.  Both Terrill Byrd and Adam Hoppel will anchor this unit.

Key Games:
Sept. 6th at Oklahoma
Oct. 11th  vs. Rutgers
Oct. 30th vs. South Florida
Dec. 6th  at Hawaii
A big test of how close or far away UC is from being a serious national program comes when they must travel to Big XII power Oklahoma.  For all the strides made in Cincinnati, they’ve not beaten a big time team in sometime.  Key games they must win to hope and compete in the league include hosting Rutgers and South Florida, games they won last year and will have to do again to be better then 4th.  A late season booby prize to Hawaii might also be a trap.  If their season has faded, this might be the key to bowl security as they’ll need 7-wins on the year with a 13-game schedule.

 5. Pittsburgh Panthers
Head Coach: Dave Wannstedt (4th yr.)
Last Season: (5-7, 3-4)

Expectations are high in Steel town, but I don’t get it.  They’ve been a monumental disappointment in HC Dave Wannstedt’s 3-years and they gave him an extension.  Sure, sure, they fought thru injuries and inexpirience last season but really, what have they accomplished to garner so much attention?  Oh, I forgot, they beat West Virginia to wreck the Mountaineers year.  Well, that gives them another shot in my book too.  Potential is one thing, proving it on the field is another.  This to me is a big year for the program and they need to start delivering on the field instead of having so much potential and letting it go to waste.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
Offensively the Panthers were abysmal last season.  Granted they were without their expected starting QB Bill Stull for most of the year and Biletnikoff finalist from 2006 Derek Kinder was out all of last season.  They run the ball somewhat well with Lesean McCoy toting the rock and scoring often after a 14-TD year in 2007.  But, they must be miles better to be truly competitive in the league let alone shoot for a bowl game.  I think they can do that but they’ll be helped mostly by a ferocious defense that returns 7-starters.  Wannstedt made his name on that side of the ball and he has delivered in that reguard.  The Panthers were 5th in the nation in total defense a year ago and look to be just as tough with only the secondary having some serious questions to deal with, with only one of the four spots returning a starter.

Key Games:
Aug. 30th  vs. Bowling Green
Sept. 20th vs. Iowa
Oct. 2nd  at South Florida
Nov. 1st  at Notre Dame
Nov. 28th vs. West Virginia
Pitt better not look past their opener against a good MAC team in BGSU that can score a bunch of points.  They may be eye-balling their game with Iowa a couple of weeks later and they can’t look past the Falcons.  I don’t know what to make of Iowa though, so that’s a game that could really boost their morale the rest of the way.  Another tough assignment comes when they travel to what is expected to be an improve Notre Dame team.  Following up their monumental upset of bitter rival WVU in Morgantown last season, the Mountaineers come calling to Heinz Field with payback on their mind.  This could be a very big game indeed for both schools once again.

6. Louisville Cardinals
Head Coach: Steve Kragthorpe (2nd yr.)
Last Season: (6-6, 3-4)

Amazingly fast, the wheels fell off the Louisville train last season.  First year HC Steve Kragthorpe inherited train wreck of mierable luck, injuries, poor defense and all this after a (12-1) team the year prior with lots of talent coming back.  This year, he’s got another problem, the cupboard is BARE.  Only 3 starters return on the offense and the defense only returns 4!  And both units are significantly weaker than you’d expect.  Bobby Petrino was wise to bolt like a thief in the night from Louisville to Atlanta and then to Fayetteville.  However, you have to think that perhaps there might still be something to work with at QB with big armed Hunter Cantwell back and much of the offensive coaching staff still in place from a group that ranked 6th nationally last year.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
Hunter Cantwell as stated is a good QB and the Cards will rely on him to carry the offense and break in lots of new skill players.  He may not be Brian Brohm, but he did spot an injured Brohm and toss 10-TD’s in 2006.  Defensively they are poorous and in this league that’s not a good idea, especially agaist the run.  They will have yoman’s work at trying to put humpty dumpty back together again in Louisville this year, but, with a soft schedule, don’t count out a bowl shot.

Key Games:
Aug. 31st  vs. Kentucky
Oct. 10th at Memphis
Nov. 8th  at Pittsburgh
Nov. 14th vs. Cincinnati
In a doable non-conference schedule, they must take care of business first in-state.  Their game against UK in the Govenors Cup is critical for them to get off to a good start and that’s against a team in Lexington that is in a similar situation of rebuilding.  Meanwhile, Memphis is improved and that could be a tough game that sets up tough times if they don’t win.  Their peers in the league are Pitt and UC and those games might determine if they can get to a bowl.

7. Connecticut Huskies
Location: Storres, CT
Head Coach: Randy Edsall (10th yr.)
Last Season: (9-4, 5-2 Lost to Wake Forrest in Meineke Bowl)

It’s really hard to read up on UConn and pick them this far down.  Other than to come to read and think that’s what everybody else thinks will happen too.  Perhaps last season was a bit of a fluke, or, maybe people aren’t taking them seriously at all and are seriously mis-judging them.  The difference in this team versus last year’s squad might be the lucky or unlucky breaks they get.  They were flying high and shared in the Big East last season with upset wins over ranked teams at home.  This year, they play all of their toughies on the raod.  Even if they finish higher than I expect, they do have the easiest non-conference road with only a toughie on the road against what should be an improved North Carolina team.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
The offense is a bit of a lumbering unit that isn’t particularly explosive and isn’t particularly great at anything.  They do have a duo of backs that are back and they are a much better running team than passing one.  Their QB is Tyler Lorenzen, ( who for all intents and purposes be the little brother to the Round Mound of Touchdown or The Battleship Lorenen…Giants Back up Jared) a lefty the runs the offense efficiently if not is explosive style.  Defensively, they were very good last season finishing 37th nationally, but almost their entire secondary is new and that was a strong point last year. 

Key Games:
Sept. 26th at Louisville
Oct. 4th at North Carolina
Oct. 18th at Rutgers
Oct. 25th vs. Cincinnati
Nov. 1st vs. West Virgina
This tough stretch of games in a row is what will make or break their season.  It’s a tough stretch that doesn’t even include their late season road game at South Florida.  To compete, they must come out of this stretch in good shape and with a winning record.  I don’t think it happens.

8. Syracuse Orangemen
Head Coach: Greg Robinson (4th yr.)
Last Season: (2-10, 1-6)

Remember when Syracuse was good?  Neither do I.  I had to look it up.  The last winning season they had was back in 2001 when they were (10-3).  They’ve only won 12-games in the past 4-seasons combined.  Since Greg Robinson has come on board as HC, they’ve been (7-28) and they’ve been miserable in all phases.  Needless to say, the program is in the depths of their lowest period in sometime and this is a critical year for them and the coaching staff.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
Bad on offense last year (114th nationally) and miserable on defense (111th) they are challenged in all phases of the game.  With an offensive line that allowed 54 sacks and made it hard to open up holes to run thru, they were averaging only 16-points a game last season.  That group is no better with only 2 returning starters and only 6 overall on the offense.  The QB Andrew Robinson did toss 13 TD passes and despite taking a beating was at times decent.  His main target and as close to a star on this team that you’ll find is JR. Mike Williams who pulled in 10 TD catches.  The defense returns only 4 starters and will be bad once again.

Key Games:
Sept. 6th  vs. Akron
Sept. 20th  vs. Northeastern
These pair of games are the only ones you can point to and say they should win.  Akron is going to be bad again and Northeastern is a Division I-AA team.  Non-conference wise they are cannon fodder for Penn State, Northwestern and Notre Dame.

BONUS: Independent Military Academy teams
Navy Mid Shipmen
Location: Annapolis, MD
Head Coach: Ken Niumatalolo (1st yr.)
Last Season: (8-5, Lost to Utah in Poinsettia Bowl)

Navy has lead the nation in rushing for three straight seasons and there isn’t any reason to think that perhaps they can’t do it again this year with most of their offensive components coming back.  Navy is in the midst of their most successful era of football in decades.  Since 2003, they haven’t won no less than 8-games per season and have established themselves as a worthy adversary.  Though they have a new coach with Paul Johnson departed for Georgia Tech, this is going to be a very similar product to last year and in recent years.  One thing is for sure, they should win the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy for the military academy’s champion.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
Here is the name of my favorite college football player of 2008: Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada.  That would be Navy’s dangerous trigger man at QB.  He gained 914-yards last year in leading the Middies to 441-yards/game rushing.  With Navy running the triple-option attack, they have no shortage of ball carriers and Kaheaku-Enhada directs that circus.  This is a group that must score to keep ahead of opponents too as the defense is pretty undersized, slow and out-manned as you might expect.  While they’re offense was busy finishing 22nd in the nation (yes, though they were #1 rushing the ball, they were 119th passing it), the defense was giving up an average of 36-points.  They will be hard pressed to match or exceed last year’s win total with a tough schedule in line, but they should make it to their 6th straight bowl this year.

Key Games:
Sept. 13th at Duke
Oct. 4th  at Air Force
Nov. 15th  vs. Notre Dame
Dec. 6th vs. Army
The game against Duke is critical for them as the Blue Devils are expected to be much improved and that’s a game they don’t want to lose.  Playing at Air Force this season, this game may be for the winner of the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy that goes to the armed forces champion.  Meanwhile, after having the longest losing streak to a single opponent in the nation finally broken against Notre Dame last year (after 43-tries), the Irish will be better this year too.  It took 3 OT’s for Navy to win last year in South Bend.  And then, of course, their game against Army is for bragging rights and could be their 7th straight win over the Black Knights of the Hudson.

Army Black Knights
Location: West Point, NY
Head Coach: Stan Brock (2nd yr.)
Last Season: (3-9)

While Navy has been enjoying winning and success, the cadets up at West Point have been fighting the good fight but losing.  Army has been miserable this decade, last fielding a bowl team in 1996 and struggling mightily just to win a few games a year.  Since bottoming outin 2003 when they went (0-13), they’ve made precious little improvement under Bobby Ross and now his successor Stan Brock.  Army is all too often out manned and will struggle once again this season.  What is perhaps worst of all is, they’ve lost 6-straight to the Middies down in Annapolis.  Even worse, they haven’t been close in most of those years.

The Skinny/Players to watch:
Army is trying to change up their offense which was once again very bad.  They ranked 116th of 119-teams last year offensively and they struggled to only about 17-points a game.  They do have a competant Junior QB back in Carson Williams this season and all four of their top ball carriers from last season though.  Defensively they are going to struggle too with only 3 starters back.

Key Games:
Sept. 6th  vs. New Hampshire
Sept. 20th vs. Akron
Nov. 1st vs. Air Force
Dec. 6th  vs. Navy
With a schedule full of cream puffs, Army still will struggle.  But, they will have oppertunities against teams more of their ilk and those include MAC teams that have struggled (Temple, Eastern Michigan and Akron) and of course their brothers at Air Force and Navy.  Winning one or both of those games, even if they are the only wins would be just fine by them I bet.

Misty May’s bumpah: It has a mesmerizing quality about it.  I don’t know what it is, but I must look at it and obey it’s commands.

Go check out more of the magic that is Misty May’s backside…

Courtesy of www.barstoolsports.com

Or else it will kill you in your sleep.

You can see so much HERE

There ain’t nothing wrong with a little sand in your crack.

Caption Contest aside, these are just plain great photos of the Commander-in-Chief doing what we all would do…stare at volley ball chick’s asses.

Spending time with Misty May and Keri Walsh…

…apparently makes a man sweat.

P.S.
Mike, that tramp stamp looks like a “W” from here and nothing close to and Osama Obama bumper humper.  Upon further review though, it is indeed a Roman numeral V.