POOR JOHNNY FOOTBALL

September 12, 2013

I was planning on making the theme of this week’s entry all about “Time” magazine’s absurd choice to put Johnny Manziel on the cover next to a headline of, “It’s Time to Pay College Athletes.” Then, I read an identical piece by my Happy Hour co-host Matt Markus. He echoes my sentiments exactly. Thanks for saving me the effort, Matt.

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/737-johnny-football-hardly-best-choice-for-time-s-argument-to-pay-athletes

As Matt points out, the schools spend thousands of dollars on all student athletes. After spending all that money on how many QBs have come and gone at Texas A&M, why shouldn’t the school try to make as much money as they can off of Manziel? They won’t even be breaking even from the amount they have spent on all his predecessors. 

For those of you that ask, “why can’t he take money for signing autographs? It’s his signature.” What is stopping any coach from promising a recruit that certain boosters will pay X amount of dollars for an autographed photo? It is no different than the Ohio State “tattooed five” selling championship gear. The value on those things (like an autograph) can be whatever you want it to be. So, here is $1,000 for a signature or $2,000 for a pair of gold pants. 

Enough of crying for the poor college athlete. If they need money beyond what the scholarship gives them, let them take out a loan.

Games of the Week:

Alabama @ Texas A&M - The biggest aspect of last year’s game that no one talks about is that it was played the week after the Alabama game at LSU. The Tide were coming off an emotional road win that required a do or die drive in the final two minutes. A&M caught them flat in the 1st quarter and ran out to a 20-0 lead and held on at the end. Now? The Aggies have their full attention. Last week, Sam Houston State had 240 yards rushing versus A&M. I think the Tide utilizes the extra week they’ve had to prepare and roll A&M 34-17.

UCLA @ Nebraska - It has been a rough off week in LA. Walk-on WR Nick Pasquale was hit by a car & killed while walking in his hometown. The Bruins closed off practice, & no player has spoken with the media. This was supposed to be a revenge game for the Huskers after they allowed 653 yards last year in a 36-30 loss. I do not believe in Nebraska’s defense at all. The Bruins won’t get 600 yards, but they will score enough points. I will take UCLA 38-28.

Mississippi @ Texas - Chaotic. That is the best way to describe the past week in Austin. After BYU rushed for 550 yards in an easy win over the Horns, Mack Brown fired his defensive coordinator and gave the job to Greg Robinson. The last time he was in charge of a defense, he got Rich Rodriguez canned in Ann Arbor. Today came the news that Texas QB David Ash is out with head & shoulder injuries. Last year Texas won 66-31. I am starting to think Texas is a sinking ship. I predict a Rebel upset 37-30.

BIG WEEKEND FOR THE FCS

September 5, 2013

There were 29 games last weekend that pitted an FBS team against an FCS Team. Here are the results with FCS wins in bold. (Samford also defeated Georgia State. GSU is a team transitioning to FBS, so I did not include it.)

Kent State - 17   Liberty - 10

Wake Forest - 31   Presbyterian - 7

Indiana - 73   Indiana State - 35

Ball State - 51   Illinois State - 28

Southern Utah - 22   South Alabama - 21

Towson - 33   UConn - 18

Middle Tennessee - 45   Western Carolina - 24

Tulane - 34   Jackson State - 7

San Jose State - 24   Sacramento State - 0

Army - 28   Morgan State - 12

Houston - 62   Southern - 13

North Dakota State - 24   Kansas State - 21

Arizona - 35   Northern Arizona - 0

Georgia Tech -70   Elon - 0

Boston College - 24   Villanova - 14

West Virginia - 24   William & Mary - 17

Illinois - 42   Southern Illinois - 34

Air Force - 38   Colgate - 13

Oregon - 66   Nicholls State - 3

Duke - 45    NC-Central - 0

Eastern Washington - 49   Oregon State - 46

Eastern Michigan - 34   Howard - 24

Tennessee - 45   Austin Peay - 0

McNeese State - 53   South Florida - 21

Missouri - 58   Murray State - 14

Arkansas State - 62   Arkansas-Pine Bluff - 11

Baylor - 69   Wofford - 3

Eastern Illinois - 40   San Diego State - 19

Northern Iowa - 28   Iowa State - 20

FCS - 17.86   FBS - 39.41

I understand if certain major programs don’t want to schedule FCS teams. I completely disagree that these kind of match-ups should never be played. 

The upper echelon of FCS teams are much closer to the non-BCS conference teams than those same teams are to the BCS conference programs, and the gap is closing for the former and growing for the latter.

The FCS schools get a much needed payday. The FBS schools get the revenue of a home game which is not to be overlooked. 

I get annoyed that so many people in the sports world complain about games they don’t watch or attend. If it isn’t a game you are interested in seeing, don’t watch it. 

If you are a season ticket holder, I understand those who say, “for how much you charge me for tickets, I want good match-ups.” However, getting a certain number of home games (seven for the biggest programs) funds the athletic department, and any season ticket holder for any team in any sport is going to have some games they are less interested in on the home schedule.

Do I want to see these games every week? No. Does it bother me that they are played? Not at all. As the Patriot League reaches its required amount of athletic aid thru athletic scholarships, they too will begin playing FBS teams, and I cannot wait. Lafayette @ Army is on the schedule in the coming years, and Lehigh sounds close to finalizing a few deals. 

If Iowa State or Iowa wants to play Northern Iowa in a given year, they should be allowed to do so. Playing that game will not keep Oklahoma or Ohio State out of the four team playoff. Losing it will, but if you can’t win that game, that is on you.

Games of the Week:

Florida @ Miami - Florida State has great rivalry games with both of these teams, but the Gatos and Canes do not have the same history with one another. Besides their home-and-home series with FSU, this is the first non-league road game Florida has played since they faced Miami at the Orange Bowl ten years ago. Al Golden’s team returns 18 starters, but I do not think they have the strength up front to go toe to toe with Florida. I think the Gators win 30-17.

South Carolina @ Georgia - I wasn’t overly impressed with Aaron Murray last week. He threw too many balls that forced his receivers to go to the ground to make the catch. He certainly wasn’t as accurate as Tajh Boyd. If Jadeveon Clowney is over his stomach bug, I expect him to play like a man possessed and harass Murray all night. The Bulldogs defense is very young and athletic, but they aren’t very good yet. I see a Gamecock win 26-20.

Notre Dame @ Michigan - Tommy Rees got the Irish off to a nice start last week throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns. The problem is the ND defense allowed 134 rushing yards and 362 total yards to Temple. This one is under the lights, and the crowd will be rabid. With this being the last Irish visit to Ann Arbor for the foreseeable future, I think Michigan rolls in this game. If the Irish can limit their turnovers, they will be in it to the end. I think one or two Rees mistakes will keep that from happening. I say Michigan wins 31-19.