College Football - Football Betting

2005-10-30T19:09:00.000-08:00

Wisconsin Badgers

Oct. 29---College Football---
Wisconsin 41 ... Illinois 24---College Football---
Brandon Williams caught a 62-yard touchdown pass and Brian Calhoun scored five touchdowns with a six-yard run set up by a blocked punt as the Badgers kept the Illini at arm's reach all game long. Illinois was able to crank out 538 yards of total offense with two Tim Brasic touchdown passes and a three-yard Pierre Thomas touchdown run. Wisconsin was outgained on the ground 261 yards to 239, but Calhoun was unstoppable scoring on runs of six, two, six, three, six and 46 yards, all virtually untouched.
Player of the game: Wisconsin RB Brian Calhoun ran 35 times for 197 yards and five touchdowns and caught two passes for 37 yards. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Illinois - Passing: Tim Brasic, 20-39, 277 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Tim Brasic, 16-116. Receiving: Kyle Hudson, 10-114, 1 TD---College Football---
Wisconsin - Passing: John Stocco, 14-22, 225 yds, 1 TD---College Football---
Rushing: Brian Calhoun, 35-197, 5 TD. Receiving: Jonathan Orr, 5-41---College Football---
What to take away from this game: Yeah, Wisconsin beat Illinois by 17 points, but the defense couldn't handle mobile quarterback Tim Brasic allowing 116 yards. After Purdue QB Curtis Painter ran wild last week, there has to be a big, big concern going into the Penn State game facing Michael Robinson. The defensive line continues to get pushed around, while the back seven needs much better coaching against the option. With that said, the Badger offensive line did a fantastic job when it had to, and no one reads blocks like Brian Calhoun.---College Football---
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Oct. 22---College Football---
Wisconsin 31 ... Purdue 20---College Football---
Wisconsin broke open a tight game with a weaving 84-yard interception return for a touchdown from Roderick Rogers midway through the third quarter to spark a 21-0 run. Brian Calhoun took a short pass 40 yards for a score, and Jack Ikegwuonu stepped in front of a pass and took it 62 yards for a score. Purdue QB Curtis Painter ran for a touchdown and threw a four-yard touchdown pass.
Player of the game: Wisconsin DB Roderick Rogers made four tackles, broke up three passes, and returned an interception 84 yards for the game changing touchdown.---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Purdue - Passing: Curtis Painter, 23-44, 212 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Curtis Painter, 11-60, 1 TD. Receiving: Brian Hare, 5-38---College Football---
Wisconsin - Passing: John Stocco, 15-26, 217 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Brian Calhoun, 20-62. Receiving: Brian Calhoun, 5-78, 2 TD---College Football---
What to take away from this game: Wisconsin might have come up with a double-digit win over Purdue, but there are still plenty of things to worry about. For one, the pass protection has been mediocre at best giving up three sacks and several pressures. The running game never really got going, the third down defense was awful, and for yet another game, there was no pass rush from the banged up front line. While none of this should matter at Illinois, the team needs to be sharper at Penn State in two weeks.
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Oct. 15---College Football---
Wisconsin 38 ... Minnesota 34---College Football---
Wisconsin took advantage of a dropped snap to block a punt for a touchdown with :30 to play for an improbable win. Down 34-24 with just over two minutes to play, the Badgers got a 21-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Williams, and then the defense held forcing the Gopher punt on fourth and one. The ending overshadowed a brilliant day from the Gopher running game, which ran for 411 yards, led by Laurence Maroney, who ran for 258 yards highlighted by a thrilling 93-yard touchdown. The two teams traded scores all game long with Gary Russell running for two scores for the Gophers and Wisconsin's Brian Calhoun scoring on three runs. ---College Football---
Player of the game: Wisconsin RB Brian Calhoun ran 23 times for 110 yards and three touchdowns and caught three passes for 29 yards. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Minnesota - Passing: Tony Mortensen, 7-17, 99 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Laurence Maroney, 43-258, 1 TD. Receiving: Logan Payne, 2-24---College Football---
Wisconsin - Passing: John Stocco, 15-26, 235 yds, 1 TD---College Football---
Rushing: Brian Calhoun, 12-110, 3 TD. Receiving: Brandon Williams, 7-121, 1 TD---College Football---
What to take away from this game: The Badgers stayed alive in the Big Ten title race with their unbelievable last-minute win over Minnesota, but this game once again showed a major problem: run defense. After getting blown over by Northwestern, the Gophers ran for 411 despite no threat coming from backup QB Tony Mortensen and the passing game. On the plus side, UW QB John Stocco is coming into his own throwing with far more confidence than he did at the beginning of the year. Wisconsin likes the balance, but could use the offensive line to be more dominant and get the running game rolling like the Wisconsin running game again. ---College Football---
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Oct. 8---College Football---
Northwestern 51 ... Wisconsin 48---College Football---
Northwestern rolled up 674 yards of total offense with 41 second half points led by RB Tyrell Sutton, who ran for three touchdowns and caught a fourth score. Wisconsin made it interesting in the final four minutes with Jonathan Orr catching two of his four touchdown passes within 1:05 of each other, but a final last-minute drive stopped before it could get started on a Reggie McPherson interception. The Badgers had a 17-10 lead at halftime thanks to a nine-yard pass to Orr and a five-yard Booker Stanley touchdown run, but the it was all Wildcats in the second half. Brian Calhoun became the first Wisconsin player ever with 100 yards rushing and receiving in a game running for 122-yards and a score and catching 11 passes for 128 yards. Wildcat LB Tim McGarigle made 25 tackles. ---College Football---
Player of the game: Northwestern RB Tyrell Sutton ran 29 times for 244 yards and three touchdowns and caught two passes for nine yards and a score. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Northwestern - Passing: Brett Basanez, 26-36, 361 yds, 3 TD---College Football---
Rushing: Tyrell Sutton, 29-244, 3 TD. Receiving: Jonathan Fields, 8-48---College Football---
Wisconsin - Passing: John Stocco, 24-31, 326 yds, 4 TD, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Brian Calhoun, 23-122, 1 TD. Receiving: Brian Calhoun, 11-128---College Football---
What to take away from this game: The defensive front four couldn't generate any pressure on Northwestern QB Brett Basanez, and it couldn't figure out how to get a man on the open receivers on third downs. The offense was fine, despite a few bad John Stocco throws even when he had time, but it's the defense that'll be all the talk before going to Minnesota. The Badgers, for the first time in a long time, appeared manhandled by an opposing offensive line. ---College Football---
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Oct. 1---College Football---
Wisconsin 41 ... Indiana 24---College Football---
Brandon Williams caught two touchdown passes and returned a punt 63 yards for Wisconsin's tenth-straight home win. Indiana was able to stay alive on three Blake Powers touchdown passes highlighted by an 83-yard play to James Hardy, but turned the ball over four times. John Stocco threw three touchdown passes for the Badgers finishing the Hoosiers off with a 22-yard scoring strike to Jonathan Orr.
Player of the game: Wisconsin WR Brandon Williams caught six passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns, returned four punts for 86 yards and a touchdown and one kickoff for 21 yards.
Stat Leaders: Indiana - Passing: Blake Powers, 20-41, 244 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Yamar Washington, 8-35. Receiving: James Hardy, 7-157, 2 TD---College Football---
Wisconsin - Passing: John Stocco, 13-24, 274 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Brian Calhoun, 26-101, 1 TD, Receiving: Brandon Williams, 6-113, 2 TD---College Football---
What to take away from this game: Wisconsin's offense was relatively ineffective, the secondary was a bit sloppy, and Brian Calhoun was held in check, but it was still a blowout win over Indiana. The Badger coaches aren't going to be happy with the 103 rushing yards, but they'll be pleased with the play of John Stocco, who pushed the bell downfield well and looked in command of the offense when he wasn't pressured. The defense did a good job of forcing turnovers with big hits. ---College Football---
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Sept. 24
Wisconsin 23 ... Michigan 20---College Football---
John Stocco kept it for a four-yard touchdown run with :24 to play to cap off an 11-play drive to give Wisconsin the lead, and then the defense held as a penalty and a Chad Henne slip sealed the win. Michigan answered a six-yard Brian Calhoun touchdown run to take the lead with nine minutes to play on a flea-flicker resulting in a Mario Manningham 49-yard touchdown catch. Henne also threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Jason Avant, but Wisconsin stayed alive on three Taylor Mehlhaff field goals.
Player of the game: Wisconsin RB Brian Calhoun ran 35 times for 155 yards and a touchdown and led the Badgers in receiving with seven catches for 59 yards.---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Michigan - Passing: Chad Henne, 16-34, 258 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Max Martin, 16-91. Receiving: Jason Avant, 7-108, 1 TD---College Football---
Wisconsin - Passing: John Stocco, 15-32, 147 yds, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Brian Calhoun, 35-155, 1 TD, Receiving: Brian Calhoun, 7-59
What to take away from this game: The running game wasn't quite rumbling and QB John Stocco looked tentative and unsure on too many passes, but the Badgers found a way to beat Michigan, so it doesn't matter how it looked. Give the defense credit for coming up with the turnovers when it had to, and give credit to the team for not panicking when the Wolverines struck with the big 49-yard flea-flicker touchdown. There can't be a letdown over the next two weeks with Indiana and Northwestern coming up, but this would be a great time to reduce Brian Calhoun's workload. The offense needs him 100% healthy with Minnesota and Purdue down the road.---College Football---

Sept. 17---College Football---
Wisconsin 16 ... North Carolina 5---College Football---
Brian Calhoun ran for 171 yards and two touchdowns and the Wisconsin defense held North Carolina out of the end zone on the way to a tough win. The Tar Heels were able to manage a 43-yard Connor Barth field goal, but poor field position proved costly all game long. Calhoun ran for an eighty-yard score in the first quarter and a four-yard touchdown in the fourth.---College Football---
Player of the game: Wisconsin RB Brian Calhoun ran 38 times for 171 yards and two touchdowns and caught four passes for 26 yards.---College Football---
Stat Leaders: UNC - Passing: Matt Baker, 16-37, 281 yds, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Barrington Edwards, 11-37. Receiving: Jesse Holley, 5-90---College Football---
Wisconsin - Passing: John Stocco,14-23, 138 yds---College Football---
Rushing: Brian Calhoun, 38-171, 2 TD, Receiving: Brandon Williams, 5-62---College Football---
What to take away from this game: It might not have been a pretty performance, but Wisconsin survived its first road game by being more physical than North Carolina. The defense hit and hit hard, while the running game did a good job of doing what it had to getting points on the board in the red zone. Of concern is the inability to put the game away and the tough time going on long drives. On the plus side, the offense held on to the ball for 35:44. ---College Football---
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Sept. 10---College Football---
Wisconsin 65 ... Temple 0---College Football---
Wisconsin held Temple to 45 yards of total offense, while the Badger offense got four touchdown passes to John Stocco with three going to TE Owen Daniels in the first half. A 29-yard Tyler Donovan touchdown pass to Marcus Randle El with :14 to play in the first half made it 51-0. Temple lost 11 yards trying to run the ball and only gained five first downs with QB Mike McGann completing four of 20 passes.
Player of the game: Wisconsin TE Owen Daniels caught six passes for 88 yards and three touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: Temple - Passing: Mike McGann, 4-20, 38 yds, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Umar Ferguson, 12-32. Receiving: Jamel Harris, 3-27---College Football---
Wisconsin - Passing: John Stocco,12-19, 180 yds, 3 TD---College Football---
Rushing: Jamil Walker, 13-79, 1 TD. Receiving: Owen Daniels, 6-88, 3 TD---College Football---
What to take away from this game: What a dream game for Wisconsin. Temple barely offered a nice scrimmage allowing the Badgers to empty the bench and get all the backups some key minutes. More importantly, new star RB Brian Calhoun was able to relax and not get many carries with only 11 for 42 yards with a touchdown, and QB John Stocco was solid gaining more and more confidence. Obviously, North Carolina will provide more of a challenge next week., but Wisconsin appears ready.

Sept. 3---College Football---
Wisconsin 56 ... Bowling Green 42 Instant Analysis ---College Football---
Wisconsin weathered an early storm after Omar Jacobs threw two of his four touchdown passes for a 20-7 lead, but the Badger running game took over and steamrolled the Falcons for 379 rushing yards with five rushing touchdowns from Brian Calhoun. Bowling Green battled in the first half to tie it at 35, but the run defense couldn't hold up in the second half as the Badgers scored 21 straight points with Booker Stanley adding a 15-yard score to break up the Calhoun touchdown fest. The two teams combined for 1,031 yards.
Player of the game: Wisconsin RB Brian Calhoun ran 43 times for 248 yards and five touchdowns and caught a pass for 39 yards---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Bowling Green - Passing: Omar Jacobs 29-50, 440 yds, 4 TDs, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: B.J. Lane, 13-65. Receiving: Corey Partridge, 8-160, 1 TD---College Football---
Wisconsin - Passing: John Stocco, 8-10, 116 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Brian Calhoun, 43-248, 5 TD. Receiving: Brandon Williams, 3-41
What to take away from this game: Wisconsin didn't panic when Omar Jacobs and Bowling Green were moving the ball at will. With the pounding ground game reminiscent of Badger offenses of a few years ago, and with some defensive adjustments to get to Jacobs, Wisconsin made it a shockingly easy second half. Brian Calhoun isn't big enough to run 43 times a game throughout the season, so Booker Stanley, who ran 14 times for 103 yards and a touchdown, has to get even more work. QB John Stocco had a nice game considering the Falcons spent their time dealing with the run. ---College Football---
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2005 Schedule ---College Football---
Sept. 3 – Bowling Green (8-3, 7-1 in MAC) – Offense: Get the abacus ready because the nation's number two offense, and number four scoring offense, should be rolling again after averaging 506 yards and 44 points per game. Quarterback Omar Jacobs leads a MAC all-star cast that might not put up quite the numbers it did last year, but it'll still be potent. P.J. Pope is back as one of the nation's best all-around backs, while Charles Sharon and Steve Sanders will put up huge numbers as Jacobs' main targets. The line will be dominant on the left side with tackle Rob Warren and guard Kory Lichtensteiger, but there are three new starters coming in and questionable depth.---College Football---
Defense: The Falcon defense wasn't a rock last year. It didn't have to be. Expect more of the same with a decent run defense and a shaky pass defense despite the return of starting corners Jelani Jordan and Terrill Mayberry. There has to be a more steady pass rush with end Devon Parks needing to become more of a playmaker. The linebacking corps will need some work around weakside star Teddy Piepkow.
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Sept. 10 - Temple (predicted finish: 1-10) – Offense: The loss of do-it-all QB Walter Washington is a good and a bad thing. He was the Big East's best player, but the offense became too reliant on him. Pure passer Mike McGann will retake his starting job, but there's no depth whatsoever. The backfield and offensive line will lead to a strong rushing attack, but the new receiving corps has to make the offense more explosive.---College Football---
Defense: Injuries, inexperience and inconsistency led to a miserable season from the defense allowing 439 yards and 36 points per game. Despite the loss of the two best players, LBs Rian Wallace and Troy Bennett, things should be better with a solid front wall helped by the return of Antwon Burton in the middle and an experienced secondary helped by the healthy return of CB Ray Lamb.---College Football---
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Sept. 17 – at North Carolina (3-8, 3-5 in ACC) – Offense: Coordinator Gary Tranquill did a masterful job last year helping the Tar Heels to a big season finishing second in the ACC in total offense. The line is outstanding and the receiving corps is deep and underrated. There are concerns in the backfield needing new quarterback Matt Baker to be consistent, while inexperienced running backs Vince Wilson and Barrington Edwards need to pick up the slack for injured junior Ronnie McGill.---College Football---
Defense: Nine starters, not including top tackle Chase Page, return to a defense that finished 109th in the nation allowing 446.5 yards and 31.83 points per game. The most work has to be done in the run defense with the veteran linebacking corps needing to make far more plays to allow the safeties to play pass defense. The young, inconsistent line has to generate more of a pass rush and the secondary has to pick off more passes.---College Football---
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Sept. 24 - Michigan (9-2, 6-2 in Big Ten) – Offense: On straight talent, it'll be hard to beat the Wolverines if QB Chad Henne and RB Mike Hart improve at all on their fantastic freshman years. The loss of all-everything receiver Braylon Edwards will hurt worse than many will you have you believe. However, Jason Avant and Steve Breaston are very, very good. The line will have three All-Big Ten performers in guard Matt Lentz and tackles Adam Stenavich and Jake Long; now the pass protection has to be better.
Defense: One of the most scrutinized defenses in the country this off-season after meltdowns against Ohio State and Texas, there's enough talent returning, and enough pressure on defensive coordinator Jim Herrmann, to expect a bit more consistency. There are some big losses, particularly in the secondary, but there are always enough athletes in Ann Arbor to go around. The line will be the strength with Gabe Watson and Pat Massey one of the nation's best tackle tandems. Can the back seven handle mobile quarterbacks? Will this be a tighter D against the top teams? The jury is still out.
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Oct. 1 - Indiana (3-8, 0-8 in Big Ten) – Offense: The offense actually wasn't that horrible over the first part of last season. Consistency was the biggest problem and the defense didn't exactly help the cause. Even with the loss of three big starters (QB Matt LoVecchio, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis and WR Courtney Roby) the potential is there to do much more with an experienced line that gets two of its top players (OT Isaac Sowells and C Chris Mangiero) back from injury The running game will be serviceable with Chris Taylor and Yamar Washington until the young recruits come around and the receiving corps has plenty of speedy prospects. None of the promise will come true if Blake Powers, or one of the other quarterback candidates, doesn't start playing at a D-I level.---College Football---
Defense: The D returns nine starters with the hopes of being stronger in all phases. There's a better chance of the pass defense improving than the run defense with a good pass rush taking the heat off the speedy young corners. Being a wall against the run will be a problem needing to convert John Pannozzo from fullback to middle linebacker and Greg Brown from the offensive line to tackle. Outside of Brown, there's little Big Ten-size inside.---College Football---
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Oct. 8 – at Northwestern – (4-7, 2-6 in Big Ten) Offense: Consistency was a problem last year and there weren't enough points scored against most of the good defenses, but it was still the nation's 29th ranked offense and it should crack the top 25 this year. The passing game will be one of the Big Ten's best with veteran quarterback Brett Basanez working with an experienced and deep receiving corps. Terrell Jordan and Brandon Robinson will combine to keep the running game rolling behind Zach Strief and a good line. The guards are a bit of a question mark, but that's nitpicking.---College Football---
Defense: The potential is there for a good year after struggling away from Evanston. The return of end Loren Howard, corner Marquice Cole and linebacker Adam Kadela from the injury problems of last year will be a big help. The line should be a rock against the run with excellent size, while the linebacking corps has two All-Big Ten talents in Tim McGarigle and Nick Roach to build around. There's not a sure-thing pass rusher on the line meaning the fast corners will have to be better in coverage to improve a shaky pass defense.---College Football---
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Oct. 15 – at Minnesota (7-4, 4-4 in Big Ten) – Offense: If all the parts stay healthy and QB Bryan Cupito improves on his consistency and accuracy, the offense will be one of the top ten in America. The left side of the line, along with center Greg Eslinger, will dominate. The receiving corps looks like an NBA backcourt with size, speed and athleticism. Of course, the star of the show will be junior Laurence Maroney who should by a lock for at least 1,500 yards.
Defense: Head coach Glen Mason will work with the defense most of the time this off-season to try to improve things after a few lousy seasons. The pass defense was horrible and won't get much help right away from the pass rush. The linebacking corps will be fine in time, but the secondary will need plenty of work. The strength is in the middle of the line with All-Big Ten tackle candidates Anthony Montgomery and Mark Losli.---College Football---
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Oct. 22 - Purdue (9-2, 6-2 in Big Ten) – Offense: Considering the hot start and the nation's 13th best offense and 20th best scoring offense, the Purdue attack was a disappointment having problems with consistency along with an inability to come through in most of the big games. Seven starters return to an offense that has the potential to be far better despite the loss of QB Kyle Orton and top receiver Taylor Stubblefield. Brandon Kirsch takes over at quarterback and should add a bit more life and fire to the position. The receiving corps is loaded with rising star Dorien Bryant, 6-9 Kyle Ingraham and top tight end Charles Davis forming a dangerous trio. The backfield is experienced and good with redshirt freshman Kory Sheets pushing veteran Jerod Void and Brandon Jones. The line will be fine as long as there aren't any injuries to the starting five.---College Football---
Defense: All eleven starters return to the nation's 40th ranked defense. Outside of a few hiccups, it was a consistent group finishing 17th in the nation in scoring defense allowing a mere 17.17 points per game. So why is it hard to get too excited about this group? The line is one of the best in the nation with the best ends (Ray Edwards, Anthony Spencer and Rob Ninkovich), that you've never heard of. The back seven is full of hard-hitting veterans, but there are few star playmakers and there should once again be problems against the better passing teams.---College Football---
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Oct. 29 – at Illinois (4-7, 2-6 in Big Ten) – Offense: Ed Zaunbrecher brings his passing attack from Gainesville to Champaign and is looking for the right pieces to fit. The running backs will be the centerpiece early on with Pierre Thomas and E.B. Halsey as good as any twosome in the Big Ten. The receiving corps has potential with Kendrick Jones a burgeoning star. A quarterback has to emerge as a star to run the offense like Chris Leak did for Florida. Inexperienced junior Tim Brasic has the inside line on the job, but he'll need time to get his feet wet. The line is average at best.
Defense: The defense struggled in every phase trying to overcome injuries and youth. The D is still extremely young, but it's athletic with good speed almost everywhere. The secondary will have to be a rock early with good safeties in Justin Harrison and Morris Virgil and rising corners Alan Ball and Charles Bailey. The undersized linebacking corps will be an issue early, where the ends have to generate more of a pass rush.---College Football---
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Nov. 5 – at Penn State 6-5, 3-5 in Big Ten) – Offense: A ton of experience returns to one of the worst Penn State offenses ever averaging 17.73 points per game with five games scoring seven points or fewer. The line has all five starters returning (if C E.Z. Smith and G Tyler Reed are back from spring suspension) and it has to be much, much better. The receiving corps got a major boost this recruiting season with lightning-fast Derrick Williams and Justin King adding some desperately needed pop. There has to be more from the quarterbacks with the underwhelming Michael Robinson getting the nod since star prospect Anthony Morelli hasn't progressed enough yet. There's talent in the backfield; now it has to do more.
Defense: The nation's tenth best defense and fifth best scoring D should be even better with almost all the parts returning and FS Chris Harrell coming back after missing all of last year with a neck injury. The defense didn't allow more than 21 points per game coming up with a shockingly good season. The corners will be among the best in the nation as will the starting linebackers. Overall depth and a lights-out pass rusher are the slight weaknesses, but that's nitpicking.

Nov. 12 - Iowa (9-2, 6-2 in Big Ten) – Offense: Iowa had a big mess on its hands last year with one of the nation's worst running games brought on by injuries to the backfield and inconsistency on the offensive line. Both areas should be much better with the healthy return of lightning fast runner Marques Simmons and an experienced line ready to be one of the Big Ten's best. The passing attack should be tremendous led by All-America candidate Drew Tate at quarterback and an experienced, productive, and very fast receiving corps.
Defense: The back seven will be among the best in America as long as there aren't any major injuries. The linebacking duo of Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge and the corner tandem of Jovon Johnson and Antwan Allen are good enough to make up for the potential problems on the defensive line. There's absolutely no experience to count on up front losing Matt Roth and Jonathan Babineaux, and there's even less depth. If there's no pass rush, the secondary will have a hard time being as good as it was last year.
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Nov. 26 – at Hawaii (5-7, 4-4 in WAC) – Offense: The attack will undergo a wholesale change from the nation's number two passing attack losing the NCAA's all-time passing leader Timmy Chang, the top six pass catchers, and top two running backs. The line returns four starters and will have to carry the offense early on until the skill players get their feet wet. Redshirt freshman Tyler Graunke has the inside track on Chang's spot, but he needs the receiving corps to shine right away to give him some help. The overall production will end up being better than the parts.---College Football---
Defense: New defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville will make things interesting by attacking more and using a variety of blitzes to generate more pressure. Something has to be done after the Warrior run defense, the worst in college football, was steamrolled over for 253 yards per game while the D finished second to last in America in yards allowed and 112th in points allowed. The front four should be able to get to the quarterback, but the concern is against the run with two new tackles and cornerback-sized linebackers. The secondary should eventually be fine led by star safety Leonard Peters.---College Football---

2005-10-26T22:21:00.000-07:00

Keys to the Big GamesWeek Five, Oct. 1Iowa State at NebraskaBy John Harris
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a. Fearsome Foursome – It isn’t often when Iowa State is the team with the dominating front four, but welcome to the new reality of Big XII North football in 2005. The defensive ends Shawn Moorehead and Jason Berryman aren’t blurs off of the edge in pass rush situations, but they’ll solid in that aspect of the game. Furthermore, they won’t get manhandled at the line of scrimmage against the run. ---college football---
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The interior duo Nick Leaders and Brent Curvey play well together and get a strong push up the middle. Against a Nebraska offensive line that still is adjusting to the balanced West Coast attack that Bill Callahan brought to Lincoln, a huge key to the game will be how that group stops the Iowa State defensive front. ---college football---
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The key for the Cyclones is getting either Moorehead or Berryman soloed up on one of the Nebraska tackles. If the Huskers slide their protection schemes to double up on the defensive ends, then Leaders and Curvey are going to get too much push up the middle, limiting the space that QB Zac Taylor has to step and throw the ball accurately. But, if the Moorehead gets singled up out on the perimeter, Taylor may not have the time to get the ball off. This is a difficult matchup and it might take some max protection to give Taylor some sightlines downfield and some time to make his progression reads.---college football---
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b. Runnin’ Ross – You know, the more things change, the more they should stay the same. For all of talk about the West Coast offense and QBs who throw more than pitch, the main offensive cog is, or should, still be Cory Ross, the Husker tailback. There hasn’t been a time when Ross has been unproductive for this offense. It might surprise people, but Ross has averaged 24 carries each game this year, and that doesn’t need to change at all. At 5’6” and legs the size of redwoods, tackling Ross over the course of 60 minutes is a nightmare. ---college football---
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He has quickness and burst to the hole, and he has the advantage in a sense that this is a better run blocking line than they are a pass blocking unit. Ross is a similar back to Army’s Carlton Jones, who really shredded the Cyclones defense last week in New York, so don’t be too surprised if Bill Callahan doesn’t dial up #4 nearly 30 times this week. If not, it might be another 7 point day for the Husker offense, which isn’t good at all.---college football---
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c. Radio Flyer Flynn – One year you’re the flavor of the month BMOC QB, the next you’re sitting on the bench behind the new flavor of the month in your position. So, what do you do? You become the new guy’s go-to receiver. Welcome to Austin Flynn’s life as we know it. The mega-talented Flynn had a hard time following former Cyclone Seneca Wallace at quarterback, and in 2004, he lost his starting QB job to current starting QB Bret Meyer.---college football---
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However, Flynn had enormous potential and the Iowa State staff couldn’t keep him on the bench. So, he moved to WR, and he looks as if he’s been there for years. He catches the ball going over the middle. He’s a red zone go-to guy. He won’t ultimately be Meyer’s dangerous downfield threat; that’ll continue to be Todd Blythe, but Flynn will be the Troy Brown, the Ricky Proehl – the reliable, tough clutch receiver who will be the guy that’ll make the big catch when needed. He won’t draw much safety attention, and that means he’ll get single coverage much of the night. ---college football---
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He’s too good and too talented to not separate from man-to-man coverage throughout the night. He may not be the star…yet, but that’s alright, he’ll make the Huskers pay for their potential oversight.---college football---
Conclusion – It’s impossible to know how good this Nebraska team is this season. A 7 – 6 win over a three loss Pittsburgh team doesn’t tell us a whole heck of a lot. The Cyclones on the other hand manhandled Iowa at home, but how they play on the road is a question. They struggled mightily at Army, but that might’ve been the best thing to get their attention before they headed to Lincoln.
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RB Stevie Hicks has to have another strong game, and QB Bret Meyer has to be solid in both phases of the game – pass and run. If they can control the ball and make plays, ISU will take a huge step toward a Big XII North title. Iowa State – 24 vs. Nebraska – 21---college football---

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2005-10-23T16:11:00.000-07:00

'Horns gaining support
No. 2 Texas adds 2 first-place votes in latest AP poll
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NEW YORK (AP) -- Texas is changing some minds.
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The second-ranked Longhorns picked up two more first-place votes in The Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday, gaining on No. 1 Southern California.
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USC is on top of the rankings for a record 27th straight poll. The Trojans received 55 first-place votes and 1,615 points. The Longhorns, coming off a 52-17 victory over previously unbeaten Texas Tech, received the remaining 10 first-place votes and 1,569 points in the media poll.
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"I didn't move USC down as much as I moved Texas up," said Joe Giglio of The News & Observer of Charlotte, N.C., one of two voters to switch Texas and USC this week. "I feel [the Longhorns] have a more complete resume and I'm really impressed with how they've handled their business."
After a Saturday with no major upsets, the top nine teams held their positions in the Top 25. Virginia Tech is No. 3, followed by Georgia, Alabama, Miami, LSU, UCLA and Notre Dame.
---college football---
Texas Tech was the only top-10 team to fall. The Red Raiders dropped seven spots to No. 17 after their first loss of the season. That leaves six unbeaten teams -- USC, Texas, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Alabama and UCLA.
With USC and UCLA set to finish the season against each other and a Georgia-Alabama matchup in the Southeastern Conference title game possible, the regular season could end with four unbeaten teams.
Northwestern moved into the rankings this week for the first time since 2001. The Wildcats (5-2) defeated Michigan State 49-14 on Saturday and are now 21st in the country. The Spartans fell out of the rankings.
Michigan is back in the rankings after a 23-20 overtime win at Iowa. The Wolverines have been in and out of the poll in an up-and-down season that has been filled with close games.
---college football---
Earlier this season, Michigan snapped a string of 114 straight weeks in the rankings, which was the longest in the nation and dated back to 1998. The Wolverines moved back into the poll after a win, then dropped back out after another loss. Two straight last-play victories over Penn State and the Hawkeyes have Michigan at No. 25.
---college football---
The top five teams in the USA Today coaches' poll were identical to the AP rankings with USC, Texas, Virginia Tech, Georgia and Alabama.---college football---
In the AP poll, No. 10 is Florida State, followed by Penn State and Ohio State.
No. 13 Boston College, which has its highest ranking since the end of the 1993 season, plays at Virginia Tech on Thursday night.---college football---
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No. 14 is Oregon, followed by Wisconsin and Florida, which has a big game coming up on Saturday.
The Gators will try to hand Georgia its first loss in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party at Jacksonville, Fla. The Bulldogs will likely be without quarterback D.J. Shockley, who injured his knee in a 23-20 win over Arkansas.---college football---
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After Texas Tech at No. 17, West Virginia is 18th and Auburn fell three spots after losing 20-17 in overtime at LSU.
No. 20 TCU is followed by Northwestern, Fresno State and Tennessee, which remained in the rankings with a 3-3 record.
California is No. 24.

Falling out of the rankings along with Michigan State was Virginia. The Cavaliers followed up a win over Florida State with a 7-5 loss at North Carolina on Saturday.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

2005-10-11T09:54:00.000-07:00

Red-headed grandchild scores big at ECU football game

Mike Parker
Freedom ENC

On Saturday, Oct. 1, I had the privilege of introducing my grandson Jaxen to the marvelous world of college football.

When Lydia asked if I could keep him, I told her I had tickets to East Carolina's game, so if Jaxen stayed with me, he would have to go to the game. She assured me Jaxen would enjoy afootball outing with Papa. - College Football -

Frankly, I was a little apprehensive. We would have to make a hefty walk from our parking spot to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Would a crowd of 35,000-plus intimidate the little fellow?

Still, I had a few aces in the hole. Food, for one. Jaxen likes hot dogs, pizza, Skittles, popcorn, and gummy bears - and the concession stands offer all these and more. Jaxen's beverages of choice are milk or water, and the concession stands sell water. - College Football -

My seats in the upper deck provide a commanding view of the field. Would Jaxen appreciate that view? Restrooms are right around the corner, so potty breaks would not be a problem.

When traveling with a small child, cover all essentials.

The game started, the crowd cheered, the cannon boomed - and Jaxen held his ears.

"It's loud," he observed. - College Football -

"Yes. Remember: Papa told you it would be loud."

Then Jaxen discovered the railing in front of my seats and quickly found he could stand on the railing to improve his view.

As he stood on the second rail directly in front of me, he suddenly turned loose and fell back into me. Although startled, I caught him. Jaxen had just invented the game he would play the rest of the first half. - College Football -

He would yell "Drop!" and then fall backwards into my arms. After four or five drops, he'd turn his face toward mine.

"Is it over yet?"

"No, not yet," I'd reply.

"Yes, it is," he would assure me. - College Football -

"No, it isn't," I'd mutter, looking around him to see the action on the field.

"Yes it is," he'd sing-song back.

"Jaxen, you don't get to say when the game is over. See that clock on the scoreboard. It will tell us when the game is over." - College Football -

After a potty run at the half, we stopped at the concession stands - again. During the first half, he ate a hot dog sans bun, the biggest part of a slice of Papa John's pizza, and most of a bag of Skittles.

At the start of the second half, he asked for gummy bears. I noted that the gummy bears were mostly fruit juice, so I acquiesced. Instead of playing "Drop!" and asking his favorite question, he sat beside me, or on me, and consumed gummy bears. Then he began working on a tub of popcorn. - College Football -

Just how wired will this kid be on the way home?

I needn't have worried. Before we cleared the Greenville city limits I heard a deep, raspy breathing from the car seat in the backseat - and knew that Jaxen had run off-tackle to that great dreamland end zone. - College Football -

Sunday morning I asked him if he enjoyed the game.

"Yes, sir!" he said.

I am not certain which game he meant, but I am pretty sure he was not talking about football.

The Free Press

2005-10-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

College football notes: Leinart says early scare helped USC

By The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Quarterback Matt Leinart insists he had a good time throughout No. 1 USC's victory at Oregon last weekend — even when the upset-minded Ducks took a 13-0 lead.

"It was a fun game. It was fun to be behind, that's what college football is all about," the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner said yesterday. "You've got to play four quarters to beat us."

The Trojans made that clear, scoring on seven straight possessions starting late in the second quarter to hammer the previously unbeaten Ducks 45-13. - College Football -

"It was a battle for a half," Leinart said. "It wasn't a blowout until late in the third quarter, maybe the fourth quarter. It was good for us. We know that every game is not easy."

Offensive tackle Winston Justice smiled when told of Leinart's remarks.

"He said it was fun? I can't say it was fun," Justice said. - College Football -

The Trojans (3-0 overall, 1-0 Pac-10) might face a tougher test Saturday when they hit the road again to face No. 14 Arizona State (3-1, 1-0). On the other hand, the Sun Devils seemed to be a strong opponent last year when they visited Los Angeles — and lost 45-7.

Leinart said he looks forward to his second game at Sun Devil Stadium. He remembers his first, on Oct. 4, 2003, with great fondness. - College Football -

"That's when I got hurt, kind of started my career, you might say," he said. "I got more confident after that. Really, since that game, we've never looked back — as a team and as an offense."

USC was coming off a 34-31 triple-overtime setback at California — Leinart's only loss as a starter in 29 games — and he injured his right leg and ankle early in the second quarter, forcing him to sit out the rest of the first half. - College Football -

He returned to start the third quarter, and USC outscored Arizona State 27-0 down the stretch to win 37-17. "My ankle was throbbing, I could feel it under the tape," Leinart said.

That victory began a winning streak that has reached 25 games to equal school and Pac-10 records. - College Football -

USC and the Sun Devils are two of the most explosive teams in the country — USC is averaging 615.7 yards to rank second nationally and Arizona State is fourth at 591.8. The Trojans rank second with a 66.3-point scoring average, and the Sun Devils are tied for sixth at 47.0.

"We have impressive numbers on offense," Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter said. "Their numbers just blow our numbers away." - College Football -

2005-09-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

Monday night college football not so appealing

Craig Handel
Gannett News Service

It seemed like such a good idea at the time.

Labor Day. Monday Night football. The University of Miami and Florida State. Two of college football's most successful programs playing in prime time on national television.

Sounds delicious, doesn't it? Well, after two years, the idea is not nearly as appealing to the Hurricanes and Seminoles as it is to television executives.

A 12th regular-season game in 2006 adds even more scheduling difficulties. What if an actual hurricane creates another postponement? How do the schools fit in a Thursday night game?

While coaches and players still enjoy being in the national spotlight to start the season, the approval isn't as unanimous as it once was.

"You have to weigh that against all these other factors," said FSU athletic director Dave Hart. "That's what I've been doing these last three months and I know (Miami athletic director) Paul Dee is doing the same thing."

There are those on the Miami and FSU sides who want to play on Monday night.

"You have a big game right off the bat and it keeps everyone focused all through the summer," FSU senior DE Kamerion Wimbley said. "Even in the spring, you know you had to get ready because it was Miami. I think it drives players all summer to stay ready and work out. And it's such an emotional game, I like playing it as the first game. I hope they don't change it."

Miami punter Brian Monroe said, "It's the big game, big show, national TV. You want to show the nation what you got."

Miami coach Larry Coker - irritated that not playing on Saturdays early in the season took his team out of rhythm - also doesn't like playing a great team to open the season.

"We're not like the NFL, we don't get preseason games," Coker said. "The idea is that your team gets better as the season goes along."

FSU coach Bobby Bowden said he likes the fact that millions of people are watching the game.

Bowden said he wouldn't be opposed to playing on Monday if an open date could be found somewhere in the schedule.

That's the rub. To avoid an early-season off week next year, Miami and FSU plan to play games five days later against Florida A&M and Troy.

Then there is the Thursday dilemma. Atlantic Coast Conference schools are required to play at least one Thursday night game every other season. With the 12-game regular season - 13 if the teams play in the ACC title game - teams have only one off week during the season.

"The season has been compacted," Hart said. "When you begin to look at all those factors, you got one open date, you're playing 12 games, we got a 12-team league, do you want to be playing on Mondays and Thursdays? That's a serious issue in my mind.

"The dynamics are different when we signed to play on Monday nights. Had this not unfolded, I would have a different position."

Hart said he relayed these concerns to Loren Matthews, ABC vice-president for programming.

"I think we're going to see on this Monday night, given cooperation from weather, a tremendous atmosphere and a full house," he said.

(Bill Vilona of the Pensacola News-Journal contributed to this report.)

Copyright ©2005 The Daily Advertiser. All rights reserved.

2005-08-31T07:54:00.000-07:00

The great 12th game debate in college football

By PETE DIPRIMIO

The News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Let's say you're a college football player and you have the choice between doing what you love best in front of, say, 70,000 people and a national television audience, or doing more mind-numbing drills before the same coaches who have just chewed you out?

It's a no-brainer, says Purdue quarterback Brandon Kirsch.

"Players want to play as many games as possible," he says.

Are you kidding me, asks Indiana offensive lineman Adam Hines.

"We work out 365 days a year, sometimes twice a day," Hines says. "We only get 11 shots. It would be nice to get another one under your belt."

What do you expect, asks Purdue coach Joe Tiller.

"If it was up to the players, they'd only practice 15 or 16 times and then play 15 or 16 games. That's the way young people think." - College Football -

College football is going to 12 regular season games next year and if players see opportunity, coaches sense misery. Concerned about injuries and wear and tear, Atlantic Coast Conference coaches voted 12-0 against adding a game. Big Ten coaches were opposed. The Knight Commission, a watchdog group for college athletics, didn't want it. NCAA President Myles Brand didn't care. The NCAA Division I-A board of directors, prodded by financially strapped athletic directors, added a game anyway.

"I don't know many coaches who were for it," Northwestern coach Randy Walker says.

Actually, he knows one - Indiana's Terry Hoeppner.

"Let's play 14 games," he says. "I know I'm the lone wolf. I want to keep playing."

Mention a 12th game to Michigan coach Lloyd Carr and you get the sense we're headed toward damnation. - College Football -

"My major issue is that somewhere down the road a lot of these same people who voted for a 12th game will vote for a 13th game," he says.

Carr takes a deep breath. His eyes narrow. This must be the look Wolverines get when they blow an assignment. Imagine Charlton Heston as Moses seeing the Chosen People worshipping false gods. Yeah, it's that intense. - College Football -

"My belief is that anybody who supports (a 13th) game is betraying the concept of the student-athlete," he says. "We played 12 games before, so it's here. When they get ready for the 13th game, and they will, anybody who supports that is not taking into consideration what a student-athlete goes through. If that happens, they should pay players."

Maybe Carr had a bad breakfast. Or maybe he needs to walk a mile in Tiller's shoes. The Boilers will play 13 games next year without an open date and Tiller, when he's not worrying about how his team will survive it, wonders what's in it for football.

"It doesn't appear that much is coming back to our sport."

Tiller refers to the financial impact. The extra income (Purdue makes around $1.3 million per home game, less than half of what Michigan and Ohio State and Penn State make) will likely go to aiding the athletic program.

Football coaches understand the need. Athletic department budget deficits - much like bad reality TV shows - have become the norm and more money is needed. Still, coaches would like something for their trouble. - College Football -

"Coaches felt that if we added a 12th game, we'd get some relief regarding scholarship numbers," Tiller says. "We didn't. Athletic directors argued that you played 12 games two years ago and didn't need more scholarships, why do you need them now?"

Coaches say extra scholarships - football gets 85 - would provide more depth and lead to less injury. Because the addition of an extra game came without lengthening the season, teams will have to schedule games on what previously was an open date.

"Look at the injuries and the pressures players are under," Illinois coach Ron Zook says. "It's imperative to have an open date." - College Football -

Actually, it's imperative to have home games. Because every Division I-A program wants that money, because easy opponents would ease coaches' win-or-else burden, you're more likely to see matchups with Division I-AA programs such as Indiana State and Illinois State rather than, say, this year's Texas at Ohio State showdown.

"We want to find somebody who wants to play at our place," Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez says. "It will be fit in to complement our other non-conference games."

Complementing games or not, with a season full of possibilities ahead of them, players are ready to rock somebody's world. - College Football -

"Maybe by the end of the year," says Purdue's Kirsch, "when everybody is bruised and tired, we might think differently, but right now, we're thinking let's play as many games as possible."

Just don't tell Lloyd Carr.

2005-08-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

'Football Fever' on the way
Aberdeen church sponsoring event

In the coming months, the whole state of South Dakota will become engrossed with football fever. Whether it be for high school or college games, people can't get enough grid-iron action. The First Church of The Nazarene at 1425 Melrose Drive, Aberdeen, is hoping to add to that fever by hosting its own free "Football Fever" pre-game festivities before some Central High home games. Football Fever will take place outside the church, which is right across the street from Aberdeen Central High School and the Clark Swisher Athletic Complex, where the games are played. - College Football -
Andrew Brewer, youth pastor at Nazarene, said the Football Fever idea came from attending larger sporting events around the area. "Some places offer food booths and activities for kids and we want to offer that to the public," Brewer said. So far, Brewer plans on hosting the event one hour before kickoff on Sept. 9 for the game against Pierre and Sept. 30 against Watertown. He added that there is an option of holding Football Fever for a third game at a date to be determined. Anyone is welcome to attend. Brewer said that Central games were picked because a majority of the students he works with go to Central and he didn't want to overexert the church's abilities by hosting the event too many times before finding out how involved the events will be. Activities for the pre-game fun will include accuracy throwing contests, pinatas, sports trivia, and a bevy of free food. - College Football -
Brewer said that a number of businesses have donated prizes and gift certificates for contest winners. He added that businesses seemed very receptive to the idea and were willing to help out the community. The church will provide the food. "Hopefully the kids will enjoy it. As long as they come and win prizes, it should be exciting," Brewer said. Brewer, who has been at the church for two months now, said that the goal of the church is to be a part of the community and find a way to reach out to youths. - College Football -
"Being a part of the community is what we're about. We want to offer a safe place for kids to come have fun," Brewer said. He added that he had the idea for the pre-game fun even before Swisher tailgating issues were raised earlier this summer. "We just hope and dream that this will go over well and it will become a yearly event," Brewer said.

Bill E. Wambeke
American News

2005-08-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

Nevada football returns 8 receivers

RENO - The logjam of candidates competing for playing time at wide receiver for Nevada's football team is worse than traffic around the Spaghetti Bowl during commute time.The Pack return eight receivers who were in the program last year, including starters Nichiren Flowers (91 catches, 1,126 yards, 4 TDs) and Caleb Spencer (67-761-4) and Alex Rosenbloom (10-125-0), who played in all 12 games. - College Football -
Flowers, who has been moved to an outside receiver, and Spencer are sure starters barring injury, and JC transfer Kyle Sammons would like nothing more than to join them in the starting lineup.As camp starts, Sammons will be in a battle with two redshirt freshmen - Mike McCoy and ex-Douglas star Andy McIntosh - for the slot receiver spot. Sammons will have his hands full. McCoy probably has the best hands on the entire squad. McIntosh is stronger physically than he was last year, and has a better grasp of the offense this year.Sammons brings in some impressive credentials. - College Football -
He caught 85 passes for 1,263 yards and 18 TDs in helping Santa Rosa JC to a berth in the Clo Bowl last season, and Nevada coach Chris Ault has been singing his praises ever since."He's a big, physical receiver," Ault said. "He runs well, too. He's got two years experience and played a slot receiver at his last school."Despite the gaudy numbers, Sammons said he received only three firm offers. Those came from Northern Arizona, Tulsa and Nevada."I thought Nevada fit me the best," Sammons said. "It is close enough that my parents can come watch me play and I can drive home on weekends."I wanted to go to a school that threw the ball a lot. Northern Arizona threw the ball a lot. - College Football -
I played slot at Santa Rosa, so I'm used to it."Sammons said Santa Rosa used four and five wide receivers, really spreading the field out. Nevada mainly uses three receivers, but sometimes will go without a tight end depending on down and distance."It (the offense) is kind of similar," Sammons said. "Nevada kind of runs the same stuff. Some of the route combinations are different."Sammons doesn't think that McCoy and McIntosh have an advantage because they have been in the system a year longer. - College Football -
"They know the system," Sammons said. "I've been playing college ball for two years, so I'm used to the speed. It's both an advantage and disadvantage. Playing JC ball was great for me. I got used to the size and speed of the players."If you ask my JC coach about me, he'd say 'speed, size and hands.' That's what I think I am. - College Football -
"Sammons is learning everyday, and he's working especially hard at catching the ball in heavy traffic. He also said there is less room to manuever on the field in a three receiver set compared to a four or five-receiver set."You are more spread out with five receivers out there," he said. "You have to run more precise routes."If Sammons can do that, he'll create enough space to catch some balls and uphold Ault's confidence in him.

Lahontan Valley News

2005-08-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

Mocs 2005 Football Preview

No one hurts more than Rodney Allison. No one suffered on the inside more than the Chattanooga head football coach while his team endured a disappointing 2-9 season in 2004.Any football observer could point out a number of reasons why the Mocs struggled last year. Allison identifies just one explanation. As obvious as it may be, Allison doesn’t shy away from the facts. And the very day after the Mocs’ 2004 season ended, he set out to correct the problem.UTC had trouble keeping opponents out of the end zone and off the scoreboard. The defensive difficulties led to high-scoring performances by the other team or high-scoring games for both squads. - College Football -
The Mocs gave up an average of 48.1 points per game.“Our biggest area to get corrected is scoring defense,” Allison says. “It’s the number one area. We’ve been good enough on offense to win some games, but we have not been good enough from a production standpoint. We’ve given up too many points. We’ve got to get that number down.“I’m not unrealistic in saying that we are going to get it to a national level this year, but at some point, it has to get to 17, 18, 19 points per game. Each of your playoff teams and conference champions are playing defense well and giving up 17, 18, 19 points per game. You look at your Furmans and your Georgia Southern. They are giving up between 16 and 19 points per game. We have to get to that point. I think we addressed that need this offseason. - College Football -
We should start seeing a significant result in that area this fall.”His voice exudes confidence as he discusses the changes and expectations for the coming season. He is enthused, not discouraged.The turnaround starts with the hiring of Billy Taylor as the defensive coordinator. Taylor is admired in Southern Conference circles for his stinginess on defense. His formula for success calls for a 3-4 defense with zone coverage in the secondary. He formulated his philosophy at East Tennessee State and Elon prior to accepting Allison’s challenge to reverse the fortunes of UTC’s defense.“Looking back in a few years, I think bringing in Billy Taylor will be very significant,” the third-year coach says. - College Football -
“He’s had success every where he has been. He has always had a defense which is always in that point production area that you are looking for to have a successful program. I fully expect that this is what he will bring to the table. We’ll play good defense here, and we won’t be a defense that gives up big plays.”Assistant coaches Jimmy Brumbaugh, Ahren Self and Matt Weikert are new to the staff and, along with Jason Greene, will aid Taylor on the defensive side of the ball.Yes, the offense in 2004 averaged nearly 30 points per game and was held under 20 points just once, but there will be some tweaking with this unit also.Personnel over the past two years dictated that the Mocs attack with the passing game. Especially last season, as Division I-A transfer quarterback Cedric Stevens joined the squad for his senior year and had All-America receiver Alonzo Nix to throw it to. - College Football -
Stevens threw for 20 touchdowns and over 3,700 yards. He was named National Offensive Player of the Week after leading UTC to a 59-56 victory over Appalachian State in which he threw for 515 yards and five touchdowns.Despite being a former quarterback himself, Allison has preached since his arrival in 2003 that he would rather have a running team then a throwing team. He firmly believes a dominant running game is a key to becoming a championship program. Finally, he feels, his offense possesses many of the necessary tools to transform it into a strong running unit. - College Football -
“The running game has got to take off,” Allison says. “We’ve changed our mentality, our philosophy about running the ball. It’s something that we’ve always wanted to do here, but looking back, it wasn’t very realistic. The personnel wasn’t right for us to do that, and the quarterback situation wasn’t right. Now we have those pieces in place. There is no excuse now for us not to line up and be able to run the ball effectively and be a more physical offense.”The offensive adjustments begin at quarterback. Sophomore Antonio Miller was recruited by Allison to UTC for this very moment. - College Football -
While Miller played a significant number of snaps last year as a true freshman, he was seemingly always directing the offense from behind.Miller, 6-foot-2, 192 pounds, completed 24-of-37 passes for 295 yards and one score in 2004, so the passing talent is present. But it is his ability to scamper around the ends, out step a middle linebacker and seem like an extra running back that has Allison and offensive coordinator Jason Simpson excited. He ran for two touchdowns and 111 yards. Miller’s abilities and familiarity with a running offense will be the basis for the 2005 offensive schemes.“We feel very comfortable with Antonio,” Allison says. “There will be some growing pains with him as we go through the early parts of the season. We’ll have to be smart as coaches to make sure that we take some burdens off of him. We have players who are good enough where we can win some games early and not have to put it totally on his shoulders.“We feel very strongly that he is the type of quarterback that we want to play with. He will make us a better team running the football. - College Football -
It’s going to make us a better play-action team. He’s not a drop back passer, which is what we’ve been forced to use here in the past.“We’ve gotten to the point with him where we can do what we want to offensively and hopefully play good defense. With the kind of offense that I want to be, we’ll play some 21-14 games and some 24-17 games. He fits the mold of what we are trying to do and gives us a better chance of being successful.”The battle to back up Miller is led by junior Matt Lopez. The 6-4 hurler started as a redshirt freshman for the Mocs but a serious injury forced him to work as a student coach last season. Junior college transfer Nick Ross (6-0, 209) and freshman signee Clint Woods (6-2, 205) will also work on learning the system this year.The stable of running backs may be the best at UTC since 2000. This position has been one of the main focuses on the recruiting trail in the last two years. The Mocs are changing to a two-back set with a tailback and a fullback. - College Football -
Sophomores Muhammad Ahmad Abdus-Salaam and Lironnie Davis both played last season as true freshmen. Abdus-Salaam (5-9, 191) will enter the preseason as the starting tailback. He picked up 314 yards in 2004 and scored once. Davis (6-2, 242) was the team’s leading rusher last season with 420 yards. He proved to be one of the top scorers in the Southern Conference by finding the end zone a team-best 11 times.Senior Eugene Cousart (5-11, 227) had similar numbers of 298 yards and three touchdowns. The junior college transfer, who coaches call one of the hardest workers on the team, led the Mocs with 5.2 yards per carry.Joining the trio at tailback this year is junior college transfer Eldra Buckley. - College Football -
Buckley (5-10, 190) one of the top finds in the most recent signing class, led two-year college running backs in rushing yards last season.“We have a bunch of powerful running backs that should fit our running game,” Allison says. “We have recruited to the running game philosophy the last couple of years. We had the running backs we wanted to run the ball, but it didn’t fit with the other pieces of the puzzle.“Now we have it back in shape. We have a good group and are still looking for that one guy that can be a 1,000-yard rusher. If that can happen here, that will signify that we have it to where we want it. - College Football -
“We are going to let these four compete. We’ll start one and hope that eventually the cream will rise to the top and someone will take the starting job.”The fullback will need tight end-like qualities and have similar duties. UTC experimented with the fullback last year but never fully committed to it until this spring.Levonte Barber (5-11, 208) is the leading candidate for the fullback job. He is another running back who played as a true freshman in 2004, running the ball nine times for 29 yards and catching four passes out of the backfield. Newcomer Edward New (5-9, 211) played at Iowa Wesleyan College last year but proved in the spring that he could help the offense from the fullback spot.“We are adding a fullback, by design, but we will also be more tight end oriented,” Allison says. “Levonte Barber is a legitimate fullback in this league. Edward New might be a little undersized but has the abilities to play the position. We also want the tight end to be that fullback type of player too, so we can be interchangeable with our personnel groupings and still run some different plays when we run the ball.”Senior Brian Arnold (6-3, 263) is the only returning tight end. - College Football -
He caught four passes for 34 yards and one touchdown last season. John Parkinson (6-2, 230) and Joseph Pitman (6-4, 230) are impressive recruits. Parkinson used the junior college route to get to UTC, while Pitman is one year removed from high school.Freshman Robbie Elliott (6-6, 280) used his redshirt year to learn about the defensive line. He was moved to tight end late in the spring session. Redshirt freshman Brian Heflin (6-3, 223) attracted some attention at the position in the spring.Nix, last year’s leading receiver, spent his summer trying to latch onto a roster spot with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. - College Football -
Even with his absence and the ineligibility of third-leading pass catcher Tyrus Ward, the Mocs are in good hands at the wideout positions.Junior Emanuel Hassell (5-11, 192) may turn out to be as good if not better than Nix. The Louisville transfer hauled in 55 passes for 647 yards and two touchdowns last year. Junior Michael Gilmore (5-11, 176) made 17 receptions for 212 yards and one touchdown in 2004. Together, they form a pair of outstanding outside receivers.Returnees Matthew Angeloni (6-1, 190), Johnnie Powell (6-2, 191) and Terrence Thomas (6-4, 184) will add depth at wideout. But it is two junior college transfers and a high school signee who really have receivers coach Justin Watts ready to begin the season.T.T. Harper (5-8, 170) and Michael Johnson (6-2, 195) both gained experience in the junior college ranks. Jordan Hazard (5-9, 165) is a speedster with good hands. All three will likely find their way into the receiver rotation.“Emanuel Hassell is probably the most explosive player we have,” Allison says. “He’s going to need to be a big-play guy. Gilmore has got to come on and be the player that he is capable of being. He has the potential to be a great player in this league.“We don’t have a lot of receivers coming back, but we do have three to five really talented kids. We signed a few good ones, but what we are going to do from a philosophy standpoint, we don’t need eight or nine receivers. Now we need six. We’ve got enough to be good and not have a dropoff from the past.”The offensive line has been solid since Allison arrived with his line coach, John Turner. While the talent level continues to increase, so does the line’s responsibilities. Even more so this season. Pass blocking has been the norm in the UTC camp for at least the last five years. With this year’s focus on the ground game, the line must change its concentration to fit the offense. This requires intelligent players and linemen willing to try something new for the sake of the team and the sake of winning. - College Football -
Fortunately, the Mocs must only replace their center. Josh Goodin was a dependable two-year starter who has graduated. Expected to step into that role is sophomore Tripp Ward (6-4, 267). Ward played sparingly last year as Goodin rarely took a breather. But he played well enough in the spring to be the man to beat heading into the preseason. UTC signed a junior college center, Adam Daigler (6-2, 270) and the New York native will get every chance to show that he is capable of handling the blocking assignments.“We are counting heavily on Tripp Ward to come in and play,” Allison says. “But we went out and got a junior college center in Adam Daigler. We’ve got to be good at that position. It has to be either Tripp or Adam starting at center. That will be key for this fall to see who develops there, and could be the key part to our success.”The remainder of the line all has experience. Led by seniors Josh Morris and Josh Shinpaugh, the pair is poised to lead by example. - College Football -
Both Joshes are all-conference-caliber performers, with Morris (6-4, 288) lining up at right tackle and Shinpaugh (6-5, 298) on the left side.Junior Justin Matherson (6-4, 290) and sophomore Sam Bentley (6-5, 327) gained valuable experience as part of the line rotation in 2004 and are the leading guard candidates this summer. Sophomore Marlon Gillis (6-1, 323) and senior Dustin Freeman (6-3, 303) have the abilities to play either guard or tackle, and both will push the others for starting roles.Sophomore Brandon Bellamy (6-6, 273) has great size for line play, but he was on the defensive line last season before switching sides in the spring. Redshirt freshmen William Giles (6-4, 303) and Garrett Windham (6-6, 274) are still learning the schemes and will add to the depth of the unit.“The offensive line needs to be the strength of this offense,” Allison says. “We’ve been kind of a pass-happy team here. We’ve been a finesse offensive line with pass protection and draws. - College Football -
We’ve not had the philosophy that our linemen were physical, and we’ve had to change our mentality. We started this spring.“They are a veteran group. We lose one guy from last year. We have seniors and juniors and plenty of good players. They’ve got to become the heart and soul of this offense. They’ve got to become a physical unit and set the personality of this offense. That’s as important an area as we have.”It may have taken three years, but Allison and his staff feel they are close to having two talented players at every position for the first time since they took over the program. It comes down to hard work and recruiting, and UTC has done a number in these departments. - College Football -
UTC’s 2004 signing class was the top-rated class among Division I-AA programs, while this past year’s recruiting class ranked fifth nationally. Along with blue-chip prepsters like Antonio Miller in 2004 and highly-rated junior college transfers like Eldra Buckley in 2005, the Mocs have also been successful in attracting Division I-A transfers. While some are marginally talented, others like 2004 quarterback Cedric Stevens from Toledo, receivers Michael Gilmore and Emanuel Hassell from North Carolina and Louisville respectively, or this year’s finds, defensive lineman Richard Cook from Georgia and safety Lonnie McCowan of Marshall, find a home in Chattanooga.“We have a great recruiting staff, a bunch of coaches who understand the urgency of getting good players in here,” Allison says. “When we started this program, we made a decision to totally start over. In a two-year period, we replaced 60 out of 63 scholarships, and that was by plan.“We don’t ever look at negatives. There are so many positives here that you have a lot to impress a kid with. - College Football -
We’ve never let it get in the way that a lot of people don’t think it can be done here. This school has never had back-to-back top-five classes. If we would have listened to most people, where would we be now? We have emphasized the potential to win a championship here. I’ve said from day one that I think this place has all the potential to win a championship.”The Mocs have also attracted Tennessee’s Ovince St. Preux and two defensive backs from Illinois, Anthony Brodnax and Jarvis Newson. Defensive backs Brandon Johnson of Tennessee and Brian Staley of Mississippi State participated in spring drills with the Mocs before being ruled ineligible for the upcoming season.“We are looking at six or seven guys from quality programs who should come in and give us some sound play,” Allison says. “What it does to the team more than anything is show them that you are trying to get good players to come in here and win. Most of these kids are tired of losing. - College Football -
They want to do everything they can to win. Obviously they want to play, but I think it’s a situation where we are just getting to the point that there is still not enough competition at every position like we wanted. But this gives us some icing on the cake. I think the chemistry and the blend is good where everybody feels good.”Allison understands that the addition of Taylor and his defensive scheme will not pitch 11 shutouts in 2005. All he is looking for is a drastic improvement from last year when the Mocs were, more often that not, trailing after the opponents’ first offensive series. - College Football -
Taylor’s bend-but-don’t-break defensive reputation will have the challenge of turning the tables on the opponent, handing the ball over to the offense with workable field position and giving the Mocs a chance to win the game.For the first time in quite awhile, UTC may just have the athletes on that side of the ball to do just that.“The bottom line last year came down to giving up too many points,” Allison says. “Offensively, we were forced to have to score too many points to try to win games. We have to get that defensive scoring down to a respectable number. Then I think you become better offensively. - College Football -
“We may be a little more conservative offensively than we have been before, but now we have good players. We have kids who have grown up in the program. We have gone out and gotten six or seven transfers which give us maturity.”The last line of defense, the secondary, may be the strongest group on this side of the ball. New defensive backs coach Ahren Self walked into a grand situation. His roster includes true secondary players instead of makeshift defenders switched over from another position.Senior Greg McConico (6-0, 184) returns to lead the crew from his free safety spot. In fact, he is the only secondary player who saw action in 2004. In his first season with the Mocs last year after transferring from North Alabama, McConico led the team in interceptions with four and tied for the team lead in tackles with 70. He was voted the SoCon Defensive Player of the Month for the month of October.Joining McConico back deep is Marshall transfer McCowan (6-0, 204). - College Football -
The senior joined the Mocs in the spring and immediately found a spot in the secondary at strong safety. His linebacker-like physique and knowledge of the position brought grins to the defensive coaches’ faces.Also thrilling the staff is the return of sophomore corner Quintez Smith (6-0, 180) from a year’s absence. Smith recorded 51 tackles, broke up three passes, forced two fumbles and had one interception as a true freshman in 2003 and adds immediate validity to the backfield.Battling for the other corner position and as backups in the secondary are the Illinois transfers Brodnax (5-11, 185) and Newson (5-11, 200), redshirt freshmen Thomas Graham (6-1, 180) and Terry Lindley (6-0, 183) and junior college transfer Artez McLaughlin (6-1, 191).“Quintez Smith started as a true freshman, had an academic situation last year and had to sit out,” Allison says. - College Football -
“He’s done everything we have asked him to do. You throw him in there with McConico and McCowan and the Illinois kids and you are talking about, potentially, a really good and talented secondary.“Quintez is as good or as talented as any of them. He’s like Lonnie. Maybe this year he is close to being an all-conference-caliber player. We expect big things from him.”The new alignment calls for two inside linebackers instead of three. Brandon Ridgeway started as a true freshman in 2004 on the inside but is ineligible this year. The loss of Ridgeway may be offset by the return of sophomore Nick Rivers (6-2, 257). A transfer from East Tennessee State one year ago, Rivers owned spring camp in 2004. An offseason knee injury required surgery, however, and forced him to miss all of last year and this spring session. - College Football -
He is expected to be at 100 percent, but Coach Taylor has yet to see him line up in a drill. It is a safe bet that it will not take Rivers long to work his way among the top four inside backers.Sophomore Chris Johnson (6-2, 215) earned a starting spot in the spring. Johnson, who was moved from the outside in spring practice, registered 23 tackles and started several games as a true freshman last season. Junior Evan Hermanson (6-1, 230) is a late arrival from junior college but should make an immediate impact at the position. Senior James Hawkins (6-0, 199) has bulked up after a year away from the game and will figure in the four-man rotation.Adding depth to the position are redshirt freshman David Patterson (5-11, 226), junior DeJuan Payne (6-0, 212) and true freshman Steven Smigelsky (6-0, 220).“We had to address inside linebacker,” Allison says. “We moved Chris Johnson to the position. He is very good. We went out and got Evan Hermanson from junior college, and we have Nick Rivers coming back, as well as James Hawkins, who can play. - College Football -
We are not where we need to be there yet. We’re probably one short, but it’s better than it’s been in the past. We have a good combination, especially if we get Rivers healthy and get him on the field. He has a chance to be a big-time player.”The outside linebackers will consist of many new faces. Tennessee transfer Ovince St. Preux (6-3, 240) brings experience to the position and will challenge for a starting role. Junior Jason Vincent (xxxxxx) is another late-arriving junior college transfer who was not on campus for spring practice. Still, his maturity and familiarity with the duties will put him in the running for extensive playing time.Redshirt freshman Jeff Phillips (5-11, 200) was one of the defensive surprises of the spring. A walkon who was on the Murray State team last season, Phillips began spring practice as a safety. But his nose for the ball and hitting abilities made coaches take notice, and he was moved to the outside backer group.Two sophomores with a year’s experience under their belts will also have a lot to say about the two starting positions. - College Football -
Steven Mills (6-3, 216) made 19 tackles last season with 3 ½ behind the line as a part-time starter at strong linebacker. Wilford Blowe (6-0, 194) was talented enough to start on the outside in his first career game last year. He finished the season with 16 tackles.“Defensively we are getting to a point where our two-deep is getting interchangeable,” Allison says. “If you ever get to the point where your second guy is as good as your first guy at about every position, it means you are getting close to being pretty good. And we are a lot closer than we have been in the past. We are close to the point where we can roll kids. You don’t get tired on defense in the fourth quarter, and you don’t give up a bunch of points in the fourth quarter.”Like the offensive line, the defensive line is the first point of attack. The past two years, it hasn’t been a matter of talented players, just a lack of them. - College Football -
This year’s line may share the most experience of any of the defensive units as four down linemen return from last season’s squad. Senior Troy Blackwell (6-7, 290) turned into a solid Southern Conference defender last season. Playing a tackle position, he ranked seventh on the team in tackles with 40 while leading the team in tackles for a loss with 9 ½. Senior Renaldo Jackson (6-2, 271) started at an end position and recorded 20 tackles.Sophomores Charles Profit (6-4, 265) and Craig Gilbeaux (6-2, 257) totaled seven tackles between them in 2004. Sophomore Brian Lomax (6-2, 271) saw action as a true freshman in 2003 but was ineligible last year.The new three-man front will consist of an end, a nose and a tackle. Blackwell and Jackson head into the fall sharing duties at the rock, or tackle, position. - College Football -
The nose, or anchor, job was won by Lomax in the spring, and Profit is set to play the bear, or end. Georgia transfer Richard Cook (6-4, 275), who will make his UTC debut in the preseason, will undoubtedly have a say in who starts at which position, as will junior college transfer Reggie Keys (6-2, 280).“We don’t want to have to count on our guys up front playing 75 snaps on defense,” Allison says. “I think that is critical. We have potentially six, seven or eight guys that give us more depth than we’ve ever had here at defensive line. I have always said that we will never be close to being a good team until we get good on the line, and I think we are pretty close to being there right now. - College Football -
”The kicking game was up and down last year. The Mocs only attempted 13 field goals simply because the score of a game dictated that they needed more points. Junior Esteban Lopez, who spent two years at Wheaton College, had the most notable spring of the kickers. He heads into preseason camp as the frontrunner for field goal kicking duties. Jay Colbert handled some kickoffs last season and will also have a chance to do both. Craig Camay is an incoming freshman with a legendary leg who will be looked at closely for both jobs.Sophomore Jonathan Wright returns as the punter. Though injured several times prior to the season, he averaged 37.8 yards per punt.“Lopez impressed me,” Allison says. “He has a chance to be a talented kicker. Camay kicked 90 percent of his kickoffs out of the end zone. We are counting on him to do that. He will get a chance to kick field goals too. - College Football -
As we begin to play better defense, and the way our offense is structured, our field goal game becomes more critical. Three points and 35 and 38-yard field goals become important. In the past it wasn’t as important because we had to score touchdowns. We have to be able to count on our guy making 80 percent of his kicks inside the 40.“Jonathan Wright has to have a big year. He’s had injuries, and he’s been inconsistent. It will be critical from a field position standpoint that we get consistency from our punting game."Senior Kent Jones (6-0, 286) will handle short snapping situations while Bryan Welch (5-11, 173) will handle the longer instances.Another change for the Mocs this year is their home field itself. The grass at Finley Stadium Davenport Field gave a huge black eye to what some consider the best I-AA stadium in the nation. During the 2004 NCAA Division I-AA Football National Championship Game, new sod ripped right out of the ground with the touch of every football shoe. - College Football -
The national cable television audience saw what resembled a battle zone after just five minutes of play.The embarrassment set off a campaign to replace the Bermuda field with an artificial surface. Community monies were raised, and in May of this year, a new polyethylene, or plastic grass field was installed.While the beauty of the dark green and white colors of the new turf help spruce up the stadium and might give UTC a recruiting edge on another courting school, Allison doesn’t see it as a home-field advantage. - College Football -
“It doesn’t change anything from a strategy standpoint,” he says. “But I think it gives us a lift mentally. Our kids never got to play on a really good field. It was always an issue with the visiting team.“What the people in this community have done is unbelievable. As we go along, it might be something that we look back upon and say it was important to the progress of this program.”An overhauled defense, a new dedication to the running game and a two-year haul of talented players may help the Mocs take a few closer steps toward playing on their new turf in the postseason a few years earlier than anyone dreamed imaginable. - College Football -

2005-07-27T07:27:00.000-07:00

Sounds share spotlight with football fever

The countdown to football season in Nashville is on. Southeastern Conference football media days begin today in Birmingham where, as usual, expectations are high for Tennessee and low for Vanderbilt. Tennessee State begins a new era under James Webster. - College Football -
The Clinic Bowl will be reborn as a Kickoff Classic to ignite the High School season in a few weeks. And of course, the Titans start training camp on Friday, which will begin to provide at least partial answers to the off-season questions about Steve’s sternum, Calico’s knee and Pacman’s brain.The craving for pigskin is always high, and will eclipse everything else as it cranks up. But before you lock in to complete football mode, don’t forget about a local baseball team that is having a tremendous year. - College Football -
The Nashville Sounds (59-45) have the best record in the American Conference and are in prime position for a playoff run. They began an eight-game homestand last night and have a showdown with another Pacific Coast League power, Sacramento, this weekend.When it comes to minor league baseball, most fans in Nashville fall into the normal fan profile. They show up at the park for affordable entertainment. - College Football -
They aren’t particularly worried about where the Sounds are in the standings or who they are playing that night. Outside of one or two prospects, they don’t take the time to learn who the players are. The main topic surrounding the franchise is their quest for the new downtown ballpark. The typical Nashville sports fan is far more likely to weigh in on the park debate than on the talents of Gary Glover.That is how it should be, but this team has earned a closer look, and any baseball fan who chooses to do so will be rewarded. This Sounds team is never dull. They hit bombs and steal bags. - College Football -
They boot balls in the field and commit base-running blunders. But most of all, they are never out of a game, with well over a dozen wins in their final at-bat, including several improbable comebacks. The much-maligned Milwaukee Brewers organization has delivered on the pre-season hype of a stocked farm system, and is already seeing dividends on the parent club.Thus far, as any successful Triple-A team must do, manager Frank Kremblas’ club has adjusted to depletions in the roster without any let up. - College Football -
The Sounds have survived the call-ups of phenom Rickie Weeks and speedster Trent Durrington, along with the departures of veterans Kevin Orie and Chad Paronto. In all likelihood they will have to deal with even more shuffling during the stretch drive depending on the needs of the Brewers. So as you prepare for your fantasy football draft, don’t forget to catch a glimpse of Prince Fielder’s power while he is still in Nashville. - College Football -
While you debate on whether Chris Brown or Travis Henry will get more carries, take a moment to appreciate the athleticism of Corey Hart. Before you are too submerged in your college football preview magazine, sneak right behind home plate at least one time to feel the heat of a Jose Capellan fastball.Inevitably, the Sounds spotlight will give way to the glare of the gridiron regardless of how well they play. However, this team is talented and deserves support down the stretch. A playoff run is always fun in any sport, especially when the team is exciting. We’ll see how many fans take advantage of the opportunity. - College Football -

Willy Daunic.

2005-07-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

Ashland Grizzlies Heading Back to Japan for the 9th Pacific Rim Bowl Exhibition Football Game Against the Japanese All-Stars

Unique Event between Two International High School Teams Promotes Cultural Exchange Through Football
ASHLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 2005--Forty-six members of the Ashland High School Grizzlies football team along with 7 coaches will travel to Japan to celebrate 17 years of international football between the high school team and Japan's elite All-Stars. They will be departing San Francisco International airport Saturday, July 23rd at 1:00 PM for a return trip to Osaka-Kobe, Japan, for the 9th game in the Pacific Rim Bowl series that began in 1988.
Football tradition promotes cultural exchange
The Pacific Rim Bowl, was established to foster an exchange of ideas, culture and football with Japan. Since 1988 Ashland High School and the Japanese High School All-Star Team have traveled either to Ashland or Osaka for games that truly meant more than final scores could illustrate.
Played every two years, the Pacific Rim Bowl is the only international high school football game played by a U.S. team. The game alternates between countries every other game. In 2003 the Japanese All-Stars traveled to Ashland. The game resulted in a 26 to 0 upset. Disappointed by the loss, the Grizzlies are intent this year on winning on their four year cycle journey to Asia.
The venue was established in the late 80's when Jim Nagel, former Ashland Football Coach mimicked a program being conducted by Chuck Mills, his counterpart at Southern Oregon University (SOU). Prior to SOU, Mills, was a important figure in cultivating football in Japan. He frequently took college teams there to foster the sport. His impact there was so significant that the Japanese began awarding exceptional players the "Chuck Mills" trophy which is Japan's equivalent of the "Heisman" trophy awarded players at US colleges.
Nagel, who received the Oregon Governor's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports and Fitness Leadership award for recognition to individuals who have made significant contributions in the areas of physical fitness, decided to use this as a tool to share cultural understanding, strengthen education, and foster international relations through sports. Since 1988 more than 600 American and Japanese students / athletes have qualified to participate in this unique program.
"Playing the game is only part of the equation," says Nagel, still an advisor and supporter of the team. Broad vision and a healthy attitude is also an ingredient in the path of achieving greatness which he feels is the benefit of embracing another culture and its people .This became a vehicle to instill a work and moral ethic for Ashland High School athletes that has benefited his players far beyond high school. For example, Chad Cota, an 11 year NFL veteran, is a former Ashland player who played in the Pacific Rim Bowl.
The Japanese All-Star team, which also benefits greatly from this experience, is comprised of players drawn from 17 different schools from Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto, Japan and will host this years Pacific Rim Bowl in Osaka on July 30th. The Japanese have improved significantly over the years after domination by Ashland in the first three games in 1988, 90 & 93. Unlike most Americans, Japanese athlete's usually focus upon a single sport, therefore, often excelling due to the benefit of dedication.
Hard work getting there
If it were just about football, raising $70,000 just may not be worth it. But if it were about giving 46 high school students the cultural experience of a lifetime in a far away land, the money and effort certainly are.
To reach the Pacific Rim Bowl each player works hard throughout the year. In addition to their academic and athletic endeavors, players are required to participate in community fundraising events throughout the year. Each player was required to raise $1500 to cover their trip costs as well as the costs of the coaches through numerous fundraising events, activities and contributions. Many of which were organized and conducted by a community fundraising committee.
Supporting this position is Ashland's new football Coach, Charlie Hall, who worked under Nagel during the last of his 3 state championships (1998). "The function of community and teamwork all come together through the effort of the players. And the benefit to the student / athlete often doesn't surface until years later. When Jim retired from this program, both he and I continued to receive a lot of emails, calls and letters from former team members who remembered the trip," said Hall, adding that the players came to appreciate the trip more as the years passed. "They all have glowing praise and fond memories to share."

Ashland High School Grizzlies

2005-07-12T09:11:00.000-07:00

BCS completes plan for new poll
It will rank top 25 teams on a weekly basis, but won't start until late September.

NEW YORK -- The Bowl Championship Series has a new poll, one that begins a month into the college football season and will include former coaches and players, plus media members.
Called the Harris Interactive College Football Poll, it will rank the top 25 teams on a weekly basis, starting Sept. 25. Plans call for 114 voters.
The BCS has said it would like to see the elimination of preseason polls, which some believe give highly touted teams an unfair head start in the rankings.
"This allows for some games to be played in the current season rather than allow teams to be ranked purely on preseason expectations," BCS coordinator and Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg said Monday during a conference call. - College Football -
The season's first BCS standings will be released Oct. 17.
The new poll replaces The Associated Press poll, which the BCS had used in its formula for ranking teams since 1998. Last season, however, the AP told the BCS it could no longer use its media poll. - College Football -
In addition to the new poll, the BCS will continue to use the USA Today coaches' poll and a compilation of six computer rankings -- each counting for one-third of a team's grade. The coaches will continue with a preseason ballot. - College Football -
Recently, ESPN pulled out of participating in the coaches' poll.
The coaches agreed to have their final ballots made public for the first time this season. The new Harris poll will take the same approach, releasing only the final ballots.
"We thought it was important for there to be consistency with the two human polls," Weiberg said. "To make the ballots public on a weekly basis during the season, we feel the focus would be on who voted for whom and detract from the games being played."
Weiberg said voters in the new poll will be allowed to make their votes public at any point in the season if they choose. - College Football -
The AP preseason poll will be released Aug. 20, with the first regular-season poll Sept. 6. The AP national champion will be crowned after the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4.
Last season, Southern California and Oklahoma held the top two spots in both the AP and coaches' polls in the preseason and kept those positions through the regular season.

Associated Press

2005-07-06T11:50:00.000-07:00

Column: Hootens give state football fans plenty to read

JONESBORO — Chad Hooten spent his Fourth of July weekend on the road, stocking shelves as he traveled north and west from Little Rock. He wouldn’t have had it any other way. Hooten, his brother Chris and a couple of their employees have been distributing the latest edition of “Hooten’s Arkansas Football.” The book is billed as “the most comprehensive in-state annual in the nation,” and with 424 pages in this year’s 13th annual edition, that’s not just hype. For $14.95, the football fan who is looking to pass summer’s dog days can burn a lot of time with “Hooten’s Arkansas Football,” which is available in stores and news stands in the area. Start reading now, and you might finish before the season kicks off in late August. One of Hooten Publishing’s goals was to make the book an annual tradition in Arkansas, Chad said. The Hooten brothers, who grew up in Sheridan, seem to have succeeded in that regard. Books start going off the shelves as they are stocked. “If we’ve done anything, we’ve succeeded in making it something that people look for around the Fourth of July,” Chad Hooten said. “That’s neat, that’s cool. We’re proud of that.” The Hootens also have a television show, a Web site, week to week high school predictions, a high school kickoff classic and postseason high school awards, but the book is their baby. Both brothers have a background in communications and their timing for starting an Arkansas-oriented football magazine was good. Dave Campbell’s Arkansas Football, the offshoot of a Texas publication, ceased to exist because Arkansas left the Southwest Conference. That left a void, especially for preseason coverage of the state’s high school football. “We held our breath, saved our pennies and started in 1993. We had no idea what we were getting into,” Hooten said. “We didn’t make any money at all for five years. We survived and seemed to have gotten better.” Initially the Hootens intended to focus strictly on high school football. A few sales calls convinced them to broaden their horizons and include the state’s college teams. They cover the rest of the Southeastern Conference and Barry Groomes (an Arkansas State alumnus) ranks all 119 Division I-A teams. According to the Hootens’ research, 40 percent of their buyers get the book for Arkansas Razorback coverage and 40 percent take it for the high school coverage. Nearly half of the buyers (46 percent) are between the ages of 26 and 45. In 2003, 88 percent of those purchasing the book had bought it three or more years. The process of putting the book together begins in September as the Hootens start files on every team. Questionnaires go out in early January. Around the first of February, the Hooten staff talks to every high school coach in the state, then goes back to many for updates after spring practice. Information on the college teams is also gathered after spring drills. All told, about 6,000 hours go into producing the book. The Hootens printed 19,000 copies this year. Predictions for 2005? There isn’t a Sun Belt poll, but the book has ASU at No. 113 out of 119 in Division I-A, ahead of league foes Louisiana-Lafayette and Florida International, among others. Arkansas is picked fourth in the SEC West. Valdosta State is the top pick in the Gulf South, with Central Arkansas and Arkansas Tech second and third, respectively. Jonesboro is picked third in the AAAAA-East coaches’ poll. Wynne is the favorite in the AAAA-East, Pocahontas is favored in 2AAA, Osceola gets the nod in 3AAA and East Poinsett County is the pick in 3AA.

Kevin Turbeville
Sun staff writer

2005-06-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

BINGHAMTON -- Lying in a hospital bed in Hershey, Pa., John Carfley wanted his life back.

After nearly losing part of his left arm in a one-car accident, Carfley wanted to get better so he could resume his passions: skiing, following Penn State football and coaching his State College Post 245 American Legion baseball team.
"Anytime you're in an accident like that, you're motivated to be able to do all the things you did before," Carfley said.
Carfley, who returned to the bench the following summer, has made State College into one of the top legion teams in Pennsylvania.
But the one thing that has eluded Carfley and his team is a championship at the World Youth Classic. The team first played in the tournament in 1987 and has never finished higher than second.
This year, though, State College has an impressive team and opened the tournament with a 9-2 thrashing of Albuquerque Post 49, the defending New Mexico state champion, on Tuesday afternoon at Conlon Field.
"We'd like to win one this (tournament) for him," said Pete Carfley, John's oldest son and assistant coach.
A NEW OUTLOOK
Carfley doesn't remember much about the accident.
It was late August of 1994 -- he remembers this because it was right before the start of the Penn State football season. He was driving alone along Route 322 near State College when he fell asleep at the wheel and drove off one of the many curvy sections of the highway.
His car rolled over, crushing his left elbow.
"It was a real scary time for us," Pete remembered. "Thank goodness the first news I got was that he was stable. But there was a question about his arm."
John's arm was so damaged, doctors considered amputation just above the elbow.
They had no chance.
"Unless they were coming in with a chainsaw, that wasn't happening," Pete said.
The bones gradually healed and regrew, though the elbow joint was destroyed. John didn't want an artificial elbow, because the rate of infection is higher with those than with, say, an artificial hip, he was told.
So Carfley's elbow hangs at a permanent 45-degree angle. When standing still, he tucks his left thumb just under his belt. His left arm remains swollen at the elbow, much more so than on his right arm. He can still use his left hand just fine.
"When you're young, you feel like you're invincible," John said. "After an accident like that, you realize that you're not invincible."
Pete added, "If anything, it mellowed him out a bit. He used to be real feisty guy who would get in your face. He's mellowed in a good way. You see that this is a baseball game, it's not life or death."
The accident also drew John closer to his wife and three children. John and Pete are both lawyers in State College, running a general practice firm together.
State College baseball is a family affair. John's youngest son, David, coached with his dad for two years before taking his current job as a college coach in Pennsylvania.
Pete played for his father for three years, took two years off to play in college and has coached with him for another 15 years.
"I couldn't imagine doing this without him," Pete said.
A LONG HISTORY IN CLASSIC
State College was one of the first non-local teams invited to the World Youth Classic. In 1987, its first year of competing, State College lost two games of the then-double elimination event and went home quickly.
In 1993, World Youth Classic tournament director Gil Wood kicked State College out of the tournament because of shenanigans some players pulled at a local hotel.
When Carfley was in the hospital, Wood called -- and invited him back into the tournament.
"We had some guys doing things they shouldn't have been doing at the hotel," Carfley said. "Gil's a good friend.
On Tuesday, State College impressed onlookers by beating an Albuquerque team that has won four of the last five New Mexico state titles.
Matt Moberg, who is bound for Siena next year, threw a complete-game five hitter for State College. First baseman Cory Wine -- son of Penn State coach Robbie Wine -- went 4-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI, including a mammoth blast to straight-away center.
"He's a great coach," Wine said of Carfley. "He makes you want to play for him. It's hard to explain. It's like he's one of us."
Moberg added, "He expects us to play hard every game. He expects us to be a really great team."
State College takes on the Napean Knights at 4 p.m. today at Conlon Field and plays back-to -back games at Vestal on Thursday.
"We love this tournament," John said. "This is a really good tournament."

BY BRIAN MORITZPress & Sun-Bulletin

Ncaa College Football Schedule

2005-06-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

Ncaa College Football Schedule