College Football Week 10

And another undefeated team is creeping into the top ten. The University of Houston is 9-0 and QB Casey Keenum continues to throw the ball. The last three will present their own challenges. This Thursday is a quick turnaround as the Cougars go out on the road to Tulane. Then more conference games against SMU and Tulsa will give them a challenge to go 12-0. And of course Conference USA has their title game.

The so-called game of the century between LSU and Alabama is all I need. Alabama dropped to number 3 in the BCS standing, still in front of undefeated Stanford and Boise State. And much talk has surrounded a national title rematch between the two teams. Haven't I heard this before? In 2006 Michigan and Ohio State faced each other as undefeated, but the home-town Buckeyes outlasted the Wolverines 42-39. Much of the nation clamored for a rematch. But it didn't happen and Michigan went on to lose the Rose Bowl and Ohio State went on to lose the national championship. This year LSU won at Alabama by a field goal in OT. Based on LSU's win coming on the road should eliminate a rematch, or Alabama's opportunity to play in the title game. I've always felt that the national title game should include conference champions, and after Saturday night, should not include a team that lost on its home turf. So, No, I don't want a rematch.

I'm thinking many Iowa fans were surprised this week's game between Iowa and Michigan State didn't earn the 2:30 ABC start. I was hoping for it. Instead the game for the Legends Division lead is on ESPN2 beginning at 11am. We can't be surprised Nebraska and Penn State are above the Hawkeyes in the TV pecking order. First time these two teams play, and each are ranked in the nation's top 25. Putting Michigan and Illinois at 2:30 on ABC is a little puzzling, but perhaps they are looking to draw as many TVs as possible. That puts Iowa and Michigan State on ESPN2 at 11am. This promises to be a well-hyped game that could live up to the expectations. But it doesn't garner the ESPN or ABC slot. I guess this game is only big for the fans in each state.

College Football Week 5

Welcome to Wisconsin and Welcome to the Big Ten. The feeling of Nebraska playing Big Ten football hasn't sunk in since the Cornhuskers have been playing Wyoming, Fresno State and Washington. This pre-conference scheduling isn't any different than in years that Oklahoma State, Baylor and Kansas State ensued. But now those fans of the Big Ten, who have been anxious for the Big Red to join want to show the folks from Lincoln how tough the Big Ten can be. This will definitely be a tough ticket. Historic Camp Randall will certainly be electric and fans from Philadelphia to Ogalala will be tuned in to watch.

Over a month ago a Facebook friend posted she had four tickets available for Iowa State and Texas in Ames this Saturday night. At the time I knew this was our off-week and it would be an interesting game to attend. But now that the game is days away, it will certainly be the night Cyclone fans anticipate on a more regular basis. Although not a fan of either team, I need to give props to the 'Clones. In three games they have beat a top five team from FCS, outlasted our Hawkeyes in 3OTs and went on the road and beat the defending Big East Champs. A win over Texas will bring them their national attention they deserve.

And Wisconsin - Nebraska isn't the only big game in the conference. A year ago Michigan State and Ohio State tied for the conference title, although they didn't play each. other. The Buckeyes went on to the Sugar Bowl while Michigan State earned the non-BCS bowl game, Capital One Bowl and lost to Alabama. This is the Spartans' opportunity to prove on the field what they couldn't a year ago. This is a big game for Ohio State. Dropping this game at home makes the following week's game at Nebraska even more important.

And for the Hawkeyes, the off-week comes at a time that will help prepare them for conference play. This is the week the video staff makes sure all video is available for the staff and ensuring all video is in place for the upcoming schedule.

Iowa - Iowa State in Pictures

It will be remembered as a classic in the battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy. Iowa and Iowa State battled for 60 minutes and it still took three additional over time periods to decide the victor. The Cyclones won for the first time since its 2007 win in Jack Trice Stadium and the original Cy-Hawk trophy and temporary one used for Saturday's game will reside in Ames for the next year. One of the largest crowds in Jack Trice Stadium history witnessed one of the more exciting games in the series history.

Before the game there were many who walked the streets of Ames wearing these shirts. There were a few more that were more derogatory, but in all fairness there were many shirts sported by Hawkeye faithful saying, "Beat State."

Out from the visitor locker room walked Iowa Head Coach, Kirk Ferentz. He was accompanied by the head of Iowa Football security, Ron Sheriff who is in his 30th season on the Iowa sideline. Stewart is a retired deputy sheriff from Polk County.

Prior to the playing of the in-state rivalry the meeting of the head coaches at center field is the popular shot for all of the local media stations. I'm not sure what kind of a conversation can be had when there is so much attention given to a short media opportunity.

The newest addition to Jack Trice Stadium is the installation of a giant video/replay board and new sound system. And during the afternoon the Cyclones got their money's worth out of the sound system. Music was constantly being played at decibel levels louder than normal, and especially when the Hawkeyes were at the line of scrimmage. It was definitely a different game atmosphere in 2011 than in previous years and the addition of the giant sound system has much to do with that.

My Form of College Football Playoff

These Buckeye fans were lost roaming the streets of Tempe last week

The Ohio State University Buckeyes hung on to finally beat the Arkansas Razorback in last night's Sugar Bowl. 2010 wasn't a proud year for the Big Ten in the post-season bowl picture. Only Iowa, Illinois and Ohio State were victorious as the other five conference schools went down in defeat.

For years many in the national media have asked for a play off. I prefer the current bowl structure. Grant it there may be too many bowls and the season lasts too long, but the bowl structure has much merit. For example, the Iowa Hawkeyes finished their regular season with three defeats, yet earned the opportunity to play #12 Missouri in the Insight Bowl. This extra game allowed the Iowa staff extra practices used to help prepare their non-starters. The extra game allowed players a chance to enjoy the benefits that come with a bowl game - a week in warm, sunny Arizona, treated like a King by the people of the Insight Bowl and given an extra benefit in gifts that the student-athlete isn't allowed due to NCAA rules. The extra bowl period gives fans of the schools a chance to escape their cold-weather home for a vacation that they may not otherwise budget for, which in turn provides the bowl-city economy a boost. Ask the staff of the Insight, who are also overseeing the Fiesta and National Championship, if this is a burden to them and I think they would highly disagree. In the end the Hawkeyes were able to end their season with a little redemption allowing them to feel good about themselves in the off-season.

But the current BCS system doesn't necessarily work either. There are merits, but the argument is that it places the best two teams together to play for the title while placing teams in bowls for good televised match-ups. But I believe there is a way to keep the current bowl system, yet institute a basic playoff to help determine the national champion. To do this the following needs to occur:

1. Either revert back to an 11 game schedule or start the 12 game schedule a week earlier
2. Play conference championships on Thanksgiving weekend allowing for the first week of playoffs to be the first Saturday of December.

This would be an eight-team format incorporating the BCS conference winners as well as two at-large. The at-large teams may be non-AQ / Independent teams if they finish in the top 8 or the highest ranked teams who aren't conference champs  Those who do not qualify for the playoff can be seeded into their conference sequence of bowls. Using the BCS standings the teams would be seeded:

1. Oregon (Pac 10 Champion)
2. Auburn (SEC Champion)
3. TCU (non-AQ)
4. Wisconsin (Big Ten Champion)
5. Oklahoma (Big 12 Champion)
6. Stanford (At-Large)
7. Virginia Tech (ACC Champion)
8. UConn (Big East Champion)

First-round played on the first Saturday of December would be Oregon-UConn / Wisconsin-Oklahoma / Auburn-Virginia Tech / Stanford-TCU. In this bracket the winners would play the following Saturday and the final played shortly after the first of the year. As teams fall they would then fall to their respective bowl game (example Wisconsin goes to Rose, Virginia Tech to Orange, etc.). The championship game would rotate as it does in the current system and the bowls would receive their respective conference representatives as they do now (second place Big Ten to Cap One, etc.)

I'm sure there are some flaws to this system. As we know there isn't anything perfect when it comes to college football, but our current set-up has its issues and can be improved.

Ron Franklin Out at ESPN

Today ESPN's Ron Franklin was relieved of his duties with the network following some disparaging remarks directed towards his sideline reporter, Jeannine Edwards. The comments were made within a meeting with other ESPN personnel while waiting on Florida State Head Coach, Jimbo Fisher. This wasn't the first time Franklin expressed comments towards a female sideline reporter. In 2005, Franklin had also insulted sideline reporter Holly Rowe on air late in a Notre Dame blowout of Purdue.

In 2010 Franklin, along with his football analyst of four seasons, Ed Cunningham had the opportunity to broadcast two Iowa Football games for ABC. The first was Iowa State and then later in the season at Michigan. Cunningham had been a friend of the Iowa Football program for years. I believe his first broadcast of an Iowa Football game was at Nebraska in 2000, but we started to get to know him in 2001 when he and Sean McDonough traveled to Iowa City for the Hawkeye's game with Michigan. That was the beginning of many Hawkeye games, including the 2003 Orange Bowl. Ed has always been first class and supportive of Head Coach Kirk Ferentz and his program.

But 2010 was the first time I had the opportunity to meet Franklin. Knowing of his run-in with Rowe in 2005 I was anticipating the worst. Rowe has also covered the Hawkeyes many times, the first in 1998 with Iowa State. Rowe is always personable, fair, and enjoys being a part of college football as much as we do. But my first meeting with Franklin was not what I was expecting. A humble, appreciative announcer with no arrogance--kind and respective. I thought either this isn't the Franklin I remember or it was an isolated incident. The same respect was there upon our trip to Ann Arbor. I walked into the booth minutes before kick to say hi, and both Ron and Ed expressed their appreciation that I stopped by and wished us luck in the game with the Wolverines.

The news of this past weekend is disappointing and sad. Whether it is Brett Farve or Ron Franklin you want your lasting impression of someone to be good and to exit on their own terms, not being pushed out for the wrong reasons. Franklin apologized for his comments, but the damage had been done. The football season for Ron was basically over, with only a radio commitment for the Fiesta, which he was taken off of. The news came out and Ron is done immediately. The behavior is inexcusable, but along with this incident being remembered, so should his good memories he brought college football fans.

College Football Week 5

As Iowa takes a week off from the regular season schedule, we will depart from the regular routine. Instead of our weekly picture of our sideline favorites, we went with pictures of those working in the fields to feed the world....Sitting around the hotel allows me the opportunity to watch a few games. However I was disappointed to see ESPN2 pre-empt the Miami (Fla) - Clemson game in lieu of soccer. Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated said it correctly in a tweet, "we only care about this sport once every four years."..... Georgia and Colorado would be considered a match-up of two of the naton's premier programs, if this was the early 1990s. Now it is a contest of two programs that continue to fall (and in Colorado's case, free fall) out of the nation's elite. .... Oregon proved it is worthy of being ranked ahead of Boise State after a sound win over #9 Stanford. The Ducks have an offense that is hard to stopped, but wouldn't it be interesting to see what it could do against the #1 Defense in America?... Although it has only been one week, the Big Ten is beginning to show who the elite is, and who falls behind them. Ohio State remains unbeated, and highly ranked. Iowa defeated Penn State by the same score that Alabama did. Michigan and Michigan State will fight it out this week to place themselves in the position of being amond the conference's elite... And LSU's Les Miles did better than purchasing the winning lottery ticket Saturday night. A counting error by Tennessee saved the Tigers and Miles giving them an extra play, eventually giving them the win. LSU fans won't tolerate many more clock issues...

College Football Week 3

Michigan State has a reason to jump for joy after Saturday night's OT win over Notre Dame. How gutsy of a call was that by Mark Dantonio. Down by three with the ball on fourth down, the Spartan Head Coach decided on a fake field goal which resulted in the winning touchdown. As Notre Dame's Brian Kelley met the victorious Spartan coach at mid-field, Kelley fessed up by saying something to the effect of "What a call." What a call it was, and thankfully it worked so Dantonio was not second-guessed....Thoughts go out to Dantonio who suffered a heart attack hours after the win. He is resting comfortably while offensive coordinator Dan Treadwell takes over for Dantonio....The advantage of playing a night game allowed me to watch a few different afternoon games. Perhaps the best of Saturday morning's kickoffs was the SEC battle of Arkansas and Georgia. Ryan Mallett led the Hogs down the field for the winning touchdown with under :30 to play. However Georgia played with much determiniation in the fourth quarter after head coach Mark Richt brought the team together at the beginning of the period to rally the troops. The Bulldogs played with much more enthusiasm and emotion to make a game of it, but was just not enough forcing Georgia to begin SEC play at 0-2, the first time in over 15 years....Minnesota has placed themselves in position to start the season at 1-3. Losses at home to South Dakota and Southern California have placed a great deal of emphasis on winning this Saturday with Northern Illinois. NIU picked to win the MAC by some so-called experts has played their FBS teams tough. Opening at Iowa State as well as travelling to Illinois this past Saturday is impressive scheduling. However this Saturday would be an important victory for either team. 

College Football Week 1

Jacksonville State Cheerleader

The College Football season started off with a few surprises, a highly anticipated game and pretty much status quo. The biggest surprise was to our friend on the side. Football Championship Division school, Jacksonville State went on the road to Oxford, Mississippi and defeated the SEC school in overtime. Ole Miss started Oregon transfer Jeremiah Masoli and perhaps karma caught up the Rebels...The Big East had a poor showing over the weekend. Pittsburgh lost at Utah in OT, UConn -who many felt could pull the road upset - had a poor showing at Michigan, Cincinnati lost on the road at Fresno State, and Louisville lost to Kentucky. Perhaps the best showing by the conference was by Syracuse who won at Akron....Two traditional powers meet this weekend as Michigan travels to Notre Dame. Hard to predict the winner here, but also try determining who had the "better" win a week ago. Was it Michigan's victory at home over UConn or Notre Dame defeating in-state rival, Purdue at South Bend? I'm not sure Notre Dame will be able to stop the mobile Denard Robinson at quarterback. But the intangibles will be the home field advantage of Notre Dame. Michigan has some momentum, but will it last if they get down early?.....The Pac 10 had a strong outing in the first week. Oregon more than dominated at home over New Mexico, Arizona went on the road and defeated a sound Toledo team, and USC had issues on defense, but they continued to look strong at Hawaii. They also sprinkled in their share of lower division teams, but the Pac 10 may be one of the more successful conferences in the nation in 2010....Be prepared to hear often of the coaching battle taking place this Saturday in Norman, Oklahoma. Head Sooner Coach, Bob Stoops will face his younger brother, the Defensive Coordinator of Flordia State, Mark Stoops. 

Selection Sunday

Inside this Indianapolis hotel is the NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Championship Selection Committee. Today we will find out which 65 teams join the dance and tomorrow night the women will announce their 64 teams. Much talk in the last few days revolve around who the last few teams will make the cut. Amazing how it is tough to narrow down the best 65 teams in the country and there is a majority who want to see college football narrow down their pool of teams to eight for a tournament after their regular season. College football can't decide on the two teams to play for their championship, yet there will be much debate on who should've been the 65th team to enter.

ESPN’s College Football Schedule

Thanks to the people at AwfulAnnouncing the following is the preliminary schedule for college football on the ESPN family of networks.

Thursday, September 3rd- South Carolina at N.C. State (September 3rd
Monday, September 7th- Miami at Florida State (ESPN, 8pm)
Thursday, September 10th- Clemson at Georgia Tech (ESPN, 7:30pm)
Saturday, September 12th- USC at Ohio State (ESPN, 8pm)
Thursday, September 17th- Georgia Tech at Miami (ESPN, 7:30pm)
Saturday, September 19th- Texas Tech at Texas (ABC, 8pm)
Thursday, September 24th- Mississippi at South Carolina (ESPN, 7:30pm)
Thursday, October 1st- Colorado at West Virginia (ESPN, 7:30pm)
Thursday, October 8th- Nebraska at Missouri (ESPN, 7:30pm)
Thursday, October 22nd- Florida State at North Carolina (ESPN, 8pm)
Thursday, Octoer 29th- North Carolina at Virginia Tech (ESPN, 7:30pm)
Thursday, November 5th- Virginia Tech at East Carolina (ESPN, 7:30pm)
Thursday, November 19th- Colorado at Oklahoma State (ESPN, 7:30pm)
Thursday, November 26th- Texas at Texas A&M (ESPN, 8pm)
Thursday, December 5th- Oregon State at Oregon (ESPN, 9pm)

College Football Week 2

The Big Ten was perfect this last weekend of college football. However, don't buy into the propoganda the Big Ten Conference is selling. On its web site, the conference used the word "Dominating" to describe the process its teams took to win all eleven games. Let's take a look at the competition. Michigan wins by ten at home over a middle of the pack Mid-American Conference team, Miami (OH). Ohio State wasn't able to pull away until late over in-state rival, Ohio. Ohio isn't a traditional power of the MAC. Teams such as Iowa, Inidana, Illinois, Michigan State and Purdue won easily over Florida International, Murray State, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Michigan and Northern Colorado. Perhaps the more impressive victories came when Minnesota won on the road at Bowing Green and Northwestern won at Duke. Of course Duke isn't a traditional power in the ACC, but David Cutcliffe has the program in the right direction. Penn State was able to overpower Oregon State, a team which may end up in the bottom of the Pac-10.

Syracuse, it is time to move on. A year ago there was no sign of improvement yet the school decided to let Greg Robinson return for a fourth year. While I believe a head coach should have four years to establish his program, there has been no signs that make anyone think the Orange will return to it national prominence under Robinson. With a loss at Northwestern followed by a home loss to Akron and Penn State this upcoming week, Syracuse is well on its way toward another 9+ loss season.

The worst call of the week goes to the Pac 10 officiating crew in Seattle. Washington's quarterback scores a touchdown to bring the Huskies to within one with a few seconds to go on Brigham Young. While celebrating the touchdown, the Washington QB throws the ball up in excitement. The official throws the flag for excessive celebration and the Huskies kick the PAT fifteen yards further back. The kick is blocked and BYU wins. Has the college game got to the point where spontaneous enthusiasm is penalized. This is a game played by 18-22 year olds and they are supposed to have fun. Allow them the opportunity to celebrate as long as it isn't excessive or showing up the other team.