The Phat Guy Knows » NCAA

College Football Preview 2011

Dan — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 01:40:16 +0000

Photo Courtesy of The BoiseExperiment.com

by Matthew “Bubba” Harris

The 2011 off-season in college football was arguably the most eventful that we have ever seen. If the on field play matches the theatrics off the field we are in for some exciting drama. For many top programs, such as Ohio State, Oregon, Auburn, and Miami the season could not get here fast enough, due to negative NCAA investigations surrounding their programs. Not all off season drama was bad. Nebraska began bracing for its first ever season in the Big 10 and Utah awaited a start in the Pac 12. The marquee independant school, Notre Dame, also has many questions and eyes on them as they try to move forward after the death of a student video worker and attempt to return to national prominence.

The preseason favorite to win the BCS Championship is a school out of the Big 12, Oklahoma, not the Southeastern Conference. The SEC has produced the past 5 National Champions, the last time a non SEC school won the title was in 2005 when Texas was victorious. The Longhorns are members of the Big 12.

Oklahoma has 15 starters back from last years 12-2 team. The Sooners have a coach in Bob Stoops, that is familiar with the national spotlight. Stoops and his players do not shy away from the expectations. The word out of the Sooner locker room is championship or bust.

Schools out of the SEC, Big 12, Big 10, and Pac 12 all have tough enough schedules to navigate to get to the BCS Title game, but once again solid programs with an easier schedule will likely weigh into the top rankings for much of the season. #5 Boise St. beating ranked Georgia should put the Broncos in the running. Another team that may benefit from an easier schedule is #13 Virginia Tech who does not play a single preseason ranked team.

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Texas A&M football tickets, Texas Longhorns football schedule, Alabama football tickets, Nebraska football schedule.

Rodriguez Answers Media About Practice Violations

Dan — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:01:56 +0000

Reports are in that say Michigan Wolverine Head Coach Rich Rodriguez became emotional when he started talking about the perception he doesn’t care about his players while defending accusations his teams have violated NCAA practice time rules.

“That is disheartening,” he said as he paused to think about his situation with a number of cameras turned on him at the press conference.

Even more disheartening is the fact that his team finished a pathetic 3-9 last year including their season ending pummeling to rival Ohio State, 42-7.

If the team was over practiced, they surely underachieved.

Former players allege the time the Wolverines spent on and off the field in 2008 and 2009 exceeded the time limits set by the NCAA.

Big Ten officials are investigating any claims of wrongdoing.

Rodriguez suggested the complaints were an attempt to sabotage his efforts in building the program.

Former Wolverines offensive lineman Justin Boren transferred to play for the Buckeyes during the 2009 season. He sat out 2008 to switch programs.

Evidently one Michigan player felt the situation was bad enough to join the team hated most by maize and blue fans.

It would be tragic if sanctions are placed on Rodriguez after his attempt to cheat.

One thing is for sure, he can stop whining until November 21^st when the rest of Wolverine fans will join him after another loss to the Buckeyes.

Buy Michigan football tickets today from BubbasGotTickets.com.

photo: SkinnyMoose.com

contributing source: AP

Ten Things You Probably Don’t Know About Tiger Woods

Dan — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:13:20 +0000

1. Tiger has three siblings. His brothers are Earl Jr. and Kevin. He has a sister named Royce.

2. His real name is Eldrick Tont Woods.

3. His college teammates called him “Urkel”.

4. Tiger refers to his ethnic makeup as “Cablinasian”. This stands for Caucasian, Black, American Indian and Asian.

5. Woods is Buddhist.

6. He was introduced to his wife Elin by Jesper Parnevik. Elin worked for Jesper as his au pair.

7. He and his wife also own homes in Wyoming, California and Sweden.

8. Tiger majored in Economics at Stanford for two years where he won NCAA medalist honors and Stanford’s Freshman of the Year(for all sports).

9. He named his first born Sam(girl), because his dad said he looked more like a Sam than a Tiger.

10. Woods has not only a foundation but also The Tiger Woods Learning Center. This is a 35,000-square-foot educational facility in California with seven classrooms, multi-media facilities and an outdoor golf teaching area.

Contributing source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki

Photo: AP

Tiger vs. The Golden Bear; A Look at the Two Greatest Golfers of Our Time

Dan — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:47:18 +0000

On Wednesday in Dublin, Ohio, the two biggest modern day influences on the game of golf will compete in an eight-player skins game. Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus have won a combined 32 major titles in their career.

Sixty-nine year old Nicklaus, the Memorial Host, will play in the same foursome as thirty-three year old Woods. All eyes will be focused on this group as although separated by thirty-six years in life, the two have little separation in their success on the golf course. These two amazing professional athletes have more in common than one could imagine.

Both golfers finished as NCAA Champions in their collegiate careers. Woods won Medalist honors in 1996 while playing for Stanford University. Thirty-five years earlier in 1961, Nicklaus raised the college trophy as the #1 golfer in the NCAA while playing for The Ohio State University.

Tiger won two US Amateur titles while in college(1995 and 1996) as did The Golden Bear(1959 and 1961).

Incredibly the two golfers both won the Silver medal at The US Open while in college. Woods shot 281 in 1996 at age 20. Thirty-six years earlier, Nicklaus lost the US Open by 2 strokes to Arnold Palmer shooting 282. Jack was also 20!

But the one thing these individuals would not like to have in common is the loss of their fathers when they were both 30.

Woods father, Earl, died of prostate cancer on May 3, 2006. Tiger took a nine week break from the PGA. He recorded eleven wins in ’06, despite the necessary time off, including two majors. After winning the British Open at Royal Liverpool and finishing -18, Woods showed his emotion to the world breaking down and crying while remembering his mentor and best friend.

In 1970, Jack won the British Open. Nicklaus threw his putter into the air after sinking the winning putt, as he was thrilled to have won the Open at the home of golf, St. Andrews. His father, Charlie, died shortly after his victory.

Muirfield Village Golf Club will be the focus of golf fans everywhere on a day that has nothing to do with who wins the match and everything to do with the moment. When these two giants in the game of golf tee off from the 10^th hole on Wednesday, all eyes will be fixed on their every move.

Hopefully Earl and Charlie will be grinning from ear to ear looking down at the two greatest players of our time.

A Look at the Pro Careers of Eldrick Tont Woods and Jack William Nicklaus:

Golfer Pro Wins PGA Wins Major Wins Earnings

Tiger 90 66 14 $84,226,689.

Golden Bear 113 73 18 $8,755,407.

Contributing sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki

Photo: Ted S. Warren/AP

Kris vs Adam or David vs Goliath?

Dan — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:50:22 +0000

Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone magazine says Adam Lambert single-handedly saved American Idol. “He has the burning “say my name, bitch” thing of Chris Daughtry, the cutthroat vanity of a Carrie Underwood, but also that innocent desire to give pleasure à la Kelly Clarkson. He packs a whole Gong Show of Americana into one pair of striped spandex tights.”

Okay Rob and America, do we even need a final show?

Vegas also favors Adam heavily.

Here are 5 great examples that say yes!

1. 1980 Miracle on Ice

The biggest upset of all-time, sports or otherwise! The magnitude of this victory at a political level was and is unreal. A team of amateur and collegiate players from the United States defeated the Soviet Union considered to be the best international hockey team in the world, 4–3.

2. James “Buster” Douglas over Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson was unbeatable. He was on top of the boxing world. Tyson demolished opponents with ease and had the power and strength of Hercules. Tyson lost his “Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World” title by a KO in round 10 to a 42-to-1 underdog named James “Buster” Douglas on February 11, 1990, in Tokyo.

3. Villanova stuns Georgetown

Villanova Wildcats over Patrick Ewing’s Georgetown Hoyas. Talent-wise, these two basketball teams were at opposite ends of the spectrum. The Wildcats blistered the nets shooting 75% from the field in the game and 90% in the second half. Villanova upset Georgetown in the 1984 NCAA final by a narrow two point margin, 66 to 64.

4. Man O’ War loses only race in 21 starts

And you thought the Kentucky Derby was shocking in 2009 with “Mine That Bird” overcoming 50-to-1 odds to win. The biggest upset in horse racing was 100-to-1 underdog “Upset” beating heavily favored “Man O’ War” in the Sanford Memorial in 1919. Willie Knapp rode “Upset”, the horse whose name has come to mean, “to defeat unexpectedly”.

5. Super Bowl III

Jets Quarterback Joe Namath guaranteed his New York Jets(AFL) a victory over the Baltimore Colts (NFL). The AFL had never won a championship and the victory led to a merger between the two leagues. The NFL had a lack of respect for other league, who had been easily defeated in the prior two Bowls. Namath was named the Super Bowl’s MVP, despite not throwing a touchdown pass in the game or any passes at all in the fourth quarter.

My favorite upset, which I have only seen on NFL films is the last one. In fact, all I knew about Joe Namath was he wore pantyhose. That intrigued me because he had so many women in love with him. Suzy Kolber was the first woman to turn him down!

Q: Rob, are you convinced we need a final now?

A: The 5 “Upsets” above would indicate we do.

We all know Fox is looking forward to the revenue Idol will bring in from advertising dollars.

Q: Can Kris Allen beat Adam Lambert in the showdown?

A: Well, I don’t think he wants to guarantee a victory, though Adam would be the most likely to later wear pantyhose.

Q: I also have heard the debate, “Is it fair that Adam is even a competitor?”

A: Sure, he has enjoyed a semi-successful Broadway career.

I don’t believe he has ever signed a record contract.

Q: Will Danny Gokey’s fans jump on the Kris Allen bandwagon?

A: Twitter has an amazing amount of Adam bashers.

What has Adam Lambert done to the haters besides according to Rob, “single-handedly save” their dying show?

Not going to go there with the gay thing!

Adam haters shouldn’t be too quick to throw stones.

They may, however, want to hand a sling full of them to Kris!

sources: Espn.Go.com, Wikipedia.org

photo source: AP