BREAKING: Justice Department Looking Into Bee-Cee-Ess

((HT: CNN))

The Justice Department said in a letter to the NCAA that it is thinking about opening an antitrust inquiry into the BCS since they exclude some NCAA Division I conferences from the formula for choosing schools to play in major bowl games.

Not like Justice doesn't have more important things to do, but the HQ is not surprised... especially after the current shenanigans the Fiesta Bowl got busted for...

To end a sentence in a preposition...

Boy, are they in trouble...

1615 UPDATE: We have quotes...

"Serious questions continue to arise suggesting that the current BCS system may not be conducted consistent with the competition principles expressed in federal antitrust laws," Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney told Mark Emmert, president of the NCAA in her correspondence.

Varney also asked Emmert to explain why college football does not have a playoff when so many other college sports do. She also asked what steps, if any, the NCAA has taken to create a playoff, and whether the NCAA has determined that there are aspects of the BCS system that do not serve interests of fans, colleges, universities, and players.

Good luck with that one...

Fiesta Bowl Now Waits For Resolution

((HT: 12News Phoenix))

The Fiesta Bowl folks met with BCS types in New Orleans to throw themselves on the mercy of the court in an attempt to try and keep their bowl and/or BCS certification.

The subcommittee in charge of the decision isn't above reproach in this case as 9 of the 11 members attended a Fiesta Bowl junket in the past- so anything is possible...

The Fiesta Bowl folks are also looking at ditching their corporate counsel and their corporate accountant, PriceWaterhouseCoopers since recent financial documents revealed a million dollars in payouts over certain time frames...

Lin Sue and Mark have the latest...

Bee-Cee-Ess Confident About Themselves Minus Fiesta

((HT: azfamily.com))

The executive director of the BCS is confident they could boot the Fiesta Bowl out of their rotation before the end of their current contract with themselves ends in three years...

Bill Hancock said in a phone interview that the BCS "will not be associated with this kind of behavior."

What Hancock did not say was that most of the big, bad Bee-Cee-Ess games are desperately trying to fix their red wagons before others come sniffing around.

The BCS has set up a task force to see if they want to keep the Fiesta Bowl as part of the in-crowd. We all know how effective task forces are, don't we...???

Here's your daily coverage from our friends at AZ3...

This is why the Bowl system stinks: Fiesta Bowl CEO being investigated

John Junker/Courtesy: Fiestabowl.org

We had heard rumblings of this story a couple of months ago and now it sounds like it is playing itself out.

Reports started surfacing Monday that the man who runs the Fiesta Bowl and is one of the, if not the most powerful voice on the top-tier college football bowl system, John Junker was being investigated. Junker is being investigated for potential financial irregularities as under his watch.

Yes, the man also makes nearly $600,000 a year for essentially organizing a (one) college football game a year.

Read more from the Arizona Republic RIGHT HERE

Sure, Junker is on "Paid administrative leave", but we suspect he'll be back. This whole thing goes back to something that we...and many other reporters rail on about all year long. It points back to the corruption and greasy money made by college bowl games.

If you ever want to know why the BCS will never go away. Or the bowl system the way it's currently set-up will never go away. Because there are too many people like Junker making a king's ransom running them. If a playoff was in place, there would be no need for people like him. Or for that matter the $200k he spent paying lobbyists.

That of course leads to another question. Why the h-e...double l would a college football game need political lobbyists? And another one. If the BCS games are all but pre-determined, then why do the guys in the god-awful colored sports coats (see above), need to show up at random college football games?

Just askin'...

The Auburn Celebration From The Inside

So, what do you do with 78,000 friends that you either knew or didn't...???

Get to know them, because there was a chance that you'd never get to sit in the seat you had Saturday afternoon at Jordan-Hare Stadium in the Loveliest Village...

It was a General Admission-we might check your bag-we're definitely not going to search you free for all to get to see your favorite football team one last time together ((pictured over there, thanks to me)).

And there were almost as many people in 50-degree weather as there were in a 72-degree climate-controlled environment a few weeks earlier...

There was pomp, circumstance, rah-rah-ing with some cool hooks and some over-the-topness, but that was to be expected somewhat when The Champ Is Here ((capitalization intentional)). Players each wore their new Click-Clack issued warm-up suits. Some spoke volumes through very little and some spoke even more volumes by talking too much. It was a love fest...

And it should have been...

You had the past show up in Dr. Lloyd Nix- the QB of the 1957 champs. And Nix had the most important carry of the day- the crystal football to its rightful place on the three studs it sits on every season.

Heck, when Bill Hancock- the head of the Bee-Cee-Ess- came to the dais, he didn't even get booed. The HQ wasn't really sure how many of the people there knew how responsible he is for the current college football post-season mess. But the HQ is certain that 78,000 people didn't care at present.

It was the last time The Loveliest Village would see Cameron Newton and Nick Fairley on their football field- even if Fairley tried to bear hug the life out of his fellow, future millionaire. And even if Newton tried to shake his leg as if he was getting Nick Fairley smell off his person after the fact.

And it was the first time that they may have heard their head coach cuss- even if the word was, in fact, "Damn."

But the school wisely scheduled the first event before the second event of the day. The Alabama-Auburn basketball game where the visitors from Tuscaloosa had to return the Omicron Delta Kappa Sportsmanship Trophy- which sits on the campus of the winner of the "Iron Bowl and has since 1946."

The football players for the winners were strategically positioned on the end line closest to the crimson-clad for the first half- as well they should be- and received the booty of their November win at half time ((pictured over there, thanks to TBH)).

It's the only time of the year that a student government president gets booed indoors, since the rest of the year they're booed outdoors.

You can't sing from notes and you can sing as poorly as you feel like you should. Since, there is a bit of a conundrum ((that's a big word for "something you gotta think about")) for the President-Singer-To-Be.

Do you really sing as off-key as humanly possible and as quickly as humanly possible just to get the whole thing over with, or do you really put your heart and soul in to it so you represent you own school proudly in the situation...???

Conventional wisdom varies...

Here's the end result of all of that fussin' and fightin' for another year...
((HT: michaelcasagrande and his dailybamablog))


And don't think that TBH doesn't cry every single time she sees the Wes Byrum field goal, either...

It's a National Title...
You're en-title-d...

Now, if someone could direct the HQ toward one of those hats Trooper Taylor was wearing backwards, we'd greatly appreciate it...

Auburn Celebrates Bee-Cee-Ess Title

The Bee-Cee-Ess title was celebrated on the Plains Saturday...

78,063 watched in Glendale as Auburn beat Oregon...
78,000 watched in Jordan-Hare as Auburn got together one final time to talk about their title.

Here's Cam Newton's speech...
Listen to his thank yous...
((HT: TigerBlueTV))


Nothing like talking about the compliance officer...

Every trophy won during the season was presented again- the SEC Championship trophy, national championship trophies from the AP and Football Writers Association of America and the Bee-Cee-Ess crystal football.

“When I first came back to Auburn two years ago, I said I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but we will win a championship. You can bank that,” Chizik ended with a “War... Damn... Eagle...”

Our coverage will come along in a bit...

Newton Announces Draft Intentions, Fairley Speaks Today

((HT: al.com/Goldberg))

Surprising no one, we have the first high-profile one-and-done in Division I college football...

Cam Newton is declaring his intention to be eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft. Friday is the deadline for anyone who wishes to declare for 2011...

Mel Kiper has Newton as the second quarterback being selected as the 14th overall pick. Nick Fairley may be the next Auburn player to declare in his home town of Mobile Friday.

The HQ wonders if Brother J-Dub is listening for the Redskins selection...

From Goldberg:

"This decision was difficult for me and my family," Newton said. "After talking to Coach Chizik and Coach Malzahn, I think it is best that I make that next step in my career and forgo my senior season and enter the NFL Draft. It was a very hard decision for me, especially after coming off the great season we had at Auburn. I'm blessed to have been around an excellent environment and have great teammates, coaches and support from the Auburn family.

"It's been a blessing for me to be a part of something so great," Newton said. "Any time you win games it's a big deal, but for this school to win a BCS National Championship, what a way to make people happy. Auburn is a special place that I can call home."

The Barrett Trotter Era now begins...
All he has to do is try and come close to this...
((HT: SEC on CBS/Youtube))


Gus Malzahn will think of something...

How serious was Auburn about keeping Newton's apart? Plus: A Rebuttal...

Cecil and CamNewton/Courtesy: Vasha Hunt-Opelika-Auburn News

Brother Jon's better half isn't going to like this story, but we have to ask the question. Everyone else is.

No. We aren't making eligibility questions or saying that there was a payment involved. And no, we aren't saying that a father should be able to take in his son's great achievement.

But. Considering what's gone down with the NCAA. Considering that Auburn essentially "Promised" that Cecil Newton would have limited access to Cam Newton comes some interesting questions.

They come courtesy of the photo you see here. It appears Cecil Newton, despite being "Asked" not to come to the BCS Championship game, was actually there. Not only was he there, he was on the field. And miraculously, Cam found Cecil for a celebratory hug. That was caught on film.

For their part. Auburn is claiming they didn't provide Cecil with a ticket. Which would be believable if Cecil wasn't spotted....on the field. Most ticket-holders don't get to come out...on the field.

Again, we aren't making accusations here. But for some reason, Cecil's attorney, George Lawson opened his mouth to Christine Brennan of USA Today and is now making it worse. Said Lawson "Mr. Newton viewed the game from an off-site location and came to the stadium after the game when everyone was leaving to personally congratulate his son" He made it worse by adding..."He probably was at some sports bar or something like that. I don't know". George, if you are going to make a declarative statement like this, you need to have some facts...or "A" fact to back it up.


Read Brennan's full column in today's USA Today RIGHT HERE

Like we said, this under normal circumstances would be a touching, emotional moment. However, the circumstances make it a bit odd. We consider it newsworthy because of the big hullabaloo made over Cecil Newton being found guilty of trying of shopping Cam Newton to Mississippi State for $180,000.

It's also an issue because as a result of that, Auburn has gone on record, repeatedly, saying that Cecil Newton will not be allowed around their program. And while there are no "Specifics" as to what that means, the fact that the school went out of their way to say Cecil wouldn't be at the game makes someone look stupid. We aren't going to speculate as to who looks stupid, but do the math. Someone or some group isn't being real honest here and though we don't want to spoil the glory that the Auburn folks are basking in  right now, we question how sincere that someone or group is in upholding their words.

Here is a video of your BCS Champs, courtesy of ESPN:



From the other side:

Okay... who turned you in to Thayer Evans or Pete Thamel...???

Admittedly, TBH is pretty hot over the above assertions... even though, yes, it does make the school look bad...

But let's go with the facts as we know them...

Cecil Newton, the SEC, and Auburn agreed to disassociate. What that has to do with an independently-produced football game is beyond me. The game is, technically in the eyes of the NCAA, an exhibition put on by a third-party.

The Fiesta Bowl Committee has as much stroke in stopping anyone from dropping by their game as I do. And remember the report from Glendale as to how well the ticket-stripers were handling crowd control...???

It's here if you forgot...

Sugar Bowl CEO Paul Hoolahan wanted the "Tattoo 5" to play for Ohio State in his game against Arkansas. The Razorbacks had as much say in that as the SEC did. Notice how much commenting Commissioner Mike Slive had in that issue...???

Answer: None...

Anyone can grab a ticket by any number of different means and pass through the frisk line as anyone else- reputable or otherwise... The only way we could stop getting in the door is if my picture is up with a red circle with a line through it at the gate.

If Auburn didn't want me to go, they couldn't stop me, either...

And, if we take Cecil Newton's attorney at his word, Newton found his way to his son after the game itself was over. Once again, if you're looking at someone to point fingers at- go after the yellow jackets who, probably, took the man at his word in his 15-minute window... and if Cecil Newton was in the ballpark, you don't think the four-letter network wouldn't be all over that fact ALL GAME LONG???!!!

If facts in evidence eventually point at the university and AD Jay Jacobs, who would be downright stupid to thumb his nose at the NCAA in light of everything going on right now, then I'll be the first to say I was wrong...

You want things to change...??? Have the relationship between bowl games and the NCAA altered so CEO's can't dictate rules of engagement to the building in Indianapolis- instead of the other way around...

Next thing I know, Phil, you're going to lump Bobby Lowder and Milton McGregor into all of this stuff...

Since, after all, they paid for the Newton's trip to Phoenix in the first place...

Rebuttal to Jon's rebuttal: 

Dude, it's a legitimate question. You could be spot-on right and it all could have been an odd run of coincidences and yes, you were there and the security was lax...at best.

I would maintain he could've easily been in a luxury suite or made to wait in the tunnel. It's not always "that" easy to pick someone out of a 70,000-plus crowd.  Either way, I don't buy...for a minute that "Nobody" knew he'd be there. If you are standing behind Cecil's "Attorney" statement, you ain't got much to stand on. Even he doesn't seem to believe what he's saying.

As for the "Third Party" exhibition. Again, not germane. The point is Auburn said Cecil would be kept away from the program. Period. Him being on the field is not being "Kept" away. You and I both have been on the field at the end of a bowl game. While the crowd does get on the surface. They are...always able to sort out the people with passes from the fans. And if Cecil was "Just a fan" with a ticket, he wouldn't have been able to get where he was.

Don't go Bobby Lowder or Milton McGregor on this. That is a lame-ass excuse that an alum would use to get away from the actual debate. This is the Newton's rubbing everyone's face in all that happened. No, there won't be any sanctions for this. Nor should there be. Heck, they aren't the first one's to pull one over on the NCAA and won't be the last. I don't hate them or Auburn. They did what they felt they needed to do. It's only an issue if you get caught. They were the best team in College Football this year. Hands down. No argument. And Cam was head and shoulders better than anyone else.

Just don't be accusing me...or anyone else of being naive and thinking that everyone is on a crusade against Auburn and the Newton's. We aren't. They played the rules and used them to their advantage. To that I say "Bravo"...

Rebuttal to the Rebuttal Squared:

Actually, a lot of folks are on a crusade against Auburn- our prime examples being Messrs. Thamel and Evans... and we jam on their lack of journalism all the time here at the HQ...

As we should... and should never stop...

We really should be focusing a lot of our attention back on Miss State and Florida- either or both of whom committed a felony in releasing the academic record of Newton in the beginning. The story should have been an un-story about his Gainesville activities and he has acknowledged he screwed up.

Where's the hue and cry over guys like Kenny Rogers and John Bond...? And where does the investigation from that standpoint where money WAS ACTUALLY DISCUSSED stand- a point currently unproven from an Auburn view as we know the facts in evidence today...

And, dude, other people not named Newton got onto the field after the game that were civilians... Hell, TBH and I sat behind the Auburn band and could have just as easily been there with Cecil. We'd have been easier bench presses for Cam then...

I'm just going with facts in evidence until it's told otherwise. The Duke Lacrosse case taught ((or, really, re-taught)) me something... present the facts as we know them and proceed accordingly. If facts change, then the story can change as well...
If Jay Jacobs, Gene Chizik, and the rest of the Loveliest Village are guilty of being accomplices in this as we go, then throw the book at them...

I don't have a problem doing that at all- and neither, for the record, does TBH: a died-in-the-wool alumna...

Let Auburn enjoy their title- everyone pissing on it is doing the sport a disservice until we have reason to do so...

Oh, and the Lowder-McGregor reference was done exactly for the reason you said... it doesn't have a damn thing to do with anything...

Toomer's Corner Time Lapse

The HQ has seen both sides of this equation...

After the Ess-E-See Championship Game, it was cold, wet, and rolled...

This was different... astronomically...
Here's al.com's feed from Toomer's after the Bee-Cee-Ess win...
((HT: Youtube/Toomerslive))


How cool was that...???

TWTW: OSG Is Glendale Tuesday

Let's be honest, for Auburn people this was the athletic equivalent of Woodstock or Mecca- there is no substitute for having 50,000 people inside and countless others outside in the desert southwest watching their team go all in one last time.

And Auburn faithful wanted to make sure they were around for every aspect of this alphabetical title game. The parking lots weren't supposed to open until four hours before kickoff. People arrived early enough to where the folks in Glendale opened the parking lots early.

Security was nothing short of a papal visit- and the city was still overwhelmed. People hit the gate entrances with such force that the scanners were in no condition to let everyone in with a scanned ticket. If seven people hit the door, maybe two got their tickets approved as legal.

For the second day in a row, the number one venue ran out of beer- and souvenir cups. I had to make a deal with my concessions guy to get two cups- one of the being the floor model.

And for everyone that thought the game was going to be one of those PS3-Arena Football games, the HQ thought differently. Darron Thomas and Cameron Newton were both shaky- evidence the short-armed TD pass attempt on 4th down that really would have out the game out of reach for Auburn and the two early picks for Thomas. Gameplans for Gus Malzahn were dialed back considerably.

There was clock manipulation and maximization- something that, I don't think Oregon may even have in its play book. And in a game of this magnitude, if you don't have that to fall back on in a tight game where you need to be something other than a gambler, it might come back on you.

There were too many instances of Auburn receivers on Oregon linebackers, and on the Emory Blake TD pass, it came back on Chip Kelly. The game plan for the Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsmen was simple- somewhat. Stop LaMichael James ((88 total yards on two dozen or so plays)) and force the rest of the roster to beat you. Jeff Maehl almost did that single-handedly with 9 catches and 133 yards.

And the simplicity of the Oregon offense is its brilliance that moves them from one side of the field to the red zone of the other quickly. The only evidence of that you need are the Maehl and Tuinei catches that kept drives going when they were pinned deep in their own territory. But the idea of a zone read and react-find the gap passing game slows down inside the 20. There isn't a whole lot of real estate to play with, and you noticed that the running plays were very rarely between the tackles. If Auburn was able to string the play out to the boundary, it was over.

And it was over, a lot... Oregon could get there, as Thomas' 363 yards through the air will attest, but they couldn't close the deal. There was one of those classic goal-line stands that you remember over time, and the long thought of notion that the larger, more experienced offensive line would create holes- and it did for Michael Dyer when the team really needed it on the last drive.

And for the coaching staff to have the presence of mind to remind the freshman that no whistle had blown and that they play wasn't over says volumes as to their in-game awareness in a tight ballgame- very late in a very tight ballgame.

Leave it to an unsung hero- something OSG has made a point to remind people of this entire time, and that there would be no marquee name with the finishing blow- and a kicker of all things to wrap up the first title since 1957 for this school. And, while it's true the win was for the teams in the '80s and '90s and 2000's that were close, leapfrogged, and/or probated, the win crosses more generations than that.

There was an elderly gentleman who was two rows in front of me and TBH in the endzone ((and, yes, we'll get to her in a minute)). He was turned around looking at the jumbotron behind us for the entire game. It was found out that he is legally blind and can, kind of, make out images on a screen. He just asked that we tell him what's going on every once in a while.

The win is for people like that who have long-suffered and can now see an end result. It's for TBH's parents, long-suffering alums of the school who catch it from the Crimson-clad obnoxious ones 13 months out of the year in their home state.

It's for everyone who made the pilgrimage and swore that they weren't going to cry if Auburn won- and did anyway like it was the end of one of those Lifetime movies.

Like TBH... and for her, it was...
Merry Christmas every one... and here's to hoping your pilgrimage home doesn't take as long as it did for you to get there...

You couldn't have pried the tickets for this game out of her hands. While you could place a value on the rectangles that gave her the chance to sit in the endzone, there is no way in hell that you could place a value on the experience tied to the entire weekend...

**ED NOTE** For those who didn't see the game, here is a really good capsule of the game from our friends at the 4-letter (ESPN):

Auburn Did It. The SEC Has 5 BCS Titles In A Row

Once again chants of S.E.C!, S.E.C! are happening around the south, especially in Auburn, Alabama. The Tigers won their first national championship since 1957 defeating Oregon in the BCS National Championship Game 22-19.

"Well, obviously, you know, it is really hard for me to describe the feeling that I have for the Auburn family." Auburn head coach Gene Chizik said in the post game press conference. "I'm not sure if 15 weeks ago anyone believed that we could do this except us."

Auburn was no where near the national championship radar screen when the season kicked off in August. Cam Newton was just another SEC quarterback. 14 games and an intense NCAA investigation later Newton is the Heisman Trophy winner and Auburn wins the national championship.

"I don't want nobody to feel sorry for me because throughout this year didn't nobody feel sorry for Auburn." Auburn quarterback Cam Newton said in the post game press conference. "We got the last laugh."

Newton completed one of the best seasons by a college quarterback and accomplished the tri-fecta. SEC Championship, Heisman Trophy winner and now leading his Tiger team to a National Championship. Is the NFL next for Newton?

"I'm not going to make no decision right now." Newton said. "It is something I have to sit down with Coach Chizik and my family and just get the vibe of so many different people. We will go from there."

"He is a great football player, and he is a great human being." Chizik said of his starting quarterback. "We love him at Auburn and we got his back in everything that he does and everything that he stands for."

"He (Newton) is a great football player." Oregon head coach Chip Kelly said in the post game press conference. "I'm not into ranking guys. I wasn't there to see Sammy Baugh play, but in my career as a head coach, he's the best player I've seen."

While Newton and the explosive Auburn defense has received most of the attention this year, the Tiger defense was the difference in the game. Mike McNeil led Auburn with 14 tackles and Nick Fairley was all over the field. Oregon had a hell of a time accounting for Fairley throughout the game.

"Nick Fairley proved he was the best defensive lineman in the country." Kelly said.

Fairley ended up with five tackles, one sack and three tackles for loss.

"Man, our defense, we showed America everything we done each and every Saturday out there on the field." Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley said in the post game press conference. "Man, we have been doing this, like I said, for 14 weeks. We just went unnoticed throughout the year. Now that we got noticed out here on the big stand, we just showed what we can do."

Chip Kelly added, "I had a lot of respect for them defensively. I was really, really impressed with their front. We knew it was going to be a test for us."

Here's sound with Auburn QB Cam Newton after the game. (Thanks WVTM-TV)



Auburn's kicker Wes Byrum on the field after the game. (Thanks CBS Sports.com)



Photo Courtesy: Hal Yaeger/The Birmingham News

TWTW Bee-Cee-Ess: Glendale Is Cam-A-Lot

Wes Byrum nailed a chip shot field goal with 2 seconds left in regulation to give Auburn its first national title since 1957 with a 22-19 win over Oregon in Glendale, Arizona.

Auburn drove 73 yards in seven plays for Byrum’s game-winning 19-yarder...

The Tigers had a losing season in 2008, and by 2010 it’s the fifth straight year that an SEC team has won the national title- five titles by four different SEC schools

Here's the game-winner...
((HT: ESPN/Youtube))


More tomorrow...

TWTW: OSG Is Glendale Sunday

Have you ever been in a situation where you thought that someone was so ill-prepared for something, and you were just stuck in the middle of it and couldn't do anything but wait it out...???

As part of this whole celebration-leading-toward-the-last-college-football-game-that-means-something this season, there are corporate sponsored events where you're encouraged to party, tailgate, and otherwise consume mass quantities of whatever the main sponsors are trying to pass off as an experience and/or souvenirs...

Sunday was that day... and I don't honestly think the city of Scottsdale knew what hit it. There was a party situation planned for both sets of fans in a central location- a cordoned-off section of mall near the riverfront. And, yes, I know what you're thinking...

Scottsdale has a river, much less a riverfront...???

Remember what we were talking about with the whole "Auburn fans buying out 70-percent of the seats in Glendale...?" That 50,000 or so fans are just the ones who have tickets. There are countless others that TBH and myself have seen looking for tickets, or just in town for the experience of saying they were there should the team win today.

And they all seem to travel in a pack- a mega-pack, or an amoeba that just happens to multiply over and over again to a suffocating level. 20,000 showed for the controlled-environment party within the confines of the fences the party-hosters put up. 2,000 showed up in a hyper-confined space to experience the Auburn Radio Network's live-from-Arizona version of "Tiger Talk."

The bar across the street from this place called "Upper Deck" proclaimed itself to be the official Oregon bar. It was overrun by Auburn fans who were told that, to stay, they had to pay a $25 cover.

They didn't care- it was part of their experience. Especially, when the few Ducks fans that actually were there to be part of the Oregon experience started flipping off the Auburn fans who were yelling at each other across the street back and forth like it was a home game. It got to the point where Auburn play-by-play guy Rod Bramblett actually took a picture for himself as proof.

Which the HQ found as funny...

Upper Deckers were confused over what to charge for beer, which was sold by the case and caused an artificial shortage of any domestic they ((and three other establishments nearby)) could get their hands on...

If the joint you're in is out of beer, you're out of luck...

And the day ends with the Alumni Association renting out the largest ballroom in a hotel near the football stadium. 3,000 tickets were sold for the event which gave any fan a chance to hob-nob with a 1957 football player, Bramblett, Stan White, Quentin Riggins, a member of the 1972 "Amazins" squad, and hear Pat Dye talk about kicking the other guy's ass tomorrow night...

Think of it as a big fantasy camp for football fans- and a chance to wander in to a high-falutin' ballroom if you waited long enough not to drop the $35 for a ticket before the door.

And Scottsdale, Glendale, and any other dale has no idea what they've gotten themselves in to for a week...

Because, people will come Ray...
People will come...
They have... and, weather permitting, they're still coming for kickoff...
((HT: Youtube/Universal Pictures))

TWTW: OSG Friday In Glendale

Okay, we're here... on a couple of different fronts...

There's the obvious view of the game and everything else going on around here for the next few days or so...

And we're also taking in the Social Experiment... Understand, this is life and death for TBH- the same as it was for Phil's TLB when the Saints were in the Roman Numeral Classic this year...

Auburn has always had to hear it from the Crimson-clad in her home state. They've had close calls. They've been leapfrogged by Miami. They've been on probation. They've been caught in numbers games as the odd man out...

But this time, because of Number Two, or as he is called in some circles "6-6, 2-Fiddy," a bunch of seniors and 8 games decided by single digits, they're here...

And so is everyone else who will wear orange, blue, and white...
Phoenix doesn't know what hit it... ((pictured are the lines waiting for shuttles at the airport, thanks to me))

The trek started with a flight of 220 plus crew, and the pilot of our particular airplane knew what he was getting into...

"Okay, let me get this out of the way before we take off... WARRRRRRRRRRR EAGLE, HEY!"

Most of the paying passengers, Atlanta Braves starter Tim Hudson included, chimed in and it was decided that we'd take off.

But I have come to the conclusion that there should be a few guidelines for traveling parties. If you're a pre-schooler, you need to be placed in a soundproof booth for the entire duration of the flight- regardless of length. TBH actually had a good point- they need to pay more instead of a standard fare. She knew, since we were separated on the flight, that I was closer to the noise in the rear of the plane and truly wanted to jump three rows behind me and take this kid out once and for all...

An apple for a gag... anything to get us through this four-hour tour...

I have also come to a realization that, after about 2-and-a-half hours, I turn into a bad passenger, anyway. I'm looking for an escape hatch...

No such luck...

And, on final approach, our pilot found one of three block-wide rain cells and parachuted right into the thing to cause enough consternation and outright fear to make you think you were at Gilley's and riding a mechanical bull that would buck Buddy, Sissy, and Scott Glenn's character at the same time.


And, you know something, these were the lines at the airport on Friday night... ((still pictured, by me))

Corch Meyers was even in baggage claim waiting on his bags as he prepped for his new gig- interesting to see him as a civilian and not in any labeled gator gear. TBH debated going up to ask him about why the school he used to coach for had someone send 662-Fiddy's academic records to the public, but she deferred since he was with wife...

Would have been an interesting exchange since he was in the belly of the beast and escaped without a scratch...

Especially, after TBH had "extended seat belt guy" and an airborne drunk on her flanks... she was ready to come out swinging with somebody...

And she still is come Monday night... but since everyone is projecting a 73-68 game, the HQ is thinking more 27-24...

Programming Note: OSG Sports will be taking up residence on FOSG Gil Tyree's "Sports Talk at the Positive Pub" show on Voice America Sports Monday afternoon at 1PM eastern/11AM local time...

Here's Auburn head coach Gene Chizik from Media Day...
((HT: al.com))


And here's Oregon play-by-play guy, Jerry Allen, explaining just how big this game is to the people of Eugene...
((HT: KVAL-TV Eugene))

OSG Sports Bowl Pick 'em....

Time to see if you are smarter than your friends at OSG Sports. We'll list all the bowl games and make our picks...for what they are worth. See if you can do better. We'd offer a prize, but since this is a part-time, love of doing it blog that doesn't make a whole lot of money, we don't have any prizes to offer other than being able to gloat that you are smarter than we are.

So here we go: There are like 500 of these games...geez!

New Mexico Bowl. How does New Mexico get a bowl? Their college football is awful. The game: UTEP 33, BYU 28

Nelson: They get a bowl since they have a Convention and Visitors Bureau that'll pay for it... BYU 34-31

uDrove Humanitarian Bowl. On the smurf turf. Good luck and happy Smurfing. The game: Fresno St. 31, N. Illinois 21


Nelson: Northern Illinois' was killed when their head coach went to Minnesota...
Get it...??? Fresno 35-17

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Or proof you just need to make up a name to sponsor a game. The Game: Troy 42, Ohio 21


Nelson: I saw an R&L Carrier the other day. It was pimping the Matt Kenseth stock car and not the bowl game... Troy 27-21

Beef O'Brady's Bowl. We'll lay off the jokes, but if you go to Beef O'Brady's...well you are taking your life in your hands. The Game: So.Miss 29, Louisville 23


Nelson: Louisville is just average... USM 31-21

MAACO Bowl Las Vegas. Uh huh. At least it's a free trip to Vegas. The Game. Boise St. 38, Utah 31


Nelson: Vegas, baby... I think this will be one of the more interesting games of the season... Boise won't cover the huge number... 42-31

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsetta. Can't this just be an acronym? Or a San Diego State extra home game? The Game: Navy 35, SDSU 28


Nelson: This one will be a blast... awesome, underrated match-up... I'll agree with Phil, 35-28 is about right...

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. The game has lost its luster but it can't be that bad a trip, can it? The Game: Hawaii 44, Tulsa 21


Nelson: Tulsa is just interested in the flight over and the perks... Hawai'i 34-26

Little Caesar's Bowl. Does the winner get a $5 Hot 'n Ready? Why go to Detroit in December? Is this a reward? The Game: Toledo 37, FIU 21


Nelson: Toledo by default... 31-21

AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl. This is Karma for Ga.Tech for laughing at UGA for playing in this game last year. The Game. Ga. Tech 23, Air Force 21


Nelson: This is karma for Ga. Tech laughing at UGA for playing in this game last year... Air Force 28-17

Champs Sports Bowl. Not much funny to say here except it sucks to be Bill Stewart for the next 365 days. The Game: NC State 29, W.Va. 23


Nelson: Isn't it less than 365 days by now...??? WBGV 31-21

Insight Bowl. Maybe they'll see something better than most of us. Aw...that's not even funny dude. Insert Iowa joke here. The Game: Missouri 37, Iowa 24


Nelson: This game is in the weeds... Missouri 31-10

Military Bowl Pres. by Northrop Grumman. Huh? Can someone explain why a military contractor is sponsoring a bowl game? Anybody? Bueller? The Game. Maryland 28, E.Carolina 10


Nelson: Maryland gives Friedge an early retirement present... 27-17...

Texas Bowl. Further proof they play bowl games just to say they play bowl games...and anyone is eligible. The Game: Baylor 41, Illinois 21


Nelson: Average, avergage, average... Illinois 37-31

Valero Alamo Bowl. Yeah...Swell. The Game: Oklahoma St. 49, Arizona 28


Nelson: Will Dana Holgorsen show up...??? Arizona 31-27

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. With all due respect to the Armed Forces....Why this game? The Game: SMU 23, Army 21


Nelson: Why...? Because they can and Army had a great year... SMU 35-27

New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Yay. Just what we always wanted. A bowl game in Yankee stadium. Quick, let's all run out and buy tickets. The Game: Syracuse 31, K-State 24


Nelson: I heard that Hank Steinbrenner gets to fire the losing coach after the game... Syracuse 24-17...

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. Joy. I actually covered this game many, many years ago in an Ice Storm. Yeah, it was as unpleasant as it sounds. The Game: Tennessee 34, UNC 21


Nelson: Still unpleasant... UNC 28-24...

Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl. I'm getting tired of this already. Explain again why so many bowl games? The Game: Nebraska 31, Washington 30

Nelson: This should be everyone's "35" in their confidence pool. Remember, these two have already played and Washington got clocked... Nebraska 38-21...

Meineke Car Care Bowl: Wouldn't it be cool if they just fixed your car instead? The Game: Clemson 23, South Florida 13

Nelson: Actually, Belk is the sponsor next year... Coupons to everyone who shows...?
Clemson 24-14...

Hyundai Sun Bowl: For some reason, this game always has something weird and crazy attached to it. Have no idea why. The Game: Miami 27, Notre Dame 23

Nelson: This game means something... to those living in the 1980's...
They tie at 12...

AutoZone Liberty Bowl: At least the BBQ is good in Memphis. The Game: Georgia 38, UCF 28

Nelson: UGA best beware of the coach with the limp handshake...
"How we doin'?" UCF 34-24...

Chick-fil-A Bowl: This is always a good game and it always sells out. It's actually a pretty fun experience. But wouldn't any event that gives away Chick-fil-a sandwich's as the press meal? The Game: S.Carolina 34, FSU 23

Nelson: FSU will find a way to lose... if there was a "Wide straight" they'd find it... Sakerlina 30-28

Ticket City Bowl: Huh? Is this just an excuse for the old Cotton Bowl stadium to have a game or what? Texas Tech 31, Northwestern 21


Nelson: Yes, it is... Texas Tech 34-28

Outback Bowl: The people running this game are insane, but it's kinda tough to top the halftime meal. Steaks and potato's for everybody! The Game: Penn St. 21, Florida 17

Nelson: Agreed... this may be the fastest bowl game of the season... Penn State 21-10

Capital One Bowl: Never been able to figure out how this is considered a prestige game. But it is...and has been. Go figure. The Game: Alabama 31, Michigan St. 20


Nelson: I think Bama is angry enough to take out some frustrations on the Dantonios.
31-24...

Progressive Gator Bowl: Suppose it's better than the Regressive one. The Game: Miss.St. 38, Michigan 31

Nelson: This game will get Rich-Rod fired... MSU 21-17

Ladies and Gentleman....Your Corrupt BCS:

Rose Bowl presented by Vizio: Who are you? Who who who who? Who are you? Who who who who. Sorry, got distracted. This Game: TCU 41, Wisconsin 33

Nelson: Wisconsin pulls it out late... 35-31

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Kinda partial to the Lime flavored ones myself. Just sayin'. The Game: Oklahoma 43, UConn 21

Nelson: UConn is taking a bath on this one financially, and they'll do it on the field, too... 45-24...

Discover Orange Bowl: This game was much more fun when it was at the old Orange Bowl. With the killer halftime show.  The Game: Stanford 24, Va. Tech 21

Nelson: Angry Stanford does their best on Tyrod Taylor... 31-21...

Allstate Sugar Bowl: Tough to beat New Orleans for New Years...if only that was when they played the game. The Game: Arkansas 43, Ohio St. 28

Nelson: How many years in a row can TOSU get beat by an SEC squad...???
Arkansas 41-27...

More Non-BCS Crap Games:


GoDaddy.com Bowl: What are the odds Danica Patrick is here. Really that would be the only reason to go. The Game: Miami (OH) 23, MTSU 17

Nelson: No Mike Hayward means no win... Mit-Soo 24-20

ATT Cotton Bowl: I know. This isn't a crap game like say...the one above it here. The Game: LSU 24, Texas A&M 17

Nelson: This wil find a way to be a crap game... LSU 5-4...

BBVA Compass Bowl: And this was created for and sponsored by whom? The Game: Kentucky 31, Pitt. 21

Nelson: They're a bank... Kentucky 27-20 despite Dion Lewis...

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Is that anything like "Fight the Power"? Another of the why games...The Game: Nevada 34, Boston College 21

Nelson: Straight outta Compton, straight into SanFran... Neh-vad-uh 31-20

AND YOUR CORRUPT BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:

This might as well be a basketball game. First one to 100 wins. It may go 5 hours...if not longer. Most of the commercial breaks will be longer than the TD drives. Really, aside from TCU you can't argue that these aren't the two best teams. I think last year's Alabama team crushes either one of them...but that's not this year. The only really lamentable part of this is that we have to wait so Frickin' long before they play it.

Your BCS Championship Game: Auburn 64, Oregon 58

Nelson: I absolve myself of a pick because of a vested interest and partiality from TBH...

((Ed--Or abstain from picking--or recuse---or don't want to mess with it))

BCS Poo-poo's Mark Cuban's plan for Football Playoff

Mark Cuban/Courtesy: thenextweb.com

One of yesterday's big "Sports/News" stories was a proposal that Dallas Mavericks owner/gazillionaire Mark Cuban made to bankroll a true college football playoff instead of the corrupt BCS (ok, we added the corrupt part ourselves)

Now comes word that the BCS Executive Director, Bill Hancock "Doubts" that it will ever happen.

Read the story and more from the Dallas Morning News RIGHT HERE

We have a ton of opinions about this. We like Mark Cuban, mostly because he's different that the typical, stuffed shirt, rich guy who has billions of dollars. He may be a bit of a douchebag, but he seems like he'd be kind of fun guy to go drink a beer with, so we can overlook the first part.

We really like the proposal that he made yesterday and think it is a great idea. We've railed for years on the corruptness and monopolistic practices of the BCS, something created by and for the "Power Conferences" and their presidents, but not for the best interests of the fan and players.

The fact that Hancock tried to shoot down Cuban's proposal was expected and quite honestly, we don't think they'd (The BCS) EVER go for a proposal like that. The whole excuse that "It's the best system" it is in place for "The benefit of the student-athlete" is the biggest load of crap quite possibly ever uttered.

We hope at some point someone with the legal authority to tell the BCS Cartel that,  you are a corrupt, illegal monopoly, will actually step up. There is not a person alive who truly believes that the Lords of the BCS came up with the system to benefit student-athletes. They do it to benefit themselves. Pure and simple. Any other argument is pure fiction.

Whatever momentum college football has as they finish the regular season, dies after the first week in December. You can not convince me...or any other rational Sports fan there is any interest in the "Independence Bowl" or the "Humanitarian Bowl" or the "Maaco Bowl". Just ask the schools. Sure, they may smile and say "We're honored to play in a post-season game", but really, they almost all will lose money playing in said game unless it's a BCS game. Heck, just ask UConn, they are about to lose money because they can't give away their tickets to the Fiesta Bowl...and that's a BCS game.

If you want a really good read, check out this book by Dan Wetzel, Josh Peter and Jeff Passan called "Death to the BCS"....it should validate everything I'm saying and re-inforce the point that the BCS is corrupt, evil and should be forced to disband.

In the meantime, check out Cuban in one of our favorite shows Entourage:

Boise State President rips the BCS and rightfully so...

Boise State Pres. Bob Kustra/Courtesy: idahoreporter.com

They should be ripped and ripped frequently, but yet they aren't. By now, many of you may have heard the CBSSports.com BCS analyst found an error in the final BCS poll of the year. How did he find it? He double checked the math of one of the five computer polls used to come up with it.

So, the question you are probably asking is what about the other 4 computers? We don't know, because the corrupt BCS doesn't release that information to the public. Smell anything yet? Obviously, there are a bunch of questions here. The biggest of them: "So, without checking the validity, we've believed everything the corrupt BCS people have told us".

Needless to say, there are some pretty upset people about this (though none of them have anything to do with the BCS). Chief among them, Boise State president Bob Kustra. Kustra was so frustrated that he sent a somewhat angry e-mail to many of his peers:

((from the idahostatesman.com))

Greetings:

I trust that you have heard about the news from CBS sports analyst Jerry Palm that the BCS rankings erroneously ranked the positions of four teams in the final BCS rankings of the season. 

The BCS has corrected for it and Bill Hancock has apologized, but it still leaves open the question of transparency. There are five other computer models used to determine the rankings each week that are hidden from public view, unlike the approach used by Wes Colley who allows the light of day to shine on his work.  Thankfully, in this case an astute third party caught the error and brought it to the attention of the BCS.  I’m sure that you can imagine numerous “what if” scenarios where this type of mistake could have had significant repercussions.

How many times have we heard calls for transparency on our campuses and how many times have we shared our governance and communicated with our faculties and other constituencies in a transparent fashion?  Yet, in intercollegiate athletics, with the NCAA standing silently on the sidelines, we allow the BCS to work its magic with no idea of how accurate its rankings are on a week to week basis.  

It's egregious enough to see teams with mediocre seasons climb into the BCS bowl games because they happen to be in privileged conferences, while others with better records are written off as second-class citizens.   When we cannot see how these decisions are made, it becomes an affront to the concepts of integrity and fair play that we claim to value. 

When C. Wright Mills wrote of the "power elite", I doubt he was speaking of universities and intercollegiate athletics.  If he were still around, there could be a great second edition, this time focused on where elitism really runs rampant and takes Division 1 football players from some conferences and restrains their ability to compete.  I hope you noticed my choice of the word, "restrain".  I trust we will all be hearing more about "restraint" unless presidents step up and do the right thing.

Bob Kustra, President
Boise State University

 

This, we think, reinforces most everything that we've complained about with the BCS. Kustra, in our mind is 100-percent correct. It is a rich system, set up by the rich, operated for the rich and for their own benefit. The whole "Weaker Schedule" or "Weaker Conference" thing is a load of crap. TCU would be good in any conference as would Boise State. Heck, Boise beat the ACC Champs--Virginia Tech. If the BCS chooses to ignore anyone outside of their own conferences: The ACC, The Big East, The Big 10, The Big 12, The Pac 10 and The SEC, then why bother to have any other conferences exist.

We fully realize that much like Kustra, we are being somewhat Don Quioxte like. But this is what we believe, and since we are writing this on our blog, we can say it.

((BEFORE YOU ASK: WE CLICKED ON A STRANGE SETTING HERE ON BLOGGER AND HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO FIX IT, SORRY FOR THE ODD COLOR BARS IN THIS POST)). (the BCS did it!)

In the vein of the Rich getting richer, we give you "Eat the Rich" by the '80's Metal band Krokus:

TWTW: Your 2010 Bowl Matchups

New Mexico Bowl
BYU vs. UTEP
Albuquerque, N.M.
University Stadium
December 18
2 p.m. ESPN

uDrove Humanitarian
Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State
Boise, Idaho
Bronco Stadium
December 18
5:30 p.m. ESPN

R+L Carriers New Orleans
Ohio vs. Troy
New Orleans
Louisiana Superdome
December 18
9 p.m. ESPN

Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg
Southern Mississippi vs. Louisville
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Tropicana Field
December 21
8 p.m. ESPN

MAACO Las Vegas
Utah vs. Boise State
Las Vegas
Sam Boyd Stadium
December 22
8 p.m. ESPN

S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia
Navy vs. San Diego State
San Diego
Qualcomm Stadium
December 23
8 p.m. ESPN

Sheraton Hawaii
Hawaii vs. Tulsa
Honolulu
Aloha Stadium
December 24
8 p.m. ESPN

Little Caesars
Florida International vs. Toledo
Detroit
Ford Field
December 26
8:30 p.m. ESPN

AdvoCare V100 Independence
Air Force vs. Georgia Tech
Shreveport, La.
Independence Stadium
December 27
5 p.m. ESPN2

Champs Sports
West Virginia vs. NC State
Orlando, Fla.
Florida Citrus Bowl
December 28
6:30 p.m. ESPN

Insight
Missouri vs. Iowa
Tempe, Arizona
Sun Devil Stadium
December 28
10 p.m. ESPN

Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman
East Carolina vs. Maryland
Washington, D.C.
RFK Stadium
December 29
2:30 p.m. ESPN

Texas
Illinois vs. Baylor
Houston
Reliant Stadium
December 29
6 p.m. ESPN

Valero Alamo
Oklahoma State vs. Arizona
San Antonio
Alamodome
December 29
9:15 p.m. ESPN

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces
Army vs. SMU
Dallas
Gerald J. Ford Stadium
December 30
Noon ESPN

New Era Pinstripe
Kansas St. vs. Syracuse
Bronx, N.Y.
Yankee Stadium
December 30
3:20 p.m. ESPN

Franklin American Mortgage Music City
North Carolina vs. Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
LP Field
December 30
6:40 p.m. ESPN

Bridgepoint Education Holiday
Nebraska vs. Washington
San Diego
Qualcomm Stadium
December 30
10 p.m. ESPN

Meineke Car Care
South Florida vs. Clemson
Charlotte, North Carolina
Bank of America Stadium
December 31
Noon ESPN

Hyundai Sun
Notre Dame vs. Miami
El Paso, Texas
Sun Bowl
December 31
2 p.m. CBS

AutoZone Liberty
Georgia vs. UCF
Memphis, Tennessee
Liberty Bowl
December 31
3:30 p.m. ESPN

Chick-fil-A
South Carolina vs. Florida State
Atlanta
Georgia Dome
December 31
7:30 p.m. ESPN

TicketCity
Northwestern vs. Texas Tech
Dallas
Cotton Bowl
January 1
Noon ESPNU

Outback
Florida vs. Penn State
Tampa, Florida
Raymond James Stadium
January 1
1 p.m. ABC

Capital One
Alabama vs. Michigan State
Orlando, Florida
Florida Citrus Bowl
January 1
1 p.m. ESPN

Gator Bowl
Mississippi State vs. Michigan
Jacksonville, Florida
Municipal Stadium
January 1
1:30 p.m. ESPN2

Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO
Wisconsin vs. TCU
Pasadena, California
Rose Bowl
January 1
5 p.m. ESPN

Tostitos Fiesta
Connecticut vs. Oklahoma
Glendale, Arizona
U. of Phoenix Stadium
January 1
8:30 p.m. ESPN/ESPN3D

Discover Orange
Stanford vs. Virginia Tech
Miami
Sun Life Stadium
January 3
8:30 p.m. ESPN

Allstate Sugar
Ohio State vs. Arkansas
New Orleans
Louisiana Superdome
January 4
8:30 p.m. ESPN

GoDaddy.com
Middle Tennessee vs. Miami (Ohio)
Mobile, Alabama
Ladd-Peebles Stadium
January 6
8 p.m. ESPN

AT&T Cotton
LSU vs. Texas A&M
Arlington, Texas
Cowboys Stadium
January 7
8 p.m. FOX

BBVA Compass Bowl
Pittsburgh vs. Kentucky
Birmingham, Alabama
Legion Field
January 8
Noon ESPN

Kraft Fight Hunger
Nevada vs. Boston College
San Francisco
AT&T Park
January 9
9 p.m. ESPN

Tostitos BCS National Championship Game
Oregon vs. Auburn
Glendale, Arizona
U. of Phoenix Stadium
January 10
8:30 p.m. ESPN/ESPN3D

DEVELOPING TWTW: Bee-Cee-Ess Survives Another Year, It's Auburn And Oregon...

Looks like it'll be Oregon and Auburn in Glendale on January 10th...

Cam Newton passed for a career-best 335 yards and 4 TD's, running for 2 more, as top-alphabet ranked Auburn smoked South Carolina 56-17 for the SEC title at the Georgia Dome.

Newton will likely be picking up the Heisman Trophy next Saturday in New York City.

Here's some early highlights...
((HT: SEC on CBS/Youtube))


Oregon, on the other hand, has their spot for the first time in school history,
beating Oregon State 37-20 in the Civil War game.

LaMichael James ran for 134 yards and 2 TDs and Kenjon Barner had 133 yards with 2 TDs for the Ducks- now 12-0/9-0 in the Pac-10/11/12.

Here's the end of that game...
((HT: ESPN/ABC/Youtube))


The HQ admits that we liked that even the sports drink was green...

The Fed-Ex BCS? Smith wants to buy Memphis an invite....

((ht: cbssports.com/gary parrish))

Never say that you've think that you've heard it all. If a report on cbssports.com is true, then Fed-Ex CEO Fred Smith is going to try and buy the University of Memphis a spot in a BCS Conference for up to $10-million a year.

You should read Gary Parrish's story RIGHT HERE

If this were to happen, it would reinforce everything we've said about the misplaced priorities in College Sports.

Never mind that with all of the conference switcharoo's going on that there are going to be about 100 or so Division 1 schools who will no longer have the opportunity to "EVER" play in a BCS bowl. If Smith buys Memphis' way in, it just proves that there is no "College" involved with this. There is no amateur-ness involved.

Allowing Smith to foot a bill for $10-million a year so that Memphis can be in the Big Ten or the Big East or whatever's left of the BCS conferences is a joke. A bad joke. Though we suppose that it is no more of a joke than the changing landscape of College Football, where if you aren't one of the school's in the "Power Conference's" you might as well play in 1-AA