Division I-AA Poll- Week of September 8, 2008

1) North Dakota State (20)2 - 0 668/1
2) Appalachian State (7)1 - 1 648/2
3) Montana 1 - 0 582/6
4) Richmond 1 - 1 572/3
5) Massachusetts 2 - 0 567/4
6) Delaware 0 - 1 493/7
7) James Madison 1 - 1 484/8
8) Northern Iowa 1 - 1 477/5
9) McNeese State 1 - 1 432/9
10)New Hampshire 1 - 0 382/15
11)Wofford 2 - 0 369/13
12)Cal Poly 1 - 1 365/11
13)Southern Illinois 1 - 0 361/12
14)Eastern Washington 0 - 1 352/10
15)Georgia Southern 1 - 1 260/16
16)Western Illinois 1 - 1 254/17
17)South Dakota State 1 - 1 243/20
18)Elon 1 - 1 183/19
19)Central Arkansas 2 - 0 178/24
20)Eastern Illinois 0 - 2 152/18
21)Villanova 0 - 1 130/20
22)Citadel 1 - 1 75/23
23)Furman 1 - 1 72/33
24)Youngstown State 0 - 2 66/14
25)Delaware State 1 - 0 54/30

Other Teams Receiving Votes: Northern Arizona 40, Liberty 37, Harvard 35, Jacksonville State 24, Eastern Kentucky 23, Sam Houston State 22, Prairie View A&M 21, South Carolina State 19, Fordham 19, Holy Cross 17, Tennessee State 16, Montana State 15, Hampton 11, San Diego 9, Hofstra 9, Texas State 8, Grambling State 8, North Carolina A&T 5, Sacramento State 3, Weber State 3, Yale 3, California-Davis 3, William & Mary 2, Florida A&M 1, Lehigh 1, Dayton 1, Coastal Carolina 1

Don Haskins ((1930-2008))

Legendary college basketball coach Don "The Bear" Haskins ((pictured, thanks KVIA.com)) died Sunday at the age of 78 due to congestive heart failure.

He is best known for taking his Texas-El Paso squad ((then, Texas Western College)) to the NCAA basketball championship and defeating an all-white team from the University of Kentucky in 1966. Haskins started five black players against the Wildcats.

He coached those teams in El Paso for almost 40 years and won seven WAC titles. Haskins was inducted in to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.

KVIA-TV's coverage in El Paso is in blue...

Gisele Gets Shopping Buddy For Season... Brady Out For Year

Michael Silver of Yahoo Sports is reporting that the injury to New England Patriots QB Tom Brady ((pictured, thanks Boston Globe/Jim Davis)) is season-ending. During the first quarter of his Week 1 game with Kansas City, Brady was rolled as Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard was lunging from ground-level. It appears that Brady's ACL in his left knee has decided that a vacation was necessary

Silver reports... ahem... quote...

"While New England coach Bill Belichick said in his postgame press conference that he had no update on the status of Brady’s injury, two sources indicated it involved serious damage to the knee.

“It’s bad,” a team source said. “We’re going to have to play without him.”

If confirmed, that leaves the Pats offense in the hands of back-up QB Matt Cassel. Notice those of us here at OSG HQ didn't precede the phrase with the word "capable."

To those of you who believe in that Karma thing with all the Belichick ((we'll go ahead and say it)) SHENANIGANS over the last few seasons with married women, videotapes, and his general daily demeanor...

You, sir, have been served...

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network reports that free agent QB Chris Simms will be reporting to Pats' offices on Monday and, pending a physical and a workout, could be in uniform by the end of the day.

Boston Globe coverage is in blue...
The video is below ((thanks, CBS/NFL, the youtube))

Jake Locker Was Too Excited...

FSN's Barry Tompkins and Petros Papadakis were all over this one...

BYU was up seven as time was running out at Husky Stadium as they played the University of Washington. Washington QB Jake Locker scores with two seconds left to bring the game to one, 28-27. But as you watch the video ((below, thanks the youtube and FSN)) you see Locker take the ball and toss it over his shoulder after he scores.

The refs flag Locker for "unsportsmanlike conduct-excessive celebration." This pushes the point-after score back 15 yards from the original distance and creates, as Tompkins accurately describes, "Now, this is no gimme here..."

The kick is blocked. BYU escapes ((pictured, thanks Seattle P-I/Grant M. Haller)) and keep their national ranking for another week.

Molly Yanity's article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer gives us some quotable material from the guys who wore the zebra shirts...

"After scoring the touchdown, the player threw the ball into the air and we are required, by rule, to assess a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty," Pac-10 referee Larry Farina told the Washington athletic communications staffer. "It is a celebration rule that we are required to call. It was not a judgment call."

Yeah, and it's also a silly rule... but the stripes can't do anything about that...
Change the rule into an on-field judgment call...
"And that is, purely, in the hands of the officials..."

A Pirate Treasure in Greenville...

WOWK's Amanda McCall tries really hard to talk about the WVa loss to East Carolina.

Click the image to the left for the video (and I warn you...polished, she is not.)

Go Pirates!

Fear The... Blue Raider...?

The one game that Brother Wilkie forgot to list was further confirmation that the Atlantic Coast Conference is blatantly, consistently mediocre this 2008 season- and we're being kind...

The Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders ((pictured, thanks Gannett Tennessee/John A. Gillis)) took out Maryland 24-14 in a game in Murfreesboro. The win set off the appropriate amount of bedlam in the 'Boro...

Adam Sparks and the crew from Gannett Tennessee gives you the details in blue...
But the school calls it the "best win e-vah"
Rightfully so...
Huzzahs and hurrahs from OSG HQ for those of you at Floyd Stadium that watched.

Game story from the Blue Raiders is below... if you like pictures...
((thanks, the youtube and goblueraiders.com))



ALSO: click on the picture below for highlights of MTSU's raiding of the Fridge...

A Pirate's Life In College Football

It’s official, East Carolina is the new sexy team to crash the BCS party. The Pirates looked damn good in crushing West Virginia 24-3. Add this win and the one last week over Virginia Tech and ECU has beaten 2 elite BCS schools.

West Virginia came into the game ranked 8th and with East Carolina’s win over the Mountaineers, it’s the highest ranked team ECU has beaten.

East Carolina head coach Skip Holtz was at a loss for words, well sort of.

“I don’t think you can put it into words. I am so proud of these players the way they have come out and competed the last few weeks. We played two elite programs and I am just proud of the way our team has grown. They are playing with desire, passion and togetherness. It is so fun right now to stand on that sideline and watch our defense play as good as it is. Every facet of our team from the offense to special teams was fantastic tonight. The players really believe in themselves right now.”

Next week East Carolina opens Conference USA play against Tulane. The Pirates have one more BCS team on its schedule, October 11th against Virginia at Charlottesville. Right now you have to like East Carolina’s chances of running the table and going to the BCS.

Fear Not Buckeye Fans

So Ohio State Struggled against Ohio U. So what, The Buckeyes had an off day but were able to win, just not by a 5 touchdown margin. Just get over that game. Ohio State will be up for USC next week and put on a good show. The Buckeyes will be motivated for that one you can bet.

Not So High On Hogs

OK Arkansas Razorback fans, and yes I bleed Razorback red, I’m not so encouraged that Arkansas is off to a 2-0 start. 1st down by 10 to WESTERN ILLINOIS with 8 minutes left in the 4th quarter and rallying to win then just getting by Louisiana-Monroe 28-27. Both times Arkansas QB Casey Dick led the 4th quarter comeback. I don’t think Dick is the second coming of John Elway or Joe Montana with that skill but he did save Arkansas’ bacon.

The Hogs go to Austin, Texas next week to take on the Texas Longhorns and then they host Alabama. Both have the potential to be good ole fashioned whoopin’s. I might have to lay low after those games.

East Carolina/West Virginia Photos Courtesy: AP

Arkansas/UL-Monroe Photo Courtesy: Wesley Hitt/Arkansas

Como Se Dice "Backpedal...?"

In a move that surprises no one, the LPGA has decided to rescind its current attitude of making sure that its golfers passed the equivalent of the TOEFL before being allowed to show up on tour next year- or face stiff penalties... like not being able to win all their tournaments...

LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens ((pictured, thanks Getty Images/David Cannon)) is revising the idea and will have another version public by the end of the current year. This time, penalties will not be included.

On some level, you can understand where the LPGA is coming from... as a private institution, they need to promote their product. If the best golfers in their system are getting the lion's share of the paychecks and tape time, and they can't speak English fluently, the tour doesn't feel like they can promote effectively and efficiently.

But to pull the equivalent of a language lockout, has pole-vaulted any idea of fixing the problem.

The Commish sayeth... ahem... quote...

"After hearing the concerns, we believe there are other ways to achieve our shared objective of supporting and enhancing the business opportunities for every Tour player. In that spirit, we will continue communicating with our diverse Tour players to develop a better alternative. The LPGA will announce a revised approach, absent playing penalties, by the end of 2008."

The rest of Bivens' statement is hyah

The idea was revealed a few weeks ago with all the warmth of Ice Station Zebra. Major tour sponsor State Farm was even taken aback by the whole thing...

Amazing how this was announced just before a presser in Los Angeles where the Asian Pacific American Legal Center was set to go off on the tour...

Golf.com's coverage is right hyah
Doug Ferguson's work is at yahoo.com sports is hyah

College Football: Week 2

While Week 1 of the college football season had some great match-ups to kick things off, week 2 has very little compelling games. Many schools are playing FCS (1-AA) teams or non-BCS schools that are not very good. If you feel sorry for any team focus on The Citidel. They go to Clemson’s Death Valley to battle a Tiger team that’s pride is wounded. Bet the over on Clemson.

Best Game This Weekend: West Virginia at East Carolina

Skip Holtz is acting like his father Lou before a big game by sounding as if his team has not shot in winning and West Virginia counts as a big one.

"I've got great respect for their program and what they do. I think they have difference making speed on the field. It's going to be a heck of a challenge for our football team to go out there on Saturday." Holtz said.

This is another chance for East Carolina to make some noise nationally and become the sexy non-BCS pick to bust through. The big plus for ECU is that the Mountaineers are coming to the Pirates turf. West Virginia may have the better players to win by more than a touchdown but ECU is full of confidence and just might be up for another challenge.

2nd Best Game This Weekend: Miami at Florida

One thing you have to understand is that these 2 programs do not like each other. Especially since Florida feels it doesn’t need to play the Hurricanes. Not much respect there. On paper the Gators look to be the most talented team while Miami has talent but it’s young. If Miami is not intimidated by playing at the Swamp, this has the possibility to be an eye opener across the nation. I really think this will be a test for the Gators because Miami is fast. This game will be competitive but I don’t think Miami will win but it wouldn’t shock me if they did.

3rd Best Game This Weekend: Georgia Tech at Boston College

Yea I know, how could 2 middle of the road ACC teams be the 3rd best game of the weekend? 1st it’s one of the few compelling match – ups of the weekend but after what the league went through last week, the Yellow Jackets and the Eagles actually had impressive wins. Well, at least the scores looked impressive.

If Georgia Tech wins and impressively, the Jackets might be the team to beat in the ACC Coastal Division because it is wide open. If B.C. wins then the Eagles become a threat in the ACC Atlantic Division. I look forward to this one.

The Ole Miss/Wake Forest game interests me to. Houston Nutt’s 1st Rebel team reminds me so much of his 1st Arkansas team. That Razorback team in 1998 was coming off a 4 win season and uninspired. Nutt come in and inspired the Hogs to 8 straight wins to open the season. Wake Forest might be the best team in the ACC and is rolling but the Rebels are better than people think. I love the match-up and it should be a fun, entertaining game.

Bet The Farm On The USC Trojans To Win The National Championship:

For those who look for any kind of angle when betting who will win the national title then check out this little ditty. Southern California has won the national championship 4 times in years in which the Summer Olympics have been held. 1928, 1932, 1972, 1994.

Seminoles Name A Starter:

Christian Ponder won the Florida State quarterback lottery. FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher named Ponder the Seminole starting quarterback Wednesday night. The Seminoles open the season Saturday against Western Carolina.

The Red Wolves Are Howling:

It has turned out to be a great move by Arkansas State to change their nickname to the Red Wolves. Last Saturday ASU got its first win over a BCS school defeating Texas A&M 18-14 in front of over 78,000 fans at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. By the way Aggie fans, Paul “Bear” Bryant, Gene Stallings & Jackie Sherrill all lost their 1st games as head coach at Texas A&M.

A Grand Game For Wyoming:

When Wyoming hosts Air Force on Saturday, it will be the 1,000th game in Cowboy history. Now if only Wyoming would do something about that brown and yellow color scheme.

That’s it, I’m spent.

No... No, Ma'am. I'm Not Hank Snow's Brother...

In an attempt to rectify a huge oversight by those of us here at OSG HQ...

One of our favorite movies when cable was first introduced to homes across America can be found below... You remember the first days of cable... channels 2 through 13, and one of them is Home Box Office...

You remember Home Box Office... showing the same movie over and over for an entire month...
And this is where we learned about the art of a "little he-in and she-in..." with Sally Field no less.

Fred... Frog...Frog...Fred...

The Snowman, is now 10-10 and on the side, having passed from emphysema at the age of 71.
And, admit it, this is a whole lot better than seeing his head swapped with that of a cocker spaniel late in a football game with two universities that really don't even exist...
((thanks, the youtube))

Memo To You Wahoos In Ivory Towers

Remember your roots...
And what this country was founded on...
Here's President Andrew Shepherd to remind you...
Al Groh and everyone at UVa, consider yourself to be officially on notice...
((thanks: the youtube))

We Will Not Go Down Without A Fight...

Okay... it's only been a few days now...
The end of the previous month, actually... when we thought we'd show you a former life of the current Republican PartyVice-Presidential candidate, Alaska Governor and self-admitted hockey mom... Sarah Palin...

Otherwise known as Tina Fey's sister at OSG HQ...

First it was K2 in Anchorage screaming copyright violations when they first surfaced...even as we, as we always do, gave the professional courtesy of telling you where the video originated.

Now, I'm sure it's no one in black dress suits and matching shades and Chevy Tahoes, calling the shots or anything, but the current reaction of clicking on our monitors is somewhat disturbing...
((Thanks: the youtube))

So, as a public service... once the monitor dies a painful, Big Brother-finger wagging blackout, you can always go here...
But, remember, we never mentioned it if anyone asks...

Thunder Struck...

The NBA has finally unleashed the largest, well-known, not-so-secret secret...
The new franchise will, heretofore, be known as the Thunder...

People close to the situation leaked pictures of the gear ((which has a very D-League look to it, by the way)) and the actual decision to name the team the Thunder over names like Bison, Barons, Marshals, Wind, and Energy.

Mike Baldwin's piece from newsok.com is hyah

Oklahoma City TV station KOCO, almost a month ago, linked the idea of the OKC Thunder to a web domain that had been reserved. That is, what we call, good ole fashioned detective work...

Their coverage is hyah

Here's your logo...

Joe Gibbs Racing Wins (?) One...

JGR wanted NASCAR to look at the penalties assessed for placing magnetic spacers under the gas pedals a while back in order to mess with the dyno testing after the Michigan race. JGR drivers Joey Logano ((pictured, thanks nascar.com)) and Tony Stewart caught all sorts of holy hell over this one...

JGR appealed their probations and involvement...
The appeal process is o-vuh...
The end ruling from NASCAR... ahem... quote...

"...On September 3, 2008, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the appeal of Joe Gibbs Racing. The appeal concerned two penalties issued by NASCAR to drivers Tony Stewart and Joey Logano.

Briefly, the penalties concern Section 12-4-A of the NASCAR Rule Book “Actions detrimental to stock car racing,” Section 8-9 Competitive Analysis – From time to time, NASCAR may determine, in the interest of competition that it is necessary or appropriate to undertake an analysis of the performance capabilities of a car, car part, component or equipment. The Competitor shall take whatever steps are requested by NASCAR Officials for this purpose. NASCAR also has the right to seal or impound cars, car parts, components and/or equipment for this purpose. NASCAR is not responsible for payment, reimbursement, damage or loss to the Competitor as a result of such analysis, sealing or impounding,” Section 12-4-Q (1) “Any determination by NASCAR Officials that a car, car component, engine, engine component, or any other part or related equipment used in the Event does not conform to NASCAR Rules, detailed in Section 20A of the Rule Book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the Event, or is not required for the normal functional operation of the race car, or has been altered to detract from or compromise its integrity or effectiveness, whether operational or not,” and Section 12-4-K “When NASCAR Officials mandate inspection during the Event, if any car, car parts, components, and/or equipment which have been used in the Event are taken from the racing premises without permission of a NASCAR Official, or are tampered with by any member of the team or anyone associated with the team: Magnetic spacer attached under the gas pedal with the intent of compromising the chassis dyno test.

This stemmed from post-race inspection for a NASCAR Nationwide Series Event held at Michigan International Speedway on August 16, 2008.

The penalties assessed against each driver were:

-a loss of 150 NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship Driver points, and probation until Dec 31, 2008.

Records indicate that others, including the car owners, crew chiefs and team members also received penalties for these same infractions. However, the Appellants specifically requested that the Commission review the probation portion of the driver penalties only. The Appellants also requested and were granted a deferral of the driver probation portions of the penalties until this hearing could be convened.

After reviewing the testimony presented during the hearing, the National Stock Car Racing Commission unanimously decided to amend the penalties assessed by NASCAR, removing the probation portions of both driver penalties, while leaving the Championship Driver points portions intact."

Buddy Baker
Jim Williams
George Silbermann, Chairman

Short version: Logano and Stewart are no longer probies in the Nationwide Series. Everyone else is still in trouble...

Carry on...

A Different Kind of Conference Call...

As is the way, usually after any kind of football game, there is a conference call for writers from far and wide to catch up on all issues past and present.

The most recent attempt at a George O'Leary conference call at the University of Central Florida resulted in a different kind of analysis... Get it...? We said anal-ysis...

If you followed along for the UCF go-round, anyone who dialed in was one number off- thanks to a misprint in the release from Sports Communications. Here's where the Orlando Sentinel's Iliana Limon takes over:

"When I dialed in, the voice on the other line said, "Hi sexy, you've reached the one-on-one fantasy line." I gasped, hung up and figured I must have dialed the wrong number. So, I checked the UCF news release and dialed again, but I got the same phone sex hotline complete with offers I can't really post on this blog."

There's another conference call with O'Leary set for Wednesday...
We assume the telephone numbers will be corrected by then...

St. Pete Times' writer Greg Auman ran in to the same issues Limon did

Division II Football Poll ((Week of September 1st))

1. Valdosta St. (22) 2-0 640 1

2. Grand Valley St. (1) 0-0 595 2

3. North Alabama (1) 1-0 560 4

4. Carson-Newman (1) 1-0 556 6

5. California, Pa. 1-0 542 5

6. Abilene Christian (1) 1-0 523 8

7. Nebraska-Omaha 0-0 492 7

8. Chadron St. 1-0 449 9

9. West Texas A&M 1-0 424 10

10. Delta St. 0-0 394 12

11. Central Washington 1-0 360 11

12. Northwest Missouri St. 0-1 322 3

13. Shepherd 1-0 314 13

14. Pittsburg St. 1-0 303 17

15. Tuskegee 0-0 274 14

16. Indiana, Pa. 0-0 211 21

17. Minnesota-Duluth 1-0 193 22

18. Bloomsburg 1-0 183 t25

19. Tarleton St. 1-0 130 NR

20. Southern Connecticut St. 1-0 120 24

21. Newberry 0-1 110 20

22. Washburn 1-0 88 NR

23. West Chester 0-1 86 16

24. Ashland 0-1 84 15

25. Albany St., Ga. 1-0 71 NR

Another Dirty Dozen

The Dozen is Back...

I know that I just went on a rant about how stupid early season polls are, but we here at the OSG have decided that we want to do them too. Because of that I have to give you a list. Though if things don't change, I may protest the 1st 5 weeks of the 2009 season on principle.

The 12...
1. Southern Cal (They were here last week and beating anyone from the ACC is like a scrimmage game)
2. Georgia (Losing Jeff Owens hurts, but the offense is pretty darn good)
3. Oklahoma (They don't play anyone, but if they did, they'd still be here)
4. Ohio State (Without Beanie, they'll be in trouble-I can't believe I'm talking about someone named Beanie)
5. Florida (They made Hawaii look bad too, but really, Hawaii is kinda bad)
6. LSU (Can you say Ryan who? They will be fine...for now)
7. Texas (I have them fairly high, we'll see if it lasts)
8. Missouri (No defense here, the offense is good, but if they can't stop anyone, they will eventually get beat)
9. Auburn (They are going to be tough, better as the year goes)
10. Alabama (Manhandled Clemson, but they may not be such a big deal now)
11. West Virginia (I just don't know if they are this good, not sold)
12. Lousiana Tech (Just because. Derek Dooley is a pretty good coach, not a team you will want to face this year)

The Fab 5 (or the worst of the worst)
5. Michigan (Ha Ha!)
4. Notre Dame (Just because)
3. Syracuse (Again, just because)
2. Dave Wannstedt (He couldn't win in the pros, he hasn't won in college)
1. The Winner for the worst of the Week- THE ACC. (Guys, if Clemson is the best you've got, you are in deep, deep doo-doo. Can't wait for Hoops already, eh!)

And there you have it.

College Football Polls Suck

Stop Already...

Is there a reason that we have to have preseason college football polls? And for that matter, why do we have to have polls each week of the college football season? Is there some sort of rule that says that Sportswriters and/or coaches know something that we don't? Is there some magic criteria or prerequisite that says "Team A" is going to be the national champion? Or that "Team B" is the #1 Team after 1 week?

Who's da' man?

So. After 1 week, can you say who the best team in all of the land is? Apparently the Associated Press and the Coaches can. They've decided that this week, it will be Southern Cal. Last week it was Georgia.

This is what the alleged top 5 look like:

1) Southern Cal

2) Georgia

3)Ohio State

4) Oklahoma

5) Florida

The results are from both polls. I'm not saying that there is anything conspiritorial here, but what I'm saying is how the hell do you know? Granted Southern Cal opened with Virginia as opposed to Georgia opening with Georgia Southern, but both teams won easily.

Creating Problems...

The reason I bring this up is these early polls create problems later in the year. If you aren't in the Top 10 before the season starts, you've got almost no chance of winning the National Championship. Even if you run the table, you won't be able to pass one of the national powerhouse teams who are always ranked high whether they are good or not. Every couple of years, this becomes an issue (see Auburn circa 2003) and it will continue to be one.

Is the BCS Right?

There aren't a lot of things involving the Bowl Championship series that I agree with, but there is one. That is they don't put out a "Poll" until week 6. At that point you have an idea of what people have. I mean the "Pre-season Pundits" had Clemson as the 9th best team this year. If anyone saw there performance against Alabama (I was there), then you know how untrue that was.

Maybe one day they will all figure it out. But then again, the boosters and the fans all live and die by the polls, so maybe nothing will happen. Either way, it's unfair to the teams, it's a burden that they don't need before the season starts.

Your Big Frank Update

"Making News Savannah Style" gives you our Big Frank hugging a hot dog...
((Not his own mind you...just a rather large one... once again, not his own...))

And a glimpse at what St. Patrick's Day looks like when they throw green coloring in the Savannah River once a year...

Enjoy...
((HT: TV Guide Channel))

Division I-AA Poll ((Week of September 1st))

1) Appalachian State ((62)) 2,625
2) North Dakota State ((42) 2,555
3) Richmond ((4))
4) Massachusetts
5) Montana ((1))
6) Delaware
7) Eastern Washington
8) James Madison
9) Northern Iowa
10) McNeese State
11) Cal Poly ((1))
12) Southern Illinois
13) Wofford
14) Youngstown State
15) New Hampshire
16) Georgia Southern
17) Elon
18) Western Illinois
19) Eastern Illinois
20) Citadel
21) South Dakota State
22) Villanova
23) Central Arkansas
24) Eastern Kentucky
25) Harvard

((courtesy, Sports Network))