College Football - Football Betting

2005-11-01T17:22:00.000-08:00

Keys to the Big Games
Week Six, Oct. 8
Oklahoma vs. Texas

By John Harris---college fotball ---

a. Wright or Wrong? – Ask NFL scouts who the best defensive tackle is in college football. You might get a few Jesse Mahelona responses. You might get Claude Wroten on a few ballots. You may even get some for Mahelona’s partner Justin Harrell. The name that you probably won’t hear is Texas’ Rodrique Wright. Some scouts have Wright as low as a sixth round pick, which is amazing considering that going into his junior season, he was considered to be one of the first ten picks. Before you backlash against that statement, tell me what he’s done lately. There are spots in games where he’s just absent. There were times when you forgot he was out on the field. At some point, #90 has to get back to the level that he was as a sophomore. Last season, he was banged up, especially with his ankle problems, but, regardless, offensive linemen aren’t having much trouble with Wright this season. That has to change in Dallas. Although Adrian Peterson is banged up (50/50 on whether he’ll play at this time, but if you’re a betting man or woman, you know he’ll play), the Oklahoma run blocking seems to have improved a bit each and every week. Now, granted, they’re not what they were last year, but they’re getting better every time they step on the field. Wright must set that improvement back a week or three. No matter what the game plan dictates, the Longhorn DT must find a way to either tie up two or three blockers or penetrate into the backfield, disrupting the running lane options for Peterson and/or Kejuan Jones. Maybe with a prodigious performance in this huge rivalry game, Wright can get back in the good graces of the NFL scouts. More importantly, he can clog the middle and dominate from guard to guard throughout the game.---college fotball ---
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b. Seven Eleven – There are so many ways to interpret the heading. Seven Eleven is always open and that’s what Texas wants out of ‘Slash’ - Ramonce Taylor. Seven Eleven could mean seven (a touchdown) for number eleven (Taylor). Okay, so all artistic liberties aside, Taylor can play. He may not touch the ball as much as RB Jamaal Charles or QB Vince Young, but, oh boy, when he does, it’s electric. Ohio State game – the kickoff return? You know the one. Missouri game – quick screen that he turned into a flying TD? Wow. The thing about both of those back breaking plays was how explosive Taylor was when he got the ball in his hands. It took a little while on the kickoff return eight yards deep in the end zone against Ohio State, but when he turned the corner, there were Buckeyes grasping at air. In the Missouri game, when he came down with the catch, he hit another level of speed to blow past the Tiger D. So, how does the Oklahoma defense account for Taylor? Similar to the way USC uses Reggie Bush, Texas is now using Taylor, with a fewer I formation carries than Bush gets. But, the key this week against the OU defense is to try to motion Taylor out of a myriad of initial alignments to try to get a mismatch, in particular, on a linebacker. If he creates problems for the OU backers, the OU defensive staff has a decision – take out an OLB and put in a safety to help account for him or leave the OLB in to key on Young? Well, what would you do? Thought so. And, that’s why Taylor could have a tremendous game on Saturday.---college fotball ------college fotball ------college fotball ---
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c. Double D – With OU sitting at 2 – 2, you tend to forget about certain aspects about this team. One of them is the fact that they’re only giving up 65.2 yards per game on the ground. Whoa, that’s pretty dadgum good. Well, they’ve got DT Dusty Dvoracek back and he’s a major reason why this OU run defense is as good as it is. Double D has always been disruptive against any running scheme. He has the quickness to penetrate into the backfield. He also can tie up blockers, all the while, creating a ‘bubble’ in the run blocking scheme, affecting the RBs decision process. When Texas’ running game comes on the field, they’re presenting a completing different dimension than what OU has seen this year. But, OU has taken some of the guess work out of stopping Texas in the past by letting Dvoracek and company be as aggressive as possible, letting the LB make plays on Young in the running game. Typically, the Sooners will slant hard to a determined side, which allows them to get penetration or allows them to shut down the seams that the Horn RB could exploit. But, against a talented and experienced Texas OL, Dvoracek will face a cohesive and physical line. However, that’s what feeds this guy and his hunger could help keep the Horns running game at bay.
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Conclusion – If you can’t see the “we’re going to let it all hang out” attitude coming out of Norman, then you’re blind, stupid or both. And, that’s very, very dangerous for burnt orange nation. OU doesn’t have the talent of past years, no question, but youngsters are gaining a little bit of confidence each week. But, that same attitude is what has put Texas at #2 in the country, mainly by following the lead of Young. However, what happens when it’s tight in the second half? Can Texas ‘afford’ to keep that c’est la vie attitude? Will Oklahoma stay in the game long enough to keep the pressure on Texas? To break the streak, Texas has to smash it to pieces. Can they dominate to that extent? Texas hasn’t gotten great production in Dallas from their receivers the last couple of years, but Billy Pittman, Brian Carter and Columbus killer Limas Sweed are an improvement over the last two years’ groups. TE David Thomas has been relatively quiet, but against the OU backers, he could have a solid 5 or 6 catch, 1 TD day. In the end, VY just makes one too many plays to break the OU hex. Texas – 31 vs. Oklahoma – 23---college fotball ---
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2005-10-26T19:13:00.000-07:00

Road to the Rose Bowl
The path to the national championship, Week 8

Week 7 Quality Wins: Texas, LSU and Alabama---college football---

Week 7 Crippling Losses: Texas Tech, Nebraska and Auburn---college football---

The Rationale:---college football---

1. Members of the ACC, Big Ten, Big XII, Pac 10 and SEC plus Notre Dame remain eligible for the Rose Bowl until they suffer their second loss. While not impossible, history shows that two-loss teams won’t finish as high as No. 2 in the BCS rankings. ---college football---

2. Members of the six remaining conferences—Big East, C-USA, Mountain West, MAC, Sun Belt and WAC—must remain flawless to keep their remote hopes for Pasadena alive. While the Big East winner does earn a BCS bowl berth, the level of competition within the league would prevent a one-loss team from playing in the title game.

The Unbeaten Contenders (6)---college football---

Texas (7-0) The ‘Horns are on a serious roll. Since upending Ohio State in week two, they’ve scored at least 42 points and won by more than three touchdowns in each game, capped by Saturday’s 52-17 throttling of then-No. 8 Texas Tech in Austin. Texas is getting contributions from everywhere, and as if its confidence couldn’t get any higher, the program jumped USC in this week’s BCS rankings, a move with extraordinary symbolic significance. ---college football---
Up Next: at Oklahoma State

USC (7-0) USC has slipped behind Texas in the BCS rankings, causing Trojan fans to bombard Los Angeles talk radio stations with angry calls and head coach Pete Carroll to privately do backflips. At No. 2, the Trojans are no less a favorite to be in Pasadena if they win out and Carroll gets an ideal motivational tool for an experienced team that, at times this fall, has looked bored and disinterested in the first half before storming back for a come-from-behind win. ---college football---
Up Next: Washington State

Virginia Tech (7-0) The second half of the season tanks that plagued the program from 2001-2003 appear to be a distant memory. The Hokies were unbeaten at the tail end of last year and began the second half of 2005 by swamping Maryland 28-9 in College Park. Boston College is a well-coached, veteran team that presents a challenge, however, not since the opener has any opponent come within two touchdowns of knocking off Tech.
Up Next: Boston College (Thurs.)---college football---

Georgia (7-0) With the Cocktail Party looming in Jacksonville, it’s looking increasingly likely that the straw that stirs the Dawg offense will not be in pads. QB D.J. Shockley sprained the MCL in his left knee in Saturday’s win over Arkansas, meaning Joe Tereshinski could get his first career start in one of the liveliest venues in all of college football. Provided the junior doesn’t implode, Georgia can still survive with its defense and running game until Shockley returns in November. ---college football---
Up Next: Florida ---college football---

Alabama (7-0) For just the second time its last 11 tries, ‘Bama defeated rival Tennessee in a Tuscaloosa thriller. The Tide has struggled mightily on offense since WR Tyrone Prothro broke his leg three weeks ago, however the team is finding ways to win behind the nation’s third-ranked scoring defense and sophomore K Jamie Christensen, who’s booted the game-winner in each of the last two weekends.
Up Next: Utah State ---college football---

UCLA (7-0) For the first time in more than a month, UCLA didn’t need to rally in the fourth quarter to keep its perfect record unblemished. The Bruins got six touchdown passes from Drew Olson and 242 all-purpose yards from RB Maurice Drew in a 51-28 rout of Oregon State that was lost its suspense early in the third. A tougher-than-expected challenge should be expected this week from Stanford, which has turned its season around after getting shocked by I-AA UC-Davis in September. ---college football---

No Margin for Error (8)

Miami (5-1) Hurricane Wilma forced the cancellation of last week’s game with Georgia Tech, which will be made up on Nov. 19. Even so, the ‘Canes received a little extra love from the BCS computers and were elevated to the top one-loss team when rankings were released. This weekend, Miami will be looking to avenge last year’s loss to Carolina, which ended a perfect season and began a rare second-half slide toward mediocrity.
Up Next: North Carolina---college football---

LSU (5-1) LSU hasn’t come close to playing its best football, yet is No. 8 in this week’s BCS rankings, and will be 7-1 when they square off with Alabama Nov. 12 in a crucial SEC West showdown. Even after defeating Auburn in overtime Saturday night, the Tigers slipped behind Miami in the rankings, and with lightweights North Texas and Appalachian State visiting for a fat paycheck and a beating, Penn State and Florida State, too, might leapfrog the Bengals in the coming weeks. ---college football---
Up Next: North Texas---college football---

Penn State (7-1) Coming off a last-second loss in Ann Arbor, Penn State could have been hung over Saturday night, but instead, hung a nine-under par on an Illinois team that didn’t know what struck them. Michael Robinson masterfully accounted for six touchdowns in the first half as the Lions made a loud statement that their lone loss of the season would be a rallying cry rather than a reason to hang their heads.
Up Next: Purdue---college football---

Florida State (6-1) As expected, Florida State coasted against Duke, and with Maryland and North Carolina State upcoming in Tallahassee, the ‘Noles should be 8-1, and entrenched in the Top 10 by the time the regular season concludes with trips to Clemson and Gainesville. QBs Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee combined to go a sterling 34-of-49 for 376 yards and four touchdowns versus an underrated Blue Devil pass defense.
Up Next: Maryland---college football---

Oregon (7-1) The sobering news that a broken fibula had ended QB Kellen Clemens’ college career dampened Oregon’s 28-21 win over Arizona, its fourth straight since losing to USC. Clemens, whose 19 touchdown passes and 2,406 yards, had him on the cusp of Heisman contention, will be replaced by sophomore Dennis Dixon, who suffered a concussion Saturday, but has two weeks to clear the cobwebs before Cal visits Eugene on Nov. 5.
Up Next: Cal (Nov. 5)---college football---

Boston College (6-1) The first time the Eagles tried to pull a chair up to the ACC adult table, Florida State disposed of the league rookies in Chestnut Hill. Boston College gets a second chance to shake up the standings in this week’s Thursday night ESPN showcase at No. 3 Virginia Tech. Backup QB Matt Ryan rallied BC two weeks ago over Wake Forest, and although Tom O’Brien has yet to confirm it, indications are that the 6-5 sophomore will get the nod over incumbent Quinton Porter in Blacksburg.
Up Next: at Virginia Tech (Thurs.)---college football---

Wisconsin (7-1) It isn’t always a gem, but the Badgers just keep winning, and remain in a flat-footed tie in the Big Ten race with Penn State, a team they’ll visit in a little over a week. For the first time in a month, Wisconsin leaned on its defense for a victory, getting five turnovers and a pair of second-half interception returns for touchdowns to snuff out an upset bid from Purdue. ---college football---
Up Next: at Illinois---college football---

Texas Tech (6-1) The Red Raiders stepped into the spotlight Saturday afternoon with a chance to send shockwaves throughout the college football world, but instead, got Orange crushed by Texas in Austin. Tech proved to be out of its league against the ‘Horns, however, they’re still exceeding expectations after seven games, and with a strong finish, could play bowl game in January for the first time since 1994. ---college football---
Up Next: at Baylor ---college football---
The Coalition Programs (0)

None---college football---

2005-10-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

Temple's Wallace is leaving
He says he'll finish up his eighth season as head football coach, then quit.

By Dan Gelston
Of The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA | Bobby Wallace is leaving Temple in the same shape he found it. The Owls have one of the worst programs in college football.

In the wake of an 0-6 start this season, he's ready to let someone else try to bring Temple some respectability. - College Football -

After eight losing seasons where he never won more than four games and the program's future was always uncertain, Wallace said Monday he will leave at the end of the year when his contract expires.

''What we've been through, the transition we've been through, has taken a toll on me and my family,'' Wallace said. ''It hasn't been easy.'' - College Football -

No, it sure hasn't.

Wallace coached the Owls through one of their worst eras in a historically woeful program. Since Wallace took over in 1998, Temple was booted out of the Big East, switched home stadiums and is playing its first year as an independent before joining the Mid-American Conference as a full member in 2007.

The one constant has been the losing. Wallace has gone 19-66 since taking the job in 1998. Temple's last winning season came in 1990 and it hasn't played a bowl game since 1979.

''Losing will wear on you and we've lost a lot of games,'' Wallace said.

Even with three two-win seasons and a one-win season on his Temple resume, this one has truly been Wallace's toughest. The Owls have allowed more than 60 points three times already and lost by three points against Western Michigan, their best chance for a win this year.

The 11 opponents on Temple' schedule finished a combined 83-48 (.634) last year and eight of its opponents played in bowl games. - College Football -

It doesn't get any easier Saturday when the Owls play seventh-ranked Miami.

Wallace said he met with athletic director Bill Bradshaw last week to talk about his future. Wallace said he made the decision now to give Temple a jump start on finding a new coach.

''If I waited until the end of the season, it would be unethical for Bill to talk to anyone right now,'' Wallace said. - College Football -

Bradshaw said he would immediately start looking at candidates, but had no timetable for a hire.

Temple's uncertain status after being voted out of the Big East in 2001 didn't help Wallace in recruiting. The Owls were kicked out because they didn't meet minimum requirements for membership, most notably in attendance, facilities and fielding a competitive team.

''That was a strain on all of us,'' Wallace said. - College Football -

Temple tried to spruce up the program. The Owls built a state-of-the-art practice facility at their north campus that opened in 2001 and reached a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles to play all home games at Lincoln Financial Field.

Wallace and Bradshaw feel the pieces are in place for the new coach to build a winning MAC program. - College Football -

''It might be the most exceptional opportunity Temple's had to hire a football coach because of all the things that are in place that we haven't had,'' Bradshaw said.

Still, the Owls have no full conference affiliation for another two years. They are affiliate members of the Mid-American Conference in 2005 and 2006, slowly adding conference teams to the schedule until they are full football members in 2007.

Temple hasn't made a positive impression on its new league. The Owls have been outscored 297-63 and have lost five of their games by at least 25 points.

Wallace said he will take at least a year off and will probably not look to become a head coach elsewhere. - College Football -

Wallace led North Alabama to three Division II national championships in 10 seasons at the school in his only other head coaching job from 1988-97. But he never was able to match that success at Temple. The Owls never won more than four games in a season under Wallace, and were 3-26 over the last 21/2 years.

''I didn't know what I was getting into,'' Wallace said.

Copyright © 2005, The Morning Call

2005-10-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

Top 5 story lines in college football this week

Five things to keep an eye on in college football this week:

Oklahoma vs. Texas: In the past five meetings, both teams were ranked in the top 25, with three meetings when both were top-5 teams. That's not the case this season as the 2-2 Sooners stumble into the annual showdown in Dallas.
The Sooners have won five in a row in the series by an average off 27 points per game. Oklahoma is down this year, but the Sooners would like nothing more than to knock the Longhorns out of the national championship picture. - - College Football - -

Rose Bowl: UCLA plays host to Cal in a big Pac-10 showdown. The Bruins are looking to go 5-0 for the first time since the 2001 season. Cal is unbeaten, too. The Bears are 5-0 for the first time since 1996, when Steve Mariucci was their coach, and can start 6-0 for the first time since 1950.

DeAngelo Williams: Don't forget about this Heisman Trophy candidate from Memphis. Williams has had three consecutive 200-plus yard games, including a 236-yard performance last week against UTEP. Williams can pad his stats this week against a Central Florida team that yields an average of 138 yards rushing per game. - - College Football - -

A Big Ten slugfest: The Penn State-Ohio State game features two of the top defenses in the country. Penn State is giving up just 16.6 points per game and will have supreme confidence after shutting down Laurence Maroney and the vaunted Minnesota running game. Ohio State is giving up 12.8 points per game and leads Division I-A in rushing defense (41 ypg). This is the game to watch if you're afootball purist. - - College Football - -

Scarlet Knights: Rutgers would be 4-0 if it hadn't blown a 20-point lead at Illinois in the season opener. As it is, the Scarlet Knights are 3-1 after beating Pitt. They play host to another big Big East game this week against West Virginia. If they find a way to beat the Mountaineers, they'll be a legitimate contender in the conference championship race. - - College Football - -

2005-09-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

Fake football star cheated investor, jury finds

James Fowler, who lied about playing in the Super Bowl and other claims, is found guilty of fraud.

A former Orange County man who cheated an investor out of $1.3 million by falsely listing NFL stars as directors on his sports-marketing firm was convicted Thursday on seven counts of fraud and wire fraud. - NFL Football -

A jury in Orlando's federal court took 11/2 hours to decide James Mikel Lee Fowler fleeced Randy Carlstrom, an Everett, Wash., businessman, by promising returns on his investments from 1996 to 2001.
Fowler, looking frail and in a wheelchair because of a bout with diabetes, falsely claimed to have played with the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII and the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 1970s. - NFL Football -

Fowler, whom authorities think is in his 50s, used the Dream Sports Foundation LLC and his fabricated ties to other NFL players to solicit prospective investors such as Carlstrom.

Among the famed National Football League veterans who testified against Fowler were Hall of Fame running backs Tony Dorsett and Leroy Kelly. Dorsett, the 1976 Heisman Trophy winner, played for the Cowboys, and Kelly was Jim Brown's successor with the Cleveland Browns in the 1960s.

Other NFL standouts who took the stand this week were former Browns back Greg Pruitt, who finished his career with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1984, and ex-Minnesota Vikings linebacker Matt Blair.

The four said they met Fowler in the mid-1990s at celebrity golf tournaments in Orlando. Shortly after that, Fowler produced an infomercial with the players, promising that it would air on national TV. Like other ventures by Fowler, it faltered. - NFL Football -

All testified that they never gave Fowler permission to list their names on his company or for other projects.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Hawkins, in closing statements, said Dream Sports had "turned into a victim's nightmare." - NFL Football -

Fowler faces at least five years in prison at his sentencing, which was set for Dec. 12.

© 2005 Orlando Sentinel Communications

2005-09-07T08:17:00.000-07:00

Weis downplays rivalry with Michigan

DETROIT -- What Michigan-Notre Dame rivalry?

First-year Fighting Irish coach Charlie Weis was asked about the rivalry during his weekly teleconference Tuesday and this is how he replied: ''Not to downplay it, but it's no different for me this week than it was last week. - College Football -

''That's how I view it. Might be different emotions for the players who experience it, but I view it as going to Michigan Stadium and trying to win the game.''

Weis, the former offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, graduated from Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree in speech and drama in 1978 but did not play for the Irish.

He said trying to win Saturday's game--building on last weekend's 42-21 victory at Pittbsburgh--was his only focus. - College Football -

''I have no emotions at all about Notre Dame versus Michigan, none,'' Weis said.

When the Fighting Irish travel to Michigan this weekend, Weiss has an opportunity to join some exclusive company. Not since Knute Rockne has an Irish coach won two road games to start his career. - College Football -

2005-08-31T08:12:00.000-07:00

College football instant replay goes nationwide

By Ralph D. Russo

Associated Press

The Big Ten’s experiment was a big hit last season. Now instant replay is all the rage in college football. - College Football -

Nine more conferences and Notre Dame will join the Big Ten in using video to review certain officials’ calls in 2005, and it will be used in all 28 bowl games.

Replay drew such positive reviews from the Big Ten, the NCAA gave all Division I-A conferences permission to give it a try in 2005 – and just about all of them jumped on board. The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East, Big 12, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, Pac-10, and Southeastern Conference have all implemented an instant replay system at least similar to the Big Ten’s. - College Football -

And they all sought out Big Ten coordinator of officials David Parry and his staff, looking for advice.

“We’re proud and happy about what we got off the ground in 2004,” Parry said. “We’ve sent out a lot of mailings and we’ve been to a lot of meetings.”

Only the Sun Belt and Western Athletic Conference are not using replay this season, but both are taking steps to do it next year. - College Football -

Under the Big Ten’s system, a technical adviser in the press box notifies officials on the field via pager if a play needs to be reviewed. Using video from the TV feed, the adviser reviews the questionable call.

“Indisputable video evidence” is needed to overturn a call. Scoring plays, pass plays and number of players on the field are reviewable, but the majority of penalties, such as holding, pass interference and offsides are not. - College Football -

Replay was used in 28 of the 57 games involving Big Ten teams last season, according to the conference’s stats. Forty-three calls were reviewed and 21 were overturned. Reviews took an average of 2 minutes and 39 seconds.

There were a few rough spots. The first weekend of the season, a Wisconsin game was delayed about five minutes to review the spot of a ball that changed by about a yard.

“We stopped for some plays that weren’t worthy of being looked at,” Parry said.

Officials were told to be more discriminant with reviews; Parry also advised officials to be more concise when announcing the results. - College Football -

“We didn’t want to get into elaborate detail, where the ref was talking too long,” he said.

In the NFL, use of instant replay has been debated for years. It was first implemented in 1986. In 1991, owners voted to get rid of replay, which was bringing games to a grinding halt with lengthy reviews.

Replay was revived in the NFL after the 1998 season, this time placing the onus on coaches to stop play for reviews. The coaches’ challenge has been in place since, but for the most part you won’t see it in the college game – much to the glee of college coaches.

“I like what we’re doing in college,” said South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, who spent two years with the Washington Redskins. “It eliminates coaches worrying about do you challenge this one or that one. - College Football -

“We’ve got the technology now to get it right. I think it’s a smart move. You hate to lose a game because a referee missed the call, so if we can get it right, I think that’s what we should do.”

The Mountain West is the one conference letting coaches have a say on what gets reviewed.

The MWC’s replay system allows for one challenge for each coach per half. If the play is overturned, the coach gets a second challenge for that half – if not, a timeout is taken away. Coaches must have a timeout to challenge and cannot have more than two challenges per half.

“I think it’s going to be less intrusive, less visible element than people might think,” said MWC deputy commissioner Bret Gilliland, who added that the leagues coaches approved using the challenge. - College Football -

Otherwise, the MWC’s system is basically the same as the Big Ten’s.

In other conferences, coaches won’t be completely without recourse if a bad call goes against them.

“As I have told the coaches as I go around, they can encourage us by taking a time out and turning and staring at the replay booth, and that might prompt us a little bit into action to take it a little bit farther,” said Bobby Gaston, coordinator of officials in the SEC.

Conference USA decided to style its replay system after what the NFL does in the last two minutes of games. A technical adviser in the press box will decide which plays to review, but the referee will use an on-field monitor to review the play and make a decision.

The Big 12 will also use an on-field monitor to allow the referee to assist in the review when necessary.

A general concern about using replay is that it will lead to officials becoming passive, knowing a call can be overturned. - College Football -

Parry said he didn’t feel that was the case in the Big Ten last year, and Gaston has be on his officials to stay aggressive.

“I want them to continue officiating because we want as few stoppages as we can get,” Gaston said. “So we’re going to encourage them to see it, know it, and throw it.”

From Parry’s point of view, the greatest benefit of replay was the calming affect it had on the coaches, players and fans.

“They were not so fast to scream at refs of the field because they knew if a play was called wrong, it would get corrected upstairs,” Parry said. - College Football -

It also left officials feeling less stressed.

“They could leave the stadium Saturday night knowing the play was called correctly,” he said.

2005-08-25T08:23:00.000-07:00

Local flavor on new college football poll
Fazio, Bradshaw are among 114 panelists

The Harris Interactive college football poll, which will replace the Associated Press poll in the Bowl Championship Series formula, has determined who will be voting in its inaugural poll this season, and five people with local ties are among the 114 panelists. Former Pitt coach Foge Fazio, former Pitt quarterback John Congemi, and three former Steelers -- Terry Bradshaw, Brentson Buckner and George Perles -- are among the former coaches, players and administrators who will be voting for a weekly top 25 every week starting Sept. 25. - College Football -
The new poll was put together after the Associated Press asked the BCS not to include its poll in the formula after last season. Like the AP poll, the Harris Interactive poll will count as one-third of the BCS formula along with the USA Today coaches' poll and the compilation of six computer rankings. The 114 voters were randomly drawn from more than 300 nominations supplied by the 11 Division I-A conferences and Notre Dame. Each school within a conference was responsible for nominating people. - College Football -
Fazio, who served as Pitt's head coach from 1982-85, is entering his third season as a color commentator on college football games for Westwood One radio network. He retired from coaching after the 2002 season. Fazio said he is scheduled to do 10 games on radio this season. He will see other teams on videotape throughout the season as he prepares for broadcasts. "I'm going to take it seriously," said Fazio, who resides in Moon Township. "I know how important it is. I'll vote on what I know and what I see. It seems like a good thing. They've got a good cross-section of guys." One of the early criticisms of the Harris Interactive poll is the potential for bias among the voters. - College Football -
The former coaches and administrators on the panel have ties to institutions that could be among the teams vying for a BCS bowl berth. Pitt, for example, is in the top 25 of the Associated Press and USA Today coaches' preseason polls. Fazio said he is awaiting a packet of information from Harris Interactive on the voting process. But in conversations with representatives from the poll, Fazio said there are no guidelines for voting for your former school. Voters will not be required to make their ballots public until the final vote Dec. 5. The first BCS standings come out Oct. 17. "With me coaching at Pitt, they did not say, 'Don't vote with your heart,' " Fazio said. "If Pitt is good, I'll vote for them." Congemi is a color commentator for college football games on ESPN. Perles, a former defensive coordinator under Chuck Noll with the Steelers, was the head coach at Michigan State until 1994. He is now retired. - College Football -
The other voters with local ties are loosely affiliated with college football, or have no known ties. Bradshaw works for Fox's NFL pregame show. And Buckner is entering his 12th season as a defensive lineman in the NFL. He played for the Steelers from 1994-96. Other notable panelists are: Lou Holtz, Steve Largent, John Mackovic, Don Maynard, Boomer Esiason, Rocket Ismail and Anthony Munoz. One can access a complete list of voters at bcs.football.org. "Harris Interactive has been very diligent in creating a voting panel that is balanced statistically valid and representative of all Division I-A conferences and independents," BCS coordinator Kevin Weiberg said in a statement. - College Football -
"I would like to thank the 114 panelists that have agreed to participate, and we appreciate their willingness to support college football in this important way."

Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

2005-08-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

Never imagined a future in banking

Vaught, a business administration major, said he never imagined when he went to college that he would have a future in banking, but he said that's where he's headed after graduation next spring. - College Football -
"I had not really ever thought about banking as a career, and one day a light bulb went off that it might be something I was interested in," he said. "In a class I was taking at school we had to do a project, and I learned that a loan officer does a lot, and for whatever reason it piqued my interest." - College Football -
For the next three months, Vaught's primary interest will be in helping Cumberlands reach the NAIA playoffs, which it just missed last season after an 8-3 season.
Vaught said a core of 18 to 20 seniors aims for the same goal, something they set their sights on three years ago. - College Football -
"When my freshman class came in, we knew we were going to end up being the nucleus of the team," he said. "As young as they were and with a new coaching staff, all of us had the opportunity to play early. One reason a lot of my class is still there is because we wanted to see it all the way through.
"We struggled some when we were young, but we knew if we continued to work hard and show up every day and tried to learn, we could get to this point where the past couple of years we've been knocking on the door to get to the playoffs." - College Football -

The Advocate-Messenger

2005-08-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

UW FOOTBALL: Verona's DeCremer commits to Badgers

The University of Wisconsin football team has secured the first oral commitment of the Bret Bielema era.
Verona defensive end Kirk DeCremer, who received an offer from the Badgers in Bielema's office Thursday, earned that distinction when he committed to special teams coach Brian Murphy, his primary recruiter, on Sunday. - College Football -
"My mom had kind of talked about that," DeCremer said Monday of being the first player to commit since it was announced that Bielema, the defensive coordinator, would succeed Barry Alvarez as head coach after this season. "I thought it was kind of nice.
"I didn't know I was going to be his first official recruit until we talked (in Bielema's office). It made me feel pretty special. It was just nice to hear. It was nice to be wanted."
DeCremer, 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, is going into his third year as a two-way starter - defensive end and tight end - for the Wildcats. He runs well, having been timed in 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and also is a standout basketball player. - College Football -
"He's a thoroughbred," Verona football coach Dave Richardson said. "He's got the first step, he's got the leverage. He's got great feet and hand strength, arm strength, he's just got it all.
"He's a typical multi-sport, really good athlete, a kid who plays two sports and uses those skills in both endeavors. He's tough to handle. He's tough to block." - College Football -
DeCremer's only other offers were from Ball State and Central Michigan, though after performing well at summer camps for Michigan and Michigan State - in addition to UW - Richardson thought offers might be forthcoming from those schools as well.
Instead, Bielema beat them to the punch. He officially took over all aspects of recruiting after the July 28 announcement that Alvarez would retire as coach after this season.
"(Bielema) absolutely sold it," Richardson said. "This is the job he's waited for. You could just tell in his eyes, he can't wait to take it over and he can't wait to have kids like Kirk, who is a great student, a great character kid, playing for him. You could just tell that's who he wanted."
In addition to being impressed with Bielema, DeCremer said he's excited about playing for defensive line coach John Palermo. - College Football -
"I think he's a great coach," DeCremer said. "I like the whole system at UW and coach Bielema, and the fact it's right in our back yard makes it even better."
During his first two years of high school, DeCremer envisioned playing college basketball, just like his dad. Jim DeCremer, who passed away in May 2004, played basketball at UW from 1968 to '71 before a career as a dentist in the area. - College Football -
When college coaches started telling Kirk DeCremer he had Division I potential in football, they were merely echoing something he already had heard from his dad.
"I think he'd be extremely happy," Kirk DeCremer said of his father. "He always thought I'd be playing football somewhere, instead of basketball. I think he'd just be ecstatic."

TOM MULHERN
Wisconsin State Journal

2005-07-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

Hello, Eagles
Boston College hoping for strong showing in its first ACC football season

HOT SPRINGS, Va. - Before the ACC football season starts in earnest, a formal introduction is in order.Meet Boston College, enrollment 14,500, a Catholic school founded in 1863 and actually outside the Boston city limits in the quaint suburb of Chestnut Hill.
Boston College officially joined the ACC last month as its 12th member, completing the expansion process after Miami and Virginia Tech came in last season, bringing with it the nation's fifth-largest media market and extending the league's boundaries to both tips of the Eastern seaboard. - College Football -
The pertinent background information?
The Eagles' colors are maroon and gold. The mascot is named Margo, get it? The football stadium, Alumni Stadium, seats 44,500 and is already sold out for all six home games this season. It's near the middle of campus, and is compared by some to Georgia Tech's Grant Field. For trivia buffs, BC played home games in Fenway Park in the 1940s.
Graduates include John Kerry, actor Chris O'Donnell, and some girl from Saturday Night Live. And Doug Flutie, the 1984 Heisman Trophy winner and the guy responsible for the greatest play in school history, his Hail Mary touchdown heave to Gerald Phelan to beat Miami on the last play of the game. - College Football -
If you've ever run in the Boston Marathon, you've run right past BC.
"We're actually at the top of Heartbreak Hill," Tom O'Brien, entering his ninth season as BC's head football coach, said at the ACC Football Kickoff earlier this week. "When they run the Marathon, it's 5.2 miles from BC down into the city."
It's a beautiful campus, especially when the leaves turn in the fall, but there is one problem.
"Our campus is closed," O'Brien said. "We have close to 8,000 students living on campus, so everybody walks everywhere. You're not going to park. Forget driving. We have great mass transit, but forget parking." - College Football -
Oh, one other thing.
The football team is pretty good. It's really good, in fact. And it wouldn't be a big shock if the Eagles came in and won the ACC championship in their inaugural season, as Virginia Tech did last season. - College Football -
O'Brien has taken the Eagles to bowl games in each of the past five years, including a trip to the Continental Tire Bowl last year for a 37-24 win over North Carolina. Seventeen starters are back from that team, which finished 9-3 and shared the Big East title despite playing as a lame duck.
Defensive end Mattias Kiwanuka was the Big East defensive player of the year and may be the best player in the ACC this season. The entire offensive line is back, which is especially significant because O'Brien takes particular pride in producing NFL-caliber linemen.
Those around the ACC who have gone up against the Eagles already - particularly Miami and Virginia Tech, who know them from the Big East - already have a world of respect.
"They're a great team," said Eric Winston, an offensive tackle for Miami. "If anybody can round out a conference, it's Bos-ton College. They bring an element of class, and they bring an element of hard-working football to the conference. You can't have enough teams like Boston College.
"It's a great place to play up there. It's a tough place to play. It's not that big, but when you get a lot of kids in there it can get rowdy. You know anytime you play them it's going to be a great game, because they're so well-coached, and they're so physical, and they're so hard to prepare for." - College Football -
The Eagles' smash-mouth style will be in stark contrast to most ACC teams.
"They bring a Big Ten kind of presence to the ACC," said Coach Jim Grobe of Wake Forest, whose Deacons have upset the Eagles in each of the past two years. "It's a style that is different and, I think, exciting for our league. They have a physical, tough, hard-nosed mentality. They have those huge, huge offensive linemen, and real big, physical defensive guys, and they have enough skill people to match up. I just think they'll make life rough on a lot of people."
Winston said that the Eagles will be one of the most well-coached teams in the league, too.
"Their defensive coordinator, he always has something up his sleeve," Winston said. "He always knows what's going on. I remember my sophomore year, they knew if we were going to run the ball or pass based on our running-back alignment. We were like, 'How are they doing this?' and then we finally figured it out. That tells you about them. We had played six games before then, but no one else picked up on it. That's the little stuff they do that is so impressive."
O'Brien, an assistant at Virginia from 1982 through '96 before going to BC, has tried to shrug off all the praise so far. He scoffed when the Eagles were picked to finish second to Florida State in the Atlantic Division in the ACC preseason poll announced earlier this week.
But he doesn't hide his enthusiasm about being in the ACC. - College Football -
"This is a great opportunity for our school," O'Brien said. "Having been in the league 15 years, I have a sense of what the league is, and then you add Miami and Virginia Tech to it, and to be a part of it is great. - College Football -
"You take a small parochial school from Boston that maybe wasn't known outside of Boston except for a pass in the Orange Bowl against Miami in 1984, and now this gives you national exposure. This is an opportunity for us to become a national school."
There's one other thing. - College Football -
The Eagles fans? They like the fact that BC is in the ACC, too.
"They'll enjoy the opportunity to head south in November," O'Brien assured. "There's a lot of good golfers in Boston, and they've already lined up their golf trips. So everyone here's excited about the opportunity. There's going to be a learning curve for all of us, and we're going to have to learn fast. But we're looking forward to it." - College Football -

Winston-Salem Journal

2005-07-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

High school all-stars have to choose football or basketball

FARGO, N.D. - Some North Dakota high school all stars have to make a choice.Linton's Kyle Carr got an invitation to both the Lions All-Star boys basketball games and the Shrine All-Star football game.He decided to finish his high school days on the hardwood."It was pretty much a no-brainer," Carr said. - College Football -He was one of at least 10 athletes to have the choice of playing in the all-star football game or the all-star basketball game this summer. Nine others also opted to play in the Lions game.Under North Dakota High School Activities Association rules, a player may play in just one all-star event sanctioned by the state coaches association."This Lions game is a prestigious event. It draws well and it's a fun time for kids," said Steve Miller, the Class A head coach from Bismarck.Ten players invited to both the football and basketball games said they would play in both games if rules would allow it. - College Football -"I would have played in both," said Matt Geiselhart, a Class A all-state first-team forward from Wahpeton. "It would have been fun."The Lions games are scheduled Tuesday at the Bismarck Civic Center and Wednesday at the Fargo Civic Center. Girls basketball games are scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. each night, followed by the boys games. - College Football -Nearly every player said the prestige of the Lions games was a factor in their decision."Less guys get chosen," Geiselhart said. "It's more of an honor.""I just chose what I liked best," Milnor's Ransom Schutt said.Schutt, an all-state center for Milnor, will attend North Dakota State this fall and won't play basketball. It means the Lions games likely are his last opportunity to play organized basketball.Many Class B players believe they get overlooked during the regular season and that the Lions game is an opportunity to prove they're just as good as their Class A counterparts."You're playing against Class A kids. You're not playing against each other," Flasher's Wes Schafer said. - College Football -"You kind of get snubbed being from a small town," Carr added.Jon Meier, a four-year starter at Mott-Regent, is one of several players who will play football in college, yet chose to play in the basketball all-star event."I just figured it's my last chance to play (basketball) again," Meier said. "I wanted to be a part of it." - College Football -Evan Bennefeld and Tyler Cook of Class B state champion New Rockford-Sheyenne said they knew if it came down to it, they would choose the Lions game."We kind of knew we were going to play in it," Bennefeld said.

Associated Press

2005-07-12T08:36:00.000-07:00

Going by NCAA's book puts schools in a bind
Beginning this season, rule stipulates all schools' media guides can be a maximum of 208 pages.

No more Yellow Pages-sized college football media guides.
Sports information directors throughout the country are scrambling to decide what to eliminate. An NCAA ruling passed a few weeks ago says that media guides in all sports must be limited to 208 pages -- beginning this season. - College Football -
This is a big adjustment for many of the tradition-rich football programs that use the guides not only to serve the media, but also as recruiting tools. Michigan must cut 160 pages from last season's 368-page guide. Michigan State needs to eliminate 92 more pages after eliminating 40 last year in anticipation of the change.
Erik Christianson, a director of media relations for the NCAA, said the rule was passed to cut costs and also "level the playing field" in recruiting. - College Football -
Media guides have gotten increasingly larger since the NCAA decided in the mid-1980s that schools couldn't produce a separate recruiting guide.
"That one rule started the arms race of media guides," said Bruce Madej, director of media relations at Michigan. "They're going to be straight recruiting (guides) now because you can't put all your information in it."
The media guides are used to impress recruits by putting a positive spin on the program and university. - College Football -
Here's the problem -- a program like Eastern Michigan had a 216-page guide last season while Missouri's was 614 pages.
Nevertheless, John Lewandowski, associate athletic director for media relations at Michigan State, considers the new rule overreacting. - College Football -
"I don't think a media guide has ever been the difference-maker in what school a player chooses," Lewandowski said. "I just think there's tremendous hypocrisy here. How about leveling the playing field with expanded weight rooms and other facilities? Are they going to limit the capacity of stadiums?"
As for the financial aspects, Michigan State could save about $18,000 in printing and production costs with the smaller guide, according to Lewandowski -- about three-thousandths of a percent of the athletic department's $55 million budget. - College Football -
Many schools recoup some of their costs by selling copies of the guide to the public.
The money saved with the smaller guide, in many cases, will be automatically spent in other ways to make up for the lost information, said David Ablauf, an assistant media relations director for Michigan.
All schools are expected to provide links on their Web sites to the information that's been cut. But some might also produce an informal, unbound supplemental record book for the media. Others might provide CDs with that information. - College Football -
Game programs, bowl guides and spring guides -- none limited in size -- could get bigger.
Some Atlantic Coast Conference schools initially began pushing for the change. At one point, the NCAA considered abolishing the guides altogether and having the information available only on Web sites.
A compromise was reached, but many sports information people believe 208 pages are not enough to serve the needs of the media and recruits.
A big part of college sports is the traditions of each program. The media guides have been compared to encyclopedias of a team's history. - College Football -
"I think everyone should have the freedom to package their tradition in their own unique way," Lewandowski said. "The media guides are keepsakes."
Lewandowski recently met with coach John L. Smith and Mike Vollmar, director of football operations for the Spartans, to discuss "page-by-page" what should be eliminated. Lewandowski also sought advice from the media.
The problem is the coaches and media had much different perspectives. Some items the media said to cut are considered crucial for recruiting purposes, including overviews on the medical staff and academic facilities. - College Football -
"That's very important to prospects and prospects' parents," Lewandowski said. "Who is going to take care of them? What kind of facilities do you have available? That's part of the sales process."
By early July, final decisions must be made on what to leave in and what to take out.

By Dave Dye / The Detroit News

2005-07-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

Sports Alumni Inc. Commences Implementation of Their Business Plan

HENDERSON, Nev., July 5, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Sports Alumni Inc. (Pink Sheets:SPNI), dba American Football Alumni Inc., (AFA) (http://www.americanfootballalumni.com/) is a Nevada membership based "for profit" corporation. AFA membership is composed of former high school varsity, collegiate and professional football players and coaches and all others who actively support the sport.
The American Football Alumni ("AFA") is a member-based organization in service and support of former and current football players and football programs. AFA is a formulation of a fraternal group of individuals, sharing a common bond, whose foundation is based upon an intangible passion for football and all that it means to have played and lived it. AFA membership is not limited to or meant to be for only the most elite players or the most recognized, but for every player, coach, support staff, fan or family member that have dedicated their selves to the game of football. Eligibility for AFA enrollment and membership is open to all those individuals having participated in and/or lettered a minimum of one season at the high school varsity level or above. Affiliate memberships will also be available with limited features to those who avidly support football.
AFA was formed with three goals integral to our corporate charter. RECOGNITION: to provide information and support services to former football players, coaches and supporters as it pertains to their lives and future. AWARENESS: to provide a vehicle to assist AFA members in supporting the football program at the schools they attended. INVOLVEMENT: provide a means to give former football players and coaches, as a whole, a continued presence and voice in the ongoing culture of American football.
One of our most important services will be working as a unified voice and lobbying group. AFA members will have an opportunity to vote for college as well as local high school football polls. This is long over due as the football alumni more than all other bodies will give the most realistic evaluation of teams. Further to providing a voice, it has been long needed to have an organization like the AFA to affect influence on subjects such as rule changes in college and high school football, as well as providing input on national issues such as schools and leagues dropping or changing there support of football and the student athletes.
Membership Benefits will include the following:
AFA Home Page -- members will access the exclusive articles, interviews, team pages, event monitors, polls, and advertising business suppliers, plus the large main online store of sporting goods and team memorabilia. These services include Member and Team Chat rooms, and Fantasy Football.
AFA Team Pages -- Including all high schools, college teams at all levels, with fellow alumni, including players and coaches contacts, e-mails, and profiles of where they are now, and what they have done, team photos from years past and current photos. Arranging reunions, golf outings, and invitations to other planned events of all sorts will be available and assisted through online premier membership.
AFA Educational Pages -- Continuing or finishing education for high school and college assistance through distant learning institutions, local college links, and advanced degree availability through providers who advertise and are qualified by AFA to provide such services to our members.
AFA Team Stores -- AFA's online store will be unlike any other available. Providing the team memorabilia of High School, Colleges, and other sportswear, we will provide discounted access to online merchandise such as shoes, sports wear and sporting gear of all sorts. Our stores will offer more than just football merchandise, but also golf, biking, hiking, and other life sporting goods.
AFAxchange(r) -- is an online member section that will allow the exchange of all types of information between players, coaches, scouts and other organizations. This will include personal and related business information such as player stats, coaches' playbooks and tips, and scouting information. One feature will allow members to opt-in to cross-market their businesses with each other offering discounts and opportunities to other members through our member network marketing program. The potential of AFA's resulting effect is enormous. Many alumni reconnections have led to successful business relationships.
AFA Business Provider Pages -- Participating advertisers include hotels, rental cars, shipping, airlines, business goods, resort and vacation packages, online banking and investment providers, computer wear, sporting goods, and thanks to our demographic, every other form of advertised business which will provide unique packages to the AFA members.
AFA Alumnipoll(r) -- Unlike the AP, UPI or other non-player polls, Alumnipoll(r) will be member driven by those who lived and know the sport. Polls at the High School, Regional, Collegiate and Conference levels will be more informed, more insightful, and valuable to grade the talent, the teams and the coaches. Those in sports radio, print and television to be indicators of the true talent and achievement will quickly rely upon AFA polls.
AFA Events -- AFA will sponsor social/networking type events and annual conventions for all Gold and Platinum members. The AFA will provide every member the opportunity to attend these large events. Members will have the opportunity to reunite and build relationships with other members and senior executives of corporations supporting the mission of the AFA. AFA Events include: Dignitary Receptions, Entrepreneur Showcases, Workshops, Merchandise Shows, Career Seminars and Awards Banquets.
Memberships -- There are two (2) main categories of memberships: Alumni Members and Affiliate Members, with a third, Charter Alumni Members, available to select individuals for a limited time. Within Alumni and Affiliate memberships there are three levels; Platinum, Gold and Registered Member. With each progressive level and cost, members have additional capabilities and access to additional services.
For more information and enrollment please visit our website at www.americanfootballalumni.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Expressions of future goals and similar expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of products and technologies, successful integration of acquisitions, the ability to secure additional sources of financing, the ability to reduce operating expenses and other factors. The actual results that the company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. The company undertakes no obligations to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

Sports Alumni

2005-06-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

Let's play Tee-ball
Football pedigree will be put to test

That didn't take long, did it? Two weeks into the season, and the Blue Bombers are already into their second starting quarterback.
And we thought Britney Spears switched relationships at a moment's notice.
Of course, the Bombers have hopped into bed with Tee Martin out of necessity, since starter Kevin Glenn can't perform the next few weeks due to an ankle injury.
If you've been paying attention, though, you know Martin has a seductive quality all his own, ever since bringing his impressive credentials to town midway through last season.
It's not every day the leader of a big-time U.S. college offence -- a national championship winner, no less -- and fifth-round NFL draft choice hooks up with a CFL team without first exhausting all NFL suitors.
But that's what Martin, the former University of Tennessee star, did last September.
Since then he's immersed himself in the ways of the three-down game, impressing even a work-a-holic like Bomber boss Jim Daley with his commitment to learning.
All for the day he'd get his chance -- a day that came much sooner than anyone imagined.
"It just fell into my lap," Martin acknowledged yesterday.
Isn't that how it always seems to happen?
It's how Khari Jones first got noticed five years ago, subbing in for an injured Kerwin Bell.
It's also how Glenn wrestled the job from an ailing Jones last season, and how dozens of careers are born, in every sport, every year.
You might call it preparation meeting opportunity.
The question is, will the sparks fly, or will these two have an evening of awkward moments, give each other a polite handshake and decide it just wasn't meant to be?
"We're still developing a chemistry," Martin said of the Bombers of '05. "It's exciting to know I'm going to be part of the chemistry of this team. It's my first professional start. It's gonna be fun."
Actually, Martin was a starter in NFL Europe, but that was three years ago.
So you can't blame the guy for feeling a bit like he's on his first date.
As for what side he's going to show jilted Bomber fans still on the rebound from last year, Martin promises sincerity, if nothing else.
'GOTTA BE ME'
"I gotta be me," he said. "I'm a fiery type of quarterback. You'll know if I'm happy, and you'll know if I'm mad. I'm not like the quarterback who says, 'This is how I'm supposed to be.' I'm human. You're paralyzed when you're a robot."
Truth is, quarterbacks have looked paralyzed playing in the Bomber offence the last year, or so.
Based on last week's season-opener in Saskatchewan, Martin is stepping into a huddle with an offensive line that couldn't open a hole for a ferret and a receiving corps that couldn't catch a beach ball.
Of course, Glenn wasn't exactly the second coming of Dieter Brock, either.
"I'm a different type of quarterback than Kevin is," Martin offered.
"I think we're going to have a feel of excitement out there. To get outside the pocket and make plays, that's something I've always liked to do."
So can a different quarterback make plays in this offence, or is the supporting cast so average that Peyton Manning, Martin's predecessor at Tennessee, would look bad running it?
We'll begin to get an answer tomorrow night, when the Edmonton Eskimos come to town.
Martin will no doubt be under the magnifying glass, just like he was when Tennessee fans wondered if he could deliver the national championship that Manning couldn't.
"It's not like I can come in and save the world," Martin said.
Don't worry, you don't have to. Saving the season will do, just fine.
Show Bomber fans you might be able to do that, and it'll be love at first sight.
By PAUL FRIESEN

Ap College Football Poll

2005-06-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

Ap College Football Poll