Month: September 2020

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D’Eriq King Gives the Miami Hurricanes Hope That They Have Relished for Decades

This time of year, in Miami, Hurricane season is prevalent. Whether talking about the forecast or in the realm of football, both ring true. For the University of Miami, their football team has been struggling for nearly two decades, but things are on the up thanks to quarterback D’Eriq King.

Unlike most historic college football programs, they have had only one 10-win season since 2003. When comparing to other universities in Florida, they rank last behind Florida Atlantic, USF, UCF, UF, and Florida State in 10-win seasons since 2003.

A lot of their issues derive from coaching and recruiting, but the lack of good quarterback play has haunted Miami. Former Head Coaches Larry Coker, Randy Shannon, Al Golden, Mark Richt have tried to right the ship, but they have been unsuccessful in recruiting top players, specifically at the quarterback position. 

New head man Manny Diaz struggled in 2019 going 6-7, in large part due to shaky offensive line play coupled with a subpar quarterback, but this year, things are looking promising.  The ‘Canes have not faced a true test, but they have shown promise winning their first two games. One glaring change that Diaz has that the other coaches did not have is a star quarterback as he does now with King.

King left the third coast (Houston) to take his talents to South Beach. Since arriving on campus, he has given them a sense of hope that they have not felt since Carson Daly was hosting TRL.

In a small sample size of two games, King has displayed that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. His PFF grade of 83.4 is fourth among Power Five Quarterbacks and his showing on the road in Louisville should not be ignored.

In a 47-35 showdown against the Cardinals, King tallied 325 yards passing and three touchdowns, including a game-changing 75-yard to Jaylan Knighton. Although we are still in the early stages of the season, Miami fans cannot help to be excited about the rest of the season. It is safe to say that the jury is still out on the ‘Canes, but for the first time in forever, they have an NFL-caliber quarterback. In an interview, college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit likened King’s impact as a transfer to a familiar name.

“Russell Wilson comes to mind for me,” Herbstreit said. “He left N.C. State and showed up in Madison. He was there for four weeks and was voted unanimously a team captain. His temperament and his style with the way he carried himself reminds me of D’Eriq King — not what we saw of him against the Patriots the other night, but as a college player — he reminds me of D’Eriq King in a similar situation.”

With compliments like that, it shows that King is a special player, but for those who have been studying the game, this should not come as a surprise.

In 2018, King had a 91.2 PFF grade, which was only behind by then Heisman winner Kyler Murray. While King is not back to that level, he is more than capable of doing so. During that year, King also had a turnover-worthy throw percentage of 1.8%, which shows that he can take care of the ball, and area that has hurt Miami over the years.

Miami’s offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee has a great track record with quarterbacks at previous stops and that is the perfect recipe for King’s success. His high-octane offense will give King ample opportunities to make plays through the air and on the ground.

The excitement is real and Canes fans should be happy. No, Nevin Shapiro is not leading the team out of the smoked tunnel at the OB, but the Hurricanes have the makings to be one of the top teams in the ACC.

The U may not be back to the days where they were the most feared team in college football, but thanks to King, they are back to respectability, which is a great start for their football program.

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Get to the point: Who will be watching the CFP Selection Show on Dec 20th?

The 2020-2021 College Football season will be one to remember for good and bad reasons. The Big 10 is back after having their season postponed, and Pac 12 will not resume football until the spring while the other conferences have found a safe way to play football amidst Covid-19. Despite the chaos college football is here, and with that, here are the way too early contenders to make the College Football Playoffs.

 

AAC 

Welcome to the big-league boys. The AAC has a chance to put their first team into the College Football Playoffs since its inception in 2014. To no surprise, there are a few teams primed to make a postseason run. Memphis is good on paper, but it may take new head man Ryan Silverfield to find his footing. UCF and Cincinnati are tough and can make a run as well. UC will have a tough contest against Army and a loss to them could derail their chances in making a serious run.

 

ACC

The ACC comes down to Clemson and Notre Dame (sounds weird, huh). 

Teams such as Boston College, Virginia, Wake Forest, and Miami will be much improved, but they will be no matchup for Clemson and Notre Dame. If Trevor Lawrence is under center they have a clear advantage against the rest of the conference and perhaps the rest of the country. We know what to expect out of Travis Etienne, who is the best running back in college football. The only question mark is their defense, but Brent Venables will have them well-prepared. 

Notre Dame is officially in the ACC this season and Ian Book & Co. will make things interesting, but they will not have enough firepower to make a legit run against a hungry Clemson team that fell short in last year’s National Championship Game. 

 

Big Ten

Kevin Warren is out of his bunker and the Big Ten will start their 8-game season on October 24th. With that news, it is no secret that Ohio State is a near-lock to make the CFP. Ohio State returns Justin Fields, who will be a Heisman Favorite and arguably the best interior lineman in the country in Wyatt Davis. With the return of Shaun Wade, the Buckeyes will look to promising players such as Josh Proctor, Sevyn Banks, and Zach Harrison to take the next step towards stardom. Outside of the Buckeyes, Penn State is next in line to make a push, but the loss of Micah Parson will be huge for the Nittany Lions. 

 

Big 12 

The Big 12 embarrassingly started the season as Iowa State and Kansas State suffered big losses against the University of Louisiana Lafayette and Arkansas State, respectively. As a conference, the Big 12 has not won a National Championship since 2005 and that streak will continue this season. Despite that, they do have three strong contenders in Oklahoma State, Texas, and Oklahoma. Oklahoma State has 10 out of 11 starters coming back on defense and they have 4 starters returning on the offensive line. In addition to that, they have Chuba Hubbard, Tylan Wallace, and Spencer Sanders that round out the offense high-powered offense.

Texas has a lot of talent coming back with Sam Ehlinger under the center. The Longhorns also add former Michigan Wolverine wide receiver Tarik Black to an already potent offense. The pressure is on Tom Herman’s team to take the next step, and this year could be it.

Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley have been the class of the Big 12, but unlike previous years they are thin and inexperienced at their most valued positions. Lincoln Riley has worked magic with previous quarterbacks Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Jalen Hurts, but this year will be his toughest task yet. Redshirt freshman Quarterback Spencer Rattler is still a complete unknown although he lit up against Arkansas State, only time will tell with him and his development. If he is what was expected out of him in high school, he will add to the list of Heisman-worthy quarterbacks under Riley.

As always, the college football playoff hopes fall on the Sooners defense. The defensive Coordinator has a tall task ahead of him, which is no surprise given that they have been one of the most abysmal units in the country over the last three years. If they make a slight jump and improvement it may increase their chances of making the CFP, but do not expect them to make any noise if they make it.

 

PAC-12

The Pac 12 has been close to silent thus far in their stance on having a football season. Maybe they are waiting for Urban Meyer to save the conference. Sorry Clay Helton.  They are fighting state governments, mandates and restrictions, let alone school presidents and conference commissioners. As the clock ticks, the odds on favorite to win the conference and earn a play off birth in Oregon are left out in the cold while the rest of major college football cozies up next to the fire that is College Football.

 

SEC

The SEC is top-heavy with Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Teams such as Auburn, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Texas A&M will be improved, but not enough to be considered a threat. The defending champions LSU will take a huge step back after losing nearly their entire offense highlighted by Heisman Trophy Winner and No. 1 draft pick Joe Burrow. 

The trio of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida will be interesting to keep an eye on. A lot of people are high on Florida given their success last season and Alabama and Georgia return a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. There are questions marks for Georgia at quarterback with D’Wan Mathis under center. The Bulldogs are talented, and the third game of the season against Alabama will determine a lot going forward. 

St. Nick will have the Crimson Tide ready to go and they are primed to make a run to the CFP. They have the best skill position players in the conference with Najee Harris, DeVonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle and they have a top-flight defense led by future All-American Patrick Surtain II. Quarterback Mac Jones will have to flourish in the A.J. McCarron role for Alabama to reach the CFP, which should not be a tough task given how talented and well-prepared they will be. 

There is always hype around Florida, but could this year be the year that they take the next step. Kyle Trask is one of the best quarterbacks in the conference and Dan Mullen knows a thing or two on how to get the most from his QB’s. Florida has a solid foundation on the defensive side of the ball as well. The winner of the UF vs. UGA showdown will likely make it to the SEC Championship so there is a lot at stake on November 7th. I honestly think two SEC teams may sneak into the CFP just as we have seen before.

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A Letter to Ohio State: From a Georgia Fan

Hey numb nuts, get your act together. Seriously, we’re waiting on you. We’ve suffered for the past six months through this garbage virus, with the hope of college football as the light at the end of the tunnel. I know you’re sick of your compadres in the Big 10 and would like to see Kevin Warren sentenced to sandpapering a wildcat’s balls in a phone booth. I get it. You deserve football, especially after last year when Clemson beat you again. Sorry, couldn’t resist, but we’re as shocked as you are that Clemson apparently invented football in the last 10 years; at least that’s what their fans would have us believe. We hate Alabama like you hate Clemson, and you probably hate Alabama, too. We should be friends, but we aren’t because of the whole Justin Fields thing. Time and a little therapy can fix that, though.

Ohio State is loaded. We get that. Nobody else in the Big Ten is a serious title contender, so if your season stays canceled, it’s no big deal to us. Georgia has to deal with Bama in week three, and probably again in December at some point, then Clemson if both get that far (Georgia likely won’t). Georgia fans will take a national title after 40 years of misery even if it comes with an asterisk. Every other fan base in the SEC, ACC or Big 12 would say the same. But we don’t want to hear Buckeye fans always say, “Well, you didn’t beat us.”

Georgia could use Fields this year, obviously. The current QB situation is J.T. Daniels and Dwan Mathis. Not a great spot to be in after Jamie Newman up and quit, but the defense is legit and can win 9 or 10 games with ball-control offense. Fields deserves to get one more year at Ohio State and then go get his money, which he’s going to do regardless. Props to him for wanting to play. He deserves to face Georgia, which would draw huge ratings, or Alabama or whoever. Warren’s decision isn’t fair to him or anybody else in the Big Ten who has to watch their commissioner down in Starkville as his son plays at Mississippi State. That may be the most idiotic hypocrisy I’ve ever seen.

Keep pushing. Do what you have to do to make this thing happen. We’re pulling for you (OK, maybe some of us aren’t), because we think we can beat you, and you think you can beat us. Only one way to know for sure. Ohio State’s offense vs. a Bama/Georgia defense or a rematch with Clemson would be a great end to the season. Oklahoma can’t win a playoff game, so we damn sure don’t want to see a second Big 12 team in, and we don’t want Bama or a second SEC team in the playoffs either (unless it’s Georgia, and then it’s only fair after Bama got a free pass in ‘18). No offense, Notre Dame, but we know what you’ll do, so that’s a hard pass.

Best of luck on a season. It doesn’t look good right now, but stranger things have happened. Hell, if Fields can get an immediate transfer waiver while claiming racism, but his sister is perfectly fine with staying at that same university, anything can happen.

Sorry, still a little salty. May need more therapy. Go America. Go Buckeyes. Go to hell Kevin Warren.

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The Rebirth of Braxton Miller and “The Spin” Turns 5

Five years ago Braxton Miller captivated the football in his debut at wide receiver.

Where were you on September 7, 2015?

I can remember everything about that day just as if it happened yesterday. I remember doing everything I needed to do to be glued to the TV for a prime-time kickoff to see Ohio State play Virginia Tech.

This just was not a regular-season opener. The Buckeyes were headed to Blacksburg to avenge defeat from the season before and there were storylines aplenty leading into the game. On top of that, it was a Monday kickoff, which was odd, because this was the first time in a long time where Ohio State opened their season playing on Labor Day. Like myself, football fans around the world were waiting to see the Buckeyes gear up for a back-to-back National Title run (Damn you, Ed Warriner).  

Despite winning the inaugural College Football Playoff Championship there was a lot of speculation surrounding arguably the most talented Ohio State football team in school history.

Who would be the starting quarterback?

Cardale Jones led the team to the title, but J.T. Barrett was one of the top quarterbacks in the country before suffering a season-ending injury against the team up north. The quarterback conundrum was on the mind of Buckeye fans, but that was not the only quarterback that many were curious to see.

Once upon a time, there was a guy named Braxton Miller who rocked the No.5 and was one of the best players in the country. He played quarterback like no other. He threw rockets down the field and he was a highlight waiting to happen. He was a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the year and was on pace to be the best quarterback in school history.

After suffering a shoulder injury in the 2013 Orange Bowl, Miller injured that shoulder again in training camp and missed the 2013-2014 season. While he was rehabbing his shoulder, he was secretly learning how to play Wide Receiver receiving tutelage from the M2S Boss himself, Zach Smith. Alongside Smith, Michael Thomas, and others, Miller fine-tuned his game enough to make one of the most exciting debuts at a new position that the game has ever seen.

Miller started the game with a bang. In the 1st quarter on 1st and 5, Miller hauled in a low grab as he laid out to make the play showing off his hands. From there, Miller changed the landscape of the game. As the Buckeyes were down 17-14 to Virginia Tech until Miller caught a 54-yard touchdown streaking down the sideline making Virginia Tech’s safety Desmond Frye look as if he was in quicksand. 

With the Buckeyes up 21-17, Miller put the nail in the coffin on the next drive. While in familiar territory, Miller took a snap at quarterback and the rest is history.

Miller zoomed for a 53-yard touchdown, highlighted by the spin move heard ‘round the world. With some blocking help from Ezekiel Elliott, Miller hit the “B” button on Deon Clarke and Corey Marshall and Miller scampered to the end zone and secured his spot in the NFL as a wide receiver after his memorable performance. After a year away from the game, Miller accounted for 140 total yards, 2 touchdowns in his debut, and more importantly, he was back on the field donning the Scarlet & Gray.

In an interview with Bleacher Report in 2016, Miller stated, “For two months straight all I heard about was that spin. I did not hear anything about the catch I dove for to make my first career reception, or the other pass I caught for my first receiving touchdown. It was just the spin move.”

“I feel like that changed my life.”

September 7, 2015, is just a regular day to some, but for Miller, it hallmarked a rebirth for him as a football player and for football fans, it is a day where we saw one of the most exciting players in College Football history make his return. As Miller stated, it was a day and move that changed his life. Even five years later, a grown ass man like myself may pull off a spin move in aisle 3 at Kroger all because of Braxton Miller.

Thanks for the Memories.

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9/3/20 – What We Are Hearing

Major Momentum for Fall Season

B1G Presidents are holding a vote (another vote? Or first official vote? Or a consensus conversation?) tomorrow via Zoom on reinstating the Season. Early October, Post-Thanksgiving and January 1 start dates are all on the table for the B1G season opener. This will be the official announcement for the season start date… finally some progress. Momentum is rapidly pushing support for the start date to come earlier after the overwhelming (and unexpected?) explosion of outrage by players, parents, and fans regarding the premature cancellation of the season. Not to mention Donald Trump’s pledge to assist with the newly approved rapid antigen tests came at the most opportune time. These are the reasons B1G Presidents are stating the new interest in pushing the start date of the season up. But we believe that is just them towing the company line. The real reason this season has new life has been alluded to all over social media. It’s CYA at its finest on the NCAA level.

Big Ten attorney Andrew Luger put out that “harm would be incredible” if the FOIA request from Tom Mars to release documentation around the decision to cancel the season was granted and made public. What could they possibly be hiding?  Let’s just say… this isn’t the first time one president would be exposed. Mark Schlissel has been caught with his democratic pants down before (If you didn’t know, click here) and rumor has it, this time it’s FAR worse.  His opinions (along with a handful of presidents) on the politics of cancelling the season, the amateurism of athletes and football in general would be the final nail in his careers coffin.  Furthermore the B1G conference submitted a sworn affidavit that the vote was 11-3, and two “voters” have publicly denounced said vote. Someone is lying and if it’s the conference, under oath, this could be a colossal problem (it’s called perjury) for the B1G.

Now the B1G is facing a major decision. Tuck their tail between their legs, admit they were wrong and reinstate the season to get Tom Mars off his witch hunt… or face the music for what they have done and deal with the blowback (that will be tremendous).  Adding to that issue is the judgment that hit the news yesterday that the B1G conference is to produce the documents around the “vote” by September 12th.

The proposition will be to reinstate a full fall schedule.  Four teams will opt out; Maryland, Rutgers, Illinois and Michigan State.  The remaining 10 teams will play an 8 game schedule.  The only item up for conversation is will they (can they) get it set up and done to execute it in October?  Or should the initial plan of after thanksgiving be the move?  It is not only possible to start in early October, it might be career ending for the powers at be to NOT.

Coaches Are Preparing and Teams are Practicing

The consensus amongst the six coaching staffs we have spoken to is unanimous.  “We don’t know shit.  What are you hearing?” In the history of the B1G conference there has never been a more disastrous situation that lacked transparency, leadership or communication. The fact Kevin Warren has yet to consult a single football coach is the main reason he needs to resign immediately. Wayne Duke would have had a conference call with Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes. Jim Delaney would have contacted Urban Meyer, Jim Harbaugh and James Franklin. Kevin Warren is consulting the pictures of himself in the shrine in his home office.  Ryan Day, for one, had enough.

Football teams get 20 hours a week for football “in-season” and on Monday the Buckeyes were on the practice field preparing to go six straight days of full practice. Why?  Because a season is immenent?  No.  They have ZERO insight into any start date but the objective was clear… whether they play in October, November or January, they were not going to allow programs in the SEC, ACC or Big 12 stack 20 hours of development week in, week out leading into the 2021 season. Those hours are vital for the development of next years team as much as preparation for a weekly opponent. Cleats were laced up, helmets were buckled tight and Ryan Day and staff took his team to the turf and got back to work.

Always True

Epstein didn’t kill himself.  Bert McMurphy looks like a child molester.  Paul Finebaum watches Nick Saban press conference clips for pleasure.  Yahoo! Sportswriters want football cancelled and you to be miserable.  This cancellation was politically motivated.  The End.

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Can the Big Ten Swing an Election, Part II

Kevin Warren… Pepe Silvia… Pepe Silvia… Kevin Warren.  It’s always sunny in Philadelphia but it damn sure is raining in B1G Country.  The tin foil hats are on and it is time to free fall into the abys that is the Coronavirus rabbit hole.

In early summer Yahoo! Sports published an article on Kevin Warren’s directive to “swing the election” and after the 3 week debacle we have all witnessed by the Commissioner and B1G presidents it’s time to see how this initiative is going.

From Pete Thamel’s article on June 15, 2020:

“First-year Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren has made it a priority that the conference’s nearly 10,000 athletes will have a say in that election. Warren is in just his fifth month in charge of the 14-member league, and he has made it clear with his early actions that social change will be among the league’s priorities. The Big Ten announced a league-wide voter registration initiative on Monday, which will include non-partisan education and a deeper understanding of registration, voting and voter suppression.”

This initiative in and of itself should not be argued as anything but positive… and telling.  Five months into the job, amidst a national pandemic like nothing we have ever witnessed, Kevin Warren’s initiative was about… voting?  Seems like strange priorities for the head duck of one of the most powerful conferences in all of athletics.  Plan for the coronavirus?  Guidelines and regulations for player safety to execute a safe season?  Nah… pass out “Get Out and Vote” stickers!

Why?  Why would Kevin Warren and university presidents allow politics to influence decisions around sports?  Let’s not go full on Mel Gibson from 1997, there are several other influences that swayed this decision, but we are going to dive into this theory and see if Facebook starts listening to our Alexas.

There are six swing states in B1G country.  Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.  In 2012, Barrack Obama won all six… in 2016, Trump took all but one of the sextet.  The literal key to the presidency is right here in the Midwest.  The political influence on playing sports this fall are undeniable.  Looking at all six swing states paints quite a vivid picture of partisanship when it comes to high school sports and cancel culture.  80 Electoral Collage Delegates on the line… and football is the weapon to steal them from the Orange Man!

Ohio – 18 Delegates
Governor: Mike DeWine (Republican)
President:  Kristina Johnson ([email protected])
High School FB: YES
B1G Vote:  YES

Michigan – 16 Delegates
Governor:  Gretchen Whitmer (Democrat)
UM President: Mark Schlissel ([email protected])
MSU President: Samuel Stanley ([email protected])
High School FB: NO
B1G Vote:  NO

Iowa – 6 Delegates
Governor: Kim Reynolds (Republican)
President: Bruce Harreld ([email protected])
High School FB: YES
B1G Vote:  YES

Wisconsin – 10 Delegates
Governor: Tony Evers (Democrat)
President: Rebecca Blank ([email protected])
High School FB: MIXED
B1G Vote:  NO

Pennsylvania – 20 Delegates
Governor: Tom Wolf (Democrat)
President: Eric J. Barron ([email protected])
High School FB: MIXED (Strongly recommended to 2021)
B1G Vote:  NO

Minnesota – 10 Delegates
Governor: Tom Walz (Democrat)
President: Joan Gabel ([email protected])
High School FB: NO
B1G Vote:  NO

Six States.  Two Republican Governors playing football this fall.  Four Democrats not playing or strongly recommending not playing.  That is just a microcosm of the national breakdown, just google it.  As deranged as this all sounds, it is fitting.  That is the leadership in government and the B1G outlined, now for the narrative communicators.  The voices filling our ears with an ulterior motive in synchronized unison.

It is no secret there are dozens of “sports media” who are loving the clickbait fear mongering that cancelling this season provides for advertising.  Sigh.  It is exhausting.  This mismanagement by Kevin Warren on the public relations front is nuclear.  So embarrassing that it seems he has hired someone else to handle it for him!  What is his job again?  Enter Carrie Gerlach Cecil.

Even AFTER she got called out for her clear political bias, one thing is evident solely based on her “Liked Tweets.”  She is in the Pat Forde, Dan Wetzel, Pete Thamel, Bert McDouchey and Nicole Auerbach camp.  In fact, it seems we have found Nicole Auerbach’s “source” for all things cancel culture!

Thank God.  Our savior has arrived.  Public Relations in the B1G is saved.

Newsflash Commissioner Warren:  The only positive PR at this point is to HAVE A SEASON LIKE THE SOUTH.

At this point, denying the political influence in this decision is sheer ignorance.  The football fields in democratic states will be green and empty while the republican fields will be worn from teenagers playing the game they love.  Joe Biden is blaming Trumps handling of the virus:

Donald Trump is trying to be the hero we all want but some hate:

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1300815396950478849?s=20

The only undeniable thing here is the fact that the players, player families, coaches, athletic directors and fans ALL want to play… and it won’t happen because of a fight between a Donkey and an Elephant.  A babbling buffoon and an orange narcissist.  Liberals blame Trump.  Trump blames liberals.  We get no football.  What a time to be alive!

The good news is the Buckeyes were back on the practice field yesterday and are practicing all week.  Season or no season, Ryan Day is going to maximize the 20 hours they have weekly all fall to maximize this team so that whenever the toddlers making decisions decide to play nice… the Silver Bullets will be ready.